will@cvradio.com LOGAN Firefighters made progress over the weekend on the Peterson Hollow Fire that has been burning for more than a week, north-east of the Beaver Mountain Ski Resort. MaryEllen Fitzgerald, fire information officer for the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, said fire crews took advantage of favorable winds Saturday and Sunday, extinguishing hotspots of the blaze that has burned 1202 acres. The fire is now 22% contained. There are 311 firefighters currently working the fire that was first reported last Sunday afternoon. They are being supported by air tankers and helicopters that are being used for fire suppression, and dropping supplies to fire crews camped on the mountain. Fitzgerald said there has been an increase of smoke, visible the past two days that fire managers had expected. They report it is coming from the interior of the fire during the warm, dry afternoons. Firefighters are working to keep the fire east of the Peterson Hollow Drainage, north of Beaver Mountain, and west of Beaver Creek. US-89 through Logan Canyon remains open to the public, and some smoke may be visible in the area of the fire. An area closure remains in effect on the Utah side of the state line and a trail/road closure is in effect on the Idaho side. Fitzgerald said fire officials are thankful for members of nearby communities for their continued support.
will@cvradio.com LOGAN A 22-year-old former Utah State University student and fraternity member, Griffin Ford has pleaded not guilty to secretly recording himself and another student having sex at a frat house, and then showing the video to his friends. The plea came after the victim and a detective, investigating the case, testified during a preliminary hearing Monday afternoon, in 1st District Court. The 21-year-old woman told the court how she found a folder while borrowing the defendants laptop computer. Inside the folder were several video files of her and Ford having sex. There were also videos of other women engaging in sex acts with him. The woman said the videos appeared to be filmed in Fords bedroom, behind and to the side of her. She told the court she never saw any camera while having consensual relations with him and never gave her permission to be recorded. During the one-hour preliminary hearing, state attorney Jacob Gordon played two recorded phone conversations between Ford and the victim. During them, the defendant told her he recorded the two of them so he could remember her. He said the videos were taken using a social media app on his smart phone. During the calls, Ford said he had recorded himself with several women and showed some of the videos to friends, while at a bar. Logan City Police detective Darin Cook told the court he seized Fords laptop and phone while serving a search warrant to the defendants residence. Investigators have not been able to access the devices because both are password protected and encrypted. Defense attorney Gerald Salcido claimed the victim knew she was being recorded. Judge Thomas Willmore said prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to show a crime of voyeurism had been committed. He explained that it would be up to a jury to decide if the victim actually knew she was being filmed. He set a one-day jury trial for February 9 and ordered Ford to appear again in court December 19 for a pretrial conference. According to Fords Facebook page, he transferred from USU and is now attending the University of Utah. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and is originally from Murfreesboro Tennessee.
will@cvradio.com The 'burkini ban' is overturned, but who's in the right? Published on August 29, 2016 Story by euro topics en pl it fr es de The Conseil d'Etat, the highest court in France, has ruled that the banning of burkinis on French beaches was "clearly illegal", but several local authorities have already vowed to ignore the ruling. Is this a triumph for democracy? Triumph of democracy and the rule of law - The Guardian, UK The judgement is entirely correct, in the Guardian's opinion: "Now the highest court has clearly ruled that neither 'public order' nor 'emotions linked to terrorist acts' can be invoked to legitimise the ban... It will hopefully restore common decency and the rule of law, and emphasise that the burkini does not in itself threaten public order. If that had been the case, then France's state of emergency would have meant that, officially, citizens of different backgrounds or faiths could no longer safely sit on a beach together. The ruling isn't the solution to all the issues that have to be dealt with - thats some way off. But hopefully it will give a troubled nation some breathing space." (27/08/2016) Absurd debate shows France's true problems - Berliner Zeitung, Germany The court has made a ruling that was long overdue, the Berliner Zeitung comments approvingly: "[The judges] have pointed out that France's stringently secular state system obliges the country to observe religious neutrality, but not the citizens, who are supposed to be able to live their lives according to their beliefs without any interference. This was a spark of common sense in a context of dreadful emotional darkness. But admittedly no more than that... This discussion about tolerance for burkinis is not and never has really been about this swimsuit that is accepted with equanimity by the rest of the world. If the debate has taken on absurd proportions now it is because this garment reminds us of what has gone wrong in the country that is home to Europe's largest Islamic community. And that is quite a lot." (27/08/2016) Hatred under the veil - Le Figaro, France The conservative daily Le Figaro believes France does indeed need laws curtailing veils in public: "Under the veil lies hatred of what we are and what we represent in their eyes. The burkini, which didn't even exist not so long ago, is not a modest and harmless piece of cloth but a symbolic piece of combat clothing whose first hostages are women. When will we look reality in the face? It's not up to the mayors to come up with adequate responses to the challenge we confront. The lawmakers must disarm the soldiers of this seditious offensive. As the current law can't do that, a new arsenal must be passed. Hence the need for a new parliamentary majority in 2017." (26/08/2016) France sets the wrong priorities - Il Sole 24 Ore, Italy The burkini ban on French beaches is hypocritical as long as Paris continues to support conservative Islam in Saudi Arabia, writes the business daily Il Sole 24 Ore: "[Hollande] awarded the [Saudi] prince the highest order of merit, the Legion of Honour, for the outstanding service of saving Areva, the French nuclear energy conglomerate, which was facing bankruptcy. On the one hand France bans the burkini, on the other it supports an absolutist kingdom with a blood-soaked royal family that makes massive use of the death penalty to eliminate its opponents and is the biggest financier of Islam in its most conservative and backward form." (24/08/2016) --- 30 Countries, 300 Media Outlets, 1 Press Review. The euro|topics press review presents the issues affecting Europe and reflects the continent's diverse opinions, ideas and moods. Story by euro topics When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Mary Lisa Duarte, a registered nurse at Christus Spohn Hospital South, checks the vitals of a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit earlier this month. She is one of two local nurses who received scholarships to continue their education to become mental health nurse practitioners. SHARE Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Yamily Moreno, a registered nurse at Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline, takes water to a patient recovering from surgery earlier this month. She is one of two local nurses who received scholarships to continue their education to become mental health nurse practitioners. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Mary Lisa Duarte, a registered nurse at Christus Spohn Hospital South, prepares a bed in the neonatal intensive care unit earlier this month. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Yamily Moreno, a registered nurse at Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline, works on discharge paperwork for a patient earlier this month. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Mary Lisa Duarte, a registered nurse at Christus Spohn Hospital South, checks the vitals of a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit earlier this month. By Dayna Worchel of the Caller-Times Two Christus Spohn Health System nurses are working toward their career goals, thanks to some help from their employer. Both Yamily Moreno, who works in outpatient surgery at the Shoreline campus, and Mary Lisa Duarte, who works in the neonatal intensive care unit at the South campus, received a $20,000 scholarship to the University of Texas at San Antonio to become mental health nurse practitioners. The money covers books, tuition, and fees even child care if needed. Christus Spohn reimburses them for travel, food and lodging expenses while attending classes in San Antonio one day each week. "They don't have to pay it back and they don't have to work for us afterward," said Charlotte Waters, Christus Spohn program manager for Behavioral Health in Community Health Development. Both Moreno and Duarte have bachelor's degrees in nursing and are working toward master's degrees. Although a nurse practitioner will work under the supervision of a medical doctor, he or she may prescribe medications and diagnose conditions, order tests, and manage overall patient care. At first, each of them thought the offer was too good to be true. Duarte, an Alice native, said that when she first saw the email inviting her to apply, she deleted it. But after much prayer and consideration, she contacted UTSA about getting into the program. "The deadline was only three weeks away, and I had to get in my application and transcripts on a really tight deadline," Duarte said. Duarte said she intends to help drug addicted mothers of newborns when she becomes a mental health nurse practitioner. "I want to step from the sidelines," she said. "Maybe I can help moms with drug addiction and maybe I can help the babies in the long run." Moreno, a mother of two who has a bachelor's degree in psychology, has worked in outpatient surgery at the Shoreline campus for almost three years. But her first job out of nursing school was at the Behavioral Health Center of Nueces County as a case manager. "I knew I wanted to be a nurse practitioner in mental health, but I wouldn't have been able to do it without a scholarship," she said. Both Moreno and Duarte said their supervisors have been very supportive of their goals and have been accommodating with their work schedules. Lenora Sevcik, who supervises Duarte at the Christus Spohn Hospital South campus, says that the benefit of Duarte continuing her education extends to patients and the community, as well as the nurse. "As she grows in her personal journey in school, we will reap the benefits at the bedside," Sevcik said. "Having certified nurse practitioners in mental health will have a tremendous positive impact on our community." Moreno's supervisors, Anita Bernal and Anjanette Nino, echoed those hopes. "Associates furthering their education is a key component to putting us in a stronger position to care for our patients and support our community," Nino said. "Growth is very important in the world of ever changing technology." The scholarships are funded through the Christus Spohn Health System to address the area's critical need for mental health services, Waters said. "The (gap analysis conducted a few years ago) focused on the shortage of behavioral health providers all over the U.S. Many patients don't have health insurance, or they are homeless," she said. One way to remedy that shortage was to create more mental health providers by providing more mental health nurse practitioners, she said. The scholarship program is now in its fifth year. Nurses who apply for the scholarship don't have to be Christus Spohn employees, Waters said. The third student who received the scholarship this year works at Bay Area Hospital. The nurses are required to complete the clinical components of their program in the Coastal Bend. "We hope they decide to stay in the area," Waters said. She says the process for applying for the scholarship program is not difficult. "They just need to have the passion for mental health," Waters said. HOW TO APPLY To apply for the scholarship, contact Charlotte Waters at 361-902-6977, or email charlotte.waters@christushealth.org. A UNICEF Report released recently looks at the devastating impact of the Boko Haram insurgency and need for urgent humanitarian assistance. ADS The United Nations Childrens Fund has in a report issued on August 25, 2016, warned that a major humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Africas Lake Chad Basin where violence and destruction have caused huge population displacements. Years of violence by Boko Haram in the area has displaced 1.4 million children and left at least one million still trapped in hard-to-reach areas, notes the Report. The Report titled Children on the Move, Children left Behind was released ahead of the September 19, 2016 United Nations Summit on Refugees and Migrants. It looks at the devastating impact of the Boko Haram insurgency on children in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. In effect, an estimated 38 children have been used to carry out suicide attacks in the Lake Chad basin in 2016, bringing to 86 the total number of children used as suicide bombers since 2014. The report also warns that an estimated 475,000 children across Lake Chad will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, up from 175,000 at the beginning of the year. The Report further highlights UNICEFs role in working with partners to meet the basic needs of children and their families in the conflict-affected areas. So far this year, the Report also notes, nearly 170,000 children received psychosocial support, almost 100,000 were treated for severe acute malnutrition and over 100,000 took part in learning programmes. ADS The Boko Haram terrorist group carried out the mine attack near the border with Niger. ADS Chad is mourning the death of four of its soldiers and treating a dozen others wounded in a mine attack at Kaiga Kindji near the border of Chad and Niger on Friday, August 26, 2016. Mail Online quoted a security source who requested for anonymity as explaining that, "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 added that the wounded soldiers were evacuated to the Chadian capital, NDjamena. Reports say the attack was the latest in a series of attacks on Chadian soldiers by Boko Haram militants. Boko Haram militants are making faint efforts through suicide bomb and mine attacks faced with the heavy artillery of joint task force made up of troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin. The task force has made significant gains in recent months against Boko Haram, driving them out of some of the group's Nigerian heartlands. Reports say Boko Haram has continued to carry out suicide bombings and has retrenched to difficult-to-access areas such as the islands of Lake Chad and the Sambisa Forest near the border between Cameroon and Nigeria. ADS | BY Ricki Green | ThinkTV has today announced that it has commissioned a landmark, world-first study to prove the value and return on investment of television for advertisers in Australia. ThinkTV has partnered with Ebiquity UK, a leading, independent marketing analytics specialist, to conduct econometric research that will measure the sales impact and return on investment of five media channels including television, radio, press, online and outdoor. Twenty of Australias top advertisers will contribute actual sales and campaign data for the last three years to the $1 million research project. The Payback Australia study will reveal the return on investment of each media channel, the effect each medium has on other media in the mix and the sales effect of each channel. The Australian study, the first ever of its kind, was inspired by several studies conducted by Ebiquity in the UK for TV marketing body Thinkbox on the effectiveness of advertising and the return on investment of different media. The Thinkbox study found that TV advertising is twice as effective at creating sales uplift than the next best performing medium. Says Kim Portrate, CEO, ThinkTV: This research is the first study of its kind ever undertaken. Unlike other studies that analyse already modelled data, this research is using actual data from advertisers to provide a clear and consistent view of the return on investment of different media. The research will, for the first time, provide the market with robust industry benchmarks for a variety of categories and gives advertisers the tools to optimise their media investments effectively and efficiently to drive bottom line success in their businesses. Rather than top of the sales funnel traditional metrics, such as brand preference and awareness, the Payback Australia study will quantify the dollar return on investment advertisers can expect for each dollar they spend. With increasing pressure on marketing budgets, understanding TVs return on investment has never been so important. The first tranche of the study will focus on the fast moving consumer goods category, with some of Australias largest advertisers, including Unilever, Kimberley-Clark, Goodman Fielder, Sanitarium and Lindt participating. The study will use sophisticated econometric modelling techniques to quantify the performance of key media and explore each mediums role in the customer path to purchase. Says Dr Nick Pugh, head of effectiveness, Ebiquity UK, who will lead the Australian study: The traditional approach to marketing effectiveness is backward looking did it work? We like to use our analysis in a forward facing way to ensure clients can put our findings into practice in their marketing plans. As federal MPs returned to Canberra on Monday for party room and caucus meetings ahead of the first sitting of the 45th parliament, Mr Turnbull is attempting to ramp up pressure on Labor, the Greens and the crossbench to pass legislation including the $6.5 billion omnibus savings bill, company tax cuts, a trio of industrial relations bills and media reforms that would abolish the so-called "75 per cent audience reach rule". "A message that I would give to the Labor Party, to the Greens, to Senator Xenophon, to anybody who says they support change to allow same-sex marriage is that a plebiscite is the only way they will see that change occur over the next three years," he told Sky News. 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. Governments around the world are increasingly getting worried over incitement of violent extremism in cyberspace. For developing countries like India which have started realising that 14-1439525466-cybersecurity-602the full potential of digital space for e-governance and the digital economy, developing norms around the security and stability of the internet is paramount. With little control over the hardware used by internet users as well as the information that is carried through them, India's national security architecture faces a difficult task in cyberspace. The massive gap between the security offered by the cheapest phone in the Indian market and a high-end smart phone makes it virtually impossible for regulators to set legal and technical standards for data protection. Broadly speaking, the infrastructure is susceptible to four kinds of digital intrusions: espionage, which involves intruding into systems to steal information of strategic or commercial value; cyber crime with reference to electronic fraud or other acts of serious criminal consequences; attacks intended at disrupt services or systems for a temporary period; and war caused by a large-scale and systematic digital assault on India's critical installations. Ethical Hacking - An Offbeat Career Prospect In 2014, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) created the position of National Cyber Security Coordinator. There is, however, a need of a robust national security architecture that can assess the nature of cyber threats and respond to them effectively. India's civilian institutions have their own fire-fighting agencies, and the armed forces have their own insulated platforms to counter cyber attacks. Technology - and not legislation - is the only suitable solution to challenges posed by technology itself. Norms, regulations and laws must be designed so as to allow technology to be its own antidote. As estimated by NASSCOM's Cybersecurity Task Force, India needs one million trained cyber security professionals by 2025. The current estimated number is 62,000. What is Cyber Law? Scope and Career opportunities The internet, with its unparalleled information delivery systems and aggregation capabilities, has revolutionised communication. But these same features unwittingly lead to insecurity in the ways the medium is used. This insecurity is particularly acute for nascent digital economies like India, where decisions by the government or regulators to curtail access or seek back doors cannot be characterised in binary tones. At the same time, global cyber-norms must be sensitive to local or national contexts - economic, social and political - rather than reinforcing the narrative that cyberspace is truly seamless. Being one of the emerging superpowers, it is imperative that we develop our own IT infrastructure and technologies. India should encash on the demand-supply gap when it comes to technology requirement by other nations. We should develop indigenous technologies and export them to other countries. The government should put in place an integrated technological framework for 100 Smart Cities. At the same time, a large number of professionals must be trained for better personal and national security. In today's age, terrorist attacks or other attacks can happen by barging into our data systems and hacking sensitive information. 6 tips to deal with 'Digital Parenting' If government initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Digital India' are to succeed, then we need the right human resources which can protect our information and data. Just the way we need soldiers on our borders to protect geographical boundaries, the country needs an army of IT professionals to keep us safe in the digital cyberspace. We need to introduce cyber security courses at graduate level and encourage international certification bodies to introduce various skill-based cyber security courses and performance-based skill testing practical examinations. We also need to provide hands-on training using concepts like virtual labs and cyber ranges. Zhongan Online P&C Insurance Co., with more than 400 million customers, is targeting an initial public offering in the next 12 to 18 months as it targets winning over more younger consumers. While the company currently favors a listing in Hong Kong, its also considering holding the IPO in the U.S., Chief Financial Officer John Bi said. Zhongan would also consider a pre-IPO private funding round to attract global investors and provide strategic value to its insurance business, he added. Backed by Chinese giants Ant Financial and Tencent Holdings Ltd., Zhongan works with internet companies to provide policies for Chinas younger users in the automotive, health care and online shopping sectors. The company operates in an online insurance market that is expected to reach 2 trillion yuan ($300 billion) by 2025, a 10-fold increase from last year, according to Shanghai-based consultant IResearch. Hong Kongs listing momentum is good, Bi said in a phone interview on Monday. For our next round of private fundraising, we are looking to attract influential global insurance or technology shareholders to endorse our development. Zhongan focuses on users who are used to simple procedures when shopping online and have no patience to fill in traditional insurance application forms, Bi said. He declined to say how much the company would seek to raise or the potential valuation except to compare Zhongan to global technology giants. We think of our peers as disruptive technology companies including Google, Amazon and Apple instead of traditional insurance companies. Google owner Alphabet Inc. has a price to earnings ratio of about 30, while Amazon trades at 191 times profit. Chinas Ping An Insurance (Group) Co. has a PE ratio of 10 and Apples is about 13 times. Zhongan completed an A series funding round in May last year to raise about $1 billion at a valuation of about $8 billion, Bi said. The company expects policy revenue to rise 80 percent to 150 percent this year from the 2.28 billion yuan it booked in 2015, he said, declining to disclose more financial details. Ant Financial, formally known as Zhejiang Ant Small & Micro Financial Services Group, is Zhongans largest shareholder with a 16 percent stake. Tencent and Ping An each hold 12 percent stakes. It also counts Morgan Stanley, China International Capital Corp. and CDH Investments as investors, according to Bi. Zhongans flagship product is one that allow merchants who sell on Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. cover shipping losses when customers return goods, ranging anywhere from 10 to 100 yuan, depending on the performance history of the seller. It also provides insurance to customers of Xiaomi Corp. to protect the screens of new smartphones and is creating a service to lower premiums to drivers with good records. Its valuable that we are adjust pricing based on user behavior pattern, Bi said. When we create a product its completely driven by the results we get from our big data. Zhongan competes with companies including Taipei-based Cathay Financial Holding Co. Ant Financial holds a controlling stake in the Chinese unit of Cathay Financial as the companies are exploring opportunities in the same field. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. The recently unveiled Cadillac Escala is a map of things to come. Cadillac took the wraps off its latest concept at the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, previewing what its designers have installed for the future. Although Cadillacs gracefully drawn concepts have made headlines before, they only previewed certain production elements and design cues. If you squint really hard at the current CTS model, for example, youll be able to find a few Elmiraj-borrowed lines, while the Ciel remains confined in the American car makers design archives. Not the Escala, though, it will help the brand compete head-to-head with the German aristocrats, and take its well-earned place among the luxury giants, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. According to Johan de Nysschen, head of Cadillac, the new concept is better proportioned and adopts horizontal light clusters in order to balance out the vertical design lines. As you may have noticed, Cadillacs design language (over the past decade) was governed by an upward-oriented, edgy motif, beginning with the head and tail lights and ending with the grille. The Escalas design was created to balance out the familiar pattern used by the carmaker, and concentrate more on the width of the car. As a matter of fact, the Elmiraj and Escala share similar styles, as the latter builds upon the old philosophy by adding subtle horizontal elements. Compared to the Elmiraj and the Ciel, the new concept also smooths out the sharp design in favor of a chiseled look similar to that of Cadillacs competitors. However, some strong, clear-cut segments remain, proving that the GM-owned luxury brand hasnt lost its distinctive appeal. It was time for the design to move on. We need to think where the brand is going, says de Nysschen. Like the Escala, the Ciel and the Elmiraj were unveiled at Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, each one of the three challenging a different niche: cabriolet, coupe, and sedan. The only question remains, which one do you think looks the part? PHOTO GALLERY Lamborghini expects its annual production to hit 7,000 vehicles in three years time, once they start selling their new SUV. However, according to company CEO Stefano Domenicali, the Italian automaker wont lose sight of the type of cars theyre expected to produce, mainly supercars such as the Huracan and Aventador. Domenicali, who joined Lamborghini in February replacing long-time chief Stephan Winkelmann, also expects SUV production to be at least as high, if not higher than its production of supercars, on which the company is planning on installing a yearly production cap of 3,500 units. Once ready, the Urus concept-based SUV will go on sale in 2018 as reported by Autonews, with prices starting around the $200,000 mark. Lamborghini will build the SUV alongside the Huracan and the Aventador at their SantAgata Bolognese plant. We will push like hell to sell 3,500 or more of the SUVs, said Domenicali in an interview on Tuesday, adding that interest will be really high in the US. Its a big game-changer. He added that his company plans on boosting its worldwide dealer network to 160 from the 132 they currently have. At the moment, about 30% of their dealers and sales are in the US. The plan is to not just build an SUV by 2019, but to also produce a plug-in hybrid version of said SUV by 2020, and possibly an all-electric model as well. Note: Lamborghini Urus Concept pictured PHOTO GALLERY Photo: The Canadian Press The union representing workers at the Canadian operations of the major American automakers has received a strike mandate from its members as it prepares to negotiate contracts. Unifor says its members at General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Fiat Chrysler Automobile voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action to back contract demands. Unifor President Jerry Dias says the clear mandate shows full support for the union's bargaining committees. He says the union won't accept deals with any of the three automakers unless they show a commitment to invest in Canada's auto sector. The union is threatening job action if it doesn't get an agreement before midnight on Sept. 19. Dias says the three companies have done well financially since the last contracts were negotiated four years ago and it's time to reward workers. "Our demand for new investment is not just about us. It is about maintaining and creating good paying jobs, it's about our communities and it's about the next generation," Dias says in a statement released Sunday. Last month, Dias said that negotiating wage increases and other benefits would be moot if there are no plants in Canada to employ the workers. The union will select one of the automakers to start negotiations and use the contract reached with that company as a pattern for negotiations with the other two companies. Unifor says it will announce which company will be first up in negotiations on Sept. 6. Unifor represents some 23,000 workers at the three companies and is Canada's largest private sector union boasting more than 300,000 members in all. Photo: energyeastpipeline.com UPDATE: 7 a.m. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre has walked out of the Energy East hearings in Montreal with protesters disrupting the start of proceedings. Coderre was scheduled to be the first speaker at this morning's hearings into the controversial pipeline project. The mayor says he'll try to return Tuesday to give his testimony on TransCanada's project to transport crude oil from Alberta to New Brunswick. A protester ran screaming towards the commissioners minutes before the hearings were to begin. He was grabbed by security but overpowered them and was joined by several other protesters who chanted, held hands and prevented proceedings from getting going. Many Quebec activists and politicians, including Coderre, have opposed the TransCanada project due to environmental concerns, although it has supporters as well. The hearings are set for all week in Montreal before moving to Quebec City the week of Oct. 3. About 150 people protested against the pipeline outside the downtown Montreal venue where the hearings were scheduled to take place. ORIGINAL: 6:30 a.m. The National Energy Board's review of the Energy East Pipeline is heading into what could be hostile territory when hearings resume today in Montreal. First up to speak will be Mayor Denis Coderre, who has called for the hearings to be suspended after questioning their impartiality. The Energy East project is a 4,500-kilometre pipeline that would see crude oil transported from Alberta to Eastern Canada. Many politicians and activists in Quebec have opposed the project due to environmental concerns, although it has supporters as well. A coalition of business groups and large unions came out in defence of the pipeline last week, saying it will spur economic development and job creation. Hearings will be held in Montreal all week before moving to Quebec City the week of Oct. 3. Photo: The Canadian Press The threat of possible job action by Canada Post workers has been placed on hold for 24 hours. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers made the announcement in a statement issued late Sunday night. "Weve amended our notice in a last-ditch effort to reach a negotiated agreement before we are forced to start working to rule," said CUPW national president Mike Palecek. The union served 72 hour strike notice Thursday night, accusing Canada Post of forcing a labour disruption by refusing to bargain in good faith. It said that if there was no deal by midnight Sunday, it would begin job action on Monday by having its members refuse to work overtime on a rotating basis, starting in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The two sides have been deadlocked for months on the issues of pay scales for rural letter carriers and proposed changes to pensions for future employees. A federally appointed mediator was brought in Friday, and Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton said in a statement Sunday night that the Crown corporation had agreed to extend the talks for 24 hours at the mediator's request. Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk welcomed the development. "It is an encouraging sign of ongoing progress and a renewed determination to negotiate a new collective agreement," she said in a release issued by her office early Monday morning. The minister said she would remain focused on supporting the ongoing negotiations, and would continue to monitor the situation closely. Palecek previously said that the union's planned job action would have little effect on Canada Post customers, noting the mail would still be delivered. Hamilton disagreed with that assessment, warning in a phone interview that the threat of job action was creating uncertainty for customers and would have a huge impact on the business "whether the union likes it or not." Photo: Google UPDATE: 1:15 p.m. Police have obtained surveillance video that may be of help in tracking a suspect in Sundays hit-and-run in the Mount Paul Industrial Park. The victim, a female jogger, is reported in stable condition in hospital with a number of serious injuries to her ankle, pelvis and head. Tk'emlups Rural RCMP said Monday morning that all officers are engaged in the investigation. They canvassed several businesses in the area for their surveillance videos. One of the cameras captured the two women jogging past, then suspect car passes several minutes later. A forensic identification officer has examined the stolen car involved, which sustained considerable damage to the front passenger's side hood and passenger's side windshield. Police are still asking anyone who may have seen a person of interest a suspicious young adult male on the Halston Bridge at 7:45 a.m. Sunday with a black hoody and a white back pack to call police. He was acting strangely, with behaviour that included walking in circles on the roadway of the Halston Bridge. Police suspect he may have been given a ride because he could not be located minutes later when city police officers patrolled the area. If anyone has any information, they are asked to call the rural detachment at 250-314-1800, or if they wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers. ORIGINAL Police are looking for a person of interest in a hit and run that sent a jogger to Royal Inland Hospital Sunday with serious injuries. The incident happened at about 7:30 a.m. when two people were out running along Athabasca Street West. The runner on the inside was struck by a vehicle. The vehicle, stolen from a North Shore address earlier that morning, was found abandoned Sunday afternoon near the Halston Bridge. Kamloops RCMP are looking for a person of interest who was observed walking in circles on the Halston Bridge shortly after the jogger was struck. The person is described as a young man in a black jacket with the hood up. He was carrying a white backpack. Kamloops RCMP are asking anyone who may have any information on the collision or the person of interest to call them at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Photo: Via Rail UPDATE: 4:40 p.m. The man who was killed by a train in Spences Bridge on Saturday has been identified. Larry Marzinzik with the BC Coroners Service says 40-year-old Jonathon Christopher Harris of Kelowna was hit by a Via Rail passenger train about 3:50 a.m. Harris is reported to have been walking westbound on the rail tracks that pass through the community of Spence's Bridge. The train could not stop in time, nor could Harris get off the tracks in time, to prevent Harris from being struck by the train, stated Marzinzik in a press release. He was deceased at the scene. The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate this death. ORIGINAL The coroner's service in British Columbia is confirming the death of a man who was hit by a train in Spences Bridge over the weekend. Spokeswoman Barb McLintock says it happened early Saturday morning and involved a Via Rail passenger train. McLintock says the man's identity is being withheld until it has been confirmed and his family has been notified. If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... The Houston Museum, the only local museum with an extensive collection of Victorian art glass and antiques, announced Monday it will host a free lecture featuring Sand Mountain, Alabama Pottery, Sunday, Sept. 25, at 1:30 p.m. The lecture speakers are Joey Brackner, director, Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, and Danny Maltbie, collector and expert on Sand Mountain Pottery. This exciting lecture will keep you on the edge of your seats as you hear about Sand Mountain Potterys history, heritage and how it has become collectible, said Amy Autenreith, Houston Museum director. Youll be able to touch and feel the amazing works of art and learn how to recognize a collectible piece of Alabama pottery. Mr. Brackner said, Given the diversity and wealth of Alabama's folk life, we strive to broaden an understanding of our community-based traditions so that all Alabamians can be proud of this shared inheritance. We see this lecture as a way to bring that to life for Chattanoogans as well. This event is free but donations are accepted. There will be several pieces of Sand Mountain pottery on display, as well as a piece from the Houston collection. Mr. Brackners book, Alabama Folk Pottery will be available for purchase. Seating is limited to less than 30. Please call the museum at 267-7176 to reserve a seat. Stahl opened Asias first Stahl Campus in Guangzhou. This third Stahl Campus enables Stahl to strengthen its knowledge and expertise in the worlds largest leather-producing country. The new knowledge center builds on the great success of Stahl Campus in The Netherlands and Mexico. Karin Lee will coordinate all of the centers activities in Guangzhou. Following the opening of the Mexican Stahl Campus this April, chemical company Stahl has extended its training activities to China. The main goal of the Guangzhou-based Stahl Campus is to share good practices in leather processing throughout the supply chain with clients and partners. Global Stahl Campus manager Frans van den Heuvel explains that China is a strategic location. China is the number-one country in terms of the quantity of leather produced. However, there is still a lot to gain throughout the supply chain when it comes to sustainability and innovative working methods. Therefore, we believe it was a great opportunity to unroll our Stahl Campus to a third continent, he says. Guangzhou is the perfect location to start. Here we can offer our clients in China and beyond the training facilities they need to grow their business in a sustainable manner, van den Heuvel continues. Three years, three continents Since the opening of the first Stahl Campus in 2014, over 200 visitors from across the globe have successfully completed a training program. The students representing over 35 parties attended a one to five day course. The training service in Guangzhou facilitates the sharing of knowledge regarding product handling procedures, responsibility and safety. The new Stahl Campus is part of the Center of Excellence in Guangzhou and offers several training modules that cover the entire leather supply chain (see infographic). The specific interpretation of these modules is established after consultation with clients. The modules for technicians and students are supported by top leather schools and universities. Transmission electron microscope images observed from the reduced graphene oxide films prepared by ethanol treatment at (a) 900C and (b) 1100C. For the high temperature treatment, the periodic bright spots are observed in the reduced graphene oxide films. This means that the crystallinity of the reduced graphene oxide is efficiently improved by high temperature treatment in ethanol environment. Researchers discovered a procedure to restore defective graphene oxide structures that cause the material to display low carrier mobility. By applying a high-temperature reduction treatment in an ethanol environment, defective structures were restored, leading to the formation of a highly crystalline graphene film with excellent band-like transport. These findings are expected to come into use in scalable production techniques of highly crystalline graphene films. Graphene is a material with excellent electric conductivity, mechanical strength, chemical stability, and a large surface area. Its structure consists of a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms. Due to its positive attributes, research on its synthesis and application to electronic devices is being conducted around the world. While it is possible to create graphene from graphene oxide (GO), a material produced by chemical exfoliation from graphite through oxidative treatment, this treatment causes defective structures and the existence of oxygen-containing groups, causing GO to display low conducting properties. So far, carrier mobility, the basic indicator with which transistor performance is expressed, remained at a few cm2/Vs at most. A group of researchers led by Ryota Negishi, assistant professor, and Yoshihiro Kobayashi, professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University; Masashi Akabori, associate professor, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; Takahiro Ito, associate professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University; and Yoshio Watanabe, Vice Director, Aichi Synchrotron Radiation Center, have developed a reduction treatment through which the crystallinity of GO was drastically improved. The researchers coated a substrate with 1-3 extremely thin layers of GO and added a small amount of ethanol to the up to 1100C high temperature reduction process. The addition of the carbon-based ethanol gas led to the effective restoration of the defective graphene structure. For the first time in the world, this group managed to observe a band-like transport reflecting the intrinsic electric transport properties in chemically reduced GO films. Band-like transport is a conduction mechanism in which the carriers use the periodic electric mechanisms in solid crystals as a transmission wave. The observed band transport in this study achieved a carrier mobility of ~210 cm 2 /Vs, currently the highest level observed in chemically reduced GO films. The successful creation of thin graphene films achieved through the above reduction method has opened up the possibility of their application in a diverse set of electronic devices and sensors. The findings of this research group form a milestone in the development of scalable materials that utilize graphene's excellent physical properties. With the help of the brilliant X-ray radiation from DESY's research light source PETRA III, scientists have solved a decades-old mystery from the world of art: A team led by Dr. Geert Van der Snickt of the University of Antwerp unravelled the nature of mysterious white spots on the famous painting "The Scream" by the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. Contrary to popular assumption the stains are not bird droppings - and neither simply white color. Instead, the X-ray examination shows that the patches are made of wax, which probably dripped from a candle in Munch's studio on the painting. It is known that Munch painted several of his large drafts outdoors and that he liked to expose his paintings to the forces of nature. As seen on the right, photographs were conserved showing the artist in the snow midst a series of paintings, merely sheltered by a wooden shed. The painting entered the National Museum's collection directly from the artist's studio and the white splatters have always been present. All of this resulted in a theory that Munch would have left the Scream outside and that birds flying by literally added another layer of meaning to Munch's Masterpiece. "Bird droppings can pose a significant threat for monuments, outdoor statues ... and brand new cars", says Van der Snickt, cultural heritage scientist at the University of Antwerp. "But I did not associate it with easel paintings, and certainly not with quintessential masterpieces that are valued over 100 million dollars." The "Scream" has become an icon of the European art canon. "In the final years of the nineteenth century, Edvard Munch made four versions of the Scream, a painting that is nowadays considered as vital for the later development of Expressionism," explains Dr Nils Ohlsen, Director of Old Masters and Modern Art at the National Museum in Oslo. Although one of the versions was sold in 2012 for a staggering 119 million dollars, the most renowned version is undoubtedly the painting that is part of the collection of the Norwegian National Museum. This work differs from the others not only in the fact that it is considered as the earliest version, but also because it features a series of enigmatic white splatters on the surface. However, Prof. Tine Frysaker (University of Oslo), who has been recurrently confronted with bird excrements in the Norwegian Stave churches where she worked throughout her career as conservator, was less convinced by the bird droppings theory as the white spots do not look anything like bird droppings under the microscope. Thierry Ford, Paintings Conservator at the National Museum, subscribes to that opinion as "bird excrements are known to have a corroding or macerating effect on many materials, a statement that most car owners can confirm". In this case, the white substance seems to lie on top of the paint. Moreover, in some areas, the white matter seems to have flaked off through the years without leaving any sign of damage. A last technical argument opposing this theory is the fact that Munch employed a cardboard substrate to paint the Scream, a material that is particularly fragile and hygroscopic and would have suffered severe damage when left outdoors. "It seemed more plausible that the splatters were actually white paint or chalk that had accidently dripped on to the Scream while Munch was working on other paintings in his studio", says Frysaker. However, in spite of logic arguments, urban legends can prove hard to erase especially as this aspect of the national treasure would dovetail nicely with the Norwegian spirit of nature-bonding. In May 2016, Frysaker invited the Antwerp team to Oslo with the aim of characterising the painting materials and techniques used by Munch. According to Dr Geert Van der Snickt, the bird droppings were certainly not the primary aim, "but it would have been a mistake not to exploit the passage of the Antwerp state-of-the-art equipment to try and settle the long standing bird droppings dispute". The Scream was therefore submitted to the renowned Macro X-ray fluorescence scanner (MA-XRF), an instrument developed by the AXES research group that supplied pivotal arguments for many pending issues concerning key works of art by Van Eyck, Rubens, Van Gogh, etc. Surprisingly, these non-invasive scans ruled out the readiest paint option as no white pigments nor calcium was detected inside the enigmatic smudges. Undaunted by this negative result, the interdisciplinary team decided to take the research to the next level by extracting a micro sample from the white stains. This tiny sample was then analysed at DESY's synchrotron facility PETRA III in Hamburg by the Antwerp team. At PETRA III, fast particles from a particle accelerator produce particularly brilliant X-ray light. "From the X-ray scattering pattern that is produced by the sample under investigation, its internal structure can be determined down to the atomic scale", explains DESY researchers Dr. Gerald Falkenberg, head of the measuring station P06 at PETRA III, where the examinations took place. "The introduction of particle accelerators for the investigation of paint materials has caused a revolution in our understanding of how historical paint systems behave", says chemistry professor Koen Janssens from Antwerp. "In the last few years, we were able to unravel various complex chemical degradation processes that cause paintings to discolour or flake, knowledge that will eventually lead to an improved conservation." PhD student Frederik Vanmeert who analysed the sample at the micro scale using X-ray diffraction had a surprise in store. "I immediately recognised the diffraction pattern of wax crystals as I encountered this material several times upon measuring paintings." In the past, unstable paintings were often impregnated with bees wax (or a similar waxy material) in order to consolidate flaking paint or to attach a new canvas to the back of a degraded old one. In this case, it is most likely that the white spots are in fact splatters of molten wax that accidently dripped from a candle in Munch's studio. ...and what about the bird droppings? "Initially, I planned to go sightseeing on my last day in Oslo", recalls Geert Van der Snickt. "It turned out that I spent most of my time looking down, searching for bird droppings on the ground that could serve as reference material. After some time, I found a perfect specimen right in front of the opera building. I must admit I was a little embarrassed collecting this sample material in front of groups of tourists. For a second sample, I decided to look for a more quiet place, around the castle." "It can be seen at first glance that the measurement data of bird droppings do not match the material of the white spots, which match the data of beeswax," says Falkenberg. "It is true that the bird droppings that I collected in the streets of Oslo can hardly be considered as a statistical relevant sounding and that the composition of droppings is strongly dependant of the nutrition of the bird, but I sincerely doubt that Munch's painting was sprayed by birds that happened to be fond of wax', concluded Geert Van der Snickt. As such, I think we can close the case on the bird droppings." A pair of venture capitalists who left Silicon Valley to tap into "the opportunity of our lifetime" investing in Midwestern startups is launching a $300 million second fund. Drive Capital, based in Columbus, Ohio, was founded by Chris Olsen and Mark Kvamme in 2012. The two were previously partners at renowned Menlo Park-based Sequoia Capital, the massive backer of tech companies including Apple and Google. Advertisement Drive, which has several portfolio companies in Chicago, announced the new fund Monday. It will continue to invest in technology and health-care companies, said Olsen, a Cincinnati native. "We're really investing in any stage of evolution of entrepreneurs," he said. "We'll go as low as $30,000 up to as much as $30 million into companies that are building those kind of dent-making industries." Advertisement The average venture capital fund in the United States since 2015 is about $120 million, according to venture capital database CB Insights. Drive's first fund was $250 million. Its 13-company portfolio includes just one company outside the Midwest: San Francisco-based online education platform Udacity. It has invested in Chicago-based Hologram, a cellular Internet of Things platform; Kapow, a corporate event marketplace; and ChannelIQ, which helps companies manage their e-commerce and is the first fund's only exit to date. Olsen said the firm plans to continue its earlier approach as it pursues investments for the second fund: picking a niche and drilling down to find the most promising startup within it. "We map out the entire industry and try to invest in the very best company in this space," Olsen said. Drive has had success finding Midwestern companies in the industry areas it pursues, he said. But he said in some cases, the firm has encouraged companies to move to the Midwest to be closer to potential customers. Olsen said he wants portfolio companies to be based where they're most likely to be successful and where they have access to customers. He said the firm has found that for most of the companies, being in the Midwest is best. "What's interesting is that most of these companies, when you really do a hard look at who the customers are and where they're located, they're probably not in Silicon Valley," Olsen said. "If you're selling into healthcare or finance or telecom or any retail, the headquarters of those customers are out here. We find there's an advantage for companies to be close to their customers." Olsen said he sees more firsthand industry knowledge among Midwestern entrepreneurs than he did when he was investing mainly in Silicon Valley companies. If you're selling marketing services, he said, it helps to know how marketers work. Advertisement "I think that's tied to the number of customers that are based here and concentrated here," he said. "It helps you understand how to go in, how to talk, how to make sure you're asking the right questions and offering the right solutions to your customers." aelahi@tribpub.com Twitter @aminamania "Ive always been a nerd. I wrote my first computer program in the fourth grade on an Apple II," said Wasilowski. "It was a Dungeons & Dragons character sheet generator. This is back in the day when we would print out the code on paper to debug the code." (Kristen Norman / Blue Sky) What's it really like to work at Chicago startups and tech companies? Blue Sky's Inside Job lets people on the ground tell us in their own words. August Wasilowski, 38, senior software engineer in research and development at InContext Solutions with a specialty in virtual reality Advertisement I've always been a nerd. I wrote my first computer program in the fourth grade on an Apple II. It was a Dungeons & Dragons character sheet generator. This is back in the day when we would print out the code on paper to debug the code. I would read magazines and copy code from magazines and books and stuff like that. And I played the heck out of Oregon Trail. Advertisement At InContext, we're a company that does virtual retail simulations, and our clients are retailers and manufacturers of consumer packaged goods. Our clients can see their 3-D modeled products on a shelf, and they can drag and drop their products on their shelves all around the store. So being on the research and development team, we're trying to figure out what we can do in VR and how we can make a virtual reality a product for our clients, eventually. I'm working on things like speech recognition and using artificial intelligence to understand what someone is saying, and that is in support of VR. I was born in Minneapolis, but I moved to Elgin when I was around 4. I went to four different colleges. I started off in musical theater, because that's where all the girls were. I switched majors to English. Then I did graphic design and a little bit of 3-D modeling. I went to college for nine years. I don't have a college degree. I don't even have an associate's degree. I have a high school diploma. Throughout this whole time, I was writing programs and software and games and stuff for myself. Working at Best Buy, I made a website called Mygeekdom.com, which doesn't exist anymore. I talked about nerdy things and funny things. I made a lot of George Bush fart jokes. It was not highbrow, at all. But it was in the July 2003 of Popular Science magazine as one of the top five science blogs. In 2005, I got a job at Orbital Grid Consulting. They did all the data networks and custom software for the Chicago Department of Aviation at O'Hare and Midway. I'd make websites for them. I made a FOIA tracker. Actually, my software is still running at the airport. In the cellphone lot, there's a display showing all the arrivals coming into O'Hare. That's my software. And that was a pain in the butt to make that. I quit that job to start a restaurant in Kentucky with some of my friends. It was American food: burgers, burritos and beer. It was called the Red River Rockhouse. We were rock climbers, and we went down to Kentucky a lot to go climb. I was there for a year, and I was like, "Screw this, this is too much work. I want to go back to sitting down for a living. I want to go back to air conditioning." I worked for another company, and they did property taxes for banks. I was a software engineer and wrote all their back-end web services. That job turned out to suck, and I got fired from that job because I hurt somebodys feelings. So the day I got fired, I had my box of my possessions, and I walked over here to InContext, and I had a job interview. I wanted to get a job as fast as possible just to prove to them they made a mistake in firing me. And four weeks later, I was working here. I was so frustrated at the culture of my last job. I knew this place was a hip place to work, and they didn't make people work more than 45 hours a week or whatever. Here, things are much more relaxed. There are a lot of really smart and talented people here. We don't hire dummies, and if we do, they don't last very long. Advertisement In January, we have a kickoff event, and then we go play WhirlyBall or drinking and bowling. We had a Family Day, and everyone brought their families and their kids, and we had games and coloring, and we had the kids play video games, too. There's the kegerator, which I can't stress enough that it's my favorite part of the office. I can talk to the CEO of the company and have a beer with him, and if he wants something from me, I can tell him no, and I have no fear. It's really refreshing. It's really supportive. If you need something, you can usually get it, as long as it's reasonable. We really try hard to make sure everyone here is supported with whatever they need, and that nobody's worked too hard. As told to freelance reporter Erin Chan Ding. Stories are edited for length and clarity. New York-based Columbia Care, run by former Goldman Sachs executives, will open a medical marijuana dispensary in Chicagos Jefferson Park. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) Nicholas Vita is a former Goldman Sachs investment banker who specialized in medical deals back when he worked in the financial services industry. Big money, however, isn't the chief reason he gives for trying to build a multistate network of medical marijuana clinics, including one expected to open in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood next week. Vita, chief executive of New York-based Columbia Care, said he has a more personal reason: his mom. Advertisement Vita said he saw firsthand how a cannabis topical cream recommended by a friend helped to alleviate her inflammation and pain from acute rheumatoid arthritis. When he and another former Goldman Sachs executive, Michael Abbott, decided to make an investment together, they went into the medical marijuana business. Advertisement "Almost every single partner in the business has a personal story," Vita said Monday. "There's a huge unmet need." Besides the Jefferson Park facility, which will have about 15 employees, Columbia Care said it plans to open a marijuana-growing center in Aurora that will be up and running in 2017, creating another 40 jobs. Vita and Abbott, who serves as Columbia executive chairman and also is a former police officer, wouldn't be the first big-money executives to enter the medical marijuana industry. Other backers of Illinois dispensaries include Getco trading firm co-founder Stephen Schuler. His company, PharmaCann, has four Illinois locations. In a sign of how the industry could be moving beyond mom-and-pop operators, Columbia Care's website lists an opening for a chief financial officer. Illinois currently has 44 medical marijuana dispensaries, including five in the city of Chicago, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Last month the state of Illinois, which has one of the nation's most restrictive medical marijuana programs, added post-traumatic stress disorder and terminal illness to the list of about 40 conditions that qualify patients to buy the drug. The state's 9,000 patients spent about $3 million on medical marijuana last month. Columbia Care's location at 4758 N. Milwaukee Ave. had been a vacant building that the company bought, Vita said. The space for patients is about 2,000 square feet, with the total amount of usable square footage, including security features, being about double that. The facility could accommodate hundreds of patients a day, but if it sees 20 a week for the first several weeks, Vita said he'll be "delighted." Owen Brugh, chief of staff for Ald. John Arena, said the Columbia Care facility is two doors down from the 45th Ward office. Advertisement "It will be easy for us to keep an eye on them," Brugh said. Columbia Care has been good to work with as it sought approvals to open in the neighborhood, he said. Arena didn't take an official position on zoning matters related to the dispensary, Brugh said. Jefferson Park marks Columbia Care's entry into Illinois. It also has dispensaries in Arizona, New York and Massachusetts. To access Illinois dispensaries, patients must be deemed eligible by a doctor and undergo a fingerprint background check. They also must be registered with the state's public health department. Columbia Care's initial hours will be 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. There will be around-the-clock surveillance with a backup system. A physical inventory count is done twice a day. It also has security personnel on staff. Initially a variety of marijuana products will be supplied by third-party growers in Illinois. Starting next year, Columbia Care expects to begin supplying its Chicago dispensary with additional products grown at its own cultivation facility in Aurora. byerak@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter @beckyyerak The emergency room entrance at University of Chicago Medical Center is seen Dec. 17, 2015. A new study says hospital emergency department visits have gone up since the Affordable Care Act took effect. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune) Hospital emergency department visits increased in Illinois after the Affordable Care Act took effect the opposite of what many hoped would happen under the landmark health care law, according to a new study. "Emergency departments are already overcrowded, and bringing more patients in will continue to make that worse," said Dr. Scott Dresden, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the lead author of the study. Advertisement Emergency visits in Illinois increased 5.7 percent, or by more than 14,000 visits a month on average, in 2014 and 2015 compared with 2011 through 2013, according to the study, published online in Annals of Emergency Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal. The number of visits by uninsured people dropped in Illinois the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, took effect. But that decrease was not enough to offset a higher number of visits by those with Medicaid and private insurance, according to the study. Advertisement The study adds to the conversation about the effectiveness of the health care law, as some other researchers have come to different conclusions. The Affordable Care Act mandated that all Americans have health insurance and forbade insurers from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Illinois expanded its Medicaid program under the law, and three-fourths of Illinois residents now qualify for tax credits to help defray the cost of buying private insurance through the Obamacare marketplace. Since major parts of the Affordable Care Act went into effect, the percentage of nonelderly Illinois residents without insurance fell to 7.9 percent in 2015, from 14.2 percent in 2013, according to the federal government. One of the goals of expanding coverage to all was to reduce the use of pricey services, such as emergency department visits, which can sometimes be a last resort for people who don't see doctors regularly, according to the study. But the study's authors noted that the spike in visits in Illinois "runs contrary" to that goal. It's unknown whether the surge will persist, or if was a temporary result of people with long-untreated conditions flocking to emergency rooms once they got insurance, the study said. Jay Bhatt, chief health officer for the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, said he believes the increase is temporary. He attributed it to pent-up demand from previously uninsured people and patients learning how to use health insurance for the first time. "I think there's just going to be a lot more education," Bhatt said. "The learning curve on how to use coverage doesn't happen overnight." Advertisement Jonathan Gold, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement Monday that the department is working to educate newly insured patients, who might have used emergency rooms for nonemergency care in the past, about how to use their new coverage. "As people gain access to affordable, high-quality coverage, they are more likely to get the right care when they need it, but that transition takes time," Gold said. The study also noted a potential lack of timely access to outpatient, primary and specialty care providers in Illinois might be one reason for the increase in emergency room visits. "Patients may believe they have no other option for timely and effective acute care besides the (emergency department)," according to the study. Carrie Nelson, chief clinical officer for Advocate Physician Partners, said ensuring there are enough primary care physicians and promoting a team-based approach to health care could help decrease emergency visits in the long run. Advocate Physician Partners is Advocate Health Care's aligned physician network. Nelson couldn't immediately provide data Monday showing whether overall emergency visits are up at Advocate hospitals, though she said the system's emergency departments are busy. Advertisement But Nelson said Advocate has had success reducing emergency department visits among patients involved in certain Advocate programs. For example, care managers can see how patients are using the health system and reach out to them if they are visiting the ER when a primary physician would do. Community health workers also visit patients' homes to talk with them about the value of primary care doctors and alternatives to emergency care, she said. The study's findings are in line with the results of a nationwide poll last year in which three-fourths of emergency physicians surveyed reported seeing increasing numbers of emergency visits. That poll was released by the American College of Emergency Physicians, the same group behind the journal that published the Illinois study. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report earlier this year showing the percentage of adults visiting emergency rooms didn't change much between 2013 and 2014. Some studies have shown decreases. Those mixed results suggest factors such as the number of people uninsured in a state, a lack of Medicaid expansion, availability of primary care and financial incentives for hospitals and clinicians also may influence emergency department visits, according to the study. Emergency department visits were increasing before the Affordable Care Act took effect, Dresden said, but the jumps revealed by the study go beyond those increases. The study did not include federal hospitals such as U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and it looked only at patients ages 18 to 64. Advertisement lschencker@chicagotribune.com Twitter @lschencker The Obama administration on Friday proposed immigration rules that would allow foreign-born entrepreneurs to remain in the United States for up to five years if they own a significant stake in a start-up company with the potential for "rapid business growth and job creation." Immigrant entrepreneurs who hold an ownership interest of at least 15 percent and have an "active and central role" in the company's operations are eligible to apply for parole, or temporary permission to remain in the United States, for up to two years. If granted, they can apply to extend the parole for an additional three years. But not every engineer with a novel idea will make the cut. To qualify, the start-up must have raised at least $345,000 from qualified U.S. investors or received $100,000 in grants from select government agencies. Other "reliable and compelling evidence" of the venture's ability to grow and add jobs may also meet the criteria. Those for and against the proposal have 45 days to comment before a final rule is adopted. The proposed rule aims to address a common complaint among immigration reform advocates that existing laws force many bright and highly educated immigrants to return to their countries of origin every year. Those individuals then start companies abroad that compete with U.S. firms, advocates say, rather than building those companies here and hiring American workers. "Immigrant entrepreneurs have always made exceptional contributions to America's economy, in communities all across the country. Immigrants have helped start as many as one of every four small businesses and high-tech start-ups across America, and the majority of high-tech start-ups in Silicon Valley," Tom Kalil, deputy director for technology and innovation, and Doug Rand, assistant director for entrepreneurship, at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote in a blog post on Medium. But not all immigration reform advocates support policies that specifically favor highly educated immigrants over those with less education or technical ability. They have argued in the past that both skill sets are valuable to the U.S. economy and that cherry-picking one group of people over another does not lead to comprehensive reform. McDonald's has awarded its entire advertising account to Omnicom. It beat out Publicis, parent company of Leo Burnett, for the account. The account is worth about $1 billion annually. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) McDonald's has chosen the winner of its monthslong advertising competition. Omnicom, the parent company of DDB Chicago, has been awarded control of McDonald's nearly $1 billion annual ad business. As part of the deal, Omnicom will create a new agency that will handle business exclusively for the world's largest burger chain. Advertisement McDonald's has been splitting its advertising business between Omnicom and Publicis, the parent company of Leo Burnett, for the past two years, but both agencies have been part of McDonald's advertising strategy for decades. The decision represents a big loss for Chicago's Leo Burnett, whose history with McDonald's dates back 35 years. The ad agencies had been dueling since McDonald's first sent out a request for proposals this spring. In 1971, DDB predecessor Needham, Harper & Steers created the iconic "You Deserve a Break Today" campaign, helping to propel the fast-food chain to countless billions of hamburgers sold. Leo Burnett won the McDonald's account in 1981, but DDB began nibbling away at the business and in 1997 reclaimed its status as lead agency. Advertisement Leo Burnett regained a larger role last year, beginning with its "Pay with Lovin'" spot created for McDonald's return to the Super Bowl in 2015. The ad decision is the latest in a long string of changes McDonald's is making as part of its effort to streamline and simplify its business. While having two ad agencies compete for work has its benefits, having one consistent advertising message is critical for McDonald's, which is in the second year of a massive transformation. Since the hiring of its CEO Steve Easterbrook in March 2015, the company has launched all-day breakfast, introduced a new value menu called McPick2, announced a plan to move its corporate headquarters to Chicago and made a number of changes to improve its food, from switching to real butter on the Egg McMuffins to removing artificial preservatives from its chicken nuggets. Those changes have paid off in consistent sales growth. In a statement, McDonald's U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Deborah Wahl said, "Part of building a better McDonald's means not only making changes to our food and our restaurants but also how we conduct business. "In selecting this agency we will have access to top talent, technology and thinking with digital and data at the core," Wahl said. "They are fast, fluid and flexible and poised to deliver the caliber and volume of storytelling needed to support our business today and into the future. This new model will, over the next few years, create great work at the speed of the marketplace at an efficient cost. Their creative approach and bold use of channels will elevate our connections with customers in new and innovative ways." In particular, Wahl said that McDonald's is moving toward customization and personalization to create more targeted ads that customers are more likely to respond to. For instance, if you visit your local McDonald's at 7 a.m. three days a week, you would receive targeted ads or promotions for breakfast items, rather than say, an ad for a Big Mac. It also will allow McDonald's to better target promotions through mobile, email, or other means limited to certain areas of the country. McDonald's menu can vary widely across U.S. regions, with many items designed specifically for certain places. While technology has allowed retailers and restaurant chains to gather data on customers for years, Wahl said those efforts will become "more pronounced" in the future. Wendy Clark, CEO of DDB North America, will oversee the still-unnamed new agency. She said in a statement that "the best and the brightest talent across multiple Omnicom agencies came together over the last 4 months to create, operationalize and deliver" for McDonald's. Advertisement "The result is a customized agency built with intelligence at the core, to fuel brilliant creative work," Clark said. "... We are thrilled and honored to be selected and excited about immediately creating impact for McDonald's business." In a statement, Publicis said that "while this news is certainly very disappointing," it is "extremely proud" of what it offered McDonald's. "The work we've done over the years for McDonald's has been nothing short of spectacular, and we are particularly proud of having been partners throughout their business turnaround," the company said. The model for the new full-service advertising agency that will be created for McDonald's was pioneered by holding company WPP. The full-service dedicated agency model has gained some traction in the past decade, starting with Team Detroit, an agency focused exclusively on Ford. In 2012, WPP launched the Cavalry agency in Chicago to handle creative for Coors brand beers. The new Omnicom agency is expected to have more than 200 people working on the McDonald's account. The familiar tag line "I'm Lovin' It," which was created by a DDB agency in Germany in 2003, is likely to remain part of the McDonald's advertising campaign going forward. Advertisement McDonald's spent about $196 million on print, broadcast and digital advertising in the first three months of this year, the latest statistics available, according to Kantar Media. It spent $824 million last year, down from $940 million in 2014, despite an investment to promote the launch of all-day breakfast in October. Leo Burnett has a number of other major clients, including Allstate, Kellogg's, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Samsung. DDB Chicago's clients include Jeep, State Farm and Capital One. Omnicom and Publicis scuttled a planned merger in 2014 that would have created the world's largest advertising agency over a conflict on how to run the combined company. Chicago Tribune's Robert Channick contributed. sbomkamp@tribpub.com Twitter @SamWillTravel A rendering depicts the Showcase at Sears boutique that will be a pilot project at five East Coast Sears stores this fall. The 10,000- to 15,000-square-foot shops will feature apparel and accessofires from 11 brands based in Europe and Mexico, the Hoffman Estates-based department store chain said in a news release. (Sears) Sears is trying in-store boutiques on for size at a handful of East Coast stores this fall. The 10,000- to 15,000-square-foot shops within the larger Sears locations, called Showcase at Sears, will have apparel and accessories from 11 brands based in Europe and Mexico, including Spain's Mango, the Hoffman Estates-based department store chain said in a news release last week. Advertisement "These curated collections are a perfect complement to our existing apparel assortment and offer exposure to brands you'd otherwise have to travel internationally to try on," Joelle Maher, president and chief member officer for Sears, said in the release. The push to liven up the clothing racks came as a struggling Sears said lackluster apparel sales contributed to another quarter of sales declines. Same-store sales fell 7 percent in the second quarter of 2016 compared with the same period the year before, parent company Sears Holdings said in a news release last week. Advertisement Shops-in-shops aren't a new idea for department stores, but Showcase will be Sears' first large-scale experiment with the concept, said Sears spokesman Brian Hanover. Some retailers have used them to spotlight collections of merchandise targeted at particular customers, like J.C. Penney's sections, called The Boutique, devoted to the department store's new plus-size brand announced earlier this year. Others, like Nordstrom, use them to feature a rotating cast of up-and-coming designers or pop-up shops to give customers a reason to keep coming back and check out new brands. The Showcase boutiques will have a mix of apparel for men, women and children along with women's shoes and handbags. The concept will be a pilot at three New York and two New Jersey Sears stores, and there are no specific plans to bring them to Chicago-area stores at this time, Hanover said. lzumbach@chicagotribune.com Twitter @laurenzumbach Trader Joe's alleges a man bought its products, then sold them in Canada at stores called Pirate Joe's. (Lois Raimondo / The Washington Pos) A U.S. court has the authority to hear a trademark lawsuit by grocery chain Trader Joe's against a man who purchased the company's products and resold them in Canada at " Pirate Joe's ," a store designed to mimic a real Trader Joe's , a federal appeals court said 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. San Francisco Hallatt's attorney, Nathan Alexander, said in an email he and Hallatt disagree with the ruling and are evaluating their options. Hallatt disputed his store looks like a Trader Joe's and said he has no intention of backing down. "We're here to see it through, and that means doing this for the people who want this stuff," he said. Advertisement 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. In court documents responding to the lawsuit , Hallatt said his business was lawful, and he provided a service to Canadians who wanted Trader Joe's products but didn't want to go through the trouble of traveling to the U.S. to get them. Hallatt also 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. Associated Press Scott Kirby, 49, president of American Airlines since its merger with U.S. Airways in 2013, will fill a newly created role as president of United Airlines, responsible for operations, marketing, sales, alliances, network planning and revenue management. (Sheryl Lanzel / HANDOUT) United Airlines hired the No. 2 executive at its chief competitor American Airlines on Monday. Scott Kirby, 49, president of American Airlines since its merger with US Airways in 2013, will fill a newly created role as president, responsible for United's operations, marketing, sales, alliances, network planning and revenue management, the Chicago-based airline said. Advertisement In a letter to employees, United CEO Oscar Munoz said adding the new position would let him "sharpen my own focus as CEO on the core mission of driving United's overall strategy, business innovation and financial performance." Munoz, brought in as CEO last year to turn the airline around, has reached several new labor agreements with employee groups and improved the airline's on-time performance, but said earlier this year that United's financial performance still lags behind other major U.S. airlines. Advertisement A key measure of passenger revenue was down 6.6 percent in the second quarter of 2016 compared with the same period last year. Earlier this summer, Munoz announced a combination of cost cuts and new revenues totaling $3.1 billion between 2015 and 2018. "Scott is a proven leader, whose deep airline experience and expertise will further accelerate our efforts to build the best airline in the industry," Munoz said in a news release. "Scott's appointment, along with other recent leadership announcements, is the culmination of the formation of my senior leadership team. This is just the latest step in our mission to be an agile and innovative industry leader." Kirby's appointment follows two management changes earlier this month, when Munoz made former Allegiant Travel President Andrew Levy United's new chief financial officer and former Boston Consulting Group partner Julia Haywood the airline's chief commercial officer. Texas-based American Airlines promoted its chief operating officer, Robert Isom, 52, to fill Kirby's spot, American said in a news release on Monday. lzumbach@chicagotribune.com Twitter @laurenzumbach Dmitry Balyasny, the founder and chief investment officer of Chicago-based hedge fund Balyasny Asset Management, earlier this month paid $2.025 million to expand his spread on Lake Michigan in Kenilworth. (VHT.com) Dmitry Balyasny, the founder and chief investment officer of Chicago-based hedge fund Balyasny Asset Management, earlier this month paid $2.025 million to expand his spread on Lake Michigan in Kenilworth. In 2014, Balyasny paid $6.2 million for a four-bedroom, 4,249-square-foot Colonial Revival-style house on a 0.91-acre, lakefront parcel on a private lane. Now, he has added to his property by paying $2.025 million through a land trust on Aug. 1 to buy a 4,000-square-foot house lying between his previous purchase and Sheridan Road. Advertisement Built in 1964 and designed by architect Jerome Cerny, the house he just bought has a large foyer, a curved staircase, 10-foot ceilings, a kitchen designed by de Giulio Kitchen Design, a family room with a fireplace and a wet bar, a master suite with a new bath, two second-floor balconies and a lower level with a playroom and a workout room. Outside on the half-acre parcel are a circular driveway, a wraparound bluestone patio and a formal crushed gravel courtyard. According to Kenilworth village records, Balyasny is proposing an addition to the house he purchased in 2014. He also is proposing to resubdivide his combined properties. Advertisement Via email, Balyasny on Sunday declined to comment. Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 16 (VHT Studios) Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 Billionaire Ken Griffin, Illinois richest man, paid $58.75 million in November for the top four floors in the Near North condominium building at 9 W. Walton St., known as No. 9 Walton. This photo shows a rendering of the lobby. (JDL Development / E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune (inset)) Thomas Rammer talks to his friends and family members gathered for a "movies on the roof" event hosted by he and his wife Laura Lanford on the roof of their apartment building Tuesday, August 9, 2016, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Here is a man who would not take it anymore. A man who stood up when others sat down. A man who was tired of the careless and disengaged, the bureaucrats who didn't know how to show a movie outdoors. Thomas Rammer would be surprised to hear himself described that way. He is a pleasant sort, a Chicago patent attorney with red hair and, hanging around his neck, the curlicue symbol Prince once named himself. He comes off like a jaunty Disney pirate. But when pushed too far, look out: Seven years ago, Rammer and his wife, Laura Lanford , a manager of software engineers, found themselves flummoxed when the city stopped showing movies in the Petrillo Music Shell at Grant Park. They had bought a condo in the Moser Building on Printers Row partly because it allowed them an easy walk to movies in Grant Park. Never mind that they had already been chafing at Movies in the Park, the forgettable family flotsam that seemed to clutter its summer schedule, the indifferent pre-movie music playing on a sad loop. Outrage is too strong a word for what they felt. Disappointment, though, is spot-on. Advertisement Rammer felt he could do better. After all, we have been watching movies outdoors for 100 years; the centennial of the first outdoor screening is in December, and that theater, in western Australia, still shows movies. During that century, moviegoers in the great outdoors have delighted and suffered. Pro: New Jersey gave us the first drive-in theater in 1933 and the joy of watching film on the hood of a car in our pajamas. Con: The sound came from tinny speakers clamped to our car windows. Pro: As drive-ins declined in the 1980s and their parking lots became flea markets, communities took up the slack and started the summer tradition of showing movies in parks, on beaches Austin, Texas, recently showed "Jaws" to an audience tucked inside inner tubes on a river. Con: Comfort was negligible and park districts are not movie exhibitors. (As The Onion recently noted: "Outdoor Movie Guest Excited to Watch Barely Audible 'Back to the Future' While Sitting On Tree Root.") Advertisement People gather for an evening of "movies on the roof" hosted by couple Laura Lanford and Thomas Rammer on the roof of their apartment building Tuesday, August 9, 2016, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) On the street in front of Rammer and Lanford's condo, downtown rattles and distracts, a college student drops his bike with a crash and a delivery man holding cold food shouts an address into a phone. It's chaos down there. But up on the roof of the Moser, most Tuesday nights in July and August: A postcard of South Loop gentrification, a gaggle of hipster professionals, wine bottles scattered about, a grill smelling of sausages, Buster Keaton racing for a train in the 1926 classic "The General," flawless digital projection, great sound. They call it Movies on the Roof. Via email, Rammer and Lanford invite a few hundred friends and friends of friends; between 40 and 80 show up any given week, carrying food to grill and drinks. Then Rammer and Lanford provide more drinks sometimes cocktails, sometimes five gallons of home-brewed beer inspired by the evening's movie (for "Star Wars," light- and dark-side ales). They show cartoons and news reels. During the early mingling part of the evening, Tom plays music from the film's release year. The deck is long, the chairs comfortable, and the movie competes with the view, of the hotels along Michigan Avenue, of Willis Tower at their backs, the yellow lights of the condos in the Transportation Building to the west. And the feature is always an undisputed, AFI-stamped American classic "Strangers on a Train" and "Dumbo" and "Network" and "The Thin Man" and such. They have done this annually since 2010. On a recent Tuesday, while the audience was arriving, Rammer zeroed in on a slight crackle in one of the speakers. He tinkered with it until it sounded perfect. Lanford hunched beside the projector and fitted a black curtain around the electronics, so no stray lights distracted from the screen. A neighbor wrapped the rooftop exit sign in a scrim. A friend approached Lanford and asked: Did she want a sign downstairs that told people in the building to take the elevator to the roof? MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR "We don't want randos," she said. "We don't want randos," the friend repeated. Rammer and Lanford met cute, in an elevator. Laura invited him dancing. They went dancing, on the spot. That was 13 years ago. She didn't own a TV or watch black-and-white movies. He didn't have much experience watching movies outdoors. But they bonded over movies. And when they started the series, they didn't ask permission, and so between the large audiences and vibrant sound, they have weathered a few neighborly complaints. Yet, with each new season, Movies on the Roof has only grown more elaborate. They sweat the details. On rainy nights, everyone huddles in their apartment. And though they have never charged admission, they ask now for a charity donation (which, on "Rosemary's Baby" night, went to Planned Parenthood). As for the randos: Every summer dozens of strangers ask to attend, and each receives a polite decline. It is a private festival, intended as a frictionless personal alternative to Movies in the Park. Luz Avila, a nurse from Pilsen and rooftop regular, said: "I came one night for the Hitchcock. The full moon rose above the screen. I was sold." A couple watches the trains rumble below. The man is in a bow tie. The woman, in a summer dress, is a friend of Laura's. She went to see "Lawrence of Arabia" at Belmont Harbor the night before, she said. But she was discouraged by the lack of enthusiasm from the audience, by the less-than-magical screening. She would rather be here, she says. Advertisement Light is fading, the movie is ready. Laura runs to Tom. He holds her by the shoulders. "Tom, I have a great disappointment in life," she says. His face crinkles. "Those weren't cheesy brats we got," she says. "Just regular brats." cborrelli@chicagotribune.com MORE FROM CHRISTOPHER BORRELLI: Kanye pop-up store in Northbrook draws plenty of fans Windy City Physics Slam and the art of explaining a scientific theory Advertisement A tent city grows in Homan Square 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) Cookie, an at least 83-year-old cockatoo and one of Chicago's best known zoo animals, died over the weekend at Brookfield Zoo, the zoo announced Monday. "On Saturday morning, Cookie suffered a very abrupt decline in his health, prompting the veterinary and animal care staff to make the extremely difficult decision that it was time to peacefully euthanize him," Michael Adkesson, vice president of clinical medicine for Chicago Zoological Society, which runs Brookfield, said in a statement. Advertisement In addition to generations of fans, the Major Mitchell's cockatoo could claim many superlatives. He was the last animal that dates back to the zoo's original collection, in 1934; the oldest living animal at Brookfield; "one of the longest-lived birds on record," according to the online Animal Ageing and Longevity Database; and "Oldest Parrot - Living" as certified by Guinness World Records in 2014. The press took note, too, often covering the zoo's annual birthday celebrations for the parrot. Advertisement "Like some cockeyed vaudevillian comic in a loud suit and a funny hat, Cookie, an old cockatoo, always has relied on exaggerated showiness and a raucous line of patter to attract attention," began a 1994 Tribune story marking what was then called the animal's 60th birthday. Even in his final years, Cookie still had the beautiful plumage characteristic of his species, with pink feathers on the head and neck, white on the body and a red-and-white crest atop his head. But he had been off display and living in the keepers' offices backstage in the Bird and Reptile House since 2009, after he began showing signs of stress while in a public area, said Tim Snyder, curator of birds. A sign went up informing the public that Cookie was still there, but essentially in retirement. "He did a complete turnaround and became very active," Snyder said. "He sat in on our meetings. He let everyone know what his feelings were. If he didn't like you, he had a really loud, screechy voice and, if you were talking, he would interrupt you." When Cookie was happy or wanted to draw attention to himself, he would say his own name repeatedly, the only human word he mimicked, said Snyder. He had battled various degenerative ailments through the years, including osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. "We all know that because he was 83 years old and well past the normal lifespan, it was going to happen eventually," said Snyder. "But it was like he was going to outlive everybody He was a family member for the department." When Cookie came to Brookfield from Australia he was a young adult which means at least one year old, possibly a little older, hence the uncertainty about his age, according to the curator. Brookfield was planning to host a memorial to the animal, which has received fan mail from around the world, on its Facebook page, officials said. sajohnson@chicagotribune.com Advertisement Twitter: @StevenKJohnson MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR 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) People walk away from a crime scene in the 3600 block of West Fifth Avenue on Aug. 28, 2016, in the East Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago. A 30-year-old man was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) In the weeks since he was shot in the back, 10-year-old Tavon Tanner has undergone several operations to repair the damage from the bullet that tore through his small body and remains lodged between his shoulder and his chest. The fifth-grader is still in the hospital and still in pain, according to his mother Mellanie Washington. He doesn't talk as much and cries more often. Sometimes he'll ask if police have arrested the person who shot him. "I tell him they will soon," Washington said. "They will." No one was in custody as of Monday. Tavon was among more than 400 people shot in Chicago this month. There have been at least 78 homicides, marking August as the most violent month in the city in almost 20 years, according to data provided by the Chicago Police Department. And there are two more days to go. The city hasn't seen a deadlier month since October of 1997, when there were 79 homicides. For the whole year, the count was 761, according to department numbers. Chicago has recorded 487 homicides and more than 2,800 people shot so far this year, compared to 491 homicides and 2,988 people shot all of last year, according to Tribune data. Chicago has a lower homicide rate than many other U.S. cities that are smaller in population. But this year, the city has recorded more homicides and shooting victims than New York City and Los Angeles combined, even though the two cities are larger than Chicago's population of roughly 2.7 million. Advertisement New York, with more than three times the population of Chicago, has recorded 760 shooting victims and logged 222 homicides, according to NYPD crime statistics through Aug. 21. In Los Angeles, a city of about 4 million, 176 people have been slain and 729 people shot, according to LAPD crime data through Aug. 20. The gun violence in Chicago has been concentrated on the South and West sides that have lost population over the years as other areas have grown. Nykea Aldridge's mother, Diann Aldridge, speaks about her daughter during a vigil in Nykea's honor on Aug. 28, 2016, at New Creation Church in Chicago. (Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune) (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune) The Harrison District on the West Side, for example, has had almost 400 people shot this year after logging 350 all of last year. Englewood saw 330 people shot all of last year and has tallied close to 300 this year. The Harrison District covers a lot of the Lawndale neighborhood, where Tavon lives. The boy was playing out front with his twin sister in the 3900 block of West Polk Street when someone fired as many as nine shots. He collapsed as he followed his mother through the front door. His twin sister, Taniyah, sat next to him, holding his hand, trying to keep him calm, according to their mother. "Twin don't leave me, twin don't leave me," she kept yelling. Tavon was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he underwent nearly four hours of surgery, Washington said. The bullet damaged his pancreas, intestines, kidney and spleen as it entered his lower back and lodged in his chest, she said. In the hours before Tavon was shot, a man in his early 20s was shot in the head at a basketball court down the block where Tavon was not allowed to play. And an older man was shot and killed about four blocks away. Advertisement Tavon's twin sister started school last week without her brother. Washington, who has spent the past couple of weeks in the hospital with her son, said she feels restless as her son's future remains uncertain. "Oh, I'm real tired," she said. "Just waiting on him to get better." Chicago police officials have cited the constant flow of illegal firearms through dangerous neighborhoods and an intractable gang problem with some disputes beginning on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter as strong contributors to the city's violence. In recent months, police Superintendent Eddie Johnson has been pushing lawmakers in Springfield to pass legislation requiring harsher sentences for criminals arrested repeatedly for carrying illegal guns. Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson expresses frustration at the pace of gun violence in the city. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune) Earlier this month, Johnson met with several police chiefs from across the country to discuss the nation's gun violence problem, noting that over 40 U.S. cities experienced spikes in violence last year after years of decreases in the number of killings. Cities like Milwaukee and Washington, D.C both much smaller than Chicago in population saw homicide spikes that they haven't experienced in more than two decades. The surge in violence comes at a tumultuous time for the Chicago Police Department. It is still dealing with the aftermath of the court-ordered release of video showing Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times, killing the teen as he walked away from police with a knife in his hand. The public furor from the video's release last November led Mayor Rahm Emanuel to fire Garry McCarthy as the superintendent. Murder charges were filed against Van Dyke, the head of the police oversight agency resigned, and the U.S. Department of Justice began a wide-ranging civil rights investigation into the department. Earlier this year, the Tribune reported a precipitous drop in morale among Chicago police officers, based on interviews with officers. Editor's note: The estimated population of Chicago has been corrected in this article. A 15-year-old boy was shot Dec. 22, 2015, in the 5900 block of South Princeton Avenue. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) A 16-year-old boy died Friday night more than eight months after he was wounded in an Englewood neighborhood shooting, according to authorities. Corey Strother Jr., of the 5900 block of South Princeton Avenue, was shot on the same block where he lived on Dec. 22, according to police. He was 15 at the time he was shot. Advertisement He was hit in the back and right side of his neck and taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, police said. Strother was 16 when he died at Lurie Children's Hospital about 11:15 p.m. Friday. An autopsy is scheduled. Corey Strother Jr., 15, was helping his young nieces out of a car in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood when a black SUV stopped, a man got out and aimed a gun at him Tuesday night. A sister yelled, "Don't do this," as the gunman fired one shot and hit Strother in the neck, according to his family. Everyone around Strother -- his sisters, 23 and 20, and his younger brother, 11 -- ducked or darted away. His nieces, 2 months and 4 years old, were unharmed. The SUV sped off, and Strother was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, according to police. "It's like a dream," Strother's father, Corey Strother Sr., said while smoking a cigarette outside the hospital Tuesday night. "It's like a bad dream." With him was his oldest daughter, Brianna Young, 23, the mother of the two young children. "He wasn't even robbing us or anything. He just shot him," Young said, shaking her head. "They shot the wrong person." Young said the family had pulled up to their home in the 5900 block of South Princeton Avenue around 9:30 p.m. and were getting out of their car when the SUV drove down the South Side street. Young was about to get her two daughters out of the car and head inside the home when the gunman walked up. She said her younger sister pleaded with the shooter as he raised the gun at Corey. "She said, 'Please don't do this to my brother. Please don't shoot,' " Young said. But he fired a shot anyway. Strother dropped to the ground. His 11-year-old brother ducked next to Young's car and his 20-year-old sister ran toward the family's home. The shooter got into the SUV and fled, according to Young. Police cordoned off the front of the Strothers' red brick home, where the family has been living on the first floor since the summer. Bloody clothing lay near the house. A pair of blue plastic gloves were left by paramedics in the middle of the street. On the second floor, a Christmas tree stood near one of the windows. On the first floor, a white paper snowflake was stuck to the inside of a window. Chris Garrette, 52, said he has lived on the block for about seven years and had just been talking about how quiet his block has been this year. "I was just bragging about how quiet it's been this morning," Garrette said outside his home. Strother Sr. said he was at work when the shooting happened. He said his son is not a gang member, and police confirmed that the teen was not a documented gang member. A junior at Dunbar Career Vocational High School, Strother was getting ready to try out for the wrestling team, his family said. "He loved being around his nieces," Young said. The teen's condition stabilized early Wednesday, but his family said he had a long recovery ahead. "He's a fighter," Young said. "He's gonna pull through this." Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield. Topspin The list of candidates seeking office from Illinois has been shortened slightly through the elimination of a few candidates for president and U.S. Senate as a result of action by the State Board of Elections to certify the Nov. 8 ballot. The board on Friday formally removed from the presidential balloting Emidio Soltysik of Los Angeles, who was running as the Socialist Party USA candidate, and his running mate, Angela Nicole Harner. Also dropped from the ballot was Constitution Party presidential candidate Frank Fluckiger of Layton, Utah, as well as Mary Vann, running as the Human Rights Party candidate for the White House. Vann's candidacy included the notation that she was "formerly known as Mary Metcalf until name changed on Oct. 1, 2012." As for the voting for president, there will be other choices on the ballot besides Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. Also qualifying were Libertarian Gary Johnson and Jill Stein from the Green Party. The elections board also removed two U.S. Senate candidates: the Constitution Party's Chad Koppie of Gilberts, a perennial contender for public office, and independent Eric Conklin of LeRoy. Along with Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk and Democratic challenger U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, the ballot will include Green Party candidate Scott Summers of Harvard and Libertarian Kenton McMillen of Melrose Park. Candidates are often removed over failure to file enough signatures or other irregularities with their candidacy petitions. Michael Bigger of Downstate Wyoming, a member of the Republican State Central Committee, filed challenges to the candidacy of Conklin and the Constitution Party candidates for president and senator. (Rick Pearson) Advertisement What's on tap *Mayor Rahm Emanuel has a morning preschool announcement on the Northwest Side. *Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public schedule. Advertisement *Clerk David Orr and other public officials will hold a morning news conference to talk about the upcoming 10,000 same-sex marriage licenses to be issued in Cook County. The state law legalizing gay marriage took effect June 1, 2014. What we're writing *Red-light scandal figure John Bills to be sentenced. *Rauner loses $400 million teacher pension vote. *Rauner vetoes $15/hour wage for disabled care workers. *Emanuel's two-for-one: sell Goose Island land for windfall, move maintenance garage to Englewood. What we're reading *Track every Chicago police shooting over six years. *Two brothers charged in shooting death of Dwyane Wade's cousin. *Heckling and gunfire as CPD investigates shooting. Advertisement From the notebook *Another week, another half-million in GOP ads: The House Republican Organization, the campaign arm of the minority House GOP caucus, has dropped more than $420,000 in cable TV ads for a dozen candidates either running against Democratic targets or trying to keep office, reports show. Top on the list is $157,590 for ads on behalf of Republican Rod Drobinski of Wauconda, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Sam Yingling of Grayslake. Another $64,140 was spent on Republican Rep. Sheri Jesiel of Winthrop Harbor, who is being challenged by Democrat Nick Ciko of Lindenhurst. The Republican State Senate Campaign Committee also is spending $172,875 on cable ads, including $71,430 on behalf of Republican Seth Lewis of Bartlett, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Tom Cullerton of Villa Park. The Senate GOP campaign also is spending $69,100 on behalf of Republican Michael Amrozowicz of Gurnee, who is taking on Democratic Sen. Melinda Bush of Grayslake. (Rick Pearson) *The Sunday Spin: This week's guests included 5th Congressional District Republican candidate Vince Kolbert. Follow the money *Our Twitter feed of Illinois campaign contributions is down for maintenance. In the meantime, you can track campaign contributions in real time here. Beyond Chicago *How Trump got his start in family business, was accused of bias. Advertisement *Trump's problem with Catholic voters. *Trump's effect on congressional races. *Turkey-backed rebels expel Kurdish forces from Syrian towns. Amid an FBI warning to state election officials to tighten election security, Illinois State Board of Elections officials said Monday they believe voters' personal information was targeted in a cyberattack. Aug. 29, 2016. (CBS Chicago) Illinois State Board of Elections officials said Monday they believe personal information from fewer than 200,000 voters was hacked through a cyberattack of possible foreign origin that began in June and was halted a month later. Ken Menzel, general counsel for the elections board, said no files of registered voters were erased or modified and that no voting history information or voter signature images were captured. Advertisement But he said it's possible that some voter personal information, including drivers' license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers, could have been accessed of voters who entered that information when they registered to vote online. Voters who have been registered for a long time or those who registered to vote through a registrar do not have that personal information in the state voter files, he said. Advertisement "It looks to be fewer than 200,000" names, Menzel said of the hack. "We say that the system was compromised in this context, that it's been accessed. We're very confident nothing was added, deleted or altered." The elections board, however, warned that "due to the ambiguous nature of the attack, we may never know the exact number of affected voters." After the Illinois cyberattack and another attempt in Arizona, the FBI issued a "flash alert" this month to warn of malicious attempts to obtain access to states' election voter registration information. The FBI alerted Arizona officials in June that Russians were behind the assault on the election system in that state, The Washington Post reported Monday. The actions by the FBI and related activity by the Department of Homeland Security were first reported by Yahoo News. In Illinois, elections officials said the cyberattack began June 23. Board staff became aware of a security breach on July 12 and programmers used code changes to stop the malicious outside database queries. The board also took offline outside access to its website, including its online voter registration application process, to prevent further intrusions. Notifications were made to the Illinois attorney general's office and the General Assembly under the state's Personal Information Protection Act, Menzel said. The online voter registration portal was restored late last month and the board has added further encryption and taken other steps to enhance security, officials said. "We've been working with the people in the governor's technology group (the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology) and they've been wonderfully helpful," he said. "There are also some interstate groups that have banded together for security issues, as well as the FBI and Homeland Security." Menzel said there is a "reasonable suspicion" that the cyberattack was foreign. Advertisement "We know foreign servers were used, but it's not conclusive that foreign actors were involved," Menzel said. He said the FBI has "their reasons for suspecting foreign involvement, other than just some foreign servers were used." The stepped-up activity to protect states' voter election databases comes as the FBI investigates a hack of the Democratic National Committee that resulted in the unauthorized release of tens of thousands of emails. Security and intelligence experts have said they believe the DNC was hacked by interests linked to Russia. rap30@aol.com Twitter @rap30 Mayor Rahm Emanuel visits Edward Bouchet International Elementary School in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago on Aug. 22, 2016, to tout new air conditioners for all the schools and answer questions from the media. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune) Several Chicago aldermen on Monday offered a "not so fast" message to Mayor Rahm Emanuel as he pushes for a Sept. 14 vote on an overhaul of the complex system that investigates alleged police misconduct. A group of aldermen got a peek at Emanuel's proposal to replace the Independent Police Review Authority and create a new Police Department inspector general at the second briefing session with top mayoral aides in five days. The City Council members were told the mayor plans to unveil the ordinance Tuesday and press for a vote two weeks later at the next council meeting. Advertisement Some aldermen credited the administration with trying to reform the police accountability system beyond just a name change from IPRA to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, or COPA. And they also said they understood why the mayor wants to move fast, given that IPRA Chief Administrator Sharon Fairley last week said she's losing staff and the ability to keep up with cases because of her agency's uncertain future. But mayoral critics and allies on the council also let Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton and Emanuel legislative aides know they want to slow the effort. Advertisement "We told them a committee meeting on (Sept.) 13th and a council vote on the 14th would not be appropriate we are looking for some more time for public review," said Ald. John Arena, 45th, a mayoral critic. "This affects every corner of the city. We owe it to the citizens and the officers so people can get some level of understanding." Ald. Joe Moore, a mayoral ally, echoed the sentiment. "I think it's important that the community feels that we're not rushing into this before it has a say on the actual ordinance," said Moore, 49th. "People need time to digest it." As the administration puts the final touches on an ordinance, Emanuel spokesman Adam Collins said the latest briefing was aimed at getting aldermanic feedback. He noted a series of public hearings on the issue in recent months and added that "with all the input we have received we expect to have a final ordinance to share in the very near future." The overhaul effort by a mayor known for his impatience comes about nine months after the forced release of a dashboard-camera video showing the fatal shooting of black teen Laquan McDonald by a white police officer. The footage set off protests, calls for major reform and a study of the Police Department by a task force the mayor appointed. There's also a U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigation that's likely to end with demands for reform. In addition to the name change for the police oversight agency, aldermen who viewed the ordinance before Emanuel aides collected the copies said there were many substantive changes beyond those they were told about last week. Among them: The new Police Department watchdog would be hired by the city inspector general with approval of the City Council. The mayor appoints the city inspector general, also with council approval. When COPA makes a recommendation of discipline or firing in a case, the police superintendent would have 90 days to respond. Currently, the superintendent can let recommendations wither on the vine. COPA itself would have deadlines, with reports required six months after an investigation is opened and another one six months later. Some IPRA cases have gone unreported for years, the Tribune has reported. Advertisement In addition to probing police shootings, COPA would investigate the use of Tasers. And it would have authority to look into not just alleged physical coercion of witnesses but also psychological coercion. The agency also could not hire former Chicago cops or Cook County prosecutors unless it has been five years since they left those jobs. One point not yet certain: the precise minimum annual funding COPA would get. Accountability experts say that element is crucial so that aldermen and the mayor can't slash the agency's authority by cutting its budget. Also not clear: the details for creating a civilian oversight board that would play a key role in hiring COPA's chief. Even so, Arena's fellow Progressive Caucus members expressed qualified optimism. Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th, chairman of the Black Caucus, said Emanuel appeared to be "headed in the right direction." But Ald. Ricardo Munoz, who chairs a subcommittee on police accountability, said the picture won't be complete until the civilian oversight board is drawn up. The 22nd Ward alderman called that the third key part of the effort after creating the new investigative agency and establishing the new cop watchdog. Advertisement "It's never going to be complete until we get that third component in there and talk about the community input," Munoz said. hdardick@chicagotribune.com Twitter @ReporterHal Colombians flutter national flags upon the arrival from Cuba of the head of the Colombian government delegation for peace talks with the FARC guerrillas Humberto de la Calle and Colombian High Commissioner for the Peace Sergio Jaramillo in Bogota, Colombia, on Aug. 26, 2016. (Ivan Valencia / AFP/Getty Images) HAVANA The commander of Colombia's biggest rebel movement said Sunday its fighters will permanently cease hostilities with the government beginning with the first minute of Monday, as a result of their peace accord ending one of the world's longest-running conflicts. Rodrigo Londono, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, made the announcement in Havana, where the two sides negotiated for four years before announcing the peace deal Wednesday. Advertisement "Never again will parents be burying their sons and daughters killed in the war," said Londono, who also known as Timoshenko. "All rivalries and grudges will remain in the past." Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Friday that his military would cease attacks on the FARC beginning Monday. Advertisement Colombia is expected to hold a national referendum Oct. 2 to give voters the chance to approve the deal for ending a half-century of political violence that has claimed more than 220,000 lives and driven more than 5 million people from their homes Top FARC commanders are planning to gather one final time in mid-September to ratify the accord. FARC guerrillas are supposed to turn over their weapons within six months after the deal is formally signed. In return, the FARC's still unnamed future political movement will be given 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. Critics of the peace process contend that will further boost the rebels' post-conflict political power. After 2026, both arrangements would end and the former rebels would have to demonstrate their political strength at the ballot box. Not all hostilities are ending under the deal with the FARC. The much-smaller National Liberation Army remains active in Colombia, although it is pursuing its own peace deal with the government. Associated Press Fighters loyal to the government gather at the site of a suicide car bombing in Yemen's southern city of Aden on Aug. 29, 2016. (Wael Qubady / AP) SANAA, Yemen A suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State in Yemen's southern city of Aden on Monday killed at least 54 pro-government recruits, officials said, underscoring how the militant group has been able to exploit Yemen's civil war to stage large-scale attacks. In the attack in Aden, the men were gathered at a staging area near two schools and a mosque when a pickup truck suddenly accelerated through the building's gate as a food delivery arrived, exploding amid the crowd, witnesses said. Advertisement "Bodies and body parts are scattered all over the place," said Mohammed Osman, a neighbor who rushed to the scene. "It was a massacre." The death toll steadily rose through the day and by mid-afternoon, the director of Aden's Health Ministry, Khidra Lasour, said 54 had died from the explosion. Almost 70 people were wounded, including 30 seriously, and were being treated in area hospitals. Advertisement Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, identified the bomber as one Ahmed Seif, distributing a photo of him smiling and holding an assault rifle next to a flag used by Islamic extremists as well as a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Yemen is embroiled in a civil war pitting the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The fighting has allowed al-Qaida and an IS affiliate to expand their reach, particularly in the south. The recruits were signing up to join a new unit the Saudis hope will ultimately be made up of 5,000 fighters. After some training, the new force will deploy to the Saudi cities of Najran and Jizan, near the border with Yemen, the officials said. Hundreds have already arrived in the border province of Jawf and the adjacent province of Marib. The Houthis control most of northern Yemen, including the border regions and the capital, Sanaa. Aid group Doctors Without Borders reported on social media that their hospital in Aden had received 45 dead. The IS-run Aamaq news agency said the attack was carried out "by a fighter from the Islamic State who targeted a recruitment center." Later, another statement circulated by IS called the bomber a "knight" who had purportedly killed some 60 coalition fighters. Ahmed al-Fatih, who had been working at the center, said security at the site was lax. "There was no consideration of security," he said. "So it was easy for al-Qaida or Daesh to pull off such an act," he added, using an Arabic acronym to refer to the Islamic State group. Advertisement Most of the recruits are men in their early 20s, unemployed, according to the officials, and mostly from the southern provinces of Abyan, Dhale, and Lahj. Eleven bodies from the attack were taken by ambulances to the town of Koud, where they were buried collectively, officials added. One of the recruits killed was 27-year-old Mohammed Nasser, whose mother said he hadn't been able to find a job since graduating from the Aden University four years ago. "I didn't want him to go," she said, sobbing. "But I never expected him to return a dead body." The U.N. and rights groups estimate that at least 9,000 people have been killed since fighting escalated in Yemen in March 2015 with the start of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their allies. Some 3 million people have been displaced inside the country, the Arab world's poorest. U.N.-mediated peace talks in Kuwait were suspended earlier this month with no signs of progress. The Houthis and forces allied to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh seized Sanaa in September 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee the country. The Saudi-led campaign against the Houthis has pushed them out of southern Yemen, but has failed to dislodge them from the capital and the rest of the north. Also on Monday, a delegation of Houthis met in Baghdad with Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to discuss the war and fruitless peace talks. Advertisement The Houthis and Iraq's Shiite-led government are closely allied with Iran. Al-Jaafari in a statement reiterated the Iraqi government's opposition to the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen, saying it contributed to bloodshed and instability. The Yemeni delegation was headed by Yehia Badreddin al-Houthi, a political leader among the Houthis and the brother of Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. They additionally briefed al-Jaafari about their recent decision to form a political council with the party of Yemen's former president. That decision, which was criticized by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, gives the rebels and their allies control of much of the north, including the capital Sanaa, and leaves President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's loyalists with control of most of the south. Associated Press The original numbers were startling enough -- 30 heroin overdoses across Cincinnati in a single weekend. Then they just kept climbing. Advertisement Another 78 overdoses and at least three deaths were reported during a 48-hour period Aug. 23 and 24. And at the end of last week, after a six-day stretch of emergency room visits that exhausted first responders and their medical supplies, the overdose tally soared to a number health officials are calling "unprecedented": 174. Advertisement On average, Cincinnati sees four overdose reports per day, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported, and usually no more than 20 or 25 in a given week. But pure heroin is what's responsible for that average. And that's not what's on the streets now, they say. The culprit responsible for the staggering number of 174 was likely heroin cut with the latest opioid boost meant to deliver consumers a stronger, extended high -- carfentanil. That's a tranquilizer for, among other large animals, elephants. And it's 100,000 times stronger than morphine. For now, law enforcement officials have been unable to track down the source of the toxic cocktail but believe the spate of record-high overdoses could be caused by a single heroin batch laced with carfentanil. State, local and federal authorities have mobilized across Hamilton County -- home to Cincinnati -- to investigate the source or sources, Newtown police Chief Tom Synan told the Enquirer. Synan also heads the law enforcement task force for the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition, which was created so public health and law enforcement officials from Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky could collaboratively combat the heroin epidemic plaguing the tri-state area. Naloxone is increasingly being carried by first-responders to counter the effects of a heroin overdose. (Amy Davis ) Additional heroin overdoses reported in that area, plus New Jersey, tipped the total to 225-plus, according to reporting on Fox 13 News Now. In the same time period of the Cincinnati overdoses, 13 were reported in Jennings County, Ind., on Aug. 23, 12 were reported on Aug. 24 in Montgomery County, Kentucky, and 29 overdoses linked to free samples of heroin, marked with a Batman symbol, were reported between Aug. 23 and Aug. 25 in Camden, New Jersey. That comes after 27 people overdosed during a five hour period on Aug. 15 in one town in West Virginia. Advertisement But the epidemic surrounding Cincinnati has captured the most national attention -- and area leaders are not sugarcoating the situation. "It's unlike anything we've seen before," Hamilton County Commissioner Dennis Deters told the Enquirer. He called the startling uptick a public health emergency. "This is unprecedented to see as many alerts as we've seen in the last six days," the county's health commissioner, Tim Ingram, told the Enquirer on Aug. 26. Officials have even begged people to turn away from the drug while the source of this potent batch is still a mystery. We're urging you, please don't do heroin right now. If for no other reason, because we don't know what's in the stuff on the street. Tom Synan, Newtown police chief "We're urging you, please don't do heroin right now," Synan said, according to WCPO Cincinnati. "If for no other reason, because we don't know what's in the stuff on the street." Advertisement Carfentanil, a cousin of the less potent but still dangerous opioid fentanyl, is the strongest commercially used opioid. As they continue to do with fentanyl, drug dealers have begun cutting their heroin supplies with carfentanil to make it stretch for longer periods of time and deliver stronger -- and more addictive -- highs. "These people are intentionally putting in drugs they know can kill someone," Synan told WCPO. "The benefit for them is if the user survives it is such a powerful high for them, they tend to come back. ... If one or two people die, they could care less. They know the supply is so big right now that if you lose some customers in their eyes there's always more in line." Further complicating matters is that Narcan, the nasal-spray version of the drug Naxalone, which reverses the side effects of an overdose, isn't working anymore, at least not as reliably. Usually one, maybe two doses of Narcan will stabilize a patient. But the recent overdoses required two or three times that dosage. Tests to determine if the heroin contained fentanyl or carfentanil aren't yet available at most hospitals in the city, the Enquirer reported. "We can't confirm in the short term if someone's had fentanyl, carfentanil or heroin -- the tests flag only as positive or negative for opiates," Nanette Bentley, spokeswoman for Mercy Health, told the newspaper. Ultimately, this past week's outbreak has been most taxing on the first responders. Advertisement "It's been exhausting," Cincinnati police Lt. Col. Mike John told the Enquirer. "They're running from one run to another. It's been very taxing on the officers and the fire department." Malak Assaf, 25, is shown in her apartment in Indianapolis earlier this month. Assaf is a refugee of the war in Syria. (James Brosher / The Washington Post) After a terrorist attack in Paris last year carried out in part by Islamist terrorists who masqueraded as migrants, Gov. Mike Pence directed all state agencies to halt the resettlement of Syrian refugees here in Indiana. Pence is now running on the Republican presidential ticket with Donald Trump, who has called for a temporary ban on Muslims coming into the United States, halting immigration from unspecified countries and sending Syrian refugees back to their war-torn homeland. During the campaign, Pence has also boasted about his move to block refugees in his state. Advertisement "In Indiana, we suspended the Syrian refugee program . . . in the wake of the terrorist attack," Pence said on CBS's "60 Minutes" last month. But things did not quite work out the way Pence says they did. Advertisement A single family scheduled to come to Indiana was diverted to Connecticut shortly after Pence's announcement in November. But thanks to a lawsuit and subsequent court ruling overturning Pence's directive, 140 Syrian refugees have since resettled in Indiana, with more expected in coming weeks. The state's attorney general also argued in court that the directive "does not purport to preclude any refugees from settling in Indiana." "You can't pick and choose who comes to your state," said Cole Varga, executive director of Exodus Refugee Immigration, which resettles refugees here. Exodus and the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana sued Pence days after his directive, claiming that the governor did not have constitutional authority to bar people from Indiana. While more than 30 governors have opposed housing Syrian refugees, Pence was the only one to be sued over his edict. Malak Assaf, 25, a Syrian refugee who arrived in Indiana in May 2015, said she cried on the day Pence announced his move to block refugees from coming, fearing her brothers would be trapped overseas and unable to join her. She had been in Indiana for six months and finally felt settled after her husband found a job and her children enrolled in school. "It's unfair, and it's not the right thing to do," she said through an interpreter, referring to both Pence's edict and Trump's proposal to send back Syrian refugees. She said those fleeing the vicious civil war in Syria just want a better life and future for their children. Assaf said she would now miss Indianapolis if she goes out of town, and her brothers have made it to America. "This is home, and I feel happy here," she said. Advertisement After the lawsuit was filed, refugee resettlement groups in Indianapolis ignored Pence's order. In a December meeting, Pence told Archbishop Joseph Tobin he was concerned that Syrian refugees could pose a security risk and that the United States has not put proper screening procedures in place. But Tobin had already decided that the church would continue resettling Syrian families in Indianapolis, even if it had to do so out of pocket. "This is an essential part of who we are as Catholics, and we're not going to back away from this," said Greg Otolski, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. Richard Primus, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, said immigration decisions can be made only by the federal government. "Governors don't have the power to stop anyone from coming into their state," he said. However, Primus said, states could turn down federal money and not participate in specific social-service programs - which is what Pence tried to do. Indiana wanted to suspend the allocation of specific grants to refugee resettlement agencies, which use the money to fund services such as job counseling. According to court filings, Indiana would not deny Syrians benefits such as Medicaid based on their country of origin and the state would still use federal refugee resettlement grants to pay for services such as English-language instruction for refugee children in schools. "Governor Pence has merely suspended, in part, a discretionary federal grant program," Indiana Attorney General Gregory F. Zoeller wrote. "This is meant as a deterrent, but if those agencies wish to resettle those refugees regardless, the Governor will not take further actions (besides denying their claims) to stop them." Advertisement Zoeller wrote that Pence's action was "far more measured" than the "hyperbolic assertions that the Governor is attempting to 'close [Indiana's] borders' to Syrians." In February, U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt struck down Pence's directive. "The State's conduct clearly constitutes national origin discrimination," Walton Pratt wrote, and "in no way furthers the State's asserted interest in the safety of Indiana residents." Pence's administration appealed. A hearing is set for Sept. 14 at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago. Trump's presidential campaign did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Pence in Indiana pointed to the governor's past statements on the issue. After Pratt's ruling, Pence said the safety of Indiana residents is his first priority and he prefers to err on the side of caution. Advertisement "For that reason, following the terrorist attack in Paris and the acknowledgment by the Director of the FBI that there are gaps in the screening for Syrian refugees, I suspended participation by the State of Indiana in the Syrian refugee resettlement program and I stand by that decision," he said in a statement. Meanwhile, Syrians keep coming to Indiana. They include members of the Kylani family, who had never heard of Indianapolis until they landed here in May. After school one day recently in the household, children showed off pictures and books while NBC's "The Voice" ran on television. The Arabic version of the show lends a small touch of the familiar in a place where there are few. Ahmad Kylani, 37, is an engineer who now spends 12-hour shifts unloading clothing in a warehouse. His wife, 27-year-old Nour Alhassan, one day wants to put her accounting studies to work in the United States. Marya, 6, wore a shirt reading, "happier than a unicorn eating cupcakes on a rainbow." Safwan, 5, excitedly showed his mother a picture of a hamburger. Faisal, 2, pretended to talk on the phone with an empty Tic Tac box. "I'm real grateful and happy to be here," Ahmad Kylani said through an interpreter. Kylani said he was "kind of offended" by Trump's and Pence's proposals because they are targeting one specific community. "But he has freedom of speech," Kylani said of Trump. Advertisement Kylani said he has always abided by the law and that if he and his family did not have a clear record they would not be in the United States. He talked about the suffering and war in Syria and said President Barack Obama allows refugees to come to America. "So if Obama said that, what's Mike Pence going to do about it?" Kylani said through the interpreter. "Leave us alone, so my family and children can live a good life." The process for vetting refugees starts overseas, where people register with or are identified by organizations including the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. The agency screens and interviews refugees, fact-checks their stories and collects biometric information. Refugees referred to the United States are interviewed at a resettlement center, where information and documents are collected to launch a security check by multiple federal agencies, including the FBI. Syrians are subject to an enhanced security review. A detailed interview with a U.S. immigration officer is then conducted. Biometric information is collected and checked against numerous databases. If a person clears the security checks, he or she goes through a medical screening and, ultimately, cultural orientation. The process can take more than two years, the security check active the entire time. "There is no population that is more closely scrutinized and vetted that comes to the United States than Syrian refugees," said agency spokesman Christopher Boian. Razan, 31, who did not want to give her last name out of fear of reprisal against relatives still in Syria, said it took more than a year of vetting before her family could move to Indiana. Advertisement Razan and other refugees repeatedly noted that many Syrians have suffered and scores of people have died in the country. She said she does not think Trump and Pence should be scared of Muslims but understands why they are concerned about the Islamic State terrorist group that controls some territory in the country. "The same way he's scared of them," she said of Trump and the Islamic State through an interpreter, "the people in Syria are scared of them, too." For months now, ordinary people, politicians and pundits have speculated in public and private: Is there, you know, something wrong with Donald Trump? Laymen would say he is "nuts" or "crazy," while a mental health professional might say "suffering from a personality disorder." It's not one trait or attribute, but the whole complex of behaviors: lack of impulse control, self-obsession (to the point at which all human tragedies are seen as they affect him the Orlando massacre proves was he right! Dwyane Wade's cousin Nykea Aldridge in Chicago was killed, so vote for him!), habitual lying and exaggeration, grandiosity, lack of empathy and need for constant adoration. There is also his rambling, sometimes unintelligible speech pattern. He flits from one thought to the next by stringing sentence fragments together, never completing a thought or a sentence. Advertisement We have seen TV diagnoses, most recently from David Plouffe ("psychopath") and Monday from the "Morning Joe" panel. Such pronouncements are met with the admonition that it is inappropriate and impossible to diagnose mental illness without examining the patient. But, of course, we are in an election, not a hospital; talking heads are not bound by the limits of medical ethics. Besides, what if he really is suffering from some mental illness? There are several considerations at work here. First, the answer to whether he is mentally ill is unknowable, because Trump is not about to admit he has a problem, nor submit to an evaluation. (If he did, the ensuing report would no doubt be written in Trump-ese, like his first doctor's note. The most awesome mental health of any president ever!) Second, the conversation is unproductive, since it inevitably comes down to the debate not about Trump but about the impropriety of rendering medical judgments from afar. Third, it leaves open the door to scurrilous accusations from Trump and his minions that Hillary Clinton is seriously ill, an accusation entirely without foundation. Advertisement Most important, however, it does not matter. We don't care, and it should not matter, if Trump has "narcissistic personality disorder" or is just a self-centered jerk. Whether he is ill or evil, afflicted or just obnoxious, ailing or inhumane, the result is the same. At age 70, he is not about to "seek help" or change his behavior. He may be unable to change his behavior; he certainly is unwilling to. Whatever the origins of his behavior, the results millions of Americans are concluding make him unfit to serve. Presidents need to read and learn from others; Trump consults his "own brain," seems to read nothing longer than a National Enquirer article and says he only surrounds himself with people who are not as smart as he. Presidents need empathy; Trump has none. Presidents must be calm under stress, exercise self-control, and be precise and measured in their responses to events. Trump flails wildly, becomes more erratic under pressure and routinely reacts out of anger. Presidents are entrusted with great power; Trump abuses his position (e.g. forcing others to sue him to get paid) and is devoid of respect for fellow human beings. We ask presidents to be role models; Trump is vulgar, crude and materialistic, reducing the world to winners and losers. It might be reassuring in some sense to find out that Trump is ill. The reality is that it's just as likely that he's an obnoxious, entitled ignoramus. Either way, he shouldn't get anywhere near the Oval Office. Washington Post Jennifer Rubin writes the Right Turn blog for The Post, offering reported opinion from a conservative perspective. The next American president should recognize that Russia under Vladimir Putin is an authoritarian, plutocratic regime that poses a serious threat to our values, interests and allies. We should contain and deter Russian aggression by reassuring our NATO allies that we will defend them, and we must support those living inside Russia who are struggling for a better, more democratic future. The problem boils down to the nature of the Putin regime. Since coming to power 17 years ago (initially as prime minister) by ordering brutal force against Russia's region of Chechnya, Putin has demonstrated a ruthless willingness to do whatever is necessary to stay in power. Any threat real or imagined is dealt with decisively, whether it originates inside Russia or abroad. Advertisement Since returning to the presidency in May 2012 after a four-year stint as prime minister, Putin has launched the worst crackdown on human rights in Russia in decades. Critics, journalists and opposition figures are regularly harassed and arrested even killed, as happened to Boris Zemstvo just yards from the Kremlin in February 2015. In Ukraine, Putin couldn't stomach the prospect of citizens demanding an end to corruption and deeper integration with the West. Were Ukraine to succeed, it might pose a threatening alternative to Putin's corrupt authoritarianism in Russia. So he invaded Ukraine in late February 2014, starting with the annexation of Crimea. Since then, nearly 10,000 Ukrainians have been killed trying to defend their country against Putin's aggression. The next American president should provide lethal military assistance to help Ukrainians defend themselves. Advertisement Putin also intervened to prop up the murderous Syrian President Basher Assad, and the vast majority of Russian military strikes there have hit non-Islamic State targets. He threatens countries that host NATO's missile defense system or that want to join NATO or the European Union. To justify his way of governing, he and his propagandists demonize the United States, perpetuating the myth that the United States is the biggest threat to Russia. His zero-sum way of thinking, demand for recognition of a Russian sphere of influence, interference in elections in other countries (even attempting to meddle in U.S. elections) and support for like-minded authoritarian leaders mean that Putin's interests and ours are almost diametrically opposite. The next U.S. administration should recognize that the nature of the Putin regime precludes real partnership between the United States and Russia and vastly limits areas of cooperation. Increasing engagement will not change that both George W. Bush and Barack Obama tried and failed and even risks appearing desperate, which Putin would exploit as weakness on our part. We should stay true to our values and restore the notion of "linkage" by making clear that Putin's mistreatment of his own people and his neighbors will adversely affect our bilateral ties. The next administration should implement more aggressively the Magnitsky Act for gross human rights abuses and maintain even ramp up sanctions against Russia for its ongoing violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. And we should make sure that Putin's best export corruption does not pollute our own way of doing business. Washington Post David J. Kramer is senior director for human rights and democracy at the McCain Institute for International Leadership and a former assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor in the George W. Bush administration. Are voters warming to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? They are not. A look at a national poll from Quinnipiac University provides a snapshot of the race and the dour narrative fueling it: A majority of voters don't like either candidate. Respondents think Clinton is smart (87 percent) and has the right experience to be president (71 percent), but she's dishonest (66 percent). And Trump? He's not level-headed (71 percent) and lacks appropriate experience (65 percent). In other words, one's seen as dishonest, the other's a hothead. Negatives like those make one wonder if Americans would consider supporting an alternative candidate. Quinnipiac asked that question and found that yes, 37 percent would consider voting for a third-party candidate, even though they know little about the Libertarian Party's Gary Johnson or the Green Party's Jill Stein. Advertisement The best opportunity to begin hearing from one of those alternative candidates would be on Sept. 26, the first presidential debate. With Johnson ahead of Stein (he runs as high as 10 or 11 percent in some polls, compared with Stein's 3 or 4 percent), Quinnipiac asked if he should be included in the presidential debates: 62 percent, nearly two-thirds of respondents, said yes, Johnson should participate. So, a recap of voter sentiment: With Clinton and Trump competing in a race that looks too much like an ugly baby contest, a lot of Americans would like the chance to take a closer look at Gary Johnson in particular. Advertisement What they would find is an outsider candidate, but not a political extremist. In some ways he's a more centrist voice than either the Republican or the Democrat in the field: A former two-term Republican governor from New Mexico, Johnson is liberal on social issues and conservative on money issues. Running with another Republican former governor, William Weld of Massachusetts, Johnson's positions (in support of immigration reform and a balanced budget, for example) make him look a little like that endangered species, the moderate Republican. American voters would benefit from hearing his views. Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson talks to a crowd of supporters at a rally on Aug. 6, 2015, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (George Frey / Getty Images) The hurdle in Johnson's way is the terms set by the private, nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. The group says that to participate a candidate will need to hit an average 15 percent support level in five national polls before late September. Johnson is at 10 percent in a secondary question contained in the Quinnipiac poll results. But if pollsters acknowledged voter dissatisfaction and began treating the 2016 election as a real three-way race, it seems certain the Libertarian Party candidate would get past the 15 percent mark right away, even as a still-relative-unknown. Writing in The Wall Street Journal, pollster Ron Faucheux sees another path to opening up the race. He proposes adopting a tiered system that would include in the first debate all third party candidates with at least 3 percent support. Then he'd raise the threshold to 15 percent for the two remaining debates. That would give Americans an opportunity to hear from the alternative parties on Sept. 26, and would give those candidates a shot at winning broader support from a hungry electorate. While Faucheux appears willing to allow both Johnson and Stein to debate, Johnson has the most likely route to becoming more than a fringe candidate which is why we've focused on his chances. He has said he hopes to pick off enough electoral votes to keep either Clinton or Trump from getting the necessary 270. That would move the race to the House of Representatives, where Johnson could be the compromise winner. But with the major-party candidates so reprehensible to so many voters, Johnson said on "Fox News Sunday" that his objective is to win outright. That's a stretch, but still: If the Republicans were willing to hear from 10 candidates at the first primary debate last summer (with seven more appearing at a prior forum), then let's respect the wishes of a dissatisfied electorate and open up the first general election debate to Johnson. Once on that stage, it will be on him to make his mark. Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a roundtable meeting Aug. 25, 2016, with the Republican Leadership Initiative in his offices at Trump Tower in New York. (Gerald Herbert / AP) Some people dumb ones, I suppose are confused about GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump's extremely fantastic immigration reform plan. While he built his campaign around the idea of deporting the roughly 11 million immigrants believed to be in the country illegally, certain crybabies in the media now say Trump is "softening" his stance. Advertisement As a huge Trump supporter probably the hugest I was shocked to wake up Monday morning and see the hashtag #AmnestyDon riding the top of Twitter's trending topics. Turns out MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, a noted loser who I'm told has terrible ratings because everyone hates him, got that term rolling. "For 14 months, Amnesty Don has been putting illegal immigration at the center of Amnesty Don's campaign," Scarborough said on Monday's "Morning Joe." "And yet nobody in Amnesty Don's own campaign can tell you what Amnesty Don's position is." Advertisement What kind of a jerk comes up with a smart-aleck nickname for a presidential candidate? That's something Crooked Hillary would do. Apparently some (dumbs) are interpreting a few comments Trump (smartly) made over the past week. On Fox News he said he would work with law-abiding immigrants who paid taxes. And he said of his nonsoftening plans to deport all 11 million unauthorized immigrants, "There certainly can be a softening because we're not looking to hurt people." Those comments may sound strange to Trump fans who were excited at the notion of some mild immigrant hurting. After all, he had previously proposed a "deportation force" and said flatly that anyone in the country illegally has to go. But I assure you, Trump is not wavering a bit on his clearly defined immigration plans. Don't let recent headlines like these fool you: "Donald Trump's immigration stance changes again." "Mike Pence defends Donald Trump's immigration flip-flop." "Ann Coulter fumes as Donald Trump floats massive immigration flip-flop." Advertisement And don't let the fact that Trump's main surrogates spent Sunday on the cable news shows dodging questions about the candidate's immigration policy make you think there is a lick of confusion. On NBC's "Meet the Press," Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus spelled out the policy that has been central to Trump's campaign for more than a year by saying: "Well, you're going to find out from Donald Trump very shortly. He's going to be giving prepared remarks on this issue, I think, very soon. I don't want to give a date." Well I will give a date. It's Wednesday. Trump announced it via Twitter: "I will be making a major speech on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION on Wednesday in the GREAT State of Arizona. Big crowds, looking for a larger venue." Wednesday is the day Trump will explain to all the idiots out there his totally consistent immigration policy on which he has not wavered in the least. I hope you're happy, dummies. The man now has to waste time finding a larger venue to hold his awesomeness. Those of us who "get it" don't need to wait for Trump's Wednesday speech. So for all the rubes in the media, allow me to give a quick and easy Trump immigration policy primer. It breaks into three parts: Wall; Bad Ones; Good Ones. Advertisement The wall along our border with Mexico is the key, because it will be huge and flawless and impenetrable. It will also reinforce the idea that America welcomes immigrants, as long as they come in through one big, beautiful door where we will check to make sure that they are "good ones." The checking for good ones policy is how we avoid the bad ones. Which brings us to the second part of the plan: the kicking out of the bad ones. Our law enforcement officers who are great know exactly who all the bad ones are. Still, the police who are the best do nothing about the bad ones because Trump is not president. When Trump is president, they the cops, who are excellent will round them all up the bad ones and make America safe again. Easy. The third part, of course, is the good ones. They have to leave, absolutely, no question, unless Trump decides to let them stay, in which case that is a very good and humane idea. If they do leave, which they probably will, they can come back in through the beautiful wall door, and they will each get a Make America Great Again hat, totally free, except for a handling fee of $15. Very fair, it's a nice hat. Advertisement If they don't leave, which they will leave, I mean probably, they will have to do stuff in order to stay. Lots of stuff. The best stuff, really. And that's it. That's the policy. It's what Trump has been saying since he launched his campaign by winning over Latino voters with the suggestion that most immigrants are rapists and drug dealers. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay talked about Trump's immigration plan Monday on Fox Business: "Donald Trump's on the right track, he just needs to figure out a way to talk about it." And he'll do that Wednesday. Because everyone even Crooked Hillary, probably knows that roughly 70 days before the election is the best time to figure out how to talk about your signature issue. rhuppke@chicagotribune.com Jose Loera, 35, was ordered held in lieu of $5 million bail in the killing of his ex-girlfriend, Heather Jacobi, of Aurora, 32, a mother of three. His face bore scratch marks Jacobi made during the desperate struggles that ended when Loera strangled her to death, Assistant DuPage County State's Attorney Tim Diamond said. (DuPage County state's attorney's office) An Aurora man strangled his former girlfriend, a DuPage County jail nurse, with her scarf and then used her stethoscope to make sure she was dead, a prosecutor said Monday at a bond hearing. Jose Loera, 35, was ordered held in lieu of $5 million bail, charged in the Saturday killing of Heather Jacobi of Aurora, a 32-year-old mother of three who was found dead in her home in the 100 block of Gregory Street in Aurora about 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Loera's face bore scratch marks Jacobi made during the desperate struggles that ended when Loera strangled her, Assistant State's Attorney Tim Diamond said. Advertisement A day before the murder, Loera, who was on probation for a previous domestic battery against Jacobi, had received court permission allowing Loera to contact her, the prosecutor said. Loera reportedly called Jacobi Friday to suggest a "celebration" get-together, and Jacobi initially agreed to see Loera, but then changed her mind, the prosecutor said. Undeterred, Loera went to Jacobi's residence. Advertisement Once there, Loera became "enraged" that Jacobi was receiving text messages from another man, the prosecutor said. "He was incredibly jealous and he had a very short fuse," Diamond told Judge Richard Russo. He began hitting Jacobi and tried to choke her, and she responded by clawing at his face, Diamond said. Loera was able to turn Jacobi over on her stomach, the prosecutor said, and use the scarf she was wearing to strangle her. Afterward, he used her nurse's stethoscope to check for signs of life, Diamond said. Loera then allegedly took pills from her residence and drove back to his home in the 3800 block of Gabrielle Lane, about a mile away, and took those pills and others in an attempt to commit suicide. However, he called his brother beforehand, and the brother called police to check on Loera, who was transported to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora about 1:30 a.m. Saturday. As the investigation continued, police went to Jacobi's residence around 7:30 a.m. and found her body, according to authorities. After Loera was released from the hospital, Aurora police took him into custody and he confessed to the slaying, Diamond said. Jacobi took out an order of protection against Loera in February 2013. In the order, she said Loera had choked her into unconsciousness as she begged him to not kill her "because her children needed their mother," Diamond said. He was charged in June with domestic battery after he pulled Jacobi's hair, and he was also arrested for criminal damage to property for using a rock to damage the car of a male friend of Jacobi's, Diamond said. Advertisement In 2008, Loera's ex-wife took out an order of protection against him after he was arrested in connection with a domestic battery against her, according to prosecutors. The prosecutor said Jacobi had worked as a nurse in the county jail for about 18 months. Because of that circumstance, the judge ordered Loera to be held in the Kendall County jail. Loera told the judge he would not be able to post the $500,000 cash bond required for bail. chicagobreaking@tribune.com | Twitter: @ChicagoBreaking With the scope and penalties of Chinas social credit system being further clarified in 2021, legal and regulatory compliance has become more important than... Lacking funds partly because of the debt crisis, Greece which is rich in underwater antiquities, is now working closely with archaeological groups from other countries to explore, preserve and display the treasure trove. Located in the heart of the old town of Athens, stands the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities (EUA). This elegant building of neoclassical style houses almost all of the antiquities discovered in various bodies of water in Greece -- sea, lakes and rivers. A wealth of statues, urns, busts, coins and other remarkable findings are painstakingly cleaned and preserved here, before they can be exposed to the public. Founded in 1976, the EUA is a special subdivision of the Greek Ministry of Culture and is tasked with the preservation of underwater antiquities. The recession in the last few years has struck the EUA hard. It is now working closely together with other countries. Archaeological operations include islands such as Delos, Ikaria, Naxos, Skiathos and Crete. The most famous underwater excavation currently in progress is the Antikythera wreck. Dating from the second quarter of the first century BC, this Roman shipwreck was discovered by sponge divers off the Greek island of Antikythera in 1900. Found in the wreck were numerous statues, coins and other artifacts, as well as the remains of the device commonly considered to be the world's first analog computing device, the Antikythera mechanism. Since 2014, the EUA has been collaborating with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from the United States. The team completed an underwater circumnavigation of Antikythera, documented several isolated finds, relocated the Antikythera wreck, and identified a second ancient shipwreck, a few hundred meters south of the wreck. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution supports the EUA both on equipment and know-how. "The water (in the wreck) is very deep, about 50 meters, hence we can't approach the underwater findings via conventional diving. It requires technical diving, which few of those employed in the Ephorate are familiar with,"Angeliki Simosi, the archaeologist and head of the EUA, told Xinhua. The laboratory staff of the EUA is working on a number of findings, including the bronze head of a youth, a spear from the Antikythera wreck, and numerous urns. "I'm standing before a bronze statue. It is a cuirassed rider of the late Hellenistic Period. It was found at sea between the Kos and Kalymnos islands. You can see how remarkably it has been preserved by the EUA's staff. See how wonderfully made is both the cuirass and the tunic of the rider," Simosi told Xinhua, presenting the most impressive recent finding of the EUA. As the laboratory gradually became overcrowded with new finds, the EUA recently acquired a second laboratory. There, findings from the shipwrecks can be desalinized, also known as scaling, which means striping salt and other excess material accumulated on the object's surface and interior over the years. "The most important stage in the preservation of underwater antiquities is the process of desalination. It is a time-consuming process, during which all incoming findings are placed in water tanks. This process can take up to a year. The time needed depends on the volume of the object involved and how extensive the scaling on the object is," preserver Spyridoula Papanikou, who has been working with the EUA since 2007, told Xinhua. Preservation is a long and often arduous process. Papanikou showed a process of mechanical cleaning for an urn found in a Mycenaean shipwreck. "We must slowly remove all the scaling and finally reach the original surface of the urn, using either a scrapper or a pneumatic tool," she said. Fellow preserver Theoni Dimitropoulou shared another exciting new find, which she has been cleaning under the microscope for several months. "We are working on a Roman shipwreck, a collection of 35,000 silver-plated coins. Because this is a complex object, we resort to a combination of both chemical and mechanical cleaning in order to reveal the surface," Dimitropoulou said. In spite of all the difficulties involved, the EUA has big plans for the future. The foundation of a number of Underwater Museums, which will allow the dazzling variety of findings to be exhibited to the public, is underway. "Our basic priority is to create the Museum of Underwater Antiquities. Its planned location was the Piraeus Cultural Coast," said Simosi. 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. "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 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. 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." 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. People attend the launching ceremony of the first freight train from Yiwu to Afghanistan in Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 28, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] The eastern Chinese city of Yiwu, home to the world's leading small commodities market, saw its first freight train leave for Afghanistan on Sunday. It is the fifth cargo train route linking Yiwu to Europe or Asia. Cargo train routes already in service connect Yiwu with countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Spain, Iran, and Russia. The train, hauling 100 containers of goods worth more than US$4 million, will arrive at Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan via Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. A single trip is 7,500 km and takes 15 days, half the time needed for maritime transportation. The service is expected to run weekly by the end of this year. The northern Afghanistan city of Mazar-i-Sharif is a key commercial center near the border with Uzbekistan. It also serves as a logistics hub for the entire Middle East. The new freight route is expected to help upgrade trade cooperation between China and the region. Trade between Yiwu and Afghanistan amounted to US$20.2 million in 2015, representing year-on-year growth of 2,284.5 percent. The total import-export volume reached US$18.3 million during the first half of this year, up by 4,683 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the local bureau of commerce. China lagged behind the United States in the medal count during this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but it's winning the competition for Brazilian assets. No country has done more acquisitions in Brazil this year than China, which has grabbed the No 1 ranking for the first time on record, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Chinese firms have announced $4 billion of purchases in Brazil so far this year, the highest total for a comparable period since 2010. Latin America's biggest economy has turned into a fertile hunting ground for Chinese acquirers, as Brazilian firms look for suitors to help them ride out the nation's longest recession in decades. A 50 percent drop in the real over the past five years has increased Chinese firms' buying power, while political opposition to takeovers is proving a smaller hurdle than in the US and the United Kingdom. "Brazil has been welcoming towards Chinese investment given the economic challenges the country is facing," Joseph Gallagher, head of mergers and acquisitions for Asia Pacific at Credit Suisse Group AG, said in an interview in Hong Kong. "Chinese appetite for Brazilian assets will continue to be high." Debt reduction has been a big motivation for sellers. Camargo Correa SA, a Sao Paulo-based builder that's been trying to cut leverage, agreed in July to sell its entire 24 percent stake in CPFL Energia SA to State Grid Corp of China. Vale SA, the iron-ore miner shedding assets to better manage its debt load, agreed to sell three vessels to a Chinese group for $269 million last month. "Many Brazilian companies are being forced to sell very attractive assets at good prices to reduce their debt," said Renato Ejnisman, the head of investment banking at Banco Bradesco SA in Sao Paulo. For Chinese buyers faced with pricey equity valuations at home, companies in Brazil look like bargains. About 11 percent of the nation's 473 public companies trade at less than half book value, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The real's slump to beyond 4 per US dollar made Brazilian assets look especially attractive earlier this year, though the currency has since recovered by more than 30 percent amid a broader rally in emerging markets. While Brazil's economic downturn has been painful, Chinese acquirers see the country as a long-term growth market, in part because of its 200 million-strong population, according to Brian Gu, co-head of Asia Pacific mergers and acquisitions at JPMorgan Chase & Co. The nation's power and utilities sector is particularly attractive for Chinese buyers seeking to replicate the growth they have enjoyed at home for the last decade, said Helen Li, head of Asia power and utilities at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Even after this year's spate of acquisitions, there will be additional opportunities for Chinese purchases as European and North American firms consider exiting Brazil, said Zilong Wang, head of M&A at China International Capital Corp, the country's most active domestic adviser this year. Duke Energy Corp, the second-largest US utility owner by market value, said in February it's considering the sale of about 4,400 megawatts of generating capacity in Central and South America, half of which is in Brazil. State-owned China Three Gorges Corp was among bidders invited to make a binding offer by the end of this month, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Beijing-based State Grid has made an offer for Brazilian power transmission lines being sold by Spain's Abengoa SA in a deal that may fetch about 1 billion reals ($312 million), people with knowledge of the matter said in July, 2015. A recovery in commodity prices since January could give Chinese buyers yet another reason to pounce. Vale is nearing an agreement to sell its entire fertilizer business, which includes mines in Brazil. "There have been signs of recovery and stability in commodity prices," JPMorgan's Gu said. "That provides a level of comfort for buyers pursuing metals and mining assets, something that Brazil has in abundance." Police in Gansu province have captured a suspected serial killer accused of the rape and murder of 11 victims, one of them an 8-year-old girl, in northern China. Police detain Gao Chengyong, a suspected serial killer, in Baiyin, Gansu province, on Friday. [Photo provided to China Daily] Gao Chengyong, 52, was detained on Friday in a grocery store in Baiyin, in which nine of the killings occurred. According to the Ministry of Public Security, the suspect has confessed to 11 murders in Gansu and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region between 1988 and 2002. Police allege that Gao targeted young women dressed in red and would follow them home, where he would rape and kill them, often by cutting their throat. The killer also mutilated the victims' bodies, which resulted in the Chinese media dubbing him China's "Jack the Ripper." Reports of the attacks caused such panic that many women in Baiyin would not walk alone in the streets without being accompanied by male friends or relatives. In December 2004, Baiyin police posted a reward of 200,000 yuan ($30,000) for information leading to an arrest. It was the first time police had linked the crimes. Detectives concluded that, based on DNA evidence, fingerprints and footprints, they were looking for a man aged 33 to 40. "The suspect has a sexual perversion and hates women," the police said at the time. "He's reclusive and unsociable, but patient." In March this year, the ministry's Criminal Investigation Bureau launched a new investigation using the latest technologies to re-examine DNA and biological evidence. Police eventually linked Gao with the murders and managed to collect his DNA, which was a match for the killer, a source close to the investigation told Beijing News. Yin Guoxing, a DNA expert, said Gao's detention came after his uncle was put under house arrest in Baiyin over allegations of a minor crime. His DNA was collected and tested, and led police to conclude the killer they had been seeking for 28 years was a relation. Detectives screened his male relatives and identified Gao, a villager from Lanzhou, the provincial capital, as the prime suspect. Cui Xiangping, whose sister Cui Jinping was one of the killer's victims, told Beijing News that he had started to believe that the case would never be solved. His sister was stabbed 22 times before her throat was cut in her home at about 11 am on Nov 30, 1998. Her hands and other parts of her body were never found. She was eventually discovered by her mother. Cui Xiangping said his mother could not stop crying after hearing the news of Gao's detention. Although 18 years have past, the family has never stopped thinking about his sister, he added. You are here: Home An overpass connecting two buildings of a furniture mall in northern Beijing collapsed Sunday afternoon, leaving four people injured, local authorities said. The corridor outside a Red Star Macalline Furniture Mall in northern Chaoyang District collapsed at about 4 p.m., the district government said. The four injured have been sent to hospital and they are in stable condition. Residents nearby told Xinhua that taxi drivers and vendors often rest in the shade of the corridor. Excavators have arrived to help clear the site. Electric scooters and segways are enjoying enormous popularity in China. However, driving them on roads is not advised as it's illegal and also very dangerous. Electric scooters and segways are enjoying enormous popularity in China. [File photo: 21cn.com] Traffic police in Shanghai recently staged a campaign to get electric scooters off motor roads, reported CCTV. In just half an hour, traffic police in Huangpu District of Shanghai dealt with three cases of illegally using electric scooters on motor roads. According to one local police officer, the electric scooter can achieve a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour which would prove a danger to other traffic, especially at night as they do not have lights, and do not brake easily when travelling at a high speed. There have been reports in Beijing and Shanghai of people being injured or even killed while using electric scooters. In 2015, a driver of electric scooter was sentenced to prison terms and fined 650,000 yuan (around 97,500 USD) after fatally hitting a man in Shanghai. Reports say the reason for the accident was that the driver failed to brake in time. As a result, many cities in China including Shanghai have banned electric scooters on motor roads. In some other countries, there are stricter regulations covering electronic scooters. In Japan, for example, they are not allowed to be used on motor roads and drivers must have a special license to use them. Industry insiders warn that China still lacks industry standards for electric scooters, and the quality of electric scooters sold on the Chinese markets can't be guaranteed. The photo of Omran Daqneesh, the five-year-old boy pulled out of rubble in Aleppo in Syria, was on the front page of every newspaper in Europe. The photo of Omran Daqneesh, the five-year-old boy pulled out of rubble in Aleppo in Syria, was on the front page of every newspaper in Europe. The baffled look on the face of a child just bombed by people he would never know, perfectly symbolizes the story of every child suffering under this brutal Russian bombardment, in this animalistic Syrian civil war now in its fifth year. The last time a photo had a similar effect was when Aylan Kurdi was drowned in the Mediterranean while fleeing to Europe from Turkey with people smugglers; then, there was the little French girl with her doll murdered by a rampaging terrorist truck driver in Nice. The reactions to such horrific photos are predictable: cries for solidarity, donations to charities providing aid and anguished calls to "do something". Photographs are an intensely powerful medium for putting across a message. Devoid of broader context and compartmentalized in a visual frame, it gives power and meaning, as well as simplifying the most complex situations in a binary of good or bad. It also changes meaning, sometimes imposing one where none exists. Perhaps most importantly, it can portray a strong emotive appeal that can cloud rationality. Historically, visuals have long been used to rally people for a cause. Just one example, during the Indian mutiny of 1857, the power of British press was evident, as paintings of Britannia delivering retributive justice to evil Indian rebels was used to bring the entire country together at a tough time for the Raj. This time also, Western liberals, including academics and journalists, not to mention think tanks and lobby groups has started tweeting the photo and demanding "something" be done, although what is far from clear. In a fantastic piece for the American conservative website, the Washington Free Beacon, Noah Pollak asserted that Western liberal intelligentsia suffers from a guilty conscience of incapability; knowing they are essentially doing nothing, being unwilling or unable to do so, they overcompensate with vague virtuous signaling on Twitter calling for solidarity and tweeting under hashtags. However, realist academics and policy makers cannot rely on hashtags or appear at candlelit vigils, because real life isn't like that. And there are more considerations than simplistic narratives. If anyone shows photographs of dead children, and demands action (or inaction), that is an "Argumentum Ad Passiones", or, in common parlance, an appeal to the emotions. However, this is no substitute for policy, if we can determine what that policy should be in this situation. The Syrian civil war, is a microcosm of a wider Middle East turmoil. This is a region ravaged by corrupt, but secular illiberal authoritarianism. Due to its unique cultural direction, the societal underground has remained deeply reactionary and conservative, not to mention uniquely sectarian due to the special forces of religion. In that situation, everything has been tried, but nothing worked, especially imposition of democracy by external actors. We've tried intervention/nation building (Iraq), intervention/non-nation-building (Libya), and non-intervention (Syria). None of them worked, and none of them were expected to work. India didn't turn from the feudal Mughal period, and practices such as Sati (immolation by a widow on her husband's funeral pyre), to a modern state in a day; it took over 400 years. In relatively modern situation, the civil war in neighboring Lebanon took 15 years to resolve through negotiation during the 1980s. The Yugoslavian disintegration took 12 years. Syria, and Middle East in general, is barely on its fifth year of turmoil. So, what can be done? What's the alternative policy? Is it full intervention and nation building? Is it strategic amputation, cordoning off the entire region from Libya to Yemen? Or is it calibrated and asymmetric escalation against affected areas? This then leads one to ask: in the case of full intervention, who will intervene, and why? The West is war weary and another open-ended intervention, no matter how noble the purpose, will be a hard sell, after almost two decade of failed democracy export. It is logistical and economic impossibility as well, not to mention that the leader of Western liberal thought, the United States is relatively unthreatened by the migrant crisis or terrorism, so there is little strategic interest for it to join in stabilizing the region, where other powerful countries are vying for influence. Europe doesn't have the capability or organizational backing, and unity to launch any effort to stabilize even its own backyard in Ukraine, much less the Middle East. Open borders for migrants, and/or "solidarity" with them, are just good activist soundbites; however, in reality they are geo-politically naive and socio-economically catastrophic. Finally, one needs to understand, the various rebel forces are not going to win - not today, not ever. They are too divided for any serious support. The issue for the West in the Middle East is one of humanitarian concern with a dose of geopolitics; for Russia and Iran, however, it is existential. The survival of Syria's President Assad and the Shia axis for Russia involves great power pride and new-found military influence. That's exactly why Russia is bent on carving out a new geopolitical role in a region, where it lost influence after 1979, and, if that means new detente with old adversaries like Turkey and Israel, then so be it. Geopolitics makes strange bedfellows. This war should stop. And it will only stop someday when both sides understand this is unwinnable, without either negotiation (which has thrice failed already), or a forced Balkanization. Unfortunately, that time has not yet arrived. So, there will be more sad photographs, and more "appeals to emotion" and subsequent calls for interventions. However, intervention will just keep the fires burning. Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn Flash A significant drop in mainland visitors in the past few months has taken its toll on the island's tourism economy.(Photo/Xinhua) For Taiwan tourism, winter came early. A significant drop in mainland visitors in the past few months has taken its toll on the island's tourism economy. Forty percent of related businesses were hit with a sharp drop in revenue23 percent on averageaccording to a survey by Taiwan companies 1111 Job Bank and its subsidiary TaiwanXing travel agency. The cold spell claimed its first major victim when Genesis Travel Agency, a time-honored company specializing in group tour services for mainland visitors, declared bankruptcy on Wednesday, according to the Taiwan tourism authority. Mainland tourists accounted for 40 percent of Taiwan's total visitors last year. Now, with fewer visitors coming from the mainland, Hsu Kao-ching, a former executive of the Travel Agent Association, said he worried there would be more travel agency closures. The total number of mainland visitors has fallen 22.3 percent since Tsai Ing-wen took office in May 20, according to the Taiwan tourism authority. In June, the number had dropped to 271,000, the lowest point in 30 months. The number of Chinese group tours was cut by 47 percent from June to July, partly because of fallout from a fatal bus fire near Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport that killed 24 mainland tourists on July 19, according to the Taiwan tourism authority. "Political uncertainty created by Tsai's party and safety concerns over the bus accident are the main reasons for the free fall in mainland tourists," said Zhu Songling, director of Taiwan Research and Cross-Straits Relations at Beijing Union University. "Mainland visitors just don't feel safe or welcome in Taiwan anymore." The livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of tourism employees are at risk, said Lee Chi-yueh, chief adviser for TaiwanXing, in a public seminar on Wednesday. "The situation doesn't look promising in the rest of the year either," he said. Flash Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras urged Greece's international creditors to honor pledges and implement specific measures by the end of 2016 to make the Greek debt load sustainable and support Greece's economic recovery. "We are not just requesting, we are demanding and expecting -- on the basis of the deal we are implementing -- the specific measures which will make the debt sustainable," Tsipras said in an interview published by local newspaper Real News on Sunday. The debt relief will open the way to economic recovery, he said. A new round of talks between the Greek government and international creditors will resume on Monday in Brussels during the first Euro Working Group meeting after the summer lull. Tsipras said that his government is keeping its part of the deal and will push lenders to do the same. Greece believes that any continuation of harsh austerity will undermine all sacrifices made by Greek people to overcome the crisis, fuel recession and unemployment rates. Under the previous agreement with international creditors, Greece must meet budget surplus targets of 0.5 percent of the GDP this year, 1.75 percent in 2017 and 3.5 percent in 2018, among others. Greek officials recently have insisted that the goal is not feasible and requested some alterations. Tsipras criticized once again in particular Berlin's insistence on "suffocating" fiscal discipline, warning that the "EU is like a sleepwalker nearing the edge of the cliff." The Greek prime minister has invited leaders of countries in southeastern Europe to meet in Athens on Sept. 9 ahead of the EU summit on Sept. 16 to discuss solutions to the common challenges. French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi among others have responded positively, according to Greek government sources. "The aim is not to create a new alliance of the South, but to bolster cooperation with other countries and speak about the need to promote social cohesion with imminent initiatives, to allocate more funds to support growth and deal with unemployment," Tsipras stressed. Greece has been relying on international rescue loans since 2010, when its economy collapsed. It will be eligible to receive the remaining third bailout tranche of 2.8 billion euros (3.1 billion U.S. dollars) if it passes further reforms requested by creditors. You are here: Home Flash Fierce clashes against the Islamic State (IS) militants in the Libyan city of Sirte killed 18 soldiers and injured another 120 on Sunday, according to Sirte's field hospital. Members of the forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) are seen in the coastal city of Sirte, east of the capital Tripoli, Libya, on Aug. 28, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] The hospital posted on its Facebook page that "the hospital has so far received around 120 injured soldiers, whose injuries vary from medium to slight." The hospital also posted the names of the 18 killed soldiers. Sirte, the hometown of former leader Moammar Gaddafi, killed in the 2011 uprising, was taken over by the IS last year. Government forces on Sunday attempted to advance further into IS's two remaining posts in Sirte, according to a spokesman. Sirte is located 450 km east of the capital Tripoli, and has witnessed increased violent clashes between government forces and IS affiliates since May. In addition to the hundreds of killed and injured soldiers, the fighting forced city residents to flee to safer nearby cities. The IS terrorist group is also responsible for several suicide bombings and deaths of foreigners in Libya. The UN-backed government of national accord initiated a military service called Al-Bonian Al-Marsus, in order to fight against the growing IS presence in Sirte. Plus, the U.S. air force launched several airstrikes against IS posts in Sirte, as per Libya's request. The IS militants are retaliating mostly through snipers and land mines. Flash Israeli and Palestinian officials have contacted with their Russian and Egyptian counterparts regarding the proposed summit in Russia to resume the peace talks, the Israeli Ynet news website reported Sunday. The website said that it received confirmation from both Israeli and Palestinian officials that contact has been reinitiated regarding the prospect of a future high-level meeting in Moscow in October, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Israeli officials were quoted by Ynet as saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the matter with Putin during a phone call last week, yet added it was "too early" to determine whether in fact the meeting would materialize. Ynet had previously covered the news of a potential summit meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. Currently, it reported that the summit will include the same individuals, in addition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who would host the summit in Moscow. No comment was received from the Prime Minister's Office. As for the Palestinian side, the website reported that officials expressed their "willingness" to attend, if Israel accepts to freeze its Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as Abbas demanded, in addition to setting a to the end of the occupation. The report comes a week after Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said that Putin is willing to host Israeli and Palestinian leaders for direct peace talks, according to the Egyptian state-run Ahram newspaper. "President Putin told me he is ready to host the Palestinian president and the Israeli prime minister for direct peace talks in Moscow," Sisi was quoted as saying. The last round of US-mediated peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians ended abruptly with a stalemate in April 2014. Israel occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, home to millions of Palestinians, in the 1967 Mideast War and Palestinians want to establish a Palestinian state in these territories. There has been growing international pressure on both sides to resume the peace talks, following 11 months of intense violence, throughout which 34 Israelis died as well as over 220 Palestinians. In May, the Egyptian president urged both sides to take historic steps towards peace, with Egypt and other Arab countries playing a vital role in the process. Israel welcomed Sisi's comments, and officials stated they were encouragement by his statement. In addition, officials voiced preference for Sisi's regional peace efforts initiative over the French peace initiative, which includes an international conference in order to resume the peace talks in Paris later this year. Flash Russia has redeployed airborne troops and marines to the Crimea peninsula amid an ongoing large-scale snap drill, the Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday. "As part of the ongoing snap combat readiness inspections, units of an Airborne Forces air assault brigade and a Caspian Flotilla marine brigade have been re-positioned in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory," the ministry said in a statement. 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." Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have been escalating since early August when the Russian Federal Security Bureau said it had thwarted a series of terrorist attacks in Crimea masterminded by Ukrainian military intelligence, an accusation that Kiev denied. Moscow has vowed to take additional measures to ensure the safety of the infrastructure and citizens on the peninsula. Flash Yemeni authorities in the southern port city of Aden started to recruit new fighters on Sunday to join the Saudi Border Guard Forces against Shiite Houthi rebels, officials told Xinhua. High-ranking pro-government officials said more than 5,000 young fighters will be enlisted from the government-controlled southern provinces and trained to battle the rebels. The newly-recruited Yemeni fighters will be deployed in the Saudi-Yemeni borders, particularly in the Saudi border region of Najran that has witnessed intensified fighting and periodic Houthi bombardments. The sources said the first batch of 350 Yemeni fighters left Aden on Sunday morning for an island in Eritrea, an African country across the Red Sea, where they will be transferred to the Saudi borders. "The well-trained Yemeni fighters will play a vital role in confronting Houthi militias in the Saudi borders," an intelligence officer told Xinhua. He also said Saudi Arabia has provided financial aids to support the recruitment campaign. Hundreds of southern Yemenis were seen lined up in front of the army recruiting stations in Aden on Sunday as the registration would continue for the next few days. On Friday, local Houthi-affiliated media said pro-Houthi fighters fired missiles at the Saudi borders and damaged the kingdom's oil facilities, but Saudi officials denied such reports. Officials said most of the missiles targeting the military sites along the borders were intercepted and destroyed by the Saudi air forces despite increased air attacks from Houthis. In February 2015, Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their allies invaded Yemen's capital Sanaa, forcing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has been leading a war in Yemen against the Houthis since March 2015 to show its support for the elected Hadi government, which is internationally recognized as the country's only legitimate regime. China is promoting priority areas and guiding principles designed for structural reform of G20 members, according to Finance Minister Lou Jiwei. This is vital for achieving the goal of raising the G20's GDP by at least 2 percent by 2018, the minister said. Lou said G20 finance ministers and central bank governors are also pushing forward organizational reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. They have reached a consensus on global cooperation. "Global economic growth continues to be slow, and policymakers have realized that short-term stimulus does not work well and that structural reform can play an important role," Lou said. Speaking in Beijing on Friday, he said deepening structural reform can improve productivity and potential growth, driving medium- and long-term growth of the global economy. "We have confirmed nine priority areas and 48 guiding principles for G20 structural reforms through this year's finance meetings, which will be important for achieving the G20 GDP goal set in Brisbane." G20 leaders set the goal of lifting GDP by at least 2 percent by 2018 in the Australian city two years ago. China took over the G20 presidency on Dec 1. Lou said G20 finance ministers and central bank governors are also perfecting global economic governance to enhance economic vitality such as by pushing forward organizational reform of the IMF and the World Bank. "Although there are some voices going against the tide of globalization, G20 finance ministers and central bank governors have reached a consensus on global cooperation," Lou said. He said they have promised they will use all policy tools monetary, fiscal and structural individually and collectively to respond to risks, boost confidence and strengthen economic growth. They also reaffirmed that they will refrain from competitive devaluations, resist all forms of protectionism, consult closely on exchange markets, and prepare well for potential risks caused by Brexit, the refugee problem and terrorism, Lou said. Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, said last month that the G20 should remain committed to building an open, strong and resilient financial system. Lou said China's economy is still the "driver" and "anchor" of the global economy. "In 2015, China contributed roughly 30 percent to global economic growth, and the contribution rate is expected to remain at a relatively high level this year," he said. The G20 Leaders Summit will be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sept 4 and 5. Flash Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday reaffirmed their intention to further enhance bilateral cooperation to the benefit of the two neighboring countries and the wider region. In his first visit to an European Union country after July's failed coup attempt in Turkey, Cavusoglu travelled to Greece's Crete island for a few hours, accepting a long pending invitation by Kotzias who had visited Turkey in February. On the agenda of their discussions, according to Greek Foreign Ministry sources, was a wide range of topics concerning bilateral ties and regional and international challenges, such as the refugee crisis. In joint statements to Greek national news agency AMNA following the talks, both officials stressed the determination of both sides to deepen dialogue for the resolution of problems. Kotzias expressed once again the "solidarity of Greek people with the Turkish people who fought the coup attempt." On his part, the Turkish Minister expressed the Turkish people's gratitude for "the clear stance of Greece's government and the support of Greek people." Although no comments were made on the record, the two officials also discussed the issue of the eight Turkish military officers who fled to Greece in a helicopter one day after the coup attempt and applied for asylum in Greece, according to the same sources. The issue is testing the relations between the two countries. Ankara has formally requested their extradition, while Greek authorities are reviewing the asylum claims. The procedure is expected to end this week. The eight officers are strongly denying any involvement in the coup attempt. In case their requests will be rejected in Athens, they intend to claim asylum in other countries, their lawyer told Xinhua in a recent interview. Flash As British Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to head to China for the upcoming G20, she will first hold a critical cabinet meeting with her top ministers at Chequers, the country retreat home for British prime ministers. Reports Sunday said May intends to reinforce her clear Brexit stance following Britain's June 23 referendum decision that the country will leave the European Union (EU). Her determination to see through what the British public decided, is likely to dismay supporters of the Remain camp who are still seeking ways of overturning Britain's retreat from Europe. May wants to make sure before she departs for Hangzhou that world leaders gathering in Hangzhou are in no doubt about her proclamation that Brexit means Brexit. Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith has already thrown down the gauntlet by saying he will demand either a second referendum or an early general election before any Brexit deal with Europe is inked. According to weekend media reports, May has been advised by leading constitutional lawyers that she does not have to seek the approval of Parliament before she triggers the Article 50 procedure that will make a parting of the ways with Europe irreversible. That won't stop a group of lawyers who have already mounted a legal challenge in a bid to force May to hold a parliamentary vote. The High Court will in October, hear lawyers argue that Article 50 cannot be invoked until the British Parliament's European Communities Act of 1972 is repealed. The Mail on Sunday described May's Chequers' meeting on Wednesday as a 'back to school' cabinet meeting during which she is expected to order feuding Brexit Ministers to end any turf wars. It will be May's first meeting at her country retreat since she became prime minister, with the Mail saying it will mark a sharp escalation in May's efforts to assure restless Eurosceptics in her Conservative party that she is on track to deliver an early exit from the EU "and will not fob them off with Brexit-lite". She will also encourage the three-quarters of cabinet members who campaigned to stay in the EU to identify Brexit opportunities in their own government departments. Her trip to China will see May meeting U.S. President Obama, with commentators saying she is likely to use the opportunity to gauge the "appetite for mutually beneficial UK-US trade relationships in the future". The Telegraph in London has quoted government sources saying May will not hold a parliamentary vote on Brexit before opening negotiations to formally trigger Britain's withdrawal from the EU. Former Labour premier Tony Blair and a number of serving politicians say Members of Parliament could use a parliamentary vote to stop Brexit. A Downing Street source said: "The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that the British public have voted and now she will get on with delivering Brexit." Around 480 of the 650 MPs in the House of Commons campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU at the last election. The upper chamber, the House of Lords, is also to be said overwhelmingly in favor of Britain staying in the EU. In a speech on the leadership campaign trail a few days ago Labour's Smith said: "Under my leadership we will vote in Parliament to block any attempt to invoke Article 50 until Theresa May commits to a second referendum or a general election on whatever the EU exit deal emerges at the end of the process." Eurosceptic MP and leave supporter Bill Cash said: "The bottom line is that there is nothing that could possibly be allowed to stand in its way. Everyone in Europe is expecting it, the decision has been taken by the British people and that's it. Let's get on with it." Flash Germany's federal immigration office is ready to accept at most 300,000 refugees in 2016, its head told local media on Sunday. "We anticipate 0.25 million to 0.3 million refugees this year," Frank-Juergen Weise, head of the federal office for immigration and refugees, told the newspaper Bild, saying more refugees than the upper limit could make them "under stress". However, Weise emphasized that the formal forecast should be made by the federal interior ministry. Weise also said the number of refugees coming to Germany last year is definitely less than one million, because many of the them have double registered. Flash Iraq asked Saudi Arabia on Sunday to replace its ambassador in Baghdad, stressing that his presence in Iraq would hamper the development of bilateral ties, the official television reported. This file photo taken on January 14, 2016 shows a handout picture released by the official website of the Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari shows him (R) meeting with the new Saudi ambassador to Iraqi Thamer al-Sabhan in the capital Baghdad. [Photo/Xinhua] Ahmed Jamal, spokesman of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, told the state-run Iraqiya channel that Iraqi senior officials sent a request to Riyadh to take appropriate measure and replace its ambassador Thamer al-Sabhan. "The presence of Sabhan is an obstacle to the development of relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia," the channel quoted Jamal as saying. Previously, media reports said that Sabhan, 49, spoke on his Twitter account about a "terrorist plot" to assassinate him by powerful Shiite militia, led by Aws al-Khafaji, which is part of the government-backed Hashd Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization units. According to Jamal, Sabhan's information about assassination plot was "inaccurate allegations, and such claims are only meant to damage relations between Baghdad and Riyadh." Many Iraqi Shiite politicians and militias have frequently made calls to expel Sabhan because he repeatedly called on the Iraqi government to exclude the Shiite Hashd Shaabi units from the military operations to free the predominantly Sunni provinces in order to avoid abuses against the Sunni residents. Later on Sunday, Sabhan told the pan-Arab Arabiyah channel that the relation between Baghdad and Riyadh will not be harmed and the Iraqi government's call of replacement was probably made under pressure by some political parties and paramilitary Hashd Shaabi units. "The policy of the Saudi Arabia Kingdom is clear and explicit to Iraq and will not change by the individuals," Sabhan said. The Iraqi government's request reflects the deep sectarian division between the Sunni regional power, led by Saudi Arabia, and the Shiite regional power, led by Iran, amid increasing bloody conflicts such as in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. Sabhan is the first Saudi ambassador appointed in his country's embassy in Baghdad, which was only reopened in last December since 1990 when Iraq under Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Flash Turkish President Recep Erdogan vowed on Sunday to fight all terrorist groups including the Islamic State (IS), the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) with its Syrian offshoots and the Gulen organization that carried out a recent failed coup. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during the United Solidarity and Brotherhood rally in Gaziantep, Turkey, August 28, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] The Turkish army's operation in Syria is aimed at giving people who fled the IS-controlled areas a chance to return home, Erdogan told a rally of his supporters in the southeastern Turkish province of Gaziantep. He said the government "had enough" of recent mortar attacks targeting the Karkamis district of the border province of Kilis, which ultimately provoked the launch of the Euphrates Shield operation. Last week, the Turkish army launched a cross-border operation with the help of the U.S.-led coalition forces to drive out the IS militants from its border following the Gaziantep suicide attack that killed 55 people and series of mortar attacks targeting the Karkamis district. "People's demand for the reintroduction of death penalty should be debated in parliament, I'll sign it if it comes to me," the president added. Meanwhile, Turkish forces killed 10 PKK militants in the southeastern Turkish province of Hakkari, Dogan news agency reported. Flash In a community in the western suburbs of Chicago live a group of aviation enthusiasts who turn the backyards opening into a mini airport and park small airplanes in garages. David Hu poses for photos after completing a test flight with his home-made plane in Naperville, west suburb of Chicago, the United States, on Aug. 28, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Among those planes, one was built by a Chinese-American engineer. Being an engineer of Nokia, David Hu started to make an airplane in 2006. For the past 10 years, from drawings, buying materials and parts, polishing, assembling to testing, David worked all by himself in his spare time. The plane weighs about 590 kg, and has a top speed of some 290 km per hour and a mileage of 644 to 724 km. After passing all technical evaluations by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the plane made its maiden flight in June this year. "I have flown airplanes most of my life, this is one of the best airplanes I have ever flown. Mechanically it is perfect, sound," John Musgrave, instructor of Blue Sky Aero Inc., told Xinhua. He also said the plane is "very safe," adding that "everything in the airplane is certified aircraft parts." Since its June maiden flight, the plane has so far flied 32 hours in two months, averaging two to three hours per week. And no problem has occurred. "This is a 10-year journey. There are a lot of challenges for my families to support me, a lot of problems along the way, emotionally, physically, financially. Like any kind of big project, but I am glad that we made it," said Hu, after flying his plane from nearby Morris Airport back home Sunday. "I have done this flying. So I can now turn the page of my life to a new page, looking forward to the next step," Hu said. Flash More than 20 young scholars and experts from China and abroad gathered in Beijing on Aug. 26 to talk about the upcoming G20 summit. Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China Internet Information Center, addressed the gathering. [Photo/China.org.cn] The gathering, themed "G20: China's Role and Global Governance," was held in the lead up to the upcoming G20 summit in China, the country's first time hosting the meeting. Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China Internet Information Center, addressed the gathering. He commented on the fact that China and other emerging economies are incorporated into the G20 member countries, saying, "The inclusion of new members like China, India and South Africa has boosted the G20's influence." He added, China and other emerging markets have also provided experience and lessons that can be drawn from while discussing global governance and other issues. "As the current G20 president and host of this year's Summit, China can also incorporate oriental wisdom and its experience with rapid development over the past 30 years into the meeting's agenda, so as to deliver China's vision on world development and cooperation," he said. Other speakers from various countries, including the U.S. and Russia to Iran and Tanzania, talked about China's contributions to global governance under the framework of the G20 summit, China's involvement in mapping out international rules and how China fulfills its role under the framework of the G20. Flash A basic income scheme in Finland, which was designed to increase employment and simplify the welfare benefits system, has sparked heated discussion in the country. The Finnish government announced on Thursday that 2,000 jobless people in the country would receive a tax-free monthly basic income of 560 euros(626.84 U.S. dollars), instead of other unemployment compensation, in a two-year trial program that starts early next year. Recipients of the basic income are also entitled to other work-related benefits if they find new jobs. Previously, unemployment welfare benefits are suspended once a jobless person is hired. Markus Kanerva, CEO of Tank, a think tank that has studied basic income-related issues, told newspaper Helsingin Sanomat the scheme is a good start despite it may yet to be the best possible solution. According to him, similar tests have yet to be launched elsewhere in the world. "Whatever happens to the plan, it may open the way to test economic policies in advance - in a scientific way," researcher Olli Karkkainen of Nordea Bank told Helsingin Sanomat. "If this system would be applied to the whole nation, it would result in a 10-billion-euros public deficit," he added. However, critics believe the program, which focuses only on jobless people, would offer limited understanding on the overall situation as workers, young people and students were excluded from the test. The launch of the scheme needs to be approved by Finland's parliament. There is still controversy regarding the scheme so far. Some question whether it is constitutionally acceptable as those who were selected as participants of the plan will be getting social security that is different from the rest of their peers. Flash South Korean President Park Geun-hye ordered her senior secretaries on Monday to draw up realistic countermeasures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s "nuclear threats." Park told a meeting with senior presidential advisors that the government and the military should come up with realistic countermeasures for the DPRK's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and maintain a stern retaliation stance against any possible "DPRK provocations" that can lead to the regime's self-destruction. Touching on the DPRK's test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on Aug. 24, Park said the DPRK's nuclear program and missiles is not a simple destabilizing factor but a very serious threat to South Korea's security. Her comments came amid rising calls among ruling Saenuri Party lawmakers for introducing a nuclear-powered submarine in response to an advance in the DPRK's SLBM technology. Pyongyang test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast on Aug. 24, just two days after Seoul and Washington kicked off its joint annual war game, codenamed Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG). The missile flew about 500 km toward Japan, surpassing the flight distance of 300 km which South Korean defense ministry regards as a success. Park said the DPRK will never give up its push for the miniaturized nuclear warhead, noting that if the miniaturized warhead is mounted on a ballistic missile, it would endanger the survival of South Korea and its people. The president instructed her secretaries to strengthen pressure and sanctions toward Pyongyang in cooperation with the international community. Flash Indian authorities Monday lifted curfew from Indian-controlled Kashmir after 52 days of lockdown in the region. The unrest fuelled in the wake of killing of 22-year-old militant Burhan Wani in July by Indian security forces and since then more than 70 people have been killed and over 7,000 people injured. Officials said curfew has now been lifted from most parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir, except in trouble-torn Pulwama district and some parts of the state capital Srinagar. However, restrictions under Section 144 of India's Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibits unlawful assembly of 10 or more people, will remain enforced in the region, officials said. The lifting of the curfew came a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "any life lost ... is India's loss" and talked about unity and compassion to bring peace there. And a day before Modi's outreach program to people of the region through his monthly radio address, Indian-controlled Kashmir's first woman Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed for calm. "I may have got angry with you and you may be angry with me, but give me a chance," she made an emotional appeal to local people, after meeting Modi in the national capital Saturday. Flash When this year's G20 summit, scheduled for Sept. 4-5, opens in the eastern city of Hangzhou, it is hoped representatives will discuss how to transform the meeting from a mechanism of crisis response to one of long-term governance. Observers are interested to see what progress a centuries-old civilization, such as China, can bring to the emerging mechanism. Hangzhou, once described as "the most splendid city in the world" by Marco Polo, is now known as a center for innovation in China, and is home to some of China's most robust enterprises, including Alibaba. The time is ripe to discuss how new ideas can update the process, as the world economy is in a crucial transition period with both opportunities and challenges. The host is ready to share its time-honored wisdom and up-to-date solutions with the world. As an old Chinese saying goes, to fix a problem, one should target its root and source. With this in mind, China chose "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy" as the theme for this year's summit. Attendees of the summit will discuss solutions to the crux plaguing the world economy -- waning momentum generated by the last round of scientific and industrial revolution and diminishing growth potential under the traditional economic system and model of development. Economists have pointed out that the old approach of stimulating growth merely through fiscal and monetary policies has become increasingly less effective. Fully aware of the bottleneck of the old growth model, China is turning to innovation-driven development with concepts of innovation, coordination, green, opening up and sharing. The country also wants to advocate a new model of international development partnership that is more diverse, open and effective. China's pursuit of win-win cooperation and common development is evident in its many cooperative projects. The Belt and Road Initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and other moves by China show a new mindset -- the ultimate aim being a new future-oriented model of global economic governance. Another nova-tradition meeting at the summit will be the rising presence of emerging economies and developing countries. The summit will have the best representation of developing countries in G20 history. China has invited representatives from developing countries, including Chad, chair of the African Union; Laos, chair of ASEAN; Senegal, chair of the New Partnership for Africa's Development; Egypt; and Kazakhstan. A number of G20 outreach dialogues, held under China's initiative, have ensured that voices from the world's least-developed countries, landlocked countries and small island states have been heard. The international community is expecting that this year's G20 summit will reenergize the world economy, and China, an old nation that is treading its own path toward rejuvenation and renewal, is a hopeful place. Flash Calls are rising in South Korea to deploy a nuclear-powered submarine in response to an advance in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s technology of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), but it would face oppositions from the United States as it can lead to nuclear armament in the region. Rep. Chung Jin-suk, floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, said on Monday that the DPRK's SLBM became a serious threat to security in South Korea and Northeast Asia, asking military authorities to actively review special countermeasures such as the nuclear-powered submarine deployment. Former Saenuri floor leader Won Yoo-chul appeared in a radio program saying that a nuclear-propelled submarine should be adopted to contain possible SLBM provocations from the DPRK. He is leading a group of 23 Saenuri lawmakers who issued a statement on Sunday to call for the nuclear submarine deployment. Such calls came after the DPRK test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast on Aug. 24. Seoul's military said the missile flew about 500 km toward Japan, surpassing the flight distance of 300 km which South Korean defense ministry regards as a success. President Park Geun-hye instructed her senior secretaries on Monday to come up with realistic countermeasures against the DPRK's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities, boosting speculation on Seoul's push for a nuclear submarine. Seoul's defense ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun told a press briefing that nothing has been decided yet upon the nuclear-powered submarine, but Defense Minister Han Min-koo told a parliamentary defense committee that the ministry will review the deployment in consideration of growing demands. However, Han added that nothing has been determined yet. Possible push by Seoul for a nuclear-powered submarine is expected to face oppositions from its closest ally, the United States, as the U.S.-South Korea nuclear power pact, signed in 1973, prohibits Seoul from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. A nuclear submarine, powered by a nuclear reactor, is known to need a uranium enriched 20-90 percent as fuel. The enrichment can easily lead to a nuclear development as weapons-grade uranium requires at least 95-percent enrichment. Seoul has claimed the development of reprocessing technology to recycle spent fuel is for peaceful purpose, while Washington has strongly opposed the development. Allowing Seoul to enrich uranium can cause Japan to push for nuclear armament amid growing worries about Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who is seeking to amend the pacifist constitution and make Japan a war-waging country. Such situation would escalate the already heightened tensions in the region following Seoul and Washington's decision in early July to deploy one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korean soil by the end of next year. The deployment decision drew strong objections from China and Russia as the air defense system's X-band radar can peer deep into Chinese and Russian territories, breaking a strategic balance in the region and damaging security interests of Beijing and Moscow. Seoul's push for a nuclear submarine also means a reversal of President Park Geun-hye's efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. The Park administration persuaded the international community to strengthen sanctions and pressure on Pyongyang under the banner of the denuclearized peninsula. South Korea had allegedly pursued the development of three 4,000-ton nuclear submarines in 2003 under the Roh Moo-hyun government as part of efforts to achieve a self-reliant defense capability and reduce a military dependence on the United States. Conservative lawmakers claim that it is almost impossible to detect and track a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile from a DPRK submarine moving secretly deep under the waters. They say only a nuclear-powered submarine, which has a longer submerging time and a faster moving speed than conventional diesel-powered ones, can closely and persistently trace a DPRK submarine carrying nuclear missiles. A nuclear-propelled submarine is known to move at an average speed of 20-25 knots an hour, faster than the diesel-electric submarine's speed of 6-7 knots per hour. Nuclear submarines can remain submerged for long, theoretically forever with sufficient food and supplies, as nuclear propulsion frees them from surfacing for air. Diesel-powered submarines need air and refueling, limiting its operational capability. Flash The Mekong Forum 2016 served to foster dialogue among partners and agencies of Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries to pursuing their development targets, an expert said on Monday. "These include reducing poverty and inequality, generating inclusive growth, improving capacity development, and exceeding the sustainable development goals in the GMS," said Dr. Watcharas Leelawath, executive director of Mekong Institute (MI) at the Mekong Forum. Mekong Forum 2016 was hosted by MI on August 29 at Pullman Hotel Khon Kaen, northeast of Thailand. The theme of this year's Mekong Forum is "Sharing Responsibility for Common Prosperity." The Forum brought together more than 200 participants, including Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, former Energy Minister of Thailand, James Bolger, the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Li Hong, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), as well as development practitioners, senior policy makers, business and civic leaders and academics from six GMS countries. Narongchai, former Energy Minister of Thailand, told Xinhua that GMS countries share the Mekong river, face certain common problems and challenges during pursuing commercialization and sustainable development. "It is thus a common responsibility for each parties concerned to cooperate to take care of the Mekong river for farming and energy-production, serving people who live along the mother river," said the expert. "GMS has been grown more and more modernization and commercially-motivated. There are at least three pillars to enhance capacity building of this region, i.e., agriculture development, trade and investment, as well as innovation," Watcharas. The Executive Director of MI regards the LMC (Lancang-Mekong Cooperation) framework, the mechanism newly initiated by China as a brilliant one to further cooperation of GMS countries. "Anyway, what the countries concerned need to do is to implement more well-designed projects and make the mechanism more efficiently conducted, for their common prosperity," he added. During the in-depth discussion lasting for the whole day, participants of the forum shared success stories and present innovative ideas on the roles of development partners, the changing needs of the GMS countries, and ways to enhance regional integration and promote more equitable and inclusive growth in the GMS. The Mekong Forum, an inter-governmental organization in the GMS initiated by MI, is now being used by leaders, international organizations and scholars as a neutral platform to exchange ideas and build networks across the GMS. Mekong Institute has successfully organized three Mekong Forums in the past and numerous topics have been discussed, such as narrowing development gaps between the lesser developed ASEAN countries and other ASEAN states, and modernizing the GMS. MI was formed by the Thai Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1996. MI has played a transformational role in capacity development in the region for 20 years. You are here: Home Flash Pakistan's top court on Monday upheld the military courts' verdicts of awarding death sentences to 16 "hardcore terrorists," courts officials said. The five-member larger bench, headed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Anwar Zaheer Jamali, had reserved the judgment on June 20. The military courts were established to quickly depose terrorism-related cases after the Taliban attack on an army-run school in 2014. Most of the convicts belong to the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and "Lashkar-e-Jhangvi." Relatives had challenged death penalties to 16 convicts. The convicts were involved in the attacks on the army-run school and on a mosque in military area of Rawalpindi, and other terrorist acts. The 182-page judgment says the parliament had accorded approval to the military courts because of the situation. The verdict said no indications were found to prove that the judges of military courts had any personal grudge with accused. The convicts now have the right of appeal to the president. Flash UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi on Monday started a two-day visit to Uganda to discuss the South Sudan refugee crisis. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is visiting the northern Ugandan district of Adjumani to get a better understanding of the emergency response to the recent mass influx of new arrivals from South Sudan. Grandi will later move to the Ugandan capital Kampala where he will meet top government officials on how to address the refugee crisis. At the end of last year, Uganda was the eighth-largest refugee hosting country in the world, and already in 2016 has received an estimated 163,000 new arrivals fleeing from war and human rights violations in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and elsewhere. The violence that broke out in South Sudan on July 8 has captured the world's attention as nearly 90,000 refugees have fled to Uganda. Flash Akram Jouda, a 42-year-old Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, feels disappointed for being unable to make his first tourist trip outside the seaside enclave due to the frequent closures of Gaza's border crossings with neighboring countries -- Israel and Egypt. "It is a misery," Jouda, a government employee, said, pointing out that before the blockade was imposed he was busy with his new marital life and could not travel at that time. "Now, I have the money to travel, but the closure of the crossings prevents me from having my first tourist trip," he said, adding that he started losing hope to go abroad as he grows older. "I just want to visit another country, and enjoy the archaeology or beaches," Jouda said. "The closure of the crossings kills my dream." The coastal territory, home to some 1.9 million people, has been blockaded by Israel since Islamic Hamas movement seized control of the tiny enclave by force in 2007 after routing troops loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who now rules the West Bank. Egypt, which also shares border with Gaza, has been imposing restrictions on opening the Rafah crossing with the enclave after the removal of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013. The Israeli blockade and the Egyptian restrictions have had severe consequences on the livelihoods of the Palestinians. Freedom of movement for Palestinians is severely limited, with exceptions only for some business travelling and emergency medical cases. Amr al-Reqeb, a 20-year-old Palestinian from Gaza, says living in Gaza is like living in a cage, lamenting that his friends and he cannot travel just as young people in other countries do. "I always dreamed to study at a European university," he said. "Now I just wish I could travel to a European country for a few days." And apparently his hope of traveling abroad for only a few days cannot materialize. Gaza students who wish to study abroad should apply with the Hamas government to get a travel permit. But even if they have the permits, they are still faced with difficulties because of the blockade. The Gaza Strip, once a prominent tourist hub in the 1990s, used to have an international airport, but it was destroyed by Israel in 2002 after the eruption of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, known as the second Intifada, in 2000. All these have delivered heavy blows to the ailing tourism industry in Gaza. "I almost have no customers," Wassim Mushtaha, owner of a tourism agency in Gaza, told Xinhua. "Every resident in Gaza wants to travel, but traveling is extremely limited and my business has been going down rapidly for almost a decade." "The closure has ruined the business," he said. Mushtaha, whose company was founded in 1965, said his agency was once one of the leading firms in the industry in Gaza and had been always busy with tourists. To make up for the losses, Mushtaha has shifted his firm's focus to annual religious trips to Saudi Arabia for pilgrims. "I also coordinate registrations for students who can travel for education abroad," he added. Meanwhile, Salah Abu Hasira, chief of Gaza Corporation of Hotels and Restaurants, told Xinhua that rooms of Gaza's 22 hotels are almost empty throughout the year. "Some of the hotels receive a number of foreign humanitarian workers who come to visit the territory for a few days. But this does not happen regularly," he said. Abu Hasira put the annual loss of Gaza's 109 tourist facilities at an estimated 6 million U.S. dollars. With the dwindling of foreign visitors, the facilities were forced to mainly focus on local tourists, who have been rendered very poor due to the deteriorating economic conditions of the territory. Flash Turkey and Israel will exchange ambassadors within the next few weeks after a recent reconciliation deal between the two countries, Amira Oron, Israel's charge d'affaires in Ankara, said on Monday. Oron told Anadolu Agency that the Turkish parliament's approval of the deal was a critical phase in restoring links between the two nations. "We have reached a good result," Oron said. "It will be a good start and a basis for our relationship to continue." "After all the necessary procedures are complete, we, actually, are at the beginning of the normalization process," she said. The senior diplomat identified the economy, energy and information-sharing as the three most significant aspects in normalizing ties and said trade between the countries could reach 8 billion U.S. dollars. Relations between Turkey and Israel soured in 2010 after Israeli navy forces raided an aid flotilla, killing 10 Turkish pro-Palestinian activists who tried to sail to the blockaded Gaza Strip. Under the new normalization deal, Israel will pay out 20 million U.S. dollars to the bereaved and injured in compensation. Israeli soldiers will be exempted from legal and criminal responsibility and Israeli nationals also would not be held criminally or financially in connection with the incident. By Kevin Yao, Reuters | Aug. 29, 2016 China has set up a state-owned aircraft engine maker with registered capital of 50 billion yuan (US$7.5 billion), state television said on Sunday, in the latest effort to develop home-grown, high-tech businesses to compete in international markets. The government's overhaul of state-owned enterprises to push Chinese products and services up the value chain has prioritized aircraft engines, high-speed rail and nuclear power as areas in which it wants China to excel. China's cabinet, Beijing municipal government, the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) and Commercial Aircraft Corp of China are investors in the new Aero-Engine Group of China, combining a number of smaller businesses and their 96,000 employees to focus on designing, manufacturing and testing of aircraft engines, the report said. President Xi Jinping called for the company to accelerate independent research, development and manufacturing of aircraft engines and gas turbines that will help China to achieve its goal of becoming an aviation power, Xinhua news agency said. State-owned AVIC said in March that it was finalizing a 129 billion yuan merger of its aircraft engine businesses in a move to create a giant that could eventually compete with the likes of United Technologies Corp's aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney. People walk at Shanghai Disney Resort during a three-day Grand Opening event in Shanghai, June 15, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] On Aug 8, Oriental Pearl Real Estate Ltd announced that it is investing in a project that will transform 50 blocks of villagers' homes into a bed-and-breakfast, or B&B, village, just 5 km from the Shanghai Disney Resort. A shuttle bus will link the village and the theme park. This is the latest example of real estate developers investing heavily in a variety of hospitality projects aimed at providing accommodation and other services to millions of visitors who are expected to throng the Disney destination in the years to come. More than 10 developers have been building up commercial complexes in the Pudong area which houses the Shanghai Disney Resort. Hospitality is one of the sectors that will likely benefit a lot from Disney, said analysts. The two in-house Disney hotels in Shanghai receive 1,000 tourists per day who spend 2,950 yuan each on average. That is, the two hotels gross around 3 million yuan in daily revenue on average occupancy rate of 95 percent, higher than the city's average of 70 percent, according to the Shanghai Tourism Bureau. That's hardly enough to meet the current and expected demand for accommodation. "The Disney hotels are fully booked despite their high prices, and hostels in neighboring towns are also fully booked, which shows that demand at all levels, from budget to luxury, is huge," said Wang Hongqing, CEO of the Hospitality Alliance of Chuansha area, which hosts the Shanghai Disney Resort. Wang said hotel room rates have more than doubled since Disney's opening in May. Further studies may be necessary to understand the nature and extent of tourists' demand and market players' capability to meet it, he said. A branded budget hotel chain 1.5 km from Disney now charges 700 yuan per night for a room, up about 120 percent from August 2015. In comparison, the corresponding rate at its sister concern at Lujiazui, Shanghai's financial hub, is about 600 yuan now. Surging room rates reflect the huge gap between demand and supply. According to the Shanghai Tourism Bureau, Disneyland may attract 15 million tourists per year, among whom 30 percent need to stay in a hotel. This means, 4.5 million visitors will likely seek to stay at a hotel in the area every year. That translates to an estimated demand for 2 million room-nights per year. However, currently, there are fewer than 20 three-star or above hotels within 10 km of Disney. The hospitality market sales in the area are estimated to increase by more than 100 million yuan every year, according to a report by Shanghai-based RET Real Estate Consultancy Ltd. The higher-than-expected demand for Disney-related accommodation has surprised some market players such as Xia Jingwu, 36, who owns a two-star youth hostel 12 km from the theme park. The hostel was originally planned to host visitors to Xinchang, a small ancient town, a hidden gem of cultural heritage in suburban Shanghai, said Xia, but now almost all the guests are visitors to Shanghai Disney. "I quit a bank job and opened this hostel because I wanted to enjoy a slow-paced life, hearing visitors' stories, drinking tea with them. I didn't expect to see so many guests and fully booked rooms. My schedule has once again become tight due to this heavy business," he said. Freeman Shen, founder and CEO of WM Motor Technology Co Ltd speaks during an interview with Reuters at his office in shanghai, August 1, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] A former top executive behind China's biggest acquisition of an overseas carmaker is setting out to make history twice, raising $1 billion in an initial fundraising round as the latest homegrown electric vehicle startup to challenge Tesla Motors Inc. Freeman Shen left Volvo Cars owner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co in 2014 and last year founded WM Motor, which he says has secured funding from both domestic and overseas investors. WM plans to introduce its first model in 2018 and boost production to more than 100,000 units annually within the following three years, he said. "We have profound experience in the industry, which distinguishes us from other startup companies, even Tesla," Shen, who's worked in the auto industry for 22 years, said in an interview in Shanghai. "We don't want to make toy-like luxury cars for the minority. We will target the mass market." The sum WM said it's raised is a show of confidence in a startup competing with more than 200 Chinese electric-vehicle companies, some backed by the likes of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's Jack Ma, Foxconn Technology Group's Terry Gou and Tencent Holdings Ltd's Ma Huateng. Both traditional automakers and the bevy of startups see potential in the government's commitment to boost yearly sales of new-energy vehiclesits term for plug-in hybrid and fully-electric carsby 10-fold in the next decade. Startups rarely reach the so-called unicorn status of a $1 billion valuation in initial funding rounds. Zhejiang Ant Small & Micro Financial Services Group Co, known as Ant Financial and controlled by Alibaba's billionaire chairman Ma, raised funds at about a $40 billion valuation in June 2015. Tesla started with just $7.5 million in April 2004. WM was named after the German word weltmeister, which means global champion. Its management team has extensive experience in China's auto industry, ranging from product development, parts procurement, production and sales, according to Shen. The company joins a frenzy of upstarts seeking to speed up investment in China's electric-car sector. Chehejia, founded by internet entrepreneur Li Xiang, said on Aug 10 it began constructing an assembly plant with eventual capacity to make 300,000 vehicles a year. Just hours later LeEco, backed by billionaire Jia Yueting, announced plans to invest as much as 20 billion yuan ($3 billion) in a vehicle plant in eastern China and an auto theme park. WM is developing cars using two platforms and conducting road tests, Shen said. The company plans to apply for a production license later this year and set up a factory in eastern China, he said, declining to give more detail. Shen attended Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program while working for Geely, which bought Volvo from Ford Motor Co in 2010 in the largest overseas acquisition by a Chinese automaker. Bloomberg Boris Blobel, the general manager of Wanda Reign on the Bund in Shanghai, said that for him, Shanghai is not really China. It is as international as New York. [Photo provided to China Daily] Boris Blobel, the general manager of Wanda Reign on the Bund in Shanghai, said the biggest lesson he has learned in the course of his career is not to seek excuses after experiencing failure. But such a scenario seems unlikely, considering how the ultra-luxury hotel he is tasked to run looks to have hit the ground running since it opened on June 18. Built at a cost of more than 3 billion yuan ($452 million), Wanda Reign is the most expensive hotel ever built in China. Owned by China's richest man Wang Jianlin, the founder and chairman of Wanda Group, the hotel features 193 rooms that come with art-deco designs and rates starting from 2,970 yuan per night, the highest in the city. Each of the rooms in the luxury hotel, which blends state-of-the-art technology with retro art-deco design from 1930s Shanghai, is estimated to have cost 15 million yuan to build. In terms of amenities, the hotel offers guests a memorable dining experience with the MARC restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Marc Meneau. The hotel is so committed to providing guests with the best in hospitality that it flies Meneau in every month to oversee the operations of the restaurant. While the five-star hotel industry in China has been languishing in recent years due to saturation and the implementation of anti-corruption measures by the central government in 2014, luxury hotels in China, which are defined as those that cost at least 2,500 yuan per room per night, have actually been experiencing good growth. It is estimated that the average occupancy rate of luxury hotels in China is above 70 percent, in contrast to the 55 percent mark that five-star hotels have stagnated at. "The demand is huge and the supply is limited. I do believe luxury will always have a market in China, and will continue to grow, especially when it comes to lifestyle. If there is an economy that will certainly grow, it's China's," said Blobel. Chinese guests currently make up most of the hotel's clientele, but the management expects the proportion of foreign guests to rise to around 30 percent in future. Neighboring the likes of Peninsula and Waldorf Astoria on the Bund, Wanda Reign offers many attractions for guests from home and abroad, Blobel said. Wanda Reign boasts a vast collection of art pieces that is valued at 70 million yuan. In addition, the hotel's "Chinese DNA" is a big draw. "Wanda Reign is a young but proud Chinese hotel brand, founded to show the world that Chinese people can run a luxurious hospitality brand as well," said Blobel. "For me, Shanghai is not really China. It is as international as New York, London and Paris. Shanghai is the most sophisticated and advanced city in China that is ready to take on the world, especially in terms of services," said Blobel. Growing up in what he calls "an expat family" which has spent more time overseas than in their home country in Germany, Blobel said he was always fascinated by the hotel industry and had aspired to become the general manger of one at some point in his life. He started his career in the hospitality industry interning as a bellboy. After graduating from hotel management school, Blobel worked his way up to his current position where he manages 15 of Wanda's hotels in China. Having worked in China for several years before, Blobel joined Wanda in 2012 and served as the general manager of the group's first luxury hotel in Wuhan, Hubei province. Asked about his experience of working with China's richest man, Blobel said that Wang has been an inspiration with his keen foresight and no-nonsense approach to doing business. He added that within just four-and-a-half years, the Chinese real estate mogul has grown the number of hotels under Wanda Group to 50. By the end of this year, the number of hotels owned or managed by Wanda would reach 100, with another seven overseas hotels in the pipeline. "Things are very straightforward at Wandayou get all the tools and assets you need and you just do it. You don't make up excuses. That's Wanda's message," said Blobel. Yang Qing (center), executive vice-president and deputy general manager of State Grid Corporation of China, celebrates with his colleagues after the company won a Brazilian infrastructure project to build and operate the second power transmission line to connect the giant Belo Monte hydropower plant to the national Brazilian grid in July last year. [Photo/Agencies] Corporate buyouts are not Olympics; Chinese firms pump $4b so far this year China lagged behind the United States in the medal count during this year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but it's winning the competition for Brazilian assets. No country has done more acquisitions in Brazil this year than China, which has grabbed the No 1 ranking for the first time on record, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Chinese firms have announced $4 billion of purchases in Brazil so far this year, the highest total for a comparable period since 2010. Latin America's biggest economy has turned into a fertile hunting ground for Chinese acquirers, as Brazilian firms look for suitors to help them ride out the nation's longest recession in decades. A 50 percent drop in the real over the past five years has increased Chinese firms' buying power, while political opposition to takeovers is proving a smaller hurdle than in the US and the United Kingdom. "Brazil has been welcoming towards Chinese investment given the economic challenges the country is facing," Joseph Gallagher, head of mergers and acquisitions for Asia Pacific at Credit Suisse Group AG, said in an interview in Hong Kong. "Chinese appetite for Brazilian assets will continue to be high." Debt reduction has been a big motivation for sellers. Camargo Correa SA, a Sao Paulo-based builder that's been trying to cut leverage, agreed in July to sell its entire 24 percent stake in CPFL Energia SA to State Grid Corp of China. Vale SA, the iron-ore miner shedding assets to better manage its debt load, agreed to sell three vessels to a Chinese group for $269 million last month. "Many Brazilian companies are being forced to sell very attractive assets at good prices to reduce their debt," said Renato Ejnisman, the head of investment banking at Banco Bradesco SA in Sao Paulo. Interim president of Brazil, Michel Temer (center, right), accompanied by the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Fernando Pezao (center, left) are on board an underground train. The t rain running on the line are all made in China and the Chinese company that built them is in charge of train safety. [Photo/IC] For Chinese buyers faced with pricey equity valuations at home, companies in Brazil look like bargains. About 11 percent of the nation's 473 public companies trade at less than half book value, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The real's slump to beyond 4 per US dollar made Brazilian assets look especially attractive earlier this year, though the currency has since recovered by more than 30 percent amid a broader rally in emerging markets. While Brazil's economic downturn has been painful, Chinese acquirers see the country as a long-term growth market, in part because of its 200 million-strong population, according to Brian Gu, co-head of Asia Pacific mergers and acquisitions at JPMorgan Chase & Co. The nation's power and utilities sector is particularly attractive for Chinese buyers seeking to replicate the growth they have enjoyed at home for the last decade, said Helen Li, head of Asia power and utilities at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Even after this year's spate of acquisitions, there will be additional opportunities for Chinese purchases as European and North American firms consider exiting Brazil, said Zilong Wang, head of M&A at China International Capital Corp, the country's most active domestic adviser this year. Duke Energy Corp, the second-largest US utility owner by market value, said in February it's considering the sale of about 4,400 megawatts of generating capacity in Central and South America, half of which is in Brazil. State-owned China Three Gorges Corp was among bidders invited to make a binding offer by the end of this month, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Beijing-based State Grid has made an offer for Brazilian power transmission lines being sold by Spain's Abengoa SA in a deal that may fetch about 1 billion reals ($312 million), people with knowledge of the matter said in July, 2015. A recovery in commodity prices since January could give Chinese buyers yet another reason to pounce. Vale is nearing an agreement to sell its entire fertilizer business, which includes mines in Brazil. "There have been signs of recovery and stability in commodity prices," JPMorgan's Gu said. "That provides a level of comfort for buyers pursuing metals and mining assets, something that Brazil has in abundance." Bloomberg A bus passenger buys a ticket with Alipay, which is targeting more than 120 million Chinese travelers worldwide. [Photo/China Daily] Alipay, an affiliate of billionaire entrepreneur Jack Ma's Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, is pushing forward with plans to expand in Europe, unveiling a partnership with Ingenico Group SA that paves the way for hundreds of continental retailers to accept China's biggest mobile wallet in popular destinations. To cater to Chinese tourists visiting Europe, Alipay needs brick-and-mortar stores from LVMH to Sainsbury's on board. An agreement with Ingenico, the processing platform that has thousands of merchants as its customers, will facilitate alliances as well as provide a technical piece of the puzzle, Douglas Feagin, who heads Alipay's international business, said in an interview. The Chinese company is seeking partners from duty-free shops to luxury and department stores, he said. "Chinese customers traveling abroadone of their primary goals is to buy things. It's a very large market for us given most travelers are Alipay customers already," Feagin said in Paris. "This deal gives us immediate access to merchants across Europe, more quickly and more efficiently." Alipay is targeting the 120 million Chinese people who traveled last year and spent $875 each on average during those trips. It promises to drive business to retailers, with a wallet app that lets some 450 million users pay, but also suggests stores, restaurants and pushes coupons. In comparison, only a few dozen million subscribers combined use mobile wallets by Apple Inc, Google or Samsung Electronics Co. Agreements are already in place to let Chinese customers use the Alipay wallet for a ride with Uber Technologies Inc, a booking on Airbnb Inc or a purchase at Macy's Inc. Alipay has no plans at this point to offer its services to consumers who are not from China. "We're building the international business step by step. There's a lot to do still with our core customer base, and it's still expanding," Feagin said. Alipay has a market share of about 80 percent in mobile payments in China. Ingenico, whose payment terminals are in thousands of online and physical stores in 150 countries, also manages cross-border electronic transactions for Alipay and its parent company Alibaba. Offering its retail customers more payment options is a way to keep them happy as well as grow service charges by increasing volume, said Jacques Behr, Ingenico's chief for Europe and Africa. "The alternative is often paying in cash," Behr said. That, of course, would be a transaction lost on both Alipay and Ingenico. Bloomberg ALMATY - "Lenovo, Huawei, Xiaomi...... Many young people in Kazakhstan use more and more products made in China with high technology," Gulmira Nurumgaliyeva told Xinhua on Saturday. Gulmira, a fashionable Kazakh girl, was attracted by Chinese calligraphy in the Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition held in Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan. "China is an old country with many creations in history," Gulmira said, pointing at the items at the exhibition, which is part of a four-day "Feel China" project in Kazakhstan. "Now we are witnessing more and more products designed by China with high technology," she continued. "Anyway, lots of my friends start to prefer using mobile phones and other digital products from China." Gulmira said. Good quality, easy to use, reasonable prices and cool designs are the reasons why young people in Kazakhstan like digital products made in China, Gulmira explained. In Sulpak, one of the biggest telecommunication & electrical equipment chain stores in Kazakhstan, out of ten mobile phones sold every day, three to four were made in China, a salesman told Xinhua. "We started to know 'made in China' through Chinese clothing and small commodities, then we are used to Chinese digital products. Now we are surprised by China's rapid development of technology and innovation in so many fields," said Galim, a visitor to the Chinese smart life exhibition held in Almaty, also part of "Feel China" project in Kazakhstan. Green, smart and modern are the main features of the smart life exhibition. Visitors have opportunities to feel smart technologies already combined with ordinary life in China, such as online services, VR (virtual reality) and digital face recognition. Mitet Zhumabaev, a resident in Almaty, said his life is closely connected with China through internet. One of his favorite websites is the AliExpress, an online retail service made up of mostly small Chinese businesses offering products to international online buyers. He said that now in Kazakhstan, many people buy things through cross-border e-commerce. People here use QIWI internet wallet, which is designed by Russia and easy to find recharge terminals in public shopping places, to buy things on AliExpress. In May, Kazakhstan's national sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna, together with the Kazakh telecom and post companies, signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba to promote cooperation in e-commerce, payment and logistics. AliExpress has become one of the top ranking online trading platforms in Kazakhstan, with clothes, home appliances and digital products being the favorites of local consumers, according to Alexa, a commercial web traffic data provider wholly owned by Amazon.com. "Made in China" is no longer the same as in the past. It now brings people more creations, innovations and smart technologies. MOSCOW - Over 5,400 Chinese tourists visited Russian Transbaikal region on a visa-free exchange basis in the first half of the year, up 62.8 percent year on year, the Russian news agency TASS reported Monday. According to the agency, the local authorities are working on a project to develop tourism between 2017 and 2025 by improving infrastructure and spa complex, and seek to attract tourists from other parts of the country and overseas. In recent years, the number of tourists visiting Transbaikal region has been on the rise, and 99 percent of them are Chinese, the report said. The most popular tour sites are its mineral springs, Orthodox churches and monasteries of Chita. Over 1 million tourists from China visited Russia in 2015, spending nearly $1 billion, according to data from the Moscow tourism department. GENEVA - Daniel Funes de Rioja, president of the International Organization of Employers (IOE), has expected that the upcoming G20 summit could give a strong impetus to comprehensive reform efforts at national level. "The G20 is an important international platform for policy coordination, but it has not yet become an engine for reform," De Rioja, who is also a co-chair of Business 20 (B20) Employment Task Force, told Xinhua on Thursday in an exclusive interview. This year's G20 summit will be convened on Sept 4-5 in Hangzhou, China and its theme is "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy." B20 supports the work of G20 by hosting focused policy discussions and developing recommendations. De Rioja praised China for choosing the right motto and agreed that G20 needs to be more innovative and invigorated. He also emphasized the importance of inclusive development, adding that having a job is "the best medicine against poverty and exclusion." He recalled that the B20 Employment Task Force has developed important recommendations for creating an enabling environment for growth and job creation and to bring people into employment. De Rioja also reminded that palpable headway can only be achieved if relations between members are permeated by a sense of trust. "The G20 has to play an active role to combine positive results in the economic and social field. Prosperity requires growth, investment, technology and innovation, with employment and social coverage for all," he said. "However, the common ground has to be peace, rule of law and mutual respect between people" and members, he concluded. DAKAR - Senegalese President Macky Sall has said he will push for funding of African economies, equity and fight against tax evasion during the G20 Summit that will be held between Sept 4 to 5 in Hangzhou, China. The president who will attend the 11th G20 Summit in his capacity as the chairman of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), made the remarks during an interview he gave to Chinese media in Dakar. "There should be more investments than aid for African countries," Sall said. "Three years ago, I appealed for measures that would help to bring growth to Africa. Africa needs more investments and partnerships," the Senegalese president said. We must ensure that the partnerships between Africa and other G20 countries are built on mutual interest and in a manner that will allow Africans, African businesses and African governments to access long term financial resources that should be less expensive to allow for development, Sall noted. "Everyone wins, because Chinese enterprises can work just like other international firms. Africa will achieve development and it will also invest in itself. The funding will enable our economies to recover from the delays witnessed in the priority sectors such as infrastructure and energy," he said. The second issue that the NEPAD chairman will be raising during the summit of 20 largest economies in the world will be equity and the fight against tax evasion in Africa. "Africa is a continent which, often, has unfortunately been exploited. Multinationals that operate in capitalistic sectors have always benefited from legislations that totally exonerate them from paying taxes. And yet today, to fund development on the continent, we first need to count on internally mobilized resources," Sall said. We should therefore change international taxation regime so that wealth created in a country can generate revenue for those countries that have the natural resources, the Senegalese president recommended. "We can reverse the trend and Africa will not need to ask for aid, because the generated tax resources will positively fund development on the continent," he affirmed. Sall further expressed hope that the G20 "will help the international community and especially Africa" to be able to achieve growth based on new technologies and investments. In this regard, he hailed the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, whose last summit was held in Johannesburg where China promised to give Africa financial support of $60 billion over the next three years. The 11th edition of the G20 Summit will be held under the theme "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy." DAKAR - Senegalese President Macky Sall has urged African countries to address the challenge of energy deficit to participate in the global value chain advocated by G20 countries. The president was speaking earlier this week during an interview with Chinese media on the forthcoming G20 Summit that will be held in Hangzhou, eastern China, between Sept 4 to 5, 2016. Sall will attend the forum in his capacity as the chairman of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). "To participate in this global value chain, we must take part in the industrial production as well as in the services sectors," he said. "To achieve industrial production, we must first address the issue of energy. Everything is interlinked. But on this subject, through China's support, projects of hydropower stations are coming up across Africa to enable African economies access less costly energy. Once we have energy, we shall develop our industries," he said. "Through industrialization of Africa, the continent will be able to strongly create this global value chain and enter the global economy. We must also participate in global trade by producing and buying, and not simply remain buyers as is the case today," he recommended. With regards to the theme chosen for the G20 Summit -- "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy," Sall said this vision of the world corresponds to that of African leaders for their continent. "It is the same as the Vision 2063 that has been validated by the African Union. It is a vision for an Africa that participates in the global economy, one that is interconnected, and an Africa that participates in the technological revolution, with new information and communication technologies," he said. "Therefore, despite us lagging behind in industrial production, we can catch up with the rest of the world by use of technology," he added. Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund speaks at the High-level Tax Symposium held in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, July 23, 2016. [Photo/IC] The upcoming G20 summit of the world's leading economies will be orderly and disciplined, said Christine Lagarde, managing director of International Monetary Fund (IMF), in a recent interview with China Central Television (CCTV). Lagarde said most of the objectives that had been set out from the beginning have already been achieved. "There is always substantial progress when people talk with each other and there's clearly a good spirit of cooperation between the finance ministers, governors of central banks and the international financial institutions," she said. The theme of the summit is "building an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy." Lagarde said: "For the last six years, the G20 has been talking about strong, sustainable and balanced growth. We know these words by heart. Well, with China holding the presidency, we have included a fourth characterization, which is inclusive." She said it is extremely important to talk about the inclusiveness of growth and regarded it as a significant shift in the G20, even at finance ministers' level. "It is only a simple word, but by that we mean making sure that everybody benefits, making sure that small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs have access to financing, understand the tax and the environment in which they operate in," she said. In response to anti-globalization voices emerging after events like Brexit, Lagarde said we cannot today throw away the benefits of globalization because some people have lost out. "We need to shift the focus to those people who have lost or who are at the risk of losing because of globalization. And we need to make sure that they participate in the process, that they are given access, that they benefit from efforts in education, in health, that there are more opportunities for them as well to join the market, to join jobs, to join universities," she said. Having high expectation from the G20 summit, Lagarde added that her wish was that more suggestions from international organizations could be adopted by G20 leaders. ANKARA - The upcoming Group of 20 (G20) summit in China will help the global economy overcome lingering problems and adverse effects in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, a Turkish expert has told Xinhua. "We are expecting much from this year's G20 and the Business 20 (B20) summits in China," said Sarp Kalkan, the B20 sherpa of 2015 Turkish presidency, in a recent interview with Xinhua. The 11th G20 summit will be held on September 4-5 in China's eastern city of Hangzhou under the theme of "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy." "This year's G20 is very important because China is holding the G20 summit," Kalkan said, adding that the world's second largest economy is growing very rapidly and taking a larger share of the world economy. Kalkan noted that the world economy suffered a lot from the 2008 financial crisis and is undergoing a massive transformation. "It is not an easy issue and it will take some time for this issue (to be solved)." "Nowadays, the U.S. economy is growing steadily, but we have problems in the European economy and also some emerging markets facing some big problems," he said. "At the end of the day, we have to find a way to get out of this crisis. ... That's why we are expecting much from the Chinese summit," he noted. "I think the Chinese G20 summit will help this, and I think in the coming two or three years we will get rid of these adverse effects of the global financial crisis," he said. China has been pursuing reforms to shift its economic model away from an export-oriented economy to one based on consumption and innovation, Kalkan said. "Having China, which is a strong global player, to be more sustainable is very important for the world economy. We are seeing the impact of these changes nowadays and in the upcoming period," he added. China, which is shifting from a "world factory" to a foreign investment base, is trying to build win-win economic relations with countries under the Belt and Road Initiative. "The Belt and Road Initiative is very important for us, we are supporting it very strongly," Kalkan said. "Having an interconnected world from Asia to Europe is also the goal of Turkish business people and economy... Turkey is giving special importance to revitalize the ancient Silk Road with the Belt and Road Initiative of China." Talking about the theme of the Hangzhou summit, Kalkan said two issues are especially important for the world economy this year. "The first one is innovation because we have to be innovative in policy making, technology and in all means. We have to be innovative to get out of these adverse impacts of global financial crisis," he said. "Secondly, as Turkish business people, we are giving special importance to inter-connectivity because we are living in a global economy. All economic units in the global economy have to be interconnected," he added. The B20 summit, to be held on September 3-4, is an integral part of the G20 Hangzhou Summit that provides a significant platform for the international business community to participate in global economic governance and international economic and trade regulation. Kalkan, a policy advisor of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), said the TOBB delegation will go to China for the B20 summit. "The B20 is the highest level meeting of business people from all around the world. They are coming to China to see and to impact. I think this year's B20 will have great results," he said. "During last year's B20 summit, we worked with lots of Chinese companies and business people," he said. "Chinese companies like Alibaba Group are growing very rapidly. We worked a lot with Alibaba people and hope to meet Jack Ma of Alibaba at the coming B20," he added. A man charges his new energy vehicle in Rizhao, Shandong province. The sector sees rapid growth in China. [Photo/China Daily] Policies aim to encourage competition and sustainability by ultimately cutting the number of manufacturers China is set to introduce a range of financial stimuli aimed at encouraging competitive new energy carmakers in another move designed to ensure the sustainable growth of the country's fast growing yet chaotic sector. Song Qiuling, an official with the Ministry of Finance, said that the ministry, together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, is considering raising the threshold at which carmakers qualify to receive subsidies from the central government. She made the remarks on Aug 21 at a forum held in Zhengzhou, Henan province by China EV100, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the new energy vehicle sector. China began offering subsidies to both companies in the sector and buyers in 2010 to stimulate the demand for and popularity of the vehicles. The government set a goal in 2009 to have 5 million new energy vehicles on the country's roads by the end of 2020. A report by the State Council, China's Cabinet, showed that the central government gave 28.4 billion yuan ($4.25 billion) in subsidies to the sector from 2013 to 2015. During the same period, subsidies from regional governments totaled more than 20 billion yuan. "The 'one-size-fits-all' subsidy scheme was effective in the early stages, and it is what is done internationally, but it may result in carmakers being over-reliant on financial stimuli and make them reluctant to do research and development, which would lead to poorer-quality products," said Song. A report from the National Development and Reform Commission said that China has more than 200 manufacturers of new energy passenger vehicles, buses and special-use vehicles, but it lags behind global leaders in terms of quality, reliability and key technology. Song said financial incentive packages require a radical overhaul to prevent companies from defrauding the system, a problem that came into sharp focus earlier this year. Investigations into these fraud cases were completed in May and Song said the names of the companies involved would be made public in due course, and the country's list of approved carmakers and models would be trimmed in the future. Zhang Zhiyong, an independent auto analyst in Beijing, said only the most successful companies deserved to thrive, but criteria should be carefully evaluated to ensure the desired outcomes are realized. "For example, we cannot use sales as the criterion as good sales figures are not necessarily linked with advanced technology (used in the cars)," he said. Last year, around 350,000 units of new energy vehicles were sold. Through the first seven months of this year, 207,000 new energy vehicles were sold, up 122.8 percent year-on-year. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers expects total sales to hit 700,000 units this year. Chen Qingtai, director of China EV 100, told the forum that the sector remains largely driven by favorable policies, which means that Chinese carmakers and the Chinese government must address the critical question of how the industry stays competitive. This is especially important, he stressed, as international rivals are introducing an increasing number of products into the market, while the government is curtailing stimulus measures for the domestic sector. Breakthrough started From this year, China is gradually cutting subsidies to the new energy auto sector, and will cease all subsidies at the end of 2020. "A key to meet the challenge (facing the domestic industry) is to make further breakthroughs in core technologies and substantially improve our competitive edge," said Chen. Besides the upcoming changes in financial incentives, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is canvassing public opinion on a new draft of regulations concerning new energy carmakers and auto models. The draft released on Aug 12 is much stricter than the 2009 version and experts say it is aimed at both improving the sector's competitiveness and raising the overall standard of products produced by the sector. The new draft has streamlined the definition of new energy vehicles to cover purely electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell cars, and requires that automakers monitor the condition and reliability of cars during their entire lifespan. According to the draft, carmakers will only be granted a license if they can successfully develop the car's control system and coordinate the power and drive systems. In the 2009 version of the draft, companies capable of meeting one of those three criteria were allowed to apply for a license. Industry insiders believe the revised rules will prevent a repeat of previous cases in which companies attempted to fraudulently obtain government subsidies. In addition to making it more difficult for newcomers to enter the sector, the revised regulations demand that those already on China's list of approved carmakers and auto products must reapply for licenses within two years of the issue date of their existing license. Dong Yang, executive vice-president of the CAAM, said the government has set a target of slashing the existing 200-plus new energy car manufacturers to around 10 competitive ones. A US flag flutters in the wind above a Volkswagen dealership in Carlsbad, California in the US. [Photo/Agencies] Volkswagen AG has agreed to spend more than $1.2 billion to compensate its 650 US dealers for their losses from the German automaker's diesel emissions scandal, two sources briefed on the matter said on Thursday. The company and a lawyer for VW dealers announced a tentative settlement at a court hearing in San Francisco, but declined to disclose the amount. The settlement, which followed talks that began in May, came as a judge ordered VW to move quickly to decide whether to fix or buy back 85,000 3.0 liter luxury vehicles with polluting engines. The settlement includes $1.2 billion in payments for the reduction in value of VW dealerships and additional payments for vehicles that could not be sold, the sources said. VW has also agreed to continue to make certain incentive payments to dealers, they said. "We believe this agreement in principle with Volkswagen dealers is a very important step in our commitment to making things right for all our stakeholders in the United States," said Hinrich J. Woebcken, chief executive of VW's North American region. The dealer settlement means VW has agreed to spend at least $16.5 billion in total in the US to address emissions issues. But the company is by no means out of the woods. Volkswagen still faces billions of dollars in potential civil and criminal US fines for violating emissions laws, as well as a potential costly buy-back of vehicles equipped with 3.0 liter diesel engines. VW has admitted it installed improper software that deactivated pollution controls on more than 11 million diesel vehicles sold worldwide. In June, it agreed to pay up to $15.3 billion to buy back up to 475,000 vehicles and address claims by federal regulators and 44 US states. VW's US dealers have been barred from selling new diesel vehicles for nearly a year. The agreement must still be approved by the court. Under the settlement, Volkswagen agreed to repurchase unfixable, used 2.0 liter diesel vehicles on dealers' lots under the same terms as a consumer buyback, said Steve W. Berman, a Seattle lawyer representing dealers at the hearing. The deal would help "heal the wounds between Volkswagen and the dealers", who "like consumers, have been financially hurt here", he said. "They have cars on their lots they can't sell, their franchise value has gone down and they've invested millions in these Volkswagen franchises." As a result of the scandal, the automaker's US sales are down 13.6 percent in 2016 after falling 5 percent last year. VW had previously agreed to buy back 475,0000 vehicles equipped with 2.0 liter engines at a cost of up to $10 billion. Judge Charles Breyer of the US District Court for the Northern District of California ordered Volkswagen and federal regulators to start settlement talks to resolve the fate of 85,000 3.0 liter diesel vehicles that could include a buy-back offer for those Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles. Buying expensive larger cars and SUVs sold since 2009 could cost VW billions of dollars. But VW lawyer Robert Giuffra said the automaker believes it can fix those vehicles. "We've got to persuade the government that we have a fix," he said, adding that the issue is extremely complex and involves "2 million lines of code". Breyer set a Nov 3 hearing for an update on the status of the talks and emphasized the urgency of resolving the issue. He said he wanted to ensure "a strong sense of reality" in finding a solution, calling it "intolerable" that the polluting cars remain on US roads. Breyer said VW will be forced to repair the polluting vehicles, buy them back or offer both options. VW must submit by late October its specific plans to fix the 3.0 liter vehicles, which it said would include a mix of software upgrades and emissions equipment modifications. Not all details of how the settlement fund will be divided among the dealers have been resolved. Reuters SUVs will be one of the highlights at this year's Chengdu Motor Show from Sept 2 to 11. [Photo provided to China Daily] Alongside the usual array of supercars, a drive towards larger exhibition areas and more sport utility vehicles may dominate this year's Chengdu Motor Show, the largest and most influential of its kind in western China. Themed Road to China's West, the Chengdu Motor Show 2016 will be held from Sept 2 to 11, by Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai Ltd and Chengdu Century City New International Convention & Exhibition Centre Ltd, at New International Convention & Exposition Center Chengdu Century City. Many brands will unveil their new sport utility vehicles and crossover models, as selling larger models enjoys a higher margin. The SUV fleets will be led by the Maserati Levante, the Italian luxury brand's first SUV. In spite of its popularity and profitability, the luxury SUV segment is getting increasingly crowded with Bentley's Bentaga, Jaguar F-Pace, and even Rolls-Royce working on models. As one of the four top auto shows in the country, the exhibition will cover 150,000 square meters and attract about 110 international and Chinese auto brands to the capital of Sichuan province, whose 1 million-plus vehicle registrations are second only to Beijing. After 18 years of development, the show has gained large investment and support from the leading car manufacturers and media. Both Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz and BMW Group have taken 2,400 sq meters of exhibition space to impress the rapidly expanding western China market. China's efforts to take the lead in the new energy vehicle market will also be seen weeks later. Home grown auto brands, such as Geely Automobiles and BYD Auto, have announced their ambitious new energy plans. Their latest plug-in hybrid and full electric models are expected to demonstrate the latest upgrades in core technology research development. Out of 100 billionaires on the 2016 Forbes list of the world's 100 Richest In Tech, five are women, of whom two are from China. The group is worth an estimated $18.1 billion. Their average net worth is $3.6 billion, considerably below the $8.9 billion average for the list as a whole. Let us have a look. No 5 Meg Whitman In this Nov 2, 2015 file photo, Hewlett Packard Enterprise President and CEO Meg Whitman is interviewed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.[Photo/IC] Net worth: $2.2 billion Source of wealth: eBay Meg Whitman is the only one in the group who made her fortune by running tech companies rather than founding one. After heading Hasbro, Walt Disney and eBay for some time, she took over as CEO of Hewlett-Packard in September 2011 and has run Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which sells servers and software, since the company's split in November 2015. Xi hails establishment of company, saying it will further modernize industry, military President Xi Jinping called on Sunday for acceleration of the research, development and manufacturing of aircraft engines and gas turbines to help China to build a strong aviation industry. His words came after the Aero Engine Corp of China was established in Beijing. Previously, all of the country's aircraft engines were developed and made by Aviation Industry Corp of China. Setting up the new company is a strategic move that will improve the aviation industry and boost the modernization of the Chinese military, Xi said in a written instruction that was read at the company's establishment ceremony in Beijing on Sunday morning. Premier Li Keqiang said in his written instruction that engineers at the company should learn from other nations' experience and focus on key technologies for aircraft engines. Headquartered in Beijing, the AECC has been set up with investment from the State Council, the Beijing municipal government, Aviation Industry Corp of China and Commercial Aircraft Corp of China. It has a registered capital of 50 billion yuan ($7.5 billion) and 96,000 employees, including six academics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, according to the company. Cao Jianguo, 53, former general manager of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, is the AECC chairman. The company's general manager is Li Fangyong, also 53, former deputy general manager at Aviation Industry Corp of China. Despite China having made tremendous achievements in science, technology and manufacturing industries, aircraft engines remain one of the few fields in which the country still lags largely behind top players, especially the United States. Because advanced aircraft engines such as the afterburning turbofan, which propels the world's best combat planes including the US' Lockheed Martin F-22 and Russia's Sukhoi Su-35, are so sophisticated, only the five members of the United Nations Security Council are able to develop and produce them. According to military sources, most of the People's Liberation Army Air Force's best aircraft, such as the J-10 fighter jet and Y-20 transport plane, rely heavily on engines imported from Russia, while the new-generation J-20 stealth fighter jet also used Russian-made engines for its test flight. In the Made in China 2025 blueprint published by the central government last year, aircraft engines were listed as one of the 10 crucial manufacturing sectors that are of great importance to the nation and would be strongly supported by the government. Thanks to efforts made by Chinese researchers in the past 10 years, a number of domestically developed engines such as the WS-10 "Taihang" turbofan have been introduced and installed on some J-10 and J-11 fighter jets, observers said. They added that a certain period of time will be needed to see whether they are reliable and powerful enough to replace the imported ones. Yin Zeyong, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and head of AECC's science and technology commission, said the company's founding indicates that China is determined to mobilize all resources needed to research and develop key aircraft engine technologies. Wang Ya'nan, editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said, "The establishment of an aircraft engine firm will strengthen China's capability in the aviation field and improve efficiency in research and development." More participation from the private sector should be encouraged in the aircraft engine industry to bolster competition, he added. Children learn calligraphy at a training course held by Han Calligraphy Education this summer in Beijing. More and more children take the training during their summer vacation.[Photo by ZOU HONG/CHINA DAILY] Traditional writing styles are thought to foster children's patience, self-discipline, restraint. After donning an apron and folding a piece of paper both horizontally and vertically, 10-year-old Jia Jia stood in front of his desk, dipped a writing brush in ink and began to form the Chinese characters for zheng zhiintegrity. This is the second time the fourth-grade pupil has taken a calligraphy class and he is currently learning seal script, an ancient style of writing Chinese characters that arose during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). In the eyes of Jia Jia's teacher, he is progressing quickly. In recent years, an increasing number of students like Jia Jia have been flocking to calligraphy institutes, as traditional Chinese writing styles garner more attention both at home and abroad. Li Xiaoya, founder and president of Han Calligraphy Education, a leading teaching institute in Beijing, said that when she started the business seven years ago, it mainly focused on teaching adults. Soon they started to add courses for children, however, after they noticed a gap in the market. "A series of preferential policies carried out in recent years have also helped calligraphy attract attention and interest from more children and their parents," Li said, citing as an example an Education Ministry directive, first issued in 2013, that urges China's primary and middle schools to make calligraphy part of their curriculum. To date, the institute has registered upward of 10,000 learners and more than half are children. The summer vacation brought even more young learners, Li said. The damaged bus was pulled to the side of the highway after the accident.[Photo/CHINA DAILY] Ten people including a child were killed on Sunday morning when a bus overturned after hitting a highway guardrail in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The driver of the 47-seat vehicle was among those who died, while 32 others were injured, five of them seriously, said police in Nanning, the regional capital. The accident happened at about 10 am. "I noticed the bus bump up against the guardrail several times before the accident," said a survivor of the crash who gave only his surname, Liang. "I also heard someone shout at the driver to tell him to stop the bus, but the driver seemed to have fainted at that time." Huang Zhixian, the head of Guangxi Public Security Bureau's traffic police, said most passengers had failed to use their seat belts, which had directly contributed to the loss of life. "Usually, even if a driver is exhausted, he or she will wake up to take action whenever a danger like this occurs, but the driver didn't even step on the brakes," Huang said. An investigation panel has been set up to look into the cause of the accident. Xinhua contributed to this story. International students from Southwest University in Chongqing learn how to use a traditional Chinese mill to produce flour at a museum in the city. [Photo by WANG ZHUANGFEI/CHINA DAILY] A university foundation program designed for international students receiving the Chinese Government Scholarship has helped China to find better-qualified recipients, according to an education official. "After implementing the program for six years, we are seeing the government scholarship being granted to more high-quality international students," said Wang Shenggang, deputy secretary-general of the China Scholarship Council, in an exclusive interview with China Daily. The council is a Ministry of Education institute that administers the scholarship. Six years ago, it set up the university foundation program especially for students from around the world who want to pursue bachelor's degrees in China supported by the scholarship. During the one-year program, scholarship candidates are asked to attend bridging courses. These include Chinese language and subjects related to their studies at Chinese universities to prepare them fully for four years of study in the country. After this program, the students take a completion examinationa standard exam organized by the council that tests students' Chinese-language ability and knowledge of their future majors. Those who fail the exam lose the chance of being funded by the government scholarship. The scholarship was set up after agreements were reached by the Chinese government and other countries or international organizations to support overseas students pursuing their studies or research in China. During the past two decades, the scholarship has expanded greatly, both in terms of the numbers it covers and the amount of money it provides. According to the council, 4,307 international students received the scholarship 20 years ago, while last year 40,600 students from 182 countries came to study in China with support from the scholarship. In recent years, the number of recipients has risen by 13 percent annually. Early last year, the ministries of education and finance announced an increase in funding for the Chinese Government Scholarship in view of the rising cost of living and studying for international students in China. Recipients now coming to study in China are supported by a scholarship package ranging from 59,200 to 99,800 yuan ($9,000 to 15,000) a year, depending on their major and length of study. This is much higher than before. For example, before the increase, recipients of the scholarship received a monthly stipend of 1,400 yuan, or 16,800 yuan a year. They now receive an annual stipend of 30,000 yuan. Wang said 10 universities in China are offering the foundation program to more than 1,000 scholarship candidates who want to pursue undergraduate studies in China each year. He said that in June, for the first time, all international students in the foundation program nationwide took the completion exam and the results were encouraging. "An overwhelming majority of the students did well in the exam because they really felt motivated to study during the one-year program," he said. "We believe that the program, together with the exam, is a practical way to improve the overall quality of the Chinese Government Scholarship recipients." To better help the increasing number of recipients get to know more about China, last year the China Scholarship Council launched an event called Feeling the energy of China. "Studying and living in China, one of the most fast-developing and dynamic nations in the world, students are not content with a superficial understanding of the country," Wang said. "Apart from cultural experience, students also want to explore more places away from their campuses and they want to discover the reasons behind China's rapid development," he said. More than 3,000 recipients of the scholarship took part in the event. They witnessed China's high-speed trains being made, visited manufacturers including the Haier and Sany groups, and went to live in the countryside for a few days. The number of the scholarship participants this year is expected to exceed more than 6,000, Wang said. Many people born under China's former family planning policy, which restricted most couples to one child, are finding it increasingly difficult to provide care for their elderly parents. Luo Wangshu reports. Retirees Jiang Weimao, 60,(right) and his wife Zhang Yinxiu, 53, have dinner with Zhang's parents at their home in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province. Jiang and Zhang's only child was born in 1984 and died from diabetes in 2010. [Photo/Agencies] Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of reports China Daily will publish looking at the lives of elderly people, the problems they face and ongoing efforts to improve their standards of living. More stories will be published in the weeks to come. Next year will be the 10th anniversary of Su Yao's departure for the United States, but she is planning to return home during the Christmas holidays, instead of the anniversary. If the trip goes ahead, it will be the fourth time that Su has visited her home country in a decade. "I have many plans for the time I will be at home, such as buying a new TV and computer, surfing the Chinese internet, installing a chess game on the computer for my father, running bank errands with my mother and other things," she said, adding that she started writing her to-do-list two years ago, during her last visit to China. Most of her plans revolve around her parents, who live in Harbin, capital of the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, and will retire soon. "When I came to the US I could never set my mind at ease because my parents were far away from me and I couldn't stop worrying about them, even over trivial things that really weren't worth the trouble. For example, when we chatted via online video, the reception was always unstable. There were probably some simple tech problems. My husband is a software engineer and his job is to solve tech problems for other people, but we couldn't even solve our parents' tech problems," the 33-year-old said. "I can't think about it too much. Every time I do, it breaks my heart. I've wondered many times if things would be better if I had a sibling." Su's concerns are shared by many members of China's "only-child generation", people born between the late 1970s and last year, many of whom live in different cities, provinces and even countries to their parents. All six suspects wanted in connection with a major telecom fraud linked to the death of a teenager in Shandong province have been arrested, police said on Sunday. Investigators were sent to at least five provinces in southern and eastern China to search for the suspects, four of whom were in custody by Friday night. The other two surrendered to police over the weekend. The suspects are all men age 19 to 35, with five from Fujian province and one from Chongqing. Police have not revealed how they accessed their victims' personal data. The case gained attention after the death of Xu Yuyu, 18, who said telecom fraudsters had swindled her out of 9,900 yuan ($1,480) - money her family had spent months raising to cover her university tuition fees. Xu, of Linyi, Shandong, who was enrolled at a university in Jiangsu province, collapsed on Aug 19 shortly after reporting the case to police. She died of a heart attack two days later. According to media reports, another Linyi student identified as Song Zhenning also died after falling victim to a different telecom fraud, while Li Xiaqin, a sophomore from Linyi, said she had been conned out of 6,800 yuan on the same day Xu was targeted. Shandong police vowed to intensify efforts to crack down on telecom fraud and raise public awareness of scams used by criminals, including by offering classes for students and the elderly. The fraudsters target high school graduates and college students, typically promising them grants or reimbursements, and sometimes by claiming their friends need money, said Li Yinong, deputy director of Shandong Police College's investigation department. The number the criminals used to call Xu's phone belonged to a virtual operator, which rents networks from China's major telecom operators. "Virtual operators need to improve their management and prevent use by con artists. Police and operators should cooperate better," Liu Junhai, a law professor at Renmin University of China, told Xinhua News Agency. Li said the rapid development of the internet has brought not only convenience, but also security concerns. "There are many ways in which personal information can be leaked and used for illegal purposes," the professor said. "Supervision of organizations that can collect personal information like banks and schools should be improved. In addition, students need to learn to protect their personal data when using the internet." A resident releases fish into Fuxian Lake on Friday, to help restore the lake's ecology. [Provided To China Daily] Over the past five years, the local government in Yunnan province has restored Fuxian Lake, its third-largest freshwater lake, back to its former clarity through dozens of ecological restoration projects. On Friday, the government of Yuxi, the city where the lake is located, organized a series of events commemorating the 12th annual Fuxian Lake Protection Day, including destroying illegal fishing nets, conveying the importance of environmental protection and releasing 350,000 Schizothorax taliensis, an endangered indigenous fish species, back into the lake to balance the ecosystem. The local government plans to release 700,000 of the fish by the end of this year. "I brought my children here today just to show them what the fish looks like," said Wang Ting, 30, a local villager. "The water has become so much cleaner in recent years." Fuxian Lake stretches over 212 square kilometers and accounts for 9.2 percent of China's freshwater reserves. Since 2000, farm pollution, overfishing and illegal construction around the lake have threatened its fragile ecosystem. Now with continuous droughts, the water level has decreased by more than 2 meters in the past six years. In response, the government tore down 360,000 square meters of illegal buildings, restored 533 hectares of vegetation and developed a 750-hectare lakeside buffer zone, according to Wu Jichang, director of the Fuxian Lake Administration. It also moved or banned industrial animal farming around the area and is encouraging farmers to plant less-polluting crops, such as blueberries and lotus. In the next five years, Yuxi will invest 14.5 billion yuan ($2.2 billion) in 45 projects to further protect the ecological integrity of the lake, Wu said. "We have to protect beautiful Fuxian Lake, and I will volunteer and contribute whenever possible," said Liang Xifeng, a 19-year-old student from Macao. Zhang Zhihao contributed to this story. A folk artist performs a traditional face-changing stunt for foreign students at the Chongqing Hotpot Museum and Restaurant. [Photo by WANG ZHUANGFEI/CHINA DAILY] Centerpiece of visit is hotpot, accompanied by traditional face-changing performance "I love Chongqing hotpot," wrote Japanese student Seita Nukada in beautiful Chinese calligraphy to express his passion for the local cuisine. The 21-year-old, an exchange student at Southwest University, has eaten at over 30 hotpot restaurants in this southwest metropolis in the past nine months, and he said he is "addicted" to the burning feeling of Sichuan pepper. He presented the calligraphy scroll as a gift to Yan Qi, the co-founder of Chongqing Hotpot Museum and Restaurant on June 17 after Yan gave a speech on local food history to overseas visitors. Organized by the China Scholarship Council, 85 students from 40 countries who are studying in Chongqing participated in the summer program "Feeling the energy of China". Southwest University was the host this year. One of the highlights was learning about the city's most popular food: hotpot. Boasting both the best and largest number of hotpot restaurants in the country, Chongqing was named "China's hotpot city" by the China Cuisine Association in 2007. Traditional Chongqing hotpot uses beef tallow and large quantities of chili and Sichuan peppers. Ox stomach and duck intestine are the must-have dishes on locals' hotpot tables. "Hotpot is our city's signature cuisine with a long history," Yan said. While acknowledging that "it's not too healthy", given hotpot's excessive oil and spices, "I am a huge fan of hotpot," Nukada said. "Pig brain is my favorite dish." The students learned the history of hotpot at the museum and watched the chef making the soup. Some even cooked it themselves. "When I first ate hotpot in Chongqing, I almost fainted because it's so spicy," said Khishigdelger from Mongolia, an undergraduate at Southwest University majoring in international trade. "But now I have fallen in love with it." During World War II, when Chongqing was the wartime capital, the dish gained global popularity. Now from New York to Dubai, chain restaurants serving Chongqing hotpot are all over the world. Last year, the city exported 400 metric tons of packed hotpot soup base to 10 countries and regions, including the United States, Australia and Southeast Asia. Face-changing fan It was a lucky day for Ali Hassan. The Egyptian got the opportunity to perform with a local facing-changing master at the Chongqing Hotpot Museum and Restaurant. "Finally, Master Wang agreed to give me some guidance in the future," he said. Face-changing is a closely-kept secret movement in Sichuan Opera where a character, by quick manipulation of a mask, literally changes the face they show to the audience in a split-second. It is the most eye-catching artistic technique that shapes a character's personality in the operaan exquisite theatrical form that dates back 300 years. According to tradition, the skill can only be passed to males within the family. Therefore, a foreigner such as Hassan would not be able to find a teacher in China. "I failed to find someone to teach me. I have learned the techniques by watching the videos," he said. Hassan, 24, studied linguistics at Southwest University since 2013 and he is about to graduate this summer. When he was a child, he watched a movie about face-changing and decided to learn it. "It was my dream to learn the skill and I realized it in Chongqing," he said. Hassan will leave Chongqing this summer to continue his studies in New York. "I will keep polishing my facing-changing techniques and introduce this ancient Chinese art to more people," he said. Foreign students pose for photos during their visit to Shenyang Yuanda Enterprise Group on June 3. [Photo by FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY] Doctoral student Dang Dinh Huy was surprised to be invited to participate in off-campus visits to some of China's most advanced automation, automotive and machinery manufacturing companiesa project organized by the China Scholarship Council in Shenyang, Liaoning province. "I am very lucky to have the chance to visit," Dang said. "It helps me have a clear view of China's outstanding enterprises and the potential future of my career." The 26-year-old Vietnamese student, sponsored by CSC, is pursuing his mechanical manufacturing and automation control doctorate at Northeastern University, the leading engineering and technology university in China. Some 90 students from 26 countries visited Shenyang, China's vital manufacturing base in the Northeast. And three leading companies for the first time opened the gates for themSiasun Robot & Automation Co, BMW Brilliance Auto (a Sino-German joint venture) and Shenyang Yuanda Enterprise Group. The organizer said that such off-campus visits aim to help overseas students see and understand China's advanced manufacturing industry and attract more international students in coming years. "Liaoning, as the cradle of China's manufacturing industry, has a big advantage in engineering colleges. And a large number of overseas graduates are now working in important positions in their own countries," said Li Wei, deputy director of Northeastern University international cooperation and exchange department. He is also the driving force of the trip. Four other engineering universities were also invited to join the program, including Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang Ligong University, University of Science and Technology Liaoning and Liaoning Technical University. A visitor tries out an electric self-balancing scooter during an event at the Shanghai International Exhibition Center. [Photo provided to China Daily] Electric scooters and segways are enjoying enormous popularity in China. However, driving them on roads is not advised as it's illegal and also very dangerous. Traffic police in Shanghai recently staged a campaign to get electric scooters off motor roads, reported CCTV. In just half an hour, traffic police in Huangpu District of Shanghai dealt with three cases of illegally using electric scooters on motor roads. According to one local police officer, the electric scooter can achieve a maximum speed of 20 kilometers per hour which would prove a danger to other traffic, especially at night as they do not have lights, and do not brake easily when travelling at a high speed. There have been reports in Beijing and Shanghai of people being injured or even killed while using electric scooters. In 2015, a driver of electric scooter was sentenced to prison terms and fined 650,000 yuan (around $97,500) after fatally hitting a man in Shanghai. Reports say the reason for the accident was that the driver failed to brake in time. As a result, many cities in China including Shanghai have banned electric scooters on motor roads. In some other countries, there are stricter regulations covering electronic scooters. In Japan, for example, they are not allowed to be used on motor roads and drivers must have a special license to use them. Industry insiders warn that China still lacks industry standards for electric scooters, and the quality of electric scooters sold on the Chinese markets can't be guaranteed. China should improve second income distribution, especially social security, to lower high Gini coefficient, said Song Xiaowu, standing director of the China Society of Economic Reform, during a news briefing at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) on Monday. The Gini coefficient is an indicator of the fairness of income distribution. The higher the Gini coefficient, the more unfair income distribution is. According to Song Xiaowu, China's Gini coefficient is about 0.47 to 0.49 after first income distribution, which is almost the same as that of developed countries. But after second income distribution, mainly through the way of taxation and social security, Gini coefficient will reduce 20 to 25 percent in developed countries, while there is almost no change in China. "Gini coefficient after first income distribution and Gini coefficient after second income distribution have almost no change," said Song Xiaowu, "which indicates the government has much to do in improving second income distribution." Song pointed out that social security is of great significance, especially during the economic downturn and economic structure adjustment, to narrow the wide gap of income distribution. "I agree that we should make great efforts on resettlement and social security of some enterprises' staff during reducing production capacity " Song said. Song made the comments when he talked about the new book China's Road to Economic Transition, which is written by the CCIEE research group led by the center's director, former vice premier Zeng Peiyan. The book covers 12 aspects of reform and aims to solve system mechanism problems in order to enable China's smooth economic transition. "This is an all-round design of reform, and a national top-level research and exploration of reform," said Chen Wenling, chief economist of CCIEE. "The book directly faces social contradictions rather than avoid them," said Song Xiaowu, "It points out the problems need to reform such as the wide income gap, problems of wealth distribution, and the weakness of social security construction." The third Sichuan International Travel Expo will be held from September 22 to 28 in Emeishan, a city under the administration of Leshan in Sichuan province. Exhibitors from 42 countries and regions, including the United States, Germany, France, Malaysia, Japan and Korea, will take part in the expo, one of Sichuan's most important tourism events and one of three themed expos hosted by the Sichuan provincial government. The total exhibition area will reach 66,000 square meters, organizers say. The annual event, which debuted in 2014, is aimed at creating an international platform for the cooperation and exchanges in the tourism industry, transaction of tourism products, and the exhibition and sales of mountain tourism, according to Leshan mayor Zhang Tong. This year's event will consist of eight activities, including the opening ceremony, the Emei Summit, a trip to Sichuan's best tourism routes and a tourism projects signing ceremony. After the success of the inaugural Sichuan International Travel Expo in 2014, Emeishan was designated as the event's permanent site, Zhang said. Emeishan is best known for Mount Emei, one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains in China. The others are Wutai in Shanxi province, Jiuhua in Anhui province and Putuo in Zhejiang province. Buddhism reached Mount Emei about 2,000 years ago, and the mountain, with its approximately 30 monasteries, is a pilgrimage for Buddhists today. Emei is a poetic term for "beautiful women" in Chinese. Spread over 154 square kilometers, Mount Emei was included in the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List in 1996. The mountain offers a panoramic view of the landscape throughout the year. In spring, its azaleas are brilliantly red. In summer, its lush green trees and grass give it a verdant look. In autumn, the mountain is a riot of colors, the green, yellow, orange and red of the trees mingling with the blue of the sky. And in winter, the mountain becomes a white wonderland, with the ancient temples, trees and mountain slopes covered in snow. Leshan, which oversees the city of Emeishan, is also a world-famous tourist destination. The Leshan Grand Buddha, with a height of 71 meters, is the world's largest sitting Buddha. Leshan received nearly 40 million tourists from home and abroad last year, generating total revenue of some 50 billion yuan ($7.5 billion). President inspects Strategic Support Force and calls for efforts to boost innovation President Xi Jinping shakes hands with delegates of the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force in Beijing, August 29, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping made his first inspection tour of the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force on Monday, urging efforts to boost innovation for the force's development. Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, told commanders of the Strategic Support Force that the service is a new-type combat force and an important pillar of the PLA's joint operation system, according to a news release on the Defense Ministry's website. The president asked commanders to focus on innovating the force's development modes. He also emphasized the building of various support systems and the coordination of development of civilian and defense sectors. Xi also inspected the combat command center of an unidentified unit of the force. The president attaches great importance to and has high hopes for the Strategic Support Force, the news release said. The force was established on Dec 31 in a key step of the ongoing military reform, which started in November and is overseen by Xi. According to Senior Colonel Yang Yujun, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, the founding of the Strategic Support Force will help to improve the PLA's structure and enhance its integrated support capability. Although the PLA has not disclosed the components or functions of the new branch, the PLA's flagship newspaper, PLA Daily, has reported that researchers with the Strategic Support Force are focusing on cutting-edge technologies such as big data applications, cloud computing, 3-D printing and nanomaterials. It quoted an unnamed researcher as saying that members of the force should always prepare for "tomorrow's warfare". PLA Daily also has reported that units of the Strategic Support Force are stationed "from high mountains to distant oceans, and from desolate deserts to the front lines of the nation". Du Wenlong, a senior researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Science, said the tasks of the Strategic Support Force are to concentrate, coordinate and make plans for the PLA's non-combatant resources. Yin Zhuo, director of the PLA Navy's Expert Consultation Committee, said the mission of the force is to ensure that the PLA can maintain superiority in military operations taking place in space and involving the electromagnetic field and the internet. He said that the force's responsibilities include target reconnaissance and tracking, global positioning operations, space assets management and defending against hostile activities in cyberspace and the electromagnetic field. Documents show that the Red Army's efforts to improve commanders' tactical skills helped them draw advanced strategies and tactics to secure continuous victories in the Long March, a military expert said. The Red Army commanders had mastered the world advanced military theory during the Long March according to two documents from the People's Liberation Army Archives made public recently, the military expert from the news website guancha.cn said. One document is a combat plan issued on Jan 20, 1935, by the Red Army's general headquarters on crossing Chishui River and Jinsha River, the upstream of the Yangtze River. The combat plan says: "(The Red Army) crosses the Chishui River to occupy the ferries in Lantian, Dadu and Jiang'an along the Jinsha River when the Red Army has trouble in crossing the River in time as it faces the pursuing enemies, the Red Army should prepare assault and destroy the pursuing enemies " In January 1935, the Red Army took over Zunyi in Guizhou province, where the Communist Party of China held an important meeting to set up a new central leadership represented by Mao Zedong. The Red Army made the plan after the Kuomintang government mobilized more troops to Zunyi. The Red Army took a highly flexible warfare approach to get rid of the pursuing enemies by crossing the Chishui River for four times back and forth. In May 1935, it crossed the Jinsha River in Yunnan province and crossed the Dadu River in Sichuan province to break the encirclement. The other document is a summary issued in Sept 1935 by the Red Army's general headquarters on the experiences of the arrangements, skills and defense tactics in crossing rivers. The Red Army usually held meetings to sum up the experiences after every battle, and positive experiences were promoted rapidly in the army, the expert said. The graphics on the documents were very simple but showed basic military tactical instructions, confirming the quality and depth of knowledge of commanders. Some Red Army commanders received basic tactical training at the Whampoa Military Academy (1924-30) before Chiang Kai-shek betrayed the revolution in 1927 and military personnel from Soviet Union left. The Red Army continued the training by setting up schools in 1929. Liu Bocheng, one of famous military leaders, made great contributions to the Red Army's military tactical training by translating the infantry combat doctrines of the Soviet Red Army and introducing the advanced experiences of the Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union. In contrast, the Kuomintang army resumed the military tactical training under suggestions from the German military advisory group in 1933, but its inner political troubles left the training unfinished. The Red Army started the Long March 82 years ago, making flexible and tactical moves to break the blockades and pursuits of the Kuomintang army, and arrived at the country's northwest two years later in victory. Su Min. [Photo/Xinhua] Actor and director Su Min, whose real name is Pu Sixun, father of the famous actor Pu Cunxin, died on August 28 at the age of 89. Su was known for his work at the Beijing People's Art Theatre. He was born in Nanjing in 1926 and soon moved to Beijing. Su, who committed himself to stage theater in 1940s, played many characters, such as Zhou Ping from Thunderstorm; Zhou Jin from Cai Wenji; Fan Li from Gall and Sword; and Gromov from A Good Marksman May Miss. His cooperation with his son Pu Cunxin was well-received. They jointly created the epic Cai Wenji and Li Bai. Furthermore, they played the same role - Zhou Ping - successively. Su's longtime friend Lan Tianye is also a celebrated artist. "I knew this day would come but it's still devastating to me," Lan said in an interview. In Lan's view, as a great actor, director and drama educator, Su Min made a big difference to the development of Chinese drama. Some of Su Min's students are household names, including Song Dandan, Liang Guanhua, Zheng Tianwei, Wang Ji, Xu Fan, Chen Xiaoyi, Jiang Shan, He Bing, Hu Jun and Wang Ban. Lan Tianye also revealed that Su Min has been sick for many years. Lan was reluctant to visit him in the hospital for fear of witnessing his terrible condition. According to Lan, Su Min is a workaholic. "He never cherishes his health. He constantly asks doctors for a leave to go back to rehearsals. I was really mad and dissuaded him on many occasions but he just ignored me. I once saw him write screenplays on the hospital bed," Lan recalled. Lan has been friends with Su for 74 years and the two have always been honest with each other. Lan wrote a memoir a few years age and there was a chapter specifically for Su. He sees Su as a friend for life. Lan was the first person Pu Cunxin called after Su Min's death. Later on, he updated his WeChat Moments:" Wait for me in heaven". He was also concerned about 80-year-old Jia Quan, Su's wife. Tang Ye is a directress of the Beijing People's Art Theatre and one of Su Min's students. She was appointed by Su as the assistant director of both Cai Wenji and Li Bai. In her eyes, Su Min is very hard-working and strict with his work meanwhile kind and helpful to young artists. She was saddened at the news, saying she is forever grateful to his mentor. Related: Times fashion photographer Bill Cunningham dies at 87 China National Petroleum Corp's booth at a trade show in Tianjin in September, 2013.[Photo/China Daily] China's two State-owned oil giants, China National Petroleum and China National Offshore Oil Corporation, recently made public their profits for the first half of this year. CNPC made a net profit of only 531 million yuan ($79.6 million), a decline of 98 percent year-on-year, while CNOOC suffered a loss of 7.74 billion yuan; its first half-year loss since 2001. Undoubtedly, plunging oil prices in recent years are one of the main reasons behind the two oil companies' poor performance. But CNOOC's losses are also related to its bolder and ill-considered overseas acquisitions. Although it did not mention it in its half-year report, all insiders know that CNOOC's acquisition of Nexen remains a major reason behind its fiscal deficit. When CNOOC announced its acquisition of the leading Canadian energy producer for $15.1 billion in 2013, it was the largest overseas acquisition by a Chinese company, and there were concerns that the deal would not be profitable. An investment bank pointed out in its report at the time that only if Brent crude oil maintained an average price of $93 per barrel could CNOOC hope to make a profit on its investment. Unfortunately, oil prices dived 50 percent the following year. Also, Nexen has encountered endless troubles in Canada, such as its pipeline ruptures in July 2015 that caused huge maintenance costs and fines for CNOOC. Chinese enterprises made more than 600 overseas acquisitions in 2015, with a total value of $120 billion. However, in the first half of this year alone, acquisitions by Chinese enterprises have already exceeded that figure. In the past decade, almost no one has been held accountable for the losses China's State companies have suffered in their overseas acquisitions. It is time for the government to tighten its monitoring over the overseas acquisitions by its SOEs and prevent any reckless decisions from causing unavoidable losses to State properties. -Beijing Youth Daily Antibiotics is shown in this photo taken on Oct 20, 2011 in Yichang, central China's Hubei province. [Photo/IC] Having warned that antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat to global public health, in 2015 the World Health Organization called on all countries to make joint efforts to tackle the problem by drawing up national action plans by 2017. While antimicrobial resistance is a broad termencompassing resistance to drugs to treat infections caused by parasites, viruses, and fungiresistance to antibiotics used to treat infections caused by common bacteria is a major concern, since patients with infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are generally at increased risk of worse clinical outcomes and death, and consume more healthcare resources than patients infected with the same bacteria that are not resistant. An action plan to curb the overuse of antibiotics in China has long been overdue, given the fact that the country consumes half of the antibiotics worldwide. So the antimicrobial resistance plan released jointly by 14 central government departments on Thursday is to be welcomed, as effectively implementing it will reduce the prevalent misuse of antibiotics in this country. With an increasing number of people becoming aware of antimicrobial resistance caused by the overuse of antibiotics, it should not be that difficult to check the abuse of antibiotics for ordinary illnesses that do not need treatment with antibiotics. And if the rules are strictly implemented, it should be possible to stop doctors from unnecessarily prescribing antibiotics just to make money. Some healthcare departments have already taken action to prevent the overuse of antibiotics. For example, last year East China's Jiangsu province became the first province to issue a blanket ban on the use of intravenous antibiotics for outpatients. Other provinces are expected to follow its example. What makes things more complicated, and which will be more difficult to control, is the use of antibiotics for food animals, since antibiotics also enter people's body through the food they eat. A lot of work needs to be done to tighten the control on the use of antibiotics for raised food animals and aquatic products so that foods with antibiotic levels that are more than the permitted levels are prevented from entering the market. In so doing, farmers and food producers will also develop a greater awareness that antibiotics must not be overused. China's action plan is part of the global efforts to fight against anti-microbial resistance. Effective implementation of this plan can make a big contribute in this regard. However, for it to be effective, the plan needs to be given teeth. Xu Yuyu [Photo/IC] ON Aug 21, Xu Yuyu, an 18-year-old girl from Linyi in East China's Shandong province, received a call from fraudsters who knew she was eligible for a student subsidy and cheated her into remitting 9,900 yuan ($1,484) to them. Xu reported the case to local police but died of a heart attack soon afterwards, reportedly as a result of the emotional stress she was under. Five suspects have been detained by the police. Southern Metropolis Daily commented: The police have been efficient in apprehending all the six suspects, but such high efficiency is rare. People get fraud calls every day and there are always reports of people being cheated, yet seldom do we hear of cases being solved. Some reports even quote police officers as saying that only 3 percent of such cases are solved. These fraudsters are only the tip of a very large iceberg. It is obvious that Xu's personal information had been leaked since the fraudsters knew her cellphone number, her name, and that she could apply for the national student subsidy. Where did they get this information? Did anybody steal it, or did an official involved with the student subsidies sell her personal information? In many other fraud cases, the fraudsters have obtained the personal information of their victims. Previous reports show that there is a whole underground chain of selling citizens' personal information. Our information is not under protection at all, although the law says it is. In November, the ninth amendment to the Criminal Law included the leaking of citizens' information as a crime, and says those caught doing it should be punished. However, that article lacks executable details. Legal experts have long been calling for strengthening the protection of personal information. We hope Xu's death will propel the national legislators to realize how serious the challenge is. It is time to improve the law, and introduce some executable details to curb the rampant leaking of people's information and severely punish those who do so. On Wednesday, the State Council, China's cabinet, released a guideline on promoting reform to separate the fiscal powers and expenditure responsibilities of central and local governments so as to improve their efficiency in providing public services. It is the government's responsibility to provide funds for public services. And a clear division of responsibilities between central and local governments will ensure that they properly exercise their fiscal powers. According to the document, the administrative obligation of the central government has been moderately increased, while the overlapping fiscal responsibilities between the central and local governments have been further straightened out. Spending will be more logically distributed depending on the nature of the public service, in order to improve the balance of accountability between central and local governments. Distinguishing the fiscal responsibility of the central and local government is a necessity for propelling modernization of governance. Since reform and opening-up began, the government has moved away from a highly centralized fiscal management system, and it introduced a tax sharing system in 1994. While those efforts have contributed to growth, decentralization is now marked by vague areas of responsibility between all the various levels of government, leading to increased regional disparities, spawning problems such as increasing local government debt and inefficient delivery of public services. The new guideline will go a long way to straightening out fiscal relations between the central and local governments. View of Old Cow Bay on the Yellow River, in Pianguan, with its old tower on the remaining Great Wall section and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region just across the river. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily] There's an old saying in China to describe the Yellow River, its mother river by calling itjiu qu, shiba wan, or 'nine twists, 18 turns'because it meanders all over northern China on its lazy 5,464 kilometer run to the East Sea. Accompanying this is an old fable about how an old cow used the powers that it had been granted by the gods to furrow a magnificent deep river bend in Pianguan county, Shanxi province, which leant itself in naming the area, Old Cow Bay, which has been recognized as a grand sight for centuries and was added to the list of China's most beautiful valleys by China National Geography magazine. And, just across the river from the Shanxi side, to the north and west, and with the same high, steep loess cliffs, lies the neighboring Inner Mongolia autonomous region, so that Old Cow Village on the Chinese side is the first village that the river enters in Shanxi province. Now, Old Cow Bay is prominent not just for its magnificent view of the mother river way down below as it snakes its way around a large S-shaped bend. It is also, in the words of Dong Yaohui, vice-chairman of the China Great Wall Association, the only place in China where "the Yellow River 'shakes hands' with that wonder of the world, the Great Wall." The county, which administers the village, has some 500 kilometers of the remaining Great Wall, built during the Kingdom Zhao period (403-222BC), Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC), Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) and Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) with 49 castellated towers and out of them 29 are well preserved. There are also some 1,000 other towers, making good use of a variety of Pianguan materials such as stones, bricks, and rammed earth, giving it a certain prominence in the country, according to the association. And the bay gives visitors a rare opportunity to examine how several lines of the Great Wall come together. The wall generally employs several lines with the farthest out being built as the first line of defense while others protect the interior, so, as Dong goes on to say, "All these indicate that Old Cow Bay and Piansguan county have serious historical value." He Jiao, an Old Cow Bay Administration official, explained that in recent years, more tourists have made this a starting point for a grand walking trip along the Great Wall, and, he continues, "They can average about 25 kilometers a day and take 36 days in all to reach Beijing." He has worked for the administration for six years now and says that the tourists are growing in awareness of the need to protect the Great Wall and that some of the Wall's remaining sites have undergone renovation, but concludes by saying that some scientists are of the opinion that "maintaining them as they are now is the best way to preserve them". Pianguan county's head official, Qu Jun'an, told China Daily that the area is just one part of China's vast loess plateau and more greenery is really the a key to preserving not just North China's environment but the ancient Great Wall as well. To make sure that this happens, Qu notes, county records show that, for the 2011-15 period, they increased the amount of forest coverage by planting 3,333 hectares of trees every year. Republican nominee Donald Trump speaks at "Joni's Roast and Ride" in Des Moines, Iowa, US, August 27, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] WASHINGTON - US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump could feel some pain from a new line of political ads from his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton's team depicting him as a racist, at a time when he is trying to catch up in the polls. Clinton's campaign this week put out a new TV advertisement claiming that among Trump's supporters are the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) -- a white supremacist group that has killed, terrorized and intimidated blacks and other minorities in the United States, although the group has very little power now compared to when it was in its heyday several decades ago. While Trump has no ties to white supremacists, the ad makes the case that they support him and that if he wins they will run the country. Experts said the ads could hurt Trump and damage his campaign, which is just three months from the November elections. "They are damaging for Trump because they draw on things he or his campaign have done to paint a picture of someone who is completely insensitive to the concerns of the minority community," Darrell West, vice-president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua. The ads not only reinforce points already made that Trump is rude and impolite, but also take this critique several steps further by labeling him a racist, West said. For his part, Trump blasted the ads as untrue, while using social media to refute Clinton's attacks. But that move is risky for him, as experts say Trump must get the public eye off of his bombast and onto Clinton's perceived missteps and corruption while she was secretary of state. Experts also argued that the New York businessman should continue his message that law and order is declining in the United States, and that a Clinton presidency would only exacerbate this, as Clinton would be an extension of the current Obama administration. Trump has a few times tried to do this by making cogent and well-argued speeches on US foreign policy and the economy, only to later ruin any gains he might have made by reverting back to insults and bombast. In the past week Trump has resisted the temptation to make over-the-top statements that hurt him with the broader American electorate, but it remains unknown how long he can do this. "The risk for him is that he gets off his law and order message and has to defend himself from the racism charge. It never helps a candidate to have to give an 'I'm not a racist' defense," West said. Dan Mahaffee, an analyst with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua that Trump did avoid the temptation to go off script and has been more effective in message discipline recently. If Trump continues to focus on hitting back on Clinton and avoiding collateral damage, he may turn the corner and start to close some of the polling gap that has him behind Clinton in key states, Mahaffee said. US media has exposed that Clinton has in the past closely associated with known racists, as shown in her statements in 2010 when she referred to former Senator Robert Byrd, a KKK member, as a mentor and friend. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during the United Solidarity and Brotherhood rally in Gaziantep, Turkey, August 28, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] ANKARA - Turkish President Recep Erdogan vowed on Sunday to fight all terrorist groups including the Islamic State (IS), the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) with its Syrian offshoots and the Gulen organization that carried out a recent failed coup. The Turkish army's operation in Syria is aimed at giving people who fled the IS-controlled areas a chance to return home, Erdogan told a rally of his supporters in the southeastern Turkish province of Gaziantep. He said the government "had enough" of recent mortar attacks targeting the Karkamis district of the border province of Kilis, which ultimately provoked the launch of the Euphrates Shield operation. Last week, the Turkish army launched a cross-border operation with the help of the U.S.-led coalition forces to drive out the IS militants from its border following the Gaziantep suicide attack that killed 55 people and series of mortar attacks targeting the Karkamis district. "People's demand for the reintroduction of death penalty should be debated in parliament, I'll sign it if it comes to me," the president added. Meanwhile, Turkish forces killed 10 PKK militants in the southeastern Turkish province of Hakkari, Dogan news agency reported. Private investors continue to seek opportunities in China as the mainland shifts its economic focus from exports and manufacturing to consumption and services. On Sunday, Ocean Link, the first private equity firm focused on the tourism sector in China, announced a strategic partnership with Ctrip, the largest online travel agency in China, and General Atlantic, a US global growth equity firm. "The travel and tourism sector in China is at a pivotal period of growth. The industry's ongoing transition will provide Ocean Link with ample opportunities to bring capital and operational expertise to innovative companies serving the rising number of travelers in this market," said James Liang, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Ctrip. Bain & Company's "Greater China 2016 Private Equity Market Overview", which was released earlier this year, found that the greater China private equity (PE) market had a blockbuster year in 2015, driven by a surge in multibillion-dollar deals and growing opportunities in the digital/internet sector. The business consultancy found that deal value jumped 56 percent to a record $69 billion last year, due to a doubling of multibillion-dollar deals 14 in 2015, up from seven in 2014. Robust PE activity in the internet sector accounted for 40 percent of deal value, up from just 15 percent in 2014, and more than 50 percent of volume, far exceeding other sectors. "Public-to-private buyouts soared to $17 billion in value, more than three times the five-year average, and made up 14 percent of total PE deal value in 2015," according to Bain's Asia-Pacific Private Equity Report 2016. "The trend spawned three of the top four deals in China including the $7.1 billion Qihoo 360 deal, the $3.1 billion buyout of WuXi PharmaTech led by a consortium of PE funds, and the $3 billion buyout of mobile social media company Momo, put together by the company's CEO, Matrix Partners, Sequoia and Huatai Ruilian Fund Management." The Bain report said digital technology increasingly defines the daily routine in middle-class China and companies offering internet-based solutions are exploding, generating interest among PE funds looking for growth. Warburg Pincus LLC has been active in the Chinese mainland since 1994 when current global Co-CEO Chip Kaye established a Hong Kong office. The firm has invested more than $6.5 billion and supported the growth of nearly 100 companies in China making it one of the largest global private equity investors in the country. "We are confident on the long-term growth of the Chinese economy and the investment opportunities driven by the consumption upgrade, which translates into investment themes in various sectors," Mingxia Li, communications director for the firm in Beijing, told China Daily. Li said Warburg Pincus takes a sector-focused, thesis-driven investment approach to investing. The firm's current portfolio of more than 30 Chinese companies covers six sectors: energy; financial services; healthcare and consumer; industrials and business services; real estate; and technology, media and telecommunications. paulwelitzkin@chinadailusa.com 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 Chinese Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Zhang Ming says words should be followed by action. Photo by Lucie Morangi A high-level Chinese official is urging international partners to align their project plans with development strategies of African governments. Zhang Ming, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of China, said this will ensure Africa reaps maximum benefits while avoiding waste and duplication. "Impressive proposals are made during international forums, but very little is achieved in the implementation stage. Commitments should be made in line with Africa's development strategy to buoy African confidence in the projects. Otherwise, if the proposals are one-sided, the implementation may fail to address the key needs and thus be unbeneficial," said Zhang at the end of the Tokyo International Conference of Africa's Development (TICAD). He also said that Africans, on the other side, should launch evaluation mechanisms to ensure they actively participate in the development. Emphasis should not be on commitment but on results. The three-day event in Nairobi saw the Japanese government pledge $30 billion to develop infrastructure, health-care systems and other projects to drive the continents economic growth. Zhang also welcomed more development partners to Africa. He said China continues to uphold an open and inclusive attitude in China-Africa co-operation. "We also hold an open attitude to the third-party co-operation. But we need to follow the principle, which is gaining Africas consent and participation. Without the consent and participation, such cooperation will not be blessed by the African people. In fact, during the Chinese cooperation with Africa, there is a great batch of third-party cooperation projects." The sixth TICAD was held for the first time in Africa. Scientists celebrate as they exit from their Mars simulation habitat after a year of near isolation. [Photo/Agencies] Six scientists have completed a yearlong Mars simulation in Hawaii, where they lived in a dome in near isolation. For the past year, the group in the dome on a Mauna Loa mountain could go outside only while wearing spacesuits. On Sunday, the simulation ended, and the scientists emerged. Cyprien Verseux, a crew member from France, said the simulation shows a mission to Mars can succeed. "I can give you my personal impression, which is that a mission to Mars in the close future is realistic. I think the technological and psychological obstacles can be overcome,'' Verseux said. Christiane Heinicke, a crew member from Germany, said the scientists were able to find their own water in a dry climate. "Showing that it works, you can actually get water from the ground that is seemingly dry. It would work on Mars, and the implication is that you would be able to get water on Mars from this little greenhouse construct," she said. Tristan Bassingthwaighte, an architecture PhD candidate at the University of Hawaii, served as the crew's architect. "The UH research going on up here is just super vital when it comes to picking crews, figuring out how people are going to actually work on different kinds of missions, and sort of the human factors element of space travel, colonization, whatever it is you are actually looking at," Bassingthwaighte said. Kim Binsted, principal investigator for the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation program, said the researchers are looking forward to getting in the ocean and eating fresh produce and other foods that weren't available in the dome. The program is an international collaborative research hosted and run by the University of Hawaii and funded by NASA, Binsted said. (Photo : Getty images) China's industries recorded a growth in their earnings in June and July. Advertisement China's industrial profit margin rose from 6.2 percent in June to 6.9 percent in July, according to data presented at Beijing, China on Saturday, August 27. According to the data, in July, profits rose by 11 percent to 523 billion yuan. This is the second highest growth of the year. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement June was the first sudden increase and stood at a 5.1 percent. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), industrial companies with more than 20 million yuan ($3 million) annual revenue,enjoyed greater profits. According to He Ping, an official with NBS Department of Industrial Statistics, the growth could be because of a variety of reasons. "Last month, the data showed that the average for those companies was 86.08 yuan for each 100 yuan main business revenue, down from 0.42 yuan from July," he explained. Two key sectors stood out in the industrial companies; the ferrous and non-ferrous companies, which accounted for 47.5 percent of profit growth. Each made a profit of 14.83 billion ($2.2 billion) and 6 billion yuan ($898 million) respectively. Most industries registered a growth in profit. Statistics shows that 30 of the 41 industries surveyed posted a profitable business year. Public firms were not lucky during the period having recorded a 6.1 percent loss. Private firms, on the other hand, registered a profit of 8.7 percent. "The main business revenue of industrial companies rose by 3.3 percent in the seven months, and their total assets rose by 5.7 percent to 100.2 trillion yuan by the end of July," NBS officials said. According to He, problems such as rising management fees and overcapacity prevented further profit growth. "Although industrial profit growth accelerated, market demand did not witness substantial improvement," he noted. Advertisement Tagschina, NBS, Beijing, He Ping (Photo : Getty Images) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that breathing new life into Canada's relation with China would help his government to boost economic trade. Advertisement Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that revitalizing Canada's diplomatic ties with China would help his government to boost economic trade while pushing Beijing to improve its track record on delicate issues like human rights, Huffington post reported. "What we need with China is to reset the relationship a little bit," Trudeau said in a speech delivered at Saguenay city. Trudeau added that he would look into how China can allow Canadian products and services greater access to the country's lucrative market. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement On the issue of Human rights, the Canadian Prime Minister said that his country has earned a reputation for standing up strongly for human right issues, and China with its increasing influence on the world stage need to take responsibility for its action. However, the one issue that is most likely going to dominate Trudeau's visit to China is Beijing's plan to enforce stricter inspection standards for canola imports from Canada. Canada and China are apparently not showing any flexibility on the issue, with both countries sticking to their condition. The impasse on the issue mainly revolves around the amount of so-called "dockage," a term used to describe the concentration of foreign material such as other plant and weed seeds found in canola. China fears that huge amount of dockage can spread blackleg disease to Chinese crops. China has given Ottawa until September 1 to reduce the level of dockage in its canola deliveries. However, Canada is not willing to accept China's condition, claiming that it has scientific evidence to prove that risk of transmission of blackleg is low - at the current 2.5 per cent dockage rate. With China being one of the biggest markets for Canada's canola seed exports, Trudeau is under immense pressure to resolve the issue well before the deadline. Canada exports nearly four million tonnes of canola seeds to China every year, which is approximately 40 per cent of Canada's yearly canola seed exports. Advertisement TagsJustin Trudeau, China and Canada, Canada, Canada Prime Minister (Photo : US Navy) US First Lady Michelle Obama breaks a bottle of champagne on the sail of the USS Illinois during the boat's christening in Oct. 2015 Advertisement The USS Illinois (SSN 786), a Virginia-class attack submarine sponsored by U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, has been delivered to the Navy and will officially join the fleet in a ceremony on Oct 29. Mrs. Obama christened the boat on Oct.10, 2015 at General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The sub, the newest in its class, will likely join the United States Pacific Fleet based in Hawaii in light of that command's pressing need for submarines. Its first commanding officer is Commander Jess Porter. Mrs. Obama hails from Illinois and grew up in the South Side of Chicago, the most populous city in the state. She and her husband first met in Chicago. General Dynamics Electric Boat, the boat's builder, delivered the submarine after nearly five and a half years of construction. The $2.7 billion submarine is the 13th member of the Virginia class. The sub, which is the third in the Block III series, features a redesigned bow with two large tubes to launch Tomahawk missiles instead of 12 smaller tubes. The larger tubes give the Navy the flexibility to launch future weapons and unmanned vehicles. Mrs. Obama called the submarine a "technological wonder" during the sub's christening. "It is full of technologies like a photonics mast, full of high-resolution and infrared cameras," she said. "It has the most advanced stealth, sonar and communications systems and enough high-definition screens to put Best Buy out of business." The Navy has 13 active Virginia boats. The Navy has ordered 15 more Virginia-class submarines and 10 of those are under construction. The last of the 15 is set for delivery in 2023 as the 28th member of the class. The soon to be built 10 Block V subs, the next generation to the Block IV now in service, will be armed with the Virginia Payload Modules that will more than triple the offensive strike capability of the submarines. Capt. Michael Stevens, the Navy's Virginia-class program manager, said the Virginia-class are needed to replace those built during the Cold War and are retiring. "Every submarine counts," he said. "Every submarine is needed out there." Cmdr. Porter described the Illinois as a "stealthy weapon" that can influence adversaries in a way that makes the U.S. more secure. He said the crew of about 130 men will take the submarine to sea for additional testing to prove its capabilities. Advertisement TagsUSS Illinois, U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, Virginia-class attack submarine, General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyar, United States Pacific Fleet, Commander Jess Porter (Photo : Lori Sanders) The octobot uses a microfluidic logic circuit powered by hydrogen peroxide converted into gas when in contact with platinum instead of rigid electronic parts such as batteries or circuit boards. Advertisement The "octobot" -- the first autonomous, untethered, entirely soft robot ever made -- has been demonstrated by a team of Harvard University researchers with expertise in 3-D printing, mechanical engineering and microfluidics. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement This small, 3-D-printed robot with no electronics could pave the way for a new generation of these machines. It's powered by a chemical reaction controlled by microfluidics. Harvard's octobot is pneumatic-based, and so is powered by gas under pressure. A reaction inside the bot transforms a small amount of liquid fuel (hydrogen peroxide) into a large amount of gas, which flows into the octobot's arms and inflates them like balloons. Soft robotics could help revolutionize how humans interact with machines. Researchers, however, have struggled to build entirely compliant robots. Electric power and control systems such as batteries and circuit boards are rigid. Until now, soft-bodied robots have been either tethered to an off-board system or rigged with hard components. Robert Wood, the Charles River Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Jennifer A. Lewis, the Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), led the research. Lewis and Wood are also core faculty members of the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard. "One longstanding vision for the field of soft robotics has been to create robots that are entirely soft, but the struggle has always been in replacing rigid components like batteries and electronic controls with analogous soft systems and then putting it all together," said Wood. "This research demonstrates that we can easily manufacture the key components of a simple, entirely soft robot, which lays the foundation for more complex designs." Lewis explained that through their hybrid assembly approach, they were able to 3-D print each of the functional components required within the soft robot body, including the fuel storage, power and actuation in a rapid manner. "The octobot is a simple embodiment designed to demonstrate our integrated design and additive fabrication strategy for embedding autonomous functionality." Octopi have long been a source of inspiration in soft robotics since these supple creatures can perform incredible feats of strength and dexterity with no internal skeleton. "Fuel sources for soft robots have always relied on some type of rigid components," said Michael Wehner, a postdoctoral fellow in the Wood lab and co-first author of the paper. "The wonderful thing about hydrogen peroxide is that a simple reaction between the chemical and a catalyst -- in this case platinum -- allows us to replace rigid power sources." To control the reaction, the team used a microfluidic logic circuit based on pioneering work by co-author and chemist George Whitesides, the Woodford L. and Ann A. Flowers University Professor and a core faculty member of the Wyss. The circuit, a soft analog of a simple electronic oscillator, controls when hydrogen peroxide decomposes to gas in the octobot. "The entire system is simple to fabricate. By combining three fabrication methods -- soft lithography, molding, and 3-D printing -- we can quickly manufacture these devices," said Ryan Truby, a graduate student in the Lewis lab and co-first author of the paper. The simplicity of the assembly process paves the way for designs of greater complexity. The Harvard team's next effort will be to design an octobot that can crawl, swim and interact with its environment. "This research is a proof of concept," said Truby. "We hope that our approach for creating autonomous soft robots inspires roboticists, material scientists and researchers focused on advanced manufacturing." The paper was co-authored by Daniel Fitzgerald of the Wyss Institute and Bobak Mosadegh of Cornell University. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation through the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at Harvard and by the Wyss Institute. The research is described in the journal Nature. A video of the octobot can be viewed here. Advertisement Tagsoctobot, Harvard University, microfluidics, Soft Robotics (Photo : Getty Images) China will have "to get involved" if any Indian "plot" disrupts the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in restive Balochistan, an influential Chinese think tank has warned India. Advertisement China will be forced to intervene if any action from India leads to disruption in the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Balochistan, warns an influential Chinese think tank. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reference to Balochistan has become a major concern for China and its scholars, including Hu Shisheng, the Director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Shisheng is associated with one of the country's most powerful think tanks, which is also is affiliated with the Ministry of State Security. In his interview, the expert also said that India's strengthening military ties with the U.S. as well as its stance on the South China Sea dispute has also become a cause for concern for China. "The latest concern for Beijing is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech from the Red Fort in which he referred to the issues like Kashmir (occupied by Pakistan) and Balochistan," Hu said, according to Firstpost. "It could be regarded as a watershed moment in India's policy towards Pakistan. Why Chinese scholars are concerned is because this is for the first time India has mentioned it," he added. Hu further stated that China is worried that India might use "anti-government" elements in Pakistan's Balochistan region, where Beijing is constructing the $46 million CPEC project. "If this kind of plot causes damage to the CPEC, China will have to get involved," he said, if India backs separatists in Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The CPEC is a series of projects that connect China's Xinjiang province to Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan. India has strongly opposed the economic corridor as it passes through Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK, which India has claimed sovereignty over. Hu also pointed out that India's growing military relations with the U.S. and the recent agreement over the logistics treaty, Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), has also raised alarm bells in China. India's interference in the South China Sea debate has further raised tensions between India and China, according to Hu. "In the past, India's stand on the South China Sea was impartial. India is getting more and more involved. This attitude is another concern for China," he noted. "Our problem is with the US. We can see India is becoming more vocal in issuing joint statements with the US and Japan on the South China Sea," he added. In a case brought on by the Philippines, the Permanent Court of Arbitration dismissed China's territorial claims over nearly 90 percent of the South China Sea, which overlaps with several South Asian countries including Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. Advertisement TagsIndia, china, Pakistan, Balochistan, South China Sea, China warns India, CPEC, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, POK (Photo : Getty Images) Hangzhou's Xiashan airport has been ranked as one of the worst airports in the country by China's aviation watchdogs. Advertisement Aviation authorities have slammed Hangzhou airport as one of China's worst managed airports in the country, just days before the G20 summit kicks off in the eastern Chinese city. Hangzhou Xiashan airport was one of four airports that were criticized by the Civil Aviation Administration las week and has been prohibited from any getting additional flights, routes or charters for two months. The other four airports included Shanghai's Pudong, Shanghai's Hongqiao and Lukou airport in Nanjing, according to Shanghai Daily. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The above-mentioned airports came in the last four spots according to a recent ranking of nationwide airports. China's aviation authority has beefed up efforts to address issues such as flight punctuality by imposing penalties on worst performing airports and airlines over the last few months following widespread complaints from travellers. Authorities say that the tightening of aviation regulations has already started showing results. Flight punctuality in July was more than 73 percent, an increase from the 68 percent recorded during the same time in 2015 and 2014, which was the lowest-ever flight-on-time rate registered since the data was publicly available in 2006, according to the South China Morning Post. Aviation regulations require domestic airports with annual passenger volumes of more than 30 million to maintain a punctuality rate of more than 50 percent. Shanghai's Pudong airport was singled out as the worst performer among all major airports with a flight-on-time rate of only 38 percent in July. The ban on normal privileges on these airports will be lifted once the target of 50 percent is met by the airports for two consecutive months, according to officials. Air traffic congestion, weather and poor management are some of the main reasons for flight delay and cancellation, said the administration. Advertisement Tagschina, G20, Hangzhou, Hangzhou airport, Civil Aviation Administration, flight punctuality, flight on time rate, Airport, Hangzhou Xiashan airport (Photo : Getty Images) China and the US are expected to announce their ratification of the landmark Paris Climate Change Agreement before the G20 summit starts next month Advertisement United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday praised China for its outstanding leadership in paving the way for the promotion of environmental growth and encouraging the presence of developing countries at the upcoming G20 summit, which would be held in the city of Hangzhou from September 4-5. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement China's state-run news agency, Xinhua, said Ban spoke highly of the country for leading the way in promoting sustainable development and green growth at the G20 summit. "I commend China for steering the G20 summit this year in such a successful way leading the G20 towards an action agenda that will come in full support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change," the secretary-general said in an interview. Ratification Ban said that the Chinese leadership would be adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris climate change agreement on the action agenda of the G20. "This is the first time that the G20 leaders are gathering to discuss the Sustainable Development Goals and climate change, and how we implement them in parallel," he emphasized. President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama are expected to announce the ratification of the Paris climate change accord by Washington and Beijing before the upcoming summit, Xinhua said. Great opportunity The UN chief said the summit would be a great opportunity for the G20 leaders to follow the example of China and the US by expediting the ratification process of the Paris climate change agreement. So far, 23 countries have already ratified the agreement, but the accord needs the ratification of 55 countries that together will account for 55 percent of the gas emissions for the landmark pact to go into effect. Ban said the UN is doubling its efforts to ensure that the climate change agreement would become legally binding among the signatories at an early date. Gratitude The UN chief expressed gratitude to China for taking charge of the domestic legal procedure needed for the ratification of the accord before the summit. "That is very encouraging news. I hope that many countries, particularly those of the G20 countries, will follow the Chinese leadership," he said. Ban also commended China's initiative to invite leaders of developing countries to take part in the summit and discuss their economic challenges. China invited the leaders of Laos, Senegal, Egypt, Kazakhstan, and Thailand to join in the discussion of the G20 government heads making the summit the most representative of developing nations in the history of the G20. The 11th G20 summit is themed "Toward an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy." Leaders from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and the European Union are expected to attend the summit. Advertisement TagsParis Climate Change Agreement, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, G20 summit, Chinese President Xi jinping, President Barack Obama, Hangzhou, china (Photo : Getty Images) China's central government has appointed Wu Yingjie as the new administrative head of the autonomous region Tibet. Advertisement The Chinese government on Sunday appointed a new official to look into the day-to-day affairs of the autonomous Tibet region as well as Yunnan and Hunan provinces. Wu Yingjie is the new communist secretary for Tibet, Xinhua reported. Wu has a rich experience in Tibet's political affairs, having served as a deputy governor and propaganda chief among other political roles. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Wu, like his predecessor Chen Quanguo, hails from China's majority Han Chinese ethnic group. Xinhua reported that Chen would be soon granted another position, but did not elaborate further. In Yunnan and Hunan provinces, Chen Hao and Du Jiahao have been respectively appointed to top administrative positions in the region. Both officials worked with Chinese President Xi Jinping when Xi was the chief of Shanghai, according to the resume of both officials. Tibet: a political sensitive region of China Tibet is one of the politically sensitive areas in China considering the level of anti-Chinese sentiments that exits in the predominately Buddhist region. A strong anti-Chinese feeling erupted in the region following a failed uprising in 1950s. After the failed uprising, Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 and since then has been living in exile. The Dalai Lama has accused China of brutally suppressing Tibetian identity and culture. China has vehemently denied such allegations, claiming that the government's efforts have brought peace and economic prosperity to the region. Advertisement Tagschina, Tibet, China and Tibet, Dalai Lama (Photo : PTI) US Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar during Parrikar's visit to the US in April 2016. Advertisement Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar on Aug. 30 will sign the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), a foundational agreement for India and the U.S. that will allow the military forces of both nations to use each other's military bases in the Indo-Pacific region. Parrikar, who is on an official visit to the U.S. from Aug. 29 to 31, will sign the agreement on behalf of India. U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter will sign for the United States. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The agreement is directed squarely against China and Russia, both of which are flirting with the idea of establishing a military alliance to cripple U.S. power worldwide. It places India squarely on the side of the U.S. and its allies in Asia standing against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. LEMOA means India will allow U.S. forces to operate out of its military bases and vice versa. The agreement will give each nation access supplies, spare parts and services from each other's land facilities, air bases and ports, which can then be reimbursed, according to India's Ministry of Defense. The ministry also said LEMOA does not give automatic access to the use of each nation's military bases. LEMOA is seen as part of President Barack Obama's pivot to Asia and caps 12 years of unrelenting effort by the U.S. Under the pivot meant to rein in communist China and its imperialistic leadership, the U.S. Navy plans to deploy 60 percent of its surface ships to the Indo-Pacific with this decade. LEMOA will immensely aid the U.S. in this massive redeployment of its military forces because instead of having to build new military bases, its forces can operate out of India's military bases on the Indian mainland. For its part, India will have access to U.S. bases in the Indian Ocean such as the one on Diego Garcia atoll in the Chagos Archipelago. China is expanding its naval presence in the Indian Ocean and as part of this strategy will build a military base on the Seychelles and will open its first overseas naval base in Djibouti in 2017. China is also eyeing bases in Pakistan (its most powerful ally in Asia), Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. LEMOA will also wean India away from its decades-old alliance with Russia and towards a new alliance with the U.S., Japan and Australia to protect the Indian Ocean and the seas off Southeast Asia against China. India remains at odds with China from border disputes dating back to the month-long Sino-Indian War in 1962. Tensions are currently high along the 4,000 kilometer Line of Actual Control (LAC) dividing India and China as India is heavily reinforcing its military forces along this volatile border in response to a Chinese military build-up. LEMOA will confront China with the prospect of a two-front war, and might give pause to future Chinese aggression along the LAC and Asian seas. Advertisement TagsManohar Parrikar, Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, LEMOA, china, Russia, South China Sea, President Barack Obama, Ash Carter Jordanian Muslim prince and Jewish scholar team up to defend Christianity 29 August, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | LONDON (Christian Examiner) A Jordanian prince, who is Muslim, has joined a Jewish interfaith scholar in defending Christianity against Islamic State (ISIS) claims that the faith is an intrusive tool of the West in the Middle East. In an opinion editorial in the Daily Telegraph, Prince Hassan bin Talal, uncle to King Abdullah II and founder of the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies, and Dr. Ed Kessler, founder and director of the Woolf Institute at Cambridge, both say Christianity has been part of "the essential fabric of the Middle East for two thousand years." Rather than being imported from the West, it was exported to the West, they also wrote. "This central role in our region and civilization is why it is abhorrent to us, as a Muslim and a Jew, to see Christianity and Christians under such savage assault across our region," Hassan and Kessler wrote. It is time to call a halt to the hate and atrocities that are causing convulsions throughout our immediate region and beyond. Peace and humanity itself hang upon the success of this interfaith exercise. It is that important. Early on, many nations recognized that ISIS was undertaking a systematic campaign to rid the Middle East of Christians. The United States, however, was slow to recognize ISIS atrocities against Christians and other religious minorities as genocide. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry finally did designate ISIS as a purveyor of genocide in March 2013. Hassan and Kessler wrote they were "appalled" by the loss of human life in the region, and called the loss of Christianity a "hammer blow to our shared heritage." "The reality is that we are all one community, united by shared beliefs and history. But this is increasingly denied, with Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or Daesh as it is known in our region, taking the lead both in justifying and carrying out these attacks. The most recent issue of its publication Dabiq, headlined 'Break the Cross,' explicitly rejects the fundamental belief that we are all People of the Book," they wrote. "People of the Book" is a phrase originating in the early days of Islam when Muhammad was preaching his new religion. He encouraged his followers to be tolerant of Christians and Jews. Later, however, Muhammad and his followers expanded their religion through conquest, forced conversion and oppression of religious minorities. ISIS, Hassan and Kessler wrote, wrote ISIS wants to return the Middle East to a "golden age" of Islam. However, that age never existed anywhere, they wrote. It is "solely the creation of the warped minds of today's jihadists." "They are in the same mold as those whose misguided zeal turned Christian Europe in the Middle Ages into a byword for fanaticism and oppression. Daesh want to take us to a new Dark Age, an age made even darker by the dangers that the gifts of science and technology pose in their hands," they wrote. Christianity is not the only faith at risk, they wrote. In fact, ISIS targets Muslims who don't agree with their fanatical ideology the same as they do "infidels." "As we have seen all too often, fundamentalists display a particular loathing for co-religionists whose views do not conform to their own," they wrote. That is why the two men want to target the ideas that stem from hardline interpretation of the Quran, as well as the Jewish Tanakh and the Christian Bible. All have been used, they wrote, to justify violence in the past. Since the texts are considered authoritative for each faith, and cannot be changed, they asked what can be done to end bigotry and violence. "These words must be seen in context. It is vital, for example, to juxtapose texts from the same Scripture that offer a contrasting approach. Here, too, a better understanding of the sacred writings of other faiths may help us see the paradoxes and conflicts that we can fail to acknowledge in our own," they wrote. "Above all, we must emphasize the importance of interpretation, which is central and common to all the Abrahamic faiths. This provides us with the ability to deal with texts that run contrary to what we regard as the fundamental values of our tradition." Hassan and Kessler argue that both Judaism and Islam have interpretations that prize human dignity and the preservation of human life as cornerstones of their respective religions. That is where the focus should be, they wrote. "It is time to call a halt to the hate and atrocities that are causing convulsions throughout our immediate region and beyond. Peace and humanity itself hang upon the success of this interfaith exercise. It is that important," they wrote. It is doubtful ISIS will heed such a call, or that they will tolerate Muslims who make it. According to U.S. government statistics, between 82 and 97 percent of the victims of ISIS terror attacks or mass killings are Muslim (both Sunni and Shiite). Islamic State terrorists have claimed responsibility for an attack that killed at least 15 people at an Iraqi wedding celebration in the Shiite city of Kerbala on Sunday night. TheBlaze.com reports that the attack consisted of a suicide bomber as well as five other terrorists who attacked the wedding-goers with grenades and machine gun fire. All of the attackers have been apprehended by authorities. The attack is thought to be retaliation for ISIS loss of ground in Fallujah and other parts of Iraq. Although Iraqi and U.S.-backed forces are pushing the terrorists out of land they once controlled, they still maintain a fierce presence in the region. The attack is the first in the Kerbala region since Iraqi forces recaptured Fallujah, and it is thought to have been sparked by a conflict between two opposing factions of Islam, the Sunnis and the Shiites. The wedding was a gathering of Shiite Muslims. The more radical Sunni Muslims of the Islamic State often target Shiites, as well as those of other religions, in their quest to establish a caliphate. . Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com Publication date: August 29, 2016 Though Turkish officials are still investigating who is responsible for a recent suicide attack that killed 54 people at a Kurdish wedding, they initially thought the bomber was a child between the ages of 12 and 14, likely linked to Islamic State (ISIS). Whether the claim proves true, evidence shows ISIS exploits boys and girls as bombers, combatants, and sex slaves. ISIS reportedly keeps an army of child soldiers, indoctrinating them at ISIS-run schools and exposing them to grisly bloodshed. The group routinely releases video footage of these so-called cubs of the caliphate shooting and beheading victims. When these miniature militants are finished training, ISIS fighters deliver them straight to the front lines. Or, in many cases, child soldiers are strapped with explosives and sent on suicide missions. Some children have volunteered to join Islamic extremists. When [ISIS] came to my town, I liked what they are wearing, they were like one herd. They had a lot of weapons. So I spoke to them, and decided to go to their training camp, one child told Human Rights Watch, according to BBC. But the majority of child soldiers dont volunteer. Human rights groups say poor, marginalized, and refugee children are particularly are risk for being kidnapped by Islamic militant groups. And child soldiers are not always boysover 3,000 ethnic minority Yazidi women and girls are enslaved by ISIS militants, according to The New York Times. ISIS fighters often buy and sell teenage girls for as little as a pack of cigarettes, says Zainab Bangura, who in April interviewed a number of female escapees from insurgent-held areas. Sometimes, young girls are driven into combat, but they are most often held for domestic and sexual slavery. In central Africa, ISIS ally Boko Haram is increasingly using children as suicide bombers. According to UNICEF, one in five Boko Haram-claimed suicide attacks across Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad are carried out by childrenmostly girls. But ISIS isnt the only terror group forcing children into the flame of combat. Armed groups in South Sudan have enlisted at least 650 child soldiers this year alone, and approximately 16,000 since the countrys civil war began in 2013. Like many child soldiers across the globe, Sudanese children take up the deadliest battle posts. If you go to the front line, two things would happen: either you will kill someone or you will be killed, a 16-year old former child soldier in South Sudan told The Associated Press. If you are afraid, the commander will beat you. In the Congo, guerilla fighters view child soldiers as both a commodity and a talisman. There is a perception that children are purer and [as such have] magical protective powers, Milfrid Tonheim, a researcher who interviewed hundreds of former child soldiers in East Congo, told Women in the World. In reality these children are living shields who protect the commanders by fighting, but also often take bullets for [them]. Worldwide, it is illegal to recruit anyone under 18 for military service, and recruitment of a child under 15 is considered a war crime by the International Criminal Court. Though the exact global tally of child soldiers is unknown, Amnesty International reports a United Nations estimate of 300,000 children actively involved in conflict in 30 countries. Courtesy: WORLD News Service Publication date: August 29, 2016 Police are investigating the stabbing deaths of two Catholic nuns who were found dead at their home in central Mississippi. Investigators would not speculate on a motive for the killings Thursday (Aug. 25), although reports talked about suspicions that what may have started as a robbery escalated into murder. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN) confirmed the deaths of the two women, who worked as nurses at the Lexington Medical Clinic in Durant, about 60 miles northeast of Jackson. They were identified as Sister Paula Merrill, of the SCN in Kentucky, and Sister Margaret Held, with the School Sisters of St. Francis in Milwaukee. Both were 68. Pray in gratitude for the precious lives of Sisters Paula and Margaret. They served the poor so well. Because we are gospel women, please also pray for the perpetrators, SCN President Susan Gatz said in a statement. I am finding it very difficult to believe, an SCN member who identified herself as Sister Suma wrote on the orders website Friday. I remember being with her for two days when we visited the sisters at Mississippi. Sister Jeanine had taken us to her home and to the hospital she worked. We had a wonderful time with her and that is very fresh in my mind. She was a wonderful person. I feel very sad. May they rest in peace. Police were called by personnel at the medical clinic after the two failed to show up on Thursday morning. Their bodies were found in a check of the house by a co-worker, police told local media. Assistant Police Chief James Lee said there were signs of a break-in in their home, and one of the victims vehicles was later found undamaged about a mile away. The SCN statement said Merrill was born in Massachusetts and moved to the South as a second-year novice with the order. She felt a connection and a need to serve the people. She has been there ever since, it said. The clinic the nuns worked at serves a county where 41 percent of the population lives in poverty. Approximately 40 percent of the patients are uninsured or have only Medicaid. But despite the destitution in Durant, violent crime there is rare. The sisters helped treat thousands of patients regardless of their ability to pay, reported The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson. They were earthly angels with hearts of pure gold, Rosalind McChriston-Williams, a nurse who worked with them at UMMC Holmes County, told the newspaper. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, based in Nazareth, Ky., was founded in 1812. SCN describes itself as an international congregation committed to work for justice in solidarity with oppressed peoples, especially the economically poor and women, and to care for the earth. The description continues: They risk their lives and resources, both personally and corporately, as they engage in diverse ministries in carrying out this mission. The School Sisters of St. Francis community was founded in 1874 and also serves the poor. It is based in Milwaukee. Material from Reuters is included in this report. Photos: Sister Paula J. Merrill, left, and Sister Margaret M. Held, right, were found stabbed to death on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, at their home in central Mississippi. Police are investigating the case as a robbery that escalated into murder. Photos courtesy: Merrill photo courtesy of Sisters of Charity. Held photo courtesy of Michael OLoughlin/School Sisters of St. Francis Publication date: August 29, 2016 Russia's new anti-conversion laws have affected two Christians -- both of whom are the first victims to have faced punishment for evangelizing, and are also foreign citizens. One of the victims is a US Baptist preacher Donald Ossewaarde, and the other is a Ghanaian Protestant Ebenezer Tuah. Ossewaarde was detained in the city of Oryol, about 223 miles from Moscow, and was fined 40,000 roubles for hosting services at his home, and handing out tracts inviting people to study the scriptures. He carried out missionary activity without submitting written notice to authorities, according to the judge who prosecuted him. Ossewaarde does not represent any religious association. His lawyers gave a brief to the media, which stated: "Donald was arrested in his own home, where policemen came to establish the fact that a group was meeting with him for prayer and Bible reading, which they say is illegal. In court, Donald was also accused of posting notices in public places, inviting anyone interested in studying the Scriptures to turn him for help. The Court also ruled that this American, who, according to Russian law, has all the same rights as a Russian citizen, failed to give the authorities written notification when he began his religious group activities. The court refused to allow time for Donald's lawyers to come from Moscow for the initial hearing, and then provided a lawyer to him. In a "confidential conversation" after the hearing, this court appointed lawyer advised him to accept the verdict and pay the fine without appeal. Then he said that it would be better for the American to leave the city, because anything might happen to him and his family." Ossewaarde's family has left for the US, but he has stayed back to appeal his case. His lawyers said that he is confident that he is on the right side of the law, but is a victim of an improper application of it. Tuah, who leads the Christ Embassy Church, was arrested at the sanatorium where he was baptizing individuals in Moscow's Tver district. He also posted information about his beliefs on the internet for proselytizing, and was fined 50,000 roubles. He had no registered documentation for the group. In the court proceedings, a "specialist" said that the videos of his group events taken from the sanatorium's cameras show that his activities corresponded to "the definition of missionary activity, since the very fact of baptism is evidence that that preaching and missionary activity are being carried out in front of people who are not part of this religious group". The judge, then, sentenced him guilty of "activity aimed at disseminating information on his beliefs among non-participants (members, followers) of a religious association, in order to involve these persons in the religious association." Tuah is likely to appeal the sentence. Aleksandr Yakimov, leader of a Pentecostal community in the town of Mari-Turek, has also been charged with similar offenses and is due to appear in court on August 29. The detainments were carried out after a legislation banning evangelization outside of authorized religious establishments was passed by the government in July. Religious and human rights activists say that these are attempts by the state to clamp down on religious freedom. Boko Haram insurgency in Africa has left 1.4 million children displaced and another one million rendered vulnerable in remote parts of the region still occupied by Boko Haram, according to a recent UNICEF report. The international children's charity has called for funds to reach the affected children in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, which are marred by violence. UNICEF said that about 50,000 people in the state of Borno alone may die if they are not given the needed support at the earliest. About 2.6 million people are currently displaced in Lake Chad region, and about 2.2 million people are still reeling under the control of Boko Haram. About half of the victims are children and are in need of immediate aid. Children suffering from severe acute malnutrition have increased from 175,000 at the beginning of 2016 to 475,000 at this time of the year. In northeast Nigeria, about 20,000 children are estimated to have separated from their families. The UN reported that about 38 children were used as suicide bombers in the Lake Chad basin this year. About 80 percent of the people are staying with extended families and neighbors, which has put an additional strain on poor households. The report cites a case history of three young girls and their brother who were separated from their families when Boko Haram attacked their village. The three young girls were taken in by a man named (only first name given) Francois in Dzawandai village. They were eventually found by their mother who searched for her children in surrounding villages. She also found her son a year later when shopping for food in another village. The boy also was taken care of by a foster family. "It was natural for me to offer them shelter," said Francois. "If one day they decide to leave, it will be their choice, but if they decide to stay, my home will be theirs after I die. They are my family now." The children's charity aims to provide psychological support to half a million children affected by the conflict, and send them to schools, apart from reaching 4.3 million people with primary health care services, and making drinking water accessible to 1.4 million people, among its several other goals. A man carrying a bomb and an axe attacked a Catholic priest in Indonesia during a Sunday service at St Yoseph Church in North Sumatra. The bomb failed to explode and burst into flames burning the man's back, after which he pulled an axe from his bag and ran towards the priest. He slashed the priest's arm, who only sustained a minor injury. The man was then subdued by the congregants who took his axe, and held him until the arrival of police. Reverend Albert Pandiangan, 60, was later taken to a nearby hospital for check-up. The police said that the items he was carrying had an Islamic State insignia which appeared to be a hand-drawn ISIS flag. A bomb squad was also called in to examine the attacker, an 18-year-old man, for any other explosives he might be carrying. "A terrorism act was carried out on Sunday morning at the Saint Joseph Catholic church," Medan police spokeswoman, Rina Sari Ginting, said in a statement. "Police are interrogating the perpetrator... and will search his house for any bomb-making materials." The family of the attacker told The Jakarta Post that there was a change in his attitude during the last two months. He refused to greet his Christian grandmother without wearing gloves during Idul Fitri. It is an Indonesian tradition to kiss hands of the elderly to show respect. The attacker had also recently argued with his older brother over aqidah (Islamic creed), and had received a fertilizer pack from an unknown person a week before the attack. A woman identified as Vero told The Jakarta Post that the man was sitting besides her at the Sunday Mass. She said that he was at unease during the service. "He was fidgety the whole time. He also could not follow our ritual," she said. Vero also said that he took some cables out and connected them which caused a small explosion. Another church member Randa told JP that when the perpetrator was detained, two other unidentified people ran away from the church. "We never saw them," she recounted. An eyewitness, Markus Harianto Manullan, told AFP/AP that he was wearing a jacket and appeared to have something in his pocket. "He sat in the same row as I did... I saw him fiddling with something in his jacket, and then I heard a small explosion and he immediately ran to the podium," Manullan said. Even after the attack, people did not move away from the premises but continued to congregate in groups outside the church amid heavy security. I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up. One of the great stories in the Bible about community involves a paralyzed man and the friends who brought him to Jesus (Mark 2:1-8). Imagine what life was like for a paralytic in the ancient world. This man's whole life is lived on a mat three-feet ... home US Ben Carson and Kirk Cameron urge Christians to vote in November elections Former Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson and actor-producer Kirk Cameron have urged Christians to vote as the upcoming elections draw closer. The unlikely duo appeared on a live tele-forum event organized by My Faith Votes held on Carson's living room Tuesday and strongly urged Christian voters to exercise their political rights. The 64-year-old retired neurosurgeon noted that about 25 million religious people didn't take to the polling booths in the recent election. Carson warned that skipping the political exercise still had its own consequences. "When you don't vote, you're voting," Carson said, according to The Christian Post. He argued that "Judeo-Christian principles were right there as our country was founded" and stressed that God gave people a brain and reasoning ability in order to get involved in politics. So, he implored Christians to pray that "the eyes of the people will open and they'll recognize that there was a reason God gave them a tremendous reasoning ability, so that we can analyze things for ourselves." Carson also made the same argument repeatedly raised by prominent evangelical leaders on why this presidential election is so important. He reminded viewers that the upcoming election is not simply about the race between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential contender Donald Trump but about how the court system is going to be shaped for the coming generations. Megachurch Pastor David Jeremiah slammed the Supreme Court Justices as even more powerful than kings and dictators because they wielded power far greater and for a lifetime. "For this election is no longer about Republicans or Democrats a it's about Americans," Pastor Jeremiah told his congregation of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. "It's about the ability to retain the freedom we are here today to celebrate." In the same way, Carson urged Christian voters to think of their children and grandchildren. "Our future is in our own hands," stressed Carson. "We have to stand up for what we believe." Cameron chimed in to remind fellow Christians that the Bible talked about how a nation ruled by the righteous made its people happy while one ruled by the wicked made its people perish. home Faith Better screening for priesthood needed to attract the right candidates, says Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin, acknowledged that better admission standards are needed to attract new priests. Martin issued a statement to RTE Radio's Morning Ireland on Thursday regarding the issues facing the Maynooth seminary. The Trustees of the National Seminary ordered a review of the usage of social media by priests-in-training after allegations were made that some of the trainees used Grindr, a dating app for gay people. "Maynooth is not to be condemned but it is not to be canonized either," Martin told RTE. He added that the seminary has to change, "not just because of current allegations but because of the fact that we are living in a different world." "I've never criticized the teaching in Maynooth, this is something people have said is behind my activity. That isn't what I've been talking about at all," the archbishop added. The trustees released a statement on Wednesday asking for a review of policies on whistle-blowing and policies regarding the use of the internet and social media. The trustees also asked the Bishops' Conference for an independent audit of governance in the seminaries. They also called for a standard national policy for admissions and the introduction of a pre-seminary year for applicants to the priesthood. Dominican priest Fr. Gerard Dunne agreed with Martin and told the Irish Independent that Martin is currently seeking a standardization of admissions procedures for all dioceses. "In my experience, this process has been haphazard in the past. Different dioceses in Ireland employ different assessment methods a some are rigorous, others not so," Dunne said. Dunne added that candidates should experience life in the parish and have at least a year of discernment with a vocations director. Martin told RTE that seminaries will continue to exist but the preparation of priests will go beyond the walls of the seminary. He added that training for priesthood should take part in realities where there are variations in religious culture. home Entertainment T.D. Jakes talk show joins Oprah Winfrey Network Megachurch Bishop T.D. Jakes announced he's moving his syndicated talk show to the Oprah Winfrey Network, and it is scheduled to premiere on Sept. 19. The bishop and founder of the Texas-based non-denominational megachurch The Potter's House announced through a Facebook video on Wednesday that he's already signed a partnership with the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), named after the iconic former daytime talk-show host. "Every now and then you get an opportunity that makes you so excited you get goose pimples. That's my attitude today," said Bishop Jakes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the hour-long talk show produced by TEGNA Media, 44Blue Productions, EnLight Productions and T.D. Jakes Enterprises would show locally on 70 affiliates every Monday to Friday at 6 p.m. ET/PT starting Sept. 12. The talk show filmed in Los Angeles also features Ianthe Jones as its showrunner. OWN president Erik Logan also issued a statement on Tuesday to welcome the newest member to the OWN family. "Oprah Winfrey is an icon and a business mogul who has become a national treasure impacting our nation with her creativity. I consider her a personal friend and I'm honored to have her support of my new show," The Hollywood Reporter quoted the bishop as saying. Winfrey also talked about her respect for Bishop Jakes and his church as she launched her TV drama "Greenleaf" early this year. The series revolved around the scandals and affairs of and the family of Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David) and his Memphis-based megachurch Calvary Fellowship World Ministries. The 62-year-old media tycoon said she spoke to the bishop and clarified that story doesn't point to him at all. "I said, 'I just want you to know, from my lips to your ears, I have nothing but deep respect and regard for the church. I, Oprah Winfrey, am going to do nothing, ever, that disrespects the church," Winfrey said during a Q&A session at SoHo House Hollywood for "Greenleaf," as reported by Euroweb. home World Burkinis and nuns' habits banned on the beaches of Nice, France Nuns cannot wear their habits on the beaches of Nice anymore after the city's ban on the burkini. Rudy Salles, the deputy mayor of Nice, cited the separation of religion and state as the reason behind this decision. "So if you want to go to the beach in a burkini, it's forbidden because it is a provocation. Religion and the state are completely separated," Salles said during an interview with Edward Stourton on BBC Radio 4. "Religion is the affair of each one but each one at home, each one at church, not each one in the street," he added. "What about a Catholic nun? Would she be allowed on the beach wearing her habit?" Stourton asked. "No. The same," Salles replied. The burkini has been banned in around 30 French coastal resorts. An Italian imam, Izzedin Eldir, included the nun's habits in the discussion about the ban two weeks ago when he posted images of fully-clothed nuns at the beach on his Facebook account. His account was reportedly blocked for seven hours but was later reinstated. Last week, pictures of a French policeman confronting a woman wearing a burkini circulated on the internet. The woman in the picture appeared to be removing parts of her outfit while a policeman stood next to her. It is not clear whether or not the police fined the woman for her outfit. Salles defended the ban insisting that it was necessary. "It's a necessity after... the 14th of July on the Promenade des Anglais," he told BBC, referring to the terrorist attack that happened on Bastille Day. The highest administrative court in France suspended the burkini ban last Friday but majority of French mayors are still keeping the ban in place. Mayor David Lisnard of Cannes, the first mayor to ban the burkini, said that the ruling does not change his conviction about the controversial piece of clothing. home World Catholic Church establishes reunification committees in South Korea The Catholic Church in South Korea is establishing committees dedicated to the reconciliation and reunification of the Korean peninsula. Last March, the Korean Bishops Conference made a recommendation for every parish to set up its own reunification panel. The Dowon Church in Daegu Archdiocese, which established its own group on Aug. 17, was the latest church to do so. James Byeon Jin-heung, a researcher at Uijeongbu Institute for Peace in Northeast Asia, believes that the parishes should be the starting point for the unification ministry. "The parish-level committees will arouse people's interest in national reconciliation and become the base for peace education and supporting [the people in] North Korea," Byeon told UCAnews. Father Pius Yi Ki-soo, president of the Daegu Archdiocese's committee for national reconciliation, hopes his parish will become the center of care and support for North Koreans. "We encounter many North Korean refugees around us but we are short of concern for them," he said to UCAnews. Meanwhile, the Incheon Diocese is the most active in organizing reunification programs in the country. It held a national reconciliation committee meeting on July with 29 parish-level groups that had already been established. Dioceses near the border of North Korea are already working on reunification committees. Bishop Peter Lee Ki-heon of the Uijeongbu Diocese already told his parishioners to set up such a body and issue guidelines. The Chunchon Diocese will create its own program in 2017. UCAnews reported last week that Catholic youths headed to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to pray for peace and reconciliation in the peninsula. The Korean youths were joined by other young people from all over the world for the DMZ Peace Pilgrimage of Youth from Aug. 13 to Aug. 19. Political tension between the North and the South remains high due to the recent test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile by Pyongyang. South Korea, Japan and the U.S. requested an emergency meeting with the U.N. Security Council following the test launch. home World Christian group in Nigeria labels John Kerry's visit as divisive and discriminatory The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Supo Ayokunle, criticized John Kerry for stirring state divisions during his visit to Nigeria on Monday. Kerry was hosted by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, while he was in the country. Kerry also met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors of the northern states. Ayokunle said Kerry's visit favored the Muslims in Northern Nigeria, to the detriment of the Christian community. "It was surely a very divisive visit. By going to the north, Kerry's visit has heightened fear and tension among Christians in Nigeria. If they cannot bring us together, they should not interfere in our affairs," Ayokunle said in a statement. The motive behind Kerry's trip was to reinforce Nigeria's counterterrorism efforts and to speak about the importance of religious tolerance in fighting extremist ideologies. Ayokunle also condemned the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) over its inaction regarding the cases of persecuted Christians. "Has the DSS arrested the Muslim youths who burnt down a Catholic Church in Niger State because they were worshipping on Friday? What happened to the ECWA pastor who was killed in his farm in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State? What has happened with Redeemed Preacher who was murdered in Kubwa, Abuja?" he asked. Ayokunle also mentioned the case of Joe Chinakwe who was arrested for naming his dog after President Buhari. He called on the Nigerian Bar Association to intervene in Chinakwe's case. The Sultan of Sokoto recently commented that Nigeria is not a secular nation but a multi-religious state. The National Christian Elders argued against his remark, citing section 10 of the Nigerian constitution which prohibits the government from adopting a state religion. Over the years, there have been several cases of Muslim leaders trying to Islamize Nigeria despite clear provisions in the law against such acts. home Entertainment Rapper DMX finds God after life of sin, feels calling to become a pastor Best-selling hardcore rapper DMX believes he has been called to be a pastor despite his controversial life of drugs, women and sin. A video of him preaching in Phoenix, Arizona could indicate that his dream is one step closer to becoming reality. The video posted on BET Gospel's Facebook page showed DMX, Earl Simmons in real life, on the pulpit talking about how he found God in the midst of tragedies. "If there's not a difficult situation, if there's not a situation where you can't see you possibly getting through on your own then where's the potential for the miracle? It's not that God made these things happen but what I'm saying is that He allowed those things to happen, just so you know what He's willing to do for you," the Christian rapper said in the video. Simmons admitted that the devil keeps trying to deceive him but he acknowledges that these difficulties are part and parcel of Christian life. He shared that if he doesn't pose as a threat to the devil, the devil would not waste time with him. And if he is not special to God, how would he know what God was willing to do for him? He answered this question by quoting a passage from the Bible: "All things are possible through Christ who strengthens." The rapper also talked about how he responds to tough situations. "On a daily basis, if it gets rough. I praise God. It goes wrong, I praise God. It goes left, I praise God. I praise God because there's nothing that He can't get me through. So I thank Him for every opportunity that is presented for me to see what He's willing to do for me," he said. Simmons urged the audience to embrace difficult times, adding that this is when God's work can be clearly felt in their lives. During his interview in the popular radio show "The Breakfast Club," Simmons revealed that God allowed his musical career to create a platform for him to gain attention and credibility. He believes that when he becomes a pastor, he will gain even more fans. Simmons, who was ordained as a deacon, knows that the journey to becoming a pastor will not be easy. "I still might have some bumps to go over but at the end of the day I know who's going to get the victory," he said. home Life Josh Harris, author of 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye' apologizes, will re-evaluate his book The best-selling author of Christian book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" dissuaded millions from dating and sex before marriage, but now apologizes for what his book might have caused. Pastor Joshua Harris, who wrote the influential book on Christian dating when he was only 21, said he's re-thinking the lessons imparted on his 1997 book after soliciting messages from readers on how the book's affected them. According to Slate, the former lead pastor of Covenant Life Church already received more than 300 responses and personally responded to critics on Twitter as well as talked with them on the phone. Elizabeth Ester, the author of "Girl at the End of the WorldandSpiritual Sobriety," tweeted May 10 that she never went to prom because of Fundamentalism. "@elizabethesther I'm sorry. And I'm planning to dig into that in the next year or two. Again, I'd love to chat," Harris tweeted back. Harris' personal responses unleashed a series of conversations from a group of critics and even resulted with a hashtag #KissShameBye for aggrieved readers who want to vent out. "Part of the reason this has been so hard for me is that I have so much of my identity tied up in these books. It's what I'm known for," Harris told Slate in an interview. "It's like, well, crap, is the biggest thing I've done in my life this really huge mistake?" he added. The prominent Christian celebrity, now 41 with three kids a two of them now in their teens a in his 17 years of marriage, wrote that Christians should veer from traditional dating as this only leads to divorce and espoused abstinence. Yet now, 19 years later, Harris admits that he was "very speculative" when he wrote the book, owing to his lack of experience in personal relationships back then and that it didn't help when readers attached to his book as a "rule book" or a "formula," which he claimed was not his intention. "And I just don't think that's the way life works," he told NPR's Rachel Martin early last month. "I don't think that's the way the life of faith works ... And I'm - I think that that's part of the problem with my book." home Faith Tony Perkins denies saying God punishes gay people with natural disasters Conservative leader Tony Perkins has denied he ever said disasters were God's punishment for gay people after the historic Louisiana flooding destroyed his home. The 53-year-old president of Family Research Council (FRC) spoke out last week against circulating reports that he assigned natural disasters as God's way of punishing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Perkins rebuffed the reports as "deceptive claims" and "inaccurate." "What I have said, which I repeated yesterday in a sermon at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, is that I don't know what was behind this flood or any other natural disaster. However, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe the Bible which makes clear that God is sovereign over the elements of nature and can and does use them for His purposes," wrote Perkins in an article for Charisma News. The reports surfaced after the Christian lobbyist announced Aug. 18 that his home was among the tens of thousands destroyed by the heavy rainfall that began Aug. 12 and submerged South Louisiana in a historic flooding. "This is a flood, I would have to say, of near biblical proportions," Perkins, a former representative of Louisiana, told FRC in an interview. He revealed that about 10 feet of water inundated their home and that he and his family escaped through a canoe. Reports of Perkins' situation were circulated by liberals with accompanying accounts claiming how he connected disasters with the sins of LGBT people. Some pointed to last year when Perkins interviewed Messianic Jewish pastor Jonathan Cahn and agreed with him that Hurricane Joaquin was "a sign of God's wrath." Perkins also compared homosexuality to pedophilia and attributed the latter as "a homosexual problem." However, the Christian leader has now clarified his stance, and has urged Christians to respond by praying in these trying times. "We are to be on our faces before God, giving thanks in everything, and placing ourselves in total dependence on Him," said Perkins. He ended by thanking volunteer aid workers, particularly the Samaritan's Purse, which responded within 48 hours to his call for help, and for urging Christians to continue praying that God would use the church to minister to the communities. Faith-based groups and local churches offered relief for Louisiana flood victims. Anglicans consider new synod to oppose gay marriage Nearly a dozen evangelical churches in the Church of England that oppose gay marriage are to align themselves with the world's leading conservative Anglican coalition. About 12 parishes from three counties in the south of England are meeting this week to show support for the Jerusalem Statement, the statement of faith drawn up by the worldwide Global Anglican Future Conference, or Gafcon. The meeting will be hosted by Rev Peter Sanlon, Vicar of St Mark's, Tunbridge Wells in the Rochester diocese. They will discuss the possibility of a new Anglican synod to be set up if the Church of England moves towards formalising same-sex blessings or gay marriage, according to the Telegraph. The Church's bishops are meeting later this year to discuss the next steps after the two-year "shared conversations" on the issue of sexuality. In England, there is already a number of conservative groups such as the Church Society, and Reform. Dr Sanlon has written for the Church Society. There are also the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, which is signed up to Gafcon's Jerusalem Statement and Declaration, and the Anglican Mission in England, a mission society promoting gospel growth in England. Anglican Mainstream is a fifth. Andrew Symes, writing recently for them said: "Many clergy and laity are now asking: If my theological views, nominally considered 'orthodox' by the church of which I am a member, are in reality seen as the problem by that institution, then how can the church be seen as 'orthodox', and what are the options for me and others like me who want to remain Anglican, but orthodox?" The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is from a conservative evangelical background but according to Christian Today, at the Greenbelt arts festival he described how he was "constantly consumed with horror" at how the church treats gay people. Dr Sanlon told the Telegraph: "If senior leaders of the Church of England water down the teaching of the Church of England on key issues like homosexuality, then this synod could easily evolve in to a new Anglican jurisdiction in England. The Archbishop of Canterbury has signalled that he is aware of the possibility that a significant proportion of the church will not accept a change in the church's teaching. This could be the beginning of that playing out. "I am not leaving the Church of England - but in order to stay, I need new partnerships and structures to discharge the mission of the Church of England, which is to bring the message of Christ to every postcode in England." A spokesman for Anglican Mainstream said: "This is not an initiative organised or directed by Gafcon." But he said there were many similarities between them and Gafcon. "This is a local initiative designed to send a clear message: we hold to the unchanging truths of the Gospel and the formularies and teachings of the Church of England. We oppose the relentless slide towards revisionism in the Church of England structures. We will take action to protect our congregations and our mission." Christian Today has reached out to Dr Sanlon for comment. Death toll rises as Libyans push ISIS back At least 34 Libyan fighters were killed and more than 180 wounded on Sunday as they closed in on the last Islamic State militant holdouts in the coastal city of Sirte, according to field hospitals. Forces aligned with Libya's UN-backed government, supported since August 1 by US air strikes, have pushed militants back into a small residential area in central Sirte in a three-month-old campaign. Heavy fighting resumed on Sunday after a one-week lull. The Libyan brigades, mostly from the city of Misrata, say they are close to victory in Sirte, but they have struggled to defend themselves against suicide bombings, sniper fire and landmines. On Sunday several brigades stationed close to Sirte's seafront advanced several hundred meters eastwards through Sirte's neighborhood Number One, while other fighters overran Islamic State positions in street-to-street fighting to the south. Fighters used tanks, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft guns to try to blast through Islamic State sniper positions. The Misrata-led brigades said there had been five attempted car bombings on Sunday in a "desperate attempt to disrupt the advance", though at least one of the bombs had been destroyed before it could reach its target. The front lines in Sirte were quieter earlier this week as government-led forces said they were giving time to the wives and children of Islamic State fighters to leave the battle zone. Almost all the city's estimated 80,000 residents left after Islamic State took full control of the city last year, turning it into its regional stronghold and expanding its presence along about 250 km (155 miles) of coastline. The United States has carried out dozens of air strikes against Islamic State positions and vehicles in Sirte. This week the US Africa Command said Marine AH-1W SuperCobra helicopters were being used in the operation, alongside jets and drones. Libyan commanders say some Islamic State militants probably escaped around the start of the campaign to recapture Sirte in May, and their forces have been trying to secure the desert to the south and west of Sirte. Full ban on burkinis would stoke tensions, admits French minister An all-out ban on burkinis would stoke tensions, the French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve admitted in an interview published on Sunday. The French government would refuse to legislate on the issue after around 30 local mayors and councils imposed the ban in their local area. Cazeneuve said a state-wide block would be "unconstitutional, ineffective and likely to create antagonism and irreparable tension". He said: "However, Muslims must continue to engage with us over gender equality, the inviolable nature of the principles of the French Republic, and tolerance in order to live together". The comments to La Croix newspaper come after France's highest administrative court, the Council of State, ruled on Friday against a decision to ban the burkini by the mayor of the resort town of Villeneuve-Loubet. The ruling may set a precedent for the dozens of French towns that have also ordered burkini bans. Cazeneuve admitted the court had "stated the law" with its ruling. But the majority of mayors who imposed the ban have refused to lift it despite the court's ruling. The specific case forced the mayor in the riviera town of Villeneuve-Loubet to remove the decree. But more than 20 mayors from other southern towns, which were expected to comply from the precedent set by the court, have ignored its decision. The stand-off has created a dilemna for the French government and Cazeneuve is expected to make an announcement on Monday as to whether he will force mayors to back down. The issue has become politically charged at the start of party primaries ahead of next year's presidential election in France, with several leaders on the right and far-right calling for a law prohibiting the full-body swimming costume worn by some Muslim women. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy who is staging a political comeback and is seeking the ticket of the conservative Les Republicains in primaries set for November, has called for a law allowing mayors to ban the burkini. But Cazeneuve's comments suggest such a law was unlikely under the current socialist government. "We do not need a new law. Current laws clearly lay out France's secularism." The debate was fueled by footage of police trying to enforce the ban on a woman on a beach in Nice. The controversy, coupled with several Islamist militant attacks in France since January 2015, has filtered into early campaigning for the presidential election in April 2017, making French cultural identity and security highly-charged issues in the political debates. "France needs healing and people coming together, not divisive outbursts by those contesting in primaries," Cazeneuve said. The ban caused outrage in the UK with a protest staged outside the French embassy in London on Thursday. Additional reporting by Reuters. How one youth pastor is bringing hope to persecuted Christians in Iraq The charity Open Doors is mobilising thousands of Christians worldwide to bring new hope to the desperate crisis in the Middle East. A seven-year campaign, Save Me, will involve regular prayers and help from partner churches working with Open Doors to reach out to the millions of people who have fled or been displaced by war and Islamic extremism. Many of those who have stayed are struggling to survive, often too poor or unwell to leave, the charity says. Christians in particular face the added threat of being targeted by terrorists, who are determined to eradicate the church from the Middle East, warns Open Doors. "And yet, many of our brothers and sisters are choosing to stay and serve their communities. They believe they have a vital role to play in rebuilding their nations," the charity says. "The global church cannot stand by and let the church in the Middle East be destroyed or forgotten. This is why Open Doors is launching a global, seven-year campaign to mobilise Christians around the world to bring hope to the Middle East and we need you and your church to be a part of it." Open Doors cites the case of Martin, aged 25, a deacon who is to be ordained priest, who fled to Erbil after his community was driven from their village of Karamles near Mosul in Iraq in 2014, when Islamic State militants took over the region. Martin said: "The displacement causes a type of stress that we haven't experienced before. You have to realise that IS didn't only take their house, the place they felt most comfortable. IS also seized their university and their future. They used to be my classmates in Karamles primary school." A church to worship in was the first thing many Christians asked for when they arrived in Erbil. Martin said: "Having a place to search for God is invaluable. We need to proclaim the Word of God in this portacabin every day. By reading the Bible, we know how to be Christian in this situation. We don't have any other weapons." Open Doors has worked with a partner church to support Martin with a university-level online pastoral course. "I teach them how to translate the words of Jesus into their own lives. The most important thing I want to teach the youngsters is that Jesus trusted His Father completely, even in the most miserable situation of being on the cross. I want them to know what we can trust in God, trust in Jesus," he said. Open Doors is seeking more people to help displaced and persecuted Christians like those in the Karamles camp. Details on how to become a partner church can be found here. Is the Bible trustworthy or has it been changed? Thanks to certain popular books, it's common to hear people say that the Bible can't be trusted because it's been changed. There are variations on this theme. Perhaps that Jesus was just a nice fellow but some naughty 'Christians' came along, made him into a god and fabricated what he said. Or that there isn't an original Bible, so how can you know what was originally said? So what are we to say to this? Can we really trust the Bible's text? 1. There are differences between early manuscripts, but they help us to know what the original text said If you have a modern Bible, you probably already have the evidence that the oldest manuscripts do have small differences between them. My New Living Translation (NLT), for example, puts notes on every Bible passage where there is a variation. Nearly always these are miniscule differences, such as Luke 4:1 some manuscripts say 'in the wilderness" but others say "into the wilderness", which is hardly significant. This is because the Bible was originally transmitted by handwritten copyists, so small errors crept in. Most don't change the meaning and none have serious implications for doctrine. Other differences are bigger: the oldest known manuscripts don't have John 8's story of the woman being stoned for adultery, and the ending of Mark is different. Why this is, and the implications of this, are discussed elsewhere and by academics at much length. Again, there is no difference that alters fundamental orthodox Christian doctrine they refer to issues that are 'second order' or not central to the faith. The practice of 'textual criticism' can use these different versions to trace back what the original text said, so these differences can actually lead to more confidence in the Bible, as some critics have acknowledged. 2. Christians are most concerned about what the original text means Christians are happy to translate the Bible into different languages, and there are therefore many different translations. Scholars study the old manuscripts in Hebrew and Greek to make sure we understand what the original authors actually said. There may be different emphases in different translations and sometimes scholars disagree on what a text actually means. The NLT Bible, again, puts notes if there are other potential translations of the text: it is transparent. If God wants to speak to us today through the Scriptures, wouldn't he want to do it in our own words? Languages change, could it be more important that ordinary Christians know the meaning of the Bible rather than the original language? 3. Those 'different Bibles' It's often said that other gospels have been found that show a different Jesus, and so prove the Bible was changed. I often hear this attributed to the 'Dead Sea Scrolls', though this is a mistake as they are Jewish documents. Many of the manuscripts found in the Qumran cave were parts of the Old Testament the oldest ever found. In fact you could argue that discovering the Scrolls actually increased faith in Jesus, because they contained many copies of Isaiah, a Jewish book in the Old Testament that became particularly important for Christians. Isaiah 53, which so uncannily predicts the coming of Jesus and salvation through the Cross, had only one very minor difference to the Isaiah we already had when it was discovered. And this manuscript was written well before Christ was crucified, so it can't have been changed by Christians at a later date. As to the Gnostic or 'alternative' gospels, well they're dated much later than the books of the New Testament. Common sense, and many scholars, says that they are therefore less reliable. They're very different in tone and substance to the Gospels. But evidence shows they were rarely used by the earliest Christians, as this table demonstrates, and so can't be said to reflect the original Church's beliefs. 4. Did the early Christians make up theology? Another objection could be summarised thus: Jesus was a good man who taught a lot of nice things, but then later Christians came along and made up stuff about him being God. However, we know that most of the books of the New Testament were written within the first century: ie within 70 years of Jesus' death. And one of the earliest books is 1 Corinthians (which has that nice passage about love you always hear at weddings), which was written 20-30 years after Jesus' resurrection. This contains a very early creed, which said Jesus died for our sins and that he rose again: just the kind of beliefs sceptics normally say are invented. This very creed is believed to be even earlier than 1 Corinthians, because it has literary features that suggest it was said in Aramaic, the language Jesus and the disciples used. 5. Why would Christians change the Bible? When faced with any version of this objection, it's worth asking: why would the early Christians have deliberately changed the Bible? What would have been their motivation? In the modern world we often see Church as a concentration of power and money: both would provide motivations to manipulate religion. However the earliest Christians who lived in the time of the earliest Biblical manuscripts that we have that is the first three centuries of Christian history had no ulterior motive to 'create Christianity'. They were being persecuted viciously for their faith but refused to respond with violence. They had no significant wealth or power. If anything, they would have been motivated to change the teachings to make their lives easier, so that they fitted more easily into their society, to stop the persecution or allow defence against their persecutors. Denying that Jesus was God and that he died for our sins would have saved them a lot of trouble. Changing Jesus's teachings to avoid being non-violent, unselfish and unmaterialistic would have made their lives easier. But they didn't. Therefore, it makes much more sense to say that the fundamentals of what the Bible teaches haven't been changed. ISIS attack kills dozens in Yemen At least 60 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a military compound in Yemen on Monday. ISIS have claimed responsibility for the bombing after a man drove a car laden with explosives into a compound run by pro-government local militias in Aden in one of the deadliest attacks in the southern Yemeni port city. An official from Medecins Sans Frontieres said at least 60 others were brought into a nearby hospital run by the medical charity in Aden's Mansoura district. A security source said the attack targeted a school compound where conscripts of the Popular Committees, forces allied to the President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, were gathered for breakfast. The blast rocked the area and sent debris flying, sending residents fleeing, one witness said. Islamist militants have exploited an 18-month-old civil war between the Houthis and Hadi's supporters and launched a series of attacks targeting senior officials, religious figures, security forces and compounds of the Saudi-led Arab military coalition which supports Hadi. Around 2.5 million Yemenis have been displaced by the conflict. Pope Francis holds private meeting with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg Pope Francis met with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Monday as the Holy Father continued courting the global tech-giants. Zuckerberg along with his wife Priscilla Chan had a private audience with the pontiff in the Vatican. The couple, who have promised to donate 99 per cent of their net worth over the course of their lifetime, discussed how to use communication technologies to alleviate poverty with the pope, according to a statement from the Holy See. Zuckerberg also took the opportunity to give the Pope a drone as a gift. A self-declared computer "dinosaur", Pope Francis has met with a number of world leaders in technology. In January he held two private meetings, one with Apple's CEO Tim Cook and another with Eric Schmidt, the chairman of Google's parent company, Alphabet. Despite saying he does not own a computer himself, the pope has described the internet as a "gift from God" because of the "immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity". For the first time the Vatican under his leadership has run a digital-first communications strategy. He is hailed as the most influential tweeter among world leaders and launched the first ever papal Instagram account in March, quickly accumulating more than three million followers. But he has also warned Catholic youth not to put smartphone above real relationships and preached on not using phones at the dinner table. In a possible reflection of this speculation of social media, the pope and Zuckerberg discussed how to "encourage a culture of encounter, and help deliver a message of hope, especially to those people who are most disadvantaged", according to the Vatican statement. Why it's too soon to write off the Church in Europe The evangelical Church in Europe is on the precipice. Christianity is thriving in Asia and Africa with new churches popping up all the time but in Europe it's decline and more decline. Evangelicals make up just 2.5 per cent of our continent's population. Projections suggest that UK Christianity will be wiped out by 2067. Has the Church, the hope of the world and of Europe lost its own hope? While the media paints an ugly picture, there's another story waiting to be told. It's bubbling out of churches helping Syrian refugees along the Greek coast. It's in the hands of Moldova's Baptist community. It's on the lips of the French woman whose life has been transformed by Jesus' love. Perhaps we've been thinking about the Church in Europe all wrong we've been seeing numbers instead of people, we've been looking in empty churches rather than at the open hearts on our streets. When we focus on the tomb, we miss the resurrection. There is hope the Church in Europe is alive. Yes, it's numerically smaller than it was a generation ago, and we should do something about that. But, equally, the social pressure to go to church in many European countries has gone so, arguably, the people left in our churches actually believe that Jesus is the saviour of the world. This is what Teun van der Leer, Rector of the Dutch Baptist Seminary, is seeing in the Netherlands. He suggests the fact that some of us still go to church even though we don't have to has left those outside curious about the Christian faith. "People have a new openness, because the old prejudices against the Church are gone," says Teun. "We need to re-invent the Church in a new way for a new generation. We are in a transformation period and we know not yet what will be. That can make you insecure, but it's also really exciting." And exciting things are already happening in the Church across Europe. For example, among the Roma, a group marginalised throughout our continent, people are coming to Christ all the time. There's something biblical about that people on the very edge of society being called in to the heart of the Church. "In Spain, the Roma are now the biggest evangelical group," says Thomas Bucher, General Secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance. "And in the Balkans things have really changed among the Roma. You could almost call what is happening there a revival." In countries like Norway and the Czech Republic, the evangelical Church is growing, and in France it's happening really quickly with a new evangelical church being planted every 10 days. Claire-Lise and David Judkins are church planters in the country, sent by UK Christian charity BMS World Mission. Currently, just one per cent of France's population are evangelical Christians, and in Brive-la-Gaillarde, the town where the Judkins are working, there is a strong engagement in folk religion and the occult, with people routinely visiting spiritual healers. In this context, during the last 18 months the Judkins have already seen God work miraculously in people's lives and they recently baptised two new Christians into their church family. "Because very few people have grown up with the catechism and Bible stories, there's a lot of blank sheets of paper on which to write," says David. "There's certainly an openness and a hunger for authentic spiritual engagement." People in Europe are growing curious about Christianity looking into the Church and the Church is increasingly looking outward. The Church isn't just preaching the words of Jesus, she's modelling them too, and people are beginning to notice. The way the evangelical Church in Europe has responded to the refugee crisis, in many cases leading the way in hospitality and social justice, is one example of this. "Often, when refugees arrive at their destination and connect with the Church, they say, 'Now I realise: I have actually met Christians all along my journey. I know now who they were,'" says Thomas. The fact that people are seeing evangelicals across Europe responding to the call to take care of 'the least of these' is surely a sign of hope. And it's not just comfortable, middle-class churches that are doing this. In Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, the Church is responding, from limited means, to its country's people. "We have a strong Baptist presence in Moldova," says Tony Peck, general secretary of the European Baptist Federation. "And churches are routinely helping those who don't have enough to eat; helping those who have got into drugs and alcoholism; supporting others on the margins." Very often, the people on the margins of society economic migrants, and in more recent years refugees are the ones who have helped to revive the Church. In Finland, for example, in many churches more than 50 per cent of regular attenders are migrants. Teun says that, in the Netherlands, "The migrant churches are more and more showing to our broader society that Christianity is still relevant, and you don't have to be white and rich to find it relevant." But what of the future? There's hope there, too. A future generation of leaders from across Europe is being trained in solid theology and contextual mission practice. Future leaders who are asking tough questions and looking to build up strong disciples. The International Baptist Theological Study Centre (IBTSC) in the Netherlands is one place which is educating these leaders. Its students come from across Europe, from countries like Armenia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Moldova, the Netherlands and Ukraine. "We need leaders who can work out what to do in a changing context," says Stuart Blythe, Rector of IBTSC. "We don't want to train people to do something in a particular way, we want to educate people to think responsibly and theologically in a variety of contexts." If Europe has strong Christian leaders, trained to respond to our continent's ever-changing reality leaders who are leading churches and unions which may be small but which are focused on serving the poor and the marginalised, leaders who are taking the opportunities arising from the new openness of Europeans to meet Jesus, and encouraging their congregations to do so too there has to be hope. God is faithful. As Christ-followers, we know that God can use anyone, of any age, anywhere. Yes, the majority of people on our continent don't have a relationship with him and we shouldn't be complacent or naive. Yes, many of our congregations are ageing. There is a massive need. But that's not the whole story. "When you drill down, you discover God is doing some amazing things, often in unexpected places," says Tony Peck. "He's renewing his Church, and helping it to become more outgoing." We are a people of hope, with a God who has overcome it all. "Our church may be as small as a mustard seed," says Teun, "but I still believe that it is the hope of the world." Sarah Stone works for a British Christian mission agency. Yazidi girl disfigures self by burning her face and body to avoid becoming an ISIS sex slave Better burned and disfigured than raped, tortured and killed. This was the thought that raced through the mind of a 17-year-old Yazidi girl when she thought that Islamic State (ISIS) militants had entered the refugee camp in Iraq where she was staying to take her away and other girls, the Independent reports. The girl, who asked to be identified only as Yasmin, had heard stories of what ISIS militants have done to thousands of young Yazidi girls like her who were forced to become sex slaves, some of them tortured and even killed. "Their voice was in my ears," she said, recalling the terrifying incident that happened last year. "I could hear their voice, I was so scared." Scared to death that such a fate would befall her, Yasmin decided the only way she could stop ISIS from abducting her and turning her into a sex slave was to severely disfigure herself so that she would look undesirable to ISIS militants. "I couldn't take it anymore," she said. She then doused her face and body with petrol and lit a match. She endured the terrible pain as the flames burned her skin, including her face and hair, disfiguring her and damaging her nose, lips and ears. The burns covered over 80 percent of her body, according to German specialist Dr. Jan Ilhan Kizilhan. The doctor met Yasmin when he visited the camp where she lived, soon after she set herself on fire. He brought her to Germany for immediate medical treatment at a physical and mental trauma centre in Baden-Wurttemberg in south western Germany. Yasmin is one of 1,100 refugee women and girls who have been brought from refugee camps in the Middle East to Germany. Dr Kizilhan said he met many other people in the camps who told him shocking stories, including those involving small children. "It was an evil that I had never seen in my life," he said. "I'm experienced in trauma, I had already worked with patients from Rwanda, from Bosnia, but this was very different. If you have an eight-year-old girl in front of you and she's saying she was sold eight times by ISIS and raped 100 times during 10 months, how can humankind be so evil?" Yasmin is doing well, Dr. Kizilhan said, but treating her physical and mental health problems will take years. She now shares a home with her parents, sister, and two brothers, who joined her in Germany. Yasmin said she wants people to know about her experience. "It is very important to tell our stories because the world should know what happened to us, so that it doesn't happen again," she said. Taiwanese carrier EVA Air will add a flight each Tuesday from Houston to Taipei beginning Oct. 3. The addition fills the only gap in EVA's daily schedule to Taiwan's capital. EVA Air flight BR051 departs Bush Intercontinental Airport at 12:50 a.m. and arrives at Taoyuan International Airport, just outside of Taipei, at 6 a.m. local time the next day. Return flight BR052 leaves Taiwan at 10 p.m. and lands in Houston at 11 p.m. local time the same day. The flight lasts about 14 hours. John Minchillo/FRE Verizon said Monday that it has launched LTE Advanced to deliver faster peak wireless data speeds to more than 288 million people in 461 cities, including Houston. "Our customers just received a major network enhancement for no additional cost," Tami Erwin, head of operations for Verizon's wireless unit, said in a news release. "Verizon LTE Advanced works like a turbocharger on an engine. Speed boosts kick in when you need it most, with big data use. That's when you get the big peak boost of Verizon LTE Advanced." Another major billboard company has agreed to remove some of its signs throughout Houston as part of a decades-long effort by groups hoping to reduce the number lining the city's highways. Scenic Houston, which has spearheaded the effort to reduce billboards, lauded Houston City Council for passing an ordinance approving a contract agreement with outdoor billboard company JGI . JGI agreed to remove 13 billboards around the city. The settlement agreement is a compromise that resolves outstanding sign-related issues between the city and the company. RELATED GALLERY: Most distracting things for Houston drivers Scenic Houston worked with the city's legal department for two years to negotiate such agreements with JGI, SignAd and Outfront. This latest agreement signifies a 4 percent reduction to the city's total inventory, according to the nonprofit group. "We are proud of our work with the city of Houston in helping to reduce billboard clutter and to improve the urban landscape," says Anne Culver, president of Scenic Houston. "I am delighted that the Houston City Council had adopted ordinances to remove these signs." The next step for the group: digital billboards. The group said that digital billboards can be a safety concern and could cause distracted driving. The Chronicle has previously followed the effort to reduce the billboards, noting that the City Council first adopted the sign code in 1980, governing the location, size and height of billboards and business signs and banning any new billboards. The rules were tightened in 1992, and again in 2009. Still, lawsuits have followed and a mishmash of billboards dot Houston. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Houston-born filmmaker whose grandfather survived the 1947 Texas City Disaster is making a movie about the tragedy, which is approaching its 70th anniversary. A description of "Texas City - The Darkest Day," written and produced by Houston native Jay Thames, reads: "The true story of the largest man-made disaster in U.S. history the nuclear-sized explosion at Texas City on April 16, 1947 and the ordinary people who did extraordinary things to save a town, their families and themselves." Among the heroic survivors was Thames' grandfather Jesse Thames, who died in 2004. Houston Chronicle series: The Chemical Breakdown Part I After 25 years of hearing a firsthand account of the Port of Texas City's fertilizer explosion that claimed more than 500 lives and injured 3,500, Jay Thames was inspired to write and produce a film about the incident. The movie will go into production next spring with an anticipated release date somewhere between late 2017 and early 2018. "You could say I've been working on it my whole life, since I was 6 years old," he says, explaining that his grandfather recounted the harrowing tale on several occasions. "Pen to paper, I've been working on the script on-and-off for 10, maybe 12 years." It's easy to see how Jay Thames became driven to share this story. Listening to Jesse Thames describe what he saw that day makes for compelling storytelling. "When we came to the office that morning...this huge column of orange smoke coming from down at the dock. We knew it was a ship burning," Jesse Thames explains in the sizzle reel for the upcoming film. "There was such a spectacular fire, and so people went down to watch it. After a few minutes, I heard this detonation." Houston Chronicle series: The Chemical Breakdown Part II The explosion happened just after 9 a.m. that morning, when it nearly "knocked me across the room," he says. Jesse Thames says in the reel that he sent his family to Houston, and he remained in the area to help survivors. Hundreds of people, aged 2 to 85, Jay Thames says, perished because of the explosions. According to Hugh W. Stephens, who wrote the book The Texas City Disaster, 1947, the tragedy started with the 2,300-ton vessel SS Grandcamp, which held ammonium nitrate fertilizer. After smoke was detected on board that ship, hasty attempts to extinguish the fire failed, and the flames quickly spread, leading to a detonation. It set off a chain of subsequent explosions. Jay Thames says that the moment between those two blasts, his grandfather knew that the place would never be the same again. That realization would stay with him until his death. Jesse Thames owned an insurance company in the small Texas town at the time of the disaster. He had worked to make a home in Texas City, which was quickly becoming a major seaport. "After nightfall, the High Flyer was stuck and (survivors) knew it was gonna explode," Jay Thames says. The High Flyer ship, which was docked in the slip next to the Grandcamp, detonated a reported 16 hours after the initial blast. People were helpless to stop it, and the entire Texas City fire department had been killed during the Grandcamp-ignited blaze. Houston Chronicle series: The Chemical Breakdown Part III Jay Thames says his grandfather told him, "I always wanted to take my son fishing down there and look at the town we helped build, that we call home, but that's not going to be possible now." "He choked me up about it," Thames says. Since the project's inception, Jay Thames has been interviewing others who lived through the tragedy, including family members and even strangers on the street in Texas City. He said it conjures the same type of emotion for others, which reassures him that this is a captivating movie subject. Jay Thames who earned his degree in film production from Texas Christian University explains that it's difficult for moviemakers to get their film ideas made, but that he has the gumption necessary to see this project through. "There's no stopping me," he says. A Houston-area school employee is accused of taking $34,450 from students, and using the money to gamble, after telling them the funds were for their tuition. According to documents filed in Harris County District Court on Friday, Tony Ho, 60, took the money from 24 students at the Renaissance School of Excellence, a Houston charter school, from March to July. He now has a felony theft charge. Renaissance is at 4141 Southwest Freeway. After four years of soul-searching and travel to places like India, the frontwoman and founder of the band Y la Bamba, Luz Elena Mendoza, returns with the band's fourth album, "Ojos del Sol." In it, the Mexican-American Mendoza refines her signature style experimental and playful, a genre-bending exercise in alternative Latino folk music, informed by both the U.S. and Mexico. "A lot of my journey in the last couple of years has been searching about my past and myself," says Mendoza, "and seeing others who I can identify with who are Mexican-Americans, or maybe just Mexican but first-generation immigrants." Asked to define her music, Mendoza opt to call it "el viaje" (the trip). "Ojos del Sol" is one of the three tracks she sings in Spanish. Her singing combines the powerful clarity of Lila Downs with the fragile murmuring of the late Lhasa de Sela. Born in San Francisco to Mexican parents, Mendoza grew up with three brothers in a strongly traditional Christian family. Almost the only meaningful interactions she used to have with her father, she says, was when he would ask her to sing something from Los Tigres del Norte, Daniela Romo, Los Bukis o Lucha Villa the Mexican artists played at the quinceaneras and weddings that the family never missed. "English is for the school and Spanish is for home," her father would say. Living in the intersection of two strong cultures, she says, left her feeling confused. That's why, as a young musician, she was particularly attracted to the music of Davendra Banhart. The Houston-born Venezuelan-American artist developed most of his career in San Francisco, making music critics describe as "free association" or New Weird American. Banhart, Mendoza says, "showed me that I wasn't wrong, that my values from the two cultures didn't have to be" in conflict. With three Anglo musicians, she formed Y la Bamba. If Banhart was New Weird American, Y la Bamba is New Weird Latino. For Mendoza, the last few years have been about deepening the exploration of her Mexican-American identity. In"Ojos del Sol" she says she's distancing herself from doubts and a quest for perfection, allowing herself to be vulnerable and honest. "People are searching white, Chinese, black, Latinos to take ownership of their values," she says, "and with that comes a responsibility to know where the ego stands in all that." Y la Bamba just started a tour of 13 concerts around the U.S. Mendoza says Houston could be part of a second tour coming at the end of the fall or beginning of next year. olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter: @OliviaPTallet An Austin appeals court has struck down significant portions of the Texas Highway Beautification Act cheered as the linchpin of the states scenic roadway efforts because the 42-year-old law restricts free speech. The ruling came in a case regarding a 2011 sign erected to support Ron Pauls 2012 presidential campaign. Auspro Enterprises placed the sign on its property along Texas 71. In July 2012, Texas Department of Transportation officials told Auspro to take the sign down, saying it was illegal because it was outside the allowed time for a political sign. The beautification act allows political signs only 90 days before and 10 days after elections. After Auspro didnt move the sign, TxDOT sought to punish the company for non-compliance, leading the company to sue on the grounds the state was violating its free speech. A district court found in favor of TxDOT, but the Third District Court of Appeals, in a ruling released Friday, reversed that decision. Citing other restrictions on signs and other court rulings, the appeals court struck down subchapters B and C of the beautification act, which are the centerpiece of the law. Essentially, the court ruled Texas law relies on exemptions that differ based on the content of the sign, which is unconstitutional. The Texas Act, as both (TxDOT) and the Texas Supreme Court have acknowledged, on its face draws distinctions based on the message a speaker conveys, appeals court Chief Justice Jeff Rose wrote. The ruling strikes all of the rules related to signs that differentiate based on content. Proponents of limits on billboards have applauded Texas efforts to keep highways free of ads, mostly because of both the federal and state beautification acts. The federal act, passed in 1965, was a passion for former U.S. and Texas First Lady Lady Bird Johnson. Houston passed a billboard regulation ordinance in 1980, and since local groups have helped eliminate more than 8,000 billboards in the city, a roughly 80 percent drop since before the city enacted rules. A young man was shot and killed in southeast Houston early Monday morning, according to the Houston Police Department. Officers responded to a shooting that had just occurred in the 12200 block of White Cap Lane just after midnight, HPD Officer R. Moss said. A group of people were outside, and bullet casings could be seen on the street. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate From freeways, to stadiums, to theaters, a lot of dirt has been moved around the city in the past century or so. Construction in Houston seemingly never ends. Heavy is the crown that lays on the head of one of the country's coolest and most growing cities. RELATED: The city of Houston as seen in Kodachrome photos shot in the '50s and '60s Because Houston is constantly growing, you'll hardly find a major highway or street that isn't undergoing some kind of construction or road improvement. The old photos of NRG Stadium in the slideshow above show off the extensive manpower it took to create the home of RodeoHouston and the Houston Texans. Also included here are a handful of photos of the Astrodome in its skeletal phase. Those are always fun to see. Now Playing: January 15, 1976: On this day, construction of a multimillion dollar replica of Coney Island's Cyclone roller coaster was well under way at Astroworld. In fact, the coaster was set to open just four months later, in April, as part of a new Coney Island section of the park. However, coaster enthusiasts would ultimately have to wait until June. Tweet host Michael Callahan, @MCallahanTV using #ForgottenDayHOU. Video: Hearst Digital Studios RELATED: Vintage menus show what foods Americans used to love The photos of freeways still in their infancy are a great flashback to a time when it didn't take three hours to drive from Katy to Clear Lake, with two hours of that likely at a near stand-still somewhere off I-10. Jones Hall looks beautiful inside and out, but there was a point in the mid-1960s when it was just a mess of wood, wire, and steel. Our favorite photos, though have to be the ones of 1,000 acres of empty prairie land in Clear Lake. The land would soon be developed into the Manned Spacecraft Center, later renamed the Johnson Space Center. Construction began in 1962 and within seven years where livestock once roamed, men would speak to astronauts bouncing around on the moon nearly 240,000 miles away. Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. 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. SAN ANTONIO An officer with the San Antonio Police Department is on indefinite suspension after being reprimanded three times for inappropriate behavior, including allegedly forcing his ex-girlfriend to have sex with him, according to suspension documents. Officer Lance E. Little displayed behavior that has brought reproach and discredit to the San Antonio Police Department, which includes alleged sexual assault, being intoxicated in public view and threatening violence against a civilian, according to the records, which are heavily redacted. RELATED: Records: 4 SAPD officers, 1 detective served suspensions during July SAPD spokesman Jesse Salame said in an interview with mySA.com that an indefinite suspension is "tantamount to firing." He also said Little's reported behavior "does not adhere with our core values." "He does not have a badge, he does not wear a uniform anymore," Salame said. RELATED: Little Red Barn Steakhouse employee turns over gun used in restaurant shooting to police Around Aug. 4, 2014, Littles former girlfriend recorded Little as he demanded her to perform sex acts on him five or six times a day, despite her telling him no, the documents said. She was made to feel as if she had to move out of their residence, otherwise. Little reportedly told her she had to obey him and told her "to get on her knees," the records show. At a later date, internal affairs interviewed Littles girlfriend, and she said she lied, at the request of Little, about a family violence altercation statement she made earlier that year to police. During that same interview, she told police that Little had sexual intercourse with her against her will, according to the suspension records. The Bexar County Criminal District Attorney's Office is not currently pursuing criminal charges against Little, a spokeswoman said Monday. "A sexual assault case was submitted to our Office in December 2014," she said. "However, after discussing the case with the complainant and reviewing the evidence, the case was rejected at the request of the complainant. Additionally, there was no evidence to corroborate the complainant's allegations." On or about Aug. 22, 2014, Little reportedly contacted his then girlfriend to wish her a happy birthday, violating a No-Contact Order he signed the same day. He continued to violate the No-Contact Order by allowing the woman back into his apartment in September 2014, records show. On or about Aug. 30, 2014, two people were walking their dogs on leashes at an apartment complex when Littles unleashed bulldog began racing toward them. The man asked Little if he could keep his dog on a leash, to which Little became upset and said Im going to drop you," records show. Little then stood two feet in front of the man and antagonized him, saying, Youre going to hit me first, and calling the man a p---y, according to the suspension records. RELATED: Authorities name 43-year-old man whose head, hands were cut off before his body was torched On Jan. 1, 2015, Little was in a physical altercation with a female friend in the parking lot outside Littles apartment complex. He was intoxicated in public view, and again violated a No-Contact Order, according to the documents. The Bexar County District Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding possible criminal charges against Little. Text "NEWS" to 72727 to sign up for breaking news from mySA twhite@mysa.com Twitter: @tylerlwhite AUSTIN -- The Texas Department of Public Safety is asking lawmakers for more than $300 million in additional border-security funding for the next two years, a bump that would drive the total state funding for that initiative to more than $1 billion. In its budget request, the state's chief law enforcement agency is seeking an additional $320 million on top of a base border-security budget of $750 million -- including additional funding to double the number of state troopers currently posted along the border to 500, and for new technology and equipment including airplanes and helicopters. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A chapter of the Democratic Socialist of America Party is trying to lure some of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders' followers after their guy lost out in the Democratic Party primary. Jim Lane is not optimistic about anyone's chances of doing that. "They consider themselves part of the Democrats, not a third party," said Lane, who heads the Communist Party of the United States of America in Dallas. Yep, there are Communist, Socialists, Green Party members, Libertarians and others roaming the Lone Star state. And, they appear on the ballot (often for local office) with some regularity, but rarely, if ever capture a statewide office. READ MORE: Libertarian Gary Johnson's guide to success In Texas in 2012, Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor who is also carrying the banner for that party this year, and Jill Stein, who is repeating as the Green Party candidate in 2016, together pulled in a bit more than 113,000 votes. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee in 2012, snagged just north of 4.5 million votes in winning the state (if not the election nationally) in 2012. In short, third parties have a big hill to climb to take Texas in a presidential race. READ MORE: Green Party's Stein tied with dead gorilla in Texas poll Democrats haven't had the easiest time in Texas either. They last held the governor's office when Ann Richards gave up the post to Republican George W. Bush in 1995. Since then, it's been life in the electoral wilderness for Democrats. Former State Sen. Wendy Davis lost the 2014 gubernatorial race to Republican Greg Abbott 59 percent to 38 percent. The best a third party candidate has done in Texas in presidential politics was in 1992, when businessman H. Ross Perot vacuumed up 1.3 million votes. He proved less successful in 1996, with only 378,000 voters punching his name on their ballot. Read More: Documentary looks at Ann Richards, 20 years after gubernatorial term The Libertarian Party has the most success at getting and staying on the statewide ballot in Texas. They've appeared on every presidential election ballot in the state but one since 1980. But, the best a Libertarian nominee has done was picking up 88,000 votes. That was Johnson in 2012. So far this year, Texas has recognized four parties for the presidential ballot in 2016 - Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and the Green Party. The state puts potential political parties seeking a place on the ballot through a series of steps, not all of which parties have the time, money or manpower to complete. READ MORE: Could third party candidate thwart Trump or Clinton? For Lane, the Communist Party official from Dallas, the reasons are obvious. "Texas is one of the worst states to try to get on the ballot," Lane told Chron.com. -- THE WEEK AHEAD: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced he'll be making a speech on illegal immigration on Wednesday in Arizona, after a week of speculation that he might be softening his hard-line promise to deport 11 million people living in the United States illegally. The speech, posted in a Tweet late Sunday, was initially set for last week in Colorado, but was pushed back as Trump and his team wrestled over the details of what he would propose. There has been debate within his campaign about immigrants who haven't committed crimes beyond their immigration offenses, per the APs Laurie Kellman. -- The Express-News David Rauf with his latest must-read: Texas is spending $2.5 million to spread the word about changes to its voter ID law before the November election but will not release details about how the money is being used. More than half of that taxpayer money will go toward an advertising campaign, according to court filings. Yet state officials will not say which markets they intend to target with television and radio spots. ** NEW Texas Take: The Podcast with Chronicle bureau chief Mike Ward and Scott Braddock, editor of Quorum Report. Donald Trump's softening position on immigration may be no change at all, Hillary Clinton's crisis of trust and the controversial conspiracy theorist who chaired the Travis County Republican Party gets the boot in Austin. Plus, even though millions have been set aside for to expand and repair the state's transportation infrastructure, there's already talk of possibly more toll roads in Texas. HAVE A LISTEN -- The Chronicles Kevin Diaz sizes up Libertarian Gary Johnson Johnsons campaign says he has no intention of playing the spoiler role that many assigned to Perot, who created enough space for Clinton to come within 4 percentage points of upsetting Bush in Texas, the presidents home state. Though Johnson remains invisible to large swaths of voters, he is the only third-party candidate on the ballot in all 50 states. Polls also put him far ahead of any other alternative candidate, including the Green Partys Jill Stein, who registers in the low single digits. -- Weekend read by the Star-Telegrams Anna Tinsley: Fighting to get on the presidential ballot in Texas As the days tick by and Election Day nears, candidates still trying to get on the Nov. 8 presidential ballot in Texas know their time is limited. At least one has asked the courts to weigh in; another may soon follow suit. So far, a Florida woman has sued the state for a spot on the Texas ballot as an independent presidential candidate; a Utah man may file a lawsuit as well. Rottinghaus notes that Texas has strict rules limiting which candidates make it on the ballot. And it may be hard to overcome those rules. -- Dallas police squelch critics, questions about sniper attack, by the APs Claudia Lauer. But nearly two months after the shootings, Dallas police have moved to silence critics and squelch lingering questions about the attack. Officers in riot gear have been told to ticket protesters who block or disrupt traffic, and Police Chief David Brown has refused to meet with demonstrators unless they agree to end their marches through downtown, which he says pose a threat to officers. Authorities have also refused to release even the most basic information about the slayings, including any details about the weapons used, the autopsy findings and ballistics tests that could establish whether any officers were hit by friendly fire. Police have indicated that such information could be withheld almost indefinitely. >> Skip Hollandsworth in Texas Monthly: On the heels of tragedy, community policing in Dallas remains as valuable as ever -- Texas on the Potomac Texas is still in the thick of things today, with seven chairmen running U.S. House committees more than from any other state and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn serving as the Senate majority whip, the upper chambers No. 2 Republican post. But Lone Star clout and the benefits it generates back home look to be on the decline in the coming years,by The Texas Tribunes Abby Livingston. -- ICYMI, per Quorum Report Key additions to HHSC team: Kelly Garcia is new director of government and stakeholder relations; Carrie Williams is chief press officer and Molly Czepiel is now associate commissioner for policy and performance >> Fikac: Donald Trump immigration evolution inevitable, San Antonio Express-News CAPITOL DAYBOOK HOUSE 12:30 p.m. County Affairs (San Antonio) some big items on the agenda: Child Protective Services, 1115 Medicaid Waiver, Criminal Justice Programs in Bexar County (h/t Oliver Bernstein) SPEED READ West Nile virus still a threat, officials say, Houston Chronicle Texas Take: The rise and fall of Robert Morrow, Houston Chronicle DPS wants $1B to beef up border security, The Dallas Morning News After Supreme Court setback, Texas ultimately wins fair housing lawsuit, The Texas Tribune Federal regulators raise concerns about Houston sewer spills, Austin American-Statesman Texas Techs new president wants university to be elite, The Texas Tribune Turner douses study of Houston Fire Department, Houston Chronicle Judicial candidate falsely claimed to be a woman, Express-News ACLU calls four on Paxtons transgender bathroom guidelines, Houston Chronicle False report of gunman at LA airport causes panic, AP RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE -- WASHINGTON ( AP) Donald Trump's campaign is planning its biggest ad buy to date, upward of $10 million on commercials airing over the next week or so. The campaign expects the ads to begin airing as soon as Monday in nine states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida, where the campaign has already been on the air, along with New Hampshire, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada. They're all important swing states. >> Clinton unveils mental health agenda, Politico -- Dems step up pursuit of House GOP left limping by Trump, by NYTs Alex Burns and Jonathan Martin. Democrats are particularly enticed by Mr. Trumps dwindling support in affluent suburban areas including those near Kansas City, Kan.; San Diego; Orlando, Fla.; and Minneapolis where Republicans ordinarily win with ease. Mr. Trump is so disliked among college-educated voters, especially white women, that he is at risk of losing by double digits in several districts that the 2012 Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, carried comfortably. 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. This unusual election season has many writers falling back on philosophers and philosophy to describe whats happening. Two words thrown around a lot are dystopia and existential. Lets muse about those. Dystopia, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary says, is an imaginary place which is depressingly wretched and whose people lead a fearful existence. The adjectival form of the word was first used by John Stuart Mill, who was, among other things, a philosopher and economist, whose main ideas were tied to liberalism and utilitarianism. He was a strong believer that people should have more power than government, unless, as he wrote in On Liberty, the people were barbarians, in which case despotism was excusable. In 1868, Mill spoke before the British Parliament on the Irish question, whether Ireland should be granted home rule or, at the least, a measure of independence or self-government. He excoriated the plan before Parliament as weak and unworkable: Sign up for CJR 's daily email I may be permitted, as one who, in common with many of my betters, have been subjected to the charge of being Utopian, to congratulate the Government on having joined that goodly company. It is, perhaps, too complimentary to call them Utopians, they ought rather to be called dys-topians, or cacotopians. What is commonly called Utopian is something too good to be practicable; but what they appear to favour is too bad to be practicable. The noun dystopia first appeared in 1951, and since then has been applied to dark, apocalyptic places and situations. (Cacotopian has all but dropped from sight.) Before August 2015, dystopia appeared almost exclusively in the context of apocalyptic movies, imaginary scenarios, or the literary genre that bears its name. But since then, dystopia and Donald J. Trump have appeared in the same article hundreds of times. Among the earliest we could find was a piece by The Washington Post political columnist Michael Gerson after the first Republican debate, when Trump did not join with others in promising to support the GOP nominee, whomever it was. At that moment, Republicans saw a likely dystopia, Gerson wrote. (Most of the column discussed all the reasons Trump would flame out. He wasnt the only one who got it wrongso far.) Since then, dystopia in its various forms has appeared over 50 times in The Washington Post alone, mostly to describe what a writer sees as Trumps image of different parts of the world or the United States. (Dystopia has appeared about as often in The New York Times, but a large share of those are in the arts pages.) We can find no example of Trump himself using the word, nor can we find his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, using it. Its become a meme, and risks being imaginary no longer. If you say it often enough, it becomes true. As Mill implied, dystopian is the opposite of utopian. With a capital letter, Utopia was the imaginary island in Sir Thomas Mores novel of the same name. It was written in Latin (where utopia means nowhere) and published in 1516, it widely viewed to be a philosophical and political tome more than a potboiler. Utopia discussed a place where all property was held in common, where there was no poverty, capital punishment, or war, and where the nation itself was governed on rational thought more than laws. For 500 years, utopia has been held up to be the political ideal, and also recognized as an impossibility. That brings us to existential. While not as common as dystopia, it still gets quite a few mentions in articles mentioning either Trump or Clinton. A Boston Globe editorial columnist recently said Trumps comment that Hillary Clinton would destroy the country from within suggests a Clinton victory would represent an existential threat to the United States, and could lead to violence. A writer at Vox.com said that several political commentators believe there are Americans to whom Trump poses an existential threat. Another columnist said that Tea Party Americans have recognized the existential threat to our lives posed by a socialist agenda that would destroy our free market society. And the chief executive of The New York Times wrote that whether Donald Trump would change his style was an existential question. The root of existential is, of course exist. The philosophy of existentialism is based less on existence itself and more on humanity, of individuals finding their true selves through free will, through underlying themes like anxiety, knowledge that death is inevitable, and dread. In existentialism, society itself is unnatural, political rules are arbitrary, and even science is not necessarily a good thing. Individual responsibility is paramount. The 20th-century view of existentialism grew out of the dystopian ruins of World War II. Jean-Paul Sartre is its acknowledged leader, but other philosophers, including Sren Kierkegaard, Albert Camus, and Friedrich Nietzsche, weighed in. As Sartre wrote, man is condemned to be free because, once in the world, he is responsible for everything he does. Because dystopia and existential are easy to figure out, they rarely need to be defined for an audience. Its difficult, though, to separate existentialism the philosophy from existential the adjectival form of existence. A writer wanting to use either one should be careful to be sure the context is clear. Were not sure the examples quoted above are clear. Even better, since both words are being overused, come up with something more original, or ordinary. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Merrill Perlman managed copy desks across the newsroom at the New York Times, where she worked for twenty-five years. Follow her on Twitter at @meperl. Shoring up the Houston areas defenses against the scourge, the inevitability, of flooding in a city built on a swamp has been Mike Talbotts one and only career. The Houston Chronicle reports as a young engineer, a project manager, the director of operations and, finally, the executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District, he has borne witness to some of the worst flood-related disasters to hit the area in modern history. He recalls Hurricane Alicia in 1983, when the districts old Main Street office stopped shaking long enough for him and a few other engineers to briefly leave their Radio Shack TRS-80 computers and step out to watch the eye pass overhead; and 2001, when he surveyed the devastation from Tropical Storm Allison from a helicopter that had to refuel twice because the floods were so widespread. And then there were the epic floods of 2015 and 2016 when, as the agencys executive director, he fielded countless calls from the press and the public, demanding to know why thousands of Houston homes were underwater. The answer was always longer than anyone had time for. And there was always one thing he wished he could say, but held back out of sympathy for the families whod lost their homes: It could have been so much worse. Talbott, 60, steps down this month as executive director of the district and its 2,500 miles of managed waterways, still convinced of that hard, but incontrovertible, truth. The clearest clue to Talbotts mission in his 35 years with the district lies in one word in its title control. He leaves behind a system greatly enhanced for doing that, with better drainage and more flood plains converted to green space. But he also leaves a district without sufficient money to fully address the flooding problem and with federally-sponsored county projects, the largest efforts to expand local drainage, continuing to crawl along, almost 30 years after they were authorized. There will always be critics, said city of Houston flood czar Stephen Costello, who the mayor appointed this year in response to the floods of 2015 and 2016. The flood control district has continued to focus on its primary mission, to mitigate and control flooding. They wont prevent flooding. Thats up to Mother Nature. It was 1979, when a spate of vicious floods, including Tropical Storm Claudette, moved the county to accelerate efforts to address its flooding problem. It was a year like 2015-2016, Talbott said. When you go for long periods without big floods, people think there isnt a problem anymore. Big floods remind people there is more work to do. So the district got to work. Then-executive director Jim Green conceived a plan to modernize engineering, which began with growing the staff of engineers from two to eight (it now has 40). That effort in 1981 swept up Talbott, a New Braunfels native then a few years out of engineering school at Texas A&M University and business school at the University of Houston. The first order of business was to make a digital map of the drainage system a tall task in the 1980s. As a project manager, Talbott helped coordinate contractors who surveyed the bayous and canals, measuring each width, slope and turn and the features of the surrounding landscape. Flood engineers complied that data into a computer model that proved revolutionary for local efforts. It seems simple in the age of laptop computers, but the model was a spectacular achievement. It could simulate rainfall in any part of the county and show approximately how much runoff would end up where. They could also model potential projects to see how they would affect flooding. Before that model, the district would do projects in areas of recent flooding. Then in the next storm another spot would flood. But after the model, the district could run simulations to identify the most problematic areas of the system. So for the first time, they began to compile a long prioritized list of cost estimates for repairs needed through the decades to come. That, Talbott said, helped authorities like the commissioners court understand how much work remained to be done. Then at least we knew what had to be done, and we got to prioritize based on available funding, Talbott said. Also, as part of the effort in the mid-1980s, the district wrote the first drainage rules for private development. Talbott helped draft standards for a several-hundred-page manual of drainage criteria. It set requirements for size and geometry of private ditches and reservoirs, and developed a design style where streets could flood without swamping homes. It really worked, said Wayne Klotz, a veteran Houston hydraulic engineer and past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, who has worked with the HCFCD as a contractor since the 1970s. Anything that was developed since the mid-80s just really doesnt flood, unless its in the statutory flood plain. The development criteria have grown several times since. Critics contend that they should be more stringent, that new development should pick up more than its fair share of drainage to relieve vulnerable homeowners and set the region on a promising long-term path. That, they contend, could happen by mandating more green space and on-site detention ponds, as is done in parts of Fort Bend County. Throughout his tenure, Talbott said, he helped drainage design trend towards green aesthetics. Waterways and reservoirs used to be rigid concrete features, often built out of sight when possible. But through the end of the 20th Century, drainage facilities have become parks, like Buffalo Bayou Park or Art Storey Park on Brays. When they are dry, joggers cross trails on the bottoms of the basins, or along the tree-lined banks of bayous. Mike was instrumental in implementing those types of concepts that we didnt talk about in years past, said Costello. Integrating environmental and recreational features while still providing flood protection. In the later years of his career, the district revamped its modeling of the drainage system, using high tech airborne radar to precisely survey the region, which in turn, was used to draw up a master plan that could push Houston to its next generation of flood control. Unfortunately, the price tag on a total upgrade came out to $25 billion, which means it is unlikely to happen soon. One thing Mike doesnt get credit for is (the notion that) flood control is underfunded, said Klotz. And its how Talbott answers the main qualm with his record that major construction projects have lagged years behind schedule. Between 1986 and 1990, the county got approval to split the tab on five bayou expansion efforts. Work on 20 miles of Sims Bayou finished in 2015, but its the only one. Work on one basin and four miles of Greens Bayou is five percent complete. The largest project 21 miles and four basins for $500 million on Brays Bayou was initially scheduled for completion in 2014 and is now delayed to 2021. Talbott said the schedules were based on optimistic projections of federal spending rates that never fully materialized, then plummeted when Congress in 2011 banned earmark funding, which had supplied a reliable money stream to the projects. Local Congressman Al Green said he plans to introduce legislation in 2017 that would return steady funding to the bayou projects and pick up progress. The district currently spends about $60 million per year on improvements; Talbott said his successor will need three to five times that to make a serious difference. No such funding increase appears now on the horizon. Talbott hands the baton to Russ Poppe, the districts current director of operations. An Aggie born in Freeport, Poppe spent 11 years at various county engineering posts, including as manager for engineers designing roadways, parks and county buildings. Mike is a solid leader, Poppe said. Hes a great mentor and hes given me a lot of responsibility to learn what it takes to be executive director of the HCFCD. His first priority, he said, will be to fortify and build on the legacy of the directors before him. Talbott, meanwhile, said his first priorities in retirement include hunting, fishing and visiting New Orleans. I do plan on being fully retired, he said. My wife shes ready for me to come home now. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Mobile homes will fill front yards across southern Louisiana again, just like after Hurricane Katrina, as federal authorities bring in temporary housing for thousands of people displaced by catastrophic flooding. These houses, though, will be on blocks and strapped down not on wheels like the travel trailers of a decade ago. As he announced the disaster housing plans Wednesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards described a shelter at home program as the more desirable option. Homeowners will be able to receive grants of up to $15,000 aimed at making houses habitable quickly so people can live inside while doing more extensive repairs. Thats where our people want to be. They want their kids back going to their schools. They want to live in their neighborhoods, their communities. And they want to attend their church, the Democratic governor said. Registration for the program begins Monday, but the grants can only help homeowners with less catastrophic damage. Those with more severe destruction will have access to mobile homes not unlike the trailers used for Katrina victims. Edwards underscored that this is not the preferred option, but he drew a contrast to the old Federal Emergency Management Agency travel trailers used a decade ago. He said the mobile homes meet higher regulatory standards, are already owned by FEMA and are manufactured by one company rather than the myriad vendors that built the travel trailers. These are not the same as FEMA trailers that have been used in the past, Edwards said. He added: Hopefully, they will hold up better and offer a safer place for people to live. The much-maligned travel trailer that dotted front yards and miles of vacant property in south Louisiana and Mississippi became a symbol of everything that had gone wrong with the federal disaster response to the destructive 2005 hurricane. Families were crammed into tiny trailers that drew health worries after toxic levels of formaldehyde were found. It wasnt immediately clear when the first mobile homes would be set up or how many people would need them, but the governor said he met a man with a flood-damaged home in East Baton Rouge Parish who said his property already had been measured and inspected by FEMA to determine if it would be suitable for one of the units. Its going to ramp up over the next several days, said Gerard Stolar, FEMAs regional director. The manufactured housing units will be available for people who dont live in a designated flood plain to set up in their yards as they repair houses. For those in a flood zone, the mobile homes will have to be set up at trailer parks or other commercial property still being identified. Described as the worst disaster since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, a storm that started Aug. 12 dumped as much as 2 feet of rain over two days in some areas and was blamed for 13 deaths. Edwards estimated the flooding damaged more than 100,000 homes. About 2,600 people remained in shelters, and more than 119,000 households have registered for federal aid. Thousands of south Louisiana residents remain stuck in shelters, living in hotels or staying in the spare bedrooms of family and friends after the flooding. Entire neighborhoods were inundated with water, making homes uninhabitable, filled with mildewed carpets and warped cabinets. People have spent days gutting houses, stripping out furniture, walls and flooring. But some houses could take days or weeks to dry out and repairs could take even longer. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry said he would appreciate the FEMA mobile homes in his city, where he estimates 90 percent of the homes were damaged in the flooding. Landry said it will be crucial to get these mobile homes in place before schools begin to reopen. If we can put a family in some sort of a housing facility in their yard, at least it would give the children some sense of normalcy, he said. Im looking for every option where we can keep everybody here, keep our community together as much as we possibly can. (Associated Press writer Mike Kunzelman in Denham Springs, Louisiana, contributed to this report.) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. How to deal with people who sleep in cars throughout Bends neighborhoods has become a thorny enforcement problem for city officials. Last week, the issue became a topic of debate at the Bend City Council meeting, and its something that has been brought up at various meetings since April. The most recent discussion was spurred when the Oregon city received an email from a Bend resident wondering what to do about a man sleeping in a van in her neighborhood. There are children riding their scooters around and walking to the pool. If a registered molester resides in a residence the public can look up and be warned hard to do for a guy who lives in his van, Karen Welsh wrote in an email. Something about this isnt right. City law says cars cant be parked in a public right of way for more than five days or else they can be towed, said Bend Police Chief Jim Porter. But the process to tow the car can actually take up to two weeks, Porter said. To combat the problem, some city councilors have pushed to shorten the time a car can be parked on a street. Other councilors and law enforcement officials say passing stricter laws would be costly and ineffective and wouldnt address why people are sleeping in their cars in the first place. Bend is not unlike many other cities grappling with how to deal with homeless people sleeping on public land or in cars with nowhere else to go. But experts say implementing a law to address people sleeping in their cars could be deemed unconstitutional or jeopardize federal funding for homelessness services. Across the nation, citywide bans on camping in public have increased by 60 percent since 2011, according to a recent National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty report that surveyed 187 cities between 2011 and 2014. The report found 53 percent of the cities prohibited sitting or lying down in public, while 43 percent banned sleeping in vehicles. Some of these laws can pose constitutional challenges. A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling from 2006 found that, on nights when people are unable to find shelter space, enforcement of anti-camping ordinances violated their constitutional rights. Laws that prohibit life-sustaining behaviors in public places such as sleeping, resting or sitting criminalize homelessness itself when people simply have nowhere else to go, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement from 2015. Thus, those laws may violate the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, according to the DOJ. Ian Leitheiser, associate city attorney for Bend, said it wouldnt be a stretch to say lots of public sector attorneys around the country took this as a warning to be cautious in implementing or enforcing anti-camping regulations. Meanwhile, cities including Honolulu, Baltimore and Miami lost between $500,000 and $2.5 million in federal funding after adopting ordinances that criminalize homelessness, ranging from bans on sitting and lying on sidewalks to prohibiting panhandling in public streets. Here in Bend, passing a law to ban people from sleeping in cars or shortening the allowed parking period could be tricky, said Gary Firestone, assistant city attorney. For example, if people who are homeless were cited more often than people who park their cars too long, it could be unconstitutional for targeting a specific group of people, he said. Even though I think as written its facially OK, we could enforce it in an unequal fashion that could get us into trouble, said Firestone. We could have issues or would have issues if there was no available shelter space in the city if they were sleeping on the street. Porter, Bends police chief, said theres also a state law that requires police officers to give campers 24 hours notice to move off city property. Plus, police cite people for camping or parking too long in the city, but about half of the citations arent paid, said Porter. That makes the economics of enforcing policies even more complicated, especially when there are no rules addressing how far cars need to move, he said. And although camping in the city limits is illegal, whether or not sleeping in a car is considered camping is also a gray zone, Porter said. So you cite them and they move their vehicle anyway, what do you accomplish? Porter said. It gets to the point where youre playing whack-a-mole youre chasing people around neighborhoods. Welsh, who lives in Renaissance Ridge in southwest Bend, was told in an email from her homeowners association that the Crystal Lake Community Management had received a couple of calls from homeowners complaining about the man living in a van. He then is gone all day and comes back at night, said Annette Zukaitis, community manager of the company, in an email. Because he doesnt live there, we cannot make him move, as they are public streets. Meanwhile, Jamie Smith, who lives with her 9-year-old daughter in an apartment in east Bend, said she wrote to the city when a group of people parked a camper outside her bedroom window. They appeared to be doing drugs, left trash along the road and often screamed at each other until they eventually moved, Smith said. Living behind my bedroom is not OK, Smith said. There needs to be some kind of limitation added to this ordinance because it isnt working. While enforcement is complicated, the city is taking steps to address the root of the problem chronic homelessness, City Councilor Nathan Boddie said. Its a symptom of Bend being where we are right now with our population and the affordability issue, Boddie said. And its also a situation of human health and mental illness. We cant just sort of write this away on paper; we have to fix the problem. Law enforcement, homeless advocates, city officials and health care providers are working to figure out why people might be chronically homeless or sleeping in their cars in the first place, Boddie said. For instance, getting people who are chronically homeless into housing where they can receive social or health services is one option. Although the group cant solve the problems overnight, it helps to prevent them in the long run, Boddie said. That would be more effective than making stricter rules to ban car camping, he said. The reality is that most of that activity is already illegal, so anything that council does, its already against the law, Boddie said. More regulation and sort of overstripping the way our police operate isnt going to help. Its an expensive way to deal with the problem in an ineffective manner. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AKRON, Ohio -- Officers chased down and arrested a 38-year-old Canton man accused of standing over women while they slept in their Akron home. The women were not injured. Andrew I. Hayes is charged with burglary, Akron Municipal Court records show. He remains in the Summit County Jail on a $25,000 bond. A woman in the 1600 block of Glenmount Avenue called Akron police shortly before 7 a.m. Friday to report a stranger was in her home. The woman told police the man, later identified as Hayes, tapped the women on their shoulders while they slept in the basement of the home and woke them. The stranger then walked up the basement steps and left the house through a rear door, the woman said. Hayes ran through backyards. He was arrested in the 400 block of Clinton Avenue. It's unclear if Hayes forced his way into the home or if the door was unlocked. Hayes was arrested and charged with menacing, criminal trespass and resisting arrest in April after he followed an Akron police officer's wife home, police said. The 29-year-old woman was driving home from the gym when Hayes pulled up beside her in a car and starting yelling at her, according to police. The woman called her husband, who was waiting outside the couple's South Arlington Street home. Hayes approached the off-duty officer, who ordered Hayes to the ground at gunpoint. The officer took Hayes to the ground and the two struggled. The officer handcuffed Hayes with help from a neighbor. Hayes pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, court records show. 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 Teachers Union evaluations sign.JPG A Cleveland teacher shows her displeasure at a recent school board meeting with how evaluations of her and her colleagues are being handled. The union told a fact-finder this spring that the district seems to be under-rating teachers to avoid paying raises. (Patrick O'Donnell/The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio - We can't tell you exactly what the last issues are between the Cleveland school district and Cleveland Teachers Union as they head into the final days before a possible walkout on Friday. That's because state law allows contract negotiations with schools, cities and other public agencies to be done privately. But we have a few clues. And we can share how the sides differed as late as May, when a fact-finder tried - and failed - to find a compromise that the district and union could live with. The fact-finder's report, which was voted down by both the union and district, shows the sides differing on dozens of issues. Among them: Whether to have a one-year or three-year contract. How much more all teachers should be paid. How to handle raises individual teachers can earn under a unique pay plan that only Cleveland uses. How many art, music and gym classes the district should be required to provide to students. Whether the district should have to teach kids about "technology.'' Exactly how to handle annual evaluations of teacher performance, which ramped up dramatically in both the district and state over the last few years. The two sides also had differences over how to pay classroom aides, how much to pay nurses to work at after-school and weekend events, and implementing a new payroll system. Money not a sticking point Union President David Quolke said two weeks ago that money is not a major sticking point now. We'll have more on that below. But he said evaluations of teachers, in which test scores and classroom observations are combined to rate teacher performance, are still an issue. Quolke said teachers are bothered by "the over-reliance we have on using standardized tests to evaluate teachers." The fact-finder's report from May shows the union trying to limit the use of tests in evaluations by having Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) - locally developed plans of tracking student progress without using standardized tests. The district, the fact-finder reported, has some reservations about this. Teacher evaluations mean more in Cleveland than in any other district in the state. The Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools, the school improvement plan passed by the legislature and Gov. John Kasich in 2012, changed state law to let evaluations determine firings and raises to a large extent only here in Cleveland, but nowhere else. That makes how these evaluations are calculated a key economic issue in negotiations, even if it is much less direct than across-the-board raises that are in all teacher contracts and which will be a part of this one. "Evaluation and compensation are inextricably connected in the relationship between the District and the Union," fact-finder Mollie Bowers wrote. "This is a reason, but perhaps not the major reason(s) why evaluation is a high stakes issue for both parties." Click here for our earlier look at how the district and union have failed to fully build the new compensation system mandated by both the Cleveland Plan and the last teacher contract from 2013. Cooperation at "a new low" Overall, Bowers reported that the feelings of cooperation between the district and union that were strong in 2012 had hit "a new low." "As a result of administrative actions, bargaining unit members feel, among other things, disrespected as professionals, tyrannized by an unfair and inequitable evaluation system, and subjected to administrative decisions which sometimes have little, if anything, to do with improving their practice, much less the learning, growth, and welfare of students," Bowers wrote. "This is why addressing these concerns is a major priority of the Union and of its bargaining unit members as a result of the current contract negotiations." Here's a look at some other issues she highlighted in her report. It is important to note that many have likely been resolved since then, or set aside to handle later, but they offer a look at how the sides have differed. Her full report is below. How long should the contract be? The teachers want a three-year deal, while the district was seeking a single-year contract, which it has with other unions. While a longer deal avoids constant negotiations and offers stability, the district has balked at committing any money into future years until voters decide in November whether to renew the 15-mill school tax increase they passed in 2012. Since that tax brings $65 million a year to the district, finances will change dramatically depending on the vote. Click here for an overview of what the levy brings the schools and costs you. What raises are being considered? The district offered CTU the same 2% raise it offered its other employees for a single year contract just covering the 2016-17 school year. When the union pressed for a three-year deal, the district declined and said it cannot legally promise money (that would come from a levy renewal) that it doesn't have yet. Then, when negotiations dragged on, the district sought to lower the raises to 1.22% because long negotiations have cost the district more money than planned. Bowers scoffed at that request, saying a union shouldn't be penalized for negotiating. A union proposal to accept 2% for 2016-17 and then re-open wage negotiations after November's vote offers the possibility for compromise. The district has not commented publicly on that proposal. Art, music, media and gym classes: The last contract between the district and CTU states that: "All students in K-8 buildings shall be scheduled for each of the following: art, music, physical education, and media." But it doesn't say how much of each of these "Encore" classes students should have, or how often. So most schools share art and music teachers with other schools and students usually are not taught both in the same week and often not even in the same semester. The union wants to change that. While the district wants to keep similar language, the union wants each students to be taught each of these electives each week. "We believe that the elective offerings for our students are completely inadequate," said Shari Obrenski, a vice president of the union. "We believe that our kids should have the same exposure to art and music that their suburban peers receive." The district proposed keeping almost the same language in place, according to the fact-finder, with the ability to switch to another elective if a licensed teacher of the area is not available. Technology: The union proposed adding technology classes to the list of weekly electives all students should receive. The proposal said: "This technology instruction is to prepare students for online high stakes assessments and college or career readiness. If no computer lab is available in the school, then computers on wheels will be provided to each technology teacher. During technology instruction, the student:computer ratio shall be 1:1." The district opposed that plan. The fact-finder wrote: "The District acknowledges that technology is an important inclusion in the rubric provided by the Union. However, it asserted that if other electives are added to the current mix, then the likelihood is that the District will have to bring someone in to provide this instruction which, under current economic conditions, the cost is prohibitive to the District. It further asserted that if the scheme suggested by the Union is adopted, then students will have to be out of more of their core content instruction when taking an elective that is appropriate for them." Evaluations: The district and union had sharp differences on both the observation and growth measures that make up a teacher's annual evaluations, according to the fact-finder. Bowers wrote that union officials presented convincing evidence to her this spring that observations are not always conducted properly. Though there are good guidelines for them, Bowers noted, "these prescriptions are not always followed by administrators, but still affect a teacher's evaluation." A major concern for the union was the advice of consultant Paula Bevan of the Danielson Group - the creators of the observation rating plan that is used across Ohio - for handling teachers "on the border" between two rating levels. "It was clear from this presentation that Dr. Bevan was advocating for the District to make the tipping point always work toward placing the teacher in the lower level," Bowers wrote after Bevan testified before her this spring. The district objected to that characterization and said that Bevan was "simply explaining the current process and the 'preponderance of the evidence' standard" that is used statewide as well as in the district. Bevan's testimony also addressed measuring how much students are learning. Though the district agreed to let SLOs have an increased weight in determining growth in many evaluations, and to have tests count for less, the union and disagreed over who should set the goals. According to Bowers, Bevans testified that if teachers set the goals for kids and the ways to measure them, "Teachers could manipulate targets to lower expectations in order to receive more credit when these expectations were exceeded." Bowers' report continues: "The District proposed that this could be remedied by putting administrators in control of target setting. The Fact-Finder believes that this would be trading one alleged problem for another because administrators are well aware that the District seeks, as Dr. Bevan has recommended, to made it harder for teachers to reach 'Accomplished', maybe even 'Skilled' so that costs can be controlled." StokesCoverX.jpg 'The Gentleman from Ohio' book cover (Special to cleveland.com) CLEVELAND, Ohio - In the year before he died, Louis Stokes worked tirelessly to finish a project he had put off for years: A book that would tell the story of his long and remarkable life. "This was his lifelong dream," recalled he youngest daughter, Lori. "My father had wanted to do this for decades, but waited because he didn't want other members of Congress to think he considered himself a big deal. Finally, he just dug in and was committed wholeheartedly to telling his story." Last August, Stokes and his noted collaborator, David Chanoff, finished their work. A few days later, on Aug. 18, Stokes died of complications from cancer. He was 90-years-old. On Sept. 20, Ohio State University Press will publish "The Gentleman from Ohio," Stokes' life story told in his own words. As I wrote in his obituary last Aug. 19, it is the story of a man whose "iconic career in public life assures him a place as one of the most revered, respected and powerful figures in Cleveland history." The book traces Stokes' life from the projects in Cleveland's Central neighborhood to the halls of Congress. He writes poignantly of his love for his mother, Louise, and history-making brother, Carl. He writes of the leading role he played in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court Case of Terry v Ohio, of a career in Congress that made him one of the body's most respected and powerful members, and of the battles he waged on behalf of his city and country's most disadvantaged citizens. In the parts of two chapters that follow, Stokes writes of his relationships with his mother and brother, his decision to retire from congress, and of his colleagues in Cleveland's black political establishment. "The Gentleman from Ohio" has been shipped to local book stores. It can also be ordered through on-line retailers. Louis and Carl Stokes at a 1979 rally in front of the Call & Post at E. 105th and Chester I was elected fifteen times and served for thirty years. I represented various elements of Cleveland's multiethnic community, but my power base was in the predominantly African American neighborhoods of my district. My strength there derived largely from the Twenty-First District Caucus, and also from the black ministers who were so instrumental in supporting my reelections and so responsive when I needed their backing on issues. For three decades the spotlight was on me as Ohio's first black congressman. That meant I had to set the standard. I had to create a model for representing the district in such a way that when I left, those following me would have to demonstrate a high level of service to the district's people. I believe I succeeded in doing that, and the proof has been in those who have come after me. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who was elected after I retired, had been a protege of both Carl and myself. In Congress Stephanie quickly established herself as a leader, and she had already made a strong reputation for herself before her tragic, far-too-early death. She had become the first black member of the Ways and Means Committee. She had chaired the House Ethics Committee and co-chaired the Democratic National Committee. With her unexpected passing, Marcia Fudge was appointed to the district seat. Marcia had been Tubbs Jones's first chief of staff, then she was elected as the first female mayor of the town of Warrensville Heights. Since succeeding Tubbs Jones, Marcia has won four elections to Congress. She too has a record of accomplishment there, serving with distinction on several committees and as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. I take a good deal of pleasure in watching how Marcia has embraced the traditional Labor Day Parade, which after almost forty-five years is still a major event in the life of Cleveland's black community and very much the district's political fulcrum. Marcia (and Stephanie before her) has built the parade into something even more significant than it was in earlier times. Stephanie Tubbs Jones took office in 2001 and Marcia Fudge in 2009 as young leaders in Cleveland's political life. But the city has had a long tradition now of powerful black politicians. My friendship with two of the most important in Cleveland's history sustained me both politically and person- ally for more years than I care to count. Arnold Pinkney and George Forbes were powers to reckon with in Cleveland's political and civil life--Arnold until his death in 2014, George, still at this writing going strong at the age of eighty-four. Left to right, Arnold Pinkney, Carl Stokes and George Forbes on June 23, 2008 in the Plain Dealer photo studio. Arnold was a brilliant politician. His great talent was in running political campaigns. He helped elect judges in Cleveland, Ohio governors John Gilligan and Richard Celeste, Carl in his second campaign for mayor, and my own first and second campaigns for Congress. He was Jesse Jackson's campaign manager in his run for the presidency and Hubert Humphrey's deputy campaign manager in his. Arnold's skills didn't work well for himself, though. He ran for mayor twice and twice lost. He and I had our falling out over the Twenty-First District Caucus, but we made that up and I worked hard for him in his first mayoral campaign. "You worked harder for me than you did for yourself in your own campaigns," he told me. Arnold was not just my campaign manager; he was a warm personal friend. After I won my first election I was able to persuade him to stay on with me for a while. He came to Washington to organize my office there, then he organized my Cleveland office. Arnold was the best in the country in managing political campaigns. But I was also fortunate to have a lady by the name of Lynne Gertrude Powell, one of the feistiest people I've ever known, but also politically brilliant. Lynnie Powell made people think that she was tougher than she really was; in actuality, beneath her tough veneer lived a very soft-hearted and sensitive lady. But she was a talent. Her political skills were similar in many ways to Arnold's; she was, simply, a great organizer with a sure feel for election priorities. The combination of Arnold Pinkney and Lynnie Powell gave me what I considered the most effective campaign people anywhere. My relationship with George Forbes goes back at least as far as my relationship with Arnold. Whenever I speak of George I'm reminded of our breakfast meeting when we were opponents in the 1968 race for Congress, when he told me, "Lou, you can't win," and for more than a moment I believed him. George was a man who loves and practices politics in the way it should be practiced, with skill and strength. He was a member of the city council for twenty-seven years and president for sixteen of those. In that position he wielded great power; many people feared as well as respected him. He ran the council with a strong hand; in the eyes of most people, George Forbes ran the city. George and I always had respect for each other, even during our differences over the Twenty-First District Caucus when he and Arnold took their people out. But just as Arnold and I healed our friendship, George and I did as well. In the one primary where I faced a stiff challenge, George and Arnold both stepped in and helped me emerge with a victory. On occasion, the three of us, George, Arnold, and I, have been accused of thwarting the progress of younger politicians, but that was never true. We were all secure enough in our positions that we never had to stop anyone's growth. On the contrary, we felt it important for younger colleagues to make progress in their careers, and we did what we could to mentor and advise. George and his family and I and mine have enjoyed close personal relationships over our long lives. Along with Arnold, George and I have more than once been referred to as "the Mount Rushmore of Cleveland politics." I'm not quite sure how to take that, but each of us certainly exercised enduring power in the city's political life. Our friendship endured as well, and that has given me both strength and comfort throughout these many years. Friendships are a pillar of the fulfilled life. So is meaningful work. The third pillar is family. Jay and I have been married now for fifty-five years. We have four children and seven grandchildren. We are intensely proud of them all, but I cannot think of them without reflecting on the spiritual strength Carl and I received from our own mother. I know she infused that strength into us, and I see the values she lived by and embodied in the lives of our families' children and grandchildren as well. Louise Stokes, mother of Louis and Carl Stokes, admires a portrait of her sons. (Cleveland Press Collection, Clevelandmemory.org) She worked, of course, as a domestic, after coming up to Cleveland out of Georgia's cotton fields. She continued working long after Carl and I were able to support her. She was not one to slack off just because she could. She lost her much-loved husband early, but her maternal care for us never wavered for a moment. Over and over she insisted to Carl and me that we needed to "be somebody," that we needed to educate ourselves in order to grasp onto a better life, one not consumed by drudgery and hard physical labor. She gave us the grit to overcome our poverty and the lure of the streets. She was determined, and we drank in her determination.... On my mother's last day I took her to a service at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. The Rev. Jesse Jackson was the guest pastor that day. My mother liked Jesse, and of course he was a friend of mine. We were looking forward to hearing him preach. Olivet was one of Cleveland's most historic churches, a place where the black community often gathered for rallies and other events. Reverend Otis Moss Jr. was pastor then. He had succeeded the Reverend O. M. Hoover, who had been one of Martin Luther King's best friends. Hoover had marched with King, and Olivet had served as Dr. King's headquarters whenever he came to Cleveland. Rev. Hoover's daughter, Carole, was also close to the King family. She had worked for Dr. King and later became a close companion of Coretta Scott King. Carole was (and still is) an important figure in her own right, a major business presence in Cleveland, and a person I have turned to for help many times over the years, which she has always given unstintingly. Pictured with Carl Stokes, right, are Jesse Jackson, left, Arnold Pinkney, center, and Louis Stokes, foreground, in 1971. The service at Olivet that morning was long. Jesse preached a long sermon, then he "took in" to the church seventy or eighty people, more than I had ever seen at one service. When we finally finished it took a while for me to extricate myself, with so many wanting to say hello and shake hands. When we finally got away and were walking down the street toward my car, my mother felt faint. The morning had tired her out. It was clear that she needed help, and as we drove up by Miller's Funeral Home on Quincy Avenue, I said, "Let's stop here a moment and let you rest." By then it was obvious she was weakening. We called an ambulance, which picked her up and took her to St. Vincent's Charity Hospital. I drove behind, but when I got there they had already taken her in to the emergency room. Doctors were working on her, but they wouldn't let me in, and not long afterward they came out to tell me she had passed. Until that day she had been doing fairly well both physically and mentally. But that morning had been too much for her heart. We held the funeral three days later at St Paul A. M. E. Zion Church. Mayor Dennis Kucinich sent an honor guard of Cleveland police. Jesse Jackson gave a beautiful eulogy. Carl came up from New York and spoke. I couldn't bring myself to speak. I was too saddened. I thought that some of her grandchildren should instead. They had meant so much to her and she to them. Better to let them speak. Shelley and Chuck did. Their remarks were so moving I could not keep the tears from my eyes. When Shelley left the podium and came back to the pew I took her hand and kissed her. When it was over the police honor guard, including mounted police, led the procession away from the church. The children were wonderful that day. I knew how fortunate I was to have children like that. I had never had to worry a day about them. Never needed to call a lawyer, never had to pick them up from the police, never needed to be concerned about alcohol or drugs. And my pride in them only grew as the years passed. When my mother died Shelley had graduated from Ohio University, then she got a master's degree and eventually went to work for the Howard University library system. Angie, two years younger, won a scholarship to Howard Law School, then she was recruited by Ohio's governor Anthony Celebrezze as a state assistant attorney general. She's been a judge in Cleveland since. Chuck went into television journalism after graduating from Morehouse College and earning a master's degree at Columbia. As editorial director at Detroit's ABC affiliate WXYZ, he has won thirteen Emmys so far and counting. Lori too went into journalism after attending Ohio State and Howard. She is a highly respected journalist and news anchor at WABC TV in New York. Committed to social and civic issues, she has won numerous Emmys and a George Foster Peabody Award for her coverage of 9/11/2001. But I can't take the credit for the way they have turned out. That goes to Jay, who at the age of twenty-two assumed the job of being mother to three children from another marriage and then melded our fourth seamlessly into the family unit. She spent her life nurturing them, taking them to the doctor when they were sick, being with them when they needed solace or encouragement. Whatever they needed, she was there. She loved them exactly as I did and was the finest parent and partner in raising them that I could ever have hoped for. Given my work schedule, she was truly the one who provided the lion's share of the comfort and guidance they needed as they grew. So much of the time I was out in the community, lawyering, being a congress- man, doing everything I could that the community called on me to do. And all that while she was there with our children day and night. When I look back on the fifty-five years Jay and I have spent as husband and wife, I can hardly believe my good fortune. My children, my grandchildren, my inspirational wife--all of whom have made my life the happiest in the world. All I can say is that I have been more than fortunate; I have been blessed. CLEVELAND, Ohio - The most ticketed drivers in Ohio are not distracted teenagers or overwhelmed senior citizens. They are 21-year-olds. And there may be no better example than Younes Badraig. On Jan. 7, 2015, Badraig hit the accelerator and climbed to 102 mph on a frozen interstate in Southeast Ohio. A state trooper caught up with him and wrote him a citation. He paid $305 in fines and court costs. Badraig was 21 at the time. His reckless driving underscores a trend that safety advocates have seen growing for years: Drivers in their early 20s are far riskier and more impulsive than their younger and older counterparts. And authorities fear that type of foolish driving spikes over Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest times of the year for officers. A Plain Dealer analysis of more than 612,000 traffic tickets from the Ohio State Highway Patrol from 2015 shows troopers wrote 22,728 citations last year to 21-year-olds, the most of any age group. The most ticketed drivers in Ohio are not inexperienced teenagers or the overwhelmed senior citizens. They are 21-year-olds. A Plain Dealer analysis of Ohio State Highway Patrol data shows troopers wrote 22,728 tickets to drivers 21 years of age in 2015. That's the most of any age group. The group, however, has far fewer licensed drivers than it baby boomer counterparts. To some, the numbers are hardly surprising, given the lack maturity of the age and relative inexperience behind the wheel. But when one considers that there are far fewer licensed 21-year-old drivers in Ohio than their older peers, especially baby boomers, the numbers become startling. Drivers in their 20s accounted for 196,456 tickets last year, or nearly a third of all of those written by troopers, the analysis found. For years, public safety campaigns have stressed the inexperience of young drivers and the struggles of senior citizens. Baby boomers have the largest number of licensed drivers in the state, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. In fact, there are far more middle-aged licensed drivers than those who are in their 20s. State troopers gave the most tickets last year to 21-year-old drivers, according to a Plain Dealer analysis of patrol tickets. The Plain Dealer's analysis found younger and older drivers have issues with reckless driving. Troopers wrote 52,049 violations to teenage drivers last year and 33,234 to drivers over 65. Yet the more dangerous drivers appear to be those in their early 20s, who have gained some experience behind the wheel but have become much more of a highway menace than their younger and older counterparts. "Kids in their early 20s don't have the maturity,'' said Karen Sprattler, a behavioral consultant in St. Paul, Minn., who works with highway safety officials. "They are greater risk-takers. Their brain development isn't completed until they are older. They don't have many responsibilities, either. They are out more when there is a greater police presence, at night. Coming Tuesday: Coming Wednesday: Coming Thursday: "The brain's maturation is so important. You don't just wake up one day and become smart. People say, 'Well, we made it through that time.' Of course, we don't hear from the people who didn't make it.'' Consider Ohio accident statistics from last year. Drivers 21 to 25 were in the most fatal accidents (193), injury accidents (18,147) and crashes that damaged property (65,952), according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety. In Ohio, there are 125,567 licensed drivers who are 21 years old. By contrast, there are 159,831 licensed drivers who are 58; they are the most registered group of drivers of any age in the state, according to the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles. Those drivers picked up 6,794 tickets, or 70 percent fewer than the 21 year olds. Of course, not all drivers ticketed by troopers live in Ohio. But, according to state patrol records, more than 80 percent of those ticketed do live here. "Young male drivers take more risks behind the wheel, it's just that simple,'' said Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "They are more likely to speed, drink and drive, run red lights and fail to wear safety belts.'' The Plain Dealer analysis found that male drivers accounted for 70 percent of the tickets troopers wrote to 21-year-olds last year. Badraig is the face behind the numbers. His 102-mph speed in a black, four-door Toyota on Interstate 77, near Marietta, stunned authorities, especially because the region got hit with 6 inches of snow and wind chills of -3 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Marietta Times newspaper. Darien Carreon drove the same way. Carreon, of Lorain, lost control of a 2008 Mercedes Benz at 1 a.m., March 1, 2015, on the West River Road in Elyria. He was 21 at the time. Troopers arrested him on several charges after he nearly caused a traffic accident, a patrol official said. He pleaded no contest to charges of reckless operation and failure to maintain control of his car. A judge found him guilty and ordered him to pay $1,047 in fines and court costs. Neither he nor Badraig could be reached for comment. "These are typically single kids who rent and generally have a lot less responsibility,'' said Mary Bonelli of the Ohio Insurance Institute, which represents property and casualty insurance companies. "There is a lack of maturity. My gut feeling, though, is that so many are more distracted.'' cleveland police tape 2 A 25-year-old man is now charged in connection with a botched robbery that turned into a fatal shooting. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A second man is charged in connection with a botched robbery in Cleveland's Lee-Miles neighborhood that turned into a fatal shooting. Deon Bulger, 25, also known as Radiq, is charged with aggravated murder. He is not in police custody and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Bulger is the second person to be charged in the Aug. 10 fatal shooting of Stephen Menter, 26, of Northfield Village. Christopher Hill, 40, also is charged with aggravated murder. He was arrested on the charges Aug. 19 and remains in the Cleveland City Jail on $1 million bond while awaiting his next court appearance on Friday. Court and police records do not say whether it was Hill or Bulger who fired the fatal shots. Hill and Menter on Aug. 10 made arrangements to meet in the 17600 block of Tarkington Avenue for a drug deal, court records say. Menter drove to the meeting spot about 6:20 p.m. with his two brothers -- ages 23 and 20 -- and a 22-year-old, according to police reports. Menter parked in the driveway. Hill and another man walked up to Menter's car. One of the men pointed a gun at the group and told them to give them everything they had, court records say. Menter tried to drive away but the duo fired several gunshots at his car, police said. Menter, the father of a 6-year-old boy, was hit by several bullets. He died about 7:20 p.m. at MetroHealth Medical Center. The 22-year-old friend was shot in the left leg and one of Menter's brothers suffered bruises on his face, police said. Bulger's criminal history includes three separate convictions in 2009, including one for his role in helping hide a gun that a co-defendant used to scare off a police informant working a drug investigation with detectives. In that case, the informant was dropped off by Cleveland police near a home in the 11300 block of Cotes Avenue where there were numerous complaints about drug activity. The informant walked up onto the porch. The co-defendant, Bryon Turner, pulled out a gun and told the informant to leave. The informant went back to the detectives' car and told him about the incident. An arrest team swarmed the home. Turner turned to Bulger and handed him the loaded gun. Bulger ran into the house and tried to hide it, but police found it. Both men were convicted in a 2009 bench trial. Bulger was sentenced to one year on probation after being found guilty of possessing a weapon as a felon, tampering with evidence and possessing criminal tools. He was also sentenced to one year on probation for a drug trafficking case where police seized $233 of drug money and his 1997 Mercury. Bulger was sentenced to four years in prison for burglary and drug trafficking in his third case that same year. In that case, he was running from police officers on July 14, 2009 and broke into a home to hide. He threw a bag of crack cocaine on the ground as he ran. His latest conviction happened in 2015, when he pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and prescription narcotic painkillers in the 5300 block of Lee Road in Maple Heights. He and another man were in a car at Mr. Wonderful's Chicken on Lee Road, when one of the men flashed a gun at the store manager. They drove off and Maple Heights police stopped their car on Lee Road near the Interstate 480 entrance. Police found a small amount of cocaine and one prescription pill in the car. The driver had a permit for the gun, court records say. Bulger was sentenced to three months in the county jail in that case. Hill also has a criminal history that includes several felony convictions. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section. cleveland police.jpg A 17-year-old boy was shot in the leg Sunday night at East 105th Street and Hampden Avenue, according to a Cleveland police report. Officers found 16 bullet casings at the scene. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A gunman fired at least 16 shots at a 17-year-old boy Sunday night in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, according to a police report. The boy was hit once in the leg in the shooting that took place about 8 p.m. at East 105th Street and Hampden Avenue, police said. The boy walked to a store at East 105th Street and Superior Avenue. As he walked back home, the boy heard several gunshots when he got to the Hampden Avenue intersection, according to a police report. He ran north on East 105th Street to escape. A bullet hit him in his left lower leg, the report says. He ran to a parking lot near Tacoma Avenue, where a friend picked him up and drove him to University Hospitals, the report says. The report does not say whether the boy saw the shooter. An auto mechanic at a body shop near Hampden Avenue called police and said he heard about 10 shots, the report says. Investigators found 16 bullet casings at the intersection. Police have not identified a suspect. The shooting came about two hours before a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed at East 104th Street and Miles Avenue. Police do not believe the incidents are related. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section. Solon shooting crash Matthew DeSha, accused of shooting and killing Deborah Pearl Saturday morning after a car accident in Solon, suffered from PTSD, according to police records. (Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com) SOLON, Ohio -- The 29-year-old North Ridgeville man who police said opened fire on a woman after a car accident had served two tours of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps. The former heavy artillery operator also struggled with drug addiction and likely suffered from crippling PTSD, according to police reports. Police have not offered a reason why they believe Matthew Desha grabbed an assault rifle from his upside-down Jeep Saturday morning and shot Deborah Pearl. But it's possible the former mortarman known to sleep on his couch holding a gun was in the midst of a PTSD flashback triggered when his Jeep flipped in the intersection of Solon and Richmond roads. Here are a few facts about PTSD. What is PTSD? PTSD is a mental health condition developed after someone experiences a life-threatening event, such as military combat, sexual assault, child abuse, a natural disaster or a bad injury. Symptoms of the disorder range from flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety to complete amnesia of the event, loss of interest in things the person once thought were important and a feeling of hopeless abut the future. Who gets PTSD? About 50 percent of women and 60 percent of men experience some type of traumatic event in their lives, but women develop PTSD at a higher rate, according to the National Center for PTSD. About 10 percent of women develop PTSD at some point, compared to 6 percent of men. A host of matters factor into whether someone develops PTSD after a traumatic incident, including how severe the trauma was, how little control the person felt they had over the situation, if the person drinks a lot of alcohol. The disorder is also more prevalent in poorer and less-educated people, according to the National Center for PTSD. Is PTSD a new disorder? The term PTSD dates back to 1980, but the disorder it describes has been medically recognized since at least the 17th century. A Swiss doctor coined the term "nostalgia" to describe similar symptoms from troops in 1678, according to the National Center for PTSD. Doctors after World War I used the term "shell shock," and "battle fatigue" after World War II. The American Psychiatric Association in 1980 included the term post traumatic stress disorder in the third Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders based on research involving Vietnam War veterans, Holocaust survivors and sexual trauma victims, among others, the center says. What triggers an episode? The slightest cue can snap a veteran with PTSD back into the situation that caused their disorder in the first place, Mark Levy, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine said. The cliche is a car backfiring in a parking lot, Levy said, but any sudden sound or noise can trigger a flashback. And the result could be very dangerous. "It's like a filter has been placed over their reality and they are back in that fight or flight mentality," Levy said. How is PTSD treated? Most PTSD patients are treated with some form of therapy. Therapists expose the person to thoughts of the event that caused the disorder, and teach them how to confront the feelings it triggers. Doctors used to prescribe benzodiazepines and anti-depressants, but have found that therapy is often a more effective treatment, according to the Cleveland Clinic. How many people in the military suffer from PTSD? About 17 percent of combat veterans suffer from PTSD at some point, according to the National Center for PTSD. But the percentage varies greatly by service era. Between 11 and 20 percent of combat veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan developed PTSD in a given year, according to the center. About 12 percent of Gulf War Veterans have PTSD in a given year, and researchers estimate that about 30 percent of Vietnam veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime. What are some of the myths and misconceptions of PTSD? Several researchers have found that combat veterans with symptoms of PTSD are at higher risk of engaging in violence. A 2010 study found that Marines with PTSD symptoms were more than six times as likely to engage in antisocial behaviors such as getting into heated arguments or physical confrontations than those who did not report PTSD symptoms, the Naval Health Research Center found. Researchers in 1997 found that Vietnam veterans diagnosed with PTSD experienced much higher rates of interpersonal violence than veterans without the disorder. But veteran groups warn against stigmatizing veterans with PTSD as violent. The National Center for PTSD points out that most people with PTSD, including veterans, have never engaged in violence. Another misconception is that PTSD symptoms either show up right after the traumatic event, or not at all. PTSD can manifest years after a traumatic incident. If you'd like to comment on this story, visit our crime and courts comments section. cleveland police tape 2 An 18-year-old suspected drug dealer is accused of gunning down a man who met with him to buy marijuana, police say. (File photo) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A suspected Cleveland marijuana dealer is accused of fatally shooting a prospective customer after the men agreed to meet at a store in the city's Clark-Fulton neighborhood. Neeko Gordon, 18, is charged with aggravated murder. Gordon is being jailed on $1 million bond after his first court appearance on Saturday. Gordon is accused of fatally shooting Ricardo Nieves, 21, of Cleveland. Gordon agreed to meet up with Nieves and a 21-year-old man to sell the men marijuana about 5 p.m. Thursday at a store near West 38th Street and Robert Avenue, police said. Nieves and a 21-year-old man drove to the meet-up spot. Gordon told the men to get out of the car so he could sell them the marijuana in a nearby alley. The two men "had a bad feeling about the situation," according to court records, and started to drive away. Gordon then fired several gunshots at their car, police said. A bullet hit Nieves in the head as he was driving away. The 21-year-old man got in the driver's seat and tried to drive Nieves to MetroHealth Medical Center, but crashed the car on West 25th Street and Meyer Avenue. Police found Nieves in the car with the gunshot wound and administered treatment until an ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital. Nieves later died at MetroHealth, police said. The 21-year-old man suffered no injuries in the shooting or crash, according to police. Investigators linked Gordon to the shooting and arrested him at a home in the 3200 block of West 41st Street, police said. To comment on this post, please visit our crime and courts comments section. Jamie Grill | Getty Images Millennials have plenty on their plate as they save for retirement and pay down loans, but here's another concern: Do they have enough life insurance? It's no secret that 20- and 30-somethings are holding off on some of the traditional milestones that would warrant buying life insurance. The median age in 2015 of individuals getting married for the first time was 27.1 for women and 29.2 for men. The mean age for women having their first child in 2014 was 26.3. This age group has also postponed homeownership. Nevertheless, there are several reasons why you might want to consider taking out a life insurance policy when you are young and you can do it on the cheap. "Most of Gen Y thinks that they're invincible," said Chad Chubb, a certified financial planner and founder of WealthKeel. "The fact of the matter is that most 20- or 30-year-olds will require life insurance at some point." Protect your co-signers Though outstanding federal student loans are discharged when you die, this isn't always the case with private loans. So when a borrower with a private loan dies, the co-signer may be on the hook for subsequent payments. Even if your spouse doesn't co-sign for you, he or she can also be held liable for a private student loan if you borrow while married and you reside in a community property state. Term life insurance, which provides coverage for a stated period of time and at a relatively low cost, can help protect against that. Presumably, the borrower will have paid off most, if not all, of the loan by the time the policy's term has ended. "I find that when I'm working with people in their 20s and later, the amount of student loan debt I see is considerable," said Peter Creedon, founder and CEO of Crystal Brook Advisors. One client of Creedon's in her 30s is planning her wedding, and she's bringing $130,000 in student loan debt to the marriage. As part of an overall financial plan, Creedon recommended that she purchase $150,000 of life insurance in a 20-year term policy. Term coverage and costs The cost of coverage was low compared with the amount of protection Creedon's client received: Premiums were $167 per year. Financial education and management website NerdWallet provides a tool for modeling term life insurance quotes. Based on that, a 30-year-old woman who doesn't smoke can purchase a $500,000 policy for 20 years for an estimated monthly premium of $18 to $28. Other sites that can give you an idea of how much term life costs include PolicyGenius and SelectQuote. When buying a term policy, you likely will have to answer a few questions about your health and whether you smoke. You probably won't be required to take extensive medical testing before an insurer agrees to provide you coverage. Term is different from permanent life insurance, which doesn't expire after a stated period. Permanent coverage includes whole life, universal life and variable life. These policies may be best suited for estate planning and retirement income strategies. Protect your business If you're joining or starting a small business, term life insurance might also make sense. This was the case for Douglas Boneparth, partner at Longwave Financial. At the start of his financial planning career, he worked at his father's firm and set up what's known as a key-man life insurance plan. Key-man policies cover the lives of critical personnel. They provide the business with the resources to recover from financial losses in the event of an important employee's untimely death. When determining the type of policy they need, entrepreneurs need to think about the end goal of the business and how long they plan to stick around, Boneparth said. "What if the parents want to sell the business in less than 30 years?" he asked. "If that's inevitable, 30-year term might suffice." How much do you need? A member of a tourist group rests in the departure hall in the Xiaoshan Airport in Hangzhou. The aviation authority has stepped up efforts to address poor flight-on-time rates over recent months amid widespread complaints, slapping penalties on the worst-performing airports and airlines. Those airports took the bottom four spots in a recent national ranking, according to China News Service. As one of four airports named and shamed by the Civil Aviation Administration last week, Hangzhou Xiaoshan was banned from getting new flights, routes or charters. The other three airports were Shanghai 's Pudong, Shanghai's Hongqiao and Lukou in Nanjing. Just days ahead of the opening of the Group of 20 (G-20) summit in the eastern coastal city of Hangzhou, the city's airport has been condemned by aviation authorities as one of the worst managed in the country. Pudong International Airport was one of the four Chinese airports criticized by the Civil Aviation Administration. Authorities insist their efforts have already seen some improvement. Flight punctuality in July was more than 73 per cent, up from about 68 per cent in both 2015 and 2014 the lowest rate since the data was made publicly available in 2006, according to official statistics published in May. Flight delays jumped from an average of 19 minutes in 2014 to 21 minutes last year. In its brief announcement, the regulator also admitted that Shanghai's Pudong had made little improvement in terms of its flight-on-time rate since March, while Shanghai's Hongqiao had failed to meet its internal standards since June. Nanjing's Lukou had failed to address constant delays in May and July, it said. Although flight punctuality at Hangzhou Xiaoshan saw some improvement in July, the airport was penalized for its poor flight-on-time rate in June. More from the South China Morning Post: Long airport wait increases: average Chinese flight delay now up to 21 minutes Multimedia interactive special: historic G20 meeting in Hangzhou - the leaders, their agenda and the redrawing of the world's economic order Hong Kong's Ocean Park seeks to boost dwindling tourist figureswith Pokemon Go-style app The authority did not say if the ban would have any impact on the G-20 summit, to be held in Hangzhou from September 4-5. China's airports are still consistently ranked among the worst in the world in terms of flight punctuality. Air traffic controllers, bad weather and poor management of airlines were to blame for nearly 80 per cent of flight delays last year, the aviation regulator was quoted by China Central Television as saying. Authorities also admitted that military activities were a contributing factor, accounting for some 13 per cent of the delays. It is an open secret that the PLA Air Force controls most of the country's airspace. The lack of progress in flight punctuality over the past months was believed to have been closely linked to China's growing assertiveness in conducting military drills and exercises. German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said in an interview on Saturday that Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives had "underestimated" the challenge of integrating record numbers of migrants. Gabriel leads the Social Democrats (SPD) -- the junior coalition partner in Merkel's government -- and his comments come as campaigning kicks off for a federal election next year and regional elections in Berlin and the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Hundreds of thousands of migrants arrived in Germany from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere last year. There is widespread concern about how to integrate them into German society and the labour market, and support for the anti-immigrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has grown. "I, we always said that it's inconceivable for Germany to take in a million people every year," Gabriel said in an interview with broadcaster ZDF. "There is an upper limit to a country's integration ability," he added at a news conference on Sunday. He said Germany had 300,000 new school children due to the migrant influx and added that the country could not manage to integrate so many into the school system every year because there would not be enough teachers. Launching satellites into space could get even cheaper very soon. Rocket Lab, whose technology aims to propel small satellites into orbit at a fraction of the current industry prices, has nearly completed construction of the world's first private launch site. Located on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula, the site was designed to "enable the highest frequency of space launches in history," according to Rocket Lab, a U.S. company with a New Zealand subsidiary. Once ready, the site will be home to the company's first set of trials, scheduled for the coming months. Ten-year old Rocket Lab will be charging $4.9 million per launch, a significant discount to SpaceX's $62 million price tag, and hopes to conduct weekly operations. Its launch vehicle, called the Electron, boasts a battery-powered rocket engine printed on 3D parts that enables the firm to offer such low pricing and frequent trips, Rocket Lab said. CEO Peter Beck hopes the service will resolve two of the biggest complaints he hears from players in the space industry: frequency and availability of launches. "This program is about enabling the small satellite industry," Beck told CNBC's 'Squawk Box' on Monday. American Airlines President J. Scott Kirby will leave the company and take the same role at United Continental , the companies said Shares of American Airlines were down 2 percent in extended trading, while United shares gained more than 1 percent. In a letter to United employees, CEO Oscar Munoz said he appointed Kirby as president of the company, a newly created position. Munoz said the move is "the culmination of the formation of my leadership team." "While his credentials speak for themselves, what set Scott apart from the other impressive candidates I considered was his excitement at the passion and enthusiasm he is seeing from all of you over the past few months. Simply put, he 'gets' the new spirit of United that you have created, and he is the right person to help all of us seize the opportunities ahead," Munoz said. watch now The first half of 2016 has been a roller-coaster for financial markets. A combination of uncertainties surrounding the U.K.'s vote to leave the European Union and weaker-than-expected corporate earnings results across the region means a tough second half looms. European banks, in particular, have had a very tough six months as the shock and volatility around Brexit sent banking stocks south. Major European banks like Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse saw their shares in free-fall after the referendum's results were announced. In the U.K., RBS was the worst-hit, with its shares plunging by more than 30 percent since June 24. The current uncertainty over when the U.K. will start the process of quitting the EU has banks on tenterhooks. But a source told CNBC that banks are "preparing for an economic nuclear winter situation." Speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic, a source from a major investment bank told CNBC that financial services firms have put together a strategy in place that takes into account the worst-case scenario that could happen by the end of this year. "This could mean triggering Article 50, referendum in other European nations leading to a break-up of the euro or sterling hitting below $1.20 or lower. The banks are ready for anything now," the source said. The source further explained that the challenge in 2016 is nothing compared to when the Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008 and the banking sector is this time a lot more resilient. "Markets hate uncertainty and the events this year have unfortunately created a lot of mystery around what is going to happen next." Meanwhile, a common theme across second-quarter results has been a warning of uncertain times ahead. From big investment banks to mining firms like BHP Billiton and Glencore to the auto sector, companies have cited uncertainty and volatility in markets as a reason for weak results and have warned that the second half will be challenging. An American tourist stands near the Houses of Parliament the day after the majority of the British public voted to leave the European Union on June 25, 2016 in London, England. Getty Images Following that, a number of banks have cut their exposure to equities due to the volatile nature of stocks in the first half the year. Earlier this month, Goldman Sachs downgraded stocks to "underweight" as part of its 3-month asset allocation citing global equities to be at the upper end of their "fat and flat range." "The second half of the year is going to be very challenging for U.K. corporates," Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA told CNBC via email. "Not only are they contending with possible recession in the U.K. and more prolonged slowdown, the uncertainty factor surrounding Brexit leaves planning for the future a very difficult task." Erlam further explained that a number of companies won't know for a while what the future of their operations in the U.K. will look like. "I imagine many are already putting plans in place for moving operations abroad should the U.K. lose access to the single market. With companies less likely to invest and recession very possible, the second half of the year isn't looking great, particularly for those companies with greater exposure to the UK." But while challenges continue to loom, some analysts have said it was important for companies to get on with their business. "I think the main problem for the second half of the year is the uncertainty caused by Brexit, though that's likely to persist for two years or more, so I suspect companies are likely to roll up their sleeves and get on with their business," Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown told CNBC via email. Khaif explained that the challenges will remain but it is important for industries like banking for instance to focus on maintaining their solvency ratios and "de-risking and simplifying their businesses." "When all is said and done, they did implement a 25 percent price increase. They did get a little bit of turbulence, but they did grow subs. Not too many companies can do a 25 percent price increase and still grow subs. Netflix did," Mahaney said in an interview on CNBC's " Squawk on the Street ." While it's difficult for companies to predict the impact of a price increase, it's generally known that "people don't like price increases," he said. Mark Mahaney, lead internet analyst at RBC Capital Markets, explained that while Netflix reported slower-than-expected subscriber growth, the company was still able to expand those numbers despite higher-than-expected membership churn. In July, Netflix said it added 1.7 million subscribers during the second quarter, below its own expectations of 2.5 million. The company said it missed its guidance because there was more membership churn following the last phase of a price increase Netflix announced two years ago. One expert says the proof of Netflix 's pricing power is in its last earnings report the one that sent the stock down 13 percent. He also said that the headwinds from membership churn are possibly abating for Netflix. In a survey of 1,184 people, RBC found that fewer respondents said they were "extremely likely" to cancel their subscription than they did previously. Mahaney said it's likely that "the worst of the pricing pressures" are now behind Netflix. Some analysts had not been convinced that international subscriber growth would be a sufficient driver for the stock, but RBC's analysis indicates that Netflix's international markets are "scaling as profitably as the U.S. did in the earlier days," Mahaney said. He said his firm believes "the financial markets underappreciate the profit potential for Netflix outside the U.S." Another finding from RBC's survey is that Amazon Prime members, who have access to Amazon's rival video streaming services, are more likely to be Netflix subscribers than regular Amazon customers. The firm, which has one of the highest price targets on the stock at $130 and maintains that Netflix is its "#1 buy," said that one reason this may be true is that Prime subscribers are likely to have higher incomes and less sensitive to the cost of a Netflix subscription. Mahaney said this finding slightly lowers the firms perception of Amazon as a threat to Netflix. He said going forward, the most important thing for Netflix to do is to keep building out its library of original content. The more originals the streaming giant produces, the "more compelling" the service is for its users, Mahaney said. He also pointed out that the company currently only spends a fraction of its content costs on original programming. "This company is spending $5 billion to $6 billion this year, maybe only $1 billion or a little bit more than that is actually on original content, things like 'Stranger Things,' 'House of Cards,' season two of 'Narcos,' a big international, Latin America hit," Mahaney said. Disclosure: RBC Capital Markets makes a market in the securities of Netflix. A little-known international arbitration system is gaining global power and allowing multinational corporations to sue entire countries. Buzzfeed News spent months reporting on the scope and power of the investor-state dispute settlement, or ISDS, and just published a nearly 10,000-word investigative report on the system. If you don't have two hours to go through the whole tome, here are some highlights. ISDS was originally intended to help international businesses protect their investments in other countries and in turn encourage development and more foreign investment. It part of the fabric of major international trade agreements like NAFTA and the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership. Buzzfeed's report features cases involving Egypt, El Salvador and Indonesia that suggest this "private, global super court" inordinately benefits corporations to the detriment of developing nations. It even touches on one of Donald Trump's former business partners who used the system to duck a prison sentence. One major issue is that this system only works one way: corporations can sue countries, but governments can't sue the businesses, according to Buzzfeed. ISDS rulings are as legally binding as if they were made by a country's own supreme court, but the proceedings aren't beholden to precedent or public oversight, Buzzfeed reported. Even the threat of filing an ISDS claim can be enough to push a nation to settle a dispute because the existence of ISDS cases damages a country's business reputation, Buzzfeed reported. For developing nations that can't afford to lose out on foreign investments, it often isn't worth the risk. Read part one of the series on Buzzfeed. With the drought easing in parts of California, this year's almond harvest is shaping up to be a record haul for the state that could help its growers crack the nut on more sales. The harvest underway in California's San Joaquin Valley is expected to result in an estimated 2.05 billion pounds of almonds this season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That's up about 8 percent from last year and would shatter 2011's record crop, which weighed in at 2.03 billion pounds. That level of supply should lead to lower almond prices that "flow through" to the U.S. consumer, spurring additional demand, Goldman Sachs analyst Jim Godsil told investors. It could also contribute to signs of stabilization in the industry. Following a 6.4 percent decline in shipments during the year ended last July, the crop's shipments for the current crop year are 1.811 billion pounds. That's just slightly lower than last year's 1.813 billion, according to the Almond Board of California. While domestic numbers have been slower to recover, export volumes are up by almost 4 percent, with the four months ended July producing double-digit percentage growth in shipments. International demand has picked up as prices on California's almonds have moved lower. Yet some are concerned there may be overcapacity in the state's almond industry, which produces about 80 percent of the world's production. That could weigh on pricing down the road and ultimately hurt farmers' profits. "Everybody can see that the almonds have been overplanted," said Bill Diedrich, who has grown almonds near Fresno since the early 1990s. Consumers have already taken an interest in almond products because of their "heart health" benefits. Almond milk, for example, has recorded a 30 percent compound annual growth rate over the last four years, according to Nielsen data. Sales of almond milk reached $938 million in the 52 weeks ended July 2, a nearly 8 percent increase from a year ago, the firm said. ONE-HOUR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY REPORTED BY CNBC'S JIM CRAMER CNBC ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY GIVES AN UNPRECEDENTED LOOK INSIDE THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., August 29, 2016 As the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the World Trade Center has emerged as a place reborn. It is the sacred ground where more than 2600 people lost their lives, and now something more: a vibrant public, commercial and retail space that stands as proof of American tenacity and resilience. On Thursday, September 1st at 10pm ET/PT, CNBC presents "Ground Zero Rising: Freedom vs. Fear," a one-hour documentary reported by anchor Jim Cramer that tells the story of the revitalization of the 16-acre site complete with solemn memorial pools, a new park, an architecturally striking transit hub, and new office towers. Taking more than six years and nearly $4 billion to complete, One World Trade Center is the most expensive skyscraper in the world. Two years after opening, 70 percent of the building is leased, though some prospective tenants have balked at the idea of moving to the site of the 9/11 attack. Chris Altchek and Jake Horowitz, founders of the digital media company Mic, tell CNBC what they had to do to address the concerns of some employees over the company's decision to relocate to One World Trade. Altchek says the building is, "a monument. Being in a place that inspires you every dayreminds you why you do what you do is important." Cramer also sits down with David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker, who says working at Ground Zero every day is a source of pride for his staff. Rebuilding the full World Trade Center site has taken some 14-16 billion dollars in public funds and billions more in private investment. The Oculus, the World Trade Center's recently opened transportation hub, serves a quarter of a million riders every day but critics point to its $4 billion sticker price as a sign of reckless spending. Real estate tycoon Larry Silverstein has built two major towers at the site and has a third under construction. When asked if his investment in the new buildings is worth it, he tells Cramer, "From an economic standpoint, honestly, I don't know." But, he says, from a New Yorker's vantage point, it is "eminently worth it." Standing at 1776 feet, One World Trade Center is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. Built with cutting-edge security features designed to thwart an attack, it may be not only a shield, but a target as well. It is touted as perhaps the safest building in the world, though some counter-terrorism experts say its elaborate fortification, including a strong concrete core, may be a defense against the wrong threat. Former FBI Special Agent Don Borelli tells Cramer today's "lone wolf" terrorists present the biggest current danger and make security concerns at the World Trade Center only more pressing. Borelli says there already have been "lots of credible threats" made on the building. CNBC gets a rare look inside the Operations Command Center at the complex where George Anderson, Director of Security for the World Trade Center, and his team keep watch over every square inch of the 16-acre site. Cramer profiles Lee Ielpi, a retired New York City firefighter, who has been telling strangers his story for years as the co-founder of the 9/11 Tribute Center. Ielpi leads a group of tourists around the memorial pools at the World Trade Center and shows them one section of names etched in bronze belonging to New York Fire Department Squad 288/HazMat 1 from which nineteen men perished, including his own son. Cramer also tells the story of Greg Carafello, who fled from the 18th floor of the original World Trade Center's South Tower on 9/11. For many years, Carafello avoided the site at all costs, having lost his best friend in the attack. In 2015, when looking for office space for a new company, he chose an unlikely location: One World Trade Center. Now Carafello is the only tenant from the old Twin Towers to have moved into the new building. He is so committed to the site that he volunteers as a docent in the 9/11 Memorial Museum. When asked if he regrets his decision, he tells Cramer, "Not at all. I just find it the beginning of a new life for me." For more information including web extras, log on to: cnbc.com/ground-zero-rising. Follow @CNBCPrimeTV and @CNBC on Twitter, and join the conversation using hashtag #GroundZeroRising. CNBC's "Ground Zero Rising: Freedom vs. Fear" will re-air on Sunday, September 11th at 10PM ET. Mitch Weitzner is Senior Executive Producer and Vice President of Long Form Programming. Wally Griffith is Senior Producer. Reid Collins and James Segelstein are Producers and Charlotte Lewis is Associate Producer. Nikhil Deogun is Senior Vice President and Editor in Chief of Business News for CNBC. About CNBC: With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, CNBC World and CNBC HD, CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to approximately 386 million homes worldwide, including more than 100 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries. CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms including: CNBC.com; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides live access to CNBC programming, exclusive video content and global market data and analysis; a suite of CNBC mobile products including the CNBC Apps for iOS, Android and Windows devices; and additional products such as the CNBC App for the Apple Watch and Apple TV. Members of the media can receive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBCUniversal Media Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/programming/cnbc. For more information about NBCUniversal, please visit http://www.NBCUniversal.com. In a release issued Monday, the Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams announced initiatives 75 and 78 "aimed at adding more limitations on oil and natural gas drilling in Colorado failed to make the November ballot because supporters didn't collect enough valid voter signatures." Synergy Resources gained nearly 4 percent on the day, while Bill Barrett Corp. rose more than 4 percent. Also, PDC Energy and Noble Energy climbed 2 percent and about 1.8 percent respectively. Energy stocks with exposure to Colorado's oil and natural gas extraction business are rallying Monday after word two anti-fracking measures failed to qualify for the ballot. "We believe the announcement alleviates a significant uncertainty overhang for E&Ps leveraged to the DJ Basin," said FBR & Co. analyst Benjamin Salisbury. The Denver-Julesburg Basin runs from the northeastern part of Colorado and into several other nearby states. Colorado's Initiative 75 would have given local government the authority to regulate oil-and-gas development, including banning, limiting or imposing moratoriums on such development. It sought to amend the state's constitution and give local officials more power to enact regulations that impact energy development and related companies. Ballot Initiative 78 would have forced mandatory setbacks for oil and gas development in Colorado, including requiring any development or fracking to be located more than 2,500 feet away from both an "occupied structure" or "areas of special concern" such as parks, playgrounds, public open space, lakes or rivers. The Sierra Club, Greenpeace and a group Yes on Health and Safety were among those backing ballot measures 75 and 78. On August 8, backers of the two measures turned in the signatures to qualify for the November ballot. "Despite the countless hours and the thousands of Coloradans who spoke in support of protecting the health and safety of Colorado communities, the movement faced an unprecedented flow of money from the oil and gas opposition that felt the need to spent $15 million to defeat us," Diana Best, Greenpeace USA Climate and Energy Campaigner, based in Denver said in a prepared statement. "We may be disappointed today, but tomorrow we get back to work empowering communities and keeping fossil fuels in the ground. This fight is far from over." The energy industry and big business groups, such as the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, fought against the two measures and raised more than $15 million to defeat them. They considered ballot measures 75 and 78 a threat to the state's energy industry. "Colorado voters recognized that these extreme measure would destroy the state's economy and take away private property rights," said Karen Crummy, communications director for Protecting Colorado's Economy, Environment, and Energy Independence, an energy industry supported issue group. "The voters read the petitions and declined to sign them because they understood the devastating consequences these initiatives would have on all Coloradans." The setback initiative would reduce an estimated 90 percent of the surface areas in the state for future oil and gas development or hydraulic fracturing operations, according to an impact report from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Also, around 85 percent of Weld County an area with around 17,000 oil and gas wells at last count would be unavailable based on their analysis. According to Williams, the petition processing team on his staff identified a petition section for Initiative 78 "that contains several potentially forged signature lines. Although the Secretary of State does not conduct signature verification when reviewing petitions, our office has referred the questionable section to the Attorney General's office for investigation." Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Carlo Allegri | Reuters watch now If Trump were to launch his own media venture, we don't know what form it would take: cable TV, the internet, or something else entirely. But Klein said the internet subscription route in the style of Glenn Beck's Blaze TV, in which a small (by web and cable TV standards) audience pays a monthly fee for behind-paywall video content would be highly successful in that it would eliminate the cable or satellite middleman so viewers could better "connect deeply and directly with their hero." Whether or not an internet video network would be high-profile enough for the attention-hungry Trump is another question. "It's hard to imagine if Trump were to be looking to build a media operation that it would be anything [except] small," said Brian Wieser, a senior analyst of advertising, media and internet at Pivotal Research Group. But to start an actual television station would cost hundreds of millions of dollars at least, which begs the question, "How much money does he really have? How much in liquid assets?" said Wieser. Trump routinely claims to be worth $10 billion, though that figure is highly suspect. Robert Thompson, a professor and director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, predicted a cable network would be unsuccessful for Trump in that it's an enormous, expensive undertaking and it's already a very crowded news environment. And "for many millions of Americans the Trump brand is already tarnished," he said. If he could regularly have a media operation that would have 3 million people watching that would be successful. Robert Thompson Professor and director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University There's a case for applying laws against profiteering to the drug industry, when outrageous price hikes occur in little-changed, life-saving legacy treatments, said a former deputy commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration. The latest fuel for this debate was sparked by the outrage over Mylan increasing the cost of EpiPens by about 400 percent in recent years. Using an analogy, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein told CNBC's "Squawk Box" it's illegal to jack up gasoline prices in hurricanes. He said drug companies are "creating their own hurricanes" and gouging consumers with the relief. Sharfstein said he's not talking about new drugs with lots of research and development costs behind them. He said the problem is with drugs that have been on the market for years with no innovation and little or no competition, which companies exploit to make money. He cited writings by the attorney general of Maryland who said it would not be hard to apply "profiteering laws" to products where there's nothing different but the huge price spike. Mylan's EpiPen has been singled out as the latest example. "We're talking about drugs that have been on the market for many years at very low costs and then they're going up 100- to 200-fold," Sharfstein said. The drugmaker, meanwhile, is taking further steps aimed at making the cost to consumers cheaper. The company said Monday it will launch a generic EpiPen Auto Injector at a discount of more than 50 percent. The list price will be $300 for a two pack. Mylan expects to launch the generic in several weeks. The FDA could take various steps to ease the problem, such as prioritizing a "second competitor" drug over the "19th competitor" of another drug, Sharfstein said. Mylan has seen one EpiPen competitor, Sanofi's Auvi-Q, exit the market last year due to a recall, and Teva 's generic version fail to receive regulatory approval. But the agency's reluctance to approve an EpiPen generic has not been wrong, he said. "The FDA has made a very important point with injectors. If a pharmacist is going to substitute an injector [with a generic] it has to work the same way." He added: "There very little room for error with an injector." Last week, Mylan said it's reducing the cost of branded EpiPens to eligible consumers through the use of a savings card that will cover up to $300 for the EpiPen 2-Pak. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch struggled in a CNBC interview Thursday to justify the repeated big price hikes of the company's lifesaving EpiPen devices as criticism continued that Mylan is gouging consumers with a retail cost of more than $600. Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell: Mylan Mylan said it would launch an EpiPen generic at a 50 percent discount to the branded product's list price. The pharmaceutical firm has been under amid the rapid price increases for the EpiPen. Herbalife Carl Icahn said late Friday he bought 2.3 million shares of Herbalife after Bill Ackman said he was approached indirectly by Icahn to buy the billionaire's stake in Herbalife. Roche Holding The Swiss firm was granted Food and Drug Administration emergency use approval for its Zika test. Charter Communications Guggenheim resumed coverage of Charter's shares with a "buy" rating and a $300 price target, saying the firm's financial growth potential remains underappreciated. "We expect: 1) strong subscriber and revenue growth as the company takes market share, 2) margin improvement as operating efficiencies are realized, and 3) incremental investor interest, particularly if the company is added to the S&P500 index, to be the key share drivers over the next 12 months," Guggenheim said in a note. Sanofi , Regeneron The two firms jointly announced positive Phase 3 results for Praluent, a drug aimed at reducing cholesterol levels. Sanofi and Regeneron said in a statement Praulent reduced LDL cholesterol by about 50 percent during trials. T-Mobile Wells Fargo Securities upgraded the telecom company's stock to "outperform" from "market perform" as free cash flow should see a "significant ramp-up" next year. "This more than any other metric will likely become a key focus for investors as we move into late 2016 and 2017," Wells said. United Technologies United Technologies reiterated its full-year guidance in an 8-K filing released Monday. The firm sees adjusted earnings per share in a range of $6.45 to $6.60 and sales between $57 billion and $58 billion. Square BTIG downgraded the payments firm's stock to "neutral" from "buy" and removed its $12 price target, saying it sees the stock as more "fairly valued" after rising nearly 40 percent since June 27. UnitedHealth , Humana , Aetna A new study found that the pullback of health insurers from the Affordable Care Act marketplaces may create monopolies, according to The Wall Street Journal. KeyCorp Piper Jaffray downgraded KeyCorp's stock to "neutral" from "overweight," citing concerns the firm may not meet Wall Street's earnings estimates for fiscal year 2017 and 2018. "Thus, we would expect the stock to have a difficult time outperforming peers as estimates continue to move lower over the next several months," Piper said. Clearer skies are ahead for American businesses betting on drones. New rules by the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) go into effect Monday, clarifying what is acceptable commercial usage of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones. Commercial drones must weigh less than 55 pounds, fly up to a maximum of 400 feet in altitude, at a speed of no more than 100 miles per hour, and can only be operated during daytime and up to 30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset, according to the FAA rules. Drone operators must also qualify for flying certificates and be at least 16 years old. Previously, drone operators had to apply for special waivers from the FAAa time-consuming and pricey processto use UAVs for business. "The current FAA scheme requires commercial drone operators to spend months waiting for an exemption and to employ a pilot with a manned aircraft license from the FAA. Those high barriers to entry have prevented many companies from exploring the benefits of drones in their industry, and have been a source of frustration for business owners for years," DJI, the world's biggest commercial drone-maker, explained in a June statement. The new rules will allow drones to be put to work in construction, surveying, agriculture, firefighting, search and rescue, conservation, academic research, film and video production and countless other fields that will benefit from an affordable aerial perspective, DJI said in a Friday press release. Operators still need to apply for waivers if they seek to fly drones at night, above 400 feet and in other specific types of operations, the FAA noted. The new rules could generate more than $82 billion for the U.S. economy and create more than 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years, the FAA said, citing industry estimates. In this December 2011 photo, Connie Howe pours coffee for Ronald Read, left, and Dave Smith during the Charlie Slate Memorial Christmas breakfast at the American Legion in Brattleboro, Vt. You don't need to earn a massive paycheck to become a millionaire. As one-time Vermont-based janitor and gas station attendant Ronald Read demonstrated, you can reach the seven-figure mark on a modest salary. Unbeknownst to everyone around him until he died at age 92 in June 2014, Read had quietly amassed an $8 million fortune, thanks to smart spending and investing habits. Even Read's family was "tremendously surprised" upon finding out about his hidden wealth. "He was a hard worker, but I don't think anybody had an idea that he was a multimillionaire," Read's stepson Phillip Brown told the Brattleboro Reformer in 2015. Read came from humble beginnings. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school and served in North Africa, Italy and the Pacific theater during World War II, according to Reuters. After the war, he came home to work at a gas station and as a janitor at JCPenney, and married a woman who had two children. Read maintained a frugal lifestyle, never spending money unless he had to. Friends remember him driving a second-hand Toyota Yaris, using safety pins to hold his coat together and cutting his own firewood well into his 90s. "I'm sure if he earned $50 in a week, he probably invested $40 of it," said friend and neighbor Mark Richards. Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom would not get a fair trial in the "unfair playing ground" of the U.S. where he faces copyright infringement and racketeering charges, his lawyer told CNBC on Monday. German-born Dotcom is currently appealing a ruling by a New Zealand district judge last year that he could be extradited to the U.S. to face charges. The appeal case kicked off Monday and is the latest in a dramatic saga which began when Dotcom's Auckland home was raided by New Zealand police in 2012. Since then, Dotcom and his co-founders Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk, and Finn Batato, have been accused of internet piracy - racketeering, money laundering, copyright infringement and a number of other charges - by U.S. authorities related to Megaupload, a cloud-based file hosting site which was shut down in 2012. Dotcom denies all of the charges. But when his lawyer, Ira Rothken, was asked why Dotcom won't just go and defend himself in the U.S., he replied that the internet entrepreneur would not be treated fairly. "We don't believe that we can actually get a fair trial in the United States," Rothken told CNBC in a TV interview on Monday. "I'm not going to say there is something crooked about the U.S. legal system. But if you take a look at this case, there are a lot of things going on right now where it appears where the United States just want to win rather than do justice," he said, adding that the U.S. is "an unfair playing ground for this type of case". Crude prices could rise to as much at $70 a barrel during the peak summer driving season next year as the oil market swings from a surplus to a significant deficit, said Francisco Blanch, head of global commodities and derivatives research at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In recent weeks traders have been hanging on every word from ministers of petro-states after officials confirmed earlier this month they would speak on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum next month about taking measures to prop up oil prices. Blanch reiterated his view that OPEC is essentially finished as a cartel, as competing agendas among member states leave little room for compromise. But even absent an OPEC deal, Merrill believes demand will outstrip supply by 800,000 barrels per day next year as deep cuts to capital spending bite into production, Blanch told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Monday. He noted the last time markets saw such a large deficit was 2010, when oil prices rose from about $78 a barrel to $95. Meanwhile, car sales and fuel consumption in emerging markets should hold up as low interest rates push more capital into riskier developing nation assets, according to Blanch. At the same time, Merrill believes the Federal Reserve is likely to raise interest rates only gradually, keeping a lid on the dollar and preventing crude from getting too pricey for holders of other currencies. "That's why we think the natural rebalancing mechanism of the market is going to continue throughout the next five or six quarters, so stronger demand and stagnating supply leads to higher price," he said. "We see a pretty robust demand expansion into next year as long as monetary policy remains accommodative," he said. Washington College Source: Washington College Every dollar saved for college reduces the amount you'll need to borrow and at one college, those savings will soon net extra scholarship money. Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, announced Monday a unique program to match families' tuition payments made from a qualifying 529 college savings plan or Educational Savings Account, up to $2,500 per year. The first Saver Scholarships will be awarded during the 2017-18 academic year, based on tuition payments made in 2016-17. "To my knowledge, this is the first program that matches the use of college savings to pay for college," said Mark Kantrowitz, vice president of strategy for Cappex.com, a college and scholarship search site. The Saver Scholarships match is based on tuition payments made the prior academic year, meaning the students could receive the grant starting their sophomore year. To qualify, students must be enrolled at the college full time and be drawing funds from a 529 or ESA account that was established at least three years before their enrollment. "Unfortunately, participation in 529 plans is low," said Washington College President Sheila Bair, former chairwoman of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. "We hope to inspire families to save." Bair said it's not yet clear how many of the private liberal arts college's 1,450 undergraduates will qualify for the new scholarship, or with how much of a match. During the 2014-15 academic year, the average Washington College undergraduate received $22,245 in grant or scholarship aid, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Saver Scholarships isn't the college's only unique program to cut costs. Last year, Bair announced a tuition freeze, with the rate held at $42,844. This spring, she launched Dam the Debt, using donations to provide an average $2,630 grant in graduating seniors' last semester as an intended replacement for federally subsidized student loans. Nearly three-quarters of Americans don't even know what a 529 college savings plan is, according to a May survey from investing firm Edward Jones. About half of families are stashing their college savings in general savings and checking accounts, a 2015 Sallie Mae survey found. While 529 plan balances have grown, the median balance is just $14,005, according to financial firm Strategic Insight not enough to cover even a year of in-state expenses at a public, four-year college. Plus, parents tend to tap into the accounts early to cover other bills. It's too early to say whether Washington College's match will become trendy, Kantrowitz said. "I don't know that other colleges would necessarily copycat this," he said. Other options Two strong earthquakes hit one of Iceland's largest volcanoes on Monday morning, and scientists are monitoring for an eruption, which would be its first in 98 years. A 2010 eruption at another Icelandic volcano produced a giant ash cloud that shut down much of Europe's airspace. Airlines canceled 17,000 flights, and lost millions of dollars. The Katla volcano shook in two separate events on Monday, measuring magnitudes 4.6 and 4.5, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. There are no indications of an eruption, but Icelandic scientists are watching the volcano, according to Icelandic news organization Iceland Review. Although Katla has not erupted since 1918, the Icelandic Meteorological Office considers it one of the country's most active volcanoes. The Catalogue of Icelandic Volcanoes says Katla has erupted 21 times in the last 1,100 years, and 18 have broken through the massive ice cap that sits in the volcano's central crater. Small earthquakes at the volcano are common, especially in summer, the meteorologic office said. The office released a report in July saying 100 shallow earthquakes had already happened this past summer, four times the monthly average. "In recent weeks, it seemed that the summertime unrest was abating," the office said in a statement sent to CNBC, "however today's seismicity marks a further escalation that stands out in comparison with seismic activity in the area in recent decades." These two earthquakes are the strongest tremors to hit the volcano since the late 1970s, the Iceland Review noted. Katla is 90 miles east of the capital, Reykjavik. The country's most active volcano, Grimsvoetn, erupted in 2011. When it comes to running a business, you have to know your numbers, says Marcus Lemonis, star of CNBC's "The Profit." The serial entrepreneur, who puts his own cash into struggling businesses and tries to turn them around, would know. At this point, he's invested about $35 million in companies featured on the show. Regardless of the size of your company, every business owner needs to know three numbers, Lemonis says: 1. Your annual sales revenue, "based on a trailing 12 months, not the calendar." 2. Your gross profit margins. 3. And your expenses as a percentage of your gross profit "not a percentage of your sales. You pay your bills with gross profit not with revenue." Gareth Leonard was not fulfilled with his office job and knew he never would be. At 25, he walked away from his comfortable, $50,000-a-year marketing job at a company he helped create and bought a one-way ticket to Buenos Aires, Argentina. "I wanted to do something more with my life," he said. "There was a deep unhappiness. I wasn't excited every day, doing what I love, living a life filled with passion." He hasn't stopped traveling since. Seven years later, at 32, Leonard makes a living through his travel blog, Tourist2Townie. He not only created the job of his dreams; he's making more money now than he was as a marketing director. When he first moved to Argentina, Leonard took a job as a bartender to make some cash. The plan was to stay there a year, learn Spanish and share stories with family back home through his website. After 12 months abroad, Leonard had hoped to find his next business idea. Little did he know he had already started building one. Two United Airlines pilots were arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol in Scotland on Saturday as they were about to fly to the United States, police and the airline said. Police Scotland said the two men, aged 35 and 45 years, were detained under a section of the Railways and Transport Safety Act which covers carrying out pilot function or activity whilst exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol. The men are expected to appear in court in Paisley, near Glasgow, on Monday. The flight from Glasgow to Newark Airport, New Jersey, carrying 141 passengers, eventually took off nearly 10 hours late on Saturday evening with a new crew, the airline said. United said two pilots had been removed from service and their flying duties. "We're collaborating with the authorities and will conduct our own investigation," said spokeswoman Erin Benson. "The safety of our customers is our highest priority." The pilots were arrested in the cockpit shortly before the 0800 GMT flight to the New Jersey airport was due to depart, the BBC reported. U.S. protectionism is being blamed by French and German government ministers for important free trade talks between the U.S. and the European Union teetering on the brink of collapse. "Those who are protectionist are Americans, Europe is very open," Matthias Fekl, France's Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Tourism and French Nationals Abroad, told CNBC on Monday. France is prepared to walk away from the negotiations for the high-profile Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) if no progress is made, he added. Fekl's comments come after Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's Vice-Chancellor, said over the weekend that TTIP has failed, but "nobody is really admitting it". Gabriel is likely to be campaigning against pro-TTIP Chancellor Angela Merkel next year. Later on Monday, a spokesperson for the European Commission insisted the "ball is still rolling" on the deal. watch now Leonardo DiCaprio's 2006 movie "Blood Diamond" shed light on the sometimes dubious origins of luxury goods. The movie highlighted increasing concern about human rights violations in the supply chain and the diamond industry has been put under pressure to eliminate minerals of unknown or dubious sources. Now, attention is shifting to metals and other commodities that are mined using child or slave labor, or in dangerous conditions. Apple under fire Cobalt is an insignificant-looking grey metal that risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft says may be the next so-called conflict mineral. It is used to make the rechargeable batteries found in cell phones, laptops, electric vehicles, aircraft and power tools. The metal is predominately mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where critics say children as young as seven-years-old labor in horrendous conditions. A mine worker displays a handful of cobalt metal nuggets in Chingola, Zambia. Waldo Swiegers | Bloomberg | Getty Images "The glamorous shop displays and marketing of state-of -the art technologies are a stark contrast to the children carrying bags of rocks and miners in narrow manmade tunnels risking permanent lung damage," Mark Dummett, a researcher at human rights charity Amnesty International, said in a report on cobalt mining in the DRC in January. The term "conflict mineral" carries a lot of legal ramifications. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules mean public companies must track the source of commodities designated conflict minerals in their supply chains in an effort to combat the financing of militia in countries like the commodities-rich DRC. At present there are only four legally designated conflict minerals tantalum, tin, gold , and tungsten of which the first three are commonly mined in the DRC. Some analysts and human rights bodies say cobalt should be added to the list of minerals for which companies have to conduct heightened supply chain scrutiny. These calls increased after Amnesty International's report, which alleged that a subsidiary of Chinese mineral giant Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt bought cobalt from mines in the DRC where child labor was rife. Amnesty said Huayou Cobalt sold the processed metal onto battery component manufacturers in China and South Korea, who claimed to supply 16 multinational consumer brands, including Apple . Customers shop at an Apple store in New York City. Getty Images Complex supply chains spanning several continents present challenges for companies who are required to n determine where every commodity and component in their products come from. In response to Amnesty's report, Apple said it was evaluating if the cobalt in its products came from the DRC and if so, whether it was via Huayou Cobalt. The U.S. company added that it did not tolerate underage labor and that when it had conducted an audit in 2014, 16 underage workers were discovered out of a workforce of 1.6 million. These cases were "successfully addressed," Apple said. Huayou Cobalt said it was unaware that any of its "legitimate suppliers" employed children at their mining sites or operated in unsafe conditions. Slavery A child breaks rocks extracted from a cobalt mine in Lubumbashi, DRC on May 23, 2016. Junior Kannah | AFP | Getty Images Verisk Maplecroft has warned that workers of all ages in the DRC are at "extreme of risk" of exposure to forced labor or trafficking. The consultancy said this type of modern-day slavery was common across many poorer countries not just in Africa and that the goods and components produced might find their way on to shop shelves in Europe and the U.S. "Companies are heavily reliant on goods and raw materials from India and China. However, sourcing from these countries can come with a substantial risk of association with forced labor," Verisk Maplecroft said in a report. "The risk is endemic in India's agricultural sector and is prevalent in parts of its garment sector. The exploitation of children in the mining of minerals is also common. Forced labor, including the exploitation of young apprentices, occurs across multiple sectors in China, including electronics production, mining and agriculture," it added. A child walks past a truck carrying rocks from a mine in Lubumbashi, DRC on May 23, 2016. Junior Kannah | AFP | Getty Images Making sure Bonhams offerings include this 1853 Coronet gold dollar with a significant piece of the coin missing, the result, according to the auction firm, of a faulty, cracked planchet. The 1796 Draped Bust, Small Eagle Overton 101 variety has 15 Stars on the obverse. The 1879 Flowing Hair $4 gold Stella was proposed by Congressman John Kasson as an international metric coin. The Panama-Pacific Exposition coins struck at the San Francisco Mint in 1915 included two $50 gold coins, one round (illustrated) and one octagonal. The five Panama-Pacific Exposition coins are shown housed in their original velvet-lined , leather presentation case before the coins were graded and encapsulated by Professional Coin Grading Service. A five-coin set of 1915-S Panama-Pacific International Exposition gold and silver commemorative coins accompanied by its original leather presentation case as issued highlights Bonhams 129-lot auction Sept. 6 in Los Angeles. Among other lots offered are a 1796 Draped Bust, Small Eagle, 15 Stars half dollar; 1879 Flowing Hair gold $4 Stella pattern; a bronze plaquette depicting sculptor August Saint-Gaudens; and an 1853 Coronet gold dollar with a significant piece of the planchet missing. A buyers fee of 17 percent will be added to the final closing hammer price of each lot won. Connect with Coin World: The sale begins at 10: a.m. PT at the Bonhams Los Angeles gallery, 7601 W. Sunset Blvd. Pan-Pac set with case The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was staged in San Francisco in 1915 to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal. As part of that celebration, the U.S. Mint struck gold and silver commemorative coins that were issued house in velvet-lined leather presentation cases or in copper frames. Over the years, some of the coins have been separated from their cases or frames, many of which have been lost or destroyed. The set offered by Bonhams is accompanied by what auction house says is its original leather case. All five coins in the set are graded and encapsulated by PCGS. The set contains: PCGS Mint State 63 1915-S silver half dollar PCGS MS-65 1915-S gold dollar PCGS MS-65 1915-S gold $2.50 coin PCGS MS-62 1915-S octagonal gold $50 coin PCGS MS-62 1915-S round gold $50 coin The Pan-Pac set carries an estimate of $110,000 to $130,000. 1796 Draped Bust half dollar The 1796 Draped Bust, Small Eagle, 15 Stars half dollar is the Overton 101 variety as attributed in United States Early Half Dollar Die Varieties 1794-1836 by Donald L. Parsley, based on the original work of Al C. Overton. The coin, graded by Professional Coin Grading Service as Genuine, Repaired, VF Details, has a Rarity 5 rating for the variety, meaning 31 to 80 examples are believed to be extant. The coin carries an estimate of $40,000 to $50,000. 1879 Flowing Hair $4 Stella The auctions 1879 Flowing Hair Stella gold $4 pattern is graded PCGS Genuine, Repaired, EF Details. Offered as part of the William Whitfield Webb Family Coin Collection, the gold pattern carries an estimate of $50,000 to $60,000. The Stella is attributed as Judd 1635 in United States Pattern Coins by J. Hewitt Judd, edited by Q. David Bowers. The pattern is the work of U.S. Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber. The gold $4 piece was proposed by Rep. John A. Kasson as an international metric coin meant to be a new base unit for gold coins. Saint-Gaudens medal The bronze plaquette measuring 63.1 millimeters by 45.9 millimeters is the work of sculptor John Flanagan, who is renowned as the designer of the Washington quarter dollar, first introduced in 1932. Flanagan was a studio assistant to Saint-Gaudens from 1885 to 1890, working with him on several large projects. A bronze portrait bust of Saint-Gaudens by Flanagan of 1924 exists in several copies in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, New York University and elsewhere. The rendition offered in Uncirculated condition in the Bonhams sale was issued at the Medallic Art Companys Sculptors Dinner in 1937. The plaquette carries an estimate of $400 to $500. 1853 Coronet dollar The 1853 Coronet dollar is certified as PCGS Genuine, Damage, VF Details. A large portion of the struck coin is missing, probably the result of, according to the auction lot description, a faulty, cracked planchet. The coin carries an estimate of $80 to $100. A gold stater of famed Greek ruler Alexander III, the Great, highlights the Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins and Collectibles Sept. 6 and 7 auction in California. No ruler of ancient Greece may be as well known and widely discussed as Alexander III, Alexander the Great. The Macedonian ruler destroyed the Persian Empire and his conquests helped spread Hellenistic culture across a hefty portion of the globe. His coins are an exciting relic of the famous ruler and his imprint on history. A Nearly Mint State gold stater of Amphipholis, issued circa 330 to 320 B.C. by the ruler, is offered in Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles Pre-Long Beach auction Sept. 6 and 7. Connect with Coin World: Greek-speaking people settled all over the Mediterranean, establishing cities from Spain to the Black Sea in southern Russia. Alexander became ruler of Macedonia in 336 B.C. when his father Philip II was murdered (ancient Macedonia was situated in the northeastern area of modern day Greece). Though only 20 years old, the new ruler fought for and victoriously claimed the land in Asia Minor that is now modern-day Turkey (though they were under rule of the Persian Empire, Greek-speaking people dwelled in many of the coastal cities of Asia Minor). Alexander was highly successful, reclaiming land all the way to the borders of India, defeating every combatant for 13 years. He died in 323 B.C. at the age of 33 years old, while headed home through Babylon. Many of the rulers coins feature Alexander the Great himself, but the gold stater in the Goldberg auction features the head of Athena, wearing a crested Corinthian helmet, the bowl of which is adorned with serpent coiled to right. The reverse of the coin shows the goddess Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, with a thunderbolt. The coin weighs 8.57 grams, or slightly more than the weight of a Presidential dollar (which weighs 8.1 grams). The gold stater is cataloged as Price 164 in The Coinage of in the Name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus by Martin Jessop-Price. The coin has an estimate of $5,000 to $7,500 U.S. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. 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 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. Best of Business 2022: Learn Who Won Our 15th Annual Reader Poll Local professionals chose their favorite business and professional services, products, healthcare, dining and more. Find out who their top picks are. By Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal A former Millington reserve police officer was sentenced Monday to 26 years in prison for sexually exploiting girls. Rickie Friar, 67, pleaded guilty in May to four charges in a 12-count indictment. Grand jurors charged him with crimes against six girls. "For Mr. Friar, that is essentially a life sentence," Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Ireland said of Monday's sentence. Friar pleaded guilty to transporting a child under 18 years old in July 2015 between Tennessee and Oklahoma with the intent for her to engage in sexual activity. In July 2013, he coerced her to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography, according to his indictment. Friar also pleaded guilty to coercing a girl under 12 years old and another girl under 18 years to engage in sexual conduct for child pornography. Ireland described how parents and guardians entrusted children to Friar because he was a police officer and appeared to be an upstanding community member. Friar's conduct "went on for a long period of time," she said. "It involved many children." She said his position in the community facilitated his conduct and "perhaps delayed suspicion for longer than should have been delayed." Friar, in a red jail shirt, gray pants, long white beard and glasses, stood up in court Monday and quietly told U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. that he is ashamed and embarrassed. Friar said he takes full responsibility. "It was no one's fault but my own," he said. His attorneys wrote in a report that Friar was abused as a child and placed in foster care twice. It said that an older male neighbor molested him when he was approximately 4. He was molested by a female daily when he was 9 years old, and sexually abused by another female when he was between 10 and 14 years old, according to the report. His mother attempted to run over his father with a car when Friar was approximately 4 and again when he was 7 years old, the report states. She later shot his father when Friar was a teenager, wrote attorneys James Thomas and Ronald Krelstein. "Mr. Friar advises that he was mentally and sexually abused in his formative years, which no doubt had an impact on his behavior in this case," the lawyers wrote. Friar befriended the father of one victim, her mother testified Monday. Friar invited her daughter and other children to be guests at a YMCA. The girl said he touched her and photographed her. The girl, now 11, expressed fear of reporting what happened, telling her mother, "I was afraid because he was a police officer that if I told you or my dad that he would do something to one of us," the mother testified. SHARE By Associated Press LEXINGTON, Miss. More than 300 people came to a small church Sunday night to say farewell to two nuns killed in their Mississippi home. About 145 people filled St. Thomas Church in Lexington, where Sisters Paula Merrill and Margaret Held used to lead Bible study. Others filled 160 chairs outside the church, where a monitor showed the Sunday night service, and still more stood alongside the seats to watch. Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Jackson Diocese led the service called a vigil for the deceased. The church's priest, Rev. Gregory Plata, spoke about the far-reaching nature of the nuns' work, and how much the pair will be missed. Both women were 68 years old. They worked in a clinic in Lexington, about 10 miles from their home in Durant and some 150 miles south of Memphis. The final hymn Sunday night, described as Sister Margaret's favorite, was "How Can I Keep from Singing?" In the hours before the wake, a few members of the two nuns' orders gathered at the house where they lived and died. Along with some members of Sister Paula's family, they prayed outside the house, then went inside. Sister Susan Gatz, president of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, said Sister Margaret had baked bread for a prayer service that had been scheduled Thursday, the day her body and that of Sister Paula were found. She said the loaf was split between The School Sisters of St. Francis, to which Sister Margaret belonged, and Sister Paula's order, the Sisters of Charity. She said it will be eaten as part of a celebration of the two women's lives and work. The nuns' bodies were found Thursday inside their Mississippi home. Rev. Greg Plata has said that police told him they were stabbed to death. A suspect, Rodney Earl Sanders, was arrested late Friday. Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said Sanders confessed to the killings during questioning. No motive has been revealed. A spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections said Sanders was out on probation after being convicted last year of felony DUI. Grace Simmons Fisher said Sanders was also convicted of armed robbery back in the 1980s. Traffic on Tenn. 385 passes over a closed interchange for the new Interstate 269 east of Collierville. The section, between Collierville and Byhalia, was the first section of I-269 to open in Mississippi. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal) SHARE By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal The Mississippi Department of Transportation issued an entirely routine update last week that was nonetheless big news for North Mississippi. Among projects of area interest mentioned was one that will almost certainly be a game-changer, the Interstate 269 loop through Marshall and DeSoto counties. According to MDOT, the project is on track for its expected fall 2018 completion. All dirt and bridge work is completed, MDOT said, and one of two paving projects is in progress. The second one will go out to bidding in September. "MDOT expects (the) interstate to be ready for traffic in the fall of 2018," the update stated simply before moving on to other projects. Given that large projects I-269 is the largest MDOT has in progress often fall behind, it's welcomed news that this one appears to be on track. Completion, after all, can come none too soon for a project that observers say will alter the landscape of the areas it passes through. The added traffic will no doubt create some headaches, but the economic potential is too great to ignore. "This is more than just a bypass around Memphis," Northern District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert said in one media account discussing the project's importance. "The construction of I-269 will transform the region." The bypass, which will form a loop from Interstate 55/69 near Hernando through Marshall County to Tenn. 385 near Collierville, will connect I-55 with I-40. It will be part of the eventual I-69 route between Canada and Mexico. "The fact that all these interstates connect in DeSoto County is huge," DeSoto Supervisor Mark Gardner said in the same account as Tagert. With such potential at stake, every update that shows the project remains on track has to be welcomed news for those who follow such things. And here's a little video tour of I-269, as well as some other Mississippi highway history, courtesy of MDOT: DISCIPLINARY UPDATE In case you missed it, DeSoto parents and their Washington attorneys who lodged a civil-rights complaint against DeSoto County Schools over disciplinary issues discussed the case last week on a Suburban Voices podcast. DeSoto resident James Mathis and attorney Jadine Johnson of the Washington-based Advancement Project said the complaint remains under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, and they hope to have an answer within the next few months. The school system has said it believes its policies provide a safe learning environment and are applied fairly. Here's the podcast: TAX HOLIDAY Mississippi held its third sales tax holiday on guns and ammunition this past weekend, sparking renewed interest in the question of whether tax holidays in general are a good move for states. Aside from questions some may have about whether it's wise to provide added incentive to buy firearms, tax reform advocates say such tax-free deals are just gimmicks, anyway regardless of what the product is. In addition to its special weekend for guns, ammunition, archery equipment and other hunting supplies, Mississippi, like many states, offers a separate tax-free weekend on clothing and certain other items just before the school year. But the independent Tax Foundation, a tax policy reform organization, says the holidays don't really promote economic growth. In fact, they say the events just distract lawmakers from permanent tax reform and favor certain items to which policymakers choose to give a break. In Mississippi and some other states, manufacturers of weapons are among the favored few. We touched on the Tax Foundation's concerns in a story on Mississippi's Second Amendment tax holiday, but click here for the full report on tax holidays. A QUESTION OF JUSTICE Access to legal representation in criminal cases is a cornerstone of our legal system. It's part of the rights read to every defendant at the time of arrest if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. But what about civil cases? Are the poor just as entitled to legal counsel when criminal charges aren't involved? That was the question raised at the Access to Justice Summit in Jackson. Justice Jess Dickinson, presiding justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, challenged justice advocates to push for the right to counsel in the civil arena. "The question we have to face is, what do you really believe in your heart about the constitutional right to counsel in civil cases," Dickinson told about 50 people gathered to observe the 10th anniversary of the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission. "When poor people do not stand equal to the rich in our courts, when poor people by the millions go unrepresented in court and their property and their liberty is taken away from them," Dickinson said, "we have not established justice." The state Supreme Court established the justice commission in 2006 to develop a strategy for improving access to civil courts for the poor. Conservative commentator David French speaks on a panel about 2016 and the future of evangelical politics. The panel took place Saturday in Nashville at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission's post conference. (Holly Meyer/USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee) SHARE By Holly Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee Donald Trump's and Hillary Clintons successful bids for their partys presidential nominations have shown that conservative Christians can no longer afford to be the cheapest date in American politics if they want to protect religious liberty, says conservative commentator David French. The National Review staff writer, who almost joined the 2016 presidential race as the anti-Trump candidate, called this years election cycle a "colossal, miserable, disgusting failure before explaining to attendees at a Southern Baptist conference how the religious right can improve the political culture it helped shatter. Its bad, but in American history its been worse, French said. In American history when it's been a lot do you know who has helped bring America back? ... Its been courageous men and women empowered by the spirit of the living God thats what brings us back. It's not politics. While the Columbia resident dissected how the election wound up in such a gloomy state, he also laid out a path for social conservatives Saturday at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commissions post conference in Nashville. The morning event delved into the presidential election, religious liberty and the future of the church. We cannot tie ourselves to one political party, French said. He recounted the despair he felt when people would say it was his moral obligation to support Trump a man French described as someone who mocks the disabled and stokes racial division because Trump may appoint U.S. Supreme Court justices who are sympathetic to social conservative values. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen in my entire life, French said. Thats what happens when you hitch your wagon completely to one side. Whatever scraps they will give you will be better than the nothingness that you get from the other side. But it goes beyond political parties. Social conservatives can stop feeding the rage that has fueled the election, quit deferring the fight for religious liberty to politicians and lawyers and not let Fox News set the priorities, French said. They also need to figure out how to tell their own story to the broader culture instead of just talking to one another, he said. The morning sessions at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center followed the two-day ERLC National Conference for the Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm. Many of the evangelical Christian leaders who shared the stage with French on Saturday looked to the future, talking about the role of Christian voters and what happens after Election Day. Erik Stanley, senior counsel at the religious liberty-focused law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, said too much weight is sometimes given to the presidential race, and urged voters to pay attention to down-ballot issues and candidates. He pointed out that some of the judges who will decide the religious freedom cases he works on are up for re-election this year. "I think we've got to keep all of these issues in mind and also understand that our election and our responsibility as citizens goes to more than just the president," Stanley said. "We have to make the right choices for people who will protect religious liberty and life and marriage." SHARE Teens who drive drunk account for a significant percentage of the nation's traffic fatalities. It is a situation that both the federal government and the states, including Tennessee, are trying mitigate. Right now, however, the federal government and Tennessee are at odds over what the blood alcohol content should be for a person 18-20 years old to be presumed driving while intoxicated. The disagreement could cost Tennessee $60 million in federal highway funds. Both, so far, are standing pat in their positions. We urge both sides to find a compromise that works to reduce a serious problem while not costing Tennessee precious federal highway dollars. That is important because the legislature this year enacted tougher laws and penalties for young DUI offenders. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration informed the state last week it could lose the highway money because of a new state DUI law, which took effect July 1, that changed the impaired-driver threshold from a blood alcohol content of 0.02 to one of 0.08 for drivers between 18 and 20. The change means the state is no longer in compliance with the federal zero tolerance law requiring states to set 0.02 as the blood alcohol level allowed for drivers under age 21. As a result, federal transportation officials say they must withhold 8 percent of federal highway funding from the state. If the state is not in compliance by Oct. 1, it will forfeit $60 million in highway funding. Tennessee argues it can enforce the 0.08 standard because another state law makes it illegal for anyone under age 21 to possess or consume any alcoholic beverage. Both sides want to reduce a serious problem. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2013, the CDC reported, 2,163 teens in the United States ages 16 to 19 were killed and 243,243 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes. That means that six teens ages 16-19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries. Among male drivers between 15 and 20 years old who were involved in fatal crashes in 2012, 35 percent were speeding at the time of the crash and 25 percent had been drinking. The CDC also said that in 2013, 17 percent of drivers age 16 to 20 involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of .08 percent or higher. And, in a national survey conducted in 2013, 22 percent of teens reported that within the previous month they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. Among students who drove, 10 percent reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period. Those statistics shine a spotlight on the magnitude of the problem caused by teens and young adults who drink and drive. It is an issue that snuffs out promising young lives while placing other motorists in mortal jeopardy. All 11 members of Tennessee's congressional delegation have signed a letter asking U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to help the state keep the $60 million in highway funds. We hope the secretary seriously considers their request because, as the letter states "Tennessee and the federal government have the same objective of penalizing impaired driving." SHARE By Catherine Rampell Every four years, presidential candidates pledge to destroy the evil federal bureaucracy wreaking havoc on our small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Abolish the Environmental Protection Agency! Level the Labor Department! Eliminate Education, kill Commerce and eradicate Energy! It's true that the Obama administration has greatly expanded federal rulemaking. But if you talk with entrepreneurs, you'll learn that with the major exception of our criminally convoluted tax system the most burdensome barriers to their efforts often don't originate with the feds. They are, instead, constructed at the state and local levels. Think about it. States and municipalities handle most occupational licensing, now required for a quarter of U.S. workers. Depending on the state, a person may need to attend months of expensive training and fork over hundreds of dollars in fees to work as a hair-braider, auctioneer, florist or interior decorator, allegedly to safeguard public health. One study found that the average occupational license requires $209 in fees, one exam, and about nine months of education and training. States and municipalities also regulate business licensing, registration, permitting and hiring. Those trying to start new businesses may have to register with five agencies to legally hire an employee. Even before that, they may need to visit a dozen different state, county and town websites of varying levels of functionality to open their doors. Startup founders will encounter state, county and city red tape when they deal with zoning laws, or various insurance requirements (although for health insurance, of course, the feds have set many of the ground rules). They may have to navigate complex state and local systems to figure out how big their sign can be and where it can be placed. Some costly startup requirements are even more peculiar. In New York, for example, new LLCs have to publish notices about their existence in both a daily and a weekly newspaper for six consecutive weeks, in publications officially designated by the county clerk. That may be a nice boon for struggling local newspapers, but it can add thousands of dollars to the cost of launching an enterprise. No wonder the World Bank ranks the United States 49th in ease of starting a business. All these requirements, mind you, apply to companies that launch and operate in a single jurisdiction. Heaven forbid they want to do business in multiple counties or states, which will have different and sometimes contradictory licensing and permitting requirements, or sales tax systems using different taxonomies for goods and services. In other words: The feds may be a convenient punching bag, especially for politicians running for federal office, but it's more often the state and local bureaucrats who will get all up in your business if you're starting a business. All of which is to say that I'm delighted Hillary Clinton is interested in encouraging states and cities to reduce the regulatory burdens on small businesses and startups. Among a set of policies released last week, Clinton proposed offering federal funds to states and localities that are "willing to make starting a business cheaper and easier and meaningfully streamline unnecessary licensing programs." The funding could be used in part to offset states' lost licensing revenue, which currently totals billions of dollars. She also promises to work with states to standardize licensing requirements, so credentials can be transferred from one place to another, and to provide technical assistance to help states determine which regulations actually serve the public good. Admittedly, it's hard to tell whether these ideas would change much. The Obama administration's splashy "Startup in a Day" initiative, in which nearly 100 cities signed a pledge to, within a year, create a way for entrepreneurs to launch a business in a single day, seems to have fizzled. More than a year later, a Small Business Administration spokesman said that not a single city had made good on this pledge. Powerful industry groups and other organizations also have a vested interest in preserving barriers to entry, which is one reason so few occupations ever get de-licensed. Finally, establishing consistent principles about which regulations protect public safety, and which merely protect turf, is challenging. Probably it's a good thing for doctors to be licensed, for restaurants to have sanitation requirements and for commercial drivers to have liability insurance. Your mileage may vary. But still, I'm glad to see more non-national "job-killing regulations" getting some national airtime. This red tape keeps too many entrepreneurs in the red and on the sidelines. Catherine Rampell's email address is crampell@washpost.com. SHARE By David Ignatius SYDNEY 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. Most amazing, 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. David Ignatius' email address is davidignatius@washpost.com. SHARE By Whit Ayres 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. Whit Ayres is president of North Star Opinion Research, a GOP polling firm in Alexandria, Virginia, and 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. He wrote this for the Washington Post. After taking heat earlier this year over allegations of political bias, Facebook announced that it's replacing fallible humans with new algorithms to select items for its "Trending" topics feature. The social network said in a blog post on Friday that it will automate the feature rather than have people write the details for Trending Topics. Algorithms will pick the topics that show up in the feature, which introduces users to the most talked-about and relevant topics on the site. Rather than seeing a description, users will see a word or two about the topic and "the number of people talking about that particular topic," Facebook said. "Our goal is to enable Trending for as many people as possible, which would be hard to do if we relied solely on summarizing topics by hand," the company wrote. "A more algorithmically driven process allows us to scale Trending to cover more topics and make it available to more people globally over time. This is something we always hoped to do but we are making these changes sooner given the feedback we got from the Facebook community earlier this year." The new algorithms got off to a bad start, though. On Monday, a phony story saying that Fox News personality Megyn Kelly had been fired from the network was listed under Facebook's Trending topics. The story, which is inaccurate, was removed but not until it had created a stir, as much for Facebook's error as for the fake story itself. In May, Facebook found itself in the middle of a firestorm following allegations that the company routinely suppressed politically conservative news stories in its Trending feature. Even if posts about conservatives like former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and House Speaker Paul Ryan had received enough hits to make the list, those posts were pushed aside in lieu of stories that hadn't drawn as much attention. The issue gained enough attention that U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, sent an open letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, asking him to respond to questions about the allegations. While Facebook said its own investigation found no merit to the allegations, the company offered its employees a class on political bias. Facebook may now hope to put the issue to rest for good, especially in this contentious political season. "Earlier this year, we shared more information about Trending in response to questions about alleged political bias in the product," the company said. "We looked into these claims and found no evidence of systematic bias. Still, making these changes to the product allows our team to make fewer individual decisions about topics. Facebook is a platform for all ideas, 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." Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with ZK Research, said this is a smart move for Facebook, which needs to eliminate any hint of bias in its posts. "If you take the human element out, you remove all human bias," he told Computerworld. "It's very hard for most people to be completely neutral. Even if one thought they were neutral, they're likely to slant things the way of their beliefs. We're humans, not machines." Kerravala said the allegations don't seem to have hurt Facebook, but the company is trying to move ahead of the accusations, especially in this election season. "There seems to be more emotion in this political season than in years past," Kerravala added. "Haters of one party or the other could drop the platform if they viewed it to be too biased." Security researchers have found a sophisticated malware program that may have been used recently by a gang of hackers to steal more than US$350,000 from ATMs in Thailand. A sample of the new malware, dubbed Ripper, was uploaded to the VirusTotal database from an Internet Protocol address in Thailand last week, shortly before local media reported that hackers used malware to steal 12.29 million Baht from 21 ATMs in the country. The incident forced the state-owned Government Savings Bank to temporarily shut down all of its ATMs made by one vendor so they could be checked for malware, the Bangkok Post reported last week. Aside from the Ripper sample coming from Thailand, other indicators suggest this program was the one used to pull off the recent ATM heist in the country, security researchers from FireEye said in a blog post Friday. Based on their analysis, Ripper targets the same ATM brand as the one affected in Thailand, as well as two others. It can disable the ATM's local network interface, which according to some public sources, happened during the recent incident. The sample was also compiled on July 10, around a month before the attack was disclosed publicly. Once installed on an ATM, Ripper waits for attackers to insert a card with a specially programmed chip. This mechanism, used for authentication, has been used by other ATM malware in the past. Once authenticated, the attacker can issue commands to dispense up to 40 banknotes from the ATM's cash cassettes. Ripper also has other features seen in past ATM malware programs, including Padpin (Tyupkin), SUCEFUL and GreenDispenser. For example, it features a secure delete option that can be used to destroy forensic evidence, the FireEye researchers said. ATM malware can be deployed in several ways. One is by insiders who work as technicians and service ATMs. Another is through the CD-ROM or USB ports of the ATMs that are available after opening their covers with special service keys, which can be bought online. This second method can only be used to target ATMs that sit outside, in unsecured places, which seems to have been the case in Thailand. Theresa May has given an interview, which is not usually her way, but if the Windsor, Maidenhead and Ascot magazine asks one doesnt refuse (not if one is MP for Maidenhead, at any rate). The answers vary from what look like the carefully-considered to the intriguingly spontaneous. The historical figure with which the Prime Minister most identifies is Elizabeth I, she is a Vicars daughter and still a practising member of the Church of England, dislikes her nose, would die for freedom, likes Pride and Prejudice, and the happiest day of her life was her wedding day. Her motto would be Dont let the bastards get you down and if I read experience of some of her senior Coalition colleagues into it that is doubtless a misinterpretation. Asked if she has ever said I love you without meaning it, she replies that thats a question no woman should answer. As coincidence would have it, this site quoted Elizabeth I when May became Conservative leader (in effect) though we had in mind the formers response when told that Queen Mary was dead and that she would succeed her, not her better-known words to her troops when England was threatened by the Spanish Armada. Cabinet meets at Chequers this week, the Commons returns next, there is a new Government to forward and Brexit to sort. We will return to all these later this week. But this Bank Holiday Monday seems not a bad moment to link to another interview with May the one that Mark Fox and I conducted for this site five years ago when she had been Home Secretary for less than a year. She was asked five Quick Quiz Questions, and we reproduce the exchanges without further comment Books: Burkes Reflections on the Revolution in France or Louise Bagshawes Desire? Home Secretary: I wouldnt read either of them, sorry. Music. Vaughan Williamss The Lark Ascending or Madonnas True Blue? Home Secretary: Its probably Vaughan Williams actually, yes. TV: The BBCs Upstairs, Downstairs or Lizzie Cundys WAGs World?. Home Secretary: I have not watched WAGs World, I have not watched the BBCs Upstairs, Downstairs, either. It would be Downton Abbey, I think. Night out: The Carlton Club or Stringfellows? Home Secretary: Oh come on! Ive got, Ive got laughter objections to Stringfellows as the Minister for Women and Equalities, and Im afraid the Carlton Club, hmm. My night out would be with my husband, wherever he chose to take me. Night in: Tiger-skin pumps or furry mule slippers? Home Secretary: Tiger-skin pumps. A mother and adult son charged with incest in New Mexico are going public with their relationship, saying they are willing to go to jail to fight for the right to be together. The mother, Monica Mares, 36, and her son, Caleb Peterson, 19, met again last year after nearly 18 years apart. Another family adopted Peterson soon after Mares gave birth to him. Their relationship soon turned romantic, according to the couple, and Peterson started living with Mares and her two youngest children, ages 5 and 6, in Clovis, New Mexico. Police learned of the relationship during a domestic dispute involving a neighbor in late February, according to reporting by the Clovis News Journal. Peterson admitted to having sexual relations with Mares. Mares and Peterson appeared in court March 10 to face charges of incest, a felony. Last week the court moved the trial date from late August to Oct. 26. If convicted, they could each face up to three years in prison and a $3,000 fine. The case garnered a wider audience after an exclusive in-depth interview with Britains Daily Mail earlier this month. Mares and Peterson said they hoped to raise awareness for Genetic Sexual Attraction, sexual attraction between close relatives who first meet as adults. Honestly, I never thought we would get into trouble for our relationship. We were both consenting adultswhen it comes down to it, Peterson said in the Daily Mail interview. Shes adult; Im adult. I can make my own decisions. I never thought it would blow up into something like this. A support and advocacy website for related couples is raising money for their legal fees. The site supports what it calls consanguinamorous relationships and is pushing for FULL marriage equality for ALL consenting adults. A woman who calls herself Cristina Shy runs the site. It needs to be brought to the attention of everybody in the country, and people need to start thinking differently, Shy told the Daily Mail. It was the same with gay people just a few years ago and now they can get married and they are accepted. Well, why not consanguinamorous people like us? We are all adults. That is not a far leap at all, said Travis Weber, an attorney with the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. I think that the framing of this case and the advocacy on their behalf is made much easier by the Supreme Courts decision and many of the developments we are seeing in law in regards to homosexuality, Weber said. Despite public pushback, many commentators are advocating for Mares and Petersons right to have a sexual relationship. The local Clovis News Journal editorial board published an article in March arguing that regardless of any objections, from morality to the physical and psychological health of everyone connected to this familythere is an overriding concern that government does not belong in the bedroom of consenting adults. Weber said this case points to a societal breakdown of logic and reason. People who oppose Mares and Petersons relationship are holding onto a vestige of conscience and moral judgment in some areas, but if pushed, Weber said, they often cant pinpoint why they are holding that view. When asked about the health risks of incestuous relationships, Weber said we have shut down an objective discussion about the health risks in regard to homosexuality: Whats to stop us in regard to incest? Courtesy: WORLD News Service Publication date: August 29, 2016 Dream Cruises today announced its Summer 2017 itinerary for Genting Dream, with the ship setting sail from Guangzhou to two destinations in Japan on a five-night cruise. From April through September, the Genting Dream will depart weekly on Sundays from her homeport of Guangzhou (Nansha) with guests enjoying two nights at sea before arriving in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa. The ship will then call at Miyakojima, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Guests looking for a shorter break also have the choice of a two-night weekend cruise to the dynamic city of Hong Kong. We are delighted to introduce Genting Dreams first Summer schedule featuring Japan, which continues to grow rapidly in popularity as a cruise destination, said Thatcher Brown, President of Dream Cruises. We listened to our travel partners and our prospective guests; Japan was a top destination request with its distinctive natural environments, cultural offerings and reputation for quality cruise excursion products. We look forward to supporting our travel partners and welcoming their clients on board Genting Dream for the upcoming 2017 summer season." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UNCASVILLE - When a super group is formed and a band calls itself Prophets of Rage one must pause to ponder if the members meant to crown themselves Profits of Rage instead. After all, isnt that what all super groups are about? The Traveling Wilburys, Oysterhead, Damn Yankees, and Velvet Revolver all made a pretty dime while making some pretty good music after joining forces. Prophets of Rage which includes a mishmash of artists from Rage Against the Machine, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy was formed earlier this year to act as an elite task force of revolutionary musicians determined to confront this mountain of election year (nonsense), and confront it head-on with Marshall stacks blazing." At least thats what Rage lead guitarist Tom Morello told Rolling Stone magazine before the band headed out for its North American Make America Rage Again tour, which made a stop on Sunday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena. And rage the prophets did. Rage Against The Machines Morello joined bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk as well as Public Enemys Chuck D and DJ Lord and Cypress Hill rapper B Real in bringing Prophets of Rage in-your-face music to a feisty if not undersized crowd. A Sunday show was tough going in as much as high schools are just starting and most college students reported for duty over the weekend. Those who did show up, though, were treated to an intense evening of intense music, in which the band combined to play covers of each others song while throwing in a few new efforts, as well. AWOLNation opened the night with a set that started slowly, but built momentum. Once Prophets was scheduled to hit the stage, DJ Lord got the crowd into a bigger frenzy by spinning a bevy of hits from many genders of music, adding his own unique turntable twists. As the full band hit the stage, they opened with Public Enemys Prophets of Rage - the impetus for the bands name). The night then took off with a resounding rendition of Rage Against the Machines Guerilla Radio as Chuck D and B Real took turns on lead vocals with Commerford backing them both up. Midway through the show, the three members of Rage Against The Machine left the stage, leaving the rappers to showcase their hip-hop backgrounds, which they did through a melody of songs that included Insane in the Brain and I Aint Going Out Like That. By the time the full band rejoined the mainstage, the mosh pit was in full (silly) slamming mode and the music just seemed to get louder and more in your face. While the group never spelled out a viable candidate to get behind, they certainly wondered how the country came to a place where Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump were the best two choices. Sleep Now In The Fire started the post hip-hop spotlight and by the time the Prophets were done, wrapping up a 19-song, nearly two-hour set with Killing In The Name Of those in attendance could feel the rage. For much of the tour, the band had been covering Bruce Springsteens The Ghost of Tom Joad but that was unfortunately missing from Sundays setlist. Instead, for the first time, the band did perform RATMs Calm Like A Bomb instead. This isnt the 1960s, so music is likely not going to affect any social change in a country that seems to be falling apart at the seams, but for two hours at least the supergroup Prophets or Rage allowed thousands of their fans to unleash some of that rage with a concert to remember. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Connecticut schools are routinely graded as some of the best in the country, and generally students agree. They also enjoy hard liquor. Princeton Review recently released their 25th installment of their "Best 381 Colleges" book, with Connecticut schools drawing top marks in some interesting categories. The report surveyed 143,000 students attending 381 different universities and asked them to rate their school on 62 topics, such as "party school," "best campus food," and "most accessible professors" for example. Check out where Connecticut universities drew their highest honors in the slideshow above. For a full methodology on what each category entails, click here. In southwestern Connecticut, Fairfield University students had some flattering reviews for their campus. The school ranked 12th in "college city gets high marks," 17th in "their students love these colleges," and 18th in "lots of hard liquor" categories. While some of the categories featuring topics like "best party school," "tree-hugging vegetarians," and "is it food?" may sound a little ridiculous, the report's author said the aim is to give students as much information about all areas of college life to make an informed decision. "Since 1992 when we created this guide to the colleges we believe are the nation's best, academically, our purpose has been twofold," Robert Franek, publisher and lead author of the book, said. "One: we want to shine light on these exceptional institutions which represent only 15 percent of the nation's four-year colleges. "Two: we work to give applicants considering them an incomparable amount of campus feedback to decide which college may be best for them." Related: Looking for America's best party school? Princeton Review says to head north In addition to Fairfield University, another nearby school drew high praise in multiple categories. Yale University ranked 8th in "best college library," 13th in "best college newspaper," 16th in "great financial aid" and "students love these colleges," and 20th in "LGBTQ-friendly." Sacred Heart University was featured in the report as one of the best 381 colleges, but did not fall into the top 20 for any of the 62 categories. The United States Coast Guard Academy, located in New London, ranked first in "college city gets low marks" and "don't inhale," which refers to how widely marijuana is used at the school. Even the most passionate workers may need a more flexible schedule, a hybrid office or unique training. Credit unions that want to hire and retain those people need to not only meet those needs, but also know when to help them move on to a new employer, experts say. Check it out: Fun things to do this weekend in Lake County entertainment With a new fall semester fast approaching, a new group of Memphis freshmen will be ushered in. The class of 2020 is both optimistic and apprehensive about the unknowns of their individual futures at the University of Memphis. For many, it feels like freshman year of high school all over again. Some are excited for new friends, while others feel the stress of fitting in on a new campus with new surroundings. Im apprehensive about meeting new people and finding my place on campus and in the community, freshman psychology major Madison Day said. However, for some, the moment they stepped on campus, it immediately felt like home, which played a large role in their decision to choose Memphis. There are many reasons that I decided on the University of Memphis, but possibly the most influential was that I could see myself spending the next four years of my life here, incoming freshman Justin Bey said. Every time I came to visit or was just on campus, the U of M felt like a place Id fit in and succeed. Other students, like creative mass media major Bethany Clark, are most excited for an entirely new experience. Im most looking forward to meeting new people since I come from a small town and a small school, Clark said. New faces and change of scenery will be extremely refreshing. The class of 2020 is already looking to become involved on campus in various student organizations. Many are joining a sorority, while others are interested in becoming involved in religious organizations. One common theme for this falls incoming freshman class is the reality that they will be entirely responsible for themselves. This fact is already sinking in, even before the first day of classes. Besides new friends, new teachers and new surroundings, many will be living at the University of Memphis or right off campus, which brings additional challenges. Freshman Lamar Matheny said learning to be independent will be the hardest adjustment for him. Probably doing my own laundry, he said. Ive never really done that. In addition, freshman education major Emma Willard said, The biggest adjustment for me will be not having my moms cooking. Even little aspects, such as food choices, time management and sleeping habits, will be new obstacles for almost all incoming freshmen this fall. The success or failure to overcome these new challenges will factor into their own academic successes. As the class of 2020 steps onto campus this fall, enthusiastic new students will look to make their mark on this school and the Memphis community as a whole. Will Brexit go the way of Boaty McBoatface? You might recall how earlier this year the Natural Environment Research Council invited the public to vote to choose the name of the countrys newest polar research vessel: after the former BBC radio presenter James Hand offered Boaty McBoatface, his inspired suggestion was backed overwhelmingly. But the then Minister for Science, Jo Johnson, vetoed the public choice, on the grounds that it was silly, and instead the vessel was named RRS David Attenborough though this suggestion had come in fifth, with fewer than 10 per cent of the number of votes for Boaty McBoatface. Its hard not to get the impression that many politicians and officials have the same attitude towards the publics choice, in the referendum two months ago, to vote for Brexit: that this was as a result of stupidity and therefore can be ignored even though the only purpose of the referendum was to allow the public to decide whether or not the UK should remain in or leave the European Union. Labour leadership candidate Owen Smith declared he would fight 'tooth and nail to keep us in the EU' The sheer arrogance of peremptorily dismissing as mere silliness and stupidity the views of the 17.4 million Britons who voted Leave is astounding. While it may well be true that those voting for the name of a boat were having a laugh, when the public cast their ballots in the EU referendum, they were thinking seriously about the future of their families and of the country Brexiters just as much as Remainers. It is asserted by many of the latter often in the most insulting terms that those voting leave were ignorant about the matter at stake. Obviously that will be true to a degree: but so it would have been on the other side. How many of those who accuse the 17.4 million Brexiters of not knowing the facts have themselves ever bothered to read the Maastricht Treaty? Or the Lisbon Treaty? Or know the names of the EUs five presidents and what each of them do? Or exactly how laws are made in Brussels? Or the composition of the European Court of Justice (which supersedes the Westminster Parliament)? Or how the Acquis Communautaire works? Frankly, the thing will have been decided by gut instinct on both sides and neither has a superior claim to wisdom. The crucial point is that when such a vote is taken, the losers accept the result just as, in a democracy, the same applies to a general election. This should be obvious to politicians, whose careers depend on the legitimacy of the ballot box. But it is not obvious to Owen Smith, the Labour MP for Pontypridd now mounting a challenge to his party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Theresa May has just let it be known she will use executive power to invoke Article 50, rather than allow disaffected MPs the chance to obstruct its implementation The Welshman declared last week: I will fight tooth and nail to keep us in the EU. Under my leadership we will vote in Parliament to block any attempt to invoke Article 50 this is the clause under which a member state formally notifies its intention to withdraw from the EU until Theresa May commits to a second referendum on whatever EU exit deal emerges. Leave aside the mans bumptious impertinence, its clear Smith hopes the process of delaying the triggering of Article 50 will frustrate Brexit altogether. As the lawyer David Allen Green observed: The fact is that the longer the Article 50 notification is put off, the greater the chance it will never be made at all the longer the delay, the more likely it will be that events will intervene or excuses will be contrived. A glimpse of this strategy in practice was provided at the weekend by the former Cabinet Secretary Lord ODonnell. The man once the countrys top civil servant told The Times that Brexit is not inevitable. He added: Lots of people will say: Weve had the referendum, weve decided to go out, so thats it. But it very much depends what happens to public opinion and whether the EU changes. Those who want to overrule the result on June 23 had two hopes. The first was that those who voted Leave would immediately suffer buyers remorse and en masse change their minds. That has simply not happened. The second was that the Remain campaigns dire predictions of an immediate economic downturn with tumbleweed whistling down deserted High Streets would come true and thus the public would be forced to acknowledge their great collective error. Lord ODonnell, t he man once the countrys top civil servant has said that Brexit is not inevitable That, too, has not happened. I got my first anecdotal evidence of the failure of these highly politicised economic forecasts when a month ago my neighbour, who has a business teaching people in companies large and small how to use computer software, told me his order book had grown rapidly after the referendum result: he couldnt reconcile this with the bleak stuff he had been watching on the BBC, as it compiled report after report on the alleged inevitable downturn. And now its more than anecdotal: yesterday the chairman of one of Britains largest recruitment firms, James Reed, told the Mail on Sunday: A lot of economists were confounded by last weeks Office for National Statistics figures which showed unemployment continuing to fall during July. But we were not surprised. Our data has shown the jobs market has continued to grow since the Brexit referendum with 30,000 more new jobs posted in the eight weeks since the vote than in the same period last year. This good news confounds the would-be leader of the Labour Party. Now Owen Smith along with others unreconciled to the referendum outcome will have to swallow another uncomfortable fact: Theresa May has just let it be known she will use executive power to invoke Article 50, rather than allow disaffected MPs the chance to obstruct its implementation. A group of over 1,000 lawyers, led by the firm Mishcon de Reya, is threatening legal action against this, claiming the Government has no right to invoke Article 50 without consulting Parliament and that the referendum was only advisory. That is nonsense and their litigation will fail. At no point in the passing of the Referendum Bill in the Commons was it ever declared to be merely an advisory vote. Indeed, the then Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond (a Remainer) told MPs: The decision about our membership should be taken by the British people, not by Whitehall . . . not even by Government ministers or parliamentarians in this chamber. They blocked Boaty McBoatface: but we will have Brexit. What a surprise: Girls like dolls For some years now, the authorities in Birmingham, West Sussex and South Yorkshire have been using lifelike baby dolls as part of their teenage pregnancy prevention drive. The Virtual Infant Parenting Programme involved supplying schoolgirls with a 1,000 doll that cries when it needs to be fed or winded. The so-called experts behind the scheme believed it would alert girls to the chores involved in having a baby and thus deter them from becoming pregnant. But now a study carried out in Australia where a similar programme has been used shows that the girls who were part of the scheme were more likely to become pregnant than those who were not supplied with the dolls. Well, of course! Had it not occurred to these local authorities that lifelike dolls which cry and demand to be fed have for decades been bought by parents for their daughters? And that such dolls actually encouraged the maternal instinct at an early age? Obviously, the parents who bought them were not hoping their daughters became pregnant at the earliest opportunity. But nor were they so lacking in common sense as to imagine these dolls would make their children baby-averse. And the ones from Mattel dont cost 1,000, either. Apparently it is news that an EasyJet flight from Gatwick to Belfast was delayed by an hour after two crew members had an argument and they were removed from the plane. OK, the bit about the flight-attendants tiff was certainly unusual. But the delay itself was normal for EasyJet: it would actually be news if one of its flights left exactly on time. He has bullied and threatened MPs, journalists and business partners. Now Sir Shifty Philip Green is trying the same ugly tactics with the official Pensions Regulator. As the last BHS stores shut up shop, he says he will help the 22,000 former staff he left high and dry but only if the watchdog drops its probe into his business practices and the 571million black hole he left in the chains pension fund. Does he think Britain is a banana republic, where justice is negotiable and money can buy immunity from investigation for possible wrong-doing? If so, he must be made to think again. Sir Philip Green, who says he will help the 22,000 former staff he left high and dry but only if the watchdog drops its probe into his business practices and the 571million black hole he left in the chains pension fund Indeed, it is vital that the regulator continues its scrutiny of Sir Shiftys dealings, which could have worrying implications for members of other pension schemes in his retail empire, nominally owned by his tax-exile wife. Any evidence unearthed could also be valuable to the criminal investigators of the Serious Fraud Office. True, any contribution Sir Philip may volunteer will be welcome (though he has hinted at offering to meet barely half his responsibilities). But there can be no strings attached. Justice cannot be bought or bargained away by bullying. Ban ALL microbeads Days after the launch of a Mail campaign, there are signs of progress towards a ban on microbeads, the plastic particles in cosmetics and gels that threaten marine life and the human food chain. But as talks begin between officials and green groups, there must be no soft-pedalling on outlawing these toxic time bombs, flushed in their trillions into the sea, where they are magnets for poison. After pressure from manufacturers, the US has outlawed only the larger beads found in exfoliating scrubs. Here, the ban must be complete. Microplastics of any size pose a wholly unnecessary threat to health and the environment. This is one green initiative on which Britain can and must lead the world. Heed the 17.4million With ill-disguised contempt for the will of the people, the former head of the Civil Service loftily suggests Brexit is not inevitable, saying the UK could end up remaining in a more loosely aligned EU. What part of the word leave, endorsed by 17.4million voters on June 23, does Gus ODonnell fail to understand? Of course, the Europhile views of a retired mandarin wouldnt matter a jot except for worrying signs that they are shared by the great majority of Sir Humphreys in todays Whitehall. The Mail welcomes Theresa Mays warning that mandarins must co-operate fully in ensuring Brexit means Brexit So the Mail welcomes Theresa Mays warning that mandarins must co-operate fully in ensuring Brexit means Brexit. At Chequers on Wednesday, she must spell out the same message to ministers (most of whom were Remainers), while stressing that there can be no compromise on border controls even if this means leaving the single market. By a majority of almost 1.3million, voters issued emphatic instructions on June 23. They must not be frustrated by squabbling politicians and sneering mandarins who think they know best. The apple doesn't fall far from the proverbial tree, they say. And these celebrity children are a real chip off the old block. From Vanessa Paradis and her lookalike daughter Lily-Rose Depp to David Beckham and Brooklyn Beckham, there are a whole host of mini-me sons and daughters ready for their close up. They've inherited their parents' looks, will inherit their money and have now inherited their model poses. Tres belle: French-American 17 year old Lily-Rose Depp, the daughter of Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp, is pictured (above right) clutching a bottle of Chanel No5 - just like her mother did in 1990 Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis' daughter Lily-Rose Depp, 17, was declared as the face for Chanel's new scent - Chanel No.5 L'Eau - two months ago. Vanessa Paradis won fame after posing for Coco Chanel in 1990 and 26 years on, her daughter has landed her first fragrance campaign for the same brand. She has quite obviously inherited her mother's talent for high-brow modelling. Lily-Rose can also next be seen in French-Belgian drama, Planetarium, with Natalie Portman. Another famous mother-daughter duo is Cindy Crawford and her daughter Kiara Gerber. Cindy landed her first magazine cover aged 16. Her daughter, Kaia however, has gone one better and has scored her first solo cover shoot at the young age of 14 for POP magazine. Cindy Crawford, 50, and her beautiful daughter Kaia Gerber, 14, are becoming more and more alike with age Jerry Hall, 60, (pictured above in 1993) and Elizabeth Jagger, 32, (in 2004) the eldest child from her relationship with Mick Jagger, have both perfected the catwalk This solo cover comes hot on the heels of her and her mother's joint French Vogue cover with Cindy last year. With similarly beautiful looks and her mother's eyebrows, Kaia is fast becoming a name in her own right. Jerry Hall is an American former model and was discovered while sunbathing on a beach in Saint Tropez. She had four children with musician Mick Jagger and the daughters (pictured above and below) have also gone on to become models like their mother. Another of Jerry Hall's daughters, Georgia May Jagger is, at 24-years-old, an English fashion supermodel and is strikingly beautiful like her mother pictured here in 1995 Yasmin Le Bon, 51, (pictured above in 2011) is a British model and one of the highest-earning models in the 1980s. She is pictured above with her 27-year-old daughter Amber Le Bon (pictured in 2015) Pictured above, 51-year-old Sadie Frost (pictured here in 1992) and her daughter Iris Law, 15. They are both models and Iris's father is British actor Jude Law Pearl Lowe, (pictured in 2014) thought to be between 45-46, and her daughter Daisy Lowe, 26, share distinctive dark hair and gothic dresses on the catwalk Other mother-daughter lookalikes include Yasmin Le Bon and her daughter Amber, Sadie Frost and her teenage daughter Iris Law, Pearl and Daisy Lowe and Christie Brinkley and her daughter Sailor Lee Brinkley-Cook. They have each followed in their parents' footsteps and are now sought after models in their own right. Christie Brinkley, 62, (pictured above in 1992) is an American model and actress who gained worldwide fame in the late 1970s with three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers. Pictured above is her daughter Sailor Lee Brinkley-Cook, born in 1998, who now also has a modelling contract Not just the girls, either: David and Victoria Beckham, pictured above on the left, have four children and on the right is their eldest, Brooklyn Beckham, 17, who is both a model and photographer Another Beckham offspring (pictured above with father David Beckham on the left in 2009) is 13-year-old Romeo who has already shot advertisements for British brand Burberry Another of Jude Law (pictured above for Dior) and Sade Frost's children is 19-year-old Rafferty Law who is both a model and musician It's not only mothers and daughters who look alike and are in the same industry though. The celeb sons are also proving their worth and have racked up modelling contracts and catwalk shows with the likes of DKNY and Burberry as well as cover shoots with Teen Vogue. Two of Victoria and David Beckham's boys, Brooklyn and Romeo, are making waves in the modelling industry of late and are pictured here showing off their good looks inherited by their parents. Rafferty Law, the offspring of Jude Law and Sadie Frost, is also becoming increasingly well-known for his modelling - rather than for being the son of two major industry names. On Thursday, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark opened the exhibition of Swiss Photographer Marco Grob at the Frederiksborg Castle Museum in Hillerd, north of Copenhagen. There, the Princess viewed the latest royal portrait of herself, which is part of the 'Iconic Portraits' exhibition. The 44-year-old Australian-born royal looked effortlessly elegant as she arrived in one of her favourite dresses - a Dolce & Gabbana floral print dress. Scroll down for video Sumery: On Thursday, Crown Princess Mary opened the exhibition of Swiss Photographer Marco Grob at the Frederiksborg Castle Museum in Hillerd, north of Copenhagen Stunning: The 44-year-old Australian-born royal looked effortlessly elegant as she arrived in one of her favourite dresses - a Dolce & Gabbana floral print dress Meeting with fans: The AUD $2450 number is a blend of black silk and features a round neck, three quarter length sleeves and striking red and white floral print The AUD $2450 number is a blend of black silk and features a round neck, three quarter length sleeves and striking red and white floral print. She paired her look with a pair of nude Louboutin pumps and a Naledi Copenhagen beige clutch. This is the third time the Princess has donned the look - the royal first wearing the outfit in June, 2014, when she hosted a brunch to celebrate the milestone 80th birthday of Prince Consort Henrik. A favourite look: In 2014, she wore the dress to celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the Danish Army (left) where she paired it with a pashmina Elegant: Princess Mary and Prince Frederik donned their finery for the royal shoots - the Princess donning a soft golden-beige dress with short sleeves (right) Later that year she wore the dress to celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the Danish Army. For this occasion she paired the dress with a matching pashmina. Princess Mary and Prince Frederik donned their finery for the royal shoots - the Princess donning a soft golden-beige dress with short sleeves. Positively royal: She also had her hair pulled back in an elegant updo and her traditional Ruby Parure Tiara was perched on her head Regal: The tiara belonged to Queen Ingrid, Prince Frederik's grandmother, and is part of a set that includes a necklace, earrings, brooch and a ring Military chic: Pictured in Amalienborg Palace, the Prince posed looking straight at the camera - his hands clasped together in front of him She also had her hair pulled back in an elegant updo and her traditional Ruby Parure Tiara was perched on her head. The tiara belonged to Queen Ingrid, Prince Frederik's grandmother, and is part of a set that includes a necklace, earrings, brooch and a ring. She also wore a stunning diamond and amethyst necklace, with matching earrings and a bracelet. Millions of viewers were enthralled last night at the first episode of ITV's new flagship drama Victoria - but some are claiming that the show's star Jenna Coleman is simply too beautiful to play the Queen. Victoria was described in her youth as a 'short, vulgar-looking child' who had bulging eyes and already a tendency to be overweight. So it is little wonder that Twitter users have claimed that Jenna, 30, is too striking to make a convincing monarch. Scroll down for video Jenna Coleman has been said by some to be too attractive to play Queen Victoria after ITV's new drama about the monarch premiered last night The real Victoria, shown here in an early portrait, has divided historians who disagree on how attractive she was in her youth Jenna stunned last night as the young Alexandrina Victoria struggling to cope with the demands of ascending the throne. And the Doctor Who actress looked ravishing in period frocks and elaborate hairstyles that showed off her delicate features. Gogglebox's June Bernicoff tweeted: 'Surely Jenna Louise Coleman is too pretty to be Victoria, she wasn't exactly a looker, was she?' 30-year-old Jenna looked stunning throughout the drama, with her period up-dos showcasing her delicate features The Doctor Who actress was praised for her performance in the first episode of the eight-part drama But some Twitter users disagreed with the casting, with Gogglebox's June remarking: 'She wasn't exactly a looker was she?' Another Tweeter admitted they could make allowances for Jenna's casting as the Queen Di Tekki said: 'Even real young Victoria is not as pretty as Jenna. Petite, yes, but not this beautiful', while RoyalHistoryGeeks posted: 'Jenna Coleman is of course, far too pretty to play Victoria - but this is TV so we'll make allowances.' KathySunnyLion said: 'Jenna Coleman is too pretty to replicate Victoria.' Historians disagree on how physically attractive the young Queen was, but early photographs of her show her to have the typical Hanoverian features of large eyes and a weak chin, as well as a very severe centre-parted hairline. However, early portraits around the time of her marriage show her as a pretty young woman. By the time of Victoria's death in 1901, she was notoriously overweight and wore 50-inch bloomers. But while viewers may have disagreed on Coleman's casting, they were entranced by Rufus Sewell's turn as the Queen's first Prime Minister Lord Melbourne - with some even saying that Prince Albert could not compare. Early photographs of the young Queen show her to have typically Hanoverian features as well as a very severe centre-parted hairline Sewell, 48, played the dashing but brooding Prime Minister to perfection and early reaction indicates he could join the ranks of Colin Firth as Mr Darcy and Richard Armitage as John Thornton in the period drama Hall of Fame. Tweeter Tamsin posted: 'Lord M is fantastic and I almost wish there wasn't an Albert.' Sheila Beard said: 'Rufus Sewell stole the show as Lord M, shame she fell for Albert.' Rufus Sewell, 48, played Queen Victoria's dashing but brooding Prime Minister Lord Melbourne Twitter users reacted with glee to Sewell's casting, leading to speculation he may take his place in the period drama hall of fame And Morgan Jeffrey said: 'If anything, Rufus Sewell's a bit TOO good in Victoria. Don't want Albert to swoop in and ruin things. Damn your effortless charm Sewell.' Prince Albert, who did not appear in last night's premiere, will be portrayed by Tom Hughes. Romance rumours have begun to swirl around Jenna and her handsome co-star Hughes. Tamsin admitted 'Lord M is fantastic and almost wish there wasn't an Albert' Andrew Collins said Rufus Sewell was the main reason he was tuning in to the drama And Morgan Jeffery admitted that he 'didn't want Albert to swoop in and ruin things' The pair were seen leaving a party in the same taxi earlier this summer, and have also been spotted strolling together in West London. They are the golden couple of Scandinavian royalty and seem wholly intent on using their high profile for good causes. Prince Carl Philip, 37, and Princess Sofia of Sweden, 31, this week took a stand against bullying, using the charitable foundation that they set up shortly after their wedding in June 2015 to highlight 'online hate speech.' The couple, who have a four-month-old son, Prince Alexander, published the strongly worded blog saying they have both been subjected to online abuse in the past from trolls. Scroll down for video Prince Carl Philip, 37, and Princess Sofia of Sweden, 31, have written an emotive blog calling on people to take a stand against bullying (Pictured this weekend at the Swedish Local Heritage Federation centenary celebrations in Stockholm ) Mother-of-one Princess Sofia said she had been subject to bullying tweets online The royal couple's foundation website declares, 'all children and adolescents have a right to be themselves' The 500-word blog, posted on the Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia Foundation website reads: 'We are proud to dedicate this blog to draw attention to bullying and all those affected by bullying. 'Mainly we will focus on online hate speech and living with dyslexia, substances [sic] that are close to both of us.' It adds that 'wounds caused by bullying can last a lifetime' and says: 'Witty wisecracks, beaten and exclusion becomes, in time, a backpack that can crack the strongest of backs any time.' The have had a busy few weeks as they also appeared in public at the Swedish Local Heritage Federation centenary celebrations in Stockholm on August 27. Sofia wore a 231 Rodebjer Mila Border Dress with a black clutch and black heels from Stinaa.J. The Swedish Local Heritage Federation aims to educate people on the cultural history of various parts around Sweden and brings local heritage societies to showcase handcrafts, stories, music, theatre, food, costumes, as well as giving visitors a glimpse of what Sweden looked like years ago. Carl Philip, right, has spoken out frequently about his own battle with dyslexia, a cause that remains close to his heart Beautiful inside and out: Princess Sofia watched her husband speak at the Swedish Local Heritage Federation 100th anniversary in Stockholm this weekend. The glamorous Swedish award also presented an award Responsibility: The couple said that every child deserves to brought up valuing their own self-esteem and self-worth Carl Philip has spoken out frequently about his own battle with dyslexia. The couple's foundation aims to help young people and children and was set up by them shortly after they were wed in June last year. The post continued: 'It should not be so, and its not good enough just to call for someone to do something. The responsibility is ours together, every day, for every child. 'It is our duty as adults to talk with our children, but also to be good examples. A good society is built on good citizens. And the good citizens come from strong self-esteem and belief in their own worth. No child deserves less than that.' The media-friendly couple have had a busy summer and it shows no signs of relenting; they announced last week the christening date of their son Prince Alexander - via a brace of very cute photographs. Is he pointing at the camera? A playful Crown Prince Alexander smiles at the camera as he poses with his parents Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia to announce the little boy's baptism on September 9th The Swedish couple posed for the snaps with four-month-old Alexander ahead of his baptism, which will take place at Drottningholm Palace Church in Stockholm next month. The delightful images show Alexander being cradled by his parents. A handsome-looking Carl Philip looking casual in a short-sleeved white shirt and sporting his trademark swept back hair and designer stubble. The September ceremony, which will be aired on Swedish national television, will be officiated by Archbishop Antje Jackelen and take place at the Swedish capital's historic Drottningholm Palace. Don't come near me with that stubble! A cheeky-looking Alexander is cradled by his handsome father It's thought that the Crown Prince, born on April 19th, will follow tradition and wear a family gown that dates back to 1906, when his ancestor Prince Gustaf Adolf wore it. Fifth-in-line to the throne, Alexander - full name Alexander Erik Hubertus Bertil - will be baptised using spring water from the island of Oland and have to cover his ears for the traditional 21-gun salute by the armed forces. Made of cotton and lace, the gown has been passed through generations. Indeed, Prince Carl Philip himself was christened wearing it as were his father's sisters, Princess Madeleine and Crown Princess Victoria. The eggplant emoji has become a sexting staple over the last few years thanks to its phallic shape. But now, some clever entrepreneurs are bringing the innuendo full circle, producing the 'Emojibrator': a vibrator made to look just like an eggplant. The product, which is available online for $32, is promoted with the tagline, 'If you can't find a date, emojibate' and cheekily purports to provide a 'healthy serving of vitamin D'. A bright idea: After years becoming a staple of sexting, a company have created a vibrator to look just like an eggplant emoji In an interview with Cosmopolitan.com, the vibrator's creator Jaime Jandler explained that the idea started out, unsurprisingly, as a joke. 'You know, what about eggplant vibrators? It was kind of a joke and then I was like ... wait, this actually could be awesome,' she said. In coming up with the final design, it was clear that Jaime couldn't base the design off of an average real eggplant, given the size, eventually settling on a length of 4.84 inches by 1.22 inches. Made of purple and green silicone, the Emojibrator is waterproof and has 10 different vibration settings. A few edits: The creator of the 'Emojibrator' claims that the idea started as a joke, but explained that 'then I was like ... wait, this actually could be awesome' The whole package: The 4.84 inches by 1.22 inches product is made of purple and green silicone and is fully waterproof According to Jaime, the hope is that the product will be a great way to start conversations about masturbation and 'remove the taboo associated with it'. 'There are countless benefits of masturbation, and sex shouldn't have to be taken so seriously all of the time,' she told Mic.com. 'My goal is to create something that would be perfect for both someone purchasing their first sex toy and a more experienced customer looking to add a touch of humor to their collection.' Normalizing: Creator Jaime hopes that the humorous product will help remove some of the taboo around masturbation The other side: The eggplant emoji has become a literal sex symbol for its phallic shape in recent years The products are made in Philadelphia and they offer free shipping in 'discreet packaging' within the United States. While the idea of an eggplant emoji representing male genitalia may seem laughable, its use as such has become so widespread that even Instagram banned its use on its site last year in line with their nudity guidelines. Bristol Palin and her husband Dakota Meyer spent the weekend riding amusement park rides and watching The Band Perry perform at the Alaska State Fair before wishing her parents a happy 28th anniversary the next day. The 25-year-old mom took to Instagram on Sunday afternoon to share a photo of herself posed with Dakota, her younger sister Willow, 22, and other family members and friends at the band's performance the day before. 'The Band Perry & some of our fam [sic],' she captioned the image, which sees them enjoying cups of beer at the outdoor concert. Scroll down for video Having a blast: Bristol Palin, her husband Dakota, and her sister Willow watched The Band Perry perform at the Alaska State Fair on Saturday Mini-me: The 25-year-old mom was surprised to see that she and her sister Piper, 15 ,were wearing nearly identical outfits when they ran into each other at the fair However, Bristol and Willow weren't the only Palins at the event. The mother-of-two made sure to snap a photo with her 15-year-old sister Piper when she ran into the teen at the fair that was held in Palmer, Alaska. Though she may have known Piper was going to be at the event, Bristol was surprised to see that they were dressed like twins in matching camouflage jackets and black T-shirts. 'Ran into my sister at the fair wearing the same outfit as me #mini #cuteness [sic],' she wrote when posting the image. 'Goals': Bristol shared this photo collage of her parents Sarah and Todd Palin throughout the years to celebrate their 28th anniversary on Monday And while Bristol was hanging out with Piper, Willow snapped a photo with their little brother Trig, eight, as they rode a ride Trig and Bristol's seven-year-old son Tripp just started the second grade together, but it appears the mom left him and her eight-month-old daughter at home as she and Dakota enjoyed a date night. The 28-year-old Medal of Honor winner took to Instagram on Sunday to post a photo of Bristol looking into his eyes while on a ride. Dakota must have been feeling particularly romantic when she sharing the image, writing: 'You're not just my wife. You're my best friend.' Say cheese! Willow, 22, snapped a photo with their eight-year-old brother Trig when they rode a ride at the fair together Look of love: 'You're not just my wife. You're my best friend,' Dakota wrote when he share this image of Bristol looking at him On Monday, Bristol returned to Instagram to share a photo collage of her parents Sarah and Todd Palin through the years in honor of their wedding anniversary. 'Happy 28th Anniversary to my parents! #goals #highschoolsweethearts,' she wrote. A couple of weeks ago, Bristol celebrated a major milestone for her son Tripp and her brother Trig as the proud mom joined the boys on their first day of second grade. The mom took to Instagram that Monday to share a sweet photo of herself posed with Tripp and Trig, who has Down syndrome, in the parking lot of their elementary school in Wasilla, Alaska. Proud mom and big sister: Bristol celebrated her seven-year-old son Tripp and her brother Trig's first day of second grade earlier this month Baby love: After dropping her son off at school, Bristol snapped this adorable picture of her eight-month-old daughter Sailor Grace 'First day of 2nd grade for my babes!! and first time I've seen Tripp in jeans all summer #hecould {sic],' she captioned the image, which sees her squatting down to pose with the boys. In the image, Tripp has his arm flung around Trig's shoulder as they smile for the camera. Bristol's only child with her ex-fiance Levi Johnston is holding an extra pair of black sneakers in his hand, while Trig is carrying a mini satchel. And, of course, both boys are proudly carrying backpacks for their first day of school. Later that day, Bristol shared an adorable photo of Sailor Grace decked out in a a pink ensemble while smiling for the camera, writing: '& my chunkalicious.' She said every morning Zoe wakes up raring to go and excited to see her friends and teachers The picture became an online hit after Sharvonne sent it to her niece who shared it on Twitter Her mother Sharvonne Broussard, 36, took a photo of her looking excited outside her older brother's school in her school uniform Zoe Brock, two, from Houston, Texas, was ecstatic about going back to Christian academy pre-school after the long summer break A two-year-old girl who could not wait to go back to pre-school after summer vacation has melted the hearts of thousands online. Zoe Brock, from Houston, Texas, looked raring to go as she posed in her Christian academy uniform for a photo outside her 14-year-old brother Sam's high school. Her mother Sharvonne Broussard, 36, sent the picture of Zoe to her niece Alexis who shared it on Twitter where she has inspired tens of thousands with her enthusiasm. Ecstatic: Zoe Brock, two, has become an online sensation after this photo, pictured, from her first day back at pre-school after summer vacation was shared on Twitter Model student: Zoe, from Houston, Texas, pictured last week, could not contain her excitement about going back to Christian academy pre-school after the long summer break Cute: Her mother Sharvonne Broussard, 36, pictured left, took a photo of Zoe, pictured right, looking excited outside her older brother's high school in her school uniform The picture of Zoe, who started Triumph Christian Academy last year after her second birthday, was taken on Monday. Since then it has been liked by 67,000 Twitter users and shared by 32,000. She told Daily Mail Online: 'Miss Zoe was excited about the first day of school from the time she woke up. She is naturally an enthusiastic child with a great personality. 'Every morning, even on the weekends she wakes up ready to go to school to see her teacher and friends so I am almost certain this enthusiasm will continue throughout the school year.' After the success of the first picture, Sharvonne, who works as an assistant administrator at a home health agency, has tried to take pictures of her daughter every morning - or when Zoe is willing. 'She has a brother whos 14. It was his first day of high school. She was excited to go to school with him. 'I said, "OK Zoe. Sams gonna go to school now, lets take a first day of school picture," and thats the pose she gave me,' her mother told ABC News. Inspiring: The picture became an online hit after Sharvonne sent it to her niece who shared it on Twitter Excitable: Her mother said every morning Zoe, pictured, wakes up raring to go and excited to see her friends and teachers Sharvonne said Zoe has been showing unusual intelligence and ability for her age - sustaining conversations and learning Spanish - and that she has been talking since she was nine months old. 'Right now shes in a Christian Academy and theyre teaching her a lot of different prayers. 'When were at home she puts on the "Zoe show" and tells us all her prayers she learned and she tells us her ABCs in Spanish and her colors in Spanish,' she said. Every morning Zoe is 'excited' and looking forward to school which her mother hopes will continue throughout her education. New school year: The picture of Zoe, who started Triumph Christian Academy last year after her second birthday, was taken on Monday Popular: Since then it has been liked by 67,000 Twitter users and shared by 32,000 Example: Twitter users have praised Zoe as an inspiration and one person even suggested she mentor her 'moping' 12-year-old She said: 'She wants to see her teachers, she wants to see her friends. And this is just preschool. Imagine elementary school. We have a lot of school left.' Twitter users have praised Zoe as an inspiration and one person even suggested she mentor her 'moping' 12-year-old. Sharvonne said she could not believe the attention the picture has attracted but put it down to her daughter's infectious enthusiasm. She told Daily Mail Online: 'This picture received so much attention for one because of the pose that she's doing but also because you can see the excitement in her and it was the first day of school. It was only deemed 'mildly interesting' but has become bizarre viral hit The actual best before date is May 09/17 but looks like it says 'mayo' More than 4,000 people have upvoted the picture from US user Jayson88 It's always hard to predict what will be today's viral sensation, but surely no-one could have foreseen that a humble jar of mayonnaise would become an Internet hit. Reddit was sent into a frenzy when US user Jayson88 uploaded a photo of a mayonnaise jar which looks like it has a use by date of 'MAYO'. Of course, the actual best before date is 'May 09/17' - but that hasn't stopped more than 4,000 people upvoting the quirky coincidence on Reddit. Jayson88's picture of his mayonnaise jar with a best before date that looks like it says 'MAYO' became a viral hit on Reddit It's now a viral sensation - despite being uploaded to a thread yesterday where posts are only deemed 'mildly interesting'. More than 700 people have reacted to the amusing observation on the US brand of Hellmann's mayonnaise. Izz4U wrote: 'That jar of Mayo is self aware. The end is near.' Meanwhile, LordKidneyPunch realised that he could have become a viral hit with a similar picture. 'Dammnit, my mayonnaise says "MAY0317", I could have gotten so many internet cool points.' Another user, I_Think_I_Cant joked: 'Mine says MAY0714. I should probably throw it out.' Izz4U wrote: 'That jar of Mayo is self aware. The end is near,' while LordKidneyPunch realised that he could have become a viral hit with a similar picture Vegebanana had the most 'liked' comment, with his tongue-in-cheek question: '"Is mayonnaise a month"'. It received a stream of jokey, surreal replies, including: 'No it's a beverage' and 'It's not an instrument?' Meanwhile, Yuwesley commented: 'Now this is some quality mildlyinteresting,' referring to the name of the thread where the photo was posted. Vegebanana had the most 'liked' comment, with his tongue-in-cheek question: '"Is mayonnaise a month." It received a string of jokey replies. Meanwhile Yuwesley praised Jayson88 for the 'mildly interesting' post Pgausten replied with the pun: 'Mayoly interesting,' which was appreciated by another user who wrote back: 'You have my condiments.' Puns were flowing in the comments, with Aniket15b writing: 'This could be an egg-cellent thread. Mayoll the comments be blessed with upvotes.' Kanye_West_Superstar worked out how likely it is that someone will have a jar with a best before date of 'MAYO'. Puns were flowing in the comments, with Aniket15b writing: 'This could be an egg-cellent thread. Mayoll the comments be blessed with upvotes'. Kanye_West_Superstar worked out how likely it is that someone will have a jar with a 'MAYO' best before date They wrote: 'There are nine days out of the year where this is possible (May 1st-9th), so about 2.5 per cent of all mayonnaise buyers every year since the beginning of mayonnaise have had this on their jar. 'Yes this is the first time I've ever seen this. Nice awareness!' Others pointed out the obvious. Some users pointed out the obvious, with one user writing: 'I mean, it's not wrong'. But not everyone reacted favourably, with several wondering how the picture had gone viral One user wrote: 'I mean, it's not wrong,' while another said 'It's mayo.' Mynameismayo eagerly replied: 'It's me.' But not everyone was impressed with the picture, with several wondering how on earth the photo had gone viral. Under new online project, you can now donate as little as 2 to fund supplies like gauze, Advertisement When she arrived at hospital, Nagina was unable to move, let alone walk. Born with a severe condition that makes the skin thick and scaly, a lack of treatment had caused her to seize up. Her parents, struggling to even put food on the table, had not known how to deal with her condition. Tragically, when medical workers discovered her, she was living in a shed. Nagina, now 13, was born in a rural area of Nepal with a genetic condition called ichthyosis. Nagina, now 13, was born in a rural area of Nepal with a genetic condition called ichthyosis. This causes a build-up of rough, scaly skin. But thanks to intensive treatment with petroleum jelly - the recommended therapy - she has gone from being unable to move to a happy student Tragically, when medical workers discovered Nagina, she was living in a shed and lack of treatment had caused her to seize up. 'When she arrived at hospital she was very depressed and could not move. She didnt talk,' her doctor explained Here, a faulty gene affects the rate at which the skin regenerates. Either the shedding of old skin cells is too slow, or the skin cells reproduce at a much faster rate than they can shed. However both scenarios cause a build-up of rough, scaly skin. There is no cure - and people with severe ichthyosis may need to spend several hours a day caring for their skin with moisturisers or such as petroleum jelly. The solution seems simple enough. But many people such as Nagina have no access to the products we consider everyday medicine cabinet staples. If they did, many conditions - from dry skin to more severe conditions such as hers - could be managed, vastly improving their quality of life. Today, thanks to the devoted care of doctors - and a free lifetime's supply of Vaseline - Nagina is thriving. Discharged from hospital, she is now attending school. And the depressed girl who never spoke or smiled is now described as 'extremely bright', with many friends. 'The difference something as simple as Vaseline has made to her life is incredible,' said Dr Bibek Banskota, medical director at the Hospital & Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children, where Nagina was treated for five months. 'When she arrived she was very depressed and could not move. She didnt talk,' he told MailOnline. 'So when I found out we could help her for life, I was the happiest person in the world.' But how had she got into such a state? The first priority was to treat Nagina's skin, which had deteriorated to a horrific state. It really was a case of using creams to hydrate her skin and a lot of TLC,' said Dr Banskota. 'The nurses were amazing, they wrapped her body in Vaseline-soaked gauze every day and bathed her. She got love and care' As the weeks went by and her skin improved, Nagina came back to life. 'She smiled for the first time, had physiotherapy to help her become mobile and she met other children with disabilities,' said Dr Banskota THE VASELINE HEALING PROJECT Vaseline has launched a Healing Project to help heal the skin of five million people by 2020. Products will be donated to be included in the medical kits distributed by the charity Direct Relief, such as those used in emergency relief. In 2015, the project travelled to Jordan, where more than 1,000 patients were treated in a week. It also went to typhoon victims in the Philippines, Kenya, India, South Africa and Nepal (see below). Advertisement Many families dont know what to do when it comes to disabilities, Dr Banskota told me. In many countries there is a stigma associated with them. Every family loves their child, but when you live in a house where there isnt even enough to eat and drink, other issues are not a priority. In order to get Nagina moving, staff first had to treat her skin. And as these harrowing pictures show, it had deteriorated to a horrific state. It really was a case of using creams to hydrate her skin and a lot of TLC,' said Dr Banskota. 'The nurses were amazing, they wrapped her body in Vaseline-soaked gauze every day and bathed her. She got love and care.' As the weeks went by and her skin improved, Nagina came back to life. 'She smiled for the first time, she had physiotherapy to help her become mobile and she met other children with disabilities.' But in the long term, what she really needed was a constant supply of petroleum jelly to keep her skin healthy. By chance, staff at the international charity Direct Relief heard of her story and contacted Vaseline, whom they had links with. Nagina now attends a boarding school for children with disabilities which is funded by the hospital. She is very bright and despite being born with a deformed hand, she has adapted and has better handwriting than me, said Dr Banskota. Nagina now attends a boarding school for children with disabilities, which is funded by the Hospital & Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children, Nepal HOW EVERYDAY AILMENTS CAN BECOME CRIPPLING Stories such as Nagina's highlight just how life-changing simple medical interventions can be. Most of us have Vaseline in our bathroom cabinet or make-up bag. But without access to the simple, everyday resources we take for granted, minor issues even dry skin can become a much more serious health issue for those living in vulnerable conditions, as a new advertising campaign illustrates (video below). HOW YOU CAN HELP As part of its Vaseline Healing Project (see below), the company is putting together virtual relief kits. In each kit, Vaseline has already donated petroleum jelly and lotions - and you can pay to add other pre-selected medical items as you choose. Each kit item is representative of the types of supplies provided by Direct Relief, such as thermometers, emergency blankets, soap and gauze. The medical supplies are modest, but make a big difference to health workers using them to help those in need. Advertisement For people living in places affected by political unrest or natural disasters, damage or injury to skin can have life-altering consequences. So much so, that skin diseases rank as the sixth most common cause of death among vulnerable populations, according to the UN Refugee Agency. A cut can lead to a serious infection, keeping a mother from working. Cracked heals can become infected, preventing victims from doing ordinary things like attending work or school. In refugee camps, for example, burns from cooking on gas stoves or using kerosene lamps are common. As are deeply cracked hands and feet due to overexposure to the sun, rough terrain and a lack of moisturiser. If left untreated, they can escalate. In fact over 80 per cent of clinics surveyed by the charity Direct Relief say they see patients affected by eczema, scabies or burns. In these places, an ordinary jar of something that so many of us take for granted, could prevent severe manifestations of basic problems such as dry skin, cracked lips and feet that can quickly deteriorate in a harsh environment. But half of healthcare clinics surveyed do not have enough medicine or supplies to treat skin conditions - despite the fact cheap, simple products and medical supplies could help if they were available. HORRIFIC BURNS, SCABIES AND SKIN SO DRY IT SPLITS For people living in places affected by political unrest or natural disaster, damage or injury to skin can have life-altering consequences. For example the harsh, arid environment of the Zaatari camp in Jordan (pictured), home to thousands of Syrian refugees, has wreaked havoc their skin. Many are unable to walk or work as a result Many refugees in the camp suffer from scabies, due to crowded living, and burns from cooking stoves and hot water (file pic) A FIRST AID KIT STAPLE Petroleum jelly has been used in crisis situations for decades. In World War One, it brought relief to US soldiers in the trenches by treating cuts, bruises and easing sunburn. And in World War Two, the Surgeon General of the US Military commissioned a sterile Vaseline-coated gauze to send to the front line. A century on, it is still a staple part of medical kits on the front line, recommended by the the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the medical charity MSF and the UN Refugee Agency. Advertisement Two doctors who have witnessed this first-hand are dermatologists Grace Bandow, f rom Rhode Island, and Samer Jaber, from New York. In the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis, the pair travelled to Jordan in 2014 to provide medical treatment for those living in camps. They arrived with plentiful stocks of medicines, syringes and gauze - but soon realised they had omitted a vital resource. Writing in the Washington Post upon their return to the US, they said: 'We knew refugee camps produce the kind of close, dirty quarters that allow minor diseases to flourish. 'We anticipated scabies, lice and other infections associated with crowded living. 'But on the ground, we realised how the simplest skin remedies sometimes taken for granted in our lives can make an extraordinary difference. Vaseline is heavy - and it never occurred to us to prioritise it.' The harsh, arid environment was wreaking havoc with the refugees' skin. And the living conditions meant burns were a frequent occurrence. Two doctors who have witnessed the effects of skin problems first hand are dermatologists Grace Bandow, from Rhode Island, and Samer Jaber (pictured), from New York. The pair teamed up with Vaseline to help victims of poverty and natural disasters through the Healing Project. Dr Jaber is pictured during the latest mission in Nepal 'In Jordan it's just constant exposure to the sun - and these people are pretty fair-skinned,' Dr Bandow told me. 'Imagine if someone sticks you in the desert with no skin protection.' Many had also walked hundreds of miles to reach the camps, destroying their feet in the process. 'We met one man who, after a long wait, offered us the bottom of his feet - which had deep, painful cracks,' she said. 'They had literally been worn out from travelling hundreds of miles on hot sandy soil in rubber sandals. 'He said if he could fix his feet, he might be able to find a job to support his children. He had been a civil engineer in Syria. Now, he is confined to a tent. Waiting. He asked us for Vaseline.' Following their article, the pair teamed up with Vaseline to help victims of poverty and natural disasters through the Healing Project. And a year later they returned to Jordan to treat more than 1,000 Syrian refugees living in the enormous Zaatari camp. Once again, those they treated were victims of the circumstances they had been forced to live in. THE BABY BURNT IN THE TENT SHE CALLED HOME This little girl was left with horrific burns after her family's tent caught fire in a Syrian refugee camp Her parents had been cooking on a gas stove that suddenly exploded and within seconds, the tent was engulfed in flames One harrowing example was a family nearly killed when their tent caught fire. They had been cooking on a gas stove that suddenly exploded. Within seconds, the tent was engulfed in flames. In the chaos, the family fled only to realise seconds later, to their horror, the baby was still inside. Her father dashed back through the flames to rescue the her and while they both survived, they suffered horrific burns. 'Burns are very common because people cook over gas stoves in the camp and they sometimes explode or flare and cause fires,' said Dr Bandow. 'Children often get burns from boiling water that spills due to the cramped living quarters, while caravans fires spread quickly because people don't have proper ways to extinguish them.' By the time Dr Bandow saw the pair, over a week after the fire, they still hadnt received the medical care they so desperately needed. 'The bandages they had on were old and crusted - and probably colonised with bacteria. This meant the burns were weeping and the dry gauze was sticking to them. So when you pulled the gauze off, the skin came with it.' The little girl was in excruciating pain and cried constantly. By the time Dr Bandow saw her, over a week after the fire, she still hadnt received the medical care she desperately needed. She left the family with a supply of bandages, ointment and Vaseline to help the skin heal 'Obviously in a hospital they would have received specialist care. The best thing we had was Vaseline imbedded gauze,' said Dr Bandow. 'By putting something greasy between the wound and the bandage, you create a barrier that wont stick. Thats the key.' She also left them with bandages, ointment and Vaseline to help the skin heal. Recalling that day, she said: 'What was disturbing on so many levels was knowing this was a purely situational event. 'There is no reason why this middle-class family should have been living in a tent in a desert in a country that wasn't theirs. 'The wounds they suffered were purely environmental and totally preventable. 'And because they didn't have access to the appropriate care, they had to sit there and allow things get worse.' THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS LIVING IN TIN-ROOFED SHACKS Chaos following the April 2015 earthquake in Nepal. This was followed by a second one on May 12, where the epicentre was six miles south of the town of Bahrabise, in Nepals central region. Pictured is the road from Bahrabise to Lipim, the last Nepali village before the Tibetan Chinese border A year on, many victims who lost their homes are living in flimsy shelters. The precarious dwellings are made of corrugated metal, plastic tarpaulin and whatever other materials people could salvage It is nearly 18 months since Nepal was hit with the earthquake that left 9,000 dead and destroyed 600,000 homes. Measuring 7.8 in magnitude, the quake on April 25 was followed by a second one on May 12. The epicentre was halfway between Kathmandu and Mount Everest, six miles south of the town of Bahrabise, in Nepals central region . On the first anniversary this April, the Red Cross said four million victims are still living in flimsy shelters after the disaster. Last month, the Vaseline Healing Project visited the village of Bahrabise to provide a free health clinic for local people and those in the surrounding villages This 58-year-old farmer suffered burns when she was electrocuted. Living in a temporary shelter following the earthquake, she was outside when electrical wires crashed down. The incident left her unconscious and in hospital. Weeks on, she still has a large, weeping burn on her arm that is struggling to heal - and causing her immense pain Many of the precarious temporary dwellings are made of corrugated metal, plastic tarpaulin and whatever other materials people could salvage. But the Red Cross has warned these temporary shelters and conditions pose a threat to their health and well-being. Last month, the Vaseline Healing Project visited the village of Bahrabise to provide a free health clinic for local people and those in the surrounding villages. Once again the team - including Dr Bandow and Dr Jaber - encountered a mix of ailments from itchy skin caused by the hot weather to victims of unsafe housing. Surya Bhadur, 40, had suffered bad burns when ash and cinder from an open fire had blown into his face Dr Bandow treated him with Vaseline. This acts as a barrier to prevent the wounds from becoming infected He was sent away with a tub and told to keep applying the petroleum jelly to the wound HOW YOU CAN HELP As part of its Vaseline Healing Project, the company is putting together virtual relief kits. Each kit already contains donated petroleum jelly and lotions - and you can pay to add other pre-selected medical items as you choose. Each kit item is representative of the types of supplies provided by Direct Relief, such as thermometers, emergency blankets, soap and gauze. The medical supplies are modest, but make a big difference to health workers using them to help those in need. www.vaseline.co.uk/kitbuilder Study suggests iPads are as good as a sedative at controlling anxiety Computer games are as good as drugs at helping children relax before operations, a study found. Boys and girls that played on an iPad ahead of surgery were just as calm as those given powerful sedatives. And their parents were happier overall. The find comes from a French study of 112 children aged four to ten who were having day surgery. Boys and girls that played on an iPad ahead of surgery were just as calm as those given powerful sedatives, a study found (stock photo) Computer games are as good as drugs at helping children relax before operations, a study found Half were given a sedative ahead of the anaesthetic, to calm their nerves and to help the actual anaesthetic take better. These 'pre-meds' are often given to young children but can also be used to help anxious adults relax. The other youngsters were given an iPad loaded with games 20 minutes before being wheeled into the operating theatre. Finally, the children, their parents and the theatre nurses were asked a battery of questions. The answers revealed the iPads to be as good as the midazolam sedative at controlling the children's anxiety. Plus, the nurses were more satisfied and the parents were happier overall, the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists annual conference in Hong Kong heard. Researcher Dominique Chassard, of the Hospices Civils de Lyon, said: 'Our study showed that child and parental anxiety before anaesthesia are equally blunted by midazolam or use of the iPad. 'Use of iPads or other tablet devices is a non-pharmacologic tool which can reduce stress without any sedative effect in paediatric surgery.' A teenage boy plays an Xbox 360 video game (stock photograph) Dr Chassard doesn't explain why the computer games were so helpful. But possible reasons range from simple distraction to the familiarity of playing on a computer making the experience feel less medical and so less threatening. Previous British research has found that a simple conversation can help patients relax during surgery. The University of Surrey study found chatting to a nurse and squeezing a stress ball to be better at easing stress and pain than listening to music or watching a film. The shocking toll of asthma on the nation's health and finances has been laid bare, triggering calls for an urgent overhaul of treatment. Asthma causes more than four million sick days, puts 100,000 Britons in hospital and eats up more than 1billion of the NHS's budget each year, the most detailed study of its kind found. The condition, which is often dismissed as a minor inconvenience, also kills 1,000 people a year. The shocking toll of asthma on the nation's health and finances has been laid bare, triggering calls for an urgent overhaul of treatment (File photo) Experts said given that most people should be able to manage the condition with the right support, a sea change in care is needed. The study, led by Edinburgh University researchers, used 27 different sources of NHS and government data to build a picture of the toll that asthma is taking on the nation. This includes some 6.4million GP and nurse consultations each year, 113,000 ambulance trips, 1,800 stays in intensive care and almost 3million school days spent sick. An estimated 666million is spent annually on prescription costs, with 160million on GP consultations and 137million on hospital care. Another 143million goes on disability claims taking the bill to 1.1billion, journal BMC Medicine reports. As a result, the UK has one of the highest burdens of asthma in the world, with more than 18million people treated for the condition at some stage in their life. Researcher Professor Aziz Sheikh warned: 'Even with conservative assumptions, we find almost 100,000 people are admitted to hospital and there are at least 1,000 deaths from asthma each year in the UK. This is unacceptable for a condition that, for most people, can be managed effectively with the right support from their GP. 'Greater focus on primary care is needed if we are to cut rates of severe asthma attacks, hospitalisations and deaths.' The professor also called for the development of 'innovative strategies for the prevention and early detection of asthma attacks' and for ambitious national targets for reducing asthma attacks. The study does not look at why the toll is so high. Asthma causes more than four million sick days, puts 100,000 Britons in hospital and eats up more than 1billion of the NHS's budget each year, the most detailed study of its kind found (File photo) But a landmark report by the Royal College of Physicians two years ago found that two-thirds of asthma deaths could be avoided by better care. GPs and patients were accused of complacency, with patients often not taking their medicine and many of those who died not having sought help. This could be because they underestimated the threat the condition posed or they were never told how to recognise the danger signs. When patients did seek help, warning signs were not acted on, with many of the deaths being people who had recently been to A&E or treated in hospital. There is also concern about whether drugs are being prescribed appropriately, with doctors accused of dishing out inhalers like 'fashion accessories'. Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, said: 'Despite the fact we're spending over a billion pounds a year on asthma, many people are still not receiving care that meets even the most basic clinical standards. It's clear this has to change. It is often dismissed as being all in the mind. But chronic fatigue syndrome is real, doctors said today. They have shown that people with symptoms of the debilitating condition have a specific chemical signature in their blood. Bizarrely, the changes echo those seen in hibernating animals. The discovery that CFS leaves telltale signs in the blood paves the way for better diagnosis and treatment. The illness blights the lives of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME, blights the lives of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Symptoms include extreme tiredness and painful limbs (file image of model) And by shattering the myth that CFS is all in the mind, it should help ease some of stigma surrounding the condition. Symptoms of CFS include extreme physical and mental fatigue and painful limbs. The condition can also affect memory, concentration and digestion, with some sufferers so weak they lose their job, or become bed or wheelchair-bound. It usually strikes when people are in their 20s, 30s and early-40s and was dubbed yuppie flu in the 1980s because of high rates among young professionals. Today, the cause of the illness, which is also known as known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, remains unclear and sufferers are often dismissed as malingerers. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, analysed blood samples taken from 45 people with CFS and 39 healthy individuals of the same age. This revealed a distinct set of chemical changes that were only present in the blood of those with CFS. In many of the cases, key bodily chemicals were present in lower levels than normal. Now, scientists have shown people with symptoms of the condition have a specific chemical signature in their blood. They say this disproves the theory it is 'all in the mind' Lead researcher Robert Naviaux said something similar happens when animals dial down their metabolism to hibernate. And that in CFS, the body may get stuck in this state, leading to chronic pain and disability. Writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, he said the blood test is more than 90 per accurate in spotting people with the condition. He hopes his work will lead to new treatments, as well as providing patients with a quicker route to diagnosis. Currently, patients tend to undergo a diagnostic odyssey in which doctors only settle on ME after ruling out other conditions. Dr Naviaux said: CFS is a very challenging disease. It affects multiple systems of the body. Symptoms vary and are common to many other diseases. The changes in the blood of chronic fatigue patients are also seen in hibernating animals There is no diagnostic laboratory test and patients may spend years trying to get a correct diagnosis. This work opens a fresh path to both understanding the biology of CFS and, more importantly to patients, a robust, rational way to develop new therapeutics for a disease sorely in need of them. He added the discovery of a chemical signature will help shatter the myth that CFS is all in the mind. Andrew McIntosh, an Edinburgh University psychiatrist, described the work as intriguing. But he cautioned that much more work is needed before the test is suitable for widespread use. Professor McIntosh said: There is a lot more to be done before there can be any clinical or diagnostic impact from this relatively new technology. claim doctors said the tumour could have killed her very shortly A teenager whose large brain tumour went undiagnosed for several months was horrified to be told she was just weeks from death. Lita Ruskin, 15, was turned away by various healthcare professionals over a six-month period before doctors eventually found the grapefruit-sized growth. Because it had not been detected during any of the five consultations she attended, it had grown to 10cm by 8cm. Tests also revealed the slow growing tumour was part benign and part cancerous. Lita Ruskin, 15, with her mother Emma, was turned away by various healthcare professionals over a six-month period before doctors eventually found the grapefruit-sized growth She was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool where surgeons operated on her for 22 hours in July 2014. Her mother Emma Gilchrist, 39, claims doctors said Lita would have collapsed and died 'within weeks'. Two years on, the teenager, from Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, only has a small mass behind her nose which has to be monitored every six months. But she still has to take medication - and the damage caused by the tumour has left her with behavioural and memory problems. Today her mother, a retail worker, said: 'The surgeons said it was one of the biggest tumours they had ever seen. 'It had taken over nearly half her brain They said she could have died had another week gone by.' THE DIAGNOSIS STRUGGLE The Brain Tumour Charity says a third of patients aged 24 and under saw a healthcare professional more than five times before being diagnosed. And it said one in five children waited longer than 12 months for a diagnosis. Around 25 per cent of girls were diagnosed within a month of seeing a healthcare professional, compared to 40 per cent of boys. Advertisement She added: 'I do think it should have been picked up earlier. I knew there was something seriously wrong. 'I want people to know what happened to Lita in case anyone else is going through something similar. 'It is important people understand all the symptoms of brain tumours.' The problems began in December 2013 with Lita complaining of vision problems that were dismissed by opticians. Then, when Mrs Gilchrist dialled an 999 because Lita had been violently sick, she claims paramedics said she had 'vomiting bug' and didn't take her to hospital. Her face also began to droop. A GP diagnosed Bell's Palsy - a condition which causes temporary weakness on one side - and prescribed a four-week course of antiobiotics. But by May 2014, Lita was complaining she could not read texts on her phone. Because it had not been detected during any of the five consultations she attended, it had grown to 10cm by 8cm She visited her local optician three times in six weeks, but was apparently told she was 'lying to get glasses like her big sister'. Finally, in July 2014, Lita's vision got so bad she said it was 'like looking through a pinhole'. An eye examination by a child specialist optician revealed her optic nerves were being 'squashed' . A a CT scan at the Royal Stoke University Hospital the revealed the giant tumour. Two years on, Lita still has to take medication - and the damage caused by the tumour has left her with behavioural and memory problems It had grown to such a size that it was pressing on Lita's optic nerves, hence her sight problems. Today, her furious mother said: 'Way back when I called the ambulance, if she had been given a scan, the tumour would have been found. 'I remember looking at her and it seemed like she'd had a stroke and was staring straight ahead. I was so worried.' She added: 'I actually asked the doctor at that point whether she could have a brain tumour but he said no, they were very rare. 'She never suffered headaches but she did have other symptoms. I'm just so glad I was persistent and I'd urge others to do the same.' Lita's father Shaun, who designs bathroom equipment, added: 'It's worrying how close she came. 'After her operation we were told had it gone on undetected, she would have just collapsed in the street one day - and that would have been it. 'We were also told it would have been within a week or so.' He added: 'It's also not over yet, we have our ups and downs. And there's still a chance it could come back. Lenses contain a drug that is released slowly and steadily over 100 days but many don't like them Glaucoma patients may soon be able to swap fiddly eye drops for state-of-the-art contact lenses. Doctors have invented lenses that slowly dispense medication into the eye. In animal tests, they have been at least as good as traditional eye drops at treating glaucoma, the second biggest cause of blindness worldwide. The US researchers said if further tests prove the lenses worth, millions of peoples sight could be spared. Doctors have invented lenses that slowly dispense medication into the eye. The drug is packed into a film that releases it slowly and steadily for up to 100 days With glaucoma, a build-up of pressure damages the optic nerve, the vital link between the eye and brain. Eye drops cant repair the damage but they can stop it from getting worse. However, they are unpopular with patients, who find them difficult to self-administer and complain the medicine burns and stings. As a result, as few as half of patients use the drops properly. Scientists have tried to make drug-dispensing contact lenses before, but have struggled to control the rate at which the medicine is released. Now, researchers from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary have packed the drug in a polymer film that releases it slowly and steadily for up to 100 days. The drug-polymer film sits at the edge of the lens, leaving the centre clear enough to see through. In tests on monkeys with glaucoma, lenses that dispensed a low dose of the glaucoma drug latanoprost were just as good as drops at reducing the damaging pressure rise in the eye. And lenses packed with a high dose of drug were better, the journal Ophthalmology reports. Drug-filled eye drops can slow progression of the condition glaucoma, but many people don't like them as they are fiddly Researcher Dr Joseph Ciolino said: Based on our preliminary data, the lenses have not only the potential to improve compliance for patients, but also the potential of providing better pressure reduction than the drops. If we can address the problem of compliance, we may help patients adhere to the therapy necessary to maintain vision in diseases like glaucoma, saving millions from preventable blindness. This study also raises the possibility that we may have an option for glaucoma that's more effective than what we have today. A drug currently used to treat tapeworms could beat the Zika virus, according to a groundbreaking new study. In a series of experiments, researchers found the existing medication is highly effective at stopping the deadly virus from replicating in the body. The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Florida State University (FSU), Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health. It has been hailed as a medical breakthrough as federal regulators race to find treatment for the infection, which is spreading through the US. A drug called Niclosamide - an approved medication for tapeworm - halts the spread of Zika WHAT IS NICLOSAMIDE? Niclosamide is an anthelmintic. Anthelmintics kill or stun parasites, forcing them to pass out of the body in the infected person's stool. Niclosamide is prescribed by doctors to treat broad or fish tapeworm, dwarf tapeworm, and beef tapeworm infections. It does not work for pinworms or roundworms. However, it does work for Zika, according to new clinical tests. Advertisement Professor Hengli Tang, of FSU, said: 'We focused on compounds that have the shortest path to clinical use. 'This is a first step toward a therapeutic that can stop transmission of this disease.' Profossor Tang and his colleagues identified two different groups of compounds that could potentially be used to treat Zika. One stops the virus from replicating, and the other that stops the virus from killing foetal brain cells, also called neuroprogenitor cells. One of the identified compounds is the basis for a drug called Niclosamide - an approved drug that showed no danger to pregnant women in animal studies. It is currently available as a treatment for tapeworm. Researchers said the drug could be prescribed by a doctor today, although further tests are still needed to determine a specific treatment regime for the infection. Although the Zika virus was first discovered in 1947, little was known about how it worked and its potential health implications - especially among pregnant women - until last year's outbreak in South America. The virus can cause abnormally small heads in unborn babies, known as microcephaly, leading them to be born with severe birth defects. Professor Tang said: 'It's so dramatic and irreversible. 'The probability of Zika-induced microcephaly occurring doesn't appear to be that high, but when it does, the damage is horrible.' Researchers around the world have been working to better understand the disease - which can be transmitted both by mosquito bite and through a sexual partner - and also to develop medical treatments. Earlier this year, Professor Tang's team was the first to show that the Zika virus caused cellular phenotypes consistent with microcephaly. They subsequently screened 6,000 compounds that were either already approved or were in the process of a clinical trial because they could be made more quickly available to people infected by Zika. Professor Hongjun Song, of Johns Hopkins University, said: 'It takes years if not decades to develop a new drug. 'In this sort of global health emergency, we don't have time. So instead of using new drugs, we chose to screen existing drugs. 'In this way, we hope to create a therapy much more quickly.' Now the researchers are continuing to work on the compounds and hope to begin testing the drugs on animals infected with Zika in the 'near future.' The latest findings were published by the journal Nature Medicine. Federal regulators have issued emergency authorization for a new Zika test that can detect the virus in just two hours. The move to bypass normal approval channels comes amid a race to diagnose and treat the growing number of Americans contracting the mosquito-borne virus. Developed by Swiss drugmaker Roche, the test allows doctors to quickly identify the infection in patients whose symptoms may not be conclusive. The news, announced on Monday, comes after it emerged a Maryland man with no symptoms of Zika managed to pass the virus to his sexual partner after traveling to the Dominican Republic. The move to bypass normal approval channels comes amid a race to diagnose and treat the growing number of Americans contracting the mosquito-borne virus (pictured) Zika, detected in Brazil and elsewhere last year before spreading to the Americas, is associated with microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by an unusually small head and potential developmental problems. As of last week, the United States had reported 2,517 Zika cases, 29 of which were likely acquired locally in Florida through mosquito bites. The rest were brought in by travelers, according to the CDC. Some 9,000 additional cases have been reported in U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico. With FDA approval, Roche's test now can be used to screen patients exhibiting Zika symptoms that meet CDC criteria, including fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. Samples will be sent for analysis to specially-certified U.S. laboratories with the appropriate equipment, a Roche spokesman said. 'The LightMix Zika test is an easy-to-use molecular diagnostic test that enables healthcare professionals to quickly detect the virus,' said Uwe Oberlaender, the head of molecular diagnostics at Basel-based Roche. The FDA issues such Emergency Use Authorization during public health emergencies, to quickly deploy unapproved medical products for as long as they are needed. A patient has been diagnosed with the mosquito-borne infection in Pinellas County. The area just outside Tampa is 265 miles away from Miami on the other side of the peninsula As Zika cases caused by local Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Florida mount and travelers from elsewhere continue to arrive with the disease, the FDA last week recommend universal testing of donated blood across the United States. In March, Roche won separate investigational approval from the FDA for its Cobas 6800/8800 testing system to be used to test blood at U.S. blood centers including in Puerto Rico, where about 1 percent of donated blood has so far tested positive for the virus. In Brazil, Zika virus has been linked to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly, and U.S. officials expect as many as 270 cases in Puerto Rico. An unprecented study has explored the devastating impact the 9/11 attacks had on rescue workers' brains. The new research by Stony Brook University confirms the connection between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia. It focused specifically on those who helped with search, rescue and cleanup efforts following the 2001 World Trade Center attacks. Of the 800 first-responders surveyed, with an average of 53, more than 100 showed early signs of brain degeneration that could lead to Alzheimer's. Ten had signs of early onset dementia. Those who most frequently re-lived that devastating day in their mind were more likely to develop symptoms of brain degeneration, the study authors reported. New research by Stony Brook University confirms the connection between post-traumatic stress disorder and brain diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia in 9/11 rescue workers The research, published in the Journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, suggests thousands more rescuers who were not involved in the study could be at risk of developing brain diseases. During the World Trade Center attacks, responders who helped in search, rescue, and recovery endured an array of traumatic and toxic exposures. According to the study authors, one-fifth of these individuals subsequently developed PTSD. In July 2002, the CDC initiated a monitoring and treatment program for WTC responders, spanning five clinical centers. Since then, more than 33,000 responders have enrolled in the WTC Health Program. Stony Brook University runs the second largest clinical center, monitoring more than 8,000 responders residing on Long Island, New York. The latest study was carried out between January 2014 and April 2015. Trained clinicians administered the mental assessment of multiple short-form tests. These included reasoning, concentration, problem solving, and memory. After that, trained psychologists examined the participants for both PTSD and major depressive disorder. They found that the most developed brain impairment was seen in responders from lower education, non-law enforcement occupations like construction, older age, and were more likely to be current smokers. PTSD has been previously linked to cognitive impairment in veterans. Our results show re-experiencing symptoms is an early marker of mental pathology Dr Sean A. Clouston, Stony Brook A large study of veterans found that PTSD was associated with a two-fold increase in the risk of incident dementia. But this is the first to specifically look at the 9/11 attacks. 'To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the association of PTSD and major depressive disorder with cognitive impairment in a large group of civilian World Trade Center responders without head injury,' said Dr Sean A. Clouston, first author on the article. 'These numbers are staggering, considering that the average age of responders was 53 during this study. 'If our results are replicable, doctors need to be aware of the impact of cognitive impairment among individuals who have experienced traumatic events leading to PTSD. 'For example, cognitive impairment can compound the course of PTSD and depression, impairing the person beyond the impact of PTSD itself.' Cognitive impairment and dementia can reduce a person's ability to properly take their medicine, make and attend their appointments, and other important aspects of managing chronic disease. Early diagnosis is key as the policymakers struggle with a rapidly ageing society. 'This is a problem we must solve,' said Dr Maria Carrillo, Alzheimer's Association chief science officer. 'The silver lining in these troubling new findings is that they will help us better understand the relationship between PTSD, cognition and dementia. Muzaffer Wani, the father of dead Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, has defended his meeting with spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Wani said on Sunday that when his son was killed, Sri Sri expressed condolences to him and said if he ever visits Bengaluru he should meet him. Muzaffer Wani, who is the Principal of a Government School, told Mail Today: A few days after the martyrdom of my son Burhan, I got a call from Sri Sri. He expressed condolences and sympathies over my sons martyrdom. And he desired for a meeting whenever I visit Bangalore. Muzaffer Wani (right), the father of dead Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, says spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a man of peace who has offered him comfort He said he had seen Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Dr. Zakir Naiks show and known him as a person who always stands in favour of peace and upholds spiritual values. He said he talked to Sri Sri by phone in July. He does not want his meeting with Sri Sri to be construed as any involvement in direct or indirect politics. Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in a gunfight on July 8, prompting ongoing protests in Srinagar He said he had sought an appointment at the Sri Sri Rama (Ayurvedic) Hospital of Bengaluru three months ago. During his short meeting there this week, Wani urged Sri Sri to ask the central government to initiate a three-way dialogue with Pakistan and the Hurriyat Conference in order to settle the Kashmir issue. He said he informed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar that the national media was not projecting the real picture of Kashmir to the Indian masses. Wani said he preferred to spend time in the Ashram rather than in a hospital for safety and security reasons. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also condoled the death of Burhan on the very first day of my visit, he added. Wani said Sri Sri Ravi Shankar asked him to suggest something for the restoration of peace in Kashmir. National Conference spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu said he was not sure what happened in the meeting. PM Modi must rein in rabid Hindu ideologists keen to bully people who don't share their views Nationality is an accident by birth. In my deepest prayers I have wished to re-incarnate again as a Hindu-Indian, despite the flaws in inequity of caste, gender, or economic disparity within my country. Yes, flaws abound, but are my sentiments seditious or secessionist in their expression for change? Were I to fly to Rome for Mother Teresas canonisation, would Modi-bhakts troll me for being a sickular\anti-nationalist? India was once an amalgam of states and is now a federation, embracing multi-cultural diversity and respecting plurality. How can the multitude be bullied into conformity? Which party or individual holds the patent or propriety to Indutva? There is a growing untenable position adopted on sedition by those in power, reminiscent of the British who punished natives fighting for freedom from oppression. Neither holding a flag nor chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai would sanctify me as a nationalist. This is just symbolic cultural nationalism. As a patriot, my sentiments go much beyond tokenism. Threat The creeping fascism being introduced into the BJP by right-wing Hindu evangelists threatens to condemn as a traitor anyone who is a beef-eater, pro-Pakistan, or does not hail the chant of Bharat Mata. This is nationalism as viewed through a rabid prism. Whether its vigilantism or extending the seditious arm of the law to muzzle student or social movements that are in conflict with the government or RSS, they will try to bully anyone whose position is contrary to their Idea of India. A creeping fascism is being introduced into the BJP by right-wing Hindu evangelists. (File picture of Kashmiri protesters) The fact is that the BJP rose to power on the back of a social coalition of the Hindutva Parivars cadres, and the Sangh and the saffron party need each other to expand their social and political footprint. The PM can neither silence the hardliners or dispense with them at will by sending them back to their shakhas, because of the diarchical structure of governance. We experienced dyarchy, meant to be a symbiotic sharing of responsibilities, during the UPA, when Sonia Gandhi managed party affairs and the PM functioned as the administrative head. In an ideal division of labour, shared power between two vertical heads works for the greater good of the citizenry. But when the two function as polar opposites with separate agendas, it works to the detriment of the populace. Ram Mandir, the hyper-nationalistic symbol of the last century that unified Hindus, cannot be replayed by the BJP in 2016 to unite the majority community and isolate as seditious anyone at variance with the Parivar ideology. Modi the futurist is a progressive with an incremental economic agenda, yet he is unable to control culturally and socially the tyranny of dogma that is drowning the voice of reason. An orchestrated fear is beginning to silence the voice of innocence. When RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat appeals to Hindus to procreate more to counter the imaginary rise in Muslim demographics, or when Dalits are flogged by Hindu gau rakshaks in Una, it reveals the underbelly of Hindu radicalism at its worst. It is the same Parivar Modi has to rely on, as the crucial UP polls near, to help the saffron cause. Sedition How does actor Ramyas pleasantry, "Pakistan is not hell, people there are like us", come within the ambit of sedition? Even in the victimization of cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, the Bombay High Court opined expressing disapproval of government by lawful means without violence cannot come under Section 124(A). Activism to rectify the perceived injustices of an errant state is reformist, and cannot be deemed seditious by intent. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat appeals to Hindus to procreate more to counter the imaginary rise in Muslim demographics. Hardik Patels agitation demanding reservations for Patidars, or JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumars activism are an extension of the same challenges, where status quoism and the official line of thinking chain any liberated thinker. Agitation Campus life is about critical thinking, activism for creative disruptions in politics, and democratic dissent. Sedition claims cannot be unleashed on a whim to muzzle liberals, artists, and civil society. Section 124(A), a draconian law left behind by the British, originated with the aim to stifle dissent against freedom fighters. It has been revoked in the UK. The law applied to those who intended to excite disaffection against His Majesty. Who is the majesty in the context of India - a non-radical, free thinker, or the imperious state? If the CBI was the caged parrot of the UPA to torment the Opposition, and tax-terrorism was the hallmark of its regime, then oppressive vigilantism and sedition charges are becoming the BJPs signature method of scaring student movements or agitators into submission. Mahatma Gandhi said in 1922 when facing trial for sedition: "We desire to show that the government exists to serve the people, not the government. No empire intoxicated with the red wine of power has yet lived long enough in this world. Midway into its term, the BJP has a chance to course-correct by reining in extremists before the 2019 elections. Voters will reward Modi for how hard he tried to mitigate the injustices of 60 years of inequitable growth, striving to deliver jobs and prosperity. But we the people will be unforgiving if freedom of expression is curtailed, and we cannot exercise our rights in a mature democracy. Hollywood superstar Will Smith was the toast of the guest list on Sunday evening, when Bollywood macho-man Akshay Kumar hosted a grand party to celebrate his hat-trick of hits so far this year. Akshay has been having a dream run in 2016, what with all his releases - Airlift, Housefull 3 and Rustom - having entered the 100-crore club. The 48-year-old superstar, naturally in a jubilant mood these days, invited close friends and industry colleagues over to his residence for the party. Will Smith accepted the party invitation extended by Akshay Kumar Smith, who was recently seen in the multi-starrer superhero flick Suicide Squad in the role of Deadshot, flew in on a surprise visit to Mumbai and was happy to accept Akshays invitation. The Hollywood star was overjoyed to get a chance to meet so many Bollywood personalities under the same roof at the same time. Dressed in casuals, Akshay and his wife Twinkle Khanna played the perfect hosts as the guests partied the night away. While Sonakshi Sinha (right) waved at the cameras, Arjun Kapoor (left) was graceful enough to get down to pose for snappers He also took out time from his busy evenings schedule to graciously escort Smith outside his residence, to pose for a few photo-ops with the Hollywood superstar. Meanwhile, the party action went on in full swing inside. Ranbir Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and Sonam Kapoor were spotted letting their hair down. Varun Dhawan arrived with filmmaker Karan Johar and actress Jacqueline Fernandez. Varun Dhawan was accompanied by his Dishoom co star Jacqueline Fernandez in his car Alia Bhatt and Sharddha Kapoor, who are said to be the new BFFs in B-Town, landed at the party together in the same car. The Dishoom duo of Varun and Jacqueline posed with Alia for a snapshot with Will Smith. Jacqueline later posted the picture on Instagram, captioned: OMG #freshprinceofbelair (sic). Sonakshi also put up a picture with Smith on social media, with the caption: Will Smith in da house! Welcome to India (sic). Alia Bhatt (left) and Sharddha Kapoor (right) who are said to be the new BFFs, landed at the party together in the same car While most of the stars chose to drive straight though, waving at the shutterbugs and press persons who had gathered, Arjun Kapoor was cordial enough to stop his car, step out and give a few photo-ops. He cut an imposing picture in a Pathani suit. Also spotted at the party were filmmakers Ayan Mukerji and Rohit Dhawan, besides actors Esha Gupta and Pooja Batra. Akshays mother-in-law Dimple Kapadia was also present at the do. With Rustom, which released on Independence Day, Akshays quota of releases in 2016 is full. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has approved a number of non-lethal mechanisms for mob control in the Kashmir valley. While pellet guns will continue to be in use, additional checks are being put in place before they are used to disperse a murderous mob of stone-pelters and rioters, top sources told India Today. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be leading an all-party delegation to Srinagar on September 4, when he is expected to make an announcement as a confidence-building measure. The Government is preparing to deploy new non-lethal weapons in Kashmir to help control ongoing protests from stone-throwing youths The panel set up on the instructions of Home Minister Rajnath Singh recommended the use of chilli-pepper canisters with a soft nose for mob control, sources privy to the recommendations said. As a pilot project, armour-plated water-canons which fire slugs of water will also be introduced in the valley. Additional restrictions have been placed on the use of pellet guns. The pump action guns will not be completely removed but they will be used as almost the last resort. The violent mob will be filmed on camera and then the senior most officer on ground will take a decision on the use of pellet guns. He will then have to justify the use of pellet guns, sources said. Before a pellet gun is used, chilli-pepper canisters will be fired. The chilli-pepper canister has a range of approximately 100 metres when fired from a 38 mm gas gun. It works by irritating the target's eyes, skin, and nose. These are non-lethal but effective eye, skin and nose irritants. They will cause the eyes and nose to water and skin to feel itchy. Security Personnel who fire these shells or grenades will wear special clothing and will have a mask to cover their face and eyes in case of change in wind direction, the official said. The chemical irritant in the chilli-pepper canister severely affects the eyes, respiratory system and mucous membranes of the nose and throat. This leads to instant but temporary disorientation and causes a mob to split up. The panel also recommended the use of soft, rubber-nose plastic shells. The advantage will be that should the shell directly hit a stone-pelter, the soft rubber nose will prevent any serious injuries to the individual. Plastic shells will break on impact, and unlike the aluminium canister the mob cannot lift and hurl the canister back at the security forces. Security forces could also use chilli-pepper chemical water, which causes irritation, or pungent-smelling water that will force mobs to disperse The chilli-pepper canister has a range of approximately 100 metres when fired from a 38 mm gas gun. There are options for multiple canisters being fired from the top of a riotcontrol vehicle. This mechanism is expected to effectively push back the mob and give breathing space to the security forces to contain the situation. The Centre has also approved the use of water canons in the valley. In the narrow lanes of downtown Srinagar or in South Kashmir, big water bowsers cannot be used. Therefore the plan is to mount a water tank on a powerful mid-size truck and instead of firing a jet of water use slugs of water. The high-velocity slugs result in the mob being pushed back without causing any fatal injuries, sources said. There is also an option to use chilli-pepper chemical water which causes irritation, or pungent-smelling water that will force mobs to disperse. A successful option overseas, it is used with coloured dye in water to identify trouble-makers subsequently. The CRPF is already experimenting with the long-range acoustic devices in the Valley. Such a device produces a high-pitched sound that forces a person to cover his ears and stop stone-pelting. It temporarily disorients a rioter. The CRPF and J&K police are analyzing the impact of these acoustic devices. In the US, these devices have been deployed along with laser dazzlers to disorient and disperse mobs. However, unlike in the US, the mobs here are far more violent and lethal occasionally lobbing grenades and using assault rifles. In such a situation when lethal and fatal force is used by the mob or terrorists hiding behind the mob, the forces will be at their discretion to use either pellet guns or assault rifles, sources added. The security forces including the Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police and CRPF have been reaching out to the youth, their parents and clerics in their respective areas of responsibility advising them to avoid confrontation and loss of life and injuries. It is hoped the multi-pronged strategy will succeed in preventing a repeat of the tension seen after the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani. NIA notice to Geelani's son By Naseer Ganai in Srinagar The National Investigation Agency (NIA) issued a notice to Dr Syed Naeem Geelani, eldest son of the senior separatist leader and Hurriyat Conference chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, on Monday. It asks him to report for questioning at Shivpora Srinagar, a Hurriyat Conference spokesman said. The spokesman said that after miserably failing to curb the current mass uprising through its military might, the Indian government is "frustrated" to the extent of being out to frame and arrest separatist leaders and activists. The Hurriyat said the actions of the NIA would not make any difference to Syed Ali Geelani's commitment to the Kashmiri cause. He said the NIA had been given the task of making up cases against separatist leaders and dragging these cases to Delhi to pressurise the separatist leadership. Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani waves to supporters outside his house in Srinagar Dr Naeem, who is seen accompanying Geelani, studied an MBBS at the Government Medical College in Srinagar, and a post-graduate degree at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science, Islamabad. In September 2010, Dr Naeem returned to Kashmir after staying in Pakistan for over a decade. Inspector General of the NIA, SK Singh, who is also its Public Relations Officer, didnt answer the phone to share details. According to sources, the top level NIA team has been in Srinagar for the past week to prepare a list of people whose bank accounts have shown suspicious transactions over the past few months. Sources claim that the agency has approached banks and financial institution for assistance to prepare the list to probe the funding of unlawful activities. The NIA officials have previously told reporters that there are some accounts which are under the scanner, and that they would be investigated as the accounts are in the names of people whose earnings dont warrant such banking transactions. J&K Police are assisting the NIA team and providing logistic and technical support. The Hurriyat has hardened its stand after the notice, saying that as in the past, the government will not achieve anything by such an exercise. The Hurriyat Conference has said that all programmes of the conglomerate should be followed in letter and spirit. The move against Geelanis son indicates the Mufti-led governments tough stand against the separatist leaders. A day after Union minister of state for tourism and culture Mahesh Sharma advised female visitors not to wear skirts in India, foreign tourists unanimously said they feel unsafe and uncomfortable in shorts while travelling around the country. On Monday, Mail Today spoke to a few foreign nationals who are visiting Delhi, discussing the Union ministers no skirts diktat which he gave during a press conference in Agra on Sunday. I dont like to wear short dresses when travelling in India. People look at us differently if we wear short clothes. It is really very disturbing, said Eleonora, an Italian national who works as a freelance food writer. Hannah (left) a student from Munich, and Eleonora (right), a food critic from Italy, both felt they would attract unwanted attention if they wore short clothes in India She said that short dresses attract unnecessary attention in India. And it does not feel safe either, Eleonora added. Sharma on Sunday suggested that foreigners visiting India should avoid wearing skirts in small towns or going out alone at night. The remarks triggered outrage on the micro-blogging site Twitter, with many criticising the statement. Sharma clarified his stand on Monday morning, saying that he was referring only to religious places and that he spoke out of concern. I am a father of two daughters... I would never tell women what they should wear or not. Our culture is Atithi Devobhava (a guest is almost like God to us). Such a ban is unimaginable, but it is not a crime to be cautious. Different countries issue advisories from time to time. I have not asked anyone to change their way of dressing, the minister told reporters on Monday. I feel what one wears is a very personal choice. I am very comfortable in short attires. But when in India, I cannot wear them comfortably, especially when I travel alone. But yes, when I travel in a group and if my friends are around, I certainly can. Because then I know I am safe, said Jean, a tourist from Malaysia. Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said he had not told anyone to change their way of dressing, and had only advised women to be aware Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a staunch critic of the BJP government at the Centre, didnt miss the chance to take potshots at Sharma. The Delhi CM tweeted on Monday: Women had greater freedom to wear clothes of their choice in vedic times than they have in Modi times. Kejriwals post also got him trolled on Twitter to a great extent. I feel better when I wear long dresses. If I wear short outfits, people stare at me in weird ways. They also try to get closer. I do feel unsafe when I go out alone. In Germany, it is not a problem at all. You can wear whatever you wish and people will not even look at you. You will never feel uncomfortable, said Hannah, a student from Munich. Sharma also received scathing criticism from other members of the Aam Aadmi Party. Former civil service chief Gus O'Donnell recently said UK would not leave He dismissed ' Brexit means Brexit' as 'gobbledygook is gobbledygook' Professor Thom Brooks said: 'I do not think Article 50 will be invoked' Professor Thom Brooks claimed Article 50 the formal process of leaving the European Union is unlikely to ever be invoked Britain will never actually leave the EU because Boris Johnson and other leading Brexiteers did not realise how massively complex the process would be, a leading expert has said. Professor Thom Brooks warned Article 50 the formal process of leaving the European Union is unlikely to ever be invoked. The head of Durham University Law School said Brexit-supporting ministers would decide unpicking nearly half a century of European law was too difficult and row back on their commitment to leaving. And he dismissed Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit means Brexit pledge as similar to saying 'gobbledygook is gobbledygook' as it did not necessarily mean exiting the EU. Professor Brooks, who advised the Electoral Commission on the wording of the referendum question, told MailOnline: I do not think Article 50 will be invoked. The closer the government looks at what is actually involved in leaving then the less likely they are going to be jumping ship. There is a 42 year evolving legal relationship that is not so easy to unpick. It is an absolutely massive task. The immigration expert, whose research has been quoted in the House of Lords, predicted Brexit ministers would row back on their commitment to Leave and call for a second referendum. Professor Brooks said Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson had only backed leave for political point scoring. And he called Brexit-supporting International Trade Secretary Liam Fox naive for not realising the sheer enormity of the task the Government would face if Article 50 was enacted. I expect May will have Boris and other Brexiteers submit a plan for a second referendum. He added: I expect May will have Boris and other Brexiteers submit a plan for a second referendum. This will be presented as the government's best efforts to honour the previous referendum result - however far short it may fall of Britain leaving the EU altogether. This second referendum will either see Britain changing its mind on Brexit or voting for something other than a full withdrawal. Professor Brook's comments come after former cabinet secretary Gus O'Donnell angered Eurosceptics by saying Britain could stay in a 'broader, more loosely aligned group'. The immigration expert, whose research has been quoted in the House of Lords, said Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson (left) had only backed leave for political point scoring He told The Times that whatever happens the UK would have to keep some EU laws, prompting UKIP MP Dominic Carswell to accuse him of having a 'contempt of democracy'. The lecturer's claims were firmly denied by both the Foreign Office and the Department for Exiting the European Union, which insisted Article 50 would be invoked. A Foreign Office spokesman said: The Prime Minister has been very clear on this issue. Brexit means Brexit. The Department for Exiting the European Union said: I would refer you to the Prime Ministers previous comments. 'Brexit means Brexit. We will be invoking Article 50. Former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has called on Article 50 to be triggered as soon as possible to avoid a 'neverendum'. But despite pressure from European leaders, Mrs May has insisted she will not look at starting the process which begins two years of formal negotiations for an exit settlement until early next year. The claims were denied by both the Foreign Office and the Department for Exiting the European Union. Pictured is University College, Durham University Earlier this month, a Tory peer suggested the Lords could withhold support for invoking Article 50, despite 52 per cent of Britons backing Leave in the June 24 referendum. Baroness Wheatcroft, who backed Remain, suggested there were dozens of peers who want to stop, delay or 'revisit' the result. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also vowed to block Brexit alongside Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron. Emerged on Sunday; said simulation showed mission to Mars was possible and that t echnological and psychological obstacles can be overcome Mission was commissioned in the hope of better understanding space travel and life on the red planet They have had little communication, and could only leave their 11 metre-wide pod wearing a space suit Six scientists have been living on the dormant Hawaiian volcano since August 2015 Advertisement Six scientists who spent a year in near isolation to simulate life on Mars finally came out of their dome in Hawaii on Sunday. The group spent 12 months in a dome on Mauna Loa volcano , 8,500 feet above sea level. They could go outside only if they wore spacesuits, to explore a barren landscape as similar to Mars' environment as planet Earth can get. As the simulation ended on Sunday, the crew came out and announced the simulation had shown a mission to Mars could succeed in the near future. Six scientists emerged out of a dome in Hawaii on Sunday (pictured) after spending a year in near isolation to simulate living conditions on planet Mars For 12 months, the crew members (pictured during their exit Sunday) lived on Mauna Loa volcano, 8,500 feet above sea level, and could only go out wearing spacesuits The scientists (pictured exiting the dome on Sunday) were able to find their own water in a dry climate - which was as close to Mars' environment as possible on planet Earth 'I can give you my personal impression which is that a mission to Mars in the close future is realistic. I think the technological and psychological obstacles can be overcome,' crew member Cyprien Verseux, from France, said. The Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) replicated living conditions on Mars to address problems that may arise in future space missions. Scientists in the Hawaii simulation managed limited resources while conducting research and working to avoid personal conflicts. They managed to find their own water in a dry climate, according to participant Christiane Heinicke, from Germany. 'Showing that it works, you can actually get water from the ground that is seemingly dry. It would work on Mars and the implication is that you would be able to get water on Mars from this little greenhouse construct,' she said. 'I can give you my personal impression which is that a mission to Mars in the close future is realistic,' participant Cyprien Verseux (pictured), from France, said WHAT WAS THE HI-SEAS MISSION? The Hi-Seas (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) mission's crews spent months 8,500 feet above sea level in a geodesic-dome habitat on the northern slope of the Mauna Loa volcano. The volcano is a barren landscape, an abandoned quarry with little vegetation that's as similar to Mars' landscape as planet Earth can get. The crew members lived under Mars-like conditions. According to Hi-Seas 'communication latencies and blackouts, in close quarters, under strict water-use rules, etc' are part of the deal. The food study was designed to test food preparation strategies for long-term space exploration. Hi-Seas aimed to address problems that may be encountered in future space missions by simulating exploration in areas of the world similar to space environments. The third mission started on 15 October 2014 and lasted for eight months, while the final mission lasting a year began in August 2015. Advertisement The researchers are now looking forward to getting in the ocean and eating fresh produce, as well as other foods that weren't available in the dome. The simulation, funded by NASA and run through the University of Hawaii. was the second-longest of its kind after a mission that lasted 520 days in Russia. Tristan Bassingthwaighte, a doctor of architecture candidate at University of Hawaii, served as the crew's architect. 'The UH research going on up here is just super vital when it comes to picking crews, figuring out how people are going to actually work on different kinds of missions, and sort of the human factors element of space travel, colonization, whatever it is you are actually looking at,' Bassingthwaighte said. The Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) (pictured) replicated living conditions on Mars to address problems that may arise in future space missions Crew members were allowed to leave the dome in case of emergencies, for example if family members got ill. Their small bedrooms are pictured on the dome's upper level To prevent claustrophobia, the dome had a six-metre-high ceiling and was tiered in two floors. Each tiny bedroom (four are pictured) could contain little more than a single bed The kitchen area (pictured) had no fresh produce until the crew's crops grew. They are now looking forward to enjoying fresh fruit and vegetables Participants managed to find water even though the ground seemed dry. One of them is pictured stepping outside in a spacesuit, as if on a Mars mission More than 40 people have been infected by the Zika virus in Singapore, the Ministry of Health has confirmed. Singapore announced its first Zika infection in May, with the virus imported by a 48-year-old man who had traveled to Brazil. On Sunday, the Ministry of Health confirmed 41 locally transmitted cases of the virus. The patients were 'not known to have traveled to Zika-affected areas recently, and are thus likely to have been infected in Singapore,' The ministry said in a statement. 'This confirms that local transmission of Zika virus infection has taken place.' Scroll down for video More than 40 people have been infected by the Zika virus in Singapore, the Ministry of Health has confirmed A traveller walks past a travel advisory on the Zika virus infection in Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia Of the 41 infected, 36 are foreign construction workers and one is a 47-year-old Malaysian woman, identified by authorities as the first locally transmitted case. Seven patients remain at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and the Ministry warns that it cannot rule out 'further community transmission in Singapore since some of those tested positive also live or work in other parts of Singapore.' 'We expect to identity more positive cases,' their statement said. Over 200 workers are spraying insecticide and cleaning drains in the infected areas on the island's south east on the orders of Singapore's National Environment Agency. The workers are allowed to forcefully enter buildings in order to destroy mosquito habitats, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Zika is spread by the Aedes mosquito and those infected can often show no symptoms The virus has mild effects on most people, but can be fatal for unborn children. Infection during pregnancy can result in babies with small heads a condition called microcephaly and other brain defects. Malaysia has stepped up surveillance at main transit points with Singapore, where Zika prevention leaflets are being handed out. Over 200 workers are spraying insecticide and cleaning drains in the infected areas on the island's south east on the orders of Singapore's National Environment Agency Seven patients remain at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and the Ministry warns that Singapore can expect to identity more positive cases Zika is spread by the Aedes mosquito and those infected can often show no symptoms. Infection during pregnancy can result in babies with small heads Three years of unresolved pay conditions will see Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) staff begin a two week strike. The industrial action started today across Australia in response to failed pay negotiations by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), ABC reported. BoM employees who are members of the CPSU will not update the Twitter feed, respond to media requests, answer emails or phone calls, unless there is a severe weather event. People out and about in the rain, Pitt Street Mall, Sydney 'This is definitely a last resort for our members,' CPSU deputy secretary Beth Vincent-Pietsch told ABC. Ms Vincent-Pietsch said there have been significant restructures in the bureau resulting in job insecurity as they move to automate weather services. 'Our members just want to be able to keep what they've got in terms of paying conditions, and just have a fair pay rise put on the table and I don't that there is anyone that thinks that isn't a reasonable ask.' It follows earlier industrial action in the year by BoM and other public service organisations over failed pay negotiations. BoM, Australia's national weather, climate and water agency currently employs 1,500 people across the country. A rain storm passes through the western suburbs of Sydney A desperate search is underway for a mother and her two young children who went missing from their home near Melbourne on the weekend. Holly Mancell, 31, and her children Chloe Mancell, 12, and Liam Rusbridge, 6, were last seen at their house in Coldstream at 10am on Saturday. Police and family have concerns for their welfare as Ms Mancell has a medical condition that requires medication. Authorities believe the family may be in the Yarra Ranges, Ringwood or Bayside areas. A desperate search is underway for a missing mother and her two young children (pictured), who were last seen near their home in Coldstream on Saturday morning Ms Mancell is described as 170cm tall, of a thin build and with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing dark track pants and a light-coloured long sleeve top. The missing mother also has two distinct tattoos - a Chinese symbol on the back of her neck and her children's names on her right forearm. Chloe is described as 160cm tall with a thin build and long dark hair. Liam is described as 140cm tall, thin build and short brown hair. He was last seen wearing jeans and a red and grey hooded jumper. Anyone who sees them is urged to contact Lilydale Police Station on 9739 2300. The government is being attacked by Chinese hackers 'on a daily basis', the Prime Minister's cyber security adviser says. The hackers have targeted government departments such as the Australian Trade and Investment Commission [Austrade], the Defence Department's Defence Science Technology Group and satellite company Newsat Ltd over the past five years. According to an ABC Four Corners report, the security breaches have also infiltrated government and corporate computer networks with 'highly confidential' plans for a privately funded satellite. Newsat Ltd was so thoroughly breached in a cyber attack that it had to rebuild its whole network (stock image) Malcolm Turnbull's cyber security adviser said the government was attacked 'on a daily basis' (stock image) Malcolm Turnbull's cyber security adviser, Alastair MacGibbon Newsat Ltd was so thoroughly breached its whole network had to be secretively reconstructed. The report said intelligence sources believed the attacks from China had been backed by the country's government. Malcolm Turnbull's cyber security adviser, Alastair MacGibbon, said attacks occurred daily and many were never discussed. But a Chinese Embassy spokesman refuted the claims, saying they had no basis. Austrade has been the repeated target of attacks, including three major cases of infiltration in 2011, 2013 and 2014, the ABC reported. A Chinese Embassy spokesman has denied the country backs cyber attacks upon Australia A source from the intelligence community said Austrade was 'inherently vulnerable' because it operated internationally but relied on local staff. Earlier in 2016, the Bureau of Meteorology [BoM] was breached in a large scale attack, but the real objective may have been defence resources involved with the Bureau's abilities to collect information. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed the attack on the Bureau of Meteorology They included the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation and the Jindalee Operational Radar Network. However, the attack was confined to the BoM, but also blamed on China. In 2011 the Defence Science Technology Organisation was successfully attacked by hackers backed by China, The ABC reported. A spokesman for the organisation said it was policy 'to not on matters of national security'. Former head at the United States' Central Intelligence Agency and of the National Security Agency said Australia had to 'harden up' its defence against hacking. 'What my dad told me when I came home beat up from a fight once when I was about 10 years old: "Quit crying, act like a man and defend yourself".' Theresa May has ordered Europhile civil servants to embrace Brexit after a former top mandarin sparked fury by saying leaving the EU was not inevitable Theresa May has ordered Europhile civil servants to embrace Brexit after a former top mandarin sparked fury by saying leaving the EU was not inevitable. Gus ODonnell, the former Cabinet Secretary, said that despite the clear referendum result the country could end up remaining in a broader, more loosely aligned European Union. Tory backbenchers said the comments by the ex-head of the civil service illustrated the mindset infecting Whitehall which is overwhelmingly pro-Europe. One Conservative MP called for officials who sought to defy the will of the people to be summarily fired. But last night Downing Street said the Prime Minister was very clear that it is the job of the civil service to implement the decisions of their ministers. And it emerged that when the Cabinet discusses Brexit on Wednesday, civil servants will be asked to leave enabling a more frank political discussion. A source said: She is very clear that Brexit means Brexit, and the Government needs to get on and deliver it. Its top of the in-tray for all secretaries of state and it is for them to set policy. It is for the civil service to deliver on that she is very clear. Mrs May has summoned all ministers to a Cabinet meeting at Chequers. The section on Brexit will be part of political cabinet, meaning no civil servants will be present. Eurosceptics became particularly suspicious of the civil service during the referendum campaign after the Treasury and other departments issued a raft of pro-EU propaganda. Lord ODonnell was head of the civil service between 2005 and 2011. His power was so great that it was rumoured he was known by staff as GOD, after his initials. On Saturday, the Prime Minister, who is a known cricket fan, was at Lords for England's test match with Pakistan He said at the weekend that despite the referendum result Britain could still remain a part of a changed EU. He told the Times he anticipated that whatever happened the UK would also keep in place EU law and rules. The crossbench peer, 63, said: 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 the broader, more loosely aligned group, is something that the UK is happy being a member of. He added that leaving would mean a huge administrative and legislative change because so much European law had been implemented in the past 40 years. Gus ODonnell, the former Cabinet Secretary, who said that despite the clear referendum result the country could end up remaining in a broader, more loosely aligned European Union 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. He acknowledged thats not what people voted for. Tory MPs said the comments illustrated the real view of many in the civil service, with one calling for strong action against any officials who were frustrating work to implement Brexit. Steve Baker, the Tory MP who chaired the influential Conservatives for Britain group before the referendum, said: Any official working to oppose our exit from the EU should be summarily fired. If necessary, emergency legislation should be passed to make it possible. Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, said: Lord ODonnells comments give an indication of the civil service mindset, and I urge the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet to reject these views and listen to the people. There is an element of civil service groupthink. He added: Lord ODonnell seems to think that despite more people voting for Brexit than anything else in the electoral history of our country, politicians should have the right to ignore it. This is the attitude that has created divisions between the electorate and the people who they represent. Peter Bone, another Tory backbencher, said: What Gus ODonnells comments show is that there is undoubtedly an establishment view that they want to ignore the British peoples voice and plough on with their own agenda. Thats something that those of us who campaigned to vote to leave the EU have to remember. To counter that weve got a Prime Minister committed to Brexit, and we have David Davis, Liam Fox and Boris [Johnson]. While undoubtedly there are significant forces that will want to halt Brexit, Im sure the Prime Minister is determined to drive it through. Western Australian confirm that the body of Michael Junior Huria (pictured) was found by a bush-walker in Walyunga National Park, north east of Perth on Sunday The body of missing man who may have been on a 'spiritual journey' has been found. A bush-walker came across the body of Michael Junior Huria, 23, in Walyunga National Park, north east of Perth at around 3.30pm on Sunday. Mr Huria was found between Walyunga Pool and Bells Rapids, near the search area. Mr Huria, who is believed to be from Wellington and also went by the surname Sullivan, had not been in touch with family or friends since leaving his Ellenbrook home just after 4am on August 22. Mr Huria's family had made a public appeal for information on his whereabouts on Saturday calling his disappearance 'unusual'. His brother Tamati Huria said he recently quit his job as a builder and was 'bit lost at the moment.' 'We don't know, but we think he might have gone out on a spiritual journey of some kind - he's quite inclined in that way,' he said. His body remains at the scene, which was been guarded by officers on Sunday night. His brother Tamati Huria (right, pictured with Mr Huria's father) said he recently quit his job as a builder and was 'bit lost at the moment' Mr Huria was found between Walyunga Pool and Bells Rapids, near the area police were searching through Coronial and forensic officers will conduct further inquiries in the area on Monday morning. Police have been investigating whether Mr Huria had been hit by a car after a woman said she was worried she may have hit a pedestrian on the corner of Great Northern Highway and Apple Street in Upper Swan on Monday night. The discovery is not being treated as suspicious a WA Police spokesperson confirmed. Coronial and forensic officers will conduct further inquiries in the area on Monday morning Brussels must not give Britain too good a deal or the European Union would go down the drain, Germanys vice-chancellor said yesterday. Economy minister Sigmar Gabriel added the UK must not be allowed to keep the nice things from its relationship with the EU. The comments are believed to be a reference to access to the single market, which some ministers, including Chancellor Philip Hammond, believe is essential for Britains financial services sector. German Economy minister Sigmar Gabriel, pictured, said the UK must not be allowed to keep the nice things from its relationship with the EU Mr Gabriel said: Brexit is bad but it wont hurt us as much economically as some fear its more of a psychological problem and its a huge problem politically. If we organise Brexit in the wrong way, then well be in deep trouble so now we need to make sure we dont allow Britain to keep the nice things, so to speak, related to Europe while taking no responsibility. He also revealed that talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the EU and the US have de facto failed. Eurosceptic MEP Dan Hannan said last night the failure showed how hopeless the EU was at doing trade deals and how Britain could fare better striking its own with the US. The comments are believed to be a reference to access to the single market, which some ministers, including Chancellor Philip Hammond, pictured, believe is essential for Britains financial services sector He added: Ill offer a pound to a euro that there will be a US-UK free trade agreement in place long before there is a US-EU agreement if, indeed, that happens at all. Whats more, itll be a properly liberal agreement, based on free competition and maximum advantage to the consumer rather than on corporatism and the protection of vested interests. The 24-year-old will face a string of charged in a Queensland court Police are still hunting for an accomplice spotted at some of the crimes Police recognised the and arrested him as he tried to pass a check point An alleged gunman, 24, has been caught following a four-day crime spree A man's four-day crime spree has ended dramatically on the Gold Coast with police cornering his car, smashing the window and then dragging him from the vehicle. Police say Ben Goreng, 24, broke into several homes in the Gold Coast area over the weekend, stealing cars from the properties, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. He's also accused of opening fire on cars in the southeast region last week before police were finally able to catch him after a five-hour manhunt in dense bushland on Sunday. An Alleged gunman was caught in a dramatic arrest on Sunday following a four day crime spree in the Gold Coast A 56-year-old man was taken hostage on Sunday afternoon when he returned to his Numinbah Valley home and disturbed the gunman. The offender forced the resident to drive him away from the property. But police involved in a massive manhunt spotted the gunman in the passenger seat at a nearby check point. 'It all happened pretty quickly. We recognised the offender in the passenger seat, saw the firearm,' Inspector Jim Plowman has told ABC radio. 'The officers took the correct action. They smashed the window and immediately restrained him and dragged him from the vehicle.' A search team involving armed police, PolAir, the dog squad, officers from the elite Special Emergency Response Team were needed to find the 24-year-old who had been on the run since Thursday. Ben Goreng, 24, is accused of breaking into several homes in the Gold Coast area over the weekend and stealing cars from those properties His dramatic arrest was the result of a five-hour manhunt in dense bushland on Sunday Police are still searching for an accomplice involved in some of the crimes. The 24-year-old man will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday on a string of charges including attempted murder and discharging a weapon in a public place. The crime spree sparked a massive dragnet involving the police helicopter and dozens of officers. The accused is alleged to have taken a 56-year-old man hostage on Sunday afternoon after the owner returned to his Numinbah Valley home and disturbed the gunman Timeline of the crime spree across the Gold Coast Thursday - 1.45am, shots were fired into a car parked at a home in Maudsland, Gold Coast - 3.30am, shots were fired at the vehicle of a man driving along the Pacific Motorway - Thursday morning, shots were fired at a gym on Greenway Boulevard - 8pm, A mans vehicle was damaged on the Pacific Motorway when a projectile was thrown at it Saturday - 10pm, two men fire a rifle into the air near a home before stealing a vehicle Kia Sportage - at Lysterfield Rise Sunday - 2am, the stolen vehicle slams into a light pole in Carrara. Two men flee the scene after firing shots into the air and yelling at neighbours to return home. - The two men then break-and-enter into a Carrara home where they threaten and push a 69-year-old woman before demanding the keys to a BMW X5. - The car was tracked down by police at 1pm. The 24-year-old driver crashes the vehicle and flees into dense bushland at Numinbah Valley launching a five-hour manhunt. - Police stop a car at a check point at 5.30pm. The armed gunman is found in the passenger seat having allegedly forced a 55-year-old to drive for him at gunpoint. Advertisement GP appointments should be five minutes longer as Britains population becomes older and fatter, the British Medical Association has urged. The doctors union believes current slots of ten minutes are insufficient and unsafe. In a report to be published today, its GPs committee will say that to provide longer appointments there should be a reduction in the number of patients that doctors see. GP appointments should be five minutes longer as Britains population becomes older and fatter, the British Medical Association has urged (file photo) The document, Safer Working in General Practice, highlights what the BMA calls unsustainable pressure on GP services from rising workload, falling resources and staff shortages. Dr Brian Balmer, of the committees executive team, said: In a climate of staff shortages and limited budgets, GP practices are struggling to cope with rising patient demand. 'Especially from an ageing population with complicated, multiple health needs that cannot be properly treated within the current ten-minute recommended consultation.' He continued: Many GPs are being forced to truncate care into an inadequate timeframe and deliver an unsafe number of consultations, seeing in some cases 40-60 patients a day. The report highlights how doctors in other EU countries are recommended to have no more than 25 consultations a day. Ensuring enough GPs are recruited is 'key to making this a reality', the report will say. It will call for new models of organisation, such as creating primary care hubs where practices pool resources and services, to free up more time for appointments. Dr Balmer called for increased funding and more GPs to be employed to deliver the improvement. He said: General practice cannot be allowed to continue being run into the ground: its time for positive change that gives patients care they deserve. The doctors union believes current slots of ten minutes are insufficient and unsafe Recent BMA studies by the BMA have found that 98 per cent of GPs believe their workload was heavy or unmanageable, while more than half felt local services had deteriorated in the past 12 months. There are also increasing reports of GP fatigue. Although fixed ten-minute appointments were dropped in 2014, it remains standard in most surgeries. Recent research elsewhere has also recommended appointments should be longer. Extending appointments to 30 minutes would be more cost-effective than many drugs, research published in June found. Patients who had more time with a GP or practice nurse were in better health a year later. Researchers from Glasgow and Dundee Universities, who studied patients at four Scottish practices, said the extra costs of the longer session worked out at considerably less than the threshold for life-improving drugs. Longer appointments cost 929 more per patient per year than the standard GP services, including staff training and locum cover costs, the study found. But while the extended appointments cost more in the short term, researchers concluded it was better value than many drugs prescribed on the NHS. A woman washes herself using a product which contains microbeads (stock photo) Talks have begun between ministers and environmental groups over a ban on microbeads, it can be revealed today. The breakthrough is a significant boost to the campaign to prohibit the plastic particles used in shower gels, toothpastes and beauty products. Crucially, the Government is believed to be considering a much more comprehensive ban than the one recently introduced in the US. Whitehall insiders say talks with the manufacturers of cosmetic products that contain microbeads could begin soon. Officials are looking at the technicalities of how the UK can take unilateral action to prohibit the beads without seeking EU approval. The action comes just days after the Daily Mail launched a campaign for a complete ban on microbeads. Flushed into rivers and seas by the trillion they cause havoc to marine life and can make their way into the human food chain. MPs and campaigners said last night that ministers must not let cosmetics firms off the hook with a partial ban. The US ban covers only beads from so-called 'rinse-off' scrubs and gels used for exfoliation. Cosmetic firms in Britain have agreed to phase out their use of these on a voluntary basis by 2020. However, there is no commitment to remove smaller microplastics, which are used in a raft of personal care products such as sun creams, lotions, deodorants and make-up. Louise Edge, senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace, said: 'It is critical that we get the right kind of ban a ban that covers all products which can possibly go down our drain and into the sea. 'After all, marine life doesn't distinguish between plastic from a face wash and plastic from a washing detergent, but this is where legislation in countries like the US has fallen down. 'Theresa May's Government needs to take the leadership that this issue requires and stand up for consumers and our oceans by implementing a comprehensive ban on microbeads now.' Mary Creagh, the Labour MP who led a parliamentary inquiry into the issue, said: 'It is very good news that the Government has taken the recommendations of our report seriously and has started discussions. '[It is] listening to consumers horrified that trusted households brands are selling this rubbish. But it must make sure that any ban will look at all forms of microplastics contained in household and toiletry ranges not just exfoliating microbeads.' It can be revealed today that talks have begun between ministers and environmental groups over a ban on microbeads (pictured) The particles are found in a third of fish caught off Britain, including cod, haddock, mackerel and shellfish. Microbeads are the responsibility of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, headed by Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom. Last night a source confirmed that officials had begun tentative talks with green organisations on how a ban might be implemented. Both sides are keen not to leave loopholes. It is understood that work will soon begin with manufacturers on how a UK ban could be brought in. But no decisions have been taken, and it would take officials some time to consider the details. A Downing Street source said: 'There is a commitment on this issue and we are absolutely serious about it. It is not surprising that these conversations have already begun. 'Given that the secretary of state has stated her determination to ensure the cleanliness of the oceans, these sorts of conversations will be ongoing.' The Mail revealed on Saturday that Britain was free to ban microbeads after Brussels said we could act unilaterally. It had been claimed that the European Commission could attempt to thwart any prohibition by claiming it flouted EU single market rules. But officials said Britain can introduce a ban under either existing cosmetic safety or environmental protection legislation if it shows the plastic particles are a danger to human health or the sea. In just a single shower as many as 100,000 are washed into waterways where they become a magnet for dangerous pollutants and are eaten by fish that can reach dinner plates. JEN SHOULD 'BLUSH WITH SHAME' OVER SCRUB ADS Jennifer Aniston (pictured) has been named and shamed for promoting a facial scrub laced with microbeads Jennifer Aniston has been named and shamed for promoting a facial scrub laced with microbeads. Nature, the world's top science journal, criticised the actress for endorsing a facial scrub made by Aveeno. A commercial for Positively Radiant shows her patting her face with a towel, before proclaiming that it provides 'naturally beautiful results'. Nature's editorial says the advert does not disclose the fact the 'gentle exfoliators' in the product are plastic particles. It goes on to describe microbeads as a serious pollutant and says that if they are not banned, Miss Aniston and others will 'forever blush with shame'. The Friends star became the face of Aveeno, a skincare range made by Johnson & Johnson, in 2013. She tells how she has used the range for years, describing the partnership as a 'natural fit'. In an interview with Marie Claire magazine, she said: 'I love the Aveeno scrub, which I got from a makeup artist about ten years ago. I always use it at the end of the day.' Nature, which publishes more influential science than any other publication, warns of the damage done 'in the name of beauty'. Written last summer as California considered bringing in a microbead ban, the article states: 'The ugly truth is that plastic microbeads found in many skin scrubs and other personal care products are a serious pollutant of the marine environment. They should be phased out rapidly. 'When Aniston, or those she inspires to follow her, rinse the scrub down the drain, many of the beads end up in the sea, where they will persist indefinitely. This is unnecessary, damaging and must stop.' The facial scrub is not sold in the UK but a similar Aveeno product, a Positively Radiant daily exfoliating cleanser, is. The Daily Mail has tried to contact Miss Aniston and Aveeno for comment. Johnson & Johnson has said it wants to remove microbeads from all its products globally by the end of 2017. Dr Laura Foster, of the Marine Conservation Society, which is campaigning for microbeads to be banned, said last night: 'Celebrities have a massive influence on what people buy. Hundreds of thousands of people have joined the MCS's call for microplastics to be removed from all products. 'Celebrities can add their voice to this movement to help protect the ocean.' Advertisement More plastic than fish 'by 2050' By Fiona MacRae, Science Editor The world's oceans will contain more plastic than fish by 2050, a campaign group has claimed. An estimated eight million tons plastic end up in the sea each year equivalent to one rubbish truck full of bags, bottles, toys and other plastic waste a minute. If no action is taken, the figure will rise four-fold by the middle of the century, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation warns in a report on the 'plastic economy'. The charity set up by the round-the-world sailor says: 'The ocean is expected to contain one ton of plastic for every three tons of fish by 2025 and, by 2050, more plastics than fish.' The figure is highlighted in a dossier on the health risks of plastic compiled by Surfing Medicine International, a coalition of 1,000 doctors and scientists, and the Plastic Soup Foundation, a Dutch charity campaigning to ban the use of microbeads in cosmetics. It says growing numbers of doctors and scientists are concerned about what the 'indiscriminate production and consumption' of plastic is doing to our bodies. The world's oceans will contain more plastic (pictured) than fish by 2050, a campaign group has claimed It questions whether illnesses from cancer and diabetes to fertility problems and birth defects are being fuelled by chemicals in plastic, including microbeads. The report warns: 'Plastic in our bodies can come from various sources. We can swallow plastic microbeads in products such as toothpaste or we can consume it through eating fish and shellfish and a host of other products. 'We can also breathe in the mircoplastics that float around in the air.' The campaign groups say is 'inconceivable' that the EU is not taking action and has launched a petition calling for urgent research into the health risks. Dr Ognjen Markovic, of Surfing Medicine International, said: 'Since the end of last century, indications that point to the serious health risks associated with plastic are accumulating. 'They point to a strong increased chance of cancer, hormone disruptions, birth defects, obesity and failed immune systems. This is why we are raising the alarm. We cannot continue this any longer.' Maria Westerbros, of the Plastic Soup Foundation, said: 'It is hard to believe that even the largest health organisations and the most prominent scientists are stoically ignored by the EU. Even the plastics industry ignores the signals over and over again.' American bill Bryson has captured the eccentricities of his adoptive Britain for decades. His latest warm observations are in his book The Road To Little Dribbling, which we began serialising on Saturday. Musing on the vagaries of growing old, today he extols the virtues of our unique countryside... Bill Bryson's newest book about the quirks of the British is The Road to Little Dribbling. In this extract, he extols the virtues of our countryside Some woman I have never met regularly sends me email alerts telling me how to recognise if I am having a stroke. 'If you feel a tingling in your fingers,' one will say, 'you could be having A STROKE. Seek medical attention AT ONCE.' (The alerts come with lots of italics and abrupt capitalisations, presumably to underline how serious a matter this is.) Another will say: 'If you sometimes can't remember where you parked your car in a multi-storey car park, you are probably HAVING A STROKE. Go to an emergency room IMMEDIATELY.' The uncanny thing about these messages is how accurately they apply to me. I have every one of the symptoms, and there are hundreds of them. Every couple of days I learn of a new one. 'If you think you might be producing more ear wax than usual . . .' 'If you sometimes sneeze unexpectedly . . . 'If you have had toast at any time in the last six months . . .' 'If you celebrate your birthday on the same date every year . . .' 'If you feel anxious about strokes after reading stroke warnings . . .' 'If you have any of these symptoms or any other symptoms find a doctor at once. An embolism THE SIZE OF A DUCK EGG is heading straight for your CEREBRAL CORTEX!!' Taken together, the alerts make clear that the best indicator of a stroke is whatever you were doing just before you had a stroke. Lately, the warnings have been accompanied by alarming accounts of people who failed to heed the signals. 'When Doreen's husband Harold noticed that his ears were red after he got out of the shower,' one might begin, 'they didn't think anything of it. How they wish they had. 'Soon afterwards, Doreen found Harold, her husband of 47 years, slumped face first in a bowl of Weetabix. HE WAS HAVING A STROKE! Harold was rushed to hospital but critical minutes had been lost, and now he is a VEGETABLE who spends his afternoons watching COUNTDOWN. Don't let this happen to you!!' I don't actually need memos to know that things are not going well with my body. All I have to do is stand before a mirror, tilt my head back and look up my nostrils. This isn't something I do a great deal, you'll understand, but what I used to find was two small, dark caves. Now I am confronted with a kind of private rainforest. Somebody needs to explain to me why it is that the one thing your body can suddenly do well when you get old is grow hair in your nose and ears. It's like God is playing a terrible, cruel joke on you, as if he is saying: 'Well, Bill, the bad news is that from now on you are going to be barely continent, lose your faculties one by one, and have sex about once every lunar eclipse, but the good news is that you can braid your nostrils.' The other thing you can do incredibly well when you are old is grow toenails. I have no idea why. Mine are harder than iron now. When I cut my toenails, I see sparks. I could use them as body armour if I could just get my enemies to shoot at my feet. Not long after Birling Gap, the path arrives at a sweeping prospect across the downs that strikes nearly everyone as familiar whether they have ever walked this way or not, writes Bill Bryson The worst part about ageing is the realisation that all your future is downhill. Bad as I am today, I am pretty much tip-top compared with what I am going to be next week or the week after. I recently realised with dismay that I am even too old now for early-onset dementia. Any dementia I get will be right on time. The outlook generally is for infirmity, liver spots, baldness, senility, bladder dribble, purple blotches on the hands and head as if my wife has been beating me with a wooden spoon (always a possibility) and the conviction that no one in the world speaks loud enough. And that's the best-case scenario. There are others that involve catheters, beds with side railings, plastic tubing with my blood in it, care homes, being lifted on and off toilets, and having to guess what season it is outside and those are all still near the best-case end of the spectrum. Unnerved by my dossier of stroke warnings, I did some research and it appears that there are two basic ways to avoid having a stroke. One is to die of something else first. The other is to get some exercise. I decided, in the interests of survival, to introduce a little walking into my life. And so it was that I was to be found wheezing my way up a steep hill to a breezy top called Haven Brow, the first in a series of celebrated eminences gracing the Sussex coast and known as the Seven Sisters. HOW THIS NATION IS SAVING ITS OWN HERITAGE The British are sometimes admirably sensible. In 1980, the government established the National Heritage Memorial Fund, to provide money to save things that might otherwise be lost, but nowhere did it define what heritage was. So the trustees of the fund are free to save anything they choose as long as the money is available and they consider it as coming under the general category of heritage. You couldnt devise a system more open to foolishness and abuse, yet it has worked brilliantly. It has helped to save everything from works of art to threatened species of birds, but I dont think the money has ever been better spent than on saving Calke Abbey. This has never been an abbey the family that owned it called it that to make it sound more interesting but it was once a very substantial estate, spread over 30,000 acres in southern Derbyshire. For 400 years it was the home of the Harpur Crewe family, whose defining characteristic was congenital unsociability, as the house guidebook nicely puts it. For the last 150 years of their reign, most members of the family barely left the property or let anyone on to it. A visitors book from the 19th century was found to contain not a single entry. The first automobile wasnt allowed up the drive until 1949 and electricity wasnt installed until 1962. Before World War I, Calke has 60 staff, but then the estate fell into decline and by the end it employed no one. When Charles Harpur Crewe died in 1981 amazingly, not to say moronically, intestate his brother Henry was confronted with an inheritance tax bill so large that the interest alone increased by 1,500 every day. Henry gave the house to the National Trust. Ingeniously, the Trust decided to keep the house just as they found it. They call it the un-stately home, and that couldnt be more enchantingly correct. It had not been improved or substantially decorated since the early 1840s. After Vauncey Harpur Crewe, the tenth baronet, died in 1924, the family retreated to one small corner of the house. When the Trust arrived in 1985, it opened doors on rooms that hadnt been entered in more than 50 years. I was put on a tour with 17 other people, and it was superb. The Trust has done a superb job of halting the deterioration without losing an air of neglect and decline. Everywhere the paint was peeling or the plaster was rough. I leaned against a wall at one point and one of my fellow tour members whispered to me with great pleasure and many eager nods that the back of my jacket was now absolutely filthy. I took it off to look and he was right. As well as the furnishings and a great deal of taxidermy, the house also contains an outstanding collection of archaeological treasures. I was so delighted with the whole thing that I decided to make my peace with the National Trust and went straight back to the ticket office and took out membership. I hadnt realised quite what a big deal it was I had to provide two sets of fingerprints, a chest X-ray and swear an oath promising to buy a Volvo and a wax jacket but I did get my admission to Calke refunded, and I appreciated that very much, as you can imagine. Advertisement The Seven Sisters is one of the great walks of England. (They are the hills on the cover of this book, and are a fair size, as you can see.) From the top of Haven Brow the view is just sensational. Ahead of you stretches a hazy infinity of rolling hills, each ending at the seaward side in a sudden plunge of white chalk. On a sunny day like this one, it is a world of simple, bright elements: green land, white cliffs, deep blue sea, matching sky. Nothing and I mean, really, absolutely nothing is more extraordinary in Britain than the beauty of the countryside. Nowhere in the world is there a landscape that has been more intensively utilised more mined, farmed, quarried, covered with cities and clanging factories, threaded with motorways and railway lines and yet remains so comprehensively and reliably lovely over most of its extent. It is the happiest accident in history. In terms of natural wonders, you know, Britain is a pretty unspectacular place. It has no alpine peaks or broad rift valleys, no mighty gorges or thundering cataracts. It is built to really quite a modest scale. American bill Bryson has captured the eccentricities of his adoptive Britain for decades And yet with a few unassuming natural endowments, a great deal of time and an unfailing instinct for improvement, the makers of Britain created the most superlatively park-like landscapes, the most orderly cities, the handsomest provincial towns, the jauntiest seaside resorts, the stateliest homes, the most dreamily spired, cathedral-rich, castle-strewn, abbey-bedecked, folly-scattered, green-wooded, winding-laned, sheep-dotted, plumply-hedgerowed, well-tended, sublimely decorated 50,318 square miles the world has ever known almost none of it undertaken with aesthetics in mind, but all of it adding up to something that is, quite often, perfect. What an achievement that is. And what a joy it is to walk in it. England and Wales have 130,000 miles of public footpaths, about 2.2 miles of path for every square mile of area. People in Britain don't realise how extraordinary that is. If you told someone in the Midwest of America, where I come from, that you intended to spend the weekend walking across farmland, they would look at you as if you were out of your mind. His latest warm observations are in his book The Road To Little Dribbling, which we began serialising on Saturday You couldn't do it anyway. Every field you crossed would end in a barrier of barbed wire. You would find no helpful stiles, no kissing gates, no beckoning wooden footpath posts to guide you on your way. All you would get would be a farmer with a shotgun wondering what the hell you were doing blundering around in his alfalfa. Not long after Birling Gap, the path arrives at a sweeping prospect across the downs that strikes nearly everyone as familiar whether they have ever walked this way or not. It is a view immortalised in a World War II poster by an artist named Frank Newbould. It shows a shepherd guiding a flock of sheep across the downs. Below, in the middle distance, is an attractive farmhouse. At the top of a facing hill is the iconic Belle Tout lighthouse. The sea is just visible as a line across a distant valley. The caption says: 'Your Britain fight for it now.' ECCENTRIC, OR JUST STUPID? TRY MY VERY SIMPLE TEST I recently read about something called the Dunning-Kruger Effect, which is named after two academics at Cornell University in New York State, who first described it. The Dunning-Kruger Effect is basically being too stupid to know how stupid you are. That sounds like a pretty good description of the world to me. So what I began to wonder was this: what if we are all getting stupid at more or less the same rate and we dont realise it because we are all declining together? You might argue that wed see a general fall in IQ scores, but what if its not the kind of deterioration that shows up in IQ tests? What if it were reflected in just, say, poor judgment or diminished taste? That would explain the success of Mrs Browns Boys, for one thing. We all know that regular exposure to lead can seriously impair brain function, yet it took decades for scientists to figure that out. What if something even more insidious is poisoning our brains from some other part of our daily lives? The number of chemicals in use in the developed world was more than 82,000 at the last count, and most of them 86 per cent, according to one estimate have never been tested for their effects on humans. Every day, to take just one example, we all consume or absorb substantial amounts of bisphenols and phthalates, which are found in food packaging. These may pass harmlessly through us or they may be doing to our brains what a microwave oven does to a tub of baked beans. We have no idea. But if you look at whats on TV on a typical weeknight, you have to wonder. Thats all Im saying. One clear shortcoming of the Dunning-Kruger study is that it gives no guidance on how to assess ones own mental acuity. This troubled me greatly, so in a spirit of public service I constructed a checklist of ways to tell if you are becoming dangerously stupid yourself. This list isnt comprehensive by any means, but it should help you to decide whether your own situation is worrisome. Here are some questions to ask yourself: 1. In a Thai restaurant when your plate comes garnished with a decorative flower carved from a carrot, do you really believe that yours is the only plate that flower has been on this week? 2. Do you think that if you pat your pockets enough times it will make a missing object reappear? 3. If someone wearing oven gloves brings you food and says, Careful, the plate is very hot, do you touch it anyway, just to see if it is? 4. If you have been to a tanning salon, do you think that because you cannot see your eyelids are white no one else can? 5. If you are a man about to go on holiday and buy some trousers that are too long to be called shorts but too short to be trousers, are you still able to wear them publicly without embarrassment? 6. If you are waiting for a lift thats slow to come, do you push the button again and again in the belief that it will speed things up? 7. In hotels, do you believe that the coffee cups in your room have ever been near a dishwasher, washing-up liquid or anything other than a quick swill under the cold tap in the bathroom? 8. Do you sometimes spend 70 on a shirt with a little polo pony on it in the belief that that will somehow bring you a more rewarding sex life? (The people who sold you the shirt for 70 are having the rewarding sex life.) 9. Do you think that you can feed seven or eight coins into a vending machine without the last one being rejected? Do you keep putting the rejected coin back in the slot anyway? Why? 10. Do you think you can write down a list of questions in a notebook balanced on your thigh while driving on a motorway without drifting dangerously across one or sometimes two other lanes? 11. Do you understand what is meant by a vigorous up-and-down hand gesture made by drivers in Britain as they pass? Thats as far as I got, but I hope it is some help. Advertisement I have always thought it interesting that of all the possible things worth dying for in 1939, it was the countryside that was selected. I wonder how many people would feel that way now. Newbould took a few small liberties he improved the shape of the hills, tidied up the farmstead, altered the course of the path slightly but not so much as to render the view fictitious. It is a testament to the British nation that more than 70 years after Newbould painted this expansive prospect, it is as fine now as it was then. Taking the English countryside for granted, assuming that it will always be like this, is almost certainly its greatest threat. Taking the English countryside for granted, assuming that it will always be like this, is almost certainly its greatest threat The sad irony is that the things that make the landscape of Britain comely and distinctive are almost entirely no longer needed. Hedgerows, country churches, stone barns, verges full of nodding wildflowers and birdsong, sheep roaming over windswept fells, village shops and post offices and much more can only rarely now be justified on economic grounds, and for most people in power those are the only grounds that matter. Looked at economically, we don't even need farmers. Farming accounts for just 0.7 per cent of GDP, so if all farming in Britain ceased tomorrow the economy would barely notice. Successive governments have done almost nothing to preserve most of these things. There is a strange, blind, foolish inclination to suppose that the features that make the British countryside are somehow infinitely self-sustaining, that they will always be there, adding grace and beauty. Don't count on it. Philip Hammond has been accused of muscling in on Brexit negotiations by demanding the UK retains access to the single market after we leave the EU. Philip Hammond has been accused of muscling in on Brexit negotiations by demanding the UK retains access to the single market after we leave the EU. Amid reports of a Cabinet split, the Chancellor is urging colleagues to agree that Britain needs privileged access to the economic area for the benefit of its financial sector and car industry. But Eurosceptic ministers are concerned his position means he is acting as a blocking mechanism to Brexit. Senior figures such as David Davis and Liam Fox are demanding that Britain pulls out of the single market entirely saying it is the only way to claim back full control of our borders. Last night one prominent Tory eurosceptic demanded Mr Hammond resign if he is seeking to water down Brexit. Downing Street played down any row over the single market, but conceded it was sure to be a key issue at Wednesdays Cabinet meeting at her country residence of Chequers. Theresa May has told ministers that planning for Brexit will be top of the in tray, and has ordered them all to report back on the best ways of making a success of leaving. A Number 10 source said: All ministers will have different ideas about how to make Brexit a success. But when a decision is made, all will go forward united. Yesterday a Germanys vice chancellor said Brussels must not give Britain too good a deal because otherwise the EU would go down the drain. Sigmar Gabriel, who also serves as minister for economic affairs said: If we organise Brexit in the wrong way, then well be in deep trouble so now we need to make sure that we dont allow Britain to keep the nice things, so to speak, related to Europe while taking no responsibility. And in a major blow to single market Mr Gabriel also revealed free trade talks between Brussels and the United States have failed. Theresa May has told ministers that planning for Brexit will be top of the in tray, and has ordered them all to report back on the best ways of making a success of leaving Both Washington and Brussels have pushed for a deal by the end of the year despite strong misgivings among some EU member states over the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP. Mr Gabriel said: In my opinion, the negotiations with the United States have de facto failed, even though nobody is really admitting it. A newly-established pro-Remain organisation, Open Britain, yesterday urged Mrs May to reject the false choice of leaving the single market. The cross-party alliance, which counts former Tory business minister Anna Soubry as a member, called on the Prime Minister to secure the best possible relationship with Brussels. Senior Conservatives told the Sunday Times that the Treasury is barging in on Brexit negotiations, with Mr Hammond resisting plans by other ministers for a complete withdrawal from the EUs single market. A newly-established pro-Remain organisation, Open Britain, which counts Anna Soubry as a members, yesterday urged Mrs May to reject the false choice of leaving the single market One source said: There a tussle going on here. The chief culprit is the Chancellor. He has taken the position that there are no red lines, that youve got to stay part of the market and it doesnt matter what you give way on. Hammond is operating as a blocking mechanism. The source said the Prime Ministers office believe controls on immigration are vital this is the bit where the chancellor has been dragging his feet. The Treasury wants to run all this stuff. They are furious that anyone else is responsible for it. But the Chancellor has denied digging his heels in, with a Treasury source saying he has a flexible position. We all agree that there has to be controls on immigration, so were not going to have full access to the single market, the source said. But there are areas of the economy such as financial services where we may want some access because it is beneficial to us. No decision has been taken. This could mean access to the single market being maintained on a sector by sector basis. The Germans would be keen on us having full access to the continents automotive industry, the Treasury believes. Full access to the single market requires countries signing up to the principle of free movement of people, which would see continued high levels of immigration an issue which was a key part of the referendum campaign. Last night, Tory backbencher Jacob Rees Mogg said: Calls to remain in the single market are code for rejecting the referendum result. It is a trap that would keep us tied to EU regulations and potentially free movement. Philip Davies, the Conservative MP for Shipley, said Mr Hammond must accept the will of the public and ensure the will of the people is implemented. It is clear that the Prime Minister understands that and if Philip Hammond cannot accept it then he should make way for someone who can, he said. Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: The Brexit vote was a vote for taking back control and one of the main elements of that was immigration. We cant control that unless we are outside the single market. A family business will no longer host wedding ceremonies after backlash it received for not allowing a same-sex couple to get married on its property A family business that refused to allow a same-sex couple to get married at their Michigan orchard has stopped hosting wedding ceremonies all together to 'protect their religious freedom'. Caitlin and Liane Ortis had been planning to have their ceremony at The Country Mill in Charlotte, just south of the state's capital of Lansing. The couple fell in love with the property, and were all set to pay a deposit to hold their special day on the family farm. Caitlin (right) and Liane (left) Ortis were told they could not have their wedding at an orchard in Michigan because the owner's did not support same-sex marriage Steve Tennes (pictured with his family), owner of The Country Mill, says it will no longer hold any weddings after backlash for denying an LGBTI couple But when owner Steve Tennes was called on to sign off on the booking, he denied the couple, saying 'we don't do that here', according to MLive.com. After being rejected by The Country Mill, the couple instead held the ceremony at the Monclova Historical Foundation in Ohio in September 2015. Caitlin Ortis wrote about the upsetting moment on social media this week, sparking controversy about The Country Mill's decision. 'As fall approaches for my Michigan friends and family, when choosing a cider mill to go to, please remember that THE COUNTRY MILL in Charlotte MI refused to let Liane and I have our wedding there because of how we identify,' she wrote on Facebook on Monday. 'Please support a local cider mill that does NOT discriminate against LGBTQIA+ folks or any folks for that matter.' The emotional post quickly went viral, causing many to say they would no longer visit the orchard. Caitlin Ortis (pictured on her wedding day in September 2015) wrote about when they were denied at The Country Mill, sparking controversy this week 'The Country Mill in Charlotte MI refused to let Liane and I have our wedding there because of how we identify,' Caitlin (right) wrote on Facebook on Monday. What are some examples of businesses that discriminated against same-sex couples in the U.S.? Masterpiece Cakeshop, Colorado In 2012, Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, refused to make a wedding cake for Charlie Craig and David Mullins. The couple has been married in Massachusetts but planned to have their celebration in Colorado. The state Court of Appeals ruled Phillips could not refuse the couple of the grounds of his religious beliefs. The baker had said at the time he had no issues with making cakes for gay people, he only refused to make cakes for same-sex weddings. Kern's Bakery, Texas Edie Delorme would not bake a cake for Ben Valencia and his fiance Luis Marmolejo in February this year. DeLorme said she made her decision to turn away the couple because she believes marriage is meant to be between a man and a woman. Valencia said he felt 'dehumanized' by the incident. Memories Pizza, Indiana The family owned Memories Pizza - which was described by owners as a 'Christian establishment' - created a huge controversy in 2015 when its owners refused to cater for a same-sex wedding due to it clashing with their religious beliefs. The incident took place shortly after then-Indiana governor and current Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law, which made it legal for companies to assert their religious freedom without fear of legal prosecution. Sweet Cakes, Oregon Melissa and Aaron Klein, owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa bakery, refused to make a cake for Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer saying doing so would violate their religious freedom in 2013. However, like many other cases where the person refusing to do something used the same argument, it was rejected in court. The Kleins were ordered to pay $135,000 in damages in July, 2015. Rowan County Courthouse, Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis garnered national headlines after it was revealed in August 2015 that she was refusing to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples. Davis said at the time issuing marriage licenses to gay couples would violate (her) conscience'. She was jailed for five days before being released and allowed to return to work. Advertisement 'So disappointed to hear that you do not allow same sex weddings. I cannot support this business anymore, nor recommend you for field trips to fellow friends,' one person wrote. 'Sigh. I will respectfully no longer be giving you my business. It's a shame, we have taken the kids there to pick apples for years,' a mother said. 'Oh no. Country mill, you have been my favorite since I was a kid, but I just cannot spend money at an establishment that is noninclusive. A sad end to a fond memory,' another said. Others attacked the business, calling the owners 'bigots'. 'I hear that you bigots don't like same gender-loving people and wrap your discriminatory heterosexism in religiosity. 'Nahh (sic), doesn't fly. Either join the 21st century or be rejected by it.' On Friday, after days of comment about not letting the Ortis' get married at the mill, the owners announced they were shutting down the wedding aspect of the business entirely. After days of controversy, Steve Tennes announced his farm would no longer hold wedding ceremonies 'After prayerful consideration, we will no longer book any future wedding ceremonies at our orchard. This allows us to maintain our personal religious beliefs,' a statement read 'After prayerful consideration, we will no longer book any future wedding ceremonies at our orchard. This allows us to maintain our personal religious beliefs. We will continue to rent out our barn for special events,' a statement read. However, people have also come out to support the mill's decision not to allow the Ortis' to marry on the property, praising the family for 'standing up for its beliefs'. 'Thank you Steve for standing up for your beliefs... I hope those people who are complaining about you realize that you sacrificed and fought to defend their right to say it,' one customer said. 'I stand firmly with the country mill. I will always support your business. So glad to see someone stand up for what they believe in,' another wrote. 'I will definitely be a regular customer at your orchard. I will be inclined to spend more money than I normally would,' a supporter said. 'Thank you for standing by your beliefs and not wavering. Today's liberal society thinks that we as Christians should conform to their needs and don't understand we answer to to Lord almighty if we do condone this type of marriage,' another added. The Country Mill will hold all ceremonies that have already been booked before getting out of the wedding game. A teenage girl from New York who disappeared seven years ago while on Spring Break in Myrtle Beach may have been gang-raped, killed, and fed to alligators, new information reveals. Brittanee Marie Drexel, then 17, traveled to Myrtle Beach from Rochester in 2009 with some friends without telling her parents and disappeared without a trace after leaving her friend's hotel on April 25. In June, investigators said they believed the missing teen was dead, and offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Brittanee Drexel was 17 when she vanished after leaving a friend's hotel in Myrtle Beach in April 2009 FBI agents have implicated Timothy DaShaun Taylor (left) in a new report that cites a jailhouse confession by Taquan Brown (right) who claimed he saw Drexel's rape and murder (he is in prison on a separate case). Taylor has not been charged in Drexel's disappearance. On Friday, an FBI agent gave the first detailed account of what authorities believe happened to the teen, based on an account from an imprisoned man who says he saw Drexel's horrific last moments and made a jailhouse confession, according to the Post and Courier. FBI agent Gerrick Munoz said in a report, citing the prisoner's account, that Drexel was being held in a 'stash house' outside of McClellanville, about an hour outside of Myrtle Beach. Police had previously said they believed that the high school student was held for at least three days against her will near McClellanville, as that is where they traced signals from her cell phone after her disappearance. Brittanee Drexel (above) went to the hot beach spot with three friends without her parents knowing - her mom thought she was at a beach in New York The blonde teen was last seen leaving her friend's hotel where she stayed for ten minutes before leaving and disappearing Earlier this year, an inmate who was sentenced to 25 years for voluntary manslaughter told police he knew what happened to the young woman. The inmate, Taquan Brown of Walterboro, told agents that he entered a 'stash house' in the days after Drexel's abduction and saw Timothy DaShaun Taylor, then 16, 'sexually abusing' her. Brown said he then went outside to give Da'Shaun's father, Shaun, some money, and saw the girl run from the house, but she was caught and 'pistol-whipped.' According to Brown, she was then dragged back into the house, and Brown said he heard two gun shots and later saw the girl's body wrapped up and taken away. Dawn Drexel, mother of Britanee Drexel, speaks to reporters during a news conference in McClellanville, SC on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 FBI Special Agent in Charge David Thomas told reporters of a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in Drexel's case Munoz said several witnesses said the teen's body had been thrown in an 'alligator pit' and 'eaten by the gators.' So far agents have not been able to find the girl's remains despite checking 14 alligator ponds. They believe there are about 40 in the area. Joan Taylor, the wife of Shaun Taylor and mother of DaShaun Taylor, says the story implicating the pair is 'craziness' made up by investigators to get her son to confess to the crime. However, agents say the gruesome account has been backed up by other 'tidbits' and 'second hand information' that have been coming in recently, and by another inmate in Georgetown County. Munoz said that, according to the second inmate, who got the account secondhand, DaShaun allegedly managed to get the girl from where he met her in Myrtle Beach back to McClellanville and then 'showed her off, introduced her to some other friends that were there they ended up tricking her out with some of their friends, offering her to them and getting a human trafficking situation.' The teen is believed to have spent her final days around McClannanville as police traced pings from her cell phone to the area When her case began to receive massive publicity, the alleged abductor felt he had a problem and so she was 'murdered and disposed of' said the FBI agent. Father Shaun and son DaShaun are still just suspects, with no hard evidence against them, reports the Post and Courier. In part of an effort to get DaShaun to cooperate with the Drexel case, he is currently being held on additional charges relating to being the getaway driver for the robbery of a McDonald's in 2011. Although he had confessed and served his time for that crime, agents hit him with parallel charges. Da'Shaun's lawyer, David Aylor, calls the ploy a 'squeeze job' to get him to admit to the Drexel crime, which his lawyer says he didn't commit. DaShaun posted $10,000 bail and was released. Da'Shaun's mother, Joan Taylor, told the Post and Courier that authorities are 'trying to pin something' on her son. She said the implication that her son and husband were responsible for Drexel's rape and murder are untrue and 'not in our nature.' She said her son lost his arm in a childhood accident, works as a mechanic, and supports a son, daughter, and grandmother. Magpie swooping season is set to be longer and nastier than usual because mild winter temperatures caused breeding to start earlier. Some of the birds started nesting back in July due to perfect weather conditions, which means they are six to eight weeks earlier than last year. Griffith University behavioural ecologist Dr Darryl Jones said it was 'crazy' magpies had nested so early this year. Scroll down for video Magpie swooping season is set to be longer and nastier than usual because mild winter temperatures caused breeding to start earlier 'They'll have one whole lot of chicks before they have their normal lot of chicks. It's going to be a long season, I'm pretty sure,' he told the Courier Mail. 'Magpies only attack when there are chicks in the nest, so if there are going to be more chicks, there are going to be more attacks.' Swooping victims have already started recording attacks on the Magpie Alert website with 55 people saying they have been injured by the birds even before spring starts. Several cyclists in NSW and Queensland were left with bleeding ears after they were swooped at the weekend. A woman only known as Kristy said a magpie in Glenroy in NSW drew blood from her and swooping three times while she was walking. Some of the birds started nesting back in July due to perfect weather conditions, which means they are six to eight weeks earlier than last year Several people last year were injured by swooping magpies (pictured). People have already started recording places they have been swooped this year Several cyclists in NSW and Queensland were left with bleeding ears after they were swooped at the weekend 'A magpie came from behind me and hit me in the head with his body and beak 3 times drawing blood,' she said. 'He was particularly vicious and came at me every time I moved. I sat in the gutter and waited to be picked up by car while he watched me from the nearby light pole!' A man named Kelvin from Calamvale in Queensland claims he was left with a 10cm gash on his face after he was swooped. Magpies can often use facial recognition to repeatedly attack the same person and they may even know where the individual lives if they have grown up in the area. HOW DO YOU AVOID BEING SWOOPED BY A MAGPIE? 1. Walk quickly and carefully away from the area where the magpie is attacking. 2. Try to keep an eye on the bird while retreating. Magpies are less likely to swoop if you look directly at them. You can also try wearing your sunglasses on the back of your head, or drawing or sewing eyes onto the back of a hat. 3. Wear a bicycle or skateboard helmet. Any type of hat, even one made from an ice-cream container or cardboard box, will help protect you. 4. Carry an open umbrella, stick or small branch above your head, but do not swing it at the magpie as this will only provoke it to attack. 5. If riding a bicycle, dismount and wheel it quickly through the magpie's territory. Your helmet will protect your head. You can also attach a tall, red safety flag to your bicycle or hold a stick or branch, while some cyclists attach protruding cable ties to their helmets. (Source: NSW Office of Environment and Heritage) Advertisement Swooping victims have already started recording attacks on the Magpie Alert website with 55 people saying they have been injured by the birds even before spring starts 'A really smart animal like a magpie knows faces - they look at eyes and faces,' Dr Jones told Daily Mail Australia. 'People can change what they look like or they might wear a different colour the next day. They are not responding to a colour, they are responding to the face.' It is not clear why magpies target particular people but Dr Jones says the birds can often live in the same territory for 20 years and would recognise residents in the immediate area easily. 'Magpies live in a permanent territory. Once they find an area that is good to nest, they stay there for the rest of their lives with their mate,' he said. 'In a suburban area... there could be 20-40 people in that area. She plays a young Queen Victoria on the ITV series which paints the monarch as a feisty and slightly flirtatious teenager. And it seems that Jenna Coleman's portrayal is much more accurate than the legend suggests, according to Victoria's official biographer A N Wilson. Wilson says the former queen has been unfairly judged by her 'We are not amused' remark which led many to believe she had no sense of humour. She plays a young Queen Victoria (pictured) on the ITV series which paints the monarch as a feisty and slightly flirtatious teenager. And it seems that Jenna Coleman's portrayal is much more accurate than the legend suggests, according to Victoria's official biographer A N Wilson But nothing could be further from the truth, he says, as that comment was directed at her daughter's lover, who made crude jokes which she disliked. 'The 'We are not amused' remark came about when her wayward daughter Louise was having an affair with the courtier Sir Arthur Bigge,' writes Wilson in The Sunday Times' Culture magazine. 'Bigge liked telling smutty jokes. He was doing this one evening and embarrassing everyone present, male and female. 'The queen looked sharply down at the table and said: 'Sir Arthur we are not amused.' 'She was not using the royal 'we': she meant that nobody present thought he was being funny.' Wilson was a consultant to the Young Victoria series says that when Queen Victoria died 'as a rather terrifying, fat old lady' her children set to 'obliterate the trace of what she had actually been like.' Wilson was a consultant to the Young Victoria series starring Jenna Coleman and says that when Queen Victoria died 'as a rather terrifying, fat old lady' her children set to 'obliterate the trace of what she had actually been like Her children hired two Establishment figures Lord Esher and AC Benson, to edit her letters. Wilson said: 'They put about a rather tedious anecdote of 'We are not amused' in order to suggest she had no sense of humour. 'In fact, she was someone with a strong sense of humour: in one of the few surviving pieces of footage of her, being driven in an open landau in 1897, during the diamond jubilee, she is laughing like a drain.' ITV's new Sunday night offering follows the monarch as she navigates her new role as queen, pulls ranks over ministers and falls in love with Prince Albert. It also examines Victoria's relationship with her Prime Minister Lord Melbourne played by Rufus Sewell who 'captures the way his cynicism melted into infatuation'. Wilson adds: 'We watch a sophisticated middle-aged man's heart being broken by an utterly selfish, enchanting girl: his queen. All summer, controversy over the burkini has raged through Europe and beyond, with bans in many swimming pools in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. But it's in France where the controversy is at fever pitch. There the garment has been banned in more than 20 towns on its south-east coast and this week a woman was made to strip off a loose blue top to reveal a vest on a crowded beach. In Britain, there are no such bans. But while the response here to the French crackdown on the burkini has been broadly negative, a social experiment has looked at how people would react to a similar incident on a UK beach. While the response here to the French crackdown on the burkini has been broadly negative, a social experiment has looked at how people would react to a similar incident on a UK beach At a beach in Southend-on-Sea in Essex, an actor known as Light - who is dressed as a police officer' - approaches an actress portraying a Muslim woman. The woman, Amina Maz, is sitting alone on a towel on the beach and wearing a burkini. As beachgoers watch on, the 'officer' tells the woman: 'Stand up please. Can you take it off please? 'You're not allowed to wear it at the beach. You look like a terrorist. I'm afraid you're wearing it because you're oppressed.' The woman in the burkini refuses his demand, replying: 'I'm not going to take anything off. I'm allowed to wear whatever I want. At a beach in Southend-on-Sea in Essex, an actor known as Light - who is dressed as a police officer' - approaches an actress portraying a Muslim woman Beachgoers witness the 'officer' tell the woman: 'Stand up please. Can you take it off please?' The woman in the burkini refuses his demand, replying: 'I'm allowed to wear whatever I want.' The actor playing the police officer then begins to pull at the woman's headdress 'How am I any different to anyone who's wearing anything else? This is racial profiling. 'You can't say this to me. I don't feel oppressed at all.' The actor playing the police officer then begins to pull at the woman's headdress, before she shouts: 'Excuse me, don't touch me.' As this happens a group of around a dozen onlookers surround the 'policeman', while others defend the woman's choice of outfit. Two women tell the 'officer': 'You can't do that. It's not what terrorists wear. As this happens a group of around a dozen onlookers surround the 'policeman', while others defend the woman's choice of outfit Confronted: Two women tell the 'officer': 'You can't do that. It's not what terrorists wear' When the scene is exposed, a woman wearing a grey headdress who recorded the argument with her mouth open says: 'My heart stopped beating. I'm so happy (that it wasn't real)' 'She's obviously a Muslim. Do not discriminate against her religion. You can't do that. That's bulls***.' When the scene is exposed as a social experiment, a woman wearing a grey headdress who recorded the argument with her mouth open in shock says: 'My heart stopped beating. I'm so happy (that it wasn't real). I'm going to cry.' The social experiment was carried out by the pranksters behind Trollstation, who uploaded the film to the group's YouTube channel. Lucas Davey (pictured) died after he was run over by a car in Merriwa in Perth's north in April A Perth man who ran over and killed a 22-month-old boy in a stolen car and fled has avoided jail. Karel Christopher Lucien Kivits, 30, pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday to stealing a car, breaching bail, driving without a licence and failing to report an incident occasioning death. He was handed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, fined $1400 and will lose his license for one year. Kivits was also fined $5000 for six stealing offences. Toddler Lucas Davey was hit after he crawled under the car at the front of a Merriwa home in April. He was rushed to hospital but died shortly after. Kivits left the scene when confronted by angry residents, including a man with a metal bar but turned himself in the following day. His mother Shannon Davey told Perth Now that she lost 'the most beautiful baby boy'. 'He was so beautiful, and I know everyone says it, but there was genuinely something special about him,' Ms Davey said. Magistrate Robert Young told Kivits 'you had no right to be in that car and no right to be driving', the ABC reported. 'It's taken a tragedy of this magnitude to hopefully make you realise the things you do have an effect and an impact,' Magistrate Young said. Terrified Melbourne residents are fitting their homes with secure metal doors and sophisticated alarm systems in a desperate bid to remain safe from the Apex gang. A spree of gang-related break ins and violent carjackings in the city's south-east has seen a huge surge in business for security companies cashing in on the state of fear. Multifit Security Doors managing director Rick Hyland told the Herald Sun that his company had seen a 30 per cent increase in demand this year alone. Scroll down for video Terrified Melbourne residents are fortifying their homes with secure doors (right), window grilles (left) and alarm systems in a desperate bid to remain safe from the Apex gang A spree of gang-related break ins and violent carjackings in the city's south-east has seen a huge surge in business for security companies (pictured, two unrelated Apex gang members) He said most of his clients were from Dandenong and Cranbourne, suburbs where the predominantly Sudanese street gang has run riot the past 12 months. 'The Apex gang has created a lot of issues,' Mr Hyland said. 'Ten years ago home invasions were unheard of but now it's a weekly thing.' 'One of the jobs we have just done was for a pet food supplies store and we had to urgently do a door for them; we have had three cars stolen from our street as well.' A Melbourne security alarm system business told the Herald Sun that they too had experienced a huge surge in business across the past six months. The company said that families were requesting to have sophisticated camera and alarm systems installed to keep them safe while they were sleeping. A Melbourne security alarm system business said they had seen a huge surge in business across the last six months (stock image) Earlier this month it was revealed that Melbourne families were fortifying their homes with barbed wires (pictured) Earlier this month it was revealed that Melbourne families were resorting to fortifying their homes with barbed wires to protect themselves from the Apex gang. I will be doing this soon. It's either barbed wire or broken glass siliconed around the top of the fence, one resident said in a thread about barbed wire being used on properties in the area. Go the glass. They might see barbed wire and look for another way in but the glass would be easier to keep hidden until it's too late, replied one. Residents in the street where a 12-year-old girl was threatened with death during a violent carjacking linked to the Apex gang last month told Daily Mail Australia they are terrified to leave their homes. The shocking incident has left neighbours so frightened that one couple, who have lived in the street for 40 years, will not leave the house at night. 'I am a man and I am too scared to go for walks in my own street,' the man said. 'It is scary to even sleep - I am keeping a metal bar beside my bed in case they come inside.' Multifit Security Doors managing director Rick Hyland said the Apex gang was causing issues Bernard Hogan-Howe has previously called for all tattoos to be covered Survey finds up to 75% of the public want more lenient guidelines Police should relax their rules when recruiting to allow tattooed candidates to apply for roles as rank-and-file officers, the union representing them has urged. Many forces across the country currently have a blanket ban on visible tattoos claiming that they are bad for the services reputation, but the Police Federation believes that those with tattoos on their necks, hands and even faces should be able to join up. With almost a third of young people getting tattoos, the federation, which represents over 120,000 officers, is now arguing that a rethink is needed as the force is brought more into line to reflect modern Britain. Time for a change? The Police Federation has said that candidates with visible tattoos should be allowed to apply for jobs as a large of amount of potential talent is being rejected The federation went on to claim that a large amount of potential talent was being rejected just for having tattoos at a time when it was proving hard to attracts the best recruits to police forces, the Daily Telegraph reported. Many ex-serviceman and women who have got tattoos while serving in the armed forces have also found that they have been unable to apply after leaving, just because they have tattoos although possessing the right qualities for the job. Research by the Police Federation suggests as many as 75 per cent of serving officers and members of the public would like to see forces operate a more lenient recruitment policy. This could see candidates with necks and face tattoos considered for a job on the force, providing the designs are not rude or offensive. National guidelines, set out by the National Policing Improvement Agency in 2011, state candidates with visible tattoos may be eligible for appointment, advising that each case be considered on its merits. A change in policy would allow recruits with tattoos on their hands, necks or faces to take jobs provided the inkings were not offensive. 75% of the public have called for more lenient rules But in 2012, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, took a hard line, ordering all visible tattoos to be covered while on duty. Sir Bernard said in 2012: All visible tattoos damage the professional image of the Metropolitan Police. He said that tattoos on the face, neck and hands would not be permitted and all other tattoos such as those on the arms must be covered at all times. Met commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe has previously said all tattoos should be covered while on duty Other forces, including Northumbria, Merseyside and West Yorkshire, operate similarly strict policies, while Greater Manchester Police and the Kent forces have adopted a more relaxed approach in recent years. Greater Manchester said tattoos will be carefully considered and become relevant if they cause offence but the force does not specify objections to tattoos on any specific parts of the body. Different rules across different forces serving officers with tattoos are potentially unable to transfer from one area to another, causing problems. The Police Federation argues that the current system is confusing and there needs to be a national policy operating across all 43 forces in the country. Victoria Martin, from the Police Federation, said: The Home Office guidance which was published in 2011 is quite vague and appears to be being interpreted in different ways by the 43 forces. Some forces have blanket bans on visible tattoos, while others tend to look at each case on its merits, but we think it is time for a rethink of the overall policy. If we truly want to embrace diversity, and we want to widen the talent pool we can recruit from, then forces need to be more open-minded, so communities have a police service that reflects todays society. I am pretty sure the public want an officer who is competent and professional, and wont mind if the person who comes to help them has a tattoo. Ms Wilson worked for aid groups in the country for over 20 years She thanked the Australian consulate and Afghani authorities for their help Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed that she was freed Kerry Jane Wilson, 60, was abducted in Afghanistan in April 2016 An Australian aid worker who was abducted in Afghanistan in April has been freed. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed Kerry Jane Wilson, 60, is safe and well. In a statement, Ms Bishop said: 'I am relieved for Kerry Jane, and her family with whom I have remained in close contact.' Australian aid worker Kerry Jane Wilson, 60, has been freed after she was kidnapped in April 2016 Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed her release in a statement saying: 'I am relieved for Kerry Jane, and her family with whom I have remained in close contact' Ms Wilson, originally from Perth, was kidnapped at gunpoint in April 2016 from her office in the eastern city of Jalalabad. She had been living in Afghanistan for the past 20 years working with a range of aid groups. At the time, Ms Wilson was working with Zardozi, a non-government organisation working to help Afghani women living in poverty become entrepreneurs. Ms Bishop said she had been in close contact with Ms Wilson's family during the ordeal and was relieved by the good outcome. Ms Wilson has been living in Afghanistan for the past 20 years, she had been working with a non-government organisation helping Afghani women living become entrepreneurs 'I deeply appreciate the work of the authorities in Afghanistan whose support and assistance facilitated her release, as well as Australian consular staff who continue to provide assistance to Ms Wilson and her family,' Ms Bishop said. 'To protect those who remain captive or face the risk of kidnapping in Afghanistan and elsewhere, the government will not comment on the circumstances of Kerry Jane's release,' she added. Living near a fracking site almost doubles the risk of migraines, chronic sinus problems and severe fatigue, suggests new research. The study in the United States found residents with the highest exposure to the natural gas wells are nearly TWICE as likely to suffer from the combination of conditions. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that fracking worsens air quality, contaminates water sources and harms public health. Living near a fracking site almost doubles the risk of migraines, chronic sinus problems and severe fatigue, suggests new research More than 15 million Americans live within a mile of a fracking site that has been drilled in the past 15 years. While it has not yet taken place on anything like the same scale in the UK, the government here has granted more than 300 licences for firms to carry out shale gas exploration. Previous research has suggested fracking poses threats to residents living close by which is backed by the new findings published in Environmental Health Perspectives. Dr Aaron Tustin, of Johns Hopkins University in the US, said: 'These three health conditions can have debilitating impacts on people's lives. 'In addition they cost the health care system a lot of money. Our data suggest these symptoms are associated with proximity to the fracking industry..' The study of 7,785 adults found 1,765 (23 per cent) suffered migraines, 1,930 (25 per cent) severe fatigue and 1,850 (24 per cent) chronic rhinosinusitis - three or more months of nasal and sinus symptoms). The researchers used publicly available well data to estimate participants' exposure to the fracking industry - accounting for size and number as well as proximity to people's homes. Those who met criteria for two or more of the health conditions were nearly twice as likely to live closer to more or larger wells. Professor Brian Schwartz said: 'We don't know specifically why people in close proximity to these larger wells are more likely to be sick. 'We need to find a way to better understand the correlation and, hopefully, do something to protect the health of these people.' Previous research conducted by Schwartz and colleagues has linked the fracking industry to increases in premature births, asthma attacks and indoor radon concentrations. The researchers say there are plausible explanations for how fracking could cause these health conditions. Well development generates air pollution which could provoke nasal and sinus symptoms. The study in the United States found residents with the highest exposure to the natural gas wells are nearly TWICE as likely to suffer from the combination of conditions This type of drilling also produces odours, noise, bright lights and heavy truck traffic. Any of these stressors could increase the risk of symptoms. Migraines for instance are known to be triggered by odours in some individuals. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of millions of litres of water into deep rock formations to liberate natural gas or petroleum. Energy companies moved toward fracking in the early 2000's when natural gas prices were high and supplies were low. Pennsylvania has embraced the industry. More than 9,000 fracking wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania in the past decade. Hydraulic fracturing has expanded rapidly in recent years in states such as Colorado, North Dakota, Wyoming, West Virginia and Ohio. In contrast New York has banned fracking while Maryland has delayed well production. Maryland's fracking moratorium is set to expire in October 2017. The moratorium was passed in 2015 out of concern about fracking's potentially negative environmental effects, before the more recent health studies were completed. Prof Schwartz says Maryland regulators should consider these new scientific findings when they decide whether to allow drilling. He said: 'The moratorium was put in place before we even knew that there were health effects associated with these wells. A Melbourne man who stabbed his wife in the neck 10 times has been jailed for seven years, but may only serve four, after a judge found the father-of-one was suffering delusions at the time. Sukhwinder Sandhu, 39, snuck up on his wife Ramandeep Kharod in their bedroom, grabbed her by her pony tail and viciously attacked her with a knife on February 4 in 2015 because he believed she was trying to poison him with tablets. Sandhu of Tarneit, located 25km from Melbourne CBD, told his housemates that Ms Kharod made him 'mental' as they pulled him off her bloodied body. She was left with a lacerated jugular vein. A Melbourne man who stabbed his wife in the neck 10 times has been jailed for seven years, but may only serve four, after a judge found the father-of-one was suffering delusions at the time (stock image) Ms Kharod survived the attack but was left physically and emotionally scarred, Victorian Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher said in sentencing Sandhu on Monday. Before the attempted murder, Sandhu had physically abused Ms Kharod on a number of occasions, the Herald Sun reported. He kicked her in the stomach when she was pregnant with their daughter, and slapped her in the face while she held their child. Sandhu would also slap Ms Kharod in the face during bouts of anger, pull her hair and punch her, the Supreme Court heard. The jury heard that Sandhu stabbed Ms Kharod after wanting to move to their family to Queensland to start her new job as a hairdresser. He left $50 for Ms Kharod in their joint account after transferring their $100,000 in savings to himself. Justice Croucher accepted that Sandhu suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and had experienced delusional thoughts and hallucinations while attacking his wife. He also accepted Sandhu's apology for the attack, concluding that he was unlikely to reoffend. Sandhu pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years. Sandhu is expected to be deported at the completion of his sentence. Ms Kharod survived the attack but was left physically and emotionally scarred, Victorian Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher said in sentencing Sandhu on Monday Iconic Sydney restaurateur Jackie Milijash whose venues have attracted high profile celebrities for decades has died just before her 53rd birthday. Milijash, 52, was found dead at her Avalon home on Sydney's northern beaches by her mother. She is known for the celebrity hotspot Jackie's Cafe in Paddington, which is a favourite of the likes of Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Naomi Watts, as well as Jackie's Restaurant and Bar in Bondi. Iconic Sydney restaurateur Jackie Milijash whose venues have attracted high profile celebrities for decades has died just before her 53rd birthday Jackie's Restaurant and Bar in Bondi is one of her most well-known hot-spots Milijash, 52, was found dead at her Avalon home on Sydney's northern beaches by her mother Milijash, who was billionaire James Packer's first girlfriend, was preparing to open a new venue on the northern beaches. Milijash, who was due to turn 53 next month, was credited for creating Sydney's cafe cultures back in the late 1980s. She started her business in 1989 with the original Jackie's Cafe on the corner of Liverpool and Kent Streets in the centre of the city. Milijash was known for having close ties to a number of celebrities and was remembered for once stealing a microphone from Elton John and her friend James Packer's wedding to Jodhi Meares. 'Jac we miss you already RIP X' PR mogul Roxy Jacenko posted to Instagram on Monday She is known for the celebrity hotspot Jackie's Cafe in Paddington It is a favourite of the likes of Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and Naomi Watts Some of her close friends have taken to social media to mourn the death of the iconic Sydney restaurateur who is being remembered for her kind and loving nature. 'Heartbreaking loss of a beautiful woman and icon, Jackie Milijash, who touched so many with her energy, passion, humour and warmth,' her friend Roni Faktor wrote. 'Though many knew her through her successful Jackies Cafes and Raw Bar, it was Jackies personality and kindness that made her so legendary.' Celebrity hairstylist Joh Bailey wrote: 'Jackie darling! We shared a flat in Edgecliff in the late 80's... Wild Wild times . Heart of gold. R.I.P x.' Jackie Milijash was billionaire James Packer's first girlfriend An ice addicted mother said the drug helped her 'cope' as a single parent because it kept her up all night cleaning and preparing her children's school lunches. Auckland mother-of-two Haydee Richards, 45, said she thought ice got her in control, she told NZ Herald. The house was 'immaculate' and she prepared school lunches through the night, while the drug also stopped her drinking and shook her weight down to a frail 39 kilograms. But her habit turned into a $3,000-a-day addiction, and eventually landed Ms Richards in prison before she turned her life around. Scroll down for video Auckland single mother-of-two Haydee Richards (pictured), 45, said she thought ice got her in control She first discovered ice after using speed when she was 28, as a single parent to her then 11-year-old daughter and her seven-year-old son. Ms Richards said she soon thought ice was 'awesome', because it helped her get everything 'perfectly organised' for her children. 'I was in control, I thought I am on to it. Actually I thought I was amazing.' 'I stopped drinking, I lost weight. I felt so confident.' She said her habit 'didn't seem like a big deal' at first because she only used on weekends. 'Soon I would start Friday. Then I'd feel so bad on Monday I'd have a pick-me-up. Soon I was on it all week,' Ms Richards told NZ Herald. Within a year she was taking the drug intravenously. Ms Richards said she soon thought ice was 'awesome', because it helped her get everything 'perfectly organised' for her children It's been more than five years since Ms Richards used the drug, and she is speaking out while ice is on the rise in her former town of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand's North Island But by this stage Ms Richards was using up to three grams a day, with a street value of about $3,000, and began dealing the drug to fund her addiction. Eventually she began draining the family's money and even money from her daughter's friend gambling on pokie machines. More than a decade after she first began using, police searched her home and she was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Wiri prison in South Auckland. Her son was still 17-years-old and still lived at the family home. To deal with the financial strife, Ms Richards' daughter sold the home. It's been more than five years since Ms Richards used the drug, and she is speaking out while ice is on the rise in her former town of Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand's North Island. Baloo the bear and Shere Khan the tiger were allowed to say goodbye to their brother and the Noah's Ark sanctuary says they are doing 'extremely well' When Leo first got to the sanctuary, his nose was blooded from pushing it up against his cage bars Leo's 'brothers' were a black bear and a Bengal tiger, all discovered living in small cages under a house during a drug raid The famous animal BLT - Baloo the American black bear, Leo the lion and Shere Khan the Bengal tiger - are now a BT. The trio, a bear, lion, and tiger who came out of the same dire circumstances of being held in cages under a drug dealer's home in Atlanta, captured the public's heart with their unlikely friendship. Since they were rescued from their horrid conditions during a drug raid 15 years ago, the three have been inseparable at the Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary in Locust Grove, Georgia. Scroll down for video The purrfect BLT: The bear, lion, tiger trio were an unusual bromance that lasted 15 years From left: Baloo, Shere Khan, and Leo were as thick as thieves and rarely separated The trio, seen here as adolescents, enjoyed taking baths at the sanctuary But on August 16, the sanctuary posted on its Facebook page that Leo the lion had passed over the rainbow bridge. After months of being lethargic and not eating well, Leo underwent exploratory abdominal surgery, and veterinarians were devastated to find that his liver was filled with inoperable tumors. 'The heart wrenching decision was made to let him go,' said the group on Facebook. Leo's brothers, Shere Khan and Baloo, were 'given the opportunity to say goodbye' and have been doing 'remarkably well' though they will be closely monitored for signs of grief or depression, says the sanctuary. During his illness, Leo was kept in a cage adjacent to that of Baloo and Shere Khan, who could visit him. The trio never fought, said the sanctuary, though they enjoyed playing pranks on each other Lion Leo and bear Baloo had a particularly strong bond and loved to snuggle and to eat Leo's favorite snack, pineapple Leo and Shere Khan were great friends, visitors say Leo was the sweeter of the two while Shere Khan was more of a mischievous fellow Leo was known as a loving lion who was devoted to his 'brothers' and adored playing with them During the months Leo (right) was sick, he was kept in an enclosure where he could get privacy but his buddies could come visit him 'Animals are so perceptive and with the incredible bond the BLT had since being rescued together from a drug dealers basement in 2001, it is highly likely that Baloo and Shere Khan knew their lion brother was terminally ill long before Leo began displaying outward symptoms,' said the group. The sanctuary says the brothers, as they were called, were incredibly close and never fought, though Shere Khan was a prankster who enjoyed jumping on an unsuspecting Leo, according to the Mother Nature Network. The trio were brought to the sanctuary after being rescued from a drug dealer's house in Atlanta in 2001 Little Leo was kept in a cage and when he first came in, his nose was almost sheared off from where he would rub it against the bars in a desperate attempt to get out Leo is also seen in videos 'chatting' with his caretakers. The sanctuary's Facebook wall was filled with an outpouring of support from BLT fans. A man has spoken of how racegoers teamed up to prevent a bridge from burning down after a suspicious homemade bomb was discovered. Racegoer Jason Edwards was sitting with his friends on top of a hill at the Brakes Director Border Ranges Rally when they noticed smoke coming off the bridge in Kyogle of northern NSW on Saturday morning. Large clouds of smoke quickly surrounded the bridge shortly before the race started as event organisers managed to extinguish the fire moments later. Clerk of the course Stephen Davies said the incident was an 'act of terrorism' but found there were no threats to spectators or race drivers after the fire was put out. A suspicious homemade bomb was discovered at the Brakes Director Border Ranges Rally in northern NSW on Saturday - just moments before the race was set to begin 'I rode my quad bike up to where the marshals are... and yelled out to them, "make sure no one's coming through, there's a fire on the bridge",' Mr Edwards told the Sunshine Coast Daily. He said the device with coils of wire wrapped around paper had heated up after a timer, which was attached to it, set off. 'It had like a timer-delay on it, and a couple of batteries, so the timer triggered the battery, and they had a heap of wire coiled up in there, so the wire's gone red-hot and the paper's caught on fire from that,' he said. The battery was found wedged between planks of wood with paper jammed around the device in the bridge. He said the bridge was made out of old timber, surrounded by dry grass - a combination that would have caused the blaze to lit up in seconds. Mr Edwards said if he hadn't chosen a spot on the hill, with sweeping views of the circuit, the fire would have destroyed the bridge completely. Witnesses believed the device was intentionally used in an attempt to burn down the bridge The device was made out of a battery with coils of wire wrapped around paper. It heated up after a timer, which was attached to it, set off before the race A NSW police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the incident is currently under investigation. 'Police are continuing their inquiries into a fire on a small wooden bridge at Iron Pot Creek Road, Toonumbar, near Kyogle, on Saturday,' the spokesperson said. 'Iron Pot Creek Road was included in the circuit for a car rally being held in the local area at the weekend, and the small fire was spotted by race officials about 12pm. 'The fire was extinguished with only minor damage caused. Police attended, seizing an item for further examination.' lost his own battle with cancer Daniel Andrews said the alleged comments in 2014 about MP Donna Bauer A premier has been accused of making offensive comments about a former MP suffering from bowel cancer. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews allegedly said that ex-Liberal MP Donna Bauer would not be a threat during election as she would be 's***ing in a bag.' Mr Andrews issued a statement denying that he made the alleged remarks, which occurred in 2014 during the last term of Parliament. But two Labor MP's have told the Herald Sun that they heard the comment being made and that it sounded like sounded like a 'well-rehearsed joke'. Victorian premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) has denied saying that ex-Liberal MP Donna Bauer would not be a threat during election as she would be 's***ing in a bag' In statement Mr Andrews calls the claims by an unnamed source: 'defamatory, disgusting and wrong.' 'After losing my father recently to a long and heartbreaking battle with cancer, it's disgraceful that people would sink this low. 'These lies have also brought unnecessary distress to others.' Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan echoed the statement, calling the claims against Mr Andrews a 'pretty pathetic attempt at a political hit'. 'They are just claims, they are claims that are disgusting, they are claims that are vile and they are claims that have no basis in fact,' the ABC reports. She asked why the MP's who claimed to hear the comments made in 2014 , had not said anything at the time. Donna Bauer said the alleged comment left her devastated. 'The insensitivity and cruelty of the comment took my breath away' The alleged comments allude to a colostomy bag (stock picture), used by patients with malfunctioning bowels to collect waste products It's believed over the weekend that Mr Andrews called Ms Bauer, an ambassador for Bowel Cancer Australia, personally to deny the alleged remarks, which left her feeling distressed after the reports emerged. 'I was devastated when I learnt the comment was about me and said at a time when I was fighting for my life and not sure I would survive,' Ms Bauer told the Herald Sun. Anthony Weiner has gone offline after it was revealed that the disgraced politician had been sexting with a woman behind his wife's back - for a third time. Hours after the New York Post published new images that the former Congressman sent to a mystery brunette while his wife Huma Abedin was hard at work on the campaign trail with presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, Weiner has deleted his Twitter account. The most damning of the snaps shows Weiner laying in bed wearing nothing but his boxer briefs while his four-year-old son with Abedin, Jordan, sleeps next to him. 'Someone just climbed into my bed,' Weiner wrote to the woman before sending the photo, which clearly showed the outline of his manhood. She responded by writing back: 'You do realize you can see you[r] Weiner in that pic??' The photo was sent shortly after 3am on July 31, 2015 from Weiner, who reportedly grew concerned moments later thinking that he may have publicly posted the photo. 'Ooooooh . . . I was scared. For half a second I thought I posted something. Stop looking at my crotch,' Weiner reportedly wrote back. Scroll down for video Third time's the charm: Anthony Weiner has been caught in a sexting scandal for the third time (photos above) Horrible: New images of disgraced politician shirtless and in just his boxer briefs were sent to a brunette divorcee, including one with his son sleeping next to him (Weiner and Abedin with son Jordan in 2015 above) Weiner publicly posted a shot of a similar nature showcasing his bulge in a pair of boxer briefs on Twitter back in 2011, which is how news of his first sexting scandal broke. The stay-at-home-dad also sent the woman other images of himself topless and wearing boxers. The racy exchanges took place in 2015. The woman has not been identified, but is believed to be a Donald Trump fan. She is also believed to have used her Twitter account to push her support for the NRA and slam President Obama. And just as shocking as the photo may be the fact that Weiner used the same pseudonym he did during his second sexting scandal - Carlos Danger. Weiner and Abedin married in July 2010 in a ceremony that was officiated by Bill Clinton and covered in the pages of Vogue, with Abedin getting pregnant with the couple's first child just a few months later. The couple was not even a year into their marriage when news broke that Weiner had been sexting women online after he tweeted out a photo of his erect penis that he had meant to privately send to a woman on the social media site. He resigned from Congress soon after, and in December of that year Abedin gave birth to a Jordan. In 2013, Weiner decided to run for mayor of New York City and also agreed to be filmed for a documentary about his return to politics. He announced he would run in late May, but just two months later came allegations that he had continued to sext in the years after he resigned from Congress using the name Carlos Danger. A 22-year-old named Sydney Leathers said she had been sharing messages and explicit photos with Weiner as recently as April of that year, giving interviews to multiple news outlets and even showing up at the event he hosted after losing in the mayoral primary that September. Weiner has held various jobs since, and in 2015 appeared in the television movie Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!. Happier times: Abedin and Weiner were all smiles in May as they attended the annual Met Gala All too familiar: Weiner was caught in his second sexting scandal in the middle of his run to be NYC mayor (above at a news conference after the scandal in July 2013 with wife Huma) Abedin spoke about the couple's relationship in an interview on the Call Your Girlfriend podcast earlier this year, saying: 'You know, I think that a marriage really only works in any situation, whether youre in politics or not, if one partner is fully supportive of the other. 'I think its a little its often a little more challenging when youre in politics because your private life, and I think everybody craves their own privacy, and so I think your private life is displayed to the world in a way that you otherwise wouldnt have to deal with if one spouse is a private person and the other persons in politics as was the case certainly in my marriage. 'But I think it works if you fully support each other.' She then noted that her husband has taken over much of the parenting of their son as she is away from home. 'Im on the road a lot on the campaign. As I mentioned earlier I have a four-year-old son and I dont think I could do this if I didnt have the support of a spouse who is willing to basically be a stay-at- home dad as much as he possibly can so Im able to be on the road,' said Abedin. 'I miss my son but I dont worry about him because I know between this little village weve created between Anthony and my in-laws and my mom and our families and this wonderful woman who we have helping us I can go out and be the best professional woman that I can be because I have that support.' Chatty Cathy: Weiner used the name Carlos Danger during his second sexting scandal as he traded pics with Sydney Leathers (above in November 2014) Bodning: Weiner and his son Jordan march in the New York City Pride Parade this past June (above) Earlier this month, Leathers claimed Weiner was still chatting with other women online behind his wife's back. In a column for Washington Babylon on Thursday, Leathers, 26, said she has recently been in touch with one of Weiner's alleged cyber hook-ups, who contacted her looking for advice. 'I am certain his behavior continues to this day because a woman who claims to be one of his current sexting partners has reached out to me for advice,' wrote Leathers, in a movie review for the documentary Weiner. Earlier this month, Weiner was allegedly caught out in a flirty exchange with a man who 'catfished' him. He was lured into a conversation on Twitter with a user who falsely claimed they were a young woman named Nikki. In the chat, which was obtained by the New York Post, Weiner refers to himself as a 'mongoose' and joked about stripping naked in his hotel room. He fell into the trap during a visit to film HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher in Los Angeles. After a series of innocent comments about California weather, surfing, and traffic, the conversation took on a more suggestive tone after the person told Weiner they find high heels uncomfortable. A woman who suffered a back injury while working at Westpac claims she was bullied by senior management before they fired for not being fit to work, despite a doctor giving her a clear bill of health. Angela Corlett, 38, claims she was instructed not to report the 'significant bullying' she faced during her time as a metrics and performance insight manager with Westpac after sustaining a back injury at work, the Australian Financial Review reported. Ms Corlett, from Sydney, alleged two Westpac bosses treated her in a 'demeaning and disrespectful' manner over two years after she requested a modified workspace and reduced working hours while undergoing rehabilitation. Angela Corlett, 38, claims she was instructed not to report the 'significant bullying' she faced during her time as a metrics and performance insight manager with Westpac According to documents submitted to the Federal Circuit Court, the former bank manager claims she suffered a psychological injury after she was victimised, yelled at and fired for not being 'fit to work'. She claims her performance reviews were altered retrospectively and said she was instructed not to make any complaints about the 'demeaning' treatment before she was called into a meeting, sacked and escorted from the building. After the meeting, Ms Corlett went to a doctor who provided her with a medical certificate that said she was fit to work but Westpac refused to accept it, according to the Australian Financial Review. Ms Corlett claims she was unfairly dismissed because she had planned to apply for an anti-bullying order and had to take time off due to the injury and stress caused by the bullying. Ms Corlett has sought compensation from Westpac and said she will continue to fight to get her job back in Sydney's Federal Circuit Court She has sought compensation from Westpac and said she will continue to fight to get her job back. Her case will be heard by Judge Nicholls in Sydney's Federal Circuit Court on Wednesday. A Westpac spokesperson said the bank could not comment on the case for privacy reasons but claims there are policies in place to support its employees in the case of an injury. A 911 dispatcher who couldn't control her impatience with a caller who had just been attacked has been placed on administrative leave. Nicole Scarino, officially known as a 'complaint clerk' though she was answering 911 calls, picked up when Rolando Alvarez called after he and his coworker Helena Vargas at the Golden Wok Chinese food restaurant were attacked while making a delivery in Waterbury, Connecticut on August 23 at 9:30pm. Scarino's tone throughout the call, considered rude and snappish by many, has led to her being put on administrative leave, according to WTNH. Scroll down to listen to 911 call Anthony Wright, 19, was one of four teens arrested in the shooting death of a Chinese food delivery woman and the robbery of her coworker, Rolando Alvarez From the beginning of the call, the distressed Alvarez, who was beaten up and robbed by four teens while Vargas was shot in the back and would later die, was difficult for Scarino to understand. 'Seventy Linden Street,' he said, giving the address of the crime. Helena Vargas, 59, whose family owned the Golden Wok, was helping make a delivery August 23 when she was shot and killed allegedly by a gang of teens 'Seventy, seven-zero?' she asked. 'No, seventy,' he said. 'Seventy is seven-zero, that's what seventy is, seven-zero,' she said, barely concealing her frustration. 'Where are the people that did this, sir?' she asks after Alvarez explains that his friend has been shot. 'Huh?' he asks. 'Where are they?!' she snaps. Alvarez and Vargas worked at the Golden Wok (above) in Waterbury After getting more information, the breathless man seems to talk to his shot coworker for a moment and the dispatcher yells, 'Sir, I need to get information from you!' At another point, she sounds like she's enunciating for a toddler, sharply asking, 'Which way did the car go after they shot at you and robbed you?' 'Now he doesn't know if the car is still there,' she sighs at one point, though it's unclear who she is speaking to. The coworkers were delivering to this address, 70 Linden, when they were ambushed and Vargas was killed Realizing that the delivery man had previously given a description of a car that didn't belong to the suspects but to himself, the dispatcher practically loses it. 'I don't care what you're driving!' she yells. Once the officers get there she says, quickly, 'You might as well talk to them now, thank you' and hangs up. Vargas, 59, died at the hospital. Four people, including three juveniles and alleged Crips gang member Anthony Wright, 19, were arrested for the ambush, according to WFSB. Many commenters on the story were outraged at Scarino's tone of voice throughout the call and more than 1,700 people signed a petition to have her fired. The petition, started by Yvette Vargas, blamed Scarino for 'grossly misunderstanding someone's linguistic inabilities while under the duress of a life and death matter.' 'So rude, unprofessional, nasty, insensitive, and it's unacceptable,' one commenter wrote. 'Just made my blood boil. She is clearly not cut out for this type of job.' 'Somebody died. Somebody was just robbed. I don't understand how you got into this field if you don't have patience for people,' Alvarez' daughter, Fanny, told WFSB. 'You're heartless. You're a heartless person.' Independent senator Nick Xenophon and his team will block the government's legislation to enable a same-sex marriage plebiscite. The South Australian senator has confirmed he and his colleagues will vote against a plebiscite-enabling bill because they believe the issue should be decided by a free vote in parliament. 'The plebiscite, which in any event could be disregarded by the Parliament, could be in the order of $160 million or more,' the party said in a statement. 'We believe this money could be better spent. Scroll down for video Senator Nick Xenophon and his team will vote against the government's legislation to enable a same-sex marriage plebiscite because it should be decided by a free vote 'Each of us supports marriage equality and we are ready to vote accordingly.' His team's decision to oppose a plebiscite will leave the Turnbull government seeking the support of Labor or face a public vote. Labor leader Bill Shorten says the plebiscite is a 'second-best option' and his party appears to be leaning towards rejecting it. 'We want to have marriage equality and we want to do it as quickly as possible,' he told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday. 'A vote in the parliament is the quickest, cheapest, least divisive mechanism.' Cabinet minister Simon Birmingham warned if the plebiscite was blocked, there wouldn't be a same-sex marriage vote in parliament. Labor is yet to reveal how they will vote. Mr Xenophon's decision to oppose a plebiscite will leave the Turnbull government seeking the support of Labor or face a public vote SA senator has confirmed he and his colleagues will vote against a plebiscite-enabling bill because they believe the issue should be decided by a free vote in parliament Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said any delay was on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's head. 'We could legislate marriage equality by the end of the week... if Malcolm Turnbull allowed it,' she said. Labor Senate leader Penny Wong, who is in a same-sex relationship, accused Mr Turnbull of lacking the courage to dump the plebiscite. She called on 'fair-minded Australians' to continue campaigning for marriage equality and put pressure on coalition MPs, 'all those so-called moderates who are now not having the courage of their own convictions'. Despite Labor and crossbench reluctance, the government remains positive with cabinet minister Mathias Corman saying it wasn't a given that parliament would block a plebiscite. Government backbencher Warren Entsch, a long-time advocate for same-sex marriage, says if the plebiscite bill is blocked that should be the end of the matter until the next election. Sharyn Faulkner, from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said Labor should now join with the crossbenchers to veto the plebiscite (file photo) Labor leader Bill Shorten says the plebiscite is a 'second-best option' and his party appears to be leaning towards rejecting it 'I'm not going to sit here and fiddle around year after year because somebody doesn't get exactly what they want,' he told ABC radio, noting he'd copped a lot of flak for his stance over the years. One Nation senator Pauline Hanson says a plebiscite should be held at the same time as the next election to save money. Senator Leyonhjelm, who introduced his own freedom to marry bill to the Senate in 2014, says under current circumstances the plebiscite is the quickest path to same-sex marriage. 'My concern is for the thousands of people who want to marry. For their sake, our job now should be on getting it passed. Arguments about the ideal process and symbolic posturing are not helping.' Independent senator Derryn Hinch said in a statement on Monday he would vote against the plebiscite bill. A better and quicker route would be a conscience vote in the parliament. 'That's what you elect politicians to do - make decisions,' Senator Hinch said. Sharyn Faulkner, from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said Labor should now join with the crossbenchers to veto the plebiscite. It represents largest seizure Australia has encountered through a passenger stream - through airports and cruise ships The Australian Border Force used sniffer dogs to search the cruise ship 95kg of cocaine in suitcases on board the Sea Princess Three Canadians have appeared in Sydney court after they were caught allegedly attempting to import 95kg of cocaine into the country on board the Sea Princess on Sunday. The Australian Border Force (ABF) seized the large quantity of drugs, an estimated street value of $31 million ($23 million USD), from two locked suitcases in two vessel cabins after police and sniffer dogs searched a number of passenger cabins on the large ship. The accused Andre Tamine, 63, Isabelle Legace, 28, and Melina Roberce, 22, were on the Sea Princess cruise, which started in Britain and has visited Canada, USA, Colombia, Peru and Auckland all before arriving in Australia on Sunday. The accused Andre Tamine, 63, Isabelle Legace, 28, and Melina Roberce, 22, were on the Sea Princess cruise line However, it is unclear at what point the trio boarded the cruise on its 66-day world tour. ABF Regional Commander Tim Fitzgerald said this is the nation's largest ever narcotics bust through passenger transportation. 'This is the biggest seizure of narcotics through a passenger stream, so either through the airport or cruise ships, this 95kg of cocaine is the largest seizure we've seen in Australia,' Fitzgerald told AAP. The ABF and AFP seized multiple suitcases containing 95kg of cocaine on the Sea Princess He believes all 95kg were destined for Australia. 'This particular cruise ship had a number of other ports it was going to visit while in Australia, but certainly the suggestion is that all 95kg of that cocaine was destined for the streets of Australia.' ABF Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Border Command, Clive Murray, has warned smuggling syndicates that they are working in liaison with international agencies to stop drugs entering the country. 'These syndicates should be on notice that the Australian Border Force is aware of all the different ways they attempt to smuggle drugs into our country and we are working with a range of international agencies to stop them,' he said. The trio allegedly had 95kg of cocaine, which was found by sniffer dogs and police in their suitcases The Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force undertook the drug raid in cooperation with the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations, New Zealand Customs Service and the Canada Border Services Agency. The penalty for smuggling a commercial quantity of cocaine includes life imprisonment and the trio will remain in custody until their next court appearance on October 26. He is not eligible for parole until October 2017 He attacked his girlfriend at the time Richelle Kadadi in November 2015 Former AFL star Albert Proud has been sentenced to five and a half years Former Brisbane Lions player Albert Proud 'just snapped' the night he punched his then-girlfriend in the chest so hard the woman thought she was having a heart attack, a court has heard. Proud, 27, appeared in the Brisbane District Court on Monday after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Richelle Kadadi, as well as a wilful damage charge. He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail, and will not be eligible for parole until October 2017. Scroll down for video Former Brisbane Lions player Albert Proud (left) has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on ex-partner Richelle Kadadi (right) Ms Kadadi is pictured here outside court on Monday Ms Kadadi was left bruised and battered after being admitted to hospital following the incident on November 8, 2015 Crown prosecutor Joshua Hanna said Proud became violent after the couple, who had been together for about two-and-a-half months, attended a wedding and then a party on November 8, 2015. Proud had been affectionate earlier in the evening but his mood shifted after Ms Kadadi handed him his wet clothes as they left the party, where he'd been pushed into a pool, he said. The court heard Proud threw the items onto the roof of the house and said 'who f****ing cares' when she asked him why he'd done it. When they got into the car he started striking the windscreen and gearstick before eventually attacking his then-partner in a Sunnybank home. Mr Hanna said she recalled being punched her so hard in the chest she thought she was having a heart attack because of the 'excruciating pain'. Later, the bride and groom from the wedding drove past the house and saw the 'terrified' woman run onto the road, her clothes stretched from someone pulling them, the court heard. She recalled being punched her so hard in the chest she thought she was having a heart attack because of the 'excruciating pain' Proud, 27, (left) appeared in the Brisbane District Court on Monday Proud punched Ms Kadadi so hard in the chest she 'thought she was having a heart attack' 'She said she'd been bashed (and) thought she was going to die,' Mr Hanna said. The victim suffered from post-traumatic amnesia and spent 33 days in hospital recovering from the brutal attack, Mr Hanna said. Given her memory loss, he said it was hard to determine the precise details of the assault but it appeared she had suffered at least two blows to her head after the strike to her chest, as well as been strangled and grabbed by her shoulders and arms. In his submissions, defence barrister Greg McGuire said Proud himself couldn't explain why he'd lashed out so violently, telling the court: 'Something just snapped in him'. Proud played 29 games for the Lions before being sacked in 2011 following a litany of alcohol-fuelled incidents 'She said she'd been bashed (and) thought she was going to die,' the court heard 'Albert Proud sober is different from Albert Proud drunk,' Mr McGuire said, adding his relationship with alcohol had had 'devastating consequences' for both Proud and his victim. Proud played 29 games for the Lions before being sacked in 2011 following a litany of alcohol-fuelled incidents, he said. Donald Trump's campaign is planning its biggest ad buy to date upward of $10 million on commercials airing over the next week or so. The campaign is expects the ads to air as soon as Monday in nine swing states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida, where the campaign has already been on the air, along with New Hampshire, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada. 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney lost eight of those nine states. Scroll down for video Donald Trump's campaign is planning its biggest ad buy to date, spending $10 million on economy-focused commercials in nine swing states Donald Trump's new $10 ad buy shows a sinister-looking Hillary Clinton and suggests that her election would 'crush' the middle class. 'It's more of the same, but worse,' the ad says Meanwhile, the ad touts, Donald Trump's America equals tax relief for working families, the ad promises It also shows Republican nominee Donald Trump addressing workers at his Washington, D.C., job site while promising 'millions of new jobs' Other campaign promises included in the new ad were that wages would go up and small businesses would thrive Alluding to his success as a Manhattan real estate developer, Trump concludes the new spot with an image of the new World Trade Center and his campaign motto The spot features a sinister-looking Hillary Clinton, while showing Trump addressing workers at his Washington, D.C., hotel job site. 'In Hillary Clinton's America, the middle class gets crushed, spending goes up, taxes go up, hundreds of thousands of jobs disappear. It's more of the same, but worse,' the ad begins. 'In Donald Trump's America, working families get tax relief, millions of new jobs created, wages go up, small businesses thrive, the American dream: achievable,' it continues. 'Change that makes America great again,' it concludes. 'Donald Trump for president.' Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has so far been badly outspent by his Democratic rival, Clinton, and groups supporting her. Since clinching her party's nomination in early June, Clinton has spent more than $77 million on television and radio advertising, largely targeting voters in battleground states, according to Kantar Media's political ad tracker. Trump finally hit the airwaves earlier this month with an ad focused on immigration, and so far has only spent about $5 million. The new investment comes amid signs that Trump's lagging poll numbers may be improving against Clinton's following a campaign reboot. Trump senior communications adviser Jason Miller said in a statement that the billionaire businessman's 'positive message of economic opportunity is working and we see the national and battleground state polls all moving in the right direction.' 'With Hillary Clinton off the campaign trail yet again this week and continuing to take many communities' votes for granted, we see this as the right time to show voters the benefits of an American economy under the leadership of Mr. Trump,' he added. Clinton will be spending much of the week in private fundraisers in the Hamptons, the wealthy enclaves of eastern Long Island, New York. They revamped the section following claims they showed liberal bias Announced they would not be writing Facebook has put a fake story in its trending news - just two days after it fired all staff on the feature and replaced them with an algorithm. The social media giants had a false story about Megyn Kelly being fired by Fox News in the controversial section which has been revamped following claims it was biased. The link posted on the site went to story suggesting the popular host had been fired for backing Hillary Clinton. Facebook has put a fake story about Megyn Kelly being fired from Fox News in its trending news (bottom link) - just two days after it fired all staff on the feature and replaced them with an algorithm There have been rumors circulating about her future at the network in the midst of the Roger Ailes sex assault scandal. The story later dropped out of the section on Sunday evening, but not before it was shared thousands of times. On Friday, Facebook said they would be no longer writing descriptions to go alongside the news stories. Although it denied bias, Facebook has sought to reassure users that it's not showing favoritism when it highlights stories that are drawing comment on the social network. Facebook says topics are selected by an algorithm that considers how often users post or share articles. Editors will still vet the list, but the feature will no longer include headlines or summaries written by editors. Instead it will show a selection of user comments and an excerpt from a news article. The link posted on the site went to story suggesting the popular host had been fired for backing Hillary Clinton. There have been rumors circulating about her future at the network in the midst of the Roger Ailes sex assault scandal Earlier, Facebook said editors would stop relying on outside news outlets to help decide which topics should be highlighted. 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.' On Friday, Facebook (New York office pictured) said they would be no longer writing descriptions to go alongside the news stories. Although it denied bias, they have sought to reassure users that it's not showing favoritism 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. '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. Embattled internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom wants to livestream his legal battle against the United States on YouTube. Dotcom's lawyers have asked if they can film his extradition appeal, which began Monday at New Zealand's High Court in Auckland, but the United States opposes the plan. Justice Murray Gilbert, the New Zealand judge hearing the appeal, criticised Dotcom's request for coming at the last-minute but said he'd let other media discuss it before making a decision, the National Business Review newspaper reported. Embattled internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom (pictured) wants to livestream his legal battle against the United States on YouTube A New Zealand judge last year ruled that Dotcom and three of his colleagues could be extradited to the U.S. to face conspiracy, racketeering and money-laundering charges. If found guilty, they could face decades in jail. The ruling came nearly four years after the U.S. shut down Dotcom's file-sharing site Megaupload, which prosecutors say was widely used by people to illegally download songs, television shows and movies. Megaupload was once one of the internet's most popular sites. Prosecutors say it raked in at least $175 million and cost copyright holders more than $500 million. But Dotcom and his colleagues argue they can't be held responsible for people who chose to use the site for illegal purposes. Dotcom's lawyers have asked if they can film his extradition appeal, which began Monday at New Zealand's High Court in Auckland In his application to livestream the case, Dotcom's lawyer Ron Mansfield said the streaming would have a 10-minute delay to ensure sensitive information could be censored, the NBR newspaper reported. Mansfield also argued livestreaming would ensure balanced and fast reporting, as opposed to the constraints of traditional media. Dotcom and colleagues Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batato are seeking to halt their extradition. They say lower court judge Nevin Dawson didn't give their arguments a fair hearing. A New Zealand judge last year ruled that Dotcom (pictured with ex-wife Mona) and three of his colleagues could be extradited to the U.S. to face conspiracy, racketeering and money-laundering charges Grant Illingworth, the lawyer for Ortmann and van der Kolk, told the high court Monday the case 'has gone off the rails,' NBR reported. Born in Germany as Kim Schmitz, Dotcom has long enjoyed a flamboyant lifestyle. He was arrested in New Zealand in 2012 after a dramatic police raid on his mansion. This was the man who sparked shooter terror at LAX after wondering around in mask and cape An actor returning from an audition dressed as masked hero Zorro, complete with plastic sword, shut down LAX airport and sparked fear of an active shooter situation on Sunday night. The unidentified, middle-aged black man dressed in an all black satin costume with gloves, hat and large belt was apprehended on a bench as he waited 'for a ride home'. Police were initially responding to claims that a man had opened fire near a baggage reclaim, and set about evacuating thousands of passengers and grounding flights. After a thorough search and the eventual arrest of the costumed man outside a terminal, LAPD admitted the entire incident was a false alarm. 'Report of shooting at LAX proven to be loud noises only no shots fired no injuries investigation continues to locate source', LAPD posted on Twitter. Scroll down for video Police were seen approaching the man dressed as Zorro outside of the terminal and asking him to get on the ground A squad of officers arrested the man dressed as Zorro after he got on the ground outside the terminal a LAX Passengers were evacuated after reports of a potential shooting at Los Angeles International Airport. People are seen running from the terminal with bags LAX reopened all terminals shortly after 2am on Monday morning as concerned passengers filtered back in. When quizzed by television reporters the man behind the mask, said: 'Basically I come to LAX and the next thing I know, I'm going through the terminal. 'I come back out making a phone call and I'm sitting over here waiting on my ride, next thing I know LAPD is all over me. They were coming after me for whatever reason'. He told authorities that he often works on Hollywood Boulevard dressed as Zorro. Video emerged Sunday night of the moment the he was approached by armed cops and can be heard shouting: 'It's a plastic sword' as they surrounded him with their guns drawn. A woman could also be heard saying, 'he didn't do anything', before he gets cuffed and placed on the ground. The man who filmed the arrest said: 'Cannot confirm that Zorro man caused the ensuing chaos, but it would be one helluva coincidence.' Shortly after 2am, LAX confirmed everything was back to normal. 'All terminals have been cleared and passengers are proceeding through federal security screening in all terminals,' a statement read. Earlier, NBC Nightly News Anchor Lester Holt tweeted at 12:07am EST: 'arriving at LAX off flight when people started pouring out of term 4 onto Tarmac. Security said "shots fired. Run!" Now in vehicle on taxiwy (sic). 'Witness tells me she heard "pops" in lax term 4. Others say they just heard "run!" Those evacuated to Tarmac just allowed back in.' JP Mangalindan, a reporter with Yahoo, also said he was in the terminal at the time of the shooting. 'Shooters at LAX running around. Cops running around. I'm down on the ground,' he tweeted at 11:51pm. 'They explained to me that crazy stuff happens in the airports': 'Zorro' describes the moment he was forced on to the ground by cops at LAX Passengers inside the terminals were evacuated after there were reports a man opened fire near a baggage claim shortly before midnight on Sunday 'Shots allegedly originated at baggage claim. Cops sweeping and clearing terminals. Bags abandoned and strewn in corridors... Cops just asked me to empty my hands and inquired if I saw and heard anything.' At 1:08am, he again tweeted: 'LAX shooting report finally declared onsite as false alarm.' 'Police searching LAX after reports. All precautions being taken to ensure safety of public. Remain calm. Thank you for your cooperation,' LA Airport PD tweeted. LAX also tweeted that the reports of a shooting had not been confirmed and police were investigating, before adding which parts of the airport have been shut. 'Upper/Departures & Lower/Arrivals levels of Central Terminal Area (CTA) closed. Pls check w/ airlines if heading to LAX (sic),' a tweet read. LAX said police are investigating the reports of a gunman in the airport, as pictures on social media show people outside on the tarmac after being evacuated Line up: Delayed passengers wait to pass through TSA security after the false alarm Another video showed the chaos as people ran screaming from the terminal as police cars approached the airport with sirens blaring. . According to police the entrance to the airport had been blocked off. Pictures posted on social media showed hundreds of passengers lined up on the tarmac and outside the terminal waiting for cars. It comes just two weeks after there was a false alarm of a reported shooting at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Passengers were told to take cover behind 'anything' they could find by police on August 14 - as the reports of gunfire in Terminal 8 caused mass panic. Passengers decided to give up on traffic and walked into LAX with their luggage Getting in the holiday spirit: Passengers walked through the airport tunnel in the hope of getting there quicker than the cars People at the airport claimed on social media that a man opened fire while near a baggage claim inside an arrivals terminal LAX tweeted that the reports of a shooting had not been confirmed and police were investigating Every passenger was evacuated from the terminal, some onto the runway, as an army of heavily armed police moved in to hunt for an apparently non-existent gunman. One passenger said an officer screamed: 'If you're forgetting anything it's not worth your life, everyone move now!' Flights were grounded and authorities spent four hours searching the terminal - as well as Terminal 1 - where there was also a report of gunfire. But the scare turned out to be a false alarm, with one theory speculating that 'cheering' for Usain Bolt's victory in the 100m final may have been misinterpreted as gunfire. Do you know the man behind the mask? If so, email sean.o'hare@mailonline.com He went by the name 'Saxdragon' as a music teacher and saxophonist The Melbourne man's victims were between seven and 13-years-old Yang had to 10 counts of committing an indecent act with a child But he was released on bail because he appealed the sentence Yi 'Allan' Yang, 51, was sentenced to 16 months in jail on Monday A celebrated saxophonist and music teacher has been jailed for sexually assaulting four vulnerable students between seven and 13-years-old while pretending to test breathing techniques. Yi 'Allan' Yang, 51, has admitted to touching four girls inappropriately and kissing some on the lips and was on Monday sentenced to 16-months in jail. The man from Kew in east Melbourne had placed one girl on a bed and put her legs on his shoulders, also touching her after suggesting he wanted to test her breathing. But Yang, who went by the name 'Saxdragon', was released on bail after he was handed the prison sentence on Monday because he lodged an immediate appeal. Yi 'Allan' Yang (pictured), 51, has admitted to touching four girls inappropriately and kissing some on the lips and was on Monday sentenced to 16-months in jail The man from Kew in east Melbourne had placed one girl on a bed and put her legs on his shoulders, also touching her after suggesting he wanted to test her breathing The indecent acts on young female students, aged about seven to 13, usually occurred during music lessons from 2011 to 2013 while their parents weren't around, the Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard. The fourth girl was assaulted while he babysat her, The Age reported. 'These offences have had terrible consequences for the children and their families,' Magistrate Johanna Metcalf said. His serious and secretive offending 'in a situation where there was a power imbalance' undermined his victims' sense of security and trust in the world, and left their parents feeling extremely guilty. 'The offending itself involved a gross breach of the trust placed in Mr Yang,' Ms Metcalf said. Yang, who has amassed significant musical accolades, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of committing an indecent act with a child under 16. Yang, who went by the name 'Saxdragon', was released on bail after he was handed the prison sentence on Monday because he lodged an immediate appeal Ms Metcalf said the talented musician would lose his good reputation and would likely never be able to teach children again. He has been granted bail after lodging an immediate appeal of his sentence, which also includes lifetime registration as a sex offender and an 18-month community-based order to begin after his prison term. The appeal will come before the Victorian County Court on October 13. Yang's appeal bail was not opposed by police. While living in China, Yang had played at functions for Queen Elizabeth II and President Ronald Regan, according to Central Queensland University He has agreed to pay compensation to one of his victims, and has no prior convictions. Yang went by the name Allan, which was sometimes spelt Alan. He has also previously worked under the business name Saxdragon. While living in China, Yang had played at functions for Queen Elizabeth II and President Ronald Regan, according to Central Queensland University. Before the offending occurred Yang had worked at Melbourne's Scotch College, and ran Melbourne Music Academy from his home. His appeal was not opposed by police and Yang has agreed to pay compensation to one of his victims A young boy has been rushed to hospital after suffering a suspected snake bite at a primary school in Brisbane on Monday. The bite happened at Bethania Lutheran Primary School at Logan, south of Brisbane. Ambulance officers were called to Bethania Lutheran Primary School at Logan at 1.15pm to treat the injured boy but officers were unsure what had bitten the boy. A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said 'it was not clear what bit the child as they didn't see anything, but he was definitely bitten by something.' A young boy has been rushed to hospital after suffering a suspected snake bite at a primary school in Brisbane on Monday The school released a statement on their Facebook page. 'You may be aware from social media reports that a student from our school has allegedly received a snake bite. 'The student was treated by staff at school and has been transported to hospital by ambulance. He is in good spirits and his mother is with him.' 'We appreciate that reports such as this released on social media can cause distress but please be aware this was out of our control and we were going to notify you through proper channels.' Robert Whitwell, 81, was found dead in his Adelaide home on August 8 Both women will be extradited to South Australia to face murder charges The pair are accused of murdering Dwyer's 81-year-old grandfather A teenage girl accused of killing her 81-year-old grandfather with the help of her friend will be extradited to Adelaide to face charges of his alleged murder. Brittney Jade Dwyer, 19, and Bernadette Burns, 21, from Redbank Plains, on the outskirts of Brisbane were arrested on Saturday after Dwyer's grandfather, Robert Whitwell, was found dead at his Craigmore home in Adelaide on August 8. The two young women appeared separately in court in Brisbane on Monday, where they were ordered to extradited to South Australia, the Advertiser reported. They are expected to be formally charged with Mr Whitwell's murder on Tuesday. Scroll down for video Brittney Jade Dwyer (right) was arrested over the alleged murder of her grandfather Robert Whitwell (left). She will be extradited to Adelaide to face charges of his alleged murder Mr Whitwell's body was discovered after a neighbour called police. He was described as a 'lovely man and a real gentleman' who 'always had a story to tell' Mr Whitwell's body was discovered after a neighbour called police at 11.30am, concerned by an unread newspaper that had sat in his driveway. A week after the discovery, investigators said they believed he had died of natural causes but there were a number of factors which could not be explained. They also appealed for anyone with information about his movements before his death to come forward. Mr Whitwell's neighbours Paula and John Elworthy told Adelaide's Sunday Mail that Dwyer had asked them to collect her grandfather's mail from his letterbox. 'She even said it was a shock to everyone what's happened,' Mrs Elworthy said. 'We didn't even know Bob had a granddaughter (but) we knew he had a grandson. Mrs Elworthy said Mr Whitwell was a 'lovely man and a real gentleman' who 'always had a story to tell.' Dwyer's friend Bernadette Burns (pictured), 21, also arrested over the suspected murder Brittney Jade Dwyer's 81-year-old grandfather was found dead in his home (pictured) Mr Whitwell's family have been advised of Saturday's arrests. 'They are obviously devastated by this development,' said Detective Inspector Greg Hutchins. 'At this time police are not able to elaborate further on the cause of death, or what factors in the case were initially considered 'unexplained'. Police have not revealed a cause of death or motive behind the incident. Neighbours believed Mr Whitwell had been worried about security in the months leading up to his death. He reportedly told police about a car with interstate plates in an alley adjacent to his property. In a Facebook post from 2011 Brittney Dwyer wrote about becoming a police officer but was concerned her anger issues could be a problem. The United States could give control of one of the internet's underlying systems to the United Nations after pledging not to, it has been claimed. The government has announced plans to relinquish control of the online addressing and numbering system, turning it over to a private international organization. For years, the US Department Of Commerce has been responsible for managing URLs and ensuring they lead to the proper web pages. It has subcontracted the task to a private nonprofit, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann). The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann) has managed the internet's addressing system on behalf of the US government for years (file picture) But the US government, which funded much of the internet's early development, has so far retained veto power. Although the US role has been minimal over the years, many foreign governments have complained that the internet can never be truly international if the US retains veto power. They have sought instead to shift responsibility to an inter-governmental body such as the UN International Telecommunication Union. But business, academic and civil-society leaders balked, worried that UN involvement would threaten the openness that has allowed the internet to flourish. Concerns were also raised that UN control would give authoritarian states like China and Iran equal votes among other countries in influencing policies that affect free speech. Lawrence E. Strickling, assistant secretary for communications and information at the Commerce Department, said the endorsed plan won't replace Commerce's role with a government-led or inter-governmental solution. The US government's contract with Icann is due to expire on September 30 after a pledge to relinquish control of the addressing system to an international organization But the UN could end up managing the addressing system after all, according to Wall Street Journal columnist L Gordon Crovitz. He based his theory on an inquiry by Americans For Limited Government, an advocacy group that sent a Freedom Of Information Act request related to Icann's future. Icann had asked for 'all records relating to legal and policy analysis' concerning antitrust issues for Icann, Crovitz reported. Icann currently benefits from an antitrust exemption because it operates under government control, he said. There were no records in relation to the request by Americans For Limited Government, according to Crovitz, who believes the administration 'has no plan for how Icann retains its antitrust exemption'. He then draws the conclusion that Icann would 'seek to be overseen by another governmental group so as to keep its antitrust exemption' - in this case, the UN. Petty Officer Second Class Kao Chia-chun has been charged over the missile launch fatality An unsupervised Taiwanese naval officer who experimented with a missile launcher and accidentally fired towards China was one of three people charged on Monday over the fatal incident. Naval officer Kao Chia-chun decided to practise at the controls of the supersonic 'aircraft carrier killer' without a supervisor last month - launching the missile into a Taiwanese trawler, killing the skipper and injuring three crew. The misfiring of the The Hsiung-feng III (Brave wind) missile struck a damaging blow to the Taiwanese military's image, embarrassing new president Tsai Ing-wen and angering Beijing. Kao was charged with negligence leading to death and injuries, as well as damaging weaponry. His supervisor Chen Ming-hsiu and lieutenant Hsu Po-wei, who was responsible for overseeing weapons, were charged with neglecting official public duties leading to catastrophe. Prosecutors in the southern port city of Kaoshiung revealed on Monday that Kao had been left alone in the master control room for as long as seven minutes. A model of a home-grown supersonic Hsiung-feng III (Brave Wind) ship-to-ship missile is seen in Taipei during a military parade Kao decided to practise without a supervisor, despite the system being in 'combat mode', prosecutors said in a statement marking the end of their investigation. '(He) did not ultimately notice that missiles no.3 and no.4 were already in 'live-fire' mode and went on to press...'allow launch', 'launch missile', and 'confirm'', prosecutors stated. One of the missiles travelled for about two minutes, automatically searching for a target before locking onto the fishing boat in the waters off Taiwan-administered Penghu island. The misfire - the biggest military slip-up since Beijing-sceptic Tsai came to power in May - sparked an uproar in Taiwan and drew a stern rebuke from China. Chen should have been supervising but left Kao alone during the incident on July 1, the statement said. President Tsai last week called for the defence ministry to hammer out a new strategy and improve its performance, while attending an annual military exercise simulating China attacks. Kao was charged with negligence leading to death and injuries, and damaging weaponry Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during the annual Han Guang life-fire drill in southern Pingtung, on August 25 The mainland is the biggest military threat to self-ruling Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a breakaway province to be reunified. Tensions have risen across the strait under Tsai as Beijing does not trust her traditionally pro-independence party. According to Taiwan's defence ministry, there are 1,500 Chinese missiles aimed at the island. China launched some of the missiles into waters off Taiwan in 1995 and 1996 in an attempt to deter voters in the island's first democratic presidential elections. Terror fears were sparked this morning after attackers rammed the Brussels Institute of Criminology with a car before the building was ravaged by fire and explosions. A vehicle carrying two people is said to have forced its way onto the site in northern Brussels before the attackers scaled a ladder and launched an arson attack. Thick black smoke was seen coming from the laboratories at about 3am this morning and residents reported hearing a loud blast sparking fears of a bomb. The building was empty and no one was wounded. Local investigators believe the arson attack may have been an attempt to destroy evidence held in the building. The car was torched by the attackers. Five people were arrested nearby and are being held and questioned, a spokeswoman for the city's prosecutors said. Scroll down for video Terror fears were sparked this morning after attackers rammed the Brussels Institute of Criminology with a car before the building was ravaged by fire and explosions Local investigators believe the arson attack may have been an attempt to destroy evidence held in the building. The car was torched by the attackers Five people were arrested nearby and are being held and questioned, a spokeswoman for the city's prosecutors said. Forensics work at the scene Damage: Fire and explosions caused extensive damage at the Brussels Institute of Criminology in the north of Brussels Forensic investigators have been called to the scene as an investigation gets underway Prosecutors have opened a investigation into 'deliberate arson of a building and damage by explosion', while bomb disposal experts attended the scene. The institute, which is in the Neder-Over-Hembeek suburb of northern Brussels, assists and advises Belgium's justice authorities in carrying out their inquiries. Eyewitnesses reported seeing thick black smoke coming from the building before fire crews descended on the scene in the early hours of the morning. As the investigation got underway this morning, prosecutors said reports of a bomb were probably false and that the incident was more likely an arson attack designed to destroy criminal evidence. 'It's probably not terrorism. It's a criminal act,' said spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch. 'I cannot confirm that there was any bomb. 'With a fire you get explosions, but it's not that explosives were thrown inside or installed.' When asked whether the attack could be terrorism she said: 'It is a path we are looking down. But certainly not the first one we are thinking about. 'We are thinking more of deliberate arson by organised crime. We have no indications that it was terrorism.' State broadcaster RTBF and other outlets had reported that a car drove through a security barrier at the site followed by an explosion. As the investigation got underway this morning, prosecutors said reports of a bomb were probably false and that the incident was more likely an arson attack designed to destroy criminal evidence Dozens of fire fighters and police officers were called to the scene of the fire this morning Eyewitnesses reported seeing thick black smoke coming from the building before fire crews descended on the scene in the early hours of the morning A car with two people on board forced its way onto the site before the attackers scaled a ladder and attacked the building The institute, which is in the Neder-Over-Hembeek suburb of northern Brussels, assists and advises Belgium's justice authorities in carrying out their inquiries. Police cordoned off the area after the attack Investigators said the suspected arsonists set fire to a laboratory used to analyse DNA samples found at crime scenes. 'So it's an act that could be linked to (destroying) several files,' Van Wymersch said. She said any explosion heard by residents may have been caused by material being consumed in the fire. Fire service spokesman Pierre Meys said there was an 'extremely powerful' explosion, adding: 'Windows of the lab were blown out dozens of metres away.' He said about 30 firefighters were at the scene at around 3am fighting the blaze. A young woman living in the neighbourhood said the explosion woke her up. 'It made the house shake.' Belgium has been on high alert since a March 22 attack on the Brussels airport and tube network killed 32 people. Those attacks were claimed by ISIS, which controls large areas of territory in Iraq and Syria and has claimed numerous terror atrocities in Europe in recent months. The jihadist cell responsible for the Brussels attacks was also heavily involved in the November Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed and hundreds more wounded. Fire service spokesman, Pierre Meys, said this morning that the incident 'was probably not accidental' A car rammed through the barriers at about 3am before the laboratories were torched Under attack: The Brussels Institute of Criminology in the north of Brussels, assists and advises Belgium's justice authorities in carrying out their inquiries The bombmaker for the Paris attacks, Najim Laachraoui, blew himself up at Brussels airport. Earlier this month it emerged that Belgian authorities were also hunting a cousin of the El Bakraoui brothers who also blew themselves up in the Brussels attacks. Belgium has caught several people linked to the Brussels and Paris atrocities including Salah Abdeslam, the last surviving member of the Paris IS cell, who has since been extradited to France. In June Belgian authorities approved a French extradition request for Mohamed Abrini, the 'man in the hat' seen on CCTV footage with Laachraoui and Ibrahim El Bakraoui at Brussels airport. More than two decades after writing it and setting it adrift, Courtney Stevenson's message in a bottle has come back to her. The bottle was found on a beach on the Chatham Islands, about 830 kilometres from where Ms Stevenson, aged eight, launched it on Shelley Beach at Picton, on New Zealand's South Island in March 1995. Richard Goomes found her message sealed in a Sprite soft drink bottle as he was wandering along a beach recently, reported stuff.co.nz. A message in a bottle (pictured) has been found on a beach on the Chatham Islands after New Zealand woman Courtney Stevenson, aged eight, launched it on Shelley Beach at Picton, on the South Island in March 1995 The sealed Sprite bottle with a note inside was found by Richard Goomes (pictured) while walking along the beach. Mr Goomes said the letter was so old it had disintegrated and it had obviously travelled a long way In the note was Ms Stevenson's name, location and phone number - from when she was a child. Mr Goomes said the bottle had obviously been floating for a long time. 'It was quite fragile and falling to bits, so I took the plastic bottle home and cut it with a knife,' he said. Courtney Stevenson (pictured) who wrote the message in a bottle when she was eight years old was reportedly 'rapt' when Mr Goomes contacted her to say he had found it 'I was surprised at how old it was - it could have been to Antarctica and back for all we know.' Because the note was so old, Ms Stevenson's surname had disintegrated away from the note. Mr Goomes and his family tried calling her, but the number was disconnected. He said his daughter helped him track Ms Stevenson down on social media, which took about eleven-and-a-half hours. Mr Goomes said Ms Stevenson was 'rapt' they had found the message. 'I spend a lot of time on the beach - I even said to my dog that day 'I wonder when we're going to find a message in a bottle'. 'And b****r me, there it was.' Mr Goomes has laminated the letter to preserve its state. It took the message in a bottle more than two decades to travel about 830 kilometres from Picton in New Zealand to the Chatham Islands Ms Stevenson told Daily Mail Australia she has a vague memory of tea staining the paper and burning the edges to give it that 'message in a bottle' look. 'I do remember the trip to the beach with my Nanna to send it off really well,' she said. 'I don't know why we did it, I think we used to do fun stuff like that as kids and we never really thought too much into it.' Ms Stevenson said she received the message from Mr Goomes' daughter on Facebook and instantly recognised her old phone number, saying she was 'blown away'. Mr Goomes' daughter Molly contacted Ms Stevenson via Facebook, after calling her phone number and finding it disconnected. Mr Goomes said it took about eleven-and-a-half hours to find her because her surname had disintegrated off the note (pictured) 'If you know the Marlborough Sounds it seems impossible for something to make its way out into the Cook Straight let alone all the way to the Chathams,' she said. 'I really just couldn't believe it and thought it was so cool he would try to track me down to reply to the message.' Ms Stevenson has two girls aged 18 months and three months and she said she can't wait to share the story, show them the scroll, and send messages out with them when they're older. 'There's something magical about it now that I've sent one and received a reply! It's really cute,' she said. Three anti-Brexit former ministers have admitted the Remain camp got it wrong on immigration by ducking the issue during the EU referendum campaign. Tory Anna Soubry, Labours Pat McFadden and LibDem Norman Lamb said yesterday that free movement of people cannot continue as it has done. The three, who were senior figures in the fight to stay in the EU, also warned Theresa May against the false choice of losing access to the European single market. Admission: Tory Anna Soubry, pictured here getting emotional as Britain voted for Brexit, is among three senior MPs who admitted Remainers dodged the immigration debate They have set up a group called Open Britain which takes over from Britain Stronger In Europe, the official Remain campaign defeated on June 23. Back to work: Theresa May is bringing her Cabinet together at Chequers this week to plot Britain's first steps on leaving the European Union A majority of voters in the constituencies of all three MPs voted to leave the EU despite their vociferous campaigning in favour. The cross-party alliance will urge the Prime Minister to secure the best possible relationship with Brussels after Brexit. The movement, which has inherited the 500,000 grassroots supporters and social media assets of Britain Stronger In Europe, is not arguing for a second referendum. It says it wants to make the positive and patriotic case for continued close co-operation with Europe and promote the economic benefits of immigration. Writing in The Sunday Times, the MPs said: June 23 was a moment of change. The strength of feeling is clear. Free movement of people cannot continue as it has done. It has to be reformed. This was not an expression of prejudice but rather a desire for managed migration and concern that rapid immigration can put pressure on public services and local communities. For too long, we have ducked an open debate over immigration. That was true in the referendum campaign but it is also true of all major political parties over the last decade or more Remain MPs in letter to Sunday Times Britain must be open to talent, but with more ability to act if excessive competition in labour markets hurts our economy. They admitted: For too long, we have ducked an open debate over immigration. That was true in the referendum campaign but it is also true of all major political parties over the last decade or more. But, in a warning to Mrs May they said that if Brexit causes us to turn our face against the world, we will have converted a defeat into a tragedy. Group: Labours Pat McFadden (left) and LibDem Norman Lamb (right) have joined a cross-party alliance will urge the Prime Minister to secure the best possible relationship with Brussels after Brexit And in a message aimed at the Brexit camps desire to leave the European single market, the ex-ministers said: For an open Britain to be a fairer Britain we must reject false choices, whether between being open to the world and remaining in the EUs single market; whether between a competitive economy and protections for workers and consumers; between being open to talent and having greater control over immigration; or between embracing change and valuing tradition. Open Britain is backed by former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and the Labour MP Chuka Umunna. It will be run by James McGrory, Mr Cleggs former spin doctor, and Labours Joe Carberry. The Remain campaigns executive director Will Straw who was given a CBE in David Camerons resignation honours will not be involved. A serial killer dubbed China's 'Jack the Ripper' for the way he murdered and mutilated 11 women has been arrested three decades after his crime spree began. Gao Chengyong, 52, confessed to 11 murders in Gansu and the neighbouring region of Inner Mongolia between 1988 and 2002, the ministry of public security said. He was detained at the grocery store he runs with his wife in Baiyin, in the northwest province where his alleged crimes took place. Gao Chengyong, 52, confessed to 11 murders in Gansu and the neighbouring region of Inner Mongolia between 1988 and 2002, the ministry of public security said Gao is accused of having targeted young women wearing red and followed them home to rape and kill them. He often cut their throat and mutilated their bodies. His youngest victim was eight years old. Some victims also had their reproductive organs removed. 'The suspect has a sexual perversion and hates women,' police said in 2004, when they linked the crimes for the first time and offered a reward of 200,000 yuan ($30,000) for information leading to an arrest. 'He's reclusive and unsociable, but patient,' they said at the time. The original Jack the Ripper was a serial killer active in east London in the late Victorian era. Gao is thought to have targeted young women wearing red and followed them home to rape and kill them He is widely believed to have murdered five women, mutilating several of them. Those killings have never been solved. Gao was identified after a relative was put under house arrest in Baiyin over allegations of a minor crime and had his DNA collected and tested. Police concluded the killer they had been hunting for 28 years was a relation, and Gao's DNA matched the murderer's. There were no immediate explanations as to why the killings stopped in 2002. Miscarriages of justice are not rare in China, where the use of force to extract confessions remains widespread. In several high-profile cases in recent years, China has exonerated wrongfully executed or jailed convicts after others came forward to confess their crimes, or in some cases because the supposed murder victim was later found alive. None of Monday's reports said whether anyone had previously been convicted in connection with Gao's alleged crimes. An ISIS suicide bomber has killed 60 people after driving a car packed full of explosives into a crowd of new army recruits in Yemen. The jihadist drove his vehicle into an army camp in Yemen's second city of Aden in an attack that also left 29 injured. The port city, the temporary base of Yemen's Gulf-backed government, has seen a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces. ISIS has this morning claimed responsibility for the attack. An ISIS suicide bomber has killed 60 people after driving a car packed full of explosives into a crowd of new army recruits in Yemen Yemenis, including soldiers, inspect debris at the site of a suicide car bombing claimed by ISIS Map of Yemen locating Aden, where at least 60 people have been killed in a suicide bombing Attacks in Aden are often claimed by jihadists from either Al-Qaeda or ISIS, which have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in southern and southeastern regions. Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in Aden over the past two months to as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from jihadists. Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition entered Abyan's provincial capital Zinjibar. Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in key Al-Qaeda stronghold, Al-Mahfid, a town which lies further east, security sources said. The port city, the temporary base of Yemen's Gulf-backed government, has seen a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces The jihadist drove his vehicle into an army camp in Yemen's second city of Aden in an attack that also left 29 injured The militants are still present in areas surrounding the recaptured towns and control large parts of the neighbouring Shabwa province, the sources say. The Arab coalition which backs the Yemeni government against Iran-backed rebels has also been providing troops with air cover throughout their war against the jihadists. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March last year and has helped government troops push the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces. But authorities have been struggling to secure these provinces. The family of a British schoolgirl raped and murdered in India eight years ago fear they won't get justice because a key witness has suffered a nervous breakdown and could not testify, it has been reported. The British Government is said to fear the case involving Scarlett Keeling, 15, of Bideford, Devon, may collapse almost a decade after she was attacked on Anjuna Beach in Goa, India, in 2008 during a family holiday. The accused Placido Carvalho, 42, and Samson D'Souza, 30, appeared in a children's court in India last week. However, the pair deny the charges of culpable homicide and grievous sexual assault - claiming she drowned while on drugs. Scarlett Keeling, a 15-year-old, from Bideford, Devon, was attacked on a beach in Goa in 2008 Witness Michael Mannion with Scarlett's mother Fiona Mackeown in India in March 2008 The schoolgirl, who had been left with a 25-year-old Indian boyfriend while her mother travelled with her other children, was buried four years after her death following claims of a communication blunder between British and Indian authorities. The case had drawn significant attention in India at the time because of the amount of British tourists holidaying in Goa. But the British Government now fears the case may not be resolved without the help of Michael Mannion, 44, from Brighton, who had been staying with one of the accused at the time of the girl's death, The Sun reports. Scarlett's mother, Fiona MacKeown, told the paper: 'The Foreign Office say a guilty verdict for D'Souza and Carvalho will be hard to get without Michael Mannion's evidence. 'We were close to putting it to bed once and for all but my heart has been broken again because Mannion cannot testify.' A Foreign Office spokesman refused to comment on claims Mr Mannion had received a medical exemption when contacted by MailOnline. 'We have been providing assistance to Scarlett Keeling's family since her tragic death in February 2008,' the spokesman said. 'Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time and we will continue to support them as the case progresses.' Placido Carvalho, left, and Samson D'Souza, right, appeared in court last week in Goa The verdict will be delivered on September 23 in Goa Children's Court after the prosecution had spoken with 31 witnesses during the trial, The Indian Express reported. The Indian newspaper said CBI Special Public Prosecutor Ejaz Khan had banked his case on a 'last-seen-theory'. This was based on Scarlett being allegedly last seen with Samson three hours before her body was found semi nude on the beach. 'The accused (Samson) in his statement has not revealed what has happened during the three hours after he was last seen with the girl,' Khan had said, according to the paper. Mourning: Scarlett's family, including her former stepfather Rob Clarke, days after her death Fiona Mackeown, mother of Scarlet Keeling who was found dead on Goa's Anjuna beach, addresses a press confrence at her lawyers house in Panaji on March 18, 2008 But after discussing the case publicly over the years, Mannion had now suffered a nervous breakdown over the killing and had been given a medical exemption from testifying but would not comment about the case to The Sun. 'Eight years I've been involved in this,' Mannion told the paper. 'Who was there for me when I needed help?' Mannion's involvement in the case has been troubled including facing a travel ban by India from returning to Britain in the weeks after the death as he attempted to care for his sick father. 'I'm not guilty of anything at all. If I was, I wouldn't be here,' he had said in April 2008. 'It's causing immense stress on my family and personally I'm becoming a bit depressed by the whole thing.' His lawyer, Vikram Varma, had said: 'My client witnessed the events prior to the homicide of Scarlett Keeling. 'He was initially scared about going to the police with this information in case it got him into trouble. Now they have placed this circular on him, which effectively means he cannot leave. 'He is feeling devastated. He doesn't know what to do. All he wanted was to help the course of justice, he has lost all confidence in the police here.' Mannion had claimed that he had seen Scarlett being sexually abused by one of the accused. Sara Connor has had an emotional reunion with her ex-husband after he was allowed a 15 minute private visit for the first time since she was arrested over the death of a Bali police officer. On Sunday, the father of their two sons, Anthony 'Twig' Connor, briefly saw the 45-year-old at at Denpasar Police Station and the pair hugged, cried and spoke about their children. Ms Connor, from Byron Bay, and her British boyfriend David Taylor, 34, were arrested on August 19 over the death of officer Wayan Sudarsa, whose bloodied body was found on Kuta Beach. Scroll down for video Sara Connor has had an emotional reunion with her ex-husband after he was allowed a 15 minute private visit to Denpasar Police Station (pictured) Ms Connor's ex-husband Anthony 'Twig' Connor (left) has become the third visitor the 45-year-old from Byron Bay (right) has had since she was thrown in jail over a week ago Ms Connor's lawyer Robert Khuana watched her meeting with her ex-husband from outside the room. 'They hugged. (They were) crying together, both of them,' Mr Khuana said. '(They were) sad because they never thought this thing would happened. 'Especially now, they're thinking about their children.' Mr Khuana said the subsequent media attention has taken a toll on them and their two children. 'Anthony said earlier that because of this incident, his children are having difficulties going to school because every day the media are crowding the house's front yard.' Mr Connor didn't say anything to waiting media when arriving nor leaving the station in Bali. The private visit with Ms Connor only lasted around 15 to 20 minutes but he is expected to remain in Bali for the rest of the week. Ms Connor last saw her former husband when she was detained on August 19. On Sunday, the father of their two sons, Anthony 'Twig' Connor, briefly saw the 45-year-old at at Denpasar Police Station (pictured) and the pair hugged, cried and spoke about their children Anthony 'Twig' Connor (pictured), who is a bartender in Byron Bay and the father of the divorced couple's two sons, arrived in Bali on Sunday night The ex-husband (centre) of murder suspect Sara Connor (right) It comes as police told Ms Connor's legal team that they expected to take the mother of two and Mr Taylor back to the crime scene at Kuta Beach on Wednesday to walk officers through a re-enactment of what occurred almost two weeks ago. 'We're still looking for the right moment. We hope that after the re-enactment, all will be clear,' Denpasar District Police Detective Chief Reinhard Habonaran Nainggolan told reporters earlier on Monday. Ms Connor and Mr Taylor have been taken back to the crime scene separately since their arrest 10 days ago however, this week's re-enactment will be the first time they return together. It will also be a more thorough procedure with a representative from the prosecutors office required to attend. 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 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 Mr Sudarsa's bloodied body was found on Kuta Beach in the early hours of August 17. Police say he suffered 42 wounds to the body. Mr Taylor's lawyers say their client has told police that he and Ms Connor, 45, were under the influence of alcohol when they went down to the beach on the night of August 16 and became embroiled in a fight with Mr Sudarsa - believing he knew something about the purse the mother of two had lost. Ms Connor allegedly intervened in a bid to separate the two, sparking Mr Sudarsa to bite her. Police allege Mr Taylor hit Mr Sudarsa with a beer bottle, mobile phone and binoculars. Police officer Wayan Sudarsa (pictured) was found dead on Kuta Beach in Bali with 42 wounds to his body Disturbing video footage shows two brutish men beating each other with their fists in front of a jeering crowd in a bloody Magaluf strip brawl. Drunken Brits cheer on the two fighters as they ruthlessly trade blows. One spectator videos the shocking scene on their mobile phone. Baying mob: Two burly men sqaure up to each other on the Magaluf strip in Majorca Bruising encounter: A bald man in a black shirt and a man in a blue top exchange blows A bald man in a black shirt is seen circling around his rival wearing a blue top. He lands several punches leaving the man in blue with a bruised and bloody face. In the background Robyn's hit song 'Show Me Love' booms away. The fight lasts at least two minutes before partygoers finally intervene. Bloody battle: The fight lasts for at least two minutes before partygoers finally intervene A 'typical day': It is unclear whether action was taken by the authorities against the two men Despite a clampdown on boozy Brits by the Majorca resort, the footage was reportedly shot earlier this year. Authorities on the Spanish island introduced 500 fins for bawdy tourists, as locals have become disgusted by their drunken antics. It is unclear whether action was taken by officials against the two brawling men in the video, as commenters online suggest it was just a 'typical day' in the beachside resort. A man who was sleeping with a 16-year-old girl he met on Facebook who he referred to as his 'Pokemon' pimped her out to pay for food and rent, a court has heard. Glen Jeffries, 42, pleaded guilty to three charges in the Victorian County Court on Monday. The court heard the father of two initially worked as a guard for the teen as she performed sex acts in order to earn money for the pair. A man who was sleeping with a 16-year-old girl who he referred to as his 'Pokemon' pimped her out to pay for food and rent, the Victorian County Court (pictured) has heard But he then progressed to advertising her services, booking customers and arranging hotel rooms for liaisons with clients. Jeffries took a $60 cut of everything the vulnerable ward of the state earned, telling police after he was arrested, 'I've got no work and that's the only way I could have any income,' the court heard. He has pleaded guilty to three charges including causing a child to work as a sex worker, and attempting to procure a 13-year-old girl for sex services - which relates to an approach he made to a 13-year-old girl on Facebook. Prosecutor Diana Manova said the 16-year-old victim had initially performed sex work voluntarily but when she told Jeffries she wanted to stop, he pressured her to continue. 'He provided her with various reasons that she should continue, all of which relate to his needs,' Ms Manova said. Jeffries was 40 when the pair met online after he commented on the girl's Facebook photos, the court heard. They met up to take drugs, and the teen moved in with Jeffries late in 2014, turning to sex work when the money ran out. Glen Jeffries, 42, pleaded guilty to three charges including causing a child to work as a sex worker, and attempting to procure a 13-year-old girl for sex services Ms Manova said the relationship between Jeffries and the teen was lawful, but that he took advantage of her vulnerability. 'The accused manipulated her with love,' Ms Manova said. 'She had always looked for a father figure and she thought she had found that.' The court heard message exchanges between the pair in which Jeffries tells the teen he loves her and calls her 'Pokemon'. Ms Manova said he was acting as her 'pimp'. 'He's organising hotel rooms. Organising customers. He's advertising her services with prices, he's standing guard while the services are provided,' Ms Manova said. She said the charges demonstrate a preparedness to exploit children. Defence barrister Belinda Franjic argued Jeffries' offending was at the lower end of the scale because his sexual relationship with the teen was lawful and he had not introduced her to prostitution. He believed he had fallen in love with her, Ms Franjic said, adding his offending was opportunistic rather than predatory. A photo of a young boy dressed up as troubled former AFL star Ben Cousins and mimicking drug use for 'book week' has gone viral. The picture of the youngster wearing a West Coast Eagles jumper and complete with white flour on his nose was seemingly shared online by his father. In just seven hours since being posted to a 'Ben Cousins' fan page on Facebook, the photo of the young boy has been commented on 8,100 times and received more than 17,000 likes. Scroll down for video A photo of a young boy dressed up as troubled former AFL star Ben Cousins for 'book week' has gone viral. The youngster (pictured) was dressed in a West Coast Eagles jumper, had white powder on his nose to represent cocaine and had his eyes rolled back in his head It came in response to a similar snap of a child dressed up as current Eagles player Nic Naitanui which made headlines just days earlier because the boy's mum used blackface to create a likeness to the Fijian-born star. 'Check out this little tacker dressing up as the champion AFL legend Ben Cousins for #BookWeek,' the fan page wrote alongside the post. 'Powdered nose the works, future All Australian right here.' The photo shows the 'young Ben Cousins' with his eyes rolled back in his head, seemingly showcasing the affects of drug use. Many of the thousands of comments on the photo attacked the boy's parents for portraying a child abusing illicit substances. However the father, who Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to name, also weighed in on the Facebook debate, urging others to 'lighten up' and saying his son didn't understand the meaning of having powder on his nose. The father (pictured left) of the young boy took to Facebook to defend his decision to mimick drug use on his young son, saying people needed to 'lighten up'. The photo was posted in response to a controversial photo of a youngster dressed up as current AFL star Nic Naitanui which made headlines last week Cousins (pictured) has had a long running and well publicised issue with drug abuse and excessive partying. The former West Coast captain and veteran of 270 AFL games attended rehabilitation clinics in the United States in an attempt to get over his addiction 'To put all the butt hurt people at ease - he had no idea why he had flour on his nose and I told him to act silly and I got the pic,' the man wrote. 'It's a pi** take because of the Nic Nat issue - lighten up.' Cousins' history of drug use and trips to rehabilitation facilities in both Australia and the United States is well detailed. The 270-game AFL has garnered somewhat of a cult following on social media since his retirement in 2010, thanks largely to his 'Such Is Life' documentary which detailed his drug addiction and partying antics. Cousins mentioned on numerous occasions during the documentary and in his biography that cocaine was his drug of choice. In 2007 Cousins was arrested on drug possession charges. Shortly after he was sacked by the West Coast Eagles before being given an AFL lifeline by Richmond Late last week a similar photo of a young boy dressed up as current West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui went viral when his mother was accused of being racist for using black face to create a likeness to the Fijian-born player Earlier this year the 2006 premiership player was hospitalised after police found him incoherent and trying to direct traffic on a Perth highway. Children across the country last week celebrated 'book week', however one child's wish to dress up as his 'hero' Nic Naitanui made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The mother of the nine-year-old boy posted a photo of her son dressed as the AFL star to the Facebook page of popular mummy-blogger Constance Hall late last week. In response she received much criticism, with many calling her out as 'racist'. Naitanui himself responded to the incident after it blew up online, saying he didn't believe the mother intended to cause harm but said she did not understand the 'painful historical significance' of 'blackface'. Naitanui (pictured) spoke out after the incident made headlines, saying he didn't believe the mother intended to cause harm but that it was important to understand the consequences of using black face In the dock: Bashir Souliman, pictured, claimed 10,801 over eight months while living back in Syria and has been jailed on returning to the UK A Syrian father-of-two who claimed 10,000 in benefits despite returning to his home country has been jailed for seven months. Bashir Souliman claimed 10,801 over eight months even though he had left Birmingham and was in the city of Homs. Souliman claimed he had planned to stay in the war torn country for a month but was abducted on January 30 and only release after a ransom was paid in October 2014. But when he returned to the UK he was quizzed by anti-fraud investigators who had been tipped off about his benefit claims. Souliman pleaded guilty to failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances in his Employment Support Allowance to the value of 3,417.08 between February 14 and October 8, 2014. He also admitted fraudulently claiming housing benefits between February 17 and October 12, 2014, to the value of 3,922.92. And Souliman further pleaded guilty to fraudulently claiming child tax credits between March 14 and October 8, 2014, to the value of 3,461.53. The father-of-two, who lived in Birmingham at the time and is now in Durham, was jailed for 28 weeks at Birmingham Magistrates Court. Sentencing him, chair of the bench Christine Speake told Souliman: 'This was a deliberate defrauding of the public purse for the sum of over 10,000. 'We take fraud of this kind very seriously. We see no alternative but to jail you.' Back home: Bashir Souliman claimed 10,801 over eight months even though he had left Birmingham and was in the city of Homs (pictured) Prosecutor David Devine told the court: 'Mr Souliman says he planned to go to Syria for four weeks but was kidnapped on January 30, 2014 and held captive until October 5. 'He then flew back to the UK on October 8. 'In the meantime the National Benefit Fraud Hotline had received a tip-off with regards to Mr Souliman. 'He was investigated and interviewed and benefits fraud charges were brought against him.' The court heard Souliman, who now lives in Durham, had been in Britain for 16 years after leaving his home in Homs when it was bombed. Geraldine Toal, defending, said he was abducted after returning to see his wife and children were in a refugee camp in Syria. She added: 'He returned to Syria to see his wife and children. 'His children had come over to the UK but couldn't live without their mother so returned to the country. 'There are many issues in Syria and opposing factions and threats have been made to his family. 'He had been living in the UK for 16 years and had periods of work. He had been sending money back to his family in Syria. A British farm worker hailed as a 'shining light' has been killed in a car crash in Australia after falling in love with the country. Dan Jarmin, 26, from Ipswich, was working on a farm in Alice Springs in the remote Northern Territory, his devastated family said today. Saluted as a 'beautiful person inside and out', he died after being involved in a single-car smash at about 3pm local time last Wednesday. Dan Jarmin, 26, of Ipswich, Suffolk, was described as a 'beautiful person inside and out'. He is pictured with his girlfriend Hayley Baker-Covey, who had travelled to Australia with on a holiday. He fell in love with the country and returned to work there Former Northgate High School and Suffolk New College student Dan left his job to go travelling in Australia last year with his girlfriend Hayley Baker-Covey. He returned home to the UK for a few months after the couple had criss-crossed the country. But Dan couldn't resist the lure of Down Under and he flew back to take up a post working on a farm in Alice Springs. Dan's brother, Ben Jarmin, 27, paid tribute to him as he said their family and friends had been shattered by the tragedy. Ben said: 'Daniel is well known and well loved around Ipswich - he truly was a larger than life character. He never worried about things and he always cared about those in his life. 'His sense of humour was the pinnacle of his aura, always getting the best out of any situation. There's no one on this planet who can ever replace my brother and my friend. He will always be remembered by the lives he touched.' Dan's father, Martin Jarmin, added: 'Dan was a true shining light and he left warmth where ever he went.I am so proud of him.' Dan, pictured, right, with his brother Ben, left, and Sam, centre. Dozens of friends have paid tribute to him on social media. They are celebrating 'a lovely human being' who was 'always looking out for his friends' and 'a true gentleman' who was 'such a beautiful person inside and out'. Dan had worked at Ipswich-based Haven Power for four years before heading for Australia last year. A Haven Power spokesman said: 'All of us at Haven are deeply saddened at the news of Dan's accident.' Dan's brother Ben said: 'My favourite memory of Daniel was sitting in a restaurant on my birthday earlier this year thinking Dan was in Australia then looking across the tables I saw my brother walking towards me. 'Although his death has caused our hearts to ache we can find solace in the fact he knew he was so well loved by everyone around him. We will miss him every second of every day.' The heartbroken Jarmins are now battling to bring Dan's body home. A justgiving page has been set up by close friend Joe Targan in a bid to help cover the costs the family will face. Within just two days 135 people have already donated and raised more than 1,445. Advertisement A German man is poised to enter the Guinness Book of World Records after building what he claims is the heaviest bicycle in the world. The monster bike, weighing in at nearly one tonne, is the labour of love of trucker Frank Dose, 49, who must get the bicycle to travel at least 500 yards in order to achieve the world record. Frank, from the small town of Schacht-Audorf near Germany's border with Denmark, built the colossus using scrap metal for the body and two giant wheels from an agricultural muck spreader. Frank Dose rides his bicycle in Rade, Germany. Dose aims to achieve the Guinness record for the heaviest ridable bicycle Frank has made his wife Astrid happy. She will be there to witness the world record attempt, saying: 'I think his bike is sensational. I am proud and pleased that has done it.' Neighbours help Frank load his huge bicycle on to a relatively small truck in Rade, Germany, this week. Illustrating its size and weight, the bicycle is so big he requires a truck to carry it Frank put the massive bicycle through its paces with friends this week ahead of his world record attempt 'Go Franky!' yelled a crowd of pals at the weekend when Frank - sitting on a saddle made from an old beer crate - rolled it out for the first time. On September 3 he makes the world record attempt on the bike he has been building since March this year and reckons it has cost him nearly 3,500. The current world record for riding the heaviest push bike belongs to Belgian Jeff Peeters whose cycle weighed in at 860kg - nearly 80kg lighter than Frank's machine. Frank's wife Astrid will be there to witness the attempt saying: 'I think his bike is sensational. I am proud and pleased that he has done it.' Frank is intending to tweak the bike by adding more weight to push it to over one tonne when he makes the record attempt. 'I might as well go for broke,' he said. Frank built the colossus using scrap metal for the body and two giant wheels from an agricultural muck spreader Does says he will tweak the bike by adding more weight to push it to over one tonne when he makes the record attempt Does has been putting the bicycle through testing to ensure it can travel 500 yards to clinch the world record One of Britain's biggest infrastructure projects is being investigated over fears it could damage Big Ben's foundations or flood the London Underground. The 4.2billion Tideway super sewer, which will run under the Thames, is being looked into by the National Audit Office. Potential damage to the capital's main transport network and one of its most recognisable landmarks are just some of the concerns surrounding the scheme. As well as the construction worries, the 'risks faced by customers and the taxpayer'will also be examined. Potential damage to the capital's main transport network and one of its most recognisable landmarks are just some of the concerns surrounding the scheme. With the public footing the bill if the project goes over-budget, the NAO wants to know why smaller alternatives were not chosen. Thames Water, which helped form Tideway, is already hiking customers' bills to fund part of the construction. A report is due to be published in the autumn - around the same time that construction on London's second-biggest project, behind Crossrail - is scheduled to start. The Lee tunnel, which is part of the project, is the deepest ever bored in London and is 6.9km long If given the green light, the 25km tunnel will be completed in 2023 and run from Acton to Abbey Mills. However, since being set up in 2001, funding for the project has been heavily scrutinised and was also investigated in 2014 over potential impact on the taxpayers' coffers. Tideway's chief executive, Andy Mitchell, declared that it will be delivered 'in the most timely and cost-efficient way.' She might be one of Team USA's star athletes - but Katie Ledecky still had to wait for 15 years to join her local swimming club in Maryland because it is so exclusive. While her family were on the waiting list for Little Falls Swimming Club in Bethesda, Ledecky won a gold at the 2012 Olympics in London. But because of the club's strict admission rules - which caps the membership to 377 families based on their proximity to the site - she had to wait like everyone else. She might be one of Team USA's star athletes - but Katie Ledecky still had to wait like everyone else to join Little Falls Swimming Club in Bethesda, pictured People have been known to buy a house nearby because this will give them an advantage in the competitive admissions process, reports the Wall Street Journal. The newspaper said that the Ledeckys rose to the top of the list in April this year - shortly before Katie won four medals at the Rio Olympics - but opted to defer. The club, where annual membership from 2017 will cost $700, is starting a renovation in September, which is expected to cost nearly $2million. A report published on its website in August last year explained that the pool needed repairs as it was 65 years old. 'Much credit should be given to previous board members who have maintained the pool really well and stayed on top of repairs,' the note said. 'But even with a history of great maintenance and proactive repairs, the current pool is coming to the end of its well-loved life.' Ledecky recently passed up on a estimated $5million in endorsements to remain an amateur and swim for Stanford University. People have been known to buy a house nearby the club because this will give them an advantage in the competitive admissions process The club, where annual membership from 2017 will cost $700, is starting a renovation in September, which is expected to cost nearly two million dollars. 'I've always wanted to swim collegiately and have that experience,' Ledecky, 19, told ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike. Her haul at Rio could have made her a millionaire if she left the amateur ranks, one expert told the show. She was treated to a hero's welcome after returning from Rio. When she arrived at Washington Dulles Airport she was immediately enclosed by some 10 friends who ran to meet her, screaming in excitement. She was draped in her medals four gold and one silver arranged side-by-side as veteran Michael Phelps taught her. After her glory in Rio, Ledecky said she was looking forward to a home-cooked meal and sleeping in her own bed 'They are heavy a little more than the one I won four years ago,' she said, mentioning her one gold at the London 2012 Olympics. Phelps 'taught me how to arrange them,' Ledecky added. 'He put them on perfectly.' After returning home, Ledecky said she was looking forward to a home-cooked meal and sleeping in her own bed. 'I'll be just taking a break from swimming and getting ready for school,' said Ledecky said, who starts college in September. Turkey has been accused of 'expanding its occupation' inside Syria amid reports dozens of civilians have been killed during the country's push to oust ISIS. Rebels backed by Turkey have driven US-allied Kurdish forces from a number of towns and villages in northern Syria with Ankara looking to push the militants east of the Euphrates River. At least 35 civilians have died in the clashes and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party has condemned what it said was international silence regarding 'Turkish occupation' of Syria. It comes after images emerged of Turkish tanks approaching the Syrian border and operating in its neighbour's territory. The dramatic escalation of Turkey's involvement in the Syrian civil war last week aimed to help the Syrian rebels drive ISIS out of the border town of Jarablus. Turkey has been accused of 'expanding its occupation' inside Syria amid reports dozens of civilians have been killed during the country's push to oust ISIS. Turkish tanks are pictured moving toward's Syria's border over the weekend But it also is aimed at US-allied Kurdish forces that have gained control in recent months of most of the territory along the Turkey-Syria border. The fighting pits Turkey, a NATO ally, against a US-backed proxy that is the most effective ground force battling ISIS militants in Syria in the five-year-old civil war. This morning, the Pentagon described clashes between Turkish and Kurdish forces in Syria as 'unacceptable' and called on all sides to 'stand down'. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook condemned the fighting south of the Syrian town of Jarabulus. 'We are closely monitoring reports of clashes south of Jarabulus - where ISIL is no longer located - between the Turkish armed forces, some opposition groups, and units that are affiliated with the SDF (Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces),' he said. 'We want to make clear that we find these clashes unacceptable and they are a source of deep concern.' A wall dividing Turkey from Syria is pictured as Turkish troops push further into their southern neighbour's territory The barrier marks the border between Turkey and the war-torn nation The United States 'was not involved in these activities, they were not coordinated with US forces, and we do not support them,' he said. 'This is an already crowded battle space. Accordingly, we are calling on all armed actors to stand down immediately and take appropriate measures to de-conflict.' Turkey meanwhile claimed it had not entered a war through its incursion into northern Syria and has no intention of becoming a permanent power there. Broadcaster NTV cited Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus as saying: 'Turkey is not an occupying country. Turkey is not entering a war. 'Every party involved, including the Damascus government, was aware of the Euphrates Shield operation. Russia informed them, we are sure about that,' he added, referring to the name Ankara has given its incursion into northern Syria. A convoy of Turkish tanks (pictured) entered Syria in an unprecedented escalation, infuriating Damascus A Turkish soldier was killed by a Kurdish rocket attack late on Saturday, the first such fatality in Turkey's ground offensive dubbed Euphrates Shield that began August 24. Speaking at a rally in the border town of Gaziantep, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his military is committed to fighting terrorism in Syria and Iraq. Turkey, he said, also is determined to 'uproot' the Syrian Kurdish group, calling it a terrorist organisation. But he didn't specify a goal for the fight against the Kurdish forces. Turkey is part of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the militants of the ISIS, but the airstrikes that began Saturday marked the first time it has targeted Kurdish-led forces in Syria. 'We will support all work to clean Syria and Iraq of Daesh,' Erdogan told the rally, using an Arabic acronym for the ISIS. 'That's why we are in Jarablus, that's why we are in Bashiqa (in Iraq). If necessary, we will not shy away from taking responsibility in the same way in other areas.' ISIS militants fled a town in Syria less than a day after Turkish tanks rolled across the border on an operation to free the jihadist-held settlement. Pictured, Turkish troops Turkey has troops stationed in Bashiqa in northern Iraq, and it was not clear if his reference to Jarablus means he intends to base his troops there. Erdogan then turned his focus to the main Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party, known as the PYD. 'We are as determined about the PYD, the separatist terror organization's Syrian wing,' he said. Ankara views the PYD and the militia affiliated with it, which forms the backbone of the U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces, or SDF, as an extension of the Kurdish insurgency that is raging in southeastern Turkey. 'We will continue until we uproot this terror organization,' Erdogan told the rally. A spokesman for a Syrian rebel group said the Turkish-backed offensive will continue south of Jarablus to clear ISIS and Kurdish forces from northeastern Aleppo. Turkish leaders have vowed to drive both ISIS and the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, away from the border. Turkey's military said Sunday its warplanes killed 25 Kurdish 'terrorists' and destroyed five buildings used by the fighters in response to attacks on advancing Turkish-backed rebels in the Jarablus area. Various factions of the Turkey-backed Syrian rebels said they had seized several villages and towns from Kurdish-led forces south of Jarablus, including Amarneh, where fighting was fiercest in recent days. The Kurdish-led forces 'must pull back to the east of the Euphrates. We will fight all terrorist groups, including (the Kurdish-led fighters) ... in all of northeast Aleppo,' said Capt. Abdel-Salam Abdel-Razzak, a spokesman for the Nour el-Din el-Zinki group. Turkish-backed fighters will move south of Jarablus, toward Manbij and beyond, he said. Earlier this month, the Kurdish-led SDF crossed the Euphrates and drove ISIS militants out of Manbij, a key supply hub south of Jarablus, after a 10-week campaign. The Islamists fled Jarablus before Turkish ground troops (pictured) even reached the northern Syrian town Both Turkey and the United States have ordered the YPG militia to withdraw to the east bank of the river. YPG leaders say they have, but their units advise the Syrian Democratic Forces, and it is not clear if any remain west of the Euphrates. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombing killed at least 20 civilians and four Kurdish-led fighters in Beir Koussa, a village about nine miles south of Jarablus, and left another 15 dead in a village to the west. SDF spokesman Shervan Darwish said the airstrikes and shelling began overnight and continued Sunday along the front line, killing many civilians in Beir Koussa and nearby areas. He said the bombing also targeted the village of Amarneh. He said 50 Turkish tanks were taking part. The Kurdish Democratic Union Party condemned the attack on the village. It also condemned what it said was international silence regarding 'Turkish occupation' of Syria. The Syrian state news agency SANA reported that 20 civilians were killed and 50 wounded by Turkish artillery and airstrikes, calling it 'encroachment' on Syrian sovereignty under the pretext of fighting ISIS. Turkey is a leading backer of the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, but both Ankara and Damascus share concerns over Kurdish ambitions for autonomy. Syrian warplanes renewed their bombing of the besieged al-Waer neighborhood in the central city of Homs. An activist in the neighborhood of Bebars al-Talawy said there were at least a dozen airstrikes, killing one person. The neighborhood came under attack on Saturday, including incendiary bombs that killed two children, a brother and sister. Images of doctors treating other children for their burns were posted on social media sites. The district's hospital was bombed and taken out of operation earlier this month. Human Rights Watch said it had documented the use of incendiary weapons in at least 18 different instances between June and August in rebel-held areas. The group blamed Russian and Syrian joint military operations room for the use of such weapons in violation of international law. The al-Waer neighborhood of nearly 75,000 people has been under siege since March and has been one area that U.N agencies have reported difficult to access. An aid convoy reached the area August 25. According to residents, the escalation followed recent threats by soldiers at checkpoints that the Syrian government's patience was running out with the district, the last rebel holdout in the city. It also follows the evacuation of Daraya, a Damascus suburb, as part of a deal struck between the government and rebels after a bombing campaign and siege. A stay-at-home mum caught drink driving at almost four-times the legal limit with three children in the backseat took the wheel because the woman she was travelling with was scared of driving on highways. Donna Maria Gardiner from Moss Vale, New South Wales, was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence and suspended from driving for nine months for her high-range offence on Monday. The 43-year-old was caught by police while driving on the Hume Highway on June 19 this year with three girls aged 11, 11 and nine in the back seat, the Daily Telegraph reports. Donna Maria Gardiner (pictured middle) was given a 12-month suspended sentence on Monday for drink driving at almost four times the legal limit in June this year while driving three young girls to an event. She had a BAC of 0.183 Gardiner was pulled over by police after doing an illegal U-turn as she drove the woman she was with and the three youngsters to an event. The Liverpool Local Court heard Gardiner had admitted to having six glasses of wine the night before, but took the wheel because the other woman had a 'phobia' of driving on highways. After an initial roadside breath test showed Gardiner had alcohol in her system, police then attempted to do another reading. She failed six times to produce a sufficient breath test and was taken back to Liverpool police station, where she blew the reading of 0.183. A remorseful Gardiner sobbed in the docks as her sentence was handed down, with her lawyer describing her as the corner stone of the family. '(She) did pretty much everything in the family'. Gardiner said she had six glasses of wine the night before she was arrested but had still taken the wheel because the adult passenger she was driving with was scared of driving on highways Gardiner was suspended from driving for nine months and ordered to fit an interlock device in her car for the next two years, in addition to her 12-month suspended jail sentence 'So she decided to take the kids and (the woman) to the event herself.' The court heard that when Gardiner was taken away to be tested by police, another officer drove the woman and three girls to a nearby McDonald's to wait. In sentencing, Magistrate McAnulty said that while he needed to send a message, he also understood she did not intend to drink that much and put the lives of her passengers at risk. He said he also took into consideration the fact that she had been shunned by much of her community. In sentencing Gardiner, Magistrate McAnulty said that while he needed to send a message, he also understood she did not intend to drink that much and put the lives of her passengers at risk Gardiner was formally a committee member of the ladies arm of the Kollege of Knowledge Kommittee for Kids, a group that supports disabled and disadvantaged children in the Southern Highlands of NSW. The court heard she had received 'sarcastic text messages' from locals and was also no longer in contact with her brother. Under pressure: The Rev Dr Peter Sanlon, vicar of St Mark's Church in Tunbridge Wells, who is hosting the meeting, admits the issue of homosexuality could lead to a split A number of Church of England parishes are to meet in a step towards a split over issues such as homosexuality. Clergy from almost a dozen congregations in the Home Counties are due to meet this week in a church hall in Tunbridge Wells in Kent. It came as the Church of England is expected to approve church blessings for same-sex partners, which critics view as 'watering down' centuries of teachings. Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, recently spoke of being 'constantly consumed with horror' at the CofE's treatment of gay, lesbian and transgender people. The Kent meeting could lead to the creation of a new 'shadow synod' vowing to uphold traditional teaching as some congregations are uncomfortable with the church moving in a more liberal direction. Members claim they are not planning to split totally from the Church of England - but is viewed as a 'church within the church'. The Rev Dr Peter Sanlon, vicar of St Mark's Church in Tunbridge Wells, who is hosting the meeting, said he is not leaving the Church but added that he needs 'new partnerships and structures'. He told the Daily Telegraph: 'If senior leaders of the Church of England water down the teaching of the Church of England on key issues like homosexuality, then this synod could easily evolve into a new Anglican jurisdiction in England. 'The Archbishop of Canterbury has signalled that he is aware of the possibility that a significant proportion of the Church will not accept a change in the Church's teaching. 'This could be the beginning of that playing out.' Upset: Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, pictured in January, recently spoke of being 'constantly consumed with horror' at the CofE's treatment of gay, lesbian and transgender people He added: 'I am not leaving the Church of England - but, in order to stay, I need new partnerships and structures to discharge the mission of the Church of England, which is to bring the message of Christ to every postcode in England. 'We have set these structures up in a very small embryonic form across three dioceses. 'My only problem now is coping with the number of clergy contacting me wanting to know how they can join in.' A Church of England spokeswoman said: 'The Shared Conversations process over the last two years included the participation of over 1,300 members of the church in regional and national settings. 'Through those conversations, deep convictions have been shared and profound differences better understood. It is our hope that what has been learned through the relationships developed will inform the way the Church conducts whatever further formal discussions take place in the future. Advertisement As BHS became history yesterday with the final closure of all 163 stores - the heiress to Sir Philip Green's retail empire was spotted going out with a mystery man in the French Riviera. Chloe Green, 23, daughter of Sir Philip, 64, was seen with the long-haired man enjoying the Mediterranean air in St Tropez. They boarded a boat together and sauntered to Club 55 in the exclusive resort. Today thousands of BHS staff are waking up to their first day without work - and huge uncertainty whether they will receive their pensions because of a 571million blackhole. Yesterday 88 years of British retail history came to an end as the chain disappeared from the High Street while the department store's former boss Sir Philip sunned himself on his 100million super yacht. The final 22 BHS stores closed on Sunday across the UK, bringing the curtain down on another of the countrys best-known high street names. Scroll down for video Trappings of wealth: Chloe and the man (centre) boarded a boat which took them to Club 55 in St Tropez in the French Riviera Looking at us? Chloe Green, heiress to her father's Sir Philip's retail empire, was spotted in the sun with this mystery man Day out: Chloe, was also seen out with friends, during the boat trip to the exclusive resort on the southern French coast Sir Philip's Arcadia group owns Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Burtons, Evans, Wallis, Outfit and Miss Selfridge. About 11,000 people have lost their jobs because of the BHS collapse, with Sir Philip shouldering much of the blame in a critical report published by MPs last month. But while administrators have been winding up the business, the tycoon has been enjoying a five-week Greek island odyssey on he and his wife's new super yacht Lionheart. Lady Green has spent two months on the yacht and was pictured hiking in Corfu this week. It came as last-gasp shoppers gathered up the remaining bargains at stores across the country, before some who got there too late were pictured peering in, apparently still finding it hard to believe the retailer was gone. Waving goodbye: Eighty eight years of British retail history came to an end today as BHS disappeared from the High Street (right) while the department store's former boss Sir Philip Green sunned himself on his 100million super yacht (left) Vessel: While administrators have been winding up the business, the 64-year-old has been enjoying a five-week Greek island odyssey on he and his wife's new super yacht Lionheart (pictured) Enjoying the sun: Lady Green has spent two months on the yacht (pictured right) and was also seen hiking in Corfu this week Is it really gone? BHS disappeared from the high street today as its last stores closed, ending 88 years of British retail history Difficult to take in: Last-gasp shoppers gathered up the remaining bargains at stores across the country, before some who got there too late were pictured peering in, apparently still finding it hard to believe the retailer was gone Closed: Administrators to the department store chain have shut 22 stores, the last of more than 150 branches nationwide End of the line: Duff & Phelps and FRP Advisory have already overseen 141 closures over recent weeks, including BHS's flagship Oxford Street store in London's West End Rush: People shop for the last time in the BHS store in Harrow as the firm is closing 22 shops nationwide today Empty: The shelves were bare in BHS's Harrow store which is closing its doors for the final time this afternoon Going, going, gone! Administrators to the department store chain are set to shut 22 stores, the last of more than 150 branches nationwide (BHS's Exeter's store pictured) Bargain: Duff & Phelps and FRP Advisory have already overseen 141 closures over recent weeks, including BHS's flagship Oxford Street store in London's West End Duff & Phelps and FRP Advisory have already overseen 141 closures over recent weeks, including BHS's flagship Oxford Street store in London's West End. Customers piled sale items high as they queued halfway around the store in Wood Green, North London. Pauline Brown, 50, took the opportunity to buy school uniform, which had 80 per cent off, for her 15-year-old son. The mother said: 'I've been coming here a long time. I'm in here every day and the staff say "oh, what you buying today?"' 'I'm very sad that it's going. It was always a very big store and people come from all around regularly. 'I was devastated when they said it was closing down.' FINAL BHS STORES TO CLOSE The last 22 BHS stores were closing this weekend, they are: Exeter Surrey Quays, London St Enoch Centre, Glasgow Metrocentre, Tyne and Wear York Merryhill, West Midlands Romford Harrow Doncaster Walthamstow Uxbridge Bexleyheath Leicester Norwich Belfast Kingston Hanley St James, Northampton Swansea Wood Green Cribbs Causeway, Bristol St Albans Advertisement Grace McHenry, 56, came out of the store pleased with her large bag of bargains and thanked staff for being 'cheerful, polite and well-mannered'. The company's collapse in April has affected 11,000 jobs, 22,000 pensions, sparked a lengthy parliamentary inquiry and left its high-profile former owners potentially facing a criminal investigation. Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has borne the brunt of the public fallout, having been branded the 'unacceptable face of capitalism' by furious MPs. Sir Philip owned BHS for 15 years before selling it to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell for 1 in 2015. Sir Philip has come under fire for taking more than 400 million in dividends from the chain, leaving it with a 571 million pension deficit and for selling it to a man with no retail experience. Veteran Labour MP Frank Field has asked the Serious Fraud Office to launch a formal investigation into the pair to ascertain if any criminal wrongdoing occurred during the sale of the chain and throughout their respective ownerships. It has also emerged that Mr Field is probing Sir Philip's Arcadia retail empire, which includes Topshop. Earlier this month Sir Philip reacted angrily to a reporter's attempts to question him over the collapse of BHS pushing away a camera and shouting 'that's going in the f****** sea.' The 64-year-old threatened to throw the cameraman's equipment into the water as he told a British journalist to 'go away' when pair clashed on the Greek island of Ithaca where the tycoon has been holidaying. Everything must go! The shelves inside the Harrow BHS store were clear in this section of the shop after customers pounced for a bargain Remaining stock: TV box sets were selling for 2 and groups of 10 DVDs for just 1 - shoppers here in Hanley hunt for discount deals Opposition: Protesters gathered outside BHS in Harrow to demonstrate against Sir Philip and his handling of the firm Queue: People waiting inside one of the final BHS branches in London to close - there were bargains available in a variety of different departments Pressure: Sky News catches up with Sir Philip in Ithaca, Greece and he loses his temper after coming off his ship Former boss: Dominic Chappell, a serial bankrupt and former racing driver, bought BHS from Sir Philip for 2015 for 1 The journalist from Sky News caught up with Sir Philip when he briefly came to shore away from his 100million superyacht. When questioned about why he was spending time on his yacht instead of sorting the pension deficit, Sir Philip replied: 'Why don't you go away'. He was tracked down by senior correspondent David Bowden, who was repeatedly told to 'go away' by Sir Philip as he tried to interview the billionaire businessman. Sir Philip was then seen raising his hand to the camera, before footage of the angry exchange turns blurry. Mr Bowden said he and the tycoon, dubbed Sir Shifty, later calmly shook hands. The two young people who died after taking drugs at festivals this weekend have been pictured for the first time. Lewis Haunch, 17, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, collapsed 'immediately' after taking drugs at Leeds festival on Saturday night, police said. It was just hours after Joe Sheppard, a mechanic from Devon, died at Creamfields dance festival in Warrington, Cheshire. Lewis Haunch, 17, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, died 'immediately' after taking drugs at Leeds festival on Saturday night, police said It was just hours after Joe Sheppard, a mechanic from Devon, died at Creamfields dance festival in Warrington, Cheshire His employer, JDM Garage in Holsworthy, Devon, posted a heartfelt tribute to the 26-year-old on its Facebook page (pictured) The 17-year-old boy wasthe second to die at a UK festival this weekend alone after taking drugs and collapsing at Leeds. General view of the festival on Saturday The death at Leeds (pictrured) was just a few hours after a 26-year-old man had collapsed and died at Creamfields, a dance festival in Warrington, Cheshire, also due to taking drugs. His employer, JDM Garage in Holsworthy, Devon, posted a heartfelt tribute to the 26-year-old on its Facebook page. It says: 'It is with heartfelt sadness that we inform you our friend, college, employee Joe has passed away over night last night.' Two teenagers were yesterday arrested on suspicion of drugs offences in connection with the 17-year-old's death at Leeds, where Disclosure headlined on Saturday. The death led Yorkshire Police to issue new warnings that there is 'no safe way' to take drugs. Leeds Festival's Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Keith Gilert said: 'We are currently investigating the death and how he obtained the substance he took. 'Two males, aged 17, have been arrested in the Greater Manchester area on suspicion of drugs offences and are currently in custody. Two teenagers were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences in connection with the 17-year-old's death at Leeds (pictured yesterday), where Diclosure headlined on Saturday 'At this time the indications are that the man consumed drugs immediately before he collapsed. A report will be sent to the Coroner in due course. 'I would though like to take this opportunity to remind anyone attending the festival that there is no safe way to take drugs. 'Taking any illegal drug carries a risk to health and we would always advise people against it, but I would ask that people are particularly conscious of the risks following this young man's death. 'In partnership with the organisers, Festival Republic, we will continue to take action against those who risk the lives of others by supplying drugs. One festival-goer said she believed she saw the teenager as he was being treated by medics. Police have issued a warning to all others at the festival (pictured) that the death proves there is no safe way to take drugs Thousands of mud-soaked festival-goers donned umbrellas as the heavens opened yesterday Hayley Briggs said: 'It was right outside the guest area and the guy just looked in a very bad way. He was ashen, head-to-toe grey, totally not with it at all. 'He was being cradled by one of the first aiders before the ambulance arrived. He looked as if he was going in and out of consciousness. Poor kid, it's really sad. It was right outside the guest area and the guy just looked in a very bad way Hayley Briggs, onlooker 'There were a load of people around him just waiting for the ambulance to arrive and when it did the first aiders went straight out and they just got cracking.' Ms Briggs said she heard a number of people discussing drugs while she was at the festival and said one of her friends had been offered a number of different substances. The 26-year-old, from Cornwall, was found collapsed in a campsite at the dance music event at Daresbury, near Warrington, police said. He was discovered at around midnight on Saturday but emergency services were unable to save him. Police have warned people at festivals to learn a lesson form the two drug deaths, urging them to remember that there is 'no safe way' to take substances 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: '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. Prince Harry has called for a new honour to be created for members of the armed forces who have been injured while fighting similar to the US Purple Heart Medal. The prince, a former Apache helicopter pilot who served in Afghanistan, left the Army last year after a decade and has since been prominent campaigner to support injured soldiers. Thousands of British soldiers are now thought to be living with both physical and mental scars as a result of the consequences of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Plea: Prince Harry, pictured during his ten-year career in the Army, has called for a new honour for all British troops injured in combat In Britain, the Elizabeth Cross is awarded to the family of a member of the armed forces who has lost their life while serving their country, but as of yet, no award exists for those who have been injured. Award: Wounded US marine Chris Campbell with his Purple Heart medal, awarded to soldiers who have been wounded or killed while serving in the US military since 1917 A military source told the Mirror: Prince Harry is a huge ambassador for the wounded and feels it is hard to understand why there is no recognition for the wounded. The pace of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan heightened every week and field hospitals like the one in Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, worked at a furious pace. But Harry has been saying for some time that the wounded need to have their sacrifice and suffering recognised. To be wounded fighting is a big deal and it would be a huge honour to receive such a medal as a symbol of gratitude from Britain and Prince Harry knows that. In the past whenever the subject of a Purple Heart-style medal for British troops comes up military commanders have dismissed it as not British. But that sentiment now looks outdated and inappropriate. Kensington Palace refused to comment on Harry's plea today. The royal - known as 'Captain Wales' to his comrades - went on two tours of duty to Afghanistan and qualified as an Apache aircraft commander during his decade in the forces. Campaigner: Harry has already helped set up the Invictus Games (pictured in 2014) which has helped a number of soldiers who have been injured in the line of duty to exhibit their strengths and compete against each other Harry's military career began when he took 44-week training at the prestigious Sandhurst college in Camberley, Surrey, in May 2005. He has served twice on the front line in Afghanistan since graduating from Sandhurst, first sent out as a forward air controller in 2007 after his wish to serve in the infantry was deemed too dangerous to both himself and his men. He was forced to return early from the posting when a foreign website broke the news blackout on his deployment. He then retrained with the Army Air Corps and was picked to fly the Apache attack helicopter. He returned to Afghanistan in 2012 and his 10-year career ended in June 2015. Since leaving the Army, the 31-year-old helped set up the Invictus Games which has helped a number of soldiers who have been injured in the line of duty to exhibit their strengths and compete against each other. This years tournament, which was held in Orlando, Florida, was supported by the President of the United States and the First Lady. The Purple Heart is a medal awarded to soldiers who have been wounded or killed while serving in the US military since 1917. Army chiefs are thought to have refused to issue a Purple Heart-style award for wounded soldiers as they said it was un-British, according to the Mirror. Donald Trump has challenged Hillary Clinton to release her detailed medical records in the latest attack over his Democratic rival's health. He tweeted Sunday: 'I think that both candidates, Crooked Hillary and myself, should release detailed medical records. I have no problem in doing so! Hillary?' Trump, who at 70 is 16 months older than Clinton, has regularly voiced conspiracy theories that his rival is not physically or mentally fit to run for office. Scroll down for video Donald Trump has challenged Hillary Clinton to released her detailed medical records in his latest jibe over his Democratic rival's health Trump, who at 70 is 16 months older than Clinton, has regularly voiced conspiracy theories that his rival is not physically or mentally fit to run for office John Jaggers, who runs Trump operations in Maryland, predicted last week that Clinton would be dead within a year. And the Republican nominee has regularly suggested Clinton does not have the stamina to be president. On August 19 he tweeted: "#WheresHillary? Sleeping!!!!!" Both Clinton and Trump have previously released doctors' notes saying they are the pinnacle of health. Democratic nominee Clinton released hers over a year ago, in July 2015, which consisted of a letter signed by her longtime physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack, who's been examining the politician since she became a U.S. senator in 2001. 'Mrs. Clinton is a healthy female with hypothyroidism and season allergies, on long-term anticoagulation,' the letter read. Both Clinton and Trump have previously released doctors' notes saying they are the pinnacle of health Trump's doctor's note didn't come for another five months and was perfectly Trumpian. In it, his personal physician, Dr. Harold Bornstein calls Trump's blood pressure and lab results 'astonishingly excellent.' 'His physical strength and stamina are extraordinary,' the letter boasted. Ronald Curtis Gantt (pictured), 55, was practicing shooting his crossbow in his front yard when he accidentally shot a UPS driver A UPS driver has been shot in the chest by a 'reckless' Alabama man doing target practice with a crossbow in his front yard, authorities said. Ronald Curtis Gantt, 55, was practicing shooting his crossbow in the 900 block of Goodson Road around noon on Thursday when he accidentally shot the UPS driver, who was sat in his delivery truck. Gantt said he overshot a target when he accidentally hit the man. The crossbow bolt went through the driver's upper right arm and lodged in his right chest, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. The UPS truck was in motion at the time the driver was hit, police say, when the bolt flew into the cab and struck the man. Gantt stayed with the driver until an ambulance arrived, according to the Advertiser. The injured driver was transported to Baptist South Medical Center in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The UPS driver was in motion when he was struck with the crossbow bolt, which entered his upper right arm and lodged in his right chest (STOCK IMAGE) The driver has not been identified. Ganrr was charged with assault, even though the incident was deemed an accident. Investigators said although the injury was unintentional, Gantt's reckless behavior warranted the charges. It is unclear if Gantt has an attorney. This is the precarious moment a reckless driver in the same lane as a motorcyclist squeezes their way past on one of Scotland's most dangerous roads. The rider comes just inches from tragedy as the impatient motorist forces their way through on the A9 Southbound at Kessock. Shocking footage captures the near miss from a dash-cam on an HGV travelling along behind the two. Reckless driver: A small red hatchback races up behind a motorcyclist in Scotland It shows the small red hatchback racing up behind the motorcyclist before callously making its way past on the outside lane. Their dangerous manoeuvre was captured last month just by an infamous junction that acts as a gateway to the Scottish Highlands. Running 273 miles from Thurso to Falkirk, the A9 is Scotland's longest road. In the last three years alone 19 people have died and 48 have been left seriously injured. The HGV driver said: 'The red car is shown at the beginning of the clip joining the dual carriageway. I did not move over as the biker was overtaking me. 'Obviously biker should have moved over once he got past me but putting him in danger for not doing so is not what any motorist would expect. Dangerous road: Running from Thurso to Falkirk, the A9 is Scotland's longest and one of its most dangerous roads Impatient: Travelling along in the same lane the red car tries to make its way past Tight squeeze: The rider comes just inches from tragedy as the impatient motorist overtakes 'It's very dangerous driving from the red car. The worst scenario is that the biker could of be knocked off the bike and right under the wheels of my lorry.' A spokesman for Scotland's Worst Drivers, who posted the clip online, said: 'Although the biker could have returned to the left after overtaking it doesn't excuse the potentially fatal manoeuvre by the driver of the red car. 'Had the car clipped the biker he undoubtedly would have had no control and would've ended up under the wheels of oncoming vehicles. Owner Mary Bobolas, 75, said the inside of the home is 'neat and tidy' despite the trash-strewn yard The property - in Sydney's swanky Bondi Beach - was expected to fetch $2million when it went to auction It has been estimated that $160,000 is needed to clean the property which is piled high with trash The notorious 'hoarder house' was due to be sold so the council could recover the cost of cleaning it Advertisement The owner of the notorious Bondi hoarder house has revealed the inside of her home is 'neat and tidy' despite its trash-strewn front yard and would like to work as a professional cleaner one day. Mary Bobolas purchased the house at 19 Boonara Ave in Bondi Beach Sydney in 1973 for $15,000 and slowly overran the property with truckloads of rubbish by collecting items when she was 'stressed'. The 75-year-old retired dressmaker said she enjoys cooking curries and cakes with her daughters at the home, but says she is seen as 'Jack the Ripper' by her disgruntled neighbours, news.com.au reported. The owner of the notorious Bondi hoarder house has revealed the inside of her home is 'neat and tidy' despite its trash-strewn front yard (pictured) Mary Bobolas (pictured) purchased the house at 19 Boonara Ave in Bondi Beach Sydney in 1973 for $15,000 and slowly overran the property with truckloads of rubbish by collecting items when she was 'stressed' The 75-year-old retired dressmaker said she enjoys cooking curries and cakes with her daughters at the home, but says she is seen as 'Jack the Ripper' by her disgruntled neighbours Ms Bobolas has been in a 16-year battle with the Waverley Council over the 'hoarder home,' but won a last minute injunction to keep the house in June. The council have asked Ms Bobolas to pay $160,000 to clean the trash-strewn property or leave, but she said cannot afford to pay and is unsure where she would go. 'I have a heart problem and I need money for my teeth. I have to look for the discount items every time I go shopping,' she said. 'Australia used to be a good place to live, but now Sydney is very expensive.' The property has been valued at over $2 million. Ms Bobolas' daughters Elena and Liana also live on the property. Rubbish has been a constant fixture at the property over almost 26 years as the Bobolas's, dubbed 'the Bondi hoarders', refused to clean up. The dilapidated house was previously due to go to auction in 2015 over $180,000 the family owed in previous clean-up bills. This is the third time the family have blocked attempts to sell the property Ms Bobolas, originally from Spain, trained as a dress maker and landed herself a job in a department store when her family emigrated to Sydney when she was a teenager The owners of the property - Mary, Elena and Liana Bobolas - have been the centre of controversy over the past few decades as Waverley Council and furious neighbours have battled to get them to clean up their yard Liana Bobolas (pictured) has previously been taken into custody for trying to stop a court-ordered clean up. Her family has fought a 16-year battle with the council to keep the property Ms Bobolas, originally from Spain, trained as a dress maker and landed herself a job in a department store when her family emigrated to Sydney when she was a teenager, according to news.com.au. Her hoarding tendencies became out of control in the 1990s after her marriage breakdown and the death of her mother. More than $350,000 of ratepayers money has been spent across 15 separate clean-ups in a bid to control the piles of rubbish in and outside the property. Empty glass bottles, cardboard boxes, discarded appliances and pieces of old wooden furniture are regularly piled high outside the home. Plastic bags full of rubbish, old paint tins, a rusted wheelbarrow and a suitcase have caused the gates to almost burst at the seams as they hold back the mountains of trash. More than $350,000 of ratepayers money has been spent in a bid to control the piles of rubbish in and outside the Bondi property Plastic bags full of garbage, slabs of wood, what looks to be old carpet samples and cardboard boxes litter the front of the house Brisbane Police are hunting a pervert taking photos up the skirts of teenage girls on their way to and from school on public transport. The Wynnum Child Protection and Investigation Unit has asked the public for help in catching the man seen taking the inappropriate photos between April and June. Detective Sergeant Pascoe said the man was covertly using a smartphone to take photos of the girls legs and bottom and filming up their skirts. Brisbane Police are hunting a pervert taking photos up the skirts of teenage girls on their way to and from school on public transport Witnesses saw him photographing a girl at Manly train station in Brisbane's east and was believed to have done the same on trains and buses in nearby Capalaba and Cleveland. The girls were thought to be aged in 14-17 and wearing both school uniforms and normal clothes. 'We would like to speak to anyone who believes a man may have filmed or attempted to film or take inappropriate images of them,' Sergeant Pascoe said. Detectives wanted to speak to a teenage girl who was carrying this baby-blue backpack with a rainbow-coloured pop-pom attached to its front zipper in Manly on June 22 Detectives wanted to speak to a teenage girl who was carrying a baby-blue backpack with a rainbow-coloured pop-pom attached to its front zipper in Manly on June 22. They have released an image of it hoping it would be recognised. The backpack was believed to be manufactured by European company Fjall Raven. Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump and Yolanda Foster's ex-husband, Mohamed Hadid, have blasted Brandi Glanville's allegations in an ongoing court battle she has with fellow former Housewife, Joanna Krupa. Vanderpump and Hadid denied ever telling Glanville that Krupa was having an affair with Hadid, and they claim to have never said that Krupa's private parts smelled. Previously, Glanville claimed that Vanderpump and Hadid - who have been friends for more than ten years - told her at Vanderpump's home that Hadid had been cheating on Foster with Krupa during a two-year affair. Lisa Vanderpump and Mohamed Hadid deny telling Brandi Glanville that Joanna Krupa was having an affair with Hadid in a deposition that is part of an ongoing court battle between Krupa and Glanville. They also claim to have never said that Krupa's private parts smelled Glanville and Krupa's court battle first kicked off in January 2015 after Glanville mentioned the alleged affair in an interview with Andy Cohen and spoke about the smell of Krupa's private parts. Krupa first sued Glanville in Miami Court, accusing her of slander and emotional distress demanding monetary damages for the damage she did to her reputation. Since then, Hadid has said that Krupa had zero to do with his marriage to Yolanda ending. On August 18, Krupa filed court documents to amend her complaint to seek punitive damages from Glanville, revealing that both Vanderpump, Yolanda Foster and Mohamed Hadid all said Glanville's allegations are not true. Krupa said that the three key witnesses deny the story Glanville claims as her defense. Hadid said that he never informed Glanville of an affair between him and Krupa, and that he never made comments about Krupa's private parts. Vanderpump also says she never had a conversation with Glanville. Krupa claimed that Glanville changed her story several times. She hopes to amend her complaint to seek punitive damages, which under Florida law allows a jury to award her up to $2million in damages. Transcripts of Vanderpump and Hadid's depositions were filed as part of Krupa's motion, and reveal that both deny Glanville's story of the conversation between the three of them. Krupa (left) and Glanville's (right) court battle kicked off in January 2015 after Glanville mentioned the alleged affair in an interview with Andy Cohen Hadid and Vanderpump (pictured with Hadid's fiancee Shiva Safai) have been friends for more than ten years. Vanderpump said she has never heard Hadid say a bad word about Krupa Vanderpump claimed in her deposition that Glanville is known for her reputation of making false and malicious statements about people. She said she is no longer friends with Glanville: 'I think through trial and tribulations, really reality television, and things she did and said here just - kind of ended the relationship.' Vanderpump blasts Glanville for comments she made on her podcast, in which she said Vanderpump lived in the Valley at one point and even filed for bankruptcy. She said all the claims are lies that were detrimental to her and her husband's reputations. The reality star said that the last straw in their friendship was a slap that took place when they were both on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. When asked about the alleged conversation with Hadid and Glanville over Krupa, two which said that Hadid never said a bad word about Krupa and only spoke about how nice she was. She claimed that no comments were ever made about Krupa's vagina or her having an affair with Hadid. The reality star said that she doesn't believe that Hadid even had a sexual relationship with Krupa, claiming that they are friends and always have been. She added that she doesn't believe that Krupa should be pursuing a lawsuit, adding that she believes that nothing Glanville says has credence or credibility. Further, Vanderpump said that Glanville's allegations that she got her fired from Real Housewives are false. She said: 'I've been a victim of a lot of her lies. I don't have the power to have anybody fired, and if I did, she would have been fired the year before.' Vanderpump said in her testimony that she believes that nothing Glanville says has credence or credibility In her testimony, Vanderpump said that she doesn't believe that Krupa should be pursuing a lawsuit During Hadid's deposition, he blasted Glanville's story and denies any of it too place. He claimed that he has never spoken about Krupa to Glanville and that he wasn't even aware that they knew each other. When asked if Krupa had anything to do with his marriage to Foster ending, Hadid said, 'absolutely not'. The judge has yet to make a decision on Krupa's motion to add punitive damages. Last month, Glanville claimed Krupa's lawsuit was nothing more than an attempt by Krupa to keep her name in the headlines and help her her land a spot on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, due to the Miami spin off being canceled years before because of low ratings. The former RHOBH star slammed Krupa for being a hypocrite for taking legal action over her Watch What Happens Live comments when Krupa had been criticizing her in the press for more than a year. Glanville claimed that Krupa had repeatedly made comments about her having a drinking problem, saying she needed to go to rehab and calling her trailer trash. She demanded the entire lawsuit be thrown out and Krupa be awarded nothing from her complaint. The case has been pending for several months while the two reality stars participate in the discovery part of the lawsuit, with each party exchanging documents and taking depositions of key people involved in the case. Andy Cohen and fellow guest Mark Consuelos reacted with shock - with Consuelos falling to the ground - when Glanville made her claims on Watch What Happens Live last year Krupa informed the court that she planned on taking depositions of Foster, Hadid and Vanderpump in the near future. On June 20, Glanville demanded the judge presiding over the case to order Krupa to hand over her tax returns. She claimed that she sent off a list of request for production to Krupa in which she demanded several documents, including her Real Housewives contract, medical records and communications during a period of time with Hadid, Vanderpump and Cohen. Glanville says that Krupa objected to the majority of her demands and has refused to hand over her tax returns. The former RHOBH star says that the tax returns will help prove that Krupa lived in California, not Florida, when the suit was filed. If that is the case, the statute of limitations in California could cause Krupa's entire case to fall apart, due to her waiting too long to file suit. Glanville says she is demanding tax documents from the year prior to the alleged defamatory statements and the two years following to the interview she gave to Cohen. She points out that the returns will show the amount of money Krupa made during those years and are vital to the case, due to Krupa accusing her of ruining her reputation and causing her to lose jobs. Advertisement Wrapped in rags, a five-day-old baby is carried to safety in his exhausted fathers arms after being rescued from an overcrowded migrant boat in the Mediterranean. The newborn and his twin brother were among dozens of infants saved from the wooden vessel yesterday morning, just 13 miles from the Libyan coast. Around 700 people, mostly Eritreans, were crammed above and below deck as the boat began its perilous voyage to Europe. Among those rescued off the coast of Libya on Monday morning was a father cradling his five-day-old son (pictured) The baby was immediately rushed to medics after surviving the ordeal that exposes the horrors of the migrant crisis Thousands of migrants including a new-born baby have been rescued from the Mediterranean in a matter of hours this morning Refugees, most of them from Eritrea, were seen jumping into the water from crowded wooden boats just 13 miles off the coast of Sabratha in war-torn Libya These women and children were pulled on to a rescue vessel before being transferred to the Italian coastguard Rescue workers threw life vests to those on board before helping them to ten inflatable lifeboats. The twins and their mother were airlifted to Italy for medical treatment. The wooden boats deck was filled with people as aid workers from the charities Proactiva Open Arms and Medecins Sans Frontieres started the rescue operation. A young boy could be seen clinging to his fathers hand as they waited to be brought to safety. Some of the men jumped in the water to swim to the safety of the lifeboats. On the rescue dinghies, children and babies were clutched tightly by their parents as they waited to be transferred to larger vessels and taken to Italy. The early-morning rescue came hours after 1,100 migrants were rescued from boats in the Strait of Sicily on Sunday. More than 2,000 people are thought to have been picked up over two days. Italys coastguard said the migrants were plucked from eight rubber dinghies, one large boat and two punts in 11 rescue operations in the Mediterranean. Dramatic pictures from this morning's rescue show men and women diving into the water as emergency vessels arrive on the scene This morning's operation comes less than 24 hours after 721 refugees were plucked from the water in the same spot Some can be seen desperately clinging onto the sides of their boats while others tread water waiting to be lifted to safety About 70,000 migrants crossed the Mediterranean into Italy from January to June this year, similar to the same period last year The International Organization for Migration says that 105,342 migrants have reached Italy by boat this year, many of them setting sail from Libya. An estimated 2,726 men, women and children have died over the same period trying to make the journey, often packed dangerously into small vessels that are completely unsuitable for the voyage. Italy has been the front-line of Europes migrant crisis for three years, and more than 400,000 have successfully made the voyage to Italy from North Africa since the beginning of 2014, fleeing violence and poverty. There are concerns about the countrys ability to cope after restrictions on its northern borders with Austria and Switzerland left thousands of migrants stranded in camps there. Officials at the Federal Criminal Office in Germany said yesterday that almost 9,000 unaccompanied children have gone missing in the country since the beginning of the year. A Libyan coast guard stands on a wooden boat used by more than seven hundred migrants trying to flee Libya for Italy Pictures from inside one of the wooden migrant vessels show some of thebelongings left behind by migrants Migrants from Eritrea hold their children after been rescued from a crowded wooden boat as they were fleeing Libya Migrants cram into boats that are often far too small and unsafe for the 190-mile perilous journey from Libya's shores A rescue boat of the Spanish NGO Proactiva approaches an overcrowded wooden vessel with migrants from Eritrea, off the Libyan coast More than 2,000 migrants were rescued in a matter of hours with 700 refugees packed on to just one wooden boat Rescue bid: Italian officers lift a woman from a crowded wooden boat carrying more than seven hundred migrants Most of the 8,991 youngsters were aged between 14 and 17 but 867 were under 13. Many were reported missing from refugee centres, but police said the children often left in search of friends or relatives in other German cities or different European countries. In February, Europol the EUs law enforcement agency estimated that at least 10,000 unaccompanied refugee children had gone missing after arriving in Europe. Now it says the number is considerably higher. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe warned that unaccompanied minors from conflict zones were by far the most vulnerable group among the refugees, and they could be targeted by criminal gangs or become victims of sexual exploitation. On Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was accused by her deputy of underestimating the strain on society of integrating more than a million asylum seekers over the past year. Sigmar Gabriel said that rather than claiming, We can do this, Mrs Merkel should be setting the right conditions so we can actually manage this. Among the hundreds of migrants was a young boy. Rescuers counted as many as 20 boats setting sail for Europe this morning European nations continue to squabble about whether, and how, to share the newcomers between them and the issues that drove refugees to Europe in the first place - such as Syria's unrelenting war - are unresolved A total of 4,027 migrants and refugees have perished since January trying to flee wars and poverty looking for a better life mainly in Europe, the International Organisation for Migration said last week The killing allegedly happened after Tyson came to Strowder's house to ask for the return of a stolen gun A man who was charged with an Indiana murder in 2015 is to represent himself in court, despite warnings from the judge that it could be the worst decision of his life. Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Terry Shewmaker granted the request of Leon Tyson, 28, to defend himself against charges related to the shooting death of Tommie Strowder, 37, in June last year. Despite multiple warnings, Tyson believes he has the legal know-how after watching multiple episodes of Law & Order. He has now signed a waiver stating his wishes to proceed with the trial without a lawyer. Judge Shewmaker said he would only allow him to give up his right to a lawyer if he understood what that meant for his trial. Leon Tyson, 28, (left) has decided to take on the roll of lawyer in his own murder trial in Indiana following the shooting death of Tommie Strowder (right) in June 2015 Tributes were left for Tommie Strowder, 37, who was found lying dead behind an Indiana home A murder charge carries a sentence of up to 65 years while a level 3 felony charge of criminal confinement a sentence of up to 16 years. The Judge reminded Tyson that he could could be imprisoned for at least 60 years and that he couldn't complain after the trial that he was given a bad lawyer. Tyson told the judge he would educate himself on what he needed to do and would represent himself 'to the best of my abilities,' but he was not able to answer many of Shewmaker's legal questions to the judge's satisfaction. Asked if he had ever even seen a trial, Tyson answered, 'On TV.' Tyson will be taking to the stand after he claims watching Law & Order has given him the legal knowledge to make his own defence The Elkhart Truth reports that after granting Tyson's request, Judge Shewmaker also ordered that a standby lawyer counsel be appointed, just in case. 'Because this has happened time after time, and when they get to that moment of truth, the defendant backs out,' he said. 'We don't want to have to start over, so we will have someone there from the beginning.' The judge explained that as well as making the case in his own defense, Tyson would have to consider evidence along with examining and cross-examining witnesses on the stand, as well as following all the necessary legal rules and procedures. Tyson would have to do the same and would not receive any special treatment acting as his own attorney, he said. Tyson was charged with murder and criminal confinement after police say he held Strowder and a woman at gunpoint in the woman's apartment as he demanded one of them return a stolen gun or give him $300. Multiple witnesses told police that Strowder called a friend and asked her to retrieve $300 from his home because 'my life depends on it.' While Tyson was still holding Strowder and the woman at gunpoint, Strowder allegedly got up, told Tyson 'you're not going to kill me,' and ran out of the home. Tyson allegedly followed him outside and shot him twice as he ran across the street. A police K-9 unit searching an alley near the scene found a semi-automatic pistol, which police say was the gun used to shoot Strowder. Casings found near the scene and bullets removed from Strowders body and the side of a nearby home matched the pistol. A senior reporter from A Current Affair was left shocked and teary after a mock terror training exercise saw her tied up, blindfolded, shoved in the back of a van and driven to an unknown location. The Nine Network's Leila McKinnon took part in the hour-long training exercise for a segment aired on A Current Affair on Monday night. The exercise was run by Zero Risk International, a security and risk management company based in Sydney. Scroll down for video A Current Affair's Leila McKinnon took part in the hour-long training exercise for a segment aired on the show on Monday night (pictured) McKinnon (right) was part of a group who experienced what it is like to be involved in a hostage scenario with terrorists Former British commando and international terrorism and security expert Tony Loughran, who runs the company, said the interest in this type of training had 'really shot through the roof'. 'This training, without a shadow of doubt, can mean the difference between life and death,' Mr Loughran said. McKinnon was part of a group who experienced what it is like to be involved in a hostage scenario with terrorists. In the training exercise a masked gunman enters a meeting room full of people and is heard yelling 'Get down! Everyone on the ground! Get on the ground! All of you!' McKinnon is seen holding a camera which is filming while the training exercise is under way. As she is crouched underneath a desk she is seen whispering to the camera, telling viewers: 'Oh my God, this is really scary.' In another scene McKinnon is pictured in an empty room with her hands tied together. 'Obviously it's nothing like the real thing but it's really intense... what goes through your head', she whispers. The training was run by Zero Risk Management, owned by former British commando and international terrorism and security expert Tony Loughran McKinnon (pictured) was locked in a room during one of the exercises, with a hood partially covering her head. She appears rattled and jumps halfway through a sentence when a gunshot rings out She then takes a couple of deep breaths and says: 'I can't breathe... it's crazy... I can't explain to you what it's like... I can't imagine what it must be like to go through.' 'I hope I learn something from this about how to survive. I hope I never find myself in this...' she trails off and jumps mid sentence as a gunshot rings out. Other scenes show the group tied together with white hoods over their heads being led in a circle by the gunmen, forced up against walls with guns pointed at their backs and knives being sharpened close to their range of hearing. During the exercise participants were blindfolded, forced up against walls with guns, dragged along the floor (pictured) and even bundled into the back of a van and driven to an unknown destination When the exercise was over and McKinnon's hood was removed (pictured) she appeared to be incredibly relieved In another exercise three training participants are loaded into the back of a car blindfolded and driven to an unknown location. When McKinnon's hood is lifted off at the end of the exercise, she looks incredibly shaken and relieved. Later, she describes signing up to be terrorised as the best and worst way to learn how to deal with terror attacks. They're ten years apart in age and were born on different sides of the world, but for Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and the Duchess of Cambridge, that's where the differences seemingly end. Australian-born Princess Mary, 44, and English-born Kate Middleton, 34, both grew up as commoners before finding themselves in line to one day become queens. With their brunette hair, strikingly similar figures and Princes for husbands, the pair could easily pass as sisters, but the stunning princesses also share very similar tastes in fashion. Kate, Duchess of Cambridge (left) and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (right) are so similar they could be twins. The royal pair not only look the same but also share a similarly elegant dress sense Mary met her future husband Prince Frederik (left) during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, before they married in 2004. Kate first met Prince William when they studied together in Scotland in 2001, however they didn't marry until 2010 Mary's fairytale began when she met her future husband, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, during the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Four years later a dream came true for the girl from Hobart, Tasmania, when she married her prince in the Danish capital Copenhagen. Now, more than 12 years on, the Danish pair share four children - Christian, 10, Isabella, nine, and five-year-old twins Vincent and Josephine - and are one of the royal world's poster couples. Both Mary (left) and Kate (right) share exquisite fashion sense, often dressing in similar style dresses or shades - just like these two blue dresses If you're confused as to which princess is which it's not a surprise, with the pretty pair looking almost identical in their red dresses Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik have four children - Christian, 10, Isabella nine, and five-year-old twins Josephine and Vincent Kate and William also enjoy the snow judging by this picture of them with their two children George three and Charlotte one Kate's royal adventure began one year after Mary's when she met Prince William while the pair studied at the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, in 2001. After an at times up and down relationship, her engagement to the Prince was announced in 2010. Less than a year later, in November 2011, Kate and William were married and they now have two children - George, three ,and Charlotte, one. While many mothers struggle to find time to focus on their fashion, both Mary and Kate ensure they are always a picture of elegance whenever they step out. Often the pair seem to channel each others ideas, whether they're wearing red, blue or pink. But this isn't a relationship confined simply to fashion or online media. Earlier in 2016 both Crown Princess Mary and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed each others company during a day at the races at Royal Ascot. Despite wearing different colours they went for similarly elegant styles of dress The Danish royals have made quite a habit of attending Olympic Games since they first met at Sydney 2000, while Kate and William were often seen enjoying events during London 2012 But it's not just with primary colours that the princesses match, with both wearing similarly patterned green and blue frocks The elegant princesses also know how to dress up for the occasion wearing similarly toned lilac gowns The Crown Princess and the Duchess have met in person on a number of occasions. Most recently they happily greeted one another at the Royal Ascot races, where they shared conversation on the lawn and both enjoyed a gamble on the horses. After their most recent meeting many commented on their similarities, with some left wondering who Kate's twin was. And after this comparison it's not hard to see why. Waves will range in size for 0.6 metres for beginners right up to 1.7 metres for Advertisement The future of surfing is set to change in Western Australia with the proposal of a $25 million surf park. Perth Company Wave Park Group has presented plans to redevelop a 4.4 hectare site on the Swan River foreshore. The proposed $25million surf park would be the state's first, and Australia's third of its kind with others planned at Sydney Olympic Park and Melbourne Airport, PerthNow reported. Perth Company Wave Park Group has presented plans to redevelop a 4.4 hectare site on the Swan River foreshore with a surf park (artist's impression) The precinct will include a cafe, rooftop bar, beach club (pictured) and a surf academy (artist's impression) Wave Park Group Executive Chairman, Andrew Ross said the park will generate more than $250 million for the Perth economy and create 300 jobs. The precinct will include a cafe, rooftop bar, beach club and a surf academy. Waves will range in size from 0.6 metres for beginners right up to 1.7 metres for experienced boarders. 'Waves will form cleanly and break with constant power and shape throughout the ride, which will be the equivalent to riding high-quality, ocean-based waves of similar sizes,' the company said in a statement. 'Perth is blessed with a number of idyllic beaches, but the surf quality at those beaches is often poor, with overcrowding in the line-up also becoming an increasing issue,' Mr Ross said. Prices will range from $20 to $40 for surfers per hour. If the proposal goes ahead the park is set for completion by the end of 2018. Waves will range in size from 0.6 metres for beginners right up to 1.7 metres for experienced boarders (artist's impression) Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulani called Beyonce's 15-minute-long MTV Video Music Awards performance a 'shame' for its imagery of cops killing black people. 'I ran the largest and best police department in the world, the New York City Police Department,' Giuliani noted this morning on Fox & Friends. 'And I saved more black lives than any of those people you saw on stage by reducing crime and particularly homicide by 75 percent.' Giuliani previously had taken offense to Beyonce's Super Bowl performance of 'Formation,' which he called 'outrageous' and an 'attack' on police officers for its Black Lives Matter message and Black Panther Party look. Scroll down for video Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called Beyonce's 'Lemonade' performance a 'shame,'upon hearing about some of the 'Black Lives Matter' imagery Rudy Giuliani (left) suggested that he 'saved more black lives' than any of the people on stage by reducing crime in New York City Pop star Beyonce performed for 15 minutes at last night's MTV Video Music Awards and, like her Super Bowl performance, made the show political But last night's performance was even more pronounced as 'Fox & Friends' host Ainsley Earhardt explained. She told Giuliani that Beyonce's 'dancers were circling around her and one by one, they feel to the ground, and there were red lights underneath them.' 'And that was supposed to symbolize cops killing black individuals,' Earhardt added. Beyonce also arrived at the annual awards show with the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Mike Brown and Oscar Grant all young black men whose lives were snuffed out by police officers in tow, in case her message of 'Black Lives Matter' was lost on anyone. Giuliani, who has become one of Donald Trump's main surrogates in recent weeks, was not impressed. As each 'angel' fell to the floor they were covered in red light, in protest of gun death and police brutality Beyonce's back-up dancers were 'shot' one by one, falling to the floor in angel costumes, as she paid respects to black men killed in police shootings Beyonce posed for pictures with Sybrina Fulton (second left), Gwen Carr (left), Lesley McSpadden (second right), and Wanda Johnson (right) - the mothers of Martin, Garner, Brown and Grant respectively 'You're asking the wrong person because I had five uncles who were police officers, two cousins who were, one who died in the line of duty,' Giuliani began. Giuliani figured the crime reduction of 75 percent accounted for 'maybe 4,000 or 5,000' African-American young people 'who are still alive today because of the policies I put in effect that weren't in effect for 35 years.' 'So, if youre going to do that, then you also should also symbolize why the police officers are in those neighborhoods and what are you going to do about that and what are you doing about it?' Giuliani said. 'Are you, to me its two easy answers: a much better education and a good job and what the heck have you done like in Baltimore, when they all stood in Baltimore I was sick when I saw all the politicians standing in Baltimore after the police situation and saying "nobodys done anything for this community in 50 years" well that is a heck of a thing to say because theyve been in charge for 50 years and they have failed the community,' Giuliani continued. He was referencing the unrest following the death of Freddy Gray. Turning to his hometown of New York, where the VMAs were held this year, he noted that during his mayorship he 'didn't fail Harlem,' nor did he 'fail' Bedford-Stuyvesant. 'I turned it around, go there now, go walk in Harlem and then flash back to 25 years ago and go to Harlem before I was mayor and one was a place where crime was rampant and no national stores and now there's a thriving community in Harlem,' Giuliani said. Host Brian Kilmeade then pointed out that 'Beyonce is an extremely popular and powerful performer, and when she does stuff like that, that message to the next generation is pretty indelible.' Angry: Transgender Zoe Kirk-Robinson has accused the former mayor of misgendering her after he repeatedly called her he and him instead of she and her at a meeting. A Tory councillor who transitioned from male to female a decade ago has complained to police after being addressed as he by her Labour opponent. Transgender Bolton councillor Zoe Kirk-Robinson has accused the town's former mayor of misgendering her after he repeatedly called her he and him instead of she and her at a meeting. Officers are understood to be taking the allegation seriously and investigating the incident as a potential hate crime. The comments were allegedly made by Guy Harkin at a meeting of Bolton council last week at which councillors were discussing pensions. A 69-year-old retired lecturer, Councillor Harkin once suggested naming streets after Adolf Hitler and other notorious Nazis in a bid to sabotage a planned housing development on the greenbelt. Councillor Kirk-Robinson, 35, claimed he repeatedly misgendered her as part of a personal attack during the meeting at Bolton town hall. In a video blog, she said: If Im truthful, it hurt a lot, the guy had no reasons to ever suggest that I was male, he has never met me as a male. I transitioned over ten years ago and I have lived in Bolton for seven, going on eight years, he never met me before I transitioned. In a tweet after the meeting she wrote: Labour Cllr Guy Harkin repeatedly misgendered me in tonight's council meeting, while going off on a personal attack against me. Later she added: I can't say I'm surprised at his behaviour but I had hoped that Bolton's leading political group wasn't transphobic. Upset: Councillor Kirk-Robinson's treatment has led to the police being called in, and it will be considered as a hate crime And in another tweet she said: I will be calling on Bolton Labour Group to denounce his behaviour. Bolton does not welcome transphobia. Speaking afterwards she added: This obviously was a shock, and not a pleasant one. I expected better of a member of the Council. In trouble: Councillor Guy Harkin, 69, who served as the towns mayor in 2012/13, insisted the accidental slip happened a couple of times, not repeatedly Bolton has a problem with hate crime and for Councillor Harkin to engage in a personal attack against me in this matter only serves to legitimise transphobia in the eyes of the average bigot which makes life harder for all LGBT people. A writer, artist, filmmaker and game developer, Councillor Kirk-Robinson transitioned from male to female more than ten years ago. She campaigns for equality for gay and transgender people and is a hate crime ambassador as part of a local police-council partnership. The incident has been referred to Greater Manchester Police, and therefore is now out of my hands, she added. As a hate crime ambassador, I always urge people to report hate crime when it occurs and I will continue to do so. Councillor Harkin, 69, who served as the towns mayor in 2012/13, insisted the accidental slip happened a couple of times, not repeatedly. He added that he had been utterly unaware of the slip of the tongue until it was pointed out to him the day after the meeting. I offered immediately to apologise as there is not a homophobic or any kind of phobic bone in my body, he added. Officers are understood to be treating the incident as a hate crime and to have proposed a meeting between the two councillors to resolve it by restorative justice. Boltons Labour group is also understood to be looking into her complaint. Reconciliation: Bosses at Bolton town hall have proposed a meeting between the two councillors to resolve it by restorative justice Earlier this month the Daily Mail revealed Oxford city council was considering banning the titles Mr and Mrs because the terms are 'not inclusive' of transgender people and adding the gender-neutral option of Mx instead. Guidance issued by government equalities advisers on creating a transgender-friendly workplace says firms should give customers the option of being addressed with gender neutral titles. It also warns of the danger of misgendering someone by using a word, especially a pronoun or a form of address, that does not correctly reflect the gender with which they identify. While deputy leader of the council in 1989, Councillor Harkin proposed naming streets after Nazi leaders and death camps in a bid to sabotage a Barratt Home development on greenbelt land which the authority was trying to block. Ideas which were reportedly suggested included Hitler Avenue, Belsen Crescent and Goering Drive, but council lawyers blocked the bizarre proposal. In the end, ministers overturned councillors rejection of the application to build over 300 homes and it went ahead with inoffensive street names. Police hunting the man who killed an ex-Coutts banker with a single punch have already spoken to 'a number of significant witnesses' in a 'fast-paced' probe. Officers revealed today that Oliver Dearlove died from 'bleeding under the skull' and detectives are now scouring CCTV to try and find images of the suspected attacker. The 30-year-old, had been drinking with friends at a microbrewery in Blackheath, south east London, when he was 'viciously assaulted' in the early hours of Sunday. Detectives have spoken to four women Mr Dearlove was talking to before he was attacked and officers are now hunting a man in connection with the incident. It has been reported by The Telegraph that he may have been targeted in a case of mistaken identity just a minute after he left the pub he was at with university friends. Banker Oliver Dearlove, 30, (pictured above with his partner of four years Claire) died after being punched in Blackheath, south east London, in the early hours of Sunday He sent his girlfriend Claire (pictured together), who he had been trying for a baby with, a text saying he loved her just hours before Police have said that they are keeping an open mind as to the motive behind the attack but the newspaper said detectives are probing the theory he was mistaken for a different person. Earlier today, comedian Rob Beckett, a childhood friend of Mr Dearlove's, appealed on Twitter for help in tracing witnesses who may have seen the attack. He wrote: 'My best friend growing up Oli Dearlove was killed in #Blackheath. If you have any info please report it. Please RT.' Mr Dearlove, from nearby Eltham, was taken to hospital in the early hours but doctors were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead just after 10.20pm. Today, tearful family and friends laid floral tributes at the spot where he was killed. They hugged each other and shared memories of Mr Dearlove after arriving on the street at around 3pm. One emotional friend said: 'I'm sorry, I just can't speak about it at the moment.' Now comedian Rob Beckett (pictured) has appealed on Twitter for help tracing witnesses who may have seen the attack A woman in her 40s added: 'I'm sorry, but the family have asked us not to speak about it at the moment.' The friends left pictures of Mr Dearlove playing football for his local club Lord Hood FC.One wrote: 'Your camaraderie made you a pleasure to play football with.' Flowers left at the scene included orchids and daisies. It came after his heartbroken mother Joy Wright, 56, paid tribute to her 'perfect son' as it was revealed he had been trying for a baby with his girlfriend of four years. He was also due to go to Las Vegas next week to celebrate a joint 30th birthday. Speaking at the family home in Chislehurst, south east London, his mother Mrs Wright said: 'He was very popular, he was easy-going, he had a lot of friends. 'He worked hard, he was the perfect son. We can't believe what's happened. We're all in a state of shock.' Mr Dearlove sent his girlfriend of four years Claire Wheatley a text message just two hours before he died in which he told her how much he loved her. He was later killed with one punch Mr Dearlove, 30, who used to work for Coutts - the Queen's banker was on a night out with university friends in the leafy suburb when he was 'viciously assaulted' in the early hours She added: 'I'm absolutely devastated, he had so much more life to live, he was going to Vegas next week with his friends. 'He played lots of football, he got on with everyone, he was a perfect young man. 'He had so many plans with his girlfriend as well, they were talking about getting a house together and having a baby. 'He and his friends from uni met up in Blackheath, had lunch, dinner, some drinks. At 10pm he texted his girlfriend to say that he loved her. I'm absolutely devastated, he had so much more life to live. He worked hard, he was the perfect son Joy Wright, Mr Dearlove's mother 'I don't think there was any kind of altercation or fight. Someone picked a fight with him, punched him, and he fell backwards, maybe hit his head, and that was that. 'I think he stopped breathing when he hit the floor. His friends tried to give him CPR to save him but nothing could be done. 'I think someone might have said to his friends something like 'what are you looking at?' but no real confrontation.' Mr Dearlove lived with his girlfriend Claire Wheatley and the couple had been together for four years after meeting at a New Year's Eve party. His text message to her on Saturday night had said simply 'love you'. She said: 'We were trying to get some money together so we could buy a house together. We had big plans. We were planning on having a baby as well. He was the kindest, most amazing person I've ever known. I'm so lucky to have known him.' Mr Dearlove, 30, (pictured above with his brother Joshua) was described as a 'perfect son' She added: 'He and his friends aren't the kind of guys who look for trouble. They like having a good time and a bit of banter. But he would normally cower away from any altercation.' Mr Dearlove studied business management at the University of Portsmouth before settling on a career in banking, with his first job at Barclays Wealth Management. He previously worked for Coutts, the Queen's bank, and was employed as a relationship manager for private bank Duncan Lawrie at the time of his death. Colleagues at Duncan Lawrie said they were shocked at his death. Doug Keighley described him as a 'very popular guy'. Mr Dearlove played football for local team Lord Hood FC and comes from a family of three brothers, two step-brothers and a step-sister. Detective Chief Inspector Lee Watling, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said officers are now trying to trace four women who 'exchanged remarks' with Mr Dearlove and his friend before the attack at about 12.45am near Blackheath train station. The banker had been drinking at the Zerodegrees microbrewery before his death. A manager at Zerodegrees said today: 'I think he was drinking here. Police have come and checked the CCTV. We shut at midnight on Saturday.' Police confirmed he had been at the bar before he was attacked around 20 minutes after closing time. They said: 'Yes, it was that bar. He had left it though, it wasn't where it happened.' Mr Dearlove lived with his girlfriend Claire (pictured together above) in Eltham, south east London and worked as a relationship manager for private bank Duncan Lawrie in the capital The scene at Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, south London where Mr Dearlove, 30, was assaulted Detective Chief Inspector Mr Watling added: 'The investigation is moving at a fast pace and we have made considerable progress so far in identifying and speaking to a number of significant witnesses who are helping us to understand the exact sequence of events. 'We are also undertaking significant CCTV inquiries from Blackheath Village and the surrounding areas to establish if the suspect has been captured on CCTV, and help us to identify him as soon as possible. 'In the meantime, I would encourage the man to come forward and speak to me about the events of Sunday night. 'Blackheath was still busy at that time of the evening and perhaps someone saw or heard something suspicious. If so, I would encourage them to call the police. They may have important information which could help us to identify the suspect as soon as possible. 'I would like to thank everybody who has come forward so far, but would like to appeal once again to anyone who was in Blackheath Village that evening and saw the suspect assault Oliver or saw him leaving the area afterwards to come forward. One of Australia's once leading fashion labels will shut its doors in September, after a turbulent couple of years. Willow, which was founded by Kit Willow Podgornik in 2003, was once worth $20 million and is a personal favourite of major models including Jesinta Campbell, Jessica Gomes and Miranda Kerr. But after troubled times recently the fashion label announced over the weekend they would stop trading through their online stores from Monday, August 29, The Age reports. The company, while also cease operation of their physical stores in Melbourne and Sydney on Friday, September 30. Willow, formerly one of Australia's leading fashion labels, will close the doors to its boutique stores from Friday, September 30 after its parent company Apparel Group was unable to find a buyer for it. The label has been a favourite of leading model Jesinta Campbell (pictured) Willow's online store ceased trading on Monday, August 29 with an 80 per cent off sale A majority takeover by Apparel Group (APG) in 2011 saw the relationship between Podgronik and the company sour, leading her to eventually leave Willow in 2013. The formally dominant label once had boutique stores in David Jones in addition to 20 stores across Australia. But the doors were finally shut on the venture after APG was unable to find a suitable buyer for the label. Willows' potential close was first mooted in April when the labels parent company announced a 'strategic review' its brands which included JAG, Sportscraft and Saba. The label was started in 2003 by Kit Willow Podgornik, however after a majority takeover by Apparel Group in 2011 her relationship with Willow soured The fashion line was a leader in the Australian industry and a hit among world famous models including Miranda Kerr (left) and Jessica Gomes (right) The company's online store featured an 80 per cent off sale on Monday to tie in with the 'final hours to shop online'. After leaving Willow, Podgornik started another label - KitX. It, like her former company, is currently stocked by David Jones and has been widely praised since it was featured in the fashion giant's spring launch recently. Customers with Willow gift vouchers or credit notices can find information about how to redeem them on their website. The label was once worth $20 million, had 20 stores across Australia and was prominent in major department store David Jones The number of gun-owning households in the United States appears to be on the rise. At least 44 percent of American homes now have guns compared to 51 percent without, according to research released Friday by the Pew Research Center. The new study indicates a sharp change in gun trends in America, as other polls had shown ownership was declining in past years. Scroll down for video The number of gun-owning households in the United States appears to be on the rise, new research says Requests for FBI background checks have reached record levels in 2016, indicating demand for firearms will also continues to rise. In 2014, just 31 percent of households reported having a firearm, tying with 2010 for the lowest numbers in the past 40 years, revealed a 2015 research by the NORC at the University of Chicago. The numbers indicated a decline of nearly 19 percentage points since the peak gun ownership average of 51.2 percent between 1976 and 1982, the NORC survey showed. That research pointed out that the previously downward trend seemed to be related to the decrease in the popularity of hunting. Requests for FBI background checks have reached record levels in 2016, indicating demand for firearms continues to rise The latest Pew research, conducted among 2,010 adults, shows broad support among Democrats and Republicans to subjecting private gun and sales at gun shows to background checks. Some 90 percent of Hillary Clinton supporters are for the more stringent checks alongside 75% of Donald Trump backers. For assault-style weapons, 74 percent of Clinton backers favor a ban, compared to 34 percent of Trump supporters. Rows: Police were even called to deal with one of several 'vicious' rows between staff at the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), of which Prince Philip is patron Britain's biggest pro-shooting group is riven with bullying and 'a culture of fear and intimidation', a leaked report has revealed. Police were even called to deal with one of several 'vicious' rows between staff at the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), of which Prince Philip is patron. Former chairman Alan Jarrett, who resigned this year, ordered a law firm to investigate the internal problems at the BASC, which has more than 144,000 members. The 65-page report written by lawyers from Hill Dickinson has been leaked to the press and contains allegations of institutional bullying and 'a culture of fear and intimidation'. The document claims that senior officials have had verbal battles, including one when someone allegedly said: 'The only thing that c*** wants is a bullet between the eyes'. Another is also alleged to have said: 'You will live to regret this' and another person threatened: 'I swear I will kill you, you c***'. In June the police were called to the BASC's office in Rossett, which is between Chester and Wrexham, when a row between staff 'threatened to get out of hand'. At least one staff member was said to have been suspended after the incident, but according to the Guardian the BASC won't say what sparked the row or what happened to those involved. The leaked report, also sent to the League Against Cruel Sports, says four BASC staff refused to co-operate with Hill Dickinson's investigation. Intervention: In June the police were called to the BASC's office in Rossett, pictured, which is between Chester and Wrexham, when a row between staff 'threatened to get out of hand' One member of staff allegedly said: 'It's toxic. As a BASC employee I can tell you that people are too scared to speak out. They keep sending threatening letters to anyone who dares question them'. The report's authors admit they were amazed by the events at the charity, and said: 'We have never had a situation where the respondents have declined to respond to the substance of the complaints and given their version of events'. The report concludes that people 'have not been acting in the best interests of BASC', with one male employee said to have damaged the organisation directly by spreading rumours. Former chairman Alan Jarrett quit in June and said: 'It is obvious to me that the council remains dysfunctional and unable or unwilling to take action against those named in the Hill Dickinson investigation into complaints'. Popular: The BASC has more than 140,000 members (file picture) and the Duke of Edinburgh is a patron MailOnline has contacted the BASC for comment. Christopher Graffius, its director of communications told The Guardian: 'We are trying to sort it out. We are going through the proper procedures. I cannot understand why anyone would want to send you this stuff. Advertisement Though the 'one-shot gamble' was ultimately successful, the cost was appalling - with a thousand men (mostly Americans) killed in six hours, including 80 per cent of the first wave of troops. These vivid images show the desperate invasion of Omaha Beach in Normandy re-enacted by hundreds of historical enthusiasts. On June 6 1994, the young men of the American 116th Regiment and 29th Division were thrown at the beach in an invasion plagued with difficulties from the start. The troops found themselves landing, exhausted, sick, soaked and frozen, in the middle of a 'turkey shoot', under continuous German fire. The landings were recreated at Hel D-Day festival in Poland, which lasts a week and features professional actors as well as amateurs. Though the 'one-shot gamble' was ultimately successful, the cost was appalling - with a thousand men (mostly Americans) killed in six hours, including 80 per cent of the first wave of troops These vivid images show the desperate invasion of Omaha Beach in Normandy re-enacted by hundreds of historical enthusiasts On June 6 1994, the young men of the American 116th Regiment and 29th Division were thrown at the beach in an invasion plagued with difficulties from the start The troops found themselves landing, exhausted, sick, soaked and frozen, in the middle of a 'turkey shoot', under continuous German fire The event was recreated at Hel D-Day festival in Poland, which lasts a week, and features professional actors as well as amateurs During the landings, hundreds of soldiers drowned while trying to exit their landing craft, while others were killed by German troops dug in high above the coastline Omaha Beach was six miles long and overlooked along its whole length by cliffs 100 feet high, providing the perfect lookout for the defending troops Field Marshal Erwin Rommel had ensured the beach had formidable defences. As well as a network of trenches, the water was heavily mined and the cliffs dotted with concrete forts One of the first problems to face the Americans was the failure of the Sherman 'floating tanks' that were meant to help them crush German resistance. Most of these sank in the Channel, with only 2 out of 29 reaching the shore As the bodies of their comrades lay floating in the water, turning the sea red, soldiers took shelter behind hastily-constructed sand bag defences on the beach Navy destroyers bombarded the German positions, gaining vital time for the land forces to push forward. The invasion began at 6.30am and by midday the rate of fire from the enemy positions had notably decreased As night fell, American forces were dug in around the villages of Saint-Laurent, Vierville and Colleville Pleasure craft, including two people on kayaks, provided a strange backdrop to the landing craft packed with men dressed in army gear A group of soldiers engage in a firefight in a recently-dug trench next to a concrete pillbox One of the stars of Ice Road Truckers, Darrell Ward, has died in a plane crash while on his way to film a documentary about the recovery of plane wrecks. Ward, 52, was on his way to Missoula, Montana and was killed alongside his co-pilot. The pair had taken off from Dallas, Texas, where Ward had been attending the Great American Truck Show. Darrell Ward, 52, crashed while attempting to land at Rock Creek Airport, Montana The plane ended up a fiery wreck after smashing down onto the Interstate at the end of the runway The plane crashed into the shoulder of I-90 near the eastbound lanes, by mile marker 126 The National Transportation Safety Board is now investigating the case. Investigators are pictured at the scene The plane came down on approach to Rock Creek airport which was just feet away Darrell Ward had just left The Great American Truck Show in Dallas, Texas where he enjoyed meeting numerous fans and friends The cause of the wreck remains under investigation, and Missoula County Sheriffs Deputy Ryan Dunster said that the plane was making an approach when the accident occurred. Witnesses who were watching and waiting for the airplane to land stated that the aircraft went into a stall as it pulled up, and unfortunately the pilot wasnt able to regain control. The National Transportation Safety Board is now investigating the case. Ward, a father and grandfather, rose to fame on the the Ice Road Truckers reality show that chronicles the extreme and often dangerous lives of the truckers who haul cargo to remote communities. Witnesses who were watching and waiting for the airplane to land stated that the aircraft went into a stall as it pulled up. Investigators are pictured at the scene Ward was heading to Missoula to begin filming a pilot for his new documentary style show involving the recovery of plane wrecks when he and his co-pilot crashed Darrell's company made a name for themselves on the winter roads When Ward wasnt hitting the Ice Roads he would be back in Montana doing what Darrel loved best as a log hauler and occasionally helped local authorities fight forest fires. After joining the show in its sixth season, Warn had recently learned that the show was to make a return for its 11th season. Calling himself an 'adrenaline junkie', Ward enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and dirt-bike riding. He would occasionally help local authorities fight forest fires, according to the statement announcing his death. Ward became very popular over the past four seasons for his fearlessness in traveling dangerous terrain. He was also well known for helping other truckers in need - even his rivals. Trucking had always been a large part of Ward's life; from running the harvest rigs with his grandparents and family, to driving trucks from Montana to Alaska and all roads in between. In his free time, he could usually be found Darrell giving back to the community. Recently he had promoted a food drive to help victims in the Louisiana Floods and was scheduled to appear as the grand marshal for the Truck Convoy for Special Olympics in Nova Scotia. Ward had just finished filming Season 10 earlier this year for the show and had just learned that he had a green light for season 11, originally slated to begin filming in the winter of 2017. An Aboriginal mother has shared photos of her young daughter with her face painted white for a school costume, saying there are 'double standards' when it comes to blackface. Bec Bee from Cairns in Far North Queensland shared a lengthy post to her Facebook page on Sunday explaining she allowed her daughter to paint herself white and don a red wig in order to impersonate her favourite Dr Seuss character in 2013. On Friday, a Perth mother came under fire for a similar picture showing her son dressed up as AFL star Nic Naitanui in blackface. Ms Bee said the little boy just wanted to dress as his 'Fijian hero' and instead of condemning the photo, dressing up as a black idol should be considered 'cool'. Scroll down for video An Aboriginal mother has shared photos of her young daughter with her face painted white for a school costume, saying there are 'double standards' when it comes to blackface 'Unfortunately now this little boy who has been shown by the dark skinned community that his admiration for a black man is unacceptable and has learnt racism,' Ms Bee wrote. 'I grew up in communities, out bush, in towns, cities have been over exposed to direct and indirect racism. 'We cannot expect people or generations to change unless we change or reactions.' Ms Bee said she felt proud the little boy decided to paint himself black and said his mother has her 'full support'. But many were outraged over the photo of the little boy, pointing out the mother could have simply put Naitanui's number on his jersey instead of wearing blackface. The original post has since been deleted, but has been circulating on social media. Bec Bee (pictured) shared a post to her Facebook page explaining she allowed her daughter to paint herself white in order to impersonate her favourite Dr Seuss character A photo of a young boy dressed up as current West Coast Eagles star Nic Naitanui went viral when his mother was accused of being racist for using black face to create a likeness to the Fijian-born player Ms Bee said she felt proud the little boy decided to paint himself black and said his mother has her 'full support' 'I NEED to share my absolute QUEENING moment,' the mother wrote below the offending picture. 'My son had book week parade today. He wanted to go as his idol Nic Naitanui from the west coast Eagles. 'I was a little worried about painting him. (So many politically correct extremists these days) he is pastey White and if I just sent him in a wig and footy gear, no one would tell who he was. 'So I grew a set of balls and painted my boy brown and he looked fanf***ingtastic. 'After being told by everyone on Facebook not to do it and it's a horrible idea etc, my son won the f***ing parade!!! Parenting win! I'm celebrating by having a wine before 12pm love love!' She later had to be hospitalized after having a panic attack in jail Smith fell to the floor after being An 84-year-old woman who was pepper sprayed in the face by police in Oklahoma has prompted an internal investigation. The incident occurred on August 9 as Muskogee police officers kicked the front door in of the home of Geneva Smith as they attempted to arrest her son. Body camera footage from the cops that stormed that house shows a female officer spraying Smith in the face within seconds of entering the home, with the elderly woman then falling to the ground, KFOR reported. Excessive force?: This is the moment the female officer pepper sprays the elderly woman in the face for not getting on the floor A body camera from another officer shows a female cop (left) spraying the elderly woman Police said they were looking for Smith's son, 56-year-old Arthur Paul Blackmon, who was seen running into his mother's house. Smith, who said she was briefly hospitalized after suffering a panic attack in jail, has since accused the officers of using excessive force. 'They don't care,' Smith told the Muskogee Phoenix. 'When I came out of the hospital, they were laughing about it.' Victim: Geneva Smith was pepper-sprayed and arrested. She then suffered a panic attack Footage also shows Smith's son being tasered by officers after failing to comply with the officers' orders to come out of the house, Fox 23 reported. Police said they released the footage to be transparent about the situation and continue to foster and develop the relationship between law enforcement and the community. Officers involved are being interviewed, and the situation is being investigated before any decision is made on a resolution. Muslim leaders in the US fear people will think they are celebrating 9/11 after it emerged a major festival has the potential to fall on September 11 this year. According to the lunar calendar that Muslims follow for religious holidays, Eid al-Adha looks set to fall around the 15th anniversary of the 2001 Al Qaeda atrocity which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people. And as they prepare to mark the 'feast of sacrifice' there are concerns among the Muslim community that people will misinterpret the festivities as a celebration of the attacks, which saw terrorists flying hijacked jets into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Muslim leaders in the US fear people will think they are celebrating 9/11 after it emerged a major festival has the potential to fall on September 11 this year. Pictures show Muslims marking the holy day in Brooklyn, New York Muslims look to the moon to predict the date of the holiday. But according to the New York Times, there are concerns people not familiar with the religion will misunderstand. Some mosques have been urged to step up security for the holy day should it fall on September 11 while others are planning to move their celebrations indoors. Habeeb Ahmed, president of the Islamic Center of Long Island, told the newspaper: 'Some people might want to make something out of that.' He added that people might think 'look at these Muslims, they are celebrating 9/11.' Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates what Muslims believe was Prophet Abrahams willingness to sacrifice his son in accordance with Gods will, though in the end God provides him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. According to the lunar calendar that Muslims follow for religious holidays, Eid al-Adha looks set to fall around September 11. Worshippers are pictured at the Islamic Society of Augusta, Georgia In remembrance, Muslim faithful slaughter sheep, cattle, camels and other livestock in an act of sacrifice to show gratitude for their blessings, divide the meat into three equal portions and give some of it to the poor. The exact date of Eid al-Adha on the Western calendar changes every year - in 2015 the festival was held on September 24. The festivities coincide with the Hajj pilgrimage - which was struck by tragedy last year when more than 700 people were crushed to death on the outskirts of Mecca. The New York Times points out that some Muslims in the US are afraid of the festival falling on September 11 amid fears over hate crimes. Robert McCaw, director of government affairs at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told the Times: 'Its on the minds of every Muslim leader in the country right now. We grieved like everyone else. We remember this day not because were Muslim, but because were American.' Rohan Mogridge hoped the artwork would 'add a bit of colour' to the area A man who added 'a bit of colour' to his back fence could face a fight with his local council to stop his painting from being removed. Rohan Mogridge from Flagstaff Hill, south of Adelaide, helped friends to repaint the opposite side of his back fence to brighten up the park behind his house, AdelaideNow reported. Mr Mogridge, 37, did not get permission from the council and the artwork may now be painted over by Onkaparinga Council's graffiti removal squad. A man who added 'a bit of colour' to his back fence could face a fight with his local council to stop his painting (pictured) from being removed On August 16 Mr Mogridge posted a photo on his Facebook page and asked people's opinion on the mural Mr Mogridge (pictured), 37, did not get permission from the council and the artwork may now be painted over by Onkaparinga Council's graffiti removal squad 'The thing is, it brings a bit of colour and vibrancy to the area,' he told the publication. On August 16 Mr Mogridge posted a photo of the mural on his Facebook page. 'It would seem that a few negative individuals are trying to get the artwork on the Manning Road fence at Flagstaff Hill shutdown,' the post said. 'What do you say people, for or against it? Please share your views for City of Onkaparinga.' Most of the feedback was positive. 'Looks great and adds colour to the neighbourhood. I say leave it and get with the times people. Modern street art- nothing wrong with that,' wrote one Facebook user. The fence along manning road before it was painted by Mr Mogridge Mr Mogridge posted a photo of 'management' inspecting the fence after he had painted it However some people have condemned the artwork as vandalism. The council's has not made a decision on whether the art would be removed. 'We'll follow up with the property owner and will investigate whether or not it is possible to allow the artwork to remain in place,' said the council's city operations manager, Kirk Richardson. Chao had been sacked by Mount Sinai almost a decade ago over 'research misconduct' and sued twice Dennis Charney, dean of New York's Mount Sinai school of medicine, was shot at 7am in Chappaqua, New York, Monday, and left severely wounded A medical researcher who was at the forefront of gene therapy for hemophilia allegedly opened fire at one of the country's most senior doctors at Bill and Hillary Clinton's favorite hometown deli, early on Monday. Hengjun Chao is accused of firing fired a double-barrel shotgun at Dennis Charney, dean of Mount Sinai school of medicine in New York, as the doctor left Lange's Little Shop and Delicatessen. A man delivering cold cuts was also hit by the blast. It is less than a mile from the Clinton family home in Chappaqua, New York, and one of Bill and Hillary's favorite local shops. Chao, 49, then calmly put the gun back in the trunk of his car, parked in a Walgreens parking lot and waited for cops to arrive, local police chief Charles Ferry said. Wounded: Dr Dennis Charney, who was seen with Martha Stewart at the opening of the Center for Living at Mount Sinai hospital in New York, was badly wounded in the shooting at the deli Accused: Alleged shooter Hengjun Chao appeared in court on Monday afternoon (right) after the 7am shooting in Chappaqua. He had a distinguished medical research career (left) Two people were shot outside Lange's deli in Chappaqua, New York on Monday Damage: Police said the shooter had used buckshot to open fire on his former boss The attack happened at 7 am on Monday as Chao's former boss left Lange's, a favorite spot of both Bill and Hillary Clinton. Chao had traveled to Chappaqua from his home in the village of Tuckahoe, New York, then lay in wait, cops believe. As his ex-boss left the deli, he opened fire. 'There were only one or two shots, not the nine that has been reported,' said Ferry. 'When buckshot gets fired it spreads out.' Chao made no attempt to flee the scene, said Ferry, and was taken into custody without incident. He is cooperating in the investigation. Chao appeared in court on Monday night where he was charged with one count of attempted second degree murder. He was wearing a hooded white jumpsuit with his hands shackled at the waist. He was remanded in custody with defense attorney Michael Rubin making no application for bail. Chao will next appear in court on September 7. Town judge Noah Sorkin ordered that Chao should have stay away from Charney, who lives in Chappaqua, for one year. Dr Charney, who as the Mount Sinai dean was Chao's ultimate boss is still receiving treatment at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, New York. The second man has been released. Ferry said the dispute went back some time. 'I don't know the exact year but it wasn't recent. 'It would seem to be an act of revenge,' he said. 'It is possibly anger towards one of the victims.' Chelsea, Hillary and Bill Clinton are regular visitors to the deli, seen here in 2000 Family favorite: Bill Clinton visited the deli on his first full day as a private citizen after completing his eight years in office in 2001 The street outside the deli was closed off on Monday. A neighbor said he saw 'at least eight or nine bullet holes' in the door frame of the store The deli is just down the road from the Clintons' house on a leafy street. They bought the residence in 1999 Ferry said detectives hope surveillance video from the Walgreens store will help them piece together exactly how long Chao was waiting for his victim to leave Lange's. Charney is one of the country's leading doctors. As well as being dean of Mount Sinai's medical school, he is a professor of psychiatry, neuroscience and pharmacology and systems therapeutics at the school. His primary work has been in psychiatry, and has seen him develop medical treatments for schizophrenia and depression. He holds a string of awards for his work and has also been involved in research post-traumatic disorder in veterans. Chao, who was educated at Peking Union Medical College, in Beijing, China, had been a pioneer of gene-based therapy for both hemophilia, a condition in which the blood does not clot properly, and muscular dystrophy, which causes muscle wasting. In 2002, when he was a researcher at the University of North Carolina, he told BBC News that work he was involved in which had led to some mice being cured of hemophilia through their genes being altered could lead to an effective treatment for people with the condition. The treatment used 'gene-splicing', where faulty genes which cause disorders such as hemophilia are injected with corrected genetic material. Such treatments are at the cutting edge of medicine, but none has yet proved a complete breakthrough. So far only one gene therapy is licensed for use in the U.S. and Europe, a therapy for a rare form of pancreatitis. However he was involved in a legal dispute with Mount Sinai hospital and school of medicine in New York in 2010. The Chappaqua, NY residence is where Hillary and Bill moved into after leaving the White House It is unclear if Dr Charney was directly involved in the dispute, but as its dean was in overall charge of medical training there when Chao sued. He had been an assistant professor when he sued, alleging racial discrimination, after being sacked for what the school described as research misconduct. Neighbor Richard Meyer said he heard shots fired in the attack. 'You just don't expect this in Chappaqua,' he said. The school fired him after a lengthy investigation found that he had committed 'research misconduct.' According to papers filed in federal appeals court, Chao, who had worked at Mt. Sinai since 2002, lost the case, because he could not prove that the 'rigorously-investigated charge and finding' that he had 'committed research misconduct and violated professional or ethical standards,' was a pretext for firing him because of his race. He lost the case and an appeal, but in 2013, it was announced he would work with a foundation dedicated to treatment of another blood disorder, blackfan diamond anemia. It said that it would build on gene-splicing technology developed by Dr Chao. His current employment status could not be verified. Neighbor Richard Meyer said earlier that he was working on his computer when he heard shots ring out. When he went up to Lange's he saw 'at least eight or nine bullet holes' in the doorframe. 'There were three holes in the left hand door, three above the handle of the right glass door, one above the receptacle for cigarette butts and another on the right side of the door,' Meyer, 72, told DailyMail.com. Meyer said by the time he got out police were already on the scene. 'You just don't expect this in Chappaqua,' he added. 'I was talking to someone in the parking lot who was asking what happened and I said a shooting. She said what movie? She would never think there could have been a real shooting here.' Clinton leaving a fundraiser on Sunday as she continues along the campaign trail The shooting happened less than a mile from where the Clintons have their family home. Bill Clinton visited the deli on his first full day as a private citizen after completing his eight years in office. Lange's owner said in 2014 that Bill sometimes comes in as often as twice a week, while Hillary stops by slightly less often. The Clintons bought their house in the neighborhood in 1999, towards the end of their second term in the White House. It was reported at the time that they chose the 11-room, 5,200-square-foot Dutch colonial house to help the then First Lady with her tilt at New York's Senate position, for which she required legal residency in the area. The family of a teenager who planned a terror attack on Anzac Day in Australia have been forced to flee their home in the UK, amid security fears. Despite the court preventing the publication of the 15-year-old's identity, his family were identified and forced to leave their home in the Lancashire area in north-west England. The UK teenager's family reportedly moved from their home in consultation with authorities for 'safety reasons' and had been keeping an 'extremely low profile', reported the Daily Telegraph. The family of a UK teenager who was sentenced to life in jail at Manchester Crown Court (pictured) in 2015, after pleading guilty to inciting terrorism charges, have had to flee their home in England's north-west amid security fears Threats to the teenager's family had reportedly been made via social media. Their 15-year-old son was sentenced to life in jail at Manchester Crown Court in 2015, after pleading guilty to inciting others to commit an act of terrorism in the name of Islamic State. The UK teenager, who was 14 at the time, posed as an older man and directed an 18-year-old Australian man to carry out the attacks. The instructions to Melbourne teenager Sevdet Besim included decapitating a police officer, driving into Melbournes Anzac Day march crowd with a car with an ISIS flag on the bonnet, shooting people and practising a decapitation on a loner. In online communication with the UK teenager, Besim said he chose Anzac Day to 'make sure the dogs remember this as well as there fallen heros (sic)'. He said he was 'ready to fight these dogs on there (sic) doorstep'. The UK teenager instructed Melbourne teenager Sevdet Besim (pictured) to launch an attack on Anzac Day in Australia, including decapitating a police officer, driving into Melbournes Anzac Day march crowd with a car with an ISIS flag on the bonnet and shooting people 'I'd love to take out some cops. 'I was gonna meet with them then take some heads ahaha.' Besim had a pledge to the leader of Islamic State on his phone and had created a 'martyrdom' note discussing his burial wishes, the Victorian Supreme Court heard. He has been in custody since April 18 last year when 200 heavily armed officers swooped on the city's southeast. In his communication with the UK teenager Besim (pictured) said 'I'd love to take out some cops. 'I was gonna meet with them then take some heads ahaha' During the UK teenager's sentencing his defence counsel told the court the boy came to believe killings, beheadings and live burnings as justified because thousands of people on the internet had made them appear to be normal. The UK teenager was reportedly in contact with ISIS recruiter Khaled al-Cambodi, three terrorist-linked British hate preachers including Anjem Choudary and extremists in Canada, the US and Britain. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg dropped by the Vatican to get some face time in with Pope Francis on Monday. Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan came face-to-face with the Pope after flying to the country devastated by an earthquake that killed nearly 250 people. The tech CEO said it was something he'll never forget. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg(right) met Pope francis (left) at the Vatican on Monday while in Italy following the devastating earthquake that killed nearly 250 people Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan gave the Pope several gifts, including a book about people using the internet in new ways 'You can feel the Pope's warmth and kindness, and how deeply he cares about helping people,' Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook. Zuckerberg also posted pictures of himself giving Pope Francis a model of a futuristic Facebook drone. He said the drone is symbolic of an ideology he and the Pope share. 'We told him how much we admire his message of mercy and tenderness, and how he's found new ways to communicate with people of every faith around the world. 'We also discussed the importance of connecting people, especially in parts of the world without internet access,' Zuckerberg wrote. The also presented the Pope with a model drone (pictured) that Facebook hopes to use in the future Aquila, the drone, is a solar-powered aircraft Facebook is planning to use in order to give internet access to people in developing countries Unforgettable: 'You can feel the Pope's warmth and kindness, and how deeply he cares about helping people,' Zuckerberg wrote The drone, called Aquila, a solar-powered aircraft the social network plans to use in order to give internet access to people in developing countries. 'Together they spoke about how to use communications technology to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and to communicate a message of hope, especially to the most disadvantaged,' the Vatican Press Office said in a statement. Facebook has become a key player in identifying victims in natural disasters. The site allows people to check in as 'safe' when an area is affected by a crisis. Zuckerberg also posted a picture to Instagram of himself giving Pope Francis a book he and his wife made. The Pope wasn't the only notable person Zuckerberg spent time with on Monday. He also met Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi (right) 'We talked about last week's earthquake and how the Facebook community in Italy and around the world has come together to help people recover and rebuild, Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook 'Here Priscilla and I are with the Pope looking at a book we gave him with stories of people who are using the internet in amazing ways,' he wrote. Later Zuckerberg met with Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi before holding a Townhall Q&A. Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook after meeting Renzi: 'We talked about last week's earthquake and how the Facebook community in Italy and around the world has come together to help people recover and rebuild. 'We also talked about how technology is helping create jobs and grow the Italian economy. I told the Prime Minister I'm especially excited with the work being done across Europe on artificial intelligence.' 'It's great to be back in Rome!': Zuckerberg has a soft sport for Italy where he honeymooned with his wife Zuckerberg (left) and Chan (right) stopped by a restaurant in Rome after meeting with Pope Francis They were photographed together holding a framed Facebook server. While Zuckerberg's trip will be unforgettable after his meeting with Pope Francis, he said that Rome was already a special place for him. He honeymooned with Chan in the city and has studied Latin and Classical history, according to CNN Money. 'It's great to be back in Rome! We started the day with a run past the Circus Maximus and House of Augustus up to the Colosseum. It's pretty amazing to run on roads in the city that helped invent them,' he wrote in another Facebook post. The children of a British engineer held without charge on suspicion of involvement in a deadly ISIS siege in Bangladesh have written letters pleading for his release. Hasnat Karim was seized by police in Dhaka for questioning after the attack on the Holey Artisan western-style cafe and has been locked up for nearly two months. Relatives said Karim was used as a human shield by terrorists during the attack, in which 20 people died, after going to the cafe to celebrate his daughter's birthday. Hasnat Karim was seized by police in Dhaka for questioning after the attack on the Holey Artisan western-style cafe and has been locked up for nearly two months Karim was seized by police in Dhaka for questioning after the attack on July 1 on the Holey Atrisan western-style cafe by ISIS Safa Karim, 13, appealed to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to release her father so she can see him for the first time since the July 1 massacre. In a letter seen by The Independent, she wrote: 'Please release daddy, I know he is innocent and he didn't do anything.' And Karim's 8-year-old son, Rayan, added: 'I am really sad because my father is not home.' The engineer, who holds dual Bangladesh and British nationality, has been refused bail. His lawyer, Rodney Dixon QC, said there was 'no justification' for the former university professor's imprisonment. During the siege of the cafe, Karim made a phone call at the behest of the gunmen to a relative during the attack. And his family were released before security forces stormed the building, giving rise to suspicions that he was complicit in the siege. Relatives said Karim was used as a human shield by terrorists during the attack, in which 20 people died, after going to the cafe to celebrate his daughter's birthday Terrorists killed non-Muslims and foreigners - including Italians, Japanese and an American - before security forces ended the 12-hour siege It is also believed that he was asked to recite the first chapter of the Koran. A South Korean man from a nearby apartment had shot a video of the scene in the restaurant in which Karim was seen talking to the attackers. Police also said there were photographs showing Karim smoking on the rooftop of the building with two of the attackers standing behind him. Canadian student Tahmid Khan, who attends the University of Toronto, was also arrested after the attack and has been transferred to prison. Karim was born in Bangladesh but moved to the UK as a teenager, where he completed an engineering degree at Queen Mary University in London. He then took a masters degree at Leeds University before living for the US for three years in 1993. Safa Karim, 13, appealed to Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina to release her father so she can see him for the first time since the July 1 massacre The engineer, who holds dual Bangladesh and British nationality, has been refused bail. His lawyer, Rodney Dixon QC, said there was 'no justification' for Karim's incarceration Karim then returned to the UK before moving to Bangladesh in 2000, where he became a professor in the business faculty of Dhaka's North South University in 2008. He was also once investigated for his alleged involvement with a banned Islamic group, Hizbut Tahrir. However, he has since left teaching to join his father's civil engineering firm. His father said his son was 'not religious'. A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: 'We continue to press the Bangladeshi authorities for consular access in this case. 'We have repeatedly raised this case for access at a senior level and will continue to do so. Mitcham centre in Kingswood has accreditation extended for two years Ms Hausler said she is 'disgusted' as the care facility passes a federal audit He was convicted of aggravated assault and served three weeks in jail The woman who secretly filmed a nursing home worker trying to force feed and suffocate her 89-year-old father has said she is 'disgusted' the centre has earned full marks on a federal audit. In September 2015 Noleen Hausler decided to install a camera in her father Clarence's room at Mitcham Residential Care in Kingswood, Adelaide to 'confirm her suspicions' he was being mistreated, ABC's 7.30 revealed. The disturbing footage showed staffer Corey Lucas, 29, forcing a spoon down the elderly man's throat before holding a napkin over his mouth and nose as he tries to retaliate. The centre has since had its accreditation extended for two years after scoring 44 out of 44 on a review by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency,The Advertiser reported. Scroll down for video An aged care worker forced a spoon down an elderly patient's throat before appearing to try and suffocate him, concerning footage captured on a hidden camera has revealed (pictured) The concerning footage shows the young worker forcing a spoon down the 89-year-old's throat before holding a napkin over his mouth and nose as he tries to retaliate 'I'm disgusted by the whole thing I'm just dumbfounded,' Ms Hausler said. 'It is just about paperwork, not what is actually happening in the real world.' The audit has revealed the facility will remain accredited until October 11, 2018 and will continue to be monitored. The review stated the staff development, education, leadership and specialised nursing care standards were all met. Since the video emerged of her father's mistreatment Ms Hausler has been campaigning to allow concerned families the right to legally install cameras at aged care facilities. Her Change.org petition has more than 42,500 signatures. 'Dad's now 90, he doesn't have that much time left and we need action now, not more paperwork,' she said. Noleen decided to install a hidden camera in her father's room at Mitcham Residential Care in Kingswood, Adelaide to 'confirm her suspicions' he was being mistreated Corey Lucas, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault for his actions at the Mitcham Residential Care Facility in Adelaide Ms Hausler said she 'thought long and hard' about whether to secretly install a hidden camera in the room to get the 'evidence' her father, who can not longer walk or talk, was being mistreated. She decided to go ahead after seeing Mr Hausler crying one visit in the hope her suspicions may be relieved, but was not 'prepared for what she saw'. The footage taken over just two days in September 2015, shows carer Corey Lyle Lucas not only force feeding the elderly man, but also eating his food, flicking his nose and holding his arms down,The ABC reported. 'I thought about ringing the facility because I was scared for my father's safety but I knew that this was very serious so I went down to the Sturt police station,' Ms Hausler said. As the footage was taken covertly, the facility sent Ms Hausler a cease and desist letter to stop her using the camera in her father's room. But the footage was deemed admissible and Lucas was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault and resigned from the facility. He served just three weeks of a ten month sentence behind bars. A spokesperson from Mitcham Residential Care said they were 'shocked' to hear about the incident and said it was a 'rogue' act. According to its website, Mitcham Residential Care (pictured) provides patients with 24-hour registered nursing care from 'caring, committed and compassionate staff' 'As soon as we became aware of the incident, the individual was immediately suspended and we have assisted with the police investigation which has since led to a conviction,' the spokesperson said. Ms Hausler said her father moved into the facility in 2002 and received fantastic care before it was taken over by a subsidiary of Japara Healthcare. 'They were cutting costs so the less expensive options was what was going to be available,' she said. The University of Cincinnati has launched an investigation into who was behind an offensive banner that was hung from the window of an off-campus housing unit believed to be inhabited by students. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the banner, which read 'Your daughter got a gag reflex?' was clearly visible to those passing by a home on Stratford Avenue on Saturday, just off the university campus. A UC student posted the image on her Facebook account, which generated significant reaction. The banner has since been taken down. The student, Allison Purdy, wrote that the home in question 'is riddled with misogynists' and that she was hopeful the university would 'swiftly discipline the residents.' The house on Stratford Avenue, believed to be inhabited by students at the University of Cincinnati, bears the banner that attracted attention on social media over the weekend As of Monday afternoon, Purdy's post on Facebook garnered over 320 likes and 1,300 shares. Some of those responding to the post say that UC has become excessively tolerant of a 'rape culture' on campus. 'I am ashamed to be associated with these people through my alma mater, not to mention an environment that appropriates rape culture,' writes Tamar Weiner. 'Waiting for your response, University of Cincinnati.' 'As an alum who was raped in a UC dormthis is not surprising,' writes Madge Maril. 'You call me up to ask for my money, but where is that interest in your current students' lives, who pay thousands to live on a campus defined by rape culture?' Purdy told the Enquirer that she shared the photograph on her Facebook page after originally seeing it on Twitter. She said that she filed a complaint with the university alleging sex-based discrimination, which is banned under a federal law known as Title IX. While the identity of the home's inhabitants has not been confirmed, the university's student government association says that they are indeed matriculated at the institution Although the identity of the banner's authors is unknown, a student government association said that students enrolled in the school were involved. The UC Undergraduate Student Government Association (SGA) denounced the banner as 'tasteless' and 'undeniably misogynistic' that contributes to fostering a 'predatory environment' that nurtures 'rape culture by objectifying women.' The SGA called on the university to take disciplinary action. Beverly Davenport, the university's interim president, released a statement on the controversy. 'I applaud our Student Government's statement today and stand with them and our entire community in deploring the despicable banner that was displayed near campus earlier this week,' she said. 'Please be assured we have taken every measure within our purview to investigate and deal with this incident.' Advertisement Thousands of people watched huge ships off the coast of Northumberland before they headed out to sea for the start of a 500 mile race to Sweden. The magnificent crafts sailed in sunny conditions as part of a regatta of some of the finest ships in the world. Families and naval spotters flocked to the coast in Blyth, north of Sunderland, for the event which experts think will inject 13million into the local economy. The ships sailed from the Port of Blyth, along the North East coastline, passing Seaton Sluice and St Marys Lighthouse in Whitley Bay. Their captains then turned them around towards the open sea before the start of the race to Gothenburg, in Sweden. The regatta, which stated on Friday and is celebrating its 60th anniversary, has attracted thousands of people to the Northumberland coast. What a sight: The Shtandart vessel during the magnificent Tall Ships Regatta off the coast of Blyth, north of Sunderland Ocean giant: Some of the finest vessels from around the world, including the Morgenster (pictured), took part in the regatta Sailing perfection: The Polish ship Dar Mlodziezy leaves Blyth harbour, in Northumberland, during the Parade of Sail Next stop, Sweden: The Christian Radish begins heading out to sea for the start of the 500 mile race to Sweden Dwarf: The size of the tall ships is clearly evident when it comes up close to these tug boats from the harbour Time to race: The magnificent crafts sailed in sunny conditions as part of a regatta of some of the finest ships in the world Spectacle: Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the north-east English coast for the annual regatta Fun in the sun: The warm conditions in Blyth meant bathers and children leapt into the sea whilst the ships passed Sailing away: The captains turned the ships around towards the open sea before the start of the race to Gothenburg Size: The clue to the size of the tall ships may be in their name but they dwarf in comparison to this mighty ferry A Washington state mother could face charges after her 4-year-old son was hurled off a 27-foot railroad bridge into a river. The boy is seen in the video, recorded by a witness, being thrown by an unidentified man off a three story bridge into the Wynoochee River in Montesano. The boy's mother was reportedly nearby but just watched as the event unfolded. 'He was screaming and crying it was terrible,' witness Brianna Jones told local station KING 5. Scroll down for video A Washington state mother could face charges after her 4-year-old son was thrown off a bridge into a river (pictured) The boy was hurled off a railroad bridge by an unidentified adult into the Wynoochee River in Montesano, as seen in Facebook video (pictured) Kaylub Fawley, who posted the video on Facebook, added: 'As soon as he hit the water, my heart sank, I felt so bad, I didn't know what to do. 'I saw the little boy and I had a gut feeling,' he added to KING 5. 'I was like alright I got to start recording this, and as soon as I started recording, he went off.' The Grays Harbor Sheriff's Office has recommended reckless endangerment charges for the mother and a male acquaintance, neither of whom have been named. The mother and the man have been cited with reckless endangerment. The 4-year-old boy survived the fall but it remains unclear if he suffered any injuries The man has also been cited for trespassing, as the bridge is private property, KOMO News reported. Child Protective Services is also involved in the investigation, KING 5 reported. The local district attorney has not decided if the pair will be charged. A baby boy who died after suffering from a deadly disease was allegedly sent home from two Perth hospitals and a GP with nothing but paracetamol, according to his parents. Malakai Matui Paraone died in Princess Margaret Hospital on Friday, just four days after his parents say they were laughed out of an ER. Nicole Thompson and Keps Paraone have appeared on Nine News accusing doctors of negligence and are demanding answers. Ms Thompson said she first took the seven-month-old to Midland Hospital last Monday night with a fever, rash and no movement on the right side of his body. Baby boy Malakai Matui Paraone (pictured) died after he was allegedly sent home from two Perth hospitals and a GP in three days with nothing but paracetamol She said she was told her baby was just teething and had a pulled elbow, and was laughed at when she suggested the symptoms might be connected. The next day his heart rate was up and he was vomiting, so he was rushed to PMH by ambulance where Ms Thompson claimed he was assessed on a change table because there were no bed available. Malakai was given Panadol and Nurofen to reduce his heart rate down from 190bpm to 120bpm and sent home with the same diagnosis as Monday, according to his parents. Last Wednesday Ms Thompson took her boy to a doctor in Rockingham at the other end of Perth where she was told he had a virus but 'nothing could be done'. That night she dropped Malakai of at her grandmother's so she and Mr Paraone could get some sleep, but he was soon rushed back to PMH. Within hours he was turning purple and was placed in intensive care. Ms Thompson said they were told he had meningococcal and she and her partner, along with their older son, were given antibiotics as a precaution. But the couple claimed when they told doctors they had been turned away days earlier, the diagnosis was changed to blood poisoning from a throat infection. The next day later Malakai's life support was turned off and he died. 'Three days I tried to get him help. Three days, two hospitals, one doctors surgery, an ambulance trip,' Ms Thompson told Nine News. 'If they had done their job properly my son would still be here. They know they have done wrong.' The seven-month-old died in Princess Margaret Hospital on Friday, just four days after his parents say they were laughed out of an ER Ms Thompson told The West Australian she still believed he had meningococcal and that she never wanted another parent to go through their ordeal. 'Not one medical staff member over the three days I took him in thought they should keep my seven-month-old in for observation,' she said. 'If I was taken seriously by medical staff within the first three hospital visits my baby would be here now.' Both Midland Hospital and PMH said they 'could not comment on individual cases' and Malakai's death would be referred to the coroner. Ms Thompson has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses, and in eight hours had almost reached its $7,000 goal with more than 130 donations. An administrator at Clemson University stopped a man from praying on campus because he was not in a free speech zone. The administrator, tasked with the duty of enforcing the rules of the campus's free speech policy, was approached by student Kyra Palange who recorded herself asking about the policy. The man that administrator Shawn Jones, the assistant director for client services, stopped was not a student at Clemson. Palange told Red Alert Politics: 'I was walking across the grassy area near Fort Hill after class at about 3.15pm when I saw someone sitting in a folding chair. Scroll down for video Administrator Shawn Jones (pictured), the assistant director for client services, stopped a man on the Clemson University campus from praying because he was not in a free speech zone 'Next to him was another folding chair with an eight-by-ten sign that said "PRAYER". 'I approached him and we sat down to pray for a few minutes. When we finished, a man from the university approached us and said he could not be praying there because it was not a designated free speech area and presented the person who was praying with a form for the procedures for applying for solicitation on campus. 'He told him he had to leave.' Palange filmed a video of her confrontation with Jones, which was distributed by Young America's Foundation, a conservative group for college-aged students. The video begins with Palange approaching Jones and asking why the area isn't a free speech zone. CAN COLLEGE CAMPUSES REGULATE FREE SPEECH ? According to the Digital Media Law Project, a legal assistance group for journalists, college campuses are considered government owned property that is 'open to the public for limited purposes'. 'Although public school and university buildings are not wholly open to the public, some parts of a campus may be considered a public forum. 'If a school's large open quad is accessed from public sidewalks and streets and freely used by the general public with no apparent objection from the school administration, then the quad may be considered "dedicated" to public use, and therefore more like the traditional public forums of the public park and sidewalk. It also says public school administrators have the right to restrict entry of non-students. 'Remember that because public schools are not entirely public forums, school administrators often have the discretion to restrict the entry of outsiders, particularly while the school is in session,' the site says. Free speech zones have become a highly contentious topic on college campuses. The designation of free speech zones on public college and university campuses began in the 1980s as a way to combat the harassment of lesbian and gay students but the policy has been deemed too broad in the modern era and some say it hinders the First Amendment rights, according to the Huffington Post. Advertisement Jones replies: 'We have designated areas on campus but him not being a student or faculty or staff then he has to go through the proper procedures regarding the reservation process.' Palange then says: 'So you're telling me this whole area is not a free speech area, can you clarify what that means?' Jones tells her again that it is not a designated free speech area. 'You're more than welcome to take a look at the policies,' he tells her. She asks him again to clarify that the entire campus is not a free speech area and he tells her that is correct. Palange then asks him to state his name and position for her, which he does. A top donor of the Clinton Foundation, Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, is no longer allowed to enter the United States, having his visitor's visa denied last summer under terrorism grounds. Chagoury's name has been brought up of late, because of an ask Clinton Foundation head Doug Band made of Hillary Clinton's State Department he wanted to put the donor, whose parents were Lebanese, in touch with the American government's top Lebanon person. Donald Trump, among others, used the correspondence to try and show that the Clintons were running a 'pay-for-play' enterprise between the State Department and the family foundation, where Chagoury had been a million dollar donor. Scroll down for video Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury is no longer allowed in the United States, according to the Los Angeles Times. He's donated millions to the Clinton Foundation Gilbert Chagoury (right) was denied a visa to re-enter the United States last summer, which likely stemmed from his involvement in Lebanese politics, the country his parents were from The billionaire's visa problems likely stemmed from his involvement in Lebanon's complicated political system, according to an investigation from the Los Angeles Times, who reported that Chagoury could no longer enter the United States. Chagoury was a backer of Michel Aoun, a Christian politician in the nation. But Aoun's party has been part of the same political coalition as Hezbollah, which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States stemming from the double bombings in 1983, killing 63 at the U.S. embassy in Beirut and 241 at a Marine barracks later that year. Both were traced to Hezbollah. Chagoury was 'known to have funded' Aoun, the Times reported, with a Lebanese government minister telling U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman in 2007 to 'deliver to Chagoury a strong message about the possibility of financial sanctions and travel bans against those who undermine Lebanon's legitimate institutions.' This conversation was made public by Wikileaks. Chagoury never received the warning, the Times wrote, as Clinton Foundation head Band pushed for the donor to get access inside of Hillary Clinton's State Department once she took over the reins in 2009. As Hillary Clinton (middle) runs for the White House, her family foundation has become politically problematic with Republicans suggesting she and husband Bill Clinton (left) were running a 'pay-to-play' enterprise between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department Band's email to the secretary of state's top aide Huma Abedin was one of the most heavily pointed to when detractors including Republican nominee Trump suggested the Clinton were operating a 'pay-for-play' enterprise from within the State Department. Chagoury had donated at least $1 million to the family foundation, if not more, documents show. 'We need Gilbert Chagoury to speak to the substance guy re Lebanon. As you know he's key guy there and to us and is loved in Lebanon. Very imp,' Band wrote. Abedin suggested Feltman. No meeting ever happened, however, according to both Feltman and Chagoury's spokesperson, who explained that Chagoury just wanted to pass along information about the Lebanese election. A year later, Chagoury's trouble with American security officials began. He was pulled off a private jet in Teterboro, New Jersey, and questioned by Homeland Security officials for four hours because his name was now on the no-fly list within the United States. Gilbert Chagoury became close with the Clintons (pictured) in the 1990s and gave at least $1 million to the couple's family foundation The billionaire was especially angry because the questioning delayed his travels and made him unable to see the L.A. Lakers play in the playoffs. 'I just love the Lakers,' he told ABC News and the Center for Public Integrity at the time. Chagoury owns a house in Beverly Hills too, where he would spend several months of every year. Chagoury later received a letter that said his name was taken off the list and he was now considered a 'selectee,' meaning he was allowd to fly, but would receive extra scrutiny. Another Homeland Security document, according to the L.A. Times, cited that the billionaire had unspecified links to terrorism. Yet another document a letter written to Chagoury apologized to the businessman 'for any inconvenience or unpleasantness' that he experienced during this questioning. Things only went downhill from here. In 2013 and FBI intelligence report claimed Chagoury sent funds to Aoun, who, in turn, gave the money to Hezbollah. The report said the information was unverified from a source, who also said the Lebanese Christian politician was 'facilitating fundraising for Hezbollah.' Chagoury's name was added to a database used to screen passengers for terror links. Michel de Chadarev, an official with Aoun's party, told the Times that Chagoury stopped supporting the politician years ago after a dispute over oil franchises, noting that the billionaire backs one of Aoun's rivals for the Lebanese presidency. This all culminated in the State Department's decision last summer to deny Chagoury a visitor's visa to enter the United States, citing the FBI report among other sources. Chagoury wouldn't be allowed to enter the U.S. on terrorism grounds, which includes giving a terror group money. Mark Corallo, a friend and spokesman of the billionaire told the Times that Chagoury 'has been a friend and supporter of America all his life. Corallo added that 'any allegatoin that Mr. Chagoury is involved in any way with providing material support to any terrorist organization, of any stripe, is false, outrageous and defamatory.' The only person who could help Chagoury get back into the country is the American secretary of state, who can provide a waver. But the likelihood of that happening is little, as secretaries of state usually don't touch anything terrorism-related. A groundskeeper driving a lawnmower has been blamed for triggering an alert which suggested astronomy fans would be able to view the Northern Lights in the UK. Excitement grew when an instrument used for predicting when the famous Aurora Borealis would be visible in the UK recorded a surge in geomagnetic activity. An email was then sent from the Aurora Watch team to their 90,000 subscribers which said people even living in the south of England could view the spectacular lights show. However, it turns out the spike in activity was not caused by a disturbance in the Earth's magnetic field - but simply by a lawnmower getting too close to it. Astronomy fans thought they would be able to see the Northern Lights (pictured from Iceland) in the UK The ride-on lawnmower was being driven by the groundskeeper at Lancaster University, who went too close to the sensor and it triggered a 'massive spike' in data. This resulted in the red alert - issued by Aurora Watch - being withdrawn after the readings were found to be 'spurious'. The scientists revealed it was trying to ensure the mistake will never happen again following the bogus alert on August 23. Aurora Watch is run by a team of scientists who take readings from magnetometers in a bid to find out when the light show can be seen in the UK. The experts use magnetometres in Lancaster, Aberdeen and the Faroe Islands and they use three levels of alert. Yellow indicates that people in northern parts of Scotland might be able to view the phenomenon. Amber means those in the north of England and Northern Ireland may see it, while red suggests those even in the south might catch a glimpse. A post on their website revealed that the groundskeeper was driving the 'sit-on mower' too close to the sensor. But the sensor was triggered by a groundskeeper on a ride-on lawnmower and not the Earth's magnetic field It said: 'AuroraWatch UK issued a red alert based on magnetic field data from the LAN2 (Lancaster) magnetometer. 'Unfortunately, the readings were spurious and not related to geomagnetic activity. 'It, instead, appears that some local interference set off a massive spike in the data (no, it wasn't the intern!). 'Whilst we're not sure yet what this interference was, the magnetometer is located in a site shared with other experiments, and something metallic may have been placed on our instrument or some machine may have been in operation nearby. 'Investigations will take place and steps to prevent a recurrence will be taken. 'We believe the interference was caused by University staff mowing the grass on a sit-on mower. Tourists were ordered out of the water at a packed Costa del Sol beach after bathers said they had spotted a shark. Holidaymakers raced to get back to the shoreline in scenes reminiscent of the hit film Jaws after the alert was raised. Lifeguards on jet skis helped children on to dinghies and from an inflatable water park near where the shark was spotted as colleagues ran along the shoreline blowing on whistles and ordering swimmers out of the water. Holidaymakers stand on the shoreline after being ordered out of the water in Fuengirola following reports of a shark in the water Fuengirola beach, one of the most popular of the Costa del Sol with British tourists, was closed for five hours while patrol boats searched for the fish. The red flag was hoisted along nearly two miles of coastline. The beach was eventually reopened around 5pm yesterday after nothing untoward was found. One witness said: 'It was very scary at first. The lifeguards ran along the shoreline blowing on their whistles and shouting, "Out of the water, out of the water." Lorry driver John Staples, from London, who was holidaying in the area with his wife Diane, added: 'It was like something out of the Jaws film. 'There was a real commotion at the shoreline as everyone tried to get out of the water as fast as they could. 'There were a lot of children on the beach. Many of the smaller ones were crying because they were seeing their parents panicking and just didn't know what was going on.' Three people are thought to have raised the alarm, although it is not known if they were separate sightings The scare led to the rare sight of a Costa beach which was wall-to-wall with Sunday bathers - but no-one in the water. And even when the all-clear was sounded, people were reluctant at first to go back in the water. Authorities said they did the right thing, even thought they believe the sighting was a false alarm. Three people are thought to have raised the alarm, although it is not known if they were separate sightings made by bathers who didn't know each other or if they were friends or members of the same family. In May locals filmed a shark off the same beach, thought to be a blue shark or tintorera which is one of the most common in the Mediterranean. Authorities said they did the right thing, even thought they believe the sighting was a false alarm. Pictured is a patrol boat in the water looking for the shark The same type of shark was blamed for an attack on a holidaymaker in Elche on the Costa Blanca in July. The 40-year-old victim was rushed to hospital where he was given stitches to a wound in his hand. First aiders described the bite as 'large' and said he had come out of the sea with blood streaming from the injury. The drama happened at Elche's Arenales del Sol beach. The red flag was kept in place for around two hours until 1.30pm when bathers were allowed back in the water. Last August British tourists were ordered off a beach in Benidorm when a suspected barracuda bit a 10-year-old on the hip. Lakeisha Brisbane likely will not qualify as the world's shrewdest criminal. The 46-year-old former convict from Florida is probably headed back to prison after using a stolen credit card to bail out an acquaintance from jail. According to documents obtained by The Smoking Gun web site, Brisbane wanted to put up bail money for Shermaine Arnold, a 21-year-old who was arrested by police in Pinellas County for failing to pay cab fare totaling $62.21. Since Arnold was also wanted in connection with a felony battery case in the Miami area, her bond was set at $7,500. Lakeisha Brisbane (right), 46, wanted to bail out her friend, 21-year-old Shermaine Arnold, from a jail cell in Pinellas County, Florida After Arnold spent a week in jail, Brisbane walked into the office of a bonds company in Clearwater, Florida, and used a Visa card that was stolen from 'an elderly male', according to authorities. Brisbane signed receipts for a transaction that totalled $850. Even more amazingly, she allowed the bonds company to photocopy her driver's license, making this one of the easiest cases that law enforcement has ever had to crack. Brisbane was arrested last week on charges of grand theft and credit card fraud, both felonies in Florida. She was freed on $10,000 bond. A train company is planning to trial a new hands-free ticket system that will automatically deduct passengers' fares when they exit the train. Rail bosses are looking to introduce beacon technology that will use Bluetooth frequencies to communicate with travellers' smartphones. Chiltern Railways, owned by train company Arriva, will trial the app-based technology for a year from this December on the line between London and Birmingham. Chiltern Railways, owned by train company Arriva, will trial the app-based technology for a year from this December on the line between London and Birmingham (File photo) The new system, which would see accounts debited at the end of the day, will mean passengers no longer need to buy paper tickets or buy passes on smartcards. The scheme has been part-funded by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), a not-for-profit train innovation company. The railway industry has previously come under fire for failing to adopt new ticketing technology. A RSSB document said that under the new proposals, there was 'no chance of the customer buying an inappropriate ticket for their journey,' according to The Times. Dave Penney, managing director of Chiltern, told the newspaper: 'We know passengers want to purchase tickets easily and travel for the best price; this app-based concept eliminates the need to purchase a ticket. 'Bluetooth sensors and geolocation tracking are used to open ticket gates and determine journeys taken, then the customer is billed at the end of the day with a best-value guarantee ensuring they are charged the appropriate fare for their journeys.' Rail bosses are looking to introduce beacon technology that will use Bluetooth frequencies to communicate with travellers' smartphones (File photo) The trial will see 60 passengers test the scheme between the stations of Oxford Parkway, Islip, Bicester Village, Bicester North and London Marylebone. The new proposals come just two months after ministers unveiled plans to get rid of paper tickets completely. Passengers will be told to 'tap in and out' of stations with their bank cards or use an app with a bar code on a mobile phone for longer journeys. 'It is a passion of mine to get rid of the tangerine tickets, which look something out of the 1970s, and move to something that far better suits what customers are using today: mobile technology,' said former rail minister Claire Perry during a Commons debate in June. 'The adoption of smart ticketing is moving very quickly in the country.' The United States said it would welcome its 10,000th Syrian refugee of this fiscal year on Monday, meeting a controversial target more than a month ahead of schedule. The United States has traditionally been by far the world's most generous host for refugees but has been criticized by activists for moving too slowly to respond to the Syrian crisis, which has dragged on for more than five years. President Barack Obama's opponents, including Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, meanwhile warn that Islamic State extremists could infiltrate the refugee ranks to gain entry to the United States. The measly amount of Christian refugees, versus Muslims, has worried some on the right, with the conservative-leaning CNSNews reporting that just 47 Christian refugees had been admitted into the United States before the Monday mark, making the total less than one half of one percent. Scroll down for video Human rights activists and people from the Muslim community display placards during a demonstration in New York on December 10, 2015, in solidarity for Syrian and Iraqi refugees New Yorkers hold signs in English and Arabic showing their support for the United States government's plan to bring Syrian refugees stateside U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Alice Wells distributed gifts to Syrian children in April in Amman who will be resettled in the United States Other data from the State Department Refugee Processing Center showed that 9,726 of the 9,902 refugees were Sunni Muslims 98.2 percent while another 20 identified as Shia Muslims and another 85 simply identified themselves as Muslims. Republicans including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton have publicly expressed that the government prioritize the resettlement of Christian refugees. Administration officials have largely ignored these calls, instead touting the tough process the country is using for entry. 'Our 10,000th Syrian refugee will arrive this afternoon,' National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement, adding that the administration had met the goal 'more than a month ahead of schedule.' Rice said the number represented a 'six-fold increase from the prior year,' and called it 'a meaningful step that we hope to build upon.' She noted that refugee admissions represented only 'a small part of our broader humanitarian efforts in Syria and the region.' 'On behalf of the president and his administration, I extend the warmest of welcomes to each and every one of our Syrian arrivals, as well as the many other refugees resettled this year from all over the world.' Frontline states like Lebanon and Jordan have been all but overwhelmed by Syrian refugees, with each home to hundreds of thousands of them, and the arrival of streams of unvetted migrants on Europe's shores provoked a crisis. The Syrian refugees admitted to the United States are chosen from United Nations camps and then vetted by US security and intelligence agencies. They are classified as 'vulnerable,' such as widows, the elderly and disabled. An embarrassing video has emerged purporting to show a woman berating a Lyft driver for having a 'racist' bobblehead doll of a Hawaiian woman on his dash, and threatening to have him fired. The video claims to show a woman referred to as 'AN' complaining in a nasal whine about the doll, which she says is racist because of the 'pillaging of, like, the continent of Hawaii.' She then engages in a five-minute-long argument with the driver, who does his best to keep his cool. Scroll down for video Clip: A video purporting to show a Lyft passenger berating her driver over an 'offensive Hawaiian doll' has gone viral. The doll can be seen in this image; the camera is held on its side Complaints: In the video the passenger, identified as 'AN,' repeatedly complains over the course of five minutes, telling the aggravated - but polite - driver to take the doll down At the beginning, the driver assures AN, he didn't realize the doll - which isn't seen in the video - would be offensive to anyone. 'But, so, obviously, like, you as a white male, you are the least, like...' AN says, but is interrupted by the driver who complains she's judging him and assuming she knows where he's from. 'I'm just saying, like, perhaps you might be the person who is least hurt in this situation,' AN explains. The driver later points out that he's Asian, but is challenged to explain exactly what his heritage is. Judging: The driver is upset by the passenger's judgement of him. The doll is repeatedly referred to as a 'bobblehead' but, as seen here, it is a hula doll with a regular-sized head Threats: At one point AN threatens to turn the driver in to 'the next Internet meme.' No faces are visible in the video, which was shot at night. No identities could be verified Fights: Another passenger in the car, who doesn't appear to know AN, calls the conversation 'irrelevant,' apparently sparking AN's annoyance AN continues to demand that the driver take down the doll because it 'offends' her, while he continues to stress that he's not trying to offend her At one point he plaintively says, 'I don't know why my beautiful Lady Lola is offending you.' She then laughs as she threatens to publish him on Gawker and make him into 'the next internet meme.' Eventually her berating becomes so annoying that a second female passenger interrupts to complain that 'This whole conversation is irrelevant.' AN - who appears to be sharing the car with a stranger - asks the girl's name; she says it's Jade. Rude: Shortly after AN calls the driver 'rude,' shealso calls him a 'f*****g selfish dumba** idiot' - much to his surprise Time to go: Aftee being insulted, the driver he asks her to get out - but she refuses, and tries (and fails) to goad him into calling the cops Eventually, the driver, who has been keeping his voice calm throughout is called 'rude and entitled' by AN. She also calls him a 'f*****g dumba** idiot,' which is the last straw. He politely asks her to leave the car multiple times but she refuses and tries to goad him into calling the cops. Eventually she gets out and he drives off. Lyft has been contacted for comment. The original version of the video identifies the speaker by her name, but this has been obscured by Dailymail.com as it is shot at night with no visible faces, and her identity cannot be independently verified. Out and over: Finally, AN gets out of the car (pictured) and it drives off. AN was identified in the original footage, but Dailymail.com could not independently verify her name The Royal Navy's flagship is set to take charge of coalition naval operations in the Gulf to bolster the fight against ISIS. HMS Ocean, a huge 667ft long ship, will replace a US aircraft carrier at the end of this year and it will be the first time a British naval officer will be in charge of the team of vessels in the Middle East. The commanding officer on board will be responsible for giving battle instructions to the American and French aircraft carriers which are currently in the Gulf. The 21,500-tonne ship will assume the role of the US Navy's Central Command Task Force 50, which has lead the way with missions and air strikes from the sea against ISIS after an operation was set up nearly two years ago. HMS Ocean (pictured), a 667ft long ship, will replace a US aircraft carrier later this year The British vessel, which is also a helicopter carrier, does not have the ability to conduct air strikes against Islamic State, but will still be in charge, reports The Times. The announcement comes just a month after photographs showing the Navy's six vessels docked at Portsmouth, Hampshire, caused concern about the Navy's ability to provide sailors for its vessels. Meanwhile, defence secretary Michael Fallon, 64, said that the first of Britain's warships would be deployed later this week. HMS Daring, a Type-45 destroyer, will depart for the Gulf to join up with the operation against ISIS - currently led by the US. The huge 8,500-tonne vessel will help protect a US aircraft in the area before defending HMS Ocean when it arrives. And two other Type-45 destroyers will also leave Portsmouth to carry out tasks in the near future, while a fourth will be used for training. The commanding officer on board the vessel will be responsible for giving battle instructions The final two will either be refitted or will be prepared for deployment. Mr Fallon said the decision to use HMS Daring in the operation could make a 'real difference around the world'. Federal authorities hope a $50,000 reward announced Monday, coupled with a falling out between polygamist fugitive Lyle Jeffs and his brother - imprisoned sect leader Warren Jeffs - will lead someone to reveal his whereabouts. Lyle Jeffs has been on the lam since June 18 after slipping out of his GPS ankle monitor and escaping home confinement in Salt Lake City in June while awaiting trial on food stamp fraud charges. He was in touch with his brother while on the run and was sent away to repent in July after refusing to follow an order, Eric Barnhart, the FBI's special agent in charge in Salt Lake City, said at a news conference. Lyle Jeffs has been on the lam for 10 weeks after slipping out of his GPS ankle monitor and escaping home confinement in Salt Lake City while awaiting trial on food stamp fraud charges Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints women leave the Federal Courthouse following detention status hearing for high-ranking polygamous leader Lyle Jeffs Wednesday, April 6, 2016, in Salt Lake City Lyle Jeffs was in the sect's community on the Utah-Arizona border when the falling out occurred, and he feared the order could put him at risk of being captured, Barnhart said. 'It could possibly be a fracturing of the leadership,' Barnhart said, noting that Lyle Jeffs still has followers willing to keep him concealed. 'Somebody with whom he's had a falling out or otherwise may have a different feeling about him - the $50,000 may be what tips the balance for them.' US District Judge Ted Stewart granted Lyle Jeffs supervised release on June 9. He fled less than two weeks later. Lyle's brother, Warren Jeffs (above) has been in prison since 2007 for sexual assault of his child 'brides' Warren Jeffs, above, with one of his 'child brides' - he was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years for the sexual assault of children Stewart made the decision over objections from prosecutors who said Jeffs would be able to use safe houses around the country and large amounts of cash to avoid capture. He and ten other sect members were arrested in February on accusations of diverting at least $12 million worth of federal benefits. They have all pleaded not guilty to fraud and money laundering charges. Barnhart shot down the notion that the reward indicates authorities are running out of leads. 'When somebody has folks willing to hide them, you can stay hidden for a while,' Barnhart said. 'But not forever.' Barnhart recalled that Warren Jeffs was placed on the FBI's most wanted list in 2006 and is now imprisoned in Texas. Warren Jeffs was captured during a routine traffic stop three months after appearing on the list. Lyle Jeffs leaves the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City, January 2015, he was awaiting trial on food stamp fraud charges He is serving a life sentence after being convicted of sexually assaulting girls he considered brides. Lyle Jeffs is considered armed and dangerous, but the FBI has no plans to add him to the most wanted list, Barnhart said. Members of the sect, known as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, believe polygamy brings exaltation in heaven. Three of the top 10 cities are in Arizona - Chandler, Scottsdale, and Gilbert Lincoln, Nebraska; Plano, Texas; and Virginia Beach round out the top five Anchorage residents come in second, logging an average of 41.5 hours per week on the job Arlington, Virginia, home of the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, captures top spot All work and no play makes Americans dull boys and girls? That may depend where they live. While Americans reputations vary, the hard data suggests that we are an industrious bunch - the United States ranks 15th among industrialized nations in the number of hours worked. The question remains, though: Which American city is the hardest working? SmartAsset, a firm specializing in analysis of financial data, crunched the numbers and ranked American cities in terms of how hard they worked. What they found may surprise you... Arlington, Virginia, the second largest city in the metropolitan Washington area, is home to large federal government employers as well as private firms like Lockheed Martin 1. Arlington, Virginia The second largest city in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area Arlington will likely never see a shortage of work due to the presence of federal government agencies like the Pentagon which is also the largest office building in the world and the Department of Homeland Security. Those who are employed in Arlington log an average of 41.5 hours per week, making it the hardest working city in the country. A night-time view of downtown Anchorage. Residents in Alaska's largest city work an average of 40.7 hours per week and 37 weeks per year 2. Anchorage, Alaska An industrious population combined with tremendous wealth in natural resources make Alaskas largest city a prime candidate for one of the countrys hardest working towns. The labor force in the city works an average of 40.7 hours a week and 37 weeks a year, primarily for companies that specialize in resource extraction such as ConocoPhillips and BP. The skyline of Lincoln, Nebraska, home to a burgeoning cultural scene that is attracting creative-minded people who are looking for an affordable locale with a high quality of life 3. Lincoln, Nebraska Not only is Lincoln an affordable town for creative-minded folks, but it is also one that is seeking to attract more residents. In the span between October 2014 and October 2015, hourly wages rose 8.5 percent. With low unemployment, Lincoln is becoming an attractive option for those who might be deterred by the high cost of living on the East and West coasts. Toyota and Hewlett Packard must be on to something if they've established a significant corporate presence in Plano (seen above), a growing suburb of Dallas 4. Plano, Texas Just 20 miles northeast of downtown Dallas, Plano has earned a reputation for being a business-friendly hub one that hosts national and regional offices of industrial giants like Toyota, Alliance Delta, and Hewlett Packard. Home to the world's largest pleasure beach, Virginia Beach has become a magnet for tourists from around the globe, with an estimated 13.2 million visitors per year 5. Virginia Beach, Virginia Tourism is the backbone of the economy here, with an estimated 13.2 million people visiting the city every year. Virginia Beach, the largest city in Virginia, is home to the largest pleasure beach in the world. This keeps people here busy, with residents working an average of 1,195 hours per year. While it may rain plenty here, the wet weather hardly dampens locals' willingness to put in office hours. Seattlers work 37.32 weeks per year, third highest in the country 6. Seattle, Washington Starbucks and Amazon have their headquarters in Seattle, and Boeing employs about 80,000 workers, so there must be a reason these companies have set up shop in this rainy Northwest metropolis. Seattlers also work 37.32 weeks per year, the third-highest in the country. Chandler (seen above), an affluent suburb of Phoenix, counts Intel and Wells Fargo among high-profile companies that have set up shop in the area 7. Chandler, Arizona This affluent suburb of Phoenix, with a population of over a quarter million people, is the hardest working town in Arizona. Its top employers include Intel, Wells Fargo, the Bank of America, and Verizon. Scottsdale (seen above) is a popular tourist destination for visitors from cold-weather areas eager for a respite from the brutal winters 8. Scottsdale, Arizona In Scottsdale, workers put in more hours than they do in Chandler, but because unemployment is higher in Scottsdale, Chandler residents work more per person on average. Nonetheless, Scottsdale has carved out a niche as one of the most popular warm-weather tourist destinations for tourists from up north looking for a respite from the frigid winters. Gilbert (seen above) is one of three Arizona towns to make the top 10 by virtue of its status as one of the fastest growing cities in the country 9. Gilbert, Arizona Cracking the top 10 is a significant achievement for a city that had a population of just 5,700 in 1980. Today, it is home to over 240,000 residents, making it one of the fastest growing communities in the country. Texas' state capital has earned its reputation as a bubbling cultural hub while also seeing its residents show significant participation in the labor force 10. Austin, Texas Texas state capital boasts an impressive 81.2 percent participation in the labor force. A murderer is taunting the mother of his schoolboy victim from prison accusing her of abusing her son and lying about her grief. Lewis Daynes, 20, has reportedly posted in two Google blogs blaming the family of Breck Bednar for his death, despite a ban on prisoners using social media. He mocks Breck's mother, Lorin LaFave, for her claim to have been incapacitated with grief. And he accuses the media of falsely portraying him as a paedophile. Sick: Lewis Daynes (pictured left), 20, has reportedly posted in two Google blogs taunting Lorin LaFave (right, the mother of his schoolboy victim Breck Bednar) from behind bars Miss LaFave has reported Daynes to police for harassment but was told that no action will be taken, according to The Sun. She said: 'The things he is saying are so hurtful. It makes a mockery of the system, that a murderer serving life can actually do this from inside a prison. It is another twist of the knife.' Daynes lured 14-year-old Breck to his flat and launched a 'sexually or sadistically motivated' knife attack in February 2014. But in the online posts Daynes claims Breck attacked him first because the younger boy had anger problems caused by his family. He also claims her violent alcoholism wrecked Brecks self-esteem, adding: 'I believe this is why he formed this strong emotional attachment to me.' It was revealed earlier this year that Daynes had begun taunting Miss LaFave from behind bars. Daynes lured 14-year-old Breck (pictured) to his flat and launched a 'sexually or sadistically motivated' knife attack in February 2014 In January she told the Daily Mail at the time that the killer, who was jailed for life last year, was lying to torment her. 'Everything that he does is with the intention of controlling and manipulating people,' said the 48-year-old. 'He is a convicted murderer who is able to use the weapon of the internet to harass my family. He is taunting me from behind bars and the system is allowing him to do it.' It is unclear how Daynes posted the blogs, which could be seen on his Twitter account. The Prison Service has said in the past that his cell was searched after the posts appeared and that no electronic devices were found. But in the online posts Daynes claims Breck (pictured left and right) attacked him first because the younger boy had anger problems caused by his family A spokesman added: 'Prisoners are banned from using mobile phones and social media. If they break the rules they will be disciplined and can have time added on to their sentence.' The first note was posted on November 26. Miss LaFave, who was born in the United States, believes it was timed to clash with Thanksgiving celebrations that day. It claims to offer comfort to Breck's family by saying 'his death ensued seconds after the injury' in a fight. But the blog then alleges the teenager was subjected to 'drunken, abusive behaviour' at home which drove him 'away from family life and towards the virtual world'. General Teaching Council for Scotland has now banned her from teaching A teacher who was struck off after sleeping with a 17-year-old pupil on prom night has given birth to a son. Former French teacher Isabelle Graham repeatedly 'engaged in sexual activity' with the boy after giving him alcohol and sharing a bed with him at a Travelodge in Edinburgh. Mrs Graham, a devout Christian who was at the time engaged, was banned yesterday by the General Teaching Council for Scotland, despite claiming her drink had been spiked and that she had no recollection of events. Now a picture has emerged of the 28-year-old and her husband cradling her baby bump shortly before she gave birth last week. A teacher who was struck off after sleeping with a 17-year-old pupil on prom night has given birth to a son Investigation: This photo of a blonde woman in bed and a schoolboy clutching a bottle of wine sparked the probe into whether French teacher Isabelle Graham had sex with a student at a Travelodge after the school prom The former teacher at Whitburn Academy, West Lothian, was judged unfit to teach and barred from the profession by the GTCS disciplinary panel yesterday. The scandal erupted shortly after the prom night in June 2014 when a picture emerged on social media which showed a blonde woman in bed and the boy involved in the case standing by the door with a bottle in his hand. An investigation was launched which involved police but did not lead to criminal charges against Mrs Graham, who is believed to be 28. She was charged by the GTCS but was not present at the hearing in Edinburgh this week. Miss Graham has since married Andrew Wilkie, 27, a trainee clergyman, and now goes by the name Shona Wilkie. Her father Paul is a pastor at Destiny Church in Edinburgh. She and her husband have been involved with evangelical military charity The Soldiers and Airmens Scripture Readers Association (Sasra), of which the Queen is patron. She is believed to have given birth to the couple's first child, a son, last week. Married teacher Isabelle Graham, 28 (pictured with her husband Andrew on their wedding day), insisted she was a practising Christian and had been saving herself for her wedding night but has today been banned from teaching for having relations with a 17-year-old pupil at a Travelodge in Edinburgh after prom The GTCS case presenter, Carla Roth, today addressed the panel on the seriousness of the charges. She said Mrs Graham's actions had a 'public nature', having happened around pupils and with the image shared on social media. She said that Mrs Graham's actions left pupils 'uncomfortable' and 'somewhat shocked' and told the panel: 'You would have to question what sort of role model was provided in this instance.' Turning to the teacher's claim that her drink had been spiked, Ms Roth said this 'is essentially no more than a speculation.' She added: 'We simply have no evidence of exactly why she may have had a memory loss.' Mrs Graham was 'only willing to consider one version of events', said Ms Roth, that her drink had been spiked rather than that she had drunk too much. 'She cannot be said to have shown any insight into her conduct,' declared the lawyer. The charges levelled against Ms Graham in full read: 'On 5 June or 6 June 2014 or overnight, whilst employed as a teacher at Whitburn Academy and following the school's Sixth Year Prom at Carlton Highland Hotel, North Bridge, Edinburgh, you did accompany Pupil A and other pupils to the Travelodge, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, where you did have inappropriate contact with Pupil A.' 'You did spend approximately three hours alone with Pupil A in an hotel room. Share an alcoholic drink with Pupil A (age 17 at the time). Share a bed with Pupil A. Repeatedly engage in sexual activity with Pupil A. And in light of the above it is alleged that your fitness to teach is impaired.' Mrs Graham, who taught French at Whitburn Academy, West Lothian but has now moved abroad, is alleged to have spent three hours alone with him, drinking, sharing a bed and 'repeatedly engaged in sexual activity'. She is pictured with her husband Andrew Wilkie During the hearing DS Keith Mailer, who investigated the incident for Police Scotland, was called as a witness. He said that Mrs Graham 'was concerned that her drink was spiked' but that there was no evidence of this when she was tested at a hospital. Speaking about CCTV video from the night, he said: 'Throughout the footage there's no sign that Mrs Graham is under the excessive influence of drugs or alcohol.' Footage also showed the teacher and student kissing, he said, adding: 'The way she moved and conducted herself suggested someone who was making conscious decisions.' DS Mailer charged Mrs Graham with engaging in sexual activity with a minor in her care whilst in a position of trust. But the Procurator Fiscal failed to bring the case to court, citing a lack of evidence. Mrs Graham resigned from her post after the allegations were made. Isabelle Graham's actions made other students uncomfortable and she can not now be seen as a suitable role model - the hearing heard The newly married teacher, who now lives abroad, failed to appear for any portion of the hearing despite being offered a video link interview. She instead denied all of the charges made against her through a submitted statement - maintaining that she had no memory of the night and claiming that her drink had been spiked. She also said that if the photo taken on the night did feature her, she was clearly unconscious and therefore it was 'posed' without her consent. She described herself as a 'victim', also saying: 'The person in the bed in the photo is clearly not in control of the situation.' She furthermore claimed she was an 'active and practising Christian' who was 'waiting until marriage' before having sex. The photograph allegedly showing Mrs Graham asleep in the Travelodge room has now resurfaced on social media. One of the images has been captioned by a student: 'Poor show from Miss Graham, I had higher respect for my teacher than this! Disgusting.' Mrs Graham's husband, Andrew Wilkie, who is training to enter the clergy, said his girlfriend had 'always put her Christian faith above all other things' as he spoke at a disciplinary hearing Fraser Thomson, a council employee who investigated the case, told the panel an investigation began after senior teachers learned of the picture on social media. Describing the photo, he said: 'The pupil standing in the door is Pupil A. 'You can see there what appears to be a lady in the bed. The colour showed the lady with long blonde hair.' Mr Thomson told the panel students said they saw 'Pupil A and Mrs Graham lying on the bed, one on top of the covers and one underneath the covers'. He added that she claimed that her first recollection since the night was 'when she woke up in her flat at about 5am'. She also admitted that four glasses of wine would not normally intoxicate her to that level, and said of the photograph: 'It looks like my hair.' But she denied recognising the young man in the photograph. GTCS case presenter Carla Roth said that Mrs Graham's claim that she was 'totally out of it' as a result of her drinking 'differs from comment made by any witness'. The allegations sparked a police investigation at the time - but no charges were brought. Responding to DS Mailer's claim there were no signs of intoxication, she claimed date rape drugs are available which leave victims lucid, but hinder their decision-making. Mrs Graham's husband, Andrew Wilkie, who is training to enter the clergy, acted as her representative at the procedural hearing. In a statement to the panel, he said: 'In all the time I have known her, Mrs Graham has always put her Christian faith above all other things. 'I have never had any doubt that the allegations made against Mrs Graham were false.' A procedural hearing was heard on July 26 in which she applied to have the case held in private. But the attempt was denied by the GTCS. A spokesman for West Lothian Council said: 'Mrs Graham is no longer employed by West Lothian Council and it would not be appropriate to comment further.' Terrified passengers on board a plane were forced to sit and watch as one of its tyres exploded while it was speeding down a runway. The rubber wheel suddenly burst just moments before the aircraft took off from the Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. Stunned travellers looked out of the window and saw the shredded rubber spinning round at high speed - just as the plane was ascending. Hair-raising footage shows the damaged wheel on the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 twin-propeller aircraft as it flew through the air. This was the terrifying sight from a plane's window after its tyre exploded during take-off The Nok Air flight was scheduled to land in Nan province, northern Thailand, but the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing. Passenger Nong Lek said: 'It was scary to see the wheel like that. I'm sure the pilot was in control, but it was still a nervous time for the passengers. 'Everybody was talking and knew what had happened, which added to the excitement. 'I've flown many times but never once seen this happen. My heart was pounding just a little bit. I was thinking 'what else could go wrong?'. 'I just wanted the pilot o hurry and get back down on the ground before the unthinkable happened.' The pilot turned back the aircraft carrying 81 people and made an emergency unscheduled landing back at Bangkok just 30 minutes after the 4.55pm take off. Engineers rushed to the scene to check the plane while emergency workers were on standby for any complications during landing. Aviation authorities are now investigation what caused the fault. Airport director Petch Chancharoen said: 'Takeoff had been normal and the pilot made a request to return after half an hour for safety reasons. The damaged wheel failed to spin as the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 twin-propeller aircraft flew through the air 'Both the airport and the airline are investigating and the matter has been reported to aviation authorities. 'It was definitely was not something lying on the runway that caused the tire to be damaged.' A Nok Air spokesman said: 'On August 25, a flight left Don Muang International Airport at 4.55pm for Nan International Airport. 'The pilot had to return with 81 people on board. 'After flying, the pilot found that the wheel had a problem and made the decision to return to Don Muang. Passengers were transferred to a new plane. Ithaca College sophomore Anthony Nazaire (pictured), 19, died on the campus of Cornell after being stabbed to death Anthony Nazaire, 19, was the first person in his family to graduate high school, leave the streets of Brooklyn and attend college. But the teen died early Sunday morning after being stabbed at Cornell University. His mother Katia Toussaint, of Flatbush, Brooklyn, said her son, 19-year-old Anthony Nazaire, survived their rough neighborhood just to die on an Ivy League campus. You take your kid out a neighborhood and you do your best to send him to a good, proper college to make something out of himself and he comes back in a body bag? Toussaint told the New York Post. On Monday she returned to Brooklyn after driving upstate to claim Nazaires body. The teen had just returned to Ithaca College for his sophomore year and told his mother he was going to a party to celebrate the end of the first week of the semester. He headed over to Cornell with his best friend when he was involved in an altercation that turned fatal. Nazaire (pictured, right)survived growing up in a rough neighborhood and was the first person to graduate high school and go on to college in the family The teen had returned to Ithaca College for his sophomore year and told his mother he was going to a party to celebrate the end of the first week of the semester when he died (pictured with sister Kiara Nazaire) It was a simple bump on the street. They apologized, but the female did not accept the apology. From what I heard, none of the kids who started the fight are from the college, Toussaint told the Post. Both Nazaire and another Ithaca student were stabbed in the altercation. It is unknown why the business administration student was involved in the fight or what it was about. Another student was also injured and stabbed during the fight. The unidentified student was flown to Upstate Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Cornell Sun. He was later released. The heartbroken mother wants to know why she hasnt received a call from officials at Cornell and why police havent located her sons killer yet. Toussaint last spoke with her son before the party when he told her it was his first and last party of the year. I said, OK go enjoy yourself. Make sure you come home early. He said, You know Im coming early, I dont stay out. And he never came back, Police were called to Olin Hall, a chemical engineering building, at 1.57am on Sunday after the fight broke out. Nazaire and another student were involved in a fight in front of Olin Hall (pictured), a chemical engineering building, on the Cornell University campus at 1.57am on Sunday Both schools posted statements saying the two students were stabbed during a large altercation. Once police arrived they found the two men on the ground and began medical treatment. The weapon was located and the area secured, however, the weapon used hasn't been specified, the New York Daily News reported. 'A homicide investigation is currently underway. 'The Ithaca Police Department is leading a team of several local law enforcement agencies who are engaged in the investigation,' the Ithaca Police Department said in a statement. New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit is processing the crime scene and witnesses are being interviewed, IPD said. Both Nazaire and the other student who was injured with non-life-threatening injuries attend Ithaca College (pictured) Ithaca College President Tom Rochon said in a statement: 'I hope you will hold these students along with their families, friends, classmates, and professors in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult and tragic time.' The 70-year-old paleontologist who was recruited by Steven Spielberg to give life to Jurassic Park's dinosaurs says he was forced out of the museum he put on the map - because colleagues hated him for marrying a 19-year-old student. Jack Horner scored a MacArthur 'genius grant,' wrote eight books and raised $7.7million in the 34 years he spent at Montana's Museum of the Rockies, which is affiliated with Montana State University. But when the university objected to Horner's 2011 relationship with undergraduate Vanessa Weaver - who was not his student but had a boyfriend at the time - things went badly wrong, he told Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Scroll down for video Idol: Jack Horner, a paleontologist at Museum of the Rockies, is pictured with then-undergrad Vanessa Weaver. She described him as her 'idol.' They married nine months later 'Revenge': Horner said he married Weaver to avoid questions from Montana State U, and 'vindictive' managers Pat Leiggi (left) and Shelley McKamey (right) then squeezed him out Wife: Weaver (left and right) was 19 and had a boyfriend when she married Horner. They are now divorced, although Horner said she's 'adorable' and they remain on good terms The university demanded that he disclose the nature of his relationship with Weaver - an academic and dinosaur fanatic whose Facebook page shows her wearing a pachycephalosaurus outfit for Halloween - or undergo intense scrutiny. 'And then they could check on it and they could decide on it,' he explained. 'They could come say anything they want, so we got married so we could do anything.' 'And through the whole thing she had a boyfriend. There wasn't like something nefarious going on. I adore her. She's adorable, obviously we really like each other.' In public Facebook posts from around that time, Weaver expressed frustration about rumors going around campus, including some - false - that she was pregnant. Student: Weaver (pictured left with Jurassic World star Bryce Dallas Howard and right as a pachycephalosaurus on Halloween) was not Horner's student when she married him Ultra-fan: Weaver is such a huge fan of dinosaurs she even got the museum's name tattooed on her wrist. But Horner says that same museum relocated his staff after they got married In a post dated January 25, 2012, she said: 'It is true, I am married. What people don't know is the reason I got married. I love him and he is my best friend. 'Judge all you want about the age difference. It won't matter. He is not my advisor, teacher, employer, and has no say in my grades at MSU.' She added: 'There is no reason to 'lose respect' for him. He is still the great paleontologist he has always been. If you want to know why I married him, send me a message and I'll reply in private.' That post came nine months after she uploaded a picture with Horner captioned 'Dr Jack Horner (three heart emojis) my dinosaur idol!' Other pictures show her with the cast of Jurassic World, in which Horner made a cameo appearance. A photo on Weaver's Facebook shows a 'thank you' gift to both her and Horner from the Jurassic Park special effects team. The pair are now divorced, although Horner says they remain good friends. Respect: Weaver advised friends not to 'lose respect' for Horner. He retired from the museum, for which he claims to have raised $7.7million JACK HORNER IN BRIEF Jack Horner was born in Shelby, Montana. He was eight years old when he found his very first dinosaur bone. He attended the University of Montana for seven years, majoring in geology and zoology. He also spent two years in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during the Vietnam War in the Special Forces. Horner did not complete his bachelor's degree due to severe dyslexia. However, he did complete a formidable senior thesis on the fauna of the Bear Gulch Limestone in Montana, which is one of the most famous Mississippian lagerstatten (or exceptionally preserved fossil site) in the world. The University of Montana awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Science in 1986. In 1986, he was also awarded the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship Source: Wikileaks Advertisement The result of their marriage, Horner claims, was the complete destruction of his friendship with museum director Shelley McKamey and her husband Pat Leiggi, the director of paleontology and exhibits. His former 'best friends' went 'apoplectic,' Horner told the Chronicle. He says the 'vindictive' couple reassigned his staff and reduced his responsibilities, and McKamey began to ask him repeatedly when he was going to retire. So that's what he did. 'Let's put it this way,' he said, 'had that situation not existed, I would probably still be there. I would have spent at least a couple more years there. 'It would have been nice to do some more work on dinosaur eggs. It would have been nice to continue my field work a little longer. 'They were trying to get rid of me and that's what they did; they told me I couldn't do anything.' McKamey declined to answer the allegations about allegedly pushing out Horner, citing university policy and state law. Adviser: Horner advised on the Jurassic Park films and had a cameo in Jurassic World. Weaver, who still works in paleontology, was thanked by Jurassic World's SFX staff for helping Denial: Museum of the Rockies director McKamey (pictured) would not comment on claims that she and Leiggi, who is director of paleontology and exhibits, squeezed Horner out However she objected to what Horner called 'nepotism' with regard to Leiggi, who - along with her - is one of the three most powerful people in the university. She said Leiggi was appointed by the Provost's office, not her, and that the university has mechanisms to avoid issues of nepotism. University President Waded Cruzado backed her up. And she was not flustered when asked whether she had heard that some former members of staff refer to the museum as 'The Pat and Shelley Show.' 'Yes, I have heard that and it accurately reflects the leadership organizational chart of the museum,' she said. 'I'm the museum director and Pat, as director of paleontology and exhibits, and Angie Weikert, as director of operations and education, are the next highest level administrators. 'If the top administrators of an organization are not running the 'show,' then who is?' Horner now works at the University of Washington's new Burke Museum. Next week he will travel to the White House to advise on education reforms. The man charged in the slayings of two nuns in Mississippi has spent ten of the last 16 years behind bars. Records from the Iowa Department of Corrections show that 46-year-old Rodney Earl Sanders was in prison from June 2004 to February 2011 on a conviction of second-degree robbery. He also was in prison in Iowa from August 1999 to August 2002 on a conviction of theft, and from April to October 1996 for two counts of third-offense drunken driving. Sanders was arrested late Friday and charged with two counts of capital murder in the slayings of Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill. 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 People stood in line to attend a vigil for the deceased held at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., for Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill on Sunday Area residents, patients of the Lexington Medical Clinic, relatives, and other people pray for the nuns at a vigil Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Jackson, Mississippi Catholic Diocese, center, presides at a vigil. The two nuns, from different orders, were found murdered in the house they rented Mississippi Department of Corrections records show Sanders was on probation after a prison term for a felony drunken-driving conviction last year, and he served six years in prison in Mississippi after a 1986 armed-robbery conviction. The convicted felon who killed two nuns in Mississippi has confessed to killing the women but refuses to tell police why. Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, was charged in the deaths of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, both 68. The women's bodies were discovered on Thursday after they failed to show up for work at a clinic in Lexington, Mississippi. Sisters Paula Merrill (left) and Margaret Held (right) were found dead inside their Mississippi home on Thursday by authorities Pictures of Sisters Margaret Held, left, and Paula Merrill, right, sit atop their caskets The Rev. Greg Plata, sacramental minister at St. Thomas Catholic Church, lead the vigil It emerged over the weekend that Sanders, who admitted to killing them in interrogation, had a criminal record and was on probation. One of the nun's nephews recently spoke of his relief that someone was arrested in the case that has horrified Holmes County. Merrill's nephew, David Merrill, said the family is 'thankful that he's off the streets' but the family still has to deal with the loss. 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.' Sister Rosemary Rombalski, director of Life and Ministry with the School Sisters of St. Francis, consoles a relative of Sister Margaret Held, prior to the vigil Friends and colleagues who knew the two nuns gathered Sunday to remember them Area residents, patients of the Lexington Medical Clinic, relatives, and fellow religious, pray at the vigil. Authorities continue to investigate the harrowing crime that shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor 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. Relatives of Sister Margaret Held, pray before her casket 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 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. A mother-of-two was given four rounds of chemotherapy she didn't need - and only found out when she researched the treatment herself. Jodi Huggett underwent the treatment after an operation to remove a low-grade form of bowel cancer. The gruelling therapy caused her to go into anaphylactic shock twice. But she discovered she had been put through the extra suffering after her doctor failed to investigate the most suitable treatment for her. As she faced the fifth session, Mrs Huggett researched her tumour only to find that chemotherapy had never been used for her condition. Mother-of-two Jodi Huggett, 41, from Caistor, near Grimsby, underwent four rounds of chemo after an operation to remove a low-grade form of bowel cancer but didn't need the treatment Guidelines showed she should not have undergone chemotherapy following the surgery to remove the cancer. Now, after taking legal action against Hull and East Yorkshire Hospital's NHS Trust, the Trust has agreed to pay a compensation settlement to the 41-year-old. And they said the oncologist failed to consider accepted UK and European guidelines with regards to the most suitable course of treatment. The Trust also admitted the decision to offer chemotherapy breached the hospital's duty of care. Mrs Huggett, from Caistor, near Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, said: 'I was on my knees following my operation and with my chemotherapy treatment. 'I was just about to go into my fifth cycle and I felt so poorly that I decided to look online into it myself. 'To my amazement, I found a blog which mentioned people of my age with the same tumour and referenced the Royal Free Hospital in London as a specialist centre. 'From what I read, I questioned the treatment and the information I had been given, so I contacted the Royal Free Hospital and they agreed to review my case. 'They told me chemotherapy never has and never will be proven to work on a tumour like the one I had and the only way it would have been required was for a palliative care patient, which I wasn't.' It's ridiculous. Think about the cost to the NHS and the nursing care, the amount of chemotherapy, anti-sickness drugs, steroids and anti-depressants I was on Mrs Huggett Mrs Huggett added: 'I couldn't believe it when I found out it had all been completely unnecessary. 'It was heartbreaking.' The Royal Free Hospital contacted Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, East Yorkshire, that Mrs Huggett was attending, to advise them they were treating their patient incorrectly. Having suffered a number of side-effects from the chemotherapy, Mrs Huggett said it was 'disgusting' that basic online research uncovered the error. Mrs Huggett, mother to Olivia, 19, and Harriet, 16, said: 'I suffered from coldness of the lips, fingers and toes, low energy and tingling as side-effects of the chemotherapy and I didn't even need it. It shouldn't have happened. 'It's ridiculous. Think about the cost to the NHS and the nursing care, the amount of chemotherapy, anti-sickness drugs, steroids and anti-depressants I was on.' The Royal Free Hospital contacted Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, East Yorkshire (pictured above), that Mrs Huggett was attending, to advise them they were treating their patient incorrectly After undergoing scans and checks in London by the Royal Free specialists, it was revealed she was cancer free. Solicitor Hayley Collinson, who specialises in compensation claims related to medical negligence, described it as 'completely inexcusable' to fail to follow accepted guidelines. Mrs Collinson said: 'Mrs Huggett was put through avoidable extra pain, suffering and illness simply because medical experts failed to follow accepted UK and European guidelines to the best form of treatment following her operation. 'This is completely inexcusable and was completely avoidable. 'If you are diagnosed with cancer, it's not unusual to be told you need chemotherapy, so it's understandable that she trusted her consultant and relied on their recommendation and went with it. 'Anybody else in Mrs Huggett's position would have done the same.' A mother of three with her hands up was fatally shot in Ohio by a man who had run a red light and crashed into her car, police said. Deborah Pearl, 53, was crossing the intersection of Solon and Richmond roads on her way to work Saturday morning, when Ryan Desha, 29, failed to stop at a red light and struck her car, Cleveland.com reported. Desha's Jeep flipped several times and landed some 50 feet from Pearl's Ford Taurus. Cops say Desha got out of the car with a 5.56-millimeter rifle and shot Pearl several times while she had her hands in the air, according to Cleveland.com. Scroll down for video Deborah Pearl, 53, (left) was on her way to work Saturday morning when Ryan Desha, 29, (right) ran a red light and struck her car Desha's Jeep flipped several times and landed some 50 feet from Pearl's Ford Taurus (pictured). Police say he got out of the car and shot the mother-of-three to death First responders rushed Pearl to a nearby hospital she but succumbed from her injuries about 8am, WEWS reportedd. 'Word's can't explain what we're going through,' said Pearl's son, Derryo Pearlm to Cleveland.com. '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, a mother of three, was on her way to work at Southeast Harley Davidson. She also worked in a diner. 'She disciplined us when she needed to discipline us, she made us go to school every day,' Derryo Pearl told Cleveland.com. 'She worked hard and taught us that was the only way to succeed in life.' Police found Desha nearby, still holding his rifle, shaking. 'He wasn't saying anything,' said Joe Goodwater Jr., a neighbor, to Cleveland.com. 'When I made contact with him he was shaking. I don't know what was going through his mind.' Desha was arrested and charged with murder, the Twinsburg Bulletin reported. Desha, 19, was arrested and charged with murder for allegedly shooting Pearl as she got out of her Ford Taurus (pictured) Eyewitnesses Barbara Bartels said at first Desha 'was shooting randomly,' Cleveland 19 reported. But after a few shots, Desha began to aim directly at Pearl. 'We heard about twelve shots,' said another witness, Courtney Reese, to Cleveland 19. 'After the first shot I heard a woman scream out,' Michelle Reese added. Police are yet to determine a motive for the shooting, but have said the two had never met before the incident. Itiyanah Spruill, a 22-year-old from East Orange, pled guilty to child endangerment in a Newark courtroom on Monday. The plea was part of an agreement with prosecutors, who will likely recommend a reduced sentence due to time already served A New Jersey woman whose five-year-old son shot and killed his four-year-old brother pleaded guilty in court to child endangerment on Monday. Itiyanah Spruill, a 22-year-old resident of East Orange, faces up to three years in prison. Her sentencing has been scheduled for September 28. The tragic shooting took place on June 25. Her two sons were playing with her gun in a halfway home when the eldest picked up the gun and shot the younger boy, Christopher, in the head. The youngster was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, but he died a short time later. Spruill was with the boys at the time of the tragic accident. She initially pleaded not guilty to weapons and child endangerment charges during her arraignment in late June. The judge ordered that she be held on $310,000 bail. Authorities say the gun belonged to Spruill, who was home at the time of the shooting. It's not clear how the child got hold of the weapon. Spruill (left) faces up to three years in prison after pleading guilty to child endangerment in the accidental shooting death of her son, Christopher (right) During Spruill's dramatic court appearance, she asked the judge for permission to attend her childs funeral. Her request was granted. Spruill has a long criminal history. Two years ago she was reportedly arrested for shooting someone, but she wasn't indicted by the grand jury. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO But she is said to be trying to get her GED certificate and was planning to move into an apartment. Locals say Spurill had lived on the block for tens days. Her neighbors said she was an attentive and caring mother. At the boy's funeral last month, friends and relatives spoke of his fascination with superheroes and remembered him dressing up as Captain America for Halloween. They said he spoke of wanting to be a doctor when he grew up. Spruill pleaded guilty Aug. 17 to two counts of child endangerment, a second-degree crime, but will be sentenced as a third-degree offender as part of her plea deal, according to the Essex County prosecutor's office. Although the boundary changes will also affect the Tories, Lord Hayward, a Tory peer, said his analysis of demographics in Britain concluded that Labour was over-represented As many as 30 Labour seats could be wiped off the electoral map thanks to a controversial review of parliamentary boundaries, an analysis has found. Dozens more are set to be significantly redrawn as part of an overhaul which could dramatically reduce the partys chances of taking power in future elections. Analyst Rob Hayward said that, in total, around 200 Labour seats could be affected more than 85 per cent of its total. The review will turn many safe Labour seats into marginal ones or ones which would be expected to go Tory at the next election. Last night, as Labours civil war deepened, the shadow foreign secretary accused the party hierarchy of trying to quash Jeremy Corbyns leadership and put the members back in their box. Emily Thornberry said she was disgusted at attempts to block Mr Corbyn from being put on the leadership ballot paper because he did not have enough support among MPs. And she accused some in the party of doing their level best to deny the flood of new members and supporters the equal chance to make their voices heard in the looming leadership contest. Although the boundary changes will also affect the Conservatives, Lord Hayward, a Tory peer, said his analysis of demographics in Britain concluded that Labour was over-represented. He told The Guardian: The party that will suffer most is the Labour party because such a high proportion of their current seats are well below the required quota, particularly in Wales, the north-east and parts of the M62 corridor. The changes, initiated by David Cameron, will cut the number of MPs by 50 to 600. They aim to ensure that each persons vote is of similar value by equalising the number of registered voters in each seat to within 5 per cent of 74,769. A higher proportion of Tory seats are within the range, so only between 10 and 15 Conservative seats are expected to disappear. Many more Labour seats will go. MPs of all parties face the prospect of battling it out with colleagues to retain a seat. Jonathan Ashworth, the Labour MP for Leicester South, told Sky News: This is all about disadvantaging Labour' But anxieties will be particularly acute within Labour, where MPs opposed to Jeremy Corbyn fear that the necessary reselection contests could be an opportunity to reshape the parliamentary party in Mr Corbyns favour, if he retains the leadership. Lord Hayward said: This will have implications for large numbers of Labour MPs who may well have to compete against each other for reselection. Last night, Labour accused the Government of gerrymandering. Jonathan Ashworth, the Labour MP for Leicester South, told Sky News: This is all about disadvantaging Labour at the next election and to be frank it is an abuse of power by Theresa May. This is about deliberately damaging Labours prospects at the next general election and thats why its shoddy. A spokesman for Dame Rosie Winterton, the partys chief whip, said: Lord Haywards comments a key architect of the Conservatives boundary changes that reducing the number of elected members of parliament by 50 will benefit the Tories electorally, is further evidence that the sole motivation for these changes is a partisan plan to give the Tories an unfair advantage at the expense of democracy. Simply put, this is gerrymandering. Proposals will be released by the boundary commissions for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland during September. Today Mr Corbyn will pledge to draw up a digital bill of rights as part of a new manifesto to promote and harness the internet as he continues to tour the country in his Labour leadership campaign. Delivering a speech in Londons East End tech capital, he will promise to democratise the internet and use it to create the most visible general election campaign ever. Anthony Weiner could be investigated by child services after he sexted a picture with his four-year-old son lying beside him. The disgraced ex-congressman sent the mystery brunette a picture in his underwear with the youngster curled up beside him along with a series of other racy messages that has prompted his wife Huma Abedin, a top Hillary Clinton aide, to leave him. The snap was part of a series of racy exchanges the 51-year-old father-of-one sent the women in 2015, the New York Post reported. It is the third time he has been caught sexting in five years, and now his relationship with his only child, Jordan, could be under threat. Anthony Weiner could be investigated by child services after he sexted a picture with his four-year-old son Jordan lying beside him. The father and son are pictured in May, 2016 The disgraced ex-congressman sent the mystery brunette a picture in his underwear with the youngster curled up beside him along with a series of other racy messages that has prompted his wife Huma Abedin, a top Hillary Clinton aide, to leave him New York's Administration for Children's Services (ACS) could star investigating Weiner after the picture emerged, and may question whether he is fit to take care of his only child. A spokesman for ACS told DailyMail.com they would not comment on individual cases. But experts believe the process may have already begun. Raoul Felder, a top divorce attorney in New York, told the Post: 'He's doing these things on camera and he brings his child into bed with him. 'I don't know whether it's technically a crime, but I do know from experience with ACS that this is the thing that ACS would want to look at.' Felder also believes Abedin's role could be questioned. 'She goes away and leaves the child with this degenerate?' she told the paper. 'Both of them are certainly not parents of the years.' End of the road: Huma Abedin revealed in a statement Monday that she is separating from Weiner after his latest sexting scandal emerged Poor taste: One of the photos Weiner, 51, sent to the unknown woman was a picture of his manhood in boxer briefs while his son lay asleep next to him in bed (inset on post cover) Michael Stutman, of the law firm Stutman Advocate Stutman & Lichtenstein, added: 'This goes past the point of what she would think is acceptable. 'Inappropriate sexual acting out in a presence of a young child is an endangerment of that child. 'One would certainly begin to be curious about what his problems are and how would they manifest themselves while hes in the presence of a child.' Dr NG Berrill, a forensic psychologist, told DailyMail.com Weiner's latest behavior shows a compulsion he may be struggling to control and a lack of judgement, by choosing to send the picture involving the child. He also said it could be harmful to his son, considering how old he is. Dr Berrill added the next step Weiner could take would be comprehensive treatment. He received therapy in the wake of his previous scandals, but he could have 'fallen off the wagon' as the result of something happening in his life, Dr Berrill said. In that way, his behavior is similar to a drug addict or alcoholic breaking their sobriety. If ACS were to conclude the child were the victim of neglect, it would be referred to Family Court, which would determine when and where the child could be visited. Better times: 'Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life,' said Abedin in a statement, referencing their four-year-old son Jordan (above with his parents in 2015) Any allegations could also be involved in divorce proceedings filed by Abedin.' She announced that she would be leaving Weiner hours after the New York Post published the sexts. 'After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband,' said Abedin in a statement. 'Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy. ' Abedin was seen smiling in the Hamptons on Sunday evening just before news of her husband's latest sexting scandal broke. Photos taken of the political staffer show her in high spirits at around 7pm as she and boss Hillary Clinton headed off to a fundraising event at the beachfront home of Marcia Riklis after a very lucrative weekend during which the campaign raised millions. Later that evening, Clinton was photographed as she departed Riklis' home and got into her waiting van. Moments before a dejected looking Abedin was also photographed as she exited the event. Clinton looked stern and serious as she spoke with Riklis while exiting the home, and immediately got on her phone once inside the van. Weiner has kept quiet since the scandal broke on Sunday night, and on Monday morning deleted his twitter account. In other texts allegedly sent to the unnamed woman, a brunette divorcee, Weiner spoke about being 'horny as f***' and sent a variety of emojis that were sexual in nature. Farewell: 'After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband,' said Abedin (couple above in May at the Met Ball) He also reportedly admitted to masturbating while thinking about the woman in a text, allegedly calling her a 'fantasy chick.' The most damning of the snaps though is Weiner laying in bed wearing nothing but his boxer briefs while his five-year-old son with Abedin, Jordan, sleeps next to him. 'Someone just climbed into my bed,' Weiner allegedly wrote to the woman before sending the photo, which clearly showed the outline of his manhood. She responded by writing back: 'You do realize you can see you[r] Weiner in that pic??' The photo was sent shortly after 3am on July 31, 2015 from Weiner, who reportedly grew concerned moments later thinking that he may have publicly posted the photo. 'Ooooooh . . . I was scared. For half a second I thought I posted something. Stop looking at my crotch,' Weiner reportedly wrote back to the brunette beauty, who is a Trump supporter. Weiner also talked about the size of his manhood frequently in conversations with the woman, at one point saying: 'Id [sic] put someones eye out with this thing. #Overdue.' That text came following a workout, which Weiner reportedly said left him 'raging.' It is a sport famed for the laid back attitude of those who take part, but now surfing is being revolutionised by technology in space. The world's leading surfers are turning to science to help them find the new surfing spots and identify the perfect conditions for catching the ultimate prize in their sport - big waves. Surfing has taken on new levels of competitiveness in recent years as surfers have sought out some of the biggest waves on the planet in an attempt to ride them. With the help of satellite technology, oceanographers and weather experts, Andrew Cotton was able to identify a previously unknown surfing spot and unravel the conditions needed to get the best waves. WORLD'S BIGGEST WAVES Atlantic swells off the Portuguese coast can create 100ft walls of water at the surfing hotspot of Nazare, just 80 miles north of Lisbon. The monster waves are formed when a 125-mile long underwater canyon up to three miles deep combines with strong Atlantic currents. They then come roaring into the beaches of Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal, creating an awesome spectacle outdone only by the surfers who risk it all by riding them. The now famous break has become a shrine for big wave surfers ever since American Garrett McNamara set a world record three years ago by surfing a 78ft wave from trough to crest. Advertisement The world record is held by Garrett McNamara, who surfed a 78 feet tall wave at surfing hotspot Nazare, 80 miles north of Lisbon in Portugal. Yet finding such towering walls of water is becoming increasingly challenging as surfers try to find new areas that might offer waves that are even bigger. But Andrew Cotton, a 36-year-old plumber from Devon, believes he has found an entirely new area on the coast of Ireland that has the potential to produce some of the biggest waves on the planet. With the help of satellite technology, oceanographers and weather experts, he was able to identify a previously unknown surfing spot and unravel the conditions needed to get the best waves. His journey to surf this giant wave in October 2014 is revealed in a new film by Red Bull called Beneath the Surface. Mr Cotton said: 'Considering Ireland had such a bad winter, we probably saw the biggest waves in Ireland and Britain for the year. 'The exciting thing for me and any surfer, is that it is not just sheer size but the quality. 'Ireland is quite a unique place. Although it is quite popular with big wave surfers, it is really hard to score good waves. The weather is so hard to predict. 'My dream and my passion is to surf big waves, if not the biggest waves in the world. This new wave in Ireland has that potential. 'I've surfed some pretty big waves and this location with the right conditions it could produce waves to match that.' Mr Cotton estimates he managed to surf waves around 30 feet tall at the site, which he is not revealing the exact location of, but thinks it may produce waves of at least 60 feet in the right conditions - the equivalent of four double-decker buses stacked on top of each other. Big wave surfing requires the right combination of location and weather conditions. When winds are able to push water unimpeded across open stretches of ocean, the waves can grow to monstrous heights (illustrated) He first spotted the location of the wave from nearby headlands and had been captivated by the white caps he could see on the swell in the bay. To work out whether the area might be able to produce big waves though, Mr Cotton turned to Ben Freeston from surf-forecasting company Magic Seaweed. There are several ingredients they look for to find a big wave: Access to wind Waves are created by the wind blowing across the surface of the water, creating friction and building up the size of the swell. What determines the size of a wave is the strength of the wind, how long the wind has been blowing for and the distance over which the wind has been blowing over the ocean, known as the fetch. Mr Freeston said: 'The biggest waves come from the strongest winds, blowing for the longest time over the largest stretch of ocean. Mr Cotton estimates he managed to surf waves around 30 feet tall at the site, which he is not revealing the exact location of, but thinks it may produce waves of at least 60 feet in the right conditions - the equivalent of four double-decker buses stacked on top of each other 'There are some specifics, you need a large unbroken stretch of ocean, but the storms themselves tend to form in bands of latitude about 40 degrees north and the roaring 40s in the south. 'These storms always move from the west to the east, so you are always looking at coastlines facing out towards the west.' It just so happens that the west coast of Ireland sits perfectly in this band where the wind roars across the Atlantic, whipping up the swell to huge heights. The Irish coast faces 2,000 miles of unbroken Mullaghmore Head is one of the most famous big wave spots in Ireland, and has seen people surfing waves up to 49 feet in height in stormy weather. What lies beneath The right combination of rocks and depth is important for big waves to form. Big wave spots tend to have deep water channels that run up to the coast and are fringed with reefs or rocks on either side. In some spots like Nazare in Portugal the sandy bottom of the beach has a canyon off shore that refracts the waves inwards Underwater mapping helps Mr Freeston work out how the potential for waves along a given bit of coastline and can also help to predict the shape of the wave when it breaks. Andrew Cotton (pictured) and his team used nautical maps and under water mapping to work out how the swell would funnel into the site he hoped to surf He said: 'Andrew's wave has an area of rock that has fortuitously formed with deep water on either side and has the right shape to make the wave very large when it breaks.' Nautical charts and historical charts of the coastline can also help to provide some clues about what may lie beneath the waves. Mapping the waves Using satellite data going back nearly 35 years, Mr Freeston and his colleagues are able to reconstruct the ocean conditions almost anywhere in the world. They can calculate the wave heights from this at any given hour and then compare this to the weather conditions at the time. This means it becomes possible to accurately identify the exact criteria for when big waves will be possible. The right combination of wind and underwater rock formations funnels the swell to that it forms huge waves (pictured) Mr Cotton said: 'Very quickly we were able to work out that this place gets its best waves when the swell comes from a certain direction. If it varies slightly to the north or south, it is half the size. 'It took four years to work that out for Nazare. We have come a long way in being able to work out the conditions for big waves. 'That is really important as you might only get the right conditions twice a winter, and if you go to the wrong place that is a waste.' Waiting for the weather Big waves generally occur when storms sweep across the ocean. In Ireland this can mean the autumn and winter as the tip jet phenomenon in the Labrador sea around the south of Greenland can send powerful swells across the Atlantic. This year the swell coming across the Ireland was abnormally poor. Mr Freeston believes this may have been largely due to El Nino altering the weather patterns. He said: 'It has actually been quite a bad winter. The storms were coming in much further to the south.' A chart from January 2014 shows one of the highest ever recorded swells in the region, where the potential for record breaking waves will be at its highest The waves that Mr Cotton rode at his new spot appeared in relatively light wind conditions. The site has the potential to produce much bigger swells as winds increase in ferocity But looking at his data from previous years, he believes the spot Mr Cotton has identified could produce some huge waves. Mr Freeston added: 'It was an abnormally poor year this year. Given the size of the waves he did surf, the potential for the future is pretty enormous. 'Put in context of waves seen at Mulgamore and other places in previous years, you have got to think that 50-60 ft range as a potential doesnt seem unrealistic.' However, surfers also need to remain safe, so finding these big waves does not just require storms that sweep across the ocean, but gaps in the wind that bring large swell but light winds. It had been thought more males meant more violence and broken families Contrary to popular belief, parts in the world with more men than women are not more unstable. In fact, these places are associated with higher levels of marriage, relationship commitment and paternal involvement, according to a new study. It was traditionally thought that an abundance of single men leads to outcomes of crime, violence and broken homes. The study revealed adults were more likely to be married if they lived in male-biased areas than if they lived in female-biased areas MALE DOMINANCE ACROSS THE 50 US STATES The study looked at census data in 50 states. They evaluated the relationship between gender ratios and four variables indicative of family stability - the percentage of women and men married in each county, as well as numbers of female-headed households and out-of-wedlock births. Researchers found that the West displayed more male-biased counties and the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic contained more female-biased counties. The study revealed adults were more likely to be married if they lived in male-biased counties than if they lived in female-biased counties. Rates of female-headed households and out-of-wedlock births - both factors associated with so-called fragile families - were lower in male-biased counties. The experts concluded that when women are rare, men are more likely to marry, be part of a family and be sexually committed to a single partner. Advertisement We're trying to challenge notions of male abundance driving negative outcomes, anthropologist Ryan Schacht at the University of Utah said. While unbalanced sex ratios are an important source of family instability and social insecurity, it is increasingly being shown that much of our concern should be reoriented to populations with too many women. Widespread concerns about gender ratios' effects on society intensified in the 1980s, largely as a result of China's one-child policy. Social scientists have feared a surplus of men because criminological studies consistently find that men are predominantly both the perpetrators and victims of violence. Research has also shown that men are typically more aggressive, competitive and prone to risky behaviour than women, leading to the prediction that unmarried men destabilise both families and societies. However, Dr Schacht found this to be untrue when he travelled to Guyana to study dynamics of family formation in eight small villages in the country. The results of the study are published in the journal PLOS One. Economic conditions in the region had spurred men to migrate and changed sex ratios in each village, providing the perfect scenario for him to investigate the mens behaviour. After conducting interviews with more than 300 people, he found that in villages with an abundance of women, men behaved stereotypically, engaging in risky sexual behaviours and preferring short-term relationships. But in villages with male-biased ratios, the men preferred sexually committed, long-term relationships with a single partner. The men on either end of the continuum were very different, Dr Schacht said. What became clear was that simple sex-based arguments or intuitions were, in some cases, useful rules of thumb, however in many other cases they were inappropriate. He thinks the reason for this may come down to supply and demand. Findings from the initial study were applied to US census data across all 50 states (pictured). Researchers found that the West displayed more male-biased counties and the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic contained more female-biased counties If you are the relatively rare sex, you can be more demanding of a potential partner. You can be choosier, and of the partner you choose, you can be more demanding of what you want in a relationship, he said. Reviewing previous studies in the area, he found male-biased societies do not experience greater violence than others and that that rates of monogamy were highest in male-biased communities. What is increasingly clear is that places with more women consistently have more negative outcomes, he said. Together with his colleague Karen Kramer, Dr Schacht applied his findings to US census data across all 50 states. They evaluated the relationship between gender ratios and four variables indicative of family stability - the percentage of women and men married in each county, as well as numbers of female-headed households and out-of-wedlock births. Expert say abundance of single males doesn't necessarily lead to violence and crime. A study from researchers in the US found these places are associated with higher levels of marriage, relationship commitment and paternal involvement The duo found that the West displayed more male-biased counties and the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic contained more female-biased counties. Dr Schacht's results from Guyana held true in the US, because adults were more likely to be married if they lived in male-biased counties than if they lived in female-biased counties. Rates of female-headed households and out-of-wedlock births, both factors associated with so-called fragile families were lower in male-biased counties. So they found once again that when women are rare, men are more likely to marry, be part of a family and be sexually committed to a single partner. In a related study, supporting these findings, Dr Schacht also found violent crime rates were also lower in male-biased counties. The results may appear to be paradoxical. You get more unmarried men when there are fewer of them, he explained. However, Dr Schacht has warned its difficult to draw any definite conclusions about which demographic or cultural factors cause certain societal outcomes. She is the longest-lived and best known example of one of our early human ancestors. Now, the story of how the 3.18-million-year-old hominin 'Lucy' met her painful death is being unraveled by scientists. By looking at fractures on Lucy's skeleton, researchers have solved prehistory's 'coldest case'. They claim she died after falling out of a tree, offering unusual evidence for tree dwelling in the extinct species known as Australopithecus afarensis. Scroll down for video Lucy, one of our famous fossil forbears, died after falling from a tree. Based on the pattern of breaks, researchers suggest that she landed feet-first before bracing herself with her arms when falling forward, and 'death followed swiftly' Since her discovery in the Afar region of Ethiopia in 1974, Lucy a terrestrial biped has been at the center of a debate about whether this ancient species also spent time in the trees. 'It is ironic that the fossil at the center of a debate about the role of arborealism in human evolution likely died from injuries suffered from a fall out of a tree,' said lead author John Kappelman, a University of Texas professor in anthropology. Kappelman first studied Lucy during her US museum tour in 2008, when the fossil detoured to the High-Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography Facility (UTCT). The facility has a machine designed to scan through materials as solid as a rock and at a higher resolution than medical CT. For 10 days, Kappelman and geological sciences professor Richard Ketcham scanned all of her 40-percent-complete skeleton to create a digital archive of more than 35,000 CT slices. 'Lucy' is one of the longest-lived and best known examples of our early human ancestors (artist's model, pictured right). On the left are 3D printouts of Lucy's right humerus For 10 days, Kappelman and geological sciences professor Richard Ketcham carefully scanned all of her 40-percent-complete skeleton to create a digital archive of 35,000 CT slices 'Lucy is precious. There's only one Lucy, and you want to study her as much as possible,' Ketcham said. 'CT is nondestructive. So you can see what is inside, the internal details and arrangement of the internal bones.' Studying Lucy and her scans, Kappelman noticed something unusual; the end of the right humerus was fractured in a manner not normally seen in fossils, preserving a series of sharp, clean breaks with tiny bone fragments and slivers still in place. 'This compressive fracture results when the hand hits the ground during a fall, impacting the elements of the shoulder against one another to create a unique signature on the humerus,' said Kappelman. Lucys fracture in her forearm undergoes computed tomographic scanning. Overall, Lucy suffered a broken ankle, arm, knee, pelvis and at least one fractured rib - suggesting she must have suffered severe internal organ damage Since her discovery in the Afar region of Ethiopia in 1974, Lucy a terrestrial biped has been at the center of a debate about whether this ancient species also spent time in the trees. Pictured is a reconstruction of her bone (left) and what she may have looked like (right) Our genus was predated by other species on the human family tree including various representatives of the genus Australopithecus, of which Lucy belonged to He then consulted Dr Stephen Pearce, an orthopedic surgeon at Austin Bone and Joint Clinic, using a modern human-scale, 3D printed model of Lucy. Pearce confirmed that the injury was consistent with fracture caused by a fall from considerable height when the conscious victim stretched out an arm in an attempt to break the fall. Kappelman also saw similar, less severe, fractures at the left shoulder and other compressive fractures throughout Lucy's skeleton. Overall, Lucy suffered a broken ankle, arm, knee, pelvis and at least one fractured rib - suggesting she must have suffered severe internal organ damage. WHEN LITTLE FOOT WALKED WITH LUCY A mannequin, an immitation of an Australopithecus Afarensis, who lived in the more than 3 million years ago A sophisticated datingtechnique showed that Little Foot, an important fossil of anearly human forerunner unearthed in the 1990s in South Africa,is roughly 3.7 million years old. 'The age of Little Foot has been highly debated,' saidgeologist Darryl Granger of Purdue University in Indiana, whoseresearch appeared in the journal Nature earlier this year. The study found Little Foot, a member of the speciesAustralopithecus prometheus, lived at roughly the same time asAustralopithecus afarensis, the species whose most famousfossil, known as Lucy, comes from Ethiopia. These findings suggested Little Foot roamed the Earth at around the same time as the famed 3.2-million-year-old Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensis - shown in a reconstruction above. When discovered in Hadar, Ethiopia, Lucy was the only skeleton of the species known; she would've stood 3.5 feet (about a meter) tall. Currently, more than 300 individuals of this species, which lived between about 3.85 million and 2.95 million years ago, have been uncovered. Both species blended ape-like and human-like traits but with different features. Advertisement These included a pilon fracture of the right ankle, a fractured left knee and pelvis. The team also found even more subtle evidence such as a fractured first rib 'a hallmark of severe trauma' all consistent with fractures caused by a fall. Without any evidence of healing, Kappelman said the breaks occurred near the time of death. The question remained: How could Lucy have achieved the height necessary to produce such a high velocity fall and forceful impact? Kappelman claims that because of her small size about 3 feet 6 inches and 60 pounds Lucy probably foraged and sought nightly refuge in trees. Lucy's skeleton, discovered in 1974 in the Afar region of Ethiopia, has been the subject of vigorous debate concerning the role of arborealism in early human evolution In comparing her with chimpanzees, Kappelman argues Lucy probably fell from a height of more than 40 feet, hitting the ground at more than 35 miles per hour. Based on the pattern of breaks, Kappelman suggests that she landed feet-first before bracing herself with her arms when falling forward, and 'death followed swiftly.' 'When the extent of Lucy's multiple injuries first came into focus, her image popped into my mind's eye, and I felt a jump of empathy across time and space,' Kappelman said. 'Lucy was no longer simply a box of bones but in death became a real individual: a small, broken body lying helpless at the bottom of a tree.' It follows that Lucy must have climbed trees, the team said, possibly seeking refuge in the forest canopy at night. But this versatility may also have precipitated her demise. Physical features adapted for walking upright 'may have compromised her ability to climb trees, predisposing her species to more frequent falls,' said the researchers. Australopithecus afarensis is one of the best-known early humans. It is also one of the longest-lived: it survived for about 900,000 years, four times as long as our species so far. Pictured is a fossil reconstruction of Lucy's skull Using fracture patterns when present, future research may tell a more complete story of how ancient species lived and died. The Ethiopian National Museum has provided access to a set of 3D files of Lucy's shoulder and knee for the public to download and print so that they can evaluate the hypothesis for themselves. 'This is the first time 3D files have been released for any Ethiopian fossil hominin, and the Ethiopian officials are to be commended,' Kappelman said. 'Lucy is leading the charge for the open sharing of digital data.' THE COMPLEX EVOLUTION OF MAN 55 million years ago - First primitive primates evolve 15 million years ago - Hominidae (great apes) evolve from the ancestors of the gibbon 8 million years ago - First gorillas evolve. Later, chimp and human lineages diverge 5.5 million years ago - Ardipithecus, early 'proto-human' shares traits with chimps and gorillas 4 million years ago - Ape like early humans, the Australopithecines appeared. They had brains no larger than a chimpanzee's but other more human like features 3.9-2.9 million years ago - Australoipithecus afarensis lived in Africa. 2.7 million years ago - Paranthropus, lived in woods and had massive jaws for chewing 2.3 million years ago - Homo habalis first thought to have appeared in Africa 1.85 million years ago - First 'modern' hand emerges 1.8 million years ago - Homo ergaster begins to appear in fossil record 1.6 million years ago - Hand axes become the first major technological innovation 800,000 years ago - Early humans control fire and create hearths. Brain size increases rapidly 400,000 years ago - Neanderthals first begin to appear and spread across Europe and Asia 200,000 years ago - Homo sapiens - modern humans - appear in Africa 40,0000 years ago - Modern humans reach Europe Advertisement A drone whirred to life in a cloud of dust, then shot hundreds of feet skyward for a bird's-eye view of a vast tomato field in California's Central Valley, the nation's most productive farming region. Equipped with a state-of-the-art thermal camera, the drone crisscrossed the field, scanning it for cool, soggy patches where a gopher may have chewed through the buried drip irrigation line and caused a leak. In the drought-prone West, where every drop of water counts, California farmers are in a constant search for ways to efficiently use the increasingly scarce resource. Scroll down for video Pictured above, Danny Royer, vice president of technology at Bowles Farming Co., prepares to pilot a drone over a tomato field near Los Banos, Calif. The farm hired Royer this year to oversee drones equipped with a state-of-the-art thermal camera HOW DRONES CAN HELP Farmers say leak-detecting drones can help save massive amounts of water. The video camera is paired up with a smartphone or computer tablet, which is used to control the drone. Many farmers have yet to grasp the full potential beyond capturing video images of crops or using infrared cameras to spot color variations in the plants that can signal a problem. California farmer Cannon Michael, however, began using the thermal camera, which can cost up to $10,000 and can show moisture variations in soil. Rows of mature tomato plants appeared on the screen in glowing burnt orange, indicating warmer, drier areas, while dark patches of purple showed the cool moist soil hidden below the plants. This helped to determine not only if there are leaks to repair, but where the soil needs to be enriched. Advertisement Cannon Michael is putting drone technology to work on his fields at Bowles Farming Co. near Los Banos, 120 miles southeast of San Francisco. About 2,100 companies and individuals have federal permission to fly drones for farming, according to the drone industry's Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. Federal regulators planned to relax the rules Monday on commercial drones, a move that could spur even greater use of such aircraft on farms. Michael is descended from Henry Miller, a renowned cattle rancher, farmer and Western landowner who helped transform semi-arid central California into fertile farmland 150 years ago by building irrigation canals, some still flowing today. Six generations later, Michael farms a 17-square-mile portion of that same land, growing melons, carrots, onions, cotton and almonds, while carrying on in the same pioneering spirit as Miller. 'I've always been a big fan of technology,' said Michael, 44, mindful of how climate change is making water more precious. 'I think it's really the only way we're going to stay in business.' THE DRONE MAPPING APP DroneDeploy allows users to create flight plans for their drones by selecting the desired range on the map. The drone can then fly autonomously to capture data and create 3D models of the land below. A farmer can order a commercial-grade drone online for $2,000 and receive it in the mail days later According to the firm, this can be used for an array of aerial image and mapping applications, including crop scouting, mapping and surveying, construction and mining stockpile measurement, and roof inspection. The app, available on the App Store and Google Play, allows the pilot to live stream the first person view of the flight and disable or resume control. The app allows users to create flight plans for their drones by selecting the desired range on the map. The drone can then fly autonomously to capture data and create 3D models of the land below Advertisement On his 2,400-acre tomato crop alone, Michael estimates that this year his leak-detecting drones could save enough water to sustain more than 550 families of four for a year. California endured the driest four-year period on record before a relatively wet and snowy winter this year overflowed some reservoirs in the northern part of the state. Southern California, however, remains dry, and the statewide drought has not ended. Beyond California, drones are becoming fixtures on farms in places such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and Latin America as they become more affordable and easier to use, said Ian Smith of DroneDeploy, a San Francisco-based industry leader in drone software development. DroneDeploy can be used for an array of aerial image and mapping applications, including crop scouting, mapping and surveying, construction and mining stockpile measurement, and roof inspection Royer, pictured, prepares to pilot a drone. About 2,100 companies and individuals have federal permission to fly drones for farming, according to the drone industry's Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International A farmer can order a commercial-grade drone online for $2,000 and receive it in the mail days later, he said. Its video camera is then paired up with a smartphone or computer tablet that is used to control the drone. 'Hook it up to a smartphone. Boom. Take off and you're in business,' Smith said. Many farmers, however, have yet to grasp the full potential beyond capturing video images of crops or using infrared cameras to spot color variations in the plants that can signal a problem. Pictured above, Cannon Michael, president of Bowles Farming Co. The sixth generation descendant of a pioneering farming family, Michael, 44, has started putting drones equipped with a state-of-the-art thermal camera to work on his fields Pictured, Christian Cambrelen, a University of California Merced student interning for the summer at Bowles Farming Co., assembles a drone. It can scan from a bird's-eye view for cool, soggy patches where a gopher may have chewed through the buried drip irrigation line Few have used technology and invested in it to the degree Michael has. This year he began using the thermal camera, which can cost up to $10,000 and can show moisture variations in soil. He also created a new management position at his company dedicated to overseeing drones. Recently, Danny Royer, the new vice president of technology at Bowles, stood at the tailgate of his pickup studying live images transmitted to the screen of his tablet as a drone buzzed 300 feet overhead. Rows of mature tomato plants appeared on the screen in glowing burnt orange, indicating warmer, drier areas, while dark patches of purple showed the cool moist soil hidden below the plants. After taking the images back to his office to analyze them, he decided there were no leaks to repair, but the soil needed to be enriched in places to help the field grow evenly. Pictured, Danny Royer, right, pilots a drone over a tomato field. On the farm's 2,400-acre tomato crop alone, this year drones could detect enough leaks to save water needed to sustain more than 550 families of four for a year On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration was scheduled to ease the rules so that operators of commercial drones that weigh less than 55 pounds will no longer need to go through the long, expensive process of earning an airplane pilot's license. Instead, they will have to take a written test but not an actual flying test at the controls of a plane and will be issued a drone license for $150. The rule change and emerging technology could make drones more attractive tools for farmers, said Brandon Stark, director of the University of California's Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Safety, based at the Merced campus. However, he said that until federal regulators clarify parts of the new rules, commercial drones must continue to fly below 400 feet, limiting their use on very large fields. Stark is seeking what he calls the Holy Grail of drone use in agriculture enabling them to directly diagnose what ails a tree, whether it's deficiencies in water or nutrients, or a pest without having to send a person into the field. Apple may do away with the iPhones iconic home button next year. That's according to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Gareth Allan which cites a 'person familiar with the matter'. The change could mean that the iPhone in 2017 will feature a much larger screen and, if rumours are to be believed, an all-glass design. Instead of a button, fingerprint sensors would be built into the screen to allow the firm's Touch ID system to work. Scroll down for video Apple may do away with the iPhones iconic home button (pictured) next year. That's according to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Gareth Allan which cites a 'person familiar with the matter'. Instead of a button, fingerprint sensors could be built into the screen 'Apple is already at work on a major redesign of the iPhone for 2017 that focuses more heavily on the display by removing the Home button, according to a person familiar with the matter,' Gruman and Allan write. Similar reports on the removal of the home button have emerged over the past year. 'A source who in the past has correctly shared information about Apple's future product plans indicated on Monday that Apple is indeed planning on removing the home button from future iPhone hardware,' AppleInsider wrote in June. And a recent patent suggests that the Cupertino-based company is working on a method that places the sensor under the display and uses ultrasound imaging to find the users fingerprint. This new method means that the chunky bottom bezel of the iPhone could be transformed into a sleek extension of the screen. A recent patent suggests that the Cupertino company is working on a method that places the sensor under the display and uses ultrasound imaging to find the users fingerprint. This could mean the end of the home button - and a handset that is 'all screen' Many believe the company is waiting until next year, the 10th anniversary of the original iPhone, to stage a major upgrade. 'Current home buttons are switches that physically press into the phone, but the new models will have a pressure-sensitive button that employs so-called haptic feedback,' according to Bloomberg's' sources. This technology is expected to be similar to the trackpads implemented in the latest MacBook line and what was reported by 9TO5Mac earlier this year. Earlier this year, rumours emerged that the 2017 iPhone could switch from conventional LCD screens to OLED displays, which are thinner, lighter and less battery-hungry. WHY WOULD APPLE DITCH THE HEADPHONE JACK? Getting rid of the headphone jack would help Apple shrink the iPhone 7's thickness considerably. Its latest smartphone, the Phone 6s, is 7.1 mm (0.27) thick but removing the 3.5mm jack could drop this by a further by one mm (0.04 in). Such a shift would also mean larger, stereo headphones using an internal battery would be able to draw power directly from the iPhone - or other devices, if the change is enforced across the Apple board. Elsewhere, Lightning-based headphones would experience less 'crosstalk', or signal interference. Advertisement The company may also ditch metal altogether from the case in favour of an all-glass look. In June, a company in Taiwan which is a key supplier of the metal cases for iPhones, confirmed the rumours were true. Speaking at its annual shareholder meeting Allen Horng, chairman and chief executive of long time iPhone chassis maker Catcher Technology, said Apple will make its 2017 iPhone using a glass casing. 'As far as I know, only one [iPhone] model will adopt glass casing next year,' Horng told Nikkei Asian Review after the annual shareholder meeting. 'I don't think this move will have an impact on Catcher's revenue as glass casing still needs a durable metal frame which requires advanced processing technology and would not be cheaper than the current model.' Horng said using a glass casing would prove expensive and that Catcher would require 'advanced processing technology' to pull it off. KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable Apple analyst, said in April the new handset will drop the aluminium casing for a new all glass casing. Steve Wozniak, Apple's co-founder, said a lot of customers will be frustrated if Apple removes the headphone jack - and claimed wireless headphone simply aren't good enough 'Apple used glass for the iPhone 4/4s front and back, but this was sandwiched together with a stainless steel band,' he said 9to5Mac. 'It's currently unclear how an iPhone could be constructed primarily out of glass.' This year's handset, expected to be called the iPhone 7, is not expected to see a radical overhaul - although the firm might dump the headphone socket for a thinner phone. Last week, The co-founder of Apple has warned the iPhone maker not to kill off the headphone socket in its upcoming model. Steve Wozniak said a lot of customers will be frustrated if Apple removes the headphone jack - and claimed wireless headphone simply aren't good enough. 'If it's missing the 3.5 mm earphone jack, that's going to tick off a lot of people,' Wozniak told The Australian Financial Review. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE IPHONE 7 According to Bloomberg, next month's iPhone will be equipped with a dual-camera system capable of capturing brighter photos with more detail and cameras that can merge two images into one. Users will also have to throw out their white iconic headphones, as there will not be a headphone jack - sources say it will be replaced by a second speaker. Mext month's iPhone (artist's impression pictured) will be equipped with a dual-camera system capable of capturing brighter photos with more detail and cameras that can merge two images into one, according to one rumour. The home button will be designed to read different inputs, using Force Touch technology And the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will have the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inc screens as their predecessors. Advertisement 'I would not use Bluetooth I don't like wireless. 'I have cars where you can plug in the music, or go through Bluetooth, and Bluetooth just sounds so flat for the same music.' Android handsets use a wireless standard called AptX, which has better quality - but Apple has not backed it yet. Wozniak said he expects people will still be able to connect wired headphones into the lightning port of the iPhone, but they will have to have an adapter. John Sculley, flanked by co-founders of Apple, Steve Jobs (left) and Steve Wozniak (right), unveil the briefcase-size Apple IIc to more than 3,000 dealers and software sector representatives at Moscone Center on 24 Apr 1984 'Mine have custom ear implants, they fit in so comfortably, I can sleep on them and everything. 'And they only come out with one kind of jack, so I'll have to go through the adapter,' he said. 'But we'll see. Apple is good at moving towards the future, and I like to follow that.' According to a Bloomberg source, the next-generation versions of the iPhone are due to debut on September 7. A spike in radio signals coming from the direction of a sun-like star has excited astronomers. The signals seem to be originating from a star known as HD 164595 in the constellation Hercules, around 95 light years away. Scientists suggest they are likely to be the result of a natural phenomenon, such as 'microlensing', in which the star's gravity strengthens and focuses signals from elsewhere. But astronomers have also asked Seti (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) to take a closer look at whether they could be a message from ET. Scroll down for video Two SETI research groups will track HD 164595 tonight using the Allen Telescope Array (pictured) in northern California and the Boquete Optical SETI Observatory in Panama WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE? A star or planet can act as a cosmic lens to magnify and brighten a more distant star or signal lined up behind it. That's because the gravitational field of the foreground star bends and focuses light, like a glass lens bending and focusing starlight in a telescope. Albert Einstein predicted this effect in his theory of general relativity and confirmed it with our sun. Scientists believe the latest signals could be the result of this microlensing effect in which the star's gravity strengthens and focus signals from farther away. Advertisement SETI will track HD 164595 using the Allen Telescope Array in northern California and the Boquete Optical SETI Observatory in Panama. According to a report by Paul Gilster at Centauri Dreams, the signal was first detected on May 15 last year by the RATAN-600 radio telescope in Zelenchukskaya, Russia. HD 164595 is interesting to scientists because it is similar to our own sun and has at least one 'warm Neptune' planet in orbit. Its average temperature is 12 Kelvin hotter and it is around 100 million years younger than our star. Scientists say there may still be other planets undetected around HD 164595. 'No one is claiming that this is the work of an extraterrestrial civilisation, but it is certainly worth further study,' writes Gilster. A spike in radio signals coming from the direction of a sun-like star has excited astronomers. Scientists suggest they are likely to be the result of a natural phenomenon, such as 'microlensing', in which the star's gravity strengthens and focus signals from farther away The signals seem to be coming from a sun-like star known as HD 164595 in the constellation Hercules, around 95 light years away. Pictured is an artist's impression of an alien star system 'Working out the strength of the signal, the researchers say that if it came from an isotropic beacon, it would be of a power possible only for a Kardashev Type II civilisation.' IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO GET IN CONTACT WITH ALIENS? If there are any intelligent alien life forms out there, Stephen Hawking thinks we're playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them. The physicist believes if aliens discovered Earth, they are likely to want to conquer and colonise our planet. 'If aliens visit us, the outcome could be much like when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans,' he said in an interview. But co-founder and former director of the Seti Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn't think this will be the case. She argues any aliens who have managed to travel across the universe will be sophisticated enough to be friendly and peaceful. 'The idea of a civilisation which has managed to survive far longer than we have...and the fact that that technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn't make sense,' she said. Advertisement 'If it were a narrow beam signal focused on our solar system, it would be of a power available to a Kardashev Type I civilisation.' The Kardashev scale is a way of measuring an alien society's technological advancement based upon how much energy it has at its disposal. A Type I civilisation is given to species who have been able to harness all the energy that is available from a nearby star, gathering and storing it to meet its population's demands. A Type II civilisation is much more advanced and can harness the power of their entire star. Type III is a species that has been able to master energy in all its forms. Earth doesn't feature on the scale. 'This is a bit of a puzzling story, as the Russians found this signal a year ago or so, but just didn't let others know,' Seth Shostak, senior astronomer at the SETI Institute told GeekWire. 'That's not good policy, as what you really want is confirmation at another telescope, but Is it real? 'The signal may be real, but I suspect it's not ET. There are other possibilities for a wide-band signal such as this, and they're caused by natural sources (or even terrestrial interference).' The researchers who discovered the signals at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Special Astrophysical Observatory say 'permanent monitoring' of HD 164595 is needed. Almost everyone enjoys a public holiday. A three-day weekend means more time to spend with family and friends, to go out and explore the world, and to relax from the pressures of working life. Imagine if, rather than a few times a year, we had a three-day weekend every week. This isn't just a nice idea. Writing in The Conversation, Alex Williams, a lecturer in Sociology at City University London, explains why it may be the best way to reduce our environmental impact. Alex Williams, a lecturer in Sociology at City University London, believes that a four-day week will not only cut down on pollution from commuting, but will also help us save electricity costs A reduction in working hours generally correlates with marked reductions in energy consumption, as economists David Rosnick and Mark Weisbrot have argued. In fact, if Americans simply followed European levels of working hours, for example, they would see an estimated 20 per cent reduction in energy use and hence in carbon emissions. With a four-day week, huge amounts of commuting to and from work could be avoided, as well as the energy outputs from running workplaces. At a point when we need to massively cut back our carbon outputs, instituting a three-day weekend could be the simplest and most elegant way to make our economy more environmentally friendly. It's happened before. For example, in 2007 the US state of Utah redefined the working week for state employees, with extended hours on Monday to Thursday meaning it could eliminate Fridays entirely. In its first ten months, the move saved the state at least $1.8m (1.36m) in energy costs. Fewer working days meant less office lighting, less air conditioning and less time spent running computers and other equipment all without even reducing the total number of hours worked. Working only four days a week could help boost productivity and improve employee health (stock image used) For one day a week, thousands of commuters were able to stay at home. If the reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions from travel were included, the state estimated a saving of more than 12,000 tons of CO2 each year. Utah abandoned the experiment in 2011 after residents complained they were unable to access services on Fridays. It seems this sort of change has to be accompanied by a shift in our expectations so that Friday becomes a 'third weekend' rather than simply a weekday without work. What Utah does show is that, replicated across an entire country, a four day week would see substantial progress towards an economy that does less damage to the environment. Yet there would be other benefits too. WORKING LONG HOURS TRIPLES RISK OF CANCER Many of us believe racking up the hours at our desk will lead to a promotion or a pay rise. In fact, a study shows women who work more than 40 hours a week for 30 years could be increasing their risk going to an early grave. A team from Ohio State University analysed statistics from 7,500 people over a 32 year period. They found working more than 60 hours could triple the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis, As 72 per cent of people in the study admitted to spending more than 40 hours at work, results showed they were storing up huge health problems for later in life. And bizarrely, working long hours seems to raise the risk of disease in women - but not as dramatically in men. Advertisement Working less would improve the elusive 'work/life balance', and help to restore our mental health and physical well-being. It would also give us more time to spend on social activities, to care for children and the elderly, and to engage with our communities. Experiments with reduced working hours at select workplaces in Sweden in 2015 reduced sickness and even increased productivity. Directing gains in economic efficiency towards increased free time and reduced energy consumption, rather than making more stuff, could create a better and more environmentally safe world. An obvious objection might be: 'How could we afford this?' But there are serious economic and technological reasons for why governments, political parties, think tanks and social movements should all start to think about advocating for the implementation of three-day weekends. As anthropologist David Graeber has recently contended, many of us work jobs that, at least partially, seem pointless. Indeed, economists have long been aware of the redundant hours contained in many working days, with employees effectively under-utilised in their workplaces, yet unable to leave due to the persistent issue of 'presenteeism' where workers are valued by managers for hours logged in the office rather than productivity. Rather than work longer hours for little productive benefit, we could embrace a shorter working week and help save our planet and our own well-being. Looking more into the long-term, a new wave of workplace automation featuring advanced robotics and machine learning systems is predicted to replace 47 per cent of current jobs in the US in coming decades, and 54 per cent in Europe. In these circumstances, where there will be significantly less work available, instituting policies such as three-day weekends becomes essential to make life liveable under these changed economic conditions. As Nick Srnicek and I have argued in our book 'Inventing the Future', automation will soon offer us the prospect of a very different world of work. More automation would make many production processes more efficient, using less energy and less human labour until, eventually, we are largely freed from work. The key to capturing the benefits of automation without drastic social dislocation depends in part on developing policies which work to share the gains. This means a reduced working week thanks to an extended weekend, together with a universal basic income. None of this will happen overnight. Changes in the Earth's biosphere, caused by human activity, are now starting to become evident in rock and soil strata The human impact on Earth's chemistry and climate has cut short the 11,700-year-old geological epoch known as the Holocene and ushered in a new one. The Anthropocene, or 'new age of man,' would start from the mid-20th century if scientist's recommendation is adopted. The recommendations for the era, which is being referred to as 'the golden spike' are being submitted today to the International Geological Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. Scroll down for video The human impact on Earth's chemistry and climate has cut short the 11,700-year-old geological epoch known as the Holocene and ushered in a new one. The Anthropocene would start from the mid-20th century if scientist's recommendation is adopted WHAT IS THE ANTHROPOCENE? The Anthropocene is the name of a proposed geological epoch that may soon enter the official Geologic Time Scale. It refers to a time in which human permanently changed the planet. According to the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), we are officially in the Holocene epoch, which began 11,700 years ago after the last major ice age. Some experts argue we should now change the name to 'Anthropocene'. This is from from anthropo, for 'man,' and cene, for 'new'. Experts remain divided on when mankind caused a lasting impact on the Earth's geology but seem to have settled on a time near 1950. The atomic bomb is a popular marker. Advertisement That approval process is likely to take at least two years and requires ratification by three other academic bodies. But after seven years of deliberation, the 35-strong Working Group has unanimously recognised the Anthropocene as a reality, and voted 30-to-three for the transition to be officially registered. 'Our working model is that the optimal boundary is the mid-20th century,' said Jan Zalasiewicz, a geologist at the University of Leicester. 'If adopted - and we're a long way from that - the Holocene would finish and the Anthropocene would formally be held to have begun.' Scientists refer to the period starting from 1950 as the 'Great Acceleration', and a glance at graphs tracking a number of chemical and socio-economic changes make it obvious why. Concentrations in the air of carbon dioxide, methane and stratospheric ozone; surface temperatures, ocean acidification, marine fish harvesting, and tropical forest loss; population growth, construction of large dams, international tourism - all of them take off from about mid-century. One of the main culprits is global warming driven by the burning of fossil fuels. A telltale surge in the spread of invasive plant and animal species is also a legacy of our species. But the working group is not allowed to take any of these measures into consideration unless they show up in the geological record. Humans have created a 'striking new pattern' in the planet's global energy flow. Pictured is the produced energy and the pattern of human population growth from 1750. Dark blue, shows coal; dark brown, oil; green is natural gas; purple shows nuclear; light blue is hydro; orange brown is biomass. If it can't be measured in rocks, lake sediments, ice cores, or other such formations - the criteria used to determine dozens of distinct eons, era, periods and ages going back four billion years - it doesn't count. This, however, is not a problem when it comes to the Anthropocene, said Zalasiewicz. 'We are spoiled for choice,' he told AFP. 'There's a whole array of potential signals out there.' Micro-plastics, for example - a synthetic, man-made substance - 'are now components of sediment around the world, both in land and in the sea.' And the rise in atmospheric CO2 shows up in ice cores reaching back tens of thousands of years. Past shifts in the biosphere - the realm of the living - show up in sediment and rock, especially mass extinctions marking boundaries when up to 95 per cent of all lifeforms disappeared within the geological blink of an eye. The wipeout of non-avian dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous period is one such die off, though far from the most dramatic. Examples of fossils that provide evidence for the evolution of production and consumption over geological time. A shows Stromatolites, an example of ecosystem engineering from the late Mesoproterozoic Era. B is fossil arthropod from the 525 million-year-old deposits in China The word 'Anthropocene' - first proposed in 2002 by Nobel chemistry laureate Paul Crutzen - has been adopted by environmentalists as a rallying cry against Big Oil, and is viewed by some conservatives as a stalking horse for what they see as aggressive, economy-choking policies to combat climate change. There are sceptical scientists too. 'The drive to officially recognise the Anthropocene may, in fact, be political rather than scientific,' said Stanley Finney, a professor at California State University at Long Beach and chair of the International Commission on Stratigraphy - one of the bodies that must validate the new epoch. Finney's main objection is that not enough time has elapsed for a new epoch. Pictured is the pattern of global migration exhibited by Homo sapiens from the Paleolithic culture to present. The latest research follows a study earlier this year that claimed humans have tipped the Earth into a new chapter of geological history that began around 1950 'It's duration is that of an average human lifespan,' he wrote in a pointed commentary, published by the Geological Society of America. If the Anthropocene is voted into existence, scientists will have to pick a 'golden spike' to mark the transition. The spike nails down a date, but also pinpoints a primary 'signal' at a specific location. The working group was divided on what that essential signal might be, but traces of nuclear bomb explosions emerged as a favourite. As for what form the evidence will take, Zalasiewicz said it is still early days. 'Fast-growing coral form a layered archive that traps chemistry nicely,' he noted. To mark the start of the Holocene, scientists chose an ice core sample drilled in 2003 from the central Greenland ice sheet at coordinates 75.10 degrees N/42.32 degrees W. The core is archived in a freezer at the University of Copenhagen. Iceland's Meteorological Office says two earthquakes have rocked the caldera of Katla, one of the country's largest volcanos. The quakes measured magnitude 4.2 and magnitude 4.5. Gunnar Gudmundsson, a geophysicist, said Monday that authorities are monitoring the situation and described it as 'a little bit unusual,' but said there's 'no sign' of an eruption. Scroll down for video Iceland's Meteorological Office says two earthquakes have rocked the caldera of Katla (pictured), one of the country's largest volcanos. WHEN DID IT HAPPEN? Two earthquakes hit early on Monday morning. The first was a 4.5 magnitude at 1:47:02 and twenty seconds later another measuring 4.6 hit. Advertisement Gudmundsson says 'people have been waiting for an eruption for 50 years.' Named after an evil troll, Katla typically awakens every 80 years or so and last erupted in 1918. Iceland, in the remote North Atlantic, is a volcanic hotspot often hit by seismic activity. Its volcanos attracted international attention in April 2010, when ash from an eruption of its Eyjafjallajokul volcano grounded flights across Europe for days, disrupting travel for millions. In 2014, a record-breaking volcanic eruption spewed lava and ash over Icelands Highlands for nearly six months, leaving behind the largest caldera formation ever observed. KATLA'S 1918 ERUPTION Katla is among the most frequently erupting volcanoes in Iceland, averaging about two eruptions each century. The volcanic massive is partly covered by the glacier Myrdalsjokull which fills a caldera depression and covers the eruptive vents. The eruptions are accompanied by enormous laharic floods which have formed a vast sandur plain. The last eruption in Katla occurred in 1918. The Southern coast was extended by 5 km by the laharic flood deposits. The last eruption in Katla (pictured) occurred in 1918. Advertisement The Bardarbunga eruption was the strongest of its kind in Europe in more than 240 years, and released two cubic kilometers of volcanic material. Researchers from the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences have studied the event in new detail, using satellite images, seismological and geochemical data, GPS data, and modelling to document the eruption. In 2014, a record-breaking volcanic eruption spewed lava and ash over Icelands Highlands for nearly six months, leaving behind the largest caldera formation ever observed. The Bardarbunga eruption was the strongest of its kind in Europe in more than 240 years When Sun is directly behind an observer, it creates ' But, the agency says this is an optical phenomenon produced by Sun's Advertisement A stunning new image released by Nasas Cassini spacecraft reveals a mysterious glowing spot in Saturns B ring. The phenomenon is known as an opposition surge, in which one particular region appears to be far brighter than the rest. While it may seem unusual, the agency says the spot is actually an optical illusion produced by the Suns alignment with the observer. A stunning new image released by Nasas Cassini spacecraft reveals a mysterious glowing spot in Saturns B ring. The phenomenon is known as an opposition surge, in which one particular region appears to be far brighter than the rest WHAT IT SHOWS The image was captured by Nasas Cassini spacecraft on June 26, 2016 from roughly 940,000 miles away from Saturn. The new view shows the bizarre opposition surge in Saturns B ring, a phenomenon that has previously been observed in the A ring. This can be seen in images captured on July 23, 2006, from 163,000 miles away. Advertisement According to Nasa, an opposition surge is the result of a combination of two factors when the Sun is directly behind an observer looking toward the rings. This positioning creates a region of opposition, in which the shadows of ring particles directly opposite the Sun from Cassini fall behind those seen from the spacecraft. As these shadows become invisible to Cassini, all those which can be seen are in sunlight, making them appear very bright. Outside of the region of opposition, the particle shadows are visible, darkening this area and causing the brightness to fall off in a circular fashion around the opposition point. Along with this, the effect seen in the images are caused by coherent backscatter. In this type of optical phenomenon, the electromagnetic signal from the rays of scattered sunlight as it travels back to the craft is enhanced near the region of opposition. While it may seem unusual, the agency says the spot is actually an optical illusion produced by the Suns alignment with the observer. Its been seen before in Saturns A ring as well, pictured, in images captured on July 23, 2006, from 163,000 miles away According to Nasa, an opposition surge is the result of a combination of two factors when the Sun is directly behind an observer looking toward the rings. This positioning creates a region of opposition, in which the shadows of ring particles directly opposite the Sun from Cassini fall behind those seen from the spacecraft The image just released by the agency was taken in visible light by the Cassini spacecraft on June 26, 2016 from roughly 940,000 miles away from Saturn. According to Nasa, this happens because the electric and magnetic fields of the scattered radiation fluctuate in unison, rather than cancelling out. The image just released by the agency was taken in visible light by the Cassini spacecraft on June 26, 2016 from roughly 940,000 miles away from Saturn. Its been seen before in Saturns A ring as well, in images captured on July 23, 2006, from 163,000 miles away. And, Saturns glowing spot isnt the only optical illusion produced by the craft. In images released this past July, Nasa revealed what at first seems to be a major intergalactic accident Saturns rings appearing to melt. In images released this past July, Nasa revealed what at first seems to be a major intergalactic accident Saturns rings appearing to melt. The incredible image, taken 1.1 million miles away by the Cassini probe, was caused by light being refracted as it passes through the atmosphere Saturn's A and F rings appear bizarrely warped where they intersect the planet's limb, whose atmosphere acts here like a very big lens. 'In its upper regions, Saturns atmosphere absorbs some of the light reflected by the rings as it passes through. 'But absorption is not the only thing that happens to that light,' explained Nasa. 'As it passes from space to the atmosphere and back out into space towards Cassinis cameras, its path is refracted, or bent. 'The result is that the ring's image appears warped. A strange and almost perfect circular island sits near the northeastern edge of Argentina, which is said to float on its own axis in the middle of a swampy marsh. Called 'The Eye', this mysterious land is surrounded by a tiny channel of clear water and some believe it is camouflage for a massive alien base that lays quietly beneath the surface. Now, a team of researchers and filmmakers have opened a Kickstarter campaign to help fund their investigation of these bizarre claims, with the hopes of uncovering the mystery of this remote island once and for all. Scroll down for videos 'The Eye' is an almost perfect circular island land that is surrounded by a tiny channel of clear water and some believe it is camouflage for a massive alien base that lays quietly beneath the surface WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF 'THE EYE'? 'The Eye' was spotted by a film crew six months, while they were searching for a place to shoot a documentary. The plugged the coordinates 3415'07.8'S 5849'47.4"W and discovered an almost perfect spherical landmass floating in the middle of a tiny channel of water. The team flew to the remote area in order to see the island for themselves. 'The Eye' is about 130 yards in diameter and floats on its own axis. The surrounding channel of water is incredibly clear and cold - something totally unusual in the area. And the land on the island is solid, which is very different from the surrounding swampy marsh. The film crew has yet to state what 'The Eye' is but Scott C Waring from UFO Sightings Daily believes it is hiding an underwater alien base. Advertisement 'We have discovered a mysterious island near the Parana river, which, intriguingly, moves and rotates on its own axis,' Richard Petroni, a hydraulic and civil engineer from New York who is involved in the project, said in a press release. 'Besides, it features a neat circular structure bordered by another perfectly circular streak of water.' 'It's something real and accounts for several supernatural stories bearing connections to UFOs and other paranormal aspects.' Petroni has teamed up with Argentine film director & producer Sergio Neuspillerm, who made the discovery, as well as tech expert and founder of a telecommunications company, Pablo Martinez,for this journey. 'The Eye' can be found on Google Maps using the coordinates: 3415'07.8'S 5849'47.4"W. It is located in the Parana Delta between the cities of Campana and Zarate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The island was first spotted by the film crew six months ago when they were looking for a place to shoot a film covering other paranormal occurrences, such as ghost and alien sightings, in the area. After the team plugged in the specific coordinates and saw the mysterious spherical landmass on the computer screen, they knew they had to see it with their own eyes. 'When locating this reference in the map we discovered something unexpected that left the film project in the background, we call it 'The Eye',' said Neuspillerm in a video. Ateam of researchers and filmmakers have opened a Kickstarter campaign to help fund their investigation of these bizarre claims. It was first spotted by the film crew six months ago when they were looking for a place to shoot a film covering other paranormal occurrences, such as ghost and alien sightings, in the area 'The Eye is a circle of land surrounded by a thin channel of water with a diameter of 130 yards.' 'Both circles [the water and land] are so perfect that it is hard to believe that this is a natural formation'. The team trekked through the marshy surroundings, trying to find an entry point, but were unable to make their way to the island. Finally, in their second attempt and after eight hours of hiking, they stumbled upon 'The Eye'. 'The Eye' can be found on Google Maps using the coordinates: 3415'07.8'S 5849'47.4"W. It is located in the Parana Delta between the cities of Campana and Zarate in Buenos Aires, Argentina 'The place was amazing and extremely strange,' said Neuspillerm. 'We discovered that the water is incredibly clear and cold, something totally unusual in the area.' 'The bottom is hard in contrast to the swampy marshes surrounding it and the center part floats.' 'We don't know over what, but it floats.' Finally, in their second attempt and after eight hours of hiking, they stumbled upon the thin channel (pictured) that surrounds 'The Eye'. The team found that the floor of the island is hard in contrast to the swampy marshes surrounding it and the center part floats They also discovered that the water is incredibly clear and cold (pictured), something totally unusual in the area. Now the team is seeking $50,000 via Kickstarter to support their next expedition, which they will to turn into a documentary film. The locals have their own take of the mysterious island that floats on its own axis they believe 'a circle inside another circle represents God on Earth'. Now the team is seeking $50,000 via Kickstarter, in which they have collected $4,557 from 25 backers with 42 more days until the campaign closes. These funds will be used to support the team's next expedition, which they plan to record their journey and turn it into a documentary film. 'We want to return with a complete scientific expedition having scuba gear, geologists, biologists, ufologists, specialized drones and more, and take samples of the water, soil, plants an all other objects we may find,' said Neuspillerm. ARGENTINA RESEARCHER FINDS A PERFECT PYRAMID UNDER THE PACIFIC OCEAN USING GOOGLE MAPS Deep below the Pacific Ocean lies what one Martian researcher has deemed 'a perfect pyramid'. Using Google Earth, this massive structure appears to be 8.5 miles across and some say it could be a UFO parked underwater or an enormous alien base. Using Google Earth, this massive structure appears to be 8.5 miles across and some say it could be a UFO parked underwater or an enormous alien base. Marcelo Igazusta, a researcher in Argentina, was the first to lay eyes on the mysterious underwater structure, which was discovered last month. Using the coordinates 12 8'1.49 'N 119 35'26.39' W, Igazusta claims to have spotted a beam of light shining from the darkness of the Pacific Ocean just west of Mexico - leading him to this 'monumental discovery'. Scott C Waring, of UFO Sightings Daily, believes this structure is a parked UFO or massive alien base. Waring explains that this 'perfect pyramid' is adjacent to the ancient Mayan and Aztec pyramids in Mexico. Although the ancient pyramids were constructed by humans, but Waring says 'Only aliens could accomplish makings such a massive structure' --referring to the one underwater. Advertisement 'We want to understand The Eye's relation with supernatural stories told by the locals.' For a $25 pledge, consumers will receive an invitation to watch the documentary online, all the white papers from the test and analysis. A $5,000 donation secures your spot on the second expedition, but for $10,000, consumers will accompany the team in the first historical expedition to the enigmatic island. The Eye is a circle of land surrounded by a thin channel of water with a diameter of 130 yards.' 'Both circles [the water and land] are so perfect that it is hard to believe that this is a natural formation Argentina is known for 'an overabundance of UFO sightings and one alien hunter has picked up this story to express his own views on the bizarre island. 'A floating island has been found not far from Buenos Aires, Argentina on Google Map and it rotates in a circle,' explained UFO Sightings Daily creator Scott C Waring. 'I believe this is how aliens try and hide this particular entrance to their base.' 'The shape is large and circular, big enough to fit a 100 meter UFO through it.' Nasa has been investigating the drive along It has been dubbed the 'impossible engine', that could take humans to Mars in just 10 weeks - but nobody knows how. The so-called EmDrive creates thrust by bouncing microwaves around in an enclosed chamber, and uses only solar power. Many argue the concept is simply hype, suggesting the design goes against the laws of physics , and now a Nasa lab that has been studying the concept is set to publish its findings for the first time it has been claimed. Scroll down for video A prototype of the 'impossible' fuel-free engine that some say power a spacecraft to Mars in just 10 weeks. The design is now set to undergo peer-review. Many maintain the system goes against the laws of physics WHAT IS AN EM DRIVE? The concept of an EmDrive engine is relatively simple. It provides thrust to a spacecraft by bouncing microwaves around in a closed container. Solar energy provides the electricity to power the microwaves, which means that no propellant is needed. The implications for this could be huge. For instance, current satellites could be half the size they are today without the need to carry fuel. Humans could also travel further into space, generating their own propulsion on the way. But when the concept was first proposed it was considered implausible because it went against the laws of physics. Its allegedly fuel-free nature also means that the drive may directly contradict the law of conservation of momentum. It suggests it would produce a forward-facing force without an equal and opposite force acting in the other direction. Advertisement The idea for an EmDrive was proposed in 2000 by a researcher named Roger Shawyer. Since then four independent labs, including one at Nasa, have recreated the drive. But the mysterious engine had baffled scientists because it appeared to violate the law of conservation of momentum, which states for every action there has to be an equal and opposite reaction. This means the rocket can only accelerate forward if a force of equal magnitude is sent in the other direction - the rocket's exhaust. Nasa's Eagleworks team is now ready to reveal its findings, it has been claimed - sending the physic world into a tizzy. 'It is my understanding that Eaglework's new paper has been today accepted for publication in a peer-review journal, where it will be published,' claims one user on the Nasa Spaceflight forum. Earlier this year, an employee confirmed the team was working on the paper. 'The Eagleworks Lab is NOT dead and we continue down the path set by our NASA management. 'Past that I can't say more other than to listen to Dr Rodal on this topic, and please have patience about when our next EW paper is going to be published. Peer reviews are glacially slow,' Eagleworks engineer Paul March wrote on the same forum. Earlier this year, a paper published in AIP Advances suggests the EmDrive produces an exhaust like every other rocket. Simulated transverse magnetic modes TM20, (red high, blue low) at the wide and narrow ends of the EmDrive tapered cavity differ from each other. This implies interference of microwaves, and hence also anisotropic efflux of paired photons. The loss of momentum results in an equal and opposite reaction, i.e., thrust. 'EmDrive works just like any other engine,' Dr Arto Annila, physics professor at the University of Helsinki and lead author of the paper, told MailOnline. 'Its fuel is the input photons at microwave lengths.' The researchers suggest the photons coming out of the machine interfere with each other, so that the overall effect seems as if nothing is there. 'In the cavity the input photons will bounce back and forth, and invariably some of them will interfere completely destructively.' The technology has been dubbed the 'warp drive' for its similarity to the power plant from the fictional Star trek series. 'Then the two photons will be exactly 180 degrees out phase. 'At the complete interference electromagnetic fields for the two photons will cancel exactly, but the photons themselves continue to propagate.' The idea is the same as water waves travelling together, at the exact right time so that the crest of one wave is exactly at the trough of the other and cancelling each other out. The water does not go away, it's still there. In the same way the pairs of photons are still there and carrying momentum even though they cannot be seen as light. The Nasa Eagleworks team is tasked with investigating radical propulsion methods The idea is the same as water waves travelling together, at the exact right time so that the crest of one wave is exactly at the trough of the other 'The paired photons without net electromagnetic field will escape from the cavity,' Dr Annila said. 'This efflux of paired photons is the exhaust of EmDrive.' 'When the cavity is asymmetric, like the tapered cone, the efflux of paired photons is also asymmetric. Therefore the loss of momentum carried by the paired photons is uneven. In other words, thrust is non-zero.' Dr Annila came up with the idea along with Dr Erkki Kolehmainen, an organic chemistry professor at the University of Jyvaskyla and Patrick Grahn, a multiphysicist at engineering software firm Comsol. 'Thrust without exhaust is of course impossible,' the authors wrote in their. 'Yet, certain resonant cavities, when fueled with microwaves, deliver thrust without apparent exhaust.' Their theory suggest the exhaust produced by the EmDrive is there, but just cannot be seen. Dr Annila said the photons could theoretically be detected by an interferometer, the same instrument used to detect gravitational waves. 'My gut feeling is that it will be very difficult to detect such a small excess in energy density, especially when operating EmDrive steadily,' he said. 'Namely changes are more amenable to detection in any case. But still our idea about the exhaust can be useful to design the cavity for pairing photons better for an exit in a preferred direction, and hence to generate more thrust.' HOW THE EMDRIVE PRODUCES THRUST WITHOUT AN EXTERNAL FORCE Dr Mike McCulloch of Plymouth University has a new explanation about how the EmDrive works The EmDrive creates thrust by bouncing microwaves around in an enclosed chamber, and uses only solar power. According to classical physics, the EM Drive should be impossible because it seems to violate the law of conservation of momentum. The law states that the momentum of a system is constant if there are no external forces acting on the system which is why propellant is required in traditional rockets. But Mike McCulloch of Plymouth University came up with a possible explanation based on a new theory of inertia. McCulloch's suggests inertia arises from an effect predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity called 'Unruh radiation'. The Unruh radiation effect states that if you're accelerating in a vacuum, empty space will contain a gas of particles at a temperature proportional to the acceleration. According to McCulloch, inertia is the pressure that the Unruh radiation exerts on an accelerating body. When the accelerations involved are smaller, such as is the case with the EmDrive, the wavelength of Unruh radiation gets larger. At extremely small accelerations, the wavelengths become too large to fit in the observable universe. As a result, inertia may only take on whole-wavelength units over time, causing it to become 'quantized.' This means it can only in some multiple of a unit of measure, causing sudden jumps in acceleration. But because of the EmDrive's truncated cone, the Unruh radiation in tiny. The cone allows Unruh radiation of a certain size at the large end but only a smaller wavelength at the other end, according to an in-depth report by MIT. This means the inertia of photons inside the cavity change as they bounce back and forth. To conserve momentum, they are forced to generate thrust. The concept of an EM Drive engine is relatively simple. It provides thrust to a spacecraft by bouncing microwaves around in a closed container. Dr Mike McCulloch, a scientist at Plymouth University, says something known as 'Unruh radiation' may be behind the bizarre performance of drive Advertisement Advertisement Churches around the world have long been pilgrimage sites for travellers - not only for religious reasons but also for their incredible architecture and unusual locations. They can be found below the ground or on the edge of a cliff. Some are even straddling two different countries. Here, MailOnline Travel rounds up some of the quirkiest churches around the world that you can still visit today. Air Force Academy Chapel, Colorado, USA The Barry Goldwater Air Force Academy chapel is well-known for its unusual triangular chapel and is the most visited man-made tourist attraction in Colorado Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the Barry Goldwater Air Force Academy each year, in part to see the chapel. It was completed in 1963 and is the most-visited man-made tourist attraction in Colorado according to the Wall Street Journal. The building is comprised on 100 75ft tall tetrahedrons, weighing five tons each, that are covered with the same aluminium panels used in jet planes. Unusually, it was originally designed to house three faiths - Protestant, Catholic and Judaism - and later a Buddhist section was added as well. St Samaan El Kharaz, Moqattam, Egypt St Samaan El Kharaz cave church is hidden in perhaps the least touristy part of Egypt - in an area where the families make their living by collecting rubbish Behind a facade that could be found just about anywhere in the world is an enormous cave that's big enough to house more than 10,000 people St Samaan El Kharaz cave church is hidden in perhaps the least touristy part of Egypt - in an area where the families make their living by collecting rubbish. There's a stone facade that serves as the church's entrance but the rest of the building is essentially a series of caves. The biggest of these forms an amphitheatre, with no doors, that can sit up to 10,000 people. St Michel dAiguilhe, Le Puy-en-Velay, France St Michel dAiguilhe, which dates back to the 10th century, is only accessible via 268 stone steps that wrap around the rock the building is perched on Perched on top of a 269ft high volcanic rock is the St Michel dAiguilhe chapel, a church that dates back to the 10th century. The site had also been used to worship Mercury by Romans and had once been a prehistoric dolmen, or tomb. It's reachable only by climbing up 268 stone steps that wraps around the rock. Many visit the church as it's one of the key stops on the route to Santiago de Compostela. Temppeliaukio Church, Helsinki, Finland Temppeliaukio Church looks nothing like a church from the outside. It's known as the rock church as it's a cavern carved from solid rock Inside the rugged 'building' is a space with such incredible acoustics that it's even used for music concerts Temppeliaukio church is often known as the rock church of Helsinki as it's a cavern carved from solid rock. The interior is composed of the rugged surface of the rock, which leads up to the spectacular copper ceiling. As the acoustics are so good inside, the church is also occasionally used for concerts. Chapel of the Holy Cross, Arizona, USA Nestled among the red rock of Sedona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross blends into its background save for its prominent cross Unlike many grand Catholic cathedrals, the most prominent part of the Chapel of the Holy Cross is its simple cross. The church is nestled in the red rock of Sedona at a position that's about 250ft high, looking out over the plain below. Its inspiration is said to have come from the then newly constructed Empire State Building, which reveals a cross when you look at it from certain angles. Church of St George, Lalibela, Ethiopia The Church of St George is one of 11 networked churches listed on the Unesco's list of world heritage sites The Church of St George is one of 11 different churches carved out of rocks in the heart of Ethiopia and perhaps the grandest of the set. An enormous cross was cut from a single block of rock, which formed the frame of the church, and then the interior was created by hollowing out the rock. There are windows and doors as well as an elaborate network of walkways to connect it to the other churches. The church has been inscribed into Unesco's list of heritage sites since 1978. Las Lajas Sanctuary, Narino, Colombia Las Lajas Sanctuary is perhaps the only church in the world where you have to bring your passport to enter Las Lajas Sanctuary bridges a gorge that borders Colombia and Ecuador and is nestled against a cliff. The site had originally been the home of a chapel, which was inspired by reports of sightings of the Virgin Mary and two miracles, but the current basilica was built in 1949. It is perhaps the only church in the world where you have to bring your passport for the border crossing. Herz-Jesu-Kirche, Munich, Germany Herz-Jesu-Kirche looks nothing like your average church. It's noted for its use of different materials to introduce natural light to the space while creating privacy Herz-Jesu-Kirche, or Church of the Sacred Heart, can be found at the centre of Munich. The entire exterior of the box-shaped building has been panelled with glass while the interior is another cube created from very thinly cut maple wood. Due to the positions of the two cubes relative to each other, the church's altar is flooded with light but it's also simultaneously afforded privacy from the outside world. Church of Panagia Paraportiani, Mykonos, Greece The church of Panagia Paraportiani is one of the most photographed churches on the Greek island of Mykonos There are around 400 churches in Mykonos but the Church of Panagia Paraportiani is among of the most photographed on the island. The building is actually comprised of five connected churches, which were built over a period of about two centuries. Four of the churches now form temples at the base of the building while another is on the first floor. Serbian Orthodox Church, Coober Pedy, Australia The Serbian Orthodox Church in Coober Pedy, Australia, looks rather unremarkable from the outside Inside, however, is an incredible subterranean space that was carved out by miners who had been living in the area This subterranean church is situated in a desert environment where temperatures can reach upwards of 40 degrees Celsius. It was built by miners who had moved into the area to take up jobs in the opal mines. Inside, there's a church hall, a parish house and even a school. The scalloped ceiling leads to a series of carvings of saints while the stained glass 'windows' are lit up using lights. Evry Cathedral, Essonne, France Evry Cathedral is the first cathedral to be built in France in over 100 years. While its architectural style is modern, there are plenty of religious nuances to be found The 12 storey Evry Cathedral was built with about one million bricks. Its sloping glass roof and lime trees are designed to symbolise the crown of thorns that Jesus wears in popular depictions. But perhaps the most unusual thing about it is that it is the first cathedral to be built in the country in over 100 years. Saint Augustine Church, Paoay, Philippines Saint Augustine Church in the Philippines combines Spanish Baroque style with traditional Javanese building techniques Saint Augustine Church, more commonly known as the Paoay Church, is one of a number of churches listed by Unesco under the Baroque Churches of the Philippines. Although the church is built in the Spanish Baroque style, the construction is Javanese as the plaster used on the structure is said to be a mix of sand, lime, sugar cane juice, mango leaves, leather and rice straw. The church is unusual in that it uses 24 buttresses, or supports, to protect the building against earthquakes. Christ Cathedral, California, USA Christ Cathedral, built for a TV preacher, was the largest glass building in the world when it was completed in 1981 The light-filled space resembles a crystal thanks to its intricate lattice work - hence its other name, Crystal Cathedral Christ Cathedral, once known as Crystal Cathedral, was the largest glass building in the world when it was completed in 1981. The lattice work of the structure creates a crystal effect when you look up from inside the spacious interior. It had been built for Robert Schuller, a successful television preacher, before later being bought by the Catholic Diocese of Orange. Church of Hallgrimur, Reykjavik, Iceland The Church of Hallgrimur stands prominently over the city of Reykjavik. Tourists flock to the site to take advantage of the view as well as to see the unusual architecture The Church of Hallgrimur is Iceland's largest church and the tallest building in the country. Its unusual design is intended to resemble the natural landscapes of Iceland, including its volcanoes, ice caps and basalt columns. But aside from being a place of worship, the church is also a popular observation point as it offers spectacular views across Reykjavik's rooftops. Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia, Higuey, Dominican Republic Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia in Higuey is noted for its unusual facade and its place in the Dominican Republic's religious history Thousands of pilgrims visit Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia each year to see the image of Our Lady of Altagracia, the patron saint of the Dominican Republic. But the unusual architecture, of a concrete facade coupled with a high arch, is another attraction. Tourists who visit the site can also visit a nearby museum, which explores religion in the Dominican Republic. Borgund Stave Church, Lrdal, Norway Borgund Stave Church, which dates back to the 12th century, is one of a number of stave churches in Norway There are a number of 'stave churches' around Norway and the one at Borgund is one of the most famous ones open to visitors. Unlike your average wooden buildings, the church is built by inserting staves of wood into a stone foundation, which was designed to help reduce wood rot. Borgund Stave Church, built in 1180, remains standing today after almost a millennia. But if you want to visit, it's worth noting that it's only open during the summer months. Cathedral of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil The Cathedral of Brasilia is perhaps one of the most impressive buildings in the country and one of the most visited sites in the Brazilian capital The ceiling is adorned with stained glass, which allows light to fill the church. Apart from the roof, nothing of the building is visible from the street level The Cathedral of Brasilia is perhaps one of the most impressive buildings in the country. Its unusual roof, the only part of the building that's visible from the street-level, is supposed to represent a pair of hands moving up towards heaven. Underneath the roof is an enormous auditorium space that's filled with light thanks to the stained glass ceiling. And with some one million visitors each year, it's one of the biggest attractions in the Brazilian capital. Agioi Saranta cave church, Protaras, Cyprus Behind a simple white wall and blue door lies the Agioi Saranta cave church, which could have been the same today as it was a thousand years ago Little is known about the Agioi Saranta cave church in Protaras but some intrepid travellers have managed to locate it. Behind a white wall and blue door is a natural cave where almost everything has been left untouched. In crevices in the stone, icons have been installed for worshippers. But its simplicity and the way that it could be the same today as a thousand years ago is perhaps its biggest attraction to visitors. Living Water Wayside Chapel, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada The Living Water Wayside Chapel, billed as the smallest church in the world, is a popular place for weddings The Living Water Wayside Chapel in Niagara-on-the-Lake bills itself as the smallest chapel in the world. With room for just six people, it's not difficult to see why. But despite its minuscule size, it's a popular spot for weddings. For tourists, it's a picturesque place to stop on the way from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the waterfalls. Rock churches in Goreme, Turkey The rock churches in Goreme were once part of a monastic complex that was a pilgrimage site in the 17th century In the 17th century, the rock churches at Goreme were considered an important pilgrimage site. Although they are no longer used for religious reasons, the historic spot remain open to visitors as part of the open air museum. Advertisement Crashing waves, starlit skies and spectacular waterfalls are just some of the dramatic backdrops featured in a selection of the world's best destination wedding photographs. Whether photographers captured romantic nuptials under Hawaiian palm trees or couples overlooking Norwegian valleys, Junebug Weddings has chosen the top 50 shots of this year's magical destination weddings from across the globe. The annual contest, which launched in 2014, received 4,000 stunning submissions from professional wedding photographers and they were whittled down by the online wedding planners. Like something out of a fantasy film the dramatic waterfall Selijalandsfoss in Iceland creates a stunning backdrop for this couple The last couple on earth: The epic vista at Torlltunga in Norway conveys sense of majesty in this wedding shot A pair of newlyweds a treated to a sky filled with colourful hot air balloons at Cappadocia in Turkey A bride and groom gaze into each others eyes while waves crash behind them at Bombo Quarry, New South Wales, Australia Breath-taking locations such as Fuji, Iceland, Taiwan, Indonesia, Seychelles and Morocco all made the cut in the final collection. In one photo taken by Wedding Nama, the newlyweds are surrounded by rising hot air balloons in Cappadocia, Turkey. Another highlight shows a love-struck couple gazing into a starry night sky in Yosemite, California, USA. Happily ever after: This dreamy shot was taken at sunset in Kaneoha, Oahu, Hawaii A love-struck couple gazing into a starry night sky in Yosemite, California, USA Junebug Weddings has chosen the top 50 shots of this year's magical destination weddings from across the globe. Pictured is a couple on a boat in Varanasi, India The annual contest, which launched in 2014, received 4,000 stunning submissions from professional wedding photographers and they were whittled down by the online wedding planners Runaway bride and groom: A married couple jog through fields at Queenstown, New Zealand Editor and chef for Junebug weddings, Carrie Schwab said: 'We ask that photographers submit photos that merge the beauty of a destination with the love between a couple. 'Other than this main rule, the contest is pretty open to interpretation, which results in a fun and creative set of images. 'Our expert judges, along with the Junebug Weddings team, look for photos that demonstrate technical skill and creativity. This casual yet romantic image of a young couple was captured in Lembongan Island, Bali, Indonesia Editor and chef for Junebug weddings, Carrie Schwab said: 'We ask that photographers submit photos that merge the beauty of a destination with the love between a couple. Pictured a bride and groom celebrate their marriage in Marrakech Morocco A sultry sunset offsets spectacular architecture and a happy couple in this shot taken in Udaipur, India Surrounded by a school of fish a couple kiss at Turtle Bay Beach at Caneel Bay, St John US Virgin Islands 'Winning photos will also create a sense of wonder and amazement in the viewer. 'The quality of imagery submitted this year blew us away. 'The winning set showcases passion, intimate moments, and breath-taking destinations from all around the world. Life's a journey: Newlyweds walk along dramatic road together in this image taken in Scotland's Highlands A capital affair: London's iconic skyline is the backdrop for this contemporary couple's wedding pictures Intimate moments: A bride and groom embrace at Loch Ard Gorge, Victoria, Australia Love in the City of Light: This image of a couple in a passionate clinch in front of the Eiffel Tower looks like a glamorous advert 'The winning set showcases passion, intimate moments, and breath-taking destinations from all around the world, ' explained Schwab. Pictured a couple in Hamar, Norway The City of Angels looks serene in this cinematic image taken of a couple against a glittering Los Angeles, California skyline 'Last year, we saw a lot of photos showcasing epic landscapes and tiny people. While beautiful, these photos do not connect you to the couple. 'That trend was replaced with intimate moments in this year's submissions.' Budding wedding photographers can find more information here. A pair of horses watch on as a couple sit on a road in Vestjurland, Iceland A playful pair stand on swings and are shot as silhouettes in this image taken in Lombok, Indonesia Passionate pairs: A couple kiss on an American beach (left) while another smooch in front of Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (right) Walking off into the sunset: A pair enjoy sunset together at Queenstown, New Zealand As Britains first male supermodel he's attracted the attention of many women. But Paul Sculfor is now a married man and has revealed his wedding to socialite Federica Amati was 'a dream'. The Britain's Next Top Model judge, 44, enjoyed a lavish ceremony after tying the knot in a Brooks Brothers suit at Christ's Chapel of God's Gift in south London. Overjoyed: Paul Sculfor is now a married man and has revealed his wedding to socialite Federica Amati was 'a dream' At the do were Sculfor's fellow judge Nicky Johnson, as well as models Ryan Krause, Tommy Dunn and Ella Thomas. The full interview can be read in this week's Hello! Speaking to Hello! magazine, Sculfor said: 'I know it's a bit of an odd thing for a man to say, but it really was a dream. It was exactly how it should have been.' Amati wore an off-white georgette silk dress she designed herself, and the male model said he was blown away when he saw her. He said: 'I just thought, 'Wow'. She looked stunning. I felt incredibly happy and very grateful.' The couple met two years ago and Amati, 29, said it was love at first sight. She told the magazine: 'It was like a train hitting me in the face. I wanted to marry him and have his babies.' Ahead of this year's Next Top Model, Paul told FEMAIL about what it takes to make it in the industry. 'A lot of people come into the business and think you just have to stand there, which isnt true,' he said. 'You might have to stand in Jamaica. In the blazing sun. Blazing heat in whatever outfits youre wearing - for a long period of time. You have to keep your energy up, be bubbly - if youre not going to take it on you cant do the job.' As well being the 'right measurements and right height', he stresses how important it is to leave a lasting impression on the casting directors. 'You need to have a personality, you need to be fun and you have to take instruction,' he said. For for the full interview see this week's Hello! Magazine He was spotted looking unlike his usual exuberant self while leaving a TAB near his Melbourne home last month. And Bert Newton's visit to the sports-betting centre has sparked fears the beloved TV star may be slipping back into past habits, according to Woman's Day. But a family friend says the 78-year-old's rock and wife of 42 years Patti 'will help him get through this again'. Scroll down for video Sticking by her husband: Patti Newton is choosing to stay strong amidst fears Bert Newton is gambling big again 'If he is gambling big again, it really is her worse nightmare,' the close friend told the publication. 'But no matter what, Patti will stay by his side. Even in their darkest days she never talked about leaving,' the source added. In 1993, the former Good Morning Australia host's gambling problem almost forced himself and Patti into bankruptcy, a scandal that made front page news at the time. Downcast: Bert was seen leaving a TAB betting centre the day before his 78th birthday in July, causing friends and family to worry about his gambling again The media legend lovingly dubbed "Moonface" owed debts of $1 million and had to rebuild his family's fortune. Bert looked downcast as he was seen stepping out of the TAB in July, the day before his 78th birthday. Dressed in casual clothing, Bert ditched his hairpiece and embraced his natural bald look as he left the venue. Tough times: Bert and Patti's family was rocked by devastating news that the beloved entertainer had landed in debts of $1 million in 1993 Comeback: The former Good Morning Australia host was forced to rebuild his family's fortune after nearly going bankrupt from his debts On his birthday, the entertainer was surrounded by his loved ones, including wife Patti and their daughter Lauren, as well as son-in-law Matt Welsh and grandchildren Sam, Lola and Eva. Patti took to Instagram to share a snap from the celebrations, which took place at Crown Casino in Melbourne. 'Bert had a wonderful birthday dinner at Kokos at Crown .We are so lucky x (sic),' the 71-year-old captioned the family photo. Celebrations: Bert was surrounded by loved ones including Patti, daughter Lauren, son-in-law Matt Welsh and grandchildren Sam, Lola and Eva as he turned 78 on July 23 In February, Bert and Patti became grandparents for the fourth time after their daughter Lauren gave birth to her son Monty. It was previously reported that Monty was a planned pregnancy by Lauren and her former Olympic swimmer husband Matt to bring some happiness to Bert and Patti, who have both been rocked by health scares in recent years. In September last year, a family spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia about Lauren's fourth pregnancy, saying: 'Lauren and Matt are of course thrilled to be having their fourth child as are Bert and Patti with the news.' The bitter dispute between Home and Away star James Stewart and actress Jessica Marais is getting worse - and their five-year old daughter Scout is at the brunt of their spats. According to Sunday Life magazine, the actor claimed Scout's mother is too busy to look after her daughter. 'I am the full-time carer for Scout as Jess is busy working and travelling a lot,' James said. War: The bitter dispute between Home and Away star James Stewart and actress Jessica Marais is getting worse - and their five-year old daughter Scout is at the brunt of their spats 'When Jess is back, Scout is shared 50/50,' the 40-year-old actor added. According to Woman's Day, friends claimed Jess was, 'completely blindsided and hurt' by James's comments. 'Jess was shocked when the story came out,' added the source. 'She was more than surprised that James put her down in such a public way.' Distraught: According to Woman's Day, friends claimed Jess was, 'completely blindsided and hurt' by James's comments Scroll down for video Opening up: Home And Away actor James Stewart has spoken about reasons for their split in May last year The source added that Jess is also upset that James has been sharing snaps of Scout on social media. 'Jess doesn't do the whole social media thing. She's a very private person when it comes to her personal life and doesn't like the fact James shares photos of their daughter with the world.' The couple confirmed their split in May last year after a five-year romance, during which they welcomed daughter Scout. And James Stewart admits his and Jessica Marais' relationship didn't stand the test of time due to their hearts going in 'different directions'. The pair were together for four years, announcing their engagement in October 2010, before welcoming daughter Scout in May 2012. But in May last year a representative for the couple confirmed they had split, issuing a statement that read: 'Jessica Marais and James Stewart have amicably separated. 'Their main focus at this time is the co-parenting of their daughter and they ask that media respect their privacy.' In his candid column for Sunday Life, James explains: 'Our relationship didn't work out because I think hearts go in different directions eventually'. He also acknowledged that their nine-year age difference may have contributed to different priorities. Split: In May last year the couple confirmed they had split, and James says 'Our relationship didn't work out because I think hearts go in different directions eventually' Family: The couple share five-year-old daughter Scout He admitted the two were better off since going their separate ways, as he shifted his acting career, having landed a role on soap Home And Away. In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph earlier this year, he said of the split: 'It always does [take time]. But when there's another little human involved, a bigger person comes out....I think we've both turned in to much bigger people because of it'. James has been busy filming scenes for the soap and looking after Scout, while Jessica is next set to star in Channel Ten drama The Wrong Girl. Doting dad: James says 'I'm a single father now', though when Jessica isn't working, 'Scout is shared 50/50' A night with pals is often the perfect remedy for a broken heart. And Georgia May Foote ensured she was shirking her love woes as she got glammed up in a stunning snap, just one day after announcing the demise of her romance with her dancer beau Giovanni Pernice. The 25-year-old former Coronation Street star sizzled in a stunning shot shared with her 474,000 Instagram followers on Sunday night, in which she showed off every inch of her incredible curves in a plunging gown. Scroll down for video Onward and upward: Georgia May Foote ensured she was shirking her love woes as she got glammed up in a stunning snap, just one day after announcing the demise of her romance with her dancer beau Giovanni Pernice Georgia, who took to Twitter to reveal the couple's split, appeared worlds away from her woes as she slipped into a sizzling little black dress for a night with her 'bestest friend in the whole world (sic)'. Proving herself to be every inch the vamp, the brunette beauty slicked on a plum-coloured lipstick while pulling her lustrous tresses over one shoulder having styled her locks into volumunious waves. The dress was deeply plunging in its neckline yet joined at the top to create a fashionable choker detail, which wrapped in with her strappy sandals, used to boost her diminutive height. Rounding out the look was a pair of oversized hoop earrings which further enhanced the glamour of the look, while her pal also went for a racy feel while flashing her bra in a sexy shirt dress. Split: Georgia and Giovanni's split comes less than a year after confirming their Strictly Come Dancing romance Georgia and Giovanni's split comes less than a year after confirming their Strictly Come Dancing romance. The pair - who met when they were partnered on the dancing show in 2015 - have called time on their romance, Georgia announced on Saturday. The news comes after the actress confirmed that she would feel jealous when Giovanni was partnered up again this year, though the duo insist that there is no third party involved in their separation. Single: Georgia confirmed that she still loved her ex 'very, very much' in a string of tweets She wrote: '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.' Giovanni retweeted the message on his own account. Announcement: Georgia made the announcement on her Twitter page using a notepad feature Support: It was accompanied by a tweet that thanked her fans for their support A lot of love: Georgia reminded fans that her love for Giovanni was genuine In a second post, she wrote: '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 be respectful to me at this time by not saying awful things. This is a hard time for me.' Georgia was originally dating her Corrie co-star Sean Ward, who plays villain Callum Logan, until December 2015. The couple had been together for around five months when they were forced to laugh off claims that her relationship with dance professional Giovanni was growing stronger, especially when they shared a kiss on one live show. Georgia and Giovanni finished as runners-up on the dance competition, losing out to The Wanted's Jay McGuinness. Honest: Georgia revealed this month that she was likely to get jealous when Giovanni was teamed-up with a new partner in Strictly Theirs became just one the show's now famous partner romances, and her relationship with Sean fell foul of 'the Strictly curse' as it fell apart shortly after the final. Hinting that she was concerned about Giovanni getting close to another woman on the dance floor, Georgia revealed earlier this month that she was likely to get jealous when he was teamed-up with a new dance partner in 2016. Speaking to OK!, her comments come ahead of the BBC1 show's new season, which will launch in the autumn. She said: 'Of course I'll get jealous. Whoever Giovanni gets is a very lucky girl. He's a great teacher. [But]I'm excited for whoever he gets and, yeah, he's a great teacher, so I'm happy for him. I think it's fine. But at the same time, I don't envy them. It's such hard work.' Love at first sight: Georgia and Giovanni met whilst filming Strictly Come Dancing in late 2015 (here on tour in January) In March of this year former Coronation Street actress Georgia praised Giovanni for helping her through some tough times. She said: 'Gio is my best friend and he helped me through a lot. He's the best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm in a very good place now. I've got good people around me. 'It's something that just happened, I didn't get a chance to look at him that way while I was on the show. It was a friendship that blossomed.' Although Georgia did not go into detail about what exactly Giovanni helped her through, she could be referring to drama with her ex-boyfriend Sean. Green-eyed monster: Speaking to OK! , her comments come ahead of the BBC1 show's new season, which will launch in the autumn Looking good: It's no surprise Giovanni fell for the brunette beauty, who epitomizes glamour It has been claimed that her relationship with Sean ended in dramatic fashion when he reportedly flew into a jealous rage on the night of the Strictly final. The former Corrie co-stars are said to have become embroiled in the heated row over her relationship with Giovanni, who she started dating after the show ended. According to The Sun, when all the contestants were staying in the Village Hotel in Elstree, Hertfordshire, Sean is claimed to have 'thrown Georgia around' before smashing her iPhone and breaking a wall. A source told the publication: 'Sean went absolutely mental and Georgia was left terrified and covered in bruises. Strictly curse: Georgia was originally dating her Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward (here in October 2015) until December last year 'After the final, Georgia and Sean went back to her room. He was acting very strangely and started a huge fight... He flew into a jealous rage and started smashing everything up. He was also really cruel to her, calling her names. 'It was a messy affair. Georgia was incredibly upset and grateful that her cries had been heard. Georgia absolutely adored Sean but he grew more and more controlling as the relationship went on.' Fortunately, it seems that she has managed to move on from the alleged incident. During an appearance on Lorraine in May, Georgia couldn't help gushing about her partner, even admitting she was learning Italian for her man. 'My boyfriend is Italian, so I'm trying to learn a little bit,' she said. 'Even if we didn't end up together, he would be my friend for life. I know it's cringey to say but we're like one big happy family.' She recently got engaged to Snapchat co-founder Evan Spiegel. And Miranda Kerr looked sizzling hot in the latest BONDS swimwear campaign shot on a Malibu beach. The 33-year-old Australian model showcased her perfect curves and sun kissed tan in a set of skimpy swimwear from BONDS latest range BONDS SWIM available in September. Scroll down for video Beach babe: The 33-year-old Victoria's Secret Model showcased her perfect curves and sun kissed tan in a set of skimpy bikinis from the BONDS latest range shot on a beach in Malibu In one shot she was seen running through the water in a bright pink bikini holding a silver drawstring bag teamed with a white man style watch and a silver necklace and bangle. Another shot saw her roaming in the sea wearing a stunning tropical floral number paired with coloured and gold bangles. Tropical beauty: Another shot saw her roaming in the sea wearing a stunning tropical floral number paired with coloured and gold bangles Perky: wearing a black one-piece, the yoga enthusiast smiled for the cameras as she held a black and white surfboard and showcased her pert posterior to perfection Wearing a black one-piece, the yoga enthusiast smiled for the cameras as she held a black and white surfboard and showcased her pert posterior to perfection. One of the original BONDS girls, Miranda first worked with the brand in 2002. She joins BONDS again to celebrate its 100th birthday. Bond girl: One of the original BONDS girls, Miranda first worked with the brand in 2002. She joins BONDS again to celebrate its 100th birthday Red-hot: Miranda Kerr looked sizzling hot in the latest BONDS swimwear campaign Meanwhile, in July Daily Mail broke the news that Miranda accepted a proposal from 26-year-old tech superstar Evan, who she has been dating for one year. 'They are extremely happy,' a spokesperson for the Snapchat CEO told Daily Mail exclusively. Miranda later shared an image of her stunning sparkler to Instagram confirming that Evan had indeed asked her to be his wife, with the beaming message: 'I said yes!!!' Forbes has valued Spiegel - who founded Snapchat while he was still at Stanford - at $2.1billion, making him one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the world. Miranda and Evan stepped out in public together as a couple in June 2015 after first meeting at a Louis Vuitton dinner in New York City in 2014. News! Miranda later shared an image of her stunning sparkler to Instagram confirming that Evan had indeed asked her to be his wife, with the beaming message: 'I said yes!!!' The model said that even though they hit it off together almost immediately, they began their relationship as friends. 'We were really good friends for a long time before we started dating,' said Miranda when she was asked how her and Evan came together. The supermodel has also said in the past that she waited six months before she introduced Evan to her five-year-old son Flynn. She said: '[My ex and I decided] that we had to know the person for six months and feel good about them [before introducing them to Flynn]. Just friends: The model said that even though they hit it off together almost immediately, they began their relationship as friends They are TV's closest pals - lovingly dubbing themselves Willofield. So Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were no doubt thrilled to be reunited as they rounded out their summer hiatus to return to work hosting This Morning. The hilarious duo were joined by a bevvy of fellow ITV Daytime stars, including Alison Hammond, Trinny Woodall, Lorraine Kelly and Coleen Nolan to film a Love Actually style preview to mark their return to work after a relaxing summer break. Back for good! Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were no doubt thrilled to be reunited as they rounded out their summer hiatus to return to work hosting This Morning Holly and Phillip have co-presented This Morning for seven years, after the blonde beauty replaced Fern Britton in the role, and their friendship has been unbreakable ever since. In the 23-second clip, the various stars of ITV's morning shows were seen arriving in London City airport, made to look as though they had just touched down from a summer holiday while The Beach Boys' 1966 track God Only Knows plays. Holly certainly injected a touch of summer as she looked radiant in a sleeveless shirt dress with intricate embroidery smattered across the design, while nipping in at her famously tiny waist. Phillip meanwhile opted for comic effect in his ensemble as he slipped into a garish Hawaiian shirt as he emerged from a lift with a mound of luxury luggage in his wake. All star party: The hilarious duo were joined by a bevvy of fellow ITV Daytime stars, including Alison Hammond, Trinny Woodall, Lorraine Kelly and Coleen Nolan to film a Love Actually style preview to mark their return to work after a relaxing summer break Yay! Holly could not contain her smiles as she headed to her co-star Having a laugh: Phillip meanwhile opted for comic effect in his ensemble as he slipped into a garish Hawaiian shirt as he emerged from a lift with a mound of luxury luggage in his wake Tres chic! As Trinny points towards Holly's best pal, the duo unite and lock in a sweet hug while both beaming from ear to ear As he pulled a silly pose upon emergence, his blonde co-host was seen gasping with joy as she stood alongside Trinny, who acts as This Morning's resident fashion expert. As Trinny points towards Holly's best pal, the duo unite and lock in a sweet hug while both beaming from ear to ear. Trinny too approached the silver haired fox as she sported a typically fashion forward look comprising of a glimmering top layered beneath a checked blazer. Stylish: Trinny too approached the silver haired fox as she sported a typically fashion forward look comprising of a glimmering top layered beneath a checked blazer We go way back! Holly and Phillip have co-presented This Morning for seven years, after the blonde beauty replaced Fern Britton in the role, and their friendship has been unbreakable ever since Catch up time! In the 23-second clip, the various stars of ITV's morning shows were seen arriving in London City airport, made to look as though they had just touched down from a summer holiday while The Beach Boys' 1966 track God Only Knows plays Matching! Never ones to miss out on the fun, the Loose Women cast were out in force, with each star putting on a bold display, led by Andrea McLean who opted for a bold pink trench which complemented Lorraine's striped top Over here! The rest of the Loose Women touch down in the form of June Sarpong, Coleen Nolan and Nadia Sawalha (pictured) Never ones to miss out on the fun, the Loose Women cast were out in force, with each star putting on a bold display, led by Andrea McLean who opted for a bold pink trench which complemented Lorraine's striped top. The rest of the Loose Women touch down in the form of June Sarpong, Coleen Nolan and Nadia Sawalha. Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan is left dismayed when his co-host Susanna Reid runs towards him only to unduly ignore him and run to Lorraine. Other stars to appear in the clip include Charlotte Hawkins, Sean Fletcher and Ruth Langsford. The Loose Women! Coleen looked stunning in a terracotta and bright orange top Chic: June looked fabulous in sunny yellow Ready for anything: Nadia's was a sportier ensemble as she looked chilled out He's the superhero from out of this world. But it appears Thor has very human feelings when talking about not being involved in saving the world with the other Avengers in Captain America: Civil War. And after being overlooked, Thor has taken a sabbatical from superhero duties and instead spent some time in Australia, making friends with his new house mate Darryl Jacobson. Scroll down for video 'I needed some me time': Thor Odinson has opened up about his life in Australia with new house mate Darryl Jacobson, with the superhero admitting he needed some time off after saving the world He confessed to the camera: 'I needed some me time. I came to Australia and that's when I moved in with Darryl'. 'I guess I wanted to just be around average everyday people and Darryl is an average sort of everyday guy, it works out well,' Thor said as Darryl vacuumed around the hammer on the floor. While Chris Hemsworth wasn't in costume, he certainly was in character for the short mock documentary, posted to Marvel Studios Facebook page. However, unlike his serious and surly superhero character in the film franchise, Chris brought his comedy chops to the spoof video. In one scene, the demi-god is seen sharing a cappuccino with Bruce Banner as the boys talk fashion. Time out of the spotlight: Chris Hemsworth wasn't in costume, he certainly was in character for the short clip, posted to Marvel Studios Facebook page on Monday Coffee catch-up! The demi-god is seen sharing a cappuccino with Bruce Banner (L) as the boys talk fashion Too busy to talk: The superhero looks downcast when Tony Stark calls the scientist, having not heard from the inventor behind Iron Man - who again fobbed him off during the chat with Bruce Missing in action: Thor then tells the camera: 'Am I disappointed they didn't ask me to fight with them? No!' When Tony Stark calls the scientist, the superhero looks downcast, having not heard from the inventor behind Iron Man, despite 'crafting an electronic letter' to him with the help of Darryl. 'Here, talk to Thor, he's sort of been waiting to hear from you. I have him right here. Oh, you can't right now?' Bruce is seen saying down the phone. Bruce, who is also the Hulk, passes on the message, telling Thor: 'He doesn't know how to get in touch with you'. 'I don't have a phone...send a raven,' he desperately announces. Giving back to the community: In the clip Thor is seen 'getting involved in the community' and talking to school children Bit bored: Thor also visits Darryl at work and seemingly annoys him while he is trying to work Thor then tells the camera: 'Am I disappointed they didn't ask me to fight with them? No!' Adding defiantly from the couch: 'I'll just start my own team - me...and Darryl of course - just us, right D?' before giving him a high-five. Also in the video, Thor gives a tour of his bedroom, where his hammer sleeps in a make-shift bed created in the bed-side table. Hammer time! Thor gives a tour of his bedroom, where his hammer sleeps in a make-shift bed created in the bed-side table Team Thor! 'I'll just start my own team - me...and Darryl of course - just us, right D?' Thor said before giving Darryl a high-five He is seen 'getting involved in the community' and talking to school children before visiting Darryl at work and seemingly annoying him. It's not the first time Chris Hemsworth has poked fun at Thor being left out of Captain America: Civil War, which saw Iron Man and Captain America form their own teams of superheroes including Black Widow, Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch, as well as newcomers Spiderman, Black Panther and Ant-Man. In April, the buff hunk posted a clip on Facebook as he did one armed pull ups on rings, telling fans tongue-in-cheek: You know its funny, everyone keeps asking me, are you Team Cap or Team Iron Man? Who cares! 'You just leave the two biggest, strongest Avengers out of this one did ya? It's not the first time Chris Hemsworth has poked fun at Thor being left out of Captain America: Civil War - he previously posted a video on Facebook about the snub, while doing pulls ups 'Where was the invite for me and Hulk - you just leave the two biggest, strongest Avengers out of this one did ya? he adds. Or is this fight, is this one for the kids, where the kids just have a scrap on their own and we just sit on the sidelines? Youre all pathetic. 'Well, listen up, when youre done messing around the big boys can step in' he finishes as he catches his hammer with ease, while continuing to do pull-ups. This red carpet is known for its shocking looks and for its baby bump reveals but this couple decided to combine both with some serious head turning results. While Catfish's Nev Schulman usually makes a quiet entrance into MTV events, this year he and his fiancee, Laura Perlongo, stole the show at the MTV VMAs. The 31-year-old television host and his eight-month pregnant love did their best to re-create the much-memed awkward pregnancy photo shoots in New York on Sunday - and certainly succeeded at the awkward part. Scroll down for video and all the MTV VMA winners Bump's first red carpet: While Catfish's Nev Schulman usually makes a quiet entrance into MTV events, this year he and his fiancee, Laura Perlongo, stole the show at the MTV VMAs in New York on Sunday night Like many of the pregnancy photo shoots that have come before them, Nev's 30-year-old fiancee went topless to better highlight her pregnant form. Only some double sided tape and strategically placed military green jacket ensured Laura's look made it past the censors. But there was no covering her baby bump, which protruded over her black pants. While the look was shocking the couple were clearly having a laugh, with Nev also dressing in green and black, although he kept his jacket done up and his chest covered. Pregnant pose: The 31-year-old television host and his eight-month pregnant love did their best to re-create the much-memed awkward pregnancy photo shoots Dared to bare: Like many of the pregnancy photo shoots that have come before them, Nev's 30-year-old fiancee went topless to better highlight her pregnant form Cheeky couple: While the look was shocking the couple were clearly having a laugh, with Nev also dressing in green and black, although he kept his jacket done up and his chest covered Hamming up for the cameras, Nev stood behind his fiancee replicating the pose done by expecting couples in their pregnancy photo shoots. The Catfish star then bent down and kissed his partner of just over a year's bump. The couple announced they were expecting and engaged back in May and will get to meet their little girl in just two months. Hamming it up: The Catfish star bent down and kissed his partner of just over a year's bump Wait you're pregnant! The pair kept the laughs coming inside the venue - and somehow laura managed to not have a wardrobe malfunction Writing for website Attn:, Laura said while the pregnancy was unplanned they were ready. She wrote: 'I knew right away I wanted this baby. I was strong. I was smart. I was full of love. I COULD DO THIS!.''I was confident Id be great. Nev was confident he would be great. HE COULD DO THIS!,' she added. Laura revealed they had only been dating for seven months including a break in August 'but we were optimistic and in love'. Loved up: Jokes aside, the 31-year-old host looked blissfully happy with his pregnant partner Not long now: The couple announced they were expecting and engaged back in May and will get to meet their little girl in just two months Teresa Giudice and =Jacqueline Laurita finally put their bad blood behind them on Sunday's episode of The Real Housewives Of New Jersey. The former friends had a huge falling out earlier this season when Jacqueline confronted Teresa about her imprisonment, so their co-stars organized a spa weekend to try and help patch things up. Things started off frostily between the pair but when Jacqueline grew upset about her autistic son the tension between them melted and they managed to make up and move on. Yoga instructor: Teresa Giudice buried the hatchet with Jacqueline Laurita on Sunday's episode of The Real Housewives Of New Jersey 'I'm looking forward to having some girl time to celebrate that my ankle bracelet came off but I am not really looking forward to hanging out with Jacqueline,' Teresa told the cameras as she, Dolores Catania and Melissa Gorga drove to the spa together. 'I am not going to let Jacqueline bother me, namaste. Who wants to be around crazy?,' said Teresa who became a yoga devotee while behind bars. Teresa brought up Jacqueline asking her about her legal issues. 'She was the first person to hurt me since I came home and now I have to go away with her. I am only doing it because of you guys. Back on: Jacqueline and Teresa got their friendship back on track after a rocky period 'I am not bringing anything up, if she wants to talk to me then she can bring it up,' Teresa declared. Siggy Flicker and Jacqueline also drove together and Siggy asked her if she was nervous about the weekend getaway. 'No. We should all be able to play in the same sandbox,' she said confidently. Friendly intervention: The other ladies organized the getaway in hopes of getting Teresa and Jacqueline back on friendly terms Getting away: Teresa and Jacqueline were driven separately to the spa by their friends 'Until someone s***s in there,' she hurriedly added. 'As adults we should be able to be in the same room together and not get into a fight. If Teresa makes a dig I will just bury her,' Jacqueline warned. Siggy told her that it 'would be good' as Teresa wanted to make it work. All good: Siggy assured Jacqueline the meeting with Teresa would work out But the tension was obvious from the very start as Teresa and Jacqueline refused to even acknowledge each other. 'She walks in and ignores me, it is like, ''Why did you even come?''' said an instantly irritated Teresa. Jacqueline went to her room in the basement and Teresa told the other women: 'Maybe I'll throw her down the stairs.' Rough start: Teresa joked about throwing Jacqueline down the stairs after their frosty greeting Siggy then tried to break the ice and jokingly introduced the women to each other. 'I will speak when spoken to, meaning if Teresa is friendly with me then I will be friendly with her,' Jacqueline told the cameras. 'Jacqueline, you remember me? I just wanted to say hi,' said Teresa icily. Total freedom: The gals were meeting up to celebrate Teresa's first weekend without her ankle monitoring bracelet 'Nice to meet you,' said Jacqueline as she held out a hand that Teresa eventually shook. 'I hope this was a good idea it's like super awkward,' Melissa told the cameras as Teresa complained about how uncomfortable the introduction had been. Over dinner Teresa and Jacqueline's frosty relationship seemed to thaw as they recalled a trip to Italy together. That was awkward: Melissa was wondering if the weekend getaway was a good idea after Teresa and Jacqueline's awkward greeting Jacqueline told the girls that the past few years had been 'very difficult' for them financially. 'I am shocked to hear that, but I think that everyone at some time or another goes through problems. I wish everyone a beautiful life but sometimes that is not how life works,' Teresa told the cameras. Siggy told the ladies that she had given up everything to get divorced and that when she and partner Michael had got together they had both lost everything and built their way back up together. Candid conversation: Siggy and Dolores listened as the ladies shared their past hardships 'When you are down you see who your true friends are,' said Siggy. Melissa told the women that in 2008 they had lost everything and did not have money to even buy diapers. Teresa told them that she understood their difficulties as she and husband Joe had been through plenty of their own. Tough times: Teresa talked about her own difficulties and having her marriage questioned 'Everyone says to me that any other woman would have left Joe and they say ''How do you stay with him?'' What do you mean how do I stay with him? I love my husband,' she said. Siggy wiped away tears as she admitted hearing their survival stories made her emotional. And as they sat outside by a roaring fire Teresa seemed to be warming up to Jacqueline as they drank red wine. Around the fire: Jacqueline lightened the mood while sitting around the fire Warming up: Teresa started warming up to Jacqueline while around the open fire 'One thing I have to tell you about Jacqueline is that she is amazing and we have never had like a jealousy thing, which I love,' said Teresa. Teresa told the women how hard it had been for her daughters when she was in prison and that she had been terrified that her youngest, Audriana, would forget who she was. The conversation made Jacqueline very emotional and she wiped away tears as Melissa and Teresa talked about her daughters. Getting emotional: Jacqueline wiped away tears after Teresa talked about being in prison and how hard it was on her daughters 'Teresa and I had our babies together and it is just hard to picture Audriana having to visit her in the way she did and Teresa having to see her and let go of her,' she said as Teresa told Jacqueline that she wanted her to attend her book launch. Back at the house the women jumped into pajamas and decided to play a joke on the husbands. Teresa then had a video chat with Joe and told him that she and Jacqueline had gotten into a huge fight. Good one: Teresa played a joke on her husband Joe and pretended she and Jacqueline were fighting 'Listen can you come and get me this f***ing b**ch Jacqueline,' she shouted at Joe as he played cards with her husband Chris. 'Tell me why you are hanging out with him? I told you not to hang out with him,' Teresa shrieked as the prank continued. Joe told her that he liked Chris before realizing he was being pranked as Jacqueline shoved the phone down her cleavage. Fooled him: The woman laughed as Joe fell for the prank With spirits high the women played wine pong and the booze kept flowing before Teresa and Melissa finally jumped into bed together and went to sleep. The next morning as the women ate breakfast Siggy found Jacqueline sobbing in her room. Jacqueline explained that it was hard for her to hear the other women talking about the exploits of their children as she and Chris raised their autistic son, Nicholas. Wine pong: The weekend getaway featured a spirited game of wine pong Tears flowing: Jacqueline later got emotional thinking about her autistic son Nicholas 'My child's childhood is different from theirs,' she explained sadly. 'He works so hard every day to do the things that other kids do so easily. At this age he does not notice the differences but one day he might,' Jacqueline said. Soon all of the women were there to support her. Proud mom: The reality star said Nicholas provided her with plenty of proud moments Showing support: The woman rallied around Jacqueline to give her support 'I celebrate him every day,' Jacqueline explained as the other women hugged and encouraged her. 'I can't even begin to understand what Jacqueline is going through and it breaks my heart into a zillion pieces,' said Teresa. 'When she needs a shoulder to cry on then I am here for her. What just happened made me realize that what happened at her house maybe happened after a bad day with Nicholas,' she said. Open shoulder: Teresa said she'd be there if Jacqueline needed a shoulder to cry on Jacqueline told the cameras how happy she was that Teresa had been so supportive of her that morning. 'I needed lifting up, it is the first time in a while Teresa has been there and it was nice having her there,' said Jacqueline. 'She is trying to make an effort and I do appreciate that,' she added. Feeling better: Jacqueline felt lifted up by Teresa and appreciated the effort Melissa and Dolores sat by the pool as Melissa admitted she had 'to walk on eggshells' around her sister-in-law. The pair then talked about Jacqueline and Teresa, and with the women just yards away it was obvious they were being gossiped about. 'We are all getting along really well but the second someone starts talking about Teresa and I it is going to go bad,' said Jacqueline who confronted them and shouted: 'Secrets don't make friends.' No secrets: The others were urged by Jacqueline not to keep secrets Teresa and Jacqueline got a spa treatment together and Teresa told her that if she needed any help all she had to do was call her and that she believed Nicholas was going to get better. 'I know we have had our fallings out,' Teresa told her. And that was enough for Jacqueline who apologized for her behavior. Good times: The old pals were soon laughing again High five: Teresa and Jacqueline quickly also gave each other a high five Spa time: Jacqueline and Teresa also enjoyed some spa time together 'I know I say s****y things when I am angry and I am sorry for that,' said Jacqueline. Teresa told the cameras that she had not even been waiting for an apology from her friend. 'I guess I am not that person that I was before where I would have wanted an apology or I would not have talked to her again,' she admitted before telling Jacqueline that she would always be there for her. She's changed: Teresa wasn't waiting for an apology but was glad to get one from Jacqueline Prison pending: Joe Giudice before going to prison spent some time with his friend Rino 'I feel like this is a breakthrough, she is showing me she cares. It is nice to have her ask about me and really listen,' said Jacqueline. Teresa later admitted that she had not really been around when Jacqueline's son had been diagnosed and that it was 'nice' to get an apology from her. Over dinner Jacqueline told the women that Teresa was 'like a sister' to her but that when she gets angry she 'says ugly things' and then regretted it. Like a sister: Jacqueline said Teresa was like a sister and admitted saying ugly things when angry Yoga gal: Teresa struck a namaste pose while talking about the benefits of yoga Jacqueline could not help herself though and confronted Melissa and Dolores for whispering about her at the pool earlier and admitted she had been reading their lips. 'Oh God, here comes the paranoia. We were not talking about you then and we are not talking about you know. Jacqueline is her own worst enemy,' Melissa told the cameras. Teresa told her friend that she 'needed to let her mind relax' and not worry so much about what people might be saying. Pool time: Teresa, Siggy and Jacqueline lounged by the pool as Melissa and Dolores whispered about them 'I do need to quit thinking so much and accept things as they are in the moment,' Jacqueline admitted. The next day Teresa taught the girls yoga and helped them with their headstands. She predicted it could help Jacqueline deal with things in a better way. Teaching time: The former prison inmate taught a yoga class to her friends It is not the sort of appointment one expects to be late for. But Drake missed out on picking up his MTV VMA gong for best hip hop video after getting 'stuck in traffic' on Sunday night. The unfortunate mishap meant his award was kept by its presenter Diddy, who famously feuded with the star in the past. The gong no-show: Diddy got to hold on to Drake's best hip hop video award after the rapper got 'stuck in traffic' on his way to the MTV VMAs in New York Sunday After announcing the Canadian I'm Goin In warbler had won the prestigious paperweight, the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy told the audience his old foe was 'stuck in traffic.' It was an impressive coup for the rapper, as he beat off the likes of Byson Tiller, Chance the Rapper, Desiigner, and 2 Chainz for the honour, though his absence did take some shine away from things. Unsurprisingly the seemingly lame excuse was pounced upon by social media users, who took to Twitter to poke fun at the rapper, who is notorious for not attending awards shows. Thankfully he later showed up later - in a tuxedo no less - to give girlfriend Rihanna the award for Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Stand up guy? Perhaps Diddy utilised his famous wit when he said Drake was in a jam Conspiracy theorist: One fan was convinced kingpin Diddy had arranged the traffic jam One called Andrew Spena said: 'Hot take: Diddy caused a traffic jam so he could walk off with Drake's moon man.' Self-styled internet comic Michael Buckley said: 'Don't you think @Drake told his driver to drive around the block a few times?#HeKnew #VMAs.' And, in a tweet many watching the show no doubt sympathised with, Vanity Fair critic Richard Lawson said: 'I wish I was stuck in traffic.' Better late than never: Drake later gave Rihanna the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award Everyone's a critic: But a fair few watching probably appreciated Richard Lawson's sarcasm Thankfully for the jammed up star he had plenty of other opportunities to bask in the limelight. He was also nominated in the video of the year, best art direction, best female video, and best male video categories. Hopefully the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy is nicer to Drake when he sees him than back in 2014, when he allegedly slugged the Canadian for 'disrespect' after he recorded 0 to 100/ The Catch without him. Top of the hops: Hotline Bling won the prize of best hip hop video She's been busy promoting her new film Suicide Squad in Japan over the past week. But it hasn't been all work and no play for Margot Robbie, who enjoyed some downtime and visited a animal-themed cafe in Tokyo. The 26-year-old actress looked radiant as she held a tiny hedgehog in her hand during the outing on Saturday. When in Japan! Australian actress Margot Robbie posed for an Instagram photo as she held a tiny hedgehog at an animal-themed cafe in Tokyo on 'Hedgehog cafe in #tokyo,' the Australian stunner wrote on Instagram. With her golden hair styled in a loose wave, Margot smiled at the miniature creature for the social media photo. Swapping her red carpet gowns for a casual outfit, the Queensland-born beauty wore a white T-shirt underneath a pair of overalls. Time out: The 26-year-old stunner has been promoting her new film Suicide Squad in Japan this past week. Pictured in the film with co-host Will Smith Earlier that day, Margot tried her hand at making mochi, a type of Japanese rice cake during, with co-star Karen Fukuhara. She shared an Instagram video of the pair enthusiastically bashing the glutinous rice dough with large mixing sticks. On Wednesday, Margot was greeted by a group of adoring fans as she touched down at Narita International Airport. Having fun! During her trip, Margot visited a restaurant to make mochi, a type of Japanese rice cake, with Suicide Squad co-star Karen Fukuhara She cut a stylish figure as she strutted through the terminal, dressed in a white wrap dress and pink suede heels. Margot showed off her flawless complexion with minimal make-up and a hint of pink gloss on her lips. In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, the Wolf Of Wall Street actress revealed some of the quirky tricks of her beauty regime. Stunning: Margot recently revealed her quirky beauty regime, including a 'beer shower' 'I like to have a beer showera nice beer in the shower,' she told the publication. She explained a crew member on 2016 film Whiskey Tango Foxtrot said drinking an ice-cold beer in a hot bath or shower helps her sleep. 'I was like, "That sounds perfect!" So now when I get home from work, I have a beer shower or a beer bath if I have time.' Nick Clark discovered that he was part of a Mexican religious death cult on Sunday's episode of Fear The Walking Dead. The ninth episode of the second season, entitled Los Muertos, kicked off with Nick seeing a weak man self-sacrificing himself to be eaten by walkers inside the compound. Luciana and the rest of the colony watched on chanting as the man's young daughter tearfully watched him go. Death cult: Nick Clark aligned himself with a Mexican death cult on Sunday's episode of ear The Walking Dead Nick asked Luciana about the bizarre ritual after she asked him to go on a supply mission with her. 'Those near death deliver themselves to the dead. They protect us,' she told him. Luciana then told Nick that the people in La Colonia believe the survivors have been chosen to take over the earth when all of the dead are eventually gone. Booze buddies: Victor Strand and Madison Clark meanwhile were boozing it up in an abandoned hotel bar Ultimate sacrifice: A community member made the ultimate sacrifice and walked into a wall of zombies Supply run: Luciana recruited Nick for a supply run and they covered themselves in zombie blood Nick and Luciana after smearing themselves with zombie blood arrived at a supply warehouse run by former drug dealers to trade medicine for water and supplies. But instead of the normal two carts worth of supplies they were normally allowed the group said they could only fill one cart. Nick and Luciana filled the cart but as they were set to leave Nick was tackled to the ground by one the group's leader Marco who saw him steal a candy bar. Shopping time: Nick and Luciana were allowed to fill one shopping cart with supplies Brother and sister: Marco while tending to his sister shot Nick the evil eye Hands off: Marco threatened to cut Nick's hands off for stealing Tense situation: Nick with Luciana's help was able to talk himself out of the dire situation When Marco was just about to cut off Nick's hands with a machete, Nick threatened that he would cut off the group's supply of Oxycontin painkiller drugs if they do not let him go. And he went a step further by negotiating for a second cart by telling Marco that the woman he saw him taking care of was his sister and a drug addict. The pair returned to La Colonia and Nick gave the stolen candy bar to the daughter of the man who sacrificed himself to be eaten by the zombies. Controversial mov: The girl whose father sacrificed himself was given the candy by Nick Alejandro then took him aside and scolded Nick for putting them in danger before showing him a healed bite mark on his shoulder. The pharmacist then preached and the group - including Nick - chanted in Spanish 'From death we come and to death we deliver ourselves.' Madison, Victor, Alicia and Ofelia meanwhile returned to the yacht Abigail, but they found that it was gone, with Strand suggesting it had been taken by the military. Never again: Alejandro scolded Nick for putting their community in danger Death cult: The pharmacist and preacher spoke to a congregation about death On their own: Alicia, Madison, Victor and Ofelia meanwhile were on their own Boat gone: Victor and the crew found his yacht Abigail was gone Without their boat the group turned to a deserted seaside hotel where they found the remains of a wedding party that had been invaded by the dead. Alicia and Ofelia went off to find supplies from the seemingly uninhabited hotel while Madison and Victor went to the bar to drink. They were able to gather supplies when they realized that rooms with the dead inside already had been marked with Do Not Disturb signs. On the house: Madison opened up while throwing back drinks with Victor After grabbing water and food from the minibars they discovered a man who had turned into a zombie despite hanging himself in a shower, which Ofelia struggled to accept. 'We are not going to make it,' she told Alicia. Alicia told her to stay positive about their situation but after taking a shower she found that Ofelia had disappeared as the dead began jumping off balconies. Suicidal tendency: A man who turned into a zombie after hanging himself in the shower freaked out Ofelia Lost hope: Ofelia apparently has lost hope and Alicia they were not going to make it At the bar Madison told Strand that she did not think she would ever see Nick again and that her son 'was born lost' like his father and had his 'darkness.' Madison also told Strand that Stephen's fatal car accident had not been caused by him falling asleep despite what she had told the children. Strand took to the piano to play and Madison toasted to'false hope' and threw glasses at the wall, attracting the dead to them. The episode ended with Madison and Strand struggling to fight off a group of the dead who had them totally surrounded in the bar while Alicia also was fighting them off upstairs. She's the Bachelor contestant who's used to flaunting her body in front of a camera. And Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris looked every inch the professional poser as she stripped down to a tiny floral bikini for a beach shoot in Bali over the weekend. Pulling a series of playful and sultry faces, the 28-year-old bombshell was seen flaunting her ample bust and pert derriere throughout the session. Scroll down for video Pretty as a petal! Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris flaunted her model physique as she posed for a beach shoot in Bali on Sunday Cheeky! The 28-year-old flashed her toned derriere in barely-there bikini bottoms as the waves crashed into her Working her angles: The Bachelor bombshell made sure to show off her best sides as she posed on the sand With her long blonde locks cascading over her shoulders, the reality TV starlet proved why she's managed to keep Richie Strahan's attention on the dating show. Leaning over in one of the shots, Kiki flashed her pert posterior in a pair of Brazilian-cut swimsuit bottoms as the waves crashed between her legs. The former Zoo model proved she's confident in her body of work as she posed up a storm. Confident: Kiki sported dramatic eye makeup and a touch of pink lipstick to show off her model pout Making sure to work her best angles, the personal assistant was seen arching her back as she cast her glaze back towards the lens. The bronzed beauty showed off her rib tattoo for the shoot, a passage by American author Henry van Dyke. The words read: 'Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.' Tat's a good pose! The former Zoo model's rib cage tattoo was visible during the seaside shoot Flaunt it: The personal assistant's ink is a passage by American author Henry van Dyke Bronzed beauty: Kiki arched her back in one shot to show off her shapely posterior Later on, the golden-locked vixen was joined by another female model as the pair continued to flirt with the camera. The bikini-clad pair were seen laughing as they stood and posed on the sand. Making the most of the picturesque location, Kiki also sported a skimpy black G-string bikini in other shots. In paradise: The reality TV starlet was in a cheerful mood during the shoot and in between snaps Company: Kiki was later joined by another female model as they flaunted their assets The former Playboy model even went topless at one stage, covering her assets with just her hands. Kiki, who remains in the competition for Richie's heart on the Network Ten dating show, has previously admitted to having plastic surgery to enhance her breasts. The buxom blonde revealed to OK! Australia earlier this month the decision was help her self-esteem after being bullied in school. She said her surgically enhanced C-cup breasts boosted her self-esteem and made her feel less self-conscious. It's one of the biggest reality shows in Australia. And on Monday, The Block returned with another episode of dramatic renovations. It didn't take long for a meltdown, with Julia losing control over some expensive taps that hadn't been installed properly. 'This is unacceptable!' Julia had a meltdown on Monday's episode of The Block over faulty taps 'I'm furious,' she snapped. 'This is so embarrassing, this is unacceptable!' she continued, unable to contain her rage. As her terrified partner Sasha shrunk silently into the corner, Julia stormed past and continued muttering angrily to herself. 'Why do you pay people to do s*** when they don't know how to do it?' 'Why do you pay people to do s**t when they don't know how to do it?' snapped Julia Dan and Carleen also ran into trouble early in the episode, with their tilers leaving them high and dry due to some technical oversight. 'It was frustration, anger, panic,' explained Dan as he tried calling various tilers to get the job done. Dan was unable to find one despite a lengthy montage showing him calling a string of companies. 'It was frustration, anger, panic:' Dan had a problem with getting tiles which made him upset Whoops! Dan was unable to resolve the couple's tiling problem despite his efforts Meanwhile Kim struggled with selecting the right light fixture. 'They're pretty bad,' sighed Kim after taking host Scott Cam's advice to ditch her modern style for Art Deco light fixtures instead. 'Art Deco style is completely unfamiliar territory for me,' she said, and admitted she doesn't like the style despite having 'zero knowledge' of it. Soon it was time for the couples to have their bathrooms judged. 'It is completely unfamiliar territory for me:' Kim didn't want to use Art Deco light fixtures 'They're pretty bad': Kim sighed after taking host Scott Cam's advice to ditch her modern style Karlie and Will were an instant hit, with the three judges lavishing the large room with praise. 'They must have really good tradesman,' remarked one judge. The judges had some criticism for Julia and Sasha, but overall the couple's porcelain palace was met with a positive reception. Baby boomers Dan and Carleen didn't fare so well, with judge Darren saying he hated the placement of their towel racks. Success: Karlie and Will did well, with the three judges lavishing the large room with praise Took a modern approach: Kim and Chris were slammed after ignoring expert advice The judges went even further in their criticism, calling the styling 'cheap and tacky.' They were particularly disgusted by a slogan candle which read: 'I love the s*** out of you.' Stung by the criticism, an exhausted and defeated Dan burst into tears. 'It's a kick in the guts,' he choked. However, the worst criticism was saved for Kim and Chris, who ignored advice to go for an Art Deco style and went for a clinical, modern approach instead. But despite being savaged by the judges, the pair took the criticism in their stride and vowed to fix up their style in the next round. At the end of the episode, it was Julia and Sasha who came out on top and won the round. As Simon Cowell gears up for a busy autumn thanks to The X Factor's new season in the UK, his loved ones are continuing to soak up the California sunshine. On Sunday, the music mogul's partner Lauren Silverman was spotted taking their two-year-old Eric on a shopping trip to The Grove in Los Angeles. And Lauren was sure to look glam for the relaxed excursion, stepping out in a deeply plunging black jumpsuit as she strolled around the popular outdoor mall. Hey, big spender! Lauren Silverman was seen shopping at Los Angeles mall The Grove with her two-year-old son Eric on Sunday Her flattering halterneck ensemble was cinched at the waist with a matching belt, while a pair of stappy heels added extra length to her slender legs. She wore her glossy raven tresses in a sleek ponytail, while a stylish pair of tinted frames shielded her eyes from the abundant sunshine. Lauren toted a large black leather bag on her shoulder while she navigated Eric around through the mall in his pushchair. Glam: Brunette beauty Lauren looked decidedly glamorous as she strolled through the mall Adorable little Eric was dressed in shorts and a denim shirt over a white T-shirt for his day out, which also included an assistant and three of the family's dogs. British multi-millionaire Simon recently confessed he struggled to form a close relationship with his son following his arrival. Speaking to Jimmy Fallon last month, the 56 year-old admitted that he was worried about a disconnect between the pair. Taking the plunge: She turned heads as she stepped out in a deeply plunging black jumpsuit 'I wasn't good to begin with. I thought he was going to be like a puppy. Like you could throw thing and he would retrieve them. 'After eight months I thought he hated me,' he added. 'Then one day he was watching me on TV and then he kind of got me, and he started talking to me and now we're buddies.' Squad: The mother and son were accompanied by an assistant and three of the family's dogs Simon and Lauren welcomed their son - a half-sibling for Lauren's son Adam from her previous marriage - in February 2014 and named him after Simon's late father, who died in 1999. In a recent interview with People magazine, Simon declared his son was his 'right-hand man'. He enthused: 'He's the world's cutest little boy. I've got to tell you, he's going to be my little right-hand man - anything he likes I like.' She's not one to hold back on social media. And on Monday, Kyle Sandiland's girlfriend Imogen Anthony shared an Instagram video of herself smoking a marijuana cigarette. In the clip, the 25-year-old glamour model sits on Kyle's gold 'throne' while blowing smoke out of her mouth. Scroll down for video Blowing smoke? On Monday, Kyle Sandiland's model girlfriend Imogen Anthony shared an Instagram video of herself smoking a marijuana cigarette In the caption, Imogen called for the legalisation of cannabis in Australia, writing: 'When in Rome (or on a throne)...I love California #legaliseaustralia'. In the video, Imogen also wears a bath robe and appears fresh out of a shower as she relaxes listening to music. She shared the clip shortly before posting several more photos from her romantic date night with KIIS FM shock jock Kyle. Political: In the caption, Imogen called for the legalisation of cannabis in Australia Recreational use of cannabis in Australia is illegal. In California, a vote will be held in November over whether recreational marijuana should be legalised. Several US states have approved marijuana use by sick people and also removed jail sentences for recreational users. One is California, which passed the nation's first medical marijuana law in 1996. But it is still a violation of law if somebody possesses up to one ounce of marijuana. In love: Imogen shared the clip shortly before posting several more photos from her romantic date night with KIIS FM shock jock Kyle LA life: Imogen and Kyle, who have a house in LA, enjoyed a fun evening in Santa Monica Imogen and Kyle, who have a house in Los Angeles, enjoyed an evening in Santa Monica where they feasted on hot dogs before going to a pub. Sharing a romantic selfie, Imogen can be seen cuddling up to her 45-year-old boyfriend by the beach. She has a face full of make-up, including dewy foundation, a brown lip, eyeliner and lashings of mascara. She captioned the post: 'We went for hot dogs in Santa Monica, stood by the sunset, and then went to a British pub.' No rush: Fashion designer Imogen recently told Daily Mail Australia that the couple aren't planning on getting engaged anytime soon. They began dating in March 2012 Fashion designer Imogen recently told Daily Mail Australia that the couple aren't planning on getting engaged anytime soon. 'There's always rumours, there's rumours we've been engaged for three years, no we just chill, we don't need rings and stuff,' she said. She later added: 'It's just another little something that could be done if we wanted to.' They began dating in March 2012 He was left red-faced last year after trying to pass off a stock photo of the pricey champagne Cristal as his own on Instagram. And now The Bachelorette's Michael Turnbull has showed fans the inside of his 'wine cellar' on A Current Affair, which featured a number of cheaper wines and brews - and notably no Cristal. Rummaging through the bottom of his cupboard, Michael explained: 'I don't stock (Cristal) in my cupboard, but I enjoy it with my parents.' Scroll down for video Where's the Cristal? Michael Turnbull showed fans the inside of his low-budget 'wine cellar' on Monday's A Current Affair - after he previously bragged of drinking expensive champagne 'This is my little wine cupboard,' he said, introducing his linen closet. 'Don't mind my Christmas decorations. I've got some Mumm, it's not the most expensive champagne. I've got some Pinot Noir, big Noir fan. Mumm costs around $48, significantly less than Cristal which retails at over $250. 'Don't mind my Christmas decorations': Michael, 35, stocks his wine in his linen cupboard That's not Cristal! The Bachelorette star DID have a bottle of $48 Mumm champagne Michael was famously exposed for wearing a fake 'Rolex' watch and A Current Affair asked about his reputation as a 'phoney'. 'You can't please everybody,' Michael said. 'The people who know me, know I'm not fake. They know who I am'. Last year, Daily Mail Australia revealed a photo of $1,000 worth of Cristal he shared on Instagram was in fact an picture taken from the internet. Michael captioned the photo 'Good times' and added the hash tags, 'Party', 'Champagne' and 'Drinks'. But a quick Google reverse image search proved it was actually a Getty stock photo taken in California in 2011. Caught out: Last year, Daily Mail Australia revealed a photo of $1,000 worth of Cristal he shared on Instagram was in fact an picture taken from the internet At a 'party', Michael? A quick Google reverse image search proved it was actually a Getty stock photo taken in California in 2011 DMA also confirmed Michael had been wearing a replica gold and diamond Rolex during his stint on The Bachelorette. 'It's a fake and it's an ugly fake,' an expert told DMA at the time. 'Rolex don't make ugly, and that's ugly.' Michael explained the debacle to A Current Affair shortly after, saying: 'Regardless whether it's fake or real, it was given to me by someone very special'. In May, he was criticised for sharing an Instagram photo which strongly suggested he attended the Logie Awards - before swiftly deleting it. Sam Frost, who rejected Michael on The Bachelorette, later wrote on Twitter that Michael was not, in fact, at the awards ceremony. Awkward! DMA also confirmed Michael had been wearing a replica gold and diamond Rolex during his stint on The Bachelorette Familiar face: Michael rose to fame on dating show The Bachelorette last year. Pictured with fellow contestant Dave Billsborrow Michael placed second to Sasha Mielczarek and he is believed to still be single. At the time, he told DMA that watching the finale made him feel emotional. 'I really invested so much into Sam and it was so hard to watch tonight' he said. 'I was really upset but found happiness in the fact she found true love.' She jetted in to Los Angeles earlier this month to enjoy some quality time with her sister, Petra Stunt. But Tamara Ecclestone enjoyed a fun-filled day out with her adorable daughter Sophia, two, to Santa Monica pier on Sunday. The Formula One heiress, 32, showed off her trim physique in a skintight green dress, while the adorable youngster enjoyed the many activities the pier had to offer. Playtime on the pier! Tamara Ecclestone, 32, enjoyed a summery day out at Santa Monica pier with her daughter Sophia, two, on Sunday Looking every inch the ultimate yummy mummy, the socialite tied a denim shirt around her waist while baring her tanned legs. Tamara's brunette mane was styled in to glamorous waves and she went for natural make-up, while sporting a large pair of shades. Little Sophia was sporting an adorable baby blue dress bearing the image of Elsa from popular Disney animation, Frozen, and was carrying a mermaid Barbie doll. Giggling at her mummy as she enjoyed a ride on a merry-go-round, the toddler - Tamara's daughter with husband of three years, Jay Rutland - looked as though she was having a ball during her day out. Mummy daughter day: The F1 heiress showed off her trim physique in a skintight green dress, while the adorable youngster enjoyed the many activities the pier had to offer Stylish: Looking like the ultimate yummy mummy, Tamara tied a denim shirt around her waist while baring her tanned legs So cute! Giggling at her mummy as she enjoyed a ride on a merry-go-round, the toddler looked as though she was having a ball during her day out It's been a typically jet-set summer for Tamara, who was taking in the sights of Croatia after soaking up the sun on the Greek island of Mykonos last month. Tamara recently told HELLO! magazine she was feeling happier than ever and loving every minute of family life. 'I kind of feel like this is who I was always meant to be and any mistakes I've made in the past have brought me to the right place and everything led me to this. It's a really nice feeling,' she explained. The brunette beauty also revealed why she recently took to Instagram to slam rumours that she and Jay had split up. Fun in the sun: Little Sophia was sporting an adorable baby blue dress bearing the image of Elsa from popular Disney animation, Frozen, and was carrying a mermaid Barbie doll Best friend: The cute youngster made sure to never let go of her doll Say cheese! Tamara also ensured to squeeze in time for a photo-booth session She said: 'I guess people don't always like to read happy stories and are looking to create drama in other people's lives, but we're fine.' And being a through and through family woman also prompted Tamara to recently come out in defence of her younger sibling Petra with a snap reading 'confident women don't hate' after she shared a very pouty snap. In the caption she explained the reason for her sister's seemingly altered appearance, writing: 'So just to be clear not that it's any ones business my sister has not had any cosmetic surgery she has just cut and coloured her hair she is a mum to three young children two of whom she is still breastfeeding so is actually unable to have any cosmetic surgery.' She's rarely one to be up-stage when it comes to on or off the screen. But Made In Chelsea star Lucy Watson made an exception for her best-friend Carly Rothman's wedding, where she took on the supporting role of bridesmaid. Taking to Instagram on Monday, the 25-year-old reality star looked absolutely thrilled to be included in her friend's wedding plans as she shared a multitude of sweet snaps. Scroll down for video A supporting role: Made In Chelsea star Lucy Watson made an exception for her best-friend Carly Rothman's wedding, where she took on the supporting role of bridesmaid Sharing a snap of herself and a friend (also a bridesmaid) in a hotel room before the ceremony, the reality star can be seen beaming with pride. Looking the picture of demure chic, Lucy and her friend are seen wearing matching satin lilac gowns. The MIC favourite, who attended the wedding with her beau James Dunmore, had been kitted out with the a high-necked, fitted number which highlighted her slim figure. Is it you two next? The reality star, 25, looked thrilled to be included in her friend's wedding plans as she shared some sweet snaps - including one of her and boyfriend James Dunmore Wearing her dark locks pulled back into a severe bun, the pretty star's striking features were left framed by a few carefully teased waves of hair. The stunning Sloaney wore a simple and natural make-up palette, choosing to complement her pale complexion whilst defining her lips and eyes. In another shot from the big day, Lucy can be seen enjoying the festivities with her boyfriend James. It's her big day! While Lucy is undoubtedly a star in the hi E4 reality series now, it was her best-friend and former co-star, Carly (right), who had the starrign role on the day Behind the scenes: Lucy shared a snap of Carly's perfectly styled hair, as the girls prepared the bride for her big moment Matching bouquet: Lucy proudly snapped a shot of her bridesmaid's bouquet Posing for a picture with his girlfriend and co-star, James certainly cut a dapper figure in a dark navy suit, white shirt and maroon tie. But while Lucy is undoubtedly a star in the hi E4 reality series now, it was her best-friend and former co-star, Carly, who had the starring role on the day. The bride and her best-friend both started out on the show together in 2012 in the fourth series. The two girls first chanced upon Jamie Laing in the fifth episode of the show, and while Lucy went on to become an integral part of the cast very quickly Carly left the show after the first episode of series five. Since then Carly has found love with Jack Neave, a shipbroker in Dubai, and has gone on to launch her own healthy-living blog, Lean Living Girl. Celebrity Big Brother bosses are said to be plotting the return of some of the show's most controversial stars including Stephen Bear, Katie Price and Shilpa Shetty. Rumours have been gaining momentum claiming Channel 5 bosses plan to air a Gold Stars Vs New Stars series in which 14 celebrities will return, comprising of seven former contestants and seven fresh famous faces. Sources tell Daily Star, TV chiefs are formulating a wishlist of returnees following the claims earlier this month that the new formula was in motion. Scroll down for video He's back? Celebrity Big Brother bosses are said to be plotting the return of some of the show's most controversial stars including Stephen Bear, Katie Price and Shilpa Shetty Every year the show is shrouded in controversy and insiders claim bosses plan to unite the most shocking contestants to form the stunning new show. Sources tell the publication: ' Its a genius idea that has never been done before. Channel 5 wants to do a show that gives a nod to the past but also has a fresh edge with new people too. 'The celebrities who have done the show before could repeat what they did in the house last time hoping it will curry favour with fans but the newbies will be quick to call them out as being old dogs with new tricks.' Top on the list is said to be this year's victor, Stephen Bear, who reigned victorious after riling his housemates and driving the house to breaking point - causing mass shock at his taking home the crown. Ex-winner: Rumours have been gaining momentum claiming Channel 5 bosses plan to air a Gold Stars Vs New Stars series in which 14 celebrities will return, comprising of seven former contestants and seven fresh famous faces Way back when: Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty is said to be in the pipeline, no doubt to the shock of many after she was at the centre of the horrific racism row which blazed on in 2007 Then and now:Fellow housemates Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd were accused of subjecting her to racial abuse.Fellow housemates Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd were accused of subjecting her to racial abuse Another star is Katie Price, who was crowned winner of last year's show, after entering at a later stage and winning over the public. Bollywood beauty Shilpa Shetty is said to be in the pipeline, no doubt to the shock of many after she was at the centre of the horrific racism row which blazed on in 2007. Fellow housemates Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd were accused of subjecting her to racial abuse. Popping in? Pete Burns will reportedly come back to the show Comedy gold: Les Dennis will no doubt enjoy another stint Then and now: Michael Barrymore suffered a tough time in the house but could return The controversy became a global news story leading to the late Jade Goody's appearance on Celebrity Big Brother India, where she then discovered she had been diagnosed with cancer. American stars Perez Hilton and Spencer and Heidi Pratt are tipped for return after they set the screen alight with their explosive opinions and reactions to British stars. Other stars alleged to be on the wishlist include My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty, iconic pop star Pete Burns, outspoken journalist Katie Hopkins and legendary comic Les Dennis. Back? American stars Perez Hilton and Spencer and Heidi Pratt are tipped for return after they set the screen alight with their explosive opinions and reactions to British stars He was the lovable larrikin on the very first season of Australian Idol. But Rob Mills has revealed to Yahoo Be he suffered depression and suicidal thoughts shortly after filming the show back in 2003. 'That was the worst, I freaked out. I contemplated suicide only once in my life, and that was the week after I finished Idol,' he confessed. 'I contemplated suicide only once in my life': Rob Mills revealed he suffered from depression shortly after filming the first season of Australian Idol in 2003 The 34-year-old said he did not handle being in spotlight well, and struggled with his sudden rise to national fame. He also said that children should aspire to be famous. 'I don't think you should ever want to be just famous,' he told the publication. Depressed: Rob experienced mental health issues after placing fifth on Australian Idol 'I think you should want to travel to the moon, you should want to design something the world has never seen before. 'Or be an elite athlete, or a scientist, or a politician.' Rob, who is an ambassador for RU OK Day, wants others with mental health issues to seek help from friends, family or professionals. 'I don't think you should want to be just famous': He also said that children should not aspire for fame Back in 2003, Rob, otherwise known as his nickname 'Millsy', made headlines over his relationships with several high-profile celebrities, including US socialite Paris Hilton. They spent the night in her hotel room following an Australian Idol 'after after party' at host Osher Gunsberg's house. The next morning, Rob and Paris were photographed kissing one another on the hotel balcony. They were later photographed at the Melbourne Cup and were spotted together over the next two weeks. Ladies' man: Back in 2003, Rob, otherwise known as his nickname 'Millsy', made headlines over his relationships with several high-profile celebrities, including US socialite Paris Hilton Rob has revealed they did not sleep together on the first night but did 'pretty much everything' else and later 'bonked.' He also rated her vagina 'top five.' Rob admitted he hooked up with her again a year later, but claims he ended the relationship because 'she's not that interesting'. Meanwhile, the former Idol star is reportedly in the running to replace Channel Seven's Sunrise weather presenter Edwina Bartholomew. For confidential help, call Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 'We bonked': In the past Rob has spoken candidly about his fling with Paris She's the exhibitionist single mother who rose to fame on The Block last year. And Suzi Taylor has revealed she is hoping to find love at the notorious Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. The reality TV star, 44, told Matt and Mike Live on Monday she is already friends with publisher Hugh Hefner. Controversial: The Block's Suzi Taylor has revealed she is hoping to find love at the notorious Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. Pictured exposing her breasts in Melbourne last year The mother-of-three added: 'I'm probably going over to the Playboy mansion in the next month or so. You never know what's going to happen.' Suzi announced she is 'very single and ready to mingle', having previously ended her relationship with The Block producer Tim Wise. She made headlines before appearing on The Block after nude photos surfaced from her days as a 'Penthouse Pet' in the early 1990s. How surprising! The 44-year-old model told Matt and Mike Live on Monday she is friends with Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner and said she is 'single and ready to mingle' Bad girl: Suzi was almost stripped of her prize money after breaching her contract days before The Block's finale by discussing her Melbourne 'flashing' photos with the media The glamour model was almost stripped of her prize money after a breach of her contract days before The Block's finale was broadcast. Suzi was reportedly gagged from speaking to the media about The Block because of several topless photos taken aboard a boat in Melbourne's Docklands. But in an interview with The Courier Mail, she tried to brush off the incident by saying she was just a Gold Coast girl 'out to have a good time'. Topless photo scandal: In an interview with The Courier Mail, she tried to brush off the incident by saying she was just a Gold Coast girl 'out to have a good time' Will the show go on? Hugh Hefner notably did not make an appearance at Saturday night's annual summer party at the Playboy Mansion, with his son Conner taking his place Meanwhile, the days of wild parties with scantily-clad female guests at the Playboy Mansion may be numbered. The LA property was sold to Daren Metropoulos for $100million this month, but Hugh Hefner will continue to live there. Hugh notably did not make an appearance at Saturday night's annual Midsummer Night's Dream party, with his son Conner taking his place. Neither Hugh or Daren have confirmed whether the famously lavish parties will continue under the new ownership. She split with boyfriend of 10 years Joshua Jackson this past July. And on Saturday Diane Kruger was certainly showing him what he's missing as she flaunted her trim figure in a sexy, red swimsuit. The 40-year-old could be seen traipsing along the beach in Miami amid reports by Page Six that her 38-year-old ex 'wants to work things out.' Scroll down for video Showing him what he's missing! Diane Kruger flaunted her enviable figure in a sexy, red swimsuit on Sunday in Miami Beach, amid reports ex Joshua Jackson 'wants to work things out' Beach babe: The 40-year-old looked stunning in the low-cut suit with cut-outs along the back Diane sported a plunging, red, one-piece swimsuit, which highlighted her toned pins. The flattering piece featured cut-outs along the back, and hugged the actress's curves. The eye-catching suit also showcased the Inglourious Basterds star's pert derriere as she strolled along the beach. Change of mind: Diane's outing comes amid reports that ex Joshua wants to get back together (pictured in February) Flashing some skin! Diane stunned in the figure-hugging suit as she soaked up the sun in Miami Strutting her stuff: The blonde beauty strode confidently along the beach in the bright red suit Diane hid her eyes behind a pair of stylish, tortoiseshell sunglasses, though otherwise kept her accessories to a minimum. She strolled barefoot along the beach, and showed off wet tresses, likely from taking a dip in the water. And the Fathers & Daughters star looked to be having a good time as she enjoyed the sunny day in Miami. Testing the water: Diane, who showed off wet tresses, was spotted dipping her feet in the water Throwing shade: The actress hid her eyes behind a pair of stylish, tortoiseshell sunglasses Natural beauty: Aside from her chic sunglasses, Diane - who sported little to no make-up - kept her accessories to a minimum The outing comes amid reports that Diane's ex - with whom she split in July after 10 years - wants to get back together. Page Six reported that friends of The Affair star say he is 'still in love' with his ex-girlfriend. 'He never wanted the breakup in the first place,' a source said, adding: 'Hes pretty bummed out . . . Diane is currently wearing the pants and calling the shots with the breakup, but he wants to work things out with her.' Cheeky! The high-cut one-piece showcased Diane's pert derriere Cooling off! The Fathers & Daughters star escaped the Florida heat for a bit with a dip in the water Splish splash: Diane wasn't afraid of getting her hair wet as she jumped right into the water Joshua, who was spotted having an eight-hour lunch with co-star Ruth Wilson on August 22, has reportedly been dating since the split, but his 'heart isn't in it,' a source shared. Representatives for both actors had confirmed their split to People on July 18, sharing: 'Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson have decided to separate and remain friends.' But prior to their shocking breakup, Diane had spoken with Net-a-Porter's the Edit about the possibility of tying the knot with the Showtime star. Enjoying the scenery: The star admired the waves as she reached down to feel the water In good spirits: Diane showed off a smile as she walked back out onto the sand after testing the water A moment to remember: Diane took to Instagram on Saturday to share a selfie from her beach day At the time the German actress had recently moved into an apartment with Joshua in New York City. Claire Danes was spotted filming scenes for her show Homeland in New York City on Monday. The 37-year-old donned a blue button up with a black blazer and matching hued jeans as she stepped back into her role as Carrie Mathison. The actress is in the midst of filming the sixth season of the hit Showtime political drama. Scroll down for video Claire Danes was spotted filming scenes for her show Homeland in New York City on Monday The screen star wore a fitted pair of black jeans, layering a light blue button up shirt. Claire added a black blazer and charcoal hued suede boots. The Golden Globe winner held tight to two black purses as she took a break in between filming. She wore her shoulder-length blonde tresses loose, opting for a slight side part. Looking good: The 37-year-old donned a blue button up with a black blazer and matching hued jeans as she stepped back into her role as Carrie Mathison Working hard: The Golden Globe winner held tight to two black purses as she took a break in between filming Claire kept her makeup minimal, choosing to wear just a touch of gloss on her lips and pink blush. The mother of one was seen standing around in her character's look before taking a seat during a break in filming. Also starring in the sixth season of Homeland is Rupert Friend, Elizabeth Marvel, F. Murray Abraham and Mandy Patinkin. Having a good time: The mother of one was seen standing around in her character's look before taking a seat during a break in filming Focused: Claire kept her makeup minimal, choosing to wear just a touch of gloss on her lips and pink blush Season six is set to premiere on January 15, 2017. Claire is mom to three-year-old son Cyrus with husband actor Hugh Dancy, 41. The lovebirds married in fall 2009; they first met in 2006 while on the set of their film Evening. In character: Also starring in the sixth season of Homeland is Rupert Friend, Elizabeth Marvel, F. Murray Abraham and Mandy Patinkin; Rupert pictured with Claire She's known for her glamorous looks. But former TOWIE star Lauren Pope spice up her wardrobe in a rather different way on Monday by channelling her inner rock chick. Clad in a Guns N' Roses sleeveless tee, the reality star edged up her ensemble with the T-shirt which displayed her slender arms as she headed to celebrity eatery Neighbourhood in Manchester. Scroll down for video Rock on: Lauren Pope decided to spice up her wardrobe by channelling her inner rock chick while in Manchester on Monday Opting for a grunge glam look, Lauren displayed her honed pins in a pair of skin-tight black denims that hugged her every curve. The DJ's low-slung jeans exhibited her svelte figure as she stylishly tucked her sleeveless rock tee into the waist. Adding a touch of sex appeal to her look, the model and beauty entrepreneur worked a sultry over-the-knee suede boot as she made her way to the Manhattan-style restaurant. Edgy: Opting for a grunge glam look, Lauren displayed her honed pins in a pair of skin-tight black denims that hugged her every curve Accessorising her look, Lauren - who quit TOWIE in 2015 after five years - wrapped a bold thick gold choker around her slender neck. Completing her ensemble, the model donned a pair of on-trend over-sized reflective iridescent aviators. Joined by pal DJ Kellie Acreman at the eatery, the former ITVBe star styled her caramel hued locks into a soft wave which cascaded down her shoulders to her waist. Adding a touch of sex appeal to her look, the model and beauty entrepreneur worked a sultry over-the-knee suede boot as she headed to Neighbourhood with her pal DJ Kellie Acreman Pulling her look together, Lauren contoured her delicate features with a swipe of bronzer as she plumped her pout with a nude lipstick as she carried her chic black tote. Lauren recently returned from a whirlwind trip to NYC with her girlfriends earlier this month. However, it wasn't all fun and games in the Big Apple as the star enjoyed a spin class just hours after landing to combat jetlag. Jennifer Lawrence is the highest paid actress according to Forbes, but she's still very down to earth. The 26-year-old emerged barefoot in Malibu on Sunday while helping her parents unload items from their car. The makeup free actress wore a stylish printed dress but Scroll down for video Casual: Jennifer Lawrence skipped shoes in favor of walking barefoot on Sunday in Malibu The Hunger Games star stepped out of the car barefoot while holding her gladiator sandals in her hands. Jennifer appeared to be carrying a blanket as well as a large duffel bag and a jacket while her dog stayed close by. The Oscar winner wore a patterned frock featuring long sleeves and a cinched waist for her outing with her parents. The American Hustle actress pulled her short wavy blonde highlighted tresses back with small framed sunglasses. Helping hand: The 26-year-old, who donned a printed dress, was spotted helping her parents unload items from a car Jennifer showed off her natural beauty and flawless complexion by choosing to go makeup free. The star's mom - Karen - kept it simple in a white blouse with matching hued jeans. Forbes named her the highest paid actress after she earned $46 million in pre-tax earnings between June 2015 to June 2016. She has her hands full: The actress stepped out of the car barefoot while holding her gladiator sandals in her hands Flawless: Jennifer showed off her natural beauty and flawless complexion by choosing to go makeup free Coming in second was Melissa McCarthy, who earned $33 million. Jennifer recently wrapped filming two movies: Passengers and also an untitled Darren Aronofsky project. The Passengers film, which also stars Chris Pratt and Michael Sheen, is set to hit US theaters on December 21. Focused: She recently wrapped the film The Passengers, which also stars Chris Pratt and Michael Sheen; it is set to hit US theaters on December 21 They have both suffered painful public breakups. Yet TOWIE stars Lydia Bright and Chloe Lewis appear to be forgetting their heartache as they headed to Croatia to help launch dating app Tinder's new 'Social' feature by living it up on a yacht. The 25-year-old beauty, who famously dated co-star James "Arg" Argent, wowed in white while her pal Chloe, fresh from breaking up with her boyfriend of seven years, also went for a stunning swimsuit as she lived it up. Scroll down for video Girls on tour! TOWIE stars Lydia Bright and Chloe Lewis appear to be forgetting their heartache as they headed to Croatia to help launch dating app Tinder's new 'Social' feature by living it up on a yacht Ensuring their trip was well documented on social media Chloe shared a stunning selfie in which she and her pal cosied up while wearing their white ensemble. The most raucous image however came from Lydia's account, where she posted an photo of Chloe pouring a magnum of champagne into her mouth in a hilarious shot - proving heartache was the last thing on the girls' mind. Proving to be in true holiday bliss, the stunning stars slipped into similar one-pieces as the posted a playful video in which the waves their arms in the air while looking out on an exquisite sunset. Lydia's on/off romance with Arg came to a crashing end earlier this year after their 10 year relationship was plagued with rumours of infidelity and substance abuse. Sizzling: The 25-year-old beauty, who famously dated co-star James "Arg" Argent, wowed in white while her pal Chloe, fresh from breaking up with her boyfriend of seven years, also went for a stunning swimsuit as she lived it up Swimwear honeys: Proving to be in true holiday bliss, the stunning stars slipped into similar one-pieces as the posted a playful video in which the waves their arms in the air while looking out on an exquisite sunset Beach bodies: The girls figures were undoubtedly envy-inducing In series 18, which wrapped up earlier this month, the formerly loved-up duo had an explosive row which truly marked the demise of their union - leading to Lydia's firmly single status in time for her and Chloe's trip. Chloe meanwhile was involved with former co-star Jake Hall for years before their debut on the show last year. Since their recent split, the brunette beauty has vehemently insisted her former beau slept with co-star Megan McKenna. Way back when: Chloe meanwhile was involved with former co-star Jake Hall for years before their debut on the show last year Much of the eighteenth series of the show revolved around the feud between the duo, which saw Chloe and Lydia form a firm friendship as they dealt with Megan's on-going denial about the alleged dalliance. Clearly moving onward and upward, the girls have jetted off on their work holiday, in which they are helping dating app Tinder launch its new Social feature, which allows singles to go on group dates. The stunning duo have joined up with the singles app as part of The Yacht Week which organises holidays for groups of friends looking to spend a week on a private yacht. She keeps her petite body in shape with frequent exercise and yoga sessions. And Reese Witherspoon started the week right when she was spotted leaving a gym near her home in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles after a rigorous workout on Monday. The 40-year-old showed off her toned figure in a black Soul Searcher vest that she paired with black cropped leggings and bright blue sneakers tied with neon yellow laces. Ready to start her week: Reese Witherspoon looked fit and healthy as she left a gym near her home in the Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles after a rigorous workout on Monday The actress smoothed her blonde tresses back into a jaunty ponytail that swung behind as she walked. Reese accessorised with a pair of mirrored aviator-style sunglasses to protect her eyes from the bright sunshine and a small black bag with her phone and keys attached that she wore on a long studded strap across her body. As a mother of three youngsters she knows the importance of staying hydrated in hot weather, so she carried a yellow bottle full of water. Locks to love: The 40-year-old smoothed her blonde tresses back into a jaunty ponytail that swung behind as she walked Slender star: The 40-year-old showed off her toned figure in a black Soul Searcher vest that she paired with black cropped leggings and bright blue sneakers tied with neon yellow laces Later she was seen all dressed up for a trip to Pinkberry. The blonde was stylish in a blue-and-white striped shirt button all the way to the top and covered by a white blazer. She also had on an orange cross body purse that matched her pumps as well as a pair of cutoff jeans. It hardly seems possible, but life is about to get even busier for the actress and Draper James clothing entrepreneur, who shares Ava, 16, and Deacon, 12, with her ex Ryan Phillippe, and three-year-old Tennessee, with husband Jim Toth, 46, co-head of motion picture talent at the Creative Artists Agency. Reese is teaming with Nicole Kidman to produce a limited series based on the novel Truly Madly Guilty for HBO. Two Witherspoonfuls: Later she was seen all dressed up for a trip to Pinkberry Sweet tooth: The blonde was stylish in a blue-and-white striped shirt button all the way to the top and covered by a white blazer She loves football: The Stanford alum expressed her joy over football season beginning She will next be heard lending her voice to the character of Rosita in family animation Sing, due out December21. Reese is also lined up for live action comedy fantasy Tinker Bell, based on Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie's fairy; plus Home Again. And she is working on David E. Kelley's new HBO series, Big Little Lies, based on the book of the same name by Liane Moriarty. due to premiere the first of seven episodes next year. Three outfits in one day! The cover girl was also seen in this pink and blue dress with platform sandals and a matching purse Meanwhile, last Thursday Reese revealed during a Facebook Live session that there is a very real possibility that Elle Woods could be returning to the courtroom in Legally Blonde 3. The actress first starred as pink-loving lawyer Elle in the hit movie in 2001 and then again in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde in 2003. Dotcom demands live-stream of extradition appeal Internet mogul Kim Dotcom launched his appeal Monday against extradition to face video piracy charges in the United States, arguing for his case in New Zealand to be live-streamed to ensure a fair hearing. The German national and founder of the Megaupload file-sharing service, who has permanent residency in New Zealand, faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted in the United States of piracy, which US authorities say cost copyright owners hundreds of millions of dollars. His lawyer Ron Mansfield told the court the case raised "unprecedented issues of public and international interest" and it would not be a fair hearing without live-streaming. Internet mogul Kim Dotcom leaves with his girlfriend Elizabeth Donelly following his extradition appeal at the High Court in Auckland on August 29, 2016 Kate Dwek (AFP) Mansfield said conventional reporting was unlikely to cover all aspects of a case that has attracted global attention and could be "unbalanced". Streaming had been successfully used in previous court cases and inquiries in New Zealand, he added. However, Judge Murray Gilbert delayed making an immediate decision, saying he wanted to give other media representatives a chance to consider Dotcom's request and make submissions. Dotcom, who arrived at the Auckland High Court after the hearing began, had previously tweeted that Washington "has asked the New Zealand High Court not to allow live-streaming of my global interest copyright hearing. Worried?" It is nearly five years since the 41-year-old, a self-described "Internet freedom fighter", was arrested in a dramatic police raid on his mansion near Auckland in January 2012 after the FBI shut down Megaupload's servers, and the case could rumble on much longer. The extradition appeal is expected to run for eight weeks with Dotcom saying if he loses he will continue to use legal channels to fight extradition. In December last year, after a nine-week hearing, Judge Nevin Dawson found there was "overwhelming" evidence to support extradition of the 41-year-old and three other Megaupload founders. A lawyer for two of Dotcom's co-accused -- Mathias Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk -- told the court Monday they were simply part of a group who "invented file storage". He said the men have been falsely accused of wrongdoing by the United States government and unfairly subjected to "grossly-excessive search and seizure operations". The prosecution has argued that Megaupload wilfully breached copyright by hosting illegally-created movie, music and software files. Dotcom has claimed Megaupload was a genuine file-sharing site that did its best to police copyright infringement but had 50 million daily users and could not control every aspect of their activity. At its peak, Megaupload was reported to be the 13th most visited site on the internet, accounting for four percent of global web traffic. Dotcom, who denies any wrongdoing and has accused US authorities of pursuing a vendetta against him on behalf of politically influential Hollywood studios, has announced plans to relaunch his Megaupload empire in January, exactly five years after it was shut down. The FBI alleges Megaupload netted more than US$175 million in criminal proceeds and cost copyright owners more than US$500 million by offering pirated content. Megaupload executive Bram van der Kolk attends an extradition appeal for Internet mogul Kim Dotcom at the High Court in Auckland on August 29, 2016 Dave Rowland (POOL/AFP) Abducted Australian aid worker freed in Afghanistan Afghan special forces have rescued a kidnapped Australian aid worker, officials said on Monday, four months after she was taken at gunpoint in the country's volatile east. Katherine Jane Wilson, said to be aged around 60, is "safe and well", Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said, without disclosing when she was released or who was behind her abduction. Unidentified masked gunmen kidnapped Wilson from Jalalabad, near the border with Pakistan, in late April when she was visiting the city for a women's embroidery project. An Afghan police search vehicles in Jalalabad, on April 29, 2016, after an Australian aid worker, Katherine Jane Wilson, was kidnapped by armed men Noorullah Shirzada (AFP/File) "I confirm that Kerry Jane Wilson, who was abducted in Afghanistan in April this year, has been released, and she is now safe and well," Bishop said in a statement, without saying whether she is still in Afghanistan. The minister, who has previously said Australia does not pay ransom for kidnappers, voiced relief for Wilson and her family but would not provide details of how she was freed. Afghanistan's main intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security, said Wilson was released in a "special operation", without offering details. "As a result of our efforts, she has been safely released. Several suspects have been detained and our investigation is still going on," NDS said in a brief statement. Wilson, a well-known aid worker in the country, ran a non-governmental organisation known as Zardozi, which promotes the work of Afghan artisans -- particularly women. - Growing insecurity - Following her abduction an Australian man was seized, along with an American colleague, in Kabul by gunmen wearing police uniforms. The two foreigners, professors from the American University of Afghanistan, were pulled from their vehicle earlier this month after the kidnappers smashed the passenger side window and hauled them out. Bishop said she "deeply appreciates" the support of Afghan authorities in facilitating Wilson's release. But she added: "To protect those who remain captive or face the risk of kidnapping in Afghanistan and elsewhere, the government will not comment on the circumstances of Kerry Jane's release." The abductions underscore the growing dangers faced by foreigners in Afghanistan, plagued by Taliban and other militant groups. Foreign tourists, including British, American and German nationals, came under Taliban fire earlier this month in a volatile district of Herat, leaving some of them wounded. They were safely evacuated to Kabul and were flown out of the country. Aid workers in particular have increasingly been casualties of a surge in militant violence in recent years. Judith D'Souza, a 40-year-old Indian employee of the Aga Khan Foundation, a prominent NGO that has long worked in Afghanistan, was abducted near her residence in the heart of Kabul on June 9. She was rescued in July. The Afghan capital is infested with organised criminal gangs who stage kidnappings for ransom, often targeting foreigners and wealthy locals, and sometimes handing them over to insurgent groups. The United States in May warned its citizens in Afghanistan of a "very high" kidnapping risk after an American narrowly escaped abduction in the heart of Kabul. Inside Nepal's forgotten medieval kingdom In Nepal's isolated, high-altitude desert of Upper Mustang, a new road to China is bringing economic transformation to the former Buddhist kingdom, once a centre for trans-Himalayan commerce. The remote region is ringed with vast canyons and red mountains that, legends say, are stained with the blood of a demon killed by the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. Yet the recently completed unpaved highway that connects Upper Mustang with China is also bringing unprecedented cultural change to a region that was closed off to foreign visitors until 1992. The walled city monastery and stupa of Lo Manthang in Nepal's isolated, high-altitude Upper Mustang, a former Buddhist kingdom and once a centre for trans-Himalayan commerce Prakash Mathema (AFP/File) In the medieval walled capital of Lo Manthang, young men have swapped Tibetan robes for blue jeans and local cafes broadcast live coverage of Euro 2016 matches to rapt viewers. Nevertheless, while modern life holds considerable allure for many, the push to preserve traditional culture is no less important to the local Loba community. Buddhists who speak a variant of the Tibetan language, they have lived in Upper Mustang for centuries. Nowhere is this more evident than in the ongoing effort to restore sacred murals and monuments, supported by foreign and Nepali non-profit organisations, including the Lo Gyalpo Jigme Foundation, which is headed by the former king of Upper Mustang. Although the region's rich heritage escaped the ravages of the Cultural Revolution that hit neighbouring China, its monuments fell prey to environmental damage. Wind and rain eroded mud walls and caused wooden rooftop beams to decay, while smoke from ceremonial butter lamps darkened indoor frescos. Over the last decade, restorers have been working hard to shore up structures, clean murals and retouch damaged paintings in line with Buddhist beliefs. Buddhists believe it is better to pray to undamaged images of the Buddha, and see it as their duty to repair and retouch them when necessary. The painstaking process involves grinding gemstones like lapis lazuli and malachite into a fine powder, which is then mixed with water and animal glue to create luminous pigments fit for gods. After last year's massive earthquake killed nearly 9,000 in Nepal and severely damaged monasteries in Lo Manthang, restorers now face an even bigger challenge. Like many here, they too are locked in a race to preserve Upper Mustang's unique cultural legacy for future generations. -- This story accompanies a photo series by Prakash Mathema -- Nepalese artists as they restore sacred murals in a monastry in Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang Prakash Mathema (AFP/File) Vehicles driving along a dirt road towards Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang, Nepal Prakash Mathema (AFP/File) A Buddhist monk walks past children in Ghemi Village in Upper Mustang, north-west of Kathmandu Prakash Mathema (AFP/File) Boredom was hardest part of yearlong dome isolation: NASA crew Monotony was the hardest part of a yearlong NASA experiment about the mental and psychological rigors of longterm spaceflight, crew members said after the test ended. The six-member crew emerged Sunday from a dome in Hawaii, on the barren northern slope of the Mauna Loa volcano, where they were studied as part of the US space agency's mission to send people to Mars by the 2030s. On Monday, US President Barack Obama congratulated them, writing on Twitter: "Congrats to NASA and the scientists taking us a step closer to Mars. Now enjoy Hawaii and get a shave ice!" The HI-SEAS habitat on the northern slope of Mauna Loa in Hawaii where six people lived in isolation for a year in a NASA experiment to prepare for a journey to Mars Neil Scheibelhut (University of Hawaii at Manoa/AFP/File) In addition to insufficient stimulation, isolation and a lack of fresh food and air were the toughest challenges during the yearlong experiment, known as the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) -- the third and longest of its kind. The team locked themselves into the dome, located in an abandoned quarry far from animals and vegetation, on August 28, 2015. "We were always in the same place, always with the same people," said French astrobiologist Cyprien Verseux in a Periscope interview by organizers posted on Twitter. The crew lived inside a structure 36 feet (11 meters) in diameter and 20 feet tall, emerging only if outfitted in spacesuits, never breathing the outside air or eating fresh produce. Despite describing the monotony as the hardest part, Verseux said the experiment shows that "a mission to Mars in the close future is realistic." He said a key hurdle involves producing food and a small-scale ecosystem on Mars, where the atmosphere is thin, the ground dry and water is scarce. The experiment did not test the process of growing food, but was aimed primarily at the psychological study of the crew. "The technical and psychological problems can be overcome," Verseux said. - 'Bring books' - Video footage of the team as they emerged shows the three men and three women looking a bit bewildered as they met visitors and well-wishers and posed for selfies. Organizers gave them fresh fruit and vegetables. In interviews, the crew was upbeat but made passing references to arguments and growing tired of seeing the same faces. Verseux's advice to new volunteers on a similar isolation experiment: "Bring books." Another mission member, American Tristan Bassingthwaighte, agreed, urging future participants to bring "lots of books." Bassingthwaighte said that team members engaged in hobbies such as salsa dancing and playing the ukelele to stave off the boredom. "If you can work on something that is self-developmental... you will not go crazy," he said. - Powdered cheese, canned tuna - The men and women had their own small rooms, with space for a sleeping cot and desk, and spent their days eating food like powdered cheese and canned tuna. The dome had composting toilets and showers, and was powered by solar energy. Team members had limited Internet access. Team members could venture outside only in spacesuits, and Bassingthwaighte said that the "astronauts" removed a vast amount of garbage from the flanks of the volcano in their excursions. Christiane Heinicke from Germany said that her main experiment was extracting water from the ground -- adding that the volcanic soil on Mauna Loa is very similar in mineral composition to the Martian soil. "You can actually get water from a ground that is seemingly dry," she said. "The implication is that you could get water from Mars." She said that having "something meaningful to work on" was key to helping her endure the year-long mission. However, she also spoke of the difficulties of living in close quarters with the same group of people for a long time, and said she planned to stay in close contact with only three of the other five. The crew also included a pilot, a doctor/journalist and a soil scientist. The full analysis of the team's psychological performance has yet to be revealed, but it is expected to be published in the coming months. "We are just starting the debrief week," lead researcher Kim Binsted told AFP by phone from Hawaii. "They didn't break the simulation, they did all the things we asked of them, and all of those things are pretty good signs," she said. "It certainly wasn't worse than expected. Every crew has conflicts." - Next crew - NASA is studying how these long-term isolation scenarios play out on Earth before pressing on toward Mars, which the US space agency hopes to reach sometime in the 2030s. NASA can currently send a robot to the Red Planet in about eight months, but astronauts traveling to Mars face a trip lasting between one and three years. The first HI-SEAS experiment involved studies about cooking on Mars and was followed by a four-month and an eight-month cohabitation mission. Two more HI-SEAS missions are planned starting in January 2017 and 2018. Both are scheduled to last eight months, and organizers are already looking for volunteers. Kerry meets Bangladesh PM after extremist attacks US Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday, on combatting extremism as police killed members of an Islamist group blamed for a deadly cafe siege. After weekend talks in Geneva on Syria, Kerry arrived in the capital Dhaka for his first official visit to deepen cooperation between the two countries including on economic development and human rights. But the one-day trip is expected to focus on mounting concerns of Islamist violence in the impoverished nation, after gunmen last month attacked an upscale cafe in Dhaka and killed 22 people, mainly foreigners. US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) is welcomed by Bangladesh counterpart Mahmood Ali as US ambassador to the country Marcia Bernicat (2nd R) looks on, following Kerry's arrival at Dhaka airport on August 29, 2016 Syed Zakir Hossain (AFP) "Let me say what a great pleasure it is to be with the prime minister and to be here in Bangladesh," Kerry said of his meeting with Hasina and other top officials. Just hours before Kerry's arrival, Bangladesh police shot dead two suspected members of the local Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) extremist group blamed for the cafe siege. The suspected militants, including a regional JMB commander, were killed during a gunbattle with security officers in the northern town of Sherpur town, a police spokesman said. "They were declared dead after being brought to a local hospital," spokesman Gaziur Rahman told AFP. The shootings came just two days after police killed the suspected mastermind of the cafe attack during a gunbattle outside Dhaka. Police named the suspect as JMB leader Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-born Canadian. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the July 1 cafe attack in which gunmen held hostage mainly Western diners including one American, before killing them. Hasina's government denies the IS group has a presence in Bangladesh, instead blaming the JMB and other local militant groups for a recent wave of bloodshed. - Long-time partners - Critics say Hasina's administration has been in denial about the nature of the threat posed by extremists and accuse her of trying to exploit the attacks to demonise her domestic opponents. Police have conducted a series of raids on suspected militant hideouts since the cafe attack that have killed at least 26 extremists. The United States and Bangladesh have a "longstanding partnership" with "programmes in place for many, many years that deal with counter-terrorism and security partnership," a US State Department senior official said ahead of Kerry's arrival. Bangladeshi officials have also briefed that tackling extremism would be the main focus of the talks, with the Daily Star newspaper running the headline "Fighting Terrors Tops Agenda" on its front-page. Talks between the two countries have intensified in recent months, the US official said, with the US engaging with Bangladesh police and the military charged with tackling extremists. Bangladesh has been reeling from a series of attacks in the last three years, including on foreigners, rights activists and members of religious minorities in the Muslim-majority nation. Kerry is due to meet with civic leaders as well as embattled Bangladesh opposition leader Khaleda Zia, a bitter rival of Hasina. Hasina's government has launched a major crackdown on Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party which it accuses of orchestrating a wave of deadly street violence last year in a bid to force the premier to resign. Kerry will fly to neighbouring India later Monday to take part in a regular India-US strategic dialogue on economic cooperation and security issues. He will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amid rising tensions in the disputed region of Kashmir which is divided between India and its rival northern neighbour Pakistan. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (C) attends a memorial service for those killed when armed terrorists stormed an upscale restaurant in a bloody siege in Dhaka on July 4, 2016 Roberto Schmidt (AFP/File) Give arrested aid worker fair trial, Amnesty tells Israel Amnesty International on Monday called on Israel to give an aid worker charged with aiding the Islamist movement Hamas a "fair and open trial", citing allegations of abuse in custody. "He was initially denied access to a lawyer and when she was eventually allowed to meet him, he alleged he had been seriously mistreated in custody," the rights group said in a statement. "The Israeli authorities must immediately investigate the allegations that Mohammed Halabi was mistreated in custody and may have been forced into 'confessing' under duress," it added. Palestinian children hold posters of Mohammed Halabi (L), the Gaza director of World Vision, a major US-based Christian NGO, during a rally in Gaza City on August 7, 2016 Mahmud Hams (AFP/File) "Any evidence obtained through torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment must be excluded from proceedings. Without independent and impartial investigations into these allegations the trial risks being fundamentally flawed." On August 4 an Israeli court charged Halabi, the Gaza director of the World Vision NGO, with having chanelled millions of dollars in foreign aid to the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and its armed wing. Israel's Shin Bet internal security service said $7.2 million (6.5 million euros) given to World Vision had been diverted to Hamas each year, with some of it funding the Gaza Strip rulers' military campaign against the Jewish state. World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organisation, has reacted by saying it had "no reason to believe" the allegations against Halabi were true. The charge sheet said he was recruited by Hamas to infiltrate the aid organisation more than a decade ago, rising to become the head of World Vision's Gaza operation. Halabi was arrested in June and later indicted on a number of charges, including funding terror. "The allegation of stealing money intended to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is extremely serious," Amnesty added on Monday. "This makes it all the more pressing to ensure that Mohammed Halabi's rights are fully respected and that his trial be fair and transparent." Man put acid in Australian gay nightclub lube: reports A 62-year-old man who allegedly put highly corrosive acid inside a lubricant dispenser at a gay nightclub in Australia has been arrested and charged, reports said on Monday. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said it understood the incident occurred on Saturday at Aarows bar which describes itself as "Sydney's gay and bi social club". Hydrochloric acid can cause immediate and severe damage on contact. A 62-year-old man who allegedly put highly corrosive acid inside a lubricant dispenser at a gay nightclub in Sydney has been arrested and charged Saeed Khan (AFP/File) New South Wales police confirmed a man was arrested and charged. "Following a number of similar incidents, items in the room had been alarmed to alert security officers if they were tampered with," they said in a statement. It added that an alarm sounded and security detained the man before the police showed up. One patron interviewed by the ABC on Sunday said the act was "sick". "Hydrochloric acid is not the best sort of thing to be playing with," he told the broadcaster. The man, who has not been named, was charged with administering poison intended to injure, cause distress or pain. He has also been charged with entering a building with intent to commit an offence and malicious damage. Afghanistan launches polio drive in former IS areas Afghanistan launched a polio vaccination campaign on Monday aimed at reaching children in areas previously controlled by Islamic State group militants, officials said. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic -- a fact blamed on opposition to immunisation by Islamist groups, who claim the vaccines are a conspiracy to sterilise Muslims or a cover for spying. The latest five-day drive will look to reach about 9.5 million children nationwide, the health ministry's Sardar Parwiz told AFP, with officials hoping to take advantage of reduced fighting in the east following successes from US-backed military operations. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic, a fact blamed on opposition to immunisation by Islamist groups, who claim the vaccines are a conspiracy to sterilise Muslims or a cover for spying Shah Marai (AFP/File) "We have already started contacting locals in areas retaken from Daesh (IS). We will send our teams to those areas, but if they face any problems, we will ask locals to transport their children to our clinics in safer areas," he said. Fighters pledging allegiance to the IS group had been in control of several districts in eastern Nangarhar province on the border with Pakistan, before they were pushed out by Afghan and NATO forces. Last month, Afghan troops backed by US airstrikes seized large parts of the mountainous district of Kot in Nangarhar, a key IS stronghold where the jihadists set up Sharia courts and training camps displaying their trademark black flag. Najibullah Kamawal, the head of the health department in Nangarhar said some districts had been unreachable for over a year, leaving thousands of children without medical assistance. "It is a challenge, it is risky, but we are determined to go to every village and vaccinate the kids," he said. Noorul Habib a teacher in Kot district told AFP by phone the elders and the local population were determined to support the campaign. "We know polio is dangerous, we will do our best to support this campaign. All the elders have sent messages to militants not to disrupt the campaign. We have also told them not to destroy mosques, clinics and schools," he said. Afghanistan registered eight polio cases, mostly in the eastern part of the country in the first half of the year, according to ministry of health. Most of them believed to have been imported from Pakistan. E. Timor urges court to end sea border row with Australia East Timor on Monday urged an international court to help end a decade-long dispute with Australia over a maritime border which cuts through lucrative oil and gas fields in the Timor Sea. Australia argued the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) based in The Hague -- the world's oldest international tribunal -- has no jurisdiction in the battle that has soured ties between the two maritime neighbours. East Timor's independence resistance hero and former prime minister Xanana Gusmao told the tribunal that the country was just seeking what "is rightfully ours". East Timor, which gained independence from Indonesian occupation in 2002, is impoverished and depends heavily on oil and gas exports Bay Ismoyo (AFP/File) "We have not come to The Hague asking for favours or special treatment. We have come to seek our rights under international law," said Gusmao, now a government minister. A representative for the country, Elisabeth Exposto, said she "regretted" Canberra's stand and urged a five-strong bench to find that the PCA could take up the case and eventually rule. East Timor, which gained independence from Indonesian occupation in 2002, is impoverished and depends heavily on oil and gas exports. In 2006, it signed the Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea (CMATS) treaty with Australia, which also covers the vast Greater Sunrise gas field between the two nations, worth billions of dollars. East Timor now wants that treaty torn up after accusing Australia of spying to gain commercial advantage during the 2004 negotiations. It has appealed to the PTA to take up and settle the dispute under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. - Binding treaties - Australia's representative, former UN ambassador Gary Quinlan, told the panel at a preliminary hearing in The Hague that Canberra believed all current treaties, including the CMATS, were legal, binding and valid and should be respected. Australia "contested the competence of the commission," he said, adding "Australia's view is that there is no proper basis from which Timor-Leste is entitled to bring these claims." Dili's claim "violates its treaty commitments, specifically CMATS, under which both countries have committed not to bring proceedings against each other," Quinlan said. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said earlier Monday that even if the PCA decides it has jurisdiction "its final report on that matter is not binding." Dili officially dropped its spying case against Canberra before the UN's highest International Court of Justice in June 2015 after Australia returned sensitive documents. The hearings continued in private Monday and the tribunal will decide at an unknown future date whether to take up the case. 'IS suicide bomber' kills 71 army recruits in Yemen An Islamic State group militant rammed his explosives-laden car into an army recruiting centre in Aden Monday, killing 71 people in the deadliest jihadist attack on the Yemeni city in over a year. The army, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, is training young recruits to join its nationwide war against Shiite Huthi rebels and their allies, as well as Sunni jihadists. Aden is the temporary base of Yemen's internationally recognised government, which was forced into exile after Iran-backed insurgents seized Sanaa and other parts of the war-torn country. Bystanders and soldiers inspect the damage left at the site of a suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State group at an army recruitment centre in the southern Yemeni city of Aden on August 29, 2016 Saleh al-Obeidi (AFP) Security officials told AFP the attacker drove the car bomb into a gathering of recruits at a school in the north of the port city. The recruits were among 5,000 newly enrolled soldiers being trained to fight the Huthi rebels in the north along the border with Saudi Arabia, military sources said. Although the complex was locked as recruits registered inside, the attacker drove in when the gate was opened for a delivery vehicle, officials said. Witnesses said some recruits were buried when a roof collapsed after the blast which left a gaping hole on the building's facade. Debris was scattered around the complex and nearby buildings were damaged. The assault killed at least 71 people and wounded 98, medical sources told AFP. They could not immediately verify whether all those who died were recruits. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Twitter that its hospital in Aden "received 45 dead and at least 60 wounded" following the explosion. Aden has experienced a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces. Attacks in the city are often claimed by jihadists from either Al-Qaeda or IS, which have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in the south and southeast. - String of attacks - IS claimed Monday's bombing on its official propaganda outlet, Amaq. Earlier this month, a suicide bomber drove his vehicle into a large group of army reinforcements sent from Aden to fight jihadists in neighbouring Lahj, killing five soldiers, military officials said. No group has claimed that attack. But on July 20, four policemen were killed in a bombing attack in Aden that was claimed by IS. And in May, twin suicide bombings in Aden claimed by IS killed at least 41 people. Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in the city over the past two months as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from jihadists. President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the "cowardly terrorist act". "It comes as a response to the painful strikes by the heroes of the army and popular resistance, backed by Arab coalition forces," he said. Earlier this month, government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition entered Abyan's provincial capital of Zinjibar. Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in the key Al-Qaeda stronghold of Al-Mahfid, security sources said. The militants still have a presence in areas surrounding the recaptured towns and control large parts of neighbouring Shabwa province, the sources say. The Arab coalition battling the rebels in Yemen has also been providing troops with air cover throughout their war against the jihadists. The United States has carried out numerous drone strikes against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) operatives in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March last year and has helped government forces push the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces since July 2015. The war in Yemen has also impacted on security in Saudi Arabia, where shelling from the kingdom's impoverished neighbour killed three Saudi children and wounded nine other people on Sunday. Cross-border attacks from Yemen have intensified since the suspension in early August of UN-brokered peace talks between the rebels and the government. - ICRC delivers medicines - The Arab coalition has also stepped up air raids in Yemen since peace talks collapsed. A coalition air strike north of Sanaa on Monday killed eight civilians including a child, rescuers and witnesses said. More than 6,600 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since March 2015 and more than 80 percent of the population has been left needing humanitarian aid, the UN says. A plane chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) landed at Sanaa airport on Monday, carrying insulin for thousands of people with diabetes. "Yemen's health sector is in a terrible state," said the head of the ICRC in Yemen, Alexandre Faite. "Less than 30 percent of the required medicines and medical supplies have entered Yemen in 2015," he added. Map of Yemen locating Aden, where at least 71 people have been killed in a suicide bombing AFP (AFP) Bystanders and soldiers inspect the scene of a suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State group at an army recruitment centre in the southern Yemeni city of Aden on August 29, 2016 Saleh al-Obeidi (AFP) Japan gunman kills one, wounds three in rare shooting A gunman who shot dead a construction worker and wounded three others at their office in Japan was on the run Monday, in a country where firearms violence is extremely rare. The Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported the suspect was the son of the construction firm owner, and was still armed when he fled in the western city of Wakayama. The attack took place inside a company office during a meeting, the paper reported. Investigators gather at a construction company where a man shot dead a construction worker and wounded three in Wakayama, Japan on August 29, 2016 All four victims were taken to hospital, where 45-year-old Junsuke Ishiyama died from a bullet wound to the stomach. Local officials warned residents to stay indoors as a massive police manhunt got under way across the city. Gun violence is exceedingly unusual in Japan, with very strict controls on firearms ownership. In 2015, there were just eight reported gun crimes nationwide, the National Police Agency said, with one person killed and three wounded. Turkey says to target Syrian Kurdish militia if no retreat Turkey on Monday said it would continue targeting a Syrian Kurdish militia in Syria if it failed to fulfil promises to retreat east of the Euphrates River, accusing the group of ethnic cleansing. "The YPG (People's Protection Units) first of all... needs to cross east of the Euphrates as soon as possible. So long as they don't, they will be a target," said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. "In the places where it has moved, the YPG forces everyone out -- including Kurds -- who do not think like it does and carries out ethnic cleansing," he added. Turkish Army tanks drive to the Syrian Turkish border town of Jarabulus on August 25, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP/File) Ankara had said it had killed 25 Kurdish "terrorists" on Sunday as it pressed on with a two-pronged operation inside Syria against the Islamic State (IS) jihadists and the YPG. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 40 civilians were killed in Turkish shelling and airstrikes, claims that were strongly rejected by Ankara. "Allegations that... civilians were shot at or targeted do not reflect the truth," the office of the prime minister said, adding the army was taking "all necessary measures to prevent any harm to the civilian population". The action against the YPG is hugely sensitive as the Kurdish group -- seen as a terror group by Ankara -- is an ally of Turkey's NATO ally, the United States, in the fight against IS in Syria. Cavusoglu said the ethnic composition of the area around the city of Manbij west of the Euphrates -- captured by the YPG from IS earlier this month -- was largely Arab. "Residents who had to leave the region (before fighting broke out) must be the ones who live there. But that is not the goal of the YPG," he said at a news conference alongside his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders. Cavusoglu also hailed the success of the lightning operation by Turkish-backed Syrian Arab fighters, who on Wednesday captured the town of Jarabulus from IS. "The objective of this operation (Jarabulus) ... is to clear this region of the Daesh (IS) terrorist organisation." "As you see, even with a small force, the Daesh terrorist organisation is leaving and running away from the regions under their control," he added. Curfew reimposed in Indian Kashmir after fresh clashes Authorities reimposed a curfew in parts of India-administered Kashmir following fresh clashes Monday between protesters and Indian security forces hours after the government announced an end to a 52-day lockdown. Restrictions had been lifted early Monday in most parts of Kashmir Valley, including the main city of Srinagar, but thousands of protesters across the disputed region took to the streets, forcing authorities to reimpose a curfew in several areas. At least 12 people were injured in the fresh wave of violence, police and hospital officials said, where 68 civilians and two police officers have been killed and thousands injured since unrest erupted last month. The current violence, the worst to hit the region since 2010, was triggered by the July 8 killing of a popular rebel leader, Burhan Wani, in a gunbattle with soldiers Sajiad Hussain (AFP) Hundreds of residents rallied in parts of Srinagar and in the northern town of Bandipora after the curfew was lifted, throwing stones at security forces who fired live rounds into the air and tear gas to disperse them, witnesses and an AFP photographer said. Clashes were also reported in central Budgam district and southern Anantnag district, officials said. Schools and businesses remained closed and many streets in Srinagar were largely deserted as troops in riot gear patrolled on foot. Kashmiri separatist groups have extended their shutdown call till the end of the month to press for their demands, which include an end to Indian rule in the Himalayan region. The current violence, the worst to hit the region since 2010, was triggered by the July 8 killing of a popular rebel leader, Burhan Wani, in a gunbattle with soldiers. Several rebel groups including Wani's Hizbul Mujahideen have for decades fought some 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the territory, demanding independence for the region or its merger with Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for calm in the region at the weekend, criticising those responsible for encouraging youngsters to become involved in the recent unrest. Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since their independence from Britain in 1947. Both claim the Himalayan territory in full. Tens of thousands, mostly civilians, have died in the fighting since the armed rebellion against Indian rule began in 1989. Indonesian church attacker 'obsessed with IS leader' An Indonesian teenager who stabbed a priest in a church and tried to set off a homemade bomb was obsessed with the Islamic State (IS) group leader, a minister said Monday. The 17-year-old attempted Sunday to set off the crude, low-grade explosive as the Catholic priest held mass in the packed church in Medan on Sumatra island, and then stabbed him with a knife. The explosive, which authorities compared to a firecracker, did not detonate properly and only gave off smoke while the priest sustained minor injuries to his arm. The knife attack took place at Santo Yosef chuch in Medan on August 28, 2016 Hakim Rangkuti (AFP/File) The congregation tackled the attacker after he ran at Father Albert Pandiangan and knifed him, stopping the teenager before he could do more harm. Security Minister Wiranto said that the attacker was fixated on the leader of IS. The group's influence has been blamed for a string of recent attacks and attempted attacks in Muslim-majority Indonesia. "From the mobile phone confiscated by authorities, this kid is obsessed with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi from ISIS," the minister told reporters, referring to the jihadist group by a different name. Wiranto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said the words "I love al-Baghdadi" were found written on the attacker's backpack, although officials did not believe he had joined any terror network. A search of his rented room turned up copper cables, gunpowder and light bulbs, materials that could be used to assemble simple bombs, said Wiranto. The backpack he carried during the attack contained cut up sections of a pipe, packed with gunpowder. The devices were not capable of producing a serious explosion, said Wiranto. An eyewitness said the assailant was seen fiddling in his bag, which produced a small explosion, before he ran towards the priest. It was the latest attack that was either linked to or thought to be inspired by IS in Indonesia. A suicide bombing and gun attack in the Indonesian capital in January claimed by IS killed four attackers and four civilians. In July an IS-linked suicide bomber attacked a police station on Java island, causing minor injuries to one officer. Sunday's incident was also the latest assault on a religious minority in Indonesia, which is home to substantial numbers of Christians, Hindus and Buddhists. Thai tourist town attackers 'linked to Muslim insurgency' Two suspects in a spate of bomb attacks on Thailand's tourist towns have links to southern Muslim rebels, police said on Monday, the first time a clear link has been made to the insurgency. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing and arson spree which hit popular resorts across the south this month, killing four and wounding dozens including European visitors. But the attacks have heightened concerns the ethnic Malay insurgency may have spread north after years of stalled peace talks -- a theory the country's junta has played down given the importance of tourism to the economy. A forensics unit inspects the site of a deadly bomb blast outside a hotel in the southern province of Pattani on August 24, 2016 Tuwaedaniya Meringing (AFP/File) Three arrest warrants have now been issued by a military court -- all for Muslim men from the south. Usmeen Katemmadee, a 29-year-old from Pattani province named in the latest warrant issued on Monday, is wanted for bomb possession and arson over an attack against Hua Hin, where a double blast killed two people. Two earlier warrants were for a man called Ahama Lengha from Narathiwat province and for a man named Russalan Baima from neighbouring Songkhla. Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen, deputy national police spokesman, said both Ahama and Usmeen had previous links to the southern insurgency. "The first suspect (Ahama) is directly linked with the insurgency by DNA while the third suspect (Usmeen) has had arrest warrants previously issued for the possession of firearms, explosives and some other charges," he told AFP. He said it was not yet clear if Russalan was linked to the revolt. More than 6,500 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in 12 years of violence between the Buddhist-majority state and the shadowy rebels seeking greater autonomy in Thailand's three southernmost provinces. Until now the violence has remained almost entirely local, with the militants wary of attacking foreigners for fear of sparking an international backlash. Analysts say the junta leadership in its turn fears any admission that southern insurgents were behind the latest attacks might harm tourism, and raise questions about the military's ability to ensure security. Yet in recent days the police investigation has increasingly pointed towards the deep south. - Roadside bombs - Thailand annexed the culturally and linguistically distinct zone bordering Malaysia over a century ago. Resistance to Thai rule has existed for decades, but a full blown insurgency kicked off in 2004 and drive-by shootings and roadside bombs are now a near-daily occurrence. A large car bomb killed two outside a hotel in Pattani on Tuesday. The rebels never claim their attacks but factions are known to be frustrated with the lack of progress in achieving their goals. Rights groups accuse soldiers of widespread abuses, including torturing detainees and extra-judicial killings. The rebels also employ brutal tactics, including beheading monks and teachers. Violence in the deep south has lessened since generals seized power in a May 2014 coup. But there has been a noticeable uptick in attacks more recently, particularly around the time of a referendum earlier this month on a new constitution penned by the junta. The charter was approved by a majority of voters but rejected in the three insurgency-racked provinces. Speaking to reporters on Monday, former army chief turned Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha said meetings between the government and rebel intermediaries have taken place in Malaysia but insurgents must halt their attacks. "I think the violence should be stopped and we will then talk about what will we do," he said, adding that he opposes any escalation of the conflict. A double bomb attack took place on August 11 in the upscale resort town of Hua Hin Lillian Suwanrumpha (AFP/File) Yemen cross-border shelling kills 3 Saudi children Cross-border shelling from Yemen has killed three children in Saudi Arabia and wounded nine other people, the kingdom's SPA news agency reported on Monday. In one of the attacks, two Saudi girls were killed and five of their family members wounded when a rocket hit their home in the border region of Najran, SPA said. In the same region, an 11-year-old boy was killed and his mother wounded in similar shelling, SPA cited civil defence authorities as saying in a separate statement. Cross-border attacks into Saudi Arabia have intensified since the suspension in early August of UN-brokered peace talks Fayez Nureldine (AFP) A third attack in the region of Jazan wounded a Saudi child and two women, one of them Ethiopian, another statement said. All the attacks took place on Sunday. Cross-border attacks from Yemen 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. On Saturday, a rocket fired from Yemen killed a three-year-old boy in Najran, where shelling struck a power station a day earlier. The Arab coalition has also stepped up its air raids in Yemen since peace talks collapsed. iPhone spyware spotlights Israel's secretive surveillance industry The discovery of sophisticated spyware to infiltrate and remotely take control of iPhones without leaving a trace has put a spotlight on Israel's secretive surveillance industry, considered among the world's most advanced. Apple rushed out a security update last week after researchers said a prominent Emirati rights activist was targeted by "Pegasus" spyware attributed to Israeli firm NSO Group, based in Herzliya in the country's "Silicon Valley". NSO Group, now owned by US private equity firm Francisco Partners Management, has flown far under the radar, without even a website. An Israeli woman uses her iPhone in front of the building housing the Israeli NSO group, on August 28, 2016, in Herzliya, near Tel Aviv Jack Guez (AFP) It is among some 27 surveillance firms headquartered in Israel, according to a recent report from British NGO Privacy International -- putting the country of eight million people at the top of the list of such companies per capita. According to Privacy International, Israel has 0.33 such firms per 100,000 people, while the United States has 0.04. For the firms involved, the technology is meant to fight crime and terrorism through legal means. Israel's defence ministry must also approve exports of sensitive security products. But activists question whether enough attention is paid to the potential for abuse of such invasive technology, including whether governments will simply target opponents. "Opposition activists, human rights defenders, and journalists have been placed under intrusive government surveillance and individuals have had their communications read to them during torture," Privacy International said. "State agencies are also utilising technologies used for surveillance for offensive and military purposes as well as espionage." - 'Spy in his pocket' - An investigation by Lookout mobile security firm and Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto found the spyware that forced Apple's update last week to be rare and powerful. Emirati activist Ahmed Mansoor's phone "would have become a digital spy in his pocket, capable of employing his iPhone's camera and microphone to snoop on activity in the vicinity of the device, recording his WhatsApp and Viber calls, logging messages sent in mobile chat apps, and tracking his movements," they said. He was targeted by a simple text message that asked him to click on a link for information on detainees tortured in the United Arab Emirates. Targeted by cyber attacks in the past, he became suspicious and forwarded it to Citizen Lab. NSO did not confirm that it created the spyware used to target Mansoor. But it said in a statement that it "sells only to authorised governmental agencies, and fully complies with strict export control laws and regulations". "Moreover, the company does not operate any of its systems; it is strictly a technology company." Israel's defence ministry, for its part, did not respond to a request for comment. - Code-crackers - Daniel Cohen, a cyber-terrorism expert at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, said the country's expertise in such products stems in part from its military, which puts a premium on cyber-warfare training. Most Jewish Israelis are required to serve in the military, whose Unit 8200 for signal intelligence and code-cracking is considered an incubator for future start-ups. "Israel is among the world leaders in everything involving the cyber sector," Cohen said. "After leaving the military, such experts take advantage of their knowledge to create start-ups or get hired at exorbitant salaries by existing firms." Cohen said there are more than 300 cyber-related firms in Israel, though most create products to protect institutions against cyber attacks. "Less than 10 percent of firms in the cyber sector have pursued an offensive niche, meaning technologies allowing the infiltration of computer systems," he said. Companies with Israeli roots have provided technology to monitor Internet and phone communication to secret police in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as well as Colombian security forces, according to Privacy International. They have also reportedly exported to Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Panama and Mexico, it said. One case drew particular attention in 2011, when Internet-monitoring technology by Allot Communications was reportedly sold on by a distributor to Iran, Israel's arch-enemy. Citizen Lab said: "Clearly, additional legal and regulatory scrutiny of the 'lawful intercept' market, and of NSO Groups activities in relation to the attacks we have described, is essential." "While these spyware tools are developed in democracies, they continue to be sold to countries with notorious records of abusive targeting of human rights defenders." Kerry says evidence of IS links to Bangladesh extremists US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday there was evidence to link the extremists behind a recent series of deadly attacks in Bangladesh to the Islamic State group. Bangladesh's government has staunchly denied that IS or any international jihadist network has gained a foothold in the country. Instead it has blamed local extremists for a deadly siege at a cafe in Dhaka last month and a series of killings of liberal activists and people from religious minorities. US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina shake hands ahead of a meeting in Dhaka on August 29, 2016 Str (AFP) But speaking after meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on a one-day visit to the capital, Dhaka, Kerry said there was "no argument" that extremists operating in Bangladesh had links to counterparts in Syria and Iraq. "There is evidence that ISIL in Iraq and Syria has contacts with about eight different entities around the world and one of them is in South Asia," Kerry said after meeting with Hasina. "They are connected to some degree with some of the operatives here and we made that very clear in our conversation. There was no argument about it." IS has claimed responsibility for the July 1 attack on the upscale cafe in Dhaka in which 22 people were killed and pictures of the attackers holding IS flags were posted online. Kerry however defended Hasina's administration against accusations that it is in denial about the nature of the extremist threat it faces. "I don't believe that the government of Bangladesh has its head in the sand. I do not believe that," he said. Kerry said the United States stood firmly behind Bangladesh in its fight against Islamist militants, and both countries have agreed to increase cooperation between their respective intelligence agencies. - Militants shot dead - But Kerry also said democracy was a key to combating extremism, as Bangladesh comes under pressure over a crackdown on opponents that has seen thousands of activists arrested. "Just as important, we understand that to defeat terrorists, we must uphold, not betray, the democratic principles we cherish and they abhor," Kerry told labour activists and union leaders after the talks with Hasina. "Democracy still provides the most resilient and reliable platform we have for preventing and responding to violent extremism." Kerry was speaking just hours after Bangladesh police shot dead two suspected members of the local militant Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) group during a gunbattle with security officers. "They were declared dead after being brought to a local hospital," police spokesman Gaziur Rahman told AFP of the gunbattle in the northern town of Sherpur. The shootings came just two days after police killed the suspected mastermind of the cafe attack during a gunbattle outside Dhaka. Police named the suspect as JMB leader Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-born Canadian. Police have conducted a series of raids on suspected militant hideouts since the cafe attack that have killed at least 26 extremists. Critics say Hasina's administration has been trying to exploit the attacks to demonise her domestic opponents and say a government crackdown on opponents has pushed many towards extremism. The country's biggest Islamist party is banned while the main opposition leader Khaleda Zia also faces a string of corruption, sedition and other charges that her supporters say are aimed at keeping her out of politics. Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies boycotted the last general election in 2014 over fears that they would be rigged, leaving the field clear for Hasina's party. Thousands of opposition activists were arrested in a government crackdown last year following an opposition-led transport blockade that left scores dead in a failed bid to force Hasina to resign. Kerry will fly to neighbouring India later Monday to take part in a regular India-US strategic dialogue on economic cooperation and security issues. He will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amid rising tensions in the disputed region of Kashmir which is divided between India and its rival neighbour, Pakistan. Clashes between Turkey, US-backed Kurds in Syria 'unacceptable' for US Clashes between Turkish forces and units affiliated with a US-backed Kurdish-led alliance in Syria are "unacceptable", the Pentagon said Monday, calling on all sides to "stand down". In a statement sent to AFP, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook condemned the fighting south of the Syrian town of Jarabulus. "We are closely monitoring reports of clashes south of Jarabulus -- where ISIL is no longer located -- between the Turkish armed forces, some opposition groups, and units that are affiliated with the SDF (Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces)," he said. Turkish forces began a two-pronged operation against IS and Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units inside Syria Bulent Kilic (AFP/File) ISIL is an acronym for the Islamic State (IS) group. "We want to make clear that we find these clashes unacceptable and they are a source of deep concern." The United States "was not involved in these activities, they were not coordinated with US forces, and we do not support them," he said. "This is an already crowded battle space. Accordingly, we are calling on all armed actors to stand down immediately and take appropriate measures to de-conflict." The comments come after Turkish forces began a two-pronged operation against IS and Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) inside Syria on Wednesday. The YPG is the main component of the US-backed SDF alliance, which has been fighting IS in northern Syria. Turkey considers the YPG a "terrorist" group and said Monday it would continue to target the group if it failed to retreat east of the Euphrates River. Turkish forces backed by pro-Ankara rebels seized the town of Jarabulus from IS on the first day of the operation, but have since then clashed with local fighters affiliated with the SDF. - 'YPG must cross back' - US Vice President Joe Biden made a visit to Turkey last week, during which he said Washington was looking "to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria," Cook explained. "We have made this clear to the YPG elements of the SDF. We have reiterated our view that the YPG must cross back to the eastern side of the Euphrates and understand that has largely occurred," the Pentagon spokesman added. Ankara says it had seen no evidence of this. "We maintain and will continue to engage our partners on the ground to ensure that our collective efforts to deal ISIL a lasting defeat are well-coordinated and synchronized." On Sunday, dozens of people were killed in Turkish bombardments in Syria as Ankara ramped up its unprecedented offensive. Ankara said it had killed 25 Kurdish "terrorists" and insisted the army was doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. But the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 40 civilians were killed in Turkish shelling and air strikes on two areas held by pro-Kurdish forces, the first report of significant civilian casualties in Turkey's operation. Main players in the Syria conflict 106 Afghan students detained in Pakistan madrassa raid Pakistani police raided a madrassa in the restive southwestern city of Quetta and detained 106 illegal Afghan students, officials said Monday, as the government stepped up a campaign to rein in rogue religious schools. The detentions were made Saturday, and the students, aged between 14 to 18 years -- who had no documents giving them permission to be in the country-- will eventually be deported to Afghanistan, senior police official Nadeem Hussain told AFP. "We have sealed the madrassa as it did not have any registration documents," he said. The students, aged between 14 to 18 years, who had no documents allowing them to be in the country, will eventually be deported to Afghanistan Banaras Khan (AFP/File) Akbar Harifal, the Home Secretary for Balochistan province, of which Quetta is the capital, confirmed the raid and detentions. Pakistan had vowed to keep a closer eye on its 13,000 Islamic seminaries, or madrassas, as part of a "National Action Plan" after the country's deadliest extremist attack, a Taliban assault on a school that left more than 150 people dead in December 2014. With little oversight of what was being taught to the hundreds of thousands of children enrolled in the country's madrassas, fears intensified after the 2014 attack that some religious schools were breeding grounds for intolerance -- or even extremism. There was no suggestion that the seminary raided Saturday had links to extremism. Pakistan is home to 1.5 million registered and about as many undocumented Afghan refugees, with growing insecurity in Afghanistan impeding voluntary return programmes. Chinese cities shut down factories ahead of G20 summit Chinese authorities have shut down scores of factories and ordered a mandatory holiday for workers ahead of a summit of leaders of the Group of 20 economic powers, authorities said. The Hangzhou city government ordered a holiday for businesses in the downtown area from September 1 to 7, according to an official social media account. The G20 meeting will be held on September 4 and 5. City officials have also encouraged citizens to take their holiday out of town, in the hopes of reducing congestion. The city has already spent months preparing for the meeting and has undergone a major overhaul in an attempt to make traffic more efficient. China often orders mass factory closures to clean up the chronically polluted skies of most major cities Fred Dufour (AFP/File) Along with the mandatory vacation, certain types of factories within a 300-kilometre (185 mile) radius of Hangzhou have been forced to shut down for 12 days in order to ensure blue skies for the visiting dignitaries, according to government websites. The order affects chemical producers, construction material factories and textile manufacturers stretching across Shanghai and four provinces. China often orders mass factory closures to clean up the chronically polluted skies of most major cities. The phenomenon was apparent at a major military parade last year to mark the end of World War II. The clear atmosphere was dubbed "parade blue" by Chinese citizens, echoing the "APEC blue" they enjoyed ahead of 2014's Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Beijing. Pakistan judges deny civilian appeals against military courts Pakistan's top judges on Monday upheld the verdicts and death sentences passed on 16 civilians who were tried on terrorism charges by the country's military courts, which have been sharply criticised by rights groups. The appellants had criticised the courts for a lack of transparency and due process. Families complained that their relatives would go missing. Pakistan reinstated the death penalty and established military courts after gunmen stormed a school in 2014, leaving 150 dead Aamir Qureshi (AFP/File) Only later would they learn -- often through the media -- that their sons had been tried and convicted on terrorism charges and would face the gallows. But a five-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said the appellants had not proved that the military courts violated any constitutional rights or failed to follow procedure. The courts were established under "extraordinary circumstances", their ruling said, to deal with exactly the offences with which the accused were charged. Pakistan reinstated the death penalty and established military courts after suffering its deadliest-ever extremist attack, when gunmen stormed a school in the northwest in 2014 and killed more than 150 people -- mostly children. The 11 military courts have passed judgement on 128 people and found the defendants guilty in 104 cases, according to a tally by the International Commmision of Jurists (ICJ). Only four have avoided the death penalty and been sentenced to life in prison instead. Rights activists have called for greater transparency, saying the courts fail to meet even the murky standards of military tribunals around the world. Reema Omer, a legal adviser for the ICJ, said the unusually high number of detainees said to have confessed -- 98 out of 104 -- raised the possibility of coercion and torture. "It's almost always assumed that people don't confess to their crimes. That raises all sorts of questions," she said. Tunisia 'terrorist' blast kills three soldiers Three Tunisian soldiers were killed in an explosion set off by "terrorists" on Monday near Mount Sammama, a hideout for jihadists at war with the authorities, the defence ministry said. Defence ministry spokesman Belhassen Oueslati told Mosaique Radio FM that "terrorist elements launched an attack with a large quantity of explosives on a military patrol providing security for workers" tarring a road. Three soldiers were killed and seven wounded, he said, adding that two militants were believed to have been killed by army fire and their bodies removed. Tunisian forces have been tracking jihadists mainly in the mountainous regions of Chaambi and Sammama Fathi Nasri (AFP/File) Mosaique FM radio said earlier that a blast hit a military vehicle as soldiers combed an area near the town of Kasserine. The violence came on the same day a new unity government took office in Tunisia with security among its top priorities. Jihadist attacks in Tunisia have cost dozens of lives among security forces as well as civilians, and 59 foreign tourists were also killed in 2015. Turkey says aims to prevent Kurdish militia corridor in Syria Turkey on Monday said one of the key aims of its unprecedented operation in northern Syria was to prevent the creation of a corridor stretching from Iraq to the verge of the Mediterranean controlled by Kurdish militia. The goal of the operation was to rid the region of Islamic State (IS) jihadists and prevent the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia "from completing an end-to-end corridor" across Syria, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus was quoted as saying by NTV television. "If that happens, it means Syria has been divided," he added. After the Turkish army sustained its first fatality of the operation in Syria at the weekend, Deputy Prime Minister Nurman Kurtulmus denied Turkey was at wart Bulent Kilic (AFP/File) He added that all relevant parties had been informed of Turkey's operation in Syria which began on Wednesday, including the regime of President Bashar al-Assad who is a bitter enemy of Ankara. "All the parties concerned had been informed... including the Damascus administration. They have been informed through Russia. We are sure of this," he said. Russia is a key remaining ally of Assad. After the Turkish army sustained its first fatality of the operation at the weekend, Kurtulmus denied Turkey was at war. "We are not pursuing an aim of becoming a permanent power in Syria. Turkey is not an invader. Turkey is not entering a war." "If there is a threat directed against the Turkish Armed Forces, it cannot remain bystander to this. Everyone should pay attention to the steps it takes," he added. Attacks in Bangladesh in 2016 Visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday there was evidence to link the extremists who staged a recent series of deadly attacks in Bangladesh to the Islamic State group. Here are some of the attacks this year alone: -- July 7: Two policemen and a civilian are killed in explosions and gunfire at a huge prayer meeting in the northern district of Kishoreganj marking the start of Eid. US John Kerry met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 29, 2016 -- July 1: Islamists kill 20 hostages and two policemen in an overnight siege at a Western-style cafe in Dhaka. Many of the victims, who include 18 foreigners, are hacked to death with machetes. On the same day a Hindu temple worker is hacked to death in western Bangladesh. -- June 15: A Hindu college lecturer is seriously wounded after being hacked by three men in the southern town of Madripur. -- June 10: A 62-year-old Hindu monastery worker is hacked to death during his morning walk. -- June 6: A 70-year-old Hindu priest is found murdered in the western district of Jhenidah. -- June 5: Christian Sunil Gomes, 65, is hacked to death after Sunday prayers near a church in the northwest village of Bonpara. -- May 20: Sanaur Rahman, 58, a homeopathic doctor, is murdered while riding a motorcycle in the western town of Kushtia. -- May 14: A 75-year-old Buddhist monk is found hacked to death in Baishari. -- May 7: A local Sufi Muslim leader is found chopped to death in a mango grove in the northwestern city of Rajshahi. -- April 30: A Hindu tailor is hacked to death in central Bangladesh. -- April 25: Two leading gay rights activists are chopped to death in an apartment building in Dhaka. -- April 23: University English professor Rezaul Karim Siddique, 58, is cut down and fatally wounded in Rajshahi. -- April 7: Nazimuddin Samad, a 26-year-old law student and atheist who had taken part in protests against Islamist leaders, is murdered near his university in Dhaka. -- March 22: Attackers hack to death 68-year-old Hossain Ali, who converted to Christianity from Islam in 1999, in the town of Kurigram. Indian principal jailed for 17 years over deadly school meal An Indian court Monday sentenced a school principal to 17 years in jail over the death of 23 pupils who were served a free meal laced with pesticide, a prosecutor said. The head of the government-run school was found guilty last week of culpable homicide for the 2013 tragedy. In all, nearly 50 children consumed the poisonous lunch in Saran district in the eastern state of Bihar. "Meena Devi was sentenced to ten years for culpable homicide and seven years for attempt to commit culpable homicide," public prosecutor Sameer Mishra told AFP. The disaster prompted the government to improve food safety in schools Biju Boro (AFP/File) Devi was also fined 375,000 rupees ($5,500), with much of the money intended for the families of 24 injured children. Prosecutors said they were satisfied with Monday's ruling but would challenge the court's acquittal of her husband Arjun Rai for lack of evidence. Rai allegedly supplied the pesticide-laced oil used to cook the meal. Investigators told the court Rai had stored the pesticide alongside the cooking oil, and supplied the contaminated oil to the school. He had secured the contract for school supplies from his wife without following any guidelines, investigators said. The children, aged four to 12, fell ill within minutes of eating the lunch of lentils, potatoes and rice at their primary school in the poverty-stricken village of Dharmasati Gandaman on July 16, 2013. "We were hoping both of them would be jailed but the court let her husband off," Madav Ram, father of a 12-year child, who died, told AFP. The disaster prompted the government to improve food safety in schools. Children often suffer food poisoning due to poor hygiene in kitchens and occasionally sub-standard food. Free lunches have since 2001 been offered to some 120 million schoolchildren throughout India, in the world's largest school meal programme. Gabon presidential poll 'lacked transparency': EU observers Gabon's presidential election "lacked transparency", the head of the 73-strong EU electoral monitoring team in the country said on Monday, a day before the official results were due out. Speaking to reporters in the capital Libreville, Bulgarian MEP Mariya Gabriel said Saturday's vote in the oil-rich Central African country, was "managed in a way that lacked transparency." "The mission condemns the lack of transparency in the electoral bodies which failed to make essential information available to the campaigns, like the electoral roll or a list of polling stations," she said. A newspaper vendor looks for customers in Libreville on August 29, 2016 while displaying local papers reporting on the outcome of Gabons's presidential elections Marco Longari (AFP) The EU observers said that a week before the election only half of voters had received their ballot cards. The remarks came after a bitterly disputed election in which both sides accused the other of electoral fraud. Official results will not be published until Tuesday, and there are fears that the tensions may erupt into a repeat of the violence seen after the disputed 2009 election. Opposition candidate Jean Ping, who has claimed victory in the vote which pitted him against the incumbent Ali Bongo, on Monday accused the Cenap national election commission of "manipulation" and tampering with the outcome of the poll. "The people of Gabon, who have mobilised massively... and want me to run the country will never accept having the victory, their victory, stolen from them," the 73-year-old said at his campaign headquarters in Libreville. "(They) will defend by all means the victory that civil and military hawks now want to steal," he said, flanked by figures formerly associated with the Bongo regime who have supported his campaign. - UN urges restraint - Ping also vowed to "guarantee complete security" for Bongo and his family if he stepped down from the presidency and pledged there would not be a "witch hunt" once he had departed. United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Monday urged both sides to avoid commenting on the results until they are announced officially. The EU monitoring team said that in the run-up to the election, incumbent Bongo enjoyed an unfair advantage over his rivals. "Before the official start of the campaign, the mission observed a confusion between the campaigning activities and (Bongo's) official duties," they said. Media coverage was heavily skewed in favour of Bongo to the detriment of his opponents, including Ping, the EU mission added. The Gabonese interior ministry reacted by focusing on the "positives" in the EU mission report, "despite some irregularities". The ministry declared itself satisfied that the European observers had found that "in around 95 percent of the 260 polling stations observed the voting conditions were judged satisfactory". "The voting went ahead calmly and peacefully, without major incident, and secret balloting was ensured," the interior ministry added. - Streets deserted - Ping worked for many years in the administration of Omar Bongo, Ali's father. He also served as head of the African Union Commission and president of the UN General Assembly. After his claim of victory on Sunday, Bongo responded by saying that he was "calmly" awaiting the results while his supporters said that it was "dangerous and illegal" to declare a victor before the official announcement. Presidential spokesman Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze claimed that Bongo "was ahead with a lead that could not be overturned". Fearing a repeat of the violence that followed Bongo's victory in 2009, many residents have stocked up on food and are staying indoors. On Sunday, the streets of Libreville were deserted and shops and stalls that are usually open were closed. The embassy of former colonial power France warned its citizens not to travel within the country unless absolutely necessary and to keep themselves informed. "We want to get the results soon," said a man in Libreville called Honore. "We'll see how the candidates react. I hope it won't be like last time." In 2009, several people were killed in 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, has previously claimed that Bongo would attempt to retain power by force. Opposition candidate Jean Ping accused election officials of tampering with the outcome of the vote Marco Longari (AFP) Hurricane Madeline weakening as it heads toward Hawaii Hurricane Madeline flexed its muscles as it churned towards Hawaii Tuesday, peaking at a dangerous Category Four strength before slackening, US weather officials said. The storm, which is expected to pass near Hawaii's Big Island sometime Wednesday, has the potential to unleash dangerous flash floods and mudslides, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center said. At 0900 GMT Wednesday, Madeline was a Category One storm with maximum sustained winds around 90 miles (145 kilometers) per hour with higher gusts. Hurricanes Lester (R) and Madeline (L) in the Pacific Ocean pictured in an August 29, 2016 NASA satellite image Winds had reached 130 miles per hour earlier in the day, making the hurricane a Category Four storm at the time. A hurricane warning is in effect for Hawaii County and tropical storm watch for Maui Country, which includes the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe. Madeline threatens to disrupt a planned visit by President Barack Obama and other dignitaries to Hawaii for the World Conservation Congress, a major meeting of thousands of delegates, including heads of state, scientists and policy makers. The massive storm was located some 235 miles east of Hilo, Hawaii, traveling west around 12 miles per hour. "On the forecast track, the center of Madeline will pass dangerously close to Hawaii County Wednesday and Wednesday night," the center said in its advisory, referring to the Big Island. Madeline was expected to gradually weaken over the next 48 hours. Hurricane-force winds extended 25 miles from the center of the storm, while tropical storm-force winds extended out 125 miles. The US weather agency said swells generated by Madeline were expected to affect eastern shorelines beginning later Tuesday, with some strong enough to damage the coastline in the coming days. Madeline is expected to dump five to 10 inches (13 to 25 centimeters) of rain on Hawaii, with some areas receiving up to 15 inches. The World Conservation Congress is set to take place in Hawaii from Thursday to next Saturday. Obama is scheduled to address the gathering on its opening day. A US software firm which chose Singapore for the world's first public trial of driverless taxis hopes to be operating in 10 Asian and US cities by 2020, an executive said Monday. Doug Parker, nuTonomy's chief operating officer, said the firm is eyeing tests by early next year in three other Asian countries which he declined to name. He said an announcement of the test venues would be made within the next month or so. Doug Parker, COO of nuTonomy, the developer of the software for driverless taxis, pictured alongside one of the vehicles during an interview with AFP reporter in Singapore on August 29, 2016 Roslan Rahman (AFP) The company last week kicked off the world's first driverless taxi service in a limited trial for invited people in a Singapore research campus. Parker, 41, said nuTonomy was also considering trials in the Middle East, the United States and Britain. More than a dozen people in Singapore have already experienced a ride in the 'robo-taxi' within the confines of one-north, an enclave of technology and science research institutes outside the central business district. 'I think people are pretty excited that the car is driving itself. I would say they start apprehensive and scared but by the second block they start to enjoy it,' Parker said. The current test car - a modified Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle - plies a 2.5 square mile (4.0 square km) area with set pick-up and drop off points. HOW IT WORKS The company says dozens have signed up for the launch, and it plans to expand that list to thousands of people within a few months. The current test car - a modified Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle - plies a 2.5 square mile (4.0 square km) area with set pick-up and drop off points. Trips must be booked through the company's smartphone app and are currently by invitation only. The cars can be hailed using a smartphone app but are currently only operating (pictured) within a small area of Singapore known as one north. The company says dozens of people have already signed up to the service but hopes that will expand within a few months Each car is fitted with six sets of Lidar - a detection system that uses lasers to operate like radar - including one that constantly spins on the roof. There are also two cameras on the dashboard to scan for obstacles and detect changes in traffic lights. Advertisement Trips must be booked through the company's smartphone app and are currently by invitation only. Five other test cars - Renault Zoes - will be added to the fleet next month. Data from the experiment will feed into the rollout of driverless taxis across Singapore in 2018, said Parker, adding that by 2020 'we would like to be in 10 cities in Asia, the United States and maybe Europe'. He also said a number of real-estate developers from Asia and the United States have contacted the company 'about how they can use autonomous cars in their eco-friendly communities'. Parker said the vehicle, equipped with sophisticated laser, radar and cameras, has so far experienced navigating among buses, slowing down at pedestrian lanes and adjusting to unplanned street scenes. 'One day we pulled out of here and literally five buses of schoolchildren pulled up on this very narrow street. And the buses were trading positions,' he said Data from an experiment with driverless taxis in Singapore will feed into the roll-out of the vehicles across the city-state in 2018, said US-based tech start-up nuTonomy Roslan Rahman (AFP/File) 'We've seen forklifts, we've seen people with wheelbarrows just right here on this one street.' Parker said nuTonomy chose Singapore for the public tests rather than Silicon Valley because of the presence of a 'loyal technical talent' - including people with doctorates in robotics - whom it does not have to share with other companies like Ford and Apple. Opposition vows to rid Morocco of Islamists in Oct vote The main opposition party PAM has vowed to "liberate" Morocco from the scandal-tainted ruling PJD Islamist party as the country gears up for campaigning ahead of a crucial October election. The liberal PJD -- Justice and Development Party -- has led a coalition governing the North African kingdom since late 2011 but faces growing opposition from its rival, the Authenticity and Modernity Party. It is expected to have to fight for its survival on October 7, particularly after a spate of scandals. Ilyas el Omari, Vice Secretary General of the Party of Authenticity and Modernity has vowed to save Morocco from "catastrophe" Fadel Senna (AFP/File) These include two PJD vice presidents suspended after being found in a "sexual position" on a beach, a drugs bust involving three tonnes of cannabis and a dodgy land-grab deal. Media reports Monday quoted the PAM secretary general as saying he hopes to win the election and head a new government in order to save Morocco. "If the current situation persists, it will lead the country to catastrophe," Ilyas el-Omari was quoted as saying at a weekend congress of the opposition party. "Moroccans are hoping for the change which the PAM incarnates," he said. Next month's election was aimed at "saving" and "liberating" the country, he said at the meeting outlining the PAM election programme which is expected to be made public in the coming days. On Friday, the PJD published a list of the 74 candidates it will field. They include Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, who is also PJD secretary general, as well as most of his cabinet ministers who are members of the ruling party. "The PJD is fielding most of its tenors. It is throwing its weight into this election which is expected to be a very close election," said news website Medias24. - Salafist candidate - Online media reported that Salafist cleric Hammad Kabbaj would also be part of the PJD list although he is not a party member. The cleric "is far from being a moderate" and has "extremist" views concerning the status of women and Jews, said Medias24. Al Huffington Post Morocco said the PDJ apparently chose Kabbaj as a means to forge closer ties with Salafists who have "limited political weight but a large support base". After years in opposition, the PJD found itself the head of a coalition government in 2011 tasked with guiding Morocco through a turbulent period that saw many regional countries rattled by Arab Spring uprisings. That vote followed concessions from King Mohammed VI, the scion of a monarchy that has ruled the country for 350 years. A new constitution curbed some, but not all, of the king's near-absolute powers as autocratic regimes toppled in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. But in 2015, the PJD lost to the PAM in municipal elections, trailing behind the opposition by a few votes. Since then the PJD has found itself mired in a series of scandals. Last year, a woman filed a sexual harassment complaint against a PJD candidate near Marrakesh, and last month a party member was arrested in possession of three tonnes of cannabis. Earlier this month, the "sex on the beach" case involved two vice presidents of the party's religious wing who are both in their 60s. And a PJD governor has also come under fire for allegedly using his political influence to try to force through the sale of 200 hectares (500 acres) of farmland. Around 15 million Moroccans are registered to vote and 30 parties are due to take part in the election to win seats on the 395-member Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of parliament. Campaigning officially begins on September 25. UN chief urges Myanmar to respect human rights Myanmar's new leadership must overcome discrimination and promote inclusive development with "full respect" for human rights, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday on the eve of a visit to the country. Ban said elections last November, won overwhelmingly by Aung San Suu Kyi's political party, had opened the way to include various ethnic groups in Myanmar's newfound democracy. The recent setting up of an advisory panel on Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state headed by former UN chief Kofi Annan is an "encouraging step", Ban said, speaking in Singapore at an event organised by the Singapore Management University at the start of a two-day visit to the city-state. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will visit Myanmar on August 30, 2016 Kirill Kudryavtsev (AFP/File) Annan will advise Myanmar's new government on resolving conflicts in Rakhine, a region divided on religious grounds and home to the stateless Muslim Rohingya. "The new leadership must now overcome discrimination, ensure equality and promote inclusive development for all, with full respect for human rights," Ban added. The UN chief will arrive in Myanmar on Tuesday for talks with Suu Kyi, the de facto prime minister who is leading reforms after decades of military rule. He will address a peace conference organised by Suu Kyi that aims to bring ethnic rebel groups to the table to end decades of fighting. Ban will also meet President Htin Kyaw, General Ming Aung Hlaing, commander in chief of Myanmar's armed forces, and other political and civil society representatives. The United Nations has criticised Myanmar's treatment of its Muslim Rohingya minority, who are denied citizenship and have been living in squalid displacement camps. Turkey warplanes bomb PKK targets in northern Iraq: state media Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq Monday, as Ankara pressed its military operation against Islamic State jihadists and a Syrian Kurdish militia in neighbouring Syria, state media said. Turkish air force jets launched strikes between 09:30 and 10:55 GMT against targets of the "separatist terrorist organisation" in Gara in northern Iraq, Anadolu news agency said, referring to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The targets were "destroyed", Anadolu added. The air strikes in northern Iraq were the first since the Syria operation began on August 24, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP/File) The PKK is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States and its command is based in the Qandil mountains of northern Iraq. A two-year ceasefire between Ankara and the PKK collapsed last year, after which Kurdish rebels launched frequent attacks on security forces in the restive southeast. Since Wednesday, Turkey has been conducting an operation in Syria against IS and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). The air strikes in northern Iraq were the first since the Syria operation began on Wednesday. UN sees surge in Israeli settlements after Quartet report Israeli settlement expansion has surged in the two months since the diplomatic Quartet called for a halt to the construction of Jewish outposts on Palestinian land, the UN envoy said Monday. In a much-awaited report, the Quartet -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations --- urged Israel to stop building settlements and called on the Palestinians to cease incitement to violence. But Nickolay Mladenov, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, acknowledged that this appeal had fallen on deaf ears. A general view of an Israeli building site of new housing units in the Jewish settlement of Neve Yaakov, in the northern area of east Jerusalem Ahmad Gharabli (AFP/File) "Its recommendations continue to be ignored, including by a surge in Israeli settlement-related announcements and continuing demolitions," Mladenov told the Security Council. The Quartet report was to serve as the basis for reviving the Israeli-Palestinian peace process that has been comatose since a US initiative collapsed in April 2014. There has been growing alarm that the construction of Jewish settlements on land earmarked to be part of a future Palestinian state is killing off prospects for a peace deal based on the two-state solution. Since July 1, Israeli has advanced plans for over 1,000 housing units in occupied east Jerusalem and 735 units in the West Bank, Mladenov said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is also seeking tenders for 323 units to expand east Jerusalem settlements and for 42 units in Kiryat Arba near Hebron, for which it is allocating $13 million in new funding. Israel has undertaken a land survey on the outskirts of Bethlehem for the establishment of a new settlement in a move that would contribute to the "dismemberment of the southern West Bank," said Mladenov. Demolitions of Palestinian homes are on the rise in the West Bank, with over 130 structures destroyed. Mladenov singled out the Bedouin communities from east Jerusalem and the Susiya area in the southern West Bank, warning that "the demolition of this community would set a dangerous precedent for displacement." "All of these plans would essentially create new illegal settlements and I call on Israel to cease and reverse these decisions," he said. Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected calls for a halt to settlement expansion, arguing that the residential projects are not an obstacle to peace. The Security Council declared Israeli settlements in occupied territory to be illegal in a resolution adopted in 1979. US alarm as Turkey warns Syrian Kurd militia of more strikes Turkey warned Monday it would carry out more strikes on a US-backed Kurdish militia in Syria if it fails to retreat, as Washington said President Barack Obama will meet his Turkish counterpart over the weekend. Turkish forces pressed on with a two-pronged operation inside Syria against Islamic State (IS) jihadists and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), shelling over a dozen targets. The strikes against the YPG are hugely sensitive as the outfit -- seen as a terror group by Ankara -- is allied with Turkey's NATO partner the United States in the fight against IS in Syria. A Turkish boy waves to Turkish tank convoy driving into Syria from the border city of Karkamis in the southern region of Gaziantep, on August 26, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP/File) Ankara has said it killed 25 Kurdish "terrorists" in strikes on YPG positions on Sunday -- meaning the two US-backed partner forces are now fighting each other. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the clashes were "unacceptable and a source of deep concern." He called for steps to de-escalate the situation and said Washington had once again told the YPG to retreat east of the Euphrates. This has "largely occurred," he added. US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter later said he had appealed to both sides not to fight. "That's the basis of our cooperation with both of them -- specifically not to engage one another," Carter said. Two US defense officials told AFP that SDF forces had "all" withdrawn east of the Euphrates, but they said some Kurdish people remained to the west. Turkey's operation aims to push the YPG back across the Euphrates to prevent it joining up a region east of the river already under its control with a Kurdish-held area to the west. - 'Ethnic cleansing' - Ankara fears the emergence of an autonomous Kurdish region in Syria would bolster Kurdish rebels across the border in southeastern Turkey. The situation in northern Syria is yet another complication in the country's already tangled civil war, and potentially throws a wrench in US plans to defeat the Islamic State group in the region. US Vice President Joe Biden said last week that Washington had ordered the YPG to retreat or risk losing American support. But Ankara says it had seen no evidence of this. President Obama will meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday in China on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit, with Syria high on the agenda, top aide Ben Rhodes announced Monday, stressing the need "to stay united." It will be the first meeting between the two leaders since a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu accused the Kurdish militia of "ethnic cleansing" in the mainly Arab area around the city of Manbij, west of the Euphrates, which the YPG wrested from IS earlier this month. Turkey considers the YPG an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a deadly insurgency on Turkish territory for over three decades. On Monday, the Turkish air force launched air strikes on PKK bases in northern Iraq, state media said. - 'Deep concern' - The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 40 civilians were killed in Turkish shelling and air strikes on pro-Kurdish positions in northern Syria on Sunday. Ankara strongly denies killing any civilians. The army said 10 more villages had "been cleared of terrorist elements" Monday by Turkish-backed anti-regime Syrian fighters. A 400-square-kilometre (154-square-mile) area has been cleared since the operation began on August 24, it added. President Erdogan said in a statement the offensive would continue until "the threat of Daesh and YPG/PKK is over." Daesh is an acronym for IS. On Monday, at least five people were injured in the Turkish town of Kilis by rockets fired across the border from an IS-held area, NTV television reported. The army returned fire, the report said. Ankara-backed forces faced little resistance when they captured the IS border stronghold of Jarabulus last week, days after a suspected IS suicide bombing killed 55 people in southeast Turkey. But the standoff with the Kurdish militia has been intense, with a Turkish soldier killed on Saturday in a YPG rocket attack on his tank. - 'Turkey's crimes against humanity' - The Turkish army said it had fired 61 times on targets in northern Syria in the previous 24 hours. It did not say which group was targeted. Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said all relevant parties had been forewarned of Turkey's operation in Syria, including the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, a bitter enemy of Ankara who had been informed by its ally Russia. Syria's official Sana agency said Damascus had written to the UN Security Council to protest Turkey's "crimes against humanity" in the country. Population areas and zones where Kurdish forces have a military presence in Turkey, Syria and Iraq Thomas Saint-Circq, Jean Michel Cornu (AFP) Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (R) and Netherlands Foreign Minister Bert Koenders speak during a joint press conference at the Foreign Ministry's residence in Ankara on August 29, 2016 Adem Altan (AFP) US-backed Kurds move east of Euphrates in Syria: defense official US-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria have "all" moved east of the Euphrates River, a US defense official said Monday, an action Washington hopes will reduce conflict between two partner forces. The development comes after Turkey warned it would carry out more strikes on Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) near the key border town of Jarabulus unless they moved to the east. Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations, the official told AFP the YPG had headed east over the past day or so. Kurdish fighters belonging to the police force -- the Asayesh -- and the People's Protection Units stand outside the central prison in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh on August 23, 2016 Delil Souleiman (AFP/File) "All the YPG are on the east of the Euphrates," the official said. Still, he said, some Kurds may remain to the west of the river, but these were not part of the YPG. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook earlier said the YPG move east had "largely occurred." The situation in northern Syria is yet another complication in the country's already tangled civil war, and potentially throws a wrench in US plans to defeat the Islamic State group in the region. The US-led coalition has been backing the YPG with training and equipment to fight IS, while at the same time the United States has also supported "Vetted Syrian Opposition" groups fighting with the Turks in northern Syria. Ankara has said it killed 25 Kurdish "terrorists" in strikes on YPG positions on Sunday -- meaning the two US-backed partner forces are now fighting each other. Turkey's operation aims to push the YPG back across the Euphrates to prevent it joining up a region east of the river already under its control with a Kurdish-held area to the west. Do more for S.Sudan refugees, says a top UN official The international community must respond to the refugee crisis caused by fighting in South Sudan in the same way it responded to the crisis in Europe, the UN refugee chief said in Uganda on Monday. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, says 88,533 people have fled South Sudan for Uganda since July when fighting broke out between rival factions in the capital of the world's youngest country. Uganda, among the world's poorest countries, has won praise for hosting nearly 320,000 South Sudanese refugees as well as others fleeing political unrest and violence in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Women do laundry at the UN compound in the Tomping area in Juba in July 2016 Beatrice Mategwa (UNMISS/AFP/File) "Uganda is in the middle of an unstable region and being a stable and peaceful country they are somehow compelled to receive thousands of refugees everyday. In Europe the same number of new arrivals per day could bring governments down," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi during a visit to camps in northern Uganda on Monday. The UNHCR has received less than a third of the funding needed to cope with the humanitarian emergency compared to over two-thirds for the refugee crisis in Europe, Grandi said. "This is not right, we need to put this right," he said. "Last year Europe received one million refugees. Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda each host 600,000-700,000 refugees, that's a lot of people. They deserve support," he said. "This is where the refugee crisis is and this is where the international community should focus." Grandi was speaking at Pagarinya Settlement Camp in northern Uganda where more than 22,000 refugees arrived within two weeks of fighting breaking out in the South Sudanese capital, Juba. The UNHCR registers all of the South Sudanese migrants entering Uganda. The government of Uganda gives each refugee household a plot of land to cultivate and materials to build a basic shelter. "Where else in the world could 22,000 refugees be resettled and given a plot of land so quickly after arriving?" asked Grandi. He said South Sudanese people "who have fled from the most appalling violence and hardship" were being let down by an international community that "has not upheld their responsibilities in the manner that it should". Grandi also appealed to the leaders of South Sudan to "behave responsibly". US pilots charged in UK for drinking before flight Two American pilots were charged on Monday with being under the influence of alcohol at a Scottish airport as they prepared to fly a passenger plane to the United States. Paul Brady Grebenc, 35, and Carlos Roberto Licona, 45, were released on bail and will appear in court at a later date. Charges were brought two days after the duo were arrested at Glasgow airport, as they were due to fly a United Airlines jet to Newark in New Jersey. Two American pilots were charged on Monday with being under the influence of alcohol at a Scottish airport as they prepared to fly a passenger plane to the United States Mike Dembeck (AFP/File) Concerns were reportedly raised over the pair ahead of the 9:00am (0800 GMT) UA162 flight. The service, carrying 141 passengers, eventually flew with a new crew later Saturday. A Police Scotland spokesman said on Sunday the men were arrested under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, Section 93, relating to "carrying out pilot function or activity while exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol." A United Airlines spokesman said: "The two pilots have been removed from service and their flying duties. "We are co-operating with the authorities and will conduct our own investigation as well. The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority." The charges come after two Canadian pilots were charged with being drunk as they prepared to fly from Glasgow to Toronto last month. Jean-Francois Perreault, 39, and Imran Zafar Syed, 37, were arrested on July 18 as they were due to pilot an Airbus A310 plane, which carries up to 250 passengers, for Canada's Air Transat. Perreault, from Ontario, and Syed, from Toronto, are charged under laws covering alcohol and drug limits in aviation. As the plants lose less moisture, they will require less water to thrive Increasing CO2 means these pores will be open for shorter periods A warming planet might not dry out Earth as much as previously believed. Scientists say that plants will become less thirsty as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rises. Previous studies suggest that more than 70 per cent of the planet will experience more drought as carbon-dioxide levels quadruple from pre-industrial levels over about the next 100 years. But many of these models fail to account for how plant behaviour will change in a warming world, according to the study. Researchers believe plants could be more resilient to the stress of climate change, adapting to to conserve water by reducing moisture loss through mouth-like pores on their leaves While scientists aren't sure exactly how plants will be affected by increasing temperatures and CO2 levels in the atmosphere,they believe some crops including wheat, rice and soy bean, could thrive initially. Plants take in CO2 through mouth-like openings called stomata, which also release moisture. But when CO2 is abundant, these stomata stay open for shorter periods, lose less water, and therefore need less water from the soil. 'A number of studies assume that plant water needs are staying constant, when what we know about plants growing in lots of carbon dioxide suggests the opposite,' said lead author Dr Abigail Swann, an assistant professor of atmospheric sciences and biology at the University of Washington. Swann found that only about 37 per cent of the world will face climate change-driven drought, because plants benefit from an environment with more carbon dioxide. A hotter world with less rain will likely increase droughts across southern North America, southern Europe and northeastern South America, said the study. Plants take in CO2 through openings called stomata (pictured - mouth-like pores stained green), which also release moisture. But when CO2 is abundant, these stomata stay open for shorter periods, lose less water, and therefore need less water from the soil 'But the results show that in Central Africa and temperate Asia including China, the Middle East, East Asia and most of Russia water conservation by plants will largely counteract the parching due to climate change,' it said. The findings still show that droughts will increase as the climate changes, just not as far and wide as some have predicted. 'There's a lot we don't know, especially about hot droughts,' said Dr Swann. 'Even if droughts are not extremely more prevalent or frequent, they may be more deadly when they do happen.' The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Crop scientists have suggested many major crop species could even thrive with the stress of a warming climate, such as wheat and rice. However, others have countered yields could fall as increased temperatures affect seed germination and water availability Turkish Syrian operation forces US to make hard choice Turkey's dramatic intervention in Syria could prove a setback for the Islamic State group -- but it forces the United States to make a difficult choice between two unpredictable allies. Washington has been relying on the Kurdish YPG militia to provide on-the-ground muscle for its campaign against the jihadists, much to the outrage of its NATO partner Ankara. Turkey regards the YPG -- the armed wing of Syria's PYD Kurdish party -- as little more than an arm of the PKK, and the PKK as a "terrorist" movement waging a separatist war inside Turkey. Kurdish fighters belonging to the police force -- the Asayesh -- and the People's Protection Units stand on a statue of Basel al-Assad, the late elder brother of the Syrian President, in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh on August 23, 2016 Delil Souleiman (AFP/File) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has made it clear that Turkey's seizure of the border town of Jarabulus was as much to halt a YPG advance as it was to deny ground to the IS "caliphate." Bloody clashes have already broken out between US-backed Kurdish fighters and Turkish-backed forces on the ground in northern Syria, and Washington has been left scrambling for a clear response. Earlier this month, US officials had praised the YPG-dominated "Syrian Democratic Forces" for their liberation of the IS-held town of Manbij on the western side of the Euphrates. Then last week, on a visit to Turkey, Vice President Joe Biden said the YPG would "under no circumstances" get US support unless they honored what he said was a pledge to retreat east of the river. The Pentagon has now suggested that Kurdish fighters have largely obeyed the request to withdraw, but fighting has nevertheless erupted west of the river, drawing anger from Washington. President Barack Obama's envoy to the coalition against the Islamic State group, Brett McGurk, tweeted a Pentagon statement dubbing the Turkish-Kurdish clashes "unacceptable and a source of deep concern." For some observers, the confused message from Washington has put at risk a golden opportunity to capitalize on a new willingness by Turkey to finally take the fight to the IS extremists. - Defeat from jaws of victory - "The US is risking grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory," said Matt Bryza, a former member of president George W. Bush's National Security Council and now a fellow at the Atlantic Council. Obama is due to meet Erdogan on Sunday in China on the sidelines of the G20 summit, his adviser Ben Rhodes said, to discuss "the counter-ISIL campaign and the fact that we need to stay united." Bryza and others argue that the United States has been urging Turkey to take a stronger stance against the IS for two years and would be foolish to offend Erdogan now by sticking by the Kurds. "The president should come out and say what the policy is, because you've got that McGurk versus Biden dissonance," he told AFP. "What that policy ought to be, I think, is that the United States will work with Turkey to make sure that the YPG goes back east of the Euphrates," he continued. But not everyone in Washington lays the blames the US side for the new tension -- some point to the Erdogan government's ambivalence in the fight against Islamist extremism and anti-American tone. "The YPG was not America's first choice as a partner and ally in combating ISIS on the ground, it was really all we were left with," said John Hannah, who advised former vice president Dick Cheney. Hannah, now at the Federation for Defense of Democracies think tank, is co-author of a report released Monday warning the US may have to relocate military bases outside Turkey if ties worsen. He argued that if major NATO power Turkey had supported the US-led coalition against the IS group more strongly from the outset, Washington would not have been forced to turn to its Kurdish foes. "If this turns now into a massive fight between the Turkish army or Turkish-backed forces and the YPG without any understanding that Turkey is going to step in and assume a much larger role against ISIS, it's obviously going to be cause of real new tensions between the United States and Turkey," he warned. But, whatever Washington and Ankara's disagreements in the past, the latter's new determination to play a more forceful role could be a sign of hope for a broader political settlement in Syria. Kemal Kirisci, director of the Turkey Project at the Brookings Institution, said Turkey appears to have abandoned its dream of a total Sunni Arab Islamist victory in Syria's civil war. - Ongoing bloodshed - That, along with Erdogan's partial rapprochement with Russia and Iran, could provide an opportunity for a settlement that could end the bloodshed and should not be hostage to Turkish-Kurdish enmity. "What's happening here, whether we like it or not, is that Turkey is standing up for what it sees as its national interests, which awkwardly overlap and conflict with the ones the US has," Kirisci said. "Every player there is trying to muddle through, but there is another level of game that I think is trying to unfold and possibly lead the way to a possible resolution of the conflict." US Vice President Joe Biden (L) shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) in Ankara on August 24, 2016 Kayhan Ozer (Turkey's Presidential Press Service/AFP/File) Uganda offers safety and prospects to S.Sudan's refugees Kneeling on the floor of a large, dimly-lit communal tent Filippo Grandi, the UN's most senior official for refugees, listens intently as Richard Lagu describes his difficult living conditions. The two men speak frankly. "It's not comfortable at all here, there's not enough water and the food is not good," says Lagu. South Sudanese refugee children look through a window at the Nyumanzi transit centre in Adjumani, Uganda on July 13, 2016 Isaac Kasamani (AFP/File) The 22-year-old fled a recent outbreak of fighting in South Sudan, escaping to Uganda on July 24 with his sisters and their children. The eight of them now share a crowded UN tent with another two households, in a transit centre for new arrivals. "You are safe here, but you have to be patient," says Grandi. "Everyone is here to help. Good luck," says Grandi as the two men shake hands. Lagu fled after soldiers broke into his home threatening to kidnap and kill his family, and now a refugee in a foreign country he, like nearly 90,000 who have crossed the border in recent weeks, faces an uncertain future. While Uganda is praised for welcoming the refugees, the international community has failed to provide the money needed to help the country cope with this latest emergency. It's not a humanitarian disaster, Grandi says, at least not yet. "I'm really worried about the overcrowding," says Grandi, "because overcrowding is what creates an environment for epidemics and diseases." - Survive and thrive - After talking with Lagu at the Nyuamanzi Transit Centre, Grandi travelled a short distance to Pagarinya Settlement where more than 22,000 refugees have each been given a plot of land to cultivate alongside local residents. The new camp was full just two weeks after opening, as people continued to flee South Sudan's chaos. As he arrived, dancers in traditional clothes sang welcome songs to the rhythm of a drummer beating an old yellow jerry can with a stick. Women set the tempo by rubbing metal plates against green plastic bead necklaces. Peter Gai Tek, a history and English teacher in the South Sudan capital Juba before he became a refugee, read a list of the people's simple desires: "We want our children to be educated, to open schools, and also our health condition to be improved." Grandi responds that he is confident many of the issues can be addressed, but the numbers still continue to rise and Uganda's government is finding it increasingly hard to cope. "Uganda has faced troubles and we have been refugees in the past," says Hilary Onek, the country's minister for refugees. "Now that we have come back home we understand the suffering of other people who are tortured in their countries... we have sympathy for them." Such fellow-feeling is rare in Europe where a siege mentality has taken hold in the face of thousands fleeing conflict and hardship in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere. But here in poor, rural northern Uganda Onek says the refugees must be welcomed and offered the opportunities to survive, and to thrive. "You don't leave refugees idle. We want to turn them into a productive force," he says. "Giving them skills increases their purchasing power in our economy and they can bring their skills back to their host country." While Uganda is praised for welcoming the refugees, the international community has failed to provide the money needed to help the country cope with this latest emergency Isaac Kasamani (AFP/File) Mondelez drops merger plans with Hershey US industrial snacks giant Mondelez International said Monday it had dropped plans to merge with chocolatier The Hershey Company. The announcement came nearly two months after Hershey, the maker of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's Kisses, rejected a $23 billion takeover offer from Mondelez. "Following additional discussions, and taking into account recent shareholder developments at Hershey, we determined that there is no actionable path forward toward an agreement," Mondelez said in a statement, adding that executives were "disappointed." Founded in 1984 by Milton Hershey, the Hershey Company is an iconic American brand controlled by a family trust which overseas charitable funds Scott Olson (Getty/AFP/File) The merged company would have overtaken Mars as the world's largest candy purveyor. In June, the Hershey board of directors said it had "carefully reviewed" a bid of $107 per share for the company and found it offered "no basis for further discussion." Hershey had in 2002 also rejected a $12.5 billion takeover offer from Wrigley, which is now a unit of Mars. Founded in 1984 by Milton Hershey, the Hershey Company is an iconic American brand controlled by a family trust which overseas charitable funds. The Deerfield, Illinois-based Mondelez, formerly known as Kraft Foods, also produces popular lines of sweets, including Oreo and Chips Ahoy! cookies. After closing regular trade up 0.7 percent prior to the announcement, Hershey shares tumbled 11.4 percent in after-hours trade. Some 6,500 migrants rescued off Libya: Italian coastguard Around 6,500 migrants were rescued off the coast of Libya, the Italian coastguard said, in one of its busiest days of life-saving in recent years. Dramatic images of one operation showed about 700 migrants crammed onto a fishing boat, with some of them jumping off the vessel in life jackets and swimming towards rescuers. A five-day-old baby was among those rescued along with other infants and was airlifted to an Italian hospital, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which took part in operations. Most migrants heading to Italy originate from West Africa and the Horn of Africa, often departing from Libya en masse when the sea is calm and a southern wind can push boats up into international waters Yaraq Nardi (Italian Red Cross/AFP/File) "The command centre coordinated 40 rescue operations" that included vessels from Italy, humanitarian organisations as well as the EU's border agency Frontex, saving 6,500 migrants, the coastguard wrote on Twitter. "We've been particularly busy today," a spokesman for the Italian coastguard told AFP. On Sunday more than 1,100 migrants were rescued in the same area. The total number of arrivals in Italy this year now stands at 112,500, according to the UN's refugee agency and the coastguard, slightly below the 116,000 recorded by the same point in 2015. Almost all of those migrants originate from West Africa and the Horn of Africa, often departing from Libya en masse when the sea is calm and a southern wind can push boats up into international waters. Such days often come one after another, leading to large numbers of boats over a short period. More than 13,000 people were rescued in under a week at the end of May, and 8,300 more at the start of August. The Italian coastguard predicted that weather conditions would encourage the departure of further migrant boats Tuesday. The vessels are often flimsy and overcrowded while some of the migrants set off in such poor health that even if the crossing is calm they cannot survive a day at sea. There are around a dozen vessels run by humanitarian groups that patrol the waters off the Libyan coast, but tensions in the zone have flared recently as rival factions battle to control migrant trafficking. This month an MSF ship taking part in migrant rescue operations came under attack from armed men who shot at the vessel before briefly climbing aboard, the medical charity said. Nobody was hurt in the incident, which took place on August 17, the group said. More than 3,000 migrants have died at sea while trying to reach either Greece or Italy since the start of this year, an increase of some 50 percent on the same period in 2015. Some 204,000 others crossed the Mediterranean to Europe in the first six months of this year, the UN refugee agency said, as the continent battles its worst migration crisis since World War II. Last year more than one million migrants made the journey to Europe, with the majority fleeing war in Syria and the Middle East. The total number of migrant arrivals in Italy this year now stands at 112,500, according to the UN's refugee agency and the Italian coastguard, slightly below the 116,000 recorded by the same point in 2015 Christian groups have renewed focus on fighting racism Christian groups have recently been putting more time and resources into addressing racism, with the issue at the forefront because of police shootings of black men and the Black Lives Matter movement. One of the largest U.S. evangelical college ministries, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, took up Black Lives Matter at its most recent student missions conference. Two overwhelmingly white religious groups the Episcopal Church and the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.), which is the nation's largest Presbyterian denomination have for the first time elected black clergy as their top church officers. The New Baptist Covenant, an initiative by President Jimmy Carter to unite Baptists, has sharpened its programming focus on building partnerships between black and white churches. FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 file photo, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry waves to the crowd after Mass at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington. Curry, the church's first black leader, was elected in June 2015 to succeed Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first woman leader of the church. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) And Christian publications and blogs such as Christianity Today, Mere Orthodoxy, Relevant, The Christian Century and the Gospel Coalition, have also put a spotlight on systemic racism. Here are some examples of how Christians are tackling the issues: SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION: The denomination founded in 1845 in support of slaveholding has recently made a priority of addressing racism. In 2012, the convention elected its first black president, the Rev. Fred Luter. The Southern Baptist public policy arm, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, has been holding talks and conferences for pastors on the Gospel and racial reconciliation. And over the past year, pastors from the 15.5 million-member denomination and a major black Baptist group, the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., started a public conversation about fighting racism. At the Southern Baptist Convention meeting last June, delegates voted to repudiate use of the Confederate flag. EPISCOPAL CHURCH: The church, which has been the spiritual home of many Founding Fathers and U.S. presidents, last year voted to put more resources behind combatting racism. The 1.8 million-member denomination also elected its first black leader, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. Dioceses have been holding anti-racism training and some are researching their historic links to slavery. The Diocese of Rhode Island plans a museum in its cathedral that will examine the church's involvement with the slave trade. Neighbor churches, split on race lines, work to heal divide MACON, Ga. (AP) There are two First Baptist Churches in Macon one black and one white. They sit almost back-to-back, separated by a small park, in a hilltop historic district overlooking downtown. About 170 years ago, they were one congregation, albeit a church of masters and slaves. Then the fight over abolition and slavery started tearing badly at religious groups and moving the country toward Civil War. The Macon church, like many others at the time, decided it was time to separate by race. ___ The Rev. James W. Goolsby, Jr., senior pastor of the First Baptist Church, left, and the Rev. Scott Dickison, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Christ, right, pose for a photo at Dickison's church in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. There are two First Baptist Churches in Macon _ one black and one white. Two years ago, Dickison and Goolsby met to try to find a way the congregations, neighbors for so long, could become friends. Theyd try to bridge the stubborn divide of race. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) EDITOR'S NOTE This is part of Divided America, AP's ongoing exploration of the economic, social and political divisions and in some cases attempts at reconciliation in American society. ___ Ever since through Jim Crow, the civil rights movement, desegregation and beyond the division endured, becoming so deeply rooted it hardly drew notice. Then, two years ago, the Rev. Scott Dickison, pastor of the white church, and the Rev. James Goolsby, pastor of the black church, met over lunch and an idea took shape: They'd try to find a way the congregations, neighbors for so long, could become friends. They'd try to bridge the stubborn divide of race. They are taking up this work against a tumultuous backdrop, including the much-publicized deaths of blacks at the hands of law enforcement and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Next month, they will lead joint discussions with church members on racism in the history of the U.S., and also in the history of their congregations. "This is not a conversation of blame, but of acceptance and moving forward," Goolsby said. ___ Like many American institutions, houses of worship have largely been separated by race, to the point that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called Sunday mornings "one of the most segregated hours." Recently, several denominations, from the Episcopal Church to the Southern Baptist Convention, have tried to look critically at their past actions going back centuries. In the early 1800s, in Baptist churches of the South, whites and blacks often worshipped together, but blacks were restricted to galleries or the back of the sanctuary. Eventually, black populations started growing faster in many communities. Whites, made uneasy by the imbalance, responded by splitting up the congregations. This was apparently the case for First Baptist in Macon, which built a separate church for blacks in 1845, then finalized the separation two decades later soon after the Civil War ended. Goolsby and Dickison said their respective churches were enthusiastic about plans to work together, under the auspices of the New Baptist Covenant, an organization formed by former President Jimmy Carter to unite Baptists. Yet excitement mixed with apprehension, since the effort would inevitably require "some challenging conversations," Dickison said, including a re-examination of the official church history, which had been recorded in mostly benign terms, with almost no recognition of racism. "We need to go through this kind of conversion experience of confession, of repentance and of reconciliation. We need to have that when it comes to race, not just in the country but within the church," Dickison said. ___ Goolsby recalled that after the massacre last year at the historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, he was outside a store, awaiting his wife, when Dickison called. "Scott shared how he felt, how he was struggling with what he would share with his congregation," Goolsby said. Dickson asked how he could show support. "I said, 'We're already doing it,'" Goolsby said. "The mere fact he thought to call me was huge." The stakes were even more personal months later, when the white church invited black church members for a youth trip to Orlando. Goolsby's teenage son was among those invited. But Goolsby had considered Florida a danger ever since Trayvon Martin, an unarmed, black 17-year-old, was fatally shot in Sanford by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who was later acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges. The pastor could not let his son go on the trip. "If you put a hoodie on him," he said, "he looks just like Trayvon." The concerns of anxious black parents had been much in the news, but the white church members hadn't had to confront the issue directly until Goolsby raised it. After reassurances from a white chaperone, Goolsby allowed his son and the other young people to participate. "The fact that that was so easy to share we've already made progress," Goolsby said. ____ Dickison strode into the basement hall of his church with a box under one arm. Inside, were copies of "Strength to Love," a collection of sermons and writings by King. The book was at the center of classes at the white church that Dickison organized in preparation for the joint talks on racism next month. This class was held on the Sunday in July after the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota, and the fatal ambush on white Dallas police officers. With the stifling humidity of a Georgia summer building outside, Dickison launched into a discussion of King's sermon on the Good Samaritan, about despised groups and showing mercy. "We have our tribes. We see ourselves over and against others," he said, then asked church members to reflect. One man said when you reach out to someone from another group, "you're perceived as unpatriotic," or disloyal. A woman said she was upset to see some disrespect of the police. "They rush toward danger when others run," she said. The next night, the black church hosted the city's Black Lives Matter vigil, marking the tragedies of the preceding week. Clergy from across the city filled the pulpit. Goolsby and Dickison stood together to speak. Dickison compared racism to "a cancer that roams inside the body of this nation, and yes, even in the body of Christ." Goolsby urged people to maintain hope "in spite of our circumstances," and he added, "We know there will be change." Then both men said, "Amen." This Sunday, July 10, 2016 photo shows the First Baptist Church, left, the First Baptist Church of Christ, center, and Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Macon, Ga. About 170 years ago, the two Baptist churches were one congregation, albeit a church of masters and slaves. Then the fight over abolition and slavery started tearing badly at religious groups and moving the country toward Civil War. The Macon church, like many others at the time, decided it was time to separate by race. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) A parishioner at First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, leaves after a worship service in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016. There are two First Baptist Churches in Macon _ one black and one white. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) This Monday, July 11, 2016 photo shows the First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga. In the 1840s, whites maintained oversight of the church as required by Georgia law at the time for fear of slave rebellions. But after the Civil War ended in 1865, the white church fully severed ties. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Parishioners clap during a worship service at the First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016. There are two First Baptist Churches in Macon _ one black and one white. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Rev. Scott Dickison teaches from a book of sermons by Martin Luther King Jr. during a Sunday School class at the First Baptist Church of Christ, a predominantly white congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016 - days after the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota, and the fatal ambush on Dallas police. "Its weeks like these when we need more than ever to be with Gods people," Dickison told the roomful of congregants. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Members of the community join hands during a Black Lives Matter prayer vigil in front of the First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. The pastors of both First Baptist Churches in Macon are trying to bridge the stubborn divide of race against a painful and tumultuous backdrop: the 2015 massacre at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina; the much-publicized deaths of blacks at the hands of law enforcement; the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the sniper killing of white Dallas police officers. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Marty Price, 11, attends a Black Lives Matter prayer vigil on the steps of the First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. The pastors of both First Baptist Churches in Macon are trying to bridge the stubborn divide of race against a painful and tumultuous backdrop: the 2015 massacre at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina; the much-publicized deaths of blacks at the hands of law enforcement; the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and the sniper killing of white Dallas police officers. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) In this Sunday, May 24, 2015 photo provided by Sheryle Burger, members of Macon, Ga.'s two First Baptist Church congregations sing together in a choir during a Pentecost Sunday service held in the Rev. James Goolsby's church. There are two First Baptist Churches in Macon _ one black and one white. Two years ago, Goolsby and the Rev. Scott Dickison met to try to find a way the congregations, neighbors for so long, could become friends. They'd try to bridge the stubborn divide of race. (Sheryle Burger via AP) The Rev. James W. Goolsby, Jr., pastor of the First Baptist Church, left, and the Rev. Scott Dickison, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Christ, walk together in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. In September 2016, they plan to lead joint discussions with their churches' members on racism in the history of the U.S., and also in the history of their congregations. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Rev. James W. Goolsby, Jr. poses for a portrait at the First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. The 59-year-old Atlanta native and graduate of Morehouse College and Mercers McAfee School of Theology, has been the pastor here for more than 12 years. He said he and a previous pastor at the white church tried to build ties between the congregations but the effort didnt go very far. This time is different, he said, in part because of his relationship with the new pastor, Scott Dickison. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) In this Monday, July 11, 2016 photo, the Rev. Scott Dickison poses for a portrait at the First Baptist Church of Christ, a predominantly white congregation, in Macon, Ga. The 33-year-old North Carolina native and Harvard Divinity School graduate became the pastor about four years ago. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Parishioner Bea Warbington-Ross sings during a worship service at First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016. The retired human resources specialist says, "Theres no reason for Sunday to be the most segregated day." (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Rev. Scott Dickison teaches from a book of sermons by Martin Luther King Jr. during a Sunday School class at the First Baptist Church of Christ, a predominantly white congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, July 10, 2016. This class was held days after the fatal police shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota, and the fatal ambush on Dallas police. "Its weeks like these when we need more than ever to be with Gods people," Dickison told the roomful of congregants. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) Paul Bronson prays during a Black Lives Matter prayer vigil at First Baptist Church, a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga., on Monday, July 11, 2016. The pastors of both First Baptist Churches in Macon are trying to bridge the stubborn divide of race against a painful and tumultuous backdrop. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) This Sunday, July 10, 2016 photo shows the exterior of the First Baptist Church of Christ, a predominantly white church, in Macon, Ga. In the early 19th century, before the Civil War, whites and blacks often worshipped together, sharing faith but not pews; blacks were restricted to galleries or the back of the sanctuary. Eventually, black populations started growing faster in many communities. Whites, made uneasy by the imbalance, responded by splitting up the congregations. This was apparently the case for First Baptist in Macon. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) This Monday, July 11, 2016 photo shows the exterior of First Baptist Church, now a predominantly African-American congregation, in Macon, Ga. In 1845, church leaders bought this property a block away from the original building, as "a place and habitation for the religious service and moral cultivation and improvement of the colored portion" of the congregation, according to the deed. A building was quickly erected and the black church opened. (AP Photo/Branden Camp) The Latest: Over 300 attend ceremony for Mississippi nuns LEXINGTON, Miss. (AP) The Latest on nuns killed in Mississippi (all times local): 8:30 p.m. More than 300 people came to a small church to say farewell to two nuns killed in their Mississippi home. Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Jackson, Miss., Catholic Diocese, center, presides at a vigil for the deceased Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The two nuns, from different orders, were found murdered in the Durant, Miss., house they rented, on Thursday. A suspect, Rodney Earl Sanders, was arrested late Friday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) About 145 people filled St. Thomas Church in Lexington, where Sisters Paula Merrill and Margaret Held led Bible study. Others filled 160 chairs outside the church, where a monitor showed the Sunday night service, and still more stood alongside the seats to watch. Bishop Joseph Kopacz (KOH-pak) of the Jackson Diocese led the service called a vigil for the deceased. The church's priest, the Rev. Gregory Plata, spoke about how far-reaching their nuns' work was, and how much they'll be missed. Both women were 68 years old. They worked in a clinic in Lexington, about 10 miles from their home in Durant. The final hymn, described as Sister Margaret Held's favorite, was "How Can I Keep from Singing?" ___ 4:30 p.m. In the hours before a wake for two nuns killed in their Mississippi home, a few members of their orders gathered at the house where they lived and died. Along with some members of Sister Paula Merrill's family, they prayed outside the house, then went inside. Sister Susan Gatz, president of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, says Sister Margaret Held had baked bread for a prayer service that had been scheduled Thursday, the day her body and that of Sister Paula Merrill were found. She said the loaf was split between The School Sisters of St. Francis, to which Held belonged, and Merrill's order, the Sisters of Charity. She says it will be eaten as part of a celebration of the two women's lives and work. A wake Sunday evening was scheduled at St. Thomas Church in Lexington where the nuns led Bible study. ___ 12:30 p.m. Friends and colleagues who knew two nuns killed in their Mississippi home are gathering to remember them. A wake is scheduled to be held Sunday at the St. Thomas Church in Lexington where the women led Bible study. A mass will also be held Monday in Jackson. The nuns' bodies were found Thursday in their Mississippi home. A suspect, Rodney Earl Sanders, was arrested late Friday. The Holmes County Sheriff Willie March says Sanders confessed to the killings during questioning. A spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections says Sanders was out on probation after being convicted last year of felony DUI. Grace Simmons Fisher says Sanders was also convicted of armed robbery back in the 1980s. Relatives of Sister Margaret Held, pray before her casket, during the vigil for the deceased, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., for Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The two nuns, from different orders, were found murdered in the Durant, Miss., house they rented, on Thursday. Although authorities have arrested a suspect, they speculate on the motive of the deaths of the two nurse practitioners, who worked the poor in a clinic in Lexington. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Relatives of Sister Paula Merrill, pray before her casket, during the vigil for the deceased, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., for Merrill and Sister Margaret Held, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The two nuns, from different orders, were found murdered in the Durant, Miss., house they rented, on Thursday. Although authorities have arrested a suspect, they speculate on the motive of the deaths of the two nurse practitioners, who worked the poor in a clinic in Lexington. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Sister Rosemary Rombalski, director of Life and Ministry with the School Sisters of St. Francis, consoles a relative of Sister Margaret Held, prior to the vigil for the deceased, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., for Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The two nuns, from different orders, were found murdered in the Durant, Miss., house they rented, on Thursday. Although authorities have arrested a suspect, they speculate on the motive of the deaths of the two nurse practitioners, who worked the poor in a clinic in Lexington. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Sister Susan Gatz, president of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, right, speaks during a small private ceremony outside the home of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, at the Durant, Miss., house rented by Held and Merrill, who were found dead in the house by a clinic employee and a Durant police officer, Thursday. Family members, neighbors and members of the women's separate orders participated. Friends and colleagues who knew two nuns killed in their Mississippi home are gathering Sunday to remember them, as authorities continue to investigate the harrowing crime that shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Members of the orders of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill join family members and neighbors in a private ceremony, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, at the Durant, Miss., house rented by the nuns who were found dead in the house by a clinic employee and a Durant police officer, Thursday. Friends and colleagues who knew two nuns killed in their Mississippi home are gathering Sunday to remember them, as authorities continue to investigate the harrowing crime that shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Sister Susan Gatz, president of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, right, hugs a friend of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, following a small private ceremony outside the Durant, Miss., home of the sisters, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. Held and Merrill were found dead in the house by a clinic employee and a Durant police officer, Thursday. Family members, neighbors and members of the women's separate orders participated. Friends and colleagues who knew two nuns killed in their Mississippi home are gathering Sunday to remember them, as authorities continue to investigate the harrowing crime that shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Rosemarie Merrill, seated, an older sister of Sister Paula Merrill, thanks a neighbor of her sister and of Sister Margaret Held, following a private ceremony outside their home in Durant, Miss., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. Friends and colleagues who knew the two nuns, Paula Merrill and Margaret Held, killed in their Mississippi home are gathering Sunday to remember them, as authorities continue to investigate the harrowing crime that shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) This is a smartphone photograph taken and released by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety in Durant, Miss., Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, of Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, of Kosciusko, who has been charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the killing of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, both nurse practitioners who were found dead in their Durant house Thursday. (Warren Strain/Mississippi Department of Public Safety Hand Out, via AP) A memorial is placed outside the Crime scene tape at the home in Durant, Miss., Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, where Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill were found slain Thursday morning. (Elijah Baylis/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) A memorial is placed outside the crime scene tape Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, in Lexington, Miss., at the home where Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill were found slain Thursday morning. (Elijah Baylis/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) Crime scene tape lines the perimeter of the home in Durant, Miss., Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, where Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill were found slain Thursday morning. (Elijah Baylis/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) Crime scene tape lines the perimeter of the home in Durant, Miss., Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, where Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill were found slain Thursday morning. (Elijah Baylis/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) A memorial is placed outside the crime scene tape Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, in Lexington, Miss., at the home where Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill were found slain Thursday morning. (Elijah Baylis/The Clarion-Ledger via AP) A verse of scripture, a cross, three candles and some faded flowers lay on a tree root across from the Durant, Miss., home of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, in Durant, Miss. Both nurse practitioners who were found dead in the house by a clinic employee and a Durant police officer, Thursday. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) 10 killed in southern China bus crash BEIJING (AP) Authorities in southern China say 10 people were killed and dozens injured when a bus overturned on a highway. The government of the Guangxi Autonomous Region said the accident occurred Sunday when the bus flipped over as it was approaching its final stop in the regional capital Nanning. Another 32 people aboard the 47-seater bus were injured, five of them seriously. The bus driver was among those killed and the cause of the accident remains under investigation. Driver fatigue and poor vehicle maintenance are the usual causes of such accidents, although a greater emphasis on safety has greatly reduced the death toll on China's roads. Permanent cease-fire takes effect in Colombia under accord BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) A permanent cease-fire took effect in Colombia on Monday, a major step in bringing an end to 52 years of bloody combat between the government and the country's biggest rebel group. The commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia announced Sunday that his fighters would cease hostilities beginning at 12:01 a.m. as a result of the peace accord the two sides reached at midweek. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos made a similar announcement Friday, saying the military would halt attacks on the FARC beginning Monday. "Never again will parents be burying their sons and daughters killed in the war," FARC leader Rodrigo Londono said Sunday night from Havana, where peace talks aimed at ending one of the world's longest-running conflicts have been taking place since 2012. "All rivalries and grudges will remain in the past." Humberto de la Calle, fourth from left, the chief of Colombia's government negotiation team with rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. A permanent cease-fire took effect in Colombia on Monday as a result of a peace accord for ending five decades of war between the government and the rebels group. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) In areas hit hard by the conflict, the first daybreak in a half century without the threat of combat was celebrated even as residents struggled to get their heads around the 297-page peace accord, copies of which were distributed in national newspapers over the weekend. In San Vicente del Caguan, which was at the center of a Switzerland-sized demilitarized zone where unsuccessful peace talks were held more than a decade ago, Mayor Humberto Sanchez said few people put much faith in the FARC's promises. The town suffered for years from periodic attacks and extortion kidnappings by the FARC and residents displaced by the violence were unfairly stigmatized as rebel collaborators. Sanchez's right-wing Democratic Center party, headed by former President Alvaro Uribe, is opposed to the accords but the mayor said he is willing to initially give the guerrillas the benefit of the doubt and overlook his own losses. "We all want peace, but it's not enough just to sign a document," said Sanchez, who was kidnapped and held captive for months by the rebels in 2006. "We have to make sure the government keeps its word to the FARC and the rebels keep their word to Colombians." Colombia is expected to hold a national referendum Oct. 2 to give voters the chance to approve the accord, which would all but end political violence that has claimed more than 220,000 lives and driven more than 5 million people from their homes over five decades. Polls say most Colombians loathe the rebel group but will likely endorse the deal anyway. In votes Monday night, both houses of Colombia's congress endorsed Santos' plan for the plebiscite. A number of security challenges remain, most notably the refusal of a smaller rebel group to disarm and the continued existence of well-organized criminal gangs dedicated to drug trafficking. But peace negotiators, back in Bogota briefly Monday before returning to Cuba to discuss the next steps with the rebels, could barely contain their enthusiasm for the progress already made. "If a single Colombian life is spared because of this accord it will have been worth the effort," Peace Commissioner Sergio Jaramillo said. Top FARC commanders are planning to gather one final time near San Vicente del Caguan in mid-September to ratify the deal. Under the accord, FARC guerrillas are supposed to turn over their weapons within six months after the deal is formally signed. In return, the FARC's still unnamed future political movement will be given 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. Critics of the peace process contend that will further boost the rebels' post-conflict political power. After 2026, both arrangements would end and the former rebels would have to demonstrate their political strength at the ballot box. Not all hostilities are ending under the deal with the FARC. Nicolas Rodriguez, the top commander of the much-smaller National Liberation Army, published a statement Monday saying his guerrillas aren't yet ready to sign a deal, though he wished the FARC success in its transformation into a legal political movement. He said there are "clear differences" with the FARC's positions and argued that "we do not see a clear willingness for peace on the part of the national government." After a year of exploratory talks, the government and National Liberation Army announced in March that they would initiate formal peace negotiations. However, the effort fell apart almost immediately over Santos' insistence that the group renounce kidnapping and release all captives. Frank Pearl, the government's top envoy to the talks, repeated those conditions Monday. Commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC, Rodrigo Londono, better known as Timochenko or Timoleon Jimenez talks to the press, accompanied by Ivan Marquez, right, chief negotiator of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and Pablo Catatumbo, left, chief of the FARC's western bloc, in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, August 28, 2016. The commander of Colombia's biggest rebel movement says its fighters will permanently cease hostilities with the government beginning with the first minute of Monday, as a result of their peace accord for ending five decades of war. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Brazil's president proclaims innocence at impeachment trial BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) In a 14-hour session that was less electric than expected, Brazil's suspended president proclaimed her innocence at her impeachment trial Monday, branding her vice president a "usurper," calling the drive to oust her a "coup" and warning senators that history will judge them harshly if they oust a democratically elected leader on false charges. Dilma Rousseff's much anticipated appearance before senators who will decide as early as Tuesday whether to permanently remove her from office was characterized by the same defiance she has shown throughout an impeachment process that has divided Latin America's most populous nation. But it was also more civil than the three previous impeachment trial sessions, when lawmakers from both sides got into heated exchanges. "I know I will be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit a crime," Rousseff told senators who listened intently, in contrast to the chamber's usual raucousness. Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff reacts during her impeachment trial at the Federal Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Rousseff's scheduled appearance during her impeachment trial is the culmination of a fight going back to late last year, when opponents in Congress presented a measure seeking to remove her from office. Her accusers say she hurt the economy with budget manipulations; she argues she did nothing wrong and is being targeted by corrupt lawmakers. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) She also pleaded with all 81 senators to keep her on the job in her closing remarks. "I need all of you, regardless of political parties," she said. The response of the lawmakers was tepid. In the middle of her second term, the left-leaning leader has been accused of breaking fiscal rules in 2015 to hide problems in the federal budget. She has denied any wrongdoing. Rousseff reminded those in attendance that she was re-elected in 2014 with more than 54 million votes, asserting that at every moment since she has followed the constitution and sought to do what was best for Brazil. Brazil's first female president is a former guerrilla fighter who was jailed and tortured during the country's dictatorship, and Rousseff drew a connection between her past and the situation today. "I can't help but taste the bitterness of injustice," she said. During her 30-minute opening speech, Rousseff argued that in early 2015 opposition lawmakers began creating a climate of instability by refusing to negotiate and throwing what she called "fiscal bombs" in the face of the government's declining revenues as the once booming economy continued its slump. She said the impeachment process had exacerbated the recession in Latin America's largest economy, and she blamed the opposition, which has argued that she has to be removed for the financial climate to improve. Rousseff blasted interim President Michel Temer as a "usurper." Her vice president turned arch-enemy, Temer took over when the Senate voted in May to impeach and suspend Rousseff for up to 180 days while a trial was prepared. He will serve out Rousseff's term until December 2018 if she is removed, but still faces risks of having his mandate cancelled at Brazil's top electoral court. Referring to Temer, Rousseff said Brazilians would never have elected a man who named a Cabinet of all white men in a country that is more than 50 percent non-white. The Cabinet that Temer put in place has been roundly criticized for its lack of diversity, and three of his ministers were forced to step down within a month of taking office because of corruption allegations. Rousseff asserted she paid a price for refusing to quash a wide-ranging police investigation into the state oil company Petrobras, saying corrupt lawmakers conspired to oust her to derail the investigation into billions in kickbacks at the oil giant. The investigation has led to the jailing of top businessmen and politicians, including in her Workers' Party. But they have plenty of company: Watchdog groups estimate 60 percent of the 594 lawmakers in both chambers are being investigated for wrongdoing, many for corruption related to the Petrobras probe. Rousseff said it was "an irony of history" that she would be judged for crimes she did not commit, by people who were accused of serious crimes. "I ask that you be just with an honest president," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. Her voice also changed when she made a reference to "the betrayal, the verbal insults and the violence of the prejudice" that she says she has endured. Watching the proceedings, Rousseff's mentor and predecessor as president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is himself under investigation and will later this year stand trial for alleged obstruction of justice in the Petrobras probe, said his protegee "said what she had to say." After Rousseff's speech, more than 50 senators from both the opposition and her bloc of supporters began questioning her. Her appearance is to be followed by a Senate vote on whether to remove her permanently from the presidency, expected as early as Tuesday, possibly going into Wednesday. For Rousseff to be removed, at least 54 of the 81 senators must vote in favor. Counts by local media say at least 52 senators will vote for removal, while 18 are opposed and 11 have not said one way or another. In May, the same body voted 55-22 to impeach and suspend her. As questioning of the suspended leader wore on, only a few senators were paying attention to Rousseff's answers, which tended to be lengthy. Rousseff's appearance came on the fourth day of a trial that has seen name-calling, shouting and a declaration by Senate President Renan Calheiros that "stupidity is limitless." The process began late last year, with the Chamber of Deputies approving impeachment charges in April and the Senate in May. The drama has consumed Brazil, with the proceedings continuing even during the Aug. 5-21 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. On Monday, several hundred supporters demonstrated outside Congress, cheering when Rousseff arrived. A huge wall was erected to separate her supporters and pro-impeachment activists. In Sao Paulo, another protest that was blocking one of the city's main arteries was scattered by police using stun grenades. ___ Associated Press writer Mauricio Savarese reported this story in Brasilia and AP writer Peter Prengaman reported from Rio de Janeiro. ___ Mauricio Savarese on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MSavarese Peter Prengaman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/peterprengaman ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Senate voted 55-22 to suspend the president in May. Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff speaks at her own impeachment trial, in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Fighting to save her job, Rousseff told senators on Monday that the allegations against her have no merit. "I know I will be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit a crime," she told senators. Rousseff's address comes on the fourth day of the trial. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) A demonstrator holds a sign that reads in Portuguese "Coup leader " during a march against acting President Michel Temer and in support of Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Fighting to save her job, Rousseff appeared before congress for her impeachment trial, to defend herself as her accusers say she hurt the economy with budget manipulations. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Demonstrators in support of Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff gather in front of the National Congress where her impeachment trial is taking place, in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Fighting to save her job, Rousseff told senators on Monday that the allegations against her have no merit. Rousseff's address comes on the fourth day of the trial. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff waves goodbye after her impeachment trial at the Federal Senate in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Rousseff's scheduled appearance during her impeachment trial is the culmination of a fight going back to late last year, when opponents in Congress presented a measure seeking to remove her from office. Her accusers say she hurt the economy with budget manipulations; she argues she did nothing wrong and is being targeted by corrupt lawmakers. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends the impeachment trial of Brazils suspended President Dilma Rousseff, in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Fighting to save her job, Rousseff told senators on Monday that the allegations against her have no merit. Rousseff's address comes on the fourth day of the trial. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Trial over Ohio policeman's slaying delayed until March MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (AP) The trial for a man accused of fatally shooting an Ohio policeman has been delayed until March. Herschel Jones III pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges in the January slaying of Danville Officer Thomas Cottrell. The 34-year-old Cottrell was found behind the village's municipal building, after Jones' ex-girlfriend warned police that he was "looking to kill a cop." Judge Otho Eyster tells the Mount Vernon News (http://bit.ly/2cflCbu ) that the trial scheduled for Nov. 1 was pushed back after defense attorneys sought more time to prepare. Aviation group in negotiations to buy Wright brothers site DAYTON, Ohio (AP) A group that preserves historically significant aviation sites is trying to buy the Wright brothers' former factory buildings in Ohio. The Dayton Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/2bMZhjz ) the National Aviation Heritage Alliance is in negotiations with the private entity that owns the property in Dayton and the surrounding land. Orville and Wilbur Wright built the airplane production buildings in 1910 and 1911. More than 100 planes were built there. The aviation group says it plans to sell some land to the Dayton Metro Library for a new branch. The group wants to find a developer to bring in advanced manufacturing. It also wants to sell two buildings to the National Park Service for inclusion in the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park. ___ WWII dog tags found on beach in '66 returned to family ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) It took 50 years for a Long Island woman to finally complete her quest to return a World War II veteran's lost dog tags she found on a New York City beach. Laurie Lubin, of Bellmore, began her search by poring over phone books in the 1960s and continued into the internet era. She recently hit pay dirt when she learned that one of the veteran's daughters lives just a few miles away in Queens. Lubin's quest to find Brooklyn native Irving Isaacs began in the summer of '66 when she was about to turn 14. One day at Rockaway Beach in Queens, she spotted something shiny in the sand: a pair of dog tags on a metal chain, along with a small metal mezuzah, a religious pendant some Jewish servicemen attached to their tags. She knew immediately what the items were because her father still had his own mezuzah-accessorized dog tags from serving in the Army during WWII. In this photo taken Monday, Aug. 22, 2016 and provided by Audrey Berk, Berk, left, of Queens, N.Y., and Laurie Lubin of Bellmore, N.Y., hold the World War II dog tags of Berk's father, Irving Isaacs in Bellmore, N.Y. Lubin found the tags on a New York City beach in the summer of 1966 and spent the next 50 years trying to return them. Lubin finally tracked down Isaacs' daughter with the help of The Associated Press and gave her the dog tags at a Bellmore restaurant on Aug. 22. (Audrey Berk/Laurie Lubin/Clifford Kaplan via AP) Lubin took the dog tags home and tried to find Isaacs' name in New York City phone books, but was unsuccessful. During the decades that followed, Lubin would periodically resume her mission to track down Isaacs, only to keep hitting dead ends. Her obsession with finding him became a running joke in her family. Last February, she read an Associated Press story about an Indiana soldier's WWII dog tag being returned to his family after it was found on the Pacific island of Saipan. She contacted the AP, which led to the news agency's Randy Herschaft, an investigative researcher based in Manhattan, digging up information on two WWII U.S. Army veterans from New York named Irving Isaacs. One had changed his name after the war and moved to California, where he died in 1994. The other had remained in New York until his death in 1992. Lubin tracked down a daughter of the veteran who died in California. She confirmed to Lubin that her father had been born Irving Isaacs in New York, but had changed his name after the war. Based on that information, Lubin mailed the dog tags to her in late July. Soon afterward, she learned from Herschaft that his review of military and civilian records of the two men determined the dog tags actually belonged to the Irving Isaacs who stayed in New York. After being notified of the mistake, the woman in California mailed the tags back to Lubin. Disappointed, but still determined to find the family of the right Irving Isaacs, Lubin then used newly obtained information by Herschaft to contact Audrey Berk, one of the New York Isaacs' two daughters. Lubin, 64, phoned Berk earlier this month with the news that she had found her father's WWII dog tags. "I was shocked," Berk, 66, told the AP. "Then we started talking and I know her family, which is even more shocking." It turned out Berk lived in the same Queens apartment complex as Lubin's husband's ex-wife and children. Berk has long known the Lubin family, but had never meet Laurie. The two women met for the first time on Aug. 22 at a restaurant near Lubin's home. Lubin handed over the dog tags to a flabbergasted Berk. "It was just amazing. I was speechless," said Berk, who plans to send one of the tags to her sister, Joanne Isaacs, of Flagstaff, Arizona. For Lubin's part, she's glad she stuck to it all those years. "I'm just so happy to return it to them," she said, adding the Yiddish word "bashert." Police probe brawl that killed college student after party ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) An Ithaca College student fatally stabbed at Cornell University was attacked while trying to help a fellow student amid a series of fights after a weekend party, his sister said Monday. Anthony Nazaire, a 19-year-old sophomore from New York City who was majoring in business administration, and his friend were stabbed early Sunday as several hundred people were leaving a fraternity-sponsored party at the Cornell student union, authorities said. Police haven't said what touched off the melee. Students walk from Willard Straight Hall on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, N.Y., Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Ithaca College student Anthony Nazaire, of Brooklyn in New York City, was stabbed to death Sunday outside the hall following a student-organized gathering. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson) Kiara Nazaire said she had spoken with her brother's friend and was told her brother was trying to get him away from a confrontation when their assailant struck. "He was defending his friend," she said, fighting back tears outside her family's apartment. "It wasn't to fight. He was pulling him away and the coward just attacked them." Nazaire said her brother had been visiting friends at Cornell and had developed an "upstate New York family" there. She said her family went to Ithaca on Sunday but returned early Monday with little information from investigators about their progress. "I know the cops are going to do everything they have to do to make sure Anthony is at peace," she said. "We know justice is going to be served." Police have not named any suspects in the stabbing, which followed a Saturday night party organized by Omega Psi Phi, a national fraternity of black men, at Willard Straight Hall as part of a series of events under the umbrella of Cornell's Black Students United group. Other Say It Loud 2016 events included orientation sessions for incoming black students, ice cream socials, a Labor Day weekend barbecue and a game night. Investigators said they were interviewing witnesses and believe based on surveillance footage that some captured the killing on video. Ithaca College President Tom Rochon said Anthony Nazaire graduated from Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School and was a member of the executive board of Brothers4Brothers, an Ithaca College student organization "dedicated to empowering men of color on our campus." About 300 people filled a memorial service on campus, where students described Nazaire's ever-present smile and determination to succeed as an entrepreneur. Jaylen Young said his friendship with Nazaire began when Nazaire spotted his Brooklyn Nets hat. "I've lost friends to gang violence, drug dealers," Young said. "He was never like that. He had goals and plans." Minutes before Nazaire died, Young had gone to get the car, leaving his friend to wait for him on the corner, he said. "Anthony, I'm so sorry," he said. "I wish we could have got there a few minutes earlier." Rochon described Nazaire's mother packing up his belongings and driving back to Brooklyn just nine days after helping unpack them in anticipation of the new school year. After the service, as students hugged and cried, Rochon said he was proud of the anti-violence message that was a recurring theme of the service. "We have a shared humanity, we have a shared vision of our future lives and we're going to work on this together," Rochon said. Earlier Monday, outside the student union at Cornell, senior Sonya Qamar said the killing was unsettling. "There's the typical occasional break-in where a laptop is stolen or someone gets their wallet stolen out of the library, but it's completely different when it's someone getting stabbed outside one of your favorite libraries," she said. ___ PICTURED: Editor selections from the past week in Asia At least four people were killed and more than 170 pagodas were damaged in the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar after a magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck the area last week. Bagan is one of Myanmar's top tourist attractions, drawing visitors who can view a panorama of temples stretching to the horizon flanked by the Irrawaddy River. The city has more than 2,200 structures constructed in the 10th to 14th centuries, including pagodas and temples. Many are in disrepair, while others have been restored in recent years, aided by the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO. In other images from the Asia-Pacific region last week, South Korea and the United States began annual military exercises despite North Korea's threat of nuclear strikes in response to the drills, which it calls an invasion rehearsal. Such fiery rhetoric by Pyongyang is not unusual. But the latest warning comes at a time of increased tensions following the defection of a senior North Korean diplomat and a U.S. plan to place a high-tech missile defense system in South Korea. The mighty Ganges River overflowed its banks following heavy monsoon rains in India, causing large parts of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi to be 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're 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. In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, military personnel clear debris at a temple that was damaged by a strong earthquake in Bagan, Myanmar. Using brooms and their hands soldiers and residents of the ancient Myanmar city famous for it's historic Buddhist pagodas, began cleaning up the debris from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 temples Wednesday. (AP Photo/Min Kyi Thein, File) ___ This gallery was curated by Associated Press photo editor Hiroshi Otabe in Tokyo. In this Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, a dead body is transported on a boat through the flooded streets of Varanasi, near the Manikarnika Ghat, 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, File) In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, glasses of the parliamentary building are broken by a strong earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Rescue workers surveyed the damage Thursday after a powerful earthquake shook Myanmar on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File) In this Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016 photo, South Korean army soldiers stand as women watch during an anti-terror drill as part of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, at Yoido Subway Station in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea and the United States began annual military drills Monday despite North Korea's threat of nuclear strikes in response to the exercises that it calls an invasion rehearsal. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) In this Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016 photo, a waitress is silhouetted against an advertisement board as she carries jugs of beer during Taedonggang Beer Festival in Pyongyang, North Korea. 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, File) In this Monday, Aug. 22, 2016 photo, Filipino activists use cloth printed with the hammer and sickle symbol to cover their faces as they shout slogans during a rally near the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte recently reimposed an indefinite cease-fire after communist guerrillas declared their own truce as both sides resume talks aimed at ending one of Asia's longest-running rebellions. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File) In Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-10 tank fires its gun at a target during an annual live firing exercise at Higashi Fuji training range in Gotemba, southwest of Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File) In this Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 photo, an Indian transgender person dances during a demonstration in Hyderabad, India. The Indian government introduced a bill earlier in the month in an effort to protect transgender rights helping to protect the community that has faced continuing discrimination. (AP Photo /Mahesh Kumar A., File) In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, a couple walks in front of a work safety propaganda billboard in Beijing, China. Work safety, which has long been sidelined by China's pursuit of profits and economic growth, kills tens of thousands each year. Chinese character at right reads "Safe Production." (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) In this Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016 photo, a model displays creations by Ka-Sha during the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai, India. (AP Photo/ Rajanish Kakade, File) In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 photo, Taiwanese soldiers launch an anti-tank weapon APILAS during the annual Han Kuang exercises in Pingtung county, southern Taiwan. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File) In this Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2016 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. Duterte's threat to withdraw the Philippines from the United Nations, later cushioned by his foreign secretary, is the latest flamboyantly irreverent utterance from a politician who has disparaged the pope, human rights advocates, the United States and other countries who controvert his worldview. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File) Survivors of Nepal insurgency fear crimes will go unpunished KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) The image of the teacher's body tied to a tree and riddled with bullets still haunts his son 14 years later. Communist militants allegedly dragged the Nepalese man from the class he was teaching and then killed him for refusing to give part of his salary to fund their bloody rebellion. Suman Adhikari has little hope he will get justice for his father's death not with the same Maoist fighters-turned-politicians controlling the Himalayan country's government. Despite international pressure and government promises, including by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) themselves, Adhikari and thousands of other conflict victims are still waiting for information about loved ones who were among the 17,000 killed or hundreds who disappeared during the decade-long insurgency demanding an end to the country's now-defunct monarchy. In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, Indira Adhikari, left, and Suman Adhikari are seen at their home in Kathmandu, Nepal. The mother and son have very little hope of getting justice for Muktinath Adhikari, who was dragged out of a classroom he was teaching, tied to a tree and riddled with bullets by alleged maoists for refusing to part with a portion of his salary to fuel their rebellion. Now the very same rebels are politicians controlling the nation's government and want everyone to forgive and forget what happened during the conflict. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) "The Maoists want everyone to forgive and forget whatever happened during the conflict, but that is not acceptable to us," said 40-year-old Adhikari, who works for a Kathmandu-based charity that works with the deaf. Earlier this month, Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal became Nepal's prime minister, leading the poor and politically fractious country's ninth coalition government in 10 years. His ascent to the top elected position completed the Maoist's political rehabilitation started in 2006 when they signed a U.N.-brokered peace accord to end their guerrilla campaign against authorities. Meanwhile, Nepal is still beset by ethnic conflict and protests against its new constitution, and coping from widespread damage caused by earthquakes that killed thousands last year. For victims of the old insurgency, the Maoists' rise was nothing to celebrate. Those hoping for resolution from a newly assembled Truth and Reconciliation Committee fear the Maoists will seek to sweep away post-conflict cases by delaying investigations, ignoring advice to prosecute or even legislating for a general amnesty that would absolve all crimes. With the committee's mandate expiring in February next year, some of its 100 staff members admit they have neither the time nor the manpower to investigate the more than 53,000 complaints alleging human rights violations unless the government extends its mission. None of the cases have been resolved so far. "In the time we have left, I don't think we will be able to deal with even a fraction of the number of cases we have in our hands," commissioner Madhavi Bhatta told The Associated Press. They also have asked the government to revise the rules for investigating, for example, to include torture as a listed crime and to extend the six-month statute of limitations on rape so that decades-old assault allegations can be considered. The committee can only recommend prosecution for government lawyers to pursue; it cannot take such action on its own. The Maoists have pledged they will not seek amnesty and would help bring justice for "victims of crimes outside of war rules," according to spokeswoman Pampha Bhusal. "We will not suppress these cases but will resolve them," she said. "We are going to resolve all these issues on the basis of international norms and human rights and the peace agreement we signed." Victims and rights groups expressed doubt about the Maoists' sincerity. In one of their recent pushes for a general amnesty, the Maoists in May forced then-Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli to sign an agreement saying the government would "immediately initiate the process to withdraw or give clemency on insurgency-era cases and other politically-motivated cases filed on various occasions" And former Maoist parliament member Bal Krishna Dhugel was convicted in 2010 of a 1998 murder, but Maoist pressure and a pending clemency request have ensured he remains free despite a Supreme Court order this year not to grant him amnesty. Analysts said the Maoists would have trouble pushing for a blanket amnesty. They do not have the necessary parliamentary majority to vote such an amnesty into law, and even the suggestion could upset their coalition partners and undermine the stability of their government. "What they (Maoists) have been saying in the past, that they will go for blanket amnesty, is not possible this time," said Deepak Prakash Bhatt, internal security professor at Tribhuwan University in Kathmandu. "There are checks and balances. Because they are not heading the defense ministry, home ministry and foreign ministry, it is not possible." But delaying the investigations could leave them unfinished, rights activists said. "The whole process has been prolonged so much that the proof and evidence we have is getting lost or disappearing," said Sudip Pathak of Nepal's National Human Rights Commission. "I don't believe the victims will get justice any time soon." Analysts and rights groups have pressed the government to speed up reconciliation efforts or risk becoming even more unpopular in Nepal, where many people express frustration with widespread corruption and regret losing the monarchy. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch together warned Nepal not to bargain away justice while negotiating coalition government politics. Nepal should "take immediate and effective steps to safeguard victims' rights to truth, justice and reparation through a credible transitional justice process that is free of any political interference or any forms of pressure or intimidation," the groups said in a joint statement issued in May. To victims and their families, the prospect of resolving past crimes and healing old wounds looks bleak. "We want to know why they were killed; they were unarmed and not part of the fighting," said Anita Jnawali, who said her father was a local politician in the western village of Kerunga when he was hacked to death inside his home for refusing to join the Maoists in their fight. "We have almost lost hope," the 33-year-old drinking water consultant said. "The Maoists are always trying to suppress our cases, and now that they are in the government we are even more suspicious that they will bring new laws and make attempts to provide amnesty to their people." In this photo taken on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, Suman Adhikari, son of Muktinath Adhikari, is seen at his home in Kathmandu, Nepal. Adhikari has very little hope of getting justice for his father who was dragged out of a classroom he was teaching, tied to a tree and riddled with bullets by alleged maoists, for refusing to part with a portion of his salary to fuel their rebellion. Now the very same rebels are politicians controlling the nation's government and want everyone to forgive and forget what happened during the conflict. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) In this photo taken on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, Yakendra Pant, one of the victims of alleged maoist excesses, waits for a meeting at the Trust and Reconciliation office in Kathmandu, Nepal. Now that the very same rebels are politicians controlling the nation's government, victims' hopes of getting justice look uncertain. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) Released tape rekindles memory of 1988 Iran mass execution DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The scratchy, echo-filled tape recording carries the voice of a man who once was in line to become Iran's supreme leader, talking about one of the darkest moments of the country's post-revolution history still not recognized by its government. The recording has Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri condemning Iran's execution of thousands of prisoners at the end of the country's bloody war with Iraq in 1988. He warns those gathered they've committed "the biggest crime in the history of the Islamic Republic," while criticizing them for misleading the country's then-ailing supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The criticisms by Montazeri, who lived for years under house arrest and died of natural causes after Iran's disputed 2009 presidential election, long ago surfaced in his own memoirs and writings. But the furor ignited by the release of the tapes by his family this month expose the lingering, unhealed wounds of the chaotic years that followed Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, as well as politics now at play in the greater Middle East. FILE -- In this November 23, 1979 file photo, then President of Iran's Ruling Revolutionary Council, Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri holds a rifle as he addresses a large rally at Tehran University. In August, 2016, a website run in Montazeris honor by his family released a tape recording of Montazeri that has rekindled memories of the Islamic Republics mass execution of prisoners in 1988. The tape appears to have Montazeri, who at one time was in line to become Irans supreme leader, criticizing the executions. Rights groups suggest as many as 5,000 people were executed in 1988. (AP Photo, File) "All advice and criticism from my father was for saving the ruling system which he had paid so much for," his son, Ahmad Montazeri, recently wrote online. In 1985, Montazeri was selected as Khomeini's successor. But Montazeri's calls for the loosening of clerical control in Iran drew the ire of hard-liners -- and then came the executions. They happened at the end of Iran's long war with Iraq, which began when Saddam Hussein invaded in 1980. By 1988, 1 million people had been killed in a conflict that featured trench warfare, Iranian human-wave attacks and chemical weapons assaults launched by Iraq. In July 1988, Khomeini accepted a U.N.-brokered cease-fire, calling it "more deadly to me than poison." But within days, members of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, heavily armed by Saddam, stormed across the Iranian border in a surprise attack. Iran ultimately blunted their assault, but the attack set the stage for the sham retrials of political prisoners, militants and others that would become known as "death commissions." Some who appeared were asked to identify themselves. Those who responded "mujahedeen" were sent to their deaths, while others were questioned about their willingness to "clear minefields for the army of the Islamic Republic," according to a 1990 Amnesty International report . International rights groups estimate that as many as 5,000 people were executed, while the MEK puts the number at 30,000. Iran has never fully acknowledged the executions, apparently carried out on Khomeini's orders, though some argue that other top officials were effectively in charge in the months before his 1989 death. This month, a website run in Montazeri's honor by his family released the audio. In it, the ayatollah apparently addresses prosecutors, a judge and an intelligence official over the executions, warning they will tarnish Khomeini's image. "I believe that the biggest crime in the history of the Islamic Republic, which will be condemned by history, happened by your hands," Montazeri says. He goes on to say that "fighting against ideology with killing is totally wrong." He mentions the death of his son, Mohammad, in the 1981 bombing of the Islamic Republican Party's headquarters in Tehran, which killed at least 72 people. Iran blamed the attack on the MEK, and the U.S. State Department also has said the group was responsible for it. "I got hurt more than anybody from them; they killed my son," Montazeri says. Shortly after the audio's release, the website took it down. By that point, however, the clip had circulated online as Farsi-language media began reporting on it, sparking criticism of Montazeri's family for releasing it. "My motivation for publishing this file, as I said for several times to many media, was to defend the truth and innocence of Ayatollah Montazeri," his son, Ahmad, recently wrote. The audio now has found its way into the wider conflict between Shiite power Iran and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia. Relations between the two nations soured in January after the kingdom executed a prominent Shiite cleric and angry demonstrators in Iran responded by attacking two Saudi diplomatic posts. Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran over the attacks, though relations already were strained by the countries supporting opposing sides in Syria's long war and the conflict in Yemen. In the time since, state television in Saudi Arabia, which is among the world's top executioners, repeatedly has aired a program about the 1988 executions in Iran, complete with a graphic of a figure hanging from the Iranian flag. It's also aired video of Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the MEK's political arm, throwing flower petals at pictures of those killed in the 1988 executions at an exhibition in Paris. Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief, appeared in July at a conference in Paris by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the political affiliate of the MEK, which Rajavi leads. Al-Faisal's involvement at the lavish ceremony brought a swift rebuke from Iran and raised questions about Saudi Arabia's possible support of the group, which was listed as a terrorist organization by the State Department for years over its killing of Americans. The MEK says it renounced violence in 2001. The State Department removed the group from its list of terrorist organizations in 2012. Asked about Saudi Arabia's interest, the MEK said in a statement it "has not received financial help from the Saudi government or from any other government." But it added that the real war gripping the Mideast is "between the religious fascism ruling Iran on the one hand and the people of Iran and countries in the region on the other." ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jon-gambrell. FILE -- In this Sept. 25, 2004 file photo, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, 82, who was once the heir apparent to lead Iran but fell from favor and spent five years under house arrest as the regime's most feared dissident, speaks with The Associated Press in Qom, Iran. In August, 2016, a website run in Montazeris honor by his family released a tape recording of Montazeri that has rekindled memories of the Islamic Republics mass execution of prisoners in 1988. The tape appears to have Montazeri, who at one time was in line to become Irans supreme leader, criticizing the executions. Rights groups suggest as many as 5,000 people were executed in 1988. (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian, File) FILE -- In this May 13, 1988 file photo, then Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini greets well-wishers before casting his vote in the final round of Iran's Parliamentary Elections. In August, 2016, a website in Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeris honor, run by his family, released a tape recording of Montazeri that has rekindled memories of the Islamic Republics mass execution of prisoners in 1988. The recording has Montazeri condemning Irans execution of thousands of prisoners at the end of the countrys bloody war with Iraq in 1988. He warns those gathered theyve committed the biggest crime in the history of the Islamic Republic, while criticizing them for misleading the countrys then-ailing supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. (AP Photo/Sayaad, File) 2 slain nuns remembered for helping the needy DURANT, Miss. (AP) Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Mississippi's capital city on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy and were found stabbed to death last week in their home in one of the poorest counties of the state. Bail was denied during the initial court appearance for the man charged with two counts of capital murder in the slayings of Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill, both 68. Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, was also charged with one count of burglary and one count of grand larceny. He was not represented by an attorney during his appearance Monday afternoon in Durant city court. City Judge Jim Arnold said the state will appoint an attorney for Sanders. Capital murder is punishable by execution or life in prison; the sisters' religious orders have issued a joint statement against the death penalty. Rodney Earl Sanders, of Kosciusko, Miss., leaves the Durant Municipal Building after an initial appearance in court Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in Durant, Miss. Sanders was charged with two counts of capital murder in the slayings of Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill, both 68. The nuns, who were nurse practitioners, were found stabbed to death last week in their home. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) "We are going to consider the heinous nature of the crime and their wishes," District Attorney Akillie Malone-Oliver said Monday, referring to the families of the sisters and their religious orders. Sanders confessed to the killings but gave no reason, said Holmes County Sheriff Willie March, who was briefed by Durant police and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation officials who took part in Sanders' interrogation. Sanders had been living about 15 miles east of the sisters' Durant home. He has been held at an undisclosed jail since his arrest late Friday. Sanders' wife attended the hearing and broke down afterward when addressing the family and friends of the nuns. "I'm sorry. I don't know what to say to y'all. I'm so sorry ... I'm so sorry. I can't take this. Oh my God," Marie Sanders said. Merrill and Held worked as nurse practitioners at Lexington Medical Clinic, about 10 miles west of Durant, where they often treated poor and uninsured patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions. Their bodies were found in their home after they failed to show up at work Thursday. The clinic in Lexington 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 killings shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor. Bishop Joseph Kopacz and more than 20 priests from the Diocese of Jackson celebrated a memorial Mass on Monday at the small but ornate Cathedral of St. Peter in downtown Jackson, about an hour's drive south of Durant. The front pews were filled by family members and sisters from Held's and Merrill's religious orders, the Kentucky-based Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and the School Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee. The Rev. Greg Plata, who ministers at the church in Lexington, Mississippi, where Held and Merrill led Bible study, praised them for their lives of service. Plata also noted the joint statement against the death penalty released Sunday by the sisters' orders. "Justice for a heinous crime demands punishment, but it does not demand revenge," Plata said. On Sunday, more than 300 people attended a service at the church in Lexington. Warren Strain, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety which includes the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, said the organization would neither confirm nor deny that Sanders confessed. Records from the Iowa Department of Corrections show Sanders was in prison from June 2004 to February 2011 on a conviction of second-degree robbery. Records show he also was in prison in Iowa from August 1999 to August 2002 on a conviction of theft, and from April to October 1996 for two counts of third-offense drunken driving. Sanders was on probation after a prison term for a felony drunken-driving conviction in Mississippi last year, said Grace Simmons Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He was also convicted of armed robbery in Holmes County, sentenced in 1986 and served six years. ___ The Associated Press' Rogelio V. Solis contributed from Lexington, Mississippi, and Rebecca Santana contributed from New Orleans. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Rodney Earl Sanders is facing one count of grand larceny and one count of burglary, not one count of burglary grand larceny. Durant police surround Rodney Earl Sanders, of Kosciusko, Miss., as he leaves the Durant Municipal Building after an initial appearance in municipal court Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in Durant, Miss. Sanders was charged with two counts of capital murder in the slayings of Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill, both 68. The nuns, who were nurse practitioners, were found stabbed to death last week in their home. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Rodney Earl Sanders, of Kosciusko, Miss., leaves the Durant Municipal Building after an initial appearance in court Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in Durant, Miss. Sanders was charged with two counts of capital murder in the slayings of Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill, both 68. The nuns, who were nurse practitioners, were found stabbed to death last week in their home. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Rodney Earl Sanders leaves the Durant Municipal Building after an initial appearance in court Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in Durant, Miss. Sanders was charged with two counts of capital murder in the slayings of Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill, both 68. The nuns, who were nurse practitioners, were found stabbed to death last week in their home. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) John Merrill, the older brother of Sister Paula Merrill, left, hugs a relative of Sister Margaret Held at the conclusion of a memorial Mass for the murdered nuns, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. The nuns were murdered Thursday in their Durant home. Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Jackson on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Relatives of Sister Margaret Held listen to Rev. Greg Plata, who ministers at the Lexington church where Sisters Held and Paula Merrill worshipped, deliver the homily during a memorial Mass for them, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. The nuns were murdered Thursday in their Durant home. Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Jackson on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Family members of Sister Paula Merrill, hold hands during the saying of the Lord's Prayer during a memorial Mass for Merrill and Sister Margaret Held, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. The two nuns were killed Thursday in their Durant, home, and authorities continue to investigate the stabbing. Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Jackson on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, center, is joined by other parish priests in preparing to distribute communion at the memorial Mass for two nuns, Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. The 68-year-old nuns were killed Thursday in their Durant, home, and authorities continue to investigate the stabbing. Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Jackson on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Sister Susan Gatz, president of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, right, gives the first reading at the memorial Mass for Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. The two nuns were killed Thursday in their Durant, home, and authorities continue to investigate the stabbing. Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Jackson on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson celebrates the memorial Mass for two 68-year-old nuns, Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, were killed Thursday in their Durant, home, and authorities continue to investigate the stabbing. Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Jackson on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Rev. Greg Plata, who ministers at the Lexington church where Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill worshipped, notes a joint statement against the death penalty released Sunday by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and the School Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee, the nuns respective orders, during a memorial Mass for them, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at the Cathedra of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. The nuns were murdered Thursday in their Durant home. Plata said that "justice for a heinous crime demands punishment, but it does not demand revenge." (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Family members of Sister Paula Merrill, hug each other during the memorial Mass for Merrill and Sister Margaret Held, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, Miss. The two nuns were killed Thursday in their Durant, home, and authorities continue to investigate the stabbing. Hundreds of people filled the cathedral in Jackson on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) A photograph of Sister Margaret Held of the School Sisters of St. Francis, left, and Sister Paula Merrill, of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, is placed at the entrance to the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 in Jackson, Miss., where a memorial Mass was held for the two 68-year-old nuns, who were killed Thursday in their Durant, home. Hundreds of people filled the cathedral in Jackson on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) A Lexington, Miss., resident hugs the relative of Sister Margaret Held, following a vigil for Held and Sister Paula Merrill at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The two nuns' bodies were found in their house in Durant, Miss., Thursday. Friends and colleagues who knew the two nuns gathered Sunday to remember them, as authorities continue to investigate the harrowing crime that shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Area residents, patients of the Lexington Medical Clinic, relatives, and fellow religious, pray at a vigil for the deceased at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., for Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The two nuns, from different orders, were found murdered in the Durant, Miss., house they rented, on Thursday. Although authorities have arrested a suspect, they speculate on the motive of the deaths of the two nurse practitioners, who worked the poor in a clinic in Lexington. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) Area residents, patients of the Lexington Medical Clinic, relatives, and other people pray at a vigil for Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The two nuns' bodies were found in their house in Durant, Miss., Thursday. Friends and colleagues who knew the two nuns gathered Sunday to remember them, as authorities continue to investigate the harrowing crime that shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) People stand in line to attend a vigil for the deceased held at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Lexington, Miss., for Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The two nuns, from different orders, were found murdered in the Durant, Miss., house they rented, on Thursday. Over 300 people attended the service. Although authorities have arrested a suspect, they speculate on the motive of the deaths of the two nurse practitioners, who worked the poor in a clinic in Lexington. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) The Rev. Greg Plata, sacramental minister at St. Thomas Catholic Church, leads a vigil for Sister Margaret Held, her coffin left, and Sister Paula Merrill in Lexington, Miss., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. The two nuns' bodies were found in their house in Durant, Miss., Thursday. Friends and colleagues who knew the two nuns gathered Sunday to remember them, as authorities continue to investigate the harrowing crime that shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) On Syria, Democrats look to deflect the conversation WASHINGTON (AP) In his speech at the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump made six references to the conflict in Syria, pointing to the war-ravaged nation as a source of much of the world's turmoil, particularly immigration and extremism. A week later at the Democratic convention, Hillary Clinton made not one reference to Syria. The conflict in Syria remains a major conundrum for both President Barack Obama and Clinton, his former secretary of state. With a firm reluctance to enter another U.S. war in the Middle East, the United States has focused its military efforts on fighting the Islamic State group in northern Syria and in Iraq while pursuing so-far failed diplomatic efforts to end the civil war. FILE - In this Aug.25, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at Trump Tower in New York. In his speech at the Republican National Convention, Trump made seven references to the conflict in Syria, pointing to the war-ravaged nation as a source of much of the worlds turmoil, particularly immigration and extremism. A week later at the Democratic convention, Hillary Clinton made not one reference to Syria. That could be because the conflict in Syria remains a major conundrum for both President Barack Obama and Clinton, his former secretary of state. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) Now entering its sixth year, the Syria conflict has killed more than a quarter million people, displaced some 11 million, and has turned the once-cosmopolitan, secular country into a hive of factions with dangerously competing interests. "Of the two or three biggest legacy problems for the Obama administration, in terms of foreign policy, Syria will figure prominently on that list," said Robert Ford, U.S. ambassador to Syria during the uprising and now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. There is an element within the Democratic Party, Ford adds, that "would go as far as to say the United States helped to cause that problem." Clinton has tap-danced around the issue, particularly since her views may not be in line with that of her former boss. Her closest advisers point out that she often had a more hawkish approach to international relations than many in her party, including Obama, but delving into such a complex situation on the campaign trail risks putting off voters who are more concerned with the situation at home. "There is a benefit to the Syria debate not getting too political at this stage," said Ilan Goldenberg, a Clinton adviser who is senior fellow and director of the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. "There will be a rigorous process of us evaluating all our options. It's much more deep than what you get on the campaign trail but my instinct is she'll lean further forward." While Clinton has been one of the most pro-intervention candidates to run for the presidency in 2016, she has not condoned the forceful removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad from power, calling instead for a peaceful handover. In a December debate, she said she supports the establishment of a no-fly zone "to create those safe refuges within Syria." The aim would be "to try to protect people on the ground both from Assad's forces, who are continuing to drop barrel bombs, and from ISIS," she said, using an acronym for the Islamic State group. "And of course, it has to be de-conflicted with the Russians, who are also flying in that space," she added. But Clinton dodged a question about whether failure to take more assertive action in Syria damaged American credibility, saying at a later debate that, "as commander-in-chief, you have to be constantly evaluating the decisions you have to make." The type of intervention that many had envisioned targeting key installments belonging to Assad's government after it was found to be using chemical weapons in 2013 never came to fruition. Appetite for intervention of any kind was especially low after the vastly unpopular U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, and Washington was still reeling from the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Clinton has been forced to answer inquiries over the security failures leading to that attack. Clinton "was very sobered by the Libya experience," Ford said. "She absolutely understood, back in 2012, the need for a more muscular approach (in Syria). I never ever heard her say we need to send in the U.S. military," he added. "But she thought there were people on the ground who we could help." When it came time for action in Syria, Obama opted to help moderate rebel forces and, a year later, launched airstrikes to target the Islamic State group. Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have also supported a military partnership with Russia to limit a U.S. expansionary role in Syria for years to come. Trump does not often address the Syria conflict, but he's repeatedly blamed the Obama administration for the rise of the Islamic State group, which in 2014 took over a third of Syria and Iraq, though much of that territory has since been re-claimed. This month, he accused Obama of being the "founder of ISIS," adding, "I would say the co-founder would be crooked Hillary Clinton." Trump has said that he doesn't think Assad is the biggest problem in Syria, and has called for the establishment of safe zones inside Syria for refugees so they don't have to flee the country. Outside observers caution against expecting too much in Clinton's ability to turn this conflict around, saying that any future action is too little, too late. Joe Macaron, a policy analyst at Arab Center Washington DC, warns that "the Syrian opposition's bet on a Hillary presidency might be a rerun of weighing its options in 2011 and 2012 on the expectation of a U.S. intervention under Obama." ___ 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 ___ Follow Vivian Salama on Twitter: http://twitter.com/vmsalama Suddenly unsure on immigration, Trump trying to clear it up JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) It's been the driving issue of Donald Trump's campaign. Build a wall along the southern border. Make Mexico pay for it. And expel everyone living in the U.S. illegally with the help of a "deportation force." Ten weeks before the election, however, buffeted by conflicting advice from aides and advisers, Trump has seemed to be in full indecision mode. At a Fox News town hall tall taping last week, in the face of pressing questions, he proceeded to poll the audience at length on the fate of an estimated 11 million people. FILE - In this Aug. 27, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks in Des Moines, Iowa. Trump promises on Twitter that he'll make a major speech on illegal immigration on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, carrying his self-declared "immigration week" into a second. Trump appears unable to make a decision on what his policy on his signature issue ought to be, an odd place for a candidate 10 weeks before Election Day and a dark harbinger of indecision for a potential president. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) Trump is now planning a major speech Wednesday, during which he's expected to finally clarify his stance. Supporters are hoping for a strong, decisive showing. But for critics, many already disposed to vote against him, his wavering on what has been his signature issue seems like a warning that he's unable to handle a central element of any president's job making decisions. It also underscores how little his Republican campaign has invested in the nitty-gritty of outlining what he would do as president, especially when compared with the more detailed plans of his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. "It's just puzzling," said Lanhee Chen, who has served as a policy adviser to several Republican presidential candidates. "This is the issue on which he rose to prominence in the primary and the issue on which he continues to stake much of his campaign." From the start, Trump has never been the kind of candidate to pore over thick policy books. Indeed, he has mocked Clinton on the subject. "She's got people that sit in cubicles writing policy all day. Nothing's ever going to happen. It's just a waste of paper," he told Time Magazine in June. "My voters don't care and the public doesn't care. They know you're going to do a good job once you're there." To date, Trump's campaign has posted just seven policy proposals on his website, totaling just over 9,000 words. There are 38 on Clinton's "issues" page, ranging from efforts to cure Alzheimer's disease to Wall Street and criminal justice reform, and her campaign boasts that it has now released 65 policy fact sheets, totaling 112,735 words. "I've laid out the best I could, the specific plans and ideas that I want to pursue as your president because I have this old-fashioned idea," Clinton said during a recent speech in Colorado. "When you run for president, you ought to tell people what you want to do as their president." Trump's new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, has said she's pushing her boss to get more specific. Yet his positions on a host of issues remain vague at best. For example, while Trump has slammed the Common Core education standards and touts the benefits of local control of education, he has no formal, detailed plans for improving public schools. He talks about student loan debt and the increasing costs of higher education, but has yet to propose solutions. He has teased plans to make childcare more affordable, but has missed his own deadline for unveiling them. Until recently, however, there has been no doubt about where Trump stood on illegal immigration. The wall was going up Mexico would have to pay and those estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally were going to have to leave. But over the summer, Trump began suggesting in closed-door conversations with Hispanic leaders that he might be open to softening his stance. On August 20, he convened round table of Hispanic lawmakers and business leaders, and left some with the same impression. The day after, campaign manager Conway said his position on deportations was "to be determined." Trump's supporters say questions about his recent waffling are overblown. His running mate, Mike Pence, describes him as "a CEO at work" as he consults with various stakeholders. "You see someone who is engaging the American people, listening to the American people," Pence told CNN on Sunday. "He is hearing from all sides." But Stephen Moore, a conservative economist who has worked with Trump to shape his tax and economic plans, says the vagueness on Trump's economic policies was by design. "We want to talk about the big visionary stuff. We don't want to have a big debate about this loophole, that loophole," he said. "This is a campaign, it's not a write-up of a tax bill in the Ways and Means Committee." Ari Fleischer, a White House press secretary under George W. Bush, says the confusion that now exists about Trump's plans for immigration underscores "the risk in electing someone whose candidacy is based on his personality and image, as opposed his experience and policy knowledge." While a Trump could succeed as president as a "big picture, set the tone, drive the direction and move the government" kind of leader, Fleischer said that would require him to surround himself with a knowledgeable and capable staff. "But the lesson in how he's run his campaign and frankly in how he's run his businesses doesn't give you confidence that he would surround himself with a lot of capable people," he said. In addition, Chen said a President Trump arriving at the White House without detailed plans could be limited in how much he might achieve, since a new president's power is at its apex early on. "If you're not able to hit the ground running, chances are you're going to run into serious resistance if you sit there studying something for the first 100 days," he said. ___ Follow Jill Colvin on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/colvinj Roadside bombs kill 9 civilians in Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Two roadside bombs have killed at least nine Afghan civilians, officials said Monday. Six people were killed in a blast in the southern Helmand province, which has seen heavy fighting between Taliban insurgents and security forces in recent weeks, according to Omer Zwak, the spokesman for the provincial governor. He said five others -- three women and two children -- were wounded in the attack, and that all the victims were from the same family. Another roadside bomb in the central Ghor province killed two women and a man. The blast late Sunday wounded eight other people, mostly women and children, said Abdul Hai Khatebi, spokesman for the provincial governor. A $400 million cash payment to Iran has little precedent 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 Tehran 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, the 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. Islamic State bombing kills 54 government recruits in Yemen SANAA, Yemen (AP) A suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State in Yemen's southern city of Aden on Monday killed at least 54 pro-government recruits, officials said, underscoring how the militant group has been able to exploit Yemen's civil war to stage large-scale attacks. In the attack in Aden, the men were gathered at a staging area near two schools and a mosque when a pickup truck suddenly accelerated through the building's gate as a food delivery arrived, exploding amid the crowd, witnesses said. "Bodies and body parts are scattered all over the place," said Mohammed Osman, a neighbor who rushed to the scene. "It was a massacre." Fighters loyal to the government gather at the site of a suicide car bombing in Yemens southern city of Aden, Yemen, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. The bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in Aden has killed over 50 pro-government troops who had been preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia to fight Houthi rebels in Yemens north. Yemen is embroiled in a civil war pitting the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite Houthi rebels, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The fighting has allowed al-Qaida and an IS affiliate to expand their reach, particularly in the south. (AP Photo/Wael Qubady) The death toll steadily rose through the day and by mid-afternoon, the director of Aden's Health Ministry, Khidra Lasour, said 54 had died from the explosion. Almost 70 people were wounded, including 30 seriously, and were being treated in area hospitals. Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, identified the bomber as one Ahmed Seif, distributing a photo of him smiling and holding an assault rifle next to a flag used by Islamic extremists as well as a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Yemen is embroiled in a civil war pitting the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The fighting has allowed al-Qaida and an IS affiliate to expand their reach, particularly in the south. The recruits were signing up to join a new unit the Saudis hope will ultimately be made up of 5,000 fighters. After some training, the new force will deploy to the Saudi cities of Najran and Jizan, near the border with Yemen, the officials said. Hundreds have already arrived in the border province of Jawf and the adjacent province of Marib. The Houthis control most of northern Yemen, including the border regions and the capital, Sanaa. Aid group Doctors Without Borders reported on social media that their hospital in Aden had received 45 dead. The IS-run Aamaq news agency said the attack was carried out "by a fighter from the Islamic State who targeted a recruitment center." Later, another statement circulated by IS called the bomber a "knight" who had purportedly killed some 60 coalition fighters. Ahmed al-Fatih, who had been working at the center, said security at the site was lax. "There was no consideration of security," he said. "So it was easy for al-Qaida or Daesh to pull off such an act," he added, using an Arabic acronym to refer to the Islamic State group. Most of the recruits are men in their early 20s, unemployed, according to the officials, and mostly from the southern provinces of Abyan, Dhale, and Lahj. Eleven bodies from the attack were taken by ambulances to the town of Koud, where they were buried collectively, officials added. One of the recruits killed was 27-year-old Mohammed Nasser, whose mother said he hadn't been able to find a job since graduating from the Aden University four years ago. "I didn't want him to go," she said, sobbing. "But I never expected him to return a dead body." The U.N. and rights groups estimate that at least 9,000 people have been killed since fighting escalated in Yemen in March 2015 with the start of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their allies. Some 3 million people have been displaced inside the country, the Arab world's poorest. U.N.-mediated peace talks in Kuwait were suspended earlier this month with no signs of progress. The Houthis and forces allied to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh seized Sanaa in September 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee the country. The Saudi-led campaign against the Houthis has pushed them out of southern Yemen, but has failed to dislodge them from the capital and the rest of the north. Also on Monday, a delegation of Houthis met in Baghdad with Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to discuss the war and fruitless peace talks. The Houthis and Iraq's Shiite-led government are closely allied with Iran. Al-Jaafari in a statement reiterated the Iraqi government's opposition to the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen, saying it contributed to bloodshed and instability. The Yemeni delegation was headed by Yehia Badreddin al-Houthi, a political leader among the Houthis and the brother of Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. They additionally briefed al-Jaafari about their recent decision to form a political council with the party of Yemen's former president. That decision, which was criticized by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, gives the rebels and their allies control of much of the north, including the capital Sanaa, and leaves President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's loyalists with control of most of the south. ___ Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report. Fighters loyal to the government gather at the site of a suicide car bombing in Yemens southern city of Aden, Yemen, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. The bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in Aden has killed over 50 pro-government troops who had been preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia to fight Houthi rebels in Yemens north. Yemen is embroiled in a civil war pitting the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite Houthi rebels, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The fighting has allowed al-Qaida and an IS affiliate to expand their reach, particularly in the south. (AP Photo/Wael Qubady) Fighters loyal to the government gather at the site of a suicide car bombing in Yemens southern city of Aden, Yemen, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. The bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in Aden has killed over 50 pro-government troops who had been preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia to fight Houthi rebels in Yemens north. Yemen is embroiled in a civil war pitting the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite Houthi rebels, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The fighting has allowed al-Qaida and an IS affiliate to expand their reach, particularly in the south. (AP Photo/Wael Qubady) People gather at the site of a suicide car bombing in Yemens southern city of Aden, Yemen, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. The bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in Aden has killed over 50 pro-government troops who had been preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia to fight Houthi rebels in Yemens north. Yemen is embroiled in a civil war pitting the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite Houthi rebels, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The fighting has allowed al-Qaida and an IS affiliate to expand their reach, particularly in the south. (AP Photo/Wael Qubady) People gather at the site of a suicide car bombing in Yemens southern city of Aden, Yemen, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. The bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in Aden has killed over 45 pro-government troops who had been preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia to fight Houthi rebels in Yemens north. The men were at a staging area near two schools and a mosque where they were registering to join the expedition. (AP Photo/Wael Qubady) Trial opens of 6 Cuban volleyball players charged with rape HELSINKI (AP) Six members of Cuba's volleyball team have appeared in a Finnish regional court on charges of aggravated rape. The trial, which began on Monday behind closed doors in the District Court of Pirkanmaa, is expected to last three days. The men, who have been held in police custody since they were arrested last month, have denied the charges. If found guilty they face maximum eight-year prison sentences. Eight Cuban players were initially arrested in early July following allegations that a woman was raped at a hotel where the team was staying in Tampere, 170 kilometers (105 miles) north of the capital, Helsinki. Two were later released. Clinton proposes plan to address mental health treatment SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) Hillary Clinton rolled out a comprehensive plan to address millions of Americans coping with mental illness, pointing to the need to fully integrate mental health services into the nation's health care system. Clinton's campaign released a multi-pronged approach to mental health care on Monday, aimed at ensuring that Americans would no longer separate mental health from physical health in terms of access, care and quality of treatment. "We've got to break through and break down the stigma and shame. We've got to make clear that mental health is not a personal failing. Right now it's our country which is failing people with mental health issues," she said. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, center left, leaves the home of Marcia Riklis, center right, following a private fundraiser in Southampton, N.Y., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) The Democratic presidential nominee's agenda would focus on early diagnosis and intervention and create a national initiative for suicide prevention. If elected, Clinton would hold a White House conference on mental health within her first year in office. Clinton's proposal would also aim to enforce mental health parity laws and provide training to law enforcement officers to deal with people grappling with mental health problems while prioritizing treatment over jail for low-level offenders. The former secretary of state held a town hall meeting by telephone with stakeholders on Monday during a three-day fundraising spree in the Hamptons on New York's Long Island. The policy rollout would overlap with a Clinton plan to address drug and alcohol addiction which she campaigned on in Iowa and New Hampshire after hearing frequently about the problems from voters. Clinton noted that suicides were at their highest levels in years and people were dying from connected health conditions that "too often go undetected and untreated." She said during the campaign "it has seemed like a floodgate has opened" from parents, students, veterans and others sharing their stories of mental health problems. The federal government estimated in 2014 that about 43.6 million adults in the U.S. had mental illness in the past year, or about 1 in 5 adults age 18 and over. It estimated nearly 10 million adults suffered from serious mental illness. An estimated 17 million children in the U.S. experience mental health problems, including 1 in 5 college students, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Nearly 1 in 5 veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan experienced post-traumatic stress or depression. Clinton's campaign said the plan would attempt to integrate the nation's health care system to create a more seamless way of providing both medical and mental health treatment to patients. It would expand the reimbursement systems for collaborative care models under Medicare and Medicaid that aim to treat patients through a team of health care professionals, including a primary care doctor, a care manager and a behavioral health specialist. It would also be helped by a Clinton proposal to boost funding for community health centers that she announced earlier in the summer along with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, her primary rival. Money for the centers, a priority for Sanders, was increased under the Affordable Care Act. Clinton's plan would make the money for the centers permanent and expand it by $40 billion over the next decade. ___ Uzbek president's daughter says he suffered brain hemorrhage MOSCOW (AP) Uzbekistan's authoritarian president, Islam Karimov, has suffered a brain hemorrhage, his daughter said Monday as security forces surrounded the hospital caring for him. The statement posted on Instagram by his daughter, Lola Karimova, has sparked debate over how a power transition might work in a country that Karimov has ruled as his personal fiefdom for 27 years. The 78-year-old Karimov has ruled Uzbekistan since Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made him the republic's Communist Party chief in 1989. In December 1991, just days after the Soviet Union ceased to exist, Karimov was elected president of the newly independent state. FILE - In this Saturday, March 21, 2015 file photo, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov greets people during the festivities marking the Navruz holiday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan's government has issued, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, an unusual statement announcing the hospitalization of President Islam Karimov, who has ruled the former Soviet republic in Central Asia for more than 25 years. (AP Photo/File) Since then, Karimov has brooked no dissent and removed all of his political opponents, many of whom were imprisoned, forced into exile or disappeared. Karimov's daughter said he suffered a brain hemorrhage Saturday and was in stable condition in intensive care. She said it was too early to make forecasts on his recovery. Uzbekistan's government had issued an unusual statement Sunday announcing Karimov's hospitalization but giving no details of the nature of his illness. In the capital, Tashkent, police and soldiers formed a cordon around the government hospital treating Karimov in an apparent reflection of unease over potential instability. Exiled Uzbek political scientist Kamoliddin Rabbimov said Uzbek officials would "probably flock to Karimov's bedside. They want to know what happens to Karimov next." "If it turns out that he will stay this way for long, they will probably cautiously launch the process of succession and call an election," Rabbimov told The Associated Press by telephone from Paris. Under Uzbekistan's constitution, the chairman of the Uzbek Senate takes over if the head of state dies. Rabbimov said Karimov over the years has permitted only "the weakest of the politicians" to lead the Senate to ensure that Karimov retained overall control. The analyst said he considers Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov to be the most likely successors, but Karimov has been reluctant to favor either of them publicly. FILE In this file photo taken on Friday, July 10, 2015, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov gestures while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) summit in Ufa, Russia. Uzbekistan's government has issued, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, an unusual statement announcing the hospitalization of President Islam Karimov, who has ruled the former Soviet republic in Central Asia for more than 25 years. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, file) Officer pulls man from tracks just before train arrives SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) A New Jersey Transit police officer is being hailed as a hero for pulling a man from the tracks and out of the way of an oncoming train last week. NJ Transit said in a statement that Officer Victor Ortiz responded heroically when he pulled the man from the tracks at Secaucus Junction on Friday morning, seconds before the arrival of a train. "Officer Ortiz's selfless and heroic actions demonstrated a level of bravery and a true sense of compassion and purpose that often goes unrecognized but is ever present in our law enforcement community," the agency said. Ortiz told The Record newspaper he received a report of a disorderly passenger about to exit a train. The man repeatedly asked why police were called. Ortiz said he asked the man to sit down while he spoke to the conductor, but that he walked down the platform and jumped onto the tracks, saying he didn't want to go to jail. Ortiz said he checked to see that there were no oncoming trains before following the man, who ran to another set of tracks. "At that point he's like, 'I just want to die, I just want to die,'" Ortiz told WCBS-TV. "He pretty much went down on his knees and down on his arms. At that point I said, 'You're not going to die, you're not going to die.'" Ortiz struggled with the man and said he called central communications to stop the oncoming train, but its horn blew. "I knew at that point the train's not going to stop in time," Ortiz said. South Korea says no plans to introduce nuclear submarines SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Korea's Defense Ministry said Monday it has no plans to introduce nuclear-powered submarines, despite calls by lawmakers to do so following a recent test of a submarine-launched missile by rival North Korea. The ballistic missile traveled about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the greatest distance achieved by North Korea for such a weapon. Last week's test caused jitters among many South Koreans because submarine-based missiles are harder to detect before launch than land-based ones. A group of 21 ruling party lawmakers issued a joint statement on Sunday calling for the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines to better deal with increasing security threats from North Korea. In this Oct. 17, 2015 photo, the South Korean Navy' 1,800 ton submarine Ahn Jung Geun is seen during a media day for a naval fleet review off South Korea's southeastern coast near Busan, South Korea. South Korea on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, said it has no plans to introduce nuclear-powered submarines despite growing calls by lawmakers to do so following North Korea's recent submarine-launched missile test. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) But the Defense Ministry said Monday it has no such plan, without elaborating. Acquiring nuclear submarines is a sensitive issue for South Korea because it could trigger opposition from nations such as the United States and China amid worries about a regional arms race. After North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January, some conservative lawmakers and scholars demanded that South Korea develop its own nuclear weapons, but the government dismissed the request. The United States, which stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea, has long said the protective "nuclear umbrella" it provides South Korea is meant to deter an attack on its ally by North Korea. Duterte to raise sea feud ruling against Chinese wishes MANILA, Philippines (AP) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told China's ambassador Monday that he will not immediately press Beijing to comply with an international tribunal's ruling that invalidated Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, but would do so in the future. Duterte made the comments in a speech marking Philippine heroes' day that was attended by Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua and other diplomats. Zhao was apparently surprised by the remarks and just smiled in response. China avoids discussion of its territorial disputes in the presence of other governments. Duterte said pressing China to comply now might result in the suspension of talks between the two countries, which would not be good. "I will not use the arbitral judgment now, but I would one day sit in front of your representative or you and then I will lay bare my position," Duterte said, addressing his remarks to Zhao. Duterte has said he will also not raise the arbitration decision at an annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Laos next week, although he might discuss the issue if other leaders bring it up. The tribunal ruled in July that China's extensive territorial claims, which overlap those of the Philippines and four other governments, are invalid under a 1982 U.N. treaty, in a major setback for Beijing. China has ignored the decision and refused to hold any talks with the Philippines based on the ruling. Duterte added in jest that if the Philippines had as many ships as Beijing, he might consider a more forceful action. Philippine acquiescence to talks that would not directly take up the arbitration decision would allow Duterte's government to discuss pressing issues such as asking China to allow Filipino fishermen to regain access to disputed Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing effectively seized in 2012. Chinese coast guard ships have been blocking Filipino fishermen from the rich fishing area. Libyans take heavy casualties in final push on IS bastion CAIRO (AP) At least 38 Libyan forces were killed as the Islamic State group dispatched a dozen suicide bombers to stop their final push to drive the extremists out of their last major bastion in the country, officials said Monday. Akram Gliwan, a spokesman for the Misrata hospital, told The Associated Press that the dead and wounded from fighting in the nearby city of Sirte had flooded in over the last 24 hours. He says at least 185 people were wounded, with 20 in critical condition. Reda Issa, a media official with the anti-IS operation, says the extremist group set off 12 suicide car bombs on Sunday, with three hitting their targets. Five of the bombs were destroyed by airstrikes, and the other attacks were foiled by ground forces. He said the militants are cornered in two neighborhoods. "It was fierce yesterday. After nearly 100 days of the battles, IS is now fighting its last battle," said Issa. "Full control over Sirte is hours from now," he added. The Libyan forces mostly from the adjacent city of Misrata support a United Nations-brokered government based in Tripoli. They have driven IS out of most of Sirte over the last two months with help from U.S. airstrikes. Over the past week, pictures posted on the Facebook page of the anti-IS operation showed sacks of cash, jewelry, mobile phones, and other personal belongings of IS members who either fled or were killed in the fighting. IS and other extremist groups gained a foothold in Libya during the chaos that followed the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Israeli military investigates soldier in deadly shooting JERUSALEM (AP) The Israeli military says it has opened an investigation into a soldier who fatally shot a Palestinian in the West Bank last week. The military initially said that the man had run toward a military post before he was shot and killed Friday. Israeli media subsequently reported that the man was unarmed. Man shot at Young Jeezy nightclub event in identified VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) Virginia Beach police have identified a man who was shot to death during a party hosted by rapper Young Jeezy. The shooting early Saturday was at least the fourth at the Club Embassy nightclub in the past two years. Police identified the victim Monday morning as 34-year-old Demetrius McCloud of Norfolk, Virginia. Police say they have no suspects and no leads. Malcolm X postcards to Cleveland woman sell for $56,000 CLEVELAND (AP) A set of 16 postcards from civil rights activist Malcolm X to a woman in Cleveland has been sold at auction for more than $56,000. Nate D. Sanders Auctions says the handwritten cards from 1957, 1958 and 1964 went for $56,426.25 in Los Angeles last week. The cards were written to Gloria Owens. She was the sister of Maceo X Owens, secretary at a Muhammad's Temple of Islam in New York where Malcolm X preached alongside Louis Farrakhan. The postcards feature landmarks and depictions of African-American life from Malcolm X's U.S. and global travels. That included images that denigrated or stereotyped blacks. Sometimes he sent racist cartoons. Probe opens into French restaurateur's anti-Muslim tirade PARIS (AP) A French prosecutor has opened an investigation into suspected racial discrimination after two Muslim women said they were ordered out of a restaurant amid tension over France's burkinis controversy. The prosecutor in the Paris suburb of Bobigny says Monday that his case concerns a smartphone video produced by one of the women in Le Cenacle, a restaurant in nearby Tremblay-en-France. French media have widely broadcast the video. In Saturday's recording, the owner can be heard blaming all Muslims for recent attacks and saying: "I don't want people like you in my place. ... Get out." France's minister for women's affairs, Laurence Rossignol, denounced the restaurant owner's behavior and called for him to face criminal sanctions. NATO: Russia increasingly staging snap military drills BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Russia is increasingly conducting unannounced military exercises, straining its relationship with NATO, the alliance's No. 2 official said Monday. Russia had staged large drills with no advance notification "with increasing frequency," NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow said. He said there had been about a dozen in the past two years. Vershbow, on a visit to Bucharest, said Russia's drills are allowed by a loophole in a security agreement signed with Western countries. NATO's Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow listens to questions during a joint press conference with Romania's Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu in Bucharest, Romania, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Vershbow said Russia is increasingly staging snap military drills, straining its relationship with the Western military alliance.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) He said NATO wants to "develop a more stringent regime to increase transparency and ...predictability and a way to better stabilize what is a very unsatisfactory relationship with Russia." Alliance members haven't staged snap drills since the end of the Cold War, he said. He said "if there is an interest in Moscow in stability and predictability, then these exercises are not the way to go." He said the goal of NATO should be "to upgrade to greater stability and predictability," and to strengthen "the existing regime for transparency." He called on Russia to reconsider its suspension of the Conventional Forces in Europe, which it withdrew from in 2007 amid worsening relations with the U.S. over the presence of Russian troops in Moldova and Georgia. "We've lost the additional predictability that comes with that agreement," Vershbow said. NATO members Poland and Romania are uneasy about Russia's military presence near their borders. Ukrainian police help evacuate Roma residents from village MOSCOW (AP) Ukrainian police have evacuated a small group of Roma residents from a southern town after villagers ransacked their homes. Local residents in Loshchynivka, just a few miles from the border with Romania and the Black Sea, attacked Roma homes over the weekend in what they say was retaliation for the killing of a 9-year old girl. The prosecutor for the Odessa region, Heorhiy Lortkipanidze, told local television on Monday that one suspect has been detained and will face a preliminary hearing. He wouldn't identify the suspect. Trump plans major ad buy after weeks of being outspent WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump's campaign is making its biggest general election ad buy to date, with plans to spend upward of $10 million on commercials airing over the next week or so. The campaign is expecting to air a new ad, which paints rival Hillary Clinton as a job-killer, as soon as Monday in nine states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida, where the campaign has already been on the air, along with New Hampshire, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada all battleground states. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has so far been badly outspent by his Democratic rival and groups supporting her. Since clinching her party's nomination in early June, Clinton has spent more than $77 million on television and radio advertising, largely targeting voters in battleground states, according to Kantar Media's political ad tracker. FILE - In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a roundtable meeting with the Republican Leadership Initiative in his offices at Trump Tower in New York. Trump's campaign is planning its biggest ad buy to date - upward of $10 million on commercials airing over the next week. The campaign is expects the ads to air as soon as Monday, Aug. 29, in nine swing states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida, where the campaign has already been on the air, along with New Hampshire, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) Trump finally hit the airwaves earlier this month with an ad focused on immigration, and so far has only spent about $5 million. Clinton has reserved about $9.2 million in airtime this week. The new investment comes amid signs the campaign sees that Trump's lagging poll numbers may be improving against Clinton's following a campaign reboot. Trump senior communications adviser Jason Miller said in a statement that the billionaire businessman's "positive message of economic opportunity is working and we see the national and battleground state polls all moving in the right direction." "With Hillary Clinton off the campaign trail yet again this week and continuing to take many communities' votes for granted, we see this as the right time to show voters the benefits of an American economy under the leadership of Mr. Trump," he added. Clinton will be spending much of the week in private fundraisers in the Hamptons, the wealthy enclaves of eastern Long Island, New York. Trump is also expected to unveil on Monday his second ad of the general election. It will focus on his economic message, contrasting his approach with Clinton's. "In Hillary Clinton's America, the middle class get crushed. Spending goes up, taxes go up. Hundreds of thousands of jobs disappear. It's more of the same, but worse," says a narrator. The narrator continues that, in "Donald Trump's America, working families get tax relief. Millions of new jobs created, wages go up. Small businesses thrive." In fact, neither Trump nor Clinton's tax plans would have any major impact on how much the middle class pays, analysts say. ___ Cate Blanchett and Josh Groban lead Broadway's fall season NEW YORK (AP) "Cats" is back on Broadway, purring along. "Hamilton" tickets are still hard to get. What else is new this fall? Some big celebrities are coming, including Cate Blanchett, Diane Lane, Janet McTeer, Josh Groban and Liev Schreiber. Some old writers are also showing up, like Anton Chekhov and Leo Tolstoy. Here's a look at some highlights of the first half of the 2016-17 Broadway season: OLD SCHOOL TUNES Producers raided the golden age of movie musicals to pull out a stage adaptation of the Bing Crosby-Fred Astaire 1942 film "Holiday Inn." The Broadway cast is led by Bryce Pinkham, Lora Lee Gayer, Megan Lawrence, Megan Sikora and Corbin Bleu and it has 20 classic Berlin songs, including "Steppin' Out With My Baby," ''Shaking the Blues Away," ''Easter Parade" and "Cheek to Cheek." (Opens Oct. 6 at Studio 54) FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2016 file photo, Cate Blanchett arrives at the Oscars in Los Angeles. Blanchett will make her Broadway debut in Anton Chekhov's first, and long-forgotten, play. The Oscar winner will star opposite Richard Roxburgh in "The Present," which centers on a woman celebrating her 40th birthday at her country summer home. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) SMALL TO BIG One of the bravest or most foolhardy choices on Broadway will be the transfer of the somewhat fragile play "Heisenberg" from its perch at a 150-seat off-Broadway space to a 650-seat Broadway theater. The Simon Stephens play is only about 80 minutes, performed by just two people and with no real set. In the play, two strangers a 33-year-old woman and a 75-year-old man embark on an affair. Mary-Louise Parker and Denis Arndt had plenty of fireworks off-Broadway; it remains to be seen if they lose anything getting to the big time. (Previews begin Sept. 20 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre) WELCOME, QUEEN CATE Cate Blanchett will make her Broadway debut in Anton Chekhov's first and long-forgotten play. The Oscar winner will star opposite Richard Roxburgh in "The Present," which centers on a woman celebrating her 40th birthday at her country summer home. Chekhov wrote it as a young medical student in the 1880s but it went nowhere and the playwright put it aside. It was unearthed in a Moscow bank vault in 1920. (Previews begin Dec. 17 at the Barrymore Theatre) FEEL FAMILIAR, DIANE? Diane Lane made her Broadway debut at age 12 in the 1977 revival of "The Cherry Orchard," goofing around backstage with co-stars Raul Julia and Meryl Streep. Now she's coming back in the same play. It's a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's classic play by Tony Award-winner Stephen Karam, who wrote "The Humans." The rest of the cast includes Tavi Gevinson, Chuck Cooper, John Glover, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Joel Grey. (Previews begin Sept. 15 at the American Airlines Theatre) OLD MEDIA Hello, sweetheart. Gimme rewrite: "The Front Page," a jaundiced view of newspaper journalism from 1928, is coming back this fall in an era when print reporters are on the decline. The cast including Nathan Lane, John Slattery, John Goodman, Jefferson Mays, Holland Taylor and Sherie Rene Scott will be no doubt be fast-talking and wise-cracking. Whether they can avoid the now-massive cliches in the script is another matter. (Previews begin Sept. 20 at the Broadhurst Theatre) NEW MEDIA If "The Front Page" celebrates old mainstream media, the musical "Dear Even Hansen" does the same for the digital age. It stars the appealing Ben Platt of "Pitch Perfect" and has great songs by the duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. In the musical, a misfit teen writes a private letter to himself that accidentally goes viral, with astounding results. Whether this smallish show will wilt or thrive under Broadway lights is up for debate. (Previews begin in November at the Belasco Theatre) OLD SCHOOL MAGIC The magic supergroup "The Illusionists" returns with eight magicians including, for the first time, a female contingent as part of a show celebrating the tricks and mood of the Golden Age of Magic, from 1903 to 1927. Expect levitation, card tricks and death-defying escapes and costumes true to the era. The new show will also tip its hat to the era's most famous guy with nothing up his sleeve Harry Houdini. (Previews begin Nov. 25 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater) CULT FAVORITE True theater geeks will adore the news that "Falsettos" is being revived. The William Finn-James Lapine show is actually the pairing of two one-act musicals written nearly a decade apart "Falsettos" follows Marvin as he struggles to create a family out of his eclectic relationships that includes his ex-wife, his new boyfriend, his adolescent son and his psychiatrist. The revival stars Christian Borle, Stephanie J. Block and Andrew Rannells. (Previews begin Sept. 29 at the Walter Kerr Theatre) SCHEMING SEDUCERS The second Broadway revival of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," a play about power and seduction in 18th century France, will return this fall from London, starring Janet McTeer and Liev Schreiber. Christopher Hampton's dark comedy became an award-winning sensation in London and on Broadway in 1985, followed by the 1988 film starring Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer. (Performances begin Oct. 8 at the Booth Theatre) TOLSTOY, SUNG One of the more out-of-left field options this fall will be "Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812," a sung-through musical that dramatizes a 70-page melodrama at the center of Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace." Josh Groban will star but the transfer to Broadway may be tough. When it was off-Broadway, the show tried to erase the line between audience and performer by offering a full Russian-themed meal and audience members were asked to pass along love letters and interact with actors. How will the show keep its immersive soul? (Previews begin Oct. 18 at the Imperial Theatre) WATCH THE CLOSING DOORS Some of the folks behind the films "Frozen" and "Pitch Perfect," have combined for a new musical "In Transit," an a cappella romantic comedy set in the New York City subway. The show has a book, music and lyrics co-written by Academy Award winner Kristen Anderson-Lopez of "Frozen" fame and vocal arrangements are by Deke Sharon, of the "Pitch Perfect" movies. Kathleen Marshall will direct. (Previews begin Nov. 10 at the Circle in the Square Theatre) HEY, TAXI! From the subways to the street, Broadway will feature taxis in the only one of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's plays in his The American Century Cycle that hasn't been seen on Broadway until now. "Jitney" centers on a group of men trying to eke out a living by driving unlicensed cabs, or jitneys. Ruben Santiago-Hudson will direct. (Previews begin Dec. 28 at Samuel J. Friedman Theatre) ___ Mark Kennedy is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits File-This Aug. 11, 2006, file photo shows actress Diane Lane posing for a portrait at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, Calif. Lane made her Broadway debut at age 12 in the 1977 revival of The Cherry Orchard, goofing around backstage with co-stars Raul Julia and Meryl Streep. Now shes coming back in the same play. Its a new adaptation of Anton Chekhovs classic play by Tony Award-winner Stephen Karam, who wrote The Humans. (AP Photo/Stefano Paltera, File) The Latest: 2 arrested in Italy for looting quake-hit homes ROME (AP) The Latest on Italy's devastating earthquake (all times local): 7:45 p.m. Italian police have arrested two people for allegedly looting quake-damaged homes. A victim is carried on a stretcher from a collapsed building after an earthquake, in Amatrice, central Italy, Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. A devastating earthquake rocked central Italy early Wednesday, collapsing homes on top of residents as they slept. At least 23 people were reported dead in three hard-hit towns where rescue crews raced to dig survivors out of the rubble, but the toll was expected to rise as crews reached homes in more remote hamlets. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Police say officers riding motorcycles Monday to navigate rubble-strewn streets arrested a Romanian man and woman. The suspects were driving a car with German plates and were arrested for suspected looting in Preta. The hamlet is near the hardest-hit town, Amatrice, where least 231 people perished in the Aug. 24 quake and hundreds of homes collapsed or became unsafe to inhabit. In all, 292 people are confirmed dead in several towns in central Italy. Police say the pair, in their 40s, allegedly stole about 300 euros ($350), clothing and other items from several homes. Some people are sleeping in cars near their homes for fear of looting. ___ 7:10 p.m. Authorities say two more bodies have been pulled out from the rubble of the central Italy earthquake, raising the overall death toll to 292. Civil Protection official Titti Postiglione told reporters in Rieti, the local provincial capital, that the corpses were found Monday in Amatrice, which now counts 231 dead. She didn't say where the bodies were found in the hill town, but all bodies found in the last few days were located in the rubble of the Hotel Roma. Amatrice's mayor has said about 10 people are unaccounted for. Eleven people were killed in Accumoli, a small town near Amatrice, both in the Lazio region which includes Rome, while 50 people were killed by the quake in the neighboring Le Marche region. ___ 5:05 p.m. An Italian bishop says Pope Francis was among the many in Rome jolted awake by last week's earthquake and immediately went to celebrate a Mass for those suffering in the catastrophe. Bishop Domenico Pompili has told Corriere della Sera newspaper that Francis called him three times last Wednesday, first at 7 a.m., 3 1/2 hours after the quake struck. He said Francis was especially concerned about the children caught up in the disaster. Pompili's diocese includes the Apennines Mountain town of Amatrice, which saw the most dead in Italy's Aug. 24 earthquake, 229 of the 290 confirmed dead so far. ___ 4 p.m. Italy's government has heeded the anger of quake survivors and will hold a state funeral for many of the 290 dead in Amatrice, the town hardest-hit by the quake, instead of at an airport hangar 65 kilometers (40 miles) away. Earlier Monday, survivors in Amatrice, where at least 229 people perished in the Aug. 24 earthquake, started shouting angrily after authorities informed them the funeral Mass would be celebrated Tuesday evening at Rieti airport. Townspeople yelled they wanted to have the service in Amatrice, a medieval town in the central Apennine mountains devastated by the quake. Among those incensed was Sergio Pirozzi, the town's mayor. Shortly afterward, Pirozzi told his fellow citizens that Italian Premier Matteo Renzi had just called him and told him that Tuesday's state funeral would be held in Amatrice after all. ___ 3:30 p.m. Romania's foreign ministry says it will pay to repatriate the bodies of seven Romanians who died during last week's quake in central Italy. A statement said the bodies will arrive in Romania from Italy on Tuesday. The ministry said Monday that 11 Romanians were among the 290 people confirmed dead in the Aug. 24 quake. One Romanian is still unaccounted for. It says the seven are the first batch to be brought back, and others may also be as well, depending on their families' wishes. Some 8,000 to 10,000 Romanians were living in the area where the quake struck. ___ 12:05 p.m. With thousands left homeless after Italy's earthquake, authorities are debating how to provide warmer, sturdier housing for them besides the rows of emergency blue tents set up in the Apennine Mountains, where even summer nights can get chilly. Nearly 2,700 people needing shelter following the Aug. 24 temblor are staying in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by Italy's Civil Protection agency. Others are staying in a gym in the hardest-hit town, Amatrice and some are sleeping in cars near their damaged homes. Italian architect Renzo Piano met Premier Matteo Renzi on Sunday. Speaking to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, Piano proposed building temporary wooden homes near the three devastated towns in central Italy so traumatized people could stay near their roots. No housing decisions have been announced yet. A child plays in a tent camp in Amatrice, central Italy, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Bulldozers with huge claws pulled down dangerously overhanging ledges Sunday in Italy's quake-devastated town of Amatrice as investigators worked to figure out if negligence or fraud in building codes had added to the quake's high death toll. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) A firefighter stands amid rubble as he watches the bell tower of Amatrice, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters work to clear a street from debris in Peschiera Del Tronto, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Firefighters work to clear a street from debris in Peschiera Del Tronto, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) The door of a collapsed house in Peschiera Del Tronto, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Firefighters work to clear a street from debris in Peschiera Del Tronto, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Firefighters work to clear a street from debris in Peschiera Del Tronto, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Firefighters work to clear a street from debris in Peschiera Del Tronto, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Firefighters clear rubble in Amatrice, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters clear rubble in Amatrice, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighter clear rubble in Amatrice, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighter clear rubble in Amatrice, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Italian authorities are pondering how to provide warmer, less temporary housing for quake homeless living in tents in the Apennine Mountains region. Nearly 2,700 people whose homes collapsed or left unsafe by the Aug. 24 temblor now stay in 58 tent camps or other shelters arranged by the Civil Protection agency. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Vinicio Bizzoni speaks after recovering his personal belongings from his collapsed house in Amatrice, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., Wednesday. Italian authorities are vowing to investigate whether negligence or fraud in adhering to building codes played a role in the high death toll in last weeks earthquake in Italy. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Firefighters recover belongings from a collapsed house in Amatrice, central Italy, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016 where a 6.1 earthquake struck just after 3:30 a.m., last Wednesday. Italian authorities are vowing to investigate whether negligence or fraud in adhering to building codes played a role in the high death toll in last weeks earthquake in Italy. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Packing plant evacuated, 7 treated after chemicals interact TAR HEEL, N.C. (AP) Authorities in North Carolina say seven workers were treated at a hospital for minor injuries and several nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution after cleaning chemicals interacted at a meat packing plant in the community of Tar Heel south of Fayetteville. Bladen County Emergency Services spokesman Bradley Kinlaw tells local media outlets that the workers were cleaning about 3:30 a.m. Monday when the chemicals interacted at the Smithfield Packing Plant. Kinlaw says acid interacted with sodium hypochlorite which is used as a disinfectant. The Latest: Investigators focus on 911 call before LAX panic LOS ANGELES (AP) The Latest on false reports of a shooter that led to evacuations at Los Angeles airport (all times local): 12:05 p.m. Investigators at Los Angeles International Airport are focusing on what prompted the first of several 911 calls falsely reporting gunshots that sent panicked travelers running onto streets and the tarmac. Passengers pull their luggage and walk toward Los Angeles International Airport, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. Reports of a gunman opening fire that turned out to be false caused panicked evacuations at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday night, while flights to and from the airport were delayed. A search through terminals brought no evidence of a gunman or shots fired, Los Angeles police spokesman Andy Neiman said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Airport police Officer Rob Pedregon says the initial 911 call came in Terminal 8 around 8:45 p.m. Sunday about five minutes after officers detained a man dressed as Zorro who was carrying a plastic sword in Terminal 7. Pedregon said Monday that police have found no connection between the two incidents. He says multiple 911 calls were made from at least three terminals. A search uncovered no evidence of a gunman or shots fired. Officials said Sunday night that loud noises spurred the reports, and police are still investigating their source. ___ 9:40 a.m. Los Angeles airport officials say a false report of gunshots that sent panicked travelers fleeing came right after officers with guns drawn detained a man dressed in black and possibly carrying a sword. The sword was plastic, but soon after, hundreds of passengers raced onto streets or the tarmac, causing major flight delays that the airport was still recovering from Monday morning. Video shows at least six officers confronting the man, who is dressed as fictional crime fighter Zorro, outside Terminal 7 around 8:40 p.m. Sunday. Airport police say false reports of an active shooter quickly spread, and passengers in five terminals evacuated or pushed through security checkpoints. Airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said Monday about 280 flights were delayed and at least 27 flights were diverted to other airports. ___ 7:10 a.m. Operations are returning to normal at Los Angeles International Airport after false reports of a gunman caused panicked evacuations, but flights have seen major delays. Airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said Monday that about 280 flights were delayed, including 120 arrivals and 161 departures. At least 27 flights were diverted to other airports, and two were canceled. Castles says traffic on the upper departure level flowed smoothly during morning rush hour, but cars backed up on the lower arrival level. Los Angeles police spokesman Andy Neiman said a search Sunday through the terminals uncovered no evidence of a gunman or shots fired. Loud noises spurred the reports, and police are still investigating to find the source of them. Police officers stand guard as passengers wait in line at Terminal 7 in Los Angeles International Airport, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. Reports of a gunman opening fire that turned out to be false caused panicked evacuations at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday night, while flights to and from the airport saw major delays. Passengers who fled had to be rescreened through security. A search through terminals brought no evidence of a gunman or shots fired, Los Angeles police spokesman Andy Neiman said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) A police officer stands guard as passengers wait in line at Terminal 7 in Los Angeles International Airport, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. Reports of a gunman opening fire that turned out to be false caused panicked evacuations at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday night, while flights to and from the airport saw major delays. Passengers who fled had to be rescreened through security. A search through terminals brought no evidence of a gunman or shots fired, Los Angeles police spokesman Andy Neiman said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) A police officer directs a passenger at Terminal 7 in Los Angeles International Airport, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. Reports of a gunman opening fire that turned out to be false caused panicked evacuations at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday night, while flights to and from the airport saw major delays. Passengers who fled had to be rescreened through security. A search through terminals brought no evidence of a gunman or shots fired, Los Angeles police spokesman Andy Neiman said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Turkmenistan to discuss letting foreign envoys visit jails BERLIN (AP) Turkmenistan is discussing the possibility of giving foreign diplomats access to its prisons. Human rights groups say the authoritarian government is holding dozens of dissidents in its jails without contact to the outside world. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after meeting Turkmenistan's leader in Berlin on Monday that it was "desirable for diplomats to have access to prisons." German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, right, shake hands after a joint news conference as part of a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) Merkel said she and President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov had agreed that foreign ministers would take up the issue. Berdymukhamedov said his country is working on a reform of its constitution, police and judicial system to ensure that "everybody's dignity is preserved." He said the Central Asian nation is pursuing an "open door policy." German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, left, address the media during a joint news conference as part of a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) Turkish jets strike Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkey's state-run news agency says Turkish jets have pounded suspected Kurdish rebels targets in a new cross-border raid in northern Iraq. Anadolu Agency says the planes struck targets of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq's Gara region on Monday. Turkish jets have frequently attacked PKK positions across the border in Iraq, since a cease-fire between the rebels and the government collapsed last year. Last week, Turkey sent tanks across the Syrian border to fight the Islamic State group and to halt the advance of Syrian Kurdish groups affiliated with the PKK. European ships rescue thousands of migrants off Libyan coast OFF THE COAST OF LIBYA (AP) Italian naval ships and vessels from non-government groups rescued thousands of migrants off the Libyan coast on Monday, the latest surge in desperate attempts to flee to Europe driven by war, poverty, and human traffickers. The dramatic operation took place just 21 kilometers (13 miles) north of the town of Sabratha in Libya. Groups such as Proactiva Open Arms and Doctors Without Borders helped take on some 3,000 people who had been travelling in some 20 small wooden boats. In images and video by The Associated Press, migrants from Eritrea and Somalia cheered as the rescue boats arrived, with some jumping into the water and swimming toward them while others carefully carried babies onto the rescue ships. Migrants, most of them from Eritrea, jump into the water from a crowded wooden boat as they are helped by members of an NGO during a rescue operation at the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating at the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Their boats too weak and technically unequipped for a voyage across the stretch of the Mediterranean to the shores of Italy, the migrants had set off with a bit of gasoline in the overcrowded vessels, hoping to make it at least 15-20 miles out to sea and reach awaiting rescuers. Tens of thousands of Africans take the dangerous Mediterranean Sea route as a gateway to a better life in Europe, alongside those fleeing wars from Syria to Afghanistan. Libya's chaos and lack of border controls have made it into a transit route. Since the 2011 ouster and killing of longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, the country has sunk into lawlessness, facing a myriad of militias vying for influence and an emerging Islamic State affiliate. In June, the European Union expanded its anti-smuggling operation in the central Mediterranean to include training Libyan coastal and naval forces, which are intercepting boats and returning migrants to Libya, where some are being held in abusive conditions. Rights groups and experts estimate that there are about 3,500 migrants held in roughly 20 official detention facilities across Libya. Others are held in informal detention centers controlled by criminal gangs or armed groups. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Spanish navy did not take part in the operation. Migrants, most of them from Eritrea, jump into the water from a crowded wooden boat as they are helped by members of an NGO during a rescue operation at the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating at the zone. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) A man holds himself on the side of a boat after jumping into the sea from a crowded wooden boat during a rescue operation at the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating at the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Migrant women from Nigeria, one of them holding a baby, are rescued by emergency teams from a dinghy as they were sailing at the Mediterranean sea toward the Italian coasts, about 17 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. More than seven hundred migrants were rescued Sunday morning from seven boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards operating at the zone. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) A migrant from Eritrea is helped after jumping into the water from a crowded wooden boat during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) The wet personal belonging of a migrant man are spread out to dry in the sun after he was rescued from the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Some thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating at the zone. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Migrants fleeing Libya on board of a dinghy wait to be rescued by emergency teams, as they were sailing at the Mediterranean sea toward the Italian coasts, about 17 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. More than seven hundred migrants were rescued Sunday morning from seven boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards operating at the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) A migrant from Eritrea grabs a RIB after jumping into the water from a crowded wooden boat during a rescue operation at the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating at the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) A man carries his five days old son after been rescued from a crowded wooden vessel as they were fleeing Libya, during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating at the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Wet belonging of a migrant man are drying in the sun after being rescued at the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Some thousands of migrants were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guard and others NGO vessels operating in the zone. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Migrants, most of them from Eritrea, jump into the water from a crowded wooden boat as they are helped by members of an NGO during a rescue operation on the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating at the zone. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Migrants, most of them from Eritrea, jumps into the water from a crowded wooden boat as they are helped by members of an NGO during a rescue operation at the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Migrants from Eritrea hold their children after been rescued from a crowded wooden boat as they were fleeing Libya, during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Migrants from Eritrea hold their children after been rescued from a crowded wooden boat as they were fleeing Libya, during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Ahma, 24, and Habsa, 26, left, sit in a rigid inflatable boat after been rescued from a crowded wooden boat as they were fleeing Libya, during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Belongings left behind by migrants are seen in the hold of a wooden boat where more than seven hundred migrants were fleeing Libya during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Belongings left behind by migrants are seen in the floor of a wooden boat where more than seven hundred migrants were fleeing Libya, during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Belongings left behind by migrants are seen in the floor of a wooden boat where more than seven hundred migrants were fleeing Libya, during a rescue operation at the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) A LIbyan coast guard stands on a wooden boat where more than seven hundred migrants were sailing in to flee Libya, during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Italian officers rescue a woman from a crowded wooden boat carrying more than seven hundred migrants, during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO and Italian military officers. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Migrants sailing in a crowded wooden boat carrying more than seven hundred migrants, are helped by members of an NGO during a rescue operation at the Mediterranean sea, about 13 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Thousands of migrants and refugees were rescued Monday morning from more than 20 boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards and others NGO vessels operating in the zone.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Southampton signs Morocco forward Boufal from Lille LONDON (AP) Southampton broke its club record for a transfer fee to sign Morocco forward Sofiane Boufal from Lille on Monday The 22-year-old Boufal signed a five-year deal with the English Premier League team, which did not disclose the fee. British media reported Boufal is costing Southampton 16 million pounds ($21 million). Boufal scored 12 goals in 34 games for Lille last season. West Brom signed Belgium forward Nacer Chadli on a four-year deal from Tottenham, reportedly for a fee of 13 million pounds ($17 million). Mylan launching cheaper, generic version of EpiPen The maker of EpiPens will start selling a cheaper, generic version of the emergency allergy shots as the furor over repeated U.S. price hikes continues and looming competition threatens its near-monopoly. Despite its second move in five days to make EpiPens more affordable for consumers, maker Mylan N.V. still faces condemnation from critics who accused it of price-gouging. They note Mylan hasn't reduced the $608 list price for a pair of EpiPen auto injectors or explained why it hiked the price more than 500 percent from $94 after acquiring the product in 2007. "More must be done_and more quickly_to make this life-saving drug more affordable," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, said in a statement Monday. "Myl?an may appear to be moving in the right direction, but its announcement raises as many questions as solutions_including why the price is still astronomically high, and whether its action is a pre-emptive strike against a competing generic." FILE - In this July 8, 2016, file photo, a pharmacist holds a package of EpiPens epinephrine auto-injector, a Mylan product, in Sacramento, Calif. Mylan said it will make available a generic version of its EpiPen, as criticism mounts over the price of its injectable medicine. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) Mylan, which mainly sells generic medicines, said Monday it will begin selling its generic version for $300 for a pair of EpiPens, in doses for adults or children, like the current EpiPens. That will still bring Mylan tens of millions of dollars while helping it retain market share against current and future brand-name and generic competition. "We need real competition to lower drug prices, not corporations offering generic versions of their own drugs for whatever price they want," Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, wrote in a Twitter post Monday. EpiPens are used in emergencies to stop potentially fatal allergic reactions to insect bites and stings, and foods like nuts and eggs. People usually keep multiple EpiPens handy at home, school or work, but the syringes, prefilled with the hormone epinephrine, expire after a year. Some analysts have estimated that the tiny amount of epinephrine in an EpiPen is worth barely $1, and the auto-injectors might cost as little as $5. There's currently little competition for EpiPen. Rival Adrenaclick carries a list price of $461, and there's a generic version, but doctors typically prescribe EpiPen, originally launched in 1987, because it's so well known. Parents doing back-to-school preparations encountered sticker shock at pharmacy counters this month and began protesting to politicians and on social media, leading to an uproar in an election year when drug prices already are a hot issue and other drugmakers have been blasted for astronomical price hikes. Last Thursday, Mylan offered more financial aid to patients getting EpiPens, including coupon cards covering up to $300 off patient copayments, triple the $100 discounts previously offered. Coupon cards are a standard pharmaceutical industry strategy, one that leaves employers and taxpayers still footing at least two-thirds of a big bill and everyone facing higher insurance premiums eventually. And like other drugmakers that increase prices sharply when generic competition is on the horizon, Mylan has been taking bigger annual price increases on EpiPens the last few years. A generic competitor was expected in 2015 but has been delayed. Now that product and a couple rival brand-name ones could hit the U.S. market in mid- to late 2017. Then last Thursday the compounding pharmacy Imprimis Pharmaceuticals said it hopes to sell a version of the allergy shot in a few months for around $100 for two injectors. A chorus of politicians, consumer groups and others has been calling for hearings and investigations of EpiPen pricing, along with action by the Food and Drug Administration to speed approvals of any rival products. On Monday, Reps. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Elijah E. Cummings, D-Maryland, heads of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, wrote to Mylan CEO Heather Bresch, requesting documents and communications regarding Mylan's revenues from EpiPens since 2007, manufacturing costs and how much Mylan receives from federal health care programs. Bresch has said the company only receives $274 of the total price for a twin-package while pharmacies and other middlemen divvy up the rest. Mylan hasn't responded to Associated Press questions about its costs and income from EpiPen, its most profitable product. Last week, Mylan said it was doubling the limit for eligibility for its patient assistance program, so a family of four making up to $97,200 would pay nothing out of pocket for EpiPens. That assistance will also be offered to people getting Mylan's generic EpiPens, but the $300 copay cards will only work with brand-name EpiPens. How much people pay for EpiPens varies with insurance coverage. People with high-deductible plans, who have to pay out thousands of dollars before insurance kicks in, could face the full price. On the other hand, customers of Express Scripts Holding Co., the nation's largest prescription benefits manager, pay $73.50 on average. Shares of Mylan rose 19 cents to $43.22 in trading Monday, while broader indexes rose. ___ Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front row taxi ridesymbolic of the shows content as a fun ride that takes audiences from point A to point B. Gabina VOAs main goal is Enlightening young people, introducing them to cutting-edge technological innovations, exposing them to new processes and ideas so they can be productive, informed and self-governing citizens. Battered Greek economy expands mildly in April-June ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greece's battered economy expanded by a quarterly rate of 0.2 percent in the April-June period, despite a small decline in consumer spending and exports. The figure released by the country's statistical authority Monday was slightly lower than its initial estimate, earlier this month, of 0.3 percent growth. Greece's economy has shrunk by about 25 percent since the debt crisis broke out in 2009. The country is being kept afloat by international bailouts, issued on condition of successive spending cuts and reforms. 15 Philippine troops killed in clash with Abu Sayyaf rebels MANILA, Philippines (AP) Abu Sayyaf extremists killed 15 Philippine army soldiers in fierce fighting Monday in the country's restive south, dealing the government its largest single-day combat loss under President Rodrigo Duterte, who ordered the militants to be crushed for their brutality. Military officials said five other soldiers were wounded in the nearly two-hour gunbattle that also killed at least two militants in Sulu province's mountainous Patikul town, where the Abu Sayyaf have detained many of their kidnap victims. The estimated 70 militants were led by Abu Sayyaf commander Radulan Sahiron, a one-armed fighter long wanted by Philippine and U.S. authorities for his role in bombings, kidnappings and other acts, according to regional military commander Maj. Filemon Tan and police officials. Duterte ordered troops to hunt down and destroy the militants in their jungle bases last week after the extremists beheaded a kidnapped villager whose family was too poor to pay a ransom. The tough-talking president has pursued peace talks with two larger Muslim rebel groups, including the Moro National Liberation Front whose fighters have been suspected of providing sanctuary and combat support to the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu in the past. The military's battle setback came after troops killed at least 21 Abu Sayyaf gunmen, including an influential commander, in the jungles of Patikul on Friday and Saturday in assaults that followed the beheading. Oops! Bieber not back on Instagram after a 2-week break LOS ANGELES (AP) False alarm! Justin Bieber hasn't actually returned to Instagram. Bieber's account briefly returned to public view Monday for his nearly 78 million Instagram followers with week-old pictures and videos of Bieber introducing his new dog, Todd. However, the pop star later turned it off again and said on Twitter , "it was an accident." FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2015 file photo, Justin Bieber arrives at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Bieber has returned to Instagram two weeks after disappearing from the photo sharing platform after getting negative comments from fans of ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Bieber left Instagram two weeks ago amid criticism of pictures of him and Lionel Richie's daughter Sofia from fans of Bieber's ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez. Before his account disappeared, he responded to the negativity by writing, "I'm gonna make my Instagram private if you guys don't stop the hate this is getting out of hand, if you guys are really fans you wouldn't be so mean to people that I like." Military helicopter makes emergency landing at Md. school BRANDYWINE, Md. (AP) A spokesman for Joint Base Andrews says an Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing at a middle school in Maryland, about 8 miles south of the base. Staff Sgt. Chad Strohmeyer says the helicopter landed shortly after 10 a.m. at Gwynn Park Elementary School in Brandywine. He says the helicopter's transmission warning light came on, and pilots are instructed to land immediately under those circumstances. Justice Dept. focuses on police treatment of mentally ill WASHINGTON (AP) Justice Department lawyers investigating police agencies for claims of racial discrimination and excessive force are increasingly turning up a different problem: officers' interactions with the mentally ill. The latest example came in Baltimore, where a critical report on that department's policies found that officers end up in unnecessarily violent confrontations with mentally disabled people who in many instances haven't even committed crimes. The report cited instances of officers using a stun gun to subdue an agitated man who refused to leave a vacant building and of spraying mace to force a troubled person said by his father to be unarmed and off his medications out of an apartment. FILE - In this May 26, 2015 file photo, Vanita Gupta, the head of Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, speaks in Cleveland. Justice Department lawyers investigating police agencies for racial discrimination and excessive force are increasingly finding a different problem: officers interactions with the mentally ill. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File) Though past federal investigations have addressed the problem, the Baltimore report went a step further: It was the first time the Justice Department has explicitly found that a police department's policies violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The finding is intended to chart a path to what federal officials hope will be far-reaching improvements, including better training for dispatchers and officers, diversion of more people to treatment rather than jail and stronger relationships with mental health specialists. "Through the course of our work in the last several years on this bucket of issues, we've seen how important it is to get at the mental health issues as early in the system as possible," Vanita Gupta, head of the department's Civil Rights Division, said in an interview. Civil rights officials say the Baltimore report builds on work they've done in investigating the treatment of the mentally ill in various settings. In Mississippi, the Hinds County jail in June agreed to better screening for mental illness as part of a settlement, and the Justice Department sued the state as a whole this month, saying it was illegally making mentally ill people go into state-run psychiatric hospitals. But it's the work with police departments that often attracts the most attention. Even as police forces improve training and develop intervention teams to respond to individuals in the throes of a crisis, concerns remain that officers aren't adequately equipped for the situations and are being forced to fill the void of a resource-starved mental health infrastructure. More than 14 percent of male jail inmates and 31 percent of female inmates are affected by serious mental illness, according to a July speech by Justice Department official Eve Hill, who said society has for too long relied on arrests and jail rather than treatment for the mentally ill. "From the standpoint of police, they are somewhat frustrated because many of the people who are walking the streets and who are in need of help are not getting it," said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. "They have been out on the streets, they can't afford medication, and so the police wind up being the only one they come in contact with." The Justice Department has incorporated treatment of the mentally ill into several of its wide-ranging civil rights investigations of troubled police departments. "I think some police departments have really made it a priority and are doing quite a bit. I don't know that that's consistent across all the departments," said Amy Watson, a mental health policy professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. A 2011 Justice Department report on Seattle criticized officers for too quickly resorting to force when encountering people with mental illness or under the influence of drugs. In Cleveland, officers were found to use stun guns against people with limited cognitive abilities, and in one case used one on a suicidal deaf man who may not have understood their commands, according to a 2014 report. Albuquerque, New Mexico officers responding to a domestic violence complaint used the same tactic on a man who had doused himself with gasoline, the Justice Department said. Those cities have since reached court-enforceable consent decrees aimed at overhauling practices. The Portland police department, which also came under investigation, agreed to new training and accountability measures under a settlement. A federal monitor in February found the Seattle police department was sending trained crisis intervention officers to "crisis events in the great majority of instances" and had given some level of training to all officers in the last two years. Federal officials hope for a similar resolution in Baltimore, where the Justice Department says police have provided minimal training on responding to mental health crises. Under an agreement in principle, Baltimore has pledged to work more closely with disability organizations and mental health providers. But, Gupta said, improvements can occur only if there's a system with resources in place to help the police. "It's not about casting blame on specific actors. It's about making sure that there is adequate support for community-based mental health services in compliance with federal law," she said. Ray Kelly, a leader of the No Boundaries Coalition, a Baltimore advocacy group, said he didn't believe Baltimore police have succeeded in separating law-abiding citizens from criminal suspects, "so they definitely don't take the time to separate the mentally ill from the criminal element or the average Joe buying drugs on one of our corners." He said he hoped the report would foster better collaboration between police and mental health experts, so that if there's a possibility that officers are dealing with someone who's disabled, they "would call a professional that's prepared to work with this instead of using aggressive manhandling tactics like they've used in the past." ____ A federal judge has allowed a Brown University student accused of sexual assault and suspended for two years to resume classes while awaiting a decision on a lawsuit he brought against the Ivy League university. Brown found that the student, identified in court papers as John Doe, was responsible for sexually assaulting a female student and suspended him in April. Doe maintains that the encounter was consensual, and he sued the university. U.S. District Judge William Smith held a bench trial over the summer. Smith is writing his decision and said in an order issued last week that Doe is likely to succeed, at least in part, in his breach of contract claim and 'will suffer irreparable harm if his suspension remains in place and he is unable to start the fall semester.' Smith had issued a temporary restraining order in April that allowed Doe to finish out the spring semester. The judge also said in last week's order that Doe may not contact his accuser. 'Given this safeguard, the court finds that Doe's interest in resuming classes outweighs Brown's interest in keeping him off campus while the outcome of the case is finalized,' he wrote. Still, Smith cautioned that his order is not a final decision on the merits of the lawsuit. That decision will be issued 'in the near future,' he said. Classes begin September 7. A Brown spokesman said the decision means his status is unchanged and he can choose to remain enrolled. 'We await the judge's further decision,' Brown spokesman Brian Clark said. Lawyers for the woman, identified under the pseudonym Ann Roe, and Doe's own lawyers did not return messages seeking comment. The two have also sued each other in federal court. Doe sued his accuser for defamation, while Roe countersued for sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Those lawsuits are pending. The encounter happened in November 2014, when the two met to watch a movie together in a campus building. In October 2015, the woman filed a complaint saying that he had forcibly penetrated her with his fingers and that she gave him oral sex to 'avoid being raped.' Doe's lawyer argued during the trial that Brown used a different definition of 'consent' than the one that was the policy at the time of the encounter. Brown's lawyer has said the procedure was fair and the hearing panel had a rational basis for its finding. Doe's lawsuit asks to be reinstated as a student and to stop the university from handling complaints using the current process. Fire engulfs century-old Presbyterian church; no injuries PHILADELPHIA (AP) A massive fire engulfed a century-old Gothic church that hosted many programs for young children and gay worshipers, but no injuries were reported. The fire was reported Monday morning at a Presbyterian church in the city's Overbrook neighborhood. Firefighters were on the scene in two minutes and needed about two hours to bring the fire under control. Congregant Sherry Neal-Browne, who lives a block away, heard commotion and went outside to see flames shooting from the church's front door and side windows and heavy black smoke pouring from its roof. A firefighter passes beneath tape as he and others battle a blaze at a Presbyterian church in the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) "It's engulfed. It's burning down right before our very eyes. It's just very hard to see," Neal-Browne said. "My son is 18 years old, he went to kindergarten there he's in college now. So it's been a part of our life for at least 19 years and to see it burn is tragic." The church, which partially collapsed, was home to a preschool, afterschool programs and a daycare center. It also was used by a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-oriented congregation. It wasn't in use at the time of the fire. Fire officials confirmed they found at least one person in the church during the fire and got that person out safely. No medical assistance was required. Fire department officials said the blaze apparently started in the church's basement. The cause of it was under investigation. Fire crews had to retreat after discovering water pressure wasn't high enough to fight the flames. They ordered an evacuation and focused on protecting houses behind the church after ensuring nobody was left inside it. At least four other congregations used the church. Pastor Pamela K. Williams, of the Ark of Refuge Tabernacle, an LGBTQ-oriented congregation, was tending to her son's nosebleed at home when she received six calls telling her the church was on fire. "We lost everything," Williams said. "I just finished celebrating 35 years in the ministry yesterday with my church, and this on the heels of that breaks my heart." She said it's been a struggle for her congregants to gain acceptance within mainstream Christianity. She said her congregation was based at a motor lodge before moving to the church five years ago. "This is a devastating setback," she said. The flames were declared under control just after 11 a.m., with 121 firefighters contributing to the effort. The fire continued to burn inside the church, and fire department officials said they would be fighting hot spots for another few days. Church fires are notoriously difficult to fight, firefighters said. "They have a lot of void spaces, and fire can travel," fire Deputy Commissioner Robert Corrigan said. "It's impossible to put out all the hidden fire from the outside." Firefighters battle a blaze at the Christ Liberation Fellowship Church in Philadelphia, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Firefighters battle a blaze at the Christ Liberation Fellowship Church in Philadelphia, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) People pray as firefighters battle a blaze at a Presbyterian church in the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Firefighters battle a blaze at a Presbyterian church in the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) A firefighter works at a hose, left, as another takes a drink as they battle a blaze at a Presbyterian church in the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) World Vision calls for fair trial for arrested Gaza employee JERUSALEM (AP) The international charity World Vision is calling for a "fair and transparent" trial for a Gaza employee arrested by Israel for allegedly funneling money to Hamas. Israel accuses Mohammed el-Halabi, a manager of the aid group's Gaza office, of diverting millions of dollars from World Vision's budget to the Islamic militant group Hamas, helping it build underground tunnels, military bases and purchasing arms. His trial is expected to begin soon. The comments on Monday by Kevin Jenkins, World Vision's international CEO, come as Amnesty International is also calling for a fair trial amid reports that el-Halabi's proceedings will be closed. Trials for cases that Israel considers highly sensitive are sometimes held in secret. London police arrest 240 at Notting Hill Carnival LONDON (AP) London police have made about 240 arrests at the Notting Hill Carnival as thousands of revelers turned out for one of Europe's largest street parties. The Metropolitan Police reported at least four knife attacks during the two-day festival in west London, with a 15-year-old boy among those hospitalized. His condition, initially critical, is not considered to be life-threatening. Most of the arrests were for drug and weapons offenses. Some people were arrested for more than one offense. A reveler takes part in the Monday parade, during the second and final day of the Notting Hill Carnival, in London, Monday Aug. 29, 2016. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP) Monday is the final day of the event, a celebration of reggae music, steel drums and dancers that evoked the neighborhood's Caribbean roots. A reveler takes part in the Monday parade, during the second and final day of the Notting Hill Carnival, in London, Monday Aug. 29, 2016. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP) Natalee Holloway's mom wants justice in daughter's death BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) Natalee Holloway's mother says justice hasn't been served 11 years after her daughter's death while on a high school graduation trip to Aruba. Holloway was last seen alive leaving a bar with Joran van der Sloot, who was never charged in her death. Holloway's body hasn't been found. Van der Sloot is serving a 28-year sentence in Peru after being convicted of killing a 21-year-old student in 2010, five years to the day of Holloway's death. FILE - In this June 8, 2010, file photo, Beth Holloway, mother of Natalee Holloway, speaks during the opening of the Natalee Holloway Resource Center (NHRC) at the National Museum of Crime & Punishment in Washington. Beth Holloway said on NBC's "Today" show Monday, August, 29, 2016, that justice hasn't been served in her daughter's death. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) Beth Holloway said in an interview at her Montana home broadcast on NBC's "Today" show Monday that she wants van der Sloot to spend time in a U.S. prison. Lithuania town marks 75th anniversary of massacre of Jews MOLETAI, Lithuania (AP) Lithuania's president has joined hundreds of people marking the 75th anniversary of the massacre of about 2,000 Jews by Nazi occupiers and their Lithuanian collaborators in the town of Moletai. It was the first such high-profile event commemorating the massacre, which President Dalia Grybauskaite said shows the Baltic country is becoming more "open and tolerant." More than 90 percent of Lithuania's 240,000 Jews were killed during World War II. The role of local units is sensitive in Lithuania, which mainly views itself as a victim of Nazi and Soviet occupations. Police: Driver playing 'Pokemon Go' hits parked cruiser JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) New Jersey police say a driver playing "Pokemon Go" on his cellphone crashed his SUV into a parked police cruiser. The crash happened at around 3:40 a.m. Saturday in Jersey City. Authorities say no one was in the cruiser at the time, and the 42-year-old SUV driver wasn't injured. But the Jersey City man was cited for careless driving and other motor vehicle violations. Man claiming British royal title jailed in 3 Las Vegas cases LAS VEGAS (AP) A man jailed in Las Vegas ahead of three court appearances this week on charges that could put him in prison for up to 14 years claims that he holds a British royal title, police said Monday. Alexander Montagu-Manchester identified himself to detectives as the 13th Duke of Manchester, said Las Vegas police Officer Laura Meltzer, a department spokeswoman. The royal title dates back 950 years in Britain, to the time of William the Conqueror. Montagu-Manchester, 53, is due to face a judge Tuesday on a burglary charge stemming from a break-in at a home in July. Police said he was found shirtless about 2:30 a.m. in a neighboring home shortly after the burglary was reported, and said he lived there. This undated photo provided by the Clark County Detention Center shows Alexander Montagu-Manchester. Police say he identifies himself as British royalty, with the title of the 13th Duke of Manchester. He's jailed in Las Vegas ahead of court hearings Tuesday, Aug. 29, and Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2016, on separate felony burglary and false police report charges that could put him in prison for up to 14 years. He also faces a driving under the influence of drugs charge from 2015. (Clark County Detention Center via AP) Montagu-Manchester also is scheduled in court Wednesday in a separate felony false police report case that led to his arrest Aug. 12. He's been jailed since then. He will face another judge Thursday in a misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs case from 2015. Prosecutor Eric Bauman said he's accused of having high levels of the muscle-relaxant benzodiazepine in his system at the time. Meltzer said police reports didn't specify Montagu-Manchester's citizenship. A man who answered the phone for the British consulate in Los Angeles said Friday he could not give information about Montagu-Manchester without his authorization. An arrest report states that Montagu-Manchester told Las Vegas police Aug. 3 that his estranged wife attacked him with a knife two days earlier, badly cutting his thumb as he moved into a new apartment. Laura Montagu denied that she cut him and said she never visited the new apartment. A police detective said in the report that a moving company employee who had been at the apartment and hospital medical personnel said Montagu-Manchester told them he injured himself using a bayonet to cut packing box tape. Montagu-Manchester is represented by separate court-appointed public defenders in his three cases. Attorneys Justin Glasgow, Jennifer Fraser and Robert O'Brien, who are representing him, said in an email Monday that the charges involve unproved allegations, and that Montagu-Manchester will plead not guilty in each case. They didn't immediately respond to a follow-up question about their client's family lineage. Montagu-Manchester resolved a felony bad check charge in Las Vegas in 2013 without being convicted after paying restitution, court records said. Raleigh police: Officer wounded, man dead after shots fired RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) A man was killed and a police officer wounded after shots were fired at the end of a foot chase Monday in Raleigh, an official said. Officers responded about noon to reports of someone with a gun on the city's east side, Raleigh Police Department spokesman Jim Sughrue said in a statement. An officer responding to the call spotted the man in the street and began a foot chase, then a second officer joined him, Sughrue said. The chase ended with shots being fired. Jaqwan Julius Terry, 24, of Raleigh was killed and Officer B.F. Burleson, 29, was shot in the leg, the spokesman said. Burleson was being treated at the hospital for wounds that were serious but not life-threatening. Officer B.S. Beausoleil, 30, was identified as the second officer involved in the foot chase. Details about who fired the shots were not available Tuesday night. Sughrue said both officers will be placed on administrative duty, as is department policy, while the shooting is investigated by the Raleigh Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation. Transgender inmate latest to push for hormone treatment ST. LOUIS (AP) A transgender inmate is suing the Missouri prison system for refusing to provide hormone therapy as she transitions to a woman, adding her voice to those of prisoners in other states who argue that denying such treatment amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit in federal court in St. Louis last week on behalf of Jessica Hicklin, a 37-year old inmate serving life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder at age 16, when she went by her birth name, James. She is challenging a state Department of Corrections policy that bars hormone therapy for inmates who weren't receiving it before being incarcerated. According to her lawsuit, it wasn't until last year that medical experts determined that Hicklin has gender dysphoria, in which a person feels extreme distress because of a disconnect between their birth sex and gender identity. But in a blog posted on Lambda Legal's website, Hicklin wrote that she felt she was a girl since she was very young. This undated photo provided by Lambda Legal shows transgender inmate Jessica Hicklin, who is serving life in prison without parole for first-degree murder. A federal lawsuit was filed in St. Louis on behalf of Hicklin, who is suing the Missouri prison system for refusing to provide hormone therapy, the latest of several similar lawsuits asserting that denial of treatment to help a male prisoner transition to a woman amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. (Jessica Hicklin/Lambda Legal via AP) "Even at 16, I felt I was on my way to certain death. I didn't know what gender dysphoria was, or how to explain my feelings to my family or others in my small town," wrote Hicklin, who was convicted of fatally shooting a man during a drug-related crime in the small town of Clinton in 1995. The lawsuit contends that experts advised she undergo hormone therapy and permanent hair removal and that she have access to "gender-affirming" products from the prison commissary store that typically aren't available at the all-male Potosi Correctional Center where she's imprisoned. It also says she's been sexually assaulted in prison and has anxiety and depression, along with "intrusive thoughts" of cutting off her own testicles because of the denied treatment. In her blog posting, Hicklin wrote that she feels "locked in a prison within a prison my body." "This personal prison is much crueler, and without a change in policy, I'm not sure I will survive it," she wrote. Missouri Department of Corrections spokesman David Owen and Martha Harbin, a spokeswoman for Corizon Health, which provides health care for the prison system and is also named in the lawsuit, declined to comment, citing pending litigation. The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that there are 3,200 transgender inmates in the nation's prisons and jails. Federal inmates can receive treatment for gender dysphoria if an evaluation determines they need it, based on a policy enacted in 2011. The policy applies whether therapy was prescribed before or after the inmate entered federal custody. But states continue to have varying regulations. "It's a hard battle that Jessica and others in her situation have to face, when they have to explain to a state why they need medical treatment," said Richard Saenz, an attorney for Lambda Legal, a Washington-based non-profit for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people and those with HIV and AIDS. Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice wrote in a court filing that state prison officials must treat an inmate's gender identity condition just as they would treat other medical or mental health conditions, regardless of when the diagnosis occurred. The filing was part of a lawsuit on behalf of Ashley Diamond, a transgender woman who was imprisoned at the time in Georgia. Diamond has since been paroled. In February, Georgia agreed to pay $250,000 to settle her lawsuit. W. John Thomas, a health law expert at Quinnipiac University's schools of law and medicine, said prison systems are facing increasing pressure to tend to the medical needs of transgender inmates and that he thinks the issue will likely make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. He said state corrections departments often oppose treatment for transgender inmates for two reasons: the cost and the "political and moralistic." A lawsuit similar to Hicklin's was filed earlier this month by Reiyn Keohane, a transgender Florida prisoner who is seeking hormone treatments. In June, a federal judge ruled that California must allow transgender inmates to have more female-oriented commissary items like nightgowns and necklaces. The ruling was part of a settlement that will make California the first state to pay for an inmate's sex reassignment surgery. In December, an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel rejected an Arkansas inmate's appeal seeking gender reassignment hormones to transition to a woman. It ruled that several mental health professionals evaluated Andrew Reid, who identified as a woman, and had not diagnosed a gender identity disorder. About 400 grammar school students started the first day of classes at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Monday, for the first time since a shooting rampage there killed 20 first-graders and six educators. A new 86,000-square-foot school opened Monday in Newtown, Connecticut. It replaces the one torn down after the 2012 shooting by Adam Lanza. The $50 million replacement was built on the same property, but not in the old footprint. Scroll down for video Hundreds of grammar school students started classes at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Monday, pictured, more than three years after 20 first-graders and six educators were killed The old school was torn down after the massacre and rebuilt as a new school. Above, painted handprints with the names of teachers and students decorate a playground bench The new school, pictured, has added security features in the wake of the deadly shooting About 70 current Sandy Hook students attended the old school when the shooting occurred. School officials say about 35 of them were in the building at the time, but none witnessed the shootings. Those students are now fourth graders. Because of retirements and transfers, only about half the staff members from the original Sandy Hook are still with the school, he said. After the shooting, the students were sent to a school in neighboring Monroe. Gunman Adam Lanza killed his mother before driving to the school, where he killed himself as police arrived. Superintendent Joseph Eradi invited journalists and members of the public alike around the new building last month, in hopes of allowing the students to have the school to themselves as they returned on Monday. Authorities demolished the school shortly after the massacre and decided to rebuild it on the same site The new school, funded by a state grant, has safety features such as impact-resistant windows and state-of-the-art video monitoring. Its ground floor is elevated, making it harder to see inside classrooms from the outside. It has been landscaped to ensure anyone approaching the school is visible to those inside and can enter via one of three pedestrian bridges that cross the landscaping. Gunman Adam Lanza (pictured) killed his mother before driving to the school, where he killed 20 students and six staff members before killing himself as police arrived It has been built to invoke nature, with treehouses and courtyards. The driveway and parking lots also have been changed, to minimize the emotional impact on students and educators seeing the property for the first time since the shooting. First Selectman Pat Llodra said: 'Our goal was to create a place of community and learning, a place that would honor those we lost and allow those who were left behind the chance to move forward.' The district will provide those students and staff with special resources to help cope with the return. A three-year, $7.1 million grant to fund added mental health professionals has expired. But grants from charities will cover those costs. The school will not have a prominent memorial to the staff and students murdered in the massacre. With help from goat, wily Clydesdale goes on lam for 5 days SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) A dwarf billy goat gave new meaning to the word "scapegoat" when he busted out a surprisingly slippery Clydesdale that went on the lam in California for several days. The nearly 1-ton horse named Budweiser, who goes by "Buddy," was safely wrangled back into his pen Sunday in the Santa Cruz Mountains on California's Central Coast. The goat named Lancelot knows how to butt open the stable gate, and did just that Wednesday, letting his best friend escape, owner Tamara Schmitz told the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper (http://bit.ly/2bPTgBD ). This undated photo provided by Tamara Schmitz shows Clydesdale horse Budweiser with his friend, a Nigerian dwarf billy goat named Lancelot, near Santa Cruz, Calif. Budweiser was safely back in his pen Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016, in the Santa Cruz Mountains on California's Central Coast after five days on the lam. Owner Tamara Schmitz says Buddy was busted out Wednesday, Aug. 24, by Lancelot, who knows how to butt open the stable gate. (Tamara Schultz via AP) Another Clydesdale, Harry, also fled and was nabbed in a meadow the next day. But Buddy is more wary and wily, Schmitz said. "Buddy's very elusive," she said. "He's not like other horses. He's not attracted by meadows and other horses. He can stay hidden." That made him very hard to find. He eluded volunteers from around the Santa Cruz area for five days, with evidence like tracks and loud snorts suggesting he was as far as 3 miles away. The owners even trotted out Lancelot and Harry to try to lure back Buddy, but he didn't fall for it. They just hoped the horse would stay away from Highway 17, a busy and dangerous road running through the area. A pair of searchers on horseback finally found Buddy hiding amid manzanita shrubs Sunday. "When we got him back in the pen, he was particularly frisky and playful and happy," Schmitz said. "I think he was glad to be back." Appeal seeks more relief for transgender North Carolinians RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Advocacy groups said Monday they will ask an appeals court to expand a favorable ruling on transgender restroom access to cover people across North Carolina. They filed their notice of appeal after a federal judge's preliminary ruling said two transgender students and an employee must be allowed to use restrooms matching their gender identity at University of North Carolina campuses. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder wrote that the plaintiffs have a strong chance of proving their arguments that the North Carolina measure known as H.B. 2 violates Title IX, a federal law prohibiting gender discrimination in educational institutions. The case is scheduled for trial in November. However, Schroeder said the plaintiffs haven't shown they are likely to succeed on a claim that the state law violates their constitutional equal protection rights. He reserved judgment on another constitutional claim related to due process. In their appeal, the transgender plaintiffs will ask the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals to rule in their favor on the equal protection claim which would apply to all transgender residents in the state and not just those at just educational institutions, said Chris Brook, legal director for the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. "A ruling on equal protection or any other constitutional grounds could fully eviscerate H.B. 2 and its unnecessary bathroom provisions," Brook said in an interview, though he added that his clients were still "thrilled" by Friday's ruling. The North Carolina law passed in March 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 limits statewide anti-discrimination protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. The state's Republican leaders, who are defending the law in court, have said the measure is needed to protect people's privacy in restrooms. Obama to juggle security, climate, rights on final Asia trip WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama faces thorny talks about the fight against the Islamic State group, climate change and human rights when he sets off this week across the Pacific for an eight-day valedictory tour through Asia. Obama is to leave Wednesday to attend back-to-back summits in Hangzhou, China, and Vientiane, Laos. Coming five months from the end of Obama's term, the White House has planned the trip as a moment to highlight his administration's seven-year effort to expand U.S. influence Asia, including his push for massive free-trade and a landmark climate agreement with China. White House officials said Obama will underscore the message even before leaving the U.S., heading first to Lake Tahoe for a series meetings on conservation and then on to Hawaii's remote Midway Atoll, where Obama recently expanded the Papahanaumokuakea (prounounced pah-pah-hah-NOW'-moh-koo-ah-KAY'-ah) Marine National Monument. In this photo taken Nov. 30, 2015, President Barack Obama meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Le Bourget, France. A trade deal that is a centerpiece of Obama's efforts to counter Chinese influence in Asia hangs in the balance as he makes his last visit to Asia as president. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The White House said Monday that Obama's stop will come with announcements of new executive actions aimed at boosting clean energy production in the U.S. and mitigating the effect of climate change such as wildfires and drought. Obama will keep up the drumbeat in China, where he is attending a meeting of the Group of 20 industrial and emerging-market economies. Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to offer an update on the nation's progress toward ratifying the Paris agreement. White House officials have said they hope the historic climate change pact could enter into force by the end of the year. But Obama's climate change agenda will only be part of his busy agenda. Obama will sit down Sunday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the first meeting since a failed summer coup added new tensions to an already complex relationship. Obama and Erdogan are slated to discuss the recent clashes between Turkish troops and Kurdish forces in northern Syria. The U.S. has criticized Turkey, a NATO ally, for the assault, saying the conflict distracts from the fight against the Islamic State group. Erdogan has said he plans to continue the operations until the Kurdish forces no longer pose a security threat to Ankara. The meeting also comes as Turkey is pressing the U.S. to extradite a U.S.-based Muslim cleric it blames for the July coup. U.S. officials have pleaded for patience as the legal process unwinds, but the U.S. is clearly under pressure to move quickly. Obama's schedule also includes a visit with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whose bloody anti-drug campaign has drawn criticism from human rights activists. The president plans to raise those concerns with the new leader, deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said Monday. Rhodes said Obama will use the trip to make the case for this Trans-Pacific free-trade agreement, a massive multination deal that has stalled out in Congress amid fierce election-year opposition from both Democrats and Republicans. As a centerpiece of Obama's Asia policy, the agreement is seen as a "litmus for U.S. leadership," Rhodes said. "It's also seen as a demonstration of America's commitment to be a Pacific power. And we would be stepping back from that leadership role, we would be ceding the region to countries like China who do not set the same types of high standards for trade agreements" if the U.S. does not follow through with TPP, he said. While in Asia, Obama will also pay the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to Laos, where he'll see both the president and prime minister. Ahead of the visit, the White House acknowledged the "very difficult history" between the countries, alluding to the roughly 270 million cluster bombs the U.S. dropped on Laos in the "secret war" during the Vietnam War. Obama is expected to announce new steps to help clear unexploded ordinance from Laos. ___ Associated Press writer Josh Lederman contributed to this report. FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2015 file photo, President Barack Obama shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Antalya, Turkey. President Barack Obama will meet with the president of Turkey next week when he travels to Asia for meetings with world leaders. The White House says Obama and Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet on the sidelines of a major economic summit. The two will discuss Turkey's recent assault against the Islamic State group in Syria and rising tensions with Kurds in the region. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) Fassbender, Vikander commit to 'Light Between Oceans' NEW YORK (AP) Neither Michael Fassbender nor Alicia Vikander was especially keen on living at a remote New Zealand lighthouse for the duration of shooting Derek Cianfrance's 1920s period drama "The Light Between Oceans." Cianfrance, the director of the gritty independent films "Blue Valentine" and "The Place Beyond the Pines" is known for leading actors to immersive extremes. To play a married couple in "Blue Valentine," Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams lived in a Scranton, Penn., home together. Williams has said she often has to remind herself that she didn't actually marry Gosling. For "The Light Between Oceans," adapted from M.L. Stedman's 2012 best-seller about a lighthouse keeper after World War I, Cianfrance wanted to keep his stars and small crew at their exotic location: Cape Campbell on the New Zealand coast, to double for the tale's Australian island. Fassbender and Vikander are both known for complete commitment to their roles, but neither is a method-acting nut. This image released by Dreamworks II shows Alicia Vikander, left, and Michael Fassbender in a scene from, "The Light Between Oceans." (Davi Russo/Dreamworks II via AP) "Run for the hills," Fassbender says was his initial reaction, humming the Iron Maiden song of the same name. "Initially I thought, 'Oh god, this is going to be hell: on this peninsula in the middle of the nowhere. It turned out to be a really unique experience, to be in such an extreme environment." "They were, especially Fassbender, uncertain," says Cianfrance. "I'm like, 'Michael just give me a shot here.' I had to work really hard to convince my production to stay out there. He was like, 'OK, I'll give it one night.' Flash forward five and a half weeks later and he didn't want to leave, and neither did Alicia." They had other reasons for wanting to stay. Since shooting "The Light Between Oceans," which DreamWorks will release Friday, more than a year ago, Vikander and Fassbender have been a couple: one of the movies' most decorated if discreet pairings. Both the film and their romance are, in part, a product of the blurring of fiction and reality. "We had a chemistry from the beginning, obviously, and sort of to the present," says Fassbender, chuckling, "I just found her to be extremely committed and brave and really fierce. She goes for it. She doesn't let the fear of falling on her face stop her from trying things out." The two came into the film having only briefly met. This was before Vikander exploded across movie screens last year, in films like "Ex Machina" and "The Danish Girl," for which she won an Oscar. A fan of Fassbender's for films like "Hunger" and "Fish Tank," Vikander says she considered him "one of the best actors of his generation." "It's something when you get to work with an actor who immediately vindicates your faith," says Vikander. "He pushed me and I dared to do the same back. It was easy from the get-go. He kind of came in with open-arms and was willing to really serve this story justice." Fassbender plays a former soldier craving isolation after the war. He and Vikander's character, who lives in the nearest village, fall in love, but their union is haunted by miscarriage and later, a shared deceit. The stark, wind-swept beauty of the film's rugged, romantic location, along with cinematographer Adam Arkapaw's photography, gives the film a classical sweep new to Cianfrance's films. "I make movies about family. I make movies about relationships. This one just has an epic backdrop," says the Brooklyn writer-director. "In some ways when I was shooting it, I was thinking of trying to make a Cassavetes film on a David Lean landscape." Cianfrance eschews saying "action" or "cut" and instead has the actors improvise their way into and out of a scene. He would rouse the cast and crew for first light, or bring them back for the evening sun. They slept in trailers near the lighthouse. For Vikander's first day of shooting, before she arrived on set, he had her picked up at 2 a.m. and driven to the lighthouse. She was asked to cover her eyes until she was to exit a woodshed for her first take. "I just looked out and saw this huge lighthouse, which is pretty extraordinary," Vikander recalls. "And the film crew was up on the top, so I started to climb up to the top. And they had timed it so the second I came up there, the sun just popped up over the horizon. It was probably the most extraordinary sunrise I had ever seen. It's not me acting, really, in the film when I see it." The elements, Fassbender says, also made a powerful impression on him, particularly the relentless wind. And the removal from cellphones and other day-to-day pressures turned out to be welcome in focusing on the film's tender and tragic story. "I'm a big part of superhero franchises and sci-fi franchises but these are real people dealing with life, and what life throws at you and how you handle it and how lives veer off a path that you thought they were destined for," says Fassbender. "That struck a chord with me personally." "We actually had a true experience on that island. A lot of stuff made the film. A lot of stuff didn't," says Cianfrance. "But we were actually living there and the film witnesses the truth of our experience." ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP This image released by Dreamworks II shows Alicia Vikander in a scene from, "The Light Between Oceans." (Davi Russo/Dreamworks II via AP) The Angriest is a blog by award-winning Australian playwright and science fiction critic Grant Watson. Current regular features on this blog include episode-by-episode rewatches of Star Trek, a weekly comic book review column called The Pull List, and occassional reviews of Akira Kurosawa's films in chronological order. In 2016 Grant was awarded Best Fan Writer at the Australian Science Fiction Achievement "Ditmar" Awards. You might also like to check out FictionMachine , which is where Grant puts all of his full-length film criticism. Police ID suspect fatally shot by West Virginia deputies MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) A West Virginia sheriff's department has named a suspect who was fatally shot by deputies while they attempted to serve an arrest warrant. The Charleston Gazette-Mail (http://bit.ly/2bDUxut ) reports that 82-year-old Darrel K. Hetrick was shot at his Morgantown home. Monongalia County Sheriff Al Kisner said Hetrick was the subject of the arrest warrant. He says Hetrick confronted the deputies with a handgun and threatened to shoot them early Saturday, and deputies shot Hetrick in self-defense. The warrant involved the violation of a protective order stemming from domestic incidents involving Hetrick's wife. School asks high court to hear transgender bathroom case RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A Virginia school board urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to weigh in on whether a transgender male must be allowed to use the boys bathroom at his high school, framing it as an issue of national importance. The Gloucester County School Board wants the justices to review a decision from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said the board's policy barring 17-year-old Gavin Grimm from using the restroom that matches his gender identity violates Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination in schools. At issue is whether the courts should defer to an U.S. Department of Education rule that says transgender students in public schools must be allowed to use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity. In its April ruling, the 4th Circuit said the federal judge who previously rejected Grimm's Title IX discrimination claim wrongly ignored that department rule. The school board said in its filing Monday that Grimm's case provides an excellent vehicle for "resolving once and for all the current nationwide controversy" over transgender bathroom access. It argues the 4th Circuit was wrong to defer to education department's interpretation of the law, which for years has allowed schools to provide "separate toilet, locker rooms and shower facilities on the basis of sex." "For decades our nation's schools have structured their facilities and programs around the idea that in certain intimate settings men and women may be separated 'to afford members of each sex privacy form the other sex,'" the school board said in its petition. "The 4th Circuit's decision turns that longstanding expectation upside down." Josh Block, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who represents Grimm, said the teen's lawyers look forward to filing their response. "We hope the court denies review and allows Gavin to finally start using the boys' restroom again," Block said in a statement. While Grimm won at the appeals court level, he will still be barred from using the boys restroom when he returns to Gloucester High School for his senior year next week. The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the school board can require Grimm to use a private restroom until it decides whether to intervene in the case, which will likely happen sometime this fall. Four of the nine justices must agree for the court to accept a case, and only about 100 of the thousands of cases the justices are asked to review each year are heard. ___ Slain New Mexico girl's relatives mystified over mom's role ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Michelle Martens kept her new relationship with a man convicted of child endangerment a secret from friends and family for weeks as she helped plan her daughter's 10th birthday party, sent the girl off daily to the school bus and held down her job at a local grocery store. Now relatives and friends of the 35-year-old single mother are trying to figure out why they never knew about her involvement with the boyfriend and her invitation for his cousin who is a convicted felon to live in her apartment. Court records show all three face charges in the death of Victoria Martens, who was expected to celebrate her 10th birthday the day her body was found last week after police say she was drugged, raped and killed in the apartment as her mother watched. A picture of Victoria Martens, a 10-year-old Albuquerque girl brutally murdered last week, is placed in a memorial outside her former Albuquerque apartment on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Stricken with grief, the grandparents and other family members of Martens, who was brutally slain last week, clutched one another and wept Monday as they made their first public comments and thanked the community for its outpouring of love and support. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras) "Whatever demons she had we don't know because she didn't share them with us," said Laura Bobbs, who lived in Martens' apartment complex for five years and now serves as a spokeswoman for Victoria's relatives. "I should have been the one to see all this and I didn't." An officer responding to a report of a pre-dawn Aug. 24 disturbance at the apartment found Victoria's remains in a bathtub, partially wrapped in a blanket that had been set on fire. Bobbs, a local minister who lived until recently in an apartment below Martens, said she and the girl's grandmother spoke to Martens almost daily. She recalled the mother was planning to order a cake for her daughter days before Victoria died. The girl's grandparents, who moved from New York to New Mexico to be closer to their grandchildren, were also in on the party planning, Bobbs said. All are mystified over how Martens got involved with Fabian Gonzales and his cousin Jessica Kelley, Bobbs said. The three face charges of child abuse resulting in death, kidnapping and tampering with evidence and are jailed for lack of $1 million bail each. At a news conference Monday held at Victoria's favorite park, Bobbs thanked Albuquerque residents on behalf of the girl's family for an outpouring of support and prayers. The grandparents and other relatives did not speak but clutched each other, and some cried while wearing buttons showing a smiling Victoria adorned in purple, her favorite color. Police said Martens and Gonzales met on a dating site online about a month before the killing, and that Martens allowed Kelley to move into her apartment after her release from prison about four days before the killing. Martens told detectives that Gonzales injected her daughter with methamphetamine to calm her down before he raped her and she watched, according to a criminal complaint. Victoria was stabbed by Kelley and choked by Gonzales before her dismemberment, Martens said. New Mexico officials have said they never received any reports of violent or sexual abuse about the household where Victoria lived with her mother. But Gonzales was convicted of child endangerment last year after his arrest for beating a woman while she was driving a car with a child inside it. He was supposed to be monitored by a probation officer and given drug tests but wasn't because corrections officials say they never received a judge's order mandating the supervised probation. Martens told detectives she knew Kelley had been released from jail and let her stay in the apartment. Court records show Kelley had a prior conviction stemming from an incident while she was being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in September 2012. She pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit criminal sexual penetration. Bobbs said Martens, who also has a 5-year-old son, moved to Albuquerque from the nearby town of Peralta about five years ago. Neighbors described Victoria as a happy and outgoing child. Bobbs said she always appeared to be well cared for by her mother, and often swam in the apartment complex's swimming pool. Bobbs said Victoria's killing is an example for New Mexico state officials that they must to do more to prevent what has turned into a horrific string of children killed by relatives or people close to them in recent years. "This family shouldn't be standing behind me grieving," Bobbs said during at the news conference with Victoria's grandparents. "Let's put our children first. They are our future." Martens shared custody of her 5-year-old son with his father. The man's attorney told local news station KOAT-TV that the boy was staying with his father the night of Victoria's killing. Victoria had a different father, court records state. Efforts to reach him have been unsuccessful. Relatives of Victoria Martens and her godmother Laura Bobbs, second from right, embrace at a children's park in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, following a news conference Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, to thank the community following the Albuquerque girl's horrific killing last week. Police found Victoria's battered and dismembered body inside the apartment she shared with her mother after responding Aug. 24, 2016, to a pre-dawn disturbance. (AP Photo/Mary Hudetz). In a Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 photo, Stephanie Duneman and her daughter Isabella Duneman, 9, tie up balloons they brought to celebrate the birthday of Victoria Martens in Mariposa Basin Park, in Albuquerque. Ten-year-old Victoria Martens was brutally slain last Wednesday. (Greg Sorber/Albuquerque Journal via AP) In a Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016 photo, prayers are said for the family of 10-year-old Victoria Martens in the picnic shelter of Mariposa Basin during a birthday party for Martens, who was brutally slain last Wednesday, in Albuquerque. The girls mother, Michelle Martens, was arrested and ordered held on $1 million bond. She, her boyfriend and the boyfriends cousin all face charges of child abuse resulting in death, kidnapping and tampering with evidence. (Greg Sorber/Albuquerque Journal via AP) Man arrested in triple-slaying in northwestern Indiana home SUMAVA RESORTS, Ind. (AP) Police arrested a man Monday in connection with the slayings of three people found dead in a rural northwestern Indiana home after their elderly roommate discovered one of them bleeding. Capt. Shannon Cothran with the Newton County Sheriff's Department said 24-year-old Sebastian M. Wedding of Cedar Lake was arrested in connection with the killings of the two men and a woman. Wedding is being held without bond at the Newton County Jail on a preliminary murder charge and it was unclear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. The county's prosecutor is still investigating the killings and has not yet filed formal charges in the deaths, a spokeswoman said. A car is seen outside a home in Sumava Resorts, Ind., Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, where several people were found dead Sunday. Police arrested Sebastian Wedding in connection with the slayings in the unincorporated town about 35 miles south of Gary. Wedding is being held at the Newton County Jail on a preliminary murder charge. (Carrie Napoleon/Chicago Tribune via AP) The bodies of Justin L. Babbs, 20, Richard Thomas, 23, and 39-year-old Kimberly Spears were found Sunday evening in a home at Sumava Resorts, an unincorporated community along the Kankakee River about 35 miles south of Gary. Cothran said investigators "determined pretty quickly" that Wedding was a suspect in the killings, but he declined to elaborate on what led them to that conclusion. An elderly woman who was apparently allowing the three victims to live at her home called 911 about 7:30 p.m. Sunday and reported that a bleeding man was inside her home, he said. Officers arrived to find that man dead and the bodies of the two others dead in another room in the home. The woman who called 911 told dispatchers that she believed the bleeding man had attempted suicide. Coroner Scott McCord said all three died from multiple stab wounds. House speaker of Puerto Rico resigns post under pressure SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in Puerto Rico resigned from the leadership post Monday under pressure from officials in his party following court testimony that has linked him to a former fundraiser convicted in a political corruption case. Jaime Perello said he was resigning as speaker because he did not want to be used as an "excuse" if his Popular Democratic Party lost control of the chamber in the November elections. He plans to retain his at-large seat in the lower house of the legislature in the U.S. island territory. "I have not committed any illegal act and nobody has accused me of anything," Perello said as he announced his decision. "But there are causes that are greater than mine and bigger than me. I will never allow evil to triumph over good." Perello was elected in 2008 and became speaker in 2012 after the Popular Democratic Party took control of the chamber. He came under pressure in recent days to resign from the party's candidate for governor, David Bernier, and others following testimony from the former fundraiser against other government officials in a federal corruption trial that is underway in the territory. Refugee students win order to let them attend high school LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) Refugee students who accused a central Pennsylvania school district of diverting them into an alternative school have won a court ruling allowing them to attend the regular high school. U.S. District Judge Edward G. Smith on Friday ordered the School District of Lancaster to enroll the students at Lancaster's McCaskey High School instead of Phoenix Academy, if they so choose. The plaintiffs said district officials have steered at least 30 students in the past three years to the alternative high school. Six refugee students aged 17 to 21 who came to the U.S. from Myanmar, Sudan and other war-torn countries sued the district last month over their placement, saying it was "impossible" to learn there because of language barriers. The suit also alleged delayed and denied enrollment. District officials argued that Phoenix Academy was better suited to older refugee students than the larger and more traditional high school. The judge also ordered that the district provide instruction to allow the students to become proficient in English and ensure equal access "to the full range of educational opportunities provided to their peers, including curricular and non-curricular programs and activities." "The plaintiffs are not seeking the creation of a new entitlement, or new and better schools," Smith wrote. "The plaintiffs are seeking admittance into a program that currently exists, and that is specifically designed for students with their unique language needs." The decision was praised by Vic Walczak, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, which filed the suit along with the Education Law Center and others. "Our refugee clients have lived lives of unimaginable hardship, and they are way overdue for a break," he said. A spokeswoman said the district will comply with the order. Many states, including Pennsylvania, allow students to pursue a high school diploma through the school year in which they turn 21. First Southwest objects to deal over Schilling's 38 Studios PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) The company that acted as financial adviser to the state of Rhode Island in its $75 million deal with video game company 38 Studios is objecting to a partial settlement in a lawsuit brought over the deal. 38 Studios was started by former Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. It failed less than two years after getting the loan guarantee. First Southwest filed an objection Monday to a proposed $25.6 million settlement announced last week with Wells Fargo Securities and Barclays Capital Inc. First Southwest's filing takes issue with a state law passed to encourage settlements in the case. First Southwest says it has the effect of strong-arming others to pay for the state's mistakes. Mondelez says it ended talks to buy Hershey NEW YORK (AP) Oreo cookie maker Mondelez says it has ended discussions to buy The Hershey Co, a combination that would have created a global powerhouse selling some of the world's best known chocolates and snacks. Hershey had said in June that it rejected a preliminary takeover bid from Mondelez International Inc. valued at roughly $22.3 billion, according to FactSet. It said at the time that the offer provided "no basis for further discussion." A representative for Hershey said the company had no comment beyond acknowledging that it had been in talks with Mondelez and that they had fallen through. A deal would have been subject to the Hershey Trust, a controlling shareholder. FILE - This July 25, 2011, file photo shows Hershey's chocolate in Overland Park, Kan. Oreo cookie maker Mondelez says it has ended discussions of a possible merger with The Hershey Co. In a statement, Mondelez CEO Irene Rosenfeld said the company decided "there is no actionable path forward toward an agreement" following additional discussions. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) Hershey shares slid 11 percent in after-hours trading, to $99.25. Mondelez shares added 3.4 percent, to $44.50, in extended trading. In a statement, Mondelez CEO Irene Rosenfeld said the company decided "there is no actionable path forward toward an agreement" following additional discussions. Mondelez, based in Deerfield, Illinois, makes Nabisco cookies, Cadbury chocolate and Trident gum. The company was created after a split from Kraft Foods, which has since gone on to combine with ketchup maker Heinz to create the Kraft Heinz Co. Back in June, The Wall Street Journal had reported that Mondelez told Hershey it would take the chocolate maker's name and move its global headquarters to Hershey, Pennsylvania as part of the deal. The acquisition would have made the combined company the candy industry's largest player, according to Euromonitor International, passing the current No. 1, Mars Inc. The deal was seen as complementary in part because Mondelez gets most of its revenue from overseas, while Hershey gets most of its revenue from North America. The offer to buy Hershey came as the charitable trust that controls the company has been in turmoil. In July, the trust said a board member was resigning. Later, Pennsylvania's attorney general said it reached an agreement with the trust that involved five board members leaving, and limiting compensation. The agreement came from an investigation into the trust's compliance with a 2013 agreement. Brazil judge orders release of IOC member in ticket probe RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) A Brazilian judge ordered on Monday the release of a high-ranking IOC member who was arrested during the Rio de Janeiro Games in a ticket-scalping probe. Judge Fernando Antonio de Almeida accepted a request made by Patrick Hickey's lawyers to set him free from Rio's Bangu prison complex, where he has been held since Aug. 19, while his case continues to be investigated. Hickey must remain in Brazil and hand over his passport. "I don't see how his freedom could bring any obstacles or present a risk to the public, the criminal investigation or the prosecution," said Almeida, as he overturned a previous court decision that denied Hickey's release. Police have said the 71-year-old Irishman plotted with businessmen to transfer tickets illegally to a vendor who was not authorized to sell them. They want prosecutors to start a judicial process against Hickey for alleged ticket scalping, conspiracy and ambush marketing. The Olympic Council of Ireland said earlier this month that Hickey decided to "step aside temporarily" as an IOC member and from all his other Olympic positions "until this matter is fully resolved." Hickey is also president of the OCI, head of the European Olympic Committees and vice president of the Association of National Olympic Committees. The order for Hickey's release comes two days after an Irish businessman also investigated in the alleged scheme was let go on bail from the same prison. The Aug. 5 arrest of Kevin Mallon, head of the British ticket and hospitality provider THG Sports, set the chain of events in motion. He was arrested with hundreds of tickets, including some that were officially allocated to Ireland's committee, police said. THG was not Ireland's authorized ticket reseller for the Summer Games. Authorities estimate the alleged scheme could have netted about $3 million in profits, as tickets were being sold for high fees disguised as hospitality services. The Latest: Driver charged in crash that killed firefighters ANOKA, Minn. (AP) The Latest on a crash in Minnesota that killed two Michigan firefighters who were on their way to a Utah wildfire (all times local): 3:45 p.m. Minnesota prosecutors have charged a Michigan firefighter with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in a crash that killed two fellow firefighters and injured seven more as they drove to Utah to fight a wildfire. The criminal complaint against 28-year-old Michael Allen Johnson, of Baraga, Michigan, says he told investigators he had not slept in more than 24 hours except for a 45-minute nap early Saturday before the crash about 3 p.m. Saturday. Twenty-three-year-old James Shelifoe and 25-year-old Alan Swartz died in the crash on Interstate 35W in the Minneapolis suburb of Blaine. The State Patrol says the truck left the highway, struck the median cable barriers and rolled. The crew was from the Baraga-based Beartown Firefighters, which is managed by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. ____ 10:50 a.m. Authorities in Minnesota have arrested a fire truck driver from Michigan on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide in a crash that killed two firefighters and injured seven others who were on their way to fight a wildfire in Utah. Anoka County Jail records show the 28-year-old man from Baraga, Michigan, was arrested after the crash Saturday on Interstate 35W in the Minneapolis suburb of Blaine. He has not been charged. Twenty-three-year-old James Shelifoe and 25-year-old Alan Swartz died in the crash. The driver was among the seven people injured. The State Patrol says the truck left the highway, struck the median cable barriers and rolled. As'ad's Bio As'ad AbuKhalil, born March 16, 1960. From Tyre, Lebanon, grew up in Beirut. Received his BA and MA from American University of Beirut in pol sc. Came to US in 1983 and received his PhD in comparative government from Georgetown University. Taught at Tufts University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Colorado College, and Randolph-Macon Woman's College. Served as a Scholar-in-Residence at Middle East Institute in Washington DC. He served as free-lance Middle East consultant for NBC News and ABC News, an experience that only served to increase his disdain for maintream US media. He is now professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus. His favorite food is fried eggplants. Race for Facebook data center raises tax-break questions SALT LAKE CITY (AP) The race between a small town on the Rio Grande in New Mexico and a Salt Lake City suburb to entice a new Facebook data center with millions of dollars in tax breaks and subsidies is raising questions about public investments in a booming cloud-computing economy that typically brings few local jobs. In West Jordan, Utah, an initial plan to offer some $240 million in tax breaks over two decades fell apart after several local leaders said the lure was too rich. Negotiations have since restarted. In New Mexico, The Los Lunas Village Council agreed to give up all property taxes for 30 years in exchange for annual payments that start at $50,000 and top out at nearly a half-million dollars. A Friday, Aug. 5, 2016 photo shows land in West Jordan, Utah, that may be purchased by FaceBook for a data center. The race between the small town of Los Lunas in New Mexico and the Salt Lake City suburb of West Jordan to entice a new Facebook data center with millions in tax breaks and subsidies is raising questions about public investments in a booming cloud-computing economy that typically brings few local jobs. (Scott G Winterton/Deseret News via AP) The village has yet to provide a tally of the revenues it would forgo under a complex economic development agreement that also involves tax breaks on billions of dollars in computer equipment over time. Officials in West Jordan say they can hardly compete with the generous offer from the town of 15,000 people in New Mexico. Dave Swenson, an economist at Iowa State University, says West Jordan's initial offer was greater than the total combined tax breaks offered for seven other data centers in Iowa. "This is nothing but a giveaway," Swenson said. Los Lunas officials foresee a possible $1.8 billion construction project that provides as many as 300 direct temporary jobs, and just 50 permanent jobs thereafter a fraction of the steady employment at the local Walmart distribution center. Still, supporters of such deals see an opportunity to attract a hot company that would bring tax revenue despite the incentives and could attract other high-tech companies. "If you're in the market for a new car and this dealer offers a rebate for the same car and this dealer doesn't, where are you going to buy the car?" said Vale Hale, executive director of the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development. Facebook's latest expansion comes as the social media giant looks to beef up its video presence, said John Harrington, a data center expert with Verify Research Associates. Video is increasingly the way to attract advertisers and eyeballs, but it also requires more space. Data centers are typically large facilities filled with rows of hard-drives and servers that store and process vast amounts of information. They're increasingly essential to the global economy, but on the ground they function more like storage facilities that need few people to keep them running. While the Facebook plan has been contentious in Utah, it's enjoyed broad political support in New Mexico, where the Los Lunas Village Council voted to sweeten the offer last week. New Mexico officials appear eager to please businesses willing to set up shop in a state hit hard by a downturn in the oil and natural gas sectors, and where computer chip maker Intel has been steadily unwinding a major manufacturing plant that was an early beneficiary of similar property tax breaks using industrial revenue bonds. There's been some question about whether the estimated 50 jobs are worth the trouble, but state Rep. Alonzo Baldonado, R-Los Lunas, anticipates that construction will spill over into other parts of the economy. Among other infrastructure upgrades, three industrial-scale solar power plants would be built to offset electricity consumed by the data center. The plants would be paid for through a power purchase agreement with Facebook. "You don't know until it's on the ground when it comes to seeing the economic benefits," said Baldonado, a staunch supporter of the data center project. "You have to take risks sometimes." The once-struggling timber town of Prineville, Oregon, for example, is reinventing itself as a digital hub since attracting Facebook's first wholly owned data center with the help of a 15-year abatement on property taxes. But in Utah's relatively healthy economy, critics of the Facebook deal argue the land eyed by the social media giant could be developed by another outfit that would pay more in school-funding taxes and create more jobs. They also worry that new companies coming to the state will expect similar treatment. But he was medicated and ultimately declared stable and of no harm Files say couldn't feel love and had become paranoid and aggressive In November 2011 he told VA docs he had PTSD from watching gory videos He served in Iraq for seven months but didn't see combat Gavin Long, the ex-Marine who shot dead three cops in Baton Rouge last month, never saw combat in Iraq but still told doctors he had post-traumatic stress disorder because he was made to watch gory videos by his friend, it has emerged. Newly released medical records from the Veterans Health Administration say that Long was diagnosed with 'adjustment disorder with depressed mood' in November 2011, but not PTSD. However, Long - who had been become paranoid and aggressive before the 2011 visit - told doctors his army buddy had triggered PTSD by showing him videos of maimed and decapitated bodies. Troubled: Gavin Long served as a Marine from 2005-2010, including seven months in Iraq, but didn't see combat. In July he killed three Baton Rouge cops and injured three more Long, of Kansas City, Missouri, served as a data network specialist in the Marines from 2005-2010, including seven months in Iraq. He told doctors he had witnessed casualties, but did not fight in combat. He went to the VA in 2011 saying he had trouble falling and staying asleep, documents say. And family members also said he had become more aggressive and angered easily, something his ex-wife also complained about. 'He feels sad but claims he does not know what he feels sad about,' his medical file said. 'PTSD': Long told VA docs in 2011 that he had PTSD from watching gory videos, and was sad, paranoid and aggressive. He was told he didn't have PTSD, and was ultimately declared stable During his PTSD evaluation, the VA noted Long avoided movies about the war and was 'unable to experience tenderness, loving feelings.' It also had a cryptic notation about some 'sense of foreshortened future.' Although he 'did not meet the criteria for PTSD,' Long was prescribed the antidepressant citalopram and told about the VA's mental health clinic and local 24-hour services. Ultimately, however, he was found to be stable, with no evidence of imminent harm to himself or others, and no mental health condition requiring further intervention. More than a year later, Long denied during a December 2012 visit to a VA hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, that he had any mental health symptoms or readjustment issues and assured his doctors at the time that no follow up was needed. His last VA medical visit was in August 2013, related to asthma and injury to his shoulder and arm, the documents show. Three years later, on July 17, 2016, he shot and killed three law enforcement officers and wounded three others outside a Baton Rouge convenience store. His mother, Corine Woodley, told PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley in July that her son would 'pretty much lose it' and become furious every time he heard about a black man being shot by police in what he considered an unlawful manner. Angry: His mom said Long would 'lose it' and become angry every time he heard about a black man being shot by police. She also claims the VA admitted he had PTSD in 2013 She said her son received a letter from the Department of Veteran Affairs denying his request for treatment of PTSD in 2013 on grounds that the disorder wasn't related to his medical service. The medical records the VA provided AP did not contain such a letter. Prior to the shooting, Long had posted rambling internet videos calling for violence in response to police treatment of African-Americans, which he said constituted 'oppression.' The attack claimed the lives of two Baton Rouge police officers - 32-year-old Montrell Jackson and 41-year-old Matthew Gerald - and 45-year-old East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office deputy Brad Garafola. Baton Rouge was the second mass shooting of law enforcement officers last month, and drew attention to the treatment of veterans on return from Iraq and Afghanistan. Micah Johnson, an Army reservist who served in Afghanistan in 2014, killed five Dallas police officers at the end of a peaceful march on July 7 in downtown Dallas. The demonstrators were protesting fatal police shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana. Johnson had sought treatment from the VA for PTSD symptoms. Long killed the three Louisiana officers ten days later. Murdered: Officers Matthew Gerald (left) and Montrell Jackson (right) were ambushed and shot by Long outside a Baton Rouge convenience store on July 17 American's No. 2 executive departs for United Airlines DALLAS (AP) The president and No. 2 executive at American Airlines has left the company and taken the same job with rival United Airlines. United Continental Holdings Inc. said Monday that Scott Kirby has been named president and will oversee operations, sales and other duties. Kirby, 49, was often seen as a likely successor to American Airlines Group Inc. CEO Doug Parker. Instead, he will add airline-industry expertise to United's management. FILE- In this March 14, 2007, file photo, US Airways President Scott Kirby addresses members of the media at US Airways headquarters in Tempe, Ariz. Kirby, the President and No. 2 executive at American Airlines, is leaving to take the same job with rival United Airlines. United Continental Holdings Inc. said Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, that Kirby has been named president and will oversee operations, sales and other duties. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) Chicago-based United is led by Oscar Munoz, a longtime railroad executive who became CEO less than a year ago and missed several months after a heart attack and transplant. In a statement, Munoz said Kirby "is a proven leader, whose deep airline experience and expertise will further accelerate our efforts to build the best airline in the industry." Munoz said Kirby's hiring culminated the building of his senior leadership team, which included this month's hiring of a new chief financial officer and chief commercial officer. Investors have been pushing Munoz to speed up improvement to the airline's operations and financial performance. Earlier this year, two activist shareholders threatened a proxy battle if Munoz did not surround himself with more people experienced in the airline industry. Kirby's departure from American breaks up what was an unusually long-tenured management team for the airline business. Kirby worked for Parker at America West Airlines and US Airways, where he rose to president in 2006. Both men took the same jobs at American after engineering the December 2013 merger with US Airways. American said Kirby's departure came after discussions about CEO succession and "career expectations" of its executives. Lead outside director John Cahill said the company was looking forward Parker's leadership "for many years to come." Kirby will get a termination package valued at $13.2 million in cash and stock, according to an American Airlines regulatory filing. Kirby's replacement at American will be another member of that team, Robert Isom, 52, the airline's chief operating officer. New England governors, eastern Canadian premiers meet BOSTON (AP) Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says energy, trade, economic issues and opioid addiction were among the topics discussed at the 40th Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. Baker, a Republican, co-chaired the two-day conference at the Statehouse in Boston. Premier Wade MacLauchlan of Prince Edward Island was also a co-chairman. The governors and premiers participated in two sessions Monday. MassLive.com reports (http://bit.ly/2bElpdU ) that energy was a major issue at the conference. Baker recently signed a law that will require Massachusetts to solicit long-term contracts to purchase offshore wind and hydropower. Most of the hydropower is expected to come from Canada. Police investigate owners of bus in fatal wreck, driver NEW ORLEANS (AP) Louisiana State Police say they're looking into the owners of a bus that hit a firetruck and other vehicles on an elevated stretch of Interstate 10, killing two people and injuring dozens. Questions include whether the bus was in good repair and why it went out of control Sunday night, Trooper Melissa Matey said Monday. It's owned by a company with two names: AM Party Bus and Kristina's Transportation LLC, she said. Messages left by The Associated Press with the party bus reservations agent were not returned. The listed number for Kristina's Transportation is that of Ahmad S. Salem, who said he sold the company in January. Matey said Sunday that investigators also want to learn more about the bus driver, Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, 37, of Honduras. Authorities want to clarify the driver's connection to the bus is he the person who rented the 2002 Eldorado bus, an employee of whoever did so, or an employee of the bus owners? Amaya Rodriguez entered the U.S. illegally and does not have a U.S. driver's license, Matey said. On Monday, she said records showed Amaya Rodriguez had been ticketed Aug. 5 for driving without a license. He'd been pulled over that day because the temporary tag for the 2000 Nissan he was driving was not visible, Matey said. He was not asked then whether he was legally in this country. Amaya Rodriguez remained in custody Monday, a day after his arrest on two counts of negligent homicide and one each of negligent injury, reckless driving and driving without a license. Matey said she did not know whether he had a Honduran driver's license or if he was qualified to drive buses in Honduras. What is for sure is that he could not legally drive in Louisiana on a Honduran license, she said. Police are also trying to track down his 24 passengers. "We're working with Homeland Security investigators to locate those passengers," she said. The firetruck was blocking the scene of an earlier crash involving a single pickup truck at the time of the wreck Sunday. After the bus hit the firetruck, it slammed a Toyota Camry into a flatbed trailer towed by a pickup truck, then veered into three firefighters and the wrecked pickup truck, Matey said. The wreck killed Jermaine Starr, 21, of Moss Point, Mississippi, a back-seat passenger in the Camry, and St. John the Baptist Parish district Fire Chief Spencer Chauvin. The injured included the other two firefighters, the bus driver, 24 bus passengers and a total of nine people in the car and pickups. Vontravous or Vontarous Kelly, also of Moss Point, remained in critical condition Monday, Matey said. Two others described Sunday by police as in critical or serious condition were in fair condition Monday, hospital spokespeople said, and a third described as seriously injured had been released. Reed delighted to seal Ryder Cup spot as Fowler's hopes suffer setback American Patrick Reed secured his place on the Ryder Cup team with victory in The Barclays as overnight leader Rickie Fowler squandered his chance to do the same at Bethpage Black. Reed began the first FedEx Cup play-off event in the eighth and final automatic qualifying place for Davis Love's team, which will attempt to avoid an unprecedented fourth straight defeat to Europe at Hazeltine next month. And the 26-year-old made certain of a second consecutive appearance in the biennial event in style, claiming his fifth PGA Tour title thanks to a final round of 70 to finish a shot ahead of compatriot Sean O'Hair and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo. Patrick Reed sealed his Ryder Cup place with victory in The Barclays (AP) World number one Jason Day, fellow Australian Adam Scott and Gary Woodland were a shot further back, with Fowler slipping into a tie for seventh with Ryan Moore and Jason Kokrak. "It feels amazing," Reed told Sky Sports. "I have not had that feeling in a while coming down the last couple of holes. I felt like I did a lot of things well, although it was not the scores I wanted on the last few holes, but it was nice to win." " I'm so glad (about the Ryder Cup). It was a huge goal to get back played having played so well my first time, but unfortunately the cup didn't come back with us. "(Hoping for) sweet revenge and hopefully the cup comes back home." Reed, who was top scorer for the United States with three-and-a-half points from four matches at Gleneagles in 2014, started the final round a shot behind playing partner Fowler and fell further adrift after three-putting the third. However, he responded with three birdies in the next four holes - including a chip-in on the fifth - and took the lead for the first time when Fowler failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker. A birdie on the 12th then doubled Reed's advantage and, when Fowler was again unable to save par from sand on the 15th, the destiny of the title was effectively decided and allowed Reed the luxury of bogeys on the 16th and 18th. Fowler's chances of a Ryder Cup place looked to have disappeared when he ran up a double bogey on the 16th, and although he birdied the next from 20 feet to keep them alive, he also bogeyed the last when a birdie was required. That meant Reed, Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson joined the players who had already qualified - namely Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker and Brooks Koepka - in the team, with Love naming three wild cards on September 11 and the final one a fortnight later. Fowler will hope to earn one of those wild cards, despite having failed to convert a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour for the fourth time, the 27-year-old carding a closing 74 after dropping just one shot in his first 64 holes. Sunny weather to continue as bookies slash odds of hottest August on record Barbecue weather over the Bank Holiday weekend is set to continue this week. Temperatures of 23.2C (74F) were recorded on Monday afternoon in south-west London, but bookmakers are predicting that the mercury could rise further this week. Ladbrokes are 2/1 that temperatures of 30C (86F) will be recorded before Sunday, while Coral have slashed the odds to 7/4 on August being the hottest on record. Londoners enjoy the hot weather in Hyde Park Met Office forecaster Chris Page said: "We've had a brilliant Bank Holiday - lots of sunshine around, or decent sunny spells at least for a large chunk of the country. In fact in places we've seen wall to wall sunshine as well which has been really quite welcomed so a fine weekend. "Really the general story for this week is actually quite a fine and settled week across the country. "There will be some spells of light rain at times, mainly for the north and west of the country, however, it looks as though it will be dry with some spells of sunshine too and towards the south and east it will feel quite warm as well. Not a bad week at all in prospect." The sunny conditions were welcomed by revellers at the Notting Hill Carnival. However, a two-vehicle crash on the M5 led to the closure of the motorway in both directions near Weston-super-Mare and long tailbacks. But those stuck in the traffic made the most of the good weather - sunbathing on the central reservation and playing football on the closed southbound carriageway. Bank Holiday shoppers failed to make the tills ring, as footfall fell by 4.1% in comparison to last year. The drop was coupled with an increase in footfall after 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, which Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard, said was due to a "growing demand for leisure activities". "These results indicate the growth in trips focusing on experience rather than trips purely to buy products, and the growth of the hospitality sector," she said. The good weather could be short lived, however, as Hurricane Gaston heads towards the UK - although its exact track is not yet known. A French plan to let migrants lodge UK asylum claims in Calais sparked a major borders row last night. Xavier Bertrand, who is chief of the Calais region, called for 'hotspot' application centres to be set up in the port city. Migrants hoping to cross the Channel illegally would instead be able to make a British asylum claim while still on French soil. But British politicians said the idea would make the chaotic situation in Calais even worse. Amber Rudd slapped the proposal down, with sources close to the Home Secretary saying it was a 'complete non-starter'. A senior Whitehall insider even suggested the UK could threaten to withdraw security co-operation if France tore up existing border arrangements at Calais. The Calais 'Jungle' migrant camp, which has become a hotspot in the migration debate The Jungle camp has swelled since its formation and is expected to get significantly bigger But Home Secretary Amber Rudd (pictured meeting counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve in Paris today) slapped the proposal down, with sources saying it was a 'complete non-starter' The hotspot plan would also contravene EU rules that state refugees should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. Mr Bertrand said those whose claims were rejected by the UK would be deported directly to their home countries. He also suggested that unless Britain accepted the hotspot scheme the Le Touquet agreement should be ripped up. Signed in 2003, this allows UK officials to carry out passport checks on French soil dramatically cutting illegal immigration. 'I want a new treatment of asylum claims for migrants who want to claim asylum in England,' said Mr Bertrand. 'It is not possible to keep the border here without a new agreement between the French and British governments. 'If the British government don't want to open this discussion, we will tell you the Touquet agreement is over.' A Home Office source said last night that Miss Rudd was 'crystal clear that people in need of protection should seek asylum in the first safe country they enter'. The source added: 'That's the long-held, international norm, and we're going to stick to it'. Mrs Rudd's talks in Paris are due to focus on security, but the Calais deal is also expected to come up Xavier Bertrand wants a new deal in which migrants hoping to claim asylum in the UK would be able to do so at a 'hotspot' in France Another senior Whitehall source warned that the French should not tear up the Le Touquet treaty. 'It would be unwise because they depend on us for a lot of co-operation and training on security issues,' the source said. 'The reality is they rely on us more than we rely on them on these issues.' Britain and France have a close security relationship, including intelligence-sharing, which is of particular importance across the Channel in the wake of the Paris and Nice terrorist attacks. Officially, Miss Rudd is set to discuss security in Paris today with her French counterpart, interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve, in her first official overseas engagement as Home Secretary. Migrants on the roof of a lorry in Calais. The area has become a trouble spot for dealing with the flow of migrants from continental Europe Migrants walk at a site dubbed the 'The Jungle' where thousands of people set up camp in 2015 But it is understood that the crisis over border controls could be raised. Lord Green of Deddington, from MigrationWatch, which campaigns for tighter borders, said: 'The suggestion of a so-called hotspot in Calais is nonsensical. It is riddled with legal and practical problems. A flood of applicants could be expected to arrive in the town, making the new situation worse than the first.' The number of migrants living in the Jungle camp near Calais is expected to reach 10,000 within a month, a French police union boss said yesterday. Jean-Claude Delage said it was turning into a 'disaster zone' because of escalating violence and chronic overcrowding. Sir Peter Ricketts, the former British ambassador to France, said last night that asylum hotspots could make Calais even more of a target for refugees trying to reach Britain. He said: 'As soon as you suggested that, there would be a huge magnet pulling thousands and thousands more migrants into Calais to chance their arm, make an asylum claim, hope that they might get to the UK and good luck. So it wouldn't help the French deal with the problem of thousands of people in Calais I think it would make it worse, almost certainly.' John Vine, the former immigration watchdog, said: 'If this arrangement were to end, one of the biggest impacts on us would be potentially a rise in the number of people coming to Britain to claim asylum. 'The danger of changing the arrangement for them [France] is that it will encourage, potentially, more people to travel through France if they feel it is easier to get to Britain.' Mr Bertrand does not have the power to change the Le Touquet treaty, but two candidates from his Republican party in next year's presidential race Nicolas Sarkozy (pictured) and Alain Juppe have called for reform of the agreement Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, added: 'It would be a big mistake to enable people to apply for UK asylum from France. It would just make Calais a bigger magnet for migrants.' Keith Vaz, Labour chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, said Mr Bertrand's proposals were unworkable and undermined the basis of EU asylum law. He added: 'The processing of asylum claims for Britain on French soil would double the size of the Jungle in Calais and delight the criminal gangs that operate in France and facilitate illegal migration.' James Berry, a Tory MP on the home affairs committee, said of asylum hotspots: 'This would be ridiculous and entirely counter-productive because it would attract large numbers of asylum seekers to Calais with a view of getting into the UK.' The Home Office said it 'remained committed to working together to protect our shared border in Calais and to maintain the juxtaposed controls. The French government have repeatedly made it clear that removing the juxtaposed controls would not be in the interests of France.' Last year UK Border Force guards operating on French soil caught 84,088 migrants trying to sneak into Britain a rate of one every six minutes. But the number of illegal immigrants caught coming into Britain hidden in trucks, cars and trains has almost trebled in a year with 6,429 found by the police or immigration officials between April and September 2015. WHY THIS LATEST FRENCH 'SOLUTION' IS DOOMED TO FAIL 1. Centres would become magnet for migrants Allowing migrants to claim asylum in Britain without crossing the Channel would entice thousands more to Calais. At present, many arriving in Europe are discouraged from trying to reach Britain because they know they cannot register claims without sneaking into England on lorries or trains. Instead, they head for the EU's no-borders Schengen zone. Asylum 'hotspots' in France would attract many who would otherwise have gone to countries such as Germany or Sweden. 2. Failed applicants would head to Jungle Asylum seekers turned down by British officials at the hotspots on French soil are likely to try to sneak across on ferries or through the Eurotunnel from the Jungle camp. The EU has a bad record for sending back those found not to be genuine refugees. In June, leaders were presented with figures that showed as few as 6 per cent of those told to go home to Africa last year actually left. More than 55,000 migrants from the top ten nationalities of arrivals to Italy were told to leave, but only 10,440 were returned, data from the EU's official statistics agency Eurostat shows. 3. Claims rise would be bureaucratic burden British officials would be deluged with thousands more asylum claims, creating a bureaucratic nightmare that could require hundreds of Home Office officials to go to France. Many migrants destroy their papers to make it more difficult to judge their claims, so staff would face the difficult task of establishing whether applications were truthful. Of those asylum seekers declined, many would appeal, raising the prospect of makeshift courts having to be set up in the hotspots for judges to rule on the cases. 4. Britain could face a huge bill for camps Building the centres could prove to be costly, especially if they attract huge numbers of migrants wanting to get to Britain. Applications can take months to process, meaning accommodation would be needed for long periods for asylum seekers awaiting a decision. France would likely seek to pass off part of the cost to the British government. Britain has already contributed millions of pounds towards improving security around the ferry port in Calais and Eurotunnel entrance at Coquelles, but handing over cash to make it easier for people to claim asylum in Britain would leave a bitter taste. 5. Hotspots could breed violence THE EU has already built hotspots to process asylum claims on the Greek islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos, but they have created problems from the start. Riot police had to be deployed on Kos in February as angry residents tried to stop construction there. Since March, many of the sites have been turned into detention centres to stop people leaving, but this has led to outbreaks of violence. There have been repeated riots on Lesbos as people take out their frustration at being held and react angrily to being told they face deportation. Tents and blankets were set alight during one such incident in May as a brawl was sparked by a disagreement over the charging of a mobile phone. 6. Risk to rules that allow UK to deport Under EU rules, migrants are required to apply for asylum in the first EU country they enter. Allowing those already in France to register claims with British officials would suggest this system could be scrapped. Britain has so far managed to stop attempts to revise the so-called Dublin Regulation, but such asylum hotspots on French soil could lead to fresh moves to rewrite the rules. Under the current system, the UK is allowed to return migrants to their first point of entry in the continent. More than 12,000 people have been removed from Britain to other European countries under the rules since 2003. The Home Office has previously boasted that this figure is 'many more than we have received in return' from other nations. Advertisement Earlier this month a former head of the UK Border Agency claimed that up to one million illegal immigrants may be living in Britain. Rob Whiteman said many of those who slipped into the country under the radar will never be deported. The Home Office does not know how many migrants are working illegally in the UK. MigrationWatch has suggested that it was more than 1.1million. Mr Bertrand does not have the power to change the Le Touquet treaty, but two candidates from his Republican party in next year's presidential race Nicolas Sarkozy and Alain Juppe have called for reform of the agreement. The current French government is not proposing to scrap the treaty, which was endorsed again by President Francois Hollande only last month, following talks with Theresa May. However, opposition politicians and candidates have raised the prospect of scrapping the deal as they jostle for position ahead of next year's presidential election. Plea to Leavers over People's Challenge to May's Brexit-without-Parliament move Pro-EU campaigners want Leave supporters to help fund their legal challenge aimed at preventing Theresa May from triggering Brexit without parliamentary approval. Around 1,400 people have contributed more than 50,000 to the People's Challenge, meaning the group has hit its first funding target to prepare a written case for the High Court. Crowd-funding organiser Grahame Pigney insists there is a need to "fight suits with suits" and is seeking to raise a further 100,000 to boost the campaign's legal team in court, adding that he is open to Brexit backers joining his cause. Prime Minister Theresa May could use the royal prerogative to trigger Brexit without parliamentary approval Mr Pigney argues that the Prime Minister needs an Act of Parliament to trigger the two-year process of negotiating the UK's withdrawal from the EU. Government lawyers advised in July that the royal prerogative can be used to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - which does not require a vote in Parliament. Reports suggest Mrs May is leaning towards this approach. Mr Pigney, of the Say Yes 2 Europe group, is joined by his 22-year-old son Robert, Gibraltarian national and Brex-In founder Paul Car twright and others in developing the legal challenge. Speaking from France, 62-year-old Mr Pigney told the Press Association: "What we're doing is on behalf of everybody - not just experts, not just on behalf of a few people interested in this, but 65 million citizens in the UK. "They all have these rights. Whether they use them or cherish them, they all have these rights and Parliament needs to make the decision rather than the Government in some sectional, political interests. "I don't see why Leavers can't get behind this as it's about parliamentary sovereignty." Judges have decided a legal challenge over Brexit can be heard by the High Court in October, with London-based investment manager and philanthropist Gina Miller the lead case in the action. The legal action has been described as "the most important constitutional law case in living memory", with the People's Challenge aiming to be involved as an interested party. Mr Pigney, who lives near Carcassonne and was unable to vote in June's referendum after moving to France 19 years ago, is vocal in his backing for the EU and frustration at the referendum result. But he adds that his legal bid is about allowing MPs to decide what happens next. This approach could be a source of frustration for Brexit supporters by adding to their fears that either the UK will not trigger Article 50 or a watered-down approach will be adopted, given that the majority of MPs backed Remain. Mrs May has developed the slogan "Brexit means Brexit" as she seeks to reassure fellow Tory MPs about her commitment to honouring the referendum result despite opting to back Remain. Mr Pigney said he could not deny that he would like the referendum result "ignored" and for people to be allowed to have a chance to "make a more informed decision". But he also said: "If Parliament decides we leave the EU, I cannot argue with that. It's the democratic process. I don't want that to happen. I would like Parliament to have a long, hard think and come to a more sensible conclusion. "If Parliament decides it's going to take us out and set the conditions and timing, I cannot argue with that. "I can argue with Theresa May saying 'Brexit is Brexit', which is as useful as her saying 'Breakfast is breakfast'." Mr Pigney, who said his background includes working in IT, suggeste d MPs need to take "account" of the referendum result, noting: "The referendum was, in effect, a Parliament-organised opinion poll. Parliament has to take it into account." Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said of the legal challenges: "This is ludicrous, it's desperate and it's people who cannot face the truth that Britain's membership of the European community has lost democratic consent and that's what counts." Ukip MP Douglas Carswell suggested those pursuing cases against how the EU referendum result is delivered are "out of touch". He s aid: "It's very clear as a point of law that the Government can trigger Article 50 without a vote in the Commons. Home Secretary to meet French minister amid border control and Jungle fears The Home Secretary is to travel to Paris to meet her French counterpart amid growing fears that the French could axe British border controls in Calais and send the Jungle camp to Dover. Amber Rudd is due to discuss security with French Interior Minster Bernard Cazeneuve during the scheduled trip, which is her first official overseas engagement since taking up the post. It comes after a growing number of prominent French politicians have warned that France might tear up the deal which allows British border checks to be carried out in Calais unless radical changes are made. Migrants on the roof of a lorry along the A16 in Calais Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France Nord Pas De Calais-Picardie region which includes Calais, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme he wants a "new treatment" for asylum seekers trying to get to Britain from France. He said: "If the British Government don't want to open this discussion, we will tell you Touquet Agreement is over." Under the Treaty of Le Touquet, British immigration officials check passports in Calais and their French counterparts do the same in Dover. But the sprawling Calais migrant camp, where thousands live in filthy conditions and each night try to smuggle themselves across the Channel on board lorries heading for Britain, has become the source of resentment among the French. Mr Bertrand wants a new deal in which migrants hoping to claim asylum in the UK would be able to do so at a "hotspot" in France. Those who failed would be deported directly to their country of origin. This would be a radical departure from current rules known as the Dublin Regulation which states that refugees must register in the first European country they arrive in. This country usually takes charge of their asylum claim. Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French leader who is running for his party's nomination for next year's presidential race, has called the opening of a centre in Britain to deal with the asylum seekers. But Sir Peter Ricketts, the former British ambassador to Paris, said the proposals to create hotspots risked attracting many more thousands of migrants to France and placing an extra burden on our already strained asylum system. He said: "As soon as you suggested that, there would be a huge magnet pulling thousands and thousands more migrants into Calais to chance their arm, make an asylum claim, hope that they might get to the UK and good luck. "So it wouldn't help the French deal with the problem of thousands of people in Calais. It might make it worse - I think it would make it worse, almost certainly." He also warned that the entire asylum system is under "huge pressure" and said that, if the Right win next year's presidential election, "the British Government is going to have to deal with a pretty serious conversation about the future of the Le Touquet Agreement". John Vine, the former independent inspector of borders and immigration, echoed these concerns, saying there is a danger it will "encourage, potentially, more people to travel through France if they feel it is easier to get to Britain". He said: "If this arrangement were to end, one of the biggest impacts on us would be potentially a rise in the number of people coming to Britain to claim asylum." He added: "The arrangement benefits Britain enormously at the moment, so any diminution of the arrangement would have an impact on border control and asylum policy." Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, said: "Axing the treaty altogether would be a disaster for France and Britain. It would simply force the ferries and Tunnel to become border guards - meaning higher ticket prices and longer queues. "We need order at the border. That means both Britain and France must work together to deal with the causes of the problem once and for all." Despite fears over the future of the treaty, it is not on the agenda of Mrs Rudd's meeting with Mr Cazeneuve. A Home Office spokesman said: "The Home Secretary will be meeting the Interior Minister in Paris on Tuesday as the two countries continue the close partnership we have enjoyed for many years. The two ministers will discuss a broad range of issues related to security. "We remain committed to working together to protect our shared border in Calais and to maintain the juxtaposed controls. "The French government has repeatedly made it clear that removing the juxtaposed controls would not be in the interests of France. The French President (Francois Hollande) reiterated this again at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister on 21 July. "We firmly believe in the established principle, enshrined in the Dublin Regulation, that those in need of protection should seek asylum in the first safe country they enter." Mr Elphicke told the Press Association that axing the treaty "would simply not work" and instead it should be strengthened so migrants can be efficiently registered and either given asylum or sent back to their homeland. He said: "For too long the symptoms have been addressed with big fences, we need to deal with the actual causes and to deal with the Jungle which is a magnet for migrants, and deal with the people traffickers who are selling stories of how they ought to go to Britain." He said he has sent Mrs Rudd two reports, one calling for the Royal Navy to bolster patrols along the south coast to intercept people smugglers and another urging the dismantling of the Jungle. He said: "The first was the case of setting up a new Dover patrol, a Sea Marshal force, to guard the English Channel and stop small craft trafficking people to the beaches of Kent and Sussex - a force led by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. "Then my second report was setting out the case for a new treaty focusing on dismantling the Jungle and targeting people traffickers and the evil trade in modern slavery, protecting lorries and international transit and to make sure that there is a centre to help migrants at Calais Jungle get back to their home nations." The Dover MP is due to have a meeting with ministers in the next couple of weeks to discuss the plans in more detail. Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "The crisis in Calais is due to the failure of successive French presidents to deal with the issue of illegal migration. "Mr Sarkozy seeks to tear up an international agreement which he himself signed. "His proposal is irresponsible and I hope that Theresa May and President (Francois) Hollande will issue a strong statement in support of the current arrangements when they meet shortly in Beijing." Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "The French and British governments have both failed to deal with the pile-up of refugees in Calais over the last year, and we're now facing the consequences of that failure. "But Sarkozy with his desperate little speech at Le Touquet is trying to grub around in the gutter for votes to win his presidential primary. It won't work and trying to mimick the nasty rhetoric of Marine Le Pen is not a recipe for success. He just looks like a hypocrite. Emily Thornberry 'disgusted' at Labour bid to end Corbyn leadership The shadow foreign secretary has accused the Labour Party hierarchy of trying to "quash" Jeremy Corbyn's leadership "and put the members back in their box". Emily Thornberry said she was "disgusted" at attempts to block Mr Corbyn from being put on the leadership ballot paper because he did not have enough support among MPs. And she accused some in the party of doing their "level best" to deny the flood of new members and supporters the equal chance to make their voices heard in the looming leadership contest. Emily Thornberry has launched a stinging attack on Labour's NEC The Labour MP, whose Islington South constituency borders Mr Corbyn's in Islington North, launched the outspoken attack in a Facebook post to local party members. It comes amid continuing division and bitterness within the party as Owen Smith takes on Mr Corbyn in the leadership contest. She confirmed she will be voting for Mr Corbyn in the upcoming election and hit out at the failed High Court bid to stop him being placed automatically on the leadership ballot papers. Mrs Thornberry wrote: "Here we are now, less than a year after Jeremy's overwhelming victory, and the party hierarchy - through decisions of the National Executive Committee - is attempting to overturn that result, quash Jeremy's mandate, and put the party's members back in their box. "And they are doing so in the most naked way. "I was disgusted to see the attempts to try to stop Jeremy from getting on the ballot. And then, if that wasn't bad enough, hundreds of thousands of fully paid-up Labour party members were excluded from taking part in the election, having been told the opposite when they joined. "Third, your membership fees were spent on securing that decision through the courts. And then lastly, registered supporters, who had been told they could be involved in the leadership election, were then told that they must increase their donation to 25 within two days to remain eligible for a vote." She added: "In short, some people have done their level best to deny the party's full membership a fair and equal vote in this contest, or even the chance to make their voices heard. "Instead of welcoming the enthusiasm of our new members, instead of celebrating the strength of our mass membership, they have been behaving as if it is something to be afraid of." She accused sections of the Labour Party of "turning their back" on the surge of new members and supporters who have signed up to the party rather than harnessing their energy. And she said that in the wake of the historic Brexit vote it is more important than ever for the party to unite and present a viable opposition. She wrote: "I believed that this was a time for people to unite and think of the country, not to turn inwards and indulge in a coup attempt against a leader elected with an overwhelming mandate less than a year ago. "It will therefore come as no surprise to my local party to learn that, having remained totally loyal to the democratically-elected leader of our party since his election, I will stay loyal to Jeremy during the contest that has arisen from that coup, and he will have my vote in this election." And she warned the growing divide between the party hierarchy and its members could see the Labour Party repeat mistakes made under Tony Blair when the rank and file members were left "alienated, demoralised and ignored". Her comments come after shadow chancellor John McDonnell accused Labour officials of carrying out a "purge" of Mr Corbyn's supporters after a prominent union chief was suspended. Mr McDonnell said the decision to suspend bakers' union chief Ronnie Draper was "shocking" and accused party officials of "double standards". Rio kayak gold medallist Joe Clarke floats on human tide during victory parade Great Britain's canoe slalom gold medallist Joe Clarke got back in a kayak for the first time since Rio - for his victory parade. The 23-year-old was able to let some of his home-town crowd take the strain as he was carried along by hand this time, rather than the choppy white waters of Brazil. As tradition dictates he was hoisted aloft in his kayak by canoeing colleagues along part of the route in Stone where he grew up in Staffordshire on Monday, as about 2,500 well-wishers cheered him on. Joe Clarke, K1 Canoe Olympic gold medalist at the Rio games, in his canoe after being hoisted aloft for his home-coming parade in Stone, Staffordshire For Clarke it marked a victorious return to Stafford and Stone Canoe Club in Westbridge Park, where he first cut his teeth in a kayak on the River Trent. He told the crowd that he had had "a bit greasy food" and "a few beers" following his victory but would soon be back in the gym ready to defend his title in Tokyo in four years time. Clarke, who said he was "overwhelmed" by the turnout, said: "I'm going again and I won't let it go again easily so, as a reigning Olympic champion I'm going to go out there and try and repeat my success." He added: "I don't like losing so when I get back into training I want to be top dog again." His nan Betty Clarke watched as her grandson was carried around the park, cheered by flag-waving revellers. The 75-year-old revealed she had once tried her hand with a canoe and an oar as a Girl Guiding leader. She said: "I did canoe once. "I was a Guides leader and we went to the swimming baths in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and did the capsize drill. "That was enough for me." She added: "I am so proud of him." Following Clarke's triumph on the water where he took gold by 0.17 seconds, the club's members painted its letter box and flag pole gold to honour his Rio Olympics win on August 10. The kayaker and former Scout only got a place in the club aged 11 after beating 60 other applicants for one of the few available slots, before breaking into the Great Britain junior team in 2009. 'Comic genius' Gene Wilder, the face of candy man Willy Wonka, dies aged 83 Willy Wonka star Gene Wilder has died aged 83. The Hollywood actor, known for roles in comedy classics such as Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles, has been hailed a "comic genius" and one of the "great talents" of his generation. Wilder's nephew said he died late on Sunday at his home in Stamford, Connecticut, having suffered from Alzheimer's disease, the Associated Press reported. Gene Wilder played many memorable roles including that of Willy Wonka Jordan Walker-Pearlman said Wilder was diagnosed with the disease three years ago, but kept the condition private so as not to disappoint fans. Mr Walker-Pearlman said: "He simply couldn't bear the idea of one less smile in the world." Wilder's friend Mel Brooks, who directed The Producers, the classic comedy in which Wilder starred, said on Twitter: "Gene Wilder-One of the truly great talents of our time. He blessed every film we did with his magic & he blessed me with his friendship." Comedian and presenter Dara O Briain tweeted: " Gene Wilder has died. Sad news, but such a life well lived. For me, Young Frankenstein just pips Wonka, but so many wonderful performances. "Expecting to hear people were fans of Blazing Saddles, Producers and Stir Crazy, but amazing number going for See No Evil, Hear No Evil." Stephen Fry tweeted: " Farewell #GeneWilder, comic genius. Thank you for all those happy happy hours." One of Wilder's best known films is Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, in which he plays Roald Dahl's enchanting candy man. Actor Zach Braff posted a short clip from the Willy Wonka film and wrote: "RIP to the legendary Gene Wilder. 2016 has been painful so far." This year has seen a long list of celebrity deaths including David Bowie, Ronnie Corbett and Victoria Wood. Wilder was close friends with Richard Pryor and the pair were an ideal comedy double act. They co-starred in four films: Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Another You. In 1968, Wilder received an Oscar nomination for his work in Brooks' The Producers in which he played the introverted Leo Bloom. Millions knew Wilder for his collaborations with Brooks on The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein. The last film - with Wilder playing a California-born descendant of the scientist, insisting that his name is pronounced "Frahn-ken-Shteen" - was co-written by Brooks and Wilder. Actor Jim Carrey added: "Gene Wilder was one of the funniest and sweetest energies ever to take a human form. If there's a heaven he has a Golden Ticket." Singer Josh Groban tweeted: "Thank you Gene Wilder for the wonderful, the weird, the pure imagination. One of my greatest heroes." Actor Russell Crowe said he saw Blazing Saddles seven times at the cinema with his school friends, adding: "Gene Wilder you were a genius. Rest in Peace." Gene Wilder signs his book Kiss Me Like A Stranger at Waterstone's in Oxford Street, London, in 2005 The cast of Silver Streak, the film chosen for the 31st Royal Film Performance, from bottom left: Scatman Crothers, Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor and Jill Clayburgh, in 1977 Actors John Gordon Sinclair, left, who stars as Leo Bloom in the stage version of The Producers, and Gene Wilder, who played Leo Bloom, in the original film version, pictured in 2005 U.S. condemns move of Venezuela ex-mayor to prison from house arrest WASHINGTON, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The United States on Sunday condemned the Venezuelan government's decision to move Daniel Ceballos, a former opposition mayor accused of fomenting protests, to prison from house arrest and called for his immediate release. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Ceballos's transfer on Saturday "represents an effort to intimidate and impede the Venezuelan people's right to peacefully express their opinion Sept. 1," when the opposition plans a major demonstration against the government of President Nicolas Maduro. 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. 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 in the capital Caracas at around 3 a.m. on Saturday saying they were going to conduct a medical exam for her husband, who was granted house arrest in 2015 for health reasons. The interior ministry said Ceballos' house arrest had been suspended because he had attempted to escape from his home and planned to stir up violence at the Sept. 1 demonstration. "The United States is deeply disturbed by the Venezuelan government's decision to move opposition leader Daniel Ceballos from house arrest to prison," Kirby said in a statement. "The basic underpinnings of the rule of law in Venezuela have degraded to an alarming degree. There is no place in a democratic society for employing the instruments of the state to bully, intimidate and silence the political opposition," he said. 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. Brazil's Dilma Rousseff takes stand in impeachment trial By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Suspended President Dilma Rousseff will make a last stand in Brazil's Senate on Monday in an impeachment trial that is widely expected to remove her from office and end more than a decade of leftist rule by her Workers Party. Rousseff, who is being impeached on charges of breaking budget laws, has denied wrongdoing and denounced the nine-month impeachment process that has paralyzed Brazilian politics as a conspiracy to overthrow her and roll back policies that have favored Brazil's poor during 13 years of Workers Party governments. But a deep recession that many Brazilians blame her for and a huge corruption scandal involving state-run energy company Petrobras have undermined Rousseff's popularity since she was re-elected in 2014. Her vice president, Michel Temer, has been interim president since mid-May, when Rousseff was suspended after Congress decided it would continue the impeachment process that began in the lower house. If the Senate convicts Rousseff on Tuesday or Wednesday as expected, Temer, 75, will be sworn in to serve out the rest of her term through 2018. His business-friendly government vows to take unpopular austerity measures to plug a growing fiscal deficit that cost Brazil its investment-grade credit rating last year. "She will appeal to undecided senators to respect democracy and stop the coup that is under way," a spokesman for Rousseff told Reuters. "She is in good spirits." In her 30-minute speech, the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Rousseff, 68, would point to a lifetime fighting for democracy, from her arrest and torture by a military dictatorship for belonging to a left-wing guerrilla group to election as Brazil's first female president. Twenty of her former Cabinet ministers will support her from the Senate gallery, along with her political mentor and former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, founder of the Workers Party. With the odds stacked against her, Rousseff's testimony appears to be aimed at making a point for the history books that her impeachment was a travesty rather than a bid to sway the 81-seat Senate to block her eviction from office. FIFTY-FOUR VOTES NEEDED TO CONVICT Temer is confident he has the two-thirds of the chamber needed to remove Rousseff, and he has planned an address to the nation on Wednesday before heading to China to attend the summit of the G20 group of leading economies. "We need 54 votes, and we expect to get at least 60," Temer's press spokesman, Marcio de Freitas, told Reuters. He said the more votes Temer got, the stronger would be his mandate to take the difficult measures needed to restore confidence in Brazil's economy, caught in a two-year recession. A survey published by O Globo newspaper on Sunday showed 53 senators would vote against Rousseff and only 18 would back her - 10 short of the 28 she needs to avoid being ousted. Ten senators have not stated a position or were not polled. Even senators not convinced the accounting charges brought against Rousseff warrant her impeachment have decided to vote against her because they see her return to the presidency prolonging Brazil's political crisis. "I will vote against her even though I think it is a tragedy to get rid of an elected president, but another 2-1/2 years of a Dilma government would be worse," centrist Senator Cristovam Buarque said in a phone interview. Rousseff has lost her base of support in Congress and can no longer run the country effectively, he said. Senator Helio Jose, who was the Rousseff government's deputy whip in the Senate, has not declared his vote. But he said in a telephone interview that Temer was doing a good job restoring stability since he took over from Rousseff. Australian aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan released SYDNEY, Aug 29 (Reuters) - An Australian aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan in April has been released and is "safe and well," Australia's foreign minister said on Monday. Kidnapping is a major problem in Afghanistan, where several foreigners have been abducted in recent years, although Afghans are the worst affected. Money is the main motive. The Australian, Kerry Jane Wilson, who was taken by two armed men from the offices of a charity in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, has been freed, Julie Bishop confirmed in an emailed statement. "I deeply appreciate the work of the authorities in Afghanistan whose support and assistance facilitated her release," Bishop said, adding that no further details would be provided about the circumstances of the release. Kidnapping has become a lucrative source of income for militant Islamist groups in recent years, and the topic of whether to pay for their release is hotly debated. Australia does not pay ransom to kidnappers, as a matter of policy, Bishop said in April. Earlier in August an Australian and an American, both teachers at the American University of Afghanistan, were kidnapped in the capital, Kabul. Since June, two Indian aid workers have been kidnapped in Kabul and released after being held for several weeks each. Kerry in Bangladesh for talks on security, human rights By Lesley Wroughton DHAKA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Bangladesh on Monday to discuss security cooperation after a series of killings by Islamist militants, as well as economic development and human rights. Kerry will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition and civic leaders during the one-day visit, his first to Bangladesh as secretary of state. While security cooperation between the United States and Bangladesh is not new, the Bangladeshi government has insisted the latest attacks, including the recent killings at a cafe that targeted non-Muslims and foreigners, are the work of homegrown groups. Washington believes the killings carry the hallmarks of Islamic State and al Qaeda, and worries that such attacks could drive away investment in a country fighting widespread poverty. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the July 1 attack on the cafe in the capital Dhaka in which 22 people were killed, mostly non-Muslims and foreigners, including one American. It was the worst militant attack in the country's history. Bangladesh police believe that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, was involved in organising that attack. On Saturday, security forces killed three Islamist militants, including a Bangladeshi-born Canadian citizen called Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury who was accused of masterminding the assault on cafe. "In the past several months there has been an intensification of the dialogue" on security, a senior State Department official said ahead of the visit. "We are deepening that partnership and engaging with both civilian law enforcement bodies and with the military," the official added. Michael Kugelman of The Wilson Center, a Washington-based think tank, said the U.S administration has not paid enough attention to the growing terror threats in Bangladesh, which is now impacting Americans. "It has arguably taken its eye off the ball even as this threat has begun to directly affect Americans," he said. Reuters Health News Summary Following is a summary of current health news briefs. Togo slaughters 11,500 chickens after H5N1 bird flu outbreak Togolese authorities said on Saturday they had slaughtered 11,500 chickens in response to an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu at two farms in the capital Lome and the town of Adetikope, about 25 km north of Lome. "We are in the presence of the H5N1 virus," Agriculture Minister Ouro-Koura Agadazi said on public radio, after the strain was confirmed by laboratory tests in Italy. More U.S. counties to see Obamacare marketplace monopoly: analysis Nearly a third of U.S. counties will likely be served by only one insurer that participates in an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace in 2017, according to an analysis published Sunday by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The 31 percent of U.S. counties that will have just a single option of insurers within the ACA's exchanges would represent an increase from 7 percent this year, the nonpartisan group found. FDA recommends Zika testing for all blood donated in U.S. The U.S. 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. The agency said its decision to expand blood screening in the United States was based on concerns about more cases of local transmission in Florida, the growing number of travel-related infections and concerns that Zika-tainted blood could unwittingly be given to a pregnant woman, putting her unborn baby at risk of severe birth defects. Singapore confirms first case of locally transmitted Zika virus 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. Singapore confirms 41 cases of locally transmitted Zika virus Vienna Airport says glitch that disrupted dozens of flights resolved VIENNA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Data transmission problems that caused the delay or cancellation of dozens of flights on Sunday have been resolved, Vienna Airport said, with its flight schedule having returned to normal. "Austrian air traffic control has solved the issue," the airport said on its website early on Monday. "At the moment there are no delayed or cancelled flights. We advise passengers to contact their airline." The automated transfer of flight planning data between air traffic control centres in Brussels and Vienna collapsed completely for a while on Sunday afternoon, said a spokesman for Austro Control, which monitors Austrian air space. On Sunday afternoon, Vienna Airport said it had cancelled or delayed 113 flights to or from Vienna because of problems with automated flight data transmission, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. No other airport was affected, the Austro Control spokesman has said, adding there was no indication of a hacker attack. Answers Africa is one of a kind platform created for Africans both locally and in the diaspora and those seeking for more in-depth information about Africa. We have always focused on creating the highest quality informational contents right from the beginning. We share the most relevant information on the latest and trending news, events, people, and places in Africa. We produce contents across various categories including Politics, People, Love and Romance, Nature, Entertainment, Technology and pretty much everything else that Africans may find relevant. 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Nayyera Haqs Bio What To Know About Her Husband, Parents And Family Nayyera Haq can take anyone on political debates as well as discussions on social issues affecting many. Her ability to masterfully deliver her stance on every issue or political debate has made her a regular face in morning and evening news media platforms. This is not a common feat especially for someone from her kind ... Inside Guy Fieris Family With Wife, Kids and Sister Who Died of Cancer Over the years we have seen men dominate the kitchen and churn out amazing delicacies from it. Some do it way better than their female counterparts and one of such men is Guy Ramsay Fieri an American TV host, celebrity chef, restaurant owner, bestselling author of four culinary books, and game show host. His ... Meet Phil Mudd of CNN The Former CIA and FBI Exec, Is He Married, Who Is The Wife? When it comes to discussing issues surrounding terrorism, American Counterterrorism and National Security Expert, Phil Mudd, occupies a globally significant position. He has voiced his interest in the fight against terrorism and insecurity on many popular media platforms, both print and broadcast, such as CNN, BBC, CBS, MSNBC, al-Jazeera, ABC, NBC, Fox, The New York Times, ... Jim Hoffer: Biography, Wife Mika Brzezinski, Children and Net Worth Jim Hoffer is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works as an investigative reporter for Eyewitness News, New York City. In his over two decades of investigative journalism, Hoffer has been at the front lines of several crucial stories from the 9/11 attack to the crash of American Flight 587 to the 2003 Blackout. On top of ... The Ups and Downs of Erin Mcpikes Journalism Career and Other Facts About Her Personal Life Erin McPike is a journalist working for the Independent Journal Review (IJR) as a White House Correspondent but she gained widespread recognition for her coverage of general news. Whether its breaking news or some mainstream story, McPike has a reputation of baring the facts. As a journalist, her work as a White House Correspondent for Independent ... Bert Kreischer Is Married To LeeAnn Kreischer With 2 Kids Meet His Family Those familiar with Bert Kreischer mainly have the image of a large-bellied party man whose college life inspired the National Lampoon film, Van Wilder. It is an image that one would not naturally associate with a wholesome family. The standup comedian still maintains his wild party animal image on stage. But, back at home, he is ... How Brendan Greene Became a Game Designer to Look Out For and Facts About His Failed Marriage The name Brendan Greene may not easily ring a bell in the larger society but for gaming enthusiasts, he is considered a god and this is because of his invention of the video game, Player Unknowns Battlegrounds, also called PUBG. Based on the popular last-man-standing/battle royale concept, Greenes creation has taken the gaming world by ... WFAAs Sonia Azad Bio Does The Reporter Have A Husband Or Boyfriend? Emmy Award-winning journalist and Health & Wellness reporter Sonia Azad is on the news segment News 8 Daybreak for the television station WFAA-TV in Dallas, Texas, a channel which she joined in October of 2015. Besides her time on the news, Azad is also a marathon runner and a certified yoga instructor. She has covered major news ... This Is Everything You Should Know About Caroline Heldman, Her Career Portfolio and Other Facts Love it or hate it, there is no escaping the fact that feminism has come to stay in our world. The movement has continued to garner momentum over the years and this is due to the sustained push by several women, and even men, including the likes of Caroline Heldman. A Professor of Politics at ... Understanding The Enigma That Is Gavin McInnes, The Controversies He Has Stirred and All About His Wife Gavin McInnes is a polemical English-born writer and TV personality, who is best known for his racist and fascist ideologies, as well as his co-ownership of Vice Media and Vice Magazine. He is also an actor a Australian aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan freed SYDNEY/KABUL, Aug 29 (Reuters) - An Australian aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan four months ago was freed following a raid by Afghan special forces near the eastern city of Jalalabad, officials said on Monday. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed in a statement that Kerry Jane Wilson, who was taken by two armed men from the offices of a charity in Jalalabad in April, had been freed and was "safe and well". A spokesman for Australia's foreign ministry declined to provide details but Afghanistan's National Directorate for Security said in a statement Wilson had been freed on Sunday night after a raid by special forces. Four people were arrested. "I deeply appreciate the work of the authorities in Afghanistan whose support and assistance facilitated her release," Bishop said, adding that no further details would be provided about the circumstances of the release. Kidnapping for ransom has long been a problem in Afghanistan, affecting Afghans more than foreigners, and it has become a lucrative source of income for militant Islamist groups in recent years. The question of whether to pay ransom is hotly debated. Australia does not pay ransom to kidnappers, as a matter of policy, Bishop said in April. This month, an Australian and an American, both teachers at the American University of Afghanistan, were kidnapped in the capital, Kabul. They are still missing. Since June, two Indian aid workers have been kidnapped in Kabul and released after being held for several weeks each. New tans, same old "polycrisis" as Europe's summer ends By Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS, Aug 28 (Reuters) - The European Union grinds back into action this week after its August break, still dazed by Britain's midsummer vote to quit the EU and facing much the same "polycrisis" as a year ago: a mass of refugees, a fragile economy, hostile Russians and, yes, those Brits, now more awkward than ever. When President Jean-Claude Juncker makes his annual State of the Union address to Parliament in Strasbourg on Sept. 14, he might easily repeat last year's warning: the EU had a "last chance" to save itself from a tide of centrifugal nationalisms. Last week, the EU's remaining Big Three -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and their host, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi -- felt they needed to renew their vows at the wellspring of the union, the island of Ventotene, where in 1941 prisoners of Mussolini wrote a manifesto for a united Europe. That they met on the deck of the aircraft carrier Garibaldi reinforced the sense of beleaguered leaders rallying to the EU's defence as they contemplated an obstacle-strewn political calendar for the year ahead. The EU leaders are first preparing for a summit on Sept. 16 in Bratislava -- without Britain -- that aims to sketch out a post-Brexit future for the Union. On Oct. 2, Hungary's right-wing prime minister, Viktor Orban, is set to deliver another slap to Brussels: a largely symbolic referendum to reject an EU quota system for relocating refugees among member states -- a scheme Juncker invested much capital in a year ago, but which has barely got off the ground. TRUMP On Nov. 8, Orban is hoping for victory for a man he calls the "valiant" Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election. Few of Orban's EU peers are so enthusiastic. They see Trump as a disruptive maverick whose endorsement of and by Brexiteer-in-chief Nigel Farage marks him as no friend of the Union. A Trump win could snap a transatlantic coalition on Russia that is already fraying in Europe, where governments from Paris to Bratislava are seeking a review of Ukraine-related sanctions when measures expire at year's end. Trump might also inject a new dose of post-Brexit uncertainty for world trade. At home, all the Big Three leaders face their own electoral challenges from eurosceptics. It starts with Renzi, today trying to persuade Italians he has the youthful energy for rebuilding after the latest earthquake in the Apennines, unlike the scandal-tainted Silvio Berlusconi at L'Aquila in 2009, when more than 300 people died. Probably in November, Renzi will put to a referendum the constitutional reforms he says are needed to break a political deadlock that is choking the Italian economy. Polls are tight and the eurosceptic upstarts 5-Star are gunning for the socialist premier, who is expected to resign if he loses. Hollande is threatened with a drubbing on April 23 at the hands of far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen in the first round of France's presidential election. Her appeal has been enhanced by Islamic State carnage in Paris and Nice and the summer row about burkinis on the beaches, although pollsters doubt she can win a May 7 runoff vote against Hollande or any other survivor from a mainstream party. As for Merkel, she has yet to confirm she wants a fourth term at parliamentary elections due in just over a year. The biggest threat to her re-election remains her decision last year to welcome a million migrants to Germany as EU borders buckled. That has already weakened support for her conservative party. HARDBALL Such threats to domestic survival have often spurred leaders to take potshots at Brussels -- even if only the British have taken it to the length of turning most voters against the EU entirely. But even if little has changed in Brussels since last summer, optimists might see reason to hope for more unity now. While rows go on about how, indeed whether, EU states should share out the burden of asylum-seekers stranded in Greece and Italy, what is new is how few are arriving, at least in Greece. Rights groups were outraged this year by hard-nosed deals with non-EU Balkan states to bar the routes north from Greece and with Turkey to stop Syrian refugees reaching Greece in the first place. But those deals did slash the numbers arriving. It's something EU officials find hard to boast of. Many admit privately to unease at policies that, along with efforts to pay African governments to stop people setting off for Italy, sit uncomfortably with the Union's lofty humanitarian ideals. But look again at Merkel, Hollande and Renzi on the Garibaldi, flagship of an EU mission off Libya that is part rescue operation and military deterrent against people smugglers, and a slightly different image of today's EU emerges. EU ARMY All three spoke of Europe getting tougher and more cohesive on security. It is the kind of language that may resonate with sceptical voters dissatisfied with Europe's struggle to thrive in a globalising world and with the likes of Orban and other eastern leaders alarmed by Merkel's earlier open-door policy. Relieved of the need to keep Britons from bolting, Juncker wrung howls of outrage last week from London's europhobic press when he called national borders "the worst invention ever". He also renewed his call for a "European army", which was long just a pipe dream for the Luxemburger as long as Britain had a veto. The past few days have seen Merkel and a succession of other leaders she has met, including Orban, echo such hopes of joint military structures, indicating one area where EU integration may now forge ahead in response to the British departure. That still leaves a host of issues dividing European leaders in the coming year: whether to be nice or nasty to Britain once it decides to open negotiations; how to shore up weaknesses in the economic cooperation that underpins the euro; how far to ease sanctions in the hope of better ties with Moscow. China to publish debt-to-equity plan soon - media SHANGHAI, Aug 29 (Reuters) - China could allow industrial firms to convert their debts into equity stakes as early as next month, with the government now putting the finishing touches to a new plan, the official China Securities Journal reported on Monday. The newspaper said China's cabinet, the State Council, was currently finalising plans to allow "firms in the real economy with development potential" to convert their debt into equity. Debt has emerged as one of China's biggest challenges, with the total load rising to 250 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) last year. The International Monetary Fund warned in June that China's high corporate debt ratio of 145 percent of GDP could erode economic growth if not addressed. In a bid to rejuvenate its economy, China is aiming to eliminate failing, debt-ridden firms, but it has also pledged to help "restructure" companies that are suffering severe operational challenges but remain basically competitive. Officials have insisted that the new debt-to-equity programme would not be used to prop up so-called "zombie enterprises", those that would not survive without life support from local banks and governments. However, experts have expressed concern that governments could still use the scheme to bail out failing SOEs. Financial magazine Caixin reported earlier this month that Sinosteel, a debt-stricken state metals trader, had drawn up a debt-to-equity swap plan and was now waiting for China's cabinet to give its approval. The magazine also reported that Bohai Steel Group, which holds liabilities of 192 billion yuan ($28.78 billion) from 105 creditors, could be about to reach a deal with the local government to restructure its debts. In a report published on Monday, Fitch Ratings said the criteria by which firms are deemed eligible for debt-to-equity swaps remain unclear, adding that local governments may use it to shore up zombie firms in a bid to protect employment and ease local debt risks. Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on Aug 29 PRAGUE, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Monday. ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA========================== Real-time economic data releases.................... Summary of economic data and forecasts........... Recently released economic data.................. Previous stories on Czech data............. **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/2E/events-overview ==========================NEWS================================== GAS: Slovakia will remain a gas transit route even if Russia's Gazprom and its European partners build the Nord Stream 2 pipeline bypassing Ukraine, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said late on Thursday. Story: Related stories: CEE MARKETS: The zloty and Polish stocks briefly touched 4-week lows on Friday after Moody's issued a warning over Warsaw's tension with the European Commission, preparing investors for a possible rating downgrade. Story: Related stories: ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change close on day in 2016 vs Euro 27.001 27.003 0.01 -0.01 vs Dollar 24.111 23.897 -0.9 3.02 Czech Equities 853.19 853.19 -0.3 -10.78 U.S. Equities 18,395.4 18,448.41 -0.29 5.57 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 GMT =============================PRESS DIGEST======================= INFRASTRUCTURE: The government will discuss public contracts for the construction of new highway sections worth an estimated 21 billion crowns ($870.79 million) on Wednesday. Hospodarske Noviny, page 3 (Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy.) For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX For updates on CEE currencies TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets Prague Newsroom: +420 224 190 477 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com ($1 = 24.1160 Czech crowns) (Reporting by Prague Newsroom) Romania - Factors to watch on August 29 Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Monday. DEBT ISSUANCE The finance ministry is expected to unveil debt issuance plans for September. . CEE MARKETS The zloty and Polish stocks briefly touched 4-week lows on Friday after Moody's issued a warning over Warsaw's tension with the European Commission, preparing investors for a possible rating downgrade. QUAKE Eleven Romanians died in the earthquake in central Italy last week, and four people were still unaccounted for, the foreign ministry said on Sunday. For the long-term Romanian diary, click on For emerging markets economic events, click on For an index of all diaries, click on Shares in Kenya's two biggest banks fall for third session after rate caps NAIROBI, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Shares in KCB Group,, Kenya's biggest bank by assets, and Equity Bank, the biggest in terms of number of customers, fell sharply on Monday for a third consecutive session as investors reacted further to a government move to cap commercial lending rates. By 0647 GMT, shares in KCB and Equity were both down 9.3 percent on the Nairobi Securities Exchange at 24.50 shillings and 26.75 shillings respectively. Co-operative Bank of Kenya dropped 9.7 percent to 9.75 shillings, while NIC Bank fell 8.3 percent to 22.00 shillings. President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday signed into law a bill capping commercial bank lending rates in a bid to boost the economy. Turkish forces deepen push into Syria, draw U.S. rebuke over their target By Lisa Barrington and Umit Bektas BEIRUT/KARKAMIS, Turkey, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Turkish-backed forces pushed deeper into northern Syria on Monday and drew a rebuke from NATO ally the United States, which said it was concerned the battle for territory had shifted away from targeting Islamic State. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter called on Turkey to stay focused on fighting Islamic State militants and not to target Kurdish elements of Syrian rebel forces, which Washington backs. The White House said a continued Turkish push would complicate the fight against Islamic State. At the start of Turkey's now almost week-long cross-border offensive, Turkish tanks, artillery and warplanes provided Syrian rebel allies with the firepower to capture swiftly the Syrian frontier town of Jarablus from Islamic State militants. Since then, Turkish forces have mainly pushed into areas controlled by fighters aligned to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition that encompasses the Kurdish YPG militia and which has been backed by Washington to fight the jihadists. "Turkey is determined to take steps to guarantee its citizens' security at home and in neighbouring countries," President Tayyip Erdogan said in a message on the eve of Tuesday's national Victory Day holiday. Operations would continue until all threats, including from the YPG, were removed, he said. A group monitoring the tangled, five-year-old conflict in Syria said 41 people were killed by Turkish air strikes as Turkish forces pushed south on Sunday. Turkey denied there were civilian deaths, saying 25 Kurdish militants had been killed. "We have called upon Turkey ... to stay focused on the fight against ISIL and not to engage Syrian Defense Forces, and we've had a number of contacts over the last several days," Carter said in a media briefing, using an acronym for Islamic State. The Pentagon described the clashes, which it said were in areas where Islamic State is not located, as "unacceptable and a source of deep concern" and called on all sides to stand down. Turkey, which is battling a Kurdish insurgency on its soil, has said its campaign has a dual goal of "cleansing" the region of Islamic State and stopping Kurdish forces filling the void and extending the area they control near Turkey's border. That has put Ankara at odds with Washington and adds to tensions when Turkey is still reeling from last month's failed coup, which it says Washington was too slow to condemn. The White House said President Barack Obama would meet Erdogan on Sept. 4 ahead of a G20 summit in China. At a news conference on Monday with a visiting European official, Turkish European Affairs Minister Omer Celik said: "No one has the right to tell us which terrorist organisation we can fight against." He did not however mention the U.S. comments. Turkish-backed forces advanced on Manbij, a city about 30 km (20 miles) south of Turkey's border captured this month by the SDF with U.S. help. The Turkish military said it was also shifting operations westwards, which would take it into territory still under Islamic State control. The army destroyed eight Islamic State targets with cross-border artillery fire after rockets from Syria hit the Turkish border town of Kilis, some 80 km (50 miles) to the west, a Turkish military source said. The operations have left Turkey exposed to reprisal attacks by Islamic State and Kurdish militants, both blamed for a string of bombings over the past year. The U.S. State Department said on Monday it continues to warn U.S. citizens of an increased threat from terrorist groups throughout Turkey. "ETHNIC CLEANSING" SDF-aligned militia said they were reinforcing Manbij but insisted none of the troops in the region or the extra fighters heading to the city were from the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia. Turkey has said its warplanes and artillery have bombarded positions held by the Kurdish YPG militia in recent days. It accuses the YPG of seeking to take territory where there has not traditionally been a strong Kurdish ethnic contingent. "The YPG is engaged in ethnic cleansing, they are placing who they want to in those places," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in Ankara, demanding Kurdish forces withdraw east of the Euphrates river, a natural boundary with areas of eastern Syria under Kurdish control. The YPG, a powerful Syrian Kurdish militia in the SDF that Washington sees as a reliable ally against jihadists in the Syrian conflict, have dismissed the Turkish allegation and say any of its forces west of the Euphrates have long since left. "Turkey's claims that it is fighting the YPG west of the Euphrates have no basis in truth and are merely flimsy pretexts to widen its occupation of Syrian land," Redur Xelil, chief spokesman for the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, told Reuters. U.S. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said the United States had demanded the YPG return to the eastern side of the Euphrates but said Washington understood this had "largely occurred". Turkey has not spelled out if it wants to have a "buffer zone" in the region where it is fighting in north Syria. The region lies between two Kurdish-controlled cantons - one east of the Euphrates and the other to the west near the Mediterranean. But Ankara fears that, if Kurdish militia create an unbroken swathe of territory, it could embolden the Kurdish militant PKK group which has fought a three-decade-long insurgency on Turkish soil to demand autonomy in Turkey's southeast. Philippines' Duterte offers reward for corrupt police linked to drugs MANILA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday promised rewards running to tens of thousands of dollars for information leading to the capture of police officers protecting drug syndicates and warned corrupt officials they would face "a day of reckoning". In a National Heroes Day speech, Duterte said there would be no let-up in a "war on drugs" in which - according to police figures - more than 1,900 people have been killed since he came to power two months ago. Police say the toll of about 36 people a day is a result of drug dealers resisting arrest or gang feuds. Duterte railed against critics who have complained that the poor who trade drugs to make a living are being targeted by the police, but added that army generals, city mayors, governors and police involved in the drug trade must also be stopped. "I consider the fight against drugs a war, there is a crisis in this country, it is drugs ... it has infected every nook and corner," he said in the speech to retired and serving soldiers, government officials and foreign diplomats. Singling out corrupt policemen known as "ninjas", who take pay-offs from drug lords, Duterte said he was placing a 2 million peso ($43,000) bounty on their heads, telling their colleagues to "squeal on your friends". Duterte, who won a May election on a promise to wipe out drugs and dealers, last month named about 160 officials, judges, police and soldiers who he said were protecting drug traffickers or selling drugs in their communities. The United States, a close ally of the Philippines, said last week it was "deeply concerned" about the reports of extra-judicial drug killings and it urged Duterte's government to ensure that law-enforcement efforts "comply with its human rights obligation". The crackdown and some strongly worded criticism Duterte has made of the United States since coming to power present a dilemma for Washington, which has been seeking to forge unity among allies in Asia in the face of an increasingly assertive China, especially in the strategic South China Sea. This month, two U.N. human rights experts urged Manila to stop the extra-judicial executions and killings. Duterte responded by threatening to leave the United Nations. In his speech on Monday Duterte scoffed at accusations that he was trampling on human rights and said law enforcers should not worry about criminal liability while acting on his campaign. "KILL THEM" In the early hours of Monday a suspected drug lord and his wife were shot dead by a gunman as they stepped off a ferry in the central province of Iloilo, national police spokesman Dionardo Carlos said. Police said the man, Melvin Odicta who was also known as "Dragon", was returning from Manila where last week he had met the interior minister to deny accusations that he was the region's top drug dealer. National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa said on Friday he did not believe Odicta, telling officers: "Who are they fooling?" In a speech to thousands of drug users and pushers the previous day, dela Rosa encouraged them to kill drug lords because they were getting rich at the expense of the poor. "You want to kill them, then kill them, you can kill them because you are their victims here. You know who are the drug lords here, go to their houses, pour gasoline, set it on fire, show them you are angry at them." Austrian GDP growth slows slightly in second quarter to 0.3 pct VIENNA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Austria's economic growth slowed slightly in the second quarter to 0.3 percent compared with the previous three months, economic think tank Wifo said on Monday, confirming a flash estimate. Gross domestic product had grown 0.4 percent in the previous two quarters, Wifo said, noting that demand and investments in the private and public sector continued to grow. Options sought as Merkel's radio silence complicates path to soft Brexit landing By Paul Carrel BERLIN, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Triggering the procedure for Britain to exit the European Union is like turning off the engines on an airplane, a top European diplomat says: best only do it if you can see a landing strip. Otherwise, all parties risk a messy outcome. When Britain makes its exit move - by invoking Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty - it will set the clock running on a two-year deadline to leave the EU. Keen to avoid a crash landing, officials on both sides are scoping out how to proceed. Options include the 'neverland' possibility of simply not invoking Article 50, trying back channel talks to sharpen Britain's sense of what scenarios are possible, and hopping from an interim outcome to a more permanent post-Brexit landing site. The first option is a non-starter for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe's most powerful leader and the first one Theresa May met after becoming British prime minister last month. "The EU can't accept that," said a source close to Merkel, who has no desire to see Britain leave but has a pragmatic focus on holding the rest of bloc together, and does not believe Britain will hold a second referendum on its EU membership. Even if the British economy's resilience in the immediate aftermath of the country's June 23 vote to leave the EU eases the economic pressure on Britain to press ahead with Brexit, May herself has said "Brexit means Brexit". She has, however, said Britain will not trigger the exit procedure this year. For the British government, the dilemma of when and how to make a Brexit landing is complicated by a refusal on the part of EU leaders, led by Merkel, to discuss potential outcomes until Britain invokes the exit procedure. "We won't talk beforehand," said the source close to Merkel, speaking on condition of anonymity. Another German government official stressed the strict ban in Berlin on any pre-negotiating: "We won't talk about substance." In the absence of formal pre-negotiations, the British government must work through the second option: peering through gaps in the clouds of European officialdom to try to work out what its post-Brexit 'landing' options are. Such back channelling could help the British work out what is realistic in order to avoid EU negotiators balking at their position, and the clock running down on the two-year deadline. "You can only nail it down if you are in the realm of the possible," said one European official. 'SPECIAL STATUS' A likely trade-off between EU market access (which Britain would prefer) and the free movement of people (which is does not want) will probably leave a few achievable 'landing points', leaving British officials to try to identify these in informal meetings with cagey counterparts. Here, they may yet find a way forward. There have been indications from at least one government that there may be room for discussions, rather than negotiations, in advance of Britain triggering Article 50. German officials have also signalled they are ready to make some concessions to strike a deal with Britain. European Affairs Minister Michael Roth has held out the possibility of London achieving "special status" in its ties with the EU after Brexit. But European leaders do not want Britain to hold the bloc hostage by horse trading on the terms of an exit before it commits to leave. So even if British officials sharpen their sense of the kind of deal they can strike, they still face a tight timeframe to clinch a post-Brexit settlement with the EU. Behind the scenes, there has been a growing realisation in Europe's capitals that the two-year window for negotiating Brexit is far too short. This raises the third option being mooted by some European officials: an interim framework for Britain's ties with the EU, based on an existing model similar to that of Norway or Switzerland. "That might be a temporary solution," said one. Further talks could then result in another landing spot beyond the two-year negotiating window offered by Article 50. A spokeswoman for May said the prime minister and her government were going for a "British deal", to get the best for the country. The trickiest area is the crunch trade-off between market access and the free movement of people, which is sacrosanct to EU leaders. "The price on free movement for prosperity is high," the European official said. One option to reduce the flow of people to Britain is for it to firm up rules around benefits such that only people from other EU countries with a firm job offer can move to the UK. Merkel has cut May some breathing space to work out her negotiating position, resisting calls from Paris and Brussels - in the days immediately after the Brexit vote - for Britain to leave the EU "as soon as possible". "There was a lot of testosterone flying around in the days after the referendum. That's when Merkel is at her best," said one British official. "She pulled it all back and said 'it's okay to take your time'." YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. The U.S. has sent military equipment to Georgia for the joint military exercises called Agile Spirit, which is held under the auspices of NATO. Gruziya Online reported the military hardware is sent from Buglarias Novo Selo Training Range. The equipment includes tanks, Humvees, military trucks, artillery and armored vehicles. The hardware will arrive to Georgia via the Black Sea. Armed Forces of Georgia, USA, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Turkey and Ukraine will take part in the drills. The Agile Spirit military exercises are held annually since 2011. Singapore mass sprays residences as Zika expected to spread By Christophe Van Der Perre and Edgar Su SINGAPORE, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Officials sprayed insecticide and cleared drains of stagnant water in residential areas of Singapore at high risk of further Zika infections on Monday after 41 locally transmitted cases were confirmed in the city state. Workers wearing fumigation masks travelled methodically through high-rise public housing estates in seven separate areas of the island, inspecting plant pots closely as they sprayed insecticide via thermal fogging machines. The health ministry on Saturday confirmed Singapore's first locally-transmitted case of Zika, with the tally rising to 41 just a day later. All of the infected people were either residents of the Aljunied district or workers at a construction site owned by GuocoLand in the area. "We expect to identify more positive cases," the ministry said on Monday in its latest update on the outbreak. "Given that the majority of Zika cases are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and mosquitoes in the affected areas may already have been infected, isolation of positive cases may have limited effect to managing the spread," it added. Singapore, a major regional financial centre and busy transit hub, which maintains a constant vigil against the mosquito-borne dengue virus, reported its first case of the Zika virus in May, brought in by a middle-aged man who had been to Brazil. GuocoLand, which is headquartered in Singapore and has developments across Asia, was ordered on Saturday to stop work on the building site where 36 of the infected people worked. It will remain closed until the company rectifies the conditions that allowed mosquitoes to breed and steps up preventative measures, the health ministry said. The Zika virus, carried by mosquitoes, was detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the Americas. It poses a risk to pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects. It has been linked in Brazil to more than 1,600 cases of microcephaly, where babies are born with abnormally small heads and brains. The World Health Organization said on Sunday it did not know "which lineage of Zika is circulating" in Singapore or "what the level of population immunity is to this lineage of Zika in Asia." Singapore's health ministry said some 19 mosquito breeding habitats were detected and destroyed in its first sweep of the Aljunied area on Sunday when it fumigated around a third of the 6,000 homes. "I feel afraid," said Ng Kai Yee, an 18-year-old female student who lives near the construction site believed to be a source of the outbreak. "I heard quite a lot about how harmful Zika virus is to girls, especially pregnant women." Authorities have urged those living and working in the risk areas, especially pregnant women, to monitor their health and seek medical attention if they are unwell. Of the 41 people known to have been infected, 34 have already fully recovered. Only the first case reported was a woman. Suicide bomber kills 54 in Yemen attack- health ministry ADEN, Yemen, Aug 29 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed at least 54 people when he drove a car bomb into a militia compound in Aden on Monday, the health ministry said, in one of the deadliest attacks claimed by Islamic State in the southern Yemeni port city. The director general of Yemen's health ministry in Aden, al-Khader Laswar, told Reuters that at least 67 other people were wounded in the attack in the city's Mansoura district. The militant Islamic State group said in a statement carried by its Amaq news agency one of its suicide bombers carried out the bombing. "Around 60 dead in a martyrdom operation by a fighter from Islamic State targeting a recruitment centre in Aden city," the statement said, without giving further details. A security source said the attack targeted a school compound where conscripts of the Popular Committees, forces allied to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, were gathered for breakfast. Witnesses said the suicide bomber entered the compound behind a truck that had brought breakfast for the conscripts, who had queued for the meal. Ambulance sirens wailed throughout the morning as they ferried casualties to a hospital run by medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which was overwhelmed by the number of casualties. An MSF spokesperson said the hospital received at least 45 bodies and more than 60 wounded people. Islamist militants, including Islamic State, have exploited an 18-month-old civil war between the Houthi movement and Hadi's supporters, attacking senior officials, religious figures, security forces and compounds of the Saudi-led Arab military coalition which supports Hadi. Last month, the governor of the southern Yemeni city of Aden survived a car bomb attack targeting his convoy, the latest attempt on the city's top official. In May, a suicide bomber killed at least 40 army recruits and injured 60 others when he rammed a booby-trapped car at recruits lined up to enlist for military service at a compound in Aden. Hadi's supporters, who accuse former President Ali Abdullah Saleh of using Islamist militants to target the internationally-recognised president, have launched a series of raids in recent weeks to try to stem the violence, seizing dozens of people suspected of involvement in attacks across the city. Pakistan Supreme Court dismisses civilian appeals against military convictions By Asad Hashim ISLAMABAD, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday upheld verdicts and death sentences in the cases of 16 civilians convicted of terrorism-related offences by military courts, the first time the highest court has ruled on the legality of cases tried by the military. A five-member bench ruled that the appellants had not proved the military violated their constitutional rights or failed to follow procedure, in a blow to some activists who contend the courts routinely violate people's rights. Pakistan's government empowered military courts to try civilian terrorism suspects in January 2015, following an attack by Pakistani Taliban militants on a school in Peshawar that killed more than 130 pupils. The military has so far convicted 104 civilians in the secret tribunals. Of those, 100 have been sentenced to death, and four to life imprisonment. All but six are said by the military to have confessed. Those whose appeals were dismissed on Monday included nine members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and two al-Qaeda members, according to Pakistan's military. Two convicts are said to have been involved in the Peshawar school killings. Pakistan has been battling the TTP, an umbrella organisation of militant groups fighting to impose strict Islamic law, and its allies including al-Qaeda since 2007. Lawyers for all 16 convicts contended their clients had been tried in secret, without access to legal counsel of their choice, and that their confessions had been recorded illegally. They also claimed they were denied access to military court records when preparing their appeals. The complaints echoed those made by lawyers and families of those convicted by the courts to Reuters. Two families and one lawyer said they had been threatened after filing appeals. Several told Reuters that confessions were "coerced" by the military. Sajid Ilyas Bhatti, the deputy attorney general representing the government, denied the appellants' claims, saying they had been accorded their rights. He argued that military court proceedings were "immune from challenge on the ground of any alleged violation of the fundamental rights". Australia seizes record cocaine haul on cruise ship, arrests three Canadians SYDNEY, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Australian customs officers seized a record 95 kg (210 lb) of cocaine from a cruise ship docked in Sydney Harbour following a joint operation at the weekend and leading to the arrest of three Canadians, they said on Monday. It was the biggest drug seizure at an airport or a cruise ship in Australia, Tim Fitzgerald, a regional commander at the Australian Border Force, said. Customs officers boarded the vessel and searched cabins with the help of sniffer dogs, they said in a statement. "It was during the search of the cabin ... that we identified a number of suitcases in the cabin itself that were locked. Itemizer or trace technology was used to scan the outside of those suitcases and as a result a number of tests came positive for the presence of cocaine," Fitzgerald said. Far-right candidate ahead in polls to win Austrian presidency VIENNA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The far right is ahead in Austria's presidential race, according to opinion polls which predict a win for the anti-immigration candidate that would be a watershed for populists across Europe who have capitalised on the migration crisis. Ahead of the Oct. 2 election, the Freedom Party's (FPO) Norbert Hofer is just ahead of his independent rival, Alexander Van der Bellen, who narrowly beat Hofer in a previous run-off vote in May that was annulled. Concerns about security and national identity as well as dissatisfaction with traditional, more centrist parties, have fuelled support for the FPO as well as the Front National in France and the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). A poll of 600 people published by the Oesterreich tabloid showed the average support for Hofer at 53 percent, one point higher than a poll in late July, versus 47 percent for former Greens head Alexander Van der Bellen. Another poll, of 778 people with a margin of error of 3.6 percent, published by newspaper Kurier, found 38 percent thought Hofer would win while 34 percent expected Van der Bellen to. In polls for parliamentary elections set for 2018, the FPO regularly attracts more than 33 percent, ahead of both ruling centrist parties. Hofer, whose party argued against joining the European Union in a referendum on membership in 1994, has said Austrians should hold a vote on leaving the bloc if Turkey were to join or if significantly more political power were transferred to Brussels. The Freedom Party challenged the previous run-off result, which showed Van der Bellen winning by 31,000 votes. A court decided the election had to be re-run due to sloppiness in the count, although no evidence of manipulation was found. Islamic State "connected" to Bangladesh, Kerry says DHAKA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The United States believes that elements of Islamic State are connected to operatives in Bangladesh, Secretary of State John Kerry said on a visit to the South Asian nation that has faced a wave of attacks by Islamist militants. Uzbek leader in intensive care after brain haemorrhage - daughter ALMATY, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan's president Islam Karimov, who has built his authoritarian rule on warnings of a militant Islamist threat to the Central Asian region, suffered a brain haemorrhage on Saturday and is in stable condition in intensive care, his daughter said. The absence of a strong political opposition or free media means any eventual transition of power is likely to be decided within a close circle of Karimov's family and top officials. "At the moment, it is too early to make any forecasts about his condition in the future," his daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva wrote on her Instagram page on Monday. "I will be grateful to everyone who will support my father with prayers. Karimov, 78, presents himself as a bulwark of stability in a country situated on the northern borders of Afghanistan, controlling vast reserves of gold, oil, gas and cotton, and criss-crossed, like the broader region, by ethnic fault lines. Interethnic tension and cultural differences - exacerbated by the often arbitrary drawing of boundaries in Soviet times - are rife in the mainly Muslim region where Western powers, Russia and China compete for influence. The government of Central Asia's most populous country, ruled by Karimov since it gained independence with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, said on Sunday he was undergoing hospital treatment, but gave no details. SUCCESSION According to the constitution, Nigmatilla Yuldoshev, the chairman of the upper house of parliament, is supposed to take over if Karimov dies or is unfit to continue working as president, and elections must take place within three months. In reality, a successor might be picked much more quickly by the elite, as was the case in Turkmenistan, another Central Asian nation, whose authoritarian leader Saparmurat Niyazov died in 2006. In keeping with the Soviet tradition, his successor, Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, headed the funeral commission. "Karimov and his inner circle have managed to build such a system of state power in Uzbekistan which will remain functioning irrespective of the life or death of the first person," Russian political analyst Alexander Knyazev said. "It is hard to say right now, which of the few scenarios is the most realistic one, but one thing is certain: there is no talk about his daughters, of course, and this won't be one person. This will be an attempt of collective rule." Karimov has no sons, who might have been regarded as heirs apparent in the patriarchal culture. His elder daughter, Gulnara, has not appeared in public since several media reported in 2014 that she had been placed under house arrest. Karimov's second daughter, Lola, is Uzbekistan's ambassador to Paris-based UNESCO. One potential contender is Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Prime Minister since 2003. Rustam Azimov, who leads the government's financial block, is another option, as well as Rustam Inoyatov, who runs the powerful SNB security service. The backing of security forces may ultimately decide who takes over from Karimov, although open confrontation could destabilise the nation and encourage other groups, such as Islamists, to interfere. ISLAMIST THREAT The latter have been trying to get a foothold in the Muslim nation of 32 million since the 1990s, when they established the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). The group has fought alongside the Taliban and then pledged allegiance to Islamic State which is estimated to have hundreds of Uzbek fighters. As recently as in 2014, the IMU claimed responsibility for a raid on the Karachi airport in Pakistan in which dozens of people were killed. Karimov has been criticised by rights groups and some governments over his human rights record, but argues the country is at risk of becoming a conduit for Islamist militants from Afghanistan to Russia and western Europe. The Uzbek government has accused Islamists of being behind protests in the city of Andizhan where police and security forces fired into a crowd in 2005, killing 187 people, according to official reports. Despite the fallout from Andizhan, Karimov has with some success courted both the West and Russia as well as China, maintaining political and economic links with all. Iran deploys Russian-made S-300 missiles at its Fordow nuclear site -TV ANKARA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Iran has deployed the Russian-supplied S-300 surface-to-air missile defence system around its Fordow underground uranium enrichment facility, Iranian state media reported on Monday. Iranian state TV on Sunday aired footage of deployment of the recently delivered missile system to the nuclear site in the central Iran. "Our main priority is to protect Iran's nuclear facilities under any circumstances," Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' (IRGC) air defense force told state TV. Iran and the six major powers reached a landmark nuclear deal in 2015 aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for lifting nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Tehran over its disputed nuclear work. Enrichment of uranium at the Fordow facility, around 100 km (60 miles) south of Tehran, has stopped since the implementation of the nuclear deal in January. Russia, under pressure from the West, in 2010 canceled a contract to deliver S-300s to Iran. But Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted that self-imposed ban in April 2015, after an interim deal was reached between Iran and the six powers. In August, Iran said that Russia had delivered main parts of the system to the country, adding that the missile system would be completely delivered by the end of 2016. The IRGC's Esmaili did not say whether the system was operational, but added: "Today, Iran's sky is one of the most secure in the Middle East". Iran's top authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that the country's military power was for defensive purposes. U.S. drone enters Iran's airspace, leaves after warning -Tasnim ANKARA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Iran's military detected a U.S. drone entering Iranian airspace on Monday and issued a warning for it to leave, which it subsequently did, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported. "Iran's army air defence detected and warned an American drone in the eastern airspace of the country. It was coming from Afghanistan. The drone left the area," Tasnim quoted the Iranian military as saying. Tasnim gave no details on how the Iranian authorities had warned the unmanned drone to leave its airspace. A U.S. defence official said last week that four of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vessels "harassed" a U.S. warship on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz. Cyber threat grows for bitcoin exchanges By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss NEW YORK, Aug 29 (Reuters) - When hackers penetrated a secure authentication system at a bitcoin exchange called Bitfinex earlier this month, they stole about $70 million worth of the virtual currency. The cyber theft -- the second largest by an exchange since hackers took roughly $350 million in bitcoins at Tokyo's MtGox exchange in early 2014 -- is hardly a rare occurrence in the emerging world of crypto-currencies. New data disclosed to Reuters shows a third of bitcoin trading platforms have been hacked, and nearly half have closed in the half dozen years since they burst on the scene. This rising risk for bitcoin holders is compounded by the fact there is no depositor's insurance to absorb the loss, even though many exchanges act like virtual banks. Not only does that approach cast the cyber security risk in stark relief, but it also exposes the fact that bitcoin investors have little choice but to do business with under-capitalized exchanges that may not have the capital buffer to absorb these losses the way a traditional and regulated bank or exchange would. "There is a general sense in the bitcoin community that any centralized repository is at risk," said a U.S.-based professional trader who lost about $1,000 in bitcoins when Bitfinex was hacked. He declined to be named for this article. "So when investing, you always have that expectation at the back of your head. I lost a small amount compared to the others, but I know of traders who lost millions of dollars worth of bitcoins," the trader said. The security challenge for the bitcoin world does not appear to be letting up, according to experts in the currency. "I am skeptical there's going to be any technological silver bullet that's going to solve security breach problems. No technology, crypto-currency, or financial mechanism can be made safe from hacks," said Tyler Moore, assistant professor of cyber security at the University of Tulsa's Tandy School of Computer Science who will soon publish the new research on the vulnerability of bitcoin exchanges. His study, funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and shared with Reuters, shows that since bitcoin's creation in 2009 to March 2015, 33 percent of all bitcoin exchanges operational during that period were hacked. The figure represents one of the first estimates of the extent of security breaches in the bitcoin world. In contrast, data from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non-profit organization, showed that of the 6,000 operational U.S. banks, only 67 banks experienced a publicly-disclosed data breach between 2009 and 2015. That's roughly 1 percent of U.S. banks. Among the world's stock exchanges, however, security breaches are much higher, with hackers attracted to the large pools of cash moving in and out of these trading venues. The latest survey of 46 securities exchanges released three years ago by the International Organization of Securities Commissions and World Federation of Exchanges found that more than half had experienced a cyber attack. Moore collaborated on the research with Nicolas Christin, associate research professor at Carnegie Mellon University and Janos Szurdi, a Ph.D. student also at Carnegie. In 2013, Moore and Christin wrote a research paper on security risks surrounding bitcoin exchanges when Moore was still a professor at Southern Methodist University. That research entitled "Beware of the Middleman: Empirical Analysis of Bitcoin Exchange Risk" was peer-reviewed and presented at the 17th International Financial Cryptography and Data Security Conference in Okinawa, Japan in 2013. In the most recent study, the rate of closure for bitcoin exchanges in Moore's research edged up to 48 percent among those operating from 2009 to March 2015. Hacking did not necessarily trigger the closure in each case. "A 48 percent closure is not acceptable, but not surprising given that bitcoin is a new technology," said Richard Johnson, vice president of market structure and technology at Greenwich Associates. Johnson has written reports on risk and security issues in the crypto-currency world. Profitability is a big problem for bitcoin exchanges, with many of them unable to generate enough volume to keep afloat. Bitcoin exchanges overall could be launched for as low as $100,000 up to $1 million, said Erik Voorhees, founder and chief executive officer of digital currency exchange ShapeShift. That is a fraction of what U.S. forex exchanges' are required to put up. Retail FX trading platform FXCM, for instance, is required by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have at least $25 million in capital at all times. RECOVERING LOSSES A key factor tied to the risk posed by exchanges is whether customers are reimbursed after closure or after the loss of bitcoins following a hack. Each closure and breach have been handled differently, but Tandy's Moore said the risk of losing funds stored in exchanges are real. In the case of Bitfinex, which is now up and running after the hack August 2, customers lost 36 percent of the assets they had on the platform and were compensated for the losses with tokens of credit that would be converted into equity in the parent company. At Tokyo's MtGox, customers have yet to recover their investments more than two years after closure. Experts say trading venues acting like banks such as Bitfinex will remain vulnerable. These exchanges act as custodial wallets in which they control users' digital currencies like banks control customer deposits. "The big exchanges that hold customer deposits are a big target for hackers," said ShapeShift's Voorhees, "and unfortunately most bitcoin exchanges store user funds." When customers' checking accounts are hacked, there is always a third party at the bank that can step in to deal with the theft. Not so with bitcoin, said Seattle-based Darin Stanchfield, chief executive officer at KeepKey, a hardware wallet provider. He expects more of these attacks to happen despite efforts to improve security at bitcoin exchanges. YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. Time isn't ripe to lift sanctions off Russia yet but the issue may spring up to the agenda one day, Germany's Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday in an interview with ARD television channel, TASS reported. "Unfortunately, no, if you take account of the pace at which the implementation of the Minsk accords is moving on," she said when a reporter asked her if time had come to scrap the sanctions. She also said she supported the idea of resetting the system of global control over armaments that has come from German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "We'll have to see yet what the system looks like and well have to do more discussions of its contours but anyway that's the right and important thing to do," Merkel said. Polish foreign minister criticises EU actions in migrant crisis BERLIN, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski on Monday criticised the European Commission's handling of last year's migrant crisis, saying that Brussels had exacerbated the problems rather than offering real solutions. The EU took "hasty, irresponsible and not-fully thought through steps" in response to a massive influx of refugees from Iraq, Syria and other war-torn regions, Waszczykowski said at a news conference with his German and French counterparts. His comments came a day after Germany, Poland and France agreed to bridge their differences over issues such as migration and shore up support for the EU by reinvigorating the Weimar Triangle, a trilateral group founded after the end of the Cold War. Waszczykowski has been relentless in his critique of the European Union's executive leadership and blames its policies for Britain's vote to leave the bloc. Poland's eurosceptic ruling party (PiS) is at loggerheads with Brussels over issues including its constitutional court, migrant policy, climate policy and logging in ancient forests. Waszczykowski also criticised other EU countries for not acting to secure the external borders of the EU and said the practice had been tolerated for years. Islamic State "connected" to Bangladesh, says Kerry, offering security aid By Lesley Wroughton and Serajul Quadir DHAKA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The United States believes that elements of Islamic State are "connected" to operatives in Bangladesh, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday, promising help with intelligence and law enforcement after a wave of militant attacks. Kerry's blunt statement followed the July 1 attack on a cafe in an upscale district of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, in which 22 people were killed - mostly non-Muslims and foreigners, including one American. It directly contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, which has blamed homegrown militants and denied a foreign hand in the hostage taking at the Holey Artisan Bakery that was claimed by Islamic State. The cafe raid was the most shocking of a series of atrocities that has included killings of atheist intellectuals, people from religious and sexual minorities and foreigners, raising fears over the stability of the mainly Muslim nation of 160 million. Responding to questions after giving a speech, Kerry said he had a "very candid" conversation with Hasina. He said that Islamic State had wide contacts around the world, including in South Asia, adding: "They are connected to some degree with some of the operatives here, and we made that very clear in our conversations." As Kerry's motorcade headed to the U.S. embassy for meetings with opposition leaders, a government minister directly contradicted him. "I told him that there is no such terrorist or militants from outside or who are connected with the (Islamic State), but there are militants inside our country and they are homegrown," Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told Reuters. "EYE OFF THE BALL" Bangladesh's secular government has continued to enjoy the West's support despite mounting concerns over its handling of the escalation in militant activity. Bangladesh's security response has, say analysts, been colored by a political standoff with the Islamist-leaning opposition that boycotted the last general election and is suspected by the government of links to local militant groups. Michael Kugelman of The Wilson Center, a Washington-based think tank, said the U.S administration had not paid enough attention to the growing terror threats in Bangladesh, which is now impacting Americans. "It has arguably taken its eye off the ball even as this threat has begun to directly affect Americans," he said. Police believe that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, a local militant group that has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, was involved in organizing in the cafe attack. Two days before Kerry's visit, security forces said they had killed three militants, including a Bangladeshi-born Canadian citizen called Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury who was suspected of being the mastermind. Chowdhury is reported to have been the subject of a profile in an Islamic State journal called Dabiq that identified him as its top operative in Bangladesh. The Syria-based militant group also published "selfie" photos of the cafe attackers on its propaganda channels while the hostage crisis was continuing. SECURITY COOPERATION Kerry said "there is much we can do to cooperate" in the fields of intelligence and law enforcement to address security threats from both domestic and trans-national organizations. "That's the nature of the beast that we are dealing with today," Kerry said. "I'm absolutely confident that we will build additional capacity and it will be effective." In a speech, Kerry also touched on the need to uphold democratic principles "to defeat terrorists" and expressed concern over upholding the rights of workers. Bangladesh's economy depends heavily on the fortunes of the $28 billion garment industry, which is struggling to improve a poor safety record epitomized by the Rana Plaza disaster of 2013 in which a factory collapse killed more than 1,100 people. EUROPE POWER-Spot price climbs due to lower wind, nuclear supply FRANKFURT, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Weak wind power production on Monday due to a high pressure weather front boosted German prompt power prices while French prices rose on tight nuclear supply. The weather also raised the output from solar power and increased demand for electricity from air conditioners. "Wind supply is easing more than solar is adding and thermal availability outside nuclear is only slightly higher, making for a bullish picture," a German trader said. German baseload power for Tuesday delivery was 5.55 euros higher than the 33.2 euros ($37.09) a megawatt hour (MWh) paid for Monday while the equivalent French contract rose 5.6 euros to 42 euros/MWh. French nuclear availability was estimated at 59.85 percent of capacity, down from 66 percent last Friday, while in Germany the Grohnde reactor was expecting extended load losses. German wind power for Tuesday was expected to fall by nearly two thirds to 3.2 gigawatts (GW) from 8.9 GW a day earlier while solar was expected to rise to 7 GW from 5 GW in the same period, Thomson Reuters data showed. Temperatures were expected to remain in a range of 19-20 degrees Celsius in Germany and at about 22 degrees in France over the next fortnight. Combined power consumption in Germany and France was expected to increase 1.2 GW day-on-day on Tuesday. Along the forward curve, the benchmark German Cal '17 contract traded sideways with no clear trend from fuel markets as British markets were closed for a public holiday. Oil fell towards $49 a barrel, pressured by high output from Middle East OPEC members and on a stronger U.S. dollar. German Cal '17 baseload power was unchanged at 25.95 euros/MWh while the equivalent French contract was untraded in a 31.45 to 32 euros range, having settled at 31.5 euros/MWh. European coal prices for 2017 were untraded after an API 2 index close of $56.58 a tonne last Friday. Front-year EU carbon allowances were 0.4 percent off at 4.68 euros a tonne. In the Czech Republic, CEZ took the Temelin reactor unit 1 offline last Friday, with unit 2 due back online in early September. Much of the plant's output is for exporting west. The Czech year-ahead position was untraded with a bid at 26.6 euros, down from a 27.05 euros close. The Czech spot price for Tuesday was at 33.9 euros compared with 31.5 euros paid for Monday. Teacher in violence-torn Indian Kashmir starts makeshift schools By Fayaz Bukhari SRINAGAR, India, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Wedding halls and prayer rooms have been turned into classrooms in Indian-administered Kashmir as families struggle to provide children with a normal life after more than 50 days of the Muslim-majority region's worst violence in years. At least 68 civilians and two security officials have been killed and more than 9,000 people injured, according to official tallies, in clashes between protesters chaffing at Indian rule and security forces. Authorities trying to stifle protests that erupted after a young militant leader was gunned down by the security forces on July 8 ordered schools and colleges to close two days later. There's no sign of them re-opening. Teacher Ghulam Rasool Kambay, seeing children becoming increasingly restless cooped up at home, decided to do something. He opened a tutorial centre in a village on Aug. 3 and now has more than a dozen of them in villages in a district south of the region's main city of Srinagar. "The response is good. We have about 800 students in these centres. Parents are eager to send their children as they have no option right now," Kambay told Reuters. Students find their way to the makeshift schools in small groups through back lanes, careful not to attract the attention of police. They often sit on the floor as there are not enough desks and share books. "It's more like a self-learning exercise, just a way to keep in touch with books," said Muneer Wani, 16, at his temporary school at a mosque where classes begin after morning prayers. Muneer said it was the only place to meet friends and study. "We can't even go outdoors." Disputed Kashmir is claimed by both India and Pakistan and has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years, sparking two wars between them. Militant groups have taken up arms to fight for independence from Indian rule or to merge with Pakistan. India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the violence. Pakistan denies that. Thousands of teenage boys defy a curfew every day and gather in groups to throw stones at police. Almost all of the deaths have been caused by security forces shooting at protesters. On the streets of Srinagar, people have scrawled "Go India, go back". Zubair Ahmad said he was too worried about the safety of his two children to send them to classes at a nearby mosque. His wife has been teaching them at home instead, but the children were getting restless, he said. Militants kill three Tunisian soldiers in ambush near Algerian border -army TUNIS, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Islamist militants killed three Tunisian soldiers and wounded seven others on Monday, opening fire on them with rifles and rocket propelled grenades after their patrol hit anti-tank landmines, an army spokesman said. Gabon opposition candidate calls on President Bongo to "acknowledge his defeat" LIBREVILLE, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Gabon opposition candidate Jean Ping on Monday called on President Ali Bongo to "acknowledge his defeat" in a weekend presidential election, telling reporters in the capital Libreville that unofficial tallies give him a clear edge. Kremlin expresses deep regret over illness of Uzbek president MOSCOW, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday it deeply regrets the illness of Uzbek President Islam Karimov who suffered a brain haemorrhage on Saturday. The Kremlin declined to comment on whether it was concerned by a possible aggravation of the situation in Central Asia's most populous country which borders Afghanistan, in the event of Karimov's death. "Such formulation of the question is inappropriate and I repeat once again: the Kremlin wishes a quick recovery to the president of Uzbekistan," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with journalists. "We would like to receive only positive news about the president's health." Southeast Asia needs to up its game to combat Zika - experts By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Joseph Sipalan BANGKOK/KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The spread of the Zika virus across tropical Southeast Asia is likely to be significantly under-reported as local health authorities fail to conduct adequate screening, regional experts said on Monday. International travel hub Singapore confirmed 41 locally-transmitted cases of the mosquito-borne virus on Sunday and said it anticipated more, raising fears about how quickly it could disperse throughout the region. Other parts of Southeast Asia have reported dozens of cases of Zika, which in Brazil has been linked to thousands of suspected cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect, but there are fears the true numbers are masked. "Zika is under-reported and under-diagnosed," Khin Myint, head of the emerging virus research unit at Indonesia's government-funded Eijkman Institute, told Reuters. "We find many cases are not presented in hospitals because it's a relatively mild disease with mild symptoms and people are not going to doctors." The World Health Organization (WHO) lists Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam as countries with "possible endemic transmission or evidence of local mosquito-borne Zika infections in 2016." But the Jakarta-based Eijkman Institute, the main body testing for Zika in Indonesia, said it tested only 1,000 people in the past year - a tiny number in Southeast Asia's most populous country. It found just one positive case, despite reports that Zika is prevalent in the country. Thailand has recorded the highest number of cases in the region at almost 100 infected people across 10 provinces this year. "Thailand's surveys have not been thorough enough," said Kriengsak Limkittikul, assistant professor at the Department of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University in Bangkok, noting that people without symptoms are often not tested. "Screening is inadequate in other countries in the region, too, where health authorities are ill-equipped to test," he said. Vietnam has recorded three cases of Zika infection, all locally-transmitted, while Cambodia has reported seven cases. Hong Kong confirmed its first case of Zika on Friday, in a woman who had travelled to the Caribbean. A major difficulty is that while Zika can cause mild fever, a rash and red eyes, an estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and is transmitted by mosquito. There have also been a small number of cases of sexual transmission reported in the United States and elsewhere. MIXED RESPONSE Some countries in the region began ramping up protective measures following the outbreak in Singapore. Muhamad Subuh, a senior Indonesian health ministry official, said authorities are "in the process of stepping up health checks at main airports and ports, including in Batam," the island closest to Singapore. Indonesia introduced thermal scanners at airports targeting arrivals from Singapore over the weekend, and plans to roll them out to ports. Authorities are also handing out printed warnings to all incoming passengers, noting Zika has an incubation period of around 10 days before presenting any symptoms. Malaysian Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam said travellers who enter Johor Bahru, where up to 200,000 people commute daily to and from Singapore, will go through thermal screening at border checkpoints. People crossing in private vehicles will not be scanned but handed a pamphlet detailing the symptoms and asking them to report to authorities if they develop those. Malaysia is also stepping up vector control mechanisms including fogging and larvicidal spraying in Johor Bharu. "What we can do as a country comes down to how well we control our vectors, and at this point of time, dengue is still a bigger problem than Zika because people can die from dengue," Subramaniam said. Other countries were not responding so quickly. In Thailand, the Department of Disease Control said it was screening athletes returning from the Olympic Games in Brazil, but otherwise not changing its prevention methods. Vietnam and Cambodia made no immediate changes to their border controls. "Different countries have different economic and political situations and it's not that they don't want to screen the virus, but they don't have the resources and capacity to do it at this stage," said Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, a clinical assistant professor at the Carol Yu Centre for Infection at the University of Hong Kong. Gabon opposition candidate calls on President Bongo to "acknowledge his defeat" By Gerauds Wilfried Obangome LIBREVILLE, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Gabon opposition candidate Jean Ping called on President Ali Bongo on Monday to "acknowledge his defeat" in Saturday's presidential election, a head-on challenge to the Bongo family's half-century rule over the oil-rich nation. After publishing numbers on Sunday that showed him comfortably in the lead based on a small percentage of votes, Ping called on Monday for Bongo to step down. "I encourage Ali Bongo to submit to the verdict of the ballot box," he told a news conference, without providing more voting figures. Bongo's camp also says it is set to win and has accused Ping's supporters of fraud. On Twitter, his spokesman Alain Claude Bilie By Nze called Ping's news conference "the start of an odious attempt at a coup de force". Gabonese law forbids candidates from publishing their own results before the official count, expected on Tuesday. The country's interior minister called Ping's move to pre-empt an official announcement of the poll results by declaring victory an attempt to manipulate the democratic process. Gabon's one-round election means the winner simply requires more votes than any other candidate. In 2009, Bongo won with 41.73 percent of the vote. A Ping victory would reverberate throughout a region where strongmen in power for decades have often used their control of state institutions and resources to fend off political competition. Bongo, 57, won election in the Central African nation of some 2 million people in 2009 following the death of his father Omar, who was president for 42 years. But he has come under pressure in recent years as a sharp drop in oil prices and production have squeezed the budget and provided fodder for opposition claims that average Gabonese have struggled under his leadership. Some opposition supporters have also called into question Bongo's Gabonese nationality by claiming he was adopted from eastern Nigeria as a baby, which the president denies. On Monday, Ping called on the Gabonese people to "defend their choice throughout the country and overseas". He said he had told the American and French ambassadors in Libreville that he intended to guarantee the security of Bongo and his family. The streets of Libreville remained calm despite the sparring over the result and an acrimonious election campaign. A European Union observer mission told reporters in Libreville on Monday that it had registered irregularities during campaigning and on election day. "The mission deplores the lack of transparency of the bodies running the election," said Mariya Gabriel, the head of an E.U. mission that observed the elections. International experts in Egypt to inspect Metrojet wreckage -statement CAIRO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Experts from Russia and Germany are in Egypt to inspect the wreckage of a Russian passenger plane that crashed in Sinai last year killing all 224 people on board, the Egyptian-led investigating committee said on Monday. YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. A 2-ton medicine shipment which includes vaccines sent from Cuba arrived at Damascus International Airport on Monday as the first batch as part of a banking arrangements for the agreement between Cuba and Syria to settle Cubas debts due to Syria, SANA reported. Transport Minister Ali Hamoud told journalists on Monday that the Ministry finished all customs clearance, packaging, and transportation measures to ensure the arrival of the shipment without delays and under the supervision and standards of the Health Ministry. Hammoud thanked the friendly country of Cuba for its keenness on supporting the Syrian people. For her part, Deputy Health Minister Huda al-Sayyed said that the shipment includes 200,000 doses of vaccines, asserting that other batches will be sent soon. Meanwhile, Cuban Ambassador in Damascus Rogerio Manuel Santana Rodriguez hailed the deep-rooted ties between Syria and Cuba, asserting that the two countries are facing a mutual enemy. Militants kill three Tunisian soldiers in ambush near Algerian border -army TUNIS, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Islamist militants killed three Tunisian soldiers and wounded seven others on Monday, opening fire on them with rifles and rocket propelled grenades after their patrol hit anti-tank landmines, an army spokesman said. Jihadists use the remote, mountainous region along the Algerian border as a base and the military has been hunting them down in the rugged terrain with patrols and air strikes on suspected training camps. Army spokesman Belhassen Ouslati said the three soldiers had been killed in the landmine blast and that clashes were continuing after the ambush in the Mount Sammama area. Since the 2011 uprising against autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia's democracy has been held up as a model for a region wracked by violence and instability. But Islamist militants are one of the key challenges for the new Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who officially took office on Monday. A local Al Qaeda affiliate, Okba Ibn Nafaa, has been based in the Mount Chaambi range. Some of its leadership is Algerian while some foreign militants fled there after the French intervention in Mali. Militants occasionally carry out attacks on army patrols and checkpoints in the remote areas around Mount Chaambi, and occasionally raid local homes for food and supplies. Islamic State has also drawn several thousands Tunisian jihadists to its ranks in Syria, Iraq and more recently in neighbouring Libya. Tunisian authorities are concerned about returning jihadist carrying out attacks at home. International experts in Egypt to inspect Metrojet wreckage CAIRO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Experts from Russia and Germany are in Egypt to inspect the wreckage of a Russian passenger plane that crashed in Sinai last year killing all 224 people on board, the Egyptian-led investigating committee said on Monday. Irish, American, and French experts will join the inspection team which will seek to pinpoint the area where the plane began to break up, the committee said in a statement. "Representatives from Russia and Germany have arrived today to inspect the wreckage of the doomed Russian Metrojet plane which crashed over the Sinai Peninsula last October," the committee said. Parts of the wreckage had been previously gathered and moved to Cairo International Airport. The experts will attempt to reconstruct the plane. The Airbus A321, operated by Metrojet, had been returning Russian holiday makers from the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh to St Petersburg when it broke up over Sinai, killing all on board. Islamic State said it brought down the plane with a bomb smuggled inside a fizzy drink can. Russia and Western governments quickly confirmed a bomb brought the plane down and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi later said the cause was terrorism. Britain and Russia suspended flights to Sharm al-Sheikh as a result, devastating Egyptian tourism, a lifeline of an already battered economy. South Africa's Eskom denies blocking coal contract investigation JOHANNESBURG, Aug 29 (Reuters) - South Africa's Eskom denied on Monday that it was blocking a Treasury investigation into coal contracts with Tegeta Exploration & Resources Ltd., a firm controlled by the Gupta family. Eskom said it had received a report from the Treasury in April and that it planned to reply to the by the end of September after a board meeting. The report had found no wrongdoing on the state-run power utility's part, it said. The Treasury had said Eskom had ignored its report. Turkish military launched 61 artillery more strikes in northern Syria -statement ANKARA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Turkish armed forces have carried out 61 artillery strikes around the northern Syrian town of Jarablus in the past 24 hours, hitting 20 targets, Turkey's military said on Monday. The military said in a statement it was "taking all measures and showing maximum sensitivity" to prevent harm to civilians. Turkey-backed forces pushed deeper into northern Syria on Monday, drawing a rebuke from NATO ally the United States, which said it was concerned the battle for territory had shifted away from targeting Islamic State. Defiant Rousseff says Brazil's democracy on trial with her By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - A defiant President Dilma Rousseff warned on Monday that her conservative opponents were trampling on Brazil's democracy by using trumped-up charges to oust her and roll back the social advances of 13 years of leftist rule. Presenting her defense at an impeachment trial in the Senate, Brazil's first female president said the economic elite had sought to destabilize her government since she narrowly won re-election to a second four-year term in 2014. Rousseff is expected to become the first Brazilian leader in more than 20 years to be dismissed from office on Wednesday when the Senate will rule on charges that she broke budgetary laws by using state banks' money to boost public spending. In an emotional speech from the Senate podium, Rousseff denied any wrongdoing and compared the trial to her persecution during Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship, when she was a member of a leftist guerrilla group. She said the impeachment process, which has paralyzed Brazilian politics since December and cast a shadow over last month's Rio Olympics, was little more than a plot to protect the interests of the privileged classes in Latin America's largest economy. "I did not commit the crimes that I am arbitrarily and unjustly accused of," Rousseff said, in what may be her last public appearance as president. "We are one step away from a real coup d'etat." If the Senate convicts Rousseff, as expected, her Vice President Michel Temer will be sworn in to serve the rest of her term through 2018. Temer, who has been interim president since Congress opened impeachment proceedings in mid-May, has vowed to impose austerity measures to plug a growing fiscal deficit that cost Brazil its investment-grade credit rating last year. Rousseff warned that a future Temer government would dismantle her Workers Party's social programs that helped lift 30 million people out of poverty in the past decade and sell off state assets, including Brazil's massive offshore oil reserves. In a statement, Temer's office denounced the comments as "false accusations." Rousseff, a trained economist and daughter of a Bulgarian immigrant, was handpicked by ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to succeed him when he stepped aside in 2012, despite her lack of political experience and charisma. Rousseff, 68, faces no allegations of personal enrichment. But she has been charged on the sidelines of the impeachment process with obstructing an investigation into political kickbacks at state-run oil company Petrobras. She chaired the board of Petrobras from 2003 to 2010, when the worst of the corruption was taking place. After riding the commodities boom in her first term, Rousseff's her popularity has dwindled to single figures this year, partly because of the massive Petrobras scandal and partly due to a deep recession that many Brazilians blame on her government's failed interventionist policies. Unbowed, Rousseff told senators that history would judge them by their votes and recalled her trial under the military dictatorship in 1970, when officers hid their faces to not be recognized in photographs. "This is the second trial I have suffered in which democracy has sat with me in the dock," she said, choking back tears as she recalled facing death when she was tortured day after day in detention. "Today I only fear the death of democracy." ODDS AGAINST HER With many Brazilians assuming the result of the trial to be a foregone conclusion, there were scattered protests by Rousseff supporters on Monday but no sign of the massive demonstrations for and against impeachment that shook Brazil earlier this year. A survey by O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper said 53 senators have already confirmed they will vote against Rousseff, just one vote short of the two-thirds of the 81 seat Senate needed to dismiss her. Only 19 said they will back her. "They want to overthrow a president re-elected by 54 million Brazilians and get rid of the Workers Party that has protected the poor," said Thiago Fagundes, a 27-year-old graphic artist and Rousseff supporter in Brasilia. "It looks like they will get their way." Twenty of Rousseff's former Cabinet ministers were in the Senate gallery to support her, along with Lula himself. With the odds stacked against her, Rousseff's testimony appeared more aimed at making a point for the history books, rather than a bid to sway a handful of wavering senators. The impeachment process was launched by the former lower house speaker, Eduardo Cunha, who is facing charges of corruption, including taking bribes in the Petrobras kickback scandal and having millions of dollars hidden away in Swiss bank accounts. "Curiously, I will be judged for crimes I did not commit before the trial of the former speaker who is accused of very serious illegal acts," she said. A full one-third of the members of the Senate are under investigation for corruption, graft, fraud or electoral crimes, according to Congresso em Foco, a prominent watchdog in Brasilia. Temer is confident he has the votes needed to remove Rousseff and plans an address to the nation on Wednesday before heading to China to attend the summit of the G20 group of leading economies, according to his press spokesman Marcio de Freitas. A strong vote to oust Rousseff would help Temer take the difficult measures needed to restore confidence in Brazil's economy, which is caught in a two-year recession, de Freitas said. Germany charges teenage girl who stabbed policeman with supporting Islamic State BERLIN, Aug 29 (Reuters) - A 16-year-old girl who stabbed a policeman at a train station in Hanover was acting under orders from Islamic State, German federal prosecutors said on Monday. Safia S., a German-Moroccan dual citizen who is in prison awaiting trial, was charged with attempted murder and with being a supporter of the jihadist group, prosecutors said. She travelled to Istanbul in January, where she met members of the group who planned to help her enter Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria. While in Istanbul, she received orders from Islamic State members to carry out a "martyrdom attack" in Germany, prosecutors said. She stabbed and seriously wounded the policeman in February after she was brought back to Germany by her mother, the prosecution said in a statement. After being returned to Germany, Safia S. contacted Islamic State members online and asked them to help her plan an attack, prosecutors said. They said a 19-year-old Syrian-German who knew about the plan and who is also in custody was charged with failing to report a crime. No date for their trials has been set. The Hanover stabbing preceded attacks against civilians in Germany in late July, including two claimed by Islamic State in which only the assailants died. Those attacks put the relatively liberal migration policies implemented by Chancellor Angela Merkel back in the spotlight and prompted her government to draft plans to increase spending on security. In a separate case, federal prosecutors asked a judge to issue an arrest warrant against a 27-year-old Iraqi, identified only as Rami K., who is accused of having committed war crimes in 2015 as a member of the Iraqi government's security forces. Prosecutors said the man had posted pictures on social media in which he appears holding the decapitated heads of Islamic State fighters killed north of Baghdad. Prosecutors did not say if he was suspected of having taken part in the decapitations. They said he was being charged with taking part in humiliating and degrading treatment. Egypt seeks tougher punishment for female genital mutilation By Menna Zaki CAIRO, Aug 29 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Women's rights activists hailed the Egyptian government on Monday for advocating increased prison sentences for perpetrators of female genital mutilation (FGM) but warned that a new law could shroud the practice in greater secrecy. Egypt's cabinet on Sunday approved a bill, which must be passed by parliament to become law, imposing jail terms of up to seven years for people who perform FGM and up to three years for those who escort a girl or woman to undergo the practice. It is currently punishable in Egypt by between three months and two years in prison under a 2008 law, which was enacted after an 11-year-old girl died following an FGM procedure. The drive for tougher sentences follows the recent death of a 17-year-old girl of complications during an FGM operation in a private hospital in Suez province. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), a Cairo-based rights group, welcomed the bill but said it may not deter people from performing FGM and could drive it further underground. "It will also decrease the rate of reporting FGM cases, as imposing a punishment on whoever escorts a girl to have the operation will make families fear reporting cases," Dalia Abd El-Hameed of the EIPR told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. FGM affects an estimated 140 million girls and women across a swathe of Africa and parts of the Middle East and Asia and is seen as a gateway to marriage and a way of preserving a girl's purity. It causes numerous health problems that can be fatal. WIDELY PRACTISED More than nine in 10 women and girls aged 15 to 49 have undergone FGM in Egypt, and some 80 percent of the procedures are carried out by medical professionals, according to the United Nations. Yet the proportion of girls aged 15 to 17 in Egypt who have been cut dropped to about six in 10 as of 2014, down from three quarters in 2008, the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) said. "We have seen some reduction in FGM in Egypt, but at the same time health professionals and others are still not being held to account for carrying it out," said Suad Abu-Dayyeh of the London-based human rights group Equality Now. In January 2015, Dr. Raslan Fadl was convicted of manslaughter in Egypt's first FGM trial after a 13-year-old girl died in a botched procedure. While Fadl was sentenced to more than two years in prison, he has not yet served his jail term. Rights groups say the current law has not been enforced and that society is permissive of FGM, which is widely practised among Muslims as well as Christians in the mostly Muslim nation. Turkmenistan says in talks with EU on possible gas deliveries BERLIN, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Turkmenistan is discussing diversifying its gas exports and selling gas to European Union countries, President Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov said on Monday at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The former Soviet republic has some of the world's largest natural gas reserves, and it has been in active discussions about sales to China, India and Afghanistan in recent months. The Turkmen president said his country was also hoping to sell gas to Europe and had been in discussions with EU leaders to resolve legal and technical issues. "We in Turkmenistan are interested in delivering our energy resources to the West," Berdymukhamedov said, adding that his government had presented the European Commission with proposals for how to proceed. Turkmen gas deliveries to the EU would come via the Caspian Sea, which will also require approval by Russia and Turkey. Merkel said she hoped issues could be resolved to allow gas imports from Turkmenistan. "I hope the problems that still exist can be overcome," she said. Singapore steps up Zika prevention effort as confirmed cases rise to 56 By Nicole Nee and Imogen Braddick SINGAPORE, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Singapore confirmed 15 new cases of locally-transmitted Zika infections on Monday, taking the tally to 56 as authorities step up efforts to contain the outbreak. All the cases were in or near the Aljunied area in the southeast of the city-state, and most were foreign workers from a nearby construction site owned by GuocoLand, where testing for the virus is now complete, the health ministry said in a statement. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has inspected foreign workers' dormitories as well as thousands of other premises in the area and in six other parts of the island. Singapore, a major regional financial centre and busy transit hub, which maintains a constant vigil against the mosquito-borne dengue virus, reported its first Zika case in May, imported by a middle-aged man who had been to Brazil. On Saturday, the health ministry confirmed a first locally-transmitted case, with the tally jumping to 41 a day later amid warnings of more likely positive cases. One of the cases discovered on Sunday involved a Singaporean man who works at the GuocoLand site but who lives outside the Aljunied area. The NEA inspected more than 900 premises around his home on Monday. "The NEA went to every house, checked the kitchen and bathroom. They gave us a small bottle of insect repellent, but we just went to get a big bottle today," said 36-year-old local resident Tommy Fan. "I'm a little worried since my wife is trying to conceive. Zika seems to ... (spread) faster than dengue." One local pharmacy worker said she ran out of mosquito repellent, and was concerned about delays in getting fresh supplies. Workers wearing fumigation masks moved methodically through high-rise public housing estates, inspecting plant pots and spraying insecticide via thermal fogging machines. "I FEEL AFRAID" The Zika virus, carried by mosquitoes, was detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the Americas. It poses a risk to pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects. It has been linked in Brazil to more than 1,600 cases of microcephaly, where babies are born with abnormally small heads and brains. The World Health Organization said on Sunday it did not know "which lineage of Zika is circulating" in Singapore or "what the level of population immunity is to this lineage in Asia." Singapore's health ministry said around three dozen mosquito breeding habitats had been destroyed so far in the main Aljunied cluster. "I feel afraid," said Ng Kai Yee, an 18-year-old female student who lives near the outbreak area. "I heard quite a lot about how harmful Zika virus is to girls, especially pregnant women." Authorities have urged those living and working in the risk areas, especially pregnant women, to monitor their health and seek medical attention if they are unwell. Of the 41 people confirmed on Sunday to have been infected, 34 have fully recovered. Only the first case reported was a woman. Regional health experts said the Zika virus is likely to be significantly under-reported across tropical Southeast Asia as local health authorities fail to conduct adequate screening. Malaysia and Indonesia have stepped up protective measures following the Singapore outbreak, intensifying checks on people arriving from Singapore and introducing thermal scanners at airports and border checkpoints. Lithuania formin says EU sanctions on Russia should stay OSLO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - EU sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine should stay in place as long the situation on the ground does not improve, Lithuania's foreign minister said on Monday, dismissing calls from EU's rotating president Slovakia for them to be lifted. The European Union imposed energy, financial and defence sanctions on Moscow after it annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March 2014 and agreed in June to extend them until the end of January. Slovakia's prime minister, Robert Fico, called on the EU to end the sanctions after meeting President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, saying they had harmed both the EU and Russia but influenced "absolutely nothing". "My immediate reaction to comments like that is that if we have reached absolutely nothing, then let's add more sanctions," Lithuania's Linas Linkevicius told Reuters during a visit to Norway. He said proposals for ending the sanctions were premature since the situation in eastern Ukraine had not calmed down, access to the conflict zone for observers remained restricted and Russia was still involved militarily. Western governments and the Kiev government say Russia has armed and supported separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine in a conflict in which more than 9,000 people have died since it erupted in 2014. "We know that there is still military equipment and military personnel of Russian Federation in the territory of Ukraine, and I'm not speaking about the border line," Linkevicius said. Hungary is taking a similar line on EU sanctions as Slovakia, while the Czech President Milos Zeman, a backer of Russia, has repeatedly called for ending sanctions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Aug. 19 there was no reason to lift sanctions as Russia had not fulfilled its commitments under the Minsk agreements worked out in February 2015 to calm the conflict. YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian received newly appointed Ambassador of Georgia to Armenia Giorgi Saganelidze on August 29 who delivered the copies of the credentials to the Minister. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, congratulating on the occasion of the appointment, Edward Nalbandian wished success to Giorgi Saganelidze in his mission of further deepening the partnership between the two neighboring states. Thanking for the reception and warm wishes, Ambassador Saganelidze mentioned that its an honor for him to represent Georgia in friendly Armenia, and stated his readiness to spare no efforts for developing cooperation in all directions. The interlocutors discussed the preparatory works for the organization of the visit of the Georgian PM to Armenia. A range of issues of bilateral agenda were discussed at the meeting, including cooperation in economic sphere, trade, infrastructures, energy, and culture. Minister Nalbandian introduced the joint efforts of Armenia and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries aimed at finding an exceptionally peaceful solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Less haze this year, Indonesia promises By Fergus Jensen JAKARTA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Indonesia's Disaster Agency said it is confident the country's forest fires and haze of toxic smoke they send over Southeast Asia are unlikely to reach levels seen in 2015 because of favourable weather conditions and a quicker emergency response. Last year's fires were among of the worst on record, straining relations between Indonesia and its neighbours, and costing the country at least $16 billion in economic losses, equivalent to 1.9 percent of its gross domestic product, according to the World Bank. "We are certain this year things will be better," agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho told reporters on Monday, referring to a 61 percent reduction in hotspots seen 2016 compared with a year ago. Six Indonesian provinces have declared a state of emergency, allowing the agency to respond more quickly than last year, Nugroho said. "In 2015, only three provinces declared a state of emergency and even that was too late. The forest and land fires had already spread," he said. Home to the world's third-largest area of tropical forests, Indonesia has been criticised by green activists and by neighbouring Southeast Asian nations for failing to stop the region's annual haze, largely caused by forest-clearing for palm and pulp plantations. The pollution in 2015 cost Southeast Asia economic powerhouse Singapore S$700 million ($517 million), the country's environment and water resources minister said in March. An unusually wet dry season linked to the La Nina weather phenomenon this year has helped stop fires from spreading, Nugroho said. Based on weather forecasts the dry season will peak in September and end in October, Nugroho said. "So for that one month we will really keep everything under control," he said. Singapore on Monday got a break from the haze that hit the island state last week, as shifting winds pushed the smoke from Indonesia's Sumatra island northward over Malaysia. There, air quality in Kuala Lumpur neared "unhealthy" levels and residents took to social media to complain about poor visibility and an acrid smell. Despite Indonesian President Joko Widodo's instructions to end the annual blight "the sooner the better", the problem won't go away without an imporovement of preventative measures, Nugroho said. "There is no way we can completely eliminate or end the forest and land fires in Indonesia, because they are very much linked to behaviours of communities that light fires," he said, referring to farmers who use fires to prepare land for crops and clear it for plantations. "There are still fires, so prevention needs to be improved." Climate change looms large in Obama's final trip to Asia By Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - When President Barack Obama sets out this week to meet world leaders in China and Laos during his final presidential trip to Asia, he will make an unusual stop along the way. With time running out for more action on climate change during his time in office, Obama will drop in to Midway Atoll, a far-flung and largely uninhabited coral reef that is a refuge for sharks, albatrosses and endangered turtles and seals. The photo-rich stop is aimed at both raising awareness about the threat posed by climate change, and showcasing Obama's decision to protect a larger part of the ocean around Hawaii. But the trip to the middle of the Pacific Ocean will also highlight the high stakes of climate change just before Obama meets world leaders in China. "I think it's going to be an amazing sequence, and one that really matters," said Doug McCauley, a conservation biologist from University of California, Santa Barbara. "Suddenly, you're sitting in a room with the leaders who will decide what the fate of that place is going to be," McCauley said. The rare trip is both a signal of the importance Obama gives to climate change - and a sign of his focus in bliateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders have clashed on economic and security issues, but forged common ground on climate, which helped secure a global deal to cut carbon emissions at a Paris conference last year. "We have to recognize that climate change and clean energy cooperation has really helped to create better overall stability in the U.S.-China relationship, writ large," said Andrew Light, a former senior climate official in Obama's State Department. Light, now with the World Resources Institute think tank, said he expects Xi and Obama will try to push other G20 leaders to agree to timelines for implementing the Paris agreement and work on cutting other greenhouse gases like methane and hydrofluorocarbons. Any progress on climate issues could be a rare bright spot in a trip otherwise dominated by concerns about the international economy, anti-globalization sentiments and global security problems. With less than five months left in the White House, Obama is racing to cement his record through actions he can take without help from the gridlocked U.S. Congress. For example, at Obama's final meeting with his Canadian and Mexican counterparts, the leaders set new goals for clean energy production. Republicans in Congress have thwarted Obama's legislative efforts on climate, and mocked him for his focus on an issue they see as less pressing than the economy and defense. Obama also has faced criticism from environmental groups for not doing more to limit U.S. oil and gas production. "If we're going address the climate crisis or meet our climate commitments, the vast, vast majority of fossil fuels need to remain in the ground," said Brendan Cummings, conservation director with the Center for Biological Diversity. But former Environmental Protection Agency director Carol Browner said Obama has done what he could on climate both through leadership on the international stage, and by using existing laws to kick-start the clean energy sector and cut emissions from vehicles and power plants. Freak lightning storm kills 323 reindeer in Norway OSLO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - A freak lightning storm has killed 323 reindeer in a remote mountainous area of Norway, officials said on Monday. Dead animals were found lying on top of each other, many with their antlers entangled, after the thunderstorm on the Hardanger plateau in southern Norway on Friday. "We've never had anything like this with lightning," Kjartan Knutsen of Norway's nature surveillance agency said, adding there were sometimes isolated cases of sheep or reindeer struck down. Reindeer tend to group together when in danger. It was unclear whether the herd had been killed by a single lightning bolt or several. Hardanger was extremely wet on Friday, helping conduct lightning. "The high moisture in both the ground and the air was probably an explanation for why so many animals died," Olav Strand, a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institue for Nature Research, wrote in a statement. Experts flew in by helicopter to take samples of the dead reindeer, amid a rising stench of decay, as part of a project to monitor elk and deer for diseases. Five of the 323 animals were found alive but badly injured and were shot by wildlife officials. It was unclear what would happen to the bodies. One option is to leave them to decay. Lebanon's trash crisis threatens return in summer heat BEIRUT, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Rubbish is again accumulating on some Beirut streets after protesters blocked access to a dump, raising fears that last summer's garbage crisis, which provoked unprecedented street protests, could return. The return of trash piles is among a number of signs of how dysfunctional Lebanon's paralysed political system has become, made worse because of sectarian tension that has increased with next door Syria's civil war. The government has not passed a budget since 2005 and Lebanon has been without a president for more than two years. In July last year authorities shut the main landfill site for garbage from the capital without providing an alternative, causing months of festering rubbish to pile up around the city. That prompted massive protests in central Beirut that were unprecedented for having been mobilised independently of the big sectarian parties that dominate Lebanese politics. Plans for alternative dumps and even to export the rubbish were all rejected by residents, politicians and activists, until two temporary dumps in Beirut were eventually found. But these pungent seaside facilities are far from ideal: one is just 200 metres from Beirut International airport and the other adjacent to the central residential and commercial neighbourhood of Bourj Hammoud. In April this year the Lebanese Pilots Association wrote to the government that more garbage dumped near the airport would raise the risk of birds attracted by the rubbish being sucked into aircraft engines, putting planes in danger. With the stench from the Bourj Hammoud dump spreading to other districts in the 30 degree heat, feuding political parties have sought to mobilise Beirut residents' frustration. Angry about the continued use of Bourj Hammoud, which the authorities are trying to develop into a long-term sanitary landfill, the Christian Kataeb political party blocked the entrance, preventing construction work. "We have been here for 20 days to protest against filling the sea with garbage," said Roger Abi Rashed, deputy head of the local Kataeb branch. "We are here today to tell the government to find a sustainable, not temporary, solution to the rubbish issue." Angry that construction work was stopped, Bourj Hammoud's municipality, which was promised $25 million in development funding from the government in exchange for hosting the revamped dump, last week prevented garbage trucks entering the site. Unable to dump waste, the private company responsible for collecting rubbish, Sukleen, stopped collecting trash from parts of Beirut and the adjoining Mount Lebanon area on Thursday. Asked by Reuters why Sukleen could not use the other temporary dump near the airport, which is operational, a spokeswoman said Sukleen was "awaiting a disposal plan from the government". The head of the parliamentary monetary and budgetary committee said on Monday he wanted neither the coast nor the streets of Beirut to become a dump and that there would be a meeting later this week with concerned municipalities. Turkish military denies firing at Syrian Kurdish YPG forces -sources ANKARA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Turkish military sources on Monday denied the army fired at Syrian Kurdish YPG forces in Hasaka province, after the YPG said one of their fighters was injured by shots from Turkish forces along the border. "It's absolutely not true," one of the sources told Reuters, adding that there was no operation by the Turkish military near Hasaka province. Niger Delta Avengers say halted hostilities in Nigerian Delta LAGOS, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The Niger Delta Avengers militant group, which has carried out a series of attacks on oil and gas installations in Nigeria's Delta energy hub in the last few months, said on Monday it had halted hostilities. New Cuba tourism seen slow to take off despite U.S. flights By Marc Frank and Jeffrey Dastin HAVANA/NEW YORK, Aug 29 (Reuters) - An expected explosion in U.S. tourism to Cuba will likely take years to materialize even after U.S. airlines resume commercial flights to the Caribbean island this week for the first time since 1961, industry officials said. JetBlue Airways Corp will pilot its historic flight from Florida to the Cuban city of Santa Clara on Wednesday, the latest step in normalizing relations that earlier this year included a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama and the first U.S. cruise to the island in decades. The planes may some day be filled with U.S. beach-goers, looking for an economical Caribbean break at resorts favored by Canadians and Europeans on the sandy keys north of Santa Clara. But for now, U.S. law and constraints on Cuba's tourism infrastructure will act as brakes on increasing demand, experts said. Congress has yet to lift a trade embargo that prohibits U.S. citizens from visiting Cuba as tourists. The Obama administration has approved 12 categories of exceptions to the ban ranging from cultural, religious and educational travel to business and visiting family. That means JetBlue's initial flights will mainly carry Cuban-Americans visiting relatives or other U.S. citizens interested in seeing the Che Guevara Mausoleum and other cultural sites. Eventually, up to 25 flights a day by various carriers will connect the United States and the Cuban provinces, with another 20 to Havana, under an agreement reached by the two Cold War foes as part of a gradual detente begun in December 2014. Services on Silver Airways and American Airlines Group Inc from the Miami area to other outlying provinces are the next to start, in September. While the direct flights could carry more than a million U.S. residents to Cuba annually, according to John Kavulich, head of the New York-based U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council Inc, he and other experts believe that mark will not be reached for several years. In the beginning, the new routes are expected to absorb customers from the average of 17 charter flights that Cuba's government says have arrived from the United States daily for several years. "The fares that have come out so far, announced by American and JetBlue, have been super competitive," said Bob Guild, vice president at Marazul Charters Inc. "I don't have any question that it's going to shrink," he said of the charter services. Marazul, one of the largest charter companies operating to Cuba, plans to scale back services to provinces this fall but continue with its Havana flights while commercial airlines await approval, Guild said. HOTEL ROOMS FULL There is already a boom in visits to Cuba from the United States. 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 over the same period last year, a trend that the dawn of commercial flights can only further. "The fact that travelers can book flights directly online not only streamlines that process and makes it more affordable, it adds a feeling of legality," said Collin Laverty of Cuban Educational Travel. But another barrier to increased U.S. travel is that Cuba's hotels, bed and breakfasts, transportation services and amenities are already stretched to the limit, with a record 3.5 million foreign arrivals last year. Higher hotel prices, pegged to the U.S. dollar, might push out some travelers from Europe and Canada, creating more space for Americans, said Emilio Morales, CEO of Miami-based Havana Consulting Group. Private bed and breakfasts would absorb what they could of increased demand, he said. Over time, airlines are betting travel restrictions will be further relaxed and want to get their foot in the door before Obama leaves office next year. Niger Delta Avengers says halted hostilities in Nigerian Delta LAGOS, Aug 29 (Reuters) - A Nigerian militant group, which has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on oil and gas facilities in the southern Niger Delta energy hub in the last few months, said on Monday that it had halted hostilities. The statement by the Niger Delta Avengers comes just over a week after the militant group said it was ready for a ceasefire and talks with the government. The swampland region - which produces most of the oil that makes up 70 percent of government revenue - has been hit by pipeline attacks since January which have cut the OPEC member's output by 700,000 barrels a day to 1.56 million bpd. "We have listened carefully and halted hostilities in the Niger Delta," said the Avengers in the statement, presented as an "open letter" to President Muhammadu Buhari on the group's website. "We expect a genuine and positive attitude to restructuring and self-determination for every component unit of Nigeria," the group said. It added that "no amount of troop surge and simulation exercises will make you win the oil war". S.African Treasury, Eskom row over coal contracts as government rifts deepen By James Macharia JOHANNESBURG, Aug 29 (Reuters) - South Africa's Treasury and state-owned Eskom clashed on Monday over a probe into coal contracts between the power utility and a company linked to the wealthy Gupta family that is accused of holding undue political sway over President Jacob Zuma. The row further scarred relations in a government rocked by a police investigation of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan over a suspected surveillance unit set up when he ran the tax service. The turmoil has weakened South African assets. Analysts say Zuma's team and the Treasury under Gordhan have disagreed about government spending at state companies and the tussle between Treasury and Eskom signalled a prolonged dispute. In a statement, the Treasury accused executives at Eskom, including Chief Executive Officer Brian Molefe, of resisting attempts to investigate coal contracts between the utility and Tegeta, a company controlled by the Gupta family. The Treasury said Eskom had blocked its probe since April. "The National Treasury would like to categorically state that its efforts have met resistance," it said in a statement. Eskom denied preventing the investigation into its deals with Gupta-controlled Tegeta Exploration & Resources Ltd. and said that it was "shocked and perplexed" by the statement issued by the Treasury. The Gupta family, which is being investigated by the anti-corruption watchdog on suspicion of influencing government appointments, announced on Saturday that it planned to dispose of its South African businesses before the end of the year. The Guptas, a family of Indian-born businessmen who moved to South Africa in the early 1990s, have denied trying to influence political appointments or using their ties to Zuma for advancing their business interests, saying they are the victims of a plot. Zuma has also denied any wrongdoing. Eskom said in a statement over the weekend the Treasury had not issued any conclusive findings against it on any of the utility's coal contracts' and that it was cooperating with the Treasury on its investigations of the contracts. The Sunday Times reported that the Treasury's investigation had revealed that Eskom paid more than 130 million rand ($9 million) to a mining company owned by the Gupta family for coal the power utility could not use. The Treasury said on Monday it had sent a report to Eskom's Chief Executive Officer Brian Molefe and board Chairman Ben Ngubane for their comment and requested a list of payments made to Tegeta, both of which the utility ignored. The Treasury said Gordhan escalated the matter to Ngubane, raising concerns about advance payments made to Tegeta, but this also failed to bear fruit. Eskom said it had received the Treasury's lengthy report in April and had requested for additional time to issue its reply and would do so by the end of September after a board meeting. FRUSTRATION On Thursday, the presidency defended a new plan to give Zuma supervision over state-owned firms after Gordhan's allies said this would limit the finance minister's control. Such firms include Eskom and the South African Airways, which has announced plans to raise 16 billion rand ($1 billion) for working capital and debt repayment. A Zuma-backed plan to build a series of nuclear power plants, at a cost of as much as $60 billion, has caused tension with the Treasury for months. The presidency has said that Zuma was not warring with Gordhan. Gordhan said on Wednesday he had done nothing wrong by setting up the surveillance unit at the tax service and declined to obey a police summons linked to the probe, setting the stage for a drawn-out confrontation between him and authorities. "This is almost a public justification of Gordhan's frustration over the running of state owned firms," said Daniel Silke, a director at Political Futures Consultancy, referring to the statement issued by the Treasury on Eskom. Renzi to present national plan to strengthen Italy's quake defences By Gavin Jones ROME, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Matteo Renzi promised on Monday to present a national plan to make Italy safer against earthquakes as rescuers continued to search for bodies after last week's quake that killed at least 292 people. Renzi said Italy needed a "change of mentality" and he would present a project dubbed "Italy's House" in the coming days and seek the involvement of politicians, trade unions, technical experts and building companies. He said the country would spend as much as required for the envisaged plan, which will include making structures earthquake-proof, energy efficiency measures and land reclamation, though without specifying an amount. "To Europe, we say that we will spend whatever it takes," said Renzi, speaking in an interview to national broadcaster Rai later in the day. He stressed that in the reconstruction effort "timings (will) have to be clear and the supervision on how money is spent must be efficient" and said his government would appoint a special commissioner by the end of the week. "What has often been lacking in the past is the construction of a plan for the whole country based on prevention," Renzi wrote in a newsletter to his supporters earlier in the day. He said he had already discussed the new plan with Italian architect Renzo Piano who told him it may take two generations - or around 50 years - to bring Italy up to the best international safety standards. "But the fact that it's a long-term project isn't a good reason not to start immediately," Renzi said. PUBLIC DEBT Italy has suffered 36 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5 and above since 1900, almost every one bringing death, destruction and recriminations about why successive governments have not done more to defend Italians' lives and heritage. Prosecutors are investigating why supposedly quake-proofed buildings collapsed in the Aug. 24 tremors in one of the world's most seismically active countries. It remains to be seen whether Renzi's plans will have more success than in the past. Italy has one of the world's largest public debts and with a virtually stagnant economy it will struggle to find the funds for costly civil defence programmes. Renzi's own future is also in doubt. He faces a referendum in the autumn on a strongly contested plan for constitutional reform, and has said he will step down if he loses. He promised to rebuild Amatrice and the other mountain communities in central Italy shattered in the latest quake, saying his government would "ensure that these places with such a precious past will also have a future." Reconstruction efforts following a 2009 quake which killed more than 300 people in the nearby city of L'Aquila have been hampered by red-tape and corruption, and only a tiny part of the town centre has been rebuilt. Aftershocks continued on Monday, five days after the first quake. Geologists say there have been more than 2,000 since the original magnitude 6.2 earthquake. "Here the ground doesn't stop shaking, I don't know, I have the impression a huge rift will open and we will all fall in it," said Roberto De Cesaris, a resident in Amatrice. A large state funeral is scheduled to take place in Amatrice on Tuesday for many of the more than 240 people who died in the town. State funerals for 35 of the victims were celebrated on Saturday in the town of Ascoli Piceno. Obama to meet Philippines' Duterte, broach human rights WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to meet with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Sept. 6, and plans to touch on human rights as well as security concerns, the White House said on Monday. "We absolutely expect that the president will raise concerns about some of the recent statements from the president of the Philippines," White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told a media briefing when asked whether inflammatory remarks by Duterte about women, journalists and others would be a topic of discussion. Rhodes said, however, that there were important security issues to cover as well, particularly tensions over navigation in the South China Sea. China has been incensed by a ruling against its claims in the South China Sea by an international court, a case initiated by Manila. Libyan forces say oust Islamic State from central neighbourhood in Sirte SIRTE, Libya Aug 29 (Reuters) - Libyan forces said they had taken control of a residential neighbourhood in the middle of Sirte from Islamic State on Monday, leaving just one district of the city still occupied by militants. A spokesman for the forces, Rida Issa, said Sirte's neighbourhood Number One was "completely liberated", though he added that brigades were "in the process of clearing any remnants of Daesh (Islamic State)" from the area. For more than three months, brigades aligned with Libya's U.N.-backed government have been battling to oust Islamic State from Sirte, a coastal city that the militant group turned into a regional stronghold last year. At least six brigade members were killed and 12 wounded on Monday, according to hospital officials. U.S. Defense Secretary calls on Turkey not to target Syria rebels WASHINGTON, Aug 29 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter called on Turkey to stay focused on fighting Islamic State militants and not to target Kurdish elements of Syrian rebels. "We have called upon Turkey... to stay focused on the fight against ISIL and not to engage Syrian Defense Forces, and we've had a number of contacts over the last several days," Carter said in a media briefing on Monday, using an Arab acronym for Islamic State. Chinese TV host accuses Canada tourism body of censorship By Ethan Lou TORONTO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - A Chinese talk show host has accused a Canadian government-backed tourism organization of trying to censor discussion of the country's aboriginal issues on his program and caused an episode to be dropped. Gao Xiaosong, also the head of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's music division, made the accusation on his Weibo Chinese microblog on Saturday, two days before Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embarked on his first official visit to China. Gao wrote that he had interviewed a Canadian aboriginal chief for an episode of his show, "Xiaosong Pedia," due to be shown last Friday on the online video site iQIYI. The unnamed chief praised Trudeau's and New Zealand's approaches to aboriginals, but criticized Canada's treatment of his people in the past, Gao wrote. Gao wrote that tourism agency Destination Canada then applied pressure on iQIYI through a sponsor, asking for nearly half of what was at least a 40-minute episode to be cut. Asked about the incident, Destination Canada said it has the right to "suggest changes" and make "recommendations to ensure a focus on Canadian tourism." Destination Canada's relationship with Gao was not immediately clear. It said only that it engaged the travel site Ctrip.Com International Ltd to produce "four tourism videos" and the process involved an unidentified "production company." Gao, iQIYI and Ctrip did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Gao's program bills itself as a weekly general interest talk show. It had 29 episodes this year, and at least one, uploaded on Aug. 19 and about the city of Vancouver, appeared to have been shot in Canada. Gao did not give details on what ensued after Destination Canada's request, writing only that his contract with iQIYI requires consent from both parties to broadcast an episode, and that he does not compromise on such matters. "Speaking the truth is Xiaosong's fundamental value," he wrote, referencing a Chinese saying, "Better to be broken jade than whole pottery." Trudeau's Liberal party came to power last November promising to rebuild ties with Canada's 1.4 million aboriginal people, who on average suffer from higher rates of crime, poverty and addiction. In an email-chain screenshot posted by Gao, a Destination Canada official, whose name had been redacted, wrote in red typeface that episode brought up an "unpleasant past" and such content "definitely cannot appear." Iraqi government, Kurds to start talks on oil dispute BAGHDAD, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The Iraqi government and the Kurdish regional authorities agreed to start talks to resolve a dispute on oil revenue-sharing that is holding back the nation's crude exports, according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister's office. The statement was published after a meeting in Baghdad between Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Iraq's oil ministry said on Friday it would consider selling crude through Iran should talks with the autonomous Kurds about oil exported by pipeline through their region from the northern Kirkuk fields to Turkey fail. "The meeting dealt with issues related to oil production and distribution from the field of Kirkuk and the region" of Kurdistan, the statement said. "It was agreed to start technical talks" between the oil ministries of the two sides. 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 re-route 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. Iraq's state-run North Oil Company resumed pumping crude through the Kurdish-controlled pipeline to Turkey earlier this month as "a sign of goodwill" to invite the Kurds to start negotiations, Deputy Oil Minister Fayadh al-Nema said in an interview with Reuters on Friday. But the flow of crude extracted from Kirkuk by North Oil and pumped in the pipeline has been running at about 75,000 bpd since, or half the rate before it was halted in March, he said. It would only be increased if there is an agreement, he added. 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. Portugal's Guterres still leads race for UN chief after third ballot By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres still leads the race to become the next United Nations Secretary-General after a third U.N. Security Council secret ballot on Monday, diplomats said. The 15-member council cast a ballot for each of the remaining 10 candidates, and the choices were: encourage, discourage or no opinion. Guterres received 11 encourage, three discourage and one no opinion, diplomats said. The Security Council will hold secret ballots until a consensus is reached on a candidate to replace U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon of South Korea who steps down at the end of 2016 after serving two five-year terms. Guterres, who was prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002 and served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015, also won the first two rounds of secret ballots by the Security Council. In the second ballot on Aug. 5 he picked up 11 encourage, two discourage and two no opinions, while in the first poll on July 21, Guterres received 12 encourages and three no opinions. "Some favorites are emerging," British U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters on his way in to the poll on Monday, adding he would encourage some candidates to consider dropping out. "The whole point of the straw polls is to gradually winnow down the field," he said. In Monday's poll Slovakia's Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak jumped to second spot with nine encourage, five discourage and one no opinion, followed by Irina Bokova of Bulgaria, who is director-general of U.N. cultural organization UNESCO, and former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who both had seven encourage, five discourage and three no opinion, diplomats said. Argentinian Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra dropped to fifth spot from third, followed by former Macedonian Foreign Minister Srgjan Kerim, and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who heads the U.N. Development Programme. Former Slovenian President Danilo Turk, Moldova's former Foreign Minister Natalia Gherman and former U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica filled the last three spots. Former Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic dropped out of the race prior to the second ballot, while Montenegro Foreign Minister Igor Luksic withdrew last week. Civil society groups and nearly a third of the 193 U.N. member states, led by Colombia, have pushed for the first woman secretary-general. But hopes for a woman to lead the United Nations appear to be fading. Diplomats said the council aimed to recommend a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly for election by October. Ultimately, the five permanent veto-wielding council members - the United States, Russia, Britain, China and France - must agree on a candidate. Samarco dam failed due to poor drainage and design -investigation By Marta Nogueira and Stephen Eisenhammer BELO HORIZONTE/RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The deadly collapse of a tailings dam last November at the Samarco mine, owned by Vale SA and BHP Billiton, was caused by drainage and design flaws, a report into Brazil's worst-ever environmental disaster showed on Monday. The 76-page report commissioned by the companies responsible for the spill, which killed 19 people, attributed the dam burst to a chain of events dating back to 2009, but did not assign blame or highlight specific errors in corporate or regulatory practice. Norbert Morgenstern, a geotechnical engineering professor who headed the investigation, repeatedly told reporters he could not answer their questions when quizzed on whether there was negligence or malpractice on the part of the companies involved. A separate police investigation has accused Samarco of willful misconduct, saying the company ignored clear signs the dam was at risk of collapsing. Samarco denies any wrongdoing. BHP Billiton's chief commercial officer, Dean Dalla Valle, said cost-cutting since 2012 was "absolutely not" a factor and there was no evidence anyone had prioritised production over safety. "We have no reason to believe that anyone at BHP had any information that indicated that the dam was in danger of collapsing," Dalla Valle told reporters in Australia on a conference call from Belo Horizonte. The report stressed that a change in the dam's design between 2011 and 2012 led to less efficient water drainage that saturated sand in the dam and resulted in liquefaction. Liquefaction is a process whereby a solid material such as sand loses strength and stiffness and behaves more like a liquid. It is a common cause for the collapse of dams holding mining waste, known as tailings, because the walls of these dams are mostly built with dried tailings which consist of a mixture of sand and clay-like mud. "There was a fundamental change in the design concept whereby more widespread saturation was allowed and accepted," the report said, adding "this increase in the extent of saturation introduced the potential for sand liquefaction." Liquefaction was triggered by increased weight on the tailings as the height of the dam was raised, reaching 100 meters (109 yards) at the time of collapse. This weight pushed the clay-like mud in the dam outwards "like toothpaste from a tube," resulting in a loosening of the sand which had more space to spread and ultimately caused it to flow like a liquid and cause the dam's wall to collapse. A small earthquake on the day of the dam burst may also have "accelerated" the failure, the report said. Carlos Eduardo Pinto, a prosecutor in the case against Samarco, said much of what was in the report had already been shown in the police investigation. "Samarco has long claimed it performs good practice but the report did not demonstrate this," Pinto told Reuters. "Quite the opposite, it showed the company altered the project in a way that would not have been permitted." BHP Billiton said it had learned from the tragedy. It had already reviewed 10 of its biggest tailings dams and said they were stable, but was taking steps to improve risk management. The disaster has already cost BHP Billiton $2.2 billion, including a total write-off of its investment in Samarco, due to uncertainty over when the mine will reopen, and funds for its share of agreed compensation and damages. BHP and Vale's shares, mauled last November after the dam disaster, were unharmed by the release of the report. Vale's shares rose 2.4 percent on Monday and BHP's shares rose 1 percent in early trading on Tuesday. Fabio Viviani is a famous chef with restaurants in major U.S. cities. Chicago. Los Angeles. San Diego. And come February 2017, his newest restaurant will open in ... Tyre, New York. Population: 981. Viviani, who was born in Italy and rose to prominence following his appearance on the reality series "Top Chef," announced earlier this month that Portico by Fabio Viviani will open inside del Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre. The $440 million resort is currently under construction and scheduled to open in February. When del Lago opens, Portico by Fabio Viviani will be one of the restaurant options available for casino guests. Viviani told The Citizen that he's been working with del Lago officials for years on other events and were looking for an opportunity to work together on a project. Enter Portico. "They presented me the possibility of doing something with them in the new resort and casino that they're opening in the Finger Lakes area," Viviani said by phone Friday. "I was excited. It's a beautiful area. It's a fantastic geographic location between Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo." Jeff Babinski, del Lago's executive vice president and general manager, called Viviani a "perfect match" for the casino. "When you look at the design of del Lago the look and feel that we're going for he grew up in Italy and it's simple food made great," Babinski said. "And we can tap into a lot of the businesses and farmers here in the region and take that food and make it something special so our customers can enjoy." Viviani has visited the Finger Lakes region and toured the del Lago construction site on Aug. 20. One of the observations he made during his trip is that the area is home to "great people, great farming and a great sense of community," which are principles he's established in all of his restaurants. "We work with good people, we serve great food, we make everything in house from scratch, we help the community grow and we're a part of it," he said. Portico by Fabio Viviani will feature steaks, chops and a selection of pastas made from scratch. The 212-seat restaurant will turn to local farmers for vegetables and offer an array of cheeses. The restaurant will serve a "phenomenal brunch" shortly after it opens in February, Viviani said. He added that they're already testing dishes for the brunch. Viviani said Portico will be a hybrid between an everyday Italian restaurant and a steakhouse. "If you have a favorite restaurant in the area and you love those dishes because there are people behind the food that care and they provide a good experience, that's what we're going to provide," he said. "It's going to be an Italian restaurant. It's going to have an Italian flair." And it will be his. Viviani made it clear that this isn't a relationship in which del Lago is paying him a fee so they can use his name in the restaurant's brand. It's his restaurant. He plans on having a presence at Portico. He won't be there every day he has other restaurants to visit and other obligations to meet. But you will see him at del Lago. "We will do monthly special events. We will do cooking classes," he said. "I will be there a lot. It's not a set number ... The restaurant is mine. This is my restaurant so it will get the same love and care." Babinski is looking forward to working with Viviani and for the celebrity chief to get involved in the Tyre and Seneca County community. "I'm excited to have somebody like Fabio here with us and taking Portico to another level," he said. The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) is a section 25 (not for profit), non-government, private limited company. It was incorporated on March 28, 2013. The government of India holds 24.5 per cent equity in the GSTN, and all states of the Indian Union, including the National Capital Territory 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. However, strategic control of the GSTN is said to lie with the Centre even though it owns only 24.5 per cent of its equity. The company has been set up primarily to provide IT infrastructure and services to the Central and state governments, taxpayers and other stakeholders for the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). It is going to be the IT backbone of the GST - the new tax regime much talked about as a major tax reform since Independence. But the success of this new tax regime seems to be dependent a lot on the GSTN. The GSTN is a public utility like the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in charge of Aadhaar. Its objective is to drive the basic business processes under the GST namely registration, payment of returns and refunds. These are called the front-end modules while there are back-end modules such as audit, adjudication, dispute resolution and an array of other applications which will be developed by the government. The government had already transferred, hopefully under a MoU, the commercial database of existing taxpayers with strict assurance of data security and protection. This is understandably to operationalise the new tax regime early. The GST is a new tax regime much talked about as a major tax reform since Independence. The GSTN has in turn awarded the contract to the second largest Indian tech major Infosys for Rs 1,380 crore to run the front-end operations of the GST, involving the four basic business processes mentioned above. These front-end transactions would eventually need ratification by departmental assessing officers at the back-end, according to government sources. As everyone knows, the GST is the single largest unified indirect tax system to be rolled out by mid-2017. Strictly speaking, it is not a single tax system since the Centre and the states are going to tax the supply of goods and services on the same value base by exercising concurrent jurisdiction under Article 122 of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution was recently amended to enable this act of the Centre and the states to swap each other's earlier rights to tax manufacture and sale of goods respectively. The Centre, in addition, concedes its exclusive right to tax services to the states as well under the new constitutional arrangement. The GSTN was prepared to develop several of the back-end processes for the states since the Centre is supposedly equipped with its own back-end departmental IT support outsourced from another IT major WIPRO. When the GSTN floated the offer there were only six takers. The number has jumped over threefold to 21 states in three years now. More and more states, both big and small, from Bihar to Arunachal Pradesh have realised it is worthwhile to fall in line with the GSTN for running their IT modules for the collection of their taxes and its administration. However, big states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra have their own IT systems since they have past experience in running the state value added tax (VAT) administration with their own IT architecture. The GSTN is ready to do a beta launch in February and go critical from April 1. Many states feel that letting the GSTN build front- and back-end modules together will help drive synergies as there was no such common platform earlier. It could eventually help save time, energy and precious resources, many taxpayers think. Some states have sought the help of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the government's own IT outfit functioning under the ministry of electronics and information technology. In fact, the NIC has a large presence in every state, providing IT and communication support in carrying out various State-run education and other programmes. The first time the government took the help of the NIC was to run the customs tax collection module, ICEGATE, with resounding success. However, the attempt of the government to outsource to Wipro the administration of its excise and service tax module, ACES, has reportedly not been very successful. What does India have in common with Syria - the world's most dangerous place to be a journalist? Or for that matter, with Somalia and Afghanistan? All of these countries failed to furnish details on investigations into murders of journalists for UNESCO's 2014 bi-annual impunity report. Though it wasn't mandatory for India to share the information, the fact is that the largest democracy and the world's fastest growing major economy has a terrible record of protecting its journalists. Reporting on corruption can literally get you murdered in this country, a chilling Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) report released today finds out. And journalists from rural and remote parts are a lot more vulnerable than their counterparts in bigger cities. India has spent eight long years on CPJ's Global Impunity index - the equivalent of the media safety hall of shame. Since 1992, CPJ has documented 27 cases of hacks killed for the stories they were pursuing. More than half of these men (and they are all men) covered corruption regularly as a beat. CPJ did not find records of a single conviction in any of these cases. In the one case that had the possibility of a conviction, the accused was let off after an appeal. Other international organisations have also reported on just how unsafe it is to be a reporter in India. Reporters Without Borders describes India as Asia's "deadliest country" for media personnel - ahead of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. It ranked India as a poor 133rd on a list of 180 countries in its 2016 World Freedom Index. The International Federation of Journalists says India is the seventh deadliest country for journalists, with nearly a hundred of them killed since 1990. India still doesn't collect specific information on violence against journalists, but the government stated in Parliament earlier this year that 114 cases of attacks on media persons were registered in 2014. Of all the Indian states, Uttar Pradesh is the deadliest for journalists. Over 70 per cent of all recorded attacks on journalists in 2014 took place there. Not surprisingly - there hasn't been one conviction. When CPJ probed the killings in Uttar Pradesh, it found: "In almost all cases, investigations remain stalled or police have not brought charges against the suspected attackers." A toll-free helpline started by the state in January 2016 isn't even on the radar for many journalists. "Most local journalists with whom we spoke and who work in the state's smaller towns had not heard of the service," say the authors of the CPJ report. India has spent eight long years on CPJ's Global Impunity index - the equivalent of the media safety hall of shame. The index lists countries where killers of journalists go scot-free. Fourteenth on the list, India has its neighbours Pakistan and Bangladesh for company. Colombia exited the Impunity Index in 2015 - after featuring on it since 2008. The country has a slew of protection measures for journalists under threat which can literally help keep them alive as they work - bulletproof vests, police bodyguards and even the option to relocate if things continue to be dangerous. Though Colombia's programme is far from perfect, India could do well by learning from its failures and successes. A Global Impunity Index is one international list India doesn't want to be on. Curfew has been lifted from the Kashmir Valley after 51 days except from the areas of Pulwama and old Srinagar. There has been a gradual slowdown in violent protests after the government adopted a two-pronged strategy - to get tough with those inciting the unrest including Pakistan and Kashmiri separatists, and initiating a comprehensive dialogue with others including the representatives of the protestors. The government's determination to find a solution to the ongoing strife in Kashmir through dialogue is a welcome step and how serious the government is this time around becomes clear from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that the lives lost in the Kashmir unrest were those of Indians and the whole of India is pained at that. "Unity and affection were the pivotal words during my interaction with other political parties on the Kashmir issue. Those who are inciting the Kashmiri youth for indulging in violent clashes and stone-pelting will have to answer someday and those who have died in the ongoing phase of unrest in Kashmir are Indians," Modi said on Sunday (August 28), making his stand on Kashmir loud and clear once again. He was addressing the nation through his monthly radio broadcast Mann ki Baat. It indicated the continuation of his efforts to initiate a dialogue in order to find a solution to the Kashmir problem, and that has found acceptance among the stakeholders, who see a point here. Before this, even during the meeting with the united front of Jammu and Kashmir opposition parties last week, the prime minister had said that development alone was not enough to solve the Kashmir problem and dialogue was a must. The Kashmir unrest is not a problem that alone the Central government can resolve. To extend Modi's initiative, Union home minister Rajnath Singh held meetings with some eminent Indians before his visit to Kashmir last week (August 24-25) so that he could prepare the groundwork. During his two-day visit to the Valley, he met all the stakeholders and even indicated that he was ready to meet the separatists (but the separatists refused to meet him). He is slated to take an all-party delegation to the Valley soon and its modalities are being worked out. Also, the government has now decided that pellet guns will only be used as the last resort and non-lethal measures like chilli and pepper grenades, water cannons, and acoustic and laser devices will be employed to control mobs. To complement these efforts, the Central government is working on other fronts as well to crackdown on separatists and those who are fuelling unrest in the Valley. Many separatist leaders including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have been arrested and many are under detention and interrogations are on. The number of security personnel on the ground has been beefed up by deploying more Army troops and additional columns of the Border Security Force (BSF). The National Investigative Agency (NIA) is probing 17 bank accounts from south Kashmir with suspicious transactions amounting to Rs 38 crore that could have been used to fuel the unrest. But the Kashmir unrest is not a problem that alone the Central government can resolve. The Jammu and Kashmir government, being the representative of the people of the state, is the primary interface here through which the Central government can push any initiative further and therefore both the governments need to act in unison. Mehbooba Mufti, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister heading a PDP-BJP coalition government has appealed to the protestors to give her a chance though she has maintained that it is only five per cent of the population who are creating trouble and unrest in the Valley. Mehbooba sees in Prime Minister Modi a person who will solve the Kashmir problem. Yet she has been hesitant to toe the Centre's line. Thus while India has accused Pakistan of fomenting the Kashmir unrest, Mehbooba still believes in appealing to Pakistan to help resolve the Kashmir deadlock. Now, Pakistan's hand behind the Kashmir unrest is not difficult to detect. While Mehbooba is still trying to court Pakistan, the Modi government has made it very clear that it will not talk to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. Instead, it has asked Pakistan to rein in the anti-India elements on its soil and stop anti-India propaganda. Such paradoxical approaches to the Kashmir problem have always been obstacles to finding any solution. Successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir and the politicians of the state have always advocated making Pakistan a party to the Kashmir peace process because they believe it appeases a section of voters there, whereas the Indian government has made it clear that Kashmir is an integral part of India and if there is any problem, it is India's internal matter and will be resolved accordingly. Kashmir, though, has been the main issue between India and Pakistan and the Pakistan high commission in Delhi has been treating the Kashmiri separatists like VVIPs. Now that the Indian government has firmly said that no talks with Pakistan would be held on the Kashmir issue, the state government too should try to find a solution to the problem within this framework. Pakistan understands that it cannot take Kashmir from India - either through war or proxy war. But it needs to keep the Kashmir issue alive in order to divert attention from its domestic problems as well as to nurture anti-India sentiments that give legitimacy to the role its military establishment plays. Pakistan, in fact, is feeling desperate after Modi's open announcement that India would now raise human rights and atrocity issues in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and Balochistan on international platforms which got good traction among Baloch activists spread across the world. Sending its parliamentarians to different countries to highlight the Kashmir issue, getting an anti-India statement issued from the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), giving active patronage to terrorists wanted in India and asking them to spew venom against India and mentoring and tutoring the Kashmiri separatists indicate how insecure Pakistan is feeling now. It is, in fact, so perturbed that Kashmir has started dictating its foreign policy just not with India but with the rest of the world now. The Jammu and Kashmir politicians and the state government should see through this. That is a must for any peace process initiated by the government of India to bear fruit. Dialogue is the only way forward but both the state and Central government should understand that they should not send conflicting signals that would be like playing into the hands of anti-India elements and the Kashmiri separatists who keep on inciting protests in the Valley. The Jammu and Kashmir politicians who take part in India's electoral politics must sing the Indian tune and not the Pakistan's national anthem. Why it is that some of these politicians find it easy to blast India while their silence on Pakistan is deafening? Why it is that they never talk of atrocities in PoK? If Pakistan is out of the ambit of the talks, both the state and Central governments should speak the same language. The government of India had given the separatists a chance when Rajnath had invited them, but the separatists, who openly endorse Pakistan, can't be expected to be a part of something constructive. Kashmir has seen a lot of destruction and heartburn. The 51 days of curfew, which began after Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in a police encounter on July 8, has seen a death toll of 71 which include mainly young protesters. The unrest has left thousands injured and many have become crippled. These include security personnel as well. Education institutions and businesses remain closed. Trade and industry bodies have pegged their loss at Rs 6,000 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet at least twice over the coming two months. The first meeting will be on the margins of G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China on September 4-5, 2016. Second interaction will be during Putin's visit to India to attend the BRICS and India-Russia annual bilateral summit in Goa on 15-16 Oct, 2016. Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin visited India to prepare for Putin's forthcoming visit. This was Rogozin's fourth visit to India since Modi's victory in May 2014. This is testimony to the significance that both countries attach to bilateral partnership. Strong relations with Russia are a key pillar of India's foreign policy. In his meeting with Rogozin on August 20, 2016, PM Modi described Russia as "a time-tested and reliable friend..." Defence Recent years have witnessed rapid growth in all aspects of bilateral partnership. Russia of today is not the Russia of 2014 when it was reeling under onslaught of Western sanctions. Russia is rapidly emerging as a confident and resurgent power. With Indian economy growing at a robust 7.6 per cent per annum, time is propitious for the two countries to take their relationship to a new high level. Russia continues to be India's main trading partner in military and technical sphere with more than 70 per cent of equipment in the Indian armed forces being of Russian origin. Bilateral engagement has evolved from supply of end products to technology transfer, joint research and development. Two 1,000MW power plants are already functional at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. (PTI) The most rewarding example of joint cooperation is successful designing and manufacture of sophisticated BrahMos supersonic cruise missile for Indian armed forces and export to third countries. Discussions for exports to UAE, Vietnam, South Africa and Chile are at an advanced stage. Most bilateral projects are in consonance with Make in India programme launched by PM Modi. Nuclear energy has emerged as one of the most significant and fastest growing areas of bilateral cooperation. Two 1,000MW power plants are already functional at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. Four more are slated to come up in the same vicinity. During Modi's visit to Moscow last December, it was decided to establish six more 1,000MW nuclear power plants probably in Andhra Pradesh. Russian atomic power corporation Rosatom is interested in participating in Make in India programme for assembly of fuel rods and control system components. Some components can be assembled in India for use domestically, for export to Russia and to third markets. Hydrocarbon Hydrocarbons hold enormous potential for bilateral cooperation. Russia is one of the world's largest producers of oil and gas. As a result of Western sanctions, Russia has adopted a new "Asia Pivot" strategy, the most marked aspect of which is its turn towards India and China. India's energy demand is growing at a rapid pace. Today, India is dependent on imports of oil to the extent of 80 per cent of its requirement and in gas it is 37 per cent. Russia and India hence make an ideal match as producer and consumer. India is significantly invested in Russia's oil and gas sector. Its first investment was a 20 per cent stake in Sakhalin I worth $1.7 billion in 2001. This investment has yielded impressive gains. ONGC Videsh (OVL) invested $2.1 billion to buy 100 per cent stake in Imperial Energy in 2009. This turned out to be highly unprofitable both because of the high price paid and inadequate production from the oilfield. In lieu, OVL has picked up significant stakes in Bashneft, Titov and Trebs fields off the Arctic continental shelf. In July 2015, Essar and Rosneft signed a preliminary agreement for Rosneft to acquire 49 per cent stake in Essar's Vadinar Oil refinery and supply crude to Essar over ten years. In September 2015, OVL signed an agreement with Rosneft to acquire 15 per cent stake in Vankorneft project, the second-largest oil field in Russia. Recently in June 2016, an Indian consortium signed a sale-purchase agreement with Rosneft for the acquisition of 23.9 per cent in Vankor oil block. Trade The growth in trade and investment has not been commensurate with other areas of bilateral engagement. Two-way trade continues to languish at an abysmally low level of $10 billion. The two countries have fixed a target of $30 billion by 2025. Several silver linings have appeared recently on the horizon. India's membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will provide several opportunities to promote security, stability and economic growth in Central Asia and region. Regional countries need to collaborate actively to ensure that Afghanistan does not descend into conflict and instability. Russia and India can play a crucial role in this as also in dealing with the scourge of terrorism emanating from Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Middle East. Unrest and continuing violence in Syria as well as uncontrolled spread of Islamic State, terrorism and radicalisation of youth are other challenges that the two countries need to quell and overcome together. Both India and Russia are factors of peace, stability, security and economic development - domestically, bilaterally and regionally. Rapidly expanding special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries bodes well for future of India and Russia as well as the region. The leader of the House of Representatives and the highest ranking Republican in the country will be in central New York Monday to support U.S. Rep. John Katko's re-election campaign. House Speaker Paul Ryan headlined a fundraiser for Katko, R-Camillus, at Marriott Syracuse Downtown, which was formerly known as Hotel Syracuse before it was renovated. According to an invitation provided to The Citizen, the fundraiser began at 4 p.m. with a $1,000-a-person VIP reception featuring Katko and Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican. A cocktail reception followed at 4:30 p.m. The cost to attend the cocktail reception was $250 per person and $350 for couples. Ryan has already provided financial support to Katko's re-election efforts. The speaker's political action committee, the Prosperity Action PAC, gave $10,000 to Katko's campaign earlier this year. Following his visit Monday, Ryan issued a statement praising Katko, who is seeking a second term in Congress against Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon. "Central New York families understand the importance of accountability," Ryan said. "With a 20-year career as a federal prosecutor, John Katko held people accountable every single day. "He is a man of integrity and he understands the importance of getting results, no matter the challenge. That's exactly why we need John Katko representing New York's 24th district and I'm glad to support him." The Syracuse visit is one of several stops for Ryan during a swing through upstate New York. He headlined a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, a Buffalo-area Republican, and he will attend a similar event Tuesday in the Rochester area for U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, a GOP congressman from Corning. Republicans view the upstate New York seats as important to maintaining and strengthening the party's majority in the House of Representatives. Democrats criticized Ryan's visit to central New York Monday and noted that Katko has voted four times to defund Planned Parenthood. Bryan Lesswing, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said Ryan's appearance is Katko's reward "for putting the Washington Republican agenda ahead of central New York when it counts." "Whether it is breaking a promise to voters by voting to defund Planned Parenthood four times or the majority of special interest money bankrolling his campaign, it's clear that Katko answers to Washington, not central New York," Lesswing said. The support from Ryan isn't the first time a top House Republican has campaigned with Katko in central New York. Last year, then-House Speaker John Boehner visited the region to headline a fundraiser for Katko. Boehner also attended a Katko fundraiser in 2014 when the Camillus Republican was challenging Democratic Rep. Dan Maffei in the 24th District race. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy joined Katko in 2014 for an Auburn fundraiser. And National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden visited central New York twice during the last election to campaign with Katko. The 24th Congressional District race is once again one of the most closely watched contests in the nation. Both parties consider the race a top priority and political prognosticators rate it a "toss up." A leading union representing nurses throughout New York is backing Democratic challenger Diane Dwire in the 126th Assembly District race. The New York State Nurses Association announced its support for Dwire, D-Camillus, in the race against Assemblyman Gary Finch, a Republican. The decision to support Dwire likely wasn't a difficult one for the organization. Dwire is a retired nurse. She served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War era. She also worked for the state Department of Health for 27 years. Dwire is the only candidate running in Cayuga County's five state legislative districts to receive the state Nurses Association's endorsement. The union didn't endorse in any of the state Senate races 50th, 51st and 54th districts and didn't back Assemblyman Bob Oaks, who's running unopposed in the 130th Assembly District. The state Nurses Association, which represents more than 40,000 registered nurses and caregivers, supports several candidates for state Assembly and Senate. While most of the endorsements went to Democrats, the union did support some Republicans. "Given the current state of health care in New York, this legislative session may prove to be crucial in the fight for access to quality care for all New Yorkers from Buffalo to Brooklyn," said Marva Wade, a nurse who serves as first vice president of the state Nurses Association and chair of the organization's political action committee. "Many of these individuals have stood with us to prevent the for-profit takeover of health care, support safe staffing legislation and protect workers' rights. Others have demonstrated a commitment to embrace NYSNA's agenda, not only around health care, but to address the tragedy of income inequality. Electing a more progressive legislature is the first step toward the passage of necessary legislation to address these ongoing crises in our state." The nurses union's endorsement is the latest show of support from organized labor for Dwire's campaign. Dwire is challenging Finch, R-Springport, in the 126th Assembly District race. Portions of Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland and Onondaga counties are in the district. The New York State Fair drew big crowds over the weekend. Will that trend continue on Monday? The fair has a full events calendar to kick off the work week. It's Dairy Day. It's Senior Day. There are two great Chevy Court acts scheduled to perform. And the weather in central New York will be perfect. Here is what you should know about today at the New York State Fair: Weather forecast: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph. Promotion: It's Senior Day at the fair, which means attendees ages 60 and over get in for free. You may be requested to present ID in order to receive free admission. There's also a special limited wristband offer today. For $10, you can purchase a wristband that will get you access to 10 midway rides. The wristbands can be purchased at any Wade Shows ticket booth on the midway. The wristbands are not shareable, according to the fair. Theme day: Along with Senior Day, it's also Dairy Day at the fair. There will be several Dairy Day events held throughout the day, including a milkshake contest and a big cheese auction. Chevy Court concerts: Herman's Hermits performs at 2 p.m. At 8 p.m., Brian Wilson presents "Pet Sounds," celebrating the 50th anniversary of the album's release with special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin. Lakeview Amphitheater concert: Symphoria performs at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free with admission to the fair. Daily parade: The parade begins at 6 p.m. Here is a sampling of other events that will be held today at the New York State Fair: At 9 a.m., the Youth Meat Goat Show will be held at the Goat, Llama and Swine Barn. The Racing Homer Pigeons Show will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Poultry Building. At 10 a.m., the milking parlor observation will open inside the Tractor Supply Company Exhibit Center (also known as the Dairy Cattle Building). At 11 a.m., Dennis Overholt and Tim Schramm will perform an organ and piano concert in the Empire Theater. The Treadle Sewing Machine demonstration will be held at noon in the Witter Agricultural Museum. At 1 p.m., Hilby the German Juggler will be making his way around the fairgrounds. He's one of the fair's strolling performers. At 2 p.m., Lorijo Manley will perform at the Pan-African Village. At 3 p.m., Fritz's Polka Band will perform at the Regional Artist Variety Stage. At 4 p.m., "Little Britches" Lead a calf will be open to the public in the Toyota Coliseum. Fritz Henry will perform at 5 p.m. in the Dairy Products Building. Check out the Special Operations Response Team's demonstration at 6 p.m. at the State Police Exhibit. At 7:30 p.m., Greg Mach & Open Containers perform at West End Bar & Grille. At 8:15 p.m., Hold The Air performs at the 95X Stage. At 9:30 p.m., Terry & Joe Acoustic Show performs at Suds Factory Courtside Grille. The Charlottesville Planning Commission has recommended that the Cherry Avenue corridor be selected for a small-area plan to help its neighborhoods cope with looming development. I agree with Cherry Avenue being the higher priority not only because of the pressures, but combined with the derelict buildings and open lots that are there just waiting for redevelopment, Commissioner Jody Lahendro said at a recent meeting. Entering an enormous school building for the first time can be a scary experience for a 4-year-old child, even when he or she is clutching the hand of a loved one. Presenting young scholars with their very own snuggly nap quilts and shiny new books can turn trepidation into squeals of joy. This generous gesture can have a profound effect on how youngsters view these institutes of learning. For nearly a decade, children enrolled in Albemarle Countys Bright Stars preschool program have enjoyed this Christmas-like experience on their first day of classes. The program provides learning experiences for 4-year-olds, as well as social support for them and their families. Attention is given to eliminating factors that can prevent academic and social success in the years ahead. The quilts that calm and comfort are made by members of the Charlottesville Area Quilters Guild. My sister is a teacher at Clark Elementary School, said Kris Cushman, who helps to make the nearly 100 quilts that the guild gives to the program each year. She is so appreciative of the quilts and says the children get very excited because she allows them to choose which one they want. Cushman entered into a positive learning environment eight years ago when she joined the guild. Instead of being given a quilt, she was taught how to make them. I learned to quilt from someone who had been quilting for many years, Cushman said. She took me under her wing, and it was wonderful. What quilting is for me is therapy. I can go to my room and cut, sew, plan, design and stage it all out. I do it with the intention of relaxing, but it doesnt really relax me. I get involved in what Im doing, and I do one more row, one more row. An exhibit of quilts created by guild members is on view at Northside Library through Wednesday. Included in the display are examples of Bright Stars quilts, as well as art quilts that are often hung on walls because of their attractive visual features. The guild also presents a biannual show of more than 150 quilts created by its members. The 15th installment of this event will take place April 1-2 at the East Rivanna Fire Station at Glenmore. Spirit of 76 The guild was created in the mid-1970s, when the bicentennial served to revive interest in quilt making. This national birthday celebration is now seen as a watershed event in the history of quilting in the United States. The bicentennial in 1976 brought attention to the nations past, which quilts were part of from the start. In the early years, they were used for warmth and also to arrest cold drafts coming through windows and doors. The 70s also saw a resurgence, particularly among young people, of interest in things that are made by hand. The quilt became a way to preserve an ancient handcraft skill, as well as to express ones creative talents. Rea Mueller started quilting in 1976. She has been a member of the guild since 2005. I was 6 years old when my grandmother taught me how to crochet, Mueller said. Now, as a member of the guild, its a wonderful feeling to meet with so many people who enjoy and love the same things I do. We learn a lot and we share a lot. Its very satisfying to take something and turn it into something beautiful. My work goes to my family, my church and to the guild to be raffled. Ive been giving a quilt every year to my church for a silent auction. Sandwiching padding between fabric to create a warm wrap, bedspread or cushioning has been around for many centuries. The word quilt is derived from a Latin term for stuffed sack. One of the earliest known usages of this triform was to provide European soldiers with comfortable padding to separate flesh from armor. During Colonial times, women were creating patchwork quilts using whatever fabric came to hand. By the 1800s, American women were establishing quilting bees, where they would sew and socialize. The five quilting clubs in the area that fall under the umbrella of the guild can be seen as cousins of these early bees. Comfort and history Alda Vidrich, president of the guild, traces the groups beginnings to the Tuesday Morning Quilters, who continue to meet on Tuesday mornings at Aldersgate United Methodist Church on East Rio Road. The group of quilters had grown to the point where they decided to form a guild because the interest was there, Vidrich said. Part of the guilds purpose is education, and we encourage each other to learn more. And were interested in preserving the art and history of quilting and fostering new avenues for quilting. Quilts arent just expressions of ones creativity. They also show love and can provide a sense of comfort and history. Vidrich said quilters have made beautiful quilts from items as varied as loved ones ties, shirts and even baby dresses. Now that technology can imprint fabric with photographic images, a whole new avenue for quilters has opened. Marge White is a relative newcomer to the guild, but already is known as a big producer of the Bright Stars nap quilts, which measure 40 by 50 inches. She also has made a number of large quilts for family members. I have a lot of fun making the Bright Stars quilts, said White, who has been quilting for more than 15 years. I love to go out shopping for fabric. When I see something I like, I buy it because I know I can make something really fun for the kids. And I have fun finding the books, too. When possible, the guild members like to associate the subject of the book they give to children with the pattern of the quilt. Karen Horridge is coordinating the effort to place the quilts in the hands of Bright Stars students this school year. The quilts have a utilitarian use, as well as providing the children with a sense of comfort that they need when theyre away from home, Horridge said. I think making the quilts is a good way to serve the community. We dont know what memories these quilts will give the children. But we know that they show them that someone cared enough to give them. Del Horan joined the guild in 2001. She knew about the group prior to moving here from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Theres a lot of communications between quilters, said Horan, who started quilting in 1978. What I like about quilting is that its such a creative process. You find the design, you find the fabric, and you decide what kind of technique you want to use to make it. So its a variety of things. And Im happiest when my hands are busy. My husband says I used to be a Presbyterian, and now Im a quilter. And not only that, Im an evangelist. A gift of love Vidrich emphasized that a person doesnt need to know how to quilt to join the guild or one of the local quilting clubs. In addition to the Tuesday Morning Quilters, other local clubs include Courthouse Steps, Crozet Quilters, Moonlighters and Nelson Quilters. Im a perfect example of a person who didnt even know how to sew when I joined the guild, said Vidrich, who is on the medicine faculty at the University of Virginia, where she does research. Until recently, I didnt have time for quilting. I thought it would be fun, but I was working 16-hour days. When some of my family responsibilities ended, I saw it as a chance to take this up. My mother was a seamstress, and I [inherited] her sewing machine. So I joined the guild, and took my first class at Cottonwood Quilt Shop. Fortunate is the family with at least one active quilter in the mix. These works of art make the ideal gift, and many quilters seem to be generous by nature. Even though Im a scientist, I come from a family of artists, and Ive always wanted to explore that side of me, Vidrich said. I love colors, and I love fabric. My goal presently is to make a quilt for all the people I love. Nothing can replace a quilt on a bed or a quilt as a gift. On the labels I sew onto my quilts, I say theres a hug in every stitch. To learn more about the Charlottesville Area Quilters Guild, visit caqg.weebly.com. SKANEATELES A boulevard concept for a reconfigured Interstate 81 could cause motorists to detour off of the highway and travel the roads on either side of Skaneateles Lake, increasing traffic in Skaneateles and surrounding communities. Though a final plan for the reconstructed interstate has not yet been determined, Skaneateles Town Supervisor Jim Lanning said increased traffic commercial and personal alike is his biggest concern should the boulevard concept be the solution that is chosen. "The impacts on Skaneateles in particular, but many of the western suburbs, would be dramatic if it went to the boulevard concept and they detoured through traffic eight miles to the east," he said. "It would increase the likelihood that people are going to get off at Homer and cut the corner. ... It would increase the number of vehicles through the downtown area here tremendously." With that in mind, Lanning said he hopes to schedule an informational meeting in Skaneateles with representatives of the state Department of Transportation to allow residents of this town and neighboring ones to get firsthand information and ask questions about the plans for Interstate 81. He noted there have been many such meetings in Syracuse, but without a more local meeting, many residents have been getting their information on the highway from the Syracuse media. "They can update us on what they've done so far, what studies have shown, sort of an educational meeting," Lanning said. "We're looking to schedule that for sometime after Labor Day. ... We'd really rather be updated by the DOT on where we stand with the decision and where they're leaning or just any information they can give us." Though he is awaiting a call back from the appropriate DOT representative, he said he spoke to a public relations person who seemed open to the idea of bringing a presentation to Skaneateles. "They were very concerned about it and would do everything they can to accommodate the meeting," Lanning said. "We want them to know or at least be on notice that town of Skaneateles residents are very concerned about this." He noted the boulevard concept would affect both sides of the lake, as traffic could leave the interstate in Homer at the south end of the lake and travel either Route 41 or 41A into Skaneateles toward Auburn to head to the Thruway. That would affect such towns as Spafford on the east side of the lake and Niles on the west side as well as the city of Auburn in addition to Skaneateles, Lanning said. Adding to his concerns is that many people use electronic GPS units rather than a manual road map and the devices call for them to take the shortest route rather the one that might make more sense. "If that happens, we're just going to have a tremendous amount of traffic," he said. "It probably isn't stopping here. It's just traveling through." Lanning pointed out that final decision regarding Interstate 81 comes down to funding, but while the boulevard concept may be the most cost-effective option, he feels a modified tunnel concept in which a tunnel under the boulevard would accommodate through traffic makes the most sense because of concerns beyond increased traffic. "We just can't divert all of the through traffic eight miles to the east," he said. "The amount of fossil fuels that we're going to burn to do that on a daily basis is tremendous. It also cuts off the south side of the city from access to the hospitals and the universities and that sort of thing. There's a bigger picture. we should do it the right way." He added that U.S. Rep. John Katko, the congressman who represents Onondaga County, has exerted pressure on the federal government to provide funding for the project. Though it will stay out of the decision-making process, it will make sure the funding is available for the work. With Lanning's concerns of the boulevard concept affecting communities outside of Skaneateles, he said he expects the supervisors from those towns to attend the meeting as well as residents from those areas. So, he said he is envisioning "a fairly large meeting" and has not decided where it would take place. The Austin Park Pavilion may be a viable location, but he does not want to hold the meeting in too small of a location in order to accommodate anyone who wants to attend. "We're very concerned about the increase in traffic both commercial and personal," he said. "We want to give the people of Skaneateles an opportunity to be heard." RICHMOND If Gary Johnson makes it into the presidential debates, the Libertarian Party nominee said he'll push back strongly against what he sees as a "direct assault" on undocumented Hispanic immigrants by Republican Donald J. Trump. In an hour-long interview Monday with the Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial board, the former Republican governor of New Mexico said the perception that Mexican immigration poses a serious threat to the United States is "made up" and a "political boogeyman." Noting that 47 percent of New Mexico's residents are Hispanic or Latino, the highest percentage of any state, Johnson said Trump has made "horrible" comments about immigrants entering the country illegally by suggesting that many of them are criminals and rapists. "This stuff he's saying is incendiary. And if I would have been on stage in that Republican primary, I'd have been yelling at him," Johnson said. "What is your 11-million undocumented worker crackdown going to look like? Because it's got to be a door-to-door thing." Johnson said he supports making it easier for immigrants to get work visas without "jumping the line" toward full citizenship. He sees no need for a wall, he said, because economic forces have caused illegal border crossings to fall to a 12-year-low. Trump's plan to force all undocumented immigrants to return home, Johnson said, would be an "economic catastrophe" because those immigrants own homes and fill jobs American citizens don't want. "This is just a direct assault. And when he calls a Hispanic judge a 'Mexican,' that is akin to the N-word if you are a U.S.-born Hispanic citizen," Johnson said, referring to Trump questioning the fairness of a federal judge hearing a lawsuit by former students of the for-profit Trump University. Johnson and his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, are seeking a third-party breakthrough in a year of unusual disillusionment with both major-party candidates. If voters elect Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton, Johnson said, political polarization will be "worse than ever." The Libertarian ticket, he said, should appeal to a disaffected middle that's fiscally conservative, socially inclusive and skeptical of American foreign policy and regime change that doesn't seem to work. If voters elect Trump or Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Johnson said, political polarization would be "worse than ever." He said he expects the Libertarian ticket to draw "fifty-fifty" from Republicans and Democrats. "Trump now has so locked in to the far right, that he has, in my opinion, alienated more than half of Republicans," Johnson said. "I think the same exists on Hillary's side. That there isn't anything that government doesn't have the answer to. She will be more hawkish than anybody else regarding foreign policy. Taxes will go up." Before Johnson can make his case on the national stage, he has to prove he belongs there. Rules set by the independent Commission on Presidential Debates requires candidates to average 15 percent support in selected national polls. Johnson averages around 9 percent in recent polls. The first presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 26. "To win, we do have to be in the presidential debates," Johnson said. "And anything is possible if that happens." Johnson polled at 11 percent in Virginia in a recent Quinnipiac University swing-state poll, compared with 45 percent for Clinton, 34 percent for Trump and 3 percent for Green Party candidate Jill Stein. In the editorial board meeting, Johnson was asked about his views on the strained relationship between law enforcement and African-American communities. "All lives matter," Johnson said. "That said, black lives do matter." Johnson said he believes the disparate treatment of black suspects is rooted in the war on drugs, and said the nation and he personally "have had our heads in the sand over this issue." Johnson said he favors descheduling marijuana as a narcotic at the federal level, which would allow states to set their own policies, resolve banking issues surrounding legalized marijuana and "open up the research and development that needs to go along with cannabis." "Statistically, these products don't kill anyone, and arguably directly compete with legal prescription drugs that statistically kill 30,000 people a year," Johnson said. Summing up the Libertarian philosophy, Johnson recalled an old political adage. "If you're not a Democrat in college, you don't have a heart. And if you're not a Republican in later life, you don't have a brain," Johnson said. "I happen to think that we all have hearts and brains." At least 40 Virginia residents have tested positive for hepatitis A after having had a smoothie at Tropical Smoothie Cafe, according to a statement this afternoon from the Virginia Department of Health. It's the latest tally in what has proven to be widespread illnesses in Virginia from the frozen strawberries that were imported from Egypt and that the restaurant chain has served throughout Virginia this summer. "Approximately 55 percent of the residents, for whom information is available, have been hospitalized for their illness," the department of health wrote in the statement. "The 40 ill residents range in age from 15-68." The department of health also released Monday a timeline for when the contaminated strawberries were served early-May through mid-August. Earlier during the investigation, officials had said only that the strawberries might have been served throughout the summer and as recently as Aug. 9, though health department officials had previously been unsure when the contaminated strawberries had first been served by Tropical Smoothie Cafe. "The common exposure shared by ill persons was not hypothesized until August, at which time VDH re-interviewed persons reported earlier in the year to confirm the link with smoothie consumption," the health department stated Monday. The health department continues to investigate. More confirmed cases of hepatitis A could emerge, considering symptoms of the liver disease take as many as 50 days to emerge. The update Monday comes on the heels of news that at least several people with hepatitis A, plus many who have been vaccinated, are suing Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The food chain has 96 locations in Virginia, including more than 20 in the Richmond area. One lawsuit filed last week, from a man who has been inflicted with hepatitis A, is seeking $100,000. One of the attorneys representing plaintiffs said that many other lawsuits could be forthcoming, and that different amounts could be sought in the various cases, depending on the details of the individual cases. Symptoms of hepatitis A include yellowing of the skin or eyes, fever and nausea. Exposure occurs through direct contact with another person who has the infection or by consuming contaminated food or drink. The World Health Organization says almost everyone fully recovers from hepatitis A, which is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. AUBURN A two-car motor vehicle accident in Auburn Monday morning has sent a driver to the hospital while causing delays on the eastbound Arterial. Antonia Natone, 91, of Auburn was driving a red Chrysler P.T. Cruiser north on State Street when she turned onto the eastbound lane of the Arterial, witnesses to the accident said. A truck, driven by 18-year-old Ryan Henry of Wolcott, was traveling on the Arterial at the time, and the two vehicles clipped each other. Natone smashed into the corner traffic light pole on State Street and the Arterial, causing significant damage to her car and severing wires on the pole. The Auburn Fire Department said the New York State Department of Transportation was notified about the pole. Police initially were diverting traffic Monday morning while the accident was cleared, and temporary stop signs were put in place until DOT could fix the light. By Monday afternoon, the light was functioning. Henry appeared to have no serious injuries. Natone was transported to Auburn Community Hospital with minor injuries. At 2:45 p.m., Virginia Tech police confirmed on their Facebook page that an email was sent to dozens of email addresses "within our campus community that included a threat to safety." The Collegiate Times is reporting that the email said "I am here to inform that in the next couple of days I will break into the campus and will kill as many people as I can until the police arrives." Virginia Tech police is aware and is investigating, spokesman Mark Owczarski said. We take all threats seriously. The university sent a campus wide email to inform the community of the threat and give people a chance to report information if they have some. The campus is not on lockdown and no classes have been canceled, Owczarski said by email. He also said other universities had received the threats, but did not say which universities. Radford University sent out a release saying it was aware of the emails at Tech, but no similar threats have been reported at Radford. Police said they are seeking information to assist in this investigation and ask any information about this email be directed threatassessment@vt.edu or call (540) 382-4343. Two men were charged with driving while intoxicated after separate accidents that occurred in the Auburn area within an hour of each other Saturday. The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office has charged Union Springs man James A. Sanders with misdemeanor DWI. He is accused of hitting another vehicle from behind Saturday night on Clark Street Road in front of the Fingerlakes Mall. Responders were dispatched at 9:23 p.m. At 10:22 p.m., authorities also responded to the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Route 20 near County Line Road in Sennett. Sheriff's deputies later arrested Auburn man Jonathan E. Freed on a misdemeanor DWI charge. Details on the incidents were not available until Monday. Deputies said the each investigation is ongoing. Additional charges may be pending. 9:23 p.m. Sanders, 53, was the lone driver in his 2015 Chevrolet pickup truck on Saturday as he headed westbound along Clark Street Road, according to the sheriff's office. Meanwhile, another pickup truck with three passengers was waiting at the red stoplight nearest Bass Pro Shops in the westbound lane, deputies said. According to the investigation, the pickup truck had just started to move forward at the change of the stoplight when the vehicle was hit from behind. Witnesses claim Sanders' vehicle did not even slow down or hit the brakes on approach, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies said Sanders instead crashed into the rear of the other pickup truck, sending the vehicle westward and off the road into the yard of the Fingerlakes Mall's driveway near Eagle Drive. Sanders' vehicle also ended up off the road near the impact point. The driver of the struck vehicle suffered serious head injuries and was taken by ambulance to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, deputies said. The other two passengers were also taken to Upstate with minor injuries. The sheriff's office did not have further details about the three individuals. Sanders was also transported to the Syracuse hospital with non-serious injuries, according to the sheriff's office. In addition to DWI, Sanders was also ticketed for refusal to take a breathalyzer test. The Union Springs man will be arraigned in the Town of Aurelius Court at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31. 10:22 p.m. Freed, 36, is accused of crossing into the path of another vehicle, according to the sheriff's office. In addition to DWI, he was ticketed with failure to keep right. Deputies said the Auburn man was westbound on Route 20 toward Auburn when his vehicle, a 2008 Mazda, crossed over the center line and into the path of another eastbound vehicle. The vehicles avoided a direct head-on collision, but authorities said the resulting impact sent Freed's car to the side of the road and the other vehicle into a ditch. Freed was transported to Upstate with minor injuries. He will be arraigned next week at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 in the Town of Sennett Court. The two passengers from the other vehicle were also taken to Upstate with minor injuries, deputies said. Tracie Lamb, the driver of the vehicle, called the incident "traumatizing." The 36-year-old said she was driving home to Long Island with her 13-year-old niece Madison Malone when the crash occurred. Lamb said she hit the brakes and tried to swerve right as fast as she could before the impact. "It happened in a matter of what felt like seconds," she said. When the vehicle was struck, Lamb said her vehicle spun into the ditch, remaining upright, but facing the opposite direction. The airbags were deployed, parts littered the roadway and the front end was smashed and smoking. While her niece's door was functioning, Lamb said she was pinned inside her vehicle between the steering wheel and a broken door. Firefighters were able to free her, she said, by cutting the door off. The crash left Lamb, she reports, with injuries including abrasions to her legs and left arm, soft tissue damage and bruises and swelling on her chest, abdomen and neck. Lamb said her niece also has tissue damage and a swollen knee. During the response, Lamb said there were passersby that stopped and helped, with several calling 911. "I'm very thankful and very lucky that we don't have broken bones and fractures and that we are alive," Lamb said before adding, "We're just really, really, really thankful for everybody that initially stopped after it happened." Lamb said she had heard the driver may have been under the influence, but was not aware that formal charges had been filed. "I'm quite emotionally torn," she said. "I don't know how you can get into a car even after having just one." Coordinated by the Cayuga County 911 Center, other responders to the Clark Street Road crash included the Aurelius Fire Department, AMR Ambulance, New York State Police and ambulance services from Fleming, Throop and Owasco. For the Route 20 accident, responding agencies included state police, Sennett Fire Department, SAVES Ambulance and emergency services from Fleming, county dispatchers said. The Skaneateles Fire Department and MAVES Ambulance also responded, according to an SFD representative. PRAGUEDIMOCO, a leading payment institute for carrier billing, will participate in The European Summit 2016 (TES), discussing current mobile payment trends and promoting networking opportunities before and during the event. DIMOCOs TES meet and mingle event for business partners will take place at the main bar of the Parkhotel Praha on September 20 at 8 p.m. We welcome all conference participants to the event and encourage them to speak about their carrier billing experiences in the European market in a pleasant atmosphere, said Gerald Tauchner, DIMOCO President and CEO. DIMOCOs representative Markus Fischbacher will deliver an outlook of what can be expected in the digital payment environment during the TES Mobile Day session (Parkhotel Prague, BitterStrawberry Seminar Room 1) taking place September 22 at 1 p.m. A DIMOCO and Juniper Research report measured first-time transaction rates for operator billing at 70-77 percent (vs. 10-12 percent on credit cards) and for repeat purchases of 80-88 percent conversion rate (vs. 20-25 percent on credit cards), confirming carrier billing as the digital payment method with the highest conversion rate potential. The full The future of carrier billing in Europe 3.0 study can be downloaded for free here. New carrier billing opportunities will be also presented at DIMOCOs business lounge (booth G22) on September 21-22, where company representatives will welcome conference participants to discuss market opportunities. University of Nebraska Extension in Gage County is hosting an evening trucker information meeting on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at the Gage County Extension Office meeting room on the fairgrounds at 1115 West Scott St in Beatrice. The program is designed to help independent truckers, farmers and fleet drivers understand semi truck road rules and avoid tickets and fines. Nebraska State Patrol Enforcement Officer Gary Bergmeier will present the program. There will be plenty of time for questions. There is no fee for the program and no registration is required. All interested persons are welcome. New Delhi: Government has formulated a revised central sector scheme to offer financial support to ports for creation of infrastructure aimed at facilitating movement of cargo or passengers by sea or National Waterways. This is in line with the ministry's port-led-development programme, Sagarmala, for creating better infrastructure and promoting coastal shipping for saving logistics costs, the Shipping Ministry said in a statement. Financial assistance under the revised scheme will be given up to 50 per cent of the total cost of the project subject to certain conditions while the balance will be borne by ports or respective states, it said. Under the scheme, projects for construction or upgradation of exclusive coastal berths for coastal cargo and berths or jetties for passenger ferries, mechanisation of berths, capital dredging, construction of breakwaters and platforms or jetties will be considered for assistance, the ministry said. The conditions include a maximum assistance of Rs 25 crore for construction or upgradation of exclusive coastal berths, Rs 10 crore for construction of platforms or jetties, Rs 15 crore for mechanisation of coastal berth, and Rs 50 crore each in the case of capital dredging. "The main objective of the revised scheme is to promote coastal shipping and increase its share in domestic cargo movement, which is currently only as low as 7 per cent, compared to other developed countries in Europe and Asia," it said. Better infrastructure for coastal shipping in terms of handling facilities will decongest rail and road network as well as ensure cost competitive and effective multi-modal transportation solution, it added. The statement said the country has high potential to use coastal shipping for its internal cargo movement, given its 7,500-km long coastline. The National Perspective Plan of Sagarmala envisions the potential to save around Rs 21,000-27,000 crore through coastal shipping of 230-280 million tonne per annum of key commodities like coal, cement, fertilisers, iron and steel, food grains and petrol, oil and lubricants (POL) by 2025. Under the scheme, the creation of exclusive berths for coastal shipping and its mechanisation will reduce waiting time for coastal vessels resulting in reduced cost. The capital dredging and construction of breakwaters are expected to help in smoother navigation of large vessels into the ports and facilitate development of existing and greenfield ports. The financial assistance (grant-in-aid) given under the scheme will be subject to audit by CAG of India. New Delhi: Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry today met Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha, terming it as a "courtesy call". The meeting assumes importance in the backdrop of the ongoing legal tussle between the Tatas and Japan's NTT DoCoMo as well as the upcoming spectrum auction, which is scheduled to be held at the end of September. After the meeting, which lasted for about 20 minutes, Mistry refused to comment on the proceedings of the meeting and said it was a "courtesy call" with the minister. He declined to make any comments on the Tata Docomo issue. NTT DoCoMo, in November 2008, had acquired 26.5 per cent stake in Tata Teleservices for about Rs 12,740 crore (at Rs 117 per share). This was as per a understanding that in case the Japanese firm exits the venture within five years, it will be paid a minimum 50 per cent of the acquisition price. In April 2014, DoCoMo decided to exit the joint venture that struggled to grow subscribers quickly. It sought Rs 58 per share or Rs 7,200 crore from the Tatas. But the Indian Group offered Rs 23.34 a share in line with RBI guidelines which state that an international firm can only exit its investment at a valuation "not exceeding that arrived at on the basis of return on equity". The Japanese firm dragged Tata Group to international arbitration and won a USD 1.17 billion award. To honour that, an application was made to RBI seeking exemption from the foreign exchange Act. RBI, in turn, wrote to the Finance Ministry for exemption from the rules, a step that would boost investor confidence. The Finance Ministry, however, turned down RBI plea. According to the ministry, its not only Tata-DoCoMo but many other legacy issues which will have to be given exemption if one case is allowed. After spending more than 40 hours a week shadowing East Carolina University's world-renowned robotic heart surgeons, two Honors College students embark on the new semester with lasting impressions and connections.Emily Downs and Zoe Hinton, recipients of the 2016 East Carolina Heart Institute (ECHI) Robotic Surgery Internship, spent six weeks working alongside top heart surgeons at ECU's Robotic Surgery Center for Training and Education.Downs and Hinton, who are both EC Scholars, rotated between the clinic where they witnessed surgeons develop relationships with patients and the operating room where they observed robotic, open heart and minimally invasive procedures.said Zoe Hinton, a rising senior and multidisciplinary studies major with a focus in neuroscience.From morning huddles and trainings with international surgical teams, to procedure demonstrations using a vegetable, the interns experienced the full range of expertise required of a great surgeon.said Downs, a sophomore public health studies major.At the conclusion of the internship, students are required to complete a case study to the ECHI robotic surgical team that includes an analysis of a patient's condition, medical history, treatment plan and post-operative care.Dr. Mark D. Iannettoni, chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, said thatfollowing the students' case study presentation, which examined a patient who needed multiple valve repair, a cryomaze for atrial fibrillation and a patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure.Surgical teams from all over the world visit the center to practice with new technologies and training techniques. Downs and Hinton saw the impact of cultural influences on medicine and realize just how accomplished this surgical team is in the industry.said Downs.Beyond career development, the one-on-one attention from internationally-recognized surgeons, who happen to be in their back yard, is rare for undergraduates.said Hinton as she recounted meeting a surgeon from a Mexico City hospital during the ECHI internship who not only shared similar interests in art and medicine, but that they both had also visited the same hospital in Barcelona.The ECHI internship provides a similar experience for undergraduate students as medical school provides to doctor in medicine students, according to Susan Bewick, robotic training educator.she said.Two ECU Honors College students and two N.C. State Park Scholars are selected to participate in the internship that includes a $1,000 stipend.Emily Downs, from Greenville, is the daughter of Todd and Paula Downs. Hinton is from Louisburg, North Carolina and is the daughter of Will and Pat Hinton. Earlier, on July 25, the apex court had issued notice to Mallya on plea of consortium of banks which alleged that he had not disclosed his full assets including USD 40 million received by him from a British firm. New Delhi: A consortium of banks including SBI today told the Supreme Court that beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya had deliberately not made full disclosure of his assets including USD 40 million which he received in February from a British firm. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the consortium of banks, told a bench of justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman that Mallya has not disclosed the amount which he received in February while he had filed the reply in March. The Attorney General said that as per the Supreme Court rules, Mallya has to appear before the court after a notice has been served upon him in a contempt petition. Rohatgi said that since Mallya had not been granted exemption from appearance, he should not be heard anymore. Senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, appearing for Mallya, told the bench that they have filed a petition for recall of apex court's earlier order and said that no contempt has been made. He also said that the apex court's earlier order to disclose the assets has been complied with. The bench then asked the Attorney General to file a response to Mallya's petition for recall of its earlier order and posted the matter on September 27. Earlier, on July 25, the apex court had issued notice to Mallya on plea of consortium of banks which alleged that he had not disclosed his full assets including USD 40 million received by him from a British firm. The apex court, after noting the submissions by Attorney General, had issued notice to Mallya and asked him to respond. On July 14, Rohatgi claimed that Mallya had provided wrong details of his assets in a sealed cover to the apex court. He further said a lot of information had also been concealed, including a cash transaction to the tune of Rs 2500 crore, which amounted to contempt of court. Earlier, the Supreme Court had sought details of assets from Mallya in a sealed cover. Recently, the consortium of banks had alleged that Mallya was not cooperating in the investigation of cases against him and was averse to disclosing his foreign assets. In a rejoinder affidavit to Mallya's reply, the banks had said that disclosure of overseas assets by him and his family was significant for recovering the dues. Rohatgi had earlier said that the beleaguered businessman has also not agreed to deposit "substantial amount" as part of of Rs 9,400 crore loan due on him to establish his bonafide". Mallya had said the banks had no right over information regarding his overseas movable and immovable assets as he was an NRI since 1988. He had also claimed that as an NRI, he was not obliged to disclose his overseas assets, and added that his wife and three children, all US citizens, also need not disclose their assets. The court on April 7 had directed Mallya to disclose by April 21 the total assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad while seeking an indication from him when he would appear before it. It had asked Mallya, who owes over Rs 9,000 crore to around 17 banks, to deposit a "substantial amount" with it to "prove his bonafide" that he was "serious" about meaningful negotiations and settlement. The funds will be deployed across Paytm's businesses, including digital payments, online marketplace with a special focus on the upcoming payments bank, sources said. New Delhi: Alibaba-backed Paytm is set to raise about USD 300 million (over Rs 2,000 crore) in a round of fresh funding from a clutch of investors, including Taiwanese semiconductor maker MediaTek and Goldman Sachs. According to sources, Paytm will announce the deal in the next few weeks. The financing round is also expected to see participation of existing investors, Alibaba and its payments affiliate Alipay as well as venture capital firm SAIF Partners, they added. This will take Paytm's valuation to about USD 5 billion. The funds will be deployed across Paytm's businesses, including digital payments, online marketplace with a special focus on the upcoming payments bank, sources said. Paytm has raised close to USD 700 million from Alibaba and Alipay. The company did not respond to an e-mailed query. The new funding to Paytm would be the largest financing round in the country's technology and Internet space this year, well ahead of USD 200 million raised by online marketplace Snapdeal. While a number of multi-million dollar fundings were announced last year by the likes of Flipkart, Snapdeal and Ola, the last few months have been tough for these start-ups as investors have tightened their purse strings. The sources said a major chunk of the funding could go towards the payments bank operations. Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma has said the payments bank will become operational later this year. 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. Political pundits have said Gordhan is being undermined by a faction allied to Zuma. On Friday, South African police denied being part of a conspiracy targeting Gordhan, City Press newspaper reported, after the opposition described the investigation into him as a "witch-hunt". New Delhi: The countrys main trade unions are all set to go on a nation-wide strike in protest against the governments economic policies and labour laws on September 2. Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who heads the five-member panel formed by Prime Minister to negotiate with unions on calling off the proposed strike, was holding discussions with a faction within the unions which is not in favour of the strike. Amidst speculation that Mr Modi held discussions with key trade unions to ask them to call off the strike, trade union leaders dismissed any possibility of holding parleys with Mr Modi and stood firm in their resolve to organise the strike as per schedule. The trade unions, barring the RSS-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), have called a day-long general strike on September 2 against the governments hire and fire oriented labour laws and have placed before the Centre a 12-point charter of demands seeking minimum index-linked wage of not less than Rs 18,000 per month for unskilled workers, and the assurance of enhanced pension of not less than Rs 3,000 per month for the entire workforce of the country, including workers in the unorganised sector. CITU general secretary Tapan Sen told this newspaper that there is no question of holding talks with the Prime Minister or with the five-member inter-ministerial panel formed by him. Stating emphatically that the strike is very much on, Mr Sen alleged that the government was trying to sabotage the strike and claimed that Mr Jaitley and Mr Dattatreya were holding discussions with a faction within the unions which are not in favour of the strike. Union minister of electronic & IT and law Ravi Shankar Prasad shakes hands with Qualcomms executive chairman Paul Jacobs during a meeting on Monday (Photo: DC) New Delhi: Top officials of electronics chip major Qualcomm on Monday met IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and telecom minister Manoj Sinha to discuss its satellite connectivity project and the production of chips, used in devices like mobile phones. They really intend to expand their footprint. They have great experience in the field of chip design. They are very excited about expansion of mobile manufacturing in India, IT and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said after meeting with Qualcomms executive chairman Paul Jacobs. I also asked him to explore the possibility of bring in satellite connectivity in hilly areas of India. He has told me these are very exciting areas and area of his concern, Mr Prasad added. Qualcomm met the IT minister to discuss a slew of issues around its expansion in India, venture fund and its new global satellite based communications network OneWeb. Mr Jacobs also met Mr Sinha to discuss OneWeb which the company expects to launch in 2019-20. We also spoke about investment in satellite company called OneWeb that is going to build over 700 satellites, launch those by 2019 and 2020. It will provide mobile broadband to most remote areas of the country and will have connectivity from a terminal on ground, up through sky into the rest of the network, Mr Jacobs said after meeting Mr Sinha. The OneWeb communications network will be made of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite. Anushka along with SRK from the sets of Imtiaz Ali's next. Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan's next which is being directed by Imtiaz Ali is already amongst the most awaited films with a lot of coups going for it. Shah Rukh will be collaborating on a feature film with Imtiaz Ali for the first time, which very much is the case with his leading lady, Anushka Sharma. Shah Rukh and Anushka are also pairing up again, for a third time, after Yash Chopra's swansong, 'Jab Tak Jai Jaan'. Imtiaz, who's been working with AR Rahman on his last three feature directorials, will be working with Pritam again, after they worked last on Saif Ali Khan's 'Love Aaj Kal'. Fans have been treated to snippets and snaps from the sets of the film in Prague. Shah Rukh's suave look from the film has been catching everyone's fancy every since the photographs from the sets found its way on the internet. After couple of pictures, here are some fresh ones where we see Anushka, SRK and Imtiaz candidly sharing same frame as they shoot for their film. Shah Rukh, known for his wit, also posted a funny picture on his Instagram, hilariously self-deprecating in the caption, like only he can. The actor refers to Anushka Sharma as a gentleman in the pic, while the actress is blissfully clueless. A small snippet from the sets, of the lead actors canning a shot with Imtiaz behind the camera, has also come up. The film story scheduled to release during the Independence Day weekend in 2017, is headed for a titanic clash with in-form Akshay Kumar's Neeraj Pandey helmed 'Crack'. In Imtiaz Alis next, Shah Rukh Khan plays the role of a tourist guy in the film. While taking a group on an European tour, SRK meets Anushka Sharma and the two fall in love. The actress plays the role of a Gujarati chokri. Use of iPads or other tablet devices is a non-pharmacologic tool which can reduce perioperative stress without any sedative effect. (Photo: Pixabay) London: Allowing children to use iPads to distract them before surgery requiring general anaesthesia is as effective at lowering their anxiety as conventional sedatives, a new study has claimed. Researchers found that parental satisfaction and quality of anaesthesia induction was higher in children using iPads. Mobile interactive tools have been found to be effective to reduce child anxiety at parental separation in the operating theatre, researchers said. The study by Dr Dominique Chassard, from Hopital Mere Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon in France and colleagues compared the effects of midazolam (a sedative used regularly before anaesthesia) in premedication with age-appropriate game apps (on an iPad tablet) on children aged 4-10 years during and after ambulatory (day) surgery. Anxiety was assessed both in children and in parents. As many as 54 children were randomly allocated to MDZ (midazolam) group and 58 children to TAB (iPad) group. Patients in group MDZ received midazolam 0.3mg/kg orally or rectally, and group TAB were given an electronic tablet (iPAD) 20 min before anaesthesia. Child anxiety was measured by two independent psychologists at four time points: at arrival at hospital, at separation from the parents, during induction and in the post anaesthesia care unit (PACU). Parental anxiety was measured at the same time points except during induction as they were not present at that point. Anaesthetic nurses ranked from 0 (not satisfied) to 10 (highly satisfied) the quality of induction of anaesthesia. The researchers found both parental and child anxiety levels to be similar in both groups, with a similar pattern of evolution. Both parents and nurses found anaesthesia more satisfying in the iPad group. "Our study showed that child and parental anxiety before anaesthesia are equally blunted by midazolam or use of the iPad," said Chassard. "However, the quality of induction of anaesthesia, as well as parental satisfaction, were judged better in the iPad group. "Use of iPads or other tablet devices is a non-pharmacologic tool which can reduce perioperative stress without any sedative effect in paediatric ambulatory surgery," said Chassard. To detect atrial fibrillation, a smartphone was placed on the chest of the patient (Photo: AFP) London: A new smartphone app can be used to non-invasively and accurately detect atrial fibrillation - a dangerous medical condition which may lead to a stroke, scientists have found. The app uses the phone's own accelerometer and gyroscope to check for atrial fibrillation. "Atrial fibrillation is a dangerous medical condition present in 2 per cent of the global population and accounting for up to seven million strokes per year," said Tero Koivisto from University of Turku in Finland. Around 70 per cent 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, researchers said. Due to these 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. 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. "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," said Koivisto. "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," he said. Using this technology, researchers detected atrial fibrillation with a sensitivity and specificity of more than 95 percent. 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, researchers said. They will get a simple yes/no answer as to whether they have atrial fibrillation or not. "This is a low cost, non-invasive way to detect atrial fibrillation that people can do themselves without any help from medical staff," said Koivisto. It was found that over 270 people are hospitalised each day because of asthma (Photo: AFP) A University of Edinburgh study has said that the health service in the United Kingdom spends at least 1.1 billion pounds annually on asthma-related care. The researchers found that at least three people die each day from asthma-related attacks. Experts say that the majority of asthma deaths are preventable and called for a greater focus on basic care to cut down on the rates of severe attacks. Researchers used information from national health surveys and anonymised administrative, health and social care records to build a picture of asthma in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK-wide team, led by the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at The University of Edinburgh, found that there were around 6.4 million general practitioner and nurse consultations for asthma each year. It was found that over 270 people are admitted to hospital each day because of asthma attacks. Of the 1.1 billion pound cost of treating asthma, at least 666 million pounds is spent on prescription costs each year. Other costs included 160 million pounds on GP consultations, 143 million pounds on disability claims and 137million pounds on hospital care. Researchers say their figures are likely to be substantial underestimates because they did not take into account people for whom asthma was not their main illness. They said their findings confirm that the UK has one of the highest burdens of asthma in the world. The study is published in BMC Medicine journal and was funded by Asthma UK, with additional funding from Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit and The Farr Institute. Parents are often willing to do everything to support their childs passion and help them fulfil their dream, but some people go to unimaginable lengths to make sure their childs aspirations are not left unfulfilled. Travelling was a passion for British backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung, but her journey across the world was tragically cut short when she was stabbed to death in an Australian hostel last week. Although the loss of her daughter had left her heartbroken, Mias mother Rosie Ayliffe decided to not let the tragedy stop her daughter from reaching parts of the world she wanted to visit, after she was stabbed to death by a 29-year-old Frenchman called Smail Ayad. Rosie is off to Australia for collecting her daughters ashes post her cremation, so that she could give them to her friends all around the world, so that they can be scattered across the globe. Although Mias friends in UK were disappointed that her body wasnt brought back from Australia, her mother said that Mia had friends everywhere she had traveled. Talking about the murder and the attacker to Mirror, Ayliffe said that, "At the moment the only way I can really cope with our loss is to think Mia's time had come and what happened in that hostel on Tuesday was her fate. It was always going to happen like that. "Smail Ayad ... is not an Islamic fundamentalist, he has never set foot in a mosque." Another British citizen Tom Jackson was also left badly injured after being stabbed in the leg while trying to save Mia from the attacker. His family said they were proud of him and his father also praised the staff at Townsville Hospital in Queensland, Australia. Ayad has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and 12 counts of serious assault. Police are investigating reports about Ayads unrequited romantic interest for Mia or his obsession with her. 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." Women devotees are not permitted on the platform as per tradition followed at the shrine, which has no walls or a roof. (Photo: PTI) Mumbai: In a major victory for women rights activists, the Shani Shingnapur temple trust in Maharashtra has decided to allow women into the sanctum sanctorum, reversing a centuries-old ban. "Anyone can enter the sanctum and the committee can't stop them. The rule was that men and women both can worship god (darshan) from the lower part of the temple, but when men entered the sanctum, it became our responsibility to also let women enter," Nana Sahib Bankar, vice-president of the Shani Shingnapur Trust, told the media. He said the temple had been following an ancient custom but added they had no objection in welcoming the Bombay High Court's order to allow entry to women. Read: Men storm into Shani Shingnapur temple after new ban on their entry In March this year, the Bombay High Court had observed that no law prevents women from entering any place. Underlining the need for giving equal access to women, the High Court stated any temple or person imposing such restrictions can face a six-month jail term under a Maharashtra law, and asked the government to make a statement if it was worried about the sanctity of a deity. The observations were made by a Division Bench of Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice M.S. Sonak during the hearing of a PIL by senior advocate Nilima Vartak and activist Vidya Bal, challenging the bar on entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of the Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Read: Women to be allowed in Shani temple, will follow HC order: Fadnavis The temple trust, however, had announced last week a ban on the entry of both men and women from the inner sanctum to offer prayers to Lord Shani. Earlier today, over hundred men defied the order and stormed into the temples premises to worship the Saturn god. Last Saturday, women activists led by Trupti Desai stormed into the temples complex but were prevented from entering the inner sanctum by locals and temple authorities. The activists launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, asking him why the Bombay High Courts order was being defied. Fadnavis said he would follow court orders but at the same time made a veiled criticism of the activists for their actions. He said no one must disturb the law and order situation for mere publicity but also added there was no place for discrimination in Hindu culture. "There is no place for discrimination in Hindu culture. Our government has taken a clear stand before the Honorable High Court and we will implement their decision in true spirit," Fadnavis had said in a statement. "But it is my sincere request to everyone not to disturb the law and order situation for mere publicity," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanks Myanmar's President Htin Kyaw after his press statement in New Delhi. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: As Myanmar sets out on a new path after decades of military rule, India on Monday promised whole-hearted support to it in "every step" of its journey as the two countries resolved to deepen ties and actively cooperate to combat terrorism and insurgent activities in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive talks with Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw, in first top level engagement with the new government of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, and conveyed India's full support to Myanmar's internal peace process. The two sides inked four MoUs to boost cooperation in areas of connectivity, medicine and renewable energy, besides resolving to deepen ties in a range of other sectors, including agriculture, banking and power. Reading out a statement to media, Modi later said both sides recognised that each other's security interests are closely aligned and that both countries agreed to work together to combat terrorism and insurgent activities in the region. "We recognised that our security interests are closely aligned. And, we agreed on the need to remain sensitive to each other's strategic interests and concerns. "To this end, President and I agreed to work together for the safety and security of our people. And, actively cooperate to combat the common challenges of terrorism and insurgent activity in our region," Modi said, with Htin Kyaw by his side. Myanmar, considered one of India's strategic neighbours, shares a 1,640 km long border with a number of North Eastern states including militancy-infested Nagaland and Manipur. India has been raising with Myanmar the issue of several North East militant outfits having training camps in that country. Referring to new Myanmarese government's agenda of ushering a all round growth and development in the country, Modi said, "Let me assure you that at every step of the way 1.25 billion people of India will stand by you- Both as partners and as friends." Reassuring India's support to Myanmar, Modi said India wants to take the relationship to "new heights", adding "A bright future for Myanmar is not just your objective. It is also our aspiration." The Prime Minister said both sides have also agreed to work towards a long-term and a mutually beneficial arrangement for trade in pulses. Calling Myanmar a "bridge" that connects India with South East Asia, Modi said "our discussions today have enabled us to evolve a road map and an action agenda for our cooperation." The Myanmarese President on his part said his government wants to strengthen ties with India. China has been increasing its footprint in Myanmar and making huge investments in several major projects. Prime Minister Modi said two agreements signed today will facilitate the construction and upgrading of 69 bridges and the Kalewa-Yargi road section of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway project. Allahabad: Nupur Talwar, who is in prison on charges of murdering her teenage daughter Aarushi, was on Monday granted parole by Allahabad High Court for three weeks to visit her ailing mother. A division bench comprising justices B K Narayana and A K Mishra ordered the release of Nupur for three weeks following her plea that she be granted parole as her mother was seriously ill and all her other siblings were abroad. The court granted the parole observing that she may be allowed to take care of her ailing mother until her siblings return to the country. The Talwar couple, who were well-known dental surgeons based in Noida, were awarded life sentence by a special CBI court at Ghaziabad in November, 2013. 14-year old Aarushi was found dead with her throat slit in her bedroom on May 16, 2008. The couple was also charged with the murder of their dometic help Hemraj, whose body was later found in their terrace at Jalvayu Vihar in Noida on the outskirts of Delhi. The Talwars, who are serving life imprisonment, have however staunchly claimed innocence in the case. The case had caught the nations imagination and is one of the most high-profile murder cases in the country which was extensively covered by the media. Also known as the 2008 Noida-double murder case, it also served as the premise of the 2015 Bollywood movie titled Talvar which was written by Vishal Bhardwaj. Asaram was arrested by Jodhpur Police on 31 August, 2013 and has been in jail since then. Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed the CBI to investigate disappearance of a prime witness Rahul Sachan in the rape case against self-styled godman Asharam Bapu. The court asked the CBI to conclude the investigation related to Thakurganj police station and file its report not later than six months from Monday, if possible earlier. 75-year-old Asaram is facing rape charge after a teenaged girl accused him of sexual assault at his ashram in Manai village near Jodhpur. The girl who was from Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh was a student at the ashram. Following her complaint against Asaram, he was arrested by Jodhpur Police on 31 August, 2013 and has been in jail since then. The High Court judgement, which was reserved earlier, was delivered by a Division Bench of Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Justice Vijay Laxmi on a PIL filed by Bennet Castelino, a lawyer. The petition sought directions to the CBI to investigate the disappearance of Rahul Sachan, prime prosecution witness in the case against Asumal Harpalani aka Asaram Bapu. According to the FIR, Sachan went missing on November 25, 2015. Patna: With three more deaths reported on Sunday the toll in Bihar rose to 156 as there was no let up in the flood situation in the state while in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh the Ganga continues to flow above the danger level. In Bihar, the three deaths were reported from Samastipur while a twin was born on an NDRF rescue boat in Patna. The Ganga is flowing above the red marks in four districts. An NDRF release said they got a request from the family members of Rekha Devi (25) for help. Within 50 minutes, an NDRF team reached Bihar's Chandrapura village to shift the pregnant woman to primary health centre but she gave birth to twins on board. Later, the newborns and the mother were admitted to Mohanpur primary health centre, it said, adding this is the third time when babies were delivered on an NDRF boat while being taken to the hospital. In order to speed up relief and rescue operations in view of floods in the state, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today inspected the relief camps in Bhagalpur. The CM held a meeting to review the flood situation with top officials and gave necessary directions in this regard, an official release said. Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, Disaster Management Department Principal Secretary Vyasji and District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, DIG and IG were also present during the meeting, it said. Kumar later reached Purnea where he also held a meeting with top officials regarding the flood relief operations being carried out in Purnea, Araria and Kishanganj. The CM will visit Katihar tomorrow where he is to inspect relief camps and review the relief and rescue operations in the district, the release added. 5.56 lakh people have been rescued so far from the 12 flood-affected districts. The government is plying 2,821 boats for evacuation. The court acquitted Meena Devi's husband Rai who was charged with supplying the contaminated oil with which the meals were cooked on the fateful day. (Photo: Representational Image) Chapra (Bihar): A local court in Chapra on Monday sentenced Meena Devi, former principal of a school in Saran district, to 17 years in prison in connection with the deaths of 23 schoolchildren who died after eating contaminated food in 2013. Additional District and Sessions Judge (II) Vijay Anand Tiwary had on August 24 convicted Meena Devi, ex-principal of Dharmasati Gandaman Primary School, but acquitted her husband Arjun Rai for lack of evidence. The court sentenced Devi to 17 years under two sections of 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the IPC. As per the order, she will have to undergo 10 years of imprisonment under 304 while seven years of imprisonment under 308 of IPC. The court made it clear that she would have to serve the two sentences separately. Besides, it also slapped a fine of Rs 2.50 lakh under section 304 and Rs 1.25 lakh under Section 308 of the IPC on Devi. Twenty-three teenaged students of the school had died after eating their mid-day meals on July 16, 2013, an incident which rocked the state. Both Devi and her husband were taken into custody after the incident. The court acquitted Meena's husband Rai who was charged with supplying the contaminated oil with which the meals were cooked on the fateful day. The plane, which was flying at a low height, was spotted and reported by the Border Security Force (BSF), guarding the International Border. (Representational Image) Jammu: A Pakistani plane is believed to have entered into the Indian airspace today in R S Pura sector of Jammu but returned within minutes into its side. The plane, which was flying at a low height, was spotted and reported by the Border Security Force (BSF), guarding the International Border. In its report, the BSF said a six-winged, silver coloured flying object was seen from its border post that crossed into the Indian air space around 1:10 PM and returned within no time, official sources said. They said a report in this regard has been sent to the BSF headquarters in Delhi. The Indian Air Force was asked by the BSF to ascertain the veracity of the report as the object was witnessed by only one personnel of the force and some civilians who were working nearby. However, the IAF said its radars had not picked up any such signal. New Delhi: Taking note of a plea of the father of the Bulandshahr gangrape victim that the probe and trial in the case be shifted out of Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the state government and its minister Azam Khan in the matter. A bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan also took note of the alleged controversial statement of the state's Urban Development Minister Khan that the incident was a "political conspiracy", as the plea sought registration of an FIR against him. It also appointed jurist and senior lawyer F S Nariman as amicus curiae in the matter which will now be taken up after three weeks. Read: Supreme Court stays CBI probe in Bulandshahr gangrape case Khan had courted a controversy when he said that the Bulandshahar highway rape case could be a political conspiracy to malign the image of the Akhilesh Yadav government. We must also probe whether this entire controversy is a move by some Opposition elements to defame the government. People who want to come to power may be stooping this low for political interests, Azam had said. If the Congress can instigate 1000 riots in the country for votes, if for votes Gujarat can happen, if Muzzaffarnagar, Shamli and Kairana can happen, then why not this. Had Gandhi been alive, all this might have not happened, but they even got him killed, Khan added. However, facing flak from political rivals Khan later retracted, saying he never made such remarks and he is a very sensitive person. Never said it was Oppositions conspiracy, I only said that UP polls are close & so many such incidents are happening and they need to be investigated, Azam Khan had told the media when he was asked if his comments were misconstrued. The court framed several constitutional questions including whether a person, holding public office, can give a statement which may create "distrust" in the minds of the victims about a fair probe in the case and whether such a statement can be a part of freedom of speech and expression. The man, whose wife and daughter were gangraped last month on a highway in Bulandshahr, had on August 13 moved the apex court seeking transfer of the case to Delhi, besides lodging of an FIR against Khan as well as several policemen. The brutal incident had happened on the night of July 29 when a group of highway robbers stopped the car of a Noida-based family and sexually assaulted the woman and her daughter after dragging them out of the vehicle which had four other occupants. The Allahabad High Court had ordered CBI probe into the incident besides deciding to monitor the investigation. In the plea filed in the apex court through lawyer Kislay Pandey, the victim's father sought an order for transferring the trial of the case to Delhi "in the interest of justice". Unhappy with the UP police, the petitioner said the probe should be conducted by "some other competent agency". Referring to Khan's alleged controversial remark that there was a "political conspiracy" in gangrape, the plea said an FIR be registered against him as his statement "substantially outrages" the "modesty" of the victims and their family. The plea sought "appropriate damages" for the victims besides a direction that the state and others, including the DGP, be stopped from infringing on the fundamental right to life of the victims. "Direct the respondents (State Home Secretary, Khan, DGP and SSP of Bulandshahr) to pay the appropriate damages to the petitioner as per law," the plea said. The plea alleged that the police did not come for help despite the victims making several distress calls on the helpline number. "The victim dialed 100 number after the incident to seek help from police but it did not help at all," it said, adding "direct registration of an FIR against erring police officials for disobeying directions of law in the present case." The plea said, "Azam Khan called a press conference and publicly insulted petitioner by terming the entire incident as a political conspiracy only and nothing else and thereby caused various acts and deeds being substantially outrageous to the modesty of the petitioner." It said that six members of the family were travelling from Noida to Shahjahanpur on national highway-91 when they were waylaid, assaulted and robbed. The offenders, who were hiding behind the bushes, emerged and took the family at gunpoint and forced the father of the victim to take the vehicle off the road, it said. The mother-daughter duo were ravished barely 100 meters away from the police post, it said, adding that the offenders snatched cash to the tune of Rs 36,000 and some jewellery from the victims. New York: Describing Madhya Pradesh as an ideal investment destination, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said he would seek investment from US companies in sectors like IT, infrastructure and food processing by highlighting his states conducive business environment. Chouhan arrived here on Sunday on a five-day tour during which he will meet several CEOs and executives of global companies, address a round-table organised by US-India Business Council and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and sign an MoU with Columbia University. Madhya Pradesh is the heartland of India and is an ideal destination for investment. It is conducive to business and we have put in place investor friendly policies for various sectors to ensure ease of doing business for the foreign investor, Chouhan said. He said the state government focuses on a single table concept in place of the single window where policy matters and hurdles to investments are discussed in meetings and quick solutions are arrived at to address concerns of investors and businesses. Chouhan underscored that sectors such as auto, textile, education, health, IT, pharma, minerals, food processing and infrastructure offer tremendous investment potential in his state, saying he will assure investors that the state offers an environment of ease of doing business. We have simplified various policies to ensure ease of doing business. Our state is implementing labour reforms, has no shortage of skilled manpower and we are willing to undertake measures to make the business environment more conducive, he said. Chouhan said investors are looking at new destinations in India as some states across India have reached a saturation point. In this context, Madhya Pradesh, where leading Indian business houses have established a foothold, is ideal to attract new investment, he said. Noting that Madhya Pradesh is becoming an educational hub, Chouhan said his government will also explore the possibility of entering into collaborations with leading US universities. Chouhan will sign an MoU with Columbia University on August 31. The Minister attended a reception organised by the Overseas Friends of BJP in New Jersey yesterday. He is scheduled to meet CEOs and top executives of several leading companies, such as MasterCard, Pfizer, Gilead Sciences, Coca Cola and Sirius over the next three days. Last year, Chouhan had addressed hundreds of Indian-Americans and key American lawmakers at the Friends of Madhya Pradesh Conclave at the prestigious Lincoln Centre in the city, inviting industries and entrepreneurs to Make in Madhya Pradesh, drawing upon Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make in India campaign. Gupta was being cross examined as a defence witness in a coal block case involving MP-based Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL) and others. New Delhi: Former Coal Secretary H C Gupta, accused in several coal scam cases, has told a special court that he had not concealed any material information from then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was also holding the charge of Minister of Coal at the time. "It is wrong to suggest that I had concealed material information from the then Minister in Charge Coal/PM regarding matters relating to allocation of coal blocks." "It is correct that minutes of 36th Screening Committee were forwarded to Prime Minister as Minister of Coal through Minister of State for Coal by me vide order dated July 14, 2008," Gupta told Special Judge Bharat Parashar. Gupta was being cross examined as a defence witness in a coal block case involving MP-based Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL) and others. He said that being the then Coal Secretary, he was the administrative head of Coal Ministry and his responsibilities were "complete and undivided". He, however, clarified that a secretary of the ministry cannot be held responsible for every act in the ministry. "It, however, does not mean that Secretary of a Ministry is responsible for each and every act done in the ministry," he said. Gupta further said that KSSPL's application, which was submitted in Ministry of Coal (MoC), was "not complete". During his cross examination, he was shown KSSPL's application which was submitted in MoC. After going through it, Gupta stated that the application was not complete in accordance with guidelines/instructions issued by the MoC along with the advertisements. He also admitted that he had approved the final minutes of 36th Screening Committee (SC) and that, neither in minutes of that SC, nor in any corresponding note was it mentioned as to why Thesegore-B Rudrapuri Coal Block in Madhya Pradesh was recommended for allocation to KSSPL and Revati Cements Ltd. The court, which is currently recording the statements of defence witnesses in the case, had earlier granted bail to Gupta, then Joint Secretary of Coal K S Kropha, then Director (Coal Allocation-I section) K C Samaria and two officials of KSSPL in the case. N.C. Unemployment Rate Drops Below National Average Students Back to School in North Carolina At Elizabeth City State University with Governor Pat McCrory (center) discussing and getting feedback from Elizabeth City State University Chancellor Thomas Conway (right) of our efforts to make college more affordable and to also help attract new students to universities with lower enrollment. Access to Affordable College Education Connect NC Bond Key highlights of the Connect NC bond for Eastern North Carolina include: $90 million for a new state-of-the-art life sciences and biotech building at East Carolina University; $6,557,819 to Beaufort County Community College for new construction, repairs and renovations; $6,590,687 to the College of The Albemarle for new construction, repairs and renovations; $1,477,500 to Goose Creek State Park located in Beaufort County; $751,500 to Jockeys Ridge State Park located in Dare County; $990,750 to Dismal Swamp State Park located in Camden County; $870,750 to Merchants Millpond State Park located in Gates County; and $2,830,500 to Pettigrew State Park located in Tyrrell and Washington Counties. Contact: Bill Cook Bill Cook bill.cook@ncleg.net According to data released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina's unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in July 2016, the lowest it's been in nine years. This news indicates that the number of unemployed persons in North Carolina is 45 percent lower since 2013. Thus, the size of the labor force in our state is 2.9 percent larger than in January 2013. Additionally, due to an increase in employment, stronger economic activity and sound budget policy, the state is projecting a final revenue surplus of $425 million. As a part of simplifying the tax code for the first time since the 1930s, we instituted a tax "trigger" which relies on revenue estimates to give the stop or go sign on granting a cut. Thus, by our state collecting $21.3 billion in General Fund revenues during the 2015-16 FY, the business tax rate will drop to 3 percent in January 2017. Also, in January, the personal income tax rate will drop from 5.75 percent to 5.499 percent, which is down from 7.75 percent a few years ago. The tax reforms we passed are working - our state's income growth has surpassed or equaled the U.S. average income growth for the past ten quarters - which that has not been achieved since 1996.As students and educators return to school, I'll be continuing to schedule visits to several local public schools throughout the district to collaborate with our educators, students and parents. This year's state budget increases education funding by $512 million - increasing average teacher pay, providing funding for textbooks - which has tripled since 2013. It lays the groundwork to connect every North Carolina classroom to Wi-Fi by 2018, and fulfills our commitment to lower class sizes in the early grades - a step research has repeatedly shown is key to academic success - by hiring close to 450 additional first grade teachers. I want our students in North Carolina to have the best education possible, and boosting teacher pay, increasing the number of classroom teachers and reducing class size will serve our students well.Higher education is an invaluable resource for dependable leadership within our communities, state and nation. Holding college tuition and fees down while fully funding our state's institutes of higher learning will ensure the growth and contribution of our colleges for many years to come. The budget recently signed into law, lowers college tuition at Elizabeth City State University, UNC Pembroke and Western Carolina University to $500 per semester for in-state students. The budget also freezes undergraduate tuition at all UNC system schools for students who graduate in four years, or five years if enrolled in a five-year degree program. A final college affordability measure included in the budget caps university fee increases at 3 percent annually. The rapidly rising cost of college is a real burden on middle class families and recent college graduates. These investments will provide much needed certainty for families and students, allowing them to earn an affordable college degree while keeping debt levels low.Back in March, the Connect NC bond proposal was approved overwhelmingly by two-thirds of North Carolina voters. Elizabeth City State University stands to benefit from investments in the bond package. The bond will provide $13 million to renovate the Little Library and Moore Hall at Elizabeth City State University. The $2 billion Connect NC bond supports investments in our state's education, parks, agriculture, National Guard and water and sewer infrastructure. Among the 50 State Senate Districts - my First Senatorial District ranked second in the amount of appropriations as well as the number of projects for state parks through the bond package. Mathura: Union Minister Mahesh Sharma courted a controversy on Sunday after he suggested women tourists not to wear skirts in India. Sharma, who is Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Tourism and Culture, was addressing the media in Uttar Pradeshs Mathura and said that tourists arriving at the airport are given a welcome kit of the dos and don'ts of the country. The card advises women not to roam alone at night and not to wear skirts. These dos and donts include suggestions that if they are in small cities, they should not roam alone at night nor wear dresses like skirts. We also suggest them to click photographs of number plate of cabs they are travelling in and send it to their friends so that the number is stored and circulated, said Sharma. The ministers comments received backlash on social media. Twitterati asked him to also curb rape and molestation. Before landing, the crew dropped another fuel tank, which was empty, to equalise the weight of the plane on both sides. (Photo: ANI Twitter) Visakhapatam: In an incident involving Indian Navys supersonic fighter jet MiG-29K, a fuel drop box jettisoned while the aircraft was taking off from the naval air station INS Dega in Visakhapatnam on Monday morning. A minor fire broke out on the runway of INS Dega when a Fuel Drop Tank of an MiG-29K jettisoned accidentally while the MiG was taking off on a routine training sortie. Prompt action by ground support staff resulted in the quick dousing of the fire. No one has been injured and no damage has been sustained to the aircraft or the runway, said a senior official of the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy has ordered a probe into the incident. Before landing, the crew dropped another fuel tank, which was empty. The empty fuel tank dropped in Malkapuram area in the city near the naval base. Each MiG has two fuel tanks, one on each wing. Before landing, the aircraft has to have equal weight on both wings. Therefore, the aircraft dropped the empty fuel tank so that landing is safe, said an official of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC). The Navy has been creating the required infrastructure to house an MiG-29K squadron at INS Dega on the eastern seaboard at Vizag. A recent report by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which was tabled in the Parliament last month pointed out that MiG-29K faces operational deficiencies due to defects in engines, airframe and fly-by-wire system. The naval airfield station, INS Dega at Vizag, will house the Indian Navys second squadron of supersonic fighter jets MiG-29K. The MiG-29K aircraft has a maximum speed over twice that of sound, at about 2000 kmph. The MiG-29K squadron at Vizag is expected to be commissioned within two years from now. The Indian Navys first MiG 29K squadron christened, Black Panthers is now stationed at Goa . The Black Panthers squadron was commissioned in 2013. The Indian Navy started inducting MiG 29Ks from 2009. As of now the Navy has around 33 MiGs and 12 more will be inducted in the coming years. Muftis statement followed an announcement made by a Home Ministry spokesman in New Delhi that an all-party delegation led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit J&K on September 4. (Photo: File) Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that the time has come to address the issue of Kashmir, but cautioned that half-hearted efforts will not help towards bringing about a peaceful and lasting settlement. We have to ensure that a credible mechanism for dialogue, reconciliation and resolution is put in place and it should not be like the halfhearted efforts made in similar situations after the 2008 and 2010 unrests, she said while speaking at an official function in Jammu. She called for creating conducive atmosphere for dialogue and reiterated that dialogue is only way forward to address the issue. Muftis statement followed an announcement made by a Home Ministry spokesman in New Delhi that an all-party delegation led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 4. The delegation is expected to meet a cross section of people, individuals and organisations in its efforts to bring peace to the Kashmir Valley, where unrest triggered by the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8 has left 70 civilians and two policemen dead. More than six thousand civilians and 4,000-4,500 security personnel have also been injured so far. Asserting that violence will not help resolve issues, Chief Minister Mufti said, Threads need to be picked up from where these were left by then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in 2005, when a serious effort was made both on external and internal fronts to resolve the Kashmir issue through a credible and meaningful dialogue and confidence building process. She said the present incumbent Narendra Modi has the mandate to take bold decisions on the lines of those taken by Vajpayee for resolution of the problems in and around Jammu and Kashmir. Mehbooba Mufti said that whosoever wants a solution to the Kashmir problem should understand that the solution is not going to come through violence. Violence has changed nothing in the political scene of Jammu and Kashmir over the years and, in fact, has only brought mayhem, miseries, economic disaster, academic breakdown and social disorder to the state. She appreciated the people of Jammu region for maintaining peace and harmony despite repeated provocations by various disruptive elements. She, however, did not mention any names in this connection. New Delhi: After coming under fire for suggesting that woman tourists should not wear skirts in India, Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma on Monday clarified his statement saying that it was only in reference with religious places so that the sanctity of the holy place is maintained. All I said was that if they enter a temple they should take off their shoes and cover their heads if they are entering a Gurudwara, that's all, said Sharma. Asserting that he did not comment on what a person cannot wear, the Union Minister said that India is known for its diverse culture and that imposing such a ban was unimaginable. Further stating that as a minister it was his right and job to ensure the safety of foreign tourists, Sharma said that the government releases advisories just like other nations, for the safety of the visitors. "I am a father of two daughters...I would never tell women what they should wear or not. Our culture is Atithi Devobhava (the guest is almost like God). Such a ban is unimaginable, but it is not a crime to be cautious. Different countries issue advisories from time to time, but I never said change anyone's way of dressing," Sharma said. Sharma stirred a controversy saying that a welcome kit is being provided to tourists visiting India and the dos and don'ts on the card advise women not to wear skirts or roam alone at night. "When visitors land at the airport, they will be provided with a welcome kit. The kit contains a card, a pamphlet which describes do's and dont's. The advisory tells the visitors not to travel at night and ask them not to wear skirts," he said on Saturday. "In that kit, there is a pamphlet which says that India is a cultural state where apparels change with respect to religious places like temples and asks the visitors to mind their dress codes," he retorted. He also asked visitors to take a photograph of every vehicle's number plate as a precautionary measure while travelling. Hitting out at Sharma, the Congress said that if he had his way, then every woman in the country would be wearing a burqa. Congress leader Manish Tewari said that the Culture Minister of India comes out with the most 'uncultured' remarks possible. "India gives everybody the liberty to be permissive, modern, extremely liberal in their habits, disposition and even in the clothes that they wear. So therefore this diversity of culture is something that the Culture Minister should recognise. But as I said that if 'Pandit' Mahesh Sharma has his way, he will put every woman in this country in a burqa," Tewari said. Chennai: In her first cabinet reshuffle since assuming office for a successive term after the May 16 Assembly polls, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday dropped Milk and Dairy Development Minister S P Shanmuganathan from her council of ministers. Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah dropped Shanmuganthan from the cabinet "on the recommendation of the Chief Minister," a Raj Bhavan press release said. Shanmuganathan had recently been relieved as AIADMK's Thoothukudi District Secretary, a key party post. Jayalalithaa also made portfolio reallocations, handing over the School Education department to Avadi MLA K Pandiarajan, one of the seven dissident DMDK MLAs in the previous Assembly, who joined the AIADMK this year. Rural Industries Minister K T Rajenthra Balaji has been entrusted with Milk and Dairy Development portfolio. School Education Minister P Benjamin is the new Rural Industries Minister. The swearing-in ceremony of the new Ministers will be held at Raj Bhavan tomorrow evening, the release said. Srinagar: Life in Srinagar city started limping towards normalcy on Monday as authorities lifted curfew from entire Kashmir Valley except three police station areas after 52 days of continuous curfew following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. However, restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibits unlawful assembly of 10 or more people, will remain enforced to maintain law and order. "Curfew has been lifted from Kashmir except from Pulwama town and the areas in Srinagar falling under the jurisdiction of police stations M R Gunj and Nowhatta," a police official said. He said the curbs were lifted following improvement in the situation. "However, the security forces will remain deployed in strength in sensitive areas of the Valley to maintain law and order," the official said. Curfew was clamped in entire Valley on July 9 following violence in the aftermath of Wani's killing in an encounter in south Kashmir's Anantnag district a day earlier. The violence has left 70 people, including two cops, dead and several thousand injured. While public transport continued to be off roads, there was increased movement of private cars and auto-rickshaws on the roads here this morning, the official said. Minor traffic jams were seen along the Rambagh-Jawahar Nagar-Rajbagh axis leading to commercial hub of Lal Chowk due to the increased movement of private vehicles. The attendance in government offices also showed upward trend with majority of employees reporting for work. The banks were also open and witnessed massive rush of customers as soon as they opened. However, schools, colleges and other educational institutions and shops remained closed due to the strike called by separatists groups who have asked people to lockdown all government offices, except essential services today. "Except for essential services, lock down all government offices and don't allow movement of any employee towards these offices for joining," the separatists said in their weekly protest programme. Meanwhile, mobile internet 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. They have asked the mosque committees in all villages and localities to visit people to assess their needs. Also visit the families of those killed and injured, and make arrangements for their support, the separatists said in their weekly protest program. Kolkata: The West Bengal Assembly on Monday passed a resolution to change the name of the state to Bengal in English and Bangla in Bengali, but the Left, Congress and BJP members walked out in protest against the decision. The proposal will now be forwarded to the Centre for consideration and if approved, that state will soon be called Bengal. "I will request the central government to pursue the matter so that it can be placed in Parliament. We want it to be done as early as possible," Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. Banerjee attacked Opposition parties for staging a walkout and said, "History will not forgive those who are opposing this move. This day is a historic day and will be remembered in golden letters." The resolution was moved by state Parliamentary Affairs minister Partha Chatterjee under rule 169, which said that the name of the state would be 'Bangla' in Bengali , 'Bengal' in English and 'Bangal' in Hindi. Speaking on the motion, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said "The name Bangla has a historical and cultural background. I don't have any problem with the name of 'Bango' either. But most of the people want the name 'Bangla'. In English it will be 'Bengal' so that there will be no confusion with the name of neighbouring Bangladesh." "Whenever we go out of India or to some other state we are known as people from Bengal. In 2011 we had once proposed to change the name of the state, but it was held back by the Centre. There was no decision regarding it. So we decided to bring it once again to change the name of the state to 'Bangla'," Banerjee said. She claimed that the Left acted out of frustration, since the party was not able to change the name of the state when they were in power. "The Left also tried to get the name changed, they failed. They are now opposing the name change," Mamata said. Earlier in August, the West Bengal cabinet had cleared a proposal to change the name of the state to either Bangla or Bongo in Bengali and Bengal in English. The Chief Minister told the media that Bangla was favoured over Bongo by most. In August 2011, the TMC had decided to rename the state as Paschimbanga in English. All opposition parties had agreed to the name change back then. Lucknow: In a ground-breaking development, Dargah Ala Hazrat (Bareilly), which represents the Barelvi sect of Islam, ruled that even Muslim woman can pronounce the much controversial triple talaq to her husband, according to a report. Triple talaq (Talaq-e-bidat) is a Muslim man divorcing his wife by pronouncing more than one talaq in a single tuhr (the period between two menstruations), or in a tuhr after coitus, or pronouncing an irrevocable instantaneous divorce at one go (unilateral triple-talaq). Nikah halala refers to the marriage of a woman with another man who subsequently divorces her so that her previous husband can remarry her. The fatwa, issued by the world renowned seminary in west Uttar Pradesh, comes in the backdrop of triple talaq being challenged by a Muslim woman, who was divorced by her husband through a phone call from Dubai. She filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging the Muslim practices of polygamy. "Muslim women have the right to divorce themselves in certain circumstances where they no longer wish to continue in the marriage. It is provided for in Islamic law. But an agreement for the same has to be made at the time of 'nikah' (marriage). It can be oral or written," Mufti Mohammed Salim Noori, spokesperson for the 'dargah' said. Petitioner 26-year-old Ishrat Jahan has sought a declaration from the court that Section 2 of Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 was unconstitutional as it violated fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 (equality), 15 (non-discrimination), 21 (life) and 25 (religion) of the Constitution "in so far as it seeks to recognise and validate talaq-e-bidat (triple talaq) as a valid form of divorce". On June 29, the apex court had agreed to examine the issue and said that a divorce through 'triple talaq' among the Muslim community was a "very important matter affecting a large section of people", which has to be tested on the "touchstone of the constitutional framework". The apex court had taken suo motu cognizance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in cases of divorce or due to other marriages of their husbands and urged Chief Justice of India to set up a bench to examine the issue. Subsequently, various other petitions including one by triple talaq victim Shayara Bano were filed challenging the age-old practice of 'triple talaq' among the Muslim community. All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamiat-e-Ulema had defended triple talaq and said it was part of Quran-dictated personal law which was beyond the ambit of judicial scrutiny. A Multi-Agency Group of various investigative agencies has been formed by the government to go into the disclosures made in the list which includes about 500 Indian entities. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted two more weeks to the Centre to file its response on a plea seeking CBI probe against Indian offshore bank account holders named in the Panama papers. A bench, comprising Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan, granted more time to the government to file the affidavit after the Centre told the court that investigation is in progress and it was looking into the allegations. It also issued a notice to the Centre on a similar but fresh plea filed by Manik Bhimrao Jadhav, a former Maharashtra MLC, seeking setting up of a Commission of Inquiry to look into "illegal investments" made in off-shore companies. The bench said it would tag the fresh one with the earlier pending PIL on the issue. A Multi-Agency Group (MAG) of various investigative agencies has been formed by the government to go into the disclosures made in the list which includes about 500 Indian entities. The leak of Panama Papers contain an unprecedented amount of information, including more than 11 million documents covering 2,10,000 companies in 21 offshore jurisdictions. Each transaction spans different jurisdictions and may involve multiple entities and individuals. The petition filed by advocate M L Sharma has also sought a CBI probe against the Indian offshore account holders and stock market regulators under the supervision of the Supreme Court. He had also sought direction to CBI to lodge an FIR and conduct investigation against the SEBI chairman, his associates, share brokers and others for alleged offences including, those under Prevention of Corruption Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Sharma had alleged that Panama Papers include the names of nearly 500 Indians, including celebrities and industrialists who have parked funds in offshore accounts in transactions brokered by the law firm. The petitioner has alleged that these offshore bank accounts and funds therein have been protected and allowed to be in circulation in Indian stock market through regulators under political protection for which SEBI chairman and directors have been re-appointed and their terms extended several times. New Delhi: Leak of information related to Scorpene submarine is being viewed "very seriously", but it is "not a matter of much worry", Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on Monday in his first comment after over 22,000 pages of data detailing the vessel's capabilities became public. "Any leak of information is viewed very seriously. We have viewed the leak of Scorpene data very seriously and we have asked (French firm) DCNS to launch an urgent investigation into this," the Navy chief said in Delhi. He noted that the Defence Ministry has set up a high-level committee to investigate the matter. "Based on the report of the committee, we will see what mitigation measures need to be taken," he said. Asked how serious a concern the leak was, the Navy chief said, "This is not a matter of much worry. The committee is analysing and they will see what data has been compromised and what mitigation steps have to be taken." The high-level committee is expected to submit a detailed report to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar by September 20. Over 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with French company DCNS have been leaked. Melbourne/New Delhi: Embattled French defence firm DCNS has approached the Supreme Court in Australia seeking an injunction against 'The Australian' from further publishing the leaked documents of India's Scorpene submarine project. The DCNS has also sought a court order to the newspaper to hand over the documents in its possession and removal of the contents from its website. "The publication of this highly valuable document causes a direct harm to DCNS and its customer in terms of spread of sensitive and restricted information, image and reputation," The Australian quoted an affidavit by DCNS lawyer Justine Munsie. The newspaper had said that it will publish the documents regarding the weapons system of the submarine on Monday. Over 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with a French company have been leaked. The move by DCNS comes after a former commander of US Pacific fleet Submarine Force warned that the leaks would undermine the confidence in the ability of French companies to protect classified information. Rear Admiral (Retd) John Padgett, who is also the president of the US Naval Submarine League, has said that aggressive action needed to be taken to probe the leak and that France should share the outcome with Australia. The secret data included details of the capabilities of SM39 anti-ship missile expected to be used on the Scorpene and classified information about the number of targets the missile was capable of processing. Explaining the implications of the leak, Admiral Padgett said "It is never good for an opponent to have your playbook." "As a member of NATO, the French government and French military demonstrate that they enforce effective security controls and have a solid reputation with their allies," he said. He said the investigation had to determine exactly how the breach occurred and what "aggressive action" would be taken to correct deficient security controls. His comments came as a French public prosecutor opened a preliminary investigation into the data leak, with DCNS filing a complaint for breach of trust. "We filed a complaint against unknown persons for breach of trust with the Paris prosecutor," said a DCNS spokesman. The DCNS has won a contract to design Australias new $50 billion submarine fleet. New Delhi: Music composer Vishal Dadlani may have hoped to end all controversy by apologising over 30 times on Twitter for his comments mocking Jain monk Tarun Sagar's address in the Haryana Assembly, but trouble has only mounted for him as a police complaint has also been lodged against him. According to reports, a religious organisation called Jain Life has filed the complaint at a police station in Delhi. But the central figure of the controversy, seems to have forgiven Dadlani for his comments. Delhi PWD minister Satyendar Jain met Jain monk Tarun Sagar at Chandigarh on Monday and said that he had forgiven all those who said anything against him. "I met Tarun Sagar Maharaj and talked about the controversy that arose two days ago. He said that he was not affected by it and that he has forgiven those who inadvertently did so," the Delhi minister said. Jain said efforts were on to politicise the whole issue and that the matter should be put to rest as the monk has forgiven the guilty. "I feel some people are doing politics over it, the issue should be ended now. (Congress man) Tehsin Poonawala who commented against Maharaj-ji has not even apologised and none of his party's leaders, including Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi, has expressed regret over it. The mater should be kept away from politics," he said. Jain said he and Kejriwal had earlier sought forgiveness for Dadlani's tweets. "I also carried Arvind Kejriwal's message that he felt sad for what was said about him to which Maharaji-ji said that he has already forgiven those who inadvertently did so," he said. Jain also defended Dadlani, saying that he realised his mistake and was deeply hurt over the whole issue and repeatedly sought forgiveness for his act. "Vishal realised that he committed a mistake and was deeply hurt. He expressed apologies many times. It was not a matter of difference of opinion it was about a word that he unknowingly used," Jain said, rejecting suggestion that his visit was a damage control exercise by AAP. Stung by criticism from several quarters, including Kejriwal, over his sarcastic tweet on the Jain monk's address to the Haryana Assembly, Dadlani had yesterday announced quitting "all active political work/affiliation". Dadlani deleted the Saturday tweet and tendered an apology, saying he "made a mistake by offending the peaceful Jain community". He also apologised to the Jain monk on Twitter. The SC bench said it may pass orders on the aspect of monitoring of the probe done by CBI after the CFSL report is submitted. (Photo: Representational Image) New Delhi: The CBI was on Monday directed by the Supreme Court to file a forensic report regarding electronic evidences being examined by Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in connection with the Vyapam scam within six weeks. A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and P C Pant said it may pass orders on the aspect of monitoring of the probe done by CBI after the CFSL report is submitted in a sealed cover and examined. During the hearing, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for CBI, filed a status report on the probe carried out so far in the scam in which it said that charge sheet has been filed against 80 accused. While one closure report has been filed, 13 preliminary enquiries have also been closed. Kumar said the probe agency has requested the CFSL, which is examining the pen-drive of the whistle blower and a hard disk, to expedite the process and submit the report. He alleged that several telecom providers were also not cooperating with the probe agency with regard to the case. When the bench asked the CBI by when it expected the CFSL to file its report in the case, Kumar said CFSL at Hyderabad had several things at hand and could file the report in two months. The court said there were two issues for its consideration -- the monitoring of the probe and a challenge to the order of the High Court. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Madhya Pradesh government, said the main prayer was for probe by an independent agency like CBI which has already been done. At the outset, the bench said nothing much needs to be done in the matter and whatever grievances the petitioner had could be raised before the High Court. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for one of the petitioners, said the CFSL was examining the electronic evidences and the court should first call for the report and then pass appropriate orders. He said the pen-drive was given to the High Court but it has not been looked into and nothing has been done for years. Sibal said the CBI has also not looked into the pen-drive and have sent it to CFSL for the examination. BENGALURU: Officials of the Anti Corruption Bureau, probing the land controversy surrounding Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav based on a complaint by an RTO activist, visited the Records Room in Vidhana Soudha and verified a few files on Monday. On August 23, RTI activist S. Bhaskaran filed a complaint against the chief secretary, Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban District, Shankar, Assistant Commissioner in-charge of Anekal Division and the Tahsildar of Anekal under Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC). He has accused the officials of indulging in forgery, manipulation of government documents, illegal transfer of government land, nepotism, and corrupt practices of using office to favour the Chief Secretarys family. Launching the probe, Anti Corruption Bureau officials on Monday questioned Mr Bhaskaran at its office. The complainant was questioned and details pertaining to the case were gathered from him. Later in the evening, a team of officials visited the Records Room in Vidhana Soudha. The investigation is still in the preliminary stage and we are collecting basic details, an official said. Patna: A local court in Chapra on Monday sentenced Gandaman School Principal Mina Devi to seventeen years imprisonment in connection with mid-day incident in which 23 students were killed. The court pronounced the sentence under section 304 and 308 after finding her guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and attempt to culpable homicide. According to a lawyer the additional district judge ruled that Mina Devi would serve the sentence under two different sections. He said the court sentenced her to ten years for culpable homicide under section 304 and seven years under section 308 which amounts to attempt to commit culpable homicide and a penalty of Rs 3.75 lakh which will be paid to victims family members. The district court had however acquitted her husband Arjun Rai from all charges on Wednesday after pronouncing his wife Mina Devi guilty. Arjun rai was one of the main accused in the case and was arrested along with his wife Mina Devi in July 2013 after the incident had occurred. According to sources from Chapra, The court found the case as rarest of the rare and pronounced the sentence. The investigating agencies had found pesticides in the food which was served to students who had assembled in school to collect books on the fateful day. The police according to sources had also recovered pesticides stacked in Principals house which was allegedly used as edible oil in the soya bean curry which was served to 80 school children. Some of the students after consuming the meal had vomited and died on the spot while others were rushed to hospital. Hyderabad: The mahadharna demanding action and arrest of those responsible for the suicide of Dalit PhD scholar Rohith Vemula and implementation of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes report saw a huge turnout on Monday. The mahadharna was organised by Solidarity Struggle Committee for Justice for Rohith. Students from various institutions in Telangana, teachers from the University of Hyderabad and English and Foreign Languages University and Dalit activists belonging to 33 organisations took part in the event. Around 35 Dalit victims of the Pathapally incident in Mahbubnagar participated in the mahadharna that was organised at Prakasham Hall in Nampally as permission to hold it at Indira Park was rejected by the police. Speaking at the event, Dr Anand Teltumbde, civil rights activist and professor at IIT Kharagpur, accused the state government of being hand in glove with the BJP. He said that by not taking action against UoH vice-chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was insulting the Telangana Assembly where he had promised that he would take up the issue of recall of the V-C with the Centre. Social activist Teesta Setalvad said the uprisings across the country were because of the Hindutva fascist, casteist and authoritarian rule of the BJP-led government at the Centre. People should unite to seek justice for Rohith and ensure those named in the police complaint for the suicide, including Prof. Podile and Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya were arrested. Dr K.Y. Ratnam, UoH faculty. condemned the attitude of the TRS government towards the issue. A video grab of Nanhebhai with his daughter Parvati, 22, on a bicycle. After the delivery, he had to bring back the mother and child on his bicycle again (Photo: via Web) Bhopal: In a shocking replay of the the Odisha incident in which a husband was forced to carry the body of his wife for 10 kilometres due to the unavailability of hospital transport, a tribal man in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh was on Sunday evening forced to carry his pregnant daughter on his bicycle to a nearby hospital. This time too, there was no ambulance on call. Nanhebhai (46), a resident of Shahpur village in Chhattarpur district, put his daughter, Parvati (22), on the carrier of his bicycle and pedaled six kilometres to reach the nearest government hospital after repeated calls to a call centre set up by the state government for the Janani Express (an emergency transport service by MP government for rural patients), were met with no response. Parvati later gave birth to a baby boy in the hospital. But Nanhebhai was again forced to carry the mother and the newborn on his bicycle back home after hospital authorities failed to arrange an ambulance. My daughter developed labour pains on Sunday morning. I frantically called the call centre hoping for the Janani Express. When no ambulance turned up, I was forced to carry her on my bicycle. After her delivery, I had to again pedal my daughter and her baby home because there was another non-availability of ambulance, the father told DC on Monday. The state government on Monday ordered a probe into the incident. This is just three days after a pregnant woman in Timariha village in the same district was forced to walk six kilometres while undergoing labour pains to reach a hospital for delivery. New Delhi: Taking a serious view of Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khans statement that the Bhulandshahar gangrape incident on July 28 was a political conspiracy and nothing else, the Supreme Court on Monday sought his response in three weeks. It also stayed all investigation by the state police on the FIR registered on the incident. A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and S. Nagappan, passed an order enlarging the scope of the writ petition filed by Kaushal Kishor, whose wife and daughter were gangraped, demanding a CBI probe into the gruesome incident on the National Highway. The bench appointed senior counsel and eminent lawyer Fali Nariman to render assistance in this case as important issues had arisen for consideration. Counsel Kislay Pandey along with counsel Manju Sharma submitted that the petitioner was disillusioned about the process of fair investigation in Uttar Pradesh because of various developments and, more so, with regard to the public addresses made by Mr Khan and, therefore, the case needs to be transferred to CBI and to another state. The petitioner also prayed for registration of an FIR against Mr Khan for his utterances. TPCC working president Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka shares a joke with party MLAs Sampath Kumar and T. Ram Mohan Reddy at the media point in the Assembly in Hyderabad on Monday, a day ahead of the special session. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: The much-publicised session of TS Legislature, scheduled to be held on Tuesday to ratify the Constitution Amendment Bill for Goods and Services Tax is likely to be confined to a single-day. The TS Cabinet, which met at the Secretariat on Monday to approve the draft GST Bill and other three Bills replacing Ordinances, is learnt to have decided to confine the session to one day. However, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was authorised to take a decision on extending the session beyond a day during the Business Advisory Committee to be held on Tuesday. Both the Houses of Legislature will meet at 11 am on Tuesday. The Chief Minister himself will move the statutory resolution on ratifying the GST Bill in the Assembly while Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari will move it in the Council. The Cabinet meeting, which went on for nearly two hours, is learnt to have proposed another session after Ganesh Nimajjan. However, a final decision on this was left to the Chief Minister. Sources said that the Chief Minister may agree to a two-day session to discuss new districts formation, drought-like situation and also the recent pact with Maharashtra on sharing of Godavari waters. The Cabinet also discussed in detail the creation of new districts. The Cabinet felt that the creation of 17 districts was done in a scientific manner which would help the government take governance to the grassroots-level and offer better administration and services to the people. Mr Rao is learnt to have asked ministers to be actively involved in the process of creation of new districts and examine all the objections/ suggestions submitted by the people on the proposed districts. It was also decided to set up a task force on new districts headed by Chief Secretary and comprising senior revenue officials as members to address issues pertaining to allotment of offices and staff to the new districts. Mr Rao asked ministers and officials to ensure that no legal problems crop up with the scrapping of the zonal system. The Cabinet also approved three Bills replacing Ordinances pertaining to the division of Cyberabad Police Commissionerate, changes in VAT structure of certain items and raising the number of members in temple trust boards from nine to 15. Hyderabad: The hopes of employees and job aspirants of promotions and employment on account of creation of 17 new districts from Dasara have been dashed. The TS government has decided not to give promotions or go for fresh recruitment for the new districts. District collectors have been told to adjust the existing staff in the new districts. The government had proposed promotions to existing staff and addition of 25,000 new jobs before creation of the new districts. However, it backtracked after it realised that this would impose a heavy financial burden on the state exchequer due to salaries. Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma made the government's decision clear in a meeting held with senior revenue officials recently, which was communicated to the collectors. Following this, the collectors have started working on reallocation of existing staff to the new districts. The CS asked the collectors to rationalise staff allocation by merging insignificant departments with significant ones. At present, there are 20 departments in collectorates and collectors were asked to downsize them to eight through mergers to see that the employees thus relieved can be accommodated in the new districts. Telangana employees associations, while welcoming new districts, had maintained that this would be highly beneficial for employees as they would get promotions to work in new district headquarters and for job aspirants as 25,000 new jobs would be added at entry-level due to promotions to existing staff. However, the government rejected the proposals on promotions and new jobs outright as it would put additional burden on salary bill, which has already crossed Rs 2,000 crore per month. Promotions would result in higher pay scales for existing staff and new recruitment would put additional salary burden on government. The owners of the Mooyah franchise on Billings' West End are giving out free fries Monday to celebrate a milestone for the company. The first 100 customers will receive free fries for a year, starting at 11 a.m. at 2695 King Ave. W. suite D, said Mike Martinez, Billings franchisee. The promotion is in honor of Mooyahs 100th store, which opened in Tuscaloosa, Ala., about a month ago. The Billings franchise opened in 2012 and serves an average of 150 pounds of fries daily, Martinez said. Were going to be prepared for a big day Monday, he said. The Plano, Texas-based company started in 2007. The fast-casual restaurants serve burgers, fries and shakes and has 14 employees. The store is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The phone number is 294-3797. Bengaluru: Tamil Nadu will observe a bandh between 6 am and 6 pm on Tuesday to pressure the Karnataka government to release Cauvery water. Though the bandh has been called in Cauvery delta districts, several political parties have backed the agitation and the shutdown is likely to be total in the neighbouring state. An officer from the transport department said that KSRTC and private bus operators are likely to cancel the services on Tuesday as agitators might target these vehicles. The KSRTC will run all the night buses on Monday. But a decision on running the services on Tuesday will be taken based on the feedback from our officers in Tamil Nadu, he said. Private bus operators too will wait and watch. We will cancel the services if the Karnataka registration buses are attacked, said Mr Ramesh Holla, a bus operator. Train services will run as usual on Tuesday. Chennai: DMK will hold a protest rally in Coimbatore on September 3 against the construction of a dam across Siruvani by the Kerala Government, party chief M Karunanidhi announced here on Sunday. in a statement, Mr Karunanidhi said the protest rally would be addressed by party treasurer and Opposition Leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly M.K. Stalin and it would reflect the problems of people of three districts Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode. Accusing the AIADMK government of not taking measures at the appropriate time, he demanded the reasons for the delay, while asserting that the Kerala government had no powers to construct Siruvani dam and its attempt is purely based on Tamil Nadus failure to oppose the project. The Kerala government has proposed a dam at Mukkali in Attapadi for a length of 500 metres and height of 51 metres at a cost of Rs 900 crore, Mr Karunanidhi said, quoting media reports. He also asked the Tamil Nadu Government to release letters written by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa regarding construction of the dam by Kerala. Pune: Months after a Pune-based couple made fake claims of successfully scaling Mount Everest, Nepal government imposed a 10-year ban on them. According to a report in The Indian Express, the Nepal officials sent a letter to the Pune police informing them of the decision that the couple has been barred from entering Nepal for a period of 10 years. This means the probe ordered by Nepal government has confirmed the two had lied about scaling Everest This is indeed shocking. The couple have tarnished the image not only of police force but of the whole country, Pune police commissioner Rashmi Shukla was quoted as saying. Tarakeshwari and Dinesh Rathod, who are serving as constables in Pune police, had claimed on June 5 that they became the first Indian couple to scale the Everest on May 23. A group of mountaineers had approached Pune police alleging that the two have faked their expedition by morphing photographs at the peak. The complaint said that there were several discrepancies in their version given about the summit, which can prove that they were making fake claims. "If you see the individual photos of Dinesh, he is wearing a red and black down jacket at the summit and in the couple photo at the top, both are wearing orange down jacket and yellow and black shoes. "It is next to impossible to change clothes and boots mid-climb as there is a danger of frostbite and we are cent-percent sure that photographs were taken either at a base camp or at a studio and later it was meticulously morphed or cropped." Meanwhile, constable Dinesh Rathod had said that they have submitted all the certificates received from the Nepal government upon completion of the summit, along with other proofs to the investigating officer of Pune Police. He had also alleged that the group of mountaineers were defaming the couple. KOZHIKODE: With schools getting the schedules for the first terminal examination, teachers are confused about how they will conduct the exams, when many of their students still do not have textbooks. Their major worry is that even the prominent teachers and students unions are not taking up the issue that affects thousands of students in the state. Former Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb said that 85 per cent of the printing of the textbooks were over by May 5 and the rest would be over by August, except for the plus one and plus two students, for whom the textbooks were not free. He added that the current issues were related to the distribution of textbooks and not printing. However, he wondered why the ruling party that had demanded a judicial probe against him on the same issue last year, was silent now. V.S. Achuthanandan had demanded that I should be removed from the post of education minister and a judicial probe be carried out. Now, they are silent. I will not criticise the education minister alone, since printing and distribution of textbooks are a combined effort of many departments including store purchasing, printing, KBPS and CAPT. This time, some schools have also failed in collecting books from the sub centres, Mr Rabb said. The first terminal examination is scheduled to start on August 30, and end on September 7. The total days of examination are six. The subjects without practicals have to start at 1.45pm and end at 4.30pm, including a cool off time of 15 minutes. However, for subjects with practicals, except biology and music, the exam ends at 4pm. On Fridays, the exam will start at 2pm and end at 4.45pm. Meanwhile, the photostat business is flourishing with the language textbooks for the plus one and plus two students. While the English textbook for the plus one students costs `80, the photostat set costs Rs 70. With no concern over the copyright violation, shops are selling them like hot cakes, as the first terminal examination is about to start. Thiruvananthapuram: A Kerala minister is in the eye of a storm over his remarks that lighting of lamps and singing of religious hymns at government programmes and functions at schools should be avoided. "Our Constitution has no religion or caste. So there is no need to light 'nilavilakku' (traditional lamps) during the inauguration of the government programmes or at functions of schools," said Public Works minister G Sudhakaran while inaugurating a seminar,'Namukku Jathiyilla' (We are not caste driven) at Muthukulam in Alappuzha district last evening. The senior CPI(M) leader said that the state government does not subscribe to any particular caste or religion. The minister also claimed that he had recently seen a girl student reciting a prayer in praise of a goddess at a school function. "Though it was inappropriate, singing of religious prayers and lighting of traditional lamps had become a common practice during official functions in the state now-a-days," he added. He also suggested that patriotic songs be sung during public functions, instead of religious hymns. Reacting to his remarks, several people trolled the minister on the social media. Health Minister K K Shylaja, another senior member in the Pinarayi Vijayan government, had also courted controversy recently by voicing displeasure against the recitation of Sanskrit hymns during a yoga demonstration, organised in connection with the International Yoga Day on June 21. Hyderabad: Millers in Telangana have siphoned off 25,000 metric tonnes of rice worth Rs 80 crore meant for public distribution system. While the government provided paddy stocks worth nearly Rs 50 lakh to each mill for milling, it took just up to Rs 5 lakh as security deposit. The government is not in a position to recover the losses even if it auctions the mills by invoking the Revenue Recovery Act. The government has issued notices to over 150 rice mills invoking R&R Act but the chances of recovering the losses appear remote. The government purchases paddy from farmers and supplies it to rice mills. The government pays the milling charges. As per norms, the millers have to return rice to the government in 45 days. About 25,000 metric tonnes of rice was not returned even after a year. Though the civil supplies department issued repeated notices, the millers ignored them. Nalgonda tops the list of defaulting mills in the state at 11,260 metric tonnes, and is followed by Adilabad (4,400 metric tonnes), Nizamabad (4,313 metric tonnes), Mahbubnagar (2,401 metric tonnes) and Medak (2,503 metric tonnes). Ranga Reddy, Karimna-gar and Warangal acco-unt for 838 metric tonnes. Our department revealed that many rice mill owners have diverted these stocks to the open market. We have started filing criminal cases against them. We are also invoking R&R Act and taking possession of rice mills, said civil supplies minister Etela Rajender. Mill owners do not appear to be particularly intimidated, as they paid lower security deposits and there are no takers if the mills are auctioned. The government is now planning to increase security deposit besides attaching the other properties of mills owners. Though people had offered to buy these flats if the rates were reduced, there was no response from the government. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: State government employees have sought Rajiv Swagruha flats in Bandlaguda and Pocharam at much cheaper rates than offered to the public in the recent e-auction that failed to attract any buyers. Though people had offered to buy these flats if the rates were reduced, there was no response from the government. The government decided to allot these flats to its employees and convened a meeting with employees associations to finalise the rate. Employees leaders said that they would purchase the flats if they were offered for Rs 1,100 per sq. ft to Rs 1,300 per sq. ft. During the recent e-auction that was open to public, the minimum price prescribed was Rs 2,800 per sq. ft for finished flats and Rs 2,200 per sq. ft for semi-finished flats in Bandlaguda. In Pocharam, the price band was Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,900 per sq. ft. The proposal was put before housing minister A. Indrakaran Reddy who remained non-committal and said he would take up the issue with the Chief Minister for approval. If approved, the government would suffer an estimated loss of around `300 crore. The recent estimates prepared by housing officials suggest that the government could recover at least construction and other costs if it prescribes a rate of at least Rs 1,800 per sq. ft. However, the employees say that the flats were constructed over seven years ago and they could get new flats in the same area at the prices prescribed by officials. There are about 2,244 flats in Bandlaguda and 1,474 flats in Pocharam on offer. In Bandlaguda, 316 flats are ready for occupation and 1,928 are semi-finished, while In Pocharam, 969 flats are ready and 505 semi-finished. TNGOs leaders said that they were ready to purchase all the flats if they are offered for less than Rs 1,200 per sq. ft. We visited the flats and examined the conditions there. They are over seven-years-old. Even for finished flats, we have to shell out a few lakh rupees for renovation as they are lying vacant for a few years. It would be viable only if they are sold for less than Rs 1,200 per sq. ft, said K. Ravinder Reddy, TNGOs Association president. Vijayawada: After his impromptu public meeting in Tirupati last week, Telugu film star and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan has thrown up the question if he is really serious about his next course of action and seeks to emerge as a force to reckon with in Andhra Pradesh. Ironically, Kalyan alone can answer those questions through his actions as promised after September 9. "I am here to question any injustice (to people)" was Kalyan's avowed refrain when he launched Jana Sena in March, 2014. Many opportunities came his way to do that in the last two years but Kalyan limited himself only to "tweeting" occasionally on one or two issues and virtually staying away from making any public appearance, except when farmers in the new capital region hit the streets against "forcible" acquisition of their land. His last tweet was on April 30 wherein he appealed to the Centre to grant special category state status to AP and not let people take to the streets over the issue. Taking everyone by surprise, he conducted a public meeting unannounced in Tirupati last Saturday and criticised the Centre for not granting special status to AP. He also took the ruling TDP to task for "not fighting" against the Centre on the issue. As he remained silent over the months, there had been talk in political circles that the BJP might be luring Kalyan and, possibly, his eldest brother and actor Chiranjeevi into its fold with a larger plan to tame the TDP, winning the goodwill of the Kapu community. Analysts have claimed that Chandrababu Naidu rode back to power in 2014 mainly due to the support from the Kapus and their sub-sects. Kalyan sought to put an end to this speculation, maintaining that he had turned down the offer made by BJP chief Amit Shah to join his party. Kalyan, despite his announcement two years ago, has so far not built the Jana Sena organisation, still remaining the lone warrior, though his fans are presumably his "soldiers-in-arm". When he launched Jana Sena, Kalyan had announced that he would quit the film career after completing a couple of pending projects but later he changed his mind and said he would continue to do the movies as he had no other means of income. Patna: Stating that the party wants Rahul Gandhi to lead an alternative front to challenge Narendra Modi in the general election of 2019, Bihar Congress on Monday said he will be the only prime ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha polls. Every Congressmen and sympathiser of the party believes that Rahul Gandhi is the prime ministerial candidate of 2019 Lok Sabha elections ... He will be the only prime ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha elections," Bihar Congress chief Ashok Choudhary told reporters here. Asked whether the party wants Gandhi to lead an alternative front in 2019, Choudhary, also the state education minister, said, "We certainly want Rahul Gandhi to lead a front comprising leaders like Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and all other leaders having secular views." Choudhary had on Sunday stirred a hornet's nest at a joint press conference of the ruling Grand Alliance by his assertions on Rahul Gandhi which created an embarrassing situation for the allies, specially JD(U). Congress' assertion has virtually put a spanner in JD(U)'s efforts to project Kumar as prime ministerial candidate in 2019. When pointed out that Kumar has been touring various states to expand his party's base and to be considered as the PM candidate, Bihar Congress chief said, "Kumar is undertaking tours of various states but that does not mean that he is doing it to become PM candidate ... He (Kumar) has never said that he is a candidate for PM's post." In reply to a query on why the allies - RJD and JD(U) do not want to talk on the issue, Choudhary said it was because "There is no confusion in Congress while there is utter confusion in third front, fourth front, fifth front." The tone and tenor of the Prime Ministers Independence Day speech, addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15, indicated fairly that the Government of India had made up its mind to take the gloves off in the fight against Pakistan-sponsored separatists in Jammu and Kashmir. Included, in the Prime Ministers address was also an oblique message to the military-jihadi complex in Pakistan; internal interference in the affairs of a neighbouring country was a game two could play, and Pakistans long-running strategy of destabilising Kashmir through local proxies like the Hurriyat, could trigger similar counter-responses from India to administer Pakistan a dose of its own medicine in Balochistan, Gilgit and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In a separate but interlinked context, it is also very clear that it is in Indias interest to support Afghanistan with whatever military aid this country can provide to combat Pakistan-sponsored jihadi organisations attempting to take over that country, while intensifying proactive action against Pakistan-sponsored separatist elements seeking so-called azadi for the Kashmir Valley. In this, the Centre seems to have political support of the Jammu-based BJP component of the state coalition, but not of the Valley-based Kashmiri Peoples Democratic Party element, including a visibly distressed and disturbed chief minister, still desperately seeking a magic formula for a humane healing touch for the boys rioting on the streets of Srinagar, even as pronouncements in support of the jihadi-Pakistan Army nexus emanate at the highest level of the Pakistani political leadership, making it deafeningly clear to India that in the not too distant future, this country must be prepared to tackle the revival of another low-intensity Pakistani offensive in the Kashmir Valley, in a Version.2016 mutant of similar Pakistani offensives earlier. Indeed, an Operation Gibraltar 1965 redux could already be under way inside Srinagar as an urban-centric azadi offensive patterned on the Palestinian intifada, organised and coordinated by Pakistani agents already in residence in the downtown area of the city, supported by separatists of the Hurriyat network. All indicators to this effect are flashing-brainwashed child-soldiers as expendable cannon fodder during street riots after Friday prayers to stretch the envelope of patience of the security forces, and engineer an inflammatory incident to set aflame the incendiary urban jungle of downtown Srinagar, while the schemers of the Hurriyat Conference await the arrival of the human rights activist circus. Meanwhile, media reports seem to indicate that the timetable of an updated Gibraltar redux playbook is already unfolding in Kashmir according to plan so far. In 1965, when the Border Security Force had not yet been created, paramilitary forces were still an unfamiliar entity, and the international borders of Jammu and Kashmir were guarded by armed police battalions from Punjab and Haryana, the then Indian government had reacted to a roughly similar operational scenario by creating a separate V sector headquarters for Srinagar to coordinate and control politico-military internal security within the town. Armed infiltrators from Pakistan had entered Kashmir and planned to link up with home-grown separatists during Id festivities at the Jama Masjid in Srinagar, and declare independence of Kashmir from India, but the lack of a supportive local response, coupled with a vigorous reaction by the Indian Army, led to their capture and elimination. The current phase of intensified disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir too can be said to have commenced similarly with mob violence at the funeral of Burhan Wani, the Gen X icon of militancy, who was killed on July 8 in a clash with a combined operating group of security forces and multiplied exponentially thereafter by the unforgivable error of the state administration in acquiescing to the conduct of a public funeral for the deceased. The tinder for intense anti-India hate demonstrations was lit during the funeral prayers, and blown into a flame by selected crowd manipulators from amongst the militant cadres. The government response to the rioting was based on the cardinal principle of minimum force and in accordance with equally well-established standard operating procedures, but which, depending on circumstances, are also inevitably escalatory, and often turn crowd control operations into violent, high-intensity confrontations, with casualties on both sides. Such operations progress in sequential ascendancy from physical barriers of barbed wire, and verbal warnings on loudhailers to disperse, up the escalation ladder to lathi charges and water cannon (if available, the Israelis have reportedly worked out some interesting variations), teargas (again with promising indigenous variations, which do not seem to have been deployed so far), and ultimately, if none of these are effective, police gunfire, strictly controlled in aimed single shots from rifles initially using rubber bullets, which may not kill, but can severely injure the human anatomy. In the utter confusion of a developing mob situation, the prescription of aimed fire below the knees is very often impracticable, and into this mix, has now entered the pellet gun, a smooth bore, low velocity, pump action shot gun used for crowd control by police forces (as also by bank guards and ATM watchmen) for the precise purpose of avoiding casualties from high-velocity police weapons like rifles. As every shikari knows, shotguns discharge a spreading cloud of pellets of specified dimensions, to sting human bodies rather than penetrate them with grievous injury. This has resulted in severe eye injuries, often to totally innocent people, the political effects of which have negated a well-intentioned experiment. But in the middle of all this, also spare a thought for the unenviable lot of the beleaguered Jammu and Kashmir police. Always the first line of defence in any confrontation, whose task is vital in respect of the essential local intelligence they provide. Their role in the Valley confrontation is utterly thankless, but indeed commendable, and deserves approbation and full support. A Billings man accused of making a series of methamphetamine sales in 2014 admitted federal charges Monday. Appearing before U.S. District Judge Susan Watters, Darrel Duane Baumgartner, 43, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. A plea deal calls for an indictment with other charges to be dismissed at sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan McCarthy said in court records that Baumgartner was dealing meth for about six months beginning in January 2014. Eastern Montana drug task force agents, he said, used a confidential informant to make a series of controlled meth buys from Baumgartner. The deals happened at Baumgartners home and at various Billings businesses and parking lots. Agents got a search warrant on June 12, 2014, for Baumgartners house and the next day, during surveillance, watched him meet with his source of supply at a West End business. Agents approached Baumgartner, and he agreed to give a statement, McCarthy said. Baumgartner admitted to getting meth from his source 10 times and that he paid $2,200 an ounce, McCarthy said. He would receive one to two ounces of meth every two weeks. Officers found two ounces of meth during a search of Baumgartners truck, the prosecutor said. Baumgartner faces a maximum 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Watters set sentencing for Nov. 30 and continued Baumgartners release. Apple on August 25 issued a patch through iOS 9.3.5 update to fix dangerous security flaw in iPhone and iPads. Apple on August 25 issued a patch through iOS 9.3.5 update to fix dangerous security flaw in iPhone and iPads. We were made aware of this vulnerability and immediately fixed it with iOS 9.3.5. We advise all of our customers to always download the latest version of iOS to protect themselves against potential security exploits, said Apple. The flaw came into light, when Ahmed Mansoor, a prominent human right activist in the United Arab Emirates, began receiving text messages from an unknown entity. The messages claimed to contain secret information about torture happening in prisons of UAE, and invited him to click on a web link for further information. However, due to his suspicion, instead of clicking the link he passed the message to researchers at the University of Torontos Citizen Lab for investigation. Had he opened the link, his phone would have become a spy tool without him acknowledging about it. "Once infected, Mansoors phone would have become a digital spy in his pocket, capable of employing his iPhones camera and microphone to snoop on activity in the vicinity of the device, recording his WhatsApp and Viber calls, logging messages sent in mobile chat apps, and tracking his movements," Citizen Lab wrote in a report. Experts at Citizen Labs, with the help of Lookout, a San Francisco-based mobile security company, discovered three dangerous flaws in Apples previous operating system iOS 9.3.4, which could have let intruders to track owners calls, text messages, email, contacts, passwords, and trace whereabouts of the phone users. In response to secure their consumers, within 10 days Apple pushed an over-the-air (OTA) update version 9.3.5, fixing the vulnerabilities found during the research. According to Apples support page, the update mainly fixes the vulnerabilities detected by researchers from Citizen Lab and Lookout, which could be exploited by vicious intruders to spy on dissidents like Ahmed Mansoor or even journalists. Researchers suggested the NSO Group, an Israeli software company that sells software that invisibly tracks a targets mobile phone, was responsible for the intrusion reported by Mansoon. According to the researchers, the NSO group had designed to tools to impersonate those of Red Cross, Facebook, Al Jazeera, CNN, Federal Express, Google and even Pokemon Company to gain trust of its targets. The security flaws were named to be zero-days as Apple didnt know about them and had zero days to fix them. The update is available for iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPod touch (fifth generation) and above models. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. New Jersey (US): A 24-year-old man from New Jersey on Saturday killed a two-year-old toddler after punching him twice in the torso following a fight with his girlfriend, the boys mother. According to a report in Washington Post, 24-year-old Zachary Tricoche and the boys mother had a fight over groceries, following which Tricoche pushed her. Looking at this, the toddler became upset and began to cry. This so enraged Tricoche that he punched the boy twice, flinging him against the wall with the first punch and then rendering him unconscious with the second. After punching the child once, Tricoche demanded that he put up his hands and fight. Then Tricoche hit the child again in his torso. The childs mother called up 911 at 11:30 pm on Saturday and desperately called for help. She told the 911 dispatcher that her toddlers chest was turning colour and my boyfriend is, like, trying to get him to wake up, but did not tell them that Tricoche had assaulted him. He has vomit coming out his nose and mouth. Can you please hurry up, she added. Tricoche then took the phone and received instructions to revive the child with CPR, but it was unsuccessful, said the report. 30 minutes later, the boy was declared dead on arrival at Cooper University Hospital. A medical examiner determined that the childs liver had been crushed due to blunt force trauma which led to internal bleeding. He determined the manner of death to be homicide and Tricoche was soon arrested. A New York Post report stated that Tricoche, who belongs to Pennsauken, New Jersey, is facing murder charges. He remains in Camden County jail on a $1 million cash bail. Tricoche only told the court that he understood the charges and had a public defender, said the reports. Tricoche has a lengthy criminal history that includes a juvenile conviction for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and several adult convictions. According to NJ.com, he was convicted in 2011 of distributing drugs in a school zone, which led him to serve a three-year prison term. In 2014, Tricoche was convicted of loitering to obtain a controlled substance. Gerome DeShields, the child's grandfather was quoted as saying that there was no excuse for a man to attack a child. Pictures taken from the plane and posted online made it appear that part of the engine had blown apart. (Photo: Twitter) New Orleans: A Southwest Airlines flight bound for Orlando, Florida, made an emergency landing Saturday morning due to a major problem with one of its two engines. Flight 3472 from New Orleans diverted the airplane to Pensacola, Florida, after the pilot detected something had gone wrong with an engine, according to a Southweststatement. The jet, a Boeing 737-700, landed in Pensacola around 9:40 a.m. CDT with no apparent injuries to the 99 passengers or five crew members on board, according toSouthwest. Pictures taken from the plane and posted online made it appear that part of the engine had blown apart, but Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz said there was no explosion. He said Southwest will work with investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the cause. It's rare for Southwest or any other major airline to have such serious engine trouble, said Michael Boyd, president of airline consulting firm Boyd International. "It's a one-off, almost unheard of," Boyd said Saturday. "Southwest has an outstanding safety record because it spends a lot of money on maintenance." After making the emergency landing, the plane was taken of service. Southwest said it was trying to find alternative way to get the passengers aboard the flight to their destinations. Washington: ISIS jihadists are rooting for Donald Trump to win the US presidential polls as they believe that he will lead America on a path of self-destruction and his presidency would be a powerful recruiting tool, according to a media report. Even though the Republican presidential candidate has promised to "knock the hell out of" ISIS, the terror group is rooting for him to win the upcoming general election because they believe it will boost their ranks, the Foreign Affairs magazine reported, citing interviews with ISIS supporters, recent defectors and social media analysis. Earlier this month, an ISIS spokesman wrote on the ISIS-affiliated Telegram channel, Nashir, "I ask Allah to deliver America to Trump." An ISIS supporter posted on one of the numerous jihadist "channels" hosted by the Telegram messaging application, "The 'facilitation' of Trump's arrival in the White House must be a priority for jihadists at any cost!" Trump has been campaigning on a promise to eradicate the Islamic State. The 70-year-old business tycoon regularly makes belligerent statements such as , "I would bomb" them and "We have to knock the hell out of them". He has said that he would send up to 30,000 more US troops to fight ISIS and refuses to rule out the possibility of using nuclear weapons against the group. However, jihadists are rooting for a Trump presidency because they believe that he will lead the US on a path to self-destruction, the magazine said in its report. Analysis of ISIS chatters on social media and conversations with 12 current and former supporters of the group do indicate that ISIS strongly prefers Trump over the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, it said. Trump is "the perfect enemy", Tarek, a former ISIS fighter who recently switched sides to one of its Salafi rivals, Ahrar al-Sham, was quoted as saying. Another ISIS defector, Samer, said when he was fighting for the group in Deir ez-Zor, "we were happy when Trump said bad things about Muslims because he makes it very clear that there are two teams in this battle: the Islamic team and the anti-Islamic team." When asked why Clinton has not yet been shown in an ISIS video, a recent defector, Adel, was quoted as sayung that it is because "she never says anything bad about Muslims". Indeed, it is far more difficult for ISIS to vilify Clinton, who routinely insists that "Islam is not our adversary" and "Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people". ISIS supporters believe that Trump would be an unstable and irrational leader whose impulsive decision-making would weaken the United States, the report said. Some ISIS supporters believe that Trump would lead the US and its Western allies into the apocalyptic clash they have been waiting for, it said. Julios relatives in Iztapalapa borough revealed that he was in a relationship with a 24-year-old woman, and he continued the relationship despite their disapproval over age difference. (Photo: file) Mexico: A 17-year-old boy died after a blood clot created by a love bite in his neck, travelled to his brain, causing a stroke. According to reports, the boy, Julio Macias Gonzalez, was in his home when he was seized by a string of convulsions. Though relatives rushed him to the hospital, doctors could not save Julio. They later attributed the cause of death to the hickey. Julios relatives in Iztapalapa borough revealed that he was in a relationship with a 24-year-old woman, and he continued the relationship despite their disapproval over age difference. The young woman could not be reached following the incident. Last year, a 24-year-old woman in New Zealand was admitted to the hospital after a stroke left her partially paralyzed. On subsequent observation, the doctors found a love bite on the right side of her neck, which had left a bruise. The clot dissolved away after doctors gave her anti-coagulation medicines. The incident took place at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio, when Emile went into labor at the university's bathroom. (Photo: Muskingum County Sheriff's Office) New Concord, Ohio: A 21-year-old student was arrested on the charges of murdering her newborn by disposing the baby in the dustbin of the university she studied in. According to a report in the Mirror, the accused identified as Emile Weaver, had hid her unwanted pregnancy from her family and friends after she tested positive for it. The incident took place at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio, when Emile went into labor at the university's bathroom. She is believed to have used a knife to cut the umbilical cord. After getting rid of the baby, Emile confided in her roommate and told her that she had a miscarriage. When her mother learnt about the matter, she took Emile to a hospital. Emile told the doctors that she suffered from stomach cramps when she went to the bathroom. Later, she saw a four-inch long tissue on the floor that 'appeared like a baby'. However, doctors refused to believe her story and said that the corpse was of a fully formed baby with the umbilical cord properly cut. Medics also said that the baby was alive when it was dumped in the bin and might have died of asphyxiation. When questioned by police, Emile had a different story to narrate. She said that she delivered the baby on the toilet and when she left the baby on the floor, it did not move. That's when she wrapped it up and threw it in the dustbin, thinking that it must be dead. After Emile was arrested, her friends told investigators that she would often wear baggy clothes to lectures or hold pillows and soft toys in front of her stomach to hide her baby bump. Although they doubted that she was pregnant, she would always deny. Terming her actions 'unforgivable', court set Emile's bail at 750,000. Colombo: Hackers tampered with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's official website www.president.gov.lk on two consecutive days. The first attack occurred on Thursday evening, when hackers hijacked the site and posted a message in Sinhala, reports the Lanka Page. The message, which was posted under the name "The Sri Lankan Youth" made several demands to the government, including a call 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. 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. The crime is being probed by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives specializing in cybercrime after an official complaint was lodged. The President's 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. Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT), the country?s 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. The protesters shouted slogans in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the issue recently. London: Dozens of UK-based Baloch and Sindhi protesters gathered outside the Chinese embassy in London on Monday and held a protest against Pakistan and China over the two countries' USD 46 billion economic corridor and "gross human rights violations". The protest in London follows a similar demonstration in Leipzig, Germany, last week demanding Pakistan to cease plans for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Balochistan and against what the protesters describe as "gross human rights violations" in the region. "Pakistan wants to forcefully impose the CPEC on Balochistan. We are being shown as a minority community and being displaced from our land," said a protester, who was part of the Baloch Students and Youth Association (BSYA). Other groups involved in the protest included Baloch Human Rights Council UK (BHRC-UK) and the World Sindhi Congress and they chose the Chinese embassy with the aim of raising wider international support for their cause. "Pakistan's security agencies have intensified their operations in Balochistan and Sindh to brutally implement the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), ruthlessly committing gross human rights violations while doing so," BHRC-UK said in statement. "The Baloch ethnic population perceives the corridor project as a plan to convert them into a minority in their own homeland, and have openly opposed it on every level...Balochs and Sindhis firmly believe that CPEC will further intensify and strengthen their subjugation," it said. The protesters waved placards reading 'Hands off Balochistan' and 'Balochistan Zindabad, Pakistan Murdabad' and shouted slogans in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the issue recently. In the video, five hostages are shown dressed in familiar orange jumpsuits seen in previous ISIS propaganda videos. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab) London: Two days after Islamic State terrorists released a horrific video showing five minor boys shooting prisoners in Syria, a Briton has identified one of them as his son he had with Jihadi bride Sally Jones. According to a report in the Daily Mail, the man said that his wife Sally Jones had fled to Syria to join Islamic State and took their son Jo Jo with her, who must have radicalised him later into executing ISIS prisoners. Read: ISIS video shows minor British jihadi shooting Syrian prisoner in the head Jones was declared as the world's most wanted terrorist by United Nations after she fled to Syria in 2013 with her 10-year-old son, Jo Jo. "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," 13-year-old Jo Jo's father was quoted as saying. In the video released by ISIS, Jo Jo can be heard referred to as 'Abdullah al-Britani'. Al-Britani is a term often used for terrorists hailing from Britain. The video also shows five hostages, dressed in orange jumpsuits, kneeling on the ground as child terrorists stand behind them with guns in their hands. The four other boys in the footage, apart from Jo Jo, are captioned as being Tunisian, Kurdish, Egyptian and Uzbekistani in origin. ISIS have often used children in their propaganda videos in which the militant group boasts about preparing the next generation of fighters. John F Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline were travelling in an open-top limousine when he was shot in the head. London: President John F Kennedy was assassinated in an inside job by a member of his own security team, according to a deathbed confession made to director Oliver Stone who made the acclaimed film JFK. A man who claimed to have been a former member of the presidential security team contacted Stone after he had made the film, the Daily Mail reported. The man was dying of cancer and wanted to share a secret that he had until then only told his son. Somebody from his own team had fired on the President, the man, who only gave his code name Ron said. There have been numerous conspiracy theories since Kennedy was killed in November 1963 while he was travelling in an open limousine through Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald was accused of shooting president Kennedy from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository. Oswald was shot dead two days later by a local nightclub owner with connections to the criminal underworld. The assassinated president was killed by two rifle bullets. There have been suggestions that at least one of the fatal shots was fired from a nearby grassy knoll. Stone, naturally, was skeptical about Rons claims. However, Stone, who himself is a former marine in Vietnam, was soon convinced after the man provided intricate details within an account that he describes as plausible and very authentic. Stone says: He said he didnt want money or recognition. He said something like, I want you to know this is from my conscience. He adds: The scenario he laid out was very practical. Its the way I would do it, if (I) were going to do something like that. And his memory of it was so technical, filled with military jargon, details about radio communications right after the shots. Stone decided to reveal the dying man's confession to Matt Zoller Seitz, the author of a forthcoming book on Stone, the Oscar-winning screenwriter and director. Asked why Stone waited until now, Seitz says: I think it was because he trusted me, and also because both the father and the son have been dead for a while. Nobody has ever heard this story. Im the first person. In the older days of university libraries, administrators would strive to collect as much material as possible for students, according to outgoing MSU Billings Library Director Brent Roberts. Now with most human knowledge available on a digital landscape, the librarian's role has morphed into that of a curator. Roberts said that it's about selecting the right resources for the institution. "Now we strive to make collection an active thing," he said. "If people aren't using it, then we don't like it." Roberts helped shape the MSUB library during a period of transition, competing against the growing accessibility of online resources. He joined the staff in 2000 and became director in 2010. On Sept. 2, Roberts will work his final day at the university and look toward a new position in Virginia, where he will become dean of the Greenwood Library at Longwood University. As digital offerings grew prevalent outside of the library, Roberts said that his staff worked to bolster its resources within. That meant making library material available 24 hours per day, increasing connectivity in the building and making space for student work. "Especially since we've tailored it to the group interactions that's used more and more in higher education today," he said. Selecting a cache of streaming videos has been another priority, he said. It's become more useful in coursework to have a librarian obtain well-sourced video. Occasionally, he added, it took some wheeling and dealing to get the right collection. Roberts also made space for multilingual offerings. Work began in 2011 on an international section of the library, which now holds selections for the school's foreign language courses and for its international students. And that's another role Roberts identified for the library: To foster a university culture for MSUB. Student art pieces and staff photography adorn the walls of the building. For years, the library has hosted a popular lecture series on subjects ranging from women's history to food culture. There were food nights and open houses, as well as Roberts' own "vat of bacon" that would appear at an annual event. This year, exercise bikes have appeared on the library floor. All of those things made the library what it is today, and Roberts said that use has increased over the years. "We try to serve the students and provide a space holistically," he said. While it's up to the office of university Provost Robert Hoar to select Roberts' permanent successor, the interim director hopes to keep the momentum going. Megan Thomas was the reference and assessment librarian at MSUB, and she will assume the title of interim director. She said that a big item on the library's plate is the creation of the TRAILS system, or Treasure State Academic Information and Library Services. The TRAILS system will collect the resources of 21 private, public and tribal colleges and universities and place them under one access portal. Thomas said that the consortium hopes to get it running in December. Thomas said that she isn't seeking the permanent position at this time, but she's looking forward to putting her experience to use after Roberts leaves. "I think Brent has been integral in getting us going on the (TRAILS) system," she said. "Really, it's all about continuing that work." There was no suggestion that the seminary raided Saturday had links to extremism. (Representational photo: AFP) Quetta, Pakistan: Pakistani police raided a madrassa in the restive southwestern city of Quetta and detained 106 illegal Afghan students, officials said Monday, as the government stepped up a campaign to rein in rogue religious schools. The detentions were made Saturday, and the students, aged between 14 to 18 years -- who had no documents giving them permission to be in the country-- will eventually be deported to Afghanistan, senior police official Nadeem Hussain said. "We have sealed the madrassa as it did not have any registration documents," he said. Akbar Harifal, the Home Secretary for Balochistan province, of which Quetta is the capital, confirmed the raid and detentions. Pakistan had vowed to keep a closer eye on its 13,000 Islamic seminaries, or madrassas, as part of a "National Action Plan" after the country's deadliest extremist attack, a Taliban assault on a school that left more than 150 people dead in December 2014. With little oversight of what was being taught to the hundreds of thousands of children enrolled in the country's madrassas, fears intensified after the 2014 attack that some religious schools were breeding grounds for intolerance -- or even extremism. There was no suggestion that the seminary raided Saturday had links to extremism. Pakistan is home to 1.5 million registered and about as many undocumented Afghan refugees, with growing insecurity in Afghanistan impeding voluntary return programmes. Balochistan, the country's biggest and poorest province, has been plagued for more than a decade by a separatist insurgency and sectarian killings. The arrest was made following a complaint by the presidential media division, police said. Colombo: A 17-year-old schoolboy from Sri Lanka's central provincial town of Kadugannawa was today arrested on charges that he had hacked into President Maithripala Sirisena's official website. The arrest was made following a complaint by the presidential media division, police said. The website was hacked two days in a row, on Thursday and Friday. The websitewentoffline after the second attack. Soon after the incident, the CID was tasked with carrying out the investigation with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team, local media reported. Presidential media officials said the first attack occurred on Thursday evening, when hackers attacked the site and posted a message in Sinhala. In the message, the group, who called themselves the 'Sri Lankan Youth', requested Sirisena to reconsider the decision to hold the GCE Advanced Level Examination in April as it coincides with the Sinhala and Hindu New Year. They urged the government to be more careful about cyber security and advised the president to hold a snap 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. Lahore: Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed led Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD) has set up various new fronts and established camps all over Pakistan to collect donations and sacrificial animals in the name of helping Kashmiris in India. Tehreek-i-Azadi-i-Kashmir or Movement for Kashmir's Liberation (MKL), bears the name and pictures of Saeed in its banners and has set up camps in Lahore as well as various other cities seeking donations to help the Kashmiri people. Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), a sister organisation of the JuD, has also set up camps across the country to collect donations for supporting the 'Kashmiri struggle for freedom'. Besides the pictures of Saeed, the MKL banners and posters also display photos of apparently dead and injured Kashmiris, with slogans urging the public to donate for the Kashmiris' struggle against Indian forces. "A sum of Rs 5,000 is needed for a family's dry ration and Rs 20,000 for medical treatment of an injured person," read one of the banner. The JuD under the banner of MKL and FIF also offer slaughter and meat handling services to those sacrificing animals on Eid-ul Azha next month. One of its banner seeks Rs 63,000 for the sacrifice of an ox and Rs 9,000 for a share in group sacrifice of an ox, Rs 16,000 for the sacrifice of a goat and Rs 13,000 for a share in group sacrifice of a camel. They say the meat collected in this way will be distributed among needy families in Kashmir, Palestine, Myanmar, Syria and in Tharparkar and Peshawar in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Lahore police senior officer Haider Ashraf said police have removed two camps in the city set up by the JuD and the FIF for collection of donations and funds for sacrificial animals. "Police have been asked to remove all other donation camps of JuD and FIF in the city as both organisations are on the government's militant watchlist," he said. Dhaka: One of the three militants killed by Bangladeshi security forces on Saturday in connection with July's Dhaka cafe attack came from a posh area of the city like some of the attackers and went to a prestigious foreign university, police said on Sunday. Towsif Hossain was from Dhaka's leafy Dhanmondi neighbourhood and was missing since February. Like Nibras Islam, one of the five young and affluent cafe attackers who was killed after a 12-hour siege on July 2, Hossain had also attended the Kuala Lumpur campus of Australia's prestigious Monash University, the head of the Dhaka police counterterrorism unit told reporters. The other militant killed on Saturday morning was Fazle Rabbi from the Jessore district northwest of Dhaka, who was missing from last April, counter-terrorism head Monirul Islam said. Rabbi's family has fled, police said. The cafe attack was claimed by Islamic State and killed 22 people, mostly foreigners. It alarmed security and political experts because of the profile of the perpetrators: educated youths from privileged backgrounds who had turned to radical Islamism only recently. Both Hossain and Rabbi were around 25, police said. Malaysian police said last month that at least two of the militants behind the cafe attack had attended Monash, although they did not name them. The militants singled out non-Muslims and foreigners in the attack, killing Italians, Japanese, an American and an Indian. The identity of Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, a 30-year-old Bangladeshi-born Canadian citizen suspected to be the mastermind of the cafe attack, was confirmed on Saturday itself. The militants were cornered on Saturday in a hideout on the outskirts of Dhaka, and having refused to surrender, were killed in the ensuing gun battle. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the police operation would uphold confidence and the image of her country, and came ahead of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Dhaka on Monday. The government has denied the involvement of Islamic State in the attack and instead blamed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which has pledged allegiance to the group active in Syria and Iraq, for organising the assault that has weighed on the poor South Asian economy's $28 billion garments export industry. Analysts say Islamic State in April identified Chowdhury as its national commander in Bangladesh. Dhaka: There is "evidence" to show that the ISIS is in contact with militants in Bangladesh, US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday said on his first visit to the Muslim-majority country witnessing a wave of brutal attacks on minorities and secular activists, in a major blow to the government's stance. "There is evidence that ISIL in Iraq and Syria has contacts with about eight different entities around the world and one of them is in South Asia," Kerry said. "They are connected to some degree with some of the operatives here and we made that very clear in our conversation. There was no argument about it," he said after talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and his Bangladeshi counterpart A H Mahmood Ali. Hasina's administration has consistently denied that ISIS has gained a foothold in the country and Kerry's remarks are a major blow to that stance. Kerry conveyed the US' interest to work closely with intelligence agencies of Bangladesh to fight terrorism and said that "we need to exchange information to combat terrorism", Hasina's press secretary Ihsanul Karim told a media briefing. Dhaka: US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Bangladesh on Monday to discuss security cooperation after a series of killings by Islamist militants, as well as economic development and human rights. Kerry will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, opposition and civic leaders during the one-day visit, his first to Bangladesh as secretary of state. While security cooperation between the United States and Bangladesh is not new, the Bangladeshi government has insisted the latest attacks, including the recent killings at a cafe that targeted non-Muslims and foreigners, are the work of homegrown groups. Washington believes the killings carry the hallmarks of Islamic State and al Qaeda, and worries that such attacks could drive away investment in a country fighting widespread poverty. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the July 1 attack on the cafe in the capital Dhaka in which 22 people were killed, mostly non-Muslims and foreigners, including one American. It was the worst militant attack in the country's history. Bangladesh police believe that Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, was involved in organising that attack. On Saturday, security forces killed three Islamist militants, including a Bangladeshi-born Canadian citizen called Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury who was accused of masterminding the assault on cafe. "In the past several months there has been an intensification of the dialogue" on security, a senior State Department official said ahead of the visit. "We are deepening that partnership and engaging with both civilian law enforcement bodies and with the military," the official added. Michael Kugelman of The Wilson Center, a Washington-based think tank, said the US administration has not paid enough attention to the growing terror threats in Bangladesh, which is now impacting Americans. "It has arguably taken its eye off the ball even as this threat has begun to directly affect Americans," he said. "One of Kerry's core intentions in Dhaka will simply be to emphasize the importance that the US accords to security problems in Bangladesh, and Washington's strong desire to help the government there address them," he added. Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday upheld verdicts and death sentences in the cases of 16 civilians convicted of terrorism-related offences by military courts, the first time the highest court has ruled on the legality of cases tried by the military. A five-member bench ruled that the appellants had not proved the military violated their constitutional rights or failed to follow procedure, in a blow to some activists who contend the courts routinely violate people's rights. Pakistan's government empowered military courts to try civilian terrorism suspects in January 2015, following an attack by Pakistani Taliban militants on a school in Peshawar that killed more than 130 pupils. The military has so far convicted 104 civilians in the secret tribunals. Of those, 100 have been sentenced to death, and four to life imprisonment. All but six are said by the military to have confessed. Those whose appeals were dismissed on Monday included nine members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and two al-Qaeda members, according to Pakistan's military. Two convicts are said to have been involved in the Peshawar school killings. Pakistan has been battling the TTP, an umbrella organisation of militant groups fighting to impose strict Islamic law, and its allies including al-Qaeda since 2007. Lawyers for all 16 convicts contended their clients had been tried in secret, without access to legal counsel of their choice, and that their confessions had been recorded illegally. They also claimed they were denied access to military court records when preparing their appeals. The complaints echoed those made by lawyers and families of those convicted by the courts to Reuters. Two families and one lawyer said they had been threatened after filing appeals. Several told Reuters that confessions were "coerced" by the military. Sajid Ilyas Bhatti, the deputy attorney general representing the government, denied the appellants' claims, saying they had been accorded their rights. He argued that military court proceedings were "immune from challenge on the ground of any alleged violation of the fundamental rights". In its 182-page judgment, the court concluded that the appellants failed to prove wrongdoing on the part of the military authorities. Part of Los Angeles International Airport was briefly closed today after loud noises were heard that sounded like gunfire, possibly caused by a man dressed in a black Zorro outfit who was later detained by police. Passengers who fled in panic after hearing the noises slowly filtered back to the busy airport, as the departure and arrival areas of the central terminal that were closed for a police sweep were re-opened. "Report of shooting at LAX proven to be LOUD NOISES only," Los Angeles Police Department chief spokesman Andy Neiman wrote on Twitter. "No Shots Fired No Injuries investigation continues to locate source," he added. However an individual "in Zorro costume has been detained" by airport police, airport authorities wrote on Twitter. It was not immediately known what role the individual played in the incident. The Los Angeles airport, known as LAX, is the seventh busiest airport worldwide in terms of traffic. Los Angeles itself is the second most populous city in the United States. Following the reports of an active shooter, passengers "in several LAX terminals self-evacuated onto the tarmac and rushed through federal security screening without being properly screened," airport public relations director Nancy Suey Castles said after the terminal was cleared. Many passengers however were "being screened by explosive detection K-9 units" before being allowed to enter the terminals for re-screening, she said, adding that reports "of an active shooter at LAX were unfounded." The controversial remark of UP Minister Azam Khan that the Bulanshahr gangrape case was a "political conspiracy" today drew sharp reaction from the Supreme Court, which stayed CBI probe in the sensational case and asked whether the State should stop people holding high offices from making such comments on heinous crimes. While staying the Allahabad High Court decision ordering CBI probe, a bench of justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan noted the apprehensions of the victims' family that there was no possibility of a "fair investigation" in Uttar Pradesh as a Minister has allegedly made a such a statement. "In the meantime, as an interim measure, it is directed that there shall be stay of the (CBI) investigation pertaining to the FIR no. 0838 dated July 30, 2016," the court said. The bench also sought responses from Khan, who holds several key portfolios including Urban Development, and the Akhilesh Yadav government on the plea seeking shifting of probe and trial in the case out of Uttar Pradesh. Framing legal questions for adjudication, it said "when a victim files an FIR alleging rape, gangrape or murder or such other heinous offences against another person or a group of persons, whether any individual, holding a public office or a person in authority or in charge of governance, should be allowed to comment on the crime stating that 'it is an outcome of political controversy' moreso, when as an individual, he has nothing to do with the offences in question". The brutal incident had occured on the night of July 29 when a group of highway robbers stopped the car of a Noida- based family and sexually assaulted the woman and her daughter after dragging them out of the vehicle at gun-point. The bench appointed jurist F S Nariman as amicus curiae (friend of the court), as it framed some questions with regard to freedom of speech and expression and probable impact of statements of those holding high offices on free and fair probe in heinous cases like this. The bench also said it would examine whether such statements are covered under freedom of speech and expression of an individual. It said the statements, which were not given for self protection, comply with the concept of "constitutional sensitivities". The plea will now be taken up after three weeks. The man, whose wife and daughter were gangraped last month on a highway in Bulandshahr, had on August 13 moved the apex court seeking transfer of the case to Delhi, besides lodging of an FIR against Khan as well as several policemen. The Allahabad High Court had ordered CBI probe into the incident besides deciding to monitor the investigation. In his plea filed in the apex court, the victim's father sought an order for transferring the trial of the case to Delhi "in the interest of justice". Unhappy with the UP police, the petitioner said the probe should be conducted by "some other competent agency". Referring to Khan's alleged controversial remark that there was a "political conspiracy" in gangrape, the plea said an FIR be registered against him as his statement "substantially outrages" the "modesty" of the victims and their family. The plea sought "appropriate damages" for the victims besides a direction that the state and others, including the DGP, be stopped from infringing on the fundamental right to life of the victims. Referring to Khan's alleged controversial remark that there was a "political conspiracy" in gangrape, the plea said an FIR be registered against him as his statement "substantially outrages" the "modesty" of the victims and their family. The bench, while framing another question, said whether the state, which is "the protector of citizens", should allow these comments which can have an effect or "may create distrust" with regard to fair investigation in such cases. A new memorial trail has been dedicated to a Sidney school teacher who was abducted and killed in 2012. Sherry Arnold Fitness Trail signs went up earlier this spring to honor the local school teacher. Two signs bearing her name sit at either end of the trail, which runs from the northwest side of town to the southeast. The larger trail project has been ongoing for two decades. "The city and county started this project in 1996," said Sidney Public Works Director Jeff Hintz. "There's been five phases. This will be the sixth phase." He said the city recently secured a grant to add another 1,200 feet to the paved trail. Its pretty slow-going," he said. "We just dont get the funding to go very far. Its only about three miles long, and its taken us 20 years to get here. The city officially dedicated the trail to Arnold in 2014 and finished the signs last fall, Hintz said. They went up this spring in memory of the teacher, whose grisly death brought a spotlight to the northeast Montana town. Media swarmed the area in 2012 as the details of Arnold's death became public. During her morning run, two men with plans to rape a random woman abducted her. Her body was found months later near Williston, N.D. Her killer, Michael Keith Spell, was sentenced to 100 years in prison. Spell's co-defendant, Lester Van Waters Jr., got 80 years. While the men were still going through the court process, Sidney residents opted to dedicate the trail to Arnold. It was just one of many memorials in the grieving town. Delhi PWD Minister Satyendar Jain met Jain monk Tarun Sagar at Chandigarh today in the wake of a controversy over music composer and AAP supporter Vishal Dadlani's Twitter remark criticising the monk's address to Haryana Assembly. The meeting took place this morning even as a group of Jain community members staged a protest outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in the national capital, demanding immediate arrest of Dadlani. "I met Tarun Sagar Maharaj and talked about the controversy that arose two days ago. He said that he was not affected by it and that he has forgiven those who inadvertently did so," the Delhi minister said. Jain said efforts were on to politicise the whole issue and that the matter should be put to rest as the monk has forgiven the guilty. "I feel some people are doing politics over it, the issue should be ended now. (Congress man) Tehsin Poonawala who commented against Maharaj-ji has not even apologised and none of his party's leaders, including Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi, has expressed regret over it. The mater should be kept away from politics," he said. Jain said he and Kejriwal had earlier sought forgiveness for Dadlani's tweets. "I also carried Arvind Kejriwal's message that he felt sad for what was said about him to which Maharaji-ji said that he has already forgiven those who inadvertently did so," he said. Jain also defended Dadlani, saying that he realised his mistake and was deeply hurt over the whole issue and repeatedly sought forgiveness for his act. "Vishal realised that he committed a mistake and was deeply hurt. He expressed apologies many times. It was not a matter of difference of opinion it was about a word that he unknowingly used," Jain said, rejecting suggestion that his visit was a damage control exercise by AAP. Stung by criticism from several quarters, including Kejriwal, over his sarcastic tweet on the Jain monk's address to the Haryana Assembly, Dadlani had yesterday announced quitting "all active political work/affiliation". Dadlani deleted the Saturday tweet and tendered an apology, saying he "made a mistake by offending the peaceful Jain community". He also apologised to the Jain monk on Twitter. The Haryana government had invited the Jain monk to deliver a lecture 'Kadve Vachan' in the Assembly on Friday. Asked about a similar invite to the monk to address the Delhi Assembly, Jain said he was not aware about any such programme and that a decision on such an event could be taken by the Assembly Speaker only. A suicide car bomb attack on an army training camp in Yemen's second city of Aden killed at least 60 people today, medical sources said. A security official said the attacker drove his vehicle into a gathering of new recruits at the camp in northern Aden. The assault killed 60 people and wounded 29 others, medical sources from the three hospitals where the victims were taken told AFP. Security officials had provided an earlier toll of 11 dead. The port city, the temporary base of Yemen's Gulf-backed government, has seen a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces. Attacks in Aden are often claimed by jihadists from either Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, which have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in southern and southeastern regions. But no group claimed immediate responsibility for today's attack. Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in Aden over the past two months to as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from jihadists. Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition entered Abyan's provincial capital Zinjibar. Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in key Al-Qaeda stronghold, Al-Mahfid, a town which lies further east, security sources said. The militants are still present in areas surrounding the recaptured towns and control large parts of the neighbouring Shabwa province, the sources say. The Arab coalition which backs the Yemeni government against Iran-backed rebels has also been providing troops with air cover throughout their war against the jihadists. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March last year and has helped government troops push the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces. But authorities have been struggling to secure these provinces. More than 6,600 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since March 2015 and more than 80 percent of the population has been left in need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN. The 181 womens helpline, handed over to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) in February this year, has received 2.14 lakh calls in the last six months. A huge percentage of calls received pertain to cases of domestic violence. The complaints are regularly received for obscene calls, quarrels and disputes, sexual assault, dowry violence, child sexual assault, health related concerns, stalking, rescue operation, missing and kidnapping. The helpline was earlier run by the Delhi governments Women and Child Development Department and was handed over to DCW on February 11, 2016. According to DCW officials, where the mobile helpline used to get 5-10 calls per day before 2016, after the increase in resources, the helpline is receiving 40-50 calls per day on an average. There were 14 operators when DCW took over the Women in Distress helpline. DCW was shocked to note that a huge number of calls were being abandoned at the time. To eliminate the abandoned calls and ensure that each call is being attended, the number of callers has been increased to 28. This has led to the numbers of abandoned calls dropping immensely, said a DCW official. Trained operators listen to the problems of the complainants and counsel them accordingly. Also, a significant number of calls are received wherein the callers seek advice and information on schemes of government. Based on the urgency and requirements explained by the caller, Police and DCW Mahila Helpline (MHL) counsellors are sent to the victim or complainant. The DCW was in a middle of a controversy after its former chairperson and Congress leader Barkha Singh complained to the Anti Corruption Bureau that its current chief Swati Maliwal, practises "nepotism and favouritism" in appointments. Maliwal had rubbished the allegations saying the current staff is needed in her office considering the number of cases the womens panel handles. Maliwal, along with the Member In-charge Promila Gupta, recently visited the CATS control room and has requested Health Minister Satyendar Jain to integrate 181 with CATS service which has a state of the art software and infrastructure. That ways, without much additional costs to the exchequer the 181 helplines software and infrastructure would be upgraded significantly, the official said. Dozens of UK-based Baloch and Sindhi protesters gathered outside the Chinese embassy here today and held a protest against Pakistan and China over the two countries' USD 46 billion economic corridor and "gross human rights violations". The protest in London follows a similar demonstration in Leipzig, Germany, last week demanding Pakistan to cease plans for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Balochistan and against what the protesters describe as "gross human rights violations" in the region. "Pakistan wants to forcefully impose the CPEC on Balochistan. We are being shown as a minority community and being displaced from our land," said a protester, who was part of the Baloch Students and Youth Association (BSYA). Other groups involved in the protest included Baloch Human Rights Council UK (BHRC-UK) and the World Sindhi Congress and they chose the Chinese embassy with the aim of raising wider international support for their cause. "Pakistan's security agencies have intensified their operations in Balochistan and Sindh to brutally implement the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), ruthlessly committing gross human rights violations while doing so," BHRC-UK said in statement. "The Baloch ethnic population perceives the corridor project as a plan to convert them into a minority in their own homeland, and have openly opposed it on every level...Balochs and Sindhis firmly believe that CPEC will further intensify and strengthen their subjugation," it said. The protesters waved placards reading 'Hands off Balochistan' and 'Balochistan Zindabad, Pakistan Murdabad' and shouted slogans in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the issue recently. As Myanmar sets out on a new path after decades of military rule, India today promised whole-hearted support to it in "every step" of its journey as the two countries resolved to deepen ties and actively cooperate to combat terrorism and insurgent activities in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive talks with Myanmarese President U Htin Kyaw, in first top level engagement with the new government of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, and conveyed India's full support to Myanmar's internal peace process. The two sides inked four MoUs to boost cooperation in areas of connectivity, medicine and renewable energy, besides resolving to deepen ties in a range of other sectors, including agriculture, banking and power. Reading out a statement to media, Modi later said both sides recognised that each other's security interests are closely aligned and that both countries agreed to work together to combat terrorism and insurgent activities in the region. "We recognised that our security interests are closely aligned. And, we agreed on the need to remain sensitive to each other's strategic interests and concerns. "To this end, President and I agreed to work together for the safety and security of our people. And, actively cooperate to combat the common challenges of terrorism and insurgent activity in our region," Modi said, with Htin Kyaw by his side. Myanmar, considered one of India's strategic neighbours, shares a 1,640 km long border with a number of North Eastern states including militancy-infested Nagaland and Manipur. India has been raising with Myanmar the issue of several North East militant outfits having training camps in that country. Referring to new Myanmarese government's agenda of ushering a all round growth and development in the country, Modi said, "Let me assure you that at every step of the way 1.25 billion people of India will stand by you- Both as partners and as friends." Reassuring India's support to Myanmar, Modi said India wants to take the relationship to "new heights", adding "A bright future for Myanmar is not just your objective. It is also our aspiration." The Prime Minister said both sides have also agreed to work towards a long-term and a mutually beneficial arrangement for trade in pulses. Calling Myanmar a "bridge" that connects India with South East Asia, Modi said "our discussions today have enabled us to evolve a road map and an action agenda for our cooperation." The Myanmarese President on his part said his government wants to strengthen ties with India. China has been increasing its footprint in Myanmar and making huge investments in several major projects. Prime Minister Modi said two agreements signed today will facilitate the construction and upgrading of 69 bridges and the Kalewa-Yargi road section of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway project. It is Htin Kyaw's first visit abroad after assuming charge of the top office and Modi told him that India was deeply honoured that he has chosen India for his first State visit abroad. "Buddhist principles of 'metta' or loving kindness and 'Sarva Pantha Sambhava' (equality of all religions) define our ways of life," said Modi, while complimenting maturity of Myanmar's leadership and commitment of its people to democracy. Modi said he has also conveyed to the President India's full support to the peace process initiative under the '21st Century Panglong Conference'. Talking about intensity of bilateral ties, Modi said its extent and depth are shaped by a robust development cooperation partnership, which has a strong "people first" philosophy. "India's nearly 2 billion dollar development assistance is touching the lives of the common man of Myanmar. Our engagement is supporting projects in connectivity, infrastructure, capacity building education, healthcare and many other sectors," he said. Giving example of India's assistance, he talked about the Kaladan project and said its port and waterway segment were nearing completion later this year. "In April this year, we took the small step of supplying power to Tamu in Myanmar. I have told the President that we are willing to substantially scale up our supply of power," the PM said. Talking about cultural ties, he said it is a "key centrality" in the foundation of the ties. "I am happy that our partnership is restoring Ananda temple in Bagan in Myanmar. "We are also ready to restore other historic monuments and pagodas, which were damaged in the earthquake which hit Myanmar just last week," he said. China's 3rd-generation surface- to-air missile system is combat-ready as the PLA prepares for a major upgrade in the range of missiles to counter deployment of sophisticated US THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea which Beijing views as a major security threat. The new surface-to-air missile system will boost the attack ability of the military, a Chinese air force official said. The People's Liberation Army Air Force will use the home-developed, ground-based air defence and anti-missile system, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted Air Force spokesman Shen Jinke as saying. "The system can cover from short-to long range and strike low- to high altitude targets," Shen said. "Air defence and anti-missile systems are critical parts of the air force's strategic capability," Shen said. "The system consists of new missiles and launching systems. The air force is transforming from territorial air defence to being capable of both attack and defence," he said. "We will fully upgrade our strategic early warning, air strike, anti-aircraft and anti-missile, information countermeasure, air landing, strategic aerial delivery and comprehensive support," he said. His remarks follow China's repeated protests against South Korea's decision to deploy a US-developed anti-missile system, which Beijing says poses a serious threat to the nation's security. South Korea says the shield is needed to protect against North Korea's provocative nuclear weapons programme. The Chinese defence official said the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, (THAAD) anti-missile system missile battery has a radar detection range of 1,000-2,000km and minimal firing range of 40km. Given the geographical environment on the Korean Peninsula, the US and ROK's claim that the deployment is to "deal with nuclear threat from DPRK" without "targeting any third country" is too lame and hypocritical, the Chinese Defence Ministry said elaborating on why China opposed to the deployment of the THAAD missile systems. Earlier this month, Chinese Aero space officials said China's next-generation cruise missiles will be developed based on a modular design, allowing them to be tailor-made for specific combat situations with high level of artificial intelligence. Embattled middleman in the VVIP chopper scam Christian James Michel has written to CBI, saying he is willing to meet with Indian investigators in Dubai and has sought the withdrawal of Interpol Red Corner Notice against him in case the meeting takes place. In the letter to CBI on August 25, the English law firm representing him, said Michel is ready for a meeting at the Indian consulate in Dubai too. Claiming to be innocent, he said he might have some information which could enable the Indian authorities to progress with their probe into the scandal. Michel, against whom there exists a non-bailable warrant, said he is reluctant to come to India for the proposed questioning as he fears that "a long period of time might elapse", between his questioning here and withdrawal of criminal charges or conclusion of criminal trial, during which he will be detained against his wish. "Michel vigorously denies having been involved in any wrongdoing relating to this matter -- and in particular, we are instructed that he denies making or facilitating any corrupt payments to inducements relating to this matter," the letter read. The British national has also claimed that he has not received any communication from the Indian authority regarding the charge sheet against him in court and the issuance of non- bailable warrant. Subject to certain conditions, Michel has offered to return to India not less than 7 days before the scheduled start of any criminal trial against him and attend every court hearing which he might be required to attend "until his innocence or guilt has been established". The conditions for the same are that within two days of the meeting with investigators in Dubai or through video conference, they shall ask Interpol to withdraw the Red Corner Notice against him as long as he sticks to his promise of appearing in court. He also wants that no authority shall arrest or otherwise detain him in relation to this matter until he is found guilty and subsequently sentenced. Michel had allegedly played a key role in swinging the Rs 3,727-crore deal for AgustaWestland to supply 12 VVIP choppers to India in 2010. AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica, allegedly paid more than Rs 370 crore as kickbacks to secure the deal. Media persons working to expose corruption in India face "grave dangers", an international media rights body has concluded claiming there has not been a single conviction in 27 cases of murder of journalists that it has tracked and documented since 1992. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in its latest report recommends the Centre convene a parliamentary hearing on the issue of impunity in anti-press violence and identify shortcomings and ways to overcome challenges of capacity in law enforcement and in the judiciary. New York-based CPJ in the report mentioned "there have been no convictions," in the 27 cases of work-related murder of journalists it tracked since 1992. Corruption and politics were the two "deadliest beats", it said. The CPJ said it could find only one case in 10 years where a suspect was prosecuted and convicted for murdering a journalist, but was later released on appeal. It also said that those reporting in remote and rural areas are at greater risk of threats and violence. It lamented often there is little outrage among the media fraternity and society at large when a journalist is attacked or killed. The Committee closely examined the deaths of three journalists - Jagendra Singh who was killed in Uttar Pradesh, Umesh Rajput (killed in Chhattisgarh) and Akshay Singh (who died in Madhya Pradesh) - to come to conclusions and make suggestions. It sought that the investigations into the 2015 death of Akshay Singh and the 2011 murder of Umesh Rajput in Chhattisgarh be completed expeditiously while the probe into the 2015 death of Jagendra Singh be transferred from state police to the CBI. The report also noted that even the country's own watchdog, the Press Council of India (PCI), has felt the culprits are getting away with impunity and advocated the parliament enact a nationwide safety law for journalists. Talking of "little outrage" in media itself over attacks, the report mentions as "an exception" the February 2016 march of prominent journalists in New Delhi to protest against an attack by lawyers on press persons at Patiala House court. In contrast, the same week, CPJ documented how Karun Misra, a journalist from a small town in Sultanpur district of UP, a 12-hour drive from the capital, was shot dead in apparent retaliation for his work. His killing neither attracted the same level of attention nor high-profile calls for action, it added. Among its recommendations, the CPJ has sought bringing together jurists, journalists, scholars, and experts to submit draft proposals for a national-level journalist safety and protection mechanism and a method to federalize crimes against free expression. Study best practices used by nations facing similar threats, including Colombia, where a national protection mechanism was set up to provide security, and Mexico, where a federal prosecutors office was set up to investigate attacks on the press and freedom of expression, it has recommended. The report sought more resources and political support for authorities including the judiciary, CBI and police to conduct exhaustive and timely investigations and trials. It also sought recognition for the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, held annually on November 2. It also recommended that journalists themselves should better investigate and report on issues of anti-press violence, including individual attacks, threats, and harassment, regardless of the victim's media affiliation. Employers should provide up-to-date press identification cards to all media staff involved in news gathering, including stringers and part-time employees, it recommended. Employers should establish clear mechanisms for staff and freelancers to report threats, harassment, or attacks, and offer appropriate support, the report added. Does Greg Gianforte want to build a wall around Montana? Sure sounds like it when he campaigns on banning war refugees from countries suffering terrorist attacks and stopping any refugee resettlement until the vetting system is fixed. He sounds like GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has called for shutting out immigrants. The myth that governors can block refugee settlement keeps popping up, thanks to politicians campaigning on fears they help intensify. Federal law not state law sets rules for who may enter the United States. People who want to come into our nation as refugees are vetted more extensively, through a lengthier process than other types of immigrants or foreign visitors. Consider the efforts of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton who attempted to block resettlement of two Syrian families in their state. Earlier this summer, a federal judge in Dallas, barred the state from excluding refugees screened and resettled under U.S. law. About a week ago, the Gianforte campaign mailed fliers ominously warning that Gov. Steve Bullock supports bringing Syrian refugees into Montana. Those words appeared beside the black and red image of an armed man with a scarf concealing his face, except for the eyes. Below the scary picture was a photo of Bullock. On the flip side, the flier had a flattering, full-color photo of Gianforte standing over the words Montana security first. Some Montana Republicans have been saying for months that Bullock wants unvetted Syrian refugees to come to our state. After former Texas Gov. Rick Perry campaigned for Gianforte in Montana, Perry repeated that false statement about Bullock on Fox News. Bullock critics then trumpet the news that the story has gone national. Repeating a lie doesnt make it true. On the issue of refugee settlement, Bullock acknowledges the rule of law. As a former Montana attorney general, he should know the law. Think about it: Bullock grew up in Helena, he has a family with young children, and his political opponents are telling us he wants to bring terrorists to his home state. As governor, Bullock has responsibility for public safety. That duty is carried out as head of the Montana National Guard, in policies and programs that protect us from crime, fires, drug abuse, unsafe water, hazardous roads and preventable diseases. There are many serious dangers for Montanans to worry about; unvetted Syrian refugees next door isnt one of them. Between 2011 when civil war erupted in Syria and 2015, the United States admitted 2,000 Syrian refugees. However, about 86,000 Syrian immigrants live in the United States, mostly people who have followed relatives here since 1990. According to the Migration Policy Institute, Syrian immigrants, on average are older and have higher education than the general U.S. population. A smaller portion of Syrian women work, compared with the overall U.S. population. But a larger portion of Syrian men are in the labor force. Syrians, on average earn more than other immigrant groups, but less than the general population. Forty-nine percent of Syrian immigrants were employed in management, business, science or arts in 2014. Before refugees are allowed into the United States, they are thoroughly screened by the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security in processes that take 18 to 24 months. Among 784,000 refuges (from all over the world) who have been resettled in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001, three have been arrested for planning terrorist attacks two of whom were planning attacks outside the country, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Gianfortes attack fliers arrived in mail boxes just as the first refugee family in years arrived in Missoula. These two parents fled war in the Congo. Three of their four children were born in a refugee camp in Tanzania and had never lived anywhere else before making it to safety to the United States. These are the type of people allowed into our nation as refugees in 2016. Its just really disinformation and its disheartening that people seeking a position of power would promote that misinformation and play off of such a persecuted population, Mary Poole, founder of the Missoula resettlement organization told Gazette state reporter Jayme Fraser. Amen, Mary, amen. Attackers rammed a car through the gates of Belgium's national crime laboratory today in Brussels and then started a fire in what officials said may have been an attempt to destroy evidence. Five people were arrested nearby but later released, while prosecutors said there was no confirmed link to terrorism so far. No one was injured in the fire or by a large explosion which shook houses nearby. The incident comes as Belgium remains on high alert following suicide attacks on the capital's airport and metro system in March which were claimed by the Islamic State group. "This location was not chosen randomly," said Ine Van Wymersch, a spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor's office, adding that the institute deals with "sensitive information in connection with several ongoing cases." Prosecutors had opened a investigation into "deliberate arson of a building and damage by explosion", while bomb disposal experts attended the scene. "The possibility of a terrorist act is not confirmed. It goes without saying that several individuals may have wanted to destroy evidence related to their legal cases," Van Wymersch added. She said that "several attackers forced their way into the institute using their car and were able to attack the building" and had apparently deliberately targeted the wing where the laboratories are located. The incident happened in the early hours today at the national criminology institute in Neder-Over-Hembeek, a northern suburb of Brussels, and near the famed Atomium tourist attraction. Part of the building was scorched and burned out, an AFP reporter saw, while a burned out car was lifted from the scene by a crane. Fire service spokesman Pierre Meys said there was an "extremely powerful" explosion, adding: "Windows of the lab were blown out dozens of metres away." He said about 30 firefighters were at the scene at around 3:00am (0100 GMT) fighting the blaze. A young woman living in the neighbourhood said the explosion woke her up. "It made the house shake," she told AFP, asking not to be named. The institute is part of Belgium's federal justice system. Among its tasks is carrying out forensic analysis for criminal cases. Belgium has been on high alert after suicide bombers struck Brussels airport and a metro station near the European Union headquarters on March 22, killing 32 people. Those attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group, which controls large areas of territory in Iraq and Syria and has claimed numerous terror attacks in Europe in recent months. Its no secret that solar energy has been one of the major discoveries of the world in recent times. While it addressed the crucial energy needs of many countries, it also laid the path for clean and green energy. But when solar cells came with a heavy price tag, they were used mainly for low power or at isolated places. But a limitation is that solar cells work best at around 20% efficiency and the ones that can be used commercially, only at 15%. It goes without saying that improving the output of solar cells is of great importance. At a large scale, this can save thousands of square kilometres of open land, the cost, and the pollution hazards of course. Thus, efforts are on to get more light to fall on solar cells, especially at correct wavelengths. This way, solar cells can make the most out of the light falling on them. Here is a peek into some of the efforts that have been undertaken in recent times with this purpose: Reflectors for maximum energy In order to maximise the light on solar cells, a variety of reflectors have been experimented with. One of the notable improvements was the closely-spaced rulings on the reflectors, which steer light coming in from different directions. However, this splits up the colours of light and only a small portion of the radiance falls on the cells. In contrast, the quasicrystal, whose structure is not a regular repetition, but has a long range uniformity, can funnel a range of frequencies. Reflectors with partially regular ruling are able to work with a range of frequencies. Creating these partially random patterns, however, is difficult and impossible in practical terms. Then came the discovery of Blu-ray. Text matter stored on the Blu-ray undergoes repeated transformation, which renders the pattern on the disc almost, but not quite random. The pattern is found to be quasiregular which can focus on a range of frequencies. The pattern can be transferred on to reflectors for solar cells with the advantage that they can then be mass produced. But of all the discoveries, one stands out in this scenario: it turns out that a particular species of butterfly has been using just this property all along. Butterflies have lightweight wings and limited muscle power and the muscles need to be warmed in the sun before the wings can be put to use. One kind of butterfly, the White Pieris, however, is able to get going before other butterflies, even when the sky is overcast. Katie Shanks, S Senthilarasu, Richard H ffrench-Constant and Tapas K Mallick, at the University of Exter, UK, describe in the journal, Scientific Reports, that the reason for this is a nano-pattern of microscopic beads on the surface of the wings. The pattern has a quasiregular form and is able to funnel even diffused sunlight and prepare the muscles for flight. The pattern can be transferred on to lightweight reflectors for solar cells, with 43% increase in productivity and 17% improvement in the power to weight ratio. We all know that the suns energy is more in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) range of the spectrum. Solar cells, however, use only the part towards the red end of the spectrum for generating electricity. The energy at the blue end and in the UV end is thus lost. This part is also more energetic and can cause damage to the solar cell. Jingwen Ding, Jie He and Challa V Kumar, from the University of Connecticut, USA, at an exposition of the American Chemical Society, reported a low-cost, biodegradable sheath, which takes in the light at the higher frequencies and delivers it to the solar cell at lower frequencies that the cell can use. The action is somewhat like the common fluorescent lamp, where the material of the tube takes in UV light and emits visible light. The present case is more complex, with energy absorbed by one atom being transferred to another atom, followed by emission at a lower frequency. The material used, however, is a simple mixture of albumin, derived from animal serum, and fat from the common coconut, to create a gel that sets as a film when warmed. The cover is found to double the efficiency of solar cells from 15-30%. The solar cell warms while it works and this rise in temperature lowers its efficiency. Linxiao Zhua, Aswath P Raman, and Shanhui Fan at Stanford University, USA report a way to help the solar cell radiate heat at a special frequency that can escape out into space in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences. The atmosphere absorbs much of the radiation that comes from the sun. It also absorbs the heat emitted by warm objects on the earth, and keeps the surroundings warm. But there is a particular frequency of radiation which the atmosphere does not absorb. If warm objects are radiated at this frequency, the heat would go out to space and the objects would cool. The Stanford team found that silica, or common sand, is able to radiate at this frequency. A sheet of silica placed over a solar cell would thus collect the heat the cell radiates and send it out at the frequency that has a free passage out to space. The cover is found to cool the cell by 13 degrees Celsius, with a rise in efficiency by more than five per cent. Ingenious solutions The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, in Karlsruhe, Germany and the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research, Stuttgart, report in the journal, Advanced Optical Materials, a surface treatment that helps solar cells hold on to light that falls upon them, with a 13% rise in efficiency. Normal surfaces reflect a part of the light that falls on them and in the case of the solar cell, this part is lost. The natural world, which needs to keep reflection down, has found ingenious solutions. For instance, the eyes of the common moth, a nocturnal insect, need to minimise reflection, to catch light and avoid predators. The surface of the moths eye has evolved to have tiny, conical protuberances, of dimensions of the wavelength of light. The reflection at a transparent surface is because the waves of light change speed when light moves from the air to any medium. A pattern, of the scale of the wavelength of light, on the surface, smoothes this transition and allows more of the light to pass through. The team in Germany has found that many plants and leaves also have such a surface, of which the rose petal has the most effective one. They then found a way to transfer the pattern on to a glass surface that could be placed over the solar cell. In addition to preventing reflection, the surface bends light rays to make the cell still more efficient. The result is 13% improvement, which rises to 43% when the light is slanting. Looks like many shortcomings of solar cells can be solved with some simple and ingenious solutions. The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) is simplifying the process of registering complaints. In about a week, it will launch a feature on its website by which complaints registered online will automatically go to the departments concerned, a WhatsApp number and a Facebook page. Kripa Alva, chairperson, KSCPCR, explained to DH how the feature works. For example, the commission gets a complaint about a school. The complaint will automatically go to the website of the Department of Public Instruction so that it can take up the matter immediately before the commission formally sends it the complaint. Similarly, complaints pertaining to other departments like health and social welfare will go directly to them. There will be no waste of time in following various processes of action, Alva said. While the commission will continue to follow up on cases with various departments, anyone can check the progress of such complaints, she added. Pocso e-Box Just on Friday, the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched an online complaint registration and management system called Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) e-Box. The initiative is aimed at facilitating immediate reportage of and action on complaints of child sexual abuse. Welcoming the e-Box initiative, Alva said, Its a very good initiative, but I must say that the new feature on the KSCPCR website is a step forward. WhatsApp and FB To make the registration of complaints easier and immediate, the commission is opening a WhatsApp number for public. A spokesperson for the KSCPCR said, There are many who may not be tech-savvy and cannot browse the Internet. Since most people use mobile phones and WhatsApp, we are opening a WhatsApp number for them. There will also be a Facebook page that will serve a similar purpose. Changing with the times, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday commenced the sale of its new uniform. On October 11, the Vijaya Dashami day, the new uniform would be adopted a day that would see a major change after 91 years from half-pants to full-length trousers. On Monday, at the RSS headquarters at Reshimbaug in Nagpur, the first batch of new trousers arrived for sale. The trademark shorts are being replaced with brown trousers, which will be worn with other elements of the uniform, including the white shirt, black cap, brown socks and bamboo stick. In March 13 this year, the RSS in its Nagore conclave in Rajasthan the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha had announced the change and it would be effective from the Vijaya Dashami day, when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addresses the traditional rally on its foundation day. The change was done after a proper feedback. The new full pants costing around Rs 250 a pair have been tailored by an RSS regular stylist, in Akola, Rajasthan. The Supreme Court on Monday decided to examine if the Constitution permitted a person holding public office to make comments in cases of rapes and murders that has the potential to create distrust on fair investigation. A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan framed the legal question while rapping Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan for terming the recent gang rape of a woman and her teenaged daughter in Bulandshahr district as a political conspiracy. Why should people in power make such statements, the bench asked, while hearing a plea made by the father of the girl for compensation and transfer of the investigation. When a victim files an FIR charging rape, gang rape or murder or such other heinous offences against another person or group of persons, whether any individual holding a public office or a person in authority or in-charge of governance, should be allowed to comment on the crime stating that it was an outcome of a political controversy, more so, when as an individual, he has nothing to do with the offences in question, the bench posed the query. The bench stayed the CBI probe, already ordered by the Allahabad High Court into the incident, and appointed senior advocate F S Nariman to assist the court in determining the issue if such statements did come within the ambit and sweep of freedom of speech and expression or exceeded the boundary. The street outside is patrolled by riot police officers in camouflage, bracing for the ni-ghtly spasm of violence, but it is quiet here inside the operating room. The surgeons knife slides into an eyeball as if it were a soft fruit. The patients eyelids have been stretched back with a metal clamp, so his eyeball bulges out of glistening pink tissue. The surgeon sits with his back very straight, cutting with tiny movements of his fingers. Every now and then, a thread of blood appears in the patients eye socket. The patient is 8-years-old. Very bad, murmurs the surgeon, Dr S Natarajan. But then, all 13 cases he will see today will be very bad. Since mid-July, when the current wave of protests against the Indian military presence started, more than 570 patients have reported to Srinagars main government hospital, with eyes ruptured by lead pellets, sometimes known as birdshot, fired by security forces armed with pump-action shotguns to disperse crowds. The patients have mutilated retinas, severed optic nerves, irises seeping out like puddles of ink. Dead eyes, the ophthalmology departments chief calls them. Every season of popular revolt in Kashmir has its marker. This summers protests in the part of Kashmir controlled by India, the most sustained and violent since 2010, caught the authorities in New Delhi unaware. The stone-throwing crowds have no political leaders, put forward no specific demands and metastasized with alarming speed. Around 60 civilians and two members of the security forces have been killed; on each side, thousands have been wounded. But 2016 will almost certainly be remembered as the year of dead eyes. The eye injuries have become such a focus of public anger that last week, in a conciliatory gesture, Home minister Rajnath Singh, promised that the pellet guns would be replaced by another type of nonlethal weapon in the coming days. On the ophthalmology ward at the main Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, however, new patients arrive every day. Walking the hospital hallway, you first notice a handful of young men in blackout goggles. Then you see them everywhere. A weary ophthalmologist looks on from the break room as Natarajans young patient, waking from anaesthesia, stirs and begins to moan. That 8-year-old boy, he will live for 70 or 80 years, says the doctor, Afroz Khan. The history remains there, even if it is not in the books. On July 9, Tariq Qureshi, head of the ophthalmology department, was at a seminar on paediatric retinal repair. The previous day, Indian security forces raided a village and killed Burhan Muzzafar Wani, a 22-year-old militant leader whose videos posted on WhatsApp and Facebook attracted a vast following. But major violence was not expected. Qureshi was in the seminar when his phone rang. It was the hospital emergency room, calling to let him know that two patients had come in with pellets in their eyes. Qureshi sent a doctor over, and the seminar resumed. Ten minutes later, the phone rang again. It was the same doctor in the emergency room, telling Qureshi to come immediately, that the number of patients had risen to 15. The four ophthalmologists, who were across the hospital campus from the emergency room, ran. For the next 72 hours, they operated in shifts around the clock, suturing the eyes to keep the matter inside from leaking out. In most cases, it became clear, the pellets had burst in through the cornea and out through the retina, leaving little hope of fully restoring vision. Twenty-seven patients were hit in both eyes. The pellets, when they could be removed, were preserved on the heads of cotton swabs. Once it goes in the eye, it rotates like this, and destroys everything there inside, Qureshi said. Its physics. This is a high-velocity body. It releases a high amount of energy inside. The lens, the iris, the retina get matted up. The doctors were told to take all possible measures to save their patients vision, including complex surgery, at a cost to the government of 70,000 rupees per operation, Qureshi said. The worst cases go to Natarajan, director of Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital in Mumbai. Natarajan specialises in patients whose eyes have been punctured by projectiles typically, children standing too near fireworks, or industrial workers who did not wear protective goggles, or boxers whose eyes have been punctured by thumbs. In cases of catastrophic injuries, Natarajans goal is to save a small portion of the eyes function, enough to sense light, or movement of a hand. Even that minor change from zero matters a lot, for a man with no light, Natarajan said. It is like, if you have no money in your pocket, 10 rupees seems like big money. Effective weapon For an Indian security official, to be engulfed by a hostile crowd in Kashmir is, without a doubt, a life-threatening situation. Bhavesh Chaudhary, the second-in-command of the 161st Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force, has dedicated much of his career to battling stone-throwing crowds. Indian troops use pellet guns for crowd control only in Kashmir. They were introduced in 2010, halfway through a particularly bloody season of protest. For Chaudhary, who sometimes faces crowds of more than 1,000 hostile young men with a contingent of 20 or 30, it is by far the most effective weapon at his disposal. It causes bodily injury, so you will be feared, he said. His battalion commander, Rajesh Yadav, nodded at this assessment. If you pinch them, he said, only then people will understand. This year, the use of pellets on Kashmiri protesters increased sharply, with the police firing more than 3,000 canisters, or upward of 1.2 million pellets, in the first 32 days of the protests, the CRPF has said. Though troops are instructed to aim them below the waist, sometimes it is difficult to go in for precise aimed fire at a moving, bending and running target, the police explained in response to a lawsuit seeking to ban their use. If they are withdrawn from the arsenal, Yadav said, troops will have to use their firearms. In a recovery ward at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, a nurse pushes a trolley down a row of beds, distributing cups of tea and slices of white bread to a row of young men in sunglasses. To converse with them is to see new energy coursing into Kashmirs old cycle of violence. It is difficult to find a patient here who admits to mourning the loss of his eye. They say it is an acceptable price to pay for azaadi, or freedom from Indian rule. Quite a few offer to sacrifice their second eye for the cause. Wazira Banwo, 40, is watching her 8-year-old son, Asif Sheikh, recover from surgery. The boy is curled on his side under a blanket, his head swathed in surgical gauze, woozy and sick. It was his third operation; now, with his retina reattached, he may be able to see for a distance of 3 to 5 feet, according to Natarajan. Asked whether she was grateful to the government for providing the child medical care, Banwo grimaces. Not a single person from the government has come to help, she says. If any one of them come to me, I will tell them, You give me your eyes, I will put them in my child. On the day he was injured, she says, he just happened to be standing in the market when security forces arrived in a van and fired pellet guns. This time he is very young, she says. But he will grow. He will understand what happened to him. And he will go out to the street and throw stones. The Bombay High Courts ruling that there should be no ban on entry of women into the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai is yet another affirmation of womens equal right to worship in religious places. It has come after a similar judicial order in the case of the Shani Shingnapur temple, also in Maharashtra, where women had been barred from praying for the last 400 years. The past few months have also seen relaxation in the rules disallowing womens entry in other religious places like the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik and Eidgah Eishbagh in Lucknow. The trust which manages the Haji Ali dargah had only imposed the ban in 2012 after women had enjoyed access to the sanctum for about 150 years. The reason cited by the trust, like scriptural injunctions, undesirability of women going near the grave of a male saint and the likelihood of exposure of womens bodies would not stand scrutiny. The court has rightly rejected all of them. As the court asserted, the right of women to worship in temples is guaranteed by the Constitution which bestows equal rights on all citizens, bans discrimination based on religious grounds and ensures protection of life and liberty. It is male orthodoxy and the strong sense of patriarchal privilege that lies at the root of discrimination against women in religious and social spheres and institutions. Tradition is often invoked to justify the exclusion of women, but these traditions have only been shaped and nurtured by hegemonistic attitudes. A false idea of womens impurity is also invoked to buttress the bias against them. Biology cannot be the basis for a ban, and it is in essence no different from the argument of ritual pollution which had for centuries forbidden lower castes from entering temples. Traditions need to be changed if they militate against the legitimate rights of people. It is not just the constitutional principle of equality but the idea that all are equal before God that is involved in the right of women for equal access to and worship at religious places. It is unfortunate that women have to fight temple by temple and from one religious place to another to secure their religious rights. The issue of entry into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, where women in the 10-50 age group are not allowed, is before the Supreme Court now. The ban there is also based on an assumed tradition and the idea of impurity. There cannot be localised and specified arguments to justify the ban if the principle of universal access, as implied in the Haji Ali and Shani temple judgements, is accepted. West Bengal officially dropped its prefix on Monday as the state Assembly passed a resolution accepting the change in name. Henceforth, the state will be known as just Bengal in English, awaiting the ratification of both the Houses of Parliament. The state will be rechristened Bangla in Bengali and Bangal in Hindi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. Making the announcement, Mamata said that for the Bengali name of the state, the government was divided between Banga, pronounced like Bongo, the percussion instrument, and Bangla, which is also the word used to describe local country liquor. Paschim Banga The state is currently known as Paschim Banga in Bengali, which was what the previous Left Front government wanted in English. Mamatas government made the suggestion to rechristen the state about a month ago, with the chief minister arguing that dropping West from the name would have practical advantages for the administration. We have to wait as our turn would come last in the alphabetic order and mostly, we remained neglected or unheard at national forums, Mamata said. Historic day She also criticised the Opposition Left, Congress and BJP for walking out during the session as the House passed the resolution. History will not forgive those who are opposing this. This is a historic day and will be remembered in golden letters, she told reporters. The Left had also tried to get the name changed, but they failed. They are now opposing the name change, she added. In 2001, former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjees government had proposed changing the name to Paschim Banga even in English, but the Centre had turned it down. While the Left moved an amendment to Mondays resolution, proposing a single name in all languages, the Congress claimed to be ideologically opposed to the idea. The BJP argued that changing the name would be tantamount to undermining the history of the Partition. West Bengal got its name after Bengal was divided into two in 1947. As there was East Pakistan, we had West Bengal. Dropping the West from the name is an insult to the millions of Hindus who lost their lives while coming to India, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said. The saffron camp, however, seemed divided over the matter as Union Minister of State Babul Supriyo welcomed the name change even as other state BJP leaders were vocal in opposition. A Class VI student was beaten to death in Manipur as his parents could not pay his fee in time. The school authorities have been detained. According to the Manipur Police, the deceased is Suresh Tongbram, a student of Kids Care School in Toupokpi Canal Mapal, Bishnupur district. Arrests made Following a police complaint by the father of the deceased, the founder of the school, Washinao Joyson (41) and his wife, who is also the warden, W Grace (33), were arrested from the school premises. The body has been sent for post-mortem and the police are awaiting the report. Being a poor farmer, I was unable to clear the school and hostel fees of Residential Kids Care School in Langol near Imphal, where my son was admitted two years ago. The school authorities told me to clear the fees or take him away. When I went to take him back, they said unless I clear the fee, he would not be let out, Bira Tongbram, Sureshs father told reporters. Bruises on body On Friday night, the school authorities brought my son to me. He had bruises all over his body and I was told that he was punished for being disobedient. The officials left in a huff and told me to clear the fee by August 31, Bira added. He charged that the boy collapsed immediately after reaching home. The parents have decided not to receive the body unless they get justice. Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has advised foreign women tourists not to wear skirts in India or venture out alone at night, setting off a controversy. He later came up with a clarification that his advice to tourists was bonafide and with reference to places of worship such as temples and gurudwaras, where visitors had to follow certain norms. One is required to follow certain norms while visiting holy places (in India). For example, one is required to cover ones head with a piece of cloth while visiting a gurudwara. One is required to remove shoes before entering a temple, Sharma told a television channel, defending his dress code advice. Regarding his advice that foreign tourists should not venture out alone at night, the Tourism Minister wondered if it was wrong to give such a suggestion for the safety and security of the tourists travelling to India from different parts of the globe. I said please take care of yourself while travelling at night. Is it wrong to give advice for their safety in advance? Law and order is a state subject. It is our moral duty to ensure a safe and secured environment for our tourists. I am also a father of two daughters. I would never tell women what they should wear or not. Such a ban is unimaginable, Sharma added. The minister also referred to travel advisories issued by foreign countries for the safety and security of their respective citizens during their trip to India and other parts of the world. For their own safety, women foreign tourists should not wear short dresses and skirts. Indian culture is different from Western (culture), Sharma had told reporters in Agra on Sunday. He was on a visit to the city to conduct an inspection of the facilities available to tourists at the iconic Taj Mahal and other spots. His suggestion drew sharp criticism, prompting the Opposition parties to launch an attack on the BJP led coalition government at the Centre. Foreign governments, including US and UK, do issue travel advisories to their citizens travelling to India that they should respect local Indian dress codes and customs. Such advisories have followed several incidents of crime against foreign tourists in India. The US on Monday prodded India to do a lot more to strengthen the Intellectual Property Rights regime to help not only the foreign investors, but also domestic innovators. We understand that considerable progress has been made (in strengthening the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime, but a lot more still needs to happen, the US envoy to India, Richard Verma, said. After all, intellectual property is the fuel that powers the engine of prosperity, fostering invention and innovation, he said, ahead of the India-US strategic and commercial dialogue. The US has been nudging India for years to strengthen the IPR regime. Though the American government and the industry welcomed the new IPR policy that Prime Minister Narendra Modis government came out with in May, the remark of US ambassador to India on Monday indicated that Washington DC wanted New Delhi to do more. The Centre wants the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to increase their students intake. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has asked the premier B-schools to look into the possibility of increasing the number of seats available for various programmes offerred by them. The ministry wants that IIMs increase the intake so that more students get opportunity to study from the premier business schools and have a bright future. But, a decision has to be taken by the institutes. The government cannot force them to do so. Nothing has yet been finalised, official sources told DH. This comes after the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) recently gave in principle approval to increasing the number of students intake to about one lakh by 2020. The decision was taken at a meeting of the IIT council, presided over by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, last week. Official sources said that though a final decision has not yet been taken by the IIMs on the ministrys proposal, many of the older IIMs were onboard and willing to increase the intake of students. IIM Ahmedabad has even sent a proposal to the ministry for increasing its seats, they said. The issue may come up for a discussion at the meeting of the IIMs, to be presided over by the HRD minister in September. The RSS has ruled out any settlement with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi with regard to the defamation case filed against him for blaming the organisation for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Rajesh Kunte, the Maharashtra-based RSS leader who filed a criminal defamation case against Rahul Gandhi, has said that there can be a settlement only if the Congress leader apologises again. He added that the Congress vice-president has to give it in writing to the Supreme Court that in future he will not blame the RSS of killing Gandhi. The Supreme Court is waiting for Kunte's response to close the defamation case after Rahul's senior counsel Kapil Sibal on August 24 submitted that Rahul had never accused the RSS as an organisation. The matter is due to come up before the apex court on September 1. The RSS' decision to harden its position came after Rahul tweeted that he stood by every single word said by him and that he "..will never stop fighting the hateful and divisive agenda of the RSS." Kunte said, "there is no question of withdrawing the case. His tweet has made it loud and clear that he continues to hold that RSS killed Mahatma Gandhi." Rahul took the stand a day after Sibal told the top court that he had never blamed the RSS as an institution for killing Mahatma Gandhi but persons associated with it who were behind the assassination. A YouTube video titled RSS People Killed Gandhiji: Rahul Gandhi in Bhiwandi was posted along with his tweet. In the video, Rahul is heard saying: RSS people killed Gandhiji. And today their people talk about Gandhiji. Sardar Patel was a Congress leader. He had written clearly about the RSS and about its organisation. And [now] they tell the Congress leaders that he was our leader. Rahul's tweet came after media reports said that he had taken a U-turn before the apex court as his counsel had stated that he did not ever blame the RSS for the killing of Mahatma Gandhi but had only said that a "few individuals in the organisation" were responsible for it. The defamation case was filed accusing Rahul of blaming the RSS for the killing of the Mahatma during his campaign in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Karnataka on Monday approached the Supreme Court challenging the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal's July 27 order rejecting its plea for lifting of up to seven tmcft of water from the Mahadayi river basin to the Malaprabha reservoir due to the acute drought situation in the Malaprabha command area. In its special leave petition, Karnataka claimed that the tribunal grossly erred on wastage of water going to sea. After holding that the plea of wastage may become relevant if surplus water is available, the tribunal ignored the basic fact that admittedly most of the water of 199.60 tmcft (75% dependability) of the Mahadayi goes to the sea as waste as the undisputed uses of Goa are only 9.395 tmcft and the proposed uses of Goa are 37.22 tmcft. And even the projected ultimate claims of Goa up to 2051 are 94.4 tmcft, it maintained. The state contended that the tribunal erred on clearances as, contrary to the ex parte view of the Mahadayi Tribunal about obtaining clearances from the Central government, its stand was and is that inter state dispute be first resolved before asking for clearance in respect of the Kalasa Bhanduri projects for diversion of 7.56 tmcft from the Mahadayi to the Malaprabha. The state submitted that seven tmcft out of at least 108 tmcft of waters in the Mahadayi river have been and are being wasted for decades while Goas use of such waters being confined to only 9.395 tmcft. It also pointed out that the tribunal erred in law by observing that the natural equilibrium cannot be disturbed as the right to natural flows has been rejected in allocating inter-state waters in India and, USA in distributing international waters. The petition listed Goa and Maharashtra as respondent parties. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi assumed the centre stage in the election campaign for Uttar Pradesh in the wake of party president Sonia Gandhis ill health. Rahul planned an encore of his successful 2012 tour of the poll-bound state beginning from Deoria in eastern region. Announcing the Congress vice presidents Maha-Yatra, All India Congress Committee general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said Rahul will not address big public meetings during the 25-day tour. The focus will be on small gatherings, stump meetings, and road shows in towns as Rahul travel across the state, said Azad, who is in charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh. But buzz in the Congress was whether Rahul will visit Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, a town significant in BJPs growth from a two-member party to having majority in the Lok Sabha. Also, Azad refused to comment on whether Rahul will visit Varanasi Prime Minister Narendra Modis Lok Sabha constituency. The Congress has got the first movers advantage in Uttar Pradesh where it is has been out of power for nearly three decades. It has undertaken a series of public outreach initiatives a three-day bus yatra through western Uttar Pradesh, Rahuls interaction with workers in Lucknow and Sonias road show in Varanasi. Senior leaders in the state have already embarked on two different yatras on August 21 from Lucknow and Rahuls Maha Yatra will be a simultaneous event aimed at creating a buzz about the Congress. During his 25-day tour beginning on September 6, Rahul will travel 2,500 km and visit 55 Lok Sabha constituencies, 223 Assembly segments spread across 39 districts. The National Green Tribunal, Delhi, has taken the Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited (KNNL) to task for felling a large number of trees at the Yettinahole project site. The Tribunal observed that the move by KNNL will adversely affect the sensitive Western Ghats region. The bench has directed KNNL to count the felled trees and plant 10 times the number of trees axed. The KNNL has not obtained permission from the Forest department before felling the trees, the bench observed. During the proceedings held on Monday, advocate Prince Isac - on behalf of complainant Somashekar - submitted to the principal bench headed by Justice Swathanterkumar that large trees are being felled in the project area inordinately, by the user agency and the contractors. The same has caused heavy damage to the ecologically sensitive area of Western Ghats. Isac pointed out that an FIR had been registered against KNNL, which indicated that due permission was not obtained. The bench took serious note of the illegal felling of trees and directed that there shall be no cutting of trees in the total project area. The bench directed the counsel for KNNL to find out the total number of trees felled in the project area so far. It directed that 10 times the number of trees cut be planted and the same be reported to the Tribunal by the next hearing. The bench asked the counsel as to who authorised them to fell the trees without permission. Law Minister T B Jayachandra on Monday justified the states decision not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu stating that the neighbouring state could still expect rains due to northeast monsoon. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Jayachandra said Karnataka was facing distress and the present water availability in the four reservoirs of Cauvery basin was barely sufficient to meet the states drinking water needs. Northeast monsoon Tamil Nadu still can get rains in the coming months due to northeast monsoon which begins in September. Besides, there is sufficient water in Mettur dam. But, northeast monsoon do no hit Karnataka, Jayachandra said. He said there was no justification in Tamil Nadus petition before the Supreme Court seeking a direction to Karnataka to release 50 tmcft of Cauvery water. He said the governments first priority would be to protect the interest of farmers in the Cauvery basin. Karnataka would file its submission before the Supreme Court in a weeks time, Jayachandra said. Ahead of the launch of Myanmars major initiative to end protracted ethnic conflicts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed New Delhis support to the move in the neighbouring country. Modi and Myanmars President U Htin Kyaw also agreed to combat terrorism and insurgency in the region together. I have also conveyed Indias full support to the peace process initiative under the 21st Century Panglong Conference, Modi said after a meeting with the Myanmars president in New Delhi. Modi said that he and Kyaw had also agreed to work together for the safety and security of people of India and Myanmar, and to actively cooperate to combat the common challenges of terrorism and insurgent activity in the region. Kyaw is on his maiden visit to India as the president of Myanmar. His meeting with Modi was followed by signing of four MoUs, including one for construction of 69 bridges by India on a proposed trilateral highway that would link the country with Thailand through Myanmar and another for construction and improvement of KalewaYagyi road in Myanmar. The two other MoUs are for cooperation in traditional medicine and renewable energy. The 21st Century Panglong Conference is a conclave being held by the new National League for Democracy government in Nay Pyi Daw from Wednesday. The leaders of a large number of ethnic rebel organisations are likely to attend the meeting and discuss the proposals to end myriad ethnic conflicts and insurgencies plaguing the country over the past several decades. The conclave is being seen as a significant move by Myanmars new government, which is led by Nobel laureate democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi now holds the office of foreign minister and state councilor in the government led by Kyaw. She is, however, perceived to be the de-facto head of the government. New Delhi is keenly watching the move by the new government in Myanmar as several rebel organisations in the neighbouring country have close ties with the insurgent outfits of north-eastern India. A faction of the National Socialist Council of India, led by S S Khaplang, is active both in Myanmar and Nagaland state of India. The outfit, however, has not yet joined the peace process in Myanmar. Modi and Kyaw on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral security and defence cooperation, which, according to them, was crucial for maintaining peace and stability along the long India-Myanmar border. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism and insurgent activity in all its forms and manifestations. Both sides reiterated their commitment to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the other and to continue practicing the policy of not allowing any insurgent group to use their soil for hostile activities against the other side. A Hardin girl who died Saturday after falling from a moving vehicle on the Crow Indian Reservation was identified Sunday as Courtney Little Nest, 12, of Hardin, said Terry Bullis, Big Horn County coroner. Bullis said Little Nest was pronounced dead on scene after falling from a pickup traveling south on Highway 313 about 13 miles south of Hardin at about 4:20 p.m. According to Montana Highway Patrol, a 37-year-old woman driving the Chevrolet Silverado swerved to the left for unknown reasons causing Little Nest to fall over the passenger side of the pickups bed. Little Nest was sitting on a tool box next to another 12-year-old girl and four children under the age of 10 were seated in the cab. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the incident. The crash remains under investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs with MHPs assistance. The Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has invited students to participate in its project to prepare a biodiversity map of ecologically sensitive regions in the Western Ghats and other parts of the state. Prof T V Ramachandra of CES told DH that, in 2012-13, they had undertaken the biodiversity mapping in Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada districts, involving students. The first project involving students was successful. The second mapping will coincide with the lake symposium scheduled in Moodabidri in December this year, he said. The Karnataka Biodiversity Board and the Western Ghats Task Force have entrusted the CES with the task to undertake the biodiversity mapping of Uttara Kannada. Under the programme My Village Biodiversity, the CES has also launched the Young Sahayadri Ecologist- 2016 competition for students. The aim of biodiversity mapping is to know the terrain, biodiversity and conservation methods. Ramachandra said students should be involved as they are efficient communicators and keen observers. They will interact with other students and bring out information, he said. In the first mapping, 54 traditional varieties of rice and 12 varieties of brinjal were mapped. This time we are hoping for more new discoveries, he said. He said students get exposed to environmental problems and learn to come up with effective solutions in the project. It is also important academically as environment education is part of the curriculum. The training programme started in January and so far, around 200 students have been trained and many students from Bengaluru are showing keen interest in this exercise. They can also be a part of the short- and long-term courses, he explained. The involvement of students will cover traditional crop varieties and their special qualities, traditional livestock varieties, plant and animal biodiversity on land and water, wild plants consumed as food in villages, medicinal plants and their use, village-wise list of nati vaidyas (traditional medical practitioners) who treat humans and domestic animals, local methods of crop cultivation, information on sacred groves, perennial water bodies in villages and details about artisans. After 51 days, curfew was on Monday lifted from Kashmir, but life continued to be hit by the strike called by separatists. As authorities lifted the curfew, youths emerged on the streets of Srinagar and started pelting stones on vehicles, leading to clashes at multiple places. In Batamaloo area of Srinagar, five people were injured during clashes between protesters and security personnel. Witnesses said that protesters tried to march towards the Batamaloo bus stand, but officers intercepted them and resorted to aerial firing, besides firing teargas shells to disperse them. About a dozen protesters were injured in the volatile Khanyar and Nowhatta areas of old city Srinagar. Reports said 15 people were injured in south Kashmirs Pulwama district. Some of them sustained pellet injuries. Several people were wounded during clashes in the Hangigund area of Chadoora in central Kashmirs Budgam district, while a few others received injuries in Kremshora village of the same district. Sources said the decision to lift the curfew was taken at a high-level security meeting to make the situation conducive for the scheduled visit of an all-party delegation in the first week of September. Former minister and writer B T Lalitha Naik has received a letter from a Udupi-based man giving her life threat. I received the letter from one Sunil Sharma a week ago. He has targeted me for my observations on cow slaughter. He has stated that people like me should be killed, Naik told DH over phone from Dharwad. Naik said that she had attended an event about 20 days ago in Chikkamagaluru where she opposed the attack on Dalits for skinning a dead cow. Expletives have been used against me in the letter. Sharma has written that people like me should be killed instead of cows. The former minister in Dharwad to take part in a protest on Tuesday against the killing of progressive thinkers M M Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar. She confided in some writers about the letter who advised her to lodge a complaint with the police. I will lodge a complaint at the Sanjaynagar police station on behalf of Dr Kalburgi, Pansare, Dabholkar Hatya Virodhi Horata Samithi on Wednesday once I return to Bengaluru. I will also produce the letter before the police, she added. Naik was minister for Kannada and Culture in J H Patel Cabinet. Muniyappa alias Ishwar, an aspiring film actor and producer, got his first act all wrong and instead ended up cooling his heels in prison. Muniyappas dream to fund his yet-to-be completed debut movie Challenger backfired after he was arrested for kidnapping and blackmailing two engineering students, Eshan Bapat and one of his girl classmates. Eshan, a second year student at the Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology in Yelahanka, is the son of the managing director of the Kirloskar Electric company here. Muniyappa (29), a resident of Singapura Layout near M S Palya, Hasan Dongri (26), also a wannabe actor, and three others were arrested in Yelahanka on Sunday. The plot is no less from any potboiler. Dongri, who earlier worked as a personal assistant to a Kannada heroine, was in need of money to complete his film Beera. Initially, Muniyappa and Dongri hatched a plan to kidnap a high-profile personality from Sadashivanagar. However, the plan could not be executed owing to tight police security in the VIP area. Then, they zeroed in on Eshan. They followed Eshan for two weeks before kidnapping him. They had even managed to secretly film and take photographs of Eshan and the girl. On August 23, the two along with Jagadish (32), a resident of Yelahanka, Jagannath (28) and Manoj (19), both from Yelahanka New Town, executed the plan to kidnap Eshan. They even called Eshans mother from his mobile phone and informed her about the kidnap. However, the small-time criminals, who are involved in petty crimes and chain-snatching, released Eshan the following day when they realised the police were on their trail. Upset at the failed bid to make money, Muniyappa and Dongri changed their plan of action and decided to blackmail the girl by threatening to release her photos and videos. The girl, however, informed the police, who laid a trap to ensure the abductors wouldnt get away this time. Plan of action The police handed the girl some money and sent her in an autorickshaw, with an inspector disguised as the driver. When Muniyappa and Dongri kept changing the location, she informed them that the auto driver was refusing to go further and was misbehaving with her. Hearing this, Dongri asked her to wait near Hebbal. When he came to collect the money, the auto driver and other officers in plainclothes nabbed him before arresting the other four. As a college student in 2008, Muniyappa abducted the daughter of a former MLA from Chikkaballapur district and married her. Later, she divorced him after coming to know about his criminal activities. During interrogation, the suspect admitted to dacoity and chain-snatching in various localities in Bengaluru, Hassan district, Araskiere and Banawara. He admitted to selling the stolen ornaments and using the money for his movie. Muniyappa had started Our Education Centre to help students get employment. He collected money from them and shut down the centre, the police said. After 51 days, curfew was on Monday lifted from most parts of the Kashmir Valley, but dozens of people were injured in fresh clashes between protesters and security forces. However, despite lifting of the curfew, the strike call by separatists crippled life throughout Kashmir on the 52nd consecutive day. A police spokesperson said curfew was suspended in most parts of Kashmir, while it will remain in force in Pulwama town of south Kashmir and in some areas of the old city in Srinagar. He said incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Srinagar, Anantnag, Kulgam, Sopore, Kupwara and Bandipora. Some miscreants, in their effort to disrupt the situation, pelted stones on the police and security force deployments in these areas. However, the overall situation remained peaceful and under control throughout Kashmir till evening, the spokesperson said, adding greater movement of traffic and people was observed across the Valley, including Srinagar city. Public transport stayed off roads, while shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained shut. As many as 70 people, including two police officers, have been killed and more than 12,000, including civilians and security personnel, have been wounded in the clashes that began on July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces in Anantnag district. An all-party delegation led by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 4, and is expected to interact with a cross section of people to find a solution to the ongoing protests. Bringing art into the discourse on gender identity and feminism, Goethe-Institut and Sandbox Collective will be hosting the second-edition of Gender Bender, a two-day fest on September 3 and 4. Co-curated by feminist magazine, The Ladies Finger, the performances will interpret gender and its interaction with society through various mediums like puppetry, theatre, installations, movement and mixed media illustrations. Last year, when a lot of discussion on gay rights and Section 377 (unnatural offences) was happening, Goethe-Institut suggested that we curate a fest on the theme of gender, said Charu Mittal from Sandbox Collective. For this years fest, 100 entries have been received, of which 12 were shortlisted by an independent panel of filmmaker Paromita Vohra, actor Kirtana Kumar, activist Gautam Bhan and scholar Anmol Vellaniin June. Each team or solo performer was given a grant of Rs 30,000 as support. One of the performers is Padmini Ray Murray, an academic at the Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, who will bring to life significant women from the history of the city like courtesan Bangalore Nagarathnamma and a doctor and Kannada writer, Anupama Niranjana. A majority of the statues around the world and in India are of men. I wondered why shouldnt we commemorate women who had a big role to play in our history, Murray said, explaining the idea behind the installation. Instead of making temporary statues, she thought of using holographs, which can be viewed only when light falls on them in a certain angle to signify that there are pioneers amongst women too but they go unseen. Morgan Campbell, a doctoral candidate, with Nayana Udayashankar, an environment lawyer, will be presenting their observations from interactions with the women bus conductors of Bengaluru. When I moved here in January, I noticed large number of women working as conductors and I began to wonder about the dynamics between them, the driver and the passengers. Campbell and Udayashankar will be sharing stories of women they worked with, through video clips of interviews, voice recordings and interactive sessions. They have several challenges, of course, like negotiating with maternity leave and breastfeeding their child while on an eight-hour shift. But there are positive stories too, of how passengers helped them learn bus routes and stop names when they were new to the city, Campbell said. Other performers at the event include Aruna Ganesh Ram, Avril Stormy Unger, Deepikah R Bhardwaj, Diya Naidu, Kadak Collective, Kokila Bhattacharya, Neha Singh, Aagaaz, Varun Ram Kurtkoti and Varun Narain. The performances will be held at Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan on Saturday and Sunday from 5 pm onwards. Food trucks may not be new to Bengaluru but one run on women power alone is a novel and refreshing sight. Founder Archana Singh and CEO Praveena Nandu along with the all-women team of five launched the food truck in Bagmane Tech park on Monday. And it is already a hit with customers. After years of working in corporate communication, Archana left to pursue her two passions- children and food. Heading operations for a pre-school chain, she fulfilled the first. She had been playing with the idea of starting a food truck for two years before she founded the company, 7th Sin Hospitality Services in November last year. When the remodelling of the truck delayed the launch, I got an offer from a corporate to run a bistro on their premises. Archana said. With the bistro up and running, it was time for the truck to roll out. The Glocal cuisine they serve at the bistro got the corporates interested. The food truck too serves the same food. One can find unusual items on their menu- malai tikka pasta, quesadillas with Chettinad chicken filling, paan cheesecake- essentially, global food with an Indian twist. Since gluttony is the seventh sin, I thought this would be an appropriate name, Our portions are also large, in keeping with this, Archana said. Having been independent all her life, she wanted women from all strata of society to be able to experience the same freedom. Most of the women she hires, be it at the bistro, the truck or the central kitchen in Mahadevapura, are from underprivileged families, often school dropouts and victims of domestic abuse. Archana wanted to empower such women to become financially independent and get a new lease of life. I believe that with training, unskilled labour can be converted to talented workers. she said. Professional chefs in the company train the women and according to Archana, now they cook just as well as them. Hemavathi, who studied till class 10, said: This is my first job and I love the work. It is a new experience for me and it feels good to be earning. The food truck will be open for business six days of the week, parking in colleges, IT parks, at events and even birthday parties. On Sundays, the truck will park in different parts of the city to provide free food to those in need of it. The truck is already grabbing attention of other states with people from Hyderabad and Chennai asking if franchises could be opened in those cities. Praveena Nandu, CEO, said, Its been less than a week but the response has been great. People are being drawn in by curiosity and we are being invited for many events. DH News Service BJP legislators on Monday questioned the basis for the BBMPs ongoing encroachment clearance drive. Which map is it using to mark encroachments, they asked. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Avani Sringeri Nagar which bore the brunt of the demolition drive, former minister and Padmanabhanagar MLA R Ashoka said there were three maps: the village map prepared by the British in 1902; the 1962 map, and the master plan. We want to know which one is applicable today, he said. People have paid stamp duty, betterment charges, building plan sanction fee and property tax. Every year, Rs 4,000 crore goes to the government in the form of stamp duty, of which almost 70 % is contributed by Bengaluru. These innocent citizens deserve compensation, Ashoka said. Rajajinagar MLA S Suresh Kumar said the drive had made it apparent that there were two set of rules one for the rich and another for the poor. None of the big encroachers has been targeted yet. Even if they are named, the government is conducting surveys and resurveys. But no such concession is being given to small homeowners, he said. 29 August 2016 (AFP) The human impact on Earths chemistry and climate has cut short the 11,700-year-old geological epoch known as the Holocene and ushered in a new one, scientists said Monday. The Anthropocene, or new age of man, would start from the mid-20th century if their recommendationsubmitted Monday to the International Geological Congress in Cape Town, South Africais adopted. That approval process is likely to take at least two years and requires ratification by three other academic bodies. But after seven years of deliberation, the 35-strong Working Group has unanimously recognised the Anthropocene as a reality, and voted 30-to-three (with two abstentions) for the transition to be officially registered. Our working model is that the optimal boundary is the mid-20th century, said Jan Zalasiewicz, a geologist at the University of Leicester. If adoptedand were a long way from thatthe Holocene would finish and the Anthropocene would formally be held to have begun. Scientists refer to the period starting from 1950 as the Great Acceleration, and a glance at graphs tracking a number of chemical and socio-economic changes make it obvious why. Concentrations in the air of carbon dioxide, methane and stratospheric ozone; surface temperatures, ocean acidification, marine fish harvesting, and tropical forest loss; population growth, construction of large dams, international tourismall of them take off from about mid-century. One of the main culprits is global warming driven by the burning of fossil fuels. A telltale surge in the spread of invasive plant and animal species is also a legacy of our species. But the working group is not allowed to take any of these measures into consideration unless they show up in the geological record. If it cant be measured in rocks, lake sediments, ice cores, or other such formationsthe criteria used to determine dozens of distinct eons, era, periods and ages going back four billion yearsit doesnt count. This, however, is not a problem when it comes to the Anthropocene, said Zalasiewicz. We are spoiled for choice, he told AFP. Theres a whole array of potential signals out there. Micro-plastics, for examplea synthetic, man-made substanceare now components of sediment around the world, both in land and in the sea. [more] The Anthropocene is here: scientists By Paul Voosen 24 August 2016 (Science) Just after World War II, when the atomic bombs fell and our thirst for coal and oil became a full-blown addiction, Earth entered the Anthropocene, a new geologic time when humanitys environmental reach left a mark in sediments worldwide. Thats the majority conclusion of the Anthropocene Working Group, a collection of researchers that has spent the past 7 years quietly studying whether the term, already popular, should be submitted as a formal span of geologic time. After tallying votes this month, the group has decided to propose the postwar boom of the late 1940s and early 1950s as the Anthropocenes start date. The group will ask the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), the bureaucracy that governs geologic time, to recognize the Anthropocene as a series, the stratigraphic equivalent of an epoch, on par with the Holocene and Pleistocene that preceded it. Colin Waters, the groups secretary and a geologist at the British Geological Survey in Keyworth, will reveal the groups recommendations on 29 August at the International Geological Congress in Cape Town, South Africa. The group wont submit a formal proposal yet. To do so, it must gather multiple cores of sediment from around the planet and show that they contain a sharp transition in geochemical tracers that is likely to persist as a permanent part of the rock record; the core with the best example of the transition would then serve as a golden spike, marking the Anthropocenes start. These cores could come from lakebeds, ocean floors, ice sheetsor even corals or tree rings. But they must capture the Great Acceleration: the postwar period when fossil fuel combustion took off, says Jan Zalasiewicz, a geologist at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom who convened the group. Well go and get our hands dirty, beginning to look for sections that we can formally propose. Those sections will have to be rich with multiple signatures, as the Anthropocene proposal faces deep skepticism from stratigraphers. The voting members of the International Commission on Stratigraphy look at these things critically, says Stan Finney, chair of ICS and a geologist at California State University, Long Beach. He and other stratigraphers doubt that their standards can be properly applied to decades-old mud and silt rather than the solid rock that records older stratigraphic boundaries. They question the value of the Anthropocene for their science, which seeks to draw coherent chronologies out of sedimentary rocks. Some also resent the role that scientists from other disciplines such as climate science have played in driving the proposal and see it as a political statement. Should ICS decide against the Anthropocene, some stratigraphers fear, they could be swamped with bad press. I feel like a lighthouse with a huge tsunami wave coming at it, Finney says. Phil Gibbard, a stratigrapher at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom and a working group member who voted against the proposal, also worries about a backlash. Were nervous, he says. The working group, a mix of 35 geologists, climate scientists, archaeologists, and others, considered multiple dates. There were votes for an early start to the Anthropocene, 7000 years ago, when humanity began converting forests en masse to pastures and cropland, perhaps causing carbon dioxide (CO2) to spike, and also for 3000 years ago, when lead smelting tainted the ground. More recently, they considered 1610, when pollen from the New World appeared in Europe, and the early 1800s, the start of the Industrial Revolution. But the most votes went to the Great Acceleration. The groups decision to go for a single, recent start date for the Anthropocene disappoints Bill Ruddiman, an emeritus professor of environmental science at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. It is a mistake to formalize the term by rigidly affixing it to a single time, he says, especially one that misses most of the history of the major transformation of Earths surface. Many archaeologists also favor the 7000-year-old date, when early humans began to alter the planets surface. But the working group was looking for a signature of global, human-driven change that would wind up in the rock record, not the first traces of human influence on the local landscape. [more] Atomic bombs and oil addiction herald Earths new epoch: The Anthropocene Abstract Humans are altering the planet, including long-term global geologic processes, at an increasing rate. Any formal recognition of an Anthropocene epoch in the geological time scale hinges on whether humans have changed the Earth system sufficiently to produce a stratigraphic signature in sediments and ice that is distinct from that of the Holocene epoch. Proposals for marking the start of the Anthropocene include an early Anthropocene beginning with the spread of agriculture and deforestation; the Columbian Exchange of Old World and New World species; the Industrial Revolution at ~1800 CE; and the mid-20th century Great Acceleration of population growth and industrialization. Advances Recent anthropogenic deposits contain new minerals and rock types, reflecting rapid global dissemination of novel materials including elemental aluminum, concrete, and plastics that form abundant, rapidly evolving technofossils. Fossil fuel combustion has disseminated black carbon, inorganic ash spheres, and spherical carbonaceous particles worldwide, with a near-synchronous global increase around 1950. Anthropogenic sedimentary fluxes have intensified, including enhanced erosion caused by deforestation and road construction. Widespread sediment retention behind dams has amplified delta subsidence. Geochemical signatures include elevated levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and pesticide residues, as well as increased 207/206Pb ratios from leaded gasoline, starting between ~1945 and 1950. Soil nitrogen and phosphorus inventories have doubled in the past century because of increased fertilizer use, generating widespread signatures in lake strata and nitrate levels in Greenland ice that are higher than at any time during the previous 100,000 years. Detonation of the Trinity atomic device at Alamogordo, New Mexico, on 16 July 1945 initiated local nuclear fallout from 1945 to 1951, whereas thermonuclear weapons tests generated a clear global signal from 1952 to 1980, the so-called bomb spike of excess 14C, 239Pu, and other artificial radionuclides that peaks in 1964. Atmospheric CO2 and CH4 concentrations depart from Holocene and even Quaternary patterns starting at ~1850, and more markedly at ~1950, with an associated steep fall in 13C that is captured by tree rings and calcareous fossils. An average global temperature increase of 0.6o to 0.9oC from 1900 to the present, occurring predominantly in the past 50 years, is now rising beyond the Holocene variation of the past 1400 years, accompanied by a modest enrichment of 18O in Greenland ice starting at ~1900. Global sea levels increased at 3.2 0.4 mm/year from 1993 to 2010 and are now rising above Late Holocene rates. Depending on the trajectory of future anthropogenic forcing, these trends may reach or exceed the envelope of Quaternary interglacial conditions. Biologic changes also have been pronounced. Extinction rates have been far above background rates since 1500 and increased further in the 19th century and later; in addition, species assemblages have been altered worldwide by geologically unprecedented transglobal species invasions and changes associated with farming and fishing, permanently reconfiguring Earths biological trajectory. Outlook These novel stratigraphic signatures support the formalization of the Anthropocene at the epoch level, with a lower boundary (still to be formally identified) suitably placed in the mid-20th century. Formalization is a complex question because, unlike with prior subdivisions of geological time, the potential utility of a formal Anthropocene reaches well beyond the geological community. It also expresses the extent to which humanity is driving rapid and widespread changes to the Earth system that will variously persist and potentially intensify into the future. The Anthropocene is functionally and stratigraphically distinct from the Holocene The judge who will decide the immediate future of the Dakota Access Pipeline expressed his belief during his confirmation proceedings that the U.S. Constitution and judicial precedent should lead to a judge's decisions. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in 2010 responded to questions from Sens. Jeff Sessions and Tom Coburn about his judicial philosophies. Boasbergs answers tended to stress the importance of following the law. Neither empathy nor sympathy should play a role, he wrote. Judges should not work from a desired outcome in assessing the law and facts. Instead, they should follow the law and facts to whatever outcome they dictate, he wrote. Boasberg will decide whether to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline while the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe pursues a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The tribe alleges the corps violated the National Historic Preservation Act while permitting the pipeline, which would take Bakken oil to Illinois. Boasberg plans to rule on the injunction by Sept. 9. James Grijalva, a professor at the University of North Dakota School of Law and the director of the Tribal Environmental Law Project, said the case may have many complexities to think through. He said the case likely deals with the idea of environmental injustice, in which poor communities, as tribes often are, are put at a disproportionate risk of environmental problems because they lack the political and financial power to stop it from happening. Also, Native American tribes are separate governments, and federal entities are supposed to consult with them on a government-to-government basis as they would a state, rather than wait for their input like other citizens and private groups, Grijalva said. "That makes everything very complicated from a legal and political standpoint," Grijalva said. According to his biography on the courts website, Boasberg attended college at Yale, received a masters in modern European history from Oxford University, then went back to Yale for law school. Boasberg served as a law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth District, then worked in litigation at two law firms. He served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., specializing in homicide prosecutions before becoming as an associate judge in the District of Columbia Superior Court. President Barack Obama in 2010 nominated Boasberg to the District Court for the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Senate in March 2011 confirmed the nomination by a 96-0 vote. According to his public questionnaire at the time of his nomination to the district court, Boasberg has never served in political campaigns or political parties. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in May 2014 appointed Boasberg to the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, an 11-judge court that rules on whether the government can use various investigative actions for foreign intelligence purposes. Since his appointment, Boasberg has presided over several high-publicity cases. In 2015, he ordered the Obama administration to stop detaining immigrants solely for the purpose of deterring others from immigrating illegally, according to the New York Times. Boasberg also last week ordered the U.S. State Department to release additional emails from Hillary Clintons time as secretary of state, the Times also reported. Boasberg in April was ranked No. 1 in a list of seven rising star district court judges by legal website Above the Law, as determined by how often other judges cited him in their opinions. The website also called him one of the most influential new judges. Marla Rae Behm, 66, Sioux Falls, S.D., formerly of Canova, S.D. and Bismarck, N.D., passed away Aug. 27, 2016, at Dow Rummel Village, Sioux Falls. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Canova, with burial to follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be held today with family present at Willoughby Funeral Home, Howard, S.D., from 5 to 7 p.m. Marla Rae Behm was born on Dec. 6, 1949, to Gilbert and Elfrieda (Jech) Behm at the Canova Hospital, Canova. Marla attended school in Canova and graduated in 1968 and went on to study at South Dakota State University. Marla was originally a math major until her sophomore year when she enrolled in an organic chemistry course which she loved. She was hooked and went on to receive her B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry at SDSU in 1975. Marla then went on to teach at the University of Mary in Bismarck. Marla left University of Mary to pursue a doctoral degree at Purdue University in Biochemistry from 1983-88. After receiving her PhD, she returned to teaching at University of Mary. Her students and her teaching career were her true passions in life and any student majoring in biology was likely to have had Dr. Behm at some point in their college career. Dr. Behm's devotion to students was evident in her constant involvement in the university's theater productions, freshman orientation classes, scholarship committee, fundraising events and the Vocation Advisory Group. Her awards include the Best Practices in Leadership Award in 2002, the Outstanding Faculty Award in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2009, also the Student Advisor of the Year in 2010 and was bestowed as Professor Emeriti at the begin of this school year. After 40 years of teaching, Marla retired in 2015 and moved to Dow Rummel in Sioux Falls to be closer to her family and to spend more time focused on her sewing and quilting projects. Marla will be remembered for the many lives she touched and inspired. She exemplified the life of a passionate teacher for, "Great teachers stand alone in their value to society. Their influence carries on eternally." Those grateful for having shared in her life include her brother, Richard Behm, Maple Lake, Minn.; a sister, Glenda (Tom) Gassman, Canova, S.D., and their three children, Nathan (Julie) Gassman, St. Peter, Minn.; Emily (Daniel) Kiely, Eden Prairie, Minn., and Gabe (Bethany) Gassman, Yellowstone National Park, Wyo.; and eight great-nephews and great-nieces, Noah, Sky and Isla Gassman, Sydney, Hich, and Madeline Kiely and Aida and Bodey Gassman. Marla was preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert and Elfrieda Behm; and a brother, Jim Behm. In Lieu of flowers, donations should be directed to the Dr. Marla Behm Endowed Scholarship or the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.willoughbyfh.com. Former European Commission president was hired by the US investment bank in July Former European Commission president and prime minister of Portugal Jose Manuel Barroso faces calls to forfeit his pension as a petition protesting against his appointment at Goldman Sachs gathered 75,000 signatures. Barroso was hired by the USA investment bank in July as a non-executive chairman, to the dismay of the small group of EU officials who started the petition. They called his actions "irresponsible and morally reprehensible behaviour", citing Goldman's role in selling sub-prime mortgages and lending money to Greece before its financial crisis. It is a further example of the irresponsible revolving-door practices, which are highly damaging to the EU institutions and, even if not illegal, morally reprehensible," the officials said. The document will be presented to the leaders of EU bodies next month in an attempt to encourage action. Barroso served as the prime minister of Portugal before a decade at the helm of the EC, in which he oversaw various economic crises. 20 months after leaving his post he took the job with Goldman, which the bank claim was an attempt to reassure its clients following the Brexit vote. One of the organisers told the Guardian that it is up to current president Jean-Claude Juncker to not let the issue go unnoticed. We had this gut feeling that what Barroso did was wrong and that it was the job of President Juncker to condemn him forcefully, he said. But there was a clear attempt to make this a non-issue. A spokesperson for the big US bank said that neither it or Barroso had done anything wrong. We follow strict rules set by our global regulators in the hiring of ex-governmental officials," the spokesperson said. "Jose Manuel took the role after an 18-month restriction period following the end of his term at the European commission, a longer period than that imposed by most European institutions. Tech company is under scrutiny from the body and its tax dealings are expected to be declared illegal Tech giant Apple is facing the possibility of paying a huge sum to the Irish government, as the European Union is widely expected to rule that its tax dealings in the country have been illegal. The group's executive body, the European Commission, is set to make public in the next few days its ruling that Apple received favourable tax arrangements from the Irish state. The total bill is thought to run into billions of euros, and it is likely that the company will appeal - as well as having the support of government ministers in the country. According to the Irish Times, government buildings circulated a memo at the weekend which pledged their support for Apple in contesting the decision. Estimates of the exact figure that would be demanded from the tech giant vary widely, with JP Morgan warning that it could be as much as 19 billion, while some government ministers have played down the figure, believing it to be closer to 100 million. Ireland is a popular choice for many big technology firms due to its location as a link between North America and Europe, on top of its low rates for corporation tax. Apple CEO Tim Cook previously rubbished claims that his company is cheating on its taxes, dismissing the allegations as "political crap" in an interview earlier this year. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Where does 'College GameDay' have Ohio State in the first CFP rankings? football More than two weeks ago we saw the start of a public protest by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe begin to capture the medias attention. After setting up a Spirit Camp back in early May these groups sought to protest the construction of the approved Dakota Access Pipeline at the crossing point of the Missouri River north of Cannon Ball. But as the protest escalated, it could no longer be classified as an act of freedom of speech and assembly, instead it is an unlawful demonstration meant to physically block construction crews from performing their jobs. The protest has further devolved into dozens of arrests, a showdown with law enforcement, illegal occupation of private land and a blockade of a public highway. In one word: Lawlessness. That is what has descended upon a small stretch of Morton County north of the Standing Rock Reservation not on the Standing Rock Reservation as some accounts may have you believe. Now as the eyes of the nation turn toward North Dakota, something else is becoming apparent: For these Native groups and their environmental allies the conversation has begun to shift. This protest has changed from a dispute over a water body crossing, to land claims from the 19th century, to overall opposition to any energy infrastructure development. Once enough noise was made, the agenda truly became clear. These groups, including EarthJustice, a known radical environmentalist group that is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, only want to stop this project for the sake of stopping energy development. Not only did these groups not participate in the public hearings held by the North Dakota Public Service Commission, but now they seek to push a radical environmental agenda through illegal action. We all have a right to free speech as Americans, but these actions have moved far beyond a protest toward the dangerous occupation of property that has put lives at risk. Hundreds of people bolster these protesters from out of state, comments in support flood in from California and New York. But is this really what is right for North Dakota? Is this representative of North Dakotas best interests? The state for the past decade has balanced its energy and economic development goals with retaining a unique Native and frontier heritage largely because of cooperation among landowners, private companies and the state government through the Public Service Commission. When groups with an agenda like Standing Rock or EarthJustice fail to engage in these discussions they effectively forfeit their position on the debate. North Dakota should not stand for these actions, especially when a lawful project that brings multiple economic benefits like Dakota Access is already underway. China sets up new entity to develop aircraft engines, gas turbines China had set up a new state-owned aviation firm to help achieve one of its top tech goals of building a world-class aircraft engine. The new company, the Aero Engine Corp of China (AECC), would be responsible for the research, development and manufacturing of aircraft engines and gas turbines, according to Chinese state media. The company boasts 50 billion yuan ($7.5 billion) in registered capital, and has a workforce of 96,000 employees. The new firm is part of China's drive to emerge as a global aviation player, with its establishment having been hailed a "strategic move" by president Xi Jinping, according to written remarks published by state media. It would help China's military reduce its reliance on foreign-made engines. China had long sought to acquire capabilities to build its own jet engines, which had become a priority as the country pushed to increase its military clout. Beijing's most recent five-year development plan identified development and production of engines and planes as a major goal. The technology is difficult to master and China had generally placed heavy reliance on technology from abroad. Over the past four years, engines accounted for 30 per cent of all its imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The ARJ21, a Chinese commercial jet that started flying in June, is powered by engines produced by General Electric (GE). The AECC, which was founded in Beijing, received investment from the State Council, the Beijing Municipal Government, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, with registered capital of 50 billion yuan (7.5 billion US dollars). Establishment of the AECC comes as a strategic move aimed at improvement of the aviation industry. It would boost modernisation of the military, Chinese president Xi Jinping said in a written instruction that was read at the company's founding ceremony. Despite China's achievements in the science, technology and manufacturing industries, aircraft engines remained one of the few fields in which the country still lagge behind top players. Alere sues Abbott for completion of $5.8-bn merger US rapid diagnostic testing provider Alere Inc on Friday sued Abbott Laboratories to force it to obtain US antitrust approvals required to complete its $5.8-billion acquisition of Alere. Alere, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, filed a suit in Delaware Chancery Court, saying in part that Abbott failed to "fulfill its obligations under the terms of the merger agreement." ''Alere will take all actions necessary to protect the interests of Alere shareholders, enforce Alere's rights under the merger agreement and compel Abbott to complete the transaction in accordance with its terms,'' Alere said in a statement. Abbott spokeswoman Darcy Ross responded in a statement, "Alere's lawsuit is without merit. Abbott is compliant with its obligations under the merger agreement and continues to work toward regulatory approvals, despite Alere's nearly six-month delay in filing its 2015 10-K." In February, Abbott agreed to buy Alere for $5.8 billion aimed at creating the world's premier point of care testing business to expand grow its presence in diagnostics. (See: Abbott to buy rapid diagnostic testing provider Alere for $5.8 bn) But Abbott has been hesitant to complete the transaction and tried to call the deal off in April by suggesting that Alere misrepresented while negotiating the merger agreement. In April, Abbott, which is also in the process of buying medical device company St Jude Medical Inc for around $25 billion, had offered to pay Alere around $50 million as legal costs tied to the deal in order to terminate the transaction, but Alere's board rejected the offer. After the deal was announced, the US Department of Justice served Alere two separate subpoenas based on its investigations into Alere's sales practices, and patient-billing records related to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. With annual sales of $2.5 billion, Alere makes tests for infections such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and dengue. Its tests, which are fast, easy-to-use and cost-effective, are focused on the areas of infectious disease, molecular, cardiometabolic and toxicology. The company has carried out more than 1.4 billion tests at the point of care in 2015. Alere also develops simple, rapid tests, including Alere i, the first molecular CLIA-waived test for flu and strep, that provides results in under 15 minutes. More than half of Alere's $2.5 billion in sales are generated in the US, and represents about 10 per cent of Abbott's total diagnostic sales of $4.6 billion last year. Alibaba: alibaba.com; alibabagroup.com Baidu: baidu.com Tencent: tencent.com WeChat: WeChat.com Because social media services such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat are inaccessible in China, there exists a whole Chinese ecosystem of social networking and messaging platforms that are immensely popular there, but hardly known anywhere else in the world. Platforms such asandhave hundreds of millions of users and, just like Facebook owns Instagram and WhatsApp, theyre all owned by the same company. Their parent companyrecently became Chinas largest tech company, after surpassing its rivalin terms of market capitalization. Thecomparesandin terms of financial and operating metrics. From an investor's point of view, both companies have been doing great over the past 12 months: Tencent's stock price soared 45 percent since August 2015, Facebook's is up by 30 percent.source: Statista Teacher, historian and environmentalist May McClintock was remembered on Tuesday evening as a woman whose contributions to history, heritage and environment have been felt by generations across the town and county. Family and friends gathered at Letterkennys Sentry Hill on Tuesday for the official unveiling of seating in memory of May, who passed away in March of this year at age 84. Brian Walsh, PRO of the Letterkenny Community Heritage Group, which organised the event, said that Mays name would likely appear in the acknowledgements of any book written about local history in the last 50 years. I suspect just about everybody whos written something about local history in this area has had that moment when they thought to themselves, I think May McClintock might have something on that particular point, he said. And May would have given that assistance happily, and was keen that it would be shared, he said. Brian called the seating, a small gesture for an enormous contribution that has been made to the heritage of this town. May was an active member of many organisations, including the Donegal Historical Society; Letterkenny Tidy Towns, of which she was a founding committee member; An Taisce, who presented her with a lifetime achievement award in 2013; and the Irish Farmers Association, who recognised her contributions with an honourary life membership. Anne McGowan, chairperson of Letterkenny Tidy Towns, said the site of the seating was a space, where Mays memory is amplified in everything we see around us. The old cattle mart site reflected Mays work for farming organisations; the schools, her gifts as a teacher. May also supported nearby Scoil Cholmcille in securing its first environmental Green Flag, one of the first four in the country, Anne said. The hill overlooks Conwal Church and St. Eunans Cathedral, reflecting Mays great interest in and knowledge of church and ecclesiastical matters. May loved all children, Anne said. Where May saw an emerging talent, she never missed a chance to pluck it from the edges and bring it into the light. She said in recent years May had illuminated the work of many young artists, stonemasons and authors. Cllr. James Pat McDaid, mayor of the Letterkenny Municipal District, formally unveiled the seating. He said it was very important to remember people like May, saying she will be very hard to replace in the community. Rev. Stewart Wright delivered a short reflection and prayer to open the ceremony, saying, We thank you for the light of May and the richness she has contributed to this community. Brian Walsh thanked Donegal County Council for their help with the memorial and Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh, a member of the heritage group, also thanked Mays family for allowing the group to make the tribute. Mays commitment to agriculture, to education, to heritage, to history, theyre all here, Cllr. Kavanagh said. And I think with that she would be well pleased. Speaking later, Mays son Dearn agreed. He also pointed to a tree near the seating, which had been planted to mark the first visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland in 1979. The tree had been moved to Sentry Hill after it was damaged on lower ground. May was instrumental in getting the tree planted, Dearn said, adding, And now her seat guards the memory of the popes tree, and I think thats so poignant. She would have loved that. Pictured: May McClintocks sons and daughters Stephanie Jones, Dearn, Virginia Fox and Jonny with Mayor James Pat McDaid and members of the Letterkenny Community Heritage Group at the unveiling of the summer seat in her memory on Letterkennys Sentry Hill on Tuesday. Seimi Campbell, who has been studying at Trinity, is back in Donegal and that can only mean that another great show is on its way. This dynamic young man from Donegal Town founded the award-winning Mini-Crotchets music and drama education group when he was just sixteen. The project delivered workshops to more than 300 young people and adults with intellectual disabilities. His shows at the St John Bosco Centre - sell out pantomimes Cinderella and Snow White and musicals My My Matilda and Caisleain Oir - were all huge successes. During his first two years studying Music Education at Trinity College and the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, the now 21-year-old produced both Hairspray and A Chorus Line over the past two years for Trinity, I really enjoyed doing both those shows, Seimi recalled. And A Chorus Line was quite a change in terms of material to the kind of shows we would do at the Bosco. Then in Spring of 2016, Seimi co-founded Trinity Musical Theatre Society and is looking forward to their inaugural as a society this year; They never really did big musicals at Trinity before, and with such a vast pool of talented students to pull from, we are looking forward to TMTSs first production in Spring 2017. His production of Mairead Ni Ghradas An Triail at the Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon last September also proved a huge hit and and is set to return later this year. Plans are even in the pipeline to take the production on tour, including Dublin. During the last academic year, Seimi studied at the world famous Kodaly Institute in Hungary. There, he learned a revolutionary style of music education, pioneered by Zoltan Kodaly in the middle of the last century. It was a phenomenal experience, he enthuses. Children start to learn music when they are three years old, when they are attending pre-schools. The new method is something that Seimi is bringing to Caroline's School of Music here in Donegal Town, where he teaches piano and his head of Musicianship. After Hungary, Seimi travelled to the UK to take up the post of Assistant Musical Director on YMTs (Youth Music Theatre) production of Trojan Women, achieving another of his ambitions. YMT is really prestigious and it was a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the top names in the industry. Of course, it was pretty hectic as we have to devise a brand new musical over just two weeks, working 14 hour shifts, seven days a week. That's a totally different way of putting a show together than I'm used to in the Bosco Centre!" "My boss, the Musical Director, was Francis Goodhand, who is probably best known for the West End and UK/Ireland touring production of Sister Act. Our director was Stuart Harvey, of Bristol Old Vic and our choreographer was Alicia Frost, a Canadian dancer who is on the faculty of the prestigious Urdang Dance Academy in London. Before Seimi heads back to start his third year in Dublin, he's been busy preparing a little treat for us all here in Donegal. He and his team are currently putting the finishing touches to Les Miserables, which opens at the Bosco Centre on Friday, September 9th. This is by far our biggest challenge to date, he said. The quality of the singing, acting and music this show requires are what have made it so popular the world over. With Les Mis, you just need the best talent, all aged under 19, and we're so lucky that we've got it. Our Valjean is played by the talented Aodhan Gavigan from Glenties. We have Bried Marie Byrne from Loughanure, who starred in the Central Hotels Opportunity Knocks, playing Cosette and Ryan Mulreany from Convoy as Javert. From Donegal Town, we're thrilled to have Aoife Breslin return as Eponine, Kate Gurren as Fantine and Oisin Joyce as Marius. Herta Kelly who has done so many fantastic shows in Inver, has joined our production team as Musical Director. She will be directing an orchestra of fourteen musicians from all over the north west, as well as the cast of 75 young actors on stage. Amy Jordan and Kelly Coughlan are back as our choreographers while Sinead O'Donnell Carey, who designed our set for An Triail, has once again created a fantastic set, with costumes designed by the gifted, Rosemary Myres. It has been two years since I was in Les Miserables myself in the Millennium Forum, Derry, and Im delighted to be taking the world-famous show to the Hills this September! If the team's last previous productions are anything to go by, tickets for Les Mis will be selling fast. The show runs September 9th-12th, 7pm nightly. Tickets are Adults 12, Concessions 6, available from the St John Bosco Centre on 0877846012. Pictured: Seimi with Herta Kelly (far right) and cast members Aoife Breslin, Bried Marie Byrne, Ryan Mulreany, Aodhan Gavigan and Katie Gurren. FARGO -- Theyre in most everyones wallets, but the next generation of credit and debit cards arent accepted everywhere -- long after the deadline for merchants to stop swiping and start reading chips. EMV cards, short for Europay-Mastercard-Visa, have been around since 1994 and used in many countries since the early 2000s. But the cards, which have an embedded chip that encrypts transactions and boosts security, are relatively new in America. Switching to EMV has been in the works for years, gaining urgency with big data breaches, including the 2013 Target breach that affected 40 million customers. Instead of requiring the change, the U.S. opted for a liability shift on Oct. 1, 2015 -- after that, merchants unwilling or unable to accept new cards were liable for fraudulent charges when the lower-tech magnetic stripes were swiped. The risk is not that big yet, but its growing, said Dan Fisher, president and CEO of Fargo-based technology and payment consulting firm Copper River Group. Nearly 11 months later, Fisher said only half of Americas point-of-sale terminals accept chip payment. Slow change Even merchants that want EMV might not be capable yet, according to Bill Russell, executive vice president of banking services for Bell Bank. Heavy demand led to long delays in getting new equipment, he said, while chains might require companywide software upgrades before the new readers work. It's a combination of all those things that has made the accessibility thats out there so low, he said. Its also a complicated and time-consuming change, according to Carrie Lick, interim deposit administration and serving solutions manager for Gate City Bank. Theres more involved than just plugging it in and dipping your card, she said. Retailers have to install special software and go through a certification process. Fisher said the processors that merchants and financial institutions use for card transactions are a big reason for the delayed rollout. Many processors werent ready on time or have been slow to change. Thats why customers may be asked to swipe their card even when a store has chip-reading terminals -- the machine is ready, but the processor or store software isnt. Banks generally wanted EMV as early as possible because of the liability shift, Fisher said. Thats a big deal when card fraud topped $11 billion globally in 2012 and counterfeit card fraud was on the rise in America. In countries that went to EMV, banks saw a 40 to 50 percent cut in debit card fraud, he said. Bell Bank started issuing chip cards last fall, and Russell said the bank has already avoided losses it wouldve been liable for in the past -- the transactions wouldnt have been approved if the retailer had used a chip-reading machine. No rush Wurst Bier Hall would face massive upgrade costs, according to President Lisa Meyers, so the restaurant isnt going to buy new readers and software anytime soon. Were going to wait until we absolutely have to, she said. Dan Hurder, too, isnt worried about accepting EMV. The managing partner of Great Plains Hospitality, which operates The Boiler Room, Sazerac Alley and Barbacoa in Fargo, said it would cost $6,000 per restaurant. Theres another deterrent: EMV transactions take several seconds longer to process than swiping, a delay that Fisher said is warranted by the boosted security, but one Hurder said adds up to a big problem. Weve talked about scenarios in which you get a group of 12 that comes in and everyones on split checks and everyone has a chip reader, Hurder said. Yeah, its only 20 seconds but times 12 transactions, youre now standing there processing cards for 240 extra seconds. Thats four minutes that youre not on the floor taking care of other tables. Regional supermarket chain Hornbachers started rolling out chip readers at its stores this spring. Customers werent really asking much about EMV compatibility before the change, but President Matthew Leiseth said it was a chance for Hornbachers to be proactive while also replacing hardware and software at the end of its normal life cycle. For us, it was about making sure that we had the latest technology, and the reality is with the new chips, it protects the customers that have them, he said. Bradys Service Center in south Moorhead, Minn., is currently replacing its gas tanks and pumps, and owner Brady Olson said the new pumps will have chip-reading equipment. But hes not sure if EMV will be accepted at first because the software and network might not be ready. Even when that happens, Olson wonders why the country isnt fully committing to the most secure technology -- chip plus PIN -- which adds an extra security measure beyond signing that also bears potential higher costs for some credit card companies and merchants. Consumers can use chip plus PIN with debit cards, entering their personal identification number rather than signing, but American credit cards havent yet moved to that more secure standard for many transactions. The frustration would be why spend this kind of money to not do it properly? Olson said. To thrive and survive in the modern age, corporates must consider working with and harnessing the disruptive ideas of start-ups, according to Karen Lawson, the newly appointed CEO of corporate start-up accelerator Slingshot. Dynamic Business spoke with Lawson, formerly the CEO of online job marketplace CareerOne, about opportunities for start-ups and corporates to collaborate and create synergies. Two strikingly opposite market forces Asked why start-ups and corporates should collaborate, Lawson explained, simply, that while both are enormous market forces, they are strikingly opposite in their strengths and weakness and this is where opportunities lie. Given their different sizes, corporate and start-ups work to different speeds, levels of risk and culture sets, she said. Corporates have scale, resources, access to people and large customer bases. Start-ups, on the other hand, are risk takers, rule breakers, fast, agile and close to the customer. They can also pivot, change and reinvent more quickly. Corporates have to look beyond their walls Lawson said social media and other technologies have created new opportunities and ways for ideas to reach people across the world. This has meant fewer barriers to starting a business and competing on a global scale and as the number of start-ups grows, corporates can find themselves in an increasingly vulnerable position. Businesses like Starwood and Marriott, which took decades to build, are being disrupted with platforms with no assets in a matter of years, Lawson said. Corporates tend to be good at horizon 1 innovation, which is the solutions, services or products they are known for today. Many are investing in Horizon 2 the new solutions, adjacent markets or products they may pivot into but Horizon 3, which is disruptive tech, is incredibly challenging. The corporate antibodies will kill those disruptive ideas as they threaten the structures, channels and relationships of the corporate. To succeed, corporates have to look beyond their walls, and that might be working with start-ups or partnering with or acquiring other companies. It is rare that disruptive technologies will be grown from inside! Focus on innovation must come from the top Lawson said Slingshot has been approached by companies that have tried to work with start-ups but failed. The process of engagement can be incredibly difficult as both sides operate with such different models, she explained. Yet the benefits of collaboration, when done well, are remarkable. Our first point of contact is always the board and the CEO. Focus on innovation has to come from the top and be aligned through the organisation. We go from idea to impact and we take start-up founders and enable them to create a business which will operate independently. We encourage collaboration to enable scale through the corporate partner to achieve commercial outcomes but ultimately that start-up must be able to stand on its own two feet to survive, adapt and grow. The importance of safeguarding data is making headlines across Australia due to several high-profile outages and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks in recent months. The Australian government has acknowledged the issue and to tackle it, has placed cyber security firmly in the national agenda with the 2016 federal budget. With Australia strengthening its defences against cyber attacks and making investments to educate the next generation of its cyber army, there is a lot of jargon and complex terms floating around often unclear to many in the small business community. Cyber-defence system But the threat of hackers and security breaches is very real, regardless of the size of the organisation. Entrepreneurs and business owners therefore must accept that a strong cyber-defence system cant be a luxury in the modern world. As the saying goes, knowledge is power. But when it comes to cyber security, technological evolution equals a constantly changing landscape. With so much to learn, how does a small business get to the bottom of what really matters when it comes to security? It starts with getting the core concepts right. Here are three cyber security terms that any Australian small business should understand. Behaviour Baselining The key to behavioural baselining is to understand normal behaviour so you can detect deviations from the norm. We often see undetected attackers hiding in organisations networks for months even years. Just this past October, we learned that cyber attackers linked to the Chinese government breached Samsung Pay provider LoopPay for months without anyone noticing. With the right people, technologies, and fast access to forensic data, businesses can quickly spot unusual activity patterns and breaches before they turn critical. Active Response As organisations get better at threat detection, the number of alerts their systems create starts growing. This causes alert fatigue: too many alerts, not enough time. Just imagine knowing about all the accidents in an area but not having a mechanism to prioritise. Due to the inability to respond, breaches persist longer. Active response is the ability to respond to an attack when its detected and can be fully automated or human-mediated. The goal of active response is to enable a business to make the best use of its people, process and technology through automation. This is crucial for small businesses with limited resources! Security Analytics The purpose of security analytics is to provide actionable knowledge to the security team. Its all about identifying trends and patterns across multiple data sources to mitigate systemic problems and uncover threats. Attackers regularly target out of date or unpatched systems. To give an example, many industrial control systems (ICS) and infrastructure systems have been recently targeted due to ineffective and outdated defences. Security analytics in this case could be used to identify the number of vulnerable systems that are connected to the Internet, and then establishing how to protect these systems. The Bottom Line While most security threats touch larger organisations, Australian small businesses must consider where their vulnerabilities lie a breach of customer data, for instance, has toppled down many promising small businesses in the past. Security risks are heightened when businesses lack the ability to speak the same language as security professionals. And because of its rapidly changing nature, cyber security is a moving target. Its unreasonable to expect everyone in your business to be an expert in security, but making the risks easier to understand can go a long way toward safeguarding your business. About the author Simon Eid is the ANZ Country Manager of operational intelligence platform Splunk. NEW TOWN Construction has resumed on a pipeline that will cross a water body over the objections of a North Dakota Native American tribe. No, its not the Dakota Access Pipeline. This project involves Paradigm Energy Partners, a company that is installing two pipelines under Lake Sakakawea that will be owned by Sacagawea Pipeline Co. The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation asserts that Paradigm was required but failed to get the tribes permission to begin pipeline construction under the lake. The Tribal Business Council voted Aug. 3 to issue a cease and desist order to halt all construction under Lake Sakakawea. Paradigm was informed on several different occasions that the consent of the MHA Nation would not be granted unless there were adequate assurances that an oil pipeline under the lake posed no threat to the MHA Nations water resources, Tribal Chairman Mark Fox wrote in an Aug. 8 letter. To date, that assurance has not been provided to the MHA Nations satisfaction. Paradigm filed a federal lawsuit on Aug. 19 against Fox and Tribal Police Chief Nelson Hart arguing they have no authority to halt construction. The company is constructing two 70-mile companion oil and natural gas pipelines that will travel from McKenzie to Mountrail counties. The oil pipeline, which was the first to be constructed and is nearly complete, is under investigation by federal pipeline regulators after former contractors said the pipeline was installed under the lake without being properly inspected. The current contractor maintains the pipeline was inspected and the allegations are false claims being made by workers who were fired. While those concerns remain unresolved, the company began installing a natural gas pipeline under Lake Sakakawea. Because the 16-inch diameter pipeline will transport raw gas, it is considered a gathering pipeline and is not subject to the same regulatory scrutiny or public meeting requirement as the oil pipeline. Paradigm sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the tribe from halting construction, arguing it has the regulatory approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Last week, U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland granted the temporary restraining order, authorizing construction to resume. However, the parties will be back in court in Bismarck on Thursday as Paradigm argues for an injunction against the tribe and to continue the restraining order. All of this has played out quietly while a protest of the 1,172-mile Dakota Access Pipeline has attracted thousands north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The tribe is suing the Corps of Engineers over its approval of the $3.78 billion pipelines Missouri River crossing. The MHA Nations situation is further complicated by the fact that the tribe has a stake in Sacagawea Pipeline Co. The company is a joint venture involving Paradigm Energy Partners, Phillips 66 and Greywolf Midstream, an entity owned by the tribe thats an investor in the project. The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation produces about one-sixth of North Dakotas total oil production. Reducing trucks, flaring Paradigm says the Sacagawea Pipeline system will reduce truck traffic and reduce natural gas flaring in areas where pipeline capacity is limited. The pipelines will cross privately owned lands, state trust lands, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation lands and land regulated by the Corps of Engineers. About 8,980 feet of the pipeline system will pass under Lake Sakakawea via the installation of about 10,980 feet of welded steel pipeline, the Corps of Engineers said in its environmental assessment. The pipeline will be installed at least 100 feet below the lakebed through horizontal directional drilling with emergency shut-off valves on either side of the lake and around-the-clock pipeline monitoring to detect leaks. The Tribal Business Council supported the Sacagawea Pipeline system in an April 2015 resolution, finding it in the best interest of the tribe to grant a right-of-way for the project. The North Dakota Public Service Commission has jurisdiction over the oil pipeline but not the natural gas gathering pipeline. In late July, shortly before the tribe issued its cease and desist order, federal pipeline regulators received a complaint about potential problems with the oil pipeline under Lake Sakakawea. On Aug. 3, the Laborers District of Minnesota and North Dakota notified the PSC about potential violations on the oil pipeline. A former laborer on the pipeline alleges that the contractor, Boyd & Co., failed to properly inspect the pipeline before it was installed under the lake, putting the lake at risk of a spill. Two other former workers have reported similar concerns to federal and state regulators. The owner of Boyd & Co. told Forum News Service the pipeline was properly inspected and he says the claims are false accusations made by workers who were fired. Public Service Commission Chairwoman Julie Fedorchak said the state agency has forwarded those reports to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which has jurisdiction in that area. Were certainly going to look at what PHMSA says, but theyre the authority on those regulations and determining if theres a violation of them, Fedorchak said. PHMSA has confirmed its investigating the claims, but the status of the investigation is unclear. Meanwhile, Phillips 66 has told investors the Sacagawea Pipeline is expected to be operational by Sept. 30. The PSC is investigating concerns from the Laborers Union about construction practices on the oil pipeline the union says did not properly protect wetlands, prevent erosion or protect the pipeline coating from becoming damaged. In addition, PSC inspectors who have visited the oil pipeline construction have raised concerns about poor topsoil separation on the project, a step that is important to successfully restoring the land. A Paradigm spokesperson said the company took immediate action after learning of the concerns on topsoil management. In addition, the company said PHMSA has been involved during construction and has reviewed documentation from third-party inspections. Sacagawea Pipeline Company stands behind our contractors and third-party inspectors and remains fully committed to preserving the environment and ecological safety of Lake Sakakawea and all areas where we operate, the company said in a statement. Limited oversight The natural gas pipeline construction has proceeded with less regulatory oversight than the oil pipeline. The North Dakota Industrial Commission has limited regulation over gathering lines and has six pipeline inspectors who can inspect projects. But under current rules, the company is not required to notify regulators about a gathering pipeline until after it is constructed and placed into service. We were not aware of the construction of this pipeline, but under our current regulations we wouldnt have to be notified of that construction, said Department of Mineral Resources spokeswoman Alison Ritter said. New proposed rules on gathering pipelines are expected to take effect on Oct. 1 that would include notifying the agency seven days prior to construction. Kevin Connors, pipeline program supervisor for the Department of Mineral Resources, said Friday the concerns raised about the oil pipeline have gotten the agencys attention. The natural gas pipeline is being constructed in the same right-of-way as the oil pipeline. Well certainly approach this situation with a closer look, Connors said, adding he planned to ask an inspector to look into the project this week. The Corps of Engineers also has oversight of the construction of both pipelines as it relates to Corps-managed land, said spokeswoman Eileen Williamson. The Corps permit has several requirements to protect the lake, including spill response planning. Lake Sakakawea is the drinking water source for several western North Dakota cities, including communities on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Paradigm attorneys wrote in court records that if the natural gas pipeline is not complete by Nov. 1, the company will lose its anchor customer and the project will fail. The Laborers Union, which supports the Dakota Access Pipeline being constructed by union contractors, questioned last week why pipeline opponents are so vocal about that project but not speaking out about the Sacagawea Pipeline. "Our members find it hard to understand why protesters have targeted a pipeline that's being built the right way, but we don't hear a word about the pipeline just installed under Lake Sakakawea that workers say wasn't properly inspected, said Kevin Pranis, a spokesman for the Laborers International Union of North America in North Dakota. 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Zika is spread mostly by infected Aedes species mosquitoes, which are not found in North Dakota. While most people get mild symptoms from the virus, it can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus and can cause birth defects, including microcephaly and other brain abnormalities. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika. The Food and Drug Administration last week recommended testing all donated blood nationwide for Zika. The agency previously had recommended deferring anyone at risk of having contracted the virus. Marni Wild, district director of manufacturing and laboratory services at United Blood Services, said the FDA only is recommending not requiring all blood to be tested. UBS, which handles blood donations in North Dakota, has been testing the blood of donors at risk of having contracted the virus since before the FDA made the recommendation as a precautionary measure, she said. Michelle Feist, epidemiology and surveillance program manager at the North Dakota Department of Health, said active transmission of Zika is not happening in North Dakota, because the types of mosquitos that carry the virus are not found in the state. However, people can contract the virus if they travel to a place with Zika or if they have sex with someone who has Zika. Wild said UBS asks questions during its pre-donation screening to see if donors are at risk of having Zika; if so, their blood automatically is screened before being used. Wild did not know how much each Zika test costs UBS, but she said there is a financial hit on the organization each time a new test is added. She asked that anyone healthy and eligible to donate blood do so to help those who may need it. While people in North Dakota are not at high risk to contract Zika, Feist said it is important for pregnant women or for couples who are planning to become pregnant to talk to their doctor about risk if they plan to travel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintain a list of places where Zika transmission is occurring, which should be consulted before travel, Feist said. Its been labelled a crime against humanity, the biggest environmental crime of the 21st century and most certainly the worst climate crisis in the world right now. Since August, forests in Indonesia have been set alight to make way for plantationa practice that has been happening for decades. But this years El Nino means that conditions are extra dry, leaving toxic smoke to lay and linger. To make matters worse, about half of these fires are taking place on peatlands, which are a major global carbon storehouse. In recent days, the rate of carbon emissions from Indonesias fires has outpaced the entire U.S. economy. Brief rainfall this week in Sumatra and Kalimantan has provided modest relief, but the crisis is far from over. The fires and smoke will return so long as companies are destroying forests and draining peatlands and the government is lax on enforcing its policies. Heres how we can stop this devastating disaster once and for all: 1. Just Stop Clearing Forests Already Fact: stopping forest destruction is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to prevent catastrophic climate change. Its estimated that this years haze will cost Indonesias economy $14 billion. Ernie, 45, with her husband Pak Plus, 47, guard their rubber tree plantation all day to make sure it wont catch fire. Photo credit: Ardiles Rante / Greenpeace All agricultural commodity suppliers must immediately stop forest clearance and any further development on peatland; they must be monitored and held accountable for any potentially dangerous and illegal activities. 2. Re-flood, Repair, Regenerate Last year, President Joko Widodo vowed to protect peatlands and showed his solidarity by damming a canal to stop the drainage of a peat forest in Sumatra. Since then, the area has hardly been affected by this seasons fires. Firefighters extinguish fire in burning peatland inside an Orangutan conservation area in Borneo. Photo credit: Ardiles Rante / Greenpeace Last week he repeated the same vow, calling for a moratorium on licensing for peatland concessions after at least 10 people died due to respiratory illnesses caused by the smoke. Its time for the president to honor his promise. Re-flooding and implementing other water management measures in critical peatland areas can sharply reduce fire risksa solution Greenpeace has proposed for years. 3. We Know What You Did Last Summer, and We Have the Maps to Prove It Greenpeace researchers looked at 112,000 fire hotspots recorded from Aug. 1 to Oct. 26, which showed that nearly 40 percent of fires had occurred inside mapped concessions: land granted by the Indonesian government to companies for logging or plantation development. There are many, many concession where fire hotspots are indicated in mapping analysis, but our research also indicates that the company associated with the most is Asia Pulp & Paper. Ema, 13, holds her brother Ading, 7 months, who suffers from respiratory tract infections. Smoke from landscape fires kills an estimated 110,000 people every year across Southeast Asia, mostly as a result of heart and lung problems. Photo credit: Ardiles Rante / Greenpeace This is not surprising. First, they are the largest concession holder in Indonesia and have a legacy of deforestation. Second, they are the only company that has released accurate maps showing where their own as well as their suppliers concessions are. However, the government has recently refused Greenpeaces request to make public the latest concession maps for analysis. Other companies have released very little information about their land holdings and the concessions that supply them, which makes us wonderwhat do they have to hide? 4. Fight Fire by Working Together The only way to stop these fires is to stop deforestation. Greenpeace is calling for palm oil and paper companies to join forces and enforce a total ban on forest clearance and peatland development in Indonesia. Companies could make this happen. After all, if corporations have the ability to destroy the worlds forests, they also have the power to help save them. Want to help #StoptheHaze once and for all? Take action today. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE The Francis Effect: How the Pope Is Changing Americans Views on Climate Change Glacier National Park Could Be Glacier Free in Just 15 Years Shocking Photos of Green Sea Turtle Killed by Ingesting Plastics and Other Marine Litter One-Third of Worlds Orangutans at Risk From Fires in Sumatra and Borneo Speaking at a campaign stop in Michigan on Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders said that the embattled community of Flint is the canary in the coal mine in a country that has seemingly endless money to spend on wars in the Middle East, but cannot afford to protect its citizens or rebuild its aging infrastructure. It is beyond my comprehension that in the year 2016 in the United States of America we are poisoning our children, he told a crowd of more than 9,300 people at Eastern Michigan University after meeting with a number of Flint residents earlier in the day. It is beyond my comprehension that in the year 2016, in the United States of America, we are poisoning our children.https://t.co/sB7MvNJZwm Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 16, 2016 Can you imagine being a mother, seeing your own babys, your own childs intellectual development, deteriorate in front of your very eyes? he asked the crowd during a mid-afternoon rally. That is happening all over that city. The remarks were met with chants from the crowd for arrest of Gov. Rick Snyder, whose resignation Sanders had previously demanded. Ive called for Snyders resignation, thats fine, the Vermont senator said again on Monday. But if the local government cannot protect those children, if the state government cannot protect those children, then the federal government better get in and do the right thing. He also said that Flint may be the worst example of a collapsing infrastructure, but it is not the only example. Sanders contrasted those who question the expense of replacing Flints damaged pipes and water infrastructure to the trillions spent on waging war in Iraq and Afghanistan. When we went to war in Iraq, the trillions we spent there, not a problem, Sanders said. Throughout the campaign for the Democratic nomination, Sanders has repeatedly differentiated himself from his opponent Hillary Clinton over their opposing votes on the Iraq Warwhich she supported and he did not. Both candidates, however, have made the ongoing water crisis in Flint a focus of their campaigns with Clinton visiting the city earlier this month. Later in the day, Sanders spoke at a rally at the United Auto Workers Local 600 union hall in Dearborn during which he repeated the criticism, saying: If we can rebuild villages in Iraq and Afghanistan, we can damn well rebuild Flint, Michigan. After meeting with the victims of the water crisis, Sanders said that he was forced to ask himself: What country am I living in? Is this the United States of America? I fear very much that Flint is the canary in the coal mine here, he added. Watch Sanders entire speech at Eastern Michigan University below: https://youtu.be/IQwGv9Z7NFA YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Obamas Shortlist to Replace Antonin Scalia Watch John Oliver Slam Republicans for Attempting to Block Scalia and Access to the Ballot Box Michael Moore: My New Movie Will Change America Bernie Sanders to Stephen Colbert: Heres Why Young People Love Me By Yes for Health and Safety Over Fracking Yes for Health and Safety Over Fracking was informed today that not enough signatures were validated by the Colorado Secretary of States office to place Initiatives 75 & 78 on the November ballot. At this time, Yes for Health and Safety Over Fracking is reviewing the ruling and the disallowed signatures to determine whether to file a challenge. 2 Colorado Anti-Fracking Initiatives Move to November Ballot EcoWatch https://t.co/6ASiCwlets @stopKXL @NYAgainstFRACK EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) August 9, 2016 As we review the ruling, we want to assure our volunteers and supporters that we are as committed as ever to giving the residents of Colorado a say this November on whether their communities can regulate fracking, said Tricia Olson, executive director of Yes for Health and Safety Over Fracking. That fracking is dangerous to the health and safety of the states residents resonated loudly in every corner of the state. Todays announcement is not the final action on this issue as countless residents are now committed to protecting their childrens schools, parks and homes. On Aug. 8 more than 200,000 signatures were turned over to the Colorado Secretary of State to be counted and authenticated. Greenpeace / Bob Pearson Yes to Health and Safety Over Fracking faced an unprecedented $15 million anti-signature campaign funded by the oil and gas industry. The Decline to Sign campaign was highlighted by intimidation tactics to scare voters from signing petitions and punctuated by a disinformation effort that saw radio and television ads designed to confuse voters about the Initiatives. In addition, recent polling conducted by Ciruli Associates for the CO Water Conservation Board indicated that Coloradans support Initiative 78 by a wide margin, with 57 percent in favor, 30 percent against and 13 percent undecided. We will not be cowed by the anti-democratic efforts of the oil and gas industry, Suzanne Spiegel of Frack Free Colorado said. The Decline to Sign campaign only served to highlight the industrys stranglehold on the state government. The actions of the industry have only served to galvanize supporters and we intend to fight the destructive and dangerous fracking practices that harm our health and destroy our environment. Initiative #75, Local Governmental Control of Oil and Gas Development, would recognize that oil and gas development should be subject to local jurisdiction like every other industry. The measure would give local governments a wide range of options to protect their communities and neighborhoods from the harms associated with oil and gas development, including fracking. Initiative #78, Mandatory Setbacks from Oil and Gas Development, would establish a buffer zone of 2,500 (less than mile) between new oil and gas development and homes, hospitals, schools and sensitive areas like playgrounds and drinking water sources. A 2,500 setback takes its basis from health studies showing elevated health risk to human health within mile of fracked wells. It also takes into account the perimeters needed for explosion, evacuation, and burn zones. Despite the countless hours and the thousands of Coloradans who spoke in support of protecting the health and safety of Colorado communities, the movement faced an unprecedented flow of money from the oil and gas opposition, said Diana Best, Greenpeace USA climate and energy campaigner, based in Denver. We may be disappointed today, but tomorrow we get back to work empowering communities and keeping fossil fuels in the ground. This fight is far from over. Without looking, would you know how many products in your home contain palm oil? Do you know which products are linked to deforestation? Palm oil is absolutely everywherefrom food like breakfast cereals to pet food and even shampoo and toothpaste. Orangutans in area recently removed from the Tanjung Puting National Park and allocated for palm oil production. Photo credit: Greenpeace Unfortunately, the palm oil industry is a leading cause of deforestation and peatland destruction in Indonesia. Expanding palm oil plantations are destroying precious rainforestincluding orangutan habitatto plant more palm oil and then sell it for use in consumer products. In the last few years, everyday people have spoken up in defense of Indonesias rainforests (thank you!) and many of the worlds largest buyers of palm oil have adopted No Deforestation policies, promising to buy palm oil that was not produced from deforested land or peat and is free of human rights and labor abuses associated with the palm oil sector. Now, a few years after these promises were made, deforestation in Indonesia is on the rise rather than on the decline. To hold these brands accountable, we sent surveys to these 14 companies to hear in their own words the progress that they are making to ensure their supply chains are free of deforestation. Just a patch of forest remains between palm oil plantations. Photo credit: Ulet Ifansasti/GreenpeaceInset: Deforestation is pushing orangutans to the brink of extinction. Photo credit: Markus Mauthe/Greenpeace What We Found Was Alarming Our company scorecard, Cutting Deforestation Out of the Palm Oil Supply Chain, surveyed 14 global consumer good manufacturers who have No Deforestation commitments in place, including snack food, confectionery and personal care companies. We focused on three main areas. Responsible Sourcing: The practical steps companies take to ensure that their supply of palm oil is free of deforestation, peatland destruction and human rights and labor abuses. This includes verifying their supply to standards higher than the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Transparency: How open each company is about what companies, farms and mills supply their palm oil and their location. Industry Reform: How each company participates in efforts to transform the wider industry. Some companies are doing good work to source responsible palm oil. Yet, there is more work to do. Most of the companies we surveyed have yet to start obtaining independent third party verification, so they cannot be confident that their palm oil is produced in a manner consistent with their sourcing policies. Only a few have started mapping their supply chain back to the plantation where the palm oil was grown and most dont publicly report their suppliers, much less the location of suppliers Since the release of the scorecard, weve heard from a few of the companies, evidence of the impact of our research. For example, Johnson & Johnson has posted a blogtheir first public communication since adopting their policy in May 2014saying that finding out who their suppliers is like a game of telephone. But we know this is not a childs game and we will keep on these companies until they step up their efforts to source responsible palm oil. TAKE ACTION: Tell brands like Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo and Colgate-Palmolive to take urgent action to stop forest destruction for palm oil. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE 500 Young Leaders Join Experts to Focus on Solving Worlds Biggest Environmental Challenges 10 Stunning Images Show Humans Huge Impact on the Earth How You Can Help Save the Whales by Eating the Right Fish 3 Ways the Marketplace Could End Rainforest Deforestation There are solar battles blazing all across the West right now, as utilities anchored to fossil fuel power plants strain to avoid the inevitable spread of solar across their areas of operation. Not a month goes by without a story of some assault on solar-friendly policies by utilities or by the utility commissions that are often in their pocket. Not a month goes by without a story of some assault on solar-friendly policies by utilities. Photo credit: Snake River Alliance During the holidays at the end of 2015, it was Nevadas utter dismembering of its net metering policy. Nevada isor wasone of 42 states that offered net metering, a program through which customers with solar arrays are compensated for the energy they produce on their rooftops or in small installations connected to the electric grid. NV Energy Inc. unleashed this full frontal attack on the program thatin one quick vote of three unelected commissionerspulled the rug out from under 17,000 solar customers and eviscerated at least 8,000 solar jobs. And the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) was happy to oblige. Nevada has the highest number of solar jobs per capita in the U.S., but for how long? As Nevadas PUCN invited this solar black hole over one of the nations sunniest states, many pointed out how NV Energy fought tooth and nail against the successful net metering plan and ultimately secured its demise. NV Energy, the states largest utility, is a subsidiary of Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Energy. This net metering battle was high profile. Many have pitched it as a Buffett vs. Musk showdown, as NV Energys demands would prove to cripple Solar Citys business in the state, which was dependent on a consistent net metering program. Elon Musk & communities v Warren Buffet & Big Biz. Fight for distributed #solar in Nevada https://t.co/eBXuKplNhV pic.twitter.com/PtlvO6ta3Z Amanda *$ (@Starbuck) December 23, 2015 But this is far from the only move Buffett is making against solar. In Utah, Rocky Mountain Powera division of PacifiCorp, which is a fully-owned subsidiary of you guessed it Berkshire Hathaway Energyproposed a charge for solar net metering customers similar to that which passed in Nevada. The Utah Public Service Commission voted that proposal down. Theres a decent bit of spotlight on the net metering battles, but Buffetts holdings are actively engaged in a quieter war on another solar front. Yet just last year, Berkshire Hathaway Energy signed President Obamas Climate Commitment, pledging to lead on climate action. PURPA: The Backdoor Solar Answer Out West At issue is a relatively little known federal statute that has been a huge boon to solar development around the country and especially in the big Western states. Its called PURPA or the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act and it basically ensures that renewable generating facilities of a certain size (up to 80 megawatts; the projects that fit these conditions are called Qualifying Facilities or QFs) can sell their power to utilities for a certain fair price. That price is called the avoided cost rate in utility-speak and is basically what the utility would have had to pay for the same amount of power from another source or to generate it itself. Problem is, utilities would rather generate the power themselves because they get a better return on those power plants that they own. Utilities dont want to be told they have to enter into long term contracts with outside developers, even if the cost of the power is the same as what they would pay to generate it themselves. But thats what PURPA does. By mandating that the utilities approve these long term contracts with medium-scale solar and wind projects, the act has historically allowed a renewable energy developer to lock in a 15 to 20-year contract, providing the stability that secures the financing. This security has helped hundreds of solar and wind projects plug into the grid. PURPA helped usher in the mini wind power boom in the early 1980s and, over the past decade, it has helped bring thousands of megawatts of wind online all across the West. Lately, solar is lining up in the queue to plug into PURPA contracts. The Union of Concerned Scientists has gone so far as to call PURPA the most effective single measure in promoting renewable energy and a UBS Securities report recently called PURPA, The Backdoor Solar Answer Out West. Look no further than Utah: a state that is dominated by coal-fired generation and that has no renewable portfolio standard. And a state where one company alone, SunEdison, has quickly built more than 700 megawatts of solar in a few short years. The World Bank Group annually organises a Global Youth Forum to instil in young people the knowledge required to achieve sustainable development goals and the World Bank's twin objectives: ending global poverty and boosting shared prosperity. From June 13-15, the Global Youth in Development Conference 2016 brought together policymakers, social entrepreneurs including Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs and World Economic Forum Global Shapers, philanthropists, human-rights activists and young people in Washington DC . I, an alumnus of GD Goenka Public School, Delhi, was invited to present and speak at the conference. The group made arrangements for our travel and stay. Through keynote speeches and talks, participants shared their opinions on eclectic issues: from human rights and poverty to the water and environmental crisis. I spoke on 'Female empowerment women-led programmes, leadership roles and start-ups. I highlighted that there is still a gender divide not just in corporates but also in schools. I asserted that schoolgirls should be encouraged to think independently, speak and pursue their career choices. Having spoken about this topic previously at a TEDx Conference (TEDxDelhi) organised by CNN-IBN, I adopted a gender-lens approach to tackling socio-economic issues that call for greater representation of women. A geographic representation was clearly maintained, with participants from different regions of the world. The keynote speakers included Leana Wen, public health commissioner, Baltimore City and TED speaker; Jo Boyden, professor, University of Oxford; Ahmad Alhendawi, United Nations' first ever youth envoy; and chief economists of the World Bank, among others. Previous activities During high school, I had developed a device to detect distress in animals. The device was awarded the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award by President Pranab Mukherjee in 2015 and shortlisted for the Intel Initiative for Science and Research. My research, along with my public-speaking engagements, paved the way for me to speak at the World Bank headquarters. Given my interest in socio-economic development, I now work in development with the Indian government to attract foreign direct investment in India, engaging in development in rural areas of India and working with women. In the future, I would like to study economics/finance with computer science as a possible minor. My long-term goal is to invest in Indias rural sector. My exposure to the conference at the World Bank has motivated me to do so. Principals in the Baltimore city schools and in urban communities across the United States need to be angered and prepared to act in response to a U.S. Department of Justice report released Aug. 10. The report details how police officers routinely discriminate against black adults and children, including by violating their constitutional rights, as well as through physical, emotional, and sexual assault via public strip and cavity searches. As a former high school teacher in Baltimore, I know educators are not surprised to learn about the oppressive behavior bred into policing in a city that also suffers from systemic poverty and a lack of access to adequate housing, health care, and quality schools. While public schools do not create institutional racism and police violence, they have an important role in educating a community beyond mere academic standards set by the state. Communities like those in West Baltimore at the center of the Justice Department report have a right to demand that schools prepare citizens and future leaders capable of advancing our democracy and creating a more just society. Urban principals already have enough challenges in managing school budgets, hiring effective teachers, ensuring teachers provide high-quality instruction, addressing disciplinary and parental concerns, and dealing with the additional daily demands of running a school. However, they cannot deny their important role as community leaders or the power of their schools as community resources. Schools are among the few public spaces where people struggling to deal with poverty or police violence can congregate to discuss relevant and critical issues. Together, community members can draw from the knowledge and expertise of professional educators and grassroots community groups to engage in advocacy or develop academic, social-emotional, or professional skills. Principals not only have the ability to offer their schools as community public spaces; they themselves often become community leaders from spending extensive time in the community, developing relationships and trust, and knowing firsthand the many challenges confronting that community. Many principals have long-term relationships with multiple generations of a single family after spending decades within local schools. Principals must have a principled understanding of how their school fits into the community." Principals access to school resources, deep and sustained roots with local families, and understanding of community needs place them in a strategic position to reject any pretense of impartiality or neutrality about police violence and institutional racism. Instead, they are well-positioned to be angry and take action. They must become change agents who think critically about the lives of students and recognize that public education will be insufficient if community issues like police violence do not change. It is now time for urban principals to be activists who are rigorously curious about community needs, morally and ethically driven, and prepared to mobilize their schools, classrooms, teachers, and families in service of a safer and more just society. This means principals must engage teachers in adapting curriculum to teach about the history of police violence; depths of institutional racism; causes of the school-to-prison pipeline; disparities in income, health, and housing; and other indicators of our societys shortcomings. Principals must also extend their work beyond curriculum and instruction, however. They must reconsider how they discipline students; how police are utilized in schools and on campuses; how students are segregated because of disability or language; and how teachers and the school as a whole engage with parents, community organizations, and government agencies. Principals must ask themselves, Do we marginalize our own students? How do police officers within the school engage with students? How do we engage with all parents? Why are there not more community and grassroots organizations partnered with our school? How do we collaborate with other government agencies to provide the services our students and families needor hold them responsible for their failure to do so? In short, principals must have a principled understanding of how their school fits into the community and how its resources can help families and students. Principals, educators, and policymakers may be concerned that these recommendations are unrealistic, given the pressures, politics, and demands of the job today. They might argue that in a different world, a principal would have time for such actions and activities, but not in todays schools. In response to such reasonable questions, I direct my attention to the work of educational historian Vanessa Siddle Walker. Walker documented how black principals in Georgia during the 1950s managed to act both publicly and privately to challenge inequitable school funding and segregation. In the era of Jim Crow, they managed to create safe, inclusive, and high-quality public schools that prepared black children to be successful professionals, as well as to fulfill their civic responsibilities. The contents of the Justice Departments recent reports on the Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo., police departments document how unjust conditions remain intact in many communities. Teenage boys are strip-searched in public without cause, harassed and arrested for legally standing in a public space, or beaten and called the n-word and other slursall by police officers. Such conditions require any caring individual to organize and act, but particularly require the full attention of principals, because such injustices are intricately tied to student emotional and academic well-being. Students must be prepared not only to survive in such an inequitable society, but also to change that society. They must be prepared to address previous generations shortcomings both in regards to policing and creating a democracy that is proactive in addressing injustices. I recognize asking principals to engage in advocacy is potentially threatening to their employment and adds to a stack of demands, but who else is positioned to engage in such leadership? While other important community stakeholders are stepping up in response to police violence, I hope urban principals recognize they are among the few individuals well-positioned within their communities to make a change. We seem to be witnessing a coming apart at the seams, a disintegration of all liberal democratic norms. Early signs of such a denouement came when the Democratic Party establishment tried to deny Bernie Sanders access to the Democratic National Committee database, in effect, attempting to deprive him of access to his partys voter list. In their desperate bid to seal the establishments anointed presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Partys leadership did not mind falling out with democracy itself! But more in the present, a 5 August op-ed in the New York Times by Michael Morell, a former top official of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), headlined, I ran the CIA, Now Im Endorsing Hillary Clinton, has claimed that President Vladimir V Putin of Russia ... had recruited [Hillary Clintons Republican opponent, Donald] Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation. Clinton, in Morells view, is highly qualified to be commander in chief of the US militaryintelligence complex. As the recipient of such a certificate of merit from a person who ran the CIA, Clinton felt proud, for she knew of the kidnapping, secret imprisonment and torture conducted by the CIA, its drone missile assassinations, its role as one of the principal US agencies of state terrorism, and strongly believed that all of these dreadful deeds were in the national interest. Indeed, she could not have forgotten Morell for the role he played in the whitewashing of the spying by the National Security Agency when this was uncovered by Edward Snowden, and the fact that Morell too was with President Obama when we killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. By Jeremy Moskowitz, PolicyPak Software In the case of your typical Windows domain network, it is traditional wisdom that only Microsoft DNS must be used with Active Directory for internal DNS resolution. Many times this is because: Its convenient to use the in-box solution The myth that Active Directory requires Microsoft DNS to function properly Others are doing Active Directory-integrated DNS, and therefore that way must be the only way to do it There are some advantages of utilizing Active Directory-integrated DNS for your DNS zone besides the mere convenience of the in-box wizard. The primary benefits are Active Directory replication will take care of DNS zone replication automatically, and all DNS servers are writable This reduces the necessity to configure and allot for separate DNS zone transfer traffic. Other benefits include secure updates and DHCP integration, but these features are available in third-party solutions as well. Do You Really Need Microsoft DNS Active Directory-Integrated DNS is an option but not required. It is simply a myth that Microsoft DNS is required for Active Directory. In fact, Microsoft even published a KB article dispelling this myth many years ago. The key point is iterated multiple times in multiple ways among Microsofts documentation surrounding Active Directory and DNS. This can be found in the full Microsoft Technet article here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc755717(v=ws.10).aspx Note that this article refers to BIND (Berkeley Internet Domain Name) type servers. But to be clear and specific, as the quote states: You can use other DNS servers with Active Directory, and they dont need to be specifically BIND. The third-party DNS server you choose simply needs to support Active Directory and some rudimentary RFC standards governing DNS communication that most non-Microsoft DNS servers support. Other articles which clearly reference Active Directory interoperability with non-Microsoft DNS servers are: Interoperability with Other DNS Servers: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc959268.aspx Verifying your Basic DNS Configuration [With non-Microsoft DNS]: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc959303.aspx Linux to Windows Migration (Configuring Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) to Support Active Directory): https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd316373.aspx Another place you can see that Microsoft-specific DNS is optional is in the Domain Controller promotion process. If you are creating an AD Forest for the first time, the wizard does not require you to select DNS. Notice how the wizard will allow you to continue with the DC promotion process despite not choosing to install the Microsoft built-in DNS server component as is shown in the screenshot below. The Case for Non-Microsoft DNS Active Directory administrators naturally want Active Directory to perform at its highest capabilities. The key activities that Active Directory and its domain controllers should be performing are: Authentication Authorization Accounting (logging) Everything else that Active Directory and its DC are tasked with doing will take away from these critical aspects. By integrating DNS into your DCs, you are giving it a task which would necessarily take away from these critical activities. Additionally, your DNS servers should be especially protected and especially secure. In the case of an attack on DNS, like a DDoS (distributed denial of service) attack (akin to SQL Slammer and attacks like those, but expressly for DNS), a Microsoft Active Directory-integrated DNS could have issues since it would be tasked with the DNS and the critical activities described above. So what is the incentive to not utilize the convenience of exclusively utilizing Microsoft DNS servers? Here is a list of some of the value-added features offered by third-party DNS solutions available today: Proactive automated adaptive behavior protection from DNS attacks, malware and data exfiltration through customized DNS firewall security Utilize DNS and DHCP features that are unavailable from Microsoft in-box solutions such as Identity Mapping (linking IP addresses to users) Intelligently resolve queries and direct traffic according to geographic location Increased logging to help determine where issues and attacks are originating Utilizing a single solution for external and internal DNS (aka single view) Operating system-agnostic way to manage DNS Increased security by reducing admin privilege usage Increased granularity for control of dynamic DNS updates via IP-based access-control, as opposed to the Microsofts three-level approach of none, secure only (i.e., AD-integrated clients (GSS-TSIG)) or secure and insecure (i.e., anyone, no TSIG or IP-based authentication required) Conclusions on Non-Microsoft DNS Microsoft has always conceded that any compliant DNS solution will work alongside Active Directory. In short, there is no imperative to use Microsoft DNS with Active Directory. And real Active Directory customers are working just fine with this configuration. Getting started with non-Microsoft DNS doesnt have to be hard. Like anything, its a process, but that process doesnt have to be particularly difficult. If youre interested in non-Microsoft DNS because of some of the items youve read here today, then you should investigate the features and functions you need and start a trial with non-Microsoft DNS. Its my hope you have a new perspective on where non-Microsoft DNS can help you out. Jeremy Moskowitz is one of less than a dozen Group Policy MVPs worldwide, is the most-published author on Group Policy and a prolific Group Policy speaker worldwide. Hes also the founder of GPanswers.com and PolicyPak software. Since becoming one of the worlds first MCSEs, he has performed Active Directory desktop implementations for some of the nations largest organizations. Jeremy has spoken at just about every existing Windows conference about AD and Group Policy, including Microsoft TechEd, Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft Management Summit, WinConnections and TechMentor. LUCEDALE, Mississippi -- One of two inmates who escaped from a Hinds County correctional facility a week ago has been captured in George County, according to Sheriff Keith Havard. Havard said Monday that 36-year-old William George Boyle, who escaped from the Hinds County facility last Monday, was taken into custody Saturday near the Indian Creek Road are of the Barton community. Boyle was known to have family in the area, Havard said. A tip led deputies to the area and Boyle was located walking down a road with a female. When he spotted the deputies, Boyle ran and attempted to hide in a nearby wooded area. After a short foot chase, however, he was taken into custody without further incident. He was booked into the George County Regional Jail under a hold for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He was initially convicted of arson and non-support of a child in George County in June 2015. He was sentenced to three years in prison and three years on post-release supervision. WTC responder population -- many now in their early 50s -- replicates link between PTSD and cognitive impairment seen in veterans CHICAGO, August 25, 2016 - New research published by the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring confirms the connection between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cognitive impairment - in this case, among those who helped with search, rescue and cleanup efforts following the 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) attacks. "To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the association of PTSD and major depressive disorder (MDD) with cognitive impairment in a large group of civilian World Trade Center responders without head injury," said Sean A. Clouston, Ph.D., first author on the article. "Cognitive impairment among World Trade Center responders: Long-term implications of re-experiencing the 9/11 terrorist attacks," by Sean A. Clouston, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Program in Public Health, Health Science Center, Stony Brook University and colleagues, was published online as an article in-press by the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. In the study population of more than 800 WTC responders: Approximately 12.8% (104) had scores indicative of cognitive impairment (CI) and 1.2% (10) had scores suggesting possible dementia. Current PTSD and MDD were associated with CI. Re-experiencing symptoms (e.g., flashbacks, nightmares) was consistently associated with CI. Since 2002, more than 33,000 responders have enrolled in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored WTC Health Program. According to the authors of this new study, if the findings from their group are representative of actual prevalence of CI in the full cohort, results may translate into 3,740-5,300 individuals with CI and 240-810 individuals with dementia. "These numbers are staggering, considering that the average age of responders was 53 during this study," Clouston said. "If our results are replicable, doctors need to be aware of the impact of cognitive impairment among individuals who have experienced traumatic events leading to PTSD. For example, cognitive impairment can compound the course of PTSD and depression, impairing the person beyond the impact of PTSD itself," said Clouston. Cognitive impairment and dementia can reduce a person's ability to properly take their medicine, make and attend their appointments, and other important aspects of managing chronic disease. "This is a problem we must solve," said Maria Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer's Association chief science officer. "The silver lining in these troubling new findings is that they will help us better understand the relationship between PTSD, cognition and dementia. More research is needed in this area. This is crucial so that we can provide better care for all individuals who experience PTSD." PTSD has been previously linked to cognitive impairment in veterans. A large study of veterans found that PTSD was associated with a two-fold increase in the risk of incident dementia. (Yaffe, et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of dementia among US veterans. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2010. More About The Study During the World Trade Center attacks, responders who helped in search, rescue, and recovery endured an array of traumatic and toxic exposures. According to the study authors, one-fifth of these individuals subsequently developed PTSD. In July 2002, the CDC initiated a monitoring and treatment program for WTC responders, spanning five clinical centers. Since then, more than 33,000 responders have enrolled in the WTC Health Program. Stony Brook University (SBU) runs the second largest clinical center, monitoring more than 8,000 responders residing on Long Island, NY. For this study, trained clinicians screened 818 responders for CI and dementia during monitoring visits at SBU clinics from January 2014 to April 2015. 89.8% completed the screening. On average, SBU responders were 52.8 years old when this sample was taken. Trained clinicians administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), which consists of multiple short-form tests of reasoning, concentration, problem solving, and memory. Trained psychologists diagnosed both PTSD and MDD. Additional study findings suggest that: Responders with CI had lower education, non-law enforcement occupations (such as construction or utility workers), older age, and were more likely to be current smokers than those without CI. For re-experiencing symptoms, longitudinal analyses suggest consistent associations with CI beginning as early as 2002. Notable, baseline severity of re-experiencing symptoms predicted later diagnoses of PTSD and MDD. Current PTSD and current MDD remained significantly associated with CI after adjusting for education, occupation, trauma severity, smoking status, hazardous drinking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes and respiratory disease. Clouston pointed out that, "Our results support research noting the importance of re-experiencing symptoms as an early marker of mental pathology." Re-experiencing symptoms occurs when individuals react physically and emotionally to memories of past trauma that intrude during daily activities and while asleep. Sleep disturbances are fundamental to PTSD and also have been linked to cognitive decline and dementia. There are some important limitations to the study acknowledged by the authors. The results require validation using comprehensive batteries of cognition and diagnostic evaluations by a trained clinician to diagnose the cause(s) of cognitive impairment in this population. These results are limited to study participants who were selected for screening, and, as such, this study does not inform us about the relative risk of other people with similar occupational exposures. Although no significant association was found in this study linking head injuries and cognitive impairment, future research should explore whether prior head injury may modify the relationship between PTSD and cognitive impairment. ### About Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring (DADM), an open access, peer-reviewed journal from the Alzheimer's Association, concentrates on new research that reports the discovery, development, and validation of approaches leading to early and accurate detection and tracking of individuals at risk of progressive dementing diseases. All forms of biomarkers will be considered by the journal. Peter J. Snyder, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief research officer at Lifespan, a health system headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, is editor-in-chief of Alzheimer's & Dementia: DADM, which is published by Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. About the Alzheimer's Association The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org or call the 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900. WASHINGTON -- The average monthly emergency department visit increased by 5.7 percent in Illinois after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), although the population remained essentially flat. In Massachusetts, while visits to emergency departments climbed steadily between 2005 and 2014, availability of on-call specialists (surgeons, psychiatrists and other specialists) declined "significantly." The results of two state-specific studies were published online last Thursday in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Increased Emergency Department Use in Illinois After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act" and "Decline in Consultant Availability in Massachusetts Emergency Departments: 2005 to 2014"). "Emergency departments continue to be squeezed by pressures inside and outside the hospital," said Scott Dresden, MD, MS, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill., the lead author of the Illinois paper. "A large post-ACA increase in Medicaid visits and a modest increase in privately insured visits outpaced a large reduction in emergency department visits by uninsured patients. We still don't know if these results represent longer-term changes in health services use or a temporary spike in emergency department use due to pent up demand." Annual emergency department visit volume in Illinois increased from 2.9 million in 2011 to 3.2 million in 2015, an 8.1 percent increase over the period. Comparing the pre-ACA period (2011 to 2013) to the post-ACA period (2014 to 2015), the average monthly emergency department visit volume increased by 5.7 percent. Hospitalizations were essentially unchanged, as was the size of Illinois' population. In Massachusetts, from 2005 to 2015 emergency departments reported that visits increased on average from 32,025 to 42,000. During the same period, there was a significant drop in availability of specialists in surgery, neurology, obstetrics-gynecology, orthopedics, pediatrics, plastic surgery and psychiatry. Availability of general surgeons declined from 98 percent to 83 percent while 24/7 psychiatry availability declined from 56 percent to 33 percent. Availability of orthopedic surgeons, pediatricians and plastic surgeons also declined significantly. "During the studied period, the burden of increasing patient volume was clear," said Jason Sanders, MD, PhD, of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "The proportion of emergency departments reporting any patients primarily cared for in the hallway climbed from 70 percent to 89 percent. That is obviously far from ideal and is indicative of an increasingly taxed emergency medical care system." ### Annals of Emergency Medicine is the peer-reviewed scientific journal for the American College of Emergency Physicians, the national medical society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research, and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.acep.org. More than 550,000 adults 55-years-old and older are arrested and detained every year--and that number is increasing rapidly. Yet we know very little about the special health burdens in this population. In a first of its kind study, researchers report that two-thirds of incarcerated older adults experience at least one health-related distressing symptom, such as a chronic disease, physical pain, or emotional suffering. In the study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, interviewed 125 inmates age 55 and older from an urban county jail. Typically, researchers consider people aged 65 and older to be "older adults." But for this study, younger people were included because it is common for prisoners to experience "accelerated aging" due to lifelong stressful events, including homelessness and lack of health care, said the researchers. The participants ranged in age from 55- to 87-years-old. A majority of participants (86 percent) reported incomes far below the federal poverty line (a measure of income used to help identify people who are living in poverty). Of the participants, a significant majority of respondents said they had at least one symptom of physical distress (44 percent), psychological distress (56 percent), extreme loneliness (45 percent), and/or concerns about their personal dignity (54 percent). Furthermore, participants also reported that they faced difficult social challenges, including being homeless and worrying about physical safety. The researchers reported that, of the participants: 61 percent had two or more chronic conditions, such as Hepatitis C, diabetes, heart disease, or congestive heart failure. 28 percent experienced severe chronic pain. 26 percent had symptoms of depression. 30 percent had symptoms of anxiety. According to the study, of the older inmates, 49 percent said they experience poor or fair health, 20 percent have chronic lung disease, and 54 percent have trouble performing daily activities such as bathing, eating, using the toilet, and walking around the house. The researchers said that these rates are similar to those reported by lower income older adults who are not incarcerated. Given that poorly managed conditions are a leading factor in emergency room use, the researchers suggest the need to develop comprehensive programs that focus on assessing, treating, and managing geriatric conditions to help older adults while they are in jail and during their transition back into the community. ### This summary is from "Detained and Distressed: Persistent Distressing Symptoms in a Population of Older Jail Inmates". It appears online ahead of print in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study authors are Marielle Bolano, BS; Cyrus Ahalt, MPP; Christine Ritchie, MSPH, MD; Irena Stijacic-Cenzer, MS; and Brie Williams, MD. About the Health in Aging Foundation This research summary was developed as a public education tool by the Health in Aging Foundation. The Foundation is a national non-profit established in 1999 by the American Geriatrics Society to bring the knowledge and expertise of geriatrics healthcare professionals to the public. We are committed to ensuring that people are empowered to advocate for high-quality care by providing them with trustworthy information and reliable resources. Last year, we reached nearly 1 million people with our resources through HealthinAging.org. We also help nurture current and future geriatrics leaders by supporting opportunities to attend educational events and increase exposure to principles of excellence on caring for older adults. For more information or to support the Foundation's work, visit http://www.HealthinAgingFoundation.org. Washington, DC-- In the race to discover a proposed ninth planet in our Solar System, Carnegie's Scott Sheppard and Chadwick Trujillo of Northern Arizona University have observed several never-before-seen objects at extreme distances from the Sun in our Solar System. Sheppard and Trujillo have now submitted their latest discoveries to the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center for official designations. A paper about the discoveries has also been accepted to The Astronomical Journal. The more objects that are found at extreme distances, the better the chance of constraining the location of the ninth planet that Sheppard and Trujillo first predicted to exist far beyond Pluto (itself no longer classified as a planet) in 2014. The placement and orbits of small, so-called extreme trans-Neptunian objects, can help narrow down the size and distance from the Sun of the predicted ninth planet, because that planet's gravity influences the movements of the smaller objects that are far beyond Neptune. The objects are called trans-Neptunian because their orbits around the Sun are greater than Neptune's. In 2014, Sheppard and Trujillo announced the discovery of 2012 VP113 (nicknamed "Biden"), which has the most-distant known orbit in our Solar System. At this time, Sheppard and Trujillo also noticed that the handful of known extreme trans-Neptunian objects all cluster with similar orbital angles. This lead them to predict that there is a planet at more than 200 times our distance from the Sun. Its mass, ranging in possibility from several Earths to a Neptune equivalent, is shepherding these smaller objects into similar types of orbits. Some have called this Planet X or Planet 9. Further work since 2014 showed that this massive ninth planet likely exists by further constraining its possible properties. Analysis of "neighboring" small body orbits suggest that it is several times more massive than the Earth, possibly as much as 15 times more so, and at the closest point of its extremely stretched, oblong orbit it is at least 200 times farther away from the Sun than Earth. (This is over 5 times more distant than Pluto.) "Objects found far beyond Neptune hold the key to unlocking our Solar System's origins and evolution," Sheppard explained. "Though we believe there are thousands of these small objects, we haven't found very many of them yet, because they are so far away. The smaller objects can lead us to the much bigger planet we think exists out there. The more we discover, the better we will be able to understand what is going on in the outer Solar System." Sheppard and Trujillo, along with David Tholen of the University of Hawaii, are conducting the largest, deepest survey for objects beyond Neptune and the Kuiper Belt and have covered nearly 10 percent of the sky to date using some of the largest and most advanced telescopes and cameras in the world, such as the Dark Energy Camera on the NOAO 4-meter Blanco telescope in Chile and the Japanese Hyper Suprime Camera on the 8-meter Subaru telescope in Hawaii. As they find and confirm extremely distant objects, they analyze whether their discoveries fit into the larger theories about how interactions with a massive distant planet could have shaped the outer Solar System. "Right now we are dealing with very low-number statistics, so we don't really understand what is happening in the outer Solar System," Sheppard said. "Greater numbers of extreme trans-Neptunian objects must be found to fully determine the structure of our outer Solar System." According to Sheppard, "we are now in a similar situation as in the mid-19th century when Alexis Bouvard noticed Uranus' orbital motion was peculiar, which eventually led to the discovery of Neptune." The new objects they have submitted to the Minor Planet Center for designation include 2014 SR349, which adds to the class of the rare extreme trans-Neptunian objects. It exhibits similar orbital characteristics to the previously known extreme bodies whose positions and movements led Sheppard and Trujillo to initially propose the influence of Planet X. Another new extreme object they found, 2013 FT28, has some characteristics similar to the other extreme objects but also some differences. The orbit of an object is defined by six parameters. The clustering of several of these parameters is the main argument for a ninth planet to exist in the outer solar system. 2013 FT28 shows similar clustering in some of these parameters (its semi-major axis, eccentricity, inclination, and argument of perihelion angle, for angle enthusiasts out there) but one of these parameters, an angle called the longitude of perihelion, is different from that of the other extreme objects, which makes that particular clustering trend less strong. Another discovery, 2014 FE72, is the first distant Oort Cloud object found with an orbit entirely beyond Neptune. It has an orbit that takes the object so far away from the Sun (some 3000 times farther than Earth) that it is likely being influenced by forces of gravity from beyond our Solar System such as other stars and the galactic tide. It is the first object observed at such a large distance. ### This research was funded by NASA Planetary Astronomy. This paper includes data gathered with the 6.5 meter Magellan Telescopes located at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. This project used data obtained with the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), which was constructed by the Dark Energy Survey (DES) collaborating institutions: Argonne National Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, University of Cambridge, Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas-Madrid, University of Chicago, University College London, DES-Brazil consortium, University of Edinburgh, ETH-Zurich, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Institut de Ciencies de l'Espai, Institut de Fisicad'Altes Energies, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Ludwig-Maximilians Universitat, University of Michigan, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, University of Nottingham, Ohio State University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Portsmouth, SLAC National Lab, Stanford University, University of Sussex, and Texas A&M University. Funding for DES,including DECam, has been provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Ministry of Education and Science (Spain), Science and Technology Facilities Council (UK), Higher Education Funding Council (England), National Center for Supercomputing Applications, Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos, Fundao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient_co e Tecnolgico and the Ministrio da Cincia e Tecnologia (Brazil), the German Research Foundation-sponsored cluster of excellence "Origin and Structure of the Universe" and the DES collaborating institutions. Observations were partly obtained at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, which are operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, under contract with the National Science Foundation. C.T. is supported by the Gemini observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., on behalf of the international Gemini partnership of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The Carnegie Institution for Science is a private, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with six research departments throughout the U.S. Since its founding in 1902, the Carnegie Institution has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research. Carnegie scientists are leaders in plant biology, developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, and Earth and planetary science. OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Aug. 29, 2016 - A 3D printed trim-and-drill tool, developed by researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to be evaluated at The Boeing Company, has received the title of largest solid 3D printed item by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS. ORNL printed the lower cost trim tool in only 30 hours using carbon fiber and ABS thermoplastic composite materials, which will be tested in building the Boeing 777X passenger jet. At 17.5 feet long, 5.5 feet wide and 1.5 feet tall, the 3D printed structure is comparable in length to a large sport utility vehicle and weighs approximately 1,650 pounds. "The existing, more expensive metallic tooling option we currently use comes from a supplier and typically takes three months to manufacture using conventional techniques," said Leo Christodoulou, Boeing's director of structures and materials. "Additively manufactured tools, such as the 777X wing trim tool, will save energy, time, labor and production cost and are part of our overall strategy to apply 3D printing technology in key production areas." During an awards ceremony held at DOE's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL, where the component was 3D printed on the lab's Big Area Additive Manufacturing machine, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS judge Michael Empric measured the trim tool, proved it exceeded the required minimum of 0.3 cubic meters, or approximately 10.6 cubic feet, and announced the new record title. "The recognition by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS draws attention to the advances we're making in large-scale additive manufacturing composites research," said Vlastimil Kunc, leader of ORNL's polymer materials development team. "Using 3D printing, we could design the tool with less material and without compromising its function." After ORNL completes verification testing, Boeing plans to use the additively manufactured trim-and-drill tool in the company's new production facility in St. Louis and provide information back to ORNL on the tool's performance. The tool will be used to secure the jet's composite wing skin for drilling and machining before assembly. Production of the 777X is scheduled to begin in 2017 and first delivery is targeted for 2020. ### The project is supported by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - Advanced Manufacturing Office. AMO supports applied research, development and demonstration of new materials and processes for energy efficiency in manufacturing as well as platform technologies for the manufacturing of clean energy products. AMO also provides support for ORNL's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, a public-private partnership to engage industry with national labs. For more information, visit ORNL's Innovations in Manufacturing website. UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE's Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit http://science.energy.gov/. Image 1: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/ORNL-Boeing%20trim%20tool.jpg Cutline 1: A 3D printed trim tool developed by ORNL and Boeing to be used in building Boeing's 777X passenger jet has received the title of largest solid 3D printed item by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS. Image 2: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/ORNL-Boeing%20achieves%20Guinness%20World%20Records%20title.jpg Cutline 2: GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS judge Michael Empric awarded the title of Largest solid 3D printed item to ORNL Laboratory Director Thom Mason, Leo Christodoulou from The Boeing Company, ORNL's Vlastimil Kunc and Mike Matlack from Boeing. Image 3: https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/GUINNESS%20WORLD%20RECORDS%20measurement%20of%20ORNL-Boeing%20trim%20tool.jpg Cutline 3: Official measurement of the 3D printed trim tool co-developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and The Boeing Company exceeded the required minimum size to achieve the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title of largest solid 3D printed item. NOTE TO EDITORS: You may read other press releases from Oak Ridge National Laboratory or learn more about the lab at http://www.ornl.gov/news. Additional information about ORNL is available at the sites below: Twitter - http://twitter.com/ornl RSS Feeds - http://www.ornl.gov/ornlhome/rss_feeds.shtml Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/oakridgelab YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/OakRidgeNationalLab LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/companies/oak-ridge-national-laboratory Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Oak.Ridge.National.Laboratory LUCEDALE, Mississippi -- A 55-year-old George County man has been charged with DUI/causing death in a fatal ATV accident Sunday afternoon. George County Sheriff Keith Havard said Monday deputies received a call Sunday afternoon about an ATV being struck by a train. The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. when two individuals were riding an ATV on railroad tracks in the vicinity of Highway 198-W and Ernest Pipkins Road when one of the tires of the ATV became stuck on the tracks. As they were attempting to free the ATV, the ATV was struck by a train. The male -- identified as David Allen Gibson, was able to escape but the 48-year-old female was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Gibson was arrested and charged with felony DUI/causing death and booked into the George County Regional Jail. In incident remains under investigation. 'Seymour and Vivian Milstein Award for Excellence in cytokine and interferon research' to be awarded jointly to Carl Nathan, MD, John O'Shea MD, and Jan Vilcek, MD, PhD at the annual meeting of the ICIS in San Francisco, CA Oct. 16-19, 2016 BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 17, 2016--The International Cytokine and Interferon Society (ICIS) announced today that the Seymour and Vivian Milstein Award has been given to 3 premier scientists who have translated basic research findings into clinical benefit for thousands of patients. Carl Nathan, M.D. , John O'Shea M.D., and Jan Vilcek, M.D.,Ph.D will share the 2016 Seymour and Vivian Milstein Award for Excellence in Cytokine and Interferon Research ("The Milstein Award"). The 28nd "Milstein Award" ceremony will be held at the 2016 annual meeting of the ICIS on Sunday, October 16, in San Francisco. The Milstein Award recognizes achievements by biomedical research scientists who have made outstanding contributions to cytokine and interferon research, either in a basic or applied field. Interferons and cytokines are involved in all biological processes and play a critical role in the development and progression of many diseases including cancer, viral diseases, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Indeed, interferon has been called "evolution's first and perhaps most important invention for...survival..."1 This year's Milstein Award laureates are: Dr. Carl Nathan, R.A. Rees Pritchett Professor and chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College and co-chair of the Program in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis at Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, has performed pioneering work in immunology, microbiology, infectious disease and global health. His work on how the immune system responds to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis stands-out in particular, as he has defined how cytokines play a pivotal role in this disease. Dr. Nathan's outstanding scientific achievements have led to numerous paradigm-shifts in understanding the immune response to infection and his research will continue to shape our therapeutic approaches in this area. His work has been recognized by numerous honors and awards, including membership in the US National Academy of Sciences. Dr. John O'Shea, Scientific Director, National Institute of Arthritis Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, has performed outstanding research on how cytokines transmit signals to the cell interior of T cells and innate lymphocytes so as to evoke and direct subsequent immune responses. This work has led to a better understanding of the effects of mutations in these signaling pathway genes on immune function. Among the first to clone the protein kinase JAK3, O'Shea identified its crucial role in cytokine signaling and, based in large part on this work, pharmacological Jak inhibitors have been developed as a new class of immunomodulatory drugs. He has received numerous awards, including the Lee C. Howley Sr. Prize for Research in Arthritis: the U.S. Public Health Service Physician Researcher of the Year Award and the Paul Bunn Award in Infectious Disease. Dr. Jan Vilcek, Research Professor, Department of Microbiology & Professor Emeritus of Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, originally demonstrated that interferons (IFNs) protect cells from infection with isolated viral RNA, proving that the site of interferon action is intracellular. He was the first to show that IFN and IFN are encoded by distinct genes, a concept that caused a reevaluation of how the host responds to viral infection. Subsequently, he focused his research on another cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), where he made outstanding achievements and contributions in understanding the effects of TNF? on the host immune response. These studies led him and his colleagues to develop an antibody, now named Remicade/infliximab, that has improved the lives of thousands of individuals who suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and other autoimmune diseases. For this work, he has received numerous awards and honors, including the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation. ### For 28 years, the Milstein Awards have represented the pinnacle of scientific achievement in interferon and cytokine research and are conferred each year by the International Cytokine and Interferon Society at a special event during its annual meeting. "The Milstein family believes it is important to continue to recognize scientists who make exceptional contributions to basic and clinical research in cytokines and interferons. Drs. Nathan, O'Shea, and Vilcek are scientists who exemplify the spirit of this award through their translation of basic research to clinical benefit to hundreds of thousands of patients," said Dr. Tadatsugu Taniguchi, President of the ICIS. The Milstein family -- Vivian, her late husband Seymour, their son Philip and their daughter Connie -- are well-known philanthropists in the United States and abroad. For more than 50 years they have provided essential support for institutions and organizations at a time when funds from government agencies have been drying up. Seymour Milstein's early insights into the critical importance of interferons led him to Sidney Pestka, M.D., one of the scientists at the forefront of interferon research. Seymour Milstein's interest in fostering continued investigations in this emerging field, and the Milstein family's tradition of support for organizations dedicated to patient care and scientific research, motivated him and his wife Vivian to establish The Milstein Awards in 1988, two years after interferon was first approved for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia. Since that time, it has been widely recognized that interferons and the larger class of cytokines play critical roles in the development and progression of many major diseases including cancer, viral diseases such as hepatitis and influenza, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and lupus. Most importantly, in the context of the Milstein Award's scope, the three most recent honorees have contributed tremendously to the treatment of disease and improvement of human health, exemplifying the goals of the Milstein Awards. The Milstein family also supports The Milstein Young Investigator Awards to recognize the work of individuals who have made an impact on interferon and cytokine research early in their careers, and The Milstein Travel Awards to give those who may not otherwise be able to attend the Annual Meeting of the ICIS an opportunity to share the most current cytokine and interferon knowledge with peers around from the world. About ICIS The International Cytokine and Interferon Society, based in Bethesda, Md., is a non-profit organization devoted to cytokine, interferon, and chemokine research in the fields of cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and pre-clinical and clinical drug development. The ICIS provides a forum for sharing knowledge and encourages investigations that will lead to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that impact humanity. ICIS members' research has led to significant breakthroughs in understanding and treating cancer, inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, viral diseases such as hepatitis and influenza, and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and lupus. Contact: Lisa Hetherington ICIS@faseb.org 1 J. E. Darnell Jr., Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY (Interferon: The 50th Anniversary, 2007) A contact lens designed to deliver medication gradually to the eye could improve outcomes for patients with conditions requiring treatment with eye drops, which are often imprecise and difficult to self-administer. In a study published online today in Ophthalmology, a team of researchers have shown that a novel contact lens-based system, which uses a strategically placed drug polymer film to deliver medication gradually to the eye, is at least as effective, and possibly more so, as daily latanoprost eye drops in a pre-clinical model for glaucoma. "We found that a lower-dose contact lens delivered the same amount of pressure reduction as the latanoprost drops, and a higher-dose lens, interestingly enough, had better pressure reduction than the drops in our small study," said first author Joseph B. Ciolino, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. "Based on our preliminary data, the lenses have not only the potential to improve compliance for patients, but also the potential of providing better pressure reduction than the drops." Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. While there is no cure for glaucoma, ocular medications aim to lower pressure in the eye with the goal of preventing vision loss. Currently, the medications are delivered as eye drops, which sometimes cause stinging and burning, can be difficult to self-administer and are subsequently associated with poor patient compliance, with some studies suggesting that compliance is as low as 50 percent. "This promising delivery system removes the burden of administration from the patient and ensures consistent delivery of medication to the eye, eliminating the ongoing concern of patient compliance with dosing," said Janet B. Serle, M.D., a glaucoma specialist at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Contact lenses have been studied as a means of ocular drug delivery for nearly 50 years, yet many such lenses are ineffective because they dispense the drug too quickly. The authors of the Ophthalmology study designed the contact lens to allow for a more controlled drug release. The researchers had previously shown in a 2014 study that the lens is capable of delivering medication continuously for one month. The researchers designed a novel contact lens that contains a thin film of drug-encapsulated polymers in the periphery. The drug-polymer film slows the drug coming out of the lens. Because the drug film is on the periphery, the center of the lens is clear, allowing for normal visual acuity, breathability and hydration. The lenses can be made with no refractive power or with the ability to correct the refractive error in nearsighted or farsighted eyes. "Instead of taking a contact lens and allowing it to absorb a drug and release it quickly, our lens uses a polymer film to house the drug, and the film has a large ratio of surface area to volume, allowing the drug to release more slowly," said senior author Daniel S. Kohane, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery at Boston Children's Hospital. In a study supported by a grant from the Boston Children's Hospital Technology and Innovation Development Office, the effect of this drug eluting contact lens was assessed in four glaucomatous monkeys. The researchers showed that the contact lens with lower doses of latanoprost delivers the same amount of eye pressure reduction as the eye drop version of the medication. The lenses delivering higher doses of latanoprost had better pressure reduction than the drops. Further study is needed to confirm the finding in the higher-dose lenses. The researchers are currently designing clinical trials to determine safety and efficacy of the lenses in humans. "If we can address the problem of compliance, we may help patients adhere to the therapy necessary to maintain vision in diseases like glaucoma, saving millions from preventable blindness," said Dr. Ciolino. "This study also raises the possibility that we may have an option for glaucoma that's more effective than what we have today." ### In addition to Drs. Ciolino, Kohane and Serle, co-authors of the Ophthalmology report include Amy E. Ross, M.Sc., Rehka Tulsan, M.Sc., and Amy C. Watts, O.D., of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, David Zurakowski, Ph.D. of Boston Children's Hospital and Rong-Fang Wang, M.D., of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The research was supported by a grant from the Technology and Innovation Development Office of Boston Children's Hospital, the National Eye Institute 1K08EY019686-01, the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, the New England Cornea Transplant Fund, the Eleanor and Miles Shore Foundation and Research to Prevent Blindness. About Massachusetts Eye and Ear Mass. Eye and Ear clinicians and scientists are driven by a mission to find cures for blindness, deafness and diseases of the head and neck. Now united with Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass. Eye and Ear is the world's largest vision and hearing research center, developing new treatments and cures through discovery and innovation. Mass. Eye and Ear is a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and trains future medical leaders in ophthalmology and otolaryngology, through residency as well as clinical and research fellowships. Internationally acclaimed since its founding in 1824, Mass. Eye and Ear employs full-time, board-certified physicians who offer high-quality and affordable specialty care that ranges from the routine to the very complex. In the 2016-2017 "Best Hospitals Survey," U.S. News & World Report ranked Mass. Eye and Ear #1 in the nation for ear, nose and throat care and #1 in New England for eye care. For more information about life-changing care and research, or to learn how you can help, please visit MassEyeAndEar.org. About Boston Children's Hospital Boston Children's Hospital is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. More than 1,100 scientists, including seven members of the National Academy of Sciences, 14 members of the Institute of Medicine and 14 members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's today is a 395-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. Boston Children's is also the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information about research and clinical innovation at Boston Children's, visit: http://vectorblog.org. About Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology The Harvard Medical School (HMS) Department of Ophthalmology is one of the leading and largest academic departments of ophthalmology in the nation. More than 350 full-time faculty and trainees work at nine HMS affiliate institutions, including Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Joslin Diabetes Center/Beetham Eye Institute, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, VA Maine Healthcare System, and Cambridge Health Alliance. Formally established in 1871, the department has been built upon a strong and rich foundation in medical education, research, and clinical care. Through the years, faculty and alumni have profoundly influenced ophthalmic science, medicine, and literature--helping to transform the field of ophthalmology from a branch of surgery into an independent medical specialty at the forefront of science. Researchers from MIPT, the Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, the Institute for Energy Problems of Chemical Physics, and the Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Medicine have presented an algorithm to detect mutant proteins based on mass spectrometry data and the results of exome sequencing. Using this new approach, the scientists have discovered unique genome variants, some of which are linked to cancer development. Studying mutant peptides will help to detect weaknesses in tumor cells in search for more effective drug treatments. The results have been published in the journal Proteomics. Proteomics and Big Data It seems as if the term "big data" is relatively new. However, it is impossible to imagine any science that would not use large amounts of data. In biology, big data enables scientists to, on the one hand, conduct large-scale experiments and extract more useful data from biological material. On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly difficult to reveal important patterns of high specificity within the large amount of information. To cope with this problem, scientists are increasingly focusing on developing complex algorithms and/or the workflows for filtering and analyzing the data. Proteomics - the large-scale study of proteins of cells and entire organisms - is no exception. Generally, proteins, peptides, and their fragments can be analyzed using mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry provides peptide fragmentation information specific to the amino acid sequence and, thus, allows scientists to identify proteins present in the original sample. A number of algorithms called a search engine are currently available for protein identification. These algorithms take the peptide fragmentation patterns provided by mass spectrometry, match them with a protein database and return the list of proteins corresponding to the experimental data. However, this approach is not entirely suitable for proteins that are not encoded in a reference genome. If a mutant protein from a cancer cell does not present in the search database, then the so-called variant peptide corresponding to the mutated part of the protein would not be identified. This is where proteogenomics comes in - a rapidly growing area of biological research at the intersection of genomics and proteomics. Variant peptides identified using the proteogenomic approach provide invaluable information for gene annotation - information which is difficult or impossible to ascertain using standard annotation methods. Expansion of the protein database In their paper, the Russian scientists describe a workflow for searching variant peptides from mutant proteins enabling them to compare the mass spectrometry results of different groups and laboratories for unambiguous marking of cancer mutations. The effectiveness of their approach has been tested using HEK-293 cells. HEK-293 (Human Embryonic Kidney 293) cells are a specific cell line originally derived from human embryonic kidney cells grown in a tissue culture. HEK-293 cells have been widely used in cell biology research for many years because of their reliable growth and propensity for transfection. In addition to their own experimental data, the researchers used the mass spectrometry results from two recent studies analysing HEK-293 cell proteomes. They generated the so-called customized database for proteogenomic analysis based on exome sequencing of HEK-293 cells. An exome is formed by exons (part of a gene that codes an amino acid sequence). As a result, the customized protein database now has 1336 sequences of mutant proteins in addition to the reference database of human proteins. This simply means that the protein "dictionary" has grown. Without this improvement it would be impossible to find the "wrong" mutant proteins. A cancer cell mutates more often than a regular cell, which is why known differences between proteins in cancer and "reference" cells will help scientists to find out more about tumor cells. With the mass spectrometry data available from two previous studies and the own experimental results, the Russian scientists identified peptides and the corresponding proteins contained in the cell. Using the proteogenomic analysis with an expanded peptide database, the authors discovered 113 unique variant peptide sequences in HEK-293 cells referring to the exons of 103 genes. Some of the mutations discovered had previously been proven to be connected with different types of cancer. These mutant proteins could possibly facilitate the survival and multiplication of the cells. In particular, one of the variants identified is related to the p53 protein which is known to suppress the malignant transformations. "Our approach may be used to search for cancer-associated mutations based on proteomic analysis. This will help in studying the protein expressions in tumors and provide further basis for developing drugs targeting the mutant proteins produced in tumor cells," says Dr. Michael Gorshkov, one of the collaborators in the project, the Head of the Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Methods for Structure Analysis at the Institute for Energy Problems of Chemical Physics, and a member of MIPT's Department of Chemical Physics. ### A research team including developmental biologist Stephen A. Duncan, D. Phil., SmartStateTM Chair of Regenerative Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), has found a better way to purify liver cells made from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Their efforts, published August 25, 2016 in Stem Cell Reports, will aid studies of liver disease for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)'s $80 million Next Generation Genetic Association Studies (Next Gen) Program. The University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) and the Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) contributed to the study. This new methodology could facilitate progress toward an important clinical goal: the treatment of patients with disease-causing mutations in their livers by transplant of unmutated liver cells derived from their own stem cells. Previous attempts to generate liver-like cells from stem cells have yielded heterogeneous cell populations that bear little resemblance to diseased livers in patients. NHLBI's Next Gen was created to bank stem cell lines sourced from patients in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The goal of the NHLBI Next Gen Lipid Conditions sub-section--a collaborative effort between Duncan and Daniel J. Rader, M.D., and Edward E. Morrisey, Ph.D., both at the University of Pennsylvania--is to help determine the genetic sources of heart, lung, or blood conditions that also encompass the liver. These GWAS studies map the genomes in hundreds of people as a way to look for genetic mutation patterns that differ from the genomes of healthy individuals. A GWAS study becomes more powerful--more likely to find the correct genetic mutations that cause a disease--as more genomes are mapped. Once a panel of suspected mutations is built, stem cells from these individuals can be "pushed" in culture dishes to differentiate into any of the body's cells, as for example liver-, heart-, or vascular-like cells. The cells can be screened in high-throughput formats (i.e., cells are expanded and cultured in many dishes) to learn more about the mutations and to test panels of drugs that might ultimately help treat patients harboring a disease. The problem arises during the "pushing." For example, iPSCs stubbornly refuse to mature uniformly into liver-like cells when fed growth factors. Traditionally, antibodies have been used to recognize features of maturity on the surfaces of cells and purify cells that are alike. This approach has been crucial to stem cell research, but available antibodies that recognize mature liver cells are few and tend to recognize many different kinds of cells. The many types of cells in mixed populations have diverse characteristics that can obscure underlying disease-causing genetic variations, which tend to be subtle. "Without having a pure population of liver cells, it was incredibly difficult to pick up these relatively subtle differences caused by the mutations, but differences that are important in the life of an individual," said Duncan. Instead of relying on antibodies, Duncan and his crew embraced a new technology called chemoproteomic cell surface capture (CSC) technology. True to its name, CSC technology allowed the group to map the proteins on the surface of liver cells that were most highly produced during the final stages of differentiation of stem cells into liver cells. The most abundant protein was targeted with an antibody labeled with a fluorescent marker and used to sort the mature liver cells from the rest. The procedure was highly successful: the team had a population of highly pure, homogeneous, and mature liver-like cells. Labeled cells had far more similar traits of mature hepatocytes than unlabeled cells. Pluripotent stem cells that had not differentiated were excluded from the group of labeled cells. "That's important," said Duncan. "If you're wanting to transplant cells into somebody that has liver disease, you really don't want to be transplanting pluripotent cells because pluripotent cells form tumors called teratocarcinomas." Duncan cautions that transplantation of iPSC-derived liver cells is not yet ready for translation to the clinic. But the technology for sorting homogeneous liver cells can be used now to successfully and accurately model and study disease in the cell culture dish. "We think that by being able to generate pure populations, it will get rid of the variability, and therefore really help us combine with GWAS studies to identify allelic variations that are causative of a disease, at least in the liver," said Duncan. ### About MUSC Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.2 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute designated center) Level I Trauma Center, and Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit muschealth.org. Researchers at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) recently identified compounds that potentially can be used to inhibit Zika virus replication and reduce its ability to kill brain cells. These compounds now can be studied by the broader research community to help combat the Zika public health crisis. NCATS is part of the National Institutes of Health. Using NCATS' drug repurposing screening robots, researchers identified two classes of compounds effective against Zika: one is antiviral, and the other prevents Zika-related brain cell death. The compounds include emricasan, an investigational drug currently being evaluated in a clinical trial to reduce liver injury and fibrosis, and niclosamide, a U. S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for use in humans to treat worm infections. In addition, the researchers identified nine cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors. CDK usually is involved in regulation of cellular processes as well as normal brain development, but the Zika virus can negatively affect this process. NCATS' work was a collaborative effort with Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, (JHU) and Florida State University, Tallahassee, (FSU), and the study results were published in the August 29 issue of Nature Medicine. The NCATS screening effort builds on the initial research by JHU and FSU scientists, who discovered that the Zika virus infects brain cells early in development. Infection by the Zika virus may be related to fetal microcephaly, an abnormally small head resulting from an underdeveloped and/or damaged brain. The Zika virus has been reported in 60 countries and territories worldwide; currently, there are no vaccines or effective drug treatments. The virus is spread primarily through bites from infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and in addition, can be transmitted from mother to child and through sexual contact. It also is associated with neurological diseases such as Guillain-Barree syndrome in infected adults. "The Zika virus poses a global health threat," said Anton Simeonov, Ph.D., NCATS scientific director. "While we await the development of effective vaccines, which can take a significant amount of time, our identification of repurposed small molecule compounds may accelerate the translational process of finding a potential therapy." NCATS researcher Wei Zheng, Ph.D., and his team led the drug repurposing screen to test three strains of Zika: Asian, African and Puerto Rican. The scientists first developed an assay (test) using caspase 3, a protein that causes brain cell death when infected by the virus. The next step was screening 6,000 FDA-approved and investigational compounds, which resulted in the identification of more than 100 promising compounds. The team then evaluated the protective effect of these compounds in brain cells after Zika virus infection. Three lead compounds, emiracsan, niclosamide and a CDK inhibitor known as PHA-690509, were identified as reducing neuronal cell death caused by Zika virus infection. These compounds were effective either in inhibiting the replication of Zika or in preventing the virus from killing brain cells. For example, emricasan prevents cell death, and niclosamide and the nine CDK inhibitors stop the virus' replication. The team also found that emricasan, when combined with one of the CDK inhibitors, prevented both cell death and virus replication. In addition, the team noted that the CDK inhibitors may be useful in treating non-pregnant patients who face an increased risk of Guillain-Barree syndrome and other conditions sparked by Zika infection. The researchers cautioned, however, that the use of emricasan and niclosamide during pregnancy for Zika infection will need to be evaluated in pre-clinical toxicology studies and clinical trials. "Using the NCATS drug repurposing platform for emerging infectious diseases can help rapidly identify potential treatments for urgent needs such as the Zika virus," Zheng said. "While identifying promising compounds is a first step, our goal at NCATS is to facilitate the translation of these findings for evaluation in the clinic. The release of all the compound screening data in this publication and in the public PubChem database opens the door to the research community to do just that." NCATS' screening effort enabled the broader research team to quickly translate their earlier discoveries toward work to develop treatments for Zika virus infection. JHU is working on a mouse model to study the neuroprotective effects of the compounds identified from the screen and studying the mechanism of action of the lead compounds. FSU is testing the efficacy of these compounds in a Zika virus mouse model and is also studying the mechanism of action of the lead compounds. ### In addition to NCATS, FSU and JHU, the research was supported by Emory University, Atlanta; the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, Columbia; NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke through grants NS048271 and NS095348, NS047344 and NS097206; and NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases through grant AI119530. Reference Xu et al. Identification of small molecule inhibitors of Zika virus infection and induced neural cell death via a drug repurposing screen. Nature Medicine. August 29, 2016. http://nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/nm.4184. About the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS): To get more treatments to more patients more quickly, NCATS incorporates the power of data, new technologies and strategic collaborations to develop, demonstrate and disseminate innovations in translational science. Rather than targeting a particular disease or fundamental science, NCATS focuses on what is common across all diseases and the translational process. For more information, visit https://ncats.nih.gov. About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov. GREENSBORO, N.C., Aug. 29, 2016 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $18.9 million in renewal awards to build or improve agricultural and food science research facilities and equipment at historically black Land-Grant Colleges and Universities. Today's announcement builds on USDA's ongoing efforts to foster strong partnerships with the 1890 community, ensure equal access to USDA programs and services, and support educational opportunities for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. "These awards help colleges and universities make improvements that support cutting-edge academic research and foster 21st century innovation that will shape the future of American agriculture," said Dr. Joe Leonard, Jr., USDA Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, who today announced the awards during a visit to North Carolina A&T University. "For more than a century USDA has built strong partnerships with historically black colleges and 1890 Land-Grant Universities, and the 1890 Facilities Grant Program ensures that partnership will continue to benefit students for many more years to come." The awards announced today are made through the 1890s Facilities Grants program, which provides funding for the acquisition and improvement of food, agricultural, and human sciences facilities and equipment, including libraries, so that the 1890 land-grant institutions, including Tuskegee University, may participate fully in the production of human capital in the food and agricultural sciences. North Carolina A&T is receiving an award of $1.12 million, which will be used to construct a Complex for Urban and Sustainable Agriculture, Food, Education and Research (C-U-SAFER) building and to establish a student farm. The complex and farm will provide students opportunities for multi-disciplinary projects, as well as help the school leverage extramural support from outside organizations with an interest in sustainable agriculture, local and community food systems. Funding awards for 2016 include: Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Ala., $952,989 Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala., $952,989 University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff., Ark., $904,537 Delaware State University, Dover, Del., $700,649 Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla., $917,871 Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Ga., $1,003,446 Southern University, Baton Rouge, La., $839,111 Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Ky., $1,085,670 University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Md., $806,685 Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo., $1,185,476 Alcorn State University, Lorman, Miss., $885,952 North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, N.C., $1,120,427 Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, $1,299,243 Langston University, Langston, Okla., $991,763 South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, S.C., $873,535 Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, $1,510,894 Tennessee State University Nashville, Tenn., $1,089,527 Virginia State University, Petersburg, Va., $993,968 West Virginia State University, Morgantown, W. Va., $826,068 Abstracts for the 2016 funded projects can be viewed on NIFA's reporting website. Previously funded projects include a Tennessee State University project that constructed a 25,000 square-foot Agricultural Biotechnology Building. It contains more than 12 state-of-the-art labs for cutting-edge research. Prairie View A&M University is currently upgrading their International Goat Research Center to better support animal and veterinary sciences research, teaching, and outreach programs in animal health. The renovations and supporting equipment will assist in developing a Center of Excellence in Caprine Research, providing agriculture students with experiential learning opportunities and facilitating delivery of programs to limited-resource farmers and ranchers. ### NIFA invests in and advances innovative and transformative initiatives to solve societal challenges and ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. NIFA's integrated research, education and extension programs support the best and brightest scientists and extension personnel, and have resulted in user-inspired groundbreaking discoveries that are combating childhood obesity, improving and sustaining rural economic growth, addressing water availability issues, increasing food production, finding new sources of energy, mitigating climate variability and ensuring food safety. To learn more about NIFA's impact on agricultural science visit http://www.nifa.usda.gov/impacts, sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter @usda_NIFA, #NIFAimpacts. This month USDA is celebrating historic progress over the last eight years to improve the quality of life and access to opportunity for all Americans. Learn more online in The People's Department: A New Era for Civil Rights at USDA. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. As Hurricane Lester in the Eastern Pacific Ocean strengthened into a major hurricane, Tropical Storm Madeline in the Central Pacific became a hurricane. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an image as Madeline was transitioning and organizing. On Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC) Tropical Storm Madeline developed just east of the 140 degree longitude line in the Eastern Pacific Ocean located near latitude 15.2 degrees north latitude and 138.5 degrees west longitude. Since that time, it crossed that longitude line and entered the Central Pacific Ocean Basin. When NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over Madeline it was strengthening into a hurricane. On Aug. 28 at 6:05 p.m. EDT (2205 UTC) the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured an image of Tropical Storm Madeline as it was strengthening and organizing.The image showed the system had a good circulation and a band of strong thunderstorms wrapping tightly into the low-level center from the west. Madeline had taken on a comma shape. When NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the Central Pacific Ocean it gathered temperature data on Tropical Storm Madeline. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder or AIRS instrument aboard Aqua looked at Madeline in infrared light on Aug. 28 at 7:11 p.m. EDT (2311 UTC). AIRS infrared data showed that the storm had some powerful thunderstorms with high cold cloud tops (as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 53 degrees Celsius). On Aug. 29 at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC), Madeline strengthened into a hurricane. At 11 a.m. EDT (5 a.m. HST/1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Madeline was located near 18.2 degrees north latitude and 144.6 degrees west longitude. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph (155 km/h) with higher gusts. Slight strengthening is expected later today and Tuesday, followed by slight weakening early Wednesday. The estimated minimum central pressure is 975 millibars. Madeline is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph (17 kph) and this motion is expected to become westerly later today through early Wednesday. Forecaster Powell at NOAA's Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) mentioned in the discussion issued at that time that "Madeline's cloud-covered eye re-emerged by 8 a.m. EDT (1200 UTC) with a cooler-topped and increasingly well-formed eyewall. Organization continues to improve, with little or no [vertical wind] shear deformation present." CPHC noted that there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, however, interests in the Hawaiian Islands should monitor the progress of Madeline. For updated forecasts on Madeline, visit the CPHC website: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc ### For years, astronomers have puzzled over a massive star lodged deep in the Milky Way that shows conflicting signs of being extremely old and extremely young. Researchers initially classified the star as elderly, perhaps a red supergiant. But a new study by a NASA-led team of researchers suggests that the object, labeled IRAS 19312+1950, might be something quite different - a protostar, a star still in the making. "Astronomers recognized this object as noteworthy around the year 2000 and have been trying ever since to decide how far along its development is," said Martin Cordiner, an astrochemist working at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He is the lead author of a paper in the Astrophysical Journal describing the team's findings, from observations made using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and ESA's Herschel Space Observatory. Located more than 12,000 light-years from Earth, the object first stood out as peculiar when it was observed at particular radio frequencies. Several teams of astronomers studied it using ground-based telescopes and concluded that it is an oxygen-rich star about 10 times as massive as the sun. The question was: What kind of star? Some researchers favor the idea that the star is evolved - past the peak of its life cycle and on the decline. For most of their lives, stars obtain their energy by fusing hydrogen in their cores, as the sun does now. But older stars have used up most of their hydrogen and must rely on heavier fuels that don't last as long, leading to rapid deterioration. Two early clues - intense radio sources called masers - suggested the star was old. In astronomy, masers occur when the molecules in certain kinds of gases get revved up and emit a lot of radiation over a very limited range of frequencies. The result is a powerful radio beacon - the microwave equivalent of a laser. One maser observed with IRAS 19312+1950 is almost exclusively associated with late-stage stars. This is the silicon oxide maser, produced by molecules made of one silicon atom and one oxygen atom. Researchers don't know why this maser is nearly always restricted to elderly stars, but of thousands of known silicon oxide masers, only a few exceptions to this rule have been noted. Also spotted with the star was a hydroxyl maser, produced by molecules comprised of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom. Hydroxyl masers can occur in various kinds of astronomical objects, but when one occurs with an elderly star, the radio signal has a distinctive pattern - it's especially strong at a frequency of 1612 megahertz. That's the pattern researchers found in this case. Even so, the object didn't entirely fit with evolved stars. Especially puzzling was the smorgasbord of chemicals found in the large cloud of material surrounding the star. A chemical-rich cloud like this is typical of the regions where new stars are born, but no such stellar nursery had been identified near this star. Scientists initially proposed that the object was an old star surrounded by a surprising cloud typical of the kind that usually accompanies young stars. Another idea was that the observations might somehow be capturing two objects: a very old star and an embryonic cloud of star-making material in the same field. Cordiner and his colleagues began to reconsider the object, conducting observations using ESA's Herschel Space Observatory and analyzing data gathered earlier with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Both telescopes operate at infrared wavelengths, which gave the team new insight into the gases, dust and ices in the cloud surrounding the star. The additional information leads Cordiner and colleagues to think the star is in a very early stage of formation. The object is much brighter than it first appeared, they say, emitting about 20,000 times the energy of our sun. The team found large quantities of ices made from water and carbon dioxide in the cloud around the object. These ices are located on dust grains relatively close to the star, and all this dust and ice blocks out starlight making the star seem dimmer than it really is. In addition, the dense cloud around the object appears to be collapsing, which happens when a growing star pulls in material. In contrast, the material around an evolved star is expanding and is in the process of escaping to the interstellar medium. The entire envelope of material has an estimated mass of 500 to 700 suns, which is much more than could have been produced by an elderly or dying star. "We think the star is probably in an embryonic stage, getting near the end of its accretion stage - the period when it pulls in new material to fuel its growth," said Cordiner. Also supporting the idea of a young star are the very fast wind speeds measured in two jets of gas streaming away from opposite poles of the star. Such jets of material, known as a bipolar outflow, can be seen emanating from young or old stars. However, fast, narrowly focused jets are rarely observed in evolved stars. In this case, the team measured winds at the breakneck speed of at least 200,000 miles per hour (90 kilometers per second) - a common characteristic of a protostar. Still, the researchers acknowledge that the object is not a typical protostar. For reasons they can't explain yet, the star has spectacular features of both a very young and a very old star. "No matter how one looks at this object, it's fascinating, and it has something new to tell us about the life cycles of stars," said Steven Charnley, a Goddard astrochemist and co-author of the paper. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, manages the Spitzer Space Telescope mission, whose science operations are conducted at the Spitzer Science Center. Spacecraft operations are based at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Littleton, Colorado. Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led principal investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA. ### For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spitzer Or contact: Elizabeth Landau Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-354-6425 elizabeth.landau@jpl.nasa.gov COLUMBUS, Ohio - Potential voters who see the nation as being in dire economic straits view a presidential candidate as more "presidential" when he or she uses high-intensity, emotional language, a new study suggests. But people who think the country is doing just fine think a candidate sounds more presidential when the language is more restrained. The results of the experimental study may help explain the appeal of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to their supporters, said David Clementson, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in communication at The Ohio State University. "The success of each may boil down to which candidate does better matching his or her language intensity with their audience," Clementson said. The study appears in the September 2016 issue of Presidential Studies Quarterly. Clementson conducted the study with Paola Pascual-Ferra of Loyola University Maryland and Michael Beatty of the University of Miami. The study involved 304 college students and was conducted just weeks before the 2012 presidential election. Each student participant was given one of two hypothetical economic scenarios to consider. Both were tailored to a college audience. In one, the national economy is strong, 50 percent of college loans can be forgiven, and recent college graduates have no trouble finding high-paying jobs. In the second scenario, the economy is in recession, the federal government is requiring students to pay some of their student loans early, and college graduates can't find jobs. They were then told to read part of a speech that was being given by a presidential candidate. Some read a speech that used low-intensity language. For example, this candidate said, "This election presents a choice between two contrasting visions for our country" and "Your vote is an opportunity to express your opinion for the direction of our future." Others read a speech in which the candidate used high-intensity language, such as "This election is the most important election of your life" and "A vote for me is a vote for your livelihood." Each participant then rated how "presidential" and how "trustworthy" each candidate sounded in their speeches. Results showed that the participants preferred different types of speeches from the candidates, depending on the economic conditions in their scenario. Those who were given the recession scenario thought the candidate who used high-intensity, fiery language sounded most presidential. "They wanted a candidate whose language was a little over the top, who promised big things to fix the economy," Clementson said. But participants who were given the good-times scenario had a different view of what sounded presidential -- they preferred the candidate who used calmer, less-intense language. For perceptions of trustworthiness, low-intensity language worked in either economic situation, but especially for good times. "In bad economic times, participants thought the candidates were equally trustworthy if they used high- or low-intensity language," he said. "But in the scenario where times were good, the participants thought the candidate using the more restrained language was more trustworthy." The results suggest there isn't one type of language that will always appeal to voters, Clementson said. "Politicians don't seem to know when to express emotional language and when to restrain themselves. "That may be because the audience doesn't always want the same kind of language from candidates. It's about expectations. They want candidates who reflect how they're feeling at that time about the state of the economy." In 2016, Trump is the candidate who uses the most intense language, so he will appeal to those who are most upset about the direction of the country, Clementson said. Clinton uses a combination of high- and low-intensity language in her speeches, he said. "Clinton uses some strong language stating that the economy is not good for many Americans, but she also is less prone to use high-intensity rhetoric. Her language in general would appeal more to those who are satisfied with the state of the economy." ### Contact: David Clementson, Clementson.3@osu.edu Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu A device made of bilayer graphene, an atomically thin hexagonal arrangement of carbon atoms, provides experimental proof of the ability to control the momentum of electrons and offers a path to electronics that could require less energy and give off less heat than standard silicon-based transistors. It is one step forward in a new field of physics called valleytronics. "Current silicon-based transistor devices rely on the charge of electrons to turn the device on or off, but many labs are looking at new ways to manipulate electrons based on other variables, called degrees of freedom," said Jun Zhu, associate professor of physics, Penn State, who directed the research. "Charge is one degree of freedom. Electron spin is another, and the ability to build transistors based on spin, called spintronics, is still in the development stage. A third electronic degree of freedom is the valley state of electrons, which is based on their energy in relation to their momentum." Think of electrons as cars and the valley states as blue and red colors, Zhu suggested, just as a way to differentiate them. Inside a sheet of bilayer graphene, electrons will normally occupy both red and blue valley states and travel in all directions. The device her Ph.D. student, Jing Li, has been working on can make the red cars go in one direction and the blue cars in the opposite direction. "The system that Jing created puts a pair of gates above and below a bilayer graphene sheet. Then he adds an electric field perpendicular to the plane," Zhu said. "By applying a positive voltage on one side and a negative voltage on the other, a bandgap opens in bilayer graphene, which it doesn't normally have," Li explained. "In the middle, between the two sides, we leave a physical gap of about 70 nanometers." Inside this gap live one-dimensional metallic states, or wires, that are color-coded freeways for electrons. The red cars travel in one direction and the blue cars travel in the opposite direction. In theory, colored electrons could travel unhindered along the wires for a long distance with very little resistance. Smaller resistance means power consumption is lower in electronic devices and less heat is generated. Both power consumption and thermal management are challenges in current miniaturized devices. "Our experiments show that the metallic wires can be created," Li said. "Although we are still a long way from applications." Zhu added, "It's quite remarkable that such states can be created in the interior of an insulating bilayer graphene sheet, using just a few gates. They are not yet resistance-free, and we are doing more experiments to understand where resistance might come from. We are also trying to build valves that control the electron flow based on the color of the electrons. That's a new concept of electronics called valleytronics." Li worked closely with the technical staff of Penn State's nanofabrication facility to turn the theoretical framework into a working device. "The alignment of the top and bottom gates was crucial and not a trivial challenge," said Chad Eichfeld, nanolithography engineer. "The state-of-the-art electron beam lithography capabilities at the Penn State Nanofabrication Laboratory allowed Jing to create this novel device with nanoscale features." ### Their paper, "Gate-controlled topological conducting channels in bilayer graphene," appears online today (Aug 29) in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. Additional authors include Ke Wang and Yafei Ren and their advisor Zenhua Qiao of University of Science and Technology of China, who performed numerical studies to model the behavior of the wires. The high-quality hexagonal Boron Nitride crystals used in the experiment came from Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi of National Institute for Material Science, Japan. Two undergraduate students, Kenton McFaul and Zachary Zern, contributed to the research. The U.S. Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation and funding agencies in China and Japan funded this project. Kenton McFaul, a visiting student from Grove City College, was supported by a Research Experience for Undergraduates grant from the NSF NNIN. Jun Zhu is a member of the Center for 2-Dimensional and Layered Materials in Penn State's Materials Research Institute. MOSS POINT, Miss. - Fed up, frustrated, and angry are just a few adjectives to describe the feeling of those standing across the street from a Moss Point convenience store to protest the treatment the owner of the store allegedly inflicts on those in the community. Though many residents were not present at the protest, numerous car horns blared in support of those in attendance favoring the boycott against the Moss Point Express gas station and convenience store. Last Monday, a local walked into the gas station and attempted to swipe cigars from the store. According to Moss Point Chief of Police Art McClung, the confrontation began after the owner told the shoplifter to hand over the alleged stolen items. According to WLOX, a witness stated the man threw his bike at the owner and somewhere in the struggle, the owner pulled a firearm and shot the man. Protestor Charlotte Brown is a long-time resident of the Moss Point community and said there have been many issues with this store and the way it treats the community for quite some time. Protesters stand across the street from the Moss Point Express convenience store to boycott the store because of the owner's treatment of those in the community. "The issues have been ongoing," Brown said. "They sell to minors, they throw bleach on their customers, they pull guns on their customers, and lately, they shot one of their customers. Yes, he was shoplifting, but we do not want to steal and we do not want to shoot to kill." Brown stated she had never been inside of the store, but says the account where the owner of the store threw bleach onto a customer is factual. "I know the man personally, and while he was soliciting, he did not deserve for bleach to be thrown onto him," Brown said. "The man was arrested while nothing was done to the owner." According to Brown, the owner of the store knew the shoplifter because he'd banned him from the store. "Why not call the police instead of shooting him?" Brown asked. Despite the protesters' pleas, some residents continued to patronize the convenience store. One resident shouting expletives at the protesters' said, "I've been knowing the man since I was a little boy." At the protesters request, some residents pulled into the gas station and once they heard the store owner shot an unarmed shoplifter, they proceeded to patronize the store across from Moss Point Express. Dan Hunter, also a protester shouted his sentiments to those who continued to patronize the convenience store. According to Hunter, the store owner does not put anything back into the community. Little protester, Kylen Williams holds a sign in solidarity with the boycott of Moss Point Express gas station. "We are protesting because we are tired," Hunter said. Every time something happens, we don't stand up together and it is time that we do so. We are not just out here today as black people, all lives matter. This isn't about black or white, I'm standing up for right. I was not an associate of the man who was shot, but he is one of my brothers' so I am sticking up for the people who cannot do so for themselves." Hunter said he has seen the store owner kick people in their buttocks and also says he's shot into an occupied dwelling, but hasn't been charged. "The police come and he still doesn't go to jail," Hunter said. "What is it going to take for him to be arrested? Killing someone?" On last week, McClung told the Mississippi Press the shooting is under investigation and chances are they would turn the evidence over to the district attorney's office so that the case can be presented to a grand jury. Hunter and Brown said they are not going away and that the overall goal is to intercept money the store owner is making from residents within the city. "We either have one or two solutions," Brown said. "If they want to stay in our community, they need to learn to respect us. They should have a security officer to protect their store so we won't have unarmed people being shot, or they can leave. We have other businesses on this street we can patronize." "We want them to feel the pain that we feel," Hunter said. "They are all about a dollar and they cannot afford to go one week without residents patronizing their business. We are going to continue to let the people know to boycott Moss Point Express until things change." According to Hunter, Monday's protest is the only one scheduled, but they have a social media campaign to inform those in the community about the store owner's alleged actions. The Mississippi Press reached out to Moss Point Mayor Billy Broomfield for a comment, but was told Broomfield was meeting with his staff. This story will be updated. In a study published online by JAMA, John P. Greenwood, Ph.D., of the University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom, and colleagues examined whether among patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-guided care is superior to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines-directed care and myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS)-guided care in reducing unnecessary angiography. The study is being released to coincide with its presentation at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2016. Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Several methods are available to diagnose CHD, risk-stratify patients, and determine the need for revascularization. Despite the widespread availability and recommendations for noninvasive imaging in international guidelines, invasive coronary angiography is commonly used in patients with suspected CHD. Evidence from large populations presenting with chest pain has confirmed that the majority will not have significant obstructive coronary disease. Avoiding unnecessary angiography should reduce patient risk and provide significant financial savings. In this study, 1,202 symptomatic patients from 6 UK hospitals with suspected CHD were randomly assigned to management according to UK NICE guidelines (n = 240) or to guided care based on the results of CMR (n = 481) or MPS (n = 481) testing. Among the patients, the number with invasive coronary angiography after 12 months was 102 in the NICE guidelines group (43 percent), 85 in the CMR group (18 percent); and 78 in the MPS group (16 percent). The researchers found that a CMR-guided strategy significantly reduced study-defined unnecessary angiography compared with NICE guidelines-guided care, but was not significantly different from an MPS-guided strategy. Between the 3 strategies, there was no difference in major adverse cardiovascular event rates at 12 months or disease detection (positive angiography) rates. ### (doi:10.1001/jama.2016.12680; the study is available pre-embargo to the media at the For the Media website) Editors Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc. Professor Nagendra Shah, Professor of Food Science and Technology in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong (HKU) was named the recipient for the International Dairy Foods Association Research Award in Dairy Foods Processing in 2016 by the American Dairy Science Association. He received the award in an award presentation ceremony held on July 21 (Thursday) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) is an international organization of educators, scientists, and industry representatives who are committed to advancing the dairy industry and keenly aware of the vital role the dairy sciences play in fulfilling the economic, nutritive, and health requirements of the world's population. The purpose of the International Dairy Foods Association Research Award in Dairy Foods Processing is to recognize individuals whose research findings have allowed dairy foods processors to develop new products, to make a significant improvement in the quality, safety, or processing efficiency of dairy foods. A renowned academic is chosen each year for the award from among the nominees all over the world. Professor Shah has made outstanding contributions to the Australian and international dairy industries over the past 35 years. His contribution in the arena of dairy foods processing research has been recognized internationally through various awards, of which some notable ones include the 2013 American Dairy Science Association Distinguished Service Award, the 2011 Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology Keith Farrer award of Merit, the 2009 California Dairy Research Foundation William C. Haines Dairy Science award, and the 2003 Marschall Rhodia International Dairy Science Award. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology, American Dairy Science Association, and Institute of Food Technologists. He is also listed in the "top 1% list of scholars" by the ISI Web of Knowledge Essential Sciences Indicator (ESI). Professor Shah has pursued active research in dairy foods processing and published widely on physiology, bioactivities and health properties of probiotics and their genomic and bio-informatic analysis, EPS producing starter cultures and texture and microstructure of low fat yogurt and mozzarella cheese. His team has also developed rapid and reliable techniques to detect and quantify pathogens in milk powder. A pioneering work by Professor Shah leading to his award has been on -aminobutyric acid (GABA) producing lactic acid bacteria. GABA is a non-protein amino acid that has shown anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) effect as an important function. Most high GABA producers are bacteria of plant origin, which are not able to grow in milk. Professor Shah's research team has shown that with the help of bacteria native to milk, bacteria of plant origin could synthesize GABA in milk. This groundbreaking work has great commercial significance in developing dairy foods with GABA for anti-hypertensive activity (i.e., for lowering blood pressure). Another important work of Professor Shah's team is galactose metabolism in dairy foods. Bacteria that are used to make dairy foods are able to breakdown milk sugar, i.e. lactose, into glucose and galactose. Glucose is easily utilized by these bacteria. These bacteria, however, do not breakdown galactose, accumulation of which can lead to serious problems in dairy foods (such as textural defects in Cheddar cheese and browning of pizza made using Mozzarella cheese containing lactose or galactose) and galactosemia (an inherited disease in which the transformation of galactose to glucose is blocked) in humans. The team has pioneered in discovering bacterial pathways and their gene expression to understand why this happens which provides hints to what can be done to alleviate issues of galactose accumulation. Another important area of Professor Shah's work has been the genomic analysis of a high EPS producing bacteria. Bacteria produce a slime-like substance called exo-polysaccharides (EPS) and are commonly used for making yogurt and other dairy foods. Genomic analysis of an EPS producing S. thermophilus has shown that this organism produces two types of EPSs - capsular and ropy EPS, and revealed many other characteristics of this organism which were unknown till date. EPS can be used to improve texture and overall quality of low fat yogurt and Mozzarella cheese, especially since EPS is naturally produced by lactic acid bacteria. Professor Shah received his BSc from India, MSc in Dairy Science from South Dakota State University and PhD in Food Science and Technology from University of Alberta. He is currently the disciplinary leader in the HKU School of Biological Sciences. Prior to joining HKU in 2012, he had worked at Victoria University Australia for 21 years at various capacities. Professor Shah has authored and co-authored 302 papers and book chapters and 198 conference abstracts. He has edited three books (Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods: Technology, Stability and Benefits to Human Health, and Dairy Products and Quality Control (2 editions) and many other journal papers. He is one of the highly cited researchers 2015 listed by Thomson Reuters Essential Sciences Indicators (ESI) and one of the 9 highly cited researchers of the University of Hong Kong. He is also listed by the Thomson Reuters as one of the 2015 World's Most Influential Scientific Minds! ### Irvine, Calif., Aug. 29, 2016 - As a multiyear drought grinds on in the Southwestern United States, many wonder about the impact of global climate change on more frequent and longer dry spells. As humans emit more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, how will water supply for people, farms, and forests be affected? A new study from the University of California, Irvine and the University of Washington shows that water conserved by plants under high CO2 conditions compensates for much of the effect of warmer temperatures, retaining more water on land than predicted in commonly used drought assessments. According to the study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the implications of plants needing less water with more CO2 in the environment changes assumptions of climate change impacts on agriculture, water resources, wildfire risk, and plant growth. The study compares current drought indices with ones that take into account changes in plant water use. Reduced precipitation will increase droughts across southern North America, southern Europe and northeastern South America. But the results show that in Central Africa and temperate Asia -- including China, the Middle East, East Asia and most of Russia -- water conservation by plants will largely counteract the parching due to climate change. "This study confirms that drought will intensify in many regions in the future," said coauthor James Randerson, UCI professor of Earth system science. "It also shows that plant water needs will have an important influence on water availability, and this part of the equation has been neglected in many drought and hydrology studies." Recent studies have estimated that more than 70 percent of our planet will experience more drought as carbon dioxide levels quadruple from pre-industrial levels over about the next 100 years. But when researchers account for changes in plants' water needs, this falls to 37 percent, with bigger differences concentrated in certain regions. The reason is that when Earth's atmosphere holds more carbon dioxide, plants actually benefit from having more of the molecules they need to build their carbon-rich bodies. Plants take in carbon dioxide through tiny openings called stomata that cover their leaves. But as they draw in carbon dioxide, moisture escapes. When carbon dioxide is more plentiful, the stomata don't need to be open for as long, and so the plants lose less water. The plants thus draw less water from the soil through their roots. Global climate models already account for these changes in plant growth. But many estimates of future drought use today's standard indices, like the Palmer Drought Severity Index, which only consider atmospheric variables such as future temperature, humidity and precipitation. "New satellite observations and improvements in our understanding hydrological cycle have led to significant advances in our ability to model changes in soil moisture," said Randerson. "Unfortunately, using proxy estimates of drought stress can give us misleading results because they ignore well-established principles from plant physiology." Planners will need accurate long-term drought predictions to design future water supplies, anticipate ecosystem stresses, project wildfire risks and decide where to locate agricultural fields. "In some sense there's an easy solution to this problem, which is we just have to create new metrics that take into account what the plants are doing," said lead author Abigail Swann, a University of Washington assistant professor of atmospheric sciences. "We already have the information to do that; we just have to be more careful about ensuring that we're considering the role of the plants." Is this good news for climate change? Although the drying may be less extreme than in some current estimates, droughts will certainly increase, researchers said, and other aspects of climate change could have severe effects on vegetation. "There's a lot we don't know, especially about hot droughts," Swann said. The same drought at a higher temperature might have more severe impacts, she noted, or might make plants more stressed and susceptible to pests. "Even if droughts are not extremely more prevalent or frequent, they may be more deadly when they do happen," she said. ### Other co-authors are Forrest Hoffman at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Charles Koven at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit http://www.uci.edu. Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists. Contact: Brian Bell 949-824-8249 bpbell@uci.edu UC sociology research uncovers the hierarchical strategies gay men use to manage their gender and sexual identities in the workplace Recent sociology research at the University of Cincinnati looked closely at the various strategies gay men use to manage both their gendered and sexual identities in the workplace. Travis Dean Speice, a new sociology doctoral graduate at the University of Cincinnati, says his research indicates that gay men often feel they have to change certain distinct gestures and body language behaviors in order to avoid potential negative consequences from co-workers. In his study, Speice conducted in-depth interviews of men between the ages of 22-52 who identify as gay, analyzing their thoughts on masculinity, femininity, gayness, how they came out and their specific job descriptions, which he says is where a lot of conscious manipulation of identity management happens. "Although there is no hard, fast rule for general masculinity, there are lots of anxieties related to identity management and self-presentation for gay men in many professional settings," says Travis Dean Speice, recent sociology doctoral graduate at the University of Cincinnati. "From the initial interview to moving up the ladder at work, if a gay man feels his supervisors don't agree with a gay population, he may not want to reveal his sexuality to them. "Instead, he may test the waters with a variety of strategies, including managing the way he dresses, the way he talks and whether or not he decides to disclose his sexuality to the people at work." Hiding in Plain Sight Speice explains these strategies for avoiding scrutiny using a concept he termed "hegemonic sexuality" -- a tool he uses to understand how gay men are positioned hierarchically within society -- where some men are labeled "too gay," while others are more acceptable. Speice says his respondents refer to the label "too gay" as various speech patterns, body language and clothing choices they feel do not fit into an idealized form of hegemonic masculinity, or other commonly known masculine behaviors. Instead, these characteristics often follow common stereotypes of gay men. Men then have the choice to perform masculinity and gayness in any number of ways, with some men attempting to perform a more traditional masculine version of themselves at work. "This happens when they don't feel safe being themselves around certain supervisors or co-workers," says Speice. "While many gay men have careers where they are respected and accepted for being themselves, several others feel that they have to hide, modify or conceal their behavioral characteristics and speak, act and dress more "professionally." But he posits that "professionally" is often a subconscious euphemism for behaving more masculine." Speice presented the analysis of these strategies in August titled "(Gay) Men at Work: Understanding Gendered and Sexual Identity Management Strategies in the Workplace," in Seattle at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association Section on the Sociology of Sexualities. Speice addresses three critical areas where gay men manage their identity in the workplace: Dress and language/communication Deciding whether and how to "come out" How hegemonic masculinity and hegemonic sexuality exist in the workplace under the facade of what the men refer to as "professionalism" Dressed to Chill Throughout the study, Speice uncovers a unique subconscious component to his respondents' strategies for how they manage their identity, including what they wear. "One man, a social worker, felt proud wearing his burnt orange khakis to work one morning until he had to visit the corrections institute later that day and noticed the inmates staring at him," says Speice. "The color of his clothes was significant in his perception of his own masculinity and gay identity, but later became too flamboyant in the face of scrutiny. "He became insecure and felt that because the color of his pants indicated something about his sexuality, the inmates had suddenly gained a sliver of power over him." Many respondents, he points out, believe particular colors or patterns on clothing might be interpreted by others as being "too gay," or "not masculine enough." This is important, Speice says, for how it changes the way gay men feel about presenting their gender and sexuality, especially in the workplace. "Some men, however, claimed that their choice of clothing had nothing to do with dressing masculine, but instead wore certain items to look professional," says Speice. "But I found that when gay men feel pressured to conform to 'professional' gender norms, they often use the guise of "professional" as a facade for how hegemonic sexuality operates in their day-to-day lives." Communication and language characteristics such as the "gay lisp," as well as the inflection and speed, pitch and rhythm of speech are all critical strategies that Speice says gay men may have to manage in order to conceal or reveal their sexuality. "One man who typically uses wild hand gestures rationalized 'butching up' his behavior by toning down his gestures in some contexts," Speice says. "He felt it was less of a masculine/feminine thing and more of an intimidation issue where he doesn't always get to be relaxed in his personality at work -- there's a persona that has to change." To Disclose or Not to Disclose In the study, reasons for "coming out" at work were varied, but Speice says most of the respondents had a strong desire to present their authentic self in front of others. The men claimed coming out helped blur the lines between the front and back stages of their lives and they found comfort in presenting a more genuine identity. "One of the most common strategies the men used was to 'test the waters' at work, " says Speice. "For instance, some men would casually mention to their co-workers the name of a gay bar they had gone to recently. If co-workers reacted favorably or with no negative affect this helped ease the process of 'coming out.'" Of course, the strongest reason for hesitating remained the ever-present fear of experiencing the discrimination from co-workers, bosses and clients that still exists in some workplaces, Speice adds. Hegemonic Sexuality In looking at ways that power structures operate within the gay community, Speice developed his concept of hegemonic sexuality, capturing how gay men manipulate their performances of sexuality, within this hierarchical structure that guides their behaviors. Ultimately, he finds that most gay men "manage" their gendered and sexual identities simultaneously. And while some strategies are directed at managing the identities separately, Speice says others are used simultaneously to be seen as both masculine and professional in the workplace. "Sometimes the strategies are so intertwined that the participants themselves do not realize that their efforts to manage sexuality are also managing gender," says Speice. "Whether they are conscious or unconscious, these strategies reinforce and perpetuate both idealized forms of hegemonic masculinity and hegemonic sexuality, indicating that some behavior strategies for 'being gay' are more desirable and rewarded than other ways." ### For more information on Travis D. Speice Twitter @TravisSpeice Being overweight increases the chances of premature death, according to a USC researcher. Although people accept that obesity can shorten a person's life span, scientists have debated whether the weight category between normal and obese is, in fact, a health risk. Being overweight definitely does not help people live longer, said Jonathan Samet, director of the USC Institute for Global Health. His statement is backed by a four-continent effort involving 239 studies and data from 10.6 million people. The collaborative and comprehensive study -- one of the largest to date -- was published in The Lancet. The results have important clinical and public health implications, Samet said. "Physicians should identify being overweight as posing a risk to health," said Samet, one of the study's authors and holder of the Flora L. Thornton Chair in Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "Increasing the risk of dying is a powerful indicator of health. The new results on overweight should be strong motivation for people to return to a healthy weight." The World Health Organization states that more than 1.9 billion people -- about 39 percent of adults -- are overweight, defined as having a body mass index between 25 and 30. For example, a 5-foot-4 person who weighs 140 pounds has a healthy BMI of 24. Add five pounds and this individual would be considered overweight. The study analyzed participants who had never smoked, did not have chronic disease and were still alive five years after the research began. The study involved 385,879 deaths in 239 studies. Overweight and obesity were strongly connected to coronary heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease death, and were moderately linked to cancer mortality. The findings were reflected in Europe, North America and East Asia. The new finding contradicts a 2013 review article The new finding on overweight is counter to the results of a prior paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association, which found that being overweight actually adds to one's life span, and "grade 1 obesity" (BMI 30-35) did not increase mortality. The JAMA article was based on a review of 97 studies with 2.9 million participants. The Lancet study did more than just summarize published results; the data from all 239 studies was analyzed in a standard way. "Our study was able to reproduce [the JAMA review's] findings when conducting crude analyses with inadequate control of reverse causality, but not when we conducted appropriately strict analyses," the Lancet paper stated. The WHO states that about 95 million children -- mostly in less developed regions -- are underweight. Being underweight, according to the study, was associated with substantially higher respiratory disease mortality and somewhat higher death rates from coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer. These findings held true in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America. Keeping your weight in check One of the study's limitations, like many other research papers in this arena, is the use of BMI as a surrogate for visceral fat, which is thought to be key in bringing about the negative consequences linked to obesity. "The health risk associated with obesity is thought to be driven by abdominal fat," Samet said. "BMI is an imperfect measure of fat in someone's belly. There are more gold standard ways to measure fat, but that can't be done for 10.6 billion people." Using an accepted but imperfect measure, the study was able to find a connection between premature death and being overweight. The proportion of premature deaths that could be avoided with a healthy weight (between BMI 18.5 and 25) is about 1 in 5 in North America, 1 in 6 in Australia and New Zealand, 1 in 7 in Europe and 1 in 20 in East Asia. In short, like smoking, the health problems associated with underweight, overweight and obesity are substantial but potentially preventable. Sun Ha Jee, an epidemiology professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, contributed to the research. He shared data from 1.3 million people in the Korean Cancer Prevention Study. ### Lucy, the most famous fossil of a human ancestor, probably died after falling from a tree, according to a study appearing in Nature led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. Lucy, a 3.18-million-year-old specimen of Australopithecus afarensis -- or "southern ape of Afar" -- is among the oldest, most complete skeletons of any adult, erect-walking human ancestor. Since her discovery in the Afar region of Ethiopia in 1974 by Arizona State University anthropologist Donald Johanson and graduate student Tom Gray, Lucy -- a terrestrial biped -- has been at the center of a vigorous debate about whether this ancient species also spent time in the trees. "It is ironic that the fossil at the center of a debate about the role of arborealism in human evolution likely died from injuries suffered from a fall out of a tree," said lead author John Kappelman, a UT Austin anthropology and geological sciences professor. Kappelman first studied Lucy during her U.S. museum tour in 2008, when the fossil detoured to the High-Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography Facility (UTCT) in the UT Jackson School of Geosciences -- a machine designed to scan through materials as solid as a rock and at a higher resolution than medical CT. For 10 days, Kappelman and geological sciences professor Richard Ketcham carefully scanned all of her 40-percent-complete skeleton to create a digital archive of more than 35,000 CT slices. "Lucy is precious. There's only one Lucy, and you want to study her as much as possible," Ketcham said. "CT is nondestructive. So you can see what is inside, the internal details and arrangement of the internal bones." Studying Lucy and her scans, Kappelman noticed something unusual: The end of the right humerus was fractured in a manner not normally seen in fossils, preserving a series of sharp, clean breaks with tiny bone fragments and slivers still in place. "This compressive fracture results when the hand hits the ground during a fall, impacting the elements of the shoulder against one another to create a unique signature on the humerus," said Kappelman, who consulted Dr. Stephen Pearce, an orthopedic surgeon at Austin Bone and Joint Clinic, using a modern human-scale, 3-D printed model of Lucy. Pearce confirmed: The injury was consistent with a four-part proximal humerus fracture, caused by a fall from considerable height when the conscious victim stretched out an arm in an attempt to break the fall. Kappelman observed similar but less severe fractures at the left shoulder and other compressive fractures throughout Lucy's skeleton including a pilon fracture of the right ankle, a fractured left knee and pelvis, and even more subtle evidence such as a fractured first rib -- "a hallmark of severe trauma" -- all consistent with fractures caused by a fall. Without any evidence of healing, Kappelman concluded the breaks occurred perimortem, or near the time of death. The question remained: How could Lucy have achieved the height necessary to produce such a high velocity fall and forceful impact? Kappelman argued that because of her small size -- about 3 feet 6 inches and 60 pounds -- Lucy probably foraged and sought nightly refuge in trees. In comparing her with chimpanzees, Kappelman suggested Lucy probably fell from a height of more than 40 feet, hitting the ground at more than 35 miles per hour. Based on the pattern of breaks, Kappelman hypothesized that she landed feet-first before bracing herself with her arms when falling forward, and "death followed swiftly." "When the extent of Lucy's multiple injuries first came into focus, her image popped into my mind's eye, and I felt a jump of empathy across time and space," Kappelman said. "Lucy was no longer simply a box of bones but in death became a real individual: a small, broken body lying helpless at the bottom of a tree." Kappelman conjectured that because Lucy was both terrestrial and arboreal, features that permitted her to move efficiently on the ground may have compromised her ability to climb trees, predisposing her species to more frequent falls. Using fracture patterns when present, future research may tell a more complete story of how ancient species lived and died. In addition to the study, the Ethiopian National Museum provided access to a set of 3-D files of Lucy's shoulder and knee for the public to download and print so that they can evaluate the hypothesis for themselves. "This is the first time 3-D files have been released for any Ethiopian fossil hominin, and the Ethiopian officials are to be commended," Kappelman said. "Lucy is leading the charge for the open sharing of digital data." ### Other scholastic materials and the 3-D files are available on eLucy.org. Permissions to scan, study and photograph Lucy were granted by the Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage and the National Museum of Ethiopia of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. The UTCT was supported by three grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation. UT Austin has HD satellite and Skype studios available for media interviews. As California copes with its fourth year of drought, it raises the question, "Is the Golden State entering a period when megadroughts become the new normal?" After all, what's past is prologue and the region went through a period between about 5,000 to 8,000 years ago when droughts lasting decades to centuries were commonplace. "There is evidence of a period of megadroughts in the paleoclimatic record of the western U.S., but the atmospheric drivers that caused them are a puzzle," said Jessica Oster, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at Vanderbilt University. Oster is a member of a small community of earth scientists pioneering the use of the mineral deposits in caves as proxies for the prehistoric climate. She has received a five-year, $545,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study the stalagmites in two California caves in order to shed new light on this puzzle: identifying the interplay of forces that produced extended drought in the region during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. This information should help climatologists determine whether the changing atmospheric conditions in the region caused by global warming are likely to increase the severity and duration of droughts. The NSF Faculty Early Career Development award, which Oster received, is considered the National Science Foundation's most prestigious honor for junior faculty members. They are given to exceptionally promising college and university junior faculty who are committed to the integration of research and education and who are most likely to become academic leaders. Paleoclimatologists use a wide range of proxies in their efforts to reconstruct past climates. These include variations in the thickness of tree rings, the level of rain-fed lakes, pollen communities, extent of the alluvial fans of rivers and the mineral deposits in caves, which are called speleothems. Each of these methods has different strengths and weaknesses. Tree-ring sequences, for instance, only go back a few thousand years. Speleothems, by contrast, can provide valuable information about the climate for the last 500,000 years. They also have a built-in clock: The mineral deposits contain radioactive uranium-234 that decays into thorium-230 at a slow and steady rate so comparing the ratio of thorium to uranium at a location in a stalagmite can tell when it formed with considerable precision. The various minerals dissolved in the water that seeps into a cave where they are deposited carry a surprising amount of information about contemporary atmospheric conditions. Ratios of oxygen isotopes (atoms with the same chemical behavior but slightly different weights) provide information about the temperature when the water condensed into drops and where that water came from. Carbon isotope ratios provide information on the nature of vegetation in the cave's vicinity. Trace elements like magnesium and strontium provide information about how wet the environment is and the ratio of uranium isotopes provides information about the rate at which the water infiltrated into the cave. "This 'multi-proxy' approach can paint a rich picture of how ecosystems, soils and subsurface water-rock interactions respond to abrupt and long-term climate change," Oster said. However, reading all these signals is not a simple matter. Each cave is different. So the scientists must carefully study the local climate, geology and geometry of each cave system in order to interpret the data they collect accurately. To do so, they must set up weather stations above each cave, regularly monitor the internal air temperature, CO2 concentration, and humidity and sample and analyze the chemistry of the water seeping into each cave. Oster and her team will be instrumenting two caves: White Moon Cave in the Santa Cruz Mountains in central California and the Lake Shasta Caverns in northern California. "I've identified fast-growing stalagmites from these two caves that should provide extremely high resolution records of late Pleistocene-Holocene climate and precipitation variability," said Oster. When these records are combined with sequences from two caves in the Sierra Nevada, which Oster has previously compiled, and with records taken from the Oregon Caves in southern Oregon, Oster expects to have the temporal and spatial data that she needs to track how rainfall has changed along the west coast over the past 30,000 years and shed new light on the puzzle of the Holocene megadroughts. Oster will also set up an ambitious educational program as part of the grant working with the Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt (SSMV), which is a joint venture between them. The program will involve high school students and Vanderbilt undergraduate and graduate students. The Vanderbilt students will develop paleoclimatology lessons for a semester research project for a group of SSMV high school sophomores. The following year two of these students will become interns in Oster's lab, where they will learn how to prepare and analyze samples during the year and participate in fieldwork the following summer. As part of Vanderbilt's "immersion initiative," which encourages students to engage in creative research projects, two to three undergraduates will design and conduct independent research projects involving drought, caves and climate change. They will also act as mentors for the SSMV students. After they become familiar with the subject, the SSMV students will work with Oster's graduate students and experts at Vanderbilt's Institute for Software Integrated Systems to develop an online "portal" that will make climate and paleoclimate databases accessible for high school science teachers. "There are large climate and paleoclimate databases available online but they are designed for experts, not for laymen or students," Oster explained. "Our students will spearhead a design effort to create web tools that they would want to use in the classroom. "We hope this portal will make this information available to high school classrooms so the students can learn how to manipulate and analyze 'big data,' a skill that is becoming increasingly important in many professions." ### People with blood type O often get more severely ill from cholera than people of other blood types. New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis may explain why. In people with blood type O, scientists found that cholera toxin hyperactivates a key signaling molecule in intestinal cells. High levels of that signaling molecule lead to excretion of electrolytes and water - in other words, diarrhea. Cholera is marked by severe diarrhea that can lead to dehydration, shock and even death. "We have shown that blood type influences how strongly cholera toxin activates intestinal cells, leading to diarrhea," said James Fleckenstein, MD, the study's senior author and an associate professor of medicine and molecular microbiology. The findings are available online in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Cholera sickens 3 million to 5 million people around the world every year, leading to 100,000 to 120,000 deaths, many of them in the Indian subcontinent, where cholera has been endemic for centuries. Closer to home, a cholera epidemic has persisted in Haiti since 2010. The disease was brought by United Nations workers from Nepal. They had traveled to Haiti to help rebuild the country in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. The disease is caused by Vibrio cholerae, a bacterium that infects cells of the small intestine. Epidemiologists first noticed four decades ago that people with blood type O were more likely to be hospitalized for cholera than people of other blood types, but the reasons for the difference had never been determined. Although the blood group antigens - A, B, AB and O - are best known for their presence on red blood cells, they also are found on the surface of many other cell types, including the cells that line the intestine. To find out what effect cholera toxin had on intestinal cells carrying different blood group antigens, Fleckenstein, F. Matthew Kuhlmann, MD, Matthew Ciorba, MD, and colleagues used clusters of intestinal epithelial stem cells, called enteroids, that can be grown in the lab and differentiated into mature intestinal cells. Washington University is a leading center in building a biobank of enteroids derived from patients for investigations in personalized medicine. Since these clusters of stem cells are derived from normal intestinal cells from many individuals, they are an improvement over traditional cell lines, which are derived from cancer cells from a single individual and carry mutations that may make them behave differently than normal cells. As part of the study, the researchers treated four groups of enteroids with cholera toxin - two derived from people with blood type A and two from people with blood type O - and measured the amount of a key signaling molecule inside the cells. Enteroids from the other two blood types - B and AB - were not available at the time the study was done. The researchers found that levels of the signaling molecule were roughly twice as high in the cells with the type O antigen than in the cells with type A antigen, suggesting that people with type O antigen who were exposed to cholera toxin would suffer more severe diarrhea. "It is well-established that high levels of this molecule lead to diarrhea, so we're making the assumption that higher levels lead to even more diarrhea," said Kuhlmann, an instructor in medicine and the lead author on the study. "Unfortunately, we have no way directly to link the responses to the volume of diarrhea and, therefore, the severity of disease." The researchers confirmed their results in an intestinal cell line originally derived from a person with blood type A. The cell line was modified to produce the type O antigen instead. They found that cholera toxin induced roughly double the amount of the key signaling molecule in cells with type O antigen than in those with type A. Fleckenstein isn't sure why cholera toxin induces different responses in cells with different blood group antigens on their surfaces. "The cholera toxin is known to bind weakly to the ABO antigens, so they may be acting as decoys to draw the toxin away from its true target," Fleckenstein said. "It may be that the type O antigen just isn't as good of a decoy as the type A antigen." In the Ganges River delta region of India and Bangladesh, where cholera is highly endemic, blood type O is less common than in the rest of the world. About 37 percent of Indians and 33 percent of Bangladeshis have blood type O, as opposed to 45 percent of people worldwide, according to published research. It is thought that the deadliness of the disease made having the type O antigen a liability, causing the proportion of type O people in endemic regions to drop. The study also illustrates that enteroids, clusters of intestinal stem cells that were developed only in the last few years, can be an important tool for studying infectious diseases of the gut. "The beautiful thing about this research is that we've taken intestinal cells from people here in Missouri and used them to understand the pathophysiology of a disease that affects people worldwide," said Ciorba, an assistant professor of medicine and one of the study's authors. "In this particular situation, we knew that the epidemiologists thought that blood type mattered, but using enteroids, we're actually able to see those differences in different people. It's a proof of principle that this system can answer questions of global impact." ### As per a yet-to-be-tabled report of the Comptroller & Auditor General, Delhi governments advertising spending is not in consonance with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court The controversy surrounding Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi governments spending on advertisements is refusing to die down. Last week, various sections in the media reported on what was termed as a yet-to-be-tabled report of the Comptroller & Auditor General concerning Delhi governments ad spend. As per the extracts of the report reproduced in the media, the CAG found the advertisements put out by the AAP government in complete dissonance with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court. Test check of records of the GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) brought out expenditure of Rs 24.29 crore on advertisement and publicity campaigns that were not in conformity of fundamental principles governing expenditure from public funds and guidelines approved by the Honble Supreme Court, the CAG said. The government auditor went on to chastise the Delhi government for spending on advertisements outside of its territory. Over 85 per cent of the expenditure of Rs 33.40 crore incurred in one specific publicity campaign pertained to advertisements released outside the NCT of Delhi, which was beyond the responsibility of the GNCTD, the report added. Speaking to sources in poll-bound Punjab where AAP is seeking power for the first time, exchange4media had earlier reported that Arvind Kejriwals party had spent as much as Rs 2.5 lakh on full page advertisements. Ironically, the CAGs revelations have come just days after CM Kejriwal stated that AAP did not have enough money to fight elections in Goa. Former BBC broadcaster and legal expert Dhiranjan Malvey pointed out that the advertising blitzkrieg unleashed by AAP was something which was quite visible to the citizens of Delhi. Misuse of government machinery for personal promotion was very much obvious, he said referring to ads issued by AAP to promote schemes like odd-even. Elaborating on the role of the CAG, Malvey explained that it was a constitutional body responsible for probity in the accounts of the state and central government. In this particular case since Delhi is a Union Territory, the CAG report besides being discussed in the Delhi Assembly should be tabled before the Union Parliament which will refer it to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), he added. Having appeared before the PAC several times as a legal representative of Prasar Bharati, he mentioned that PAC goes through every bit of the report. They call concerned officials on the basis of evidence and make recommendations. It can lead to legal repercussions and CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) enquiry, he said. But the Delhi government has so far remained defiant and pleaded innocence. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia rebutted the allegations on the floor of the Delhi Assembly and asked Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and other political leaders to apologize for falsely claiming that the CAG had found corruption in Delhi governments advertisements. Daring the CAG, Sisodia said, CAG may conduct a comparative analysis of spending on advertisement by Delhi government and that of other state governments which will clear the air on the issue. However, the litmus test suggested by Sisodia may not be able to settle the debate once and for all owing to the ambiguous nature of government advertising as observed by the Supreme Court. This Court acknowledged the fact that the dividing line between permissible advertisements that are a part of government messaging and advertisements that are politically motivated may at times get blurred, the SC stated in May 2015. Read more news about (ad news, latest advertising news India, internet advertising, ad agencies updates, media advertising India) prati14 said: Thanks a lot for the valuable info. Also would like to know that how we can get regular updates for the provinces nominations as every consultant say that individual can't get updated for province niominations Click to expand... Consultant is lying, they can have the same information as you nothing more nothing less.All provinces keep updating their website regularly, you need to be vigilant because sometimes their nominations fill out in couple of days.Ontario selects based on your CRS points and other criteria if you fall under them.Quebec gives you a date when they will open and you have to get the application ready and just submit when it opens.Nova Scotia might open soon as it is closed for some timeand so on ............... Hi All!! My boyfriend and I are looking to move to Canada within the next 2 years. We are both American Citizens, however my boyfriend has dual citizenship and is from Germany. We are looking to move to Canada, Toronto specifically, and would love any helpful incite you have! I'll give some base information below, not sure if it's helpful or not. Reason for moving: We both miss the social systems in place in Germany, and feel that Canada provides a great middle ground for us (my German is awful and I found it hard to live/work there because of it despite years of classes) Reasons for Toronto or surrounding areas: Climate seems mot mild. My family resides in Pennsylvania and it isn't a far drive from Toronto, and there are plenty of reasonable flights to Munich daily. Biggest Concern: Obtaining a visa. I had great luck with my Visa for Germany, but I have no clue what type of visa we'd need for Canada. We are looking to live permanently, but both don't want to give up our citizenship's until we've lived in Canada for over 5 years. Current living: We have been living in North Carolina, USA for 1.5 years Thanks in advance for all of your help!!! Best, M. John Newmark email: jcnewmark at gmail dot com If you are related, please contact me. I may have more information than posted. Monday, August 29, 2016 You dont usually find Death Cartoons in the Dilbert comic strip, but this one fits the bill! Dogbert has a new business idea involving selling clothes to ghosts. He and Dilbert get into a metaphysical discussion of money, life insurance, whether ghosts actually wear clothing, and reincarnation services so you can get your stuff back after you return to earth. This is especially helpful for those prone to avoiding downsizing. Dilbert points out, Youll be in trouble if your customers realize youre running a scam. Dobert counters, If dead people start complaining, weve both got bigger problems than my scams. Oh, yeah! Where are the Zombie Apocalypse weapons of mass destruction? Monday, August 29, 2016 Extensions of Premises At establishments with an on-premises license, the sale and consumption of alcohol must be confined to the area that has been licensed by the Authority. The licensee needs to be aware of whether outside areas such as patios, backyards, balconies, decks, etc., were disclosed and approved when the license was issued. This is especially important for a new owner who purchases a business by stock transfer and is inheriting the existing liquor license. After years of operation, memory fades as to details of the original application. Also, the application itself has changed drastically over the years. I recommend my clients file a FOIL request to view the application details currently on file because they are legally responsible to adhere to the approved method of operation. If changes need to be made, an alteration application can be filed. Disciplinary action may be taken against a licensee who allows drinks to be consumed in unlicensed areas. Fines generally are $1,500-$4,000 depending on the licensees other violations or adverse history. Licensees can file an alteration application with the authority to add unlicensed area to the licensed premises. There is no fee for the alteration application itself but you may incur a fee if you are adding an entirely new bar to the licensed premises. In addition to completing the application, the licensee will need before and after drawings and photos, documentation of the finances used for the proposed changes and a building permit where applicable. In some cases, additional documents and applications are required (ex. an add bar application). Compliance is not difficult as long as you keep your license file up to date. About Tracy Jong Tracy Jong has been an attorney for more than 20 years, representing restaurants, bars, and craft beverage manufacturers in a wide array of legal matters. She is also a licensed patent attorney. Her book Everything You Need To Know About Obtaining and Maintaining a New York Retail Liquor License: The Definitive Guide to Navigating the State Liquor Authority will be available next month on Amazon.com as a softcover and Kindle e-book. Her legal column is available in The Equipped Brewer, a publication giving business advice, trends, and vendor reviews to help craft breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries build brands and succeed financially. She also maintains a website and blog with practical information on legal and business issues affecting the industry. Follow her, sign up for her free firm app or monthly newsletter. www.TracyJongLawFirm.com TJong@TracyJongLawFirm.com Facebook: Tracy Jong Law Firm Twitter: @TJLawFirm LinkedIn: Tracy Jong Tracy Jong Law Firm After word surfaced that a conservative nonprofit won a $1.6 million state grant to deliver womens health services, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro questioned the decision while making a "sewer" claim about the groups director. Castro, D-San Antonio, said in an August 2016 tweet: "The group's director believes HIV can be spread through the sewer system. Is it really most qualified for the grant?" Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which causes AIDS, is mainly spread through sexual contact or from sharing needles, syringes, rinse water or other equipment with someone who has the virus, according to a federal website focused on AIDS. Less commonly, per the site, the virus may be spread from mother to child during pregnancy, by being stuck with an HIV-contaminated needle and, in rare cases, via blood transfusions and eating food pre-chewed by an HIV-infected person. We spotted no mention of the virus getting conveyed from anything in a sewer pipe. "HIV does not survive long outside the human body (such as on surfaces) and it cannot reproduce outside a human host," the site says. The virus also isnt spread by air or water, the site says. Seeking Castros factual backup, we heard from his House spokeswoman, Erin Hatch, who emailed us web links to summer 2016 news stories including an Austin American-Statesman story posted earlier the day of Castros tweet about Carol Everett, chief executive of the Round Rock-based Heidi Group, which once ran no-charge crisis pregnancy centers in Dallas advising women with unplanned pregnancies about giving birth. Everett, the story said, "recently came under scrutiny for suggesting during a fetal tissue disposal hearing that sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, could be transmitted through the sewer system." Everett told the paper, though, that her highlighted comments had been misunderstood. Everett also told reporter Julie Chang that her remarks about HIV amounted to "a stupid mistake." Chang shared with us her notes from her interview with Everett, who said: "I very much regret what I said. I shouldnt have even tried because they misunderstood it. I didnt talk about transmitting STDs that way. I was trying to talk about the fact that babies are ground up and put into these garbage disposals which goes into our sewers. I didnt make that point very clearly." Existing regulations allow fetal remains, as with other medical tissue, to be ground and discharged into a sewer system, incinerated or disinfected followed by disposal in a landfill, or "an approved alternate treatment process, provided that the process renders the item as unrecognizable, followed by deposition in a sanitary landfill." For our part, we confirmed from a TV news report noted by Hatch and Changs recording of Everetts comments before a state agency that she indeed made mention of HIV and sewers while advocating for state officials to adopt a rule requiring fetal remains to be buried or cremated rather than disposed other ways. The rule was proposed in June 2016 by the executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on behalf of the Department of State Health Services; it wasnt finalized as of Aug. 17, 2016. Changs recording of Everetts comments at an Aug. 4, 2016 state hearing on the proposed rule show Everett expressed criticism of current disposal methods, further saying: "What does this really do to the public? There are other people to consider. "What if one of those sewer treatment programs breaks down one day? You know, the abortion industry doesnt have time; they only see a woman one time; they do not do an AIDS test, they dont do, they dont know if shes HIV-positive. They dont know if she has a sexually transmitted disease. And what if one day, just one day, something horrible escaped into the sewer system?" (Laughter.) "It may sound funny but its something we could think about because I can tell you today, the public is thinking about it. "So I appreciate very much addressing this. I encourage you to uphold it. Lets take care of those who cannot take care of themselves -- and I am talking about the women." Earlier, as pointed out by Hatch, Everett said in an interview with Austins Fox 7 aired July 7, 2016, that existing protocols for disposing fetal remains pose "several health concerns. What if the woman had HIV? What if she had a sexually transmitted disease? What if those germs went through and got into our water supply?" Everett said. When we reached Everett about Castro's claim, she said by phone she hadnt explicitly said HIV is spread through sewer pipes and doesnt believe as much. "People with HIV and AIDS go to the bathroom every day," Everett said. At the state hearing, she said, she was trying to stress that fetal material gets into the sewer system. Everett called her comment to Austins Fox 7 about HIV/STD "germs" getting into "our" water supply "really far out. I shouldnt have said that." Our ruling Castro said Everett "believes HIV can be spread through the sewer system." Everett didnt explicitly say as much and told us she doesnt believe it. However, on two occasions, she raised the "what-if" spectre of a woman somehow passing along the virus or an STD through fetal material flushed down a drain. We rate this claim Mostly True. Photo A parade of surrogates for Donald J. Trump backed away on Sunday from a primary element of his immigration policy, further muddying an issue on which Mr. Trump himself sowed confusion in recent days. Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, Mr. Trumps running mate on the Republican presidential ticket, would not affirm that their administration would expel the estimated 11 million immigrants who are in the country illegally, a campaign-defining stance that helped Mr. Trump vanquish opponents in the primary race. Asked if Mr. Trump still sought a deportation force, which he called for last year, Mr. Pence said Mr. Trump was speaking of a mechanism, not a policy. He also backed away from Mr. Trumps opposition to automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to illegal immigrants. On CNNs State of the Union, Mr. Pence promised that Mr. Trump would lay out a detailed immigration plan in the next two weeks, though Mr. Trump has emphasized the issue for more than a year. Mr. Trump last week suggested a softening toward illegal immigrants, then seemed to reverse himself under fierce and immediate criticism from some conservatives. You see a C.E.O. at work, Mr. Pence said. You see someone who is engaging the American people, listening to the American people. Video The efforts of Mr. Trumps surrogates who argued on Sunday that nothing he had said recently was inconsistent reflected a problem for Mr. Trump as he lags Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, in many polls. He enters the campaigns final stretch with immigration policies that are popular with his core supporters but not with voters at large. Kellyanne Conway, Mr. Trumps campaign manager, went even further than Mr. Pence, suggesting that Mr. Trump no longer favored the forced removal of illegal immigrants. He is not talking about a deportation force, but he is talking about being fair and humane, Ms. Conway said on CBSs Face the Nation. He has said that, if you want to be here legally, you have to apply to be here legally, she added. The statement seemed to suggest that immigrants would be able to attain legal status without leaving the country, a position that conservatives call amnesty and that Mr. Pence said was not an option. Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said on NBCs Meet the Press that he agreed Mr. Trump had oversimplified immigration during the primary campaign. But now hes reflecting on it, and his position is going to be known, he said. Also appearing on Meet the Press was David Plouffe, President Obamas former campaign manager, who called Mr. Trump mentally unhinged. You have a psychopath running for president, he said. I mean, he meets the clinical definition, O.K.? The host, Chuck Todd, rebuked Mr. Plouffe for making an unfair judgment. Conceding he was no psychologist, Mr. Plouffe cited Mr. Trumps grandiose notion of self-worth, pathological lying, lack of empathy and remorse. Midwest spinach production explained in detail Learn how spinach performs in the Midwest and seasonal considerations in a new publication from ISU. Assessing Public Support for Regulation for Fairer Trading Practices A new survey has revealed that the vast majority of British consumers believe it is the responsibility of businesses and the government to make food fair 2016 marks the twentieth anniversary of the highly coveted Potato Industry Award, to be presented to a new winner at the AHDB Seed Industry Event dinner, Fife, Scotland on 3 November. A new, second category of honour has been announced, two decades on from the launch of the original award, to partner the long-standing accolade for high achievers. The 'AHDB Above and Beyond award' will recognise up-and-coming, passionate and dedicated individuals in GBs potato industry. Many unsung potato heroes go above and beyond in their role to make a positive impact on the potato supply chain and we feel the industry should have the opportunity to recognise their efforts, said AHDB Potatoes Sector Strategy Director, Dr Rob Clayton. We are calling for nominations of individuals such as store managers, field persons and agronomists who support businesses and research establishments. "Those people deeply involved in making things work on the ground. Making a different to potato industry Recipients can be at any stage of their career, but must have made a difference to the GB potato industry. Looking back to 1997, the launch year of the original Potato Industry Award, Jim Godfrey OBE said: The purpose of the award was simple, to sing the praises of and showcase the best of the British Potato Industry. Our enthusiastic, energetic and innovative sector is full of great people and its vital they receive recognition from their peers. This is just as important 20 years on. The first ever recipient of the award was Charles (Mac) McCarthy, McCain Foods, then Chairman and a pioneer of the British frozen chip industry. AHDB Potatoes continues to support the industrys leaders in marketing, innovation, research and development, by presenting this award each year and recognising the dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of those who have made outstanding contributions to the overall GB potato industry. Nominations for the new 'AHDB Above and Beyond award' are straightforward and can be submitted for a significant achievement from over the last five years. Nominations are simple to submit online here. The closing date for submissions is 3 October 2016. Republican nominee Donald Trumps presidential campaign has tapped Rob Goad, who has worked for Indiana GOP Rep. Luke Messer in Congress, to work on school choice issues in the real estate executives bid for the White House. Goad is on leave from Messers office and for the past two weeks has been in New York City working for the Trump campaign as a policy adviser, according to sources. Hes the first adviser for Trump to focus specifically on education issues. The campaigns aim is to have Goad flesh out Trumps previously stated support for school choice, specifically choice programs that have been successful in states, and possibly work on other K-12 education issues as well. Goad may also work on higher education policy for Trump, whose campaign approached Goad about joining the campaign team. Goad is a senior policy adviser for Messer who has handled both school choice issues specifically and K-12 policy in general in Messers office and has worked there for five years. Messer himself is a member of the House education committee. Messer has criticized some of Trumps more controversial statements on issues not related to education, but has also indicated his support for Trump . Messer previously backed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush , also a big fan of school choice, for the GOP presidential nomination. Trump has largely neglected K-12 during his quest for the White House , aside from brief statements supporting school choice, attacks on the Common Core State Standards, and a pledge to end gun-free school zones. But Goads shift to the Trump election team coincides with a new emphasis on K-12 choice in particular for the Republican presidential nominee. Recently on the campaign trail, Trump has been speaking more frequently about his support for school choice as part of a recent attempt to win African- American votes by decrying the state of education in inner cities. And earlier this month, his campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said that there would be an upcoming education week for Trumps campaign . In fact, one interpretation of her remarks would be that education week is supposed to be this week. But that plan isnt set in stone. Remember that back in April, the Trump campaign signaled that he would be giving a policy speech on education as part of a series of such remarkshe has yet to deliver such a speech. A Track Record on Choice Picking a staffer from Messers office, in particular, to work on K-12 choice policies seems like a logical move by the campaign. Last month at an event in Cleveland during the Republican National Convention, Messer spoke about the challenge of increasing school choice without creating a federal Department of School Choice. And during the push to reauthorize federal education law last year, Messer backed a plan to allow Title I funds earmarked for students from low-income backgrounds to be used for private schools. (In Washington shorthand, this proposal has been dubbed Title I portability. ) But the idea didnt get traction and wasnt included in what became the Every Student Succeeds Act. In March, the Republican Policy Committee, for which Goad is listed as a staffer, held a briefing called School Choice: Fact vs. Fiction & Recent Developments. The briefing featured Messer, as well as prominent school choice supporters like Gerard Robinson, the former Florida education commissioner now at the American Enterprise Institute, and Adam Peshek, the director of education choice at the Foundation for Excellence in Education, which was founded by Jeb Bush. Last year, Messer and his fellow Hoosier on the House education committee, GOP Rep. Todd Rokita, also questioned the distribution of federal money for charter schools in Indiana under state Superintendent Glenda Ritz. Photos: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally earlier this month in Des Moines, Iowa (AP Photo/Evan Vucci); Rep. Luke Messer, R-Ind., arrives before a House Financial Services committee hearing on the annual report of the Financial Stability Oversight Council last June (Andrew Harnik/AP-File). Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . A new survey has revealed that the vast majority of British consumers believe it is the responsibility of businesses and the government to make food fair. The research, by GlobeScan, shows 92% of shoppers said food companies should ensure food production is fair and sustainable, whilst 85% said they expected the government to take responsibility for this. Consumers also want the people who grow their food to be protected from unfair trade such as low prices - 63% believe UK farmers and 64% believe that farmers in developing countries are underpaid for their produce. Whilst two-thirds (65%) believe that responsibly produced food is more expensive, 58% would be willing to pay more if they knew products were delivering a better price and fairer wages for farmers and workers, closely followed by environmentally-friendly food production at 53%. 74% agree that for future generations action is needed to ensure sustainable food production However, although consumers recognise a link between low prices and unsustainable food production, only 43% connect this with the future availability of food and 55% understand the risks posed by climate change to food supply chains are significant. However, three quarters of respondents (74%) agree that for future generations, action is needed to ensure sustainable food production. Shoppers believe that avoiding child and slave labour should be priorities for the government in improving food production, followed by food safety and safe working conditions for producers. 'Prioritise farier, greener, more sustainable food' Michael Gidney, CEO, Fairtrade Foundation, said British people are giving a "strong message" to companies and the government about the kind of trade the public want to see. "More than ever, they must prioritise fairer, greener, more sustainable food production," Mr Gidney said. "Therefore progressive, responsible businesses will want to respond to their customers desire to see them treat farmers and workers fairly. "And the publics views on the importance of ensuring the human rights of farmers and workers is a clear sign to the government to prioritise these issues and improve working conditions across supply chains", Mr Gidney concluded. This research was carried out by GlobeScan, an independent research consultancy. Fieldwork was conducted in June 2016 via an online survey of 1,004 consumers in the UK, weighted to be nationally representative by age, gender and region. Funeral homes often submit obituaries to the newspaper as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we are happy to accept obituaries from family members. You may use the form linked below, or you may email Jeanne Cobert at jcobert@fauquier.com or call her at 540-270-4931. Go to form What was it like to be an Oath Keeper? John Zimmerman can tell you Man Sues Seattle Over May Day Protest Injuries Seattle has become known for its anti-capitalist protests over the last decade, and many were predicting that the 2016 May Day protests could turn ugly. Organizers even warned participants on Facebook to "be prepared for violent police repression (pepper spray, flash bang grenades, tear gas, beatings, arrests, etc.)." They were right about the flash bang grenades -- one exploded near a man filming the protest, sending shrapnel through his face and opening up a gash on his cheek. Now the man is suing the City of Seattle and members of the Seattle Police Department over his injuries. Here's a look at the case. Having a Blast Ball According to Sam Levine, he was shooting video of the May Day protests for his blog, when what's known as a "blast ball" exploded next to him: "I looked down and I didn't even have time to process it. I just saw it and then it went off. I was blinded. I went down. I couldn't feel the left half of my face," Levine said. "I did not expect that I would be lying on the ground from a grenade in my own pool of blood. And that's hard to deal with." Video that Levine posted on Twitter seems to confirm that account. In it you can see a projectile come Levine's way, begin to spark, and explode right next to him, and then you can hear loud calls for a medic: I found the video I was recording when I was hit with a blast ball at #SeaMayDay pic.twitter.com/0j8JMQa7NV -- Sam (((Levine))) (@samlevine) May 2, 2016 Levine also posted post-surgery photos after an inch of rubber was removed from his cheek. Protest Liability While it seems clear that Levine was injured by police action, suing the police is a complicated matter. Most officers are granted qualified immunity from civil lawsuits for performing official duties, and in most cases you must prove their conduct intentionally violated your rights and they were not acting in good faith. And there are also procedural rules when you've been injured by police: in most jurisdictions you must file an injury claim with the government entity first, before you can file a lawsuit in court. Even with these legal hurdles, some claims against the police for protest injuries have been successful. For example, an Iraq vet whose skull was fractured by a beanbag round fired by police during Occupy protests in Oakland in 2014 received $4.5 million in a settlement with the city. If you've been injured by police, whether during protests, an arrest, or otherwise, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney today. Most are willing to provide a free consultation regarding your case. Related Resources: Venice International Film Festival 2016 kicks off this week and is set to be an exciting eleven days of films from around the world. The Magnificent Seven There are a whole host of terrific directors on the programme and we take a look at some of the filmmakers and films that we can't wait to see. - Denis Villeneuve - Arrival Denis Villeneuve really has shown his versatility as a filmmaker in recent years with the likes of Prisoners, Enemy and Sicario under his belt - all of which were fantastic. He is back in the director's chair with new film Arrival, which sees him turn his hand to science fiction. This is a movie that is already whipping up a storm and will feature heavily during the festival season this autumn. Arrival is set to receive its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival and is based on the short story 'Story of Your Life' by Ted Chiang; it has been adapted into a screenplay by Eric Heisserer. Amy Adams has joined forces with fellow Oscar-nominee Jeremy Renner as they take on the central roles of linguist Dr Louise Banks and mathematician Ian Donnelly. Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma and Mark O'Brien complete the very talented cast list. When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team -led by expert linguist Louise Banks (Adams) - is brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers - and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity. You cannot beat a great sci-fi film and Arrival really is promising to be one of the autumn moves that's not to be missed and it is one that I am looking forward to seeing the most. - Antoine Fuqua - The Magnificent Seven I have to admit, I was a little nervous when it was announced that a remake of The Magnificent Seven was in the pipeline because I am such a huge fan of the 1960 film - which itself is a remake. But the movie marks the return of Antoine Fuqua to the director's chair and I am looking forward to seeing him put his stamp on a tale that we all know so well. And if it turns a new generation to the 1960 film, that can be nothing but a good thing. The movie sees Fuqua reunite with Denzel Washington for their third film together; they have previously worked on Training Day and The Equalizer. This is also the first time that we are going to see Fuqua in the director's chair since Southpaw last year. As you would expect from Fuqua, he has assembled a terrific cast list as Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Byung-hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Martin Sensmeier, Haley Bennett, and Peter Sarsgaard are all also on board. With the sleepy town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Sarsgaard), the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns - Sam Chisolm (Washington), Josh Farraday (Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Hawke), Jack Horne (D'Onofrio), Billy Rocks (Lee), Vasquez (Garcia-Rulfo), and Red Harvest (Sensmeier). As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money. The Magnificent Seven will hit the big screen here in the UK in September and looks on course to be the biggest Western movie of the year. - Damien Chazelle - La La Land There is already a lot of excitement growing around La La Land so don't be surprised if it is in the Oscar mix come the beginning of 2017. La La Land is the latest film from Damien Chazelle, in what is the third feature film of his directing career. It was back in in 2009 when he made his feature debut with Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench but it was last year's Whiplash that really did put him on the map. This is his first film since the success of Whiplash. As well as being in the director's chair for the film, Chazelle has also penned the film's screenplay, which will mix elements of drama, comedy and musical. While the film sees Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling team up for the third time, this will be the first time that Chazelle has teamed up with the Oscar-nominated actors. Personally, I cannot wait to see Stone and Gosling share the screen again. John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, Jessica Rothe, Tom Everett Scott, and Josh Pence complete the talented cast list. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams La La Land will open this year's Venice International Film Festival, before going on to play extensively on the festival circuit this autumn. - Francois Ozon - Frantz Francois Ozon is another filmmaker to watch out for in Venice as he returns to the director's chair with his latest film Frantz. Ozon has brought us movies such as Potiche and Jeune & Jolie in recent years and Frantz is his first film since The New Girlfriend two years ago. The movie is based on the 1932 film Broken Lullaby and Ozon has teamed up with Philippe Piazzo to pen the new screenplay. Paula Beer takes on the central role of Anna and is joined on the cast list by Pierre Niney, Ernst Stotzner, Marie Gruber, Johann von Bulow, and Anton von Lucke. In the aftermath of WWI, a young German who grieves the death of her fiance in France meets a mysterious French man who visits the fiance's grave to lay flowers. Frantz is set to compete for the Golden Lion at the festival and is set to be another great character driven movie from the filmmaker. - Ana Lily Amirpour - The Bad Batch Ana Lily Amirpour made everyone sit up and take note when she made her feature film directorial debut in 2014 with A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night... now she is back with The Bad Batch. The Bad Batch is the first film for Amirpour since the critical acclaim of A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night and I really cannot wait to see what she delivers this time around. As well as being back in the director's chair for the new film, Amirpour has also penned the film's screenplay, which is a romance horror-thriller. The director has brought together an impressive cast as Jason Momoa, Jim Carrey, Keanu Reeves, Suki Waterhouse, Diego Luna, and Giovanni Ribisi are all set to star in the movie; they are all working with Amirpour for the first time. The movie, which is a love story set amongst a community of cannibals in a Texas wasteland, will play In Competition and compete for the prestigious Golden Lion. Amirpour is one of only two female directors who are in the mix for the Golden Lion at the festival this year. Other directors that are on the programme include Tom Ford (Nocturnal Animals). Derek Cianfrance (The Light Between Oceans), and Pablo Larrain (Jackie). 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 Wolf Creek is coming to the small screen, after two movie releases that scared not only the country it was made in - Australia - but the world. John Jarratt as Mick Taylor / Credit: FOX In the films to-date we have seen serial killer Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) tear through victims in a variety of different ways but now with his return, he's going from hunter to hunted. But what do we need to know about Mick? Take a look below and get acquainted with one of the most dangerous men in the Australian outback. Who is Mick Taylor? Mick is a dangerous, conniving and nasty man who's sexually obsessed with various forms of torture, rape and murder, especially when it comes to women. Though he does prefer to play predator with females, he'll also kill any men with them and leave them to die. Not much is known about his background and little is revealed in order to keep Taylor a more mysterious and scary character. Actor Jarratt admits he has created a detailed biography for Taylor, but he hasn't released the info, instead basing his performance on the notes he's made. Mick's past can also be explored in two prequel novels - Wolf Creek: Origin and Desolation Game - which reveal a little more about how he found his way into the world of killing, deceit and life in the outback. Credit: FOX How does he choose his victims? Mick chooses his victims based on where they're from. He tends to stay away from natives of Australia, instead focusing on tourists. Once he's found a group he likes the look of, he'll stalk the victims, make their car immobile when they're absent and then later offer help as if he's just wandered upon them. Offering them help, those who accept are drugged and tortured back at Mick's camp, whilst those who refuse help have been murdered on the spot. Why does he kill? "You're nothing but foreign vermin, a stinking introduced species. And it's up to my kind to wipe your kind out. And that makes me the winner, which makes you" "You expect to come to my f**kin' country, waltz around like you own the bloody place, come between a man and his meal and just walk away? Just like that?" "I was doing people a service really, by shooting them. There's kangaroos all over the place Like tourists." To put it bluntly: He's a crazed racist. Credit: FOX Is there any truth to the Wolf Creek tale? The show is LOOSELY based on Australian serial killer Ivan Milat, known as 'The Backpack Killer', who killed tourists in the Australian outback during the 1980s and 90s. Milat is predicted to have killed between 7 and 12 people and has caused controversy during his time in prison. In 2009, he cut off his little finger with a plastic knife and hoped to send it to the High Court, but was instead taken to hospital where doctors decided surgery was not possible. He also went on hunger strike in 2011 in the hopes of being given a PlayStation, but was unsuccessful. Milat has been served multiple life sentences to run consecutively without the possibility of parole, meaning he will spend the rest of his days behind bars. Wolf Creek begins August 30 on FOX UK at 10pm. by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, water and air, there were proposals to limit the number of cows. That's when the designer came up with an innovative solution. Subir Ghosh reports. Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# The way manure is thought of may change soon. An Eindhoven designer has developed a technology with which manure can be immediately transformed into bioplastic, biopaper and biotextile. Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# Designer Jalila Essaidi pursued the project titled Mestic with her BioArt Laboratories as a way of addressing the global manure surplus, which is responsible for excessive amounts of harmful phosphorus and nitrogen in surface and groundwater. Essaidi, who is known for her work '2.6g 329m/s', also known as 'Bulletproof Skin', a project that achieved bioengineered bulletproof human skin reinforced with synthetic spider silk, began working on the project last year. Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# In late 2015, BioArt Laboratories was approached by the agricultural sector of Noord-Brabant, a province in the southern region of the Netherlands, to find an immediate and innovative solution to the surplus cow manure that was being produced there. Essaidi's organisation, within a few months, developed a method and technology to solve this problem by transforming cow manure directly into bioplastics. The solution was called Mestic, a portmanteau of the Dutch word for manure, mest, and plastic. Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# In June this year, Essaidi and her team organised a fashion show featuring Mestic-derived fabrics, with support from the municipality of Eindhoven, Suna Producties, Inspidere, and Eindhoven365. The show and the products were a resounding success. The result is that Mestic is now being projected as a circular solution that will not only solve the present cow manure problem, but will also provide a sustainable source of biomaterials to the manufacturing industry, textiles included. And, however exceptional this already sounds, this is not where it ends. According to Essaidi, the possibilities are infinite. Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# Essaidi elaborates on how the project started: "For another project, we were trying to collaborate with both the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture and the province. At that time the political climate surrounding the Dutch manure problem was such an obstacle that they jokingly told us that this would only happen if we could solve their manure problem. That's the day we picked up our first batch of manure. Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# "Initially we didn't set out to make a fibre; our goal was to create cellulose acetate by directly pulping and acetylating the available cellulose in manure. A logical next step was to spin this into a fibre." Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# Now that the innovation is here, the next step would be to reach out far and wide. Says Essaidi, "As far as the technology is concerned, the method of producing bioplastic derived from manure has been patented and we are going to work under a licence with other companies. The partners for this collaboration are the stakeholders that benefit the most from the solutionthe farmers and government. With regard to working with brands, we are planning to make the textile available under its own brand, and are already exploring the possibility of other brands integrating the textile into their products." Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# This goes with the vision of the organisation: "Over the next few years, we are planning (along with our partners) to scale up and industrialise our product through the realisation of a prototype plant. It is the ambition of Mestic to ultimately find a significant positive impact to the global climate objectives. We are all here to make a serious contribution to a new circular world." Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# And as Essaidi says, it did not cost her too much: "The raw material of similar fibres makes up a big percentage of the price of the final product. In the Netherlands, for now, farmers pay us 18 per sq m manure. This fee pays for the process; so essentially we get our raw material for free." Dutch designer Jalila Essaidi has developed a new material using cow dung. In the Netherlands, where Essaidi is based, the livestock industry last year exceeded its phosphate ceiling by 4.6 million kg by producing excess manure. Since phosphate and nitrogen compounds in manure can be harmful to the soil, the designer came up with an innovative solution.# At a time when most solutions come with innumerable constraints, especially of the financial type, this is one innovation that should need little investment. Particularly in a country like India. Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The nine-member commission is understood to be led by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan. There are 47 lawmakers including 12 representatives from the Army in the Arakan State Parliament. U Kyaw Zaw Oo, a State level lawmaker from Sittwe constituency No. 2, admitted that it was true. He also added that Mray-Bon township lawmaker U Mya Than recently sent a letter on behalf of 13 lawmakers to the Speaker asking for an emergency meeting over the matter. All the signatory lawmakers belong to Rakhines major political party 'Arakan National Party' (ANP) based in western Burma. According to the Parliamentary Acts, if one fourth of lawmakers demand an emergency meeting, the Speaker of Arakan State Parliament should follow their wish. The Sparkler is yet to decide over the meeting till date. We will discuss primarily two topics in the meeting. The first one would be the scrutinizing citizenship process with 1982 citizenship laws. The other one would be the appointment of three foreigners in the Advisory Commission, informed U Kyaw Zaw Oo. Luxury brand Gucci, along with Louis Vuitton and Chanel, has been named hottest luxury brand. Guccis editorial value climbed over 15 per cent year-on-year, in the first half of 2016, according to a latest report. However, the editorial values of Louis Vuitton and Chanel grew at a slower rate of less than 15 per cent despite a high print advertising spend. An Exane BNP Paribas report evaluated the brand temperature of premium and luxury brands. This was based on the ratio between their print advertising spend and the editorial coverage they receive in magazines. According to the report, brands are ranked hot, if magazines offer these brands more editorial space than their advertising spends should warrant. So, if brands receive more editorial coverage than their magazine advertisement spends, they get a hot rating, while brands that fall below this ratio are rated cold. Meanwhile, other luxury brands like Giorgio Armani and Prada saw a drop in editorial print coverage vis-a-vis their advertisement spends, thereby lowering their editorial value in double digits, denoting that their brand temperature had cooled as against the same period last year. (AR) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The government of Gujarat government is considering setting up a textile universityIndia's firstat Surat with a cost of about Rs 800-900 crore. The university will provide all kind of support to the textile industry including providing skilled manpower, technology and R&D. It is likely to commence functioning in the next one and a half years. The government of Gujarat government is considering setting up a textile universityIndia's firstat Surat with a cost of about Rs 800-900 crore. The university will provide all kind of support to the textile industry including providing skilled manpower, technology and R&D. It is likely to commence functioning in the next one and a half years.# In its endeavour for setting up the university, the government will get support from the textile industry. The government of Gujarat government is considering setting up a textile universityIndia's firstat Surat with a cost of about Rs 800-900 crore. The university will provide all kind of support to the textile industry including providing skilled manpower, technology and R&D. It is likely to commence functioning in the next one and a half years.# Over 250 acre land has been identified near Surat for setting up the university, Business Standard reported quoting Chandan Chatterjee, advisor at iNDEXTb and director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED), a government of Gujarat organisation. The government of Gujarat government is considering setting up a textile universityIndia's firstat Surat with a cost of about Rs 800-900 crore. The university will provide all kind of support to the textile industry including providing skilled manpower, technology and R&D. It is likely to commence functioning in the next one and a half years.# Our aim is not to just fulfil academic requirements of textile industry. This will serve in a many ways like support in R&D, policy making skill manpower training and all. For that we will tie up with various centres of excellence and other national and international institutes as per the requirements, Chatterjee said. The government of Gujarat government is considering setting up a textile universityIndia's firstat Surat with a cost of about Rs 800-900 crore. The university will provide all kind of support to the textile industry including providing skilled manpower, technology and R&D. It is likely to commence functioning in the next one and a half years.# The objective of the university will be to create a complete eco system for the textile industry in Gujarat. It will also guide the government in policy making for the industry. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India NITI Aayog's proposal to build a mega textile city on the lines of the China Textile City in Keqiao district may be accepted by the Andhra Pradesh government. The textiles city would mainly cater to the export market. The process of identifying land, technology and expertise for building the city has already been initiated by the Central government. NITI Aayog's proposal to build a mega textile city on the lines of the China Textile City in Keqiao district may be accepted by the Andhra Pradesh government. The textiles city would mainly cater to the export market. The process of identifying land, technology and expertise for building the city has already been initiated by the Central government.# Textiles minister Smriti Irani has spoken to Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandra Babu Naidu asking the state government to provide land and other facilities for setting up the mega textiles city, according to a Business Standard report NITI Aayog's proposal to build a mega textile city on the lines of the China Textile City in Keqiao district may be accepted by the Andhra Pradesh government. The textiles city would mainly cater to the export market. The process of identifying land, technology and expertise for building the city has already been initiated by the Central government.# The proposed textile city would build a brand for Indian textiles, and thus boost the sector, which is the country 's second largest employer after agriculture. NITI Aayog's proposal to build a mega textile city on the lines of the China Textile City in Keqiao district may be accepted by the Andhra Pradesh government. The textiles city would mainly cater to the export market. The process of identifying land, technology and expertise for building the city has already been initiated by the Central government.# Since China is considered pioneer in setting up such mega textile cities, the textiles minister, along with Naidu and top officials from NITI Aayog, are expected to soon visit China to study the working and structure of the textile cities. NITI Aayog's proposal to build a mega textile city on the lines of the China Textile City in Keqiao district may be accepted by the Andhra Pradesh government. The textiles city would mainly cater to the export market. The process of identifying land, technology and expertise for building the city has already been initiated by the Central government.# The China Textile City in Keqiao district was set up in 1980s. It is spread over 3.65 million square metres of constructed area. It is home to 29,000 companies which together produce around 40,000 kinds of products. NITI Aayog's proposal to build a mega textile city on the lines of the China Textile City in Keqiao district may be accepted by the Andhra Pradesh government. The textiles city would mainly cater to the export market. The process of identifying land, technology and expertise for building the city has already been initiated by the Central government.# The Narendra Modi led government announced Rs 6,000 crore special package in June this year for the country's garment and textile sector. This is expected to create 10 million new jobs in three years, and increase the number of people employed in the sector to over 40 million. NITI Aayog's proposal to build a mega textile city on the lines of the China Textile City in Keqiao district may be accepted by the Andhra Pradesh government. The textiles city would mainly cater to the export market. The process of identifying land, technology and expertise for building the city has already been initiated by the Central government.# The government is also working on a new national textiles policy, which aims to achieve $300 billion exports by 2024-25. The mega textiles city would be crucial for achieving this target. NITI Aayog's proposal to build a mega textile city on the lines of the China Textile City in Keqiao district may be accepted by the Andhra Pradesh government. The textiles city would mainly cater to the export market. The process of identifying land, technology and expertise for building the city has already been initiated by the Central government.# Last fiscal, India's textile and apparel exports fell 2.4 per cent year-on-year to around $36 billion. (RKS) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India PTC, a global provider of technology platforms and solutions, has announced the availability of Tech Pack Access App, its first role-based app for FlexPLM 11, the latest version of its product lifecycle management (PLM) solution for retail, fashion, footwear, apparel, and consumer products. Tech Pack Access App is enabled by PTC ThingWorx technology.Role-based apps improve the user experience by getting the right product data and on-point features to more stakeholdersfaster, easier, and in context with the work they do every day. The first of several planned app releases, Tech Pack Access provides vendors with access to product specification data, such as bill of materials, measurements, construction details, and imagery. Finished goods manufacturers can quickly view critical product data without delay, enabling better accuracy, collaboration, and efficiency during product sampling and production. Generation capabilities allow users to maintain product integrity and reduce costly errors. PTC, a global provider of technology platforms and solutions, has announced the availability of Tech Pack Access App, its first role-based app for FlexPLM 11, the latest version of its product lifecycle management (PLM) solution for retail, fashion, footwear, apparel, and consumer products. Tech Pack Access App is enabled by PTC ThingWorx technology.# Leveraging the power of the Internet of Things (IoT), Tech Pack information can also be linked to other sources of information. For example, material data in the specs can be connected to availability and pricing of mill vendors.Quach Hai, senior director, retail product management, PTC said, With Tech Pack Access, we're seeing the continued evolution and maturation of FlexPLM 11 to allow retailers to rethink the way they develop products and work with suppliers. For example, this app makes it possible for a vendor to easily retrieve the latest construction details for a garment without even having to leave the shop floor. FlexPLM 11 provides product development and sourcing departments access to the same, updated information, allowing them to work in parallel and reduce the overall time to-market. (GK) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Rosy Sofia Akbar today called on regional leaders for joint efforts to address eliminating gender-based violence in homes, schools, work and societies. Speaking at the 21st Council of Pacific Education Womens Network Conference at the Tanoa Skylodge Hotel in Nadi, the Minister said the issue of gender-based violence in Pacific societies been deemed a taboo for far too long.The three - day workshop is being organised by the Council of Pacific Education (CPE) and is attended by representatives of 18 countries from the region as well as Australia and New Zealand.Over the next three days, participants will have the opportunity to formulate a consolidated platform to battle violence against women, girls and children.The onus also lies with each individual to have the desire to be successful; however by our guidance and positive mentoring, it can have a lasting effect on them, Govind Singh, the secretary for CPE said.It is an opportunity to reunite, to rekindle the efforts and to strengthen the unity to persevere to reach out to those women who depend on us and look up to us as their hope and as their leaders, we owe to them for the trust bestowed upon us to help them uplift their lives, Mr Singh said.(Pictures from this event can be accessed from the Fijian Government Facebook page) The Ministry of Rural & Maritime Development and National Disaster Management is working closely with Fijis rural communities to strengthen their economies, provide better quality of life to be economically vibrant and environmentally sustainable through various programs implemented by the Ministry. One such program that has been assisting rural communities is the Poverty Alleviation Housing Programme. This housing assistance targets social welfare recipients Fiji wide to own decent homes.Bimla Wati, 66 years old of Saweni, Lautoka was a happy Fijian when she was assisted in the year 2014 by the Commissioner Western Office in the construction of a new home. Ms Wati, a social welfare recipient who sells roti parcels for a living in a local community outside Lautoka town was grateful to government for the assistance.I am grateful for the assistance provided by the Commissioner Western Office. They assisted me with my application. I wanted a place within close proximity and they also assisted me in finding this piece of land where my house is built and I am forever grateful to government, said an emotional Ms Wati.Ms Wati also recalled the time when she was paying rent of $250.00 per month and the many sleepless nights she encountered worrying about her rent payment.With my new home, I dont have to worry about paying rent anymore and I am now living a happy life, Ms Wati said.Commissioner Western Division, Manasa Tagicakibau said the assistance provided an opportunity for rural people to own decent homes at a reasonable cost.The program encourages community participation and we also believe that owning a decent home plays a vital role in the process of socio cultural and economic change and development, Mr Tagicakibau emphasised.The total cost of the project is approximately $12,000.-ENDS- Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra are all set to debut in Hollywood in 2017 through xXx sequel and Baywatch, respectively. Parineeti Chopra, who is currently shooting for the film Meri Pyaari Bindu, was asked if she would follow their footsteps and make an entry in Hollywood. Pari quipped, "I am still too new, with only six films. I want to make a mark in India, get the love of all the fans in this country and Indians all over the world and only then I should venture out. But of course, if something good comes before that, then why not. I will be mad to say no. But for that it has to be something really great." Too Early For Hollywood Parineeti Chopra says she's too early for Hollywood and would think about debuting only after winning a lot of heart's in Bollywood first. Parineeti Chopra Parineeti Chopra says she's just six films old in Bollywood and has a lot to achieve before furthering her career in Hollywood. Dream Team Parineeti Chopra is back from the United States after her stint with the Dream Team. She rocked the stage with her dance moves there. Meri Pyaari Bindu Parineeti Chopra is currently shooting for her upcoming flick Meri Pyaari Bindu and would release in the year 2017. The US Tour Parineeti Chopra ended up making friends during the Dream Tour with Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan. Parineeti also heaped praises on her industry friends, "Alia, Shraddha, Varun and I are great friends and genuinely enjoy each other's company and support. I think we manage to not get affected by the competition because we have positivity and love between us." Forget Navya, Jhanvi & Khushi! Deepak Tijori's Daughter Samara Tijori Is The New Hottie On The Block She also said that it's difficult for actors to be real time friends, "It is tough because all of us have the same insecurities and pressure. Our job is emotionally driven so it is very hard for us to be completely comfortable with each other. But there is an exception to everything and the present lot of actors are these exceptions." 10 Unseen & Hot Pictures Of Amyra Dastur! YANTAI, China, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese energy enterprises need repositioning themselves for going out and conducting international cooperation on production capacity, Ian He, CEO of Jereh Group said Thursday at the International Energy Investment & Financing Cooperation Forum held in Yantai, China. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160827/401907 The forum is organized by China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) and Jereh Group. The ambassadors and counselors of embassy in China from more than 10 countries such as UAE, Afghanistan, Algeria and Egypt presented their support of more participation of Chinese private enterprises in local projects. And the management of SINOSURE introduced the financial policy support and challenges for energy investment cooperation. According to the report by World Bank in June, 2016, the global economic recovery continues but remains weaker than desirable. And the Belt & Road will provide it with a much needed boost. There are many preferential policies to encourage international investment in the countries along the new Silk Road with different models. "They can help companies solve the financing bottlenecks and reduce business transaction costs of transnational business. For example, SINOSURE and Jereh Group have established a comprehensive strategic partnership to support their going out." said Mr. Chang, the general manager assistant of SINOSURE Shandong Branch. And the Ambassador of Algeria Embassy in China, Mr. Ahcene Boukhelfa, expressed on the speech that the solid friendship between Algeria and China will promote more bilateral cooperation on energy, infrastructure and environmental projects. Along the new Silk Road, Jereh has established its good presence in the Algeria oil and gas market. It provides integrated solutions across the whole value chain, including well drilling, gas treatment, compression, as well as power plant and infrastructure. "But we also should have a clear mind that Chinese enterprises including Jereh, should do more when going out, including the ability to do long-term planning, the ability to control the risk and the ability to get identity recognition." said Ian He. About Jereh As a global project developer and contractor, we deliver integrated solutions flexibly and efficiently (investment, financing and contracting) across the entire project life cycle. Now we have built advantages in the areas of oil and gas, power, infrastructure and environment: consulting, R&D, engineering, operation & maintenance as well as manufacturing. For more information, welcome visit www.jereh.com. Managed service solution delivers critical capability to boots on the ground SES S.A. (Euronext Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) announced today that SES Government Solutions (SES GS), a wholly owned subsidiary of SES, was recently awarded a contract to provide an O3b Networks high throughput, low latency satellite communications solution for a US Department of Defense end-user. The O3b-enabled solution includes a satellite beam operating at less than 200 milliseconds per roundtrip, and will consist of a full duplex, symmetric 155 Mbps link, gateway access, a transportable 2.4m AvL terminal, terrestrial backhaul, installation services and 24/7/365 operations and maintenance activities. The contract also enables the US Government to order additional O3b services to meet surge requirements. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160828005068/en/ SES Government Solutions to Provide the US Government with a High Performance Network (Photo: Business Wire) Operational benefits of the solution include the capability to transfer large files from remote locations in just minutes instead of hours. Cloud-based applications and information can be used nearly anywhere in the service area. End-users will be able to view simultaneous high definition (HD) videos providing situational awareness to commanders. This kind of real-time information access may enable better-informed, life-saving decisions in the field. "These are exciting times for the US Government as well as SES GS," said Pete Hoene, President and CEO of SES GS. "With SES's recent acquisition of O3b, SES GS is uniquely positioned to offer scalable, game-changing Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) high throughput, low latency and global Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) communications products and solutions. This is a clear differentiator for SES GS and our US Government customers." This is SES GS's second US Government customer to use O3b Networks' services this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was the first US Government agency to sign an agreement with SES GS, that one being for an O3b high throughput solution at the Pago Pago National Weather Service Office in American Samoa. This service has been delivering critical information since May of 2016. Follow us on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SES.YourSatelliteCompany YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SESVideoChannel Blog: http://www.ses.com/blog SES Pictures are available under http://www.ses.com/21472913/Our_Pictures SES White papers are available under http://www.ses.com/18681915/white-papers About SES SES (Euronext Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) is the world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of more than 50 geostationary satellites. Focusing on value-added, end-to-end solutions in four key market verticals (video, enterprise, mobility and government), SES provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, and mobile and fixed network operators, as well as business and governmental organisations worldwide. SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the satellite industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements. SES's subsidiary, MX1, is one of the leading media service providers and offers a full suite of innovative digital video and media services. Through its ownership of O3b Networks, a next generation satellite network combining the reach of satellite with the speed of fibre, SES significantly enhanced existing video and data capabilities. SES is the first satellite provider in the world to deliver a differentiated and entirely scalable GEO-MEO offer with powerful technical capabilities across numerous market segments and geographies. At SES we are shaping new ecosystems and laying the groundwork for new foundations. Further information available at: www.ses.com About SES Government Solutions SES Government Solutions, a subsidiary of global satellite operator SES, is exclusively focused on meeting the satellite communications needs of the U.S. Government. Leveraging more than four decades of experience in the government SATCOM market, SES Government Solutions offers robust and secure satellite-based communications solutions. Supported by SES's fleet of over 50 satellites offering comprehensive global coverage, SES Government Solutions provides highly reliable fixed and on-the-move capacity. Further information can be found at www.ses-gs.com. About O3b Networks Limited O3b Networks Limited, a subsidiary of global satellite operator SES, is a global satellite service provider operating a next-generation satellite network for telecommunications operators, Internet service providers, enterprise and government customers in emerging markets. The O3b system combines the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber-optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low-cost, high-speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. www.o3bnetworks.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160828005068/en/ Contacts: SES Markus Payer, +352 710 725 500 Corporate Communications Markus.Payer@ses.com or SES GS Natalia Kossobokova, +001 703 646 7231 Marketing Communications natalia.kossobokova@ses-gs.com The Kachin Parties Coordination Committee (KPCC)that consists of the Kachin Democratic Party, Lhaovo National Unity and Development Party, and Kachin State Democracy Partyissued a statement that said in the eyes of the people and international community the attacks harm the integrity of the peace conference. Just days after the Maijayang Summit brought most of the countrys ethnic armed groups together for peace discussionsa gathering that was publically criticized by the Burma Armyit started attacking the Kachin Independence Army's (KIA) Battalion 14 in Hukawng Valley. The fighting has also broken out in several other areas of the state, displacing many civilians. About two-hundred have been reportedly pushed over the border into China. Last week, after suffering high casualties the Burma Army reportedly deployed two Russian-made Mi-35 attack helicopters during fighting with KIA Mobile Battalion 235 camps located around Nhkram Bum Mountainnear the KIAs political wing, Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) Laiza headquarters. KIO information officer Lt Col Naw Bu said the Burma Army may be launching the offensives to pressure the ethnic armed groups that have not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement to take part in last year's controversial pact that was rejected by the majority of the most prominent groups. Reporting by KNG Translated by Thida Linn Edited by BNI staff WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - CTI BioPharma Corp. (CTIC) announced Monday that PERSIST-2, a randomized, controlled Phase 3 clinical trial of Pacritinib for high-risk patients with Advanced Myelofibrosis met one of the co-primary endpoints. Preliminary results demonstrated statistically significant improvement in spleen volume reduction or SVR with pacritinib, an investigational oral multikinase inhibitor, compared to physician-specified best available therapy or BAT, including ruxolitinib, for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis whose platelet counts are less than 100,000 per microliter -- a patient population with high-risk advanced disease. Although the PERSIST-2 trial did not meet the other co-primary endpoint of greater than 50 percent reduction in Total Symptom Score, the preliminary analysis approached marginal significance compared to BAT, the company noted. The most common treatment emergent adverse events for pacritinib were generally manageable diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The incidence of cardiac and bleeding adverse events were similar across the arms. Overall mortality rates were comparable between arms. The company noted that additional data from ongoing analyses along with top-line results from PERSIST-2 will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming scientific meeting. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Global expansion brings new Euro headquarters and four new executives for mobile attribution and analytics pioneer; serving customers in 195 countries around the globe Kochava (www.kochava.com), the mobile attribution, analytics and optimization company, today announced it is officially tracking mobile ad campaigns for customers in all 195 countries recognized by the US Department of State with language and currency support. This impressive global coverage has driven the company to expand its executive team as well; announcing today new offices in Dublin and four new executives in support of booming expansion across the globe. According to the US Department of State, there are 195 countries in the world. The world's leading businesses and brands depend on real-time access to mobile advertising campaign data, and Kochava provides unparalleled insight into this data for the largest social media, gaming, pharmaceutical, retail, on demand content, and media companies in the world. The company's consistent 300% year-over-year customer growth has been impressive, demanding Kochava add to all facets of the team; from employees to global office space. As its customer base has spread across the world, Kochava has localized its platform with language and currency support for its global customer clientele. New Kochava Office in Dublin This fall, Kochava will open its European headquarters in the heart of Dublin, a location selected for its strong tech ties and high quality of life for employees. Following the June Brexit decision, Dublin is the sole remaining English-speaking capital in the European Union, where according to IDA Ireland, tech companies already employ more than 80,000 people. Tech giants from Amazon, Facebook, and Google, to Airbnb, eBay, and Twitter, already have European headquarters in Dublin, near the city's "Silicon Docks," and a neighborhood called "Googletown" where Google's large campus is located. "Kochava has found a perfect fit for our new European headquarters in Dublin," says Kochava CEO, Charles Manning. "With a young, tech-savvy population of native English-speakers and the lowest corporate tax in Western Europe, Dublin presents an attractive mix of talent and government support, along with progressive licensing policies for intellectual property rights and R&D tax credits. Combine these factors with the concentrated IT ecosystem gathered in Dublin and it's clear to see that a tech utopia is being built. Kochava is excited to become a contributing member of the European tech hub that is Dublin." APAC General Manager, Jaime Ocampo Promoted from his previous role as head of Kochava Singapore, Jaime Ocampo is now the General Manager for Kochava APAC, running operations for South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, and Japan. A self-proclaimed "math nerd" with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Ocampo brings deep leadership experience and solid tech acumen to the growing Kochava team based in Asia. Known industry-wide as a mobile/social/digital-gaming guru, Ocampo spent the last 15 years pushing the evolution of the mobile industry in Asia. Ocampo hails from the Philippines, and currently resides in Singapore, where he will continue to orchestrate the growth of Kochava across APAC. Managing Director of China, Jeff Chai With more than 25 years of IT industry experience, and a strong background in overseas software and Internet business management, Jeff Chai joins Kochava in the company's China office. Chai takes responsibility for the Kochava China business unit, leveraging his experience managing Lenovo for the past 7 years. In 2004 Chai served as Chief Representative for Managed Object Solutions, establishing its business in China, until it was acquired by Novell in 2009. Later that year Chai helped to create Lenovo's worldwide consumer PC software and Internet service business, going on to serve as the Director of Lenovo's China Ecosystem Business Unit, developing the China Ecosystem and Monetization Business unit. Director of Client Analytics, Grant Simmons Tasked with helping Kochava customers to better understand the efficacy of their mobile marketing efforts, Grant Simmons joins Kochava as Director of Client Analytics. Simmons comes to Kochava from Oracle Data Cloud where he served as Head of Retail Analytics working with 1,500+ retail directors, VPs, CMOs, and agencies to develop individualized test-and-learn strategies. Prior to Oracle, Simmons served on the client-side, as VP of Direct Marketing at Body Central, and DVP of Ecommerce at Coldwater Creek. Simmons brings more than 16-years of experience in direct performance based marketing to his role at Kochava where he will challenge customers to consider what it would look like to save even 1% of their ad budget by using fraud mitigation tools from Kochava, or to recognize a 1% lift in their campaign through Configurable Attribution, Influencer Reporting, or View-Through Attribution. EMEA Director of Sales, Fred Thuard With exponential growth in Europe, Kochava turned to Fred Thuard to support the company's continued expansion across EMEA. The former founder and CEO of mobile gaming usage analytics provider, Whally, and former Executive Vice President at App Annie, Thuard brings a wealth of experience and a strong network to his role leading the EMEA sales force for Kochava. About Kochava Kochava offers a unique, holistic and unbiased approach to mobile attribution and analytics for connected devices. Via its platform, Kochava provides mobile advertisers with precise real-time visualization of campaign data that spans from initial launch through conversion and lifetime value (LTV) reporting, including comprehensive post-install event tracking. Kochava's tools enable customers to turn their data into actionable information. With over 2,200 publisher and network integrations including Facebook, Google, Twitter, Pandora and Amazon, Kochava is trusted globally by the largest brands in mobile gaming, commerce, news and media. For more information visit www.kochava.com. Follow Kochava on social media: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google+ View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160829005402/en/ Contacts: The Audienci Group for Kochava Melissa Burns, +1-208-850-5939 kochava@mobilitypr.com VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 29, 2016) - Balmoral Resources Ltd. ("Balmoral" or the "Company") (TSX: BAR) (OTCQX: BALMF) has received, from joint venture partner GTA Resources and Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GTA), the results from preliminary metallurgical testing of two composite samples from the Northshore Property, in Ontario. Results from standard bottle roll tests for the two samples, one from the core of the Afric Zone and one from the high-grade Audney vein system, returned peak gold recoveries of 96.3% and 99.5% respectively. The preliminary metallurgical work was performed by Activation Labs in Thunder Bay, Ontario and consisted of standard cyanide bottle roll testing with atomic absorption analysis for gold. Sample "A", from the central core of the Afric Zone weighed 43.90 kilograms and had an assayed head grade varying from 2.65 to 2.93 g/t gold. Sample "D", from the high-grade Audney vein system (see NR16-17, August 22, 2016 for recent drill results), weighed 9.60 kilograms and had an assayed head grade varying from 10.90 to 11.60 g/t gold. Jennifer Steyn, Metallurgy Manager for Activation Labs, stated "These results indicate that the mineralization is free milling and excellent recoveries can be made using conventional cyanidation". A full version of the "Gold Cyanidation Report" can be found on the company website at www.balmoralresources.com The two samples were composited from assay reject samples from the recently completed phase of drilling on the property which were split and pulverized to 95% passing 105 micron prior to testing. Peak recoveries were achieved after 24 hours for sample D at 99.5%. Sample A reached 94.8% recoveries in 24 hours, peaking at 96.3% after 48 hours. Cyanide and lime consumption during the tests are considered by Activation Labs to be "fairly average" and that comparable recoveries are also likely achievable using a lower initial/maintained cyanide consumption. GTA, as operator of the Northshore Property, is currently evaluating the near surface potential of the Afric Gold Zone on the Northshore Property. The Company has been advised that GTA anticipates resuming the current drill program on the Property in early September and that it should be completed within one month of commencement. The Northshore Property is a joint venture between Balmoral and GTA. GTA is the current operator of the joint venture and holds a 51.4% interest in the Property. In addition to its 48.6% interest in the Northshore Property Balmoral currently holds approximately 7.65% of the issued and outstanding shares of GTA. Quality Control and Assurance: GTA has implemented a quality control program for the drill programs on the Northshore Property to ensure best practice in sampling and analysis. GTA maintains strict quality assurance/quality control protocols including the systematic insertion of certified standard reference and blank materials into each sample batch. Analyses in this release were performed by Actlabs in Thunder Bay, Ontario with ISO 17025 accreditation. Samples are transported in sealed bags to Actlabs and all samples were assayed using industry-standard assay techniques for gold. Gold was analyzed by a standard 30 gram fire assay with an AA and/or gravimetric finish. The planning, execution and monitoring of GTA's exploration programs on the Northshore Project are under the supervision of Robert (Bob) Duess, P. Geo. (Ontario), VP Exploration of GTA. Mr. Duess is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is also the Qualified Person for this release. Mr. Duess has supervised the work programs on the Northshore Property, supervised the collection of the samples described herein and reviewed the results presented by Activation Labs. Mr. Duess has also reviewed this release. Mr. Darin Wagner, P. Geo., has consulted with Mr. Duess, reviewed the results contained herein and approved the release on behalf of the Company. Metallurgical work as summarized in this press release was performed by Activation Labs in Thunder Bay, Ontario which is an ISO 17025 accredited facility. About Balmoral Resources Ltd. - www.balmoralresources.com Balmoral is a well-funded, Canadian-based company actively delineating and expanding the high-grade Bug Lake Gold Trend on its wholly owned, 700 square kilometre Detour Trend Project in Quebec, Canada. Employing an award winning exploration team, Balmoral has a philosophy of creating value through the drill bit. By focusing our efforts in proven productive precious/base metal belts in one of the world's preeminent mining jurisdictions, Balmoral is following an established formula with a goal of maximizing shareholder value through discovery and definition of high-grade, Canadian gold and base metal assets. On behalf of the board of directors of BALMORAL RESOURCES LTD. "Darin Wagner" President and CEO This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, duration and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the timing of the receipt of assay results, the projection of future metallurgical recoveries based on limited testing and business and financing plans and trends are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include those related to weather, equipment and staff availability; performance of third parties; risks related to the exploration stage of the Company's projects; market fluctuations in prices for securities of exploration stage companies and in commodity prices; and uncertainties about the availability of additional financing; risks related to the Company's ability to identify one or more economic deposits on the properties, and variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located on the properties; risks related to the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities on the properties; and risks related to the Company's ability to produce minerals from the properties successfully or profitably. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the latest technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. For further information contact: John Foulkes Vice-President Corporate Development Tel: (604) 638-5815 / Toll Free: (877) 838-3664 E-mail: jfoulkes@balmoralresources.com EQS-News / 29/08/2016 / 21:05 UTC+8 Zhongwang USA to Acquire Aleris Hong Kong, Beijing, Cleveland, OH, 29 August, 2016 - Zhongwang USA LLC, an investment company majority-owned and led by Mr. Liu Zhongtian, founder of China Zhongwang Holdings Limited ("China Zhongwang", HKEX code: 01333) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aleris Corporation, a global aluminum rolled products producer. The aggregate value of Aleris amounts to US$2.33 billion, comprising US$1.11 billion in cash for the equity to be paid by Zhongwang USA, plus US$1.22 billion of net debt*. Aleris will continue to be headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and will be operated as an independent entity. The Aleris management team will remain in place, providing continuity for Aleris employees and customers and supporting the continued implementation of the Aleris strategy. Aleris will retain its name and continue to serve its customers with no changes to current operations, contracts or commitments. It will continue with the implementation of all strategic growth projects, including its major expansion project in Lewisport, Kentucky, which will enable Aleris to meet the North American automotive industry's growing demand for aluminum auto body sheet. "We are excited about this transition to strategic ownership as it will allow us to accelerate our strategy to expand our capabilities to support the production of high-value advanced materials for the global automotive and aerospace markets, while maintaining our position as a leading supplier to critical regional markets like building and construction," said Sean Stack, President and CEO of Aleris. "We expect the transition to be seamless for our employees and customers, and that our new strategic shareholder will provide us with greater financial flexibility to continue to anticipate and meet the needs of our customers well into the future." The acquisition of Aleris reflects Mr. Liu's commitment to disciplined operating investments over the long-term in an industry to which he has been dedicated for two decades. In addition to his role at Zhongwang USA, Mr. Liu is also the chairman and founder of China Zhongwang, the second largest aluminum extrusions product developer and manufacturer in the world and the largest in Asia. With the acquisition of Aleris, Mr. Liu will now oversee companies that have complementary geographic footprints and capabilities. "This acquisition is an international expansion to establish a complementary business foothold, as I strongly believe in the potential and prospects of Aleris and the aluminum industry as a whole," Mr. Liu said. "Aleris has a strong management team, talented employees and industry leading capabilities with a complementary geographic footprint. As the company enters the final phase of its Lewisport automotive project, I believe Aleris is well-positioned to capitalize on the positive demand trends we see globally, and I look forward to supporting the Aleris management team in implementing their growth strategies and pursuing continued success with expanded resources and financial and operational flexibility." * Debt amounts are undiscounted and does not include exchangeable notes. Since 2010, Aleris has been owned and controlled by a group led by certain investment funds of Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P., and Sankaty Advisors, LLC owning minority interests. Deutsche Bank and Barclays participated in this transaction, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as legal advisor to Zhongwang USA. - End - About Aleris Aleris is a privately-held, global leader in aluminum rolled products serving diverse industries including aerospace, automotive, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial manufacturing. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Aleris operates production facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.aleris.com. About Zhongwang USA LLC Zhongwang USA LLC is an investment company majority-owned by Mr. Liu Zhongtian through Zhongwang International Group Limited, parent company of China Zhongwang. China Zhongwang is the world's second largest industrial aluminum extrusion developer and manufacturer. It was listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2009. Document: http://n.eqs.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=SUKTOLRNYS [1] Document title: 29Aug2016_ZW_Release_Eng_Final Key word(s): Takeover 29/08/2016 Dissemination of a Press Release, transmitted by EQS Group. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com 496701 29/08/2016 1: http://public-cockpit.eqs.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=redirect&url=1016584ff8799e2860c1668a8dc5b0d7&application_id=496701&site_id=vwd&application_name=news (END) Dow Jones Newswires August 29, 2016 09:05 ET (13:05 GMT) Vilnius, Lithuania, 2016-08-29 15:33 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equity of INVL Technology AB as of 30 June 2016 was EUR 23.925 million or EUR 1.965 per share. The equity has decreased by 1.3% from the beginning of the year.Fair value of portfolio of the Company has amounted to EUR 20.58 million on 30 June 2016. In the first half of 2016 it has increased by EUR 3.62 million - mostly due to the acquisition of Algoritmu sistemos UAB and Andmevara AS.The cash assets of the Company decreased from EUR 6.99 million at the end of 2015 to EUR 3.36 million as of 30 June 2016.Net loss of the Company as in the middle of this year was EUR 318 thousand. At the same period of 2015 the net loss of the company was EUR 257 thousand. The company had no income from investment activities during the first half of 2016Additional information:The equity capital of INVL Technology, a company that invests in information technology businesses, at 30 June 2016 was EUR 23.93 million, or EUR 1.965 per share, and compared with the beginning of the year decreased by 1.3 per cent. The value of the company's portfolio of businesses holdings reached EUR 20.58 million in the first half of this year. Its change was mainly due to the company's acquisition of Algoritmu Sistemos in March of this year and of Andmevara in April. The portfolio's value at the end of 2015 was EUR 16.96 million."On obtaining a closed-end investment company - UTIB - license this July, INVL Technology started a new 10-year phase in which it will seek to generate a significant return for investors by focusing on increasing the value of the companies it controls. In pursuit of these goals, we'll continue to invest in national-level businesses based in European countries, promoting the globalization of their operations, and thus also opening up new markets and creating opportunities for INVL Technology companies to expand their portfolio of services," said Kazimieras Tonkunas,Managing Partner for UTIB INVL Technology at INVL Asset Management.He said the performance of the businesses shows the chosen strategy of globalizing business and focusing on developing markets is working, especially considering the reduced growth potential of European and Baltic IT markets in recent years. "Outstanding results were achieved in the first half of this year by the cybersecurity firm NRD CS, which quadrupled revenue, and by the NRD group, which works in the area of business climate improvement and e-governance and whose revenue doubled. Our IT infrastructure companies and providers of solutions for IT intensive industries all performed stably," Tonkunas said.Assessing the value of specific INVL Technology holdings, at the end of the second quarter the equity value of Vitma UAB - which owns BAIP UAB with its subsidiary Acena UAB - was EUR 11.49 million, that of NRD CS UAB was EUR 1.85 million, that of the NRD group was EUR 3.95 million, and that of Informatikos Pasaulis UAB was EUR 4 thousand. FINtime UAB, Inventio UAB (which acquired Algoritmu Sistemos UAB) and Andmevara AS were not consolidated during the reporting period and were valued at cost. Their respective valuations were EUR 229 thousand, EUR 2.4 million and EUR 665 thousand. The company INVL Technology itself had no income from investment activities during the period and its net loss at mid-year was EUR 0.318 million.Since its share offering last July, the company so far has invested in Etronika and Algoritmu Sistemos in Lithuania and Estonia's Andmevara. These acquisitions have a total value of EUR 3.25 million. Also in terms of expansion, in February the business process outsourcing provider FINtime was set up, and NRD group has established Norway Registers Development Rwanda Ltd., which offers the portfolio of services of the NRD group and other companies controlled by INVL Technology in Rwanda. INVL Technology plans to continue investing in business acquisitions, for that allocating money raised in the share offering as well as earnings.International projects continuedThe NRD group, which works in the area of business climate improvement and e-governance (and comprises Norway Registers Development AS with its subsidiaries NRD UAB, Etronika UAB, Norway Registers Development East Africa Ltd., Norway Registers Development Rwanda Ltd. and the associated company Infobank Uganda Ltd.), in the first half of this year continued projects in Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Burundi, Mauritius, the Kingdom of Lesotho and Southeast Asia, and won new international tenders.Revenue of the NRD group, including Etronika, doubled in the reporting period from a year earlier to EUR 2.834 million. Excluding Etronika's results, revenue of the NRD group grew by about 46 per cent to EUR 2.061 million. The NRD group's EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) for the first half of 2016 was a negative EUR 107 thousand, compared with a positive EBITDA of EUR 147 thousand in the same period last year. The biggest factor behind the change in the profit of the NRD group was Etronika, which was consolidated into the group's accounts effective 1 July 2015 when it was acquired by Norway Registers Development. Results were also influenced by costs related to accelerated expansion in Rwanda and Tanzania.Etronika's revenue grew from EUR 514 thousand in the first half of 2015 to EUR 773 thousand in the first half of 2016. Over the same period, its EBITDA loss shrank from EUR 295 thousand to EUR 119 thousand. In 2015 Etronika had revenue of EUR 1.835 million and EBITDA of EUR 112 thousand.Estonia-based Andmevara, which was acquired in April this year, currently serves 250 clients in Estonia and Moldova. In June 2016 a contract was signed for partial digitalization of the Moldova State Archive and implementation of a search system.New contracts signed in Europe, Rwanda and BurundiBAIP, which works in the area of IT infrastructure, in the first half of the year carried out projects and signed new contracts in the Baltic states, Denmark, Norway, Rwanda and Burundi. The company implemented projects and maintenance agreements in a variety of Lithuanian institutions and organizations. BAIP continued to provide services for the largest retail chains and Scandinavian banks in Latvia and Estonia, and also expanded its activities in Norway.In addition, BAIP together with NRD East Africa implemented three modernization projects at Rwanda's central bank this year with a total value of EUR 2.193 million. Two of the projects began last year and the third began this year after a new tender was won. A new maintenance agreement was also signed with the central bank of Burundi during the first half of 2016.Acena has shifted to a service provider business model focusing on large corporate clients and the development of its own services and custom solutions.The revenue of the IT infrastructure businesses increased to EUR 5.044 million in the first 6 months of this year, from EUR 4.985 million in 6 months of 2015. EBITDA and net profit in this area decreased in the first half of 2016 due to higher costs for international expansion. EBITDA was EUR 245 thousand and net profit was EUR 19 thousand.Business results in the area were also impacted by delays in the start of a new EU structural funds investment programme, which has reduced public sector demand for IT services this year. Procurement under the new EU programme, which is currently being set up, is expected to begin at year-end. Lost income in the Baltic public sector this year has been offset by international activities and long-term service agreements with large corporate clients, namely banks and retail chains.Projects carried out in Lithuania, Burundi, Bhutan and BangladeshThe results of the cybersecurity firm NRD CS were boosted in the first half of 2016 by international expansion and services enhancing cybersecurity prevention capabilities. Revenue quadrupled, from EUR 150 thousand in the first half of 2015 to EUR 672 thousand in the same period this year. The company's EBITDA improved from a negative EUR 147 thousand in 6 months of 2015 to a positive EUR 94 thousand in the same period of this year.In the first 6 months 2016, NRD CS signed new international contracts and carried out projects in Lithuania, Burundi, Bhutan and Bangladesh. In Lithuania, an IT forensics modernization project was completed at the Police Department and security testing, auditing, consulting and training projects were conducted. A cooperation agreement was also signed with Kaunas University of Technology for joint research in the area of cybersecurity.As part of NRD group projects, NRD CS specialists completed deployment of an IT governance and management framework at the central bank of Burundi and conducted a pre-investment study for an e-government infrastructure project in Lesotho. In the Kingdom of Bhutan, a project with NRD AS and BAIP to establish a national cybersecurity incident response team was completed. And in Bangladesh, NRD CS and NRD AS are continuing a project to establish a national cybersecurity incident response team.Contract signed to develop product, packaging and waste accounting information systemIn the first half of this year, the largest clients of Algoritmu Sistemos, which provides solutions for IT intensive industries, were the Klaipeda municipality, the National Health Insurance Fund, Lithuanian Airports and the State Tax Inspectorate. This year the company has also signed contracts with Lithuania's Environmental Protection Agency, the State Studies Foundation and the Vilnius municipality. A 1.7-million-euro contact was signed with the Ministry of Environment for the development and implementation of a Unified Product, Packaging and Waste Accounting Information System. Algoritmu Sistemos, which was acquired by INVL Technology in March this year, was profitable in the second quarter of 2016, with revenue of EUR 624 thousand and EBITDA of EUR 138 thousand.The person authorized to provide additional information: Kazimieras Tonkunas Chairman of the Investment Committee of INVL Technology E-mail: k.tonkunas@invltechnology.ltAttachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=584052 PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwired - August 29, 2016) - Today Chirpify, a provider of conversational conversion and social media loyalty solutions, and Paytronix Systems, Inc., a leading provider of reward program solutions to restaurants and retailers, announced they have partnered to bring social loyalty to the Togo's Tribe. Togo's Eateries, LLC, a "West Coast Original" is known for its big, fresh and meaty sandwiches and currently has over 300 locations open or under construction. Togo's benefits from the combined Chirpify-Paytronix solution by gaining new, valuable data about its social Tribe members, and rewarding them in social media for their engagement and participation with the brand. "Our customers are increasingly active in social media and looking to engage there with us," said Jessica Miller, Brand Manager, Digital Marketing & Communications at Togo's, a West Coast restaurant franchise famous for its big, fresh, meaty sandwiches. "Extending our loyalty program to social media doubles-down on our ability to engage with our most loyal customers when, where, and how they like. With the introduction of social loyalty, we are growing our relevance, creating a virtuous cycle of acquisition, engagement, and data collection that allows us to continually personalize offers for greater impact to the guest and the business." Togo's relies on the Paytronix reward solution to engage with its Tribe members in their channel of choice, whether that be mobile, in-store, or online. With the addition of the Chirpify social media loyalty platform, Togo's has extended its reach to engage with Tribe members in social media. This is an important element of any loyalty program as, according to research by Paytronix, loyalty members who are actively using Facebook and who are fans of the brand spend upwards of seventy percent more than the brand's average program member. Togo's Tribe members that interact with the brand using a social trigger will earn rewards in exchange for participating with the brand over social media. The Chirpify engine listens in the background for these social triggers that once set off, can automatically and immediately reward Tribe members for their interaction. Linked to the Paytronix system through its easy-to-use API, Chirpify can recognize existing Tribe members and create accounts for new members. Together the systems provide Togo's with: Deeper Customer Engagement: Adding social as a loyalty channel increases engagement as customers are rewarded beyond in-store spend, receiving points or other benefits for their social participation. People engage with Chirpify-driven brand posts and content on average 4x more than other content because there is an actual reason to do so. As Tribe members participate more, frequency of interaction increases which is in turn a proven way to grow and solidify loyalty and advocacy. This self-reinforcing loop helps grow new customer acquisition through earned media and implied social proof. Valuable Data: The Chirpify platform identifies and collects campaign conversion data by social ID and ties it to an existing Togo's Tribe member account linked to a Paytronix wallet. With this data in hand, Togo's can analyze how often members redeem points, assess campaign success across channels, and much more. Further, Togo's can extend its cross-platform promotions to social media, using tools such as geo-targeting to promote events such as new store openings. Relevance that Drives Customer Spend: Paytronix and Chirpify allow Togo's to drive greater relevance to a growing Tribe through campaigns that reward members for specific behaviors. As people sharing brand moments grows, so does customer acquisition and the ability to broaden the brand's reach. As membership grows, participation increases and its impact to the business grows, all resulting in significant top line value. About Togo's Eateries, LLC Togo's was founded in 1971 by a young college student with a large appetite and little money looking to make sandwiches the way he liked them -- big, fresh and meaty. Keeping in the spirit of the original, Togo's products are still made with only the highest quality ingredients; including fresh-baked Artisan breads, hand sliced premium pastrami, turkey and roast beef, as well as Hass avocados and cheeses. Togo's proprietary brand of old-fashioned Pastrami, 98 percent fat-free slow-roasted turkey, and Togo's all natural chicken set the brand apart from other sandwich shops. With more than 300 locations open and under development throughout the West, Togo's is a franchise-based business that offers online ordering and catering services. About Paytronix Systems, Inc. Paytronix's proprietary guest engagement platform helps more than 300 restaurant and retail chains manage and grow more than $18 Billion in guest spend. Customers benefit from big data consumer insights that Paytronix generates from 1-to-1 engagement with more than 165 million loyal guests-through mobile, social and today's most innovative digital marketing tools. As a result, customers can more effectively segment and motivate their guests to increase spend and drive revenue. For more information, visit www.paytronix.com. About Chirpify Chirpify is a provider of conversational conversion and social media loyalty solutions that enable brands like Marriott, Dunkin' Donuts, and Columbia Sportswear to drive deeper customer engagement, acquire valuable data, and grow customer spend. Chirpify enables brands to modernize "spend and get" based loyalty programs, and activate brand campaigns, enabling their customers to use social media and messaging apps as a remote control for marketing conversion. Retail, hospitality, financial services and CPG organizations rely on Chirpify to amplify their cross-channel marketing campaigns, convert customers, and grow customer lifetime value. Chirpify is based in Portland, Oregon and can be found at www.chirpify.com. Kim Blomgren 503-914-5959 kim@chirpify.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Donald Trump Campaign said a report that a major Clinton Foundation donor was denied entry into the U.S. over ties to the terrorist group Hezbollah is 'deeply troubling.' Nigerian Billionaire Donor Gilbert Chagoury, who donated millions to the Clinton Foundation and in 2009 pledged $1 billion to the Clinton Global Initiative, was denied entry last summer amid a review of his ties in Lebanon to Hezbollah, the Los Angeles Times reported. 'These revelations are yet another example of why the Clinton Foundation must be shut down and Hillary Clinton must demand the State Department immediately release her official schedules in full before the election,' the Trump Campaign said in a statement. Meanwhile, Trump challenged his Democratic rival to publish her detailed medical records. 'I think that both candidates, Crooked Hillary and myself, should release detailed medical records. I have no problem in doing so! Hillary?,' he said on Twitter. The business magnate also tweeted, 'Crooked Hillary, who tried so hard, was unable to pass the Bar Exams in Washington D.C. She was forced to go elsewhere.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures were lower Monday as a stronger U.S. dollar dented commodity prices. Last week's brief rally ran out of steam amid uncertainty over OPEC's upcoming meeting in Algeria. Markets await clues about whether Saudi Arabia will agree to curb supplies in an effort to put a floor under oil prices. Oct. WTI oil was down 66 cents, or 1.4%, to settle at $46.98/bbl. It was the first decline in three sessions. In economic news, the Commerce Department said that income and spending rose in line with economist estimates in the month of July. The report said personal income climbed by 0.4 percent in July after rising by 0.3 percent in June. The increase in income matched economist estimates. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 29, 2016) - Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) (OTCQX: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") reports that further to the Company's news release dated July 25, 2016, the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on the Separation Rapids Lithium Project is now targeted for completion by mid-September, 2016. Work continues towards finalizing the hydrometallurgical process plant cost estimates, the mine plan and the economic model. Some delays were experienced in receiving final analytical results from the laboratory which has delayed completion of the PEA. Most of the other components of the PEA, including the updated resource estimate and environmental studies, have now been completed. The technical information included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by the Company's Senior Vice President, Metallurgy and Technology Development, Mr. David Marsh, FAusIMM (CP), and Donald S. Bubar, P.Geo., both Qualified Persons under NI 43-101. About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (formerly Avalon Rare Metals Inc.) is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones. For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at ir@AvalonAM.com, or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO at 416-364-4938. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statement that the PEA on the Separation Rapids Lithium Project is now targeted for completion by mid-September, 2016. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential", "scheduled", "anticipates", "continues", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "targeted", "planned", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" or "will not be" taken, reached or result, "will occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market conditions, and the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses as well as those risk factors set out in the Company's current Annual Information Form, Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Deal Marks Progress Against Divestment Target HOUSTON, Aug. 29,2016 /PRNewswire/ --Royal Dutch Shell plc, through its affiliate Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell), today announces it has an agreement to sell 100 percent of its record title interest in Gulf of Mexico Green Canyon Blocks 114, 158, 202 and 248, referred to as the Brutus/Glider assets, to EnVen Energy Corporation, through its affiliate EnVen Energy Ventures, LLC. In line with Shell's global divestment plans, this transaction includes $425 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close in October. The Brutus/Glider assets include the Brutus Tension Leg Platform (TLP), the Glider subsea production system, and the oil and gas lateral pipelines used to evacuate the production from the TLP. The Brutus/Glider assets have a combined current production estimate of approximately 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). Shell is a leading, global deep-water operator, with a strong development pipeline and production on-stream in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, and Malaysia as well as exploration and appraisal opportunities. Shell currently produces approximately 600,000 boe/d and plans to increase production to more than 900,000 boe/d by the early 2020s from already discovered, established reservoirs. Disclaimer And Cautionary Note The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this release "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. 'Subsidiaries', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this release refer to companies over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Companies over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to "joint ventures" and companies over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". In this release, joint ventures and associates may also be referred to as "equity-accounted investments". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 23% shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest. This release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as 'anticipate', 'believe', 'could', 'estimate', 'expect', 'goals', 'intend', 'may', 'objectives', 'outlook', 'plan', 'probably', 'project', 'risks', "schedule", 'seek', 'should', 'target', 'will' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward looking statements contained in this release and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this release, August 29, 2016. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this release that United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov. You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120917/MM76045LOGO Although its rumoured that the government had already sent the invitations to the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) to pass on to the three groups. However, they have not received the letters nor has a government official contacted them about the conference, according to the interview with the three allied groups by MNA on August 26. We have not heard that Nay Pyi Taw [government official] already sent us the invitations. They [government] have not contacted us. They have not contacted our group either. If they [AA] received the letter, they would inform me about that, but so far no contact and no invitation has been received, said AAs Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Han. Likewise, the TNLA hasnt received an invitation from the government yet, although it has been reported in newspapers that the government have already sent the invitations. We have not received the invitation letter yet. They [government] said they invited us through the NDAA. The media are also reporting that the invitation letter was already sent to us. But that is not true. We did not get the letter yet and the NDAA also has not contacted us about it yet. If they [govt] want to invite us, they can just invite us directly. It seems that they do not want to invite us, and that is why we have so far have not received any invitation. If we are allowed to attend the conference, we are ready to, said Brigadier General Tar Jode Jar, Vice-chair of TNLA. Regarding the unsent invitation letters to the three allied groups, when a MNA reporter contacted the preparatory committee of 21st Century Panglong Conference, the phone was left unanswered. Recently, U Sai Kyaw Nyut, a secretarial member of the joint committee for the 21st Century Panglong Conference, stated that 17 ethnic armed groups would join the conference and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang NSCN-K would join as an observer only. Each group is given 10 minutes to present their groups policy and areas of concern. The 21st Century Panglong Conference will take place on August 31 over 5 days at the Myanmar International Convention Center -2, in Nay Pyi Taw. 200 representatives from the ethnic armed groups have been invited to join the conference. HOUSTON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrews Kurth, an international business law firm with market-leading practices in energy, finance and technology, announced today that it has entered into an agreement that will allow it to bolster its intellectual property and technologypractice by adding 55 lawyers from Kenyon & Kenyon. Kenyon is a top-tier intellectual property and technology firm long recognized for its global legal work in patent, trademark and copyright litigation, counseling and prosecution for Fortune 500 companies. The firm will market its intellectual property and technology practice and certain offices as Andrews Kurth Kenyon.The transaction is scheduled to close, and the Kenyon & Kenyon team would join the firm, in early September. "It's not often that you find a firm that shares a similar culture and core values, and it became clear early on that the Kenyon lawyers were a good fit for us," said Bob Jewell, who will remain the firm's managing partner."Strengthening these practice specialties immediately makes us a top-tier destination for domestic and international clients for their intellectual property and technology needs." "We are extremely pleased to be part of this exciting firm. Andrews Kurth has a stellar reputation, and I am confident that with the broad geographic reach and deep resources of Andrews Kurth, we can build on our international success as a full-serviceintellectual property and technology firm,"said Kenyon & Kenyon managing partner Edward Colbert, who will serve on the firm's Policy Committee and as global co-chair of the firm's intellectual property and technology practice. "Information assets lie at the core of modern business, which is why a business law firm like Andrews Kurth has been expanding its intellectual property and technology practice over the past several years," said Jeff Dodd, who will also serve as global co-chair of the firm's intellectual property and technology practice. "Andrews Kurth has been building a practice that has been gaining recognition, but this combination immediately catapults our combined practice into the top ranks." With the addition of these talented lawyers, the firm will enhance its ability to advise clients in sophisticated transactions and restructurings, high-stakes dispute resolution and complex regulatory matters, both domestically and internationally, with a much deeper intellectual property and technology group. The firm will add Kenyon's established Silicon Valley presence in Palo Alto, CA, a key venue for technology innovation and intellectual property litigation, as well as venture capital and emerging company work and a bridge to the firm's growing Asia-Pacific practice. Kenyon's core institutional client base will now have one-stop fortheir legal needsacross a broad spectrum of practice specialties. Clients of Andrews Kurth Kenyon will have access to over 400 attorneys in 11 cities (Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, London, New York, Research Triangle Park, Silicon Valley, The Woodlands and Washington, DC). Andrews Kurth is consistently ranked as a top-tier firm by Chambers & Partners USA, Thomson Reuters, mergermarket, Bond Buyer, Texas Lawyer, IAM 1000 - The World's Leading Patent Practitioners, The Deal, Legal 500, U.S. News and World Report Best Law Firms, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Bloomberg and many others. Kenyon & Kenyon has long been recognized as a Top IP firm by such publications as Chambers & Partners USA, Legal 500, IAM 1000 - The World's Leading Patent Practitioners, Managing Intellectual Property and World Trademark Review. The firm has been cited for its work in all areas of intellectual property law, including copyright litigation, patent litigation and prosecution, and trademark litigation and prosecution. About Andrews Kurth LLP Since 1902, Andrews Kurth has built its practice on the belief that "straight talk is good business." Real answers, clear vision and mutual respect define the law firm's relationships with clients, colleagues, communities and employees. For more information visit andrewskurth.com. About Kenyon & Kenyon LLP Founded in 1879, Kenyon & Kenyon LLP has been a leading intellectual property law firm whose sophisticated and business-oriented approach helps clients succeed with their intellectual property strategies. Kenyon's global clients, many of whom are worldwide industry leaders, have relied on Kenyon for years for high-stakes litigation, prosecution, licensing and counseling needs for decades. For more information visit kenyon.com. Michael Blanchard of GLC Law Firm Consulting was hired by Kenyon & Kenyon to assist with the transaction. For press inquiries please contact: Ashley R. Nelly Director of Marketing Andrews Kurth LLP 600 Travis Street | Suite 4200 | Houston, Texas 77002 713.220.4410 Phone ashleynelly@andrewskurth.com Elise Rosenblum-Vazquez Business Development Director Kenyon & Kenyon LLP One Broadway | New York, New York 10004-1007 212.908.6436 Phone erosenblum-vazquez@kenyon.com Mobile Embrace Limitedsays it has launched marketing operations in four middle east countries.The mobile commerce company is rolling out its cloud based performance marketing platform into Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Bahrain.The company says it is already generating revenue in all four markets and the Middle East is currently experiencing some of the highest mobile adoption of any region globally.Mobile Embrace reported a net profit of $4.92 million to the end of June 2016. TriStyle, a Munich, Germany-based direct fashion retailer operating brands Peter Hahn and Madeleine across Europe, acquired the Amery Capital backed tall womens specialist, Long Tall Sally, in deal valued at c. 30m. Long Tall Sally will continue to be operated independently from its east London offices with the existing management team led by CEO Andrew Shapin. Founded in 1975 by Judy Rich, Long Tall Sally is an omnii-channel retailer of fashion for taller women. The company, which opened the first store on Chiltern Street in the west end of London in 1976. LTS an online led omni-channel retailer generating c.70% of it revenues from it ecommerce websites, supported by a catalog distributed in its four main markets of US, UK, CA and DE as well as shipping to over 120 countries. The business also has 10 stores in the UK, 7 in Canada, 4 in the US and 5 in Germany. All clothing is designed in-house, proportioned to flatter taller women. The company has 388 employees globally, 212 working in the UK, 129 in North America and 47 in Germany. Amery Capital Limited purchased long Tall Sally in 2005 and has funded the organic growth and acquisitions, which have together transformed the business, including Tall Girls CA, Barefoot Tess USA, Long Fashion DE and Long Elegant Legs USA. FinSMEs 29/08/2016 Shahid Kapoor and his wife Mira Rajput (Kapoor) on Friday welcomed their first child, a daughter at Hinduja Hospital in Khar, Mumbai. Shahid Kapoor was seen exiting the hospital with his daughter (who was covered in a pink and white blanket). Dressed in casuals, Shahid was spotted wearing a cap to avoid being clicked. Mira Kapoor walked ahead of the two as daddy dearest escorted his daughter to the car. Since it was raining, a host of umbrellas helped them on their way. #shahidkapoor #mirarajputkapoor #mirakapoor #mirarajput #shahidmira #shamira A photo posted by Mira Rajput Kapoor (@mira.kapoor.fc) on Aug 28, 2016 at 8:46am PDT Earlier, Shahids mother Neelima Azim had said to IANS, I thank everybody for their wishes and support. Both mother and daughter are doing fine and my granddaughter looks absolutely gorgeous. Their parents are so happy. Its the fourth generation. Salman Khan's sister Arpita Khan Sharma and husband Ayush Sharma have been robbed from their home in Sherly Rajan Road, Bandra, Mumbai. Cash worth over Rs 3 Lakhs and other valuables have been stolen. Hindustan Times reports that Mumbai police have arrested their domestic help for the robbery. The couple were not in India at the time, and the incident came to light when then domestic help failed to turn for work for a couple of days. She was responsible of taking care of all household chores. After an FIR was registeed, the police traced her by speaking to drivers and other domestic help in the building. She was finally found at her home in Nalasopara, in suburban Mumbai. She had not gotten her police verification done. Apart from cash, a 10g gold coin and designer clothes were also stolen. A FIR has been filed against music director Vishal Dadlani over his sarcastic tweet on Jain religious leader Tarun Sagar's address to the Haryana Assembly, reported CNN - NEWS18. Dadlani's tweet mocking the Jain monk attracted several brickbats from across the social media and political leaders, so much so that he quit politics. Celebrity supporter of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Dadlani, on Saturday, had severed ties with the party's political work, saying he "made a mistake by offending the peaceful Jain community" after his tweet on the monk created controversy. The Haryana government had invited the Jain monk, who appeared in nude, to deliver a lecture 'Kadve Vachan' in the Assembly on Friday. A day later, Dadlani in a tweet termed Tarun Sagar's speech as "monkery". However, that particular tweet was later removed. Dadlani had later apologised to the Jain monk as well. But here is what Tarun Sagar had to say: In that, Sir, we are more alike than different. Thanks for saying this. I apologise to you again, in all humility! https://t.co/1UJIA0boup VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016 Tarun Sagar told ANI, "I don't think he knows anything about Jainism or our beliefs. Also, the question of apology doesn't arise as I am not angry with him in the first place." I don't think he knows anything about Jainism or our beliefs: Jain Muni Tarun Sagar on Vishal Dadlani pic.twitter.com/pv1el1wY2W ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 The esteemed Digambar Jain guru Tarun Sagar sat on a dais and spoke of the marriage between dharma and politics, terrorism and female foeticide. The music composer decided to air his opinion on the Jain guru via the social media site, mocking the fact that the spiritual leader gave the speech in the nude. He used the hashtag #NoKachcheDin along with the tweet, which has now been deleted following the outrage. Furthermore, Dadlani also criticised people for "defending the monk's colossal idiocy". People actually trying to defend the colossal idiocy of some naked monk, addressing Haryana assembly, telling women how to live! UNREAL! (2) VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 (2) That dude has the same education, as he has clothes on. None. I've no problem with nudity. I have a problem with religion in governance. VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 I wonder how the idiots defending that shit, don't see the hypocrisy of it. Or 'hipocrasy', as they spell it. https://t.co/8zjt3UnDGe VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 Dadlani's botheration being: "Inclusion of religion in governance and 'saints' in Parliament", which a Twitter user clarified, saying that it was legislative assembly and not Parliament. He tried to counter every criticism that he invited. Everyone is entitled to believe whatever they like & worship whomever they choose. Can we just keep ALL of those OUT of Governance, please? VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 All respect for Jains & Jainism.Their cocept of non-violence is what the world needs.But why 'saints' in parliament? https://t.co/XrvKphBoQq VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 Nothing vulgar about nudity. Telling women how to live, what to wear, where to go, what to do....THAT is vulgar! https://t.co/XrvKphBoQq VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 You're right. My mistake. Slip of the thumb. https://t.co/rgcM9GdIgK VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 He further apologised justifying his intent: I apologise if I've upset Jain feelings. The intent was to ridicule the merger of religion & governance, and not any religion in particular. VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 Here's the monk addressing the Haryana assembly. Sure that's inoffensive to all. I apologise if I hurt anyone. pic.twitter.com/0dYsEflQx5 VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 I got carried away. I apologise to you, and all concerned. Now, can we not have religion in governance? https://t.co/fQzmUKgwvF VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had disapproved his remark, saying, "Tarun Sagarji Maharaj is a very revered saint, not just for Jains but everyone and those showing disrespect is unfortunate and should stop", while Delhi PWD Minister Satyendar Jain sought "kshama" from him on behalf of his music composer "friend". Dadlani has been responding to every tweet over his remark and apologising profusely. He further announced that he will be quitting from politics. It feel bad that I hurt my Jain friends & my friends @ArvindKejriwal & @SatyendarJain .I hereby quit all active political work/affiliation. VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 27, 2016 A lot is being said against AAP because I chose to quit. I just want to say, AAP is a family. Please keep faith in AK & the party! (2) VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016 (2) I made a mistake by offending the peaceful Jain community, and I felt the only way to truly apologise, was to renounce my ego (3) VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016 (3) Neither Arvind, nor anyone else, asked me to quit. I make my own decisions. I made a mistake, & I'm genuinely sorry. That's all. (4) VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 28, 2016 With inputs from agencies New Delhi: India has attracted investment from 37 mobile manufacturing companies in last one year that have generated 40,000 direct jobs and 1.25 lakh indirect employment, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said. We decided to make India a big hub of electronics manufacturing. In the last one year, 37 new mobile manufacturing units have come, Prasad said after inaugurating government-funded Electropreneur Park. He said that 11 crore mobile phones have been made in the country in last one year compared to 6 crore earlier. We have given jobs to forty-thousand people and 1.25 lakh indirect jobs, Prasad said. Chinese companies like Gionee and Xiaomi are making their handsets at Foxconn plant in Andhra Pradesh. Domestic companies such as Karbonn, Lava, Micromax, Intex, Jivi, iTel, and MTech too have set up their manufacturing plants in the country. As per industry sources, Chinese company LeEco will start mobile manufacturing unit on Tuesday. Prasad said that besides manufacturing electronics product in India, product designing is also important. He said that government has provided Rs 10,000 crore under Electronics Development Fund to support new entrepreneurs in the field of electronics. The Electropreneur Park (EP), which was innaugurated today in South Campus of Delhi University, is an incubation centre set up with government funds of around Rs 21 crore to support incubation of up to 50 companies. Set-up in collaboration with academia and industry represented by Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association, the Park will focus on creation of intellectual property rights and product development to increase domestic manufacturing of electronics items. India imports electronic goods of over Rs 3 lakh crore. By 2020 government aims to bring down import to zero. The Electropreneur Park started on Saturday is a step in that direction, Minister of State for IT and Law P P Choudhary said. Ministry of Electronics and IT has selected six start-up firms that will develop products at this incubation centre. Six out of 176 start-ups have been selected which means they have capability of developing good quality products and selection of six more are in pipeline, MEITY Additional Secretary Ajay Kumar said. The rationale for the boycott position is as follows. It is worth restating, since without changes by the Burma Army, and Aung San Suu Kyi, the country will never be at peace. The conflict is still ongoing specifically, the Burma Army has launched offensives in both Kachin and Northern Shan States. It is difficult to understand why there would even be a peace conference now, when one side is so dedicated to war. For example, peace talks are presently underway for the Philippines, following the announcement last week of an on the ground ceasefire by both sides. Also, a peace agreement has just been signed in Columbia, again after the first step of halting fighting on the ground. Until Burmas military dictatorship follows the lead of these two countries, and becomes a sincere and willing partner, there is plainly no hope of peace. Secondly, the peace process negotiation is biased, remarkably, in favor of the dictatorship. Suu Kyi, who should be an independent arbiter, has sided with the generals. Indeed, one of her key spokespersons on the issue of peace, Khin Zaw Oo, is a Burma Army general and, according to a 2014 Harvard Law School study, an indictable war criminal. Irrawaddy quoted him last week, saying: The Burma Army and the government share the same view. Thirdly, the dictatorship still has not budged on the issue of inclusion, meaning the TNLA, MNDAA and AA will not be able to attend (despite their publicized willingness to do so.) Suu Kyi backs the dictatorship and accepts their exclusion. Again, a peace process that excludes important parties to the conflict cannot succeed. Finally, the peace conference has no overt objective. The participants will share their views, but there will be no serious negotiations or target outcome (such as declaring a true nationwide on the ground ceasefire), and the entire exercise will be held again in six months. Why, then, has the UNFC decided to go? The answer, to me at least, is simple. There is, both in Burma and internationally, a blackout on the countrys civil conflict. Even though there is an actual air war, with Burma Army jets and helicopters repeatedly attacking EAO positions and ethnic nationality villages, this gets almost no attention. Even in Burma itself, there are no combat journalists, who stay at the front lines and report on the crisis firsthand. Instead, the war is only covered by local media outlets when the EAOs themselves publish information about the latest battles. This all links back to Suu Kyi. She refuses to even acknowledge the fighting, certainly in specific terms, since were she to do so she would be forced to criticize its instigator, the military dictatorship. Diplomats and the media in turn follow her lead, meaning that the Burma Civil War, which is a major conflict, outside of the Middle East possibly the largest war now in progress, gets no recognition or coverage. The peace conference therefore is a chance for the EAOs to explain what is really happening. Suu Kyi doesnt want to have a formal Truth and Reconciliation Commission (like in South Africa). Fine. The ethnic nationalities can use this meeting to get the truth out. Many EAO representatives will speak, and I would suggest that they all dispense with self-censorship and diplomatic niceties. They should openly, and using concrete examples, describe the regimess decades of tyranny, and its current actions at the front lines. While the format might not permit them to introduce individual victims as witnesses, such as people who have had family members slaughtered or who have been raped, they should nonetheless document, one speaker after another, the regimes invasion of their homelands and its crimes against humanity. It is time for the truth in Burma to be told! Suu Kyis demand for censorship must be rejected! This is a good reason to attend. Lets clear up the manufactured confusion that the Burma Army and the EAOs are somehow equivalent once and for all. The criminal dictatorship aggressor needs to be publicly outed and shamed, and then pressured to end its hostility and atrocities. This is the only way the country will ever know peace. Panaji - Bangaluru-based GMR Infrastructure has won the final financial bid for construction of the greenfield airport at Mopa in North Goa, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar announced here on Friday. The claims of all bidders were opened today by a committee comprising senior government officials. "GMR has won the financial bid and it has pledged 36.99 per cent revenue sharing with the state government after the airport becomes operational," the Chief Minister told reporters. He said other bidders like Airport Authority of India and ESSEL Infra had quoted 32.31 per cent and 27 per cent as the revenue share from the project with state government, which will be operational on BOOT (build, own, operate, transfer) basis. The airport is planned in the Northernmost part of the state adjoining Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone for the project during second week of September. This would be the second airport in the coastal state after Dabolim airport in South Goa. Once being fully operational, Mopa airport will have the capacity to handle nine million passengers per annum. State Governor Mridula Sinha in her speech during the first Assembly session this year had told the legislators that the first phase of the airport would be functional by 2019. REUTERS - Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N) is looking to cut its workforce by 1,700 people, or almost 1 percent, through a buyout offer for technicians and call-center employees. The company, which has been seeking to cut costs in its declining traditional telephone business, said on Monday it could resort to involuntary layoffs if too few employees accept the voluntary package. Verizon said it was too soon to estimate the financial impact of the buyout plan, which was announced to union workers in several states last week. Verizon, which has about 192,000 workers in total, has been in talks for months with unions for labor contracts covering 45,000 employees, or about half its wireline business workforce. The workers went on strike for two weeks in August last year. Spokesman Richard Young said the talks were progressing but declined to give any details. The company said that it made the offers because of a "workforce surplus" in certain parts of its wireline business. The company's shares were up 0.6 percent at $41.26 on Monday morning on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Sinead Carew in New York; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick and Matthew Lewis) Recently, I have been ridiculed and dismissed as a 'sanghi', as a Zionist and as an Islamophobe for arguing in my writings that Islamic clerics and Urdu journalists engender Islamist ideas and trap innocent Muslim youths in the web of jihadism. So, to defend me in the court of public opinion, I hereby present my advocate Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), the 20th century's foremost Islamic scholar who was born in Mecca as a citizen of the Ottoman Caliphate and went on to become the free India's first education minister. But first, let's meet Abdul Hakim whose son Hafesuddin is among two dozen Keralite youths who left India to join the Islamic State (IS) in Syria this year. "My own son called me a kafir (infidel). Radicalism changed my son completely," Hakim told a TV channel on 11 July. One day, the son texted: "(I will) get the jannat (heaven), here no tax, here Shari'a law only, nobody here catching me, very good place." Hakim said: "He does not like me anymore. I don't know why he doesn't like me anymore." The radicalisation of Hakim's son is rooted in the practice of Islamic teachings. On 27 October, 1914, addressing a large Muslim gathering in Kolkata, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the internationally known cleric of his era, reflected on what should be the relationship between a jihadi son and his family members. He said: "This biradri (community of Muslims) has been established by God...All relationships in the world can break down but this relationship can never be severed. It is possible a father turns against his son, not impossible that a mother separates her child from her lap, it is possible that one brother becomes the enemy of other brother...But the relationship that a Chinese Muslim has with an African Muslim, an Arab bedouin has with the Tatar shepherd, and which binds in one soul a neo-Muslim of India with the right-descendant Qureshi of Mecca, there is no power on earth to break it, to cut off this chain" There are two points here: One, in Islam, only a member of the Quraishi clan can become a caliph a theological point based on which the Islamic State rejected Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar as the caliph of Muslims and Indian Islamic scholar Mualana Salman Al-Husaini Al-Nadwi of Lucknow accepted IS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi as the caliph in 2014. Two, Maulana Azad was speaking at a time when the fall of the Ottoman Caliphate was in sight and his was a well-prepared, well-considered speech in support of global Islamism that led to thousands of Muslims leaving India to wage jihad in Turkey during the Khilafat Movement. Maulana Azad was a fiery speaker and an editor par excellence. His speech gives a detailed insight into how Islamic clerics radicalise Muslims through sermons in mosques and speeches in jalsas (religious congregations). Outlining a view of global Islamism, which he explicitly endorsed, Maulana Azad told the audience: "If even a grain of the soul of Islam is alive among its followers, then I should say that if a thorn gets stuck in a Turk's sole in the battlefield of war, then I swear by the God of Islam, no Muslim of India can be a Muslim until he feels that prick in his heart instead of sole because the Millat-e-Islam (the global Muslim community) is a single body." To inculcate the idea of global Islamism, Maulana Azad quoted Prophet Muhammad as saying: "One momin for another momin is like one brick assisting another brick in a wall." The word momin means "faithful Muslim" but is sociologically understood in the Indian Subcontinent as an Islamic superman (Mard-e-Momin), popularised by the Islamist poet Muhammad Iqbal who stole the idea of superman from German thinker Friedrich Nietzsche. Then Maulana Azad quoted the Verse 29 of the Quran's Chapter Al-Fatah which urges Muslims to be friendly between themselves and hard against kafirs (infidels). Maulana Azad translated the verse in following words: "[Be] extremely hard against kafirs but extremely sympathetic and kind among ourselves." Maulana Azad accused Europe of inventing the bogus phrases like "the Eastern Problem" and "Pan Islamism" as "an extreme Satanic strategy" to divide the Muslim world, and lamented that Muslims were responding to it more like a scared "murder convict." He said: "Then, if it is true that a sword is being sharpened to strike in the heart of Islam, then what hesitation that we be engaged in developing a shield. If the worship of Jesus has ancient enmity against the worship of God, and this is not a new Christian conspiracy, then the unity of brotherhood is not a new tactic of the followers of Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) to defend against the attack of polytheists." It is often argued by moderates that Islam did not spread by sword. Nevertheless, the idea of the sword has been integral to clerics' teachings. Pointing to the Ottomans who were waging jihad against Europe-backed Muslims in the Middle East, Maulana Azad said: "The last human sword of Islamic life is only in the hands of the Turks." Quoting articles from European newspapers such as the Budapest Herald and the Times of London, he said: "Europe considers it the 20th century's biggest service to civilisation to terminate 40 crore human souls, followers of Islam from anything called culture and civilisation." Although he said that "Pan Islamism" did not exist outside the mental world of Europe, in the same breath he added: "Alas, there existed pan Islamism among Muslims today! A pan Islamism for which there is no need for some secret committee of Muslims of Turkey and England to give birth to but that which we have been invited to (by Islam) from day one." It appears that a debate was underway at the time to upgrade the MAO College into a full-fledged Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), which happened ultimately in 1920. Speaking about the need for the "Muslim University," Maulana Azad rejected territorial nationalism among Indian Muslims saying: "Remember, today, for Islam, for Muslims, any national or local movement cannot be fruitful." He rejected nationalist movements of Egypt, Turkey, Algeria and India, saying: "In my beliefs, all of this is an act of magic by the presager-Satan who makes those asleep because it does not like those sleeping [ie Muslims] to rise up." "The most important matter is that we have to build a university in Aligarh, have to collect Rs 30 lakh for this," he said and described it as a kaaba of Aligarh. More importantly, he said: "The day the university is established, wahi (revelation, of Quranic verse 5:3) will land on the roof of the Strachey Hall (of AMU)." In verse 5:3, Allah says: "This day I have perfected for you your religion" Then, Maulana Azad made an astounding declaration before the Muslims of Kolkata, arguing that peace is useless and war is life. "Oh! dear brothers, remember that however rosy the idea of peace, compromise and rejection of murder and plunder in the world may be, but due to the bad luck of the world thus far the real power is the power of sword; and the source of life, the water of life is in the fountains and rivers of blood," the religious scholar declared. He was clearer: "Today, if it is asked, where to search for life of nations and evidence of life, then its answer will not come from universities of education and arts, and ancient libraries Rather, it will be found in the metalled (war) ships which line up the coast" The word "peace" is frequently used by jihadi groups, but in their parlance it means the peace of Islam, which protects non-Muslims if they agree to live under that peace in lieu of jizya (tax on non-Muslims). Maulana Azad added: "That hand is pious in which the flag of compromise flutters, but only that hand can be alive which has the blood-soaked sword in its grip. This is the source of the life of (the global Muslim) nation, means of the establishment of justice" He asked Muslims to bear in mind that at the time there was "only one sword in the defence of the religion of Allah" and that was in the hands of the falling Ottoman Caliph. He also criticised liberal Muslims who did not side with him in support of the Caliphate, saying that time has come to "discriminate between faith and kufr (non-belief)" and cited the Quranic verse 2:14: "These munafiqeen (hypocrites among Muslims), when they meet Muslims they say, we are Muslims. But when they visit alone their Satans (non-Muslims), then they say, we are with you by heart" In the early 20th century when Maulana Azad was speaking, about 18,000 Muslims from India went to Turkey to wage jihad and women sent their jewelleries so that the Turks could continue jihad. We are much in a better shape today than a century ago. Towards the end of his speech, Maulana Azad was conscious of the gravity of the announcement he was about to make for jihad. "Oh! dear brothers, the matter whose announcement I do not fear, it's strange if you would be scared of listening to it." And then he declared: "I say that, on every momin who believes in Allah, his messenger (Prophet Muhammad) and his book (Quran), it is obligatory that he rise up today for jihad fi sabeelillah (jihad in the path of Allah)." And then Maulana Azad added: "The first jihad for it is the financial jihad and after it if there be any need is the jihad of body and life..." He argued that "Islam is a sale and purchase (between God and followers)" and added: "The day we accepted that we are Muslims, the same day we accepted that our lives stood sold for Islam. The meaning of Islam is to surrender our heads before the only God, and then it is upon him whether he puts it in the lap of friends or under the sword of enemies." Maulana Azad justified the sacrifice of human lives for jihad by the citing the tradition of Prophet Abraham, who offered his son for sacrifice, an occasion marked every year by Muslims as Eid Al-Azha (the feast of sacrifice) by sacrificing animals. Like today's jihadis, Maulana Azad asked Indian Muslims to preserve the Ottoman Caliphate "in their hearts as a pure religious relationship, to consider any government of the world that is its enemy as the enemy of Islam and the ones that were its friend as the friend of Islam because friendship and enmity were not for human purposes but only for the religion of Allah." If you have been perplexed during past three years as to why Muslims from India and other nations are radicalised in favour of the Islamic State, Maulana Azad's speech gives a clear insight into the historical Muslim mind. And he was not a 'sanghi', or a Zionist, or even an Islamophobe. Today, an estimated 30 Indian Muslims are fighting alongside the IS in Syria and more than 250 youths are under surveillance in India, while some Indians are also based in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the early 20th century when Maulana Azad was speaking, about 18,000 Muslims from India went to Turkey to wage jihad and women sent their jewelleries so that the Turks could continue jihad. We are much in a better shape today than a century ago. (Author's Note: Excerpts from Maulana Azad's 1914 speech used in this article are translated from Urdu book Khutbat-e-Azad (Speeches of Azad), published in 2010 by Maktaba-e-Jamal, Lahore. The book is available in India.) Former BBC journalist Tufail Ahmad is a contributing editor at Firstpost, and executive director of the Open Source Institute, New Delhi. He tweets @tufailelif A Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) panel has recommended that pellet guns be relegated as an emergency measure in Jammu and Kashmir. It has also suggested the use of chilli-pepper grenades in Jammu and Kashmir, reported India Today TV. This recommendation by the MHA panel comes merely days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said on Thursday in Srinagar that there should be an alternative to pellet guns. "It was believed in 2010 that the pellet gun is a non-lethal weapon that does not do much damage. But today, we feel that there should be some alternative to pellet guns," he had said, adding that "the expert committee report will be out soon and we will find an alternative to pellet guns." The use of pellet guns in Jammu and Kashmir has been widely debated, where the death toll in the unrest, which began on 8 July after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, has crossed 65. Tiny pieces of metal shrapnel employed by police in Kashmir are causing havoc in the state. Known widely as pellet guns, these have been employed by police as a crowd control measure since 2010. The Opposition criticised the Centre many times, both inside and outside the Parliament, over the use of pellet guns by security forces in the Valley and has demanded a ban on them. Kashmir Congress had welcomed Rajnath Singh's statement on Thursday that an alternative to pellet guns would be found. These guns can hold up to 500 pellets, which are reportedly less lethal than bullets, even if they do cause equally serious injuries especially to the eyes. Doctors in Srinagar on 10 August had staged a silent protest by covering one eye with a bandage to represent those victims who have been blinded due to pellets. On the other hand, the CRPF had informed the Jammu and Kashmir High Court that if pellet guns are banned as a crowd control measure, its personnel will be forced to fire bullets in extreme situations, which can cause more fatalities. "In case, this (pellet gun) is withdrawn from the options available with the CRPF, CRPF personnel would have no recourse in extreme situations but to open fire with rifles, which may cause more fatalities," the CRPF had said in an affidavit submitted to the high court. The CRPF had also said that following the standard operating procedures while dealing with a dynamic law and order problem is difficult in case of moving, bending and running target. The standard operating procedure regarding use of firearms for crowd control in extreme situations requires that the weapon be aimed below the waist. "But the situation prevailing on the streets during an ongoing law and order incident is dynamic and mobile. In such a situation, sometimes it is difficult to go in for precise aimed fire at a moving, bending and running target," it had said. The CRPF had said it has fired around 3,500 pellet cartridges from 9 July to 11 August during violence by protesters in the valley. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to lead the all-party delegation which will visit Jammu and Kashmir on 3 September even as the state continues to be on edge. With inputs from PTI In the very first week after the current Kashmiri upsurge began on 8 July, it was obvious that parts of Kupwara district were among the worst affected. A recent visit to the area revealed that it had already been on the boil since the month of Ramzan, which ended three days before Burhan was killed. Fiery sermons every Friday through that month had charged up people to demonstrate fierce anger. Trends over the past few days suggest that this may have been a well-planned strategy. For, there has been a noticeable increase in the infiltration of militants from Pakistan through various sectors of Kupwara district. Kupwara stretches in a mountainous arc across the heights to the north of the Kashmir Valley. It remained marginal during the violence of the 1990s, although it was the route through which many militants crossed the Line of Control. The army tackled three different infiltration bids simultaneously on certain nights over the past couple of weeks. This, a senior army officer said, was the first time they had faced such intense infiltration in perhaps 15 years. Not only has the number of infiltration bids increased substantially in the past couple of weeks, they began in December and continued through large parts of the winter and spring. In previous years, infiltration had generally begun around April. An army officer pointed out that, in some ways, the coldest part of the night in winter is the best time to trek in the heights. For, the frosted snow is crisp and leaves no footprints. Hurriyat lit a fire It seems clear that Pakistans military establishment had planned a massive injection of militants this year. That might explain, at least in part, the extraordinary upsurge in this district. Activists went to extraordinary lengths to light and fan the flames of rebellion in this district - well before Burhans killing. Whether or not it is in fact related to the inflow of militants, there is no doubt that disturbances have been uncharacteristically prolonged in Kupwara. Bakshi Hafeezullah, who heads the town traders association, is among the several leading citizens who describe the killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani on 8 July as little more than a blip in the current story of Kupwara. Tempers were set aflame in April over an alleged sexual liaison. Then, anger was further stirred during the month of Ramzan. The highlight of Ramzan in Kupwara was a visit by Pir Saifullah, a leading light of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Saifullah gave a fierce extended sermon at Kupwaras Jamia mosque. The highly-funded, extraordinarily-equipped intelligence leviathans apparently did nothing to stymie this. Former leading militants are among those who speculate that they either had no idea what was being planned, or they are compromised. Although many Hurriyat leaders, including the relatively moderate Mirwaiz Umar, were under house arrest during Ramzan, Saifullah was not only permitted to travel to Kupwara, his return to Srinagar was facilitated. According to several Kupwara residents, Saifullah returned to Srinagar after his sermon by a circuitous route, going in the opposite direction initially. Some say he switched vehicles, and that one of the vehicles he used was provided by a police officer. That might sound bizarre, but far more bizarre things have happened in north Kashmir. While Saifullah returned to Srinagar unhindered, his sermon sparked a fiery protest on the streets of Kupwara. Soon, those demonstrations gathered steam, and their targets became more specific. One of these targets was an army post at the main bus stand, the hub of this relatively small town. Some local observers link this to the removal of the huge army bunker at a central roundabout in nearby Handwara town after fiery protests took place there in April. Those protests were sparked by a liaison between a local girl and a soldier who hails from the area. That was used to whip up frenzied protests by youth, who set fire to the bunker. The bunker was then razed by a bulldozer under the supervision of the minister elected from Handwara, Sajad Lone. On the political plane, Sajad gained from that at the expense, obliquely, of his chief local rival, Chaudhary Ramzan of the National Conference. Of course, that only made Ramzans workers determined to push back and regain political ground over the past few weeks. Some Kupwara-based analysts speculate about whether the success of that mobilization in April paved the way for the fiery sermons in June. Perhaps strategists, either within the Hurriyat or in Pakistan, decided that the time was opportune to raise the temperature of a district that has been less responsive to the 'azadi' movement than many other parts of Kashmir. The demonstrations in April and during Ramzan certainly helped to set the stage for those during the past six weeks. For example, advocate Arif Hussain Wani of Drugmulla says those who attacked the Military Hospital at Drugmulla in mid-July were connected with (and remained incensed over) the killing of a young man by the army on May 21 during the demonstrations that followed the Handwara incident last April. That young man was from Nagari, which is just across a rivulet from Drugmulla, explains Wani. His associates at Nagari were still irate over his death, and chose to vent their anger on the Military Hospital at Drugmulla, just a few kilometres short of Kupwara. Various peaks That attack was arguably the worst during the turbulence in Kupwara during the couple of months. Indeed, the uprising in Kupwara peaked from 13 to 16 July, not on 9 July (the day after Burhans death), which was the peak in most other parts of the Valley. Pulwama and Kulgam in south Kashmir were the two other badly affected districts, apart from Kupwara. Those two were easily explicable: they have long been strong bases of the Jamaat-e-Islami, which has been most active in promoting the current uprising. Kupwara, on the other hand, has never been a Jamaat-e-Islami base. Rather, it has been the bastion of Abdul Ghani Lone, the Hurriyat leader who was assassinated on 21 May 2002. Lone had built amazing political capital in north Kashmir in a political career that spanned almost five decades. Since Burhans death and to an extent, since Saifullahs visit stone-pelting and barricades manned by boys were common in Kupwara and nearby areas such as Lolab and Trehgam - until a week ago. Handwara, where Sajad Lone has substantial influence owing to his fathers legacy, has been quiet. Many a leading townsperson alleges that political activists of various shades, including the National Conference, have been at play. In the same breath, they say that the role - or rather, the lack of activity of the leaders of ruling parties such as Sajads fellow minister Abdul Haq Khan has dismayed them too. While the various profit-seekers who pass for politicians of various hues have played with fire, the army has coped valiantly with the task of stymieing the dangerous inflow of militants even while providing vital support to the police. Rajkot: The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti has threatened to stage protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Gujarat visit on Tuesday if its members are not allowed to submit him a memorandum of their demands. Modi is scheduled to inaugurate Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation Yojna (SAUNI) at Dhrol taluka in Jamnagar district. Rajkot PAAS convener Brijesh Patel said they want to seek "clarification" from the PM on his "silence" on the "atrocities" committed on Patels during last year's agitation for reservation. "We do not wish to disrupt the programme if we are given permission by authorities to meet him (PM) and hand him over a memorandum. If we are denied permission, PAAS members will stage protest outside the venue (of the PM's event)," said Brijesh, a close associate of quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel. PAAS wants to raise several demands through their memorandum, including the key demand of granting reservation to Patidar community in government jobs and education under OBC quota. "Our PM never said anything about the atrocities committed on Patels during our agitation. We want to seek clarification from Modi on his silence. Through our memorandum, we also want to raise the issue of inaction by state government in punishing police officers involved in thrashing and killing Patels," said Brijesh. He said PAAS has already sought permission from the police commissioners and the collectors of Rajkot and Jamnagar to allow its members to hand over the memorandum to the PM. Dress codes and clothing restrictions for women and men are common in religious establishments. In dargahs, mosques and gurudwaras you have to cover your head; the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa does not allow scantily clothed people; several temples in southern India also have rules imposing a change of clothes before entry. Legislative assemblies are also temples of democracy as Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed when he entered the Parliament for the first time. So, does the Parliament and state legislative assemblies also have a dress code? When invited by the Haryana Education Minister to speak at the assembly, Jain Digambar monk Tarun Sagar arrived wearing his religion on his sleeves stark naked. Digambar Jain monks are people who denounce worldly wealth and essentials and consider not covering their body with clothes, leather, bark leaves etc as a virtue. Further, they are soft and calm and devoid of wrath, pride, wickedness, greed, sexual thoughts and bad customs. (Monk Tarun Sagar, with his high pitched voice, SRK style hamming and rapid hand movements, was far from being calm and his wrath towards Pakistan was shooting through the roof, not to mention his blatant sexism. When religious leaders, who have supposedly denounced the world, suddenly enter the temple of democracy and give sermons on worldly affairs like politics, Pakistan and a womans place in marriage, they open themselves up for rational public criticism. This incident raises several questions: First, is this allowed by the Constitution? India is a secular nation which means state and religion are to be kept separate. How can the government officially invite a religious leader to speak at Vidhan Sabha? Second, from the administrative point of view, how was the matter handled did the administration know that the monk would appear not as a citizen of the nation but as a religious leader carrying with him his religious practice of nakedness? If yes, did the administration give considerable thought to the appropriateness of nudity in public office? What about the logistics? Did he arrive at the Vidhan Sabha gate in a car, then walk through the corridors up to the dais naked all way? These questions are pertinent in understanding the reasonableness of nudity in public office even if for legitimate religious purpose. Third, is this legal as per the obscenity laws of India? Section 294 of Indian Penal Code defines the crime of obscenity: Whoever, to the annoyance of others (a) does any obscene act in any public place, or (b) sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place Of course, the law is highly ambiguous. The main test is that of annoyance. Courts have held that no act is per se obscene or vulgar unless it causes annoyance (2005 (3) ALD 220). But what constitutes annoyance? Who are others? What is a public place? these are open to interpretations. Nude art in temples, naked monks in Kumbh Mela or Varanasi ashrams certainly do not cause annoyance and are not obscene. But is it possible that they could cause annoyance when they enter day-to-day public places like government offices, trains, buses, banks, post offices, restaurants and so on? How many people should be annoyed for the act to be considered obscene? I am an atheist devoid of religious sentiments so I was certainly annoyed by the naked monk in legislative assembly, but does one womans annoyance matter? These are open questions. Finally, does the female gaze matter or is obscenity only about the majoritarian male gaze? A deeply conservative patriarchal society which worships the penis and considers bleeding vaginas impure, gathers itself into violent blood thirsty mobs and goes about beating women visiting pubs, harassing young girls and couples on Valentines Day and filing court cases against woman for having an opinion because men are annoyed. Causing annoyance to male gaze is often fatal for women as we have learned through the life of Jyoti Singh. Scantily clothed women cause rape. Pornography causes rape. The revered monk Tarun Sagar further said that a skewed sex ratio was leaving men to cause rapes. Enough of the male gaze and male sexuality. What about the female gaze? A naked body is a naked body. A woman may be aroused at the sight of a naked male body and the mans religious disposition may not be of any significance to her. Same goes with homosexual gaze. Irrespective of the mans religious intentions, his nudity may arouse all kinds of reactions. But unlike many men who would go ahead and rape, most women would like to look away from the body. At least they should have the choice to do so. When a formal event is organised in a workplace, where women go as part of their ordinary duties, that choice is kind of taken away. But this is not just about one day in Haryana Assembly or just about a few women. What example is being set? Tomorrow it could be a school or college a nude body shouldnt be forced upon a female gaze in anyway. Nudity in the workplace would amount to sexual harassment but why doesn't religious nudity? Is it because it is only about what the religious man intends and not how the non-religious female gaze receives the body? Coinciding with a mumps outbreak on Long Island, a new survey by the American Academy of Pediatricians, has shown that increasing numbers of American parents deem vaccines "unnecessary." Via WaPo: The AAP paper's publication coincidentally comes during a week when there's yet another outbreak in the United States of an infectious disease we can prevent through immunizations. Since August, at least 36 people have contracted mumps whose symptoms include puffy cheeks and possibly serious respiratory symptoms in one Long Island town. Health officials said that some of those infected had been vaccinated, leading them to wonder whether there is a new strain going around, but that they still believe immunization provides the best precaution and urged everyone in the area who has not gotten the measles, mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine to get it right away. "We're trying to prevent this from getting larger,"Lawrence Eisenstein, Nassau County health commissioner, told ABC News. Union Minister Mahesh Sharma on Monday said that he was speaking in 'context of religious places' when he advised women tourists not to wear skimpy clothes and skirts and added, "I did not comment on what women should wear or not, was just speaking in context of religious places." "Also, if I ask women tourists to be a bit careful while moving around at night then what is wrong in it? I am simply concerned," Sharma added. I did not comment on what women should wear or not,was just speaking in context of religious places: Mahesh Sharma pic.twitter.com/6cDemekTfd ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 On Sunday, while addressing a press meet in Agra, the Union culture and tourism minister asked women foreign tourists to not wear skirts and said they should refrain from venturing out alone at night for their own safety, reported The Times of India. Sharma intended that foreigners visiting the temple towns of Mathura and Vrindavan should keep the sensitivity of Indian culture in mind, the report said. "The tourists are given a welcome kit which have the dos and don'ts list, wherein they are advised not to wear short skirts. They should also click the image of the car's number plate while travelling and alert their friends if for safety," he added. Taking a dig at the BJP government, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "Women had greater freedom to wear clothes of their choice in Vedic times than they have in Modi times." Women had greater freedom to wear clothes of their choice in Vedic times than they have in Modi times https://t.co/8nKdRAhXIC Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 29, 2016 Then, of course, an interesting series of counter tweets followed: Hope he's said what to wear instead. Otherwise, the situation could get even worse. Atithi Scaro Bhava! https://t.co/7oPwzl6HRb Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) August 29, 2016 Rather than ensuring safety, Mahesh Sharma directs tourists not to wear skirts and refrain from going out late at night! #AccheDin Yasir Waheed (@Yasir_25) August 29, 2016 #MaheshSharma Cultural Overdose! Seeking Excuses for bad governance ! https://t.co/O5rMbb7c5I Sulaiman Mohd Khan (@sulaimanmkhan) August 29, 2016 India needs to ban such conservative ministers, not skirts#rubbish#MaheshSharma Jay Vora (@jcvnspace) August 29, 2016 A bomb exploded at the Brussels Institute of Criminology in the north of Brussels on Monday but the building was empty and no one was wounded, broadcaster RTL said. Reuters reported that a car rammed through the barriers at about 3 am local time and one or more attackers caused a bomb explosion near the laboratories which then caught fire. Police have deployed in force and sealed off the area. The institute assists and advises Belgium's justice authorities in carrying out their inquiries, reported The Associated Press. Brussels has remained on high alert at terror alert level three since the infamous 22 March attacks in which 32 people were killed. The attacks had taken place at Zaventem airport and Sint Jans Molenbeek Metro station. Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State. The airport bombings were carried out by Ibrahim El Bakraoui and Najim Laachraoui who was the alleged bomb-maker for the 13 November attacks on Paris, AFP had reported. The metro bomber was Khalid El Bakraoui, Ibrahim's brother. On 10 August, a bomb scare at Zaventem airport had sent security forces in Brussels into a tizzy. State prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt had said that his office had received information about possible bomb alerts and had opened an investigation. However, two aircraft landed safely at the airport after the threat, although some other planes had been diverted to other airports. With inputs from agencies London: As British Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to head to China for the upcoming G20, she will first hold a critical cabinet meeting with her top ministers at Chequers the country retreat home for British Prime Ministers, a media report said. May intends to reinforce her clear Brexit stance following Britain's 23 June referendum decision that the country will leave the European Union (EU), Xinhua news agency reported. Her determination to see through what the British public decided, was likely to dismay supporters of the 'Remain' camp who were still seeking ways of overturning Britain's retreat from Europe. May wants to make sure before she departs for Hangzhou that world leaders gathering in Hangzhou were in no doubt about her proclamation that Brexit means Brexit. The Mail on Sunday described May's Chequers' meeting on Wednesday as a "back to school" cabinet meeting during which she was expected to order feuding Brexit ministers to end any turf wars. It will be May's first meeting at her country retreat since she became Prime Minister, with the Mail saying it will mark a sharp escalation in May's efforts to assure restless Eurosceptics in her Conservative party that she was on track to deliver an early exit from the EU "and will not fob them off with Brexit-lite". She would also encourage the three-quarters of cabinet members who campaigned to stay in the EU to identify Brexit opportunities in their own government departments. May's trip to China will see her meeting the US President Obama, with commentators saying she was likely to use the opportunity to gauge the appetite for mutually beneficial Britain-US trade relationships in the future. Former Labour premier Tony Blair and a number of serving politicians say Members of Parliament could use a parliamentary vote to stop Brexit. A Downing Street source said: "The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that the British public have voted and now she will get on with delivering Brexit." Around 480 of the 650 MPs in the House of Commons campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU at the last election. The upper chamber, the House of Lords, was also to be said overwhelmingly in favour of Britain staying in the EU. In a speech on the leadership campaign trail a few days ago Labour's Smith said: "Under my leadership we will vote in Parliament to block any attempt to invoke Article 50 until Theresa May commits to a second referendum or a general election on whatever the EU exit deal emerges at the end of the process." Washington: Islamic State jihadists are rooting for Donald Trump to win the US presidential polls as they believe that he will lead America on a path of self-destruction and his presidency would be a powerful recruiting tool, according to a media report. Even though the Republican presidential candidate has promised to "knock the hell out of" Islamic State, the terror group is rooting for him to win the upcoming general election because they believe it will boost their ranks, the Foreign Affairs magazine reported, citing interviews with Islamic State supporters, recent defectors and social media analysis. Earlier this month, an Islamic State spokesman wrote on the IS-affiliated Telegram channel, Nashir, "I ask Allah to deliver America to Trump." An Islamic State supporter posted on one of the numerous jihadist "channels" hosted by the Telegram messaging application, "The 'facilitation' of Trump's arrival in the White House must be a priority for jihadists at any cost!!!" Trump has been campaigning on a promise to eradicate the Islamic State. The 70-year-old business tycoon regularly makes belligerent statements such as , "I would bomb" them and "We have to knock the hell out of them". He has said that he would send up to 30,000 more US troops to fight Islamic State and refuses to rule out the possibility of using nuclear weapons against the group. However, jihadists are rooting for a Trump presidency because they believe that he will lead the US on a path to self-destruction, the magazine said in its report. Analysis of Islamic State chatter on social media and conversations with 12 current and former supporters of the group do indicate that Islamic State strongly prefers Trump over the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, it said. Trump is "the perfect enemy", Tarek, a former Islamic State fighter who recently switched sides to one of its Salafi rivals, Ahrar al-Sham, was quoted as saying. Another Islamic State defector, Samer, said when he was fighting for the group in Deir ez-Zor, "we were happy when Trump said bad things about Muslims because he makes it very clear that there are two teams in this battle: the Islamic team and the anti-Islamic team." When asked why Clinton has not yet been shown in an Islamic State video, a recent defector, Adel, was quoted as sayung that it is because "she never says anything bad about Muslims". Indeed, it is far more difficult for Islamic State to vilify Clinton, who routinely insists that "Islam is not our adversary" and "Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people". Islamic State supporters believe that Trump would be an unstable and irrational leader whose impulsive decision-making would weaken the United States, the report said. Some Islamic State supporters believe that Trump would lead the US and its Western allies into the apocalyptic clash they have been waiting for, it said. Want to get Cool Tools' Recomendo a week early in your inbox? Sign up for the Sunday newsletter here. Travel Tip: A Global Entry pass is a true bargain if you do any international travel. You don't need to wait in line for immigration at reentry to the US. But it also serves as validation for the TSA Pre-check short-cut for security screening at most major US airports. Much shorter lines. To get in the program requires an appointment to get fingerprinted and $100 every five years. Well worth it. Kevin Kelly Edible: Before I take a flight, I toss a few Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Kind bars into my travel bag. The crunchy bars are gluten free and have just 5g of sugar. The perfect snack for plane or hotel room. Mark Frauenfelder Destination: If you're in Northern California and have yet to visit Amador County, I could not recommend it more. The county is steeped in Gold Rush history and offers 40+ wineries, romantic B&Bs and historical small towns, all within a short drive of one another. Side note: I was once the Lifestyles Editor for the county newspaper, which might make me a bit biased, but I also have enjoyed enough time there to know it makes for a magical getaway. Claudia Lamar Readable: The Library of America publishes high-quality hardbound books with multiple novels per volume. I'm reading Ross Macdonald: Three Novels of the Early 1960s, which contains three excellent novels about fictional Los Angeles detective Lew Archer. These tightly-written page-turners have kept me up way past my bedtime. MF Enjoyment: I'm more audio book than podcast listener, but On Being with Krista Tippett is one of my favorite things ever. Her guests vary from artists, scientists and activists, and the conversation is always centered around the intangible aspects of life. It's philosophical without being pushy, and I'm quickly working my way through the archives. CL Follow: The best photographer blog and/or photo magazine for both pros and newbies, and for all photographers in between, is on the web as PetaPixel. Sure, they have the latest nerdy camera gossip, but they also have plenty of features about the million different ways people actually capture and use images. Every day I am amazed and informed. Add it to your RSS feed. KK Taking India-US defence cooperation to the next level, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is set to to sign a key logistics agreement this week which will enable both militaries to use each other's assets and bases for repair and replenishment of supplies. According to a report in The Indian Express, Parrikar will also push for armed drones technology. On 31 July, Parrikar will visit a Boeing facility in Philadelphia where the CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters are manufactured, reported Hindustan Times. Indian Air Force is set to induct the Chinooks by 2019. The Chinooks are set to bridge the gap in IAFs heavy-lift capabilities as the old Mi-26 choppers are phasing out, the report said. Given our deployments in mountains and remote areas, the heavy-lift chopper becomes ever so important for moving troops, equipment and artillery. Air Chief Marshal Fali Major (retired) told Hindustan Times. Parrikar, who left for the US on Sunday, will meet his American counterpart Defence Secretary Ashton Carter and carry forward talks on jet engine technology and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Parrikar will also discuss Pakistan's reluctance to act against Lakshar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad and its support to militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir, The Indian Express report 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 had said on 26 July. One of the key takeaways from the visit would be signing of the agreement called the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). The agreement was announced during the visit of Carter to India in April this year. The move will allow both countries to use each other's bases as well as assets for replenishment of supplies and refuelling. However, it will not allow stationing of troops in each other's bases. Parrikar will also visit the Cyber Command, 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon, the Langley Air Force Base and Andrews Air Force Base during his three-day visit to the US, The Indian Express report added. With Inputs from PTI Istanbul: On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to devote equal energy to combatting Islamic State jihadists and Syrian Kurdish fighters, on the fifth day of a major offensive that has left dozens dead. "We will make any kind of contribution to the work to clear Daesh (Islamic State) from Syria," Erdogan told a rally in the southern city of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border. "For the issue of the PYD (Democratic Union Party) terror group in Syria, we have just the same determination," he added, referring to the main pro-Kurdish party in northern Syria and its People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. On Sunday, Turkish forces ramped up their offensive, with Turkish warplanes and artillery pounding areas held by pro-Kurdish forces close to a town liberated from IS this week. Ankara said its raids had killed 25 Kurdish "terrorists" and that the army was doing everything it could to avoid civilian casualties. But the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 40 civilians were killed in strikes on two areas - the first report of significant civilian casualties since the start of operation "Euphrates Shield." The monitor also said at least four Kurdish fighters had been killed and 15 injured in the bombardments south of Jarabulus, the town taken from IS by Turkish-backed Arab rebels on the first day of Turkey's incursion Wednesday. Addressing thousands of flag-waving supporters in Gaziantep, Erdogan said he was "ready and determined to clear our region of terror groups". "We will absolutely not allow any terror activity on or near our borders." Gaziantep is the city where a suicide bomber blew himself up in the middle of a wedding party last weekend, killing 55 people. Turkey blamed the attack on the Islamic State group. Erdogan reaffirmed a previous statement that the bomber was a child aged just 14. Days later Ankara launched the two-pronged Syria operation with the stated aim of clearing the border area of both IS and the Kurdish fighters. Turkey sees the US-backed PYD and YPG which have links to Kurdish rebels in southeast Turkey as terror groups and wants to keep them from taking control of the border on the Syrian side. The US supports the Syrian Kurdish fighters as an effective adversary of IS in the area. Aden: A suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed at least 60 people on Monday at an army recruitment centre in Aden, in the latest jihadist attack to hit the Yemeni city. Aden is the temporary base of Yemen's internationally recognised government, which has been battling Iran-backed rebels as well as jihadists across the country for more than a year. Security officials told AFP that the attacker drove an explosives-laden vehicle into a gathering of army recruits at a school in northern Aden early Monday. Although the school was locked as recruits registered inside, the attacker drove in when the gate was opened for a delivery vehicle, officials said. Witnesses said some recruits were buried when a roof collapsed over them following the blast, which also damaged buildings close to the centre. The assault killed at least 60 people and wounded 29 others, medical sources from the three hospitals where the victims were taken told AFP. They could not immediately verify if all those killed were recruits. Aden has seen a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces. Attacks in the port city are often claimed by jihadists from either Al-Qaeda or IS, who have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in southern and southeastern regions. IS claimed Monday's bombing on its official propaganda outlet, Amaq, saying the blast had killed around 60 people. Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in Aden over the past two months as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from jihadists. Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition entered Abyan's provincial capital Zinjibar. Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in the key Al-Qaeda stronghold of Al-Mahfid, security sources said. The militants are still present in areas surrounding the recaptured towns and control large parts of the neighbouring Shabwa province, the sources say. The Arab coalition battling Iran-backed rebels in Yemen has also been providing troops with air cover throughout their war against the jihadists. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March last year and helped government troops push the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces. More than 6,600 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since March 2015 and more than 80 percent of the population has been left in need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN. Aden: A suicide car bomb attack on an army training camp in Yemen's second city of Aden killed at least 60 people on Monday, medical sources said. A security official said the attacker drove his vehicle into a gathering of new recruits at the camp in northern Aden. The assault killed 60 people and wounded 29 others, medical sources from the three hospitals where the victims were taken told AFP . Security officials had provided an earlier toll of 11 dead. The port city, the temporary base of Yemen's Gulf-backed government, has seen a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces. Attacks in Aden are often claimed by jihadists from either Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, which have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in southern and southeastern regions. But no group claimed immediate responsibility for Monday's attack. Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in Aden over the past two months to as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from jihadists. Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition entered Abyan's provincial capital Zinjibar. Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in key Al-Qaeda stronghold, Al-Mahfid, a town which lies further east, security sources said. The militants are still present in areas surrounding the recaptured towns and control large parts of the neighbouring Shabwa province, the sources say. The Arab coalition which backs the Yemeni government against Iran-backed rebels has also been providing troops with air cover throughout their war against the jihadists. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March last year and has helped government troops push the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces. But authorities have been struggling to secure these provinces. More than 6,600 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since March 2015 and more than 80 percent of the population has been left in need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN. Click HERE for a list of our other web sites Click HERE to get filtered opportunity reports by email, starting at only $21.95/month. User login is required to use this feature. Register here Contact us if you like to have a single PDF file with each report send in your email each day. Fred Trump, the father of millionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump, was arrested at a Ku Klux Klan rally as a young man, according to a 1927 New York Times story. Vice put in the legwork on corroborating the nearly-century-old one-sentence report. They not only found other reports of his arrest, but the startling fact that those arrested were "berobed". The [Queens County Evening News] mentions Fred Trump as having been "discharged" and gives the Devonshire Road address, along with the names and addresses of the other six men who faced charges. Yet another account in another defunct local newspaper, the Richmond Hill Record, published on June 3, 1927, lists Fred Trump as one of the "Klan Arrests," and also lists the Devonshire Road address. Another article about the rally, published by the Long Island Daily Press on June 2, 1927, mentions that there were seven arrestees without listing names, and claims that all of the individuals arrested were wearing Klan attire. While the Long Island Daily Press doesn't mention Fred Trump specifically, the number of arrestees cited in the report is consistent with the other accounts of the rally. Significantly, the article refers to all of the arrestees as "berobed marchers." If Fred Trump, or another one of the attendees, wasn't dressed in a robe at the time, that may have been a reporting error worth correcting. A team of Israeli scientists devised a system by which a person can use their thoughts alone to trigger tiny DNA-based nanorobots inside a living creature to release a drug. The researchers from Herzliya's Interdirisplinary Center and Bar Ilan University previously developed origami-like nanorobots out of DNA that open their "gate" when exposed to electromagnetic energy. In the new work, a computer algorithm detected the change in a person's brainwaves when doing arithmetic and then switched on a magnetic coil trained on a cockroach that had been injected with the nanobots, causing the gates to open. From New Scientist: The algorithm could be trained to track other types of brain activity, says Sachar Arnon, a member of the team at the Interdisciplinary Center. "It could track brain states that underlie ADHD or schizophrenia, for example. It could be modified to suit your needs." The idea would be to automatically trigger the release of a drug when it is needed. For example, some people don't always know when they need medication before a violent episode of schizophrenia, for instance. If an EEG could detect it was coming, it could stimulate the release of a preventative drug. "People could take this in all different directions," says Arnon. "Imagine if you could deliver the exact amount of alcohol that you wanted to keep you in a happy state but not drunk. Kind of stupid, but this could happen. I think we've just scratched the surface." Hello readers! Due to unforeseen circumstances we had to postpone our meet ups. But, we are coming to meet you again. After the successful ZUK Z1 meetups back in April before the launch of the smartphone in May, we are teaming up with the folks from Lenovo once again, who will be introducing their next version of the smartphone in the country soon. Lenovo Zuk Z1 running Cyanogen OS was launched in India at a competitive price tag and was a huge hit in the price range. Whoever gets to be at the meet up will be the first bunch of people to experience and spend some time with the upcoming product. FoneArena team will also be present at the event. We are coming to Pune first on 6th September, Bengaluru on 10th, Kolkata on 12th, Mumbai on 16th and finally to Delhi on 22nd September. If you are interested in being a part of our meet up in a city near you, go ahead and RSVP in the below form. Please double check and make sure you are RSVPing for the right city! Loading Six months ago, Credit Suisse made a bold prediction: Brazilian oil major Petrobras (PBR -1.75%), whose stock at the time was selling for $3.60 a share, would lose nearly half its value to the plunging oil market, and fall as low as $2 a share. Accordingly, the analyst advised investors to sell the stock. But instead of falling, Petrobras stock nearly tripled in value, rising to a recent high of $9.40 per share. Oops. And so today, Credit Suisse is finally throwing in the towel. Announcing an upgrade from underperform to neutral, the Swiss analyst grudgingly set a new price target of $8.60 on Petrobras shares (still $0.80 below what they sell for today), and admitted there's at least one scenario in which the stock could conceivably be worth buying. Here are three things you need to know about that. 1. 10 things Initiating coverage of Petrobras six months ago, Credit Suisse laid out a list of 10 things that had to be true in order for Petrobras to be worth even $3.60 a share (i.e., 10 things that had to be true for the stock to be worth even a fraction of what it costs today). As related by StreetInsider.com, these included: Petrobras divesting $43 billion worth of its assets "at a premium to fair value," attracting $91 billion in new funding, cutting operating costs "by $12bn," and capital spending "by $15bn in four years," raising fuel prices 10% above the cost of imported fuel, halting the devaluation of Brazil's currency, hitting production targets by 2020 (but at the same time, eliminating new project starts), avoiding any cash-draining legal settlements, and finally -- doing all of this "at the same time." 2. That's a lot of things That is a lot of things that Credit Suisse thinks need to go right -- and there's no guarantee at all that they will go right. But now that oil prices have bounced off their lows, there's a bit of good news for owners of Petrobras stock: If all 10 of the things listed above go right, then the stock could be worth $8.60 a share. The bad news is that Credit Suisse isn't confident that all 10 things will happen simultaneously. While it's no longer recommending that investors sell Petrobras (once burned, twice shy), the analyst still sees no "considerable margin of safety" that would justify recommending that investors buy Petrobras stock. 3. Why not? Here's why: According to the analyst, for Petrobras to be worth more than twice what it says the stock was worth six months ago, one final thing must happen (so now we're up 11 things!), and this one is a doozy. For Petrobras to be worth buying, warns the analyst: "We believe it still depends on oil prices rebounding to above $80 for upsides to be material ... it becomes a macro call at this point, dependent on higher oil prices." And right now, oil prices remain stuck below $50. Final thing: So abandon all hope? While investors have happily bid up Petrobras stock in recent months, the fact remains that Petrobras hasn't earned a penny's worth of profit in 2.5 years. Worse, its losses are growing, with trailing-12-month losses recently approaching $13 billion. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the stock is not worth owning. Consider: According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, although Petrobras reported $13 billion in losses under GAAP accounting standards, it nonetheless generated positive free cash flow (FCF) over the past 12 months -- $7.4 billion worth. Moreover, Petrobras was FCF-positive last year as well, generating positive full-year cash profits for the first time since 2007. Granted, the stock's massive debt load, when combined with its market capitalization, gives Petrobras an enterprise value (EV) of $159 billion today, and an EV/FCF ratio of 21.4, which is not cheap. But that's largely a factor of low oil prices. Any improvement at all in oil prices -- much less the $30 improvement that Credit Suisse hopes to see -- would likely do wonders for Petrobras' cash production numbers, and make the stock look cheaper as a result. For that matter, selling off underperforming assets, raising capital to pay down debt, cutting capex -- any one of the 10 other things that Credit Suisse put on its wish list six months ago -- could go a long way toward making this stock more attractive to investors. It simply isn't true that all 10 (or 11) things have to go right. A couple should be plenty to do the trick. And here at The Motley Fool, we'll be watching to let you know when they happen. Telekomunikasi Indonesia (TLK 0.46%) recently reported second-quarter results. The report supported Telkom's sustained share price gains, and the stock price has now increased by 55% over the past 52 weeks. Here's what you need to know about Telkom's second quarter. Telkom Indonesia's Q2 results: The raw numbers Metric Q2 2016 Actuals Q2 2015 Actuals Growth (Year Over Year) Revenue $2.14 billion $1.87 billion 14.6% Total comprehensive income $570 million $412 million 38.4% GAAP EPS (per diluted American depositary share) $0.81 $0.55 46.7% What happened with Telkom Indonesia this quarter? The company is riding a strong wave of Indonesian interest in internet services and other data products. In the first half of 2016, data-related revenues jumped 50.7% higher year over year. Telkom is also still exploring the early days of smartphone adoption in Indonesia. Wireless subsidiary Telkomsel saw its smartphone customer count soar 46% higher over the last four quarters, landing at 70 million users. The company owns nearly 3,000 acres of currently unused land and is planning to leverage this asset in the coming years. Telkom spent about $81 million on office space rental fees last year and hopes to bring that expense down by moving into office spaces built on this land reserve. Some land may also be treated as an investment asset, sold, or leased to other companies in need of Indonesian real estate. Management reiterated its full-year 2016 guidance targets, as follows: Both Telkom and Telkomsel are expected to grow revenues faster than their local markets, driven by rising digital sales. To set the baseline for that comparison, the industry is seen growing at a 10% clip this year. EBITDA margins should decline somewhat as Telkom invests heavily in its digital network infrastructure. What management had to say On the earnings call with financial analysts, Telkom CEO Alex Sinaga highlighted that both the company as a whole and Telkomsel on its own achieved double-digit growth across revenue, EBITDA profits, and net income. The profit growth was helped by tight cost controls, as Sinaga pointed out: Our expenses increased 8.5% In the meantime, our expense increased by 8.5% year-on-year, lower than revenue growth, partly driven by operating and maintenance and marketing expenses. Operation and maintenance expense, which accounted 44.2% of the total expenses, grew by 14.6% in line with the continued infrastructure development both in cellular and fixed-line businesses in an effort to grow Digital Business growth. Thanks to revenues rising faster than expenses, profit margins widened across the board. Deeper investments in the digital and wireless operations should help Telkom maintain that trend for the foreseeable future. Looking ahead The company has no immediate plans to increase dividend payouts or share buybacks, even though cash flows are on the rise and Telkom recently raised some additional cash in a secondary stock sale. Instead, management is investing heavily in infrastructure builds and also keeping its war chest stocked for potential acquisitions. The IndiHome broadband and cable TV service reported 1.5 million total subscribers in the second quarter, leaving lots of runway for future growth in a nation with 238 million citizens grouped into 61 million households. Sinaga expects to reach 2 million subscribers by the end of the year. Some 80% of IndiHome's new customers sign up for the faster and more profitable fiber-optic package, with average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) 40% above the outdated copper-line service. The ARPU levels are expected to rise as the fiber network installations expand to more Indonesian cities and suburbs. The company is planning to promote more expensive services for multiple TV sets per household, along with karaoke features and other fiber-only exclusives. Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg is in Rome this week, where he and wife Priscilla Chan met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. "We told him how much we admire his message of mercy and tenderness, and how he's found new ways to communicate with people of every faith around the world," Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post. "We also discussed the importance of connecting people, especially in parts of the world without internet access," Zuckerberg continued. "We gave him a model of Aquila, our solar-powered aircraft that will beam internet connectivity to places that don't have it. And we shared our work with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to help people around the world." The Pope has tried his hand at social media; he's on the Facebook-owned Instagram and Twitter. He has called the Internet "a gift from God," though he warned people not to "barricade themselves behind sources of information which only confirm their own wishes and ideas, or political and economic interests." Aquila is one tool in Facebook's arsenal of experimental Internet access delivery methods, which also include, satellites, lasers, and cellular access points. During a June test flight, Aquila remained in the air for 96 minutes, but it will eventually fly for weeks at a time, beaming Internet signals up to 60 miles away. The Holy See press office confirmed that Pope Francis and Zuckerberg "spoke about how to use communication technologies to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and help deliver a message of hope, especially to those people who are most disadvantaged." Earlier this year, Pope Francis also met with Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt, as well as Instagram chief Kevin Systrom. Before meeting with the Pope, Zuckerberg took a jog in Rome (pictured above), an activity that was hopefully less smoggy than his Beijing jaunt. This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. Square's (NYSE: SQ) finances indicate solid foundations for just its third quarter as a public company.In thisclip fromIndustry Focus: Technology,Fool.com analysts Dylan Lewis and Sarah Priestley talk about what investors will be watching and why trying to capture big business comes with some risks for this young tech company. A full transcript follows the video. 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. This podcast was recorded on Aug. 19, 2016. Dylan Lewis: So, Sarah, we talked aboutsome of the various business segments within Square and what they do as a business. Why don't we dive intosome of the financials and some of the numbers here on the second half of the show? What do things look like for 2016? We're halfway through, what are they projecting out for the year?Sarah Priestley:2016,total net revenue is expected to be about $1.63 to $1.67 billion. Theyactually raised that guidance fairly recently. Thegross margin is meant to be around 31%, which is a 2% improvement.Lewis:AndI think one of the things that's important to note here is, when they say net revenue, that's their top line. It's not a margin number. It's referring to the net revenue they take from the payments they're facilitating that the loans they're offering, and all of these various things. That'ssomething that you'llcommonly see with payment processing companies orcompanies that are in the payments space. I don't want you to be confused by that net revenue tag. That is still the top-line number.Priestley:Absolutely, yeah. We talkedpreviously about that razor-thin margin. It looks pretty different on a growth level. They also raised thatadjusted revenue guidance and adjusted EBITDA guidance. If you don't mind,I'm just going to spend one minutetalking about adjusted.Lewis:And, EBITDA: earnings before interest, taxes,depreciation and amortization,just for anyone who needs that clarified.Priestley:Adjusted revenue forthis company specifically, they excludeStarbuckstransactions. They made anarrangement with Starbucks a few years agothat turned out to be not very successful. They lost money on the transactions. So, they've backed those out. And,the transaction costs Square to pay to banks. That's adjusted revenue. Adjusted EBITDA takes outtaxes and depreciation, as you'd expect, but they also remove stock-based compensation and the Starbucks transactions. And that doesimpact the figures quite substantially.Lewis:So, there's a decent swing between looking at the GAAP and non-GAAP numbers here, and that's something you have to keep in mind with a company like this.Priestley:Absolutely. Butthey did raise their adjusted revenue guidance up 6% to $655 [million] to $670 million. Adjusted EBITDA to $18 million to $24 million from previously guided $8 million to $14 million. That's a big jump, there.Lewis:One of the things that pops out most to mewhen I look at their numbers year-to-year, 2014 they had a gross margin of just over 26%. In 2016, they're up around 31% now. And that steady march up,we talk about the idea of theirbread and butter business,payment facilitation, not being super great for margins.I think you're starting to see the effect ofall these other business segmentscontributing to that margin number.Priestley:Yeah,you're completely right. The reason for this margin enhancement is basically being driven by the product mix. If you look,transaction right now is about 76% of their income. Software and data, which is what Square Capital falls under, is 18%. And then hardware revenue is 6%. Hardware revenue,as they grow the number of people they supply, this will grow. Butwhat we really want to focus on as investors issoftware and data. We want to see thatbecome a bigger slice of the pie.Lewis:Because that's where Capital is nested. They are, of course, on a GAAP basis, not net income positive.Priestley:They are not. That's important to know.Lewis:Something to keep in mind as you're looking at their numbers. They don't have any debt on the books. They have access to financing, if they're interested in it, but at the moment, they're not levered at all. Which is, for a high-growth company, pretty great to see. That'swhere you can start to get into trouble,if you need to start making those debt paymentsand aren't able to because you're so worried about making investments and building out the business. So,that's something to keep in mind there.Looking at their most recent quarter, what are some of the big numbers that investors should watch moving forward? How are those metrics performing?Priestley:Inthe most recent quarter, I would say the things thatwe need to look out for are the GPV, the gross payment volume. So,it was up 42% year over year, whichshows the growth organically of the customer base, butalso shows that they're adding customers, too. Soit's a mix of those two things.Net revenue,obviously, we want that to go up, similarly. Butthe growth in Square Capital is crucially important. We want to see that improve. As I touched onpreviously, it grew 123% year-over-year. Butthat needs to be sustained. The slowdown in growth that was experienced in the first quarteractually dipped the share price quite significantly this year.Lewis:And what about what we're looking at for the rest of 2016? We talked about,that headline number of expected revenue of about $1.5 billion. Anything else to key in on for the business?Priestley:I think the customer mix, we need to see improving, too, as they move up market. GPV from $125,000-in-revenue-plus companies grew 61% in the quarter. Thatneeds to continue to improve, and the $500,000-plus also needs to improve.Lewis:We've touched on up market a couple times. It'scompelling to have these huge business partnerships,moving into these areas where people are processing over $500,000 per year. But, there's acertain danger that comes with that, too, on the margin side.In conference calls, they've talked a little bit about the idea of custom pricing, and being morelenient when it comes to these big fish. That's fine, but they might get stuck in partnerships where they're not pulling in a very attractive take on those transactions.Priestley:Absolutely. That's the worry. The other thing is,previously, 50% of the people that use Squarehave come to them organically,so they haven't had to market. They don't really do much sales. That's a minor criticism of them, that they don't havemuch of a sales infrastructure for you to go to.Now, they are hiring sales and marketing teams because bigcompanies are going to expect a professional service, custom pricing, and also someone to interface with. This is all added-cost. The way you negate that risk is if it's OK tooffer them custom pricing, if themargins are smaller on the transactions, that's OK. Butthese companies need to be using other services, so, invoicing, payroll, Square Capital. That would make up for that loss.Lewis:Yeah, the idea of the payments business being the entry point for customers is fine, so long as Square is able to then upsell people to these other products and get them involved in Square Capital, get them involved in some of theemployee management stuff that they do. It can be kind of tough for them to grow and stay afloat and be profitable if they're stuck handling payments for people. Dylan Lewis has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sarah Priestley has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Starbucks. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Image source: Getty Images. Construction spending is on the rise, which is driving sales of gypsum wallboard and paperboard products. Sales have been so strong that producers were able to push through a price increase earlier this year. That combination of rising volumes and improving margins is driving the earnings and the stock prices of the best gypsum stocks higher this year: USG data by YCharts. Gypsum 101 Gypsum is an abundant mineral humans have used as a construction material since the times of ancient Egypt. Today it is a common material used by the construction industry for both wallboards (think sheetrock) and plaster. Because of its importance to the construction industry, sales of gypsum products rise when construction activity improves. That makes gypsum stocks an intriguing investment opportunity for investors looking to profit from a building boom. While the industry cycles with the construction sector, it is slowly making its way back after the last building bust leading up to the financial crisis. As the slide below shows, while sales have risen out of the ashes of the financial crisis, they still have a long way to go before reclaiming their former peak: Image source: USG Corporation investor presentation. Unfortunately, for investors, there are not a whole lot of investment options in the sector because four of the top producers are private companies or just a small segment within global building products behemoths. That said, the three lone publicly traded gypsum companies should still thrive as long as building products continue selling at a brisk pace. Company Market Capitalization Dividend Yield USG (NYSE: USG) $4.1 billion 0% Eagle Materials (NYSE: EXP) $4.0 billion 0.5% Continental Building Products (NYSE: CBPX) $921.4 million 0% Warren Buffett's gypsum gem USG is by far the top stock in the gypsum sector. Not only is it the clear industry leader, controlling 26% of the wallboard market, but it boasts having Warren Buffett as its top investor. In fact, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A) (NYSE: BRK-B) owns roughly 39 million shares of USG's stock, which is a 26.7% stake in the company currently worth more than $1.1 billion. That said, aside from Buffett's seal of approval, USG has a lot going for it right now. In its recently completed second quarter, the company's sales increased 3.3% to slightly more than $1 billion. Even better, its U.S. gypsum operating profit margin improved from 17.6% to 19.9% due in part to a price increase it was able to push through at the end of the first quarter. Not only did that price increase not stall sales, but CEO James Metcalf said on the company's second-quarter conference call that it believes that "demand in the U.S. end markets support wallboard growth for the year slightly more than 8%...that's better than what we thought at the beginning of the year." Those higher sales, when combined with its margin improvements, should push earnings higher this year. The diversified construction material maker Eagle Materials is not a pure play on gypsum like USG. Instead, it is a diversified materials manufacturer, producing not only gypsum wallboard and paperboard, but cement, concrete, and aggregates as well as frack sand for the oil and gas industry. That said, it is a construction materials company at heart and a strong player in the gypsum market. During its recently completed fiscal first quarter, Eagle Material's earnings jumped 24% on record revenue due in part to strong gypsum sales. Overall, its gypsum wallboard and paperboard revenue was up 4% due to a 2% increase in gypsum wallboard volume and a 20% surge in paperboard volume. Those rising sales pushed its gypsum wallboard and paperboard earnings up 8%. Like USG, Eagle Materials expects the improvement in gypsum sales to continue in 2016. Set free to rule the continent In one sense, Continental Building Products is a rather new entrant to the gypsum space with the company only formed in 2013. That said, its history dates back to 1965, when French building products giant Lafarge entered the North American market eventually creating Lafarge Gypsum. However, it carved out the business in 2013 -- renaming it Continental Building Products -- and sent it public one year later with a focus on growing its presence in the North American building products market. Like its rivals, Continental Building Products is benefiting from the improving construction marketplace. During the second quarter, its net sales rose by 5.5% to $117.1 million driven by a 13.4% improvement in wallboard volumes. The company also reversed its year-ago loss of $0.1 million, posting net income of $12.7 million due to rising sales and improving margins. That enabled the company to improve its balance sheet by paying off $15 million in debt while also boosting its stock buyback program to $100 million. That buyback shows just how confident Continental Building Products is about the improving gypsum market. Investor takeaway Rising construction spending is driving higher sales of gypsum products. Those higher sales, when combined with improving margins, are acting as a pretty strong headwind for gypsum stocks. As long as construction spending does not die down, those headwinds should continue to push these gypsum stocks higher. A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here. Matt DiLallo owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (B shares) and has the following options: long January 2017 $135 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares) and short January 2017 $145 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool recommends Eagle Materials. 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. Olympian Gabby Douglas was hospitalized twice for an infection stemming from a past mouth injury. Gabby is back in the hospital tonight being treated for a seriously infected past mouth injury, her rep told Page Six on Sunday night. She continues to have deep swelling and adverse reactions to medications. She was forced to skip the evenings MTV Video Music Awards, where she and the rest of the Final Five gymnasts were slated to present together. Reaching out to her fans earlier on Sunday, Douglas said she was out of the hospital & resting comfortably. #FinalFive so sad I can't be with u all to present tonite," she said on Instagram. But Douglas rep later confirmed that the athlete had to return to the hospital after the social media post. The 20-year-olds gymnast pals Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, Laurie Hernandez and Simone Biles all attended the awards show and publicly wished Douglas well wishes during their time on stage. Olympic champ Michael Phelps also made an appearance at the show, introducing a performance from the rapper Future. This article originally appeared in the New York Post's Page Six. BEIJING 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." The spread of the Zika virus across tropical Southeast Asia is likely to be significantly under-reported as local health authorities fail to conduct adequate screening, regional experts said on Monday. International travel hub Singapore confirmed 41 locally transmitted cases of the mosquito-borne virus on Sunday and said it anticipated more, raising fears about how quickly it could disperse throughout the region. Other parts of Southeast Asia have reported dozens of cases of Zika, which in Brazil has been linked to thousands of suspected cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect, but there are fears the true numbers are masked. "Zika is under-reported and under-diagnosed," Khin Myint, head of the emerging virus research unit at Indonesia's government-funded Eijkman Institute, told Reuters. "We find many cases are not presented in hospitals because it's a relatively mild disease with mild symptoms and people are not going to doctors." The World Health Organization (WHO) lists Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam as countries with "possible endemic transmission or evidence of local mosquito-borne Zika infections in 2016." But the Jakarta-based Eijkman Institute, the main body testing for Zika in Indonesia, said it tested only 1,000 people in the past year - a tiny number in Southeast Asia's most populous country. It found just one positive case, despite reports that Zika is prevalent in the country. Thailand has recorded the highest number of cases in the region at almost 100 infected people across 10 provinces this year. "Thailand's surveys have not been thorough enough," said Kriengsak Limkittikul, assistant professor at the Department of Tropical Medicine at Mahidol University in Bangkok, noting that people without symptoms are often not tested. "Screening is inadequate in other countries in the region, too, where health authorities are ill-equipped to test," he said. Vietnam has recorded three cases of Zika infection, all locally-transmitted, while Cambodia has reported seven cases. Hong Kong confirmed its first case of Zika on Friday, in a woman who had traveled to the Caribbean. A major difficulty is that while Zika can cause mild fever, a rash and red eyes, an estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is a close cousin of dengue and chikungunya and is transmitted by mosquito. There have also been a small number of cases of sexual transmission reported in the United States and elsewhere. MIXED RESPONSE Some countries in the region began ramping up protective measures following the outbreak in Singapore. Muhamad Subuh, a senior Indonesian health ministry official, said authorities are "in the process of stepping up health checks at main airports and ports, including in Batam," the island closest to Singapore. Indonesia introduced thermal scanners at airports targeting arrivals from Singapore over the weekend, and plans to roll them out to ports. Authorities are also handing out printed warnings to all incoming passengers, noting Zika has an incubation period of around 10 days before presenting any symptoms. Malaysian Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam said travelers who enter Johor Bahru, where up to 200,000 people commute daily to and from Singapore, will go through thermal screening at border checkpoints. People crossing in private vehicles will not be scanned but handed a pamphlet detailing the symptoms and asking them to report to authorities if they develop those. Malaysia is also stepping up vector control mechanisms including fogging and larvicidal spraying in Johor Bharu. "What we can do as a country comes down to how well we control our vectors, and at this point of time, dengue is still a bigger problem than Zika because people can die from dengue," Subramaniam said. Other countries were not responding so quickly. In Thailand, the Department of Disease Control said it was screening athletes returning from the Olympic Games in Brazil, but otherwise not changing its prevention methods. Vietnam and Cambodia made no immediate changes to their border controls. "Different countries have different economic and political situations and it's not that they don't want to screen the virus, but they don't have the resources and capacity to do it at this stage," said Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, a clinical assistant professor at the Carol Yu Centre for Infection at the University of Hong Kong. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 When details of an attack allegedly involving a Florida State University student who police say stabbed an innocent couple to death then tried to eat the face of one of the victims were released earlier this month, many media outlets quickly pointed to flakka, a synthetic cathinone similar to bath salts that can cause violent, aggressive behavior. But if Austin Harrouff, the 19-year-old suspect who authorities say killed John Stevens, 59, and Michelle Mischon, 53, outside their home in Jupiter, Florida, was on the synthetic drug alpha-PVP, data suggests his case isnt representative of a growing problem nationwide. In all synthetics, as well as cathinones, as well as bath salts, weve noticed a reduction I think to something to the tune of 30 percent since October 2015, Melvin Patterson, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration, told FoxNews.com. That month, the Chinese government banned production of flakka and 115 other synthetic drugs, effectively stunting exports to the United States. Although the feds have seized flakka from some European countries like the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia, China has been the biggest exporter of flakka to the United States, said Jim Hall, an epidemiologist at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and a nationally recognized expert on flakka and other illicit drugs. While Harrouffs toxicology report has yet to be released, experts say there are hints a different substance was to blame. After the killings, authorities said Harrouff had a body temperature of about 97 degrees. Flakka, or its chemical name alpha-PVP, and bath salts cause what experts call a state of excited delirium, wherein the users body temperature skyrockets to at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit. I am cautious in attributing it to flakka or another drug from the same category, Hall, also a sentinel community epidemiologist (SCE) for the University of Marylands National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS), told FoxNews.com. An absence of hypothermia likely rules out those drugs but could point to something similar, he said. Police in the Palm Beach area reported a similar case Sunday of a teen seemingly with superhuman strength and high tolerance of pain smashing through a glass window. The unidentified drug appears to be some kind of bath salt, the Palm Beach Post reported. Since the initial breaking news, various media have named steroids and unidentified chemicals possibly found in the victims garage as additional suspects. Evidently, human growth hormone (HGH) steroid use is done in cycles several weeks on, several weeks off and its when person is off the steroids that they can have an episode that can trigger the roid rage, Hall said. Harrouffs case isnt the first time zombie-like behavior has been associated with flakka and bath salts. A 2012 incident in South Florida involving a man nicknamed the Miami causeway cannibal, is often pegged to flakka. But the case actually involved a bad trip on conventional marijuana. The drug caused Rudy Eugene, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, to hallucinate, strip down and streak, and bite Ronald Poppo, a homeless man, in the face on the MacArthur Causeway in Miami. Marijuana can trigger an episode of schizophrenia in someone prone to the disorder, and Eugene had a history of heavy use of regular and synthetic marijuana despite testing positive only for the former, Hall said. Wade Harrouff, Austin Harrouffs father, told the Post that mental illness was to blame in his sons case, and that the family has a history of schizophrenia. According to the NDEWS, reports of synthetic cathinone seizures increased by about 18 percent from 2014 to 2015 before the Chinese ban went into effect. The NDEWS, which draws data from the DEAs National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS), wont have 2016 drug reports available until later this year, Erin Artigiani, deputy director for policy at the Center for Substance Abuse Research at the University of Maryland, told FoxNews.com. After the ban went into effect, South Florida saw a dramatic decline in the availability of alpha-PVP and its consequences, including related ER visits, excited delirium cases and admittances to addiction treatment centers, Hall said. At four major hospitals in Broward County, medics observed about 12 alpha-PVP cases per day in summer 2015. By December, two months into the ban, cases were down to two per day, Hall said. In 2016, they have virtually seen none, he said, adding that there were 63 alpha-PVP-related deaths from September 2014 2015, and none after that. However, some parts of the U.S. are still seeing a rise in flakka use, albeit merely on a quantitative level. In Atlanta, for example, NDEWS SCE Dr. Brian Dew, chair of counseling and psychological services at Georgia State University, has seen a handful of flakka seizures crop up this year. But, he said, Were starting in such a small place that even a few arrests will indicate an increase. Its difficult to know whether its going up or down, or becoming a growing threat. He said regardless of what numbers end up revealing, demand for synthetic cathinones, including ethylones and methylones, remains high. Amid a nationwide opioid abuse and heroin use epidemic, most communities and public health officials have their eyes on fentanyl one of the drugs not affected in the Chinese production banand the synthetic linked with the late pop star Princes death. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times as strong as morphine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although the drug isnt known to be associated with excited delirium, heroin is often laced with it, and the two can make a deadly combination. A CDC report released in August 2016 found that nationally, the number of fentanyl submissions and synthetic opioid deaths increased by 426 percent and 79 percent, respectively, from 2013 to 2014. Harrouffs toxicology report, which the FBI is processing in Quantico, Virginia, may not be available for another couple of weeks, the Post reported. Israel is justifiably skeptical when it comes to the United Nations. In 2015 alone there were twenty two resolutions passed against us in the General Assembly and numerous Security Council meetings to discuss what are referred to as the situation in the Middle East. All this took place, while a multitude of crises continued to unfold in the Middle East and around the world. Nevertheless, when the Second Lebanon War ended in August 2006, Israel welcomed Security Council resolution 1701 which led to the ceasefire, and the enhanced role it established for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Now, ten years later and with UNIFILs mandate under review by the Security Council, its time to admit that the resolution and force have not done enough. Despite the tense calm that exists on our northern border, Hezbollah is stronger than ever with its arsenal spread throughout Lebanon acting as fuel that can ignite the region in an instant. The Security Council now has the opportunity avert a potential crisis in the Middle East, while at the same time proving its critics wrong. By holding Lebanon responsible, reigning in the Hezbollah terrorists and ensuring that its resolutions and the mandate for its peacekeeping force are upheld, the Council can be a force for stability and security for the all the people in our region. An added benefit would be the renewed faith of free and fair people around the world in the international communitys most important institution. On July 12, 2006, terrorists from Hezbollah, a proxy of Iran, unleashed a carefully planned attack. They launched rockets against Israeli towns and crossed the border where they killed five soldiers, and kidnapping two of them. This led to a thirty-four day bloody war during which 156 Israelis were killed. While UNIFIL had operated in Lebanon since 1978, resolution 1701 strengthened its mandate and included key elements which Israel viewed as vital to ensuring the peace. Especially important was the call for disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so thatthere will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon other than that of the Lebanese State. This meant that the Lebanese government would have to finally live up to its responsibility, expand its sovereignty to the southern part of its country which it had long ago abandoned to the Hezbollah terrorists. More importantly, it clearly stated that Hezbollah was to be disarmed and therefore cease to exist as a threat to Israel. Unfortunately, the implementation of these critical requirements of the resolution never happened. The Government of Lebanon never fully applied its sovereignty, and it never stopped Hezbollah from continuing its military buildup. More significantly, the world simply stopped paying attention. The effects are plain to see. When Resolution 1701 was adopted on August 11, 2006, Hezbollah was in possession of seven thousand rockets. Today, they have over one hundred and twenty thousand rockets and missiles hidden in mosques and schools throughout southern Lebanon. This is a larger arsenal of rockets than that of all European NATO countries combined. Rectifying this situation does not necessitate prolonged negotiations or even additional significant budget or personnel. What is needed is political will, both from the Lebanese government, and from the Security Council members to finally implement resolution 1701 and to ensure that UNIFIL fulfills its mandate. Lebanons obligations under 1701 are clear; they must disarm all militant groups in their country, ban armed forces south of the Litani River besides the Lebanese army, and ensure that no foreign government operate illegally within their borders. The Security Council members also have important roles to play in this process. They must provide the support, and when necessary the pressure, to coax the Lebanese into fulfilling their obligations. This can mean everything from providing legal and military guidance to the relevant Lebanese agencies and officials, to providing incentives or withholding aid until the obligations of 1701 are met. At the same time, the Council must ensure that UNIFL does not remain a silent observer as Hezbollah defies the international community. According to a recent report we released to the UN, resolution 1701 was violated by Hezbollah over 2,000 times in 2015 alone. This included over a thousand incidents of armed Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon, and over five hundred incidents of cross-border violations. With over 10,000 peacekeepers in place this should not be happening. While Israel prefers diplomacy, we will of course continue to vigorously defend ourselves when necessary. It should be clear to all that an incident similar to the kidnapping of our soldiers in 2006 could once again deteriorate into a full blown conflict. If UNIFIL would actively stop such incidents, or at the very least compel the Lebanese authorities to act appropriately, the chances of war would be significantly reduced. Moreover, the public faith in the effectiveness of the UN, and the Security Council in particular, would be greatly enhanced benefiting the entire international community. Intended as a discussion group, the blog has evolved to be more of a reading list of current issues affecting our county, its government and people. All reasonable comments and submissions welcomed. Email us at: bill.pysson@gmail.com REMEMBER: To view our sister blog for education issues: www.district100watchdog.blogspot.com The Republican Party foreign policy establishment has joined Democrats in roundly criticizing Donald Trumps background and undiplomatic temperament. Nevertheless, Mr. Trump has laid bare flaws in policies of recent presidents that have undermined U.S. security interests and American prosperity. For example, President Clinton consented to Chinas membership in the World Trade Organization in exchange for an agreement to open its markets to U.S. exports and investmenta promise that is yet to be fulfilled. Beijing still maintains much higher tariffs on U.S. products than are imposed on Chinese products here, subsidizes manufacturing by rolling over state bank loans to money-losing state enterprises, and suppresses the value of its currency to keep its exports cheap and American-made products expensive in China. American consumers do enjoy artificially-inexpensive coffee makers at Wal-Mart but at a terrible hidden cost. Free trade destroys jobs when it admits additional imports but fails to create a comparable amount of new sales for American goods and services abroad. Campaigning for president in 2008, Mr. Obama promised to get tough with China and redress the trade imbalance but once elected, he put no teeth in that policy. During his tenure, the trade deficit with China has increased more than $100 billion, costing American workers some 800 thousand jobs directly and 1.2 million jobs counting in those lost from workers not spending lost wages domestically. Mr. Trumps proposed tariff on imports to force China to revalue its currency and renegotiate its trade practices is hardly reckless. Similar measures have been proposed by liberal New York Times columnist Paul Krugman and Mitt Romney running for president in 2012. Mr. Obama has failed to adequately challenge Chinas construction of an artificial island with significant military potential in the South China Sea, and not adequately support American allies in the Pacific when bullied by Beijing. Whereas Mr. Trump advocates beefing up US military assets in the region and confronting Beijings territorial claims from a position of strength, Mrs. Clinton describes the Sino-American relationship as positive, cooperative and comprehensive. Illegal immigration at our southern border has vexed American presidents for generations, but the Mexican government has generally refused to cooperate in stemming the flow. It may not be acceptable to say in the neatly pressed society of American foreign policy elites, but Mexico has one of the most corrupt governments among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developmentthe club of western industrialized countries. The weight of graft keeps Mexico City from providing its citizens with clean air and water, adequate social services and opportunities for decent wages, and those drive its citizens north in search of a better life. In turn, many Mexicans employed in the United States send sizeable remittances to relatives back home and that helps prop up a wanton regime. Many advocates of NAFTA, including this author, anticipated a more open commercial relationship with the United States and Canada would help propel political reform but that has not happened. Mr. Trump will not likely persuade the Mexican government to erect a wall along the border, however, cutting off remittances, as he advocates, would motivate it to adopt a more cooperative posture regarding border enforcement. President Putin is asserting Russian power and extending its influence in Eastern Europe and the Middle East by among other things violating Ukrainian territorial sovereignty and supporting Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad. American options for dealing with Russia and ISIS are limited by twin realities. Europeans, led by Germany, are unwilling to put ground troops into harms way to help defend freedom in Eastern Europe or to combat ISIS. Without such a European commitment, the American public would surely not countenance substantially greater commitments of U.S. forces to face down Russia or to destroy ISIS. In the war against ISIS, Mrs. Clinton generally shuns cooperation with Russiacharacterizing President Vladimir Putin a man without a soul. Instead, she advocates establishing a no-fly zone over Syria whose purpose is vague but would put the United States in direct confrontation with Russia more than ISIS. The next best option is similar to the one chosen by President Truman when faced by Stalin after World War II. No matter how distasteful, cut a deal with Russia to circumscribe Russian influence in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and more effectively combat ISIS. Foreign policy experts in both political parties have staked their careers on simplistic assumptions and flawed policy prescriptions that have often undermined American interests. Dealing with the world as we find it, not as we wish it would be, is hardly the inclinations of a reckless fool. Trumps rhetoric may be clumsy and alarming, but his instincts are spot on. Editors note: The following column originally appeared on SuzanneVenker.com. It is used with permission. My dearest Bill, The other day, around 3:00pm on a random Wednesday, I was headed to the grocery store to get something to make for dinner. As you know, Ive been slacking on the food front for some time and cant seem to get organized the way I used to. Remember when I would go through our cookbooks every Sunday and plan the meals for the week, and then shop once for the entire week? I know, I know, I always made a second trip; but still, the bulk of the food was in the fridge. I did that for more than a decade, but it was such a monotonous task I cant bring myself to keep up with it. So now I play catch as catch can and, as you like to say, shop like a French woman who goes to the store each day for that nights meal. This has its own annoyances, but at least theres food on the table. Anyhow, on my way there Wednesday I was thinking about how grateful I am to have never, in all the years since we had kids, had to face a trip to the grocery store in the evening or on the weekend. I have always gone on a weekdayalwayswhich has made the quality of my life so much better not having to deal with the stress of long lines or having to make sure I get to the store at the final hour. There was always the next day. Ive had this life because of you. It is the steady breadwinner husband, men like you, who allow women like me to live such comfortable lives. All we ever hear in the media is what life is like for the harried working mother. Marriages that are more traditional in nature, with a primary breadwinner and a primary parent, are viewed as a thing of the past. It is true that today, most mothers work outside the home. But the media dont offer specificsand the specifics matter. Most married mothers with children at home do not work full time and year round as their husbands do. About a quarter are not employed at all, and the rest move in and out of the workforce over the course of their childrens lives to accommodate for the needs of their families. Either way, these womenwho represent half of all married mothersstill depend on a husband. Without him, these mothers could not have stayed home with their kids when they were young. They could not have afforded to work part-time once the kids were in school. They could not just decide one day, I dont feel like working today. They could not have chosen mid-career to switch careers because the one they had wasnt satisfying. It is the steady breadwinner husband, men like you, who allow women like me to live such comfortable lives. It is because of your willingness to work full time, year roundwith no freedom to tell your boss I quit! and with no sabbatical to think about what other things youd like to do with your life, and with no ability to have time just for you smack in the middle of a workweek that my life, and our kids lives, are as wonderful as they are. Even when the kids got older and I went back to work, so to speak, you and I never had to fight over who can take that business trip or who can take off work when our kids were sick. It was always I who stayed home, and it was always you who went to work. It was a win-win for everyone. But more so, I suspect, for me and the kids. The kids because they always have a mom at home when theyre home, and me because I have all the flexibility in the world. You have a lot of flexibility with your job, too; but you always have to be on in a way that I do not. I can just decide on a Tuesday to go shopping or out to lunch if I want. Not that I ever do because thats not my style. But I could! Depending on you also allowed me to become a writersomething you wanted to do at one point in your life, too. But alas, writers do not make enough money to support a family, so you gave up that dream. I didnt have to. Because of you. The culture wants us to believe the breadwinner husband is obsolete, but you and I both know that isnt true. Yes, there are fewer mothers who are exclusively home with their children; but there are millions of mothers like me who work outside the home in some capacity but still depend on their husbands steady incomes. So I wanted to take this moment to thank you for everything youve done on my behalf and on behalf of our children. Dont think I dont notice the sacrifices youve made and continue to make. Our culture may not care, but I do. I love you. Ex-White House hopeful and retired pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson said Sunday that both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump should quell concerns about their health by releasing their medical records before voting begins. "I think one of the ways to eliminate that kind of speculation is for both candidates to release their medical records," Carson, a top Trump ally and adviser to the Republican presidential nominee, told CBS' John Dickerson. "You know, as people get older, a lot of things begin to go wrong with their bodies. And I think the American people have a right to know, because we're dealing with two older candidates, what their health status is because it's a very intense job," he added. "It's not eight hours a day. It's 24/7 with constant stress." "We need to know that we have a leader who can withstand that," Carson said. Read more on WashingtonExaminer.com Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced late Sunday he'll be making a speech on illegal immigration on Wednesday in Arizona, after a week of speculation that he might be softening his promise to deport 11 million people living in the United States illegally. The announcement of the speech, posted in a Tweet, was initially set for last week in Phoenix, but was pushed back as Trump and his team wrestled over the details of what he would propose. There has been debate within his campaign about immigrants who haven't committed crimes beyond their immigration offenses. The candidate's evolving stance hasn't made it easy for top supporters and advisers, from his running mate on down, to defend him or explain some campaign positions. On Sunday, Trumps campaign and his supporters were challenged again to explain the candidates evolving policy but appeared to find solid ground in arguing it was the opposite of Hillary Clintons plan. There are very few issues where they're more different, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told Fox News Sunday. In fact, Hillary Clinton is to the left of Barack Obama on immigration. Trump won the GOP primary largely by appealing to the partys conservative base with vows to deport all of the countrys estimated 11 million illegal immigrants and to build a wall along the entire southern-U.S. border and have Mexico pay for the construction. However, Trump has in recent weeks appeared to search for a less austere approach, knowing that hell need some support from Hispanic and other minority voters to win the General Election race against Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee. Conway said Trump indeed wants to find the fair and humane way to address the issue, which includes whether to separate families to enforce federal law. But she made clear that Trump still intends to build the wall and that he supports neither amnesty nor legalization for people who entered the country illegally. We all learned in kindergarten to stand in line, to wait our turn, said Conway, who argued Trump has stopped talking about a deportation force to remove people. Give Donald Trump credit for at least trying to address a complex issue and not pretending like Hillary Clinton does, that we don't have these problems, she said. The Real Clear Politics average of recent polls shows Clinton leading Trump by 6 percentage points. Such polls also indicate Clinton is ahead in some of the most competitive and pivotal states, with 72 days remaining before Election Day. The nominees first presidential debate is set for Sept. 26. The real issue is look at the two plans, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus told NBCs Meet the Press." Look at where Hillary Clinton is. She wants to put Barack Obama's immigration plan on steroids. The issue is that this is an election of choices: One, allow everyone in through complete amnesty, or number two, a tough plan that's fair and humane. The Clinton campaign argues that Trumps plan remains as dangerous as before, despite efforts to make it seem different. He may try to disguise his plans by throwing in words like humane or fair,' " said campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri. But the reality remains that Trumps agenda echoes the extreme rights will -- one that is fueling a dangerous movement of hatred across the country. GOP vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence said Sunday the main tenets of Trump's immigration plan will include building the wall, no path to legalization or citizenship and stronger border enforcement. The nominee and Indiana GOP governor also sought to distinguish Trumps position from Clintons. It is going to be fair. It is going to be tough, Pence told CNNs State of the Union. He has said that very consistently -- the contrast with Hillary Clinton, who supports amnesty, open borders, who wants to implement executive amnesty again on Day One, even though the Supreme Court of the United States rejected it. Pence did not answer questions on whether the campaigns position, as Trump has said, is that children born to people who are in the U.S. illegally are not U.S. citizens. Native-born children of immigrants, even those living illegally in the U.S., have been automatically considered American citizens since the adoption of the 14th Amendment in 1868. Pence also could not definitively say whether Trump was sticking with his vow to remove those living in the U.S. illegally, with the help of a deportation force. What you heard him describe there, in his usual plainspoken, American way, was a mechanism, not a policy," the nominee said. Trump has focused lately on deporting people who are in the U.S. illegally and who have committed crimes. But who Trump considers a criminal also remained unclear Sunday. Pressed on the question, Priebus replied: "I just don't speak for Donald Trump." FoxNews.com's Joseph Weber and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Hillary Clinton is trying to tar Donald Trump with the sins of the alt-right, a term that has been wildly popular for the last 10 minutes. But we need to be careful about holding candidates responsible for the views of their supporters, especially those on the fringes of the left as well as the right. That is a dangerous game. How, for instance, was it Trumps fault that David Duke decided to endorse him? The media obsessed on how quickly Trump disavowed him, but he cant be blamed for every wacko that gets behind him. By the same token, how was it Clintons fault that the Orlando killers father showed up, uninvited, at one of her events? Its a bit different when one of the candidates surrogates ventures into dark territory. New Hampshire state rep Al Baldasaro, an adviser to Trump on veterans issues, didnt draw a rebuke for saying Clinton should be shot. But most of the media didnt think to ask Clinton to apologize for Cher likening Trump to Stalin, Hitler and a child-killer character--at a fundraiser with the former first lady. Clinton was obviously trying to appeal to moderate Republicans when she painted Trump as the champion for prejudiced groups in a speech the other day: He's taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over one of the Republican Party 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. Trump, of course, responded by calling Clinton a bigot who cares about the votes, but not the lives, of African-Americans. What gave Clinton an opening was Trump hiring as his campaign CEO the chairman of Breitbart, Steve Bannon, who has described the conservative website as the voice of the alt-right. Breitbart had 18 million visitors last month, putting it ahead of some rival conservative sites. In her speech, Hillary read some unsavory Breitbart headlines: "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." But what, exactly, is the alt-right, which rejects the GOP establishment and the traditionally conservative media? Heres the New York Times description: The alt-right claims to support the preservation of white culture in the United States, and many of its members want to see an overhaul of the entire political system. However, its views are widely seen as white supremacist and anti-Semitic. Widely seen being journalese for this is whats really true. In its lead story on Saturday, the Times quotes Breitbart editor in chief Alexander Marlow as calling Hillarys assault a big moment. A major presidential candidate engaging us like that, and calling us out directly, was quite thrilling. On the other hand, a Breitbart statement called the Clinton speech one of the most bizarre, paranoid, conspiratorial presidential campaign speeches in recent memory. NBC says alt-right is derived from AlternativeRight.com, a onetime web publication published by Richard Spencer, who, like a number of figures associated with the alt-right, belongs to the white nationalist movement. White nationalists argue that white Americans must form a united interest group that rejects multiculturalism and blocks immigration in order to keep the country more racially homogenous. (And, by the way, one of its top targets isthe all-female remake of Ghostbusters. Go figure. A Breitbart editor was banned by Twitter for his messages targeting Leslie Jones, an actress in the film whose website was later hacked and filled with stolen nude photos.) For another perspective on the alt-right, lets turn toBreitbart: Some mostly Establishment types insist its little more than a vehicle for the worst dregs of human society: anti-Semites, white supremacists, and other members of the Stormfront set. Theyre wrong Part of this is down to the alt-rights addiction to provocation. The alt-right is a movement born out of the youthful, subversive, underground edges of the internet. 4chan and 8chan are hubs of alt-right activity. For years, members of these forums political and non-political have delighted in attention-grabbing, juvenile pranks. But the hiring of Bannon doesnt mean that Trump embraces every view of every precinct of this amorphous coalition. The alt-right may be a tempting target for Clinton, but both candidates should be held accountable for their views and their rhetoric, not the attitudes and antics of far-flung supporters. Defense Secretary Ash Carter called on U.S.-supported allies Turkey and Syrian Kurdish forces Monday to not fight one another," after a series of clashes erupted in northern Syria over the weekend. Carter called on Turkish forces not to head south of the Syrian border town of Jarabulus following a successful operation to rid the town of ISIS fighters. Turkey has since expanded it's operation away from ISIS by shelling US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG, a key ally against the Islamic State. Carter called for Turkey to stay focused on ISIS and not the Kurdish forces. This spring, 250 U.S. special operations forces embedded with the Kurdish YPG to help them lead a ground assault against ISIS in Syria. The Kurds scored a recent victory over ISIS in Manbij, a logistics hub for foreign fighters 20 miles south of the Turkish-Syrian border. Leading the operation were US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces consisting of Kurdish fighters including the YPG, but also some Arab fighters. Following the battle, which took place west of the Euphrates River in Syria, Vice President Joe Biden joined in calls from the Turkish government for the Kurds to move their forces east of the river to more traditional Kurdish territory. Underlying how complex the situation has become, Carter mixed up the name of the Syrian Democratic Forces, calling them the Syrian Defense Force. When asked by a reporter if the Kurds were withdrawing east of the Euphrates, Carter replied, they are doing that. Carter said the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs had called his Turkish counterpart Sunday, highlighting attempts by the US to de-escalation the fighting in the region as fighting continues between two US supported forces in Syria. Carter said he would be meeting with his Turkish counterpart when he travels to Europe next week. Carter answered questions in the Pentagon alongside his counterpart from India, Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar. The two defense chiefs announced a new bilateral logistics exchange memorandum, which both explained was not a basing agreement, in a sign of growing cooperation between India and the United States amid a rising threat from China in the region. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in New Delhi on Tuesday for a two-day visit. Carter said it was the sixth time he had met with his counterpart from India, the most of any counterpart. U.S.-India is destined to be the defining partnership of the 21st century, said Carter. Former Congressman and New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner sent explicit photos to a woman multiple times over the past 19 months, according to a New York Post report published late Sunday. The report said Weiner, who is married to Hillary Clinton's top aide, Huma Abedin, described his sexual fantasies and masturbation in messages to the unidentified woman and called her "literally a fantasy chick." One of the photos Weiner sent the woman showed his underwear-clad crotch as his son Jordan slept next to him in bed. When contacted by the Post, Weiner admitted he and the woman "have been friends for some time," but added that their conversations were "private ... and were always appropriate." Weiner, 51, added that he had never met the woman in person, despite repeatedly inviting her to visit him in New York. By Monday morning, Weiner's Twitter account appeared to have been taken down. Weiner spent 12 years in the House of Representatives before resigning in June 2011 after posting an explicit image of himself on his Twitter account. At the time, he admitted that he had "exchanged messages and photos of an explicit nature with about six women" over the previous three years. With Abedin's public support, Weiner entered the New York City mayoral race in 2013. However, his campaign collapsed when a second woman, Sydney Leathers, came forward to claim Weiner had sent her more explicit photos while using the alias "Carlos Danger." Weiner finished fifth in the Democratic primary with just five percent of the vote. Weiner's latest correspondent, who described herself to the Post as a supporter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association, has two adult children and lives with a boyfriend who routinely travels for work. The Post reported Sunday that Weiner was concerned that he had repeated his 2011 mistake and posted the photo of his son publicly. "You do realize you can see you [sic] Weiner in that pic??" the woman messaged. "Ooooooh ... I was scared. For half a second I thought I posted something," Weiner responded. "Stop looking at my crotch." "Whatever. You did it on purpose," she replied, adding, "O [sic] I see you thought you posted on your TL [public timeline] not DM [direct messages]. St happens be careful." Click for more from the New York Post. Dangerous confrontations between Iran and the U.S. Navy are becoming even more frequent than previously estimated, Fox News has learned. According to new data shared Monday with Fox News by a U.S. defense official, the number of provocative interactions between Iranian vessels and the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf nearly doubled in the first half of 2016 compared with the same time period a year ago. In the first half of 2016, we have seen nearly twice as many unprofessional and/or unsafe interactions when compared to the first half last year. That's a disturbing rise and it has continued into the second half of the year, said the official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record. In the first half of 2016, there were 19 dangerous interactions with the Iranians, which the U.S. Navy characterized as unsafe and unprofessional. In the first half of 2015, that number was 10, according to the official. The Iranian vessels acted as the aggressors every time, according to the U.S. Navy. The account follows a Fox News report on Friday citing estimates that such confrontations are up more than 50 percent this year. The defense official, though, said Monday the U.S. Navy had gone through its numbers over the weekend and reclassified some of them. (U.S. Central Command had issued a statement in July saying there were 26 dangerous interactions in the first half of 2016.) The new numbers show an even sharper rise in the first half of the year, though the number itself is lower than Central Command first estimated. Further, since July, there have been 11 dangerous confrontations, according to the data, in a sign of increasing Iranian aggression in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. There were four such encounters with Iran last week alone, including one that required warning shots from a U.S. Navy ship. In total, there have been 30 dangerous interactions with Iran so far this year, amounting to more dangerous dealings with the Iranians in eight months than all of last year. In 2015, 24 unsafe interactions with the Iranians were recorded, according to the official. This comes despite the highly touted nuclear accord, as well as a recent $1.7 billion U.S. payment to Tehran in January. Irans increasingly aggressive behavior is expected to come up Tuesday when the U.S. commander for American forces in the Middle East, Gen. Joseph Votel, briefs reporters at the Pentagon. Over the weekend, there were more signs of Irans increasingly aggressive military behavior. On Sunday, Iran announced via its state TV that it had deployed the Russian S-300 missile system around its nuclear facility in Fordow, a previous uranium enrichment site. According to the nuclear agreement, Fordow is no longer permitted to enrich uranium, but can only be used for civilian research. Last week, one of the four incidents of provocative Iranian behavior was filmed by the U.S. Navy. The video showed four Iranian gunboats from its Revolutionary Guard Corps coming within 300 yards of USS Nitze, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The U.S. destroyer fired flares, increased speed and took evasive maneuvers, while the Iranian ships ignored calls on the radio to stop. William Urban, a spokesman for the Navys 5th Fleet, called the actions as unsafe and unprofessional. The next day, in a separate incident in the northern Persian Gulf, a U.S. coastal patrol ship fired three warning shots from its .50 caliber machine gun when one Iranian ship came within 200 yards. In January, Iranian gunboats from its Revolutionary Guard Corps also seized 10 U.S. Navy sailors after their two patrol craft drifted into Iranian waters near Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf. They were released the following day. This week, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said his warships would continue to confront any U.S. Navy ship near Irans territorial waters. If an American ship enters Irans maritime region, it will definitely get a warning. We will monitor them and, if they violate our waters, we will confront them, he said according to the Iranian Students News Agency. Asked to respond to Dehghans comments at a press briefing Thursday, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook responded, [W]e certainly hope it doesn't continue, because it serves no purpose other than to raise tensions in an important part of the world; and tensions that we don't seek to have escalated. Five states, joined by Christian health care providers, have filed a lawsuit challenging the Obama administration over new federal rules they say could force doctors to perform gender-transition procedures that violate their religious beliefs or medical judgment. Texas, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Nebraska, and Kansas filed the suit at a Texas federal court last Tuesday, along with the Christian Medical and Dental Association and the Franciscan Alliance a network of religious hospitals. The lawsuit claims that nondiscrimination rules issued by the Department of Health and Human Services in May would force doctors to ignore their medical judgment in favor of rigid commands. The lawsuit claims doctors could be forced to perform procedures such as gender-reassignment surgery and hysterectomies. On pain of significant financial liability, the regulation forces doctors to perform controversial and sometimes harmful medical procedures ostensibly designed to permanently change an individuals sexincluding the sex of children, the lawsuit says. According to The Wall Street Journal, the rules require insurers to cover treatments for transgendered patients that they would cover for others and ban discrimination based on gender identity. Health care providers are required to provide treatment, and must also allow patients to use facilities that align with their gender identity. The rules apply to all medical systems that receive federal money. The regulation leaves doctors and hospitals in a very difficult position, Luke Goodrich, a lawyer for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty which filed the suit, told the Journal. Transgender rights advocates dismiss the complaint as a far-fetched hypothetical, saying transgender patients would not approach a doctor who lacked experience and expertise. They say the rules are necessary in order to make sure transgender patients have access to basic care and arent discriminated against. "The only thing a doctor is obliged to do is treat all patients, including trans patients, with dignity and respect and to make treatment decisions free from bias," Jillian Weiss, executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, told The Associated Press. "If a doctor has a sound, evidence-based, medical reason to delay transition care for a specific patient, that would be respected under the regulations." The lawsuit is the second in recent months in which conservative states have sought to push back against the Obama administrations efforts to strengthen transgender rights. A federal judge on Aug. 21 temporarily blocked the Obama administrations directive that school children be allowed to use bathrooms and other facilities that align with their gender identity regardless of biological gender, after 13 states and agencies challenged the order. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Donald Trumps campaign and his supporters were challenged again Sunday to explain the candidates evolving illegal immigration policy but appeared to find solid ground in arguing it was the opposite of Hillary Clintons plan. There are very few issues where they're more different, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told Fox News Sunday. In fact, Hillary Clinton is to the left of Barack Obama on immigration. Trump won the GOP primary largely by appealing to the partys conservative base with vows to deport all of the countrys estimated 11 million illegal immigrants, as well as to build a wall along the southern U.S. border and have Mexico pay for the construction. However, Trump has appeared in recent weeks to search for a less severe approach, knowing that hell need some support from Hispanic and other minority voters to win the general election race against Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee. On Sunday night, Trump tweeted that he will be making a speech on illegal immigration on Wednesday in Arizona. Conway said Trump indeed wants to find the fair and humane way to address the issue, which includes whether to separate families to enforce federal law. But she made clear that Trump still intends to build the wall and that he supports neither amnesty nor legalization for people who entered the country illegally. We all learned in kindergarten to stand in line, to wait our turn, said Conway, who argued Trump has stopped talking about a deportation force to remove people. Give Donald Trump credit for at least trying to address a complex issue and not pretending like Hillary Clinton does, that we don't have these problems, she said. The Real Clear Politics average of recent polls shows Clinton leading Trump by 6 percentage points. Such polls also indicate Clinton is ahead in some of the most competitive and pivotal states, with 72 days remaining before Election Day. The nominees first presidential debate is set for Sept. 26. The real issue is look at the two plans, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus told NBCs Meet the Press." Look at where Hillary Clinton is. She wants to put Barack Obama's immigration plan on steroids. The issue is that this is an election of choices: One, allow everyone in through complete amnesty, or number two, a tough plan that's fair and humane. The Clinton campaign argues that Trumps plan remains as dangerous as before, despite efforts to make it seem different. He may try to disguise his plans by throwing in words like humane or fair,' " said campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Palmieri. But the reality remains that Trumps agenda echoes the extreme rights will -- one that is fueling a dangerous movement of hatred across the country. GOP vice-presidential nominee Mike Pence said Sunday the main tenets of Trump's immigration plan will include building the wall, no path to legalization or citizenship and stronger border enforcement. The Indiana governor also sought to distinguish Trumps position from Clintons. It is going to be fair. It is going to be tough, Pence told CNNs State of the Union. He has said that very consistently -- the contrast with Hillary Clinton, who supports amnesty, open borders, who wants to implement executive amnesty again on Day One, even though the Supreme Court of the United States rejected it. He also suggested Trump will announce a more well-defined policy soon. However, Pence did not answer questions on whether the campaigns position, as Trump has said, is that children born to people who are in the U.S. illegally are not U.S. citizens. Native-born children of immigrants, even those living illegally in the U.S., have been automatically considered American citizens since the adoption of the 14th Amendment in 1868. Pence also could not definitively say whether Trump was sticking with his vow to remove those living in the U.S. illegally, with the help of a deportation force. What you heard him describe there, in his usual plainspoken, American way, was a mechanism, not a policy," the nominee said. Trump has focused lately on deporting people who are in the U.S. illegally and who have committed crimes. But who Trump considers a criminal also remained unclear Sunday. Pressed on the question, Priebus replied: "I just don't speak for Donald Trump." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Featured Post MNN: 'Mohawk Mothers -- Excavation Stops and Injunction Starts' Post navigation Previous MOHAWK MOTHERS: EXCAVATION STOPS & INJUNCTION STARTS Posted on October 28, 2022 Mohawk Nation News https:/... White Mesa Ute Spiritual March to Shut Down Uranium Mill Mohawk Warrior Society Book Launch Lakota Jean Roach: The True Story of Leonard Peltier Justice for Dad: Taylor Dewey Shares the Harsh Road to Justice Justice Dept Files Lawsuit Against Rapid City Hotel Western Shoshone Ian Zabarte Speaks on Radiation Archive Search This Blog About Censored News Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell. Since 2006, Censored News has received more than 20 million pageviews. As a collective of writers, photographers and broadcasters, we publish news of Indigenous Peoples and human rights. Contact publisher Brenda Norrell: brendanorrell@gmail.com From the publisher Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 40 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com Translate Donald Trumps campaign is planning to drop up to $10 million on its biggest ad buy to date, hammering Democratic rival Hillary Clinton on her economic proposals in a slew of battleground states. The Republican nominee is trying to make up for lost time in the ad wars, after being significantly outspent by Clinton on that front over the summer. But hes also kept an active campaign schedule over the past week as his Democratic opponent mostly has stayed off the trail. With its latest ad buy, the Trump campaign plans to cover nine battleground states. They are: Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida, where the campaign has already been on the air, along with New Hampshire, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada. His campaigns second general election ad, unveiled Monday, hits Clinton on economic issues, claiming the middle-class would be crushed under a Clinton presidency amid tax increases and more spending. Its more of the same, but worse, the narrator says. In Donald Trumps America, working families get tax relief. Millions of new jobs created. Wages go up. Change that makes America great again. Trump has so far been badly outspent by Clinton and groups supporting her. Since clinching her party's nomination in early June, Clinton has spent more than $77 million on television and radio advertising, largely targeting voters in battleground states, according to Kantar Media's political ad tracker. Trump finally hit the airwaves earlier this month with his first ad, focused on immigration, and so far has only spent about $5 million. Amid conflicting signals over his latest immigration platform, Trump now says hell deliver a detailed speech Wednesday on his proposal to crack down on illegal immigration. The announcement came late Sunday in a tweet by the Republican presidential nominee after days of wavering -- and at least one canceled speech -- on a question central to his campaign: Whether he would, as he said in November, use a "deportation force" to eject the estimated 11 million people in the U.S. illegally. Trump's immigration speech in Arizona will come after he and Clinton spent last week trading accusations on racial issues. Trump called Clinton "a bigot;" Clinton accused Trump of allowing hate groups to take over the Republican Party. Clinton is starting this week by announcing her proposals for dealing with mental health issues. She is stressing the need to fully integrate mental health services into the U.S. health care system. Her plan stresses early diagnosis and intervention and calls for a national initiative for suicide prevention. Donald Trumps reckless approach to business has devastated working families and communities. He will do and say whatever is in his interest, even if it means swindling working families to make millions for himself," Campaign Deputy Communications Director Christina Reynolds said in a statement. "Now Trump is promising the same reckless, self-centered approach to running the countrys economy with large tax breaks for the wealthy, and a plan that independent experts say would cost millions of jobs." Late Sunday, America's only African-American owned and operated national Christian television network also announced that its president and CEO, Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, would interview the Republican nominee Saturday in Detroit. This comes as the Republicans campaign vows the candidate, who has been appealing lately to minority voters for support, plans to go into African-American communities to seek their vote. The new investment in advertising comes amid signs that Trump's lagging poll numbers may be improving against Clinton's following a campaign reboot. Trump senior communications adviser Jason Miller said in a statement that the billionaire businessman's "positive message of economic opportunity is working and we see the national and battleground state polls all moving in the right direction." "With Hillary Clinton off the campaign trail yet again this week and continuing to take many communities' votes for granted, we see this as the right time to show voters the benefits of an American economy under the leadership of Mr. Trump," he added. Clinton will be spending much of the week in private fundraisers in the Hamptons, the wealthy enclaves of eastern Long Island, New York. Fox News Nicholas Kalman and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A previously unknown tectonic plate one that has been swallowed up by the Earth has been discovered in the Philippine Sea, according to a recent study. Using images constructed from earthquake data, geoscientists have developed a method for resurrecting a "slab graveyard" of tectonic plate segments buried deep within the Earth, unfolding the deformed rock into what it may have looked like up to 52 million years ago. This helped the researchers identify the previously unknown East Asian Sea Plate, where an ancient sea once existed in the region shortly after dinosaurs went extinct. The Philippine Sea lies at the juncture of several major tectonic plates. The Pacific, Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates frame several smaller plates, including the Philippine Sea Plate, which researchers say has been migrating northwest since its formation roughly 55 million years ago. [Photo Timeline: How the Earth Formed] In the process, the Philippine Sea Plate collided with the northern edge of the East Asian Sea Plate, driving it into the Earth's mantle. The southern area of the East Asian Sea Plate was eventually subducted by, or forced beneath, other neighboring plates, the researchers said. Geologists attempting to reconstruct the past were once limited to visible evidence of slow-moving changes, such as mountains, volcanoes or the echoes of ancient waterways. But with new imaging technologies, scientists can now glean information from hundreds of miles within the Earth's interior to map distant history. The slabs were previously identified with an imaging technique called seismic tomography, which uses earthquake waves and multiple monitoring stations to determine the speed at which different waves travel through the Earth. Those waves generally travel more quickly through old chunks of tectonic plates that "sink through the mantle, like a leaf through water," said study lead author Jonny Wu, a geologist formerly at National Taiwan University and now at the University of Houston. Wu and his colleagues at National Taiwan University focused on an area around the Philippine Sea, in part because of good data from the many seismic monitoring stations in this earthquake-heavy region. "East Asia has been a place where plates have been coming together, converging and disappearing from the Earth's surface in a process called subduction," Wu told Live Science. "Because the information you're looking for to piece together the history of the area is actually disappearing from the Earth's surface, it's made it very difficult." [In Photos: Ocean Hidden Beneath Earth's Surface] The East Asian Sea Plate was pieced together by a process of elimination when all but three of the 28 subducted slabs in the model had been traced back to connections with other modern plates. The region is also home to many relatively small tectonic plates, known as microplates, where movement is hard to reconstruct. "Those plates have long been tectonic mysteries, because it's really difficult to work out where they've been in the past," Wu said. "Just like if it's a puzzle, small fragments can fit in all these ways." The findings could provide researchers with a clearer picture of the history of the Philippine Sea and its surrounding regions. "The work [is] a groundbreaking advance in our understanding of the deep Earth structure in the most complex parts of the Eastern Hemisphere," Sabin Zahirovic, a geologist at the University of Sydney who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email. The new study is also a step toward a much-needed technical method of interpreting models built from earthquake data, said Hans-Peter Bunge, Chair of Geophysics at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, who was not involved with the new research. "Normally we would not have full access to the complexity of the interior structure," Bunge told Live Science. But this "important" new technique fills in the information missing from the seismic tomography images with carefully constrained guesses at what the material might be, and how the plates have moved, he added. And the researchers aren't stopping there. "As we keep working in other areas with a lot of unknowns for example, South America or the Himalayas we'll continue to test these methods and refine them, and hopefully contribute new ideas to Earth science," Wu said. The research was published online June 25 in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. Original article on Live Science. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Small, intense storms known as "weather bombs" may trigger rare tremors deep within the Earth, offering scientists a new way to study the mysterious structure and inner workings of the planet, according to a new study. A "weather bomb" is an extratropical (outside of the tropical zone) storm in which the central pressure intensifies rapidly. These storms produce very strong winds that cause the ocean to swell, generating powerful waves. Some of the wave energy from these storms interacts with the seafloor, causing wave-generated seismic activity. Known as microseisms, these seismic waves are detectable anywhere in the world, because they penetrate the Earth deeply and can be observed at faraway land seismic stations, the researchers said. [Hurricanes from Above: Images of Nature's Biggest Storms] However, observations and analysis of microseismic activity have focused mostly on P waves the first set of waves in an earthquake that deliver a sharp jolt because of their larger amplitudes. This gives scientists only a narrow view of the Earth's structure, because P waves typically travel in straight lines. In their new study, the scientists detected so-called S wave microseisms, which travel much more slowly and curve through the ground but are generally more difficult to observe. The previously unobserved S waves were generated under a weather bomb between Greenland and Iceland in December 2014. The researchers detected both P-wave and S-wave microseisms triggered by the severe North Atlantic storm at their station in Japan. In their paper, the authors described the direction and distance to the waves' origins. Mapping the microseisms provides insight into the planet's deep structure. As seismic energy from the weather-bomb storm travels through the deep Earth, the planet's interior structure is revealed, the researchers said. This is especially beneficial in areas where such monitoring is limited such as the oceans. "We would like to explore the Earth's interior beneath the storm in oceanic areas, where no earthquakes and no stations exist," study co-author Kiwamu Nishida, a professor at the Earthquake Research Institute at the University of Tokyo, told Live Science. With more acute observations of these storms and the microseisms they cause, scientists can better understand the Earth's internal structure. And understanding the precise locations of P waves and S waves and how they move can also help scientists learn how the seismicity occurs, the researchers explained in their paper. "Delineation of the source locations and energy partition of the seismic wave components are key to understanding the excitation mechanisms," the authors wrote. As such, the findings could contribute to more accurate detection of earthquakes and oceanic storms. The new study was published online Thursday in the journal Science. Original article on Live Science. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Zika has arrived in the United States, but there are ways to protect yourself against the mosquito-borne virus. With no vaccine or drugs to treat Zika, concerns about the virus are growing. Florida reported five new non travel-related cases of the virus last week. How can you fight back against this threat? The military takes steps like Permethrin- treated uniforms, DEET or Picaridin loaded repellent applied to skin, properly worn uniforms to reduce skin exposure and Permethrin treated bed nets. With deep experience working in mosquito-infested areas, it is well worth applying their best practice to home defense. Fight back A layered, combined defense is the best strategy. The military recommends it, as do the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Know what the insiders know and arm yourself with these four things: repellent, invisible shields, clothing and nets. Here are some top picks. Military Grade Repellent Insect repellent is an excellent way to combat Zika and other mosquito-transmitted threats. What are some of the best options? About three decades ago, the military began working closely with 3M to develop a better way to defeat mozzies. Ultrathon Lotion was born -- militaries all around the world use it in jungles and other mosquito dense areas. The product, which is available for $10.50, is designed so that the DEET evaporates slowly, giving you about 12 hours or protection. Consumer Reports tested a number of repellents and found that the two most effective products against Aedes mosquitoes used 20 percent Picaridin: Sawyer Picaridin and Natrapel 8 Hour. Both are also popular choices with some special operations forces around the world. Sawyer is available for $9.99 and Natrapel for $7.18. Invisible Shield Dont let mosquitoes drive you indoors. Set up an invisible shield to help you enjoy the final days of summer. Deploy Thermacell tech and a secret weapon based on a colorful flower to create a safe zone. Thermacell products run via a small butane cartridge that heats up a small mat. The mat is saturated with something called allethrin, which mimics the chrysanthemum flower. As this mat heats up, the allethrin evaporates, creating a safe, odorless, invisible 15-foot x 15-foot zone. It is safe for pets and the entire family. The products repel mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus, as well as other threats like West Nile virus, according to the manufacturer. Priced at $39.99, the Scout Lantern launched a few months ago and offers a defensive perimeter for the likes of backyard barbecues, camping and hunting. Whether running errands or running those morning miles, you can also bring a Zika shield with you by carrying the $24.99 handheld Repeller. No Fly Zone Clothes Expectant mothers arm yourselves with a different sort of pregnancy clothes. Get some daisy inspired defense. The CDC recommends you try to limit your time outdoors, but if you do go outdoors then you should keep your skin covered. Aim to wear protective clothes like long-sleeved shirts and long pants. For extra anti-Zika armor, choose clothing with permethrin. Whats permethrin? It is a synthetic version of a chemical produced naturally by daisies. In 2016 Consumer Reports testing, the top performer was LL Beans tech. The fabric in their No Fly Zone line is lightweight, offers sun protection at UFP 50+ - and is treated with permethrin. For women, the No Fly Zone Pants and No Fly Zone Hoodie offer permethrin protection. The hoodie is available for $79 while the No Fly Zone Pants are $99. The LL Bean No Fly Zone Trail Shirt, made with the same material, is available for between $49 and $69. The Men's No Fly Zone Zip-Leg Pants are available for $99. The zip off pants are marked left and right to save time. However, clothing that uses Permethrin doesnt eliminate the need for repellent on your skin, but can certainly enhance defense against Zika. Squash sneak attacks Dont let those mosquitoes sneak attack while you sleep. Insecticide-treated nets are more effective than untreated nets. Choose a tightly-woven net with enough fabric to tuck under your mattress. Research has proven that insecticide-treated nets dramatically reduce the risk of mosquito-borne threats to pregnant women and children. Approved by the WHO, Olyset net technology incorporates permethrin into the actual fibers of the net. It releases it slowly over a number of years giving you long-lasting, enhanced mosquito protection. The Pramex net, which uses Olyset technology, is available for $39.99. Don't be that person If you do travel to a potential Zika area, then remember to use repellent for three weeks after you return. This is very important. Why? The symptoms for Zika arent necessarily obvious so you could return home, be enjoying a BBQ and a local mosquito could bite you. You in turn could be infecting it with Zika. That mosquito could fly away and then bite someone in your family, your pregnant friend, a neighborhood child so you could accidentally infect others. Facebook will no longer use humans to curate its trending news section, instead relying on algorithms to help its users discover worldwide breaking news. The social network announced the change in a blog post Friday, three months after it faced outrage over claims that its trending topics editors routinely suppressed mentions of politically conservative news topics in the US. The advantage of relying on algorithms over human editors, Facebook says, is that it can enable the Trending Topics feature for users worldwide, instead of limiting it to just countries like the US. "Our goal is to enable Trending for as many people as possible, which would be hard to do if we relied solely on summarizing topics by hand," according to the blog post. "A more algorithmically driven process allows us to scale Trending to cover more topics and make it available to more people globally over time." The editors of the trending section are not Facebook employees, but third-party contractors hired by Accenture under a contract with the world's largest social network. In a May letter to Sen. John Thune, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Facebook said it would reduce its reliance on the team by no longer asking it to search RSS feeds from online media outlets. The change to eliminate human editors completely was always part of the plan, according to today's blog post, but Facebook accelerated it "given the feedback we got from the Facebook community earlier this year." With the human editors' departure, the trending news section will only display a topic, like "#PhelpsFace" or "NASA," instead of a headline and a short description. Facebook says there will still be humans who check on the section to ensure that topics like "lunch," which people talk about every day, will not be flagged as trending. This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave Pope Francis a model drone during a meeting at the Vatican Monday. Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan met Pope Francis in the Santa Marta residence, the guest house in Vatican City where the pope lives. We told him how much we admire his message of mercy and tenderness, and how he's found new ways to communicate with people of every faith around the world, explained Zuckerberg, in a Facebook post Monday. We also discussed the importance of connecting people, especially in parts of the world without internet access. The post has garnered more than 132,000 likes and more than 5,000 shares on Facebook. Zuckerberg gave the Pope a model of Aquila, Facebooks solar-powered unmanned plane that will extend Internet connectivity to parts of the world that dont have it. The Facebook CEO and his wife also discussed their charitable Chan Zuckerberg Initiative with Pope Francis. The Facebook chief wore a dark suit and tie for the meeting, eschewing his trademark look of gray t-shirt and blue jeans. Zuckerberg is the latest Silicon Valley heavyweight to meet the Pope. In January the Pontiff met with Apple CEO Tim Cook, just a few days after hosting former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Pope Francis met Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom in February, where they discussed the unifying power of photos. The Popes Instagram account was launched the following month and racked up more than a million followers within 12 hours. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers Three Canadian cruise ship passengers were charged with drug smuggling Monday after Australian police allegedly found 95 kilograms (209plbs) of cocaine in their cabin luggage. The three passengers-- Andre Tamine, 63, Isabelle Legace, 28, and Melina Roberce, 22had sailed to Sydney from Southhampton in the U.K. aboard MS Sea Princess, operated by California-based Princess Cruises. They were arrested Sunday after police discovered the major haul, reports CBC. The drugs have a reported street value of nearly $23 million and constitute the largest narcotics seizure in Australia carried by cruise or airlines passengers, Australian Border Force Commander Tim Fitzgerald told reporters Monday. I can't go into specifics about the background of this particular syndicate, but you have to be a very organised to get your hands on 95 kilograms of cocaine," Fitzergerald said, noting that the the Sea Princess had made multiple stops in South American countries before arriving Sydney. "Sydney is highly attractive for cruise ships ... so we're continually risk assessing the cruise ships and the passengers that come by air. This particular cruise ship because of the nature and the amount of ports it had been to was considered quite high risk in itself. Authorities believe the final destination for the drugs was Australia. The Canadian trio did not apply for bail and it was formally refused by a judge Monday. They will remain in custody until their next court appearance on October 26. Police are investigating whether they boarded with the drugs or sourced them from one of several South American ports the ship visited on its way to Australia. On Sunday, Australian Border Force officers boarded the ship when it berthed in Sydney Harbour and, with the help of detector dogs, searched a number of passenger cabins. Fitzgerald alleged 35 kilograms of cocaine were found in suitcases in a cabin the women shared and 60 kilograms of the drug were found in the man's luggage in a separate cabin. He thanked the U.S. Department of Homelands Security and the Canada Border Services Agency for helping identify the three as "high-risk passengers" among the 1,800 on board. Clive Murray, assistant commissioner of strategic border command with the Australian Border Force, said the incident was an example of international co-operation in the fight against international drug syndicates. "These syndicates should be on notice that the Australian Border Force is aware of all of the different ways they attempt to smuggle drugs into our country and we are working with a range of international agencies to stop them," he said. The Australian Federal Police said the investigation is ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The government is fining four airlines for failing to have accurate notices explaining compensation for passengers who are bumped from flights or whose baggage is damaged or lost. The Department of Transportation said Friday that it fined American Airlines $45,000, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines $40,000 each, and United Airlines $35,000. Under federal rules, airlines must explain potential compensation when they bump passengers from an oversold flight. Rules also generally bar airlines from limiting their liability when they lose, damage or delay a passenger's bag to less than $3,500. The department said that during airport inspections, airline agents at gates or ticket counters didn't have the required notices or had outdated or inaccurate information. If you havent been asleep for the past few years, you know that the retail landscape has been dominated by one name -Amazon.com. As the largest online retailer, what you may not know is that around half of the goods sold on Amazon are sold by third party merchants, the greater majority of those being small businesses. In fact, Amazon has in the range of two million of these third party merchants (again, mostly small businesses) that account for this half of its retail marketplace sales. This provides an opportunity for small businesses, whether product manufacturers or even smaller retailers in their own right, to access the 300 million Amazon shoppers from around the globe. While Amazon has been a pioneer in embracing small businesses as selling partners (a move emulated very successfully by Chinas Alibaba Group, whose entire business is built around marketplaces), other traditional retailers have been slow to follow suit. Related: 4 Challenges That Marketplace Businesses Face, and How to Overcome Them Earlier this year, Wal-Mart, which launched a marketplace in 2009 with a handful of better-known mid-size retailers like eBags, said that it was going to accelerate its marketplace focus. However, it's estimated to only have a few hundred retail partners currently, and although it's ramping up at the clip of more than 100 per month, are certainly very far behind the two million sellers that Amazon has in place. Wal-Mart is currently working with ChannelAdvisor to accelerate its ramp up and have a process to request an invitation to sell, which you can find here. Target, which has its own ecommerce woes to contend with, hasnt entered the marketplace arena at all. For these larger retailers, partnering with entrepreneurs and small businesses can create the ultimate win-win situation. For entrepreneurs, it allows them to leverage each retailers online traffic, and gain exposure to a far larger customer base. Related: Will Virtual Marketplaces Disrupt Your Industry Next? For the retailers, it not only broadens product selection, but if it plays it smartly, it should help it optimize product availability in-store as well. No longer does a retailer have to take a chance on inventory before seeing if there is demand. This is an incredible mechanism to bring hot products in-store, in either a pop-up concept shop, or on a more full-time basis. Having an easier entry point to brick-and-mortar retail is also another boon for the entrepreneurs. Imagine if Macys did this for talented, unknown designers. It could feature key marketplace items to see what was hot, without having to take on inventory risk or worry about the new entrepreneur having the full systems in place to integrate with Macys technology. If they find a particular designer is in demand - either regionally or nationally -- then, they could invest the resources in making sure the entrepreneur could handle a larger relationship with the retailer. It is truly a win-win. Related: 5 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Niche Marketplaces Not to mention, these opportunities help small business owners with access to additional resources. Just recently, Amazon held a conference targeted at women entrepreneurs to help them be more successful in their businesses (and as sellers on the Amazon platform, of course). This is a natural fit and next step for companies like Wal-Mart, which already actively support small business owners in various ways, including extensively through its Sams Club division. Of course, retailers have to do this smartly, or it will crash and burn. Best Buy tried, but ultimately closed its own third-party marketplace earlier this year, amidst confusion from customers. One Ithaca College student was fatally stabbed and a second was injured during a fight on Cornell University's campus, officials said Sunday. Police say several hundred college-age people had attended a student-organized event in Willard Straight Hall Saturday night and that several fights took place outside after the event ended. Police discovered both men lying wounded on the ground after they responded to the scene shortly before 2 a.m. Ithaca.com reported that police officers held up a white sheet to shield the victims from the dozens of bystanders. Anthony Nazaire, 19, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was pronounced dead at Cayuga Medical Center. He was a sophomore at Ithaca's School of Business Administration. Police said Nazaire was Ithaca's first homicide victim since December 2011. "He was a really nice kid," Ithaca student Amber Edwards told Ithaca.com. "He always had a smile on his face when I saw him." The injured student, who was not identified, was airlifted to SUNY Upstate University Hospital before being treated and released. Police said a weapon was recovered from the scene, though they did not specify what type. No arrests have been made in the case. Local news website 14850.com reported that Saturday night's party was an orientation week gathering hosted by Cornell's chapter of Omega Psi Phi, a predominently African-American fraternity. Investigators said that a number of partygoers were recording the fight on their phones and appealed for anyone with footage to come forward. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from Ithaca.com. Business / Economy by Staff reporter The Southern African Development Community committee of trade ministers has endorsed progress made with regards to South Africa-Zimbabwe bilateral engagement on tariff phase downs on 112 priority products and Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016.At a special meeting for Sadc committee of trade ministers held in Swaziland last week, a report on South Africa-Zimbabwe bilateral engagement was presented.Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha and Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa attended the meeting."The agenda of the meeting included a report on the RSA-Zimbabwe bilateral engagement on tariff phase downs on 112 priority products and SI 64 of 2016. The committee commended the two countries for the progress, welcomed and endorsed the report," said Minister Bimha.Minister Bimha also thanked Sadc member states for their continued understanding and support on the need to link trade liberalisation to a process of viable industry development as well as co-operation in finance and investment.South Africa's Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davis said South Africa remains committed to working with Zimbabwe and strengthening relations between the two countries in the spirit of advancing regional integration.The two ministers undertook to meet on the sidelines of the Sadc meetings to explore more ways for encouraging investment between the two countries.Under the Sadc industrialisation agenda, member states are allowed to find ways of ensuring their economies are heavily industrialised.SI 64 of 2016 removed about 42 products from the general import licence though there are submissions by stakeholders that more products need to be included on the list.This policy directive has managed to breathe life into some manufacturing firms who have since increased capacity utilisation while some foreign firms have already started setting up their manufacturing plants in Zimbabwe. Kanye West adores himself, but he also looks up to Steve Jobs, Walt Disney and Taylor Swift. That's what the controversial rapper said last night while spouting off unfiltered at the MTV Video Music Awards. Other role models he name-dropped before dropping his new video: Howard Hughes, Harry Truman, Henry Ford and, yes, himself, West. Because you better believe Kanye inspires Kanye. "I know times for me, I sit down and talk to older, like, like, rich people, West said during his six-minute rant. You know, a.k.a. white, you know. And they tell me, 'Don't compare yourself to Steve Jobs. He then recalled a friend telling him that stripping away a persons role models helps to keep people impoverished. Without the right leaders to look up to, you might only look down and stay down. Related: 3 Entrepreneurial Lessons to Learn From Kanye West But there he was on stage anyway, live on TV. Kanye West the man, the artist, the icon. Standing in front of his idol, Puff Daddy. In front of his wife, the famous-for-being-famous Kim Kardashian. All despite the odds -- and role models you might not expect a rapper from Chicagos South Side to admire. Bro, we are undeniably the influence, the thought leaders, he boasted. Hes right. Here are six other famous thought leaders, their role models and why they look up to them: 1. Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX and co-founder of Tesla Getty Images The man who inspired Jon Favreaus Iron Man is inspired by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates, Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs and his good pals Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the brains behind Google. Musk also says in this revealing Mahalo video that he also looks up to Warren Buffett on the investing side. As for big dreamers and inventors, the billionaire founders role models are Nikola Tesla, Thomas Edison and Oscar Wilde. He gets giddy when man-crush gushing about Tesla, his car companys namesake, of course. Its sort of cute. Watch the video and youll see what we mean. Related: 5 Things You Don't Know About Elon Musk 2. Oprah Winfrey, founder of Harpo Productions Getty Images The most famous female media mogul of our time looked to anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela as a role model. As her friend and mentor, he taught her not only how to give back to others with grace, but also how to remain gracefully humble. "He was everything you've ever heard and more -- humble and unscathed by bitterness, she said of the late leader in a statement following his death. And he always loved to tell a good joke. Being in his presence was like sitting with grace and majesty at the same time." Lesser known individuals from her past also inspired her to be her best and climb great heights. "My fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Benton, was the first person that I really could see believed in me," Winfrey told Parade magazine. "She would tell me that I was just the smartest little girl she'd ever seen." Interestingly, Oprah also says her favorite role models are dogs. Heres why: I want to work like a dog, doing what I was born to do with joy and purpose. I want to play like a dog, with total, jolly abandon. I want to love like a dog, with unabashed devotion and complete lack of concern about what people do for a living, how much money they have, or how much they weigh. Related: Elon Musk Profiled Kanye West? The Most Surprising Pairings on the TIME 100 List. 3. Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook Justin Sullivan | Getty Images You might assume that Mark Zuckerberg would name Steve Jobs as his hero, especially after the late legend personally advised him in the early days of Facebook. Not so. Turns out Zuck is more of a Bill Gates idolator. In fact, he calls the Microsoft co-founder his childhood hero. "Bill Gates ran one of the most mission-driven companies I can think of, he said at TechCrunch Disrupt conference in 2013. Microsoft had a great mission. To put a computer on every desktop and in every home." Zuckerbergs mission: To put the internet, and of course Facebook, on every device everywhere in the world. Coincidence? We think not. Mind you, Gates, also a Harvard dropout like Zuckerberg, created a Facebook account after Microsoft (which he was no longer at the helm of at the time) dumped a $240 million-dollar equity stake into Facebook in 2007. What a day that mustve been for Zuckerberg. Related: From Under the Hoodie: 5 Entrepreneurial Lessons From Mark Zuckerberg 4. Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Alex Wong | Getty Images Benjamin Graham changed Warren Buffetts trajectory long before the billionaire businessman held court as the Oracle of Omaha. Buffett devoured the American economists seminal book, The Intelligent Investor, while attending the University of Nebraska--Lincoln (UNL). He had stocked up on wise value investing tips for later use. The Berkshire Hathaway chairman and CEO described discovering Graham to almost like finding a god, his former UNL housemate Truman Wood said. In Buffetts own words, Graham was his idol. He considers him the most influential person on his life, apart from his stockbroker father. Graham, a longtime Columbia Business School professor who met and got to know Buffett at the school, eventually hired Buffett to work at his firm. They forged a strong bond and the key lessons Buffett learned from his mentor, friend and idol still pay dividends today. Related: Warren Buffett: 5 Things You Can Learn From the Man Who Invested $1 Billion in Apple 5. Richard Branson, founder of The Virgin Group Greg Doherty | Getty Images Richard Branson says the missing link between a promising businessperson and a successful one is often a good mentor. A role model. Someone to inspire greatness within. He should know. If not for the invaluable advice and guidance from Bransons business mentor -- the bullish founder of Laker Airways, one of the first no-frills long-haul airlines -- the self-made British billionaire might never have gotten Virgin Atlantic off the ground. Its always good to have a helping hand at the start, Branson wrote in a post on his blog. I wouldn't have got anywhere in the airline industry without the mentorship of Sir Freddie Laker. Now, I love mentoring young entrepreneurs. Related: Watch Legendary Entrepreneur Richard Branson Share His Secrets to Startup Success 6. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon Todd Williamson | Getty Images Jeff Bezos found inspiration in not only his rancher-engineer grandfather, who fueled his fascination with technology, but also in one of the worlds most famous tinkerers, Thomas Edison. I've always been interested in inventors and invention, Bezos, who invented the internets first bookstore in 1994, told The Academy of Achievement (TAA). Edison, of course, for a little kid and probably for adults, too, is not only the symbol of that but the actual fact of that -- the incredible inventor. The billionaire electrical engineer and computer scientist also counts Walt Disney as a role model. He admires how Disney motivated large groups of people to help bring his inventions and ideas to life. Things that Disney invented, like Disneyland, the theme parks, they were such big visions that no single individual could ever pull them off, Bezos also told TAA, unlike a lot of the things that Edison worked on. Walt Disney really was able to get a big team of people working in a concerted direction. One concerted direction Bezos is boldly leading his charges toward these days is space, with the blast off of his private spaceflight startup Blue Origin. Related: 5 Things Jeff Bezos Does Other Than Work The central terminal area at Los Angeles International Airport was closed for more than 90 minutes Sunday night after "loud noises" let to reports of an active shooter. Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Andy Neiman confirmed shortly before 10 p.m. that no shooter had been found. Airport police said a man in a Zorro costume had been detained, but it was not clear whether he had any connection to the alert. All terminals and roads into the airport had been reopened by 11 p.m. PDT, about two hours after the initial reports, officials said. But massive backup faced travelers in their cars and in security lines. Passengers who fled had to be rescreened through security. When the incident began, scores of people could be seen running from the terminal out on to the sidewalks and streets as police with rifles out stormed terminals. Many other evacuees were standing on the airport tarmac, and abandoned bags littered some sidewalks. "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt was arriving in Los Angeles on a red-eye flight when the panic started. Anne Dudek of Santa Monica, Calif., told the Los Angeles Times that she was going down the escalator to baggage claim in Terminal 7 when a man ran past her and warned everyone to run because people were being shot. "People started dropping bags and running out of the terminal," she said. "Panic spread." "We were on the jetway and someone starts pushing behind us," Jon Landis, a sales representative from Boston who was boarding a flight home, told The Associated Press. "One man was frantic saying there was a shooter." Police officers, including one with a shotgun, eventually led passengers out of the terminal, through a security gate, and into a parking lot -- where several hundred waited for the terminal to reopen. Ninety minutes after the scare, Landis said he was still waiting for word on his flight. Passenger Scott McDonald said he was getting off a plane in the middle of the incident and was told by the crew to get back on. He said looking out the window he could see many evacuees gathered out on the tarmac, a strange sight even for someone who travels almost constantly. "I've never seen passengers, just normal people, on the tarmac anywhere in the United States," McDonald told KCAL-TV. Douglas Lee, who was traveling home to Albuquerque with his wife and son, said the greatest danger was being trampled. "You can imagine hundreds of adults trying to go through an exit door," he explained. At one point, he said he picked up his young son left their luggage. Corey Rosenbusch was relaxing inside a terminal club on a layover flight from his home in Washington, D.C., to Sydney, Australia, when the lights went off and the staff told everyone to shelter in place. "People immediately started looking at social media, where they saw reports that there was an active shooter," Rosenbusch told the AP. He said several officers, including some with assault rifles, led the group out of the area. Sunday's incident came just days after another false alarm led to a panicked evacuation of Kennedy Airport in New York. In that incident, police were investigating whether an overly boisterous celebration of the Olympics on Aug. 14 led to noises that were misinterpreted as gunfire, with the ensuing chain reaction turning into a panic as crowds ran to evacuate. The Los Angeles airport had an actual shooting in November 2013, when a man opened fire in the terminal, killing a security agent and wounding three other people. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Minneapolis gun buyback program targeting weapons used in street crimes may be shooting blanks, as detractors said a Saturday collection mostly took in antiquated, unused or homemade arms from legal owners and did little to thin the firearm supply actually available to dangerous criminals. Two Minneapolis locations collected about 150 firearms Saturday, but both exchanges were forced to shut down several hours early when officials ran out of Visa gift cards $25,000 worth, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. And at least some of that money helped finance the purchase of even more guns. One anonymous gun owner told WCCO he received $200 in gift cards that he planned to use to buy a new firearm. That man said he didnt think the program was serving its intended purpose. I just dont feel that a criminal is going to come up to a fire department with a bunch of police around it and turn in a gun, he said. Paul Joat, an area gun collector, told The Star Tribune he bought two weapons on the street, ostensibly offering the sellers a better deal than the city could. A lot of what Im seeing is gun nuts turning in their guns for more than theyre worth, he said. A commenter on the Minnesota Gun Talk message board noted that every single person in line was one of us. The lure of a Visa gift card worth between $15 and $300 was enough to make some enterprising Minnesotans get creative. One person constructed a shotgun out of a piece of wood, some tape and a pipe. They were given a $100 gift card for the contraption, according to a Facebook post from the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. Guns gathered during the Saturday buyback were set to be decommissioned and used in an art piece. The death of a Turkish soldier in the newest battlefront of the Syrian war is stoking tensions between two U.S. allies, Turkeys military and Syrian Kurdish rebels, heightening the risk to U.S. forces in the area and their common fight against Islamic State. Syrian monitoring groups said that at least 70 people were killed over the weekend, mostly civilians, in the Turkish operations. The Turkish military said they killed at least 25 terrorists, and didnt comment on the reported civilian deaths, except to say that commanders are taking all necessary measures to protect noncombatants. It wasnt possible to independently verify the Syrian casualty figures or the identities of those killed. Turkeys military struck deeper into Syria with airstrikes and artillery strikes on Sunday after the Turkish soldier died and three others were wounded on Saturday when their tank unit came under attack by Kurdish rebels, known as the YPG. There was no comment from U.S. officials about the escalation of fighting between the two sidesboth of which are U.S. allies. It was unclear what role, if any, the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, of which Turkey is a member, had in the air campaign over the weekend. The clashes underscore the complexity of the coalitions campaign to reverse Islamic States territorial hold in Syria. American special operations forces are embedded with the YPG and earlier this month helped them oust Islamic State from the town of Manbij, less than 20 miles from Saturdays hostilities. In general, those U.S. special operations forces have close contact with their Turkish counterparts, and they rely on Turkey for their rear supply lines, according to people familiar with the situation. The U.S. also supports the Turkish-led campaign launched last week with Syrian Arab fighters who are rivals of the YPG. The initial goal of the operation was to clear Jarablus, along the Syria-Turkey border, of Islamic State positions and mop up any fighters that escaped Manbij, which is approximately 20 miles further south. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. Police in China say they have captured a serial killer who murdered 11 women and girls over a 14-year period. Gao Chengyong, 52, was arrested at the grocery store he runs with his wife in the northwest province of Gansu, according to the state-run China Daily newspaper. The paper said he has confessed to the murders in Gansu and the neighbouring Inner Mongolia region between 1988 and 2002. Gao is alleged to have targeted young women wearing red during a 14-year killing spree, following them home to rape and kill them. Some women had their throats cut and reproductive organs removed, according to reports. The youngest victim was eight years old. Police first linked all 11 crimes in 2004, and said at the time: "The suspect has a sexual perversion and hates women. He's reclusive and unsociable, but patient." Gao was tracked down after a relative was arrested for an unrelated crime and his DNA was collected and tested. Police said the DNA suggested that the killer was a relation, and after Gao's DNA was taken it allegedly matched that collected at the crime scenes. Gao's son told local media that his father had experienced "bitter suffering" in his youth, failing to become a pilot for "political reasons". Acquaintances described him as a quiet man, who was emotionally detached from his family. No explanation was immediately provided for why the murders apparently ceased in 2002. Click for more from SkyNews.com. A suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in Yemen's southern city of Aden on Monday killed at least 45 pro-government recruits, officials said. The men were at a staging area near two schools and a mosque when a pickup truck suddenly accelerated through the building's gate as a food delivery arrived, exploding amid the crowd, witnesses said. "Bodies and body parts are scattered all over the place," said Mohammed Osman, a neighbor who rushed to the scene. "It was a massacre," he said. Over 60 wounded were being taken to three area hospitals, Yemeni security officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. They identified the bomber as one Ahmed Seif, distributing a photo of him smiling and holding an assault rifle next to a flag used by Islamic extremists as well as a rocket grenade launcher. Yemen is embroiled in a civil war pitting the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite Houthi rebels, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The fighting has allowed al-Qaida and an IS affiliate to expand their reach, particularly in the south. The recruits were signing up to join a new unit the Saudis hope will ultimately be made up of 5,000 fighters. After some training, the new force will deploy to the Saudi cities of Najran and Jizan, near the border with Yemen, the officials said. The Houthis control most of northern Yemen, including the border regions and the capital, Sanaa. Aid group Doctors Without Borders reported on social media that their hospital in Aden had received 45 dead, while the Yemeni officials earlier put the figure at 25 but said it was likely to rise. The IS-run Aamaq news agency said the attack was carried out "by a fighter from the Islamic State who targeted a recruitment center." Ahmed al-Fatih, who had been working at the center, said security at the site was lax. "There was no consideration of security," he said. "So it was easy for al-Qaida or Daesh to pull off such an act," he added, using an Arabic acronym to refer to IS. The U.N. and rights groups estimate at least 9,000 people have been killed since fighting escalated in March 2015 with the start of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their allies. Some 3 million people have been displaced inside the country, the Arab world's poorest. U.N.-mediated peace talks in Kuwait were suspended earlier this month with no signs of progress. The Houthis and forces allied to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in September 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee the country. The Saudi-led campaign against the Houthis has pushed them out of southern Yemen, but has failed to dislodge them from Sanaa and the rest of the north. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 India is failing to help and protect journalists who are facing violent threats or attacks for their work, an international watchdog agency said Monday, noting a pattern of resistance in investigating crimes targeting reporters. The Committee to Protect Journalists counted 27 journalists killed for their work since 1992, and noted that it was still investigating more than two dozen cases to determine whether those journalists' deaths were also work-related. Most at risk are small-town journalists investigating corruption, rather than journalists in big cities like New Delhi or Mumbai. The New York-based watchdog said in a report released Monday that it could find only one case in 10 years in India in which a suspect was prosecuted and convicted for killing a journalist, but that the suspect was later released on appeal. "Perpetrators are seldom arrested," said Sujata Madhok of the Delhi Union of Journalists, according to the report. "The torturously slow Indian judicial system, together with corruption in the police force and the criminalization of politics, makes it possible to literally get away with murder." The watchdog's findings are supported by another report, released in 2015 by India's own media watchdog, the Press Council of India. That report found that even though the country's democratic institutions and independent judiciary were strong, people who killed journalists were getting away with impunity. "The situation is truly alarming," the Press Council said, warning that the trend could hurt India's democracy, and pressing Parliament to pass a nationwide law ensuring journalists' safety. The Committee to Protect Journalists blamed successive Indian governments and local officials for doing little to address a problem that has existed for decades. It noted that while newspaper reports on corruption scandals made for attention-grabbing headlines, those same corruption investigations tended to end abruptly if an involved journalist was killed. "No government in India has been an ardent champion of press freedom," the report said. "Small-town journalists, even if a handful work for big media, will often find themselves alone and abandoned when trouble strikes." The report focused on three cases of journalist killings in India, including the death in July 2015 of investigative reporter Akshay Singh, who was working on a story linked to an alleged $1 billion racket for providing jobs and college admissions in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. A month before that, freelance reporter Jagendra Singh died after being set on fire while reporting on allegations of rape and land fraud leveled against a local minister in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. And in 2011 in the eastern state of Chattisgarh, journalist Umesh Rajput was shot dead while investigating alleged medical negligence as well as separate claims that a politician's son was involved in an illegal gambling business. "I can think of several cases where the police's first response to a threat, attack or killing of a journalist was to claim that the victim was not a journalist, or that the attack was not work-related," the report quoted Mumbai-based editor Geeta Seshu of the media-themed website The Hoot as saying. Indian journalists contacted by The Associated Press agreed that while journalists were key in exposing the country's widespread and endemic corruption, they were doing so despite inadequate safety guarantees. Authorities need to take the risk more seriously or risk having reporters abandon their investigations, journalists said. "Journalists have become vulnerable to pressure from local mafia, businesses, newspaper managements and the government," said Rahul Jalali, president of New Delhi's press club. He and others noted, however, that while the press clubs scattered across the country were more focused on lobbying for labor rights and wage protections, they were also increasingly demanding better law and safety. "We should try to compel governments and police to act more fairly, justly and quickly," veteran journalist and author Palagummi Sainath said. "We can also ask media owners to take the safety of their journalists more seriously." ___ This story has been corrected to fix attribution, context for comments by Sujata Madhok and Geeta Seshu. Olfactive Studio has just presented their new fragrance, which will be launched by the end of October. The scent is called Close Up and it comes in the new bottle that will also house all the other 9 perfumes of the brand, after the successful crowdfunding project launched on Indiegogo by owner Celine Verleure. Close Up was developed by the iconic perfumer Annick Menardo and it is a sweet, resinous oriental, the thickest composition so far in this collection, after the spicy-boozy fragrance Selfie, from 2015. One of the features in most of Olfactive Studio's fragrances is the inclusion of an unusual note. In this case there is green coffee, but the main characteristic here is the contrast between anis and amber. Annick Menardo is a master of anis in fragrances. We all know her great work with gourmand notes and anis in Lolita Lempicka and Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin. And we know that she has created very contrasting, deep fragrances such as Bulgari Black and YSL Body Kouros. But this also means that sometimes her fragrances oscillate between very commercial and very daring or challenging. Close Up is not a groundbreaking fragrance but it has a captivating personality and it is an assertive perfume. It is strong and sweet and has an interesting evolution. It goes into the sensual spicy aspect of scent, almost like Obsession and a sugared creaminess that we also found in Hypnotic Poison. Close Up is drenched in extremely sweet tobacco, which becomes the note that will last longer on the skin. But all of these balmy sweet elements can be a little too much for some noses, so beware. From the sample I was sent by the brand, I could tell that this is a sillage monster and a winter perfume. Anything over 20 degrees and this is a scrubber. It also lasts forever. Regarding the bottle, the change is obvious and now Olfactive Studio finally has a unique flacon, not a standard one. With a rounder shape and black metal shoulders, the bottle is inspired by the shape of a camera. There is a circular wave that is sculpted on the rear glass and it appears to mingle with the name of the fragrance, which is screen printed in handwritten letters on the front of the bottle. Close Up's juice is blue, and this is a startling contrast with the oriental, warm and sweet scent inside, which is mainly ambery. A blue juice would normally indicate a fresh fragrance, but then again, we've already had the example of Angel to go against this idea. Of course it would be impossible to talk about a fragrance by Olfactive Studio without mentioning the visual inspiration that is the brand's DNA. All of the fragrances in this line are inspired by a photo. In this case, the photographer who created this image is Suren Manvelyan from Armenia. The image is a depiction of the iris of the human eye in blue and brown shades. Let's take a closer look at this blue and brown iris with surprising pigmentation and speckled and shadowy color tones. The eye of a thousand powers... a symbol of knowledge and a source of light, wisdom, or even fecundity. Since the beginning of time it has captivated those who have looked at it. - Olfactive Studio Close Up will hit the market by the end of October. Close Up Top Notes: Santos Green Coffee, Fresh Spices, Griotte Cherry Heart Notes: White Tobacco, Patchouli, Atlas Cedar, Centifolia Rose Base Notes: Amber, Musk, Tonka Bean Blue Moon Estate Sales Appoints New Director of Franchise Sales August 29, 2016 // Franchising.com // RALEIGH, NC Blue Moon Estate Sales, the nations pioneer franchise brand in the expanding industry of estate sales, has named Andrew Lasky as the new Director of Franchise Sales. In his new role, Lasky will work hand-in-hand with Blue Moon co-founders David and Debra Blue to grow the company through brand recognition and expansion by securing new franchise locations in available markets. Among other responsibilities, Lasky will serve as the liaison between all franchise leads, both inbound and online, and Blue Moon Estate Sales. We are excited to bring Andrew onboard with the team here at Blue Moon, said VP and Co-founder of Blue Moon Estate Sales, David Blue. As our company continues to grow, we knew he would be the perfect fit as we look to expand nationally. Prior to working with Blue Moon, the University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni worked as a senior marketing consultant, where he worked closely with business owners in the construction industry to grow their marketing initiatives. After learning how to handle high-pressure situations, create rapport with clients, and consistently securing deals, Lasky will take his previous experience and apply his knowledge to Blue Moons franchise development strategies. The main reason I wanted to work with the team at Blue Moon is because of how passionate everyone on the corporate team is. They believe in the company and Im honored to be able to join an organization that understands the importance of its services, said Lasky. I cant wait to get started and help the company grow more than it already has. I look forward to diving right in and elevate the brand to new heights. Blue Moon Estate Sales offers an extensive list of services provided during the liquidation process: from determining a convenient time line to sweeping up after the sale. Blue Moon also offers a complimentary and extensive evaluation of the home, appropriate pricing from antiques to everyday items, categorization and staging of the home, marketing, hosting and staffing of the sale. As an added bonus, Blue Moon brings a loyal fan base to every sale, which includes customers who will line up hours before the sale to be the first ones to enter the home. About Blue Moon Estate Sales Launched in 2009 and franchising since 2013, Blue Moon Estate Sales is the leading estate sales franchise in the country. The companys estate sales specialists help clients through every step of the estate sale process to ease the stress and workload of an event few people ever plan for. With 14 locations currently open and operating in five states, Blue Moon Estate Sales has already helped hundreds of families with its residential, commercial, and moving liquidation services. For more information, please visit www.bluemoonestatesales.com. SOURCE Blue Moon Estate Sales ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Froots Sells Master Franchise Rights to Guatemala National Quick-Service Franchise Builds Global Presence as Demand for Healthy Alternatives in the Quick-Service Space Continues to Rise; Plans to Open Five Locations in Next Five Years August 29, 2016 // Franchising.com // DAVIE, Fla. Froots, a national quick-service franchise focused on healthy food and beverages, announced the brands expansion to Guatemala through a Master Franchise Agreement with Cristina Rozas, Juan Manuel Rodriguez, Alejandro Garcia and Maria Jose Enriquez. The business partners will be responsible for spearheading development of the brand throughout the country, opening a total of five locations over the next five years. A large, growing segment of the global population is more health conscious and aware of better eating habits, though have few choices when it comes to eating healthy on the go. Froots caters to this demographic by providing a healthy alternative to traditional fast food fare, and our growth is building as more investors look to enter this space with a proven business model in hand, said Scott Mortier, EVP of Business Development at Froots. We have several international locations already in operation that are well loved by their local communities, and Im confident Guatemalans will enjoy our better-for-you menu options. The groups first Froots location will be in Guatemala City. They learned about the brand when visiting South Florida and thought it would be a perfect addition to the Guatemalan quick-service scene. Froots already has several locations throughout the Caribbean and South America, including stores in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Turks & Caicos. We were immediately drawn in by the food that was both delicious and healthy, Rozas said, adding that she knew Guatemala would be the perfect market for the brand. Beyond the food and drinks, the new look and feel of the locations is very crisp, clean and refreshing. The company just rolled out a new store design, logo and menu, so we are excited to be one of the first franchisees to debut the new look and menu items. Froots seeks master franchise developers to continue developing the brand internationally as well as domestically in the United States, where Froots is eyeing the Southeastern part of the country for aggressive expansion over the next two years with an additional 50 units. Domestically, the fast-growing franchise also seeks multi-unit operators and owner-operators to bring the brand to new markets. Froots has both store front and kiosk business models available with costs respectively ranging from $140,150-$321,750 and $92,600-$157,600, including the $25,000 franchise fee. Prospective owners can also purchase three units for a total franchise fee of $40,000. Interested franchisees should contact Scott Mortier at smortier@froots.com or visit http://froots.com/franchise/ for more information. About Froots Froots is a healthy alternative to traditional fast food fare, providing a variety of great tasting options including all-natural smoothies, energy shakes, fresh-squeezed juices, sandwiches, wraps, paninis, salads, soups and more. The homegrown business has been operating in South Florida since 2001, and currently has more than 30 U.S. units as well as several international locations. A relatively low investment for a restaurant franchise, the quick-service restaurant expects to add 50 locations in the next two years. For more information, visit http://froots.com/. SOURCE Froots Media Contact: Jayne Levy Fishman Public Relations (847) 945-1300 jlevy@fishmanpr.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus News / National by Staff reporter THE opposition MDC-T has joined hands with civic groups and churches in a fresh campaign to boycott all businesses owned or run by Zanu-PF "fat cats" in order to cripple and financially force them to the negotiating table, NewsDay reported.This was disclosed by MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora during a party meeting in Mutare on Saturday.Mwonzora said their first targets were President Robert Mugabe's Alpha and Omega company dairy products, Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa's Zuva Petroleum and Phelekezela Mphoko's Choppies Supermarkets.However, a top Zuva Petroleum official and a government bureaucratic yesterday said Mnangagwa had no interests in the petroleum firm.But Mwonzora said: "We are planning something. This is no longer a secret now because this is a bare knuckle fight.We want to embark on a massive consumer boycott, boycotting products, shops, businesses of people who are corruptly benefiting from the Zanu-PF regime and those people who are involved in human rights abuses.''Mwonzora added: "For example, we are going to agree that we are not going to buy anything from Mphoko's Choppies, Mnangagwa's businesses and we will not buy Alpha and Omega products, which is owned by the First Family."He said that the move will force ruling party "fat cats" to agree to re-engage opposition political parties to resolve the on-going economic crisis."We have since approached civic organisations, other opposition political parties and members of the public, including churches, among other organisations. If we boycott their shops and businesses in one week, they will come to us because we the poor have power,'' Mwonzora said.He also disclosed that opposition parties had endorsed #Tajamuka /Sesijikile shutdown this Wednesday and would sue police for contempt of court following the stifling of the Friday's protest march.Yesterday, all 18 opposition parties under the National Electoral Reforms Agenda (Nera) announced plans to roll out mass anti-government demonstrations to other provinces on Friday."We also further advise that apart from the protest march in Harare, Nera structures in various provinces, cities and towns will be informing the place of similar marches in their areas on the same day," Nera convenor Didymus Mutasa said in a statement yesterday."Zimbabweans are under no illusion that we are where we are because of the crisis of legitimacy. On Friday, the whole nation wishes to speak with one voice by peacefully demanding that the next elections be truly free, fair and credible." Pieology Pizzeria Opens Newest Central California Location Leading Fast Casual Custom Pizza Concept Officially Open in Goleta August 29, 2016 // Franchising.com // RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, California - Pieology Pizzeria, where pizza lovers go to create artisan-style custom pizzas in endless flavor combinations for one affordable price, is excited to announce the opening of its first Goleta location. Pieology Goleta is the fifth location owned and operated by California-based Cotti Foods, which owns the exclusive franchise rights to open Pieology restaurants throughout Hawaii and Bakersfield. Were excited to further strengthen Pieologys presence in Central California with our newest location, now open in the beautiful beachside city of Goleta, said Cotti Foods president and CEO, Peter Capriotti II. Pieology leads in the fast casual custom pizza segment, and with the brands signature crusts and sauces, along with our unbeatable customer service, its no wonder why Pieology has become a fast favorite among pizza fans all over the country. The Pieology experience starts with fresh house-made dough that is pressed into 11.5-inch thin pizza crusts, which is typically larger than others in the custom pizza space. Guests select from eight signature sauces, moving down the line to choose from more than 40 fresh and flavorful meats, cheeses, vegetables, herbs and spices. The customized pizzas are then stone oven fired to perfection in less than three minutes. To finish, guests have the option to add after-bake Flavor Blast sauces, including fiery buffalo, pesto and BBQ, to really make it their own! Pieology also offers gluten-free crust, whole wheat crust, Daiya vegan mozzarella cheese and a selection of seven signature pizzas, which can be customized upon request. Pieologys custom salads allow guests to create made-to-order salads by choosing from three fresh lettuce options of organic field greens, romaine hearts or spinach. Guests then select from any of Pieologys large variety of toppings, including sunflower seeds, garbanzo beans and candied walnuts, along with a choice of five dressings made in-house. Pieology also offers a signature Classic and Caesar salad, which can be personalized with additional ingredients upon request. The generous portioned salad and pizza are the perfect pairing for a shareable meal. Pieology Goleta will serve beer and wine and features an industrial-chic and friendly environment where inspirational quotes decorate the walls, menus and employee uniforms. The restaurant is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pieology Pizzeria Goleta 7000 Hollister Ave., Suite 101 Goleta, CA 93117 (805) 562-0041 For more information about Pieology, locations and the complete menu, visit www.pieology.com. About Pieology Pizzeria Using only the freshest ingredients along with signature sauces and crusts, award-winning Pieology Pizzeria offers hand-crafted, personally-inspired pizzas in unlimited flavor combinations that are stone oven fired in less than three minutes. The recently introduced customizable salad program is available at select locations with plans to roll out chain wide in 2016. Founded in 2011 by Carl Chang, Pieology was created from the simple idea to turn Americas most crave-able food into an affordable and interactive experience. The mission of Pieology Pizzeria is to inspire individual creativity in a positive atmosphere where guests can gather with family and friends, while enjoying their delicious pizza creations. Along with providing great food and a memorable dining experience, Pieology is committed to making a positive difference in the communities it serves, one pie at a time. Recently named the #1 Fastest Growing Chain by Technomic, Pieology is steadily expanding its U.S. footprint, with commitments throughout the country in various stages of development. For more information, visit www.pieology.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SOURCE Pieology Pizzeria Media Contacts: Chelsea McKinney Pieology Pizzeria Corporate Powerhouse Public Relations, LLC O: (949) 261.2216 Chelsea@powrhousepr.com Shane Gray Pieology Goleta Cotti Foods C: (760) 936-2111 Graydshane@gmail.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Real Estate Franchisor NextHome Announces 100th Office NextHome Gulf Coast represents the companys 100th national franchisee. Pleasanton, CA - August 26, 2016 - (PR.com) - National real estate franchisor, NextHome, announces its 100th franchised office NextHome Gulf Coast in Largo, Florida. The company began franchising in January 2015 and over the course of the next 21 months, NextHome opened locations throughout the country. Currently in 36 states, NextHome has become the fastest growing real estate franchise in the country. Headquartered in Northern California, NextHomes real estate franchising model is based on a fresh, modern brand, flexible franchise fee structure and a high-level technology platform provided in a simple, easy-to-use format. The NextHome franchise system empowers brokers and agents to run their businesses efficiently and effectively help their clients. Originally developed for the small to mid-sized brokerage, NextHomes unique concept has resonated with all types of brokerages. In February 2015, the franchise announced one of its first franchisees, NextHome Pacific Properties in Kihei, Hawaii a 50 agent brokerage led by Steve and Rosie Hogin. The brokerage made the switch to NextHome after 30 years under a different national franchise brand. By July 2015, the franchise had opened 25 locations, including franchisees in Florida, Oregon, and Arizona. In August of 2015, NextHome was nominated by Inman News as one of the Most Innovative Companies in the industry and NextHomes Chief Executive Officer, James Dwiggins, was named by the Swanepoel Power 200 as one of the Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate. By the end of 2015, the company had grown to over 50 locations in 21 states including Michigan, New York, Texas and North Carolina. NextHome leveraged its reputation of high-tech, high-touch franchising service to add 36 additional locations in the first half of 2016. As of press time, NextHomes network exceeds 900 real estate professionals and more than $1.25 billion in annual sales volume. The company has already signed 120 offices and is on pace to end the year with more than 150 locations in all 50 states. We pride ourselves on providing solutions for the problems facing brokers today, while nurturing an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation, said Dwiggins. The quality of our brokers and agents is second to none and we couldnt be more proud of our companys growth and trajectory. About NextHome, Inc. NextHome, Inc. is an independently owned company with a focus on changing the way consumers work with local agents and shop for real estate. It owns the NextHome and Realty World Northern California & Northern Nevada franchise networks with over 260 offices and more than 1600 agents. The company closes over 7000 transactions annually worth over $2.5B in volume. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Each office is an independently owned and operated business. SOURCE NextHome, Inc. Contacts: Christine Dwiggins Press Relations 415-595-8787 Christine@nexthome.com Charis Moreno Sales Relations 925-271-9102 Charis@nexthome.com Petya Manning NextHome 855.925.6398 nexthome.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Uncle Maddios Pizza Spreading Across Florida Panhandle Restaurant Signs Development Deal for Pensacola, Fla. August 29, 2016 // Franchising.com // ATLANTA, Ga. Uncle Maddio's Pizza is expanding operations again across the Florida panhandle. The growing build-your-own pizza franchise has signed a development deal for the Pensacola area. New franchisees Jeremy and Wendy Jordan have signed a two-store deal with the first location to open in 2017. Uncle Maddios currently has seven restaurants in Florida in Panama City, Jacksonville, Tallahassee (2), Orlando, Sarasota, Ocala with another two planned Florida restaurants to open in 2016 in St. Pete Clearwater and the Tampa/Lutz areas. Uncle Maddios is a next generation pizza restaurant that lets guests build their own pizza exactly how they want it and cooked in fast-bake ovens and served to their tables in about six minutes. Guests choose from one of three crusts, including a delicious gluten-free option, 48 toppings, 6 sauces, 27 vegetables and 15 meats. Everything is fresh and made in-store daily. Create-your-own salads and Foldwich sandwiches round out the Italian-inspired menu. Additionally, the restaurant offers a selection of craft beers and wine. The Jordans are currently looking to identify the best Pensacola location for this first unit. Although Uncle Maddios Pizza appeals to everyone families with children, college students, and individuals of all ages the couple aims to strategize their placement to maximize brand familiarity. The create-your-own pizza movement is incredibly hot right now, and we want to bring it to Pensacola, said Jeremy Jordan, Uncle Maddios franchisee. Our selection of the Uncle Maddios franchise extends beyond the trend. The food is without a doubt levels above other fast casual fare, and the operations model is simple and easy to execute. The Pensacola Uncle Maddios is not the first restaurant franchise initiative for the Jordans. The couple already owns two Jimmy Johns sandwich shops in Pensacola. The success of Jeremy and Wendys Jimmy Johns gives us great confidence in their ability to make this Pensacola Uncle Maddios a huge hit, says Matt Andrew, CEO and founder of Uncle Maddios. The Florida panhandle is a great region for Florida expansion, and we anticipate more locations there in the coming years. Since launching its aggressive growth plan in 2008, Uncle Maddio's has signed franchise agreements with 67 different entities in 18 states. Many of Uncle Maddio's franchisees have previous multi-unit experience with Jimmy John's, Firehouse Subs, Dairy Queen, McDonalds, Burger King, Krystal, Papa John's, Domino's and Golden Corral. For information on Uncle Maddios Pizza, visit www.unclemaddios.com. Interested franchisees can visit unclemaddiosfranchise.com or contact Jocelyn Blain at franchising@unclemaddios.com. About Uncle Maddio's Pizza With more than 1,350 Pizza Makers making more than 5,000,000 pizzas a year, Uncle Maddio's Pizza is category leader of the create-your-own, fast casual pizza restaurants. Operating 45 locations in 15 states, Uncle Maddio's has more than 250 units in development. Uncle Maddio's pizzas are customizable, made-to-order, and served up fast for about $8. With four pizza sizes, three types of crusts (including gluten free), six sauces and 48 fresh toppings, Uncle Maddio's has the freshest and largest menu in the category. The restaurant's unique fast bake ovens offer the most throughput in the industry and can produce 200 pizzas per hour. Uncle Maddio's also serves Foldwiches and salads. Uncle Maddio's 'Served with Love' philosophy and restaurant is for everyone - children and families, college students, the young and the young at heart - and includes extensive community involvement. Based in Atlanta, the Uncle Maddio's management team has 50 years combined experienced in the fast casual category. www.unclemaddios.com Twitter: @UncleMaddios Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unclemaddios/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/unclemaddios/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unclemaddios SOURCE Uncle Maddio's Pizza Media Contact: Ellen Hartman 678-399-3335 ellen@hartmanpr.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus United Real Estate Opens Second Market In Florida Announcement of new Orlando office continues to solidify Uniteds growth plan. August 29, 2016 // Franchising.com // KANSAS CITY, Mo. - United Real Estate, a fast-growing urban-centric real estate and franchise organization, announces its newest office in Orlando, Florida. With a long history in the real estate industry, United Real Estate Orlando started their journey with Century21 and is now finding their home with Uniteds disruptive 100-percent commission model that has and will continue to change the broker-agent relationship. The Orlando office will bring unrivaled support, marketing and training to their agents through the United platform as well as provide unmatched Central Florida market knowledge giving buyers and sellers a resource to assist with all their real estate needs. Kevin Johnson, owner and broker of the United Real Estate Orlando office, is a top Orlando REALTOR, was recognized as a 2015 Centurion award winner and known by Orlando Style Magazine as one of the top, 5-star REALTOR in 2016. Johnson and his team were frustrated and felt hindered with his former brokerages traditional commission and support model and felt that United was the perfect fit for his team offering an agent-centric model that allows agents to find their freedom with unlimited earning potential, plus full-brokerage support and world-class customer service. "The United model is revolutionizing the industry and I am excited to bring the brand to the Orlando market, said Johnson. For too long brokerages have been broker centric and the United model is the exact opposite, it puts the agent first. Leveraging my 17-years in the hospitality industry with my success in real estate and now launching the United model, we are going to revolutionize the Orlando market with our unmatched support and commitment to our agents." With each new franchise comes new opportunities to evolve the traditional expectations of the real estate business model, said President of United Real Estate, Peter Giese. The tools and expertise United offers new offices allows for brokers to help their agents find success not only in amount of income, but in the growth of their overall business. Kevin Johnson has the passion and experience it takes to be a fearless leader and launch the United Real Estate brand into the Central Florida market. To learn more about United Real Estate visit UnitedRealEstate.com. Agents interested in learning about opportunities to grow their business, visit JoinUREOrlando.comor call 321-250-5222. A Closer Look at United Real Estate United Real Estate a division of the United Real Estate Group was founded with the purpose of offering solutions to the challenges facing agents in the residential real estate brokerage industry. Providing the latest training, marketing and technology tools to both agents and brokers under a 100-percent commission strategy, United Real Estate makes it more profitable for an agent to sell real estate and for real estate brokers to leverage a complete system to better grow a successful, thriving real estate brokerage. Named as a "frontrunner" in the real estate industry in the 2013, "part of the next generation of real estate brokers" in 2014, as well as being listed in the "Power 200 Most Influential" in 2015 and 2016 by the Stefan Swanepoel TRENDS Report, United Real Estate has more than 30 offices and over 2,200 agents. Through a worldwide franchise solution, United continues to rapidly expand. Driven by an unwavering commitment to giving back, a pillar of United's core values and guiding principles, United Real Estate is proud to support and partner with Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, as United's charity of choice. About United Real Estate Group United Real Estate Group, operating the United Country Real Estate and United Real Estate brands, addresses the unique markets they serve, rural and urban, with exclusive marketing, technology and training solutions. Together the United brands support 600 offices and 6,000 real estate professionals across four continents with a unique, comprehensive marketing program that includes one of the largest portfolios of real estate websites, the largest internal real estate marketing services company, an extensive buyer database of more than 650,000 opt-in buyers and regional, national and international advertising programs for properties. For more information about United Country Real Estate or United Real Estate, please visit UnitedCountry.com or UnitedRealEstate.com. Members of the media needing information on United Real Estate or our marketplace, contact Public Relations Department - EMS@unitedrealestate.com. SOURCE United Real Estate Group ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus News / National by Tanaka Mrewa A 14-YEAR-OLD girl from Tsholotsho shocked a court when she declared she wanted to drop charges against her uncle who had been arrested for forcing his fingers into her sexual organ.Mqinisi Tshuma (31) who had been in custody since his arrest on June 3 this year was all smiles with his mother (juvenile's grandmother) after learning that the charges would be dropped.He allegedly abused the minor in the guise of cleansing her from goblins.Bulawayo Regional magistrate Mr Crispen Mberewere withdrew the charges and warned Tshuma that he was very lucky to escape jail."You're a very lucky man that this little girl withdrew these charges. We certainly hope that her testimony that you didn't commit this offence is true. This court looks out for men who take advantage and abuse young children, it sends them away to prison for a very long time where they can't have access to innocent children," said Mr Mberewere.Prosecuting, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said charges against Tshuma were that he massaged his niece's privates with a traditional ointment and forced his fingers into it, claiming that he was cleansing her."Accused went into the complainant's bedroom after everyone had retired to bed. He told her she was being forced to sleep with goblins. He asked her to remove her panties and sit on the bed. He smeared her privates with some traditional medicine (ivimbela) then inserted his fingers inside," said Mr Manyiwa.In her statement, the victim stated that her uncle used to cleanse her occasionally."My uncle used to send me to the river to fetch water. He would tell me to remove my skirt and at times all of my clothes."On one occasion I refused to be bathed' and told him that I would tell my grandmother about it," read the statement. News / National by Staff reporter Opposition political parties have raised concern that President Robert Mugabe could soon declare a state of emergency in a bid to thwart increasing violent protests, NewsDay has established.A shadowy State media columnist Nathaniel Manheru - widely believed to be presidential spokesperson George Charamba - at the weekend insinuated that Mugabe's government could throw out the Constitution and declare a state of emergency to deal with the persistent protests."The line has been crossed. From now onwards, it shall be another country. This caring world can go hang. We have a country to protect. And govern. After all, we have hit the bottom. We can't fall," Manheru wrote.Manheru, in his column, urged Mugabe to ruthlessly and decisively crush protests in the same manner Syrian President Bashar Hafez al Assad moved to suppress dissent in his country."Assad moved in decisively to crush it . . . Assad may have lost peace, lost development, but saved a country . . . and don't waste time to decide is to govern, unless you want to capitulate anarchy disguised as democracy," he wrote.But MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said his party took the threats seriously and feared that they pointed to plans by government to trash the Constitution in an endeavour to suppress human rights."Of course, it is a public secret that Charamba writes the Manheru column in The Herald newspaper. Whatever Manheru writes, therefore, essentially discloses what Mugabe himself will be planning and thinking," Gutu said.He added: "The MDC-T is acutely aware of the fact that the Zanu-PF regime is keen on declaring a state of emergency in Zimbabwe so that they can unleash a violent and brutal clampdown on the activities of opposition political parties. In this respect, therefore, we take Manheru's threats very seriously."Political parties accused Mugabe, who left for Kenya while the country was burning, of fretting over a strong opposition which has ganged up against him over the past few weeks."He is a dictator. He is intolerant and when cornered, he becomes mean and dangerous. This is the main reason why the MDC-T is calling upon Sadc to urgently intervene in the Zimbabwean political crisis," Gutu said.Peoples' Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume dismissed Charamba's narrative, saying as a member of a Zanu-PF faction, they had failed to deal with party officials Sarah Mahoka and Manicaland minister of State, Mandiitawepi Chimene who have repeatedly embarrassed Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.He, however, was quick to say due to the pressure Mugabe was going through, from Zanu-PF and the opposition, he could declare a state of emergency as a way to thwart dissenting voices."They are desperate and cornered, they can do anything, but it will not work. The people are united and determined and they will win," he saidZimbabwe People First spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said although Charamba's writings could not be representative of the entire Zanu-PF party, for long he has been advocating for anarchy in Zimbabwe."There is no justification really for Mugabe and anarchists like Manheru to declare a state of emergency, but you must understand that for long, this man has been pushing for that. He wants to have the army to get involved in civilian affairs and as ZimPF, we believe he is setting a tone for that. Each time there is a misunderstanding with the State and Zanu-PF, Manheru believes the army should be the last hope, something democracy abhors," Mawarire said.Home Affairs minister, who is also Zanu-PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo refused to comment, saying he had not read Manheru's piece."Let me first read what Manheru wrote and I will come back to you," Chombo said.Contacted for comment over the possibility of government declaring a state of emergency, Information minister Christopher Mushohwe said: "The Herald is not government, so don't listen to them. When government deems it fit to declare a state of emergency, we will communicate accordingly. Currently, we don't intend to because it is not necessary. But, we are worried about the violence being orchestrated by the opposition."Political analyst Ibbo Mandaza said he would not be surprised if Mugabe called for a state of emergency."I wouldn't be surprised because it's a state under siege. But, if they do call for the state of emergency, it will only exacerbate the situation and it will also be an admission of failure by the State," he said.Another analyst, Alexander Rusero said: "Manheru is more of an agenda setter and we have seen some of the things he writes about come to materialise. He reads Mugabe's mind since he is his spokesperson, but in this case, it's more than agenda setting. It exposes the panic in the corridors of power. They have been opposed for their lack of ability to deal with such protests, it's more of shock than action. I, however, don't see a state of emergency being called in Zimbabwe because it would expose the efficacy of the security and would bring to question the sovereign credentials of the country." Teresa Ann Grande Rose, known by her family and friends as Teri, 80, passed peacefully in her sleep and onto her Heavenly home to be with our Lord on August 25, 2016. Born in Miami Beach to her parents, Mr. Vincenzo Gregorio Grande and Mrs. Helen Carmen Blackwell on February 11, 1936, she is pre-deceased by them; beloved husband, Ronald Rose; brothers, Vincent Gregory Grande, Jr. and Robert Bobby Dean Grande; and, sister-in-law, Edna Grande. She leaves behind a family that loved her so, including brother, Frank Grande; sister-in-law, Gloria Grande; children, Ronald C. Rose and Jeryl Grande Rose Phillips (Greg); grandchildren, Caroline Rose and Sarah Elizabeth; and, numerous nieces, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Mom raised her family in both Miami Beach and in Fredericksburg. She was a devoted member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, where she volunteered as the Church Secretary during the pastoral leadership of the late Rev. Leo P. Creamer and the late Rev. Keith Ramey. She was honored to become the first female lector. She loved to teach the children and assisted as a Catechist for many years in the Religious Education programs at St. Marys and at St. Gregory the Great in Virginia Beach, Va. She was an active member of the St. Marys Council of Catholic Women and an adult leader in the St. Marys Catholic Youth Organization. In recent years, she attended Christ the King Catholic Church in Norfolk where her grandchildren attended school. She participated in the Womens Council and volunteered at school. She always made sure Gods house was clean. She picked up her grandchildren each day after school, loved to celebrate the school Mass with them, and listen to them sing in the choir. She found great joy in Carolines voice, watching Sarah dance, and both of them perform in school musicals. Teri is a 1953 graduate of St. Patricks Catholic School in Miami Beach. She married and worked alongside her husband as a hotelier and in commercial real estate. In Fredericksburg, she found many ways to serve her community and be an active parent in her childrens lives as an assistant for Mayor Lawrence A. Davies and as the Assistant City Registrar; as a Cub Scout leader at Montfort Academy; a member of the Fredericksburg Public Schools school search committee; as a dance mom at Sabettys School of Dance; as a tax preparer for H&R Block; as a member of Sister Cities; and, as a volunteer at Mary Washington Hospital. She was a regular at JMHS sports, art shows, and musicals. Mom loved the arts and influenced her childrens love of the same. She also instilled a deep love and respect for history and Fredericksburg, further influencing her daughters career as a City Planner. She also loved to travel, resulting in her childrens wanderlust. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, 1009 Stafford Avenue, Fredericksburg . A Vigil will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Covenant Funeral Service, 4801 Jefferson Davis Highway , beginning with the Rosary and followed by reception of friends until 8 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Norfolk (time TBD). Her family would like to express their appreciation for the outstanding care provided by the staff and nurses at The Crossings at Independence in Virginia Beach, where mom enjoyed her final two weeks with new friends and family, and felt safe; and, to her many doctors and nurses. Each one was an angel placed along moms journey to help her understand and power through. We especially thank our friends, co-workers, and the staff at Covenant, St. Marys and Christ the King for their time and support. Memorial contributions can be made to Christ the King Catholic Church in Norfolk, Virginia. Online guest book is available at covenantfuneralservice.com. In the psychiatrists office, Fann takes a similar approach. He validates a patients desire for privacy, whatever their reasons. Then, he explains that keeping their diagnosis fully secret may make it harder for them to ask for help when its needed like getting a ride to treatment or grabbing a friendly ear to listen to fears, he said. A doctor's advice Holding stressful emotions inside without an outlet can lead to worsened stress, anxiety, depression and isolation, Fann said. I often ask, Wouldnt you want to know if someone you knew got a similar diagnosis? I acknowledge that its a difficult thing to talk about and often help them brainstorm and role play ways of bringing up the topic with others. Still, there are some famous cases of undisclosed cancers. Essayist and humorist Nora Ephron often lugged her own life into her writing everything, that is, but her diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. After she died from a complication of the illness in 2012, some of her most intimate friends revealed they were in the dark about it, including actress Meryl Streep, who said: She really did catch us napping. Musician David Bowie, who died in January of liver cancer, opted to keep the disease hidden at least from the public because he preferred to let his final album speak for itself, according to Rolling Stone magazine. Even science seems a bit divided on the healthiest road for cancer patients full disclosure versus full (or semi) privacy, if thats the preference. Science of secrecy A 2004 quantitative study of 66 early-stage breast cancer patients found failure to disclose concerns was associated with low emotional well-being. But in a 2002 paper on gender and cancer, authors found the significance placed on cancer patients being expressive emerged from research focusing on women and is, therefore, influenced by assumptions about femininity. For some patients, the decision to not be fully open is simply a cool, financial calculation. Many people with cancer are concerned that if workers or bosses find out about their true health, it may harm their job status. This brings a nuanced level of secrecy. A lot of survivors Ive seen are open with their coworkers and HR departments that theyve had cancer but they may not be as willing to disclose that they continue to feel those late effects or the fatigue after treatment, said Leslie Heron, a nurse practitioner with the Fred Hutch Survivorship Program at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. They kind of come back (after illness) and sign up to do more because they feel they owe it to their coworkers or employer to be back to normal, Heron said. Telling your employer Then there are those patients who eventually want to return to the workforce following prolonged treatment. Some keep their health history ultra quiet to make themselves better job candidates. One of those is Dena, 57. She was treated at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for heavy chain amyloidosis, a condition where abnormal proteins are deposited in tissues or organs. In 2011, she stopped working to undergo a bone marrow transplant. It worked but as she recovered, she developed severe aplastic anemia, a condition in which the bone marrow doesnt make enough blood cells for the body. She underwent a second transplant in 2013, also successful. She kept her illness largely confidential, telling a circle of family and friends, including her old manager at work. Dena didnt want anyone researching her rare ailments. She wanted to protect them from what can be scary online reading. Today, her health is good. She looks forward to returning to work after shes fully off immunosuppression medication. But for this article, she asked that her last name not be published because she worried that coming out with her illnesses could pose an issue for job hunting. The last time I spoke with my old manager, when I was three years out from the transplant, I said to her, If I get to the point where Im off immunosuppression [drugs] and I could job hunt, how would you suggest I address this gap [in my job history]? She said, I wouldnt bring up the illness at all. I think it would be better for you to say something about spending more time with family and now youre ready to get back into the work world, recalled Dena, who lives in the Seattle area. She felt it would potentially grow more challenging for an employer to want to hire somebody whos had the health issue I had. Maybe its just that, as a hiring manager, thats her perspective, Dena added. That conversation was at three years out. Now, Im five years out. How would I address that gap? Maybe the same way. 'Don't want to feel pitied' Her fellow traveler on the path of secrecy the 43-year-old woman with stage 4 breast cancer says, in time, she may change her mind and tell everyone. For now, shes committed to navigating the situation with a handful of close friends and those who read her blog. (Metastasized cancer in her bone is progressing and her tumor markers are elevated, she posted on her blog in July.) The few who do know her secret were carefully selected. When you tell people that you have cancer, it becomes a reflection of their mortality and its really challenging to feel like youre having an authentic back and forth with someone, she said in an interview. I dont want to feel pitied. And I dont want to just feel like Im a reflection of somebody else. Those things sort of push my buttons. Its really important when you have cancer to decrease any stress. Those things sort of annoy me. And any annoyance is not necessary for my health. MyCar Launches New Company Website The site includes a thorough overview of the vehicles they carry as well as a convenient online booking tool, reports mycar.is. -- MyCar, a premier car rental company with offices just outside Keflavik International Airport, has recently announced the launch of their brand new company website. The newly-launched site not only showcases important information about the company, but it also includes a thorough overview of the vehicles they provide for renters as well as a convenient online booking tool that streamlines the reservation process. Dianna, a spokesperson for MyCar, commented "We could not be more excited about the launch of the new MyCar website. As a company, we take pride in dedicating ourselves to delivering quality products and quality service. Creating and launching this new site allows us to do both. Our team has made sure that anyone in need of a rental car can get one with our easy-to-use online booking tool. All that renters need to do is specify their preferred pick-up and drop-off dates and locations, choose the make and model of the vehicle they want to drive, and fill in their special requests and insurance information. We'll take care of the rest." In addition to the new online booking tool, the new MyCar website also features a full listing of the vehicles the company carries in its fleet. For those who may not know, MyCar works exclusively with Toyota vehicles and has everything from the 5-door Yaris to the compact Corolla to the spacious Land Cruiser available for renting. All vehicles are new and clean to provide renters with greater reliability and comfort. As Dianna goes on to say, "We want our customers to know that we are here to serve them, and launching this new website will help us do that on an even greater scale. We invite them to check out the new site and learn more about MyCar and how we can help ensure their time in Iceland is as pleasurable as possible." Those who would like to get more info from MyCar or see their newly-launched website can visit mycar.is. About MyCar: MyCar is dedicated to delivering two simple things: quality service and quality products. This is why they only offer brand new cars from Toyota that provide their customers with reliability and comfort. Their cooperation with Toyota extends even further as MyCar has access to Toyota's service network spanning all of Iceland and operates a 24-hour emergency service phone so they will always be there should customers need them. The airport office of MyCar is superbly located just outside Keflavik International Airport, and free shuttle service is offered between their office and the airport. For more information, please visit https://mycar.is/ Contact Info: Name: Dianna Organization: MyCar Phone: + 354 552 1700 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/mycar-launches-new-company-website/129950 Release ID: 129950 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) Out Of The Gutter Expands Offices, Services And Website The rain gutter installation firm based in Newport Beach, California has begun adding services, as well as opening new offices. A new and more comprehensive website will be launched in September. -- Out Of The Gutter and Richard Astin are pleased to announce an expansion of services, to go along with their new offices in Laguna Niguel and Huntington Beach, California. The company has been known for its rain gutter installation services and products and has begun adding additional services, including solar panel cleaning, re-roofing, roof repair and new roofs. The additional services and locations will be accompanied by the release of a new and more comprehensive website in September. Out of the Gutter is a full service firm with more than a decade of business in the area. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed. Free, same-day estimates are provided, as well as same-day pricing for the scope of work discussed. The best solutions for the needs of home or businesses owners is assured. The technicians can handle cleaning, repairs and full installation of rain gutters, as well as the growing number of additional services. When gutter repairs are needed, the technicians respond quickly, throughout the entire Orange County area. Since 2004, the full service gutter installation firm has the knowledge, experience and equipment to work with homeowners, businesses, contractors, HOAs, roofers and property management companies. 100 percent customer satisfaction is guaranteed for each project that is completed. More than just gutter repairs, the firm can do rain gutter cleaning, downspout repairs and rain chains and accessories. When necessary, fascia replacement or repair can be completed. Rain gutter installation service is a part of the services and annual maintenance for all types of rain gutters can be implemented. According to a spokesperson, "We live and work in Newport Beach and understand that a level of expectation is required from business owners and beach area residents. Curb appeal is considered for each project we accept. The rain gutters are customized to the specific property for the best functionality and aesthetic appeal. For more information, please visit http://www.longbeachgutterpros.com/ Contact Info: Name: Guy P Organization: Out Of The Gutter Address: 4401 Atlantic Ave, Suite 200 Long Beach CA 90807 Phone: 562-273-9288 Source: http://www.longbeachgutterpros.com/gutter-contractors/ Release ID: 130031 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) News / National by Staff reporter A fresh bid has been mooted to impose economic sanctions by boycotting all businesses owned or linked to Zanu PF "fat cats" ranging from President Robert Mugabe's Alpha and Omega company dairy products, Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa's Zuva Petroleum and Phelekezela Mphoko's Choppies Supermarkets.This is meant to 'cripple and financially force them to the negotiating table'.According to MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, the situation in Zimbabwe has now been reduced to a "bare knuckle fight".He said within a week of the boycott "they will come to us because we the poor have power"."We are planning something. This is no longer a secret now because this is a bare knuckle fight" he said."We want to embark on a massive consumer boycott, boycotting products, shops, businesses of people who are corruptly benefiting from the Zanu PF regime and those people who are involved in human rights abuses.''"For example, we are going to agree that we are not going to buy anything from Mphoko's Choppies, Mnangagwa's businesses and we will not buy Alpha and Omega products, which is owned by the First Family."He said that the move will force ruling party "fat cats" to agree to re-engage opposition political parties to resolve the on-going economic crisis.Civic organisations, churches, other opposition political parties and members of the public have been roped in. Chez Vincent to Participate in Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month 2016 Enjoy the best French cuisine at Chez Vincent during Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month from Monday, August 29 through Sunday, October 2. Have your choice of Pre-Fix three course menu items that comes with your choice of appetizer, entree and dessert - all for only$33.00. -- ORLANDO, FL (August 29, 2016) - Delicieux! That's the kind of treat French cuisine lovers are in for when they dine at the Chez Vincent Restaurant during this year's 11th annual Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month. Located in Winter Park, Florida, Chez Vincent Restaurant is one of the premiere French restaurants in Orlando and one of 90 restaurants set to participate in the Visit Orlando Magical Dining Month. For the one month culinary celebration, the restaurant has prepared a special three course Pre-Fix menu that features an array of delectable, authentic French meals for only $33. From appetizers to desserts, there is something on the menu sure to please even the pickiest eater. Appetizer choices include: French onion soup, Ahi Tuna, warm goat cheese salad, escargot with savoury garlic and butter sauce. Pork tenderloin with Dijon sauce, blackened Grouper, French Coq Au Vin, or Salmon Framboises drizzled with light raspberry and sherry wine Sauce are the sumptuous entree choices available. And as no meal is complete without dessert, diners have the choice of creme brulee, bavarios (chocolate and raspberry mousse with mango coulis) or a three layer chocolate cake. But it's not just about the savory meals at Chez Vincent. Diners will enjoy their meals in a spectacular ambiance and served by friendly and efficient staff. What's more is that all meals are cooked to perfection, so diners can expect consistency every time. Check out the video about Orlando Magical Dining Month 2016: https://youtu.be/xTRjGkfCGKA Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month 2016 is one of Orlando's most gastronomical affairs. This year is the 11th staging of the event scheduled to run from Monday, August 29 - Sunday, October 2. For every meal sold throughout the event, $1 will be donated to a local cause. Last year it was decided that this year's benefactor would be The Russell Home for Atypical Children. Chez Vincent Restaurant is owned by Chef Vincent Gagliano and his wife Teri. Asked to share his thoughts about the event, he said: "This is the 11th year we are participating in Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month and we are proud to be among the participating restaurants. It's a great opportunity to showcase what we have to offer but we also view it as an opportunity to contribute to a very worthy cause." Chez Vincent Restaurant is by far one of the best magical dining restaurants to visit. The restaurant boasts a number of industry awards including: Best New Restaurant and Best Desserts awards in 1997 and 1998 respectively, Best French Restaurant by Zagat in 1999, Best French Restaurant in 2009 by MyCityEats of Orlando and Best French Restaurant by Orlando Sentinel Food Awards for several years in a row. For further information or to make reservations at Chez Vincent Restaurant, visit: http://ChezVincentMagicalDining.com or call 407-599-2929. Bon appetit! For more information, please visit http://ChezVincentMagicalDining.com Contact Info: Name: Vincent Gagliano Organization: Chez Vincent Address: 533 W. New England Avenue; Winter Park, FL 32789 Phone: 407-599-2929 Release ID: 130106 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) California Class Action Lawyers Tackle Consumer Issues With New Website The Cooper Law Firm attorneys are known for their success rates in obtaining compensation for their clients in class action lawsuits. The Cooper Law Firm found that many consumers are confused about how consumer class actions work. Their new site aims to change that. -- Attorney Scott Cooper, owner of The Cooper Law Firm, holds a 10 out of 10 attorney rating. Over his two-plus decades of service as a California class action lawyer, Attorney Cooper has helped recover settlements and verdicts totaling more than two hundred million dollars for his clients. His professional team is proud to announce that it has launched a new blog and website to focus on consumer class action services provided by the firm. The choice of a legal representative is one of the most important decisions facing victims who have suffered as a result of wrongdoing or negligence. Compensation for damages that occur as a result of spam telemarketer calls or texts, data breaches, false advertising, defective products, or other unfair business practices can be obtained for large groups of people in class actions under certain circumstances. The firm has successfully recovered multi million dollar settlements in a variety of class action cases. A free consultation with their legal team is available to consumers who are not sure if they have a legitimate case. The attorneys review the facts available and help to educate those affected about available legal options and potential outcomes. Victims then have the ability to determine their best options. "The new website is designed to address specific problems facing these consumers for which there is no current public answer," said attorney Scott Cooper. "Most consumers who have suffered as a result of false advertising, or a data breach, don't know that they have the power to hold those responsible accountable. There are laws in place to protect consumers from businesses who lie about their products. There are laws in place to protect consumers from a lot of wrongdoings. Most people find out a business has taken advantage of them and blame themselves for not being more careful. This website is our attempt to help better inform consumers so they know what their rights are." The features of the site are easy to navigate and provide a wealth of information about consumer class action lawsuits. Detailed information about the skills and experience of the firm's lead attorneys as well as free case evaluations are also provided through the site. Scott Cooper is the founder of The Cooper Law Firm and has had tremendous success fighting on behalf of class members. In more than seventy-five class action cases, he has represented over 500,000 class members and has recovered more than $200 million. The Cooper Law Firm does not offer any guarantee of case results. Past success in litigation does not guarantee success in any new or future lawsuit. For more information about The Cooper Law Firm, visit their new consumer class action lawsuit website at www.cooperconsumerlaw.com. Facebook and Twitter sites are representative of social media outlets for the firm. For more information, please visit http://www.cooperconsumerlaw.com/ Contact Info: Name: Scott Cooper Organization: The Cooper Law Firm Address: 4000 Barranca Pkwy #250, Irvine CA 92604 Phone: (949) 724-9200 Source: https://plus.google.com/+TheCooperLawFirmIrvine Release ID: 130087 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) Expert Trader David McNeal Releases Revolutionary Trading System EUxit EUxit is a new generation investment-platform utilizing complex algorithms and high-end technology. Creator David McNeal distributes it for free so that traders around the world can make use of the opportunities created by the BRexit. -- EUxit enters the binary industry a few months after the British decision to leave the European Union was announced. It utilizes exclusively developed technology for enhancing the trading experience. The newly created software is distributed for free and has already been tested and approved by international traders in the field of binary options. Development and advancement of technology and innovations happen every day. The binary options field has been greatly influenced by that fact. Traders get access to innovative technology to use for their benefit. Complete automation and introducing various helpful special features has been the primary goal of every software developer out there in the recent years. EUxit's creator and owner David McNeal claims to have achieved exactly that. EUxit is launched in the aftermath of the British Referendum for leaving the European Union. Mr. McNeal is a British native, one of those who are starting to feel the consequences of the vote first-hand. EUxit is an investment platform created by a professional trader with long years in the industry and with a skilled team behind his back. Shortly after the results of the vote became public, Mr. McNeal new that the opportunities will not stay available for a very long. That is how EUxit entered into a development stage. A few months later, the final version is ready for use. It makes use of the latest available technology in the field and applies complex algorithms for achieving high accuracy rates. What is special about this trading software is that it is focused primarily on the GBP and its movements as a result of the vote. "In the next two years we will witness currency movements never seen before," says professional trader David McNeal. "Until we are officially out, the possibility of achieving stability is close to zero. But these movements provide the perfect opportunity to put your trading skills to good use. That is why I decided to create the EUxit software," adds the creator. Initial tests of EUxit, conducted by third party traders and investors, yielded promising results. Now the revolutionary trading software is available to the public and for free. The system is equipped with a lot of special features and a number of customizable settings. Among them, clients can find Risk-Control parameters which contribute to the secure and safe trading environment provided by the EUxit platform. The EUxit trading software is fully automated and can run on autopilot, following the predetermined conditions set by the user. A manual mode is offered as well for more experienced investors. Clients also have access to how other investors have placed their investments - the feature is called Trader Sentiment. Through the software, users will be able to see their full investment history and build a future strategy. The results of the system have been verified by third party organizations. EUxit's launch has been anticipated, mainly because of the flexibility and the numerous special features offered by the innovative investment platform. For more information, please visit http://euxit.trade/ Contact Info: Name: David McNeal Organization: EUxit Source: http://marketersmedia.com/expert-trader-david-mcneal-releases-revolutionary-trading-system-euxit/129692 Release ID: 129692 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. News / National by Staff reporter Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has claimed that looters during protests are steal alcoholic beverages from shops and attack 'ordinary men and women selling tomatoes in the streets".Mphoko's own business empire, Choppies was looted last week in Harare.He mocked opposition leaders who are spearheading the protests as "spineless"."At times people do unimaginable things under the cover of so-called peaceful demonstrations. People who are mostly being attacked by these rowdy youths during these violent protests are ordinary men and women selling tomatoes in the streets," he told a handful of women during his day old chicks donation spree.He added, "They are saying these are peaceful demonstrations, but they are busy barricading roads using stones and burning tyres. So how peaceful is that when you go on to loot shops and steal alcoholic beverages?".Mphoko says looting is an act of robbery."What is that? Is it politics? In fact, that is daylight robbery and theft and whoever is leading these protests should re-examine himself or herself because this is laughable. You cannot call that politics, and I believe a politician should be a politician. A real politician deals with real political issues not criminal issues to survive in politics," the Vice President said. Story Highlights Uninsured rate down significantly since the healthcare law took effect Percentage who have trouble affording necessary care/medicines at record low U.S. adults don't see improvement in healthcare costs and quality This is the first article in a five-part series examining changes in Americans' health and well-being during Barack Obama's presidency. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- During his presidential campaign and first term in office, President Barack Obama made healthcare reform the foundation of his domestic agenda. Now, six years after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law and a few months before Obama leaves office, Gallup and Healthways are reviewing how his signature legislative achievement has affected the public's perceptions of the law's primary goals. These goals include: increasing healthcare accessibility, reducing healthcare costs and improving healthcare quality. To make healthcare more accessible, the Affordable Care Act requires Americans to carry health insurance or risk paying a fine -- a provision often referred to as the "individual mandate." The percentage of U.S. adults without health insurance has dropped significantly since the individual mandate took effect in early 2014, according to data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. The uninsured rate declined from 17.3% in 2013 to 10.8% so far in 2016, the lowest percentage of uninsured adults Gallup and Healthways have recorded in more than eight years of tracking. This translates to roughly 16.1 million previously uninsured adults gaining health insurance since 2013. When Obama took office, the uninsured rate was increasing amid the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Many Americans lost their jobs and, consequently, their healthcare coverage. The uninsured rate climbed to a six-year high of 17.3% in 2013 but dropped significantly after the individual mandate took effect in early 2014. While the drop in the uninsured rate appears to be tied to the individual mandate, declining unemployment also might have played a role. Minorities, young adults and lower-income Americans have seen the sharpest drops in their uninsured rates. Regardless, these groups still have the highest uninsured rates across key demographic groups. Further, Gallup-Healthways research shows that collectively, states that have expanded Medicaid to provide coverage to more individuals and have established a state-run marketplace exchange have seen a greater decline in their uninsured rate than have states that took neither or just one of these actions. Percentage With Trouble Affording Necessary Care or Medicine at Record Low The percentage of U.S. adults who say they were unable to afford healthcare or medicines for themselves or their families at some point in the past 12 months is also at a record low after nearly eight years of Obama's presidency. Since Gallup and Healthways began tracking this metric in 2008, it has dropped more than four percentage points, with a majority of that decline occurring after the individual mandate took effect in early 2014. The increase in the percentage of U.S. adults with health insurance appears to be a key reason why fewer U.S. adults report having difficulty affording healthcare or medicines. Even though fewer Americans are struggling to afford healthcare, other Gallup trends suggest that the Affordable Care Act may not be meeting its goal of reducing healthcare costs. U.S. adult satisfaction with the total cost they pay for their healthcare has remained relatively steady over the past 14 years, including after the healthcare law was passed. Gallup also previously reported that since the individual mandate took effect, there has been a rise in the percentage of U.S. adults paying for all or some of their health insurance premiums who say that their premiums have gone up "a lot" over the past year. Healthcare Quality Remains a Concern To improve healthcare quality and lower long-term costs, the Affordable Care Act includes various provisions to encourage preventive and primary care. The percentage of U.S. adults with a personal doctor has remained relatively unchanged since early 2014, according to data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Other Gallup trends suggest healthcare quality remains a concern. Gallup reported in late 2015 that the percentage of U.S. adults rating the quality of their healthcare and their healthcare coverage as "excellent" has dropped over the previous two years. Bottom Line Barack Obama's legacy is focused, to some degree, around the passage of the landmark Affordable Care Act and how it has affected healthcare in the U.S. The uninsured rate was rising during Obama's first term amid high unemployment during the economic recession. The uninsured rate has fallen since the Affordable Care Act took effect and is now back to the levels recorded before the 2007-2009 recession. The uninsured rate has dropped most among groups who previously struggled with access to healthcare, such as young adults, minorities and lower-income Americans. However, despite the increase in healthcare accessibility, the two other original goals of the Act -- increasing the quality and decreasing the cost of healthcare in the U.S. -- remain in question. Fewer Americans say the quality of their healthcare is "excellent," and they are no more likely than they were before the law was passed to be satisfied with the total cost of their healthcare. The sustainability of the Affordable Care Act in its current state has come under scrutiny. Aetna recently joined other health insurance groups in withdrawing from the healthcare marketplace, leading some experts to question the viability of the Affordable Care Act in its current form. Further, the next presidential administration could try to repeal or significantly reshape the Affordable Care Act. Still, even with the cost, quality and future of healthcare in question, it is clear that millions of U.S. adults have gained access to healthcare through the Affordable Care Act. These data are available in Gallup Analytics. Survey Methods Results are based on telephone interviews conducted January 2008-July 2016 as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey, with a random sample of 2,415,499 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is .08 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting. For data collected before Sept. 1, 2015, each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 50% cellphone respondents and 50% landline respondents. For data collected between Sept. 1, 2015, and Aug. 5, 2016, each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 60% cellphone respondents and 40% landline respondents. Additional minimum quotas by time zone within region are included in the sampling approach. Learn more about how the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index works. I recently read a Chinese article, titled My uncle goes bankrupt, the end of low-end manufacturing industry. Its a typical Chinese entrepreneurs story, it goes like this: My uncle runs a company, which makes cheap earphones for some fixed clients in the US and Taiwan. Around 10 years ago, the clients would buy the product at the price of 1.8 apiece. And the production cost at that time was 1.2, fair business then. And in the last few years, the workers salary level in China almost triples, they could only strive to produce each earphone at the cost of 1.75. While the international purchasing price remains the same, it becomes a very difficult play and my uncle eventually shut down the company. Then the clients shift their orders to Vietnam factories, where the production cost is lower. This story also had replayed again and again in our art outsourcing industry. I have witnessed too many 3D art outsourcing companies in Beijing and Shanghai go bankrupt, due to the same reasons: the hike of the salary, the depreciation of US dollars, and the console game industry continues to go low. We cant complain that its a bad time for doing business. In fact, in all time, doing business is a constant struggle. If you want to stay profitable, or even survive, you must know how to play smartly. For todays situation, I sum up a few points of How To here, based on our experiences and those of a few successful Chinese outsourcing studios. Shift Focus, Work for Chinese Industries In not very distant past, most outsourcing companies in China, regardless they do art work, music, coding, serve game developers in more developed countries. Outsource to China was the slogan. Now the situation is beginning to change, and quickly. Outsource for China might become more accurate. We can expect that in the next 10 years, the population of middle class people in China would reach 500 million, 3 times the number of that in US. This means great demand of contents: Films, animes, games. This volume of consumption dictates that production outsourcing would be in great demand, and the businesses should shift their focus to Chinese market. In the past, mega publishers such as Disney and EA had outsourced art production to around the world. In the near future, there would be many more Disney and EA here in China. In the last few years, Chinese film makers and game developers are catch up with their US peers quickly. There are many quality productions. I have to admit that their story, characters and game play are not well developed as US productions, however, the demand of art & audio production, postproduction is solid. So far as I know, those Chinese productions started to outsource art work, VFX to studios in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong. , A Chinese feature animation hit this year. It outsources large volume of 2D animation to South Korea. Shift From Selling Simple Labor-Intensive Service to Selling Solutions Most 3D art outsourcing studios here, are doing very simple job. They take blue prints of characters, vehicles from clients, then make 3D models and textures. My friend Danny is the boss of a pretty big 3D art company, he says this kind of job requires from the artists more in-studio training than art skills. And our company is a 2D art company, a few years ago we mostly did jobs in the same spirit: clients send over concept art, then we polish them up to production art quality. Then, similar stories of My Uncle takes their toll. Were lucky that our studio isnt very big that we survived the impact. As our regular orders are diverted to cheaper places, I would have to think of alternatives. Well, the logic is simple: We make background art, character art and UI for separate clients, and in most cases they provide the basic designing ideas and drafts. We can package these as a whole and adding our own designing ideas, then we can sell it as a solution! This idea turns to reality very soon. I find many clients who has limited art support within their team, and them need a partner who can offer them not only art production service, but more importantly, solution making and art design. For example, We have a client in Singapore, a media network company operating interactive kiosks in shops and cinemas. They create short interactive experiences for FMCG brands, based on known game mechanics such as Match 3, Hidden object. They need a full art solution for some of these projects. We work from the pre-production phase, offer them consultation of art style to choose, and the procedure of art production. Then after a solution is greenlighted by the client, we move to production phase, design and then polish the art works to production quality. Essentially, the solution we sell to the clients includes: pre-production, art directing, and full art assets creation. Its a nice experience for both us and the client. For us, we are relieved from the stress of repetitive polish-up jobs, and get a price which is sustainable for our business; And for the client, a full solution is welcomed. For they could hire less in-house art directors, game designers, that could be very costly on their locations: salary plus several social benefits. Follow Up the Latest Trends The need of the market is ever changing, we need to follow up the tide tightly. I have an excellent example that all of us could profit from it. My good friend Greco runs a big art outsourcing company in ShenZhen city, Pixeland. Im often amazed that he manages to keep a big team and always stay profitable. The key is that they could always adapt their team to new market trends timely. In the time AAA console games are hot, they do high quality 3D assets; And when console games go low, they shift to domestic market, where 3D hard-mid core mobile games prevail; And now theyre in talk with several VR game developer. Yes, they are doing well when the others sit idle and complain the good old days of console gaming are no more. VR programs such as The Blu offer you the experience of intimately interact with the scene objects close-up in front of your eyes. So Ultra-high quality 3D models and textures are required. In the future a full length VR game like this could be expected to be very assets intensive. I would post regularly--about game and art productio 'Indiana Jones 5' Release Date, Plot, News & Update: Harrison Ford And Steven Spielberg New Project Facing Delay? Disney officially announced that "Indiana Jones 5" is definitely happening! But other than Harrison Ford reprising his role as the worlds famous archaeologist and Steven Spielberg returning to direct the film, nothing much is really said about the highly-anticipated "Indiana Jones 5." Is "Indiana Jones 5" finally happening? Although it was already confirmed that "Indiana Jones 5" is happening, the lack of news and update regarding "Indiana Jones 5" leads to whispers and speculations that the film may be facing delay. Fans are so eager to learn more about "Indiana Jones 5" but they are left disappointed as there are no recent update about the much-loved franchise. Indiana Jones is one of the greatest heroes in cinematic history, and we cant wait to bring him back to the screen in 2019, Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn revealed in a press release back in March as noted by The Hollywood Reporter. Its rare to have such a perfect combination of director, producers, actor and role, and we couldnt be more excited to embark on this adventure with Harrison and Steven. Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall are going to produce "Indiana Jones 5." Speculation about the "Indiana Jones 5" movie has been swirling ever since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, but the studio's first priority was understandably resurrecting "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." "Indiana Jones 5" will be in the theaters soon? Now that the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" movie had a successful comeback, it looks like Disney is finally ready to turn its attention to another beloved franchise, "Indiana Jones 5." Although we have not learn anything vital about "Indiana Jones 5" just yet, it is already an incredible feeling for hardcore fans to realize the existence of "Indiana Jones 5." Are you excited for "Indiana Jones 5"? Let us know in the comment section below! "Indiana Jones 5" is reported to hit the theaters on July 19, 2019. Hawaii Five-0 Season 7 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: 4 Things About Steve McGarrett & Why Catherine Rollins Is Back? Do Steve McGarrett and Catherine Rollins get another chance in "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7? News said that the lady detective is only back in Hawaii for work, and have no hopes of rekindling her relationship with the commander. In the previous season, we saw how Catherine was enamored to Steve. Who wouldn't be? He is more skilled than you ever thought! The star detective of "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7 is multi-lingual. Aside from English, of course, he speaks, Korean, Japanese and Mandarin. When he graduated in U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, the "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7 star was the cream of the crop. He spent six years as a navy seal, with four years in the war-torn Afghanistan. He was later transferred to Naval Intelligence Corps, hunting for Anton and Victor Hesse for five years. Due to his dedication, he has been the recipient of Bronze Star, navy Expert Rifleman and Purple Heart. Steve McGarrett's partner is Danny Williams, portrayed by Scott Andrew Caan. The two may have several arguments and bickering but the lieutenant commander actually trusts his detective sergeant. He is his partner, after all. In season 5, we saw the former wrote Danny "Danno" Williams as his contact person in case of emergency. What adventures do you think the duo will be up to in "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7? "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7 actor may all be tough outside, but in his younger days, he used to play the guitar up until he was in high school. Steve McGarrett has some emotional baggage regarding the death of his mom whom he thought died due to a car accident. His mom was actually a former CIA agent. His relationship with his sister has suffered a lot, and they have not talked for decades. TV Line has released two photos of Steve McGarrett in one of the "Hawaii Five-0" Season 7 episodes. One shows him on the run, while the other is a bloodied detective on the ground. What could the detective be up to now? Pirates of the Caribbean 5 Release Date, News & Update: Orlando Bloom Officially Takes Lead Role? Johnny Depp Caused Troubles on Set? There are rumors that the upcoming Disney film "Pirates of the Caribbean 5" might be in some trouble. The rumors spreading all over the web say that the actor Johnny Depp, who is expected to play the role of Captain Jack Sparrow, had some trouble with his marriage with Amber Heard and that made the actor a very difficult oerson to work with. The 53-year-old actor, Johnny Depp, is reportedly in danger of losing his role in the upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean 5" movie. According to CSN, Johnny Depp's attitude during work has been causing a delay in production on sets and it highly affects both money and time. It was previously reported that, because of Johnny Depp's divorce with Amber Heard, the actor became quite distracted while on the set. It seems that Johnny Depp's personal problems are causing a big damage to his career. They had an ugly spat earlier this year when the entire matter came out and Heard cried about domestic violence in public. According to HNGN, the team of "Pirates of the Caribbean 5" said that Johnny Depp often skipped shooting and the actor is frequently under the influence of alcohol. And, because of Johnny Depp's attitude, it is rumored that Disney has been planning to cut down his role and screen time. So, Orlando Bloom, who plays the role of Will Turner, will now get a much bigger role in the "Pirates of the Caribbean 5" movie. The plot will be focusing on two new important characters one of them is Brenton Thwaites in the role of Henry, Turner's son. Though there are no further announcements from Disney, the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tale" is expected to be released in theaters in May 2017. But, Disney is yet to confirm irs premiere date. Stay tuned to GameNGuide for more news and updates for the upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean 5" movie! Days Of Our Lives Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Hope Confronts Aiden, Clyde Returns For Vengeance? This week's episode of "Days of Our Lives" will see a lot of conflict especially between Hope and Aiden. The ultimate villain of the soap opera will return to Salem and stir some trouble among the characters. Hope & Aiden's Conflict "Days of Our Lives" spoilers from Celeb Dirty Laundry reveal that Hope (Kristian Alfonso) will get angrier with Aiden (Daniel Cosgrove) after he took over Justin's (Wally Kurth) position. In an uncharacteristic move, Hope will head out to the police station to report her ex-flame. Instead of being riled up, Aiden doesn't seem to care about Hope's actions. "Days of Our Lives" fans will see Hope will get even angrier prompting her to quit her job on the police force. Hope's colleagues, Rafe (Galen Gering) and Roman (Josh Taylor) will convince her to return for work. While she decided to go back, she'll be a walking time bomb around Aiden. "Days of Our Lives" will see Aiden as the new district attorney. This could prove difficult for Hope in the coming episodes of the long-standing soap opera. As the spoilers suggest, major conflicts will unfold this week. Clyde Goes After Chad, Aiden & Kate Meanwhile, "Days of Our Lives" spoilers from Inquistr reveal that Clyde Weston (James Read) will return to Salem. He will bring Xander (Paul Telfer) and Orpheus (George DelHoyo) along to Salem to settle some old scores. His plot for revenge will be insane. "Days of Our Lives" spoilers reveal that Clyde will go after Chad (Billy Flynn), Aiden and Kate (Lauren Koslow). Clyde is also planning on kidnapping baby Thomas and gives it to Ben (Robert Scott Wilson). The plan is still unclear given that Ben is still locked up in an institution. 'Halo 5: Anvil's Legacy' DLC Release Date, News & Updates: Full REQ Lineup Announced With New Weapons, Maps The new "Halo 5" DLC, called "Anvil's Legacy," will arrive on Xbox One soon. The new content will bring new Reqs and Forge tools for "Halo 5" players for more depth and dynamic gameplay. According to Microsoft, "Halo 5: Guardians - Anvil's Legacy" will arrive on September 8, bringing new forge tools for Windows 10 PC. The new "Halo 5" DLC will provide new maps, weapons and additional support. First, the Forge tools of "Halo 5" will allow a higher resolution of 4K for PC, compared to Xbox One. Users can host and play custom matches for up to 16 players. The new Forge tools do not include no matchmaking support, however. GameSpot revealed that the "Halo 5" Forge tools on PC will also introduce the new file browser, allowing players to find creations on both Xbox One and PC. The file browser is set to arrive on Xbox One in September 2016, to be included in the update of "Halo 5 - Anvil's Legacy." Similar to the PC version, players can look for and install creations on either gaming platform. However, PC is only limited to custom games, so there will be no cross-play between PC and Xbox One. In another GameSpot report, 343 Industries featured the full Req lineup for "Halo 5 - Anvil's Legacy." There will be two new maps - Temple (Warzone Assault) and Mercy (Arena). Some of the new weapons to try include the Tactical Magnum, rare Wicked Grasp and ultra-rare Berserker's Claw. Mercy is actually a re-imagination of the Haven map in "Halo 4." The Wicked Grasp is a great weapon for holding and defending bases. The weapon is ideal for short and mid-range combat. The Assault Cannon: Berserker's Claw in "Halo 5 - Anvil's Legacy" must be charged shortly before firing, but can handle groups of targets in a single shot. It is a good counter against early vehicles and infantry. "Halo 5" has been launching expansions almost every month since November 2015. The last "Halo 5" expansion was Warzone Firefight in June. "Legacy's Anvil" will launch on Sept. 8, 2016. More updates and details on "Halo 5" are expected to follow soon. News / National by Thobekile Zhou Tensions are running high at Rotten Row Magistrate court in Harare this morning as more than 60 arrested protesters are due in court.The group including #Tajamuka leader Promise Mkwananzi was on Saturday remanded in custody.Scores of citizens have swamped the court.As expected, riot police are also present in full force for the hearing.They have since cleared the courtroom and ordered people to wait outside the building.More to follow....... Avatar 2 Release Date, News & Update: Stephen Lang Major Movie Details! James Cameron Continues Jake Sully, Neytiris Love Story? Fans of the popular movie "Avatar" are very excited for the release of its sequel. There are already many rumors about the most anticipated "Avatar 2" movie. But, are the Pandora people really coming back into the big screen? Stephen Lang, who played the role of the heartless Colonel Miles Quaritch, talked about "Avatar 2" and his return to the upcoming sequel. But, how did Stephen Lang return in "Avatar 2" if he died in the first movie? How can he live after Neytiri fired that deadly arrow shots on him? Stephen Lang, who is very well known for his doing role as the antagonist in "Avatar," received multiple nominations. He got the nominations for the Best in Movie Fight and Teen Choice Movie Villain. The actor, who is expected to take the lead role in "Avatar 2" movie, also received the Saturn award for the being the Best Supporting Actor. When he explained his involvement in the upcoming "Avatar 2," Stephen Lang simply said that "it is a science fiction story after all." He explained how he will be part of the "Avatar" sequel in the recent interview to promote "Don't Breathe." Stephen Lang said that the process is going to be a massive saga, as reported by Movie News Guide. He revealed that he is also done reading the script. According to ScreenRant, "Avatar" is actually a trilogy and James Cameron, who is the director of the first movie, still continues to plan for Jake Sully's full story. However, there are many rumors and questions about Stephen Lang's return in the "Avatar 2" movie. Some people said that Colonel Miles Quaritch life energy was absorbed by the planet Pandora and was renewed. Some also say that the Colonel's body was taken back to earth and resurrected him with his stored DNA. Last theory is that he had his own Avatar body and he linked himself to it before he died. The filming and the production of the most awaited "Avatar 2" will start on early 2017, while the expected release of the movie will be on December 2018. Always stay tuned to GameNGuide for more news and updated of the upcoming "Avatar 2" movie. Xiaomi Mi Note 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 & OnePlus 3 Review, Price, Specs, Features Comparison & Purchase Advice Smartphone manufacturers Samsung and OnePlus recently released Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and OnePlus 3 and Xiaomi's Mi Note 2 is expected round the corner. It will be a difficult choice for buyers to decide which one to go for as all three comes decked with ample features. The Internet is overloaded with comparisons among the three and many believe that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is a bit overrated and overpriced compared to OnePlus 3 and Xiaomi Mi Note 2 as the latter are equally efficient and feature-rich. OnePlus 3 comes with an aluminum body, tapered side panels and curved edges. Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has a curved-edged chassis and an Iris scanner on the top front panel to provide more security to its users. The much-anticipated Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is believed to come with a dual-curved display, similar to the latest Note 7. When it comes to price comparisons, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will hit the shelves with a price tag of $420 whereas OnePlus 3 can be purchased for $400. Unless and until one is a hardcore Samsung fan, Samsung Galaxy Note 7's price tag of $850 may come as a shock to buyers. Even with excellent specifications such as the Iris Scanner, S Pen, Snapdragon Processor and water-resistant features, $850 may be too high a price to pay for the possession, writes Mobile & Apps. The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has a Super AMOLED display panel and a 5.7-inch screen that has a 1440 x 2560 pixels screen resolution. The upcoming Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is also expected to sport a 5.7-inch screen but may have an OLED display. The OnePlus phablet has a 5.5-inch screen, an Optic AMOLED display and a 1080 x 1920 pixels screen resolution. The OnePlus 3 beats Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in terms of RAM. While Galaxy Note 7 has a 4GB RAM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, OnePlus 3 also comes equipped with a similar Snapdragon 820 processor but a 6GB RAM. As per Motoring Crunch, the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 may be running on a Snapdragon 821 processor and a 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. In terms of camera to the OnePlus 3 is better than Samsung Galaxy Note 7 as it comes with a 16MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera compared to Galaxy Note 7's 12MP rear and 5MP front camera. Xiaomi is yet to reveal information on Mi Note 2's camera. Thus, with similar specifications, users should make a choice depending on their requirements. However, for a more pocket-friendly choice, the OnePlus 3 and Xiaomi Mi Note 2 seem better options than Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Samsung Galaxy S7, Huawei P9 & LG G5 Prices, Specs, Features, Reviews for the Informed Buyer Samsung Galaxy S7, Huawei P9 and LG G5 are amazing options for the buyer who is looking to purchase a smartphone in the $600-700 price bracket. The three major attractions of the devices, including HD Display, enhanced OS skins and fingerprint sensor, have been compared below for swift decision-making. The Samsung Galaxy S7 is a 5.1-inch screen device with a Super AMOLED display. Huawei P9 has a 5.2-inch Full HD screen and an IPS-NEO LCD display panel while the LG G5 is anticipated to have a 5.3-inch screen and IPC LCD display. LG G5 is the heaviest of the three, has a tinted metallic build and a fingerprint scanner at the back as added security measures, Mobile & Apps reports. The Samsung Galaxy S7 has a glass and metal chassis and weighs slightly more than Huawei P9, which has a slimmer build with a fingerprint sensor on the back panel and a metallic chassis. The Huawei P9 boasts of a HiSilicon Kirin 955 octa-core processor that comes in two variants. One variant has a 64GB storage and 4GB RAM while the other has a 32GB storage and a 3GB RAM. The LG G5 comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB and 32GB as RAM and storage. The Samsung Galaxy S7 is available in two processors, Exynos 8890 Octa processor and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820. Both have a 4GB RAM and 64GB and 32GB internal storage. The LG G5 excels over the others when it comes to camera. It comes with a 16MP rear and 8MP front camera. The Huawei P9 has a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera though Samsung Galaxy S7 has the same 12MP rear camera but a 5MP front camera. All three run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system, with differences being in Samsung's TouchWiz, P9's EMUI and G5's Optimus UX skins. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Huawei P9 are powered by a 3,000 mAh battery whereas LG G5 has a 2,800 mAh battery option. One can compare these features and specs to make the final purchase. Of course there is the price factor. LG G5 has the lowest price of $610 compared to Huawei P9's $680 and Samsung Galaxy S7's $650. 'Game Of Thrones' Season 7 Theory: Daenerys Targaryen's Army Defeated By Euron Greyjoy's Fleet Before Reaching Westeros? Who Will Die? Daenerys Targaryen certainly gave "Game of Thrones" Season 6 a triumphant conclusion as she led her army across the Narrow Sea. However, things might still go wrong before the Mother of Dragons actually reaches Westeros. Will Dany have to face Euron Greyjoy while they are still at sea? Which character could die in the first episode of "Game of Thrones" Season 7? In the "Game of Thrones" Season 6 finale, fans were treated with a breathtaking shot of Daenerys Targaryen's massive army that includes the Dothraki, the Unsullied and the Iron Fleet. "The Winds of Winter" concluded with Dany's dragons soaring across the sky. However, this happy ending might not even go past the first episode of "Game of Thrones" Season 7. A theory predicts that Euron Greyjoy will attack them while they are still at sea. Daenerys Targaryen's Army Attacked By Euron Greyjoy's Fleet In 'Game Of Thrones' Season 7? It is believed that Euron Greyjoy will stop at nothing to get Daenerys Targaryen's dragons. There are speculations that Euron will attack Dany's fleet before they could reach Westeros. Since his people are more skilled at fighting at sea, there is a huge possibility that Dany will be defeated early on. However, this isn't the worst thing that could happen with this particular scenario in "Game of Thrones" Season 7. Which Character Will Die When Euron Greyjoy Takes On Daenerys Targaryen In 'Game Of Thrones' Season 7? It is posssible that a major character will be killed in the conflict between Euron Greyjoy and Daenerys Targaryen. The unfortunate victim could be Theon Greyjoy, who might sacrifice himself to save his sister Yara. Does this mean Theon will be the first major kill in "Game of Thrones" Season 7? Do you think the theory is right about Daenerys Targaryen and Euron Greyjoy? Will Theon Greyjoy be the first dead character in "Game of Thrones" Season 7? Let us know in the comments. Reptopia moves to new location Reptopia, a pet shop focusing on reptiles, has moved to 225 Second Ave. S.W. in Albany. This is a bigger building in a better location. We outgrew our small little shop, said owner Veronica Owen. This is right downtown in historic Albany. Ive always wanted to be in downtown Albany, she added. The shop opened up about five years ago on Second Avenue Southeast and grew quickly. We get customers from the Coast, Ive gotten people from Seattle, Grants Pass. They come from all over when they find out were here, Owens said. For more information, call 503-999-9665 or go to Reillys Reptopia on Facebook. Couple pitches Otto Step Tim and Debra Rudzik of Albany are travelling to Florida this week to meet with representatives of HSN and Good Housekeeping and to pitch Otto Step a plastic platform that attaches to a trailer hitch and lets dogs easily climb into the back of vehicles. The couple developed Otto Step in 2003, after their St. Bernard/Newfoundland dog had trouble getting out of their SUV. The sales pitch is part of an event where entrepreneurs are pitching products to the television shopping channel and magazine. Up to 10 finalists selected from this week will be featured in the December issue of Good Housekeeping and featured on HSN that month, as well. The public will be invited to vote on their favorite product and those votes will be taken into consideration in selecting the final winner. The Otto Step or to purchase the product, go to www.ottostep.com or call 888-311-6886. Commission OKs subdivision The Albany Planning Commission unanimously approved a 33-house subdivision in North Albany during its meeting on Aug. 15. The White Oak development would sit on 8.3 acres east of the termination point of White Oak Avenue N.W. and north of Squire Street. The subdivision would include an open space tract of more than 1.8 acres. The approval expires in three years, though there are certain exceptions to that guideline. Pokemon event draws hundreds The Albany Downtown Associations Pokemon Go event on Wednesday drew an estimated 600 people to downtown, said Peggy Burris, executive director of the association. The overall response from businesses was great. They all felt it was an awesome event and are looking forward to doing it again, Burris said. Some of the businesses that didnt take part in it this time want in next time. We are planning on doing another one in the very near future, she added. Burris said that 350 attendees completed Pokepassports by visiting all nine participating businesses on Wednesday night. Legislative fellows named The Willamette Valley Legislative Fellowship has selected 10 fellows for its inaugural class. The fellowship aims to equip participants to pursue futures in legislative work. In its first year, the program received far more applications than expected. Due to the level of interest, coordinators increased fellowship positions. While the fellowship was targeted at college students, it also received strong applications from high school students as well, making the selection process difficult. This years fellows are Sierra Alveraz (Oregon State University), Laure Arthenayake (Corvallis High School), Anne Broussard (Western Oregon University), Andrew Damitio (OSU), Aaron Lewis (CHS), Claire McMorris (OSU), Harrrison Schreiber (Crescent Valley High School), Clark Shimeall (CHS), and Norah Storniolo (CHS). The fellows are participating in a 10-week series of workshops that started Aug. 25, where they will learn how to create legislation and run campaigns. The program began Aug. 25. While the fellows complete workshops, they also are developing policy ideas. At the conclusion of the fellowship, the policies will be presented and the top one will be introduced in the next legislative session. Thielen joins Upper Hand Peter Tsai and Upper Hand Orthopaedics in Corvallis recently welcomed another new therapist specializing in upper extremity rehabilitation services, which focuses on the treatment of fractures, amputations, tendon and nerve injuries, cumulative trauma, custom splint fabrication, arthritis and tendinitis. Greg Thielen received his degree in occupational therapy from Pacific University in 1986, and has a bachelor of science degree from Oregon State University. He has been a certified hand therapist for 24 years, working in both clinical and management positions. Smith joins Keller Williams Shari Smith recently joined the Laura Gillott Home Team at Keller Williams Realty Mid-Willamette. Smith has an Oregon brokers license, and can be reached at 541-451-2211 or sharismith@lauragillott.com. Sten Carlson earns honor Sten Carlson, a certified financial adviser for PacWest Wealth Partners, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial, has qualified for the companys Circle of Success annual recognition program and will be honored. To earn this achievement, Carlson established himself as one of the companys top advisers by consistently demonstrating commitment to financial planning and client service. His office is at 2396 N.W. Kings Blvd. in Corvallis. OSU earns top ranking Oregon State University has been ranked in the top 1 percent of degree-granting institutions of higher education in the world by the Center for University World Rankings. OSUs strengths include the number of research citations and quality of education. Overall, OSU was ranked 250 out of more than 250,000 institutions worldwide, moving up the ranks from the previous year. Of Oregon universities, only the Oregon Health & Science University ranked higher. The Center for World University Rankings publishes the only global university ranking that measures the quality of education and training of students as well as the prestige of the faculty members and the quality of their research without relying on surveys and university data submissions. News / National by Staff reporter The spate of protests that have rocked Zimbabwe are set to bring the country back into the regional and international spotlight, political commentators said.They said organisations like Sadc and the United Nations (UN) are increasingly getting compelled to intervene in the deepening Zimbabwe crisis.This comes as the United Nations - expected to hold a summit in September - on Friday said it is closely monitoring the situation in Zimbabwe.Also, last week a group of respected Elders - including former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Anan, Nelson Mandela's widow Graca Machel and Desmond Tutu - wrote to Sadc petitioning the regional block to intervene in the deepening Zimbabwe crisis and more importantly facilitate a smooth transition of power.Sadc heads of State are set to meet tomorrow in Swaziland to discuss issues affecting the region, among other issues.Social commentator Elliot-PFebve said the Sadc region is worried and so is the AU and UN, adding that is the reason why "The Elders have urged the Sadc meeting in Swaziland to find a transitional solution to the Zimbabwean political crisis"."In view of such momentum and the success of the petition to the UK Prime Minister, we Zimbabweans are now petitioning Sadc heads of State to engage with stakeholders and pave way for a National Transitional Authority,"-PFebve said, adding that "we are the people!"He further stated that "such a united voice calling for an end to the (President Robert) Mugabe era can only be ignored at their peril. We are entering a seismic optimum point of people power, unstoppable and unyielding."Political commentator Mcdonald Lewanika said Sadc and the UN need to read the signs and take the escalating protests as an early warning sign of the heightening crisis in Zimbabwe."As such, these international bodies must increase the costs of repression on Mugabe's regime and demand that it finds civil ways of engaging with and dealing with the discontent of its citizens," he said.He said "based on history we know that the regime, as it has already shown, will continue to take heavy-handed action, but with some activists and citizens beginning to fight back, there is no telling where the country eventually ends up".Lewanika said the on-going demonstrations that the police are unsuccessfully trying to quash are an important indicator of the dire state of affairs in the country."Although they are still relatively small, they count as an indication of the disaffection that people have with the State and the government must not only be concerned but take action to address the challenges that citizens and political parties are highlighting.""It is only an uncaring leader who remains unfazed in the face of such loss of trust by those he presides over," said Lewanika.Political commentator Blessing Vava said the protestors' strategy could be to put Zimbabwe on the world agenda, noting the upcoming Sadc meeting."It is to be seen if the momentum is going to be maintained because my worry though is the demos, though good, are failing to attract a critical mass to shake off the regime," he said.However, activist Farai Maguwu said "in the end, the solution shall not come from Sadc or the UN but by Zimbabweans themselves"."A poor government is weak and vulnerable and what we are seeing is a testing of the waters by pro-democracy activists," he said. Bad Godesberg schools : King Fahad Academy to close Bonn The King Fahad Academy in Bad Godesberg will be closed at the end of the school year. Politicians are discussing how the building can be used in the future. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken The Konig-Fahad-Akademie (King Fahad Academy) in Lannesdorf, established in 1995, will be shut down at the end of the 2016/17 school year. Reports from a Berlin newspaper, Tagespiegel also say construction on another King Fahad Academy in Berlin-Charlottenburg will be stopped. The school in Bonn has 30 teachers and 150 Arabic-speaking students, mainly children of medical patients, diplomats and business people from Arab countries. Currently on break, the school will open for the school year on September 19. Officially, Saudi diplomats say the decision is part of the reform process to restructure the economy and society in Saudi Arabia. An aim of the government is that Saudi youth get the best possible education. Because Germany is viewed as having one of the best education systems worldwide, the Saudi government sees no further need for a Saudi sponsored school in Germany. It can also be that the financial crisis in Saudi Arabia may have contributed to the decision to close the school, or friction at the level of school directors. In 2003, the Academy made headlines due to alleged Islamic activities. It was thought to be a magnet for radical Islamists across Germany, including Al Qaeda sympathists. At the time, a few teachers there were accused of promoting radical Islam. The district government then determined that many of the students did not have permission to be at the school because they were permanent residents of Bonn. Enrollment was only allowed for those temporarily living in Bonn. After local authorities threatened to close the school, sponsors of the Saudi school demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with district officials. One year later, school authorities discovered passages in the school books which diminished the value of Christians and Jews. Again, there was a debate about closing the school. Since then, the school has opened its doors to the public, seeking dialogue, hosting activities and regularly inviting Bonn residents to visit the school. City spokesperson Monika Horig acknowledged that the Fahad Academy had opened up in the last years and worked together with the city but she said they welcomed the decision from Saudi officials which was based on recognition of the quality of the German education system. They would now have to work together quickly to find a solution for further schooling of the students. State parliament representative Bernhard von Grunberg sees two major challenges that will come as a result of the school closing. The first is how and where the students will be taught when the school is shut down and the second is what to do with the building which is located on Mallwitzstrae. It shouldnt sit vacant for so many years like the former Saudi Arabian Embassy, he said. He has spoken with the Saudi Embassy in Berlin about two possible uses for the building; one could be as a scientific center where the Saudi government could hold seminars and events based on topics such as desertification and water resources and the other possible use could be as a dialogue center for Islamic issues. The King Fahad Academy educates students in grades 1 through 10 using the Saudi Arabian curriculum. Subjects are taught in the Arabic language. German and English are required foreign languages at every grade level. In August of 2014, the International Baccalaureate program was introduced for 11th and 12th graders, taught in the English language. Bad Godesbergs Mayor Simone Stein-Lucke said she was surprised by the news and regretted the closing of the school, which despite a controversial history had become a solid part of the social and cultural life in Bonn. United Nations : UN Summer Academy in Bonn a success Bonn Participants and speakers from around the world took part in the UN Summer Academy hosted for the first time in Bonn. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Von Carol Kloeppel With previous editions hosted in New York and Turin, it was Bonns turn to stage the fifth global United Nations Summer Academy. Shaping a Sustainable Future was the theme this year, reflecting the growing role of Bonn as a hub for sustainable development. More than 50 participants and speakers from over 30 countries took part in the program, which took place from August 22 - 26 at Haus Carstanjen on the historic UN Campus. The building is also home to the Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development of the UN System Staff College (UNSSC). Patrick van Weerelt, Head of Office at the UNSSC, commented The first UN Summer Academy here in Bonn was a great success. It allowed for fruitful discussions between a multitude of actors with many different perspectives. He went on to say that he thought the annual program would become a permanent feature of their annual program here. With 18 different UN organizations in Bonn, the Academy could draw on UN staff, sustainability researchers, experts, businesses and public officials to contribute to the panel discussions, workshops and key note speeches. Scholarships were handed out to 13 attendees, including government representatives of the Ukraine and Egypt, as well as PhD students from Brazil and Germany who are doing research in the field of sustainability. Participants were also allowed to share their work on sustainable development with UN staff and do some networking. Article Protecting the worlds oceans an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs. News / National by Staff reporter President Robert Mugabe and his government have launched an assault on the country's judiciary in a bid to contain the rising protests that have awakened the international community to the Zimbabwe crisis which have tipped the southern African nation to the brink of implosion.This comes as the spirit of resistance sweeping across the country is nearing tipping point as angry Zimbabweans have planned to roll out two more massive demonstrations this week alone.Mugabe is facing the biggest challenge to his 36 year-rule which angry Zimbabweans blame for the worsening political and economic situation.Yesterday the lapdog State media, which is controlled by Mugabe's government carried articles - including an editorial - in which it implored government to lean on the judiciary to stop granting court orders allowing protestors to stage demonstrations."For instance, it boggles the mind how the judiciary can allow perpetrators of fresh violence the "right" to go back onto the streets even as those whose cars were burnt and whose shops were looted are still counting their losses," said the Sunday Mail in its editorial yesterday."Yes, the Constitution guarantees rights of expression, association and to protest. The same Constitution values peace and development above all else. It also places limits on rights, especially where they infringe on the inalienable rights of the majority of the rest of the citizenry."It is a concept that Justice Bharat Patel captured well in a 2010 ruling turning down an attempt by a group of white farmers to register a Sadc Tribunal ruling in Zimbabwe that would have effectively reversed the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme."Given these countervailing expectations, public policy as informed by basic utilitarian precept would dictate that the greater public good must prevail," added the Sunday Mail.On Friday, police bludgeoned hundreds of protestors who had gathered in Harare under the auspices of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera), a grouping of 13 opposition political parties that had planned to demonstrate against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) secretariat and outstanding electoral reforms.The protest march, which the opposition wanted to use to press for much-needed electoral reforms ahead of Zimbabwe's eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, prompted nervous authorities to place the entire capital city under a virtual lock-down.Even after the High Court had ruled that the protest march could go ahead, riot police - backed by armoured trucks and water cannons - indiscriminately fired volleys of teargas at all and sundry, battering and chasing groups of determined opposition supporters.Yesterday's threats against the judiciary triggered anger from lawyers and opposition political parties who see this as an attempt to muzzle the courts, like what happened in 2000."The Constitution of Zimbabwe is clear on separation of powers. It has clear provisions on the independence of the judiciary and the judiciary is there to protect people's right to protest and uphold human rights," said Tendai Biti, who is a respected lawyer and leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),"Chinamasa in early 2000 fired the bench and Justice Anthony Gubbay (chief justice then). However, I don't think they will go the legal route now. I think they will just unleash violence on citizens, they did that already on Friday when they unleashed the army."In 2000, Mugabe targeted the judiciary after he launched bloody and violent agrarian reforms which dispossessed white commercial farmers of land after losing a constitutional referendum.Most judges, mainly whites, were hounded from the bench.The MDC yesterday condemned the threats against the judiciary, accusing Mugabe and Zanu-PF for trying to "soil" the reputation of the local judges."The Zanu-PF regime is a rogue regime. This is why they are disrespecting and disobeying court orders with impunity."We are dealing with a rabid, violent, corrupt and intolerant regime that is obsessed with the politics of power retention at whatever cost," said MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu."If the regime continues to flagrantly disobey and disregard court orders, all our judges should proceed to resign en masse. This will trigger a constitutional crisis of unprecedented proportions. At that stage, Sadc, the AU (Africa Union) and even the UN (United Nations) shall be compelled to intervene in order to resolve the long-standing political crisis in Zimbabwe."Mugabe has been accused by his critics of using police to batter hapless protesters who are fed up with his continued stay in office.His critics say Friday's savage attacks on a lawful gathering, coming hard on the heels of most recent brutal crackdowns against unemployed graduates and youths, show that Mugabe's end is nigh but would try to destabilise the judiciary to contain protests."It is not surprising that the Mugabe government is targeting the judiciary now because it is not the first time that the regime purged the judiciaryof independent judges," said Dewa Mavhinga, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch."We are likely to see yet another round of the government ignoring court orders it deems unfavourable and attacking the judges behind those court orders until the judiciary is left with only those judges that are malleable and who dance to the tune of the regime."We should not expect the government to condemn acts of police brutality because very senior government officials and ... Mugabe himself have in the past condoned and even encouraged police brutality."We call on Sadc to urgently revive the Zimbabwe crisis mediation programme, but it is unlikely that Sadc leaders will even speak out against human rights abuses in Zimbabwe when they meet on Tuesday and Wednesday," added Mavhinga.The unfolding political crisis in Zimbabwe has caught the attention of international community, including the UN which said it was closely monitoring the situation.Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson of UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon said the UN was concerned by police brutality and deteriorating political situation in the country."We're obviously watching the situation in Zimbabwe very closely. We urge the authorities, the government of Zimbabwe, to ensure that people's right to peaceful protest and assembly be fully respected," Dujarric said.The UN concern comes as the Sadc heads of states - including Mugabe - meet in Swaziland tomorrow and Wednesday in a crucial summit which rights groups want Zimbabwe put on the agenda.Last week, the internationally-respected Group of Elders, who include a former American president and head of the United Nations, issued an unusually frank call to Sadc to intervene in the worsening Zimbabwean political crisis. clarajancita at 29-08-2016 11:34 AM (6 years ago) (f) Nigerian soldiers in the Niger Delta have continued its hostility against militants as it raided their hideouts and destroyed illegal oil facilities. The Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman in a statement, has shed light on the activities of the military in the Niger Delta as he said the troops are making tremendous progress. Nigerian soldiers in the Niger Delta have continued its hostility against militants as it raided their hideouts and destroyed illegal oil facilities. The Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman in a statement, has shed light on the activities of the military in the Niger Delta as he said the troops are making tremendous progress. The statement read: The statement read: Quote "Troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army involved in the field training exercise nicknamed "CROCODILE SMILE" mounted on gunboats and speedboats have been making tremendous progress as they also raided suspected criminal hideouts in the creeks around Ajaosolo, Okogho, Opumani, and Obodo general area. While conducting the exercise, on Sunday 28th August 2016, they intercepted suspected illegal oil bunkerer with 1 "Cotonou Boat" laden with crude oil, 3 X 40 Horse power Yamaha Speedboats and 5 X 200 Litres of illegally refined diesel oil. Similarly, the troops continued conducting the training exercise near Bomadi town, Bomadi Local Government Area and Pendo and Tuomu of Bururtu Local Government Area of Delta State respectively. Two suspects; Mr. Tokolo Sawyer and Miss Showman Ebi-ere were arrested at "Loveth Plaze", while Mr Kingsley Ebidimo and 7 others with unidentified mission were equally arrested at Pendo as they were found to be in possession of substance believed to be Marijuana, 1 Axe, 2 Cutting Saw and a long iron bender in their hideouts. The suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the Nigeria Police at Bomadi. The troops have continued with their field training exercise, more so as they received 2 more supporting weapons, Main Battle Tank, 2 Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and 3 Scorpion Tanks from the Headquarters of Nigerian Armour Corps. In addition, as part of the training exercise, the troops have been carrying out patrols along waterways in the creeks, in that process, they recovered 2 "Cotonou Boats" and a 75 Horse Power Speedboat, 30 X 200 Litres plastic drums containing liquid suspected to be illegally refined crude oil in the creeks at Ovwahwa in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State in the afternoon of Sunday 28th August 2016. Three suspected persons, Messrs College Owahwa, Joseph Katte and Olisa Patrick found around the vicinity have been arrested. They are currently being questioned. Following intelligence reports, 2 illegal crude oil refineries were identified and destroyed by the exercising troops traversing Ayakoromo and Esaba water ways in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. At about 5.00pm same day, 2 Pumping Machines and sets of new pipes used for the construction of illegal refineries and siphoning were found in the bush. Two suspects were interrogated to ascertain their involvement on the recovered items. The troops have continued their training exercise without hitch. In addition to the training exercise, troops are equally carrying out free medical outreaches at central area Sapele and near Olu of Warris in Warri." Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 29-08-2016 11:34 AM (6 years ago) | Hero Prerequisites Before starting the procedure, make sure that you have everything ready to kickstart with the process. The first one is to have a custom recovery such as CWM or TWRP. We recommend you to use TWRP recovery. Also, make sure that you have unlocked your device's bootloader as you will end up in bricking your smartphone. Download all the required files The second step is to download all the necessary files which are to be flashed via the recovery. For that, you need to download the AOSP ROM by heading over to this link. Wait for the download to completely finish Now, you need to wait for the download to completely finish. Make sure you have completely downloaded the file to not face issues while flashing the file. Boot into recovery mode The next step is to boot into the recovery mode. You can do that by pressing the 'volume down' and 'power button' at the same time. Wipe your data, cache, Dalvik cache, and system Once after booting into the recovery mode, you need to wipe your existing data, cache, and Dalvik cache. If possible wipe the system as well, which makes it a clean wipe of your existing user data. Flash the downloaded AOSP Android N ROM Now, locate the file which you downloaded from the second step and flash it. Let the flash process complete. If you face any errors while flashing it, then your download file is corrupted. All you need to do is download the ROM file again and start the procedure. Boot your phone now and you'll be running Android N Now, reboot your system and let it completely boot. The first boot may take several minutes, maybe up to 15-20 minutes. So, please be patient and let the phone boot. Once after your device boots, you can see that your Nexus 5 will be running Android N. As said earlier, this is the first version of the ROM and you may encounter many issues. If you face any error while using the phone, report it to the developer by heading over to the official XDA thread by clicking here. Saudi warplanes strike more areas in crisis-hit Yemen Iran Press TV Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:25AM Saudi military aircraft have carried out a new round of strikes against several areas across Yemen, prompting more retaliatory attacks by Yemeni armed forces. On Sunday morning, Saudi fighter jets launched four airstrikes against the Harad district in the northwestern Yemeni province of Hajjah, located approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) northwest of the capital, Sana'a, inflicting damage on the targeted area, Arabic-language al-Masirah satellite television network reported. There were no immediate reports of possible casualties in the aerial assaults. Saudi warplanes also pounded Nihm district northeast of Sana'a as well as Razih and Badim districts in the mountainous northwestern province of Sa'adah. There was no information about the extent of damage caused and casualties. Separately, Saudi jets struck a civilian car as it was travelling along a road in the Sahar district of Sa'adah Province, leaving an unspecified number of people killed and injured. The developments came only hours after Saudi warplanes carried out airborne attacks on a naval base in Yemen's western coastal province of Hudaydah. Saudi military aircraft also hit a school in the Dhubab district of the southwestern Yemeni province of Ta'izz, situated 346 kilometers (214 miles) south of the capital. Elsewhere in the al-Mahfad district of Yemen's southern province of Abyan, six militiamen loyal to the former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, were killed when al-Qaeda terrorists launched a barrage of mortar shells at the former's military camp. Moreover, Yemeni forces, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, fired a number of rockets at Saudi Arabia's southern border region of Najran, leaving one person dead and four others injured. Saudi Arabia has pounded Yemen almost daily since March 2015, with internal sources putting the death toll from the military aggression at about 10,000. The offensive was launched to crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement and their allies and restore 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 Coalition Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Iraq, Syria From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 29, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq and Syria yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Fighter aircraft conducted two strikes in Syria: -- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIL wellhead. -- Near Raqqah, a strike destroyed an ISIL pumpjack. Strikes in Iraq Attack, bomber, fighter and ground attack aircraft conducted 13 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Bashir, a strike destroyed an ISIL checkpoint. -- Near Haditha, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position. -- Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed three vehicles and a mortar position. -- Near Qayyarah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed a mortar system, a vehicle, five assembly areas, a supply cache, a front-end loader and denied access to terrain. -- Near Ramadi, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, a vehicle and a boat and damaged a fighting position. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike struck an ISIL security headquarters. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabian jets target civilian infrastructure in Yemen Iran Press TV Sun Aug 28, 2016 11:51PM Saudi Arabia's unremitting attacks against Yemen's civilian infrastructure continue, with the kingdom's fighter jets bombing a sugar factory in the western province of Hudaydah. At least 30 people have been reported dead and injured from the Sunday attack, which came as Riyadh's fighter planes carried out over 80 airstrikes on the province in the last 24 hours, causing heavy damage to its infrastructure. Saudi fighter planes also pounded a school in the country's province of Sa'ada, as well as targets in the Razih and Badim districts in the mountainous northwestern province. Earlier, the Saudis also launched four airstrikes against the Harad district in the northwestern Yemeni province of Hajjah, and also bombed the Nihm district northeast of the capital Sana'a. Saudi military aircraft also hit a school in the Dhubab district of the southwestern Yemeni province of Ta'izz. Saudi Arabia has pounded Yemen almost daily since March 2015, with internal sources putting the death toll from the military aggression at about 10,000. The offensive was launched to crush the Houthi Ansarullah movement and their allies and restore 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 Uzbek President Said To Have Suffered 'Brain Hemorrhage' August 29, 2016 by RFE/RL Uzbek President Islam Karimov, whose recent hospitalization for an undisclosed illness has been shrouded in mystery, is being treated in an intensive care unit after suffering a "brain hemorrhage," according to a statement posted on his younger daughter's verified Instagram account. "At the moment it is too early to make any predictions about his future health," read the August 29 post on Lola Tillyaeva-Karimova's Instagram account. The post, written in Russian, Uzbek, and English, said President Karimov was admitted to the hospital on August 28, and that his "condition is considered stable." The post called for people to "refrain from speculation" and respect the Karimov family's privacy. The post was accompanied by a photograph, dated March 2014, featuring Karimov and his wife, Tatyana Karimova, along with Tillyaeva-Karimova, her husband, and their two children. Tillyaeva-Karimova, Uzbekistan's Ambassador to UNESCO, is the Uzbek president's second daughter. Karimov's elder daughter, Gulnara -- a prominent socialite and businesswoman once seen as a potential successor to her father as president -- has not appeared in public since 2014 amid reports that she had been placed under house arrest in Uzbekistan amid a corruption scandal. The update on President Karimov's condition comes a day after the Uzbek government announced in a rare statement that the 78-year-old president had been hospitalized. The statement didn't disclose the nature of Karimov's illness, saying only that "in the opinion of the specialists, a full medical examination and subsequent treatment will require a certain amount of time." Karimov, a former Communist Party boss who is seen as a strong-arm leader, has ruled Uzbekistan since 1989. According to the Uzbek Constitution, should the president of the country become unable to perform his duties, the head of the upper chamber of parliament, the Senate, would assume the president's authority for a period of three months. It is not clear who is currently leading Uzbekistan. No public comments have come from Senate Chairman Nigmatulla Yuldashev, who has led the upper house of parliament since January 2015. News of Karimov's illness has sparked speculation about possible successors to lead Central Asia's most populous country. Karimov's handpicked prime minister, Shavkat Mirziyaev, who has held his post since 2003, is seen as one candidate, as are Finance Minister Rustam Azimov and National Security Committee head Rustam Inoyatov. Written by Farangis Najibullah with reporting by AFP and AP Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/uzbekistan-karimov- hospitalized-checkup/27952084.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 Who Could Replace Uzbekistan's Ailing President? August 29, 2016 by Bruce Pannier Uzbekistan is on edge after learning that Uzbek President Islam Karimov, 78, has been hospitalized after suffering what an August 29 post on his younger daughter's Instagram account said was a cerebral hemorrhage -- bleeding in the brain. In Uzbekistan, and in the rest of Central Asia and beyond, many now wonder what happens if Karimov dies or is no longer able to perform the functions of president. Who would, or could, replace the only leader the country has had since it became independent in the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991? Uzbekistan's constitution says that if the president is unable to perform his duties, the head of the upper chamber of parliament -- now the little-known Nigmatulla Yuldashev -- assumes the president's authority for a period of three months. For the longer term, the list of favorites is short: It includes three people. Many believe the heir apparent is Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev, 58, who has headed the government since 2003. He hails from Jizzakh Province, which is adjacent to Karimov's native Samarkand Province, and has the backing of the Jizzakh and presumably the Samarkand clans. It could be significant that the only official statement on Karimov's hospitalization came from the Cabinet of Ministers, which Mirziyaev heads. Clans will play an important role in the succession process. Karimov, who has ruled with an iron hand and tolerated little dissent, has been a master at maneuvering among the various clans in Uzbekistan and playing them off one another. Some critics have characterized Mirziyaev in no uncertain terms, describing him as a thug who is short on reason and quick to aggression. During his tenure as governor of Jizzakh Province (1996-2001), he was reported to have physically assaulted at least one farmer who dared complain about conditions in the province. His successor, Ubaidulla Yamankulov, was eventually taken away in handcuffs, by helicopter, after numerous reports of him beating constituents and allegations that he headed a local hit squad. Mirziyaev surely knew Yamankulov well. Among Uzbekistan's top officials, Mirziyaev is seen as a "fist" not a "brain." That might not stop him from becoming president, but some observers say that if he does, his government could be more repressive than that of the widely criticized Karimov. It is worth noting that Uzbekistan has been tinkering with its constitution during the last five years. On paper, at least, some amendments have increased the powers of the prime minister. That could be a good sign for Mirziyaev, or even an endorsement. But the Samarkand clan fell slightly out of favor in the late 1990s due the actions of the clan boss, Ismail Jurabekov. Jurabekov was instrumental in Karimov's rise through the ranks of the Communist Party in the 1980s and was rewarded with government posts and prized business ownerships during the 1990s. But Jurabekov was far too powerful and was rumored to have been behind bombings in Tashkent in February 1999, not long after he had been sacked from his post as agriculture minister and ordered to go on pension. Jurabekov was back in the government shortly after the bombings and remained until 2004, but Karimov's ties to his native Samarkand clan were shaken. It is unclear how much those ties have been repaired, despite Jurabekov leaving politics and the public eye long ago. Another favorite to take Karimov's place is Finance Minister Rustam Azimov, 56. Azimov is from the Tashkent area and the Tashkent clan. He has been in the national government since 1998, always in a post connected to finance. Azimov is seen as more sophisticated than Mirziyaev, and he has more experience dealing with the outside world. In the first years after independence, Azimov, as head of Uzbekistan's National Bank for Foreign Activities, was the country's point man dealing with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A third, less likely potential candidate to take the reins is the chief of the National Security Committee (SNB), Rustam Inoyatov, 72. Inoyatov is one of the most powerful people in Uzbekistan, having served as SNB chief since 1995. He is from the Tashkent clan. Many suspect he has played the role of grey cardinal in recent years as Karimov's health has deteriorated. Many also suspect it was Inoyatov who was behind the campaign to bring down Karimov's elder daughter Gulnara, who was once a globetrotting businesswoman but has not appeared in public since 2014, when she was reportedly placed under house arrest after her name was connected to a corruption scandal involving international telecommunications companies. Inoyatov's age is likely to head off any serious consideration that he would become president, though it does not rule out a transitional role. Inoyatov is seen as a kingmaker, not a king. There is only one known photograph of him from the last 10 years -- a picture taken when he was in China to meet with security officials. He clearly does not want to be seen in public. But without his support it would be nearly impossible for anyone to become the next president of Uzbekistan or be able to rule the country without hindrances. Some reports suggest Inoyatov is on good terms with Mirziyaev and might support the latter as Uzbekistan's next president. It should be noted that Inoyatov really solidified his power after Jurabekov was finally removed from politics, so the SNB chief must know something about the Samarkand clan's weaknesses. It would be logical to believe Inoyatov would throw his support behind Azimov. They are both from the Tashkent clan. But balancing clans is a tricky business and so far the system has been kept in check with a president from Samarkand and influential officials from Tashkent. Azimov might be passed over to keep the peace. RFE/RL's Uzbek Service contributed to this report Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ who-would-replace-uzbekistan- karimov-president/27952766.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 "When they ask me "who is the President of Uzbekibekibekistanstan?" I am going to say, "you know, I don't know, do you know?" Knowing who is the head of some of some of these small, insignificant states around the world - I don't think that is something that is critical to focusing on national security." Herman Cain, 09 October 2011 Islam Abduganievich Karimov Islam Karimov, the president of Uzbekistan, died 02 September 2016. Uzbekistan's government on 28 August 2016 said 78-year-old President Karimov had been hospitalized. "According to specialists, full health screening and further treatment will take a certain period of time," it said. Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan with an iron grip for over a quarter of a century, first as the republic's Communist Party chief in 1989, then as president since the country became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. The authoritarian leader had no clear successor, prompting concern his death could lead to a period of instability in the heart of Central Asia. Turkey's Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said 02 September 2016 that Uzbekistan's President died, however the Uzbek government said that the leader is only critically ill. Yildirim expressed his condolences during a televised meeting with his cabinet. "Uzbek President Islam Karimov has passed away. May God's mercy be upon him, as the Turkish Republic we are sharing the pain and sorrow of Uzbek people." A top Kyrgyz diplomat and an Afghan government official said that the leaders of their countries have been invited to a funeral for Karimov on 02 September 2016. Thousands of Uzbeks, many weeping, lined the streets of their capital on 03 September 2016 to watch the funeral cortege of President Islam Karimov. At dawn, a black Mercedes van carrying the body of Karimov, who died of a stroke aged 78, drove slowly along Tashkent's main thoroughfare. Police officers stood at salute and people bowed down to lay roses and carnations on the road side. Karimov, in power for more than a quarter of a century, was derided by Western governments as a dictator who violated human rights, but for many people in Uzbekistan, a mainly Muslim ex-Soviet state which borders Afghanistan, he was the only head of state they had ever known. According to his official biography, President Karimov is an orphan. The President is known to be close to his wife's family; his biological family is never mentioned, nor is Pyotr, Karimov's son by his first wife. He was no orphan, he had six brothers and one sister, and grew up in a "normal family" in Samarkand. Of Karimov's seven siblings, two brothers -- Hurshid and Ibodulla -- remained; one lived in Tashkent, the other in Samarkand. Karimov's marriage to Natalia, the daughter of the Chairman of the Tashkent Agricultural Machinery Plant, Pyotr Kuchmi, had been a union of ambition. Karimov had a son, whom he named Rustam. But after he divorced Natalia in the late 1960s, she had their son's name changed to Pyotr. Karimov first started circulating the orphanage story in the mid- to late 1980s as a way of distancing himself from his family. Karimov began to distance himself from his family in late 1985 and early 1986, when his brother, Hurshid, a distributor of retail food products (mostly tea), became embroiled in a minor corruption scandal. At the time, Karimov was Deputy Chairman of Gosplan, and was expecting a promotion. Karimov called his brother Arslan (Muslima's husband) and demanded that they disown Hurshid, arguing that their careers were in danger. Arslan, the Chair of the Jizzak City Court, refused. The final break came in 1989, the year Karimov was named First Secretary of the Uzbek SSR. Arslan died that year in what Muslima described as a "suspicious" collision with a bus. A street in Jizzak was named after him, but Karimov ordered it changed back to the original name. Karimov's eldest brother died that year, as well. Karimov and those around him had gone to great lengths to promote, and jealously safeguard, what now appears to be an apocryphal myth of orphaned childhood. Karimov had no acknowledged sons, who might have been regarded as heirs apparent in the patriarchal Muslim culture. His eldest daughter, Gulnara, was placed under house arrest in 2014. She is a real piece of work and was out of control. Karimov's second daughter, Lola, is Uzbekistan's ambassador to Paris-based UNESCO. The assumption had been that, if Karimov were to leave the political stage, key elites (or "clans") would sit down and decide on a successor who can sustain their interests. It was not clear that this assumption was still valid, or at least that the process would be a smooth one. President Karimov and the close circle of insiders that held power in Uzbekistan believed themselves to be encircled by threats from within and without. Uzbekistan has faced real terrorist threats from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), whose members have reportedly found refuge in the border areas of Pakistan. In this worldview, political and economic liberalism are sources of instability and vectors of foreign influence, both of which Karimov has sought to contain and control. Karimov effectively controlled the government of Uzbekistan: He appoints all ministers including the prime minister. He appointed sixteen of the 100 senators and all provincial executives. He directly controlled his country's security forces and used them to suppress internal opposition to his rule. Election procedures were also changed to bar serious opposition parties from standing in elections. Karimov also managed to centralize power under his office at the expense of the clans, which formerly dominated Uzbek political life. Karimov was strongly opposed to Islamic fundamentalism and used his country's security forces against suspected Islamist militant groups. He also commonly exaggerated the threat of Islamic terrorism to justify his authoritarianism and crackdowns against opponents. Karimov had shown himself to be a savvy politician over many years of maneuvering to stay on top of the Uzbek government. His public rhetoric usually suggests that he wants to be remembered as the father of his country, a great president who presided over the foundation of strong institutions while keeping his country safe and stable. It also seemed that he was not content merely to govern his little corner of the globe - he truly seems to crave international legitimacy. Yet he avoided building a cult of personality. Many regional observers commented on Karimov's apparent sense of rivalry with Kazakh President Nazarbayev, who enjoyed greater respect on the world stage. Karimov took a ruthlessly authoritarian approach to all forms of opposition. The few western observers who monitored elections condemned them as having failed to meet international standards and pointed out that all the candidates support the president. Karimov has been accused of using the perceived threat of Islamic militancy to justify his style of leadership. Some analysts suggest that the wave of bombings and shootings in March 2004 is evidence that this policy backfired. Observers point out that the combination of ruthless repression and poor living standards provides fertile breeding ground for violent resistance in a volatile region. In early 2008 Prime Minister Mirziyayev's successor was announced as being first deputy Prime Minister Azimov, only to have that announcement revoked the following morning. The prevailing view was that Tashkent-based Azimov declined the dubious honor of becoming Karimov's heir apparent, feeling he does not yet have his political ducks lined up with Samarkand/Bukhara- or Ferghana Valley-centered rivals whose support was required for stability in Uzbekistan's political triad. Karimov remained the ultimate arbiter in Uzbek political life, yet in many ways by 2009 the post-Karimov period was already beginning. Increasingly, there were signs that the bureaucracy is atrophying, unable to make or implement basic decisions and policies. This seemed to reflect the slow disengagement of the aging Karimov from the day-to-day management of the government, which left the lower levels without the presidential guidance that had driven this government for the previous two decades. Uncertain of the president's wishes and weaned in a climate of near absolutism, Karimov's minions were left in the unfamiliar position of having to manage issues without the security of presidential approval. The result was bureaucratic sclerosis. It was improbable that a presidential succession in Tashkent would result in a dramatic change in the character of Uzbek political life in the short term, but there could nonetheless be significant changes around the margins that would take this society in a more positive direction over the long term. In late March 2013 there were rumors that Karimov had suffered a heart attack on March 19, soon after he was shown on state television dancing and ringing in the Islamic new year at a Norouz celebration in Tashkent. Karimov's younger daughter, Lola, was reported to have suddenly returned to Uzbekistan from her home in Switzerland. Karimov's elder daughter, Gulnara Karimova, issued more colorful denials, using her Twitter account to reject suggestions of her father's ill health. All eyes were on the Uzbek parliament, which was due to meet for a joint session on 28 March 22013 -- an event that traditionally opens with a speech by Karimov. President Karimov was reported to have met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Erlan Idrissov at the Oqsaroy on 27 March 2013. State-run Yoshlars evening news program showed Karimov hosting Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov at his Oksaroy residence. This wasnt the first time the Uzbek president was rumored to be in ill health. Whether or not Karimov is planning for his succession, he does seem to be planning for his legacy. His public rhetoric usually suggested that he wanted to be remembered as the father of his country, a great president who presided over the foundation of strong institutions while keeping his country safe and stable. His handlers seemed to be cultivating this image more and more. It also seemed that he was not content merely to govern his little corner of the globe - he truly seemed to crave international legitimacy. Yet he avoided building a cult of personality. Many regional observers commented on Karimov's apparent sense of rivalry with Kazakh President Nazarbayev, who enjoys greater respect on the world stage. It seemed unlikely that President Karimov will voluntarily retire from Uzbek politics unless his health prevented him from further activity. Political elites in Uzbekistan wanted to keep Islam Karimov in power as long as possible. Elites benefited from the system of converting state resources into private wealth. The central leadership provided protection in return for political support. This corruption was so pervasive in public office that it severely constrained any transfer of power. A disruption of this flow of wealth would have many repercussions for many political elites. Uzbekistans constitution says that if the president is unable to perform his duties, the head of the upper chamber of parliament -- the obscure politician Nigmatulla Yuldashev -- would assume the president's authority for a period of three months. Many observers believe the most likely successor is Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev, born in 1951, who has headed the government since 2003. First Deputy Prime Minister, Finance Minister Rustam Azimov, has been in the national government since 1998, always in a post connected to finance. Rustam Inoyatov, the head of the National Security Committee [SNB - the Uzbek version of the KGB] since the 1990s, is considered to be a possible successor to Karimov. Many suspect Inoyatov was behind the campaign to bring down Karimovs daughter Gulnara. A succession scenario circulating among members of the Apparat in 2009 envisiond Karimov handing over the Presidency to Gulnora Karimova and then becoming Chairman of Uzbekistan's Senate. Per the text of Uzbekistan's Constitution, the Chairman of the Senate has the power to choose the Chairman of the National Security Service. Some said Karimov intended to give National Security Council Secretary Murat Ataev more power in order to balance him against Inoyatov, and may be planning to replace Inoyatov with Ataev later on. President Karimov remained interested in surrounding Inoyatov with "deputies" who would keep tabs on him and report on him. Inoyatov, however, was aware of the intent behind this and consistently found "kompromat" (compromising material) on such "deputies." He would then forward this information to President Karimov, necessitating their removal. Members of the Presidential Apparat said that Inoyatov had amassed considerable amounts of kompromat on other officials, including on members of the Karimov family. Some in the Apparat were speculating that if Inoyatov is in fact dismissed from his position and chooses to use this kompromat against the Karimov family, the family would have him "terminated." In 2013, unsubstantiated rumors spread that 75-year-old Karimov was in poor health, and choosing a successor. Rumored candidates included first deputy prime minister Rustam Azimov; the chairman of Uzbekistans National Security Service, Rustam Inoyatov; Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev; and Karimovs billionaire daughter, Gulnara Karimova, who works as a fashion designer, philanthropist, and aspiring pop star. Many suspect Inoyatov was behind the campaign to bring down Karimovs daughter Gulnara. Existing patron-client networks built around regional identities (sometimes called clans) or core institutions such as the SNB have the potential to pull members into a conflict initiated from the top by elites who control distribution of vital goods and services. A contested presidential succession is probably the most likely scenario for this type of conflict to emerge, though contested succession to Colonial-General Rustam Inoyatov, the powerful head of the SNB, is another potential vector that is especially opaque to outside analysts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rousseff Addresses Brazilian Senate in Impeachment Trial By VOA News August 29, 2016 Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has denied allegations of manipulating government accounts, during testimony at her impeachment trial. "I did not commit the crimes that I am unjustly accused of," the 68-year-old leftist leader said in an address Monday to the Senate, repeating her claim that the impeachment drive was a "coup." "I can't help but taste the bitterness of injustice," she said. Rousseff is accused of taking illegal state loans to cover deficits in the budget. The first Brazilian female president has denied wrongdoing and denounced opponents' efforts as a conspiracy to overthrow her and undermine the country's democracy. Officials speaking on condition of anonymity told reporters Rousseff will be assertive and talk about her life fighting for democracy. Late Saturday, senators concluded the third day of hearings with officials interrogating two witnesses called by the defense Former Finance Minister Nelson Henrique Barbosa and Rio de Janeiro State University law professor Ricardo Lodi were brought in to testify and said Rousseff did not break the law. "There is nothing remotely illegal. You cannot act retroactively with a new interpretation of the law," Barbosa said. Following days of deliberations, senators will vote on whether to permanently remove Rousseff. Of the 81 senators, 54 must vote against her in order for the impeachment to become permanent. "She will appeal to undecided senators to respect democracy and stop the coup that is under way," a spokesman for Rousseff told Reuters. "She is in good spirits." Interim President Michel Temer could stay on the job until the end of Rousseff's term in 2018. Accusers presented the case last week saying Rousseff was criminally guilty and responsible for Brazil's severe recession in Latin America's largest economy. Former president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva is expected to appear with Rousseff. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Air Force to further enhance anti-missile capabilities People's Daily Online (CRI Online) 08:33, August 29, 2016 The Chinese Air Force is suggesting it may move to increase the capabilities of the country's existing anti-missile capabilities. Shen Jinke with the Chinese Air Force says upgrades to the ground-to-air forces in China would be a solid step toward increasing national security. "Through innovation, ground-to-air defense troops are able to deal with far-range, medium-range and short-range missiles which can come in on high, medium and low altitudes. The capability of China's air defense and anti-missile systems has greatly improved in the information age we live in. Our ground-to-air forces are now a powerful force to safeguard China's airspace sovereignty." In making the statement, the Chinese Air Force has not said when or how the current ground-to-air missile and anti-aircraft defense systems might be upgraded. The suggestion comes on the heels of plans by the US and South Korea to place the US THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea. Chinese authorities say the system poses a threat to both the stability of the Korean peninsula, but to China as well, as its radar systems will be able to penetrate into Chinese territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address News / National by Staff reporter As President Robert Mugabe's panicking government cranks up its propaganda assault on critics, including making embarrassing claims that the MDC is training its youths outside the country to use stones and catapults to fight for change, stunning intra-Zanu-PF allegations have emerged that Team Lacoste is at the heart of the ongoing civil unrest.Well-placed Zanu-PF sources linked to the ruling party faction which is opposed to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe told the Daily News yesterday that it was allegedly "widely known" that the embattled VP's supporters were playing a prominent role in the worsening anti-government protests.The Generation 40 (G40) sources said Team Lacoste, as the Mnangagwa faction is known, had allegedly become so desperate to push Mugabe out of power before the country's eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, that it was now not only "advising" the opposition, but also "working hard to foment anarchy in Zimbabwe" to achieve their goal."It is widely-known within the party that rogue Lacoste members are unleashing their own thugs and militia during protests as a way of putting pressure on Gushungo (Mugabe). Even you can see that there is a professional hand behind some of the current chaos."Do you think that it is by chance that Choppies (supermarket chain in which Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko is invested) is always attacked in these demos?," one of the sources said - alluding to the fact that the attacks on the grocer chain were due to Mphoko's alleged links to the G40.The Zanu-PF youth league, which is now also heavily linked to the G40, appeared to confirm the conspiracy yesterday, threatening to attack protesting Zimbabweans to help overwhelmed police to maintain order.Addressing party youths and provincial officials who included MPs, who gathered in Harare, youth league boss Kudzai Chipanga claimed it was legal for the Zanu-PF youths to assume the role of the police."When they demonstrate next time we must come in our numbers to help the police to protect the people. It is called citizenship arrests and it is provided for by the country's laws. So, we must be able to capture the protestors and take them to the police," he said.Meanwhile, lapdog State media ratcheted up their assault on Zanu-PF critics yesterday in what even senior ruling party officials admitted was "embarrassing propaganda" after government newspapers claimed the MDC had allegedly sent its youths outside the country for "training in paramilitary tactics and urban violence"."It is believed MDC-T hawks, faced with irrelevance and donor fatigue, started planning civil disobedience and sent youths for training in certain African countries (the countries were not named). These groups were deployed last week to unleash unprecedented violence in Harare's central business district."The Sunday Mail witnessed how some of them hid bricks and stones in lunch boxes, milled around intersections 'innocently' and then attacked unsuspecting police officers. The 'protestors' also used catapults," the government's unashamedly pro-Zanu-PF newspapers reported.But a senior Zanu-PF official described the claims as "embarrassing propaganda", adding that it was "ridiculous to suggest that anyone could send would-be saboteurs to foreign lands to learn to use stones and catapults".The panicking government's propaganda blitzkrieg comes as the wave of uprising continues to grow that is threatening to knock Mugabe and Zanu-PF off their perch, with fed-up Zimbabweans planning to mount two more massive demonstrations this week - beginning with a nationwide shutdown on Wednesday.The announcement on Saturday by radical pressure group Tajamuka/Sesijikile that it would organise another debilitating nationwide shutdown, followed hard on the heels of the vow at the weekend by the group of 18 opposition parties who operate under the banner of the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera) that they would not be cowed by worsening police brutality, and would mount another mega demo in Harare on Friday.Both opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC and former Vice President Joice Mujuru's Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) are part of Nera and say they will support the Tajamuka/Sesijikile nationwide shutdown which will in the main call for Mugabe's resignation from power.Last month, Tajamuka also played a prominent role in a massive stay-away which not only shut the country down, but was widely seen as the biggest general strike to have been mounted in the history of post-independent Zimbabwe. That mass action gave Mugabe an August 31 ultimatum to either relinquish power or face an uprising.MDC secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora, called on all MDC supporters and other "right-thinking" Zimbabweans to come out in full force in solidarity with Tajamuka/Sesijikile on Wednesday."We will support efforts by Tajamuka/Sesijikile on Wednesday and all other progressive forces that want to remove Mugabe from power. We are unfazed by Mugabe's hollow threats that are meant to intimidate us because his end is nigh," Mwonzora said.Afghanistan-based political commentator, Maxwell Saungweme, said the shutdown and other protests could usher in a new political dispensation in the country, notwithstanding the government's iron-fisted response to the growing dissent by the populace."It is common for dictatorial regimes to oppose change by any means. But the history in Libya, Egypt and even our own liberation struggle tells us that nothing can stop an idea whose time has come."The courts are doing well by following the law and the constitution and the regime is in denial. Change is here and the earlier they wake up and smell the coffee the better. Otherwise they will go the way many such regimes have gone," Saungweme said.Nera convener Didymus Mutasa also threw his weight behind the Tajamuka/Sesijikile shutdown, saying he was not averse to working with them."As Nera, we welcome them in the fight against Mugabe even though I have not personally met them. We also support their own initiative in that regard because that is what we are all yearning for," he said.This week's two planned protests actions come in the wake of a worrying tendency by the government to ignore court rulings, as was witnessed on Friday when police stopped a Nera march despite the High Court having barred Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo and all law enforcement agents from interfering, obstructing or stopping the demo to press for much-needed electoral reforms ahead of the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections. China urges for restraint on DPRK's ballistic missile launch People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 20:23, August 29, 2016 BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday called on all parties concerned to maintain restraint and remain calm over the ballistic missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) last Wednesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a statement issued by the UN Security Council on Friday condemning the launch as a "grave violation of" the Pyongyang's international obligations under Security Council resolutions. "We hope all parties can refrain from doing things that may irritate others or escalate the tensions," she said, adding that the signal sent by the Security Council "needs to be comprehensive and balanced." 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. Stressing that China has been consistent on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, Hua said China would continue to support the denuclearization of the peninsula, protect peace and stability in the peninsula and support the resolution of differences via negotiation and dialogue. The DPRK on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea. The launch came after the Republic of Korea and the United States began their annual military drills last Monday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rights Group Builds Legal Case Against Pyongyang Abusers By Brian Padden August 29, 2016 A human rights group is beginning to build the case for the eventual prosecution of Kim Jong Un and other North Korean leaders for crimes against humanity by detailing information about thousands of individuals who have been sent to political prison camps. The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) has published a list of political prison detainees, staff and victims of enforced disappearance, including names, dates of incarceration, alleged crimes and the locations of camps still in operation. "By providing specific information on individual perpetrators we can show them that they are responsible for their actions in the event of an opening up in North Korea," said Kim In-sung, a researcher at NKDB. Evidence The catalogue was based on surveys and interviews with more than 1,000 North Korean defectors. It is intended to provide further evidence to support the 2014 United Nations Commission of Inquiry investigative report documenting a network of political prison camps in the country and widespread atrocities, comparable to what the Nazis did before and during World War II. The U.N. General Assembly subsequently voted to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity. The measure stalled, however, in the U.N. Security Council where North Korean allies Russia and China use their vetoes. North Korea has repeatedly denied the existence of prison camps in the country. After the U.N. report was issued, Kim Song, an official with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's mission to the United Nations called the accusations of atrocities "groundless," and called the defectors who testified "human scum." Locations NKDB lists the location of four prison camps currently operating in North Korea, but says there could be other camps they do not know about. Camp 15 in Yodeok and camp 14 in Gaecheon are near the capital, Pyongyang. Camp 16 in Hwaseong and camp 25 in Cheongjin are located closer to Russia in the northeast of the country. NKDB says the existence of these camps, as well as an estimated over 100,000 political prisoners being detained at these locations, has been confirmed by satellite images. The group has also documented a number of other prison camps that are no longer in operation. Crimes The list of crimes detainees were charged with includes criticizing the state, religious activity, attempting to escape to South Korea, listening to foreign radio and attempting contact with South Koreans. The extensive list of detainees in some cases dates back decades. In 1970, Kim Gang Cheol was allegedly sent to camp 15 on the charge of guilt by association in connection with his older brother who was sent to a prison camp for voicing complaints against the government. The severe famines of the 1990s and early 2000s that killed more than 3 million North Koreans saw an increase in arrests of families trying to escape to South Korea in search of basic human needs. In 2004, the children of Kim Jae Hun were sent to prison camp 16 for attempting to leave the country, according to the NKDB. Many North Koreans are still being arrested for attempting to escape, but NKDB says most are now looking more for better economic opportunities and political freedom. "Recently, there are people who escape because they are not content with the political system, or they oppose the political system, or they would like to have more freedom in their lives," said Lim Soon-hee, the NKDB's chief of planning and management. The NKDB noted that in 2010, Kim Hui Seon was arrested for attempting to cross into China with his entire family. Conditions Increased international scrutiny of the North Korea human rights situation, the NKDB says, may have prompted the Kim Jong Un government to close some prison camps in recent years. But conditions inside the camps still in operation, human rights advocates say, have not improved. The U.N. report documented systematic abuse at North Korean prison camps that include extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, beatings, forced starvation, sexual assault, forced labor and torture. Youmi Kim in Seoul contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian Defense Minister Signs Major Logistics Agreement With Pentagon By Carla Babb August 29, 2016 The U.S. and India have signed a key logistics agreement that will enable U.S. and Indian forces to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies. A U.S. defense official told VOA the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) was formally signed earlier Monday by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar. The two defense leaders had agreed on the memorandum "in principle" when the two last met in India in April. Carter welcomed Parrikar to the Pentagon, where they discussed India's recent designation as a major U.S. defense partner. The designation recently was announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's June visit to Washington. Monday's talks at the Pentagon, the sixth meeting between the two defense chiefs, comes ahead of key annual exercises in India between U.S. and Indian forces. The joint drills, dubbed Yudh Abhyas, will take place in the mountains of northern India next month, Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza, who commands the Army's I Corps on the U.S. Pacific coast, told VOA. Speaking to VOA from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lanza said the two armies will focus on a variety of tasks, from peacekeeping operations to combined arms maneuvers and tactical training. The two armies also will swap-out troops within formations. "Not only are we just training together we're completely integrated both with the Indian army and our Army working together down at platoon level," Lanza told VOA. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Deploys Russian Long-Range Missiles At Nuclear Site August 29, 2016 Iranian officials say they have deployed a new Russian-made long-range missile system to protect its Fordo nuclear facility. General Farzad Esmaili, the commander of Iran's air defenses, told the state IRIB channel on August 28 that protecting the country's nuclear facilities is paramount "in all circumstances." He added that "today, Iran's sky is one of the most secure in the region." A video on state television showed an S-300 carrier truck in Fordo, raising its missile launchers toward the sky, among other weaponry. The video was broadcast only hours after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave a speech to air force commanders, including Esmaili, in which he said the country's military power was solely for defensive purposes. "The S-300 system is a defense system not an assault one, but the Americans did their best for Iran not to get hold of it," Khamenei said. Fordo was built into a mountain near the central city of Qom. It was to have stopped enriching uranium since the January implementation of a historic nuclear deal with six world powers that curbed Iran's controversial nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Based on reporting by AFP and kompas.com Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran-deploys-russian-long- range-missiles-at-nuclear-site/27951776.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 Strategic Cooperation in Action: S-300s Deployed to Defend Iran's Peaceful Atom Sputnik News 19:08 29.08.2016(updated 20:22 29.08.2016) Iran has deployed its Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile system around an underground uranium enrichment facility in Fordow, 125 km southwest of Tehran, Iranian state television has reported. Commenting on the deployment, Iranian experts have suggested that this is more evidence about the depth of the Russian-Iranian strategic partnership. Speaking to state television on Sunday, Farzad Esmaili, the commander of Iran's Air Defense Force, explained that "our main priority is to protect Iran's nuclear facilities under any circumstances." While the commander did not clarify whether the S-300s at Fordow were already operational, Esmaili did say that "today, Iranian skies are among the most secure in the Middle East." The commander's remarks were accompanied by state television footage showing the recently purchased S-300 missile systems being transported and deployed in the area around Fordow. Commenting on the deployment, Sajjad Tayeri, an expert in Iranian-Russian relations, suggested that the news serves as another indication that cooperation between Russia and Iran has reached a strategic stage. Speaking to Sputnik Persian, Tayeri recalled that the supply of the S-300 had long been seen as a problem area in the deepening of Russian-Iranian relations, with Russia promising to supply Tehran with five S-300 systems in 2007, before suspending the contract in 2010, citing a UN Security Council resolution which placed an arms embargo on Tehran. In April 2015, shortly after Iran and the P5+1 group of international negotiators reached an agreement to remove all sanctions against Tehran in exchange for the country's pledge on the peaceful purposes of its nuclear program, Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the S-300 delivery ban. The first batch of S-300s was delivered to the country earlier this year. "Today," Tayeri noted, "we see that after the signing of the [nuclear deal], when various countries' trust in Iran has been restored, the long-standing friendship which has always existed between Russia and Iran has strengthened even more." The analyst suggested that Moscow and Tehran's cooperation in the anti-terrorist operation in Syria, along with the recent negotiations on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, have only further increased the level of mutual trust and collaboration between the two countries. "The level of cooperation between our countries is growing, and is becoming more effective." Asked to comment on the likely implications of the deployment of S-300 around Fordow, the analyst pointed to Sunday's statement by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who emphasized that the S-300 is a purely defensive system, not an offensive one. "Iran," Tayeri added, "has never created any plans for aggression or invasion of other countries; it does not have such plans and never will." According to the expert, "the Russian S-300 and its Iranian made analogs are intended for the defense of our territory of key industrial objects." Noting that Tehran still has many reasons not to trust Washington, including in its fulfilment of its side of Iranian nuclear agreement, the analyst emphasized that "as far as cooperation between Russia and Iran is concerned, it has, on the contrary, been greatly strengthened and is already at the strategic level. It's for this reason that the Russian S-300 systems were deployed around our country' nuclear and strategic military facilities." Fordow's underground uranium enrichment facility, revealed to the world in 2009, has not engaged in uranium enrichment since January 2016, when the Iranian nuclear deal's provisions came into effect. The facility is built about 90 meters under a mountain. Iranian officials have since said that the decision to build the facility deep underground in a fortified position was made due to repeated threats by Israel to attack such facilities. Tel Aviv carried out a surprise airstrike on an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981. Iran showcased its own new air defense system, the Bavar-373, at a military expo last week. The system's development has prompted speculation that it was designed as Iran's answer to the S-300. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish solider killed in rocket attack near Syria's Jarablus Iran Press TV Sat Aug 27, 2016 9:16PM A rocket attack on a Turkish tank has killed one soldier and injured three others close to the northern Syrian town of Jarablus. According to reports, the rocket was launched from territory held by Kurdish YPG forces on Saturday. Also, severe fighting erupted between Turkish and Kurdish forces in two other villages close to Jarablus after Turkish tanks closed in on the villages. Earlier, Turkey sent six more tanks into northern Syria to join 50 other tanks and some 380 troops already deployed in the area. Jarablus is located in Syria's strategic province of Aleppo and some 400 kilometers (248 miles) northeast of the capital, Damascus. Meanwhile, security sources announced that two Turkish F-16 jets have launched raids on regions controlled by the YPG, which is part of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) coalition. Attacks were also carried out against six Daesh targets in the region. Earlier, the Jarablus Military Council group, which is also part of the so-called SDF, announced that Turkish jets have struck civilian homes in the village of Amarna, south of Jarablus. The council noted that several civilians were wounded in the attacks, which it described as "a dangerous escalation that threatens the fate of the region." The airstrikes came after Turkish artillery shelled SDF positions the day before, according to the council. Turkish-backed militants seized Jarablus from the Daesh Takfiri terrorists on Wednesday, following an incursion by Turkey's military that involved tanks and special forces supported by US and Turkish fighter jets. The ground incursion into northern Syria, which Ankara claims is mainly aimed at fighting Daesh, is partly intended to contain Kurdish forces. Turkey says the Kurds must withdraw to the east of the nearby Euphrates River. Since March 2011, Syria has been gripped by militancy it blames on some Western states and their regional allies. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S., Russia Say Near Accord On Renewed Syrian Cease-Fire, Talks August 27, 2016 by RFE/RL 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 Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/us-russia- say-near-accord-renewed-syrian-cease-fire-peace- talks-geneva-kerry-lavrov/27949174.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 Turkey accuses Kurdish fighters of 'ethnic cleansing' in Syria Iran Press TV Mon Aug 29, 2016 1:54PM Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has accused the Syrian Kurdish fighters of engaging in ethnic cleansing in northern Syria. Cavusoglu told a news conference in the Turkish capital Ankara on Monday that fighters of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and its affiliate Democratic Union Party (PYD) were attempting to put their own people in areas that had been released from Takfiri Daesh terrorists in the northern parts of Syria. "Those people that were forced to leave these places should be placed back in these regions, they should live there, but that is not the YPG's aim. The YPG is engaged in ethnic cleansing, they are placing who they want to in those places," Cavusoglu said. Ankara regards the YPG and YPD as allies of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region inside Turkey since the 1980s. The YPG, which controls nearly Syria's entire northern border with Turkey, has been fighting against Daesh. Cavusoglu said the ethnic composition of the area around the Syrian city of Manbij west of the Euphrates - captured by the YPG from Daesh terrorists earlier this month - was largely Arab. "Residents who had to leave the region (before fighting broke out) must be the ones who live there. But that is not the goal of the YPG," the minister said Top Turkish diplomat stressed that Turkey's military operation in northern Syria will continue until YPG withdraws to east of Euphrates. "The YPG (People's Protection Units) first of all needs to cross east of the Euphrates as soon as possible. So long as they don't, they will be a target." But a spokesman for YPG criticized Turkey, saying its claims of fighting the group West of Euphrates are pretexts to widen its occupation of the Syrian territory. YPG forces also insist that they have already withdrawn to the east of the Euphrates in line with US and Turkish demands. Elsewhere in his remarks, the top Turkish diplomat said the aim of a Turkey's operation around the Syrian town of Jarablus was solely to drive out Daesh terrorists near its border. "The objective of this operation (Jarablus) is to clear this region of the Daesh terrorist organization," Cavusoglu noted, stressing, "As you see, even with a small force, the Daesh terrorist organization is leaving and running away from the regions under their control." Turkey started its latest military operation in northern Syria last week. At least 40 Syrian civilians have been killed and scores more wounded in Turkish airstrikes and shelling. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has rejected claims that civilians were targeted during the military operation in Syria. "Allegations that civilians were shot at or targeted do not reflect the truth," the office of the prime minister said, adding the army was taking "all necessary measures to prevent any harm to the civilian population." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon Condemns Clashes Between Turkey's Army, Syrian Kurds Near Manbij August 29, 2016 U.S. military officials said on August 29 that fighting in northern Syria between Turkey's army and U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds is "unacceptable." A Pentagon statement said the clashes that have been intensifying in northern Syria "only provide room for Islamic State (IS) militants to find sanctuary and plan attacks against Turkey, the United States, and others." The statement also reiterated the U.S. view that all Syrian Kurdish YPG militia fighters in northern Syria should cross to the east side of the Euphrates, saying the Pentagon "understands this has largely occurred." The Pentagon statement was issued after correspondents reported on August 29 that the Turkish Army and a Turkey-backed Syrian rebel group called Sultan Murad were battling Syrian Kurdish YPG militia fighters near the Kurdish-held city of Manbij on the west side of the Euphrates River. A commander of the Sultan Murad group said on August 28 that his forces intend to capture Manbij from the Kurdish fighters. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on August 29 that the Kurdish Syrian YPG fighters who have been battling IS militants in northern Syria must withdraw east of the Euphrates river "immediately" or face more military strikes from the Turkish forces that crossed the border on August 23. Ankara says the Syrian Kurdish fighters are terrorists. Turkey wants to stop the YPG from controlling territory along Turkey's border with Syria. Meanwhile, Syrian opposition groups reported on August 29 that the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have captured more towns and villages in northern Syria and were taking up battle positions around the city of Manbij -- which the YPG captured two weeks ago from IS militants after a 10-week operation that was supported by U.S. air strikes. The Pentagon, which sees the YPG militia as an important strategic part of the U.S.-led anti-IS coalition, says U.S. forces were not involved any clashes between the YPG and troops taking part in the Turkish ground offensive. The Pentagon says its support for Turkey's military incursion in northern Syria is only for operations targeting Islamic State militants. YPG spokesman Redur Xelil on August 29 denied reports of Kurdish troop movements into Manbij, saying "there are absolutely no YPG military reinforcements being sent towards Manbij." On August 24, Xelil said Kurdish forces would not retreat to the east of the Euphrates -- maintaining that YPG forces to the west of the Euphrates River were in their own country. Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and dpa Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/turkey-erdogan-syria- kurds-islamic-state/27951856.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 Syria Warned of Turkey's Military Campaign Through Russia - Turkish Deputy PM Sputnik News 15:28 29.08.2016(updated 15:53 29.08.2016) Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said that the aims of the Turkish Euphrates Shield mission in northern Syria are clearing the region" from the Daesh and "preventing the Syrian Kurds' self-defense forces to build a corridor" between their self-controlled territories. ANKARA (Sputnik) Turkey has warned Damascus of its "Euphrates Shield" military campaign in northern Syria through Russian channels, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said Monday. "All stakeholders have been informed about the start of the 'Euphrates Shield' operations, including Damascus, which was informed by Russia, we are confident," Kurtulmus said at a briefing in Ankara. Turkey launched the Euphrates Shield mission with US-led coalition backing last Wednesday, August 24, with the stated aim of clearing the border town of Jabulus from Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) jihadists. Damascus and Syrian Kurds accuse Ankara of violating Syrian sovereignty with the campaign involving 200 troops and mechanized units, as well as 150 special forces, and 13 F-16 fighters. "We are not going to become a regular force in Syria. Turkey is not an occupier: we are not entering a war and are not becoming part of the military conflict. But if the threat to our security remains in the region, we will not stand idly by," Kurtulmus said. The deputy prime minister reiterated Ankara's aim of "clearing the region" from the Daesh and "preventing the Syrian Kurds' self-defense forces to build a corridor" between their self-controlled territories. "If that happens Syria will be divided," Kurtulmus warned. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address News / National by Staff reporter The government has warned that protesters will live to regret if they try to repeat last Friday's violent demonstrations in Harare.Protesters led by the MDC-T and other opposition parties took to the streets on Wednesday and set alight ZBC and police vehicles before repeating the rampage on Friday, where they disrupted the Harare Agricultural Show and went on a looting spree in various shops in the capital.The Presidential Spokesperson and Permanent Secretary of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Mr George Charamba said the protestors have crossed the line and the government will not sit and watch while some citizens are turning Zimbabwe into a war zone."Imagine that the agricultural show is time for people to go for fun seeing various exhibitions. Imagine also that we had a VVIP visitor in the form of a Vice President from Sierra Leone and we find some rogue elements setting the capital on fire. That is unacceptable and we won't allow that to happen again. They have crossed the line, and have got their last chance," said Mr Charamba.Mr Charamba also took a swipe at the South African based television station, ANN7 for flaunting the basic principles and ethics of journalism by trying to justify the violent protests in Zimbabwe.The Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Dr Christopher Mushohwe slammed western embassies' recent utterances on the Zimbabwean protests, saying they must not interfere or "even give themselves an imperious role of judging our politics here.""Statements by the US and Canadian Embassies to Zimbabwe on recent demonstrations by the opposition is clear hostility towards the government of Zimbabwe. Beyond diplomatic relations as regulated by the Vienna Convention, there is nothing else that gives governments of those two countries or their emissaries here any special claim to our politics or judgemental role on role on occurrences here. Their statements last week were not only unacceptably repugnant, but vainly suggested their governments play father figure to a sovereign state, as if Zimbabwe is under some kind joint US-Canadian trusteeship," said Minister Mushohwe.He added that 'before both ambassadors issue out their condescendingly sick statements on local politics, and on the upholding of human rights here, let them pause a while and examine their home environments where rights of men and women of colour, and rights of indigenous populations, are daily wantonly trampled upon by their own governments, with absolutely no recourse to countless victims.' US Condemns Clashes in Syria Between Turkish and US-Allied Kurdish Forces By Carla Babb August 29, 2016 The United States said Monday clashes in Syria between Turkish forces and units affiliated with a U.S.-supported Kurdish-led alliance are "unacceptable" and is calling on all sides to stand down "immediately." "This is an already crowded battle space," Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook told VOA when asked about the recent fighting south of the Syrian town of Jarabulus, on the border with Turkey. "We are calling on all armed actors to stand down immediately and take appropriate measures to de-conflict." The Turkish military, along with its Syrian rebel allies, is in the sixth day of a campaign designed to drive U.S.-allied Kurdish forces and Islamic State (IS) militants out of the Jarabulus area. Cook said Islamic State forces are no longer located in the areas where clashes are taking place. The U.S. is prepared to support Turkey in operations against IS but also fully supports the Kurdish-led forces in efforts to defeat the militant group, Cook added. The Pentagon says U.S. forces did not take part in either the Turkish airstrikes and artillery shelling of positions south of Jarabulus or the firing against Turkish forces in this area. "The United States was not involved in these activities. They were not coordinated with U.S. forces, and we do not support them," Cook said. The Pentagon press secretary expressed condolences to Turkey for the apparent loss of a Turkish soldier during the clashes, and he stressed the need for unity in the fight against Islamic State. "Uncoordinated operations and maneuvers only provide room for ISIL to find sanctuary and continue planning attacks against Turkey, the SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces, which includes Kurdish fighters], the United States, and our partners around the world," Cook added. Syrian rebels supported by Turkey have taken control of at least four villages and one town from Kurdish-led forces in the area, amid reports that Turkish airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 35 civilians. Monitors from the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights say in the attacks Sunday 20 people were killed in the village of Jub-al-Kousa, while 50 people were wounded in an area controlled by militia allied with the Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. The Observatory says another air strike killed 15 civilians and wounded 20 others near the town of Al-Armana. The Turkish military said Sunday that its airstrikes in northern Syria killed 25 Kurdish militants and denied that civilians had also been killed. The Turkish military also said it is committed to protecting civilians under international law. Turkey's state run Anadolu news agency said the dead Kurdish militants were "terrorist members" of the Turkey-based Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD). Turkish President President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the rally Sunday that residents of Jarabulus are returning to their homes after Turkish-backed forces recaptured it from Islamic State (IS). He praised his armed forces for forcing IS militants from Jarabulus. "They were attacking us from across the borders, now they are running away," Erdogan said, vowing to pursue the fleeing terrorists. Turkey's military foray into Syria is a dramatic escalation of Ankara's involvement in the Syrian civil war. The clashes bolster Western concerns that Turkey's military incursion into Syria is intended, in part, to target U.S.-supported Kurdish forces known as the Kurdish People's Protection Units, the YPG militia. The U.S. has described the YPG as one of its most effective allies in the fight against Islamic State, while Turkey is demanding a YPG retreat from all border territory seized from IS jihadists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Defense university to be fined for expelling HIV-positive student ROC Central News Agency 2016/08/27 16:17:37 Taipei, Aug 27 (CNA) Health Minister Lin Tzou-yien () upheld Saturday a decision by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to impose a NT$1 million (US$31,900) fine on National Defense University for discriminating against an HIV-positive student in 2013. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) said that notice of the fine will be issued to the university on Aug. 29 at the earliest. The CDC under the MOHW decided to impose the fine on the university Aug. 15, and its decision was backed up by the ministry after a review of the case, the ministry said. It marked the first time the CDC has issued a fine on the grounds of education discrimination. In response, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Chen Chung-chi () said the ministry -- which administers National Defense University -- will file an administrative appeal or take other measures. He repeated that the university did not discriminate against the student. The defense ministry has backed the university's decision to expel the HIV-positive student in 2013, saying last week that the decision was taken because of the young man's "character flaws" rather than his disease. The student, identified by the pseudonym Ah Li, tested positive for HIV in 2012 at a hospital, which passed on the results to his school without his permission. After the university received the test results, it allegedly banned Ah Li from swimming classes, forced him to wash his eating utensils separately from other students, tried repeatedly to convince him to drop out and threatened to tell his family about his disease if he refused to do so. In 2013, Ah Li was expelled after he received several demerits for what the school said was poor attitude and conduct. Ah Li reported the matter to the health ministry, which accused the university of discriminating against him because of his disease and expelling him for concocted reasons. The issue went viral on the media when the CDC decided to slap the fine on the university for forcing an HIV-positive student out of school. After President Tsai Ing-wen () expressed support for the student on Aug. 20, the defense ministry said earlier this week that it has decided to suspend its attempt to recoup paid tuition and other school fees from the student. The ministry will also issue the expelled student the certificate of his study at the university and transcript, according to the ministry. (By Chang Ming-hsuan, Lu Hsin-hui and Elaine Hou) ENDITEM/ke NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 50 Turkish tanks in Syrian city of Jarablus: Head of Kurdish group Iran Press TV Mon Aug 29, 2016 9:58AM The head of a Kurdish group in Syria says about 50 Turkish tanks have been deployed to northern Syria, where the Turkish military earlier entered in an operation against Kurds and the Daesh terrorist group. Elham Ahmad, the co-president of the Syrian Democratic Council, told RT on Sunday that 50 Turkish tanks had been deployed, under aerial cover by Turkish fighter jets, to the city of Jarablus in northern Syria. The Turkish military forces entered Jarablus on August 24. They then joined anti-Damascus militants to gain control of the Syrian city from Daesh and Kurds, who were themselves fighting the terrorist group. The Kurdish forces in the area were those of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, which are backed by the US but are seen by Ankara as hostile. On August 25, the YPG militants, a component of a Kurdish-Arab alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), began retreating from areas west of the Euphrates River to its east bank apparently under Turkish and US pressure. However, commenting on the withdrawal of the YPG and the fact that the area is left to the rest of the SDF members, Ahmad said the withdrawal took place based on an agreement with the US-led coalition that has been purportedly bombarding Daesh in Syria. Kurdish forces had earlier liberated Manbij another Syrian city that, like Jarablus, lies to the west of the Euphrates from Daesh. One goal of the Turkish incursion into Syria was apparently preventing the Kurdish forces from further advancing. Ahmad said control over Manbij had now been handed over to the city's military council, which is allied with the SDF. She said, however, the military council is currently fighting against Turkish-backed armed groups that are trying to reach the northern cities of al-Bab and Aleppo. The US on Monday criticized the clashes between Turkish-backed forces and the SDF in northern Syria as "unacceptable" and called on all armed actors in the fighting to stand down and focus on the fight against Daesh. In her Sunday remarks, Ahmad also accused Ankara of adding fuel to the fire of the Syrian conflict by supporting militant groups and facilitating their passage into Syria. Syria has been the scene of a foreign-backed crisis since March 2011. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hiding Turkey Coup Plotters May Carry Out Political Assassinations Sputnik News 21:42 29.08.2016 Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said that the government has no information if Fethullahist Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) had a "Plan B" in case of coup failure. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The Turkish coup plotters remaining on the run may carry out political assassinations, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Monday. "There are still some army members on the loose, police officers who were previously released or on the run. When you put together some developments, I think that they would not step aside just because they were defeated after a coup attempt that they had prepared for so long. They may want to carry out some attacks either by themselves or through any terrorist organization. Yes, there is such a possibility," Kurtulmus told reporters, as quoted by the Hurriyet Daily newspaper. He added that the government has no information if Fethullahist Gulen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) had a "Plan B" in case of coup failure. On July 15, an attempted coup took place in Turkey and was suppressed the following day. Ankara has accused US-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen and his followers designated as FETO of playing a key role in the failed coup, a charge Gulen has denied. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudis Revealed as Possible Secret Buyer of Ukraine's 'Grom' Missile System Sputnik News 21:19 28.08.2016(updated 22:11 28.08.2016) Earlier this month, Ukrainian media reported that significant progress had been made on the development of a Grom-2, a new tactical ballistic missile system meant to compete with Russia's Iskander SRBM. Now, new information has become available regarding the weapons system, including its secretive financier. At the beginning of the month, speaking to local media, Pavlograd Chemical Plant director Leonid Schiemann revealed that after receiving financing of about one billion hryvnia ($40 million) from an unnamed investor, engineers at enterprises under the umbrella of the Ukrainian State Space Agency had made significant progress in the development of the Grom-2, an analogue to the Russian Iskander tactical ballistic and cruise missile complex. Recently, BMPD, a military blog unofficially affiliated with the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a respected Moscow-based think tank, revealed that the Grom-2 project was commissioned by the Saudis, who provided the Pavlograd Chemical Plant with about $40 million in financing to develop the missile complex for Riyadh. According to BMPD, the Saudis are looking for a system capable of firing both ballistic and cruise missiles interchangeably. Information regarding Grom-2's ongoing development was first provided at the Arms and Security exhibition in Kiev last year, with the concept for the system dating back as far as 2003, at which time the country could not find the necessary development funding. The system is expected to feature two ground-to-ground missiles, and to have a range of 280 km (with possible upgrades increasing that to 500 km); Grom-2 is expected to use the prospective 'Korshun' ('Kite') cruise missile. The system's designers have claimed that Grom-2's unconventional flight trajectory will enable it to defeat the most advanced missile defense systems, including Russia's S-300 and S-400. Asked to comment on BMPD's reporting on the Saudi trace, Andrei Frolov, an expert at CAST and chief editor of Arms Export magazine, suggested that the details behind the story remain very murky. Speaking to the independent online news and analysis resource Svobodnaya Pressa, Frolov commented on Riyadh's possible motives, and why their investment in the Ukrainian defense sector doesn't seem to make much sense. "On the one hand, ordering the Grom is an opportunity for Riyadh to get ahold of a modern tactical ballistic missile system, which the Americans do not seem to want to sell them. On the other hand, Riyadh could easily buy such weapons from Beijing." "The Ukrainians may have promised the Saudis not only a prototype which, depending on the objective, could be equipped with different systems, but also production of the weapon. Kiev's assurances that Grom-2 will be able to launch both ballistic and cruise missile is a clear allusion to the Iskander," the Russian system which includes the Iskander-M and Iskander-K modification, the former equipped with ballistic missiles, the latter with cruise. However, according to Frolov, the chances of Ukrainian engineers actually bringing such a system to life are "doubtful" at best. As for the Korshun cruise missile, which analysts have previously said "outwardly looks very similar to the long-range Soviet-era air-based Kh-55," Frolov noted that while Ukraine technically has the capability to produce elements of cruise missiles using manufacturing and design capacities left over from the Soviet period, it's unlikely that Kiev's benefactors in Washington will allow the country to build modern cruise missiles. "The US will do everything possible to prevent Ukraine from producing cruise missiles, as they know that such systems specifically those with a range of 280 km or more, will be produced exclusively for export, ending up, for example, in Iran, which would be very interested in cruise systems at knockdown prices. Even under the previous Ukrainian government, when the country was not facing such a tense situation domestically, Washington attempted to block Ukrainian moves, sometimes unsuccessfully, as in the case [in the mid-2000s] when Kiev supplied China and Iran with Kh-55s using forged documents that named Russia as the missiles' destination." As far as the vehicle chassis carrying the missile system is concerned, Frolov suggested that judging by reports, Ukrainian engineers may use MAN trucks purchased through Belarus, a Belarusian option (such as MAZ), or even Chinese and Korean trucks. "But all of this is theoretical; it's very difficult to imagine that the Ukrainian defense ministry is in a position to create a rocket for a tactical ballistic missile system, since it barely managed creating a guided missile for the Smerch multiple launch rocket system, and even here it's not clear whether this is a new system or a Soviet-era one." Furthermore, the analyst emphasized that building a production line for the system would cost enormous amounts of money, far more than investors have laid out so far. In fact, he suggested, "it's entirely possible that the contract for a Ukrainian short-range ballistic missile system was a really a measure aimed at retroactively legalizing the transfer of other technology and individual components to Saudi Arabia, accounting for Riyadh's traditional interest in ballistic missiles of all kinds." For his part, colonel-general Viktor Yesin, former chief of Russia's Strategic Missile Troops, suggested that it's possible for Riyadh to show interest in missile systems from the former Soviet space, including Ukraine, given the interest they have previously shown in similar Russian systems, which were eventually simply banned for export. At the same time however, he too indicated that he doesn't quite understand the logic behind Riyadh's moves. "It can be assumed that they have invested money into the Ukrainian defense industry to get at least some analog to Russian systems. But in general this seems like a very convoluted path to achieving this, given that Saudi ally Pakistan has a whole line of tactical missile systems it is willing to sell to Riyadh." Meanwhile, retired colonel Mikhail Khodarenok, a former staffer at the Russian General Staff's Main Operations Directorate, told Svobodnaya Pressa that contemporary Ukraine's defense industry has yet to produce a successful missile system of any kind. In this light, he noted, "the Saudi position is surprising. First of all, the Saudis are generally pretty pragmatic, and very picky in terms of their procurement of military equipment. Meanwhile, no one has actually seen the Grom-2 in the flesh only poor quality images. Secondly, Riyadh has the opportunity and the money to purchase tactical missile systems from China or Pakistan." "In my opinion, the only plausible explanation for this is that the Saudis were given the recommendation to support the Ukrainian defense industry," Khodarenok suggested. The expert did not elaborate on who may have offered such a recommendation. Finally, for his part, Alexei Leonkov, defense analyst and former expert at the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute outside Moscow, suggested that the chances of Riyadh's investment actually paying off range from slim to none. "When it comes to developing tactical missile systems, the Ukrainians do not go beyond advertising campaigns and booths at military shows. Aside from the fact that such work requires organizing the design and production process, the rockets also have to be tested somewhere. [Ukrainian engineers] recently demonstrated a multiple rocket launcher system firing guided munitions at one of their testing grounds, but trials and testing of correctable ballistic or cruise missile projectiles is something else completely. Ultimately, I don't think this Grom will be going anywhere, or be shooting anything." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Opinion / Columnist The violent opposition demonstrations that have been occurring in parts of the country are uncalled for.They disturb peace and tranquility, create bad Press for the country and can drive investors and tourists away.We have seen them in Chitungwiza, Beitbridge, and Bulawayo and more regularly in Harare where on Wednesday and Friday last week hoodlums assaulted members of the public, burnt two police and Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation vehicles and looted shops. They are becoming a weekly occurrence indeed.It is encouraging though that the demonstrations have not grown to the more massive extent their drivers MDC-T, Zimbabwe People First and Western embassies want them to. They have remained clearly localised.We are confident that peace-loving Zimbabweans who understand that governments must not be removed through street protests would continue going about their businesses, while law enforcement agents remain on top of the situation.But weekend reports that the MDC-T has actually trained some of its youths in paramilitary tactics and systematic urban violence concern us.We are not too surprised that there appears to be some basic military training in some of the anarchists if one critically analyses the rarely seen confrontational nature of the protests. In some cases the thugs are actually physically attacking police officers. At First Street Police post in Harare, for example, officers had to retreat after an opposition activist tossed a teargas canister into their station. We ask ourselves where the youths got such brazen courage to actually take on a law enforcement agent, in public.Home Affairs Minister, Dr Ignatius Chombo was quoted in our sister paper, The Sunday Mail saying yesterday: "There is intelligence which we are gathering, and indications are that these people have been trained outside Zimbabwe to carry out these acts. In due time, we will expose what they have been doing behind the scenes leading up to these protests because a lot has been happening.As President Mugabe correctly alluded to in his speech on (Friday), these people are plotting an 'Arab Spring' strategy to remove the sitting Government of Zanu-PF. "They really think they have gone a gear up, but it will not work here. We are aware of these opposition leaders who are leading these acts and very soon, they are going to be made to account for their deeds."MDC-T and ZimPF leaders must be strongly warned that the military element that they want to ingrain into their quest for political power will leave them gnashing their teeth. We say this because they cannot train their thugs and send them to take on law enforcement agents, who themselves are militarily trained, and expect a soft response.It would obviously be a bare-knuckled clash which the opposition would lose. We don't want the situation to deteriorate to that extent. We are sure many Zimbabweans have not forgotten the orgy of politically motivated violence that the MDC prosecuted over the years, but mostly between 15 and 25 March 2007 that targeted police stations in Harare, Chitungwiza, Mutare and Gweru.Three policewomen were badly hurt in a petrol bomb attack at Marimba Police Camp in Harare at midnight while a police post in Mkoba, Gweru, was also bombed on the same night in attacks that appeared to be coordinated. We remember the horrific picture of then Constable Pretty Rushwaya sitting on her hospital bed showing a face burnt following the petrol-bomb attack. Constable Brenda Makamba, also of Marimba Police Camp, was also a victim of a similar attack.So when the MDC-T goons do what they have been doing over the past few days, or weeks, we are reminded of the violent streak the party has always shown over the past 17 years.We denounce it and demand that Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and his new-found accomplices, ZimPF's Dr Joice Mujuru and Mr Didymus Mutasa stop their dangerous games and call their boys to order.Already, fears abound that if their activities continue, as Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Walter Mzembi says elsewhere in this issue, the travel and tourism sector might start taking a knock. He expressed the fear that source markets might start issuing travel warnings, discouraging people in those countries from visiting Zimbabwe."After a good day's work, month or years as has been the case with tourism, people have chosen to reverse our work by their actions," he said. "Recent events and protests have hurt tourism and Zimbabwe badly. Tourism cannot package and sell conflict. We've succeeded to date in repositioning Brand Zimbabwe, largely because despite national differences, they've not translated into public conflict to the extent where it constitutes a security threat warranting travel advisories, which we successfully negotiated away in 2009. Anyone who seeks to govern one day, or form alternative government must invest in peace. We should all roundly reject violence of any shade as a means of expression of our Zimbabweaness! We fought for democracy to make the ballot box the theatre of change, not street fighting. So anyone who aspires to govern must invest in peace, dialogue and superior ideas. So let's get off the streets, exercise mutual tolerance for our diverse positions and meet in conference rooms like the educated and enlightened people we are and design the Zimbabwe we want."We totally agree with him and the President who has already pronounced the Government's unhappiness with the opposition efforts to spread anarchy with the goal of unconstitutionally removing the Government from office. Two University of Virginia graduates will be helping Dan River Region high school students review college options, explore careers and plan for the future as part of the Virginia College Advising Corps program. The program which is sponsored by UVa and Americorps is sending 22 UVa graduates across Virginia to advise high school students with the perspectives of someone fresh out of college. In Danville, UVa graduate Robin Yeh has been working at George Washington High School and fellow graduate Shanice Hardy has been working at both Dan River High School and Tunstall High School. They place us in schools around Virginia to serve as a college advisor for two years, Yeh said. What Im doing is really encouraging students to consider college as a post-graduation plan. Yeh and Hardy said many of the students they work with will be first-generation college students, and need help navigating the application process, SAT and ACT testing, financial aid and other obstacles to higher education. The whole process is new to them, Yeh said. Im really just there as a resource to help them. Hardy applied because as a first-generation college student herself, she knew how important an academic advisor was in helping her make the decision to attend. I had a college advisor and she really helped me through the process, Hardy said. Yehs experience helping out college freshmen as a resident advisor at UVa inspired her to pursue the program. She said she enjoyed working with students in a one-on-one environment, because it helped her support them on a personal level. Virginia College Advising Corps Director Joy Pugh said the program also has resulted in tangible benefits for participating high schools. Over a six-year period, our partner high schools saw an average increase in their college matriculation rate of 9.7 percentage points, Pugh said in a news release. This is an exceptional outcome and amounts to thousands of Virginians going on to post-secondary education who wouldnt have without the support and assistance of a college adviser. The program began 11 years ago at the University of Virginia and has since expanded to a nationwide effort. More than 100 UVa graduates have assisted high schools across the commonwealth. I cant say enough about the college advisers, Pugh said in the release. The dedication that they have to their students, and to serving these communities, is inspiring. After the program ends, Yeh plans to pursue a degree in student affairs and Hardy plans to enter a graduate program for social work. Im looking to get my masters in social work, Hardy said. I still want to work with the youth in some capacity. Since 2012 Intertape Polymer Group including its Danville plant has been working to become more energy conscious, reduce greenhouse gases and find ways to reduce its power bill in ways small and large. The effort has been paying off not only has the company as a group, and the Danville plant in particular, been successful in implementing energy and cost savings, but they are consistently getting recognition for those efforts. Continuous improvement has been a journey for the past four years, Philip Kauneckas, corporate energy manager for the Danville plant, said. Some of the things the company has done to reduce costs may not sound like a lot, but over time, a lot of small changes have added up to savings, improved efficiency and a company-wide determination to find ways to reduce the plants energy footprint. Old-fashioned metal halide industrial light bulbs that took about 20 minutes to warm up and produce light, Kauneckas said were switched to T8 fluorescents that tuned on immediately, and now the plant is testing LED lighting. To further reduce lighting costs, areas of the plant particularly in storage areas are on movement timers so the lights only come on when someone enters the area. The initiative includes involving all employees in finding ways to save energy and become more efficient, Kauneckas said. The company has regularly scheduled treasure hunts led by teams of employees who go through the plant, talk to employees and determine if there is any potential for savings, not matter how small or large. During those treasure hunts everything is inspected the smallest leak in an air compressor hose is found and fixed so the equipment operates at peak efficiency. Larger issues and ideas for cost-cutting are considered and, if viable, are worked into the companys budget, plant manager Michael Jones said. Over time, the cost savings have added up. The most recent recognition the Danville plant received is from a competition created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and NASCAR called the Virginia NASCAR E3 Green Challenge. The program that encourages manufacturers to reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and the Danville Intertape plant was the winner this year. Some of the reasons Intertape won is because the company has been able to reduce carbon emissions by 2,000 metric tons over the past two years and saving $352,000 in energy costs. The GENEDGE Alliance did various energy assessments of the plant and worked with Intertape to find ways to cut costs and emissions, Kauneckas said. Other company-wide awards and recognition have come from Energy Star, which have recognized the plant for sustained excellence and as an energy partner of the year. Thats the top award a plant can win, Jones said. Soaring energy rates impact plant, threaten jobs Despite the other efforts to conserve electricity, the Danville plants energy costs rose in 2015 when Danville Utilities raised large-industry power rates unexpectedly. At that time, David Bennett, vice president of operations, CST and films, said the increase threw the plants budget out of line by $500,000 for the year and forced the plant to transfer projects to another of Intertapes 11 plants in the U.S. and lay off employees in Danville to balance the budget. Intertape representatives as well as representatives from other manufacturers in Danville Utilities electric territory regularly attended Danville Utility Commission meetings, stressing that skyrocketing costs could continue to cost jobs. Bennett pointed out that some of Intertapes smaller plants had far more competitive electric rates than Danville Utilities and without bringing local rates in line with surrounding utilities there would be long-term effects. As Danville Utilities largest customer, Intertape paid almost $3.7 million for electricity between July 2013 and June 2014. Bennett said in the year that followed, electric rates had jumped by 10 percent. Danville Utility commissioners discussed various options, including allowing large industrial customers to choose another electric provider. In November 2015, Danville Utility Commissioner Bill Donohue experienced in energy initiatives as the president and executive director of GENEDGE noted that while that could be an option, lowering their rates would be less costly to Danville Utilities than losing the customer altogether. In January, Danville City Council voted to reduce the rate, and offer large manufacturer the option of switching to another provider. Bennett said last week that the reduction helped get Intertapes costs in line and the company would continue to use Danville Utilities as its electric provider. But, Kauneckas said the company will not stop looking for ways to be more energy efficient and reduce its impact on the environment. Going forward Kauneckas said the Danville plant worked to create a local chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers, which brings energy professionals together with businesses interested in finding ways to trim energy costs, become more efficient and reduce their impact on the environment and sharing what they are learning with the community. Kauneckas, who is president of the local chapter this year, said they have visited groups ranging from youth programs to churches, talking about ways to cuts costs both at businesses and at homes. Members of the group share in the treasure hunts at plants, giving a fresh eye on operations that employees see every day. Intertape will continue its in-house efforts to keep costs down as well, Kauneckas said whether that means reminding employees of the most efficient ways to shut down equipment during break times or investigating new energy technologies that would require capital investments. Considering how much the plant spends on power, finding a 1-percent savings is a huge deal, Kauneckas said, even while admitting that it gets harder over time to find new ways to save. Its harder to find things to fix as we become more efficient, Kauneckas said. But, Jones said, they will keep looking. Well get new people involved, new eyes, look at a different department we didnt focus on before, Jones said. Theres always something. Shares Issued: 183,131,604 THUNDER BAY, ON, Aug. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Premier Gold Mines Ltd. ("Premier" or "The Company") (TSX:PG) is pleased to provide an update of ongoing development and mining activities at the Company's 40%-owned South Arturo Mine located in the Carlin Trend, Nevada. The South Arturo Mine is a joint venture between Premier and Barrick Gold Corp.'s wholly-owned subsidiary Barrick Gold Exploration Inc. ("Barrick"). Barrick as the operator, processes the ore from South Arturo at their Goldstrike facility located approximately 5 kilometres to the south. Development of the mine was completed on-time and on budget with ore being processed beginning on August 1st. To the end of July, approximately 55 million tons of material (ore and waste) has been mined in 2016. The Q2 average mining cost was $1.16/ton vs a budgeted cost of $1.28/ton. The savings are primarily related to Barrick's company-wide cost savings program. The 2016 gold production attributable to Premier is estimated to be 80,000 ounces and the project is expected to be cash flow positive for the year, net of capital. "It has been almost ten years to the day, that Premier's shares were listed for trading on the TSX Exchange and it is with great pride that we have celebrated this landmark event with the Company's first ever gold pour", stated Ewan Downie on the Company's C-Suite Blog (http://www.premiergoldmines.com/news/c-suite-blog). "Premier's vision has been to transform from explorer to a mid-tier producer by operating in world-class mining jurisdictions. Successful mine development at South Arturo, the recently announced acquisition of the Mercedes Mine, and advancing our best-in-class portfolio of advanced-stage projects will ensure that we can continue to realize this vision". Following the recent quarterly joint venture meeting, several members of the Premier team participated in the Company's first official gold pour (see images below) commemorating the milestone event for Premier. The joint venture continues to assess additional opportunities for future development including other potential open pit and underground deposits on the Property. Drilling from the Arturo pit will be completed to further define the El Nino underground deposit situated down plunge of the current Phase 2 pit. Permitting work associated with a potential underground ramp to be driven from the pit is currently underway. Bulk samples from the underground portal at the historic Storm mine as well as additional planned drilling will be used to complete more detailed metallurgical test work to refine the economic opportunity of additional open pits on the Property. Stephen McGibbon, P. Geo., Executive Vice-President Corporate & Project Development of Premier, is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this press release. Premier Gold Mines Limited is one of North America's leading junior producing companies with a high-quality pipeline of projects focused in proven, safe and accessible mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States that includes world class gold mining districts such as Red Lake and Geraldton in Ontario and the Carlin and Eureka-Battle Mountain Trends in Nevada. Forward Looking Information This Press Release contains certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements about the estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves, strategic plans, including future operations, future work programs, capital expenditures, discovery and production of minerals, price of gold and currency exchange rates, timing of geological reports and corporate and technical objectives. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the risks inherent to the mining industry, adverse economic and market developments and the risks identified in Premier's annual information form under the heading "Risk Factors". There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. Premier disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE Premier Gold Mines Ltd. Opinion / Columnist The successive police brutality in Harare portray that Zimbabwe is now a police state and that the Zanu-PF government wants to declare war on citizens and a state of emergency.The brutality exhibited by the police over the past few days show that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has failed to transform itself from a vicious colonial force over 36 years after independence.This brutality shows that Zanu-PF wants Zimbabwe to be a police state and declare a state of emergency.The horrifying images of the police attacking innocent citizens in central Harare last Wednesday and Friday, is an indication that we now have a police state contrary to the country's Constitution.However, the Zanu-PF regime wants to take Zimbabwe to that era and deprive Zimbabweans their democratic rights of holding peaceful demonstrations and freedom of association and expression.More shocking is that heavily armed police officers have also blocked people from attending the bail hearing of 75 citizens who were illegally arrested on Friday in central Harare.As the People's Democratic Party (PDP), we strongly condemn this gross abuse of human rights violations by the state and non-state agents.We also denounce the use of threats of violence by Zanu-PF youths who were on Sunday in the presence of the police and yet no action was taken.The state media has also joined in issuing threats of violence and peddling falsehoods by accusing opposition parties of training terrorist.It is clear that the Zanu-PF government has panicked and will try to use all evil acts including shedding of innocent blood as it tries to suppress the citizens' democratic rights.As PDP, we say no the declaration of a state of emergency and we say to a police state.As PDP, we therefore urgent the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), to urgently intervene because there is going to be loss of life in Zimbabwe. #TogetherAnotherZimbabweIsPossible !!!Jacob MafumePDP National Spokesperson VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 29, 2016) - Balmoral Resources Ltd. ("Balmoral" or the "Company") (TSX: BAR) (OTCQX: BALMF) has received, from joint venture partner GTA Resources and Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE: GTA), the results from preliminary metallurgical testing of two composite samples from the Northshore Property, in Ontario. Results from standard bottle roll tests for the two samples, one from the core of the Afric Zone and one from the high-grade Audney vein system, returned peak gold recoveries of 96.3% and 99.5% respectively. The preliminary metallurgical work was performed by Activation Labs in Thunder Bay, Ontario and consisted of standard cyanide bottle roll testing with atomic absorption analysis for gold. Sample "A", from the central core of the Afric Zone weighed 43.90 kilograms and had an assayed head grade varying from 2.65 to 2.93 g/t gold. Sample "D", from the high-grade Audney vein system (see NR16-17, August 22, 2016 for recent drill results), weighed 9.60 kilograms and had an assayed head grade varying from 10.90 to 11.60 g/t gold. Jennifer Steyn, Metallurgy Manager for Activation Labs, stated "These results indicate that the mineralization is free milling and excellent recoveries can be made using conventional cyanidation". A full version of the "Gold Cyanidation Report" can be found on the company website at www.balmoralresources.com The two samples were composited from assay reject samples from the recently completed phase of drilling on the property which were split and pulverized to 95% passing 105 micron prior to testing. Peak recoveries were achieved after 24 hours for sample D at 99.5%. Sample A reached 94.8% recoveries in 24 hours, peaking at 96.3% after 48 hours. Cyanide and lime consumption during the tests are considered by Activation Labs to be "fairly average" and that comparable recoveries are also likely achievable using a lower initial/maintained cyanide consumption. GTA, as operator of the Northshore Property, is currently evaluating the near surface potential of the Afric Gold Zone on the Northshore Property. The Company has been advised that GTA anticipates resuming the current drill program on the Property in early September and that it should be completed within one month of commencement. The Northshore Property is a joint venture between Balmoral and GTA. GTA is the current operator of the joint venture and holds a 51.4% interest in the Property. In addition to its 48.6% interest in the Northshore Property Balmoral currently holds approximately 7.65% of the issued and outstanding shares of GTA. Quality Control and Assurance: GTA has implemented a quality control program for the drill programs on the Northshore Property to ensure best practice in sampling and analysis. GTA maintains strict quality assurance/quality control protocols including the systematic insertion of certified standard reference and blank materials into each sample batch. Analyses in this release were performed by Actlabs in Thunder Bay, Ontario with ISO 17025 accreditation. Samples are transported in sealed bags to Actlabs and all samples were assayed using industry-standard assay techniques for gold. Gold was analyzed by a standard 30 gram fire assay with an AA and/or gravimetric finish. The planning, execution and monitoring of GTA's exploration programs on the Northshore Project are under the supervision of Robert (Bob) Duess, P. Geo. (Ontario), VP Exploration of GTA. Mr. Duess is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is also the Qualified Person for this release. Mr. Duess has supervised the work programs on the Northshore Property, supervised the collection of the samples described herein and reviewed the results presented by Activation Labs. Mr. Duess has also reviewed this release. Mr. Darin Wagner, P. Geo., has consulted with Mr. Duess, reviewed the results contained herein and approved the release on behalf of the Company. Metallurgical work as summarized in this press release was performed by Activation Labs in Thunder Bay, Ontario which is an ISO 17025 accredited facility. About Balmoral Resources Ltd. - www.balmoralresources.com Balmoral is a well-funded, Canadian-based company actively delineating and expanding the high-grade Bug Lake Gold Trend on its wholly owned, 700 square kilometre Detour Trend Project in Quebec, Canada. Employing an award winning exploration team, Balmoral has a philosophy of creating value through the drill bit. By focusing our efforts in proven productive precious/base metal belts in one of the world's preeminent mining jurisdictions, Balmoral is following an established formula with a goal of maximizing shareholder value through discovery and definition of high-grade, Canadian gold and base metal assets. On behalf of the board of directors of BALMORAL RESOURCES LTD. "Darin Wagner" President and CEO This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, duration and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the timing of the receipt of assay results, the projection of future metallurgical recoveries based on limited testing and business and financing plans and trends are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include those related to weather, equipment and staff availability; performance of third parties; risks related to the exploration stage of the Company's projects; market fluctuations in prices for securities of exploration stage companies and in commodity prices; and uncertainties about the availability of additional financing; risks related to the Company's ability to identify one or more economic deposits on the properties, and variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located on the properties; risks related to the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities on the properties; and risks related to the Company's ability to produce minerals from the properties successfully or profitably. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative.All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the latest technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. BURLINGTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 29, 2016 / GTA Mining and Resources Inc. (TSXV: GTA) ("GTA" or the "Company") reports preliminary metallurgical testing from the Northshore Property. Results from two composites, one from core of the Afric Zone and one from core of the high-grade Audney vein system, returned peak gold recoveries of 96.3% and 99.5% respectively. The Company recently reported the results of 36 drill holes from those two areas (see press release dated 22-Aug-2016) as part of its on-going evaluation of the at/near surface potential of the Afric Zone. Preliminary metallurgical test work was conducted on two composited drill core samples to determine potential gold recoveries. The preliminary metallurgical work was performed by Act Labs in Thunder Bay, and consisted of standard cyanide bottle roll testing with atomic absorption analysis for gold. Sample "A" weighed 43.9 kg and had an assayed head grade varying from 2.65 to 2.93 g/t gold. Sample "D", from the high-grade Audney vein system, weighed 9.6 kg and had an assayed head grade varying from 11.6 to 10.9 g/t gold. Jennifer Steyn, Metallurgy Manager, Act Labs stated, "These results indicate that the mineralization is free milling and excellent recoveries can be made using conventional cyanidation". A full version of the "Gold Cyanidation Report" can be found on the company website at www.gtaresources.com. Peak recovery was achieved after 24 hours for sample D at 99.5%. Sample A reached 94.8% recovery in 24 hours, peaking at 96.3% after 48 hours. Cyanide and lime consumption during the tests are considered by ACT Labs to be "fairly average". "We are very encouraged with these results as reported today," commented Wayne Reid, President and CEO of GTA. "Although this is preliminary metallurgical work, these results indicate that the higher grade sections at the core of the Afric Zone should be relatively simple to process and have excellent gold recoveries." The Northshore Gold Property is located in Priske Township, near the town of Schreiber, Ontario, approximately 200 km east of Thunder Bay or 125 km west of Hemlo, Ontario. It is a joint venture with Balmoral Resources Ltd. (see press release dated Aug. 18, 2014). GTA is the operator and owns more than a 51% interest in the project. GTA is funding 100% of recent field work as Balmoral has opted not to participate in this phase of the program and will be diluted accordingly. QA/QC - The planning, execution and monitoring of GTA's exploration programs on the Northshore Project are under the supervision of Robert (Bob) Duess, P. Geo. (Ontario), VP Exploration of GTA. Mr. Duess is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is also the Qualified Person for this release. Mr. Duess has supervised the work programs on the Northshore Property, and has also reviewed and approved this release. Metallurgical work as summarized in this press release was performed by Act Labs in Thunder Bay, Ontario with ISO 17025 accreditation. In other news, GTA announces the resignation of Robert Duess, Director and Vice President of Exploration. Mr. Duess was a founding member and leader of GTA Resources and Mining. He will stay on as an advisor where his knowledge and experience will continue to help guide the company. The resignation will be effective October 20, 2016 prior to GTA's Annual General Meeting. ABOUT GTA - GTA is a publicly traded mineral exploration company. It is led by an experienced and successful management team and is focused on exploring for gold and zinc in Canada. GTA is a tightly held company having 40,266,855 shares outstanding of which insiders control approximately 21% and its JV partner holding an additional 8%. The Company's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "GTA." The Company currently has two projects located in northern Ontario: the 51% owned Northshore Project, near Schreiber and the 100% owned Auden Project near Hearst. GTA also owns a 100% interest in the Burnt Pond Project in central Newfoundland, proximal to the past-producing Duck Pond Cu-Zn Mine. On behalf of the board of directors GTA Resources and Mining Inc. "Wayne Reid" President and CEO 709 699 1733 For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.gtaresources.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement, duration and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the timing of the receipt of assay results, and business and financing plans and trends, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions or are those which, by their nature, refer to future events. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include those related to weather, equipment and staff availability; performance of third parties; risks related to the exploration stage of the Company's projects; market fluctuations in prices for securities of exploration stage companies and in commodity prices; and uncertainties about the availability of additional financing; risks related to the Company's ability to identify one or more economic deposits on the properties, and variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located on the properties; risks related to the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities on the properties; and risks related to the Company's ability to produce minerals from the properties successfully or profitably. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the latest technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. This press release is not, and is not to be construed in any way as, an offer to buy or sell securities in the United States. SOURCE: GTA Mining and Resources Inc. TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug 29, 2016) - Great Lakes Graphite Inc. ("GLK" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:GLK)(OTC PINK:GLKIF)(FRANKFURT:8GL) is pleased to announce it has entered into an equity financing agreement with Global Corporate Finance LLC ("GCF") through which up to USD$4,000,000 is being made available to the Company over a two year period. The facility is intended to provide access to working capital to fund operations of the Company during initiation of commercial production and for sales and marketing purposes and other corporate initiatives that may arise during that period. Great Lakes will control the timing and drawdown amount under the agreement, which is contingent upon approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company will have the right, but not the obligation, to access available funds at predetermined intervals, in exchange for equity. "Global Corporate Finance is looking forward to investing in Great Lakes Graphite and gaining direct exposure to a vertically integrated, carbon focused company with a strong management team," said Randy Rivera, a Managing Director at GCF. "Partnering with the team at Global Corporate Finance, a world class investment group, provides Great Lakes with the financial strength to insure the proper execution of our business plan. GCF brings a wealth of experience gained from working with growing businesses, as well as the capital to facilitate the establishment of our micronization and purification business lines. This arrangement was specifically structured to free the Company from continuing to spend an inordinate amount of time seeking investment capital," said Paul Gorman, CEO of GLK. About Global Corporate Finance: Global Corporate Finance LLC (GCF) is a private family office, located in New York City. GCF focuses on micro and mid cap companies in emerging markets and provide a global footprint for proprietary partnering resources, expertise, and funding. GCF and its predecessors have made over 200 investments in listed companies in multiple geographies. About Great Lakes Graphite: Great Lakes Graphite Inc. is an industrial minerals company focused on bringing value-added carbon products to a well-defined market. The Company is party to an agreement for shared use of a portion of an industrial facility located in Matheson, Ontario owned by Northfil Resources Limited, as well as for supply of high quality natural graphite concentrate (see news release dated 03/23/15), which have positioned Great Lakes Graphite to become an emerging domestic manufacturer and supplier of micronized products to a growing regional customer base where pricing and demand continue to rise. Further information regarding Great Lakes can be found on the Company's website at: www.GreatLakesGraphite.com. Great Lakes Graphite trades with symbol GLK on the TSX Venture Exchange and currently has 117,561,978 shares outstanding. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information: Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward looking information" which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking information. When used in this press release, such forward looking information may use such words as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "plan" and other similar terminology. Forward looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations relating to the future events and the operating performance of the Company, and readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company to fulfill the orders and future orders, regulatory requirements, general economic, market or business conditions and future developments in the sectors of the economy in which the business of Great Lakes operates. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Please see the Company's financial statements, MD&A and other documents available on www.sedar.com, for a more detailed description of the risk factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking information, whether a result of new information, future results or otherwise, except as required by law. - Geophysical-geological interpretation defines a primary Copper-Zinc massive sulphide signature - Overprinted by a secondary Gold enrichment associated with multiple structural events linked to the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone - Gold zones form part of multiple, subparallel, E-W trending faults, individually extending more than 4 km in length MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Aug 29, 2016) - Aurvista Gold Corporation ("Aurvista" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:AVA)(OTC PINK:ARVSF)(FRANKFURT:AV2) announces the completion of an Airborne Magnetic-Time Domain Electromagnetic-Radiometric Geophysical Survey (the "Survey") (refer to the Company news release dated June 14, 2016) and the release of Survey's result, in addition to an update of the Company's on-going Detailed Targeting Program at its 100% owned Douay Gold Project ("Douay") with drilling planned for Q4-2016 and Q1-2017. Geophysics focused on Douay's central and western portions and was primarily designed to define key contacts and faults which could be linked to the gold mineralization, their extensions and outline potential gold-bearing massive sulphides within 2 km of the porphyry unit, all to a depth of -150 meters, within the 10 km long by 3 km wide Douay-Style Mineralization ("DSM") corridor. Previous geophysical programs identified a number of EM-INPUT anomalies that are consistent with massive sulphide development as discovered elsewhere in Quebec-Ontario segments of the Abitibi Belt. 2014-2015 Geophysical Compilation and Interpretation In 2014, Aurvista completed a Geophysical Interpretation (the "GI") of the 1976 government electromagnetic-magnetic ("EM") INPUT survey, the 11 ground Induced Polarization ("IP") surveys completed from 1986 to 2011, and the Company's 2011 airborne magnetic and the 2 ground IP surveys from 2015 (refer to previous Company news releases dated December 17, 2014, and April 8 and April 30, 2015). The GI assisted in identifying additional targets with similar geophysical signatures to those associated with already known gold mineralization on Douay. The interpretation confirmed the DSM corridor comprising of a SE-tilted parallelogram-shaped block, bounded in all directions by SE-NW and NE-SW splay faults of the E-W trending Casa Berardi Deformation Zone (the "CBDZ"). The DSM consists of a unique geophysical response of chaotic, non-linear, and distorted bands of strong magnetic highs and complementary lows resulting from the faulting, shearing, and alteration of the host rocks. The 8 known higher and 2 lower grade gold zones within the DSM occupy magnetic lows and are surrounded by strongly magnetic basalts and gabbros. The GI also showed potential outside the DSM for additional significant and untested gold and base metal mineralization along the 20 km trend of Douay. EM INPUT clusters of conductors were identified and require further testing to confirm potential massive sulphides based on the geological-geophysical association. IP can help identify disseminated sulphides and faults potentially linked to the gold and/or VMS mineralization. The IP at Douay showed a complex array of crisscrossing E-W, NW-SE and NE-SW faults mirroring structures outlined by the airborne magnetic survey. The array forms anastomosing patterns, and as in the case of the heavily tested Douay West Zone, the gold mineralization appears to sit at the junction of anastomosing faults. Where narrower linear IP resistivity lows occur they are overlapped by similar linear EM-INPUT anomalies, and correspond to conductive linear and recessive graphitic faults typical of the CBDZ. Discrete groupings of EM INPUT anomalies located in felsic and mafic volcanic rocks are associated with areas of higher IP resistivity, likely a non-graphite component to the conductors, such as sulphide-bearing cherts, as observed within the 6 km by 1 km EM INPUT grouping running westwards from the South Porphyry. 2016 Geophysical Survey and Interpretation Aurvista contracted Prospectair Geosurveys of Gatineau (Quebec) to complete and airborne helicopter magnetic, time-domain electromagnetic ("TDEM") and radiometric survey to complement the 1976 EM-INPUT and 2011 magnetic survey but at greater depth. A total of 1,421 line-km were flown along N-S 150 m spaced lines with the magnetic responses mimicking those from the Aurvista 2011 magnetic survey. The Total Counts per Second ("CPS") of the radiometric portion of the Survey maps out 3 areas of shallow overburden (higher CPS) with felsic rocks either "granites", porphyries, cherts and/or rhyolites-rhyodacites ("1" to "3"), 8 linear troughs (lower CPS) linked to possible faults ("4" to "11"), and the N-S esker (higher CPS) ("12") under the Amos-Matagami provincial highway (higher CPS). The TDEM survey outlined 7 strong anomalies ("A" to "G"), all associated to the strongest EM-INPUT anomalies, 4 in proximity to the CBDZ ("A" to "D"), NW of the DSM, and 3 in proximity to, and surrounding the 'South Porphyry" ("E" to "G"), S of the DSM (refer to Figure 1 using the following link). Characteristics of each anomaly is summarized in the following table: TDEM ANOMALY LOCATION LENGTH x WIDTH AZ. COMMENTS "A" NORTH CBDZ, NW corner of the Douay Property 1,300m x 150-250m peak 106 3,500m long anomaly; DDH JO-11-08: 0.16% Copper, 16.5 g/t Silver / 0.9 m in sulphide cherts "A" SOUTH 1,300m x 220m 130 None "B" NORTH 500m SE of "A" 800m x 220m 215 None "B" SOUTH 1,100m x 150-450m 225 Left-handed offset of "B" NORTH "C" WEST"C" EAST 1,200m E of "B" 950m x 100m 115 Two peak conductors separated by magnetic, non-conductive NE diabase-gabbro dyke; DDH54493-0 from "C": 0.18% Zinc / 8.9 m D Ties onto "C" to the SE 4,000m X 200-700m 090 3 peaks conductors; largest 450m x 300m; marker horizon(?) between felsics (higher CPS)-mafics (lower CPS) with (?)massive sulphide connection E 6km x 1km Cluster EM -INPUT anomalies, 750m due S of "Adam-Porphyry", Due W of "South Porphyry, bounded to he E by the "20" Zone 950m x 100m 125, 090 450m x 200m middle offshoot trending E-W; DDH DO-92-24 ("20" Zone), 300m E with semi-massive pyrite stringers in chlorite "feeder-pipes" / 73m (77m to 150m) plus altered basalt / 39.62m (41.15m to 80.77m) with 0.55 g/t gold; DDH DO-11-34, 500m N of cluster, 300m NW of DO-92-24, with pyrite stringers in chlorite "feeder-pipes" / 55.5m (28.5m to 84m) F 1,700m due S of "E" 1,500m x 200-250m 100 3 conductive peaks from small to large; peak conductor drilled (1987) with 9 holes, intersected black argillites in basalts: 0.08% Copper / 15.47m from 57.20m to 72.67m, including 0.57% Copper / 0.5m from 57.20m to 57.70m (DDH BD-8106) G 300m due S of "South Porphyry" 2,600m x 500m 150 Contiguous to, parallel to DSM To summarize, Anomaly "E" is the most significant, located in proximity to the gold bearing "Main Porphyry", the "South Porphyry" and the "Adam-Porphyry". There are chlorite-sulphide bearing "feeder pipes" nearby as observed in drill holes DO-92-24 (refer to Figure 2 using the following link) and DO-11-34, typically found in association with massive sulphide mineralization, yet to be found at Douay. The historical drill holes DY-99-04, 05 and 06, 46878-0, 46899-9 and 0, 64487-0, 468880-0 and D-92-32 skimmed the anomaly by drilling above or holes were too short, but explained the conductive source as graphite. There is no graphite in the re-logged drill core. Aurvista is committed to the continued exploration of Douay The Company is well advanced in its previously announced 2016 two-staged exploration campaign on Douay with the primary objective of defining drill targets to increase known Mineral Resource estimates*. The First Stage of the campaign, slated for completion in Q4-2016, will tackle Priority Targeting (the "Program") in two areas, the DSM and 6km by 1 km EM-INPUT sector, where management is confident additional gold mineralization will be discovered. The Second Stage will consist of 4,000 metres of drilling to delineate additional gold mineralization. The Aurvista exploration team is now focused on core re-logging of previous and historic drill holes along 26 sections across Douay, including all previously known gold mineralized and non-mineralized segments, with the purpose of defining the chemical signatures and alteration mineralogy of the known gold mineralization. The purpose of this work is to confirm the suspected source of the volcanic intrusion. This work integrated with the geophysics will assist in vectoring the drills towards additional gold mineralization and the drilling of the best priority targets that could potentially lead to a better quality and expanded mineral resource. To date, drill core re-logging of 45,000 meters of the nearly 200,000 meters of drill core of site stored from all previous vendors is presenting a much simpler geological picture than previously interpreted. There are two distinct but overlapping geological signatures: a primary Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") of Copper-Zinc affinities overprinted by a secondary structurally hosted gold system. The interpreted geological signature is very similar to the 15+ million ounce Doyon-Bousquet-Laronde Mining Camp located 100 km S-SW of Douay, along the Cadillac Larder Lake Deformation Zone. Douay now consists of a northern corridor of fairly pristine, well preserved volcanic tuffs of felsic to intermediate compositions; the central 3 km wide DSM corridor hosting the CBDZ with a mix of porphyries, basalts, felsic volcanic rocks and iron formations, and gold-hosted shear zones; and a southern corridor of mostly basalts with siliceous-chemical sediments and chlorite-sulphide bearing feeder-pipes, both typical of VMS systems. There are well defined continuity of geological units and structures across Douay as was suggested by the previous 2014-2015 geophysical interpretation which has now been confirmed as the iron rich host of the "Douay West" Zone, west of the "South Porphyry", was also observed E-SE of the same porphyry for a distance of 4+ km. The E-W fault or shear zone hosting "Douay West" is the same structure hosting the "Adam-Porphyry". The volcanic stratigraphy trends in a NW-W to E-SE directions whereas the gold structures trend E-W. There are at least a dozen of these subparallel structures. The previously held interpretation of 8 independent higher grade gold zones is incorrect. Management believes there are additional higher grade zones and are linked by an extensive network of E-W, NW-SE and NE-SW structures in magnetic iron rich volcanic rocks, but now non-magnetic sulphide bearing, hosting iron-carbonates alteration, porphyries and/or silica-rich alteration and/or sodium-rich alteration. The technical contents in this news release have approved by Mr. Jean Lafleur, M. Sc., P. Geo., President and CEO for Aurvista Gold Corp., and Mr. Yvan Bussieres, P. Eng., the Douay Project Manager. Both individuals are Qualified Persons under National Instrument 43-101. About Aurvista Gold Corp. Aurvista Gold Corp. is a junior gold exploration and development Company with 90,689,121 shares outstanding trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and OTC Pink Sheets in the US. Aurvista's only asset is the Douay Gold Project, consisting of a 100% owned interest in 250 contiguous claims totaling 133.1 km2, plus a 90% interest in 5 contiguous claims totaling 0.2 km2 and a 75% interest (25% held by SOQUEM) in 32 contiguous claims totaling 11.9 km2. In total there are 287 claims covering 145.3 km2 located along a 20 km segment of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone in the prolific Abitibi Belt of northern Quebec. Douay is located 40 km SW of the Matagami Zinc Base Metal Camp and 150 km N of the Val-d'Or-Malartic Gold Camp (both in Quebec). In August, 2012, Aurvista updated the Mineral Resources estimates* that included all drilling completed to the end of March 2012. Douay contains Mineral Resources estimates* of 2.7 million tonnes of Indicated Resources at 2.76 g/t gold for 238,000 ounces (above a 0.3 g/t gold cut-off grade) or 3,458,000 tonnes grading 2.98 g/t gold (at a 0.5 g/t gold cut-off grade) for 235,500 ounces. There were additional Inferred Resources of 115 million tonnes at 0.75 g/t gold for 2.75 million ounces (above a 0.3 g/t gold cut-off grade) or 62 million tonnes grading 1.06 g/t gold for 2.1 million ounces (above a 0.5 g/t cut-off grade). Details can be viewed on the Company's website at www.aurvistagold.com. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. When used herein, words such as "anticipate", "will", "intend" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Aurvista Gold Corp.'s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company's website at www.aurvistagold.com. TSXV: NEV VANCOUVER, Aug. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp. ("Nevada Sunrise" or the "Company") (TSXV: NEV) is pleased to announce that it has completed its transaction with Advantage Lithium Corp. (TSXV: AAL.H) ("Advantage") whereby Advantage can earn working interests in five of the Company's lithium exploration projects located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. Advantage will also be granted an option to acquire State of Nevada water right Permit 44411 (the "Permit") by assuming the Company's financial obligations related to its option to purchase the Permit. "We are pleased to welcome Advantage Lithium Corp. to Nevada in the search for new North American lithium brine deposits," said Warren Stanyer, President and CEO of Nevada Sunrise. "The Advantage team has a proven track record both in exploration and finance, and we look forward to the upcoming exploration on our Nevada lithium properties, all of which have strong potential for discovery." In addition to a CDN$100,000 cash deposit received in June 2016, at closing Nevada Sunrise received CDN$500,000 cash and 2,071,447 common shares of Advantage, with the share issuance representing 4.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of Advantage. All securities issued by Advantage are subject to a four-month hold period. 75% of the Advantage shares issued to the Company are subject to additional hold periods, which provides for the release of the shares in three equal tranches, 12, 18 and 24 months from closing. Advantage has agreed to issue additional common shares during the course of the option period to satisfy underlying option payments and to incur up to CDN$3.0 million in exploration expenditures in two stages in order to earn up to a 70% interest in the Jackson Wash, Clayton NE and Aquarius properties, and a 50% interest in the Neptune and Gemini properties. The option of the Permit and the right to earn an interest in the Neptune property will be governed by further agreements to be settled among Nevada Sunrise, Advantage, and the water right vendor (with regard to the Permit) and Resolve Ventures Inc. (with regard to the Neptune property). For further details on the transaction, or technical information on the Nevada lithium properties, please refer to the Company's news release dated June 20, 2016 posted on the Nevada Sunrise website at www.nevadasunrise.ca or on SEDAR. About Nevada Sunrise Nevada Sunrise is a junior mineral exploration company with a strong technical team based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, that holds interests in nine mineral exploration projects in the State of Nevada, USA. Nevada Sunrise began acquisitions of Nevada lithium properties in September 2015, which include options to earn 100% interests in the Neptune and Clayton Northeast projects, and a 100% interest in the Aquarius Project, all located in the Clayton Valley area. The Company also holds options to earn 100% interests in the Jackson Wash and Atlantis projects, and has a 50% participating interest in the Gemini project, each located in desert basins proximal to the Clayton Valley. The Company's three key gold assets include a 21% interest in a joint venture with Pilot Gold Inc. (TSX: PLG) at Kinsley Mountain near Wendover, a 100% interest in the Golden Arrow project near Tonopah, and a 100% interest in the Roulette gold property in the southeastern Carlin trend near Ely, with each of the properties subject to certain production royalties. About Advantage Lithium Corp. Advantage Lithium Corp. is a resource company specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration and development of lithium properties and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Its common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "AAL.H". FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp. ("Nevada Sunrise") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements that address the transaction with Advantage Lithium Corp., the successful transfer of Place of Use and Point of Diversion of water rights, proposed exploration and development of our exploration properties and the estimation of mineral resources. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Nevada Sunrise to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the interpretation and actual results of historical exploration at its lithium properties, reliance on technical information provided by third parties on any of our exploration properties, including access to historical information on its lithium properties, current exploration and development activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the Nine Months ended June 30, 2016, which is available under Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Nevada Sunrise has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Nevada Sunrise disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and accordingly are subject to change after such date. Except as otherwise indicated by Nevada Sunrise, these statements do not reflect the potential impact of any non-recurring or other special items or of any dispositions, monetizations, mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or other transactions that may be announced or that may occur after the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Nevada Sunrise does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are included in this document, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this release. The Securities of Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp. have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to the account or benefit of any U.S. person. SOURCE Nevada Sunrise Gold Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 29, 2016) - Centurion Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: CTN) ("Centurion", or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it's joint venture partner, Demetra Minerals Inc. ("Demetra"), has negotiated the sale of up to 7,500 tons of crushed and stockpiled agricultural gypsum that was abandoned by a previous operator at the Ana Sofia Project in Santiago Del Estero Province, Argentina. One of the Province's conditions of the Ana Sofia mining permit, was to remove this historically processed/crushed and stockpiled material. Shipping of the gypsum has commenced with the material being bulk-loaded onto trucks and transported to the fertilizer distributor's warehouse for resale to agricultural producers. Due to years of exposure to the elements and the resulting high moisture content, this material is suboptimal for conventional commercial fertilizer spreaders and is being sold at a discount to the current market price of agricultural gypsum. The distributor anticipates blending the material with an additional fertilizer allowing consistent application for agricultural producers. "We are excited about this opportunity. Our partners have found a way to generate our initial revenues while completing required site remediation. More importantly this sale demonstrates that there exists a strong demand for agricultural gypsum as a plant nutrient in the region." stated, Centurion CEO, David Tafel. Net proceeds of sale from the historic stockpiled agricultural gypsum material will be used to further the development of the Ana Sofia project. Photos of loading operations are available on the Centurion website: http://www.centurionminerals.com/s/ana-sofia-loading-gypsum-august-2016.asp Private Placement Centurion also announces its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement for up to $300,000 priced at $.07/Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share and one 2-year common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will be exercisable for one common share at $0.12 for the first year and at $0.15 for the second year following the closing. Closing will be subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. Proceeds from this financing shall be used to advance the Ana Sofia project to pilot plant stage and for general corporate purposes. The Ana Sofia project comprises two mining concessions totaling 50 hectares (ha) in size within a larger (approximately 500 ha) exploration permit area. Trenching and test pit sampling work completed by joint venture partner Demetra Minerals Inc. in 2014-15 and expanded upon by Centurion in 2016, identified multiple, near surface gypsum layers. Small scale producers located in the vicinity are currently extracting agricultural gypsum and selling to fertilizer distributors and farmers. Agricultural gypsum is a valuable plant nutrient and plays a vital role in maintaining soil structure and nutrient balance in South American soils, allowing greater crop yields. ABOUT CENTURION Centurion Minerals Ltd. is a Canadian-based company with an international focus on the exploration and development of gold and agri-mineral projects. On Behalf of the Board, "David G. Tafel" President and CEO For Further Information: David Tafel Director 604-683-1991 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward looking statements concerning future operations of Centurion Minerals Ltd. (the "Company"). All forward looking statements concerning the Company's future plans and operations, including management's assessment of the Company's project expectations or beliefs may be subject to certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual performance and exploration and financial results may differ materially from any estimates or projections. TORONTO, Aug. 29, 2016 - Peat Resources Limited (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:PET) today announces an update to its continuing evaluation of new opportunities as the basis for a potential technology pivot.After the signing of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with multiple selected firms in furtherance of its evaluation of technology-based initiatives in the mobility space, the Company has continued with its detailed assessment of the technologies.One key action arising from the on-going assessment is to approve extension of the scope of the technology search beyond Canada, to overseas companies. Another is to approve extension of the target scope to include virtual and augmented reality technologies, to complement gesture recognition, image and motion sensing technology.Peat has already made progress on these actions, with several meetings with at least one company fulfilling the above criteria, in addition to the others it is already engaged in talks with.Dr. Samuel Peralta, a member of the Board of Directors, who is leading the evaluation, noted: "VR and AR are natural extensions of the broader mobility space targeted by Peat, and we see great potential in addressing this area in our initiative."Virtual reality (VR) is the use of interactive computer-generated simulations or the re-creation of a real-world environment or situation. The technology is able to immerse the user into the simulated or recreated environment by stimulating their sensory input - such as vision, hearing, and touch.Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that utilizes layers of computer-generated images on top of an existing reality, in order to make the perceived scene more meaningful, in a given application, by enabling interaction with the user.Ms. Patricia Mannard, Chairman and CEO of the Company, said: "We continue to make exceptional progress with our evaluation and we are looking forward to presenting our findings and recommendations to our shareholders."It should be noted that, while the Company is investigating these new opportunities, it has not entered into this business. An entry into the technology sector will be subject to regulatory compliance, including shareholder approval.Peat Resources Limited was formed to commercialize peat fuel and bio-carbon derivatives as a sustainable resource. As a consequence of the competitive energy environment, the Company is currently re-examining its business focus with intent to deliver recommendations to shareholders as appropriate.This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such 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 statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. These include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, investors should review registered filings at www.sedar.com.Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Patricia Mannard(416) 862-7885pmannard@peatresources.comwww.peatresources.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Panoro Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V:PML) (Lima:PML) (Frankfurt:PZM) (Panoro or the Company) is pleased to announce the closing of the non-brokered private placement of 36,717,817 units at $0.18 per unit for gross proceeds of $6,609,207. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one-half share purchase warrant. Each whole share purchase warrant is exercisable at a price of $0.27 per common share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the financing. The financing includes filling of the overallotment limit as per the terms announced on August 8, 2016. Closing of the financing is subject to all regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued in connection with the financing bear a four-month restriction on resale from the completion date. Resource Capital Fund VI L.P. (RCF VI) has subscribed to 14,233,333 units of the private placement for proceeds of $2,562,000. Resource Capital Funds (RCF) is a group of commonly managed private equity funds, established in 1998 with a mining sector specific investment mandate spanning all hard mineral commodities and geographic regions. Since inception, RCF has supported 155 mining companies, with projects located in 49 countries and across 29 commodities. The sixth fund, Resource Capital Fund VI L.P. (RCF VI) with committed capital of $2.04 billion, is now being invested. Further information about RCF can be found on its website (www.resourcecapitalfunds.com). The Company also announces that HudBay Minerals Inc. ("Hudbay") has exercised its pre-emptive right to participate in the private placement and thereby maintain its pro-rata ownership in Panoro of approximately 11.1%. A total of 4,120,968 units were issued and sold to Hudbay for proceeds of $741,774. Kallpa Securities SAB acted as lead agent for the placement of a total 16,799,516 units of the private placement for gross proceeds of $3,023,913 with investors based in Peru. Finders fees of 6% of gross proceeds are payable to Kallpa Securities in connection with the private placement in Peru. In addition, the private placement includes 1,564,000 units for proceeds of $281,520 placed with investors in Canada, including 1,003,000 units for proceeds of $180,540 subscribed to by insiders of the Company. As previously announced by Panoro on August 8, 2016, Silver Wheaton will, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, advance another $2.6 million (US$ 2.0 million) under the terms of the Precious Metals Purchase Agreement (the Cotabambas Early Deposit Agreement). The Cotabambas Early Deposit Agreement between Panoro Trading (Caymans) Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panoro Minerals Ltd., and Silver Wheaton (Caymans) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Silver Wheaton Corp. ("Silver Wheaton") (TSX:SLW) (NYSE:SLW) in respect of the Cotabambas project located in Peru which was announced on March 21, 2016, includes provisions, subject to certain conditions, to accelerate payments through Silver Wheaton's matching, of up to $2.6 million (US$ 2.0 million) in the first year of the agreement, of any third party equity financing by Panoro targeted for exploration or development of the Cotabambas Project. Provisions in the agreement also include acceleration, subject to certain conditions, of up to another US$ 1.5 million in the second year of the agreement should Panoro be successful in arranging third party equity financing during that second year. This is in addition to the minimum US$ 1.5 million to be advanced in each of 2017 and 2018. Luquman Shaheen, President & CEO of Panoro, states, The completion of this financing marks another key milestone for Panoro. For the short and medium term the financing provides the capital required to continue growing and enhancing the Cotabambas Project, but equally important, it adds another important strategic shareholder for Panoro with the participation of Resource Capital Funds. Resource Capital Funds together with Hudbays, Silver Wheatons and our strong Peruvian shareholder bases investment into Panoro and the Cotabambas Project during an almost unprecedented low period for the base metal exploration industry, has been possible because of our common belief that the Cotabambas Project will be one of the next copper projects to be developed. This financing together with the Cotabambas Early Deposit Agreement with Silver Wheaton will provide Panoro with up to $19 million of capital over the next 24 months. Panoro thanks our existing and new shareholders and strategic partners for their continued support. The proceeds from the financing will be used primarily to enhance and expand the Company's Cotabambas Cu/Au/Ag Project, but also for the Companys Antilla Cu/Mo Project, both located in Peru, and for general working capital. The Company is planning a work program at the Cotabambas Project to include the following; Step out drilling to delineate additional oxide mineralization at the Ccalla Deposit together with a metallurgical test program on the oxides in order to assess the potential to add a heap leach and SX/EW component to the project plan; Metallurgical test program on the hypogene and supergene sulphides, mixed and high-gold oxide mineralization zones to assess the potential for increasing estimated recoveries; Geophysical surveys and drilling at the Maria Jose target located to the north side of the Ccalla Deposit to test and delineate high-grade copper mineralization discovered during the Companys previous mapping, trenching and geochemical sampling work; and Advance permitting and exploration work leading to a drill program at the newly discovered Chaupec target at the Cotabambas Project. About Panoro Panoro Minerals is a uniquely positioned Peru and copper-focused exploration company. The company is advancing a significant project portfolio in the key Andahuaylas-Yauri belt in south central Peru, including its advanced stage Cotabambas Copper-Gold-Silver-Molybdenum and Antilla Copper-Molybdenum Projects. Since 2007, the company has completed over 70,000 m of exploration drilling at these two key projects leading to substantial increases in the mineral resource base for each, as summarized in the table below. Summary of Cotabambas and Antilla Project Resources Project Resource Classification Million tonnes Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Mo (%) Cotabambas Cu/Au/Ag Indicated 117.1 0.42 0.23 2.74 0.001 Inferred 605.3 0.31 0.17 2.33 0.002 @ 0.20% CuEq cutoff, effective October 2013, Tetratech Antilla Cu/Mo Indicated 291.8 0.34 - - 0.01 Inferred 90.5 0.26 - - 0.007 @ 0.175% CuEq cutoff, effective May 2016, Tetratech Preliminary Economic Assessments (PEA) have been completed for both the Cotabambas and Antilla Projects, the key results are summarized below. Summary of Cotabambas and Antilla Project PEA Results Key Project Parameters Cotabambas Cu/Au/Ag Project Antilla Cu/Mo Project Mill Feed, life of mine million tonnes 483.1 350.4 Mill Feed, daily tonnes 80,000 40,000 Strip Ratio, life of mine 1.25 : 1 0.85 : 1 Before Tax1 NPV 7.5% million USD 1,053 491 IRR % 20.4 22.2 Payback years 3.2 3.3 After Tax1 NPV 7.5% million USD 684 225 IRR % 16.7 15.1 Payback years 3.6 4.1 Annual Average Payable Metals Cu thousand tonnes 70.5 36.8 Au thousand ounces 95.1 - Ag thousand ounces 1,018.4 - Mo thousand tonnes - 0.9 Initial Capital Cost million USD 1,530 603 Project economics estimated at commodity prices of; Cu = $US3.00/lb, Au = $US1,250/oz, Ag = $US18.50/oz, Mo = $US12/lb The PEAs are considered preliminary in nature and include Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative to have the economic considerations applied that would enable classification as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions within the updated PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Luis Vela, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release. On behalf of the Board of Panoro Minerals Ltd. Luquman A. Shaheen, M.B.A., P.Eng., P.E. President & CEO CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: Information and statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and involve risks and uncertainties. Examples of forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release include information and statements with respect to: acceleration of payments by Silver Wheaton to match third party financing by Panoro targeted for exploration at the Cotabambas Project payment by Silver Wheaton of US$140 million in installments Panoro weathering the current depressed equity and commodity markets, minimizing dilution to existing shareholders and making targeted investments into exploration at the Cotabambas Project mineral resource estimates and assumptions the PEA, including, but not limited to, base case parameters and assumptions, forecasts of net present value, internal rate of return and payback; copper concentrate grade from the Cotabambas Project; Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. In some instances, material assumptions and factors are presented or discussed in this news release in connection with the statements or disclosure containing the forward-looking information and statements. You are cautioned that the following list of material factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions concerning: metal prices and by-product credits; cut-off grades; short and long term power prices; processing recovery rates; mine plans and production scheduling; process and infrastructure design and implementation; accuracy of the estimation of operating and capital costs; applicable tax and royalty rates; open-pit design; accuracy of mineral reserve and resource estimates and reserve and resource modeling; reliability of sampling and assay data; representativeness of mineralization; accuracy of metallurgical test work; and amenability of upgrading and blending mineralization. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks relating to metal price fluctuations; risks relating to estimates of mineral resources, production, capital and operating costs, decommissioning or reclamation expenses, proving to be inaccurate; the inherent operational risks associated with mining and mineral exploration, development, mine construction and operating activities, many of which are beyond Panoros control; risks relating to Panoros ability to enforce Panoros legal rights under permits or licenses or risk that Panoros will become subject to litigation or arbitration that has an adverse outcome; risks relating to Panoros projects being in Peru, including political, economic and regulatory instability; risks relating to the uncertainty of applications to obtain, extend or renew licenses and permits; risks relating to potential challenges to Panoros right to explore and/or develop its projects; risks relating to mineral resource estimates being based on interpretations and assumptions which may result in less mineral production under actual circumstances; risks relating to Panoros operations being subject to environmental and remediation requirements, which may increase the cost of doing business and restrict Panoros operations; risks relating to being adversely affected by environmental, safety and regulatory risks, including increased regulatory burdens or delays and changes of law; risks relating to inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance; risks relating to the fact that Panoros properties are not yet in commercial production; risks relating to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and tax rates; and risks relating to Panoros ability to raise funding to continue its exploration, development and mining activities. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect the forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forwardlooking information. The forwardlooking information contained in this news release is based on beliefs, expectations and opinions as of the date of this news release. For the reasons set forth above, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Panoro does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and statements included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Panoro Minerals Ltd. Luquman A. Shaheen, President & CEO Phone: 604.684.4246 Fax: 604.684.4200 Email: info@panoro.com Web: www.panoro.com You only have to look at the best-by dates on the range of ready-to-eat meals on sale in Australia to get a sense of the quality of this slice of the food market, according to David Jones chief John Dixon. The former boss of Marks and Spencer's 5 billion ($9.7 billion) food business said there was an appetite for high quality, ready-to-eat food in Australia and the existing supermarket chains, including our grocery duopoly, was not servicing it. David Jones will sink about $100 million into building an Australian food business over the next three years, a big investment, which the department store chain has warned will see the food operation post losses out until 2019. David Jones is upgrading its food halls as part of a $100m investment into its food business. Photo: Dominic Lorrimer But it's an investment in delivering a world-class food product, according to Mr Dixon including fine dining, food halls and restaurant-quality take-home meals in partnership with celebrity chef Neil Perry. "I think it's about understanding what customers want, working with the best ingredients and the freshest ingredients, it's about the preparation that goes into those meals," Mr Dixon said. "You only need to, as I have done, eat many of those meals from within the existing Australian market and you look at the shelf life on some of those products and it's weeks. "Where I came from at M&S, it's a few days and it can only be a few days if you're working with the finest quality, freshest ingredients." Mr Dixon would not put a number on what proportion of David Jones' revenue the food business is expected to account for once it's established, but he valued the total Australian food market at about $100 billion. "Even if you only have a very small proportion of that market, single-digit market share of $100 billion is a very big number but we mustn't get ahead of ourselves," Mr Dixon said. Advertisement "This is not a huge nationwide, supermarket chain we are looking to build here, this is about a high-quality fresh food offering. "We have an opportunity to reinvent freshness, to really work closely with some very exciting supplier partners, some are existing but some are new that we've brought in." The department store's profit surged by 21 per cent to $168 million in the full year to June 26 or $202 million, including Country Road sales and private label lines. Its full-year sales increased 8.4 per cent or 7 per cent on a same-store basis, driving its revenue to $2.15 billion. David Jones will pilot and trial a number of different food initiatives over the next year in the lead-up to the launch of its revamped food operation at its Bondi Junction store in Sydney in the middle of next year. Like the department store's beauty halls, Mr Dixon said the flow-on effect of a quality food offering could not be overestimated. "If you look at the footfall into food, we've already got a lot of people who clearly like what we've got today, so we're pushing on an open door there but it goes beyond just building the food business," Mr Dixon said. "My experience suggests that if you can have a thriving food business where typically your foot traffic is very high and often higher than on the apparel side, it has a positive halo on to the rest of your offering." In addition to overhauling the food offering in its flagship stores, David Jones also expects to launch a couple of stand-alone food outlets, most likely in Sydney as well as Melbourne. In August, David Jones' South African owner, Woolworths Holdings announced plans to shift its headquarters to Melbourne from Sydney, where the business was founded 178 years ago. An overhaul of the department store's online business is also on the agenda as part of the transformation plans for the operation. Mr Dixon is targeting an increase in online sales to represent 10 per cent of turnover in about three years after reporting a 35 per cent year-on-year increase in online sales last financial year. "It's not just online, it's how our online works hand in hand with our store channel so we can offer our customers a seamless multi-channel experience," Mr Dixon said. Opinion / Columnist In an explosive case of poor press management, the Zimbabwe People First through its Bulawayo Provincial Spokesperson Dr Geneva Sibanda yesterday (Sunday) released a scathing attack on ZAPU and its president Dr Dumiso Dabengwa.The unsolicited attack was a direct response to the successful Zapu congress which was held at City Amphitheatre over the weekend. Zimbabwe People First Bulawayo provincial spokesperson, Dr Geneva Sibanda likened ZAPU leader to a "donkey meat". In the same communication Sibanda went on to describe the chosen ZAPU executive to "recycled dead wood". This attack drew an immediate angry response from ZAPU deputy Information and Publicity Mr Iphithule Maphosa.ZAPU had over the weekend held its congress at City Amphitheatre where it retained Dr D Dabengwa as its president. Laura Makuzva was elected its vice president. Jacob J Dube clinched the post of National treasurer while Strike Mkandla was elected the secretary general. Imphithule Maphosa was elected as the deputy information and publicity. Mark Mbayiwa was elected the Secretary for economic affairs, Vuyo Mpofu was elected Secretary for Internal affairs, whle D Muchakachi was eelected Secretary for legal affairs.Dr G sibanda received a backlash from his own party members after posting the scathing statement on social media WhatsApp group using his mobile cell number 0779 *** ***. Dr G Sibanda likened ZAPU to a dreamer "with new tyres but prefers to galvanise old threaded ones in this scotchy heat and expect miracles". He then urged ZAPU members to jump of "the sinking ship". The disgruntled ZimPF members immediately responded and expressed anger at its leadership as they felt it had no ground commenting on ZAPU business. Through Whatsapp chats made available, the Bulawayo Provincial coordinator Pastor Esnath Bulayani apologised on behalf of Zim-Pf and its leadership. This however did not deter the complaints from members some of whom left ZAPU to join ZimPF after hearing the peace and tolerance gospel preached by its leader Dr JTR Mujuru and hence felt dubbed and let down by the hate language in the communique'.Imphithule Maphosa , the newly elected Zapu deputy for information released a statement condemning the article by Dr G Sibanda. Mr I Maphosa stated that the statement by Dr G Sibanda was "worrisome reading to many and ZAPU in particular". In an apparent hint which might dent the prospect of a fully fledged coalition Mr I Maphosa expressed that "ZimPF has decided to disrespect choice of leadership by majority of ZAPU members". In an overt showdown statement that may leave relations between both parties bruised, Mr I Maphosa said "for them to liken him(Dr D Daabengwa) to donkey meat defeats the whole essence of brotherhood, posing a serious threat to coalition initiative currently underwayinstead ZimPF should copy and follow in our democratic foot steps and hold its own congress."This seemingly fall out flies in the face of Zim-PF leader DR JTR Mujuru who for the past few weeks has been courting different parties to a coalition table. Dr JTR Mujuru held a combined NERA march on Friday with 18 other political parties which are signatory to the NERA document. Her statement over the last two months since the inception of her rallies has been the call for unity and political tolerance. She has since won over many parties such as PDP after extending an olive branch. It remains to be seen how Zim-PF will repair the damaged relations caused by Dr G Sibanda's statement as this is antagonistic to Dr JTR Mujuru's drive of winning hearts of Zimbabwean voters through a coalition.Dr G Sibanda is an academic educated abroad. He did his tertiary education at Richmond American Univerity for his first degree in international relations. He also enrolled at Glamogarn university in 2006 for his law degree before doing his masters in 2009 at Cosmos university UK majoring in Social work. By year 2012 he was still studying for his PhD at Portsmouth Univeristy. In 2013 he ran for a Bubi parliamentary seat as an independent where he got 280 votes against ZanuPF's Clifford Sibanda's 10 800 votes.Dr G sibanda was not available for comment. However unnamed sources told this reporter that Dr G Sibanda had made himself unpopular with ZimPF members who feel the statement issued was unwarranted and might result in serious backlash if not handled properly.----------Sindisiwe Mkandla Chef Eugenio Maiale at Besser. Photo: Janie Barrett Eugenio Maiale opens a Sydney pasta bar next month, but the high-profile Italian chef has had a dangerous pre-opening encounter with a pasta machine. "It swallowed all my fingers, I was trapped in it for five minutes before we could reverse it," he recalls. Maiale, who is adding to his restaurant stable of A Tavola and Besser with the pasta-leaning Flour Eggs Water at the Harold Park Tramsheds says the machine, newly arrived from Italy, had an electrical irregularity that led to the accident. "The ambulance people couldn't believe I didn't break anything. What's for certain is my pastas are handmade. I put my heart, soul and body into it." SHARE Larry Laine Smith By Staff Report Police say a registered sex offender from Rising Star is in intensive care after being severely beaten by an angry father. According to officer Brock Johnson with the Rising Star Police Department, Dustin Abrams beat Larry Laine Smith Friday night in the 100 block of S. Bruce Street after he learned of allegations that Smith sexually assaulted his child. Rising Star officials say there are two witnesses to the alleged assault. Abrams was arrested and charged with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, and has bonded out of jail. His bail was set at $15,000. According to information from a sex-offender database, Smith was convicted of indecency with a child by exposure in May of 1999 in a case that involved a 10-year-old girl. He is required to register yearly for his lifetime. Police said Shane Ledbetter of the Texas Rangers is investigating the case. Rising Star is a town of 800 in Eastland County, east of Cross Plains. FILE In this July 8, 2016, file photo, Dallas police chief David Brown, front, and Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings, rear, talk with the media during a news conference in Dallas. Nearly two months after the shootings, Dallas police have moved to silence critics and squelch lingering questions about the attack. Officers in riot gear have been told to ticket protesters who block or disrupt traffic, and Brown has refused to meet with demonstrators unless they agree to end their marches through downtown, which he said pose a threat to officers. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) SHARE FILE In this Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, file photo, Dominique Alexander poses for a photo at his apartment in Dallas. Alexander, a leader of the protest where a sniper killed multiple law enforcement officers in Dallas was ordered to prison Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, for unrelated probation violations. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File) In this photo made Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016, Dominique Alexander makes cellphone 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) By Claudia Lauer, Associated Press DALLAS The day after five Dallas officers were killed by a sniper, the city's police chief described the men as "guardians" of democracy, praising them for protecting the freedom to protest at a large demonstration against police brutality. President Barack Obama later eulogized the slain officers, saying they died while defending essential constitutional rights. But nearly two months after the shootings, Dallas police have moved to silence critics and squelch lingering questions about the attack. Officers in riot gear have been told to ticket protesters who block or disrupt traffic, and Police Chief David Brown has refused to meet with demonstrators unless they agree to end their marches through downtown, which he says pose a threat to officers. Authorities have also refused to release even the most basic information about the slayings, including any details about the weapons used, the autopsy findings and ballistics tests that could establish whether any officers were hit by friendly fire. Police have indicated that such information could be withheld almost indefinitely. In addition, the police department's most vocal, visible critic a 27-year-old self-styled preacher with a criminal history has been arrested multiple times in the last month on warrants that include unpaid traffic tickets and attempts to revoke his probation from a 2009 felony. On Friday, Dominique Alexander was ordered to prison. "Why all of a sudden are we the target?" asked Damon Crenshaw, vice president of the Next Generation Action Network, which organized the July 7 protest. "We're not protesting because we're mad at them. We're protesting because the problems still exist and they won't talk to us." Crenshaw said Alexander was targeted because of his protest activities and that the shooter, Micah Johnson, was not affiliated with their group. Dallas has a history of cracking down on protesters. During the Occupy Dallas demonstrations in 2011, the city tried to require protesters to have a $1 million insurance policy, strengthened rules against camping in the city and eventually evicted campers from City Hall in a midnight police raid. In 2013, the city cited a decades-old law prohibiting holding signs within 75 feet of major roadways to stop a group that planned to protest the opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. The city settled a lawsuit from that group before changing the law to prohibit protests on overpasses and other areas near highways. Another group sued over that law leading to another settlement, and the city repealed the rules all together. Alexander, the founder of the protest network, believes he was targeted because he refused to stop the demonstrations. "They try to hush and silence people," he said. "It would be a failure to the lives lost if we don't continue. The issues still exist, and they can act like they want to heal, but then they ignore the issues." The police chief has support from City Hall. Mayor Mike Rawlings said in a statement that he trusts Brown's "judgment in how he communicates with protest organizers." Alexander, whose record includes convictions for forging a check, evading police and theft, was on probation for a 2009 conviction for causing injury to a child. He said the 2-year-old he was watching had fallen off the couch, but hospital staff said the child's injuries were more consistent with abuse. Alexander denied injuring the child and said he pleaded guilty because he could not afford a good attorney. His uncle was killed by police in 2010 after firing on officers. But it was the 2014 death of a woman he knew in high school that prompted his involvement in police protests, Alexander said. The woman was missing for a week before being found dead in an abandoned building. Her family complained that police ignored their initial pleas for help. Alexander spent the past two weeks under house arrest, wearing an ankle monitor and awaiting a judge's determination of whether his probation would be revoked. "No new crime has been committed to warrant this kind of action," said Kim Cole, one of Alexander's attorneys. "And the timing does appear suspicious." Just days after a July 29 silent protest the first following the sniper attack authorities asked that Alexander's probation be revoked for a variety of violations, including twice leaving the state without notifying his probation officer, once to attend the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Court records show the judge admonished Alexander and added 30 hours of community service to his sentence. Then on Aug. 10, following a confrontational appearance at a City Council meeting, Alexander was cited for trespassing and escorted out of City Hall, where officers were waiting to arrest him on nine outstanding traffic warrants. He spent the night in jail and, within an hour of his release, another arrest warrant was issued in a new attempt to revoke probation. That request rehashed allegations from the past year, including missed meetings with his probation officer, for which Alexander had already served 10 days in jail in December. At Friday's hearing, the judge considered all of Alexander's probation violations and sent him to prison for two years. With credit for time served, that comes to about six months, his attorneys said. Prosecutor Douglas Millican denied that politics were behind the efforts to revoke Alexander's probation. But Cole said Alexander got extra scrutiny because of his protest activities, noting that police and sheriff's officers had provided the judge with social media posts and other photos and video of Alexander to show he had left the state. In addition to the protest crackdowns, city and police officials have also succeeded in suppressing questions about the shooting, including details about the law enforcement response and the motive of the gunman, who was killed when police deployed a bomb-carrying robot. It was the first time law enforcement in the U.S. had used a robot to deliver and detonate an explosive to kill a suspect. SHARE By Staff Report San Angelo Walmart and Sam's Club stores will participate in a six-week fund-raiser to benefit the Children's Miracle Network at Shannon Medical Center. Shoppers can make a "Miracle Balloon" donation at the registers until Oct. 9, with 100-percent of proceeds going directly to the program. In 2015, the campaign raised more than $35,000 for CMN at Shannon Medical Center, and funds are used each year to purchase new equipment and provide training for any department that cares for pediatric patients. Since 1987, Walmart and Sam's Club fund-raising across North America has provided more than $60 million for pediatric care. Call 325-481-6160 for more information. Republican vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, right, surprises patrons at Millie's Diner in Richmond, Va. Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, during an impromptu visit by the candidate to the popular restaurant. (Bob Brown/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP) SHARE Trump supporters are leaving explanation of his policies up to the nominee. By Laurie Kellman, Associated Press WASHINGTON Donald Trump isn't making it easy for top supporters and advisers, from his running mate on down, to defend him or explain some campaign positions. Across the Sunday news shows, a parade of Trump stand-ins, led by vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, couldn't say whether Trump was sticking with or changing a central promise to boot the roughly 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally, with the help of a "deportation force." Questioned on whether it's a problem that the GOP presidential nominee has left key details on immigration policy unclear so late in the election, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus demurred: "I just don't speak for Donald Trump." It was a striking look at Trump's leadership of a team he had said would help drive him to victory in the Nov. 8 election. The very purpose of surrogates is to speak for and back up their presidential nominee. But Team Trump has struggled to do so even as they stayed tightly together on the details they know: Trump will issue more details on the immigration plan soon, the policy will be humane and despite his clear wavering, he's been "consistent" on the issue. Any discussion of inconsistencies or potentially unpresidential tweeting, Pence and others suggested, reflected media focus on the wrong issue. The right issue, they said, was whether Democrat Hillary Clinton crossed ethical lines during her tenure as secretary of state by talking with people outside the government who had contributed to her family's philanthropy foundation. Priebus' counterpart at the Democratic National Committee, Donna Brazile, said there's no evidence of that. Clinton on Sunday was raising campaign money in the Hamptons, a vacation spot for the wealthy on Long Island. Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Readers may send him email at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com. SHARE 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 told me this week. "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 (like the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which bungled the Obamacare rollout) have gotten smaller. Presidents and their aides have assumed that good politics and persuasive rhetoric could cover up flaws in performance. They were wrong. The task for voters and journalists in the rest of the campaign is to press the candidates to explain how they plan to accomplish what they've promised. "George W. Bush got some very big things wrong in spite of having a brilliant political strategy," she writes. "And Barack Obama seems to be the epitome of someone who is a brilliant campaigner with a lackluster ability at governing." Kamarck is a Democrat, but 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? Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Contact him at doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com. SHARE The following editorial appeared in Tuesday's San Antonio Express-News: The folks at the top of the November ballot will likely assure a higher than usual turnout in Texas, but that doesn't negate the need for a robust effort to educate voters on what is and isn't allowed in identification at the polls. This is a responsibility that must be taken seriously by both state and county officials. This is made even more necessary because a recent ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that the state's voter ID is discriminatory has prompted welcome changes. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos signed an order, based on an agreement between the state and the groups suing the state. Voters without photo ID can sign an affidavit stating they are a U.S. citizen and present proof of residence, such as a utility bill. Texas has said that it will again be contracting with communications giant Burson-Marsteller to develop voter outreach efforts. Texas' secretary of state has released final instructions to county officials about the changes. This is a daunting task, owing to the size of the state, the rural nature of much of it and the number of counties 254. This effort the state must undertake isn't about voter turnout it's about voter education. With Texas consistently near the cellar nationally in voter turnout, it's hard to argue that the state has done all it can on voter outreach generally, but the court's ruling has likely caused more confusion in what some voters already found bewildering. Getting the word out will be imperative. And this is true even if the state has signaled that it will appeal the latest ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. The court has ordered that the state spend at least $2.5 million on voter education. An article by David Saleh Rauf of Hearst Newspapers' Austin Bureau reported that Secretary of State Carlos Cascos will undertake a two-week tour of the state and that the state will spend $1.3 million in advertising. The effort will include digital, print and social media ads. The state's voter ID law allowed for seven forms of photo identification a driver's license, a state-issued personal ID, an Election Identification Certificate, a concealed weapons permit, a U.S. passport, a military ID and a U.S. Citizenship Certificate or Certificate of Naturalization with photo. Texans without photo identification can get that Election Identification Certificate free, but critics have credibly said educating Texans on this offer has been lacking, as has been access to the offices where these can be obtained. The U.S. District Court in Corpus Christi found both discriminatory effect and intent in the law. The state's minorities in particular were among those most likely to be without the forms of identification required. The 5th Circuit found only discriminatory effect and returned the issue of intent to the lower court for further review. However this education is rolled out, it must compensate for the now-recognized discriminatory effect of the law. Where this campaign is rolled out will matter as much as how. The campaign must fully inform voters to the changes in voter ID mandated by the court. Neither the state nor the counties can afford to fail in this outreach. The courts have plainly said that voter ID has compromised the voter franchise. Discrimination does that. This outreach campaign must ameliorate that. To OUR Gourmet Retailer Readers While Gourmet Retailer no longer exists as a separate print publication and website, Progressive Grocer will continue to feature new content about boutique retailing in our ongoing coverage of Independent Grocers. Please update your Gourmet Retailer bookmark and check our Independent Grocers topic page regularly for updates and fresh content. -- The Progressive Grocer Team Imagine if Congress had funded the National Institutes of Health to develop an antibiotic to combat a contagious disease. And, using millions of dollars of taxpayer funds, such a drug was created. But then local health-care providers improperly administered it to patients, thereby exacerbating the spread of the infection. No doubt, there would be a public outcry.Yet that is precisely the situation today with a different taxpayer-funded treatment for a different "illness" besetting our society: profound distrust in the integrity of our police. In 2014, in the wake of the riots following the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., President Obama urged Congress to provide $75 million to help police agencies across the nation deploy body-worn cameras to capture the interactions between peace officers and citizens, part of a broader effort to restore public trust. Ultimately, Congress did provide a substantial sum, $20 million.Yet across the nation, state legislatures and local police departments have refused to administer the treatment. They've enacted laws and adopted policies precluding the public from seeing the recordings made by these cameras. In the past year alone, Kansas, North Carolina and South Carolina have declared body-worn camera recordings exempt from their open-records laws, and several other states have imposed severe restrictions on public access.These non-disclosure mandates seek to protect the privacy of the citizens captured on the recording, conceal the identities of confidential informants, and avoid further traumatization of crime victims. While those are legitimate concerns, a narrower withholding regime -- requiring, for example, the blurring of residents' faces, alteration of voices or partial withholding of recordings as the circumstances warrant -- could adequately protect those interests while still fulfilling a primary objective of body-worn cameras: to restore and maintain public trust in our police by opening their official, on-duty conduct to public scrutiny.At a time when the brave men and women who don police uniforms every day are literally under attack, it is essential that steps be taken, immediately, to shore up public support for them. Recordings made by body-worn cameras will, in the vast majority of the cases, exonerate the police by showing that their conduct was justified. As in any other profession, the few bad apples in the barrel are the exception. But keeping all of the recordings under wraps (or worse, releasing only those recordings that reflect appropriate police conduct) only serves to fan the flames of doubt and distrust, providing support for the unjustified suspicion that there are far more bad apples -- or that the whole barrel is rotten.Policies that deny public access to body-worn camera recordings are fundamentally counter-productive. They defeat the very purpose for deploying the cameras in the first place. As Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, puts it, "With certain limited exceptions ... body-worn camera video footage should be made available to the public upon request ... because doing so enables police departments to demonstrate transparency and openness in their interactions with members of the community." Conversely, withholding the recordings feeds the public's suspicion that there is something to hide.Congress and state legislatures that provide public funds to police departments to deploy body-worn cameras should attach strings to that purse and mandate that there be a strong presumption of public access to such recordings, with only narrow, carefully defined exceptions. Otherwise, the taxpayer-funded treatment will prove ineffective in healing a serious societal illness: the loss of trust in our badge-wearing public servants. Managing the health of more than 4 million people is undoubtedly a big job. But managing the health in a rapidly expanding, diverse county staring down an emerging, infectious disease? That's a monstrous one.Umair Shah has been at the helm of Harris County Department of Public Health in Texas since 2013, where he's overseen a website relaunch, a department logo redesign and a number of new technology initatives to bring public health to more people. It appears to be working: Earlier this year, Shah was named president-elect of the National Assocation of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO).At NACCHO's Health Informatics conference, Shah spoke withabout running one of the biggest health departments in the country in the midst of a complex time for health care in the country. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.The challenge whenever you're dealing with a large organization in the age of digital media and complex health issues is surrounding yourself with a good team. Make sure that every leader of every team within your department has a "we" mentality.It's also important to have a team that recongizes the need for innovation and the value proposition around health equity.We've been saying for months that it's a matter of when, not if. At some point we know that there are going to be cases of local transmission somewhere in Texas.Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, we had the very first case of Zika in the U.S. back in January -- so we really had to learn to walk the walk. Because of that, we've been planning for several months.The first thing we'd do is take a multidisciplinary team - - think epidemologists, enviromental health folks, mosquito contro -- out into the community. They would go and figure out if there are specific areas in that community that are breeding grounds for mosquitos. It would also be important to communicate with the community; make sure they have all of the right information so they aren't unduly panicked.Scary isn't the right word, but it's concerning. If you see what's playing out in Florida , you realize how incredibly fast this situation is evolving. There is so much about Zika we still don't know. Two years ago we weren't even talking about it, and one year ago we had no idea it could be sexually transmitted. We've been working on Zika efforts 24/7 for the past several months, and we still haven't had that first locally transmitted case yet.What's also concerning is we've spent $1.1 million on these efforts, but the size of our pie hasn't gotten any bigger. We're robbing Peter to pay Paul on this. We have a chronic disease expert who was shifted to the Zika team, and that takes her away from diabetes and hypertension efforts, thus putting the entire county behind in those efforts.We really believe that Medicaid expansion is important -- our county judge has even said that. We are leaving dollars on the table that could be used to offset health-care costs.But having said that, health insurance doesn't make you healthy. It's necessary, but not really sufficient. In order to make people healthy, you have to address all of the factors surrounding the social determinants of health. So yes, no doubt there's an impact because we don't have as many dollars to provide care. But we have to remember that insurance is just one part of health. We too often focus just on "health care" when we should focus on all of "health," which is a much broader conversation.One big strategy is to think about partners: who's doing things well, what strategies are they using, can you work with them in a public/private partnership. If you can gain a partner with a natural reach, leverage that. I think in public health we forget there are very low-cost things we can do just by having that conversation.I'm convinced that if you show more people what it is that public health professionals do every single day in the trenches, people will want to invest more in it. Public health is an investment, but an investment requires shining a light on what we do. Public health departments have to get better at telling our story. The federal judge who will preside over one of the trials challenging House Bill 2 issued a ruling on Friday that blocks the University of North California system from enforcing the bathroom portion of the controversial law for three transgender residents who have challenged it.In the 81-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder said it is likely that the transgender challengers will succeed in their argument that HB2 violates federal law, in part because of how an appeals court with jurisdiction over North Carolina has ruled in a Virginia teen's case.HB2, adopted in late March, requires people in schools, universities and other government facilities to use bathrooms matching the gender on their birth certificates. Another part of the law that was not challenged in this lawsuit forbids local governments from passing anti-discrimination laws stronger than state law, which does not explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity.Schroeder's ruling was issued late Friday afternoon in the lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, a gay rights advocacy group, and the American Civil Liberties Union, on behalf of:_Joaquin Carcano, a Latino, transgender man who works at the UNC-Chapel Hill Institute for Global Health and Infectious Disease,_Payton Grey McGarry, a white, transgender man and full-time student at UNC-Greensboro, where he is double-majoring in business administration and accounting._Angela Gilmore, a black lesbian who lives in Durham and works at the N.C. Central University school of law._Hunter Schafer, a transgender girl at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School in Winston-Salem._Beverly Newell, a real estate agent, and Kelly Trent, 39, a registered nurse, who are a married lesbian couple living in Charlotte.Schroeder ordered UNC to go back to the "status quo" for Carcano, McGarry and Schafer, noting that counsel for North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, one of the defendants in the case, had said during a hearing earlier this month that transgender residents had probably been using the restrooms that matched their identities, not necessarily what was on their birth certificate, for years and "will continue to use the bathroom that they always used and nobody will know.""Today is a great day for me and hopefully this is the start to chipping away at the injustice of HB2 that is harming thousands of other transgender people who call North Carolina home. Today, the tightness that I have felt in my chest every day since HB2 passed has eased. But the fight is not over: we won't rest until this discriminatory law is defeated," Carcano said in a statement.Senate leader Phil Berger, a Republican, and House leader Tim Moore, a Republican, issued a statement partially praising the ruling."While the court granted a limited injunction for three individuals," Berger and Moore said in a joint statement, "we are pleased it preserved the commonsense protections to keep grown men out of bathrooms and showers with women and young girls for our public schools and for nearly 10 million North Carolinians statewide."Others who challenged the law described the partial block of HB2 enforcement a step in the right direction."We are thrilled that the court put a temporary stop to some of the grave harm HB 2 imposes on our transgender clients," said Tara Borelli, Lambda Legal senior attorney. "This ruling is an important first step to make sure that thousands of LGBT people who call North Carolina home _ particularly transgender people _ get the privacy, respect, and protections afforded others in the state. As we prepare for trial, we are more determined than ever to ensure equal justice for all North Carolinians."UNC President Margaret Spellings has said the UNC system does not plan to enforce HB2, noting that the law contains no enforcement measures.The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of Gavin Grimm, a transgender Virginia high school student blocked from using bathrooms and locker rooms matching his gender identity. The appeals court cited Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in educational environments, and highlighted the U.S. Department of Education's interpretation that Title IX covers gender identity. More than a year ago, civil rights and fair housing activists cheered when the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a lawsuit over housing segregation in Texas to go forward.On Friday, a federal district judge dismissed it.The ruling, by U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater, is the latest in the saga of a lawsuit filed years ago by the Dallas-based Inclusive Communities Project (ICP).ICP, a nonprofit devoted to fair housing issues, argued that the state doled out tax credits in Dallas in a way that packed minorities into poor neighborhoods and spared white neighborhoods from development of low-income housing. The result is that neighborhoods throughout Dallas remain segregated, the project argued. Even if this didn't happen intentionally, Texas could still be liable if the impact itself reinforced segregation, ICP argued and last year, the Supreme Court agreed with that argument in a 5-4 decision.But the court's decision last year left it up to the Northern District of Texas to decide whether Texas is actually liable. And the bar for proving that is very high. That's by design, said Rigel Oliveri, an associate professor of law at the University of Missouri."When you've got the government trying to use its money to improve housing and improve neighborhoods, they should be able to do what they think is best," Oliveri said. "If government always felt like they were liable every time they tried to put up low-income housing somewhere, theyre not going to want to do it. And thats bad, too."Proving that Texas is liable for reinforcing segregated housing means the state must have discriminated using a "specific policy," and ICP could not prove that such a policy exists, Fitzwater wrote in his opinion. He also wrote that Texas' housing agency may not be the only one responsible for the fact that low-income housing has been approved mostly in minority areas.There are other factors, such as "developers' decisions" and the "decisions and preferences of local governments," that cause the disparity, Fitzwater wrote. (For example, if state legislators write letters opposing a low-income housing project in their district, Texas' housing agency must take that into account when deciding how to award tax credits).ICP did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the ruling in a press release late Friday. On Friday, in the morning, at Government House, Mrs Kaye de Jersey, with His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, officially opened the Rainforest Retreat and addressed guests. In the afternoon, at St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School, the Governor attended a special assembly to mark the 70th anniversary of Childrens Book Week, launched the Schools Our Crazy Community book, and addressed guests. On Saturday, in the morning, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey departed Queensland for an official visit to Japan, and the Honourable Chief Justice Catherine Holmes commenced duty as Acting Governor of Queensland. Description GIS 29 August, 2016: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure the sponsoring by a Pakistani-based company of ten scholarships for Mauritius and Africa under the Ameenah Gurib-Fakim PhD Scholarship Scheme was signed on 26 August 2016 at the State House, Le Reduit. The Programme provides direct support to scientists and researchers. Signatories were the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Planet Earth Institute (PEI), Dr Alvaro Sobrinho, and the Chief Executive Officer and owner of SAMHAN Group of Industries, Mr Saleem Hanif. The President of the Republic, Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, was present on that occasion. SAMHAN, based in Islamabad, Pakistan, is a company engaged in real estate development. The PEI is an international NGO and Charity based in London and working for the scientific independence of Africa. The MoU comes after a visit effected by President Gurib-Fakim in Pakistan to explore investment possibilities for Mauritius and Africa. In that context, both Dr Sobrinho and Mr Hanif have agreed to use Mauritius as a platform and gateway for investment to connect to Africa, Asia and Europe, and also by furthering that partnership by sponsoring ten PhD scholarships. In her address at the signature ceremony, President Gurib-Fakim said that Pakistani businessmen have chosen to come to Mauritius rather than going to Dubai and it is important to make our jurisdiction, our country, as business-friendly as possible for such investments. Through this partnership, Pakistan will act as a hinterland for Mauritius to go to Central Asia as the business opportunities there are enormous, and Asian countries will also be able to use Mauritius as platform to go into Africa, and therefore, it is a win-win situation for both our regions, she stated. Dr Gurib-Fakim noted with satisfaction that the corporate sector is also funding education through their respective foundations and this constitutes a welcome initiative since the future for Mauritius and Africa lies in their human capital. The grant for these scholarships would be advertised not only in Mauritius but also in Pakistan and eventually we are linking up with Portugal as well so that we increase the scope of training, she pointed out. At the end of the day, the President stressed, we want to promote brain circulation which will eventually lead to a brain gain in our part of the world and the focus is on the need to build knowledge and capacity and new knowledge through what is increasingly referred to as new styles of research. The PhD Programme It is recalled that a pilot PhD Programme of ten scholarships was launched on 6 May 2016 as part of the effort to promote science, technology and innovation as key drivers of growth and development. The PhD Programme is being jointly offered by the PEI and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Initiative in partnership with the African Academy of Sciences with the assistance of private sector partners. This will help ensure that research is industrially relevant and that researchers develop hands-on experience to ensure employability. The areas of research eligible for the pilot PhD Programme are those that underpin the sustainable development of Mauritius and Africa and boost the local capacity of scientists to answer the great challenges ahead for the continent. Research areas of focus are: water and sanitation, energy, agri-business, health and blue-sky research. On 21 July 2016, a first batch of ten young people were awarded the PhD Scholarship. (TNS) -- The GoHawaii app, a mobile reference guide for travelers created by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, hit more than 7,000 downloads in the first couple of weeks after its debut.The free app, which launched Aug. 8, offers travel and safety tips for Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Hawaii island. The app doesnt have any commercial content or advertisements.Through Tuesday the app was downloaded 4,787 times by iOS users and 2,240 times by Android users.Thats actually phenomenal. Most apps dont reach 10,000 downloads until the first two or three months, said Mike King, vice president of interactive design for Ikayzo, the firm HTA hired in January for $90,116 to design and develop the app.The app, which can be downloaded in the Google Play Store and the Apple iTunes Store, is offered in English, German, Japanese, Korean, simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese. So far, app users from Japan, the mainland and China have dominated the downloads. However, downloads also have been made by users from Canada, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and France.Japan had about 48 percent of the audience, the U.S. about 20 percent and China about 10 percent. The rest is broken up amongst other countries, King said.HTA brand manager Jadie Goo said one of the reasons that the app got so much traction in China is that its release fell on Aug. 9, which is a romantic holiday in China.Our partners ran a campaign about how to subtly tell your boyfriend that you want to go to Hawaii download the app on your boyfriends phone, Goo said. I thought it was very clever but not subtle.King said the most popular screens are the apps destination screens, which allow users to see Hawaiis wide variety of sites, activities, special events and cultural festivals.The GoHawaii app is a fun way to learn about Hawaii while having travel and safety information that people need to know about and have access to at all times, said Randy Baldemor, HTA chief operating officer.Helping visitors experience Hawaii safely is a significant aspect of the GoHawaii app, which contains important advice for ocean activities, hiking and weather conditions on each island. King said the travel-smart pages were the second most popular screen.For all locals, we take so many things for granted, but visitors and first-timers may have never been in the ocean. That was me, 20 years ago, when I first came to Hawaii, Goo said. This app is about more than leveraging. Its about sending a message out to the world that Hawaii cares about visitors and their safety.King said the third most popular app screen was the my list section, which offers visitors the chance to add content or answer a questionnaire that steers them to appropriate recommendations.A special app feature is the Locomoji Hawaii-inspired emojis that can be shared with family and friends. Locomojis include images of an ukulele, aloha shirt, erupting volcano, shave ice and Spam musubi, among many others.Baldemor said enhancements that allow the app to provide push notifications and send alerts in crises are in development. The next phase also will allow for offline support, 3-D interactive video displays, more social media integration and better tablet displays. Interactive advertising with local vendors also is being considered.King said users are spending more than three minutes on the app and looking at seven pages or more, when a typical viewing session for other apps can be 10 to 30 seconds.About 25 percent of our audience is coming back, too, King said. Thats really great. Sister cities Rails to trails Making connections MATAMOROS, Mexico The international border between these two cities is marked by the winding waters of the Rio Grande and fortified by a tall rust-color fence. But Mauricio Ibarra prefers to think of the two sides as one.Ibarra is planning director for the city of Matamoros. Every morning, he drives his silver Jeep across the B&M Bridge from his home in Brownsville to his office on the Mexico side of the border. Born in Matamoros, hes one of 12,000 workers who shuttle back and forth across this part of the border each day.Lately, Ibarra has been thinking a lot about a bicycle trail on the U. S. side. Known as Linear Park , the 8-mile (13-kilometer) trail follows the path of an abandoned rail line before ending in a pleasant green space in Brownsvilles revitalized downtown. The park anchors a cultural district that includes an art museum, restored historic buildings and a zoo. On weekends, its the gathering area for the local farmers market. They really have done it well, Ibarra says.Ibarra thinks Matamoros could do something similar something that would connect his two hometowns in an exciting new way.A couple of years ago, Union Pacific railroad relocated a route that had crossed over the B&M Bridge, abandoning tracks on both sides of the border. Ibarra wants to turn the tracks and a switching yard on the Mexico side into a bike trail and park that would anchor Matamoros own cultural district of museums, music schools and theater spaces.Whats more, hed like to see the bike path cross over the bridge and link up with routes on the U. S. side. If he and his counterparts in Brownsville can pull it off, the result would be a truly international innovation: a two-country urban arts district connected by a bicycle trail.This is an unusual initiative for a border zone better known for crime, illegal immigration and political controversy. Donald Trump, the Republican Partys nominee in the American presidential race, proposes to build a much longer wall along the U. S. border with Mexico and make Mexico pay for it But at the local level, city officials in Brownsville and Matamoros are moving in the opposite direction. Theyre working on identifying common problems and opportunities and looking for ways to cooperate. Ibarras rail-trail is just one example. From fighting crime to promoting economic development to combating Zika virus, local officials in these two cities increasingly see their fates tied together.One day last month, Ibarra visited with Ruth Osuna, Brownsvilles assistant city manager in charge of downtown revitalization. Perusing an aerial map on Google Earth, they noted how their two urban renewal projects practically touch each other despite the border. Their project ends where ours begins, said Osuna.Everybody is trying to separate us, she continued. But we keep coming together.Brownsville and Matamoros have always had a complex and intertwined relationship. Brownsville was an outpost for the U. S. Army during the Mexican-American War ; the first battle was fought near here. When the war ended in 1848, it left Texas in American hands and established the Rio Grande as its border with Mexico. Later, during the American Civil War, Matamoros became a key route for the Confederate Army to smuggle out cotton and other goods to sell in Europe.Today, Brownsvilles economy relies on the resorts of nearby beaches, as well as a deepwater port that links to the Gulf of Mexico. Matamoros is home to many factories called, which employ 50,000 people and ship some goods out through Brownsvilles port. Considered as one metropolitan area, Brownsville, Matamoros and the suburbs of both cities comprise more than 1.1 million people In October, officials from the two cities will present at the U. N.s Habitat III conference on cities in Quito, Ecuador . Theyll offer a case study of a conurbated metropolis an urban region made up of many cities and towns where jurisdictional boundaries can complicate decision making. The latest draft of the New Urban Agenda nations will agree to in Quito calls for encouraging synergies and interactions among urban areas of all sizes including those that are cross-border.In Brownsville and Matamoros, synergies have mostly happened informally through conversations between officials like Ibarra and Osuna. Talking face-to-face isnt easy: for safety reasons, Brownsville city employees are not allowed to travel to Matamoros on official business.But Pablo Aguilar has been working with both cities to explore how they can strengthen and formalize their ties. Aguilar is the head of a Mexico City think tank called the National Urban Jurisprudence Association . In January, he launched a set of meetings called Urban Labs, where Brownsville and Matamoros officials discuss common problems and ways they might tackle them together.There are many problems that fit the category. Matamoros air pollution is Brownsvilles air pollution. A surge in gang-related crimes in Matamoros in recent years its subsided some has been a concern on both sides of the border. Traffic congestion and mobility at border crossings is a common problem. So is public health, especially with new concerns about mosquitoes transmitting Zika virus. While Brownsville shreds discarded tires in its landfill, tire dumps in Matamoros are notorious for providing mosquitoes plenty of standing water where they can breed.The first Urban Lab meeting identified some of these common challenges, though nothing was decided. At a second meeting in September, officials hope to discuss ways to coordinate their approaches and possibly even their local governance structures. One idea up for consideration is whether Brownsville might have a member of its planning commission sit on the planning commission in Matamoros and vice versa.Aguilar thinks some kind of binational legal framework is needed to allow for better local-government coordination across the border. Its tricky terrain, however. Both cities have state governments to answer to Texas in Brownsvilles case and Tamaulipas for Matamoros. Theres the national governments, of course. And theres also international agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, which govern some aspects of waste management, air pollution and joint preparedness for environmental response.Ibarra has a good view of things from both sides of the border. As a young man, he worked at his fathers bar in downtown Matamoros, checking identification cards to make sure patrons were old enough to drink alcohol. The bar was popular with Americans, who had to be 21 to drink in Brownsville but could do so at 18 in Matamoros.Ibarra, who is now 40, has family in Brownsville. Five years ago, after surviving a kidnapping, he moved to Brownsville again so that his children could go to schools there. Though the security situation in Matamoros has improved, Ibarra continues to live in the U. S. and work in Mexico. The commute makes him a bit like a bee, flying back and forth pollinating ideas on both sides of the border.Inspired by Brownsvilles downtown revitalization, Ibarra hopes the new park, bike trail and cultural district in Matamoros can bring back some of the tourism business that vanished with the crime wave. Ibarra says the new park will be a secure place because its bike trails will loop around the grounds of a new U. S. consulate complex; security in the area will be under the control of the U. S. Marines Embassy Corps.It also would bring lots of benefits to Matamoros residents. A neighborhood of abandoned warehouses and boarded-up houses, currently isolated between the Rio Grande and the train tracks, will be reconnected to the city. There will be new green space, recreation opportunities and mobility options. At the border crossing, which often backs up with cars headed into the U. S., there would be a new way across by bike.Earlier plans did not look so good. The initial concept was to replace the train tracks with a six-lane freeway that would cut across downtown Matamoros to the B&M Bridge. Its construction would have bulldozed parts of Colonia Jardin, a historic neighborhood with lots of mid-century modern homes.But Ibarra took it upon himself to undo the freeway plans. After several months of lobbying, he got local officials to reduce the number of highway lanes to two. Ibarras colleague Xochitl Marmolejo Garcia, a planner in charge of mobility in his office, dreamed up the idea of building a bike path and keeping the old railroad track alongside it as a design treatment. We had been talking about promoting mobility other than the automobile, says Marmolejo. Our new plan was born.Ibarra also lobbied the Matamoros arts and business communities to join the project, and the idea of creating a full cultural district was complete. Four museums are to be part of the plan, along with music schools in renovated 1950s buildings and open theater areas. To emphasize the unique cross-border possibilities, Ibarra is calling the proposed district the Centro Cultural Binacional the Binational Cultural Center.As Ibarra waits for construction to begin in Matamoros, hes been working to ensure that all the bike-trail connections between the two cultural districts get made. One sticking point is security on the B&M bridge border crossing. To accept the bike crossing lane, the U. S. Department of Homeland Security would have to set up an X-ray machine that could handle bike traffic.Brownsville officials needed some convincing as well. Their initial plans called for replacing the train tracks with a road for cars. Theyve come around to the idea of a bike path instead, and are planning a connection between the bridge and Linear Park. City Manager Charlie Cabler says the Binational Cultural Center plan will be a boon for both cities.Back in Matamoros, the lunch crowd is thin at Garcias, a popular restaurant located in Matamoros right in front of the entrance to another border crossing, the Gateway Bridge. Once a favorite of the Brownsville tourist crowd, the restaurant caters to Mexican and American diners. In the good old days, it was hard to find a table at lunch time in the restaurant, but thats not a problem today. With a U. S. travel advisory for American citizens still in effect, and a midnight curfew for U. S. government personnel based in Matamoros, the gargantuan parking lot will remain half empty for a while.Ibarra says his park will be a way to reacquaint Brownsville with Matamoros. After all, he says, both cities have gone through difficult times together over many decades and they have always pulled through. There cant be a Matamoros without a Brownsville, Ibarra says. Nor the other way around. 3. We're Worried About Negativity Stemming from Inaccurate Information Even in 2016, some government agencies are still hesitant about creating an official page on Facebook, for fear of comments. Many times, these agencies are smaller cities, counties and special districts.Because Facebook doesnt allow page administrators to turn off comments, there are typically two reasons why government agencies are hesitant to create a page on the popular social platform: Theres no time to monitor comments and concern about negative comments.First of all, being a Facebook page administrator for your agency doesnt mean that you have to hang out on your page all day and night, waiting for comments to come in. Using any number of social media management tools, or Facebooks own notification settings, you can receive an alert anytime a comment is made on your page including receiving the alert as a text message. You can then determine if a response is necessary. Remember, not all comments are questions that will require a response.If your Facebook page repeatedly receives the same comment from numerous citizens, you might pin a post to the top of your page that features your agencys official response. Also, if your page is set up to receive private messages, you can turn on the response assistant. This feature sends a customized reply to let the people who send a message know that it is outside of the business hours when youll be monitoring messages.Understand that if your citizens are unhappy, they are going to make negative comments about your agency whether or not you have a Facebook page. If you do have a page, it gives you the ability to respond to those comments to correct misinformation or help your constituents if they have a legitimate problem.If notoriously negative comments on your local news sites have given you a bad taste, understand that Facebook commenters are generally a bit different. Why? Because they typically arent hidden behind the generic user name mask of anonymity that news websites commonly have. People seem to be less likely to enter into online rants if their identity is public.Facebook offers an optional profanity filter that can be turned on in the page settings. According to the company, it determines what to block by using the most commonly reported words and phrases marked offensive by the community. I would advise that if you opt to use the filter, incorporate that fact into your official comment policy and be transparent about this publicly on your page.If the negative comments from your citizens are caused by incorrect information, its a perfect opportunity for your agency to set the record straight by replying with the correct information. The key is doing this tactfully and respectfully your tone is extremely important in these situations.But what if these inaccuracies are repeatedly referred to in comments, or done so maliciously even after your clarifications? One approach is to create a rumor page online, and point citizens back to this anytime the incorrect information resurfaces on social media. For instance, Kansas City, Mo., has a section of its website dedicated to this purpose and even encourages citizens to contact the city if they hear rumors in the community.Please dont let the commenting function of Facebook deter your agency from setting up a page. Just like the official public comment time during meetings, hearing and responding to social media comments can help your agency earn valuable trust with citizens. Trump No Policy Yet, Except for a Tweet How much does it matter to the internets future who becomes president? (TNS) -- When the Federal Communications Commission voted to approve net neutrality rules last year, many people saw it as a done deal. Supporters cheered the decision as a victory for the free and open internet, where the deep pockets of big companies couldnt buy faster web speeds over struggling startups.Since then, the issue has largely faded from the spotlight and has rarely come up on the presidential campaign trail. But internet policy experts say the FCC decision was far from the end of the story and with just over 10 weeks until the election, time is running out for voters to ask the candidates to clarify their positions.There are a number of unresolved issues surrounding net neutrality that are still going to be hot topics to be resolved by the next administration, said Doug Brake, a telecom policy analyst at the nonprofit Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.Net neutrality rules, also known as open internet, prohibit internet service providers from favoring certain high-traffic websites, like Netflix and Amazon, by giving them greater bandwidth at the expense of smaller start-up companies. Advocates argue that it ensures an even playing field. An open internet also means banning fast lanes, which would allow ISPs like Verizon and AT&T to pay extra to ensure smoother, speedier streaming for their users.Internet companies have vowed to continue the fight against the regulation, pursuing it all the way to the Supreme Court if need be. This June, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected challenges to the net neutrality rules. The next presidents administration, and the FCC, will face the colossal task of catching up to technology that evolves beyond its ability to regulate it.Hillary Clintons campaign website says she strongly supports the FCC decision under the Obama administration to adopt strong network neutrality rules.While she would be following in the Obama administrations footsteps, Clinton has her own decadelong record of supporting net neutrality. While serving as a New York senator, she co-sponsored the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, which sought to amend the 1934 Communications Act to ensure net neutrality.The internet as we know it does not discriminate among its users, she said in 2006. It does not decide who can enter its marketplace and it does not pick which views can be heard and which ones silenced.Ten years later, adopting tech sector-friendly policies is proving to be a smart fundraising strategy for the Democratic nominee. This week she wrapped up a fundraising tour that included several Silicon Valley hotspots. One of the events was hosted by Apple CEO Tim Cook, with tickets selling for $2,700 to $50,000.Clinton has also worked broadband issues into her infrastructure platform.By 2020, I want 100 percent of American households to have access to quality, affordable high-speed internet, no matter where they live, Clinton told supporters at a dinner in New Hampshire last November.The Republican nominees position is unclear, but its a reasonable assumption that he will line up with his partys opposition to net neutrality, which is seen as needless government regulation.In fact, the only public acknowledgment of the issue from Donald Trump is a 2014 tweet weighing in on net neutrality when it dominated the headlines.Obamas attack on the internet is another top down power grab. Net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine. Will target the conservative media, he tweeted. He was referring to the 1940s law requiring newscasters to report the news in a balanced manner, which was repealed in 1987. Its unclear what it has to do with net neutrality; open internet rules dont give the FCC the power to interfere with any political content, conservative or otherwise.The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.His running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, co-sponsored the Internet Freedom Act in 2011, which sought to kill net neutrality by prohibiting the FCC from further regulating the internet.The positions of Trumps opponents for the Republican nomination shed a bit more light on the partys opposition to open internet regulation.Texas Sen. Ted Cruz famously called net neutrality Obamacare for the internet. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said regulation of the internet was illogical.While the FCC plan supposedly seeks to prevent ISPs from playing favorites, it does so by giving that power to another entity: government, Rubio wrote in an opinion piece for Politico in March. The answer to correcting injustice in an economy is to increase consumer power, not government power.The details of internet policy aside, there are other reasons the sector might not support Trump.The tech community is full of immigrants who started their companies here, so many of them were founded by immigrants, said Marvin Ammori, a First Amendment lawyer well-known for his work on net neutrality issues whos general counsel for Hyperloop One, a tech company backed by Elon Musk thats working on an ultra-fast transit system. So if youre anti-immigrant youre not going to be popular in (Silicon) Valley. If youre anti-gay youre not going to be popular in the Valley. So it does put Republicans at a disadvantage even if theyre progressive on some tech issues.The president does matter, Ammori said, pointing out that the presidents party gets to pick three of the five FCC commissioners, as well as appoint the solicitor general, who would defend the regulations in front of the Supreme Court or not.This (net neutrality) was a 3-2 vote. If you get another Republican in there they could undermine everything the Obama administration has done, he said.Despite the FCC decision, some ISPs are finding loopholes to go around net neutrality rules. For example, they might set monthly data limits for users but exempt certain apps or websites. This is known as zero rating, and some internet advocates argue it gives certain content preferential treatment.These policies will have to evolve and change, and as carriers try to introduce new services and innovative pricing models, what ends up happening is you always have to make sure it remains an even playing field, Ammori said.One of the clearest examples is T-Mobiles unlimited streaming service Binge On. While it might seem like a good thing for consumers, some internet policy experts worry that while its technically legal, its model infringes on net neutrality. Users are allowed to stream video without it counting toward their monthly data cap but only as long as they stream from a select group of content providers. Smaller, less established video services that arent Netflix or HBO Go might never get to consumers, and that could stifle innovation for online startups.Right now the FCC is somewhat quiet on this, since within the net neutrality order itself this is allowed, so the FCC is reviewing them on a case-by-case basis, said Brake of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.The use of zero rating practices by internet service providers will likely become a big tech issue for the next administration.Binge On undermines the core vision of net neutrality, Barbara van Schewick, the director of the Stanford Center for Internet and Society, wrote in a report on the T-Mobile service. Internet service providers that connect us to the internet should not act as gatekeepers that pick winners and losers online by favoring some applications over others. News about Sergio Perez's future may now be imminent. It has been a hot topic in the F1 paddock recently, after Force India supremo Vijay Mallya said the Mexican has a deal in place for 2017. Perez, however, is refusing to commit publicly to the Silverstone team, nor refute speculation his Mexican backers could transfer to the works Renault team. Force India deputy Bob Fernley said at Spa that the team would "very much" like to keep Perez, but acknowledged that his sponsor contracts are "highly sophisticated and complex". "That's the negotiation process we're under now and I would be very surprised if we're not staying with the two drivers in 2017," he added. Also linked with a potential move to Renault for 2017 is Williams' Valtteri Bottas, and Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen told the Danish newspaper BT: "Renault is a team with attractive potential. "But right now Williams, Force India, Toro Rosso and even Haas are quicker," he added. Perez, meanwhile, indicated that the uncertainty could end shortly. Asked when news about his future will be known, the 26-year-old said at Spa: "I hope soon -- before the start of the races in Asia." F1's European season ends after Sunday's Italian grand prix at Monza, with the circus then moving on to Singapore, Malaysia and Japan. (GMM) The F1 world rounded on Max Verstappen after Sunday's Belgian grand prix, insisting the Dutchman is driving too recklessly. "I am fine with good, hard racing but that was not correct," said Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen after his battles with the popular 18-year-old Dutchman at Spa. "I've never had that before with any driver," the Finn charged. Earlier, Verstappen was involved in a first-corner clash with both Ferraris, and Sebastian Vettel said he would be seeking out the Red Bull driver for talks. "We need to talk to each other and respect each other," said the German. "I believe the criticism is justified but we should not make too big a story out of it. I like him, he's aggressive, but some of his manoeuvres, especially when braking, are in my opinion not correct." Mercedes' two drivers were not involved in the Verstappen manoeuvres on Sunday, but that did not stop team chairman and boss Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff from commenting. "Kimi's criticism was fully justified, and he (Max) needs a psychiatrist if he says it was Kimi's fault," triple world champion Lauda told RTL. "The young man is a talent of the century, but if he has no understanding of doing something wrong, I'll talk to his father Jos and tell him to speak with his boy. It was well above the limit," he added. Wolff also said he likes Verstappen and his aggression, comparing the impression the youngster is leaving on his rivals as "reminiscent of Hamilton or Senna -- as long as it goes well". "Eventually it will end in the wall and I think we're not far away now", the Austrian said. Red Bull chief Christian Horner, however, defended his driver. "I'm surprised that Toto has commented on something that actually does not concern him. Max goes to the limit -- it was certainly borderline," he said of the Spa incidents. "But the stewards saw no reason to initiate an investigation." However, Wolff added: "The FIA did not punish him but he will have to endure a difficult driver briefing (at Monza). "In my eyes, he is refreshing but also dangerous." (GMM) Kevin Magnussen looks set to be fit for the Italian grand prix this weekend, despite an horror crash at Spa's fabled Eau Rouge on Sunday. The Dane limped from his destroyed Renault and was taken to hospital for checks, with team boss Frederic Vasseur saying he cut his ankle. "On my way home now with a sore ankle but will be ready for Monza," Magnussen, 23, tweeted. The driver's advisor Jesper Carlsen told the Danish broadcaster TV3: "Kevin was in good spirits when I saw him, joking a little, so he's fine. He was smiling when he went in the ambulance. "He's a little bruised, and it will be a few days before he is fresh again, but the important thing is that he is ok," he added. However, team boss Vasseur insisted that it will be the FIA who needs to clear Magnussen before Monza. Renault's reserve Esteban Ocon was recently promoted to Manor. Meanwhile, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said the FIA will investigate the fact that Magnussen's cockpit collar flew off the yellow Renault during the violent crash. "That was the first time we've seen the protection detach like that," said F1 race director Charlie Whiting. (GMM) My husband and I celebrated our 66th wedding anniversary on June 10. It was a night for celebration, so I asked my husband, Bill, where he wanted to go for dinner. I gave him a couple of choices, including a steak house. He said, I prefer Tides Inn. That was no surprise as it is one of his very favorite places to eat. When we arrived, the waitress came over and was talking to us and I told her, Today is a special day for us as it is our 66th wedding anniversary and my husband picked Tides Inn fish over a steak. I guess that is a plus for your restaurant. She said, It sure is. Thank you. After we finished eating, the waitress came bringing a large piece of chocolate cake. It was very good, but we had to box it and bring it home because we had such a lovely dinner. As she brought me the cake she handed me a folded menu and told us our meal was paid for. On the back of the menu was written a message, as follows: I overheard you are celebrating your 66 years together. Congratulations, I wish you many more. You are an inspiration to us all that you can have a happily ever after. They did not want me to know who did this. How very much we appreciated it. We had heard of others getting a similar surprise over the years, but it was our very first experience of someone paying for our meal anonymously. What a thoughtful and kind thing to do. Whoever you are, we thank you so much and pray Gods blessings upon you. We plan to pass it on in the near future. Thanks again. Bill and Betty Withers Greensboro This is in regards to people who have helped me: 1. Jack and Charlotte Sizemore, my neighbors across the street. I need hearing aids and they helped me buy them. They gave me $600 to help me to get two of them. 2. My daughter and husband, Ronnie and Susie Mosly, bought me a washing machine and dryer. 3. Jose and Maria Garcia mow my grass and charge me nothing. I wanted to say thank you many times for all these people do for me. Billie J. Hammock Greensboro Once a key part of the political season and an important role for newspapers, editorial endorsements of candidates are fading away. A recent announcement that newspapers controlled by the Alden Global Capital hedge fund would no longer endorse candidates for president, governor and U.S. Senate is the latest indicator of the trend. In many cases, endorsements have become victim to both the news industry's troubles and the era's bitter politics. After many newspapers advised against voting for Donald Trump as president in 2016 and he won anyway many news organizations wonder if it's worth alienating readers when they're hard enough to come by. Completely unauthorized, the store admits. Photo: Pirate Joes Since 2012, Michael Hallatt has operated a retail store that sells Trader Joes products at a high markup to desperate people in Canada, where the chain has no presence. He has absolutely no authorization to do this, but maintains hes found a loophole so the business technically violates no laws. Its a claim U.S. courts have so far agreed with, but the company still refuses to stop suing Hallatts Pirate Joes. Now, for the first time, a federal court has ruled in the grocery chains favor: The AP reports that last week the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a previous ruling dismissing Trader Joes claims of trademark infringement. The lower courts decision argued that Trader Joes failed to explain how Hallatts store affects U.S. commerce (since it caters to luckless Canadians). But the Ninth Circuit argued that the existence of $6 jars of gray-market Speculoos may be hurting Trader Joes reputation and devaluing its products in America. Hallatt says hes never pretended to be a legit affiliate, and contends that, despite aisles full of its products, Pirate Joes doesnt even look like Trader Joes. The grocery chain obviously disagrees, but regardless of his knockoffs legality, Hallatt has been a pretty comical thorn in Trader Joes side all the same. In its 2013 lawsuit, the company explained he dons disguises to trick stores into selling him thousands of dollars of products, and pays accomplices to shop for him as far away as California. Trader Joes estimates hes resold more than $350,000 of its products. Hallatts attorney says theyre reassessing their options, but definitely dont plan to back down. The case now goes back to a Washington state district court for another look. The eaterys chef dealing with the aftermath. Photo: thomaspoupeau/Twitter A Paris restaurant is taking a ton of heat after refusing to serve two women in hijabs. A video shot from their table (covertly, it seems) shows them in a tense exchange on Saturday with a man identified as Le Cenacles chef-owner Jean-Baptiste Devreux. Terrorists are Muslims, and all Muslims are terrorists, he casually informs his hijab-wearing customers, then adds: This is a secular country and I have a right to an opinion. I dont want people like you here. Full stop. When one of the women protests, We dont want to be served by racists, Devroux retorts, Racists dont kill people. He then kicks them out. A journalist from Le Parisien documented the messy exchange that later followed outside the Michelin-recommended restaurant, when members of the local Muslim community gathered to confront Devreux: Des jeunes de Tremblay demandent des explications au restaurateur du #Cenacle suite a ses propos islamophobes pic.twitter.com/TzwJvkcUss Thomas Poupeau (@thomaspoupeau) August 28, 2016 VIDEO La discussion entre le chef du #Cenacle a Tremblay et les musulmans de la ville en video https://t.co/FzCVBDNs47 via @Le_Parisien Thomas Poupeau (@thomaspoupeau) August 28, 2016 Frances anti-racism body says its investigating the chef for suspicion of enacting racial discrimination. The chef has since told the media: I spoke out of turn and I apologize. I have a friend who died in the Bataclan attacks and wrongly mixed everything up. I do not truly believe the things I said. Lamb pasty with tomato chutney. Photo: Melissa Hom Few cuisines are underrepresented in todays New York, but you can count Welsh as one that is. Most Welsh restaurants here are taverns that serve the typical pub food seen at Irish bars around town: bangers and mash, fish and chips, and shepherds pie with vegetarian glamorgan sausage and Welsh rarebit thrown in for good measure. But thats not what Illtyd Barrett, an artist and unusually proud Welshmen, wanted to do when he decided hed open a restaurant of his own. Which hell do tonight, when he, his brother Dominic, and executive chef Tom Coughlan an alum of Txikito, La Vara, and most recently Seamstress open Sunken Hundred. Located in Cobble Hill, at 276 Smith Street, the bar and restaurant is named for the legendary sunken kingdom of Cantrer Gwaelod. The Barretts grew up in Milford Haven, located near the site of a once-submerged forest of trees. A photo of the forest by Welsh artist Keith Morris anchors the room, which is also decorated with paintings by Fran Evans, who went to the same high school as the Barretts, and art from Illtyd himself. Along with lamb, leeks, and seafood, Welsh food is heavy on seaweed and, more specifically, nori-like laver, which is boiled and pureed into a paste. In keeping with the theme of bringing it back home, the seaweed (laver, dulse, gutweed, and kelp) will come directly from Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company, based near the Barretts hometown. The laver will show up in a dish of roasted hake, the traditional Welsh seafood stew called cawl, and a house cocktail, Seithennin. Coughlan, who has been working off recipes from the Barretts mother, will also serve Welsh classics, like a lamb pasty with tomato chutney, and ffagodau, a.k.a. lamb meatballs with minty peas. The chef will draw on other regions of the Gaelic world as well, including the Basque region and Brittany, serving jamon with warm mushrooms, as well as romesco sauce with squid. Along with house cocktails, there will be local beers, Spanish ciders, and wines from the Loire Valley and northern Spain. Ffagodau, or lamb meatballs with minty peas, yogurt, and onion gravy. Photo: Melissa Hom Seared mackerel with pickled celery and whisky glaze. Photo: Melissa Hom Roasted hake with laver, tomato, and butter sauce. Photo: Melissa Hom Desserts include Bara Bryth, a pan-fried tea cake made with dried fruit. Here, its served with rum and preserved-walnut ice cream. Photo: Melissa Hom The Seithennin (Lost to the Sea) cocktail: sipsmith vjop, chartreuse, kelp bitters, laver oil, and laver dust. Photo: Melissa Hom The Keith Morris photo of the once-submerged forest. Photo: Melissa Hom The dining room. Photo: Melissa Hom Food Menu [PDF] Drinks Menu [PDF] Sunken Hundred, 276 Smith St., nr. Sackett St., 718-722-1069 Samsung's mobile payments service - Samsung Pay - is currently available in a handful of countries worldwide, including the US. In Asia, the company's home country of South Korea, as well as China and Singapore are the places where people can currently use the service, and now it looks like Indonesia could also make it to the list sometime in future. Indications for this came from none other than Samsung Electronics Indonesia IT and mobile marketing director Vebbyna Kaunang. She, however, said they can't confirm exactly when the service - which recently turned one - will land in the country. "Based on the development, we still cannot confirm when [Samsung Pay] will be launched in Indonesia. [But] as long as we can implement it, we will bring it [here]," she said, adding that "It's already included in our plans." Via If you own VAIO's Windows 10-powered Phone Biz smartphone and have been waiting for the Win10 Mobile Anniversary Update for your device, there's some bad news: the update has been delayed. This was confirmed by the erstwhile Sony brand on its website. As for reason, VAIO notes the delay is due to some issue with Continuum, which the company says isn't working with displays of "specific resolutions." Following is the machine-translated version of the delay-related information posted on VAIO's website: We will guide you about the postponement of the Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update delivery in VAIO Phone Biz. Currently, is preparing a Windows 10 Mobile Anniversary Update to VAIO Phone Biz-friendly, a problem to which is one of the major features Continuum has been found to occur, we will postpone the delivery of the Anniversary Update. [Issue contents] Anniversary After Update application, Continuum does not work in combination with the display of a specific resolution. Towards the problem-solving, Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd., has been working in cooperation with Microsoft Corporation. But sorry for the inconvenience, please wait for a while now until the official launch. There's currently no information on exactly when the update will now be rolled out. Source | Via Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help Published on 2016/08/28 | Source The police claimed they are going to check up on the facts first regarding actor Uhm Tae-woong's rape case. Advertisement MBC "Section TV" made a report about Eom's rape case. A massage parlor employee claimed she was raped by Uhm Tae-woong. However, this woman is currently involved in a fraud incident. A lawyer said, "It's not that she can't claim for rape when she's under a different case. The issue is focused on whether or not her words are reliable. If there was no intercourse between them, then Eom might get his reputation back but if there was, then it's going to hit him hard". Meanwhile, apparently Uhm Tae-woong is having health problems from the shock of this case. The police are going to make thorough investigations. They have to check whether the 'man' is really Uhm Tae-woong. Pay transparency has long been a contentious issue with arguments to be made on both sides. We talked to three HR experts about this to see if employees should know what others are paid. Transparency is definitely good for business, said Shanyn Payne, general manager of HR at Swinburne Online. One of our remuneration principles is to be transparent about pay without breaching individual confidentiality. While we havent taken the controversial step of publishing everyones salary on the intranet, were open about how our employees salaries are benchmarked. Amanda Jackson, general manager of HR at LG Electronics Australia says that employees should have the opportunity to determine where they sit within their peer group remuneration bracket. We also believe that we have a duty to our staff to be transparent with processes and factors determining salary review outcomes. However, she added that individual pay should remain confidential. Ultimately, we believe it is crucial to respect privacy and confidentiality in our workplace, and while we endorse pay transparency, sharing individual packages is where we draw the line. One way to achieve transparency is through mechanisms such as a strong job architecture, said Hamish Deery, head of talent and rewards at Willis Towers Watson. Best-in-class organisations share their remuneration strategy with employees, including their total rewards philosophy, how pay structures keep pace with the market, and the criteria against which variable pay decisions are made. Employers may also choose to communicate where each workers pay falls within a range or relative to a market benchmark, he said. We find these factors are just as important to the employee experience of pay equity as the absolute pay level sometimes even more so. In the papers, obtained by The New York Times, she alleged: "Fox News masquerades as a defender of traditional family values, but behind the scenes, it operates like a sex-fueled, Playboy Mansion-like cult, steeped in intimidation, indecency and misogyny." Tantaros alleges Ailes made demeaning remarks to her, such as I bet you look good in a bikini, and also asked inappropriate questions about her romantic life as well as the lives of other Fox News staffers. Tantaros alleged when she approached the network about the harassment, newly appointed Fox News co-president Bill Shine encouraged her to drop the claims, and told her she needed "to let this one go". She says she was also moved to a daytime program following her claims. The suit comes after a months-long dispute between Tantaros and Fox News regarding the termination of her employment at the network,CNN Money reports. ivian Deputy Interior Minister Rodolfo Illanes has reportedly been beaten to death by striking miners after being kidnapped.While the incident has yet to be confirmed official, the story has been run on local media quoting Moises Flores, the director of a mining radio station."We have been able to see close up that vice-minister Illanes was dead. Colleagues told us that he had died of a beating," Flores said.A subsequent autopsy found Illanes had died from trauma to the brain and thorax.Illanes had been kidnapped earlier on Thursday after travelling to Panduro to talk with protesters.Forty miners have been detained since the incident including Carlos Mamani, president of the National Federation of Mining Cooperatives of Bolivia. Mamani and two other officials have been charged with Illanes' death.This tragedy occurred despite the Federation releasing a radio statement soon after the kidnapping saying the minister had not been harmed.The protesters were protesting after a series of failed negotiations in which they demanded more mining concessions, the right to work for private enterprise, greater union representation, and the elimination of certain environmental regulations.The strike turned violent on Wednesday when protesters blockaded a highway. Subsequent police clashes left three protesters dead and 17 police officers wounded. By Jesse Wood The Town of Boone is celebrating the retirement of Officer Mike Foley on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at the Jones House Cultural and Community Center from 3 to 6 p.m. Downtown Boone was Foleys beat, and Aug. 31 will be his last day on the force. Foley has spent 18 years with the Boone Police Department most of which was spent downtown. Foley started working for the Town of Boone in patrol in April 1998 but moved to downtown in December 1999 after Bob Kennedy, the assistant chief at the time, tried to find somebody to work the downtown strip. After nobody jumped at the assignment, Kennedy told Foley, I think youd be a good fit down there. Kennedy said he would put him back on patrol if Foley didnt like the assignment after several months. But soon, Foley, clutching his coffee mug, was a local fixture, as much a part of downtown Boone as the Mast General Store. While parts of Foley, including his age, tell him its time to move on and get out of the police business, Foley said hes certainly become attached to the downtown community. I guess its mixed feelings, Foley said. Ive been here so long on King Street, its kind of like [leaving] family the towns always been pretty good to me. Probably one of the best places Ive every worked. Foleys relationship with the downtown community is something that Boone Police Chief Dana Crawford noted. You know we are really going to miss him, Crawford said on Monday. Hes been a very dedicated, loyal officer downtown. Hes always kept the businesses very near and dear to him and as a servant, giving them the best quality service that he possibly can. He had great relationships with our community in that area and we really appreciate his hard work and dedication through the years down there. Replacing Foley downtown will be Glen Kornhauser. The officer going down there is going to have some big shoes to fill to make those contacts that Mike has down there, and we are really looking forward to that, and at the same time, we are going to miss Mikes dedication down there and what hes been able to do for us as an agency. During its monthly council meeting on Aug. 18, the Boone Town Council passed a resolution, citing Foley as a master police officer who served as a leader in the Boone Police Department in an exemplary fashion. The resolution awarded Foley with his police badge and service weapon, a .40 caliber Model 22 Glock. Foley received a standing ovation from the town council, town staff and community attending the meeting. On Monday morning, Officer Foley delivered flowers to some of the office staff in Town Hall, where Foley also has an office. One of those staff members was Nicole Worley, a secretary for the Town of Boone, who said shes known Officer Foley since she was 16, back when she worked in Boone Drug on King Street. Asked if town staff were going to miss Officer Foley, Worley said, Oh my gosh. Yes. Absolutely. Another secretary for the Town of Boone, Linda Councill created a photo-memory book as a retiring present for Foley, (see images below) and Officer Foley was the employee spotlight in the towns July/August newsletter. Foley said he plans to hold a part-time job during retirement and go on a cruise with his wife of 37 years, Laurel. They live in the Valle Crucis area. Prior to working with the Boone Police Department, Foley was employed with the Holly Hill Police Department, which is located in between Daytona Beach and Foleys hometown of Ormond Beach, Fla., for 16 years. In all, Foley served 34 years in law enforcement. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket By Jesse Wood Visitors to downtown Boone fed the parking meters and pay stations more than $530,000 from July 2015 through June 2016, according to data provided by Town Manager John Ward. That time period captures the first full year that downtown Boone has featured paid parking throughout its entire downtown area not counting, of course, the days prior to when Boone featured paid parking as late as the early to mid 80s. Of that $532,292 of parking meter revenue, 56 percent or $298,236 is net revenue. The Town of Boone paid $31,178 to IPS Group for meter software management; $39,275 for credit card processing; and $163,603 to McLaurin Parking, which manages the Town of Boones parking. (In late 2014, the Boone Town Council approved a $216,839 contract with IPS Group for the smart meters and installation services.) Folks fed the meter the most in October 2015, which saw $53,334 in parking meter revenue (before expenses are taking out). June 2016 saw the least amount of parking meter revenue, $41,449 (before expenses are taking out). Ward said that the town is averaging about $25,000 per month in net revenue. Ward said that the revenue will pay for increases in McLaurins contract and new meters to replace older ones that do not have the updated technology. In addition, Ward said that the Boone Town Council has budgeted to install new meters on Hamby Alley. My plan is also to recommend that we utilize parking revenue to expand parking options in downtown. I have been asked by Council to explore options for the lot next door to Town Hall. Currently, Im working to develop a plan for a potential parking deck, Ward told High Country Press in an email. When the meters went live in early 2015, some downtown merchants criticized the one-hour time limit on the meters, which was created to minimize college students parking on King Street for class. After hearing from the merchants, the Boone Town Council extended the time limit of on-street parking meters to two hours. (The pay lots and Queen street meters already had extended parking options.) Since then, Ward said that the feedback from merchants and public has been positive overall and that the Downtown Boone Development Association members informed him at a recent DBDA meeting that the meter program has increased traffic into their stores. We are constantly seeking feedback and looking for new ways to improve customer service, Ward said. We are also working hard to ensure that the meter program is successful, so that net revenues can then be used to increase parking options for downtown businesses and visitors to our Watauga County and Town of Boone government offices. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket (HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a California-based company and two executives with using baseless financial projections and other misleading statements to defraud investors in a venture to manufacture environmentally-friendly building materials. The SEC alleges that Enviro Board Corporation and its co-chairmen/CEOs Glenn Camp and William Peiffer raised approximately $6 million from investors during a four-year period by using documents predicting company earnings ranging from $18 million to $95 million per year. They allegedly lacked any reasonable basis for such estimates amid persistent manufacturing problems plaguing the company since its inception. Enviro Board claimed its green materials had already been used in residential and commercial construction projects, yet the company has never developed a commercially viable mill to manufacture its products. Among other alleged misrepresentations to investors were claims to have secured $161 million in financing from a vendor that turned out to be nothing more than an entity created by Peiffer that lacked the resources to actually make such a loan. Meanwhile, according to the SECs complaint filed in federal court in Los Angeles, Camp and Peiffer and their primary salesman Joshua Mosshart have paid themselves approximately $2.6 million in compensation out of investor funds. Mosshart also is named in the SECs complaint and charged with selling unregistered securities and acting as an unregistered broker. We allege that Enviro Board appealed to investors desires to benefit the environment by creating the false impression that it was on the cusp of lucrative operations. But Camp and Peiffer were merely lining their own pockets while their unviable manufacturing process has failed to commercialize after nearly 20 years of trying, said Michele Wein Layne, Director of the SECs Los Angeles Regional Office. The SECs complaint charges Enviro Board, Camp, and Peiffer with violating Section 17(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 as well as Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5(b). The complaint further charges Camp and Mosshart with violating Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act and Mosshart with violating Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act. The complaint seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains plus interest and penalties, and officer-and-director bars against Camp and Peiffer. Osmo Soininvaara (Greens), a councillor for the City of Helsinki, estimates that the proposed basic income scheme would generate a budget deficit of up to 15 billion euros if it was implemented on a population-wide scale. The newly-published proposal to launch a basic income experiment has come under criticism from economists and policy-makers in Finland. The proposed scheme, he writes, is silly and outrageously expensive. Socio-political experiments cannot be organised in a way that participants in the experiment are put at a disadvantage in relation to the rest of the population, Soininvaara, a former chairperson of the Green League, writes in a blog entry. Related posts: - Finland gearing up to launch basic income experiment (26 August, 2016) The experiment includes no changes to taxation, he adds. We cannot afford to raise the earnings of everyone by 560 euros. His concerns have been echoed by both Olli Karkkainen, a private economist at Nordea, and Joonas Rahkola, an economist at the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK). It is purely an academic experiment on the behavioural effects of increasing the incentives to work, not a realistic proposal for a basic income system, argues Karkkainen. Taxation will not be changed, which is why the basic income system would generate a deficit of ten billion euros at the level of the entire population. Rahkola is similarly concerned that the proposed scheme would be impossible to implement nationwide. The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), he points out, acknowledged in its preliminary report on the experiment that the basic income system would generate a budget deficit of roughly 11 billion euros unless taxation is adjusted accordingly. The introduction of any basic income scheme that guarantees income security comparable to that guaranteed by the social security benefits currently in place would consequently require an increase of 11 billion euros in tax revenues, the authors of the report reminded. The incentives to work would thereby not necessarily increase. The objective of the experiment is to determine whether or not basic income could be a means to reform the social security system in a way that tears down inactivity traps. The proposal is currently being circulated for comments. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Mikko Stig Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi The negotiations had dragged on mainly due to differences regarding the use of temporary workers. The so-called competitiveness pact is set to encompass roughly 91 per cent of wage earners in Finland after the Federation of Professionals and Managerial Staff (YTN), Service Sector Employers (Palta) and Trade Union Pro reached a tentative agreement on measures to reduce the unit labour costs of businesses in the information and communications technology sector yesterday evening. Trade Union Pro estimates in a press release that approximately 25 per cent of the 16,00018,000 workers in the sector are temporary workers. The agreement reached yesterday, it adds, will allow for the establishment of local guidelines for the use of temporary workers and make shop stewards better equipped to monitor the use of temporary workers. Some employers use temporary workers as regular workforce by chaining temporary contracts for several years, says Anssi Vuorio, a sector chief at Trade Union Pro. Jorma Malinen, the chairperson of Trade Union Pro, has urged policy-makers to stand by their word and introduce additional income tax concessions worth one hundred million euros. The Government of Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre) has promised to adopt tax concessions worth 515 million euros if the coverage of the pact exceeds 90 per cent. Ilkka Oksala, the head of working life at the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), reminds in a press release that the competitiveness pact is only one element of the ongoing effort to spur the economic recovery of Finland. It alone is not enough, however, he states. A number of other measures will be needed to strengthen the competitiveness of businesses, promote employment and enhance incentive effects. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Eventually the knife-wielding man was disarmed and then assaulted by the man he had been threatening. A criminal was hospitalised after attempting to attack a man with a knife outside a South Dublin pub. Armed and uniformed gardai rushed to the Crumlin pub after getting reports of a man with a knife threatening another person. "It was a fairly bizarre situation; this individual armed with the knife appeared heavily intoxicated and was calling out the other man," a source said. "People tried to calm him down but he wasn't having any of it. "The man he was threatening eventually had enough and approached him, taking the knife off him while giving him a bit of a beating for his troubles." The bizarre incident happened shortly after 3pm on August 21, as detectives were carrying out door-to-door inquiries on nearby Stannaway Road, where a man had been shot just hours beforehand. Due to the number of units in the area investigating the non-fatal shooting of Jason Kearns (30), as well as the pub being near Crumlin Garda Station, officers flooded the area within minutes of the call-out. The knifeman, who is aged in his 40s and is a criminal from the Crumlin area, is well-known to gardai for a litany of minor offences. However, he is not considered a major criminal. It is understood that a dispute between two men led to the local criminal arriving at the scene armed with a knife and threatening a man who had been in the pub. Calm The man being threatened attempted to calm the situation. Eventually the knife-wielding man was disarmed and then assaulted by the man he had been threatening. Gardai arrived on the scene and treated the man for head injuries, before an ambulance arrived and transferred him to hospital. He was brought at St James's Hospital and was later discharged. Officers from Crumlin Garda Station are investigating the incident, but no arrests have yet been made. More women, juveniles help drive need for more space at the jail This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. 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Learn more here Grand Prize Winner: Donna Rickey Blog Winners: A Song for her Enemies by Sherri Stewart: Mary Ann Hake Spies & Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett: Connie Ruggles Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello: Brenda Walters Justice for Julia by Donna Schlachter: Natalya Lakhno Party Prize winners: Sherri Stewarts Winners A Song for her Enemies: Angie Pool Bottle of Dutch Syrup: Carol Koch Alscheff Corrie ten Boom book: Deb Gramie Burgess Linda Shenton Matchetts winners: $5.00 gift card to online retailer or choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Karen Hadley A Bride for Seamus: Carol Osterhouse Wotring DebbieLynn Costellos winners: Sword of the Matchmaker: Melissa Planas Sword of Forgiveness: Paty Hinojosa Gomez Shattered Memories: Charlene Zall Capodice Sword of the Perfect Bride: Licha Haney Donna Schlachters winner: Leather Journal: Lisa Turley GIVEAWAY RULES Winners must leave their email address and will be notified by email and the winners name will be announced in the days comments. No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ There is widespread welcome and justifiable appreciation of the High Court of Bombays decision to permit women to enter the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali shrine. The outcome is correct but the reasoning is flawed. The court held that the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet do not prohibit womens visit to graves. But then the historic verdict is problematic as yet again the judiciary has taken over the role of the clergy in telling us what is an essential and what is not an essential practice of religion. Can we permit sati, human sacrifice, triple talaq and polygamy if these practices are deemed to be essential practices? Read | Bombay HC verdict on women at Haji Ali Dargah reignites Sabarimala debate The judiciary is wrong in privileging certain religious practices over other and there have been inconsistencies in the use of judicially invented essentiality test. Essential practices of religions in the past had been decided without any reference to the scriptures and dogmas of concerned religions but on the basis of earlier judicial decisions. The high courts decision has brought this controversy to the centre stage yet again. The whole concept of providing constitutional protection only to those elements of a religion that the court considers essential is problematic. Such an approach assumes that one element or practice in a religion is independent of the others. This suggests some practices are central to religion and others are just incidental. This is not the correct understanding of religion as all elements and practices together constitute a religion. Read | Haji Ali Trust to decide on appealing against HC verdict today The essentiality test was originally crystallised in the temple entry case. The court engaged itself with the question of whether untouchability, manifested in restrictions on temple entry was an essential part of the Hindu religion. The court after examining selective Hindu texts came to the conclusion that untouchability was not an essential Hindu practice. The better course should have been to refer to the Constitutions abolition of untouchability. Similarly in the Haji Ali case, the court should have confined itself just to right to equality as the freedom of religion is subservient to all other fundamental rights. Similarly in the tandava dance case, though the Calcutta High Court had originally found that the tandava dance was an essential practice of the Ananda Margi faith, the Supreme Court overturned this decision and relied on the doctrine of precedent to hold that it was not an essential practice. Here, the essentiality question was decided by studying earlier judicial verdicts and not religious texts. Another reason provided was that the Ananda Margi faith had come into existence in 1955 and the tandava dance was adopted only in 1966, therefore as the faith had existed without the practice, it couldnt be accepted as an essential feature of the faith. Read | We thank God for fulfilling our wishes: Desai at Haji Ali The essentiality test was invoked in the Ismail Faruqui case where the apex court was dealing with the issue of the State acquiring the land on which the Babri masjid stood. One of the legal issues before the court was whether the State had the power to acquire a mosque. Instead of settling the issue in favour of the State by relying on the principle of eminent domain, the court went into the question of whether praying in the mosque is an essential practice of Islam. The court held that while the offering of prayers is an essential practice, the offering of such prayers in the mosque is not. The essential practices test has proved to be the biggest deterrent to freedom of religion in India. It does not have any constitutional basis. The Constitution of India provides protection to religion as a whole subject to restrictions and not just to essential elements of a religion. Faizan Mustafa is vice-chancellor NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad The views expressed are personal When beautiful Ganesha idols start lining the roadsides, you know Ganesh Chaturthi is approaching (puja is from September 5-15). So is the time for submersion of these idols in the citys Yamuna river, adding to pollution. However, this time, the focus is on making festivals eco-friendly. And giving it a push is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, Modi in a first-of-its-kind move by an Indian PM on Sunday encouraged the use of clay to make idols instead of Plaster of Paris. Clay is eco-friendly. We must go back to clay for sculpting idols of Ganesh and Durga (for Durga Puja in October), he said. Read: Idol makers get busy ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Puja organisers are motivated to save the environment. The Ganesh Mahotsav Dilli Ka Maharaja, Laxmi Nagar will see a 12-feet high fibre idol that will be worshipped for 10 days at the pandal, but a separate 2.5 feet idol that will be submerged in the Yamuna for symbolic purposes. This idol is eco-friendly and contains seeds thatll grow into plants when exposed to water, says Mahendra Ladda, president, Sri Ganesh Sewa Mandal. We are from Maharashtra but have been living in Delhi for decades. As responsible citizens, we want to give back to Delhi by making our festival pollution-free. Weve always tried to get eco-friendly idols. Modijis words have further inspired us. This is just a small step towards the Swachch Bharat that Modiji wants to make, adds Ladda. Organisers are opting for eco-friendly idols as a step towards Swachch Bharat. Durga Puja organisers, too, are headed the same way. Abhijit Bose, executive chairman, Arambagh Puja, Panchkuian Road, says, Our theme will be: In Search of Roots. As our PM says, weve decided to preserve our dying arts and have invited a National Award winner to make a 10 feet high jute idol of Durga. We are in talks with corporates to place this idol in their office after puja. A small idol of 4-5 feet made of clay will instead be immersed in water. Read: Rio win to Kashmir loss: Highlights of PM Modis Mann ki Baat Some have even decided to gift saplings as momentos to their VIP guests. Theres more. The flowers offered to idols over 10 days of puja will be decomposed later, says Naresh Goyal, president, Lalbagh ka Raja Trust. Their 15-feet high eco-friendly idol is so far the highest thats worshipped in Delhi. After the PMs address, they are reconsidering its submersion in the Yamuna. Our idol is eco-friendly and if Narendra Modi ji has said to make clay idols then it is only for our better future, he adds. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rohini Devasher is an astronomy geek. The Delhi-based artist joined the Amateur Astronomers Association of Delhi (AAAD) in 1997. Since then, she has gone on several field trips in and around the capital with the group. They would observe asteroids, eclipses and meteors, among other occurrences in the night sky. Devasher is also a science fiction fan. She, therefore, began incorporating what she calls the deep sciences astronomy and geology and also biology and the natural world, into her art. In the past five years, this integration of art and science has taken her places. She has been the artist-in-residence at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin, Germany. Rohini has shown her work at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the Fukuoka Asian Art Trienniale, and a few Frieze shows in the UK and the US. Rohini Devasher joined the Amateur Astronomers Association of Delhi (AAAD) in 1997. Since then, she has gone on several field trips in and around the capital with the group. The artists latest exhibition, called Speculations From The Field, is now on display at Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Byculla (E). Curated by Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, the director of the museum, and Himanshu Kadam, senior assistant curator, the show explores existentialist themes by looking at our place in the universe, and the idea of time. Spread out over two floors, the exhibition features a terrasphere (a digital rendering of a terrarium), two video installations, planispheres, archival pigment prints of Shivering Sands (sea forts that were used to defend Englands coastline during the Second Word War) and a 20-foot acrylic, dry charcoal and colour pencil wall drawing that mimics rock layers (they are lighter on top, and become darker as they go deeper into the earths crust). Accompanying the wall drawing are fossils from the museums rarely-seen natural history collection, which belong to the Jurassic Period. Perspectives on display Devasher has created a blue sphere from the ground. To record the time-lapse video, she visited The Gauribidanur Observatory, located 90km north of Bangalore. (Rohini Devasher) One of the videos Atmospheres is an inverted perception of earth. We are used to seeing the planet from space. So, Devasher has created a blue sphere from the ground. To record the time-lapse video, she visited The Gauribidanur Observatory, located 90km north of Bangalore. The observatory has radio telescopes that are placed on the ground. An amateur astronomer there had a fisheye lens. So I pointed the camera [towards the sky] and shot [the video] for two days from different positions in the massive campus, says the artist. The terrasphere, meanwhile, is an exercise in world building. It is made up of 59 images that are projected onto a sphere, and look like the top of a mini planet. I have always been fascinated by the idea of enclosed terrariums and ecosystems. They seem fantastical, says Devasher. Time travel is another major theme she plays with. The 20 planispheres, titled Meridian, represent how the sky above the museum will look on the same date August 20 across a period of over 20,000 years: from 416 AD to 21,416 AD. This enables you to spot Saturn and Jupiter in one planisphere, and see Mars and the Moon in another. But, Devasher tells us, the sky more or less looks the same across the centuries. Archival pigment prints of Shivering Sands (sea forts that were used to defend Englands coastline during the Second Word War). The sea forts view the passage of time in a different manner. I was amazed by how futuristic and dystopian they looked at the same time. They look like the AT-AP Walker from the Star Wars films, or like the Philae (a spacecraft) that landed on the Rosetta comet in 2014. We know they are sea forts. But what else can we imagine them to be? Fiction is important for me, states the artist. A sense of wonder Devashers attempt is to instil a sense of wonder into the people who visit her show. By juxtaposing our life on earth to our place in the universe, she is trying to make sense of something that is so much bigger than us. Deep time (a geological theory that predicts the age of earth) and space remind us that there is more [to life]. Earlier, the AAAD could just do the observations at the Nehru Planetarium, in the middle of Delhi. Now, you have to travel out of the city for eight hours to find skies that are not polluted by light. What does it mean to have a generation of people who will not see stars? asks Devasher. Devashers 20-foot acrylic, dry charcoal and colour pencil wall drawing mimics rock layers (they are lighter on top, and become darker as they go deeper into the earths crust). (Arijit Sen/HT PHOTO) Her fellow amateur astronomers summarise the significance of why people should be curious about the world we live in. I asked the AAAD members, who are full-time lawyers, accountants and travel agents, why they take time out to observe the skies. They said, All of us know that life is banal. We all know that we live in a cocoon. But with astronomy, we can see that were in a cocoon. Knowing that keeps me sane, says Devasher. Actor Jackie Chan is looking for a fresh Indian face for the sequel of his soon to release film, Skiptrace. The Hollywood actors team is already in Mumbai auditioning actors. So far, a few actresses have auditioned for the part. Sobhita Dhulipala ( Raman Raghav) and Tillotama Shome (Qissa) are among the top contenders for this part. However, they are still looking at other options, in case someone else fits the bill better. Since Jackie is the producer of the film, he will take the final call on casting after discussion with director Renny Harlin, Midday quoted a source as saying. Read: Jackie Chan wants to eat makki di roti when he visits India, says Sonu Sood Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan had the most special moment of her life as she walked the ramp flaunting her baby bump. I must say its not one but two of us. Its a very special moment. I have never walked for Sabyasachi before, we were not able to do a film together. But this moment is very special. Its going to be in the history. I am actually very emotional right now. It is a moment I want everyone to cherish. I would like to say Sabyasachi is not a designer he is an artist. He creates painting. I am really honoured to wear this artist, Kareena said post the show. The 34-year-old actress got emotional and said it will be a walk to remember for her as she and her baby took to the ramp together for the first time. Kareena turned designer Sabyasachis muse for his latest collection that brought the curtains down at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive Kareena Kapoor Khan showcases a creation by designer Sabyasachi at Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2016 in Mumbai. (AFP) The Ki & Ka star dressed in a heavily embroided olive green lehenga and a kurti patterned choli with dupatta on her head, looked every inch of a regal bride. Her look was completed by a beautiful maang tika. The actress was asked if the baby kicked while she was walking on the ramp, to which she replied with laugh saying, I was too nervous to realise if it happened. Kareena is being praised by the industry for not letting the pregnancy come in between her work and the actress said she will never go away from the camera. I have always maintained that I work till I die. Acting is my passion. My work is my passion and as long as I am working it makes me happy and that joy shows on face. I am going to continue working. Kareena Kapoor walks the ramp. (AFP) The Bollywood diva was all praise for Sabyasachi and said even her mother-in-law, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, is a big fan of his creations. It is pleasure to walk for him. He works magic with his masterstroke. Even my mother-in-law is a huge admirer of his work, she said praising the designer. Follow @htshowbiz for more Last week, it was reported that Priyanka Chopra had been roped in as the brand ambassador for Assam tourism, and that the states government had signed her for their campaign. But the news took a controversial turn when some reports claimed that she was charging Rs 1.5 crore a day, and would pocket a cool Rs 15 crore for a 10-day shoot. However, now, the office of Assam Tourism Development has sent a letter, clearing the air. The media reports regarding the remuneration are false, reads the letter. Priyankas spokesperson also confirmed the news. Read: Harpers Bazaar calls Deepika Peedika; Priyanka fans have a ball on Twitter An insider says, Priyanka was approached for the campaign, and she is keen to do it too. But they never spoke about the money. She has been actively working for many causes, and the idea of promoting tourism for an Indian state appealed to her. She isnt in the country till December, as she is busy shooting for her American show. She is also looking forward to the release of her Hollywood film. But she really wants to be part of this campaign, and will take a call on it soon. Read: Priyanka Chopra gets her own special Times most influential cover In the past, many other Bollywood celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan (for Gujarat), and Aamir Khan (for Incredible India), have promoted tourism campaigns. Friends for life.. @jazmasri major kisses #Quantico A video posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Aug 27, 2016 at 5:56pm PDT Congrats and good luck to my friend and talent extraordinaire @usher for the premiere of #handsofstone you will kill it as #sugarrayleonard @hair_by_priyanka mup @uday104 A photo posted by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Aug 22, 2016 at 5:07pm PDT SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Brunch cover story (August 7) called out body shaming of all types. We take the conversation forward and look at thin shaming, which, though less talked about, is just as damaging to those subjected to it It is never just frisking. Neha Bakshi, 27, has lost count of the number of times shes stepped into the security check enclosure at the metro station, has been stared at and asked, Aap kuch khate nahi ho kya? (Dont you eat?) or Aap ka waist size kya hai? (What size is your waist?) It happens at other places too. At work (Do you sniff your food?, It is not fair youre so thin, Are you anorexic?), at family get-togethers (Hai! kitni patli hai, Dont your folks feed you? Have you seen a doctor?), at the gym (Have banana shake every day, Eat mashed potato mixed with curd), and even in public spaces. One time, a lady just walked up to me in the train, grabbed my thin wrist, held it up to eye-level and said, Kuch kha liya karo, recalls Bakshi*, a journalist. Everybody knows it is rude and hurtful to call someone fat, at least to their face. But shaming people for being skinny through unsolicited advice, remarks, jokes and unnecessary ribbing is not even recognised as offensive. People dont realise that commenting on someones body because they are thin is just as demeaning as doing it to someone fat, says Bakshi. And it is very annoying. The fact that being thin is considered desirable in popular culture makes it harder for skinny people to call out this form of body shaming or voice their hurt. But body shaming of all types affects the victims self worth in the long term. The negative attention pervades the everyday and becomes a constant reminder that something is wrong with your appearance. It makes you feel less than others, says Paromita Bardoloi, 31, a writer. You are treated as half a human. I am a good eater. People dont understand that some body types are just skinny. Doctors says body image issues often become the underlying cause of other disorders such as social anxiety, withdrawal and even depression. Not everyone reaches out to mental health professionals because they are thin, says Dr Rakhi Anand, a clinical psychologist at Indraprastha Apollo hospital. Often people come to us for something else and while talking to them we may figure out that they have a poor body image which is resulting in a particular problem. I am treating a young girl, who is very skinny, and avoids talking or making eye-contact with people at work, says psychologist Dr Aruna Broota. She says if I do, people try to be friendly and do so by asking me why are you so skinny? She says I eat and eat, but I just dont put on weight. From the #BodyShaming cover story: Marketing professional Prerna Grover says there was a phase in her life when all the thin shaming she was subjected to made her shy and she retreated into a shell (Raj K Raj) CATCHES THEM YOUNG Its tough enough to deal with body shaming as an adult, but it can be quite traumatic and confidence-sapping during adolescence. When you are young, you dont understand how this negative attention affects you. It makes you feel inadequate. You either become withdrawn or try to act cool as I did, says Bardoloi. I am still recovering from the thin shaming Ive lived with since I was four. Bakshi agrees. I had severe body image issues as a teenager, she says. But I grew out of it as I realised I was good at other things. Still, the thin trolling has driven her to the gym for weight gain. I am tired of hearing: haye kitni patli hai. GENDER NO BAR Like fat shaming, thin shaming doesnt gender discriminate either. Delhi University student Raghav S, 18, is constantly picked on for his stick-thin body. My mum is on the heavier side, so we often get jokes like, do you eat all the food and feed your son nothing? which is embarrassing and annoying, he says. Sometimes I laugh along, sometimes I give it back, but mostly I try to ignore it. To deal with any sort of body shaming then, it becomes important to have a support system that helps the victim deal with all the external negativity. Most of our self esteem is derived from our interaction with our family, says Anand. If they are able to strengthen the victims self image then he or she can easily dismiss what outsiders say. Sonu Kumar, 35, an engineer, says he even tried binge-eating as a teenager to add some meat to his frame. I shopped for jeans in the ladies section, he recalls, Till I decided to buy denim and have them made. He admits the social disapproval (manifested through unsolicited advice and queries) made him acutely conscious of what he wore at that age. From the #BodyShaming cover story: Actress and VJ Bani J was body shamed for her muscular physique. (Taras Taraporvala, Courtesy: ELLE magazine India) LOVE WHAT YOUVE GOT Advertising professional Kritika Bawa, 28, too, has a slight frame, despite the generous use of desi ghee in the kitchen of her Sikh Punjabi household. But all the thin shaming over the years has inured her to the jibes. On a windy day, I am often told, I think you should put a five-rupee coin in your pocket so that you arent swept away, says Bawa. I dont let the negativity get to me because I am okay with the way I am. I tell the body shamers I am blessed to have such metabolism. Whatever may be your perceived issues with your body type too fat, too thin, too short, too tall, too dark try and tune out the negative and focus on your strengths. If you feel the constant concern trolling is getting to you and stealing your mojo, seek help. Rather than focussing on your body per say, start focusing on your strengths and your skills, says Anand. Once you do that, you will automatically have better self-esteem, increased confidence and will stop giving importance to what people say about your body. *Name changed on request From HT Brunch, August 29, 2016 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A consortium of banks including SBI told the Supreme Court on Monday that beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya had deliberately not made full disclosure of his assets including $40 million which he received in February from a British firm. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the consortium of banks, told a bench of justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman that Mallya has not disclosed the amount which he received in February while he had filed the reply in March. The Attorney General said that as per the Supreme Court rules, Mallya has to appear before the court after a notice has been served upon him in a contempt petition. Rohatgi said that since Mallya had not been granted exemption from appearance, he should not be heard any more. Senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, appearing for Mallya, told the bench that they have filed a petition for recall of apex courts earlier order and said that no contempt has been made. He also said that the apex courts earlier order to disclose the assets has been complied with. Mallyas lawyer Mahesh Agarwal said the liquor baron has contended that the disclosure of the assets was for the settlement of outstanding dues with the banks, and since no settlement was taking place he was not obliged to make disclosure and consequently there was no contempt. Giving ten days time to the SBI to file its response, the bench of Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman gave Mallya a weeks time to file his rejoinder as it directed the hearing of the matter on September 27, 2016. The bench also asked the Attorney General to file a response to Mallyas petition by then. Earlier, on July 25, the apex court had issued notice to Mallya on the plea of the consortium of banks that alleged that he had not disclosed his full assets including $40 million received by him from a British firm. The apex court, after noting the submissions by Attorney General, had issued notice to Mallya and asked him to respond. On July 14, Rohatgi claimed that Mallya had provided wrong details of his assets in a sealed cover to the apex court. He further said a lot of information had also been concealed, including a cash transaction to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore, which amounted to contempt of court. The Justice AP Shah Committee looking into the dispute between Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) regarding the flow of gas between their adjacent fields in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin will submit its report to oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter. The oil ministry will take a call on when to make the contents of the report public, said the source quoted above on condition of anonymity. ONGC claims that RIL has benefited from gas flow between their fields between 2009-13. RIL has been maintaining that it has drilled wells only within its block, as approved by the regulatory authority, and was not guilty of any wrongdoing. The committee was set up on December 15, 2015, as ordered by the Delhi High Court after hearing ONGCs petition alleging that the RIL consortium was benefitting from the gas flow. The committee is mandated to quantify unfair enrichment if any by RIL and to recommend ways to compensate ONGC and the government after independent American consultant DeGoyler and MacNaughton (D&M) reported that the fields managed by the two companies shared the same reservoir, leading to migration of gas from ONGCs field to RILs. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four years ago, Suyog Agrawal quit his job as a research analyst to launch his own food startup, Zodiac Foods. However, reaching break-even seemed a distant dream in spite of all the effort he could make and investment he could muster. Considering my personal responsibilities, I decided to find a job, says Agrawal. In no time he found one with Genpact. A reference in my resume to the startup that failed did not subject me to embarrassing or demeaning questions, Agrawal says. Genpact, a modern company and one of the pioneers of the business process outsourcing revolution in India, is not alone in valuing people with failed startups on their resume. Dabur, Book My Show, Paytm, Godrej and RPG Group are hunting for ex-entrepreneurs, whom they find to be highly-skilled, self-motivated, and creative, with good salesmanship and networking skills. These companies say they receive 10 to 15 resumes every quarter from candidates with failed startups on their resumes. They do not need to hide the failure because recruiters have come to realise they transformed a concept into reality, and would have learned something along the way. Personally, I am fond of such candidates. They are mature, and the best thing is they know what not to do, says Supratik Bhattacharyya, vice-president, talent management, at RPG Enterprises. Multinational technology giant IBM seeks out these candidates. It just hired one whose firm was working on internet and analytics solutions using open-source technology. We were looking for a senior executive with domain strength in analytics. His entrepreneurial experience made him the apt choice for this role, says Dilpreet Singh, vice-president, HR, at IBM India and South Asia. Then, of course, there are startups that are keen to hire people with failed startups. And it is not just about the brotherhood of entrepreneurship. The hiring startups believe the failure would have taught critical lessons in what not to do. Ankur Anand, who heads experience and marketing at co-working space provider InstaOffice, had failed twice as an entrepreneur, first with a B2B marketplace for coffee, and then a travel startup. Says Vikas Lakhani, co-founder, InstaOffice: Ankur had underestimated the need for resources, which hampered his ability to execute. But he had developed a knack for deconstructing problems and defining a solution into a list of actionable items. Its critical for us to be able to maintain a certain level of standardisation in the experience across our spaces. Even a company like Deoitte, an audit and consulting firm that values specialisation, likes entrepreneurs, even failed ones, for their felicity with mixed roles. I have hired several entrepreneurs who failed. They are like sharks in fish tanks. These guys, by nature, are disruptive and flexible, and have strong communication skills. People around startup guys in a traditional organisation get to learn a lot from them, says SV Nathan, chief talent officer at Deloitte India. All these companies hire failed entrepreneurs knowing that they may not hang around for long. Once they have tasted entrepreneurship, they are likely to try it again. But while they are around, they teach others the value of resources, and leave behind invaluable ideas. The challenge for the employer is to match their aspirations. We are predisposed towards such employees, but it also involves the risk of losing them as they always have the desire to build a great company on their own, says a spokesperson for Paytm. However, it is not all rosy for failed entrepreneurs. For all the attractiveness of their maturity and their ideas, employers are stingy in paying them. Most of the organisations hire them at their existing salaries, with average increments ranging between zero to 10%, says Rituparna Chakraborty, co-founder of Teamlease Services, the staffing firm. Additional reporting by Rozelle Laha SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Last week saw a poignant trans-Atlantic union. At a rally in the southern state of Mississippi, the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump shared the stage with Nigel Farage, the Brexit campaigner whose long quest to remove the United Kingdom from the European Union succeeded in June. Both men style themselves as populist outsiders telling cold truths to the ruling elites. With Trump flagging in the polls against Hillary Clinton, Farage reminded the Mississippi crowd of the unlikely triumph of the Leave vote in Britains EU referendum. Anything is possible if enough decent people are prepared to stand up against the establishment, he crowed. Trump and Farage have much in common. Both use their background in business and finance to distinguish themselves from establishment politicians. Though not taken seriously from the outset, they courted media attention and steered their political careers into the limelight. In claiming to represent little people, real people, ordinary, decent people against modern global corporatism, they peddle a mixture of chest-thumping patriotism and macho anti-elitism. Read | In a first, Clinton tops 50% support from US voters in poll; Trump 41% Most importantly, and to their everlasting shame, Trump and Farage have fanned racist, anti-immigrant passions for their own short-term gain. The hateful currents coursing through their politics are part of the wider rise of white nationalism on both sides of the Atlantic. It has been widely documented including in this column how Trump has lashed out at Latinos and advocated a ban on all Muslims. His rallies can be feverish, vulgar affairs, attended by mostly white supporters. With an obstinate dedication to myth, his campaign repeats the lies that the US border with Mexico is open (no president has deported more people than Barack Obama) and that hordes of Syrian refugees stand poised to swarm, unvetted, into American communities (the US is already far behind on its paltry goal of resettling 10,000 thoroughly screened refugees by the end of the year). Read | Trump steps away from hardline stance, towards improved ratings Similarly, campaigners for Brexit demonised immigrants. Farage framed hundreds of thousands of eastern European workers in the UK (many of whom have been toiling in the country for nearly two decades) as enemies of the people and the source of economic and social woe. In an infamous bit of agitprop, Farage also unveiled a billboard that showed a snaking line of brown-skinned Syrian refugees, suggesting that membership in the EU would cause the UK to be overwhelmed by Muslim migrants. The Leave campaign won on the back of this crude messaging. Tellingly, it was areas of England with little experience of immigration that embraced Farages xenophobic message and voted to leave the EU. Parts of England with more sustained experiences of immigration like London and Manchester voted to remain. Read| Donald Trump to address Hindu Americans at New Jersey rally on Sept 24 We see something similar happening regarding likely Trump voters. A recent Gallup study by economist Jonathan Rothwell aggregated interviews with 87,000 Americans. The surveys results undermined Trumps claims to represent the impoverished working classes and those hurt by globalisation. First, it showed that relative to those within their demographic group (in terms of religion, education, and geography), Trump supporters are fairly affluent. Second, post-industrial districts (that have seen declines in manufacturing jobs since 1990) arent inclined to vote for Trump. Finally, Trump supporters (like Brexit voters) live in some of the most racially isolated parts of the country least affected by immigration. Read | Trump rates higher than Hitler on psychopath scale Whether in the American south and Midwest or in the post-industrial English northeast, this isolation breeds ideas of foreign threat. Look, for example, at the results of an Ipsos Mori poll about perceived Muslim populations. British citizens think that Muslims make up 21% of their country (actual figure: 5%). Americans think Muslims are 15% of their country (actual figure: 0.6%). All these findings are modern evidence of a very old kind of populism. Though they clothe their politics in the homespun rhetoric of anti-elitism, Trump and Farage are tapping the hatreds latent in their societies. They invoke the false spectre of tidal waves of immigrants. They repeat the desire to take our country back, to return to an imagined state of grace before significant immigration (in the case of the UK) and when whites disproportionately enjoyed the benefits of robust economic growth and the social safety net (in the case of the United States). Read | With talks on religion, colour and borders, nativism resurfaces in US elections There are many legitimate reasons to be aggrieved with the status quo in Western societies. Both Brexit voters and Trump voters are right to fret about wage stagnation and staggering levels of economic inequality. What is disquieting, however, is how swiftly these material concerns are sublimated into the phantasmagoria of race and ethnicity. With the rise of far-Right, anti-immigrant, and anti-multicultural parties across continental Europe, a white nationalism or nativism has returned with snarling force on the global stage. Trump is only one of its heralds; even if he fails, it will remain a shaping force in Western politics for the foreseeable future. Kanishk Tharoor is the author of Swimmer Among the Stars: Stories The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON GURGAON: The Mewat Police on Sunday nabbed four accused who were allegedly involved in the murder of a couple and the gang rape of two women at Dhingeri village, 45km from Gurgaon. The men were produced before a local court which remanded them in police custody for seven days. The suspects, residents of Mohammadpur village close to Dhingeri village in Tauru, 45km from Gurgaon, were arrested after a police team zeroed down on their identities and location after four days of probe. They have been identified as Sandeep, Amarjeet, Karamjeet and Rahul Kumar. On the basis of the rape victims description, the police had prepared sketches of the accused and distributed them in all police stations and public places. A Special Investigation Team was also formed to trace and nab the accused. Inspector general of police, southern range, Mamta Singh said Rahul had earlier been booked in a case under the Arms Act. The background of the other accused was being verified. I had interacted with the victims. They told me that they had seen the suspects roaming around the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway on Wednesday. The men even smiled at the victims after being spotted, Singh said. The police then tapped into their local sources and brought the suspects in for questioning on Saturday. We arrested them on Sunday after finding sufficient evidence to corroborate their involvement in the crime. We will question them about their motive next, said the IG. She added that the appearance of the suspects matched with the sketches of the accused. The police had lodged a case under Sections 302 (murder), 459 (grievous hurt), 460 (trespass), 376 D (gang rape) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Arms Act after the incident. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Municipal elections are months away, but the Aam Aadmi Party volunteers have hit the streets posing questions to the councillors of the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress about their performance and that of the civic bodies. AAP volunteers held protest marches in several municipal wards across the city on Sunday, targeting the sitting councillors over corruption in the civic bodies and its lack of delivery on its core jobproviding sanitation. The BJP has been in power in the three municipal corporations over the past nine years, while the Congress has been the principal opposition. Of late, the party leadership has been receiving feedback from MLAs and other local volunteers about peoples complaints against functioning of MCDs. The maximum complaints have been about lack of sanitation and hygiene in residential areas. So all party legislators, including ministers, have been directed to organise protest march in their areas, seeking report card from the area councillor, a senior AAP leader said. Party volunteers held such marches in several constituencies including Patparganj, Rohini, Burari, Karawal Nagar, Rohini and Shakur Basti. Party leaders said all municipal wards will be covered over the next two months. Sources said the party is closely monitoring these protests on ground. Unlike the BJP and Congress, AAP has a well laid system of monitoring work of its legislators. So its nothing new on that front, a senior leader said. North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations are scheduled to go to polls in April-May. While AAP made an impressive debut in the civic body bypolls earlier this year, winning five of 13 seats, the results were below par going by the historic landslide in favour of the party in assembly polls, just about a year ago. While the Congress was able to make a return of sorts by winning four seats, the BJP won the rest. Party leaders, however, say the double anti-incumbency being faced by the BJP and Congress failure to contribute constructively in terms of a strong opposition will help AAP win the municipal elections too. BJP will go into the elections with a decade-long anti-incumbency. In addition, their councillors would have their own share of anti-incumbency as these elections are held at local level. For the Congress, its councillors will prove to be a liability as they have neither raised peoples issues in the House nor have been effective on the ground, a senior AAP leader said. He said infighting in Congress leadership will make things even more difficult for the party. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: A four-member Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) team of the Delhi government visited former chief minister Sheila Dikshits residence on Sunday to quiz her on her alleged role in the Rs 400-crore water tanker scam. The anti-graft unit, which reports to the Delhi lieutenant governor, was at her residence for over two hours. The team asked her questions from the probe report prepared by an AAP-government appointed panel. The team also gave her a questionnaire with 18 questions and sought replies. While the Congress veteran questioned the timings of the probe, Delhi water minister, Kapil Mishra, objected to the courtesy extended to Dikshit. I was the complainant in the case, but was interrogated at the ACB office in a closed room for four hours, Mishra said, claiming that the ACB was under pressure to save the former Delhi CM. I was cross-questioned, interrogated, and made to hand over a signed statement there and then. The officers stayed at Dikshits house for 20 minutes, had tea and handed her a list of 20 questions that she can answer at her convenience. There are four corruption cases against her but they are scared. It seems like Dikshit is Modi jis aunt, the water minister said. Dikshit is the Congress chief ministerial nominee for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls scheduled for next year. She rejected allegations of corruption and sought time to reply. I told the investigators I cannot answer any one of them (questions) soon as decisions were taken about four years ago. I do not remember all the details. They said I can take time to reply to the questions, she said. ACB chief Mukesh Meena confirmed that Dikshit was examined. We are looking at all possible aspects of the case. The drill was just a part of the investigation, he said. Further questioning, police said, will happen once Dikshit answers all the queries in the questionnaire. She might be examined again, sources said. AAP TRYING TO SAVE DIKSHIT: GUPTA BJP leader Vijender Gupta on Sunday alleged the AAP government was trying to save former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit in connection with the multi-crore tanker scam as they have not revealed the total cost of the scam and have rather manipulated their stance on the entire issue. NEW DELHI: If you thought lawmakers seriously debate bills before turning them into laws, heres a statistic that will make you gawk. Until this point of the NDA governments tenure, both the houses of Parliament have passed 17 bills after debating them for less than five minutes each. Lets look at a few examples. On July 28, Lok Sabha MPs amended the anti-graft Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act to exempt public servants including themselves from declaring their assets by July 31. The amendment was passed without a discussion. On March 16, the Rajya Sabha passed an amendment to the Gurudwara Act, 1925 to disenfranchise around 70 lakh Sehajdari Sikhs without even taking a minute out for talks. Earlier, on December 21, the Rajya Sabha passed the SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill in the same manner. Despite the importance of the legislation, the House rushed through the process because it was meeting after four adjournments forced by disruptions. Experts say hasty (and shoddy) legislating often yields laws that need amending within a few years of enactment, or at times fail the test of judicial scrutiny. The IT Amendment Act was passed by the Lok Sabha in 2008 after a debate of just 40 minutes. In March 2015, the Supreme Court struck down Section 66A inserted by the amendment because it was found vague and unconstitutional. Experts also cite the example of the Companies Act, 2013, an omnibus law to consolidate and amend provisions relating to firms, to drive home their point about hasty legislation. The law was amended less than two years after its enactment. The legislatures job is not just to legislate, but to legislate well, says Chakshu Roy, head of outreach at the PRS Legislative Research a think tank that analyses parliamentary procedures. The legislative process is sacrosanct, and it must ensure that a mechanism of complete scrutiny is adopted. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The Delhi government womens helpline 181 answered over 200,000 calls since its charge was handed over to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) six months ago. This is 50,000 more calls than what it answered during the same period last year when it was run by a government-appointed NGO, an official claimed. The total number of answered calls on the helpline in the past six months since its takeover by DCW is 2,14,772. The helpline had received 1,60000 calls during the same period of time last year, said DCW officials. Many calls were being missed because they didnt have enough people to handle the calls when it took over, DCW officials said. There were 14 operators when DCW took over. A huge number of calls were being missed at the time the number of callers has been increased to 28. This has led to the missed calls dropping immensely, officials said. The previous government under Sheila Dikshit launched the helpline after the December 16 gang rape. The AAP government handed the DCW the helplines responsibility. Officials said a huge percentage of calls received are related to cases of domestic violence. Calls are regularly for obscene calls, sexual assault, dowry violence, child sexual assault, health related concerns and stalking, said officials. Trained operators listen to the complainants and counsel them. Based on the urgency and requirements explained by the caller, police and DCW Mahila Help Line (MHL) counsellors are sent, officials said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON GURGAON: After 32 years, the Garg Commission recommendations were implemented and in a ceremony organized by the Riots Action Committee, 42 of the 150 victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots were issued checks by the state government at the Sadar Bazar gurudwara on Sunday. The committee claimed the government has promised to compensate all the victims over the week. As per official records, as many as 47 persons were killed in Gurgaon and 17 others, including two teenage girls, were killed in Pataudi on November 2, 1984. Victims recall that 300 houses were gutted in Gurgaon alone. After repeated struggle with the government, the community said that they have finally been able to implement the recommendations of the Justice (retired) TP Garg Commission report, submitted on April 29, which was constituted to look into the incidents of violence in the Pataudi and Gurgaon districts. We cannot forget that experience as people were dragged out of their houses and beaten to death. There are around 10,000 Sikh families in Gurgaon who have been directly or indirectly affected by the 1984 riots, said JP Singh Sahni, the vice-president of the committee. Earlier, the victims had written to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar seeking his intervention in the matter so that the Garg Commission recommendations are implemented. NEW DELHI: For the first time, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has appointed a woman as its chief election commissioner for the upcoming students union poll. A poll body has also been constituted for the purpose. In a meeting convened by the JNUSU, Ishita Mana, a first year PhD student of the School of Social Sciences (SSS) was unanimously appointed as the chief election commissioner (CEC), former CEC for JNU polls, Dileep Maurya said. The election body will soon meet to decide the dates of the election. Sources said that election is likely to be held in mid-September. The body will comprise of the CEC and members from various schools of JNU. The name of the CEC is proposed by the JNUSU and has to be unanimously accepted by the election body, members of which are selected in the general body meetings of various schools. Last year, All India Students Federation won the presidents post and ABVP bagged one of four central panel slots after 14 years. The remaining two posts had gone to Left-leaning All India Students Association. On August 24, JNUSU decided to conduct the elections as per the Lyngdoh committee. In March, the students body said it wont follow the panels guidelines. NEW DELHI: JNU has suspended a PhD scholar, who has been accused of rape by a fellow student. The university has decided that the JNU campus shall remain out of bounds for Anmol Ratan during his suspension. The move comes after students and teachers demanded that the university takes action against the accused. Ratan was accused of rape by a 28-year-old research student. The woman alleged that Ratan raped her after offering her a spiked drink in his hostel room in the campus on August 20. Ratan is a former member of the Left-affiliated All India Students Association (AISA). He was expelled from the party after rape charges were levelled. Considering the seriousness of the case and in conformity with zero tolerance against sexual assault on women, Anmol Ratan is suspended from the university with immediate effect during pendency of the case, the suspension order read. The suspension order issued by the chief proctor on Friday said, The entire JNU campus shall remain out of bounds for Ratan during his suspension. Anyone found giving shelter to Ratan in any hostel residence in the campus shall invite disciplinary action against him or her. Ratan surrendered on August 24 and was sent to 14-day judicial custody. The JNU administration has asked the universitys gender body to look into the case. GSCASH is likely to take due notice of the issue and initiate appropriate position. JAMMU/ NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Sunday former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees policy should be adopted to steer her state out of bloodshed and turmoil. We need to pick the threads left by Vajpayee. We need to find a permanent solution to the trouble as it keeps surfacing every two-three years, she said in Jammu. Vajpayee went to Lahore; then Kargil happened. Then there was an attack on Parliament. But despite those provocations, Vajpayee never left the path of dialogue. Mufti followed Prime Minister Narendra Modis line that the youth in Kashmir are being misguided by vested interests. Earlier in the day, Mufti said whosoever is ready to reject violence should be engaged in peace talks to restore normality in Kashmir. The chief minister exhorted the bunch of people referring to those provoking the youth to attack security forces to stop violence and create a conducive atmosphere for talks. What I am concerned about and told the Prime Minister is that people have lost faith in dialogues. So, a dialogue as an institution has to be restored first, she said. She wants credible people to represent the government in the talks. They should be able to communicate with the other side protesters and separatists. NEW DELHI: A life lost in Kashmir is a loss for India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his Mann ki Baat radio address on Sunday, and hit out at troublemakers for using children as foot soldiers to further their agenda. Those who push small children in the forefront to create unrest in Kashmir will someday have to answer to those innocent children, he said. Also, he appreciated the unity among political parties on Kashmir, saying their united voice has delivered a message for the separatists. His remarks came a day after his meeting with Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who suggested an institutional mechanism for dialogue with the people in her restive state. The peace process appears to be rolling as authorities in Srinagar announced late on Sunday that curfew in the Kashmir Valley could be lifted from Monday after a record 51 days since protests erupted over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. The unrest has left 70 people, including security personnel, dead. Besides, Union home minister Rajnath Singh is likely to lead an all-party delegation to the state on September 3 for talks with Kashmiris and to take stock of the situation. Ahead of the all-party delegations visit, Modi said all parties have spoken in one voice for unity, expressing affection for Kashmiris. On the minds of 1.25 crore Indians, from a village head to the Prime Minister, if a life is lost in Kashmir, be it of a youth or that of a security person, it is our loss, it is the loss of the nation. Modi said when every political party spoke as one, referring to debates in Parliament and the all-party meeting, the united voice sent a strong message to the outside world, separatists and expressed our sentiments for the Kashmiri people. Home minister Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, BJP chief Amit Shah and junior minister in the prime ministers office, Jitendra Singh, discussed the situation in the northern state on Sunday. The plan to send the all-party delegation was on the table. Rajnath Singh is a senior leader and we have come for margdarshan (guidance), Jitendra Singh said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The Safdarjung Airport in the national capital will soon get a security cover by a central paramilitary force in view of potential threats to the facility used primarily for flying VVIP helicopter. Official sources said a security audit of the air facility located in central Delhi has been ordered after a recommendation by the central security agencies and a preliminary report was prepared about possible threats and vulnerabilities. The over 200-acre airport is presently provided security by troops of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) drawn from Northeast states and they largely look after access-control duties through official entry/exit gates. The facility is operated by the Airports Authority of India attacks, the home ministry had recently ordered security audit of nearly 100 civil airports and decided to bring all such facilities under the CISF cover gradually. here are three facilities in the national capital which are used for flying operations including the civilian Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) guarded by the CISF and the Palam technical area used for flying jets for VVIPs and it is guarded by the IAF. Only the Safdarjung Airport, which has a runway but is only used for rotor-wing chopper operations, does not have a dedicated security mechanism. Sources said central security agencies have pointed to the vulnerability of the airport as it has an open road-facing runway and its vast periphery is dotted by thick vegetation and buildings. (AAI) and apart from conducting regular administrative operations, the airport also houses the hangar for the Mi-17 series of choppers of the Border Security Force and is used to fly VVIPs. Sources said post the security audit the task to fully secure the facility could be handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is the mandated agency to guard major civilian airports in the country. NEW DELHI: The world will mark the fifth alzheimers awareness month in September but state support for dementia patients, under which the disease falls, is dismal. Targeted awareness programmes for families are missing. One in eight Indians will suffer from dementia and alzheimers disease in the next 14 years, as per a report, but care facilities for them are inadequate. A small day-care centre in Tughlakabad Extension, however, is defying all odds to make sure its 10 patients and their families have help. The centre, run by the A l z h e i m e r s a n d Re l a t e d Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), is the only centre of its kind for alzheimers patients in Delhi. Patients at the centre are picked up from across the city early in the morning and reach the facility at 10 am. They begin their schedule of exercises, drawing and colouring and find time for a nap in between. We receive 3-4 calls from families of Alzheimers disease patients every day. Of these, 40% need a follow-up. We do home visits and counsel people, said R Narendhar, director, ARDSI. The facility is a boon for people who cant take care of patients, usually their parents, during the day. One of our regular patients is a former teacher from Delhi University. She comes to the office often and asks for her salary cheque. She also gives leaves of application. She doesnt remember much, only that she taught in a college, said Narendhar. The facility, he says, can be used as a prototype by the government to start its own facilities, as the case in Kerala, but there are no chances of that happening yet. The Delhi government will open five halfway homes for mentally ill patients later this year. There is no mention, however, of any facility for dementia and alzheimers patients nor are there any facilities. In 2009, the government had planned a day-care centre for alzheimers patients but it was not built. The Delhi government health secretary says there are no plans to open one anytime soon. The scale of the problem though, should prompt the government to action. There are 4.1 million dementia patients in India, according to Dementia India report, which was published in 2010. Of these, only 10% are diagnosed, says the report. In contrast, there are 2.3 million HIV patients and 1.8 million cancer patients in the country. When my mother started showing signs of alzheimers, I chalked it up to old-age. She progressively got worse and even when we realised she had alzheimers, we had no idea whom to turn to, says Seema Singh, 55, a government employee who is on leave from office for the past year. Her mother is in the last stage of alzheimers. The only help is in the form of a handful of private and society-run centres for dementia patients. In Delhi alone, there are at least 42,000 dementia patients. It is a medical and social problem, one that falls under the health and social welfare department. In Kerala, the government has understood the scale and urgency of the problem and has started day-care and chronic-care centres for alzheimers patients, he said. With a growing population of elderly, doctors say we have a situation on our hands that we are not prepared for. According to Census 2011, there are 1,147,000 people above the age of 60 in Delhi. This is about 7% of the total population. The old-age dependency ratio the number of people out of the workforce dependent on people in the workforce is 10.4%. The burden of an alzheimers patient is equivalent to that of three sick people, said Dr Manjari Tripathi, neurology department, All India institute of Medical Sciences. It is an irreversible disease and its likelihood increases with age. As the population is living longer, the incidence of the disease is also increasing. We need a robust social security net like in the west, at least for taxpayers. How we treat them is a reflection of who we are. We barely have any facilities for them, Dr Tripathi said. FARIDABAD: In a bid to eradicate female foeticide, women village heads in Palwal district have pledged to boycott families that promote the menace. They have also offered cash awards to save the girl child. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign in Panipat on January 22, 2015, the state government took action against ultrasound clinics that allegedly conducted sex-determination tests. Taking a cue, the rural women came up with an idea to isolate families that are against girls. I am against killing the girl child in the womb. After this government laid thrust on Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, I thought now nobody can stop us from raising such social issues, said Karambati, sarpanch of Gurwari village in Palwal district, about 48 kilometres from Faridabad. Karambati, a graduate from a local college, never thought that she would one day become the village head and work for this cause. I was among other women sarpanchs who took oath to work against this menace, she told Hindustan Times. If any family does not understand the value of a girl child, we will inform law enforcing agencies and boycott such families, she said. We will not talk to such families, not even visit them. We may even ask them to leave our villages, she added. I launched the save girl child campaign in my village. I told the village ladies we should keep track of any family attempting to kill unborn girls, said Pooja Devi, sarpanch of Dakora village in Palwal district. I too have taken oath to protect girl children, Pooja told HT. I got married recently. We have created an atmosphere in our family in favour of the girl child, she added If we come to know of any woman being forced for abortion, we will not only lodge a complaint against that family, but will also socially boycott it, Pooja said. Geeta Devi, sarpanch of Janachauli village in Palwal, said they were offering cash awards for newborn girls. Deputy commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma administered us an oath to protect girl children at any cost and we assured him that we will not hesitate to boycott any family trying to indulge in female foeticide in our villages said Geeta Devi, sarpanch of Janachauli village. Geeta holds a triple MA and B.Ed degrees. We have decided to award Rs 500 to women giving birth to girls in our village, she said. This message of love, respect and compassion towards girls has changed the atmosphere in our village, Geeta Devi said. I told anganwari workers that if any family is heard talking about abortions, I should be informed so that action is initiated, said Mamta Maurya, sarpanch of Jaindapur village. A special campaign has been launched in our district against female foeticide and open defecation. A signature campaign was launched where most of the 97 women sarpanchs participated, said Ashok Kumar Sharma, deputy commissioner, Palwal. All gram panchayats in the district where lady sarpanchs were elected, passed resolutions to boycott those who are found involved directly or indirectly in female foeticide, which is a very welcome move, Kumar added. Haryana Women and Child Development minister Kavita Jain said under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme, the state government was strictly enforcing the Pre-Conception and Pre- Natal Dia gnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More than 400 cases of chikungunya were recorded in Delhi in the past week, health officials said on Monday, as the mosquito-borne disease that causes debilitating joint pain threatened to replace dengue as the Capitals most widespread monsoon ailment. Officials said 412 new cases of chikungunya were reported last week, taking the total this year to 432. The same period saw 176 new dengue cases, taking the number to 487 this year. Two of them have died. Though both diseases are spread by the day-biting aedes aegypti mosquito, fatalities are rare in chikungunya and patients hardly need hospitalisation. Besides acute joint pain and swelling, the disease also causes fever. Its not an outbreak but an unusually high number of cases because of a high pool of people infected and low immunity as people in Delhi have not been exposed to the infection, said Dr DK Seth, municipal health officer. Read | Less potent Type-3 dengue strain circulating this year Read | First chikungunya case in Gurgaon comes from civil hospital In south Delhis upscale Jaunapur, chikungunya has hit almost every home. Chartered accountant Manjit Singh Kalha, 41, said he couldnt get out of bed for four days since August 20. The pain was unbearable and I could not work for more than a week, he said. At his neighbours farm too, three people are down. Shivani Wazir, joint secretary of the Jaunapur Residents Welfare Association blamed uncleared garbage dumps and low-lying land full of rainwater for the disease. The Municipal Council of Delhi, however, accused hospitals of reporting cases late. The data is not real time. Hospitals send data after a person has been treated and discharged, so backlog cases are added all at once, said a health official. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shaken by the Bulandshahr gang rape, the Uttar Pradesh police have readied a plan to secure all highways in the state. It also identified five sensitive national and five state highways. Under the plan prepared by the UP director general of police, these 10 stretches will see stricter checks by police and highway patrol vehicles. Read more: Noida woman, daughter raped near Bulandshahr highway, 15 detained The five national highway stretches are NH-2 (Mathura Varanasi), NH-24 (Ghaziabad Lucknow), NH-76 (Jhansi Allahabad), NH-91 (Ghaziabad Kanpur) and NH-93 (Agra Moradabad), The five state highways are 1A (Maharajganj Gonda), 5 (Akbarpur Sonbhadra), 34 (Sultanpur Ballia), 51 (Badaun Bijnor) and 57 (Ghaziabad Saharanpur). More police pickets will come up and at least one of two vehicles from police stations having highways under their jurisdiction will be used for night patrolling. Read more: Bulandshahr gangrape: On UP roads, cops little prepared to take on robbers? The vehicle will bear flasher lights and the name of the police station concerned. The deputy superintendent of police/circle officer have been directed to be engaged in highway patrolling between 11pm and 4am. In case the stretch is long, two officers will supervise the patrolling, said Rahul Srivastava, PRO to the state DGP. The inspector generals of these respective zones will monitor the progress of the night patrol and report to the additional director general (law & order) the next day. Read more: After Bulandshahr incident, UP police lists dos-donts for safety on highways The plan highlighted the need to install solar lights at dark patches, flyovers, culverts, major drains and jungle stretches with help of agencies such as the National Highways Authority of India and the state highway authority. There will be strict checking at toll plazas and vehicles such as mini-trucks will be monitored. According to NHAI, the entire state has nearly 8,483 kms of highway stretches. Police identified nearly 42 NH stretches and another 8,232 kms of road under 83 state highways in UP. Read more: Highways to hell: Indian roads now with safer cars but more reckless drivers Plan of action: Nearly 509 patrol vans and 2,000 policemen will guard the national highway stretches in UP Officials say all police stations will be given more patrol vehicles after the launch of Dial 100 project in October The Allahabad High Court had directed the UP government to submit an action plan to ensure safety on NH stretches SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Heavy monsoon showers on Monday led to waterlogging in many areas and massive traffic jams across the national capital and adjoining Gurgaon, leading to people being stuck for long hours on the roads. Traffic snarls even led to the cavalcade of US Secretary of State John Kerry stuck on the road leading to the city from airport. Gurgaon was brought to a standstill with many fearing a repeat of last months flooding on National Highway-8 that left thousands of commuters stranded. Following water-logging in several parts of the city, many places including Hero Honda Chowk, Sohna Road, Manesar, Udyog Vihar, old Gurgaon Road and a few areas in New Gurgaon experienced heavy traffic snarls on Monday. A little Rain & gurgaon comes 2 a standstill! With a patient in the car stuck in jamm! Cars in all directions.. pic.twitter.com/VkxSfb8gkA PoonamSharma (@poonams_7) August 29, 2016 People returning from Delhi to Gurgaon reported that the traffic was moving very slowly. Those travelling on Delhi roads also reported traffic jams, tweeting photos of traffic jams and water-logged areas. as per information from area traffic officer (on Ring Road near IIT-Delhi), traffic is heavy due to heavy rain and water logging, the Delhi Traffic Poilce handle posted in reply to a tweet. Delhi received 21.6 mm of rainfall in short spells. There was heavy rain between 4.30pm and 8.30 pm. The area around South Extension, Ring Road, Defence Colony, Moolchand, Maharani Bagh, Moti Bagh, parts around Dhaula Kuan, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Rajouri Garden, Palam, Dabri, and Akshardham were flooded. All the stretches witnessed heavy traffic jams. 15 minutes of rain and one of Delhi's major ring road intersections is flooded. pic.twitter.com/66U5nFHYZK Shivam Vij (@DilliDurAst) August 29, 2016 Flooded roads, crazy jams. What half an hour of rain does to Delhi! pic.twitter.com/RAvu5Lyx95 Rohini Singh (@Rohinisgh_ET) August 29, 2016 Despite several measures announced by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and top police officials after the July 28 traffic gridlock that stretched for several hours overnight, commuters had to again face a tough time on Monday. Commuters were left stranded on city roads earlier in the day as auto-rickshaws went on a flash strike to protest the recent police action against them. All 24,000 three-wheelers 15,000 shared (black) and 9,000 private (green) -- were off the roads, putting commuters, mostly office-goers, to inconvenience in the morning rush hour. Gurgaon lies in a low-lying region and receives water that flows down both from the Aravalli hills and Delhis Chhatarpur area. But repeated encroachments along the main Badshahpur drain and patchy concretisation of drains has ensured that storm water mixed with sewage floods arterial roads, leaving thousands of commuters marooned. In the first week of July, Hindustan Times had highlighted how a rainwater management system pioneered by the British using a series of embankments stood destroyed. The rush to build more apartments and commercial complexes ensured water channels, ravines and drains that took away rainwater vanished in the last three decades. Important embankments at Ghata, Jharsa, Chakkarpur, Nathupur and near Sirhaul toll plaza have all but vanished, forcing water to take the road route. As Gurgaon saw less-than-average rain in the past few years, the city was saved from a disaster. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) elections will be held on September 9. The much-awaited presidential debate will be held on September 7. This year, the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections are scheduled to be conducted on the same day. The nomination forms for the JNUSU polls will be issued on August 30. The candidates have two days to withdraw their names. The final list of candidates will be made public on September 1, officials said. The present JNU students body has had a turbulent time in the last six months with the university being dragged in a debate on sedition after an event held on campus. Read more: No varsity interference in JNUSU polls, decide students During the event, alleged anti-national slogans were raised following which three students, including the JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, were arrested. The students were recently granted bail by a Delhi court. Unlike the DUSU elections, JNU has a system where the candidates give speech outlining their plans for the university and their stand on various issues. Presidential debate will be held on September 7. The next day will be a no-campaign day. Counting will start on the same day as polling but results will be declared on September 12, officials said. Dates to remember: August 29: Display of tentative voters list August 30: Issue of nomination forms August 31: Filing of nomination September 1: Withdrawal of nomination September 1: Display of final list of candidates September 7: Presidential debate September 9: Polling September 12: Declaration of results The Delhi government informed the Supreme Court on Monday that it will file an appeal against the high court verdict, declaring the Lieutenant Governor as Capitals administrative head, in three days. AAP governments counsel made the submission before a bench headed by Justice AK Sikri, which did not appreciate the lawyers request to adjourn the civil suit in which the Delhi administration wants the top court to adjudicate the dispute. The suit was filed when the HC was hearing the petitions on the issue. In the last hearing, the court advised the Delhi government to file an appeal against the HC verdict and withdraw the suit. However, on the request of senior advocate Indira Jaising the bench adjourned the matter till Monday. At the outset, the Delhi governments counsel asked for an adjournment. This irked the bench, which said: You file the special leave petition (against the Delhi High Court judgement) and withdraw this (civil suit). Take instruction. It listed the matter for hearing on September 2. In its verdict, the high court had declared that Delhi will continue to remain a Union territory under the Constitution with the LG as its administrative head. The HC did not accept AAP governments contention that the LG is bound to act only on the aid and advice of the chief minister and his council of ministers with regard to making laws by the assembly. The court, which had rejected almost all the contentions of Delhi government, agreed with its one submission and held that the LG has to act on its aid and advice in the appointment of special public prosecutors. Delhi tourism minister said on Monday that Union tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma is bringing embarrassment to India. Reacting to Sharmas statement that visiting women tourists should avoid wearing skirts in India, Kapil Mishra said his words will bring shame to India on the global stage and make it a laughing stock. Such an advisory not only tarnishes the image of India, but also has a negative and deleterious impact on the tourism sector. This may be a first-of-its-kind instance in the world. The central government is issuing an advisory that will only have a negative effect, he said. Mishra said there was no need to issue an overarching advisory to cover all tourist spots. The Union minister had also allegedly said that foreign tourists should not stay and roam alone. If at all some religious places have their own rules and restrictions, foreign tourists always followed them in letter and spirit. It is confounding as to what was the need to issue an overarching advisory that covers all tourist spots in India, Mishra said. Read: Union minister Mahesh Sharma asks foreign tourists in India not to wear skirts South Delhi underwent major changes in the first 30 years after Independence. Huge village lands were acquired and government and private developers carved out colonies to accommodate the rising population of the city. Agricultural land of a nondescript Humayunpur Village in far south of Safdarjung Tomb was taken over in the 60s. The land paved the way for Safdarjung Enclave. In 1963-64, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) finished marking plots and began auctioning them off. By 1968, buyers started constructing their houses and by mid 1970s, the area became densely populated. The locality was named after Safdarjung, who was the ruler of the Indian state of Oudh from March 19, 1739 to October 5, 1754. AK Jain, former commissioner (planning), DDA, said the name was chosen due to its proximity to the tomb of the ruler, Abul Mansur Mirza Muhammad Muqim Ali Khan and the Safdarjung Hospital. Safdar Jung is a title conferred by the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah as he rendered assistance to the king. The hospital was founded in 1942 during the Second World War as a Base Hospital for the allied forces taken over by the government in 1954 under the Ministry of Health. It was called The American Hospital, which was later named after the Mughal periods administrator. Safdarjung area consists of two localities Safdarjung Enclave and Safdarjung Development Area (SDA). While Safdarjung Enclave was created by a private developer, SDA was an exclusive project of Delhi Development Authority. When the colony was carved out, several top government officials chose it to stay here. In its heyday, Safdarjung Enclave was known as an upscale colony. At present, it is overrun by commercialisation and marred by poor sanitation and shortage of parking space. The development of this colony was under the project Safdarjung Development Area (SDA), which covers a large area from Outer Ring Road to Inner Ring Road. Initially, SDA was the main part of South Delhi extension plan, said Jain. It was a mega project, which developed on modern lines with wider roads and back lanes. The area was handed over to civic body later, Jain added. The colony is divided into 12 blocks spread over several acres of land. Safdarjung Enclave touches AIIMS Trauma Centre on the eastern side, Bhikaji Kama Place in the west. On its north is the Ring Rroad and its southern boundary has District Park, Hauz Khas. Surrounding colonies like Arjun Nagar, Krishna Nagar, which were regularised in 1980, also fall under Safdarjung Enclave. Safdarjung Enclave was built after Partition but did not include land grants for refugees from Pakistan. Humayunpur still existed next to Safdarjung Enclave which is now an urbanised village. At the time of auction, the rate of a square yard was Rs 75. The same costs Rs 4 lakh approximately at present. Residents said that the rise in property rates took place because of its proximity with prime institutes like AIIMS, Indian Institutes of Technology, and Central government offices. Builder culture boomed after 2001. Plotted independent houses were converted into multi-storey buildings. Over the last 15 years, the colony has struggled with civic issues and residents moved to NCR areas for better living conditions. The colony didnt grow. Instead, it witnessed a decline. The problems have been growing and the authorities are negligent, said Dr Mahesh Sinha, a resident. Rajinder Da Dhaba is known for its vegetarian and non-vegetarian preparations. It has other brands also such as RDX and Rajinder Xpress. (S Burmaula / HT Photo) Despite being considered a plush area, there are various problems like dilapidated lanes, overflowing of sewage, commercialisation and increasing traffic volume. The roads are riddled with potholes and the sewage system is crumbling. Its bizarre to see authorities allowing people to establish business within residential areas. Top car manufacturers have their exclusive showrooms here. The situation is such that people are shifting to other places, said Pankaj Aggarwal, another resident. Sewage infrastructure laid during the development of the colony has not been changed since. The sewage lines burst often and the authorities have not taken any remedial measures. The residents fear spread of diseases due to overflowing sewage in the lanes. Even parks in the blocks have not been maintained properly, restricting childrens play areas. These parks have been overrun by weeds and dead leaves. Sometimes, residents themselves intervene to ensure cleanliness in these parks. The area around Deer Park has remained dug up for the last one year. The market has all types of stores. But there are no dustbins anywhere, drains are choked and the pavements poorly maintained. These are the basic problems being ignored by the civic agency, said ID Sharma, a resident of Arjun Nagar. There are markets in other blocks also, that cater to the daily needs of the colony residents. The Deer Park and the District Park are the most beautiful places of attraction near Safdarjung Enclave. The colony has its own club, Safdarjung Club, which offers many facilities like a restaurant, gym and swimming pool. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON To make the sanitation facilities accessible to maximum number of people in south Delhi and discourage them from defecating in open, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) plans to install mobile toilets, multi-purpose dustbins and green waste shredders at public places in large numbers. The initiative is in conjunction with the Prime Ministers ambitious project Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. Recently, south Delhi mayor Shyam Sharma, Shailender Singh, chairman, standing committee, and Subhash Arya, leader of the House visited Waste & Sani Tech India Exhibition held at Pragati Maidan to take a look of sanitation equipment displayed there. After the visit, they toyed with the idea to install them in south Delhi. We liked the mobile toilet made up of fibre having five cabins or units. Each unit will cost Rs15,000-20,000 and the number of units can be increased based on the requirement, said Sharma. SDMC installed Namma toilets under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme in April 2016. Each toilet costs around Rs14 lakh. The SDMC has now asked the manufacturing company to send the presentation in this regard. If we found the terms and condition of manufacture satisfying then we will install two to three such mobile toilets as a pilot project in busy markets, roadsides, parks, market complex, or schools, said Arya. SDMC is buoyed by the development as besides low cost, these mobile toilets can be dismantled easily and shifted. The civic agency launched the project at different places to promote the Swachh Bharat Mission. The SDMC decided to install 100 such toilet complexes, each consisting of five units. It has been successful in installing 28 units and process of installing 16 others is in pipeline. But the project to install rest of the toilet complexes has been put on hold considering the huge cost involved in project. The Namma toilet, which is equipped with solar lighting, was developed in Tamil Nadu, said an SDMC official. Apart from mobile toilets, SDMC leaders also expressed keenness to purchase the green waste shredder exhibited at the exhibition. The machine converts green and domestic waste into compost in 72 hours. As of now, we have 12 shredders in three zones (four each in south, west and centre) but they are huge and expensive also. Comparatively the shredders, we saw at the exhibition are small in size and inexpensive, said Subhash Arya, leader of House. The SDMC is planning to install them in each residential area, to develop an effective waste disposal system. Also, there were multi-purpose dustbins which grabbed the attention of SDMC officials. These cart shaped dustbins can be used as trolleys to lift garbage. By putting up good looking dustbins/shredders in the parks and along the roads, the corporation will be able to change the habit of throwing waste by the citizens, said Arya. The mayor said that the agency is already running short of funds and these low-cost facilities or equipment will help save money. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Steps have been taken to improve the response time of the emergency helpline number, 100, the police told the Delhi High Court on Monday. The Delhi Police, which received flak from the court after Justice Vipin Sanghi complained that his repeated calls to the emergency helpline number 100 went unanswered, expressed regret over the matter. The inconvenience caused to Justice Vipin Sanghi was inadvertent and due to reasons beyond control and it is assured that all sincere steps are being taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future, said the Delhi Police to a bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal. Read more: Police regret missing judges distress call on emergency helpline 100 It said that to tackle the problem of calls queuing up at the telecom service provider, the matter regarding priority routing of emergency calls has been taken up with the authorities concerned. The police assistance system, the central police control room (CPCR) of the Delhi police, was installed in 2008 and attends to about 24,000 calls per day, it said. Heavy traffic on TSP (telecom service provider) leads to congestion in their system as a result of which few calls do not reach Delhi Police exchange in CPCR and get abandoned, the Delhi Police said. But in an affidavit filed last month, police said the response time to 100 number varies from a minimum of two minutes to a maximum of 37 minutes across the city. The Delhi Police conducted a study from June 01 to June 30, 2016 on a 24-hour per day basis, with regard to the average response time of PCR vans. The report indicated that of the total 67,693 calls monitored, the Delhi Police responded to 78.05% calls between 0-5 minutes, while 5-10 minutes were taken to respond to 19.85% calls. The rest 2.1% calls were responded to in 10-37 minutes. The court on its own converted Justice Sanghis letter, which was sent to the Police Commissioner as well as to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, into a public interest litigation. Justice Sanghi, in his letter addressed to Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma, narrated his poor personal experience of calling up the helpline on April 29 this year, when he was on his way to Vasant Kunj to attend a wedding reception. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Public sentiment is easily offended it would seem, more so when there is even a hint of criticism of religious leaders. The complaint now filed against music director Vishal Dadlani for having questioned the remarks of Jain monk and religious leader Tarun Sagar is evidence of this. The monk had stated that religion cannot be divorced from politics, adding for good measure that a wife can be disciplined by her husband if she does not carry out her duties. To be precise, he said: The 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. Read: Police complaint against Dadlani for tweet on Jain monks assembly address In principle, Dadlani is not wrong in saying that he had a problem with religion and governance going hand in hand. The Constitution is on his side on this one. What he said may have offended the sentiments of some in the Jain community and he has apologised for this. But to go so far as to seek legal action against him is to blow things out of proportion. The definition of religious sentiments is so vast and loosely defined that it is difficult to fathom what specific issues constitute these. If Dadlanis remarks had incited hatred or violence, then perhaps filing a complaint would be justified. Read: Under fire over Jain monk tweet, Vishal Dadlani says hes quit politics This is of a piece with filing sedition charges against those who hold a contrarian point of view. The fabric of Indian society is surely not so fragile that a remark from Dadlani could cause such grievous offence. The tweeter who filed the complaint has made his feelings clear on social media. This should be enough, along with Dadlanis apology that he meant no offence. The fact that the monk made these remarks in the Haryana assembly, which is duty bound to uphold the principles of the Constitution can very well be questioned without this sort of hysteria on offending religious sentiments. Frivolous charges on the basis of sentiment of various sorts should not be entertained in the first place. To make matters worse, the Delhi chief minister has jumped into the fray politicising this issue and berating Dadlani who has been a vocal supporter of AAP. If this is not mixing politics with religion, then we would like to know what is. (The views expressed are personal. The author tweets @lalitapanicker.) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the past week, the Centre has recognised - after a long and costly delay - the political nature of the problem in Kashmir. Almost two months after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wanis killing triggered an avalanche of protests in the Valley, followed by a hard security crackdown, New Delhi has now sensed that the protests are not necessarily the problem, but the symptom of the problem. That problem remains the political and psychological alienation of the Kashmiri street from New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modis emphasis on unity and compassion in his Mann ki Baat telecast on Sunday and his point that every live lost in Kashmir hurts all Indians are positive developments. Read: Curfew lifted, all-party team led by Rajnath in Srinagar likely on Sept 4 Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has said that the government must be willing to talk to all those who are ready to shun violence this implicitly suggests that doors will be open for separatists like those in the Hurriyat. Read: Burhan Wani aftermath Union home minister Rajnath Singh has promised that pellet guns which have caused both grievous injury and become a symbol of insensitivity will be replaced. In Kashmir, curfew was lifted from most parts on Monday after 51 consecutive days of lockdown and subsequent clashes in the aftermath of Wanis death on July 8. An all-party delegation led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 4 to consult with a wide spectrum of opinion. Read: Any life lost in Kashmir is a loss for India, says PM Modi on Mann ki Baat All of these are encouraging steps. But unless the newly-dawned recognition of the political problem, and the tentative outreach by the government are followed up by quick very quick action, the momentum will be lost. New Delhi needs to evolve a roadmap immediately. This should include initiating dialogue back-channel and formal with moderate elements in the Hurriyat. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is still fondly remembered in the Valley because of his willingness to engage Mr Modi needs to go back to that approach. The government needs to depute political representatives on the ground in Kashmir to reach out to the disaffected. It also needs to open itself to new political frameworks for resolving the Kashmir problem. The Constitution is a remarkably dynamic document and with political imagination, ways can be found to grant a degree of autonomy to Kashmir without hurting the unity and integrity of the Union. The government also needs to send a clear message to the security forces to be restrained, and work in coordination with each other. Belated though it is, Delhi is slowly getting back on track by adopting a political approach. To make it meaningful and productive, it needs to act now. Union tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma has been known for controversial remarks and conduct during his tenure in the government. His handling of important institutions such as the Nehru Museum and Memorial Library left much to be desired. Once again, he has gone too far in saying women foreign tourists for their own safety should not wear skirts, keeping in mind the canons of Indian culture. He also said that there would be an advisory to this effect, adding that foreign tourists visiting Mathura and Vrindavan should also have Indian sensitivities in mind. He did not spell out what those Indian sensitivities were. Read: Union minister Mahesh Sharma asks foreign tourists in India not to wear skirts There are several counts on which the ministers position can be faulted. There is nothing un-Indian about a woman wearing a skirt and hence there is no harm in a foreign tourist wearing one. There is no codified body of rules on Indian culture that stipulates what a woman, Indian or foreigner, should wear. Moreover, what is the image of India that the minister holds up before the world? Isnt it that of a country that tells women how to dress? As it is, we as a nation have not done very well on womens empowerment and preventing atrocities on women. On top of this if a minister comments in this manner, the subjugation of women in India seems to acquire a ring of official sanctity. Presenting ones own beliefs and prejudices under the guise of Indian culture seems to have become a hobby-horse with some people and Mr Sharma seems to be leading the way. In this connection one can recall that the police chief in Andhra Pradesh had said that scantily-clad women provoked rape with the Union home minister of the day having to intervene and rebuke him. Read: Its time to plan a Swachh Bharat Abhiyan-type programme for our heritage There are many things Mr Sharma could do as minister. He should first provide a sense of security to tourists, both Indian and foreign. In this respect he must take into confidence all the state governments of the country. Then he should step up work on tourism infrastructure and improve connectivity, particularly to the southern states. The World Travel and Tourism Council has estimated that the tourism industry had generated Rs 8.3 lakh crore in 2015 despite all the problems India faces. One of the earliest things that PM Narendra Modi had said after coming to power was that India needed to boost tourism because it helped the poor. With this many other things also get a boost. Hence Mr Sharma could look at those things instead of mollifying certain constituencies by raising non-issues and courting controversy. XLRI - Xavier School of Management has earned accreditation for its flagship management and doctoral programs from AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). This is the second coveted international accreditation for XLRI after Association of MBAs (AMBA) which XLRI had received in 2015. Importantly, XLRI joins a select group of global business schools that has received the AACSB accreditation for its doctoral program. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education. It is earned by less than five percent of the worlds business management programs. Achieving AACSB accreditation is a multi-year process of rigorous internal review, engagement with an AACSB assigned mentor and peer review. During the process, the school focuses on developing and implementing a plan to align with AACSBs accreditation standards. These standards require excellence in areas related to strategic management and innovation; student, faculty, and staff as active participants; learning and teaching; and academic and professional engagement. Read more | Internship: XLRI student clinches Rs 2.5 lakh per month deal It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn the AACSB accreditation, and I commend XLRI Jamshedpur for its dedication to management education as well as its leadership in the community, said Robert D Reid, executive vice-president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. Through accreditation, XLRI has not only met specific standards of excellence, but has also made a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver high quality education to its students. The entire XLRI teamincluding the administration, faculty, directors, staff and studentsare to be commended for their roles in earning accreditation. Fr. E. Abraham SJ, director, XLRIXavier School of Management, said, The AACSB accreditation is an important milestone for XLRI, countrys oldest management school founded in1949. Staying true to our core Jesuit philosophy of MAGIS Pursuit of Excellence in all Endeavors, this very prestigious AACSB accreditation will take us a step ahead to strengthen our foothold and reputation in the global arena and evolve towards becoming a preferred management institute of choice for discerning, future business leaders from India and abroad. The international accreditations from AACSB along with AMBA, which we had received last year, has added twin feathers to XLRIs cap. A management institute with two coveted international accreditations and the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) accreditation is a rare phenomenon in the country. This accreditation will further enhance the credibility of XLRI vis-a-vis the recruiters looking to recruit the top talent knowing that our graduates have received the highest quality and the most relevant management education Fr. E. Abraham added. UP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has said it will meet Lucknows child prodigy Ananya Verma on Monday or Tuesday to ascertain whether she is actually ready to be admitted to Class 9. Last week, Ananya faced a technical hurdle as her online registration form was not accepted by the UP board software that states that the minimum age for admission in Class 9 is 15. Ananya is just four. We will have a conversation with the child to get an idea of her understanding level. Media reports suggest that she reads religious text very well. But this alone does not make her eligible for admission in Class 9. We have to see if she is mentally prepared to take the burden, Juhie Singh, UPSCPCR chairperson, said. The commission will prepare a detailed report after that and submit it to district magistrate Satyendra Singh and district inspector of schools (DIS) Umesh Tripathi. Due to technical reasons, her form has been rejected. I have sought special permission for her, DIS Tripathi said. The manager of St Meeras School, where Ananya is enrolled, Vinod Ratra said it was just a temporary glitch. The board will help her like they did in case of her sister Sushma who appeared in Class 10 board examinations when she was 7. The online registration has been rejected. We will request for offline registration as a special case, he said. Ananya, the daughter of a daily wage labourer, belongs to a family of prodigies. Her brother Shailendra graduated in computer science from Lucknow University in 2007 at the age of 14. He passed the examination with 74.93% marks and is now a software engineer in Bengaluru. Her elder sister Sushma made waves the same year by entering the Limca Book of Records as the countrys youngest matriculate by passing the UP Board Class 10 examinations at the age of seven. In 2013, she went on to become the youngest science graduate from Lucknow University and then becoming the youngest post-graduate in microbiology from the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) in 2015. She reached another milestone by enrolling in a PhD course the same year. Experts are impressed and baffled by the academic feats of the three prodigious siblings. But no one has any clue about the reason behind their academic brilliance. Their father, Tej Bahadur, who was given a job as a sanitation supervisor in Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, and their mother is illiterate. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Benedict Cumberbatch is bringing the character Sorcerer Supreme Stephen Strange to life on the silver screen in Doctor Strange, the new film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The British actor says his character will be arrogant, but funny. Cumberbatch shared what drew him to the project in an interview to Empire magazine, reports hollywoodreporter.com. Read: Doctor Strange trailer: Benedict Cumberbatch stars in mind-bending fun The lure as an actor is the script, the director, and talking about how to make a character written in the 1960s and 1970s relevant now, said Cumberbatch. He said the idea is to make the character slightly less arrogant. Arrogant, but also humourous, he added. Cumberbatch also revealed his favourite moment in the trailer -- it is when Strange whips his signature red cape around his shoulders in a stylishly flamboyant fashion. Read: Benedict Cumberbatchs Doctor Strange to cameo in Thor: Ragnarok? The Sherlock actor said: It was wonderful to see that moment get a cheer. Hes really earned it by then. Doctor Strange also stars Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, and Benedict Wong. The film releases in India on November 4. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Allahabad high court ordered on Monday a CBI inquiry into the disappearance of an important witness in a high-profile case involving Asaram Bapu, a self-styled godman accused of raping an underage girl. Uttar Pradesh police were trying to trace witness Rahul Sachan, who went missing from Kaiserbagh bus stand in Lucknow on November 25, 2015. Call data records of his cellphone showed his last location at Mallahwan in Hardoi district on April 9, 2016. The high court bench of Justice AP Shahi and Justice Vijay Laxmi upbraided Lucknow police for their tardy progress in finding the missing witness. It said the shoddy police investigation warranted a CBI probe into Sachans disappearance. His disappearance has triggered fears and speculation he might have been killed like other witnesses who had testified against the influential 78-year-old spiritual leader with a cult following. Asarams personal aide Amrut Prajapati was attacked several times and killed in 2014, while another associate, Akhil Gupta, was shot dead the following year. Asaram was arrested in September 2013 after a 16-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh filed a police complaint, accusing him of raping her at his ashram in Jodhpur. Her parents were his disciples, and he allegedly raped her on the pretext of a religious ritual. The godman is in Jodhpur jail now. Asaram had dismissed the girls allegations, saying its a political conspiracy and that he was impotent. Tests revealed he was very much capable of sexual acts. Son Narayan Sai was arrested too in 2013 after two sisters from Surat alleged that he and his father had sexually assaulted them repeatedly for several years between 1997 and 2006. When Sachan went missing, an FIR was registered at Thakurganj police station by constable Vijay Bahadur who was in charge of the witnesss security. Investigation revealed Vijay was on medical leave for seven days when Sachan disappeared. He was under constable Amit Kumar Singhs protection then. Amit allegedly left Sachan at Kaiserbagh bus stand at 9am after the witness told him that he would return the next day. Sachan never came back. I am much relieved now that the court has ordered a CBI probe. I hope the mystery will be solved, said lawyer Bennet Castelino, who petitioned the court over the missing witness. The Mumbai-based Castelino, an overseas Indian citizen practising law in New Zealand and India, moved the Supreme Court first in March this year. But he was directed to approach the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court instead. The court heard Castelinos petition on May 6 and directed UP police to file a status report by August 1. The government filed the report on August 5 in which it sought two months to trace Sachan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ram Madhav, the influential BJP general secretary, is a key figure shaping New Delhis policy towards Kashmir. He was the architect of the alliance with PDP; is in close contact with top political leaders in Delhi and Srinagar and the national security establishment; and he also helps shape the governments foreign policy, particularly towards neighbours. In his most comprehensive interview on the issue yet, Madhav spoke exclusively to HT on Monday afternoon about the unrest in Kashmir, the governments actions, and the PMs reference to Balochistan: Q. When the PDP-BJP alliance was formed, you wrote that the key priority of the government will be restoring peace. The state has now been crippled for over 50 days, with dozens dead. What went wrong and why has Government of India failed to restore peace and its own authority? A. This phase of violence has come as a bit of surprise to all of us. The government of PDP and BJP has been running the affairs of the state quite smoothly for over a year. There was a 3-month gap in between. When Mufti Saheb was chief minister or Mehbooba was CM, we ensured that there was no untoward incident or situation that could lead to this kind of a flare-up. I would like to recall that when such violence happened earlier, there were certain ostensible provocations based on genuine reasons or on propaganda or illusionary reasons. This time, there was no issue. It definitely came as a surprise. There was no such anticipation of any outburst of violence on the streets. So initially, there was some kind of confusion about how to tackle this situation. If someone says that because you killed so and so person, this flare up happened, my response would be that in Kashmir, tackling militants has been a day-to-day affair for 20 years. Every successive government has handled militants, terrorists in a particular manner. The same thing happened under this government. I do not buy this theory. Having said this, one of the major factors has been external forces, namely Pakistan-inspired groups which are responsible for provoking this violence and stone-pelting. It is unfortunate that it took us 50 days to restore some semblance of normalcy. But curfew has now been lifted in large parts of the state today. We hope that by the time Eid festival comes, ten days from now, the state will limp back to normalcy. The political backdrop Q. You spoke of being surprised. Critics suggest that the problem is your alliance itself. PDP occupies a particular space in the valley. The valley had voted to keep BJP out. With this alliance, the PDPs credibility and role as a mainstream political buffer between the radicals and the state eroded. Do you buy this that the alliance itself caused alienation in the valley? A. Absolutely not. I dont buy this because of a very important and valid reason. It is known that I was thickly involved in the formation of this alliance. Our major worry was that we may be able to stitch this alliance but would the valley accept it? This used to be the biggest question that used to linger in our minds. After one-and-a-half years, I can now disclose publicly that I used to discuss with Mufti Saheb that once we do this, you should be prepared for a three-month unrest, because people would revolt. People will say you have back-stabbed us, you have ditched us, you will face it in your areas and we will face it in our areas. They will see it as an unexpected kind of arrangement. But to our great surprise, it was taken as a natural corollary of the situation. I am not calling it a natural alliance, but it was seen as a natural corollary of the mandate that was available to us. I see a major reason behind the acceptance of this alliance to be the Modi factor. PM Modi rode to power on one single factor the hope element. There was the same hope element in the valley too that these two parties may belong to opposite poles, but here is a leader under whose dispensation, we can enjoy greater benefits. That hope must have influenced the people of the valley into accepting the alliance. Now after one and a half years, when there was some violence, if an opposition leader stands in the Rajya Sabha and says it is happening because of this alliance, one should laugh at him. If this was the reason, it should have happened when the alliance was formed. We were anticipating protests, but no protests occurred. On the contrary, it was welcomed. And I tell you, when three months ago, when Mehbooba contested the elections in Anantnag, if people in the valley were so unhappy, they should have defeated her. But she won by a bigger majority than her father. Her father won by 6000 votes; she won by 12,000 votes when the poll percentage was slightly lower. There are reasons for the outburst. Those opposed to the alliance realised that if we do not make a big noise now, then this alliance will run for six years and we will have no future. Those forces are probably behind todays unrest. Q. Are you suggesting the main opposition, NC, is behind the unrest? A. I am saying that the main oppositions diagnosis of the situation is completely flawed. And I would like to remind them that Kashmir has witnessed equally bad, if not worse days, under their rule. I am not blaming any particular party for fomenting trouble. But no party should fish in these troubled waters. When it comes to Jammu and Kashmir, we all should be together. Together, thanks to initiatives by our PM and Home Minister, we have succeeded in bringing all the parties, including NC and PDP, on the same page. Current unrest Q. Should Burhan Wanis killing have been handled better? In death, he has become bigger than when he was alive. Were there any tactical mistakes made? A. This illusion must be first of all removed, that because of Burhan Wanis killing, all this has happened. Killing of militants in the valley, as I said, is not something that this government has started. On the day that Burhan Wani was killed, two other militants were killed. Before that, militants were killed and after that too, militants get killed. There is a particular agreed way of dealing with militants. When you are in an encounter, when bullets are flying, you do not look at the bio-data of militants. There is a way to tackle that. One should not have any second opinion on that. The man on the spot who has been assigned the job of tackling the militant group is best positioned to take a call. They took the call which is best in the given situation. I would still say that killing of militant is not the sole reason for this unrest. There are agent provocateurs who have been responsible. They may have used a particular incident. They could have used it for ten days. After Burhans death, there was an immediate flare-up. There was violence. Then ten people died. Then deaths of ten people became further trigger. Then agent provocateurs realised that a death a day, a dead body a day, was the best way to continue unrest. So innocent people, children were used. In hospitals, children are there. Do I have to believe that a boy this young understands this kind of intricate politics, come on the street, and get hit by violence? They made innocent people sacrificial lambs. Q. But did security forces fall prey to precisely this strategy? Because they were seen as insensitive, because they killed protesters, because they used pellet guns, it gave more ground to those you term as provocateurs. A. On the contrary, the security forces have taken great brunt on themselves, severely suffered. Close to 4000 members of forces have suffered injuries of various degrees. A couple of them have died. Some have lost eyes, some have lost limbs, some have permanent injuries. If they were ruthless and insensitive, they would not have taken so much injury. The death toll would also have been much higher. They tried their best to maintain restraint. As far as pellet guns are concerned, you must remember that these were seen as alternative to regular bullets. In 2010, when more than 120 people died in various incidents of police firing, it was felt that we should replace it with less lethal means. I was one of the first to tweet that the situation in J&K should be tackled with non-lethal, less lethal means. One of the options then was pellet guns. But because of pellet guns, there were injuries which could be permanent. But majorly, deaths were avoided. It is also a way of tackling violent crowds. You have to look for even better non lethal ways of tackling them. The Government of India is now seized of the matter. We have constituted a committee, and the committee will give its report. In the given scenario, that was the best available non lethal option. Q. You have said Wanis killing was not the cause. Then does it reflect that there is a deeper political and psychological alienation that still exists on the Kashmiri street vis-a-vis the Indian state? A. Whenever there is violence, this debate happens if Kashmiris are less alienated or more alienated. No one knows if there is real alienation or not. You have been listening to this discourse of what percentage of people is involved in this. Some say 5 percent; some say 50 percent. I would like to leave it to posterity to decide what is the extent of alienation. We have seen waves of this kind of unrest. Todays unrest is confined to mostly four districts of South Kashmir, mostly to rural areas urban areas have largely remained peaceful, prompting some leaders in the government to believe that probably only five percent of the people are on the streets. Large numbers of people have shut their shops and are inside their homes. How do you know whether they are pro-India or anti-India? I have been a closer watcher of Jammu and Kashmir for many years. I do not believe that ordinary Kashmiris are against India. If some people provoke a group of people, then this whole talk of azadi begins. It has to be taken with a pinch of salt. We will be making a grave mistake if we think all the Kashmiris are anti-India. Engagement with separatists Q. The political figure admired in Kashmir is Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He formulated dialogue within the boundaries of Insaniyat, and his government initiated dialogue with groups like Hurriyat and even Hizbul. Do you think this government has made a mistake in not reaching out to separatists like Hurriyat? Should that be a logical next step? A. Largely, the principle remains the same, whether it was Atalji or PM Modi. The J&K issue is not just a law and order issue for us. We look at it from the perspective of those three terms used fondly Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat, and Jammoriyat. Now, you must remember that engaging with a group or not engaging with a group is a part of a strategy or a given situation. If you look at the Common Minimum Programme of the PDP-BJP alliance, it says that it is willing to engage with all the stakeholders in the state. So where is the question of not engaging? Rather, they should also try to engage. The home minister has visited the valley twice; he has kept the doors open to everybody and met a large number of people. Q. But in such a situation, isnt the onus on the government to reach out more? In Hurriyat itself, there was a more moderate element willing to engage. But are even the moderates alienated today and has the government lost political channels of communication which should be there? A. These are all matters of government strategy. I dont want to comment on what should have been done or not done vis-a-vis the local separatists. I would say the bigger challenge is for the separatists themselves today. So-called separatists today seem to be no longer in the reckoning in the valley. It is a question they have to ask themselves. The agent provocateurs dont seem to listen to even so called established separatists. Of course, that is their problem. As far as engagement is concerned, PM himself has said that dialogue, love and affection, talking to various sections of people is the way forward. There is no other long-term solution to the issues We will deal with all sections of the valley society. Q. Did PMs political outreach come too late? A. These decisions are best left to leaders. They know what is the right time. They are the best judges of the situation. Future roadmap Q. If you were to give us a roadmap of how to address the Kashmir issue, both in the immediate and medium-term, what would it be? A. There are no instant solutions to these things. First, we should be unanimous on certain issues. We all should decide that there is no place for violence, and anti-India activism. We all should be on the same page with regard to no azadi, no militancy. No political party or social group should entertain this. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Militancy has to be tackled with a tough hand. At the same time, we are ready to engage with people of Jammu and Kashmir based on what Atalji used to call Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat and Jammoriyat. The Government of India is ready to address genuine issues faced by the people. A Rs 80,000 crore package has been announced and many initiatives are already underway under this. In fact, I often say that probably, the main reason behind the spurt in violence is that if this government of PDP-BJP succeeds in delivering good governance, they will have no future. We have to defeat those designs. Q. You are addressing the development component through the package. But what are your thoughts on the political component? There are some who ask for azadi; your partys traditional position is abrogation of Article 370. Can models of autonomy be the meeting point? A. Every state in the country has freedom to ask for the moon within the four walls of the Indian Constitution. That is applicable to J and K situation. Q. Can you consider the restoration of the pre-1953 status? A. As I said, anything within the framework of the Indian constitution let them ask, let the Indian Parliament decide. Q. There is already a more than decade-old resolution for autonomy of the J&K assembly. But nothing happened. A. This question was to be addressed by several successive governments. This is a call the entire nation has to take. States have sufficient autonomy. For PM Modi, it is an article of faith to empower states. He believes in cooperative federalism. That is why I said you can ask for the moon, within the framework of the constitution. Any other thing, it is the responsibility of the Indian parliament to decide, not for any one party to decide. The Balochistan card Q. What was the logic behind PM raising the issue of PoK, Gilgit, and Balochistan from the ramparts of the Red Fort? A. The immediate provocation came from across the border. When Pakistan decides to host a Martyrs Day event for a militant who was a leader of a UN-proscribed militant-terrorist organisation, namely the Hizbul Mujahideen, it is time to remind the world of certain facts. Remember what is the biggest threat to human rights in the world it is terrorism. If a state, Pakistan in this case, openly organises Martyrs Day for a terrorist organisation, then it is time we reminded the world that the worst human rights history of that country. It is a country that not only promotes and celebrates terrorism on its soil, but also kills its own people using drones, using helicopters. That is the story of Balochistan. It is for the larger world to understand that the biggest threat to democracy and human rights comes from this country. Q. But while PoK and Gilgits reference is understandable, why Balochistan? A. As far as India-Pakistan issues are concerned, our pre-occupation is limited by our 1994 parliamentary resolution to PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan. They are our parts, occupied illegally by Pakistan. But in the larger global context of todays terrorism and human rights violations, we cannot ignore the record of our neighbour, especially at a time when it is openly celebrating terrorism. Q. But with India raising it, does it give credence to Pakistani allegations that India has been supporting the Balochistan rebels? A. Let them prove it. They are the ones creating trouble by killing innocents, by causing suffering to their own people. They are sending men and machines to oppress people of Balochistan. Q. There has been criticism that Kashmir and Balochistan have been hyphenated with this reference. A. If anyone hyphenated them, it was Manmohan Singh when he went to Sharm-el-Sheikh. He tried to equate the two by saying that both countries are suffering in these parts through terrorist actions. What PM Modi highlighted was not in the context of India. It was in the context of how terror has to be tackled. You celebrate terrorism, which is the biggest enemy of human rights, and rob the human rights of your own people. He never equated Balochistan with any other part of the world. Baloch suffering is a cause for the world to understand that somebody raising fingers at us is an oppressor of human rights, and promoter of terrorism. Q. What is the form of support India will offer to Baloch struggle? A. Look as far as India is concerned, we are with the world community in the fight against terror. To that extent, wherever there is terrorism and where states sponsor promote terrorism, we continue to raise our voices. Between India and Pakistan, we have this bilateral question of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan which we will deal with bilaterally. The rest of the issues, we will tackle at the level of terrorism and human rights. Q. Will India extend political, financial and moral support to Baloch rebels? A. I have no idea if such a discussion is taking place anywhere. Q. There are reports from Chinese think-tank officials that since CPEC is passing through Balochistan, they would be concerned with Indian involvement in this issue. Was Indias reference a message to both Pakistan and to China? A. Terrorism, oppression of human rights is a global problem. China has to realise it since it is a victim of terrorism in some parts of its own territory. That terror is emanating from the same bases in the neighbourhood. But I have read today that China says it is not a big issue. While think-tanks may be highlighting it, the Chinese government wants to underplay it. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A mystery plane from Pakistan, suspected to be on a reconnaissance mission, allegedly violated Indian airspace on Monday afternoon in RS Pura sector of Jammu district. A two-seater aircraft from Pakistan entered the Indian airspace from Vikram border outpost in Arnia sub-sector at around 1.05pm on Monday. It flew inside the Indian territory for four minutes and then returned to Pakistan at around 1.09pm from Sangral post in RS Pura sector, said an intelligence official. Confirming the incident, a BSF officer said, The aircraft was flying high up in the air at around 1.05pm. We are not sure if it violated Indian airspace. Last year, both Arnia and RS Pura sub-sectors in Jammu district were subjected to heavy mortar shelling by Pakistan, triggering migration of several villagers from the forward areas. On May 23, 2014, a similar mystery plane, initially believed to be from Pakistan on a reconnaissance mission, had violated the Indian airspace in RS Pura sector in Jammu district. The violation kept the security forces jittery before it turned out to be a Thai Airways flight that had to deviate from its track due to bad weather. Pakistan and China clandestinely use their UAVs on International Border, Line of Control and Line of Actual Control for conducting reconnaissance missions. The 198km long International Border with Pakistan in Jammu region has always been considered sensitive because of infiltration attempts by Pak ultras, frequent ceasefire violations to aid infiltration, besides attempts at smuggling narcotics and pushing counterfeit Indian currency. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a major setback to Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, a special court in Hyderabad, dealing with Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases, ordered a fresh probe into the role of Naidu in the cash-for-vote case. The scam came to light during Telangana Legislative Council election in June 2015. The ACB court, which admitted a plea filed by Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, YSR Congress party MLA from Mangalagiri in Guntur district, set a deadline of September 29 to the Telangana ACB to complete the reinvestigation and submit a report. The cash-for-vote scam created a sensation in the political circles last year, when Telanganas nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson lodged a complaint with ACB alleging that he was offered Rs 5 crore by Telugu Desam Party MLA Revanth Reddy to vote in favour of party MLC nominee in Telangana Legislative Council polls held on June 1. Reddy was caught red-handed by the ACB sleuths in a sting operation on May 31, 2015, when he was paying a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to Stephenson as the first instalment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A state-run Chinese daily today cried foul over Indias move to extend enhanced compensation for victims of terror to people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lost patience and switched to the expected hardline tone of hostility. Referring to Modis comments on Balochistan for the first time, an article in the state-run Global Times website said he is raising it to divert attention from the tense situation prevailing in Kashmir. After reluctant attempts to revitalise Indo-Pak relations, Narendra Modi, now in his third year as Indian Prime Minister, has lost patience and switched to the expected hardline tone of hostility, it said. Describing the extension of Rs five lakh compensation to the victims of terrorism to people in PoK, as a provocation, the article said more importantly, Kashmiris on the Pakistani side of the border can claim this compensation, too. This is not the only provocation. Another was his Independence Day address on August 15, it said, referring to Modis remarks that people of Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK were thanking him for raising human rights violations there. This is the first time Chinese official media referred to Modis remarks about PoK and Balochistan, where China is building 46 billion dollar Economic Corridor, which was objected to by India as it goes through the disputed territory. Analysts see the political push as coming from a small team filled by influential ministers and people who are the veterans of the cold war with Pakistan. Some are members of the national executive of the RSS, it said. This risky gesture is not supported by everyone in the Indian government. Outstanding reservations come from his intelligence chiefs and the external affairs ministry, said the article Modis provocations raise risks for India. Why would Modi choose to publicly reference Balochistan when his country kept denying an Indian role there? Even on Kashmir, why would he be so provocative when the Pakistani response will inevitably draw world attention at a time his government is trying to prevent the issue being internationalised?, it said. Not surprisingly, there are speculations that Modi is just trying to divert global attention from whats going on in the valley, it said. This may only make it even trickier for India to find a resolution by deliberately expanding the range of bilateral conflicts, the article said. Another concern for Modi is the 19th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit, which will be held in Pakistan this year. Modi is scheduled to visit Islamabad for the Saarc summit in November, but the impatient Prime Minister has decided to break up the Indo-Pak impasse to see what can be fished from the troubled waters, it said. But the long-term cost will be the moral blow to India when it tries to manage its own insurgencies and secessionist movements, which tends to invite international attention and intervention, it said. A father lost his ailing son on his shoulder after he was allegedly turned down at the government-run Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital in this Uttar Pradesh industrial city on Monday. The hospitals emergency section refused to admit Sunil Kumars 12-year-old son, Ansh, neither did the staff provide the father any assistance to carry the boy to a childrens medical centre where he was suggested to go. The boy died on his fathers shoulder when he was dashing on foot to the childrens hospital, 250 metres away. The principal of the LLR medical college and hospital, Navneet Kumar, was not available for comments. Ansh was down with high fever since Sunday night. Kumar first went to neighbourhood doctors in Fazalgunj, but took his son to the citys biggest hospital, LLR, as the fever increased gradually. I begged doctors at the emergency to examine my son and admit him. They took 30 minutes before telling me to take the kid to the childrens hospital, he said. Kumar asked for a stretcher to carry his son, but the request was turned down. By the time he reached the childrens hospital, his son was dead. Doctors declared him dead on arrival. Kumar again bundled his sons body on his shoulder and walked home. No one helped. Read | MP: Man with 5-day-old baby forced to get off after wife dies in bus The boys death underscores the state of healthcare in the country, the worlds third largest economy, where a single allopathic doctor serves a population of more than 11,000, according to the National Health Profile 2015 records. The situation in the countryside is even more pathetic. In Odisha, a poor villager carried his dead wife for 10km last Tuesday after the Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital, where she was admitted for tuberculosis and died, refused him an ambulance to carry the body home, 60km away. Authorities woke up and launched a blame game after a video of Dana Majhi carrying his wifes corpse went viral on social media. The bustling megapolis of Kolkata produces almost 750 million litres of wastewater and sewage every day. Strangely, the core area of the city does not have a single sewage treatment plant. So where does so much sewage go? Almost 30 years ago, a sanitation engineer was asked to investigate this mystery. What he discovered would change his life forever and open a new chapter in urban ecology. He discovered a vast network of wetlands on the citys eastern fringe. Managed by farmers and fisher folk, it received the citys sewage, and with the help of sunshine and oxygen, broke it down to produce food for fish, which was then sold back to the city. This unique ecosystem, which the engineer later would go on to officially get recognised as the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW), is the worlds only fully functional organic sewage management system. Three decades later, Dhrubajyoti Ghosh is now a silver haired septuagenarian. This year, the International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN) conferred to him the prestigious Luc Hoffman Award. This international award recognises the tireless and unpaid work of activists for nature conservation. Dhrubajyoti Ghosh spent fifteen years on his PhD in urban ecology, but the poor inhabitants of East Kolkata Wetlands surprised him with their knowledge. (Dhrubajyoti Ghosh ) Ghoshs international renown is not limited to this award alone. He is a UN Global 500 Laureate and shares accolades with international celebrities like former US President Jimmy Carter, actor Robert Redford and conservationist Jane Goodall. His achievements, however, are a blip on national media radar. This is hardly surprising. If Indias record of recognising its scientific heroes is poor, then that of his home state of West Bengals is pathetic. In 1981, the year Ghosh started exploring the East Kolkata Wetlands; Dr Subhash Mukhopadhyay committed suicide in his apartment. He was Indias first physician, and second in the world, to have successfully performed in vitro fertilisation. Worried of his success, state Government machinery insulted and humiliated him to such an extent that he decided to take his own life. His tragic story later inspired the critically acclaimed Hindi film Ek Doctor Ki Maut directed by Tapan Sinha. A few years later, Dr Dipankar Chakraborti, from Jadavpur University, blew the whistle on widespread arsenic contamination of groundwater in West Bengal. He was promptly branded a CIA agent. It took him a decade of struggle to get the problem officially recognised as a public health issue. Ghosh spent fifteen years on his PhD in urban ecology, but the poor inhabitants of East Kolkata Wetlands surprised him with their knowledge. What I had discovered within the sewage and muck of Kolkata was a living laboratory of science, he says. Poor farmers and fisher folk had upended mainstream scientific consensus of wastewater being a pollutant by converting it into productive fisheries. However, such ingenious improvisation was hardly acknowledged by the state Government. Ghosh coined the term cognitive apartheid to describe the unwillingness of powerful elites to accept new knowledge coming from the poor. This, he said, would lead to fatal exclusions, where by ignoring such knowledge, a city would head towards its own ecocide. Since the 1990s, the rapacious real estate market of Kolkata has been eyeing the wetlands. This had directly put Ghoshs efforts at conservation at odds with the very government he was serving as chief environment officer. Ghosh pulled off a major victory by getting the East Kolkata Wetlands recognised as a Ramsar Site in 2002, making it internationally important. This recognition de-suffocated the wetlands, but choked Ghoshs career. Unable to get land, vested interests hounded him to the point that he had to quit his job. While nature purifies the wetlands, politics pollute it. Untouched by the much celebrated land redistribution efforts of the earlier Left Government, most inhabitants of the wetlands are landless labourers. (Dhrubajyoti Ghosh ) But the struggle to conserve the East Kolkata Wetlands continues. It is reported that 25,000 illegal constructions within the East Kolkata Wetlands are to be legalised by the state Government. The Mayor of Kolkata, after having wrapped the city with cheap Chinese LED lights, now intends to concretize the eastern fringe. According to his press statements, he considers civic service to be more critical than conserving a wetland for the sake of environmental nicety. What escapes him is that the wetland is performing a greater civic service by treating the citys sewage, preventing flooding and providing livelihoods to the poor and food security to the city. It will be interesting to know how he plans to treat, daily, almost 50% of the citys 750 million litres of sewage and wastewater once he has effaced the East Kolkata Wetlands from the map. Though from time to time there has been some debate about the possible contamination of fish and food grown on wastewater, data from institutions like Jadavpur University, Kolkata and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), West Bengal, have allayed such fears. A Jadavpur University study in 2006 stated that absence of contamination was visible through the health of the fish workers. Not a single case of skin disease was reported from fish workers who on an average spent four to five hours in chest high sewage water. The study had concluded that the ultraviolet rays of the sun cleared out pathogens from the upper layers. The SPCB water quality report of Kolkata sewage canal shows absence of harmful metal ions like chromium and lead. But of late, illegal plastic and leather processing units have proliferated in the area. This is a new development that can alter the fragile ecosystem. While nature purifies the wetlands, politics pollute it. Untouched by the much celebrated land redistribution efforts of the earlier Left Government, most inhabitants of the wetlands are landless labourers. The sale of fish brought in profits that were prone to political capture. This converted the wetland into a theatre for armed conflict and political rivalry. Almost 10000 locally made weapons are reportedly stockpiled in this area. With political power changing hands after the state elections of 2011, conflicts peaked along with real estate value. The tranquil wetlands were frequently jolted by the deafening noise of bombs and gunfire. Unless we find a solution to the land question, we cannot save this vast body of water, says Ghosh. He had barely commenced on this task when the Government pulled the plug on him. The wetlands are a hornets nest of vicious political interest, and after all these years, it still buzzes around him. For Ghosh, what shines through such insanitary politics is the profound ecological thinking of the urban poor, who sustainably manage the East Kolkata Wetlands. He poignantly says, with their improvisations, these people showcase an enlightenment of the ordinary. His decades of research on the wetlands are rare at a time when researchers parachute into ecosystems and become overnight experts. Even today, Ghosh continues to approach the wetlands as he did three decades ago, with childlike curiosity. I keep discovering new things, which keeps me excited, he smilingly says. Ghoshs knowledge of ecology, which he credits unhesitatingly to the urban poor, has unfortunately been relegated to the backbenches of wetland conservation. This pains him deeply. An ecologist of the poor, he firmly believes that if nature conservation has to work, then people must be at the centre. He can only hope that somewhere, people are listening. Amitangshu Acharya is an independent researcher of water and environmental issues based out of New Delhi A local court on Monday sentenced the former headmistress of a school in north Bihar to 17 years in prison for the deaths of 22 children and a staffer who died three years ago after consuming insecticide-laced mid-day meal. Meena Devi was incharge of the one-room primary school run from a dilapidated community centre at Dharmsati Gandaman village in Saran district. She was convicted of sections pertaining to culpable homicide not amounting to murder on August 24. Both the jail terms will run separately. The second jail term will begin once the first term ends, said public prosecutor Saran district and sessions court, Surendra Singh. She was ordered to pay penalties totalling Rs 3.75 lakh, failing which her jail term will be increased by a year. Devis husband, Arjun Yadav, was also accused in the case but was acquitted as no evidence was found against him. As soon as the punishment was announced, Meena Devi broke down in the court. Meenas father Sabha Rai said he would challenge the conviction in higher courts. The mid-day meal consumed by the children and the cook on July 16, 2013 was later found to contain monocrotophos, a toxic compound banned in most countries. Prosecutors said they were satisfied with Mondays ruling but would challenge the courts acquittal of her husband for lack of evidence. We were hoping both of them would be jailed but the court let her husband off, Madav Ram, father of a 12-year child, who died, told AFP. The disaster prompted the government to improve food safety in schools. Children often suffer food poisoning due to poor hygiene in kitchens and occasionally sub-standard food. (With inputs from AFP) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Expelled AIADMK legislator Sasikala Pushpa, who along with her family members is facing allegations of sexual harassment by her two domestic aides, said on Monday she will not step down from her Rajya Sabha post. Pushpa was expelled from the AIADMK earlier in August after an altercation with rival DMK MP Tiruchi Siva at the Delhi airport, with the party officially saying she was dismissed for bringing it into ill-repute. She has since consistently alleged that she was forced to resign from the party and has been receiving threats to resign. Read: My leader slapped me: Expelled AIADMK MP breaks down in Rajya Sabha There is no question of me resigning from the Rajya Sabha, Pushpa told reporters at Chennai airport before leaving for Madurai. Pushpa will appear before the Madras high courts Madurai bench to face allegations of fraud. The court had directed her to appear before it on Monday to explain how she signed a petition in Madurai on August 17 authorising her lawyer to argue on her behalf after police claimed that the Rajya Sabha MP had not entered the state. She will also file an anticipatory bail application after Thoothukudi police filed a case against the former MP and husband and son for alleged sexual abuse of their domestic helps. On August 11, the Delhi high court asked the Tamil Nadu government not to take any action until August 22 against the MP, her husband, and their son in the case. The Supreme Court also granted her protection for six weeks on August 26, saying that she is a Rajya Sabha MP, and will not run away. Pushpa broke down on live television inside Parliament and accused AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa of slapping her two days after she slapped the DMK MP. Read: Expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala, kin booked for harassing domestic helps She is one of the few prominent women leaders in the AIADMK and was nominated by the CM to stand for Rajya Sabha elections in 2014 -- the conclusion, many thought, to her meteoric rise through the party ranks. This is not the first time that the two have been at loggerheads: Jayalalithaa had removed Pushpa as the president of partys womens wing as well as forced her to step down as deputy leader of the AIADMKs Rajya Sabha party in January. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India and the United States are likely to sign a key agreement that will allow the two countries to provide logistics support to each others fighter planes, warships and personnel this week during defence minister Manohar Parrikars three-day visit to the US. The signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), which has been delayed for about a decade, would be one of the highlights of Parrikars visit. The two countries agreed to sign the LEMOA in principle during US defence secretary Ashton Carters visit to New Delhi earlier in April. Parrikar is scheduled to hold his third meeting with Carter on Monday. Read | Engagement deepens: India, US to ink pact for military cooperation When Indian navy ships sail the high seas they often drop by the bases of their US counterpart for fuel and supplies. Every time they do so, they have to ask New Delhi for permission and work out a payment system. It is a cumbersome process that would have weighed heavily on the Indian Navys ability to play a wider role not merely in other oceans, but even in the Indian Ocean. The agreement will institutionalise the process and make it easier for the Indian Navy to use the US base system for its own operations. While the same is true for US ships, it should be obvious who benefits more. The US naval infrastructure spans the world while Indias is limited to its own coast and a few Indian Ocean islands. The agreement has a request and acceptance clause that would give the two countries the right to refuse any request inimical to ones interests. The pact would primarily operate in the realms of humanitarian assistance and disaster management, training and joint military exercises. On Wednesday, Parrikar will also visit a Boeing facility in Philadelphia where the US aerospace giant manufactures its CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, which will be inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2019. His engagements also include visits to the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, Andrews Air Force base, Langley Air Force base and the US Cyber Command. Apart from the defence ministers visit, 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. US secretary of state John Kerry will be reaching New Delhi on Monday 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Read | Indo-US logistics pact will give both nations right to reject request India and the US on Monday signed a pact that allows their militaries to access each others facilities on a reciprocal basis for logistics support. The signing of logistics exchange memorandum of agreement (LEMOA), hailed by experts as a milestone, was announced after defence minister Manohar Parrikar met his US counterpart Ashton Carter. In remarks later, they made it clear that the agreement gave no basing rights, but only access to logistics such as fuel during joint exercises and relief operations. The two officials also discussed India being designated a major defence partner by the US, during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit. To this end, the United States has agreed to elevate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with its closest allies and partners, said a joint statement. The signing of LEMOA is a big step, not necessarily due to its content, but because many Indian governments have balked at signing it for fear of getting too close to the Americans, said Milan Vaishnav, an India expert at Carnegie. In practice, its a book-keeping exercise, but the symbolic value--of bringing the two security establishments together--is significant. There was opposition to the pact in some quarters in India that feared it would lead to conceding the US access to Indian bases and military facilities, which is not entirely uncommon. India has given the US access to its military facilities, on a case-to-cases basis, such as for refueling American warplanes on their way to the Persian Gulf region during the first gulf war, in 1991. The government in New Delhi withdrew permission following allegations of giving in to American imperialism and the pact, when offered, was viewed with suspicion by successive governments. Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center called the agreement a milestone that is more significant for its implications than its actual provisions. It allows these two countries to scale up security cooperation in a big way. To be sure, this relationship is very far from problem-free, but the LEMOA serves as a reminder that there is tremendous potential for a partnership that has bipartisan support in both countries, he said. There are two other foundation agreements that the US wants India to sign, arguing it has signed them with over 100 countries. These are the Communication and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA). Asked when India would be ready to sign them, Parrikar said that given the earlier distrust about LEMOA, he would like to put it in public domain properly first before picking up others. The two countries also concluded an agreement on bilateral White Shipping, enabling data sharing on commercial shipping traffic, and discussed Indias capacity for maritime domain awareness. Called MDA, the initiative aims at augmenting New Delhis awareness about, according to a paper by Carnegies Darshana M Baruah, the positions and intentions of all actors (whether friendly, hostile, or neutral) and in all dimensions (on, over, and under the seas) and increasingly driven by Chinas presence in the Indian ocean. The Modi governments plan to send a Muslim-majority delegation to Kashmir is yet to take off, but a prominent Muslim figure said he has refused to be a part of the team. Zafarul Islam Khan, the editor of Milli Gazette and former chief of the All India Majlis-e-Mushawarat, said he was pulling out of the delegation because the government appeared to be more focused on putting an end to stone pelting than coming up with bridge-building measures. Khan said he was invited to have a meeting with home minister Rajnath Singh on August 21. After the meeting, Khan said he wasnt convinced that the government was eager on formulating confidence-building measures as much as the need to end the wave of protests. It was clear during our interaction that the home minister wanted the throwing of stones at security forces to stop. He did not give commitments on humanitarian gestures. Khan said he made three demands to help soften the protests. He suggested evacuating all injured protesters in danger of losing their sight due to pellets to Delhi for treatment. The Centre should also give compensation to those injured, he said, while a formal decision to abandon pellet guns should be announced. It was evident that the home minister was not ready for any confidence-building measures as of now. He did not show interest to bring the injured away from the Valley, no readiness to immediately stop pellet guns, no readiness to announce compensations. Although Khan was referring to the August 21 meeting, the home ministry has put the use of pellets by police under review. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The government was taken by surprise by the current phase of violence in Kashmir and there was initial confusion in the response, BJP general secretary and Delhis point man in the Valley, Ram Madhav, said on Monday. He, however, blamed Pakistan-backed forces and agent provocateurs for the unrest. The admission by Madhav, who played a key role in sealing the BJP-PDP alliance government in the state, is the first by a senior member of the ruling party on the violence that has left 69 people dead in Kashmir since July. In an exclusive interview to HT, Madhav said Kashmir could ask for the Moon within the Indian Constitution and reiterated the Centres willingness to engage with all sections of the Valleys society to defuse the volatile situation. There was no such anticipation of any outburst of violence on the streets. In earlier phases, there was some reason genuine or based on propaganda. This time, the BJP-PDP government had been careful to ensure there was no issue. So initially, there was some kind of confusion about how to tackle this situation, he said. He rejected the contention that the protests were sparked by the killing of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahidden commander shot dead by security forces on July 8. Tackling militants has been a day-to-day affair for 20 years. Successive governments have done it. I do not buy this theory (of Wanis killing sparking the protests). READ: Curfew lifted, all-party team led by Rajnath in Srinagar likely on Sept 4 The protests have seen stone-pelting mobs target security forces, resulting in retaliatory firing. Hundreds of people have also been left with eye injuries by pellets fired by security forces, fuelling anger among Kashmiris. Madhav said the pellet gun was actually a substitute for regular bullets, and it saved lives, but even better, less-lethal ways had to be found for crowd control. To a question on whether the protests indicated political and psychological alienation, Madhav said the slogans of azadi (freedom) needed to be taken with a pinch of salt. It will be a grave mistake to think all Kashmiris are anti-India. Asked if the Modi government made a mistake in not continuing former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees outreach to separatist groups such as the Hurriyat, Madhav said the principle remained the same. The J&K issue is not just a law and order issue for us. We look at it from the perspective of those three terms used fondly Kashmiriyat (Kashmiri ethos), insaniyat (humanity), and jamooriyat (democracy). Let them ask, let the Indian Parliament decide, he said to a question on whether autonomy could be a solution to the decades-old Kashmir issue. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government has decided to drop the ratification of the crucial Goods and Services tax (GST) that was scheduled for discussion on the floor of the West Bengal assembly on Monday. Senior state government representatives insisted that the decision is not politically motivated but party sources said it was taken to protest the recent initiatives by the Centre to inspect the states financial affairs, including the function of the treasury. The state government wants to examine the matters before passing it on the floor of the house. We want to wait a bit. There is no other reason behind the decision, parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee told Hindustan Times. State government sources said that Banerjee, who is an advocate of the GST bill, wants to wait and watch what other states, especially the non-Bharatiya Janata Party ruled states, are going to do before taking a decision. Read | Mamata Banerjee backs BJP on GST, calls it pro-people In a process to make it a law, the bill will have to be ratified by at least 15 of the 29 state assemblies before going for Presidents assent. Eight states, including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh have ratified it. Uttar Pradesh has protested GST-related arrangements, and the Jayalalithaa government in Tamil Nadu continues to oppose the bill. Kerala too is yet to ratify it. Government sources said that Banerjees decision is a way to show her displeasure with the Narendra Modi-led government. Recently, the Centre sent a team of seven mid-level officials, who came to the state secretariat to inspect the state treasury and for integration of the treasury with the Public Finance Management System that made the chief minister furious, a state government official said. She has especially objected to the sending of the inspection team without prior intimation from the state government, which, according to her, is a violation of the federal system of the country, the official added. In a hurriedly called press conference last week, Banerjee expressed her anguish over linking of the state treasury with the PFMS and clearly said that the central team was not allowed to enter the state treasury nor they will be allowed in future. Economists, however, feel that state governments stance is unnecessary since linking of the state treasury with the PFMS and tracking of expenditure is an integral part of implementing a GST effectively throughout the country. The GST bill was cleared in the Lok Sabha on May 6, 2015, following which it was sent to a parliamentary committee for review in the Rajya Sabha. The bill was finally cleared on August 3, 2016, in the upper house of Parliament. The Centre is keen on rolling out the GST by April next year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday Myanmar is special India, Warming up to the new leadership that brought curtains on five decades of military rule in that country. India and Myanmar have decided to step up the security ties and firm up their connectivity plans after Modi held extensive talks with President U Htin Kyaw -- the first top-level engagement with the new government of Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD). The two countries have signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to boost cooperation in areas of connectivity, medicine and renewable energy, besides resolving to deepen ties in a range of other sectors, including agriculture, banking and power. Modi said both sides recognised that each others security interests are closely aligned and that both countries agreed to work together to combat terrorism and insurgent activities in the region. We recognised that our security interests are closely aligned. And, we agreed on the need to remain sensitive to each others strategic interests and concerns. To this end, President and I agreed to work together for the safety and security of our people. And, actively cooperate to combat the common challenges of terrorism and insurgent activity in our region, Modi said, with Htin Kyaw by his side. India and Myanmar shares 1,640km long border with Indias four north eastern states besides sharing a maritime border. Referring to new Myanmarese governments agenda of ushering an all-round growth and development in the country, Modi said, Let me assure you that at every step of the way 1.25 billion people of India will stand by you- Both as partners and as friends. The Prime Minister said both sides have also agreed to work towards a long-term and a mutually beneficial arrangement for trade in pulses. Calling Myanmar a bridge that connects India with South East Asia, Modi said our discussions today have enabled us to evolve a road map and an action agenda for our cooperation. Myanmar is the only Southeast Asian country India shares a land boundary with. The Myanmar President said his government wants to strengthen ties with India. Earlier, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj also called on Htin Kyaw who is on a two-day India visit. This is Htin Kyaws first overseas trip after assuming charge of the top office nearly five months back following the landslide victory of Suu Kyis party. Suu Kyi made a five-day, high-octane visit to China in March. Kyaw arrived in the Buddhist pilgrimage town of Gaya on Saturday where he visited the Mahabodhi Temple, the most sacred of Buddhist shrines, Daijokyo Buddhist Temple and Myanmar Buddhist Vihara. He travelled to Agra on Sunday and paid a visit to Taj Mahal before arriving in New Delhi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Htin Kyaw of Myanmar kicked off his maiden visit to India on Monday. The leader who assumed office in March this year is on a two-day visit in India at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee. Kyaw, who is accompanied by his wife Daw Su Su Lwin, key ministers and senior officials, was accorded a traditional welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Myanmar head of state also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Myanmar is special for us. It holds a unique position in Indias neighbourhood, the Prime Ministers Office tweeted after PM Narendra Modi met Kyaw. The longstanding cultural and historical linkages between our societies form a solid foundation of our ties, @PMOIndia further tweeted. President (Kyaw) and I agreed to work together for the safety and security of our people. Our engagement is supporting projects in connectivity, infrastructure, capacity building education, healthcare and many other sectors, the PMO tweeted. PM @narendramodi & Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw witnessing the exchange of agreements in New Delhi #IndiaMyanmar pic.twitter.com/fHM8HpIgek PIB India (@PIB_India) August 29, 2016 A host of issues, including security cooperation, will be discussed by the two countries in a bid to boost ties. Security cooperation India shares 1,643-km-long land boundary with Myanmar, besides a maritime boundary. The land boundary is with Indias four northeastern states. Indian insurgent groups have been using the Myanmar territory for long. The two countries will be looking at means to strengthen security cooperation in the areas of arms smuggling, drug trafficking, intelligence sharing and smuggling of wildlife articles. India is also keen to allay concerns over unilateral hot pursuit of insurgents. India has also been offering assistance in capacity building through assistance for the police force, anti-narcotics force, wildlife crime control force and disaster management. Connectivity The Kaladan multi-mode transport project (Kolkata to Sittwe port in Myanmar and then using Kaladan river to Paletwa in Myanmar and to Mizoram) and the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway are the showcase projects that the two sides are keen to complete at an early date. Leveraging democracy India has recently trained 20 MPs from Myanmar and has been stepping up cooperation with Myanmar in the areas of training for strengthening democratic institutions. India is the country that can give us the best lessons on what democracy means, the Myanmar President told external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. New areas of cooperation Both sides may also explore new areas of cooperation. These are agriculture, especially pulses, power, renewable energy, skill development, health, education, transport and social development. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON West Bengal will soon cease to exist only in name though as the process to rename it moved a step forward on Monday when the proposal was voted on the floor of the assembly. Minutes later, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced at a press conference that her government would also create a new logo for the state. Parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee passed a resolution, which said that the name of the state would be Bangla in Bengali , Bengal in English and Bangal in Hindi. Now, the Centre has to get the proposal approved by two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament as it needs an amendment to the Constitution. Only then would the Centre issue notification for the change in name. People have accepted the names Bengal and Bangla. You can find it from the way they speak. Common people use these two words all the time, stated the CM. CPI(M) and Congress have made a historic blunder by opposing the change in name, she remarked, adding, Monday will go down as a day of shame in the history of CPI(M) and Congress for opposing the proposal. Incidentally, both RSS and state BJP leaders have initiated a campaign to block the name change. They have already held parleys with the Union home minister to obstruct the proposal. Of course, the move was a mere formality as the ruling Trinamool Congress has a majority of 211 in a house of 294. BJP state president Dilip Ghosh earlier told HT that they have requested the Centre not to table the proposal in Parliament as it would erase the memories of the 1947 Partition. In fact, when the Trinamool came to power for the first time in 2011, Banerjee was quite enthusiastic about the change of name but relented after the Opposition reminded her about how the people had suffered following the Partition. Of course, the educated Bengali middle class had been rooting for the change in name for long as West Bengal had been lagging behind in every aspect, including psychologically, as W was fourth from last among the alphabets. Now, the state government has justified the name change on utilitarian grounds. Bureaucrats argue that at all-India level meets, they get to present their views last as West Bengal appears last in the alphabetical order; and, by then, most decision makers are too tired to apply their minds properly and the state ends up being the loser. A change to Bengal will allow the state to leapfrog to the fourth spot after Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Assam. The Centre should pass it without objection. If necessary, I shall speak to the Union home minister, stated the CM. She even reminded that she had supported the Left government when it wanted to change the name. Since they (the Left) couldnt push it through, they are opposing it now. The Centre has the habit of not doing much about some important issues. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelanis son for questioning, prompting harsh reactions from Hurriyat Conference which termed it a psychological crackdown by India. The separatist body, in a statement said, Geelanis elder son Dr Naeem Geelani has been issued a notice by the NIA to report to their interrogation centre in Shivpora for questioning. A team of NIA investigators has been camping in Srinagar for the past four days to probe into what reports said was some suspicious transactions across bank accounts in the Valley over the last few months. The NIA investigators want to know whether the trail of funds was in any way linked to militancy or anti-national activities during the current unrest. Fifty-two-year-old Naeem, who is a doctor, spent about 12 years in Pakistan before returning home in 2010. After his return, there was speculation that senior Geelani would nominate Naeem as his political successor, which was later denied by the Hurriyat Conference. The Hurriyat, in its statement on Monday, said Geelani and his family were being maligned in a well knit conspiracy by Indian imperialist agencies. The statement said the Indian government was framing pro-freedom leaders to subdue the current uprising. After miserably failing to curb the current mass uprising by all the military might, Indian government is frustrated to the extent that they frame and arrest the pro-freedom leaders and activists, the separatist outfit said. The Hurriyat warned that these inhuman, immoral and undemocratic tactics will not deter the pro-freedom people from advocating their just cause. A five-member panel headed by former Supreme Court judge HS Bedi is likely to submit its report on Monday suggesting measures to ban jokes ridiculing members of the Sikh community. On July 12, the apex court asked the panel that was set up by Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to suggest ways to stop the circulation of jokes about Sikhs and their commercial exploitation in six weeks. The top court is hearing a petition by a woman advocate, Harvinder Chowdhury, who shared her family members harassment in support of her plea. After perusing the report, the court is expected to pass some orders. She (Harvinder) has been very passionate about it. We must not waste more time on this. Tell the panel to formulate the mechanism within 6 weeks so that we are able to hold a proper hearing of the matter, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur told DSGMC counsel, senior advocate RS Suri. The other committee members are retired SC judge justice MY Iqbal, former bureaucrat Pawan Kumar Verma, Rajya Sabha member MP Bezbaruah and retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Raghubir Singh. She narrated the harassment her children faced for being born as Sikhs. Chowdhury, who was accompanied by a battery of lawyers from the community, urged the court to hear the matter soon and pass some directions to stop bullying of kids in schools. She said it should be mandatory for parents to give an affidavit undertaking their kids will not bully children from the Sikh community. Besides Chowdhury, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also sought a ban on circulation of jokes. It said that a stereotype has been created and Sikhs are being discriminated in society because of a particular language and religion. The bench asked the counsel to give suggestions and assured him that it will certainly look into them. We do not want any group to be an object of constant ridicule. But how can our order imposing the ban be implemented? it asked. Earlier, the court had acknowledged the contribution of the Sikh community in the progress of the country but said its orders had to be within the judicial dimension so that they were capable of being implemented. We cannot say something which is impossible for implementation, it had said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An all-party delegation will visit Srinagar on September 4 in the wake of the recent unrest in Kashmir Valley where 70 people have died in clashes between security forces and protesters after the death of a militant commander last month, sources said on Monday. The team will be led by home minister Rajnath Singh. The decks appeared to have cleared for a meeting between Kashmiri separatists and the delegation, as the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government reached an understanding that such an engagement wont be discouraged. In Kashmir, curfew was lifted from most parts on Monday -- after 51 consecutive days of lockdown and subsequent clashes in the aftermath of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wanis death on July 8. However, schools, colleges and quite a few business establishments were closed and public transport was off the roads to a bandh called by the separatists. Private vehicles were seen plying though. Many employees of government offices reported for work. Banks were open and saw a heavy rush of customers.Mobile internet continued to remain suspended. Security forces were on alert. Talks on the agenda As the all-party team readies to visit the militancy-hit state, talks with separatists are seen by many as necessary to restore normality in the Valley. At a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Mehbooba Mufti suggested on Saturday a three-pronged action plan, including involving separatists and Pakistan in substantive talks, sources in Muftis Peoples Democratic Party said. 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. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) began distributing on Monday a new uniform for its volunteers brown trousers that replaced the 90-year-old organisations signature khaki shorts. The move to a new set of clothing was initiated to keep pace with the times and attract youngsters, who are not inclined to wear the age-old baggy shorts for fear of being teased. RSS members will now wear a black cap, white full-sleeve shirt, brown trousers, canvas belt, brown socks and black shoes. We have dispatched over 200,000 new uniforms to our shakhas across the country. More are on the way, RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya said after a batch of clothes was distributed at its Reshimbagh office here on Monday. We have directed all our shakhas to implement the new dress code, replacing the khaki shorts from Vijaydashami, he said. The debate over replacing the khaki shorts has been on for decades and figured prominently in almost all recent RSS volunteers meetings. There is no specific reason to opt for brown trousers, except the fact that it is easily available and the colour looks good, Vaidya said. The right-wing Hindu organisation was founded on the occasion of Vijayadashami in 1925 in Nagpur. Since its foundation, the swayamsevaks then all-khaki attire has changed several times. In 1940, the colour of the shirt was changed from khaki to white. In 1973, leather shoes replaced long boots. The last change made to the RSS uniform was in 2011, when the canvas belt replaced the leather one, following suggestions from Jain community leaders to drop animal hide as it symbolises cruelty. The process of replacing khaki with brown will take time as, according to Sangh functionaries, there are as more than 56,000 shakhas where volunteers come for meetings and drills. Providing new uniforms will be a long-drawn process, but the organisation is hoping to complete the exercise soon. The leak of information related to Scorpene submarine is being viewed very seriously but it is not a matter of much worry, navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on Monday, in his first comments after over 22,000 pages of data detailing the vessels capabilities became public. The government and the Indian Navy have maintained the leaked data will not compromise the boats stealth capabilities. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said last week that the information did not contain data on the weapon systems. The Australian reported the leak on its website, and French defence firm DCNS approached the Supreme Court in Australia to stop the newspaper from publishing the leaked documents. India has asked France and DCNS to probe the leak. Any leak of information is viewed very seriously. We have viewed the leak of Scorpene data very seriously and we have asked (French firm) DCNS to launch an urgent investigation into this, the navy chief said in New Delhi. He noted that the defence ministry has set up a high-level committee to investigate the matter. Based on the report of the committee, we will see what mitigation measures need to be taken, he said. Asked how serious a concern the leak was, the navy chief said, This is not a matter of much worry. The committee is analysing and they will see what data has been compromised and what mitigation steps have to be taken. The high-level committee is expected to submit a detailed report to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar by September 20. Over 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the navy in Mumbai in collaboration with French company DCNS have been leaked. Debt is the main cause of farmer suicides in India. But is it the private money lender who drives thousands to kill themselves or institutional lenders too are equally responsible? We shall soon know. The National Crime Records Bureau will expand the scope of its report on suicides to include details of reasons that lead farmers to take the extreme step. Between 1995 and 2014, over 300,000 farmers cultivators and agricultural labourers committed suicide. Over the past two years, farmer suicides have gone up from 11,700 in 2013 to 12,600 in 2014. But little is known about what drove them to suicide. The NCRB took the first step in 2015 when it overhauled the format in which this information was collected. For the first time, it started collecting data separately about land-owning farmers and farmhands rather than bundling them up, and the reasons for land-owners to take their lives. This time, it will go a step further. The next report on suicides will list the number of debt-ridden farmers committing suicide, and also if the debt was to a money lender, a bank or both. It is estimated that 52% of the countrys 90 million rural agricultural households have one debt or the other. The report will indicate why agricultural labourers who eke out a living working on someone elses land commit suicide in large numbers. The findings will help the government analyse gaps in its efforts to reach agricultural credit to its target audience the small and marginal farmer. But this has been a big challenge. Overall, agricultural credit flow has risen over six times from Rs 1.25 lakh crore to Rs 8.41 lakh crore between 2004-05 and 201415. Most of it does not go to small and marginal farmers. Small and marginal holdings constitute 85% of farm land holdings and 44% of the cultivated land. A government estimate suggests only 6% reaches the small and marginal farmers. Its target is to raise their share of credit to 8% in two years. A dataset that breaks down the root cause of farm suicides will do more than just improve policy formulation. It could be the BJP governments shield against attacks from the Opposition over distress deaths in the countryside. Since disaggregated data were not available, the BJP as an opposition party -- had blamed the previous UPA government for all farm suicides, including those of agricultural labourers, to its policies. They (UPA) have turned Lal Bahadur Shastris slogan of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan into Mar Jawan, Mar Kisan, Narendra Modi, who was the NDAs prime ministerial candidate, said in the run-up to the 2014 general elections. But once the report comes up with a break-up of the causes, a government source said, it would be difficult to overlook the facts. It was in this context, the source said, that agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh last year reached out to the NCRB to seek qualitative improvement in data. Weeks earlier, Singh had been the target of barbs from the Opposition for a poorly drafted answer to a Parliament question. Singh told parliamentarians that agrarian crisis wasnt the only reason for farm suicides. There were other reasons too, he said, pointing to impotence, love affairs and drug abuse. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tamil Nadu is staring at a massive water shortage. It is not just neighbouring Karnataka that is proposing a new dam over Cauvery that will further starve Tamil Nadus delta region but now Kerala is also making preparations to erect a dam at Atlapadi over Siruvani that can potentially turn three districts of Coimbatore, Erode and Tirupur into deserts in the worst-case scenario. Farmers in Tamil Nadu have called for a bandh on Tuesday to protest Karnatakas decision to deny TN its share of Cauvery waters.. A united opposition is backing the farmers in its rail and road roko agitation. Federation of farmers associations chief chief BR Pandian said on Monday at protestors would stop trains at 100 places block highways at 1000 places to register their protest. Incidentally, the TN government has petitioned the Supreme Court to direct Karnataka to release 50 tmcft water as per the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal. The Apex court will hear the case on September 2. The momentum is building up in Tamil Nadu on the water issue with principal opposition party, the DMK taking it up in a big way, to target Kerala as well. On Saturday, DMK legislative party leader and Treasurer MK Stalin is scheduled to lead a huge protest against Kerala in Coimbatore to impress upon union government to refuse permission to Kerala to build the proposed dam. Incidentally, Kerala has been trying to erect a dam over Siruvani since the early 1970s but Tamil Nadu has managed to block it so far. Even as Tamil Nadu is engaged in a battle with Kerala and Karnataka, its northern neighbour Andhra Pradesh has been increasing the height of check dams in Chittoor district has for the past six months. The exercise will trap water there and reduce TNs share. Stalin has condemned the Andhra Pradesh government for this activity, alleging that it was being carried out without consultations with TN government and without its consent. He has sought a house resolution against Andhra Pradesh government. The TN government had filed a petition in the apex court. The three neighbouring states Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala -- are threatening the lifeline of Tamil Nadu, farmers leader Pandian said. Prof Ramu Manivannan of Madras University said that if one dispassionately analyzed the situation, the actions of the three neighbouring states will appear to be unfair to deny the lower riverine state like Tamil Nadu its rightful due of drinking water and irrigation water. If the height of a check dam is increased without the consent of the lower riverine state like Tamil Nadu, it is patently unfair and wrong. It violates the Constitution as well, Prof Manivannan said adding water should be declared a national asset rather than leave it to the autonomous discretion of state governments. The centre must come out with a lasting political solution to the complicated problem that affects the lives of the common man. The three main rivers that flow through Tamil Nadu Palar, Cauvery and Siruvani originate in other states. There has been a dispute over sharing Palar river waters between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka since 1924 Even if the centre does not interfere, the southern states should draw inspiration from the recent river water sharing agreement between Telangana and Maharashtra, which too have an issue with sharing river waters, Prof Manivannan said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma stirred a controversy on Sunday while suggesting that visiting woman tourists should not wear skirts in India. He said a welcome card is being provided to tourists visiting India and the dos and donts on the card advise women not to roam alone at night and not to wear skirts. Interacting with mediapersons, Sharma elaborated on helpline number 1363 introduced to help foreign tourists. He said, When a foreign tourist reaches the airport, he or she is given a welcome kit wherein dos and donts are mentioned for them during their stay in India. These dos and donts include suggestions that if they are in small cities, they should not roam alone at night nor wear dresses like skirts, he said. We also suggest them to click photographs of number plate of cabs they are travelling in and send it to their friends so that the number is stored and circulated, said Sharma. When asked again if he is suggesting a dress code for tourists visiting India, Sharma said it was not his intention to suggest a dress code for any visitor. Why should we indulge in suggesting a dress code for visitors? he asked. Admitting that he was not authorised to issue injunctions on matters of anyones dress, Sharma said he wanted to advise tourists to be discreet while visiting temples. Even I have two daughters... I would never tell women what they should wear and what they should not, he said. Also read | MP Jain temple denies entry to girls in skimpy clothes, jeans, gowns Mumbai: Congress corporator blames Manipuri womans dress for alleged molestation SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The US secretary of state John Kerry and US commerce Penny Pritzker will be in New Delhi from Monday to Wednesday to chair the annual strategic and commercial dialogue to be co-chaired by the external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The dialogue a review of the entire gamut of bilateral relationship will take place on Tuesday. Heres what you need to know: The India-US ties have become one of the most important relationships for the two countries in every aspect. Apart from the growing political and defence relationship, the ties have blossomed in other sectors as well. In 2015, the bilateral trade reached $109 billion, which was $37 billion in 2005. The US investment in India reached more than $28 billion and India has invested more than $11 billion in the US. The US affiliates of Indian companies employ more than 52,000 workers in the US. India would make a strong push for greater US support in getting a membership to the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) during the dialogue that would also focus on business ties, defence cooperation and clean energy initiatives. The NSG bid is closely linked to its push for clean energy sources, an area where India-US cooperation is getting stronger. The US is also nudging India to ratify the ambitious 2015 Paris climate pact. However, the poll-bound US raises questions over how strong its push for Indias NSG bid could be. Former US president George Bush called his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to get Beijings support for India getting a waiver at the NSG guidelines, imperative for the implementation of the India-US civil nuclear cooperation. The two sides will also explore means for greater US participation in the Make in India flagship in the defence sector. They will review progress in the establishment of the Working Groups on Aircraft Carrier Technology and Jet Engine. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The muezzins call to prayer blends seamlessly with the aarti at a nearby temple late afternoon at the bustling Jarg Chowk in Malerkotla. Women in burkhas and saris bustle about, chatting in Punjabi and breaking into giggles now and again. A young girl in a hijab helps her friend pick a rakhi. It is another ordinary day, as different faiths attest, in Malerkotla Punjabs lone Muslim-majority city. Locals here treat arson and stone-pelting, fallout of an alleged desecration of the Quran on June 28, as an aberration. A blot brought about, they say, by outsiders. They point to their history: the once princely state, ruled by the Nawabs of Afghan and Pathan descent, have no any ghosts from Partition. It did not witness a single episode of communal clash or violence even as border regions burned during those times. During Punjabs militancy era, the city was termed a safehouse a refuge. Dr. Mohammad Jamil U R Rehman, member, district peace committee, says, Those who inflamed the situation and incited violence were not locals: one was from Jind in Haryana, the others from Pathankot. The mob were people who shifted to Malerkotla from either Bihar or UP and are unaware of our history and legacy; they are ignorant, He adds: We were in the namaz when we heard about the incident and immediately called a meeting. We first buried the pages of Quran and then addressed the masses. We told them that we cannot let down the teaching of Baba Haidar Sheikh, by being violent. Badge-making is a key profession in the town. Muslims own most of the shops and workshops, while the artisans are mostly Hindu. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) The June flare-up was an outsider job, insists Rehman. One was from Jind in Haryana, others from Pathankot. The mob comprised people who shifted to Malerkotla from either Bihar or UP, and are unaware of our history and legacy, he says. Humanity, not religion, is the cornerstone of Malerkotlas peace, he says. We told them (rioters) these dirty political games should not divide us. The people understood and went home. Locals swear by the bond they have formed over the years based on the mystical strains of Sufism. Much of it was on display when violence over the alleged desecration, left eight people, including police, injured, and left vehicles torched. Calm, however was restored within a day. Watch | Why Punjabs Malerkotla did not boil over after Quran desecration Police records back up the locals assertions. In five years, there has not been one case of rioting or communal tension registered at the Malerkotla station. Randhir Singh, the Malerkotla DSP says, There are cases of hurting religious sentiments but they never reach the courts as they are usually settled among the parties. The troublemakers are not locals but labourers and artisans in factories here who have come from other states. It is easy to instigate and mobilise them so troublemakers target them to create tension in the area. Its all in the economy Spread across 122 sq kms and with a population of 1.07 lakh, Malerkotla, in the states Sangrur district, relies on artisans manufacturing hand-embroidered batches, flags, banners, ceremonial dresses and uniforms for Indian forces, the US army, the UN, Congo, Turkish, Canadian and Rwandan police and Kuwait. The shops are owned mostly by Muslims and majority of the artisans are Hindu. The two communities have been working together for generations. Among those is Vijay Lal (38), who is busy crafting a batch for the Rwandan police. He has spent his life working for Mohammad Rana, who he calls abba. Before Vijay, his father, Mohan Lal, worked for the Ranas. I was ten when my father passed away. For me, home has been this workshop and abba who taught me my work. I have never thought of them as people from another community. I know if trouble comes my way, they will be the ones to help. I come to the workshop in the morning, go to their house to eat and then return to work. We celebrate all festivals together and I also visit the mosque with them. We have been brought up this way, Vijay says. Rana agrees: We do not know if it is something to do with the blessing of Sufi saints on Malerkotla or is it just us, but the thought of getting violent over communal lines never struck us. There have been problems, some people have tried to create a rift, but they have been set right. Here, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims own joint businesses. The economy is based on this relationship. While most manufacturers are Muslims, buyers are Hindus. We know if we start fighting and burning down each others shops, it is us who will suffer...Why should we let political games hit our livelihood? Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims own joint businesses; the economy is based on this relationship. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) A few meters away sits Dharam Chand, who has been running his shop of handcrafted badges since 1947; his artisans are Muslims. I owe my life to a Muslim who saved me during the dark hour of Partition. I have over 10 Muslim artisans working for me for the past 25 years. Their hands are nimble and their work-cut to perfection. I learnt it from a Muslim myself, he says. Why would I ever have any ill feelings for them? The temple or the god is not feeding me and my family, it is this business and I cannot imagine it without my Muslim brothers, he adds. I have grown up with my Muslim friends and know about their religion better than mine. We exchange gifts on Eid, Diwali, Holi. During Ramzan, I go with them to end Roza (fast). It has been like this for generations. Now people are spoiling it for political gains. But I am sure that people of Malerkotla are smart enough to ignore them, he laughs. The Sufi way alerkotla never sleeps and its shops have no shutters. Even at 2 am the discourse here revolves around Sufi philosophy and prose, much like a group outside a stall exchanging shayari over tea. The citys qawals, have kept alive the voices of Khusro and Auliya, and believe that the Sufi Kalam (Sufi poems) has kept Malerkotla unscathed till date. We convey to people the basic lessons of humanity through the words of Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusro, Hazzarat Nizzamuddin Auliya, Khwaja Sahab. This is what has kept Malerkotla together. People here know that religion is just a tag; God is one. One may not go to the mosque or the temple or Gurudwara but should always aspire to be a good human, says Mohammad Javed Irshad, son of Irshad Rehmat Qawal and a tenth-generation Qawal of the family. Qawwal Jawed Irshad performs qawwali at his home with other of his colleagues. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) Javed says he performs Qawali at programs jointly arranged by Hindu, Sikh and Muslims. He has also trained his son. Religion that divides is nothing but a disgrace, he says. The harmony between the communities dates to the time when the state was ruled by the Nawabs. The last Nawab, Iftequar Ali Khan, locals say, treated religions equally. When there was a clash, he intervened personally to restore peace. His palace, the Mubarak Mahal, is in ruins and his Begum, Manwer Ul Nisha, in her nineties, lives in the structure. Nawab sahib was very strict. He never let religion become a bone of contention. He loved his Hindu staffers more and trusted them with major responsibilities. His main adviser was a Hindu. Till he was alive, he never let any tense situation develop in Malerkotla. Since he safeguarded both Hindus and Muslims during Partition, everyone respected and listened to him, she says. Read | What happened and who is saying what in Malerkotla Quran desecration For the love of the game Mohammad Irshads idol is Jagdeep Singh. The son of a vegetable vendor, Irshad (16), spent hours outside the only football field in Malerkotla, where his father set up a cart. His only source of entertainment: watching players. Irshad says Jagdeep Singh was the inspiration for his enrolling at the city-based Al Kausar Football Academy where most members are underprivileged. Singh, a member of the academy and a minor celebrity here, has made the cut for U-17 World Cup squad. On his part, Irshad himself has made it to a national camp. I aspire to be the next Jagdeep who will be selected for a World Cup training camp. Siting outside the field I used to see Singh score goals and these people celebrating. It is then when I approached Singh and he encouraged me to join. Each day after coaching, I used to spend six hours extra on the field. It paid off and I was selected for the national games. Credit goes to Jagdeep, he smiles. The academy does not charge for the training or the merchandise it provides members, which is funded by Star Impact shoes. Once they are on the ground, they are just players. The thought of them being a Hindu or a Sikh playing with a Muslim does not even cross their mind. The aim of this club is to bring together all these kids to channelise their energy into something constructive. If we do not have this club, half of the youths will be into drugs. Religion does not have a place on the field, says Mohammad Rafiq, manager. He adds, During the football world cup, we had put up big screens on the ground and we all come together to watch the matches. These kids have been playing together for years and share a strong bond. Testing times Mahant Swaroop Bihari Sharn. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo) The recent Dhaka terror attack on July 1 and the attacks in Europe have disturbed young Hindus of Malerkotla. They fear that they could soon be in the firing line, even though none of the attacks have anything to do with Malerkotla. Ajay, a local says, We have never faced any discrimination and have lived peacefully but now we have started to feel insecure. What if we are cornered? We fear for our children. With these attacks across the globe and the extremist Muslims brainwashing, how long will it take for them to reach Malerkotla? If they can brainwash educated people like the ones involved in the Dhaka attack, the Muslims here can also be influenced. The fact remains that we are a minority here. says Ajay. There never used to be a curfew here earlier, but after the episode of Quran desecration, a slight rumour and the police imposes a curfew. Earlier this year there was a rumour that some Muslims slaughtered a cow and threw the head near a temple. The culprits were arrested and there was no incident of violence, but why should I live in constant fear? I now plan to leave the city and shift to Jalandhar, he adds. Mahant Swaroop Bihari Sharn, a religious guru, rubbishes the concerns as inconsequential. It is the media that is the culprit. These handful of young children watch the news and feel they are sitting on a time bomb as we are in minority here. The migrants who have come from UP and Bihar for work here also pollute their minds. What they do not understand is that we have the blessings of the Sufi saints and nothing will ever break this city. At weddings, they (Muslims) appoint two caterers. One for them who feast on meat and the other for us Hindus. The ones who serve the meals are also separate. They respect our sentiments. They even get cards printed in two separate languages: Urdu and Gurumukhi. Some of them have even done kanyadaan at Hindu weddings, he adds. As they say here in Malerkotla- Chand tu bahut khushnasib hai. Yahan Eid bhi teri aur Karwa (Karwachauth) bhi tera. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 1) Social moves north: Socials seventh outlet is located in Goregaon. The decor takes a dig at consumerism. Watch for additions such as Punjabi kadhi chawal and applam chaplam papadum. At: Goregaon Social, The Oberoi Mall, Goregaon (E) ; Call: 89760 41112 Also read: Palladium Social: Ideal post-work watering hole in Mumbai Raasta Bombay 2) The Rastafarian movement: Popular Delhi bar Raasta is now in Mumbai. Spread over four floors, it includes a cafe and a rooftop bar. The menu features Malabar prawns roast. At: Raasta Bombay, SV Road, Khar (W); Call: 86655 00011 Also read: Neither stirred, nor shaken: Cocktails from the future are here Drunken Clam 3) Bar storeys: After One Street Over and Bastian, Chef Kelvin Cheung is back with Drunken Clam. The restaurant offers premium spirits, a wide range of beers on tap, wines and cocktails. At: Drunken Clam, Linking Road, Bandra (W); Call: 2642 0146 The Boston Butt. 4) Butt of all jokes: Launching this week is pre-Prohibition era inspired smokery, charcuterie and bar, The Boston Butt. The menu lists dishes such as blackened chicken, borgouise pig and smoked calamari. At: The Boston Butt, Rampart Row Building, Kala Ghoda; Call: 98924 47669 H&M, Kurla 5) International fashion: Global retail brand H&Ms opened its second outlet in Mumbai this weekend. Shoppers can choose from a range of international fashion trends at the store. Where: Phoenix Market City, Kurla; Call: 6180 1100 Tilakraj Rajput, the businessman who was found dead in his Mahindra XUV at Santucruz on Monday, fought with his alleged lover Ronita over the phone and in person shortly before he was murdered on Sunday night, said a source in the Santacruz police. The source said Rajput met a friend in Bandra on Sunday afternoon and the two drank till around 4.30 pm. Later, Rajput called Ronita and the two got into a heated argument over the phone before deciding to meet. Rajput, still drunk, drove to the LIC office in Santacruz to meet Ronita and the two argued in his car for over an hour, said the source. According to the police, Ronita became enraged during the argument and strangled Rajput with her dupatta. The police are trying to determine what exactly led her to kill him. They are checking whether she recently quit her job at a hotel because of him. An officer from the Santacruz police, who did not wish to be named, said, Ronita got married last year and wanted to end her six-year affair with Rajput. He, however, was not willing to part ways and told Ronita that they would continue to see each other. Ronita was produced before the Bandra metropolitan court on Monday afternoon. The public prosecutor told magistrate Vishwas Mane that she had confessed to a police officer that she killed Rajput. The magistrate asked the woman if she had a lawyer. When she said she did not, the court told her the state would provide her with an attorney. The prosecution said that valuables are missing from Rajputs car and that the police need custody of Ronita to retrieve them. The court remanded Ronita in police custody until September 3. Rajputs body was handed over to his family after an autopsy at Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Looks like the future of drones in helping highway traffic police catch motorists flouting traffic rules on Mumbai-Pune Expressway is in the dark. After the pilot project resulted in action against 41 motorists for lane-cutting and over-speeding, it may take longer for them to become a permanent part of the highway police machinery. In a report to be submitted to government soon, the state highway authorities are likely to underline some of the problem areas in the implementation of drone monitoring exercise. Among those include inability of the camera installed on device to capture images during heavy rains on expressway, which often witnesses high precipitation during monsoon, leading to accidents. The purpose of the drone testing exercise was to see the feasibility of the device during different conditions. During the tests we found that cameras installed on drones cannot work when its raining, said Amol Tambe, Highway (Pune region) Superintendent of Police. Tambe said, soon the report about the drone monitoring exercise will be submitted to government based on which government will decide since when drones are to be deployed on the expressway. On Sunday, some of the video footage images and still images produced by camera deployed on drones were very blur, pointing to its inefficacy during rain. Samadhan Pawar, superintendent of police of highway traffic, said, We used the drones and the cameras to zero in on the errant motorists in a pilot project mainly in the ghat sections of the Expressway. However, the cameras had lots of limitations. They barely work in rains and fog. There were no night vision cameras and hence no action could be taken once it was dark. Since the durability of the camera batteries was just 15 minutes, they had to be replaced with new ones every time they were discharged. Financial aspect is also one of the important things to be considered. The range of one camera was just 4 kms. So we will need a huge number of these to cover the 94-km stretch. Since we conducted this drive as a pilot project, Aerial Mappers Pvt Ltd provided us the drones for free. So we did not have to spend on them, Pawar said. A senior highway traffic police official told Hindustan Times that the expense of using one drone was almost Rs16,000 a day. Another official said, another problem could be the height of drones as the device operated on low altitude may distract drivers attention which may lead to accident. During low visibility hours, drones may not work from the high altitude. So we may have to lower their height, which can cause distraction to drivers, the official said. Amit Bhole, mentor-cum-drone-pilot at Aerial Mappers private ltd, which has been tasked to provide drones, said the drones can produce good results at 30 meters heights. According to Bhole, his team is working on thermal camera which can capture images even during night and rains. It may take some time for us to get thermal camera installed on drones. Till the time we have to use the existing ones. P Joshi, assistant police inspector of highway traffic said, The drones were mostly used in the areas like Khalapur toll naka, Borghat, Khandala and Loonavala. If any camera spotted a vehicle cutting the lanes or speeding, the officials took a screen shot of that visual and sent it to the officials waiting at the next toll naka on WhatsApp to penalise the driver for violating the norms. The expressway has three lanes on each side of the divider. The first lane (the one adjacent to the divider) is for overtaking. The second lane is for light vehicles and the third is for buses and other heavy vehicles. However, most of the motorists do not follow the rules. They randomly enter the unauthorized lanes and end up hitting vehicles ahead of them, said Rajendra Awhad, police inspector from the highway traffic. The National Green Tribunal on Monday issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the state Jal Nigam to show cause why penalties should not be imposed on them for their failure to provide clean drinking water in Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat and Saharanpur districts. Noting that people were forced to drink polluted water due to the state governments inaction in villages in Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat and Saharanpur districts, the green panel summoned the district magistrates and chief medical officers of Baghpat, managing director and chief engineer of UP Jal Nigam. The officials concerned, including district magistrate and officers from UP Jal Nigam, shall be present before the tribunal on September 7, the next date of hearing, a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said. ... What steps were taken for the last 10 years to bring the polluted water within the prescribed parameters and to ensure that all the residents of these villages get potable drinking water without default and delay? Let the response to the show cause notice be filed within one week from today (sic), the tribunal said in its order. The directions came on the petition of Dr Chandra Vir Singh, a retired scientist and chairman of the Samiti, who had contended groundwater contamination. He had also got a number of groundwater samples tested from places adjacent to three western UP rivers Hindon, Krishni and Kali and from areas located near industries in the region. We found that groundwater in these areas contained heavy metals. The health of villagers has suffered in six districts of western UP due to the consumption of contaminated groundwater, Singh said. The green panel had earlier lambasted the state government, Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam and UP Pollution Control Board for risking the lives of children in the villages of these districts. The tribunal had also constituted a committee to look into the issue. The committee, comprising chief secretary, chairman and member secretary of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, managing director of UP Jal Nigam was ordered to inspect and provide potable water. Petitioners lawyer Gaurav Bansal had claimed that the UP governments failure to provide clean drinking water to children had resulted in their developing serious physical disabilities. He also submitted photographs showing infants and young children with mental and physical disabilities, purportedly caused by the contaminated water. Although the Jalandhar municipal corporation (MC) had claimed to complete a four-lane road at Basti Bawa Khel area by the first week of December this year, it will be challenging for the civic body to keep the promise as road carpeting is yet to begin. Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone for an elevated road project in the area in February 2014. It has been facing several roadblocks since then the latest is getting clearance from the Punjab Infrastructure Development Authority (PIDB). MC officials said though the road project has got clearance from the local government department, it is yet to get the green signal from the PIDB, the body that will take a final call on releasing the funds under the Urban Rural Regeneration Mission. About two months back, Major General VK Bhatt, technical adviser to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, had questioned the plan to fund the project under the Urban Rural Regeneration Mission, although the stretch belongs to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The Rs 6.8-crore elevated project was converted into a four-laning project after protests by traders in the area. On August 6, Jalandhar West MLA Chunni Lal along with mayor Sunil Jyoti laid the foundation for the project and announced the work will start in two to three days. Due to the delay in work, commuters are having a tough time. Though the route has been opened even for heavy traffic after remaining closed for a year, it is difficult to use the road because of potholes. At present, the MC has deputed staff for preparing the ground for road construction. Cornering the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for taking money for tickets, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal said the tug-of-war in the party had exposed the lust for power amongst its leadership in the state. Interacting with the media on the sidelines of a sangat darshan in the Baba Bakala assembly segment, the CM said there was hardly any example in Indian polity when the top leadership of the party had been accused of indulging in corrupt practices, that too, for the sake of party tickets. Selling of tickets was not the job of political leaders or parties. This reflects that the entire civil war was just aimed at defaming each other to acquire the control of the party. Punjabis are watching this power struggle amongst the AAP leaders that has torn out the party into pieces, just for yearn of power. It is really shameful, he said. Ruling out Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singhs charges that states fiscal condition has deteriorated, Badal said he had distributed more grants for development during sangat darshans in villages in the past five months than what Captain has disbursed in his tenure as the chief minister for five years. The Congress was the perpetrator of a deep-rooted conspiracy to deprive the state of its waters by constructing the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. The hostile stand taken by the AAP government in Delhi on SYL case in the Supreme Court has exposed that these people have no sympathy for Punjab or its people, he said. The CM reiterated that the SAD-BJP alliance was firm and everlasting and would contest the elections together. He said the SAD would announce its candidates at appropriate for the assembly polls. IS KEJRIWAL COMING WITH A BOMB? Asked for his comments on the reported move of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal to camp between Ludhiana and Phagwara in the wake of assembly polls, Badal said: Let him come. He is not bringing a bomb along. I dont bother about his move, nor does it affect me. Meanwhile, upset over not being heard by the CM during the sangat darshan, senior vice-president of SAD district SC wing Sukhdev Singh Pannu resigned from the party. Pannu said: First the sarpanch of Rampur Bhootwind did not allow me to meet the CM. But when I managed to meet him, I was not heard. Chela Singh (83) was a common man until Sunday morning. Then he became the face of the old-age pension scheme in the full-page newspaper advertisements detailing what the Punjab government has achieved in nine years to warrant another mandate. Good for Chela, but only one thing he doesnt get any old-age pension. He has applied for it twice, though, in the past seven years. Even his wife, Jagit Kaur (80), doesnt get a penny from the government. Chela has also applied for cashless medical treatment under Bhagat Puran Singh Bima Yojana and subsidised food under the atta-dal scheme. None delivered. Read: Forget enhanced pension, just give us our due When HT visited his village, Kaler in Faridkot district, and asked him if his luck would turn after his picture had reached the authorities, he said: It was taken in winter, at some government function. Yeah, he chuckled, Maybe now theyll give me pension in real. Village panch Kulbir Singh said Chela wasnt the only one not to receive old-age pension. Gathered at saanth (village common place) were those leftout old people, most of them over 70. Geja Singh, Amrik Singh, Amarjit Singh, Gurdev Singh, Beant Singh, and Balwinder Singh accused the government of doing propaganda. In Sundays advertisement, the government has claimed that it gave away more than Rs 5,000 crore as pension, District Youth Congress president Balkaran Singh Nangal said. But Chela is a living proof that (deputy chief minister) Sukhbir Singh Badal is gappi number 1 (a big fat liar). Read | Another scam? Pensions not paid for 3 years, Punjab agri bank under VB scanner Faridkot district social security officer Shinder Pal Kaur said she was unaware of the advertisement, as the public relations department in Chandigarh must have issued it. No one asked us for any photograph, she said. The PR guys must have picked it on their own. PR secretary Rahul Tiwari said he looked into policy matters and the layout was directors jurisdiction. PR director Senu Duggal said the picture was for representation purpose only and the government had nowhere claimed in the advertisement that the people featured were given pension. The advertisement also nowhere states that the pictures used are symbolic. Monday morning was as eventful as Sunday morning for Chela Singh (83) of this districts Kaler village. After HT reported that the man whose picture was used for promoting Punjabs old-age pension scheme was not a beneficiary, the states Akali government went into damage-control mode and Chela Singh had surprise visitors at 8am district social security officer Shinderpal Kaur and some other members of the administration. Later, the tehsildar and the patwari also came over to verify his credentials. Later, the tehsildar and the patwari also came over to verify his credentials. Forms were filled for the man and his wife, Jagir Kaur. The officials completed all the formalities by 10am and promised to clear my application soon, said Chela Singh. They meant it. The (pension) cards were issued by the evening, said Shinderpal Kaur. An elated Chela Singh cant believe that the benefit for which he had waited for nine years (since 2007) came to him by an advertising goof-up about what the government achieved in that period. Chela and his wife will now get a monthly pension of Rs 500 each. Deputy commissioner MS Jaggi had sent these officials to the village. Shinderpal Kaur, who filed a report on the DCs orders, stated that Not a single application for old-age pension is pending in my office. Sources said the chief ministers office (CMO) had got things moving. When exposed, the government was preparing to release booklets selling its development programmes to voters. Now to avoid another goof-up, the administration will scan every picture and data inside. Acknowledging the complaint of right to information (RTI) activist Rajiv Vashisht into the alleged irregularities in announcement of award and payments made to owners for land acquired for four-laning of Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur national highway, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has marked the probe to the internal audit office of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). HT investigation had indicated irregularities of around Rs 100 crore in land acquired for the widening a highway in Hoshiarpur district. Read | Hoshiarpur land scam: How Akalis & friends made crores via rumours, clout, nexus Senior audit officer PK Neelkanthan of the NHAI has confirmed the development. Vashisht had sent a copy of his complaint, along with HT reports, to the Prime Ministers Office (PMO), ministry of road transport and highways and other offices, to the CAG, demanding a thorough probe in to the matter. The senior audit officer has, through a letter on August 17, communicated to Vashisht that the department has taken cognisance of his complaint. After the government had notified 100 acres for acquisition in 2015 to four-lane the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur-Chintpurni highway, politicians and other influential people bought the land at throwaway prices and sold it to the government at inflated rates. Rotting meat, suspected to be beef, recovered from an accident-hit truck on the national highway on Friday and dumped at Salem Tabri here as case property has forced the neighbourhood to bear foul smell for three days. People will be relieved that the court of the chief judicial magistrate has allowed police to dispose of the carcasses, which they are going to do on Tuesday. We will dump the meat at a suitable place near the Sutlej river, Salem Tabri station house officer (SHO) inspector Jatinder Singh said on Monday. The truck, loaded with beef, parked behind the Salem Tabri police station in Ludhiana on Monday. (HT Photo) The mangled vehicle containing the meat was parked inside the police station earlier. The smell was so unbearable, they had to take it to vacant space on Sunday on our request, said Salem Tabri resident Darshan Lal. It didnt help, as wind carried the odour back into our houses. The meat is case property, and we couldnt dispose of it without the courts permission, said inspector Jatinder Singh. It took all Saturday and even Monday to get the permission. The vehicle holding this smuggled meat is registered in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. A police team is on its way to fetch the owner details. After the vehicle collided with an SUV, the four men inside had fled. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab education minister Daljit Singh Cheema said Punjab government recruited 65,143 teachers in nine years and 1,800 schools have been upgraded during this period. Cheema was in Patiala on Sunday for the inauguration of a government school which was upgraded from higher secondary to senior secondary at Lot village on Sunday. Due to reforms in government school, the results of these schools are remarkable now. Ten meritorious schools have been opened in different parts of the state and it is a matter of great pride that these schools are giving good results. We recruited 65,143 teachers in two terms of SAD-BJP government and 2,005 more will be recruited soon for the posts, which are going to get vacant in 2017, said, Cheema. We promise that all government primary schools will have teachers till March 31, 2017. The state government recruited 4,500 primary teachers last week and 4,500 were promoted as head teachers; 2200 teachers were promoted as lecturers recently, he said. This year, 600 schools were upgraded by the state government and 32 of those are in Patiala district. Now the students will not have to go far away for studies, he added. Harsa Bela sarpanch Surjit Singh stands on the Sutlej banks, looking at his eroded field and cursing the officials who overlooked complaints against illegal mining downstream and upstream. The Sutlej and its tributary, the Swan, scare villagers every monsoon. The mining mafia has bled the two rivers so much in Nurpur Bedi and Anandpur Sahib blocks of Rupnagar district that their courses keep changing. Last year, they dug up the riverbed at Harsa Bela, too, said Surjit Singh. You see how the river has meandered to the fields, all due to illegal mining. The villagers greed also costs them. Bakhshish Singhs standing maize crop over 6 acres was washed out last monsoon after he gave 2 acres on contract to the mining mafia for making a quick buck. I didnt know the consequences, said the farmer, but now I want this (mining) to stop. Mining-affected villages Sansowal, Sawara, Saidpur, Chandpur, Bein Hara, and Shahpur also face the wrath of a swollen Sutlej during rains. BRIDGE IN PERIL The cracked and exposed foundation of the pillars supporting the Agampur bridge over the Sutlej, after mining. (Anil Dayal/HT Photo) A kilometre downstream Harsa Bela, the Agampur bridge has visible cracks in one of its pillars. Mining has exposed its foundations. When trucks overloaded with sand and gravel run over it all night, said a cop, the bridge shakes. They (the trucks) start at about 8pm and go on till morning, the cop deployed there said. The PWD (public works department) inspected the bridge many times but never started any repair. OFFICIAL EFFORTS On November 7, 2015, then Rupnagar deputy commissioner Tanu Kashyap wrote to the senior superintendent of police (SSP): We have four-five crushers in the vicinity and so much illegal mining that there is a danger to the bridge. I need cops on the bridge to keep a watch, and a weekly report. The cops hold their post and do their duty of just watching overloaded trucks come and go. Two years ago, the Anandpur Sahib subdivisional officer (SDO) of the public works department (PWD) had raised the alarm. Rupnagar general manager of industries Chaman Lal acknowledged the plundering of the riverbed and said his department will fence the riverbanks up to half a kilometre. This July 27, present DC Karnesh Sharma signed a contradictory inquiry report stating: There is no danger as such to the (Agampur) bridge. This after the Punjab and Haryana high court had told him on July 20 to visit the site in 48 hours and reply by August 3. The court is hearing a petition against a Bein Hara quarry notified in November 2014. The report quoted the Bein Hara sarpanch as having no objection to the quarry upstream of the bridge. WHOSE BOOTY? Another bridge, over the Swan at Algran, has stone crushers both upstream and downstream, with heaps of construction raw material lying unaccounted for. The mandatory green signs at each crusher site are blank, with no detail of the source quarry and the amount of stone crushed in a day. The paperwork is a mere formality to please the Punjab and Haryana high court. This is old stock, a crusher owner said, when pointed to a heap. He avoided further queries on documentation. Ask contractor Billu, said Lakhwinder Gill, when asked from where the material had come. He said he owned this Neelkanth Stone Crusher in partnership with (Congress legislator) Balbir Sidhu. A BRUSH WITH MAFIA The search for Billu led the HT team to an illegal checkpoint where some boys collected royalty from passing truck drivers. They take Rs 300 for every 100 cubic feet (of load), said a driver, as he came out with receipts collected from the boys. Their boss arrived in an SUV and after making certain that there was no camera around, said with piercing eyes: Why are you asking all these questions?. Billu could be in Chandigarh, he replied to another query, we are going to stop illegal mining. He didnt give his name and replied with a stare to what the royalty was about. The site is the office of Balwinder Billu, whose Akash Stone Crusher growls all day, its heaps of sand and gravel the biggest of all units. Read: Ravaged Rupnagar-1 | Crushing blow to Shivalik beauty, Nangal hills go bald Read: Natures plunder-1 | Earthmovers tear into Shivalik hills of Talwara Read: Natures plunder-2 | Hoshiarpur fields cave in because of illegal mining SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As the private firm Horizon Connect Transways Private Limited (HCTPL) warned to stop operations of the city buses from September 1 if their issues are not resolved, municipal corporation (MC) is now planning to float the fresh tender to invite firms for operating buses in the city. The residents would suffer once again if the Ludhiana city buses come to halt as MC and HCTPL locked horns over the running of city buses. MC claimed that the firm has failed to pay pending dues. The officials of the HCTPL have alleged that some political leaders are creating interference in selection of the routes of the city buses as per demand of their vote banks. They also claimed that no action is being taken against the illegally plying autos and mini buses in the city. Harjinder Singh, managing director of HCTPL, said, The political interference is very high here. The MC authorities directed to stop city buses on the route of Ram Nagar recently. The auto drivers were opposing the city bus service on this route and other routes, including Sahnewal. We are not generating profit as the authorities concerned have failed to act against the illegal autos and mini buses that are causing losses to our company. We are not getting advertisements for the city buses. Moreover, we had got 30 old buses repaired, but the civic body did not release the payments for the same. We have been demanding from MC officials to get the issues resolved but no meeting is being conducted, said Singh. MC commissioner, Ghanshyam Thori, said the additional commissioner concerned will conduct a meeting with the company officials by Tuesday. However, the MC is going to float fresh tender to invite new firm for the city buses as the HCTPL has not paid its pending dues, he said. However, he claimed that the MC has not stopped the city bus service on Ram Nagar route. He said the company stopped buses on this route due to some problem with the auto drivers, adding the company is free to operate the bus service on this route. In second incident of sacrilege within a week, pages of gutka (a small book carrying essential verses from Guru Granth Sahib) were found strewn at four different places in Daulatpur Neeva village here on Monday morning. Shopkeepers found the pages scattered in the market and in the adjacent street. On August 22, a man had desecrated a gutka in the same village. Former sarpanch Gurmeet Singh informed the police and a team led by senior superintendent of police (SSP) Snehdeep Sharma visited the spot. Heavy security was deputed in the area to avoid an untoward incident. The incident is being seen as aimed at creating tension as parallel jathedar appointed by the radical Sikh leaders, Dhian Singh Mand, was to hold a march against an earlier sacrilege incident in the village on Monday. Deputy superintendent of police (city) Harinder Singh said they were investigating the case and have procured footage of CCTV cameras installed in the area. A case has been registered under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code at the Sadar police station. On August 22, a similar incident took place in the same village when one Harpreet Singh alias Sonu had allegedly desecrated a gutka after entering the village gurdwara. Sonu was beaten up by the villagers and is since undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital here. In what could be the reaction to University Grants Commissions pointing out extra money being paid to him, Panjab University vice-chancellor Arun Kumar Grover has said that the varsity is being controlled by a mafia who are out to ruin the institution. Talking to Hindustan Times in his office here on Sunday, visibly angry V-C said he was referring to certain senators and syndics, who are the decision-makers of the university, and the officials of the UT administration who audited the university. The V-C also referred to the senators as vultures who are trying to tear the varsity apart. The V-Cs remarks come close on the heels of the controversy that erupted following a letter from the University Grants Commission (UGC) pointing out that the V-C and the registrar were being paid extra amount as part of their salaries, which needed to be recovered from them. Asked to specify what he meant by the mafia, the furious-looking V-C said, What else would you call it when a Hindi or Punjabi professor gets elected to the syndicate on behalf of the science fraternity. How can a Hindi or a Punjabi professor represent the syndicate from the medical fraternity? Theres a case of a Muktsar college mathematics lecturer who represented medical fraternity and that too unopposed. This is mafia, he said. Also read | Syndicate, senate elections wastage of time: PU V-C He said the UT administration auditors were hand-in-glove with some RTI activists and they use them to meet their personal interests. Letters from certain RTI activists are sent straight to the UGC as it is, he said. Asked why he was being targeted, he said it was an attempt to distract attention from key issues. The problem is the upcoming meeting on September 3, he said. There are crucial agenda items in the meeting and some people here want to protect their friends, which is why they are using this tactic. But I wont allow it. Alluding to the senators as vultures, he said, Vultures are out to tear this prestigious institution apart, and their elections are on these days. This university has 90 senators and they are the 90 vultures. One can be a member of four faculties. They add one more member of their choice called as added member which makes it 540 vultures. He said no other university has any member other than the faculty. This is the only Indian university that has less professors and more vultures, he said. UGC exceeding its jurisdiction Grover said the UGC exceeded its jurisdiction in sending the letter with regard to his salary and perks and ordering the recovery of the extra amount being paid to him and the registrar. He said its the chancellor, not the UGC, who determines the pay of the V-C. The UGC in its letter on August 24 had pointed out the discrepancies in the pay of the V-C and the registrar. The V-C and the registrar (who was also present in the V-Cs office during this interview) stated that the letter still hasnt reached the university. I will take it up with the HRD ministry and also the chancellor, but for that I first need to get the letter, he said. He cited the Section 10 of the Panjab University Act that reads: The chancellor shall determine the amount or remuneration and other service conditions of the vice-chancellor. It adds that such terms and conditions shall not be altered to the disadvantage of the vice-chancellor during his term of office. To further bolster his case, the V-C cited a September 2012 letter sent from the vice-presidents secretariat (vice-president of India is also the PUs chancellor). It had approved the personal allowance to Grover of Rs 13,187 in order to protect his last pay drawn and allow him to avail the benefit of annual increment at the rate of 3% as would be admissible to him in his previous post which shall be added in the personal allowance on annual basis. Theres another letter from the Union human resource development ministry that cites the Section 10 of the PU Act, saying that the chancellor is vested with powers to decide the pay of the V-C. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A woman, accused of burglary, fled from the police station after giving a push to woman constable on Saturday night. The woman on the pretext of wanting to relieve herself was taken out from the lock-up from the woman constable and she pushed her and fled. The PAU police have registered a case under Section 224 (Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) of Indian Penal Code against the woman, who has been identified as Manpreet Kaur (26) of Partap Singh Wala. Her accomplice, Mani Singh, who was arrested along with the woman, is still in police custody. The PAU police arrested the woman Manpreet Kaur and Mani Singh on Saturday for burglary and recovered 7 mobile phones from their possession, which they have stolen from different places. The woman constable was pushed behind the bars in woman lock-up. Inspector Mohammad Zamil, SHO at police station PAU said that a woman constable Sukhjinder Kaur was deputed outside the lockup to keep a tab on the accused woman. In the meantime, power supply of the area was interrupted and there was no light in police station at the time of incident. Manpreet Kaur asked the woman constable that she wanted to pass urine. As the constable took her out, she, took advantage of the dark and gave her a push and fled. The police have launched search operations to arrest her. Australian customs officers seized a record 95 kg (210 lb) of cocaine from a cruise ship docked in Sydney Harbour following a joint operation at the weekend and leading to the arrest of three Canadians, they said on Monday. It was the biggest drug seizure at an airport or a cruise ship in Australia, Tim Fitzgerald, a regional commander at the Australian Border Force, said. Customs officers boarded the vessel and searched cabins with the help of sniffer dogs, they said in a statement. It was during the search of the cabin ... that we identified a number of suitcases in the cabin itself that were locked. Itemizer or trace technology was used to scan the outside of those suitcases and as a result a number of tests came positive for the presence of cocaine, Fitzgerald said. The Canadians were charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine, for which the maximum penalty is life imprisonment. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not only a game-changer for Pakistan but would help bring prosperity to the entire region. Sharif, who was addressing the inaugural session of the CPEC Summit in Islamabad, said the economic corridor project is the most important economic initiative for South Asia in the 21st century, Pakistan Today reported. Our region has witnessed a lot of conflict and deprivation in the past. Time has come to turn a new leaf in the history of the region by bringing peace and prosperity and addressing the challenges of poverty, unemployment and under-development, he said. Nawaz further stated that the CPEC is not merely a strategic decision but the culmination of 10 years of brotherhood and cooperation between China and Pakistan. The two sides never left each other in times of distress such as during the devastating earthquake in 2005 and floods in 2010. Our relations with China are of the utmost importance, he said. Sharif said, during his visit to Pakistan, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the parliament that Pakistan stood by China when it was isolated. Now China has reached out to the country when Pakistan stood economically isolated, reported Dawn. He said the project would not only improve Pakistans own infrastructure but would also provide it much needed know how, knowledge and expertise in new technologies. He said $35 billion of the amount would be invested in energy sectors alone to produce 10400MW of electricity. The project will benefit all regions of Pakistan equally including Gilgit Baltistan and remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, said Sharif, Dawn reported. The $46 billion project aims to link Pakistani city Gwadar to Chinas Xinjiang region via a vast network of highways and railways, allowing China access to the Arabian Sea, and making Pakistan a regional manufacturing hub and an attractive market for foreign direct investment (FDI). China hopes to cement its standing as a global power as it hosts the G20 summit this weekend, but suspects the West and its allies will try to deny Beijing what it sees as its rightful place on the international stage. One of President Xi Jinpings priorities will be to ensure that this does not happen, as it will be a key mark to judge how successful China was to host the G20 summit. Beijing wants to use the Sept 4-5 meeting in the tourist hub of Hangzhou to lay out a broad strategy for global growth, but talks are likely to be overshadowed by arguments over everything from territorial disputes to protectionism, diplomats said. From where China sits, it looks like the Americans are trying to encircle them, said a senior Western envoy, describing conversations with Chinese officials ahead of G20 as being dominated by the South China Sea row and an advanced US anti-missile system to be deployed in South Korea. In recent months, China has been incensed by a ruling against its claims in the South China Sea by an international court, a case initiated by Manila but blamed by Beijing on Washington. While China wants to make sure its highest profile event of the year goes off successfully, Xi will be under pressure at home to ensure he is strong in the face of challenges to his authority on issues like the South China Sea, going by reports in state media. A man rides an electronic bike past a billboard for the upcoming G20 summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province of China (Reuters ) China has already made clear it does not want such matters overshadowing the meeting, which will be attended by US President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and other world leaders. State media has given great play to the idea that G20 is for China to show leadership in shaping global governance rules and forging ahead with sustainable global growth, with the official Peoples Daily saying this could be one of the G20s most fruitful ever get-togethers. Lets make cooperation ever higher, it wrote in a commentary last week. But the state-run Study Times wrote in mid-August that Western countries were trying to deliberately exclude a rising China and deny it a proper voice on the world stage with schemes like the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership. Trying to get back their right to global governance, they are forging a new sacred alliance, striving to establish new rules, the influential paper, published twice a week by the Central Party School, wrote in a G20 commentary. These new rules will exclude China. People move through a security check at the West Lake scenic spot in Hangzou, east China's Zhejiang province. Security has been enhanced ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou. (AFP) Angered by Britain, Australia Overseas, China has been angered by questions raised by Britain and Australia over strategic Chinese investments in their countries, saying it smacks of protectionism and paranoia. Australia has blocked the A$10 billion ($7.7 billion) sale of the countrys biggest energy grid to Chinese bidders, while Britain has delayed a $24 billion Chinese-invested nuclear project. But Western officials have their own concerns about access for their companies in China and are increasingly not afraid to talk about it. Joerg Wuttke, the president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, said there has been a change in tone as European officials having been expressing more dissatisfaction with Chinas overcapacity problems and a lack of reciprocal market access for European companies. It has reached the point where people are not afraid to speak up any more. They feel like they have to be tougher in front of their own constituencies, Wuttke told Reuters. A European official involved in trade issues with China expressed exasperation at Chinas attitude on protectionism. The Chinese would shut you down at once if you said you wanted to buy one of their grids. You wouldnt get to the end of the sentence, the official added. None of this will make for plain sailing at G20. China is angry with almost everyone at the moment, said a second Beijing-based Western diplomat familiar with the summit. To be sure, China does want G20 to go smoothly, said a third Western diplomat. Its very important from the stance of national pride, said the diplomat, pointing out it was not uncommon for G20s to be hijacked by issues other than economics. Its a minefield for China. Japan worries Then there is Japan, a country with which China has been embroiled in disputes for much of the last decade over their wartime past and a spat over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Last week, Chinas top diplomat called on Japan to be constructive at G20, with the deeper fear in Beijing that Japan is angling to become involved in the South China Sea dispute as well, at the behest of its ally the United States. Wang Youming, the head of the developing countries programme at the foreign ministry-backed China Institute of International Studies, wrote in the widely-read Chinese tabloid the Global Times that the closer G20 got, the more Japan was trying to cause trouble. Japan is getting entangled in the South and East China Sea issues, cosying up to the Philippines, and urging China to respect the result of the so-called arbitration case, Wang wrote. Japan is up to its old tricks, and its hard not to think they are trying to mess things up. Police believe they have captured a serial killer dubbed Chinas Jack the Ripper for the way he mutilated several of his 11 female victims, state-run media reported Monday, nearly three decades after the first murder. Gao Chengyong, 52, was detained at the grocery store he runs with his wife in Baiyin, in the northwest province of Gansu, the China Daily said. The newspaper said he had confessed to 11 murders in Gansu and the neighbouring region of Inner Mongolia between 1988 and 2002, citing the ministry of public security. Gao allegedly targeted young women wearing red and followed them home to rape and kill them, often cutting their throat and mutilating their bodies, according to reports. The youngest victim was eight years old. Some victims also had their reproductive organs removed, the Beijing Youth Daily added. The suspect has a sexual perversion and hates women, police said in 2004, when they linked the crimes for the first time and offered a reward of 200,000 yuan ($30,000) for information leading to an arrest. Hes reclusive and unsociable, but patient, they said at the time. The original Jack the Ripper was a serial killer active in east London in the late Victorian era, who is widely believed to have murdered five women, mutilating several of them. T1hose killings have never been solved. Gao was identified after a relative was put under house arrest in Baiyin over allegations of a minor crime and had his DNA collected and tested, the China Daily said. Police concluded the killer they had been hunting for 28 years was a relation, and Gaos DNA matched the murderers, it added. There were no immediate explanations as to why the killings stopped in 2002. Miscarriages of justice are not rare in China, where the use of force to extract confessions remains widespread. In several high-profile cases in recent years, China has exonerated wrongfully executed or jailed convicts after others came forward to confess their crimes, or in some cases because the supposed murder victim was later found alive. None of Mondays reports said whether anyone had previously been convicted in connection with Gaos alleged crimes. Gao Chengyong was the quiet man in his neighbourhood who lived in a house down the lane, ran a grocery store with his wife and saved enough to send his two sons to university. He appeared just a little detached from his family but then its hardly a crime to keep to ones self. Last Friday, when armed police personnel stormed the 52-year-olds nondescript grocery store at Baiyin and pinned him down, Gao turned out to be someone else allegedly Chinas worst serial killer who found release in raping, murdering and dismembering his female victims. Chinas Jack the Ripper as Gao was quickly named by the Chinese media was a serial killer on the loose in the north-central province of Gansu between 1988 and 2002, sexually assaulting and murdering 11 females, including an eight-year-old child. Gao, according to case records reported by the Chinese media, targeted mostly single women who stayed alone. He also had a fetish for the colour red and victims were often found in red dresses. As with the original Jack the Ripper, a serial killer active in London in the late Victorian era who is believed to have murdered five women, some of Gaos alleged victims had their reproductive organs removed. According to Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, Gaos first alleged killing was in May 1988, the year his first son was born. The first victim, a 23-year-old woman, was killed in her home in Baiyin and was found with 26 wounds to her body. The subsequent murders followed a similar pattern. The killer targeted young women who lived alone, pursuing them to their homes before raping and killing them, according to earlier media reports, the report said. Police had said at the time of the murders that patience was one of the killers traits as he waited to pounce on the most vulnerable victims. The murders spread terror in the region, with women not venturing out alone. The suspect has a sexual perversion and hates women, police said in 2004, when they linked the crimes for the first time and offered a reward of 200,000 yuan ($30,000) for information leading to an arrest. Gao was very good at hiding and the case was all but closed for more than a decade. But his luck began to run out earlier this year. In March this year, the Ministry of Public Securitys Criminal Investigation Bureau launched a new investigation using the latest technologies to re-examine DNA and biological evidence. Police eventually linked Gao with the murders and managed to collect his DNA, which was a match for the killer, state-run China Daily reported. Police said Gao had confessed to the murders. But many questions remain unanswered. For one, why did Gao stop committing murders after 2002? Or did he? Chinese President Xi Jinping has reshuffled three top provincial-level Communist Party posts as he seeks to place his men in key positions ahead of a once-every-five-years congress next year, and more new appointments are likely soon. The party congress, expected to be held next autumn, will see Xi further cement his hold on power by appointing close allies into the partys ruling inner core, the 25-member Politburo and the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee. Xi, who doubles as Communist Party and military chief, is ranked No 1 in the Standing Committee the apex of power in China. The year leading up to that will focus on Xi appointing more new people into major provincial party and government positions, sources with ties to the leadership say. In a brief dispatch on Sunday, the official Xinhua news agency named two people with whom Xi had previously worked as the new party chiefs in the strategically located southwestern province of Yunnan and the populous southern province of Hunan. The provincial party chief outranks the governor. In Yunnan, bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, Chen Hao replaced Li Jiheng, while in Hunan, Du Jiahao had assumed the partys top job, Xinhua said. Both Chen and Du worked with Xi when he ran Chinas commercial capital, Shanghai, as its Communist Party chief for a year in 2007, according to their resumes. Xi is close to both of them due to their time together in Shanghai, a source with ties to the leadership told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. Tibet, considered one of the countrys most politically sensitive positions due to periodic anti-Chinese unrest in the devoutly Buddhist Himalayan region, also has a new party chief, named by Xinhua as Wu Yingjie. Wu has spent almost his entire career in Tibet, according to his official resume, having previously served as a deputy governor and propaganda chief, among other roles. Wu, like his predecessor Chen Quanguo, belongs to Chinas majority Han Chinese ethnic group. China says its rule has brought prosperity and stability to Tibet, rejecting claims from Tibetan exiles and rights groups of widespread repression. Xinhua said on Monday that Chen would move to Xinjiang as its party boss, another unruly part of the country, due to what the government says is a concerted Islamist-backed campaign of violence in a region with a large ethnic minority Muslim population. The current party boss, Zhang Chunxian, is expected to move to Beijing to take over a senior role in a party building committee that Xi is overseeing as part of his efforts to instil greater discipline in the corruption-racked party, the source added. Xinhua said Zhang would be given another post, but did not say what. A second source said the governor in Shanxi, a coal-rich northern province beset by corruption scandals, would move to Beijing to take over as transport minister. Li Xiaopeng is the son of former premier Li Peng, who was deeply involved in the military crackdown on student-led demonstrations for democracy around Beijings Tiananmen Square in 1989. The second source said Xi ally Lou Yangsheng, currently a deputy party boss in Shanxi, would be named acting provincial governor, pending approval by the local legislature. Xi and Lou worked together when Xi was party boss in the eastern province of Zhejiang from 2003 until early 2007. The State Council Information Office, which doubles as the partys spokesmans office, did not respond to a request for comment. The United States on Monday criticised clashes between Turkish forces and some opposition groups in northern Syria as unacceptable and called on all armed actors in the fighting to stand down and focus on the fight against Islamic State. We want to make clear that we find these clashes in areas where ISIL is not located unacceptable and a source of deep concern, Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the coalition to counter Islamic State, said on his official Twitter account, citing a defense department statement. We call on all armed actors to stand down...the US is actively engaged to facilitate such deconfliction and unity of focus on ISIL, which remains a lethal and common threat. Turkey and its Syrian rebel allies seized territory controlled by Kurdish-aligned forces on Sunday, the fifth day of a cross-border campaign that a monitoring group said had killed at least 35 villagers. Map of northern Syria locating two villages south of Jarabulus where monitors say Turkish air strikes and bombardment killed dozens of civilians on Sunday. (AFP) Turkish officials say their goal in Syria is to drive out Islamic State but also to ensure Kurdish militia fighters do not expand the territory they already control along Turkeys border. The Kurdish YPG fighters are backed by the US in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. However, NATO member Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkeys largely Kurdish southeast. Meanwhile, Turkish armed forces carried out 57 artillery strikes on 16 militant targets in northern Syria over 24 hours, a Turkish military source said on Monday. The strikes targeted terrorist groups on the move, the source told Reuters, without elaborating on whether fighters from the Syrian Kurdish YPG or Islamic State were hit. Bangladesh police shot dead on Monday two alleged members of an outlawed militant outfit which is accused of attacking a temple and an attempt to kill an Italian priest in 2015. The two militants of the Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were killed in a shootout in Bogra districts Sherpur Upazila. Khalid Hasan alias Badar Mama, a 30-year old resident of Chapainawabganj, was JMBs northern region military wing commander. The other was identified as Ripon, 25, of Rajshahi. The gunfight broke out between the police and militants after police raided the area following a tip-off. Sensing police presence, the militants started firing. Police returned fire. Two persons were injured in the gunbattle, Bogras Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Gaziur Rahman was quoted as saying by bdnews24.com. The two were taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared them brought dead. Two police officers were also injured in the shootout. He said Khalid was involved in an attempt to murder case of Italian priest Piero Parolari and an attack at Kantajew Temple in Dinajpur last year, according to the report. Ripon was allegedly involved in a meeting which plotted the murder of Rajshahi Universitys English professor A F M Rezaul Karim Siddiquee, who was hacked to death in April while he was on his way to the university. That meeting was attended by Khalid, Bike Hasan, who was killed in a crossfire in Rajshahi, and Badhon, the militant who was killed in the raid that ended the siege at Gulshans Holey Artisan Bakery, Rahman said. At least 10 people were injured in December last year when unidentified assailants hurled three crude bombs inside the premises of a temple in northern Bangladesh where over 5,000 people had gathered for a show to mark a Hindu festival. In July, five gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery and murdered 22 people including an Indian girl. Todays incident occurred two days after police killed Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the mastermind of Bangladeshs worst terror attack at a cafe here that claimed 22 lives including of an Indian woman. The shootout took place hours ahead US Secretary of State John Kerrys day-long visit. A 28-year-old Italian wingsuit pilot died in the Alps while broadcasting his daring jump Facebook Live. The incident took place near Kandersteg in Switzerland where the deceased, identified as Armin Schmieder, told his fans today you fly with me before jumping off from the cliff, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday. Images from the video which was posted online showed the pilot getting ready with his wingsuit before pocketing his phone and taking off. According to the video available, some moments later a shout was heard by online watchers. Followers watching the video immediately reacted with horror on Facebook. It is presumed he plunged to the ground but police did not immediately make any comment about the incident. It is the latest tragedy to hit the sport and comes just days after Alexander Polli, a well-known and daring wingsuit pilots, died after crashing into a tree during a flight. Polli became popular after posting a video of himself flying through a small hole in a huge rock called the Roca Forad in Montserrat, Spain. Earlier this month, a British Base jumper plunged to his death after jumping from the High Ultimate peak near the Alpine village of Murren in central Switzerland. US secretary of state John Kerry on Monday called for Bangladesh to step up efforts to fight extremist violence and protect and promote human rights amid increasing concern about terrorism in the South Asian nation in the wake of a series of militant attacks. Kerry, on his first trip to Bangladesh as Americas top diplomat, met in Dhaka with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and foreign minister Abdul Hassam Mahmood Ali, opposition officials and students. Bangladesh is struggling to deal with the rash of attacks, the most recent of which killed 20 people, including 17 foreigners, at a popular restaurant last month in Dhaka, the capital. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, but Bangladeshi authorities maintain that IS has no presence in the country and that a local banned group, Jamaat-ul-Mujahedeen Bangladesh (JMB) was behind it. Some have accused Bangladesh of turning a blind eye to the possibility of outsiders radicalising elements of the Muslim-majority nation. Kerry rejected that criticism, saying he does not believe that the government of a Bangladesh has its head in the sand. But he spoke pointedly of the transnational threat posed by terrorism. The July 1 attack on Dhakas Holey Artisan Bakery was an outrage clearly designed to divide Bangladesh, designed to try to cut off this welcoming society from the outside world, Kerry said. These heinous acts of violence and too many others worldwide are a stark, painful reminder that those who aid terrorist groups or perpetrate these acts have no respect for national boundaries, no concern for the rights of others, no regard for the rule of law, he said. Kerry said a longstanding counter-terrorism dialogue has intensified in recent months and work with the Bangladeshi police and military will continue with an eye toward further cooperation. On Saturday, police said they had killed three suspected militants, including an alleged mastermind of the cafe attack. But many of the perpetrators of a string of attacks over the past two years that have killed atheist bloggers, foreign aid workers and religious minorities remain at large. Kerry urged the government of Bangladesh to resist the temptation to shut down public debate or stifle opposition groups as a way to combat the threat. Democracy, he said, still provides the most resilient and reliable platform we have for preventing and responding to violent extremism...to defeat terrorists, we must uphold, not betray, the democratic principles we cherish and they abhor. Kerry also spoke of the need for authorities to protect the rights and safety of its workers, particularly those in the garment industry that earns the country more than $20 billion a year from exports, mainly to the US and Europe and employs about 4 million workers, mostly women, in 4,000 factories. Bangladesh cannot truly meet the aspirations of its people and share prosperity if its workers are not safe and their rights are not ensured, he said, referring to the 2013 collapse of a building that housed five garment factories and killed more than 1,100 people in the countrys worst industrial disaster. After his brief stop in Bangladesh, Kerry travels to India later on Monday for the seventh meeting of the US-India strategic dialogue, which seeks to improve security and well as economic and development ties between the nations. This years discussions are taking place as tensions rise in Kashmir, scene of some of the largest protests against Indian rule in recent years. Since early July, 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 been killed and hundreds of government forces have been injured in the clashes. On Monday, Indian authorities lifted a curfew in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir as part of a 52-day security lockdown but tensions persist. Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom wants to livestream his legal battle against the United States on YouTube. Dotcoms lawyers have asked if they can film his extradition appeal, which began Monday at New Zealands high court in Auckland. The US opposes the plan. Justice Murray Gilbert, the New Zealand judge hearing the appeal, criticized Dotcoms request for coming at the last-minute but said hed let other media discuss it before making a decision, the National Business Review newspaper reported. A New Zealand judge last year ruled that Dotcom and three of his colleagues could be extradited to the US to face conspiracy, racketeering and money-laundering charges. If found guilty, they could face decades in jail. The ruling came nearly four years after the US shut down Dotcoms file-sharing site Megaupload, which prosecutors say was widely used by people to illegally download songs, television shows and movies. Megaupload was once one of the internets most popular sites. Prosecutors say it raked in at least $175 million and cost copyright holders more than $500 million. But Dotcom and his colleagues argue they cant be held responsible for people who chose to use the site for illegal purposes. In his application to live-stream the case, Dotcoms lawyer Ron Mansfield said the streaming would have a 10-minute delay to ensure sensitive information could be censored, the NBR newspaper reported. Mansfield also argued livestreaming would ensure balanced and fast reporting, as opposed to the constraints of traditional media. Dotcom and colleagues Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batato are seeking to halt their extradition. They say lower court judge Nevin Dawson didnt give their arguments a fair hearing. Grant Illingworth, the lawyer for Ortmann and van der Kolk, told the high court Monday the case has gone off the rails, NBR reported. Born in Germany as Kim Schmitz, Dotcom has long enjoyed a flamboyant lifestyle. He was arrested in New Zealand in 2012 after a dramatic police raid on his mansion. Out on bail soon after, he released a music album, started another Internet file-sharing company called Mega, and launched a political party which unsuccessfully contested the nations 2014 election. More recently, Dotcom has promised to launch a reboot of Megaupload next year. A 62-year-old man who allegedly put highly corrosive acid inside a lubricant dispenser at a gay nightclub in Australia has been arrested and charged, reports said Monday. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said it understood the incident occurred on Saturday at Aarows bar which describes itself as Sydneys gay and bi social club. Hydrochloric acid can cause immediate and severe damage on contact. New South Wales police confirmed a man was arrested and charged. Following a number of similar incidents, items in the room had been alarmed to alert security officers if they were tampered with, they said in a statement. The statement added that an alarm sounded and security detained the man before the police showed up. One patron interviewed by the ABC on Sunday said the act was sick. Hydrochloric acid is not the best sort of thing to be playing with, he told the broadcaster. The man, who has not been named, was charged with administering poison intended to injure, cause distress or pain. He has also been charged with entering a building with intent to commit an offence and malicious damage. The 62-year-old was granted conditional bail and is set to appear at Parramatta Local Court next month. Germany has drafted a law requiring mothers to inform their partners if their children were fathered by another man, Justice Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday. The measure, dubbed the milkmens kids law in the media, is to pass the cabinet as early as Wednesday before heading to parliament. It would apply to cases in which men who believe they are not the real fathers seek financial compensation in court. We need to offer more legal protection for false fathers to seek recourse, Maas said. The mother should only have the right to remain silent when there are serious reasons for her not to name the biological father. A court would determine if the reasons sufficed for her to keep the fathers true name a secret. The measure would allow men who were duped into paying to support a child to demand compensation from the biological father for a period of up to two years. Maas began work on the legislation after a federal court ruling in February 2015 said the government needed to put men tricked into believing they were fathers on firmer legal footing. Opinions vary on how many children grow up thinking the wrong man is their father but German studies put the figure from below four percent to more than 10 percent. It was not immediately clear what penalties a woman who refused to unmask the biological father would face. Activists of UK-based Baloch and Sindhi groups held a demonstration against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and human rights violations outside the Chinese embassy here, demanding that the $46-billion project be called off. World Sindhi Congress chairman Lakhumal Luhana told Hindustan Times the massive trade and transit project was responsible for gross human rights violations. It is a matter of life and death for us, Luhana said, adding there were no plans for rehabilitating thousands of people displaced by the CPEC. The project is being imposed by Islamabad but could not materialise without the peoples consent, he said. WATCH: After Gilgit, PoK and Balochistan now 'azaadi' slogans in Sindh (Pakistan), demanding separate 'Sindhudesh'https://t.co/PF01J8xDcL ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 Sundays protest at Portland Place the latest of several in Pakistan and elsewhere in recent weeks was organised by the World Sindhi Congress, Sindhi Baloch Forum, Baloch National Movement, Baloch Republican Party, Baloch Human Rights Council-UK, Baloch Students and Youth Association and Baloch Students Organisation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Balochistan and Kadam badhao Modiji hum tumhare saath hain were among the slogans shouted during the protest. The protesters also shouted slogans such as No to CPEC and Hai haq humara aazadi, ANI reported. WATCH "Hai haq humara aazadi" slogans raised in protest by Baloch leaders outside Chinese embassy in Londonhttps://t.co/AudBaHtGOn ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 The CPEC, considered a part of Chinas One Belt, One Road initiative, covers Balochistan and Sindh provinces and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has formally opposed the CPEC because it runs through PoK. The activists said the project was causing much damage to the environment and would not benefit the people of the region. Holding placards, they alleged Balochistans abundant resources were being diverted for the benefit of Punjab, Pakistans most populous province. We won't accept the CPEC project at any cost: World Sindhi Congress Chairman Lakhu Luhana pic.twitter.com/wifbv2MJQT ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 A memorandum opposing the CPEC was sent by post to the Chinese embassy before the demonstration. It described Balochistan as an occupied territory and said the CPEC is aimed at bringing demographic changes in the province by settling 2.5 million people from other parts of Pakistan. It added the activists also feared a large number of people will be settled from outside in Sindh, making the Sindhis a minority. The protest, the first jointly organised by Sindhi and Baloch groups, came days after Modi said during an all-parties meeting that Pakistan would have to answer for atrocities in Balochistan and PoK. He later said during his Independence Day speech that people in Balochistan and PoK had thanked him for raising the issue. Modis remarks focussed attention on the movement by Baloch nationalist leaders to highlight issues such as rights violations and enforced disappearances. The CPEC, described as an economic game-changer by Pakistan and China, has strategic implications for India and Afghanistan. Pakistans Gwadar port in Balochistan, developed with Chinese assistance, is a key part of the project. Jo cheez cheen sakte ho wo cheeno, yahi in dono(China & Pakistan) ki koshish rehti hai: Baloch leader Noordin Mengal pic.twitter.com/9N29z4dCbC ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 The protesters said Baloch and Sindhis genuinely believe the CPEC will strengthen and lengthen their subjugation, which they could not allow. Pakistani security agencies have intensified operations in Balochistan and Sindh to clean up for CPEC and are committing gross rights violations, they alleged. Baloch activist Hakeem Wadela told ANI: Pakistan wants to forcefully impose the CPEC on Balochistan. We are being shown as a minority community...whatever we are doing...its for our basic rights. Noordin Mengal, another Baloch activist, said: They (China and Pakistan) want to snatch, scare and oppress. They are doing it today as well. Till the time they are getting benefited, they do not care about our lives. They do not care about us, nor do they have any sympathy for us. (With inputs from ANI) Read | Why PM Modis Balochistan barb changes the India-Pakistan game China will get involved if India foments Balochistan trouble: Chinese think tank SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The six people who went into isolation for a year in Hawaii to help Nasa plan for a mission to Mars emerged, happy to breathe fresh air and meet new people. The team was based on a barren, northern slope of Mauna Loa, living inside a dome that is 36 feet (11 meters) in diameter and 20 feet tall. French astrobiologist Cyprien Verseux said that he was feeling excited about being in the open and eating fresh food again. The most challenging aspect of the experiment was the monotony, he said in a Periscope interview by organizers posted on Twitter. LIVE on #Periscope: Mars simulation experiment crew press conference #hiseas https://t.co/qvFR5kCk2R University of Hawaii (@UHawaiiNews) August 28, 2016 Crew members experienced no seasons inside the dome, and were able to go outside only dressed in spacesuits. The team could leave their dome only dressed in spacesuits. (@HI_SEAS/Twitter) Nevertheless he was upbeat about the experiment results. A mission to Mars in the near future is realistic, he said. The technical and psychological problems can be overcome. The crew also included a German physicist and four Americans -- a pilot, an architect, a doctor/journalist and a soil scientist. The dome was located in a place with no animals and little vegetation around. The team locked themselves in on August 28, 2015. The men and women had their own small rooms, with space for a sleeping cot and desk, and spent their days eating food like powdered cheese and canned tuna. They had limited access to the Internet. Nasas current technology can send a robotic mission to the Red Planet in eight months, but any astronauts that would travel to Mars face a trip that would take between one and three years. A typical current stint for an astronaut aboard the orbiting International Space Station is six months. The refusal of some EU countries to accept Muslim refugees is unacceptable, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday as Germany called for quotas to divide the influx throughout the bloc. Thats not right at all that some countries say: generally speaking, we dont want to have Muslims in our countries, Merkel told German public television channel ARD. Backing the idea of a quota system for taking in migrants, the German leader stressed that everyone must do their part, and that a common solution must be found. A common European migration policy is a highly controversial issue, which will be on the agenda of an EU summit next month, with eastern members the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia refusing to take in refugees under an EU-wide quota system championed by Berlin. Slovak President Robert Fico has vowed he would never bring even a single Muslim into his country. In 2015, Germany took in around a million asylum seekers, most from Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan, and this year it expects up to 300,000 more to arrive, the Federal Office for Migrants and Refugees (BAMF) said Sunday. We can ensure optimal services for up to 300,000. Should more people arrive, it would put us under pressure, then we would go into so-called crisis mode. But even then we would not have conditions like last year, BAMF chief Frank-Juergen Weise told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper Merkels decision last September to open the doors to asylum seekers was seen in many European nations, notably those in the east, as an invitation for further mass migration. Some, like the Slovak leader, voiced fears of the emergence of a significant Muslim community in their countries. On Tuesday, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said he does not want a large Muslim community... given the problems we are seeing and that each EU member should be able to choose how many migrants to accept. German public sentiment is sharply divided when it comes to Merkel, who has not yet said whether she will stand for a fourth term in a general election expected in September or October next year. Read | Germanys Merkel wants Turkey-like migrant deals with African countries Over 100 people on board US Southwest Airlines flight had a lucky escape when a part of the planes engine was ripped off thousands of feet above the Gulf of Mexico before the pilot managed to make an emergency landing. The Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans to Orlando, Florida, was forced to make an emergency landing in Pensacola after one of its engines fell apart over the Gulf of Mexico, the New York Daily News reported. Startled passengers on board Flight 3472 heard a blast to the aircrafts left at an altitude of 30,700 feet. Outside their windows, they saw smoke fuming from the exposed turbine blades at around 9:20 AM yesterday. All of a sudden, outside my window, there was a loud explosion, and then the plane started shuddering, passenger Tami Richards told KOCO-TV. Chunks of the engines cowling had fallen off, according to photos taken from the aircrafts window mid-flight. Another photo shows a metal object had pierced the fuselage. Today, the Captain of Flight #3472 from New Orleans to Orlando made the decision to divert to Pensacola due to a mechanical issue with the number one engine. The flight landed safely without incident at Pensacola International Airport at 9:40 AM, the Southwest Airlines said in a statement. Initial reports indicate there were no injuries among the 99 passengers and five crew members on board. We have notified the NTSB, and when authorised, we will be inspecting the aircraft to assess the damage, it said. The Federal Aviation Administration, in a statement, said, Southwest Airlines flight 3472, a Boeing 737, from Louis Armstrong New Orleans Intentional Airport to Orlando International Airport was diverted due to an apparent engine malfunction. The flight declared an emergency and landed safely at Pensacola International Airport just before 9:45 AM. The FAA will investigate. Richards said her three children -- and many of the 99 passengers -- were crying as the oxygen masks dropped and the Boeing 737 made its dramatic descent about 25 minutes into the flight. I held my kids, and one was freaking out, crying, Richards was quoted as saying. Amid the panic, some passengers took selfies while donning the oxygen masks. The pilots managed to stabilise the aircraft and made the quick-thinking decision to divert the flight to Pensacola with only one working engine. The plane was on the ground without any further mishap. A great job today by our professional @SouthwestAir pilots! The best safety device is always a well-trained pilot. pic.twitter.com/B4GpLyC6gA SWA Pilots' Assn. (@swapapilots) August 27, 2016 India is failing to help and protect journalists who are facing violent threats or attacks for their work, an international watchdog agency said Monday, noting a pattern of resistance in investigating crimes targeting reporters. The Committee to Protect Journalists counted 27 journalists killed for their work since 1992, and noted that it was still investigating more than two dozen cases to determine whether those journalists deaths were also work-related. Most at risk are small-town journalists investigating corruption, rather than journalists in big cities like New Delhi or Mumbai. Read | Reporting under duress: Journalists in India work amid increasing danger The New York-based watchdog said in a report released Monday that it could find only one case in 10 years in India in which a suspect was prosecuted and convicted for killing a journalist, but that the suspect was later released on appeal. Perpetrators are seldom arrested, said Sujata Madhok, a member of the watchdog. The torturously slow Indian judicial system, together with corruption in the police force and the criminalization of politics, makes it possible to literally get away with murder. The watchdogs findings are supported by another report, released in 2015 by Indias own media watchdog, the Press Council of India. That report found that even though the countrys democratic institutions and independent judiciary were strong, people who killed journalists were getting away with impunity. The situation is truly alarming, the Press Council said, warning that the trend could hurt Indias democracy, and pressing Parliament to pass a nationwide law ensuring journalists safety. Read | Chasing stories to death The Committee to Protect Journalists blamed successive Indian governments and local officials for doing little to address a problem that has existed for decades. It noted that while newspaper reports on corruption scandals made for attention-grabbing headlines, those same corruption investigations tended to end abruptly if an involved journalist was killed. Lawyers assaulting a journalist outside Patiala House Court in New Delhi on February 17, 2016. (Hindustan Times) No government in India has been an ardent champion of press freedom, the report said. Small-town journalists, even if a handful work for big media, will often find themselves alone and abandoned when trouble strikes. The report focused on three cases of journalist killings in India, including the death in July 2015 of investigative reporter Akshay Singh, who was working on a story linked to an alleged $1 billion racket for providing jobs and college admissions in the central state of Madhya Pradesh. A month before that, freelance reporter Jagendra Singh died after being set on fire while reporting on allegations of rape and land fraud leveled against a local minister in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. And in 2011 in the eastern state of Chattisgarh, journalist Umesh Rajput was shot dead while investigating alleged medical negligence as well as separate claims that a politicians son was involved in an illegal gambling business. Read | Why is objectivity such a risky word in Chhattisgarh? Indian journalists contacted by The Associated Press agreed that while journalists were key in exposing the countrys widespread and endemic corruption, they were doing so despite inadequate safety guarantees. I can think of several cases where the polices first response to a threat, attack or killing of a journalist was to claim that the victim was not a journalist, or that the attack was not work-related, Mumbai-based editor Geeta Seshu said of the media-themed website The Hoot. Authorities need to take the risk more seriously or risk having reporters abandon their investigations, journalists said. Journalists have become vulnerable to pressure from local mafia, businesses, newspaper managements and the government, said Rahul Jalali, president of New Delhis press club. He and others noted, however, that while the press clubs scattered across the country were more focused on lobbying for labour rights and wage protections, they were also increasingly demanding better law and safety. We should try to compel governments and police to act more fairly, justly and quickly, veteran journalist and author Palagummi Sainath said. We can also ask media owners to take the safety of their journalists more seriously. Read | Every journalist isnt killed for his writing, as the media projects: PCI chairman Officials sprayed insecticide and cleared drains of stagnant water in residential areas of Singapore at high risk of further Zika infections on Monday after 41 locally transmitted cases were confirmed in the city state. Workers wearing fumigation masks travelled methodically through high-rise public housing estates in seven separate areas of the island, inspecting plant pots closely as they sprayed insecticide via thermal fogging machines. The health ministry on Saturday confirmed Singapores first locally-transmitted case of Zika, with the tally rising to 41 just a day later. All of the infected people were either residents of the Aljunied district or workers at a construction site owned by GuocoLand in the area. We expect to identify more positive cases, the ministry said on Monday in its latest update on the outbreak. Given that the majority of Zika cases are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and mosquitoes in the affected areas may already have been infected, isolation of positive cases may have limited effect to managing the spread, it added. Residents walk to work past a public service announcement banner against the spread of Aedes mosquitoes, a carrier for the Zika virus, at a residential block at Aljunied Crescent neighbourhood in Singapore on Monday. Singapore has confirmed 41 locally transmitted cases of the Zika virus, which can cause deformities in unborn babies, and said more infections are likely. (AFP) Singapore, a major regional financial centre and busy transit hub, which maintains a constant vigil against the mosquito-borne dengue virus, reported its first case of the Zika virus in May, brought in by a middle-aged man who had been to Brazil. GuocoLand, which is headquartered in Singapore and has developments across Asia, was ordered on Saturday to stop work on the building site where 36 of the infected people worked. It will remain closed until the company rectifies the conditions that allowed mosquitoes to breed and steps up preventative measures, the health ministry said. The Zika virus, carried by mosquitoes, was detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the Americas. It poses a risk to pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects. It has been linked in Brazil to more than 1,600 cases of microcephaly, where babies are born with abnormally small heads and brains. The World Health Organization said on Sunday it did not know which lineage of Zika is circulating in Singapore or what the level of population immunity is to this lineage of Zika in Asia. Singapores health ministry said some 19 mosquito breeding habitats were detected and destroyed in its first sweep of the Aljunied area on Sunday when it fumigated around a third of the 6,000 homes. I feel afraid, said Ng Kai Yee, an 18-year-old female student who lives near the construction site believed to be a source of the outbreak. I heard quite a lot about how harmful Zika virus is to girls, especially pregnant women. Authorities have urged those living and working in the risk areas, especially pregnant women, to monitor their health and seek medical attention if they are unwell. Of the 41 people known to have been infected, 34 have already fully recovered. Only the first case reported was a woman. BEIRUT: Turkish shelling and air strikes killed at least 40 Syrians on Sunday, a monitor said, in the first significant civilian casualties in Turkeys intensifying campaign in northern Syria. Turkeys state-run Anadolu news agency said the army had killed 25 Kurdish terrorists in air strikes as part of its unprecedented operation inside Syria. The bombardments came after Ankara suffered its first military fatality since it launched the two-pronged offensive against the Islamic State group and Syrian Kurdish militia inside Syria on Wednesday. At least 20 civilians were killed and 50 wounded in Turkish artillery fire and air strikes on the village of Jeb el-Kussa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said. Another 20 were killed and 25 wounded, many seriously, in Turkish air strikes near the town of Al-Amarneh, it said. The monitor also said at least four Kurdish fighters had been killed and 15 injured in Turkish bombardment of the two areas. A spokesman for the local Kurdish administration said 75 people had been killed in both villages. The Britain-based Observatory said the bombardment targeted an area south of the former IS border stronghold of Jarabulus, which Turkish-led forces captured on the first day of the incursion. Fighting has since intensified south of the town, where clashes erupted between Turkish troops and forces belonging to the Kurdish Democratic Union (PYD) party, which Ankara considers a terrorist group linked to Kurdish militants in Turkey. US-backed Kurdish forces have also been fighting IS in Syria but Turkey fiercely opposes any move by Kurds to expand into territory lost by the jihadists. The latest fighting is likely to raise deep concerns for Turkeys NATO ally the United States, which supports the Kurdish militia, known as the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), as an effective fighting force against IS. The Turkish soldier was killed and three more wounded yesterday in a rocket attack by Kurdish militia on two tanks taking part in an offensive against the pro-Kurdish forces south of Jarabulus. BEIJING: China launched a cargo train service from Guangzhou city to Russia on Sunday to boost trade as part of its multi-billion dollar project to revive ancient silk routes. A cargo train left south Chinas Guangzhou City on Sunday for Vorsino, Kaluzhskaya Oblast, in Russia. It is the latest freight train route China has launched to boost trade ties along the ancient Silk Road, Xinhua news agency reported. The train will travel 11,500 km over 14 days before reaching its destination. Its cargo includes garments, shoes, hats, cloth, lamps and lanterns, electrical appliances, and electronics. Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, has traditionally depended more on maritime freight services. The new cargo train service saves 30 days compared with shipping services, and it costs just a fifth of the price for air transportation. Kaluzhskaya Oblast has set up a major logistics centre in the Vorsino industrial park to handle 150,000 to 350,000 containers a year. Currently, 26 cities in China offer China-Europe or China-Asia freight train services. Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched the Silk Road, officially called One Belt One Road projects, in 2013 to revive trade and commerce. ISTANBUL: Kurdish militants launched a rocket-propelled grenade at a civilian airport in southeast Turkey on Sunday, causing minor damage and no injuries, officials and the state-run news agency said. Rebels linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, were apparently targeting a police checkpoint at Diyarbakir Airport, the Anadolu Agency said. Passengers were taken to safety after the attack and flights resumed after a brief pause during the police investigation. Windows at the VIP passenger entrance were damaged, the Diyarbakir governors office said, adding that a search for the perpetrators had been launched. Violence between the PKK and the security forces resumed last year, after the collapse of a twoyear peace process in July. Since then, more than 600 Turkish security personnel and thousands of PKK militants have been killed, according to Anadolu. Rights groups say hundreds of civilians have also been killed in the clashes. In another attack, five civilian village guards were wounded Sunday in the southeastern province of Siirt after their van hit an improvised explosive device planted on a road, Anadolu said. At 6:22 on Sunday morning Oct. 23, 1983, a 19-ton yellow Mercedes stake-bed truck entered a public parking lot at the heart of Beirut International Airport. The lot was adjacent to the headquarters of the U.S. 8th Marine Regiments 1st Battalion, where some 350 American soldiers lay asleep in a four-story concrete aviation administration building that had been successively occupied by various combatants in the ongoing Lebanese Civil War. Battalion Landing Team 1/8 was the ground element of the 1,800-man 24th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU), which had deployed to Lebanon a year earlier as part of a multinational peacekeeping force also comprising French, Italian and British troops. Its mission was to facilitate the withdrawal of foreign fighters from Lebanon and help restore the sovereignty of its government at a time when sectarian violence had riven the Mediterranean nation. The force represented a neutral and stabilizing presence, and the Lebanese people welcomed its arrival. But it soon got caught up in the burgeoning conflict, and what peacekeepers had described as a benign environment became decidedly hostile. Indeed, on April 18, 1983, a suicide bomber had detonated an explosives-laden delivery van outside the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans. In subsequent weeks Druze and Shiite militias sporadically fired artillery shells, mortar rounds and rockets at the Marines on or near their Beirut airport base. Still, the airport largely remained open, and, astoundingly, U.S. commanders seemingly did little to bolster base security. It was an oversight that would have fatal consequences. Marine sentries initially paid little attention to the Mercedes truck. Heavy vehicles were a common sight at the airport, and in fact the BLT was expecting one that day with a water delivery. The truck circled the parking lot, then picked up speed as it traveled parallel to a line of concertina wire protecting the south end of the Marine compound. Suddenly, the vehicle veered left, plowed through the 5-foot-high wire barrier and rumbled between two guard posts. By then it was obvious the driver of the trucka bearded man with black hairhad hostile intentions, but there was no way to stop him. The Marines were operating under peacetime rules of engagement, and their weapons were not loaded. Lance Corporal Eddie DiFranco, manning the sentry post on the drivers side of the truck, soon guessed the drivers horrifying purpose. He looked right at mesmiled, thats it, DiFranco later recalled. Soon as I saw [the truck] over here, I knew what was going to happen. By the time he managed to slap a magazine into his M16 and chamber a round, the truck had roared through an open vehicle gate, rumbled past a long steel pipe barrier, threaded between two other pipes and was closing on the BLT barracks. Sergeant of the guard Stephen Russell was alone at his sandbag-and-plywood post at the front of the building but facing inside. Hearing a revving engine, he turned to see the Mercedes truck barreling straight toward him. He instinctively bolted through the lobby toward the buildings rear entrance, repeatedly yelling, Hit the deck! Hit the deck! It was futile gesture, given that nearly everyone was still asleep. As Russell dashed out the rear entrance, he looked over his shoulder and saw the truck slam through his post, smash through the entrance and come to a halt in the midst of the lobby. After an ominous pause of a second or two, the truck erupted in a massive explosionso powerful that it lifted the building in the air, shearing off its steel-reinforced concrete support columns (each 15 feet in circumference) and collapsing the structure. Crushed to death within the resulting mountain of rubble were 241 U.S. military personnel220 Marines, 18 Navy sailors and three Army soldiers. More than 100 others were injured. It was worst single-day death toll for the Marines since the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima. Bodies and pieces of bodies were everywhere. Screams of those injured or trapped were barely audible at first, as our minds struggled to grapple with the reality before us At the sound of the blast Colonel Tim Geraghty, commander of the 24th MAU, ran outside his combat operations center. [I found] myself engulfed in a dense gray fog of ash, he recalled, with debris still raining down. His logistics officer, Major Bob Melton, then motioned to Geraghty and gasped, My God, the BLT building is gone! Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff, assistant chaplain for the U.S. Sixth Fleet, was in a nearby building when the explosion occurred and later recounted the horrific scene: Bodies and pieces of bodies were everywhere. Screams of those injured or trapped were barely audible at first, as our minds struggled to grapple with the reality before us. Sergeant Russellwho had watched the truck explodehad been blown through the air, knocked unconscious and injured but had managed to survive a gas-enhanced explosion experts later estimated had the destructive yield of 6 tons of TNT. The FBI Laboratory later described it as the largest conventional blast yet documented. Within 10 minutes of the attack and a few miles north a suicide bomber in an explosives-packed pickup truck targeted a nine-story building housing soldiers from the 3rd Company of Frances 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment. Guards shot and killed the driver, stopping the truck 15 yards shy of the building, but the terrorist still managed to trigger his device. Though only half as powerful as the bomb that had leveled the Marine compound, the second blast brought down the French barracks, killing 58 paratroopersmany of whom had been standing on outside balconies, trying to discern what had occurred at the U.S. base just down the coast. An unknown group calling itself Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombings. Investigators later concluded that Hezbollahthe Iranian- and Syrian-sponsored proxy armyhad organized the attacks, which were significant in two ways, beyond the appalling death tolls. For one, they signaled an upswing in terrorism that has grown steadily worse over the last three decades. The attacks also made it clear extremists had altered their tactics. For years Islamic militants struck out at the West mostly with kidnappingsthe 1979 abduction of more than 60 U.S. Embassy personnel in Tehran being the most conspicuous example. With the Beirut bombings such terrorists had raised the stakes, exhibiting a willingness to kill themselves in attacks aimed at slaughtering as many Westerners as possible. Colonel Geraghty, who faced criticism for inadequate security at the Marine compound, suggested later the Beirut bombings marked the true start of the global war on terror. He drew a line from Lebanon through the al-Qaida attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Who would have thought, he said, years later here we are [fighting] essentially the same crowd? According to an independent investigation of the Marine barracks bombing commissioned by the Department of Defense and chaired by retired Navy Admiral Robert L.J. Long, Terrorist warfare, sponsored by sovereign states or organized political entities to achieve political objectives, is a threat to the United States that is increasing at an alarming rate. The catastrophedemonstrates that the United States, and specifically the Department of Defense, is inadequately prepared to deal with this threat. When President Ronald Reagan ordered U.S. troops to Lebanon in the fall of 1982, the country previously dubbed an Arab oasis was on the boilin the midst of a vicious civil war that persisted through the end of the decade. The tiny Mediterranean country, wedged between Syria and Israel, had been fraught with sectarian tension since its creation under a League of Nations mandate after World War I. The Lebanon of antiquity comprised essentially Mount Lebanon, the 110-mile-long north-south mountain range that for more than a millennium had been home to the isolated Maronite Christians. Under the French-controlled mandate what had been a single administrative district of the Ottoman empire became two separate nations, Syria and Lebanon. Thrown together in the new Lebanon with the Maronites were Sunni and Shia Muslims, as well as the Druzea Shia offshoot. It was a volatile mix to say the least. The Muslims did not want to be ruled by the Maronites and entertained hopes of being part of a greater Syria, while the Maronites staunchly opposed that concept. The unwritten National Pact of 1943 established an unusual power-sharing arrangement. Under its terms the Lebanese president would be a Maronite Christian; the prime minister, a Sunni Muslim; the speaker of the parliament, a Shia Muslim; the deputy prime minister and deputy speaker of the parliament, Greek Orthodox Christians; the chief of the general staff, a Maronite; the chief of the army staff, a Druze. There would be six Christian members of parliament for every five Muslim members. The country would have an Arab, not Western, orientation but would not seek to unite with Syria. Despite a subsequent increase in Muslim numbers, the pact left Christians in disproportionate control of the government, army and parliament, which fostered discontent. Though the pact stipulated Lebanon was to be a secular nation, sectarian rivalries became increasingly acute and led to power struggles. The country soon devolved into a patchwork of sectarian fiefdoms, none of which were much interested in cooperation with other groups or the weak central government. As the Long commission report put it, There is no sense of national identity that unites all Lebanese or even a majority of the citizenry. What it means to be Lebanese is often interpreted in radically different ways by, for instance, a Sunni Muslim living in Tripoli, a Maronite Christian from Brummana, a Greek Orthodox Christian from Beirut. The report added: The National Pact set forth what Lebanon was not. It was not an extension of Europe, and it was not part of a pan-Arab state. It did not establish in positive terms what Lebanon was. As a prominent Lebanese journalist once put it, Two negations do not make a nation. The 1948 establishment of the state of Israel further destabilized the region. Between then and the 1967 Six-Day War more than 100,000 Palestinians fled to southern Lebanon. In 1970, when Jordans military forcibly expelled Yasser Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization, many of its fighters also fled to southern Lebanon. From there PLO guerrillas staged raids into northern Israel, sparking bloody reprisal attacks. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in turn stoked the ethnic embers in Lebanon. Lebanese Muslims (along with Syria) supported the Palestinians, while Lebanese Christians (aligned with Israel) opposed them. Fighting between factional militias ensued, and in 1976 Syrias Bath regime sent troops into Lebanon to fight leftist militias. According to the Long commission report, Lebanon lay crippled under the weight of de facto partition and partial occupation by Syriaan occupation that would last almost 30 years. Then came another major upheaval. On June 6, 1982, Israel invaded southern Lebanon to oust PLO militants from their enclavean event the Long commission report described as a fatal overload for a country coming apart at the seams. Within days the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were on the outskirts of Beirut. A U.S.-led diplomatic effort ultimately brokered a cease-fire between the PLO and Israel and an agreement that Palestinian and Syrian forces would evacuate the capital. In August, under the watchful eye of the multinational force, they didand Western troops soon returned to their ships in the Mediterranean. But Lebanon still seethed. On September 14 an unknown assassin bombed the headquarters of Phalange, the Christian Democratic party, killing more than two-dozen officials, including President-elect Bashir Gemayel, a Maronite. Two days later right-wing Phalangist militiamen entered the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, ostensibly to root out PLO cells, then massacred hundreds of Palestinians while the IDF stood by. By months end the multinational force had reentered the country, presiding over an uneasy calm through early 1983. Then came the U.S. Embassy bombing. A month later Israel and Lebanon signed an agreement under which Israeli soldiers would withdraw from Lebanon, contingent on the withdrawal of the Syrian troops. While the Syrians did not leave, Israel unilaterally withdrew its troops. That move only sparked more fighting among competing militias. While the American element of the multinational force professed to be neutral, it wasntand perhaps couldnt be. Within two months of their arrival in late 1982 U.S. troops were training Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) personnel, and by the fall of 1983, as fighting between the LAF and Druze and Shiite militias became fierce, the Americans ratcheted up their support of government forces, partly out of concern for their own security. By then the threat level had markedly increased for Western troops. Commanders specifically identified Druze artillery positions in the hills near Suq-al-Gharb, a few miles east of and overlooking the airport, as a threat to the multinational force. On September 7 U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcats flew tactical reconnaissance missions, and the next day offshore destroyers shelled the Druze positions. Eleven days later U.S. destroyers provided direct gunfire support of the LAF at Suq-al-Gharb. The decision to attack Shiite and Syrian positions apparently was significant. By then, investigators concluded, The image of the [multinational force], in the eyes of the factional militias, had become pro-Israel, pro-Phalange and anti-Muslim.A significant portion of the Lebanese populace no longer considered [it] a neutral force. But did terrorists attack the American and French compounds in reaction to the naval bombardment at Suq-al-Gharb? Investigators could not find a direct link, but the prevalent view within the U.S. European Command was there was some linkage between the two events. In his memoir Geraghty wrote the terrorists had targeted the Beirut barracks out of their obsessive hatred of the West and what we represent. But he later asserted that American support [for the Lebanese government] removed any lingering doubts of our neutrality, and I stated to my staff at that time that were we were going to pay in blood for this decision. In interviews before the Long commission other civilian and military officials argued that specific factions wanted to force Western troops out of Lebanon, and the bombing of the BLT headquarters building was the tactic of choice to produce that end. In his memoir 24th MAU commander Colonel Tim Geraghty wrote the terrorists had targeted the Beirut barracks out of their obsessive hatred of the West and what we represent After two years of investigation U.S. intelligence organizations pinned the planning of the Beirut bombings on a Lebanese Shia named Imad Mughniyahwho became a notorious Hezbollah terroristwhile his cousin and brother-in-law, Mustafa Badreddine, actually built the bombs. Badreddine developed a trademark technique, explained Washington Post reporter Robin Wright, of using gas [compressed butane] to enhance the power of already sophisticated explosives. Investigators say the pair had organized the earlier attack on the U.S. Embassy and in 1984 began abducting Westerners, mostly Americans, off the streets of Beirut, killing some, while holding others hostage for years. Mughniyah, who was also implicated in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, was said by experts to be the prototype of the modern terrorist. Long before Osama bin Laden, there was Imad Mughniyah, Bilal Saab, a Hezbollah expert at the Brookings Institution, told Wright. He introduced catastrophic suicide terrorism and many other tactics now used widely by many groups throughout the region. Lebanese author Hala Jaber, in her 1997 book about Hezbollah, claims Irans ambassador to Syria, Ali Akbar Mohtashemia founder of Hezbollahhelped organize the Beirut bombings in consultation with Syrian intelligence. She asserts the Marine barracks bomb was prepared in eastern Lebanons Bekaa Valley, then under Syrian control. Hezbollah and the Syrian and Iranian governments have denied any role in the bombings, though in 2004 Iran reportedly erected a monument in Tehran to the attacks and its martyrs. Two years after the Marine barracks bombing, a U.S. grand jury indicted Mughniyah for his role in the attack and other terrorist activities. He was high on the FBIs list of most wanted terrorists. Still, he evaded capture for 25 years before meeting a fitting fate in 2008killed by a car bomb in Damascus. Reports claimed Israels Mossad intelligence service was responsible, perhaps with help from the CIA. Meanwhile, leaning on a 1996 exception to the 1976 Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act that allows civil lawsuits in U.S. courts against states that sponsor terrorism, courts in the District of Columbia have awarded victims of the bombings and their families more than $10 billion in compensatory judgments against Iran. Its an alternative way of dealing with the scourge of state-sponsored terrorism, plaintiffs attorney Joseph P. Drennan of Alexandria, Va., told Newsweek in 2014. But collecting any actual money for the victims has proved difficult, despite efforts to seize Iranian bank accounts in various countries. In 2015, however, Congress established a $1 billion fund for victims of state-sponsored terrorism, available as soon as they receive a federal court decision. The money was drawn from $8.9 billion in penalties paid by French multinational bank BNP Paribas for violating Western sanctions against Iran, Sudan and Cuba. The Long commission reached many conclusions about the Marine barracks bombing, none of them sanguine. The facts of political life in Lebanon, its report noted, [made] any attempt on the part of an outsider to appear nonpartisan virtually impossible. It cited confusion over the actual purpose of the peacekeeping mission and who was to be responsible for the security of the Beirut airport. The commissions report faulted MAU and BLT commanders for security measures neither commensurate with the increasing level of threat confronting the [multinational force] nor sufficient to preclude catastrophic losses such as those suffered on the morning of 23 October 1983. It faulted the BLT commander for billeting some 350 menroughly one-quarter of the forcein a single structure, which contributed to the catastrophic loss of life. It also faulted him for [modifying] prescribed alert procedures, degrading security of the compound. The report faulted the MAU commander, and in effect everyone at U.S. European Command headquarters, for condoning procedures that emphasized safety over security in directing that sentrieswould not load their weapons. Following the April embassy bombing the European Command modified rules of engagement at that compound, authorizing prompt, forceful action against any unauthorized attempt to gain entry, but the MAU commander had assumed peacetime rules of engagement remained in effect at the Marine compound. The report concluded the multinational force was not trained, organized, staffed or supported to deal effectively with the terrorist threat in Lebanon[and] much needs to be done to prepare U.S. military forces to deal with terrorism. In early 1984 President Reagan seems to have come to the same conclusion. By then the security situation in Lebanon had further deteriorated. The leader of the Amal Movementthe political party representing Lebanons Shia Muslimshad asked the Americans, French, British and Italians to leave, while Islamic Jihad had made new threats. On Feb. 7, 1984, little more than three months after the Beirut bombings, Reagan ordered the Marines to begin withdrawing from Lebanon. The next day, as if venting U.S. frustration, the battleship New Jersey fired almost 300 16-inch shells at Druze and Syrian artillery and missile positionsa nine-hour bombardment that, according to the Navy, was the heaviest shore bombardment since the Korean War. By months end most of the multinational force had withdrawn from Beirut, and in late July the last remaining troops of the 24th MAU left Lebanon. While the United States maintained scores of bases in the Middle East, some years passed before combat troops again put boots on the ground in the region. MH Richard Ernsberger Jr. is a former senior editor of American History and Newsweek magazines. For further reading he recommends The Root: The Marines in Beirut, by Eric Hammel, and Peacekeepers at War, by Timothy J. Geraghty. The New York Times Complete Civil War, 1861-1865 Edited by Harold Holzer and Craig L. Symonds Black Dog & Leventhal Publishing, 2010, $40 It is no stretch to say the New York Times was the nations most powerful newspaper during the Civil War. The papers youthful founder and editor, Henry Jarvis Raymond, had inroads not only to the White House and members of Abraham Lincolns Cabinet but also to power brokers on Capitol Hill and in New Yorks state government in Albanya level of access that would seem unfathomable to todays journalists. Consequently, the Times did more than just report the wars battles and events for its legions of readers. Behind Raymond, it played the unabashed role of cheerleader for Lincoln and the war effort, and did its best to boost the morale of a Northern populace wearied by endless reports of battlefield losses, incompetent generals and abominable casualty counts. Thanks to this wonderful new book by historians Harold Holzer and Craig Symonds, modern readers can experience the nations seminal conflict much as the papers readers did at the time. Holzer and Symonds are perfect stewards for this ambitious endeavor, providing an utterly fresh view of the war through the lens of one of its signature contributors while also paying homage to what may have been the nations golden age of journalism. The book reprints chronologically more than 600 articles and editorials that appeared on the pages of the Times before, during and after the wareverything from John Browns hanging and Preston Brooks cowardly assault on Senator Charles Sumner to Abraham Lincolns funeral procession and the troubling era of Reconstruction. The first challenge we faced, the editors write in their introduction, was selecting from among a truly breathtaking archivethose [stories] that most accurately revealed the course of events and the shift in attitudes provoked by those events. In the end, we chose some 650 articles, editing some of the longer ones down to their central argument. The surgery necessary to do this was painful, but we are convinced that what remains represents the central essence of The Timess reporting of the Civil War. For those daunted by the prospect of reading articles originally printed on the narrow-columned broadsheets of the era, not to worry. Holzer and Symonds have arranged the material in a more appealing modern format, adding appropriate drawings and photos as well as insightful editorial commentary where needed. And in case the articles printed in the book arent enough, the editors have included on a searchable companion DVD all 104,960 eyewitness accounts and articles published by the Times during the period. Established by Congress in 2013, the World War I Centennial Commission is charged with planning, developing and executing programs to commemorate the centennial of World War I. Chairing the commission is historian, author, battlefield tour leader and retired U.S. Army Colonel Robert J. Dalessandro. Following in the footsteps of his grandfathers, who served in World War I, Dalessandro was commissioned in the U.S. Army after graduating from the Virginia Military Institute. He has since held a range of staff and leadership positions in the military and government. Dalessandro is a former director of the U.S. Army Center of Military History and remains deputy secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission. What are the origins of the World War I Centennial Commission? The commission was created by an act of Congress. It is unusual in that its bipartisan and a congressional commission, not a presidential one. There were appointments to the commission by the president, by the majority and minority leaders of both the House and Senate, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, and by the National World War I Museum in Kansas City. What is its mission? Our number one mission to educate the American people about the nations participation in World War I. We do that through a variety of sub missions, one of which is to coordinate events nationwide. We set up a vigorous series of programs throughout the United States, and we make recommendations to the president and Congress on which events they should attend. Another of our missions is to revitalize Washington, D.C.s Pershing Park and make it a National World War I Memorial in conjunction with the national memorial in Kansas City. What is the relationship between the commission and the World War I Memorial in Kansas City? The memorials director, Matthew Naylor, is one of our commissioners. We are linked with them in every way, and we feel strongly there are in fact two National World War I Memorialsthe one in Kansas City and the one were working on in Washington, D.C. What role do social media play in your programs? Millennials are part of our core audience in terms of educational outreach. We want them to know World War I was not a conflict fought only by foreign powers with no American involvement. We have a solid following on Facebook, and we have a presence on Twitter. We have also leveraged other social media outlets, including Instagram and Tumblr, and it has worked very well for us. We try to find hook storiessomething in the news that in some way relates to a facet of World War I, like the Lafayette Escadrille centennial. Theyre mostly human-interest stories about individuals and topics young people can relate to. How does the commission partner with states? The education process works best when it works upward from the state level rather than down from the federal level. There are organized World War I centennial commissions in 48 of the 50 states that are already doing a lot of things. One of the main avenues of approach is what we refer to as 100 Cities/100 Memorialsan effort to restore at least two World War I memorials in every state and to get school students engaged in the restoration process. We want young people to go to the memorials, help restore them and at the same time learn about the people whom the memorials honor. Because we have lists of every American casualty of World War I, we can tell people of each community about folks from their town who perished in the war. It makes the lost very real to young people learning about them. What support do you offer interested communities? Were trying to engage as many communities as possible. What we didnt want to do was dictate what people should be learning or how local communities should approach the education process. We encourage local historical societies to come up with programs we could help them with and advertise for them. We have resourcesnot the least of which is a pool of eminent historians, all more than willing to visit communities. We also have a teachers guide to World War I we disseminated to 350,000 teachers across the country. That way, if a teacher wants to cover the war, they dont have to go hunting for resources. Is the commission coordinating with foreign organizations? The countries we work closely with are France, Britain and Italy. Were participating in keynote events on both sides of the Atlantic. These began this past April with the rededication of the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial and will go all the way through the November 2018 anniversary of the armistice that ended the war. How can people participate in the commemoration? First, through our website. It includes a calendar of events and a button that offers people the chance to volunteer in particular activities. There is also a button that will guide people to the website of their state commission, offering them the chance to find out about everything being done locally. We wanted to make it easy for people to participate in state or city activities, because many of the American divisions that took part in the war were National Guard organizations raised in specific states or regions. What was the spark for a National World War I Memorial in D.C.? Before his death in 2011 Frank Bucklesthe last surviving American veteran of World War Iserved as honorary chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation. That organization and Buckles himself believed strongly a memorial should be erected on the National Mall. However, the mall is considered a completed work, meaning that to add a new monument would require years, perhaps decades, of effort by Congress and other agencies. Over time many people came to see Pershing Park, in the center of Washington, D.C., as the best alternate location. In the 1970s the American Battle Monuments Commission had established a portion of the park as a memorial to the American Expeditionary Forces of World War I, and the memorial is centered on a statue of General John J. Pershing. In 2015 Congress directed the park be redeveloped as a National World War I Memorial, but there has been opposition to the plan, because it would require significant alteration of the parks original layout, designed by noted landscape architect M. Paul Friedberg. He is seeking to have the park added to the National Register of Historic Places, which would preclude its redevelopment. Until a final determination is made, we cannot move forward with the memorial, but I am cautiously optimistic it will be dedicated as planned on Nov. 11, 2018. Given the thousands of World War I memorials nationwide, why erect another national memorial? The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was really the first national war memorial built on the mall, and we seem to be working our way backward through historywe now have the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the National World War II Memorial. It seems to me there should be a capstone memorial to World War Inot one that honors only the American Expeditionary Forces, but one that honors everyone who served, the entire generation. Why continue to educate people about World War I? It is important because the conflict was such a pivotal moment in American history. Its also important because it shows the people of our nation that we value service, and that even after theyre gone, we as a nation deem it important to pay tribute to them. We show the people who are willing to serve the nation that their service and sacrifices will be remembered and honored. MH Monday came around way to quickly over herebut then again, when doesnt it?! We had a fun weekend celebrating my sisters baby news, and stuffing our faces with my stepmoms amazing cooking. It was hard to come home last night and prepare for a new school week, so lets escape to the sunny coast of the Italian Riviera today, shall we?! Genoa, Italy was the fifth stop on our Mediterranean cruise (after Sitges, Cartagena, Marbella and Provence), and I knew immediately wed spend the day in Portofino. In fact, I even had a dress set-aside just for this day! Our Royal Princess ship arrived to the port of Genoa (a big, bustling city carved in the cliffs) early, and we took a bus down the coast to Santa Margherita. From there, a water taxi took us to Portofino, Rapallo, and back to Santa Margherita. If I had it my way, Id have spent my whole day in just Portofino. Heck, Id spend a whole week there! One of the pros of cruising is the number of places youll see in a single trip (without having to pack and unpack, or haul a suitcase!). One of the cons is the limited amount of time you get to spend in each place. For us, the stops were either enough to satisfy our desire to see that area, or fueled our passion to return again. A few hours was definitely not enough for the pastel-colored fishing village of Portofino! As soon as our ferry arrived, we walked in the opposite direction of the crowds, and explored the area far above the main harbor, with views overlooking the town and Ligurian Sea. For lunch we split a huge bowl of homemade pasta, while overlooking the blue waters and mega-yachts. Correction: We inhaled a huge bowl of pasta that had first been tossed in a giant cheese wheel! Really, does life get any better?! I had to refrain from rubbing my face in it. We bussed back to the ship late in the day, and watched from our balcony as we sailed away from Genoa. Until next time, Italian Riviera! Id love to go back and explore Portofino, then head north to Como, and cross in to Switzerland for a few days. Add that to the Bucket Trip List!! Have you experienced the Italian Riviera? Better yet, have you experienced a giant cheese wheel?! Its what dreams are made of, Im sure of it. {More Posts from this Trip} Gardening and outdoor learning opportunities have long been a part of education at La Honda Elementary School, and district officials are hopeful to continue that even as they change the configuration of buildings at the school. Review file photo Because Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's divorce is not yet final, sources are rooting on the possibility that the two would actually reconcile. The actress is rumored to be pregnant last month as the couple continues to live under the same roof and shared moments including the actor's 44th birthday. But the pregnancy rumors mellowed last week after the "Miracles in Heaven" actress was seen stepping out from a gym exposing toned legs in a pair of black leggings. The actress was seen several times in tight gym apparel amid pregnancy talks and never seem to be affected by it. No baby bump can be spotted contrary to what has been reported last month after she was seen in loose-fitted clothes. Since their divorce last year, Ben and Jen remained amicable exes with their three kids--Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4 in their Atlanta home. During the Batman actor's 44th birthday, the whole family visited Montana's Yellowstone Club for the celebration. "There was a cake and they did the usual stuff: hiking and playing outside. They wanted to be together as a family," a source said. The source said the actor seemed happy on this year's birthday, which he spent with his family doing activities like hiking, biking and swimming. The insider, however, stressed that the ex-couple's bond did not go beyond the boundaries of being friendly exes. "They didn't sleep in the same room. And they are not getting back together," the source added. Based on the new rule of the California Supreme Court, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner cannot be considered officially separated as ex-spouse's spouses "must live in separate residences in order for their earnings and accumulations to be their separate property." Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner officially announced their separation the day after their 10th anniversary during the summer last year. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There can be more ways than one of making news about triplets. A South African gay couple is the first same-sex pair to become two fathers of three babies. Two of these babies are identical twins. Theo and Christo Menelaou used their DNA to fertilise one egg each of a surrogate woman. It was an interesting coincidence that led to the event. The same-sex couple ran into the surrogate woman during the trial of the ex-Paralympian, Oscar Pistorius, who had been their neighbour in Pretoria, South Africa. The entire arrangement was arrived at and given the sanction of the South African law only after the gay couple, the surrogate woman and her husband signed affidavits declaring that they were willing participants, without any exchange of money, except the inclusion of the costs of the pregnancy. When the surrogate became pregnant, one of the eggs split, which made her give birth to triplets. Even though the doctor suggested that they should terminate two of the foetuses, they decided to go ahead with the pregnancy. The triplets---one boy and two girls----were born prematurely in July. When they were born, Joshua weighed 1.82 kg, Zoe (1.43 kg) and Kate (1.3 kg). They got discharged in a few weeks and then brought the triplets home to Pretoria. They had alarms that checked their breathing. One of the babies might require a heart surgery shortly. They were placed on breathing apparatus and closely managed until the doctor said they could leave Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg. Joshua left first on July 22, then Zoe left on Aug 1 and Kate was the last to leave on Aug 4. They also brought two nurses to help the parents. Perhaps the same-sex couple is the first in South Africa, or the world, to be the father of triplets through a surrogate mother. Christo Menelaou said: "It's very hard to be accepted for adoption and we were told we would always come after heterosexual couples. And then we just never thought we'd ever find a person who would want to be surrogate to a gay couple." YouTube/AP @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. IndiaMART, APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University sign MoU to boost skill development ANI, New Delhi | Published : 27th August, 2016 India's largest online marketplace IndiaMART and APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University 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 IndiaMART 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, IndiaMART 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 as apart from extending our internal employment opportunities to these students," said Founder and CEO 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, 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. Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online Comments and Discussions A terrorist attack at a crowded Catholic Church in Indonesia has been averted when a suicide bomber's vest failed to detonate. Rev. Albert Pandiangan was slightly hurt after the suspect stabbed him before setting off the explosives inside the Saint Joseph Church in Medan. The incident, which happened in the Northern part of Sumatra, was yet another episode to emerge in connection with the global support for the Islamic State's (IS) goals for widespread supremacy. While occurrence of this kind surfaces every now and then in Indonesia, the clear motive behind the attack is usually affiliated with the archipelago's Muslim adherence to Islamist tendencies. National Police Public Spokesman Maj. Gen. Roy Rafli Amar has stated that the 18-year old suspect has suffered only burn wounds. A backpack containing an unexploded bomb was recovered from the assailant who has been sitting with other worshippers before the incident. Churchgoers managed to restrain the teenager after wounding the hand of the 60-year old priest. A bomb squad has arrived shortly to investigate whether there are other explosives within the vicinity. A member of the congregation said that the attacker was somewhat agitated the entire time during the church service. It has been perceived that the botched attempt may have driven the teenager to rush towards the priest with a sharp weapon in hand. A slight explosion which resembled like fireworks happened prior to the occurrence at the altar. Confiscated items by the police have showed the suspect's identification card including a hand-drawn image of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria's (ISIS) flag. Law enforcers said that the perpetrator is being interrogated and a house search for any bomb-making materials will follow. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Pope Francis is often regarded as an incredibly progressive figurehead and he has showed that time and again. Today, he met with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg at Vatican City to discuss "how to use communication technologies to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and make a message of hope arrive, especially to those most in need.'' This happened after the Pope wished to meet a series of tech entrepreneurs in order to tackle poverty faced by millions of people. The Crux Now reported that Zuckerberg was accompanied by his wife Priscilla Chan on his meeting with the Holy See. The Pope and Zuckerberg also discussed on various ways to "... bring a message of hope, especially to the most disadvantaged." These are the topics that Pope Francis has ceaselessly spoken about since his election, barely stopping to take a breath in the past three years. Though he has publicly admitted in interviews to not owning a cell phone or using the computer, it seemed that Pope Francis now sees the value of the digital age, specifically in terms of the benefits new technologies can bring to evangelization and promoting human dignity. His meeting with Zuckerberg and Chan marks the fourth time he has met with a major tech head this year. Last Jan. 15, the Pope has welcomed Eric Schmidt, chairman of Google parent company Alphabet, for a private meeting at the Vatican. A week later, he granted another private audience to Apple CEO Tim Cook. The Pope has also made an effort to engage with big name celebrities who share topics of interest such as Leonardo DiCaprio, with whom he met on Jan. 28. He has also started to make waves on social media, opening a Twitter account in 2012 and launching his own Instagram March 19, just weeks after his Feb. 26 meeting with the CEO and co-founder of Instagram, Kevin Systrom at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A lot has been written about the divorce story of celebrity Hollywood couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt but the duo remained silent on the matter. However, things have taken a different turn as Jolie has spoken about their relationship. Talking to People magazine, the actress said she is more interested in Pitt's 50- than his 40-year-old self. She also revealed that she looks forward to more years together and they love their kids most and try to do their best for the children. The revelation is quite significant as it comes at a time when the two are battling divorce rumors and separation stories. Also, it has been made just a little while after the trailer of "Allied," Pitt's new movie, released. This is the same film in which he stars opposite Marion Cotillard, with whom he has been linked recently. Many stories suggested that Pitt's proximity to Cotillard had caused trouble in their heaven. Jolie had grown very insecure because of their closeness and it was causing fissures in their relationship. Not only this, Pitt's ex-wife Jennifer Aniston was also a major reason behind Jolie's insecurity. Reports suggested that Pitt's act of getting in contact with Aniston was akin to a nuclear bomb getting dropped on Angie and she was furious that they had reunited. This was despite the fact that their reunion was formal as Pitt got in touch with her to express his condolences as her mother had died. He was also forthcoming about the meeting and did not conceal anything. However, these are only rumors and if one were to believe them one would also have to believe the stories about them being very much together and completely committed to their family. Some insiders say that their kids mean everything to them and as they grow older they want to make sure that their family comes first and it includes them as a couple coming first as well. Well, fans just hope that all is well between them and they stay together. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nicolas Sarkozy, France's former President and one of the country's leading conservative figureheads, vowed to change the country's constitution to allow a ban on burkini swimsuits - full-body swimsuits for women, if he will be reelected in April 2017, as per Reuters' report. Responding to a statement of French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, who deemed banning burkinis "ineffective and unconstitutional," Sarkozy said that the French constitution has been amended for "30-odd times" Sarkozy, running as a presidential primary candidate for France's Republican party - Les Republicains, is currently lagging behind Alain Juppe, a former French prime minister with a more moderate and centrist appeal. The primary elections are set to take place on November 2016. The debate on burkinis has caused severe divisiveness across France for the past few days. Politicians across the country's largely-Socialist government have been divided in bitter debates on the ban, which posts public order concerns against religious tolerance. With the Conseil d'Etat - France's highest administrative court, having ruled against the burkini ban for its violation on basic rights that include "freedom to come and go, the freedom of conscience and personal liberty," local governments across the country supportive of the ban continued to express their outrage. Several towns and regions across France that enforced the bans insisted that they remained in force within their respective jurisdictions, arguing that the country's secular makeup renders burkinis as offensive to women's rights under "liberty, equality and fraternity." Figures like French Prime Minister Manuel Valls agreed that the ban is meant to free Muslim women from the "enslavement" caused by burkinis, explaining that French secularism has a duty to release them from oppression imposed unto them by their religion. Those who oppose the burkini ban cite Islamophobia - veiled under what they deem a false reading of Republican values, as the main culprit behind it. Collective Against Islamophobia director Marwan Muhammad lauded the administrative court's decision as a "huge victory for human rights in France." @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Italian mafia must be prevented from playing roles in the reconstruction efforts of Central Italy following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake that killed 290 people, an anti-mafia prosecutor said. Lawyer Franco Roberti issued the warning as various humanitarian programs, through the Italian government, positioned themselves to immediately rebuild the badly hit towns of Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto. The Italian daily La Repubblica quoted Roberti in describing mafia-initiated projects as "sub-standard" while blaming the organization for various structural mishaps in the country. He said the Italian mafia has infiltrated the construction industry since the 1980s after the Irpinia earthquake that killed more than 2,400 people. He urged the government to learn from the past, citing that the notorious crime syndicate could be blamed for the numbers of structure the collapse when the strong quake jolted the Central Italian region. "Behind those thousands of dead was reckless building and clan affairs," Roberti said as quoted by CNN. "Post-earthquake reconstruction is historically a delicious morsel for criminal groups and business interests," he warned. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Dr. Daniel Paul of Chipley, Florida, and Mankato, Minnesota, who retired from the Hope education faculty in 1994 after teaching at the college for 28 years, died on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. He was 89. A 1950 Hope graduate, he joined the faculty in 1966 as an assistant professor of education and was promoted to professor 10 years later. In addition to courses on-campus, his teaching included leading students abroad to study theme teaching in England for several years. He chaired the Department of Education from 1983 to 1987, and also served on various boards and committees at Hope. He was in the U.S. Navy during 1945 and 1946. He was a public school teacher or administrator for 14 years before joining the Hope faculty, serving in the Grand Haven, Holland and West Ottawa public schools. He was a member of several professional associations. His publications included numerous articles in the Science Education, Science and Children, and Directive Teaching journals. His honors included being named to Outstanding Educators of America and Leaders in Education in 1974. In addition to his undergraduate degree from Hope, he held a masters degree from the University of Michigan, and an Ed.S. and his doctorate from Western Michigan University. He also did graduate work at the University of Connecticut and additional studies at DePauw University, Rutgers University, Michigan State University and the University of Surrey-England. His wife of 65 years, Joan (Ten Hoeve) Paul, a Hope classmate, survives him. Survivors also include three children, James Paul of San Antonio, Texas, John D. Paul (Jill Fischer) of Mankato and Peter A. Paul of Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania; grandchildren; and a brother- and sister-in-law, Dr. Thomas Ten Hoeve Jr. and Suzanne Underwood Ten Hoeve of Holland. Memorial gifts may be made to the "Dan and Joan Paul Scholarship Fund" at Hope College. A memorial service will be held at the Sunny Hills Presbyterian Church in Chipley, Florida, sometime this fall. It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home Jordan Brand has already shown their willingness to release seasonal pairs of their classic Air Jordans including Wool renditions of the Air Jordan 3 and the Air Jordan 12. The next Air Jordan silhouette to receive a unique seasonal styling looks like itll be the Air Jordan 4, which will reportedly arrive wrapped in wheat nubuck just like the Fall-favorite Timberland boots. The only thing missing is some Timb-inspired laces but the Wheat nubuck alone should have the New York sneakerheads giddy for a release date. As of now, only one grainy teaser image has surfaced but rumors suggest the Wheat Air Jordan 4s will be arriving this later year as we approach the colder months ahead. Wheat Jordan 4 Chicago rapper and philanthropist Rhymefest posted a video to Twitter today documenting his experience at his local police station, where he attempted to report a robbery in which he was held at gunpoint Sunday morning. The video shows the rapper experiencing difficulty in his attempt to file a report, not receiving the proper cooperation from the cops, as he says in the clip, I dont feel comfortable because I feel like Im being treated when the camera goes off, you all start telling me to get out, I cant make a report. You wonder we dont report crimes? The police treated me disgustingly, he captioned the video on Twitter. According to the Chicago Tribune, the robbery that Rhymefest was trying to report occurred in the rappers parked car, near the 4300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue shortly after 7:30 AM. A gun was pointed at the rappers head by an unidentified man, who asked that a wallet be handed over. When the wallet which contained 3 dollars cash exchanged hands, the man ran away from the car. In response to the video, Police Communications Director Anthony Guglielmi offered an apology to Rhymefest on Twitter, writing, disappointing to say the least. On behalf of CPD, I apologize for how you were treated. We will be addressing this today. Rhymefest also called for the robber to contact him on social media. As of publication, there are no suspects in the robbery. Rhymefest Do you know the old wheelbarrow joke? It's truly funny only to grandpas and the grandkids they tell it to, so I won't bother with the elaborate setup. For years a factory worker pushes a wheelbarrow full of straw past a security guard on his way out. Suspicious that the guy is stealing something, the guard looks in the straw but can't find anything. Finally, when the worker is retiring, the guard asks, "I know you've been stealing something - can you tell me what it is? The guy smiles and says, "Wheelbarrows." That joke keeps popping into my head whenever I hear Hillary Clinton's defenders say there's no evidence of a quid pro quo in the fresh batch of emails released this week. According to many Republican critics, the trove provides fresh evidence that the Clinton Foundation was, in Donald Trump's words, a "pay-to-play" scheme, selling access to and favors from the secretary of state. The Clinton team says there's no proof of that. Both Clinton and many of her critics can get ahead of the facts, though in opposite directions. But one thing is clear: Clinton lied. That's not shocking; she's famous for doing that. Just last month, Clinton said, "There is absolutely no connection between anything that I did as secretary of state and the Clinton Foundation." During her confirmation hearings, members of the Obama administration and Congress extracted assurances from Clinton that there would be a high wall between her State Department and her family's foundation. It turned out it was more like a turnstile. Former Clinton Foundation official Doug Band would contact Huma Abedin, Hillary's closest aide, when he needed a "favor" for a "friend" (his words) - and the friend would in many cases be a major donor to the Clinton Foundation. Radio host Hugh Hewitt tartly describes the Clinton Foundation as providing "concierge service" to the State Department. While everyone but ardent Clinton surrogates can agree that the whole thing looks bad, there's ample disagreement about whether there's any fire under all the smoke. The Clinton campaign insists that there's no evidence of a quid pro quo in any of the newly released emails. In other words, there isn't an email saying something like, "If you donate $10 million to the Clinton Foundation, you can be ambassador to Kenya. For $20 million, we'll exempt you from the ban on importing baby elephant ivory." To which the obvious response is, "Duh." Some things just aren't put in writing. She may or may not be guilty of selling favors. But if she is, I very much doubt we'll find evidence of it in an email. This whole argument misses the point. What we know from these emails, particularly thanks to an analysis by the Associated Press, is that Clinton or other State Department officials agreed to meet or talk on the phone with a large number of Clinton Foundation donors. Some of these meetings probably would have happened if the foundation never existed. But clearly some wouldn't have. Team Clinton wants to say that even though these meetings and conversations took place, there's no evidence that anyone was granted a special favor. Fine. Maybe. We'll see. But even if that's true, is there any evidence that the Clinton Foundation wasn't eager to leave the impression that a donation couldn't hurt your chances with the State Department? This brings me back to the wheelbarrow joke. The meetings (and phone calls) are the wheelbarrows. It really doesn't matter if there's nothing "inside" the wheelbarrows; the meetings and conversations alone were valuable. In America and even more so abroad, possessing a reputation for having friends in the highest places is a priceless asset. All campaigns understand this. Donors could always just send the check by mail. But politicians understand that one of the things a donor is "buying" is the ability to strut like an insider and dine out on your political connections. When Bill Clinton rented out the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House to big donors, the donors didn't get to keep the furniture, but they did get to begin sentences,"The last time I stayed at the White House." The Clinton Foundation may not have sold any policy changes, but it definitely sold the wheelbarrows. Goldberg is an editor-at-large of National Review Online and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. The following are excerpts from just some of the reports recently generated by the Houston Police Department: Brandon M. Baker, 31, of 7602 Brown Hill Road in Houston, was issued a citation for careless and imprudent driving resulting in an accident after a two-vehicle crash at U.S. 63 and Highway B at about 4:10 p.m. Nov. 27. Jerry D. Bay, 33, of Winona, was cited for driving while suspended on Dec. 1. Marc P. Lukomski, 70, of 16681 Brushy Creek Road at Houston, was arrested Dec. 2 for having an active City of Houston warrant for stealing. An officer involved in an investigation made the arrest after observing Lukomski walking along U.S. 63 near Thomasville Road. He was taken to jail. William D. Corman, 46, of 402 N. Second St. in Houston, was cited for driving while suspended on Dec. 1. Timothy R. Neal, 23, of Festus, was issued a citation for peace disturbance after an incident at the Office Bar at about 1:45 a.m. Dec. 1. An employee told an investigating officer that after Neal was told to leave several times at closing time and refused, he finally exited out the back door, but then began banging and kicking both the front and back doors to the bar. He also reportedly yelled at people and made threats. He was taken to the Texas County Jail for a 12-hour hold period due to being extremely intoxicated. Dennie Christenson, 60, of 15198 Dees Road at Cabool, was issued a citation for public peace disturbance after allegedly yelling at a 56-year-old former girlfriend and making threats to her in the Walmart parking lot at about 9:25 a.m. Nov. 25. Tina M. Dow, 51, of 510 Chestnut St., Apt. 4, in Houston, was arrested Nov. 27 for having an active City of Houston warrant for failure to appear on an assault charge. She was taken to the Texas County Jail. 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. 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. Met the real superheroes of the world at @ladycilentochildrenshospital. A huge shout out to all the brave kids who are an inspiration to all of us! @twhiddleston #madepossiblebychf #ladycilentochildrenshospital #juicedtv A photo posted by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) on Aug 23, 2016 at 2:00pm PDT A majority of Canadians believe that political correctness infringes too much on their freedom of expression, a new poll suggests. The numbers released Monday from the Angus Reid Institute show that 76 per cent of respondents think political correctness loosely defined as the avoidance of certain words or actions that might offend marginalized groups has gone "too far." Advertisement Eighty-two per cent of Canadians over the age of 55 said they shared that view, compared to 78 per cent of those between 35-54. Sixty-seven per cent of those 18-34 feel the same. The poll comes as America considers the possibility of electing Donald Trump president a man who has railed against political correctness and who frequently spews offensive and outrageous remarks. Though most Canadians have told pollsters they would not like to see Trump in the White House, the Angus Reid survey suggests many on this side of the border believe people are too easily insulted. Advertisement Two-thirds of respondents told the firm "too many people are easily offended these days over the language others use." Thirty-three percent, meanwhile, said people should be more careful with their words to avoid upsetting others with different backgrounds. Angus Reid contrasted those results with numbers from Pew Research in the U.S., which found 59 per cent of Americans feel people need thicker skin in the face of politically incorrect speech. And when it comes to political stripes, past Conservative voters were the most likely to say people today are too easily offended. Seventy-nine per cent of Tory supporters expressed that view, compared to 21 per cent who said people should be more careful with their words. Advertisement By comparison, nearly double the number of Liberals (40 per cent) and NDP supporters (38 per cent) said more should be done to avoid offending others with words. In the U.S., Republicans and independents were far more likely than Democrats to say people are too easily offended. 'Self-censorship' The poll also had some interesting numbers on so-called "self-censorship." Seventy-eight per cent of respondents told the firm there are some opinions "you just shouldn't express in front of people you don't know." Meanwhile, 80 per cent agreed with the statement that, these days, "it seems like you can't say anything without someone feeling offended." Nine-in-ten respondents said when they do hold their tongues, it's about being polite rather than avoiding judgment. Advertisement The online poll was conducted on August 17 among a representative sample of 1,510 Canadian adults who are part of the Angus Reid Institute forum. It has a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Tory alarm over political correctness While battles over political correctness are perhaps not as common in Canada as the U.S., some Tories have suggested their rivals are overly concerned about not offending others. During the election last year, former Tory prime minister Stephen Harper said Liberal and NDP opposition to a law stripping citizenship from dual nationals convicted of terrorism was "elite political correctness on steroids." There's been a few instances of PC talk in the House of Commons since Liberals formed government. In May, Tory MP Larry Maguire said a bill to make Canada's national anthem gender-neutral was being done "in the name of political correctness." The legislation ended up passing the House of Commons. A month later, Tory MP Alex Nuttall suggested the cancellation of the television show "Border Security" was due to "another example of political correctness by the Liberals." Advertisement Canada's border agency actually pulled the plug on the show for breaching a migrant worker's privacy. Conservative critic Candice Bergen also criticized the government in June for seeking to remove terrorism and other crimes as grounds for revoking citizenship from dual nationals. "We have a government that is so consumed with political correctness that it forgets what the everyday Canadian thinks about and is concerned about," Bergen said at the time. With files from The Canadian Press Also on HuffPost Trumps Around The World See Gallery Two Australian advertising executives Georgia Patch and Kiah Nicholas have noticed that Google's definition for words like "promiscuous," and "housework" have something in common and they aren't afraid to call the tech company out on it. Certain words, the duo noticed, always use the term "she" in the definition example, which they believe insinuates sexist connotations. So they created the hashtag #RedefineWomen on Instagram to push back. Advertisement Hey @google can you help us bring this definition into the modern world? #redefinewomen this #womensequalityday2016 #womensequalityday @redefinewomen A photo posted by @redefinewomen on Aug 25, 2016 at 3:50pm PDT "We noticed that the sentence examples Google Search [was] aggregating to bring definitions to life were objectively sexist," Patch and Nicholas told Mic.com. "Some of them sounded like they were straight out of the 1950s. We decided to tackle this problem head on." However, while the women aren't exactly impressed with the search engine's terms, they are hopeful that the company will be open to fixing the problem, Mashable reported. Hey @google need we say more? Let's #redefinewomen together this #womensequalityday #womensequalityday2016 @redefinewomen A photo posted by @redefinewomen on Aug 25, 2016 at 3:52pm PDT Advertisement "We see Google as a really progressive and forward-thinking company," Patch told the publication on Friday. "We think they'd be so on-board with something like this, and want to maintain that positive perception and trust people have in Google." Hey @google we think you'd agree, this sounds straight from the 1950's! Help #redefinewomen @redefinewomen #womensequalityday #womensequalityday2016 A photo posted by @redefinewomen on Aug 25, 2016 at 3:03pm PDT A spokesperson for the tech giant has since followed up and told Mashable Australia via email that the definitions are taken from the Oxford Dictionary and don't necessarily reflect the views of Google. "As a company, we strongly value gender equality and a diversity of perspectives, ideas and cultures," the spokesperson explained. "We are looking into the issue, but you can always give feedback on definitions you find unacceptable, so we can improve these results over time." Redefine Women currently has over 900 followers and counting on Instagram. Also on HuffPost 11 Sexist Advertising Fails See Gallery Winnie Harlow was a part of some black girl magic at the VMAs. Walking out onto the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet with none other than the Queen of slay, Beyonce, and the empowering woman who starred in her visual album "Lemonade," the Canadian model with vitiligo stunned in a dress that had us all bowing down. Advertisement Gorgeous in a one-shoulder, "mocha-hued" Nicolas Jebran dress with a thigh-high slit, the Mississauga-native donned a custom Erickson Beamon face net with jeweled details and racy gladiator stilettos. The 22-year-old took to Twitter to thank Queen B for an "epic" night. Advertisement And of course, she couldn't leave the awards show without snapping a pic with Amber Rose. A photo posted by Winnie (@winnieharlow) on Aug 28, 2016 at 8:01pm PDT Harlow officially became a part of the Beyhive when she made an appearance in HBO special back in April. She made a cameo alongside a legion of famous, young black women, including Amandla Stenberg, Zendaya Coleman and Quvenzhane Wallis, for the song "Freedom." Slay, queen! For more looks from the 2016 MTV VMAs, check out the slideshow below: 2016 MTV VMAs Red Carpet See Gallery Police in Los Angeles briefly detained a man dressed up as Zorro at the city's airport on Sunday night. The arrest happened after false reports of a shooting spread and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of passengers at Los Angeles International Airport, according to The Independent Advertisement Police said the cause of the panic was "loud noises." Individual in Zorro costume has been detained by @LAAirportPD LAX Airport (@flyLAXairport) August 29, 2016 When officers approached the costumed man, they noticed he had a sword and told him to drop to the ground. He told police the sword was plastic, CNN reports. BREAKING NEWS: Before things got really crazy - a man in a Zorro costume with a plastic sword was arrested. #LAXpic.twitter.com/hIOUykdog5 Nebeel (@hyp3rfr3ak) August 29, 2016 The man, who turned out to be an actor, told CBS in an interview he was coming from an audition and had been waiting for a ride. Advertisement The next thing I know, [the police are] all over me, he said. Also on HuffPost Mark Blinch / Reuters Syrian refugees hold Canadian flags as they take part in a welcome service at the St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church at the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto in Toronto, December 11, 2015. REUTERS/Mark Blinch After the acts of terrorism in Europe, I have heard people expressing their dissatisfaction over Canada taking large numbers of Syrian refugees and fear of terrorist attacks. I have no doubt that we will see crimes committed by refugees in the future. Likewise, immigrants or local-born Canadians could be involved in crime. Some of the most horrible crimes in Canada were committed by local-born white males. Should we worry about their presence in our community? Advertisement Many, if not most, of the so-called terrorist acts, which include gunmen killing innocents at school or in public venues, were not instigated by Islamic extremism. The common causes are mental illness or psychological reaction to bully. Whether you are talking about the terrorist acts in Germany, or the three cases in Canada (with two soldiers dead in Ottawa and Montreal), or the third case which was recently dismissed by the B.C. Supreme Court, the people who committed or were alleged to have committed the terrible crimes were all suffering from mental illness. The most shocking revelation of the B.C. case is that it was the RCMP that instigated the attempted terrorist act. The Conservatives had been scaring the public with threats of terrorism, but that was based on ideology and political interest, not facts. If the U.S. could utilize some of the funds they spend on hitting terrorism for the treatment of mental illnesses, bullying and social problems, there will be a lot fewer victims of terrorism. Prejudice against refugees could be overcome if we can learn from refugees and our history. The world is watching how Syrian refugees are being settled in Canada. The New York Times earlier ran a huge special feature on how Syrian refugees were being embraced and treated in Canada. Advertisement Seeing how Canadians contribute their time, money and heart to the Syrian refugees is touching and makes us proud as Canadians. The fact is, as of this time, Canada Immigration is still not able to let in the number of refugees requested by private sponsors. Why are Canadians generous to refugees? It has to do with the values, history and experiences of our country. Canada is a country of immigrants and we have a history of taking refugees. In 1948, 10 Baltic boats travelled along Sweden to Canada; we admitted over 1500 Estonian refugees. From 1946 to 1962, through family reunification, church group sponsorship and labour programs, Canada accepted about 250,000 refugees. Between 1956 to 1957, the Hungarian Uprising had made over 200,000 people flee to Austria; Canada took 37,000 refugees within a few months. At around 1968, Canada took in tens of thousands of US Vietnam War resisters (The War Resisters Support Campaign estimated as many as 100,000 were accepted). Advertisement In the same year, Warsaw Pact troops entered Czechoslovakia; the result was that 10,975 Czechs came to Canada in less than seven months. Canadians were mobilized to help the refugees settle in their community. In 1972, Uganda announced the expulsion of Ugandan Asians; more than 7,000 Ugandan Asians arrived. Between 1979 to 1981, nearly 1.5 million Vietnamese had fled their home. Canada took 50,000 refugees. Thousands of Canadians worked together to welcome the South Asian newcomers. In 1999, responding to the request of the United Nations, Canada admitted over 5,000 Kosovar refugees. Although Canada has taken large numbers of refugees from time to time, rather than being a burden, they have become contributors to our country. Canada is a young country and we lack the long history and cultural heritage like European countries. We do not share the American Dream nor America's melting-pot culture. Thus, we provide better ground for multiculturalism to flourish; we let refugees and immigrants from around the world preserve their culture and heritage. It helps the newcomers to settle in a foreign country and participate in society. Advertisement On the other hand, when refugees are being forced to abandon or reject their heritage and culture, and to copy the white dominant culture, it would make life harder for the newcomers who already suffered tremendously in their home country. When culture is seen as consisting of a dominant culture and a lower sub-culture, that sounds fine when you are born into the main culture but it can be intimidating to someone born with a completely different culture. The refugees or immigrants would feel that they are the underclass or second-class citizens; those in school could be the target of ridicule and bully. Some think that refugees are a burden to our society. That is not totally incorrect. When refugees arrive, they rely on government or their private sponsor to assist them, but in the long run, most of the refugees are capable of standing on their own. How could I be so sure to say this? It is because when refugees arrive, they carry a government loan for their transportation and medical examination. With the exception of Syrian refugees who arrived after November 4th 2015, after Trudeau formed government, other Syrians have to repay the loan with interest. I have met a Syrian refugee family who arrived prior to the Liberal loan-free date; they have a loan of $7,413.74. It is indeed tough for a family to carry such a burden. Nevertheless, the rate for refugees repaying the government loan is 91 per cent. These refugees have to work and raise enough money to support their family first, as well as to earn more to repay the government loan. Advertisement In this session of the parliament, one cabinet minister and four MPs are refugees. In the recent press conferences in Toronto and Vancouver to support U.S. Iraq War Resisters to stay in Canada, two attendees were refugees from the U.S. Vietnam War and they are Order of Canada recipients (In the Vietnam War, U.S. war resisters obtained a permanent resident status upon their arrival at Canada but the previous Conservative government had designated Iraq War resisters as criminals, illegitimate to apply for refugee status). Canada may be a beacon for the world but in order for refugees to participate in and contribute to our society, government must provide the essential language training and necessary settlement services; otherwise, there will be adverse long-term social consequences. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook ALSO ON HUFFPOST: PC As the month of August draws to a close, the National Energy Board (NEB) begins its hearings on the Energy East pipeline project amidst a swirl of controversy. In Quebec, the Couillard government remains on the sidelines passively abdicating its responsibility to protect what former premier Bourassa called "les interets superieurs du Quebec." But the most objectionable aspect of the hearings of the NEB is the fact that it is engulfed in a sea of questionable ethical considerations. The NEB has, in fact, a serious credibility problem. Many observers, convinced that the NEB has a strong bias towards Energy East have demanded that some commissioners should recuse themselves as the dice are loaded in favour of the tar sands industry. What is more, in order to bolster this industry, the Harper government axed environmental budgets with the mammoth bills C-38 and C-45. And now, according to the Toronto Sun, the new Trudeau administration doesn't seem to be in a hurry to rectify the situation. All of these facts compromise the moral obligation of the NEB to be thorough, fair and impartial. Advertisement In addition, TransCanada's army of well-paid lobbyists apply behind the scenes pressure on the various levels of government. We recall that Dan Gagnier, co-chairman of the election campaign of the Liberal Party of Canada had to resign a few days before the election of October 2015 because he was caught red-handed sending an e-mail to TransCanada's management, advising them on how to fast track the Energy East approval. A few months later, the PMO told the media that it had refused an interview with former premier Jean Charest because he was not a registered lobbyist for TransCanada as Canada's lobbying rules require. Then the straw that breaks the camel's back:The National Observer's story about secret meetings between Charest and some commissioners of the NEB. What is the objective of such secret meetings between commissioners of the NEB and people who are favourable to the Energy East project? It is my belief that in judicial matters, there is a need not only for justice but also for the appearance of justice! In Quebec, thousands are working full time get rid of political corruption and to reclaim political ethics. A few years ago, Maclean's magazine claimed that Quebec was the most corrupt society in Canada.This offensive label angered me. Then I, and millions of Quebecois, gradually discovered that the Charest Government had been a cozy den of secretive cronyism that operated behind a thin veneer of political respectability and "notre societe quebecoise" was appalled. Investigative journalism such as Radio-Canada's "Enquete," the Charbonneau Commission and l'UPAC (permanent police unit against corruption) revealed the extent of the damage to political morality. Advertisement Maclean's was wrong; Quebec's citizen are no more corrupt than other Canadians. But the political apparatchik are corrupt. Recently, l'UPAC arrested Nathalie Normandeau, Mr. Charest former deputy premier; she is awaiting trial. So when NEB commissioners meet behind closed doors with former premier Charest, it is an unpleasant reminder of a political climate we are trying to weed out of our life. When TransCanada proposes that Energy East can be a tool of Canadian unity similar to the transcontinental railroad in the 19th century and then steadfastly refuses to make a French version of its 30,000 pages plan, it is playing with political dynamite. The taunt "speak white" is unsaid, but implicit! And its implied lack of respect for our culture is resented! For the record, after the referendum of 1995, Mr. Charest was forced to give up the leadership of the progressive conservative party in order to "save Canada from the big bad separatists." With that mission in mind, he eventually became Premier of Quebec. Instead of a good government, his party installed a crony system of political donations possibly linked to utility contracts. And do I need to remind you that the sponsorship scandal was supposed to be a tool to entice Quebecers to remain within Canada? Corruption as a tool of Canadian unity? To honest and decent Canadians, I say: do be careful who you choose as your allies. In Quebec, thousands are working full time get rid of political corruption and to reclaim political ethics. When we see some commissioners of the NEB, Mr. Charest and his former aide, Mr. Gagnier helping Energy East with their old behind the door strategy, we are outraged! Even Mayor Coderre who is known for his "politically sensitive nose" is demanding that the hearings be suspended. When TransCanada wraps itself in the Maple Leaf, while indulging in ethically questionable actions, it will stain the flag that Canadians honour. Those who are in favour of Energy East are in a quandary; if the NEB scraps the project, they lose. And if NEB approves, they also lose because those commissioners will be viewed as biased and their conclusions will be perceived as illegitimate. Advertisement And we haven't even begun to discuss the pros and cons of Energy East! Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook ALSO ON HUFFPOST: BigFive Images via Getty Images Child's hands holding an HIV awareness ribbon, Cape Town, South Africa By Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Three devastating diseases that are destroying the lives of millions of people, impeding the economic progress of entire communities and threatening social cohesion. These epidemics are a scourge, and we must take action to end them. #EndItForGood On September 16-17, in Montreal, Canada will host the Fifth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Conference, which will be attended by health leaders from around the world, has set a goal of raising $13 billion. Advertisement Since its launch in 2002, the Global Fund has worked in partnership with the public, private and philanthropic sectors and numerous countries. Notable among its partners are the Gates Foundation, Product RED, as well as Canada, France and the United States. In the most affected countries, girls account for more than 80 per cent of all new HIV infection cases among adolescents. The Fund has made it possible to save 20 million lives, to treat 24 million AIDS and tuberculosis patients and to prevent malaria, thanks to the distribution of 650 million bed nets. Behind these numbers are human beings: most are women and girls, who represent more than half of the world population living with HIV. Advertisement Last December, I visited an HIV clinic in Hanoi, Vietnam. This is a clinic that receives Canadian funding through the Global Fund. I met a young woman there who was HIV-positive. She told me that the care she had received had restored her to good health and that her child was born HIV-negative. In the most affected countries, girls account for more than 80 per cent of all new HIV infection cases among adolescents. This is an alarming statistic. Entire generations of young women are seeing their lives shattered before they even begin because, through lack of education and, primarily, the violence they suffer, their rights are not respected. I am very proud to welcome the Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Canada because the Global Fund is an example of innovation in international development funding. It has secured funding from traditional donor countries as well as contributions and a major social commitment from large foundations and private companies. It has also pushed local governments to contribute more to their health care systems and manage them more sustainably. As we recently announced, Canada will raise its contribution to the Global Fund by 20 per cent, or $785 million over three years. Canada has also committed to contributing $85 million to the Stop TB Partnership and an additional $19 million to the Global Fund to help simplify and reduce the cost of purchasing health supplies in developing countries. Canadians can be proud of the leadership role their country is playing in the area of global health. Our commitment is fostering increased cooperation in the international community around the most pressing global issues. Advertisement Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie was elected as the Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead in October 2015, and was appointed Minister of International Development and La Francophonie by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Before entering politics, Minister Bibeau began her career at the former Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). She went on postings to Morocco and Benin. Minister Bibeau is calling for actions and programs geared to the education and empowerment of women and girls, whose rights she defends unfailingly. She places them among the top of her political action priorities. The Minister currently has a seat in the High-Level Advisory Group for Every Woman Every Child, a UN Secretary-General initiative. Helping Canada exercise its leadership on global health issues, Minister Bibeau played a key role in ensuring that Canada will host the Fifth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Montreal, Quebec, on September 16-17, 2016. This blog is part of the blog series: AIDS, TB and Malaria: It's High Time for Us to End It. For Good by the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) in recognition of The Global Fund's Fifth Replenishment. The blog series runs from August 29 to October 3, 2016 and features a selection of blogs written by our member and partner organizations. Contributors share their broad range of perspectives and insight on the work of The Global Fund and the opportunity that this moment presents us one year following the inauguration of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog series are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of ICAD. Advertisement ALSO ON HUFFPOST: Stringer . / Reuters A woman wearing a burkini walks in the water August 27, 2016 on a beach in Marseille, France, the day after the country's highest administrative court suspended a ban on full-body burkini swimsuits that has outraged Muslims and opened divisions within the government, pending a definitive ruling. REUTERS/Stringer If you're a non-Muslim woman going scuba diving you're best to avoid the beaches of France where you may be fined or arrested for wearing a full body swimsuit. You may be identified as a Muslim women sporting a burkini in which case you risk being considered a threat to the public order. Your arrest in any one of the 30 French towns that have banned the burkini will reassure a frightened French public that effective measures are presumably being taken to diminish the threat of terrorism. It's generous to say that such a ban is misguided. And, the suggestion that such a measure can be construed as being effective counterterrorism is bordering on ludicrous. Advertisement Thankfully France's highest administrative court swiftly ruled that French Mayors do not have the right to ban burkinis and their ruling temporarily suspends the ban. But we can't expect the mayors to thoughtfully adhere to the ruling. They're too invested politically in such action and have too many constituents that seem ready to delude themselves into thinking that something is being done to relieve their real anxieties about terrorism. The simple answer is that such bans have no proven impact on reducing terrorist incidents. Already other politicians are ready to jump into the fray. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said he supports banning burkinis. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is considering another run for the top job, said he would immediately enact a national ban of the swimsuits. It's too much to ask French citizens to explain how banning the burkini in any way diminishes security threats. If bans on religious attire that are so popular in France were indeed so constructive in the fight against terrorism why are the levels of anxiety continually on the rise in the country? The simple answer is that such bans have no proven impact on reducing terrorist incidents. If anything the surge in anti-Muslim commentary in social media that accompanies such bans further strains relations between Muslims and non-Muslims. Advertisement One would like to think that such folly would not spread to Canada. But some politicians know that there is a constituency that finds such measures very attractive. Quebecers and many other Canadians will recall that in 2014, the Parti Quebecois (PQ) made a ban on religious symbols in the public service a central element of their electoral platform. They did so in the name of Quebec values, something clearly influenced by the French model of secularism. Undoubtedly debates over religious symbols will not go away anytime soon. In theory, while many Quebecers liked the idea of a ban, they seemed hesitant to see it implemented. They were uncomfortable with making it illegal for a practicing doctor to wear a keepa, a nurse displaying a cross, a daycare worker with a hijab or a university professor wearing a turban. In the end, the proposed measures did more to contribute to the defeat of the PQ than give them the votes they needed to secure a victory. Since then, the opposition PQ has appeared hesitant to follow France in the steps to purportedly uphold French values and/or reinforce security. That has not prevented another Quebec political party from filling the void that the PQ has seemingly left in this regard. As such, the spokesperson for another provincial opposition party, the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) was quick to insist that the government prohibit the burkini which was described as an unacceptable religious symbol. But in the aftermath of the decision of the French high court, the CAQ and its spokesperson Nathalie Roy suddenly reversed course and what was absolutely unacceptable one week became perfectly acceptable the next Undoubtedly debates over religious symbols will not go away anytime soon. But the reversal of the CAQ on the burkini ban is a welcome precedent in a province where, thankfully, there appears increasingly less appetite for divisive proposals which often end up do more to question respect for fundamental rights that they do to serve the cause of secularism. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook Hans Neleman via Getty Images Cows in a corral It's no secret we are in an antibiotic resistance crisis. Warnings about the looming post-antibiotic era are everywhere and people are being asked to help in whatever way they can. Yet, while we can all work to reduce the amount of antibiotics used in medicine, these achievements represent only a small fraction of the work that needs to be done. The majority of antibiotic use occurs in agriculture. Yet the reason for this consumption has little to do with fighting infections. Instead, antibiotics are used to improve growth and ensure the animals are marketable. This practice leads to an increased risk for antibiotic resistance both in the animals and also in the environment. Advertisement Controlling this overuse of antibiotic has been a challenge. Some governments, including Canada, are in the process of enacting bans on antibiotics related to those used in medicine. However, in this country, we have yet to see any action taken to ensure these drugs are used properly. While this direct route continues to meander its way through the bureaucratic system, other indirect routes have been used to reduce the use of antibiotics in agriculture. One of these involves speaking to consumers to choose items made from animals raised without antibiotics. The approach has worked to some extent. Some restaurants now boldly declare they no longer have antibiotics in their food chain. In addition, grocery stores have increased the number of so-called "antibiotic-free" options. The threat of antibiotic resistance may be enough to convert some people to making a choice. Yet, a greater impact may be seen by attempting to alter actions by targeting personal beliefs. Known as affective behaviour, this aspect of human nature can make certain products appear to be more valuable simply based on what the person believes. Characteristics such as the country of origin, the incorporation of specific ingredients, or the name of manufacturer can influence the consumer to make a decision. Yet when it comes to antibiotic use and meat, it is not easy to figure which aspects of meat would affect the consumer. Last week, a duo of American researchers attempted to accomplish the difficult task of finding one way to affect people's choices in meat. They performed a study to identify whether certain messages regarding the origin of meat could change future purchasing behaviour. While the researchers were ready for anything, the results revealed the path forward may not be as problematic as expected. Advertisement The two researchers carried out three experiments with 146, 248, and 117 people each. This was a large enough population to gain a potentially universal perspective. Each experiment offered the volunteers two samples of a different type of meat: beef jerky, roast beef, and ham. Right before the people ate the sample, they told about the type of farm from which the animal was sourced. One was from a humane farm raised without antibiotic growth promoters and a factory farm where chemicals were used. The tests proceeded much like a taste test. When the individuals were finished eating the samples, they were asked to describe their experience and whether they would consider purchasing the product in the future. In essence, the researchers wanted to know if the mere knowledge of the source of the animal would lead to differences in individual opinion and choice. The results were astonishing. In all three cases, the humane farm samples were considered to be much better in taste and quality and definitely worth purchasing. The same could not be said for the sample from the factory farm sample. Volunteers gave these meats much lower marks and were less inclined to spend money on the product. There of course was a catch to this experiment. The samples given to the volunteers were all exactly the same. The descriptions were fallacies meant to sway the experience through affective behaviour. While the authors had hoped there would be some difference, this significant difference between the two types of samples based solely on the source was remarkable. The results of this study may not be entirely universal. Yet they do point to a change in the way people perceive meat and how it is produced. The concept of the factory farm seems to be losing approval in place of more traditional farming practices. Advertisement This change in affective behaviour bodes quite well not only for public health officials but also to governments who are still slow to ban antibiotics. After all, if the consumer decides they want an antibiotic-free meat supply, then no legislation will be needed as producers will have to conform to survive. Antibiotic use will decline and no one will feel they have been forced into it. No matter how you look at it, this could be a win-win situation for everyone. Don Dixon Hi Premier Wynne, I'm worried. I asked you to keep me informed about the $1.9 billion you are extracting out of the Ontario economy in new carbon taxes. I was excited when you promised lots of new jobs and reductions in carbon emissions. Then I saw the July jobs report. Wow, 36,100 Ontario jobs lost in a single month, the worst decline since the recession, and you still haven't told me any good news about carbon emission reductions. I guess your new plan is not working. Maybe it would have been better to leave that $1.9 billion in the hands of the Ontario businesses that were using it to hire employees before you taxed it away from them. Advertisement However, I hear it's not all bad news on the Ontario job front. While the private sector is losing jobs by the tens of thousands under your new tax policies, you have been busy creating some really interesting opportunities for your staff. I don't know how I missed this, but apparently you lost $70 million setting up and then cancelling the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) in June. While in operation only six months, you hired some really special people that walked away with millions of taxpayers' dollars for apparently doing nothing. It sounds so ridiculous that I am assuming I must have it wrong, and that's why I'm putting pen to paper. So here goes, true or false? Did you spend $8 million marketing the ORPP even though it didn't exist? That sounds so crazy it can't be true. Did you give Neala Barton, the plan's senior vice-president of communications, $316,819? She started in March. Just exactly what was she communicating for 90 days? Did you pay Anne Slivinskas -- the pension plan's general counsel -- $341,418 for working there just three weeks? That's $2,845.15/hr. You don't fool around with taxpayers' money; You hire the best lawyers! Advertisement Did you pay a tech guy named Brian Gill -- the pensions plan's CTO -- $414,050 to work for two months! (Note to self: Send Premier Wynne my comp committee's North American average salary report. Her laptop must have been hacked.) Jennifer Brown -- your choice for senior vice-president of the plan's operations -- was a lifer. She started March 21 and lasted until the end of June. So, with that kind of long-term commitment, no one should complain about the $445,019 you gave her. Did you really pay ORPP CEO Mary Anne Palangio $465,938 for 90 days' work? Who says you can't get a great job in Ontario. This one is my favourite, it's so out there! Did you give $485,000 to Saad Rafi when his job running the Pan Am Games ended and then hire him again to run the ORPP even though he has never had an investment mandate before? And then did you pay him an additional $827,925 to walk away a few months later? If this is true, I bet some taxpayers are unhappy about it. Maybe it would help if you spin this as an inspirational story. You search the province for a seasoned financial money manager to be the fiduciary of the new ORRP but in the last minute hire someone who has fallen on hard times and is out of work, even though they never managed money before. It's so Rocky-esque! Advertisement Rafi could have been great as a pension plan manager but we will never know. Giving him the $827Gs for taking this bold new step in his career is the least we taxpayers can do. After all, it's hard to live off a measly $485,000 severance when taxes are so high in Ontario, but I know you are not spending any time worrying about that. These must be very special people! No one in the private sector could ever get a deal like this: Thank goodness they know you. Some Ontarians might see this and assume you don't give a damn about their hard-earned money. Is that true? Frankly, if I gave away $2.8 million to employees that did nothing in my businesses, I would go bankrupt. Come to think of it, your government has a long history of starting projects, spending millions and then cancelling them -- you know, like gas plants, "green" projects and now pension plans. That's why Ontario is $308 billion in debt, so you are kind of bankrupting us, in your own special way. Still I get it, perhaps from your point of view, why should anybody give a damn about the $70 million you just wasted, it's just a rounding error. Well, maybe the voters do. Have you seen the latest polls? Perhaps at this point in your mandate you may want to think about delivering a little more transparency and performance instead of dreaming up new ways to tax people and businesses and then spending it this way. I'm just trying to help. Anyway, I don't want to be negative so I hope you are having a great summer. I know the 36,100 people in Ontario who just lost their jobs in July are feeling a little down but I'm sure they will go from sad to glad when you tell them about all the carbon emissions you have reduced. Best you get that good news out soon. In the meantime, next time you are paying people on your staff to do nothing for $827,000, maybe you could show a little compassion and hire one of your 36,100 constituents who just lost their job. Advertisement There will be an election soon and when that's over and you start your new career, I'm going to bet it won't be one where you manage money. Yours respectfully, Kevin O'Leary Andrew Francis Wallace via Getty Images TORONTO, ON - APRIL 26 - Students at Lord Dufferin Public School with Health Minister Eric Hoskins re-launches Ontario's Healthy Smiles dental program aimed at low-income kids. April 26, 2016. (Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star via Getty Images) "By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed." - Sallust (86-35 BC) It was another tumultuous week in Ontario, as the province's seemingly never-ending battle with its physicians continued. Ontario Medical Association (OMA) President Dr. Virginia Walley sent an open letter to Health Minister Eric Hoskins, requesting Binding Arbitration for the negotiation impasse between physicians and the government. Hoskins replied angrily suggesting that physicians should unionize (he must be reading my blogs!) and attempted to stab Dr. Walley in the back, by indirectly alleging this was her fault. Advertisement Then, a letter that within 24 hours had over 400 physician supporters was tweeted out to Hoskins, essentially telling him where to go. So what does this all mean? Why would Hoskins antagonize physicians and what purpose does it serve? To understand that, we have to go back to August 14th, 2016, when Ontario physicians soundly rejected a tentative Physician Services Agreement (tPSA), negotiated in secret by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) executive and using a process that was widely decried by physicians as unfair. While it has been suggested by faultfinders that only 55 per cent of the membership voted, the reality is that many medical students, residents and retired physicians (who actually have a right to vote) did not vote. The OMA executive continues, as of this date, to refuse to publish a breakdown of the vote, likely to save itself further embarrassment by showing just how many front line working physicians voted against their wishes. Now, let me be clear, not only have I had the opportunity to meet OMA president, Dr. Virginia Walley, she actually took the time out of an incredibly busy schedule to call me personally about an issue at the OMA a while back and spoke with me for a good 30 minutes. She's a very nice person and clearly cares about her colleagues. Advertisement The blunt reality is, however, that she's in a political position, and politics is a blood sport. She and the OMA executive were clearly was taken aback by the significant repudiation of their ardent attempts to sell the flawed agreement to the membership. Most people in political positions would do the honourable thing and resign when the vast majority of their constituents go against their recommendations. However, the Executive of the OMA Board continues to cling to power and unfortunately, their inability to recognize the bloodthirsty nature of politics is catching up to them, and hurting not only their constituents but the all of the residents of Ontario. Last week was the perfect example. Feeling the heat from a dissatisfied membership, they attempted to show that the OMA could take a more strident tone by sending the demand for binding arbitration. The fact that they had "sunsetted" virtually every aspect of the negotiations structure (including renowned Labour Lawyer Brian Burkett) and had promised to consult with the membership prior to re-engaging the minister seems to have been rather quickly forgotten. The grand Hoskins scheme now seems to be to sow discord amongst physicians so they fight amongst themselves. The problem is that the OMA Executive didn't know just how ruthless and cut throated Eric Hoskins was. He is, after all, a politician first, and a doctor second (and no, he's NOT a family doctor -- to be one, you actually have to have an ongoing practice, built over years, with long lasting relationships with your patients -- he's NEVER done that). A simple bit of research would have shown how conveniently he double crossed Sandra Pupatello in the Liberal leadership convention of 2013, when he realized he could further his political aspirations by supporting Kathleen Wynne instead. Advertisement Instead, the OMA was treated to a public two page spanking by the health minister. While most of the letter was the usual lies and nonsense, the key points were his allegation that Dr. Walley herself felt that Binding Arbitration was unreasonable, and had initiated the negotiations under a cloak of a non-disclosures agreement. As mentioned, since he's a politician first, the veracity of anything he says must seriously be called into doubt. But what is absolutely clear is that he wanted labour peace with the doctors so that he could promote his Orwellian "Patients First" agenda, to be implemented by Bill 210. This was to be the centre piece of his plans and would cement his legacy as health minister. Feeling he had a partner in this in the OMA Executive, he too must have felt completely deflated, as there is simply no way physicians are going to contribute to his plans without labour peace. So he lashed out and attacked, just like he abandoned Pupatello when the promise of the Health Ministry job came from now Premier Kathleen Wynne. Walley couldn't get the job done for him, so he planted the seed that she never wanted what the membership had asked for all along, in an attempt to further discredit her and create more infighting amongst physicians. The grand Hoskins scheme now seems to be to sow discord amongst physicians so they fight amongst themselves. He knows that if physicians unite against Bill 210, as they did against the tPSA, he will never be able to succeed in implementing his plans. The problem is that Bill 210 is an entirely odious piece of legislation that will significantly diminish the health-care system. It will introduce multiple layers of bureaucracy (who needs front line nurses and PSW's when you can have middle managers instead?), introduce the ability for bureaucrats to snoop at your medical records (who needs privacy?), non-medical experts dictating standards (who needs doctors whey you've got Google?) and much more. Advertisement Ontario's physicians have a responsibility to protect the public from harmful government policy. They need to unite against Bill 210, and all that it entails. Unfortunately, that likely means that the OMA Executive will need to step down so new blood can take over. It would also help to hire a skilled politician, who can educate them on the ruthless art of politics. If they don't, then Bill 210 will pass unimpeded, and will significantly worsen health care for all of us. Pete Ark via Getty Images Children from Tsimahavaobe primary school, Menabe region, Madagascar race against each other. One year into the UN Global Goals, the race to 2030 is a complex challenge. Photo: WaterAid/ Ernest Randriarimalala Advertisement With the Olympic Games just wrapped up in Rio, I have been mulling over games of yore. Remember the Rubik's Cube, that multi-coloured brain teaser puzzle that was all the rage in the '80s? Here's a reminder - the aim was to get all 6 sides of the Rubik Cube aligned with the same colour, which required getting the 9 segments of each of the 6 sides to match. One year on from the adoption of the UN's new Sustainable Development Goals, they look something akin to a Rubik's Cube. The 17 Goals, and 169 targets within those, applicable to 193 countries, are a colourful and immensely challenging combination puzzle. One cannot be solved without the others; they are inter-dependent. UN Goals a challenge of Rubik's complexity The UN High Level Political Forum last month in New York was the first global gathering since the goals were agreed. I was left with two major take-aways. Governments are struggling, first, with the central challenge to leave no one behind, and second, with the imperative to break through traditional policy boundaries and ensure sectors work together to deliver on the enormity of the Goals' ambition -- all in the space of 14 years. Advertisement These twin concepts - integration and leaving no one behind -- are not buzzwords. They are key to unlocking the Goals and achieving the eradication of extreme poverty by 2030, including Goal 6, universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Let's apply the Rubik's Cube approach to the progressive 'Every Woman Every Child' movement sponsored by the UN Secretary-General's office, of which WaterAid is a proud member. Take 3 policy areas (health/nutrition/education), 3 priority groups (women/children/adolescents) and 3 outcomes (survive/thrive/transform) as an illustration. 1.Every woman needs health to survive. 2.Every child needs nutrition to thrive. 3.Every adolescent needs education to transform. Each of these goals needs water, sanitation and hygiene to underpin successful, sustainable outcomes. They're catchy and easy to tweet, but far less easy to deliver. If we explore each of these three propositions, we can see that this Rubik's Cube analogy and approach will ensure that each of the 17 Global Goals cross the proverbial 'winning line' by 2030. No one said it would be easy. Indeed, a profound change of mindset amongst governments, policy makers, funders and partnerships is now required. Catchy to tweet, harder to deliver We know that every woman needs good health, and healthcare, to survive but last year the World Health Organisation found that 38% of health care facilities in developing countries do not have an improved water source. Imagine giving birth where there is no safe water? Water, sanitation and hygiene are critical in helping to end preventable newborn deaths from infection and sepsis. Advertisement Integrating WASH and health policies effectively will require more than infrastructure. Achieving behaviour change, good hygiene including hand washing, and creating trust are also pivotal. For example during the recent Ebola virus pandemic in Sierra Leone and Liberia, healthcare facilities struggled with poor water supply, poor sanitation and the inability to maintain good hygiene. As a result of this crisis, the health workforce was decimated and patient trust eroded. National and local health systems couldn't hold up under the pressure. WaterAid is still working with local authorities to improve WASH services in hospitals, and with women's groups to help re-establish trust in services. Integration: not just a buzzword Who could possibly dispute the second proposition, every child needs nutrition to thrive? But if there is unanimity about this, why has it not been translated into funding and policies on the ground? Nutrition is not just about ending hunger with sufficient food. WHO estimates that 50% of all undernutrition is associated with infections and intestinal worms caused by poor WASH, and is a major factor in child stunting, as well as many of the annual 860,000 preventable deaths of children under five. Effective integration of programmes for nutrition and WASH is possible. In Nepal, WaterAid is working with the Ministry of Health on an immunisation and hygiene integration programme, which trains travelling community health workers to deliver water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition advice to mothers alongside their babies' regular immunisations. And finally, of course, every adolescent needs education to transform. Among the reasons for girls dropping out of school once they reach puberty is the lack of separate toilets and menstrual hygiene facilities. Education in the Agenda 2030 era is, critically, about quality of education and retention of students, not just enrolment. WaterAid works closely alongside schools, girls' groups and WASH authorities to join these policy dots, which helps girls to finish their education and puts them in a far stronger position for later life choices. Advertisement So, if we focus on women, girls and adolescents, and we work together across traditional policy sectors to integrate WASH, health, education and nutrition, our Global Goals Rubik's Cube puzzle stands a good chance of being solved. This is not a game And of course this is where any analogy with the Rubik's Cube ends. This is not a game. The opportunity, and responsibility, to align and integrate sustainable development agendas is huge. By doing so we will deliver on the vision of the Global Goals, and transform the daily lived reality of the most marginalised and poorest women and girls in the world. SILVIAPETRETTI Dear HIV, Today is 19 years we are together. This is also the year I turn fifty. My life has been defined by you, there is no denying it. You have pushed me in so many directions. The highest and the lowest. I never felt so lonely and damaged like 19 years ago. But today you connect me to an amazing community of people that in spite of fear, suffering, illness and stigma, have risen, resisted and flourished. As you know, when I give interviews the question that most angers me is: how did you get HIV? It angers me because I know that journalists most times don't want to know the real reason 'why' I got it, they want to get a saucy story and represent me either as some kind of victim, or reckless slut. Advertisement But asking why things happen in our lives is important. I grew up in Italy in the 70's and 80's in a middle class family: my dad a teacher, my mother an archaeologist. They were progressive and educated people, very involved with the Italian Communist party, and they gave me an unshakable believe of the necessity and moral imperative of seeking justice, and to this day I am incredibly grateful for this. However they weren't great parents. Not because they didn't try or they didn't love me. They were just not equipped emotionally to give the nurturing and emotional stability a child needed. I don't think it was a personal shortcoming of their individual personality. I believe that as many people of their generation they had been traumatised and deeply damaged by growing up during the war. My mother lost her mother when she was 9 years old, during the American bombings on civilians, which were part of the 'liberation', in 1945, few days before the war ended. My father hardly saw his father until he was 16, as my granddad was in the army, and after the war finished,spent several year as a prisoner of war. When I was a child they spoke a lot of what it was like to grow up under fascism, during Nazi occupation and the war: the fear, the oppressive silence, the black shirts, the hunger, the terror and confusion at the disappearance of their Jewish friends. Once the war was over, they finished university and they quickly got married. But both of them struggled with mental health issues: crippling depression and anxiety. Especially my mother was put through the 60's and 70's psychiatric system, she was sectioned, electroshocked, medicated into mental dullness. I think the psychiatric system was especially harsh against my mother because she was a woman who was not conforming to gender norms. As children my brother and I managed as we could. My parents weren't bad people, but they weren't equipped to protect us, guide us and connect with us as children. Advertisement It is not a surprise that as I grew up I struggled with depression insecurity, low self esteem, and started experimenting with hard drugs and sex barely a teen. I am not telling this story in a bout of self pity. I am just trying to put what happened to me, and many others, maybe in different ways, in an historical context. To be a young girl with depression and low self esteem, in a country as deeply sexist as Italy of the 80's was a recipe for disaster. As a young woman you were meant to be liberated and sexually available. But the power balance was against you. If you proposed a condom at best you were a fun spoiler, at worst a slut. You couldn't win. I am not sure it is much better now. I have been thinking about these circumstances quite a lot lately. Fascism is in the air, it is manifesting as, 'austerity' measures against the poor, hostility against refugee, war mongering in Syria, and it eructs in episodes such as the bloody battles in Dover last weekend. I cannot help thinking of the enduring trauma of all the refugees that continue to flee wars, poverty, violence, and how ill equipped we still are to support the healing. I also think how the trauma can run from one generation to another. I continue to struggle with my mental health, keeping at bay waves of depression, and a voice within that sees the futility and impossibility of it all. But dear HIV, somehow you have also been the mirror of my strength and resilience. By facing mortality and fragility I had to grow the solidity I couldn't get from my family. I found strength in the connections with a global community of resistance. What I am learning now is that we cannot address HIV in isolation. Many young people continue being vulnerable to HIV because they are depressed and unable to cope. Sex can be such an easy comfort. As much as I feel we need all the tools we can have in HIV prevention, including PrEP, I also think that mental health, and drug use among young people, especially LGBTQ youth, but not exclusively, are still profoundly unaddressed. Advertisement Last week I co-facilitated a group with women living with HIV around mental health and access to services. What I witnessed was a web of sexual violence, HIV, mental health issues, poverty. The web is so tight, that I am not sure how we can start to untangle it. It is not just about access to HIV medication, health services, or an undetectable viral load. It is about creating peace, safety and justice. It means housing, a welfare system that works supporting those who are vulnerable. A world with kindness and compassion, which will not allow fascism to raise again. In early June, Israel detained the director of the World Vision charity organization in Gaza. Two months later, early August, Israeli security authorities stated that Mohammed El Halabi was arrested because he diverted millions of dollars to Hamas, which were spent for its activities. If this story is accurate, which I doubt, it must be powerfully condemned. It is wrong to channel money that its purpose was to help needy people, and improve the quality of the lives of almost two million besieged Palestinian in the Gaza Strip. Knowing the problematic situation in the Gaza Strip, we have to look at this matter from a policy perspective, where Hamas, as an Islamic movement, has a strong coupling with charities, historically. The story began in 1987 when Hamas was established as a charity organization. In 1994, PLO returned to Gaza and West Bank, and Islamists were allowed to have charities. From 1994 until 2008, the Palestinian authority, led by Fatah, imposed "No-Jobs-For-Islamists" policy. Thousands of them were denied jobs in public institutions despite their academic and professional excellence. While most of Fatah' members and its supporters joined the PA, very few of which turned to working for Non-Governmental organizations or charities. Simultaneously, the Palestinians left who opposed Oslo and found civil society as their proposer option, led NGOs that focused on democratization, civic engagement and human rights. For example, the current foreign affairs' minister, Riyad Almalki, established Panorama Center for Democracy with a substantial fund from European countries. Therefore, Islamists who did not believe in democracy and were excluded from working in public institutions (even as teachers), went around to set up their own parallel organizations, creating hundreds/ thousands of jobs for themselves. As a result and a reality, the biggest three charity organizations in the Gaza strip until 2007 were " Al-Mujam'a Alislami", "Aljamiya Al Islmiya" and "Al Salah charity" which are affiliated to Hamas. Advertisement As Hamas supporters were denied public offices, they went to work in charities and its affiliated institutions, such as hospitals, Islamic University and schools. The Fund(s) used in these institutions was channeled from the Gulf countries and rich Arabs. Hamas charities were well organized, structured and competent, yet their fiscal system was an unfathomable province. No one identified from whom they have got the money exactly, and how they spent it. They distributed the food packages and humanitarian assistance, including clothes and schools' material, basic food, and sometimes cash, to their supporters and members, at most. I do think there was nothing wrong with that, as the donors knew from the beginning that they are supporting Hamas, and their money would go for Hamas only. The donors were not interested in knowing where their money goes, and maybe even preferred, it would go to Hamas military wing. This all changed after 2008 as Hamas became the governing power in the Gaza Strip, and their charities were shut down in the West Bank. When international organizations such as World Vision started to function in Gaza, they, for sure, were looking for qualified employees who have expertise or worked at charity organizations before. While there is much expertise in the field, few had deep and elevated mastery and experience in faith-based and charity organizations in the Gaza strip. In principles, World Vision is a faith-based charity organization that works in dozens of countries. It collects donations from churches of USA, Australia and UK and other countries too. On the other side, Hamas has led effective and widely known faith-based charities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In reality, Hamas was set up as a charity organization, and got its working permission from the Israeli government in 1987. Not only World Vision, but also possibly other organizations have employed Hamas supporters, which is normal and according to the meritocracy's routines and ethics of international charities. No single organization can work as an intelligence agency when they hire their employees. They are not a security organization. They are a charity. They are an NGO. And Hamas members and supporters are a part of the Palestinian people. They cannot be excluded at any cost. Exclusion means more radicals and harms to the society, and perhaps increased violence. Advertisement Of course, I have to doubt that ElHalabi had been funneling money to the military wing of Hamas. It is considerably unlikely. Nevertheless, he may, unknowingly or deliberately, diverted funds to local organizations or communities that are affiliated with Hamas. His actions were according to the standards and procedures of WV. From a policy perspective, this is legitimate and not wrong, as Hamas's local charities are registered and active in the Gaza Strip. It undeniably means that funds and programs that intended to be public for all people had become selective and mean-tested, which generate more inequality among people, subjecting them to more suffering. University students studying, from above Students from across the United Kingdom received their exam results recently and will be either planning ahead to university or turning to plan B. Whilst that's interesting, what is particularly interesting is the attitude of students when they arrive at university. In previous generations, students would perhaps place social activities on a par with academic ones (if not higher), but recent studies suggest that this is slowly changing. Advertisement Growing work ethic With student debts at record levels, it is perhaps not surprising that students are taking a slightly more serious approach to their time at university, but it's still interesting to see just how that's manifesting itself. For instance, a recent survey by the university housing provider Chapter revealed that when given the choice between a party and a networking event, 80% of respondents voted for the latter. To help cater for this, the company is running Kickstart London, an event for student entrepreneurs from institutions across the capital, but I do wonder if we're scratching the surface of what could be possible to help support students who wish to create their own startup (or otherwise take a professional approach to university life). (Un)affordable living Living in London is well known to be horrendously expensive, and there are a number of ventures designed to provide relatively affordable spaces to people who are entrepreneurially minded. Advertisement For instance, the Old Oak is a facility developed by The Collective, which offers a so called co-living space. The facility offers 12,000 square feet of shared living space in a vast abandoned office space that has been converted into what the company are calling a co-living space. Or you have the Fish Island Village, which is a project being developed by Peabody & The Trampery. It offers entrepreneurs a space to both work and live. The facility, which is being developed in Hackney Wick, will offer residents shared facilities and a range of support services to help grow their business. It's a project that had the full support of (then) Mayor Boris Johnson. "This partnership is a shining example of what can be done to support the needs of our creative and tech talent," he said this summer. "This scheme truly rethinks the concept of how people live and work and could be replicated both in London, and other major cities across the UK." Suffice to say, few of these facilities are geared specifically towards students, and there seems at the moment a divide between places marketed to students, and those marketed to freelancers, start-ups and the like. With more and more students looking to setup their own business, either whilst at university or when they graduate, perhaps this is a market that is ripe for development, especially as students appear to be thinking more seriously about post-graduation. Advertisement As teachers return to the classroom this fall, especially social studies teachers, they face a serious problem. How do you teach about the Presidential election in a responsible way when you know that one of the major party candidates makes statements that are biased, incendiary, insulting, and so out-and-out false that many members of his own party refuse to support his candidacy? I believe our obligation is not to maintain some abstract form of "balance" in the classroom, but to help students become critical thinkers who learn to listen to others, evaluate their statements carefully and respectfully, and support conclusions with evidence. If one of the candidates and his or her supporters are shown to be lacking by this standard, that is the fault of the candidate, not of the teacher. I also think it is legitimate if as part of a democratic classroom discussion a teacher models how to draw conclusions based on evidence by sharing their personal views on the candidates. If you are nervous about this, discuss it with your department and supervisor. In previous posts I've asked teachers to share ideas and materials. Cary Waxler, Barrington (Illinois) High School: "I, too, am having a crisis of confidence when it comes to how to approaching this difficult topic. As for the "Day 2" lesson plan, may I suggest the possible addition of an excellent article "Paradoxes of the American Presidency" by Thomas Cronin and Michael Genovese? It is excerpted (I use the article in the Lanahan Readings on the American Polity) from a longer book by the same title. I have found it useful when discussing our conflicting, turbulent expectations of an American President. You can find both a scanned copy and a summary online. The summary works just as well. It is valuable to give students a few of these "paradoxes" first and then let them brainstorm new paradoxes." Advertisement Michael Pezone, High School for Law Enforcement, Queens, NY: "My plan is to have students answer the following question in a formal essay: "How would Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. vote in the 2016 presidential election?" Choices are: Trump, Clinton, Johnson, Stein, or No Vote. Prior to writing their essays, students will engage in research and discussion to understand and evaluate: the presidency and electoral process; candidate positions on key issues; Dr. King's political position; the role of money in elections; "lesser evilism"; and low voter turnout." Allison Cannavina, Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Syosset NY: "I also am going to focus on the "big picture": the role of president (can Trump even do what he promises?), workings of the Electoral College, and voter discontent, etc. Some other ideas I will look at in my Government class include Party Realignment/Dealignment. What is the future of the Republican party? Will it hurt or help Republicans if they support Trump (Christie v. Kaisch)? How will Trump affect Republicans in House /Senate elections? "Horserace Journalism: Does the media focus too much on polls? Role of Women: I teach in an all girl school. Why don't women support Hillary more? (ie Albright comment: "special place in hell..."). Campaign Financing (impact of Citizens United) and PACs. Voter Identification Laws/ Voting Rights Act. Role of Social Media: free speech or hate speech? Role of "Late Night": ie SNL, Colbert: funny or biased? Intent of the Framers: You discussed (wonderfully!) the opinion of a very dignified George Washington. This Constitution Day I am going to capitalize on the current popularity/interest in Alexander Hamilton. In his writing, he very prophetically warns against demagogues to seek to gain support based on people's fears. Overall, I am going to emphasize the importance of civil discourse. As both a teacher and a parent, I am disturbed and saddened by the tone of our discourse, and would like to see it raised to a appropriate level: at least in my little world!" Sally Ackerman (High School of Applied Communication, Queens NY) recommends using the C3 (College, Career, and Civic Life) inquiry design model developed by the National Council for the Social Studies focusing on the question "Do any Political Parties represent me?" She also uses Election Economics and Understanding Fiscal Responsibility found on the website econedlink.org. Advertisement Mike Kalin is an English and history teacher at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, MA. These comments are excerpted from an op-ed posted on the Boston NPR website Cognoscenti. Kalin wrote: "With the election season in full swing and a new school year approaching, educators will soon confront a difficult question: should we share our own political views with students? As a current high school and former middle school teacher, my answer to this question has always been informed by own experiences as a student. Taught by left-leaning teachers and professors in New England who often made demeaning comments about conservatives, I vowed to never insert my opinions when discussing current affairs in my classes. But the ascendancy of Donald Trump during this presidential campaign has challenged this commitment. Trump's vitriolic rhetoric, and his history of demonizing marginalized groups, obligates teachers to reconsider their beliefs about how to approach civic education. The overtly racist and xenophobic statements that Trump has made throughout his campaign should compel educators to speak up and denounce the remarks . . . Educators must indeed uphold their duty to invite diverse perspectives into student discussions and to avoid suppressing the free exchange of ideas. But we also need to recognize the grave consequences of allowing Trump's rhetoric to go unchallenged . . . Let's be honest: A student who frequently made racist and sexist remarks about classmates would end up in the principal's office, maybe even find himself suspended. We can't assign Trump a detention, but at the very least, teachers can explain to students that he's broken the class rules." Jonathan Gold, Moses Brown School, Providence, RI: I wrote a similar piece for Teaching Tolerance. I am interested in trying to spread the message, following your argument and mimicking the similar line of thinking emerging in the media, that the discourse of the 2016 election makes it necessary to put aside notions of neutrality, which I actually believe are outdated and misapplied to begin with, and embrace teaching for justice, morality, and rigor. I'm actually excited for this fall because I think this election makes that approach more imperative and justifiable than ever before. Howard Zinn cautions that, in studying history, "it is impossible to be neutral . . . neutrality means accepting the way things are now." My ambition is for students in my class to want to make change and to develop strong moral views -- which means we teachers can't pretend that we don't have them. By owning our morality and demanding rigor in our classrooms, we can knowingly, mindfully and progressively develop students' abilities to articulate and assess the human experience. In an article in Medium, I note, "Many teachers feel trapped behind the prevailing assumption that '[c]onventional wisdom and common sense dictate that teachers keep their partisan politics out of the classroom.' But there is a difference between 'partisan politics' and anti-racism and anti-bigotry, not to mention between 'partisan politics' and scholarly expectations of reasoned logic, use of evidence, and academic rigor. When one candidate's platform violates the norms of classroom culture and the expectations of academic discourse, it's incumbent upon teachers to speak up and teach, just as we would if presented with similar behavior from one of our students." Rachel Roberson, San Francisco: "I'm a long-time teacher and currently work as news education manager at KQED in San Francisco. KQED and the National Writing Project are relaunching a project called Letters to the Next President 2.0 to give a national platform to teens to speak out about issues that affect their lives. The Letters to the Next President youth publishing site will launch soon. On it, teens can upload text, video, audio or visual letters that are issue-based, not candidate- or party-based. There are other, similar projects going on right now through PBS Election Central, Rock the Vote and other organizations dedicated to getting young people involved in civic life. You probably are familiar with most of these, but I think it's important to let teachers know about these resources. As your blog so aptly pointed out, this is a tough election year to be a teacher. Making sure teachers are aware of the many ways their students can make their voices heard will help build participation and confidence among educators, as well as get students excited about the election." Advertisement Paul Oren, Journalism Professor, Valparaiso (Indiana) University: I'm teaching a course entitled "Media and the 2016 Election." I thought I'd chime in with the two books I'm using. For the bulk of the course I'll be using "Political Campaign Communication" by Trent, Friedenberg and Denton. The book seems to be a good overview in why many things happen from a communication standpoint. I'll also be using the classic book "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business." I plan on using this book after the election is complete and wrapping up the semester with Neil Postman's book. As for assignments, I don't have the first clue yet what I'm going to have them do. Any ideas you've seen anywhere would be greatly appreciated! Election resources worth checking out: New from Amazon: Drumpf for President: A Scary Fable by R. Pieces in e-book and paperback. From the Singing History Teachers "Trump vs. Clinton (It's Gonna Be Me) Election Parody" 5-minute Electoral College song with lyrics from Musical Media for Education. Globalyceum Election 2016: A free suite of 21 high-quality active learning activities meant to help your students stay engaged and informed this upcoming election season. Did you know that, after English and Spanish, the third most popular language spoken in New York is Chinese? That's according to a report by Slate in 2014. In California, and Nevada, it's Tagalog. And Vietnamese is the third most popular language spoken in Texas, Oklahoma, Washington and Louisiana. Korean fills that slot for Virginia and Georgia. Asian Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing population in the United States, having outpaced Hispanic growth since 2012. And in the last couple of decades they have steadily migrated beyond America's coastal states into its heartlands. Advertisement And according to local nonpartisan organization APIA Vote "In the last three presidential cycles, approximately 620,000 new (Asian American and Pacific Islander) voters entered the electorate, with eligible AAPI voters in various states making up more than 5 percent of the state's electorate ..." "Over the past 15 years, Virginia's population of Asian Americans has soared from 261,000 to 628,000, including 250,000 US citizens of voting age," according to the Washington Post. In Nevada, where the Filipino American population is around 120,000, the number of eligible voters from Asian American community has reached 11 percent of the electorate. In Florida, that number is only around 2.5 percent of the electorate, according to the APIA Vote, but in an NBC article from March "this election year, there's an all-out effort to grow the vote." Florida, after all, can make or break a presidential bid, as was the case in 2000 when Bush won by 537 individual votes over opponent Al Gore. Advertisement While the AAPI community comprises more than five percent of the citizen voting-age population in seven states -- Hawaii, Alaska, California, Washington, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York -- it is also a community that faces a number of huddles due to various voter restrictions. They also are the most ignored population, suffering from a lack of outreach from community organizations and political parties. Many are naturalized citizens and these voters have the highest rates of limited English proficiency. Since 77 percent speak another language other than English at home, many rely on ethnic media to get their primary source of information, according to Asian American Advancing Justice. Vietnamese Americans lead among the groups with 61 percent reporting a lack of English proficiency, followed by Chinese Americans at slightly over half, and Korean Americans at just over a third. Asian American voters are moving steadily toward the Democratic party, in part due to anti-immigrant rhetoric and policy proposals from one Republic candidate after another. The Democrats speak of unity and celebrating diversity. It was president Obama who re-established the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in 2009. His records in nominating a record number of Asian Americans to cabinet posts and federal judgeships are welcome by the Asian American community. Advertisement Yet, while "There is some initial evidence that these efforts are working," warned Karthick Ramakrishnan of the American Prospect "they have yet to reach the scale necessary to fully integrate Asian Americans into American civic and political life." This November election Asian Americans can make their voices heard and influence the outcome of the political process. And now more than ever, it would be a mistake for candidates, both at the local and national level, to overlook their vote. For a year, over the course of at least a dozen articles, I've been arguing that Donald Trump has provided Democrats - and indeed the nation -- the opportunity to bring down the whole Republican Party-- a party that has become in our times an almost wholly destructive force in American politics. Trump, I've argued, is expressing but a more blatant form of what the GOP has been injecting into the body politic for a generation. The main reason the GOP establishment objects to him, I've said, is not that Trump is a wolf, but that he exposes the whole party by not bothering to wear the Republicans' usual sheep's clothing. Moreover, the fact that Trump was able to ride his ugly and dishonest act to the Republican nomination reveals the toxicity that the Republican Party and the right-wing media have cultivated in the minds of a significant part of the Republican base. This dense network of interconnections, I've suggested, provides a potential means of tying Trump like a millstone to the GOP and sending the whole edifice down to the bottom of the political sea. Advertisement All of that I continue to believe. And yet: I also approve -- at least tentatively -- of the entirely different approach that Hillary Clinton is taking. Most recently and powerfully, in her "alt-right" speech in Nevada on Thursday, Hillary used Trump as a wedge, condemning Trump while differentiating him from "normal" Republicanism. Trump as millstone or Trump as wedge? I believe there's room for both. The politics of how to deal with Trump and the Republican Party are rather complicated, in part because there are so many goals that should be pursued simultaneously: The goal of Hillary Clinton defeating Donald Trump in the election in November. The goal of the Democrats taking back control of the Congress. The goal of President Hillary Clinton being able to get things accomplished even if the Republicans do manage to maintain control of one or both houses in Congress. And a strategy for success in the elections also rests on a variety of variables: How well the Democrats are able to persuade Republicans to vote Democratic. How well the Democratic strategy leads Republicans to stay home and not vote at all. How well the Democratic strategy moves Independents to reject both the Republican nominee and the Party as a whole. How well the Democratic strategy activates its own base to work for victory and to vote. Advertisement I'm inclined to believe that it would be wise to focus attention on the middle two variables because: It seems doubtful that many rank-and-file Republicans - after a generation of right-wing demonization of "librels" - will pull the lever for Democrats. The rise of Trump, I expect, has already got the Democratic base plenty activated. With all that in mind, the question then is (in the words of Matthew Yglesias writing on Vox.com): "Is it better to make the case against Trump or to attack the party that produced him?" Yglesias highlights a difference between the desire of many liberals for the latter approach, while "Clinton's presidential campaign, of course, is trying to lean much more on the former." What liberals fear, he says, is "that Clinton's effort to underscore how weird Trump is undermines the party down ballot. Shouldn't she be arguing that they're all as bad as Trump?" The situation is complicated not only because of all the variables, which by themselves would make for a highly complex set of algebraic equations. But also there are so many uncertainties that it is difficult to know even which goals the Democratic strategy should focus on. For example, how realistic is the goal of having a Democratic president and Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress? Advertisement With Hillary's victory already judged very highly probable by FiveThirtyEight (82.7%) and by the New York Times (90%), the question for the elections has begun to rest most heavily on the down-ballot results. A Democratic takeover of the Senate now looks probable (60% chance according to the New York Times, a 71% chance according to the future's markets. As for the House, whose control by the Republicans threatens to perpetuate the GOP pattern of unprincipled obstructionism, the question arises: in composing their election strategy, how much weight should the Democrats give the goal of taking over the House given the probability of success (17% according to the futures markets)? William Saletan seems to assume that Republican power will still confront President Hillary. Saletan, in an article titled "Hillary's Lifeboat to the GOP" appearing on Slate.com, describes Hillary's excellent "Alt-right" speech as "the first gesture of her presidency." He writes: She's not using Trump to try to take down the whole Republican Party. She's not going to tie him around the necks of House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the rest of the congressional GOP. She plans to work with these men. (Emphasis added.) Which sounds like saying that Hillary expects the Republicans to maintain control over at least part of Congress, and is trying to lay the foundation for bipartisan cooperation. Saletan approves. Advertisement I've long had the highest respect for Saletan, but I really hope he is mistaken in his suggestion that this is what Hillary Clinton is thinking. Is there any reason at all - in view of how the Republicans have dealt with President Obama for the past seven years -to believe that Hillary's generous gift of this "lifeboat" will move the likes of Ryan and McConnell to work with her rather than obstruct her? It would be far wiser strategy, I would say, to work hard to deprive these men of their majorities, thus making them (more or less) irrelevant, rather than to plan on working with them. Yglesias proposes a much better rationale for Clinton's going after Trump in a way that takes the GOP off the hook. The best strategy for Democratic success in the down-ballot elections, Yglesias says, is "demoralization" of the Republican electorate. His idea is that the more disgusted that Republican voters are with their presidential nominee, the more the Republican turnout this November will resemble the much lower rate of voting seen in off-year elections. He writes: Convincing longtime Republicans that they don't like Trump by emphasizing his oddball personality and handful of idiosyncratic policy stances seems a lot easier than convincing longtime Republicans to abandon the faith entirely. And widespread demoralization of base GOP voters could make dozens of currently unwinnable House seats competitive while guaranteeing Democrats a Senate win. If this demoralization strategy would indeed significantly dampen Republican turn-out, then Hillary's use of Trump as a wedge could be a winning strategy for taking back the Congress. But that's a big "If." Advertisement If messages like Hillary's alt-right speech will have that effect, well and good: as a way of helping the down-ballot Democratic candidates, it is friendly-looking pitch to the Republican voters. But if it just lets the GOP off the hook, it could well squander the opportunity to drain this truly rogue political party of its power. So that's another one of the uncertainties. Regardless of the effectiveness of this "demoralization" strategy, I believe it is possible the answer to the overall question here - whether to use Trump as a wedge or as a millstone -might be "Both." It could well make good sense for Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine to present average Republican voters the friendly face of the Democratic Party-- friendly in telling the Republican electorate, "The problem isn't you or your party, it is this terrible candidate who somehow ended up being your nominee." Come January, Clinton and Kaine will likely be the president and vice president of all Americans. The more positively the Republican electorate views the new Democratic administration, the better. If President Hillary plays her cards right - in ways that President Obama failed to do when he came into office with higher approval ratings than the long-demonized Hillary is likely to manage -- she might be able ultimately to drive a wedge between those voters and the Republicans in Congress persisting in paralyzing the government. In that way, she might gain the leverage to move the GOP away from its destructive obstructionist path. Advertisement But the Democratic ticket is not the entire voice of the Democratic Party. Other voices among the Democrats - like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders - can be making the more aggressive case. They can not only castigate Republicans - like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell - for their still-unrepudiated endorsement of Trump, but they can also be exposing how the Republicans' across-the-board obstructionism has been damaging the nation. While this case may not move Republican voters - with their culture of blind loyalty - to switch sides, it may help to move those Americans without any set party affiliation to repudiate the Republican Party, and to swing the down-ballot elections toward the Democrats. So perhaps the best strategy would be this: Let the Democratic candidates for President and Vice-President use Trump as a wedge, differentiating Trump from the Republican Party whose face he's become. And let other Democrats use him as a millstone, to sink the Republican Party in its current form. On August 26, the United States commemorates the passing of the 19th Amendment to grant all women full and equal voting rights. Throughout the years women have played an active role in the electorate. First in securing the right to vote and then in participating in the political process. Women, like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Carrie Chapman Catt, Alice Paul, Anna Howard Shaw and Susan B. Anthony, led the women's suffrage movement. This day commemorates that movement and all the visionary women who looked ahead and put in the work so that all women can cast their votes, today. [Fully armed police stand guard at the entrance to Srinagar./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] By Jeong In-seo, New Delhi correspondent, AsiaToday - The death toll of the anti-India protests are rising in Srinagar, the largest city of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar, which is called the city of lakes with its beautiful picturesque Himalayan backdrop and glittering lakes, was as silent as the grave when I arrived on August 23. Only six passengers, including myself, was on board despite summer was the peak season for the city. Advertisement Communication was cut off upon arrival to Srinagar from New Delhi, which took 90 minutes by plane. Tens of thousands of fully armed forces patrolled the region and erected barbed wire and steel barricades on roads. All the shops in the street have remained closed. [A police is checking passers-by in a road in Srinagar./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] Our car was questioned by patrolling policemen for a total of 13 times to get to the Arabia Royal Hotel located in Kayam Road, which is in between the new town and the old town. Every time we were questioned, the police opened our bags and inspected our car. Hotel manager Nadeem Khan welcomed the reporter in amazement, and said, "This is the first time we receive our guest in forty days since the protests have begun." He said, "We are sorry but our restaurant is not available. We sent our chef home because we had no guest since the protest began. Electricity has been cut off in most of the houses. So we run a generator and use only two hours a day." I headed to the old town where protests were taking place to understand local circumstances. There were some residents sitting on the streets where shops were closed and windows were broken. When they saw me, they came. One resident, who requested anonymity, worriedly said, "It's strange to see a stranger after a while. This place is dangerous now. You can be hit by stones." From the entrance of the old town, I was able to see the police running an inspection. A police officer, who requested anonymity, said, "We don't want any protests to take place. But protests are taking place almost every day, and we should confront with the protestors. Protests are being held for 46 days. There was a massive protest yesterday, which had caused the death." Advertisement [Anti-India phrases are easily found in a roadside of Srinagar's old town./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] As I got closer to the old town of Srinagar, the atmosphere became increasingly heavier. Shops and businesses were closed and phrases shouting for Kashmir's independence were written on the walls. I didn't see any people walking down the street even though it was at noon. Only the police were watching out the street. A police officer who was standing guard at Jamia Masjid, an important mosque in Srinagar, said, "A massive protest was held here yesterday. 12 people died in the process of repression. The protestors are aggressive and willing to kill us. They throw stones at us." [A policeman is standing at Jamia Masjid, an important mosque in Srinagar. A massive protest rally took place here on August 22, killing 12 people in a clash between police and protestors./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] The police was not telling a lie. In fact, most of the police on the streets had broken protectors. Their helmets and riot shields were broken while emergency vehicles went busy. On my way to the regional police station, I was able to meet local residents who were either selling beverages and breads or repairing shoes. Mohammad Rimku, a shoe repairer, said, "This place is usually beautiful. But it's a hell now." Advertisement [The only store that was opened in the old town of Srinagar. I talked with residents about anti-India protests./ Photographed by Jeong In-seo] He said, "The protests that had been held for nearly two months killed many people. We are dying as well. We are struggling to cope with shortages of food and other necessities. Due to the continuous protests, our children aren't going to school for nearly two months." One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, "I fact, we don't want either India or Pakistan. We want freedom. We don't want India nor Pakistan, but complete independence. This is what most people think. We will fight for independence until the end." As of August 28, all kinds of communication is cut out in Srinagar due to continuing protests. The anti-India protests erupted on July 7, after Indian troops killed Burhan Wani, the 22-year-old leader of Kashmir's largest rebel group, Hizbul Mujahideen, which has been fighting since the 1990s against Indian rule. At least 70 people have been killed and 6,000 have injured in the clashes between the police and protestors. Don't fear turning back the clocks an hour on Sunday, Nov. 6. There are a few things you can do to help your baby or toddler make this sleep transition. Twenty-year-old trainee volunteer surf life saver Mecca Laalaa runs along North Cronulla Beach in Sydney during her Bronze medallion competency test January 13, 2007. Specifically designed for Muslim women, Laalaa's body-covering swimming costume has been named the "burkini" by its Sydney based designer Aheda Zanetti. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne (AUSTRALIA) Editor's Note: Bernard-Henri Levy's opinions are his own and do not represent those of The WorldPost. PARIS -- This burkini business is deplorable. Deplorable -- and grotesque -- is the image of a France where the vice squad forces women not to cover up but to take it off. Advertisement Lamentable -- and, alas, predictable -- is the spectacle of the Conseil d'Etat, France's highest court, overturning, to the great delight of the provocateurs, bans imposed by mayors in the south of France that were justified neither by concern for public order nor by the principle of secularity. Imagine for a moment the authorities' confusion if all of the Islamo-leftists and their allies were to decide, in "solidarity" with their "comrades" or their "sisters" who are victims of unacceptable "stigmatization," to descend in droves to the beaches sporting burkinis and chanting, "We are all persecuted burkini wearers." That is not an idle fantasy. It is a proposal that appeared on social networks. But, happily, it has not been put into action. Regardless, it is a catastrophe scenario that the authorities have to plan for. Concealed under the burkini was a trap. And once that trap was set, the worst possible solution was, by overreacting, to jump in with both feet and spring it. Advertisement Activists protest outside the French embassy during the "wear-what-you-want beach party" in London on Aug. 25. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) It was a double trap. A reputational trap: the authorities and the republic they represent were made to look ridiculous. And a moral trap: this has become a revolting, humiliating hunt for burkinis and the women wearing them. Yet, at the same time, the matter is complex. It is obviously not by chance that women appeared on the beaches wearing these outfits this summer. No doubt some of them were acting in good faith out of modesty or for other reasons of their own; these women may well have dressed in the same way in previous years. The authorities and the republic they represent were made to look ridiculous. But it is hard not to see that for many others, donning the burkini is a political statement linked more or less directly with French politics over the last few months. In other words, the burkini, while not yet a fashion, is already a wave. More precisely, it is the crest of a wave -- the wave of radical Islam that is everywhere on the offensive, although all burkini-wearing women must not, of course, be associated as terrorists. And it is probable that, for the architects of this extended war unfolding on all fronts, the phenomenon has provided the ideal opportunity to score a double victory: on the opinion front, transforming the defenders of republican democracy into imitators of the Taliban busily regulating the length of skirts and the coverage of bathing suits; and, in the same motion, promoting the re-confinement of women in the cloth prisons presently required in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. Advertisement A woman wearing a burkini walks on a beach in Marseille on Aug. 27. (REUTERS/Stringer) Are these women acting voluntarily? Have they, of their own free will, accepted the idea that the sight of their bodies should be a source of guilt? That's possible. But a good deal of bad faith -- or gullibility, which is almost worse -- is required to claim to have just discovered a mechanism of voluntary servitude that was described five centuries ago by Etienne de La Boetie. Moreover, it is hard to see how or why women should not be among the participants in an ideological offensive that spans the Muslim world and that here, in Europe, never stops testing the resistance of its opponents -- an offensive of which the burkini business is just the most recent and, for the moment, derisory illustration. For many, donning the burkini is a political statement. So? So, therein lies the whole question. The question is not religious -- it's political. And although it confronts everyone in France, one must admit that it applies with particular acuity to those who, in one way or another, identify with Islam. What do they think about this infringement of the republican principle of strict equality of the sexes? Are they or are they not troubled by visible discrimination on the beaches, with men free to flex their muscles, show off their tattoos and display their virility while subordinate women are kept under wraps lest the sight of their body offend someone? Advertisement Should this step backward be encouraged or discouraged? What if more women who, by virtue of a political reading of the Quran, chose or passively assented to return to the time when the second sex was deemed shameful, impure and dirty? Protesters demonstrate against France's ban of the burkini, outside the French Embassy in London on Aug. 25. (REUTERS/Neil Hall) And is this really a matter purely of personal choice, as asserted by the advocates of the downward adjustment of the rights won so dearly by feminism? Or are those rights, like certain other fundamental rights, essential parts of the complex and fragile edifice -- fragile in the sense that when one beam fails the roof is prone to collapse -- that is our common republican house? On these questions, imams, association leaders and other moral authorities to whom Muslims look for guidance have a responsibility to respond promptly and deliberately. Advertisement Is it not troubling that on beaches, men are free to flex their muscles, show off their tattoos and display their virility, while women are kept under wraps? It is up to them to remind their followers and members that democracy, like France itself, must be considered as a whole, and that by returning to a time when the practitioners of all the major religions believed that it was permissible to hide their women, it is democracy as a whole that is threatened. A group of distinguished French Muslims published in late July an appeal for the reform of Islam in France. It is a reform made necessary, they said, by a series of villainous attacks that they duly inventoried (omitting, however, the killings at the kosher market). It would be gratifying if they would find the courage now to declare that standing firm on women's rights is as important as staunchly defending the freedom to satirize, to stroll on the Promenade des Anglais, to sit at a sidewalk cafe, to attend mass safely or to go to a concert at the Bataclan. Those are the stakes. And that should be -- calmly, without panic -- the response. It is not a magic wand that will halt the spread of Salafism in France. But ultimately, it will be a hundred times more effective than hastily issued regulations that are both inconsistent with the rule of law and counterproductive. Also on WorldPost: Mountaintop resort on St. Lucia. Photo courtesy of Jade Mountain. No one is really sure how the southern Caribbean island of St. Lucia got its name. A popular story says it came from the day in 1498 when Christopher Columbus first saw the island. It was Dec. 13, the feast day of the martyred Sicilian virgin St. Lucy. Critics note that sounds like an odd choice for a name, because the island is one of the prettiest spots in the Caribbean, known for its soaring, Bora Bora-like volcanic peaks, and St. Lucy was a patron saint of the blind. It's generally accepted, however, that Columbus didn't come ashore on the island. He's lucky he sailed on, because he might very well have ended up in a stewpot. St. Lucia was inhabited by the Caribes, who were feared as cannibals, as occasional French, English, Spanish and Dutch would-be settlers found out - the hard way. Advertisement Photo courtesy of Anse Chastanet. Caribe-style feasting went on for over a century, until the Caribes were whittled down by mumps, smallpox, scarlet fever and other diseases of their digested foreigners. The French (considered the tastiest of the Europeans, local legends say) finally signed a treaty with what was left of the Caribes in 1660. After numerous wars between the French and British - each raised its flag over St. Lucia seven times - Great Britain finally won out in 1814. Today, the 27-mile-long, 14-mile-wide island is a member of the British Commonwealth, but with strong French ties. Tourists are usually happy to find that English is the island's official language (although St. Lucians also speak in their own creole, which for most outsiders might as well be a mix of Turkish and Botswanan). French is often spoken (along with creole) in the smaller cities. A supermarket in the colonial village of Soufriere. Photo by Bob Schulman. It's hard to resist trying out your high school French in small towns like Soufriere on the southwest coast of the island. Lining its lanes are yellow, pale blue and grassy green colonial-style stores and homes that haven't changed much over the centuries (although the guillotine in the town square is long gone). Crossing the narrow streets of Soufriere can be something of a challenge since they're shared by pedestrians, cars, bicycles, motorcycles and chickens. Local drivers generally ignore the town's handful of stop signs. Advertisement Right off the Postcards Look up from Soufriere and you'll see the island's crown jewels: twin volcanic peaks called the Pitons. Soaring up to the clouds a half-mile above the beach, these world-class gems are right up there with such stunningly gorgeous sights as the volcanic spires of French Polynesia, the Grand Tetons towering over Wyoming's Jackson Hole and the Rocky Mountains over Denver. View of the Pitons from a suite at the Jade Mountain resort. Photo by Bob Schulman. Ken Buck called Donald Trump a "fraud" and said that "Trump's proposal (to ban all Muslims) violates the Constitution, the values of our nation, the Republican Party platform, and my conscience." That was in December. Mr. Buck was correct. But now Congressman Buck expects you to vote for Donald Trump; this fraud, this unconstitutional bigot, this violator of national values. Ken Buck's conversion to Trumpism - even as other Republicans are backing away - is further evidence that the former prosecutor's concerns about the Republican presidential nominee were never about defending the Constitution or our national values. Mr. Buck wants power, or at least access to it. "If I call the White House, and President Clinton is in the oval office, no one is going to take my call," the Congressman told listeners on KNUS. "If I call the White House with a President Trump, I have a chance of influencing policy in the executive branch." Ken Buck will defend anything that supports his rather inconsistent sense of justice or his ability to impose his will on others. Advertisement Never mind that thus far in his career, Congressman Ken Buck has had very little success influencing policy in the House or even within his own Party, where he is widely regarded as too uncooperative to be effective. Mr. Buck should stop trying to reign in some imaginary imperial president and start working on resolving real problems. Colorado's 4th Congressional District needs economic development, including investment in roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. We need trade agreements that work for Americans workers, including farmers and ranchers, and not against them. We have too many families with inadequate health care and too many people who work hard but whose wages are so low that they still qualify for food stamps and Medicaid. We have to find a way to resolve conflicts over water, energy production, and the environment. Ken Buck has addressed none of these issues. Ken Buck was right when he called Donald Trump a fraud. He was wrong when he decided that being a fraud was OK. In June 1993 I attended the U.N. World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, the largest ever gathering on human rights, involving 171 governments and over 800 NGOs. The conference helped foster global solidarity and cooperation among human rights activists, who were just then becoming aware of other people working on the same issues that they were, issues like indigenous rights, torture, unfair trials, and disappearances. It was an eye-opening, mind-boggling crash course in activism. I chatted with human rights icons I'd only read about, including Malawian lawyer Vera Chirwa and The Dalai Lama. But for me no activist or group was more impressive than the Mothers of the Disappeared from Argentina. They were more organized than most of us and really knew how to lobby and protest. An inspiration to activists from all over the world at the conference, they were already legendary figures for standing up to the military dictatorship and campaigning for justice for their disappeared children. It's a fight that still goes on. Last week a court in Argentina sentenced 38 former military officers to prison, 28 of them to life, for their part in the killings of 365 people in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Information about exactly what happened is still seeping out, and earlier this year Human Rights First successfully worked with human rights groups in Argentina to urge the United States government to release previously classified documents about the killings and disappearances. The huge scale of the violence is becoming clear, with local rights groups estimating that around 30,000 people were killed. Seven years ago the supreme court of Argentina ruled that the dictatorship's killings between 1976 and 1983 constituted "crimes against humanity within the framework of genocide." Tomorrow marks the International Day of the Disappeared, and the court ruling is valuable encouragement for others working around the world for justice for those disappeared, from Indonesia to Syria to Egypt. The work of the Mothers (and of the Grandmothers of the Disappeared in locating their missing grandchildren) remains a fantastic example to other groups. A decade ago I helped organize a trip for some of the Mothers to visit Indonesia. There they met with KontraS, a NGO representing relatives of the disappeared, and the two groups shared lessons of struggles won and lost over the previous decades. We should not be in the business of pledging to send our brave soldiers to risk that last full measure of devotion to defend Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania from Russian aggression, or Croatia or Albania from Serbian attack. Their sole duty is to defend the citizens of the United States who pay their salaries and owe allegiance to the United States, which Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Croatians, and Albanians do not. For that reason among others, the United States should invoke Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to withdraw. Our NATO membership contradicts the Constitution's foreign policy of billions for invincible self-defense, but not one cent for Empire or entangling alliances. NATO was established in April 1949 not in self-defense, but to provide military protection to Europe (including the French colonial appendage in Algeria) and the world generally at the beckoning of the British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin. That Empire objective hearkened back to President Woodrow Wilson's starry-eyed aim to make the world safe for democracy by employing United States military force under the League of Nations auspices to defend every border on the planet. President Harry Truman, in signing the NATO treaty, echoed Wilson: "By this treaty, we are not only seeking to establish freedom from aggression and from the use of force in the North Atlantic community, but we are also actively striving to promote and preserve peace throughout the world." (Truman economized on the truth. Portugal, a founding member of NATO, was then governed by dictatorial Prime Minister Antonio Salazar.) Advertisement To reiterate, self-defense did not push us into NATO. In 1949, we were the most militarily and economically dominant nation on the globe. We enjoyed an atomic bomb monopoly, and Europe was militarily unified under the 1948 Brussels Treaty Organization. No invasion from any quarter was threatened--including from the Soviet Union. Even during the depths of World War II, neither the Wehrmacht nor the Imperia Japanese Army set foot on the continental United States. We joined NATO as part of a gratuitous, preoccupation with containing Soviet power no matter how irrelevant to protecting us from attack. It was no accident that our NATO membership was soon followed by President Truman's unconstitutional Korean War, the overthrow of democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh the overthrow of Guatemala's President Jacobo Arbenz, executive agreements to defend Franco's Spain, and the attempted assassination of Patrice Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These undertakings were calculated to check the Soviet Union. Our NATO and post-NATO quest for Empire and global domination made a mockery of the bravery and sacrifices of Lexington and Concord in 1775. Our glory had previously been liberty, not world leadership whatever that means. Our march had previously been the march of the mind, not the march of the foot soldier. Our greatness had previously been a fair opportunity for every citizen to develop his faculties and to pursue his ambitions free from domestic or foreign predation. Our summum bonum had never previously been a multi-billion dollar military-industrial complex bestriding the world like a colossus chanting, "We are the chosen people." Suppose the Soviet Union had invaded Western Europe without NATO despite the BTO military alliance. That would not have disturbed the safety and security of the United States. Indeed, the invasion would have been a blunder which would have accelerated the disintegration of the Soviet Empire and weakened its ability to threaten us in the interim.. Conquests or occupations of hostile peoples weakens rather than strengthens the conqueror or the occupier, for example, Napoleon in Haiti or Spain, or the United States South Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan. . Advertisement The point may seem counterintuitive, and requires elaboration. Colonization, conquest or foreign occupation loses money for the national treasuries of the colonizer, conqueror, or occupier, although particular individuals or companies may be enriched by state-created monopolies or crony capitalism. The military costs of occupation and control of hostile populations dwarf any offsetting expropriation of property. Thus, post-World War II decolonization in Africa and Asia lifted economic albatrosses from Britain, France, and the Netherlands, among other nations. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the disintegration of the Soviet Union were precipitated substantially by the prohibitive costs of subsidizing and militarily occupying and controlling its Eastern and Central European satellites. The USSR was required to suppress a 1953 Uprising in East Germany, the 1956 Hungarian revolt, Prague Spring in 1968, the 1970-71 Uprising in Poland, and the Polish Solidarity Movement in 1981, among other manifestations of chronic foreign restiveness or resentment. The costs of ruling over a hostile population are staggering. Russia, for instance, spent $30 billion from 2000-2010 to prop up its rule in the Muslim North Caucasus, including Chechnya Another $80 billion will have been forthcoming by 2025 for a population of only 9 million. The Eastern and Central Europe and North Caucasus examples demonstrate that Soviet aggression against Western Europe after World War II would have weakened it and probably failed. In 1949, Western Europe was far stronger militarily than was the mujahideen that thwarted Soviet aggression in Afghanistan in 1979 or the North Vietnamese who defeated the United States in Vietnam. At that time, Europe had already united militarily under the BTO to defend itself. If the Soviet Red Army secured temporary victories, the military resources expended in the endeavors would nevertheless have lessened its ability to attack the United States in the same way that Operation Barbarossa in World War II lessened Hitler's threat to Great Britain by squandering Third Reich military resources in fighting the Soviet Union. Notwithstanding these truths, our overwhelming military victories in World War II fueled a psychology of Empire that found expression in NATO membership. The chief earmark of that psychology is world domination for its own sake--even when it promises self-ruination. NATO enabled the United States to dominate Western Europe. We were NATO's torso, while the Europeans were NATO limbs. The Supreme Allied Commander in Europe has always been an American. At present, the United States pays 75 percent of NATO's budget, and deploys 65,000 to 70,000 troops in Europe. But domination for the sake of domination is treasonous to the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. The United States was an anti-imperialist creation. The exclusive purpose of government, according to the Declaration, is to secure unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not to race abroad in search of monsters to destroy. The Constitution repudiated the global projection of force or wars not in self-defense--no matter how benignly motivated--because the results would subordinate liberty and transparency to coercion and secrecy by concentrating limitless power in the executive. The Roman Republic had been destroyed by endowing dictators with limitless power to fight wars. The Constitution's war powers were entrusted to Congress, not to the President, to prevent the emergence of a warfare state underwritten by a military-industrial complex. James Madison explained in a letter to Thomas Jefferson: "The constitution supposes, what the History of all Govts demonstrates, that the Ex. is the branch of power most interested in war, & most prone to it. It has accordingly with studied care, vested the question of war in the Legisl." Abraham Lincoln echoed: "The provision of the Constitution giving the war making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons: kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This our convention understood to be the most oppressive of all kingly oppressions, and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us." Advertisement Then Secretary of State John Quincy Adams made the case against wars not in self-defense no matter how glorious the immediate objective in a July 4, 1821 Address to Congress: "[The United States] well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force.... She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit...." NATO marked an unprecedented break in American history. Not only was it the first peacetime alliance ever, but it was the first time promoting and preserving peace everywhere in the world became a United States objective. NATO flouted President George Washington's Farewell Address warning against entangling alliances or dividing the world between angles and devils. The treaty tied our fate to the vicissitudes of West European politics and played favorites among nations. But the Farewell Address admonished: "[N]othing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and, that in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and interest." President Washington also warned that any military engagements or alliances with Europe would impair our safety and other national interests: "Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities." Adhering to Washington, Madison, and John Quincy Adams, the United States prospered and spread across the continent for 70 years. We uniformly refrained from foreign entanglements. Among other things, we remained aloof from the Central and South American rebellions against Spain and Portugal, the Greek War of independence against the Ottoman Empire, and Hungary's 1848 revolutionary ambitions against Russia. As regards the latter, Senator Henry Clay explained: Advertisement "Far better is it for ourselves, for Hungary, and for the cause of liberty, that, adhering to our wise, pacific system, and avoiding the distant wars of Europe, we should keep our lamp burning brightly on this western shore as a light to all nations, than to hazard its utter extinction amid the ruins of fallen or falling republics in Europe." The cornerstone of national security is the willingness of citizens to fight and die for their country in self-defense. We enjoy that patriotism in abundance. Moreover, we confront no existential or other threats that could arguably justify NATO or any other defense treaty. What Abraham Lincoln said in 1838 before the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois is equally true today: "At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?--Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!--All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined; with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." NATO is more ill-conceived at present, having expanded to 28 members, than it was in 1949. Among other things, we are committed to defending the Baltic States, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria from Russian aggression. The previous occupation or domination of these nations by the Soviet Union during the Cold War weakened it financially and militarily. Why should we seek to prevent Russia from repeating that blunder? We are also absurdly committed to defending Slovenia, Albania, Greece, and Croatia--none of which have relevance to our self-defense. NATO advocates argue that the spread of democracy makes the United States safer; that we know how to spread democracy; and, that tyranny anywhere is a threat to our security. They substantially echo President George W. Bush's counterfactual Second Inaugural gospel: Advertisement "Across the generations we have proclaimed the imperative of self-government, because no one is fit to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave. Advancing these ideals is the mission that created our Nation. It is the honorable achievement of our fathers. Now it is the urgent requirement of our nation's security, and the calling of our time. So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world." The NATO-Bush doctrine is unconvincing. The United States was born and has flourished amidst tyrannies. They include the French Empire, the Romanoff Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Chinese Empire, and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Today, tyranny in Belarus or Zimbabwe, among other nations, is no danger to the United States. Our peaceful co-existence with tyrannies has been the rule, not the exception. Additionally, we can no more create democracies from cultures and institutions with no democratic DNA hostile than we can build a perpetual motion machine. We have failed spectacularly attempting the impossible in South Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen despite a staggering investment of resources. South Sudan is conclusive proof of our impotence to give birth to democratic dispensations. We midwifed its 2011 independence from Sudan, but It quickly succumbed to a grisly ethnic civil war between President Salva Kiir and the Dinka against Rick Machar and the Nuer featuring tens of thousands killed and millions displaced. South Sudan was a failed state on arrival, and remains so today. Our efforts to collaborate with its leaders and people to steer a democratic course were predictably futile. The evidence is mixed as to whether democracies are inherently less threatening to the United States than are authoritarian or tyrannical nations. Hamas was popularly elected in the Gaza Strip, but is listed as an international terrorist organization by the United States. Egypt's former President Mohammad Morsi was a greater danger to United States interests than is his less democratically elected successor Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The United States has refrained from clamor for free elections in Saudi Arabia for fear of the results, i.e., victory for Wahhabism. Tyranny by the majority is tyranny nonetheless. In any event, the evidence is far too inconclusive to assert that wars against non-democratic nations are, ipso facto, justifiable wars of self-defense. Advertisement In leaving NATO, the United States would dramatically lessen tensions or conflicts with Russia and strengthen our security against external aggression. Among other things, the stage would be set for a new treaty to reduce the nuclear arsenals of the two countries. Russia would probably claim a sphere of influence over its neighbors, but that would be unalarming. The United States has acted in the same way for more than two centuries, including the Monroe Doctrine, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, the Panama Canal, and military ventures in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Nicaragua. To maintain that all nations are equal, but that the United States is more equal than others is to encourage war. Elephant-watching, Kenya, 2013. Credit: Carl Safina We are watching "elephants," true enough. But I realize, embarrassed, that I know nothing of how these beings live, of who they are. I scarcely know what it means to be "watching elephants." Cynthia Moss knows, because she's been here, watching, for forty years--more time than any other human has ever watched elephants. "When you look any animals around here--lions, zebras, elephants," Cynthia offers, "you're seeing just two flat dimensions. But once you know them individually--their personalities, who their mother was, who their kids are--you see added dimensions." One elephant in a family, she explains, might seem regal, dignified. Another will seem shy, perhaps gentle. Another a bully who will be pushy to get food in sparse times. Another as "flamboyantly playful." I watch the elephants. Their rumbles roll through the air like approaching thunder, rallying families and friends from the hills and rivers, sending among themselves greetings and recognitions and news of where they have been. Advertisement "The realization of how complex they are took me about twenty years," Cynthia continues. "While we were following Echo's family--she was about forty-five years old at the time--I saw that Enid was incredibly loyal to her, Eliot was the playful one, Eudora was flaky, Edwina was unpopular, and so on. And slowly I realized that I'd begun knowing what would happen next. I was taking my cues from Echo herself. I was understanding her leadership--as her family was understanding it! It made me realize how totally super aware they are of what we're doing." Super aware? They seem oblivious to our presence. Does this baby elephant notice us? Credit: Carl Safina "Elephants don't seem aware of details," Cynthia explains, "until something familiar changes." One day a cameraman decided that he'd position himself underneath the vehicle for a different angle. The oncoming elephants, who usually just passed that familiar research vehicle, immediately stopped and stared. Why was a human under the car? A male named Mr. Nick snaked his sniffing trunk under there to investigate. He was not aggressive, just curious. Another day, when the vehicle appeared with a special door for filming, elephants touched the new door with their trunks. In the late 1960s, a few years before Cynthia Moss arrived in Kenya, another pioneer, Iain Douglas-Hamilton, first realized that the basic unit of elephant society is a family composed of an older female, her sisters, their adult daughters, and all their children. The family is the foundation for shared infant care and child rearing. Usually the oldest, the "matriarch," decides where the family will go, and when. She's the family's main holder of living history and knowledge. And her personality--whether calm, nervous, indecisive, or bold--sets the whole family's tone. Forty years later, Iain recalled the extraordinary impression this made on him--at a time when everyone had assumed that males led everything in the world. "When I first realized that elephants were organized by families headed by a matriarch," Iain told me, "I saw in them an undaunted female intelligence." Advertisement Elephant family. Credit: Carl Safina In droughts when food gets scarce, a family's size can affect its dominance, thus access to food and water and how well its members survive. Again personality matters. The matriarch Slit Ear was so aggressive toward other families on behalf of her own that Cynthia Moss remembers her as, "a real bitch. But--spirited!" We usually see "elephants"--or "wolves" or "killer whales" or "chimps" or "ravens" and so on--as interchangeable representatives of their kind. But the instant we focus on individuals, we see an elephant named Echo with exceptional leadership qualities; we see wolf 755 struggling to survive the death of his mate and exile from his family; we see a lost and lonely killer whale named Luna who is humorous and stunningly gentle. We see individuality. It's a fact of life. And it runs deep. Very deep. Individuality is the frontier of understanding non-human animals. But for decades, the idea was forbidden territory. Scientists who stepped out of bounds faced withering scorn from colleagues. Jane Goodall experienced just that. After her first studies of chimpanzees, she enrolled as a doctoral student at Cambridge. There, as she later recalled in National Geographic, "It was a bit shocking to be told I'd done everything wrong. Everything. I shouldn't have given them names. I couldn't talk about their personalities, their minds or their feelings." The orthodoxy was: those qualities are unique to humans. But these decades later we are realizing that Goodall was right; humans are not unique in having personalities, minds and feelings. And if she'd given the chimpanzees numbers instead of names?--their individual personalities would still have shined. "If ever there was a perfect wolf," says Yellowstone biologist Rick McIntyre, "It was Twenty-one. He was like a fictional character. But real." Like Cynthia Moss watching elephants, McIntyre has watched free-living wolves for more hours than anyone, ever. Advertisement Rick McIntyre. Credit: Carl Safina Even from a distance Twenty-one's big-shouldered profile was recognizable. Utterly fearless in defense of his family, Twenty-one had the size, strength, and agility to win against overwhelming odds. "On two occasions, I saw Twenty-one take on six attacking wolves--and rout them all," Rick says. "Watching him felt like seeing something that looked supernatural. Like watching a Bruce Lee movie. I'd be thinking, 'A wolf can't do what I am watching this wolf do.'" Watching Twenty-one, Rick elaborates, "was like watching Muhammad Ali or Michael Jordan--a one-of-a-kind talent outside of 'normal.'" Twenty-one was a superwolf. Uniquely, he never lost a fight and he never killed any defeated opponent. And yet Twenty-one was "remarkably gentle" with the members of his pack. Immediately after making a kill he would often walk away and nap, allowing family members who'd had nothing to do with the hunt eat their fill. One of Twenty-one's favorite things was to wrestle little pups. "And what he really loved to do," Rick adds, "was pretend to lose. He just got a huge kick out of it." Here was this great big male wolf. And he'd let some little wolf jump on him and bite his fur. "He'd just fall on his back with his paws in the air," Rick half-mimes. "And the triumphant-looking little one would be standing over him with his tail wagging. "The ability to pretend," Rick adds, "shows that you understand how your actions are perceived by others. I'm sure the pups knew what was going on, but it was a way for them to learn how it feels to conquer something much bigger than you. And that kind of confidence is what wolves need every day of their hunting lives." In Twenty-one's life, there was a particular male, a sort of roving Casanova, a continual annoyance. He was strikingly good-looking, had a big personality, and was always doing something interesting. "The best single word is 'charisma,'" says Rick. "Female wolves were happy to mate with him. People absolutely loved him. Women would take one look at him--they didn't want you to say anything bad about him. His irresponsibility and infidelity; it didn't matter." Advertisement A wolf with charisma. Credit: Carl Safina One day, Twenty-one discovered this Casanova among his daughters. Twenty-one ran in, caught him, biting and pinning him to the ground. Other pack members piled in, beating Casanova up. "Casanova was also big," Rick says, "but he was a bad fighter." Now he was totally overwhelmed; the pack was finally killing him. "Suddenly Twenty-one steps back. Everything stops. The pack members are looking at Twenty-one as if saying, 'Why has Dad stopped?'" The Casanova wolf jumped up and--as always--ran away. After Twenty-one's death, Casanova briefly became the Druid pack's alpha male. But, Rick recalled: "He doesn't know what to do, just not a leader personality." And although it's very rare, his year-younger brother deposed him. "His brother had a much more natural alpha personality." Casanova didn't mind; it meant he was free to wander and meet other females. Eventually Casanova and several young Druid males met some females and they all formed the Blacktail pack. "With them," Rick remembers, "he finally became the model of a responsible alpha male and a great father." Similar to elephants, the personality of a wolf 'matriarch' also helps shape the whole pack. Wolf Seven was the dominant female in her pack. But you could watch Seven for days and say, 'I think she's in charge,' because she led subtly, by example. Wolf Forty, totally different; she led with an iron fist. Exceptionally aggressive, Forty had done something unheard of: actually deposed her own mother. For three years, Forty ruled the Druid pack tyrannically. A pack member who stared a moment too long would find herself slammed to the ground, Forty's bared canines poised above her neck. Yellowstone research director Doug Smith recalls, "Throughout her life she was fiercely committed to always having the upper hand, far more so than any other wolf we've observed." Forty heaped her worst abuse on her same-age sister. Because this sister lived under Forty's brutal oppression, she earned the name Cinderella. Advertisement One year Cinderella split from the main pack and dug a den to give birth. Shortly after she finished the den, her sister arrived and delivered one of her infamous beatings. Cinderella just took it, as always. No one ever saw any pups at that den. The next year, Cinderella, Forty, and a low-ranking sister all gave birth in dens dug several miles apart. New wolf mothers nurse and guard constantly; they rely on pack members for food. That year, few pack members visited the bad-tempered alpha. Cinderella, though, found herself well assisted at her den by several sisters. Six weeks after giving birth, Cinderella and several attending pack members headed out, away from her den--and stumbled into the queen herself. Forty immediately attacked Cinderella with was, even for her, exceptional ferocity. She then turned her fury onto another of her sisters who'd been accompanying Cinderella, giving her a beating too. Then as dusk settled in, Forty headed toward Cinderella's den. Only the wolves saw what happened next, but Doug Smith and Rick McIntyre pieced together what went down. Unlike the previous year, this time Cinderella wasn't about to remain passive or let her sister reach her den and her six-week-old pups. Near the den a fight erupted. There were at least four wolves, and Forty had earned no allies among them. Wolf fight. Credit: Carl Safina At dawn, Forty was down by the road covered in blood, and her wounds included a neck bite so bad that her spine was visible. Her long-suffering sisters had, in effect, cut her throat. She died. It was the only time researchers have ever known a pack to kill its own alpha. Forty was an extraordinarily abusive individual. The sisters' decision, outside the box of wolf norms, was: mutiny. Remarkable. Advertisement But Cinderella was just getting started. She adopted her dead sister's entire brood. And she also welcomed her low-ranking sister and her pups. And so that was the summer that the Druid Peak pack raised an unheard-of twenty-one wolf pups together in a single den. Out from under Forty's brutal reign, Cinderella developed into the pack's finest hunter. She later went on to become the benevolent matriarch of the Geode Creek pack. Goes to show: a wolf, as many a human, may have talents and abilities that wither or flower depending on which way their luck breaks. "Cinderella was the finest kind of alpha female," Rick McIntyre says. "Cooperative, returning favors by sharing with the other adult females, inviting her sister to bring her pups together with her own while also raising her vanquished sister's pups--. She set a policy of acceptance and cohesion." She was, Rick says, "perfect for helping everyone get along really well." # # # This Thursday thousands of (mostly) American political scientists will descend upon Philadelphia for the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA). A plurality, if not a majority, of those scholars works exclusively on American politics. While the rise of Donald Trump will undoubtedly be heatedly debated in the hallways and panels, only a few papers are actually devoted to explaining the most important development in U.S. politics this year. This (again) begs the question: why is American political science blind on the right eye? Three of the most discussed political phenomena in American politics this century are of a radical right nature: neoconservatism, the Tea Party, and Trump(ism). All three developments took U.S. political scientists by surprise and the discipline is still struggling with finding a convincing and comprehensive explanation for them -- I could also include far right terrorism, which is considered to be "the most severe threat of political violence" by US law enforcement agencies, but is hardly studied by U.S. political scientists. To be fair, while the situation is not much better with regard to the radical left, Bernie Sanders, Black Lives Matter and particularly Occupy Wall Street have drawn much more interest from American political scientists (while they are much less relevant to American politics). Advertisement In 2008 I set out to write a review article on the political science literature on neoconservatism for the Journal of Politics. It was a response to the received wisdom that "neoconservatives" had dominated the Bush administration, most notably in pushing through the Iraq invasion. But while this alleged neoconservative influence was noted in many academic accounts, I was unable to find any political science study of neoconservatism. In the end, I had to broaden my review article to also include conservatism in general and rely almost exclusively on books by conservative activists and historians. Even today the main book on the U.S. neoconservative movement is written by a French bureaucrat, and previous think tanker, Justin Vaisse, and was translated from French! Similarly, the rise of the Tea Party movement took the discipline by total surprise. This was even more surprising as the previous major right-wing social movement, the Christian Right, had been the subject of study of American political scientists, including some prominent scholars like Mark J. Rozell and Clyde Wilcox. And while the Tea Party movement did inspire some original scholarship, including from prominent scholars like Theda Skocpol, its lessons seem to have been quickly forgotten, as they (and the Tea Party movement in general) hardly feature in the discussion of the third right-wing surprise: the rise of Donald Trump. The rise of Donald Trump took almost everyone by surprise, and I was no exception. That said, I was more surprised by the rise of Trump than of Trumpism. After all, radical right politics have a long history in the U.S., dating at least back to the nativist Know Nothings of the mid-19th century, and recent developments, including the Tea Party and the right turn of the GOP, had awakened fires that the vast network of right-wing media were happy to stoke with more fuel. But as journalists looked for political scientists to explain the "Trump phenomenon" they found few scholars of the U.S. radical right and instead turned to those of the European radical right. Only in the past months, a year after Trump declared that he was running for president and more than half a year after he started to dominate the GOP primaries, are we seeing an increasingly lively debate on the reasons for Trump's success among American political scientists -- importantly, this debate is largely taking place in the media. Still, little of the research is rooted in the study of the U.S. radical right. Most is a reflection of well-established fields of study, i.e. on authoritarian personalities, "losers of modernization", or racial prejudice. Advertisement How can scholars of American politics time and again be taken by surprise by the rise of radical right movements? Moreover, why do scholars of American politics ignore the radical right, while those of European politics obsess over it? There is no doubt that the specific two-party system in the U.S. plays a role -- there are no clear radical right parties like the French National Front (FN) or the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV) to be studied. In fact, even the United Kingdom, which also has a two-party system, has some (more or less) radical right parties, like the British National Party (BNP) and the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), that contest elections and have been studied in detail. But this is only part of the story. A more important, and troubling, part of the problem is inherent in U.S. political science in general, and the study of American politics in particular. Over the past decades U.S. political science has become more and more (meta)theoretically and methodologically homogeneous, particularly at the more prestigious top research universities, which train a majority of the political scientists at other research-intensive universities. At the (meta)theoretical level Rational Choice Theory (RCT) dominates much of the research, which (very simply stated) assumes that all politics is driven by individuals who are exclusively driven by economic self-interest. In this highly sanitized and simplistic world, ideologies and identities are secondary at best, and irrelevant at worst. In fact, politics as a whole is often reduced to a "logical" consequence of economic and sociological developments -- in more academic terms, the focus is exclusively on the demand-side of (electoral) politics, while the supply-side is ignored. At the methodological level, statistical methods are the gold standard, and the more advanced the method, the better the research. This has made the study of American politics, in particular, extremely data-driven. But data suitable for complex statistical analyses have at least two fundamental problems. First, they simplify the complex social and political world -- think about one of the most used datasets of political regimes, by Freedom House, which has just three categories: free, partly free, and not free. Second, most elaborate datasets are only developed after a phenomenon becomes politically relevant, and hence significant funding can be secured. This means that quantitative political scientists are often many years behind the curve. Finally, the study of American politics is significantly weakened by a very strong parochialism. While American politics is part of comparative politics in all other countries, it is almost completely separated from it in the U.S. Not only do many scholars of American politics study the U.S. in isolation -- yet consider their findings relevant to the whole world -- but they don't even draw upon scholarship of similar phenomena in other countries. Advertisement Perhaps the rise of Trump will finally lead to some critical introspection and, wishful thinking, structural change within U.S. political science in general, and the study of American politics in particular. It has already led scholars to draw upon examples of European politics, most notably Silvio Berlusconi and Marine Le Pen. It has also led to critical reflections on dominant thesis within the study of American politics, such as the crucial importance of money (Citizens United) or "the party" in U.S. politics. Still, without a more methodologically and theoretically pluralistic approach, as well as a more comparative perspective, U.S. political science will continue to struggle to anticipate and explain key developments in U.S. politics. A firefighter walks in the hamlet of Torrita in Amatrice, on August 29, 2016, few days after an earthquake hit the area, a disaster that claimed nearly 300 lives. Shoddy, price-cutting renovations, in breach of local building regulations, could be partly to blame for the high death toll from this week's devastating earthquake in central Italy, according to a prosecutor investigating the disaster. / AFP / ANDREAS SOLARO (Photo credit should read ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images) Italians from the Emilia-Romagna region have experienced firsthand the destruction, death and terror that earthquakes can inflict. Four years ago, two quakes hit on May 20 and May 29, measuring 5.9 and 5.8 respectively, toppling numerous buildings in historic downtowns and leaving 27 dead, 350 injured and thousands homeless. The scenario that is currently emerging from the disastrous earthquake that has devastated Amatrice, Accumoli, Arquata and Pescara del Tronto is like salt on our wounds. We feel a strong sense of brotherhood and solidarity with the victims. Advertisement It is not by chance that mere hours after the terrible quake struck, our region sent the first set of volunteers and equipment for the early assistance efforts. On the day after the quake, we organized a convoy of Civil Protection services that included roughly 100 volunteers, as well as transportable structures and services that could provide shelter for 250 homeless quake victims. But let's be clear: It is not only people from Emilia-Romagna who are trying to help. At a deeply tragic time, when entire towns have been destroyed, the passion and dedication of Italian assistance efforts is plain to see. Italian Premier Matteo Renzi is right to state that it is in situations like these that Italy shows the world its best self. Why is it that stronger earthquakes in other countries do less damage and leave fewer victims? And yet...There is something I haven't been able to stop thinking about since the terrible new tragedy struck: Why, I find myself asking, did this happen once again in Apennines? Why did this happen again after Irpinia, Umbria, the Marche, Aquila, and even Emilia? Why is it that we wind up tallying the number of buildings destroyed and people killed after every earthquake, regardless of its strength? Why is it that stronger earthquakes in other countries do less damage and leave fewer victims? Why is it that after each tragedy, we valiantly say "never again!" and yet we're so inept at changing anything until the next disaster hits? Advertisement So I feel the need to say something, even though I can't stand the fact that I'm feeding controversy in a moment like this, during which all we really need is assistance and contributions. I believe that buildings will continue to crumble, people will continue to be killed by earthquakes, landslides and recurring floods in our Bella Italia, because nobody is really doing anything concrete to make this country a safer place. And the central and southern regions of the country aren't the only places where this is true. Buildings continue to crumble and people keep dying in newer buildings, including government buildings. The building trade is corrupt, infiltrated by the mafia, and driven by private interests. Buildings will continue to crumble, people will continue to be killed by earthquakes, landslides and recurring floods in our Bella Italia, because nobody is really doing anything concrete to make this country a safer place. In 2012, industrial warehouses collapsed and workers died in Emilia because proper anti-earthquake regulations did not yet exist, and it was convenient for companies to save money by shortcutting worker safety. People continue to die and buildings keep collapsing because the actions of our governments, both local and national, are short-sighted and driven by the desire for electoral consensus. They lack a farsighted vision for the "greater good." Advertisement Therefore, politicians cut taxes on first-home purchases and distribute bonuses, rather than setting up economic incentives or fines that would safeguard our splendid small medieval towns. So there, I've said it. My heart goes out to the victims of this new tragedy, and I am full of anger towards the political and economic system that promises Italians that "no one will be left alone," but in reality, doesn't lift a finger to change the status quo. Christian Burgos' 18-year-old sister Alexandria Imani arrived at a party in Chicago's Northwest Side to pick up her younger brother. She was struck by a stray bullet that shot through the apartment. "The loud bangs, the screams. When I got to her, it was too late," Burgos recalls of the 2014 death of his sister, who dreamed of becoming a social worker. In the weeks after the shooting, his family understood that they had to find a way to move beyond their grief and turn the tragedy into something purposeful. Advertisement A shy teen by nature, Burgos surprised his mother when he stepped forward to speak out. With support from a local organization, he shared his family's story of loss with officials on Capitol Hill and spoke at vigils for other victims of violence. He's since emerged as a role model for youth in his city, calling on them to take a pledge to stop the violence. "We must come together, no matter what race, no matter what religion. We must unite as one." For an American public still reeling from fractious election news cycles and gaping racial and socio-economic rifts in cities like Chicago, Baltimore and Los Angeles, "Divided America" is a familiar headline. But young people like Burgos are breaking political lines, challenging the deadlock of their elected leaders, and coming together in the service of a better world. To inspire his peers, Burgos' story is shared with thousands of young people at WE Day, a celebration of youth in action. It started as a tiny children's charity, founded more than 20 years ago in my parents' living room. A group of kids from my seventh-grade class came over to draft a petition to stop child labor. At the time, it was so uncool in middle school to help charitable causes that we were almost shoved into lockers. At school, on television, and over social media, youth see our society celebrate the strongest, the fastest, the most beautiful, but what about the most caring, the most committed to helping others? Advertisement Recalling our childhood experiences, my brother and I started working nine years ago to help the next generation understand the power they have to make a difference. We wanted to show them that they were not alone in their desire to make an impact, and that together they were an incredible force for change. We called the idea WE Day. Our first venue had only two small trees as set design, and we'd borrowed them from a shop. We promoted the event on social media and through schools, and over 7,000 young people flooded in. They were hungry for a positive message--that even small actions can make a difference. Today, more than ever, I see the urgency for this message. Where political rallies have done more to divide the country than build a platform for change, and where media outlets broadcast a new brand of pessimism, children are learning to choose "us" over "them," to fear the "other" they've never met, and to feel powerless against tide of problems. What we teach our children is critically important--and there is no more important lesson than this: much more unites us than divides us. I've seen WE Day grow from a makeshift pep rally into an authentic movement. It's fills stadiums in 14 cities, bringing together 200,000 youth leaders each year to celebrate their commitment to service. I've seen that young people collecting pennies in jars can raise millions for the causes they care about. I've watched kids trick or treating on Halloween, asking neighbors for canned goods for the food bank. Their small, earnest actions are creating a tidal wave of change. Advertisement These young people come from all backgrounds and from every neighborhood. Where service learning is often seen as the privilege of private school students and a padding for their resumes, the majority of the U.S. schools we work with are Title 1 eligible, where many children are from low-income families. We want WE Day to be an equal playing field, so you don't buy a ticket you earn it through service. Students take action on the issues they care about through a free, yearlong service-learning program that teaches them to lead. The program is strong in cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles, and is making its way to Baltimore and St. Louis, Missouri, to communities where violence, racism and poverty are rife, and youth are often perceived as problems to be solved. It's time to change the narrative and elevate youth to be the problem-solvers. Following the Republican and Democratic National Conventions of the past month--a spectacle that served to boost ratings and fire up the political bases--we take inspiration from young people like Burgos, who bring a message of unity above all. Long after Election Day comes and goes, these are the leaders we must continue to rally around. The WE Day broadcast aired on August 28th on ABC but in case you missed it you can watch it now on Hulu by clicking here. Advertisement The wave of mass casualty events across Europe and the U.S. raises serious questions about the cornerstones of liberal democracies, which are not only anchored in the concept of freedom to, but in the concept of freedom from. In this case, freedom to congregate in public places, attend school, ride a train, enjoy a concert or travel in safety are all in the crosshairs of an increasingly violent world, where terrorism and other mass casualty events have honed in on so-called soft targets. The solace and public solidarity following each one of these tragedies must soon give way to lasting solutions and political will for enhancing physical security and public safety. For these solutions to take hold, however, a series of political, societal and business tradeoffs must be made. Freedom from mass violence In the U.S. for example, where 301,797 lives were claimed by gun violence from 2005 to 2015, people cannot become inured to these events*. Becoming desensitized to mass violence, whatever the cause, stymies the very political will that is needed to drive change. While the frequency of U.S. mass casualty events is sure to make these tragedies feel 'normal,' they should be treated as aberrations in an orderly, peaceable society and something for which sacrifices must be made to bring these events to a halt. The right to bear arms can no longer trump the right to life and freedom of movement. At least two mass-casualty events in Europe, the axe attack on a passenger train in Germany and the more recent attack on a passenger train in Switzerland, while appalling in their violence, the comparative difficulty in obtaining firearms surely led to a lower overall casualty count. While the difficulty in obtaining firearms in Europe has triggered the use of alternative weapons of mass violence, such as the truck used in Nice during Bastille Day celebrations or other crude instruments, there is no question public safety is enhanced due to gun control measures. When active shooter events, which will be difficult but not impossible to contain, no longer trigger a gun buying spree, the U.S. will be on the right track. Advertisement Compared to the U.S., Europe has other challenges in terms of its physical security and public safety. Contrary to popular rhetoric, these challenges are largely home grown and not part of a concerted terror export strategy from ISIS or its sympathizers, reminding us that hateful ideologies are not subject to border controls. Rather, as evidenced by the fact that the vast number of perpetrators of Europe's wave of terror, which began with the January 7, 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks and have increased in audacity, frequency and geographic scope ever since, are in fact European nationals. Where U.S. public safety is largely a case of citizen against citizen combined with excessively easy access to assault weapons, Europe's public safety challenges are largely driven by marginalized populations, porous borders and a general lack of coordination and decisiveness on collective security. For example, EU nationals who travel to join ISIS, should be on a one-way trip revoking their right of return and freedom from military reprisal. Arguably, Germany's public safety challenges with migrants have as much to do with the fact that Germany has been overwhelmed with asylum seekers by remaining steadfast to its humanitarian commitments, while other EU countries erected barriers to entry heavily straining the 31 year old Schengen Agreement. Comparatively fewer migrants or refugees have arrived in Belgium and yet it has been the scene of some of the most appalling attacks in continental Europe, including the March 22, 2016 suicide bombings on the Brussels airport - carried out in a well-coordinated manner by a sleeper cell largely comprised of EU nationals. Many of these attacks may be inspired or directed by ISIS and its deft use of social media, aggrandizing barbaric acts, yet the public safety challenges in Europe remain largely a domestic affair. Greater coordination and a true pan-European approach must replace retrenchment and nationalistic sentiments, which are sweeping across the continent. If history is any guide, xenophobic political movements have posed greater threats to public safety than anything we are seeing today and we should not wager that their modern variants will be any less dangerous if they rise to power. Advertisement Virtual privacy and physical security On both sides of the Atlantic, officials and the public are finding it harder than ever to find equilibrium between the right to privacy and security, which are increasingly at odds as more cases emerge challenging conventional wisdom. Here to we cannot blithely accept an incursion in either direction. Instead we need sensible anticipatory policies modernizing existing laws, many of which predate the digital age and ubiquitous smart devices registering every movement of both the innocent and criminal. Apple's stance against the FBI over Syed Farook's locked iPhone garnered more news coverage than the San Bernardino attack itself, which claimed 14 lives. This case brought the dilemma of privacy versus security to new heights and demonstrated Apple's stubborn adherence to its value system, even at the risk of eroding shareholder value. Yet it is hard to say whether the right process or outcomes prevailed in this case, as privacy and security are not tradeoffs, but rather locked in co-movement. If the location of a ticking dirty bomb were hidden in a locked iPhone it would surely garner a very different response and a greater sense of urgency from the public, Apple and the FBI. How to navigate the intersection of digital security and physical security remains largely unresolved and will require new and at times uncomfortable approaches to public-private collaboration. Augmented reality, augmented risk While comparatively trivial, the advent of Pokemon Go underscores the intersection of virtual security and physical security. Despite the fact that the Pokemon Go craze is a relatively new phenomenon, there are already a number of well-documented physical security risks and incursions. While most have remained reasonably controlled, augmented reality augurs a new frontier between privacy and security, where physical risks may very well flow from an otherwise innocuous game. One misplaced Pokemon, for example, and the somber grounds of the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. were raided by Pokemon hunters triggering museum officials to implore them to search elsewhere. Already, lawsuits against Niantic, Inc. and Nintendo, Pokemon Go's creators, are being drummed up claiming physical security risks and incursions on private property. The nascent case log against augmented reality firms will push both the boundaries of vicarious liability and legal absurdity. It would not be surprising if one day Pikachoo, a star Pokemon, is a named defendant in a murder trial or terrorist conspiracy. Physical security as competitive advantage Soft targets exist in no small measure because other more desirable targets harden. While the concept is unpalatable, in our violent times where mass casualty events are a global phenomenon, investing in physical security is not only prudent, it is a source of competitive advantage for businesses and other organizations. The physical, emotional and economic toll from these events have bankrupted many an organization. Sandy Hook Elementary School reemerging from the ashes for example, took an unprecedented investment from all of the stakeholders in Newtown, Connecticut. The mass shooting on Virginia Tech's campus, cost nearly $50 million, not to mention the incalculable emotional and physical toll levied on the victims and their loved ones. Even the threat of indirect events is exacting a heavy toll on cities, communities and businesses. The GDP at risk in Brussels following a citywide shutdown during the 10 day manhunt for the plotters of the Bataclan massacre in Paris, levied a heavy indirect economic toll on the city - the veritable capital of Europe - and its businesses. In December of 2015, Los Angeles cancelled classes for approximately 1 million students in an unprecedented shutdown of its school system following a bomb threat, which later turned out to be a hoax. The same threat was issued against New York Schools, where the comparatively hardened New York security officials called the bluff. The costs of direct and indirect events, when uninsured, are borne by businesses, public funds and ultimately tax payers. Advertisement Where policymakers have been slow to mount a meaningful response to eroding public safety and an increasingly complex physical security landscape, commercial solutions abound. From business continuity insurance, including the loss of revenue due to indirect events, including war and terrorism, offered by Lloyd's, to insurance against active shooter events or cyber bullying, increasingly innovative financial protection is being offered by specialized firms. Leading risk advisors like Kroll help fill the decision making void by integrating a wide range of physical and cyber security solutions with expert advice, monitoring and other measures. Sadly, until there is broader political and public will to enhance safety and security through policy, private sector firms will continue playing a vital role. As always, the first line of defense in any public safety and physical security strategy are well advised, alert people who are willing to act in the event of a threat. Warning: Includes extensive detail about Sunday's finale of The Night Of. HBO did one of two things Sunday with The Night Of: It either played us for suckers or set us up for another spin on a great thrill ride. Me, I'm going for the great thrill ride option. That view, I'm quite sure, is not unanimous. The Night Of was billed as a "limited series," meaning among other things that viewers could expect a resolution to the storylines. That sort-of happened Sunday in the eighth and last episode. Former college student Nasir Khan (Riz Ahmad) was set free after being tried for the brutal murder of troubled young Andrea Cornish (Sofia D'Elia Black). Advertisement Khan's jury deadlocked, 6-6, and the prosecution said it would not seek a retrial. The reason: Prosecutor Helen Weiss (Jeannie Berlin) and lead cop Dennis Box (Bill Camp) suddenly found what they considered a better suspect: Ray Halle (Paolo Costanzo), a money guy whose previous appearances had been brief and unsuspicious. So if someone wanted to do a second series, this engine is all gassed up and ready to roll. HBO has not said whether it plans that second series. Based on viewership and critical acclaim, you'd think the network would be nuts not to. If it does, it could follow the Fargo model and create another whole different case. Or, based on what we saw Sunday, it could feature at least some of the same players now trying to track down Halle, who's a slippery weasel where Nas, initially, was a scared bunny. So here's a question: Can you satisfyingly wrap up one complex story while setting up its sequel? Theoretically, yes. In reality, it's almost impossible. We learned Sunday that Nas wasn't convicted, which was nominally the central question in The Night Of. But in fact, the show became sufficiently rich and nuanced that it raised dozens of other questions in which viewers also become invested - and many of them were left dangling. Advertisement Nas may be free, but he's lost. His lawyer, Chandra Kapoor (Amara Karan), seems to have thrown away her life and career. We have no idea whether Nas's mother and father (Poorna Jagannathan and Peyman Moaadi) can put their businesses and lives back together. Now all this may have been the specific intent of creators Steve Zaillian and Richard Price. They may have been making the point that when lives get shattered, sometimes they can't be put back together in any orderly way, that people may just have to stumble along until they fall or regain their footing. A second series could make that same point. Or, like most dramas, it could provide a little more resolution. If John Turturro came back for a second season as low-rent lawyer John Stone - and if I had a vote, I'd say don't film a single frame without him - he would probably not change. A lonely life, with its bizarre touchstones of a cat and eczema, seems to be his fate, even after Sunday's finale showed us how much more he could be if he set his sights a little higher. Turturro's performance Sunday was one of the reasons I personally find it hard to get angry with The Night Of. Advertisement Yes, the show was playing a little dramatic three-card monte with us. Introducing a pretty-much-new prime suspect at the end of a nine-hour show blindsides us, even if in real life it could happen. The Night Of also could have given us more background on Kapoor, whose two critical terrible decisions - to kiss Nas and to put him on the witness stand - might have made more dramatic sense if we had seen more of her story and maybe a little less of the eczema support group. That said, it was the kind of show that made you want to keep watching. The closing arguments, by Stone and Weiss, were brilliant drama. Stone, who found it so stressful he had to go to the hospital first, turned his wise-guy style into eloquence. Weiss internally battled her growing moral misgivings even as she was arguing out loud against them. Starting a startup is hard, but scaling it is even harder. This was the big realization I had when my startup organization YouthHack was facing growing pains as we started to expand our programs all over the world. I'm thankful to have gotten the opportunity to learn how a company scales through my 10-week summer internship at Uber Philippines. With the best managers I could've asked for Internships are the perfect time to build your skillset Coming into the internship, I wasn't sure what to expect as an intern in the City Operations team. I figured that I would be using previous skills that I already had in marketing, content, sales and business development. However, I quickly found out on my first day that I was on the Strategic Analytics team and that I would be doing analytics using Excel and the statistical programming language called R, which I had to learn during my first week while working on my first project. Advertisement The struggle was real but with the help of my managers, a lot of Googling, and a lot of time spent watching tutorials, I was eventually able to get the hang of using R, doing statistical analysis with Excel and automating my R scripts using the web framework called Shiny. Listen to your users, they know best 'Build something users want', is a famous quote that Silicon Valley startup accelerator Y Combinator likes to preach. It was at Uber where I got to see this motto practiced day in and day out. Uber truly makes it an effort to listen to both its partner-drivers and its riders. I still remember all the surveys I had to send to gather information about our users, all the support tickets we had to answer, feedback and comments we had to process, and thousands of data points I had to analyze with the goal of making sure users of Uber have the best experience. Small changes can make a big difference When you're working in a company that serves thousands if not millions of people each day, every single detail is extremely important. One of the early lessons my manager imparted to me was how to not only double-check my work but also triple-check it. Advertisement Hand in hand, it's amazing to see how one small feature, implementation, email or detail can make such a big difference in how a city moves. One of my proudest moments was improving the pickup view of the app for one of Manila's biggest malls Megamall, and then seeing tweets of riders talk about how it helped them get picked up faster. I got the chance to lead a delivery team for Uber Ice Cream as well Give numbers a chance Not being the best at quantitative skills or the biggest fan of my statistics class back in college, I wasn't really the best in crunching numbers. However, interning at Uber showed me the importance of numbers and always backing up every assumption and every idea I had with numbers. Whether it was collecting data to validate potential projects or testing for the statistical significance of certain features I had rolled out, I got to see how data is used to measure the impact of projects and in making strategic decisions. Suddenly, I had a newfound appreciation for numbers. Process is extremely important Throughout my internship, I tried to soak in as many lessons as I could learn about how a company scales. Looking back at all the notes I took down in my Evernote notebook, this was the one lesson that kept popping up--process is extremely important. Whether it was writing reports for the rest of the team to know what I was doing or updating my managers on the status of my projects or creating playbooks on best practices and lessons learned from the projects I worked on, it was evident how much Uber cared about creating processes in order to keep things sustainable and scalable. Advertisement Seize every opportunity, even those that you aren't qualified for With one week left in my internship, I remember that one message the General Manager had sent on our interns group asking if someone wanted to help him build an application to streamline one of our processes. He was looking for someone, who could 'sprint on it for the next three days'. While I didn't have any background on the app creator and scripting language he wanted to use, after viewing a quick tutorial and going through the specifications with the General Manager and realizing the importance of what he wanted me to build, I decided to give it a shot. Although the project turned into a 3-week long project that had me coming in to work even after my official internship end date, I finished up the project knowing that the application I had built would be used by thousands of people in the Philippines. All smiles during our interns out of town trip to Tali, Batangas It's all about the people I ended my internship at Uber not only developing new skills and learning how a company scales but also becoming best of friends with 27 other co-interns. In over two months spent interning together, we got to see each other struggle through different challenges, work on real projects, and celebrate small wins and big wins. We'd stay in the office until 9pm, 10pm, and sometimes even past 11pm finishing up our projects and exchanging stories about life. We simply weren't just co-interns anymore. We were a family making magic happen, and witnessing how Uber has impacted our country and the lives of Filipinos at an unprecedented rate. Advertisement As I headed home on my very last day, it was clear to me what the most important thing is when it comes to scaling a company: it's all about the people. Special thanks to my co-interns for all the #mems, the full-time employees for all the lessons and kwento-sessions, and of course, my Strategic Analytics managers for believing in me, giving me the opportunity to take on real projects and for being ever so supportive throughout my 10-week internship. Photo by Antoine La Gomme "Now when I was a little chap I had a passion for maps. I would look for hours at South America, or Africa, or Australia, and lose myself in the glories of exploration. At that time there were many blank spaces on the earth, and when I saw one that looked particularly inviting on a map (but they all look that) I would put my finger on it and say, 'When I grow up I will go there... True, by this time it was not a blank space any more. It had got filled since my boyhood with rivers and lakes and names. It had ceased to be a blank space of delightful mystery--a white patch for a boy to dream gloriously over. It had become a place of darkness." -- Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness My fascination with the white spaces on maps began before my earliest memories-- on an adventurous family trip to see Apollo 14 launch from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A in Merritt Island, Fla., on January 31, 1971--exactly two weeks before my second birthday. My memories of that trip come from home movies shot at Cape Canaveral by my father, who had procured special tickets for our young family to watch the manned lunar mission escape Earth just a chip shot away from where then-Vice President Spiro Agnew also was observing. Advertisement Perched atop my pea-green, short plastic "car seat" on the folded-flat and carpeted tailgate of our 1969 Grand Torino station wagon, I'm sure my father agreed with James T. Kirk's declaration that space was, in fact, the final frontier. At the time, our family lived in Baltimore where my father was in medical school at Johns Hopkins University. He was a resident and had provided medical services for a secretary who had access to special tickets reserved for military personnel at Cape Canaveral. Despite my mother having just given birth to my sister, Sara, three weeks earlier, we packed up the car with my older brother, Tim (age 3 1/2) and me (almost two). Seeing a launch was that important to my parents. The idea of driving more than 13 hours with two boys under the age of five and a newborn to watch a lunar mission launch seemed normal when we were growing up, because my parents just did those kinds of things. There was no age-limit to our family (ultimately of six kids) adventures. Whether bareboating in the Out Islands of the Bahamas or visiting dude ranches in Colorado. Toddlers made the same trips as teenagers. Advertisement Above is footage of the Apollo 14 launch my father shot with his Super-8 camera in 1971: Happily, my father's passion for adventure travel became my own and is a rich legacy I've passed on to my own children. Having taken my first steps on Earth just months after Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon in 1969, I harbored fantasies about becoming an astronaut. My older brother and I had NASA jumpsuits, climbed on giant rocket ships at the playground, and drank Tang for breakfast. We rode Space Mountain at Disney World when it first opened (I was five and my mother was six-months-pregnant with my sister, Jane, on my first and her last ride). Later, we explored the future at the Epcot Center and made multiple trips to Florida to witness the first Space Shuttle launches. In the late 1970s, Star Wars was the only movie that my parents would pay for the whole family to see twice. For Generation X--my generation--space exploration heavily defined who we are and the limits of our imaginations. Space missions have changed dramatically in my lifetime--the effect they have on our daily lives has become more important even if it feels significantly less romantic to the masses today than in the 1960s and '70s. The scientific, military, and commercial applications of space exploration help us better understand the world we live in, keep us safer, and make life infinitely more convenient. For example, as I write this, I am flying from Miami to Los Angeles while connected via satellite to the Internet for the entire trip. Advertisement As the world becomes more populated and global travel easier and cheaper, open spaces on maps that haven't been filled in completely with names are becoming harder to find. French Guiana is one such space. The small French overseas department is a unique combination of broad blank spaces for adventure tourists as well as the home of one of the ultimate launching pads to the brightest of the unmarked territories. With its European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana offers for space tourism today what Cape Canaveral did in the 1970s. More than half of the global commercial satellite launches take place at the French Guianan Spaceport each year via Arianespace, the private French space company that was for France what NASA used to be for the United States. While getting to French Guiana isn't easy and it's hardly a five-star luxury destination for pampered tourists, there are few launch sites on Earth that offer the equivalent of front-row seats like we had at NASA launches in the U.S., during the 1960s and '70s. When I received the invitation to head to French Guiana with my 21-year-old son, Schuyler, to observe a heavy-lift rocket launch with Arianespace (Schuyler had interned with the company the previous summer), I first needed to spend some time searching the Internet to figure out where I had been invited. Like many American citizens, I had no idea that one of the most active global space centers in the world sits just south of where Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen escaped Devil's Island, the former French penal colony, in the 1973 film Papillion. Advertisement "Isn't that in Africa?" was a common question I heard from even well-traveled friends. Apparently European space exploration as a notion is as impenetrable to the American imagination as the jungle was to Marlow on his trek to find Kurtz. Turns out my preconceptions about European space missions were about as naive as my ideas about French Guiana. As is often the way with scientific discovery, going into the jungle--to land that scarcely has been touched by humans--proffers solutions to many of our more complicated modern problems. It's also an enticing destination for Americans (and others) who want to view a space launch and experience pristine empty spaces on maps in one exotic trip. Civilization is scarce in this corner of the world. French Guiana is similar in geographic size than South Carolina, but has a population that is 20 percent smaller than the city of Greenville. There are so few people and so much foliage in French Guiana's interior that the French Foreign Legion operates its elite jungle warfare school here. In addition to protecting the Guiana Space Centre, the Legionnaires also are busy defending the border with Brazil against illegal strip miners who are poisoning the environment as they rape the earth to extract gold, like modern day Conquistadors. The borders are loosely mapped and disputed. People pass national boundaries on the frontier without passports and this can cause conflict. Conflict requires defense. The airport at Cayenne isn't fancy but it's efficient. The total time from exiting the plane until we picked up our bags and got on our bus bound for the space hotels was less than 30 minutes. As Schuyler and I walked outside, the heat, humidity, and rich jungle odors bombarded our senses. This definitely wasn't Orlando, Fla. Advertisement Culturally, French Guiana felt like stepping back in time. It's hard to place the era--perhaps somewhere between Harrison Ford's 1980 film Mosquito Coast and a down-market version of Catherine Deneuve's Indochine, (except there is no Hotel Metropole in this Hanoi). One afternoon we sat along the river in Sinnamary, a place that time and visitors have largely forgotten. Locals seemed friendly enough, but I was scolded for straying from our Arianespace bus and strolling into town on my own. Sinnamary City still retains a WWI monument to fallen French soldiers in the trenches of the Western Front, and many buildings have succumbed to the decay that jungle rain, heat, and humidity invariably bring. The Sinnamary River is about a couple hundred yards wide, muddy brown and edged with mangroves. Covered riverboats, not unlike Bogey's African Queen, are moored there for fishing as well as taking passengers and supplies farther into the interior. Lunch that afternoon included options for meat and fish (always order the Acoupa, by the way) as well as an "assortment of game meat fricassee" that delivered on the surprise. When the mixed meat appeared, some of the rich, gamey meat was still in its shell. Armadillo on the half-shell was a culinary first for Schuyler and me. By and large for most Americans, any romantic fascination with space travel disappeared around the same time as Betamax tapes and Bugle Boy parachute pants did. By the time my sons were growing up, NASA was shutting down. I couldn't take them to watch the launches the way my father had with me. (That it was my son's work with Ariane which garnered me access to both the French Guianan launch and an invitation to meet with Stephan Israel, the CEO of Arianespace, is an irony not lost on me.) Advertisement Israel's plans for one of the few profitable space companies that is moving toward more sustainable solutions are impressive, but the question I felt an awkward need to ask was whether Ariane and the European Spaceport were open to more space tourists visiting the center and witnessing a launch? It wasn't a normal business question. But without hesitation, Israel directly engaged the question and noted a challenge of European space programs is the lack of manned space travel. "Europe did not have the romanticism of space travel because we did not have manned space flights," Israel said. "It would benefit French Guiana and European space programs to have more public engagement." (Arianespace happily would help arrange visitor access to launches, he added.) If and when you visit the Guiana Space Centre, part of the adventure is actually standing where launches still happen. We rode on a CSG tour bus through miles of rain forest and savannahs to visit both the smaller Vega (Italian) and Soyuz (Russian) rocket launch facilities. From the Vega launch site, we were able to get within two miles of the Ariane-5 rocket that was being fueled for launch later that evening and had to carry gas masks in the event of a gas leak. At the space center, there are two main observation areas for the public: Toucan, which is 5 kilometers (roughly three miles) away, an outdoor viewing area--the closest you can get to the launch without needing to be safely inside a blast bunker. Farther out is the Jupiter observation facility, a more refined and VIP indoor viewing experience alongside the senior control room. Advertisement Both are interesting places to view a launch, but Schuyler and I opted to view the launch outside-- as close as possible--to feel the vibrations and watch the rocket arc across the night sky with nothing between us but the warm, humid night air. When we look from space at Earth, the big blue marble, it quickly becomes clear that what we need isn't more boundaries, fences, and borders. Cooperation and partnership are the creative building blocks of a better future. An obvious first step would be to start focusing on how we organize to solve near-term problems with long-term partnerships that bring us closer together and make us more human. There are few blank places on maps left to explore. Nearly every inch of land and water is named and claimed by nations. Some borders and barriers are in dispute. The names are what separate us, darkening the white spaces. But space itself remains blank and access to it is what should make nations allies. We ought not create new borders, names, and hearts of darkness when it comes to allowing access to the great blankness of space. As Schuyler and I stood under a sparsely-clouded night sky, feeling the earth shake and watching the French Ariane-5 successfully lift a US-made Boeing heavy payload communications satellite into geostationary orbit, it reminded me of a memory I only know from the Super-8 film of a tow-headed toddler watching Apollo 14 with his own father 45 years ago. Advertisement I wondered where my son's generation will take this planet, and whether our romantic ideas about space and adventure could be glue that holds our Earth together, ultimately making it a better home for all of us. The so-called Islamic State is losing ground. The liberation of Mosul, Iraq's third most populous city, may be the Baghdad government's next objective. Yet even as the "caliphate" shrinks in the Middle East, Daesh, as the group also is known, is increasing its murderous attacks on Western civilians. Washington's intervention actually has endangered Americans. In contrast to al-Qaeda, which always conducted terrorism, ISIS originally focused on creating a caliphate, or quasi-state. Daesh's territorial designed conflicted with many nations in the Mideast: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Gulf kingdoms. Advertisement The Obama administration did not intervene out of necessity: ISIS ignored America. Moreover, the movement faced enemies which collectively had a million men under arms; several possessed sophisticated air forces. Washington's concern for those being killed by the Islamic State was real, but casualties lagged well behind the number of deaths in other lands routinely ignored by the U.S. The administration seemed most motivated by the sadistic murder of two Americans who had been captured by ISIS in Syria. Although barbaric, these acts did not justify intervention in another Mideast war. Washington took control of the anti-ISIS campaign but waged a surprisingly lackluster effort. The administration recognized that there was no domestic support for ground troops so mixed bombing and drone strikes with support for "moderate" Syrian rebels, who proved to be generally ineffective. Turkey sought to play the U.S., pushing Washington to oust Syria's Bashar al-Assad, while tolerating Daesh. Now Ankara is attacking America's Kurdish allies in the fight against ISIS in the name of fighting ISIS. The Syrian government attempted to use the specter of the Islamic State to weaken Western support for its overthrow. Iraq's Shia-dominated government wanted a bail-out while maintaining sectarian rule. The Sunni Gulf countries expected America to take care of their problems, as usual. Advertisement The campaign always was ATO: American and The Others. Iraq's government and military were in disarray. The Gulf States soon effectively dropped out. Saudi Arabia dragged Washington into a most foolish military diversion, a war with Yemen's Houthis. Iran turned out to be America's reluctant but most effective partner. Now Daesh is in retreat--it has lost almost half of the territory it held in Iraq and one-fifth in Syria. But the group remains surprisingly resilient for an increasingly unpopular and only modestly armed group facing a coalition including the U.S., Europe, and most of the Middle East. Unfortunately, defeat has turned the Islamic State toward terrorism, including in the West. As was predictable. After the horrid attacks in Paris late last year, French President Francois Hollande declared that his nation was at war. But it had been bombing ISIS-held territory for 14 months. The only surprise was that it took Daesh so long to retaliate so spectacularly. Had the U.S. and Europe left the battle to those directly threatened, the latter would have had no choice but to take the lead. And the fight would have been largely contained within the Middle East. The Islamic State would have had to focus on the enemy literally at its gates, rather than its abstract Western enemies afar. Advertisement As ISIS recedes Washington should step back. Unfortunately, the administration's plan to increase U.S. forces by 560 to about 6000 for the coming Mosul assault will tie America more closely to the sectarian government in Baghdad and its close partner, Iran-supported Shia militias which have committed numerous civilian atrocities. Washington understandably prefers an unsympathetic Iraqi government to a threatening Islamic State, but should remain in the background. Baghdad should be left responsible for its own mistakes and crimes. Seeking to build up a "moderate" insurgency to battle both Damascus and ISIS has proved to be a fool's errand. U.S.-backed forces too often surrendered both personnel and weapons to the radicals. Backing Riyadh in Yemen is a disaster. Saudi Arabia has turned the long-running insurgency into a sectarian conflict, while Yemenis blame America for civilian atrocities committed by the Saudis. Washington should stop pretending that it is capable of juggling so many contending factions. And the U.S. certainly should stop making more enemies. Advertisement America faces a genuine terrorist threat, though it is largely indigenous, inspired by foreign killers. Alas, the number of terrorists will continue to increase as Washington makes other people's conflicts its own. Instead, the U.S. should focus on those targeting Americans. One resource, buried underground and in finite supply, is increasingly becoming the lynchpin of modern economies. There is fierce competition for its use and we don't know how much of it can be exploited sustainably. It is not oil. It is groundwater. By 2030, almost half of the global population (that's 3.9 billion people) is expected to experience severe water scarcity. This is predicted to shave six per cent off GDP in the driest regions. As the food riots of 2008 demonstrated, it also spells potential disaster for food security, as irrigation for agriculture uses the lion's share of water supplies. Groundwater, found in sand and rock under the earth's surface, provides a critical lifeline for water-stressed communities where rainfall and river flows fluctuate. In fact, groundwater already irrigates more than 40% of irrigated land. It contributes to the health of local communities, ecosystems and economic growth, through its reliable, steady supply. Yet an increasingly variable climate and growing populations have accelerated demand for groundwater beyond sustainable levels. Advertisement In some areas of the world, such as the Middle East and South Asia, we are at risk of running groundwater reserves dry. Due to its "hidden" nature underground, groundwater has not historically received the same level of attention as surface water, nor had the same sustainability measures applied to it. But after explicit recognition for groundwater at the climate talks in Paris in 2015, society is more ready for a rethink. What do we need to do to sustain this vital commodity? It will start with good policy. Around the world, many governments have begun to implement new measures as a response to local crises, such as farmers no longer being able to access dropping water levels putting their livelihoods at risk or local communities receiving unsafe water supplies due to groundwater contamination. In southwestern India, aquifers are already overdrawn, thanks in part to heavily subsidised electricity rates for pumping groundwater. Researchers are now piloting a scheme which subsidises solar pumps instead and allows farmers to sell excess power to the local electric company. By offering farmers an incentive not to overpump, as they can get cash for excess energy, this approach not only protects groundwater reserves, but also reduces energy footprints and curtails carbon emissions related to pumping. (Credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan, IWMI) In Quinxu County in China, home to 193 villages, water levels were falling 1.6 metres per year. To tackle this, the county government modernised all irrigation wells and equipped them with pre-paid smart card readers. Since groundwater was declared a state property in 2002, water quotas were fixed for various sectors, townships, and villages, and within them, for farmers. A 'water price ladder' that differentiated the price for the domestic, industrial, service and agriculture sectors was enforced. The price rose sharply if the quota was exceeded. Overuse of groundwater reserves decreased dramatically as a result, while food production was only partly compromised. Advertisement In Morocco, the water table of the Saiss deep aquifer has fallen by anannual average of 3 metres over the past 20 years. The government has invested in a number of initiatives to address this, from capturing surface water and directing it to replenish aquifers, engaging farmers locally in managing groundwater collectively, and giving subsidies to farmers to implement smarter systems that use less water such as drip irrigation. However, these water-efficient technologies can also increase the overall area of irrigation carried out, which benefits individuals but does not necessarily lead to the expected water savings. Such complexities must be recognised and managed accordingly. But the hard work doesn't stop with good policies. We have a colossal challenge to ensure that they translate into action and sustainable and equitable outcomes. Solutions will differ in each region of the world (some regions like parts of sub-Saharan Africa and eastern India even need to step up use of groundwater for agriculture rather than limit it) and there are many trade-offs and competing goals at stake. That is why the Groundwater Solutions Initiative for Policy and Practice (GRIPP) has identified common elements of success that can inform global action. To begin with, we need a better understanding of the global state of our groundwater. We must invest in regionally specific research, and build the capacity of local communities to monitor and safeguard their own groundwater reserves and its use. New ICT technologies are also showing much promise. For example, the International Water Management Institute has begun to use drones to monitor the water scarce area of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. Satellite observations are being used to measure water productivity. These could be indirect ways to map groundwater abstraction as irrigated surfaces in rural areas expand. Rule-enforcement is also going to be vital. No matter how sophisticated or forward-thinking policy and legislation is, if it is not well enforced, depletion will continue. Pairing enforcement with incentive structures for changing behaviour (either to increase use or constrain over-abstractions) can be an effective path forward. Long-term partnerships at the country level to manage tradeoffs with other sectors, such as agriculture, health, energy and the environment will also be important to achieving locally-appropriate solutions. Advertisement Within GRIPP, we work on documenting practical lessons learned from policies and tested solutions in groundwater management at a global, national and sub-national level. These are made easily accessible to decision makers, and pave the way for solutions to be shared across continents. Vidya V. Trivedi, my grandmother, passed away a year ago. To me, she passed down her hairline, her Gujarati daal recipe, her love of storytelling. I never properly thanked her. My grandma wasn't perfect, (nobody is, though it's tempting to remember the dead that way) but she did what she could with what she had, and then some. She only went to school until fifth grade, and always said she wanted to learn more, that she learned English quickly for that one year they taught it to her, but the schools kept shutting down so she wasn't able to finish. She spoke reverently of her parents; I imagine she missed them dearly. My grandma got married in her late teens, in India, in 1947. She married a freedom fighter and had supported the cause for azaadi, for freedom from British Raj. She always used to joke that she lost her own independence the year India gained it. She had nine pregnancies, eight children, seven daughters. She knew pain well, and prayer too. Alongside my grandfather and often with my dad and his sisters, she visited Shantikunj, in Haridwar, an ashram where she completed countless anusthaans and met with our gurus, Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya and Mata Bhagwati Devi Sharma. She fasted devotedly and memorized all the prayers she chanted. Older, wiser, tired, after weddings and grandchildren expanded her clan, she and my grandfather temporarily followed my dad into diaspora, holding my baby brother's hand in pictures at Chicago's Sears Tower, the Saint Louis Gateway Arch, and the beautiful BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Chicago. A world so vastly different, so far. Steadfastly and until her dying days, she was not afraid of hard workout of necessity perhaps, or maybe habit, unwavering regardless. In the tradition of women of our kind, the soles of her feet were cracked and the muscles in her forearms were strong. While she worked, she told stories. She told tales of Narad Muni and Narasimha, of angry rishis and selfless children, Shabri's devotion, Hanuman's strength, Arjun and Eklavya's archery, Indra's court in devlok. I think she knew them all. She told the stories to anyone who would listen, and with every beginning, I couldn't wait to hear the middle and the end. I was educated by this woman, the one who never got past fifth grade. One summer when I was in middle school, we watched all 94 episodes of the 1988 Mahabharata TV series. Twice. My grandfather and older sister watched with us often, but it was my grandmother and I who never missed an episode. She wouldn't let me skip past the narration at the beginning when the the voice of Time preambled the action, and we would pause periodically so she could tell the backstory when context or details from scripture were left out in the visualization. Even when my sister and I just wanted to get to the action, my grandma found joy in each story's telling. Though I've now forgotten most of the stories, I remember that joy. Beyond Meat's bleeding beetburger could not exist without beets. Were it not for the butternut squash, Purple Carrot's butternut squash tacos would be bare, bereft tortillas. Dazzled as we are by tech-savvy food innovation, as New Orleans' recent Farm to Table Experience reminds us, what we eat doesn't start in the lab, it starts from the ground up. F2Te, a weekend of presentations (including, ahem, mine), growing and kitchen demos, social events, chefs challenges and hands-on workshops brought people who care about the source of their food, whether they're growers, chefs, vendors, public servants, authors, artisans, educators, nutritionists or just people who care about what they eat. We got to connect with each other and reconnect with the source of our food. In an increasingly app- and meal kit-driven market, a lot can get lost between farm and table, including authenticity. The thing is, we like pretty. Whether you're a celeb chef on Chopped or just take pics of your dinner on your i-phone, you know we eat with our eyes. But our drive for pretty food is at odds with feeding the world and feeding ourselves. Globally, we waste a third -- up to half --of what we grow because we feel it's lacking in the looks department. Advertisement When you throw out a bruised tomato or an ugly eggplant, you're throwing out all the resources it took to produce it, from the grower's labor to the water that irrigated the crop. Then consider that one in seven of us is hungry. There's no way that's sustainable in any sense of the term. Food waste was a big topic at F2Te. A panel led by Food Tank president Danielle Nierenberg addressed both its challenges and its progress, including apps that reduce food waste by feeding more people. Technology can bring farm and table closer in innovative ways, but often, the real difference happens in person and hands-on, as with Modena chef Massimo Bottura, who stepped away from Osteria Francescana, his best-in-the-world Michelin-starred restaurant, to run a Rio soup kitchen during the Olympics. The menu? Food fashioned from Olympic village discards and donated products. It's the most brilliant use of leftovers ever, and all part of Bottura's brand of activism. He's founder of Food for Soul, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing food waste, reducing hunger and growing community. Advertisement That kind of farm to table may not be venture capital bait and or techno-chic. It's fueled by passion and hard work, as Richard McCarthy, another of F2Te's presenters knows. McCarthy is Executive director of Slow Food USA, , but I first met him right 11 years ago, when he was getting New Orleans' Crescent City Farmers Market back up and running after Hurricane Katrina. For a traumatized community, like New Orleans was back then, like Baton Rouge, still walloped by recent flooding is now, having access to fresh, nourishing food means way more than a meal. In means comfort, connection, hope. Farm to table is not always pretty and it's not always easy. But as F2Te reminds us, it's always essential. It always will be. Ratatouille This classic French dish makes the most of end-of-summer farm-to-table produce, including the less-than-lovely bits. As they simmer, they come together, becoming greater than the sum of their parts, as do we when we gather. 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium eggplant, chopped 1 sweet pepper -- red, yellow or orange, chopped 1 large zucchini (or two small), chopped 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced 2 tomatoes, chopped (or 1 15-ounce can chopped tomatoes) 1/2 cup red wine 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon fennel seeds 1 dash red pepper flakes sea salt to taste In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chopped garlic, giving it a stir. Add chopped onion and cook till they soften and release their fragrance, about 5 minutes. In order, add chopped eggplant, pepper, zucchini and mushrooms. Stir to combine. Stir in chopped tomatoes, wine, cumin, pepper flakes and fennel seeds. Reduce heat to medium and cover, letting the mixture simmer for 20 minutes. Stir again and season with sea salt to taste. Serves 4, doubles like a dream, keeps covered and refrigerated for several days. Scary times, these. Advocates for reproductive justice, already battling restrictive laws in state after state, now have reason to fear an erratic potential president whose Supreme Court choices could disastrously affect generations of women. People with hope, though, just keep working, one person/one voice at a time. Among grassroots efforts to preserve national sanity in general, and protect women in particular, a movement underway this summer is worth noting. CallThemOutFLhttp://callthemoutfl.com/the-issue/ grew out of the creative minds of two young Florida expats, Arianne Keegan and Abigail DeAtley, high school friends from Delray Beach now living in New York. Thanks to statewide redistricting, every seat in the Florida state legislature, both Senate and House of Representatives, is up for election in 2016. This seemed, to Keegan and DeAtley, too good a chance to pass up. Their hope is to shift the balance of what has been an anti-choice legislative body they do not believe has the best interest (or support) of Florida women. Advertisement "When we found out that Florida HB 1411 had passed, and was slated to go into effect on July 1," Keegan says, "we wanted to educate folks, and also to spread the word." HB 1411 adds further monetary restrictions to anti-abortion laws in the state which are among the most stringent in the nation. "We decided to launch a campaign urging individuals to contact their representatives and call them out on how they voted. We see this as an opportunity to let people know about the TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers) laws and how damaging they are, especially to underserved women." (HB 1411 was challenged in court, and remains blocked as that process continues.) The two held their first CTOF event last July 2 in Brooklyn. Some 20 supporters gathered at Molasses Books in Bushwick to discuss the issue, and the oppressive laws. They then wrote more than 100 messages to elected officials on postcards designed for the cause by graphic artist friends of the co-founders. Keegan and DeAtley have also enlisted fellow Florida ex-pats around the country - in Washington DC, New Orleans, Miami and elsewhere - and in a few overseas locations - to host similar events throughout the summer. Toolkits available for such happenings include postcards, factsheets, learning activities and a sample presentation designed to explain the issue and engage audience members in fighting against reproductive oppression. The kits also include specific information on Florida's HB 1411. On the CTOF website is a wealth of information about the issue, in Florida and elsewhere. Will the innovative effort have any definitive impact? The votes aren't in yet. But in this election year anything can happen. By Malika Mehta How do you reach people enslaved in India to inform them that freedom is possible? Call them! Mobile phones are everywhere in India, with 220 million smartphone users throughout the country. Even in rural areas, where access to technology remains low, there is usually at least one phone in a family. This makes mobile phones a perfect tool to disseminate information about basic labor rights. Free the Slaves and Kaarak Enterprise Development Services pilot tested an education and outreach program this year through voice messages to villagers who are vulnerable to trafficking and debt bondage slavery. Kaarak developed four messages in Bhojpuri, a local language in the state of Uttar Pradesh, and started calling people in 192 communities over 28 days. The messages spread awareness about bonded labor slavery. For example: "Since the Bonded Labor Act, it is illegal to force someone to work as a slave because of their caste, under threat of violence or without pay." Another message explains: "You must be paid as much as you deserve and you should be able to understand how payment works." The messages also informed villagers about relief and rehabilitation government programs. Messages explained the role of vigilance committees promoted by FTS and our front-line partner organization MSEMVS to organize communities to resist enslavement. Finally, the messages communicated the risks of migrating for work, and detailed how to avoid traffickers. Advertisement Community members say the messages were welcome: Pappu: "I have been getting several voice messages of downloading songs, buying the products, but this was the first time when I got voice messages for preventing bonded labor. I never realized that voice messages could also be used for educating about rights. It was amazing." Vimla: "I loved the voice of the lady who was calling us, her voice was very sweet and I was feeling connected to her. She was talking to me in my own language. I loved the message and wish I could also get some more messages about accessing government schemes and services." Rita: " I was happy to listen to a voice message with my mother-in-law and felt how important it is to learn about our rights and prevent from any kind of exploitation. I hope that more women and community members were also able to listen." Kaarak circulated 5,376 voice messages and followed-up with focus group discussions and individual surveys. Statistics about the response were heartening. About 92 percent of community members found that information in the messages was new to them, and 79 percent found the information useful and applicable to their situations. Most participants could recall that messages stated bonded labor is illegal in India, a fact that many people did not know. Advertisement The voice message campaign also sparked critical conversations within the communities: 86 percent of respondents discussed the information they learned with their families and 63 percent spoke with other community members. In one community, a woman told Kaarak and FTS staff that she had actually recorded the voice messages. She proudly played these recordings for her family and friends. When the research team asked to hear her recording, she played it for them. Using a recorded message helped people strike up conversations about exploitative working conditions, a topic rarely discussed openly. The candidness brought community members together and strengthened their resolve against slavery. Finding the information particularly helpful, many listeners called the sender ID number for further support. In one instance, a man called because his family had not received wages for their work in a brick kiln. After calling, FTS and its partner worked to help the man and his family, and they finally received the appropriate payments. Another woman said: "When I got a call, I gave the phone to my daughter-in-law so she could hear the message too." This created a snowball effect - the voice messages were successfully teaching vulnerable communities about critical labor rights information. Listeners were open to receiving these messages - in fact, 98 percent of them said they wanted to receive more messages in the future. The listeners trusted the messages and understood them, making it easy for them to act quickly on cases of debt bondage or trafficking. Several cases demonstrate how this outreach project impacted lives. The evaluators recounted one story in particular: "A man from the village of Titarpur was working in a brick kiln with his family and several others. They were not being paid for their work and were owed back wages. When he received a call/message, a contractor noticed and snatched the phone. The contactor was angry about what he heard and called back demanding to know who was calling. The MSEMVS team member explained who he was and some basic legal information about the rights of workers specifically with regards to pay. As a result the workers were given the full pay they deserved." Stories like these provide a great sense of hope. They demonstrate that basic outreach can have an incredible impact. In particular, this innovative project sparked conversation, inspired action and provided slavery victims with a chance of escaping their dire circumstances. Given its success, the hope now is that this model can be replicated elsewhere. Advertisement The movie theater in Kahala, on the backside of Diamond Head on Oahu, was fairly empty with only a handful of cineastes scattered about the small town cinema. The latest work, Knight of Cups, from auteur Terrence Malick, was in for a week. I doubt no longer. Halfway through the edgy film, I pointed to the screen and freely shouted with pride, "There it is!" Then I nudged my friend; I think I woke her up. We had been waiting for the moment. Or at least, I was. Halfway through the film, lead Christian Bale is jumping around, or at least the camera was. Then, the wide screen cuts to: Christian Bale's hand turns the page of the Los Angeles Weekly. The next page offers a wide, colorful banner of bright, exotic art that illustrates a well-written art review. The camera swoops in on the compelling and attention-grabbing artwork. Then, the camera cuts away to Bale or Natalie Portman or Cate Blanchett jumping around an urban L.A. without any traffic. Advertisement This shot in the film was of great interest and honor to me. In the Artist's Life, the rewards are few and light of weight. When something slightly good happens, it must be celebrated, on par with the Second Coming. Even if the prize is a Whoopie Cushion, a fine artist will gladly crawl through glass with gratitude in their heart and blood on the floor. This key shot in Knight of Cups was meaningful as the artwork was mine. The beautifully composed article, a review of my art show, was written by arts journalist Shana Nys Dambrot. It is a shame that Malick didn't linger on the shot to let the audience read the review. It's much more interesting than the movie. Every visual artist in Los Angeles will cross into Hollywoodland at some point in their sojourn. Paintings are needed on the walls of a drug lord, a society matron or a space capsule. Over the years, a few galleries and prop houses hawking fine art have popped up and faded. There's no way to corner the market; in Los Angeles, there are artists everywhere. No one gets rich placing their artwork into Hollywood product. The payoff is generally a hearty handshake and maybe a name in the credits, though that honor is generally left to the Blue Chip artist or the producer's nephew who just graduated from CalArts. Advertisement In my career, I have had several pieces appear in movies, but for the life of me, I forget. Like all pleasures in life, glory is fleeting. I read the reviews of the Terrence Malick film in the New Yorker, the LA Times, Variety and Cahiers du Cinema. Not one mentioned my shot. Maybe journalism and thoughtful criticism are dead. I have to agree with the general consensus of our international cultural elite. Terrence Malick has an amazing eye and a keen sensibility. Natch. Siddarth Narayan wants the president's ear. He knows many young adults are cynical about politics -- they don't believe their opinions are heard and they aren't sure how to enter the political process. But he's working to change that. According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Narayan, 18, a North Allegheny High School graduate from Wexford, is leading the Pennsylvania chapter of the Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council, a group seeking to create a panel of 16- to 24-year-olds that would advise the president and federal policymakers on issues affecting teenagers and young adults. "There's nothing really (for youth) at the executive level that's as important as some other committees we have. That's a real issue," he said. Advertisement As an intern in state House Speaker Mike Turzai's office, Narayan helped usher a resolution through that chamber declaring state support for a Presidential Youth Council. The measure is not binding, but its 183-0 approval is "huge for perception," Narayan said. "A lot of young people feel their voices aren't being heard in the political process, and probably rightfully so," he said. "This resolution should show people that the government cares and that even an 18-year-old can spearhead a way to really make a change in politics." When state lawmakers signed off on the idea in June, Pennsylvania became the fourth state to offer support. New Jersey became the fifth when it approved a similar measure in July. Youth political participation is highest online with more than 35 percent signing an online petition and 20 percent advocating for a candidate on Facebook, according to a 2015 Harvard Public Opinion Poll of Americans ages 18 to 29. Advertisement Outside of that, only 8 percent of that age group had participated in a government- or issues-based organization. Only 6 percent of Republicans and 8 percent of Democrats had volunteered for a political campaign, the poll found. "What I think happens is oftentimes we do not have a constructive approach to listening to what young people have to say," said Turzai, R-Marshall. PLAN FOR SUCCESS The national campaign's strategy is to build support for the creation of a council at the state and federal levels. State directors, such as Narayan, work to pass supportive resolutions in their state House. "I thought, 'Here's somebody who wants to be engaged and he's making the case that not enough young people are involved with the political or governing process -- or have a sense of the political or governing process,' " Turzai said. "It was not hard to be proactively supportive of his idea when you meet someone like Sidd because these are young people who want to be engaged." Local level directors with the campaign are simultaneously lobbying their congressmen to become co-sponsors of House Joint Resolution 47, which supports establishing the youth council. Fifty-four representatives, including Pennsylvania Reps. Mike Fitzpatrick and Charlie Dent, have joined as co-sponsors of that proposal. Advertisement But U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, raised questions as to the effectiveness of such a panel amid the backdrop of about 1,000 other advisory councils and committees providing input to the executive branch. "That age group is as important as any other in America to feel they have a voice and feel they have our ears," Murphy said. "To that extent, good, but I also (caution) there's already a lot of these (panels). ... I hope that such groups also work with us as members of Congress." OFFERING AN OUTLINE Under the proposal, 24 young adults would be appointed to the youth council by congressional leaders and the president based on age, policy participation and the diversity of their backgrounds, according to the federal resolution. There's no set agenda for the council, but Narayan thinks college costs, climate change and wealth equity would be three leading contenders. College tuition and other educational expenses "are probably the issue that affects us most," he said. Advertisement And the minimum wage will be another key issue as more and more teens work to help support themselves, he said. Narayan said he plans to work toward passage of supportive resolutions in the Maryland and Virginia state legislatures when he begins his tenure as a student at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University this fall. He plans to study international economics. "I think it's going to be a lot easier this time because I know exactly how to do it," he said. The title of this post is already going to get me in trouble--anyone who tries to speak of "millennials" as an homogenous population is already engaging in a ridiculous level of reductionism. So let's posit at the outset that the phenomena I am about to describe apply to some not-very-clearly defined sub-set of this not-very-clearly-defined generational cohort. Now let's talk about two polls that came out in the past few weeks. The first one got a flurry of attention. This was the Pew Research poll that asked respondents to choose between one of two propositions: "Significant obstacles still make it harder for women to get ahead than men" or "Obstacles that made it harder for women to get ahead are largely gone". This was a poll carried out by a highly reputable agency with a large and scientifically selected sample (N>2300). The results were startling, and not for the reasons one might expect. 56% of men and 34% of women overall chose the "largely gone" answer. Among self-described Republicans these numbers were 75% of men and 50% of women, among self-described Democrats the numbers were 39% and 23% respectively. Nothing too startling there. But then the researchers reported a further breakdown by age cohort. Here's where things get weird. Among Democratic-leaning men ages 35-49, 34% chose the "largely gone" answer. Among Democratic-leaning men ages 18-34 - in other words, Millenials - 52% chose the "largely gone" response. Advertisement That result is semi-astonishing. The researchers hypothesized that the results reflect lack of life experience: thus as men and women get older and spend more time in the workplace, they observe more examples of obstacles to women's advancement. It's a perfectly plausible partial explanation and it is consistent with the rest of the results that showed for both men and women and across party affiliations older respondents were more likely than the youngest group to select the "significant obstacles" answer. So there's that. It is also possible that there is a certain defensiveness involved ("if I got that promotion it's because I deserved it more than she did")which declines when one is less actively competing for advancement. The problem with either of those explanations is that they imply that the only source of perceptions about sexism or presumably a broad range of other social phenomena is personal experience. Peer interactions, social media, news stories, movies and TV programs, education ... none of these have any influence at all on perceptions of societal sexism? Or is it that these are the elements preventing that recognition, that are only overcome by long exposure to the harsh realities of life on the ground? Then there's another poll that deserves discussion. This one was privately commissioned by Pershing LLC and carried out by Harris. Again, this was a poll with a large sample (N>2000) conducted by a highly reputable polling agency. The purpose of the poll was to study attitudes toward leadership in business. The results were interesting: across the board, respondents indicated a preference for styles of leadership that in earlier eras might have been coded "feminine". Leaders should be good listeners, take advice, work collaboratively, be sensitive to the feelings and needs of those around them, etc. And 77% of respondents identified these as characteristics associated with women. Then the survey asked another set of questions. Respondents were asked whether they were "comfortable" with the idea of women in various positions of authority. Among 18-34 year old men, for example, 79% said they comfortable with women as teachers. But only 43% of men ages 18-34 were comfortable with women as U.S. Senators (43%). And even smaller numbers of Millennial men were comfortable with the idea of women as Fortune 500 executives (39%), President of the United States (35%), or engineers (34%). Advertisement The President response has obvious political implications. Senators is strange given that there are no fewer than 20 women in the Senate right now (there have been 46 throughout our history). But ... engineers? Two thirds of Millennial men responding to this survey were not willing to say they were comfortable with the idea of women as engineers?? Keep in mind that these are the same people who previously stated a preference for leadership attributes that they, themselves, associate with women. The following post was written by Heather Miller Rubens. Rubens is the Executive Director and Roman Catholic Scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies in Baltimore, Maryland. _______________________ Black Lives Matter. Blue Lives Matter. All Lives Matter. If you want peace, work for justice. We need to get tough on crime. Make America Great Again. We are Stronger Together. The wide range of responses to Milwaukee, Dallas, St. Paul, Baton Rouge, Ferguson, and Baltimore highlight a stark reality that needs to be named: each of us lives in a different America. Advertisement We are a divided country. We live in divided cities. The current cultural moment we find ourselves in is one of estrangement and isolation. We are insulated from people who do not look, think, or believe as we do, both in our virtual and real lives. For some isolation is a choice. For others, segregated reality is beyond personal control. But what if we try to transform strangers into neighbors? What if we commit to doing the hard work of imagining a better future for America's cities with people with whom we disagree? What if we enter into the public square and welcome a meaningful exchange of ideas that draw upon the rich resources available from our experiences, including our respective ethical and religious traditions? The public square should be noisy, loud, and full of discordant views that include religious and non-religious voices. This series aims to bring this cacophony of commitments to life by contributing diverse religious perspectives from Baltimore to the national conversation on justice, race, and community. Some have asked what religion has to do with the pursuit of justice for this generation of activists. This is a necessary question as we enter into an age of greater religious diversity in America. At the ICJS we contend that the fight against injustice and violence requires bold and broad imaginings. For many in Baltimore and across the nation, the current conversation around justice, race, and poverty is confined to social and political terms, and dominated by pundits who only rarely, if ever, draw on religious traditions or language. The great diversity of our commitments should not be viewed as a detriment, but rather an asset to civic discourse. The public conversation requires the articulation of ethical, theological, and religious solutions. Direct engagement of our religious differences demonstrates a robust commitment to religious pluralism in the 21st century. Advertisement To transform strangers into neighbors requires people of different racial, religious, and economic circumstances to constructively engage with a diversity of experiences, ideas, and beliefs. Such transformation is only possible through sustained engagement. It requires time to study, time to reflect, and time to discuss with neighbors who see the world differently. It requires us to bring our full selves to this conversation, requiring the articulation of how our ethical beliefs and religious traditions inform our politics. Beginning today in a series of weekly blogposts, the ICJS will bring diverse religious and ethical voices from Baltimore into the national conversation around justice, race, violence, and community. The overarching aim of this initiative is not consensus. Rather, we seek to create time and space for reading, reflection, conversation, and imagination among a diverse group of Baltimore activists. But some contend that words are not a primary need in moments of crisis. Like Paddy Gilger and Matt Spots at America magazine wrote: What can words do? What good are thinkers in an age of terror? What good is thought? Thinking doesn't stop bullets. Writing will not save the world. But they open a space for the world to be otherwise. Words give us space to do something other than react out of our pain. Words, ironically, can make space for us to listen. When we stop thinking, stop writing, it can only be for one of two reasons: either the world is no longer violent or we have given up hope that it can be. At the ICJS we have not given up hope, and we remain committed to the possibilities of words to change the world. If America wants to remain a country where people with diverse commitments, beliefs, and faiths can come together to create communities of equality and flourishing, religious and non-religious actors cannot be absent from the public square, nor can they crowd each other out of vital civic conversations. Rather diverse religious and ethical voices need to be in constant dialogue over pressing social and political questions. On July 9th, Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color-Blindness, shared on Facebook the following (emphasis added): Advertisement In recent years, I have come to believe that truly transformative change depends more on thoughtful creation of new ways of being than reflexive reactions to the old. What is happening now is very, very old. We have some habits of responding to this familiar pain and trauma that are not serving us well. In many respects it's amazing that we endure at all. I am inspired again and again by so much of the beautiful, brilliant and daring activism that is unfolding all over the country. Yet I also know that more is required than purely reactive protest and politics. A profound shift in our collective consciousness must occur, a shift that makes possible a new America. To make possible a new America, we must envision a future with people that we currently fear or do not understand, and we must dare to build that future together. We must collaborate in working toward a just society. To build an interreligious city in 21st century America, we must attend to the noise of a public square, both listening carefully and actively working to fill it with many voices. sen. hillary clinton speaks at ... It's August of a Presidential election year. Must be time for Democrats to play the race card. To be fair, Democrats play the race card every day, on every network, every single year. They have to. Their record of achievement with African-American voters - on poverty, on black-on-black crime, on education, on wages, on the unprecedented number of African-Americans on Food Stamps - is abysmal. As liberal black TV host Tavis Smiley said on HuffPost Live, "Sadly -- and it pains me to say this -- over the last decade, black folk, in the era of Obama, have lost ground in every major economic category." Anytime this record of non-accomplishment is raised, Democrats have a predictable response: the GOP blocked us. Their favorite line of late has been that "Obama inherited the Great Recession from George W. Bush." This is known as The Bush Card, which is also used to explain ISIS, the growing debt and deficit, and more. Advertisement Never mind that the Great Recession was caused by the largely Democrat-engendered housing-for-all push embodied in the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). Forget that liar loans, no-collateral loans, no-downpayment loans, bad credit loans and the collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) used to cover banks for being forced to take such socioeconomically sensitive, if irresponsible, underwriting risks (or risk a CRA rating downgrade) were enabled by the Democrat-backed CRA and Democrat-backed GSEs (Government-Sponsored-Enterprises) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Naturally, the Democrats want us to forget all that. They also want us to forget that almost every other racial and ethnic group has risen out of the Great Recession - largely thanks to the wealth effect of Federal Reserve and European Central Bank quantitative easing, not so much anything done by Mr. Obama or other Democrats - except for black Americans. But, of course, for Democrats, It does not matter that the long and sordid history of Democratic plantation-style paternalism - from Jim Crow to the welfare state - has not only failed black communities, but kept them dependent on Democratic party elites for morsels of beneficence, instead of on their prodigious homegrown wits and resources. None of that sad track record matters to Democrats, whose singular job, straight outta Robert Michels' Iron Law of Oligarchy, is to keep the votes rolling in and the party in power. So, every four years the Democrats gin up the black vote all over again by cynically pressing a deep PTSD wound through tall tales of phantom bogeymen waiting in the wings to lynch people of color. Unfortunately for the Democrats this cycle, their failure to empirically improve African-American safety - the chief social good from which all other social goods flow - is too obvious to ignore. According to government data analyzed by the Wall Street Journal, violent crime has skyrocketed in the last year in Democratic-run cities like Baltimore (gun violence up 60%), Milwaukee (homicides up 180%), St. Louis (shootings up 39%), Atlanta (murders up 32%), and, that poster child for liberal law and order dysfunction, Chicago (where shootings are up 24%). Advertisement As these stark reminders of Democratic incompetence become widely circulated, Democratic use of the race card becomes more desperate and necessary. As liberal black commentator Juan Williams notes, buttressed by FBI and CDC data, the number one killer of young black men between the ages of 15 and 34 is not the KKK or rogue cops (however much these evils must be reined it), it's other black men. Democrats and their "party panels" on mainstream media deem even the mention of these murder rates as "racist." Even though, in a beautiful bit of hypocrisy, should anyone, say Donald J. Trump, have the chutzpah to mention those rates, liberal black commentators will rail that "Most black people don't feel threatened with violence when they walk down the street!" That this refrain contravenes the Black Lives Matter narrative of omnipresent threats of violence from white cops is conveniently ignored. There is good reason for this. Democratic jackboots want it both ways, and will viciously castigate anyone other than themselves who dares to talk about "black issues," including black conservatives, who are promptly labeled "traitors" and "Uncle Toms" in order to silence even a whiff of objectivity. This year Hillary Clinton - who has befriended her fair share of Democratic racists in her time (hello Senator Robert Byrd) - has doubled down on this race card strategy. Her August 25 speech in Reno Nevada, and corresponding advertisement reprising the same outrageous slander, audaciously claimed that Donald J. Trump is not only a racist, but also a de facto member of the Ku Klux Klan. Moreover, she goes further in outrageously claiming that anyone who dares to support Mr. Trump or work for Mr. Trump is a de facto white supremacist. The ad literally ends with the deranged claim that if Mr. Trump wins the Presidency, the KKK "could be running the country." Gosh, Mrs. Clinton, that Clinton Foundation scandal must be really hitting home. Advertisement However, if Mr. Trump is such an incorrigible racist, shouldn't the Clintons return his $100,000 donation to the Clinton Foundation? And if he was and is a KKK member by default, why did you attend his wedding? Aren't you and Bill guilty by profitable association? Oops. This "she stoops to conquer" strategy does not befit a public servant of Hillary Clinton's long standing. Secretary Clinton is far more educated in public policy, far more experienced on the global political stage, far more nuanced in her robust policy prescriptions, and far more conversant in complex governmental minutiae than the largely incurious and policy lite Donald J. Trump ever will be. I backed Mrs. Clinton in 2008. When she plays the measured, learned stateswoman, she is at her best and most persuasive. When she engages in wild and heated hyperbole, as she did against then Senator Obama in 2008 and as she is doing now, she loses her prime selling point. Secretary Clinton doesn't need to engage so intemperately with Mr. Trump. Yet it's no surprise that she has. You see, unlike 2012 GOP Presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, who was easily gamed by the Democratic race hustlers into shutting up and cowering back in fear, Donald J. Trump is fighting back. Not only that, he's literally asking for the black vote. "How dare he? What gall!" the Democrats exclaim, loosely linking Trump to housing discrimination suits filed by the Justice Department against his father Fred back in the 1970s. Advertisement It's a courageous act by Trump that Mrs. Clinton treats like a grotesque violation of Tammany Hall quid pro quo. And as revelations about the commingling of staff and operations between the Clinton Foundation and the Hillary Clinton State Department suggest (thank you Politifact), Mrs. Clinton knows a whole lot about quid pro quo. So far, Trump has spoken to mostly white audiences about the failures of Democratic policies to dramatically improve the lives, let alone the souls, of black folk. However, plans are afoot for him to speak before predominantly black audiences. This is good for our national discourse, even if, in his rhetorically clumsy way, Trump will find a way to step on the moment. Calling the socially progressive Mrs. Clinton a "bigot" - her policies are another matter - was one example of many that Trump needs to clean up. Nevertheless, expect even more unhinged outrage by Mrs. Clinton as she and her supporters in mainstream media seek to conflate the Klan with Trump-style Republicanism. Alas, they need act quickly because Trump has stumbled upon a meme with staying power. That is, the divide in America is not between blacks and whites, but between insiders and outsiders. If Team Trump can connect the dots between the technocratic, government-knows-best, Ivy League arrogance of Hillary Clinton (poster child of the bloated and greedy political Establishment) and her corporate media enablers versus the unconnected and dispossessed in the inner cities, small towns and rural areas of America, watch out. Meanwhile, at least one black voter, who might be a belwether of hidden black support for Mr. Trump, isn't buying what Clinton is selling. African-American writer Aaron Manaigo notes, "Hillary Clinton hopes that the media will chase this phony story so that they will cease from covering the real story which is the corruption, cronyism and 'pay to play' environment she allowed while she was America's top diplomat. She also wants to mislead African-American voters into believing that Trump's sincere and heartfelt outreach to minority communities is not real. In all honesty, the real bigots are the people who cynically take our votes for granted and pay lip service to the challenging issues that face our communities every day. For years, African-Americans have been told to vote for Democrats and things would get better. They haven't and in some cases things have gotten worse. Trump has challenged African-American voters to question their unfaltering allegiance to the Democratic Party. We should accept his challenge. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. The African American community deserves better than the failed Democrat policies of the last 50 years." I called Raymond Garcia, a Republican candidate for Colorado state house, after I saw a couple memes he posted for his Facebook friends. One depicts an image of Hillary Clinton on a bucket of "HRC" Kentucky Fried Chicken with the text, "Hillary Meal Deal, 2 fat thighs, 2 small breasts, and a bunch of left wings." ("Crispy Commie Recipe.") The other was a anti-Hillary version of an anti-Trump statue. Asked if he's worried that these posts, which were obtained from a source, might offend people, the State House District 1 candidate said: Advertisement Garcia: "I can't help it if somebody gets offended. If they get offended, that's their deal." Delta County Colorado GOP chair Linda Sorenson offered a similar response when asked if her Facebook post, comparing Obama to a Chimp, was a joke. A subsequent outrcry led to her resignation. Garcia, who hopes to unseat Democrat Susan Lontine in the Southwest Denver district, said he posted the memes "in response to a post that somebody else has put up against Trump." "So it's the exact same thing, but it's been converted over so it criticizes Hillary instead of criticizing Trump," Garcia said. "It's just in response to the posts that I've been seeing criticizing Trump." I saw the Trump statue he's referring to, but I can't find a similar meme about a Trump meal deal. The "Meal Deal" meme has been around since at least 2008, when it was labeled "truly horrible" by a New York Magazine writer. Advertisement In any case, whether similar memes exist, I can't find either Hillary meme posted on Facebook by a candidate seeking a state office. I asked if Garcia's intent was to joke. "Yeah, just like they did," he replied. In partially explaining why he wouldn't remove the meme, Garcia told The Denver Post about "backbone" he developed as a U.S. Marine. Donald Trump, 2016 Republican presidential nominee, speaks during the 2nd annual Roast and Ride hosted by Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, not pictured, in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. Ernst, who in 2014 won the Senate seat vacated by Democrat Tom Harkin when he retired, has turned her Roast and Ride into the conservative answer to the Harkin's legendary Steak Fry fundraiser, which auditioned dozens of presidential candidates over its 37-year history. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images Donald Trump continues to make the health of the presidential candidates an issue. I think that both candidates, Crooked Hillary and myself, should release detailed medical records. I have no problem in doing so! Hillary? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2016 I find this ironic considering the letter Mrs. Clinton produced makes Trump's look like it was written in crayon. Then again, writing a letter like this takes longer than five minutes. Advertisement So what of Trump's claim that he is healthier? There is actually some information in the two letters that we can use to compare Trump with Clinton health-wise. For example, both candidates are non-smokers. Dr. Bardack informs us that Mrs. Clinton is up to date on her "routine health maintenance" and mentions the specific cancer screening tests that have been performed. Dr. Bornstein writes a more vague "recent complete medical examination" about Trump, so we don't actually know if he has had a routine colonoscopy. Trump has low PSA (it's quite low, read more here if you are interested in the possible reasons/explanations). If both candidates have completed all their required health screening (a leap with Trump's letter as the specifics are spelled out in Clinton's and not in his) and are non-smokers, then cancer-wise they are on a relatively even playing field. However, they are not when it comes to their risk of heart attack. Trump's doctor doesn't provide quite enough information (on purpose or just a rushed omission -- we may never know) for comparison, but we can make an educated guess. To compare the two candidates and their risk for heart attack, I plugged their information into a risk calculator provided by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. We need age, gender, systolic blood pressure, smoking status, if they are taking a medication for blood pressure, as well as total and HDL cholesterol. Trump's letter does not include cholesterol levels. For Trump, I did the calculations using the same cholesterol and HDL as Clinton as well a second calculation using significantly better values than Mrs. Clinton just in case his levels are better. As Trump is on a statin (a cholesterol medication) and professes his love for Kentucky Fried chicken, a significantly better cholesterol than Clinton is probably less likely. If he released this information we could, of course, better compare the two for heart attack risk. Advertisement Hillary Clinton's heart attack risk score using information provided by her doctor: Donald Trump's heart attack risk score using Clinton's cholesterol levels: Donald Trump's heart attack risk score using better cholesterol levels than Hillary Clinton: Mrs. Clinton has a 1 percent chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years. Trump's risk is at least 7 percent, but possibly 9 percent or even greater. This is much greater than Clinton's. Based on the available information ,Donald Trump is more likely to have a heart attack in the next 10 years compared to Mrs. Clinton. One year ago this week, my friend and high school classmate informed me that his son had taken his own life. Not the call I wanted to get - and sure as hell not the call he wanted to make. With news that just makes the world stand still. News that alters lives for generations. The father, Dr. William M. Bauer, is a professor of education at Marietta College in Ohio where I grew up. His son, Grant Bauer, was a graduate of Marietta College. My own son Mathew is about the same age. Bill and I talked. And talked. Cried some. Talked some more. How can sense be made out of something so senseless? How could Bill and his family move forward? What could be done to try to help the next son or daughter before they hurt themselves? Advertisement On September 5 of last year, on the anniversary of Grant's death, The J. Luce Foundation announced the launch of The Bauer Fund, in honor and memory of Grant Michael Bauer, son of Bill, his mother Mary Ella, and sister Madison. I wrote about it then for The Huffington Post (Impacted by Suicide, Our Foundation Opens Fund to Help). Siblings Maddie and Grant Bauer. Photo: The Stewardship Report. Grant was a really kind and caring person. He would always do what he can to help a person with a disability, listen to a person in need and use the last of his money to pay for others' meals. Grant graduated from Marietta College in 2012 with a degree in Mass Media. He was also a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity at the college. Dr. William Bauer, a professor of education at Marietta College, with son Grant. Photo: The Stewardship Report. The focus of The Bauer Fund is to provide microgrants, scholarships, stipends or research monies to assist young adults with mental health issues or developmental delays. The program also provides impetus for promoting kindness around the world by assisting people with endeavors to make the world a better place. About $40,000 was raised in its first year. Advertisement Award recipients will be announced on GRANT Day, which is on September 5th each year. "GRANT" Day stands for "Genuine Respectful Actions Never Terminate." This day is recognized with Random Acts of Kindness (RAK's), which began Labor Day Weekend in 2015. Grant Week is celebrated from September 5th until the 12th. During this time, everyone is encouraged to perform Random Acts of Kindness and to share them with others to spread the message. September 5th is also appropriately designated by the United Nations as International Day of Charity, a day when the Secretary-General calls on people everywhere to act charitably in the face of human suffering. Last year, Bill Bauer requested his friends to perform Random Acts of Kindnesses over Labor Day Weekend 2015. The results were extremely successful. Over 5,000 acts were recorded during Grant Week. Some examples of these can be found below: Took my elderly neighbor a meal. She was so happy said she hadn't had a home cooked meal in a long time! Helped an obviously physically challenged, elderly NYC woman up a curb, across the sidewalk and into a store. She blessed us all the way into Rite Aid. Spent the evening with my son, telling him about your son and your request. I was proud when he told me he had given his "extra" chicken sandwich (he always orders 2) to a man that was on a street corner, holding a sign. The previous day he had given20.00, all the money he had, to a woman at the gas station that needed gas and had no money. The world can't be all bad when our young people understand the importance of service to others. Saved three kittens from being euthanized! One of the kitties found a home and the other two will be up for adoption in two weeks. Helped a hurt child. Volunteered to give a senior pictures for his senior football banner. He probably wouldn't have any and this is his first year playing football and he played the whole JV game. Encouraged a girl to go back to school. Took lunch to my neighbor and her son and daughter-in-law. Helped two seniors find items they needed at The Giant Eagle store. Called my elderly great aunt just to talk and tell her how much I love her. Passed up two parking spaces close to the entry of the grocery store just to let people behind me have them! Took my father-in-law to lunch. Ran into someone who was down and slipped them20. Assisted a lady at the grocery store who wasn't able to reach something on the shelf and I took it off of the shelf for her and put in her basket. Surprised all of the kids in my pre-k class with a surprise every day this week. Showed our new neighbors, who have a small baby, the gate in our yard that goes to a vineyard where they can safely walk with their baby. Paid for a car wash for a young couple today at a gas station. They were thrilled. Spent the afternoon with my mother and took her a pie to share! Connected with a disabled high school classmate via Twitter. I always admired his spunk. Helped a lady at the store reach an item on the top shelf... I do that often when shopping, but am amazed how many of my friends have heard about 'Grantspeed.' The Facebook page for all of the Random Acts of Kindness may be seen here. The Marietta Times covered this amazing outpouring of kindness last fall in a piece entitled Living with Suicide: One Family Finds Comfort in 1,000 Acts of Kindness. Marietta College Magazine also covered the story in a piece called GrantSpeed: Random Acts of Kindness Honoring Grant Bauer Go Global. As GRANT Day is quickly approaching, it's almost time for the 2016 award recipients to be announced. Awards will go to those who truly exemplify the meaning behind Grant Day and The Bauer Fund. The awards are to be used for research to help those with mental health issues or developmental delays and in the area of suicide awareness. Bill Bauer and the author speaking at Marietta College, Ohio, Spring 2015. Photo: The Stewardship Report/Ryan D. Turnewitsch. No Fund can bring Grant back. But through a fund, through Random Acts of Kindness, through supporting efforts to keep another young person from ending their lives, we can honor and remember this incredible young man. As we do every day, but especially over the next two weeks. #GrantSpeed. Bauer Fund merchandise may be purchased here. Tax-deductible contributions may be made this Fund on-line here. Please note "Bauer Fund." Checks may be made payable to the J. Luce Foundation, memo'd "Bauer Fund," and mailed to 540 Main Street #418, New York, N.Y. 10044. With Matthew Dotsikas, Senior Young Global Leader, J. Luce Foundation. Students walk across the campus of Columbia University in New York, October 5, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Segar (UNITED STATES) In its recent decision in Columbia University, the National Labor Relations Board by a 3-1 vote granted graduate student assistants at private universities the right to form labor unions and to collectively bargain. For all but a few short years, the NLRB had consistently held that degree-seeking graduate students were more student than worker and, thus, excluded from the National Labor Relations Act's coverage. In Columbia University, the Board returns to the short-lived national experiment of applying the Act to graduate students. The decision itself and the follow-on commentary have all focused on benefits that such bargaining can bring to these students turned employees. However, academia's ivory tower may soon be shaken not so much by collective bargaining, but by the application of the Act through the Board's unfair labor practice jurisdiction. Advertisement In order to grant bargaining rights to graduate students, the Board necessarily found them to be employees under the NLRA. While classifying these students as employees provides them with the right to organize and bargain, that definitional change will have serious consequences to the relationship between the university and the graduate students beyond the bargaining table. The Board's unfair labor practice jurisdiction and the lines of cases created by applying the Act to industrial workplaces is poised to drastically alter the relationship in at least three ways. First, this definitional change likely just blew up university honor codes and other university policies regulating the conduct of students. Importing the NLRA to graduate students will require universities to avoid interfering with the graduate students' right under the Act to engage in "concerted activity" for "mutual aid or protection." The NLRB has, with increasing vigor, taken an expansive view of the effect of an employer's policies on that right. The Board has been quick to find even unenforced policies unlawful if they could be read by an employee in a way that chills that right. Thus, policies requiring "harmonious relationships" and that ban "disrespectful," "negative," "inappropriate," or "rude" conduct toward others at the company have been found to unlawfully interfere with the right to engage in protected concerted activity. In fact, the Board has tolerated some unprintable words and acts from employees in the name of the "rough and tumble of labor relations." Universities' attempt to create "safe spaces" for their students and to create civil environments for discussion and debate are likely on the NLRA chopping block. As one example, Princeton University's Policy on "Respect for Others" is dead on arrival if it ever comes before the Board. Its policy banning "abusive or harassing behavior, verbal or physical, which demeans, intimidates, or injures another because of personal characteristics or beliefs or expression" would whither under Board scrutiny. Likewise, Princeton's statement that it "attaches great importance to mutual respect, and it deplores expressions of hatred directed against any individual or group" certainly conflicts with rights under the NLRA. If you doubt that conclusion, visit the next labor picket you see. Advertisement Second, this definitional change will require either the elimination or substantial alteration to graduate student councils. Converting graduate students into employees also brings the Act's prohibition against dominated labor organizations into the academic sphere. Under the Act, it is unlawful for an employer to interfere or dominate any labor organization. The term labor organization has never been limited to formal unions. Instead it covers "any organization of any kind" in which "employees participate" and which deals with the employer concerning grievances, disputes, wages, hours, etc. Mimicking the faculty governance structure which many graduate students hope to someday join, universities have established graduate student councils which represent graduate student concerns to the administration. Thus, for example. Harvard University's Graduate Student Council claims to represent through elected representatives "graduate students in academic, administrative and residential matters . . . with an increasing focus on lab and labor conditions." The website goes on to describe how the GSC meets with "administrators to address some of the most pressing issues graduate students face." Hopefully Harvard has a good labor lawyer on staff because, assuming that the university created and funds the GSC, Harvard is violating section 8(a)(2) of the NLRA by dominating a labor organization. Never mind that a GSC supports a university's academic mission by training the graduate students in the concepts of academic faculty governance, when the ivory tower meets the industrial National Labor Relations Act such pedagogical niceties are unlikely to survive. Third, this definitional change is bound to intrude on the university's academic relationship with the graduate students. One of the cornerstone NLRA protections is the right to be free from discrimination based on union activities. Imagine a graduate student who is seeking to organize a union suddenly receives a poor grade in a course. Will that student be able to allege that the poor grade was in retaliation for his or her union activities? Will the Board review the grade and determine for itself whether it was the appropriate mark or if it was motivated in part by antiunion animus? And, if the Board were to get involved, would it order the university as a remedy to change the grade? While the Board's case load has been at historical lows, I cannot imagine it is overly excited about filling its docket with grade challenges. Whether this trio of issues should have caused the Board to exercise its discretion to withhold employee status from the graduate students the way that it did from college athletes is open for debate. However, what should trouble both labor and management is that these three easily predictable problems informed no part of the Board's decision-making process, despite the years that the Board considered the matter. We should expect more of our expert administrative agencies like the NLRB. If we are going to invest so much authority into these unelected and unanswerable administrative bodies, changes in course should be about more than just about returning to a short-live case issued by the previous Board of your political ilk. Having failed to fully think through the consequences, there will be much clean-up along the way as the rules for regulating the employment relationship are now applied to the student-teacher relationship. Advertisement Equality is one of those concepts that sounds simple (and should be simple), but in reality is quite complex. The same goes for diversity. And the real trick is not in achieving one or the other, but both. It's much easier to achieve equality without diversity - as our own Declaration of Independence holds it to be self-evident that "all men are created equal." Equality among men is one thing, equality for both genders is a much harder thing to achieve. It's also easier when the term "men" doesn't apply to males of all races and ethnicities. Similarly, embracing diversity is easier if you don't believe that you have to give everybody equal opportunities and protections. In today's world we simply can't afford to have partial equality or unequal diversity: we need both. Advertisement There are business reasons, as well as moral ones, to assure that women and men have equal opportunities to contribute in the workplace. And at Pax World that's something we think has value for investors as well. Gender equality--assuring that men and women have equal access to work and advancement, capital, and pay for comparable work--is a key ingredient in channeling human talent in the workforce. The World Economic Forum (WEF) points this out by illuminating the relationships between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and gender gaps, human development and global competitiveness. These correlations, says WEF, are consistent with the idea that "empowering women means a more efficient use of a nation's human capital endowment and that reducing gender inequality enhances productivity and economic growth." UN Women supports this view, noting that "when more women work, economies grow." The US Agency for Economic Development (USAID) also picks up this theme, noting that "eliminating workplace discrimination against women can increase productivity," and "facilitating women's entrepreneurship benefits economic development." The International Monetary Fund maintains that "closing gender gaps benefits countries as a whole, not just women and girls." Advertisement On the corporate side, numerous studies--from Credit Suisse, the Peterson Institute, and Gallup, among others--bring the benefits of diversity and women's empowerment into more focus for business, noting that companies with more women in leadership positions tend to do better financially, and that business units that are more gender-diverse have better financial outcomes. Moreover, research shows that diverse groups tend to be smarter and make better decisions than homogeneous ones. Scientific American notes that "being around people who are different from us makes us more creative, more diligent and harder-working," because interacting with others who are different makes us prepare better and work harder to achieve consensus among people with different viewpoints. And research from the Kellogg School of Management confirmed that diverse groups process information more carefully than homogeneous groups, producing better group performance. Last week's Curios covered Rosie the Riveter, broken heart syndrome, and why we get so aggressive about cute things. Curio No. 1130 | Whatever-her-name-was the Riveter Happy Women's Equality Day! A good day to pay tribute to a true feminist icon: Rosie the Riveter. Except there was no Rosie the Riveter. The character, most commonly associated with the flexing bandana-ed lady in the "We Can Do It" poster, is a composite. In the early 1940s, millions of American men were sent off to World War II in Europe. Government offices looked to the other half of the population to take the jobs formerly held by the new soldiers. Given how few women--especially married ones--participated in the workforce prewar, this was a big deal. In some places, it was literally law that married women had to stay out of the workforce. So the Office of War Information created an advertising campaign recruiting women to do the jobs most critical to supporting the war effort. The campaign used posters, articles, radio programs, and more. In 1942, it created the "We Can Do It" slogan. That same year, two songwriters scored a hit with "Rosie the Riveter"... keep reading. Advertisement Curio No. 1129 | The sand mafia We're running out of sand? Sand is one of Earth's most abundant natural resources. It's pretty much everywhere. Beaches, riverbeds, the ocean floor. Not to mention, um, deserts. Which is why it's a great raw material, used in pretty much every kind of construction, from roads to computer chips to buildings. But experts are now warning that the world's sand is disappearing--at least the critical kind that we use for glass and concrete. For these materials, makers must use water-weathered sand. Desert sand doesn't work because the wind makes the grains too round to bind. That leaves the sand found in riverbeds, beaches, and floodplains... keep reading. Curio No. 1128 | Death by broken heart Dying of a broken heart is a real thing. Broken heart syndrome is a legitimate disease that appears to impact people in all cultures. Symptoms are similar to a heart attack: chest pain and shortness of breath. EKG readings also look identical. But broken heart syndrome occurs after a big shock, while heart attacks usually occur without an obvious trigger. The disease was discovered in 1990 by Japanese researchers. They named it takotsubo cardiomyopathy after the heart-shaped pots, called "tako tsubo," used to catch octopuses. But western researchers renamed it "broken heart syndrome" because it occurs almost exclusively after a breakup or lost loved one. Doctors can't explain the syndrome at the physiological level yet, but have identified some patterns: 90% of reported cases are women ages 58 to 75... keep reading. Curio No. 1127 | Coca-Cola's secret recipe, um, gimmick We've all heard the story. Coca-Cola is so secretive about their drink's formula that only two living executives know the recipe, and they never fly on the same plane. Also, each executive only knows part of the recipe. And each executive has a successor that is automatically given access to the formula upon his/her predecessor's death. It's a very cool story... but it's just a story. Spokespeople for the soda brand admit that it's unclear how many people know the recipe, but likely it's more than two. As for the "two executives" part, that originated with a Coke ad campaign and has never been accurate. In Coca-Cola's early days, the man who invented the drink gave the recipe to everybody who asked. John Pemberton was a pharmacist in the 1880s who invented Coke as a "temperance drink"... keep reading. Advertisement Curio No. 1126 | No laughing matter Loyal Curio readers know we aren't afraid of the occasional pun. But a small subset of compulsive punners have a disease that is no laughing matter. It's called Witzelsucht, German for "joke addiction." For those afflicted with Witzelsucht, joking becomes more important than sleeping, holding a job, or even upholding common social decency. The jokes overflow. Doctors don't know exactly why Witzelsucht happens. But the prevailing theory is that it has something to do with brain damage to the right frontal lobe. Mess with this part of the brain--which is associated with humor appreciation--and you can end up with a fountain of terrible jokes.... keep reading. Curio No. 1125 | On Olympic ties This year's Olympics in Rio de Janiero have given us many priceless moments: Angry #PhelpsFace, collapses at the finish line, Fiji's first gold medal and the Dive. But the craziest moment might have come in swimming at the men's 100m butterfly. That's when three of the greatest male swimmers in the world--Michael Phelps, Chad Le Clos, and Laszlo Cseh--tied for silver at 51.14 seconds. As in all three touched the wall at exactly the same time, even though the gold medalist was almost a second faster. Except did they touch at exactly the same time? Surely there is a way to measure more precisely than hundredths of a second in this technical age?... keep reading. Curio No. 1124 | So cute I want to eat it up In Curio #1108, we learned about the science of cuteness, as explained by a Nazi psychologist named Konrad Lorenz. Now modern cuteness scientists are breaking new ground. They have concluded that some people have a bizarrely aggressive reaction to cute things--and it's completely normal. Why do some people respond almost violently to cute things? Experts at Yale had a hunch it was an extension of grandma's desire to pinch the cheeks of her grandbaby. The aggressive behavior was a way of keeping one's natural response from being too overwhelming. The same sort of biological response is at play when we laugh nervously, or smile in uncomfortable situations. To validate this, the Yale researchers conducted a series of experiments.... keep reading. World leaders have agreed to the ambitious goal of eradicating hunger by 2030. The scale of the problem is daunting. Every day 800 million people go to bed with empty stomachs and more than 8,000 children die needlessly from conditions linked to under-nutrition. And by the time we reach 2030, the global population is likely to include an additional 1.5 billion mouths to feed. With these kinds of numbers, it is hard to believe we live in a world of plenty and we actually produce enough to feed every hungry person on earth. It is horrifying to think that one third of the food produced in the world is never consumed due to loss or waste. When we think of food waste in the developed world, we think of consumable food thrown out of supermarkets, restaurants and homes. In the developing world, it is a different issue. Food is lost before it even gets to the market. Grain losses in sub-Saharan Africa alone are worth up to US$4 billion a year - enough to provide the minimum food requirements of at least 48 million people. Food losses occur at every stage of the agricultural value chain Advertisement If fruit is not boxed properly during harvest, it can be ruined. If maize and beans are not dried sufficiently - all too common with the current climate variability - they may develop fungus or aflatoxins. If grains are not stored securely, they could become infested with rats or weevils. With unreliable transportation and lack of decent roads, perishable food that left the farm edible and sellable, can spoil en route to market. The World Bank estimates that if these post-harvest losses were reduced by only one per cent just in sub-Saharan Africa, there would be economic gains of up to US$40 million each year. This doesn't even take into account the limited natural resources that are being wasted in the production of food that will never be eaten. Annually up to 173 billion cubic meters of increasingly scarce water (almost a quarter of all water used for agriculture) and about 1.4 billion hectares of land (close to 30 per cent of available agricultural land) is used to grow food that is subsequently lost or wasted. The magnitude of food loss is alarming. And yet, the solutions can be relatively simple. In Timor-Leste, for example, almost half the population lives below the poverty line and up to 60 per cent of children are malnourished. The annual "hungry season", when food is hard to come by, lasts more than five months. Low crop productivity has long been a problem. Yet local farmers surprised scientists by resisting the adoption of higher yielding maize seeds. As farmers were already losing 30 per cent of their stored maize every year to rodents and weevils, increasing productivity was not their priority. Advertisement This problem of inadequate storage presented an enormous opportunity. It showed the potential for people to access almost a third more food - equivalent to about 360 kilograms of grain per farming household - without increasing their production. A farmer in Timor-Leste receives a grain storage drum IFAD/Ron Hartman A pilot project supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) tested the impact of low-cost storage equipment. The project distributed 42,000 airtight storage drums, paid in part by the farmers who received them. Farmers who used the drums to store their grains reduced their losses from 30 per cent to one per cent, potentially halving the duration of future "hungry seasons". The anticipated increase in their annual incomes is nearly 300 per cent. Once the farmers were provided with better storage facilities, they also became more interested in adopting higher-yielding seeds because the storage allows them to sell their surplus for greater profit in the off-season. That is just one simple example. What can we do? If the global community is serious about achieving a hunger-free world, we need to prioritize finding solutions to food loss along the entire agricultural value chain. We need to increase investments in drying, storage and processing facilities for grains and perishable crops, and in decent roads and market access for people to sell their produce before it is lost. We need to train engineers to design suitable facilities and equipment that are locally adapted, easily maintained and accessible by farmers. We need to build more agricultural cooperatives and farmers groups so that farmers can collectively invest in and maintain equipment, lower the cost of threshing, drying, milling and storage facilities and aggregate their produce for secure transportation to market. We need to ensure that farmers and farmer groups are able to access rural financial packages so that they can invest in food loss reduction. The Freedom from Religion Foundation folks must have been licking their chops the day they heard about the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) director's emails to his employees. This was going to be easy. The Wisconsin-based foundation would whip up a letter alleging a constitutional violation of the separation of church and state and Arizona officials would fall all over themselves to admonish DES Director Tim Jeffries. After all, he had used the state email system to send out an email to employees informing them that he would be going to Lourdes as a member of the Order of Malta to serve the "seriously afflicted and dying." Not only that, but he offered to carry employees' "special intentions" to Lourdes if they wrote to his assistant. Jeffries even ended his emails with the Latin phrase "Ditat Deus." ("God Enriches"). "We request that you immediately cease promoting religion through DES email," the foundation's Madeline Ziegler wrote Jeffries in June, "and do not involve DES employees in any future religious trips you take." Advertisement The foundation wouldn't even have to go to court. A stout letter would do. Worked all the time. But not this time. The Freedom from Religion Foundation ran up against two Arizona lawyers with sharp legal minds and backbones. The August 10th response of Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Division Chief Counsel Paul Watkins to Ziegler is a masterwork of First Amendment jurisprudence. They have set out a clear-eyed, common-sense position that should make Arizonans proud - and more free - and serve as a template for officials elsewhere who are facing this kind of anti-religious bullying. Their conclusion: Jeffries probably should not have involved his assistant in collecting the special intentions, but Jeffries' emails (there were trip updates) were "private speech, did not bear the endorsement of the State, and did not violate the Constitution." Brnovich and Watkins pointed out what the foundation's Zeigler had herself acknowledged: Jeffries' emails were "personal." The state clearly allows employees to use its email system to send and receive personal emails. Many promote charitable causes. In writing about the charitable purpose of his trip, Jeffries had made clear that employees should only send in their "special intentions" if they felt comfortable doing so. There was no suggestion that the state (DES) was sponsoring or endorsing Jeffries' trip or his request to carry petitions to Lourdes. Jeffries was clearly not proselytizing or evangelizing, but did he somehow violate the separation of church and state, because his emails touched on religion and the sacred? It's here that Watkins' analysis becomes both sublime and devastating. Why should Jeffries be prohibited from using the state email system on constitutional grounds simply because his private charitable activity has a religious foundation? He was simply participating in regular on-going office discourse. Advertisement True, the charitable activity mentioned in Jeffries' emails may have had a religious underpinning. But is the foundation suggesting that the state delve into the religious or non-religious foundations of all charitable activities or trips mentioned in employee emails? Or that emails on personal non-religious trips should be allowed and emails on personal religious trips forbidden? All this would mean the government policy on personal emails is not neutral. It would be discriminating between religious and non-religious charitable activities. Red Cross activities would be fine. Order of Malta charitable activities would be banned. Such a policy would, in fact, violate the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protections. In pointing out the legal morass Zeigler's logic would lead state officials into, Brnovich and Watkins ask her to imagine that Jeffries had instead written to employees about an upcoming trip to Green Bay's Lambeau Field. "[A]s any Wisconsin organization is likely aware, many people venerate Lambeau Field as a sacred shrine to the Packers (the Packers' official website proudly refers to Lambeau Field as 'Hallowed Ground' ...). Would your constitutional objections remain if Mr. Jeffries was rhapsodic about his reverence for the 'hallowed ground of Lambeau Field and offered to prayerfully whisper each employee's name while watching video highlights of Aaron Rodgers' successful 'Hail Mary' passes from the 2015-16 season?" Wicked. Just wicked. The Arizona Attorney General's office had one more play up his sleeve. Remember that Latin phrase "Ditat Deus." ("God Enriches") in Jeffries' emails? Turns out it's Arizona's state motto. People cycle past a billboard for the upcoming G20 summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, July 29, 2016. Picture taken July 29, 2016. REUTERS/Aly Song SINGAPORE -- The G-20 process is stalling. It needs a big kick in the butt. China should deliver it at the upcoming meeting in Hangzhou this coming weekend. What's the proof that the G-20 is stalling? Simple: the global economy is stalling. Since the G-20 summit was first held in 2008, with the explicit mission to "work together to restore global growth," it has failed in its core mission. Indeed, the prospects for global economic growth have never looked so gloomy -- Larry Summers recently suggested that we are stuck in "secular stagnation." Advertisement The zero-sum calculations that plague geopolitical thinking are preventing rational economic cooperation among G-20 nations. Why is the G-20 failing? The conventional answer is that the G-20 is divided -- the fiscal deficit countries (like the U.S.) want the fiscal surplus countries (like China and Germany) to do more to stimulate domestic demand. In short, differences of opinions on the correct economic responses are causing the G-20 process to stall. But such conventional answers are dead wrong. The G-20 is not stalling for economic reasons. It is stalling because geopolitical considerations are interfering with rational economic responses. The zero-sum calculations that plague geopolitical thinking are preventing rational economic cooperation among G-20 nations. Leaders pose for a photo at the G-20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey, on Nov. 15, 2015. (AP/Susan Walsh) A good example is provided by China's proposal to set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The G-20 agrees that stimulating greater global investment in infrastructure would boost global economic growth. As the leaders' communique that followed the Brisbane G-20 summit in November 2014 explicitly said, "Tackling global investment and infrastructure shortfalls is crucial to lifting growth, job creation and productivity." Yet, when China launched the AIIB, the U.S. campaigned fiercely against it and an anonymous U.S. Treasury official expressed American feelings well when he said in response to the British decision to join the AIIB, "We are wary about a trend toward constant accommodation of China, which is not the best way to engage a rising power." Advertisement The honesty of this official is commendable. His statement brings out well the zero-sum attitudes of geopolitical "strategic thinkers." The real tragedy here (and it's a tragedy that cripples the G-20) is that these so-called "strategic" thinkers can't think strategically and can't see the big strategic picture of how our world has evolved. Most of the people advising the G-20 on "strategic" issues are guns-and-bombs people whose mental concepts are stuck in the 19th century. They wrongly assume, as the U.S. official revealed, that China's rise can only be negative for the U.S. Obama should announce that the U.S. will now join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank instead of opposing. This may or may not have been true in the 19th century, but it's certainly not true in the 21st century. We now live in a small interdependent world. If our priority is to restore global economic growth, it is now in China's national interest to see a strong thriving American economy -- and vice versa. It is vital to emphasize that global interdependence is not just growing in the economic sphere. It is equally true in our battle to combat global warming, pandemics like Ebola and Zika and the so-called Islamic State. In short, as I explain in "The Great Convergence," all 7 billion occupants on Earth are sailing on the same boat. It is the fundamental responsibility of the G-20 to take care of our fragile global vessel. The Hangzhou G-20 meeting can demonstrate that the G-20 leaders now understand better their global responsibilities by taking a few small but significant steps. President Obama can take the lead. He has nothing to lose since he is stepping down soon. He can demonstrate that America has liberated itself from zero-sum thinking by announcing that the U.S. will now join the AIIB instead of opposing it. Congressional approval can come later but the symbolic gesture will create a new positive chemistry for the G-20. Leaders pose during the signing ceremony for the Articles of Agreement of the AIIB at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 29, 2015. (Wang Zhao/Pool Photo/AP) China can reciprocate by announcing that it is prepared to share its high-speed rail technology with the U.S. on preferential terms to help jumpstart the U.S. economy. Eventually, if China is allowed to build a high-speed railway from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast of the U.S., it will have an enormous positive effect on U.S.-China relations. China can make a start by proposing to build high-speed railways in California (from San Francisco to Los Angeles) and in the Northeast (from Boston to New York and Washington). Such symbolic projects will show that G-20 leaders now understand that concrete cooperation is preferable to issuing meaningless communiques. One point is worth emphasizing here. A China-U.S. partnership on infrastructure will be a match made in heaven. America needs new infrastructure; the American Society of Civil Engineers projected a $1.44 trillion investment funding gap in the U.S. between 2016 and 2025, warning of a mounting drag on business activity, exports and incomes. China has the financial and institutional capacity to build such infrastructure. China should reciprocate by announcing its sharing its high-speed rail technology with the U.S. to help jumpstart the U.S. economy. An unusual U.S.-China partnership on infrastructure development can be complemented by another equally unusual partnership between Europe, Japan and India to build infrastructure in Africa. The long-term strategic nightmare for Europe is clear. Over time, with the population explosion in Africa, the floods of illegal migrants from Africa will only grow. The recent surge of boats across the Mediterranean has provided a clear warning of what is coming for Europe. I had warned about this coming human flood in an essay for the National Interest in 1992. Europe needs to build dykes. The only truly effective dyke would be the promotion of economic growth and development in Africa. Europe can try to do this on its own but its colonial history in Africa still creates psychological obstacles. Working with India and Japan, more realistic projects will be conceived and launched in Africa. In short, if the G-20 is to demonstrate that it is serious about its mission of promoting global growth, it has to snap out of its current mold of issuing long communiques and launch concrete projects that demonstrate that real economic cooperation is taking place. This is why it is good to start with infrastructure. It is clearly visible. People will see the benefits. Faith in the G-20 will be restored. A bullet train passes over Yongdinghe Bridge in Beijing on Dec. 26, 2012. China's high-speed rail line is the longest in the world. (AP/Xinhua, Jiao Hongtao) Faith in the G-20 also needs to be restored for another reason. Many people in advanced developed countries now see globalization as a threat and not as an opportunity. This is why the British voted against their own economic interests in opting for Brexit. Similarly, the emergence of Donald Trump reflects a strong desire among the American body politic to build new walls and cut Americans away from the world. Abstract economic arguments cannot change such attitudes. Another bestselling book by Tom Friedman arguing that the world is flat will not do the trick. Instead, what the public needs to see are concrete projects of cooperation that yield both jobs and benefits. The initial projects have to be high profile and be seen to make a difference to the lives of people. Symbolic steps can also help: the G-20 should endorse both the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the "One Belt, One Road" initiative. In short, if the G-20 leaders can demonstrate that they have liberated themselves from 19th century geopolitical zero-sum thinking, they will revitalize the G-20 process. Europe, Japan and India should work together to build infrastructure in Africa. One small photo opportunity can help to send the world a signal that their thinking is changing. At their traditional photo shoot, the G-20 leaders should take two pictures instead of one. In the first picture, they should all wear their national hats, demonstrating that they are national leaders. In the second photo, they should wear a common hat, perhaps a blue hat with the United Nations logo, to demonstrate that they also share a common responsibility of managing our small fragile planet. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Advertisement Earlier on WorldPost: Inscription at September 11th Memorial In two weeks time, it will be the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 innocent people on American soil. For 15 years, the 9/11 families have fought to hold all culpable participants in the 9/11 attacks accountable in a court of law -- with little success. Advertisement We believe that the United States is a nation of laws and, as American citizens who had loved ones murdered in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, we should be entitled to justice for those brutal murders. Legal redress for an injury or murder is a foundational principle of any civilized society. Yet, in our attempt to hold the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accountable in a court of law to face the evidence gathered against them, the 9/11 families have been blocked from doing so by the U.S. government. Shockingly, the president, State Department, and various members of the U.S. Congress choose to protect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, rather than the rights of U.S. citizens and 9/11 family members. President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have stated that for foreign policy reasons, the 9/11 families should not be able to sue the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -- even though, the 9/11 families have compiled reams of evidence that we believe proves that the Kingdom played a strong role in the financial and logistical support of the 9/11 hijackers. Fortunately, Obama's and Kerry's views were repudiated by the Senate's bi-partisan passage of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, (JASTA S. 2040) back in May 2016. Advertisement In our attempt to garner more support for JASTA (H.R. 3815, S 2040) that would force the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to finally publicly stand trial and face the evidence against them, we have created the 9/11 Families' Accountability Video Project. This Project is a compilation of 9/11 Family member videos and others making extremely personal, poignant pleas to Congress to pass JASTA (H.R. 3815, S 2040) so we can finally hold the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accountable for their alleged role in the murder of our loved ones. Unfortunately, much like many in Washington D.C. are able to turn a blind eye to the Saudis' alleged continued funding of radical Islamic terrorism, many in Washington D.C. are also apparently able to turn a deaf ear to the personal pleas made by the 9/11 families in these powerful videos. Our voices and faces are being ignored by the obstructionists in Washington. In two weeks time, many in our government will stand at graves and 9/11 memorials, wrapped in American flags, professing to "Never Forget 9/11." Yet, these men and women are the very same individuals who have thwarted, blocked and denied the 9/11 families path to justice for 15 years. These are the same individuals who won't bother to watch our heartbreaking videos pleading for justice for the murder of our loved ones. As incredible as it may sound, it has just recently come to our attention that Speaker Paul Ryan might now be joining forces with President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry in opposing the 9/11 families and JASTA. Advertisement We find Paul Ryan's rumored anti-9/11 family stance gut-wrenching. If this incredible rumor were true, that would be a sin unfathomable to the 9/11 families and all Americans who believe in accountability. One month ago, Speaker Ryan ran a primary election television commercial ironically titled, "Do More," where he said: "After the terrorist attacks in Orlando and San Bernardino, Americans are right to be worried about ISIS plotting more attacks. As your Congressman, I'm working with national security experts to change practices so we can prevent future attacks. Just talking about national security is not enough." Speaker Ryan then went on to say that we needed new laws and actions by the White House and Congress to protect Americans from terrorist groups like ISIS. We wholeheartedly agree. JASTA would do just that. Just talking about national security is not enough. JASTA must be passed NOW. For far too long, too many in government have not supported or protected the rights of the 9/11 families to hold the alleged co-conspirators and murderers of our loved ones accountable in a court of law. We believe that the 15th Anniversary will finally see that come to an end when JASTA finally becomes law. Seeing the faces and hearing the voices presented in our videos compels no less. Please watch and share our videos with your family and friends, post our videos on your favorite blogs and message boards, and make phone calls to your elected officials demanding that they honor the 9/11 dead -- not just by wrapping themselves in the American flag for one solemn day of remembrance -- but by passing JASTA Now. We hope that you will join us in our journey to truly "Never Forget" our loved ones and to hold those who allegedly conspired to murder our loved ones accountable in a court of law. Kristin Meekhof & Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP, January 2014, Photo taken in NY -- The Very First Time Kristin Met Deepak Chopra, MD I'm not famous, nor do I have a recognizable last name and I'm not related to any powerful individual, so when Deepak Chopra, MD, FACP replied to my tweet I assumed it was a member of his staff. This was in the fall of 2013. We exchanged emails for a few weeks before I discovered it was actually Deepak himself writing me. Then in January of 2014, he generously agreed to meet me in his New York office. Since this time, I've had the good fortune of having Deepak as my mentor and friend. Here are ten things I've learned from having Deepak Chopra as a mentor: 1. Listen first. Upon my first meeting with Deepak, I noticed that I was doing all of the speaking. Literally, he just sat there and looked at me. He wasn't checking his phone or glancing around the room. I actually thought maybe he was practicing some type of meditation because he said nothing. Later, I asked the other gentleman who was in the room for my meeting if I was making any sense at all. He said, "Deepak listens first, observes, and then speaks." From that point forward, in all my interactions with Deepak he does indeed practice this. Advertisement 2. Be willing to ask for help. At a book event in Detroit, Deepak gave a highly intellectual presentation about consciousness. Afterwards, I heard Deepak asking another gentleman for feedback about it. And this is not the only time I've witnessed Deepak asking for assistance. He is willing to demonstrate vulnerability and admit what he doesn't know, and fortunately surrounds himself with brilliant people who can offer aid. 3 Relationships come first. What matters most are the relationships we build with others. In other words, people first not things. Our culture emphasizes a "me first" approach, but Deepak has reiterated in all his interactions that it is the person that matters. He wants to know who is supporting you. 4. Learn how to practice detachment. Doing your very best and putting forth effort into every project is needed; however, one can't control how your work will be received. At some level practicing detachment is very healthy. It frees you from anxiety when the outcome you hoped for doesn't occur. 5. Remain in the now. Present moments are golden opportunities for cultivating the seeds of creativity and wonder. Allow yourself to be a part of the unknown. I first practiced mediation after viewing an episode of Oprah with her talking about the benefits of mediation with Deepak. He said anyone can begin it. Meditation does teach you how to become less reactive and understand the power of this moment. Advertisement 6. Unbounded potential. Knowing and deeply believing that each of us has within us the unbounded potential to fulfill our true purpose has changed my life. Before I met Deepak, I was struggling with formulating and researching my book about grief/loss. Not exactly an uplifting topic and certainly not an easy sell. However, along my writing journey, I kept remembering what Deepak taught about unbounded potential. Understanding this and putting it into practice, I know is what led to me connecting with ABC World News, American Greetings and Katie Couric. 7. Be involved. I'm always amazed that Deepak manages on a daily basis to reply to hundreds of emails, including mine. He also took time to follow-up with me after the launch of my book to tell me that he noticed how sales were doing. If I think I'm too busy to get to follow- up on things, I think about the fact that Deepak makes time for it. 8. Be boldly honest. It is easy to tell half-truths or want to be less than transparent but Deepak practices brutal honesty. And he is not afraid to admit when he makes a mistake. In fact, if you follow him on social media, you will see tweets where he apologizes to people. 9. Remain a student. We all may feel we are experts in certain areas, but stay open to learning more, especially outside of your comfort zone. From Deepak, I've learned that our success is limited when we restrict our thinking and ideas. When we aren't afraid to be a student of life we create openings for growth. 10. We are all interconnected. This may seem obvious but until you understand that we are one, we will continue to live very independently, instead of realizing how each of our actions impacts each other. When we first change ourselves we can truly change the world. We cultivate abundance when we listen to each other and become a light for someone else. Go forth and be light. You are the universe. Advertisement Like many Black Americans I was introduced to the perfection of Japanese denim by Hip-Hop. After I heard Jay Z say "these ain't Diesel, these is Evisu" on the Just Blaze produced, Blueprint 2 bonus track Show You How in 2002, I started investigating denim brands. Two years later I bought my first pair of Japanese denim- a pair of Evisu I scored from a menswear shop in Boston. And, I wore them everywhere for the next four years including on my trip to Japan in 2005. I loved those jeans and they were not my last pair of Japanese denim. I am currently breaking in two pairs of selvedge denim- an Edwin pair and a Uniqlo pair. To put it quite plainly: I am a proud denim enthusiast. Last week I had the pleasure of watching a documentary about my mild obsession- Weaving Shibusa by filmmakers Devin Leisher, Erik Motta and Mehdi Ahmadi. It premiered to an audience in San Francisco on August 6th at an event hosted by Self Edge- a producer of the documentary and famed denim house. The film is beautiful with stunning shots all over Japan, intriguing interviews with denim legends and a trip to denim mecca Shinya Mills in Ibarra where denim brands such as Japan Blue, The Real McCoys, Fullcount and Denime are woven along with other members of the Osaka 5. Advertisement A post shared by A Film On Japanese Denim (@weavingshibusa) on May 26, 2015 at 9:29am PDT While denim was invented in America in the late 1800's, it was perfected in Japan. As told by Atsushi Matsushima of Lightning Magazine in the film, the story of Japanese denim begins in late 1940's and early 1950's Ueno, Tokyo during the American occupation. American military men would sell old clothes in underground markets where Japanese would rummage to find choice items. Matsushima goes on to explain that much like the automobile industry and electronics, the Japanese copied American culture when they became interested in denim. Throughout the late 20th Century and into the 21st Century Japan and America competed to see who could make the best cars, gadgets and jeans. In the 1960's Japan started making their own jeans rather than import them from America or buy what was available in Japan. And, the Japanese put into making jeans the same attention to detail and eye for perfection that they put into everything else. While Americans have moved on to advanced technology to make denim, in Japan the best denim is still made on old shuttle looms that have been rescued from factories across the country. When Japanese denim makers want to add a particular feature to their jeans they talk of having to build a machine to make it. To them no detail is too small. A post shared by A Film On Japanese Denim (@weavingshibusa) on Feb 22, 2015 at 8:36am PST Advertisement Another example of the Japanese attention to detail and pursuit of perfection comes in the dyeing process. Denim is dyed with indigo and liquid indigo is brown naturally. It turns blue when exposed to air. The process of using indigo is described in the film as a battle against nature. And, although the use of indigo is a painstaking process, the artisans at work never get to see the final outcome of their work because the real color of indigo comes after use. Only the owner of a pair of jeans will be able to appreciate their work. Mikiharu Tsujita, the founder of Full Count, described the process he went through to find cotton suitable for his jeans. He said he did not like the feel of the cotton he was getting from America at first. It did not produce jeans as soft as the vintage jeans he was trying to emulate. So, he sourced cotton from Egypt, Switzerland, America and Peru before finally settling on cotton from Zimbabwe. There cotton is still picked by hand and goes through an old production style. Tsujita knew by the feel that he had to use Zimbabwean cotton. A post shared by A Film On Japanese Denim (@weavingshibusa) on May 29, 2015 at 7:59am PDT Denim has truly lived a long life and has become more acceptable as time has passed. Masayohi Kobayashi of The Flat Head put it well when he said "I don't think there are any other clothing items that have stories like jeans." You can wear jeans for a decade and they only get better with time- in fit and color. Kazuhiko Hanzawa, founder of Marvin's Vintage, can tell the type of wearer of a pair of jeans by the fades. And, according to Yutaka Fujihara, director of BerBerJin, there will be no "next denim." In other words, no item will see the lifespan, utility and importance of jeans in fashion culture. So, if you have not been taking your denim purchases seriously, now may be the time to reconsider. The Japanese know denim and appreciate the art they are making when they make a pair of jeans. We can all learn something about appreciating the small things through the lens of Japanese denim. I had the opportunity to connect with one of the directors of the film, Devin Leisher, via email and asked him to answer the following questions: 1. What gave you the idea to make a documentary about Japanese denim? The idea came simply from personal interest. Japanese denim has been something i've been heavily interested in (and involved in on the forums) since about 2007-2008. I knew how difficult it was for people to get information on the topic, partly because of the secrecy of the brands, partly because of their inaccessibility in Japan, and felt that if I was only able to not only get "answers" for people, but also show the brands and figureheads and connect the enthusiasts to the makers, that I would have something very unique. 2. Why do you think the Japanese are able to take American products and drive them to perfection like they have with denim, cars and electronics? I think the Japanese are able to take American products, and products from all over the world for that matter, and take them to the 'next level' because they are very singularly-focused and dedicate themselves to perfection. It is not at all uncommon for people in Japan to have the same career their entire lives. They want to be the best they can be at what they do, so they learn all they can about something, reverse engineer it to find the pitfalls, and make the better version. They do a lot to understand the "how" and "why" of things, which can lead to a better result versus just emulating and tweaking what a product is on the surface. 3. When will the film be released and where will people be able to watch it? Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin gestures speaking during his interview to French daily Le Figaro in Sochi on Russia's Black Sea coast, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. Putin said in an interview published Saturday that he expects the next U.S. administration to improve the two countries' strained relations. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Pool) Twenty-five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, America's relations with Russia have reached a post-Cold War low. Russia's interventions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine have exacerbated tensions with the U.S. and much of Europe. Distrust and sharp rhetoric have reached new levels. But Russia is an active player in areas of great strategic importance. For the United States, maintaining effective policies toward Russia will be essential but not easy. Advertisement Politically, Russia has moved a long way from its communist past, but it isn't clear what direction the country is heading. What is clear is that Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the shots. Putin has consolidated power in his own person. He acts as if he believes that he alone stands between order and chaos. His leadership style is autocratic and brooks no serious competition. Civil society in Russia has been decimated. The parliamentary system is a facade. Russia is a very hard country for Americans to understand and deal with. Despite Putin's apparent ambitions, it is not a global superpower. It has a kind of hollow power. It is not a revolutionary force in the world. It is a declining state, seeking to restore its former influence. But Russia must be taken seriously, because it has the world's most extensive stockpiles of nuclear weapons, separated plutonium and highly enriched uranium. In a world of many risks, nuclear weapons present the gravest threat to our security and our future. Advertisement Economically, Russia is struggling. It has serious institutional and demographic weaknesses, including low fertility rates, grim health issues and a population that is projected to decline. Its GDP equals that of Italy, a country with less than half as many people. Prices for oil exports, which helped make Putin popular early in his presidency, have fallen. The sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and other allies in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 have hurt. Living standards continue to fall. It is hard to determine what Putin is up to with the takeover of Crimea and intervention in eastern Ukraine, which he frames as an attempt to support ethnic Russians in the region. It may be that he is trying to distract Russians from the country's economic troubles. The worry, of course, is that he will intervene further. For now, it seems unlikely that Russia will engage in new, major offensives in Ukraine and elsewhere in Eastern Europe. But Putin certainly gauged correctly that the U.S. and its allies would not be willing to fight his actions -- that our response would be nonmilitary. Some in the U.S. government identify Russia as the top security concern for our country today. Certainly the relationship is important and challenging. Advertisement But there are areas where we need Russia's cooperation, such as the conflict in Syria, Iran's ambitions and avoiding a disaster with our nuclear arsenals getting loose and ending up in the wrong hands. Afghanistan is another area where both the U.S. and Russia want greater stability. We have worked with Russia to resist terrorism and stem the spread of narcotics. It is not in our interest to have chaos in Russia or to see Russia cease to function effectively as a state. However, we should not be complacent. We should maintain economic sanctions as a powerful nonmilitary tool to influence Russia's behavior and continue to exclude Russia from the world banking system. Its economy is quite dependent on Western trade and investment, and it doesn't have any effective means to counter the sanctions. We should also strengthen our ties with NATO. The countries of Eastern Europe, especially, need reassurance that they will not be left vulnerable. But NATO should make clear it does not intend to expand to Ukraine and Georgia, actions that Russia would see as a severe provocation. We must keep open and, if possible, deepen the lines of communication with Russia, but we should not set aside our differences. We should cooperate where we can but stand up to Russia where necessary. Advertisement For example, we should stand behind the Ukrainian government in Kiev, providing it with bilateral and multinational aid. And we need to sustain international opposition to any effort by Russia to weaken or break off Europe. We should strongly object to any violation of international law. We certainly should not have any illusions about Russia - or its wily and calculating leader. Addressing the security concerns presented by Russia is one of America's most difficult foreign policy challenges. Even our best efforts will not produce quick results. It's going to take a lot of skill and patience. San Diego, California, USA - May 27, 2016: Hundreds of protesters gather in the Gaslamp area to display their thoughts about Donald Trump's presidential campaign at an anti-Trump demonstration. For many years, whenever there is a racially charged incident -- a shooting of an African-American youth by a police officer, violence between racial groups in cities like New York or Los Angeles, racially tinged events on college campuses or any of the myriad other events involving race in America-politicians, public intellectuals and even religious leaders call for an honest conversation about race in America. Those calls go unheeded, not least because nobody knows for certain that that conversation would look like. Depressingly, however, we are having that conversation now in this presidential campaign. Race has, of course, been the subtext of many presidential campaigns, and in a very real way, of much of American political discourse for centuries. However, by placing race, more accurately racial intolerance and bigotry, at the center of his campaign Donald Trump has forced us all to have a conversation about race, although not always the one we would have liked. Advertisement The conversation that we have been led into by Trump's ugly rhetoric is not one where thoughtful people engage in a frank discussion of what racism in the 21st century looks like, how to productively wrestle with our own biases or understand the lasting impact of bigotry and prejudice. Instead it is one where one side, sometimes metaphorically and sometimes literally, yells out, in reference to Mexicans, "They're rapists;" that African-Americans have too much power; that Muslims are all terrorists trying to kill us; that Jews control politics through their money; build a wall; don't let those people in; you better watch those people closely; America should be for white Christians. The rest of America, for its part, scrambles to respond to this and spends most of its energy trying to express anger, disappointment and bewilderment at the overt racism that has moved into center state of our political life for the first time in at least a generation. Perversely, for many months now, the conversation about race has included an examination of the question of whether or not Donald Trump is racist. It is appalling that after months of his words and Tweets, listening to his core campaign messages and observing his efforts to cozy up to, or at the least failure to distance himself from, white supremacists, we are still debating this. It is possible, even now to turn on the television and hear a group of pundits earnestly discussing whether or not Trump is racist. This is a bit like having an earnest discussion about whether or not the sun is hot. Together, this tells us a fair amount about race in America. Most significantly, despite decades of being told of the progress we have made on racial matters and the all but official position of white America that racism is something that belongs to the past, the conversation on race that has grown out of the Trump campaign is a reminder that racism in its most crude and overt forms is still a very strong political force, and has a very strong appeal. Sadly, an American conversation about race still includes a large contingent of people standing in one corner yelling racial epithets. Advertisement This conversation also includes people of color seeking to draw attention to Trump's racism as a way to examine the role of racism more broadly in the U.S. These voices, as usual, are drowned out by the racism on one side and the efforts of those who are so upset to see their vision of a post-racial, or at least less racist, America shattered that they waste time, among other things, in absurd debates about whether or not the ringleader of racist America, a man who has a racist record dating back to the beginning of his business career, is indeed a racist. In fairness, there have been times when the Trump inspired conversation about race has been explicit about the racism at the center of the GOP nominee's campaigns. Last week, for example, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton gave a speech in Nevada where in a clear, thorough and almost prosecutorial manner she explained her opponent's racism and the extent of the ties between Trump and some of the most despicably bigoted elements in our society. It was a good speech and a valuable contribution to the conversation on race, but it didn't change anything. Amazingly, the general media response was to treat Clinton's well documented case against Trump, and Trump's response that amounted to little more than that childish taunt "I know you are but what am I," as a spat between two candidates, rather than to focus on the substance of Clinton's speech. Scythian fans are most likely already aware the Celtic rock band and Merlefest fan favorite is hosting its second annual Appaloosa D.C.'s Roots Music Festival over Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3-4, 2016, featuring 40-plus bands on five stages plus musical workshops by top artists. In addition to Scythian, headliners include The Black Lillies, Mipso, Penny and Sparrow, Marie Miller, Humming House, Billy Strings, The Accidentals and Lowland Hum, among others. "We wanted to go back to our roots," says Dan Fedoryka, one of Scythian's co-founders, along with his brother, Alexander, and sister, Larissa. "We've always produced our own events and there was nothing (festival-wise) within two hours of D.C. so last year we were so thankful we were able to pull it together. It was very communal. We have always felt our fans are like-minded and they like the bands we like. That's just one reason the spirit of the festival is so positive and joyful." Advertisement Appaloosa Festival is located at the Skyline Ranch Resort, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley, just a few miles from downtown Front Royal, Virginia, about an hour driving distance from Washington, D.C. (depending on traffic of course.) It's just a few minutes from the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive, and less than a mile from the Shenandoah River. There is camping available on site, plus opportunities in the immediate vicinity to hike, canoe, fish, bike, and more. Tickets are available for the weekend at $56.25 - $75 if you purchase by Aug. 31 for this family friendly festival that offers free admission for children 12 and younger as well as a full kids program, including two kids areas with games and other amusements. What fans may not be aware of is that the Little Hill Trio -- made up of sisters Catie Parker and Amelia Parker, and their cousin Tess Beckwith -- is officially releasing the hard copy CD of its EP of mostly original songs at Appaloosa on Sept. 3. The folk trio has been influenced by the Irish Celtic music they grew up singing, and by the harmonies and blending of groups like Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Little Hill Trio came into existence one day at a family gathering on Little Hill Road in New Jersey, when Catie, Amelia and Tess were asked to sing a song for the family. When they effortlessly broke out into three-part harmony, they decided they would share their gift of singing together with the greater community, according to Catie Parker. Advertisement The trio, which released two singles -- "Passing Craze (On To You)" and "Uprooted" -- on Friday, is releasing its first self-titled EP on Monday, Aug 29. It will be available for digital download on iTunes and Bandcamp. "We would not have been able to do this at all without the help of our many Indiegogo campaign supporters and the people who generously offered us affordable and free resources," Catie Parker says. Other bands to check out at Appaloosa include Socks in the Frying Pan, Six-String Soldiers (the U.S. Army Field Band, Karikatura, Bumper Jacksons, The Gothard Sisters, Everything Fitz - The Fitzgerald Family, The Collection, Kevin Heider, Bud's Collective, Moore Brothers Band, Kenny Kohlhaas, Low Water Bridge, The Duskwhales, Tellico, Will Overman Band, Rebecca Roubion,Ben-David Warner, Dan Arnold & the Swingin' Standards, Adam & I, Patrick Mahon, Vinyl Tracks, Robbie Limon, Bryan Elijah Smith, Alanna Boudreau, The Maggie Valley Band, Dead Men's Hollow, Justina Miller, Dear Other, Boyle School of Irish Dance and The Joybells. "The are so incredibly thrilled to be playing the same venue as one of their favorite bands," adds Parker, who is a music therapist and co-director at Melmark of The Joybells, the incredible bell choir that has recently played for the World Congress of Families and on the Today Show. Parker continues, "We each bring unique gifts to the group. I do a lot of the songwriting because I've been writing since high school and studied music in undergrad, so I learned a lot about composing. I always run them by Amelia so she can add to them because she's got great ideas. Tess and Amelia have the natural ability to find harmonies to go along with the songs. You could sing a song to Tess that she's never heard before and she'd be able to harmonize in an instant. She's always had a natural talent for it. It's so natural for both of them. Amelia has recently written a song that I am really excited about because it adds wonderful diversity to our sound. She also designed the album because she is the one who is talented visually." Advertisement The trio always tries to write its music with three people in mind, Catie Parker explains. "One of our favorite songs is 'Uprooted' because it was so collaborative and dynamic," she says. "The song 'Uprooted' is a result of me plucking out a melody on the piano and sending it to Amelia at college, so that she could write words and add other musical aspects. Dear Old Friend was a collaboration between me and Amelia, as well." Want to learn more? You can find Little Hill Trio on Instagram @LittleHillTrio and on facebook at facebook.com/littlehilltrio. Proactively From the Sea; an agent of change leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case to synergize a consistent design in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity. The world changes in direct proportion to the number of people willing to be honest about their lives. --Armistead Maupin Like everyone, I am deeply disturbed by the epidemic of violence in our nation. It is a heartbreaking sign of our age. I live in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where during the last year, we experienced a mass shooting, the violence spilling in our own streets, a mile from where I live. In Charleston, where I teach every year, I walk by Emmanuel Church every visit, and had met Reverend Pinckney. In aftermath we, like everyone else in the world, must choose between caring for each other and striking out at each other. Each time, I think we might tremble enough to make no weapon automatic. I think we might be shaken enough to no longer ignore those with mental illness. I think we might look up and recognize each other, in our pain, as more fragile and connected than anyone imagined. But most of us have become inured to the senseless killing, as if it were uncontrollable, like tornadoes or lightning strikes. And since these tragedies, there have been so many more stricken and killed. Advertisement When broken by tragedy, we're very close to being ethical and loving. Yet when overrun by fear, we often think self-interest will protect us from the hardships of life, when all it does is consume us until we add to the hardships wearing on others, unwilling to own the harm we inflict. Ultimately, the moral conscience of a society is measured by how well it threads its justice with its compassion. So how are we to understand these violent outbursts? It's easy to label the broken and lonely who are shooting up movie theatres and elementary schools as crazy psychopaths. Indeed, they are. It's easy to throw our hands up in disgust and say they have nothing to do with us. But while these broken, aberrant souls are responsible and accountable for the harm they perpetrate, it's not that simple. Just as an aneurysm occurs in the body because a weakened artery wall can't withstand the force of a pressurized and stressed system, these weakened souls are social aneurysms, waiting to explode in response to the pressures of a society that can't calm itself. While these individuals are responsible for their actions, we are responsible for creating a stressed and pressurized society that is relentless on the weakened members among us. Why are so many weak cells exploding? Why is the societal blood pressure so dangerously high? A mature society commits to relieving the stress points in its community, while holding those who snap responsible for the harm they do. What can we do to calm and stabilize our larger community? Where are we relentlessly stressed? Are we mature enough to tend to the broken parts as well as the pressurized whole? If we look at humanity as one global body, then, as in every human body, there are healthy cells and toxic cells. Health in the world abounds when there are more healthy individuals than toxic ones. And every time we meet in kindness and truth, every time we tend to each other, we strengthen the immune system of the global body. Advertisement Everything is connected and therefore, everything matters. And every time we strengthen a heart, we lessen fear and violence somewhere in the world. This is the challenge of our time: to strengthen our hearts and to lessen our fear and violence. We are all in this together, no matter where we live. Charles Dickens began his novel A Tale of Two Cities with the sentence, "It was the best of times and the worst of times." What is profound about this is that every era, every generation, every day, is the best of times and the worst of times. It is up to us to choose, as those before us, between love and fear. Last month, Atria published my new book, The One Life We're Given: Finding the Wisdom that Waits in Your Heart. To make the most of being here, we're required to learn when to try and when to let go. This is our initiation into grace. The gift and practice of being human centers on the effort to restore what matters and, when in trouble, to make good use of our heart. No one quite knows how to do this, but learn it we must. There is no other way. By fully living the one life we're given, we're led to the wisdom that waits in our heart. The above piece is an excerpt from the book. For more poetry for the soul, click here. From Compton to Coronado, Long Beach to Lompoc, Santa Fe Springs to San Francisco, 115,000 people are homeless throughout California, many of them living in utter squalor in what's supposed to be the Golden State. That's enough men, women and children to fill every seat at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Petco Park in San Diego and the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento -- combined. And unless our leaders step up and take immediate and extraordinary action, this humanitarian crisis will only get worse. Advertisement To date, more than 25,000 people have petitioned Governor Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency on homelessness. Many city and county officials in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and throughout California have urged the same, as have legislators in the state Assembly. It is time for the state Senate to step up and make the same call to Governor Brown. And it is time for the governor to listen and then act. After all, if he can declare a state of emergency over a fruit fly infestation, doing the same for homelessness should be a no-brainer. It would be a bold move, but not without precedent. Hawaii did it last year and again this year, with a homeless population of 7,000 -- less than one-tenth of those in California. Indeed, California accounts for one in five of the entire nation's homeless population, prompting U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein to send Governor Brown a letter last week, telling him, "It is clear that more must be done." Advertisement Declaring a statewide emergency on homelessness could trigger the release of significant funding for rapid rehousing, rental subsidies and other desperately needed forms of assistance. That declaration would also provide immediate relief with the deployment of state personnel to help those in tent cities, and to establish command posts and triage sites for coordinating services. This is a vital short-term fix which will help to address the most pressing concerns, while the search continues for ongoing revenue sources that would build the housing and services infrastructure recommended by Los Angeles County's sweeping Homeless Initiative. I believe addressing homelessness is both a moral obligation and a practical necessity. Many caught in the grip of this humanitarian crisis are families with children, veterans and the working poor. Many struggle with stagnant wages, grossly inadequate housing stock, and skyrocketing rent -- as much as $3,520 month for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco, when the national median is only $1,120. In San Jose, the corresponding monthly rent is $2,180; Los Angeles, $1,940; and San Diego, $1,530. It baffles me that a state of emergency can be declared for people temporarily displaced by an earthquake, wildfire or natural gas leak, but not for 115,000 people who are already homeless, living in unspeakable conditions and under peril of illness, violence and death. Leaving people unsheltered is costly to taxpayers, impacting law enforcement, health services, property values, and more. The people have spoken, both by petitioning the governor and by responding in almost a dozen recent surveys, that addressing homelessness is a top priority. They have even gone so far as to express an unprecedented willingness to tax themselves, if that's what it would take to solve the problem. Advertisement Leaving no stone unturned in the search for funds to combat homelessness, Los Angeles city officials will ask voters in November to approve a $1.2-billion bond measure to build housing specifically for people who don't have a decent place to live. Los Angeles county officials are considering imposing new taxes and selling advertising space on county buildings to close the homeless funding gap. These measures, however, will take time to generate revenue. So here I am, American born, raised a Southern Baptist and now non-religious, in my homemade burkini. It's made of a swim mask adopted from Chinese women wishing to avoid the sun (as do I), and jogging duds purchased not from a Paris burkini boutique, but from an American discount sporting goods store. I had it years before burkinis became "all the rage," in both senses of the word. My reasons for wearing the burkini are my own. You see, I live in New Mexico, where the sun is brutal on not-so-young skin. The nights get cool here in the high desert, and so does the swimming pool water (alas, we have no public beaches here). So my combo Chinese fright mask and American lycra is a perfect solution. My pool is in my backyard, behind a stucco wall (we have a lot of stucco in New Mexico). Anyway, the French police haven't discovered it yet, but what with Google Earth I could get nailed any day. Advertisement Obviously I wear my homemade swim regalia out of choice. So do a lot of Muslim women in their custom-made swim outfits, although some undoubtedly secretly yearn for more freedom in the water. Opponents of the body-covering gear say it's a matter of religious oppression - women shouldn't show their bodies for fear of tempting men, who can't control their baser impulses. Keep women covered to keep men from sinning, and don't offend them, no matter what you do. (Hmmm - maybe the 70-something men in speedos on Copacabana beach ought to be forced to cover - talk about bodies offending the opposite sex!) The burkini debate is pretty mild around these parts, as most churches are Catholic, where control of women's choices runs to contraception and abortion instead of swimwear selection. I've only met one Muslim woman in my 10 years here - she was at a Women's Equality Day rally a couple of days ago. As a feminist I've always been about choice - especially what to do with my own body. Who else should decide whether or not I have children, grow old gracefully or go for a nip here and tuck there, eat Krispy Kremes instead of kale, drink veggie smoothies or swill sugary soft drinks? The rub seems to come in when others (otherwise known as the men who control religion) decide who decides. Do the women "choose" to cover up because they're victims of the Stockholm syndrome, identifying with their oppressors? Could be - but how can anyone else judge who's a victim and who's a decider on her own? Advertisement Like the title of the Streep/Baldwin 2009 movie says - It's Complicated. For decades I worked in corporate marketing and for the last few years I have created marketing for my own business as well as helping other small business with theirs. Through these experiences and the master's program I took in Integrated Marketing Communications, it was reinforced again and again that negativity sells. More than anything else, our fears and worries motivate us. Tom Denari president and chief strategy officer at the Young & Laramore advertising agency explains, "Research in neuroscience and human behavior has determined that - - while we may not be consciously aware of it, or even want to admit it - - we humans are more influenced by bad than good." This all goes back to the dawn of man. If we didn't want to be eaten by a saber tooth tiger, we had to be consciously and consistently on the lookout for danger. We are instinctively programmed to be hypervigilant and reactionary to threats around us. Marketers realized this and often use this powerful tool in their advertising. Politicians spend more money on negative attack ads against their opponents then in promoting the reasons to vote for their party. Non-profits do not focus on all the good they are doing, but hit our emotional fears through photos of a starving child, an abused dog, or the potentially harmful results of not supporting their cause. Products are positioned every day to save us from the worry of social ostracism. And these negative ads work because they trigger us on a deep level. We are afraid something is wrong. We are afraid of being different. We are afraid of not being accepted. We are afraid something bad is going to happen. We are waiting for the other shoe to drop and will do anything, buy anything, to protect ourselves. And marketers are awesome at tapping into this fear. Advertisement Article after article can be found teaching marketers how to create negative headlines, focus on a villain, and over-sensationalize issues to engage their audience. I always had a hard time with this in my own writing and marketing. I know that headlines like "The Top 10 Reasons Your Friends Hate You" will get more views than "Why You Are Perfect as You Are," but I have a hard time consciously and intentionally tapping into instinctual reactions in order to manipulate my audience. It is very effective, but also very dishonest. And it is very bad for our health. Being triggered by and believing in the negativity around us can result in "the nocebo effect." The opposite of the healing mind-over-matter placebo effect, the nocebo effect is how buying into the fears advertised - think of the myriad of prescription medicine ads you see every day - actually makes us more susceptible to the illnesses. Consuming negative ads can actually cause us to experience the results the fear ads are promoting. What we focus on and believe in becomes our reality - mentally and physically. The negativity in advertising and the media also trigger the same negative stress reactions real world stressors cause. When we just think and imagine our fear, we experience the same increase in stress-related physiological responses while diminishing our natural immunity which a true life-or-death situation would induce - potentially causing long-term damage to our bodies. Check it out for yourself. How do you feel after seeing a negative attack ad? Does your stomach do flips after seeing images of disaster? Are you depressed, tired, listless, and ill after being exposed to intense negativity on Facebook or the nightly news? There is an easy cure. Control what you digest. Stop feeding your mind with negativity. Catch yourself before you unconsciously react to a purposefully emotionally-charged negative ad or program. Notice how what you are mentally consuming is affecting your emotions and body. Limit and reduce the amount of unhelpful claptrap designed to trigger you. Take back control of your emotions from marketers, politicians, and the media. Don't allow them to control how you are affected. Realize that you can choose your consumption and your reaction. Advertisement If you want to explore more ways to reduce the effects of being triggered by negativity, check out how to consciously work through unnecessary worry when triggered by sensational television reports. Original post at It's My Life, Inc. TOPSHOT - In this handout picture released by Prensa Miraflores, former Cuban President Fidel Castro (2nd L), sitting between Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (3rd L) and Cuban President Raul Castro (L), is seen attending the celebration of his 90th birthday at the Karl Marx theatre in Havana on August 13, 2016. / AFP / Prensa Miraflores / Marcelo Garcia / XGTY/RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE-MANDATORY CREDIT 'AFP PHOTO/PRENSA MIRAFLORES' NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS-DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS-GETTY OUT (Photo credit should read MARCELO GARCIA/AFP/Getty Images) Fidel Castro turned 90 on August 13 , celebrating with the children of the troupe La Colmenita and scores of comrades of the old guard, their political heirs and special guests at the Karl Marx Theater. Before July 31st, 2006, the omnipresent and tireless Comandante seldom participated in public meetings and his appearances are mainly through the photos shot by his son Alex Castro. A shrunken old man with insecure movements was guided and seated on his special chair between Raul Castro and Nicolas Maduro by two bodyguards. He seemed very frail and his glance reflected the effort to listen and answer properly. All normal in a 90-year old great grandfather, weakened by a long illness who had overcome death, but not for the Fidel Castro who has his lecturing articles aired, pretending to be the forceful Comandante he was once. The previous day he published an incoherent article recalling his childhood, followed by the peril of human kind's extinction, the threads of a nuclear attack on China and Russia and criticism of President Obama for not apologizing during his visit to Japan, as if Fidel hadn't been ready to start an atomic war between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962. Advertisement The honors for his 90 birthday started in January and gained momentum when Fidel assisted to the closing ceremony of the Communist Party congress in April. The media, books, poetry, paintings, sport competitions, domestic and international meetings have been dedicated to highlight Fidel's ideas, sacrifices and accomplishments. Indeed, Cubans endure nowadays the result of his doings as the sole person with ideas and possibility to carry them out during 46 years. The economic, political and social destruction of Cuba is his great legacy. He has been a charmer of wills, a genius restricting human rights and a skilled international maneuverer, as much as a failure guiding the economy. His imposition of absolute and everlasting power will most probably ensure his relaxed passing away and his entry into history as the plunger, the annihilator of Cuba. Cubans expect Fidel Castro not to interfere in the critical situation existing and changes urgently needed. Miriam Leiva Cuban Independent journalist At a press conference I participated in August 22 on the shore of the Hudson River in Albany, New York State came out with guns blazing regarding General Electric's PCB contamination of the river. Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos, the state's chief environmental officer, announced that New York is officially challenging the effectiveness of GE's cleanup, completed last fall and declared a success by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Commissioner Seggos called on the EPA, which is overseeing the cleanup, to ensure its ongoing review of the project will be objective and take into account the latest data, rather than rely on models. Scientific sampling of the river's fish, water and sediment indicate more cleanup is needed to achieve goals for this project set by the EPA and agreed to by GE -- a clean river whose fish are safe to eat. U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney played a key role with Scenic Hudson in encouraging the state to challenge the adequacy of the cleanup and also spoke at the press conference. In declaring "I think it's absolutely clear the job is not yet done," Commissioner Seggos decisively allied the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo with its two fellow trustees tasked with restoring the Hudson's natural resources once the EPA-mandated cleanup is officially deemed complete. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have previously cited significant volumes of PCBs still contaminating river sediment and flaws in General Electric's analysis of fish tissue that make the cleanup appear more successful than it actually has been. All the trustees now agree that without further remediation, at least 136 acres of PCB-contaminated sediment pose a continued threat to the health of the river, its fish, wildlife and people living along it. Peer-reviewed studies by Dr. David Carpenter, a respected M.D. and public health scientist, document a range of illnesses -- including cancer, diabetes and cardiac disease -- experienced by residents of Hudson Valley communities chronically exposed to airborne PCBs from the river. Advertisement Amr is on an inflatable boat with about forty other people when he sees hints of the orange dawn breaking over the Mediterranean horizon in the east. There are women and children and the boat is filled over its capacity. The only people Amr knows here are his ex-boyfriend and two girls. The girls are a couple but no one can know. They have been in the sea for over five hours now, much longer than the Sudanese man who had arranged the crossing for them had promised. "Forty minutes. Just follow that red light", he had said before pushing their boat out into the water on this deserted part of Turkey's Aegean coastline near Izmir, pointing to a faint red spot in the ocean. On that moonless August night, in the thick inky darkness, that red spot is life. It is freedom. It is Europe! Advertisement But as dawn breaks, bringing light, stronger winds and higher waves, the red spot disappears. In his twenty-eight years, Amr has seen enough mornings that brought nothing but bad news. He is hoping against hope that this is not one of those mornings. Having walked through dense jungles for over three hours earlier that night, hiding between hills, all their possessions in a backpack, food and water is scarce in the group. Without a single compass on board, no working phones, more souls than life jackets, hope is also a scarce resource on this boat, to be drawn on only when really needed. That morning, as the earth continued its relentless rotation, the world was waking up to news of the Rosetta spacecraft becoming the first-ever man-made probe to land on a comet, Apple and Samsung settling all patent disputes over smartphones and the WHO holding an emergency meeting in Geneva to discuss the Ebola epidemic. And to the news of the number of Syrian refugees having exceeded three million, with about half of those children. Three million people. Countless small rubber boats. The red spot in the ocean has completely disappeared. Instead, what Amr and the others on the boat see is a rocky outcropping, too small to be called an island, but not too far away. Advertisement The boat dangerously lurches towards one side with the force of the wind and waves. Fearing the worst -- and the worst is all too common in these waters, and the news these days -- some people want to steer toward these rocks. Others fear that these rocks are most likely within Turkish waters, and if they land here and call for help, they will be picked up by the Turkish coastguard and sent back to what they have given up everything to escape. This group wants to keep going in the hope of reaching an island that belongs to Greece, despite the imminent threat of sinking. A brawl breaks out on the already compromised boat. The Borders Project: 1. The Human Project: 0. When Amr was 18, he moved to Syria to study and in the hope of eventually finding a job. Without a passport, and with his Palestinian travel documents, he was much more likely to find a job there. Which he did, in a bank in Damascus, after getting his masters degree. He thought he had a chance to love and happiness, in that home he shared with six other guys, all gay. His "gay family", as Amr fondly remembers them. On the night of January 10, 2013, his world changed. In fact, his world had been changing at a pace faster than many still living in Syria at the time wanted to admit. Assad's forces, his gangs of savage killers, his Shabiha, and other warring factions had caused the death toll to cross the 200,000 mark. As the world largely stood by and funding shortages endangered relief operations, there were reports of Syrian children freezing to death. On that January night, eight armed men, working for the regime, stormed into their house. Shouting homophobic slurs, they arrested Amr and his friends. For being gay. He was separated from the others and put in a cell about the size of a one-room apartment, with 150 other people. The toilet was an open hole in one corner. With no windows or sources of natural light, the only way to keep track of time was through the timing of the one meal they were given every day. The twenty days he spent in this cell would lead to wounds, of the body and of the soul. The former would take about three months in a hospital to heal. This is when he would decide to leave Syria. Leaving behind the passions, the possibilities that he had once thought he would pursue here. Advertisement Having lived so far without a passport, any passport, Amr had always known that there would be struggles involved. But to Amr, stateless had never meant hopeless. Now, with the world around him literally going up in flames, he would need something closer to a miracle, to get him to safety, to stability. When his ex-boyfriend told Amr that he was going to attempt to cross into Turkey illegally, Amr said, "I'm in." There weren't any other options. He was already blacklisted in Libya and Lebanon, having tried to get in with his Palestinian papers. There was nothing more to lose. Back on the inflatable boat that is very close to sinking now, the group that wants to head toward the rocks has won. Once there, with the seas still rough, but with the sun higher up, they can all see a bigger island in the distance. And the faint flicker of a blue and white flag on a mountaintop church. Greece! The adrenaline pumping through their veins made the decision to swim to this island seem less rash than it actually was. The only problem was that many in the group did not know how to swim. Advertisement A lot of what happened that day is a blur but Amr remembers swimming back and forth, making six crossings, to get people he had known only for the last few hours, to safety. The other good swimmers did the same. The Human Project: 1. When I met Amr for the first time in Amsterdam, it was almost two years to the day, after that fateful morning on the boat. He was on a different boat this time -- a friend's houseboat in Amsterdam. And it was pride weekend. I thought he looked much younger than his thirty years. Handsome, vivacious, full of life, nothing about him -- except perhaps a fleeting look in his eyes -- would betray that he was a man who had seen too much. Nothing that would tell me that even after that crossing through the Mediterranean, there was still more than a year of strife and several more tests of grit -- two fake passports, one failed attempt to escape to England -- before he would land in Amsterdam. "Happy Pride!" he said, the warmish glow of the August sun in Amsterdam glinting in his silver earring. "Happy Pride, Amr!" I said. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has received the most money from the oil and gas and coal mining industries, over $1.6 million since 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) By: Alec Goodwin For years now, the scientific consensus has been that climate change is occurring and is caused mainly by the actions of human beings. So why, during the first month of the current Congress, did nearly half the Senate -- all Republicans -- vote against an amendment stating that human activities contribute significantly to climate change? We don't know. But we can say that those who voted for the amendment received less than one-fifth as much in campaign contributions from the oil and gas and coal industries as those who voted against it. Advertisement Senators who have publicly denied that humans have had a significant impact on climate change took in an average of $467,022 more from the coal mining and oil and gas industries since 2010 than those who have publicly accepted humans' role in the global rise in temperature. In connection with a bill focused on the now-failed Keystone XL pipeline in Jan. 2015, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced an amendment that read "climate change is real and human activity significantly contributes to climate change." The first part of the amendment wasn't controversial; the Senate had passed an amendment earlier that day acknowledging the existence of climate change by a nearly unanimous margin; only Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) voted against it. The stumbling block was the addition of language acknowledging that climate change is caused by people's actions. Nearly half of the Senate opposed the amendment containing that text. Senators who voted for the amendment received an average of $102,594 from individuals and PACs of the coal mining and oil and gas industries since 2010, while senators who voted against it received more than five times as much: $569,616. Advertisement Both the oil and gas and coal mining industries have significant incentives to halt efforts to stop climate change, which is caused in large part by gas-burning vehicles and coal-fueled power plants that produce greenhouse gases; any plans to tackle climate change would mean curbing the output of these gases, cutting into industry profits. Donating to lawmakers in the hope of preventing action on the issue would seem to be a good investment for them. Much of the controversy that surrounds climate change has been fanned by organizations funded by the oil industry, including ExxonMobil and the billionaire industrialists David and Charles Koch. They've helped create the illusion of a debate when in reality few scientists dispute that climate change is real and is caused in large part by human actions. The American Coal Council, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the National Mining Association and the American Petroleum Institute did not respond to requests for comment. Campaign contributions from fossil fuel industries are likely not the only incentive for senators to avoid acknowledging man's impact on the climate. Many of those who voted against the amendment, and who also received significant sums from oil and gas and/or coal mining, hail from states with heavy production of either crude oil or coal. And there are anomalies, highlighting how economic interests, campaign contributions and personal beliefs are hard to tease apart in searching for what motivates a vote in Congress. Advertisement For instance, nine senators who voted against the amendment come from states that don't produce significant amounts of coal or oil. They're also not on the Senate Energy Committee. These senators received an average of $341,811 from coal mining and oil and gas between 2010 and mid-2016. (We considered significant production to be more than 5,000 short tons of coal per year, and more than 5,000 barrels of oil, as measured by the U.S. Energy Information Administration in 2014.) Furthermore, there are 10 senators -- nine Democrats plus Republican Sen. Mark Kirk -- who voted for the amendment though their states produce both coal and oil in significant quantities. They've received an average of $153,176 from the industries between 2010 and June 30, 2016. Twenty-five of the 51 senators who approved the measure were located in states where there was significant production of either coal or oil. Besides Kirk, four other Republicans voted for the amendment -- Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Susan Collins (Maine) -- along with Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) plus all the Democrats. The Republicans voting aye received, on average, $276,232 from oil and gas and coal mining industries, which is $266,218 less than the average amount given to Republicans. Alexander is even on the Energy Committee, whose members usually receive much more cash from the oil and gas and coal industries than average. A separate amendment proposed by Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said that human activities contributed to climate change, but lacked the "significantly" of the Schatz proposal. Hoeven's measure picked up 10 additional Republican votes, but still did not pass. The average amount for senators voting against that amendment was about the same, at $584,799. Advertisement Here's the breakdown of these senators, whose votes imply they believe climate change is caused in part by humans, but not significantly. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee that oversees climate legislation, once brought a snowball to the Senate floor as a way to demonstrate his view that climate change is "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated against the American people," though he later voted for an amendment stating that climate change is real. (Climate change refers to rising average global temperatures, not an absence of all sub-zero temperatures.) Inhofe has received $772,100 from the oil and gas and coal mining industries. On average, current members of the Environment and Public Works Committee who voted for the amendment received just $39,717 from oil and gas and coal mining since 2010. Members who voted against it, like Inhofe, received an average $458,823. Our leaders are the finest men/ And we elect them again and again--Tom Paxton Congress's approval rating is just slightly higher than head lice. The principal reasons are gridlock and that they pay themselves despite doing nothing. To add insult to injury, they go on recess more often than third-graders. Possibly worse, Congress does not even bring key legislation to the floor for a vote. Hence, Congress not only does not accomplish much; it also does it by not even performing the most basic task of voting on legislation. If Democrats offered a credible solution to these hated practices, it might strike a real chord with the electorate. Moreover, it would make the Republicans respond--that should be interesting itself! Advertisement Gerrrymandered districts pose a major obstacle to Democrats' winning Congress. Five-point programs to pass X, Y, Z will not grab the electorate's attention in part because no one believes it will happen. But, suppose Democrats proposed a pay-for-performance system. THAT would grab peoples' attention. Suppose further that they committed to choosing a non-partisan Speaker to manage the House. Here is the pay-for-performance proposal*: there are 13 appropriations bills that must be passed. If three are not passed by July 4th (passed and signed into law by the President), then the Members' pay is halted. It can be restored if all 13 are passed and signed into law by the President by September 30th of any year. Failure to pass all 13 results in loss of pay for the entire period of July 4 through December 31 of that year. A continuing resolution does not meet the criteria. For the Senate, that has additional responsibilities, there would be more pay-for-performance requirements. All presidential nominees must receive a floor vote within 90 days. If there is no vote every Senator is docked $500 per day, and that can never be re-earned. Note, this does not require the nominee be approved, only that a floor vote is held. Advertisement The point of a non-partisan Speaker is to prevent the House from being abused for show amendments to further a party's interests, and to ensure that proposed legislation made it to the floor for a vote. A non-partisan Speaker would enable the "House to work its will." True, if Dems gain control of the House, the Tea Party faction would lose its power. But, choosing a non-partisan speaker would be a good precedent to set. It might be difficult for any party in the future not to commit to a list of potential non-partisan speakers in advance. It would prevent a radical fringe from causing gridlock. Who might fill the role of non-partisan Speaker? Former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen, former Yale President Richard Levin, and so forth... If the Democratic Party made the above commitments, perhaps a contract for America, it might convince enough additional voters to support a Democratic Party sweep. And, if they did not perform, the voters would throw them out two years later. *[Would the pay-for-performance requirements pass muster with the 27th Amendment that prohibits any increases or decreases in Congressional pay until the next session? Nothing in these rules decreases Congressional pay, the Members need only do what is in their power to do. If, however, it is found to violate the 27th Amendment, the laws would be applied after two years. One wonders which Member would take the case to court to get his/her pay when they have not performed? Would that Member survive the next election?] Last Thursday, I found out that I would be joining the New York Board of Rabbis, who organized a visit to the families of Imam Maulama Akonjee, and his friend Thara Uddina. They were murdered in Ozone Park, Queens on August 13 on their way home from praying in their Mosque. They were each shot in the back of the head. I had, just a moment before learning about the visit, completed reciting the Mourner's Kaddish, (a prayer said by mourners) as it was my father's Yahrtzeit (the anniversary of my father's death). I had just chanted the words "yitgadel veyitkadesh shmeih rabbah," "magnified and sanctified is the name of God". Whenever I say these words, I think about how we magnify and sanctify the name of God. When we come together in friendship, love, and in fellowship, we see that all human beings are created bselelm elokim, in the image of God. This is one way God's name is sanctified. I have, many times before, visited houses of mourning for those who were murdered because of hatred, prejudice and terrorism. Yet, as much as I am "experienced" in this area of my Rabbinate, I do not find these visits any less agonizing. Instead, I find them increasingly difficult, especially of late. There seems to be such horrible anti Muslim rhetoric out there in the world today. While talk may often be just talk, it can other times lead to action. Words need to be used so carefully. Advertisement The visit was planned for Monday, so I had Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) to think about the upcoming trip. Shabbat is a time in which I often reflect on events in my life and in the world. I focused on the Imam, his friend and their families, and what I could potentially say to them. That Shabbat was a special Shabbat. It is called Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat of comfort. It is the Shabbat that follows Tisha B'Av, the day that commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in ancient Israel. It is also a national day of mourning for many tragedies throughout Jewish history. Shabbat Nachamu is meant to comfort us after this time of mourning. The weekly Haftorah, the portion read from the Prophets (Isaiah 40:1) says "Comfort, comfort my people says your God." As I heard these words ring out, I said to myself, how will I comfort these people? Then in Line 6, the text reads "What shall I say?" This was my question exactly - what shall I say to these people? I continued to learn, pray and think about my visit for the remainder of Shabbat and the rest of the weekend. However, I still had no answer when Monday came. As I was getting ready to go to Ozone Park, my daughter and I were talking about my visit that morning. My daughter decided to make a card for the Imam's family and friend's family as well. During the whole ride to Queens, I reflected on my daughter's small, sweet gesture. I thought about what happened in Ozone Park from the perspective of a child losing a father who was a clergy person like me, walking home from his or her house of worship. All murders are tragic. All lives are equally sacred. However, there is something about an attack on a religious leader. When something like this happens, it makes a troubling statement. It also means it could happen to any member of the Clergy, an Imam, a Rabbi, a Priest, or a Minister. The attack for me was very personal in my mind. Advertisement The visitors were comprised of rabbis of every affiliation, as well clergy members from other faith communities. We entered. We sat. We listened. Rabbi Joseph Potasnick, the Executive Director of the New York Board of Rabbis (who coordinated the meeting), made the introductions and offered some thoughtful words. When we introduced ourselves, we essentially said that we wanted to come as fellow people of faith to be there for them in this trying time. We spoke together, we learned together, we prayed and sang together. Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central Synagogue sang a soulful version of Psalm 23. My own teacher, Rabbi Avi Weiss led us beautifully in Psalm 122 and the Priestly Blessing. There was something very holy about the experience of people of different faiths coming together at this very painful time. I was particularly moved by a text chanted from the Koran by Officer Erhan Yildirim, the Community Coordinator with the Police Commissioner's Liaison Unit. Perhaps some of us have heard stories of non-Muslims, who, when they walk by a Mosque and hear chanting, sometimes feel vulnerable, scared, or angry. If such a person was with us and the Imam's family that day, I think he or she would feel a sense of connection. I believe it would forever change the way he or she experienced the sound of Muslim chanting. When tragedies happen, people want to know why they occur. During such harrowing times, answers are incredibly difficult to come by, and as well-meaning as they are, people inadvertently provide meaningless or hurtful answers. Their feelings of hopelessness in this time of sadness sometimes leads to over-simplification. Instead of trying to answer questions for them, we came before the mourners as listeners who were simply there to be there with them. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks at a news conference after his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Konstantin palace outside St.Petersburg, Russia, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. President Erdogan travels to Russia to meet with President Putin for the first time since apologizing in late June for the downing of a Russian fighter jet along the Syrian border in November last year. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, did another about-face following the failed coup against him. He has since re-defined Turkey's role in Syria with a nationalist-authoritarian priority, while reneging on some previous accords with the Gulf countries and the US-led coalition in Syria. Erdogan has placed the containment of Kurdish expansion at the top of his list of priorities, complete with an understanding with Iran on disallowing the further evolution if not the full suppression if necessary of Kurdish nationalism. He joined the campaign against ISIS and similar groups through the Russian gateway, yet without closing the door to the American component of the campaign, thus making himself indispensable for both sides. He has forfeited his previous priorities, which had put him in the same camp as the Gulf States; thus, the fate of Bashar al-Assad is no longer the key determinant of Turkey's Syria policy, which is now more willing to accept him remaining in power for an undetermined period during a transitional period following the failed coup. This is part of what has alarmed the Gulf leaders, who invested too much in the effort to push Assad to step down. More importantly, the Gulf is alarmed because Erdogan's new policy has been interpreted as fighting both ISIS and the Kurds on behalf of the regime in Damascus. Therefore, Gulf sources believe Erdogan has joined an axis that comprises Iran, Russia, and a new Syria where Assad is allowed to remain in power "provisionally", and admit that the Gulf States are powerless if Erdogan decides the supply route to the Syrian rebels must be closed. The only hope the Gulf States have now is for Washington to oppose Erdogan's policy dictated by the post-coup reality, especially as the Kurds are a key ally of the United States and the Gulf countries in the war on ISIS, as well as being a bulwark against Iranian-Russian-Syrian regime projects. Advertisement However, Washington appears weak before the Turkish "offensive," which went through St. Petersburg, Tehran, and Damascus before reaching Jarabulus with U.S. partnership against ISIS, but also against Kurdish positions in Syria to the benefit of both Ankara and the regime in Damascus. The priority for Barack Obama and the next U.S. administration remains the elimination of ISIS with any allies who can help fulfill this goal. If the price is to sell out the Kurdish partner in return for guaranteeing the partnership with Turkey, it will not be new or surprising for the U.S. administration to do so if the national interest dictates it. This phase is the phase of negotiations to determine the features of the configuration of the new security order in the Middle East, rather than the solutions urgently needed for the conflicts of Syria, Yemen, or Libya. The visit by the U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Turkey, and the meetings held by the U.S. and UK foreign secretaries with the Saudi leadership in Jeddah on Yemen, attended by the Russian Middle East envoy, all shed light on the interlinkage between the Syrian and Yemeni issues and the regional dimension of the international alignment. But while the bargaining has begun in earnest, we are still in the beginning of the road. The fatigue in the Syrian and Yemeni wars could lead to accords based on mutual concessions rather than clinging on to the idea of victory by either side. The no-winner no-loser equation is imposing itself on the conflicts in the Middle East, with the exception of the war on ISIS and similar groups. This is the point of convergence among the players from Raqqa to Mosul, but no final agreements have been reached yet among the players. The Obama administration is preparing a new landscape for the next administration, believing it to likely be a Democratic one under Clinton based on developments in the U.S. presidentials pitting Hillary Clinton against Republican nominee Donald Trump. What Washington wants first and foremost is to besiege ISIS and eliminate it through the most suitable front to achieve this, namely, Turkey today. Advertisement This is where the U.S. and Russian priorities intersect, and these in turn converge with the goals of the permanent Russian-Iranian pro-Damascus alliance and the goals of transient alliances such as those involving the Kurds and their role in fulfilling US and Iran's agendas in Iraq and Syria.Turkey, which at some point was a friend of Bashar al-Assad, then became a supporter of the enemies of Assad, including - allegedly - groups like ISIS. Turkey was also a friend of Israel, before relations soured. Now, Erdogan has swapped his alliances and friendships: he forged a strategic reconciliation with Israel and a tactical one with Assad, and resolved to fight ISIS, its newfound enemy. Erdogan's Turkey, which was an ally of the West and the Gulf, is today an ally of whoever provides support for Erdogan's authoritarian hold on Turkey, such as Russia. The Turkish president has many bargaining chips. He controls vital supply routes to rebels in Syria, and controls the corridors refugees use to cross into Europe. He has the anti-dote to ISIS and he controls the fate of various Syrian factions. Thus, Erdogan decided to play all this cards with Russia, the US, Iran, and the Gulf States. The man is now captivated by the euphoria of his triumphalism, and is intent to sacrifice everything that stands in his way to absolute power in Turkey. Joe Biden was extremely apologetic when he visited Ankara this week, and even admitted he was there belatedly. He also opened the legal door to the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, the popular US-based preacher whom Erdogan accuses of masterminding the coup attempt against his government. Biden, echoing Erdogan, called on Kurds not to cross into the west of the Euphrates, and turned a blind eye to the Turkish president's new bid to pre-empt any Kurdish plans for a federal entity, as a priority that supersedes the fate of Bashar al-Assad. The US vice president appeared deferential to the assertive Turkish president, as he dictated military conditions, forcing the US at least temporarily to abandon the Kurdish priority in the partnership against ISIS. Advertisement Concerning the fate of Bashar al-Assad in a transitional period, Erdogan and Biden implicitly agreed the Gulf obstacle to Assad remaining in power can be resolved by invoking a "provisional" period during which Assad can remain during transition, by not defining the time frame for this. But by doing so, both the US and Turkey would have reversed previous pledges and red lines.However, there are important implications for the results of the investigation by a UN-OPCW panel, which said the Syrian army carried out two chemical weapons attacks using helicopters on villages in Idlib in 2014 and 2015, and also accused ISIS of carrying out a mustard gas attack on the town of Marea in August 2015. Indeed, this is the first time in the history of the Syrian crisis that blame has been assigned to the Syrian government for deploying chemical weapons - bearing in mind that the famous agreement between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to dismantle Syria's chemical weapons arsenal was the pretext for Obama to backtrack from his infamous redline of intervening in Syria if Assad uses those weapons. The UN Security Council received the 95-page report on Wednesday, prompting Western powers to launch preparations to draft a Chapter VII-supported resolution to punish Damascus, either with sanctions or by referring the regime to the ICC. Perhaps Russia will oppose any move in this direction. However, it may use the pressures on the regime in such a crucial matter to engage in bargaining on the future of Syria and Assad's role in it. To be sure, the chemical weapons charges are very important, and any precedent set if ignored would have far-reaching consequences. Therefore, it is possible this could shape the accords over the "provisional" role of Assad in the transition in Syria once agreed. Clearly, Iran's firm non-compromise on Assad remaining in power is different from Turkey's consent to a temporary role for Assad in the transitional authority. What is as of yet unknown is how the chemical weapons report will influence the Russian position, which could defy any punitive measures against Assad, if it did not bargain. The same question could be directed to the Western powers, led by the US administration, whose reputation is now linked to the enablement of bloodletting and abuses in Syria. The chemical weapons issue will be the benchmark by which Obama's legacy and reputation will be measured, especially as his name is linked to the betrayal of his own red lines. Now, he is faced with conclusive evidence of the Syrian army's use of these weapons as well as of Assad's failure to dismantle his arsenal in violation of international commitments. ISIS will be definitely punished. There is a new international drive against it in Syria and Iraq, determined to defeat it before the end of the year. Advertisement The Syrian rebels, who belong to various factions and loyalties, are facing several military and political tests as a result of the new fickle alliances. Today, the Free Syrian Army feels alive and well with Turkish support, carrying out a dual mission as declared by Erdogan, to purge the border region from both ISIS and the Kurds. However, the question here is: Does the FSA and other rebel groups backed by Ankara have no choice but to do its bidding and agree its "provisional" equation to allow Assad to remain in power? Or have they received secret promises from Turkey?Not long ago, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had US blessing, not least because the Arab-Kurdish partnership in its ranks made it ideal to defeat to ISIS and similar groups. There were reports the SDF were being primed to replace the Saudi-sponsored Higher Negotiations Committee representing the Syrian opposition. But this has now completely changed, thanks to a Turkish decision and Erdogan's determination to shuffle the cards in Syria in his favor.Indeed, the Kurdish advances along the borders with Turkey raised the alarm bells in Ankara and Tehran, which both oppose expanded Kurdish nationalism and statehood. Erdogan thus moved militarily in Syria with US-Iranian-Russian blessing: the US welcomes the entry of Turkey as a key military player in the war on ISIS in Syria, even if the price is to abort the nationalist dreams of the Kurdish partner. Iran, like Turkey, wants to crush Kurdish nationalist aspirations. And Russia wants Turkey to close its borders to radical groups and join the war on ISIS, to address Russia's concerns. The Gulf concerns, meanwhile, have been exacerbated by the new thinking that followed the failed coup attempt in Turkey. Erdogan's about-face on the regime in Damascus worries the Gulf capitals, and puts previous Turkish-Gulf accords into question. Furthermore, Erdogan's convergence if not coordination with Iranian priorities on account of their mutual Kurdish concerns worries the Gulf. The Turkish about-face in Syria could be indicative of the start of accord on the future of the new security regime. Perhaps what John Kerry and Boris Johnson carried to Jeddah was a new approach to the conflict in Yemen, and seeds for regional and international breakthroughs in both Yemen and Syria. Political commentator Sally Kohn has made several statements regarding sharia law, which were not only offensive but dangerous. In using her voice to propagate this liberal apologist position, she is doing a great disservice to progressive reform-minded Muslims like myself. Her words are an affront to me, a female Muslim activist, as I have made it my life's mission to educate others on this topic and to wrestle back my religion from the clutches of extremists who wish to make sharia the law of the land. And I would be happy to debate her on this topic. As an openly gay woman, Ms. Kohn would be killed, jailed or persecuted under sharia law. As a devout Muslim woman, I - along with many true progressive Muslims - rightly view sharia, as it is practiced today, as an archaic distortion of Islamic law. When non-Muslims like Ms. Kohn speak or write about sharia, it is clear that they are unaware of the nuances of Islamic law. So, for Ms. Kohn and others who don't know, here is a brief lesson in sharia. Advertisement What many sharia laws and statutes have in common are the following. They are: Homophobic Anti-semitic Anti-women Advocate amputations and stoning Preach killing of apostates Uphold the Blasphemy Law (which could get me killed) In the early years of Islam, over 30 schools of Islamic legal thought existed. The sum total of these legal opinions was known collectively as sharia. At that time, sharia was richly diverse and based on justice. Through the centuries, sharia has become diluted and, instead of evolving, was frozen in time and this is what is commonly known today as sharia. There are four schools of Sunni Islamic law and one school of Shia law. Sharia is practiced in most parts of the Muslim world, often on the whims of dictators and male religious bullies and it is entirely man-made. NOT JUST IN THE MOSQUES This homophobic, anti-woman, repressive sharia is no longer confined to the mosque or to majority Muslim nations. For example, parts of the United Kingdom, which gave us the Magna Carta - "the greatest constitutional document of all times - the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the arbitrary authority of the despot" - are now falling under the jurisdiction of sharia. Today, in England, 100 sharia councils have been allowed to operate; resulting in polygamy, underage marriages and the trampling of women's rights in numerous other ways. Advertisement As a woman, and as someone who enjoys the freedoms and liberties that are systematically assaulted by sharia law, Sally Kohn needs to think twice before defending this oppressive, perverse practice. Ms. Kohn tried to walk back her statements by making a semantic argument about the distinction between personal sharia (personal law) that deals with moral and ethical guidance -- and the sharia that I and other moderate Muslims have been fighting against for decades. Tragically, the personal values that I learned at my mother's knee about compassion, tolerance, common decency and respect can no longer be found within sharia as it exists today. This is why in the Muslim Reform Movement declaration, we (Muslims) make it very clear that we do not need or want institutionalized laws, a parallel legal system or sharia in the West. Religion is, and should be, a personal relationship between ourselves and our maker. Ms. Kohn, if you believe in separation of religion and state/law, then you must be against sharia law. After World War II, Americans rose from the ashes of the Great Depression together. We grew a thriving middle class and a strong labor movement. We expanded our infrastructure, connected communities and gave our vets a chance to go to college and our young people access to public education. We expanded civil rights and opened doors to opportunity. For decades, we embraced our shared responsibility to lift each other up. Since the late 1970s, the "trickle-down" model has taken over, a dog-eat-dog proposition where individuals are encouraged to battle each other for increasingly scarce spoils. It's a brutal system exemplified by a simple statistic: In 2015, the top 25 hedge fund managers made more money--$24 billion between them -- than every kindergarten teacher in America combined. The lucky and fortunate have elbowed their way to the top. But if you don't make it, they say you only have yourself to blame. Advertisement Now, working Americans are angry. Most haven't seen a real raise in years, while the wealthiest take home an ever-greater share of the pie. Our infrastructure is crumbling. Demagogues stoke racial and ethnic fears to divide us in the service of their broken ideology. It's easy to see that today's system just isn't working for most people. But fixing it takes more than talk -- it takes action. And when obstructionists block government action, it means finding innovative ways to leverage our resources to serve the greater good. AFT members -- and union members across the country - -hold billions in assets in our pension funds. In the trickle down model, we'd shovel that money to big Wall Street banks and hedge funds -- firms that charge millions in fees, leaving pennies for workers' retirements. Engaging with the Clinton Global Initiative, we're forging a new path. Instead of sitting around bemoaning the obstacles, CGI has, time and again, found innovative ways to connect partners with projects that lift up not just the parties involved, but entire communities. Advertisement That is the theory behind CGI's "commitment" process that mandates each initiative be new, specific and measurable. In 2011, the American labor movement made one of the earliest commitments to raise $10 billion over five years for infrastructure. Now, $16 billion has been allocated and we've already created at least 100,000 jobs. To take just one example, at LaGuardia Airport, a $3.6 billion CGI commitment driven by the California State Teachers' Retirement System and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is overhauling the dilapidated central terminal building. Together, we're turning a rundown eyesore into something more befitting a modern metropolis. And last year, the AFT, alongside Amalgamated Bank and others, announced the creation of a separate $100 million early childhood CGI commitment. The fund will renovate 350 classrooms in seven cities and build an additional 250 new classroom facilities in three more. About 36,000 children in early childhood education programs will benefit. The infrastructure investments we've leveraged through CGI are a powerful example of what solution-driven thinking can achieve. We're determined to use workers' capital -- our capital -- in a fiducially responsible manner to reshape the economy, while exerting moral and political pressure on the Wall Street billionaires who refuse to come along with us. Our members -- educators, nurses and public sector workers, who benefit the most from these bold initiatives -- wake up every day determined to build a better life for the middle class. But their frontline efforts are being undermined by billionaires working behind the scenes to rig the system and "starve the beast" -- to put government out of business by slashing taxes and then claiming we can't afford to pay. We're shoving a stick in the spokes of that wheel and spinning it in the other direction, ending the vicious cycle and creating, once again, a virtuous circle. Advertisement The eulogy for trickle-down economics was written years ago. But we can only bury it by taking the concrete steps necessary to rebuild wealth for working people, to fix the system so it again serves the common good. That started with our important work with CGI, but the core idea of shared prosperity will endure for as long as the American dream remains out of reach for so many. America is at a crossroads, and we have a choice to make. Will we recommit ourselves to the idea that we have a responsibility to lift each other up, or will we continue down the "everyone for themselves" path of so-called individual accountability? If the thought of going back to college for one day brings up memories solely of being strung out or being hung over, you might want to skip this post. On the other hand, it conjures up one of the most exciting and amazing periods of your life, you are in luck: One Day U is coming to a city in which you live or can easily travel to. The lifelong learning trend for folks over 50 is now off the charts. And, in the field of lifelong learning, One Day U is a revolution, without the blood and gore. It's all about firing up all our dormant brain cells and re-capturing the excitement of being back in a classroom, being exposed to new ideas, information, and possibilities. And the bonus is that there is no homework and no exams. This is learning for the sheer joy of learning, taught by the most popular and engaging college professors around. Steven Schragis started One Day U in 2006, with one event in New York. Fast forward to 2016, in which 125 events are scheduled, in 55 cities across the country. New York now has events every month, and most cities have two per year. Events are sponsored by newspapers, in their attempt to either supplant or augment the printed word with live educational events. Eighty percent of attendees read the newspaper daily. When you enter a One Day U event, the intellectual energy is electric. Advertisement Life in the Boomer Lane attended her first One Day U event last year, and will attend her second next month. The day was magical. The profs not only had a total command of a variety of fascinating topics, they were supreme entertainers as well. LBL has a lifelong history of inattention, which has dogged her since an early age (She got C's in Citizenship in elementary school, for talking too much during class). But, amazingly, she stayed totally focused throughout each of the One Day U presentations. The time flew by. Schragis put it this way: "Being exposed for a day to America's greatest professors is an exhilarating experience that most people have never had before or haven't had in a long, long time." So, for just a moment set aside worries about the political climate, world events, debates about whether to have knee replacement or cataract surgery, or frustration over your five-year-old grandson having to help you out with a technology-related issue. Instead, check out One Day U. Readers Note: LBL is not being paid for this endorsement. She is writing about this because she likes to know that she has had a positive impact on people, other than to just extol the virtues of coffee Hagen Dazs or rant about Donald Trump. So if you do attend a One Day U, please let her know. She lives for stuff like that. Advertisement Earlier on Huff/Post50: Philomena Lee is a woman who lived with many challenges. She had a child in 1951, she was single and she ended up living in a Catholic home for unmarried women ( Sean Ross Abbey ). Philomena worked in the laundry room -- for the church's profit. The mothers did get to see their children every day, but they didn't always fully realize that those children were offered for adoption, as orphans, to American couples. Thus it was that Anthony Lee, age 3, was whisked off to America, where he became Michael Hess and grew up in St. Louis. Philomena never saw him again. The real Philomena Lee finds Hollywood ending to adoption story...https://www.washingtonpost.com/...philomena-lee.../a907b510-8.. Philomena would learn later that her son died years later in the United States of HIV/AIDS. This story is sad and tragic, given the separation between mother and son that was forced by a religious institution. The separation was somehow deemed appropriate by a belief system that relied heavily on guilt and for the need of atonement. The story could have ended there, but Philomena found the inner strength to work for the greater good. She believed in the process of forgiveness. Philomena and her daughter,Jane, have worked to petition the Irish government to release adopted records regarding the children and families who were affected by this adoption procedure. Philomena has even received support from the Vatican. The real Philomena Lee finds Hollywood ending to adoption story ...https://www.washingtonpost.com/...philomena-lee.../a907b510-8... Advertisement Bishop John Shelby Spong in his book " Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy " has considered the following question: " Why has Christianity become primarily a religion of guilt , rather than of grace; of divine punishment, more than divine love ? " ( P. 189 ) Surely, in the case of Philomena Lee, had there been the concern by the religious officials for divine love, then there would have been no move whatsoever to separate a mother from her child, especially if it involved financial profit for the said religious institution. I am still reminded that there are religious organizations out there that are more preoccupied by living by the rules versus living in an open and reciprocal fashion in the presence of God, however known. Once I met with a ministerial examining committee. One older male minister on this committee asked me the following question: Advertisement " Suppose you had a fourteen- year old girl, who is pregnant, come to you and ask you for advice, what would you tell her ? " I paused and reflected and then I replied:? " I would want to know what this young girl would want for herself. What would be important for her ? What would it mean for her ? I would not want to make a decision for her that would not be honest for her. That would not be appropriate. " The older male minister, I remember, reacted with anger and frustration. This was not the answer that he wanted to hear. I knew that this was not the answer that this ministerial committee wanted either. But that was ok for me. I didn't want to subscribe to a belief system that was heavily indebted to guilt. Faith is really transforming and liberating when it releases us from the prisons of judgment that we can find ourselves imposing on ourselves and upon others. Some people may find that they don't feel good about themselves, that their self-esteem is low, and here a belief system based upon guilt can become very damaging. Advertisement John Shelby Spong writes: " Emmanuel, the God who is with us is beyond every sectarian boundary that religious people have tried to impose. God is beyond finitude and morality. God is the revealer of that eternity for which all finite and mortal people yearn " (P. 367) This is good news. Instead of guilt, faith can be built on joy, and hope and peace for Philomena, for all of us. I co-authored this piece with Stephen Beban, a research intern working at FairVote this summer. FairVote appreciates the data-driven journalism of Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight. We read with interest Eitan Hersh's June 21st article, "With Trump in the Race, The Battleground Is Everywhere," outlining Hersh and Bernard Fraga's analysis on competition in US elections. Our own research reveals troubling trends about the scope of meaningfully contested elections, but Hersh and Fraga dispute our concerns. FairVote intern Stephen Beban and executive director Rob Richie have written two posts in response. The first one focuses on presidential elections; the second post will focus on Congress. Professors Hersh and Fraga's analysis of electoral competition makes the case that "the picture is much rosier" than FairVote characterizes in calling one of our reports "dubious democracy." But we stand firmly by our position. This month we will release the latest edition of our Monopoly Politics report on congressional elections, and will follow up to this post with a preview of its findings. In this first post we examine the presidential elections and show that that levels of electoral competition in states are far from healthy. Without rose-tinted glasses, this conclusion is inescapable. Accurately Measuring Competition In looking at elections for president, governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and state legislature over the 2006-2012 period, Hersh and Fraga judge there to be "robust competition" based on two facts: that "the typical voter in this period saw a competitive race for one in four contests for which he/she could vote," and that, as a result, "about 90 percent of Americans saw at least one close election between a Democrat and a Republican." However, this is not nearly as positive as it sounds, when put in context. Advertisement Let's first consider Hersh and Fraga's generous measure of "competition," which they define as races won by less than ten percentage points. Looking at the national popular vote, every presidential election since 1984 has been competitive by that definition, erroneously including George Bush's comfortable win over Michael Dukakis in 1988 and Bill Clinton's re-election against Bob Dole in 1996. But of course presidential elections are contested state by state, with important implications for the number of voters that experience a competitive election even in a close Presidential race. We can further demonstrate that the measure of competitive is too broad by highlighting several states won by less than 10 percentage points that were not treated by either campaign or the media as competitive. To make our point, we'll focus on results from 2000 to 2012. During this period, 19 of 50 states were won by the same party in all four of these elections by margins of at least 10 points. The fact that the remaining 31 states were all won by less than 10 percentage points at least once might seem to confirm the conclusion that many voters experience a "competitive election" over time, but that conclusion is easily rebutted by looking at a few examples from those 4 elections: Democrats won California, Delaware, and New Jersey by an average of more than 15%. In 2004, however, John Kerry won these three states by less than 10%: California by 9.9%, Delaware by 7.6% and New Jersey by 6.7%; yet none were considered battlegrounds that year - indeed, out of nearly 250,000 presidential TV ads in the peak season of the campaign, not a single one aired in any of those states. Georgia, North Dakota, South Carolina, and South Dakota were all won all by Republicans by an average margin of more than 10%, but in 2008, McCain won them by less than 10%. Once again, neither campaign treated them as battlegrounds, so those states' voters did not experience a "competitive" election. Underscoring this point, FairVote has created what it calls the Presidential "Attention Index," which looks at the share of campaign events and television ads a state received in the post-convention period. A score of 1.0 would mean a state received attention in proportion to its population size. In 2012, 37 states had an Index of less than 0.01, which means they received less than one percent of the attention we would expect it to receive based on state population alone. Of those 37, 34 were also comparably ignored in both 2004 and 2008 and are not considered potential battlegrounds in 2016-- in other words, a large majority of states are recognized as fundamentally uncompetitive. And even competitive states are not created equal. Those closer to being the tipping point state in the battle for 270 Electoral Votes receive disproportionate attention from the campaigns. Adopting a more reasonable definition of competitiveness (one more in line with the perceptions of candidates, voters, and forecasters), presents a far more limited scope of competition. Over the last six elections, the outcome in a clear majority of the Electoral College has been predictable- after all, winning a state 51-49% has the same consequence as winning 99-1%. Consistently, only about a third of the map in each election has been truly in doubt, with the rest of the country playing spectator. Variation Over Time (or Lack Thereof) Perhaps Hersh and Fraga's argument might still be somewhat justified if enough states that made up the list of battlegrounds changed cycle-to-cycle - so that voters would have an opportunity for their state to be contested and gain the attention of the candidates over time. But this is not the case; in fact, it's remarkable how static our elections have become. In a 2013 Presidential Studies Quarterly article by FairVote staff, we explain in detail how most states are becoming less competitive and how little states now tend to change in partisanship elections. Consider this excerpt and an associated table: Advertisement In 2012, just three states shifted their partisanship by more than 3.9%, all of which were small and ignored by the campaigns: Alaska, which became more Democratic without its governor on the Republican ticket; Utah, with a strong Republicans shift influenced by Mitt Romney being a Mormon who had coordinated the state's 2002 Winter Olympics; and West Virginia. Only five states in 2008 had outcomes that deviated at least 3% from their 2004 partisanship: two states moved sharply towards Democrats (Hawaii, where Barack Obama grew up, and Indiana, where Obama benefited from his 2004 Senate campaign in neighboring Illinois and from building a campaign operation in a fiercely contested presidential primary) and three Southern states that moved sharply toward Republicans (Louisiana, Tennessee and Arkansas). Table: Number of States Shifting Partisanship 5% or more in Consecutive Elections 2016: A Continuation of the Trends 2016 gives no indication of reversing these trends. FiveThirtyEight's polls-plus model consistently shows that two-thirds of voters live in states that are likely to be uncompetitive in November, similar to historical results, with a clear minority whose votes will be decisive (even if, as in Florida 2000, they may not be representative of the overall result). So the playing field still features few competitive states. And the cast remains fairly static, as demonstrated by the strong correlation between the 2012 results and 2016 polling (as others, such as Alan Abramowitz, have pointed out too). A good illustration of this is the similar cast of states that FiveThirtyEight has identified as likely tipping points in 2016: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. If these states sound familiar, note that they are the same states that were closest to the national median in 2012 and 2008, with the exception of Indiana in 2008. They are the only states where the major party tickets held campaign rallies after Labor Day in 2012, and this year have been the subject of more than 80% of the campaign rallies to date by the major party candidates since the California primary on June 7th. Despite the drama of the 2016 campaign and Donald Trump's allegedly volatile impact, the battleground is emphatically not everywhere - and the states that matter are overwhelmingly familiar and predictable. Finally, we want to emphasize that it truly does matter that some states count and others don't to the campaigns. Don't expect candidates to waste a second's thought or a dime of spending trying to influence the views of more than half the nation that lives in the uncompetitive spectator states - and, as a result, voters in these states will turn out to vote at lower rates. And it's not just what happens in elections. A growing body of scholarly analysis - most notably, John Hudak's Presidential Pork - shows that swing states are showered with more federal dollars that are directed by the executive branch. ITALY - APRIL 06: . refugee camp set up in a stadium in l'Aquila . Italy's deadliest quake in nearly three decades struck the medieval city of L'Aquila , killing more than 150 people, injuring 1,500 and leaving tens of thousands homeless. (Photo by Eric VANDEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) Solidarity knows no social roles. Suffering knows no colors. These statements are not cliches, but realities confirmed by an incident that every Italian should be proud of: Thousands of volunteers, including refugees, have gathered at the sites devastated by the earthquake to offer a helping hand. The refugees that came to offer help have demonstrated what it means to combine idealism and pragmatism in tragic moments like these. Advertisement These refugees came to rescue, to assist, to help and to save human lives, regardless of the ethnicity of the victims lying beneath the rubble; white, black, Christian or whatever else. They were the first responders. Together with the men and women from government agencies, they constructed tent camps to house the people who had lost their homes. These volunteers give meaning to the phrase "belpaese," or "beautiful country." Meanwhile, statements coming from people who know nothing about solidarity completely stray from the idea of the "belpaese." These are the people suggesting that the victims of the earthquake should be housed in the five-star (!) hotels that are currently occupied by refugees. The refugees should go to the tent cities instead, they argue. The refugees should give up the rooms that the state has given them, they senselessly insist. They are angels, not vultures; they helped because they know what it means to suffer, to lose everything. They have no respect for the victims of the earthquake. Their shameful ranting also shows that they have no pity for the thousands of people who have risked their very lives to flee the hell of war, exploitation, and natural disaster. The ideals of the "belpaese" are nowhere to be found in these tirades. The volunteers have clearly demonstrated that buckling down to help people who are suffering brings everyone together. Dozens of refugees came from all over Italy to offer aid to the earthquake victims: A beautiful truth that outshines the uproar and the controversy concerning the migrants. Volunteers from different organizations throughout the entire country came by the dozen to offer aid and assistance to the local authorities in Amandola, one of the regions hit the hardest by the earthquake. The actions of these volunteers form the best rebuttal to the remarks of Father Cesare Donati, a priest serving in Boissano. He posted the following on Facebook: "Given the tragedy of the earthquake, it is now time to put the victims into housing and send the migrants to the tents....we shall see." These are strong, rash words, especially from a man of the church. His statements may sow the seeds of resentment, division and mistrust, and they are likely to institute a hierarchy of victimhood that must not be accepted. Advertisement The refugees who came from all over Italy to offer their services to the earthquake victims have tragedy in their pasts, and certainly do not have "five-star " futures. Enrico Mentana was unfortunately correct when he stated that "not even a full day had passed after the earthquake before a plague started spreading on the internet: 'Send the migrants to the tent cities so they can free up rooms in the five-star hotels for the earthquake victims.' It is obvious that the authors of the statements care neither for the refugees nor for the victims; they only want to spread their hate." Unfortunately, this is exactly what has happened. But we must not give in to these people. It is our ethical and humanitarian duty to help the refugees. Far too often, it is controversy that grabs our attention -- he who makes the biggest uproar wins. The refugees who came from all over Italy to offer their services to the earthquake victims have tragedy in their pasts, and certainly do not have "five-star " futures. They came to dig through the rubble and help those who have lost everything, and they're not after personal or political gain. They are angels, not vultures; they helped because they know what it means to suffer, to lose everything, to leave behind homes destroyed by war or by natural disasters. And they certainly know it better than those who are voicing their outrage. It was simply compassion that brought them to Amandola and Amatrice. They gave new meaning to the word "belpaese" and made a beautiful show of solidarity. War is one of the oldest forms of conflict in mankind, which seriously affects humanity and civilization. Though the birth of a person makes death inevitable and makes everybody accept natural death, everybody laments a premature or unnatural death of their dearest ones. Those who live with physical or mental trauma caused by war bear inexpressible sufferings - both physical and psychological. People who lay down their lives in war become a martyr for once, but the survivors turn into martyrs every day until their end. Imposed by the Pakistani occupied force, the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 resulted in the death of three million people and the rape of approximately five-hundred thousand women. Thousands of babies grew up in and outside of Bangladesh, who were identified as "war babies" - a derogatory term used to describe babies born after wartime. Many of them were adopted and emigrated in various countries of the world. Again, many stayed in Bangladesh, grew up with societal rejection and forced to live an identity-less life full of abuse and indignity, resulting a never-ending struggle. On this issue, I was discussing with Barrister Dr, Tureen Afroz - a meritorious prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh. She was sharing her experience in prosecuting the local war criminals, a very tough job. The elements that made her job tough are something worth to be described for a better understanding of the issue. Advertisement There was a very short time lapse in between other war crimes occurrence that has been brought to justice right after those were committed. Most of the war crimes have been prosecuted within comparatively shorter time than that of Bangladesh, where the judicial process started forty years later. Due to the timely trials, none of the other war crime courts saw witness of any so-called "war babies," which instead we should call "victory children," according to Tureen. Prosecutor Tureen had a chance to collect the testimony of a victory child. Luckily, she was appointed as a prosecutor of a case relating infamous war criminal Syed Md. Kaiser at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Bangladesh. According to Tureen, two indictments of rape were brought against Mr. Kaiser out of fourteen charges. Among them, one war heroine, Mazeda was allegedly raped by Mr. Kaiser and later gave birth to a victory child named Shamsun Nahar - who gave testimony against Mr. Kaiser in that particular case. It took a year-long effort for Tureen to find this witness. Finally, Tureen managed to convince Shamsun Nahar to give testimony before the court and with that, for the first time, the world heard the voice of a victory child! Tureen incidentally found Shamsun Nahar on her way searching for a victory child, who grew up in the post-war Bangladesh. To unearth the harsh experiences and to symbolically represent the voice of a victory child, Tureen faced serious social and procedural difficulties which helped to open the doors of her inner thoughts. And for the first time, a passively affected survivor of the war opened herself, demanding justice for the crimes committed to herself and her mother. While Shamsun Nahar went before the court, she then became a 42-year-old woman. Pale, grimy and tired, this woman grew up in the society with all of its worst negligence, rejection and abandonment. Imparity from the society, family and the nearest ones killed her inner-self long ago and she stood as the symbolic progeny of an invisible fetter. Advertisement During the liberation war in 1971, women who were raped by the Pakistani army and their local Para-militia forces, gave birth to children who were labeled as "war babies," resulting them to be called with other dishonoring terms like "unexpected babies," "bastard babies," and "illegitimate babies" out of inferiority. As Prosecutor Tureen describes, The determination of claiming justice that Shamsun Nahar had in her eyes during the trial, can only be seen in the eyes of a victory child. And later this observation was echoed in the verdict of the court also. After birth, Shamsun Nahar's mother was forced to abandon her to maternal grandfather's home and went to her husband. Her mother couldn't contact her till she was five. After being an adult, Shamsun Nahar got married to a person who later left her, when he came to know her background. Since then, Shamsun Nahar lived alone. After her testimony against the aforementioned war criminal, she could not live in her own home because of death threat which forced her continued fleeing for life. Now, she doesn't possess a shelter or even a decent social identity. While presenting her argument in that case, Prosecutor Tureen Afroz said, "Shamsun Nahar was born in 1972. But unlike the other babies, she was deprived of a normal social life, as we treated her as an unwanted part of the society. Even she constrained to celebrate the pride that her mother achieved through her valiant sacrifice for the independence of the country. Seems like her birth became her biggest sin." Men and women became brothers-in-arms in the war of 1971. Not only to achieve their sovereignty, had they also fought for saving their lives. But while men fought only for the core cause, the women also had to pick up another fight in order to save their 'honor'. And sometimes the fight to protect ones honor is much intense than other duties of war like protecting life and property. Victory of war is based through the loss of life, property and sometimes dignity of women. But still the state failed to properly recognize those, who were born out of an inhuman practice during war, let alone giving them a dignified social identity. Moreover, the society inhumanly segregates them, because they are "war-babies". Even we hesitate to assimilate with these children in our societies, because they were born out of the barbarous vengeance of the enemy! Rather we didn't hesitate to ungratefully label them with more dishonoring terms. In exchange of their saddened birth, we got our own identity, but we failed to give them some in return. Advertisement It is time to question ourselves, if we are ready to re-evaluate the price that we paid to achieve our independence or not. Shouldn't we consider their birth as a sacrifice and struggle right beside three million martyrs and the honor of five-hundred thousand women? Shamsun Nahar is a victory-baby, whose birth also contributed towards our freedom, our right to breathe the free air that we take in our liberated land. Burkini Bans are a hot item now on the beaches of Cannes! Only two weeks after the Olympic games demonstrated an easy pathway to accommodate different attitudes about dress, by permitting the Egyptian volleyball team (and American fencer Ibtihal Muhammed) to compete clothed as they chose, France has tied itself into knots about bathing costumes. Not everyone is liberal this summer. During the Olympics, Roger Cohen, an Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times commented thoughtfully on the distance that exists between the more liberal Western and the more conformist Eastern societies at the Olympic games. But he never envisaged that his civilized dialogue between two women with widely varying attitudes about veiling would turn into a virtual "Affaire Burkini" on French beaches. During the Olympics, the Mayor of Cannes, citing "security risks" banned women from wearing burkinis, bathing suits that conceal both the body and the head. The technical ordinance adopted requires beach garb to respect "good morals and secularism." Burkinis are out, said the Mayor, because "Beach attire that ostentatiously displays a religious affiliation, while France and places of worship are the target of terrorist acts, is likely to create risks to public order." Now numerous other French towns have joined Cannes. The French started out playing hard ball and their "police officers are forcing modestly clad Muslim women on the beaches to pay fines, leave or disrobe." This "crack-down" was backed at the highest levels. France's prime minister, Manuel Valls, denounced the little-worn burkini as "a tool of enslavement." Advertisement Former President Nicolas Sarkozy, is vying for the position of center right candidate in the 2017 French presidential elections. Sarkozy told Le Figaro magazine that "doing nothing against the burkini would be another retreat for France." He also said: "The full face veil and the burqua are already banned in public spaces." The Vice-Mayor of Nice, scene of a recent terrorist bombing, but also where one of the worst confrontations with a modestly clad bather took place, argued that anyone who wore a burkini was deliberately trying to provoke the public. "I condemn these unacceptable provocations in the very particular context that our city is familiar with," he said. Apparently the Nice attack -- a terrible event -- meant that the citizens should no longer be reminded that many of their neighbors are Muslims. Who would have thought that the French political elite would care about enforcing a ban on a swimming suit as being too modest. "Burkini" is a composite word for burqa (head scarf worn by more traditional Muslim women and the bikini.) Muslim identity, assimilation and the burkini made front page news in the New York Times this Thursday. The French who are the doyens of fashion -- and well known for a laissez faire attitude towards partial nudity -- seem dead set against the burkini. Advertisement The French may not know it, but they are being laughed at. A Sikh professor tweeted a comparison of the banned burkini with the utterly accepted wet-suit.. "If you agree, we must enact a #BurkiniBan to keep us safe, than you'll agree that wetsuits definitely #MustBeBanned" Simran Jeet Singh@SikhPro Human rights activist Ken Roth posted a picture of nuns frolicking in the surf in their habits and wondered if they too, would be banned. Let's take a minute to assess why this issue of bathing suits or burkinis is suddenly so challenging? Does it rub against the grain of civility and civilization? Why is dress so significant in our world today? Why is conformity so essential? Can we not be civilized people and yet agree to disagree to cultural norms in different cultures? Isn't the issue really that the French expect immigrants to abandon cultural symbols of difference -- which is why the habits of nuns are OK but burkinis are not? Why is it so difficult for certain countries to accept cultural differences? In my humble opinion, it makes the world considerably more interesting and intriguing. It's not about safety -- or morals in any ordinary sense of the word. It's about conformity -- a charge the French would bristle at. Advertisement After all the alleged security risk is not the women wearing overly modest bathing suits -- it is bigots on the beach who might attack them. This is taking blaming the victim to new lengths. To make sure that no one took the reference to "secularism" too seriously, (this is Cannes after all) the Mayor initially said he did not mean to ban "the veil, the kippa or the cross." He said that other than the burkini, the only swim garb that might prompt an arrest was an Indian sari, because it could interfere with a life-guard's rescue efforts! (I invite him to Varanasi, where he can see hundreds of women bathing, and indeed modestly changing their saris, without any apparent risk of drowning.) But in reality what happened was predictable. Instead of easing the largely non-existent tensions around the burkini, the ban aroused them. When police moved to enforce the ban, crowds gathered. In one location they shouted at the woman, "Go back to where you came from,' and "We are Catholic here." The French were not all afflicted by this obsession. A Feminist group, Osez Les Feminisme highlighted this issue by saying, "that the anti-burkini enforcement penalized women twice over: for racism and sexism." Osez Les Feminisme said, "Women were being deprived of their rights by their patriarchal" religion but the French government was also forcing them "to live under religious oppression" and contradicting "their fundamental liberties." And the ban, predictably, upped sales of the burkini, which was created by 49 year old, Aheda Zanetti, a Lebanese Australian inventor. She describes the burkini swimsuit as "freedom, happiness and life style changes -- you can't take that away from a Muslim woman, or any other woman that chooses to wear it," she says. She further explains that the swimsuit was not intended to exclude non-Muslims and was not meant to be a political statement. Ms. Zanetti ends with "I have a strong voice on behalf of women, for freedom of choice." And on Friday France's highest administrative court threw out the ban as a violation of freedom of religions. The government seemed divided about how to respond. The Interior Minister suggested everyone step back and cool off, but the Prime Minister continued to insist that the burkini was a basic threat to the future of France. Sarkozy continued to call for a national ban. NYPD's units patrol 59th Street before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP) The New York Police Department repeatedly violated important court-imposed safeguards when it secretly investigated American Muslims for years, according to a new report released this week by the police's own watchdog. The report, issued by the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD, examined the department's compliance with the Handschu Guidelines, which protect New Yorkers' lawful political and religious activities from unwarranted surveillance, and are incorporated into the NYPD's Patrol Guide. The investigation focused on a sample of cases closed between 2010 and 2015 that largely involved American Muslims. The report found that the NYPD failed to follow important safeguards in place to protect people's rights and the integrity of police investigations. Advertisement In perhaps its most damning finding, the inspector general said that in more than half the cases reviewed, both NYPD investigations and their use of informants and undercover officers continued after approval expired. In some cases, the inspector general found the department failed to document any actual reason for extending investigations in which there was no reasonable indication of wrongdoing. This is just more proof that the NYPD's surveillance of American Muslims was highly irregular and disturbing. In the cases reviewed, according to the inspector general, the NYPD always met the "informational threshold" required to open cases. That plainly does not jibe with what the ACLU and NYCLU discovered when looking at NYPD records. Our lawyers have said there were often no valid reasons for the NYPD to open or extend investigations of American Muslims. The inspector general's report comes after a 2016 settlement agreement in two lawsuits, Raza v. City of New York and Handschu v. Special Services Division, which, if approved by a judge, will modify the Handschu Guidelines to incorporate new safeguards and establish a civilian representative to protect New Yorkers from unwarranted NYPD surveillance for political or religious activity. The NYCLU is counsel in the Handschu case and co-counsel in the Raza case with the ACLU, Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility project of Main Street Legal Services at CUNY School of Law and the law firm Morrison & Foerster LLP. The cases and their respective settlement agreements followed an explosive, Pulitzer-Prize winning series by the Associated Press that exposed many of the inner workings of the NYPD's now defunct Demographics Unit and other surveillance activities. Our lawsuits and the AP series documented how the NYPD engaged in warrantless surveillance of entire Muslim communities in New York and New Jersey. The department eventually admitted that the tactics used by the Demographics Unit never generated a single lead. Advertisement It is difficult to overstate just how invasive, stigmatizing, and ineffective the NYPD's surveillance of Muslim New Yorkers has been. It not only alienates people from police, but it sows mistrust and fear among community members themselves. The lead plaintiff in Raza, Hamid Hassan Raza, was subjected to suspicionless surveillance by the NYPD since at least 2008. The Brooklyn imam recorded his sermons out of fear that an officer or informant would misquote him or take a statement out of context. He has avoided speaking about certain religious topics or current events in his sermons and conversations to avoid statements that the NYPD or its informants might perceive as controversial. Another Raza plaintiff, Asad Dandia, had his charity undermined by an NYPD informant. The list of victims goes on and on. golden brass scales of justice on white Students across the country have just started the fall semester, and undoubtedly some parents are worried. Perhaps they heard of the Department of Education's 2011 Dear Colleague Letter, which called the statistics on sexual violence, "deeply troubling and a call to action for the nation." Or maybe they read Vice President Joe Biden's recent letter stating that 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted on college campuses. If those numbers were true then we would have a crisis of terrifying proportions. As it turns out, that epidemic is false. A 2014 Department of Justice study found just 6.1 per 1000 (.61%) women in post-secondary institutions were the victims of rape or sexual assault between 1995-2013. While any sexual assault is to be abhorred, these findings do not support claims of rampant sexual abuse. A few weeks ago, ninety law professors issued a white paper in support of the Dear Colleague Letter. Neither the Department of Education, nor Vice President Biden, nor the authors of the White Paper bothered to mention the Department of Justice figures. Instead they point to a 2007 National Institute of Justice study that looked at just two large public universities. The lead researchers were so troubled by the misuse of their findings that they "felt the need to set the record straight" and published a piece in Time Magazine stating "(t)he 1-in-5 statistic is not a nationally representative estimate of the prevalence of sexual assault..." Another oft-cited study is the 2015 Association of American Universities Campus Climate Survey, which found 1 in 4 women surveyed from 27 Institutes of Higher Education had been raped or sexually assaulted while in college. Once again, the authors explicitly wrote that the results were not nationally representative and stating otherwise, "is at least oversimplistic, if not misleading." The authors also acknowledged that because they had such a low response rate their results were likely biased and thus their estimates of sexual assault too high. Advertisement These misleading claims had a purpose. The Department of Education used them to justify lowering the bar for finding a student "guilty" of sexual assault. The Dear Colleague Letter ordered universities to lower the standard of proof to preponderance of the evidence (50% + a feather), and it strongly discouraged them from allowing the parties to directly question one another. It also approved depriving accused students of a lawyer and even the opportunity to hear the witnesses against them, instead allowing one person to investigate the charges and on their own determine guilt. The Department of Education threatened to withhold federal funding from universities that did not comply with the Dear Colleague Letter, and it began publishing a list of those under investigation. The Dear Colleague Letter has resulted in students being thrown out of school without a full and fair hearing. In July 2015 a judge ordered the University of California, San Diego to reverse the suspension of a male student because the disciplinary proceedings violated his due process rights, and in March, the Massachusetts District Court ruled in favor of a Brandeis University student who had been found responsible for "serious sexual transgressions." The court wrote, "Brandeis appears to have substantially impaired, if not eliminated, an accused student's right to a fair and impartial process." What's at stake here isn't some mere technicality; process is the lifeblood of American justice. The right to a jury trial protects us against biased judges and overzealous prosecutors, and the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses allows us to hear and challenge the evidence against us. Even innocent people may have a hard time defending themselves, and lawyers act as an essential barrier between the accused and the state. Because we value freedom, we place the heavy burden on the government of proving its criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt. We provide these protections even to those charged with heinous crimes because we know that without them, there is a strong chance that a person will be held responsible for crimes they didn't commit. Advertisement Still, the Department of Education and its supporters stand by this reduction in procedural rights. They contend rightfully that campus disciplinary proceedings aren't criminal and so the constitution doesn't require the same degree of protection. They justify lowering the standard of proof to preponderance because it is used in other discrimination hearings. But this second argument is disingenuous. If the Department of Education wants to base its procedural protections on other discrimination cases then it should provide all the same rights and not just cherry pick the ones that disadvantage the accused. Title VII is a comprehensive way of thinking about discrimination in the employment context, and it provides for a number of rights including the right to a jury trial in some circumstances, and with it the right to counsel, the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, and the right to a unanimous verdict. The Department of Education has used misleading data and a hypocritical invocation of the law to reduce fundamental rights. Although it was no doubt motivated by the best of intentions, this ends-justifies-the-means approach is dangerous. It implies that it is acceptable to destroy the futures of some innocent students if it will result in the expulsion of at least one guilty one. But it is not acceptable. Accused students do not face jail, but they do risk expulsion, which can forever derail their chance of success. With stakes this high, universities need to have robust procedural protections including a standard of proof set at clear and convincing evidence. They need not have a lawyer, but they should have a trained advocate. Where a case turns on the credibility of the parties, the accused must have the right to question his accuser. To minimize trauma, the questioning should happen through the trained advocate, and it should be closely monitored. Finally, universities should provide for an adjudicatory hearing in which an independent fact finder determines guilt. Emphasizing process benefits more than just the accused. Studies have shown that procedural fairness promotes law abidingness and increases cooperation with the police and community participation in fighting crime. By Michael D. Thompson This piece was originally published in Scientific American on Aug. 28, 2016. You've undoubtedly heard about the recent report issued by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice condemning various police practices in Baltimore. What has gone largely unmentioned, however, is the report's detailed review of how encounters between police and people with mental illnesses result in "unnecessarily violent confrontations." This situation should resonate with every community and every law enforcement agency in the U.S., and the solution isn't as straightforward as providing "more training" to police officers. A few years ago, Behavioral Health System Baltimore collaborated with BPD, incorporating new dimensions to basic training for all officers to ensure that interactions with people with mental illnesses are safe and "mutually beneficial." In partnership with the National Alliance for Mental Illness, BPD became an early adopter of "Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT)," providing additional, specialized training to select officers. Advertisement Why, then, despite these efforts, is the DOJ report so replete with examples of encounters between police and people with mental illnesses that result in someone getting hurt? And what does this say about the majority of police departments in the U.S. that have not begun to make the changes that Baltimore has already instituted? The police department of Portland, Maine offers a helpful case study. Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck has required 40 hours of CIT training for not just some, but all, police officers. He also hired a mental health clinician, Jo Freedman. He sent a clear message to all officers: Jo is one of us. When an officer is dispatched to respond to someone who is suicidal, homicidal or acutely psychotic, Jo accompanies them. Because of Jo, fewer officers find themselves spending hours trying to get a person mental health care. She has become so indispensable that the chief decided to hire a second clinician. Interactions with people in crisis happen every day at all hours, every day. Before Jo joined PPD, police frequently dealt with one homeless man, who we'll call "Bill." Officers regularly tried to escort Bill out of the park. Bill resisted, and encounters grew tense. Bill often ended up in handcuffs, booked into jail and released days later. Today, Jo looks out for Bill on the streets, and when she spots him, she invites him for a cup of coffee, which often concludes with her escorting him to the community mental health center. The chief and behavioral health providers in the city have worked hard to ensure an easy handoff and they review data to assess their partnership. Advertisement Is that success? Jo explains: "We wave goodbye at the community mental health center, but the next day, Bill's back on the streets--still homeless, still using illegal drugs to calm the voices in his head." The Portland Police Department showcases the use of many innovative approaches to improve encounters between police and people with mental illnesses. But that example also reminds us that transformative change depends on nothing short of a comprehensive approach comprising five components. Leadership: Police executives must instill the value that thoughtful responses to people with mental illnesses is the essence of good, smart policing, which increases officer safety. At the same time, administrators of health systems must prioritize work with law enforcement in the development of provider networks. Training: Officers must be able to recognize symptoms of mental illnesses and have the skills to engage someone in crisis and deescalate incidents. Data: Limited police and health resources need to be concentrated on those people with whom their systems are in regular contact. And, data provides an essential benchmark to determine whether the collaborative plan designed is yielding the intended results. Advertisement Crisis Care Response: Officers should be able to take a person with acute mental health needs to a nearby 24/7 facility, where the officer knows healthcare providers will serve the person. Mobile crisis teams and emergency rooms are other aspects of suitable crisis care response. Continuity of care: A community-based system of care ensures that a person with a mental illness and a co-occurring substance use disorder stays connected to treatment, and receives other supportive services such as housing. Who's responsible for making all this happen? Neither police nor behavioral health can do any of the above single-handedly. There are approximately 18,000 independent local law enforcement agencies across the U.S. Each community has a different maze of overburdened mental health services, substance use treatment, and housing supports to be navigated. In many rural communities, there simply aren't any of these services available. But, none of this justifies inaction. Lives are at stake. The Washington Post reported that in 2015, 25 percent of uses of lethal force by police involved someone with a mental illness. Officials in local and state government, along with their partners in the community and federal government, have access to relationships, policy levers and resources. Working together, they can advance not just one, but all, of the strategies described above. That's what it's going to take to protect the safety of officers and to make sure that Bill, and millions of others like him, get the help and support they need. Advertisement This post by Tracy Hoover, Points of Light's CEO. Chances are that when you receive a package from UPS you don't give a second thought to the complex logistics underway to deliver nearly 20 million packages a day. That's because world class logistics is their expertise and core to their business strategy. But also core to UPS' business strategy is a dedication to using that expertise to solve some of our world's most pressing challenges. When UPS employees learned that the inability to deliver life-saving medications results in millions of preventable deaths each year, they decided to act. This year, UPS will transform the delivery of humanitarian aid and life-saving vaccines by using drones. Through a new partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Zipline, a robotics company, UPS employees will use drones to deliver vaccines to remote clinics throughout Rwanda. This cutting-edge partnership is a win-win for the people of Rwanda, for innovation at UPS, and for the talented employees who can do what they are really good at and save lives. This is just one example of the many, many ways in which the companies on this year's Civic 50 list are identifying the needs in their communities that are strategically connected to their business, and then aligning their community involvement and their employees' skills towards those issues. These companies set the standard for good corporate citizenship across the country and demonstrate that service to others has become a fundamental part of successful businesses spanning every sector of the American economy. Advertisement Founded in partnership with Bloomberg and the National Conference on Citizenship in 2012, this annual survey and resulting top 50 list honors a culture of social responsibility in business. The survey considers four aspects of each company: its investments in the community (measured largely in volunteer hours, pro-bono donated talents, in-kind donations, money contributed to charity and leadership); the degree to which the company integrates its community service programs with key business functions; the ways in which community engagement is institutionalized as part of the business itself (for example, included the company's mission statement); and how it measures the social and business impact of the company's community involvement. Civic 50 companies have gone beyond simply opening their checkbooks and are employing an "all-of-the-above" approach to community engagement -- integrating input from employees, customers, and their local communities into everything from their employee handbooks to their workplace culture to their product design. As a result, Civic 50 companies are putting themselves at the center of change to create more enduring and sustainable business models. Here's a snapshot of how the Civic 50 are doing it: 90% have a formal, structured effort to solicit community feedback. 78% included community engagement on department scorecards. This was an increase from 70% in 2014. 56% included community engagement as a formal written component of employees' performance reviews. This is an increase from 50% the previous year. 62% said they took a leadership position on four or more national public education or policy advocacy efforts. Half use community engagement to support skill-development for employees, an increase from 46% in 2014. Nearly one-quarter of employee volunteer hours are skill-based. This represents an increase from 20% the previous year. The top five business functions that their community engagement programs support are: diversity and inclusion, recruiting, stakeholder relations, marketing/PR, and employee engagement. This year's Civic 50 winners demonstrate that they are doing the hard work of building more community-minded businesses, and that the business sector plays a critical role as a catalyst for civic engagement. This is big news. Increasingly, American businesses are partnering with government, nonprofits and individuals to solve the biggest challenges facing our communities. Both socially-minded employees and consumers are driving businesses to place social-oriented values at the center of their operations. This ingrained ethic of service helps socially responsible businesses recruit better employees, build customer loyalty, find bottom-line rewards, and become better corporate citizens. The views expressed are strictly those of the author. The irrational antagonism aimed at the Clinton Foundation and Secretary Clinton is enough to make one wonder where the priorities are of those who have made this into an issue of such supposed significance. A few facts are in order: The Clinton Foundation is a highly respected charitable organization that has an impressive record of helping millions of people. None of the Clintons, neither the President, nor the Secretary nor their daughter, have profited from the Foundation or its work. Advertisement The Foundation received support from a number of donors before Barack Obama was President and Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State. The Foundation has enjoyed bipartisan support from its inception. The Secretary of State meets with a large number of people, every day, every week, every month, every year. Some of them she or he knows, some them she or he does not. The question is: why are there so many accusations about an alleged quid pro quo regarding the Foundation and Hillary Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State? The answer is: it's the politics of gossip and innuendo. There are no facts to back up allegations that anything untoward went on with the Foundation while she was Secretary, but there is plenty of speculation, much like the ridiculous speculation about her health. Some of the stories written about her meetings with donors to the Foundation are perplexing. For example, she was asked by a staffer of President Clinton to meet with the Crown Prince of Bahrain. The government of Bahrain had made the request directly through appropriate State Department procedures, and the email exchange between President Clinton's staffer and the Secretary's Deputy Chief of Staff indicate that the meeting was handled thru official channels. It is worth noting, that the US 5th Fleet is stationed in Bahrain, and the Crown Prince was involved with trying to find a solution to the problems between Bahrain's Sunni and Shiite communities. He also has had meetings on Capitol Hill to discuss US relations with Bahrain. Advertisement Secretary Clinton met with Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Laureate and founder of the Grameen bank, which does groundbreaking work for the poor with micro-finance. He is a brilliant man, dedicated to helping those who were thought to be beyond help. Governor Clinton was interested in his work decades ago as a possible model for helping the poor in the US. The Secretary also met with individuals like S. Daniel Abraham, who founded the Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, which is headed by former Congressman Robert Wexler and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Toni Verstandig. She met with Melinda Gates who helps run an important charity that does a great deal of international work. It makes sense that she would meet with individuals like this to get their perspective on issues that impact US policy. Concerns have been expressed about how many meetings the Secretary had with Clinton Foundation donors. Every public figure is asked to meet with individuals with various interests, backgrounds and agendas. When you run one of the most important Departments in the US Government, there are too many checks and balances in place (from the White House in particular) on policy and appointments, as well as transparency in this era of rampant media venues, to think that Secretary Clinton could devote her time--which is the most precious commodity a Secretary has--to meeting with individuals on a regular basis merely because they donated to the Clinton Foundation. As to the requests coming from a staffer of President Clinton, he had the right, as does anyone, to make requests. It is clear that his voice was often ignored, and never dispositive in making a decision about the Secretary's schedule. What is too often pushed aside in discussions of this issue, somehow not deemed relevant, is the great work the Foundation has done in helping people. President Clinton sent a letter to Foundation supporters, laying out the way the Foundation will be run if the Secretary is elected. Some of the accomplishments he mentions include: Advertisement More than 11.5 million people in over 70 countries have access to lifesaving HIV/AIDS drugs at 90 percent lower cost through the affiliated Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), including more than 800,000 children. That's more than half the adults and three quarters of the children on treatment today. Through the affiliated Alliance for a Healthier Generation, more than 18 million students in over 31,000 American schools, in every state, now have healthier food and more physical activity options, and agreements with the beverage industry have reduced the caloric intake from drinks by 90 percent in the vast majority of U.S. schools. The Health Matters Initiative is working in six communities to improve health and has worked with innovative drug companies to help reverse opioid overdoses and combat prescription painkiller misuse by lowering the cost of auto-injection naloxone and making naloxone nasal spray available to every high school in the U.S. at no cost. Climate change projects have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 33,500 tons annually across the U.S. This includes partnering on reforestation and land restoration efforts in South America and East Africa, and working with island nations to develop renewable energy projects and reduce dependence on expensive imported diesel and petroleum. The Too Small to Fail (TSTF) initiative is working with the faith-based community, pediatricians, community and business leaders, and Head Start educators to provide parents with resources in everyday settings to support their young children's early brain and language development, and have reached 155,000 parents with tips through direct text messages. The Clinton Foundation, like the Carter Center, like the Points of Light Foundation, like the work President Clinton did with President George HW Bush in the wake of the great tsunami in East Asia in 2004, is the kind of thing that ex-Presidents should be doing, using their names and their prestige to help people at home and globally. It would be good if all our former political leaders followed the example of President Clinton, both President Bushes and President Carter regarding what we want our nation's leaders to be and to do after they leave office. Happiness is a state of extreme positive emotions. It is a state where you are at peace with your inner self and the world around you. True happiness comes from within, in other words, you are solely responsible for making yourself happy. It is thus a habit that should be developed and practice daily. Many of the happiness guru believes anyone could determine to be happy irrespective of the outward external situation. Maintaining happiness and a positive correlation with our wellbeing. The field of positive psychology has actually linked happiness and the state of health. The cliche 'laughter is the best medicine' was brought up as a result of studies, backed up with various research. It was also discovered that experiences that produces positive emotions could also cause negative emotion to disappear rapidly. The best therapist understands this. Thus, they do not just help people heal damage, they work to identify the cause of the damage and build people's strength and virtues around it. Here are four ways happiness influences your state of health. 1. Happiness Broadens Your Focus and Expands Your Thinking Have you ever been angry at anyone or anything? You will discover that you focus solely on the matter as well as how to get back at the person, the cause of your unhappiness. During this period of unhappiness, your mind is like a heat-seeking missile, with just a single mission: Destruction! Advertisement Now you compare this with what happens when you are happy. Common positive emotions such as love, curiosity, joy, wonder, excitement etc. expands your focus of attention, it makes your mind open up to the free flow of idea. This is the singular reason why passion is very important for artistic careers and endeavors (singing, acting etc.) The same reason why a positive state of mind is needed for a high productivity at work and a healthy bottom line as well. 2. Happiness Protects Your heart Although, the heart might not really be the source of happiness, love or hate, but these emotions have a long way to go in affecting the heart and its function. A 2005 paper by Dr Steptoe and Dr Wardle of University College London revealed that happiness means moderate heart rate as well as optimum blood pressure. Another study by Dr Bhattacharyya of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London established the link between happiness and a form of heart health measurement, (heart rate variability; the time interval between heartbeats). This heart health measurement determines the risk for various hearth diseases. The research revealed a study of 76 patients that were suspected to have coronary artery disease. The participants who said they were the happiest on the day their hearts were tested revealed a healthier pattern of heart rate variability. Thus establishing the fact that happiness was linked to healthier hearts even among folks prone to heart disease. 3. Happiness and Optimism Various studies have established that optimist tends to have longer lives. Optimism as we all know is the act of expecting ONLY positive or the best outcome from anything. It is quite different from positive emotions, although they are both related. Thus, an optimist sees the world from a completely different angle than anyone. Even if circumstances does not favors the optimist, he chooses to be unmoved. Advertisement An optimist is usually in control of situation and gives him/her self credit for favorable outcomes. Thus they have a particular lens through which they see the world that gives them this sense of internal control over situation and also filters the bad side of life away. This sense of calmness and internal control over situation/circumstances has many benefits, and research established that an optimist has a 19% longer life span on average. An article on How to be Happy Guru further established that if you are optimistic, you increase the chances of attracting only good things and people to your life. 4. Happiness helps to Fight Disease and Disability Also, quite a number of researches has been conducted that shows the link between happiness and improvement in severe long term health conditions. A study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion in 2008 further demonstrates this. In the study, nearly 10,000 Australians that reported being satisfied and pleased with life were revealed to be 1.5 times less likely to have any long term health condition years later. Different research studies also indicated that truly happy elderly people with much positive emotions have a much lower tendency of developing strokes in the years to come. Hutchinson steamrolls Liberal 35-7, setting up rematch with Bishop Carroll The Hutchinson Salthawks overcame several Liberal short-field opportunities in the first half to beat the Redskins 35-7 Friday night at Gowans Stadium The Time For A Copyright Small Claims Court Is Now While major stars like Robin Thicke and Zeppelin can afford to combat massive lawsuits, the average artist may have a tough time footing the bill for a bitter and protracted court battle. This could change however, should a recently introduced small claims alternative bill end up passing into law. __________________________________ Guest post from the Future Of Music Coalition When legal battles about copyright infringement make the news, they tend to concern big stars. big hits, and big dollar amounts, from Robin Thicke vs. Marvin Gayes estate, to Led Zeppelins successful defense of their authorship of Stairway to Heaven. But what about the rest of us? Its a simple truth that, in the United States, filing a lawsuit for copyright infringement is expensive. Even just sending an initial letter can cost thousands of dollars and a case with a quick settlement can still cost over $10,000. Those charges rise quickly when a case takes years to wind through the courts. When photographer Daniel Morel won a $1.2 judgment after a 5-year legal battle against AFP and Getty Images, his law firm had racked up some $2.5 million in legal costs. However, even though the jury had found AFPand Getty had willfully violated his copyright, the court refused to grant him attorneys fees. This left the law firm that worked with Morel with little hope of collecting on the more than 3,800 hours of work they had put into the case. This is bad news for both plaintiffs, who often cant afford to file a lawsuit at all, as well as defendants, who are regularly targeted for hefty damages to justify the expenses. For many musicians and composers, this all means that legal recourse, even in clear cases of copyright infringement, may be out of reach. However, a new bill submitted by Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) hopes to at least ease some of those costs. Dubbed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act of 2016, it seeks to create a small claims court for copyright disputes. The idea is fairly straightforward and largely follows recommendations made by the U.S. Copyright Office in its reports on the subject. If enacted, the proposed bill would create a Copyright Claims Board that would be a part of the U.S. Copyright Office. There would be five members of the board including three Copyright Claims Officers appointed by the LIbrarian of Congress and two Copyright Claims Attorneys appointed by the Register of Copyrights. Claims brought before this board would have a statutory damages cap of $15,000 and there would be no attorneys fees awarded, meaning both sides would have to bear their own costs. However, since the process doesnt require an attorney, those costs should be much lower. The biggest caveat to the system is that it is completely voluntary. A defendant, once served notice that a case is pending before the board, could simply opt out of the procedure and force the plaintiff to file a lawsuit in federal court. The reason for this is the constitutional right of defendants to a jury trial. While the act can not take that right away and force defendants to participate, the hope is that the lack of attorneys fees and the lower statutory damages might motivate defendants, especially those with weaker defenses, to agree to participate in the process. Still, theres little to stop defendants from refusing to participate in the process, especially if they believe the plaintiff is unwilling or unable to sue in federal court. But despite that limitation, the act still aims to solve one of the biggest and most vexing problems in copyright: how to quickly and cheaply deal with small infringements. As a result, the act already has endorsements from a wide variety of organizations including The Authors Guild, The American Society of Media Photographers and The Songwriters Guild of America. FMC joins these groups in supporting a small-claims court solution. While not a silver-bullet, it would amount to a significant step forward towards copyright law that works for all creators, not just those with deep pockets. The truth is that under the existing system, most copyright infringements are simply not practical to pursue in court. The costs and risks often outweigh or preclude any benefit. However, a properly calibrated copyright small claims court can make it possible to pursue more claims. Just as importantly, the proposed bill also contains important protections for due process, and will help discourage false claims of infringement and settle conflicts much more efficiently. Though this will benefit creators of many mediums, independent musicians and independent labels may be among those who benefit the most. With widespread infringements and limited resources to spend combatting them, these smaller-scale creators may finally be able to use this court not only to stop ongoing infringements, but receive damages from them. The bill is currently before the House Judiciary Committee, which for the past several years has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Copyright Act. As always, well keep you posted about any progress. Share on: The FBI is investigating evidence that hackers have attacked two state election databases in recent weeks, according to a Reuters report.The warning came in an Aug. 18 flash alert from the FBIs Cyber Division, according to Reuters. The bureau is urging US election officials to increase computer security as a result of the apparent hacks.Citing anonymous officials, Yahoo News reported that it is believed that foreign hackers were responsible for the intrusion. And US intelligence officials are seeing indications that hackers sponsored by Russia may try to disrupt the presidential election in November, according to Reuters.There have been recent cyber attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic Party organizations. US intelligence officials say the attacks were most likely carried out at the behest of the Russian government, but Moscow has denied involvement, Reuters reported.But officials are concerned enough about the security of the upcoming election that Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has offered state officials his departments help in securing their voting systems.While the FBI did not identify the two states targeted, Yahoo News reported that the targets were Arizona and Illinois, whose voter registration systems were attacked. According to Yahoo news, a state election board official said hackers downloaded personal data of up to 200,000 Illinois voters. Another official said that the Arizona attack involved uploading malicious software into the states voter registration system. Brussels is on high terror alert again following an attack on a crime lab.In the latest incident to hit the Belgian capital, home of the EU, a car was driven through barriers at the facility at around 2.30am local time Monday. It is not clear what happened to the suspects or who is responsible.No casualties are reported but the attack has caused significant damage to the laboratory, which is linked to Belgiums justice ministry.Although local media are speculating about the possibility of terrorists carrying out the attack and that a bomb was detonated, officials have said that it is more likely to have been an arson attack designed to destroy forensic evidence.A fast-growing insurance company has been accused of taking unauthorised payments from thousands of potential customers.Youi Insurance operates in Australia and New Zealand and is owned by South African insurer OUTsurance and the accusations relate to the Australian business.The Sydney Morning Herald reports that callers to the insurers sales team were told that quotes were not given unless credit card details were provided. It is alleged that thousands were subsequently billed for policies that they had not agreed to. Youi denies the allegations.The insurers New Zealand business has already faced charges by the countrys Commerce Commission including charging prospective customers for policies when they only requested a quote. The company is to plead guilty to 15 charges.In a statement relating to those charges, Youi New Zealands chief executive said: 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.Life insurance companies will have to make regular checks that policyholders in Illinois are still alive under new legislation signed Friday.Governor Bruce Rauner signed the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act which, among other requirements, will mean insurers must check state social security records for deceased policyholders and inform beneficiaries of how to claim.The new law will be effective from January 1 2017.Everest Re has completed the sale of Heartland Crop Insurance Inc., its US crop managing general agent, to CGB Diversified Services.The $49 million deal includes a strategic arrangement for Everest to provide long term quota share reinsurance capacity on the combined crop insurance portfolio of the Diversified/Heartland companies. Bad news continues for the Affordable Care Act as enrollment figures hit less than half of the initial projection, and insurance companies continue to pull out of already sparsely populated markets.Just 11.1 million people have signed up for health coverage through the federally and state-operated online exchanges as of this year significantly behind the Congressional Budget Offices February prediction of 24 million by 2016. With a risk pool of much older, much sicker policyholders than originally expected, major insurance companies have been exiting the exchanges in a hurry, eager to avoid further financial losses.As a result, every healthcare stakeholder, from provider networks to insurance agents to consumers, is being squeezed by the shrinking marketplace. The Kaiser Family Foundation put out a report this month estimating that more than one in four counties is at risk of having a single insurer on its exchange, and industry experts say that barring a significant shift in policy, the situation is unlikely to change soon.In this environment, only carriers with extraordinarily large risk pools can survive, David Reid, chief executive with broker benefits software group EaseCentral, told Insurance Business America. The cost of healthcare is going up and provider networks are consolidating. Thats why youre seeing so many groups looking to consolidate.But the US Justice Department has moved to block two of the largest mergers those between health insurers Aetna and Humana, and Anthem and Cigna and without the ability to mitigate risk through larger risk pools, health insurance premiums will continue to rise.That puts pressure on brokers to perform, particularly in the small group health area, Reid said.Were seeing very significant cost increases out there: between 59% and 69% in Texas, and the East Coast is the same, he said. When customers face big cost increases, theyre looking to their broker to provide some alternatives beyond deductibles in the $3,500 and $5,000 range. Theyre looking for new creative mechanisms designed to help costs.Three of the most popular alternatives to traditional group health have proven to be small business exchange-style platforms, the use of telemedicine and the adoption of defined contribution benefit schemes.This last option is particularly promising. These reimbursement structures, in which employers provide workers with a lump sum to use in purchasing their own insurance, are still gaining traction. Just 2% of employers use defined contributions, according to a recent Arthur J. Gallagher survey, but thats expected to jump an additional 15% by 2018.Reid describes this as a great response to whats happening in the market, and was firm on the importance of a trusted advisor in facilitating this and other health insurance alternatives.I have no doubt the broker will be involved and have a position in the market, he said. As long as youre bringing efficiency and consultative services that provide companies with an advocate on their side, they will play a high-touch, valuable role in the healthcare system.And as to the issue of commission compression, which is driving many of those brokers out of the market?The reduction in commission is very real, but those agencies that are using tech-based solutions are able to operate more efficiently and get a greater return on investment, Reid said. There are actually new people jumping into the business because of these opportunities. Is this commercial insurance line dead for brokers? Is the broker commission model fundamentally flawed? Paul Mark said the highlights of the session included the budget, the economic development bill, and the energy bill. End of Session Review: Paul Mark DALTON, Mass. The state passed an economic development bill this session that Rep. Paul Mark says will benefit his district through bridge repairs and allocation for the MassWorks program. The Peru Democrat said the bill includes $50 million set aside for bridge repairs, which is funding small towns previously didn't have access to. His district of 16 mostly hilltowns spreading throughout the most rural areas doesn't have the tax base to foot the bill for pricey bridge work. "In some of my smaller, rural hilltowns, you have bridges under 20 feet and they aren't eligible for state or federal money normally. Now we set up a special fund," Mark said. MassWorks is a competitive grant program that helps municipalities with projects. He said the economic legislation includes $500 million for that program and he is currently working on applications with Greenfield on a parking garage project to go with a new courthouse being built and with Hinsdale to fix up the Skyline Trail. "I put in an earmark into the economic development bill to get that up and running," Mark said of the Skyline Trail. "Unfortunately, that amendment wasn't accepted but I think when I meet with [the Department of Transportation] that is one of the things I will talk about. "They are programmed on the TIP list but we want to get that done sooner rather than later." He also secured a $250,000 earmark for Greenfield to build an innovation center and other funds for the Franklin County Community Development Corp. to upgrade a freezer for its commercial food processing center in Greenfield. "The point of these projects is maker's space. It is a space where for a small town maybe it is too much to open a factory but you can come into these joint office spaces and get something going," Mark said of Franklin County's commercial kitchen. "People go all the way to Greenfield. Fire Cider uses Greenfield. I've seen them there when they've been making it. The head of the company is from Dalton so even though it is Greenfield, it still has impact on the Berkshire area." He added that the bill includes some $50,000 for the Hilltown CDC for economic development. While some of those projects are outside of the Berkshires, he said it will have impact on all parts of his district. "They are trying to do more work here in the Berkshires. They actually filed a CDBG application and Peru was included for the first time. It's trying to break down those barriers. There are these invisible lines between Hampshire and Franklin and Berkshire County but we are shortchanging ourselves to act like there is a fence there. There's not. We have to team up," Mark said. "With this district I have, it gives me a good opportunity to connect people." Mark had previously chaired a subcommittee researching issues surrounding college debt. Last session, the subcommittee filed a massive bill with a number of provisions eyed to lower the amount of debt students leave college with but it did not pass. However, in the economic development bill, Mark says a provision for 529 educational savings plans did pass. That will allow people who are using such plans as a U-Plan, for pre-paying tuition, to have a $1,000 tax deduction. "There already is a tax break from the federal government but we are one of a number of states that have never offered a match at the state level," Mark said. When it comes to higher education, however, Mark said he was unable to keep the 50/50 split agreement with the University of Massachusetts, which had previously frozen tuition increases. Another bill he hoped to finally pass but was stalled in the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading is one aimed to increase employee stock ownership models of business. The bill had language that allowed employees the opportunity to buy companies and operate them on cooperative models. "Every year, it gets a little bit further. This year it got as far as the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, which is the last step before the House takes a full roll-call vote on it," Mark said. "The problem is when it got to third reading, the Associated Industries of Massachusetts sent out a letter in opposition to it worrying about property rights. I had a really good, productive meeting with them on that and they've agreed to work with me on a way to improve it." "We ended up raising the net metering cap. We were hitting our cap and it was holding back the development of solar projects. It was preventing jobs. It was preventing individuals from getting projects on their homes. We finally raised the cap and then we supplement it with an omnibus energy bill that was passed by the House and the Senate which increased our energy portfolio," Mark said. "We have more access now to hydro-electricity and to off-shore wind. When you think about pipelines, you can't just say no to stuff. If you are going to say no to stuff then you have to supplement it with something else." He also filed a bill to create a "green bank" dedicated to loaning money for renewable projects. That didn't pass and he said he'll be filing it next year. However, the part that was accepted is property assessed clean energy (PACE) bonding, a type of bond for financing renewable projects or upgrades. "It's a good step in the right direction. I will refile the green bank in January. A green bank would be a really good place for PACE bonds to be coming out of, that could be a function of them," Mark said. This session he only sat on one committee: the Rules Committee. "We set a rules order for almost every bill we discuss and 95 percent of the time none of the members are interested, none of the members have a problem with it. One day they get an email and it says amendments for such bill must be filed by 5 o'clock on Tuesday and we'll have votes on Wednesday and everyone is fine with it. But every once in a while there is something controversial and suddenly it becomes an issue that there is not enough time or we need an extra day or we shouldn't have a rule. But this is how it works. You don't really think that because if you really thought that you'd be saying that on every single bill that comes before you. You are just trying to make an issue because you don't want this bill to pass," Mark said. That committee sets the rules for budget deliberations and there were some members raising issues over the times for amendments. But in the end, the legislators filed more amendments than ever before. The budget is one Mark believes is "strong" and makes investments the Legislature hadn't been able to do in the past. "The investments we made are really important to the people both of this region and the state of Massachusetts as a whole. Since I've been in office we've been fighting against shortfalls and on the brink of deficits and we always have to keep the budget in balance. I think for the first time that I can remember, there was a little more money to spend. But we're being cautious with that because projections are coming in right where expected, not above and not below," Mark said. He said there is more money going for local education, more local aid, and projects. However, the governor did veto a number of those pieces, which led to a scurry on the final weekend of debate to override them. One of the Gov. Charlie Baker's vetoes included funding for an opioid task force in Greenfield. The Legislature was able to override that, he said. The formal legislative session under the new Republican administration wrapped up on July 31. Mark said he got along with the administration and had no problems working with secretaries and other officials. But, it was the vetoes that Mark didn't like. He said there is no way for the governor in Boston to know the needs of the Berkshires better than the Berkshire representatives. Mark is running unopposed in the next election. But, he says that doesn't mean he won't run a campaign. After Labor Day, he will be running radio ads and handing out literature. "The focus for me become what do you think? What is your feedback?" Mark said, adding that the campaign literature he gives outcomes with comment cards and a listing of his office hours. He hopes the campaign will trigger more constituents to talk to him about issues to take into the next session. Letter: Mike Bloomberg, An Active Voice for Pittsfield To the Editor: Those of us who understand the history of Pittsfield know that we're a far cry from our heyday. We're clawing back, but we need the help of our next state representative, Mike Bloomberg. Tricia Farley-Bouvier has generally voted the way I would on most topics. I've spoken with her many times, she's a wonderful person, and I think she would be well suited as a state rep if the times were better ... But she has taken a passive role in Boston others generate ideas, bring bills to a vote, and if somebody else in the state wrote something that benefits Pittsfield, Pittsfield benefits. Even the letters supporting her note the "quiet way she has supported Pittsfield. She is treading water and we're ebbing and flowing with the tide. No more passive voice. No more treading water. No more "quiet way." We need an active voice in Boston. Pittsfield has an income problem and we've maxed out our property tax revenue. I bought a house two years ago (the second time I've bought a home in Pittsfield) and the property tax increased $150 a month immediately after I closed. If I had sent that $150 as an extra principal payment, I'd have saved $38,000 in interest and paid off my house six years sooner but I got a tax increase. We don't need clever ways to add taxes to existing citizens and businesses (like the proposed mileage tax and discussions on taxing non-profits the incumbent has been supporting). Pittsfield needs to increase revenue by growing the tax base. Mike Bloomberg has a background and education in urban economics he's studied cities, how their economies work, how they grow and collapse. He understands how the energy costs in Massachusetts hurt us in our competition for businesses with neighboring New York state. He knows that to address crime we must address the poverty that breeds it. And he knows how to give something for our educated sons and daughters to return to after college. He understands the national models for revitalization like Asheville, N.C., and how to bring that model here. A strong, walkable city core full of local businesses with a sense of place, a sense of Pittsfield. We need positive language, we need new energy, we need action. We need Mike Bloomberg. On Sept. 8, I'll be voting Mike Bloomberg for state rep. I hope you will, too. Evan Hickok Pittsfield, MA Our Lady of Fatima Statue Stopping in Berkshires; Vigil Set at St. Elizabeth's Our Lady of Fatima NORTH ADAMS, Mass. St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church will host the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima for an overnight vigil on Sept. 10-11. The statue will be at churches within the Diocese of Springfield from Sept. 8 through Sept. 28 as part of a two-year tour. The procession at St. Elizabeth's begins Saturday, Sept. 10, after the 4 p.m. Mass and the vigil continues through the night until the 8:30 Mass on Sunday morning, Sept. 11. After Mass at 10:45 a.m. on that Sunday, around noontime, the statue will be carried by firefighters to the city's Veterans Memorial, where a bell will be run for each of the airplanes involved in the Sept. 11 terror attacks. This will be followed by a moment of silence, addresses and a prayer. The statue of Our Lady of Fatima will then be carried by police officers to Holden Street, transferred to parishioners and returned to the church. The custodian of the statue will give a speech about the messages of Fatima followed by a reception at the St. Elizabeth's Parish Center, where people may view the movie "The 13th Day: The True Story of Fatima," with food and refreshments. The international statue is one of "twins" carved in 1947 according to the description of Sister Maria Lucia, one of three children who claimed to see apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. It has traveled the world and, in 2014, was placed in the custody of The World Apostolate of Fatima, USA. Sept. 12: St. Mary's, Cheshire, 8 a.m. Mass Sept. 13: Sacred Heart, Pittsfield, 9 a.m. Mass Sept. 14: Saint John Paul II, Adams, 8:30 a.m. Mass Sept 20: St. Patrick's, Williamstown, 8:30 a.m. Mass Sept 26: Divine Mercy Shrine, Stockbridge, 9 a.m. Mass A date for Lee is also possible. Other nearby stops include the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Chicopee, Sept. 15; Mother of Hope, Springfield, Sept. 16; Our Lady of Fatima, Wilmington, Vt., Sept. 18; St Brigid's, Amherst, Sept. 22; Our Lady of the Hills, Haydenville, Sept. 25. See the website for a full schedule. http://wafusa.org/the-apostolate/national-pilgrim-virgin-statue/ Email IC Arizona at azpoliticalintel-at-yahoo.comIC Arizona is a subsidiary of IntellectualConservative.com We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector We work towards an equitable, gender-just, self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector Can One Cosmic Enigma Help Solve Another? Baltimore, Maryland - Astrophysicists from Johns Hopkins University have proposed a clever new way of shedding light on the mysterious dark matter believed to make up most of the universe. The irony is they want to try to pin down the nature of this unexplained phenomenon by using another, an obscure cosmic emanation known as fast radio bursts. In a paper published today in Physical Review Letters the team of astrophysicists argues that these extremely bright and brief flashes of radio-frequency radiation can provide clues about whether certain black holes are dark matter. Julian Munoz, a Johns Hopkins graduate student and the papers lead author, said fast radio bursts, or FRBs, provide a direct and specific way of detecting black holes of a specific mass, which are the suspect dark matter. Munoz wrote the paper along with Ely D. Kovetz a post-doctoral fellow, Marc Kamionkowski, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Liang Dai, who completed his doctorate in astrophysics at Johns Hopkins last year. Dai is now a NASA Einstein Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. The paper builds on a hypothesis offered in a paper published this spring by Munoz, Kovetz and Kamionkowski along with five Johns Hopkins colleagues. Also published in Physical Review Letters, that research made a speculative case that the collision of black holes detected early in the year by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) was actually dark matter, a substance that makes up 85 percent of the mass of the universe. The earlier paper made what Kamionkowski called a plausibility argument that LIGO found dark matter. The study took as a point of departure the fact that the objects detected by LIGO fit within the predicted range of mass of so-called primordial black holes. Unlike black holes that formed from imploded stars, primordial black holes are believed to have formed from the collapse of large expanses of gas during the birth of the universe. The existence of primordial black holes has not been established with certainty, but they have been suggested before as a possible solution to the riddle of dark matter. With so little evidence of them to examine, the hypothesis had not gained a large following among scientists. The LIGO findings, however, raised the prospect anew, especially as the objects detected in that experiment conform to the mass predicted for dark matter. The Johns Hopkins team calculated how often these primordial black holes would form binary pairs, and eventually collide. Taking into account the size and elongated shape believed to characterize primordial black hole binary orbits, the team came up with a collision rate that conforms to the LIGO findings. Key to the argument is that the black holes that LIGO detected fall within a range of 29 to 36 solar masses, meaning that many times the mass of the sun. The new paper considers the question of how to test the hypothesis that dark matter consists of black holes of roughly 30 solar masses. Thats where the fast radio bursts come in. First observed only a few years ago, these flashes of radio frequency radiation emit intense energy, but last only fractions of a second. Their origins are unknown, but believed to lie in galaxies outside the Milky Way. If the speculation about their origins is true, Kamionkowski said, the radio waves would travel great distances before theyre observed on Earth, perhaps passing a black hole. According to Einsteins theory of general relativity, the ray would be deflected when it passes a black hole. If it passes close enough, it could be split into two rays shooting off in the same direction creating two images from one source. The new study shows that if the black hole has 30 times the mass of the Sun, the two images will arrive a few milliseconds apart. If 30-solar-mass black holes make up the dark matter, there is a chance that any given fast radio burst will be deflected in this way and followed in a few milliseconds by an echo. The echoing of FRBs is a very direct probe of dark matter, Munoz said. While gravitational waves might indicate that dark matter is made of black holes, there are other ways to produce very-massive black holes with regular astrophysics, so it would be hard to convince oneself that we are detecting dark matter. However, gravitational lensing of fast radio bursts has a very unique signature, with no other astrophysical phenomenon that could reproduce it. Kaimonkowski said that while the probability for any such FRB echo is small, it is expected that several of the thousands of FRBs to be detected in the next few years will have such echoes.if black holes make up the dark matter. So far, only about 20 fast radio bursts have been detected and recorded since 2001. The very sensitive instruments needed to detect them can look at only very small slices of the sky at a time, limiting the rate at which the bursts can be found. A new telescope expected to go into operation this year that seems particularly promising for spotting radio bursts is the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment. The joint project of the University of British Columbia, McGill University, the University of Toronto and the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory stands in British Columbia. Once the thing is working up to their planned specifications, they should collect enough FRBs to begin the tests we propose, said Kamionkowski, estimating results could be available in 3 to 5 years. Special Envoy Booth To Travel to Sudan Washington, DC - The U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Ambassador Donald Booth, will visit Sudan from August 28 to September 1. In addition to his official meetings in Khartoum, Special Envoy Booth will visit Blue Nile State on August 29. As he did in his July 26-28 visit to Darfur, Special Envoy Booth plans to engage with a range of people in Blue Nile State affected by conflict. He will meet with Sudanese government officials, civil society, community leaders, and the staff of international organizations and looks forward to open discussion and unimpeded exchanges. The United States remains deeply committed to the Sudanese people. Through visits like this, the Special Envoy will continue to engage constructively with the Government of Sudan and all parties to realize inclusive dialogue and a peaceful and stable Sudan. Watch: Man's Fire Stunt Goes Horribly Wrong, Beard Up in Flames DNA evidence found on a discarded sneaker, security camera footage and eyewitness testimony will prove a Brooklyn man guilty in the 2013 brutal beating of a fashion student, leaving him blinded in one eye, prosecutors argued in Brooklyn Supreme Court. The bench trial of Mayer Herskovic, the last of the men to face charges for beating Taj Patterson on Flushing Avenue on Dec. 1, 2013, began Monday morning. In his opening statement, the Assistant District Attorney Tim Gough said the Shomrim Security Patrol, which polices the Hasidic neighborhood, had gotten unfounded calls that Patterson was vandalizing cars. Soon Patterson was being chased by fifteen to twenty men who pinned him against a fence and started to attack him, Gough said. Patterson managed to wriggle free and he ran out into the street banging on the widow of a passing car. "Please let me in, let me in," Paterson had pleaded the driver who continued driving, but called 911, prosecutors said. "It didn't seem safe and there were too many of them." The men caught up to Patterson and continued to beat, kick and stomp him. In the attack, Herskovic grabbed Patterson's shoe and flung it up onto a nearby roof, prosecutors said. Investigators later found Herskovic's DNA on the shoe, Gough said. A bus driver and another man who was also driving by at the time of the attack are also set to testify about the wall of men they saw surrounding the fallen Patterson. The two eyewitnesses started to film the encounter with their phones and the Hasidic men quickly dispersed, Gough said. "Not a single person stood to render aid, to render assistance, to help Taj Patterson," he said. Since the attack, Patterson has undergone three surgeries to treat facial fractures and severe retinal damage that's left him mostly blind in one eye, according to Gough. Two other men involved in the attack Pinchas Braver and Abraham Winkler pleaded guilty to unlawful imprisonment charges in mid-August and were sentenced to 150 hours of community service and to pay a $1,400 fine, according to prosecutors. Charges were dropped against two other men originally indicted back in 2014. Patterson will give his own testimony about the night of the attack later in the trial. Herskovic's attorney Israel Fried waved an opening statement and couldn't be reached for follow up comment immediately. Patterson's family has sued the Shomrim Security Patrol and the city for the 90th Precinct's investigation of the case, claiming police delayed investigation and prematurely closed the case, the Daily News reported. Here is the latest jail booking report from Hamilton County: AL MALKI, SALMAN ABDALMALK 860 MURFREESBORO PIKE APT N16 NASHVILLE, 37217 Age at Arrest: 34 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga DOMESTIC ASSAULT --- AMBURN, MARY MICHELLE 3531 BENNETT ROAD EAST RIDGE, 37412 Age at Arrest: 44 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) --- BEVERAGE, HOLDEN MACRAE 727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37402 Age at Arrest: 39 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga DISORDERLY CONDUCT --- BLOCKER, CHARLES EDWARD 3625 RINGGOLD RD EAST RIDGE, 374121247 Age at Arrest: 63 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga THEFT UNDER 500 CRIMINAL TRESPASSING THEFT OF PROPERTY CRIMINAL TRESPASSING THEFT OF PROPERTY --- BROWN, JANET MARIE 3608 3RD AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 47 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF --- BROWN, JOSEPH WAYNE 9319 BARBEE RD SODDY DAISY, 37379 Age at Arrest: 22 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA --- BULL, NICHOLAS CRAWFORD 1022 FALCON RUN DR SODDY DAISY, 37379 Age at Arrest: 31 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA --- DAVENPORT, JAMES MARCUIS 4616 SUNFLOWER LN CHATTANOOGA, 37416 Age at Arrest: 43 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga THEFT OF PROPERTY --- DAVENPORT, ZACALA MECOLE 7717 CECELIA DR CHATTANOOGA, 37416 Age at Arrest: 28 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga THEFT OF IDENTITY --- DAWSON, JOSHUA EUGENE 159 DALE BROWN ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37405 Age at Arrest: 27 years old Arresting Agency: Hamilton County PUBLIC INTOXICATION --- DENT, AUSTIN N 171 OAK STREET RED BANK, 37415 Age at Arrest: 18 years old Arresting Agency: Red Bank DOMESTIC ASSAULT --- ELLISON, ROBERT FRANKLIN 5804 GRASS HOPPER RD. BIRCHWOOD, 00000Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEALTERING, FALSIFYING OR FORGING EVIDENCES OF TITLEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAMOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW VIOLATIONSPEEDING---FORD, BRACKUSS BLADE1604 MANCHESTER TRAIL CLEVELAND, 37312Age at Arrest: 22 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyVIOLATION OF PROBATION (FAILURE TO APPEAR)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (FAILURE TO APPEAR)FAILURE TO APPEAR---GRAY, REBECCA601 LONG STREET DAYTON, 37321Age at Arrest: 28 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaFAILURE TO APPEAR---JOHNSON, DEMETRIC SAMUEL1297 DANCING FERN JASPER, 37347Age at Arrest: 46 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE (METH)DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEREGISTRATION, IMPROPER DISPLAY OF PLATES---JONES, DESHONNA404 TUNNEL BLVD B7 CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 33 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaVIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY)---LAWRENCE, DENISE301 CROLL COURT APT 215 CHATTANOOGA, 37410Age at Arrest: 37 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (MARIJUANA)---MANNING, RONALD SCOTT2001 MARINA COVE DRIVE HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 41 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaPOSS. OF HANDGUN WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCEPUBLIC INTOXICATION---MASON, PAULA DENISE7716 NAUTICAL WAY APT A CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 45 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyHARASSMENT---MCPHERSON, WILLIAM MONTREL221 WATER STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 26 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA---MELDLEY, SHANE AARON341 SANDERFORD CIRCLE DUNLAP, 37327Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaVIOLATION OF PROBATION (DRIVING ON REVOKED LICENSEVIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT UNDER $500)---MILLSAPS, SHAUN KIP1605 KNICKERBOCKER AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37405Age at Arrest: 39 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaAGGRAVATED ASSAULT DOMESTIC---NIXON, JOHNNIE RAY2636 ANDREW ST CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyFUGITIVE (JEFFERSON CO MISSOURI)---NORWOOD, GREGORY MAURICE119 TIMBER KNOLL CIRCLE APT 63 CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaVIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF MARIJUANAFOR---PEREZ-SUAREZ, VALENTIN8469 CHAMBERS ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaFAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANEDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSERECKLESS DRIVING---PETERSON, ROBERT D1500E 16TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 374040000Age at Arrest: 38 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeDOMESTIC ASSAULT 39130111---PHILLIPS, JACOB N905 HAWTHORNE CT FRANKLIN, 370694134Age at Arrest: 18 years oldArresting Agency: UTCCONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL UNDER AGE---POYTHRESS, AUSTIN JACOB5310 BENNETT RD EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 30 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyFUGITIVE (WALKER CO GA)---PRITT, BARRY EUGENE2 PIEDMONT CIRCLE CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 46 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyVIOLATION OF PROBATION (ASSAULT)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (SIMPLE ASSAULT)DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE---RANDOLPH, ADAM GREGORYRAINBOW CREEK APARTMENTS CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaVIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S---REED, DAVID RYAN850 INMAN ST E CLEVELAND, 37311Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaPOSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMEDPOSSESSION OF PROHIBITED WEAPONDISORDERLY CONDUCTRECKLESS ENDANGERMENT---RIDGE, TERRELL FRANKLIN6306 STOCKTON DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 37416Age at Arrest: 52 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgePUBLIC INTOXICATION---SANCHEZ-VILLAGREZ, RAMON4305 10TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 23 years oldArresting Agency: Tenn Highway PatrolDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE---STEVENSON, ELLIS4512 MIDLAND PIKE CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaAGGRAVATED BURGLARY (OCCUPIED HABITATION)THEFT OF PROPERTYVANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF---STEWART, ANTHONY LEON7510 PINEWOOD DR CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: CollegedaleBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)---STEWART, CORDARIUS726 EAST HENDERSON RD CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 18 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaFAILURE TO APPEAR---STREBER, KATIE MARIE2304 GUINEVERE PKWY CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALEPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAPOSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE---TITUS, JACOB LEE1731 VARNER STREET HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 18 years oldArresting Agency: Hamilton CountyDRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE---VINES, TYLER R126 IGOU FERRY APT A HIXSON, 37343Age at Arrest: 21 years oldArresting Agency: Soddy DaisyDOMESTIC ASSAULT---WATT, KENNETH S4302 SHAWNEE CIRCLE CHATTANOOGA, 374113007Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaASSAULT---WINSTON, JOHNNY MATHERN3211 OSWEGO ST. CHATTANOOGA, 37406Age at Arrest: 63 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaAGGRAVATED ASSAULT / DOMESTIC---WRIGHT, JOHN ADAM81 OAKWOOD PLACE DRIVE ROSSVILLE, 30741Age at Arrest: 19 years oldArresting Agency: ChattanoogaDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Here are the mug shots: AL MALKI, SALMAN ABDALMALK Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 01/18/1982 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT AMBURN, MARY MICHELLE Age at Arrest: 44 Date of Birth: 08/14/1972 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) ARMSTRONG, JAMES ANTHONY Age at Arrest: 43 Date of Birth: 05/24/1973 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION(DRIVING ON REVOKED) VIOLATION OF PROBATION(DUI) BOWEN, JONATHAN D Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 02/21/1986 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE BROWN, JANET MARIE Age at Arrest: 47 Date of Birth: 06/01/1969 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF BULL, NICHOLAS CRAWFORD Age at Arrest: 31 Date of Birth: 04/26/1985 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA CRAIG, FRED D Age at Arrest: 69 Date of Birth: 06/28/1947 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT DAVENPORT, JAMES MARCUIS Age at Arrest: 43 Date of Birth: 12/10/1972 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY DAVENPORT, KARTEZ D Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 08/18/1986 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED ASSAULT DAVENPORT, ZACALA MECOLE Age at Arrest: 28 Date of Birth: 03/06/1988 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): THEFT OF IDENTITY DENT, AUSTIN N Age at Arrest: 18 Date of Birth: 07/17/1998 Arresting Agency: Red Bank Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT ELLISON, ROBERT FRANKLIN Age at Arrest: 21 Date of Birth: 06/14/1984 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE ALTERING, FALSIFYING OR FORGING EVIDENCES OF TITLE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA MOTORCYCLE HELMET LAW VIOLATION SPEEDING FORD, BRACKUSS BLADE Age at Arrest: 22 Date of Birth: 03/24/1994 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (FAILURE TO APPEAR) VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA) VIOLATION OF PROBATION (FAILURE TO APPEAR) FAILURE TO APPEAR GADDIS, MICHAEL LEBRON Age at Arrest: 27 Date of Birth: 10/04/1988 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF (OVER 800) THEFT OVER 900 GRAY, REBECCA Age at Arrest: 28 Date of Birth: 06/30/1988 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR GREEN, MITCHELL K Age at Arrest: 48 Date of Birth: 06/02/1968 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) HUNTER, KENDRELL DEWAYNE Age at Arrest: 24 Date of Birth: 12/01/1991 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR JOHNSON, DEMETRIC SAMUEL Age at Arrest: 46 Date of Birth: 03/11/1970 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE (METH) DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE REGISTRATION, IMPROPER DISPLAY OF PLATES JOHNSON, KENYON DAMON Age at Arrest: 22 Date of Birth: 04/26/1994 Arresting Agency: UTC Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA REGISTRATION, IMPROPER DISPLAY OF PLATES JONES, DESHONNA Age at Arrest: 33 Date of Birth: 12/22/1982 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY) LAWRENCE, DENISE Age at Arrest: 37 Date of Birth: 07/23/1979 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (MARIJUANA) MASON, PAULA DENISE Age at Arrest: 45 Date of Birth: 12/17/1970 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): HARASSMENT MCPHERSON, WILLIAM MONTREL Age at Arrest: 26 Date of Birth: 05/18/1990 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA MELDLEY, SHANE AARON Age at Arrest: 36 Date of Birth: 06/27/1980 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (DRIVING ON REVOKED LICENSE VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT UNDER $500) MILLS, MARCELLA DEON Age at Arrest: 51 Date of Birth: 02/07/1965 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY RETALIATION AGAINST JUDGE, JUROR, OFFICER MILLSAPS, SHAUN KIP Age at Arrest: 39 Date of Birth: 06/22/1977 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED ASSAULT DOMESTIC NIXON, JOHNNIE RAY Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 07/28/1986 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): FUGITIVE (JEFFERSON CO MISSOURI) PEREZ-SUAREZ, VALENTIN Age at Arrest: 36 Date of Birth: 02/14/1980 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE RECKLESS DRIVING PETERSON, ROBERT D Age at Arrest: 38 Date of Birth: 05/31/1978 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT 39130111 POYTHRESS, AUSTIN JACOB Age at Arrest: 30 Date of Birth: 08/27/1986 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): FUGITIVE (WALKER CO GA) PRITT, BARRY EUGENE Age at Arrest: 46 Date of Birth: 07/14/1970 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (ASSAULT) VIOLATION OF PROBATION (SIMPLE ASSAULT) DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE RANDOLPH, ADAM GREGORY Age at Arrest: 27 Date of Birth: 03/22/1989 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED S REED, DAVID RYAN Age at Arrest: 23 Date of Birth: 03/28/1993 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED WEAPON DISORDERLY CONDUCT RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT RIDGE, TERRELL FRANKLIN Age at Arrest: 52 Date of Birth: 11/24/1963 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): PUBLIC INTOXICATION SANCHEZ-VILLAGREZ, RAMON Age at Arrest: 23 Date of Birth: 11/05/1992 Arresting Agency: Tenn Highway Patrol Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE STEVENSON, ELLIS Age at Arrest: 19 Date of Birth: 07/16/1997 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED BURGLARY (OCCUPIED HABITATION) THEFT OF PROPERTY VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF STEWART, CORDARIUS Age at Arrest: 18 Date of Birth: 10/25/1997 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR TELEGO, MICHAEL S Age at Arrest: 57 Date of Birth: 04/25/1959 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN CATOOSA CO., GA) TITUS, JACOB LEE Age at Arrest: 18 Date of Birth: 12/15/1997 Arresting Agency: Hamilton County Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE VINES, TYLER R Age at Arrest: 21 Date of Birth: 12/08/1994 Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT WALLACE, JUSTIN AARON Age at Arrest: 26 Date of Birth: 05/15/1990 Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): FAILURE TO APPEAR WILLIAMS, FELICA NELSON Age at Arrest: 38 Date of Birth: 12/19/1977 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE WINSTON, JOHNNY MATHERN Age at Arrest: 63 Date of Birth: 03/21/1953 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED ASSAULT / DOMESTIC WRIGHT, JOHN ADAM Age at Arrest: 19 Date of Birth: 01/09/1997 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga Last Date of Arrest: 08/28/2016 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE 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 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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 }} Most anglers are keen to show off their catch. But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has found himself at the centre of mounting controversy after posting a photograph of a vulnerable thresher shark he had caught. The New York Post said that Ms Cuomo landed the shark while fishing off the South Shore of Long Island on Sunday and tweeted a photograph of the 154.5lb creature. A spokesman for the governor told the newspaper: This is an edible game fish that is indigenous to New York waters and catching them is allowable under both state and federal regulations. But while the sharks may be legal to catch, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists them as vulnerable to extinction. As a result, Mr Cuomo found himself being widely condemned by environmentalists. Worse than #CecilTheLion? Andrew Cuomo @NYGovCuomo Gov of New York boastfully posing with threatened thresher shark, tweeted the Blue Planet Society, an environmental group. Takes a big man to kill a species that is globally vulnerable due to declining population, tweeted @Icetrekker2009. 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 charity has called for a sea change in asthma care after research showed the condition costs the UK at least 1.1bn each year. Asthma UK said a different approach making the best use of new technologies, such as smart inhalers, was needed urgently to ease the burden on the NHS. More than 270 people are admitted to hospital each day because of asthma attacks with at least three deaths daily, according to the most comprehensive study of the condition in the UK. The UK-wide research, led by the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at the University of Edinburgh, found there were around 6.4 million GP and nurse consultations for asthma each year. Researchers estimated that at least 666m is spent annually on prescription costs, with 160m on GP consultations, 143m on disability claims and 137m on hospital care. The team said the findings confirmed the UK has one of the highest burdens of asthma in the world, with more than 18 million people treated for the condition at some stage in their life. Kay Boycott, chief executive of Asthma UK, said: Despite the fact we're spending over a billion pounds a year on asthma, many people are still not receiving care that meets even the most basic clinical standards. It's clear this has to change and a different approach is urgently needed. We strongly believe new technologies such as smart inhalers are the likely game changer that could reduce asthma attacks and ease the burden on the NHS. Supporting people to better manage their asthma with new technologies would likely lead to healthier lifestyles, reducing the need for NHS appointments and admissions and freeing up care for those who need it most. Professor Aziz Sheikh, director of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at the University of Edinburgh, said: Even with conservative assumptions, we find almost 100,000 people are admitted to hospital and there are at least 1,000 deaths from asthma each year in the UK. This is unacceptable for a condition that, for most people, can be managed effectively with the right support from their GP. Greater focus on primary care is needed if we are to cut rates of severe asthma attacks, hospitalisations and deaths. The research was drawn together from national health surveys and anonymised administrative, health and social care records in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 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 murder investigation has been launched after a 30-year-old man died in an assault on a south-east London street. Police were called to reports of a man assaulted in Tranquil Vale, Blackheath at 12:45am on Sunday, Scotland Yard said. Oliver Dearlove, a banker from nearby Eltham, was taken to an east London hospital, where he died just after 10.20pm. Detectives have said they are particularly keen to speak to a group of up to four white women who were seen speaking to Mr Dearlove moments before he was killed. A post-mortem examination will be carried out at Greenwich Mortuary on Tuesday. Mr Dearlove, who worked for the private bank Duncan Lawrie and had previously worked for then exclusive bank Coutts, used by the Queen, had been out in Blackheath with friends from university when he was allegedly punched by an unknown attacker. No arrests have been made and enquiries are still on-going. His mother, Joy Wright, told the Guardian: He and his friends all met up, had lunch, dinner, drinks. He texted his girlfriend that he loved her around 10pm. Someone picked a fight, punched him and [he] fell backwards and that was it. He was just perfect. Im in a state of shock [...] Im absolutely devastated for him. [He had] so much more life to live. Mr Dearlove's girlfriend of four years, Claire Wheatley, said: We were trying to get some money together so we could buy a house together. We had big plans. We were planning on having a baby as well." DCI Lee Watling of the Homicide and Major Crime Command said: "We are retaining an open mind at this stage of the investigation with regards to a motive and our primary aim is to establish how Mr Dearlove came to receive the injuries which led to his death. "We are appealing for anyone who was at Tranquil Vale who witnessed the incident in particular a group of up to four white females who Mr Dearlove and his friends were speaking to around the time the offence occurred." Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 0208 721 4205 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 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 health specialist who failed to spot a life-threatening eye condition in a boy who then died has been given a two-year suspended sentence. Honey Rose, a 35-year-old optometrist from Newham, east London, was found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after eight-year-old Vincent Barker died from a build-up of fluid to his brain. Ms Rose had had performed a routine eye test on him five months earlier and said she had done her best for the child. But the jury heard there were obvious abnormalities indicating swollen optic discs in both of Vinnies eyes, which she should have picked up on during the examination. During the trial, Rose told the court she had conducted all the required tests during Vincents eye examination at the Ipswich branch of Boots in February 2012. She had failed to look at retinal photographs taken or examine the back of Vincents eyes, Ipswich crown court heard, an indicator of underlying health problems that any competent optometrist would have recognised It was noted that Vincents death could have been prevented if she had done her job properly. At her sentencing, Judge Jeremy Stuart-Smith said that her breach of duty was the first case of its kind. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA He told Rose: You simply departed from your normal practice in a way that was completely untypical for you, a one-off, for no good reason. He added that there was nothing in (Vincents) general presentation that should have rung particular alarm bells for you. Rose had tried to cover-up her mistake when she found out Vincent had died, it was reported, by claiming he had not co-operated and had been hesitant to look at the cameras light. She was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and given a 24-month supervision order. A letter from the Association of Optometrists said there had been an increase in practitioners' concerns about the way they were doing their job and warned that that the case had devastating consequences for all involved. The College of Optometrists also said they hoped that the sentencing would not put off patients from having their eyes checked, amid warnings that Roses case could encourage a culture of fear. A spokesman said: The conviction of Honey Rose is unprecedented; she is the first optometrist in the UK to face charges, and found to be guilty, of gross negligence manslaughter. Optometrists play an important role safeguarding the nations eye health. We hope this conviction and sentencing will not have an impact on the publics trust in optometrists and those that should continue to have regular sight tests. A written statement from Vincents mother Joanne Barker said: The knowledge our loss should have been prevented and Vinnie should have been saved is intolerable to live with. Detective Superintendent Tonya Antonis, of Suffolk Police, said the sentence was proportionate in the circumstances. It was never the Barker family's intention that Honey Rose should go to prison, she said. What they wanted was some accountability by the profession and to ensure this doesn't happen to anybody else. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Royal Navy is sending a destroyer to help in the fight against Isis, despite concerns that the warships advanced engine system could break down in the warm waters of the Persian Gulf. The 1bn HMS Daring will be tasked with protecting American aircraft carriers during bombing raids on militant targets, according to the Defence Secretary, and sets sail from Portsmouth on Friday. Michael Fallon said the deployment showed all three branches of the Armed Forces were making a real difference around the world. Daring will take over the responsibilities of HMS Defender, another of the UKs six Type 45 destroyers, which returned to Portsmouth at the start of July following a nine-month operation. Recommended Read more US ship fires warning shots at Iranian boat in Persian Gulf As well as its defensive role in the Gulf, it will be expected to perform reconnaissance missions reporting back to the coalition headquarters for air strikes against Isis. And, if HMS Defenders record is anything to go by, it will play a part in protecting some of the worlds busiest shipping lanes from pirates and smugglers. In June, Defender made headlines when it intercepted more than a tonne of hash (estimated street value 5.6m) being trafficked across the Indian Ocean. Mr Fallon said: All three armed services are making a vital contribution to defeating Daesh. RAF aircraft are hitting the terrorists daily on the ground; the Army is providing counter-explosives training to Iraq troops; the Royal Navy helps protect coalition carriers in the Gulf as they launch strikes. With the biggest defence budget in Europe and the second biggest in Nato, our Armed Forces are making a real difference around the world. HMS Daring, which has a crew of 190, has had a troubled past with technical issues. Built by BAE Systems, it broke down in the mid-Atlantic in 2010 and again in Bahrain in 2012. The Royal Navy has since admitted that the Type 45 destroyers innovative gas turbine engines, which are supposed to provide propulsion and electricity for on-board systems at the same time, are prone to breaking down in warm conditions. Instead of some systems shutting down gradually as the waters around the ship got hotter, the engines degraded catastrophically in very warm seas, First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones told the House of Commons Defence Committee in July, leading to a total electric failure. All six destroyers have been scheduled for a multi-million pound refit starting in 2019 essentially to bolster their more old-fashioned diesel engines. In the meantime, Sir Philip said the Royal Navy had accepted it would not be able to operate the ships all the time in every place on every day of the year. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A cross-channel swimmer has died just a mile short of reaching France, organisers have said. The man, named in reports as Nick Thomas, 45, from Ellesmere in Shropshire, was pulled unconscious from the water as he neared the end of the 21-mile endurance feat. A spokesman for the governing body, the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, confirmed a man had died. He said: "A swimmer was taken from the water less than a mile from the finish in France. "There was an extremely experienced support team on board the support vessel. He was given CPR and taken to Calais where he was sadly pronounced dead. "It is an extreme sport, we know the risks. He was doing what he loved doing. Our thoughts are with his family." Enduroman Ultra Events, which was tweeting his solo progress since leaving the UK early on Saturday, wrote: "Our friend Nick Thomas left us whilst doing what he loved - he just kept going. "He'll always be a part of what we do and who we are." A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are offering assistance to the family of a British national following his death in Calais, France." PA Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Ed Balls has warned that Jeremy Corbyns leftist utopian fantasy will not return the Labour Party to government. The former shadow chancellor made the criticism within an analysis of Labours 2015 election campaign, which he described as astonishingly dysfunctional. "Refusing to listen to the electorate has never been a winning formula, any more than Jeremy Corbyn thinking the volume of the cheering from your core supporters is a reliable guide to wider public opinion," he said. "Caution will not win the day; but nor will Jeremy Corbyn's leftist utopian fantasy, devoid of connection to the reality of people's lives." In his memoir, Speaking Out, which is being serialised in The Times, Mr Balls reveals that he and Ed Miliband barely spoke during the 2015 election campaign, and speaks of his shock on being told that Mr Miliband had accidentally left out key passages on immigration and reducing the deficit from his final party conference speech. "The omissions were a symbol of Labour not being willing to face up to the problems the country was worried about, and proof that we were trying to brush difficult issues under the carpet. We weren't ready and didn't deserve to return to government. It was incredibly frustrating, he said. "Having kept me at a distance in the run-up to the election in 2015, I think we probably only spoke twice in the whole four-week election campaign. That was astonishingly dysfunctional when I compare it to how Tony and Gordon worked. Mr Balls, who is appearing in this years Strictly Come Dancing, said Mr Miliband was prepared for every outcome at the 2015 general election, with his lines to take having been prepared for Labour victory, Labour minority government, but not for outright defeat. 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 }} The Labour Party has launched a new consultation on what can be done to tackle the systematic disadvantage faced by ethnic minorities in Britain. The move comes after Theresa May launched her own audit of public services to take action against the unequal treatment of minorities in education, the courts and other areas of life. The consultation will occur in partnership with Labours race equality advisory group, which is chaired by Patrick Vernon. Recommended Read more Corbyn aide denies allegations of electoral fraud Mr Corbyn said: 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. Labour must be a party that fights for black, Asian and ethnic minority communities and a diverse and united Britain. 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 anti-Semitism, 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 500 billion in jobs, infrastructure and public services as part of our plan to rebuild and transform Britain. Mr Corbyn and the Labour Party have been criticised in recent months for failing to take action to deal with anti-Semitism on the partys fringes. Shadow women and equalities minister Angela Rayner said the new consultation would help address the issues which affect black, Asian and minority ethnic (Bame) communities. 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, she said. This consultation will take the first steps in developing policies which can tackle the structural issues which affect Britains Bame communities and the new challenges we all face in building a fairer, more equal society. Theresa Mays audit will aim to produce meaningful data on the way in which ethnic minorities do not receive equal treatment in public service. The honorees for the 2016 Latino Leadership were announced by La Paz Chattanooga. This years honorees are: Andrea Cribben-Acosta, Hamilton County Juvenile Court and Founder of Olivencia & Cribben Law Office, LLC Juan Antonio, Chattanooga State Community College Xavier Cotto, Tennessee Valley Authority Vivianne Fernandez, First Tennessee Bank Carmen Quezada Hutson, Partnership for Families, Children, and Adults Miriam Lemon, St Josephs Clinic and Founder of Love in Action Mission Alex Loza, Lee University Andres Miranda, Pastor of Light for the Nations Church Erwin Ovalle, MCS, Nerdwebs and Ovailes This years Emerging Leader Award will go to: Alondra Gomez, Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Chattanooga State The 10 Latino Leadership Award honorees will be recognized for the impact they are making daily in their workplace and in the Greater Chattanooga community at the fifth annual Latino Leadership Luncheon. In addition to being recognized at the luncheon, La Paz Chattanooga will present a leadership award to an honoree in each of the following categories: Latino Leader of the Year Award Chattanoogas Choice Award Latino Community Champion Award Emerging Latino Leader Award Volunteer of the YearThe Latino Leadership Luncheon will be held on Monday, Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. at the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center. Mike Suco, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED East Regions Vice-President, will be the keynote speaker. To purchase tickets or tables, visit lapazchattanooga.org or contact Christian Patino at 423-624-8414. Individual tickets are $50 and tables start at $400. 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 }} Thousands of refugees have been rescued in a number of major operations off the coast of Libya. The Italian coastguard claimed on its Twitter account that it had co-ordinated the rescue of around 6,500 people across 40 rescue missions on Monday - in one of the busiest days of life-saving in the region in recent years. Captured in dramatic images and video, one rescue involved Italian naval ships and vessels operated by two non-government groups. Those rescued are believed to be mainly Somali and Eritrean nationals fleeing Libya on around 20 small, unseaworthy boats, spotted by the authorities just 21km (13 miles) off the coast near Sabratha. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said that the aid group's Dignity 1 search and recue boat had helped save around 2,400 people from more than 15 rubber boats, plus one wooden vessel that contained 600 to 700 people. But the Spanish charity Proactiva Open Arms said 3,000 refugees were rescued, making it one of the largest single operations in the Mediterranean this year. The charitys vessels were among the first to encounter the smugglers boats, prompting some of the refugees on board to jump into the water and start swimming towards them. Others were pictured carefully carrying babies onto the rescue ships. They were then transferred to the larger ships of the Italian navy and MSF, and it is expected they will be taken on to be processed either in Sicily or the Italian mainland. A man clings to a boat during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean, yesterday (AP) More than 100,000 refugees have now reached Italy after crossing the Mediterranean in the past year, most coming from Libya. Mondays rescues highlighted the dangerous tactics used by smugglers, who charge large sums for space on a boat they know will be unlikely to make the journey. They then face the prospect of either being picked up by rescuers, or drowning. The rescues come a day after 1,100 refugees were picked up in the Strait of Sicily, crowded onto eight rubber dinghies, two punts and one larger boat. In June, the EU expanded its anti-smuggling operation in the central Mediterranean to include training Libyan coastal and naval forces, which are intercepting boats and returning migrants to Libya. But there are concerns for the conditions in which returned refugees are being held. Rights groups say 3,500 are being held in around 20 official detention facilities across Libya, with many more detained in informal detention centres run by criminal gangs. 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 }} Former New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner has been accused of sending racy twitter messages again, three years after another sexting scandal saw his election hopes dashed. The latest alleged indiscretion happened at about 3am on 31 July last year, according to the New York Post, when Mr Weiner and an unnamed woman were reportedly talking about massage parlours near his former apartment. Someone just climbed into my bed, he told the woman. Recommended Read more Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin to separate in wake of sexting scandal He then sent a picture of his crotch. His young son was cuddled up against his left side, asleep. Moments later he reportedly worried he had posted the image on his public timeline and not as a private, direct message - like in 2011 when his twitter followers saw he had uploaded a picture of himself, posing in grey underwear. The recipient of the messages is reportedly a supporter of Donald Trump and National Rifle Association. She insisted to the Post that the pair, who continued to send messages until earlier in August, had never met, although he had asked her several times to come to New York. Mr Weiner could not be immediately reached for comment. The messages were reportedly filled with lewd innuendoes, and even cartoon images of tissues, hand lotion and masturbation. He claimed she was his "fantasy". When the woman told him that being sexually aroused was like a "disease", he replied: "You are the carrier." His twitter account disappeared just hours after the details emerged in the Post. Mr Weiners wife, Huma Abedin, is a senior aide to Hillary Clinton. Bill Clinton presided over their wedding in July 2010. In 2012, the couple told People that Mr Weiner had been to therapy since the first scandal and he said he was happy as a stay-at-home father. "I feel like a different person," he said. The disgraced congressman and avowed socialist was close to beating Bill de Blasio in the polls in 2013 until it was discovered that he had begun messaging women under the pseudonym "Carlos Danger" again. The recovery from disaster, and the plunge back into scandal, was made into a documentary this year called "Weiner". He joined a crisis PR firm last July, but was let go two months later. The cricumstances of his departure are under dispute, as the firm claimed he resigned. 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 }} Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin has announced she is separating from her husband, the disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner, after he was caught sending yet more sexual messages and photos to a woman online. Ms Abedin, who married Mr Weiner in 2010, has stood by her husband for six years throughout his run for New York mayor, during which he was exposed twice in 2011 and 2013 for sending pictures of his bulging underwear and using crude language. After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband, she said in a statement. Recommended Read more Disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner involved in new sexting scandal Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our lives. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy. In yet another scandal, the New York Post reported that Mr Weiner sent messages and pictures as recently as this month, including one taken of his crotch while his young son lay sleeping at his side. He called the recipient, an unnamed woman, a "fantasy chick". When she suggested that his sexual arousal was a "disease", he replied that she was "the carrier". Weiner, an avowed socialist who fought passionately for better housing in the Bronx and affordable healthcare after 9/11, crashed in the polls in 2013 after he was exposed for sexting for the second time in two years, despite telling People magazine the year before that he had undergone rehabilitation and felt like a "different person". In the election, he lost to Bill de Blasio. Ms Abedin, who has spent all of her working life as an aide to Ms Clinton, married Mr Weiner in 2010. Their wedding was officiated by Bill Clinton. Despite the public humiliation, Ms Abedin told reporters in 2013 that she loved her husband and would stand by him. The ups and downs of their marriage amid his personal scandals and his run for mayor was recorded in a documentary called Weiner, which was released this summer. Donald Trump was quick to comment on the separation, telling the New York Times that Ms Abedin made "a very wise decision." "I know Anthony Weiner well, and she will be far better off without him," he said. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Two children appear to have been found living in the sewers in Washington state. After lifting up an 80-pound manhole cover, Lakehaven Utility District workers found clothes, toys and food 14-feet underground. One of two boys aged around 13 were reportedly spotted indicated the pair were living in the sewer system. The discovery was made after meter readers spotted the manhole cover slightly open. They closed it and came back later to find it had been opened again, Kiro 7 reported. Ken Miller, an engineering manager, said he had never seen anything like it in his 30 years of work. This should not happen at all," Miller told Kiro 7. "This is where all our waste goes from our houses and our businesses. "No one should be down there ... this could have been life and death." He also warned there was likely to be vermin and very limited oxygen in the sewer. Neighbours say they noticed the manhole cover slightly open for at least the past month and another claimed to have seen children running back and forth. 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 }} Muslims in America are preparing themsleves for the possibillity that their holiest holiday, Eid al-Adha - the feast of the sacrifice - could fall on 11 September this year, the 15th anniversary of al-Qaeda attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Tensions are already high during a febrile election year and some fear the coincidence could provoke a backlash against America's Muslim population. Akbar Ahmed, the Ibn Khaldun chair of Islamic Studies at the American University in Washington DC and the former Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, told The Independent that Muslims may feel the need to be alert next month. In this atmosphere one act of violence could trigger another act of violence as there is heightened tension, he said. As the world has witnessed an increasing number of terrorist attacks from radical jihad forces, or lone men who claim to be affiliated with them, in parallel with increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric from the likes of Republican Donald Trump, Mr Ahmed warned there could be a spike of anti-Muslim hostility. I thought that after 9/11 the graph of volence would slowly go down as we [the Muslim community] are all proactive and have been working with other faiths, he said. But the evidence before us does not confirm our optimism. The violent incidents are too frequent and too bloody on both sides. Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY Eid al-Fitr, another major holiday, has taken place close to 11 September, but so far the day has not directly coincided with 9/11. The dates of the religious festival are calculated and set by scholars using the lunar calendar. As a result their date in the Western calendar varies. The attack in 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people, has become a highly emotive and symbolic incident and is often connected with American nationalism, said Mr Ahmed. During the presidential campaign trail, Mr Trump exploited this sentiment when he insisted that he had seen hundreds of Muslims cheering and clapping as the Twin Towers fell. Mr Ahmed acknowledged that the world had been rocked by multiple attacks, both Islamophobic - the destroying and vandalising of mosques, the shooting and beating of innocent Muslims - and attacks in the name of Islam - like in Paris, Nice, Brussels and Istanbul - by those who believe they need to defend their religion through violence. Muslim girl tackled by police Mr Ahmed has invited Gold Star parents, Khizr and Ghazala Khan, to his house for tea in September to discuss these issues. Mr Khan challenged Mr Trump at the Democratic National Convention to read the US constitution and to stop smearing Muslims characters, quickly becoming one of the most talked about people in the country. Mr Khan has "pricked the balloon of Islamophobia" from Mr Trump, according to the professor, but there remains much hatred and misunderstanding. In the city of New York this summer, two Muslim teenagers were badly beaten outside a mosque in Brooklyn and an imam and his assistant were shot in separate incidents. Mr Ahmed warned that some young, Muslim men today lack leadership and guidance. But if the West spurns and rejects Muslims - for example, the attempt to ban the burkini in France, or the threat to deport Muslims from the US - they will encourage the minority of people who would commit violence in the first place. "These things [attacks] are happening because lot of people know little about Islam: they think Muslims are all violent and crazy and programmed to go out and cause violence," he said. Pro-Muslim Protesters Removed from Trump Rally in Virginia "Even for something as neutral as the month of fasting, some commentators say Muslims are more violent [during this time]," he added. "In fact they tend to be exactly the opposite as it's a month of prayers and withdrawing from the world, God, compassion, good things." Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of the worlds longest-running conflicts draws to a close at midnight, after Colombias FARC militant group declared a permanent ceasefire ending its five decades of insurgency. The commander of Colombia's biggest rebel movement has said its fighters will permanently cease hostilities with the government as a result of their peace accord. Rodrigo Londono, leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), made the announcement in Havana, where the two sides negotiated for four years before announcing the peace deal last week. Never again will parents be burying their sons and daughters killed in the war, said Londono, who is also known as Timoshenko. All rivalries and grudges will remain in the past. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced on Friday his military would cease attacks on the FARC beginning Monday. The announcement formalised a truce which has been in place in effect for several months. In December, a major breakthrough occurred when the two sides signed a deal on paying reparations and committing to justice for conflict victims. Colombia is expected to hold a national referendum on 2 Oct to give voters the chance to approve the deal for ending a half-century of political violence that has claimed more than 220,000 lives and driven more than 5 million people from their homes. 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 After the agreement is signed, FARC guerrillas will begin handing their weapons over to UN-sponsored monitors. The final peace agreement will be signed in the coming weeks. With additional reporting by AP 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 }} Police have pepper-sprayed an 84-year-old black woman in her home. Geneva Smith, from Muskogee, Oklahoma, received approximately one seconds worth of pepper spray to the face after police entered her house to arrest her son. Two Muskogee police officers followed Arthur Paul Blackman to his mothers home after he ran a stop sign. It later emerged the car was not registered to Mr Blackmon. On arriving, the officers asked Mr Blackmon to come outside. The 56-year-old man refused, allegedly claiming he did not realise they were police. Once five more officers arrived, the police forced entry. Seeing Mr Blackmon standing in the living room, one officer shot him with an electrical stun gun. Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Show all 19 1 /19 Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protestors demand justice for Philando Castile on July 7, 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protestors lie in an intersection during a demonstration for Philando Castile on July 7, 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protestors lie in an intersection during a demonstration for Philando Castile on July 7, 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protestors demand justice for Philando Castile on July 7, 2016 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protesters march throughout New York City. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protesters march throughout New York City. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protesters are arrested by NYPD as they call for justice throughout New York City. Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Protesters are arrested by NYPD as they call for justice throughout New York City. AFP/Getty Images Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Images Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police AFP/Getty Images Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Getty Protests and outrage across the US following killings by police Getty Ms Smith, who was confused by the noise being made in the early hours of the morning, entered the room to find out what was happening. After failing to turn around when asked to by an officer, she was pepper-sprayed in the face. Ms Smith was then handcuffed and taken to jail with her son. In jail, she had a panic attack and was taken to hospital. Scott Wood, a lawyer for Muskogee Police Force, said the use of pepper spray was understandable given the totality of the circumstances. He did, however, warn the forced entry of Ms Smiths home could have been a home invasion. Rex Eskridge, Muskogees chief of police, said: There is nothing more serious than to breach a home without a proper search warrant. We want to make sure that we were in compliance with not just policy, but the law. There's a lot of misinformation out there. There is a lot of prejudgment out there and a lot of concern." BlackMatters, which aims to tell the bold truth about racism, claimed the treatment of Ms Smith was symptomatic of the continuous unprofessionalism of cops. Ms Smith has demanded an apology from Muskogee Police Department and also intends to launch legal proceedings. Muskogee Police are carrying out an internal investigation into whether officers entered the home without a search warrant. 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 }} Police in South Carolina are trying to find the mysterious figure or group of people who allegedly dressed up as clown and tried to lure children into the woods behind an apartment block. Several residents of the Fleetwood Manor complex in Greenville reported that they saw a clown in white face paint who tried to entice children by displaying a large amount of cash. One resident said her son told her that he had seen clowns in the woods, whispering and making strange noises, and flashing green laser lights. Recommended Read more First full look at Pennywise the Clown in It remake Her eldest son also said he heard chains and banging on the front door of their apartment around 8.30pm on Friday. A second witness told police she saw a large clown around 2.30am the next morning with a blinking nose, standing under a lamppost, who waved at her. She reportedly waved back. The suspect did not approach the resident. Residents also said they received letters on Fleetwood Manor-headed paper, warning them to give their children a 10pm curfew and to ensure they are supervised "at all times". The letter that residents received, warning them to supervise their children (Facebook) They [children] advised that they believe the clowns stay in a house located near a pond at the end of a man-made trail in the woods, read the police report. Police went down the trail and located the building, but did not see any signs of suspicious activity nor did they discover anyone living there. Authorities have assigned the case to their follow-up unit and have sent extra police officers to patrol the apartment complex. The sheriffs office also received calls about gunshots being fired the same evening from men who had heard about the clowns and fired their weapons into the woods. Police did not discover any shell casings from the weapons. Another call was made to the department to report a clown sighting. In this call and the one about gunshots, the complainants refused to give their names. 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 }} When Ann Coulter turned up to Comedy Centrals "celebrity roast" on actor Rob Lowe, the right-wing commentator and author attracted most of the fire. Ms Coulter was booed as she told the crowd she was there to promote her new book, In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome!, a nominee who she insisted was "putting America first" on trade, immigration and foreign policy. But the liberal-leaning Hollywood stars were not going to let Ms Coulter go unscathed. Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson said: "If you are here, Ann, who is scaring the crows away from our crops?" Other celebrities zeroed in on her appearance, saying her face in a burka would "make doves cry". "Ann Coulter has written 11 books, 12 if you count Mein Kampf," said comedian Nikki Glaser. "Ann, you're awful. The only person you will ever make happy is the Mexican who digs your grave." Comedian Jimmy Carr pushed the hardest, calling her "hateful" and "repugnant". Ms Coulter acknowledged the special amount of attention on stage. "I'd like to welcome everyone to the Ann Coulter roast with Rob Lowe," she said. She started writing her new book in April, as Ted Cruz had quit the race in early May, and finished it within three months. "[The] January before, I probably thought of Trump what the 'never Trumpers' think of him now," she told Tucker Carlson, co-founder of the Daily Caller. "It wasnt until that Mexican rapist speech that he won my heart forever," she added, referring to the nominee accusing Mexicans of being "rapists" and "drug dealers" as an incentive to build the wall along the US border. But Mr Trump postponed a major speech on immigration last week - now scheduled for Wednesday - as he and his allies looked for a "firm but fair" wording on the issue of deporting illegal immigrants. "I never thought the deportation would be inhumane," said Ms Coulter. "I wish he had just rephrased it differently, and not used the word 'softening'," 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 }} A teenage boy has died from a stroke that is understood to have been caused by a love bite from his girlfriend. Julio Macias Gonzalez, 17, had convulsions while eating dinner with his family in Mexico City, after spending the evening with his 24-year-old girlfriend, local media reported. Emergency services were called, but the boy died at the scene. According to Mexican media reports, doctors believe the suction of the love bite resulted in a blood clot, which travelled to Mr Gonzalezs brain and caused the stroke. The boys parents blamed his girlfriend for the death, and she is thought to be in hiding. The family, from the Iztapalapa borough, told local media they had disapproved of the seven year age difference between their son and his girlfriend, but he had refused to break up with her. This is the second reported case of a love bite causing a stroke. In 2011, a 44-year-old woman from New Zealand experienced loss of movement in her left arm and was taken to hospital. According to media reports from the time doctors suspected she had had a stroke but couldnt work out why, until they noticed a bruise on the right side of her neck, left by a love bite. They concluded the suction from the love bite had damaged a major artery and formed a blood clot, which travelled to her heart and caused a minor stroke. She noticed the symptoms later, while sitting watching television. Dr Teddy Wu, who treated the woman at Aucklands Middlemore Hospital, reported the case in a medical journal. To my knowledge, it's the first time someone has been hospitalised by a hickey," he said at the time, using the American term for a love bite. Love and sex news: in pictures Show all 31 1 /31 Love and sex news: in pictures Love and sex news: in pictures What makes a perfect penis? Scientists have now answered one of these great unknowns. According to a new study, general cosmetic appearance is the most important penile aspect when it comes to what women value down there. This is swiftly followed by the appearance of pubic hair, penile skin, and girth. Length comes in at number six, with the look of the scrotum trailing closely behind. The least important facet of the phallus, say the scientists, is the position and shape of meatus, the vertical slit at the opening of the urethra. Getty Love and sex news: in pictures Half of divorcees had doubts on their wedding day Over half of divorcees considered abandoning their husband or wife-to-be at the altar on their wedding day, a new study has revealed. On top of likely worrying about wedding favours and making sure guests behave on their big day, 49 per cent of divorcees admitted they were unsure before the ceremony that their marriage would last. Some 15 per cent of divorcees polled said they were so wracked with doubt that they felt physically sick in the run up to their wedding. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Students who marry after studying the same subject Picking a university subject is already difficult enough for young people. But heres an extra piece of data to weigh on your decision: you may be picking a life partner as well. Dan Kopf of the blog, Priceonomics, analysed US Census data and found that the percentage of Americans who marry someone within their own major is actually fairly high. About half of Americans are married, according to the 2012 American Community Survey (part of the Census). And about 28 per cent of married couples over the age of 22 both graduated from college. (The survey didnt recognise same-sex marriages for the 2012 data, but it will for 2013 onwards, says Kopf). Sean Gallup/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures How much sex we have (and how much we'd like) As a nation, we dont have as much sex as we would like, a survey has (somewhat unsurprisingly) confirmed. In a poll of 1523 people by YouGov, 64 per cent of Britons said they would wish to have sex at least a few times a month. The same sample said that only 38 per cent had sex at least a few times a month. In addition, 10 per cent said they wished to have sex every day, a goal which only 1 per cent admitted reaching. Rex Love and sex news: in pictures The new female condom Picture an internal condom. The chances are youre thinking of something which resembles a carrier bag. However, this could all be about to change with the new VA w.o.w. Condom Feminine. Not only is it a wireless, Bluetooth enabled, vibrating interactive device, which comes available in the shape of a heart, but the manufacturers think youll love it more than not using a condom at all. Love and sex news: in pictures One in five Brits admit to having had an affair One in five British adults admits they have had an affair, according to a new poll. 20 per cent of male respondents and 19 per cent of female respondents admitted to having had an affair in a new poll of 1660 respondents by YouGov. Orlando /Three Lions/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures The UK's favourite sex position Casting aside the myth that Brits are a prudish bunch, a new survey has revealed that doggy style is the nations favourite sex position. As many as a quarter of UK adults surveyed said doggy style was their favourite way to indulge with a partner. Missionary, which is sometimes scoffed at the most boring position, was favoured by a fifth of the 1,000 people surveyed by high street sex shop Ann Summers, seeing it come in as third under "woman on top". Caiaimage/REX Love and sex news: in pictures Who's most likely to cheat? Men and women who are economically dependent on their spouses are more likely to cheat, a new study has revealed. Researchers have found that men who are solely financially dependent are more like to cheat than women, at 15 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. Men who are rely on their wives may cheat because they are undergoing a masculinity threat by not being the primary breadwinner as is culturally expected, said study author Christin L. Munsch, a UConn assistant professor of sociology. Eye Candy/REX Love and sex news: in pictures Jailed for loud sex noises A woman who breached a court order barring her from causing nuisance by making "loud sex noises" was sent to jail. Gemma Wale, of Small Heath, Birmingham, was given a two-week prison sentence after a civil court judge concluded that she had breached the order by "screaming and shouting whilst having sex" at a "level of noise" which annoyed a neighbour. Rex Features Love and sex news: in pictures Photo of wedding guest proposing to girlfriend in front of bride and groom goes viral When the staggering amount time, money, and effort that goes into to planning a wedding is considered, it seems pretty obvious that all guests have is to do is turn up with some gifts, and not upstage the couple. But this fact seems to have escaped one man, whose grinning face has gone viral after he decided to propose to his girlfriend in front of the bride and grooms top table. The photo, which has been viewed over 1.4 million times on Reddit, shows a boyfriend perched on one knee in front of his crying girlfriend. Joe Raedle/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Sexual fantasies The results of a sex survey are busting the myth that Britons are sexually repressed, by revealing how the majority of women have lived out their sexual fantasies. As many as 81 per cent of women and 77 per cent of men have shared and acted out fantasies with a partner with having sex in public topping the list of turn-ons. The study also laid bare the influence of TV and film on our desires, with three-quarters of couples saying they had inspired them. Meanwhile, a further three quarters of women and over half of men have played out a fantasy theyd found in a book. LEO RAMIREZ/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures The world's sexiest nationalities Irish men are the worlds sexiest, according to a survey of thousands of jet-setting women. In a poll of 66,000 of single American women who use MissTravel.com, as many as 8,000 said that Irish men are the sexiest. Around half of the females who took said they were turned on by Irish men said their accent influenced their choice, according to the Irish Times. ANDREW COWIE/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures More sex = happiness? Couples were asked to double the amount of sex they had each week over a three month period by researchers at the Carnegie Mellon University, who compared them to couples who had their normal amount of sex. Their findings, published in the Journal of Economic Behavior, went against advice given by the average self-help book having more sex doesnt automatically make a person happier. Instead, couples who were instructed to have more sex reported a decrease in happiness levels. Mood Board/Rex Love and sex news: in pictures Most sexually satisfied countries It is often considered the most amorous nation on the planet, but France doesn't even feature in a new list of the most sexually satisfied countries. According to a Durex global survey of 26,000 people, aged 16 and older, across 26 countries, only 44 per cent of people are fully satisfied with their sex lives. In the wake of these results, AlterNet has compiled a list of the 12 most sexually satisfied countries, with Switzerland, Spain and Italy topping the list. INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Sex o'clock They say women are from Venus and men are from Mars but a new sex survey suggests that members of the opposite sex seem to operate in different time zones too. While women like to get steamy between 11:21pm on average, men are more likely to be turned on at the rather inconvenient time of 7:54am. These times fall into the broader timeslots of 11pm and 2am for women, and 6am and 9am for men. PIERRE ANDRIEU/AFP/Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures More sex = more money People who have more sex are likely to earn more, new research claims. The research, partly conducted from the responses of 7,500 people, found employees who have sex two or three times a week earn 4.5 per cent more than colleagues who do not. Rex Love and sex news: in pictures The effects of watching porn Contrary to suggestion that porn desensitises viewers to sex, a study has found that it doesn't "negatively impact sexual functioning" and in fact boosts couples' sexual attraction to one another. In research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, scientists at the University of California tested the effects of visual sexual stimuli on men in relationships, finding that it "is unlikely to negatively impact sexual functioning, given that responses actually were stronger in those who viewed more VSS." Rex Love and sex news: in pictures 'I have herpes' A woman diagnosed with herpes at the age of 20 has written an emotional essay about living with the common condition to fight the stigma surrounding it. Ella Dawson, now 22, said she had never had unprotected sex and thought she wasn't the sort of person STDs happened to when the symptoms first appeared during her time at university in the US. She wrote that the diagnosis initially felt like a punishment for her values and relationships and worried her that telling boyfriends would ruin her love life. Ella Dawson Love and sex news: in pictures More sleep, better sex A new study could have a simple answer to enhancing your sex life just get a good nights sleep (if you are a woman at least). A study conducted by a team at the University of Michigan Sleep and Circadian Research Laboratory found women who get an extra hour of sleep at night reported higher levels of sexual desire and were more likely to have sex with their partners. Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Swipe right A woman has detailed her experiences of a week of always swiping right on Tinder. By opening the floodgates, as Ms Caster describes it, she receives scores of messages from different men and not all are terrible. Love and sex news: in pictures The most adulterous town in the UK Ever wondered what the neighbours are up to? Well if you live in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, then the answer is probably... having an affair. The bustling East Midlands town has been granted the dubious honour of being the UK's top spot for infidelity with a total of 941 affairs reportedly taking place right now. According to The Official Infidelity Index 2015, which was released this week, 2.54 per cent of the towns population are currently seeing someone they shouldn't. REX FEATURES Love and sex news: in pictures Average penis size revealed Scientists have measured more than 15,000 mens penises in an effort to find out what size is normal. Researchers at Kings College London and a London NHS trust said they hoped the review would help address the concern that some men have about their penis size and aid people suffering from anxiety and distress. They revealed that the average flaccid penis is 3.6ins (9.16cm) long, or 5.2ins (13.24cm) when stretched, and 3.7ins (9.31cm) in circumference. Erect penises are 5.1ins (13.12cm) long on average and 4.5ins (11.66cm) in girth. Rex Love and sex news: in pictures One true love Men fall in love more times in their life than women, according to a new survey. 2,000 adults were asked about relationships, and discovered that more than half of men say they've loved more than one person their lifetime. For women, it's markedly fewer, with only 45 per cent saying they've had multiple loves. Love and sex news: in pictures Dating site for 'beautiful people only' A self-proclaimed elite dating website has removed around 3,000 members because they were "letting themselves go". BeautifulPeople.com describes itself as the largest internet dating community exclusively for the beautiful and puts peoples photographs to a members vote to decide if they are allowed in. But administrators have now shown that the rigorous 48-hour selection period is not a permanent pass by taking thousands of profiles down, mainly because of weight gain and graceless ageing. Love and sex news: in pictures Sex is a 'miracle cure' Regular exercise including sex, walking and dancing are miracle cures staring us in the face and could dramatically cut our risk of cancer, dementia, heart disease and diabetes, leading doctors have said. In a new review of existing evidence which reveals the full extent of benefits that can be accrued from exercise, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said the improvement in health and savings to the NHS could be incalculable. Susannah Ireland Love and sex news: in pictures Pornhub searches by age of user Pornhubs prolific Insights blog fires out many reports of sociological interest, none more so than its latest on age, which lays bare different age groups' sexual proclivities. Looking at the most popular searches among 18-24s, there are several familial terms including 'step mom', 'milf', 'mom' and 'step sister', a trend that seems to die out somewhat in users' 30s. By 65, 'massage' becomes the top term, while 'granny' perhaps unsurprisingly also hits the top ten. PlaceIt/Just Another IKEA Catalog Love and sex news: in pictures Mature sex Research into the sexual lives of more than 7,000 men and women between the ages of 50 and 90 in England reveals that half of men and almost a third of women aged 70 and over were still sexually active, with around a third of these sexually active older people having sexual intercourse twice a month or more. Around two-thirds of men and over half of women thought good sexual relations were essential to the maintenance of a long-term relationship or being sexually active was physically and psychologically beneficial to older people. Getty Creative Love and sex news: in pictures The secret to an eighty year marriage Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that 42 per cent of marriages in England and Wales end in divorce, and the average British marriage which ends in divorce lasts 11 years and six months. Helen and Maurice Kaye, now aged 101 and 102, have been married for 80 years, and say the secret is: I think its important to have patience and tolerance. You're two entirely different people who suddenly live together, which can't be easy. But if you love each other, you get over the difficulties. Love and sex news: in pictures Valentine's Day porn Pornhub saw a (slight) drop in traffic on Valentine's Day as people focused on pleasuring their partners rather than themselves. Everywhere, it is, except for London. Overall UK traffic dipped 3 per cent across the UK, with Plymouth and Oxford seeing the biggest drops of 11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. In fact every major city spent less time watching porn bar London, the Pornhub audience for which grew by 2 per cent. Getty Love and sex news: in pictures 1 in 10 men paying for sex A tenth of British men have admitted to paying for sex, according to a new study. Professionals aged 25 to 34 who binge drink and take drugs were found to be the most likely to have used the services of prostitutes, based on findings from a study of 6,108 men. Around 11 per cent of subjects, in the study published in the Sexually Transmitted Infections journal, have ever paid for sex in their lifetime and four per cent admitted to doing so in the last five years. Getty Images Love and sex news: in pictures Questions that determine if you're in love The existence of love and its nature is something that has troubled philosophers for centuries, but a pair of scientists believe they have a set of questions that yield "clear empirical evidence" of it, or at least whether your relationship will end in divorce. They are: 'How happy are you in your marriage relative to how happy you would be if you weren't in the marriage?' and 'How do you think your spouse answered that question?' Columbia The woman was treated with warfarin, an anti-coagulant, and the clot disappeared almost entirely within a week, leading to a full recovery. Dr Wu told local media that if the woman had not been treated quickly she could have suffered further strokes. 'Strokes have different levels of severity,' he said, 'but possibly patients can become paralysed.' Police have charged 19-year-old Ellis Stevenson with stealing TVs and watches from a house that had just burned. Stevenson, of 4512 Midland Pike, was charged with aggravated burglary, theft of property and vandalism. A juvenile was also arrested. Police said in the incident on Sunday around 11 a.m. that the pair forced their way into the residence on Kemp Drive that had burned several hours earlier. They took two flat screen TVs and several wrist watches. As Stevenson was carrying off one of the TVs, a witness who knew Stevenson confronted him and the juvenile near some woods. Stevenson dropped the TV and ran off. Police located Stevenson at his house and found he was still wearing the same pants that smelled strongly of the burned house and still had burnt debris all over them. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} David Duke has launched an automated phone campaign urging voters to vote for him as US Senator in Louisiana and Donald Trump for president. Recommended Read more White Lives Matter to be listed as a hate group by SPLC Mr Duke, a prominent white nationalist and former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, has become an outspoken supporter of the Republican nominee who, he says, embrace[s] most of the issues Ive championed for years. White supremacists groups have rallied behind Mr Trump, who launched his campaign with a hardline stance against immigration from Mexico. This support has become a thorn in the side of the New York businessman amid sharp criticism from his rival, Hillary Clinton, who accused him of running a campaign of paranoia and prejudice. In the robocall, obtained by BuzzFeed News, he warned of the perils of massive immigration and the decline of the US. Unless massive immigration is stopped now, well be outnumbered and outvoted in our own nation. Its happening! Mr Duke said in the message. He continued: Were losing our gun rights, our free speech. Were taxed to death. Were losing our jobs and businesses to unfair trade. Were losing our country. Look at the Super Bowl salute to the Black Panther cop killers, a reference to the Super Bowl performance by Beyonce. Hillary Clinton campaign ad attacks Donald Trump over KKK Its time to stand up and vote for Donald Trump for president and vote for me, David Duke for the US Senate. The Trump campaign disavowed the call in a statement to Politico on Monday. Mr Trump has continued to denounce David Duke and any group or individual associated with a message of hate, the statement read. There is no place for this in the Republican Party or our country. We have no knowledge of these calls or any related activities, but strongly condemn and disavow. Mr Trump previously failed to distance himself from Mr Dukes endorsement. When pressed by CNNs Jake Tapper in a February interview, Mr Trump simply pleaded ignorance. I know nothing about David Duke, he said. I know nothing about white supremacists. And so youre asking me a question that Im supposed to be talking about people that I know nothing about. Ms Clinton rebuked the Trump campaign for bringing what once were fringe ideals into the modern political discourse. [Donald Trump] is taking hate groups mainstream and helping a radical fringe take over the Republican party, the former Secretary of State said. His disregard for the values that make our country great is profoundly dangerous." 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 }} White Lives Matter will receive designation as a hate group in the Southern Poverty Law Centres upcoming Hate Map. The White Lives Matter movement developed in response to the black lives matter slogan used in the protests against police violence in black communities, but has strong links to prominent white supremacist groups in the US. Recommended Read more White Lives Matter protesters wield confederate flags at Houston NAACP I cant speak to how many chapters will be listed, but its clear that the leadership of the group, the ends of the group its just a flat-out white supremacist group, Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLCs Intelligence Report, told the Houston Chronicle. She added: The ideology behind it, the racist leaders, everything about it is racist. The movement drew national attention last week when a group of armed White Lives Matter activists assembled in front of the Houston chapter of the NAACP, waving Confederate flags, and protesting apparent violence from black civil rights activists. America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking Show all 11 1 /11 America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking America unmasked: The images that reveal the Ku Klux Klan is alive and kicking We came out here to protest against the NAACP and their failure in speaking out against the atrocities that organisations like Black Lives Matter and other pro-black organisations have caused the attack and killing of white police officers, the burning down of cities, and things of that nature, White Lives Matter activist Ken Reed told the Chronicle at the 21 August protest. The Anti-Defamation League said that the demonstration was organised by the Aryan Renaissance Society, a small but longstanding white supremacist group, as banners held by activists were emblazoned their symbol with the White Lives Matter slogan. The ADL attributes the slogan to prominent white supremacist leader Rebecca Barnette of Nashville. The SPLC points to Ms Barnette as one of [White Lives Matters] key leaders, if not the leader. Ms Barnette, the SPLC says, is involved with such white supremacist groups as Aryan Strikeforce and the womens division of the National Socialist Movement. An Intelligence Report profile of White Lives Matter written earlier this month said Ms Barnette posted a message on the vk.com a Russian social media site favoured by white supremacist groups accusing Jews and Muslims of forming an alliance to commit genocide [of white people] of epic proportions. President Barack Obama recently rejected a petition calling for the White House to officially designate Black Lives Matter a terrorist organisation. The effort followed two high profile shootings of black, white, and Latino police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge but civil rights leaders linked to the movement for black lives immediately condemned the violence. Mr Obama clarified the meaning of black lives matter in his statement rejecting the petition. I know that there are some who have criticised even the phrase black lives matter, as if the notion is that other lives dont matter, he wrote. I think its important for us to also understand that the phrase black lives matter simply refers to the notion that theres a specific vulnerability for African-Americans that needs to be addressed. The SPLCs updated Hate Map is set for release in February. 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 }} Police in China have caught the alleged killer of 11 women and girls. Gao Chengyong is accused of raping and murdering the female victims in Gansu province and neighbouring Inner Mongolia in northern China between 1988 and 2002. The 52-year-old mutilated many of his victims' bodies, leading local media to call him 'China's Jack the Ripper'. The father of two was apprehended in a grocery store he runs with his wife in the city of Baiyin on Friday morning after a tip-off to police, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement. He has admitted to the murders, police said. Gao killed his first victim in May 1988. The 23-year-old woman was found dead in her home in Baiyin with 26 wounds to her body. His other murders followed a similar pattern. Gao usually targeted young women who lived alone, following them home, raping them, and then killing them, according to newspaper reports. He tended to operate during the day, and often targeted women dressed in red. His youngest victim was eight years old. The attacks frightened women in Baiyin for over two decades, local media report, with many refusing to walk alone in the streets. In December 2004, Baiyin police linked the 11 murders for the first time and offered a 200,000 yuan (23,000) reward for information leading to an arrest. Detectives said that based on DNA evidence, fingerprints and footprints, they were looking for a man aged 33 to 40. The suspect has a sexual perversion and hates women, police said at the time. He's reclusive and unsociable, but patient. Chinese media report that Gao was not found because he was not on record as living in Baiyin. No more killings were linked to Gao after 2002 and, with no leads, the case was closed. In March last year the local government decided to reopen the investigation. Yin Guoxing, a DNA expert, told China Daily USA that Gao was caught after Baiyin police arrested his uncle for a minor crime. The man's DNA was collected and tested, and police discovered he was a relative of the killer they had been seeking for 28 years. According the South China Morning Post, acquiantances describe Gao as a quiet man -- emotionally distant, but respectful of his elders. Gaos elder son said he only saw his father once a year during the Lunar New Year festival. Ive accepted this fact, but I cannot understand why he did it, he told local media, when asked about the murders. Gao's younger son said his father had experienced 'bitter suffering' in his youth. China opens terrifying glass-bottomed bridge Show all 5 1 /5 China opens terrifying glass-bottomed bridge China opens terrifying glass-bottomed bridge A woman plays around as she walks across a glass-bottomed suspension bridge in a scenic zone in Pingjiang county AP China opens terrifying glass-bottomed bridge An aerial view shows a glass suspension bridge at the Shiniuzhai National Geo-park in Pinging county, Hunan province Reuters China opens terrifying glass-bottomed bridge Tourists look down as they walk on a glass suspension bridge at the Shiniuzhai National Geo-park in Pinging county, Hunan province Reuters China opens terrifying glass-bottomed bridge Tourists walk on a glass suspension bridge at the Shiniuzhai National Geo-park in Pinging county, Hunan province Reuters China opens terrifying glass-bottomed bridge The bridge is named Haohan Qiao, which translates to Brave Mens Bridge Rex Cui Xiangping, whose sister Cui Jinping was stabbed 22 times by Gao in 1998, told Beijing News that he had believed the case would not be solved. Mr Cui said his mother, who found Ms Cui's mutilated body, could not stop crying after hearing the news of Gao's detention. Although 18 years have passed, the family has never stopped thinking about his sister, he added. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} An Australian teenager who was on the run from police has got in touch with a media outlet asking them to use a more flattering photograph of her. Amy Sharp became the subject of a police hunt after she escaped from Surry Hills Corrective Services Cell Complex in Sydney. 7 News Sydney reported the incident by uploading two mugshots of Ms Sharp onto its Facebook page. She responded by commenting on the post, suggesting an alternative photo be used. Ms Sharp wrote: Can you use this photo, please and thank you. Yours Truly, Amy Sharp xx". The 18-year-old also included an angel emoji and a photo of herself smiling. New South Wale Police Force described Ms Sharp as a low risk to the public and was in custody for property offences. The police department has since confirmed Ms Sharp has been detained. She was found close to the detention facility from which she escaped and was charged with escaping lawful custody, as well as an outstanding warrant. Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found Show all 18 1 /18 Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39856.bin Reuters Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39857.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39858.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39863.bin AP Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39860.bin AP Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39909.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39911.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39907.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39912.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39906.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39913.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39920.bin Reuters Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39916.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39923.bin Reuters Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39915.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39917.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39918.bin AFP/Getty Hunt for Karadzic ends as fugitive is found 39864.bin AFP/Getty Ms Sharp is not the first fugitive to be displeased with their mugshot. In Ohio, one man sent the police a selfie with a note that read: Here is a better photo that one is terrible." Some commentators have suggested police were able to track the teenagers location using her Facebook comment. New South Wales Police are yet to comment on this. Since being posted, her comment has attracted more than 61,000 likes. Ms Sharp was later refused bail and attended Parramatta Bail Court. Despite her request, 7 News Sydney used the same two mugshots in a follow-up post after her arrest. 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 family of five have been found dead in their countryside home in the Irish midlands. The bodies of primary school deputy principle Alan Hawe, aged in his 40s, his wife Clodagh, a school teacher in her 30s, and their three sons were discovered at the house near Ballyjamesduff, in Co Cavan on Monday morning. Investigators said they believe the family are victims of a murder-suicide and they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. It is understood the husband and wife were found downstairs at Oakdene Down in Barconey, while the boys Liam, 13, Niall, 11, and Ryan, six were upstairs in their bedrooms. "We believe all the answers are within that house - so therefore the most likely scenario is that one person in that house may have caused the death of the others," Garda assistant commissioner John ODriscoll said. "All the circumstances will be explored but as it stands at the moment that is the position." Hearses leaves the scene at Oakdene, Barconey, Ballyjamesduff in Cavan, where a family of five were found dead in their countryside home (PA) Investigating gardai have found no evidence a firearm was used. A technical examination is being carried out at the property which has been sealed off as a crime scene and follow up post mortem examinations are expected to give a more definitive answer as to the cause of death. A number of objects in the house are also being subjected to detailed technical examination. The alarm was raised at around 10:45am on Monday after someone, thought to be a relative, called to the house but got no answer. Two officers dispatched to the scene from Monaghan Garda station gained entry to the house and found the bodies. Mr Hawe, belived to be from Co Kilkenny, was the deputy principle at the nearby Castlerahan National School. Niall and Ryan were both pupils at the school. The eldest boy, Liam, was a past pupill. Mrs Hawe, from Co Cavan, taught at Oristown National School in Co Meath. Investigators are continuing to talk to neighbours and the extended family of the victims to establish what happened. The family were well known in the area and had been out in the community on Sunday and gave no indication anything was wrong. A hearse leaves the scene at Oakdene, Barconey, Ballyjamesduff in Cavan, where a family of five were found dead in their countryside home (PA) "Nothing had happened prior to this grim discovery this morning that gave rise to anyone - including An Garda Siochana - having any suspicion that anything was untoward and this family were engaged with the community and seen yesterday," said Mr O'Driscoll. Paddy Smith, a local councillor, said: "This has come as complete and utter shock to everybody in the area and everybody who knew the family because they were a very steady, hard working family," he said. "It is a complete shock, out of the dark, people are just unable to grasp or comprehend what has happened." Additional reporting by Press Association 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 }} Britain will never leave the EU because Boris Johnson and other leading Brexiteers did not realise the full complexity of the process, a leading expert has claimed. Professor Thom Brooks, who is head of Law at the University of Durham, said Article 50 is unlikely to ever be invoked, and if it was it could "let down the next generation". Prof Brooks, who advised the Electoral Commission on the wording of the referendum question, said:I do not think Article 50 will be invoked. The closer the government looks at what is actually involved in leaving then the less likely they are going to be jumping ship. There is a 42 year evolving legal relationship that is not so easy to unpick. It is an absolutely massive task. He also dismissed Theresa Mays talk of "Brexit as Gobbledygook. Theresa May says she has an 'open mind' over Brexit negotiations Prof Brooks's comments echo those of several EU politicians, law-makers and academics, including Austrian finance minister, Jorg Shcelling, who last month said he was confident thre would still be 28 members countries in the EU in five years time. Thom Brooks, a senior policy advisor and head of Durham University Law, said Boris Johnson had only backed Brexit for 'political point scoring' (Professor Thom Brooks) Britains former cabinet secretary Gus ODonnell also angered Eurosceptics by suggesting Britain could stay in a broader, more loosely aligned group". Speaking to The Independent, Prof Brooks said he believed a hasty Brexit could "let down the next generation". "We really need a clearer sense of what Brexit 'is'," he said, "as we still have little idea about what it looks like." "This continued uncertainty does little good - and any benefits appear speculative". The university lecturer, whose research has been quoted in the House of Lords, predicted Brexit ministers would U-turn on their commitment to leave the EU and call for a second referendum in due course. Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell He added that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had only backed Leave for political point scoring and called International Trade Secretary Liam Fox naive for not realising the sheer enormity of the work involved in enacting Article 50. He said: "I expect May will have Boris and other Brexiteers submit a plan for a second referendum. "This will be presented as the government's best efforts to honour the previous referendum result - however far short it may fall of Britain leaving the EU altogether. "This second referendum will either see Britain changing its mind on Brexit or voting for something other than a full withdrawal." Government officials have dismissed Prof Brooks's predictions and insisted Article 50 will be invoked as planned. A Foreign Office spokesman said: The Prime Minister has been very clear on this issue. Brexit means Brexit. The Department for Exiting the European Union said: I would refer you to the Prime Ministers previous comments. Brexit means Brexit. We will be invoking Article 50." 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 large fire at a crime laboratory in Brussels was probably an arson attack designed to destroy criminal evidence, authorities have said. Attackers rammed a car through fences before starting a fire at the crime lab in the Belgian capital in what is thought to be a likely attempt 'to destroy evidence', the citys prosecutors said. There were no casualties as a result of the attack which took place at around 2am in the Neder-Over-Heembeek suburb in the north of the city. Five people nearby were detained following the attack, but were subsequently released without charge, spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch told a news conference. She said the likely aim of the attack was to destroy several files in the building. The location was not chosen randomly, she said. Its an important site that includes sensitive documents relating to current investigations. The institute carries out forensic examinations in criminal cases and is linked to the Belgian federal justice ministry. Recommended Read more Brussels airport bomber guarded Western hostages held by Isis in Syria It is unclear so far what happened to the suspects. The laboratory does thousands of analyses each year, so we don't know what damage has been done yet, said Ms Van Wymersch. It is obvious that several individuals would have an interest in making elements in their justice file disappear. Earlier reports said the attackers had detonated a bomb during the attack, but the Brussels prosecutor's office rejected reports of a bomb attack, and said the loud sounds heard were probably materials going up in flames. The partially destroyed front of Belgium's National Institute of Criminology following the attack (Reuters) It's probably not terrorism. It's a criminal act, Ms Van Wymersch said. I cannot confirm that there was any bomb. Belgium remains on high terror alert following an attack claimed by Isis on Brussels airport and the citys metro in March in which 32 people were killed by three suicide bombers. The police and army have been deployed in large numbers since suicide bombers attacked Paris last November, leaving 130 dead. Many of the attackers were subsequently discovered to have had links to Belgium. 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 In addition, two hoax anthrax attacks along with a series of knife and gun attacks mean tensions have been running high in the Belgian capital in recent weeks. 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 law to ban the burkini in France would fuel tensions between communities and would be unconstitutional and ineffective, French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said. Frances highest administrative court, the Council of State, ruled on Friday against a decision by the mayor of resort town Villeneuve-Loubet to ban the full-body swimwear. Mayors from around 30 French towns along the Riviera have enforced the ban; many of whom have said they will refuse to back down on their decision despite the recent court ruling. Recommended Read more French police continue to target women in Islamic clothing Former president Nicolas Sarkozy, who plans to run for President again in next years election, said the wearing of a burkini was a political act and said he would bring in a nationwide ban if he returned to power. But speaking to French newspaper Le Croix, Mr Cazaneuve said it was unlikely this would come into place. The government refuses to legislate on the matter because any such law would be unconstitutional, ineffective and likely to create antagonism and irreparable tension, he said. We do not need a new law. Current laws clearly lay out France's secularism. However, Muslims must continue to engage with us over gender equality, the inviolable nature of the principles of the French Republic, and tolerance in order to live together. By overthrowing the decision of the mayor, the court has stated the law, he added. On Monday, Mr Cazeneuve is due to have a day of consultations with religious figures and parliamentarians regarding Islam in France. He also criticised the opposition party for using the issue for political gain and stoking tensions during a time of religious unrest. Certain opposition leaders are making a lot of noise. They think that in the current context of terror threats, we can abandon the fundamental principles of law as embodied in the Constitution, he said, warning that such a move would be a serious mistake. The debate follows footage released of armed police attempting to force a woman to remove her burkini top on a beach in Nice last week. A tribunal in the city previously ruled a burkini ban in the Villeneuve-Loubet resort was necessary, appropriate and proportionate to prevent public disorder. The controversy around modest swimwear has filtered into new campaigns for the next presidential election and is the subject of highly charged debate. France needs healing and people coming together, not divisive outbursts by those contesting in primaries, Cazeneuve said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Home Secretary Amber Rudd is expected to reject calls for changes to border control agreements between the UK and France when she meets her French counterpart later on Tuesday Amber Rudd is due to discuss security with French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve during the scheduled trip - her first official overseas engagement since taking up the post. But the issue of the border has climbed up the agenda after a senior French politician claimed on Monday that France should tear up the deal which allows Britain to impose border checks on refugees and migrants in Calais unless it is radically changed. Xavier Bertrand, president of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais-Picardie region, said action was needed to deal with the sprawling Jungle camp in which 9,000 people are thought to live. Currently, under Le Touquet treaty, British officials check passports in France and vice versa, but migrants in France cannot claim UK asylum until they cross the channel. The regional president claimed that while the 2003 Touquet agreement helps to fight terrorism, it was not an effective arrangement for dealing with the numbers of migrants. Mr Betrand suggested that to prevent migrants from risking their lives crossing to the UK, "hotspots" should be established in Calais so they can apply for UK asylum on French soil. If successful they would be taken to the UK, and if unsuccessful they would be deported from France to their countries of origin. The Home Office has flatly rejected the idea with sources telling The Telegraph that the suggestion was a "complete non-starter". Mr Bertrand has said there should be hotspots on the Calais border for those seeking asylum (Philippe Huguen) Mr Bertrand said: "[Migrants] want to go to England. Why? Because they know it is possible to work in the UK. "I want a new treatment of asylum claims for migrants who want to claim asylum in England. It is not possible to keep the border here without a new agreement between the French and British governments." Mr Bertrand added that if the UK did not agree to open a discussion on the matter, France would pull out of Le Touquet treaty altogether. A Home Office spokesman said: We remain committed to working together to protect our shared border in Calais and to maintain the juxtaposed controls. The French government have repeatedly made it clear that removing the juxtaposed controls would not be in the interests of France. The French President reiterated this again at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister on 21 July. We firmly believe in the established principle, enshrined in the Dublin Regulation, that those in need of protection should seek asylum in the first safe country they enter. Inside the camps in Calais Show all 20 1 /20 Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais A Kurdish child and her father get out of their tent in the makeshift migrant camp in Grande-Synthe near Dunkerque Inside the camps in Calais Kurdish migrants works around the tents of the makeshift migrant camp in Grande-Synthe near Dunkerque Inside the camps in Calais Volunteers from Holland set up a bridge of fortune over the mud using pallets of the makeshift migrant camp in Grande-Synthe near Dunkerque Inside the camps in Calais Refugees walk among tents in a makeshift camp as containers (rear) are put into place to house several hundred migrants living in what is known as the "Jungle", a squalid sprawling camp in Calais Inside the camps in Calais A makeshift camp is seen in front of containers (rear) put into place to house several hundred migrants living in what is known as the "Jungle", a squalid sprawling camp in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais The camp near Calais harbour where refugees from the Middle East and central Asia congregate to attempt the crossing from France to the UK Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Most of the temporary residents in this camp are from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria or the Kurdish administered regions Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Camp residents cook and share food at their site just outside Calais Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais A group walk through the camp near Calais Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Most of the temporary residents in this camp are from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria or the Kurdish administered regions Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais A 16 year old immigrant from Eritrea tries to brace himself against the rain and cold by sheltering under the road bridge Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Rubbish strewn on the ground near one of the campsites Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais A man stands among the tents at the campsite just outside Calais, France Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais A camp near Calais harbour where migrants from the East africa congregate to attempt the crossing from France to the UK. Most of the temporary residents in this camp are from Eritrea. Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Graffiti depicting the dangerous journey trying to smuggle onto a lorry to the UK Elsewhere, two candidates for next years French presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy and Alain Juppe, have claimed the treaty with the UK is not fit for purpose and implied the border should be moved to British soil. Speaking at a political rally recently, Mr Sarkozy said: I'm demanding the opening of a centre in Britain to deal with asylum seekers there so that Britain can do the work that concerns them." Sir Peter Ricketts, former British ambassador to Paris, said Mr Bertrands suggestion of establishing UK asylum claim stations on the French border would lead to more migrants arriving in Calais. He told Radio 4s Today programme: "The asylum system has always worked on principle that people apply for asylum where they are. "As soon as you suggest that people can apply for UK asylum in Calais, that would create a huge magnet, bringing more and more migrants into Calais. It wouldnt help the French deal with the problem. It would make it worse." The number of migrants living in the so-called "Jungle" camp has risen from 5,178 to 9,106 in four months between May and August, according to the latest census by Help Refugees and lAuberge des Migrants. The charities said the number was expected to reach over 10,000 in September. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said it is "unacceptable" for European Union member states to refuse to accept Muslim refugees. Ms Merkel called for quotas to divide refugees fairly between EU nations in a television interview. What I continue to think is wrong is that some say 'we generally don't want Muslims in our country, regardless of whether there's a humanitarian need or not,' she told German channel ARD. She added everyone must do their part in the refugee crisis and a common solution must be found. Asylum seekers can currently be returned to the first safe country they are proven to have landed in, under the Dublin Regulation, an agreement between EU countries. However enforcing this rule would mean some EU countries, like Greece, would have to take large numbers of people because of their geographical location. The Schengen Agreement allows free movement of people within the EU, but refugees are exempt from this. Advocates of a shared European refugee policy have said a quota system would be fairer to both host countries and refugees than the current system, which allows many countries to shirk any role in helping refugees. Some of the EU's 28 member states have said they will not co-operate. Some eastern EU members, such as Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, have refused to take in any refugees under an EU-wide quota system amid opposition from right-wing nationalists. Islamophobia underpins the refusal in many cases, as the majority of refugees come from Muslim-majority nations like Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Slovak President Robert Fico said he would never bring even a single Muslim into his country. On Tuesday, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said he does not want a large Muslim community ... given the problems we are seeing and each EU member should be able to choose how many migrants they accept. In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee children at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees queuing for food at the Kara Tepe camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees' tents at the Kara Tepe camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees at the Oxy transit camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees waiting to board ferries to the Greek mainland in Mytilene, Lebos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees waiting to board ferries to the Greek mainland in Mytilene, Lebos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees waiting to board ferries to the Greek mainland in Mytilene, Lebos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos The graves of drowned refugees in Mytilene, Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos A building used to house unaccompanied children at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees queuing to register at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees arriving on smugglers' boats from Turkey in Lesbos In 2015, the scale of the refugee crisis prompted Ms Merkel to waive Germany's right to send thousands of refugees back to the southern European countries where they were first documented. Germany took in around a million asylum seekers, mostly from Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan. This year it expects up to 300,000 more people to arrive, acording to the Federal Office for Migrants and Refugees (BAMF). We can ensure optimal services for up to 300,000. Should more people arrive, it would put us under pressure, then we would go into so-called crisis mode. But even then we would not have conditions like last year, BAMF chief Frank-Jurgen Weise told a German newspaper. Implementing a quota system for refugees is on the agenda of an EU summit next month. Eric Lee Gaines has been arrested for an assault on his ex-wife and a well-known MLK Boulevard barber. Gaines, 33, of 2803 Curtis St., was charged with disorderly conduct, domestic assault, assault, burglary of a business, public intoxication and retaliation against an officer. In the incident on Thursday, police were summoned to MLK Boulevard on an intoxicated individual. Gaines, who has a lengthy criminal record, was found staggering in the middle of the street. Channell Moore said she and Gaines had gotten into an argument at Whiteside Park. She said she retreated to the Live and Let Live Barber Shop. She said she was in the restroom there when Gaines burst in and began hitting her in the face. The shop owner, Virgil McGee, tried to intervene and was able to separate the couple. Police said Gaines went out the door, but he began to try to get back in when the owner tried to lock the door behind him. During a struggle, Gaines kicked in the front glass door and got back inside. He tried to strike the barber, but was forced back outside. Police then arrived. Police said Gaines made threats against a white officer, asking that his handcuffs be taken off "so I can beat that honky officer's a--." 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 }} Turkey has warned Kurdish forces in Syria of more strikes unless they withdraw east of the Euphrates river immediately. Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke as Syrian opposition groups reported that Turkey-backed Syrian rebels have captured more towns and villages in northern Syria. The offensive, codenamed Euphrates Shield, saw Turkish tanks cross the border to help Syrian rebels seize the town of Jarablus from Isis, but officials have warned about its twin aim of deterring further advances by Kurdish-led forces, which the government views as terrorists. The fighting pits Turkey, a Nato ally, against the Kurds, which are backed by the US and have emerged as the most effective ground force battling Isis militants in Syria's five-year-old civil war. It leaves Washington in the tough spot of having to choose between two allies, and is likely to divert resources from the fight against Isis. 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 Both Turkey and the US have ordered the main Kurdish fighting force, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to withdraw to the east bank of the Euphrates. "The YPG has to immediately cross east of the Euphrates River as they promised the United States and as they announced they would," said Mr Cavusoglu. "If they don't, they will be a target." The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a predominantly Kurdish alliance backed by the US-led coalition, had advanced to within a mile of Jarablus after driving Isis from swathes of northern Syria in recent months. The group has driven Isis out of swathes of northern Syria in recent months, including retaking the key city of Manbij. But Turkey has been concerned by the group's success, which has seen Kurdish groups including the People's Protection Units (YPG) take control of land stretching almost the entire length of the Syrian border. Video shows tanks on the Turkey/Syria border The Turkish Prime Minister reaffirmed his country's commitment to remove both Isis and the Kurdish groups from border regions on Friday. We intend to cleanse our borders of all terrorist organisations, particularly Daesh, Binali Yldrm said, using the Arabic acronym for Isis. This operation will continue until we are sure that no threat to Turkey remains. Turkish-backed forces pushing into Syria have been rebuked by the US, which said it was concerned the battle had shifted away from targeting Isis. "We want to make clear that we find these clashes - in areas where ISIL is not located - unacceptable and a source of deep concern," said Brett McGurk, US special envoy for the fight against Islamic State, using an acronym for the jihadists. "We call on all armed actors to stand down," he wrote on his official Twitter account, citing a statement from the US Department of Defense. YPG leaders say they have withdrawn to the east bank of the river, but their units advise the Syrian Democratic Forces and it is not clear if any remain west of the Euphrates. SDF forces have said they will withdraw south of the Sajour River, a tributary of the Euphrates, in order not to put the lives of civilians in danger following attacks by Turkey-backed Syrian rebels. "We, the Military council of Jarablus and its countryside, announce the withdrawal of our forces to the line south of the Sajour River to preserve the lives of civilians and so that no pretext remains for continued strikes on villages and civilians," an online statement from the military council said. Turkish air strikes and artillery attacks have killed at least 40 civilians and wounded dozens more, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory said at least 20 civilians were killed and 50 had been wounded in Turkish artillery fire and air strikes in the village of Jeb el-Kussa, south of Jarablus, and added that another 20 had been killed and 25 wounded in Turkish air strikes near the town of al-Amarneh. It also said at least four Kurdish fighters had been killed and 15 injured in the attacks on both areas. The situation in Jarablus on 29 August, with Turkish-backed territory and operations shown in blue, Isis in black, and the Syrian Democratic Forces in yellow (Liveuamap) Turkey denied any civilians had been hit. A Turkish soldier was killed by a Kurdish rocket attack on Saturday, becoming the first such fatality in Turkey's ground offensive. The Observatory also said Turkey-backed rebels had managed to seize at least 11 villages in 48 hours, bringing the total to at least 21 villages in the south and west Jarablus countryside captured since 25 August. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The US has criticised Turkey for launching attacks on Syrian rebel groups - saying its efforts should instead be focused on defeating Isis extremists, but Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to press on.. Turkish-backed forces pushed deeper into northern Syria on Monday, the latest move in a two-week offensive. Reports suggested that at the start of the operation, Turkish forces were targeting Isis, but had since turned their efforts to attacking the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition that encompasses Kurdish YPG militia. This coalition is being supported and backed by Washington in its efforts to counter Isis. The developments underscore the complex and chaotic situation on the ground in Syria, where dozens of factions and groups are vying for influence as a civil war rages. While both agreeing to coordinate efforts against Isis, the US and Russia are on opposing sides of the civil war, in which President Bashar Al-Assad is fighting to retain power. The US condemned those clashes between Turkish forces and opposition groups in northern Syria as unacceptable and called on all armed groups to stand down and focus on the fight against Isis. We want to make clear that we find these clashes - in areas where Isis is not located - unacceptable and a source of deep concern, Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the coalition to counter Isis, said on his official Twitter account. We call on all armed actors to stand down the US is actively engaged to facilitate such deconfliction and unity of focus on Isis, which remains a lethal and common threat. Video shows aftermath of Turkey car bomb attack in Cizre US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said Washington has asked Turkey to stay focused on the fight against Isis and not to engage with the SDF. We've called on both sides not to fight one another, not to fight each other, Mr Carter said. Turkish officials say their goal in Syria is to drive out Isis, but also to ensure Kurdish militia fighters do not expand the territory they already control along Turkeys border. Turkey and its own Syrian rebel allies seized territory controlled by Kurdish-aligned forces on Sunday, the fifth day of a cross-border campaign that a monitoring group said had killed at least 35 villagers. Turkey says it is trying to stop the expansion of Kurdish forces (AP) Turkey is determined to take steps to guarantee its citizens' security at home and in neighbouring countries, Mr Erdogan said on Monday in a message on the eve of Tuesday's national Victory Day holiday. Operations would continue until all threats, including from the YPG, were removed, he said. At a news conference on Monday with a visiting European official, Turkish European Affairs Minister Omer Celik said: No one has the right to tell us which terrorist organisation we can fight against. He did not however mention the US comments. Inside Isis secret tunnels Show all 7 1 /7 Inside Isis secret tunnels Inside Isis secret tunnels Network of underground tunnels was discovered by Kurdish forces after they regained the town of Sinjar in Iraq Inside Isis secret tunnels A member of the Peshmerga forces inspects a tunnel used by Isis militants in the town of Sinjar, Iraq Reuters Inside Isis secret tunnels An entrance to the tunnel used by Islamic State militants is seen in the town of Sinjar, Iraq Inside Isis secret tunnels The secret tunnels allowed militants to freely move underground Inside Isis secret tunnels The tunnels appear to be wired with electricity Inside Isis secret tunnels Some of the tunnels are 30 feet deep Inside Isis secret tunnels Concerns remain that parts of the tunnels are rigged with explosives The Kurdish YPG fighters are backed by the United States in the fight against Isis in Syria. However, Nato member Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast. The differing priorities puts Ankara at odds with Washington and adds to tensions when Turkeys government is still reeling from last months failed coup, which it says Washington was too slow to condemn. US Vice President Joe Biden last week visited Turkey in an effort to smooth diplomatic strains. Reports said that on Monday, Turkish-backed forces advanced on Manbij, a city about 320 miles south of Turkeys border captured this month by the SDF, in which Kurdish fighters play a major part, with US help. SDF-aligned militia said they were reinforcing Manbij but insisted none of the troops in the region or the extra fighters heading to the city were from the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia. Turkey has said its warplanes and artillery have bombarded positions held by the Kurdish YPG militia in recent days. It accuses the YPG of seeking to take territory where there has not traditionally been a strong Kurdish ethnic contingent. The YPG is engaged in ethnic cleansing, they are placing who they want to in those places, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told a news conference in Ankara, demanding Kurdish forces withdraw east of the Euphrates river, a natural boundary with areas of eastern Syria under Kurdish control. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Isis has claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack on an army camp in Yemen, which has killed at least 54 people, the health ministry said. A spokesperson for the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said at least 60 other wounded people had been brought into a hospital run by the charity in Aden. Isis's Amaq news agency said the attack had killed about 60 new recruits. "Around 60 dead in a martyrdom operation by a fighter from Islamic State targeting a recruitment centre in Aden city," the statement said, without giving further details. A security source told Reuters the attack targeted a school compound where conscripts of the Popular Committees, forces allied to the internationally recognised President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, were gathered for breakfast. Witnesses said the suicide bomber entered the compound behind a truck that had brought breakfast for the conscripts, who had queued for the meal. "Bodies and body parts are scattered all over the place," said Mohammed Osman, a neighbour who rushed to the scene. "It was a massacre," he added. Ahmed al-Fatih, who had been working at the centre, said security at the site was lax. "There was no consideration of security," he said. "So it was easy for al-Qaida or Daesh to pull off such an act," he added, using an Arabic acronym to refer to Isis Islamist militants have exploited an 18-month-old civil war between the Houthis and Hadi's supporters and launched a series of attacks targeting senior officials, religious figures, security forces and compounds of the Saudi-led Arab military coalition, which supports President Hadi. Last month, the governor of the southern Yemeni city of Aden survived a car bomb attack targeting his convoy, the latest attempt on the city's top official. In May, a suicide bomber killed at least 40 army recruits and injured 60 others when he rammed a booby-trapped car at recruits lined up to enlist for military service at a compound in Aden. Yemen's civil war has pitted the internationally recognised government and a Saudi-led coalition against rebels and army units loyal to a former president. The UN and rights groups estimate at least 9,000 people have been killed since fighting escalated in March 2015 with the start of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their allies. Some three million people have been displaced inside the country, which is the poorest in the Arab world. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The United Nations has come under pressure to explain why so much of its aid to Syria is being funneled through organizations and individuals close to President Bashar al-Assad, sometimes in apparent conflict with European Union and United States sanctions. Tens of millions of dollars have been awarded to assorted charities and businessmen with links to the President since the start of the civil war, an analysis by The Guardian newspaper shows. Recommended Read more Turkey threatens more Syria strikes if Kurdish forces do not retreat Beneficiaries of UN aid have included charities set up by the Presidents wife, Asma al-Assad, and another by his closest associate, Rami Makhlouf. This at a time when the EU and Washington have been applying strict sanctions designed to force al-Assad from power. It is not an unfamiliar problem for the UN, which is frequently asked to provide assistance to countries which are themselves under strict sanctions regimes. Earlier this year, six UN agencies complained directly to the UN Security Council that banking sanctions imposed on North Korea, for instance, were impeding their efforts to get assistance to the population. The world body and its various charitable arms, like the World Food Programme and Unicef, also often find themselves obliged to deal with the sovereign governments of nations even while the rest of the world is trying to isolate them, as the only means of saving lives in conflict. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (Getty) Of paramount importance is reaching as many vulnerable civilians as possible, a spokesman said. Our choices in Syria are limited by a highly insecure context where finding companies and partners who operate in besieged and hard to reach areas is extremely challenging. Yet, the scope of engagement between the UN and the entities associated with the President may dishearten many, not least those who give charitably to those agencies to help with their work. Unicef, for example, was listed as having given $267,933 to the Al-Bustan Association, owned and run by Rami Makhlouf, Syrias wealthiest man, who is also a cousin of Assad. It may also make awkward reading for some national governments giving large sums to UN agencies. Britain, for example, is an important donor to the World Health Organisation. It is listed as having given $5 million to support Syrias blood bank, which is controlled by the Syria defense department. When faced with having to decide whether to procure goods or services from businesses that may be affiliated with the government or let civilians go without life-saving assistance, the choice is clear: our duty is to the civilians in need, the UN told the newspaper, which also found that the world body had spent more than $9 million housing officials in the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus. The hotel is deemed safe but is one-third owned by the Syrian tourism ministry. Separately, there has also been concern that the bulk of UN assistance is being directed by Assad-tied entities into government-controlled areas of Syria and not to rebel areas where suffering may be greatest, for example the frequently bombarded city of Aleppo. In June, the Syria Campaign issued a report condemning the UN for allowing the Syrian government to direct aid from Damascus almost exclusively into its territories, asserting that 96 percent of UN food aid delivered from inside Syria from June 2015-April 2016 (excluding October-December 2015) went to government-controlled areas. By choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs, the UN has enabled the distribution of billions of dollars of international aid to be directed by one side in the conflict, the report, Taking sides: The United Nations loss of impartiality, independence and neutrality in Syria, said. This has contributed to the deaths of thousands of civilians, either through starvation, malnutrition-related illness, or a lack of access to medical aid. 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 third secret straw poll in the United Nations Security Council on candidates to succeed Ban Ki-Moon as UN Secretary General suggests consensus remains elusive. While Antonio Guterres of Portugal led the pack on Monday, three countries expressed doubts about him. The more surprising change compared to the last straw poll, taken earlier this month, was the improved performance of Miroslav Lajcak, the Foreign Minister of Slovokia, who came in second place. As in the previous rounds, each of the Security Council members were asked to assign encourage, discourage or no opinion beside the names of the ten declared candidates. Recommended Read more UN asked to explain aid efforts at odds with Syria sanctions As the process of choosing a new chief of world diplomacy kicked off earlier this year there was some shared sense that an East European would suit - the region has never sent one of their own to the top floor of UN headquarters - and possibly also a woman, for the first time. A former Prime Minister of Portugal and until recently the head of United Nations High Commission for Refugees, UNCHR, where he served for a decade, Mr Guterres became a favourite when he came out top in the last straw poll taken at the start of August. However, Russia was reportedly one of two countries marking him with a discourage, which looked problematic as Moscow has veto power over the process. He had won the first straw poll also. I would say Guterres remains the head of the pack and is the only runner that has consistently been ahead of everyone else, one western diplomat at UN HQ observed. Whether we have deadlock depends on whether those discourages for Guterres are substantial in nature or tactical. Those countries registering discourages may want to exact a price for lifting them. Meanwhile, the runes for those campaigning for the UN to choose its first female leader did not seem promising on Monday night. According to first leaks of the outcome on Twitter, the highest scorer among the five women candidates was Irina Bokova of Bulgaria. She was the third favourite in the latest poll. However, she had five discourages against her. Some western countries have proved wary of Ms Bokovas candidacy, wondering privately if the Bulgaria could be persuaded to replace her with another of its nationals - Kristalina Georgieva, currently an EU Commissioner in Brussels. There is nothing to stop another candidate jumping in even now, but Ms Georgieva has not given any indication that she is tempted. There was some suggestion that Helen Clark, the current head of the United Nations Development Programme and a former Prime Minister of New Zealand, might pull out of the contest after coming in seventh place in Mondays poll. Ms Clark, who has been a controversial figure at the UNDP, had a debilitating eight discourages against her name. As in the first two polls, the standings were leaked out rapidly to the press at UN headquarters in New York, in violation of the usual diplomatic etiquette under which the governments of all the candidates are informed first along with the President of the UN General Assembly. A failure to reach a consensus ahead of a declared deadline of late October could lead to a debilitating crisis for the UN Security Council, which counts Britain, the US, China and France as the other veto-wielding members, quite possibly pitting the US against Russia. Once a consensus candidate is chosen, the procedure is to pass the name to the General Assembly for a vote to approve it. Mr Ban steps down at the end of the year. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key had said before the vote that he would continue to back Ms Clark, who was seventh in the last poll also. He argued that a deadlock in the Council could yet mean she could emerge as a compromise candidate. 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 }} A year ago this week a little boy was washed up dead on a Turkish beach and became a symbol of the refugee crisis caused predominantly by conflict in Syria and Iraq. Pictures of Alan Kurdi appeared to show not only how bleak was the predicament facing many in war-torn regions, but also how Europe with its comparative peace and prosperity had failed to work out a cogent or unified response. As it happened, Alan Kurdis death coincided very nearly with the anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War. The Independents editorial of 2 September, which called on the British government to take a fair share of refugees, noted that the time had come for European countries to work together and to demonstrate how far the continent had come since the dark days of World War II. Twelve months later, it is arguable whether the various conflicts in Syria and beyond its borders are any closer to their conclusion. Isis may have lost ground in Iraq to resurgent government forces, while the group has also been squeezed in parts of Syria. Yet elsewhere, Syrian rebels said to have been re-equipped by Saudi and Qatari backers have surprised Assads commanders by renewed action, leading to vicious fighting once again in what is left of Aleppo. And Turkeys decision to send ground troops into northern Syria, notionally to combat Isis, but also with a view to pushing back Kurdish advances, further complicates the situation. With Russia and the US both heavily invested in this multi-faceted scenario too, the Syrian conflict has become the most significant proxy war since Vietnam. It is civilians who suffer. Refugee crisis: Stranded refugees face deteriorating conditions in Greece camps As for Europe, unity of purpose seems in short supply. Individual countries have taken diverse approaches: Germany remains open for new asylum applications; other borders were slammed tight and remain firmly closed, especially in the Balkans. The European Unions deal with Turkey in March for Ankaras authorities to take in new irregular migrants arriving in Greece, in return for financial assistance and various other pacifiers, reduced unchecked migration to a degree. Still, the UNHCR still estimates that a quarter of a million people will enter Europe from the east in 2016. And with Turkeys government becoming ever more autocratic following the failed coup against President Erdogan, the EU may come to wonder whether its solution to the refugee crisis was more a deal with the devil. Here in Britain, we find ourselves on the way out of the EU, Junes referendum having turned less on whether the Union was an excessively bureaucratic mess, and more on emotional fears about borders, a perceived dilution of British culture and a seeming belief that compassion can be an island. Nigel Farages "Breaking Point" poster might have been widely criticised, but it struck a chord with many. If any other country in Europe had voted to leave the EU, we would interpret it as a victory for nationalism we should not come to a contrary conclusion just because it happened here. When five London day-trippers drowned at Camber Sands last week one of the first questions asked by some onlookers and media was whether they might be illegal immigrants; which surely goes to show how far our irrational fears of a migratory invasion have come. In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugee children at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees queuing for food at the Kara Tepe camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees' tents at the Kara Tepe camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees at the Oxy transit camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees waiting to board ferries to the Greek mainland in Mytilene, Lebos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees waiting to board ferries to the Greek mainland in Mytilene, Lebos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees waiting to board ferries to the Greek mainland in Mytilene, Lebos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos The graves of drowned refugees in Mytilene, Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos A building used to house unaccompanied children at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees queuing to register at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees at the Moria camp in Lesbos In pictures: Refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos Refugees arriving on smugglers' boats from Turkey in Lesbos A return to one of mankinds more basic political and social instincts is no doubt a consequence of world events the financial crash, the rise of Islamist extremism, the refugee crisis and is perhaps more a railing more broadly against the process of globalisation. But it has been facilitated too by a wider coarsening of public debate in which almost anybody in a position of responsibility is seen as fair game for the most virulent of criticism. Those who argue for compassion are treated with contempt or to facile claims about what sacrifices they personally are prepared to make. Experts are derided for any sort of analysis or prediction that goes beyond stating a provable fact increasingly, even facts are pooh-poohed. Humility has fallen out of fashion in favour of a passion for humiliating others. The traditional media and social media have both played their parts. None of it matters to those who mourn dead Syrian children. And for those stuck in Aleppo, or in refugee camps in Lebanon, or at the Jungle in Calais, hand-wringing over the seeming decline of kindness in the West achieves little. When The Independent launched its petition a year ago urging the government to take in more refugees, nearly 400,000 people added their signatures within a few days. In response, the government agreed to increase the number to whom it would offer asylum to 20,000 over five years. At the time that figure seemed significant. With hindsight, it feels like a drop in the ocean. Not unlike Alan Kurdi. 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 }} From over the Channel comes the familiar sound of deja vu. A populist politician has identified a complex problem, found someone to blame for it, and come up with a solution that will simultaneously win votes and make things worse. Its the end of the summer and the migrant camps at Calais have doubled in size from an estimated 4,500 people in June to 10,000 now. Presidential hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy wants the Le Touquet agreement the one that lets the UK control its border in Calais and the French control theirs in Dover to be revisited in the wake of the Brexit vote. He wants the UK to open migrant "hotspots" in Calais one-stop shop asylum processing centres of the kind set up in Greece and Italy to deal with the massive numbers of asylum seekers. Its widely agreed that this will make the problem worse, not better, for both France and Britain. According to Sir Peter Ricketts, the former British Ambassador to Paris, Calais hotspots for British asylum seekers would act like a huge magnet, pulling thousands and thousands more migrants in to Calais to chance their arm, and it wouldnt help the problem of the thousands and thousands of migrants already at Calais. Sarkozy calls for nationwide burkini ban Mr Sarkozy, of course, probably doesnt actually want hotspots at Calais. What he wants is to win next years presidential election. No one in the UK needs another lesson in the consequences of populism. Never in recent decades has a Western democratic nation had a more potent demonstration of it. Prices going up and wages going down? Corporations getting richer while youre getting poorer? Immigrants taking your job and spending your benefits? Doesnt matter if its true just blame the EU. Mr Sarkozy is an effective politician, and over the coming years he will certainly not be the last would-be European leader on the campaign trail to look at his nations problems and decide theres votes to be had in blaming Britain. And for the Brits, this will have consequences. Throughout history, the European continent has been no stranger to populists. Dont imagine other nations around Europe dont have politicians just as vain, just as dismal, just as shameless and just as pyrotechnically destructive as, for example, Boris Johnson. Mr Johnson is not the first politician to stare down the barrel of a backfiring promise, of having to stick to a promise he never foresaw being forced to keep. If you think the mere fact that hotspots are a bad solution for France, a bad solution for Britain and a bad solution for asylum seekers should be sufficient for them not to happen, then youve not been paying very close attention for the past two months. Right across Europe, in the coming years, there will be political capital to be made from promises to screw the British, who will quite rightly be blamed for the sudden perception that Europe is an unstable continent (it might not be 100 per cent Britains fault, but it will still be blamed). In the weeks following the referendum, many people asked why it was only now that the most potent Remain argument was suddenly being made that EU countries will punish Britain to save themselves. In Brussels and Westminster circles, this point was well known. (Angela Merkel came close to making it once, but the UK media was far too interested in Steve Hiltons Stab-Dave-In-The-Back book tour to listen). In the Remain campaigns defence, the argument that if we dont stay in the EU the EU will screw us is a difficult one to make. And in any case, they had too much on their plates getting that crucial Beckham endorsement. History knows all too well that where there is anger, there will always be a certain type of person willing to stoke it up, then capitalise upon it, whether its burning books outside a Berlin Opera House, or gurning away in front of your "Breaking Point" poster and whistling "The Great Escape". However many of the 52 per cent came to swallow the lie that the unscrupulous EU was taking advantage of them is impossible to know. But the truth is that its just getting started. 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 }} Notting Hill Carnival is a prime example of the worlds love of black culture. Last year more than one million people turned out to celebrate, enjoy and respect black history and traditions. It was the brutal murder of Antiguan immigrant Kelso Cochrane in 1959 which spurred the creation of the West London street festival. However, many now seem to have forgotten the political and social tensions which created the carnival, and unfortunately that trend is set to increase. This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of Notting Hill, the largest street carnival in Europe. But as it grows another decade older, this celebration of the lives of black people and immigrants in Britain has become progressively less representative, both politically and culturally, of those who first created it and those it was designed to serve. Notting Hill Carnival - All you need to know Recommended Read more At last Farage has emerged to defend the ordinary billionaire Trump Instead, the carnival now primarily appears to cater for white British revellers despite 44 per cent of London being black and minority ethnic (BAME) people. Even when it comes to the cultural products of black struggle, why is it a whole race is still treated as inferior? As Akala, one of the UKs most successful hip-hop artists, put it: Some people would like to enjoy African-Caribbean culture just without African-Caribbean people. The deification among privileged people of Che Guevara, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali all represent the growing love of the anti-establishment, of freedom fighters and rebellious individuals with a cause. And theres no civilisation which is more rebellious than that of black origin. Just ask Napoleon. Muhammad Ali visits the home of carnival founder Rhaune Laslett in 1966 (Getty) However, when it comes to dealing with the political, social, cultural and economic struggles which produced black culture, it gets a bit tricky. Those who have benefited from Western colonial history dont like to deal with its social injustices; they just want to have fun. Being frisked by the police, being imprisoned, receiving harsher sentences from the courts, and not securing top university places are all common experiences if youre from a BAME background and, especially, if youre black. Its unfortunate, but true. The latest statistics from the Ministry of Justice show a disproportionate number prisoners from black and mixed ethnic backgrounds in UK prisons. Currently, 10 per cent of the UKs prison population is made up of black Britons despite making up only 3 per cent of the population according to the latest 2011 Census. Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a love bombing rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell And in the year ending March 2015, BAME people were twice as likely to be stopped and searched compared with those who were white. While those who were black or black British were four times more likely than whites to be frisked. Fortunately, over the same time period stop and searches of those of black origin have decreased by 70 per cent. But its not enough. Black culture is hugely popular in the UK, but its popularity has not translated into action on the biggest issues facing BAME people. So by all means go to the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend and celebrate the best in black and African-Caribbean music and food but dont forget the important reason it was established in the first place. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Disability and beauty are not compatible: at least thats the message that Vogue Brasil is sending by digitally manipulating non-existent disabilities on to able-bodied models in a misguided attempt to generate interest in the Paralympics. Instead of reinforcing the idea that people with disabilities can be considered handsome or beautiful in their own right, it suggests that differing from the norm is something to be ashamed of. Perhaps more worryingly, it implies that the public are not ready to be exposed to the reality of disability. Rather than seeing a wheelchair as an essential tool for independent living, we talk about people being wheelchair bound as if their passport to independence is in fact an evil overlord from which its victims cannot escape. Sporting heroes: 7/7 victim and Gurkha injured in battle make the Paralympics Show all 5 1 /5 Sporting heroes: 7/7 victim and Gurkha injured in battle make the Paralympics Sporting heroes: 7/7 victim and Gurkha injured in battle make the Paralympics pg-10-heroes-1-ap.jpg AP Sporting heroes: 7/7 victim and Gurkha injured in battle make the Paralympics pg-10-heroes-2-onedition.jpg OnEdition Sporting heroes: 7/7 victim and Gurkha injured in battle make the Paralympics pg-10-heroes-3-onedition.jpg OnEdition Sporting heroes: 7/7 victim and Gurkha injured in battle make the Paralympics pg-10-heroes-4-onedition.jpg OnEdition Sporting heroes: 7/7 victim and Gurkha injured in battle make the Paralympics pg-10-heroes-5-onedition.jpg OnEdition The apparent reluctance of Vogue to engage with genuinely disabled models offers a snapshot of societys problem when it comes to thinking about beauty and disability. Disabled people are automatically seen as asexual and programmes, such as the insensitively titled Channel 4 series The Undateables (following people with challenging conditions who are looking for love), reinforce the idea that disabled people should be pitied rather than loved. Comments such as, You two should get together, youre both in wheelchairs or, Youre not bad looking for a guy in a wheelchair are far too commonplace. In short, society doesnt need to be protected from disability. Contrary to what some people believe, disability isnt contagious. By hiding disability away, we are denying people the chance to open their mind and stop allowing their perceptions of beauty to be overshadowed by wheelchairs and prosthetic legs. If disability is presented boldly and beautifully rather than awkwardly and apologetically, societys perceptions will change accordingly. National Center for Youth Issues, a Chattanooga-based, youth development group, in conjunction with the Hamilton County Schools, will host the 11th Annual Healthy Choices for Youth - Chattanooga Summit at Christ United Methodist Church in East Brainerd on Friday. Dave Opalewski will be the featured speaker. Mr. Opalewski is president of Grief Recovery Inc., in Saginaw, Mi., and a certified death and dying and suicide prevention instructor in the Teacher Education and Professional Development Department of Central Michigan University. He is also a certified support group facilitator and child trauma specialist. Mr. Opalewski is the author of Confronting Death in the School Family and Answering the Cry for Help: Suicide Prevention for Schools and Communities, as well as other books on these topics. Mr. Opalewskis presentation at the Chattanooga Summit will be Suicide and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Prevention, Intervention and Postvention. This session will explore: The prevalence of and the difference between these self-destructive behaviors How to distinguish between suicidal (lethal) and non-suicidal (non-lethal) behaviors Learn a three step process used in working with a suicidal person (why and how) Discover coping techniques which can be taught to someone who is self-injurious Learn how to help parents appropriately support a suicidal or self-injurious child Dispel misconceptions associated with suicidal and self-injurious behaviors Explore risk factors for youth who self-injure Discuss postvention (creating healing/encouraging school environments in response to these issues). Joining Mr. Opalewski will be Andrea Burston, form Raleigh, N.C., who will lead a session titled: Technology Toolbox for Student Services Professionals. Both of these speakers routinely present at events around the country. The Summit will provide professional development training for 150+ school counselors, social workers and other student support professionals in 95 Hamilton County public and private schools. Fifteen local youth agencies and sponsors will also have exhibits at the event to share the programs and services they have to offer. In addition to training, participating schools will be given $250 in counseling resources to supplement their schools library of materials available to help counselors and social workers. Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union is the lead corporate sponsor of the event and they join the Weldon F. Osborne Foundation and Hamico, Inc as major foundation supporters. The Hamilton County Department of Education is also contributing support. As well, several other corporations and foundations have joined numerous local residents to fund the training and resources for the schools. For more information on the 2016 Healthy Choices for Youth Chattanooga Summit, call Robert Rabon at National Center for Youth Issues at 309-4300. The Healthy Choices for Youth - Chattanooga Summit will be held Friday from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church in East Brainerd. An Irish start-up that has Jamie Heaslip amongst its investors has become the first company here to sign up to the Global Lighting Challenge. The challenge was launched at the UN Climate Conference in Paris last year with the aim of replacing 10 billion lights around the world with LED lights, which are more efficient. Irish firm UrbanVolt has joined the challenge here and is committed to replacing one million lights across Irish businesses with no upfront costs. UrbanVolt makes the upfront investment with the client signing up for a five year partnership agreement. At the end of the deal the client owns the equipment with UrbanVolt taking a slice of the energy bill savings in the interim. UrbanVolt investor Jamie Healsip said he believes everyone has a responsibility for sustainability. "There has been a top down approach and governments have tried hard to make it work, but everyones got be part of it. Bottom up has got to come into play and we all have to do our part. I think thats why SMEs can have a massive compounding effect on sustainability and thats why UrbanVolt are looking to help those businesses," Mr Healsip said. The company is looking to secure 150 clients and reduce their energy bill in the process as part of the challenge. Kevin Maughan, CEO with UrbanVolt, said: Our unique business model has a number of benefits because we make all the upfront investment, project manage the installation and maintain our LED technology. Our clients get the benefit of improved lighting and they also get significantly reduced bills. Its a win-win situation and we are committed to making sustainability easy." It has been the favourite Dublin haunt of both the late Phil Lynott and Bruce Springsteen and now one of the capital's most famous pubs is set to celebrate its 250th birthday. The Long Hall bar began serving pints of porter to customers in 1766, just seven years after Arthur Guinness had begun brewing ales at St James' Gate and 25 years before Powers Whiskey hit the shelves. Expand Close Marcus Houlihan, manager of The Long Hall pub in Georges Street. Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Marcus Houlihan, manager of The Long Hall pub in Georges Street. Photo: Tony Gavin The owner, Marcus Houlihan, is planning a birthday party and both of the famous Irish brands are getting ready to join in. A special Guinness night is planned for October in the bar on South Great George's Street and a 25-year-old edition of Powers Long Hall Bar whiskey will be issued the following month. For Marcus, it's all about paying tribute to one of Ireland's most atmospheric pubs. "I actually don't see myself as the bar owner, more a custodian of it for future generations. I am just passing through," he said. Expand Close Bruce Springsteen with a fan in the pub in 2013 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bruce Springsteen with a fan in the pub in 2013 The bar, which was first converted from the private home of a magistrate, is popular with locals and tourists alike. In the 19th century, it became something of a recruitment centre for the Fenians and the IRB. "The bar licence was granted in 1766 and we couldn't let the 250th birthday pass without marking the occasion," said Marcus, who took over from his father Gerry in 2009. The legendary pub even featured in the music video for Phil Lynott's hit 'Old Town' and rocker Bruce Springsteen has described it as his "Dublin local", visiting the bar every time that he has been in the capital since 2008. "It's a very special place for many people. Our job is to preserve it for others to enjoy after we're gone," added Marcus. Here are the main business stories from this morning's papers: Irish Independent * The Department of Finance warned that pressure on Irish banks to rapidly sell their non-performing loans (NPLs) could have "implications broader than purely financial". There is growing political disquiet about the effects of a mass sell-off of tens of billions of euro of mainly NPLs by Nama, IBRC and other institutions in large tranches and in almost all cases to large US private equity and so-called "vulture" funds. * Ireland's ambassadors and heads of mission meet in Dublin today and tomorrow for their annual departmental conference, having flown in from our embassies around the world. The two-day event is an opportunity for Ireland's senior diplomats to discuss some of the foreign policy challenges facing Ireland, with Brexit obviously one of the big issues. * A group of credit unions have come together in a bid to sign up millennials through Facebook. The move by the 16 credit unions to offer loans through social media is set to be expanded as it has proved so successful. The Irish Times * Ireland won't be able to use its tax windfall to cut rates or increase public spending if the European Commission rules against Apple in its long-running revenue dispute. According to a report in The Irish Times, the Irish State will have to use the extra capital to pay off its national debt, it is understood. * Irish business and consumer sentiment has recovered slightly after Britain's shock decision to leave the European Union, new research has shown. The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse Monitor rose by 2.5 points to 93.7 in August making up for about a quarter of the pace it lost following the referendum. * Galway firm JJ Rhatigan has been appointed as the main contractor for the high-end residential scheme planned for the Berkely Court site in Ballsbridge. The firm was selected by Irish property firm Chartered Land, which decided on a contractor after a competitive tendering process. Irish Examiner * A third of Irish households are expecting their financial setup to improve over the next year as confidence begins to sneak back in amongst Irish consumers. According to the latest Bank of Ireland Pulse economic index business sentiment improved off the back of a pick up in confidence amongst firms in the retail and construction sectors. * Britain's decision to leave the European Union looks set to drive down farmland prices in England and Wales, a new report has shown. According to a study conducted by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Royal Agricultural University, around 50pc of those quizzed are tipping the value of UK farms to fall over the next year. * Talks on the TTIP trade deal between the US and the EU has failed according to Germany's economy minister Sigmar Gabriel. Mr Gabriel said the talks failed as the EU did not want to subject itself to the demands of the Americans. Medical supplies group VistaMed is to create up to 200 jobs Irish catheter and extrusion provider VistaMed is to create 200 new jobs as part of a major 10m investment, supported by Enterprise Ireland. The new jobs will be based at the firm's state-of-the-art research and development facility in Carrick-on-Shannon in Leitirm. VistaMed's announcement brings the total number of positions at the company up to 525 with staff ranging from engineers to product builders. The company is also expanding its existing manufacturing facility by another 45,000 sq ft. Just under 40 of the jobs are now in place with recruitment for another 163 roles ongoing. The firm expects to have all the jobs filled by the end of 2018. VistaMed managing director Patick Mulholland said the company will look to expand beyond its roots. "This new research and development facility will allow us to further enhance the rapid project turnaround times currently experienced by VistaMeds global customer base. "Combined with the addition of sophisticated equipment, this will enable us to continue to offer a world class service to the global medical device industry and expand our talented technical resources," Mr Mullholland said. A group of Credit Unions are using Facebook to boost their lending by offering fast-approval loans to the tech savvy people in their 20s and 30s. (Stock picture) A group of credit unions have come together in a bid to sign up millennials through Facebook. The move by the 16 credit unions to offer loans through social media is set to be expanded as it has proved so successful. The institutions are using Facebook to boost their lending by offering fast-approval loans to the tech savvy people in their 20s and 30s. The initiative counters persistent criticism that credit unions have failed to move with the times, and are increasingly only used by older people. Overall, credit union lending has fallen to such low levels it was recently described by a group that advises the Minister for Finance as "dismal". Millennials - those who have reached adulthood since 2000 - are thought to be the least likely to engage with credit unions. Now credit unions, including those in Tipperary; Dundrum, Co Dublin; Naas, Co Kildare; Tullamore, Co Offaly, and Co Galway, seem to have cracked how to attract much-sought-after millennials. The 16 credit unions have some 800,000 members between them. They are now calling their new foray into offering loans to millennials on social media their "digital branches". Some of the credit unions that were the first to adopt the new approach are seeing digital lending accounting for 10pc of new loans. Key aspects of the new digital lending involve 30-second qualifying assessments online, and prompt phone calls back from lending officers to those filling out the online forms at appointed times. The project has been pioneered by the Solutions Centre, a voluntary grouping of credit unions aimed at developing new financial products for consumers in areas including investments, pensions, mortgages and financial protection. Kevin Johnson of the Solutions Centre explained that credit unions taking part in the new digital loan plan have had to make radical changes to their own rules. These include getting rid of the criteria that people have to be members of a credit union for three months before they qualify for a loan. Mr Johnson said that research conducted for the Solutions Centre by iReach indicates that 57pc of people would prefer not to meet a bank or credit union employee when being assessed for a loan. He said strict lending assessments, required by regulators, still apply but much of the process can now be done online. "The pilot project that was run earlier this year delivered very strong results and there are now 16 credit unions rolling out this service," said Mr Johnson, who is also chief executive of the Credit Union Development Association (CUDA). Under the successful pilot project, close to half of those who took out a loan had never borrowed from a credit union before. The 2016 Constitution Day Lecture at UTC will be held Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the UC Auditorium. The speaker will be Dr. Richard Gamble of Hillsdale College. Dr. Gamble is a professor of History and holds the Anna Margaret Ross Alexander Chair in History and Politics at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mi. His publications include The War for Righteousness: Progressive Christianity, the Great War, and the Rise of the Messianic Nation (ISI Books, 2003), the chapter on World War I for the Cambridge History of Religions in America (Cambridge UP, 2012), In Search of the City on a Hill: The Making and Unmaking of an American Myth (Continuum, 2012), and a history of the Battle Hymn of the Republic forthcoming from Cornell University Press in the new Religion and American Life series. Professor Gamble also edited The Great Tradition: Classic Readings on What it Means to Be an Educated Human Being (ISI Books, 2009). He received his PhD from the University of South Carolina. He is currently at work on the first intellectual and religious biography of Julia Ward Howe. His courses, essays, and reviews focus on the history of American civil religion and the long argument over the American identity. The topic of his evening lecture is The Constitution and Liberal Education. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), a free trade deal being negotiated by the United States and the European Union, has "de facto failed" according to Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister. In yet another move casting doubt on the proposed free trade deal, Mr Gabriel said in a radio interview that "nobody is really admitting" that the epic rounds of negotiations have failed. "The negotiations with the USA have de facto failed because we Europeans did not want to subject ourselves to American demands," he said, according to a written transcript from German broadcaster ZDF. Mr Gabriel said that during the talks neither side had agreed on a single common chapter out of the 27 being deliberated. The 14th round of negotiations between American and EU officials took place in Brussels in July. It was the third round in six months. The TTIP is a massive free trade deal that aims to streamline integration between US and EU markets. If it is passed it will be the world's largest free trade zone and a successful pact is expected to benefit Ireland more than any other EU member state. Private negotiations over the deal have moved at a glacial pace since it was first drafted in 2013, during which time public criticism has grown in both Europe and the US. A European 'Stop TTIP' petition has received more than 3.5 million signatures. And last May, further cracks emerged when France threatened to block the deal. Cpl. Carey had been swimming with two other members of the Defence Forces in the seaside town of Bundoran when he was caught by a strong current and swept out to sea Tributes have been paid to a missing soldier whose body was recovered off the Donegal coast by divers. The body of Corporal Gavin Carey, a father of one who served at Custume Barracks in Athlone, was discovered yesterday morning by divers of the voluntary organisation Boyne Fishermen's Rescue and Recovery Service. Cpl Carey went missing last Tuesday after he got into difficulty while swimming. He had been swimming with two other members of the Defence Forces in the seaside town of Bundoran when he was caught by a strong current and swept out to sea. Cpl Carey had been attending a military first responders course at the nearby Finner Camp. He was due to be deployed to South Lebanon with the 109th Infantry Battalion in November. Taoiseach Enda Kenny led tributes to the solider on the behalf of the Government last night. "I want to express my sincere condolences and sympathy to the family of Corporal Gavin Carey following his tragic death," said Mr Kenny. Pride "Gavin served his country with pride and in the unheralded manner he and all his colleagues go about their business. "At the time of his death, he was in the process of completing a training course prior to his scheduled deployment overseas, to Lebanon - a further reminder of the duties soldiers undertake on all our behalves." Mr Kenny also extended his sympathies to Cpl Carey's colleagues. Defence Forces Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett also offered his condolences to the corporal's family. He said: "As a soldier, he espoused the values we as an organisation hold dear. I would like to thank each of the agencies that helped with the search." Keith O'Donnell, of the Boyne Fishermen's Rescue service, said conditions were favourable during yesterday's search. "It is a tragic situation for the family, but they can now start to grieve. Our thoughts are with Cpl Carey's family and friends," Mr O'Donnell said. Nearly 100 soldiers joined the search over the last week since the 28-year-old went missing. Teams from the Malin Head Coast Guard, Killybegs, Ballyblass, Killala and Bundoran RNLI were also involved in the search. The Air Corps and local diving clubs in the area also joined the search effort. The body of Cpl Carey was transported to Sligo University Hospital for formal identification. The soldier's next of kin were informed and they were yesterday being assisted by the Defence Forces personnel support services. A judge has ordered Pat Hickey's release from prison on the grounds of his health. Mr Hickey is scheduled to be released from Bangu Prison and he is expected to be placed under house arrest. In court documents, seen by Independent.ie, his lawyers argued that there is no evidence against him aside from "generic accusations or presumptions against him". They said his release will not present any risk to public order or to criminal law being applied. Lawyers claim that his health state is a reason to release him and to put him under house arrest. Judge Fernando Antonio de Almeida cited Mr Hickey's "critical health" before recommending house arrest. He also said that preventive imprisonment can only be applied when the maximum sentence for a crime exceeds four years. "Considering all this I revoke the preventive prison order and now he has cautionary measures replacing his detention." Mr Hickey can't leave the country and his passports remain with the relevant authority. Mr Hickey temporarily stood down as OCI president after his arrest at the Windsor Marapendi on August 17. Kevin Mallon and his legal representative Franklin Gomez arriving at the Fan and Special Events Court Hearing in Rio de Janeiros. Photo: Steve Humphreys A lawyer for an Irish man accused of ticket touting at the Rio Olympics has claimed "no crime was committed". Kevin Mallon's solicitors now have ten days to prepare his technical defence before he appears in front of a judge. At that stage the judiciary in Brazil will decide whether to accept this, partially accept it or reject this entirely. Mr Mallon (36) appeared at the 'Sports Fans and and Large Events' court in Rio de Janeiro today as part of the terms of his release conditions. Dressed in a blue shirt, grey trousers and grey runners Mr Mallon, from Drimnagh in South Dublin, told reporters as he entered the building: I have no comment to make, thank you. His solicitor Franklin Gomes said after: We are very happy that Mr Mallon has been released and confident that no crime has been committed. Expand Close SCANDAL: Kevin Mallon has been held since August 5. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp SCANDAL: Kevin Mallon has been held since August 5. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE Asked how difficult it was to get Mr Mallon released on bail, his solicitor replied: Wow, it took like 22 days to get him released so it was very very hard to get him out of the prison. Mr Mallon was arrested on the Opening Day of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Police later found 823 tickets many of which had been issued to the Olympic Council of Ireland - for the Games in his apartment. He has been charged with with facilitating ticket touting and criminal association. Following his arrest he was moved to Bangu Prison in North West Rio where he remained in preventive custody for 22 days. He was finally freed on Saturday night under certain conditions. One of these was that he must attend the 'Sports Fans and and Large Events' court on Praia de Olaria every 15 days. Yesterday/today (Mon) was the first day he was ordered to 'sign-on' at the building. He arrived at 11.40am and left just 20 minutes later. He declined to answer questions about the welfare of former cell-mate Pat Hickey as he left the court. He repeated that he had no comment. Mr Mallon has also been banned from accessing or attending premises connected to the Brazilian or International Olympic Committees for the period of the Paralympic Games, as well as ban on attending any of the stadiums or facilities where he would encounter the games mentioned. He is not allowed attend the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Paralympics. He is prohibited from being absent from the district without the permission of the court. He has also been given an 8pm curfew each night. His passport will also remain with the authorities. He was originally ordered to wear an electronic tagging device but this was waived by a judge after it emerged that there were none available in the city. He is staying in an apartment in Rio de Janeiro and it is understood that his family - including his wife and young child - have been unable to travel to meet him. A statement from Mr Mallon's company THG welcomed the release: In line with our previous statements on this matter THG has welcomed the public enquiry in Ireland into these matters and believes that the company and its executives will be vindicated when all of the evidence is reviewed. We will continue to work to secure Kevin's full release and his return to Dublin. Meanwhile, THG is providing full support to Kevin and his family and will continue to seek to ensure their privacy at this difficult time. A new mother suffering from a potentially fatal inflammation of her uterus was misdiagnosed by a local GP, resulting in her being rushed to hospital the following day, an inquiry heard today. Dr Saleem Sharif, 57, from Ballyphehane, Cork, failed to carry out an appropriate examination of Alison Hunter Hickey, or arrange for relevant investigations when Ms Hickey visited him at the GP Now Clinic in Sandyford, Dublin 18 in October 2014, where he was working as a locum GP. Ms Hickey, 47, gave birth to twin boys in October 2014 by caesarean section, a disciplinary hearing at the Medical Council in Dublin heard today. Less than three weeks later, on 28 October 2014, Ms Hunter became unwell, experiencing flu-like symptoms, shivering, a high temperature, abdominal pain and odorous discharge. Ms Hickey attended the GP Now Clinic in Sandyford, where she explained her symptoms to Dr Sharif. According to the new mother, Dr Sharif conducted no physical examination, nor did he ordered any tests or take a complete medical history Expand Close Dr. Saleem Sharif leaves the hearing. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dr. Saleem Sharif leaves the hearing. Instead, he asked her only two questions one regarding her discharge, and also whether she was suffering from a sore throat. He said it was probably a urinary tract infection, and asked was I allergic to penicillin. I said no. That was it. It was a very short consultation, Ms Hickey told the inquiry today. There were very few questions asked. There was very little interaction. When I got back in the car, my sister-in-law actually said, That was very quick. But the following day, Ms Hickeys symptoms grew worse. I woke up at 1.00am feeling absolutely dreadful, Ms Hickey said. I was having spasms. I wasnt able to talk. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to the Rotunda hospital. There she was diagnosed with endometritis, or an inflammation of the uterine lining. If left untreated, endometritis can lead to sepsis and organ failure. The inquiry heard that endometritis is the most likely cause of infection in post-partum women, especially for those who have given birth by caesarean section. Ms Hickey made a full recovery, and was discharged from hospital on 1 November 2014. Following the incident, Ms Hickeys husband, Karl Hickey, made a complaint to the GP Now Clinic. Unsatisfied with the response he received, Mr Hickey then complained to the Medical Council. Today, Dr Sharif, through his legal counsel, admitted that he failed to take an adequate medical history, failed to carry out any appropriate examination and failed to arrange for initial relevant investigations when Ms Hickey visited him on 28 October 2014. He also admitted that he failed to arrange for a follow-up appointment with her. During her evidence today, expert witness Dr Catherine Wann said, These were serious failings because when the potential for sepsis exists, it is critical to do the relevant examinations and initiate investigations. Dr Wann, from the Nobber Medical Practice in Co Meath, added that early diagnosis of sepsis is critical to its treatment. Dr Sharif originally trained in Pakistan, where he qualified as a doctor in 1991. He has been working as a GP in Ireland since 2005. Although it was not mentioned at the inquiry today, Dr Sharif was previously the subject of a separate fitness to practice inquiry, at the Medical Council. In 2011, the GP was found guilty of poor professional performance in relation to a Cork-based patient with a history of cardiac problems, who had collapsed at home. The inquiry continues today. More than 200,000 in cash that the Kinahan gang were trying to launder has been seized by gardai. The money, which consisted of at least 10 bundles of 50, 20 and 10 notes, was being processed by a west Dublin drugs gang working for the crime cartel. The international mob was dealt a major blow at the weekend when officers from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) and the newly set up Special Crime Task Force searched a car on Fonthill Road, Liffey Valley. The cash was found in a black bag in the boot. A 39-year-old man who was driving was arrested at the scene. While investigations are continuing, gardai are satisfied that the Kinahan cartel was in the process of laundering the 200,000. The arrested man is believed to have been transporting the cash as part of the underworld operation. He is not considered to be a major player, and gardai believe he was being used by the cartel and west Dublin gang as part of the laundering process. The seizure was made on Saturday afternoon. The driver of the car was taken to Ronanstown Garda Station and was questioned for several hours before being released without charge. It was the second significant seizure by the Special Crime Task Force in less than 24 hours after they recovered a Russian-made Baikal handgun on Botanic Avenue, Drumcondra, on Friday evening. The gun is also believed to be connected to the Kinahan cartel. The west Dublin gang has previously been targeted by members of the DOCB, who in the past month alone have seized more than 500,000 worth of cocaine from them. The gang, based in Clondalkin, is led by a young criminal from the area and has become one of the biggest distributors of drugs in Ireland. Senior members of the criminal group were close associates of Jason Jay Carroll (39), who was shot dead in August 2013. Carroll was suspected of being a money launderer for the Kinahan cartel and was a close friend of cartel head Daniel Kinahan (39). Sources have revealed that Carrolls associates have since taken over the Clondalkin patch that he once controlled. The gang sources drugs from the cartel as well as laundering the proceeds of crime for it. Local gardai as well as national units have been targeting the gang for some time. One of its senior members is also a suspect in the murder of Dean Johnston in Clondalkin in August 2013. Dean (21) had no involvement in criminality. The intended target was a hitman who is currently on remand in prison. The Special Crime Task Force, made up of 44 gardai, has in the past week alone been involved in several raids targeting organised crime gangs and seized close to 2m worth of drugs. A criminal was hospitalised after attempting to attack a man with a knife outside a South Dublin pub. Armed and uniformed gardai rushed to the Crumlin pub after getting reports of a man with a knife threatening another person. "It was a fairly bizarre situation; this individual armed with the knife appeared heavily intoxicated and was calling out the other man," a source said. "People tried to calm him down but he wasn't having any of it. "The man he was threatening eventually had enough and approached him, taking the knife off him while giving him a bit of a beating for his troubles." The bizarre incident happened shortly after 3pm on August 21, as detectives were carrying out door-to-door inquiries on nearby Stannaway Road, where a man had been shot just hours beforehand. Due to the number of units in the area investigating the non-fatal shooting of Jason Kearns (30), as well as the pub being near Crumlin Garda Station, officers flooded the area within minutes of the call-out. The knifeman, who is aged in his 40s and is a criminal from the Crumlin area, is well-known to gardai for a litany of minor offences. However, he is not considered a major criminal. It is understood that a dispute between two men led to the local criminal arriving at the scene armed with a knife and threatening a man who had been in the pub. Calm The man being threatened attempted to calm the situation. Eventually the knife-wielding man was disarmed and then assaulted by the man he had been threatening. Gardai arrived on the scene and treated the man for head injuries, before an ambulance arrived and transferred him to hospital. He was brought at St James's Hospital and was later discharged. Officers from Crumlin Garda Station are investigating the incident, but no arrests have yet been made. Universities across Ireland are hiking up the prices of on-campus accommodation for the new academic year. The price increases come as students across the country are hit by the housing crisis, which has seen an enormous under-supply of available and affordable housing. University College Dublin (UCD) is the most expensive third-level institute in the country for campus accommodation. Their cheapest option is 5,896 for the year, with their most expensive option being 10,480. Last year, UCD's cheapest accommodation was priced at 5,746, while their most expensive was 10,223 (including a utility charge of 396). UCD did not respond to a request for comment on having the most expensive student accommodation in the country when contacted by the Irish Independent. The south Dublin university offers the most available beds at 3,164 - however, UCD also has the largest student population in the country at over 30,000. The number of beds in UCD has increased this year with the development of the Ashfield housing complex. However, the total number of beds only provides for approximately 12.6pc of students. In comparison, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has 1,642 beds and over 17,000 students, meaning they provide campus accommodation for almost 10pc of their student body. Their cheapest option is 4,940 per year, with their most expensive costing 6,587 (both fees include utilities). The majority of Trinity's beds are not located directly on campus and are dispersed across different locations. A spokeswoman for TCD said the price increase applied this year goes "to defray ongoing maintenance and refurbishment costs of student accommodation". She added the college is "very conscious" of the challenges faced by students seeking accommodation. Read more: 'Digs' will suit many freshers - Check out student unions and college accommodation services Dublin City University (DCU) offers the most affordable prices in Dublin for cash-strapped families sending their children to college. Their prices range from 4,572 to 5,461 for the coming academic year. However, they have also increased from last year, when the cheapest option was 4,172 and the most expensive was 4,965. The annual utility fee comes in at 450 per academic year. The university boasts 1,400 rooms across its three campuses and will have approximately 17,000 students this academic year, meaning it provides bed space for roughly 8pc of students. Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) does not own or run purpose-built student accommodation. However, a complex is currently in the works for the Grangegorman campus. It will be opened to students in 2018. Outside Dublin, the prices remain high. NUI Galway's (NUIG) Corrib Village accommodation is the best value, with the cheapest option costing only 3,105 per year. The university charges an additional 225 utility fee. University of Limerick (UL) also offers good value accommodation, with the cheapest non-en-suite single-room option costing students 3,900 per year. However, students paying these prices will be living in an apartment with seven others. Each college also allocates a number of rooms specifically to first-year students. UCD and UL are the only universities to allocate over 1,000 beds to those starting college. UCD allocates 1,036, which represents approximately a third of the available space. UL allocates 1,000. TCD reserves 650 for first years, which is over a third of space, and DCU also reserves 650, which is almost half of its space. The campus price hikes come as private sector rents have soared due to a lack of available housing and increased demand. A recent report from Daft.ie found Dublin rents are now 5.2pc higher than they were at their previous peak in 2008. Annie Hoey, President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), said they were concerned about the increase in campus prices. "On-campus accommodation's primary purpose should be to serve the student," she told the Irish Independent. "Students can feel as though they are being exploited and would like to know why they are going up...In an ideal world, student accommodation prices, particularly for on-campus accommodation, should not be influenced by the private sector." As things gear up for the 46th annual Praters Mill Country Fair, Foundation President Greg Bruner has announced changes within the organization. Mikey Sims has been named fair director following the resignation of Sherry Sexton last fall. Mr. Sims, a graphic designer by trade, also serves as the creative director and secretary for the foundation. A longtime volunteer with the fair, he has previously helped with all aspects of the annual event which serves as the major fundraiser for the foundation. Mikeys knowledge and experience make him a great choice to step into the leadership position, says Mr. Bruner. The Sims family has a long history with the fair. His paternal grandfather Pete Sims was an exhibitor doing wood carving at the first fairs, and his maternal grandmother Ruth Thompson was also an exhibitor making Barbie doll clothes. Mr. Sims can be reached at fair@pratersmill.org. Mr. Bruner also announced that Elaine Watkins has accepted a position of executive director for the foundation. With more than 25 years of business experience, she most recently served as manager of the Georgia Visitor Information Center with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and previously as deputy director of the Dalton Convention and Visitors Bureau. Her business knowledge and contacts make her a valuable asset for guiding the foundation into the future, said Ms. Bruner. The foundation is in the process of implementing a strategic long-term plan for the historic 1855 grist mill and site. Ms. Watkins will be helping officers and directors of the foundation move forward as founder and past president Judy Alderman steps away from daily duties. Ms. Alderman says she wants to be just a volunteer and enjoy the fruit of years of labor she has donated to the foundation. Mr. Bruner says the foundation will be forever grateful for the work she has done to save the site. Named Praters Mill Heritage Park in memory of Jim and Kenneth Boring, the site was donated to Whitfield County in 2010. The 15-acre park is leased to the Praters Mill Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization to manage, operate and maintain and whose mission is to protect, preserve and present the heritage of the Praters Mill site for future generations. For more information or to join Friends of Praters Mill, please visit the website at www.pratersmill.org, contact by email at info@pratersmill.org, or call 706.694-MILL. The Praters Mill Country Fair focuses on mountain music, Southern foods, living history exhibits and the handmade crafts and original art of 185 talented artists and artisans. Craft demonstrations include blacksmithing, spinning, quilting, rug hooking, woodcarving and hand tufting, a cottage industry that evolved into the tufted carpet industry centered in Dalton, Ga. This years event will be held Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Praters Mill, 5845 Hwy. 2, Dalton. Third-level colleges are covering up a major crisis in education in order to protect their reputations, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has said. He claimed that presidents of the country's universities and institutes were unwilling to fully expose the "elephant in the room" because it could affect applications. Mr Martin wants the Government to invest as much as 100m in third-level education from the 650m available for spending in October's Budget. He told the Irish Independent that the recently published Cassells Report on funding for education showed that "a real crisis" had already taken hold. "The universities and institutes are in a difficult position; they can't announce how bad it is because they don't want to damage their reputations," said Mr Martin. "People have said this to me privately as I've gone around. "I've met the presidents of universities and institutes. It's very clear that there has been a drop in funding over the last six years." The number attending third-level is expected to grow by 30pc over the next decade, with experts believing that an extra 1bn will be needed to prevent a drop in standards. The Cassells Report suggested three funding options: a fully state-funded system; maintaining the current system of student registration fees but increasing exchequer funding; or an income-contingent loan system. Mr Martin said his party favoured the second option, which would see the existing 3,000 registration fee remain in place, while the State invests more money from general taxation. The Cassells Report recommended an immediate increase of 120m per year over the next five years. Asked how much the Government should direct towards third-level, Mr Martin said: "I think a substantial amount of it, to be frank. In our manifesto, we have put in a 100m allocation. "Now, there will be other competing demands but we get no sense at the minute that anybody in the Dail is factoring in the Cassells Report. "Yet if you want to be strategic about the future of the country, it's without question that increased participation at third-level, improving the quality of third-level over the last 40 years was a key determinant factor in winning foreign direct investment and developing the Irish economy." Mr Martin noted that the previous government had raised college registration fees by 1,000 but said it then used this to reduce State funding. Fianna Fail is also expecting the reintroduction of postgraduate grants in the Budget. "We've been saying that for some time. We put it in the 'confidence and supply' agreement and there has to be movement on that," added Mr Martin. Inspectors who made an unannounced visit to a disability centre found one resident had not received adequate food for more than eighteen hours. The inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), who visited the St Raphaels Campus in Youghal in Cork in May and June, were told this was due to lack of staff available at that time to assist the resident to get out of bed. It has previously been the subject of a court application by Hiqa which had imposed restrictive conditions on it . Inspectors expressed concern about the use of antibiotics and medication to treat seizures which could have hadpotentially catastrophic or even fata impacts on patients. One of the residents alleged they had been physically abused by another and had lodged 15 complaints. However, they felt none had been properly examined. The centre which has thirty residents is due to be closed next year. Hiqa published 11 reports on residential services for people with disabilities which relate to centres which are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). In relation to five of these centres, inspectors found evidence of a good quality of life for residents. The provider was found to be ensuring a high level of compliance with the regulatory requirements and providing a good standard of support and care to residents. Residents in one centre told inspectors that they were very happy living in their home. Inspectors found evidence of care practices that supported residents to exercise choice, and residents were consulted with on the running of the centre. The HSE had made arrangements for a different provider, Muiriosa Foundation, to operate the centre on its behalf. Inspectors found that there had been significant improvements in residents quality of life since the introduction of these arrangements. The previous provider of two centres, the Irish Society for Autism, had taken court action to appeal Hiqas decision to cancel their registration. The appeals were withdrawn in court and the HSE became the provider of these services. These inspections were carried out to ensure that there had been improvements to the safety and the quality of life of residents following this action. The HSE had made arrangements for Gheel Autism Services to operate the centres on its behalf, and inspectors found significant improvements had been made in safety and quality of life for residents. The HSE was monitoring these services to ensure that improvements were sustained. The HSE had become provider for one of these centres following court action taken by Hiqa to cancel the registration of the centre because of significant failings by the previous provider to ensure the safety and care of residents. Inspectors found that residents continued to receive a poor quality service, and the HSE had failed to address the safety, health and social care issues for residents. In another centre which was the subject of court orders during 2015, inspectors found that while there had been some improvements for residents in a number of areas, there continued to be a high level of non-compliance in areas such as healthcare and risk management in the centre. Inspectors also found poor oversight arrangements in two small community-based houses operated by the HSE. The HSE had failed to ensure that there were adequate arrangements in place to ensure the safety of residents. Issues were identified in areas such as arrangements to safeguard residents from the risk of abuse, the management of restrictive practices, and risk management in these centres. A damaged van after crashing into the back of a Dublin Bus on the Walkinstown road, Dublin. Picture credit; Damien Eagers A damaged van after crashing into the back of a Dublin Bus on the Walkinstown road, Dublin. Picture credit; Damien Eagers The Walkinstown road was been closed after a van crashed into the back of a Dublin Bus A damaged van is taken away after crashing into the back of a Dublin Bus on the Walkinstown road, Dublin A damaged van after crashing into the back of a Dublin Bus on the Walkinstown road, Dublin. Picture credit; Damien Eagers Drivers were met with two hour-long tailbacks on one of the country's busiest roads this morning. Motorists were warned to expect 'extremely long' delays on the southbound road on the M50. The delays came as thousands of students began their school-run for the new year. There was a crash on the southbound carraige at 6:50am that blocked all lanes until 7:30am. The crash caused a backlog on all routes, especially on the N7 Naas Rd and the N4 Lucan Rd inbounds. Expand Close The M50 Ballinteer route usually takes 30 minutes to pass / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The M50 Ballinteer route usually takes 30 minutes to pass There was also a breakdown on the M50 southbound blocking one lane at J13 Balinteer at 8:25am and this added to the already very heavy traffic on the M50, AA Roadwatch told Independent.ie. At its worst, there were delays of two hours from J2 Dublin Airport on the M1 right through to J10 Ballymount on the M50 southbound, said AA Roadwatch. Very long delays this morning S'bound due to earlier collision at J9 & breakdown at J13. Reports of taking 2 hours from M50/M1 to J13! M50 Dublin (@M50Dublin) August 29, 2016 Collision at J10 N'bound off ramp towards Belgard. Emergency services on scene. Take care in the area. M50 Dublin (@M50Dublin) August 29, 2016 It is improving at this stage though with just a slowdown between J4 Ballymun and J5 Finglas. Meanwhile, Gardai were forced to close a busy Dublin road this morning when a van crashed into the back of a double-decker bus at a bus stop. The incident happened on Walkinstown Road at around 10am. The Opel Vivaro van was travelling towards the Walkinstown Roundabout when it hit the Dublin Bus at a bus stop outside the SuperValu shopping centre. The van ended up blocking the roadway and Gardai had to close the road to traffic until it could be towed away. The driver's airbag deployed in the van and there were no reports of injuries in the incident. The passenger side of the van bore the brunt of the impact and there was minor damage to the bus. The road closure caused some traffic build-up in the area, adding to a morning of heavy traffic for Dublin commuters. LE James Joyce rescues migrants from the water north west of Tripoli. File picture The LE James Joyce has rescued 165 migrants from three separate vessels during search and rescue operations off the coast of Tripoli. During the first operation, 15 migrants were rescued from a wooden vessel located off the coast of Tripoli. The rescue commenced at 6.40am and all migrants were taken on board LE James Joyce. The rescued people received food and water on board The Irish vessel also assisted with the rescue of a further 150 people from two rubber vessels located 40 Nautical Miles NE of Tripoli. The second rescue commenced at 7.50am and all migrants are currently on board. A further search and rescue operation is currently underway. The destruction of 13 Jewish graves is shameful in Irish cemetery, a Catholic bishop has said. Youths using hammers and blocks caused the damage, local councillors said. Headstones were knocked over and smashed. The concrete covers of some of the graves were also damaged. Expand Close The attack at the City Cemetery off the Falls Road was reported to police on Friday afternoon / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The attack at the City Cemetery off the Falls Road was reported to police on Friday afternoon The attack at the City Cemetery off the Falls Road was reported to police on Friday afternoon. Bishop Noel Treanor said: " These shameful acts are a blemish on our society." He said condemnation was not enough. "What a tragedy and blemish then that the long-present, beloved and treasured Jewish families of our community should suffer yet again such actions of disrespect, violence to the memory of their beloved dead and the regrettable outworking of a latent xenophobia that stalks the minds of some." He said people needed to discuss xenophobia. "Only yesterday a young mother, native of another land, and now an admirable fellow citizen of this city and land, told me of how a young child of four had muttered racist and xenophobic sentiments to her child of similar age in a public playground. "Others who have come to live and work among us have told me of incidents in supermarkets where shoppers speaking a language other than English were treated with disdain and disrespect by fellow-shoppers who are natives here. "I do not suggest these attitudes are widespread, but we all need to be vigilant lest we succumb to, harbour or induce hatred of other races, colour or religious belief. "Failure to address such attitudes to others is not worthy of a Christian culture and people. Racism and xenophobia are issues of our times." The municipal cemetery where the attack took place is one of the oldest public graveyards in Belfast and it is maintained by the c ity council. Bishop Treanor told worshippers at St Peter's Cathedral in Belfast: " As a society, as neighbourhoods and communities, we must honestly consider if we harbour attitudes that are negative to those whom we too easily classify as 'foreigner', rather than see them as sisters and brothers in Christ and in humanity. "As a society, we need to build co-operation between our homes and schools to ensure that our children are educated in heart and attitude, in mind and action, to respect every person without exception. "As we build here in Northern Ireland a society fit and able to accommodate the contemporary reality of the mobility of peoples, willing to cherish the multi-cultural and multi-faith mosaic that is every contemporary society generally and in its most local communities and neighbourhoods, there can be no compromise on these imperatives to build minds and hearts that are open to, respectful of and treasure diversity." The State has denied the allegations that Apple, who employ 5,000 people at their European headquarters in Cork, were treated to a better corporation tax deal between 1991 and 2007 than other companies. Stock Image Finance Minister Michael Noonan is on stand-by to immediately appeal a ruling by the European Commission that Apple must pay billions in back-tax to Ireland. The equivalent of a crisis management plan has been put in place by the Department of Finance ahead of the decision in the coming days. Fianna Fail will back the Department of Finance's appeal through the European courts, but ministers are concerned about a "political landmine" when it comes to dealing with the Independent Alliance. The Government hadn't expected EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager to decide whether Revenue Commissioners gave the technology giant an unfair 'sweetheart' tax deal until after October's Budget - but ministers were last night being warned the decision will drop early this week. The Irish Independent understands the five members of the Independent Alliance, including John Halligan and Finian McGrath who have indicated they want any Apple money to be spent on public services, will be summoned to a meeting with Department of Finance officials before the outcome is publicly announced. "This idea someone has put in their heads that this money can be used for hospitals or schools is nonsense," said a senior Fine Gael figure. They noted that even if Ireland was to be awarded 5bn on the back of the decision, under EU fiscal rules that "windfall" would have to be used to pay the national debt. Read more: Gene Kerrigan: We don't take taxes from cool people Cabinet ministers have been warned to expect a negative ruling but do not yet know the final figure, with one saying: "At this stage it's a matter of how much." Estimates have routinely ranged from 8bn to 19bn, but government sources were last night suggesting the figure could be as low as 800m. The State has denied the allegations that Apple, who employ 5,000 people at their European headquarters in Cork, were treated to a better corporation tax deal between 1991 and 2007 than other companies. Junior Finance Minister Eoghan Murphy told the Irish Independent: "If it's a negative decision it's in the national interest to protect our reputation and appeal it. "The Revenue Commissioners do not have the scope or powers under the Oireachtas to do such a deal." This position is shared by Fianna Fail who will back an appeal. The party's public expenditure spokesman Dara Calleary said: "We are of the view that it should be fought if it's a negative decision." Eamon Gilmore: 'I think people want their politicians to be real people... Alan Kelly is somebody who says it as he sees it and that gets him into hot water from time to time. But I think hes got a very bright future.' Picture; Gerry Mooney Former Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore says he "wasn't that surprised" at the decision by UK voters to leave the EU. "I had felt for some time that it was a referendum that could go the wrong way," the ex-foreign affairs minister says. But he adds that he does have "a sense of shock" at the implications of the Brexit vote - particularly for Ireland. And he warns Britain and the EU that this country can block a deal if it hurts our interests. "I think the piece of that equation people have forgotten about is that the withdrawal agreement will have to be voted on by the European Parliament and will also have to be ratified by the other 27 member states." With issues like the Common Travel Area and the peace process in the North, Ireland is more impacted by Brexit than any other member state, Mr Gilmore says. "The British and indeed European negotiators cannot take it for granted that we will ratify, that this country would ratify a withdrawal agreement for Britain which would be damaging [to Ireland]," he warned. On Ireland's response to Brexit, Gilmore doesn't second guess what others are doing. "If somebody wants to ask my opinion or advice I'm always quite happy to provide it. "And from what I see and from what I know of the situation I think they're very much on top of it at Iveagh House," he adds. Last week, Brexit's chief cheerleader - UKIP's former leader Nigel Farage - shared a stage with US presidential hopeful Donald Trump. Mr Gilmore says it proves that "the politics of Trump is the same kind of politics that gave you the result of the Brexit referendum. "It's anti-immigrant, it's simplistic slogans substituting for policy or for solutions. It doesn't rely on fact. It's politics of the megaphone... It's not based on, is that idea a sound idea? Is it well-founded? It's how loud you can shout." Unsurprisingly, Gilmore says he would like to see Hillary Clinton win the White House in November. "I think what Trump represents is a kind of vulgar populism that is now in political fashion," he says. "There's almost a kind of - the less you know about something the better." He says such populist politics can also be seen across a number of European countries both on the right and left. "In a way, what [Jeremy] Corbyn represents in the British Labour Party is the flip side of that coin. It's the left wing version of that kind of populism where it's about slogans." Asked if he'd put AAA-PBP and Sinn Fein into the same category, Mr Gilmore replies: "I would actually. I think they're the left-wing manifestation of that kind of populism where there are more slogans than solutions." Mr Gilmore met Jeremy Corbyn once at a Labour Youth event here a number of years ago but says he'd vote for his rival Owen Smith if he was eligible to cast a ballot in the leadership election. "I think Labour will not win an election with Corbyn as its leader. I mean, he is popular with the members. "But in order to win an election you have to reach into the middle ground... and Corbyn is not doing that. "I also think he showed a remarkable lack of leadership on the Brexit referendum. That lack of leadership on his part contributed to the outcome." Former Dun Laoghaire TD Mr Gilmore (61) did not run in this year's General Election, where Labour returned with just seven seats. He has avoided the chaos of the current Dail set-up that sees a minority Fine Gael government facilitated by Fianna Fail. He thinks under the new system "the Budget process will be fine" and that more debate about the contents of the Budget prior to its announcement is "good for politics". But he raises concern about the dearth of legislation in recent months. "You can last for six months without any major piece of legislation but government cannot and the Dail cannot last for a full five-year term without serious legislation," Mr Gilmore says. He has predicted the Government will last 18 months and says it will be the "unexpected" that will lead to its downfall. "It may turn out ... to be a minor enough event but something will trigger the putting down of a motion of confidence in a minister. "Sometimes in politics you can get this kind of snowball effect and that's probably where the risk to the life of the Government is." Mr Gilmore describes Taoiseach Enda Kenny as "good to work with" and a "very pragmatic" politician. On the recent questions raised about Mr Kenny's continued leadership of Fine Gael, he says: "I don't think anybody should write the script for that yet. He's around a long time and he may be around for a lot longer than people are predicting." Mr Gilmore said his own party can only recover from its disastrous election if activists "get out there on the ground" to reconnect with voters. He says he remains involved at a local level. "I intend to be active whenever we have the referendum on the Eighth Amendment", he adds referring to the law that gives equal status to the life of a mother and an unborn foetus which Labour wants to see repealed. Mr Gilmore declined to give his assessment of his successor Joan Burton's time as Labour leader, saying: "I'm probably the last person in the world that should be asked to form a view on that." He says this is because the comparisons have been made between his time as leader and Ms Burton's and adds: "I don't think I'm the person to comment". He said: "What we have to do now, rather than dwell on the disappointing result is concentrate on what needs to be done to rebuild for the future. I have every confidence Brendan Howlin will do that." He admits he was disappointed not to be kept on in Cabinet after Ms Burton took over, but says "That's her call and I accept that it's her judgment." Mr Gilmore has previously spoken of how he supported the decision not to hold a Labour leadership contest to replace Ms Burton, a decision that frustrated one leadership hopeful, Alan Kelly. But Mr Gilmore thinks Mr Kelly has a bright future. "I think Alan is a very formidable politician and he's a very young man." He doesn't believe Mr Kelly occasionally landing himself in trouble - as happened with the infamous 'power is a drug' interview - will hold him back. "I think people want their politicians to be real people... Alan is somebody who says it as he sees it and that gets him into hot water from time to time ... I think he's going to be around for a long time and I think he's got a very bright future." Since leaving Leinster House Mr Gilmore has taken on the role of an elder statesman. He is the EU's envoy to the peace process in Colombia, where a deal was signed between the government and the left-wing Farc rebels last week after a bloody war lasting more than 50 years. Though a part-time role, he has visited the country several times, and says he's proud to be associated with last week's peace deal. On the Rio Olympics ticketing controversy, he said "the degree to which it overshadowed the achievement of Annalise [Murphy] and the O'Donovan brothers" was upsetting. "It's a great pity there hasn't been more attention and more celebration of what the athletes achieved." Aside from his role in Colombia, Mr Gilmore has also taken up a number of academic posts. Does he miss life as a TD? "No, I don't. Look, I did it for more than 30 years so that was a long stretch to be in politics. It's a great privilege to be elected by your people I certainly have a great sense of satisfaction at having done it. But I'm not suffering withdrawal." Emergency responders from federal, state and local agencies will join TVA personnel in an emergency preparedness graded exercise involving the Sequoyah nuclear plant on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The exercise is part of an ongoing series of training drills and exercises required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to ensure an effective and coordinated response to protect the health and safety of the public in the unlikely event of an emergency at Sequoyah. A similar Sequoyah training drill was conducted on Aug. 17. The graded exercise on Sept. 14 will involve hundreds of personnel working in multiple locations, including near the plant. Residents may see increased vehicle traffic and may hear on- and off-site sirens briefly activated. Results of the exercise will be shared at a public meeting on Friday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. in TVAs Missionary Ridge building auditorium, at 1101 Market St. Health Minister Simon Harris has said there was nothing secret or untoward about meetings he held with Independent TD Michael Lowry relating to hospital services in Tipperary. The former Fine Gael minister has been credited with securing a new 'patient hotel' and extra nurses for his constituency - but Mr Harris says the distribution of resources is solely down to the HSE. And a spokesperson for the minister told the Irish Independent that Mr Harris has also met with the other Tipperary TDs to discuss the health service since taking up office. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has consistently refuted suggestions that any deal was done with Mr Lowry to secure his support for the minority Government. However, it was reported yesterday that the Government put up no resistance to demands for the country's first patient hotel, comprising of 40 beds to help alleviate the overcrowding situation at South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel. On June 15, Mr Harris met with Mr Lowry and two senior consultants from the hospital. Sanction has since been given by the HSE for 10 extra nurses and another 10 healthcare assistants for Tipperary. A spokesperson for Mr Harris said he is "determined to prioritise hearing from people on the frontline in our health service". They pointed out that he regularly holds a clinic for TDs from all parties on Wednesday evenings and it was in this context that he met Mr Lowry. The HSE is currently drawing up its 40m Winter Plan for all hospitals, focussing on those under most pressure as we come into the winter. The spokesperson added: "The minister's priority, politics aside, is to improve the experience for patients in every hospital this winter. "One of the first actions the minister took when appointed to office was to set up the cross-party health committee to draw up a 10-year plan. Taking politics out of our health service is the only way forward to achieve the best possible healthcare for our citizens." Chair of that committee Roisin Shortall said: "There shouldn't be any place for sweetheart deals when it comes to health spending." Sinn Fein needs to stop looking for "handy PR" and "get its head around beginning to actually advocate for Europe" in the wake of Brexit, Fianna Fail's foreign affairs spokesman has said. At a debate on the impact of the UK referendum vote for Northern Ireland, Darragh O'Brien claimed Sinn Fein have made "a strategic mistake" by demanding a border poll that won't pass. "The North has had enough of the politics of gestures and using elections to assess difference rather than build consensus. The cynicism of Sinn Fein in the manner and timing of their intervention on this was a source of great frustration," he said. Speaking at the event in the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Mr O'Brien said Gerry Adams's party faces "a particular challenge" because it opposed EU membership in the first place. "As we all now focus on how to mitigate the damage of Brexit, Sinn Fein needs to start getting its head around beginning to actually advocate for Europe. "Not as a mechanism to get one over unionism or as a means to something else, but as a community of human rights, prosperity, security, and common interest that Northern Ireland is better being part of," he said. Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy said his party had campaigned for 'Remain' despite their own critical view of EU policy. "We did so because it would be simply incomprehensible to have one part of this small island operating within the EU and another part outside it," he said. Mr Carthy said the only way to uphold the democratic wishes of the people of the North was "though the unity of the island of Ireland". "For English and Welsh votes to drag the North of Ireland out of the EU against the will of its people would, like Partition itself, be yet another travesty of democracy," he argued. He also accused Fianna Fail and Fine Gael of engaging in "rhetoric" on a United Ireland. Representing Fine Gael, Senator Neale Richmond said trying "to force a border poll" in the short-term will be viewed as "an attempt to force the majority of people in Northern Ireland into a United Ireland". The house belonging to Emma and Mark Corcoran in Co Tipperary that was burgled by a seven man gang A MEMBER of the ruthless gang who beat a father and threatened to kill his children during a violent burglary has been attacked in prison. Donal O'Hara (24) was one of a gang of seven who attacked the home of the Corcoran family at Burnchurch, south Tipperary, in November 2013. But in a recent jail attack, he had the tendons in his arm severed and was beaten with metal poles in retaliation for an attack on a woman. The attack is believed to have been carried out after a 5,000 "hit" was put out on O'Hara. A source has confirmed that O'Hara has now been placed in protective custody. "The attacker told authorities it related to an incident involving a woman," a sources said. "He said he had no choice as he had been told to do it, but would not say where the order had come from." Authorities believe the threat against O'Hara originated with former associates. Last October, O'Hara was one of seven men sentenced to a total of 105 years in prison for one of the most horrific and violent aggravated burglaries to take place in Ireland. The gang broke into the home of Mark and Emma Corcoran armed with a sawn-off shotgun, a handgun and a machete. Mrs Corcoran managed to dial 999 and left her mobile phone on for seven minutes. Gardai could hear what was happening during the raid. Mrs Corcoran said she told the raiders that her children - aged eight, six and two - were in the house and was told "we'll kill your f***ing kids". Two of the men - Dean Byrne (22), of Cabra Park, and Patrick Gately (27), of Primrose Grove in Darndale - were sentenced to 20 years, with four suspended. Suspended John Joyce (20), of Lentisk Lawn, Donaghmede, was sentenced to 15 years with four suspended, and Patrick Joyce, (22), of Beaumont Hall, Beaumont Woods was sentenced to 14 years with four suspended. Thomas Flynn (20), of Moatview Avenue, Coolock, was jailed for 12 years with three suspended, while Michael McDonagh (23), of Tara Lawns, Belcamp Lane, Coolock, and O'Hara (24), from Glin Park in Coolock, were both sentenced to 12 years, both with seven suspended. A 12-year-old Traveller boy is the only person in his class who was not accepted into a secondary school this year. Paddy Flynn (12) should be starting secondary school this week along with his primary school classmates but hes the only one who has been refused a place in his local secondary school. Paddy, who is the only Traveller in his class, previously attended De La Salle primary school in Ballyfermot and was hoping to attend the De La Salle secondary school (St Johns) this week. The young boy lives with his family at Labre Park at a halting site near the school and, according to RTEs Morning Ireland, his application was refused because it was late. All of his class got in bar Paddy. Whats different between Paddy and the rest of them? Paddys mother Ann told Morning Ireland. He doesnt know anyone in other schools. All of his friends are from Ballyfermot School. Its awful when you dont see your child getting in. The school said it is within its right to refuse Paddys application. Its website clearly states that late applications may not be accepted. They told Morning Ireland its the responsibility of parents to ensure their child receives an education and that they visited all local primary schools and gave applications to the children. The primary school also said it made lots of efforts to help Paddys parents and said there was confusion over which school Paddy wanted to attend. Paddys parents, who cant read or write, said they never got an application form, didnt know they had to apply and werent aware of last Novembers deadline. Department of Education figures show that 30pc of Traveller children have been disappearing out of the education system between sixth class and 2nd year. Lorraine McMahon from the Ballyfermot Traveller Action Project told Morning Ireland its not good enough. When were talking about equality of access and equality of outcomes that equality has to begin with recognising that theyre not on a level playing field so saying that were very fair and we treat kids all equally, there has to be a recognition that all children arent coming from the same starting point and particularly for Traveller families working in Labre Park. It is not a level playing field. She said austerity has hit Travellers more than any other group. She explained there used to be posts known as visiting teachers for Travellers and their job included liaising with families, schools and other support services but those posts were abolished. When I came to Ballyfermot Traveller Action Project in 2009, Labre Park had just seen the first two Traveller girls from Labre Park complete their Leaving Cert and the first Traveller boy from Labre Park completed his Junior Cert. It had become the norm for Traveller girls to remain in secondary school up until the Leaving Cert with a range of supports in place and with Traveller boys it was becoming the norm to stay in school to at least second year and third year and transfer was becoming automatic from primary to secondary school. Now it has gone right back. We are struggling to keep Traveller girls in school until Junior Cert and we do not have any Traveller boy locally in second year in secondary school. St Johns secondary school is taking 38 first years this week and said its first year classes are now full. Since his rejection Paddy has applied to other schools but they have been turned down too. All the class are going. How am I different to the rest of them? Paddy said on Morning Ireland. He said he liked primary school and his favourite subject was maths. I want to meet new friends and play about at lunch break. Paddy was recently diagnosed with a mild general learning difficulty but 17 years ago his aunt Sally was also diagnosed with the learning difficulty and is about the graduate from Maynooth University with a 2:1 degree. When I was in primary school I got the exact same diagnosis. They always held me back. I always had this thing in my head that I couldnt go any further because I had a learning difficulty, Sally told Morning Ireland. She praised supports from the youth service that believed and pushed her. Paddy should have the right to go to St Johns in Ballyfermot like the rest of his classmates, she said. Neven with his late mother, Vera Maguire, whom he credits with teaching him to cook. Photo. Colm Connaughton. His friendly manner, delicious food and easy-to-follow recipes have made Neven Maguire a national treasure, but he credits all his success to his mother Vera, who died in 2012 from lung cancer. Chef Neven might be lauded the island over for his culinary prowess, but, he says, the credit is misplaced. The real root of his talent, he says, was Vera. So when his mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, he says, it was "a total bombshell". "My mother was a huge influence on my life and my career; in fact I wouldn't even have been a chef if it wasn't for her," he says. "She was a fantastic mother who also taught me to cook at a very early age and I loved nothing more than helping her to bake flapjacks or create different sauces. She was renowned for her cooking and in the 25 years we worked together in Macnean House, we never fell out. Expand Close Neven Maguire with Ann Marie Richards, who battled lung cancer / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Neven Maguire with Ann Marie Richards, who battled lung cancer "She was kind, affectionate and hard-working and I hope I have inherited some of those traits." Maguire says his mother tried every treatment for the disease, without success. "She had amazing faith and wasn't afraid of dying as, having lost my dad many years previously, she was looking forward to being with him again," he says. The Cavan chef is speaking ahead of a special food festival he is hosting in Dublin's Clontarf Castle on September 1, the proceeds of which will be donated to Target Lung Cancer. "Cancer is an awful disease which literally eats away at you and it's so frightening for both the person who is suffering and their loved ones," Maguire says. "We were all distraught when my mother died, but we were also comforted by the fact that she had no regrets - she loved her children and her grandchildren with all her heart and always spent time with the family. "There was no cure for my mother but now there are so many new treatments available and so much hope out there for people who have been diagnosed with any sort of cancer. It's important that people who are newly diagnosed realise there is a lot to be positive and hopeful about." Expand Close Neven Maguire has opened up about his mother's death / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Neven Maguire has opened up about his mother's death Dubliner Ann Marie Richards presents a very different face of the disease. Traditionally believed to be a disease contracted only by smokers and older people, Ann Marie was 29 when she contracted lung cancer 10 years ago. "I have never smoked so wouldn't have considered myself to be in danger from any sort of respiratory problems," says the 39-year-old. "But 10 years ago after returning from a year in Australia, my boyfriend noticed that I seemed a bit wheezy. I couldn't hear it and certainly didn't feel short of breath but as he is asthmatic, he nagged me for weeks to get it checked out so I finally went to see my GP." The Dublin woman expected her doctor to say she was just a little out of shape after her travels, so was surprised when she was sent for an X-ray. "After listening to my chest, my GP said she didn't think I had asthma but referred me for an X-ray as she could hear something unusual," Richards says. "Because I still didn't think it was anything serious, I didn't go to hospital for a further two weeks and then was more worried about contracting MRSA than receiving negative results." Not long after the X-ray was taken, Richards received a call from her GP to see if she had medical insurance. "I told her I had and she proceeded to tell me that the scan showed a big shadow on my lungs. This still didn't ring any alarm bells, even though she said she was referring me to a consultant who had agreed to see me a few days later." Because of her age and the fact that she had never smoked a cigarette in her life, Richards was pretty confident that there couldn't be much wrong with her chest. However, after several scans and a biopsy, she was told that the shadow was actually a tumour. "Doctors told me they had discovered a tumour on my lung and it seemed as if I was in the very small minority of people who developed lung cancer without ever having smoked," she says. Expand Close Chef Neven Maguire, wife Amelda and their now four-year-old twins Lucia and Connor Photo: Marc O'Sullivan. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chef Neven Maguire, wife Amelda and their now four-year-old twins Lucia and Connor Photo: Marc O'Sullivan. "There was never any cancer in my family so even then I didn't realise what a big deal this diagnosis was - it was only when the doctors did more tests and discovered that firstly the cancer had spread to my lymph glands and secondly it was an aggressive stage 3A, that I began to understand how serious my condition was," says Richards. Because the cancer had already spread to other parts of her body she needed to start chemotherapy immediately and in July 2005, at the age of 29, she underwent her first round of treatment. Buoyed up by support from friends and family and the positivity of her medical team, Richards says she sailed through - despite feeling pretty horrific throughout. "I didn't have time to really process what was going on as I was floating on a cloud of positive energy from my wonderful family, friends and doctors," she says. "Of course, the chemo made me feel horrendous but I was lifted out of everything by the amount of people willing me to get better. "The treatment worked really well and my tumour shrunk by 50pc, so having finished the last round in September, I went into hospital in November for surgery which would remove the rest of the tumour. "I was unprepared for the reality of how I would feel afterwards and was very sick and in a lot of pain - I must have looked an awful sight too (yellow skin, no hair and just a bag of bones from all the weight I had lost) because my brother fainted when he came to visit me in the hospital and my mother started to cry." Richards spent two months recuperating after her operation and went home just before Christmas but had to go back a few days later as she developed an infection. Once this was cleared, she went on to have a six-week course of radiation - which would eventually eradicate the cancer from her lung. But her problems didn't end there. "I started radiotherapy in January of 2006 and after all I had been through, this was really easy," she says. "Then in August, I was told that I was in remission and went back to work [in Dublin City Council] in December. "I was in great form and felt I didn't have to worry about anything as I had regular scans and check-ups to ensure everything was okay. But towards the end of 2007, a routine scan revealed multiple brain tumours. "I was utterly shocked as I didn't have any symptoms at all and wouldn't have known there was anything wrong if I hadn't gone in for the scan. "My initial reaction was to run away from it all and I went to Galway for a few days to escape from the reality of it - but a friend of a friend, who is a doctor, talked to me about my options and calmed me down enough to get on with the next step." This involved telling her parents and family the devastating news and going ahead with treatment, which required surgery on her brain followed by a gruelling programme of radiotherapy on the tumours which were too difficult to reach during the operation. "After the surgery on my lung (which I discovered has the most painful recovery process) the brain surgery was very straight forward and I was out in 10 days," she says. "The radiotherapy however was horrific stuff as it involved two minutes of 'burning' the cells in my head every day for six weeks. I felt awful both during and after it and lost a lot of weight, but eventually I got back on my feet." This, however, was not the end of Richards' suffering as a few years later; it was revealed that she had tumours on her spine. "It took about 18 months for me to recover from this ordeal and in the January of 2010, I went back to work," says the 39-year-old. "I was doing fine and getting stronger all the time but in August of 2012, I began to notice an intolerable pain in my back and the only thing which would relieve it was heat. "I went to the GP and back to the hospital and after several tests it was discovered in December that I had a tumour on my spine and because of all of the radiotherapy I had gone through in the past, my treatment options were limited. "However, luckily there was a new drug which had been licenced in the US and was being tested in Ireland so in early 2013, I was given the go ahead to trial it. "It involves taking a tablet twice a day every day which targets the cancer cells directly. I have been on this medication for three years now and the results have been amazing. I am back working full-time again and getting on with my life." Richards believes her story shows that cancer can affect anyone - and that with advances in research and treatment, a diagnosis like hers can have a happy ending. "I have always had a positive outlook and even though my 30s were taken over by cancer, I was so lucky to have had all the amazing people who supported me down the years," she says. "They say it takes a village to raise a child, well I had a village worth of care and support to get me better." * Neven's Food Festival is on Thursday September 1 at Clontarf Castle. Tickets costs 20 and 100pc of proceeds go to Target Lung Cancer appeal. For more information visit nevenmaguire.eventbrite.com or call 01 410 4766 How to spot lung cancer 1. A cough that doesn't go away or a change in a long-term cough. 2. Feeling short of breath or wheezing. 3. Repeated chest infections even after antibiotics. 4. Coughing up blood-stained phlegm. 5. Chest pain, especially when coughing or breathing in. 6. Feeling more tired than usual and/or unexplained weight loss. 7. Hoarse voice, problems swallowing or swelling in the face or neck. * For more information, see supportstjames.ie/fundraising-appeals/target-lung-cancer; cancer.ie/lung. I've known Dr Mary Aiken for over 20 years. She doesn't let a thought rest easily, if at all. She is quick to be absorbed with stuff deep, deep inside her head. Then, when it comes out, it does so in a Niagara Falls-esque torrent of ideas, beliefs, emotions and feelings. The young woman who left UCD with a psychology degree back in the day, is now the world's foremost cyber-psychologist. I've been in her house - and she in mine - a fair few times over the years; so it is good to have the world's top cyber-psychologist on speed dial. I had dinner with her and a gang of friends last month in Ballsbridge, where she told me all about her imminent new book The Cyber Effect. Then, apropos of its release last weekend, we spoke a few hours before Mary boarded a plane to New York last Sunday - she had been on Saturday Night with Miriam the night before - to be interviewed on CBS Good Morning with Charlie Rose, followed by the state-side launch of the book in Manhattan last Tuesday. Yet as the plane roared skyward for America last Sunday lunchtime with beautiful blonde Mary (she'll probably go through me for a short-cut the next time we meet for being reductive by referring to her as 'blonde' and 'beautiful') on board, my interview tape had very little personal details on it about the woman I've known two decades-plus. The author of The Cyber Effect is a closed book when it comes to her private life. It is something in itself that special agent Avery Ryan in American television drama CSI: Cyber, played by Patricia Arquette, is based on our very own Mary Aiken. As it is something in itself that Mary is doing fancy pants, big network shows in America, writing for Time and getting reviewed in publications like The Washington Post and The New York Times. The publishing rights to The Cyber Effect have already been sold worldwide - in the next year Mary's book tour will take her from South Africa to New Zealand, China to the Middle East. Despite it all, Mary remains, implacably earthed, implacably herself. Ask the Irish woman whom The Daily Telegraph dubbed 'The real-life spook behind CSI: Cyber' about her global media celebrity and she just laughs."Fame? At the end of the day it's not really about me. It's about my work, my research and my discipline of cyberpsychology, a cutting-edge science, a new research frontier which can help to illuminate that intersection between humans and technology, or as law enforcement say - where humans and technology collide!" Mary's career is quite a collision: a Professor at the Geary Institute, University College Dublin, as well as a lecturer in Criminology and Research Fellow at the School of Law, Middlesex University, she advises international law enforcement bodies like Europol, the FBI, Scotland Yard, London's Metropolitan Police and the LAPD (among others) and governments (the US government among them) on cybercrime, virtual behavioural profiling, human trafficking, child-protection and other dark issues lurking in the furthermost edges of the Internet. In 2013, Mary was invited by the Obama administration to head up a White House research team focused on tackling technology-facilitated human-trafficking. She worked on the project for over a year with network scientists from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This project came to the attention of CBS, who got Mary involved in the pilot for the show CSI: Cyber. The Washington Post wrote in their review of The Cyber Effect that Mary's job is to be armed with facts, evidence and insights about potential risks. "So I can be prepared for the worst-case scenario," writes Mary in the book. "As we say in risk assessment, 'Start at the apocalypse and work back.' " I ask her what are the risks. Addiction, then mental illness of varying degrees and types where people's inclination to engage with the real world is not only exponentially reduced but eventually gone? "Unfortunately, we cannot eliminate risk. It exists in the so-called 'real world 'and in cyberspace.'" "We can, however, mitigate against risk, that is take measures to moderate or reduce risk - the way we do that is by understanding what the risks are," she says. "I have been involved in a dozen different research silos from cyber babies to sexting teens, cyberchondria to organised cybercrime. "The one thing I have observed is that whenever humans come into contact with technology, behaviour tends to be amplified and escalated," Mary says. referring to positive ways (altruism online, donating to charities) and negative ways (trolling.) "I call this phenomenon The Cyber Effect. There are too many examples of risk to list as we speak, but I do cover a wide range of negative aspects of technology in my book." How has the internet almost rewired our brains? We'll ignore our baby's gaze or our child's needs to fixate on our screens. As you write, our devices "are so compelling that they can overwhelm basic human instincts." "Yes," says Mary, who is a wife and mother. "I describe it as an evolutionary blip - in terms of evolution, babies faces are designed to be the most compelling and engaging thing on the planet - that is until the advent of the smartphone. The average adult checks their phone over 200 times a day, and if you are a parent or caregiver of a young child that is 200 times that you have not looked at them." The Guardian in its review of The Cyber Effect noted that Mary was 'worryingly persuasive about the potential damage to children of a life online.' In the book, Mary writes that "there are windows in the formative years when very specific skills need to be learned. When those developmental windows close, a child may be developmentally or emotionally crippled for life." Mary says now that she is "particularly concerned about infants and young children; those involved in education, school-teachers and primary school administrators are beginning to report a higher incidence of developmental delay in children entering school. This is a worrying development." Mary adds that the Association of Teachers And Lecturers in Britain have reported an escalation of problems associated with pervasive tablet use among pre- school-age children - "including developmental delays in attention span, fine motor skills and dexterity, speaking, and socialisation- as well as an increase in aggressive and anti-social behaviour, obesity, and tiredness." What kind of adults will these emotionally crippled children grow into? "Babies need eye contact," Mary answers. "There is no study of early childhood development that doesn't support this. By experiencing a parent's facial expressions - they bond, thrive and develop. "This is how emotional attachment style is learned. A baby's emotional template, or attachment style, is created by the baby's earliest experiences with parents and caregivers. When a good secure attachment is formed the infant has a much better chance at becoming a confident and self-possessed individual who is able to easily interact with others." Mary also writes in her compelling new book that the Internet "is clearly, unmistakably, and emphatically an adult environment. It simply wasn't designed for children." So why are they there? I ask her. "It's a good question. The Internet is a great invention in terms of connectivity, creativity and access to information, but it is an adult environment, we need to do more for families-we need to stop expecting parents to paddle their own canoes in cyberspace. Children need government protection in cyberspace," she says, "Just as they are protected in real life, in the real world we have a shallow end of the swimming pool for children. The question is: where is the shallow end of the pool on the Internet? " I describe the prevailing attitude as 'the elephant in the cyber room'. It's a form of societal cognitive dissonance, that is knowing intuitively that something, like the Internet, is both good and bad for society-but choosing to ignore the bad effects in order not to feel conflicted." She feels that social media sites should be doing more. She says that they should actively uphold their own rules that no one under the stipulated usage age should be on them. Mary also feels that grown-ups should be protected from themselves on online dating, primarily because our instincts for appraising mates, pals and trustworthy others are visceral - "designed by nature for face-to-face, embodied interaction in a physical environment. They fail to pick up signals when we meet in the cyber-realm. "Our instincts are honed for the real world," Mary explains, citing as an example when it comes to meeting someone or dating that we make judgements based on real-world cues-facial expressions, posture, dress, body language, smell, tone, but online is a "lean medium. People can engage in what cyberpsychologists describe as hyperpersonal interaction, the over sharing of information - and too much self-disclosure", says Mary, the Queen of Too Little Self-Disclosure. "It's a little like 'stranger on the train syndrome'; it can be easy to disclose a lot of personal information to a stranger." I ask her to tell me about what she calls the big disconnect between who people are in real life and who they are online. "On a dating site, it isn't even two 'real' selves who are trying to meet and mate, but two 'virtual' selves - two cyber artefacts, self-consciously constructed and curated for a particular effect. Authenticity is sorely missing." She cites the late Princess Diana as once saying of her marriage that it was "a bit crowded" because there were three people in it. Asked why is she pessimistic about allowing artificial intelligence into the equation when it comes to selecting a mate, Mary explains that the process of swiping right for approval, and learning that your own image has been swiped right by someone else, has been described as 'addictive' and even rewarding on a neurological level. "Tinder's secret ranking algorithm-although they call it a 'desirability score' -is a form of feedback loop. While sophisticated and exotic, it is basically ranking your cyber self - that carefully and consciously curated, filtered, Photoshopped, and otherwise enhanced self that many people now use online. Almost anyone can achieve supermodel levels of beauty in cyber-space, particularly in a photo that captures only one quarter of the face." Mary also cites the Canadian clinical psychologist Michael Seto who summed up the impact of technology thus: "We are living through the largest unregulated social experiment of all time - a generation of youth who have been exposed to extreme content online." What will happen to this generation over time? What will be the impact in terms of exposure to the harsher and bleaker aspects of the Internet? "That's too big a question to answer here," Mary says. Does she tweet? "Not very often - and only relating to university work - such as academic conferences or research findings. I will be tweeting a little more now that my book is just published. I just don't find it that attractive as a platform." Is Mary anti-technology? "I am absolutely pro-technology!" she protests, "As a cyberpsychologist I could not do my job without it. I believe the answers to most technology- facilitated problem behaviour lies in technology solutions. We should remember that technology in itself is not good or bad. It is either used well or poorly by humans." The Cyber Effect by Dr Mary Aiken, priced 14.99, is published by John Murray Press, Jules Coll says she fed her despair by shovelling 'food into my mouth all day every day' before she tackled her obesity by having surgery. Photo: David Conachy The darkest day in Jules Coll's life wasn't the day in 2014 when she looked at the weighing scales and realised she was 19 stone. She could deal with that. (She had a plan, at last.) The darkest day in Jules Coll's life was the day in 2006 when she found out that her love life - admittedly pitiful - was the subject of much talk behind her back. Her mother Jan sat Jules, then 25-years-of-age, down one day in the kitchen in Carrickmines and told her that rumours had been circulating that "I may be gay and afraid to come out of the closet." Jules nearly fell off the chair she was so gobsmacked. Her mother, doing her best to be nice about it, said: "Now it's absolutely fine if you are gay and if you're afraid to come out, don't be." Jules immediately cut her mother off and told her: "I'm not gay! I just haven't met the right guy yet!'" "It's the most upset I've ever been in my whole life," Jules says now, adding that she cried for days over it, "but not about the fact that people were assuming I was gay, I'd never had a boyfriend so that's a logical conclusion people could come to. It was the fact that people were talking about me behind my back. That my-non existent love life was a hot topic of conversation and I was really upset by this." She wondered anxiously if the gossip mongers called her: 'Poor auld spinster Jules'. To attempt to thwart the dreaded goss about her, Jules went into "a panic to try and find a boyfriend to prove that I liked willies." So she was out every weekend desperately searching for a boyfriend. And was she getting chatted up on nights out? "Nope. Not a sausage,"Jules says, (stopping herself perhaps mercifully before she can say, "Not a willy.") "But I don't blame men for it though. I don't think they looked at me on a night out and thought, 'Ugh. Look at chubby there, no thanks, love I'll pass.' I know that at that time because I thought so little of myself and I believed that I was so unattractive because of my weight that I wasn't worth chatting up. I felt that mingin' and worthless and so because of this belief I had, men had no other option but to reflect that back to me." "Because," she adds, "if I had believed that I was attractive and lovable, then men would have mirrored that back to me and I'd be getting chatted up all the time. But my self-worth was non-existent, and as a result so was my sex life." Born on August 9, 1979, in Holles Street Hospital - "weighing a conventionally healthy eight pounds and one ounce" - Jules Coll is the rather uproarious author of the brilliant Flabyrinth: My Escape From Maximum Insecurity Prison. The penal institution she is referring to is, in fact, as she writes in the book, "A prison of fat." "At the tender age of 19, fresh out of school and living the life of Reilly, unbeknownst to me I had subconsciously sentenced myself to life in the slammer. It would take ten years for me to wake up and realise I was trapped in prison. It would take a further five years to realise that I was, in fact, on death row as I had become morbidly obese.' (Jules - who has a touch of the Caitlin Moran in her writing style - also describes herself in the book as 'feeling like a human version of the Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters.') Jules says she "shovelled food into my mouth all day every day" for two main reasons. One, because when she was eating was the only time that she could "mute" the voice of her inner bad bitch, Siobhan - Jules's name as gaeilge. Jules gave her a name because she feels "like a separate entity to me. She's the voice of the 'perfect' me who tells me when I look at myself how fat, ugly, flabby, disgusting, unattractive, cellulite-y and vile I am and she rattles off in my ear all day every day reminding me of these facts lest I forgot!" Jules explains that when she was eating she was "distracted from that horrible voice. It was like a piece of pizza brought peace of mind and for those golden moments Siobhan was silent and so I would eat and eat to shut her up." I ask Jules was she literally feeding her low self-esteem or was there something else going on. As her weight went up, she answers, her self-esteem went down. "So I was feeding my despair," Jules tells me over coffee in House on Leeson Street. "I was at a loss as to what I could do to get things under control." And the more Jules got worked up about it, the more Jules ate. "I'd be in denial one minute and in a state of shock looking at myself in the mirror the next," she says. "I was in a tizzy about it and my thoughts about my appearance consumed me." Jules says that in every other aspect of her life she was happy. "I was a high achiever, goal orientated with big dreams for myself with my life and career," says Jules, who currently works as a screenwriter and producer for RTE's Damo & Ivor, "but the only thing I couldn't get my head around was losing weight. I perpetually failed. "I've always been strong-willed, the kind of person who'd be like: 'There's a job to be done, stand back everyone, nobody is going to do this as well as I can so I'll take on the mission'." Then, for the first time in her life, at the age of 35 - and weighing 19 stone and only fitting into size 22 clothes - Julie-Ann Coll had to say to herself: 'I need help. I can't do this by myself'. Jules reflects that things were so serious at that point that she was "morbidly obese with a BMI of 42 and my health was at risk. I needed an intervention and that came in the form of a gastric bypass, which is keyhole surgery to rearrange my digestive system and essentially shrink the size of my stomach - reducing my capacity to eat and give me the tool to control my overeating." Or as she puts it in Flabyrinth, "The gastric bypass was to my digestive system what the M50 is to Dublin's traffic." Jules had the surgery in the Blackrock Clinic on November 1, 2014. "The surgery was my turning point," she says looking back, "it helped me finally help myself, it was the crutch I needed to carry myself over the line." Six weeks after the operation, she started training. Initially, Jules was just walking "and after five minutes I was sweating like a cat trying to bury a shite on a marble floor. "But I stuck with it and built up my fitness over a few months and after losing three stone I found the courage to start going to the gym," she says of Ben Dunne's gym in Cherrywood. "I found it very intimidating because I thought people would be staring at me and watching my arse jiggle as I tried to pretend I knew what I was doing in there. After a while I decided not to give a shite about what other people thought of me when I saw a girl in there who was way bigger than me, and my first thought was 'fair play to her'." "I worked out every single day. However, I was trudging along on the treadmill bored out of my mind and knowing that I was going to give up exercise if I didn't find a way to start enjoying it." "Then," adds Jules, "along came personal trainer Matt Keatley" He approached Jules in the gym after seeing her on the The Late Late Show in September. (Jules had gone on to promote her RTE documentary, Nine Stone Lighter. Jules had had her surgery filmed for the doc about her weight-loss journey.) "Matt and I chatted. I knew straight away that the encouragement of a trainer was exactly what I needed to keep me motivated and, most importantly, accountable." Jules also describes Matt as "a human encyclopaedia for all things nutrition." "When he told me that sugar was the main reason everyone was ballooning, I was shocked. I thought fatty foods made you fat, but the big culprit these days is the devil that is sugar due to the simple fact that excess sugar consumed is converted to fat and stored in the body," Jules says, adding that training and learning about nutrition with Matt "has had as much of an impact on my journey as the surgery itself. Now we're running Bootycamp classes together every week, where we do a one-hour seminar about all things health and nutrition, followed by a fitness class." Jules lives by herself in an apartment in Carrickmines. "No cats yet, thankfully," she jokes, "but my friends are under strict instructions to shoot me if I start adopting them." Part of the joke with the cats is because Jules is single, has been single all her life and has never - ever - had a romantic relationship of any type worth mentioning. She described a date not so long ago but she never heard from him again. When I asked her to describe her ideal man, Jules said that she'd already met her ideal man, but she couldn't have him because he was married and now she can never have him because he's passed away. "You know who that dream man was? The pan-global phenomenon and human tripod that was comedy god Rik Mayall," she says of the happy married Mr Mayal and her platonic relationship with him. "He was my hero, and people say you should never meet your heroes as you'll only be disappointed but that's only true if you've got a shit hero. Rik was f***ing amazing. "I'd idolised him since I was a teen and found him massively attractive because he was so funny, outlandish and bold and unpredictable, and when I met him in real life when he played a part in our series Damo & Ivor he was even more insanely attractive than I had even dreamed of because it turns out that in addition to this bonkers personality that I loved so much, he was an absolute gent with a heart of gold and a depth that would make my heart and knickers melt during many of the magical chats we had on set while filming." Jules believes that "God broke the mould when he made Rik and I really have set myself up for a fall trying to look for someone like him. But that doesn't mean I'll lower my standards dramatically; I'll just have to lower the bar ever so slightly. "It's not an easy task finding your lobster. I'm looking for a best friend, a best friend to share my life and bed with. You can't just march out into the dating world and expect to become besties with your life-long counterpart straight away." Jules continues that she's presently going through "an auditioning process and that's great and shite in equal measure but that's what it's going to take for us to find each other. I have to put myself out there until Cupid shoots us both in the arse at that serendipitous moment. So with that best friend I want us to make each other laugh and be fully ourselves around each other, farts and all. "I want us to mind each other," she continues, "be there for each other through the good times and the shitty times and I want all the typical romance that I've missed out on while I've been a sad singleton sending myself Valentine cards over the years, I'd love him to buy me flowers and lie to me and tell me I'm beautiful when I'm violently hungover and look like Sloth from The Goonies. "And I want to cook for him, I'm definitely a feeder, but it'll be all healthy food so he won't get fat! I love a man with a bit of a belly though, six packs don't do it for me." She adds, most poignantly of all: "And I want a man, because if I'm truly honest, I'm lonely. "I'd love to have someone to love and who loves me in return. Don't we all? Admitting that might make me sound desperate like Stacey from Wayne's World, but I'm not going around buying guys gun racks and stalking them! I'm not desperate - I'm just like every other single person in the world who'd love to find love and just like all those lucky people who've already found it." Does she think society puts too much pressure on people - in particular, young women - to be an idealised and often unattainable weight? "There's been so much campaigning for awareness about what we're subjected to in the media these days as 'ideal beauty'," Jules says, "that I hope that most women know that they'll never look like the girls in magazines and that's because the girls in the magazines don't look like the girls in the magazines. We've all woken up and smelled the Photoshop and that's fantastic." Jules says that she grew up before the Internet. "That makes me sound ancient, but in my day in the 1980s and 1990s we still had magazines with supermodels and Pamela Anderson and her giant tits on Baywatch and all sorts of ideals to aspire to were coming at us left right and centre and it was overwhelming - especially as a teen trying to work out who you were and where you fit in on the scale of what was considered ideal to be attractive," Jules says adding that we still have it in 2016 and we'll probably always have it. "It's just great to see, especially through social media, an increase in the message being spread that it's all madness, and media advertising is trying to smother us to get our attention. I often wonder how they can possibly improve mascaras and shampoos to do more than they actually do to keep selling them to us? And what is beautiful this season? One minute skinny androgynous is in, the next minute your arse couldn't be big enough and you should have more curves than a Volkswagen Beetle. How are we supposed to keep up? I hope the message of 'Just be yourself, accept yourself, be a healthy weight, be fit and love yourself as you are' continues to spread." Is Jules' self esteem - and indeed her happiness - linked to her weight? "Yes, absolutely," she says. "I'm an extremist so I'm either going to be morbidly obese with zero self-esteem or slim, healthy, incredibly happy and out there spreading the word about how I did it through making a TV documentary, writing a book about it and teaming up with my personal trainer to run seminars on nutrition and bootcamp fitness classes to help people make a change like I did. There is no in-between for someone like me, but that's me and I think it takes someone like me who's prepared to go public and bare her obese body and slim soul so that others who are having problems with their weight or just feeling crap about themselves can know that change is possible." "The proof is in the pudding and I ate all the puddings so you don't have to, just read my book and I'll tell you what it tasted like." A week or so after our meeting in House, I rang Jules to ask her has she had any romantic proposals in the last seven days. "Nope, I haven't and there's no dates lined up. Cue the violin player!" Is she expecting a flood of romantic offers when Flabyrinth comes out? "I'm not expecting a flood of romantic proposals when the book comes out as I think it'll be mostly women that read it - and I think they'll be rooting for me to find my Mr Right." As will the rest of Ireland. Cue orchestra! Flabyrinth: My Escape From Maximum Insecurity Prison by Jules Coll, published by Gill Books, priced 16.99. To read an extract from Flabyrinth visit www.julescoll.com Hell, as Jean-Paul Sartre should have said, is other people's children. With your own you can shout, threaten, cajole and bribe, try any of the above with other people's children at your peril. If all else fails with your own kids, you can run away for a Spa weekend, but you are still stuck with other people's children. Right? Not at Amare Marbella, which is an adult only establishment. 'Adult only' sounds a bit porny, but the Amare Marbella is about as far from sleazy as you can get. I was a bit worried about going to 'Marbs' in the first place. I don't watch The Only Way is Essex aka TOWIE but if you have a TV you can't escape its erstwhile 'stars' - a vacuous lot with big hair and even larger egos. This crew spend a lot of time in 'Marbs' and I was a bit worried that I was going to end up surrounded by orange-coloured people screeching "OMG! Shut UP Babes," at each other. So en route I treated myself to a night at the La Suite West in London's Notting Hill/Queensway, a short taxi ride from Victoria Station where I was getting the 5am Gatwick Express the following morning. The La Suite West is very Zen and boasts a vegan restaurant. After my night there, and despite the early start the following morning, I was in the zone for a Spa treat - even if I had to share it with TOWIE types. Well OMG Babes, where do I begin? First of all, what the TOWIE lot call 'Marbs' is actually Puerto Banus, a good car journey away from Marbella itself. Contrary to my imaginings, Marbella is a typical Andalusian town, with cobbled winding streets and pretty white houses covered with gorgeous flowers. Thankfully, there was no sign at all of 'The GC' but the BVM was in shrines around every corner. As for the Amare Marbella - if I thought the La Suite West was Zen this was on another level entirely. The hotel is beside the sea but also in the heart of the town. The property was refurbished earlier this year, and the designers have done a fantastic job of creating a space that is cutting-edge cool yet relaxing. (A pretty mean feat.) The reception is a flowing gold oblong, which sounds like pure kitsch, I know, but it is gorgeous. The absence of hard lines, the white and pale blues all reflect the ocean. The 'traditional' colours are complimented by splashes of art, including huge black mirrorball faces in the lobby and a wonderful silver elephant outside the entrance to The Beach Club. The 'Club' encompasses an indoor restaurant, outside seating, a pool and additional seating on the beach. Pretty typical so far, but The Beach Club has one of the best things I've ever encountered. Ever! Normally, when you are lounging by the pool and you want something you have to struggle up and find a waiter and then, and this is usually the hard bit, catch their eye. It is one of the most unrelaxing activities known to man. In the Amare Beach Club, they give you a massive red buzzer when you check in and if you want to order something you just press it. The waiters all wear wristbands and the buzzers deliver small electric shocks which makes them attend to your needs super fast! OK, I made up the last bit. The waiters wear little bracelets that vibrate to let them know when someone needs them. Have you ever heard the beat of it? One of the rules of motherhood is that as soon as you sit down your child will ensure you get up again. I saw more than one woman practically kiss her big red buzzer. I was so relaxed that I almost forgot about the spa. The staff were at pains to tell me that the spa is due for redecoration and for me to excuse it. OK, so it might not be as swish as the rest of the property but it's still a lovely spa. The hydro pool in particular is fantastic. Unfortunately, my trip coincided with really unusual and unseasonable weather - it rained almost constantly. However, I was so happy, in the endlessly relaxing, child-free atmosphere that I didn't care. In between showers, I was able to pop out and explore the old town. The people were all extremely friendly and when I got my hair blow dried (for a paltry 18), I had a very amiable conversation with the hairdresser purely through the medium of mime. The rain was so heavy that a mere umbrella wasn't going to do much for my new 'do', so instead I used the complimentary 'Bonnet de Douche' from my room (commonly known as a shower cap.) With my new headgear on I went to Fuerte Marbella, a long established hotel, to join my friends for lunch. The place was full of older couples, including a few from Belfast, who go every year. Like me, they didn't care about the rain, they were just happy to be 'away'. With my newly blow-dried hair, it was time to see 'Marbs' aka Puerto Banus. Yes, there was a lot of "OMG babes!" to be heard and plenty of young women in 'difficult' shoes. But I can see why they all love it so much, as the shopping is great. I'm a great lover of fake designer handbags and the Marina (wall-to-wall yachts) was crawling with vendors. Unfortunately, these guys took pushy to a whole new level, so I left them to it. Some of the younger ladies in our group returned to Puerto Banus later that night to check out the bars. The dirty stop-outs didn't get back till 4am, and related that the only money they'd spent the entire evening was the taxi there and back. Apparently, the bars are quite happy to entice young attractive women in with free drink, and they were more than happy to drink them. (Hey, I'm not judging, just jealous.) We weren't the only group enjoying the child-free facilities at the Amare Marbella. Some like us were there for a girlie spa weekend, others were there for the culture and some just wanted to lie on the beach with their big red buzzer. Even when the rain was belting down there were a few hardy souls, under shelter with blankets clutching their buzzers and wine glasses. And with nobody around chanting "Mam! Mam! Mam!!!" on a loop, who can blame them. Get there Amare Marbella Beach Hotel rates start at 110 per night based on two people sharing, breakfast included. See amarehotels.com for more La Suite West: see lasuitewest.com for prices. Monarch operates flights to Malaga from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton, Leeds Bradford and Manchester airports with fares, including taxes, starting from 49 one way (80 return). For further information on flights, holidays and hotels visit monarch.co.uk. Marbella Tourism: marbella-tourism.com. Kenneth Edward Raymond is facing multiple charges after a car was broken into at the Rainbow Lake parking area. James Bryan Miller was also charged. Raymond, 47, of 6719 Hickory Trace Circle, is charged with burglary of an auto, vandalism over $500, identity theft, attempted theft over $500, four counts of theft under $500, three counts of attempted theft under $500, and seven counts of illegal possession and use of a credit card. The case began Aug. 6 when a 2010 Chevy Cobalt was broken into and clothing, several bags and a purse belonging to the owner's girlfriend were taken. Credit cards that were in the purse were quickly used at seven locations on Signal Mountain Road. Miller, 30, of Sale Creek, is seen on a Walmart video trying to use one of the stolen credit cards. Miller was in a silver Acura belonging to Raymond. Police said Raymond was in a relationship with the mother of Miller. He was charged with burglary and theft. Authorities said Raymond was on parole, but had absconded and was considered a fugitive. Ryanair has warned customers to watch out for an online scam purporting to offer free tickets with the airline. "Please be aware of an online scam offering free Ryanair tickets," it said in social media posts today. "This is not an official promotion." The scam invites those who participate to take part in a short survey, entering a draw to win two Ryanair tickets to the destination of their choice. After "analyzing" the answers, the bogus website (ryanair.com-freechance.com) congratulates its "winners" and invites them to share the page with 15 friends. Please be aware of an online scam offering free Ryanair tickets. This is not an official promotion. pic.twitter.com/PrmC3OE9YY Ryanair (@Ryanair) August 29, 2016 Savvy travellers may smell a rat pretty quick. For starters, the scam is said to celebrate the airline's 35th anniversary - Ryanair actually celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The sample ticket is also riddled with inaccuracies - showing Ryanair's IATA code as 'QF' (its code is FR - QF is the code for Qantas), listing a seat numbered 4K (Ryanair planes don't have a 'K', as seats are configured in 3-3 arrangements, from A to F) and showing the airline as a member of the OneWorld alliance - which, of course, it is not. Several readers have been quick-witted in response. "Unfortunately this is a scam," said one Facebook user, York Palmer. "But why not pick it up Ryanair and give away free flights - buy one get one free?" Read more: Plan ahead to make the most of your J1 roadtrip. Photo: Getty Images. J1 summers are coming to and end. But there is a silver lining, our Travel Editor writes. Returning from a J1 summer of a lifetime can be a real jolt, but there is an upside. Did you know that, depending on your time spent and income earned in the US, you could be entitled to an average tax refund of $850 (752)? Thats the figure quoted by the Union of Students in Ireland, which has a J1 guide on its website (usi.ie). J1ers are obliged by law to file tax returns (important to note if you plan on a future US visa or green card), but its not just bureaucracy getting this box ticked could net you a surprising windfall, too. Heres how. 1. Get a W-2 form from your US employer Similar to a P60, this records the income and tax paid in a given year. Its sent at the start of the tax year (January), so make sure your employer has your contact details. 2. Get a tax refund estimation Various companies offer free calculators online; it costs nothing to check. 3. File your tax return This must be done before mid-April. Start the federal return at irs.gov (you can check its progress online, or on the IRS2Go app), and double check details to avoid IRS penalties. States have their own revenue sites (taxadmin.org is a good resource). 4. Get someone to file for you Tax returns can wreck heads, so you may prefer to pay a tax assistance agency to do the grunt work taxback.com charges $108 (95) for federal and state returns, for example. 5. Cash in! Well, hopefully. Some years ago, it was reported that $1.6m (1.4m) went unclaimed by Irish J1 students every year. Could some of that be yours? Expand Close Plan ahead to make the most of your J1 roadtrip. Photo: Getty Images. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Plan ahead to make the most of your J1 roadtrip. Photo: Getty Images. Read More Save Loved your J1? Want to do it all over again? Well, you can students are eligible to apply for as many J1 visas as their college term allows. You need to prove minimum funds of $800 (705) before you travel (even if students have a pre-arranged seasonal job, as is now obligatory), so why not roll over your tax refund to kickstart summer 2017? Your US social security number (SSN) is for life, too, making the second trip less hassle though it may be worth closing and re-opening your US bank accounts to avoid fees in the intervening months. Splash J1 work permits expire on September 15, and J1ers cannot leave and re-enter the US after that date, but they can remain as tourists for up to 30 days. Depending on your college term, this could be the ideal time to blow some of your savings. What about two-for-one tickets at New Yorks Broadway Week (nycgo.com; Sept. 5-18); Austin City Limits (aclfestival.com; Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 & Oct. 7-9) New Englands killer fall foliage, or a great American road trip in a cheap rental? The US is your oyster! Read more: Premium Billy Keane Opinion Even a dash to the Croke Park toilet wasnt enough to get rid of space invader who gave me Covid I did the time, but there was no crime. Banged up I was, under house arrest after two red bars showed up on the Covid test. Im not too bad, thanks for asking. I have it down on a man who was nearly close enough to kiss me at the All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Galway. Premium Mary Kenny Opinion If men want to yammer on about sport, then let them it helps them connect emotionally I was travelling on a train from Dublin to Cork, and near me sat two Dublin men. Throughout the entire journey they managed to keep up a fluent dialogue about English football teams. From Aston Villa to Sheffield Wednesday, from Crystal Palace to Manchester City the conversation flowed eloquently. I was in awe at the minutiae of their knowledge and expertise. And if the topic of their discourse lacked a certain variety, it was nonetheless better than sitting in sullen silence, or glued to their phones. Mariah Carey took part in the first carpool karaoke with James Corden, now a smash hit segment of his show Mariah Carey had no idea she would be asked to sing when she climbed into a car with James Corden for the first carpool karaoke, his show's executive producer has revealed. Carey was the first star to take part in the wildly successful segment of The Late Late Show with James Corden, before Adele, One Direction, Justin Bieber and most recently Britney Spears all hopped in the passenger seat. Carey's segment has since racked up 27 million YouTube views. Before the clips became a viral sensation they were turned down by "every publicist you can think of", Ben Winston has revealed. Winston said their luck only turned around when he and Corden bumped into a member of Carey's team at a party and "went at her hard", showing her a clip of Corden and George Michael singing Wham! hits in a car for Comic Relief. Winston told the Edinburgh International TV Festival: "The next day it was booked and we were shooting it. I don't know what Mariah thought but when James pressed play she was like 'We are not going to sing'". Fortunately she eventually gamely sang along to her hits including Always Be My Baby, Vision Of Love,Thirsty, and Ol' Dirty Bastard's Fantasy, Winston said the idea first came about when the show was thinking of segments that could be filmed in the field when stars couldn't make it to the studio and where people could sing their hits. He said: "That is why it works, when people appear on show they usually want to sing their newest stuff, which is the last thing anybody wants to hear, but with carpool we just put their greatest hits in there. "You can't normally ask Britney Spears to come on a show and sing ...Baby One More Time." Video of the Day He said that now the three most viewed YouTube clips in the history of American late night TV are carpool karaokes. Winston said: "I t struck a chord, it creates intimacy in such a lovely way.There are no publicists or make up artists, just James along with these people singing wonderful music. It's very joyful and it resonates." Late Late Show clips have now amassed 1.6 billion views on YouTube in 17 months and 32 of the clips have had more that 10 million views each. Winston promised Corden would be working on the show for years to come. He said: "I don't think he will do it forever, he won't be David Letterman doing it for 30 years but I know how long our deal is and its a fair old whack, time wise. We will be doing it for a while." Kate Winslet (left) and Dame Helen Mirren are among the stars who have posed for Pirelli's 2017 calendar. Photo: Ian West/PA Wire Pirelli have announced the stars of its iconic calendar's 2017 edition. The 2016 calendar was praised for breaking tradition and stereotypes by celebrating the female form in a diverse way. Annie Leibovitz teamed up with Pirelli to shoot Serena Williams, Amy Schumer, Patti Smith and Yoko Ono and steered it away from its traditional "barely-dressed models in exotic locations" standard. And it looks like the 2017 edition is following suit. While not as racially diverse as this year's calendar, the 2017 shows a clear preference towards more mature women, with the average age of the 14 actresses being 14. Expand Close Actress Penelope Cruz will feature in the 2017 Pirelli calendar (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actress Penelope Cruz will feature in the 2017 Pirelli calendar (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) The calendar was shot by Peter Lindbergh and he told Vogue.com that he wanted it to be a "counter message to [the industry's] fake beauty ideal". When choosing his models, Lindbergh said he selected "all the big names of actresses who are not known to do bimbo movies, but are known to do sensible films - most of them have got Oscars - and then let them be them." The calendar is almost entirely comprised of Oscar-nomiated actresses including, Lupita Nyongo, Jessica Chastain, Uma Thurman, Nicole Kidman, Lea Seydoux, Robin Wright, Zhang Ziyi, Helen Mirren, Rooney Mara, Penelope Cruz, Julianne Moore, Charlotte Rampling, Alicia Vikander, Kate Winslet, and Jessica Chastain. It also features Anastacia Ignatova, a Moscow State University professor who is credited as a "special guest". "This Pirelli Calendar is a very important one, because you dont have to do nudity anymore, youre not under pressure to do anything with your body, which is great," Lindbergh told Vogue.com. Video of the Day "Beauty today is really twisted, for commercial reasons, so people think beautiful is what you see in advertising and in magazines - all these retouched women." The iconic photographer, who first shot for Pirelli in 1996, also commented on the difference between using Hollywood stars and fashion models - it's all to do with the lens. "The one big difference between actresses and models is that models are fixed to the camera, and actresses never look at a camera if you dont force them. They learn their whole life to be there and forget theres a camera," he added. Irish actress Aoibhin Garrihy celebrated her hen party with her best pals and family members over the weekend. The Diary can reveal how the former Fair City star made sure it was an affair to remember after booking into the exclusive Mount Juliet Estate in Kilkenny. A photo posted by Aoibhin Garrihy (@aoibhingarrihy) on Aug 28, 2016 at 7:26am PDT The 28-year-old actress - who's marrying hotelier John Burke next month - was joined by her actress friend Aoibheann McCaul, and her sister Ailbhe, who's also acting as her bridesmaid. Castleknock native Aoibhin and her gal pals indulged in some relaxing spa treatments at the hotel before taking part in the old-fashioned country pursuit of falconry. They then headed into Kilkenny city to enjoy some cocktails before hitting the tiles. Glamorous Aoibhin recently played the part of Gwendoline Fairfax in The Gate's production of The Importance of Being Earnest, which later went on tour to South Carolina. With our hen A photo posted by Ailbhe Garrihy (@ailbhegarrihy) on Aug 27, 2016 at 4:36pm PDT But she'll be putting work to one side for a while as she concentrates on her wedding. The couple will be getting married in a small country church in the West of Ireland followed by a reception in the Armada Hotel, at Spanish Point, in Co Clare. She and John will also go long-haul for their honeymoon - they have booked a once-in-a-lifetime holiday in Myanmar. The pair, who have been dating for over six years, got engaged on Aoibhin's 27th birthday in June 2015 while enjoying a walk on the scenic Cliffs of Moher. Expand Close Aoibhin Garrihy & mother Clare Garrihy seen walking under an umbrella on Digges Lane, Dublin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aoibhin Garrihy & mother Clare Garrihy seen walking under an umbrella on Digges Lane, Dublin Video of the Day Far from having a big lavish party to mark their wedding, Aoibhin said she was keen on having a simple, intimate affair - "just a bit of a party with my nearest and dearest", as she put it. She and her other half won't be signing up for any glossy magazine deals for their special day and they want to keep it all about their happy union. "There's a lot of pressure on people now to put on productions, and I'm kind of allergic to that," she said. "It's more about the people and the place and the day itself than the glitz and the glam. I hope it'll be a sentimental day," she said. "It's really important for me to have my family involved in aspects of the ceremony and the music, my family are all very musical. "All those little things are important," she added. The star played the part of Neasa Dillon in RTE's Fair City before quitting the soap to pursue other acting projects. Britain's Next Top Model judge Paul Sculfor has revealed his wedding to socialite Federica Amati was "a dream". The couple were joined by Sculfor's fellow judge Nicky Johnson, as well as models Ryan Krause, Tommy Dunn and Ella Thomas, for the ceremony at Christ's Chapel of God's Gift in south London. Thank you to @hellomaguk for featuring our wedding and @jrowley1 for the great photos !!! Out in print tomorrow & online preview here: http://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2016082833252/exclusive-paul-sculfor-marries-federica-amati-stunning-ceremony/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=internaltwitter A photo posted by Paul Sculfor (@paulsculfor) on Aug 28, 2016 at 1:48pm PDT Sculfor, 44, told Hello!: "I know it's a bit of an odd thing for a man to say, but it really was a dream. It was exactly how it should have been." Amati wore an off-white georgette silk dress she designed herself, and the male model said he was blown away when he saw her. A video posted by Federica Amati Sculfor (@fedeamati) on Aug 21, 2016 at 2:59pm PDT He said: "I just thought, 'Wow'. She looked stunning. I felt incredibly happy and very grateful." The couple met two years ago and Amati, 29, said it was love at first sight. A video posted by Federica Amati Sculfor (@fedeamati) on Aug 18, 2016 at 9:40am PDT She told the magazine: "It was like a train hitting me in the face. I wanted to marry him and have his babies." :: For for the full interview see this week's Hello! Magazine Wonderful evening people watching at sunset in Porto Cervo & dining in the deliciously chic Poltu Quatu after #Sardegna #Honeymoon #BabyBlue #Sunset #DateNight A photo posted by Federica Amati Sculfor (@fedeamati) on Aug 28, 2016 at 1:56pm PDT The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has added to its Top 10 Most Wanted list Jereme Dannuel Little, who was freed by order of Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern, whose decision was recently reversed. Little is wanted by the Chattanooga Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for especially aggravated kidnapping. The TBI said, "Little has a history of violence is a known member of the Vice Lords street gang. He should be considered armed and dangerous." Little, 40, is 61 and about 278 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. There is a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Judge Stern, who is now retired, had let Little to go free based on alleged ineffective assistance of counsel. The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals reversed that decision. The Appeals Court, in a lengthy ruling, did not agree that the performance of Little's lawyer warranted freeing him from state prison where he had served seven years in prison. Little was accused of tying a fellow robber up, beating him and forcing him to eat crack cocaine and dog feces. He was mad that the man had walked out during the hold-up, it was testified. Little earlier was charged in a murder. It isn't just the happy couple that has to spend a small fortune at an Irish wedding. Last month Independent Style revealed that the average spend per wedding guest, when travel, accommodation, glam and gifts are taken into account, came in at 540 per person. The results came from a survey we conducted in which we asked 100 Irish women and men just how much it costs to attend the nuptials of their nearest and dearest. We were slightly shocked when we realised we could pay a month's rent on a small apartment in Rathmines or purchase an iPad or Christian Louboutin heels, for less than the cost of attending a wedding. Read More But a new infographic, created by John Cunningham of The Wedding Band Shop, breaks down the cost and shows exactly where most of your money is going - although the estimated cost per guest came in at 800, slightly higher than what our readers suggested. It's pretty handy if you've a wedding coming up and want to budget accordingly. Expand Close Infographic breaks down the cost of attending a wedding. Photo: John Cunningham of The Wedding Band / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Infographic breaks down the cost of attending a wedding. Photo: John Cunningham of The Wedding Band While many of us are waking up to a cold start this morning, our advice is don't take out the coats yet as Ireland is set for another summer spell. It will be a good week with some decent sunshine and few showers, Met Eireann forecaster Gerry Murphy told Independent.ie. Today we will see some sunshine and it will be nice and warm with temperatures expected to reach up to 22 degrees. He said today will be mostly dry, however patchy light rain or drizzle will affect parts of the west and north, mainly along coasts. Keep the sun cream close as the summer will return to Ireland on Tuesday. Tuesday will be very warm with temperatures reaching up to 24 degrees. There will be good sunshine but some clouds in the west of the country, said Gerry. Wednesday will become cooler but it will be a bright day with sunny spells. A few showers will develop, mainly in the west and north. Thursday will be mostly dry but rain will develop in the west and northwest and will become persistent towards evening. Gerry said that Friday will be bright and sunny with highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees with moderate westerly breezes. Enjoy the sunny weather while it lasts as next weekend will bring rain and the back-end of the Atlantic's Hurricane Gaston is expected to hit. The weekend will be more unsettled with persistent rain spreading across the country, Gerry added. Iraqi security forces deploy after the defeat of IS in Qayara at the weekend (AP) An Islamic State suicide bomber has killed at least 15 people and wounded more than a dozen more at a wedding in a village south of Baghdad. Five suicide bombers took part in the attack in Ein Tamr, but the other four were killed by security forces, said an Iraqi security official. He said they were members of IS, which has stepped up attacks on security forces and the country's Shiite majority in recent months as it has suffered a string of battlefield setbacks. The IS-linked Aamaq news agency said four IS fighters carried out the attack, leaving dozens dead or wounded. Ein Tamr is about 25 miles west of the Shiite holy city of Karbala. AP An Australian aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan in April has been freed by Afghan forces after four months in captivity, said officials. Kerry Jane Wilson, who is in her 60s, was kidnapped in the eastern city of Jalalabad on April 28. The Afghan intelligence service confirmed that Ms Wilson was freed in a special operation in eastern Afghanistan. At least three suspects were arrested, a statement said. She has been living in Afghanistan for years and runs Zardozi, an organisation that helps support impoverished Afghan women by selling embroidered items they make. "She is now safe and well. I am relieved for Kerry Jane and her family with whom I have remained in close contact," said Australia's foreign minister Julie Bishop. "I deeply appreciate the work of the authorities in Afghanistan whose support and assistance facilitated her release, as well as Australian consular staff who continue to provide assistance to Ms Wilson and her family," she said. Australia says it never pays ransom to kidnappers. An Australian and an American were kidnapped in early August in the capital, Kabul, by five gunmen wearing Afghan military uniforms. Three other foreigners who were kidnapped in Kabul over the past year have all been released. AP The suspended president said her conscience is clear Suspended Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, who is accused of breaking fiscal rules to hide federal budget problems, has told senators the allegations against her have no merit. Ms Rousseff, who is fighting to save her job, said history would judge the country if she is removed from office. "I know I will be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit a crime," she told senators at her impeachment trial. Ms Rousseff reminded senators that she was re-elected in 2014 by more than 54 million voters, adding that she has followed the constitution and done what was best for the country at every moment. The left-leaning leader who is in the middle of her second term, said she could not help but taste "the bitterness of injustice" in this process. Brazil's first female president denies wrongdoing and argues that her enemies are carrying out a coup d'etat. The opposition in Congress began creating a climate of instability in early 2015 by refusing to negotiate and throwing fiscal bombs in the face of declining revenues, argued Ms Rousseff in a 30-minute speech. She said the impeachment process had made the recession in Latin America's largest economy worse, flipping the blame on the opposition, which often argues she has to be removed for the financial climate to improve. Ms Rousseff blasted interim president Michel Temer as a usurper. Her vice president turned arch enemy will serve out Ms Rousseff's term if she is removed. Mr Temer took over when the senate voted to impeach and suspend Ms Rousseff for up to 180 days in May while a trial was prepared. Ms Rousseff said Brazilians would never have voted for a man who picked a cabinet of all white men in a country that is more than 50% non-white. The cabinet that Mr Temer put in place in May has been roundly criticised for its lack of diversity. Three of his ministers were also forced to step down within a month of taking office because of corruption allegations. Ms Rousseff said the process against her was launched by Eduardo Cunha, the former speaker of the lower house of Congress, who faces numerous changes of corruption. She said he tried to blackmail her into providing votes from her Workers' Party to quash an ethics inquiry into him. Ms Rousseff said it was an irony of history that she would be judged for crimes she did not commit, and by people who were accused of serious crimes. "I ask that you be just with an honest president," she said, her voice cracking with emotion toward the end of her address. The impeachment process began late last year, when opponents in Congress presented a measure to remove her from office. Her appearance comes a day or two before the senate votes on whether to oust her from the presidency. Several hundred supporters demonstrated outside Congress, and cheered when she arrived. A huge wall was put up there to separate Ms Rousseff supporters and pro-impeachment activists. Her appearance came on the fourth day of the trial which has seen name-calling, shouting and a declaration by the senate president Renan Calheiros that "stupidity is limitless." Opponents claim her manoeuvres were an attempt to continue high spending and mask deficits, which ultimately exacerbated a severe recession. The trial is being presided over by supreme court chief justice Ricardo Lewandowski who warned senators and spectators to remain silent before Ms Rousseff spoke. Many senators applauded when she finished, prompting Mr Lewandowski to temporarily suspend the session. "We are holding a judgment trial here, not a political debate," he said. AP Police seal off an area around the National Criminology Lab in Brussels on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Belgian media reported an explosion rocked the building in the early hours of Monday, the cause was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Damage can be seen at the building of the National Criminology Lab in Brussels on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Belgian media reported an explosion rocked the building in the early hours of Monday, the cause was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Police and investigators work at the scene of an explosion at the building of the National Criminology Lab in Brussels on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Belgian media reported an explosion rocked the building in the early hours of Monday, the cause was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Damage can be seen at the building of the National Criminology Lab in Brussels on Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Belgian media reported an explosion rocked the building in the early hours of Monday, the cause was not immediately known. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) Belgium's criminal forensics laboratory was set alight in the early hours of Monday in an attack that prosecutors said was more likely linked to organised crime than terrorism. Five people were detained near the National Institute of Criminology in Brussels and are being questioned over the fire which caused an explosion but no casualties. Expand Close A bomb exploded at the Brussels Institute of Criminology in the north of Brussels this morning / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A bomb exploded at the Brussels Institute of Criminology in the north of Brussels this morning "It was arson, deliberate arson, at the laboratory of the federal police," prosecutor Ine Van Wymersch said. "With a fire you get explosions, but it's not that explosives were thrown inside or installed." When asked whether the attack could be terrorism she said: "It is a path we are looking down. But certainly not the first one we are thinking about. "We are thinking more of deliberate arson by organised crime. We have no indications that it was terrorism." Belgium has been on high alert since Islamist attacks over the past year. Several attackers entered the site of the institute by car around 2 a.m. and went into the wing of the building where the laboratories are located, prosecutors said. More details about how the fire was started were not yet known as the building was still too dangerous to enter. The institute is linked to the Belgian ministry of justice and carries out forensic investigations in criminal cases, its director said. A man who sparked a huge police search after reporting seeing a child being bundled into the back of a van, has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. He was detained and questioned after detectives were unable to find any evidence to corroborate his claims of a child abduction. Expand Close Police at the scene last week / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police at the scene last week The man came forward on Thursday afternoon claiming to have seen a child being forced against their will into the back of a Volkswagen Transporter van on Redstone Hill in Redhill, Surrey. Police described the witness as "credible" and, despite the fact no child had been reported missing in the area, launched a huge operation. Officers scoured the scene, undertook forensic searches and even sent up the force helicopter in a desperate bid to establish what had happened. Detectives issued CCTV images of a black van they believed had been involved but later ruled the driver out of the inquiry after tracing the vehicle. Expand Close The abandoned child's mountain bike was later discounted Credit: Surrey Police / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The abandoned child's mountain bike was later discounted Credit: Surrey Police A child's mountain bike that was found near the scene was also later discounted when a local landlord admitted dumping it there. Surrey Police also made a series of public appeals for information in a bid to find out more, receiving more than 130 calls from concerned members of the public. But after being unable to find any evidence to corroborate the witnesss claims, he was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. A spokesman for Surrey Police said: Officers had no reason to disbelieve the account of the witness and had to act quickly in order to prevent what was suspected to be a risk to the life of a child. In the days since, officers have carried out an extensive and thorough investigation into this report which has not brought about any evidence to corroborate it. Senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Pete Fulton, said: The risk to life and safeguarding children are our first priorities when presented with a report like this, which is why we took the course of action we did. Time was of the essence, which is why we asked for help from the public and media to find out what happened as soon as we could. Reports of this nature are extremely rare and we are sure the public understands that when information such as this is received we treat it extremely seriously and must do all we can to find out investigate whats happened." He went on: It is understandable this has caused a considerable amount of concern and confusion in the area, which will last beyond just these few days. We will continue to work with the community and realise that this has been disruptive and had a large impact, however I hope that you are reassured that we take your safety extremely seriously. The witness has been re-interviewed at length about their account and at this stage and as a result of our inquiries no further information has come to light to corroborate the report. There has been no report of any missing child in connection with the case and we have carried out extensive enquiries. These have included reviewing hours of CCTV from across the area, carrying out house-to-house inquiries, talking to commuters at the railway station, checking potential vehicles matching the description and missing children databases, receiving more than 100 calls from members of the public in less than 24 hours, all of which takes a significant amount of time. Once again we are extremely grateful for the support from the public and the media. The man has been released on bail. Angela Merkel (right) poses for a selfie with a visitor during the German government's open day at the Chancellery in Berlin. Photo: Getty Images Germany's top migration official predicts that fewer than 300,000 refugees will come to the country this year, a sharp drop compared with the height of the migrant crisis in 2015. Frank-Juergen Weise, the head of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, said in an interview in the German weekly 'Bild am Sonntag' he expects between 250,000 and 300,000 new arrivals in 2016. Germany saw an unprecedented influx of asylum-seekers last year, due in part to Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to allow migrants stuck in other European countries to come to Germany. Officials have spoken of more than a million arrivals in 2015, but Mr Weise said the actual figure was likely lower once duplicate registrations and people who travelled on to other countries are excluded. Anti-migrant feeling has increased strongly in Germany over the past year, resulting in growing support for a nationalist party to the right of Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats and a fall in popularity for the chancellor, who has stuck by her motto, "We will manage". A poll published yesterday by 'Bild am Sonntag' found 50pc of respondents opposed a fourth term for Mrs Merkel, should she decide to run again in 2017. In an interview yesterday, Mrs Merkel declined to be drawn on whether she would run again, or even when she might announce her intention to stand again. She also attacked those countries in Europe who say they won't take in Muslim refugees, a position that several eastern European governments have taken in response to the influx of migrants from the Islamic world. Mrs Merkel said she was hopeful that European Union members would reach an agreement on outstanding questions arising from the migrant crisis, one of which is how to fairly distribute asylum-seekers among all the bloc's 28 member states. She told German public broadcaster ARD that "everybody has to do their bit" and didn't rule out the possibility of letting some countries take in fewer migrants if they contribute more financially instead. "How the individual components are weighted will have to be seen," said Mrs Merkel. But she reiterated her stance that blocking refugees based on their religion was misguided. "What I continue to think is wrong is that some say 'we generally don't want Muslims in our country, regardless of whether there's a humanitarian need or not'." Dr. Wayne Barber, who had two separate stints as senior pastor of Woodland Park Baptist Church, died Monday after a short illness. Dr. Barber had recently been on a medical leave. He was pastor of Woodland Park from 1981-1999 before taking a pastorate in Albuquerque, N.M. He returned to Woodland Park in February 2011. For 14 years, Dr. Church officials said Dr. Barber "has taught the message of 'Living Grace' which is 'Christ in you the hope of glory,' around the world." He was president and founder of Living Grace Ministries. He was Sr. Pastor of Hoffmantown Church in Albuquerque from March 2002 until January 2011. Dr. Barber authored several books, the most recent one published by Broadman and Holman is entitled Living Grace: Letting Jesus Be Jesus In You. He has also co-authored the Following God series of studies published by AMG. A graduate of Mars Hill College, he attended Southern Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. He received an honorary doctorate from North Florida Baptist Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Fla., and Covington Theological Seminary in Fort Oglethorpe. He and his wife, Diana, had been married since 1969, with two children, Steven and Stephanie, and seven grandchildren. The restaurant owner, left, told the two women that 'terrorist are Muslims and all Muslims are terrorist' In the latest instance of intercultural tensions in France, a restaurant owner in the Paris suburb of Tremblay-en-France is facing an investigation after chasing two veiled Muslim women out of his premises on Saturday. His actions, caught on video, provoked a furious response and prompted prosecutors to open an inquiry into racial discrimination. The incident, filmed by one of the two women and posted online, shows the other saying: "We don't want to be served by racists." The restaurateur responds: "Racists like me don't plant bombs and don't kill people." He added that "terrorists are Muslim and all Muslims are terrorists. I don't want people like you in my place. Now you know it you can get out." The boss of Le Cenacle restaurant later apologised for his actions as calls to boycott his establishment flooded social media sites alongside negative reviews. Things "got out of hand," the restaurant owner said to a group of men that confronted him over the incident, due to the current tensions around the burkini debate, but also because he had a friend who had died at the Bataclan attack last November. A source close to the investigation said that the proprietor had left his home along with his family for security reasons. Mayors of 28 French towns are maintaining bans that prohibit wearing full-body swimsuits, known as burkinis, in defiance of a ruling by Frances highest administrative court, in a move that is "likely to create antagonism and irreparable tension" according to interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve. Rightwing figures are pushing for a nationwide ban to be written into law, led by former president Nicolas Sarkozy who this week launched his bid to regain the presidency in next year's election. "As the prime minister has said, the government refuses to legislate on the matter because any such law would be unconstitutional, ineffective and likely to create antagonism and irreparable tension", Mr Cazeneuve said. "However, Muslims must continue to engage with us over gender equality, the inviolable nature of the principles of the French Republic, and tolerance in order to live together," he said, noting that in overruling the ban, the court had "stated the law". The interior minister lashed out at the opposition for trying to earn political points from the burkini controversy at a time when the country has been rattled by a string of deadly attacks claimed by Islamic State militants. "Certain opposition leaders are making a lot of noise. They think that in the current context of terror threats, we can abandon the fundamental principles of law as embodied in the Constitution," he said, warning that such a move would be "a serious mistake." John Lennon's killer will remain behind bars after being denied parole for the ninth time. The New York state Board of Parole on Monday announced that it has again denied parole to Mark David Chapman, who on December 8 1980, shot and killed the former Beatle outside his luxury Manhattan apartment. The 61-year-old Chapman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is serving a sentence of 20 years to life in Wende Correctional Facility in western New York. In a description of its decision, the parole board noted that Chapman has since described the murder as "selfish and evil". The board concluded that the factors supporting Chapman's parole were outweighed by the premeditated and "celebrity-seeking" nature of the crime. "Your release would be incompatible with the welfare of society and would so deprecate that seriousness of the crime as to undermine respect for the law," the board wrote. Chapman was notified of the board's decision last week. He was last denied parole in 2014, and will be eligible to seek parole again in 2018. In his 2014 parole hearing, Chapman told the board that he still gets letters about the pain he caused in his pursuit of notoriety. "I am sorry for causing that type of pain," he said. "I am sorry for being such an idiot and choosing the wrong way for glory." At a 2010 hearing, Chapman recalled that he had considered shooting Johnny Carson or Elizabeth Taylor instead, and said again that he chose Lennon because the ex-Beatle was more accessible, that his century-old apartment building by Central Park "wasn't quite as cloistered". The transcript of his latest hearing was not immediately released. AP The man who claims a royal title is being held in Las Vegas ahead of facing court A man who claims a British royal title is in jail in Las Vegas ahead of court hearings on criminal charges that could put him in prison for up to 14 years. Alexander Montagu-Manchester, 53, is due in court on Tuesday to face a burglary charge in a break-in at a home in July. He is also set to appear in court on Wednesday in a separate false police report case that led to his arrest on August 12. Montagu-Manchester then faces a judge on Thursday over a misdemeanour 2015 driving under the influence of drugs case. He tells police he is the 13th Duke of Manchester. The title dates back 950 years to the time of William the Conqueror. Montagu-Manchester is represented by court-appointed public defenders. AP A soldier stands guard near the site of an attack by a suicide bomber who drove a car laden with explosives into a compound run by local militias in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen August 29, 2016 Soldiers and people gather at the site of an attack by a suicide bomber who drove a car laden with explosives into a compound run by local militias in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen August 29, 2016 Soldiers gather at the site of an attack by a suicide bomber who drove a car laden with explosives into a compound run by local militias in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen August 29, 2016 At least 60 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack on an army training camp in Yemen's second city of Aden on Monday, security officials said in a new toll. Medics from Al-Wali hospital in Aden said that dozens of those wounded in the morning attack who were hospitalised had succumbed to their wounds. A security official gave an initial figure of 11 dead in the car bombing, which struck a gathering of Yemeni army recruits at the camp. A teenager who went missing after going on a spring break holiday was raped, shot and fed to alligators, the FBI has revealed. In 2009, Brittanee Drexel (17) travelled to Myrtle Beach from Rochester, New York in 2009 with some friends without telling her parents where she was going. She disappeared without a trace after leaving her friends hotel on April 25. However, the FBI has now revealed what they believe happened to the teenager after receiving information from a prisoner. The inmate who gave the alleged confession, Taquan Brown, is serving a 25-year sentence for voluntary manslaughter in a different case. Brown told authorities he was present in the stash house during the last months of Ms Drexels life. Agent Gerrick Munoz gave the first detailed account of what investigators think happened to Brittane. His account, contained in a federal court transcript obtained by The Post and Courier paper of Charleston, is based on a statement from a prison inmate who claims he was present when she was killed. Brown told authorities he was present during the final moments of Drexels life, Munoz said. In the transcript, Brown tells investigators that he went to a "stash house" in the McClellanville area in the days after Drexel was abducted. He said he saw saw Timothy Da'Shaun Taylor (then aged 16) "sexually abusing Brittanee Drexel," the agent said. In his depositionn, Brown said he saw others in the room with the girl and Da'Shaun Taylor, and he kept walking through the house to the back yard to give some money to Da'Shaun Taylor's father, Shaun Taylor. Seconds later, Drexel ran from the house. However, she was "pistol-whipped" and taken back inside. According to Brown's account, he heard two gunshots and he assumed that Shaun Taylor shot the girl. The teen's body was then taken away. Agent Munoz said that the girl's body has not been found but "several witnesses have told us Miss Drexel's body was placed in a pit, or gator pit, to have her body disposed of. Eaten by the gators." Munoz told the court that investigators have searched several alligator ponds to no avail. Investigators also have searched the stash house, the agent testified. The FBI agent's testimony came out during a bond hearing on an unusual charge against Da'Shaun Taylor that his attorney, David Aylor, characterized in the transcript as "clearly nothing but a squeeze-job" designed to pressure him into confessing. The FBI announced in June that it is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for Ms Drexel's murder. A man charged in a murder in East Ridge that happened over 16 years ago has been returned to Chattanooga. Jason Kirk Sanford, who is now 43, is set to appear in the courtroom of Criminal Court Judge Tom Greenholtz on Sept. 8. Sanford, who had moved to Westland, Mich., is charged with first-degree murder in the June 2000 death of Sarah Lea Davis Perry. Ms. Perry was 21 when she was last seen on the morning of Wednesday, June 14, 2000. The following afternoon, Thursday, June 15, 2000, two 12-year old boys playing in Spring Creek off the 1600 block of Springvale Avenue in East Ridge came upon a garbage can. One of the boys dared the other to open the lid. Inside the can was the partially nude body of Sarah Perry. The young mother, who had two small boys of her own, had been strangled.Just a few hours before she disappeared, Sarah Perry called East Ridge Police (at 4:11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2000) to request they check her home on Lockhart Lane for her estranged boyfriend, Jason Sanford. She said Sanford had threatened to hurt her and was trying to find her. An hour later, at 5:11 a.m., a police officer stopped to talk to her as she walked along the 6400 block of Ringgold Road. She told the officer Jason Sanford was angry because she had ended their relationship. Several other witnesses reported seeing Sarah Perry in East Ridge. She was last seen alive at 8:30 that morning.The following evening (June 15, 2000), a few hours after the discovery of Sarah Perrys body, Jason Sanford bought a one-way ticket and boarded a Greyhound bus to Detroit, Mich. He has since been living in the Detroit metro area.Sarahs mother, Pam Hilton, contacted the Cold Case Unit of the Hamilton County District Attorney's Office in May of this year. Detective Brian Ashburn, who is assigned to the CCU by Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond, talked with her and then began a review of the case file. Officials said, "He quickly recognized the case could be solved."Detective Ashburn and CCU investigator Michael Ray went to Detroit to conduct interviews in the case. Then, District Attorney General Neal Pinkston and CCU Supervisor Mike Mathis presented the case to the Grand Jury.Sanford was held in the Westland, Mich., jail pending extradition. A Hamilton County Sheriffs Office fugitive team traveled to Detroit to return him to Hamilton County. A North Korean statement warned the US finding fault with its latest missile firing from a submarine 'would only precipitate its self-destruction' North Korea has branded a UN Security Council statement strongly condemning its four latest ballistic missile launches as "a hostile act" perpetrated by the US and vowed to respond "as a full-fledged military power." A foreign ministry statement reiterated a warning that the US "rash act" of finding fault with the North's latest missile firing from a submarine on August 24 "would only precipitate its self-destruction." A press statement approved on Friday night by all 15 Security Council members, including North Korea ally China, called the four launches in July and August "grave violations" of a ban on all ballistic missile activity. North Korea's foreign ministry accused the US of instigating the statement to deter the country's "legitimate right to self-defence." AP Russia is straining its relationship with Nato by holding unannounced military exercises, said the Western military alliance's deputy secretary general. Russia had staged large drills with no advance notification with increasing frequency, said Alexander Vershbow. He said there had been about a dozen in the past two years. Russia's drills are allowed by a loophole in a security agreement signed with Western countries, said Mr Vershbow on a visit to Bucharest. He said Nato wants to "develop a more stringent regime to increase transparency and ...predictability and a way to better stabilise what is a very unsatisfactory relationship with Russia." Alliance members have not staged snap drills since the end of the Cold War, said Mr Vershbow. Nato members Poland and Romania are uneasy about Russia's military presence near their borders. AP Turkey sent tanks to help Syrian rebels retake the key IS-held town of Jarablus and to contain the expansion of Syria's Kurds (AP Photo/Halit Onur Sandal) Turkey has warned predominantly Kurdish Syrian forces of more strikes by Turkish forces unless they withdraw east of the River Euphrates immediately. Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke as Syrian opposition groups reported that Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have captured more towns and villages in northern Syria. Turkish tanks rolled across the border last week to help Syrian rebels seize the town of Jarablus from the Islamic State group, a move that was also aimed at deterring further advances by Kurdish-led forces. The fighting pits Turkey, a Nato ally, against a US-backed proxy that is the most effective ground force battling IS militants in Syria's five-year-old civil war. It leaves Washington in the tough spot of having to choose between two allies, and is likely to divert resources from the fight against IS. President Barack Obama will meet the president of Turkey next week when he travels to Asia for meetings with world leaders. The White House said Mr Obama and Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet on Sunday on the sidelines of a major economic summit. The two will discuss Turkey's recent assault against the Islamic State group in Syria and rising tensions with Kurds in the region. Both Turkey and the United States have ordered the main Kurdish fighting force, the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, to withdraw to the east bank of the Euphrates. "The YPG has to immediately cross east of the Euphrates River as they promised the United States and as they announced they would," said Mr Cavusoglu. "If they don't, they will be a target." The Kurdish-led force known as the Syrian Democratic Forces crossed the Euphrates earlier this month and drove IS militants out of Manbij, a key supply hub south of Jarablus, after a 10-week campaign. Both Turkey and the United States have ordered the YPG militia to withdraw to the east bank of the river. YPG leaders say they have, but their units advise the Syrian Democratic Forces, and it is not clear if any remain west of the Euphrates. Syrian opposition activists have said that at least 35 civilians were killed in northern Syria in the Turkish-led operation so far. Turkey denied any civilians had been hit. A Turkish soldier was killed by a Kurdish rocket attack on Saturday, becoming the first such fatality in Turkey's ground offensive. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Turkey-backed rebels have captured 21 towns and villages near Jarablus from the Syria Democratic Forces. The Observatory also reported clashes on Monday between the rebels and IS fighters on the western edge of Jarablus. The Local Coordination Committees, an activist collective, said the rebels had captured seven more villages since late on Sunday. AP Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) has vowed to devote equal energy to combating both Isil jihadists and the Syrian Kurdish fighters. Photo: Getty Images Dozens of civilians were killed in Turkish air strikes on Kurdish-held areas of Syria yesterday as the West's two main allies in the conflict inched closer to full-blown war. Some 35 people died in strikes on Jeb el-Kussa and Al-Amarneh, villages close to the Turkish border that are held by pro-Kurdish forces. Turkey claimed that they were "terrorists" from outlawed militias. The strikes came a day after an attack by Kurdish fighters left one Turkish soldier dead and two injured. Ankara sent tanks across the border last week to help Syrian rebels drive Isil out of the frontier town of Jarabulus, but Turkish officials have openly stated that their goal is as much about ensuring Kurdish forces do not expand their territory along Turkey's frontier as it is about driving away jihadists. Operation Euphrates Shield, as the offensive has been named, would split Kurdish territory and prevent Syria's Kurds from creating a federal state - something Turkey has long opposed because of fears that it could embolden Kurdish separatist sentiments at home. The US has supported Turkey, hoping to gain the involvement of its huge professional military army in the fight against Isil. However, Ankara has so far focused mostly on targeting Kurdish forces, who have been a reliable ally to the US. Saif Abu Bakr, the commander of a battalion of Syrian rebels inside Jarabulus, said Turkey planned to take Kurdish-held Manbij and push on to the city of al-Bab, 80km south of the border. US support for Turkey has left some Syrian Kurds feeling betrayed. "The Kurds are the most effective force in fighting terrorism, the US needs us," said Idriss Nissan, a political analyst in the northern Syrian town of Kobane. Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the DC-based Middle East Institute, said: "We're now seeing US-supplied weaponry being used by both sides to fight each other." The Observatory, a Britain-based monitoring group with a network of sources in Syria, said Turkish-allied forces had seized at least two villages south of Jarablus, Jeb el-Kussa and Al-Amarneh, that were held by militias loyal to the SDF. The fighting killed 20 civilians in Jeb el-Kussa and 15 in Al-Amarneh, while scores more were wounded, it said. Turkish-backed rebels said they had seized a string of villages south of Jarablus controlled by SDF-aligned forces and had moved west to take several villages held by Isil. Turkish security sources said war planes and artillery had hit YPG sites south of Jarablus and towards Manbij, a city that was captured by the SDF this month in a US-backed operation. Colonel Ahmed Osman, head of the Turkish-aligned Sultan Murad rebel group, said the force was "certainly heading in the direction of Manbij" and hoped to take it. Ankara wants to stop Kurdish forces gaining control of an unbroken swathe of Syrian territory on Turkey's frontier, which it fears could embolden the Kurdish PKK militant group that has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkey. One witness in Karkamis, a Turkish border town, heard jets and artillery strikes within Syria. A Turkish official said that heavier air strikes could come within hours. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to devote equal energy to combating both Isil jihadists and the Syrian Kurdish fighters. Two people accused of being part of an Islamic State group cell of medics attempting to launch an anthrax attack in Kenya have been arrested, police said. Mohamed Shukri Yerrow, an intern doctor at Malindi sub-county hospital, was arrested on Sunday along with Abdulrazak Abdinuur following a tip-off from members of the public, said the Anti-Terror Police Unit. The alleged leader of the cell, Mohammed Abdi Ali, a medical intern in Makueni county, and his wife, a medical student in Uganda, were arrested in May. Two other medics are missing although some rights activists have suggested that police could be involved in their disappearance. Kenya is struggling to battle the Islamic State group's recruitment of some of the country's youths. At least 20 young Kenyans have travelled to Libya to join the extremist group, according to police. Authorities fear that the Islamic State is trying to establish a presence in Kenya, East Africa's biggest economy and telecommunications and transport hub. Al Qaida has long had a presence in the country through its affiliation with neighbouring Somalia's extremist group al Shabab. There is concern that those who join IS and al Qaida will be used to launch attacks on Western targets in Kenya and neighbouring countries. Al Shabab has used hundreds of Kenyan youths in its ranks to launch attacks like the April 2015 attack at Garissa University which killed more than 148 people. 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." Alison Wells/Special to the Independent Mail Lisa Lasky holds a baby opossum that's only about three months old. He's part of a litter of five she's caring for in her Seneca home. SHARE A two-month-old opossum is hand fed by syringe after his mother was killed. The Opossum's Pouch rescues and rehabilitates hundreds of opossums across the Upstate. Connie Reese holds Opie, a one-year-old opossum who is too tame to release back to the wild. She's part of the rescue group The Opossum's Pouch. A litter of baby opossums climb and play in an animal cage. A baby opossum nibbles on a grape as a treat. Members of The Opossum's Pouch hope he will be able to return to the wild in a few months. By Allison Wells, Special to Independent Mail SENECA Lisa Lasky has been an animal lover her entire life, and recently that has expanded beyond the usual cats and dogs. Lasky has come to embrace the opossum though a group called The Opossum's Pouch and her new friend Connie Reese. While not generally thought of as a cute and cuddly animal, opossums are often left orphaned after the death of a mother or injured after being hit by a car. Reese, who lives in Greenville, began rescuing them about seven years ago, and Lasky joined her group earlier this year. "They aren't endangered, but you don't want to just leave them to die," Lasky said. Lasky's home in Seneca is now filled with the squeaks and chirps of baby opossums she is rehabilitating. The 15 she currently houses range in age from 2 months to 6 months, and she hopes most will be rehabilitated enough to return to the wild. "Releasing them back outside is the main goal. We want them to stay wild," Lasky said. But not all can be released, Reese said. Two juveniles in Lasky's care, Spike and Jasmine, are too humanized and cannot survive in the wild. They will live with a rescue worker until a permanent home can be found in a zoo or wildlife sanctuary. But why the opossum? Reese, who fell in love with the opossum after rescuing other wildlife, said they're very intelligent and misunderstood animals. "I started because they're the underdog, and people think they're nasty and full of disease. That's just not true," Reese said. Opossums hardly ever get rabies, she said. She added that opossums don't get the highly infectious parvovirus or distemper like raccoons or dogs. They are an important part of the ecosystem. Lasky said they eat mice, ticks, spiders, and cockroaches. They will also scavenge carrion and road kill, and they even kill and eat snakes. "Opossums are great for the environment. If you have opossums in your yard, you have a healthy yard. We tell people that pests virtually disappear with opossums nearby," Lasky said. Both women work with The Opossum's Pouch, an Upstate rescue group. Reese said they have about 10 volunteers who take in injured mothers and babies, or babies who have been orphaned. The members of the group field calls all the time from people who have found small opossums or have accidentally hit a mother with babies in her pouch. The first piece of advice Lasky recommended was to check for other young opossums in the area. They make a sound similar to a kitten's sneeze. Then, they said, contact the rescue group. They can help a rescuer know what steps to take next. "We really urge people to get in touch with us right away. There are different protocols based on the size and age of the opossum," Reese added. Opossums are North America's only marsupial, with the mothers carrying their young in a stomach pouch for about two months before they're old enough to venture onto her back to be carried. They reach maturity at about 6 months of age. In the wild, however, opossums only live 12 to 18 months. They can live to up to 4 years old in captivity, Reese said. Dr. Robert Tope with Electric City Animal Clinic in Anderson is a veterinarian they often consult and take opossums to when needed. He said the members of the group are wonderful in helping the animals. "These people have big hearts and they do a great job," he said. But one thing Tope did say was that opossums and other wildlife are not pets. People who rehabilitate these and other wildlife critters have been trained to do so and know that they will be releasing the animals as soon as they're able. The Opossum's Pouch does have several standing needs. First is more volunteers to rehabilitate animals and help get them ready to release back to the wild. But they also need items such as bird cages and carriers to house the opossums, blankets, and even building materials such as pallet wood and hardware cloth. They also have a standing account which accepts donations with Electric City Animal Clinic in Anderson. Ultimately, it's an understanding of a vastly misunderstood marsupial that Lasky and Reese are seeking. "We just want people to like them and know that they won't hurt you," Reese said. For more information on The Opossum's Pouch and opossum rescue, visit the opossumspouch.org. Farm Tour is an opportunity for folks to enjoy a self-paced road-tripping weekend themed around the Chattanooga regions local foodshed. Purchasing a $20 car pass offers access during the first weekend of October to an up close and personal look at local food production. This annual event provides an opportunity to meet the farmers featured in the TasteBuds local foodguide publication and serves as a fundraiser for Grow Chattanooga, the non-profit local food program that supports them. This weekend of outdoor activity provides a chance to expand your understanding of local agriculture and source local products directly from a farm. At participating farms, visitors will experience a variety of activities that can be enjoyed by all ages. These activities include guided tours, hayrides, and an open farm stand for purchasing local fare. Bringing cash and a cooler allows you to collect a picnic made of the freshest ingredients around. Walk the fields, meet the animals, and learn about both the challenges and rewards of food cultivation and production in the area. View, taste, and experience the richness of regional farming. Journey for yourself the distance between harvest and home. Carpooling and caravanning is encouraged. More information is available at growchattanooga.org. Tickets can be purchased at crabtreefarms.org or by calling 423 493-9155. For a map of participating farms, visit bit.ly/farmtour2016 Crye-Leike Real Estate Services announced that Sara Ridley of Harrison has become affiliated with Crye-Leike's Ooltewah branch office. As a realtor and affiliate broker, Ms. Ridley serves the real estate needs of buyers and sellers in and around Hamilton County. She specializes in residential real estate with a focus on new home construction and helping first-time home buyers. Ms. Ridley is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Tennessee Association of Realtors and Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors. Crye-Leike Real Estate Services, the nations sixth largest residential real estate brokerage firm and the largest in Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and the MidSouth, has eight branch and franchise offices located in Southeast Tennessee to serve buyers and sellers. For further information about real estate in Hamilton County, visit Crye-Leikes Ooltewah branch office, at 5913 Main St., Ste. 107, Ooltewah. or visit CryeLeikes website at www.cryeleike.com. Affiliate broker Sara Ridley may be reached at 423 238-5440, or sara.ridley@crye-leike.com Nihar Info Global applies for trademark registration for 'ONVO' Nihar Info Global Limited informed to the exchanges that it has successfully applied for Trademark registration of its private label "ONVO" under the 'Trademark Classes 18 and 21. ... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:37 pm Rupee rises 4 paisa to 82.29/$ Early on Friday, the rupee strengthened against the US dollar by 4 paise to 82.29, helped by a weak US dollar in the international market and strong local equities. The influx of new fore... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:30 pm PNB Housing Finance's net profit increases by 12% PNB Housing Finance announced on Thursday that its September 20222023 quarter net profit increased by 11.7% to Rs 262.63 crore, thanks to a little increase in core income. In the same period... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:25 pm Dhanuka Agritech soars ~8% as board to consider buyback Dhanuka Agritechs stock surged as much as 8% in Fridays intraday session and touched a high of Rs742. The company stated in its filing with the exchanges that at its ensuing ge... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:18 pm Markets trade flat amid volatility; Nifty below 17,800 dragged by metals Domestic benchmark indices in a volatile session and trading flat after a gap-up opening on Friday. Both the Sensex and Nifty benchmarks are in the green during the afternoon market session ami... October 28, 2022 | 28-10-2022 2:00 pm Beginning on Tuesday, at 8:30 a.m., McCutcheon Road, between Gunbarrel Road and Elam Lane, will be closed for construction. This closure is scheduled for five months, reopening on Jan. 20, 20 17 . Detours will be posted. City Gets Ambitious Data-Collection Project Up And Scanning By Gwendolyn Purdom in News on Aug 29, 2016 4:35PM Two years after it was announced, Chicago's ambitious "Array of Things" network of tracking sensors is finally going up around the city. Last week, the first two of a planned 500 data-collecting "nodes" were affixed to traffic light poles at Damen and Archer avenues in Bridgeport and at Damen Avenue and Cermak Road in Pilsen, according to a post on the University of Chicago's project site. Each sensor is designed to monitor air quality, ambient sound, vehicle and food traffic, climate conditions and more. The efforta collaboration between the university, Argonne National Laboratory, the School of the Art Institute and the City of Chicagois expected to stretch through 2018. The node system, which officials have compared to a sort of fitness tracker for the city itself, will be the first of its kind, though other cities like Atlanta and Seattle have similar projects in the works. Collected data could help city government and groups analyze the impact of climate change, plan transportation routes, prevent natural disasters like flooding and improve traffic safety, backers say. But the Big Brother aspect has some privacy advocates concerned. When the city's Department of Innovation and Technology released a draft of the network's privacy policies in late June, some questioned how project managers will handle issues like requests from law enforcement. The published policies clarified that most images gathered from node cameras would be destroyed once they are processed; and a previous plan to track smart phones in the area surrounding each node was dropped earlier in the planning process. Locations of Phase One nodes, image via the Array of Things website Data collected by the "Array of Things" will be available to the public starting in mid-October via the city's data portal as well as other channels, such as the data platform Plenar.io, the UChicago write-up said. Its truly doing science in the city and out in the communities. Well be able to engage with community groups to help them make the data their own and figure out to use it to address the questions they have, Chicago's Chief Information Officer Brenna Berman said in a statement. Youre going to see community groups use this data to understand their communities and neighborhoods better as we all try to build a better life here in Chicago. Throughout September and October, project managers will install 50 beehive-like nodes along Lake Michigan, and in The Loop, Logan Square and Pilsen for the network's first phase. The remaining 450 are set to go up around the city by the end of 2018. Locations were picked for Phase One based on research and interactions organizers had with community groups. Residents in Pilsen, for example, have been shown to suffer from asthma at higher rates, so those nodes will monitor air quality. With its $3.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation and additional funding from the Chicago Innovation Exchange and Argonne National Laboratory, the project could potentially set off a chain reaction in cities around the world looking for ways to better address urban issues. As Berman told USA Today: For residents, the ability to have real-time information when you bike to school or to work and to choose the lowest pollution route, once all the nodes are up, is something we envision for the future. ... What it means for the city is if we know there are pockets of poor air, we can work with environmentalists and community groups to improve air quality in those areas of the city that need that focus. An Italian adventurer lost his life in an unfortunate accident while broadcasting his daring jump live on Facebook. The 28-year-old Armin Schmieder was a wingsuit pilot and an avid jumper and hailed from Freiburg. Before performing this act, he told his followers today you fly with me and there he went, leaping off the mountain in complete exuberance. dailymail The incident took place near Kandersteg in Switzerland, a popular base jumping location. The video started with the pilot getting ready with his wingsuit while the stunt ended in a tragedy when Armin lost his life. After a few minutes into the video, a shout was heard along with a huge sound of a bang against something, which was instantly reported by those who were watching the video. dailymail Armin was an experienced skydiver, but he was still an amateur with wing-suit flying. He was the father of a young child and has been part of several adventurous activities before. His body has been recovered by the local police. (Also read- All You Need To Know About India's BASE Jumping Daredevil Satyendra Verma) There is a very fine line that separates the geniuses from the crazies. I mean you have to be a little off in the head to have the self-belief to pursue your passion even when the whole world calls your invention/discovery totally bogus. Every genius was and is crazy in their own way, some more than the others. This is a list on them. 1. Charlie Chaplin newyorker.com A fantastic artist and an entertainer par excellence, his silent films are still spoken about by cinema lovers around the world. But he was a little weird. Okay, very weird. He hated children, but that's not the crazy bit - even I hate kids. Here's the crazy - he used to throw custard pies at naked women. Some call him the inventor of the "casting couch". He would "audition" actresses by making them strip. He would mime-fondle them before throwing custard pies at them. There is no why to this. 2. Pythagoras rosestein.ch Remember the Pythagoras theorem from school? This is that guy. Revered as a famous mathematician and scientist, many don't know that he actually started his own religion- Pythagoreanism. Some of the commandments of Pythagoreanism, however, were a bit odd like - "Do not, under any circumstances, eat beans", "Do not walk on highways" , and "Do not step over a crossbar." No wonder Pythagoreanism didn't gain popularity along the way. 3. Nikola Tesla waterfordwhispersnews.com Everybody knows what a genius Tesla was and how, even though he was a true visionary, he never got his due from the world. But Tesla was also completely crazy. He had a serious case of obsessive-compulsive disorder. He was a germophobe who refused to touch anything that was a little dirty or anything that was round in shape. He was also in love with the number 3. He would walk 3 times around the block before entering the building. He would only stay in a hotel room that was divisible by 3. He would require 18 napkins for each meal - 3 stacks of 6. Funnily, after he built a high-frequency oscillator, he invited Mark Twain over because he was having problems with his bowel movements. He told Twain to stand on the machine. It took not more than 90 seconds for Twain to run for the bathroom. Nikolai later said that he shook the poop out of Mark Twain. 4. Ben Franklin wikimedia One of the founding fathers of the United States and an author among a host of other important things, Ben Franklin was a really smart guy, no doubt about it. He also had a rather weird fetish, if you may call it that. He loved GILFs. For those who don't know what that means, he used to love having sex with old (really old) women. Talking about his odd taste, he once wrote, "In all your amours you should prefer old women to young ones... Because there is no hazard of children. which irregularly produc'd may be attended with much inconvenience... Because thro' more experience, they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an intrigue to prevent suspicion... and lastly they are so grateful. (sic.)" Hey, whatever rocks your boat, right? 5. Michelangelo techstory.in Michelangelo is the most well-known and arguably the greatest artist of all time. But he wasn't known to be very hygienic. He would even go to bed in his clothes and boots. His assistant said he would sometimes go so long without taking his boots off that his skin would come away with his boots. Like snake skin. Excuse me while I take a moment to barf here. 6. James Watson Youtube/ World Science Festival James Watson was the man who won a Nobel Prize for his work in discovering DNA. For someone who was so intelligent, he was quite racist, and that was the problem. He actually believes that Africans are inherently less intelligent than whites. Wonder what his opinion is now that an intelligent white guy like Trump is running for President. 7. Winston Churchill libertylawsite.com If you go beyond the fact that Winston Churchill was one of the most respected leaders of the 20th century, you wouldn't deny the fact that he was a complete nutjob. He would have random quirks including parading around his office in his birthday suit. Both Franklin D. Roosevelt and his son Elliot are known to have met Churchill chilling in all his glory. Elliot even walked into Churchill's office one day to find him standing completely naked smoking a cigar while dictating a letter to his secretary. A male secretary. 8. Morarji Desai Flickr The first Prime Minister to head India's first non-Congress government, Morarji Desai was known to be a very intelligent man. But every genius has to be a weirdo in one way or the other, right? Desai used to famously drink his own urine. Every day, without fail. A lot of famous people do it nowadays, but famous people are stupid, this guy wasn't. 9. Salvador Dali citylifemadrid.com Dali was a great artist, no two ways about it. His surrealist paintings were truly a visual treat. But as his iconic mustache would suggest, he was also crazy. He used to think that he was possessed. In fact, in 1947, he even got a guy named Gabriele Maria Berardi to perform an exorcism on him. Barardi's fee - a crucifix sculpture made by Dali himself. 10. Lord Byron bl.uk Lord Byron was a very well known British poet who lead the romantic movement of the 19th century. A lover at heart, Byron had a number of affairs. It's his numerous affairs that fuelled his odd hobby. Lord Byron used to love collecting the pubic hair of his lovers. As a trophy. After each affair, Byron would take a lock of his partner's pubes and store it in a file at his publishing house. Those pubes stayed for more than a 100 years after his death. Imagine the plight of the one who found them. Going to work only to stumble upon a pile of pubes. 11. Yoshiro Nakamatsu japantimes.co.jp Yoshiro Nakamatsu is Japanese inventor who is also referred to as the patent king thanks to his number of patents (he has about 3,500 patents to his name) including the CD, DVD and the digital watch. Nakamatsu is a very finicky guy. He's so particular that he has once famously said that he wanted to live on till 144 years, not a second more. To make sure it happens, he even started closely monitoring every single thing he ate. 87-years-old now and diagnosed with terminal cancer, he might not live on till 144. But that hasn't bogged him down. Now he wants to try and invent a treatment for his own cancer. First, it was Coldplay and now Will Smith. Celebrities from the West are quite taken with India, it seems. So much so, that they take random trips to our country. We can never forgive Coldplay's Chris Martin for visiting a Delhi lounge on a whim and giving an opportunity to a handful of lucky diners to witness their impromptu gig *sob*. Twitter While they are making amends for the same by actually coming to India for an official concert later this year, Suicide Squad actor Will Smith shocked us by silently flying down to Mumbai! Thats not it. He attended a party at Akshay Kumars home yesterday and thats how we got to know about his surprise visit to India. indianexpress Whats really intriguing is the fact that no one knows the reason behind his surprise visit. What we do know is that, Will Smith graced Akshays party and had a gala time with many other Bollywood celebs. The party was to celebrate Akshays super successful year considering he has delivered three 100 crore films till now. Others who were spotted at the high-profile bash were Varun Dhawan, Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, Rohit Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shraddha Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha among others. The Pursuit of Happiness A photo posted by Alia (@aliaabhatt) on Aug 28, 2016 at 1:09pm PDT Will Smith in da house! Welcome to India #freshprinceofbelair! #aboutlastnight A photo posted by Sonakshi Sinha (@aslisona) on Aug 28, 2016 at 11:01pm PDT According to a source, Akshay played the perfect host by taking care of everyones comfort. Will also tingled his taste buds by savouring some Indian delicacies prepared at Akshays place. Akshay also introduced Will to all other important guests who were present at the bash. Will looked very happy and met and greeted everyone with warmth. He also clicked pictures with the guests. indianexpress While nobody knows how long is Wills Mumbai trip, it would definitely be a treat to see him and Akshay collaborate for a film. Dont you think? Akshay Kumar is definitely going places these days. With three 100 crore films under his belt already, he shocked his fans when he invited Hollywood biggie and Men In Black actor Will Smith to his party last night. While we were going about our businesses like we normally do, we woke up to this pleasant surprise: indianexpress All said and done, trust wifey Twinkle Khanna to entertain the world with her wittiness about her special meeting with Will Smith. This is what Mrs. Funnybones tweeted: Guess who came over for dinner last night?Now I have to stop saying that I have no Willpower:) #freshprinceofbelair pic.twitter.com/hQWR3aaQGA Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) August 29, 2016 Well, one thing is for sure, Twinkle Khanna gushing about her meeting with one of her favourite celebs is all of us! There is a fan girl hidden behind all that celebrity aura of hers. Interestingly, no one really knows whether Will flew down specially to India to attend Akshay Kumars success party or if there is a special agenda behind this surprise visit. The Pursuit of Happiness A photo posted by Alia (@aliaabhatt) on Aug 28, 2016 at 1:09pm PDT However, we are pretty sure that Will Smith was treated to some kickass hospitality and delicious food. In fact, if sources are to be believed Will was looking forward to bingeing on some Punjabi food! The real reason behind his visit to Mumbai will unfold on its own time. Let us all wait and watch. While a lot of us firmly believe that theres no room for humanity in this distressing world, there are some altruistic souls who prove us wrong more often than not. In a Facebook post shared on 26th August, Rameez Shaikh, a local from Mumbai, experienced one of the most blissful moments of his life. Shaikh describes his heart-warming experience of hailing an auto with no money in his pocket, yet reaching the destination on time. All thanks to the auto-driver who goes by the name of Shukla Ji, who helped him in this crucial moment. At the end of his ride, Shukla also offered Shaikh some money so that he could reach back to his office safely. Read the full post here: Its clear from Shaikhs incident that there are people out there who are unfailingly kind and considerate. In order to take advantage of growing chaos in Kashmir valley, Pakistan has formed a team of 22 Members of Its Parliament as special envoys who would travel to various countries to highlight the situation of Kashmir and to cement Pakistan's stand in Kashmir dispute. AFP But Nawaz Sharif's much hyped schemes seem to be hampered by opposition leaders who are accusing Sharif for deliberately not including the leaders of opposition in the team of envoys. Asad Umar, leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Taj Haider of Pakistan People's Party were quoted in Daily Times that Kashmir issue can be raised globally in a befitting manner only with the opposition's backing. PM Nawaz Sharif on Saturday had decided to step up its diplomatic lobbying on Kashmir while naming 22 MPs to go as special envoys to various countries to tell about the unrest in the valley. But Sharif's ambitious plan is turning out to be travel opportunity for most of the MPs; and leaders of opposition too want a piece of cake; and that's why leaders of opposition have voiced their discontent for this paid vacation only given to MPs of ruling party. PTI leader Umar said that most of the nominated MPs did not even attend parliamentary debates and questioned how could they highlight the Kashmir cause. "Nawaz Sharif is not ready to discuss Kashmir with (his Indian counterpart) Narendra Modi," said Umar. PPP leader Taj Haider questioned the selection of MPs envoys and said a majority of the special envoys belonged to treasury benches, the Daily Times reported. He said the government should have included opposition leaders of both houses of the parliament in the group. Despite the enactment of stringent anti-rape law Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 brought after the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case with an aim of providing a strong deterrent against crimes like rapes, nothing seems to deter potential rapists. In yet another shocking incident, a 16-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by 25 persons at an isolated place in Delhi. Indiatimes The minor who belongs to Jamia Nagar of Southeast Delhi was allegedly taken hostage by a boy known to her, blind folded and taken to the isolated place where she was gangraped by 25 men, including the accused, on August 25. After the medical examination of the victim confirmed rape, an FIR was registered on Saturday night and the police have arrested the main accused who according to them is a juvenile. But the rest 24 accused are still at large. According to the girls mother, who is a domestic help, her daughter a class 9 student met the alleged prime accused through one of her school friends. He allegedly began befriending the victim. One day, as claimed by the victims mother, he allegedly lured her to a nearby place where he first raped her and filmed the heinous act on August 11. Since then, he started blackmailing my daughter and kept raping her. Over a period of time, he was joined by different people at different places. When we noticed that she is coming home late, we inquired about it. But she did not disclose anything. She was threatened of dire consequences, the victims mother told Indiatimes. India Today When she returned home on Friday evening, she said her mother was in extreme pain. She had scratches on her body and was not even able to walk and sit properly. Even then she did not tell us anything. She shared the trauma one of my neighbours who then informed us, she said. Asked if the victim can recognise the culprits, the grieved mother said her daughter knows the prime accused by face. The rest of them had their faces covered. They used to blindfold before the heinous act, she added. The incident was reported to the police after the victims mother sought financial help from one of her employers who is a social activist. She was inquiring about doctors and sought financial help. When asked who needs medical assistance in her family, she was initially reluctant. But later, she narrated the ordeal her daughter was suffering. We told her she must approach to the police as what has happened to her daughter is a heinous crime. After a lot of persuasion, she finally agreed to report the matter. We got her FIR lodged. She was immediately sent to hospital for medical examination and treatment, said Musharraf Hussain the social activist at whose place the victims mother works as a domestic help. The police said the arrested boy, who is also a minor, is being questioned. During initial questioning, he has not confessed to his crime and disclosed names of the co-accused. He has even denied knowing the victim. On the other hand, the girl is in extreme trauma. She is repeatedly changing her statement, sources said. A private NGO is providing counselling to the victim. The police are also trying to get hold of the video clip. How And Why Chicago Violence Became Conservatives' Favorite Talking Point By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 29, 2016 5:00PM Chicago gun violence is the new "Willie Horton" ad and Abraham Lincoln was a Republican rolled into one. For a certain segment of conservative politicians and punditsfar from all, to be surepointing out what is often referred to as black-on-black crime in Chicago has become the preferred shorthand for castigating ineffectual liberalism, reinforcing racial wedges and feigning a concern for crime victimseven when their voting records paint a different picture of their priorities. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's recent comments about crime in Chicago epitomize this phenomenon. In an exchange with Bill OReilly last week, a vague Trump advocated being very much tougher with police policyan open-ended enough comment to give pause in the land of Laquan McDonald, Homan Square and Jon Burge. Hot on the heels of these comments, Trump tweeted about Chicago violence again on Saturday to casually exploit the death of Nykea Aldridge. But the use of Chicago gun violence as a conservative talking point of choice extends back further. In an attempt to wrap our heads around how and why our city became the butt of this regrettable habit, we put together the following rough timeline. Looking over the myriad examples, a pattern emerges: The ploy often becomes a distracting agent against larger social and political discussionsand sometimes its just good old-fashioned gratuitousness. Prologue: 2008-2011 On the April 23, 2008 episode of Fox News Your World with Neil Cavuto, Floyd Brown said: "[I]n Chicago, we saw six people killed and over 31 injured. People were stabbed. This is, you know, like Baghdad. And [Barack Obama] was the state senator there, and he didn't do anything to clean it up, and I think it's a legitimate issue." There is a very simple two-part explanation as to why this happened: President Obamas adopted hometown is Chicago; and Chicago struggles with gun violence. So its not surprising to find an example that stretches all the way back to Obamas first presidential campaigna good four years before Chicago crime panic reached its fever pitch. This proto-Chiraq comment comes from Floyd Brown, the very man responsible for the Willie Horton ad. The practice appears to have spread by the fall of 2009, when the horrifying murder of Fenger High School student Derrion Albert became national news. Community organizing has not stopped Chicagos teen violence epidemic. The Olympics will not solve this long-festering problem, either, conservative commentator Michelle Malkin wrote in late September that year. Flying to Copenhagen isnt helping, she added, referring to the Climate Change Summit. In fact, the Albert vs. Olympics fallacy proved a hot trend. As Media Matters pointed out, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Fox contributors S.E. Cupp and Kimberly Guilfoyle all referenced either the Albert video or the panic it inspired to portray Chicago as a den of lawlessness unfit to act as host city. (Yes, there are many legitimate reasons to have resisted a Chicago bid. This isnt one.) Still, these were just embers for the three-alarm blaze ahead. Ne plus ultra: 2012-2013 As so many headlines alarmed back in September of 2013when the FBI released official crime statistics for the year priorChicago was the Murder Capital of America in 2012. The citys 500-plus homicides had far surpassed the more populous New York City (419) and Los Angeles (299). But less-often noted was the fact that no fewer than a dozen U.S. cities had higher murder rates, per capita, than Chicago, including Philadelphia, Kansas City and Memphis. Nevertheless, the narrative of the presidents hometown as a Death Wish 3 hellscape in need of a Charles Bronson was too irresistible, and the floodgates tore open. Around the same time, President Obama was pushing for more stringent gun-control legislation, in the wake of Sandy Hook and other mass shootings. As Gawker points out in a great 2014 piece called Stop Hating on Chicago, Conservatives, conservative radio host Dana Loesch said many Sandy Hooks take place every month in Chicago. It proved something of an ur-text, inspiring similarly phrased backlash from TheBlaze, Red State, Newt Gingrich, the Wall Street Journal, and the Drudge Reports infamous (and ongoing) "CHICAGOLAND" series, Gawker points out. Aside from generally high homicide numbers and mass shootings, another event enteredand obscuredthe picture: the fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in February 2012, in Sanford, Florida. As it happens, Illinoisans dont have to look particularly far for the prototype of how conservatives pantomimed racial concern while sidetracking genuine racial justice. After Rep. Bobby Rush wore a hoodie in House chambers and sought to discuss the Martin killing, Tea Party-sanctioned Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) reprimanded his colleague. "I hope Congressman Rush will be as outraged with all of the black on black crime going on in the city of Chicago weekend after weekend," Walsh said. "This is where our outrage has got to be as well. In the wake of the not guilty Zimmerman verdict, Bill OReilly pulled a similar card. It was wrong for Zimmerman to confront Martin based on his appearance, he said. But the culture that we have in this country does lead to criminal profiling because young black American men are so often involved in crime. The many Holocausts in Chicago provided damning evidence, he added. That obfuscating chorus was repeated ad nauseum, from the like of Chris Wallace, Newt Gingrich (again), OReilly (again), and the Editorial Board of Investors Daily, according to Media Matters. Its brutally ironic that the very tactic used to sidestep the killing of a young black child was a fixation on an oversimplified, over-generalized narrative of that very problem. The gambit was employed again when 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton was fatally shot in January, 2013, just a week after performing at Obamas inauguration. Rush Limbaugh chided First Lady Michelle Obama in April that year for ignoring Chicago crimeone week after she spoke out against that very scourge while also discussing Pendletons tragic death. (The black-onblack murders of Pendleton and Derrion Albert were indeed racially motivated, Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote that year, but in the neglected sense that racist segregation policies, long sanctioned by federal and local governments, foregrounded the violence.) The Long Tail: 2014-present Chicago saw a legitimately stunning drop in homicides between 2012 and 2013, falling from 516 to 415. The figure fell again in 2014, to 410. Correspondingly, the conservative media obsession also diminished a bit. But as we know, the impulse never fully subsided. Right here in Chicago, Tribune columnist John Kass unfairly criticized a perceived lack of outrage over the fatal shooting of 9-year-old Antonio Smith. Breitbart followed the exact same narrative. (There was in fact plenty mobilized anger.) On the national level, commentators once again rolled out Chicago crime as a digression from a controversial killing of a black man: In December 2014, Glenn Beck read a long list of black men killed in Chicago over the months prior. But the motivation seemed more political than moral, directed in particular at Tavis Smileys vocal frustration with the grand jurys failure to indict an NYPD officer in the choking death of Eric Garner. When Chicago crime does spike, the tactic returns, sometimes to the level of its Murder Capital/Zimmerman zenith. As Media Matters pointed out, a host of rightist media figures used last years particularly violent Fourth of July weekend as an opportunity to once again rebuke gun control. And there are plenty more stones that clear a path to Trump's current moment: Ted Cruz ally and radio agitator Michael Berry continuing his snarky Chicago Weekend Crime Report segments; NRA vice president Wayne LaPierre mentioning Chicago crime in an anti-gun control video; and Breitbart following Kass's lead by going after the Black Lives Matter movmeent in the wake of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee's shooting death. (Former Brietbart chairman Steve Bannon is now CEO of Donald Trumps campaign.) Time and again, when the Chicago violence motif reemerges on the right, it functions less as motivated outreach, and more as conjurers trick. Its a studied misdirection, designed to keep the eye off the other hand, be it gun control, Black Lives Matter, racial justice, policing tactics, or something not directly related, like Chicago's Olympic bid. And even though it emerged during Obamas administration, the tactic appears potent enough to endure beyond it. Chicagos gun-violence epidemic is horrifically real, but as recent history shows, far too much of the conservative outrage around it is an illusion. All the progress in the name of medical science, technology, and space exploration will do little to hide the sad events that have plagued our country recently. While, on their own, these are isolated cases, together they make quite an impact, and are a disturbing commentary on how our brand of humanity needs to be put under quarantine. Here's a look at recent events that will make you question your faith in humanity. 1. Delhi cop chases robbers and dies because 150 people chose to just watch Ravi Choudhary/Hindustan Times Delhi Police constable Anand Singh lost his life while chasing armed robbers trying to escape on a bike. He bled to death when one of the armed robbers reportedly shot Singh. All this ensued while 150 onlookers ignored Singh's pleas for help and chose to watch instead. 2. 10-year-old boy allegedly rapes 6-year-old girl shutterstock/Representative image When a six-year-old girl in Inchauli village, UP, entered a neighbour's house to get a glass of water she ended up getting raped instead, as per reports. By the neighbour's ten-year-old son! In this case that involves two minors, one wonders where we went wrong. 3. Refused an ambulance, Odisha man Dana Majhi carries his wife's body on his shoulders for 12 km Indianexpress Dana Majhi, a local from Melghar village in Kalahandi, reportedly ended up carrying his wife Amangadeis body on his shoulder for 12 km because the local authorities refused to arrange an ambulance for this destitute, tribal man. Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse. 4. Body of an 80-year-old woman broken at the hip, transported on bamboo pole because of missing ambulance Screengrab/ NDTV The body of an 80-year-old woman was broken at the hip by hospital workers so that it'd be easier to transport it on a bamboo pole. They did this because there was no ambulance, and the police reportedly decided to transport the body by train. This incident was reported just a day after Odisha man Dana Majhi's ordeal surfaced. This right here, is the lowest of the lows. 5. Missing roads push group to wade through waist-high water and transport body of deceased, DM says they "created a scene" Screengrab/ANI News Official As if it was bad enough that a group of men in Jabalpur had to wade through waist-high water to transport the body of the deceased, the District Magistrate Mahendra Chandra Chaudhary went as far as saying that they "created a scene". The poor bunch did so because the sand mafia won't allow the construction of roads. Far from making amends, we dole out judgement. 6. After wife dies onboard, man forced out of bus with infant, old mother and wife's body SHAMS UR REHMAN ALAVI/THE HUFFINGTON POST In yet another lowest of the lows, after his wife died on the bus they were travelling in, Ram Singh Lodhi was forced to get off with his wife's body, infant and old mother in tow. The family was reportedly stranded in the rain for over eight hours. Read it to believe it. 7. Too poor to cough up bribe money, boy forced to beg so he can arrange father's funeral dnaindia.com/Represenatational image What's worse than losing your father and not having money to arrange his funeral? Not having money to pay the village administrative officer who apparently won't sanction funeral arrangements without a little something to sweeten the exchange. This is one of the reasons that led the Villupuram district administration to order an inquiry into similar charges made by a 15-year-old boy who lost his father 10 months ago. In a statement that is bound to generate a controversy, Union tourism minister, Mahesh Sharma, on Sunday advised women tourists visiting the Taj city not to wear skirts and other "short" attire in the evenings and refrain from moving around alone. BCCL Sharma who was responding to questions from media said, "for their safety foreign women tourists should not wear short dresses and skirts." He said this would also be part of an advisory pamphlets for tourists, as Indian culture is different from Western. BCCL/representative image He said Mathura, Vrindavan and Agra are temple towns so the sensitivity of Indian culture should be kept in mind by all tourists. BCCL/representative image He also advised tourists to click snaps of number plates of taxis and other mode of transports they use in order to keep a record in case of any untoward incident. He said women should also refrain from going out alone during night. Sometimes help presents itself from unexpected corners. Remember Dana Majhi - the Odisha man who walked 12 km with his wife's dead body on his shoulder? He has just been offered help from none other than the Prime Minister of Bahrain. Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa was so upset by Dana Majhi's plight that he decided to extend financial support to the man and his family. Indian Express The world can take notice of an Indian man in distress but as Indians, we are not even close to even acknowledging the poor man's plight. Reported by The Gulf Daily News, "His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa read about the man, who carried his wifes body for 12 km after the hospital where she died allegedly failed to provide an ambulance for her to be sent back to their village." gulfnews The Gulf Daily News also became aware "that the Premier was so upset by the news that he felt he had to do something to help. He could not just stand by and do nothing about such suffering. The Prime Ministers office contacted Bahrains Indian Embassy, and, in an extraordinary humanitarian gesture has donated a sum of money to help the man and his family." (Also read: After Wife Dies Onboard, Man Gets Thrown Out Of Bus With Newborn Baby, Old Mother & Wife's Body) It is not known how much money the Prince has decided to offer. A reality show for Indian startups along the lines of Shark Tank is in the offing. The unlikely planner of the show is the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), which is in the process of conceptualising the programme it wants to air on India's national broadcast channel Doordarshan. "We will hire an agency to scout for startups and investors to feature on the show. Actual funding will be provided to the winners," a senior DIPP official told ET. outofthesandbox.com But the department doesn't want to stop there. Despite fears that India's startup bubble may be losing a tiny bit of air, it feels there's a vast appetite for more adventures in entrepreneur-land. DIPP has written to the ministry of information and broadcasting to consider setting up a channel dedicated to startups. "Just like there is a channel for kisan (farmers) there can be one for startups," the official said. DD Kisan is a round-the-clock channel dedicated to farmers that was started last year in fulfilment of a poll pledge by the ruling party. profitbooks.net In the desi Shark Tank, entrepreneurs will pitch ideas to judges who will subject them to an intense grilling before deciding whether an idea is worthy of investment. Such a show would give the government's startup agenda a higher profile besides creating a platform that would encourage innovation and drum up funding for new ideas. Shark Tank, modelled on a Japanese show, has been running successfully in the US since 2009. The government plans more platforms on which startups can strut their stuff. It plans a Grand Challenge competition at the national Startup Fest to be held in Hyderabad next month. livemint.com Startups will have to find innovative solutions to problems faced by industry and ministries as the government tries to encourage entrepreneurs to look beyond technology. It wants startup energy to be directed toward areas such as agriculture and come up with fresh solutions for drought and soil conservation, among others. The Startup India action plan announced last year has got off to a slow start. Only about Rs 168 crore of funding has thus far been sanctioned by the Small Industries Development Bank of India out of the Rs 10,000 crore fund of funds that had been announced. As for tax exemptions under the initiative, only three out of 793 startups that applied have got them. Companies begun after April are eligible to apply for a three-year tax holiday under Startup India. Of the 793 that have applied for recognition under the programme, 223 have been successful. The Reserve Bank of India paid a very colourful tribute to their departing Chief Raghuram Rajan. After Rajan stepped down from the post stating that he will not continue for a second term, the RBI employees bid their farewell by making him a beautiful rangoli. Rangoli by RBI staff for send off to Rajan. RBI chief, not Fed or ECB chiefs can get such memorable, loving symbols pic.twitter.com/oUEs6LxNZX S Gurumurthy (@sgurumurthy) August 29, 2016 It's so beautiful! Twitter/@sgurumurthy The rangoli, that also came with Rajan's portraiture, carried touching messages like "alvida na kehna" that means "never say goodbye". Fare thee well, Sir. A post on Quora, a question-and-answer website, about PM Modi's call to a Tripura IAS officer, has gone viral on social media. telecomlead/representative image According to the post by user Pushpak Chakraborty, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally intervened to improve the condition of the rain ravaged NH 208(A) connecting Tripura with the rest of the country. "What real changes have you felt in your lives (not via media reports), ever since the Modi government came to power," was the question to which Pushpak replied, narrating a story about how the officer posted in Tripura got a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 10 pm on July 21 asking for his help to repair National Highway 208. PM Modi asked the officer to repair the highway and said that he'll be provided with everything he needs. BCCL The officer who received the call was an acquaintance of Pushpak's father, he claims. The officer's name, however, has not been disclosed in the post. When he received a call from a man who informed him that the Prime Minister would like to have a word with him, he could hardly believe what was happening. "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," Pushpak narrates. 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. eclecticnortheast 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. ndtv 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 the Assam Government. Also Read: Tripura's Only Link With The World Has Turned To Slush After Rains, Sadly No One Cares 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. ndtv 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. ndtv The post, after going viral on social media, was being told off as fake by many. The Quora user later posted an addition to his earlier answer, citing local media reports which stated that the state administration had confirmed the incident. "If you're one among the few who doubt the credibility of this story, kindly go through the comment chain where few have precisely mentioned the details. Those who still doubt the authenticity of the story, do something. If you know to read Bengali, brilliant, or else find a Bengali friend and read Dainik Sambad Newspaper of 26th August 2016, Tripura's most read newspaper. The Tripura state administration has verified the story," his post said. The Brussels Institute of Criminology was hit by a bomb attack after a car rammed through barriers at 3 AM local time, and attackers detonated a bomb near the labs. The building, in the north of the Belgian capital was empty, and no casualties were reported. The labs caught fire. Police have sealed off the area The institute is linked to the Belgian ministry of justice and carries out forensic investigations in criminal cases. BREAKING CAR BOMB #Belgium #Brussels Attack on NICC National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology terror? pic.twitter.com/CKBcxkVOfz Europe 2424 (@europe2424) August 29, 2016 Europe has been on high alert after Islamic State attacks in Paris and Brussels over the past year. This is a developing story Serial Blasts In Brussels Leave 21 Dead, Possible ISIS Revenge For Arrest Of Paris Attack Mastermind Meet The Hero Of Brussels Airport - A Luggage Handler Who Saved The Lives Of Over Half-A-Dozen People Lin-Manuel Miranda Will Talk 'Hamilton' In Chicago Next Month By Gwendolyn Purdom in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 29, 2016 2:12PM As if the buzz around Chicago's fast-approaching production of Hamilton weren't amplified enough, The Chicago Humanities Festival announced Monday that the smash hit musical's creator Lin-Manuel Miranda will be dropping by the city to chat about it a few days before it opens. Miranda will discuss his history-making historical work, his past projects, his career and his life with Tribune theater critic Chris Jones on Friday, Sept. 23, according to a press release from the Humanities Festival's organizers. The conversation will take place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, ahead of the play's September 27 opening date and CHF's Fallfest/16: Speed festival, which runs from Oct. 29 through Nov. 12. Miranda, the cultural genius who's only one measly Oscar away from possessing a rarified EGOT, will no doubt have plenty to talk about at the event: in addition to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Hamilton, which had Chicago fans coughing up thousands for tickets in June, Miranda's set to appear on screen in 2017's Mary Poppins sequel; he penned songs for the new Disney animated movie "Moana" (perhaps the vehicle through which he'll nab that Oscar he's missing?); he'll be appearing on an episode of Comedy Central's Drunk History slurringly talking aboutwhat else?Alexander Hamilton; and he maaaaaay or may not show up on stage in runs of Hamilton in Chicago, D.C., L.A. or elsewhere. Miranda's talk will unofficially kick off Fallfest/16, even though the rest of the festival's events won't be happening for more than a month afterward. So far, this year's lineup includes political activist Gloria Steinem, Daily Show host Trevor Noah, author Mary Roach and composer Philip Glass, among others. The full schedule of events and featured speakers/performers will be released on Sept. 6. Tickets for Miranda's September event will go on sale for CHF members and Tribune subscribers August 31. Tickets for the general public will be available on Sept. 6. Disaster struck in Abuja when two construction workers were killed in a building that collapsed in the early hours of Monday morning. The structure under construction at Plot 444 in Wupa District of Gwarimpa is said to be located at Gwarimpa, one of the biggest estates in West Africa. The four-storey building went down, trapping the construction workers in mangled iron rods and concrete slabs. Two of the rescued labourers were rushed to the hospital where they are responding to treatment. Sources at the scene gave the names of the rescued workers as Timothy and Hakeem. Support agencies led National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Julius Berger and The Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps and Development and Control Department of FCDA rushed to the scene to rescue those trapped in the rubble. Construction giants, Julius Berger brought in heavy tractors and crane, while police dogs were sniffing around for vital signs of those still alive. THISDAY was informed at the scene by the Special Assistant, Media, to the FCT Minister, Abubakar Sani, that the structure collapsed because it was built with substandard materials. The building was said to be under the supervision of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) which allocated the plot in 2009. According to Sani, the developers violated what was approved in the plan by erecting a four-floor structure, as against the original plan which only permitted for a suspended floor and a car park. He also disclosed that the FCDA only found out that the land where the structure was built was a green area reserved for recreation activities, saying that FHA did not inform FCTA until the unfortunate incident. When FHA found that there was a violation of the building plan, they gave an immediate order for work to stop, but unfortunately the developer refused to comply. Unknown to FHA, the developer was using sub-standard materials, which compromised the structure, resulting in its collapse. We have commenced rescue operations and full investigation into the incident, Sani said. But a statement signed by Managing Director FHA Prof Al-Amin Mohammed, stated that they approved the plan for the developer for a shopping mall. The Authority, however, added that early this year, its development control personnel discovered that work had commenced on a structure behind the mall which was not covered by the earlier approved plan. It said three contravention notices were issued to the developers, followed by a stop work order, prompting a final demolition notice to be issued on the ill-fated structure in line with established protocols. We are in consultation with Development Control Department of FCDA for its support in handling the contravention and a follow up meeting was scheduled for this week before the structure came down. FHA is working with the relevant government agencies in the on going rescue operation, Mohammed said. Mohammed said FHA complied with established building plan approval and development procedures at all its locations and enforces same with all developers operating on its sites. Source: ThisDay The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abia State, Sylvester Ezeani, has refunded N20million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Mr. Ezeani received the money while serving as the REC for Cross River State during the March 28, 2015 Presidential and National Assembly Elections. The fund was part of the N241million released to Cross River State from the illicit $115million (N23.29billion) by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to bribe electoral officials and politicians towards obtaining a favourable result for her party Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Three RECs have been named in the scandal. One of them is deceased. The EFCC has seized two choice shopping malls from a former REC in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesil Khan. Besides, Mrs. Khans account with about N59million, has been frozen by the anti-graft agency. A retired INEC official, Sani Isa, was also grilled for N406,206,000 bribe allegedly collected on behalf of the deceased REC in Kano State, Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi. An EFCC source familiar with investigations into the bribe-for-election-results scandal, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: Faced by overwhelming evidence from our team, Ezeani has refunded to the commission N20million, which was traced to him. He added that About N241million was allocated to INEC when Ezeani was the REC in Cross River State during the 2015 poll. We are working on other INEC staff to refund the cash credited to them from the slush funds. So far, about N503million has been recovered from INEC staff and politicians involved in the poll bribery scandal in Port Harcourt Zone alone. We are determined to retrieve a huge chunk of the N23.29billion bribe. President Muhammadu Buhari has given Niger Delta militants two options: come to the dialogue or get ready to be dealt with like Boko Haram Terrorists. The president spoke in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, which hosted the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Speaking late Saturday night at a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the conference, Buhari reiterated his administrations resolve to dialogue with some of the leaders of the militants. He said with the defeat of Boko Haram Terrorists by the military, his administrations attention was now focused on stopping the bombing of critical economic assets in the Niger Delta by militants. He said: The militants must dialogue with the Federal government or be dealt with in the same way like Boko Haram. We are talking to some of their leaders. We will deal with them as we dealt with Boko Haram if they refuse to talk to us. As a government, we know our responsibility, which is to secure the environment. It is clear to us that lenders wont fund projects in insecure environments. We realise that we have to secure the country before we can efficiently manage it. President Buhari assured existing and prospective foreign investors that their investments in Nigeria would be fully secured and protected just as he outlined several steps taken by his administration to secure the country and create an enabling business environment. He noted that security in the Gulf of Guinea, greatly affected by piracy and armed robbery at sea, was a priority for the Federal Government. We have provided funds to our Navy to buy new platforms, train and effectively organize the personnel to protect the area. We are looking forward to support from developed nations for satellite surveillance covering the Gulf, he said. President Buhari recalled his last years audience with G7 leaders in Germany which was attended by Mr. Abe. He also expressed appreciation to Japan for responding positively to the requests by Nigeria for the rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram as well as rebuilding of infrastructure in the north-east He, however, stated more had to be done on education, health and other infrastructure in order to ensure quick and voluntary return of displaced persons to their native communities. On the United Nations Security Council reform, Buhari agreed to work with Japan for the reforms, stressing that the case for a permanent seat for Africa on the Council, was a moral one. He also expressed Nigerias support for Japan in its bid for a UN resolution on the problems in East China and South China as well as the uncontrolled nuclear tests by North Korea. The UN system is sufficient for the resolutions of all disputes and no nation should be above the United Nations. This has to be made absolutely clear and I assure the Prime Minister that Ill meet as many leaders as possible at the forthcoming UN General Assembly concerning the issues, he said. In his remarks, the Japanese PM hailed Buhari for courageously tackling Boko Haram terrorism. Abe maintained that Nigeria and Japan must work together to improve the investment climate in view of the many Japanese companies wishing to invest in Nigeria. He reiterated his countrys resolve to rapid development in Nigeria through quality delivery of ongoing projects in the country including the Jebba Hydro Power scheme and the Lagos railway project. Alicia Keys paid a moving tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. at the MTV VMAs. She came on stage to present the award for Best Male Video and used the occasion to remind us that the iconic I have a dream speech is 53-years old. She performed an impromptu poem and wrapped it up with an acapella. But before presenting the award, Keys took a moment to honor Martin Luther King Jr., whose I Have a Dream speech turned 53 on Sunday. SEE ALSO: Beyonce and Blue Ivy get in formation on VMA red carpet Keys performed an impromptu poem before breaking into a cappella. Watch it below: Photos: Family Hold Vigil For Nykea Aldridge, 'Gone Too Soon' By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 29, 2016 3:11PM Family and friends gathered in West Pullman to mourn the death of Nykea Aldridge, a 32-year-old woman who was fatally shot while walking with her baby Friday afternoon. Aldridge, who is a cousin of Chicago Bulls player Dwyane Wade, was apparently shot unintentionally by two men who were aiming for a third man when she walked by. "This was my baby girl," mother Diann Aldridge told family, friends and reporters through tears. "Her life is gone too soon. Too soon." "She was awesome," Aldridge added. "She will be greatly missed." The vigil was held at the Willie Mae Morris Empowerment Center, at 12900 South Halsted St. Aldridge was a mother to four children, according to the Sun-Times: Summer, 12, Sincere, 10, Shavae, 8, and Da'Kota, an infant girl whom Aldridge was pushing in her stroller when she was shot in the 6300 block of South Calumet Ave. Da'Kota was not injured in the shooting. Wade was not at the vigil, but his mother Jolinda Wade, pastor of the New Creation Church, spoke and led a prayer before releasing purple balloons into the sky to honor her memory. The family has set up a trust fund for Aldridge's children at the Seaway National Bank on East 87th Street, according to WGN. The New Creation Church is located at the Willie Mae Morris Empowerment Center, which Wade said was recently set up with the mission of steering disadvantaged youth away from crime and gun violence. "She was a lady whom we called the fighter of the family," Jolinda Wade said. "So we're going to hold onto the memories. We've learned to thank God for the memories because we have had loss in the family," she added, noting that one of Nykea's sisters also died in gun violence. Police charged two men with first degree murder in Aldridge's shooting case Sunday morning. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has sacked Chairman of the State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr. Folarin Ogunsanwo and immediately nominated Mr. Ayodele Hamzat Subair as his replacement. It was learnt that Ogunsanwo was relieved of his appointment last week following allegations of financial irregularities under his watch. Consequently, the governor on Monday, sent a letter to the House of Assembly requesting for the confirmation of Subair as the new Chairman of the LIRS. In the letter read on the floor of the House of Assembly by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Gov. Ambode said, following the retirement of the erstwhile Chairman, Mr. Folarin Ogunsanwo, who held the position since September 2015, it became expedient to quickly seek a suitable replacement in view of the vital position of the LIRS towards its revenue generation drive and in attainment of his administrations set target to deliver good governance to the citizenry. Subair, who was born on May 21, 1960, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the Metropolitan University of Manchester, United Kingdom and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos. A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), member of both the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN), Mr. Subair is a professional with over 34 years working experience. Prior to venturing into private practice in 1987 with the establishment of Hamzat Subair and Co. Chartered Accountants, where is the Managing Partner, the new LIRS boss worked at Price WaterHouse Chartered Accountants. He was also the pioneer Director of Lagos State Lotteries Board and has worked with various international agencies such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Ambode said Subairs presentation to the House of Assembly for confirmation was in conformity with Section 2 of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law (2006). The All Progressives Congress, APC, Ekiti State chapter, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing an indigene of the state, Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye, as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The president had last week approved the appointments of the governing boards of the NPA and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). While Adesoye was appointed Chairman of the NPA Governing Board, Major General Jonathan India Garba (retd.) is to serve at the head of the NIMASA Board. Lauding President Buhari for recognizing an Ekiti man as having the qualities to lead a sensitive organisation such as NPA, the party noted that the appointee got the position by dint of honesty, integrity and amiable disposition to workers at his previous place of work, Mobil Producing Unlimited. In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the Ekiti APC expressed confidence that Adesoye, who hails from Ikoro Ekiti, will be a worthy ambassador of the state and demonstrate the needed brilliance to turn things around at NPA. He said: As NPA is a sensitive agency that requires honesty to manage, Adesoyes appointment is therefore a vote for Ekiti as homeland for people of integrity, particularly at a time Buhari is cleaning up the system by appointing credible and honest Nigerians to man sensitive sources of revenue to rebuild Nigeria from the ruins the country was left by the last administration. This appointment complements that of another honest Nigerian, Col. Hameed Ali, who is leading another sensitive revenue-spinning source, the Nigeria Customs, as Comptroller-General at the time the country needs honest Nigerians to lead sensitive sources of revenue as oil prices crash in international market, fuelling exchange rate crisis with dire consequences on the living conditions of Nigerians. Your hard work, honesty, integrity and amiable disposition to workers at Mobil, where you demonstrated rare Ekiti quality, no doubt prepared you for this onerous assignment. Olatunbosun added: We trust that you will once again fly Ekiti colour in its true form and we assure you of our support at the home-front with prayers and we are ready to offer assistance in any area you may require such. Nigerias President has again renewed his commitment to the rescue of the Chibok girls, saying government will not give up in the search. Commenting on this via Twitter on Sunday, President Muhammadu Buhari paid glowing tributes to the military for their efforts in the war against insurgency in Nigerias northeast. The President also said he is willing to swap Boko Haram prisoners for the Chibok girls. But that is on condition that they are able to list those they want released and then come out to discuss with the Federal Government. He says the Federal Government will want the girls out safe without any harm done to them. Recently, the Bring Back Our Girls campaigners had called on the President to accept the swap of the Boko Haram prisoners for the Chibok girls who were kidnapped in Borno State two years ago. The President was in Nairobi, Kenya for the African economic summit which dwells on diversification and advancement of African economies. Full text of the Presidents statement: Nigeria Ready To Take All Necessary Measures To Free Chibok Girls President Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the preparedness of the Federal Government to discuss the release of the Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram terror group since 2014. In an interview with journalists in Nairobi, Kenya at the weekend, President Buhari said the Nigerian government is ready to dialogue with bonafide leaders of the terror group who know the whereabouts of the girls. I have made a couple of comments on the Chibok girls and it seems to me that much of it has been politicised. What we said is that the government which I preside over is prepared to talk to bonafide leaders of Boko Haram. If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognised Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know. If they do it through the modified leadership of Boko Haram and they talk with an internationally recognised NGO, then Nigeria will be prepared to discuss for their release, he said. President Buhari, who spoke to the media on the margins of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), warned that the Federal Government will not waste time and resources with doubtful sources claiming to know the whereabouts of the girls. We want those girls out and safe. The faster we can recover them and hand them over to their parents, the better for us. The President maintained that the terror group, which pledged allegiance to ISIS, has been largely decimated by the gallant Nigerian military with the support of immediate neighbours from Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin. Some of the information about the division in Boko Haram is already in the press and I have read in the papers about the conflict in their leadership. The person known in Nigeria as their leader, we understand was edged out and the Nigerian members of Boko Haram started turning themselves to the Nigerian military. We learnt that in an air strike by the Nigeria Air Force he was wounded. Indeed, their top hierarchy and lower cadre have a problem and we know this because when we came into power, they were holding 14 out of the 774 local governments in Nigeria. But now they are not holding any territory and they have split to small groups attacking soft targets. On the militancy in the Niger Delta region, the President said the Federal Government is also open to dialogue to resolve all contending issues in the area. We do not believe that they (the militants) have announced ceasefire. We are trying to understand them more. Who are their leaders and which areas do they operate and other relevant issues, he said. Garba Shehu SSA to the President (Media & Publicity) August 28, 2016 Source: SaharaReporters A couple in Ogun State, 46-year-old Abiola Wahab and Toyin Abiola, have given the heinous crime of child trafficking a despicable new face. The couple were said to have been on the run for a long time until nemesis caught up with the duo in Obatoko, Ogun State and they were arrested. They are now cooling their heels in the custody of the Special Armed Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Ogun State Police Command, where they are undergoing interrogation. The couple was alleged to have serially used their three-year-old son, an innocent toddler, as collateral to defraud a long list of victims, from whom they borrowed money or bought goods on credit, which they sold and never paid the creditors. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Illiyasu told Sunday Sun that the husband and wife allegedly defrauded large-scale distributors of goods. Giving insight to the modus operandi of the duo, he said that they would visit a distributor, collect goods worth millions of naira, pay in some money and then disappear and never return to settle the debt. He said the couple had duped victims in Oyo, Lagos, Osun and Ogun states. To facilitate their operation and avoid detection, the police commissioner said that the couple always switched the number plate on their vehicle, which they drove to the business premises of their victims. This way, they were able to make it impossible for the victim who may have copied the vehicle number to trace them. Illiyasu added that the command had been receiving several complaints about a couple that was duping major distributors and deceitfully taking goods from them on credit but never returning to pay. On the strength of the complaints, the police commissioner said that an investigation was launched by the command. Through diligent investigation, the police was able to track down the couple. They were arrested during a raid by a team of SARS operatives. The commander of SARS, Supol Uba Adams revealed that the couple was nabbed in a home they built in Ikire, Osun State. When she spoke with Sunday Sun at the headquarters of SARS, Toyin disclosed that prior to her getting involved in the fraudulent act alleged against her, she had been engaged in distribution of rice. Her words: I was into distribution of rice in Ikiru, Osun state. In 2008, somebody duped me of N1 million after I had supplied rice. My clients were pestering me for their money. The case was transferred to State CID Oshogbo and I was arraigned in court. The magistrate ordered that I be remanded at Ilesha prison and adjourned the case. I was nine months old pregnant at the time. I delivered my second child in prison. The day that the magistrate granted me bail was also the day I gave birth. I spent only five days in the prison, and that was why I named my baby Aishat Abiola. The court ordered that we pay off the money within one month, but I could not afford to pay. So I jumped bail. She explained further: Life was so difficult for us, the family of my husband and my own family assisted us and gave us N770,000 naira. We used the money to buy a car in Apapa in 2013. My husband and myself started trading in rice again. We would go to Saki to buy rice and resell. One day, a Customs officer duped us. That was also when we began to dupe other people. We have duped a lot of people. We would collect assorted drinks and promise to pay but we would not go back again. When we go to visit a prospective victim, I would wear a hijab to disguise myself and seem like a pious Muslim woman. I would pay an amount with a promise to pay the balance after selling the goods. But I never went back. Also speaking, her husband disclosed that he married Toyin 11 years ago and they had faced difficulties in the course of the marriage. During their alleged fraudulent activities, he told Sunday Sun that they often took along their three-year-old son and pretended that he was sick. We used our three-year-old son as collateral in the deal and pretend that he was not feeling well, Wahab said. The unfortunate victims would because of the ill-health of the toddler show pity on the couple and allow them to go away with goods while temporarily leaving behind the supposedly sick child in the care of the victim, with the promise that they would come back to collect him and pay for the goods. Craftily, the wife would come back to take the child and disappear. The couples cookie crumbled when they were perfecting arrangements for another duping expedition. As they were relaxing in the comfort of their home, SARS operatives who had been on their trail swooped on them and their child and arrested them. Following their confessions during interrogation, the detectives invited some of the victims, who positively identified the duo, who the police commissioner assured would be charged to court soon. Source: Sun News First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has explained that its continuous support of the Ojude Oba Festival is borne out of its commitment to celebrate and preserve Nigerias cultural heritage, while also boosting the tourism sector in line with the governments ongoing drive to diversify the countrys economy. Consequently, the Bank has assured that its participation in this years edition of the Festival, which holds in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state, on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 will be grand, exciting and rewarding for the thousands of people within and outside the country that would grace the fiesta. FCMB has in the past 10 years continued to play a significant role in ensuring the success of the Festival. The Group Head, Corporate Affairs of FCMB, Mr. Diran Olojo, reiterated this at a press conference organised by the Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee held at Ijebu-Ode on August 29, 2016. The Ojude Oba (which in Ijebu dialect means, the kings fore-court or frontage) is a major festival in Nigeria that began over 100 years ago. It brings together all sons and daughters of Ijebuland in Nigeria and diaspora for a carnival-like celebration of the traditional, cultural, spiritual accomplishments and other values of the Ijebu nation. During the Festival, various age groups (popularly known as the Regberegbes), indigenes, their friends and associates from far and near all in their colourful costumes and riding on horses throng the palace of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland to pay homage to him amidst prayers and other fun-filled activities. In a goodwill message to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona on the occasion of this years Ojude Oba Festival, the Chief Executive Officer of FCMB, Mr. Ladi Balogun, congratulated the monarch for upholding the values of Ijebuland and raising the status of the event over the years. He stated that FCMB is committed to the longevity of the Ojude Oba Festival, and was proud to be associated with it. The Ojude Oba Festival has become a long standing yearly tradition we look forward to as a unifying factor and a tourist attraction. For over a century, the Festival has gone a long way to showcase, amplify and promote our cultural heritage. FCMB has been a major supporter of the Ojude Oba Festival for more than a decade and it has been a mutually beneficial journey. As a socially responsible corporate citizen, we realise that globalisation, though essential, could also become a threat to the cultural identity of a people. We also recognise that celebrating the heritage and diversity of Nigeria is important in educating generations to come about the evolution of our country, Mr. Balogun emphasised. In the same vein, the Founder of FCMB Group who is also the the Olori Omo-Oba Akile Ijebu, Otunba (Dr) Michael Olasubomi Balogun, CON, in a goodwill message to the paramount ruler of Ijebuland expressed his gratitude to the Awujale, especially considering the paramount rulers selflessness in attending to the different requests and yearnings of the people of Ijebuland. In a message delivered on his behalf by Mr. Olojo, the spokesman of FCMB, Otunba Balogun commended Oba Adetona for his, distinguished and exemplary leadership over the years which have continued to endear you to all of us. While congratulating the entire indigenes of Ijebuland, the FCMB Founder also prayed that the monarchs reign would, continue to bring joy, prosperity and robust health, all in abundance to the entire Ijebu race, at home and in the diaspora, in all that you endeavour to do for our people. Apart from the glitz and colours associated with the annual Ojude Oba Festival, the event provides an opportunity for the indigenes of Ijebuland, their associates and well-wishers to discuss pertinent issues that fast-track the development of the Ijebu nation. The Festival also boosts business activities, tourism and the general hospitality sector in the area, thereby contributing to socio-economic development. First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is a member of FCMB Group Plc, which is one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments. Having successfully transformed to a retail and commercial banking-led group, FCMB expects to continue to distinguish itself by delivering exceptional services, while enhancing the growth and achievement of the personal and business aspirations of its customers. From left: Brand Management Officer of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Oluwatosin Dada; the Manager, Ejirin Road Branch (Ijebu-Ode) of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Oluwatosin Adegbenle; Balogun of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Agboola Alausa; Representative of FCMB Founder/Head, Corporate Affairs & Media Management of the Bank, Mr. Louis Ibe; Chairman, Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee, Otunba (Barr.) Wahab Osinusi and Vice Chairman of the Committee, Chief (Barr.) Olu Okuboyejo, during the Pre-Ojude Oba Festival press conference held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on August 29, 2016. From left: The Manager, Ejirin Road Branch (Ijebu-Ode) of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Oluwatosin Adegbenle; Balogun of Ijebu-Ode, Chief Agboola Alausa; Representative of FCMB Founder/Head, Corporate Affairs & Media Management of the Bank, Mr. Louis Ibe and Chairman, Ojude Oba Festival Planning Committee, Otunba (Barr.) Wahab Osinusi and a Member of the Committee, Chief (Mrs.) Bisi Osibogun, during the Pre-Ojude Oba Festival press conference held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on August 29, 2016. Riding on its already established presence in the Nigerian market and the huge successes recorded with the introduction of classy, user and price friendly models like the M5, M5 mini, P5W, and S Plus devices, GiONEE is now set to launch its new device the F103 pro in phone sales outlets Nationwide after a very successful pre-order campaign. The Pre-Order activation, ran for an entire week all across Nigeria, and featured a number of fun activities like music, dance and skating. To add elegance to the event, the current Miss University of Lagos 2015 and a number of other beautiful models were also around to take selfies with customers and GiONEE lovers. When asked about her experience working with GiONEE and the new GiONEE F103 Pro, she said GiONEE is a very wonderful brand, their attention to detail in their devices and focus on creating beautiful, sleek and classy phones like this F103 Pro in my hand, makes them a brand I am happy to associate with any day, anytime. Consumer reception of the new GiONEE F103 Pro was very impressive with Pre-Orders far exceeding the anticipated numbers. Many customers couldnt even believe the amount the device was going to be sold for considering all its features. I love GiONEE devices, I have been using them for over 4 years now, and this F103 Pro will be a great gift for my girlfriend for her birthday next month Dapo Salami an undergraduate at the university of Lagos told us during the activation held within the campus. This all serves as a testament to the confidence Nigerian customers now have in the GiONEE brand and of GiONEEs understanding of the needs and preference of the market. This fact, the Marketing Director, GiONEE Nigeria Mr Habeeb Somoye also confirmed from his statements Reception of our GiONEE devices so far has been very encouraging, and sales numbers have increased even during this economic hard times in Nigeria, thats why we are aggressively expanding to other areas and new states, communicating with Billboards, TV, Radio commercials and now road shows and activations, because we want people to see for themselves just what makes GiONEE such an amazing device, I assure you the moment you use a GiONEE device you will fall in love for life and recommend to friends and family So what makes the F103 Pro so amazing? See for yourself. The F103 pro comes into the market with a 13mp back camera and 5mp front camera with flash that makes your pictures come out looking crisp and crystal clear even in low-light conditions, and the face-beauty feature that guarantees you always look your best in every shot. However, the camera isnt the only cool thing about the F103 pro. It also boosts of 2.5D Curved edge screen, 5.0 HD IPS Display for sharp and crisp images, as well as other amazing features like, text recognition, a 2400mAh battery capacity, and 2GB RAM. Making the GiONEE F103 pro the undisputed Selfie Specialist. It will be available in stores for N45,000 only. The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Simon Lalong of abandoning his constitutional duties and taking up a new role as a religious leader to lead the state into prayer and fasting sessions. The governor is sending wrong signals that he has abandoned his constitutional duties, and he is now taking up new roles as pastor/imam of Plateau, the PDP said. It claimed the governor introduced religious worship in government offices to divert the peoples attention from his lack of vision and failures in administering the state. The party, which was reacting to a directive by Mr. Lalong declaring every Friday of the week a day of prayer and fasting in government offices, described the governors action as the height of hypocrisy. The opposition party, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. John Akans, on Monday in Jos, the state capital, said: This is hypocrisy; the governor should be godly by leading by example especially in areas of transparency and accountability; and there will be good governance from where Plateau will develop. He should not declare official sessions for prayers and fasting in government offices; instead, he should lead by utilizing the funds accruing to the state from various sources including the federal accounts, internal revenue base, and grants to meet the development aspirations of Gods children in Plateau, Akans added. The Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Borno State, Kaka Shehu Lawan, has listed 40 ways former Governor of the State and factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, allegedly aided and abetted the Boko Haram insurgency. Lawan had last week at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, called on the authorities to probe the role played by Sheriff in the Boko Haram insurgency while he was governor from 2003 to 2011. Reacting, Sheriff reportedly asked Lawan to publish facts in support of his connection to Boko Haram or risk litigation. The former governor, in statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, asked for immediate retraction and apology from the Borno Attorney General, saying there was never a commission of enquiry, instituted by the state government or federal government, which found him (Sheriff) culpable, neither has there ever been a security report that indicted him. But Lawan, in statement on Sunday, listed the 40 facts to support his claim, which he said were ether unknown to many or were simply ignored or suppressed. According to him, in 2008, Borno under Sheriff established a special joint police and military anti-robbery squad called Operation Flush, with the commander reporting directly to the governor rather than the Commander of the 21 Armoured Brigade in Maiduguri. Tracing the origin of violent extremism in the Northeast state, Lawan said on June 11, 2009, a detachment of Operation Flush intercepted a group of Boko Haram members then known as Yan Yusufiyya, who were on a funeral procession and sought to know why they rode on motorcycles without wearing crash helmets as was the law in the state. An armed member of the Operation Flush eventually opened fire on 17 members of the Boko Haram sect with some of them sustaining fatal shots and were admitted at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, he said. He said the state government disregarded the incident and did not condemn it, with the sects founder, Malam Muhammad Yusuf, now deceased, threatening a reprisal attack in a newspaper interview. A day or so after the interview, Yusuf delivered a sermon in Hausa language, titled, Open letter to President Umaru Musa Yaradua and directed his followers to go and arm themselves in preparation of self-defense and eventful Jihad in response to the shooting of his 17 followers. Even while Muhammad Yusuf issued this directive and threat for Jihad, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff still disregarded the possible room to make peace with the sect, Lawan said. The Attorney General further recalled that on July 21, 2009 nine members of the sect were arrested for possessing 74 empty bomb shells and materials for improvised explosive devices, which they said was in preparation to defend themselves against Sheriffs Operation Flush. He said a counter-insurgency operation was launched by the Federal Government, with soldiers deployed to Maiduguri, targeting Yusufs enclave, which is the sects headquarters. After the sect was dislodged, Sheriff invited traditional ward heads and ordered them to point at houses belonging to fleeing sect members with most of the houses brought down, Lawan said. He also disputed claims by the PDP strongman that the Boko Haram attacks preceded his (Sheriffs) tenure as governor of Borno State. He said: Shortly after winning the 2003 elections, Ali Modu Sheriff created the Ministry of Religious Affairs under a pioneer Commissioner, Buji Foi with who was later found to be one of the financiers of the sect under Yusuf. However, Sheriff didnt introduce Sharia. Whereas Sheriff has always claimed that the violence of Boko Haram preceded his administration, what is a fact in October, 2003, part of the Boko Haram members, then known as Taliban, broke away from Muhammad Yusuf claiming that they could no longer live in a place that wasnt being governed by Sharia law and this was some months after Sheriff took oath of office on May 29, 2003. The breakaway faction called themselves Taliban led by someone nicknamed Mullah Umar. They set up a base outside Kanamma, a village in Yobe state, located on the border between Nigeria and Niger Republic. They nicknamed their new base Afghanistan. They declared the new base a sovereign State under Sharia law. On 5th of July, 2011, former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff tendered an apology to the Boko Haram sect for whatever he might have done wrong to them. Why did he apologise if he knew he did nothing wrong to the sect, Lawan asked. The Kaduna State Government has proposed life sentence for rapists in the new Child Right Bill forwarded to the State House of Assembly for passage into law. Deputy Director, Civil Litigation in the states Ministry for Justice, Mr Irimiya Samson, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna. Samson explained that the development became necessary, following incessant cases of rape, particularly of minors, being recorded daily in the state. He noted that current penalty for rape in the Penal Code was very light, as such it was important to make the law more strict to curtail the ugly trend. The incidences of rape have become very rampant in the state. It is particularly disturbing that the offenders are mostly elderly men whose victims are toddlers, minors within the age range of three to six. In curbing this abominable act, the state government has decided to invoke a stiff punishment for offenders in the child right law. As such, when the bill is passed, anyone caught would remain behind bars for life. He added that the law also criminalise child trafficking, child labour, street hawking, and begging, which are common practices in the state. Similarly, exposing children to obscene materials like phonographic content has also been criminalised. Offenders would be imprisoned or made to pay fine of N500, 000 for individuals and one to five million for companies, plus a two-year ban. The proposed law also de-emphasise detaining or locking up children for juvenile offences, having realised that detention do not help the children in anyway. What the law proposed in place of detention is community service, which in all sense could instill some level of discipline in juvenile offenders. Education was also covered in the law, making it mandatory for every child to acquire basic education, the official added. Samson also said that the state government would be deeply involved in issues bordering on welfare and development of children. According to him, based on the proposed law, government would take away children from parents, caregivers, or guardian who failed to properly cater for children under them. He added that guidelines for fostering and adoption of children was provided in the bill, for people who wish to adopt or foster a child. NAN reports that the UNICEF, in conjunction with ministries, departments and agencies concerned with children, had in 2015 held series of meetings to push for the domestication of the Child Right Act in the state. Key stakeholders in the various meetings, including the Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), produced the redrafted law which was vetted by the Justice ministry. Source: Guardian A woman shocked the nurses at Othaya District Hospital on Wednesday as she attached a balloon underneath her cloth, pretending to be in an advanced stage of pregnancy. A 21-yeae-old woman, Ms Purity Kiritu, was rushed to Othaya District hospital in Nairobi Kenya at 7: 30pm on wednesday after she claimed to be in labour at . The lady was brought into the hospital by her mother-in-law, Ms Josephine Wairimu, whom she had visited four days before she was due. The nurses examined Kiritu and she was even admitted to the preparation room. However, a nurse noticed something suspicious about her pregnancy. On checking, she was shocked to find a red, inflated balloon. She attached the balloon underneath her cloth, pretending to be in an advanced stage of pregnancy. The nurse alerted the hospitals authorities. Police were immediately informed without the womans knowledge. Police responded promptly and bundled the woman off for questioning. According to Nyeri South Deputy OCPD Jefferson Ali who confirmed the incident, the balloon was also seized as an exhibit. Ali revealed the womans residence, saying that she lives in Nairobis Dandora Estate with her husband, a boda-boda operator, and the couple are yet to have their own children. quotes an officer who is well-aware of the incident as suggesting that the suspect might have been plotting to walk off with a baby from the house or was seeking a referral to Pumwani Hospital in Nairobi. He said the strategy was a common tactic used by people who steal babies. The main motive behind her action is yet unclear as police continue to examine the incident. Ms Kiritu was arraigned in court on Thursday for her actions but was ordered to have a mental test run on her. She will remain in police custody until September 2. Source: Enzy Hub "Even if only 10 percent of 30,000 tourists come to this town and buy snacks here every day, this store is going to bring you a great fortune." The to-let ad copy of a store in Chuansha, a town some 6 km east of Shanghai Disney Resort, just a five-minute drive away, appears extremely persuasive. Ubiquitous ads like that pulled Guan Zhixin, 32, a software programmer, to Chuansha in search of a store. He wanted to set up a snacks joint. His thinking was simple: Disney will likely attract millions of visitors in the years to come. Some of them will pass through the old town center in Chuansha, and while doing so, will likely buy some snacks. Slowly but surely, it would be possible to spin a fortune from snacks. What Guan did not contend with was that prices of such potential fortune-spinners had already pierced the roof and were headed skyward. Most of the commercial real estate around the Shanghai Disneyland that Guan visited were used by individual owners to run convenience stores, small restaurants or tea shops. Now, however, they want out. They are seeking tenants, given the prospect of high rents. They want tenants who would sell higher value-added products like jewelry, fashion, art or craft. "The Disneyland effect has changed the commercial real estate scene in the area. Those selling snacks or daily necessities are moving out to places where rentals are lower. Although local residents wouldn't need stuff like jewelry or gifts at neighborhood stores, landlords believe huge numbers of tourists will push up demand for such stuff," said Ma Lijiang, 24, an agent of Deyi Property Ltd. Such properties now fetch about 35 yuan per square meter per day, a rate that a third-floor store in a high-end commercial complex in central Shanghai would command. This is far beyond Guan's budget of some 20 yuan. Five years ago, rental was about 8 yuan, according to Mingtiandi Consultancy, a realty services provider. Many landlords see Disneyland as a consumption driver. Their view is shaped by hype over statistics. According to Ma Xuejie, deputy head of the Commission of Commerce, Pudong New Area, Shanghai Disneyland received 27,000 visitors per day on average in its first month of operations. Its average daily revenue was about 15 million yuan. According to Mingtiandi Consultancy, average rental of commercial properties within a 10 km radius from the Shanghai Disney Resort has risen some 12 percent in the past three months. In May, rent averaged 31 yuan per sq m per day. Today, it is 36 yuan sq m. This growth rate is higher than the average 3 percent for all of Shanghai properties in the same period. Disneytown, located in the core area of the Shanghai Disney Resort, uses a bidding system to lease out shops and stores. Most of the spaces were leased to branded restaurants, retailers and luxury stores, such as a Japanese sushi house with average rental of 300 yuan per sq m per day, or a European affordable luxury store with average rental of 800 yuan per sq m per day, according to dianping.com. Neighborhood residential properties have also seen 16 percent year-to-date appreciation in rentals to some 40,420 yuan per sq m, while the city's average housing price is about 34,803 yuan per sq m. In the Zhoukang area, a 10-minute drive from Disneyland, housing prices jumped 20 percent after the soft launch of Disneyland in May, according to data of anjuke.com, an online property information services provider. Realty developments in the Disneyland's neighborhood often combine residential properties and commercial properties, including hotels, in the same project. Developers wish to benefit from tourists who generally take a detour to streetside stores on their way back home. After a long day at the Disney theme park, some visitors even prefer to stay at nearby bed-and-breakfast lodges or budget hotels. Realty agent Zhao Hongfan, 29, who has been selling properties in the area for more than three years, said most of the properties in the Disneyland neighborhood are pre-owned, and supply of new homes is limited. Zhao said many of the apartments are being bought for investment purposes. Homebuyers in the area do not really intend to live there as the neighborhood is expected to become busier, more crowded and noisy. "Buyers can turn their apartments into online-listed B&B services or serviced apartments," she said. Zhang Hongwei, an analyst with Tongce Realty Consultancy, said investors and developers need to "plan their investment carefully" based on a detailed study of demographic profile of visitors, their consumption habits and affordability. "For sure, Disneyland will attract a huge number of tourists to the city, but there is no guarantee that tourists will buy at your store or stay in your house. Planning is really important before making the investment," said Zhang. The Kwara State Government have condemned the increasing cases of rape as it announced it records more than 1,000 cases yearly. Hajia Bilkis Sidiq, an official at the state Ministry of Women Affairs, made this revelation while taking part in a Walk Against Rape event, organised by an Ilorin-based group, Saab Foundation, which advocated death penalty for rapists. an official of the state Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajia Bilkis Sidiq, lamented that rapes cases being recorded in the ministry featured more elderly people than young adults as perpetrators. She said what is annoying is that the recent cases have been featuring more elderly people than younger adults Founder of Saab Foundation, Miss Bibire Saadat, a 21-year-old graduate of Mass Communication, expressed concern that there was no effective law yet against rape, saying that the police and society still stigmatised victims (survivors). Bibire, who started the campaign against rape in January, said she had so far been involved with eight survivors, among them three young boys, one of who was raped repeatedly by the maid in their house. The other two, she narrated, were raped by their uncles. While commending the walk against rape, Hajia Bilkis who represented the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Alhaja Ayinke Saka, said government remained committed to doing everything possible to stem the tide of rape in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State has accused its candidate in the 2015 governorship election in the state and aspirant for the national chairmanship of the party, Jimi Agbaje, of tinkering with the delegates list from Lagos for the botched August 17 national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Chairman of the party in the state, Hon. Moshood Salvador, who addressed an emergency assembly of Lagos PDP at the partys secretariat at the weekend, also accused Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State of working against the interest of the South-West. According to the Lagos PDP chair, prior to the election, efforts were made to reconcile all aggrieved members, which culminated in the equal distribution of delegates list between the two PDP groups in the state. However, when the list got to Abuja, Mr. Salvador alleged that it was altered with names of respected leaders of the party like Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, former deputy governor Kofo Akerele-Bucknor, among others, deleted. He said the development was not only annoying, but disturbing. Salvador said: Having done all these extensive works, with the full cooperation of every member of the PDP in Lagos State, some unscrupulous individuals went to Abuja to manipulate this list. The message came to us after extensive investigations that it was Jimi Agbaje and one other member in Abuja that did all these nominations. They sat down there to put stone in the house of PDP in Lagos, this cannot be acceptable. As we are all struggling, putting all what we have together to move this party forward, some people in Ekiti were busy stoning our house here, we are leaving them to God. The Lagos PDP boss said Agbaje did not inform the party in the state of his intention to contest the PDP chairmanship, adding, We got to know when we got to Port Harcourt. Salvador said: All the states in the North had meeting with Chief Olabode George in Abuja; they were all with him. Could you believe that five delegates were removed from all the states? The Lagos state delegates list is 66 but 61 tags were packaged for me. I was asking for the remaining five; they removed five names because of their manipulation. In his reaction, Mr. Agbaje denied tinkering with the delegates list in question as he was not even privy to it. Speaking through his media aide, Felix Oboagwina, the national chairmanship aspirant said, The list was compiled by the caretaker committee. So it couldnt have been doctored by Jimi Agbaje from Lagos, and you know there are delegates and delegations from 36 states. The ruling party APC posted a questionnaire through their twitter handle soliciting responses from Nigerians on the state of electricity in their locations and Nigerians took their turns. Whats the current situation of power supply at (name) your location? Kindly drop your feedback and RT. APC Nigeria (@APCNigeria) August 28, 2016 Their reactions below. @APCNigeria @MBuhari @ApcOgun @Govsia for over five years IBAFO has been experiencing total black out, no electricity, no drainage, no road efunnuga olusola (@efunnugaolusola) August 29, 2016 @APCNigeria No electricity at all at Magboro community in Ogun state close to Berger Lagos. Yahyaa (@AbdullahiYahya2) August 29, 2016 @APCNigeria in kano theres improvement coz we now have atleast 15hrs a day sadeeq (@sadeeqlil) August 29, 2016 @apcnigeria. Very poor in Ekiti. Light is a stranger to Akoko area in Ondo state oso oluwaseyi emma (@oluwaseyi_oso) August 29, 2016 @APCNigeria power supply in Adamawa is 24 hour NEPA available right now am watching Safiya breakfast showv On tv pic.twitter.com/cirx2yop2v SaLeeh (@SaLeehMuhammed1) August 29, 2016 @APCNigeria power supply here in Ifo L.G has improved. Rating: 82% BALOGUN (@quadness) August 29, 2016 @APCNigeria @APCNigeria : Without any fault from substation, power is about 20hrs everyday here in Calabar Municipality Shuaib Babatunde (@chooaeb) August 29, 2016 @APCNigeria we now enjoys power for almost 22hrs in Abuja in the 2 months and hope its continue like this usmanov (@usmanyusuf) August 29, 2016 @APCNigeria what surprises me d more is despite d heavy down pour yesterday there was still uninterrupted power supply in Ajah God bless Apc fabuda (@fabuda_) August 28, 2016 @APCNigeria stay in alagbado AIT rd rate at wish we have light is incredible 4 d 1st time in 5yrs we have light 4 2 days without blinking oyesanya babatunde (@babssy4real) August 28, 2016 What is your take? Nigeria will be one of the most attractive and easiest places of doing business in the world by 2019. This assurance was given by President Muhammadu Buhari to the global community yesterday. He gave the assurance in Nairobi, Kenya, during a plenary session on Dialogue with the Private Sector at the sixth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD). The session was attended by several African leaders, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and international business executives. The latest World Banks 2016 Ease of Doing Business Report ranked Nigeria 169 out of 189 countries. We are committed to moving up the ranking of the World Banks ease of doing business index 20 places in first year and be in the top 100 within the next three years, Buhari said. The president said that his administration was implementing policies and measures to create right and enabling environment for businesses and investors in Nigeria. He stressed that his governments objective was to make Nigeria one of the top investment destinations in the world within the shortest possible time. We believe government has a particular responsibility to create right and attractive environment for businesses and economic activities to thrive, he said. In furtherance of this vision, we have launched the Presidential Enabling Environment Council (PEEC) and Inter-Ministerial Council to oversee the efforts of government to remove various bottlenecks that stifle businesses and economic activities and thereby create economic activities and the right enabling environment and investment climate in Nigeria, Buhari said. Vanguard SENIOR Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, has said the special attention being accorded sectoral allocation in the countrys annual budget, leaving other details in the hands of appropriation committees of the legislature to handle and approve for government agencies and parastatals, was responsible for padding. Punch A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, has submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission an email correspondence between him and a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Partys Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih. Thisday In bid to ensure financial system stability and integrity, while restoring calm, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will today meet with the Body of Bank CEOs, following which it will consider the plea by eight bank executives whose institutions were suspended from the foreign exchange (FX) market last Tuesday, to give them more time to return the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company dollar deposits held by the affected banks to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) domiciled with the CBN. The Sun More Nigerians will soon be able to afford new cars, as the Federal Government through the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has put in place a credit purchasing scheme that will enable Nigerians buy locally assembled vehicles at low prices. Daily Times The agitation for an upward review of the national minimum wage by workers from N18,000 to N56,000 may never see the light of day as the federal government is yet to initiate a dialogue with members of the organised labour. Guardian The Acting InspectorGeneral of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, has charged officers drafted on special operation to Kogi to tackle kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes in the state. Daily Trust Mr. Jimi Agbaje, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State and aspirant for the national chairmanship of the party, at the weekend came under attack from the leadership of the party in the state over alleged tinkering with the delegates list from Lagos for the botched national convention in Rivers State. Leadership The Judicial Commission of Inquiry recently inaugurated by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State to look into the clash between some villages in Bosso local government area of the state and the Nigerian Army and Air force is set to commence public hearing. The Nation A businessman, who is being grilled by the EFCC over the deal, is believed to have named a former Head of State, a former Senate President, a former National Security Adviser (NSA), some senators, and some serving and former members of the House of Representatives. Tribune PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his vow that his administration will deal with Niger Delta militants like it has done to Boko Haram terrorists, unless they agree to negotiate. Prospective and returning students of a Nigerian university have been informed about requirements for acceptance. Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State has released the requirements for both fresh and returning students, but the newest of the rules is the prohibition of smartphones. This new rule has caused uproar especially on social media, with some taking digs at it and some expressing their shock. On ABUADs website, the university listed smartphones students as a prohibited item. the University would allow students to use telephone but limited to non-smartphones. Any TELEPHONE aside the Universitys specification, inclusive of TABLETS or IPADS shall be CONFISCATED and the Student shall be SANCTIONED, it read on the site. This isnt the first time ABUAD has been under criticism over its rule on the use of mobile phones. The school released on its website May 31, 2011 that camera phones were prohibited for fresh students in its hall of residence for its 2012/2013 academic session. Only Nokia 5030 was to be allowed. The site said: Camera phones e.g black berry, iphone, e.t.c. The only acceptable Mobile phone is Nokia 5030 torchlight phone on which the name of the owner must be inscribed, it read on the site. The rules which private universities make for their students to abide by have long been an issue in Nigeria. Covenant University, Ota, for example, applies a very strict dress code to its students, with mobile phones also barred. ABUAD is the latest private university to declare a rule the public would call bizarre in this technological age. The information on the site was signed by its Registrar, Christie Oluborode. Amongst some of the reaction on social media are: https://twitter.com/faith_hon/status/770266139796598785 https://twitter.com/ThaRedLabel/status/770246930597289987 President Muhammadu Buhari took to his twitter handle while in Nairobi to assure everybody that his administration would do all within its power to secure the rescue of the Chibok girls. His comments did not elicit any hope for most Nigerians. Instead, most people bashed the President for addressing local issues from outside the country. I reiterated it in Nairobi, that we want our Chibok girls safe, we want them out. Were doing all we can to reunite them with their families Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) August 28, 2016 @MBuhari u could say it in nigeria but u went far away Kenya to let us know. Continue Cupid#CFC (@cupid4cool) August 28, 2016 @MBuhari U never say this in Nigeria Only speak to us from foreign land. Roman K Akor (@sunnyukc) August 28, 2016 @MBuhari @obyezeks chai PMB would not grant the Chibok parents audience in Nigeria but he assures Kenyan people over the Chibok girls Aveigo (@aveigo) August 28, 2016 @MBuhari Sir, Y always making such statements abroad, &provide us with nothing at home? Charity begins at home Ill say. Lets b informed. Shoboyoke Ajanlekoko (@shoboyokee) August 28, 2016 @MBuhari Baba why in Nairobi? Why did you not at least send someone to recognise the importance of the protesters last week? Abu~Hafiz (@AminuFaragai) August 28, 2016 @MBuhari Nairobi is Kenya!!.reiterate to us in Abuja, Maiduguri;in NIGERIA..meet d chibok families outside aso rock. show some love! Demola (@demdam) August 28, 2016 @MBuhari @MBuhari From Nairobi?? Really?? And we are to believe you are doing all you can? Ranti (@rantifamilusi) August 28, 2016 @MBuhari you dont have 2go2 kenya to make such pronouncements, the parents are in nigeria,bornu. When they agitate respond not with silence Olorunisola Ayorinde (@olorunisolaone) August 28, 2016 Two members of a 7-men gang of hoodlums that specializes in burgling shops at the Idumota/Balogun and some other markets in Lagos State, on Sunday met their waterloo as they were arrested by the Anti Kidnapping Unit of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan while carrying out their criminal activities. The suspects, Yakubu Adamu, 21, from Niger Republic and Issa 48, who hails from Borno State, were arrested while awaiting the arrival of receivers of their stolen items, after the police received anonymous tip-off on their ongoing acts. The two were caught with more than 10 bags of ladies wears worth millions of naira, their operational vehicle (one unregistered Toyota Corolla), 2 cutlasses, 2 chisels and one heavy cutter. A statement from the Zone said the Assistant- Inspector-General of Police in charge, AIG Abdulmajid Ali, has directed the Officer-In-Charge of Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Zone to effect the arrest of other fleeing members of the gang and their receivers in order for the police to carry out effective investigation and prosecution of the case. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir David Lawal, has told all the 24 aspirants jostling for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to run for the Ondo State governorship election on November 26, 2016 that President Muhammadu Buhari has no preferred candidate among them. The APC governorship primaries has been slated to hold this Saturday in Akure, the state capital. The state chapter of the party had been plunged into a crisis amid allegations that a national leader of the party and kingmaker was pulling all the stops to ensure his favourite candidate emerged winner of the primaries. But speaking at the end of a meeting with the aspirants in Abuja on Monday, Mr. Lawal assured the aspirants that a level playing ground will be given to all of them. He also warned that the security agencies have been properly briefed to ensure there is protection of lives and properties during the primary election in the state. The Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has relocated its governorship primary to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on security grounds. The faction was to pick its candidate for the November 26 governorship election in Akure, the state capital, today. A statement by the factions Director of Media and Publicity, Yemi Akintomide, said the primaries would now hold at the PDP Southwest zonal secretariat in Ibadan. The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, which is backed by PDP Governors and other major organs of the party, last Monday conducted its own primary election. The primaries produced a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Eyitayo Jegede, as winner. Mr. Jegede is Governor Olusegun Mimikos perceived anointed candidate. The Sheriff faction in the statement issued by its spokesman, said the Ahmed Gulak-led Committee had taken over the conduct of the primary from the State Executive Committee, with its Chairman, Biyi Poroye, as member. It, therefore, urged aspirants and party delegates to move to Ibadan yesterday in preparation for the primary. The statement said: We are not aware of any court injunction stopping the primary, as all court pronouncements were in favour of the Senator Alimodu Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP. Five aspirants, including Jimoh Ibrahim, Sola Ebiseni, Bamiduro Dada, Niran Sule-Akinsuyi and the only female, Mrs. Abiye Ademoyegun, are contesting the Sheriff factions primaries. German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday that the negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the United States over a free trade deal had de facto failed. "The negotiations with the USA have de facto failed, because we as Europeans, of course, should not subject ourselves to American demands," Gabriel said in an interview with German ZDF television. He noted that the two sides could not agree on a single chapter of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) being discussed. "Things are not moving on the issue," he added. Since July 2013, when the EU and the United States started negotiations on the free trade deal, 14 rounds of talks have been held. Both sides have sought to conclude the negotiations by the end of this year. An earlier survey found that public support for the agreement dropped sharply in both Germany and the United States in recent years. Concerns of the opponents include declines in consumer and labour protection, environment standards as well as the secrecy of the negotiations. The Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris, has approved the deployment of over 300 special mobile forces to Kogi State to be part of the newly launched Operation Total Freedom. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in charge of Operations, Mr. Habila Joshak, disclosed this in Lokoja, the state capital while addressing officers and men that would be taking part in the special operation aimed at tacking kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes. Joshak, who addressed the personnel on behalf of Mr. Idris, expressed the determination of the police in collaborating with other security agencies to ensure that no part of the country is left under the control of criminal elements. The DIG noted that the Kogi State Police Command equally provided additional 350 policemen that will work alongside the special mobile forces and other personnel drawn from the military and vigilante groups that will be taking part in the special security operation. Unknown gunmen have assassinated a prominent Port Harcourt, Rivers State-based lawyer, Ken Atsuwete at his Aluu residence, near the University of Port Harcourt. Mr. Atsuwete, an Itsekiri from Delta State and lawyer to the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, was assassinated on Monday morning. Atsuwete, an Itsekiti from Delta State, was murdered at his house in Aluu, near the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). The deceaseds chamber was deserted with the premises under lock and key on Monday following his murder, while his wife, an indigene of Anambra State and her three children, have been relocated to her fathers house in Port Harcourt. Atsuwetes body has been deposited at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) morgue. South African students are protesting new rules at a Girls high school in Pretoria. School authorities in Pretoria passed new rules compelling students to straighten their hair and allowing only ponytails, dreadlocks, cornrows and braids not longer than 10mm. All types of attachment have also been outlawed with students mandated to wear the same hair styles. The new rules have been interpreted as racist as black students say it is an attempt to repress an expression of culture. Students at Pretoria High were also told not to speak African languages at school. Zama Ndlovu, a Pretoria High School for Girls alumni has said the schools policies have been made to favour white people. The problem with the rules is that they are still written through a white gaze so our hair is supposed to conform to what our white counterparts hair is supposed to look like. What is defined and conceived as neat is still the same as it was before, and we used to justify it by saying to ourselves this was very soon after 1994 and the spaces had not been used to having black students. The South African minister has backed the peaceful protests which began today. On this day in 2013;The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, stated that it has shut down the Warri Refineries due to operational challenges. Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe,According to him, the decision to shut down the Warri refinery was taken because there was insufficient crude oil in the system. Also on this day in 2014;Former President Goodluck Jonathan, said the Federal Government has paid off power generation companies, GENCOs, N25 billion debts owed gas companies for gas supplies in order to boost electricity generation and transmission nationwide. And on this day in 2014;THE Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC advised the Federal Government to adopt starvation tactics in the fight against the Boko Haram by blocking all the routes leading to the forests in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states where the sects operate from. President of the NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar, who made the call at the commissioning of the N150 million secretariat called Federal Might House built by the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Federal Council in Abuja, noted that if the number of troops deployed to monitor elections in Ekiti and Osun states was sent to the entry and exit of the forests, the terrorists would be forced to surrender. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and Abuja has said that the eight people killed over alleged blasphemy at Talata Mafara area of Zamfara State last week, were not Christians. There was outrage last week over news reports that the victims of a mob action over alleged blasphemy were Christians in spite of clarifications by the state governor, Abdulaziz Yari, that those killed were not Christians. Confirming the development, the spokesman of the Northern CAN, Reverend John Hayab, in a press conference after the associations emergency meeting, which held in Jos, said the association frowns at the killing of any Nigerian under the guise of religion or whatever in the country. SEE ALSO: JNI Condemns Zamfara Blasphemy Killings He said We met over the killings going on in Northern Nigeria. We clearly understood that those killed in Zamfara were not Christians. So, the erroneous story going on in the social media and in many other media claiming that those roasted were Christians should be corrected. As an organization, we frown at the killing of human beings in whatsoever guise. Human beings are human beings and if they are criminals, there are police. We should report them to the police to arrest them and not to set them ablaze. Our concern is that our nation is becoming barbaric. There is no justification whatsoever for the shedding of blood of any citizen. Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDPs Board of Trustee (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, has assured that the leadership crisis currently rocking the party would soon be resolved. The BoT Chair gave the assurance yesterday in Nasarawa, while addressing the party supporters at a rally organised in his honour by the PDP executive members of Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. According to him, various stakeholders of the party were working tirelessly on how to assuage aggrieved members. Both Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff are PDP members. If Sheriff is aggrieved, we are trying to listen, to look at his issues and by God, we are going to address his issues or problem without a fight, without quarrel. But I want to advise that all of us in the PDP must know that nobody is above the party. We must respect the law and constitution of the PDP, he said. The first son of Senator Stella Oduah has died at a Turkish private hospital in Abuja due to the wrong prescription by a medical doctor; SaharaReporters has learned. Senator Oduahs son, whose name was given as Maxwell Chinedu Etoromi, died yesterday after he took a wrong medication prescribed for him following a tooth surgery. SaharaReporters learned that the 28-year-old graduated from Guildford College in the UK before returning to Abuja. Ms. Oduah served in the Goodluck Jonathan administration as a Minister of Aviation before running for a seat in the Nigerian Senate. Source: Sahara Reporters VMware's failure to create a public cloud to rival AWS or Azure hasn't stopped the virtualization giant from trying to build a hybrid cloud to complement its private cloud empire. But VMware's latest hybrid cloud offerings -- VMware Cloud Foundation and Cross-Cloud Services -- show that it's leaving the public cloud to the leaders. Cloud Foundation offers unified management for existing clouds built on the VMware stack -- vSphere, vSAN, and NSX -- wherever they happen to be running. This includes VMware's vCloud Air host, but also VMware stacks hosted in IBM's cloud, an extension of the deal the two companies struck earlier this year. Currently under development, Cross-Cloud Services consists of management tools that span a user's VMware stacks and the three top commodity public cloud providers (Amazon, Google, and Microsoft). It performs app and data migrations between local or IBM-hosted VMware setups and public clouds. Right now, live migrations between VMware and those cloud providers aren't on the table. The process, known as "cold migration," require the apps and data in question to be suspended, although it can be performed incrementally if needed. These are piecemeal improvements to existing offerings. VMware's previously unveiled Cross-Cloud vMotion allowed bidirectional live migration between on-prem VMware setups and VMware's vCloud Air public cloud platform, although not to other commodity public clouds. Also revealed this year were changes to VMware's vRealize toolset, which lets you use VMware's management tools to oversee private and public cloud resources that support vSphere. However, it doesn't support migrations to public clouds or provide the advanced networking and firewall configuration that VMware is now hinting at with Cross-Cloud Services. Clearly, VMware is settling for the private cloud and is leaving the public cloud to those who already know it and already have a presence. Few vendors can claim to be as widely and deeply entrenched in private cloud as VMware. But VMware's struggles to build a hybrid cloud with a public cloud component powered chiefly by its platform, either vCloud Air or the ill-fated Terremark/Verizon project, haven't enjoyed major uptake. The company's best bet is to play to its strengths -- its private cloud presence and management tooling -- and leave the public cloud component to those that dominate the market. Some people are angry at the U.S. government for secretly stockpiling exploits for security flaws so that they can use them to spy on people. The latest outcry came late last week after the revelation that spies -- in this case, believed to work for the United Arab Emirates -- tried to hack an activist's iPhone using three separate flaws not revealed to Apple by the government. Sorry, but the U.S. government -- indeed, all governments -- is going to do this, and we'd better get used to that fact. Vendors, allies, businesses, citizens, and researchers should never assume that the National Security Agency, GCHQ, Mossad, GRU, or any of the others will promptly disclose detected vulnerabilities. Like it or not, you should assume instead that they will exploit them either until someone else finds the vulnerability -- a vendor, researcher, or ethical hacker -- or until it's in the government's interest to disclose it, such as when it knows a competing power has found it as well. Even the United States, where the official policy is to quickly release details of discovered exploits to affected vendors, has acknowledged it doesn't release exploits it thinks it can use. This reality imposes a high price on everyone because it means we have to spend the effort to find the vulnerabilities on our own knowing that they could be used against us until we do. Vendors and researchers need to redouble their efforts as a result. A government targeted a human rights activist through an iOS flaw The most recent case of a government agency taking advantage of undisclosed vulnerabilities shows why it's critical that vendors, researchers, and ethical hackers seek out vulnerabilities. Once Apple learned of the vulnerability, it acted quickly to close it, with its release late last week of iOS 9.3.5. Spy agencies knew Apple would act quickly, which is why they didn't tell Apple in the first place. Instead, they used it for as long as they could. The vulnerabilities came to light when suspicious SMS messages sent to Ahmed Mansoor, a human rights activist in the United Arab Emirates, were found to include a link that if clicked loaded a page in Safari that would have triggered the Trident exploit. That exploit targeted a memory corruption flaw in the WebKit browser engine that underpins Safari and two kernel flaws in iOS to remotely jailbreak an iPhone. Lucky for Mansoor, he didn't click the link. But surely others have been ensnared from similar attacks. Had he done so, the government would have been able to remotely jailbreak Mansoor's iPhone to record his WhatsApp and Viber communications, track his movements, and use the phone camera and microphone to monitor what he was doing Trident was identified by researchers from Citizen Lab, based in the University of Torontos Munk School of Global Affairs, and mobile security company Lookout Security. Researchers linked Trident back to NSO Group, the company behind government-exclusive "lawful intercept" spyware Pegasus. NSO specializes in giving governments new ways to spy on citizens, businesses, and other governments. The good news in this most recent case is that iOS users quickly adopt updates, so the majority of users will be on the latest operating system within a few weeks -- and immune from Trident. If the exploit targeted Android, Windows, or most other platforms, the patch could have taken weeks, months, or even longer to become available. But the pattern of response for the Trident exploit shows how the security world works -- and will continue to work: Spies exploit a vulnerability. The flaw is eventually found and reported to the vendor. The vendor patches the vulnerable software, and users apply the update. Spies then move on to the next vulnerability in their arsenal. Wash, rinse, repeat. Government spying is distasteful, but criminal use is worse Well, not always -- sometimes, those vulnerabilities aren't found by ethical organizations and sent to vendors to quickly fix and users to quickly patch. Or even found by a government for use in a "national security" purpose. Sometimes, they're traded on the black market for other nefarious actors -- criminal and otherwise -- to exploit more widely and for more potential harm. For example, a group called Shadow Brokers dumped several exploits and attack tools ostensibly stolen from the Equation Group (widely believed to be an NSA contractor) onto GitHub earlier this month. The attack tools were originally developed for older Cisco and Juniper firewalls, but hardware procurement cycles being what they are, many organizations still have those in place -- and became vulnerable to attacks. The tools even work on some of the newer networking products, expanding the pool of potential victims. In the case of the Equation Group exploits, a New York University professor set up a honeypot and saw attacks using them occur within 24 hours of their release on GitHub. Criminals jump on exploit dumps and vulnerability disclosures promptly to take advantage of them quickly, before vendors and then users can respond. Even though GitHub took the Shadow Brokers account down, the exploits were out. Cisco and Juniper are working on patches, but in the meantime businesses throughout the globe are vulnerable. It almost makes you wish a government had found the weaknesses in the firewalls, so its use would be limited to government spying, not for a range of criminal activities. We saw a similar occurrence a year ago when someone publicly dumped files from Hacking Team that revealed yet more vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash. Very quickly, major crimeware kits targeted those Flash vulnerabilities. Worst-case scenario: Government exploits reach the black market An even worse scenario is if secret exploits held by a government make it into the black market. There's no guarantee that a government agency can keep an exploit secret -- especially because governments often get them from private companies like NSO or Zerodium. The government doesn't actually control that exploit knowledge. Remember the big fight Apple had last year with the FBI over access to a mass-murderer's iPhone? Apple refused to help, for fear of ending all its users' privacy. The FBI ultimately turned to a private company or hacker group -- no one knows who -- and paid about $1 million to use an exploit Apple was apparently unaware of. We don't know if the exploit worked or if Apple ever learned what it is, but the FBI dropped the case, suggesting it got what it wanted. Maybe others have it as well. We may never know. In an ideal world, if you accept the legitimacy of government spying, perhaps governments should have only a set period during which they can keep an exploit secret, after which they must disclose it to the affected vendor. That would reduce the chances of exploits known to governments getting into criminal hands unknown to users and vendors. But we don't live in an ideal world. Any government will want to use exploits as long as it can, and none will trust other governments to play nice even if it does. Vendors, researchers, and ethical hackers need to keep looking hard for vulnerabilities and disclosing them to affected parties as quickly as possible. They're not doing so simply to protect us from criminals, but from governments good and bad. Governments -- especially their spy agencies -- aren't stupid like many people like to think. They're at least as wily as cybercriminals, and we need to factor that reality into our own self-defense work. I've seen plenty of Microsoft patching cluster-flubs, but this one takes the cake. On this month's Patch Tuesday, Aug. 9, Microsoft released a couple of security patches for a hole in kernel-mode drivers. Dubbed MS16-098, the patch came in two flavors. KB 3177725 patched the security hole in Windows Vista, 7, 8.1, Server 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, and RT 8.1. In addition, KB 3176492, 493, and 495 fixed the same hole in various versions of Windows 10. [ The essentials for Windows 10 installation: Download the Windows 10 Installation Superguide today. | Stay up on key Microsoft technologies with the Windows Report newsletter. ] KB 3176492, 493, and 495 were all cumulative updates. Each was a Fibber McGee's closet stuffed full of security and nonsecurity patches in one easy-to-install bundle. Unfortunately, as I pointed out two weeks ago, the patches all have the same bug: They break certain print routines that involve printing multiple times. The details are a bit thick, but if you run the BarTender bar code/label printing product from Seagull Scientific, for example, you'll find that the patches make the program unusable after printing two labels. Ditto with combit's List & Label. Many homebrewed line-of-business apps don't work. The patch killed many different approaches to bundling multiple print jobs. The first public warning about the bug appears to have been posted by Kristan G on the Microsoft Answers forum on Aug. 12. The Microsoft employee who first responded blamed the printer manufacturers for bad drivers. Shortly afterward, a second Microsoft employee stepped in with a "we're working on it" response, and the KB articles were all updated with this Known Issue: After you apply this security update and you print multiple documents in succession, the first two documents may print successfully. However, the third and subsequent documents may not print. That's where things turned all Rube Goldberg. Microsoft released a fix for Windows 10 on Aug. 19. The patch -- KB 3186987, called the "Cumulative update for Windows 10: August 19, 2016" -- is an odd bird. Its KB article claims the patch supersedes the cumulative update that contained the bad patch, KB 3176492. But if you look at the Windows 10 update history page, there's no mention of an Aug. 19 patch. There's no change in the update numbers or in the OS build version numbers. There's only been one cumulative update issued since Aug. 19 -- the Aug. 23 cumulative update for Win10 version 1607 -- and the description there doesn't mention print fixes. If there's been a change to the cumulative update for Win10 version 1511 since the Aug. 9 printer-busting patch, I haven't seen it. I have no idea what's going on, and the KB articles for this security patch provide no clue. Perhaps Microsoft slipstreamed the fix into the current cumulative updates for Win10 1507, 1511, and 1607. Perhaps 1607 has been fixed, but the fix has not been documented. Perhaps KB 3186987 has been blowing smoke for the past 10 days. Over on the other side of the fence, Microsoft released a fix for Windows 7, 8.1, and the Servers (but not Vista) on Aug. 23. It's called KB 3187022 -- but as of early Monday morning, you won't find it on your Windows Update listing. This isn't a hotfix, it's a bona fide Windows Update patch. I know because it's listed as an Aug. 24 release on the official Windows Update list. But as of early this morning, none of my Win7 or 8.1 PCs show the patch as available for download. Sure, I can go to the Windows Update Catalog and apply the patch manually, but then what happens when it's released "for real"? If we were talking about a fix for Azerbaijani Manat currency support, we could laugh and forget about it. But this goes right to the core of cumulative updating and how Microsoft recovers from a botched patch. Heaven knows we've had a lot of them. Office Click-to-Run is plagued by problems, with significant bugs in December, two in February, one in April, one in June, and another in August. Cumulative updating may have its benefits, but it's strictly a one-way street. It's time for Microsoft to provide answers about its patching policy. The question is straightforward: When Microsoft releases a security patch that contains a significant bug, how will Microsoft fix the problem? It's the same question I've been asking for the past 18 months, and it's time we got some answers. The next patching problem may not be so benign. The 2016 China Top Enterprise Summit is held in Changsha, Hunan Province, on Aug. 27. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn] The State Grid Corporation of China, the country's biggest electricity company, was ranked as the most profitable Chinese company with an annual revenue of 2.07 trillion yuan (US$310.3 billion) in the 2016 China Top 500 Enterprises ranking released on Aug. 28 in Changsha, Hunan Province. State Grid climbed two places from the 2015 list, nudging down last year's winner China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to second place and runner-up Sinopec to third. The other companies in the top 10 ranking did not change much, with the exception of the Ping'an Insurance Company of China, which surged to ninth place from 20th place last year. Moreover, the Guangdong-based Ping'an Insurance is the only company whose headquarters are not in Beijing. The other six companies the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), China Construction Bank (CCB), China State Construction, Agricultural Bank of China, and Bank of China retained their old rankings from the fourth to the eighth places, and China Mobile dropped one place and now sits at No. 10 in the new ranking. Despite the consistency for the top 10 companies, this year's ranking is characterized most by the rising service sector in China, which represents 40.2 percent of all the names in the top 500 ranking, outweighing the manufacturing sector (39.3 percent) for the first time. On a Top 500 Enterprises in the Service Sector list revealed at the same time, the top seven companies in this list managed to make to the general top 10, whereas the remaining three, China Life Insurance Company, China Development Bank and China Resources, are still in the general ranking's top 20 list. This change reflects initial progress in the continuous, deepened structural reform of China, said Wang Zhongyu, chairman of China Enterprising Confederation (CEC) and China Enterprise Directors Association (CEDA), at the ranking's launch ceremony. CEC and CEDA are the agencies which have prepared these annual rankings since 2002. China Top 500 companies had a gross revenue of US$9.6 trillion, equivalent to 79.9 percent of the Fortune 500 companies and up by 2.4 percentage points year on year. The revenues and net profits of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) account for 75.9 percent and 76.7 percent respectively of the 500 companies' totals, retaining the largest share of China's national economy. Over the past few years, the MasterCard Foundation has been making some hefty investments to improve the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Africa. In 2015, the foundation launched its $50 million Rural Prosperity Fund, which aims to end the poverty cycle for some 1 million of Africas rural poor population by improving their access to financial products and services. A big chunk of that money$35 millionwill fund development of the most promising ideas and pilot programs related to financial inclusion specifically geared toward smallholder farmers in Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Related: MasterCard Launches $35 Million Rural Prosperity Scaling Competition Also in 2015, the foundation announced a $15 million give to AGRA to support its work in expanding access to financial services to smallholder farmers in Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. Shortly after that, the MasterCard Foundation launched a $15.4 million initiative in partnership with AgDevCo to help increase the incomes of smallholder famers in Africa through its Smallholder Development Unit. Well, it seems like $15 million is the magic number as the foundation has announced yet another big give, this time in partnership with East Africas largest commercial bank, KCB Bank Group. The foundations $15 million investment is part of the larger $30 million partnership, which aims to improve and promote financial inclusion for some 2 million smallholder farmers in Kenya and Rwanda. As part of the joint venture, KCB will extend at least $200 million in credit for farmers in both countries through its KCB MobiGro program. The new $30 million partnership will focus on building the financial literacy and business management knowledge of smallholder farmers and pastoralists. A major aim, here, is for the farmers to use that know-how to improve production, stock management, and use mobile financial services to improve their livelihoods and economic security. Of the give, Ann Miles, director of the MasterCard Foundations Financial Inclusion and Youth Livelihoods programs, said that the new partnership with the KCB Group will help us understand to what extent access to mobile-based financial services and agriculture information can help smallholder farmers and pastoralists achieve higher productivity and returns. That increased access to financial services and agricultural information will hopefully, according to Miles provide poor farmers in Kenya and Rwanda a pathway out of poverty. MasterCards announcement of its new partnership with KCB Group comes just weeks after the foundation joined forces with Mercy Corps to launch AgriFin Accelerate in Tanzania, one of the three countries in which the program will operate. The six-year, $25 million initiative aims to help close the gap in access to financial and information services experienced by smallholder farmers. Particular groups of focus for the initiative are women and young people. The partners expect the program to benefit around 1 million smallholder farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia. Its relatively safe to say that most of the MasterCard foundations financial inclusion efforts in Africa work toward closing the financing gap. Agricultural investments are risky endeavors, particularly for rural and smallholder farmers. At the same time, its big business. In a number of African countries, small farms account for huge percentages of agricultural production and act as key economic drivers. In Kenya, for example, the 3 million to 3.5 million small farmers account for some 75 percent of the countries agricultural production. Related: AGRA and Mercy Win Big Inaugural Give from The MasterCard Foundation According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 80 percent of farmland in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia is managed by smallholders. Overcoming the financing gap is a critical aspect of not only helping lifting small and rural farmers out of poverty, but building an increasingly inclusive economies across Africa, as well as support its burgeoning labor force which, according to MasterCard, is set to be largest in the world by 2035. With assets of over $8.2 billion, the MasterCard Foundation is among the largest philanthropic entities in the world. And not only does this funder spend some serious cash on its programs which almost exclusively centers on helping lift people out of poverty, it does so consistently. As for its support of Africas agricultural sector, the foundation has already invested around $175 million in such projects, and that number is clearly set to increase in the coming years. This content is from: Opinion Cryptos descent into hell, rather than sending institutional investors straight for the exits, has triggered a hunt for the next big bet.(Part of the crypto column series.) Accusations of dodgy sales tactics and defrauding customers have been levelled against Youi in Australia, mirroring recent charges laid against the companys New Zealand branch.The South African insurer is now under investigation by the Australian Investment and Securities Commission (ASIC), according to a Fairfax report which was triggered by the media companys own investigation.Fairfax says it has spoken to five whistleblowers during a six-month investigation. The whistleblowers say the company culture encouraged sales staff to defraud potential customers on a large scale by billing them for policies they never signed up for.They also said the customers were having claims rejected due to a cult-like corporate culture that pushes staff to falsify insurance documents to make sales. That then leaves customers paying for policies that dont actually cover them.I started in sales, and I witnessed managers changing data, changing the colour of cars, changing insurance history, said one whistleblower.The whole thing makes me sick. Its all a big cover-up.A Youi spokesman said while the company has not been advised of any specific investigation by ASIC regarding this matter ... it will certainly assist with any and all inquiries, according to The Courier Mail.Fairfax has also spoken to several customers who say Youi took money from them without authorisation.According to the Fairfax report, the whistleblowers claimed the call centre in Australia actually made many of the illegal phone sales made in New Zealand. Youis New Zealand arm pled guilty to misconduct charges filed by the New Zealand Commerce Commission this month, and the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) said it would consider whether to terminate Youis membership at its next board meeting.The story originally emerged in March 2016 following Kiwi investigative journalist Diana Clements in-depth expose.Since the New Zealand revelations, the atmosphere inside the company had become highly paranoid, Fairfax reported, with staff warned regularly of likely penalties if they speak to the media.Youi maintained the company was committed to conducting business with the highest standards of personal and corporate integrity and had apologised unreservedly after the NZ charges were laid. The livestock industry needs green development as China strives to modernize its agriculture industry by making it more efficient, inclusive and environment-friendly throughout the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), said Li Junyang, secretary-general of the International Ecological Economy Promotion Association (IEEPA), at a seminar in Beijing on Aug. 28. Li Junyang, secretary-general of the International Ecological Economy Promotion Association (IEEPA) addresses the seminar in Beijing on Aug. 28. [Photo/China.org.cn] The seminar was held to promote a low-carbon, eco-friendly way of breeding pigs in China, since pork is the country's most consumed meat. Pigs have been at the centre of Chinese culture, cuisine and family life for thousands of years. The Economist published an article in 2014 describing the Chinese culture of pig breeding and its impact on the environment. "Porcine waste also contributes to emissions of methane and nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Intensive swine-farming is much more polluting than smallholding. So, as well as depriving Earth of the natural cooling function of the rainforests they displace, Chinese pigs contribute to global warming more directly," it read. The author's words were rather frightening, as pollution caused by livestock breeding has been a great concern both in China and the world. In January 2016, the Organizing Committee of World Economic and Environmental Conference and Anyou Biotechnology Group Co., Ltd. signed a cooperation plan on green and low-carbon development in the traditional breeding industry and jointly initiated a public fund to promote environment-friendly pig breeding in China. The seminar, held in Beijing on Aug. 28, aims to promote a low-carbon, eco-friendly way of breeding pigs in China. [Photo/China.org.cn] "The plan will provide target farms or enterprises with capital support, technology training and environment-friendly feed," Li said. As a pioneer in this field, Anyou Group has been taking the lead to raise pigs in an eco-friendly way. "Our aim is to launch a green revolution featuring no pollution and zero emission in the pig industry," said Hong Ping, chairman of Anyou Group. Hong proposed reducing carbon emissions by producing feed that meets environmental standards, designing energy-saving pig houses and turning porcine waste into organic fertilizer. In 2014, Anyou Group even set up its own low-carbon research institute to carry out theoretical and practical research on environmental protection in the agricultural sector. Following their example, China's pork industry could see "a reduction of at least 30 million tons of grain in consumption and a decrease of 15 to 30 percent in fecal pollution every year," Hong emphasized. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Delaware State Police say a woman who died after tumbling from a zip line ride fell from a platform about 35 feet off the ground. Authorities say 59-year-old Tina Werner of Felton was waiting to descend on the zip line Wednesday afternoon at the Go Ape Tree Top Adventure attraction at Lums Pond State Park in Bear, Del., when she fell. Park rangers and Go Ape employees performed first aid on Werner until paramedics arrived. She was taken by ambulance to Christiana Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Officials said Thursday that Werners body has been turned over to the Division of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy. The investigation is continuing, but authorities said foul play is not suspected. The Go Ape attraction opened at Lums Pond in 2013, with officials touting it as the first zip line adventure course in a state park on the East Coast. The treetop course spans seven acres and includes four zip lines and a variety of swings, rope ladders, bridges and trapezes. According to the website of Go Ape, which is based in Frederick, Md., and operates attractions in 15 states, patrons receive a 30-minute training session before being turned loose on the course, which can take them as high as 50 feet in the air. Waivers are signed by participants to accept responsibility for following the safety rules and advice on the course and assume all risks associated with his/her participation, the companys website states. These safety rules are communicated thoroughly in a safety brief that is required of every participant before they Go Ape. Jeff Davis, a spokesman for Go Ape, said Thursday that the rides are inspected on a regular basis. Davis said the Lums Pond attraction is closed for an undetermined amount of time to help with the investigation, and also in respect to the family of the person who died. The Go Ape company is extremely saddened by this, he said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A federal judge on Friday granted a request by Uber Technologies Inc. and its chief executive officer to put a passengers 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 Ubers 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 Rakoffs 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 Ubers $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. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) Topics Lawsuits Legislation New York International broker and risk management firm Integro announced an agreement with HR Latinoamerica Ltda. Corredores de Reaseguros (HRL) to serve as HRLs exclusive London wholesale reinsurance trading partner. The licensing agreement grants HRL Colombia use of the Integro name and also establishes HRL as Integros exclusive licensee for reinsurance business in Colombia. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. This is a strategic relationship that expands and further develops Integros global wholesale reinsurance offerings throughout Latin America, said John Sutton, head of Integros international operations based in London. And HRL aligns with an established London broker providing access to all the London insurance markets, including Lloyds. Under terms of the agreement, HRL will continue to source reinsurance business from retail brokers and carriers in the region. Integro will act as exclusive London wholesale trading partner for this business. HRL will rebrand as Integro Andina Ltda. Corredores de Reaseguros. With our strong domestic growth came the realization that joining forces with a leading international broker with expertise serving the reinsurance needs of clients would be of significant benefit, said Julian Suza, president of Bogota, Colombia-based HRL. Integro shares our commitment to provide unparalleled client service, and we are excited to be partnering with John and his superb wholesale reinsurance team. Integro has a strong Latin America reinsurance and wholesale presence via relationships with brokers in Chile, Ecuador and Costa Rica, and now Colombia and Peru, said the New York City-based company in a statement. This agreement with Julian and his colleagues, marking our first wholesale trading relationship in Colombia, is significant for Integro, said William Goldstein, Integros CEO. An established entity in the Colombian reinsurance market, HRL is highly regarded and we look forward to leveraging that strong base in Colombias growing economy, and throughout South and Central America. About HRL Founded in 1996, HR Latinoamerica Ltda. has focused on reinsurance in property, energy, engineering, casualty and financial lines. It currently is one of the top three reinsurance brokers in Colombia, with operations in other Latin American countries such as Peru and Venezuela. Topics Agencies Reinsurance London The Earth has gained coastal land equivalent to the size of Jamaica in the past 30 years with man-made construction outpacing erosion caused by rising sea levels, mapping data showed on Thursday [Aug. 25]. Expansion of ports off China, construction of luxury resorts off Dubai or land reclamation in the Netherlands were among causes of coastal expansion, according to a study by Dutch research group Deltares. Using satellite data with Google Earth, Deltares said coastal regions had gained a net 13,565 square kilometers (5,237 square miles) of land since 1985, roughly the size of Jamaica or the U.S. state of Connecticut. Overall, coasts added 33,700 square kms of land and lost 20,135 square kms to water, it said. Loss of land included erosion dotted around coasts from Vietnam to the Mississippi delta in the United States. We expected on average the coast to shrink as sea level has risen, said Fedor Baart of Deltares, an author of the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. But the coasts are actually growing. We have a huge engineering power, he said. Off China, the coastline all the way from Hong Kong to the Yellow Sea has almost been redesigned. A U.N. panel of climate scientists says world sea levels have risen by about 20 cms (8 inches) in the past century, and links it to a warming driven by man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are thawing ice from Greenland to Antarctica. Inland, the data also show big shifts to lakes such as the shrinking Aral Sea in central Asia and showed changing courses of rivers including the Amazon and the Ganges, sometimes linked to natural variations. In other areas, human influences were clear. In Myanmar, for instance, there were more reservoirs and dams than previously known. North Korea also has a reservoir on the Rimjin River that does not appear on maps. Including both coasts and inland areas, the Earths surface gained 173,000 sq kms of land and 115,000 sq kms of water in the past 30 years, it said. The scientists said the freely available data could help countries sharing the same river to monitor their neighbors dams or help planning by U.N. agencies to prevent floods. Also, anyone planning to buy a beachfront home could check the local coastline for signs of erosion. (Reporting By Alister Doyle; editing by Ralph Boulton) Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation requiring insurance companies to locate beneficiaries of unclaimed life insurance policies and pay them money theyre owed. The Republican said Friday the state also is launching a website to help Illinois residents find out if they are a beneficiary of an insurance policy or annuity left by someone who died. Democratic Treasurer Michael Frerichs says his office has identified more than $550 million in unpaid benefits owed to Illinois residents. The Legislature unanimously approved the bill. It requires insurers to use federal death records to identify deceased policyholders whose life insurance proceeds remain unpaid. Business groups lobbied Rauner for a veto. They said using a private audit firm that earns a contingency fee for finding unpaid benefits has led to overreaching audits. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Carriers Illinois Agribusiness Archer Daniels Midland has settled a lawsuit over claims the company was behind a now-imprisoned grain brokers scheme that gouged millions from dozens of Missouri farmers. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Thursdays confidential settlement ended a civil trial in St. Louis. Terms werent disclosed, and ADM says in a statement it admits no wrongdoing. Cathy Gieseker was sentenced in 2010 to nine years in federal prison for what prosecutors called a Ponzi scheme involving 179 farmers bilked of more than $27 million. She claimed to have a deal with ADM that let her broker corn and soybean crops for premium prices and pay the farmers a higher yield later. The lawsuit involving roughly 160 plaintiffs claimed ADM management knew about and instructed Giesekers scheme. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Agribusiness Missouri Trucks and buses in the United States may have to be equipped with devices to limit their speed under a proposed rule issued on Friday by the U.S. Transportation Department which said the move could save both lives and fuel. The department will weigh setting speed limits at 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour for heavy commercial vehicles, but said it will consider other speeds based on comments from the public. Speed limits on interstate highways vary across the United States, with some states allowing vehicles to drive as fast as 85 mph (137 km per hour), though many states have lower maximum speeds for trucks. There are significant safety benefits to this proposed rulemaking, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement. In addition to saving lives, the projected fuel and emissions savings make this proposal a win for safety, energy conservation, and our environment. The American Trucking Association, a trade group for the industry, praised the proposal, and noted that it had petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2006 to require speed limiting technology. The group has endorsed a national speed limit of 65 mph (105 kph) for trucks. Carriers who already voluntarily use speed limiters have found significant safety, as well as fuel efficiency and equipment lifespan benefits with little to no negative impact on productivity, ATA President Chris Spear said in a statement. We will be carefully reviewing and commenting upon todays proposal. However, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, a group that represents independent truckers and small business operators, said the proposed rules would take control out of the hands of drivers preventing them from speeding up to avoid danger, and create unsafe disparities in the speed of vehicles on highways. Under the long-delayed proposal, all new U.S. trucks and buses weighing more than 26,000 pounds (11,793 kg) would need to be equipped with a speed-limiting device. The department said the maximum allowable speed would be decided after the agency receives public input. Publication of the proposal kicks off a 60-day comment period. It said both vehicle manufacturers and the companies that purchase and operate the vehicles would be subject to the rule. Representatives of truck makers and large truck fleets contacted Friday did not comment or said they were still studying the proposal. (Reporting by Timothy Ahmann and Joseph White; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Alistair Bell) Topics USA General Motors Co.s victory in a Houston courtroom Thursday makes the carmaker three for three in trials related to an ignition-switch defect, but its legal entanglements may stretch on for years. At least a dozen lawsuits are set for trial in the next year, according to court records. The next trial begins Sept. 12 in New York federal court in a lawsuit over the 2011 crash of a Chevrolet Cobalt in Virginia. The company also faces lawsuits by car owners claiming economic losses because of the reduced value of their vehicles. In the Texas case, a jury of eight women and four men in state court took about an hour to reach its decision following a three-week trial. They determined that GM wasnt liable for a 2011 accident that left Zach Stevens, then 19, with a brain injury after his 2007 Saturn Sky careened out of control on a rain-slick road and hit a pickup, killing the driver. In 2014, GM recalled 2.6 million U.S. cars with ignition switches in danger of jostling off. Once the switch came off, the cars lost power and safety systems such as power steering, power brakes, air bags and seat belts were prevented from working as designed. The defect has been linked to at least 124 deaths and 275 injuries. Barra Testified Jurors heard GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra testify by video that the companys failure to properly classify the ignition flaw as a safety defect - which wouldve triggered a mass recall - was part of a series of mistakes that had tragic consequences, including some deaths. But jurors werent convinced that Stevenss accident was directly related to the ignition-switch defect. Plaintiffs credibility was questioned when they provided the wrong car key as evidence. Flaws like that mean GMs three wins so far wont have much effect on the claims remaining, said plaintiffs attorney Bob Langdon, who represents multiple accident victims suing the automaker. Before Verdict In one case, a federal jury in March blamed a New Orleans crash on a freak ice storm rather than a faulty ignition switch. The first trial fell apart before it went to a verdict when the plaintiffs were caught in a lie. People keep trying these cases where their client gets caught in a lie, Langdon said. You are not going to win those cases. In addition, the two jury victories came in trials led by lawyers who arent experienced in auto-defect cases. Many of the remaining claims are being pursued by product-defect specialists. Id like to see what happens in a very solid case with very experienced lawyers, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond in Virginia. Often with product-defect cases, the first claims are won by the defense, then the pattern flips, Tobias said. The plaintiffs lawyers become more educated over time, he said. They figure out what theyre doing wrong. It turns and the defense gets serious over settlement talks. The number of lawsuits claiming ignition switch failures caused deaths or injuries continues to grow. Last month, a federal appeals court in Manhattan ruled GM had to face even more, by reversing a decision dismissing suits over accidents before the company emerged from bankruptcy in 2009. Hate of GM GM may have a tougher time winning cases in the future judging by the post-trial comments of jurors in the Texas case. There was some hate of GM in the room, said juror Deanna Harner, a 43-year-old corporate finance executive who said it was pretty despicable the carmaker knew about the defect but failed to warn customers. Walter Kimble, a 58-year-old home inspector, said Stevenss lawyers didnt give him anything I could work with. I held my nose and did my job, Kimble said. I wanted so desperately to make that young man a millionaire. The case is Stevens v. General Motors LLC, 2015-04442, 152nd Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas (Houston). With assistance from Erik Larson. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Texas Starr Companies has added Michael Ponder as the branch manager for its newly-opened Nashville office. He will be responsible for strategic growth, financial performance as well as broker and client relationships within Tennessee. Ponder joins Starr with more than 14 years of experience with several major insurance companies. His expertise includes multi-lines commercial underwriting in areas of manufacturing, retail, wholesale, hospitality, religious & educational institutions, construction, risk management consulting, performance based marketing, and production results. Robert Cruz, director of Field Operations, said Ponders commitment to Tennessee brokers will provide the catalyst for establishing a strong team environment and growth in the territory. Ponder is a graduate of Tennessee State University where he attended on an Airforce ROTC scholarship. He served more than 14 years in the Airforce with a tour in Iraq and finished his service at the rank of Major. Starr Companies (or Starr) is the worldwide marketing name for the operating insurance and travel assistance companies and subsidiaries of Starr International Company, Inc. and for the investment business of C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries. Starr is a leading insurance and investment organization with a presence on five continents; through its operating insurance companies, Starr provides property, casualty, and accident & health insurance products as well as a range of specialty coverages including aviation, marine, energy and excess casualty insurance. Topics Tennessee A U.S. court has the authority to hear a trademark lawsuit by grocery chain Trader Joes against a man who purchased the companys products and resold them in Canada at Pirate Joes, a store designed to mimic a real Trader Joes, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a district courts decision to dismiss California-based Trader Joes federal trademark claims. The district court in Washington state said it lacked authority to hear those claims because the defendants alleged trademark violations occurred in Canada and Trader Joes had failed to clearly explain how they affected U.S. commerce. The 9th Circuit said defendant Michael Hallatts conduct could harm Trader Joes reputation, decreasing the value of its American-held trademarks. Circuit Judge Morgan Christen also pointed out that Hallatt bought the Trader Joes goods he resold in Washington state. A call to Hallatts attorney, Nathan Alexander, was not immediately returned. Trader Joes does not have stores in Canada. The company sued Hallatt in 2013, alleging he drove across the border to a Trader Joes store in Washington state, bought the companys products and resold them at higher prices at his Vancouver store. A Trader Joes 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 Joes products but didnt want to go through the trouble of traveling 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 Joes products or as an affiliate of Trader Joes. The 9th Circuit sent the case back to the district court for further proceedings. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits California USA Washington Canada The Chinese Air Force is suggesting it may move to increase the capabilities of the country's existing anti-missile capabilities. An undated photo showing ground-to-air missile system of Chinese Air Force. [Photo: mod.gov.cn] Shen Jinke with the Chinese Air Force says upgrades to the ground-to-air forces in China would be a solid step toward increasing national security. "Through innovation, ground-to-air defense troops are able to deal with far-range, medium-range and short-range missiles which can come in on high, medium and low altitudes. The capability of China's air defense and anti-missile systems has greatly improved in the information age we live in. Our ground-to-air forces are now a powerful force to safeguard China's airspace sovereignty." In making the statement, the Chinese Air Force has not said when or how the current ground-to-air missile and anti-aircraft defense systems might be upgraded. The suggestion comes on the heels of plans by the US and South Korea to place the US THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea. Chinese authorities say the system poses a threat to both the stability of the Korean peninsula, but to China as well, as its radar systems will be able to penetrate into Chinese territory. What Is Infrastructure? Infrastructure is defined as the basic physical systems of a business, region, or nation and often involves the production of public goods or production processes. Examples of infrastructure include transportation systems, communication networks, sewage, water, and school systems. Investments in infrastructure tend to be costly and capital intensive, but vital to a region's economic development and prosperity. Projects related to infrastructure improvements may be funded publicly, privately, or through public-private partnerships. Key Takeaways Infrastructure is the basic facilities and system serving a country, region, or community. Examples of infrastructure include mass transit and telecommunications networks. Large-scale infrastructure is usually produced by the public sector and funded by tax revenue. Infrastructure can often be produced on a smaller scale by private firms or through the local authorities. Infrastructure can be defined as soft or hard and both are essential to the economy and quality of life of a society. 1:27 Infrastructure Understanding Infrastructure The term infrastructure first appeared in the late 1880s, derived from French, with infra- meaning below and structure meaning building. Infrastructure can mean the foundation upon which the structure of an economy is built. Infrastructure includes a variety of systems and structures where physical components are required such as the electrical grid across a city, state, or country. While the facilities, equipment, or similar physical assets like bridges and roads are essential to an economy, infrastructure also enables citizens to participate in the social and economic community and provides them with necessities such as food and water. Because infrastructure often involves the production of either public goods or goods that lend themselves to production, it is typical to see public financing, control, supervision, or regulation of infrastructure. This usually takes the form of direct government production or production by a closely regulated, legally sanctioned entity. The first federally funded infrastructure project was the Cape Henry Lighthouse, built in 1789 at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Sometimes private companies choose to invest in a country's infrastructure development as part of a business expansion effort. For example, an energy company may build pipelines and railways in a country where it wants to refine petroleum and this investment can benefit both the company and the country. Individuals may also choose to fund improvements to certain pieces of public infrastructure. For example, an individual may fund improvements to hospitals, schools, or local law enforcement efforts. Types of Infrastructure Infrastructure is often defined as hard or soft. Hard infrastructure is the tangible, physical assembly of structures such as roads, bridges, tunnels, and railways. Soft infrastructure is the services required to maintain the economic, health, and social needs of a population. Hard Infrastructure Hard infrastructure is the physical system needed to run a modern, industrialized nation. Examples include roads, highways, and bridges, as well as the assets required to make them operational such as transit buses, vehicles, and oil refineries. Technical systems such as networking equipment and cabling are considered hard infrastructure and provide a critical function to support business operations. According to the Brookings Institute, 14 million people have jobs in fields directly related to infrastructure. From locomotive engineers and electrical power line installers to truck drivers and construction laborers, infrastructure jobs account for nearly 11 percent of the nations workforce. Soft Infrastructure Soft infrastructure represents human capital and institutions necessary to maintain an economy that delivers certain services to the population such as healthcare, financial institutions, government offices, law enforcement, and education. Investments in soft infrastructure target how people thrive and participate in daily life. In 2021, President Biden's Build Back Better Plan targeted soft infrastructure proposals like expansions to Medicare and tuition-free community college. Maintaining Infrastructure How infrastructure is maintained and funded generally depends on who owns it. The government owns many types, particularly infrastructure for transportation, water, and public education. Most infrastructure is owned by state and local governments, often partially supported through federal subsidies, and some infrastructure may be entirely privately owned. Additionally, public-private partnerships exist in maintaining infrastructure. In 2004, Cintra entered into a 99-year lease with the City of Chicago to operate and maintain the Chicago Skyway Bridge. As part of the agreement, Cintra receives all toll and concession revenue generated by the bridge, while the city benefited from a $1.82 billion cash infusion and is no longer responsible for maintaining the bridge. In 2022, the White House announced that AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, Spectrum, and 16 other providers will offer high-speed internet plans of at least 100 megabits per second for no more than $30/month to eligible low-income households citing the new government subsidy established by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021. The United States has embarked on many infrastructure plans including The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and, in 2015, the $305 billion transportation infrastructure bill. On November 15, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocates $1.2 trillion to fund the rebuilding of roads, bridges, water infrastructure, internet, and more. The 2021 package also includes new incentives and investment in developing infrastructure components such as $7.5 billion to support electric vehicles and $65 billion to ensure every American has access to reliable high-speed internet. What Is the Digital Divide? As highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, many areas within the United States have limited or no internet broadband access, creating a digital divide within the country. Included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 is funding to ensure every American has access to reliable high-speed internet. Are Electric Vehicles Considered a Part of Infrastructure? The Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides funding to develop the countrys EV-charging infrastructure and install 500,000 publicly accessible charging stations compatible with all vehicles and technologies by 2030. Top News - Investor Idea REE Stock News - Defense Metals (TSX-V: DEFN.V) (OTCQB: DFMTF) Drills 113 metres of 2.50% Total Rare Earth Oxide at Wicheeda Vancouver, British Columbia - October 26, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mining / Metals / Green Energy Stock News - Defense Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DEFN / OTCQB: DFMTF/ FSE:35D) is pleased to announce high-grade Rare Earth Element ("REE") assay results from one additional core hole, totalling 383 metres (m), collared within the northern area of Defense Metals' 100% owned Wicheeda REE Deposit. Top Cleantech News - Investor Idea Breaking EV Stock News: Pre-orders for Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) FIVE Electric-SUV Crossover Exceed Expectations as the FIVE 'Strikingly Different' Tour Begins BREA, Calif. - October 28, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today that the Mullen FIVE "Strikingly Different" EV Crossover Tour which began yesterday, in Pasadena, California, is off to a great start with first day reservations exceeding expectations and overwhelmingly positive customer feedback. Top Health and Wellness News - Investor Idea Health and Wellness Stock News - Endexx (OTCBB: EDXC) Secures Third Order for Non-Nicotine Vape Product HYLA Worth Approximately $1.5M in Revenue for First two Fiscal Quarters of 2023 CAVE CREEK, Ariz. - October 27, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Endexx Corporation (OTCBB:EDXC), a provider of innovative, plant-derived, and sustainable health and skincare products, today announces it has secured three key significant orders for its newly acquired, non-nicotine plant-based vape product, HYLA. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires Confidential Computing Platform ZeroTrust to Protect Data Privacy and Accelerate Innovation for Millions of Growth Businesses NEW YORK, NY - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire The Overseas Doctorial-Degree Holders' Weihai Trip of the China Shandong Ninth Domestic and Overseas High-End Talents Exchange and 2016 China Weihai International Talents Entrepreneurship Summit were held on August 25. The Overseas Doctors Weihai Trip of the China Shandong Ninth Domestic and Overseas High-End Talents Exchange and 2016 China Weihai International Talents Entrepreneurship Summit were held between August 25 and 26 in Weihai, Shandong Province. The picture shows the site of the launch ceremony. More than 320 high-end talents across the world were attracted to participate in the two-day event that has 10 different topics. The event was co-sponsored by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange and Expert of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Shandong Province and Weihai Talent Work Leading Team. The theme of the event is "Gathering global intelligence and Entrepreneurship in Weihai". It aims to set up an open and interactive platform of the technology project exchanges for different experts and talents, effectively gather and accelerate the cultivation of innovative entrepreneurship factor resources, activate new impetus for development and speed up the economic transformation and development. Currently, the wave of returned students and the wave of innovative entrepreneur are at the historical intersection. The central government has strengthened streamlining the administration and delegating the power to the lower level. It continues to optimize entrepreneurship eco-environment. Consequently, local governments at different levels also launched preferential policies to create conditions and move away impediments for innovation and entrepreneurship. It is just time for students of overseas scholarly exchanges to set up businesses in their own country. As one of the cities for Students Entrepreneurship Park jointly run by the province and the ministry, Weihai takes active actions to make the event of the Weihai trip by the overseas doctorial-degree holders an important measure to implement the strategy of making a strong city by talents. By means of continuously innovating the form of event, strengthening policy support, optimize innovative entrepreneurship environment, Weihai provides a vast stage for the overseas high-end talents to come to the city for entrepreneurship and introduce technology projects for its enterprises. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. During his visit to Kurdistan region, an American senator stated that Baghdad and Erbil must show full coordination along with international coalition to fight the battle in Mosul. On last Friday, The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Premier Nechirvan Barzani received a US delegation headed by Texas Senator John Cornyn. The upcoming battle of Mosul, an anticipated wave of internally displaced persons (IDPs), and relations between Erbil and Baghdad were the main topics of the meeting. As per a statement, US Senator Cornyn has expressed American appreciation and thanked the Kurdish people and the KRG for receiving and hosting a high number of refugees and IDPs that fled from ISIS, and the KRGs provision of necessary services for them. Cornyn asked the KRG to have full coordination with Baghdad and the coalition in the Mosul battle. He stated that all parties should consider the concerns of the people of Mosul and the Sunnis after the defeat of ISIS in the city. In the meeting, he also stated, It is necessary to have full coordination between Baghdad, the KRG and the coalition and to take into account the concerns of the Mosul people and Sunnis; the rights of all should be protected. He repeated US support for the KRG in hosting new IDPs from Mosul. The statement also added, He has expressed his support for the KRG as a high number of IDPs are expected to flee to the Kurdistan Region during the liberation of Mosul. The international community will provide more support for the Kurdistan Region. Prime Minister Barzani welcomed the senators visit and comments, and said, The Kurdistan Region always tried to receive and help IDPs. But the Kurdistan Regions capacity is limited. Therefore the international community, especially the US, should provide needed support. Barzani also extended his thanks to the United States and all coalition members who from the beginning of the war on ISIS have provided military support to the Kurdistan Region. Addressing the KRGs relations with Iraq, Barzani said, The KRG is ready via dialogue to solve all the problems with Baghdad. And, militarily, soon we will have a meeting between both sides to have more collaboration. He further added, But there should be full clarity on the political, security, social, construction, and humanitarian situations in Mosul. | Soruce: RUDAW | By S.Seal On last Thursday, Iraqi forces pushed the Islamic State group from Qayyarah, a northern town considered strategic for any future offensive against the militants' last stronghold of Mosul. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hailed the victory as a key step in the fight against IS but hours later suffered yet another political setback when lawmakers impeached his defense minister. Special forces, backed by US-led coalition air strikes, wrapped up a three-day operation to retake Qayyarah, a town which lies on the banks of the Tigris river. Lieutenant General Riyadh Jalal Tawfik said, "We control all parts of the town and managed, in very limited time, to root out Daesh." The commander said engineering units were now clearing the town, which lies about 60 KM (35 miles) south of Mosul, of unexploded ordnance and booby traps. Residents greeted the security forces under skies blackened by huge fires IS fighters set to nearby oil wells in recent days. The bodies of suspected IS fighters were strewn across some of the town's streets, especially around its southern entrance, which saw the worst fighting and significant destruction. Abadi issued a statement hailing what he said was a key step towards reclaiming Mosul, IS's de facto Iraq capital and the country's second city. Abidi also said, "Our heroic forces achieved a big victory, an important step towards the liberation of Mosul." "I present my congratulations to the Iraqi people for the liberation of the strategic town of Qayyarah and neighboring areas," he said. The prime minister's mood was unlikely to have remained upbeat very long however, with one of his key allies losing a no confidence vote by parliament moments later. The house impeached Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi by 142 votes to 102 -- and 18 abstentions -- over corruption allegations. Obeidi's downfall is the latest development in a bitter feud that erupted earlier this month with rival Sunni politician Salim al-Juburi, who is the parliament speaker. At a hearing in parliament, Obeidi answered graft accusations against him by saying they were trumped up because he had refused to be part of corrupt deals. He fought back with his own allegations against Juburi and other lawmakers but the speaker escaped unscathed after an integrity committee dropped the case. Unity in Iraq's Sunni camp is seen as key to preparing an offensive against Mosul. The operation against Qayyarah was launched on Tuesday and led by Iraq's elite counter-terrorism service (CTS). Iraqi forces had already recaptured a nearby air field and Qayyarah is expected to become one of the main launchpads for an assault on Mosul in the coming weeks or months. Officers have said the push into Qayyarah was coordinated with small groups of armed residents opposed to IS inside the town. General Tawfik said mentioned, "The people were very cooperative, that is why none of them fled, they did not attack our forces and our forces did not hurt them." A CTS spokesman confirmed that pro-government sleeper cells were involved in the operation but would not provide further details. IS has suffered a string of military setbacks over the past year and lost more than half of the territory it controlled two years ago, in a trend that looks irreversible. The militants are vastly outnumbered and outgunned in the Mosul area but, besides the obstacles raised by a divided political class, Iraq also faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Around 3.4 million people have already been forced to flee their homes by conflict since the start of 2014. The United Nations' refugee agency warned this week that an offensive on Mosul could displace another 1.2 million people and cause a major disaster. | Soruce: ahramonline | By S.Seal Iraqs resumption last week of oil shipments through a Kurdish-controlled pipeline bumped up its export capacity by 5 percent almost overnight. Now OPECs second-biggest producer is seeking a deal with the self-ruling Kurds to ensure it can maintain the increased flows. The central government in Baghdad has been locked in a dispute with the semiautonomous Kurdistan Regional Government in the north of Iraq since 2014, when the Kurds began selling their oil independently. In March, Iraqs state-run North Oil Co. stopped using its only export route, the KRGs pipeline to Turkey, for crude it pumped in Kirkuk province. The Oil Ministry ordered a restoration of these exports last week. Deputy Oil Minister Fayyad Al-Nima said, Were still waiting for an agreement on the details regarding who should receive the oil revenues. The government is now exporting about 100,000 barrels a day from its Kirkuk fields, Nima said. Officials at the KRGs Natural Resources Ministry didnt immediately reply to requests for comment. A formal accord could keep Iraqs northern exports flowing smoothly, sustaining the producers recent increase in supply to global markets. Iraq has struggled to raise oil exports this year, due partly to its feud with the KRG, and a failure by the two sides to reach a political agreement could jeopardize the renewed shipments. The three Kirkuk fields Baba Gorgor, Jambour and Khabbaz can produce a combined 150,000 barrels a day for export. Richard Mallinson, an analyst at Energy Aspects Ltd. in London, said, It looks like a very shaky foundation for the restart. The central government and the KRG last reached a deal in December 2014, when they agreed that the Kurds would give Baghdad control of their exports in exchange for a full payment of their share of the federal budget. Within six months, independent Kurdish exports had resumed, and each side was accusing the other of not meeting its obligations. Iraqs new oil minister, Jabbar al-Luaibi, fed hopes for a new agreement, saying on Aug. 15, his first day in office, that he saw ways to resolve the dispute. I dont think its unreasonable to hope for two or three months of steady flows of oil exports from Kirkuk, Robin Mills, chief executive officer of Dubai-based consultant Qamar Energy, said. Beyond that it really depends. Does the new minister succeed in coming up with a more sustainable proposition? he questioned. Both governments could benefit from an agreement, not least because both are short of cash after more than two years of battling Daesh (ISIS) militants and weathering low oil prices. Iraq is exporting 3.8 million barrels a day, including oil sold by the KRG, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Tuesday at a news conference. Hannah Poppy, an analyst at The Risk Advisory Group in London, said by phone, Its in the interest of both governments to try and get as much revenue as they can at the moment. It probably wont be sustainable in the long term, simply because of the wider political disputes. | Soruce: The Daily Star | By S.Seal At an inopportune time, Iraqi government has sacked its defense minister. As per reports, on 25th August, 2016, the Iraqi National Assembly moved against Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi in a vote of no confidence, held in secret because of continued political haggling aimed, at preventing the decision. Out of 262 lawmakers, participated in the vote, 142 elected to withdraw confidence in al-Obeidi, who has been repeatedly accused of corruption. According to the Iraqi Constitution, the absolute majority reached will trigger the minister's immediate resignation. Al-Obeidi gained the bulk of his military experience serving as an officer in the Iraqi air force under Saddam Hussein. Hailing from Nineveh province and belonging to one of Iraq's most important Sunni tribes, al-Obeidi specialized in engineering aircraft engines until he accepted a job in 2003 as a professor in the Ministry of Higher Education. Four years later, he became a member of the Ministry of Education's Technical Education Authority, and in October 2014, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi appointed al-Obeidi to his ministerial post. During al-Obeidi's tenure, the Iraqi parliament has twice opened investigations into corruption charges against him regarding defense procurement contracts. In the course of the second investigation, al-Obeidi openly accused several lawmakers and the parliamentary speaker of trying to blackmail him to secure contracts of their own. After reviewing the case, Iraq's judiciary released the parliamentary speaker citing a lack of evidence, and a number of lawmakers demanded a vote of no confidence be held against al-Obeidi. The United States, for its part, has taken the official stance that the dispute is an internal matter that must be decided by Iraq alone. Unconfirmed reports have said, however, that Washington tried to persuade Iraqi officials to keep al-Obeidi in office for the sake of continuity at such a critical juncture in Iraq's fight against the Islamic State. Finding his replacement will likely be a lengthy process, given the political disagreements and jockeying that will undoubtedly take place after his departure. Moreover, al-Obeidi was a key Sunni figure within the mostly Shiite government. Many fears that his dismissal will be interpreted as yet another move to marginalize Iraq's Sunnis, though that concern is largely unfounded. Al-Obeidi's departure was precipitated by infighting among the country's Sunni political parties, rather than by friction between Sunnis and Shiites. | Soruce: STRATFOR | By S.Seal Iraqi government asks international oil companies to get used to with low oil prices. Iraqs oil minister Jabbar al-Luaibi sent a letter to several foreign oil companies, asking them not to rein in their ambitions on producing oil. He stated in the letter, "In light of the current environment of the oil price and its forecast in the next year[s], we [the Ministry of Oil and contractors] should be prepared to live with the prevailing circumstances." But the problem is that the oil contracts in Iraq are structured in such a way that oil companies are paid by the government to produce oil. That means that they need to be assured they receive payment before they go and spend large sums of money. Last year, the Iraqi oil ministry sent requests to oil companies to lower their spending budgets because the government was unable to pay for them. Now, the oil ministry is effectively asking the companies to drill and produce aggressively, but suggested that it cannot guarantee proper payment. The letter apparently argues that Iraq would have more financial resources with which to pay the companies if the companies produce more oil. However, the companies involved likely view the issue differently. "We're not a bank," an unnamed official from one company operating in Iraq said, according to S&P Global Platts. Iraq has also separately announced increasing oil exports by 150,000 barrels per day after resolving an issue with three oilfields in and around Kirkuk. The stepped up exports will allow Iraq to restore some output, a factor that helped put a temporary halt to the oil price rally earlier this week. Iraq is the second largest oil producer in OPEC, producing 4.78 million barrels per day in July, which is up sharply from a few years ago. And Iraq is not giving up hopes on higher output. The Iraqi Prime Minister said this week that Iraq has not yet reached its full oil market share, dampening hopes around a potential OPEC deal in Algeria in September. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said, "And the capping, we are not open to that because Iraq is still below what it should produce." That stance echoes Irans position on the freeze deal. Oil prices did rally on Tuesday following reports that Iran had agreed to attend the meeting, but both countries hitherto reluctance to sign on to any freeze deal creates a major obstruction to an agreement from the OPEC meeting. While short-term oil price dynamics often revolve around the ability of OPEC members to cooperate, or by changing levels of oil production in the U.S. and the extent to which shale can or cannot weather the oil price downturn, over the longer-term Iraq will be a key factor in global oil supplies. For years, the IEA has put Iraq at the top of the list in terms of potential oil supply growth. Long-term projections about the ability of oil producers to meet demand depend very heavily Iraqs success in boosting production Iraq will be much more important in terms of supply growth than U.S. shale, and even other OPEC producers. Nevertheless, Iraq will struggle to continue to post impressive production gains without heavy investment from foreign oil companies. Several years ago, Iraq had hoped to dramatically ramp up oil production to 12 mb/d by 2020, a ridiculously ambitious target. Even the revised 6 mb/d target by the end of the decade looks out of reach, especially if the government cannot offer the necessary payments to companies in order to achieve that goal. The Iraqi government has been hit hard by the collapse of oil prices and the ongoing fight with the Islamic State, major problems that have now stretched into a third year. | Soruce: YAHOO Finance | By S.Seal After the Second World War, the international community was faced with the urgent need to establish a new world order, and the birth of the United Nations (UN) heralded the quest for global governance. Over the past 70 years, different types of international organizations have sprouted up, accompanied by corresponding rules, mechanisms and arrangements, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the BRICS Development Bank. And of course, in light of its upcoming summit to be held in Hangzhou, the G20. The G20, counting from the birth of its predecessor-G7, has been around for two decades. Over the years, G20 has gained a growing amount of attention from the international community, as it has played a unique role in tackling financial crises, seeking cooperation and development and promoting global governance. Among various international organizations and multilateral coordination and cooperation mechanisms, how was the G20 able to establish its unique role and gain worldwide attention? First, G20 is a product of the times While peace and development is the common expectation of the human race, differences in national interest, ideology and religious belief pose huge obstacles for cooperation and development among countries, with the notable example of the Cold War - a four decade battle for global supremacy between the US and the former Soviet Union, and between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, which led to a world order characterized by a "worldwide standoff" and "half-globe governance". After the Cold War, peace and development became the mainstream. The world, however, is still overshadowed by frequent economic recessions and financial crises, that time and again sank the world economy to the bottom. Under the context of globalization, the international community was eager to establish a high level dialogue mechanism that is extensive, influential and representative in order to tackle crisis, promote cooperation, and reach the goal of global governance. Second, G20, a highly flexible mechanism Unlike the makeup of the United Nations, the G20 is not a de facto international organization but a multilateral informal dialogue mechanism that aims to promote cooperation and tackle challenges. This makes it highly flexible compared to international organizations that have less leeway when faced with real problems; it is a forum for discussion about political, military, economic and financial issues beyond bilateral, multilateral and regional limits. With swift response to the global issues, G20 produced good results in forming long-term plans for specific sectors and adjusting priorities in accordance with current needs. Third, G20: the authority and influence The G20 is made up of major powers that wield much sway in world affairs. It includes the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the world's top five largest economies, the world's five most populous countries and the five major emerging markets (BRICS). Its member states cover five of the world's continents with its total GDP accounting for 85% of the world's economy and 80% of its trade volume, and its collective population making up two-thirds of the world's total. With those heavyweights, G20 is well-positioned to replace G7 as a major forum for global economic cooperation. In addition to Sherpa Meetings and Working Group Meetings, the G20 working mechanism also includes Foreign Ministers' meeting, Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governor's Meetings, and above all, the G20 Summit which gathers together heads of state from its 20 members. It can be said without exaggeration that it is a dialogue between the world's 20 most influential leaders, which is bound to have an impact on world finance and trade and to draw worldwide attention. Fourth, G20: diversity and inclusiveness With variances in geographical location, income level, political standpoint and economic and demographic structures, participants of the G20 Summit can share diverse ideas and opinions. With different development paths and development stages, they can also learn from each other. Though not as expansive as the UN or the World Bank, it is nevertheless highly inclusive. The AIIB focuses more on regional development; the BRICS works as a coordination mechanism among some of the world's emerging markets; the Shanghai Cooperation Organization puts regional peace and stability as its top priority; and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) acts as an exclusive group initiated by the US and a few other countries that aims to shake off the existing rules and mechanisms. Given its extensiveness, wide focus and representativeness, the G20 is the world's most inclusive dialogue mechanism, and that explains why it has attracted so much attention and trust from the international community. Fifth, the inclusion of emerging markets like China lifts its representativeness and influence The US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada, which made up of the G7, are all developed countries with similar growth patterns that are mainly geographically located in the West, making it a virtual "Rich Man's Club" with little global representation. Moreover, under the context of globalization, a few developed countries are not qualified to tackle an international financial crisis and drive world economic development. The inclusion of new members like China, India and South Africa has boosted the G20's influence in terms of GDP, total trade volume and population. Take China as an example, from 2008 to 2013, China contributed 37.6 percent of GDP growth of the world. In 2014, China contributed 27.8 percent of the world's economic growth, and in 2015, despite slower domestic growth, it still contributed around 30 percent to the world's economy. Moreover, China and other emerging markets have also provided experience and lessons that can be drawn from while discussing global governance and other issues. As the current G20 president and host of this year's summit, China can also incorporate oriental wisdom and its experience with rapid development over the past 30 years into the meeting's agenda, so as to deliver China's vision on world development and cooperation. The G20 Summit will open in a few days, putting Hangzhou in the world's spotlight. How can oriental wisdom and China's vision play a greater role for the G20 in the new era? This will surely gain worldwide attention. The author Wang Xiaohui is editor-in-chief of China.org.cn. A family of five a husband, wife and their three young sons were found dead earlier today in their home in Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan. Gardai (police) were dispatched to the house this morning around 11am, after a family member was unable to gain entry into the home, located in Oakdene, Barconey, Ballyjamesduff. There they discovered the bodies. They have been named locally as Alan Hawe, in his 40s; the wife, Clodagh, in her 30s; and their three sons, Liam, Neil and Ryan, ages 13, 11 and six. The deaths are being investigated as a potential murder-suicide. "The Garda investigation is ongoing but at this stage we are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths," gardai said in a statement. Three bodies were found upstairs and two were found downstairs. There were no firearms found in the house. At a press conference held this evening, Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll said: We believe all the answers are in that house. We are working along very definite lines of inquiry. The most likely scenario is that one person in that house may have caused the death of others. All the circumstances will be explored. Scene in Ballyjamesduff where five members of the same family have been found dead. @BBCNewsNI pic.twitter.com/Eb02zcurRa Richard Morgan (@Journo_Rich) August 29, 2016 The family is well known in the area and, according to some reports, were out and about in the community as recently as Sunday, with nothing seeming to be amiss. ODriscoll told reporters that Nothing had happened prior to this grim discovery this morning that gave rise to anyone - including An Garda Siochana - having any suspicion that anything was untoward and this family were engaged with the community and seen yesterday. Alan Hawe was a teacher at a local school, Castlerahan National School, where sons Neil and Ryan were both students. Principal Anne Foley said in a statement: At lunch time today we learnt of the tragic deaths the Hawe family. This is a terrible tragedy for the family, our school and our community. We are deeply saddened by this event. Our sympathy and our thoughts are with the extended family and friends. The remains of three young boys and their parents about to be removed from the house outside Ballyjamesduff, Cavan pic.twitter.com/S8nAVEXoPk Sarah O'Connor (@Sarah_UTV) August 29, 2016 Alan was a valued member of our school staff and community. Niall and Ryan were pupils in our school and Liam was a past pupil. They were wonderful children who will be greatly missed by all who knew them. Clodagh Hawe was also a teacher, at Oristown National School. Principal Ann OKelly Lynch said the school was deeply saddened by the news. This is a terrible tragedy for the families, schools and the communities involved, she said. We are deeply saddened by this event. Our sympathies and thoughts are with Clodaghs family and friends. Clodagh was a much loved and valued teacher in our school and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Local councillor Paddy Smith told the Irish Independent that the whole area is in complete shock. I only heard about it and rang a couple of people and everyone is shocked. If there is five people dead, its tragic, no matter what, he said. Its just hard to get your head around the whole thing, he added. H/T Irish Independent; Irish Mirror The year was 1970. The Vietnam War was raging and it was becoming a thing for Irish American Jesuits to run for political office. In Massachusetts, Father Robert Drinan won election to the U.S. House of Representatives, running as an anti-war Democrat. But as Bob Dylan had sung a few years earlier, the times they were a-changin. And that was certainly the case among Irish Catholics. The days when the Irish were solidly Democratic were coming to an end. The late 1960s had soured many once-liberal Democratic Irish Americans. At home they saw crime spiraling out of control, and abroad the war in Vietnam seemed to be going poorly, in part, because so many people openly disrespected the military. Enter John Joseph McLaughlin of Providence, Rhode Island. McLaughlin, who died earlier this month at the age of 89, rose to fame as a provocative political talk show host. For better or worse, he was a pioneer in the field of yelling-and-screaming, highly-partisan chat shows. But before hosting shows such as "The McLaughlin Group," McLaughlin was just another Irish American boy with his eyes on the priesthood. He attended LaSalle Academy in Providence and then Weston College in Massachusetts, preparing for the priesthood at what would later become Boston Colleges theological seminary. He joined the Jesuits and was ordained a priest in the late 1950s. These were, of course, heady days for Irish American Democrats. Going back a century earlier, when the newly-formed Republican Party included rabidly anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic factions, the Democratic Party became a haven for immigrants and their children. In the 1920s, when another spasm of nativism swept the land, elements of which supported the prohibition of alcohol as the answer to all of the ills ailing America, the Democrats went and nominated Catholic Al Smith for president. Smith, of course, was roundly defeated. By 1960, another lifelong Irish Democrat was nominated for the presidency. And despite fears of a Catholic president, John F. Kennedy won. Within a decade, however, things would get a lot more complicated. Vietnam was a big part of that. The war as well as the broader debate over if, or even how, to support or oppose it created major political splits in the Irish American community. John McLaughlin, a Catholic priest in his forties, was a stark symbol of those fissures. He switched party affiliations and ran for the U.S. Senate, earning the wrath of Providences Irish American bishop Russell McVinney. Unlike many on the right, McLaughlin actually called for a swift end to the Vietnam War. He lost the election badly but went to Washington where thanks to a recommendation from pal Pat Buchanan he joined President Nixons staff. McLaughlin was well on his way to becoming one of the nations most stridently conservative voices. Nicknamed Nixons Priest, he gave frequent speeches in defense of the presidents conduct of the Vietnam War, including bombing missions into Cambodia, McLaughlins obituary in The New York Times noted. As the Watergate crisis deepened, Father McLaughlin became one of the presidents most visible supporters. At one news conference, he dismissed Nixons use of profanity as emotional drainage. Less than two weeks before the president resigned, Father McLaughlin warned in a speech at the National Press Club that the nation would face a parade of horrors should Nixon be impeached. In a wonderful bit of irony, who was the first congressman to call for Nixons impeachment? None other than McLaughlins fellow priest, Father Drinan. The charms of priestly life faded fast for McLaughlin, who was suddenly enjoying a lavish Washington lifestyle unfamiliar to many Jesuits. In 1975, Pope Paul IV excused McLaughlin from his religious duties. That same year, McLaughlin entered into the first of two marriages, both of which and heres one more irony for the former Catholic priest ended in divorce. Donald Trumps greatest problem this election is a massive loss of Catholic voters, including Irish Catholics, to Hillary Clinton, a just released polling shows. New polling figures from the Public Religion Research Institute show Trump trailing by 55 percent to 33 percent. An earlier Washington Post poll showed the figures even worse for Trump at 61 percent to 34 percent, a whopping 27 percent lead. The Post wrote that Trumps biggest problem actually appears to be with... Catholics. In contrast to Trump, Mitt Romney in 2012 lost the overall Catholic vote by just two percent, 50 percent to 48 percent. The 27-point shift toward Clinton by Catholics is the biggest demographic vote change among any group since 2012. Even Catholics who attend church weekly are siding with Clinton after supporting Romney by nine points in 2012 While Protestants continue to support Trump in large numbers, evangelicals support him by over 80 percent, Catholics are thinking differently. Catholics make up 25 percent of the voters in America making them a key segment, perhaps the key segment of the electorate. Trump is losing the Hispanic Catholic vote by 85 percent to 13 percent, but he is also losing the White Catholic vote by two percent. The Catholic vote is a key swing vote in every general election and Republicans have won it in five of the last eleven elections. But Trump is foundering and immigration and Pope Francis may be key. Religion News Service columnist and Catholic administrator John Gehrig states that Part of Catholics DNA is an appreciation for how Irish and other immigrants toiled and thrived in the shadow of a suspicious, fiercely anti-Catholic culture dominated by white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. When John F. Kennedy became the first (and so far only) Catholic president, his religion was viewed so warily by some Protestant clergy that he was compelled to give a landmark speech assuring the country he would not take his marching orders from Rome. Read more: Abe Lincoln could teach fellow Republican Trump a lot on immigrants When Trump calls for a religious test for Muslims entering the country; questions the faith of Hillary Clinton, President Obama and Mitt Romney; and demonizes undocumented immigrants as rapists, its a reminder of the ugly nativism that Catholics once faced. Many Irish have expressed that opinion that Trump strongly reminds them of No Irish Need Apply and the Know Nothing riots against them. Then there was the sight of Nigel Farage at the recent Trump rally, a diehard anti-immigrant leader in Britain who wants Britain for the British and to keep former colonies out. Trump also has a Pope Francis problem the pope is extremely popular among US Catholics. This February, on a flight to Rome from Mexico, the Pope was asked about his response to Trump's infamous wall. A person who thinks only about building walls wherever they may be and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the Gospel." I say only that this man is not Christian if he said things like that. We must see if he said things in that way and in this I give the benefit of the doubt." Trump attacked Pope Francis in return, calling the pontiffs comments disgraceful. For a religious leader to question a persons faith is disgraceful. I am proud to be a Christian and as President I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened, unlike what is happening now, with our current President. Trump needs to overcome the shocking deficit among Catholics but with time running out it looks like a major uphill task. Read more: Donald Trump is a eunuch, Hillary has smallpox - honest The Spanish Civil War was one of the most controversial conflicts of the last century. Foreshadowing the wider conflict of 1939-45, the devastation of Spain by the forces of fascism, communism and nationalism divided Europe. Like the later conflict in Vietnam, the war gripped international attention, compelled individuals to take sides and motivated activists whose influence would be felt far beyond Spain. For some left-wing idealists, Spain was the last great cause. Many on the left regard the International Brigades the 45,000-strong army of international volunteers which fought for the Spanish Republic as one of the great achievements of working-class struggle, a testament to the idealism, solidarity and political commitment of that generation. However, others would come to see Spain as a great betrayal rather than a glorious failure due to the suppression of anarchists and socialists there by Stalinists, an interpretation powerfully conveyed in Ken Loachs movie, "Land and Freedom" (1995). Compared to most other European countries, Ireland's response to the Spanish Civil War was unusual. The vast majority of Irish people supported Franco rather than Spains democratic government. Similarly, the great majority of Irishmen who fought in Spain did so under General Franco. The principal reason for this was that the war was widely seen as a conflict between communism and Christianity at a time when Irish society was profoundly influenced by Catholicism. On July 20, 1936 reports of a rebellion by army officers in Spain appeared in Irish newspapers. Aside from the Irish Times (which was associated with Protestant and Unionist opinion), most Irish newspapers were strongly pro-Franco. The Irish Independent, which would become the loudest cheerleader of the pro-Franco lobby, warned that a victory for the Spanish government would lead to a Soviet State and urged its readers to support the Nationalists who stand for the ancient faith and traditions of Spain. The Irish Press declared that Franco must have a large measure of public support because of the Republican governments anti-clericalism: churches have been burned, schools secularized, Communistic schemes carried out. Clergy, politicians and the provincial and Catholic press expressed the same opinions. Within weeks the Catholic hierarchy was openly calling for Francos victory. In the face of this pro-Franco consensus, a tiny campaign of support for the Spanish Republic organized by a small number of left-wing republicans and communists struggled to be heard. The campaigners often fell victim to anti-communist mob violence on the streets. By the autumn of 1936, pro-Franco meetings were sweeping the country and two military brigades were preparing to fight in Spain. Most Irish people knew little about Spain or its complicated politics when Francos rebellion began. Spain was viewed, like Ireland, as a Catholic nation and, since the early 1930s, the Irish bishops and Catholic press had portrayed Spain as a Catholic state besieged by communism and atheism. When the civil war began the complexities of the conflict were largely ignored. That the Republic comprised not just communists but also socialists, liberals, middle-class progressives, landless laborers, workers, Catalonians and Catholic Basques was little reported. Similarly, that Francos Nationalists were supported not only by the Catholic Church but a reactionary coalition of fascists, army officers, landowners and industrialists was ignored. Instead, Irish attention was gripped by news of the anti-clerical violence that swept Republican Spain after Francos rebellion (and resulted in the murder of twelve bishops, 4,000 priests, 2,000 monks and 300 nuns). The sensational press reports of these atrocities had an enormous impact on Catholic Ireland. Support for Franco began to develop into a popular movement. In September 1936 Cardinal MacRory, primate of all Ireland, unambiguously expressed the churchs support for Franco: There is no room any longer for any doubts as to the issue at stake in the Spanish conflict . . . It is a question of whether Spain will remain as she has been so long, a Christian and Catholic land, or a Bolshevist and anti-God one. The depiction of the conflict as a holy war continued in the following years Lenten pastorals in which more attention was devoted to communism and the Spanish Civil War than any other issue. One bishop spoke of a war between Christ and anti-Christ, while another described Francos soldiers as gallant champions of the Cross who are fighting so gloriously for Christ." The most significant popular support for Franco came with the establishment of the Irish Christian Front (ICF) in August 1936. Its manifesto declared: Anyone who supports the Spanish government supports church burning and priest slaughter. We should wish for the success of the Patriot arms in Spain, not that we are the least concerned with the temporal issues at stake there, but that we want the advance guard of the anti-God forces stopped in Spain and thereby from reaching our shores. The ICF spread throughout Ireland, organizing public meetings at which local priests, politicians and trade unionists declared their support for Franco. The success of its campaign placed Fianna Fail in a difficult position because de Valeras government continued to recognize the Spanish Republic. Fine Gael was quick to call on de Valera to recognize Franco, a demand strongly backed by the ICF, the Irish Independent, local bodies and bishops. The problem for de Valera was that Irish recognition of Franco would entail joining the diplomatic company of the fascist states and undermining Irish neutrality at a critical time in international affairs. Given the public mood, de Valeras refusal to give in to this demand was a considerable achievement. The government was to come under further pressure as Irishmen began fighting in Spain. In August 1936, General Eoin ODuffy, the former Garda commissioner and Blueshirt leader, announced the formation of an Irish Brigade to fight for Franco. ODuffy claimed that he was motivated by the historic links between Ireland and Spain, his own anti-communism and his desire to defend the Catholic Church. But ODuffy a failed politician was also motivated by his fascist beliefs and a desire to resuscitate his own political career. His proposal was very popular. By late August he claimed to have received 7,000 applications although, due to numerous complications, only 700 Irishmen made it to Nationalist Spain. Many of the Brigades officers, who were former Blueshirts or members of ODuffys fascist National Corporate Party, were motivated by fascism or loyalty to their leader. Some of the volunteers sought adventure or, as one priest put it, a change from standing around staring at the pump but many were genuinely motivated by the belief that the Spanish civil war was a religious crusade against communism. Most were young men from rural Ireland, few of whom had been exposed to any other analysis of the conflict. Newspaper accounts convey the atmosphere of militant Catholicism as they left Ireland. Large crowds gathered to sing Faith of Our Fathers as volunteers were blessed by priests and handed Sacred Heart badges, miraculous medals and prayer books. Although the Brigades organizers told the volunteers they were part of a crusade prepared to fight under the banner of the Cross to help deliver Spain, they were to find the war a very different kind of crusade from what they imagined. Following the formation of the Irish Brigade, and partly in response to it, a smaller contingent of men left Ireland to fight for the Spanish Republic. Led by the left republican, Frank Ryan, and organized by the Communist Party of Ireland, around 200 Irishmen (mainly working-class republicans from urban areas) enlisted in the International Brigades. Members of the Connolly Column, as they later became known, fought for a variety of motives anti-fascism, the defense of Spanish democracy, revolutionary idealism, loyalty to the Communist Party or a desire for adventure. Like Francos supporters, many believed in the vital importance of Spain. As one Belfast communist declared: Spain is the acid test, on the question of victory or defeat depends the whole future civilization. But in contrast to ODuffys followers, most of these men were experienced activists. Many had served in the anti-treaty or post-Civil War IRA and had been members of left-wing revolutionary organizations such as Saor Eire and Republican Congress. For these men, Spain represented the depth of their commitment to revolutionary goals which appeared impossible to achieve in the conservative Irish Free State. Both sides, although situated close to one another on either side of the Battle of Jarama, met with very different experiences. The Irish Brigade was blighted by bitter infighting between ODuffy and his officers, and Franco was unimpressed by its lack of military expertise. The Brigades first battle in February 1937 occurred when another Nationalist battalion mistook them for the enemy while their next (and final) action ended in failure when the Brigades officers mutinied, refusing an order to attack the well-defended village of Titulcia. Drunkenness and indiscipline added to these problems and the humiliated Brigade was disarmed and ordered out of Spain by Franco. But there were also some difficulties among their International Brigade compatriots on the other side of the front-line. The great republican tradition of the split survived in Spain. On finding themselves enrolled among the English, Scots and Welsh of the British Battalion, some Irishmen chose to join the American contingent rather than fight alongside the British (some of whom had seen military service for the Crown during the War of Independence in Ireland). But in marked contrast to ODuffys men, the Connolly Column motivated by more clearly defined political beliefs and forming part of the more disciplined and committed International Brigades fought bravely on several fronts between 1936 and 1938, notably Jarama, Brunete, Teruel and the Ebro. Close to a third of their number died in Spain and many more were injured. By the time they returned to Ireland, the Spanish Civil War was no longer an important political issue. Atrocities such as the German bombing of Guernica, a village in the Catholic Basque region, undermined the simplistic notion of the Spanish Civil War as a religious crusade. By the summer of 1937 the Irish Brigade had returned in failure and the Christian Front had collapsed under its own internal pressures. Despite this, many veterans of the Connolly Column chose not to return to Ireland where they knew they would be treated as pariahs; some of those who did return faced suspicion and discrimination for decades to come. The Spanish Civil War is now remembered in Ireland as a conflict between democracy and fascism rather than Christianity and communism. As a result, the veterans of the International Brigades have gradually come to be regarded as heroes, while the Irish Brigades crusaders have been forgotten or are reviled as supporters of fascism. Such are the vagaries of history. The writer is Professor of Modern Irish History at Queens University, Belfast. Whether it is mandatory manual handling or a course in Microsoft Excel to a higher diploma in management or an annual CPD programme, the majority of employees and employers upskill and need further training to do their job. Our objectives, since the organisations formation in 1944, is to provide opportunity for learning the skills and theory of farming and to widen the interests of rural youth by increasing their store of general knowledge. Formal accredited courses up to degree level now form the core of agricultural education in Ireland, but encouraging young farmers to see the need and engage in further training is Macras goal today. Necessity is the mother of invention. Young Farmers who are serious about making a living and a career, battling volatile incomes, rising input costs, and a fast-changing rural Ireland will be left behind if they are not on top of their game. We also know that irrelevant of the topic or course content we all need to be acknowledged and receive recognition for achievement. The new master of agri skills programme provides a structured framework within which farmers can undertake continuous professional development. The need for short specific modules to upskill in areas such as taxation, share arrangements, cashflow management, grass measurement, or machinery calibration and receive recognition for upskilling fills a definite void. Staying alive is something most of us take for granted, but we are not so naive. Working in an industry with truly frightening statistics regarding deaths, serious injuries, and near misses, we are asking our members to take the lead on farm safety. For quite a few years now we have passively engaged in an awareness campaign around changing the attitude to farm safety. We admired the great work done by so many, and we went back to the daily grind, knowing it would never happen to us. Then it did. It was our neighbour, our cousin, our best friends nephew, or the man who now struggles to get out of the car in the village to buy the paper. Something has to change became the mantra. Well it has and we are starting the change. All thats needed is for you to decide you will change with us. Farm accidents, rural isolation, suicide, and mental health problems are endemic in rural life. Our commitment to further training and education for young farmers can address all of the above. Safe agri skills is the first and only of its kind a farm safety training course covering all the basics and the major causes of accidents in agriculture. Modules include tractor safety, livestock handling, manual handling, first aid and health as well as optional extras like chainsaw use and ATV or quad bike safety. Only in agriculture is something like this seen as revolutionary. In any other industry its just done, no questions asked. You do not show up to work unless your safety training is up to date. Farmers are in the main self-employed so there is no one standing over us beginning with young farmers we are asking you take responsibility for yourself and your future, for your family. Complete the training, dont wait for it to be too late, hindsight is a great thing just do it. Credit where its due, a number of other leaders in the agri-industry have stepped up and will help us to help you. ABP Food Group Ireland has provided some financial backing to spread the word and get you your safe agri skills card. Several training providers and FBD insurance, the HSA, and others have provided advice and support. We are fully aware we cannot change the statistics on our own. A new culture and a new attitude is the only way. We have to become learning centred as an industry, instead of questioning the need for reports and audits and training we have to see it as central to our very existence. Macra na Feirme is stepping up to its responsibilities to educate. We see it as vital to the future of Irish agriculture and to keep a vibrant rural life that provides the backbone to so much of our culture. Our training courses are part-funded by Skillnets through the national training fund of the Department of Education and Skills. Bank of Irelands latest monthly economic pulse index, just published, shows a reading of 93.7 points for August, 2.5 points up on Julys reading and a recovery of a quarter of the ground lost last month. A pick-up in confidence amongst firms in the retail and construction sectors drove the improvement in business sentiment, while the consumer pulse was aided by households becoming more positive regarding their outlook on the economy and the jobs market. While Bank of Irelands chief economist Dr Loretta OSullivan welcomed the recovery in the August index, she warned the full effect of Brexit remains unknown. While last month dipped significantly following the Brexit vote, August saw the Economic Pulse recover a quarter of the ground it lost in July. "Although there has been a rise in sentiment, many consumers and businesses are still assessing the potential impact of Brexit. We will be closely monitoring the situation over the coming months, she said. This month saw a pronounced improvement in buying sentiment amongst consumers 34% of whom considered it a good time to purchase big ticket items such as electrical goods and/or furniture. Two-thirds of survey respondents said they are likely to save more money in the next 12 months. The latest data point to reasonably solid saving intentions, especially among younger cohorts and those living in rented accommodation and with family, Dr OSullivan noted. On a regional basis, households in Dublin, the rest of Leinster and Munster were more positive about the outlook for the Irish economy this month compared to last. Some 52% in Dublin expect to see an improvement in the general economic situation over the next 12 months, with 47% agreeing in Munster. Expectations for near-term business activity were also up on July in each of the four provinces. Professor Gerry Boyle, director of Teagasc, highlighted both aims at the Energy in Agriculture conference in Gurteen Agricultural College, Co Tipperary. The event looked at various energy-saving opportunities for farmers, together with renewable energy deployment opportunities within the various sectors. It was organised by Teagasc in combination with Tipperary County Council and Tipperary Energy Agency and was supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Prof Boyle said an efficient farm is more likely to be a profitable farm, with lower carbon emissions per unit of output. The contacts and links made at the event will be invaluable as farmers strive to develop their business and become or remain competitive, he said. Communications, Climate Action, and Environment Minister Denis Naughten, who officially opened the event, stressed the need for Ireland to substantially decarbonise the energy system, wean itself off dependence on imported fossil fuels and move to cleaner, greener energy sources. He noted the lead taken in agriculture where Ireland has the lowest carbon footprint in Europe for dairy and the fifth-lowest for beef production. Siobhan Ambrose, chairwoman of Tipperary County Council, said efforts have been made by the agri-industry to reduce emissions to date. But there is much more that can be done to increase the efficiency of agricultural production and meet our environmental obligations. "By working together to meet the greenhouse gas challenge we can map our own future and grow production in a sustainable and profitable way, she said. Tipperary Energy Agency chief executive Paul Kenny said it is time policymakers and the agri-industry see the opportunity of energy supply from agriculture and how farming can be take a lead role in climate change and not just be a contributor. Other EU countries such as Germany have shown how this can be achieved. Ireland can learn from this, he said. Location, Location, Location. The right location is essential to the development of your company. Recently, Ive gone through this in my own business. Were expanding our production facilities for video and photography, and are moving, this week, to bigger and better facilities. Its taken us about a year to find the right place for the expansion, but it has been worth the wait. Nothing is straightforward about choosing where. There are criteria that you need to fulfil before you find the right space. Who are your customers? It might seem an obvious question, but many people dont recognise the need to be where their customer can find them. The harder it is to find you, the harder it is to do business with you. If you look at the pattern of some of the biggest retailers in the country, and where they open new stores, its easy to see why they open where they do. Age, income, and households are all important to consider. We deal often in corporate production, so it made sense to move closer to other businesses. In fact, we moved into a building where a number of our customers already reside. Go where your customer is, not where you want them to be. Business drives business Remember the importance of other businesses in the area, including competitors. Moving to a cool space in the middle of nowhere may seem like a great idea, but youll have to work a lot harder to attract people to it. If youre a restaurant or in retail, having other businesses on your doorstep is a great way to attract new customers. Knowing that there are other business attractions within the area will be vital to bringing in paying customers. When we found the right space, we knew we had customers already in the building. However, we are also no further away than 15 minutes from four major industrial estates inside the Limerick City area. They contain SMEs and large foreign multinationals perfect for exploring new customers. In the past decade, we have seen the vicious cycle of closures on a main street. As more businesses closed, it became unattractive for shoppers, creating a cycle of decline and closures. Having other businesses in the immediate vicinity is important and will make it easier to bring in the clientele you want. Competition is good Having competition on your doorstep can be great. Their push to attract more customers can benefit you. If your competition is a large multinational, it can also be good to piggyback on their efforts to attract people into their stores. This can work to your advantage, especially if their advertising and marketing spend is much bigger than yours. Being next to your competition is no bad thing. It can be easy to see what they are doing and, more importantly, how you can do better. Budget This may seem obvious and yet it is one of the key factors in determining what a business can afford to invest. Recently, a nationwide food brand located near me shut its doors, because it couldnt pay the rent. Workers turned up in the morning to find themselves out of a job. There is always an opportunity to expand, if you find yourself needing to do so. Budget for a rent that is affordable and which can give you the flexibility to improve business, or reinvest in better equipment. Rent is supposed to keep a roof over the business, not weigh it down. Layout The layout of office space, or shop space, is incredibly important. It is the look and the feel of the business. How people feel inside your business is determined by the layout. I recently dropped into a suit store in Limerick. It was super to be in there. The layout, the design, everything said this is your place. So have an image of what you want it to look like when it is finished. What will clients think when they walk through the door? Will people want to buy from you, based on what they see? You need to be able to create an environment that represents who you want to be to your customers. Supplementary costs Large buildings come with large costs. Maintenance, electricity, insurance, health-and-safety. Think about how much its going to cost to keep the lights on. Dont forget about local rates, too. All of these things are significant costs on a business and finding the size that fits is important to how much money goes out. While the building may look incredible, it may also be a big drain on your finances. Remember all the other costs that come with your space. The contract The contract between you and the landlord is extremely important. Never, ever sign anything without having a solicitor look at it first. If you dont have a solicitor, get one. This contract is a binding agreement which will affect the future of your company. You must look after your interests and ensure that you, and the business, are protected against anything that may happen. Make sure you are protected, as much as possible, on rent rises and letting agreements. I know a business owner who was days away from signing a contract, before he realised that the agreement effectively gave the landlord free rein to raise rents, or cancel the contract, on minimal notice. Make sure you are protected on all possibilities, as much as you can be. Your employees How easy is it for them to get to, and from, work? Weve moved five minutes from a motorway and two minutes from several major, local routes. Make sure that it gives your employees easy access to work and ensures that they are not spending hours in the car. Employees are just as important to the business as the product youre selling. Where you end up must be an asset to your business. There must be valid reasons for you choosing a particular place from where to work. Think about how much it will cost, how it will look, and how accessible it is. Find a place that works for you and which is a key part of how the business devleops and expands. It must be a place to which you are proud to bring people; a place that represents everything you are as a business. My daughter is in grade 5, primary school. The day before summer vacation, I asked her: "My dear, are you happy about the holiday?" Can you imagine her answer? "My terrible summer holiday just started!" she exclaimed. From her long, heavy sigh I could definitely feel her sadness, frustration and desperation. Look at her schedule: two math classes, three English classes, piano, skating and swimming (the last two are activities she enjoys), and she had to prepare for the grade-nine piano Examination of the Central Conservatory of Music. After the classes and the examination finished, the 7-week holiday had only 9 days left! These are arranged by her tiger mom, the "general manager" of my girl's extracurricular programs. She is not exceptional. Many parents do the same thing. "This is the trend of our time," "go with the flow," "what else I can do," she always says. I don't want to blame my wife, but I can't stop thinking about why our children can't enjoy a real holiday? What's wrong with our education? According to the First Report on Higher Education Quality of China released on April 7, China currently has 37 million students accepted in high education, the highest in the world. We have 2,852 institutes of higher learning, the second largest in the world. Last year the gross enrollment rate (GER, the number of students enrolled divided by the number of the people in the same age cohort) of higher education was 40 percent, and the acceptance rate (the number of admitted students divided by the number of applicants) of the gaokao (National Higher Education Entrance Examination) is 74.33 percent, 12.3 times that of the year 1978. I went to university in 1980, at that time the GER is only 2.22 percent, and the acceptance rate of gaokao is only 8 percent. No wonder people called universities "ivory towers." Today it is a lot easier to go to colleges, but unfortunately the pressure is still very tense and the burden is often too hard to bear, not only for the students but also for the parents. If you are a parent in China, you will dream of you children going to the best school. You will do your best to fulfil this dream, from kindergarten, primary school, middle school and high school all the way to university. And if your child is in primary school and going to middle school, you'll spend a lot of money for extracurricular classes. This is the reason for a booming new industry: extracurricular schools. The market is so big, some schools are famous listed companies, flush with cash and experienced teachers. One day outside the extracurricular classroom a father told me: "I believe the teaching here is much better than my son's school. If you want your kid to go to a better school, you have to come here. Even my son's teacher agreed with me." We invest huge sums of money into the free public schools, but parents still spend lots of money on these extracurricular schools. On the one hand public schools are trying to reduce students' study burden; but on the other hand, children are busy going to extracurricular schools. These schools are taking away our children's evenings, weekends and holidays. Just look at their heavy bags and tired faces. An industry that so many have praised as being full of growth potential is sapping all the life of our kids. This is something really wrong. Children are our future; if they are so tired today, what can we expect for them tomorrow? The writer is associate professor in the culture and communications department and research fellow of the Sino-Denmark joint research center on China and International Relations, University of International Relations. Johnliu1963@yahoo.com. Or in the rush to ensure that the next generation is employable, do we run the risk of allowing utilitarian approaches to exert increased dominance in the classroom? During the recession, the Department of Education did well to ensure that the capital budget for new school buildings was ring-fenced. Across the country, new campus-style complexes combining primary and secondary schools with gaelscoileanna, are being built to provide economies of scale. Clive Byrne, chief executive of the National Association of Principals, welcomes such approaches along with innovations such as the introduction of short courses in computer coding into some schools. He is, however, concerned about the pace of reform at a time of rapid change in society. Ireland is a major player in the emerging movement known as CoderDojo, a volunteer-led movement of free coding clubs, aimed at children aged between six and 17. The first Dojo took place in Cork five years ago. Participants learn how to build websites, create apps and explore technology in a creative environment. Such creativity is not normally associated with computer training as traditionally conceived. There is much concern about the shortage of female programmers. However, the Coder DoJo founder, Bill Liao, has expressed the view that girls are enthusiastic coders. Some believe that the ratio of female-to-male among young coders is close to 50/50. Some schools have started up courses in coding, but most of the progress on this front is taking place in community and vocational colleges where the prevailing teachers union, the TUI, has gone along with its introduction. It is a different story in the secondary school system where the ASTI is refusing to co-operate with reforms in the junior cycle. Many school principals are pushing for reforms in the way subjects are taught and assessed. They are particularly keen that pupils gain exposure to the teaching of modern languages and technical disciplines as early as possible, preferably before the age of 10 when minds are more malleable. The lack of resources has been a major problem in recent years. According to Clive Byrne, the Chinese-backed Confucius Institute has been lobbying hard for the introduction into the curriculum of the teaching of Mandarin. However, this language, set to dominate in the 21st century, has yet to be included in the Leaving Cert curriculum. Some believe that industrial relations issues, born of resentment at recession-era pay cuts, now present a greater barrier in the way of reform than financial resource constraints. In the wider economy, the most urgent issue remains that of the mismatch between what employers are seeking in terms of IT skills and what is available. In December 2014, it was estimated that around 7,000 jobs were going unfilled in the information/communications sector despite a youth unemployment rate of over 20%. The Governments response has been to put in place conversion courses, a relaxation in work permit requirements and around 4,000 extra places for new ICT graduates. IT companies are keen that the State pours millions of euro into equipping schools with computers and broadband, but if resources are diverted from other equally important areas such as transport and housing the benefits from such investment would be quickly cancelled out. The Coder DoJo movement is a reminder of what can be achieved at the level of the community given a bit of imagination and commitment on the part of industry players, parents and pupils. Its assumed that employees will be required to acquire more and more technological skills as time goes by. Not necessarily so, according to US academic, James Bessen, who believes that employers could themselves use more imagination when it comes to tackling skill shortages. In 2013, a survey by Manpower of 38,000 employers in the US indicated that around 35% reported difficulty in filling vacancies. However, the Boston University academic questions the data used on skill shortages, while acknowledging that the pace of technological change is presenting employers with huge challenges. He also questioned the ability of educational institutions to fill what skills gaps exist. He cited the example of graphic arts colleges, saying much of what they teach becomes obsolete quickly and most are still oriented to print design in any case. As a result, designers learn on the job. This suggests that what our schools and colleges should be striving to achieve is the inculcation of self-reliance among pupils. In this regard, the rise of a new wave of community-based coding clubs seems to be just what society needs. According to Prof Bessen, the key to narrowing the growing wage gap is a greater focus on learning on the job. He cites the example of US healthcare. For years, the trend was towards the use of more and more highly educated nurses. However, the extraordinary rise in the use of daycare procedures has led to a revival in the use of licensed practical nurses whose training is more basic. Ambulatory procedures allow for greater learning on the job. There is a reduced call for intensive medicine of the sort practiced in large hospitals. The key point is that whatever some experts, or trade unions might claim, it is not inevitable that employees should have to amass more and more qualifications. One has to question the need to pour countless millions into capital investment in technology in our schools. Pupils tend to be anything but techno-averse these days. The State should not bow to the demands of the high-tech sector which has a vested interest in a vast spend on computers. Better to foster creativity among teachers and encourage teaching practices that promote teamwork and articulacy. Principals should be provided with a budget to allow them to hire in outside talent, perhaps on a temporary basis. Business is already building links with schools. The strengthening of such links should be another priority. It has five core ingredients from three key agri-food sectors, dairy, tillage and poultry, and is worth an estimated 119m a year to the national economy. Flour, eggs, butter, margarine/sugar and milk are skilfully combined to create wholesome home-baked food, a skill embedded in Irelands folklore. But the market has experienced a year-on-year decline of 2.2% which is attributed to shoppers making fewer trips to the store and buying less volume on each occasion. Submarkets including those catering for icing, white sugar and savoury are in decline. However, sub-categories such as brown sugar, snacking fruit, cherries, and peel are growing. Pictured in Bord Bia at the launch were Cousins Aidan McGarry, aged 4 and Laura Dunne, aged 5 from Dublin with Paula Donohue, Consumer Insight Manager, Bord Bia. Photo: Gary ONeill Private label is also tending to show growth while branded products are taking the impact of the decline. In order to assess the growth potential of the home-baking sector, the Bord Bia research project, had two key objectives. One has to understand the consumer mindset to unlock the potential for continued success in the category. And the other aim was to identify opportunities and areas of innovation to Irish manufacturer. Paula Donoghue, consumer insight manager, Bord Bia said in 100 years, weve gone from a situation where home baking was routine, necessary and laborious to something that is seen as exciting, gratifying and enjoyable. It is encouraging to see that baking continues to be a key part of Irish households and an important way to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas, she said. While traditional desserts, such as shortbread and eclairs, are making a comeback among Irish bakers, the report highlighted an interest in moving towards healthier baking, although behaviour isnt mirroring that yet. Despite healthy eating remaining one of peoples main priorities for Irelands bakers, home baking boils down to simple sweet treats (cakes, buns and bread) that focus on taste and moments of indulgence with family and friends, she said. The research highlights that four in five Irish home bakers are female (82%) with 53% baking at least once a week and 30% monthly. Incidences of home-baking increases nearing the weekend, peaking on Saturday afternoon. A total of 65% of those surveyed bake alone, while 14% like to bake with their kids, 76% bake for immediate family with only 5% baking for work colleagues. Providing home baked goods for family (60%), just for fun (55%) and seasonal occasions such as Christmas, Easter and birthdays (41%) were given as key reasons for baking. Baking is deemed to required a high skill level, with only 1 in 8 (13%) considering themselves highly competent. Some 41% admit to having a limited skill set but enjoy baking from recipes they know and trust Additional barriers include concerns around food waste, lack of utensils and the cost of ingredients. Despite changing tastes, core baking ingredients have remained the same for decades - flour, eggs, margarine/butter, sugar and milk. The top three barriers to baking were deemed to be a fear of making a mess (32%), the time it takes (29%) and health concerns (29%). Some 45% of Irish home bakers prefer to make sweet things, compared to 21% regularly opting for savoury. Although eight in 10 people report that they bake from scratch, the use of pre-mixes is also common, particularly in households with children. The use of pre-mixes may go unreported as it is regarded as cheating by some consumers. Premixes are also considered to have a number of benefits including a good way to introduce children to baking (66%), convenience and time saving (61%) and mess reduction (54%). Taste is the most important factor for everyday family baking. However, presentation is key for special occasions and treats to be shared outside of the home. Online is now the greatest source of inspiration for home-baking (37%), followed by reliable cook books (19%). But 14% still follow recipes that have been passed down through the generations from grannies to daughters and grand-children. While TV chefs contnue to have a following, online bloggers and social media stars are now amongst the most popular. Bloggers with a healthy eating focus are increasingly popular and the best-selling cookbooks in Ireland of recent years also have health as their premise. The purpose of the home baking research was to identify and understand macro trends that impact upon consumer behaviour in the category. Bord Bia works with home baking manufacturers to use the research findings to help with future innovation, branding and marketing opportunities. The home baking study incorporated both quantitative and qualitative methodology, including an online survey of 400 bakers (who baked at least once in the last year), home diaries and consumer focus groups. MCCP was the research partner and the fieldwork was completed between March and April this year. Bord Bias Insight Team is a source of consumer and market insight for Irish food and drink companies, allowing them access to global intelligence and specialist category knowledge which are key to commercial success. It will officially open its new insight centre, The Thinking House, in September. Located at the organisations Dublin offices, it is designed to help and encourage companies to ensure the consumer is at the heart of everything they do. Home baking brings out many emotions in people including happiness and joy, but also anxiety, as can be gleaned from a few lines of endearng dialogue from the UK writer, Hilary McKay. I always say a little prayer when I put cakes in the oven, remarked Eve, as she stopped to kiss Rose goodbye. What do you say? I say, Please, God, dont let me forget Ive put that cake in the oven. The 28-year-old father of a three-year-old girl was recovered off Aughris Head, known locally as Roguey Point, in Bundoran. Some 120 soldiers, as well as a Navy diving unit and divers from Donegal, Sligo, and Enniskillen, searched for Mr Carey, known as Care Bear, who was swept away by a rip-tide in five-metre waves last Tuesday evening. Ross OSullivan, 26, who moved to Cardiff two years ago, started the 100km swim on Saturday and he hopes to have completed it within six days, two days ahead of the record. He wants to raise money for a childrens hospital. When I was in college, in Cork Institute of Technology, I started embracing the college lifestyle too much, said Ross. After being stuck in a rut for a while, I decided that I wanted to make a lifestyle change, so I started training for my first triathlon in 2012. Lets just say I was in for a serious shock when I did my first race. Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan made the decision after a judge presiding over the case called on her to investigate the matter. Judge Kevin Kilrane dismissed the prosecution of Superintendent Kevin English for an alleged parking offence taken by Garda Sinead Killian and accused the garda of being driven out of malice. Gda Killian rejected this claim in court and said she was simply doing her job. Judge Kilrane, in his ruling at the district court in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, said at the time Gda Killian was the subject of a disciplinary action brought by Supt English. He said it was completely inappropriate for her to have involved herself with an investigation into Supt English. The court heard Gda Killian was the observer in a patrol car being driven by a colleague, Garda Dermot OConnell, in Carrick-on-Shannon, on August 20, 2015. Both gardai said an elderly woman motioned at them to stop and told them a car was parked on a footpath at the side of the Landmark Hotel and they went to investigate. Gda Killian said the car was parked the whole way up on the footpath and she knew that it belonged to Supt English. She said she had filed a fixed charge penalty notice for an alleged parking offence, but that it was not paid and a summons was issued. Solicitor for Supt English, Patrick Groarke, put it to Gda Killian that she had her differences with the superintendent and that he had her reported for neglect of duty in February 2015. Gda Killian said she had been served with disciplinary proceedings and that the matter was ongoing, but she said it was outrageous to allege that she acted out of malice. Gda Killian said she was doing her job and that she saw that an offence had been committed. She said she gave ample time for the car to be moved. Mr Groarke said CCTV footage showed that the patrol car returned to the area eight times in two hours. He also said the footage did not capture an elderly lady walking past the superintendents car. Judge Kilrane said he believed that the elderly lady mentioned by both gardai did not exist. In his ruling, given on June 21, the judge urged authorities up as far as the Garda Commissioner to investigate the case. A spokesman at Garda HQ said they had been made aware of the case and the judges comments. He confirmed that a chief superintendent from another division had been appointed by the commissioner to conduct an investigation. Independent Alliance TD Sean Canney has admitted that in the past flooding wasnt treated as being an issue and said the current Government must now make up for years of inaction. I think the responsibility I have now is to make sure that projects happen as quickly as possible and in order to do that I have a three-or four-pronged approach, said Mr Canney. It was recently revealed that flood-relief pilot projects have overrun by millions of euro, with some still incomplete almost a decade after they were due to finish. Last month, OPW chairwoman Clare McGrath told a meeting of the public accounts committee meeting that four pilot flood projects which commenced in 2005 had run almost 200% over-budget, with two of these yet to be finished despite having a completion date of 2007. In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Canney said a lot of lessons have been learned from the pilot projects. He said that, if required, he would bring in planning legislation to speed up the process by which projects are brought forward, from when a project is talked about at inception to when that project is brought to site. At the moment I have looked at projects that have come to site and it has taken seven years to get that far. People are shocked. That will take primary legislation and secondary legislation and that will be happening this year. Mr Canney placed the blame on previous governments and said the challenge for him now is to ensure the 430m available for flood-prevention projects is spent to help communities who have been repeatedly hit by floods. Flooding wasnt treated as being an issue, it was treated as once in a 100-year event and if it happened once in your lifetime it was tough luck, he said. But it happened for the second time in six years in Ireland and that demonstrates that it is not going away. He said flooding is not a new phenomenon, that he had recently been given a local newspaper report of flooding in his local area in 1956. Mr Canney said he had met with the OPW in recent weeks to find a solution to flooding in the same area six decades on. Thats reality, thats the way it has been but I think things have changed now, he said. Mr Canney has already asked officials to rework an interdepartmental report around future flood-prevention policies after he was frustrated that the initial draft contained little recommendations. What I am getting is a bit light everything is being reviewed, its being monitored. It was more or less a collection of what has been done, its a historic thing, he said of the report, expected to be brought before Cabinet in the autumn. He has likewise had some tough meetings with insurers and members of the Shannon Flood Risk Working Group since entering office. It is frustrating, but I would say its probably the first time they have been challenged and are being brought in here on a regular basis. Officers suspect the cash, the second-biggest haul by gardai this year, was about to be handed over to pay for a sizeable drug shipment coming into the country. The gang, based in the Crumlin and south-inner-city area of Dublin, is loosely affiliated with, but separate to, the Kinahan crime cartel. Saturdays operation is the sixth swoop in a week by the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau against a range of organised criminal gangs. The Special Crime Task Force, set up to tackle the gangs in the Kinahan-Hutch feud, was also involved in Saturdays operation. It follows the seizure, by the same units, of a loaded handgun, on Friday night, in Dublin City north, which, detectives suspect was the property of Kinahan gangs. Operating on intelligence, the DOCB and the task force stopped a vehicle on the Fonthill Road, in Clondalkin, west Dublin, at 1pm on Saturday. They searched the car, before identifying a secret compartment in the back of a seat, which had the cash stuffed down a cavity. Whatever about having drugs seized, they hate losing cash, said a source, and this one was all the sweeter, as it was concealed in a secret compartment. A 39-year-old man arrested is a senior figure in the gang. Sources said the 200,000 could have bought some 6.5kgs of heroin at wholesale prices, or 8kgs of cocaine, the latter capable of being cut four times. The seizure is the second-biggest haul of cash by the bureau this year, and follows the capture of 400,000, in an operation against a major criminal grouping, on the M1 motorway, near Swords, north Dublin, in June. Gardai say criminal gangs have been forced to come down on one side of the Kinahan-Hutch feud, with the vast bulk associating themselves with the Kinahans. The cartel is behind seven of the eight feud murders, with a further two murders possibly associated with it. Gardai are continuing operations against all levels of the Kinahan cartel and other crime gangs. The 71-year-old was arrested at a hotel last week and Rio police said he has been formally accused under Brazilian law of ticket touting, running a cartel and illicit marketing. This is a stage in the legal process that is not equivalent to being charged in Irish law, but is a preliminary step in that direction. Mr Hickey has always denied any wrongdoing. Through a solicitor, Mr Hickeys family said they are extremely concerned about the manner of his arrest, his detention in the high-security Bangu prison and the impact on his health. They also voiced worries about pre-trial disclosure of what is purported to be evidence to the media and Mr Hickeys right to a fair hearing, given the prejudicial way in which he has been treated to date. Family solicitor Anne Marie James said: This arrest and detention occurred over a week ago and still no charges have been brought, nor has an appropriate venue for a bail application been made available to Pat Hickey. 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. He has a serious heart condition and they are extremely anxious that he would be immediately released on bail and given the opportunity to respond to the accusations. They also, as a priority, want to get him home to Ireland as they have increasing concerns about his safety. The Impact and Siptu trade unions have served notice of further stoppages, on September 5, 12, and 19. Oberstown staff staged a four-hour stoppage in May, during which residents had to be locked in their rooms from 8am to 12pm, could not go to school, and could only be given breakfast when some staff agreed to break with the industrial action. The unions said talks at the Workplace Relations Commission to resolve the impasse have been unsuccessful. Impact official, Tom Hoare, said: While there has been consistent effort to resolve this dispute, the staff are still facing the daily risk of assault and injury. Oberstown care workers are doing the work of prison staff, with the facilities and equipment of a residential care home. The number of assaults on staff has continued to grow, since the expansion of Oberstown to facilitate the transfer of offenders from the prison service. Mr Hoare said the new campus was badly designed, with inadequate safety equipment for dealing with vulnerable young people and violent offenders. The result is a daily risk of serious assault, which leaves many of the staff literally in fear of their lives, as they leave for work each day, he said. The unions said the most recent official figures from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs showed more than 100 violent incidents in Oberstown last year, half of which were classed as critical. Critical assaults and injuries necessitated 3,005 employee sick days, involving 65 staff members. The unions said emergency cover would remain in place during the stoppage, which will commence at 8am. The action will see residents confined to their rooms between 8am and 4pm, the unions said. They said the 48 under-18s at Oberstown include a mix of vulnerable young offenders and violent criminals with multiple convictions for serious offences. The unions are concerned that: Michael D Higgins and Enda Kenny led tributes to the former deputy leader of Fine Gael and key architect of the 1985 Anglo Irish Agreement, following his death in Corks Marymount Hospice on Friday, after a short illness. He was 88. A large crowd of mourners, led by his children, Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune, Tony, Fiona, Donagh, Conor, and Peter, attended his removal from OConnors funeral home on Boreenmanna Rd on Saturday. Among those to pay their respects to one of Corks great merchant princes and the figurehead of one of Irelands political dynasties, were former taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, former tanaiste Dick Spring, Housing Minister Simon Coveney, and Finance Minister Michael Noonan. Mr Barrys remains were carried from the funeral home by some of his 21 grandchildren, before being taken to his local church, St Michaels in Blackrock, where Requiem Mass will be celebrated by Fr Kieran Twomey at 11.30am today. There were tributes over the weekend for Mr Barry, widely regarded as the best leader Fine Gael never had. As well as spearheading the expansion of the family business, Barrys Tea, Mr Barry served as TD for Cork South Central from 1969 to 1997 and held four cabinet positions, including minister for foreign affairs. He was hailed for his role in negotiating the Anglo Irish Agreement, described by former taoiseach John Bruton as his signal achievement. In a society in Northern Ireland that was deeply divided between majority and minority, the Anglo Irish Agreement gave the minority the security of an international accord to protect their position and offer them a path to a fair society. It was on the foundation of the Anglo Irish Agreement, that the Good Friday agreement and the peace process that led to it were built, Mr Bruton said. Mr Barry, who followed in his father Anthonys footsteps to be elected Lord Mayor of Cork in 1970, was granted the freedom of Cork in 2010 by the then lord mayor and current European Affairs Minister, Dara Murphy. Describing the honour as long overdue, Mr Murphy said he wanted to recognise Mr Barrys lifelong dedication to the service of his country and community, his business acumen and philanthropic endeavours. Mr Barry will be laid to rest alongside his wife Margaret, who died in 2013, in St Michaels cemetery after todays funeral Mass. Flash Yemen's dominant Shiite Houthi group and its allies said Sunday they would deal with a plan put forth by the United States to resume peace talks with a goal of forming a national unity government, only once the Saudi-led coalition "aggression" halted and "economic siege" lifted. The Houthi stance came in an official statement carried by the group-controlled official Saba news agency on Sunday. "The supreme political council would deal with any peace initiative once the military aggression is completely halted and economic blockade against the Yemeni people is lifted," the statement read, cited by Saba. In a reply to a call by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for Houthis to surrender their ballistic missiles, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam wrote in a message posted on Facebook that "whoever has a greedy eye on our weapons, we will have a greedy eye on his life." For Houthi foes, the Saudi-backed exiled Yemeni government welcomed on Saturday the U.S. initiative, saying the government is prepared to deal positively with any peaceful initiatives resulting from the meeting in Jeddah that included the foreign secretaries of the U.S., Britain and Gulf states. On Thursday, Kerry said the Houthis must cease shelling across the border with Saudi Arabia, withdraw from the capital Sanaa, hand over their weapons including the ballistic missiles and enter into a unity government with their domestic foes. Kerry's new peace road came after his meeting this week in Jeddah with foreign ministers of British and Arab Gulf states to end Yemen civil war. The UN-sponsored peace talks to end 18 months of fighting in Yemen collapsed this month in host Kuwait. In reaction, the fighting escalated between the Shiite Houthi fighters and internationally recognized exiled Yemeni government backed by a Saudi-led military coalition. The fighting also resumed across borders between Yemen and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudis intervened in March 2015 to support the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to return to power in the capital Sanaa. Shiite Houthis backed by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh seized control of Sanaa in 2014 and drove out Hadi and his government into exile in Riyadh, the capital of Sunni Saudi Arabia. The civil war and Saudi-led airstrikes have since killed over 6,500 people, mostly civilians, and displaced other three million. There has also been a notable increase in the number of taxi drivers issued with fixed charge offences up 29% to the end of July. Figures published by the National Transport Authority (NTA) show that 562 complaints were made by members of the public against taxi drivers up to the end of July up from 494 over the corresponding period in 2015. The past two years have experienced the highest ever number of complaints against taxi drivers 952 in 2014 and 928 last year. Almost half of complaints lodged so far this year relate to driver behaviour. However, the increase in the level of complaints is largely due to a 20% increase in disputes over fares which now account for a third of all formal complaints made to the NTA. Included in this years total are 17 complaints about the condition of the vehicle down 10 over the corresponding period last year. NTA compliance officials have carried out almost 6,500 roadside vehicle inspections so far in 2016 which have resulted in the issuing of 512 fixed payment notices for a variety of offences. As it was in 2015, the single biggest offence continues to be the failure of taxi drivers to notify the NTA of the vehicle being operated. One driver who failed to pay a 40 fixed payment notice for the offence was ordered to pay 900 by the district court after being prosecuted by the NTA. Over 120 individuals have been detected operating, or offering service without a valid SPSV (small public service vehicle) licence to date in 2016, of which 80 are facing a criminal prosecution. For operating without a valid SPSV licence, a criminal conviction can be imposed together with a fine of up to 5,000 plus legal costs, said the NTA. Members of the public are also advised that they can provide any information on illegal activity within the tax industry on an anonymous basis to the NTA, with all issues followed up by its compliance team. The latest figures show the number of people and vehicles operating in the taxi industry is continuing to decline. The number of SPSV licenses fell by 1.7% in the first seven months of the year. The overall number of licensed SPSVs at the end of July was 20,791 down from 21,146 at the start of 2016. It has been falling annually since 2008 when they peaked at 27,429 but still considerably more than the 13,637 which existed just before the industry was deregulated in 2000. In a similar fashion, the number of active driver licences has fallen by 2.3% since January. At the end of July, a total of 26,797 drivers were licensed to drive taxis a net decrease of 643 since the start of the year. The numbers working in the industry peaked in May 2009 at 47,259. More than half of all drivers operate in Dublin. Meanwhile, the NTA is due to publish details shortly about the average earnings of taxi drivers in Dublin, Cork and Athlone. The NTA decided to conduct research on pay levels within the industry to enable individuals thinking about applying for a SPSV licence to be aware of the standard of living they could expect from working as a taxi drivers. A search has been launched to track down the descendants of the men involved in the Cul na Catharach ambush, near Baile Mhuirne, on February 25, 1921. The commemoration will involve the descendants retracing the steps of the Volunteers, but bearing flags instead of guns, as they walk between the various positions taken by the freedom-fighters. As many as 100 flags will be carried in the commemoration, on Sunday, September 11, which is being held to coincide with an annual event in honour of Baile Mhuirne Gaelic scholar and activist, An Dochtuir Donal O Loingsigh. Descendants can register their contact details at Baile Mhuirne Library, where a full list of the original Volunteers is available. The library is open on Tuesdays (10am to 6pm); Thursdays (2pm-7pm); Fridays (10am to 6pm); and Saturdays (10am-1pm). The commemoration, at the ambush site, beside the N22 between Baile Mhuirne and Macroom, begins at 12.30pm, with an address by former TD Tom Meaney, whose relatives lived near the site, in one of several cottages burned-out by British soldiers in the immediate aftermath. Cork County Council heritage officer, Conor Nelligan, will unveil a roadside information board, showing the precise locations of the engagement, as well as an app detailing the ambush, and permanent flags marking the site. The commemoration, which is a precursor to a larger-scale event planned for the ambushs centenary, in 2021, has been organised by the Acadamh Fodhla, a hedge-school university based in Baile Mhuirne/Cuil Aodha. Its founder, composer Peadar O Riada, explained the significance of the ambush, which many believe played an important part in persuading the British to enter into negotiations that led to the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, in December, 1921, and the end of the War of Independence. It was very important, because the British had won in Dripsey two weeks before and they thought they had the annihilation of the IRA, said Mr O Riada. It came on top of the other ambushes and showed them that the cost of winning the war, financially and in manpower, was prohibitive. They thought they had all the aces in their hands after Dripsey, but they still didnt manage to win at Cul na Catharach. IRISH cinema is in rude health, with several new movies due this autumn set to prove that our Oscar success this spring was no one-off. Of those, A Date For Mad Mary feels like a real game-changer not just for its terrific young female cast, but for first-time film-maker Darren Thornton. He has fashioned a funny, moving and gritty story out of Mary McArdle, who returns home to Drogheda after a stint in prison to find many of those closest to her have moved on. Undaunted, she sets about finding a date for the wedding of her lifelong best friend, Charlene. Its a movie with the legs to do well internationally US film industry bible Variety called it: instantly loveable. Yet, Thornton admits, he was concerned he wouldnt get it right. Its funny, in retrospect, now, I think a lot of it was to do with the fact that I was really nervous about making a first film and making a hames of it. Element (the films co-producers and distributors) were ready to go with it and I was like, No. Lets move that full stop from there over to there now its much better. Id always wanted to make a feature film and Id kind of done everything else. Id done theatre, short films, television, and everything was all about getting to that point. But now I can look back and go, You were fucking scared, holding back. It wasnt that I was worried about the material or worried about telling the story. With your first one, if you get it wrong, it can stop your career before it starts. You might not even get another chance. HOMETOWN PROJECT Director Darren Thornton Thorntons reticence was as understandable as it was unjustified. He was, after all, making the film in his hometown of Drogheda and co-adapting a play (along with brother Colin) of Yasmine Akrams Ten Dates with Mad Mary, which he had produced years earlier. There was a sense of loyalty to make the move from stage to screen seamless and authentic but the film has been widely praised for how well written and rounded its female characters are. He also managed to do so with his hit TV series, RTEs Love is the Drug. How does he get it so right? Im always amazed that people are amazed by that, he laughed. I dont believe men are from Mars, women are from Venus, in the way that people are always saying. Are we really that different, or are we told that because thats how people like to market things, based on gender? I think what it boils down to is human beings are human beings, they relate to each other in a very similar way. Still, they paid a great deal of attention to getting the characters language right. Characteristically, friendships can be really intense between girls of that age. You can define yourself from being part of that relationship, which I think can be true for boys in some cases as well. I remember as a teenager being on the phone to female friends for hours. I always loved listening to them. I loved taking all of that in. What was great about filming in Drogheda was we got so much support from the local community. We got access to nightclubs and bars. Huge support from people who were extras for us. Darren and Colin are either really good listeners, or theyre really good earwiggers, says actress Seana Kerslake. They obviously listen to conversation really well. With the script it was never, Oh god I wouldnt say that, or talking about superficial things. It was never like that, and it was always what I would think to say next that was on the script. It was so fluid. BREAKTHROUGH ROLE Kerslakes performance on screen as the troubled and troublesome Mary is being hailed as a major breakthrough and buzz is surrounding the young Tallaght actress. When I got the script I was like, Oh my God. I felt it was going to be special. And it struck me there there was a female lead and a strong female cast and I thought thats never happened before. I was getting to play this amazing, fully rounded girl. Further success beckons for Kerslake. I take no credit for that at all. That was happening anyway! says Thornton, smiling. It was going to happen very soon, you could tell. One of the really refreshing things was that she could connect with the character in a way that other people couldnt. But also there was a complete lack of vanity in the way that she approached it, which was really heartening and refreshing. She would just embrace everything, completely commit to it and go for it, and thats really rare. If the film gets international distribution you feel certain the offers of further projects will come flooding in for both of them. But the brothers are already writing their next film, a relationship comedy drama set in the midlands. Were doing a film called The Rules of Engagement. Its about a couple from the midlands, a young couple who are supposed to be getting married and they open their relationship. Theyve never been with anyone except each other, they freak out, and decide to have an open relationship so they can experience what its like to be with someone else. Most of our family grew up in rural Ireland so we spend a lot of time in smaller towns, and are interested in that world. I know so many people who married their childhood sweetheart, thats a big thing in this country. ENJOYING THE BUZZ Kerslake, meanwhile, is determined to enjoy the buzz around the films release along with co-stars Tara Lee and Charleigh Bailey, who plays the bride in the movie and has become a close friend off screen. They are among many emerging young actors coming through in what seems like an incredibly buoyant period in Irish cinema. In Kerslakes case, confidence came from being part of a group of actors (including Jack Reynor and Barry Keoghan) who experimented with their craft in Dublins Factory, now Bow Street. It was lovely, because it was like a little base, a little home. And because I didnt know the industry at all it was introducing me to people and friends that I still have now, to a world that I didnt know. There arent a lot of spaces where you can mess up. It was a place to go in and give it a go. Whats good about Ireland is you can be part of a film industry or a theatre industry without having to have four years of formal training, which is very handy for someone like me because I didnt have that initially, and I wouldnt be here if Ireland wasnt that open, you know? I do think theres a lot going on, a tsunami of talent if you will! We want a weekend with a bit of adventure and outdoor activity and away from all the screens that seem to dominate our lives of late. Something fun and different and memorable. But, you know, with a bit of comfort? So we tentatively (no pun intended) come around to the idea of glamping. Thats glamorous camping in case you didnt know. Tis far from it we were reared, I know. It kind of feels like cheating, right? Husband and I hiked around bits of Spain with backpacks and a cheap tent for a few weeks. We did the weekend concerts in Ireland, hammering in pegs through a blur of rain and cans of, er, Fanta. We also shared a one-man tent for the best part of a year throughout Africa. Less glamorous, more I smell worse than an actual warthog, that literal, live, whiffy, warthog walking past me there. True story. So glamour and camping? Never the twain did meet. All this however, was pre children. Before nappy bags and bottles and boosters and blankies. Before high chairs and dodies and Calpol and onesies. Feather Down Farms have two lodges at Purecamping, an eco-campsite run by Trea and Kevin Heapes in the unparalleled beauty of Querrin, Kilkee, around the Loop Head area of Co Clare. We get the car ferry from Tarbert, Co Kerry to Killimer, Co Clare, and as we watch dolphins slicing the waves from the top deck, we realise the adventure is beginning before we even get there. Road trips can be fun with little ones, I swear. Were given really exact directions in our welcome document that we download after we make the online booking so we arrive without the stress of getting lost in unfamiliar back roads. Were greeted at reception by Trea and Kevin and made feel right at home. The cabins are incredible. A mixture of rustic charm with modern conveniences, off the grid but comfort at every turn, a wonderful blend of simple and style. Wooden floors but canvas roof and walls. Indoor toilet, but no electricity. A wood burning stove, a well kitted-out kitchen, two cool bedrooms and another bed in what we first thought was a cupboard. The cabin has hooks to hang our kerosene lamps and candle holders. Crisp white linens, a big kettle and a huge wooden kitchen table with mix and match chairs. Framed pictures of farmyard animals adorn the walls. Its perfect. The seven-year-old and the four-year-old are agog, flying around, exploring every inch of the place. We have our 13-year-old cousin in tow too and she is equally charmed. We havent broken the news that theres no wifi yet. One step at a time. Nestled in a small orchard adjacent to our hosts eco-camp, were surrounded by nature. Theres two ponds, two friendly dogs, friendlier hens, and a short walk to fabulous forest trails where the boys spend happy hours tramping around, safe but utterly wild. Theres also a very cool giant geodesic dome in the middle of the campsite where the kids can play inside and meet other campers. In our cabin, theres no signal on phones, nowhere to plug in an iPad, and the only flat screen is the window in the canvas. And no one cares. About 99% of the spats we have with the lads at home is about screen time and whose turn it is to pick the Minecraft world and get off that bloody iPad and if youre on your phone, Dad, why cant I be on the Playstation you get the drift. In glamping land, none of this matters. In the evening we play cards and draw pictures and read books by candlelight. The one-year-old seems slightly bemused by all the attention hes getting (we take turns keeping him away from the stove) but he figures out what AH AH HOT! means fast enough and soon adjusts to the dos and donts of his new surroundings. I call one of my sons John Boy as I tuck him in. I hum the tune of Little House on the Prairie as I light the candles at dusk. Its that kind of vibe. Theres loads to do in this corner of heaven on the Wild Atlantic Way and we dont let the weather get in the way of a good time. On the rainy Saturday, after an hour of yoga for me with Trish in her gorgeous, hemp-walled studio, we hit the road for Ballyvaughan and the Ailwee Caves. Set in the very bosom of The Burren, this incredible facility is a must visit if youre in the area. We wander in for the Birds of Prey display, not knowing what to expect. Set in an outdoor amphitheater with the dramatic landscape as background, the staff introduce different raptors, the owls, falcons, hawks, and even a vulture swoops right over our heads as they move from their trainers to various perches. All the while, were learning about the birds and the best yet, kids from the audience are invited out to hold the birds. Our four-year-old got up close and personal with a snowy white barn yard owl, by the name of Jon Snow, and it made his year. We trekked up to the cave then and had a magical tour with Steve who brought the geographical miracles to life, the teenager declared it the best part of the whole weekend. No mean feat. Do not miss it. Fabulous tea rooms and super friendly staff make it a really nice option on a wet day. As we drive past Ballyvaughan pier on the way back to Querrin, the clouds clear and the sun beats down, like the opening credits of The Simpsons. We screech to a halt, pull on the wetsuits and fling ourselves off the pier, dodging the odd jellyfish or two. It is glorious, unscripted, flesh-tingling fun. Mother Nature turns the heat on the next and final day of our sojourn to Co Clare, so we stop off at Kilkee beach. Cue sandcastles, stand up paddleboarding, and suncream. The kids and dad paddle over to the pier and join a gang of jumpers, all ages, high jinxing around, diving and ducking and hours pass as the they make new friends and their skin gets that salty sheen and their hair gets blonder and then its time to go back to Cork and real life. But two days later, husband buys a second hand trailer tent... Watch this space. Glamping with Feather Down Farms, prices vary depending on the time of year and length of stay. See www.featherdown.ie for more or email info@featherdown.ie www.purecamping.ie www.loophead.ie Aillwee Cave and the Birds of Prey Centre; www.aillweecave.ie The Burren Centre and The Kilfenora Ceili Band Parlour; www.theburrencentre.ie Caherconnell Stone Fort and Sheepdog Demonstrations; www.caherconnell.com The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience; www.cliffsofmoher.ie A looming European Commission ruling that Ireland struck a too-sweet tax deal with Apple will give the minority administration here an almighty headache. The Government has in the past said it would launch an appeal to any adverse Brussels ruling, which could see the State turning its back on collecting tens of millions and potentially billions of euro in unpaid tax from the richest multinational in the world. The Governments predicament lies in a decision of EU Competition supremo Margrethe Vestager over two years ago. She helped initiate some of the commissions highest level tax investigations into among others, Irelands tax dealings with Apple, the tax arrangements between the Netherlands and Starbucks and Luxembourgs dealings with Fiat Chrysler. The commission probed whether countries had provided illegal state aid by way of charging the corporates too little tax. Under adverse rulings, states are obliged to get back the underpaid tax monies which will eventually go into the exchequer but can first appeal the decisions to EU courts. It may appear odd that any country would contemplate snubbing any sort of tax bounty. But the Government, along with other EU countries, is intent on arguing its case against any further encroachment by Brussels on its jealously-guarded rights to set corporate tax rates. The heat was considerably turned up on Ireland and Apple when Ms Vestagers commission gave its final rulings on the first two of its high-profile investigations, almost a year ago. In hard hitting reports, the commission found the Dutch had facilitated Starbucks, which has its European coffee roasting, paper cups and pastry operations incorporated in the Netherlands, to underpay its tax bill over eight years. The commission also ruled the finance unit of Fiat (the car makers bank for its European operations is based in Luxembourg) was paying an artificially low level of tax in that country. Amid the global controversies over multinationals contributing their fair share of tax, the rulings provided a glimpse of the tax arrangements of some of the worlds biggest corporates. Starbucks was found to have secured illegal tax advantage from the Netherlands in its dealings with its UK and Swiss units. The commission ruled the coffee giant paid a huge royalty to its British company called Alki for its roasting knowledge, while paying an inflated price for green beans to its unit in Switzerland. Tax rulings that artificially reduce a companys tax burden are not in line with EU state aid rules. They are illegal, Commissioner Vestager said at the time, adding she hoped this message will be heard by member state governments and companies alike. All companies, big or small, multinational or not, should pay their fair share of tax, she said. The Dutch and Luxembourg governments subsequently said they would appeal, with Luxembourg accusing the commission of using unprecedented criteria in its adverse finding. They each face a so-called recovery of 20m to 30m in underpaid tax. The Irish Government is expected to appeal its looming adverse ruling over Apple. The decision on Ireland was due to be delivered soon after the election. Many suspect the delay shows the commission is under considerable pressure from Ireland, Apple and the US. The stakes are much higher here because the commission is likely to rule that Ireland must collect a substantial amount in back-taxes from Apple. Astute observers have said the amount is unlikely to run into billions of euro, and may total 150m. However, any adverse ruling that triggers an appeal will mean the Government must explain why it is reluctant to collect any bounty. Earlier this year, Apples CEO flew into Brussels to lobby on behalf of Apple, and justify its tax arrangements with Ireland. With other US companies under the spotlight, American companies have complained that the commission is engaged on some sort of witch hunt. As recently as last week, the US Treasury issued an unprecedented white paper, saying the Commission had gone too far in it investigations into US companies. Citing the investigations into Starbucks, Fiat Chrysler and Apple, the Treasury accused Brussels of putting at risk existing global tax efforts to crack down on underpayments of corporate tax. In a US election year, the white paper takes on a highly political tone, warning any retrospective recoveries of taxes imposed on US companies following the rulings could likely end up in the lap of American taxpayers. The US Treasury also said that the commissions probes were counter to EU case law and were inconsistent with international norms and undermines the taxation system. Furthermore, it is possible that the settlement payments ultimately could be determined to give rise to creditable foreign taxes, said the US Treasury. If so, US taxpayers could wind up eventually footing the bill for these state aid recoveries in the form of foreign tax credits that would offset the US tax bills of these companies. It is clear that the US government is intent on facing down the commission on behalf of American companies. By appealing an adverse finding, the Irish Government will find it too is going into battle on behalf of a US corporate giant, which provides thousands of jobs here. Tom Jackson, 30, was critically injured helping Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 21, as she was stabbed to death, allegedly by 29-year-old Frenchman, Smail Ayad, police said. Jacksons father, Les, also praised the medical staff at Townsville Hospital, in Queensland, where his son is being treated. He said: There are many and varied reasons why we are, and always will be, immensely proud of Tom. His actions, in response to this horrific attack, only add to that sense of pride. As a family, we have been comforted by the help and support offered by our friends and family, at home and in Australia, who have been wonderful. Les Jackson said the many offers of support they had received had not been ignored, but they were simply focusing on their sons condition. He added: We are in awe of the medical and support staff at The Townsville Hospital, who are providing the greatest care Tom could hope to receive and keeping me informed of his ongoing treatment every step of the way. "Finally, and most importantly, our hearts go out to Mia, and her family and friends, at this deadful time. Ms Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was killed at the Shelleys Backpackers accommodation, in Home Hill, on Tuesday. Ayad has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of serious animal cruelty, and 12 counts of serious assault. He did not appear in court on Friday, but was remanded in custody and his case has been adjourned until October 28. Police are investigating reports that the Frenchman had an unrequited romantic interest, or an obsession, with Ayliffe-Chung. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell hit out at the entrepreneur, claiming he wanted to undermine our democracy after Virgin Trains released footage disputing Corbyns claims about overcrowding on one of its services. McDonnell, who is running Corbyns campaign to be re-elected as Labour leader, demanded an overhaul of the honours system and also restated his call for former BHS boss Philip Green to lose his title. Writing in the Sunday Mirror, McDonnell said Branson was a tax exile who thinks he can try and intervene and undermine our democracy. The row between Branson and Corbyn 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. McDonnell said: The whole purpose of the honours system is undermined when the rich and the powerful can collect their gongs without giving anything back. Its 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 leadership rival Owen Smith dismissed McDonnells call for the Virgin boss to be stripped of his knighthood, saying Branson had told the truth about the traingate row. He told LBC Radio: That seems a bit much, to be honest. I think it was merely pointing out the reality that Jeremy didnt need to sit on the floor. I cant imagine wed strip somebodys honours for telling the truth. Meanwhile, Corbyn and Smith set out measures aimed at tackling the housing crisis in the UK as the leadership battle in the party intensified. The Observer reported that a Labour government run by Corbyn would borrow 15bn a year to build houses across the country half of them council homes as part of a 500bn programme of public investment. A Corbyn administration would aim to build a million homes during a five-year parliament and introduce new safeguards for tenants. The policy papers suggest that the net cost to the public sector will be 10bn a year, because two-thirds of the construction bill would be labour costs, meaning extra tax revenues for the Treasury, the newspaper reported. The attack took place at the Roman Catholic St Joseph Church in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra province. City police spokeswoman Rina Sari Ginting described the failed attack as terrorism in a statement. The assailant was sitting with other worshippers when he left a bench and ran toward the priest at the altar, but the bomb in his backpack did not go off, said national police spokesman Maj Gen Boy Rafli Amar. There was a small explosion like fireworks and he also took out a knife as he ran toward the priest, witness Timbas Ginting said. The man kept running toward the priest who was giving a sermon with a burning backpack, as the shocked congregation chased and captured him. Before he was restrained, he managed to take an ax from the backpack and a ttacked the priest, Albert Pandiangan, 60, causing a slight injury on his hand, Amar said. Police were interrogating the 18-year old man, who told them that he was not working alone, Amar said, without providing details. William Evertz Jr saved up his pocket money for seven months and went to a Subway restaurant to get sandwiches for officers in Winslow Township, a suburb of Philadelphia. His mother said he told her he wanted the officers to rest so they could protect the town. Police made the boy an honorary officer and gave him a special shirt and badges. He also got a ride home in a police car with lights and siren. Dog days NIGERIA: A man who wrote the name of Nigerias president on his dog and paraded the pet in an area where the leader is popular has been charged with breaching the peace. Police said they arrested Joachim Chinakwe after a neighbour complained that the display in south-western Ogun state was provocative. Nigerian newspapers quoted Chinakwe as arguing in court that he named his dog because President Muhammadu Buhari is his hero. He was charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. The case was adjourned until September 19. Street jam USA: A hip-hop video shoot shut down parts of Route 66 in New Mexico because low-riders were driving around in circles as a crowd of hundreds twerked in the street. The filming in central Albuquerque triggered a long street party, snarling traffic and confusing motorists amid the neon lights and the citys historic buildings. The crew filming hip-hop artist Jandro took advantage of the unexpected, spontaneous party scene by shooting footage of the festivities, videographer Editz Macias said. The whole situation just got bigger than what we expected so we went where the footage was, he added. Bum wrap BURKINA FASO: 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 weekends 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. Drive through USA: Employees of an Oregon grocery store are cleaning up after a police say a woman drove her SUV into the store and down the aisles. Springfield police say a 43-year-old Glenwood woman tried to purchase $2,200 of gift cards and became upset when her check bounced and Safeway employees would not complete the transaction. The Register-Guard reports that she angrily left the store and returned later, just after midnight. Police say she parked in front of the store and was yelling about wanting her gift cards. Police say the woman then drove the SUV through the store entrance, up and down an aisle, and out the other side of the Safeway. Police arrested her at her home. Mind the gap USA: Crews have rescued a man who became trapped between two buildings in Pittsburgh, reportedly after trying to jump from one rooftop to another to impress a woman he had just met. Authorities didnt identify the man, who was freed about 6am he had been trapped about four hours after falling awkwardly into the narrow, debris-filled space between the buildings. Police say the man reported an ankle injury; he was bleeding, but waved to TV news cameras as he was wheeled on a gurney to an ambulance. At one point, crews broke a hole through a restaurant in an unsuccessful effort to reach him. A medic was eventually lowered on a rope to reach the man. Authorities say the man and woman reached the roof by climbing a fire escape. Flash U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is seeing yet another scandal piling on top of others scandals, which hurts her campaign by shifting attention away from Republican candidate Donald Trump, experts said. U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton attends the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 45th Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington September 19, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua] At the center of this latest in a string of Clinton controversies is the Clinton Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton. According to emails released Monday that were sent and received during Clinton's tenure as U.S. secretary of state, a network of foundation donors was able to get special access to Clinton while she was secretary of state, although they did not always get what they wanted, U.S. media reported. Republicans alleged that Clinton granted favors as secretary of state in exchange for donations to the foundation, a charge that Clinton vehemently denies. While Clinton now enjoys a comfortable lead in the polls, ahead of Trump, the latest scandal could hurt the Democratic candidate, experts said. "The Clinton Foundation issue is hurting Clinton. It is taking the focus off Trump's character and putting it back on Clinton," Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua. Indeed, strategists and pundits have been saying for months that Trump must get people's eyes off his bombast and offensiveness and try to make the contest about Clinton' s many scandals, perceived missteps and shortcomings while she served as secretary of state. One example is the Clinton Foundation's receiving millions of U.S. dollars from foreign governments while Clinton was secretary of state. The more reporters talk about Clinton Foundation finances and money coming from abroad, the more it raises doubts about Clinton, West noted. "People understand the risks of money coming from abroad because it creates the possibility of divided loyalties. She needs to make sure the focus stays on Trump' s outrageous statements and policy flip-flops. That is much better terrain for her," West said, referring to Trump's many over-the-top statements in recent months. For the last two months, Trump has failed to get the race focused on Clinton' s misdeeds by constantly shooting himself in the foot and then playing the victim role when the press covers his gaffes, West noted. Indeed, just when it seems that Trump is starting to act more presidential, such as giving serious foreign policy speeches, he then ruins those gains by making off-the-cuff and offensive remarks. "This week has been better (for Trump) because the news is focused on the Clinton Foundation and the new emails that will be coming out this fall," West said. Dan Mahaffee, an analyst with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, told Xinhua this is a very complex scandal where a lot of the American people are going to have a hard time understanding the intricacies involved. However, the controversy about the foundation does serve as a bullet point under the broader narrative of the "Clintons playing by their own rules" -- joining the email server, paid speeches, and other controversies under this same line of attack from the Republicans, Mahaffee said. "I'm not sure if it's by design or an inability to help himself, but Trump seems to have let every opportunity to make this a referendum on Clinton and continued Democratic leadership in the White House slip away with a comment that draws attention to himself or raises questions about his leadership," he said. Residents of the hill town estimated up to 10 people were still missing and emergency services said they had located three corpses in Amatrices Hotel Roma was wrecked by Wednesdays quake. Deputy Mayor Gianluca Carloni said his uncles body had still not been recovered from the hotel, which was particularly busy because of a food festival. It is absolutely vital to finish as soon as possible this initial (search) phase to make sure that there are no more bodies under the rubble, he said. Pope Francis led prayers for the dead in his weekly address in St Peters Square in Rome, saying he wanted to go to the earthquake zone to bring comfort to the survivors. Dear brothers and sisters, as soon as it is possible, I hope to come and visit you, he said. With aftershocks continuing to rattle the region, including a magnitude 4.4 quake centred on the nearby city of Ascoli Piceno, residents were still struggling to absorb the disaster. Rescue operations in most of the area were halted two days ago, but teams were still combing Amatrice, which is 105km east of Rome. The fire service said it was trying to remove some of the fallen masonry at the Hotel Roma and create a safe path to retrieve the three bodies as soon as possible. A number of foreigners were among the dead, including 11 Romanians, the foreign ministry in Bucharest said. Italy has promised to rebuild the shattered communities and has said it will learn from the mistakes following a similar earthquake in the nearby city of LAquila in 2009, where much of the centre is still out of bounds. The rebuilding effort was stalled following allegations that organised crime groups had muscled in to obtain lucrative contracts. Italys anti-mafia chief Franco Roberti said the experience of LAquila would serve well this time around, but warned that the government could not lower its guard. The risks are there and it is pointless to pretend otherwise. Post-quake reconstruction is always very appetising for criminal gangs and their business partners. Italian authorities have vowed to investigate whether negligence or fraud in adhering to building codes played a role in the high death toll following last weeks earthquake. Investigations are focusing on a number of structures, including a school in Amatrice which crumbled despite being renovated in 2012 to resist earthquakes at a cost of 700,000. With children still on their summer holidays, the school was not in use. Many locals were shocked the building did not withstand the 6.2-magnitude quake. Questions also surround a bell tower in Accumoli which collapsed, killing a family of four sleeping in a neighbouring house, including a baby and a seven-year-old boy. In Brazil, the virus has been linked to a rare birth defect, microcephaly, which causes small head size. Those infected in Singapore include 36 foreign construction workers employed at a site near Aljunied, in the southeast of the island, the health ministry and the National Environment Agency (NEA) said yesterday. On Saturday, authorities had confirmed Singapores first case of a local transmission of the virus, to a 47-year-old Malaysian woman, also from the Aljunied area. MOH (the ministry of health) cannot rule out further community transmission in Singapore, since some of those tested positive also live or work in other parts of Singapore. We expect to identify more, positive cases. The authorities have tested 124 people, primarily construction workers. Seventy-eight tested negative and five are pending. Thirty-four have recovered. It was not said where the foreign workers were from, but Singapore hosts a large contingent from the Asian sub-continent. All the cases are residents or workers in the Aljunied Crescent/Sims Drive area. They are not known to have travelled to zika-affected areas recently, and are thus likely to have been infected in Singapore. This confirms that local transmission of zika-virus infection has taken place, the authorities said. Dozens of NEA staff cleaned drains and sprayed insecticide in the mainly residential area early yesterday, and volunteers and contractors handed out leaflets and insect repellent. The NEA workers had by then accessed 1,800 premises of a total of 6,000 in the area to check for mosquito breeding. Residents welcomed the clean-up. Im very scared of mosquitoes, because they always seem to bite me. They never bite my husband, Janice, 31, who gave only her first name, told Reuters. This concerns me, because, maybe, in a couple of years, I want to have another (child). Zika was detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the Americas. The virus is a risk to pregnant women. It can cause severe birth defects. It has been linked to 1,600 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. The Singapore government said there were ongoing local transmission cases in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Other countries in the region to have detected the zika virus since 2013 include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, and the Philippines, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Malaysia has stepped up surveillance at main transit points with Singapore. Health director-general, Noor Hisham Abdullah, said leaflets on zika-prevention were being handed out and paramedics were at entry points to handle visitors with potential symptoms. As of this month, Malaysia has screened two million visitors at air, sea, and land entrances, and has found no zika infections. In Thailand, where 100 cases of zika have been recorded this year, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) is screening all athletes returning from the Olympic Games in Brazil, but is not otherwise changing its prevention measures. Every country in this region has zika-transmission cases, said Prasert Thongcharoen, an adviser to the DDC. Thailand has, however, managed to contain the problem through early detection. In Indonesia, the health ministry said there had been no recent cases. Juno activated its whole suite of nine instruments as it soared 4,200km above Jupiters swirling cloud tops, travelling at 210,000km/h on Saturday. Nasa tweeted that Juno had successfully completed its closest ever fly-by to the planet, the first of 36, which are scheduled to end in February 2018. Rick Nybakken, Junos project manager at Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said: Early post-fly-by telemetry indicates that everything worked as planned and Juno is firing on all cylinders. Mission controllers at the space agency expect to capture stunning images and a wealth of scientific data from the approach, but it will take some days for all the data collected to be downloaded on Earth. We are getting some intriguing early data returns as we speak, said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, USA. It will take days for all the science data collected during the flyby to be downlinked and even more to begin to comprehend what Juno and Jupiter are trying to tell us. 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 hopes to release close-up images from JunoCam, the probes panoramic colour camera, during the later part of this week. They should include the first detailed pictures of Jupiters north and south poles. No previous spacecraft has flown so near to Jupiter. The previous record for a close approach to the planet was set by Nasas Pioneer 11 spacecraft, which passed at a distance of 43,000km in 1974. Only one other spacecraft, Galileo, which visited Jupiter and its moons from 1995 to 2003, has orbited the planet. Rajoys centre-right Peoples Party won most votes in two inconclusive general elections in December and June but it fell well short of a majority, leading to months of fruitless political negotiations to form a coalition. Ciudadanos, which came fourth in both elections, said yesterday it would add its 32 parliamentary seats to Mr Rajoys 137 in Wednesdays vote, but this still falls short of the 176 needed for an absolute majority. The PP is also expected to get the backing of the small conservative Canary Island party Canarian Coalition, which will bring the support to 170 seats. We have managed to reach agreement amongst 170 seats so that Spain can have a government. Its a large figure but its not enough, Rajoy told a news conference where he called on other parties to end the deadlock. Rajoy needs the abstention of the opposition Socialists to form a government, but they have steadfastly refused to smooth the way for an administration led by their main rivals. To secure its backing, Ciudadanos demanded the PP agree to a list of conditions including the implementation of anti-corruption measures and an electoral reform to end discrimination in the voting system against smaller parties. If Rajoy loses Wednesdays vote, a second vote will take place on Friday where a simple majority will suffice to allow him to form a government. If he loses this second vote, also likely without the support of the Socialists, it would trigger a two-month window to form a government at the end of which another election would have to be called, possibly on Christmas Day. By the time of Wednesdays vote, Spain will have been 254 days without a government, the longest time in the countrys democracy although falling short of Belgiums 589-day world record for a democracy to form a coalition government. The eight-month political deadlock has delayed investments in infrastructure such as roads and rail and put high-ranking government appointments on hold, leaving some Spanish embassies without an ambassador. Spains economy, on the rebound from a recession which ended three years ago, has powered ahead despite the lack of a functioning government. Rodney Sanders, 46, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, is charged with capital murder over the deaths of Sister Margaret Held and Sister Paula Merrill, both 68. Willie March, the sheriff of Holmes County said he had been briefed by police from the town of Durant where the killings occurred and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation officials who took part in Sanders interrogation. Sanders confessed in the interrogation to the killings but gave no reason for the crimes, said March. The sheriff said police work and tips from the community led police to Sanders. Sanders was convicted last year of a driving under the influence offence, said Grace Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He was later released from prison and is currently on probation. He was also convicted of armed robbery in Holmes County, sentenced in 1986 and served six years, Ms Fisher said. People who knew the nuns, known for their generosity and commitment to improving health care for the poor, have been grappling with why anyone would want to kill them. Dr Elias Abboud, who oversees the clinic in Lexington where the nuns worked, said Sanders was not a patient there. The womens bodies were discovered on Thursday after they failed to arrive for work in Lexington, about 10 miles from where they lived. The sheriff said they had been stabbed. Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation, police lieutenant colonel Jimmy Jordan said. Authorities said Sanders was being held in a detention centre pending a court appearance. Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain said investigators believed Sanders acted alone. Sister Paulas nephew, David Merrill, speaking from Stoneham, Massachusetts, said the family was thankful Sanders was off the streets. Merrill said he agreed with the idea of forgiveness and that was something his aunt would want for whoever killed her, but he wasnt sure if he was capable of completely forgiving. He said he would not support the death penalty if Sanders were to be convicted. The capital murder charge leaves open the possibility Sanders would face the death penalty but that determination would be made by prosecutors later. Meanwhile, in the poverty-stricken Mississippi county where the nuns were slain, many people were still mourning their loss. Jonell Payton, a Durant alderwoman, who lives a few doors from the nuns house, said they were the most precious two people and known for helping provide medicine for those who could not afford it. Both women worked at the clinic, where they gave flu shots, dispensed insulin and provided other medical care for children and adults. May has charged her top team with outlining the opportunities that leaving the European Union will create in each of their portfolios. The cabinet will meet at the prime ministers country retreat, Chequers, to discuss the next steps, amid speculation that May will implement Article 50 triggering the two-year period leading to Brexit without seeking the backing of parliament. A Downing Street source said Brexit was top of the in-tray for Ms May, as she begins her first full week back at work in Westminster, after her summer holiday in Switzerland. The UKs future outside the EU will also be an issue, with May travelling to the G20 summit, in China, at the weekend. It will be the prime ministers first international trip outside Europe and 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 worlds richest nations will build on conversations May has already had with 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 May will use the cabinet meeting to compare the unity in Tory ranks with the chaos in the Labour Party. Over 50,000 people have joined the party since May became PM, and the Tory conference, to be held in October, has had a record number of registrations. May has resisted calling an early election to take advantage of the disarray in Labour ranks, and a source said the Tory party was ready to get on with the work of governing for the whole country. Despite the pressing issue of Brexit, May is keen to ensure her administration is not defined by the European question. She has 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, May will chair the first meeting of a new social reform committee, with housing and racial disparity on the agenda. Ministers will also discuss the new industrial strategy, with May expected to set out her ambition for the UK to become the best country in the world for innovative firms and for transforming scientific discoveries into successful businesses Turkish warplanes roared into northern Syria at daybreak and its artillery pounded what security sources said were sites held by Kurdish YPG militia, after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fierce overnight fighting around two villages. Turkeys military said 25 Kurdish militants were killed in its air strikes. There was no immediate comment from the YPG, but forces aligned with the Kurdish militia have said it withdrew from the area targeted by Turkey before the offensive. Turkey, which is also battling Kurdish insurgents on its own soil, sent tanks and troops into Syria to support its Syrian rebel allies. The Turkish-backed forces first seized the Syrian border town of Jarablus from Islamic State before pushing south into areas held by Kurdish-aligned militias. They have also moved west towards Islamic State areas. Turkish troops return from the Syrian border, in Karkamis. Turkish officials have openly stated that their goal in Syria is as much about ensuring Kurdish forces do not expand the territory they already control along Turkeys border, as it is about driving Islamic State from its strongholds. However, Turkeys offensive has so far focused mostly on targeting forces allied to the Kurdish-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition that includes YPG, an Observatory source said. The SDF has support from the US, which sees the group as an effective Syrian ally against Islamic State. So Turkeys action against SDF-allied forces puts it odds with a fellow NATO member, adding a further twist to Syrias complex war that began in 2011 with an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. The Observatory, a Britain-based monitoring group with a network of sources in Syria, said Turkish-allied forces had seized two villages south of Jarablus, Jub al-Kousa and al- Amarna, that were held by militias loyal to the SDF. The fighting killed 20 civilians in Jub al-Kousa and 15 in al-Amarna, while scores more were wounded, the group said. The Observatory said rebels backed by Turkish tanks fought until dawn against rival militias allied to the SDF around al-Amarna. SDF-allied militia damaged three Turkish tanks, it said. Turkish security sources said warplanes and artillery had hit Kurdish YPG militia sites south of Jarablus and towards Manbij, a city captured by Kurdish-aligned SDF this month in a US-backed operation. Colonel Ahmed Osman, head of the Turkish-backed Sultan Murad rebel group, told Reuters the force was certainly heading in the direction of Manbij and hoped to take it days. The Ankara government wants to stop Kurdish forces gaining control of an unbroken swathe of Syrian territory on Turkeys frontier, which it fears could embolden the PKK that has waged a three-decade insurgency in Turkey. Turkey said one of its soldiers was killed on Saturday when a rocket hit a tank that it said came from a YPG-controlled area. It was the first Turkish death reported in the campaign. Business Elite Business Community Welcomes Peace Conference A view of the border-crossing connecting Mae Sot in Thailand to Myawaddy in Burma, in May 2014. / Zaw Thu Ra / Facebook RANGOON Burmese business leaders have welcomed the 21st Century Panglong peace conference, expecting that a successful peace settlement would increase foreign investment in Burma, open up border areas and tempt back migrant workers from abroad. The five-day peace conference, beginning in Naypyidaw on Wednesday, will host 1,600 people on its opening day; thereafter, 750 delegates representing the government, the military, ethnic armed groups and political parties will engage in discussions covering the thematic areas of politics, security, economics, land, the environment and social issues. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be attending. Earlier this month, at a meeting with ethnic armed groups, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that, without peace, economic performance in Burma would not be sustained in the long run. U Chit Khine, the presumed billionaire and chairman of the Eden Group, one of Burmas largest conglomerates, said the peace conference would bring hope for the Burmese business community that more foreign investment would come to the country. Foreign investors are waiting to see what will happen with the peace process here. They could bring many job opportunities and create a new business environment in border areas that are still far away from peace, he said. Much of Burmas borderlands are controlled by non-state ethnic armed groups, who have often struck their own deals with foreign investors, and continue to control overland trade with neighboring countries, notably China, Thailand and India. U Chit Khine said that, if there is peace, industrial zones could be developed along the Thai-Burma border, creating job opportunities. He added that Burmas Investment Commission had already invited investment in new industrial zones planned in Hpa-an and Myawaddy of Karen State, the latter on the border with Thailand. However, the projects have yet to move ahead because investors are still waiting for peace to be secured. There are huge populations in the border areas. If investors can build factories to produce value added products, trade will be bigger and regions will develop fast, U Chit Khine said. There is a big potential market in the border areas if conflict ends, he said. U Khin Shwe, chairman of Zaykabarone of Burmas largest construction companiessaid he hoped to see development in Mon and Karen states and Tenasserim Division if peace with ethnic armed groups is achieved. If the government can create business opportunities for them [ethnic armed groups], they will agree to peace. It would be of mutual interest. There will not be development without peace in those remote areas, he said. He pointed out that several million people from Burma are working in Thailand, due to a lack of job opportunities at home. If investment comes to their areas, they would be willing to come back. U Khin Shwe cautioned that natural resources in current conflict areas would require careful management by the government. If there is no peace, there is no development, he said. U Nyo Myint, senior managing director of the Kanbawza (KBZ) Group of Companies, another of Burmas biggest conglomerates, also welcomed the Panglong peace conference, which he believed could bring new opportunities to residents of remote areas of Burma suffering from internal conflict involving non-state armed groups. For example, the banking industry: we [KBZ] cant open branches in some conflict areas. People cant pursue business without banks, so how can business develop? he said. As part of a new economic strategy, business should be developed not only in urban areas, but also in remote areas. Thats why we want peace, and welcome this conference, he said. Burma Govt Justifies International Involvement in Arakan Issue Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan addresses a news conference at the United Nations in Geneva in August 2012. / Reuters Amid criticism of former UN secretary-general Kofi Annans appointment to chairman of the new Arakan State Advisory Committee, the deputy-director general of the State Counselors Office said the choice was made in response to international pressure. Deputy director-general U Zaw Htay told reporters at a press conference on the governments 100-day plan in Naypyidaw on Friday that the decision to include international representatives followed outside pressure, after previous local commissions failed to resolve the Arakan State issue. The nine-member team includes three international representatives, including Kofi Annan, and six from Burmaincluding two Buddhist Arakanese members, two Rangoon-based Muslim members and two government representatives. The commission must include impartial, respected and experienced people. We planned to form the commission with three international representatives and six local representatives. The three international representatives we have selected are very seasoned, U Zaw Htay told reporters. Burmas main opposition partythe Union and Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)and nationalist forces have criticized the National League for Democracy (NLD)-led governments decision to involve international representatives in the Arakan State issue, stating that the move neglects national security. The USDP released a statement that criticized bringing an internal issue into the international spotlight. U Zaw Htay said the Arakan State crisis was not merely an internal issue, adding that the international community was already involved through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). No matter how unwilling we are to accept it, international pressure does exist. International involvement could clearly be seen in the previous boat people crisis, said U Zaw Htay. He said the government understands the concerns of political parties over the formation of the advisory commission but that they should not worry given that its mandate only allows for recommendations, submitted to the government via State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The State Counselors Office and the Kofi Annan Foundation have yet to sign a memorandum of understanding to form the advisory commission. A draft MoU has been submitted to the attorney generals office to seek further advice, U Zaw Htay said. We have heard what [critics] say about Kofi Annan. But we appointed him not because he is the former UN secretary-general. He adopted the Millennium Development Goals, won a Nobel Peace Prize and helped resolve many conflictsincluding issues in Syria, he said. The Arakan National Party (ANP) previously demanded the cancellation of the committee, stating that the non-Burmese members would not be able to understand the background of the current situation in Arakan State. The region saw significant violence in 2012 and 2013, largely affecting the stateless Muslim Rohingya community. The ANP does not recognize the self-identifying Rohingya minority and instead refers to them as interlopers from Bangladesh. Regarding the issue of citizenship and the Rohingya, U Zaw Htay said that decisions going forward would be made in accordance with the contentious 1982 Citizenship Lawwhich defines eligibility in racial terms and renders stateless most Rohingya. The government does not necessarily have to follow the commissions recommendations. It is the governments choice. The issue is not an international issue but draws huge international interest and therefore is politically sensitive, he said. Burma Three Armed Groups Barred from Peace Conference Soldiers from the Burma Armys 33rd Division patrol Laukkai in the Kokang Self-Administered Zone of northern Shan State, during intense fighting with the MNDAA in February. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA), ethnic armed groups that have fought alongside each other in northern Shan State, will be barred from attending the Union Peace Conference. The Burmese military had demanded, as a precondition to their joining formal peace negotiations, that these armed groups release a statement committing to give up arms, at some unspecified point in the future. The three groups agreed to issue a statement, but insisted that the wording be changed from the path of taking up arms to armed conflict, in terms of what they would commit to giving up. Deputy director-general of the State Counselors Office U Zaw Htay confirmed that the government would not be extending invitations to the three groups to attend the Union Peace Conferencenow branded the 21st Century Panglong Conferencebecause an agreement has not yet been reached. He said the government would keep the doors open, but with the conference scheduled to begin on Wednesday, their absence seems certain. It also appears that the government, headed by the National League for Democracy, which has pushed an inclusive line on the conference, would not be able to invite the groups without the consent of the military. The Burmese military has told the media that their request to the three armed groups was motivated chiefly by the high-intensity fighting they experienced with the MNDAAand their allies the TNLA and the AAin the Kokang region of northern Shan state in early 2015. The Burma Army sustained heavy causalities over three months of fighting. The Burmese military has since viewed these three groups as a graver threat to national sovereignty than other ethnic armed groups in Burma, who have not been asked to make any commitments to disarm prior to joining peace negotiations, and most of whom have bilateral ceasefire agreements with the Burmese government. Lt-Col Tar Phone Kyaw of the TNLA told The Irrawaddy: We want to attend the 21st Century Panglong Conference. But, we cant attend because the government has not invited us. The five-day peace conference, starting on Wednesday, will be repeated every six months under current plans, implying a long and complex process. The (military-controlled) Ministry of Home Affairs will oversee heightened security during the conferencehigher than was seen during the 2013 Southeast Asian Games held in Burmaaccording to U Zaw Htay. Since we have received a threatening message from ISIS [] the Home Affairs Ministry will provide close-range security, U Zaw Htay told a press conference in Naypyidaw on Friday. The Straits Times reported on Aug. 2 that Burmas State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, alongside top politicians and officials in Malaysia, was on a hit list purportedly from the Islamist terrorist group ISIS that was sent to Malaysian police the day before. We are planning to accommodate [participants] at six hotels in Naypyidaw, where full security will be provided, alongside health services, said U Zaw Htay. Of the six hotels, U Zaw Htay would only name the Kempinski and the Shwe San Ein. Transportation would be provided for all participants, he said. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Flash Johannesburg City Councilor, Sun Yaoheng, has taken office as the police chief of the South African municipality. Sun Yaoheng [File photo] It's the first time an ethnic Chinese has held the position in the history of the city, as well as South Africa. Sun Yaoheng is now in charge of the city's police and firefighting system. Due to poor gun control, wealth inequalities, high levels of illegal immigration, Johannesburg is now known for its high crime rate, gaining the reputation as the "crime capital" of the world. The murder rate is 32 per 100 thousand people. In an interview with "Chinese in Africa," Sun says that despite the current poor security condition in the city, he is confident that he will make it a safer place during his time in office. He adds that after taking over, his focus will be on clamping down on police corruption and improving efficiency in firefighting, disaster rescue and traffic control. Sun has also assured the local Chinese community that he will work hard to improve their situation and is open to public supervision. Sun migrated to South Africa from Taiwan and is a lawyer as well as city councilor. He used to be the shadow police chief of Johannesburg and the commissioner of the municipal public security commission. Security has always been a great concern to Chinese people living in South Africa. The Africa-Chinese Firearm Association (ACFA), the first Chinese firearm association in South Africa, was also set up in the capital city last Saturday with the aim of helping local Chinese people learn about how to use guns in the right way, and to defend themselves from attack. Chinese ambassador to Johannesburg Yang Peidong addressed the founding ceremony, saying the association would better protect local Chinese people within South Africa's political and security condition. News Volunteers in Bagan Trained in Earthquake Recovery An Aerial view of Sulamani Temple after an earthquake last week. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy MANDALAY Bagans Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library will collaborate with Unesco experts to train volunteers to collect data and clean debris from pagodas damaged in a recent earthquake. The department said experts from Unesco will be in Bagan on September 4 and training will begin the following day. Volunteer leaders will be trained on how to document damages, collect and clean debris without affecting the structures, and how to verify and handle broken pieces of the ancient temples, said Aung Aung Kyaw, director of the department. Volunteer leaders from local travel and tour groups, Buddhist monks, rescue teams from local fire brigades and soldiers will attend the training. According to the departments official figures on Monday, 397 pagodas and temples were affected by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Burma last week. There are five teamsled by the department and under Unescos guidancecurrently working on the ground, recording and documenting the damages, he said. However, the department said they still need more volunteers to speed up the process of documenting, cleaning and collecting broken artifacts before rain worsens the situation. At the same time, the department and Unesco are concerned about rushing the process and allowing too much access to the damaged pagodas. Since these pagodas are valuable to our countrys history and culture, we need to be extremely careful when collecting debris. If we rush, we wont have another chance to conserve these precious broken pieces, said Aung Aung Kyaw. In the days following the earthquake, locals rushed to Bagan to see the damage and some were disappointed when local authorities prohibited visitors. At some of the more damaged pagodaslike Sulamanisome Buddhist monks and visitors were seen arguing with security. We would like to apologize for the inconvenience but the restriction is for safety reasons. We also dont yet know the extent of the damage and want to ensure that artifacts arent taken by opportunists, said Aung Aung Kyaw. We would like to request that visitors understand the cultural and historical significance of the area while we do our best to restore public access as soon as possible, he added. Opinion Peace Talks Must Focus on Rights UN Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, Yanghee Lee, speaks during a press conference in Rangoon, Burma on, July 1, 2016. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy This Wednesday Myanmar will hold the 21st Century Panglong Conference the latest step in the countrys long peace process. It will be a moment imbued with symbolism. In 1947, Aung San Suu Kyis father, General Aung San, led the Burma delegation at the first Panglong Conference which reached a breakthrough agreement with three groups and is still etched in the popular memory of the country today. A lot is at stake with this Panglong Conference. As with the peace process generally in Myanmar, this is the opportunity to transform the country, into a state the people of Myanmar have wanted for several decades. But to do so it must be fully inclusive. Getting all of the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) to the table is a major challenge in itself. There remain three groups, still in active combat, that were excluded from discussions on the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and how they will participate in the Panglong Conference is still confusing. There has been much focus on the inclusion of these groups and this is important, especially given human rights violations which are particularly prevalent in areas of continuing conflict. But inclusivity is more than just about political players as it is also about all stakeholders. Experiences in other countries have shown time and time again the need for women to play an equal part, for grassroots organizations and civil society to have a strong voice and for information to be freely available for the people to follow developments. These are the ingredients for a sustainable, inclusive process which can propel the country forward and into the prosperous future for all. Unfortunately, during my recent visit to Myanmar I saw signs that the peace process risked neglecting these fundamental aspects. Myanmar has only a couple of days before the Panglong Conference and quick changes should be made to ensure these vital aspects are addressed. Studies have shown the involvement of women in the peace process increases the likelihood of an enduring agreement. While the NCA contained several important provisions on issues related to women Myanmar in general has not performed well so far on this score, with women comprising only 16 percent of the senior delegation negotiating the NCA. Unfortunately, so far there are few signs of this improving as the new government has not confirmed the commitment made by the previous one to guarantee at least 30 percent women representation. Governments come and go, all with their own priorities and agendas. As civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as grassroots organizations, are at the front line seeing and experiencing the actual situation of a community, they have the institutional knowledge of the historical context of problems and various methods to address them. Often they are the only ones that address important issues of both marginalized and mainstream society that governments either avoid, or fail to address, or sometimes do not have the capacity or will to address the very important human rights issues at hand. Therefore, it is imperative that an environment be established for a vibrant civil society to thrive. CSOs in Myanmar have played a vital role in conflict areas, supporting, empowering and aiding populations and, as such, have a unique insight and must be involved in all aspects of the peace process. During my recent visit to Myanmar, the CSOs told me there is a reluctance to allow them to be involved in peace process issues deemed political despite the fact that many of these areas have a direct link to human rights concerns. I have been assured civil society will have a central role in the process and there will be a Civil Society Organizations Peace Forum but this process is not totally clear. It is vital that CSOs be allowed input on all areas. On the other hand, it had been announced that political parties which failed to win seats at the recent elections will be part of the CSO forum, and not the conference itself. CSOs and political parties are fundamentally different organizations. Blurring the lines in this way will undermine the important role that both have to play. Youth, as the future of the country, must also play a role and I was disappointed to hear comments from senior individuals that the outcomes of the recent ethnic youth summit will not be considered in the process. But the young people themselves must also remember the importance of inclusivity, not just among armed groups but within all communities. Underlying the decades of conflict are basic human rights issues linked to discrimination and minority rights, land rights and a host of others. Addressing these issues in the peace process will be key to building a new Myanmar. But the extent to which these key issues will feature in discussions also remains unclear. So far, with Panglong just around the corner, there is little clarity on the exact process that will be followed. There has been a failure to inform the public and, more importantly, affected communities. The Panglong Conference will just be a first step, but it is an important one. As such, it is vital that human rights concerns are fully integrated, not just in discussions but also in the process the build-up and make-up of the conference. Myanmar has an opportunity to showcase how a peace process should be done and that fixing these vital areas before the 21st Century Panglong Conference is both possible and would pay dividends in future progress. This article first appeared in the Bangkok Post on August 26, 2016. Yanghee Lee is the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burma. Burma Broadcaster Apologizes to Military for Outdated Plane Crash Story MNTVs online apology to the public and the military after the outdated news broadcast. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy RANGOON Myanmar National TV (MNTV) has apologized after old news about a Burmese military fighter jet crash two years ago was broadcast on a news bulletin on Sunday evening, drawing strong public criticism from the military. MNTV is a free-to-air channel under Shwe Than Lwin Media Co. Ltd, chaired by U Kyaw Win, who is believed to have enjoyed close business ties with the former government and the ex-military regime. The plane crash happened on June 11, 2014. The militarys True News Information Team said that, by broadcasting the outdated news without stating when the crash happenedand by using an unverified Internet source whose intent was unknownthe news story could lead to misunderstanding among the public. On behalf of the Defense Services, we strongly condemn [the broadcast] and call upon officials to take necessary action, read the statement. Shortly afterwards, MNTV issued an apology on the air and via its official Facebook page. We broadcast old news from 2014 about the MIG-29 UB fighter jet crash [] from an incorrect source. We deeply apologize to the public and the military, the apology read. The source was the Central News Bureau, a local news agency based on Facebook, which has also apologized via the MNTVs Facebook page, stating that they had sent MNTV the story prematurely, while the news was still awaiting confirmation. The editorial team published it in a rush, as breaking news, without any ill intention. For this fault, we apologize to the military, CNB said. In May, a private broadcaster affiliated with state-owned Myanmar Radio and Television 4 (MRTV-4) apologized for misusing the word Tatmadaw, which the Burmese military claims for itself alone, in describing the insurgent Arakan Army as the Rakhine Tatmadawfighting against government forceswhich the military felt harmed their own image and dignity. You are here: Home Flash Iran identified a U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) east of the county on Monday and warned it to stay away from its airspace, Tasnim news agency reported. The report said the drone was flying from a base in Afghanistan's Qandahar and intended to intrude into Iranian airspace. It was approaching Iran's air borders but changed course after receiving a "timely warning" from the Iranian air defense system, Tasnim said. Human-robot strike teams, autonomous land mines, and covert swarms of minuscule robotic spies: the US Department of Defense's idea of the future of war seems like a sci-fi movie. U.S. Military's AI Weapons According to Engadget, it took a while for the U.S. military to perfect its defense strategies against cyberattacks and it seems that when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), U.S. military faces a similar deficit. Other countries, especially U.S. rivals such as China and Russia, implement less restrictive policies that deal with killer robots and other lethal AI autonomous weapons. This is one of the reasons U.S. cannot afford to be left behind. The nation's military may need deadly AI technology before it's too late. According to the online publication Quartz, the science research division of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has published a report that outlines new ways to protect American assets and destroy adversaries. The report sustains the vision that autonomous robotic systems and artificial intelligence will become a vital part of American defense strategy. New U.S. Military AI Weapons At the moment, the U.S. military already uses several robotic systems in the battlefield, from bomb disposal robots to attack and reconnaissance drones. But all these are just remotely-piloted systems. At all times, a human operator maintains a high level of control over the machine's actions. The new DOD report highlights the tactical advantages of purely self-driven machines and humans and working together in the battlefield. The U.S. military also needs to develop AI cybersecurity software able to detect and react to threats faster that is now humanly possible. According to the report, in the near future AI warfare seems inevitable. For this reason, the DOD has to start investing in the field, as recommended by the science board of the department. Otherwise, according to DefenseOne, U.S. military could lose its edge against adversaries abroad ready to employ autonomous AI weapons against U.S. forces. The race for Android Nougat is on. Now carriers are getting Android's new OS for their phones and devices and one of the first ones to come out with its list is T-Mobile. The U.S. carrier has announced its list of smartphones recently which will have Android 7.0 Nougat. Samsung has recently also announced which of its smartphones will get Android Nougat. T-Mobile's list seems to follow Samsung's list, as GSM Arena has noted. Along with the list, it has also been noted that Samsung is giving full support to its past and present flagship smartphones. As listed, T-Mobile has announced that the latest Samsung flagship smartphones will have Android 7.0 Nougat. Those are the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The much earlier Galaxy S6 line would also get Android Nougat. These include the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge and Galaxy S6 Edge+. Also getting Android Nougat are the new Galaxy Note 7 and the older Galaxy Note 5. It's not just Samsung that would be getting Android 7.0 Nougat though. Phone Arena says that T-Mobile also lists two HTC phones getting the new Android OS. These would be the HTC 10 and the HTC One M9. With these offerings T-Mobile is giving its subscribers a list of some of its premium smartphones that would have the new Android Nougat. The new Samsung Galaxy S7 shows impressive specs. With a Snapdragon 820 processor, a maximum of 64 GB internal storage and 4 GB RAM. It would be a great catch for anyone interested in it. It could even be expanded up to 256 GB through microSD. Meanwhile, the HTC 10 doesn't lag behind in its specs. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S7 it has similar specs with its Snapdragon 820 processor and can have 64 GB max in internal storage. Just like the Galaxy S7 it also is powerful with its 4 GB RAM. T-Mobile has been quick to announce its Android Nougat lineup. People are waiting when Verizon and AT&T would have its list of smart phones getting Android Nougat. It won't be long before the other carriers also start releasing their lists of phones and devices getting the new Android OS. T-Mobile has yet to release the prices and plans for the phones that will have Android Nougat for those getting them new. Earlier iPostTech has posted that Sony also has its list of devices that would get Android Nougat. When we think of the universe, we often think it is made up of matter. However the discovery of a galaxy made up of dark matter might change how we look at the universe. Scientists have recently discovered a galaxy completely made of dark matter. This discovery, named Dragonfly 44, might force people to rethink our universe. The dark matter galaxy is said to be massive, as Science Daily reports. It has been named as Dragonfly 44 and is located at the Coma Berenices constellation. What is interesting about this galaxy is that for its size, it has few stars. This has led astronomers to think that there might be more to the galaxy that is holding it up together. "Very soon after its discovery, we realized the galaxy had to be more than meets the eye," Yale University astronomer Pieter Van Dokkum said. Van Dokkum and his team has been observing Dragonfly 44 in W.M. Keck University and through the Gemini North telescope. Both are in Hawaii. What tipped them off about the galaxy's composition is how the stars are moving in it. Van Dokkum's team has noted that the stars in Dragonfly 44 are moving at great velocities. This is despite the galaxy being dim, which has then led them to conclude that there must be a large amount of unseen mass that is in that galaxy. Mysterious Universe states that Dragonfly 44 has a mass almost 1 trillion times that of the Sun. This is almost as large as that of our Milky Way. Yet for such a large mass it has only a few observable mass or light matter. The rest then is made up of dark matter. With this discovery, Van Dokkum has said that it could lead astronomers and other scientists to a closer understanding of dark matter. It might even lead to the discovery of dark matter itself. While the discovery of a dark galaxy is nothing new, it is challenging present views about the universe and could lead to a change on how we see it. Where it leads to is something that would be exciting for many. Check out also iTechPost and its recent coverage of Proxima B and the possibility of life there. A new commercial drone law that apply to unmanned aircraft weighint under 55 pounds will take effect today, August 29. The first detailed U.S. rules regulating the flights of small commercial drones will come into effect today, according to The Wall Street Journal. The federal drone law is also including a ban on nighttime operations and requirements for pilots nationwide licensing. According to ABC 8News, the new rules created by the Federal Aviation Administration apply strictly to the commercial use of drones. Brian Wynne, the chief executive of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, explained the potential impact the new laws will have, stating that this is certainly an important moment but it will not have an instantaneously effect "like a light switch going on." Before being allowed to fly, those people interested in becoming drones pilots will have to pass an examination testing their theoretical knowledge and flight skills. The first exam opportunity is already scheduled for today, at 8 AM. As much as 3,351 people so far are already signed on the list of those waiting to take the test. The president of Computer Assisted Testing Service, Mark Dennehy, is the one who will be managing the test. He said that he observed that much enthusiasm has been generated by the opportunity to take the drone piloting license. Among the things that make drones so appealing is their ability to provide aerial video and photos considerably cheaper than other methods. This technology can be used to survey, aid in search and rescue missions, aid in fighting fires, manage construction, monitor crops and make movies. The main rules introduced by the new FAA drone law are a prohibition on flying over people not consenting and directly involved and the interdiction to flight at night. Drones must also weight under 55 pounds, are prohibited from flying higher than 400 feet and must remain visible to the person operating it. The new rules also introduce limits on drone services, like, for instance, autonomous delivery. Prior to the new regulations there were already more than 3,000 businesses that had government exemptions to fly drones. The analysts believe that the new rules will simplify the process of legal drone flights. A newly leaked image of the highly anticipated Microsoft Surface Phone suggests that the flagship device might not be easily to recognize due to its unique design. Microsoft Surface Phone Newly Leaked Image Microsoft might unveil its upcoming Surface Phone at the IFA 2016 event scheduled to happen in Berlin in the first week of September. Waiting for the event, there are many rumors and speculations regarding the highly-anticipated device. Up to date, Microsoft did experiment with the design of their Surface devices in certain limits, mostly keeping the base design feature around. However, a newly leaked image claiming to represent the upcoming Surface Phone suggests that might not be the case this time. MotoringCrunch reports that a Weibo user named Nokibar posted a leaked image that he claims to show the Microsoft Surface Phone. The upcoming device will look very different from the previous Microsoft phones on the market if the leaked image proves to be true. The phone shown in the image appears to have a a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port. Nokibar explained in his post that the phone's rear camera appears to feature a 20-megapixel Carl Zeiss lens similar to the camera present in the Lumia 950 model. He also claims that the phone will feature a 5.7-inch 2K screen with "landscape screen support" and it will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 processor. According to Science World Report, it is expected that the upcoming Microsoft flagship mobile phone will come loaded with impressive specs and features. The Microsoft Surface Phone will have to compete heavily on the market with the highly popular Samsung's Galaxy S range of smartphones and Apple iPhones line. Previous reports suggest that the Redmond-based high-tech company will launch three high end Surface smartphone variants, all coming with new features and superior hardware configurations. The high-end variant is rumored to come with 512 GB of built-in storage and massive 8 GB of RAM, the midrange model is rumored to offer 6 GB of RAM and the entry level model is expected to feature 3 GB of RAM. All the three handsets are expected to come with preinstalled Microsoft Windows 10 mobile OS and to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processors. But the publication Ecumenical News speculates that this time Microsoft made handsets targeted primarily at the business sector would run Android OS and not Windows. It is also rumored that the 2016 Microsoft Surface phones will feature a 5.5-inch AMOLED display, a fingerprint reader, barometer and proximity sensors, compass, gyro, accelerometer, Continuum support, liquid cooling technology, a 20-megapixel Carl Zeiss rear camera coupled with Surface Pen functionality and USB Type-C connectivity. Their price is expected to remain in the range between $700 and $1,100. With the IFA coming up in a few weeks' time, rumors about giant tech companies' releases seem to overflow the internet now more than ever. Samsung, Sony, and LG are just a few names expected to make a big show at the 2016 IFA. IFA 2016 shall begin next week, September 2 to September 7. However, expect that a number of press cons would be held prior the official IFA days. Samsung's IFA 2016 Event Samsung is not yet finished with 2016 after the debut of Galaxy Note 7. According to sources, the giant tech company is expected to announce the release of the Samsung Gear S3 smartwatch in the upcoming IFA 2016 TechRadar shares that Samsung's press con invitation gave the idea away about a smartwatch announcement. As per the tech website, Samsung's invite showed a couple watch hands. This indicates that a new smartwatch will be Samsung's highlight at the IFA 2016. Sony's IFA 2016 Event Sony's recent tweet saying "Ready to be inspired?" has sparked some rumors about the possible meaning of the tweet. Although Sony has been known as one who brings a lot of things on the table during IFA's, it's still a mystery as to what the company plans to highlight come September time. A number of possibilities about Sony's IFA 2016 show includes the PlayStation VR, a possible Xperia X2 phone, and other devices such as headphones, TVs and cameras. LG's IFA 2016 Event While the LG V20 has its own event in San Francisco on the 6th of September, LG is still expected to have something to announce at the IFA 2016. Tech websites predict that the company would use the IFA 2016 event to announce its next Flex smartphone that is the LG G Flex 2. Furthermore, LG is also expected to show off their other products such as Bluetooth speakers and TVs. What Else IS Known About IFA 2016 The IFA 2016 will take place in Germany and apart from the above-mentioned companies, there are a few more tech giants to run a show at the event. This includes Huawei, Fitbit, Lenovo/Motorola, Asus and Acer among many others. Zoltan Istvan, an original Presidential candidate, is riding around the United States in the "Immortality Bus" coffin-shaped vehicle in its elections campaign that focuses on the surprising and ambitions goal of completely eradicating death in America. The Transhumanist Presidential Candidate According to Digital Trends, the independent candidate and leader of the Transhumanist party, Zoltan Istvan, campaigns for the forthcoming U.S. elections with a platform that promises Americans to live forever. Istvan told the publication that the number one goal of the Transhumanist party and the elections platform his campaign is focused on is to overcome death with the help of science and technology. The 43-year-old Istvan is funding his own presidential elections campaign, same as David Trump. But unlike Trump, despite the fact that Istvan "isn't super rich," according to his website, the campaign is being paid for from his own pocket. There are certainly big ambitions in the Transhumanist party but they think everything can be answered best by a scientific or technological solution. The main goal of the Transhumanism movement is to overcome death and "become godlike through technology." In Istvan's vision, transhumanism and life extension science are "a matter of life and death." The Presidential candidate calls for the implementation of a Transhumanist Bill of Rights that would ensure the basis for the future rights of "conscious robots and cyborgs." The unconventional candidate also proposes the legalization of recreational drugs, a flat tax until robots take all the jobs in 25 years, plenty of funding for cutting-edge AI experiments, a "Transhumanist Olympics" and more. With the advances in EEG brainwave technologies in the last few years, telepathy is not as farfetched anymore. Istvan's conviction is that within 5-10 years the science and technology is going to start making some real progress in being able to upload our own thoughts on computer platforms and providing basic algorithms that run them. According to TechCrunch, one of Ray Kurzweil's proposed solutions to achieve immortality consists in transfering our consciousness to machines. This kind of digital immortality is might be possible within three decades, according to a transhumanist blog post. Aside of the emphasis on overcoming death, the transhumanist Presidential candidate is also talking about more immediate goals such as gene editing as a way to eliminate cancer, human augmentation for disabled people, a universal basic income and progress in the artificial intelligence field. HBO's gripping criminal justice drama "The Night Of" is set to return for Season 2. It is being speculated that the show is not going to follow the life of Naz anymore. The Bustler reported if there's ever going to be a season 2, it might be based on Criminal Justice plot where an abused woman is being accused for the murder of her own husband. It can be recalled that in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Steven Zaillian, executive producer, writer, and director of "The Night Of," said that they are thinking of doing another season and that if they can find the right material and if they find it "worthy" enough to be the show's material for season 2, then they will definitely do it. He also added, "This was designed as a stand-alone piece." The intense TV series focuses on the in-depth analysis of the criminal justice system - from the police investigations, gathering of evidence, witness interviews, and other legal proceedings. The premise of the eight-part drama series is about how Nasir "Naz" Khan (Riz Ahmed) turned for the worst the night he borrowed his father's taxi cab to go to a party. He was on his way to the said party when a girl (Sofia Black-D'Elia) mistook him for a "real" cab and suddenly rode at the back. Both decided to make it a night to remember. Naz ditched the party that he was supposed to go to and decided to have an adventure with the mysterious girl at back of her father's taxi. They went back to her place where they spent the night with booze, drugs and sex. The following morning, Naz woke up covered in blood and with the mystery girl lying dead beside him. He has blood on his hands and the knife used to kill the girl was in his jacket pocket. He has no recollection of what happened the night before. One thing's for sure, fans of "The Night Of" are excited and expecting superb story telling for Season 2. 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. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Close Washington, DC, - Shippers, industry veterans and top analysts will offer their perspectives on trends in final-mile and same-day delivery issues at the CLDA s Fall Forum September 12 -14. Held in conjunction with PARCEL Forum 16, CLDAs Fall Forum will take place at the Gaylord Texan near Dallas. With less than a month to go before CLDAs Fall Forum, event chair Chuck Moyer revealed the names of some of the speakers today. They include Tony Allison, Averitt Express and Gerry Mercure , Dynamex Trends that are Redefining the Final Mile Patrick Scardilli, Key Software and Christopher Sirois, Cardinal Health- Reinventing your Business in Today's Final Mile Scott Leveridge, Dynamex and Eric Chesson - Priority Dispatch - Lessons Learned and key Success Factors in the Final Mile Jonathan Adams, Tompkins International The Voice of the Shipper Scott Grandys, ClearConnect Solutions - Staff Trends - What it Means for Your Business Kelli Block, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, P.C. and Troy Cahill, Lasership - Preparing for an IRS 20-factor Audit David Hawkins, Siemens and Rober Regnier, Priority Logistics Inc.- Supply Chain Visibility and Technology Other speakers will be joining the panels which will be part of the seven sessions CLDA will present at the conference. There will be a total of 70 business-focused educational PODs to address practical solutions to business issues that affect transportation, logistics, warehousing and packaging professionals. Participants can follow specific PODs or build their own educational programs. In addition to the CLDA sessions there will be presentations on transportation systems, measuring performance, packaging optimization and alternative supply chain channels This is the third year that the CLDA has partnered with PARCEL Forum for the associations annual Fall Forum. Over 1000 supply chain professionals will participate in the two-day event that will include over 70 educational and networking sessions. All attendees have access to any of the PODs, all exhibitors, meals and receptions. PARCEL Forum has been an influential annual conference and exposition for the parcel shipping, distribution and logistics industry since 2003. It provides the opportunity for those in the industry to learn about industry trends, meet influential members in the business and learn about the latest products and services. The 2015 show attracted over 1000 attendees to the conference and exhibition hall which featured over 92 exhibitors showcasing products and services in more than 10,000 square feet. Reservations for exhibition space are currently available. CLDA members in good standing receive a discount on conference attendance of $825 for two days and $625 for one. Rooms at the must be booked separately. For non-member rates, see www.parcelforum.com. For more information, go to theclda.com or contact Amber Thichangthong at: aThichangthong@theclda.com. About the Customized Logistics and Delivery Association The Customized Logistics and Delivery Association (CLDA) is a non-profit trade association that advances the interests of the customized logistics and delivery industry through advocacy, networking and education. As an industry thought leader and representative for over 400 member companies, the CLDA is committed to providing the resources and education for first and last mile carriers to stay educated about industry trends and opportunities. Members handle the expedited shipping needs of large and small shippers across North America. They deliver the final mile to the supply chain. CLDA has been providing business opportunities, professional development, trend spotting and advocacy for all of those involved with time-critical and last-mile deliveries since 1987. For more information see www.theCLDA.com. Media Contact Andrea Obston aobston@aomc.com (860) 243-1447 office (860) 803-1155 cell (860) 653-2712 home Forecasters say a tropical depression has formed in the Atlantic west of Bermuda, bringing the possibility of heavy rain to the coast of North Carolina early this week. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the depression is located about 405 mph southeast of Cape Hatteras and is moving west at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds were clocking at 35 mph, with higher gusts. It could strengthen into a minimal tropic storm, the center said. The storms center is expected to pass offshore of the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Tuesday. Gov. Pat McCrory, in a news release Sunday, encouraged coastal residents to keep a close eye on the weather. The storm could cause locally heavy rain, more rip currents and higher waves. The storm isnt expected to pose a major threat to the state, but McCrory advises residents to stay alert in case the track changes. He reminded residents to discuss their emergency plans and update supply kits. Public Safety Secretary Frank Perry said that state emergency management officials are coordinating with local officials to ensure they have what they need. Separately, Hurricane Gaston is gathering strength as it moves northwestward in the Atlantic, but forecasters say it poses no threat to land. The center said Gaston reformed as a hurricane Saturday night. On Sunday, Gaston was clocking maximum sustained winds of 105 mph winds. The storm was located about 600 miles east of Bermuda. Gaston was moving northwest at about 5 mph. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 25 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Forecasters said Gaston should slow down and turn northward today. VANCOUVER, Aug. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - Canasil Resources Inc. (TSX-V: CLZ, DB Frankfurt: 3CC, "Canasil" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Orex Minerals Inc. (TSX-V: REX, "Orex") has reported additional silver mineralized intercepts from the initial 5 drill holes of the Phase-3 core drilling program in the southeastern region of the Sandra-Escobar project in Durango State, Mexico. Results from drill holes SA-16-039 to SA-16-043 are reported in the table below. The project is being advanced by Orex under an option agreement with Canasil announced on September 15, 2015. Highlight for this batch of holes is SA-16-041, which yielded a core intercept of 67 metres (58 metres true thickness) grading 192 g/t silver, starting from surface. Within this is a sub-interval of 2.00 metres (1.73 m true thickness) grading 1,216 g/t silver. Holes SA-16-041, 042 and 043 are in-fill drill holes in the Main Zone to tighten section spacing in this area to 50 metres. Hole SA-16-039 is located in a faulted corridor between the Main Zone and Burro Zone, and hole SA-16-040 is a 50-metre step out to the south of the Main Zone to further define extensions of the mineralized zone in this direction. Canasil President & CEO, Bahman Yamini, commented: "These initial results from the Phase-3 drill program continue to return strong silver mineralization over a significant thickness in the centre of the Main Zone. Results from the current drill program will contribute to the preparation of the initial resource estimate based on the Main Zone, and to continued exploration to expand the zones of silver mineralization in the southeast area of Sandra-Escobar project." Drilling of silver-bearing mineralization to date has been focused on the north side of a rhyolite volcanic dome. In this area an altered and highly permeable volcanoclastic unit contains disseminations of silver bearing minerals and broadly spaced stockwork veinlets. The current working model has a porphyritic rhyolite unit as an impermeable cap, which may have focused mineralizing fluids into the host volcanoclastic unit. Sandra Escobar Project 2015-2016 Diamond Drilling Program Holes 39 to 43 Hole From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) True Thick. (m) Ag (g/t) FA SA-16-039 55.00 63.00 8.00 7.25 67 Includes 56.00 60.00 4.00 3.63 74 Includes 59.00 60.00 1.00 0.91 91 MAIN ZONE SA-16-040 67.00 117.00 50.00 45.32 90 Includes 68.00 108.00 40.00 36.25 104 Includes 80.00 84.00 4.00 3.63 195 Includes 83.00 84.00 1.00 0.91 373 SA-16-041 2.00 69.00 67.00 58.02 192 Includes 12.00 59.00 47.00 40.70 241 Includes 23.00 32.00 9.00 7.79 449 Includes 23.00 25.00 2.00 1.73 1,216 (lower int.) 112.50 117.00 4.50 3.90 51 Includes 112.50 114.00 1.50 1.30 76 SA-16-042 27.00 83.00 56.00 48.50 129 Includes 65.00 79.00 14.00 12.12 256 Includes 67.00 77.00 10.00 8.66 299 Includes 68.00 69.00 1.00 0.87 680 (lower int.) 127.50 132.00 4.50 3.90 40 SA-16-043 40.00 95.00 55.00 47.63 56 Includes 43.00 83.00 40.00 34.64 60 Includes 43.00 55.00 12.00 10.39 84 Includes 53.00 54.00 1.00 0.87 114 True thicknesses are estimated based on structural and stratigraphic interpretations. An updated drill-hole location map and cross sections are available on the Canasil website. The drill program is being managed by Orex and the above results were prepared by and provided by Orex. Orex maintains a QA/QC sampling protocol for the diamond drilling program, including the insertion of commercial analytical standards and blank samples. Analytical testing was performed by Bureau Veritas. Silver was determined by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Multi-element analyses are also determined using a 4-acid digestion and ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry). The technical information in this news release is based on data supplied by Orex. The technical information herein has been reviewed and approved by J. Blackwell (P. Geo.), a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Blackwell is a technical advisor to Canasil. Sandra-Escobar Silver-Gold Project, Durango, Mexico: The Sandra-Escobar project is located 200 km northwest of the City of Durango, Mexico, in the heart of the "Mexican Silver Trend", with excellent access and infrastructure. This prolific trend hosts some of the world's largest silver camps and deposits with many past and present producing mines and significant silver-gold deposits. The Sandra-Escobar project area covers over 6,976 hectares of mineral concessions with multiple mineralized epithermal veins and breccia structures. These veins formed in high level silver-gold-base metals systems, hosted in andesitic and rhyolitic rocks, and are centered on a large rhyolite dome complex in the north with silver-dominant systems around smaller rhyolite dome complexes to the southeast. Under the terms of the agreement dated September 15, 2015, Orex has an option to earn up to 65% interest in the project through total cash and share payments of $1,000,000 and exploration expenditures of US$4,000,000 over five years. About Canasil: Canasil is a Canadian mineral exploration company with a strong portfolio of 100% owned silver-gold-copper-lead-zinc projects in Durango and Zacatecas States, Mexico, and in British Columbia, Canada. The Company's directors and management include industry professionals with a track record of identifying and advancing successful mineral exploration projects through to discovery and further development. The Company is actively engaged in the exploration of its mineral properties, and maintains an operating subsidiary in Durango, Mexico, with full time geological and support staff for its operations in Mexico. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts are forward looking statements, including statements that address future mineral production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in commodities prices, exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. The reader is referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for disclosure regarding these and other risk factors. There is no certainty that any forward looking statement will come to pass and investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. SOURCE Canasil Resources Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 29, 2016) - Wolf Wiese, CEO of Golden Dawn Minerals Inc. (TSXV: GOM) (FRANKFURT: 3G8A) (the "Company" or "Golden Dawn") announces it has executed a definitive agreement and has received conditional approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") for the issue of a Convertible Security with a face value of US$2,400,000 (the "Investment") from Lind Asset Management VI, LLC, managed by The Lind Partners, LLC, a New York-based institutional fund manager (together, the "Investor" or "Lind"). Lind is an experienced investor in the mining sector in Canada, the United States, Australia and elsewhere. The terms of the Investment are detailed below. The Company will use the USD$1,880,000 (approx. CN$2,400,000) net proceeds from the Investment plus additional cash on hand to exercise the Company's option with Huakan International Mining Inc. ("Huakan") (see news release for the Company dated April 12th, 2016) to acquire a 100% interest in the Greenwood Project assets (Lexington Mine, Golden Crown Mine and processing facility in southeastern British Columbia) for CDN$2,900,000 plus posting of a remedial bond for CDN$450,000 CAD, for a total of CAD $3,350,000. The Investment is in the form of a senior secured convertible security with an initial maturity of 36 months and a fixed conversion price per share of CDN$0.31, being the last closing price of the Company's common shares on the Exchange prior to execution of the definitive agreement. The gross funded amount is US$2,000,000 (US$1,880,000 net to Company) which will have a pre-paid interest component of US$400,000 for a total Face Value amount of US$2,400,000. The Company is required to repay US$100,000 monthly after the first four months, except that the repayment amount will be reduced in any month by the amount converted to common shares, and will also be reduced in subsequent months where the Investor converts more than US$100,000 to common shares in a month. The Investment will be completed under private placement rules with a 4 month plus one day hold period. Pre-paid interest will accrue monthly with Investor's option to convert accrued interest quarterly in common shares up to the then maximum allowable discount by the Exchange at that time. The Investor will also receive 8,389,355 warrants at CDN $ 0.31 exercise price which expire 36 months from their date of issue and will also receive additional warrants if and when interest payments are made which will have 36 month expiry and priced at the then current market price under Exchange rules. The Company has the right to buy-back the Investment at any time for a 5% premium, or for no premium during the initial lock-up period; furthermore, if the Company buys back the Investment within the first six months, then the Face Value will be reduced by US$100,000. The Investment contains strict no shorting clauses and the Investor will notify the Company in the event of a change in its prime broker. The Investor has the right to re-invest up to an additional US$1,000,000 on similar terms and conditions as the initial Investment, subject to Exchange approval at that time. It is also a term of the investment that if the Company arranges or obtains any debt funding (including convertible debt), or sells a metal stream or royalty, or issues new common shares in private placement or public offering with a per share price of CDN$0.15 or less, then the Investor has the right to require that the such proceeds be used to repay the investment. As well, the investment is subject to customary events of default which, if they occur, make the total remaining Face Value immediately repayable, and this includes if, after the first four months, the Company's cash balance is less than CDN$750,000 or its market capitalization falls to less than CDN$15 million. The issuance of the Convertible Security remains subject to conditions, including the perfection of a security package that includes the Company and its subsidiaries providing security over all of their assets, including the assets to be acquired from Huakan. The closing of the investment and issuance of the Convertible Security is expected on or before September 2, 2016. While the investment has received conditional approval from the Exchange it also remains subject final due diligence by the investor. The Company appreciates Lind's cooperation and diligent efforts to complete this acquisition financing in a timely manner. On behalf of the Board of Directors: GOLDEN DAWN MINERALS INC. "Wolf Wiese" __________________ Wolf Wiese Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Corporate Communications 604-221-8396 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Barry Mire: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel.: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989 www.renmarkfinancial.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Australian officials on Monday said that a Hague-based international tribunal lacks jurisdiction to set a border between Australia and East Timor. East Timor invoked [AP report] this conciliation commission in the hopes that it would put pressure on Australia to create a new, permanent maritime boundary between the two countries, giving more sea bed to East Timor than exists under current agreements with Australia. The practical effect of such a decision [case materials] would be to put a vast expanse of oil and gas reserves underneath the sea bed to the impoverished country. Australias participation in the tribunal is required, but the tribunals ruling is non-binding, a point which Australia has emphasized. Regardless of the tribunals decision, Australia is not likely to comply, as it believes existing treaties between the two countries are in line with international guidelines, while fairly apportioning revenue and providing equitable opportunities to exploit the gas and oil reserves. Australia had played a quintessential role in helping East Timor to achieve independence from Indonesia, but, following claims in 2013 that Australia had previously bugged the East Timorese Cabinet leading to revenue-sharing negotiations, the relationship between the two has sullied. East Timor has asserted that, in light of this information, the Timor Sea Treaty [text, PDF] should be void for being negotiated in bad faith. Last March the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, had agreed to have frank and open discussions [SMH article] with East Timor in regards to the unresolved maritime border between the two countries, but would not agree to East Timors request for more formal talks. East Timor believes that the current agreement between the two countries, which allows the two countries to share oil and gas revenues in a joint development area, is not reflective of their actual rights under international law. East Timor argues that if the boundary reflected the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) [text, PDF], the vast majority of the oil and gas reserves approximately $40 billion in royalties and taxes would fall within its maritime border. [JURIST] The California Superior Court [official website] on Friday rejected a challenge [application, PDF] to the states recently enacted physician-assisted suicide law. In June California passed the End of Life Option Act [text] which would allow terminally ill patients to be prescribed lethal drugs [JURIST report] if their doctor has determined that they have less than six months to live. Following enactment, five physicians, the American Academy of Medical Ethics (AAME), and the Life Legal Defense Foundation [official websites] requested that the law be immediately suspended since its vague definition for terminally ill patients subjects the law to abuse and may violate equal protection and due process rights. Judge Daniel Ottolia ruled [NYT report] that the law will remain in effect, but he allowed the plaintiffs to proceed with their lawsuit concerning the lack of safeguards against abuse. Opponents have primarily accused the law of allowing the coercion of terminally ill patients. However, the attorney generals office have stressed that physicians may deny the administration of lethal drugs and that patients must be capable of independently administering the drugs. The aid-in-dying movement has garnered substantial legal debate around the world in the past few years. In the US, four states currently have legislation that allow physicians to prescribe life-ending medication to some patients: California, Oregon, Washington and Vermont. In Montana the states highest court has ruled that assisted suicide is not explicitly banned [JURIST report] by state law or public policy, meaning consent could be raised as a defense in a potential prosecution of a physician. In July 2015 California lawmakersended a previous legislative effort [JURIST report] to enact the End of Life Option Act, as the former right-to-die bill had been amended several times over the previous year. The law was hotly debated when 29-year-old Brittany Maynard [CNN backgrounder] moved from San Francisco to Oregon, which allows physician-assisted suicide, so that she could die on her own terms after being diagnosed with brain cancer. In May 2015 a Dutch court acquitted [JURIST report] a man of all criminal charges for assisting his 99-year-old mother in committing suicide. Also that month, an 84-year old attorney, businessman and political candidate filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] in Tennessee, challenging a law that makes it a felony for a doctor or another person to help someone commit suicide. Egyptian human rights lawyer Malek Adly was released from prison Sunday following a Saturday decision by an Egyptian court. Adly had been held in solitary confinement [AP report] for more than 100 days without a formal charge, and his incarceration was pinned on various administrative detention orders. Adly supporters claim that the lawyers prosecution was due to an interview [BBC backgrounder] in which he criticized an April decision by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi [BBC profile] to hand over two islands in the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia. Last year Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement [JURIST report] to improve stability and safety in the region, and Egypt gifted the two islands to Saudi Arabia as a symbol of good will. The agreement, entitled the Cairo Declaration and signed in Cairo by el-Sisi and Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to boost military and social ties in the region, as well as improve economic stability. However, in June a court in Cairo invalidated [JURIST report] the Egyptian presidents decision to give sovereignty over the two islands to Saudi Arabia. The relationship between the two countries has been improving since the ouster Islamist Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Saudi Arabia has in turn offered billions of dollars to aid Egypt in its joint bombing campaign with the Saudis against Yemen. The pact also sets out plans to build a new joint Arab military force to combat regional terrorism. [JURIST] The Supreme Court of El Salvador [official website, in Spanish] on Saturday ordered the release of three ex-military officers who had been jailed for killing six Jesuit priests during the countrys civil war. In 1989 a team of about 20 military officers stormed [EFE report] the University of Central America (UCA) [official website, in Spanish] and executed the priests as well as a housekeeper and her daughter. Since five of the priests were Spanish, the Spanish National Court [official website, in Spanish] claimed universal jurisdiction over the case and issued arrest warrants against the officers in 2011. Salvadoran officers did not act on the arrest warrants until February of this year. Though Spain requested that the arrested officers be extradited, the Supreme Court denied the request. The court further determined that a fourth jailed military officer will remain in custody due to the recent repeal of the countrys amnesty law. Salvadoran authorities continue to search for 12 other accused officers who have yet to turn themselves in. Last month the Supreme Court struck down the amnesty law of 1993 [backgrounder, PDF], opening the way for prosecution [JURIST report] of those associated with various war crimes and crimes against humanity during the El Salvadoran civil war. This decision will allow El Salvador to follow suit with the US, which has made significant strides over the past decade in prosecuting those involved in the war. In 2011 the Obama administration charged [JURIST report] General Eugenio Vides Casanova, former defense minister of El Salvador, for human rights crimes committed during the civil war while he served as the countrys top military officer. The US was also seeking to deport [La Pagina report, in Spanish] Vides, who retired in Florida after completing his six-year term as defense minister. Vides was successfully deported [JURIST report] in 2015. In 2006 the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit [official website] upheld a $55 million verdict [JURIST report] against Vides and his co-defendant Jose Guillermo Garcia for allowing torture and other human rights violations during the war. In 2005 a US federal court reached a verdict against Nicolas Carranza, top commander of El Salvadors security forces during the civil war, for $2 million in compensatory damages [JURIST report]. The case was brought by five Salvadoran citizens who alleged torture or had family killed by Carranzas soldier during the war. In 2000, however, the US lost the battle to seek justice for the murders of four American churchwomen [NYT report] during the civil war when both Vides and Garcia were acquitted. The ruling was grounded in the doctrine that the generals, although responsible for their soldiers, may not have had complete effective power to reign in the abuses of their troops. The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit [official website] on Friday denied [text, PDF] an emergency petition for a full en banc rehearing regarding the Wisconsin voter identification law [CNN report]. A federal court in July decided that voters who do not have a required form of ID can vote through an affidavit process [JURIST report], a win for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which filed the lawsuit [ACLU backgrounder]. However, earlier this month the court of appeals granted a stay [text, PDF] allowing the requirements for voting ID to remain in place. The court of appeals denied the en banc hearing based on the states assurances that a new rule will allow all eligible voters to receive the necessary ID for free through the DMV, notwithstanding the absence of identifying documents, Voting rights remain a controversial legal issue in the US. The Illinois Supreme Court concluded [JURIST report] on Thursday that placing a redistricting proposal on the ballot this fall would be unconstitutional. Last month Michigan Attorney General spokesman John Sellek said [JURIST report] that Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson plan to appeal an injunction on the states law eliminating straight-ticket voting. Also last month, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Diane Larsen blocked [JURIST report] a ballot measure proposing an amendment to the Illinois Constitution that aimed to eliminate the General Assemblys power to draw legislative district boundaries. In June a three-judge panel upheld [JURIST report] North Carolinas newly drawn congressional districts. In May the US Supreme Court ruled [JURIST report] that Republican congressmen from Virginias lack standing to appeal a decision regarding an election district plan for Virginias Third Congressional District. The Supreme Court of Pakistan [official website] on Monday upheld the death sentences of 16 civilians convicted of terror-related offenses by military courts. The appellants contended that their constitutional rights had been violated, as they were tried in secret, without access to lawyers of their choice, and their confessions were recorded illegally. In addition, the appellants claimed to have been denied access to military court records in planning their appeal. The court, through a five-member bench, concluded [Reuters report] that the military had not violated the constitutional rights of the appellants, and further found that the military courts followed procedure. This decision is the first time the Pakistan Supreme Court has chosen to discuss the legality of a military-tried case. Since 2015, secret military tribunals have been used to convict 104 civilians, 100 of whom have been sentenced to death, and four to life imprisonment. Pakistans nine military courts were established in January of last year after Taliban militants attacked children in the Peshawar school massacre [BBC archive; JURIST report], killing 134 students and 19 adults. Military power was subsequently expanded, giving military courts jurisdiction to try civilians accused of terrorism despite the countrys civilian government. Critics argue that the new procedures defer too much power to the military. Allegations of torture and judicial abuse were widespread during the reign of previous Pakistani military courts. However, many Pakistanis support the military courts due to the crumbling civilian system. Pakistans use of the death penalty since December 2014 in both the civilian and military courts has faced widespread criticism. When the countrys six-year death penalty moratorium was lifted [JURIST report] that month, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif [official profile] said the death penalty would only be applied to terrorism-related cases. However, in March of last year the Pakistan Ministry of Interior lifted the countrys moratorium on the death penalty, permitting hangings for all prisoners [JURIST report] who have exhausted all possible appeals. The UN estimates that several hundred of the 8,000 inmates on Pakistans death row are minors [JURIST report]. The Vatican is hopeful that there will be new developments in relations between the Holy Sea and China. This was after decades of mistrust and tension in following Beijing's decision to sever diplomatic ties with the Holy See in 1951. "There is much hope and expectation that there will be new developments and a new season in relations between the Holy Sea and China," the secretary of the state Cardinal Pietro Parolin said in a speech in Italy. "This will benefit not just Catholics in the land of Confucius, but the whole country, which boasts one of the greatest civilizations on the planet," Parolin added. The said restoration of diplomatic ties would benefit both the Vatican and China. For Vatican good ties with China would offer the prospect of improving the plight of the Christian community in mainland China and for China, improving ties with the Holy See would help to soften the international community's stance on China's human right issue. Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy websites] released statements [AI statement; HRW statement] Monday condemning Ukraines use of secret facilities to detain individuals. The two groups released a joint report [report] earlier this summer detailing the use of torture in these secret detentions by both the Ukrainian government and the Russia-backed separatists. Since the release of the report, 13 individuals have been released, but the rights groups estimate that five more individuals remain incarcerated and subject to inhumane treatment and have written a letter to the Chief Military Prosecutor urging him to release [letter] the remaining prisoners. Russia and Ukraine have been in conflict since the annexation of Crimea [JURIST backgrounder] in March 2014. In July AI and HRW released the 56-page report detailing how Ukrainian government officials and Russia-backed separatists in the Ukraine have subjected citizen to prolonged, arbitrary detention, torture, or other forms of inhumane treatment, including refusing necessary medical attention [JURIST report]. In June the UN human rights office reported that the human rights situation in Ukraine remains troublesome [JURIST report] following two years of conflict with Russia. In February Russia filed suit [JURIST report] against Ukraine over Ukraines default on $3 billion in bonds. A Ukrainian official said in January that the nation plans to sue Russia [JURIST report] in the International Court of Justice on claims of financing terrorism. Last August a Russian military court sentenced [JURIST report] two Ukrainian activists to substantial jail time for the charge of conspiring to commit terror attacks. In March of last year the EU committed to stand by its policy of refusing to recognize Crimeas annexation [JURIST report]. Dilma Rousseff, the suspended president of Brazil, appeared before the Senate on Monday to make a final appeal to lawmakers before they vote on whether to remove her from office. In her speech [text, in Portuguese], Dilma claimed she is innocent of the accusations against her and that the evidence against her is only a pretext to overthrow a legitimate government. She criticized the government of the acting president, Michel Temer, for ignoring women and minorities in the ministries. Further, she referred to her impeachment as unlawful, a misuse of power, and a blow to democracy and to social progress of the last 13 years. She also made references to the years she spent jailed under military rule. If lawmakers vote to remove Rousseff, Temer would finish the term [Bloomberg report] as president. Brazils political establishment has been in turmoil as many powerful politicians have been brought to the center of embarrassing corruption investigation and trials. Earlier this month, the Senate of Brazil officially indicted [JURIST report] President Dilma Rousseff, marking the beginning of an impeachment trial against the embattled president. Also earlier this month, a Brazilian senate committee voted [JURIST report] 14-5 to continue impeachment proceedings against the suspended president who is charged with failing to comply with tax and budget laws on the issues of additional credit decrees. Last month, a Brazilian judge announced [JURIST report] that former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will stand trial for obstruction of justice. In June, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights reported [JURIST report] that Brazil must place more emphasis on remedying and preventing business-related human right violations. UN experts on environment and indigenous peoples rights on Monday urged [press release] governments throughout the world to make human rights a priority in environmental conservation efforts, stating that protecting biodiversity is a human rights issue. The message comes days before the scheduled World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Honolulu, US, the largest global forum for adopting conservation policies. The experts expressed that it is important for indigenous people and environmentalists to join forces in protecting land and biodiversity, especially considering the number of conservationists and indigenous people who have been killed. Additionally, a loss of biodiversity, according to the experts, affects human rights as it negatively impacts the right to food, housing, culture, and other necessities. The rights of indigenous peoples and their relationship to the environment have become a pressing international legal topic in recent years. Earlier this month the Navajo Nation filed suit [JURIST report] against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) alleging that water flowing from a punctured mine in Colorado was toxic and damaged the Nations environment, people, and economy. In 2014, a report by Rights and Resources [advocacy website] warned of the growing pressure for land and resources that threatens [JURIST report] communities dependent on tropical forests. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples [text, PDF], was adopted by the General Assembly in 2007 and marked a historic moment of recognition of the existence of indigenous peoples but UN experts said last year that implementing the Declaration would continue to be a challenge [JURIST report] without greater awareness. Venezuelan authorities on Saturday arrested a major opposition leader, Daniel Ceballos, stating that the arrest was to prevent his efforts at destabilizing the country [BBC report]. Ceballos, the former mayor of San Cristobal, was arrested in March 2014, accused of inciting violence during a wave of protests against the government. However, Ceballos was released and placed on house arrest last year for medical reasons. The opposition has claimed Ceballos is a political prisoner, arrested only to quiet dissent amid cries for recalling President Nicolas Maduro. Due to many issues in the country, the opposition has called for a march on the capital on September 1 to seek a referendum on the recall of Maduro [AFP report]. Earlier this month a Venezuelan appeals court in Caracas upheld the more than 13-year sentence [JURIST report] of another opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez. The tension between the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of government in Venezuela has served as a hostile condition against Lopez. In March Venezuelas National Assembly approved [JURIST report] an amnesty law that would free 77 individuals allegedly jailed for political reasons under a number of crimes, including Lopez, but Maduro has vowed to veto the law. In November UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein called for [JURIST report] the protection of political opposition leaders associated with an assassinated Venezuelan opposition leader while he was on state with Lopezs wife, Lilian Tintori. In October, a former Caracas prosecutor confessed [JURIST report] to being pressured into presenting false evidence to condemn opposition leader Lopez. Vernon Larson Lecture Series Join us for our next Vernon Larson Lecture! Quality Standards for Internationalization: Internationalization in Ecuadorian Universities (IEW2021) (KStateIEW) Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 2:30 pm-4:00 pm, Bluemont Hall 21 Quality Standards of Internationalization: Internationalization in Ecuadorian Universities - special guest expert faculty panelists from Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabi (ULEAM) Ecuador, Moderated by Associate Provost for International Programs Grant Chapman - link to virtual live broadcast Vernon Carl Larson was an international visionary who built K-State's International Agriculture Programs through projects in Nigeria, India, the Philippines and elsewhere throughout the world. Once K-State's Office of International Programs, OIP, was created, he led it through many years of successful growth and expansion. "The Larson Lecture Series is the longest continuous running lecture series at Kansas State" said Grant Chapman, associate provost for international programs. Furthermore, "Vernon Larson built the international agricultural programs and founded the general international programs advancing internationalization at Kansas State. Vernon Larson was community and civic minded sharing the world with Manhattan, Kansas and K-State and Manhattan with the world," said Chapman. Becoming the first in a long line of family scholars, Vernon began his college education at Michigan State University. World War II temporarily interrupted his education. As an officer in the Army Air Force and navigator for his B-17 bomber, Vernon navigated 29 missions out of Bedford, England over Germany. After the war, Vernon returned home to Marion Pieschke whom he had met through Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at MSU. They were married August 31, 1946, in Detroit, Michigan. Vernon resumed his education, completing a masters and doctoral degree. After serving as Professor of Dairy and Assistant Dean of Agriculture for twelve years at MSU, together with Marion and their three children, Vernon took an extended assignment at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon as Assistant Dean of Agriculture in 1959. Following this position, Vernon expanded the international program at the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University (KSU) in Manhattan, Kansas. He later administered the program from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, at the onset of the Biafran Civil War, and later in 1970 from The University of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, India. Vernon established formal relationships between KSU and universities and institutes in Paraguay, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, France, and China. Under his direction, KSU also managed a major agriculture development project in Botswana. In 1964 Vernon joined with other directors to form the Association of U.S. University Directors of International Agriculture Programs, and served as the Associations president from 1981-1982. In 1977 Vernon and his colleagues formed the Mid-America International Agriculture Consortium (MIAC), now a major agricultural development consortia. A KSU scholarship for study abroad is established in Vernons honor, and also the KSU Vernon Larson International Luncheon Series. EAU CLAIRE When Jessica Janssen, president of OutdoorMore, Inc., needed someone willing to volunteer time to set up a series of outdoor lights at Pinehurst Park in Eau Claire, the right people turned out to be close at hand. Besides heading the organization dedicated to rebuilding and reinventing the former Pinehurst ski hill area, Janssen works for the Business & Industry Services division of Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC). Stepping forward to help with her Pinehurst project was Bandi Henke, director of CVTCs Electrical Power Distribution (EPD) program. That led to Henke leading about 30 members of the EPD Club bringing a digger/derrick truck to Pinehurst Aug. 23 to set up 20 power poles to hold 45 LED lights donated by Plank Enterprises of Eau Claire. I reached out to Jessica when I heard they needed help getting power poles set up, Henke said. The club has done three other ski hills already. The work is part community service activity and part learning experience for the club members. Henke said the students are taught how to set power poles on the CVTCs pole grounds at the Energy Education Center, but they get a lot of practice doing it out in the field. We did a bunch of pole setting for a hops farm a couple of weeks ago, Henke said. We set about 50 poles. He added sometimes the students earn a little money for their club with such work, but projects often are done as volunteer work for non-profits like OutdoorMore. Janssen said the area the EPD Club worked on will be a lighted biking and cross country ski trail through the woods. All the trails out there are volunteer-made, Janssen said. We rely on donations and volunteer work for most of our projects. The light donation from Plank Enterprises has a CVTC connection as well. Company CEO Natasha Plank-Ottum earned the CVTC Foundations Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015. Janssen said the organization purchased the poles for the lights from a Minnesota company. Randy Larson (a CVTC EPD instructor) drove to Minnesota to pick them up. He has his own personal truck for this, Janssen said. This is a hands-on opportunity, said Tara Holm, an EPD student from Chippewa Falls as the group prepared to set another pole. You dont really get what this is about until you get out in the field and do it. Setting a pole is about a half-hour process, said William Quicker, an EPD student from Neillsville. We have to dig the hole first. Were digging down about five feet. Then we put the pole in the pole paws and we guide it and set it in the hole. We have to plumb it to make sure its straight, then tamp it down and go on to the next one. We have a hydraulic tamper in the back of the truck, added Louis Hoffman of Hudson. Holm said they take turns doing certain tasks, like operating the digger/derrick truck. And we take turns being the foreman of the group and you get to learn different leadership styles. Much more work needs to be done at Pinehurst. Janssen noted the students help is much appreciated on the trail lights, but setting poles on the steep ski hill, when it comes time for that, is not something the student club can take on. Henke said installing underground power lines and wiring the poles will be a more complicated process. While Henke can help with the trench digging, the laying of the power cables is not something that can be done with strictly volunteer help. But OutdoorMore is taking care of things one at a time. Were working in phases, Janssen said. She acknowledged the help of many other businesses and organizations, such as United Rental, Dynamic Fabrication and a public relations class from UW-Eau Claire. The Indianhead Track Club made the Pinehurst project the beneficiary in a recent charity run, which helps pay for things like power poles. To learn more about the Pinehurst Park project and ways to help the efforts, visit www.pinehurstpark.org. My recent columns on Donald Trump have generated a consistent response from his supporters: If ... that lying psycho (expletive) wins, there will be nothing left of this country. You better stock up on bullets to protect your house! Keep preaching to the Hillary choir. Please notify me when you are going to write your column on the lies of Hillary Clinton. Oh, excuse me, thats not happening is it? These people are not defending the indefensible Trump but accusing me of being in the tank for Clinton. And I do support Clinton but only in the sense that I would support a ham sandwich for president if it were the only thing standing between Trump and the Oval Office. Moderates and reasonable Republicans who are considering voting for Trump portray it as a choice between two unpalatable options. But it isnt. Its a choice between one unpalatable option and one demagogue who operates outside of our democratic traditions, promoting racism, condoning violence and moving paranoia into the mainstream. This presidential election is not about party or ideology. Its about Trumps threat to our tradition of self-government. Youd be hard pressed, reading my coverage of Clinton over the years, to think me a fan. I mocked her 2008 campaign with comparisons to Monty Pythons dead parrot and black knight sketches. I generated justifiable outrage with a video reference to Clinton in 2009 that was a failed attempt to play on a Tina Fey sketch. Ive called Clinton obsessively secretive. Her handling of matters from Whitewater to her email server has encouraged doubts about her honesty. Though Im excited about the United States electing a woman as president, Clinton is a poor retail politician and a too-cautious leader. If Marco Rubio or John Kasich were the Republican nominee, I suspect we would now be writing Clintons political obituary and Id be content finding absurdities on both sides. Though I dont hide my center-left views, I prefer a pox-on-both-houses approach. The singular danger of Trump makes this year different. Trump isnt really a conservative or a Republican. Voters know this, which is why Democratic efforts to tie down-ballot candidates to him arent working well. When Trump (hopefully) is gone, these surviving Republicans need a reckoning to reclaim their party from the fringe. This coming week, Ill be talking about Trump, and how we speak to children about Trump, to teachers at my daughters school. The school is understandably wary about appearing to take sides in a political contest. But Ill say such reluctance should be set aside, because Trump stands opposed to the civic values we teach children. He shows an autocrats disregard for our constitutional system. He bans news organizations that he doesnt like. He wants to open up press laws to weaken the First Amendment. He claims an American-born federal judge cant be impartial toward him because of his Mexican heritage and threatens to use the presidency to go after him. He once said he would order the military, illegally, to torture detainees and target innocent civilians. He has talked of banning members of an entire religion from entry into the United States and forcing those here to register. Trump invites violence as a political tool. He suggests Second Amendment people gun owners could stop judges Clinton nominates. He has spoken of paying the legal fees of supporters who assault hecklers at events, saying things like knock the crap out of them and Id like to punch him in the face. Trump has alleged the vote will be rigged against him, and those around him suggest violence could ensue. There have been dozens of incidents of violence at Trump events, including by his then-campaign-manager. Trump brought racism and paranoia into the mainstream with his America First campaign and his leadership of the movement challenging Obamas American birth. He hesitated to disavow David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan. His tweets have included messages from white supremacists, a Jewish star atop a pile of cash, phony crime statistics that originated with neo-Nazis, a quote from Mussolini, even an image of Nazi soldiers superimposed on the American flag next to Trumps likeness. Trump has mocked Asian accents and the disabled. He has said half of the 11 million illegal immigrants are criminals. So how do we talk to children about Trump? We tell them what Holocaust survivors have told me: that what Trump is doing reminds them of 1930s Germany, and that grown-ups are not going to let that happen here. MADISON The amount the state gave state employees in merit-based bonuses and equity or retention payments more than doubled in the 2016 fiscal year, but the payments were barely more than half of what employees received three years ago, a Wisconsin State Journal analysis shows. State agencies granted pay increases or one-time bonuses worth an estimated $9.7 million for 4,638 state employees or about 15 percent of the state workforce the State Journal found using data provided under the states open records law. Fiscal 2016 was the first year in which University of Wisconsin System employees were removed from the states civil service system. The one-time merit-based bonus payments and retention or equity payments some are built into the base pay and some come in a single lump sum are meant to reward job performance, to keep employees in their jobs or to bring their pay into equitable levels with their peers. The number of awards in fiscal 2016 is up from 1,544 awards offered the previous year, during which Gov. Scott Walker suspended the payments to alleviate state budget troubles. At the time of the suspension, Walker said it was needed to balance a state budget that was facing a $283 million shortfall for that fiscal year. The state granted an estimated $3.7 million in special raises or bonuses that year. However, the payouts for the year ending June 30, 2016, fall far short of fiscal years 2013 and 2014, when the state authorized an estimated $17.9 million and $16.3 million in payments, respectively. But as of July 1, 2015, UW System employees were removed from the states civil service system. The System uses its own merit system, but spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis said information about how much it paid out during the previous fiscal year was not available last week. In fiscal 2014, UW System employees accounted for approximately $7.9 million of the payments, or 44 percent of the overall expenditure, according to Department of Administration spokesman Steven Michels. Walker revived such payments in 2012 they were suspended in 2008 after the passage of his signature collective bargaining measure known as Act 10 that eliminated union contracts for most public employees. Supervisors in state agencies are allowed to propose extra pay for employees who did superior work, were seeking other employment, or were underpaid compared to others in similar circumstances. State workers arent guaranteed an annual wage increase. In the 2013-15 budget, Walker offered a 1 percent wage increase across state government. Workers can earn more through job changes, promotions, supplemental pay for some positions, or the merit programs. The merit payment programs have been a point of contention between supervisors and union representatives because the bonuses are often given as one-time lump sums, instead of increases in workers base salaries. Two-thirds of the payments granted through the states program in the 2016 fiscal year came in the form of a lump sum bonus, as opposed to increases in employees base pay. Rick Badger, executive director of state employee union AFSCME Council 32, said the raise and bonus system is unfair because it relies on supervisors deciding which employees comprise the select few who receive bonuses. With the lump sums, theres no guarantee youre going to get an increase the next year. Theres no predictability, said Badger. Thats the cost-shifting that were seeing that is making state employment less rewarding. Badger said the $9.7 million spent in fiscal year 2016 on 15 percent of the states workforce continues a trend of not spending enough to reward all state employees. Three agencies get most The bulk of the awards were granted to employees at the departments of Transportation, Corrections and Natural Resources. Nearly 800 employees within DOT received a raise or bonus with an estimated average value of $2,483 totaling $1.96 million. About 1,050 DOC employees received a raise or bonus with an average value of $1,834 totaling $1.93 million. Around 680 DNR employees received a total of $1.14 million, with an average value of $1,676. For the purpose of the analysis, the State Journal calculated annual salaries using hourly pay rates and assuming a standard 2,088-hour work year, which may not reflect all employees actual salaries in all cases. DOC spokesman Tristan Cook said the merit-based raises were separate from another $10 million effort underway within the agency to address staffing shortages. DOC secretary Jon Litscher in May said all correctional officers, sergeants and youth counselors would receive 80 cents more per hour, while correctional officers and sergeants at maximum security prisons in Waupun, Green Bay and Portage and youth counselors at the states youth prison in Irma would get the additional 50 cents per hour through January. Average base-pay raise was 5.5 percent According to Michels, 73 percent of the raises or bonuses granted in the last two fiscal years were based on an employees job performance. Twenty-seven percent of the payments given in the last two years were given to employees to increase their salaries to match what others with similar qualifications and experience make, he said. Among state employees who received an increase in base pay, the top four employees received pay increases of more than 20 percent, which were aimed at retaining them in their jobs. Debra Morhoff, a business automation specialist at the Workforce Development Department received the highest percent pay increase of 26.7 percent, from $31.56 per hour to $40 per hour. Pa Vang and Philip Wegner, both nurses working for the Department of Health Services, received the next highest pay increases of 22.7 percent and 22 percent respectively, raising their pay to $32.88 and $33.73 per hour. Kate Keshena, a psychiatrist working for DHS, also received a 20.9 percent pay increase, bringing her base pay level to $100.57 per hour. Those workers declined to comment or could not be reached last week. The average base pay raise was 5.5 percent and the average lump sum bonus was $1,721 in the 2016 fiscal year. John Dipko, DWD spokesman, said the payments serve as an important tool to retain the best and brightest workers. He said in Morhoffs case, the agency matched a competing job offer to retain a highly valued, highly skilled employee with extensive knowledge of the agencys IT systems. DHS spokeswoman Julie Lund said retention raises were given, in part, to compete with the private sector. Keshenas raise put her salary more in line with other state psychiatrists, a field that is competitive in both the public and private sectors. The programs require each agency to find the money within their own budgets. During the recent civil service overhaul, lawmakers added $6 million for top-performing state employees. The referendum has emerged as a way to involve citizens in the decision-making on the European integration. A democratic tool or a deadly threat to the European Union? It is widely known that the emergence of the European Community, in the 1950s, constitutes a political step legitimized by prominent decision-makers, but from which the broad public was excluded. This permissive consensus the art of deciding without the citizens consent ended in the 1970s. By then, new political dimensions emerged. The citizens voice expressed through referendums was one of them and people have been asked to give an opinion on several aspects of the European integration process quite regularly. Indeed, from 1972 to 2016, 42 referendums have taken place: 29 favourable to the European Union and 13 against it. Most of the plebiscites with a positive result for European integration took place in years of Treaty ratification or membership accession. Ireland and Denmark had their positive say on their accession processes in 1972. The Single European Act was endorsed by the Irish and Danish peoples (1986). The Maastricht Treaty was also approved by Irish, French and Danish (the latter went twice to the polls- 1992). In Austria, Sweden and Finland people answered positively to join the European Union (1994). Danish and Irish agreed on ratifying the Amsterdam Treaty (1998), and, later on, in 9 countries, citizens accepted to join the European Union (2003). The European Constitution was sanctioned in Spain and the Luxembourg (2005). The Treaty of Lisbon took the Irish people twice to the polls (2008-2009). The Croatian acknowledged its desire to be part of the European Union in 2012 and the Irish authorized the European Fiscal Compact in the same year. Italy was the only country to hold a referendum to mandate the European Parliament to write a Constitution for Europe before the Maastricht Treaty (1989) and Denmark approved the emergence of a Court to decide on litigations related to European patents- a Unified Patent Court- in 2014. Nevertheless, there have been less auspicious moments. The Norwegians denied twice to join the European Union in 1972 and 1994. France and the Netherlands dealt a fatal blow to the Constitutional Treaty in 2005. Danes and Swedes refused to join the Eurozone in 2000 and 2003 respectively and, since 2015, all referendums have been hostile to the European Union. Greece refused the bailout conditions imposed by the EU (2015), the Danish denied to convert the opt-out participation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs (2015), the Dutch showed to be against the Ukraine- European Union Association Agreement (2016) and, finally, in 2016, the United Kingdom asked their citizens whether they wanted to remain in the European Union. Actually, this question has only been asked twice: in 1979, to Greenland, and to the United Kingdom in 2016. The majority of people in both countries rejected remaining in the EU. Should we be worried by peoples participation? But is this democratic tool- the referendum- a deadly threat to the European Union, as many think? Are these surveys a danger to the European project? Should we be worried by peoples participation? We shouldnt, but it might indeed be a deadly weapon. Throughout times, the issue has raised many speculations and contradictory arguments. On the one hand, there is the general idea that these democratic surveys increment and deepen democracy. On the other, there also is the idea that a referendum is a constraining factor on grounds that negative and less auspicious results might trigger a countervailing momentum. However, peoples participation is but the natural impetus that any democratic system should have. And the European Union is a democratic political system. Since the 1990s, scientists have been proclaiming the sui generis character of the European Union. We can even argue that the European Union already is an unfinished federal political system. Its institutional power configuration and decision-making structure frame the argument and, in this line of reasoning, citizens participation in referendums is also an intrinsic part of its democratic framework. Voters make demands, express refusals, and point out apprehensions like in any other democratic political structure. The referendum is but a democratic channel. In referendums tackling European questions, people express their anger against both national policies and European policies. In a national state system, parties contest elections trying to convince citizens of their aptitudes. In a national referendum people also express their expectations and policy change requirements directly or indirectly influenced by political parties. However, as far as the European Union is concerned, circumstances take on different proportions. The European Union is an opaque and distant system whose functioning nobody understands, or just a few do. Adding to this, there is a widespread idea that national policies are commanded by the European institutions and people tend to think that Brussels does everything wrong, that most national wrongdoings are but Brussels fault. So, in referendums tackling European questions, people express their anger against both national policies and European policies. Perceptions are misleading. The two dimensions are interlinked, interacting in terms of causes and consequences. Challenges, crises and menaces are a profound threat. Peoples are frightened. Of course, citizens are manipulated. Demagogy, catch-all party politics trying to attract as many people as possible have become part of representative democracy. But the point is, it is much more difficult for any citizen to understand European Union politics and policies than it is to understand their own national political environments. So, it is easier to manipulate and mislead them as far as European Union policies are concerned and some, if not all, national leaders have been doing this for their own political purposes. Of course, there also are the extremist and populist parties exploiting peoples fears, weaknesses and illiteracy. Brexit, held on June 2016, is the latest and major example. It is most important, though, to find credible and realistic solutions. A campaign, a plan, a strategy to explain, to support and galvanize the system are urgently needed. The European Union is an unfinished project, lacking leadership and ideals. At the moment, the project is facing the most daring difficulties. It faces an economic/austerity challenge, a terrorist solution task and an immigrants crisis answer. These gigantic obstacles and the lack of concrete answers have become a huge problem to the European project. Citizens tend to think that the European Union is not able to cope with them. So, it is most urgent that the Union leaders find a way to tell people, to remind citizens, about the good things of the project. A campaign, a plan, a strategy to explain, to support and galvanize the system are urgently needed. Actually, it should already have taken place when Brexit was voted on, if not before (Jacques Delors did that in 1993 when the first dark clouds had started to gather over the European project). Most importantly, it is crucial to listen to peoples disappointments, anger and anxieties, bringing hope and enthusiasm to them and reviving the European project. The United States of Europe needs to be stimulated, needs to be finished, needs to be saved. And with the end of the permissive consensus it is up to each one of us, citizens of the European Union, to do so. A difficult but not impossible task provided the necessary impetus is given. Atheists troll Christian children's home Facebook page, force it to shut down 29 August, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma (Christian Examiner) The Murrow Indian Children's Home in Muskogee, Okla., under fire for politely refusing to accept and publicize a $100 donation from an atheist, has been forced to shut down its Facebook page after hundreds of atheists posted vitriolic and anti-Christian comments on it. Many of the comments, obscene in nature, cannot be reprinted by Christian Examiner. Others, however, reflect atheist sentiments such as referring to God as "your imaginary friend" and others calling the Christians who refused the donation "hypocrites" and "bigots." On Sunday, a fresh search for the Facebook page yielded only a statement that said the content was unavailable. Last week, the children's home was offered a $100 donation from atheist Matt Wilbourn. He requested the children's home, which publicizes its donations in an annual fundraising program, list the donation as given "In Honor of the Muskogee Atheist Community." Standing true to its faith and principles, the children's home has also declined to accept funds raised through a GoFundMe page, initiated by the Muskogee Atheist Community. The crowd sourcing effort was not requested or authorized by Murrow. It would be even more contradictory to accept these funds just because the donation would be greater. Murrow's principles, faith and values are not for sale to the highest bidder. The children's home refused and returned the donation. It said accepting money in honor of the atheist community would "be contrary to those biblical principles upon which we at Murrow stand. We are Christians, believing in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit." Wilbourn then offered to up the donation to $250, but the children's home refused the donation again. That angered the atheist, who then launched a GoFundMe page inviting atheists across the country to donate to the cause. They raised $28,280 before Wilbourn cut off the donations. He claimed on the page that he would donate $5,106.47 to the Murrow Indian Children's Home through an anonymous third party donor. The remainder, minus fees and taxes from the fundraising website, will go to a camp for children of so-called "freethinking" parents. "All of you have proven that love wins over bigotry," Wilbourn wrote on the page. In the meantime, Murrow is receiving support from the church missions agency that helped found it. The American Baptist Home Mission Societies issued a statement when the controversy erupted last week that said the ABHMS "stands in solidarity with the Murrow Indian Children's Home as this century-old ministry exercises its right to refrain from lifting up a religious view that is not aligned with its own." However, assuming the party donating the funds is identified and linked to the atheist group, the ABHMS said the children's home would still not accept the donation because to do so would promote another world view "so antithetical to its own." "It challenges the integrity of Murrow's most central values and principles," the ABHMS statement said. "Standing true to its faith and principles, the children's home has also declined to accept funds raised through a GoFundMe page, initiated by the Muskogee Atheist Community. The crowd sourcing effort was not requested or authorized by Murrow. It would be even more contradictory to accept these funds just because the donation would be greater. Murrow's principles, faith and values are not for sale to the highest bidder." Jeffrey Haggray, executive director of ABHMS, said the atheist group was using "its muscle to shame and embarrass Murrow," and its supporters were guilty of "blatant bullying." He said the children's home had not provoked the campaign against them, but had only taken a stand in favor of the beliefs underpinning their work among the Native Americans for more than a century. Susan Gillies, the interim general secretary of the 1.5 million-member American Baptist Churches USA, also said she support Murrow's decision and the "faithful ways it brings God's love to the most vulnerable among us, nurturing children in crisis to physical, psychological and spiritual wholeness." OMAHA (AP) A 37-year-old convicted sex offender from Colorado whod been living in Oxford has been sentenced for receiving child pornography. Federal prosecutors said Thursday that Vance Baumbach had been given 15 years in prison. He also must pay $5,000 in restitution. Prosecutors say investigators determined that Baumbach had offered online to share child porn computer files. A subsequent search of his computer equipment revealed more than 1,000 such files. Nebraska records say Baumbach was convicted in 2005 in Larimer County, Colorado, for felony sexual exploitation of children. KEARNEY - Some of the bystanders who earlier ducked for cover after hearing gunshots cheered early Sunday morning when police arrested the suspect after a six-hour armed standoff in northeast Kearney. A Kearney man is being held on suspicion of firing five shots in his apartment during the standoff, which began Saturday evening and ended Sunday. At press time, the 32-year-old man was being held at the Buffalo County Detention Center on suspicion of discharging a firearm in an occupied dwelling, a Class III felony, and second-degree false imprisonment, a Class I misdemeanor. The man was being held without bond. Charges were expected to be filed later today. The Hub doesn't report the names of suspects arrested until formal charges have been filed. Around 7:40 p.m. Saturday Kearney Police and Buffalo County Sheriff's officers responded to a report of shots being fired at the apartment complex at 3704 Ave. I. The man had allegedly fired a weapon and had his 14-year-old daughter in his apartment with him. Police reports indicate the girl also lived at the apartment with her father. Police and members of the Emergency Services Unit team set up a perimeter around the apartment complex while negotiations with the man took place for several hours. About 40 minutes after police arrived at the scene, the man released the girl unharmed. "He (the man) expressed the desire to hurt himself, and he also had his 14-year-old daughter with him. After some negotiations, we were able to get the daughter out of the house," said Dan Lynch, Kearney police chief. Around 1:45 a.m. Sunday, the man walked out the front door of the apartment complex unarmed with both hands in the air and surrendered to police. Bystanders who had congregated near the scene during the standoff cheered and applauded officers as they handcuffed the man and drove him away in a police cruiser. Police Investigations Sgt. Jason Koetters said five shots were fired inside the apartment, some from the main floor into the ceiling and some from the second floor into the ceiling. A 7-mm bolt-action rifle was later confiscated from inside the man's apartment. Steven Kersting, 17, of Kearney was with the 14-year-old girl prior to the shooting. He had dropped the girl off at home and was outside the apartment when the first shot was fired. "(She) went inside, and as soon as she got to the door (the man) started shooting," said Kersting. "We were out front in the truck and we could see the rifle go off. (She) screamed for us to get the hell out of there. She said he had a gun." Kersting said that the man recently quit his job at a Holdrege business, but Kersting didn't know a motive to the standoff and said it was uncharacteristic of the man's personality. "He's a good guy and this is not like him at all," Kersting said. Two additional gunshots were fired about 20 minutes after the first, said Kersting. "The second and third shots happened when (she) was running out of the house," Kersting said. Kersting said some shots were fired inside the apartment complex and at least one was fired outside. Almost three hours passed before the man fired a fourth shot at 11:37 p.m. Many onlookers lined streets and sidewalks near the scene, and several times police officers asked people to leave the area or go inside their homes. Lynch said nearby homes were not evacuated, but many residents in the area who were not at home when the standoff started were not allowed back into their houses until the situation was resolved. "We were forced to inconvenience a lot of people in the neighborhood, but the important thing is that everybody is safe and nobody was injured," Lynch said. "People returning home we were able to keep out of the neighborhood. Those already home we either helped them leave or made sure they were as safe as they could be in their own homes." Mike and Alexis Bogus of Kearney live in the neighborhood and took cover with their three children in the basement of their home for the night. "We heard five gunshots so we took the kids downstairs," Mike Bogus said. "We really didn't know what was going on." e-mail to: A day after Omahan Jason Welch died of injuries sustained in a police shooting, his girlfriend and accused accomplice appeared in court. A Douglas County judge on Wednesday set bail at $1 million for Jennifer Lovings, 35. She must post 10 percent -- or $100,000 to be released from the Douglas County Corrections Center. Lovings is charged with attempted assault on an officer, possession of methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit a felony and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. Her attorney, James Martin Davis, asked for a lower bail amount, arguing that authorities are using Lovings to cover up a wrongful shooting by an Omaha police officer. It was an unjustifiable homicide, Davis said. Welch, 34, died Tuesday, four days after police tried to arrest him and Lovings as part of a methamphetamine ring. Welch was a passenger in an SUV driven by Lovings. An undercover police officer in the parking lot of a Walgreens drugstore at 51st and Center Streets opened fire during an attempted arrest. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Wednesday that he couldn't respond to Davis' specific allegations; he is waiting on final investigative reports, including the autopsy on Welch. But, Kleine said, preliminary findings indicate the officer's actions were justified. Let's let everything run its course as part of the process, Kleine said. For Davis to say things like that ... is nonsense. A grand jury will determine whether the officer [--] who has not been named by the Police Department will be charged; such panels review all in-custody deaths. In addition to Lovings, police arrested six people who they say were part of the conspiracy to sell meth. On Friday, officers served search warrants at three homes, seizing guns, $500,000 worth of meth and more than $95,000 in cash. When officers approached Lovings and Welch, they said, the couple tried to flee. Police said Welch appeared to be reaching for a gun and Lovings rammed the SUV into several police vehicles. The officer who opened fire was standing between the SUV and his vehicle, Police Chief Todd Schmaderer has said. Davis said Wednesday that the officer was standing to the rear of the SUV and hit Welch in the back of the head when he fired. He said that police cars rammed Lovings' vehicle and that she was trying to get away from what she thought were men with guns because, according to her account, officers failed to identify themselves. Lovings was not in the SUV when police found it by using an electronic tracking device that a judge had approved. She turned herself in Sunday. Contact the writer: 402-444-3106, emerson.clarridge@owh.com Almost two years ago, Anthony G. Vaughn sat before a judge in a Douglas County courtroom having pleaded guilty to burglarizing the home of his son's Bible study teacher. He blamed the break-in on wet marijuana laced with embalming fluid. He cast the crime as completely out of my character. Before the judge put him on probation for three years, Vaughn talked about how he wanted to continue to work and be a good member of society. Now, a DNA sample taken from Vaughn as a consequence of that burglary conviction has painted the 41-year-old Omaha man as something far more sinister: an alleged serial rapist. Using his DNA sample, Omaha police have linked Vaughn to the rapes of five Omaha women dating back to 1999. Authorities say the arrest is the product of an FBI database of DNA profiles and a recent change in Nebraska law requiring all felons, such as Vaughn, to give DNA samples. But Vaughn's arrest also comes with unanswered questions namely, whether he is suspected in other rapes and how he was able to earn a sexual-assault acquittal just months before the alleged spree began. In February 1999, Vaughn went on trial in the alleged rape of a woman he met at a bar. Prosecutors maintained that he forced the woman to have sex with him at a downtown apartment, then threatened to kill her. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said prosecutors ably presented a case against him. Vaughn said the encounter was consensual. A jury acquitted him Feb. 8, 1999. Seven months later, on Sept. 7, 1999, an Omaha woman heard a noise in the basement of her home near 37th and U Streets. She went downstairs and was jumped by a man who told her: Don't look at my face. Shut up or I'll cut you, according to a police report. He threw her to the floor, touched her and raped her. He then ordered her into the furnace room and left. She was unable to identify her attacker. Omaha police collected evidence from sexual assault kits in which nurses search for suspect semen, hairs or skin cells from that woman and four others who were attacked over the next decade. DNA labs developed a profile of a single attacker for all five rapes. The only problem: The DNA profile matched no known offenders. Omaha police received a letter last week from the Nebraska State Patrol DNA laboratory saying it had run Vaughn's profile through CODIS, the FBI's Combined DNA Index System. The State Patrol's lab indicated a match between Vaughn's DNA and evidence collected from three Omaha women. Subsequent comparisons at another DNA lab led to matches to evidence collected from two other Omaha women. An arrest warrant was issued, charging Vaughn with five counts of first-degree sexual assault. Vaughn who portrayed himself on Facebook as a ladies' man, a prankster and a concerned father was taken into custody early Sunday. Vaughn is believed to be one of two assailants who sexually assaulted women in midtown Omaha, though he also is alleged to have struck elsewhere. Another man Anthony Layton, also known as the Midtown Molester'' was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to 50 to 70 years in prison. Prosecutors say the 1999 attack on the South Omaha woman was the first of five rapes, from 1999 to 2009, that would bear similar signatures. A man breaks in and subdues his victim. Touches her. Rapes her. Threatens to kill her. The rapes spanned from midtown (49th and California Streets, 39th and Farnam Streets, 49th Street and Underwood Avenue) to South Omaha (22nd and Pacific Streets, 37th and U Streets). According to the warrant for Vaughn's arrest: At 2:30 a.m. Dec. 27, 2005 six years after the sexual assault of the South Omaha woman a then-28-year-old woman fell asleep on her couch at her home near 49th and California Streets. She awoke with her pants and underwear down and an unknown man penetrating her. The woman tried to push him off. He eventually left. The woman was unable to identify the attacker. A nurse performed a sexual assault examination on her and collected evidence the attacker left behind. It was submitted to the State Patrol DNA lab. At 4:15 a.m. March 15, 2008, a then-23-year-old woman was awakened by a noise at her house near 39th and Farnam Streets. She saw a shadow moving so she used her cellphone to light up the room. A man told her not to look at him and pushed her head away from him. The man touched her, put his hand over her mouth and told her he had a gun. She tried to fend him off by telling him she had an STD. He rubbed his penis against her vagina and ran away. Evidence was collected with a sexual assault kit and submitted to a lab, this time at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. At 2:20 a.m. May 16, 2009, a then-18-year-old woman arrived at her home near 22nd and Pacific Streets to find the back door unlocked. She locked the door and checked the house but was unable to find anyone. She fell asleep, only to awake to find someone opening her bedroom door. Thinking it was her boyfriend, the woman sat up in bed. A man pushed her down, put his hand over her face and said: Don't move or I'll cut you. He touched her, raped her and left. The woman couldn't identify her attacker. Sexual assault evidence was collected and sent to UNMC. At 2:10 a.m. Aug. 1, 2009, a then-21-year-old awoke at her home at 49th Street and Underwood Avenue to find a man standing over her. The man put his arm across her neck and shoulders and held her down, covering her mouth and turning her head away from him. He made a remark about her breasts, touched her and penetrated her with his fingers. Sexual assault evidence was collected and sent to UNMC. In 2010, state lawmakers expanded the Nebraska DNA Testing Act so authorities could collect samples from anyone convicted of a felony. Because of that, Vaughn's felony burglary conviction in September 2011 meant he had to submit to a cheek swab so authorities could obtain a sample of his DNA. It is unclear why it took 20 months for authorities to run Vaughn's DNA through the FBI's computerized database of crimes with DNA profiles, Kleine said. Authorities also are investigating whether Vaughn has assaulted others either in the six-year gap between the first two known rapes in Omaha, or in the three years since the last alleged rape. Vaughn has been out on probation since September 2011. And he has been active on Facebook. In the couple weeks before his arrest, he posted several comments and photos. In some, he's clowning for the camera. In others, he's pining for his children. Well leaving Nebraska, he wrote. Damn im gonna miss my kids. ... Daddy loves u and (to my son) wish we could of made up we never went this long without talking and it killed everything in me. In an April 6 Facebook post, he wrote this next to a photo of his son: My baby god i know i dont pray much but please let me see my baby again. Back in September 2011, Vaughn was pleading for mercy from Judge J Russell Derr. He blamed wet for the burglary he committed and said he had no idea he had broken into the home of his son's Bible study teacher. But the recent DNA test results have authorities looking at that burglary in a new light and wondering whether Vaughn had other motives before he got spooked by the sound of police sirens approaching. The 51-year-old woman was about to take a shower at her house near 89th Street and Western Avenue. A neighbor spotted a man trying to break in and called police. Police arrived and found Vaughn three blocks away, holding the woman's jar of coins. At the sentencing hearing, Derr noted that the burglary was Vaughn's first felony conviction. Derr cited that fact and Vaughn's apparent regret in deciding to place him on three years of probation. Vaughn, who had faced up to five years of probation or 20 years in prison, told the judge he was embarrassed by his actions. I don't think, by my crime, I should get off easy, Vaughn told the judge. I'm going to try to continue to work and be a good member of society. You realize this wasn't just a victimless crime, Derr said. It affected you, your family, your children .... At that, Vaughn piped up. And the community as well, he said. Contact the writer: 402-444-1275, todd.cooper@owh.com Knights of Columbus Donates $50,000 for Italian Earthquake Relief Funds will be given to Pope Francis to assist affected children ROME, Aug. 29, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- The Knights of Columbus will donate $50,000 to the Holy Father to help provide relief for children affected by last week's deadly earthquake northeaster Rome. Supreme Knight Carl Anderson informed Pope Francis of the donation when he greeted the pope at an audience Sunday, Aug. 28. That conversation followed the Holy Father's Angelus address in which he prayed for the victims and noted that the rapid response to the quake shows "how important solidarity is in overcoming such painful trials." The Pope continued by noting that "service to one's brothers and sisters becomes a testimony of love, which makes God's love credible." "The Knights of Columbus is pleased to answer the Holy Father's call and to assist those, especially children, who are suffering so much as a result of this devastating disaster in Italy," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. "Consistent with our first principle, charity, and as we have done in situations of natural disasters and other needs in the United States and around the world, the Knights of Columbus is committed to showing solidarity and God's mercy concretely through our help of those most in need." The Knights' support for earthquake victims comes at the same time that the organization has donated substantially in terms of funds and volunteers to the victims of the recent floods in Louisiana. In addition, the Knights of Columbus is supporting the ongoing Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy on the American Continent being held in in Bogota, which includes outreach to the poor of that city as a part of the event which has brought together cardinals, bishops, priests and laity from throughout the American hemisphere from Canada to Argentina. The event is being sponsored by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and the Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAM). Last year, the Knights of Columbus donated in total more than $175 million and 75 million hours to charitable initiatives worldwide, including for disaster relief, support for Christians in the Middle East, support for fresh water wells and AIDS orphans in Africa, as well as charitable projects around world at the parish, community and national levels, and at the Vatican. FILE - In this Jan. 30, 1996 file photo, Roger Ailes, left, speaks at a news conference as Rupert Murdoch looks on after it was announced that Ailes will be chairman and CEO of Fox News. Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros has charged in a lawsuit filed Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, she was sexually harassed by former network chief Roger Ailes and other top executives. The defendants in the lawsuit filed Monday in Manhattan state Supreme Court include William Shine, who was named co-president of Fox News after Ailes resigned because of a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by another former anchor, Gretchen Carlson. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) In this Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, photo, provided by The Eagle Pass News Gram, authorities work the scene after a truck carrying Takata inflators and a volatile chemical exploded in the Texas border town of Quemado, killing a woman and injuring four others. Takata Corp. said it sent people to the site and is helping authorities investigate the crash. (Ruben Carrillo Mazuka/The Eagle Pass News Gram via AP) South Laredo kids in need got a surprise from a local church on Monday. Members of the First United Methodist Church stopped by the Santo Nino Elementary School to donate backpacks filled with school supplies for the students. This is the sixth year members of the church collected the items for students to start the year off right. The First United Methodist Church also donates these items to Ligarde and Heights elementary schools. Aug 29 (Reuters) - China's government-run enterprises account for 66.5 percent of total debt defaults so far this year, China's official Securities Daily newspaper reported on Monday, citing information from the state asset regulator. Although only six government-run firms have defaulted on debts so far this year, the total value amounted to more than 16.5 billion yuan ($2.47 billion), the paper said. The State-Owned Asset Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) will strengthen the way it monitors maturing debts in the coming three months in a bid to reduce the risk of defaults, the paper said, citing an official with the commission. China could allow industrial firms to convert their debts into equity stakes as early as next month, with the government now putting the finishing touches to a new plan, the official China Securities Journal reported on Monday. Debt has emerged as one of China's biggest challenges, with the total load rising to 250 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) last year. The International Monetary Fund warned in June that China's high corporate debt ratio of 145 percent of GDP could erode economic growth if not addressed. But China has grown more reliant on often bloated and inefficient state firms to generate economic growth as private investment rapidly cools, raising concerns over whether it will press ahead with reforms. Officials have insisted that the new debt-to-equity programme would not be used to prop up so-called "zombie enterprises", those that would not survive without life support from local banks and governments. A report released last month by the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University in Beijing found 51.43 percent of listed steel firms surveyed could be classified as zombie firms. ($1 = 6.6690 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Kim Coghill) Comex Gold Recovers Overnight Declines (Kitco News) - Comex gold has recovered its early losses to trade near steady to slightly higher on the day. The recovery was aided as the U.S. dollar gave up some of its early gains, a trader reported. Early Monday, Comex December gold fell to a two-month low of $1,317.20 an ounce. Since, however, the metal has snapped back to $1,327.50, a gain of $1.60, as of 11:43 a.m. EDT. The euro was around $1.11743, nearly back to late-Friday levels after trading down to around $1.11712 as New York trading was getting under way. Activity may be quieter than normal as London markets are shuttered for a holiday. A trader says he looks for gold to largely trade in a range this week as the market awaits Fridays key monthly U.S. jobs report. By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com Follow @KitcoNewsNOW Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. kitco news Aug 29 (Reuters) - Denmark's government has trimmed its economic growth forecast for 2016 and 2017 and proposed lower taxes for people with an income below 1 million Danish crowns ($150,000) a year. In government papers seen by Reuters, expected to be released on Tuesday, it cut its GDP growth forecast for this year to 0.9 percent from previous guidance of 1.1 percent, partly due to the UK's vote to leave the European Union. The export-driven economy, dependent on the fortunes of larger neighbours such as Germany and Sweden, grew by a modest 1.0 percent in 2015. Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a speech broadcast online from his residence the minority government aimed to cut taxes in low income brackets. "I think it is the first time in history a tax reform has had such a clear orientation towards low-income groups," Lokke Rasmussen said. He promised to increase public spending by 22 billion crowns in coming years on more education, care of the elderly and other areas but did not say how it would be funded. Rasmussen's liberal party Venstre holds only 34 of parliament's 179 seats and depends on three other parties to pass laws. The government now sees a 2016 budget deficit of 0.9 percent of GDP versus previous guidance of 2.0 percent, while the expected 2017 deficit has been raised to 1.9 percent from 1.8. Growth expectations for 2017 have been cut to 1.5 percent from a previous 1.7. The Nordic country has suffered a decade of lacklustre growth since the 2007-08 financial crisis, which punctured a housing bubble. The government will present its budget for 2017 on Tuesday and is expected to face tough negotiations because its largest supporting party in parliament, the Danish People's Party, has voiced opposition to tax cuts. ($1 = 6.6529 Danish crowns) (Additional reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard; Writing by Ole Mikkelsen; Editing by Andrew Roche) Germany's BGA trade association slashed its 2016 forecast for export growth, its head said on Monday, predicting sales abroad by Europe's biggest economy would later stagnate as the delayed impact of Brexit hit home. Global demand for German goods has slowed significantly, with Britain's decision to leave the European Union among several factors increasing uncertainties and complicating investment decisions, Anton Boerner said. "The repercussions (of Brexit) will impact us massively in the near future," he told Reuters in an interview. That effect had yet to be felt in the export sector, which the association forecast in April would grow by 4.5 percent this year. "I (now) think growth of only between 1.8 and 2.0 percent is feasible this year," Boerner said. Exports - traditionally the main driver of Germany's economy - had increased by 6.5 percent as recently as 2015, but Boerner said the outlook beyond 2016 was bleak. "Exports are set to stagnate, possibly as early as 2017 if viewed pessimistically," Boerner said. "We're hitting the ceiling." Germany releases trade figures next week for July, which are likely to show the first clear evidence of fallout from Britain's June referendum vote. German exports to Britain, its third most important market, stagnated year on year in the first six months at around 44.8 billion euros ($50.1 billion). UNCERTAINTY ELSEWHERE TOO Further afield, Germany's trade prospects are also clouded by uncertainty about the U.S. presidential election, the rise of nationalist movements in Europe, and other crises including the failed July 15 coup in Turkey and the civil war in Syria, Boerner said. Exports to the United States and France, Germany's two biggest markets, fell 4 percent to 53.4 billion euros and 2 percent to 52.1 billion euros respectively in the first half. Demand from emerging markets was subdued, with exports to China only inching up 1 percent and Brazil falling by almost a fifth. Strong demand from other EU countries drove export growth in 2015 and, overall, net foreign trade contributed 0.2 percentage points to gross domestic product growth of 1.7 percent. The government and Germany's central bank predict the same growth rate this year, helped by soaring domestic demand, while exports are already not expected to contribute much. ($1 = 0.8950 euros) (Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Joseph Nasr and John Stonestreet) Aug 29 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit Beijing this week seeking deeper ties with China but a trade dispute, government divisions over China policy and the case of a detained citizen could limit his gains. China welcomed last year's election victory by Trudeau's Liberals, recalling fondly that his father Pierre Trudeau was prime minister when Canada formally established relations with Beijing in 1970. But nostalgia will only go so far in discussions over contentious issues after Trudeau arrives in Beijing on Tuesday at noon (2000 GMT) in one of his biggest foreign policy tests so far. China, the world's second-largest economy, is expected to try to sell Trudeau, who left for China on Monday, on a free trade treaty similar to the pacts Beijing has sealed with Australia and New Zealand. But there is no near-term chance of agreement, a senior Canadian government official told reporters last week. "We're looking to deepen trade with China, though no decision has been made on any kind of formal free trade agreement at this point," the official said. Well-placed sources said last month there were divisions inside Ottawa as to how much Canada should open its markets and economy to China. One person directly involved in the matter said this was still the case. "The government is effectively paralyzed over its China policy," the source said. Officials say they also need to take into account Canadians' hesitation about closer links with China. A poll for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada think-tank released on Monday showed that while 46 percent of Canadians supported a free trade treaty with China, only 11 percent backed investment by Chinese state-owned enterprises. The two nations are arguing about shipments of Canadian canola, with tougher Chinese inspection standards due to come into force on Sept. 1 that threaten C$2 billion ($1.5 billion) in annual exports. Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland says bilateral ties cannot deepen until the matter is resolved. Trudeau, who officials said would raise the matter, says Canada wants more foreign investment while ensuring firms enjoy access to Chinese markets. "These are the interests that we are going to be strongly and carefully balancing as we engage with the economic powerhouse that is China," he said on Friday. The two sides are set to announce annual high-level meetings, said another government source. In a statement, China's embassy in Ottawa said "we expect the two sides can reach more consensus in the areas of political contacts, trade and economic cooperation." Trudeau also says he will raise human rights, an issue of great sensitivity in Beijing. Although Ottawa is pressing the case of Canadian citizen Kevin Garratt, who was indicted on charges of spying and stealing state secrets earlier this year, the second government source said there was no sign he would be released soon. ($1=$1.30 Canadian) (Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Alan Crosby) In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome! Michael Franti and Spearhead play Bumbershoot on Friday. (Chelsea Klette) SHARE By Alan Sculley, Special to the Kitsap Sun Michael Franti has a discography that numbers nine studio albums with his current band, Spearhead, as well as one album with his first group, the Beatnigs, and a pair of titles with the influential group that preceded his solo career, the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. But he's never had a recording experience quite like the one he had in making his new album with Spearhead, "Soulrocker," with producers Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor and Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin Quee. "It was actually the most fun that we've ever had making a record," Franti said in a recent phone interview. "Every day, when I would come into the studio, there would be something that was so cool that I would just wouldn't expect. It would be outside of my sort of natural way of thinking about the song and they'd (McGregor or Chin Quee) come up with something that was just really amazing and very different from what I would normally do." "Soulrocker" has been touted as bringing a more modern, more electronic edge to Franti's long-standing mix of rock, folk, hip-hop, soul and reggae. But in reality, electronic elements have been working their way into Franti's sound on the past couple of albums and their use became fairly prominent on his previous album, 2013's "All People." The blend of electronic and organic works well on "Soulrocker." The programmed rhythms and space-age synth lines put a futuristic spin on folk-world beat flavored "My Lord" and the dance-pop sound of "We Are All Earthlings." The mix of reggae, hip-hop and electronics on "Once A Day" makes for an especially buoyant track. Perky keyboard tones bring a poppy edge to "Get Myself To Saturday" and the beachy folk of "Summertime Is In Our Hands." "I mean, on the last record, it was very much in the same way of combining rhythms that people can dance to with songs and lyrics that have meaning," Franti said. "So it's very much a progression, as all of my records have been." What has also evolved is Franti's lyrical tone. On his early solo albums, Franti's lyrics were serious, and sometimes critical and angry, but the tone of his messages has softened. While he's still plenty topical on the new album, the emphasis now is more often positive. The shift has been intentional, Franti said, and came, first of all, from what he saw on trips over recent years to places such as Iraq, Israel, Palestine and Africa. As he played songs for people he encountered, he found they weren't interested in commentary about the world's problems so much as they wanted to hear upbeat, danceable music they could enjoy as an escape. That kind of enriching, communal vibe is what Franti and Spearhead will seek to create with their live shows this summer. And Franti has incorporated specific elements in the concerts to help achieve that goal. "That's why I spend a lot of time at our shows getting into the audience," he said. "So I get my headset mike on and I get my acoustic guitar. I run to the top of the venue. I go all throughout whatever place we're playing. We set up stages in multiple parts of whatever venue we're in and get out there and play on them. For me it's a really great way to feel like I personally am connected, and it's also a great way to break down that barrier between the stage and the audience. We feel like we're in this together." Bumbershoot Michael Franti & Spearhead When: 9:40 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 Where: Fisher Green Stage PORT ORCHARD Port Orchard will be sporting a new look by November. The council recently approved a $91,525 contract with M3 Messenger Corp. to install a series of 'wayfinding' signs aimed at helping guide visitors and others into and around the town. City officials in 2013 discussed the need for a coordinated system of signs to help people navigate around the town. In 2014, the City Council awarded a contract for design of the signs to Ambrosini Design Ltd., of Portland, Oregon. The company presented several alternatives for the motif, all of which featured a blue-and-green wavelike pattern meant to suggest the city's proximity to Puget Sound. The council in November 2014 voted, though not unanimously, on a preferred design package. 'I think it is contemporary. I think it is an image the city can be proud of,' said Bek Ashby, chairwoman of the Economic Development and Tourism Council. 'I'm personally very pleased with it. We had nothing before so this is a starting place.' The wayfinding system, developed with input from a committee of city officials and residents, includes signs calling out local attractions and places, such as City Hall, parks and parking. Most of the signs will be installed on Tremont Street, seen as the 'gateway to the city,' and in the downtown area. The city plans to add signs in other areas of the city later. Ambrosini received $55,000 for design work, which included engineering specifications for structural components, materials and paint finishes to be used consistently throughout. Engineering design was the most time-consuming portion of Ambrosini's work, Ashby said. The engineering had to be approved by the state Department of Transportation, which called for some adjustments, adding more time to the process. 'I'm just excited that a contract was finally awarded, and we're going to get these signs up,' Mayor Rob Putaansuu said. 'It's much needed.' The $91,525 to be paid to M3 Messenger Corp., of Seattle, is in addition to the amount Ambrosini received for the design and engineering. The city put the sign installation contract out to bid in late June. Six companies expressed interest to the city. Hanson Signs of Silverdale was the only Kitsap company. Ambrosini and M3 Messenger, a large national company, were the only two to submit bids. Ambrosini's bid was $125,616. The council originally budgeted $20,000 for installation of the signs. Additional funds are available within the public works department's city street and traffic control fund, according to a staff report from Nick Bond, director of community development. The council Aug. 23 approved the contract, which calls for installation to begin in early September and to be completed by Nov. 9. SHARE By Tad Sooter of the Kitsap Sun BREMERTON Peninsula Community Health Services will receive an injection of federal money after surpassing a number of benchmarks for quality care. The Bremerton-based health center is one of 25 in Washington receiving a share of $2.8 million from the Affordable Care Act's Community Health Center Fund to invest in services and infrastructure. Peninsula Community Health will get about $138,000. "These quality improvement awards will support health centers to continue to deliver superior health care that engages patients, improves care coordination and bridges overall access to care," Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Mary Wakefield said in a news release. Health centers were evaluated on performance measures that emphasized positive outcomes and efficient care delivery. Peninsula Community Health was recognized for improving the quality of its clinical services, surpassing many state and national quality of care standards and being recognized as a primary care medical home, meaning the center coordinates all aspects of care for its patients, including management of chronic diseases. Peninsula Community Health was one of three centers in the state rewarded for exceeding national quality benchmarks. "We provide great care to everyone who walks through our doors and this shows it," CEO Jennifer Kreidler-Moss said. According to a breakdown provided by Pensinsula Community Health, the center exceeded national and state standards in a number of categories, including screening or management of conditions such as colon cancer, tobacco use, depression, asthma, high blood pressure and coronary disease. Kreidler-Moss said the center is working to improve care in several areas. It's focusing attention on cervical cancer screenings and prevention, and on helping patients with diabetes stay in control of their disease, to avoid damaging complications like blindness and kidney failure, she said. Kreidler-Moss said the center has not yet determined how it will invest money from the federal award. SHARE Linda Jacobs of Issaquah Aug. 30, 1940 to July 31, 2016 Linda Taitch Jacobs passed away July 31, 2016, after a hard-fought battle with ovarian cancer. She was 75. Survivors include her daughter, Jody; son-in-law, Brad; son, Jay; daughter-in-law, Tina; brothers, Steve, Jim and Bill; and grandchildren, Olivia, Sam and Leah. Her son, John, preceded her in death in 2011. Linda was born in Spokane, Washington, and raised in Seattle. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1958 and attended Washington State University. She cherished spending time with her three children. She was a real estate agent, primarily in Bellevue, Washington, and retired after a long and successful career. In 2006, Linda moved to a beach house in Manchester, Washington. She loved interacting with the people in her community and quickly made new friends. She participated in Bible study groups, PEO and other activities. Her sensitive and inquisitive nature was a gift that enabled her to connect with everyone she met. To know her was to love her. SHARE It's me again, your community columnist in exile, reporting on two developments here in Virginia that warrant your consideration back there in the Promised Land. First, Helen Dragas, the former University of Virginia rector who tried to unseat the university's president four years ago, recently fired a parting shot before leaving office. In a Washington Post op-ed, she revealed that the university has created what she characterized as a "$2.3 billion slush fund for pet projects." Unlike most of the funds comprising UVa's $7.9 billion endowment, this fund is not earmarked for specific purposes but can be used in any way the university's Board of Visitors sees fit. The correct term, according to UVa's chief operating officer, is a "Strategic Investment Fund," the purpose of which is "to restructure our balance sheet, including our approach to liquidity, variable rate debt, and cash management." Maintaining their "liquidity" must preclude making the university more affordable. The university's 2016-2017 undergraduate tuition and fees now total $15,722 an increase of $1,000 over the previous year. The Virginia State Code requires an open discussion of budgetary matters but not budgetary planning per se, Lynchburg's News and Advance reported. The university, it could be argued, complied with the letter, if not the spirit, of the law in creating this "Strategic Investment Fund." Also, in 2006, UVa's board did receive legislative approval to consolidate funds to improve their investment yields. But UVa's Midas touch has created a PR problem for the university and the Legislature which is now requiring all of Virginia's well-endowed schools to explain how they can reconcile tuition and fee increases with their nonprofit tax privilege. (Perhaps some enterprising investigative reporter should look into how the University of Washington is managing its endowment.) Second, two years ago, I wrote about the Department of Education's approach to the problem of sexual assault on campus ("Department of Education neuters the Princeton Tiger," Nov. 23, 2014). The DOE has been pressuring colleges and universities to adjudicate allegations of sexual violence in-house using the civil-court "preponderance-of-the-evidence" standard of proof rather than the more stringent "clear-and-compelling" or "beyond-a-reasonable-doubt" standards applied in criminal proceedings. That fabled road paved with good intentions comes to mind. Women have long been at a disadvantage in proving they've been raped or otherwise sexually assaulted. Date rape is especially hard to prove, the offense generally taking place in private and with assailants quick to claim that the act was consensual. The liberal ideologues and radical feminists who predominate on campus and in the DOE today have therefore been trying to tip the scales of justice in favor of women. "Believe the victim" is their mantra. As a result, a male student accused of any form of sexual impropriety is now faced with having to prove his innocence. What happened to the Duke lacrosse team in 2006 is a case in point. Ironically, it was a UVa "victim" identified only as "Jackie" who in 2014 brought the issue to a head here in Virginia. Rolling Stone magazine believed, and published, her account of being gang-raped at a fraternity party in 2012. Her account was soon discredited, but not before throwing the campus into turmoil. The fact remains that sexual assault is a criminal and not a civil matter, and college and university officials are not qualified to adjudicate allegations of criminal conduct. The Virginia Legislature, I've been heartened to learn, agrees. On Oct. 1, a new law takes effect here requiring our colleges and universities to refer all allegations of sexual assault to local law enforcement officials. There is no such law in Washington. Poulsbo state Rep. Sherry Appleton confirmed that and thanked me for bringing the matter to her attention. "Maybe it is time to pass something with teeth in it" was her reaction. Appleton's office also put me in touch with Amanda Paye, representing compliance services at the University of Washington. Paye reported that the university does require that the sexual assault of a minor be reported to law-enforcement officials, but that there is no such obligation regarding students who are 18 or older. "Instead," Paye wrote in an email, "the UW tries to create a space where the victim can make the decision whether to report." Victim advocates offer "information and support," helping the victim decide whether to make a criminal complaint or to request a university investigation, she added. Stay tuned. I intend to ask Paye who investigates and adjudicates should a victim seek recourse through the university. On the lighter side, a few friends back in Silverdale have told me they're happy with the new Bucklin Hill Bridge. I'm happy for them. But I can't resist reminding everyone concerned that the new bridge was unnecessary and that the money would have been better spent on education on lowering college tuition, for instance. You can now donate to Kiwiblog Stuff reports: Wellington mayoral candidate Nick Leggett has announced a $27 million plan, which he says will give communities a greater say in governing their suburbs. Leggett has proposed a community futures initiative, which he will trial if he wins the mayoralty in October. The initiative will allow Wellingtons suburbs to develop their own 10-year plans in conjunction with the council. These non-statutory documents will guide council decision-making across a range of issues, including hot-button topics like cycleways and medium-density housing. The 10-year plans will be supported by an annual million-dollar fund, which could grow to $3m a year by the 2019-20 financial year if Leggetts devolution of decision-making to the local level proves successful. The fund would total $27m over the next 10 years and would be sourced from Wellington City Councils existing $1.7 billion capital expenditure budget. Leggetts policy is similar to an initiative playing out in the suburb of Island Bay in the wake of the cycleway saga that soured relations between residents and the council. In an attempt to fix that disconnect, the council is consulting with the community again on the future of the cycleway, and is also helping residents create a 10-year plan that will guide how the suburb develops. Leggett said the concept should be extended to all of Wellington, rather than stopping at Island Bay. Weve got to use the Island Bay debacle for good what we need to do is change the whole way the council thinks about, and relates to, the community, he said. Monday UPDATE: The Seward County Sheriff's Office released the following press release: On August 28 at approximately 0900 hours, Seward County communications received a call regarding a stolen vehicle from Fossil Fuels outside of Milford. The caller stated the stolen vehicle was a Blue Ford Expedition bearing 16 County license plates. Deputy Lintz observed the blue expedition on Interstate 80 at, approximately mile marker 366. The suspect vehicle then exited at the 366, and turned south on 462nd Rd. At the time, Deputy Lintz was able to confirm the license plate number and verified it was indeed the vehicle reported as stolen. Deputy Lintz activated his lights to initiate a traffic stop. The suspects did not pull over and led Deputy Lintz on a short, low speed pursuit. A Nebraska State Trooper then arrived on scene and was involved in the pursuit as well. The pursuit continued on for approximately 2 miles, until the suspect vehicle entered a cornfield on the west side of 462nd Road, just north of pioneers. After entering the cornfield, the suspects fled the vehicle on foot and evaded law enforcement. Due to the lack of information about the suspects at the time, law enforcement officers did not proceed on foot after the suspects into the corn field. Nebraska State Patrol called for their air and canine assets. A short time later, Sergeant Vance spotted two of the suspects and was able to place them into custody. Once the two suspects were questioned, our office discovered that there were actually two additional suspects. The suspects were still believed to be in the same cornfield. Deputies remained in the area searching for the two remaining suspects. At approximately 1826 hours, Deputy Minzel spotted the two suspects walking down a driveway next to the cornfield at which point they fled back into the same cornfield. After Deputy Minzel spotted the two suspects, Nebraska State Patrol and the Seward County Sheriffs Office were able to set up a perimeter and surround the section. At approximately 2100 hours the final two suspects were finally taken into custody by the Nebraska State Patrol. One adult male suspect identified as Damon Hauglie, 18 of Starbuck, MN. was lodged in the Seward County Jail. Three juvenile subjects, two females ages 15 and 16 and one 17 year old male were all lodged at the Madison County Juvenile Detention. The suspects had earlier fled from a drug treatment center in Minnesota where they had stolen a vehicle that was abandoned near-by. The suspects stolen vehicle then broke down in Waverly, NE where they stole a second vehicle. Once on Interstate 80, they stole the third and final vehicle from Fossil Fuels in Milford, NE. All four suspects are being charged with unauthorized use of a propelled vehicle and operate a motor vehicle to avoid arrest. It is unknown at this time if any other agencies will file charges. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SUNDAY 11pm UPDATE: The Seward County Sheriff's office plans to release more information about the pursuit and arrests of four suspects. The Seward County Sheriff's Office said four people were in custody late Sunday night in connection to a stolen car and pursuit. 10/11 talked to Jim Woolsey, who lives near Cordova in Seward County. He called 911 late Sunday afternoon when two of the suspects actually showed up in his yard along 462nd and Pioneers, north of Cordova. "Funny things happen in different ways. The next thing I seen these two people walking on the road when I was getting ready to do chores. They wanted to know the closest town," said Woolsey. Woolsey just couldn't believe what happened. "Very, very exciting. Just need to wind down a little bit,"said Woolsey. Not long after Woolsey saw the suspects, the suspects were seen by the Seward County Sherrif's Office. "I told them to stop where they were at or I'd release my canine. Both of them stopped and I had them lay down on the ground and I handcuffed them,"said Sgt. Mike Vance of the Seward County Sheriff's Dept. Sunday evening, the Seward County Sheriff's Office posted on it's Facebook page the suspects wanted in a pursuit and stolen car were no longer on the run. On their page they said: "The last two suspects have been apprehended. All four suspects are in custody. We will have more detailed information regarding today's events in the morning. Thank you all for sharing our post and getting the word out. A big thank you to all of the agencies that helped keep Seward County safe!" _____________________________________________________ 6:15pm UPDATE: The Seward County Sheriff's Office told 10/11 on scene, two suspects wanted in connection to a stolen car and pursuit Sunday are now in custody. The 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man, were seen walking near a cornfield near 462nd and Pioneers Road in Seward County. A deputy on scene, told 10/11 the duo escaped from a drug treatment center in Richfield, Minnesota. The deputy on scene said the two who were caught, told investigators there were two others who were with them. The sheriff's office posted on it's Facebook page: "Our deputies have learned that there were actually 4 subjects in the vehicle, 2 males and 2 females. We are now searching for 1 Native American female and 1 Native American male. Their last known location was 462nd Pioneers Rd. Again, if you see anyone suspicious please do not hesitate to call! The two suspects have recently been seen in the area. Nebraska State Patrol is back at the scene assisting in the search." ______________________________________________________ UPDATE: The Seward County Sheriff's Office gave a description to 10/11 of the two women deputies are looking for. On the office's Facebook page they wrote: "The two suspects have been described as a Caucasian female 5'0" tall with freckles and red hair. The second female was described as an African American female 5'5" tall with long black hair and wearing a red shirt. They are still suspected to be in the area." The sheriff's office said the women ditched the stolen vehicle and ran into a cornfield near 462nd Road, about a half mile to 3/4 of a mile north of Pioneers Road. The Nebraska State Patrol aircraft that was helping with the search, had to leave to refuel. It's unclear if it will return to assist in the search. Seward County said this is still an active search and investigation. ______________________________________________________________________ Several area law enforcement agencies are in pursuit of two women suspected of stealing a vehicle in the Milford area. The Seward County Sheriff's Office has limited information to release at this time but said they have details available on their Facebook page. According to the page, the two women left the suspected stolen vehicle on foot in the area of 462nd Road and Pioneers. The York County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska State Patrol, NSP aircraft and K9 units are searching for the suspects. York County also posted a warning on their Facebook page Sunday morning telling people in the southeast portion of York County to take keys out of their vehicles and lock their doors. They said the foot pursuit for these two women was three miles south of the Utica exit. Mark Rogers, CEO and founder of the Quincy, Mass., BoardProspects Inc., speaks with Dani Niro, the company's COO, about issues related to serving on boards. (Credit: Taylor Howell) Serving on a board of directors might offer a reasonable change without a leap to a new organization. How can you be certain if your leadership skills pass muster? Last November, Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning, headquartered in Boston, surveyed more than 700 people, most from companies with more than 10,000 employees. Its report, The State of Leadership Development, finds that industries with the best leadership development programs are clustered in pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and aerospace. Professional services, construction and retail tend to be weak in this area. The report states that the impact of most leadership development programs hasnt been established: Only seven percent of respondents characterized their leadership development program as Best in Class programs that ... demonstrate an impact on overall success, it states. It identifies that impact as financial, but few organizations tie L&D outcomes to profit, the report maintains. The studys findings indicate that leaders need integrity (77 percent) and the ability to function strategically (70 percent) and effectively in complex environments (75 percent) where they inspire others to be engaged (70 percent). Can you check the boxes? If so, you might assume that those behaviors led to positive outcomes nurtured in your organizations leadership development program. However, without a program, how can you reasonably assess your promise as a leader? You might start by volunteering on nonprofit boards, indicates Stephanie Resnick, partner and chair of the Directors and Officers Practice Group at Fox Rothschild LLP in Philadelphia. Many nonprofits are in need of assistance, she says. Volunteer for a particular committee, she continues. Do an excellent job, and youre looked at as a natural when a board position is open. She found herself enriched personally and professionally by nonprofit board service, because it made her aware of relevant issues, a company or organization's business operation, and appropriate methods of presenting ideas and information. Resnick mentions that serving on corporate boards requires you to be very mindful of potential liability and of the financial issues, because corporate board members are under increased scrutiny. Make sure youre making reasonable and well-based business decisions for the board, which she points out, requires doing due diligence. This means researching issues and their financial ramifications. Avoiding this work puts not just the company at risk, but also its officers and directors. In a corporate context, its shareholders would also be at risk. Youre at risk, too. Directors and officers have always been under pressure to perform and to keep their organizations in line with state and federal regulations, Resnick points out. Directors and officers are increasingly being held personally accountable. Mark Rogers, founder and CEO of BoardProspects Inc. in Quincy, Massachusetts, whos served on nonprofit and private company boards and formerly was a practicing attorney, has amassed a network of more than 12,000 users in 80 countries in a board recruiting vehicle for corporations and individuals whod like to serve. He advises you to create a path to this opportunity by networking, while avoiding a conflict of interest with your current organization. Make sure that you follow up with your own HR department, he advises. Its good for HR to know and they may be aware of board opportunities. If youre willing to work hard and you persist, without giving up, youll demonstrate to others and yourself that youre ready for this challenge. (Knoxville News Sentinel syndicated columnist Mildred Culp, Ph.D., welcomes your questions. Contact her at culp@workwise.net. 2016 Passage Media.) Brady Fernandes and his father Craig, pictured at the Hound Dogs retail store at Cedar Springs shopping center. (SAUL YOUNG/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE A local family-owned business, Patriot Threads LLC, is pledging $10 for every one of its shirts ordered through its online story through Sept. 5 to the memorial fund for Maryville Police Officer Kenny Moats. Moats was shot and killed on Thursday, Aug. 25, while responding to a domestic violence call. Patriot Threads was started in 2015 by high school junior Brady Fernandes and his father, Craig. The Fernandeses pledged to support veterans, wounded warriors and other charities with each sale of their shirts. The website is www.patriotthreads.org/store and the company facebook page is www.facebook.com/patriotthreads/ . Shirts run between $28 and $38. The Fernandeses also encourage shirt owners to wear them to the first UT home game on Thursday to show support for the Maryville community. In a July 1940, photograph, eight-month-old Georgiana Fry Vines is pictured with her grandmother, Lossie Flanagan, left, and mother, Helen Fry, in Rocky Mountain National Park. (Georgiana Vines/Special to the News Sentinel) Georgiana Vines Columnist SHARE In a 1940 photograph, eight-month-old Georgiana Fry Vines is held by her mother, Helen Fry, in Rocky Mountain National Park. (Georgiana Vines/Special to the News Sentinel) I've been thinking a lot about growing up in national parks with the centennial of the National Park Service this past Thursday. As a "Park Service brat," I lived in three national parks. I left friends behind after the first, fourth and sixth grades when we moved until finally I lived in one park for six years before going to college. I stopped being in touch with any school friend decades ago. When we took a vacation, we stopped at every national park, historic site, battlefield or seashore along the way. My dad, George W. Fry, planned the trips. Mom, whose name was Helen but whom Dad called Pardy, went along with it. I still travel this way although I've never been sure my daughter, Carla, enjoyed it. It instilled an interest in history as seen through national preservation and conservation sites. I never lived in the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park, though I'm most connected to this park. Dad was superintendent in the 1960s, and I married the late Carl A. Vines Jr., United Press International bureau manager in Knoxville, on July 2, 1968, in what was then the superintendent's residence at Twin Creeks. It had been a home for Louis E. Voorheis, a Cincinnati industrialist, whose family donated the property to the establishment of the Smokies in 1933, according to "Smokies Life" magazine's special national parks centennial issue. Mom used to tell us that Voorheis' ashes were buried beside a stonewall fence on the property, which I think bothered her because the fence was close to the house. Today the house is used for prescribed fire staff offices. Also, superintendents have a choice about whether to live in park housing or live outside the park. Permanent staff is encouraged to live outside to enable more spaces for seasonal and interns who have a more difficult time finding affordable, short-term housing, park spokeswoman Dana Soehn said. When my parents first came to the Smokies in 1963, my brothers, John and Doug, still lived at home. So people thought the Frys only had two sons. In 1967, my sister, Carolyn, and her husband, Don Hartman, moved to Knoxville, where he became a graduate student at the University of Tennessee. Then in 1968, I came to work for the News Sentinel. All of a sudden, the Frys also had two daughters. Mom used to tell me how surprised everyone was to realize that. My parents are deceased but certainly were remembered when Doug, Carolyn and I were joined by relatives to attend last week's centennial luncheon at the invitation of Smokies' Superintendent Cassius Cash on Thursday. We had a Fry cousin reunion just for the occasion. The first park I lived in was Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Dad was a general supervisor and in charge of all Civilian Conservation Corps operations under the park's jurisdiction. We lived in a government house. Memories of the first five years of my life are shorn up by an album of black and white photographs taken by Dad, conversations over the dinner table growing up and a self-published book Dad wrote on his life from birth to retirement in 1973 called "George Fry: The Legend." The Rockies were a place where it snowed for months and I enjoyed as a kid bundled up to play outside. The mountains are taller than those in the Smokies with majestic stone peaks not laden with lush vegetation resembling thick carpet like the Smokies. During World War II, Dad went with the U.S. Forest Service with the Timber Production War Project and at the end of the war, he returned to the Park Service as chief ranger at Lake Texoma National Recreational Area in Denison, Texas. During the first grade, I was in four different schools in three different states. Then we stayed put until I was in the fifth grade when Dad became chief ranger at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky and we lived in a government home again. I liked living in the park and for the first time rode a bus to school, in Cave City. I enjoyed having school friends come to visit because one activity we usually did was take a trip inside the cave, which the Park Service touts as the world's largest cave system. In the summer of 1951, the family took a trip to Everglades National Park in South Florida for Dad to consider being the chief ranger. He had been offered the job previously and was told housing would be available inside the park but the children would have to stay inside the house because alligators came into the yard. He turned it down. With this new job offer came word that housing was available in an area called Pine Island, considered safer for children because it was further away from water. My folks wanted to be sure so that's why we went to check out the park. Dad accepted the job. The home where I lived in 1951-57 was there when I visited the Everglades in January. Pine Island still has the park's maintenance area with big trucks where Dad taught me to drive when I was 14. Some houses built in the '50s aren't the one we lived in is. Three women park employees are sharing it. One was at home for lunch when a friend, Fran Scheidt, and I drove up, and the employee invited us in after I explained why I was there. It was a thrill to see it. And it also was exciting to know women live in my former home. No professional women worked for the parks that I grew up in or I might have had a different career than as a journalist. By News Sentinel Staff HARRIMAN Authorities in Roane County said they are investigating a shooting in which a 15-year-old is charged with killing a member of the Army on Sunday night. MarStratton Gordon, a 23-year-old soldier stationed in Fort Campbell, Ky., was shot about 7:35 p.m. at a residence on Byrd Avenue in Harriman, according to a news release from the office of the 9th Judicial District Attorney General Russell Johnson. Authorities believe Gordon was between deployments and on leave visiting his girlfriend when a domestic altercation resulted in the 15-year-old shooting Gordon once with a handgun, killing him, according to the release. The teenager's name was not released, and further information about the shooting and the events leading up to it were not available. An autopsy is being conducted at the Regional Forensics Center in Knoxville to determine the cause and manner of death. The Harriman Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the 9th Judicial District Attorney General's Office are investigating the shooting. An earlier alert from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows counterfeit pain pills. TBI said those are increasingly containing the painkiller fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. (TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION) By Kristi L. Nelson of the Knoxville News Sentinel State officials are increasingly concerned about a synthetic opioid drug, 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, being used to produce "cheap counterfeits of Oxycodone, Xanax and Norco." The painkiller fentanyl, initially used to treat severe pain in cancer patients, was the seventh-most common substance tied to drug-related deaths in Knox and Anderson counties in 2015 and 2014, according to a report issued by the county's Regional Forensics Center earlier this month. In the summer of 2014, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reported hundreds of thousands of counterfeit pills many containing fentanyl began entering U.S. drug market. Last week, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a public health alert on fentanyl, citing an "increased risk of overdose and fatalities associated with fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and compounds." On Monday, state officials Mark Gwyn, director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; Dr. John Dreyzehner, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health; Doug Varney, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; and David Purkey, assistant commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security issued their own joint warning about the drug, which can be inhaled, injected, absorbed through the skin or vaporized. Its effect on the central nervous and respiratory systems is so powerful, those who overdose can quickly lose the ability to breathe and die if emergency care isn't immediately provided, health officials said. In addition, officials said, fentanyl is often mixed with heroin, cocaine or other drugs "to increase the euphoric effects of those drugs," and is being sold as counterfeit heroin. In April, a Knox County judge sentenced a middleman in a drug deal to eight years in prison on a charge of facilitation of second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement in the October 2014 overdose death of a 20-year-old heroin addict given heroin laced with fentanyl. Gwyn said TBI is seeing "more and more" drugs made in clandestine labs containing fentanyl. "The counterfeiters producing very real-looking imitations of legitimate pain-relief drugs don't emphasize quality control in their manufacturing, so one fake pill may be more deadly than another," said Gwyn, whose office has issued repeated warnings about the counterfeit drugs. "Anyone with knowledge of fake pills being sold in any community should immediately contact local law enforcement. One call might save one life or many." Tennessee also has a toll-free "redline" 1-800-889-9789 people struggling with opioid dependence can call for help. "Fentanyl is deadly, and those who are using or selling it illegally are now at real risk of killing themselves or others," Dreyzehner said. "We strongly encourage Tennesseans with substance use disorders to recognize the importance of avoiding drugs from illegal sources and to seek help now to end a dependency. Tomorrow may be too late." Ray Newsome, left, and Ryan Ayers hike at Mt. Chapman. (Special to the NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE Rhododendron seen by Ray Newsome and Ryan Ayers during their hike along their way to Newfound Gap. (Special to the NEWS SENTINEL) Ryan Ayers, left, and Ray Newsome hike at Spence Field. (Special to the NEWS SENTINEL) By John Shearer of the Knoxville News Sentinel For many people, hiking offers an opportunity to slow down and enjoy nature. But Ryan Ayers, of Knoxville, and Ray Newsome, of Columbus, Ohio, chose to experience the outdoor life in the fast lane. Earlier this summer, the two friends hiked the more than 70-mile Tennessee section of the Appalachian Trail through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in well under two days. And despite some bear scares and tired legs, they were admittedly none the worse for the wear and glad they did it. "The only thing that really bothered us were our feet," a smiling Ayers recalled. "Your feet really take a pounding." Newsome said the hiking had some emotional intensity as well. "Some of the biggest challenges were the unknown, night hiking in bear country, maintaining a mind-over-body mindset for the long hours, and miles on the trail," he said. The two friends met at the University of Tennessee last fall, and the idea for the hike came to Newsome, who teaches at an alternative school in Ohio. "We are both challenged physically like that," said Ayers, a physical therapist in Oak Ridge and 1996 Bearden High graduate. "We want to push our limit, so I said, 'Yes, let's do it.' " Besides the physical preparation work, such as Ayers' weekend hikes of 10-20 miles, some logistical planning also had to be done. For transportation after they were finished, Newsome rented a car and drove it to Davenport Gap the northern part of the trail's end. Ayers drove his truck to Newfound Gap, which was about 40 miles into the hike and offered them a place to rest and resupply slightly past the halfway point. Newsome's brother-in-law later took them to the starting point by Fontana Dam. Because they wanted to hike using as much daylight as possible, they left on the morning of June 18 just before the summer solstice arrived. During the first few miles, they met a few fellow hikers, who did double takes after learning what kind of hike the two were taking and how far they were going. "They thought we were kind of crazy for going that far," Ayers joked. Hiking more than 70 miles so quickly is difficult even on a flat road, but their jaunt included elevation changes of several thousand feet. There were a few mood changes as well, due to the encounters with wildlife and the physical exhaustion. At the Russell Field shelter, they ran into their first black bear. Another hiker had warned them about the animal a few minutes earlier, so they made some noise and the animal left. "We both decided it was a pretty good idea to keep moving," Ayers said. That night, wearing headlamps and whistles around their necks, another bear's roar startled them. However, this one didn't back away as easily as the previous one. "A black bear charged us," Ayers said, who called it one of his scariest moments as a hiker. "It got about 10 feet from us. We blew the whistle and then it ran off. It had probably been sleeping." They were exhausted as they reached Clingmans Dome about 12:30 a.m. the next day, but they realized they had seven more miles to go to reach his truck at Newfound Gap. Despite the mental obstacles of doubt that now accompanied their physical exertion, they reached the truck about 3 a.m. "It was so awesome to see my truck," Ayers joked. "It was a full moon and everything was lit up." They were back on the trail by 8 a.m. Luckily, the final 30 miles produced no scary incidents as they reached Davenport Gap about 10 p.m. Calling their arrival the "best feeling in the world," they hiked the remaining short distance to the campground where Newsome's rental car was parked. "We were walking around like 80-year-old men," Ayers said. The soreness has worn off but the afterglow has lasted much longer, they said, and they already are planning another hike for next year. "I am stronger today because of the hike into the unknown, and am ready for the next challenge," Newsome said. Tanya Ratanavong, 10, representing Thailand, lines up for the parade during Sunday's third annual Knox Asian Festival on Market Square. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel) SHARE Ann Baingern helps Tanya Ratanavong, 10, fit into traditional Thai preforming outfit for Sunday's Knox Asian Festival on Sunday in downtown Knoxville. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel) Chinese dancers prepare to take the stage during the third annual Knox Asian Festival on Sunday. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel) India is introduce during the Sunday's Knox Asian Festival on Market Square. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel) Musei Tora Bujinkan of Knoxville demonstrates classical Japanese warrior fighting during the Knox Asian Festival on Sunday. (Shawn Millsaps/Special to News Sentinel) By Jay Miller, Special to the News Sentinel A hot, late summer day with temperatures reaching the mid-90s was not enough to keep large crowds away from Sunday's Knox Asian Festival, one of the downtown Knoxville's larger annual celebrations. Almost 20 Asian countries were represented at the festival, each showcasing their cultures to more than 15,000 attendees. Kumi Alderman, an organizer for the third annual Asian Festival, said the event is an opportunity for East Tennesseans to experience a different culture. "This is the first step for people to understand our culture," Alderman said. "We want to share with other communities so we can be connected with them." During the festival, food vendors, craft exhibitions and displays of dance, martial arts and singing occupied Market Square. Jason Bricker, a downtown resident, said the festival was an exciting cultural experience. "I love being able to walk out of my building and witness such a beautiful, colorful display of humanity," he said. "It's important for Knoxville, or any city, to be able to celebrate their diversity and to openly share their culture." Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero attended the Sunday event. She said the Knox Asian Festival is an example of what makes Knoxville stronger and more diverse. Rogero recently visited China for a clean air summit to discuss efforts and address climate change issues. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010 more than 2 percent of the population of Knox County was listed as Asian. Elizabeth Rowland, a representative for the TN-China Network a group that works to connect businesses in China and the state said the festival is important because it showcases diversity and makes people aware of the economic and political connections that exist between the United States and Asia. "Often people run in their own circles without realizing the other cultures that exist here," she said. "Also a lot of people don't recognize the business the United States does with China. China is our third largest export destination for Tennessee, we don't just import." Throughout the day, people gathered around the stage on Market Square to witness performances from cultures far away, but also near. According to Alderman, the event also serves to connect the Asian community. "The Asian Festival is the more formal method of bringing the Asian communities together," she said. "Then throughout the year, the personal connections within the community get stronger, and more formal." SHARE Kellie Goza of Alcoa has been installed as the 2016-17 chair of the Tennessee Society of Pharmacy Technicians, a society of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association (TPA). Goza will serve a one-year term as chair of TSPT and will sit on the TPA board of directors. Goza has 15 years of health care experience as a certified pharmacy technician in both community and hospital settings. She received her bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Memphis and has worked at South College School of Pharmacy as the director of introductory pharmacy practice experiences for the past five years. While at South College, she has also served as co-adviser to the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists and was inducted into the Delta Psi Chapter of the Pharmacy Leadership Society, Phi Lambda Sigma (PLS). n Knoxville lawyer Stephen Ross Johnson has been sworn in for his second term as a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Johnson practices criminal defense at the trial and appellate levels with Ritchie, Dillard, Davies & Johnson, P.C. in Knoxville. His work there focuses on defense of cases involving white-collar offenses, major felonies and other serious matters in both federal and state courts. He has argued or briefed cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of Tennessee, and several state and federal appellate and trial courts. He also works as an adjunct professor with the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he is engaged with the Innocence and Wrongful Convictions Clinic. He is a past president of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, served as associate general counsel for the Tennessee Bar Association and chaired its Criminal Justice Section for three years, co-chairs the Technology and Law Office Management Committee of the Knoxville Bar Association, and is on faculty with the Tennessee Criminal Defense College. n East Tennessee State University recently bestowed its highest honors upon three professors with the presentation of the 2016 Distinguished Faculty Awards for Teaching, Research and Service. Those honored are: Distinguished Faculty Award in Teaching: Mary Ann Littleton, an associate professor in the College of Public Health's Department of Community and Behavioral Health, who is locally and nationally known as a leader in community-based teaching and learning and interprofessional education. Distinguished Faculty Award for Research: Jonathan Moorman of the Quillen College of Medicine joined the university faculty in 2001 and is currently a professor and vice chair for research and scholarship as well as chief of infectious diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine. He is also section chief for infectious diseases at the Quillen VA Medical Center. Distinguished Faculty Award for Service: Megan Quinn, an assistant professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology within the College of Public Health, was recognized for her exceptional service contributions to the community, public health profession and the university, particularly her dedication to underserved communities, both locally and globally, and her commitment to public health workforce development. Guinness World Records Adjudicator Michael Emrich is assisted by ORNL Program Outreach Specialist Brittany Cramer as he measures a 3-D printed manufacturing tool that ORNL produced. Emrich declared it the world's largest solid 3D printed object on Monday. (Ed Marcum/News Sentinel) SHARE By Ed Marcum of the Knoxville News Sentinel OAK RIDGE ORNL's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility set a Guinness World Record today for the largest solid 3-D printed item. Oak Ridge National Laboratory held a ceremony at the facility, in which Guinness adjudicator Michael Empric confirmed measurements of a 3-D printed tool that the Boeing Co. will use to help form the wing tips of its new 777X airliner. The part, which was produced with the facility's Big Area Additive Manufacturing Machine, was 17.5 feet long, 5.5 feet wide, 1.5 feet thick and weighed 1,650 pounds. Assisted by ORNL staff member Brittany Cramer, Empric took measurements of the object to see if it surpassed a previous record of 10.6 cubic feet for a 3-D printed item. He stepped to the lectern and after a few suspenseful remarks, announced the results. "You have reached the measurement of 82.4 cubic feet, which is a new Guinness World Record Title. Congratulations," Empric said. Thom Mason, ORNL director, noted this was the second Guinness World Record achievement for ORNL, which also secured a Guinness record in 2007 for the unprecedented bursts of neutrons achieved during testing of the Spallation Neutron Source. "These two world record achievements demonstrate, really, the scope, scale and range of activities at ORNL, from fundamental science to discovering innovations in clean energy and global security," Mason said. Leo Christodoulou, director of Structures and Materials, Enterprise Operations & Technology, said the drill-and-trim tool ORNL produced for Boeing is a great improvement over existing technology. "By comparison, this tool, if made the traditional way, would take three months to build. It was built in 30 hours. Just think about that," he said. Christodoulou said 3-D printing offers great potential for bringing things to the market more quickly, efficiently and with greater energy savings than before. Normally, the drill-and-trim tool would be made of metal at a much greater cost, he said. Bill Peter, director of the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, touted the speed and efficiency of the equipment there. "It prints out materials at about three orders of magnitude faster than other systems," he said. "We are at the area of about 1,000 cubic inches per hour, which really shows how we can change 3-D printing." Developing the drill-and-trim tool was a collaborative effort between ORNL, Boeing and other local companies, said. Techmer PM, of Clinton, produced the plastic beads used in the additive printing process and Knoxville-based Tru-Design developed the coating applied to the part. Boeing will use the trim-and-drill tool with equipment to hold the composite skin of a 777X wing tip in place as it is drilled and machined. ORNL's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility is meant to speed adoption of new manufacturing technologies to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, lower production costs and create new products and opportunities for high-paying jobs. SHARE Recent letters stating consumers have unclaimed funds are legitimate, according to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. "The state of Tennessee's Treasury Department has recently sent a mass mailing of letters to consumers for which they have a record of unclaimed property," according to a news release. According to the release, unclaimed funds are "intangible assets held by financial institutions or companies that have had no activity or account holder contact for a year or more." Included in that description are savings and checking accounts, refunds, customer overpayments, contents of safe deposit boxes, stock certificates, unclaimed wages and gift certificates. The organization has released some guidelines for people with unclaimed funds to follow to prevent accumulating unclaimed property. The department advises that those affected deposit or cash all checks for dividends, wages or insurance settlements as soon as convenient and advises those who receive emails to respond to legitimate requests for confirmations of account balances and stock holder proxies. Residents who have safe deposit boxes are advised to record numbers, bank names and addresses and give the extra keys to trusted associates. All residents affected are also advised to prepare and file wills detailing the disposition of their assets. The warning comes weeks after the department issued a warning about an email phishing scam targeting attorneys in the state. Those who wish to know if they have unclaimed property can go to www.Treasury.TN.Gov/unclaim or call 615-741-6499. SHARE A legislative attempt to get tough on underage drunk drivers could cost Tennessee $60 million in federal highway funds. Lawmakers should be prepared to interrupt their re-election campaigns for a special session to repeal the new drunk-driving law. Gov. Bill Haslam and Attorney General Herbert Slatery III have asked for a waiver that would keep the funding on track. Tennessee's entire congressional delegation signed a letter sent to federal transportation officials. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had told state officials a decision would be made by the end of last week, but Friday came and went without a public statement. During this year's session, legislators overwhelmingly passed a bill to provide stiffer penalties for anyone 18 to 20 years old convicted of drunk driving. Under the previous law, anyone ages 16 to 20 with a blood alcohol content of 0.02 would be guilty of driving while impaired. Punishment is a one-year driver's license suspension and a $250 fine. The new law would raise the threshold to 0.08 for 18- to 20- year-olds and apply the same penalties given to those 21 and older convicted of driving under the influence, including a mandatory 48 hours in jail, a fine of up to $1,500 and a one-year driver's license suspension. Federal law, however, requires that states set a legal limit of 0.02 for drivers under the age of 21 or risk losing 8 percent of their federal highway dollars. In Tennessee's case, that would amount to $60 million. State officials argue that other Tennessee laws combine to address the federal government's concerns. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and obtained by The Tennessean, Slatery conceded that the new law does not meet federal requirements, but pointed out that Tennessee's "zero tolerance" laws achieve the same end. With exceptions for some religious practices, no one under the age of 21 can legally possess or consume any amount of alcohol in Tennessee. "Accordingly," Slatery wrote in his letter, "Tennessee meets the requirements of (the federal statute), and is committed to imposing its zero tolerance laws." The new law had overwhelming support in the Legislature, passing 91-2 in the House and 30-0 in the Senate. The main sponsor in the House, Cottontown Republican state Rep. William Lamberth, told the Associated Press that lawmakers were unaware that the law would put federal highway funding at risk. The fiscal note attached to the bill, prepared by the General Assembly's Fiscal Review Committee noted the increased incarceration costs to local governments, but made no mention of federal highway funding. Apparently, no one thought to seek Slatery's opinion as is common practice. If federal highway officials reject Tennessee's request for an exception, the state has until Oct. 1 to come into compliance. Tennessee's funding shortfall for highway projects is well documented, so the state can ill afford to do nothing. Haslam would have little choice but to call a special session of the Legislature to repeal the measure. Election or no, lawmakers need to do whatever it takes to prevent the loss of these vital highway funds. Schwarzbart Gallery featuring New York Artist David Barnett works David Barnett. Born 1988, currently living and working in New York City. Image courtesy of the artist. . Image courtesy of the artist. KNOXVILLE This past January, the Knoxville Jewish Alliance (KJA) launched a campaign to update and improve its Arnstein Jewish Community Center (AJCC) facility, the organizations operational and programming hub. The anchor of the first phase of these updates was the Schwarzbart Gallery, a permanent tribute to the works of Judaic artisan Arnolds Schwarzbart, who passed away in March 2015. It was designed to include space for rotating exhibits as well. On Monday, August 29, the Schwarzbart Gallery will welcome its first featured artist exhibit from outside the Knoxville area. David Barnett is a painter, illustrator, designer and muralist currently living and working in the Catskills but with some very relevant Knoxville ties. Barnett is the nephew of local woodworking designer Ernie Gross and his wife Pam. He grew up in Knoxville and spent Tuesday evenings studying with Arnold Schwarzbart. Davids exhibit as the Schwarzbart Gallerys first featured artist from outside this community is equally exciting and poignant for us, said Deborah Oleshansky, Executive Director of the KJA. She continued, Were honored to welcome his work, and hope that many people will come to the Gallery to see it in the coming months. An Artist Reception will be held on Monday, August 29 from 5:30 7:00 PM at the AJCC Schwarzbart Gallery. 6800 Deane Hill Drive. This is a free event, open to the community and members of all faiths. Barnetts work will be on display through September. Individuals or groups may request a guided tour by contacting the Knoxville Jewish Alliance Barnetts work depicts moments in his own life, where the emotional atmosphere overwhelms the subject. He allows his paintings to emote rather than conceptualize. Using color and gesture, he situates his thoughts and memories firmly within an emotional context, separating them from progression and reason. He draws from varied influences, as far reaching as moviemakers like Charlie Kaufman and Denis Villeneuve, to those more closely related, like Peter Doig and Pierre Bonnard. Barnett currently lives and works in the Catskills, where he enjoys basking in the sun by the Delaware River. For more information and to view his portfolio, visit www.blankwallproductions.com. The KJA is a single organization that operates the Arnstein Jewish Community Center and serves as Knoxvilles affiliate of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the primary fundraising organization for North American Jewish communities. In a creative move years ago as one of the countrys smallest, organized Jewish populations, the Knoxville Jewish community merged its non-religious organizations to improve efficiencies and communication. It shares funds, staff, a board of directors, volunteers and other resources. Published August 28, 2016 Pellissippi State features 'Vacuum Shop Studios' artists through Sept. 9 "Eight Arts of the Vacuum Shop Studios" at Pellissippi State Community College will feature the work of local artists, including this piece by Chelsie Nunn. Now through Sept. 9, Pellissippi State Community College is hosting the "Eight Artists of the Vacuum Shop Studios" exhibit in the Bagwell Center for Media and Art Gallery, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. The exhibit features artists from Knoxville's collaboratively-run Vacuum Shop Studios: Eleanor Aldrich, Heather Hartman, Kelly Hider, Ashton Ludden, Erin Mullenex, Chelsie Nunn, Deb Rule and Jessie Van der Laan. A reception to meet the artists will be held from 4-7 p.m., Sept. 9. The exhibit is part of The Arts at Pellissippi State, an annual series that includes music and theatre performances, international celebrations, lectures and the fine arts. To request accommodations for a disability at this event, contact the executive director of Equity and Compliance at 865-539-7401 or accommodations@pstcc.edu. Published August 29, 2016 By Choi Sung-jin Educational and housing costs, which impose a heavy burden on householders in their 30s and 40s, begin to dwindle after they reach 50, but the reduced expenses do not lead to an increase in consumption. Most people in their 50s are so busy preparing for old age that they cannot afford to boost spending, Statistics Korea said Monday. According to the second-quarter household survey, households whose heads are aged 40-49 spent the most -- 481,000 won ($428) a month on average on children's education among families in all age groups, followed by 205,000 won spent by householders aged 39 or younger. As household heads reach 50 or older, their educational spending starts to fall. The monthly educational cost for families whose heads are aged 50-59 was 152,000 won and that for household heads 60 or older plunged to 13,000 won, the state statistical office said. Housing, water, lighting and heating costs also were a considerable burden to younger householders in their 30s and 40s. These costs account for 8 percent of total disposable income of 30-something households. The comparable share falls to 7.2 percent among the 40-something householders and to 6.9 percent in the 50-somethings. However, the figure rises to 9.9 percent among householders aged 60 or older because more of them are poor and more are paying monthly rent than younger families. Although educational and housing costs declined among householders aged 50 or older, other expenses did not increase much. Food costs stood at 334,000 won for 50-something households and 289,000 won for 60-something families, showing little differences with other age groups. Health-related spending was lowest among 40-something householders at 158,000 won, but the gap was not wide, with the largest expense of 193,000 won for 50-something householders. The consumption shrinkage among aged households was best shown in their average propensity to consume. The disposable income of householders aged 50-59 was highest at 4.13 million won a month, but their average propensity to consume was lowest at 65.2 percent. Average propensity to consume is the share that consumption expenditure takes up among total disposable income. The disposable income of householders aged 60 or older was 2.46 million won, but their average propensity to consume stood at 65.5 percent. On the other hand, householders aged 30 or younger had disposable income of 3.52 million won and 74.4 percent in average propensity to consume. Relative figures for 40-something householders were 3.91 million won and 76.2 percent, indicating they have little money left to save. "Retired Koreans cannot spend freely mainly because they spent most of their income on homes and the education of their children and failed to prepare for old age," said Lee Geun-tae, a senior fellow at LG Economic Research Institute. "To induce spending by elderly people in the long term, the government needs to expand public assistance programs and reduce educational and housing costs." By Choi Sung-jin Nearly eight out of 10 small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) think Korea is not providing a level playground for large and small businesses to compete fairly, a survey showed Monday. The Korea Federation of SMEs conducted the survey of 320 small business owners about the allegedly unfair business practices of their larger counterparts. Asked whether SMEs can compete and make fair transactions with large businesses, 76.9 percent of respondents said "no," and 57.7 percent of these cited "lack of will" by large businesses as the biggest reason, the survey showed. More than four out of 10 SMEs regarded government regulations to prevent large companies' unfair business practices as ineffective. Specifically, 53.1 percent regarded regulations limiting chaebols from giving too much work to their subsidiaries as ineffective, 45.3 percent cited the government's punishment criteria as invalid, 44.4 percent believed the Fair Trade Commission (FTC)'s exclusive right to accuse is inefficient, and 55.6 percent said the punitive compensation system concerning unfair practices was ineffective. Regarding the most urgent regulations needed to ensure fair competition, 38.3 percent pointed to the conglomerates' placement of orders with subsidiaries while 68.2 percent called for strengthening the criteria to punish unfair practices by large companies by, for instance, drastically raising penalties. In order to root out unfair trade practices, 55.2 percent of small business owners called for the FTC to be given authority to investigate, allowing the antitrust agency to seize and search violators. A total of 42.8 percent of respondents also wanted to expand the right to accuse so that the heads of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Public Procurement Service and the Korea Federation of SMEs could also exercise it. "To prevent unfair trade practices, the government should improve punitive rules in more reasonable ways and, at the same time, strengthen the authority of the antitrust agency by giving it compulsory investigative rights," said Kim Kyung-man, head of the federation's economic policy headquarters. By Choi Sung-jin The National Pension Service has invested 2.87 trillion won ($2.55 billion) into Mitsubishi and other Japanese companies that helped Imperial Japan's war efforts during World War II, a lawmaker said Monday. Based on NPS data, Rep. Kim Kwang-soo of the People's Party said investment into these "war criminal companies" sharply increased over the past five years, from 200.5 billion won in 2011 to 379 billion won in 2012, 600.8 billion won in 2013, 764.6 billion won in 2014 and 931.5 billion won last year. As at the end of 2015, the top-five Japanese companies receiving NPS investment were Toyota Motor (254.6 billion won), Fuji Heavy Industries (79.4 billion won), Shinetsu Chemical (76.6 billion won), Nissan Motor (66.7 billion won) and East Japan Railway (50.9 billion won). Rep. Kim said the pension fund particularly had invested 47.6 billion won in the Mitsubishi Group, which mobilized more than 100,000 Koreans as forced laborers. The total consisted of 23.5 billion won invested in Mitsubishi Electric, 13.8 billion won in Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, 10 billion won in Mitsubishi Chemical, and 109 million won in Mitsubishi Materials. The rate of return from investment into Mitsubishi Electric was -9.77 percent, and those from the group's heavy industries and chemical units also stood at -19.04 percent and -2.34 percent, respectively, the opposition lawmaker said, pointing out that the NPS officials' alleged investment principle based on profitability seemed to have been violated. "The NPS's investments into Japanese war criminal firms runs counter to the sentiments of the Korean people as the policyholders of the fund," Rep. Kim said. "In the fund's future management, the officials should take into account the social corporate responsibility of the investment targets." Justice Party Chairwoman Shim Sang-jeong, fifth from left, and Starky Korea CEO Richard Shim, second from right, pose during a seminar on neurological disorders at the National Assembly, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Jhoo Dong-chan By Jhoo Dong-chan Neurologists and pharmaceutical circles denounced the health ministry for creating access barriers against millions of melancholia patients who want to be prescribed antidepressants from doctors other than psychiatrists. Under related health laws in Korea, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), the most widely used antidepressant, is allowed to be prescribed only by psychiatrists, but Dr. Hong Seung-bong of the Neurology and Neuroscience Center at Samsung Medical Center believes the law should be changed now. "I understand a total of 6 million people in Korea are suffering from depression. Of them, 15,000 people reportedly commit suicide every year. Most of them didn't even have a chance to take SSRI due to the government's regulation," Hong said during a neurologic disorders seminar at the National Assembly, southwestern Seoul, Monday. "Under the current law, the only doctors allowed to prescribe SSRIs for more than 60 days are psychiatrists. Most severe illnesses are often accompanied by depression, so, in the U.S, SSRIs are prescribed on medical occasions by doctors other than psychiatrists. I have doubts concerning the government's health regulations about antidepressants." Justice Party Chairwoman Shim Sang-jeong and ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Park In-sook agreed. "Not only patients but also their friends and family members suffer from nervous disorders. If the government's regulation poses an obstacle that jeopardizes public health, then it should go," lawmaker Shim said. Lawmaker Park also condemned the existing law, saying it is "depriving people of their basic medical rights." "Combining patients' family members, a total of 20 million to 30 million people in Korea are suffering from depression. I believe the figure is closely related to the nation's highest suicide rate among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member states," Park said. "However, the cure rate is only 20 to 30 percent. It's definitely a problem. We should work on the revision of related laws." Psychiatric professor Seok Jeong-ho, however, immediately rebutted Park, claiming that allowing SSRI is not an ultimate solution for depression. "Depression comes from various causes, including social, psychological as well as biological reasons. Treating the conditions only with medicine won't solve the problem," said Seok. "Rather, such a revision would infringe on the domain of psychiatrists. Patients suffering from depression should come to psychiatric clinics and consult with us, not with other doctors. SSRI misuse may cause underlying diseases in some cases to get worse." Strongly opposing Seok's claim, Hong interrupted him in a loud voice in the middle of the presentation. A health ministry official said the ministry will closely review the issue and will host a conference next month. Other officials including Starkey Korea CEO Richard Shim and Korea University Hospital President Eun Baik-lin also joined the seminar. By Kim Tae-gyu The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) slapped high anti-subsidy tariffs on POSCO's hot-rolled products last month because the company did not fully cooperate with a DOC probe, the DOC said in a recent email interview with The Korea Times. Early this month, the DOC levied 57.04 percent countervailing duties which are intended for when an exporter gets unfair government support on POSCO's hot-rolled steel plates, while the penalty rate for its local rival Hyundai Steel was a mere 3.89 percent. "Commerce found that the government of Korea did not provide electricity at less-than-adequate remuneration. As an adverse inference resulting from POSCO's non-cooperation on other matters, Commerce applied subsidy rates on POSCO for various other programs under investigation," it said in the email. "These programs include the energy savings programs upon which Commerce initiated an investigation separate from the electricity for the LATR program." LATR is short for less-than-adequate remuneration. Out of the 57.04 percent rates on POSCO, eight policies related to electricity price benefits accounted for 13.12 percent while 14 tax-associated programs explained 9.02 percent. A total of 11.48 percent was imposed due to seven kinds of support by state-backed banks while the remaining 23.42 percent is attributable to 15 other factors. In response to POSCO's stance that the DOC decision was unprecedentedly unjust despite its sincere cooperation, the DOC countered by saying it "made its final determination in accordance with the U.S. statute." "As explained in our final determination, POSCO did not act to the best of its ability to comply with requests for information as to cross-owned companies and Commerce concluded that the application of AFA was appropriate," it said. AFA stands for adverse facts available. "Commerce also found that POSCO failed to report an R&D center located in a foreign economic zone and that POSCO's affiliated trading company DWI failed to report certain loans," the email said. DWI refers to Daewoo International. POSCO argued that it had no obligation to report the cross-owned company at issue as its involvement was minimal. But the DOC did not buy the explanation. "POSCO claimed in its questionnaire responses that it had no cross-owned companies located in Korea that provided inputs to POSCO's production of subject merchandise. However, that claim was shown to be false during Commerce's verification of POSCO," it said. "While Commerce may accept minor clerical error corrections at the beginning of verification, the discovery of POSCO's facility was neither a minor clerical error nor was it submitted at the beginning of the verification." POSCO maintained its position that it will take all measures possible to clear up things with regards to the "unfair" DOC decision. "The involvement of our related firms at issue is minimal to our production process. Under U.S. regulations, they are not classified as primarily dedicated input so we don't have to report them. We tried to submit evidence to a DOC inspector on this, who just rejected it for no good reason," a POSCO representative said. "Then, the DOC dismissed all the other content of our report and imposed penalty tariffs to all subsidy programs. The DOC's countervailing tariff of 57.04 percent means nothing." Last year, POSCO shipped 850,000 tons of hot-rolled steel plates to the U.S., which are used in automobiles, construction and heavy machinery. By Jhoo Dong-chan Hyundai Mobis has invented a new electronic drum-in-hat (eDIH) parking and brake system customized for large-size pickup trucks, a company official said Monday. According to an official, the nation's leading auto parts supplier has completed the development of the eDIH system, and is preparing for its mass production for business operations. Among two types of typical electronic parking brake systems that hold a vehicle and prevent it from rolling on tilted ground, the eDIH brake system is used for mostly for commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, while caliper-integrated system is featured on private vehicles like sedans and SUVs. The auto supplier's newly developed parking and brake system, the eDIH, can produce 1.5 times higher braking forces while reducing its size by 30 percent compared to conventional parking and brake system. The official said that Hyundai Mobis' new parking and brake system will contribute greatly to sales in the North American market, where a total of 3.8 million pickup trucks are sold every year, according to market researcher IHS. Of them, 20 percent, or some 760,000 trucks, can mount the eDIH system. Hyundai Mobis supplies parking and brake system parts as well as various other auto parts, including chassis and lamp modules, to U.S. auto makers. It also operates two chassis production plants there. Jim Rogers predicts that North Korea's currency will be worth a lot more one day. / Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Han-soo Rogers Holdings and Beeland Interests chairman Jim Rogers has spoken out about betting in favor of North Korea. In an interview with Real Vision TV, a private streaming media service, the famous investor, known to Koreans as the "Indiana Jones of Wall Street," said North Korea showed similar traits as China did in the 1980s. "If we all bought North Korean currency, we'd all be rich someday," Rogers said. "Well, North Korea today is where China was in 1981." He said the hermit kingdom had taken huge strides to attract foreign investments, such as creating free trade zones. He also noted the vast increase in Chinese and Russian investment. He said the changes started when Kim Jong-un came to power. "There are 15 free trade zones there now," he said. "You can take bicycle tours of North Korea, if you want. You can take movie tours. Jim Rogers / Courtesy of Twitter "I'm sure if his father were alive, he'd hang him. If his grandfather was alive, he'd torture him and then hang him, you know, for some of the things he's doing." However, investing in the secluded nation is close to impossible because North Korea is continuously increasing tension with the rest of the world by firing missiles and holding nuclear tests. Rogers said that because of increased international sanctions, his lawyers told him he could not invest in North Korea. He had tried to invest in a Chinese group that has a bank in North Korea. By Nam Hyun-woo KB Financial Group's decision to swap stocks with Hyundai Securities to merge with the latter is becoming a "win-win," as the stock prices of both companies are picking up steam. The group on Aug. 2 held a board meeting and decided to swap stocks with Hyundai Securities and buy back the group's own stocks worth 500 billion won ($444 million). During the meeting, the board set the swap rate at 1:0.1907312 after calculating the weighted arithmetic mean of the end price of one month, one week and recent sessions from Aug. 1. This is a bid to make Hyundai Securities a KB affiliate and merge with KB Investment & Securities. In March, KB Financial Group became the major shareholder of Hyundai Securities after purchasing 53.38 million Hyundai Securities shares from Hyundai Merchant Marine and other shareholders. And the board's decision raised the prices of both KB Financial Group and Hyundai Securities. The group's stocks ended at 35,200 won per share on Aug. 2 and rose by 6.11 percent to 37,350 won on Friday. Hyundai's stocks also improved from 6,730 won on Aug. 2 to 7,070 won on Friday, up 5.05 percent. Initially, market observers anticipated that the group will buy Hyundai stakes after merging Hyundai and KB Investment & Securities. This was deemed unfavorable for Hyundai Securities' minor shareholders because Hyundai Securities is a listed firm, while KB Securities is not. The group said, however, it came to the decision of stock swap in order to protect minor shareholders, because the swap rate was based on their market prices which have been adjusted in the market for a long time. Observers say that KB Financial Group's decision to swap stocks allowed it to not only protect rights of those related but also accelerate its bid to include Hyundai Securities under its wing. "Recent price to book value ratios of two companies showed that the swap rate seems fair considering opportunities for dividend investments and the possibility of improvement in performance," said Lee Chul-ho, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities. "Not many Hyundai Securities shareholders will oppose the stock swap." The group expected another decision of buying back its shares will likely offset the market concern over equity delusion stemming from KB Financial Group's issuing of new stocks while swapping stocks. "The decision of stock swap and buy-back maximized the shareholder value and created synergy between the two companies to help long-term growth," said a KB Financial Group official. State prosecutors on Monday raided a real estate company, run by the wife of a presidential aide, and a branch of the Seoul police as part of their probe into corruption allegations involving a presidential aide, investigators said. The prosecutors raided the office of the firm in southern Seoul and confiscated computer hard discs and various documents as they accelerated their investigation into Woo Byung-woo, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs. They then raided an office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Woo has been accused of misconduct in regards to the family firm as well as using his position to get his son posted to an easy job as a policeman during his mandatory military service. The investigation by a special task force opened on Wednesday after Lee Seok-su, a special inspector who checked corruption allegations involving Woo, filed a petition on Aug. 18, seeking a formal investigation. (Yonhap) Oxy Reckitt Benckiser CEO Rashid Safdar, right, takes an oath with other witnesses during a hearing at the National Assembly, Monday, to look into the deaths caused by toxic humidifier disinfectants. / Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo British household goods manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser is facing suspicions that it may have pressed its Korean unit, Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, to cover up health risks associated with its humidifier disinfectants that are blamed for the deaths of 103 Koreans. During Monday, the first day of a two-day National Assembly hearing on the deaths caused by humidifier disinfectants, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties claimed the Korean unit planned to carry out safety tests before sales, but the parent firm asked it to stop such tests and hand over relevant data. Some 530 victims, including pregnant women and children, suffered lung injuries and related diseases while 146 of them including the 103 users of Reckitt Benckiser's products died since the case was first reported in 2011. In May, the British company acknowledged "full responsibility for the role that this product played in these health issues, including the deaths" but has remained uncertain whether it was directly responsible for the loss of life. "Reckitt Benckiser apparently demanded Oxy Reckitt Benckiser scrap its tests," said Rep. Lee Man-hee of the ruling Saenuri Party. He cited Shin Hyun-woo, former CEO of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser, who reportedly testified that a researcher from Reckitt Benckiser visited Seoul in 2001 and demanded they stop the tests and turn in all related data. Shin led the Seoul unit for 15 years until 2005. He is on trial after the prosecution brought several charges against him, including accidental homicide. Rep. Woo Won-shik of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) claimed that Oxy Reckitt Benckiser initially had a scientist at Korea Conformity Laboratories (KCL) test the level of toxicity of its products but Reckitt Benckiser replaced him with its own researcher in late 2011. Meanwhile, the lawmakers denounced Reckitt Benckiser for what they claimed to be "uncooperative" with the parliamentary probe. The National Assembly summoned 28 executives and officials, both active and retired, from both Korea and the U.K., to testify. But only 13 of them showed up. Former Oxy Reckitt Benckiser CEO Gaurav Jain, who served his post for two years beginning in May 2010, refused to show up while the firm's incumbent CEO Rashid Safdar and Korea's former Environment Minister Kang Hyun-wook testified. "Jain and others who are seen as key witnesses concerning this deadly incident have now showed up," said Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo of the MPK. "It's regretful that the firm is being so uncooperative." Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the Saenuri Party asked to adopt a resolution that asks the British government to look into Reckitt Benckiser's possible involvement in the case. He claimed the company cited its government's demand to not show up at the hearing as an excuse. "The resolution should be adopted to urge the U.K. government find out whether Reckitt Benckiser is lying," Ha said. Safdar admitted that Oxy Reckitt Benckiser labeled lines ensuring safety on the cover of its products without sufficient tests. He offered an apology to victims and their family members. However, he argued that his company used the toxic materials, such as polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) in manufacturing humidifier disinfectants in line with safety regulations at the time. "PHMG was not classified as toxic substance in Korea when our products went on sales," he said. He said the U.K. headquarters should be held responsible for "being uncooperative" with the hearing, claiming he tried hard to let it take a part. A park commemorating the victims of Japan's sexual enslavement during its occupation of the Korean Peninsula (1910-45) opened at a mountain in central Seoul on Monday, marking the 106th anniversary of the colonization. The Seoul Metropolitan Government held an opening ceremony at the park located on Mount Nam, or Namsan, together with a committee which has been in charge of creating the memorial park since last year. The site of the park is the former residence of Japan's colonial-era resident-general, where the annexation treaty was signed on Aug. 22, 1910. The pact went into effect a week later. The ceremony was attended by the victims Kim Bok-dong and Kil Won-ok, along with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea. "The ceremony held on the day the country formally was annexed by Japan aims to highlight a resolve to never again suffer the pain endured during the colonial era," Mayor Park said. Historians estimate that up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, were forced to work in front-line brothels for Japanese troops during World War II. The victims are euphemistically called comfort women. (Yonhap) Senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Woo Byung-woo, left, looks on during a secretariat meeting presided over by President Park Geun-hye in Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. The prosecution raided a company run by Woo's family as part of its widening investigation into his alleged embezzlement, breach of trust and abuse of authority. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon Independent investigator offers to resign By Lee Kyung-min Independent presidential investigator Lee Seok-soo is surrounded by reporters outside his office in Jongno, downtown Seoul, Monday, after offering to resign following the prosecution's raid of his office earlier in the day over his alleged leak of information about his investigation of Woo Byung-woo, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, to a journalist. / Yonhap The prosecution raided a real estate company run by the family of Woo Byung-woo, the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, Monday, in its investigation into corruption allegations involving the secretary. Prosecutors also raided the office of Lee Seok-soo, an independent presidential investigator, who allegedly leaked information about his then-ongoing inspection of Woo to a journalist. Hours after the raid, Lee tendered his resignation. A team of special investigators under the Supreme Prosecutors' Office raided a total of eight locations over multiple allegations involving Woo, including the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) office and a Nexon Korea office. The investigators seized computer hard drives and accounting journals. Regarding suspicions involving Lee, they seized cell phones belonging to Lee and the unidentified journalist to review records of their phone conversations. The raids came six days after the special team opened investigations into both Woo and Lee. Woo faces allegations that he and his family embezzled tens of millions of won from the family-run company, Jeonggang, in paying the lease fee of a luxury vehicle, a Maserati, and telecommunication fees between 2014 and 2015. The raid of the SMPA followed allegations that Woo peddled his influence to have his son serve at an easy post while carrying out his mandatory military service with the police. Woo's son, who initially served as a security officer at the government complex in central Seoul, was transferred and assigned to be the driver for SMPA's vice head Lee Sang-cheol. It is also alleged that his son received preferential treatment in scheduling leave. Prosecutors also raided Nexon for the allegation that the gaming company purchased real estate in southern Seoul from Woo's in-laws at above market price. On Aug. 18 after investigating Woo, Lee asked the prosecution to begin a formal investigation of the presidential secretary's alleged embezzlement, breach of trust and abuse of authority. However, Lee also came under the prosecution's scrutiny after a local broadcaster at MBC reported that he leaked detailed information regarding his investigation to a journalist of an unidentified news outlet. According to the report, Lee told the journalist that the investigation was pointing to Woo's son and Jeonggang, and he would ask the prosecution to investigate. Lee initially refused to step down, denying the leak allegation. Hours after the raid on his office, however, Lee offered to resign, saying that he is unable to carry out his duty as investigator under the current circumstances. Leaking information about an ongoing investigation by an independent presidential inspector is an illegal act punishable by five years in prison or suspension of duty for five years. Two days after the MBC report, a civic group filed a complaint against Lee for allegedly divulging information about the investigation to the public. Investigators plan to question the MBC reporter who aired the story, as well as the unidentified journalist who is believed to have spoken to Lee. Following the alleged leak, President Park Geun-hye criticized only Lee, while keeping silent on the mounting pressure for Woo to resign. By Kang Seung-woo The South Korean embassy in China recently warned tourists there to stay vigilant against North Korean terrorist attacks or kidnappings, a source said, Monday. The move followed recent defections of high-ranking North Korean diplomats, including Thae Yong-ho, the North's deputy ambassador to the U.K. who fled to Seoul with his family in late July. The embassy also issued a similar warning on July 22 in response to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's alleged orders to harm or abduct South Koreans in retaliation for the group defection of 13 North Koreans restaurant workers in April. "Given the recent defection of a high-level North Korean official and North Korea's threats of provocations, there seem to be high possibilities of terrorist attacks and abductions of South Korean residents and travelers in China," the embassy said in a warning message conveyed to South Korean expatriate groups and other associated organizations in China. The embassy also advised its local citizens to avoid traveling along the North Korea-China border areas and meeting any suspected North Koreans, urging them to constantly check safety information updates from the embassy, according to the source. After 12 waitresses and one male manager from a North Korean-run restaurant in China fled to South Korea in April, North Korea has been reportedly dispatching its secret agents to China and Southeast Asian countries as part of malicious operations against South Koreans and such signs have reemerged following Thae's defection. Along with Thae, a North Korean diplomat from Pyongyang's trade representatives, who was stationed in Vladivostok, Russia, defected last month although the diplomat's identity and whereabouts have not been made clear. Rep. Choo Mi-ae, the newly elected chairwoman of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), pays tribute to ex-President Park Chung-hee, father of President Park Geun-hye, at his gravesite in Seoul National Cemetery, Monday. / Yonhap By Kim Hyo-jin Rep. Choo Mi-ae, the newly-elected chairwoman of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), visited the gravesites of former presidents, including Park Chung-hee, the father of incumbent leader Park Geun-hye, Monday. The visit is an apparent bid to promote an image of the party embracing both conservative and liberal voters. Choo paid tribute to not only ex-Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam but also to Kim Gu, who led Korea's government in exile during Japanese rule and Presidents Park Chung-hee and Syngman Rhee at the Seoul National Cemetery. Eight Supreme Council members accompanied her, making a full entourage of party leadership. The move drew much attention as it came after Choo vowed to clarify the party's stance as a strong opposition party, heralding a tougher stance against the governing bloc. It is rare for an opposition leader to pay homage to the late conservative Presidents who have been given a cold shoulder from liberals for backpedalling on democratization. Pundits view that the visit was made to discolor the party's image of downplaying the nation's industrial age while Choo is seeking to expand the support base among conservatives and liberals ahead of the presidential election next year. "We have our own mission in each age," Choo told reporters after paying tribute. "Today's mission is public unity and the improvement of people's livelihoods. I came here to pray for help and renew my determination." Party officials viewed the visit as a sign of strong leadership by Choo. The Supreme Council members said they accepted her suggestion in support for her stress on the importance of national unity. Rep. Moon Jae-in, the former party chairman, also visited the ex-Presidents' grave sites in February last year after he was elected party leader. But the entire Supreme Council was absent in opposition to his decision then. Party officials said the visit was intended to send a message to the ruling bloc that it should not stir division based on political orientation. "We respect the public call that the political sphere should be united," Choo said during the first party meeting later that day. "I hope President Park Geun-hye would do the same by participating in a ceremony marking the anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising in 1980 and the Jeju Uprising in 1948." Choo delivered a similar message at a meeting with Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, her ruling party counterpart, and National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun. "I hope you pay attention to my voice, taking it as the public voice," she told Lee, calling for bipartisan cooperation. Lee responded positively, saying, "I will also seek cooperation from you especially on the matter of people's livelihoods." Choo, widely referred to as a key figure of the so-called Moon Jae-in faction, is anticipated to play crucial role in paving the way for Moon to launch a bid for the 2017 presidential election. Conscious of concerns that Moon will become a monopoly in the primary race under the pro-Moon leadership, she reportedly made calls to other potential contenders Rep. Kim Boo-kyum, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, South Chungcheong Governor Ahn Hee-jung, and Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung, sharing her determination as the new leader. A group of lawmakers from South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party said Monday the country should consider building a nuclear-powered submarine, amid escalating provocations by Pyongyang. The remark came as North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in waters off its east coast. The South Korean military said the missile flew about 500 kilometers toward Japan, making the longest flight by such a missile launched by the communist country. "South Korea's military should move to deal effectively with North Korea's SLBM threat by deploying a submarine with nuclear propulsion that can better detect and attack North Korean vessels," the lawmakers said in a statement. "Pyongyang must stop military provocations that threaten not only Northeast Asia, but the entire world," they added. "North Korea should take the path of peace and prosperity and realize that nuke tests and missile launches will only lead to self-destruction." The group is led by five-term Rep. Won Yoo-chul, along with 22 other lawmakers. A traffic police officer directs vehicles at a street junction during sunset in Pyongyang, North Korea, Aug. 25. / AP-Yonhap By Kim Jae-kyoung North Korea test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast last week, which flew 500 kilometers. The world, including South Korea, Japan and the U.S., rushed to condemn the latest provocation. The U.N. is threatening harsher sanctions against the North. This vicious cycle continues despite the world's strengthened efforts to curb Pyongyang's pursuit of its development of nuclear weapons and the rising number of defections by the members of the North Korean elite following a series of sanctions. Instead, its provocations have become more frequent and audacious. It appears that Kim Jong-un and his regime won't budge an inch because nuclear armament is the only lifeline of the repressive regime. Experts said that international sanctions alone won't bring any meaningful changes to North Korea's brinkmanship and the future course of its policy directions. On March 2, the U.N. imposed the harshest-ever sanctions on Pyongyang following its fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket in February. Separately, countries, including the U.S., adopted bilateral penalties. "(International) sanctions alone will not be enough to bring the regime to its knees, if that is the goal," said James Person, deputy director for the History and Public Policy Program at the Wilson Center in Washington. "North Korea has been under sanctions-like conditions since the Korean War armistice, and is therefore more accustomed to not having free access to advanced goods and technology from the West. They've become extremely adept at gaining access to these through other methods." He pointed out that North Korea has never really been integrated into the international economy, which makes it very difficult for sanctions to have any immediate impact. "North Korea really is a unique case in this regard. It is important to be mindful of the fact that North Korea never even joined the socialist camp's international division of labor. Doing so, North Korean leaders believed, would have led to dependency relationships," he said. "If North Korean leaders are willing to let a segment of the population die if things get really bad, so long as the Kim family regime and the patronage network that supports it remains intact," he added. "This allows the regime to withstand those things that would topple most other governments." Another crucial point to note is that North Korea's trade has worsened over the past year due to sanctions and a slowing Chinese economy, but these have yet to translate into any substantive policy changes or result in any measurable domestic instability. The North Koreans are always adapting to conditions, and the "byeongjin line" its dual policy to pursue nuclear armament and economic developments simultaneously is still the official policy. "Regionally, it seems that despite rocky China-North Korea relations in the Kim Jong-un era, the Chinese leadership will not permit harsh actions against Pyongyang that could jeopardize the status quo in Northeast Asia," said Curtis Melvin, a researcher at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University. He pointed out that domestically, economic conditions point to greater stability for the Kim regime. "The black market value of the won has remained constant since Kim took power, there have been no serious market crackdowns, hard currency use is widespread and tolerated," he said. "This year's harvest was good, and a proliferation of solar panels has probably increased home energy consumption to the highest point since the famine." According to Bill Brown, professor at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, second quarter trade data by China, and April and May data by other major trading countries, suggest that the U.N. sanctions began in March are having little impact so far on North Korea's economy. China's exports to North Korea in the second quarter were $796 million, up a mere 3 percent from a year ago, while its imports dropped by 14 percent to $548 million during the same period. "So I think there is not much impact. Small declines are seen in other counties' trade with North Korea but these may have more to do with a weak global economy," he said. "I continue to think, however, that the closure of Gaeseong (Industrial Complex) is having a significant impact on the North Korean government's supply of foreign exchange." Brown is also a non-resident research fellow at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington. The nation's top court on Monday confirmed a life imprisonment for an 83-year-old woman on charges of killing two women and hurting four others by poisoning a soft drink they shared. The Supreme Court turned down the appeal filed by the defendant, identified only by her surname Park, who was indicted for poisoning the soft drink at a community center in Sangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul, with insecticide last year. The drink was later shared by six elderly women who Park had a fight with the previous day while playing "hwatu," a Korean card game. Upholding a lower court's decision, the top court said Park had a clear motive for the crime and neglected to save the victims. (Yonhap) By Arthur I. Cyr South Korea and the United States on Aug. 22 began regular annual joint military exercises, including operations near the North Korea border. The communist dictatorship has responded with characteristically bellicose threats. Broadcasts promise to turn the U.S., including Washington D.C., into a "heap of ashes" by means of a "preemptive nuclear strike" if North Korea sovereignty is threatened. The regime also has tested a submarine launched missile. China has joined in denouncing the exercises. State news agency Xinhua declared "muscle-flexing" threatens "peace and stability in Northeast Asia." This occurs in the context of an escalating arms race throughout Asia, while Beijing's relatively hardline government pursues territorial expansion. In July, a panel of five judges at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled unanimously against China and in favor of the Philippines. The case was brought by the Philippines in 2013, regarding maritime authority of nations and Beijing's expanding claims in the South China Sea. China's government has bitterly condemned the decision. In early May, North Korea held a noteworthy communist party congress. Tight total control of the choreographed show was self-evident. The last such party congress was held in 1980. Dictator Kim Jong-un wore a business suit for the political production, a departure from the usual uniform. Kim publicly acknowledged economic challenges, a remarkable understatement which nonetheless was long overdue. North Korea by any reasonable measure is a failed state, the economy on life support from China, Russia and global black market income, held together by the military and the brutal clique at the top. North Korea has been acting erratically for years. In 2013, the regime announced a "state of war" with South Korea and threatened nuclear attack. Pyongyang abruptly abrogated the 1953 armistice agreement ending the Korean War, and cut the military "hot line" communications link with the south. During this same period, Pyongyang temporarily prevented South Korean workers from entering the Kaesong Industrial Region, located six miles north of the DMZ separating the two nations. In February, South Korea shut down the operation, to protest Pyongyang provocations. The region had been an important source of hard currency. In March 2010, a North Korea torpedo sank the South Korean ship Cheonan. In the same vicinity in November of that year, North Korean artillery bombarded South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island. In late February 2012, North Korea agreed yet again to cease their on-again, off-again nuclear program in joint announcements coordinated with the U.S. That accord was soon abandoned. North Korea has conducted rudimentary nuclear weapons along with missile tests. Two intermediate range missiles were fired in June. One failed, the other flew a limited trajectory. Pyongyang has carried out at least four other missile tests this year. There is no evidence of capacity to strike the U.S. directly, but the effort is threatening to Japan as well as South Korea. The activity clearly violates United Nations resolutions. In early March, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2270, which significantly strengthens sanctions on North Korea. These include bans on importing coal and minerals, and restrictions on cargo ships and financial transactions. In July, the U.S. and South Korea decided jointly to deploy the THAAD anti-ballistic missile system, resulting in strong protests from China. Beijing, which has supported UN sanctions, may move somewhat closer to traditional communist ally Pyongyang. North Korea's moribund economy is the fundamental, unavoidable strategic challenge. The days of Korea communism are numbered. Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War." He can be reached at acyr@carthage.edu. By Doug Bandow America collects allies like Americans collect Facebook friends. As a result, Washington defends more than a score of prosperous European states, several leading Asian nations, and a gaggle of Middle Eastern regimes. Yet most of the countries on the Pentagon dole appear to be perpetually unhappy, constantly demanding reassurance of Washington's love. Their sense of entitlement exceeds that of the typical trust fund baby. As a result, the U.S. is expected to protect virtually every prosperous, populous, industrialized nation. But that's just a start. Washington also must coddle, pamper, praise, uplift, pacify, encourage, and otherwise placate the same countries. Once great powers, they now believe it to be America's duty to handle their defense. Alas, U.S. officials are only too willing to enable this counterproductive behavior. Except for Donald Trump. There is much to say about his candidacy, most of it bad. Nevertheless, he's right not to be interested in reassuring allies. Which has horrified the gaggle of well-to-do nations on America's defense dole. For instance, the New York Times reported "an undercurrent of quiet desperation" among European officials. They could instead have demonstrated "quiet determination" in choosing to rely on their collective economic strength and populationlarger than America'sto ensure their defense. But no. They went to Hillary Clinton's campaign begging for, yes, reassurance! As for Washington's major Asian defense dependents, Bloomberg explained that they found Trump's views "baffling." The South Korean newspaper JoongAng Daily proclaimed itself to be "dumbfounded." The American people should feel betrayed by the rush of both Republicans and Democrats to promise well-heeled allies that they shouldn't lose any sleep over Trump's message, that nothing will change. Indeed, the Times reported European leaders visiting the Democratic convention, where they found the message "soothing." (Cynics might call it obsequious, embarrassing, and several other words best not repeated in polite company.) Washington officials simply have lost sight of why America should participate in an alliance. Never mind if a country is unable to do anything to advance America's security, such as Montenegro, which has 2080 men under arms. And don't worry if the state would risk dragging the U.S. into unnecessary conflict, such as Ukraine, at violent odds with Russia. Alliances should be a means to an end. Their purpose is to increase American security. They aren't particularly useful where there's no significant threat to the U.S., Washington can easily deter any significant adversary on its own, and/or America's friends are capable of protecting their own interests. Which is the case for most U.S. allies today. Russia's Vladimir Putin is a nasty fellow, but has demonstrated no interest in challenging America. And while Moscow deploys a capable military, it would lose in a contest with the U.S. He doesn't even appear to be much interested in Europe: the Russian republic, like the old empire, is primarily focused on border security and respect, not conquering non-Russian peoples. Anyway, Europe has a larger economy and population than America, and far larger than Russia. Europe has chosen to remain seemingly helpless. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is an unpleasant actor, but is interested in America only because America, in the form of 28,500 military personnel, is next door in the South. Yet South Korea enjoys a vast economic and technological lead, overwhelming international and diplomatic advantage, and sizeable population edge over the North. Seoul long ago should have graduated from America's defense dole. China, like Russia, is a regional power unlikely to seek war with America, which enjoys a large military lead. Japan, which long possessed the world's second largest economy, could have done much more to advance its and its region's defense for years. Even today Tokyo is well able to deter any Chinese threat to the former's existence. No Middle Eastern state directly threatens the U.S. America's friends all are dominant: Israel is a regional superpower, Saudi Arabia vastly outspends Iran on the military, and Turkey's armed forces, despite the aftermath of the coup attempt, outrange those of all of its neighbors, aside from Russia, which has no cause for conflict. Why is the U.S. providing all of these nations security commitments, military equipment, and promises to go to war? And reassuring governments desperately afraid that they might have to do more for their own defense? Instead, Washington should insist that its friends take over responsibility for their own security. It's impossible to predict what Donald Trump would do as president. However, he might be willing to put muscle behind bluster and kick nations off of the U.S. defense dole. Doug Bandow is a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan. He is the author of several books including Foreign Follies: America's New Global Empire. An Islamic extremist this week pleaded guilty before the International Criminal Court in The Hague to destroying 10 tombs from the 14th century in Timbuktu, Mali. This case sets two important precedents. The first was that it will be the first conviction of an Islamist, in this case Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, 41, a Malian, for a war crime of this sort. The second is that it will be the first successful prosecution by the ICC of someone who has destroyed pieces of cultural heritage. Al Mahdi is subject to a sentence of from nine to 11 years for this 2012 crime. He may be tried for other war crimes as well; he was a leader of Ansar-al-Dine, an organization affiliated with al-Qaida as it occupied Timbuktu and other northern Malian cities, inflicting harsh, sometimes deadly, rule on its inhabitants until forced out by French military action. Some of the destroyed monuments in Timbuktu, an ancient trade and education crossroads in the desert, have been rebuilt by UNESCO, although security there remains uncertain and sporadic. Perhaps the most important aspect of ICC prosecution of Al Mahdi and his guilty plea is the precedent it sets for people in a position to damage or destroy other cultural monuments in the world's many ongoing wars. In March 2001, the Taliban of Afghanistan destroyed ancient statues of Buddha in Bamiyan. Islamic State forces have destroyed parts of Palmyra, Syria. Croatian forces shelled into pieces an Ottoman-era marble bridge over the Neretva River in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, during the 1990s wars that surrounded the disintegration of Yugoslavia. The Al Mahdi trial should serve as some protection for cultural monuments in other areas of warfare, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, with the potential for eventual accountability looming, but there is no guarantee for them whatsoever. The United States has not adhered to the ICC, partly from fear of being held to such account. This editorial appeared on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A ruling party lawmaker fired a salvo on a newspaper that broke the story about a senior presidential aide's alleged misconduct. Judging by Cheong Wa Dae's all-out efforts to save Woo Byung-woo, its senior secretary for civil affairs, the revelation made by Rep. Kim Jin-tae is suspected of being a coordinated move to muzzle The Chosun Ilbo newspaper. Rep. Kim's allegation centers on cozy relations between the paper's senior official and the head of a communication firm, who is now jailed for allegedly lobbying for the reappointment of Nam Sang-tae as CEO of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME). Kim claimed that in September 2011, Nam chartered a Europe-bound flight exclusive for the two guests at the cost of 89 million won. Five other passengers were all Daewoo employees. Prior to and after this luxury trip, he claimed the paper carried favorable editorials for the shipbuilder the shipbuilder is suffering from billions of dollars in losses. In response, the newspaper said that the trip was made at Daewoo's official invitation and the flight covered only part of the trip so the actual tab would amount to only a fraction of Kim's figure. Kim's allegation came after President Park Geun-hye defied growing calls and refused to replace Woo, who has turned into a wellspring of shady allegations after the paper reported the close relationship Woo had with senior prosecutor Jin Kyung-joon, who is now in prison for taking bribes from game maker Nexen. Nexen also has allegedly bought the property of Woo's wife at an inflated price. Suspicions about Woo have ballooned into a scandalous proportion as a presidential appointed special investigator complained about the difficulty he faced because he had to probe and report to Woo and some of text messages he had with a reporter were leaked. President Park took the reports as an attack on her administration as a whole rather than on Woo's alleged misconduct. Park aides told the press, "The media is trying to bring the administration into a vegetative state," and "Wayward vested interests and leftist elements are trying to destroy Secretary Woo." To say the least, it is a petty vendetta by the Park government and a declaration of war against the media and, by extension, an effort to expunge people's right to know. If Cheong Wa Dae officials want to distract the public's attention from the Woo scandal, they should know that it would be as futile an act as trying to block the sun with the palm of one's hand. For the Woo case to be fully scrutinized, The Chosun Ilbo should come clean, receive judgment and rejoin the effort to find truth. By Lee Min-hyung The government will likely approve Google's request to host the nation's map data abroad, amid concerns about possible diplomatic friction with the U.S. government, officials said Monday. A special government committee led by the National Geographic Information Institute (NGII) delayed its final decision last Wednesday about whether to approve the plan for another two months, citing the need for more comprehensive reviews of the high profile case. Expectations were that the committee, established to settle the case, would disallow the plan of the search engine giant, amid fierce opposition from local industry and political circles. Following the decision, however, some industry insiders raised the possibility of the government accepting the Google request, as Washington also calls for Seoul to grant approval for the issue. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) in April pointed out that the search engine operator is suffering setbacks in operating its business, due to government restrictions on the Google Maps dispute here. Amid rising concerns over possible diplomatic rows with the U.S. government, industry insiders here said the government can possibly approve of the plan in the end. "The recent government decision (to delay the case) is very unusual, showing that the Seoul government may have been under mounting pressure from Washington," said a local industry source, asking for anonymity. He said the government is expected to announce its approval in November when the committee will make its final decision, with some regulatory strings attached. "The dispute is turning into a cross-border issue," he said. "In this regard, Korea is likely to approve of the request in the end, even if the local media and public sentiment is not favorable to Google." Another source familiar with the matter said that diplomatic pressure from the U.S. will continue to burden the government for the next two months. "If the case is only pertains to the local industry, the government may disapprove of the plan, given strong opposition from local firms and civic groups," said the source. "But the government may be under mounting pressure, as it has to take into a serious account the possible rift in Seoul-Washington relations." On Aug. 24, the government decided to postpone its decision, citing its failure to conduct talks with Google. The committee said it may further delay the decision in case the government bodies including the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning fail to narrow their differences over the issue. At that time, the committee did not reveal details about the closed-door meeting, only making public that national security and the potential side effects on the local industry will be the key theme that will affect its final decision. By Kim Tae-gyu Samsung Electronics tries to revive its past glory in the Chinese smartphone market by adding tailor-made features to its large-screen phone, Galaxy Note 7, Samsung officials said Monday. The company held an unveiling event for the jumbo phone in China last Friday to garner preorders before its official introduction there slated for early next month. "Chinese customers showed a favorable response to the Note 7, in particular to such functionality as iris scanning. We expect the Note 7 will chalk up good results," a Samsung official said. Observers attribute the early popularity to Samsung's efforts to customize the device to China-specific needs Samsung came up with a unique color lineup of blue, gold and black unlike in other markets. In addition, Samsung considers introducing a model which has internal storage pegged at 128GB, double of the standard model's 64GB. "There are needs for bigger storage in China. Hence, we think of marketing the Note 7 with 128GB storage. The final decision has yet to be made, though," the official said. "We hope that along with the recently-launched Galaxy S7, the Galaxy Note 7 will increase our market share in China's premium segment while the Galaxy C sells more briskly in the mid-tier sector." Samsung Electronics is the world's largest maker of smartphones and it once maintained leadership in the world's most populous country. But homegrown players overtook the tech giant on the back of price competitiveness. According to U.S.-based market consultancy IDC, Huawei was leading China's smartphone market in the second quarter of 2016 with a share of 17.2 percent closed followed by OPPO with 16.2 percent and Vivo with 13.2 percent. Xiaomi came at fourth with 9.5 percent chased by former stellar sellers Apple and Samsung. Samsung, which had assumed market supremacy for years since 2011, was nudged past by Chinese manufacturers in the third quarter of 2014. Thereafter, it has failed to retake the top place. Watchers point out that the Note 7 equipped with cutting-edge technology, such as an iris-scanner and advanced stylus, offers an opportunity for Samsung to disrupt the rankings in its favor. Since its introduction in about 10 nations this month, the Note 7 has won customers as Samsung struggled to meet global demands. The back-to-back hit after its regular-size smartphone Galaxy S7's success this year boosted the share price of the largest-cap firm at the Seoul bourse some 30 percent over the past eight months. "Samsung ran the risk of being relegated to a second-tier smartphone maker in China as it was elbowed out of the top five table. Against this backdrop, it would want to make noise with the Note 7," said a Seoul analyst. "If Samsung vies to make it to the top five list, it would also have to sell more not only in high-end areas but in the mid-ranges too." But how can some people be hearltess. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has discovered at least 40 fake non-governmental organisations (NGOs) exploiting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State. Ibrahim Abdullahi, commandant of the NSCDC in the state, told NAN in Maiduguri on Sunday that the illegal NGOs were running nothing more than a certified scam by their actions. We discovered that many of them who are individual with office are only interested in posing with IDPs going through hardship to access funds from donors. We discovered that some of them, currently occupying most of the big hotels in town, are only interested in defrauding their donors by sending fake data, messages and pictures via Internet so as to access funds. When we interrogated some of them, they said they just came into the town and were trying to figure out the problems to enable them bring in their intervention. He therefore urged the government to be wary of such elements parading themselves as NGOs. He also said NSCDC would go after all the bad elements. It will be recalled that the Senate president on Saturday, called for the prosecution of those who stole food meant for displaced persons. Stealing food meant for starving children is beyond the pale and only adds insult to injury, he said. Anyone that is found to be diverting the food aid deliveries should be investigated and brought to book if investigations prove their participation in these vicious schemes. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Medical professionals at Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja have told Sahara Reporters what actually killed Stella Oduahs son, Maxwell Omabuwa Chinedu Etoromi. According to them, the 28-year old died after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Doctors who spoke with SaharaReporters, anonymously said Mr. Etoromi was admitted into their care from another hospital-Zankli Medical Centre-, but died almost promptly. He was brought to us with the request that we admit him, and we said, why not? one of the doctors told the news outlet. He added: Despite our best efforts he died in our care just 30 minutes after we admitted him. We could not do anything to revive him because he arrived in a coma. We tried cardiac life support, but it was too late by the time he arrived. Another doctor who spoke to SaharaReporters said Mr. Etoromi arrived at their health facility with a subarachnoid hemorrhage on Thursday evening around 6pm and was already in the worst stage of coma possible, he died some 30 minutes later. Subarachnoid hemorrhaging can have several causes, including a traumatic head injury, a bleeding disorder, or the incorrect use of blood thinning medication. The medical doctors who spoke with a correspondent of SaharaReporters also said they were in no position to immediately declare the cause of Mr. Etoromis death, but said they just issued a death certificate in which they reported that he had significant hemorrhaging. A source close to Ms. Oduah, a former Minister of Aviation and current senator representing Anambra State, told Sahara Reporters that Mr. Etoromi had been given the wrong kind of medication after he had his tooth pulled at another hospital creating complications that ultimately led to his death. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more YouTube The Southern California News Group likes to share selected buzzworthy stories across the chain it's part of the business model, here and elsewhere, to fill the pages of print newspapers while employing fewer and fewer reporters. This weekend's all-arounder, front and center on the Daily News website, is from the sister paper in Riverside, the Press-Enterprise, and brings the news that not many readers in the San Fernando Valley are probably worried about. That is the peril posed by quicksand. Yes quicksand, that trope of hundreds of cinema and TV westerns which, come to think of it, were mostly filmed in and around the San Fernando Valley. "Its a natural phenomenon lurking in Southern California, in or along creeks and rivers, dry washes and lakes where groundwater is close to or coming up to the surface," the papers remind us. Horses and riders walking along river washes have been caught up in it, including last June in the brush along the Santa Ana River. Quicksand is sand saturated with enough water that a little vibration such as stepping on it can change its properties so it behaves like a liquid instead of a solid, said Katherine Kendrick, a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Pasadena and a UC Riverside adjunct assistant professor. Rounded grains of sand, which have been smoothed over time by flowing water, later cant bear loads when groundwater moves up through them, but can bear weight better if theyre dry or water is moving down through them, said Izbicki, adding people sometimes mistake deep mud or sand channels for quicksand. The Santa Ana River with its silty sand has geological conditions conducive to quicksand, said Riverside City Engineer Mark Steuer, a registered geotechnical engineer. The river stretches from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. The way all-arounders work is that a nut graf is crafted to allow the story to have news relevance in all of the new group's readership areas. In this case, it is found in the fourth paragraph. "It [quicksand] might be found in the regions other alluvial river channels, the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers, said U.S. Geological Survey research hydrologist John Izbicki." Yes, it might! Ten years ago or more, the MythBusters on the Discovery Channel did some mucking around in quicksand. I stopped in to see some old friends Saturday in Glendale. They were all there. The Chris' & Pitt's BBQ sign. The neon diver who used to adorn the Virginia Court Motel. The blue Van de Kamp's Bakery windmill. These and more vintage artifacts of neon Los Angeles are on proud display in the new Glendale home of the Museum of Neon Art. Just as downtown Los Angeles was starting to heat up as a destination again, MONA was forced in 2011 to leave the community where it had been a fixture for three decades. The city of Glendale offered an enticing location a prominent corner on Brand Boulevard opposite the entrance to Rick Caruso's Americana shopping mall. Opening was originally supposed to happen in 2012. No such luck, for various reasons. After five years in the dark, MONA finally reopened earlier this year in a much-enlarged space, and this month debuted a delightful exhibition, Hats Off to Hollywood. The treasure at the center of the exhibition is the 1930s neon hat that stood over the Hollywood location of the Brown Derby restaurant, along with vintage photos of the famous Vine Street spot and a stylish "coffee shop" sign that hung next door for many years. There also photos of Hollywood neon shot by John Swope in 1938. While I chatted Saturday with Kim Koga, executive director of the museum since 1999, visitors kept coming in, posing for group selfies in front of the Brown Derby hat and other neon signs. The walk-in traffic is higher than when MONA was downtown, she said. There's room to display a nice selection of signs at any one time a fresh exhibition will be coming in later in the year and for the first time the museum has a space for classes in making and restoring neon signs and a small auditorium. There's a good-sized gift shop you can visit without paying for museum admission, with its own selection of neon on display including a sign commemorating LA's once-venerable Eastside Beer brand. One sign I enjoyed seeing was the intriguing Asthma Vapineze neon that hung for years outside a residence on North Fairfax Avenue in West Hollywood. Neon aficionados Ellen Bloom and Larry Underhill alerted MONA that the home's owner died last year and that the sign was threatened, like so many others, with just being torn down and thrown away. The sign came to MONA along with its backstory: Asthma Vapineze was an inhaler invented by a distraught husband after his wife died of an asthma attack. The business was originally on Highland Avenue, then moved to the Fairfax location before being shut down many years ago. The sign was all that remained. The museum has three warehouses in Pomona filled with saved neon signs, and is always looking to save more. In the current exhibit is a sign from the old Lanz women's wear store that I used to see hanging in the office of a friend, Miracle Mile architect Lisa Landworth. She donated the sign to MONA and after an expensive restoration it looks great. Restoring the old electrical wiring and broken glass on reclaimed signs is a major expense of running the museum, along with the electricity to light the signs. If you want to help, contact the museum. The famous Neon Cruise curated by J. Eric Lynxwiler continued even while MONA was dark, and there are two Saturday night events left this summer. Eric (my co-author on Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles) and photographer Tom Zimmerman have a new book diving deep into the legacy of neon Los Angeles. Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965 is from Angel City Press, as was our Wilshire Boulevard book. At the LA Observed page on Facebook, I've put up some video and more signs, including a neon dog from the old Hot Dog Show in Burbank and the sign that hung over the original Wacko store on Melrose Avenue. PRESS RELEASE Greek Prime Minister Tsipras Says EU Walking Over a Cliff Aug. 28, 2016 (EIRNS)Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said today that Greece expects debt relief by the end of this year, so that its economy can recover. As reported by Reuters, Tsipras said, "Greece has kept its part of the agreement and expects the same from its partners. We are not simply seeking, we are demanding and expecting specific measures that will render debt sustainable as part of the deal we are implementing. "This [debt relief] will be followed by reduced [budget] surpluses after 2018, which will open the way for the economys recovery." His remarks initially appeared in an interview on Sunday with the local Athens daily, Real News. Tsipras also told Real News that the European Union was "sleepwalking towards a cliff," since the Stability Pacts austere fiscal rules have created deep inequalities among member states. If German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaubles "dogma for a multi-speed Europe and economic zones of low-cost labor is not abandoned, Europe will be brought to the brink of dissolution," Tsipras was quoted by Real News. Officially, the economy of Greece has shrunk by a quarter in six years, and the official jobless rate is 23.5% said Reuters. PRESS RELEASE China and U.S. Non-Government Science Organization Deepen Cooperation Aug. 28, 2016 (EIRNS)The leaders of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, meeting in Washington on Aug. 24, agreed to broaden their cooperation in science and research. The AAAS CEO, former New Jersey Rep. Rush Holt, a former Princeton fusion scientist, said following at the meeting: "These alliances not only lead to scientific revelations, they also transcend traditional political boundaries." The head of Chinas foundation Yang Wei reported that they identified four areas to expand partnerships: promoting women in science, helping to engage young researchers, strengthening links in science education and research, and improving scientific communication: "Basic science, or basic research, is an enterprise shared by all human people. For many in this field, there is no competition. It is not like national defense, or the military.... Basic science is without borders." Yang stressed the depth of existing cooperation, reporting that half of Chinas scientific collaborators internationally are American scientists. The U.S. National Science Foundation reports that more than 18% of all U.S. internationally co-authored publications are with Chinese partners. (The collaboration with China that is prohibited by law is bilateral cooperation in manned space flight. Other government and non-government agencies are not affected.) buku global street food Review Great Place in Raleigh for Excellent Signature Cocktails and Must-Try Dessert Favorites bu-ku global street food in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, offers a creative, diverse assortment of drinks to precede your meal, or for a casual date at their gorgeous bar. (By the way, the bar is a shimmering waterfall literally streaming behind colorful bottles.) The bar manager is knowledgeable and passionate about making a beautiful cocktail, or selecting interesting and playful wines for your meal. On a hot summer night try the sangria. On our visit we sampled a tasty watermelon sangria, made with pinot noir and vodka and garnished with a huge wedge of watermelon. The drink was infused with watermelon and we thought it the most refreshing sangria ever. If you like bourbon, try the Bullet Proof, which consists of Bulliet bourbon mixed with blackberry nectar, seltzer, mint and lemon. The bourbon paired well with the deep blackberry flavor making for a great summer drink. Due to its sweet fruitiness, this might also be a great after-dinner drink. My personal favorite cocktail is bu-kus Pimms Cup. This was made with Cardinal gin (which comes from North Carolina), Pimms No. 1, mint, citrus and Blenheims spicy ginger ale, along with the obligatory cucumber slice. Wow. The ginger ale is strong (like a ginger beer) and brightens up the flavors. My dinner companion swooned, The ginger and Pimms came through like a symphony. Want something sweet to follow your wonderful meal? Or a treat while out on the town? bu-ku offers a mostly non-changing list of desserts that are familiar favorites, with one big exception: the adventurous foodie must try the Filipino Halo-Halo. This is an over-the-top dessert made of coconut custard, five intricately prepared tropical fruits (candied palm seeds, mango boba balls with liquid center, kiwi, jack fruit, coconut strands) puffed rice topping with a lovely ube ice cream (a Filipino purple yam-based ice cream concoction with a wonderful flavor). This is all topped with a tart guava lime sauce. A culinary adventure, yes but perhaps too many things at the same time? My personal favorite part of this dessert was the ube ice cream buried at the bottom. For something more traditional with bu-kus own magical touch, try the trilogy of creme brulee vanilla, ginger and chocolate (like a pot au creme). The ginger creme, an unusual idea, was delicate with just a nuance of ginger flavor. Yum. Each had the perfect crust of caramelized sugar on top. All three were wonderful, melting velvet flavors in your mouth, and together they were a rich choral finale to the meal. Next time you are in Raleigh, North Carolina plan a stop for a drink, or a meal at bu-ku global street food. For a full review of the global offerings at this wonderful restaurant, click here. The restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Raleigh on the corner of Wilmington and Davie Streets. The name bu-ku is a riff on the international merci beaucoup which sums up this review well - Thank you very much! bu-ku global street food 110 E. Davie Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 919.834.6963 bukuraleigh website Gene Wilder, the star of classic films including Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Young Frankenstein, has died at age 83. Here is a 2005 review of his memoir from The Times: Gene Wilders frank, charming memoir, Kiss Me Like a Stranger, is refreshingly free from the two major sins of show-biz autobiographies: self-aggrandizement and score-settling. Oh, he tosses a few zingers at Carol Channing for her diva-like behavior during a summer tour of The Millionairess, and he isnt terribly nice to his first wife. But none of the stories he tells about others are nearly as embarrassing as his cheerful recollections of the questions he was afraid to ask when buying his first condom (I mean, exactly when do you put it on and do you ask the woman for help and when do you take it off?), or of a less-than-torrid extramarital affair (I guess you could have counted to seven or eight, and then boom.). Apparently, someone whose most memorable roles have been as neurotic nebbishes doesnt mind sharing humiliating youthful moments, none of which would be out of character for his Leo Bloom in The Producers or Dr. Frankenstein (which he pronounced Frahnkenshteen) in Young Frankenstein. Seven years of therapy probably helped: Wilders first chapter begins as he walks nervously into psychiatrist Marjorie Wallis Manhattan office in 1962, and the sessions with her become a framework for his account of his early life and career. A device that could have been cringe-inducing works remarkably well, with Wallis serving as a blunt Greek chorus (your marriage stinks) who helps Wilder sort out, in particular, his complicated feelings about his chronically ill mother, whose suffering made him feel guilty about ever being happy. Advertisement Add a few years of Stanislavsky-based training and you begin to understand why Wilders funniest performances exude a whiff of melancholy. Make it real was the imperative instilled by Method high priest Lee Strasberg, and Wilder carried it with him into comedy. Its amusing, and revealing, to learn that he used the memory of his shivering little dog for the hilarious scene in The Producers when he goes berserk because Zero Mostel has snatched his blue blankie. You believe Wilder when he confides that he got hired for Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex because Woody Allen needed an actor who could believably fall in love with a sheep and play it straight. Details about his second marriage and a difficult relationship with a stepdaughter reveal insecurities and neediness that Wilder, like any good actor, used in his work. But when it comes to neediness, no one could top Wilders third wife, comedian Gilda Radner, whose exuberant, exhausting personality dominates the books three most interesting chapters. Radner was, he writes, the most generous and compassionate and original person I had ever known. She was also a clinging baby pulling at my shirt sleeve every minute. Its tough to be honest about a popular star who died prematurely, but Wilder makes palpable both his love and his exasperation as Radner battled ovarian cancer and, like many terminally ill people, vented her pain and rage on those closest to her. When he explodes, just get off of yourself! I dont know how to help you any more than Im doing, hes venting not just his own frustration but that of anyone whos ever been in the unbearable situation of watching someone they love die without the well-scripted grace of a Hollywood movie. Wilders nuanced portrait of Richard Pryor similarly balances the pleasures of working with a comic genius against the aggravation of dealing with a mercurial, often hostile -- and while working on Stir Crazy, drug-crazed -- individual. 1 / 5 Gene Wilder died of complications from Alzheimers disease Aug. 29, 2016, at his home in Stamford, Conn. He was 83. Take a look back at his legendary career in screen comedy. (Evan Agostini / Getty Images) 2 / 5 The Brooks-Wilder hit machine continued with 1974s smash Young Frankenstein. From left, Teri Garr, Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman and Mel Brooks, with Peter Boyle, prone, as Young Frankenstein. (file photo / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 5 Wilder poses in France with his wife, comedian Gilda Radner, during the 10th American Film Festival of Deauville on Sept. 7, 1984. Radner died in 1989. (Mychele Daniau / AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 5 Wilder released Kiss Me Like A Stranger in 2005. The memoir offered insights into Wilders love life, his work with stars such as Richard Pryor and Woody Allen and his fight with cancer. (MJ Kim / Getty Images) 5 / 5 Wilder received the Governors Awards for Excellence in Culture and Tourism at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Conn., on April 9, 2008. (Jessica Hill / Associated Press) If this all sounds awfully serious, be assured that Wilder tells plenty of entertaining stories about his work with everyone, including Jerome Robbins, Mike Nichols, Mel Brooks and Zero Mostel. Kiss Me Like a Stranger is as witty a memoir as youre likely to get from a 71-year-old survivor of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Its also a reflective and well-written meditation on the life of someone who has more on his mind than the next big part or belly laugh. * Wendy Smith is the author of Real Life Drama: The Group Theatre and America, 1931-1940. :: Kiss Me Like a Stranger: My Search for Love and Art Gene Wilder St. Martins Press: 272 pp., $23.95 In a bid to increase its reach throughout Southern California, the San Diego-based Scripps Health system on Monday finalized a partnership with the internationally known MD Anderson Cancer Network. The deal makes Scripps the only direct collaborator with Houston-based MD Anderson in an eight-county region stretching from the U.S.-Mexico border north through Santa Barbara County and east to Californias border with Arizona. Executives from both organizations gathered for a contract-signing ceremony in La Jolla, making official a relationship that has been building since MD Anderson approached Scripps in May 2015. Advertisement The new partners said they will immediately begin recruiting physicians, including a new program director. Scripps said it will adopt MD Andersons treatment protocols and overall standards of cancer care. The two organizations plan to share tumor boards groups of oncology specialists who collectively discuss patients cases. And Scripps will have access to more than 1,100 clinical trials a program that MD Anderson bills as the largest collection of active cancer research in the nation. Our goal is to build our program up so it is as good as any other cancer program in the country, said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health chief executive. Scripps is one of five health providers in the nation to join the the Houston-based network as full partner. Amy Hay, vice president for business development at MD Anderson, said full partnerships are infrequent because they require the challenging task of replicating the networks quality and operations standards in satellite locations. The integration is around our clinical care and research programs, and physician partners sometimes become adjunct professors at MD Anderson, Hay said. She also said MD Anderson takes a holistic approach to every patients cancer care: Each person meets with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team from the outset to come up with a personalized treatment plan. That means you would have a medical doctor, oncology radiologist, oncology surgeon, experts in diagnostic imaging, pathology, pharmacy and nursing its a team approach to evaluating that patient and making consensus agreements about treatment, Hay said. Van Gorder said MD Anderson spent months examining Scripps existing cancer operations before deciding to forge a deal, which involves the privately run Scripps paying a participation fee that it has declined to disclose. One key principle is fully embracing the changing nature of cancer care, Van Gorder said. Because of its size and number of researchers, he said, MD Anderson has the opportunity to constantly change its standard of care as new scientific concepts, drugs and other therapies are validated. We have a good program, but the body of knowledge is medicine is growing so fast that its almost impossible for any one physician to keep up with. What we feel is, since the body of knowledge is changing so fast, the best way our doctors can do that is to be part of MD Anderson, Van Gorder said. News of a potential partnership between MD Anderson and Scripps became public in mid-July, and drew immediate concerns from top leadership at UC San Diego, which runs the Moores Cancer Center in La Jolla. Moores is the regions only comprehensive cancer center as designated by the National Cancer Institute, or NCI. Anderson also is an NCI designee, one of 47 nationwide. NCI centers are expected to conduct innovative research and provide integrated care for their patients that goes beyond what would be found at most hospitals. While Andersons main facility in Houston has this designation, the new Scripps center will not be directly certified. In July, UC San Diego executives expressed concern that patients might think they were going to an NCI-level facility the moment MD Andersons name appears beside Scripps even though it could take many years to reach that level. And they worried about patients being transferred to clinical trials in Houston even if similar studies are available at Moores. Van Gorder said he expects the changes called for in the partnership to occur quickly. It wont happen overnight, thats true, Van Gorder said, but its not going to take years. As to Scripps participation in clinical trials, Hay said Anderson intends to offer many of its trials in the Southern California market through Scripps facilities. However, Hay and Van Gorder said it is not likely that all of Andersons trials can be replicated locally. Sisson writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Pope Francis met with Facebook Inc. founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and Zuckerberg's wife, Priscilla Chan, at the Vatican on Monday. One topic of discussion at the meeting was how to use communication technologies to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and make a message of hope arrive, especially to those most in need, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said. The atmosphere appeared informal, with the chat taking place in the Santa Marta residence, the guest house in Vatican City where the pope lives. We gave him a model of Aquila, our solar-powered aircraft that will beam Internet connectivity to places that don't have it, Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post. And we shared our work with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to help people around the world. The couple launched the initiative in December, saying at the time that the organization would fund nonprofit organizations, make private investments and participate in policy debates, initially focusing on personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people and building communities. Zuckerbergs efforts to provide free Internet access have met with some resistance, however. In February, regulators in India rejected his pet project, a no-cost mobile app for emerging economies called Free Basics a sort of Internet for beginners saying that it discriminated against other Internet sites. Also on Monday, Zuckerberg and Chan met with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Zuckerberg then held an hourlong Q&A session in Rome, which was streamed online via Facebook Live. ALSO New rules on small drones kick in today: What you need to know Consumer spending rises for fourth straight month as incomes post strong gains Energy storage is taking on a greater role in the power grid. But how big can it get? Guy Pearce and Carice van Houten are now parents, The Times has confirmed and their first-time baby announcement is equal parts cute and quirky. A cute little package arrived and told us his names Monte Pearce, the Memento actor tweeted Monday. We think were gonna keep him. Placenta smoothie anyone? Aww! And, um, eww Both Carice and Monte are doing very well, said a rep for Van Houten, the Dutch actress who plays Melisandre on Game of Thrones. The baby was born last week, though theyre keeping the exact birth date L.A. Confidential for now. Advertisement Cute fact: When the couple announced in March that they were expecting a child, they were already anticipating some shadowbaby jokes. GoT fans will understand why. Aussie actor Pearce, 48, and Van Houten, who turns 40 next week, worked together in 2015 on the western thriller Brimstone. They sparked relationship rumors early this year when they were photographed grocery shopping together in Los Angeles, E! News reported. The romance apparently started about a year after Pearces January 2014 split with Kate Mestitz, his high school sweetheart, following 18 years of marriage. Follow Christie DZurilla on Twitter @theCDZ. ALSO Anna Chlumsky welcomes her second daughter with husband Shaun So Homeland Security is investigating nude-photo cyberattack on Leslie Jones Teyana Taylor is the star of Kanye Wests Fade video and a whole lot more Gene Wilder, best known for his turn as Willy Wonka in the 1971 cult classic, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, as well as his comedic collaborations with the likes of Richard Pryor and Mel Brooks, has died at age 83, his family announced Monday. The loss of the actor caused an outpouring of appreciation among Hollywoods elite, who took to Twitter to express their grief over the loss and to celebrate the performances that Wilder left as his legacy. Director Mel Brooks, who worked with Wilder on The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein (the latter of which earned them an Academy Award screenplay nomination), was one of the first to tweet about the passing of Wilder. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour https://twitter.com/MelBrooks/status/770347237280886784 Grief over Wilders death wasnt limited just to those who worked with the comedian, as evidenced by messages from a number of actors, some of whom could be considered comedy legends in their own right. https://twitter.com/stephenfry/status/770342173770338304 https://twitter.com/rickygervais/status/770343894777200641 https://twitter.com/TaranKillam/status/770344225699340288 https://twitter.com/UzoAduba/status/770345810710200321 https://twitter.com/AlbertBrooks/status/770348903946416128 https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/770347634397630464 https://twitter.com/billyeichner/status/770348417738379264 https://twitter.com/JulietteLewis/status/770347919463645184 https://twitter.com/EricMcCormack/status/770351449322561536 https://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/770352315635232768 Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn took to his Facebook page to write a loving tribute to Wilder, highlighting his childhood adoration of the man and his approachable on-screen persona. So iconic was Wilders body of work that his influence touched those far beyond those involved in comedy and film, however. Musicians, journalists, even federal employees expressed their grief online. https://twitter.com/flea333/status/770350552370806784 https://twitter.com/chrisgeidner/status/770341969293901824 https://twitter.com/ACNewman/status/770343312234393601 https://twitter.com/ditzkoff/status/770342193437544448 https://twitter.com/JRosenworcel/status/770349023144341510 But perhaps the most touching memorials of Wilder came from those who view his death as an opportunity for the actor to be reunited with late wife and comedy superstar Gilda Radner, who died in 1989 of ovarian cancer. https://twitter.com/devincf/status/770341242714468353 https://twitter.com/ThePerezHilton/status/770348357403283456 libby.hill@latimes.com Twitter: @midwestspitfire Actor Gene Wilder, known for his roles in films such as Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles, has died. In 1990, Wilder spoke to the Los Angeles Times about his first chance to play a romantic lead in Funny About Love. This article was originally published on Sept. 22, 1990. The posters promoting Paramount Pictures Funny About Love show Gene Wilder in a wacky pose with an alarm clock and baby perched on top of his red-blond Brillo hair. The image is typical of how audiences have come to perceive the actor, best known for an endearingly guileless slapstick schtick that has defined his on-screen persona from 1968s The Producers through his last film, 1989s See No Evil, Hear No Evil. However, those actually seeing the movie, which opened Friday, will find a far different Wilder than they have encountered before. In Funny About Love, he plays a romantic leading man, and, really going against the comedy grain, the character is not always particularly likable. Advertisement Duffy Bergman (Wilder) is a cartoonist, engulfed by adulation and awards, but lonely for love. When finally found in the character of Meg (Christine Lahti), Duffys frantic desire for a baby drives first an emotional, and then a physical wedge between them. The character is different than anything I have done before, said Wilder, who has begun reassessing his career since the death last year of his wife, Gilda Radner. In many of my past scripts, we just got to the humor as fast as possible. With Duffy, I could work more to create a whole character. 1 / 5 Gene Wilder died of complications from Alzheimers disease Aug. 29, 2016, at his home in Stamford, Conn. He was 83. Take a look back at his legendary career in screen comedy. (Evan Agostini / Getty Images) 2 / 5 The Brooks-Wilder hit machine continued with 1974s smash Young Frankenstein. From left, Teri Garr, Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman and Mel Brooks, with Peter Boyle, prone, as Young Frankenstein. (file photo / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 5 Wilder poses in France with his wife, comedian Gilda Radner, during the 10th American Film Festival of Deauville on Sept. 7, 1984. Radner died in 1989. (Mychele Daniau / AFP/Getty Images) 4 / 5 Wilder released Kiss Me Like A Stranger in 2005. The memoir offered insights into Wilders love life, his work with stars such as Richard Pryor and Woody Allen and his fight with cancer. (MJ Kim / Getty Images) 5 / 5 Wilder received the Governors Awards for Excellence in Culture and Tourism at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Conn., on April 9, 2008. (Jessica Hill / Associated Press) Wilder says that he began rethinking his career during the making of See No Evil, Hear No Evil while Radner was battling ovarian cancer. I had a lot to do with the writing of (See No Evil, Hear No Evil), Wilder said, not the plot, but some of the scenes with Richard [Pryor], when we were talking as human beings and not being chased by cars. It was gratifying to say I was talking from my center and not from some loony-tunes cardboard character. I was in the middle of a lot of things as far as my hearts desire for work was concerned. I thought if I did work, I wanted to be more of a human being. See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Wilder said that he was surprised that Leonard Nimoy, who directed Funny About Love, saw this need in him too. I had never met him before, Wilder said, and I dont know how he knew Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein and Stir Crazy and Silver Streak. How would he know to put me in this? Nimoy, who met Wilder at his Connecticut house to offer him the part, said, I have seen a lot of his work. I see a very gifted person. I see an extremely intelligent person. I see a person capable of great comedy and great sensitivity. The role is that of a funny, turbulent and troubled guy, and I thought he could handle it. I think the tremendous depth he is capable of will surprise people. He is capable of bringing great comedy out of a wellspring of deep emotion like [Charlie] Chaplin. Wilder said that when he met Nimoy, he asked, Why me? and the director answered, Because I want the audience to forgive Duffy, and they might not forgive someone else. Making the film fulfilled many of Wilders hopes for such a project. The day-to-day work on the film was a constant surprise for me, he recalled. Surprises about myself and the emotion that would fill a scene. I wouldnt have a clue what was going to happen sometimes and then, when it hit, it was so big that I was shocked afterward. Wilder continues: Im an alright actor. A fairly good actor. But Im a great reactor and I had something to react to all the time. I felt at this point in my life and in my career, my task in this film should be dont act. Just go with what was happening at the moment, and dont try to work out clever things. If Wilder feels so comfortable with the change in his screen persona, part of his ease derives from his training as a classical actor. Born in Milwaukee 55 years ago, Wilder began acting at 8, doing comic skits to divert his ill mother. At 13, he started private dramatic training, and while in his late teens, appeared in summer stock productions of Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller plays. He continued with drama at the University of Iowa and later studied the physical aspects of acting gymnastics, fencing (he became a champion fencer) and movement at Londons Old Vic theater school before returning to New York and embarking on a stage career. His first play was Arnold Weskers Roots, quickly followed by his Broadway debut as the comic valet in Graham Greenes The Complaisant Lover. Wilders first film role was that of the terrified undertaker in 1967s Bonnie and Clyde. Instead of being conventionally frightened, I put on an act of trying not to be afraid which was, I guess, amusing, he said. It was a year earlier, while acting with Anne Bancroft in Brechts Mother Courage, that Wilder met her husband, Mel Brooks, and eventually began a collaboration that put his career on the comedic track that made him a star. It also resulted in a number of outrageously satirical films, beginning with The Producers, in which he co-starred with Brooks and the late Zero Mostel. If it werent for Mel, Wilder said with a laugh, Id still be doing temporary typing for a living, and selling toys at F.A.O. Schwarz for $1.40 an hour. I played with the trains all day. Does Wilder believe his wifes death propelled his career in its new, more serious direction? Yes but I wouldnt be foolish enough to deny what the nature of my talent is. I dont want to do Hamlet. I dont want to do Robert Redford roles or Mel Gibson roles or Kevin Costner roles because Im not going to be good at them. I dont want to do a tragic clown [either]. I want to do what I can lend my talents to, but I want it to be as a human being and not as a two-dimensional character. Wilder said of the sad times before and after his wifes death: I thought for a while that I wouldnt be working anymore, and then I thought even if I wanted to, no one would ask me. Then, I found to my amazement, I suppose because of VCRs and cable, no one thought of me as gone because they saw me last week. I havent done overlapping films like this, starting one before the other has opened, in a long time, he said of his new project. Wilder is now at work on Peter Bogdanovichs Another You, filming in New York and co-starring (again) Richard Pryor. The film, about a con-man (Pryor) and a pathological liar (Wilder) will continue the evolution of his persona. Bogdanovich said of Wilders part in the new film, Hes really playing a character part in this, kind of a sad sack who is also very funny. Beyond this point? Ive come to a point now where I like not to plan, I wont say more than a day ahead, but more than a week at a time, Wilder said quietly. You never know what is going to happen. Once I say Im going to do a movie, I do it Im very professional that way, but, otherwise, I dont like to think ahead.I have no plans for films after this. I trust if your life is right, the right things will happen at the right time. If the chords are in harmony inside, I think other things will happen in the same way. That sounded highfalutin to me once, but I believe it now. ALSO: Gene Wilder dies at 83; Willy Wonka star and Mel Brooks collaborator Why Gene Wilder gave Gilda Radners name to Cedars-Sinai for its cancer research program Gene Wilder discusses his acting successes and preference for writing A charming, witty introduction to a Stranger a la Gene Wilder Even though Nick Clark (Frank Dillane) holds a morbid fascination for the infected, hes shocked at how theyre catered to at a Tijuana colonia on AMCs Fear the Walking Dead. In Los Muertos (Episode 209), Nick awakens to the sound of chanting as a man sacrifices himself to ravenous zombies. Mi Papa! sobs the doomed mans young daughter (Katia Lopez). You dont need to see it, Nick exclaims, shielding the girl from this ghastly spectacle. Dont look! Advertisement Later, when accompanying Luciana (Danay Garcia) on a supply run, Nick has questions. Those near death deliver themselves to the dead, Luciana explains, thus protecting the community from attack. What if your friend became lunch for no reason? Nick argues. Dismissing Nick as a weak and faithless gringo, Luciana claims a natural cleansing process has begun. And when the zombies depart, this world will be as new. Sounds great, but Nick and Lucianas immediate goal is swapping prescription meds for bottled water. That involves making nice with gangsters controlling East Tijuana. They deal with everything now, Luciana says. And they will hang you for looking at them wrong! The supply run proceeds smoothly until Nick is caught pilfering snack food. You know what we do to rats? machete-wielding Marco Rodriguez (Alejandro Edda) yells. We cut off their paws! Talking fast to save his hand, Nick points out that Marcos sister is hooked on OxyContin. Youre gonna run out of Oxy, Nick warns. You let your sister go for one week without it, youre gonna pray she turns so you can kill her! Nick will deliver the opioids, he says, in exchange for a shopping cart loaded with water. They could have killed us both right there, Luciana hisses during their walk home. But her hostility eases when she realizes Nick stole the snack for the fatherless girl. Nicks kindness was misguided, however, according to colonia leader Alejandro Nunez (Paul Calderon). Comfort is no supplement for faith, Alejandro insists. You do that girl no favors. Suddenly Nick spots an ominous scar on Alejandros shoulder. Are the stories true that this pharmacist suffered a zombie bite but didnt become infected? Upon hearing one of Alejandros fervent sermons, Nick wonders if hes among the children of the resurrection. The world is for us. The faithful. The chosen ones, Alejandro proclaims. From death we come and to death we deliver ourselves! Elsewhere in Baja, Nicks mother, Maddie (Kim Dickens), gives up searching for her son. She joins daughter Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey), Ofelia Salazar (Mercedes Mason) and Victor Strand (Colman Domingo) in heading for the Abigail yacht. To their dismay, the boat is gone. Needing shelter, these survivors break into a beachfront hotel. While Alicia and Ofelia explore the guest rooms, Maddie and Victor get drunk at the bar. Maddie laments that shes never gonna see Nick again. That boy was born lost, like his daddy, Maddie dejectedly says. Hes been slipping through my fingers ever since the day I gave birth to him. As Maddie bitterly offers a toast to motherhood, Victor plays an out-of-tune piano. The ghoulish noise attracts zombies locked inside the hotel tower. Alicia watches in horror as the undead hurl themselves off balconies, rise to their feet upon hitting the ground and stagger toward Maddie and Victor. Making matters worse, Ofelia is suddenly AWOL. Were not gonna make it, Ofelia glumly said before disappearing. Devastated by the deaths of her parents, Ofelia lost all hope. You have me, for what its worth, Alicia offered. Were family now. Family is family, Ofelia sadly replied. In other words, Alicia is just a companion, not a sister. Nordstrom likes Madewell and is ready to give J. Crew a chance. We have had a really very positive experience with Madewell, both from a business and relationship point of view, Pete Nordstrom, copresident of Nordstrom Inc., told WWD. So its a natural progression, Nordstrom added, to start selling the J. Crew brand, which, like Madewell, is a division of the J. Crew Group. Advertisement Yet unlike Madewell, its not selling as well. Thats true, agreed Nordstrom. But I will say our customers have an awareness and affinity for the J. Crew brand. If you were to survey our customers about what brands they like, J. Crew would be right up on top. We probably share more customers with J. Crew than any other department store. The J. Crew and Madewell deals recall Topshops agreement with the Seattle-based Nordstrom department store chain. Bringing Madewell, J. Crew and Topshop to its doors and web site reflects Nordstroms efforts to broaden its base of customers and its image through new and sometimes exclusive arrangements with brands. Its also a sign of the times underscoring the industry imperative to be multichannel and global; the blurring lines between retail and wholesale, and the challenging, often treacherous specialty retail sector. Another possibility for Nordstrom is with Uniqlo, the Japanese vertical retailer, which about 11 years ago, starting opening stores in the U.S. and has had uneven success with the expansion. Of course, we would be open to having a conversation with them, Nordstrom said. But its a pretty different thing. It would be an unusual fit in our full-line stores. Hiroshi Taki, group senior vice president and chief executive officer of Uniqlo USA, concurred he is also open to discussions with Nordstrom. Already, Nordstrom has begun selling some J. Crew Ludlow mens suits at four of its stores. The real launch of the partnership happens Sept. 12 when J. Crew starts selling inside 16 Nordstrom locations, in 500-square-foot settings in the Point of View section. Nordstrom.com will also sell J. Crew. I wouldnt say this is a test. Its more of a pilot, Nordstrom noted. We need to start somewhere so we understand the business. Well spread it around to different-size stores and regional locations. Madewell has kind of worked everywhere. This was an easy decision, said Millard Mickey Drexler, chairman and ceo of the J. Crew Group. Nordstrom is the perfect partner because we both share the same high standards of customer service and store experience. Were doing this exclusively with Nordstrom. This is excellent exposure for us. Drexler said Nordstrom will sell an edited assortment of the J. Crew collection, including classics such as the Regent and Rhodes blazers, Italian cashmere, outerwear and the Martie pants, to name a few. The pieces will be merchandised and presented in the signature J. Crew way pattern mixing, quirky styling, bright colors, mixing prints and stripes along with accessories. Nordstrom will also sell J. Crew petites online only, and on the mens side of J. Crew, Nordstrom has focused on J. Crews Ludlow suits in Italian worsted wool and Loro Piana fabrics in black, charcoal and navy. In addition to the four Nordstrom stores selling the mens wear, another seven will be added in October. Aside from their own stores, J. Crew and Madewell are sold on Net-a-porter, and J. Crew is sold at Bon Marche in Europe. Crewcuts, the J. Crew childrens division, is sold at Harrods in London. At one time, J. Crew was sold at Lane Crawford in Asia, though its no longer there. Asked if the arrangement with Nordstrom suggests that the J. Crew Group is moving into a wholesale business model, Drexler replied, This is an exception for us. It doesnt at all suggest wholesaling. The idea of collaborating with the J. Crew Group occurred to Nordstrom while he was traveling. Ive spent a lot of time traveling in the last couple of years, he said. We did see J. Crew in select stores in Europe and Asia. This whole thing started with J. Crew in mind, though the initial conversations revolved around Madewell. With J. Crew, Nordstrom said his buyers focused on iconic styles, newness and whats selling. J. Crew gave us a lot of latitude to do this. We are going to learn about what type of things do best in our environment. Weve done that with Madewell.We try to establish relationships with great brands that allow us to focus on regular-priced selling, newness and fashion. Its not exclusivity for exclusivity sake. J. Crew Groups success with Madewell was underscored recently when Nordstrom disclosed that its distribution of Madewell would increase with an additional 20 stores this fall. It was the third distribution expansion since the initial launch of the partnership in March 2015 and will result in Nordstrom carrying Madewell in 76 locations in the U.S. and Canada, as well as on nordstrom.com. Nordstrom said there has been no discussion regarding his company investing in the J. Crew Group, which is owned by the TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners private equity firms. Outside of Madewell stores, Nordstrom is the only brick-and-mortar retailer to sell Madewell merchandise. Madewell is also sold on madewell.com, Net-a-porter and Shopbop.com. In 2015, when the deal to sell Madewell merchandise to Nordstrom was disclosed, Drexler told WWD, This, for us, is really a new beginning. I wouldnt call it necessarily a wholesale distribution. I would just call it distribution that makes sense from a customer point of view, from a brand point of view, from a Nordstrom and Net-a-porter point of view. The 16 Nordstrom stores set to carry J. Crew are in downtown Seattle; Bellevue Square, Wash.; Washington Square in Tigard, Ore.; Michigan Avenue in Chicago; Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook, Ill.; Somerset Collection in Troy, Mich.; Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, Ariz.; NorthPark Center in Dallas; Houston Galleria in Houston; Barton Creek Square and Domain Northside, both in Austin, Tex.; King of Prussia Mall, Pa.; Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va.; South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Calif.; The Mall at Short Hills in New Jersey, and The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville. ALSO Four things to know about Nordstroms new store-within-a-store at the Grove Why have upscale retailer Nordstrom and other apparel giants lost their luster? 11 and gender fluid: suits and other staples from my daughters closet After more than 26 years, chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken are closing their Santa Monica restaurant Border Grill. The pair will be opening a new restaurant, also in Santa Monica, hopefully by next year and it wont be a Border Grill. The lease was up on the 4th Street location, a festive Mexican restaurant and cantina near the Promenade, which the two chefs opened in 1990. This is where the pair not only served their signature Mexican dishes but filmed many episodes of their long-running Food Network cooking show, Too Hot Tamales. By our most recent calculation, weve handmade more than nine million tortillas on the comal in the window, mashed over 500 tons of avocados for guacamole and poured over 325,000 bottles of tequila and counting, the pair said in a statement. Feniger and Milliken will officially close the doors in mid-October, but not before throwing a party or a few of them. Look for throwback dishes and celebratory menus, as well as a final goodbye bash that, the chefs say, will likely resurrect the margarita-fueled conga line that marked the restaurants opening. Advertisement We plan on having a nice big party, said Milliken this morning, likely themed around Dia de los Muertos. Its just so fitting. But dont think that Milliken and Feniger will be resting on their tequila-soaked laurels or retiring. I dont think thats ever in the cards, said Milliken. We just keep changing our roles. When we opened Border Grill, giant restaurants were all the rage, said Milliken. The whole city has changed so much. You dont have to drive across town to find a great restaurant; you just look in your own neighborhood. We want to evolve the menu and the concept beyond what we started in 1990. It needs to have a new identity. Border Grill holds a particular place in the history of Los Angeles restaurants, as do the two chefs who opened it. The precursor to Border Grill was City Cafe, Feniger and Millikens first restaurant in Hollywood, where the classically trained chefs created a menu that crossed culinary cultures in a way that L.A. diners now take for granted. When City Cafe moved to larger quarters in 1985, the chefs opened the first incarnation of Border Grill in the City Cafe space, before eventually moving the new restaurant across town. Feniger and Milliken have also opened other iterations of Border Grill, two in Las Vegas, one at LAX and one downtown (in the location of Ciudad, another of their earlier restaurants) and two Border Grill food trucks. When not cooking, both chefs have appeared on the Julia Child PBS series Cooking With Master Chefs, and on Top Chef Masters; theyve also written a number of cookbooks and have been active in Share Our Strength, LGBT rights and other causes. Its quite a list of accomplishments, and probably a very good reason to raise a glass and a green corn tamale. Border Grill Santa Monica, 1445 4th St., Santa Monica, (310) 451-1655, bordergrill.com ALSO: The 6 beers you should be drinking this fall Winsome takes Echo Park diner food beyond hipster brunch 5 things you need to know about the Guerrilla Tacos restaurant coming to the Arts District Even after readers donated more than $45,000 to Gaspar Marcos, the immigrant teenager still jumps on the 720 bus to his after-school job in Westwood. Though his future looks a bit brighter, little has changed for Marcos since a Los Angeles Times story and video was published July 15, sparking an outpouring of support from readers from Sacramento to South Korea. The video and story followed 19 hours in his life through a full day of high school and a late night at his restaurant job. Marcos crossed the Southwest border into the United States on his own at the age of 13 after he became an orphan in an indigenous village in Guatemala at age 5. Advertisement Gaspar Marcos is an unaccompanied minor in Los Angeles. This is his story. The 18-year-old junior attends Belmont High School, where nearly 1 in 4 of the schools estimated 1,000 students came from Central America many of them as unaccompanied minors. His story mirrors that of many immigrant youth who attend school and spend their afternoons and evenings sewing clothes, cooking in restaurants, painting homes and working other jobs in Los Angeles and throughout the nation. Most are immigrants from Central America, part of several waves of more than 100,000 who arrived as children in the U.S. in the last five years, without parents and often after perilous journeys. The video detailing his life went viral, gaining more than 11 million views in a couple of weeks. Marcos said he was taken aback by the support. In the few hours after the story went online, Marcos received hundreds of Facebook friend requests. Readers sent in more than 100 emails to the reporter wanting to donate to Marcos. The teen has even gotten stopped in downtown L.A. by strangers who want a selfie with him. Some readers even offered him a free room at their home. Marcos had to turn down those offers because they were too far from Belmont. He doesnt have a car and walks or takes the bus wherever he goes. I need to be close to school because thats important to me, for my future, he said. I need to be close to school because thats important to me, for my future. Gaspar Marcos All of the offers have surprised him. I feel very good and thankful about it all, but its also strange that so many people know about my situation, he said. Despite all the recognition, Federico Bustamante, who serves as something of a big brother for Marcos, said the teen has remained grounded and generous. Bustamante started a gofundme account for Marcos, which has a goal of $100,000. So far about 40% of that has been met. If he reaches the goal, Marcos plans for half of the money to go toward helping some of his classmates at Belmont who also came to this country by themselves. Some of that money will go to securing legal representation to try to secure immigration relief for them. Bustamante helped Marcos retain a pro bono attorney through Kids in Need of Defense, an advocacy organization that works to find representation for children in immigration court. Marcos was able to receive a special immigrant juvenile visa, usually given to children who were found to have been abused, neglected or abandoned by one or both parents. That makes him eligible for legal residency, which hes applying for. However, that means he has yet to receive a Social Security number, and that initially became an obstacle to securing the money in the gofundme account. He has yet to receive some of the funds, and thats one of the reasons hes still working during the week. Bustamante said the issue should be resolved shortly and Marcos will have access to some of the money. Still, Marcos said hell never stop working completely. He plans to work on the weekends and focus on school during the week. Some of the money will go to a private tutor to help Marcos catch up in school and prepare him for college. Other funds will help him pay $600 monthly rent for a room near Belmont. A good chunk of the money will get stashed away for college. Its unclear how much money hell actually have to work with at the end of the day. But one thing is certain, Marcos and Bustamante said: Uncle Sam will also get his cut in taxes. cindy.carcamo@latimes.com Follow Cindy Carcamo on Twitter @thecindycarcamo To read the article in Spanish, clic here MORE LOCAL NEWS Black Lives Matter getting a cool reception in some black churches known for past activism A mother begs for help identifying sons killer: Slain 4-year-old was my everything Firefighters help passengers off Blue Line train that lost power For decades, theyve been catalysts for civil rights activism, occupying an important niche at the center of protests over police misconduct and racial flashpoints in Los Angeles, from the Rodney J. King beating to the murder trial of O.J. Simpson. But some black churches in Los Angeles, and the traditional African American clergy who lead them, have kept a decided distance from the new breed of activism represented by the Black Lives Matter movement. Many church leaders have been cool to the brash, in-your-face tactics of Black Lives Matter. Ministers have spoken out forcefully about the way blacks are treated by police, but few have openly supported the group. For their part, Black Lives Matter organizers have turned to street protests and social media to get their message out rather than relying on the pulpit. Advertisement The McCarty Memorial Christian Church congregation comes together to embrace a man who recently lost his brother at the hands of police. (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times ) In many ways, the division is generational. Black Lives Matter is a young movement, while many black churches tend to cater to older parishioners. But there are also political differences. Pastor J. Edgar Boyd of First African Methodist Episcopal Church the oldest black congregation in L.A. said Black Lives Matter is a tremendous force that is lacking of the kind of direction that it needs to have. He cited protesters who confronted Mayor Eric Garcetti last year at Holman United Methodist Church. More recently, Black Lives Matter protesters staged a sit-in outside City Hall to demand the removal of L.A. Police Chief Charlie Beck. The black church, or at least the faith-based community, has not embraced Black Lives Matter because it doesnt seem to have that central direction where people of responsibility can make the decisions and 99% can follow that, Boyd said. James I. Jones Jr., known as the Rev. JJ, heads Gangstas for Christ and is the facilitator of the Watts Gang Task Force. He said he supports the Black Lives Matter movement but disagrees with the L.A. chapters mission to fire Beck and remove Matt Johnson as the president of the Police Commission. Weve come a long way, Jones added. Right now, in L.A. I would be more concerned with my grandson getting dressed to go to a party and somebody who looks like him from a different area ask him What set you from? than worrying about if police are going to kill my grandson. Black Lives Matter activists have made Beck a persistent target, holding protests demanding his dismissal. But the chief has retained the support of many veteran African American leaders, including some who have battled with the L.A. Police Department in the past. Civil rights lawyer Connie Rice, who sued the department multiple times, said the LAPD deserves credit for diversifying its force and treating minority groups better than it did in the past. We took paramilitary police and we took them 180 degrees, said Rice, who worked with Beck to train several LAPD units that patrol low-income communities. Black Lives Matter formed in 2013 after a jury acquitted George Zimmerman, a Florida man, in the death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin. Protesters channeled their frustration with the verdict into a movement that galvanized millennials. Rice praised the group for keeping pressure on police and pushing the issue of injustice to the forefront, even though she doesnt always agree with the comments of some its activists. We have a long way to go before most poor neighborhoods see LAPD through the lens of trust and guardianship, Rice said. Some experts say this divide extends beyond Los Angeles. Robin D.G. Kelley, a UCLA history professor, said Black Lives Matter has taken a conscious stance against what they call respectability politics, which is associated with mainstream political organizations and churches. They boldly challenge conservative views on sexuality, embrace LGBTQ communities and dont care about ruffling feathers. Still, some pastors are embracing both Black Lives Matter and the movements larger messages. Under the vaulted ceilings of McCarty Memorial Christian Church in West Adams, Pastor Eddie Anderson offered a spiritual explanation for the recent protests and unrest over police shootings. Pastor Eddie Anderson speaks to the congregation at McCarty Memorial Christian Church in West Adams. (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times ) With the Bible spread before him, Anderson read from the Book of Amos describing a scene of people chanting angrily in the streets, taking over the town square and grieving for the dead. Amos said until justice is established we will be forced, we will be called to wail, he preached before pivoting from the past into the present. We will wail and say Si, se puede. We will wail and say Black Lives Matter. We will wail and say No Justice, No Peace. Anderson said the message of Black Lives Matter spoke to him and, he hoped, would resonate with a church that had fallen on hard times and needed a resurrection. Last month he invited members of the protest movement to his church. More than 250 filled the pews at McCarty, dwarfing a regular membership that hovered at about 70 people a far cry from the roughly 1,000 people who flocked to the church in the 1980s. Because Im new, Anderson said, it gives me freedom to speak and stand in solidarity with those who may not be the popular choice in power circles, but are doing the work of the people. Located in a neighborhood of low-rise buildings, the McCarty Memorial Christian Church looms high atop a hill. When it was built in 1932, The Times wrote it was one of the finest examples of pure Gothic architecture in America. Now, paint flakes the size of loose-leaf paper peel off of the 200-foot tower. Cardboard covers a broken window. This is the tradition of the black church. Legrand Clegg, member of Pilgrim Baptist Church In the 1980s the congregation was so large not everyone could fit in the church at once, said longtime member Winston Chambliss. Now, the church is struggling to stay afloat. To pay the bills, McCarty rents out space to other churches and for movie shoots. The church has to grow the congregation. Its members, most of them retirement age, are hoping the 26-year-old Anderson is the answer to their prayers. The youth is what we need, Chambliss said. Hopefully, he can draw them in. A month ago, Anderson reached out to members of Black Lives Matter, offering a night of healing at his church. The grainy cellphone videos of two black men killed by police in Minnesota and Louisiana had been circulating online for days, and a massacre in Dallas had left five police officers dead. At the event, Melina Abdullah, an organizer with Black Lives Matter, said she had not been in a Christian church since the Garcetti incident and alluded to the strained relationship between the group and black religious leaders. There are a lot of naysayers who say that Black Lives Matter is a movement of violence, that we have no direction, that theres no purpose, Abdullah said. We are a peace movement. Abdullah, who was raised in a Baptist church and was a member of West Angeles Church of God in Christ for over a decade, said the divide seems to be political. There is a desire to not offend anyone, she said later. As a result, to vigorously stand up for black life, to say that we want an immediate end to state violence, and to say we are going to call elected officials out on their stuff, to say that the systems need to be transformed, has not been deeply rooted in any black church in recent years. Abdullah has tried to forge relationships. For a year, she attended a monthly meeting of black and Latino clergy. It appeared, she said, that she was making headway. Then the incident with Garcetti happened. Since then, the group has forged bonds with pastors who want to be involved. Pastor Lewis Logan of Ruach Christian Community Fellowship and Pastor Cue Jn-Marie of The Church Without Walls have led the morning prayer circle before protests. Recently, Pastor Oliver Buie of Holman prayed with the group outside City Hall. We actually would love to partner with churches that are willing to have us, Abdullah said. We want a deeper understanding on both sides. Some hope that Black Lives Matter and the churches can form more lasting bonds. Legrand Clegg, 72, a longtime member of Pilgrim Baptist Church in South Park, said churches should not stand on the sidelines on the issue of how police treat black people. This is the tradition of the black church, he said. It is where we engaged in political discussions, to talk about black liberation, racism, in addition to being an institution of spiritual fulfillment. For more California breaking news, follow @AngelJennings. She can also be reached at angel.jennings@latimes.com. ALSO Healing hikes hope to give black Americans a chance to talk and meditate over a summer of violence Black Lives Matter has signed onto a platform in time for the presidential election. Heres what it says Blunt discrimination by police and crisis levels of racism: A senior U.N. official reflects on America Amid Milwaukee unrest, a conservative black sheriff clashes with the citys liberal white police chief An ongoing dispute between neighbors apparently sparked a drive-by shooting in Lake View Terrace on Sunday night that left two men dead, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Gunfire was reported about 9:30 p.m. in the 11000 block of Jouett Street, said Officer Tony Im. Witnesses reported seeing a car drive past as someone inside the vehicle opened fire, hitting three men standing in the frontyard of a home, said Sgt. Jaime Chacon. Advertisement The men who were killed were identified as Moises Sarias, 68, of Lake View Terrace, and Edgar Leonel Canaan, 47, of North Hollywood. The third man, who authorities said is expected to survive, was not identified by police. Though no arrests have been made, Im said detectives believe the case is related to an ongoing neighbor dispute. The dead are the second and third homicides in Lake View Terrace in the last 12 months, according to the Homicide Report. Joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. A teaching assistant with the Los Angeles Unified School District has been charged with smuggling heroin and cellphones to an inmate on San Quentins death row. Teri Orina Nichols, 47, was charged with one felony count of bringing a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia into a prison or jail and one misdemeanor count of possession with intent to deliver a wireless communication device or component to a prison inmate, said Barry Borden, Marin County assistant district attorney. Nichols was charged Friday and is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 13. She could face up to four years in prison, to be served in the county jail, Borden said. Advertisement A look inside East Block at San Quentin State Prison, where condemned inmates are housed. Nichols, whom the prison identified as an assistant teacher with L.A. Unified, was arrested Thursday during a visit with 50-year-old Bruce Millsap. Millsap has received eight death sentences and is also serving a 200-year sentence for murdering eight people. He is a known member of the East Coast Crips gang. San Quentins Investigative Services Unit was in the main visiting room when zip-close plastic bags were seen in an area occupied only by Nichols and Millsap. The bags were not consistent with packaging for any items sold in the vending machines, so Millsap was removed for a strip search, the prison said. Staff members found nothing and asked Nichols whether she would consent to a search, which she did. Nichols later admitted to bringing contraband into the visiting room, the prison said. The smuggled items included 18 cellphones, 18 cellphone chargers, two unidentified blue pills and about three ounces of heroin, the prison alleges. We are evaluating how she was successful in circumventing our security measures, prison Lt. Samuel Robinson told the Marin Independent Journal. Nichols began working for the school district in 1992 and most recently was assigned to South East High School in South Gate, where she worked as a special education assistant, according to a statement from the district. She was reassigned Monday to a non-school site, according to L.A. Unified. A recent Times report highlighted the issue of illegal smuggling among death row inmates. Six death row inmates died between 2010 and 2015 with detectable levels of methamphetamines, heroin or other drugs in their system, according to Marin County coroner records. Three of them had toxic levels of drugs, including one in whose intestines were found five snipped fingers of a latex glove, each packed with methamphetamine or marijuana. The inmate had overdosed when they burst. Death row inmates are strip searched regularly, including before and after they leave their cells to exercise, go to the law library or see visitors. The overdoses on death row mirror the larger problem with drugs in Californias prison system as a whole. From 2010 to 2015, 109 inmates died of overdoses, according to state figures. For more California news, follow @brittny_mejia paige.stjohn@latimes.com UPDATES: 4:10 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from Los Angeles Unified School District. 12:04 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details. This article was originally published at 11:10 a.m. California wildlife officials are offering a $10,000 reward to find whoever is responsible for fatally shooting three Southern sea otters along the Central Coast over the last month. The two juvenile males and one adult male otter were killed between late July and early August, and washed up between Santa Cruz Harbor and Seacliff State Beach in Aptos between Aug. 12 and 19, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said Monday. The animals are protected under the Endangered Species Act and state law. Killing a Southern sea otter is punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and jail time, authorities said. Advertisement Southern sea otters are also known as California sea otters and are known to navigate the waters between San Mateo and Santa Barbara counties and the area around San Nicolas Island in Ventura County. They were listed as a threatened species in 1977. A necropsy revealed the otters had been killed days or weeks before they were found. The reward money was put forward by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the state fish and wildlife agency and a private donor. Anyone with information about the killings can call (888) 334-2258. Joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. ALSO Motorist on pain pills starts wildfire and sets her car ablaze as she drives on spark-spewing tire rim, CHP says Moments before LAX panic, officers confront man dressed as Zorro Possible neighbor dispute led to deadly triple-shooting in Lake View Terrace, police say A woman was so high on pain pills in Northern California Sunday afternoon that she didnt realize her 2002 Kia Rio had a flat tire and that sparks from its rim had set her car and the surrounding forest on fire, according to the California Highway Patrol. Rene Ilene Hogan, 44, has a suspended license and was driving under the influence of a controlled substance when she was unable to explain to police why she was driving a burning 2002 Kia Rio with a rear flat tire, the CHP said. The incident occurred before 2 p.m. as Hogan was driving eastbound on Mountain Ranch Road in West Point, a small town in Calaveras County, according to a CHP arrest report. Advertisement Hogans right rear tire became flat, but she continued driving until the tire wore down to the metal rim, according to CHP Officer Tobias Butzler. As the rim ground against the road, hot sparks flew into the drought-parched grass lining the highway, igniting several fires and ultimately, Hogans vehicle, Butzler said. She knew she was driving, but was oblivious to any of the carnage she was causing, Butzler said. Another driver on the highway saw her car burning and tried to alert her, but she didnt respond, authorities said. The motorist ultimately drove in front of her and stopped, forcing Hogan to stop as well, Butzler said. The driver and others in the community who saw the smoke pulled Hogan from the burning car and called police. By the time Hogan stopped, the tire rim had been ground down three inches, Butzler said. The flames sparked in the grass grew into the Willow fire, which had burned 450 acres and was 30% contained as of Monday morning, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. In addition to Hogan being booked on suspicion of driving under the influence and with a suspended license, Cal Fire investigators said they will seek additional charges against her for causing a fire that burned a home and state forest and occurred during a state emergency. Last year, the area was ravaged by the Butte fire, which killed two people and destroyed hundreds of homes in Calaveras and Amador counties. After the fire last year, everyone around here is really jumpy. When they see smoke, they call, Butzler said. Joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. It was a dark and stormy night when I arrived at Nottoway Plantation, eager to get to my room, unaware of the ghosts. Western Louisiana was flooding. Roads were washed out, hotels in short supply. I had pointed my rented Jeep toward one of the few places with a room, a mansion by the Great Mississippi River Road 30 miles south of Baton Rouge thats listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was about 1 a.m. when I finally passed sugar cane fields surrounding the plantation on Bayou Goula, cane so tall and thick you could walk a foot into it and disappear. Out of the lush fields and the darkness rose the 40-room plantation, which bills itself as the Souths largest antebellum house, an Italianate-Greek revival built in 1859 with 22 white columns, the White Castle of Louisiana. Advertisement The grounds of the Nottoway Plantation evoke another era. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times ) The night security manager, Jim Denis, insisted on carrying my bag up to Room 14, the only one available. The massive door was nearly as tall as the 15-foot cypress walls, and Denis opened it to reveal a mahogany canopy bed, draped in a heavy red and gold bedspread with matching drapes that pooled on the floor. Jim headed for the door, but not before muttering with a smile, All our apparitions are friendly. I was going to make a joke, but he had already disappeared. Looking back, I remember noticing two water-stained flower prints on the wall next to the claw-footed tub in the bathroom down a short hall. In the room, next to a display of vintage jewelry, was a photograph of an elderly woman. The next night, after capturing the stories of flood survivors, I asked Denis what hed meant by apparitions. Oh, that room is haunted, he said matter-of-factly. I started. The ghost especially has a thing about women with long hair, he said. I have long hair. Some guests have ended up fleeing Room 14 at Nottoway Plantation. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times ) Denis said several female guests had swiftly left the room after encountering ghosts. One woman was showering when the lights went out and she felt a cold hand on her neck, shifting her hair. Another woman was showering when the tub jolted toward the wall; after she tried to reason with the ghost, it jolted back and the feet fell off. That might account for the water stains on the bathroom pictures, I thought. So where was I staying tonight? The carriage house, which was also haunted, Denis said, but by a kindly ghost a girl who died there 150 years ago. On the computer in front of him, he showed me security camera video of a girls pale outline floating around the front parking lot. I am a news reporter who deals in facts. But I am also Catholic, fairly superstitious and a fan of ghost stories. I collected them as a child, told them as a camp counselor. Stephen Kings books are among my favorites, including 1408, his short story about a skeptical writer who insists on staying in a haunted hotel room whose digits add up to 13 and where people had died. As ghostly forces take hold, the writer loses his grip on reality and tries to leave, but the room wont let him. I may be skeptical, but I slept with the lights on. I did not shower. I did not peer in the mirrors or out at the parking lot. I willed myself not to reread Kings story or Google Nottoway ghosts. (If I had, I would have seen the plantation had so much paranormal activity that it was featured on Discovery Channels Ghost Lab.) See more of our top stories on Facebook Nothing happened. The next morning, I passed one of the housekeeping staff and asked whether hed seen any ghosts. Oh, people leave all the time, the staffer, Roy Johnson, said, especially from Room 14. He recalled cleaning a room when he heard a ruckus next door: furniture rattling, shifting. He called the main desk, but they said the guests had already checked out. So I knocked like this, Housekeeping! he said. No response. He opened the door. Empty. He tried not to work too late, he said. He didnt know how Denis could handle staying after dark, roaming the property, doing security checks. That night the moon was full. I stayed in cottages next to the main house. Denis assured me they were not haunted, but when I stopped at a nearby coffee shop for cafe au lait and beignets, two local police officers laughed at me. Thats worse! one of them said. Thats the old slave quarters. But it didnt feel haunted to me. I turned out the lights and slept soundly. The White Castle doesnt look scary during in sunshine, but staffers say odd things happen in daytime too. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske/Los Angeles Times ) The next day during a tour I discovered there had been plenty of deaths and dramas at Nottoway, which was owned by the Randolph family (forebears of William Randolph Hearst) and named after the county they came from in Virginia. This was a house built and staffed by hundreds of slaves, who crafted its signature bousillage molding from Spanish moss, horsehair and river mud. At least one slave, Judah, was beaten by the overseer and jailed before joining the Union Army. The house came under attack during the Civil War but was spared when a Union officer realized he had stayed there. Three Randolph sons fought for the Confederacy, and one died at Vicksburg. Another was disowned for running off with the daughter of a slave. One Randolph daughter married a Yankee. Another never married, despite etching her name in one of the windows with a diamond ring, a custom of the betrothed. The Randolphs themselves were wary of ghosts. In their white ballroom, my guide lifted a delicate German porcelain keyhole cover designed, he said, to prevent spirits from traveling room to room. He said the woman in the photo in Room 14 was Nottoways last occupant owner, Odessa Owen. When she sold the house to be turned into a resort in 1980, Miss Odessa stipulated that she be allowed to spend the rest of her days there. She was beloved by the staff whom she visited at the gift shop until the day she died in Room 14. Another night manager, Bob Green, told me he didnt believe in ghosts. Jims scared. Im a skeptic, he said of Denis. For each of the ghost stories Denis told, Green offered plausible explanations. The cold hand on the neck could have been a bug, of which there are lots on the bayou. The electricity going out and tub moving could just be the failings of an old house. The house is also full of optical illusions, he said. He walked me outside and pointed to the third floor porch of the main house. See the witch? he said. There she was! We could see her shadow, in profile, especially her pointy black hat. Then Green had me walk a few steps forward, toward the glittering lights of a fountain. Suddenly, she wasnt a witch at all: Just a trick of the eye created by the shape of an ornate column. But there are some phenomena at Nottoway that even Green cant explain. As we chatted near the front desk, Cajun chef Mike Gros stopped to say that earlier that day, he had been setting up the Randolph ballroom for a wedding and found a chair tipped forward, is if someone had reserved their seat. Gros righted it only to discover soon after that it had tipped again. He fixed it several times before getting a familiar eerie feeling. It was the same feeling he gets in a corner of the ballroom near the grand piano. Like theres a face right next to me. Green took me over to the ballroom, the glittering crystal chandeliers casting a pale glow, and I stood near the piano and closed my eyes. I didnt feel anything. Look at that, Green said. A gold-tone faux bamboo chair was tipped. He righted it. A staffer emerged from the adjacent kitchen. Green explained about the chair. It was what? the man said. He darted back into the kitchen. We stayed in the ballroom a bit longer, waiting for a feeling that never came. All the while, I kept eyeing that chair. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com Twitter: @mollyhf Is Trumps immigration plan starting to sound like nothing more than status quo? Kellyanne Conway: Trump "not talking about a deportation force" https://t.co/kmNup7jlIl Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) August 28, 2016 Heres a question: What if Donald Trumps immigration plan ends up being not much different than how things work today? That seems to be possible scenario after top campaign officials retreated Sunday on both his signature deportation force to remove 11 million immigrants, but also on the possibility of granting legal status to certain immigrants. The latest statements clouded Trumps already shifting thinking after a tumultuous week that saw him zigzag across the immigration debate. Campaign manager Kellyanne Conway on Fox News Sunday shot down any chance that immigrants could stay in the U.S. and become legal residents. If immigrants want to gain legal status, Conway said, they need to leave the U.S., go home and reapply. No legalization, no amnesty, Conway said. We all learned in kindergarten to stand in line and wait our turn. But both Conway and vice presidential nominee Mike Pence also backed away from Trumps earlier promise for a deportation force that would round up and kick out the estimated 11 million immigrants now in the country illegally. Pressed on what to do with those already here, Conway suggested tougher enforcement of existing laws. Thats really the question here, she said on Face the Nation. We have agencies that already exist that are meant to be doing this already. So whats the upshot of these latest positions? Its starting to sound like the process already in effect under President Obama. Obama has already focused the Homeland Security agencies on deporting criminal immigrants, as Trump has been emphasizing in recent days. In fact, deportations under Obama hit an all-time high but have since become more targeted. Trump says he will still act on his promise to build a wall along the border with Mexico, beefing up a barrier that already exists in some places along with virtual surveillance. Trumps team has indicated he will deliver a sweeping immigration address at some point, but it has been repeatedly postponed. Trumps pivot last week toward what he called a softer approach on illegal immigration now appears to have been a trial balloon that angered all sides. But so far his latest position doesnt seem to offer any new ideas. In fact, it sounds more like the status quo. U.S. reaches refugee milestone amid campaign debate (Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images) The U.S. was set Monday to welcome its 10,000th refugee from Syria, hailed by the White House as an achievement reached ahead of schedule and without cutting any corners. Whether the country should have admitted even that many, or far more, remains the subject of fierce political debate. The escalation of the Syrian civil war prompted a global refugee crisis last summer as millions fled to Europe from the Middle East and other global trouble spots. Amid pressure from the international community to ramp up the pace of refugee admissions, President Obama set the goal last fall of resettling 10,000 Syrians in the U.S. a figure far lower than some international allies had sought but one the administrations critics saw as tantamount to opening the floodgates and inviting a potential national security threat. In marking the milestone, the White House charged that both sides had politicized the issue and that Obamas focus throughout has simply been to do the right thing. In a statement, National Security Advisor Susan Rice thanked government agencies that played a role in the screening processes, as well as the communities that have welcomed these new neighbors, demonstrating the values that have made our nation great. Although Rice said the 10,000 refugees represented a six-fold increase over the previous years admissions, the number was a minuscule fraction of the 20 million refugees currently fleeing war zones and other harsh conditions around the world. Activists called on the U.S. to do more, including accepting larger numbers. Thousands of families from Syria have found safety on our shores, and that is a wonderful thing, Tarah Demant, senior director of the U.S. branch of Amnesty International, said in a statement. But so many are still trapped in horrific conditions in refugee camps or war zones. The U.S. must do more to uphold its responsibility to do all it can to protect those fleeing human rights abuses. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that the president hopes the U.S. will expand our ambition to admit more refugees. Secretary of State John F. Kerry is discussing the matter with members of Congress, but Earnest conceded the increase would likely not be more than several thousand. As of March, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had submitted more than 32,000 Syrians to the U.S. for resettlement consideration. Over the last five years, more than 378,000 Syrians have sought asylum in Germany, by comparison. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has attacked Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for proposing a more significant uptick; she called for admitting 65,000 Syrian refugees during a 2015 interview. In a speech this month, Trump proposed modifying already-rigorous screening measures to preclude admitting any who have hostile attitudes towards our country or its principles or who believe that Sharia law should supplant American law. It has been said that when America goes to war, military families go to war as well. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the signature wounds of the current Middle Eastern conflicts, often stem from prolonged combat tours and traumatic, explosive and concussive events. Service members are returning home from the Middle East with serious injuries that require years of care. Because brain injury and PTSD increase the challenges for Nebraska military families, Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska (BIA-NE) presents the Women of Warriors weekend retreat, Sept. 23-25 in Aurora. The purpose of the weekend is to educate, encourage, and empower wives, girlfriends, mothers, and daughters who support veterans of any conflict on the home front. Many women who care for veterans or service members feel isolated and unsupported, said Peggy Reisher, executive director of the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska. This retreat provides a safe, confidential environment where the women develop relationships, find encouragement and hope, and feel less alone. During the weekend, the women learn the latest medical and psychological insights about brain injury and PTSD - the invisible wounds of war, as well as how to strengthen their relationships, talk with their children and care for themselves, and about community and military resources. In addition to offering women an educational and inspiring retreat, we wish to honor these behind the scenes hidden heroes and thank them for their service and sacrifice, Reisher said. The 2014 Rand Corporation study states that military caregivers who provide care and assistance at home promotes better recovery for their loved ones and thus saving our nation millions of dollars in healthcare costs. It is a noble job, but it can exact a significant toll. In order to ensure that our nations military veterans are supported fully, we also must attend to the needs of their caregivers. We encourage all women who are caring for a veteran of any conflict to join us at this retreat, Reisher said. We also need help to reach woman military caregivers. Please pass on information about this retreat to a woman who is supporting a veteran. Support from the Nebraska Soldiers Foundation and At Ease USA makes this three-day retreat that includes all meals and lodging for the weekend affordable to each woman for a fee of $50. Attendees must pre-register. Sponsorship opportunities exist for those who wish to help veterans family members attend this retreat. For more information or to register, go to www.biane.org/events/womenofwarriors. Its make or break time for proposed new state laws as the Legislature rushes to finish its latest two-year session and adjourn until December. To have a chance of becoming law, bills must be approved by both chambers before the end of the day Wednesday. Then there is still the formidable obstacle of Gov. Jerry Browns veto pen. A number of bills that deserve to become law face an uncertain fate in the coming days. Here are a few of them. AB 1066 Advertisement There always seems to be at least one big end-of-session fight. This year it is over the bill to make overtime rules fairer for farmworkers. Less generous rules for farmworkers are a legacy of the Depression-era laws that established minimum wage and overtime protections. Current law entitles them to overtime pay only after they work a longer day 10 hours than other employees, and allows agricultural employers to demand longer workweeks. The proposed new rules would gradually shorten the hours required before overtime pay kicks in until it reaches the standard eight-hour day by 2022, as well as phasing in a standard 40-hour workweek. It sounds reasonable, right? But the bill failed earlier this year, as Assembly members representing agriculture-heavy districts balked at raising farmers costs. Helped by Senate allies, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) resurrected the proposal in a bill that the Senate then passed. The measure now returns to the Assembly for a tough vote on Monday. Even lawmakers from farming districts should stop defending an unfair policy that treats farmworkers as a labor underclass. SB 1046 A pilot program in three California counties, including Los Angeles, requires people whove been convicted of driving under the influence to equip their vehicles with devices that prevent the vehicles from starting if the devices detect alcohol on the drivers breath. Since then, the roads have been safer. Its time to make the program permanent and take it statewide, as SB 1046 would do. It has been passed by the Legislature, but it remains to be seen whether Brown will do the right thing and sign it. AB 72 This measure would protect hospital patients from being surprised with huge bills from doctors who arent part of their health insurers network. This bill, which has been resisted by some physician groups, would require out-of-network doctors to obtain a patients permission at least a day before providing non-emergency treatment at an in-network hospital or clinic. Its a reasonable middle ground in the ongoing struggle between what insurers want to pay and what providers want to be paid. It still needs a floor vote in the Senate this week. SB 1190 This hard-fought bill, which would ban back-channel communication with the California Coastal Commission as it considers development applications, would help restore faith in a board accused of being overly susceptible to developers influence. It temporarily stalled after it was amended in an Assembly committee earlier this month, and supporters initially feared that advocates of coastal development had gutted it. But it is back on track and needs a full vote of the Assembly this week. Lifting the school reserve cap This legislation has no bill number because it doesnt actually exist yet. There was a bi-partisan bill earlier this year SB 799 by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) to increase the burdensome savings cap that prevents school district from setting aside adequate reserves for unforeseen expenses. Opposition from the California Teachers Assn., which argued that school districts had built excessive reserves to hide money that should have been spent in classrooms, helped kill the legislation in committee for the second time in two years. The two sides have been working on a compromise this summer, and legislative leaders ought to pressure them to strike one. SB 1062 This measure would forbid the use of bullhooks on elephants. The cruel device, which resembles a fire poker, is used to pull, prod, or strike an elephant or just brandished as a threat while handling the animal. Such tactics have become unacceptable over the years, and no accredited California zoos allow bullhooks anymore. Nevertheless, Brown vetoed a similar bill last year because he believed it unnecessarily created a new crime. This bill solves that problem by making use of the bullhook a violation of the Fish and Game Code. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Earlier this month, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio stated that women infected with the Zika virus, which can cause congenital disabilities such as microcephaly, should not be permitted to have legal abortions. In March, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, now the Republican nominee for vice president, signed a bill banning abortions following a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome or related conditions. Similar bills have passed or are pending in other states. Underlying these anti-abortion measures is the widespread assumption that pregnant women will rush to abort if they discover that their children will be born with a disability. This leads, in turn, to the assumption that reproductive rights and disability rights are in conflict. Mass media and our politicians repeatedly send out the false message that disability equals suffering. It doesnt have to be that way. We are parents of children with disabilities who are also pro-reproductive rights. David Perrys 9-year-old son has Down syndrome. Elizabeth Picciutos 6-year-old son has Cri du Chat syndrome and microcephaly. Rather than limit womens rights, we believe we must build a more understanding, accessible society that supports people with disabilities and provides services to parents. Thats how we can safeguard access to abortion while ensuring that it isnt the only feasible option following a prenatal diagnosis. The first step is to educate the public. Mass media and our politicians repeatedly send out the false message that disability equals suffering. Disabled people do suffer and struggle. But much of that suffering is caused by correctable injustices: lack of resources, lack of accessibility or lack of knowledge. Amy Sequenzia, an autistic adult, advises parents not to try to fix their children so they are no longer disabled, but to improve how the world will see and treat the children so that they can have accessibility and supports, and also be safe to live disabled. Following that advice could take us a long way toward a world in which the reception of a prenatal diagnosis of disability is met not with fear, but with hope. Advertisement Step two: Recognize that all disabled lives have meaning. Some might say such acceptance is all well and good for mild disabilities, but not severe disabilities like microcephaly. This distinction is unwarranted. Many mildly disabled people still need a lot of support, while many who are severely disabled can lead fuller lives than may be readily apparent. When Picciutos son Edmund was born, she was told based on brain MRIs that he would never walk, talk or recognize anyone or anything in his environment. Like many initial prognoses, that turned out to be far too pessimistic. While most would still count him severely disabled, he has loving relationships with family and friends, plays games, laughs at silly jokes and wants screentime far too often. Perrys son is mostly non-speaking, but his teachers call him The Mayor because of the way he moves through the building, greeting each student and adult as he walks. People who are severely disabled, given the right environment, can still thrive, love, achieve their goals, and in turn make the world a better place. The final step is to recognize the stakes. Many people who reprove the notion of abortions based on sex (or if prenatal testing technology were more advanced, sexual orientation, or eye color) make an exception for abortions due to disability. They seem to believe that disabled people will be so unhappy, or make their parents so unhappy, that it would be better if they were not born. Such a distinction points to the inherent ableism within American society. We must do better; we must find a way to fairly and consistently handle the ethical complexities of widely accessible, and ever more precise, prenatal diagnostic technology. We dont mean to minimize the challenges facing disabled people and their families. We know all too well that the world is still far from being an ideal place to raise a disabled child. But the answer isnt to force pregnant women to give birth. The best way to open up new possibilities for women after a prenatal diagnosis is to guarantee that disabled children are well-supported with the services they need, that they have adequate medical care, and access to great schools. If the Rubios and Pences of the world really want to make a difference, they could work to ensure that communities are empowered to welcome and include disabled people, not to shut them out. David Perry is a disability rights journalist and history professor at Dominican University. Elizabeth Picciuto is a contributing writer at the Daily Beast and philosophy lecturer at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook A decade ago, a Democrat defeated the Republican incumbent in Texas 23rd Congressional District. Four years later, Republicans took the district back. Then it flipped to the Democrats again. And then back to the Republicans. This fall, Democrats are trying to reclaim one of the few competitive congressional seats in the nation and theyre hoping the specter of Donald Trump will help them do it. Advertisement Not that Pete Gallego, a lawyer and former congressman, isnt willing to discuss other issues. The Democrat says that when he campaigns before womens groups, Latinos and veterans, he tries to address such things as preserving Big Bend National Park, bolstering education and improving veterans benefits. The No. 1 local issue is Donald Trump. Pete Gallego, Democratic candidate for Texasa 23rd Congressional District I never get to that, because people always want to talk about Trump, Gallego said during a recent campaign stop at a postal workers union here. The No. 1 local issue is Donald Trump. The Republican presidential hopeful complicates campaigning for GOP candidates like Rep. Will Hurd, who has refused to endorse or outright condemn Trump. Hurd, who currently represents Texas 23rd District, is focusing on local concerns, campaigning at rural Dairy Queens and touting his constituent services along with the four border- and cybersecurity-related bills he wrote that have become law. Pete Gallego only wants to talk about Donald Trump because he wants to hide the fact that he was a complete failure when he was in Congress, Hurd said in a statement last week. He accomplished nothing, while my record stands as someone who has worked hard since Day 1, and Im just getting started. Trump is casting a shadow over local races more than any presidential candidate in recent memory, especially in heavily Latino districts like this one, where Trump pinatas are top sellers. Thats the story all across the country. Democrats want to tie their down-ballot opponents to Trump, and Republicans dont want to talk about Trump at all, said Kyle Kondik with the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Hurd is distancing himself. Its a tricky dance for Republicans. Pete Gallego, right, speaks with a local Democratic official in San Antonio. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times ) The 23rd is an unusually large district that stretches 800 miles along the Mexico border, from San Antonio to El Paso. Its 70% Latino and full of veterans and active-duty personnel stationed at several military installations. In the gated communities that line San Antonios conservative northwestern suburbs, yard signs proclaim Hillary for Prison. The districts diversity probably will play out in the voting booths. Theres going to be a lot of split households, Gallego said. Women who answer the door will tell you, My husband is voting for Trump, but theres no way Im voting for that man. In 2014, Hurd beat Gallego by fewer than 2,500 votes. But in presidential election years, turnout in the 23rd favors Democrats. And although polling shows Hillary Clinton is the second-most unpopular major-party nominee since 1964 after Trump, the GOP nominee is more of a drag on Hurd than Clinton is on Gallego, said Mark Jones, a political science fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute. Hurd has to walk a very delicate line, Jones said. If he denounces Trump, then he alienates many supporters of Trump, as well as Republicans who believe everyone should be getting on the bandwagon. If he alienates those Anglos, they might leave his spot blank on the ballot. But if he comes out and supports Trump, then he gives Gallego a host of ammunition against him. The key to the race could be the conservative San Antonio suburbs, home to nearly two-thirds of the districts population. Will they warm to Trumps aggressive foreign policies such as building a border wall or be turned off by controversies such as his criticism of the parents of fallen U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan? San Antonio is eaten up with military. People care, and they care deeply. Disrespect to the Khan family means something, said Harold Cook, an Austin-based Democratic analyst. Hurds in a tough position here because hes going to be pressured by the Democrats to either saddle up with Trump or not. And either way, hes screwed. Northern San Antonio Democratic precinct chairs who recently hosted Gallego at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 142 union said they were seeing Republicans defect because of Trump. Weve experienced people coming into Bexar County Democrats for [campaign] signs that have never voted Democrat in their life, Bob Comeaux said. Theyre even having buttons made: Republicans for Hillary. Hurd says he is trusting that voters will see through Gallegos efforts to distract them by focusing on Trump. The people of Texas 23rd District are smart enough to know that when it comes to doing things, actions count more than empty words, he said. But until Trump can show that he has a clear national security plan and until he shows he can respect minorities and women, Im going to withhold my endorsement, said the congressman, who is African American. Steve Munisteri, former chairman of the state Republican Party, praised Hurd as outgoing, articulate, intelligent, and said he was smart to disagree publicly with Trump taking issue with the nominees call for a border wall, for instance while still supporting Trump enough to satisfy his Republican base. His personality is one of the reasons I put that district as a tossup, Munisteri said. Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Sign up for the newsletter The district is full of swing voters and ticket-splitters, he said, noting that when Gallego was elected in 2012, Mitt Romney also got more votes than President Obama. Janice Manry, 70, a registered independent who manages a storage facility in the citys northwest suburbs, thinks Trump could drive turnout in Hurds favor. She plans to vote for both Republicans. And she sees plenty of like-minded customers, including Latinos and veterans who are for him building that wall, theyre for him sending guys back who are coming across here like waves of water. But across the parking lot, retired firefighter Roland Trevino said he had recently attended a wedding where half the guests were Mexican, and merely mentioning Trumps name ignited a firestorm. I just cannot vote for him, said Trevino, 61, adding that he expects some Latinos upset with Trump will vote for Gallego based on his surname alone. For now, Trevino plans to vote for Hurd. But he said that could change as he learns more. Hurd has done a lot right in his time in Congress, said Kondik of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. I dont think hes made any real mistakes [in the campign] and hes raised a lot of money. Even so, Kondik said, Id rather be Gallego than Hurd. An unpopular candidate that Hispanics dont like might be more important than anything the candidates say. molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com Twitter: @mollyhf ALSO He was a billionaire who donated to the Clinton Foundation. Last year, he was denied entry into the U.S. Why the USC/L.A. Times tracking poll differs from other surveys Trumps immigration pivot: Will he be the latest Republican to alienate the base? For years, state lawmakers have been trying to crack down on private meetings between utility companies and members of the California Public Utilities Commission after revelations that top officials and industry executives had frequent dinner dates, shared talking points and even sketched out details of the multibillion-dollar closure of a Southern California nuclear power plant during a secret rendezvous in a luxury hotel in Poland. The push culminated in a deal announced in June between Gov. Jerry Brown and legislators to force both agency and utility leaders to disclose more details of their contacts and stiffen penalties if they dont. For the record: An earlier version of this story spelled the last name of Ralph Cavanagh of the Natural Resources Defense Council as Cavanaugh. But the measure, part of a package of bills reforming the commission that remain under discussion in the final few days of this years legislative session, has worried some advocates and observers that it wont do enough to break up the close relationship between power companies and those overseeing them. Advertisement Robert McCullough, a consultant who investigated the state energy system during the Enron Corp. scandal in 2001, argued there shouldnt be any private communications between regulators and the industry when theyre deciding electric and gas rates for consumers. The amounts of money are so huge and the potential for abuse is so great that even just a pinkie on the scale can mean millions or tens of millions [of dollars], McCullough said. The federal government and a majority of other states with similar regulatory bodies dont allow ex parte communications, or discussions in which all interested parties arent present, in these cases, according to a 2014 study by UC Berkeleys Center for Law, Energy & the Environment. Theres a huge concern about the fairness of the process when certain parties can gain access to decision-makers behind closed doors, said Deborah Behles, an environmental attorney who co-wrote the report. The PUC has been under the microscope since a natural gas pipeline explosion killed eight people in Bay Area suburb of San Bruno six years ago. Attention quickly focused on the relationship between the agencys leaders and executives from Pacific Gas & Electric. Emails released in the wake of the explosion showed frequent chummy communications, including references to sharing bottles of wine while discussing the energy business and a request from a PG&E executive to hold off visiting a company control room during an audit because of unspecified problems there. The outcry only grew after a criminal investigation into the PUCs activities revealed a secret March 2013 meeting in a Warsaw hotel during an energy conference between a Southern California Edison executive and then-PUC President Michael Peevey regarding the shutdown of the San Onofre nuclear power plant. PUC regulators also have been criticized for not acting fast enough to prevent safety issues that eventually led to last years Aliso Canyon gas leak in Porter Ranch, which lasted four months and forced thousands from their homes. The series of incidents led to criminal and internal investigations involving the PUC and utility companies. Michael Strumwasser, an attorney hired by the agency to examine its ex parte communication practices, concluded regulators and energy executives were interpreting them in ways that led to decisions made outside the publics view. The PUC was kind of like a submarine with an open window, Strumwasser said in an interview. They had lots of apparent protection, but you wouldnt want to take this boat under the water. The agency has since reopened its decision to saddle consumers with most of the costs to shutter San Onofre after Edison was fined almost $17 million for failing to disclose the secret talks. Last year, legislators sent five bills to Browns desk to reform the PUC, including one from state Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) that would have banned private communications between regulators and utilities when deciding rates. Brown vetoed all of them, saying that although he agreed the agency needed reform, the bills tried to do too much at the same time and would be difficult to implement. He pledged to work with lawmakers this year on an overhaul. The effort picked up steam in early June when the Assembly, on a bipartisan vote, passed a proposed constitutional amendment by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) that would have given voters the opportunity to break up the PUC and allow the Legislature to assign all its responsibilities to other agencies. Less than a month after that vote, Brown, Gatto, Leno and state Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) announced the reform package. Gatto then agreed to drop his constitutional amendment. The deal also led Leno to remove the outright ban on ex parte meetings from his bill. He instead added the transparency provisions and upped the penalties for failing to disclose the communications. The governor would have vetoed it again, Leno said of the need to revamp his original proposal. They were very clear. This was a negotiated compromise. We went as far as we could. A spokesman for Brown said the governor wanted to preserve the ability for everyone involved in ratemaking cases to speak with PUC commissioners, and therefore ensure agency leaders had a diversity of perspective a view shared by some environmental, technology and other advocates. Ralph Cavanagh, the co-director of the Natural Resources Defense Councils energy program, said adding disclosure to the ex parte process would be far better than banning it. If you have commissioners hermetically sealed and cut off from the world which theyre supposed to be regulating, theyre going to make poor decisions, Cavanagh said. If youre worried about corruption, if youre worried about excessive influence of certain parties, the solution is transparency and disclosure, he continued. Lenos bill passed the Legislature last Thursday with unanimous support and is now on Browns desk. The PUC overhaul involves many more changes. A measure from Gatto would transfer the responsibility of regulating Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing companies along with other transportation services out of the PUC, and would also study moving the telecommunications industry to a different agency. Gatto has argued that the PUC is spread too thin to focus on its core responsibilities with energy companies. A third bill from Hill would allow easier public access to PUC documents among other changes to boost transparency in agency proceedings. The Gatto and Hill bills are still pending in the Legislature, and Brown has pledged to sign all three. liam.dillon@latimes.com Follow @dillonliam on Twitter ALSO Beset by scandals, the states energy regulator is facing a massive reorganization State regulators reopen case on San Onofre nuclear plant Brown vetoes transparency bills for troubled state utilities commission Its the coldest case in science, and it may have just been cracked. Forty years after researchers discovered Lucy, an early human ancestor who lived 3.2 million years ago, scientists think they now know how she died. After examining high-resolution CT scans of broken bones in Lucys right shoulder, as well as the damage to other parts of her skeleton, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin propose that the small hominids life ended shortly after a catastrophic fall from a great height probably from a tree. Advertisement What we see is a pattern of fractures that are well documented in cases of people who have suffered a severe fall, said John Kappelman, a UT professor of anthropology and geological sciences. This wouldnt happen if you just fell over. In a paper published Monday in Nature, Kappelman and his colleagues suggest that Lucy tumbled out of a tree, landed hard on her feet and then pitched forward, extending her arms straight out in front of her in a desperate attempt to break her fall. The force of the impact of her hands hitting the ground is likely responsible for the debilitating compression fracture in her shoulder, the authors write. But the fall also caused several bones in her body to break and probably lead to severe organ damage. Death would have followed swiftly. If their hypothesis is correct, Lucy was likely conscious in the last few moments before she died. She did exactly what we would do, Kappelman said. She was trying to save her life. Animation simulates how Lucy may have died after a fall from a tall tree. Lucy was discovered in 1974 by paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson in the Hadar area of central Ethiopia. Johanson and his colleagues named the fossil after the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds because it was playing over and over again at their camp the night she was found. Part of what made the Lucy find so important was her unusual mix of features. She had relatively short legs and long arms like a chimpanzee, but her wide pelvis indicated that she walked upright. This combination of traits suggests her species, Australopithecus afarensis, may have been a link between modern humans and our tree-living ancestors. Lucy was much smaller than modern humans. Although she was probably a full-grown adult at the time of her death, she stood just 3 feet 6 inches tall, and weighed about 60 pounds about the size of a first-grader. Her fossilized remains have been studied by dozens of scientists, but this is the first study to hypothesize how she met her end. Kappelman said thats because for the most part, ancient bones do not reveal how an animal died. Despite what you see on shows like CSI, skeletons only rarely preserve evidence of death, he said. If we didnt see those arms sticking out, the argument we make might not be so powerful. Kappelmans research into Lucys demise began in 2008, when the Ethiopian government granted him 10 days to scan the preserved parts of her skeleton at the high-resolution CT lab at the University of Texas. Previous attempts to peer into the interior of Lucys bones in the late 1970s had failed because CT scanners at that time were not powerful enough. Lucy is a fully mineralized fossil, so shes like a rock, and the problem with lower energy CT is that they cant see through rock Kappelman said. Up until 2008, we had had no data at all on the internal structure of her bones. She was radiographically opaque. It was while he was scanning her right humerus, the upper arm bone, that Kappelman realized the fractures on the end of the bone closest to the shoulder were unlike anything hed seen in other fossils. Ancient fossils often break apart due to geological forces. For example, breaks could be caused by the tremendous pressure of rock that can build up on fossils over time. They can also fracture when shifts in the Earths crust tear them apart. But Kappelman thought the fissures in Lucys bones might have a different origin. Perhaps they they were due to an injury instead. To check his hunch, he called Dr. Stephen Pearce, a friend of a friend and an orthopedic surgeon at the Austin Bone and Joint Clinic. Pearce agreed to take a look at a cast of Lucys right humerus bone in his medical office. It looked very distinctly like a proximal fracture we see pretty routinely as orthopedists, usually because of a fall off a ladder or scaffolding, or a car crash, Pearce said. Im not an anthropologist, but it certainly looked like the fracture pattern you would see if she fell out of a tree. Over time, Kappelman showed his cast of the humerus to eight different orthopedic surgeons. All of them said it looked like a four-part proximal humerus fracture that occurs when a person puts out their hands to break a fall. It wasnt like they were saying, It might be this or it could be something else, Kappelman said. It was not even a question from their perspective. But how could the researchers know that the event that caused the bone fractures also caused her death? Kappelman and his co-authors argue that the fall could not have occurred much before Lucy died because the bone breaks were clean and showed no sign of healing. They also say the injury could not have happened long after death because tiny slivers of bone that broke off in the impact remained in their post-injury position rather than scattering all over the ground. This could only happen if the fibrous tissue that forms a type of skin around the bone had not yet decayed, the authors said. Kappelmans point is that these slivers of bone can only be accounted for if the fibrous tissue was still there, holding everything in place, said Jack Stern, an anatomist and professor emeritus at Stony Brook University in New York who was not involved in the work. That argument impressed me. In addition, the authors describe a series of other devastating fractures in Lucys left shoulder, right ankle, left knee, pelvis and first rib that are consistent with their great fall hypothesis. But not everyone is buying the argument. Donald Johanson, director of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University and the man who discovered Lucy more than 40 years ago, said the paper does not provide convincing evidence for how Lucy died. Tens of thousands of fossils have been recovered by numerous paleontologists and they all show the same kind of bone breakage interpreted by me and my team to be due to geological forces, he said. Once these bones get interred in the water, sandstone starts building up on top of them and its a lot of pressure. These forces cause these kind of fractures. According to Johanson, we will probably never know how Lucy died. William Jungers, an anthropologist at Stony Brook who reviewed the paper for Nature, said he also had severe doubts about the possibility of diagnosing the cause of death in a fossil as old as Lucy. However, Kappelmans argument won him over. Virtually every major reservation I had was anticipated or addressed head-on in the review process, he said. The detailed, comprehensive analysis of her fracture pattern compared to the extensive human clinical literature on skeletal trauma resulting from a rapid vertical deceleration event is especially compelling to me. Although paleo-forensics doesnt allow for replication experiments, John Fleagle, an evolutionary biologist at Stony Brook who was not involved in the work, said there may be ways to test Kappelmans hypothesis. If the bones of antelopes, warthogs and lions show similar bone breakage, it probably wouldnt be due to a fall from a great height, he said. I look forward to seeing such a study. Kappelman said hes working on it. My co-author Dr. Todd and I are currently working up the fossils from Trinil in Java, the site where Homo erectus was first discovered in the 1890s. There are many thousands upon thousands of fossil mammals [including Homo erectus] at this site, he said. Spoiler alert: Not a single one of these thousands of fossils show any fractures similar to the compressive fractures preserved in Lucys skeleton. In the meantime, people with access to a 3-D printer can evaluate the findings presented in the paper for themselves. The Ethiopian National Museum has made a set of 3-D files of Lucys shoulder and knee available online at eLucy.org that will let users replicate Lucys bones in the comfort of their homes and classrooms. Kappelman said he is looking forward to getting feedback on his findings. What we presented is a scientific hypothesis, but it doesnt mean were right, he said. This is the most famous fossil in the world. Im curious to hear what other people say about it. deborah.netburn@latimes.com Do you love science? I do! Follow me @DeborahNetburn and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE IN SCIENCE Meet Octobot, a soft-bodied robot that moves like an octopus Your coffee habit may be written in your DNA The aging paradox: The older we get, the happier we are The nations pediatricians are pushing back against parents who resist having their children vaccinated against a broad range of dangerous diseases by calling on states to stop offering waivers to those with non-medical objections to the practice. In a policy statement issued Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics also said that if parents continue to refuse vaccinations despite exhaustive efforts to change their minds, it would be acceptable for doctors to exclude these families from their practices. The pronouncements are intended to guide U.S. pediatricians as they grapple with a rising tide of vaccine hesitancy on the part of parents. Among doctors who are members of the nations largest organization of pediatricians, 87% have been challenged in the last year by parents who refused to have their children immunized, up from 75% in 2006. Advertisement Imperturbable in the face of colicky babies, toddlers tantrums and teen angst, many pediatricians have reached the end of their patience with parents who are unconvinced of vaccines life-saving benefits. In 2013, 12% of pediatricians routinely asked parents to find another physician if they werent willing to vaccinate their children. In 2006, only 6% routinely showed such parents the door, according to surveys by the academy. That step should be a last resort, the group said. In a lengthy report also released Monday by the AAP, 23 specialists in pediatrics and infectious diseases said doctors should begin discussing the benefits of vaccines as early as the first prenatal visit. In doing so, they should be prepared to explain the scientific evidence supporting vaccines use. The panel also urged pediatricians to personalize the message that vaccines are safe, effective and powerful by sharing their own decisions to vaccinate their children or grandchildren. This particular advice was prompted by studies showing that skeptical parents tend to value the safety and comfort of their own children over arguments emphasizing the role of vaccines in benefiting the public at large. Even as it gave physicians its blessing to dismiss vaccine refusers from their practices, the pediatricians group acknowledged a widely held view among rank-and-file members: that for a profession dedicated to the well-being of children and their families, the decision to show patients the door is often difficult. It was gut-wrenching, said Dr. Alison Ziari, chief of pediatrics at the Austin Regional Clinic, a multi-specialty practice with 70 pediatricians in Texas that adopted a vaccinate-or-leave policy in July 2015. These are our families. We love them and we want to care for them. After doctors had lengthy conversations with parents reluctant to vaccinate their kids fully by the age of 2, the majority of families chose to get the immunizations and stay with the practice, Ziari said. But the families of about 150 children a small fraction of the more than 100,000 pediatric patients persisted in their refusal and were asked to seek care elsewhere, she said. The survey results released Monday show that parents concerns about vaccines have shifted in recent years. In 2006, pediatricians reckoned that nearly three-fourths of parents reluctant to vaccinate their children were motivated by fear that some vaccines could cause autism or have other adverse effects on a childs safety. By 2013, safety concerns and the discredited link between vaccines and autism appeared to be less prominent causes of parental resistance. Instead, physicians attributed a growing number of parental objections to the view that vaccines are an unnecessary discomfort for their young children. Such complacency is a common, if ironic, response to vaccines success, doctors and epidemiologists say. Before a measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, virtually everyone got measles as a child, and hundreds of Americans died of the disease each year. Today, few parents of young children have even seen it. Likewise, once a vaccine for pertussis came into wide use, that disease became a rarity. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, kills 1% of babies it infects in the first year of life and hospitalizes 5% of teens who get it. In Japan, after pertussis vaccination rates fell precipitously in the 1970s, more than 13,000 people contracted the disease in 1979 and 41 died, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a way, immunization has been a victim of its own success, said Dr. Sydney Spiesel, a pediatrician in Woodbridge, Conn., who has dismissed several families from his practice for refusing to vaccinate their children. If you dont see terrible things happening, youre not seeing the risks of failing to vaccinate. The new guidelines follow a steady uptick in local outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, most notably measles and whooping cough. In 2015, a measles outbreak originating at Disneyland sickened 147 people in the United States, including 131 in California. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. in March found that people who refused to vaccinate themselves or their children played a key role in initiating and accelerating those outbreaks. See the most-read stories in Science this hour Although all 50 states and the District of Columbia require that schoolchildren be immunized against a broad range of diseases, most states allow parents to opt out if they have a religious objection to vaccines and 18 allow for philosophical exemptions for those who object based on personal, moral or other grounds, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The Disneyland outbreak helped spark an acrimonious debate over these non-medical exemptions. Last month, a California law removing the states personal belief exemption took effect, making California one of three states along with West Virginia and Mississippi that no longer grant non-medical exemptions to vaccines. Its clear that states with more lenient exemptions policies have lower immunization rates, and its these states where we have seen disease outbreaks occur as the rates slip below the threshold needed to maintain community immunity, said Dr. Geoffrey R. Simon, lead author of the medical exemptions policy statement. Non-medical exemptions to immunizations should be eliminated, he said. Physicians on the front lines of patient care say those exemptions have jeopardized the safety of families that do vaccinate their children. They are also a sign of declining trust in a profession that has long enjoyed the confidence of American parents, they add. As their practice swelled with families moving to Central Texas during the recession, Ziari and her colleagues detected an escalation of parental resistance to vaccination. When outbreaks of measles and whooping cough began making the nightly news, the pediatricians of Austin Regional began looking at each other and saying, Thats going to be us, thats going to be our waiting room, she said. That could be life-threatening for their newborn and immunocompromised patients, not to mention dangerous for the unvaccinated children themselves, Ziari knew. Moreover, for parents to challenge doctors on vaccines health benefits a matter that is settled within the medical profession betrayed a disconcerting lack of trust, Ziari said. It raises flags that they dont trust in the care Im providing, she said. Thats a cornerstone of the relationship. melissa.healy@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @LATMelissaHealy and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE IN SCIENCE Meet Octobot, a soft-bodied robot that moves like an octopus Your coffee habit may be written in your DNA The aging paradox: The older we get, the happier we are The Newport-Mesa school district has launched its first Mandarin Immersion Program at College Park Elementary School, in which kindergarten students will be instructed in English and Mandarin. For the inaugural year, the program is starting with 20 students and one teacher, Vivian Lam, to guide them. From 8 a.m. to 1:05 p.m., lessons for social studies, reading, language arts and science are taught in English while reading and language arts are taught in Mandarin. Math is taught in both English and Mandarin. Before coming to the Costa Mesa school, Lam taught in a Mandarin immersion program at Broadway Elementary in the Los Angeles Unified School District. When you know more than one language, there are more opportunities available to you, Lam said. You could work at big companies, become a translator or even just help the people around you. And a lot of studies show that learning different languages at a young age will expand students cognitive abilities. On the first day of school at College Park, Lam showed her students a map of the world and pointed out all the countries they would be able to communicate with as Mandarin and English speakers. Lams class also has children who use Spanish at home. Some of these students will become tri-lingual and theyll be able to communicate with 75 percent of the world, College Park Principal Julie McCormick said. Im a huge advocate for foreign language acquisition, especially for the younger ages. McCormick began recruiting families and students for the program in February, attending parent information nights at various preschools in the district. The program was open to all incoming kindergartners within Newport-Mesa, whether they were English language learners or English-only speakers. Many of the parents who showed interest in Mandarin Immersion were those who speak Spanish at home, McCormick said, including Costa Mesa resident Fatima Villegas. While volunteering in the class, she also takes notes on what Lam is teaching. Villegas even has a Mandarin phrase book at home. I bought the book for myself, she said with a laugh. I want to be able to use [this language] with my son at home. When he comes home from school, hes so excited to teach me and his older sister the words he learned that day. Its amazing how fast hes picked it up. For this first year of learning Mandarin, the class will focus on building vocabulary and listening skills. This is the time to teach them different words, Lam said. Then when they keep using them, by the end of first and second grade theyll begin to develop some fluency. During their class on Thursday, Lam reviewed numbers with the kindergartners using flashcards with Mandarin characters on them. She picked names out of a jar and each student she called on had to say what number the character was in Mandarin. The class applauded each time one of their peers got the character correct. By now, the students have learned numbers one through 10 and around 20 other vocabulary words, Lam said. College Park plans to have a first-grade and kindergarten class in the Mandarin Immersion Program next year. Each year, the program will keep advancing to the next grade level until it hits the sixth grade. But their Mandarin learning will not end there. Were always thinking about what we can do at the elementary level to feed into the high school level, the districts Executive Director of Elementary Education Kurt Suhr said. A program at College Park would feed really nicely into the Mandarin classes offered in Costa Mesa High School. Also new this year is Whittier Elementary Schools Spanish Dual Language Program. Their program currently has two kindergarten classes, each with 20 students, who are learning language arts, math, social studies and science in both Spanish and English. The school is using a 50/50 model, where students are being instructed in Spanish during one half of the day and English during the other. If youre heading to Europe for a river cruise, you probably are wondering whether youll be safe. Should you worry about terrorism? Even if youre not jittery about the trip, your friends may be shaking their heads, crossing their fingers and hinting you should cancel. At least that was my experience as I prepared to leave for an August Danube River cruise through Central Europe. Instead of the usual, Oh, I wish I were you, friends said, Oh, Im glad Im not you. That was a switch. Advertisement Fellow travelers on my cruise had similar experiences. People said to me, Id think twice about going to Europe now, said Susan Tharp of Galena, Ohio. Tharp was nonplussed: We waited a year to do this cruise, she said. I wasnt about to stay home. With terrorist incidents peppering the news, some travelers are anxious about traveling to Europe and with some reason. On May 31, the U.S. State Department issued a travel alert citing the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe. Paris, Normandy and Nice, France; Istanbul, Turkey; Munich, Germany; and Brussels have been in the headlines after attacks. Whats a nervous vacationer to do? Some end up canceling, according to insurer Allianz Global Assistance, which estimates that almost a quarter of Americans say they will cancel, delay or change vacation plans. Terrorism has become a double-edged sword for American travel to Europe, said Daniel Durazo, spokesman for Allianz USA. American travel to destinations that have been impacted by terrorism like Brussels and Istanbul has come to a full and complete stop, while other destinations deemed safer, such as Dublin and Shannon, Ireland, have taken off. The downside, though, is that those who cancel a vacation may lose their money, so check with your cruise line. You may lose your money even if you have insurance, because fear isnt generally a covered reason for not going. (If the State Department or other government agency says stay away, you may be covered, but those pronouncements are rare.) The light in this ongoing dilemma is the costlier cancel-for-any-reason insurance, which is exactly what it sounds like. You wont get all of your money back, but it does give you flexibility if your anxieties rear their head. Mary Ann and Harry Quinn of Havertown, Pa., are among those who canceled a European voyage because of terrorism fears. They had planned a December 2015 Rhine River cruise, but the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris in cafes, a stadium and a concert hall changed their minds. At least 130 were killed and hundreds wounded in the bombings and shootings; it was called the deadliest attacks in France since World War II. We had booked with a group of 13 and most decided to cancel, Mary Ann Quinn said. But five did go and had a great time. So we rebooked for this August cruise and were glad we did. We love it, she said of our Danube cruise. That sentiment was universal among those I spoke with: Everyone seemed happy they had made the trip. Many said the U.S. attacks in Orlando, Fla., and San Bernardino helped them decide, despite recent terrorism in France, including the killing of an elderly priest in Normandy in July and the Bastille Day massacre in Nice. Things happen in your own neighborhood, said Arnie Sisca of North Canton, Ohio. Why would you worry about this? travel@latimes.com COLUMBUS A 45-year-old Columbus man charged with multiple counts of distribution and possession of child pornography following a police raid at his home earlier this month is denying the charges. Platte County District Judge Robert Steinke scheduled Jeffrey Hemmer for a Dec. 5 jury trial after the defendant pleaded not guilty to four counts of distributing and two counts of possessing child porn stemming from an Aug. 5 police search of his home. The judge reduced Hemmers bond from $150,000 to $75,000, 10 percent allowed for release, and he remained in custody Monday morning. The terms of Hemmers bond are that he have no access to computer devices or the internet. Distribution of child porn is a Class 1D felony, punishable by up to 50 years imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of three years behind bars. Possession of child porn is a Class 2A felony that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Court documents in the case detail an investigation that got underway July 1 when the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office initiated a case involving the downloading and sharing of child porn to a Columbus address. During the investigation it was determined that the online address was in use by an account for Hemmer in Columbus, Investigator Edward Sexton of the Attorney Generals Office wrote in his probable cause statement supporting the defendants arrest. The AGs Office and Columbus Police served a search warrant at Hemmers Sixth Street home aimed at the defendants computers, electronic devices and digital storage devices. The defendant was home when the warrant was served. A laptop computer was located in the living room area of the house with an external hard drive attached, Sexton wrote in his statement. The external hard drive was previewed and found to have in excess of 38,000 files of interest in the investigation, he said. Mayors along the French Riviera are defying a court order to lift the ban on full-body bathing suits known as burkinis. A test case last week in which Frances State Council ruled that outlawing the swimming apparel was a serious and manifestly illegal violation of fundamental freedoms. Though it covered only the resort of Villeneuve-Loubet, the ruling set what was expected to become a legal precedent for the roughly 30 coastal resorts that introduced the bans this summer. Instead, the judgment sparked defiance. On Monday, most of the bans were still being enforced along the Cote dAzur including in Nice and Cannes. Advertisement The bans, issued by mayors as short-term decrees, have provoked a heated political debate this summer in France. Those in favor of the ban cite Frances militant secularism, known as laicite, and decry the burkini as a symbol of political Islam and womens oppression. Opponents say officials have no place deciding what people should or should not wear and the ban is discriminatory and deliberately targets Muslims following a string of terrorist attacks since November. Gil Bernardi, the mayor of the Mediterranean seaside resort of Le Lavandou and one of the first to introduce a ban on clothing not consistent with secularism and hygiene, vowed the ban would stay. In Le Lavandou there are no burkinis on the beaches and were making sure of it. The beach is a place to relax, not a place of ideological or religious confrontation, Bernardi said. A large black outfit has no place on the beach or in the water. It could be interpreted as a provocation. Frances Socialist government is divided on the issue. A large black outfit has no place on the beach or in the water. It could be interpreted as a provocation. Gil Bernardi, the mayor of Le Lavandou Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the State Councils decision was not the end of the debate in our society about the burkini, but Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has rebuffed calls for legislation against it. A law would be not only unconstitutional and inefficient, it would would risk increasing antagonism and irreparable tensions, Cazeneuve told the Catholic newspaper La Croix. Only dialogue, the minister added, would combat the dangerous strategy of division that threatened to split France. This has not stopped two leading candidates in the opposition center right Les Republicains party primaries former president Nicolas Sarkozy, and Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppe from declaring their support for a nationwide ban on burkinis and Muslim headscarves in universities and private companies. Veils and headscarves are already banned in schools and public spaces. Sarkozy, who has been accused of pandering to the far right to boost his popularity, told RTL radio Monday, so what, change the constitution. He added: Is it for society to adapt to the law...or the law to adapt to society? and said the burkini issue was a provocation by an Islam that is political, extreme and is testing the limits of the republic. Muslim groups have launched legal challenges to the bans in several French Riviera resorts including Nice, where an Islamic State supporter plowed his truck into Bastille Day crowds, killing 86, on July 14. On Monday, French police opened an inquiry after a video showing a restaurateur apparently refusing to serve two Muslim women wearing hijabs sparked outrage after it was shared on social media networks. The man, who has not been named, is heard telling the women, Terrorists are Muslims and all Muslims are terrorists. I dont want people like you in my place, end of story. At least thats clear, he is heard saying. Family and womens rights minister Laurence Rossignol, posted a tweet describing the restaurateurs behavior as intolerable. Willsher is a special correspondent ALSO As women are fined for wearing head scarves, French activists push back on burkini ban French burkini ban puzzles, upsets Muslim fashion designers What people are saying about burkinis in France Liberia, the first African country to declare itself a republic and one of three African nations to take part in the establishment and adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, is on the brink of its own landmark achievement in human rights. Internal peace and security is within sight, an amazing vision after the recent Ebola epidemic devastated a country still scarred by decades of civil war. But to get there, Liberias national legislature must overcome the bane of African politics everywhere conflict caused by rapacious and uninhibited economic development and the ensuing human rights violations. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, six years after her election, for guiding the country through the early stages of recovery. The countrys infrastructure had been demolished by two civil wars that killed hundreds of thousands of people between 1989 and 2003. Advertisement Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president of Liberia in 2005. (John Moore / Getty Images ) However, the current economic model of transferring land to foreign investors on a massive scale fails to acknowledge the rights of rural communities to collectively own and manage their territories. These foreign investments rarely deliver their promise of shared economic development, and instead impoverish the very people they claim to help. Some 40% of Liberia is under concessions for logging, oil and mining. While these lands may appear empty on government maps, they are home to millions. A recent analysis by the Munden Group of 237 mining and agriculture concessions in Liberia found that all had established communities in their midst. The ancestors of the people in these rural communities have lived on and farmed this land since before Liberia became a republic in 1847 long before Sirleafs government took power and before the dictatorships and civil wars that wreaked havoc across the country. These people rely on the lands as a source of food and shelter, as well as the foundation of their culture and spirituality. Having survived so much, these people now face the prospect of losing their homes to multinational corporations. True economic development would instead improve the lives of people in these communities, rather than displace them. Palm oil in particular has been a flashpoint in Liberia, with the government giving international corporations license to establish industrial plantations and handle the local communities as they see fit. This economic model has been tried in Indonesia, where it devastated the environment, failed to increase rural employment, and resulted in Indonesians losing their homes and livelihoods. Liberias experience is proving no different. Without secure rights, the countryside risks a resurgence of violent conflict. In Sinoe County in southeastern Liberia, the backlash from one palm oil development triggered a riot so severe that Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf, a nephew of President Sirleaf, had to be smuggled away from an angry mob in the back of a company vehicle. The Land Rights Act, introduced in the Liberian Legislature in 2014, aims to rectify these problems and secure the rights of Liberias people. The legislation was drawn from Liberias progressive Land Rights Policy, which was written in consultation with civil society and affirms that the government should respect the customary rights of its citizens. Sirleaf has promised to see the legislation become law. If the Legislature passes the bill as introduced, without watering down its key provisions, no African country would have a stronger embrace of Article 17 of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, which defines the right for individuals or communities to own property. The Land Rights Act would recognize the rights of millions of Liberians to own the land that they have lived and worked on for generations. The act would also recognize the rights of communities to collectively own and manage their ancestral territory. Liberia was one of only three African countries to sign the U.N. declaration when it was ratified in 1948. This is an opportunity for the country to once again lead the international community in embracing the most basic human rights. The problem of land ownership and community rights is not limited to Liberia, of course. We see this throughout West Africa from Senegal to Mali and land grabs take place all over the world. Many of these countries are going through their own land reform processes. If Liberia passes a progressive Land Rights Act, it could be a model for the rest of the region, and indeed the world. In Kenya, entire communities have been forcibly relocated to preserve the upstream sources of drinking water for urban populations. In Nepal, a broad swath of forestland is being emptied of its inhabitants in the name of conservation. In the Peruvian Andes, enormous mines have been excavated where indigenous communities had lived for centuries. And in Brazil, large swaths of the Amazon are being cleared along with the indigenous peoples who live there to make room for enormous hydropower projects. All these countries, and many more, can benefit from seeing Liberia step forward and recognize land ownership as a basic human right. But if the Land Rights Act is not passed before the end of the Legislatures current session, Tuesday, it is not just a matter of waiting until next year. Election periods in Africa are often tense affairs, especially in countries still scarred by civil war. The act would likely linger through the election, and be left to a new government that may or may not take action. Rather than waiting to find out, Liberias Legislature should pass the Land Rights Act without further delay. This is an opportunity for Liberia to build its economy sustainably, secure the human rights of its populace, and prevent a slide back into devastating conflict. Tomorrow might just be too late. Alioune Tine is Amnesty Internationals regional director for West and Central Africa. Eight months after international sanctions were lifted in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program, Irans long-suffering people are still waiting for change. President Hassan Rouhanis promises of new jobs and greater incomes havent been met. Foreign investment has been slow to materialize. Prices of basic goods continue to rise, a reliable marker of misery in an economy struggling to reconnect to the outside world. Under the arched, sky-lit passageways of Tehrans centuries-old grand bazaar, where shoppers lingered at display windows and laborers pushed handcarts piled high with Iranian-made shoes and housewares, many shared a similar lament. Advertisement Since the sanctions were lifted, things have become even worse, Behnaz Abbasi, a 26-year-old accountant, said while browsing a cramped shop stacked with dusty local carpets. Since the sanctions were lifted, things have become even worse, said Behnaz Abbasi, a 26-year-old accountant with her finace at Tehrans Grand Bazaar. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times ) Abbasi and her fiance, an electrical contractor, said prices for meat and some vegetables had doubled over the last two years. Even with both their salaries, they could barely afford the $300 monthly rent in the small apartment they will share in blue-collar east Tehran. We thought things would get better, she said, but for us its as if the deal never happened. Many blame the United States, which has lifted nuclear-related sanctions but left in place other financial restrictions on Iran due to its support for terrorism and development of ballistic missiles. That has scared away foreign investors, including many European and Asian companies wary of running afoul of U.S. laws, leading Tehran to accuse Washington of violating the spirit of the nuclear deal. Iran is still barred from the U.S. financial system, meaning it cannot do business in dollars the primary currency for oil sales and most other international trade. The Obama administration has been weighing whether to allow Iran limited access to dollars, a move that Republicans and some Democrats in Congress oppose. A briefcase is used to store money for currency exchange. Despite the lifting of some U.S. sanctions on Iran, the banking sector is still stifled. Western credit cards are not accepted. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times ) Across the drab concrete sprawl of Tehran, there is little sign of the tens of millions of dollars in Iranian oil revenue that were due to be released after being frozen in overseas banks due to sanctions. Nor have Iranian officials disclosed what they did with a planeload of $400 million in cash the U.S. delivered in January part of $1.7 billion Washington owes Tehran for canceling an arms sale following the 1979 Islamic revolution. Some analysts in Tehran believe the government spent a substantial portion of the funds to pay down debt, particularly in the overheated construction sector where elites stashed their wealth. In any case, visible investment is scant. Some Iranians fault Rouhanis government for raising unrealistic expectations that the economy could be turned around quickly; others blame hard-liners who control major industries and want the agreement to collapse. Amir Khaledi, who owns a kiosk selling Iranian-made shoes and sandals, said he supported Rouhanis nuclear diplomacy as a way to avert conflict with the United States and end Irans long estrangement with the West. At the Grand Bazaar, Amir Khaledi, right, who owns a kiosk selling Iranian-made shoes and sandals, said he overwhelmingly supported President Hassan Rouhanis nuclear diplomacy as a way to end Irans long estrangement with the West. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times ) After the deal was struck in July 2015, he eagerly followed the news as foreign delegations swept into Tehran and pledged to invest. He began to imagine American- and European-made goods lining his shelves. Since sanctions were formally lifted in January, those hopes have dimmed. The White House always said, If Iran cooperates said Khaledi, 40. Well, Iran has done everything and the commitments have not been fulfilled. The most powerful figure in Irans theocracy, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has begun to distance himself from the agreement. Known as the supreme leader, Khamenei surprised followers when he endorsed negotiations with the United States and five other countries to end Irans uranium enrichment program, which the West feared could be a precursor to a nuclear weapon. 1 / 9 Men gather at Tehrans Grand Bazaar to play chess. The unemployment rate is at 11%, and its even higher for the educated class. Despite the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran, many Iranians are frustrated that they havent seen any economic change over the last year. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 9 An anti-U.S. mural looms large on a boulevard in central Tehran. It has been there for over 30 years and is occasionally touched up. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 9 A man tries to make a living exchanging currency outside the Grand Bazaar. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 9 Hossain Hassanzadeh, 37, left, sells vegetables to restaurants with the help of Jalal Alipour, center, who delivers them in central Tehran. Hassanzadeh said that over the last five years, cabbage and tomato prices have doubled and that more people are opting for cheap fast food, like falafel. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 5 / 9 A baker sells bread in downtown Tehran. Self-sufficiency in wheat has been one of the major goals of Iranian agricultural policies since the 1979 revolution. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 6 / 9 Death to America chants are still de rigueur at weekly prayers in Tehran. But after a recent Friday sermon, worshipers streaming out of the Mosalla Mosque signaled growing frustration at corruption among Irans political elite. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 7 / 9 The Grand Bazaar is packed with shoppers. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 8 / 9 A couple look at jewelry in the gold market at the Gran Bazaar. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 9 / 9 The government was not ill-intentioned, said Ali Rezaei, 36, co-owner of a dried-fruit shop at the Grand Bazaar. They wanted to give hope to the people after so many years. Thats why peoples expectations were so high, and why they havent been met. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) In a speech this month, Khamenei said the deal has brought no concrete or distinct impact on peoples lives and these unjust sanctionshavent been removed. Obama administration officials hoped the agreement would help open up future talks with Iran over its support for Syrian President Bashar Assad, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and other groups that threaten U.S. interests in the Middle East. But this month, Rouhani told state television, Had the Americans implemented the [nuclear deal] in good faith, we might have placed trust in them and agreed to enter into negotiations with them other issues. His comments were preceded by a propaganda clip that suggested Iran burn down the nuclear deal. See why the Obama administration says the Iran nuclear deal helped create a safer world Rouhani could be seeking to mollify hard-liners, a departure for the moderate, soft-spoken cleric whose 2013 election Western leaders greeted as a welcome change after eight years of the combative arch-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Rumors now swirl in Tehran that Ahmadinejad or another conservative opposed to rapprochement with the U.S. could challenge Rouhani, who is up for reelection next June. For sure, the next president of Iran will be anti-American, said theology teacher Hadi Panahian, 29. Its impossible for Rouhani to be reelected. Panahian, whose brother is an influential conservative cleric, said the lifting of sanctions could be a blessing in disguise because it revealed U.S. duplicity. I try to talk respectfully about my government, but [Rouhani] built a house on water and it has already sunk. This generation and the generation to come have to be reminded that we cannot trust America. Fortunately for Rouhani, he still seems to have support among Irans urban middle class, which stands to gain the most from improved relations with the rest of the world. Those voters propelled moderate candidates to a strong showing in parliamentary elections earlier this year, and many still back Rouhani despite their disappointment. The government was not ill-intentioned, said Ali Rezaei, 36, co-owner of a dried fruit shop. They wanted to give hope to the people after so many years. Thats why peoples expectations were so high, and why they havent been met. The government was not ill-intentioned, said Ali Rezaei, 36, co-owner of a dried-fruit shop at the Grand Bazaar. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times ) Death to America chants are still de rigeur at weekly prayers in Tehran, but after a recent Friday sermon, worshipers streaming out of the ornate Mosalla Mosque signaled growing frustration at corruption among Irans political elite. Down with the robbers of the public treasury, dozens chanted a reference to recent revelations that senior officials at public companies were pocketing exorbitant salaries while employees wages have stayed flat. The official unemployment rate is 11%, but experts believe as many as half of university graduates are jobless. We see the young people leaving to go overseas. We see the fiasco over salaries, said Maryam Sheikha, 74, a retired theology teacher. One agreement cannot fix our problems. Its like trying to fill the sea a handful of water at a time. One agreement cannot fix our problems. Its like trying to fill the sea a handful of water at a time. Maryam Sheikha, 74, on the Iran nuclear deal For middle-class Iranians, signs of struggle are often subtle. Parks grow crowded in the evenings as people forego gym memberships. Fast-food joints hawking $1 falafel sandwiches are proliferating, with chicken and red meat proving too costly. Inside his narrow jewelry shop selling silver rings studded with bright stones, Hamid Kavosi said the U.S. hadnt lived up to its promises. He worried about his daughter, 27, a chemistry graduate who cant find a job. Jeweler Hamid Kavosi said the U.S. hasnt lived up to its promises. He worries about his daughter, 27, a chemistry graduate who cant find a job. If we were integrated in the international economy, we could find enough jobs for our youth, said Kavosi, 56. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times ) If we were integrated in the international economy, we could find enough jobs for our youth, said Kavosi, 56. For my daughter, a job is part of her identity. I can afford to support her but she deserves to have a decent life. Still, Kavosi added, I supported the nuclear negotiations and I still support Rouhani. Peace with the United States is better than war. Special correspondent Ramin Mostaghim contributed to this report. shashank.bengali@latimes.com Follow @SBengali on Twitter MORE WORLD NEWS Liberia must learn to honor the rights of rural residents to manage their own land Iran judiciary confirms member of negotiation team arrested China once struggled to feed its people. Now its seeing a rise in eating disorders A suicide attacker set off a massive car bomb in Yemens southern city of Aden on Monday, killing at least 45 pro-government troops who had been preparing to travel to Saudi Arabia to fight Houthi rebels in Yemens north, officials said. The men were at a staging area near two schools and a mosque where they were registering to join the expedition. The Saudis hope to train up to 5,000 fighters and deploy them to the Saudi cities of Najran and Jizan, near the border, Yemeni security officials said. Over 60 wounded were being taken to three area hospitals, they added. Aid group Doctors Without Borders reported on social media that their hospital in Aden had received 45 dead, while the Yemeni officials earlier put the figure at 25 but said it was likely to rise. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to brief journalists. Advertisement Yemen is embroiled in a civil war pitting the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite rebels, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The fighting has allowed Al Qaeda and an Islamic State affiliate in Yemen to expand their reach, particularly in the countrys south. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing. The U.N. and rights groups estimate that at least 9,000 people have been killed since fighting escalated in March 2015 with the start of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their allies. About 3 million people have been displaced inside the country, the Arab worlds poorest. Loan taken from qatar not able to pay Nagendra Prasad S (Querist) 29 August 2016 This query is : Resolved HI Experts, Need you suggestion. I had taken personal Loan in Qatar of 40 laks in 2014 and paid 10 installment and now outstanding is 31 lak. i got lost job in qatar due to oil price and i came back to india. i used 40 lak to buy house in bangalore, which i took and got registerd, Now i thought to selling house and settle the loan. now I am getting calls from bank people as i have missed 5 installment to pay immediately. But now property which i got is not clear and having issue, i am not able to sell the property due to litigation consulted lawyer he says its difficult to sell it & will take time. now i dont have job in india and still searching. Bank is not ready to give any time not settlement. they are asking full amount or continuew the EMI 1 lak everymonth. can you please advice on this matter. Can qatar bank people can take any legal action in india. i have not signed any bank document when i was in qatar, i got the loan as per my salary also i paid 1 lak for insurance for loan (i am not sure about insurance details for what they took 1 lak). I i am not getting call from recovery agency from india. Follow Query Report Abuse Raj Kumar Makkad (Expert) 29 August 2016 If your loan is secured by way of insurance then you need not worry. The details of the insurance though are not with you but those are with the banker so better to clear everything to the banker in writing and pray to recover from the insurance company as you are not unable to pay the loan in any circumstances. Rajendra K Goyal (Expert) 30 August 2016 You have taken loan and it is your moral responsibility to return the same. Legally foreign banker may not be in a position to get loan back from you immediately. Rajendra K Goyal (Expert) 30 August 2016 You have taken loan and it is your moral responsibility to return the same. Legally foreign banker may not be in a position to get loan back from you immediately. Kumar Doab (Expert) 30 August 2016 It is not clear the insurance covers exigency due to death or inability to pay. You have a right to ask for the authenticated copy of proposal form and policy. The jurisdiction of bank in Qatar over estate in India may depend upon some factors. Bank is asking to pay, and there is nothing wrong in asking ( in approved/legitimate manners). You have borrowed and you should pay. You have not clarified on defects in title. Some seasoned financiers/buyers/dealers may agree to buy. In that case bank may agree to recover from proceeds by an agreement. Your own counsel can render considered opinion after examining all relevant docs and inputs. M V Gupta (Expert) 31 August 2016 As the loan is secured by insurance the bank may have to recover the amount from the insurance company. But before that the bank will have to take all diligent steps to recover the amount from u and prove to the insurance company that the loan is irrecoverable. The bank may therefore take some legal action against u as permissible under Quatar law including filing a suit in quatar and obtaining a decree and taking action to execute the decree through Indian courts. The Da Vinci Science Center is making its largest exhibit investment in its history, spending $350,000 to expand its preschool area and create an interactive energy conservation area. The new exhibits will open in early 2017 at the Allentown center, said Lin Erickson, the center's executive director and CEO. The expanded preschool area will be anchored by the Engineers On a Roll experience -- an engineering lab, playscape and climbing experience all in one. A gift from Bob and Sandy Lovett is helping to fund the expansion. The exhibit will offer preschoolers hours of interactive fun, exploring science, technology, math and engineering as they drop, bounce and sort colored balls. It was created by the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum in Michigan to expose young kids to fundamental engineering concepts. PPL Corp. is sponsoring the energy conservation area where kids and parents can hit the energy dance floor and harvest their own energy by dancing on tiles that use piezoelectric technology. Visitors can also build their own electric circuits at a station. The exhibits deliver on Da Vinci Science Center's long-term goal to help meet the region's needs for high-quality STEM education and a STEM workforce, Erickson said. "Our objective is always to deliver on our mission to bring science to life and lives to science," she said. It may seem crazy to think about preschoolers and jobs in the same breath but research shows it isn't. Early-childhood learning experiences in STEM subjects cultivate a young child's innate curiosity. Early exposure to math concepts is a strong predictor of a student's later success in math and related subjects, Erickson said. Demand for STEM jobs is growing up to three times faster than demand for non-STEM jobs, according to regional data, Erickson said. The center is designing the energy conservation area with PPL so "people of all ages a deeper understanding of energy conservation, energy generation, and energy safety," according to a news release. "The two new exhibit areas provide a wonderful opportunity for visitors to engage in hands-on science and gain a deeper understanding of important science concepts that impact their daily lives," Erickson said. Additional sponsors for the preschool exhibit include: PPL Corp.; Jim and Irene McLean; John and Denise Jones; the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation; ATAS International, Inc.; Air Products; the Bosch Community Fund; the Sylvia Perkin Charitable Trust; the Robert F. Hunsicker Foundation; and D'Huy Engineering. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Three students at Lehigh University were assaulted and taken to the hospital early Sunday morning on South Side Bethlehem, authorities said. The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m. in the 500 block of East Fifth Street. The fall 2016 semester at Lehigh opened Monday. According to a safety bulletin from Lehigh University police, the students and occupants of a passing car exchanged words prior to the assault. All three students were taken to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill for treatment of cuts and bruises, police said. Police had only an incomplete description of the alleged perpetrators, described as males about 30 years old driving a white Ford Focus. Bethlehem police were continuing to investigate the incident with assistance from the Lehigh University Police Department, according to the bulletin. Bethlehem police had no further information to release Monday afternoon, and Lehigh police did not immediately respond to a message seeking additional details. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A New York man, who was living in Bethlehem Township, faces charges after fighting late Sunday night with a woman and her 17-year-old daughter, township police report. Robert Avery Burns Jr., 41, of Brooklyn, was arguing with his girlfriend just before 11 p.m. at 3615 Gloucester Road when she pushed him, police said. He then struck her in the nose and three more times in the head before pulling her hair, police said. The woman's daughter grabbed a kitchen knife and told Burns to leave, police said. But Burns picked up another knife and his girlfriend stepped in between, police said. He walked toward the woman, saying, "I'll stab you, I'll ... kill you," police said. Burns also hit the teenager in the face and grabbed her by the wrist, police said. The girl was later treated at an area hospital, police said. The woman and her daughter left the house and called 911, police said. Officers saw Burns drive off in a black Nissan Altima but the car was stopped at Gloucester and Hecktown roads, police said. He told the officer he had argued with his girlfriend, police said. Burns was taken for arraignment to Central Booking at Northampton County Prison on charges of terroristic threats, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault and harassment, police said. Burns' bail was set at $25,000 by on-call District Judge Daniel Corpora, which Burns wasn't initially able to post, court papers say. Burns as of 9 a.m. wasn't in Northampton County Prison, a Department of Corrections employee said. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled 9 a.m. Sept. 12 in District Judge Patricia Broscius' township court. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. I have long used Voyages Jules Verne for interesting places to visit. In 2012 one flyer caught my notice. The chance of a trip to the hermit nation, North Korea. I instantly booked up. This trip is no longer on offer and I am pleased I took the chance in May 2013. To begin, it is the only country where I have had to fill in a pre visa application form. It is certain that my son, as a former RAF intelligence officer, would not have got in. I was pleased that, despite being a former East Lothian Councillor, I got a visa. Flights are only on Air Koryo from Beijing. Eat well before in flight food was a tasteless cold hamburger. The in flight magazine is Kim propaganda. Having arrived you need to go with the flow and pay heed to regulations. I was on one of the first tours where tourists were allowed to keep their mobiles although there was no connection anyway. First night food at the Koryo Hotel was grey boiled chicken, but it got better. One tour member rarely got off the bus. I wondered why she had booked given the clear statements by the tour company about severe restrictions on movement and food quality. In Pyonyang you are taken to the Kim statues. All have to make flower tributes. Flowers sold must be recycled and resold many a time every day. Photos must include the whole statues. As well as the UK guide, two Korean guides accompany you everywhere. This included when crossing the street to take a picture of the Koryo Hotel. We also had a Mr Video man making a CD that was charged at 70 Euros and included shots of your group linked to a lot of propaganda. Only one person (not me) bought one. If you fall behind a tourist appears from nowhere, but there are no local tourists. There are wonderful beaches with nobody on them. Beaches are closed off by barbed wire. Service stations have staff who come out to greet tourists with flasks of hot water and instant coffee/tea bags (as in the top picture). Take a torch when you go to the loo as all is in unfinished building darkness. There are frequent No Photo warnings. I tried to take a picture from the revolving restaurant of the Koryo Hotel but was stopped. The only thing that was lit up was the pictures of the Kims at the nearby railway station. In the revolving restaurant it was the window that moved and not the floor and so you had to move to get a different view. The Hotel has floors that are missing on the lift directory. It is a diplomatic hotel and has listening stations. We went away for a couple of days but on return rooms and any left property were exactly as left. The hotel had lots of places to eat all were empty. Trip Advisor regularly emails me to say that that my hotel review has been found by others to be useful it is my most helpful review so far. There is some stunning scenery. A trip to Mount Kumgang National Park took us to the Oi Kumgang Hotel. It is a massive hotel, but apart from my party of seventeen British, and another party of eight Germans, it was empty. It had been built for South Koreans to link with their families but the visits had been stopped. The so called Business Centre had an international phone with no connection, two ladies manning a Fax machine and an ATM that was not plugged in. Tourists are not allowed to handle local currency anyway. Purchase at the bar was difficult. Payment in euros or dollars (not sterling at all) was met with change in a mixture of euros, dollars, chinese yuan and, when desperate, bottles of water. A walk to a local waterfall was the time we escaped the guides; they had to keep up with the fastest, thus we slower people got to meander and enjoy the scenery and flowers. As it was a gorge there was nowhere we could stray. My visit coincided with a missile crisis as Kim Jong Un threatened the world. Thus North Korea became the only country where I have taken pictures of what was on TV. Pretty girls in uniform or long dresses singing to a backdrop of launching missiles, tanks etc. They also had a liking for Scottish bagpipe music that played repeatedly with shots of the Highlands. Mind you, as we stood on the border between North and South Korea at the height of the crisis, soldiers were replanting flowers around a Kim monument. The visit felt choreographed. A visit to a farm with a happy farmer. A visit to a historic site (fake history behind it). A visit to a childrens theatre performance. However, it was possible to look closer. No sign of any older people or people with disabilities. Beaches empty except for a couple of women sifting the sand to remove shells on a beach that nobody used. Evidence of low employment. Empty housing. Not many get to see North Korea. I am pleased I saw it at first hand. However, before visiting I was aware of issues and since return I have read so many stories of its dreadful human rights record on which Amnesty International and others re trying to take action. * Jacquie Bell lives in Dunbar, Scotland with her family where she is the Vice-Chair/Secretary of Dunbar Community Council. She is a member of the Scottish Executive, Policy Committee and Conference Committee. Jacquie likes travelling to unusual destinations. She and her husband have a house in Latvia. FORMER mayor of Limerick Kevin Kiely has confirmed he will contest the upcoming Fine Gael convention in City West as a compromise candidate. Following a meeting of Fine Gael members in the city last Monday, the path has seemingly been cleared for a contest to take place to replace Senator Maria Byrne on the local authority. While former local election candidate Fergus Kilcoyne and Elenora Hogan are expected to compete for the seat, Mr Kiely will throw his hat in the ring. He told the Limerick Leader that he has "a couple of people who will propose and second me. The replacement of Ms Byrne has been mired in controversy, with Mr Kilcoyne, Patrickswell, alleging serious irregularities with some of the addresses of members in the citys largest Fine Gael branch, James Reidy. Mr Kiely said: Its obvious the two branches [James Reidy and Patrickswell] cannot agree. So on that basis, I am putting my name forward. The more I talk about it, the more support I am getting. The date of a convention could be set in the coming weeks. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. More than 300 wild reindeer were killed after being struck by lightning in Norway, in what government officials say was an unusually deadly event. It's not uncommon for wildlife to be killed by lightning strikes, but what made this storm so deadly? Most lightning deaths that occur in groups are due to the ground current, John Jensenius, a lightning safety expert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told The Verge. "First, there's a direct strike this is what most people think of when they think of lightning that hits the tree or maybe the ground nearby," Jensenius said. "The energy then spreads along the ground surface, and if you're anywhere near that lightning strike, you absorb it and get shocked." [Electric Earth: Stunning Images of Lightning] The lightning current travels up one leg and down another, Jensenius said, so animals are more vulnerable because their legs are more spread out the ground currents travel more easily in their bodies. A total of 323 reindeer, including 70 calves, were killed during a lightning storm on Friday (Aug. 26), according to the Norwegian Environment Agency. Of the 323 reindeer killed, five were euthanized because of their injuries, agency officials said. The animals may have died from huddling together during the storm. (Image credit: Havard Kjotvedt/Norwegian Environment Agency) The animals were found in Hardangervidda, a national park that is home to an estimated 10,000 wild reindeer, Europe's largest herd. As herd animals, reindeer typically travel together in large groups. Kjartan Knutsen, a spokesman for the Norwegian Environment Agency, told The Associated Press that reindeer tend to stay very close to each other in bad weather, which could explain how so many were killed at once. Though it is not uncommon for reindeer and other wildlife to be killed by lightning strikes, the agency said this is the deadliest known event to date. Samples were collected from the fallen animals as part of a national survey to test for chronic wasting disease (CWD) a nervous system disease found in deer and elk that results in brain lesions according to the Norwegian Environment Agency. Normally, the agency would leave the dead animals where they fell and let nature take its course, but given concerns over the spread of CWD, agency officials said they are waiting for the test results before a final decision is made. Original article on Live Science. "Lucy," the iconic 3.18-million-year-old early human, literally dropped dead, according to new research that determined she died of injuries sustained after falling from a tall tree. Since Lucy's species Australopithecus afarensis existed within a transitional period when our primate ancestors evolved from a more tree-dwelling lifestyle to a terrestrial one, the new findings published in the journal Nature indicate that adaptations that made it easier for our ancestors to walk on two legs on land compromised their ability to climb trees safely and efficiently. This may have predisposed them to falls from heights, as what may have happened to unfortunate Lucy, whose broken fossilized bones tell nearly the whole story. "Today these fractures are often seen in automobile accidents, but also an impact following a fall from height," lead author John Kappelman, a professor of anthropology atThe University of Texas at Austin, told Discovery News. "Since there were no cars in Lucy's time, we suggest that a fall is the mostly likely way that this subset of fractures formed, just as seen in modern patients today under natural conditions." RELATED: Big-Toothed Prehistoric Human Lived Alongside Lucy Lucy's distal radius (forearm bone) undergoes computed tomographic scanning. (Image credit: Marsha Miller, UT Austin) In order to assess Lucy's cause of death, Kappelman and his team studied her remains, which include parts of her skull, hand, axial skeleton, pelvis and foot. The scientists used computed tomographic scans to analyze these parts in detail, and then compared the findings to various documented clinical cases where the cause of death is clearly noted. In addition to discovering that Lucy's cause of death is consistent with a fall from a high place -- presumed to have been from a tall tree due to where her remains were found in the Afar region of Ethiopia the fossil clues presented another key piece of evidence. Fractures in Lucy's upper arms suggest that she stretched out her arms in an attempt to break her fall. This tells us that she was very much alive when she toppled to her demise, and did not die of a heart attack or from some other cause beforehand. The scientists further found that Lucy died relatively young, but was not a child, since she had all of her adult teeth, including a third molar a wisdom tooth. "Her species appears to have grown up faster than us, probably more like a chimpanzee, and I suspect she was maybe 15 years old, so a young adult for her kind," Kappelman said. Chimpanzees and other modern arboreal primates are far more agile at tree climbing than humans are. They can climb trees from a young age since it's a life or death matter for them. But even chimps can fall to their death from trees. Famed primatologist Jane Goodall and her team documented 51 such falls in a two-year period, with breaking branches being one of the main reasons that they topple. Lucy's feet had evolved for better walking on the ground, according to earlier research. This would have compromised her ability to clutch onto tree limbs, probably making falls more common. Kappelman, however, does not think that this risk caused our primate ancestors to become fully terrestrial. He said that the arboreal lifestyle "is still a viable niche for lots of animals, including the majority of primates. The first committed terrestrial bipeds (two-legged ground walkers) are probably Homo erectus, but even some modern humans forage in the trees." He and his colleagues suspect that small-bodied Lucy nested in trees at night to avoid predators, which is what chimps and gorillas do today. This means that, "at a minimum, she climbed up a tree at night, slept there for some hours, and climbed down from that tree in the morning," Kappelman said, adding that she might have sometimes foraged for food in trees too. RELATED: Photos: Faces of Our Ancestors Experts contacted by Discovery News were all intrigued by the new study. Osbjorn Pearson, an associate professor in the University of New Mexico's Department of Anthropology, said, "The evidence was literally right under the noses of many anthropologists for the last three and a half decades," referring to the time since 1982 that researchers have known of Lucy's remains. Pearson agrees that Lucy probably nested in trees at night to escape predators, and could have foraged in them every so often, especially to get fruits. He thinks her adaptations for walking on the ground likely meant that "A. afarensis would have been more efficient at bipedal walking than chimpanzees, but perhaps less energetically efficient than modern humans." John Fleagle, a distinguished professor at Stony Brook University's Department of Anatomical Sciences, said that the new research agrees that the fractures on Lucy's "humerus and other bones show the same pattern that doctors see in people who fall from heights and land on their arms." RELATED: New Tiny-Brained Human Found in South African Cave Fleagle added that the research "adds a level of detail to our understanding on the life and death of a fossil that is rarely achieved." William Jungers, a distinguished professor emeritus also from Stony Brook University and a research associate at Association Vahatra in Madagascar, believes that the new paper presents "a provocative but plausible scenario for the demise of Lucy." Jungers said that "death from accidental falls from trees is surprisingly common in some human groups, like the Aka pygmies, so why not Lucy too?" Original article on Discovery News. About 30,000 cases of precut vegetables are being recalled in many Southeastern states because they could be contaminated with Listeria. But how, exactly, do these bacteria get into veggies? This week, the food manufacturer Country Fresh announced a recall of several of its vegetable products including precut onions, mushrooms and peppers after one of its products being sold in a Georgia grocery store tested positive for Listeria bacteria. The recall affects products sold at a number of grocery stores including Walmart, Harris Teeter and Winn-Dixie in nine Southern states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia). Listeria is found naturally in soil and water, and animals can carry the bacteria without appearing sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Raw vegetables can become contaminated with Listeria either through contact with soil or with animal manure that is used as fertilizer, according to the Mayo Clinic. [Top 7 Germs in Food That Make You Sick] From there, Listeriamay get into a food processing factory, where it might live for years on equipment, according to the CDC. Unlike many other types of bacteria, Listeria can grow in the colder temperatures of refrigerators and freezers. "It's a pathogen that's particularly problematic in food-processing plants because it really likes cold, moist, dark environments," Benjamin Chapman, a food safety expert at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, told Live Science in a 2015 interview. Other foods that have been historically linked with Listeria outbreaks include raw milk, unpasteurized soft cheeses and deli meats, Chapman said. So far, there have been no reported cases of anyone becoming sick with Listeria from Country Fresh's recalled vegetables, Country Fresh said in a statement. But Listeria infections can be serious, and even deadly, particularly for certain groups of people, including young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. The infection can cause fever, muscle aches and diarrhea, and in pregnant women, it may cause miscarriage or stillbirth, the CDC says. The CDC offered the following general recommendations to reduce the risk of Listeria infection: Rinse raw produce, including fruits and vegetables, before eating, cutting or cooking. Use a produce brush to scrub firm vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers. Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel. When preparing food, separate uncooked meats from vegetables and cooked foods. When you handle uncooked foods, be sure to wash your hands afterward, as well as the knives and cutting boards you used for the foods. Do not drink unpasteurized milk. Heat ready-to-eat foods and leftovers until they are steaming hot. People at higher risk of infection, such as pregnant women, should not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts or other deli meats unless they are heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). They should also avoid eating soft cheeses, unless the label says it's made with pasteurized milk. Original article on Live Science. The otherwise-destructive fire tornado could be harnessed to burn fuel with reduced carbon emissions. A blue fire tornado sounds like it could be an alarming natural disaster, but this phenomenon could actually offer a way to burn fuel with reduced carbon emissions, a new study finds. A fire tornado, or fire whirl, can occur during urban and wildland fires, threatening life, property and the surrounding environment. However, researchers have discovered a type of fire tornado they call a "blue whirl," and they said these flames have the ability to burn nearly soot-free. Traditional, yellow fire whirls gain their color from radiating soot particles, according to study co-author Elaine Oran, a professor of engineering at the University of Maryland. Oran said the particles in yellow whirls form because there is not enough oxygen to burn the fuel completely. [Video: Watch a Blue Fire Tornado Spin] "Blue in the whirl indicates there is enough oxygen for complete combustion, which means less or no soot, and is therefore a cleaner burn," Oran said in a statement. The researchers were initially studying the combustion and burning dynamics of fire whirls on water. When they discovered the swirling blue flame, the researchers said they thought there could be a practical application for the fire tornado. Reduced-emission combustion through the blue whirl could offer a solution to "the worldwide need to reduce emissions from both wanted and unwanted combustion," the scientists wrote in their study. One potential application is to help clean up oil spills, the researchers said. Currently, one remediation technique is to corral the oil, creating a thick layer on the water's surface to be burned. But burning the oil this way is smoky, inefficient and incomplete, the researchers said. If blue whirls could be harnessed and controlled, oil-spill remediation-by-combustion could be greatly improved, they added. "Fire whirls are more efficient than other forms of combustion, because they produce drastically increased heating to the surface of fuels, allowing them to burn faster and more completely," said study co-author Michael Gollner, an assistant professor of fire-protection engineering at the University of Maryland. In the researchers' experiments over water, Gollner said, the blue whirls not only burn cleaner, but also help pull in the fuel due to the flames' circulation. "If we can achieve a state akin to the blue whirl at larger scale, we can further reduce airborne emissions for a much cleaner means of spill cleanup," Gollner said. The findings were published Aug. 4 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Original article on Live Science. Veterans Park gets facelift Last week's newspaper included an article about worked planned at Veterans Park in Marion. The finished product is drawing rave reviews.... Local officials to begin absentee counting Crittenden County Absentee Ballot Processing Committee will meet at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the county clerk's office to begin processing... Browning seeks election as write-in for Marion mayor Click Image to Enlarge Marion City Council member D'Anna Browning is seeking election as Mayor of Marion as a write-in candidate. To vo... Adult Skill-Building Class Tuesday at school library Crittenden County Schools Crosswalk program, in conjunction with Anthem, Inc., will present an adult skill building workshop Oct. 25. Betwe... Family & Parenting, Local News, Arts & Culture, Health & Wellness, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events By Long Island News & PR Published: August 29 2016 The contest will showcase the drawing and artistic talents of Suffolk Countys youth. The top three finalists from each region will receive grand prizes sponsored by Fu Generation Foundation of $300, $200, and $100, respectively. Brentwood, NY - August 25, 2016 - Healthfirst and HRHCare present the first annual Suffolk County Youth Drawing Contest. The contest will showcase the drawing and artistic talents of Suffolk Countys youth. We are pleased to partner with HRHCare for this inaugural event to highlight the wealth of young talent present in this community, said George Hulse, Healthfirst Vice President of Community Engagement. It is our priority to provide programs that foster a sense of healthy competition and offer a creative, positive outlet for families and their children. The top three finalists from each region will receive grand prizes sponsored by Fu Generation Foundation of $300, $200, and $100, respectively. Contestants must be ages 711 and residents of Suffolk County to be eligible to participate. The finale is slated for October 22, 2016, at Suffolk County Community College - Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood, NY. Registration forms are available at more than 50 locations, including community associations, senior centers, pharmacies, hospitals, doctors offices, and Healthfirst community sites. Contest registration is open until September 9, 2016. To find out more, please visit the Healthfirst location at 50 Clinton Street, Hempstead, NY or the Healthfirst RV in Patchogue, at 25 Academy Street. Office hours for these locations are 9am to 5:30pm daily. Information is also available at the Healthfirst Kiosk in Westfield South Shore Mall open Monday to Saturday, 10:30am to 7pm; Sunday, 11am to 5:30pm. Special thanks to Hudson River Healthcare for making this event possible. Brought to you by Healthfirst and HRHCare Community Health. Competition prizes are funded by Fu Generation Foundation, Inc. One entry per person. No purchased required. About Healthfirst Healthfirst is a not-for-profit, provider-sponsored health insurance company that serves 1.2 million members in New York City and Long Island. Healthfirst offers government-sponsored programs including Child Health Plus, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Managed Long Term Care. In addition, Healthfirst administers private health plans including Healthfirst Leaf and Qualified Health Plans offered on NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace, and the Healthfirst Essential Plan that provides access to lower cost options for qualifying individuals. For more information on Healthfirst, visit www.healthfirst.org. About HRHCare HRHCare is a nonprofit, New York State licensed, Federally Qualified Health Center. Founded 40 years ago to provide care to the medically underserved population of Peekskill, New York, HRHCare is now one of the nations largest community health providers. From the Capitol Region to the east end of Long Island, HRHCares network of 27 health centers provides affordable, accessible care to more than 135,000 patients through 500,000 visits annually. School & Education, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: August 29 2016 The packages will be donated to the Backpacks for Success Program through the Junior Welfare League for local children in need in the Town of Huntington. Huntington, NY - August 26, 2016 - Last week, Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer, M.D. joined local students from the Gifted Hearts Charity at their Christmas in August party where they were busy assembling backpacks filled with school supplies for children in need as the school year approaches. At the event, the students packed 60 backpacks with essential items needed to start the school year off right. The packages will be donated to the Backpacks for Success Program through the Junior Welfare League for local children living at or below the poverty level in the Town of Huntington. I continue to be impressed by the giving spirit and hard work that the children participating in Gifted Hearts put into making a difference in the lives of their peers in need. said Legislator Spencer. The compassion and wisdom displayed by this group goes far beyond their years. Gifted Hearts is a 501(c) 3 charity founded by kids, for kids by brother and sister duo TJ and Isabella Manfuso. The mission of the organization is to provide pediatric care packs and school supplies to children locally and around the world. Since March 2015, Gifted Hearts has provided medical and school supplies to children in Huntington, NY, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica. To learn more about this charity, visit: www.GiftedHearts.org. If you would like to participate in the Backpacks for Success program to help enhance the learning and confidence of children in need, the Junior Welfare League continues to collect donations. A $30 donation allows them to provide a brand new backpack with top quality supplies to a child in grades K-12. Visit here for more information. Tech & Science, Family & Parenting, School & Education, Local News, National & World News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: August 29 2016 The initiative promotes cyber citizenship by teaching students how to recognize and respond to online dangers through a series of interactive activities. The FBIs Safe Online Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge for students in third through eighth grades is available soon for the 2016-2017 school year. Washington, DC - August 26, 2016 - What do more than 870,000 students across the nation have in common? Since 2012, they have all completed the FBIs Safe Online Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge. Available through a free website, this initiative promotes cyber citizenship by teaching students in third through eighth grades how to recognize and respond to online dangers through a series of fun, interactive activities. Anyone can visit the website and learn all about cyber safety, but teachers must sign up their school to enable their students to take the exam and participate in the national competition. Once enrolled, teachers are given access to a secure webpage to enroll their students (anonymously, by numeric test keys) and request their test scores. E-mail customer support is also provided. Top-scoring schools each month are recognized by their local FBI field office when possible. All public, private, and home schools with at least five students are welcome to participate. Now entering its fifth season, the FBI-SOS program has seen increased participation each year. From September 2015 through May 2016, nearly a half-million students nationwide finished the activities and took the exam. We look forward to even more young people completing the program in the school year ahead. The challenge begins September 1. A Sampling of Teacher Comments from the 2015-2106 School Year My 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students LOVE Cyber Surf Islands! We will begin using your site! Its awesome! We have been in your program for the last three years and have gotten good response from the students and parents about your program. Thank you for providing a wonderful learning experience for students. I love the program and want my students to participate. This was a very good exercise. I plan on doing it again next year. Thank you for such a great resource! Resource: FBI Safe Online Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge Crime, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: August 29 2016 The Suffolk County Police Department Highway Patrol Bureau, assisted by the New York State Police, arrested eight people and seized one vehicle. The operation was conducted as part of the continuing summer enforcement efforts for the prevention of injuries and fatalities associated with driving while ability impaired by alcohol and drugs. Hauppauge, NY - August 27, 2016 - The Suffolk County Police Department Highway Patrol Bureau, assisted by the New York State Police, arrested eight people and seized one vehicle during an overnight sobriety checkpoint in Hauppauge. Police Officers from the Highway Patrol Bureau and the New York State Police conducted a sobriety checkpoint at 575 Route 347 in Hauppauge. The operation was conducted as part of the continuing summer enforcement efforts for the prevention of injuries and fatalities associated with driving while ability impaired by alcohol and drugs. A totally of 1,088 vehicles went through the checkpoint. The following people were charged with Driving While Intoxicated: Harold Feldman, 53, of E. Northport Brenda Terney, 59, of Stony Brook Richard Harriprasad, 40, of Smithtown Lindsey Falkner, 26, of St. James The following people were charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs: Anthony Venezio, 27, of W. Islip Craig Korobow, 48, of Port Jefferson Zachary Boccard, 22, of Smithtown Alfonso Bernard, 20, of Hauppauge All eight are scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on August 27. A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com Columnists Press Releases If the current project stays on schedule, Hamilton Elementary School students could start 2017 with a new cafeteria, a new library and new classrooms. Building expansions underway at the school are on target for completion by the start of the Christmas break on Dec. 23, said Tom Horton, director of facilities for the Carlisle Area School District. The plan is to use part of the week-long vacation to move furniture and equipment into the new space and to prepare the building at 735 Clay St., for the return of students on Jan. 3. As of Friday, the $5.54 million project to expand and renovate the school is about 25 percent complete, Horton said. One goal of this project is to build a new cafeteria and kitchen in one of the expansions so as to free up the current multi-purpose room for physical education classes. Block walls are starting to go up for this expansion where the modular classroom units were once located behind the building. The project scope for the Hamilton school also includes pushing out the front of the building to create a new office area with a double secure entrance. That work is underway and could be completed and ready for use by visitors by late October. Modular units that were over 20 years old were demolished in early June at the start of this project and will be replaced by new classrooms and a new library under construction in a different expansion behind the school. Crews are set to pour concrete for the floor next week and the public could start to see walls go up within a month, Horton said. Much of the work over the summer focused on renovations within the building that shifted room functions around in order to accommodate students once school resumed this past week. For example, the old office became classroom space while a set of restrooms were converted into a small group instruction room, Horton said. The old school library was demolished over the summer with part of that space being converted into a classroom and part of it set aside as the new cafeteria, said Monique Pannebaker, school principal. We dont have a brick-and-mortar library. Instead, certain books were set aside at the end of last school year for placement on five carts, which the librarian pushes around to classrooms when she teaches her lessons, Pannebaker said. Students can still check out books. She added the need for classroom space means that every specialist teacher at Hamilton Elementary School is making use of carts for instruction for the time being. This includes the art and music teachers. The construction work reduced the amount of space outside for recess so staff had to make schedule adjustments that allow for fewer children at a time, Pannebaker said. The kids are resilient. They are being great with all the changes. They make the best of it. Because most of the renovation work was done over the summer, the inside of the school is very clean and students are not seeing a lot of the construction work, according to Pannebaker. The noise is being blocked and what they are experiencing inside the school is more of a finished project. Every space possible is being used for instruction and each teacher has a designated area, said Christina Spielbauer, assistant superintendent. The expectation is that some teachers would have to move to other areas in the building during the school year. School leaders meet every other week with representatives of the construction team to get regular updates on the progress. As much as possible, work that is noisy will be scheduled after the school day or on weekends, Spielbauer said. They are doing everything they can to minimize disruption to the classes. The biweekly sessions have been a nice opportunity for school leaders and contractors to share concerns and ask questions of each other, Pannebaker said. The whole project has been planned very well. The Hamilton project is being funded with $3 million in bonds and with the reallocation of $2.75 million in capital reserve fund money that was originally set aside for a more secure entrance and other construction at the McGowan building of Carlisle High School. Fighter from Jaysh al Tahrir holding a captured flag of the Syrian Democratic Forces As part of ongoing Turkish military operations in northern Syria, two US-backed groups on opposing sides of the operation have clashed near the city of Jarabulus in northern Aleppo province. Jaysh al Tahrir, a rebel group that operates under the auspices of the Free Syrian Army and has received several TOW anti-tank missiles from the US, claims to have captured two villages from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) south of Jarabulus. The SDF has received considerable US-support, including airstrikes and special operations forces embedded within the group. In one video, fighters from Jaysh al Tahrir can be seen walking through a compound of one of the villages near the town of Al Amarnah. A fighter is then shown brandishing a captured SDF flag taken from the area. In another (now deleted) video, Jaysh al Tahrir claims to have taken more than eight SDF fighters captive in the operations near Al Amarnah. It has also shown dead SDF fighters in pictures on its Twitter feed. Jaysh al Tahrir is working alongside several Turkish-backed Islamist groups in Turkeys Operation Euphrates Shield. The operation is nominally to protect the Turkish border from the Islamic State, however, it is also meant to push back the SDF. The most powerful group within the SDF is the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which is the Syrian branch of the US-designated terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). When the SDF captured the town of Manbij with heavy US support, Turkey was prompted to hasten an intervention to prevent more Kurdish advances. [See LWJ report, Turkeys Operation Euphrates Shield is a message to the Kurds.] The US is now engaged in a balancing act between keeping close relations with Turkey and its main partner in the fight against the Islamic State. Peter Cook, a spokesman for the Pentagon said in an email to The New York Times, that the US is monitoring the situation between the two groups and that the government finds these clashes unacceptable. However, this puts the US in an awkward position as the Kurds may see this, as well as tacit support of the Turkish intervention, as a betrayal. This also comes after US Vice President Joe Biden told the YPG portion of the SDF to retreat back to the eastern side of the Euphrates River, which was also likely seen as an insult by the US-ally. Jaysh al Tahrir with purported captives from the SDF: Jaysh al Tahrir fighters after capturing Al Amarnah from the SDF: Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Did you miss part one? Definitely go read that first as this post will make much more sense if absorbed in chronological order. Indeed, this trip was so epic it had to be split into parts, with some delightfully fun French toast in the middle. The port schedule was jam packed with amazing cities and sights and not that much distance between them, so day 6 was our one and only sea day on this voyage. Since we spent the whole day creating our own adventures aboard the ship, I thought Id take this opportunity to talk a bit more about the Vista and all the amazing things it has to offer. With an itinerary like ours, 9 ports over 11 days and 10 nights, the ship takes a back seat to the cities themselves, with their ancient ruins and amazing views and bustling markets. I wanted to be sure this amazing ship (because it really is something to behold) got some time on the field too. This was the Vistas second ever voyage, and we were lucky enough to be invited along with a group of media and bloggers from around the world. It wasnt a food-focused cruise like our last one aboard the Sunshine, but we still had the opportunity to visit all of the ships specialty restaurants during our 10-night itinerary with the exception of the Chefs Table. Overall, my experience was much like our last Carnival cruise: the food is so impressive youll forget youre even on a ship. Sea day for for me included a leisurely brunch (of Fruit Loop French toast, obviously) followed by some reading and relaxing and giving my feet a well needed break. Taylor, on the other hand, hit the water slides and hit them hard. Despite the fact that the weather was on the chilly side for the first half of the voyage, he managed to hit the water slides almost every day. Did I mention hes really a 12-year-old at heart? What I love most about Carnivals updated dining program is the freedom. No longer are you forced to eat at a specific time at a specific table from a lackluster menu. I mean, you can if you want (minus the lackluster part) since I know there are many who love traditional cruise dining, and Carnival still offers that option for those folks. But it is only an option. For the rest of us, you can pretty much eat anytime, anywhere. Be it in the dining room, where the menu changes daily, or in one of the ships many specialty restaurants. Some are included in the cost of your cruise (such as Guys Burger Joint and Blue Iguana Cantina) while others (like the Fahrenheit 555 , JiJis, and the Seafood Shack) carry a nominal extra fee to dine there. The selections and cuisine on the Vista is very similar to what is offered aboard other Carnival ships, with a few notable additions, but youll see a lot of familiar menu items if youve cruised with them before. Some culinary highlights: Alchemy Bar: Like the Sunshine, the Alchemy bar quickly became our evening haunt. The cool prohibition-style vibe and pharmacy-inspired menu rivals any hip cocktail joint here in Nashville. And if you dont see something that cures what ails you, the bartenders are brilliant and will mix you up something custom tailored to your tastes (including mocktails, like the ginger lychee one Ioana prepared for me one night yes, the same Ioana from our last cruise aboard the Sunshine). Bonsai Sushi: Bonsai is one of the premium restaurants on the ship, but the a la carte pricing is really quite affordable, especially compared to fancy sushi restaurants on land. The sushi rolls are unique and beautifully presented, but the expanded menu offers other Japanese-style dishes such as bento boxes and ramen noodle bowls. The fact that we ate there multiple times on our 10-day voyage is proof that its probably our favorite specialty restaurant aboard the ship. Fahrenheit 555: Someone asked me on Instagram if making a reservation here (and yes, you definitely need reservations) was worth the effort and cost. And Id say it is most definitely $35 well spent. Where else can you enjoy a multi-course steakhouse feast for $35? And whether you go for surf or turf (or both, because you can do that too), definitely dont miss the chocolate dessert sampler, its to die for. Seafood Shack: I had a lobster roll once back in high school and Ive been dreaming of it ever since. And this lobster roll did not disappoint neither did the fries for that matter. The Vista is the first Carnival ship to sport the seafood shack, and I have a feeling well be seeing it on future vessels as well. Ill also let you in on a little secret: The Seafood Shack sources fresh local seafood from the various ports along the way, and you can purchase it right there and have them cook it, or have them send it to any of the ships dining options and the chefs will cook it up fresh just for you. Cucina del Capitano: Oddly enough the dinner we had here was better than the lunch we had in Rome, not that this should have surprised me considering how much I enjoyed it the last time. The eggplant parmesan was so good it inspired my own version, and the tiramisu is simply divine. During lunch the Cucina transforms into a create-your-own pasta bar for no additional cost, something I wish I had had time to check out. Red Frog Pub & Brewery: The Vista is also the first and only North American-based ship to sport an on-board brewery. Yes, you heard that correctly, this ship brews its own beer, three varieties to be exact, all served on tap at the Red Frog Pub. Taylors favorite was the Thirsty Frog Port Hoppin IPA, but they also brew a Caribbean Wheat and a Java Stout. The Red Frog Pub also serves some tasty Caribbean-themed appetizers like conch fritters, coconut shrimp, and plantain chips for only $3.33 a dish. JiJis Asian Kitchen: Probably my second favorite dinner of the trip, Jijis menu is a journey across Asia. For $15/person its a delicious deal if I ever saw one. Dont miss the pork belly or the hakka noodles or the shrimp dumplings or the chili shrimp or the coconut tapioca wontons for dessert (a dish I liked so much last time it inspired my own recreation of the tapioca part at least). On second thought, youd best go with a big group and just order one of everything. The drinks arent half bad, either. Vacation fact #415: cocktails are more fun with little umbrellas. Bonus fun points if you get one behind your ear too. Now that weve shown the ship is just as big an attraction as the ports themselves I can contently move on to the rest of our journey. From Naples, we made our way over 600 nautical miles through the smooth Mediterranean waters to the island of Crete, Greece, and its capitol city of Heraklion. Day 7: Heraklion, Crete, Greece We landed next on the island of Crete, Greece, in the largest city of Heraklion. The town center was a short 15 minute walk from the port, so we chose not to book an excursion this day and rather went exploring with Kristan and her son. The city boasts a large central market, bustling with shops and food stalls and restaurants. I loved the casual atmosphere of the town, which was full of unique shops but didnt feel overly touristy. We found a quaint little restaurant for lunch, the highlights being the grilled octopus and the tzaziki sauce, which was unlike any tzaziki Ive ever had before. REAL tzaziki sauce is so good youll want to eat it with a spoon. Also: beware the raki. Its like a Greek version of grappa and is wicked, wicked stuff. Im sure the locals get a kick out of giving shots to tourists. One sip was enough for me. Also also: candy. Because, were food bloggers, after all. We stumbled on a candy shop in the central market area and went a little crazy, grabbing handfuls of colorful hard candies and chocolate bars and candied almonds and foil-wrapped pieces of mystery that we thought might be chocolate but they really could have been anything (spoiler: they were chocolate, most with a creamy hazelnut center or something similar). One of the things I grabbed looked like a swiss cake roll and turned out to be chocolate covered baklava which is just as amazing as it sounds. Looking back, I really wish Id bought more than two. Seriously though, foodstuffs make the best souvenirs (if they make it home, that is). Day 8: Rhodes, Greece Rhodes is this amazing ancient city within easy walking distance of the ship, so, as in Heraklion, we made our own excursion. Despite the rain, we explored the cobbled streets of the city, filled with castles and cast iron doors and courtyards with patterned pebbles so intricate they look like rugs. We dined under a giant tree near the center of town at the recommendation of a local store clerk. And again, octopus and tzaziki (sensing a pattern here?) Ive never considered myself an octopus fan, but I think Greece is changing that for me. And more baklava for dessert, though this time not chocolate covered, it was still incredible. We also ordered a gyro platter (because, when in Greece, right?) and were surprised to find it was pork, rather than lamb. Apparently Greek gyros are traditionally pork-based, whereas Turkey is where you typically find more lamb. Seeing as Rhodes is quite close to the coast of Turkey, it was interesting to see the similarities and melding of Greek and Turkish culture, from the cuisine to the patterns of pottery to the evil eye emblem that both places seem to claim as their own. In that respect, you could definitively tell that Rhodes is closer, both geographically and culturally, to Turkey than it is to Athens, despite being in the same country. Day 9: Kusadasi, Turkey We were originally scheduled to port in Izmir, but, due to state department travel warnings, that was cancelled. At first we thought we were getting an extra sea day instead, but somehow the captain managed to get us in to the smaller port town of Kusadasi (which was not on the state departments list). Ill admit, we were nervous about it (it really isnt that far away from Izmir) but it turned out to be one of our favorite stops of the voyage. I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity, since I know neither the first nor recent voyages were able to make this stop (for obvious reasons). From Kusadasi we booked an excursion to the ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO world heritage site, with ruins dating back as far back as the 10th century BC. We almost didnt go, but once Tammi told me that the city was basically run by cats (brought in by the archaeologists to control the rodent population) I was sold. As soon as our bus arrived at the archaeological site, the rain began. As the drizzle slowly progressed to a downpour, the walk through the city, with its slick marble stones, became rather treacherous, but also surprisingly beautiful: the pathways dotted with the brightly colored umbrellas and raincoats of the tourists in stark contrast to the ancient stones. Unfortunately, the rain also meant there werent many cats out and about, though we did make a few friends along the way (once a cat person, always a cat person, right Jennifer?) On the way back to the bus I stopped and bought a cup of pomegranate juice from one of the souvenir stands there, and watched with hungry thirsty eyes as it was freshly pressed from 2 or 3 whole pomegranates. Turkey is known for their amazing citrus and pomegranates, and its no wonder, this was the single most amazing cup of pomegranate juice Ive ever had. We returned to Kusadasi where the sun was (thankfully) shining, and we, along with Gina, Kristan, and Jennifer (the 4 of us constituting the whole of the food blogger delegation on this particular voyage), immediately went in search of food. And we found it, platters of kabobs and bowls of ghoulash on a bed of salt and flames, finished off with a side of adventure (the short version: we didnt quite have enough cash between the 10 of us to cover the whole meal and they wouldnt [or didnt want to] take our credit cards, so the owner escorted half our party a few blocks away down the winding streets and alleys to an ATM, while the rest of us stayed back at the restaurant as implied collateral. Luckily we werent running late or we may have missed the boat completely.) Did we get swindled? Probably, the final price of the bill was quite a bit higher than the deal they enticed us in with, and Im sure if we had been more forward about it we could have negotiated it down to what we had in cash (youre supposed to negotiate everything in Turkey, so I hear). Still, it was a meal and an experience that none of us will soon forget. Day 10: Athens, Greece The Parthenon: what you think youre going to see. The Parthenon: what you actually see. Still, its pretty darn spectacular even amidst the scaffolding and selfies. We spent our final night in Athens, an overnight port stop that allowed us to make the most of the entire day in this awe-inspiring city. We spent it much like we spent the day in Rome: on a whirlwind highlights tour that gave us a surface-level glimpse at the most famous sights, most notably the Parthenon. I found it slightly entertaining that there are only two Parthenons in the whole world, and the other happens to be in Nashville (its a full-scale replica built for Tennessees 1897 Centennial Exposition visit it if youre ever in town, as its quite a sight to see.) Our guide claimed she had heard of this second (and clearly lesser) Parthenon, chuckling to herself and probably wondering to herself why crazy Americans would ever do such a thing. Needless to say I was excited to see the real deal, even if it was in ruins. We meandered up the hilly path to the top of the Acropolis, and stood in awe along with the other tourists at what stood there. Pretty amazing, if you think about it, that this thing is still standing after over 2,000 years of wars and sieges and fallen empires. Its currently undergoing a major restoration, so there is a good deal of construction mess and scaffolding marring the views, but remarkable nonetheless. It happened to be a picture perfect day atop the Acropolis (which, Ill admit, was a much taller hill than I ever envisioned) and the views were endless. We could see all the way to the cruise port and then some. Indeed, if I were the Goddess Athena Id want to live up there too. We debated staying a few extra days in Athens but ultimately decided to head straight home, figuring that after 12 days wed be ready to go home to our kitties (and our jobs). Which was definitely the case. As sad as we were to have this journey come to an end, theres always a contentment that comes from returning home after a big adventure like this one. I think its a requirement to end a cruise post like this with a sunset dont you think? Even better: a whole bunch of sunsets, since such an epic trip deserves an epic ending (that and I couldnt decide which one I liked best). Maybe I should have titled this post: The Food, The Sights, and The Sunsets. Ha. Thanks for following along, and thanks again to Carnival for hosting us on such an amazing experience. Seriously though, all these words and pictures later and I still dont feel like Ive fully and completely described just what this trip meant to us. But this will have to do. Until next time Current Affairs 2022 Welcome to the Adda247 Current Affairs website which provides you with the best compilation of the Daily Current Affairs 2022 taking place across the globe: National, International, Sports, Science and Technology, Banking, Economy, Agreement, Appointments, Ranks and Report and General Studies. Adda247 has been a fantastic buddy in assisting you in reaching your full potential in terms of knowledge and learning by providing you with the top academic information. Adda247 is one of the most popular Current Affairs website in India for UPSC, SSC, Banking / IBPS, IAS, NTSE, Railways, NDA, CDS, Judiciary, UPPSC, RPSC, BPSC, MPSC, MPPSC, and other state civil services / government job recruitment examinations in India. Current Affairs is a major part of the exams like UPSC, UPSC CSE, IBPS, SBI, RBI, SSC, Railway, UPPSC, RPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, TNPSC, UKPSC, APPSC, MPSC etc. Many Govt job aspirants have benefited from our Current Affairs website now its your turn. This is the best current affairs site to find recent updates on Daily Current Affairs not only for competitive exams but also for interviews and updated with the latest information happening in nation and around the world. Current Affairs plays a vital role in all government examinations. To secure your selection with a vast margin, one needs to prepare this section in a holistic way. The current affairs section tests your awareness and how inquisitive you are. A basic understanding of current events will not only help you to secure a job, but will also help you grow in your job later. Check out the link below or visit www.currentaffairs.adda247.com to get daily current affairs updates. This post will provide you a general overview of how to prepare current affairs and several approaches you can utilise in your upcoming banking exams. The three main bank exams:- IBPS, RBI, and SBI are administered nationally each year and thousands of candidates sign up for them, raising the stakes in the race to the top. A significant portion of these bank exams is the GA Section, which contains the majority of the current events questions. This section is quite challenging because there is no set syllabus for it. This segment requires careful planning and continuous preparation on the part of the candidates. To get ready for the current affairs section, you can use the advice below: Candidates must first look at the previous years questions to understand what is asked in the exams. The previous years questions will guide what to read in newspapers. GA section requires consistency; one must read newspapers daily. Make crisp notes of important news. Revise the notes on regular intervals. Another method is to follow news channels or current affairs YouTube channels to remain updated with current affairs. If you do not have time to read daily current affairs, you can follow monthly magazines provided by various institutes. Such magazines are available online as well as in PDF form. It is very important to test your preparation on regular basis. Solve quizzes according to the exams you are targeting. NOTE : READ- NOTE- REVISE-TEST to ace current affairs. Why Adda247? Adda247 provides you with every kind of current affairs sorted under various sections like national, international, sports and awards to ease your preparations. The current affairs are divided into various sections and some of the important topics are depicted below: National Current Affairs: Every single essential piece of news on whats going on in the country is included in this section International Current Affairs: As for the banking exam, a candidate must prepare well for both national as well as international news going on since last year. Economic related issues: This section of economic current affairs will include every little news about the economy of India and the economic corridor with other countries. You can also find other relevant topics related to daily current affairs like product rate, economic growth, new economic frisking zone, and schemes indulged in the growth of the economy. Banking Current Affairs: All the recent changes in rules, policies of banking sectors will be discussed in this section. As you are preparing for the banking exam, you must be aware of stock market, and other banking activities for economic growth. Sports Current Affairs: This section covers all the tournaments and sports events held recently in the nation or outside the nation. Current Affairs Awards & Achievements : Current affairs on both national and international awards are included in this section for your preparation. Appointments Current Affairs : This section covers all the new appointments done in various departments of the government of India and other countries of the world. At Adda247, we provide detailed information with designation and name for your convenience to prepare for your bank exam. You can find the most relevant and updated current affairs for your bank preparation with us. Just join us and we will help you out with your preparation in the best possible way we can. Check SSC CGL 2022 Notification Current Affairs 2022: FAQs Q.1 What are the latest types of question asked in recent exams? Ans. In RBI assistant mains it was asked when Ramsar convention was signed. This is a static question in context of current affairs as India got new ramsar sites. Adda covers the static part with its current affairs. In SBI PO mains 2021, TIME Magazines Person Of The Year For 2021 was asked it was covered in current affairs. Q2. How to cover the static portion in context of current affairs? Ans. Candidate should look into political, historical background of the news. These aspects need to be prepared. Static portion is covered along with current affairs. Q.3 What aspects to cover while reading government schemes? Ans. For central level schemes: Amount allotted, ministry, year of launch, main characteristics are to be learnt. For state level schemes purpose and state is to be read. Q.4. What are the various sources of Adda247 current affairs? Ans. Adda 247 current affair sources are: PIB, NewsOnAir, RBI website, Various newspapers like Hindu, Indian express, financial express and many more. Q.5 Does Adda247 provide Current Affairs PDF? Ans. Yes, Adda247 provides weekly and month-wise current affairs pdfs in both Hindi and English languages. Making sense (and, sometimes, nonsense) out of Current News, Issues, Politics : - , ' , ' Islamabad: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority ( PEMRA )'s council of complaints on last day recommended Rs 0.5 million fine each on 13 television channels for running a false report on the wedding of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman without evidence. The channels aired the false news that the 63-year-old -khan had entered into a third marriage in London. The channel repeated the news despite the categorical rejection by PTI. Though PTI had withdrawn their complaint, PEMRA had decided to go ahead with their complaint as the false news was against the spirit of media ethics. Imran Khan had been in the news columns last year for his second marriage with former journalist Rehem Khan but the marriage ended in divorce less than a year. Australias largest shipbuilder Austal posted a full year loss of $84.28 million because a program to build war ships for the US Navy took longer than expected. However, the result came in line with guidance issued last month over a change in estimate of the cost of completing the 11-ship littoral combat ship program. Revenue fell 5.3% to $1.34 billion. The EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) loss of $120.9 million, compared to a $85.3 million EBIT profit in 2015, was within new guidance issued last month. The primary driver of Austals FY2016 loss was a change of estimate to complete construction of the Littoral Combat Ship program (LCS 6 26) in accordance with the US Naval Vessel Rules, as announced on 4 July 2016. Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said outlook for the US shipyard and the group remained positive despite the FY2016 financial adjustment on the LCS program. The impact of the one-off downward adjustment to the LCS program has had on our earnings this year was disappointing, but Austal still has a strong order book and is generating strong cash flows from its efficient vessel construction, Singleton said. Austals US$4 billion LCS program will be profitable across its remaining life because we now have a much clearer understanding of the design required and margins that will be generated from the remaining LCS vessels. Our US$1.6 billion Expeditionary Fast Transport program in the US has matured well, is delivering stable and predictable returns, and has good prospects for expansion. He added: Austals Australia operations are in a period of transition as the shipyard is gearing up to construct a number of export and domestic defence contracts as well as commercial ferries following the conclusion of the initial eight-vessel Cape Class program early in FY2016. Importantly, Austal continued to generate strong operational cash flow in the year, which has supported a further reduction in debt, ongoing dividends to shareholders, and enabled the business to end the year in a strong net cash position. Austal reiterates FY2017 guidance of US shipbuilding EBIT margin between 5-7 per cent, group EBIT of $4555 million1, and ongoing positive operating cash flows. This outlook supports the ongoing payment of dividends, investment in growth initiatives, and further reduction in Austals infrastructure- related debt in the year. The U.S. Navy's first littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) experienced a casualty to one of its main propulsion diesel engines (MPDE) on July 11 reportedly caused by a leak from the attached seawater pump mechanical seal that resulted in seawater entering the engine lube oil system, according to the Navy. The ships crew addressed the leak, enabling Freedom to return to homeport July 13 on her own power for repairs on a separate, unrelated issue. While in port, the crew performed seawater contamination procedures. From July 19-28, the ship returned to sea to complete its portion of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise using gas turbine engines rather than its MPDEs. Upon returning to port, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center's Diesel Engine Inspector (SWRMC DEI) conducted a diesel engine inspection of USS Freedom's #2 MPDE on August 3 and found significant damage to the engine caused by rust and seawater. Based on initial assessments from the inspection, Freedom's #2 MPDE will need to be removed and rebuilt or replaced. The cost and timeline for the repair of the engine are unknown at this time, the Navy said. An investigation by Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CNSP) is underway to determine the definitive cause of the casualty and examine all relevant elements of training and supervision. Given the engineering casualties on USS Freedom and USS Fort Worth, I believe improvements in engineering oversight and training are necessary, said Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, commander, Naval Surface Forces. The recently completed LCS Review of manning, design and training looked at a number of sailor performance and ownership factors, to include crew rotation, size and proficiency. From this work, I believe we will be able to make immediate changes to help reduce chance for future operator error. I am fully committed to ensuring that our ships and the sailors who man them have the proper tools and training they need to safely and effectively operate these ships. The Navy said CNSP investigation will review if the damage to the #2 MPDE was caused by mechanical failure, crew error or both, and will determine corrective actions based on those results. Siegfried Schmerer already dreamed of becoming a captain as a young boy. Later, as a sailor on a coaster, he suffered from seasickness. Though he thought about giving up, he stuck with it and eventually worked his way up all the way to the bridge. After half a century at sea, Captain Schmerer will sail on his last voyage this September on board the Colombo Express. In Hapag-Lloyd Insights, he takes a look back at his career, such as at the long voyages to Australia in what was then the worlds largest general cargo ship or the 20-meter-high waves near the Azores. Sometimes you need a little distance before you notice the big changes that have taken place in his decades as a sailor. Like the development of Hong Kong, for example, which Siegfried Schmerer can see when he goes ashore and takes the funicular railway 500 meters to the top of Victoria Peak. The captain then enjoys the stillness high above the metropolis of seven million people. He first docked in the former Crown Colony back in the 1970s on board the Mosel Express. Less than half the number of people lived here back then and there were only two gantry cranes the first time he docked in Hong Kong, and his 1,100-TEU ship was moored here for three days. Today, its often just a matter of hours. In September, Siegfried Schmerer will board a container ship as a captain for the last time. He will then sail the Colombo Express (8,750 TEU) across the Atlantic from New York to Hamburg, where he will leave the bridge forever. When that happens, his long career as a captain will end exactly where it had once started as a young sailor. Globalization, containerization, the rapid growth of Asia: the 65-year old experienced all of this first-hand on board his ships during 49 years of seafaring that are now coming to an end. In a career spanning almost five decades from small coasters to the container giants of today, from break-bulk cargo to steel containers, which are 60 years old this year he overcame the challenges that confronted him. Stormy weather, serious engine damage on the open sea, long voyages across vast oceans: in a decade and a half as captain, he always brought his ship, crew and cargo safely into port. He was helped here by his humility, a dry sense of humor and a seemingly unshakable calm. Like many others, it was a fascination with the role of captain that drew Schmerer to seafaring. As a small boy, he had browsed through the German Kehrwieder (Recur home) shipping magazine, which was available in his home town far away from the sea. In a little less than 25 years, he worked his way right up the bridge. Rope splicing, rowing, the meaning of flags and how a compass works the 16-year-old learned all of this at the nautical school in Hamburg-Blankenese. To obtain his seamans certificate, he made his first journey on board the coaster Nanna, with 399 gross registered tons. Eight men on board, back and forth across the North and Baltic Seas, for 20 months. And one of them was plagued by seasickness: Siegfried Schmerer. I wanted to give up, but my parents said to me: Youre going to see this through to the end. Schmerer listened to his parents and applied to Hapag in 1969. He continued to get seasick from time to time, but hasnt had any problems with it for 20 years. As an ordinary seaman, he travelled to Australia on board the Dresden, the worlds biggest bulk carrier at the time, with 32 derricks. He was the first in the family to visit his mothers cousin there. The Dresden docked in Melbourne for two weeks. In 2000, he captained his first ship, the Bonn Express, with 2,803 TEU as was the case for many Hapag-Lloyd captains. He was given command of a further five vessels. I was always lucky with my crews, says Schmerer, looking back. The captain always spent a long time on board his ship some six years on the Shanghai Express as it was called back then (now the Yantian Express): You get to know your way around, every ship is different. Anyone can travel in a straight line, but when it comes to manoeuvring, experience helps. This experience paid off, for example, when the captain brought his engine damaged container ship from the Pacific, through the Panama Canal, across the Atlantic, and safely home to Bremerhaven. The biggest change, says Schmerer, is todays weather navigation. We used to sail out with little idea of what to expect. He experienced 20-meter waves on board a 135-meter freighter in 1978 in the Azores, which lasted for a day and a half. You dont feel good in that situation, but theres no time to think about it. And you can even sleep. Today, he sails around storms like that. Thanks to technology, he knows days in advance where its going to be stormy. Im punctual down to the last five minutes, as scheduled by the liner service like a bus driver. Of course, theres a certain sense of nostalgia for Schmerer when he remembers the days before there was air conditioning on board. At sea, the crew often hunkered down on deck until late into the night because it was simply too hot in the cabins. Once a week, we sang sea shanties. Or sat on the hatch and watched films. A bed sheet served as a screen, while the ship sailed through the night across some southern sea. On one occasion in Casablanca, they were docked for so long that they saw the sugar which the ship had brought on sale in the bazaar. And today? There are a few things that Schmerer knows he wont miss. Filling out forms, for example. Or the constant noises on board. For a seaman, especially one as experienced as the 65-year-old, it is only very rarely quiet on a ship. He hears every noise, and always asks himself: does that sound right, is everything running smoothly? Some sounds, says Schmerer, stay with you in your pillow at night time and you cant get rid of them. When asked about his last voyage, about the last time he will serve as the captain of a huge containership, Schmerer says he prefers not to think about it too much. However, he will admit to being a bit afraid that his crew might just be planning something for his send-off. And Ill probably have a big lump in my throat when I go down the gangway for the last time, he adds. However, Captain Schmerer is certain of one thing: Ill bring this journey to a safe and steady end just like all the others before. And he might even go on a cruise some time, for the sake of his wife. Even if there arent many ports in the world that he hasnt sailed to. (Source: Hapag-Lloyd Insight) Samskip has completed the acquisition of Euro Container Lines AS, building on a strategy for growth in the Nordic area to make its largest ever acquisitive move in Norway. The ECL acquisition aims to strengthen Samskips position in the Norwegian market by enhancing the speed and frequency of services delivering a second-to-none value proposition for its Norwegian client base. In a significant enhancement for regional fishing industry exporters in particular, the acquisition will deliver a substantially improved Norwegian coastal service under the direct control of Samskip. Total annual Norwegian Samskip volumes are expected to increase substantially, from the current 55,000 TEU to 90,000 TEU; increasing overall annual volumes from 850,000 TEU to 885,000 TEU. The acquisition also means a significant expansion in the refrigerated transport capacity Samskip can offer connecting with its own cold stores in Alesund and Rotterdam, which increases to around 275-300 reefer containers per week. The acquisition of ECL in Norway is only the latest step taken by Samskip to strengthen its position in Norway. Jens Holger Nielsen, CEO Samskip says: The negotiations between the two firms were led by Mr. Olafur Olafsson, on behalf of Samskip, and Kristian Eidesvik, on behalf of ECL. We believe the acquisition further highlights our commitment to the Norwegian market, having recently purchased a 50% stake in Silver Green AS. The ECL deal is a definitive move in this market and completes the regional acquisition strategy we have been developing over the past years. I think it is fair to say that we will deliver greater value to our clients in Norway, putting us in the position to provide the all-round services that Samskip is renowned for in other major fishing nations such as Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Samskips view is that the acquisition strengthens what is our already strong position as a major operator in temperature controlled logistics. 15 years of service growth in Norway background to the acquisition Samskip has been progressively strengthening its market position in the European door-to-door 45ft dry and deep sea feeder transports as well as within the frozen fish segment from North Atlantic producers to better serve its customers. Its substantial commitments have extended to investments in more reefer vessels, container services, cold-store and terminal operations, as well as global forwarding solutions. By adding Hamburg and Bremerhaven to Samskips network, the Norwegian product portfolio becomes an extensive one. Samskips acquisition of ECL is representative of its careful planning to sustain vigorous growth. The acquisition will result in increased competition in a market previously dominated by Samskip competitors, with the benefits for clients expected to be immediate and tangible. Direct access to Samskips comprehensive and robust regional and global service network will offer Norwegian exporters both enhanced reliability and the transport opportunities that competitors cannot match. The ECL deal follows the earlier purchase of shares by Samskip Logistics in Silver Green AS. Silver Green AS, based in Bergen, Norway, operates a fleet of 14 reefer vessels. The company is a market leader within its segment, with its primary trading being in the North Atlantic, Baltic, North Sea and Black Sea. Samskip Logistics now owns five reefer vessels. Vessel system on fixed day rotations in a wide range of ports Samskip will be calling 14 ports in total, and possibly calling additional ports on an inducement basis; where Holla, Ikornes, Maly and Haugesund will be new additions to the Samskip network. With a fixed twice-weekly sailing schedule ex-Rotterdam and two additional fixed sailings ex-Hamburg, Samskip will increase total frequency to 3-4 sailings per week into Norway, depending on seasonal demand. Buyout firm Advent International Corp has hired Morgan Stanley & Co and Grupo BTG Pactual SA to advise on the sale of a controlling stake in TCP Terminal de Conteineres de Paranagua SA, Brazil's second-busiest container port, according to two people with direct knowledge of the plans. Earlier this year, Boston-based Advent had announced plans to sell the 50 percent stake it has in TCP, which can handle about 1.5 million tonnes of cargo containers annually. BTG Pactual joined Morgan Stanley as advisor to Advent at the start of July, the people said. The sources, who spoke with Reuters in recent days, asked for anonymity because the plan remained confidential. According to one of the people, Advent wants to fetch a price for the stake that values TCP around at least 3.5 billion reais ($1.1 billion.) The other person said other Advent partners in TCP, which include three Brazilian investment firms and Spanish companies Group Maritim TCB SL and Galigrain SA, could join the sale. The people declined to elaborate further on a timetable for the deal or name potential bidders. The second person said three Asian port operators, two of which are China-based, have shown preliminary interest in TCP. The transaction could also include a potential fundraising effort by TCP, possibly through the sale of notes in the domestic debt markets, the second person said. Advent paid about $500 million for the TCP stake five years ago. The TCP stake sale has failed to gain traction rapidly, as potential buyers monitor developments in Brazil, which is struggling with the harshest recession in eight decades and political turmoil, the people said. Steelmaker Cia Siderurgica Nacional SA's planned sale of container terminal operator Sepetiba Tecon SA has also been slow, even as a number of bidders - including Advent - have shown interest. TCP, Advent and the port operator's other shareholders declined to comment, as did BTG Pactual. Morgan Stanley did not immediately have a comment. ($1 = 3.2433 Brazilian reais) (By Guillermo Parra-Bernal and Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by David Gregorio) Nakilat Damen Shipyards Qatar (NDSQ) has delivered five vessels as part of an 11-vessel order for New Port Project (NPP). Built entirely at the Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan Industrial City, the vessels were launched and delivered to NPP after successful completion of their sea trials. Measuring 15.4 meters long with a beam of 5 meters and a speed of 25 knots, the two Damen Stan Pilot 1505 pilot boats Um Alhoul 1 and Um Alhoul 2 will be used to carry out pilot duties and the transportation of personnel. The three Damen Stan Tug 1606 mooring boats, Mwani 1, Mwani 2 and Mwani 3, measure 16.7 meters long with a beam of 5.9 meters and have a bollard pull capacity of 13.7 tonnes. These vessels will be used to assist ships entering and departing the port. Eng. Abdullah Al-Sulaiti Nakilat Managing Director, said, We are pleased to be delivering the first five vessels for NPP. This project is a reflection of hard work incorporated with vision that has worked well on all levels: successful new builds for a local client at Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard, based on a proven design. The cooperation between Nakilat and NPP is an excellent example of how local organizations are working together to support the development and growth of our local economy, that will in turn contribute to the achievements of Qatar National vision 2030. Capt. Abdulla AL-KHANJI, MWANI - CEO & New Port Project - General Supervisor said, Hamad Port is being developed as a world-class facility as befits the State of Qatar. The delivery of these vessels is an important milestone in the delivery of the project. The completion of these marine units represent the culmination of a successful collaboration between NPP and NDSQ. To have vessels of such outstanding quality manufactured in Qatar, for use in Hamad Port is testament to the professionalism of all those involved. New joint co-operation between Gasum and Wartsila aims to develop the utilization and distribution of natural energy gases in marine and land markets. Gasum, the Nordic leader in natural gases and Wartsila, a global leader in advanced technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets have signed a Joint Co-operation Agreement aimed at developing the utilization and distribution of natural energy gases in marine and land markets. The agreement between Gasum and Wartsila was signed August 29, 2016 and will run for several years. The purpose of the agreement is to develop the Gas Value Chain in order to advance carbon neutrality. The co-operation is aimed to benefit the customers by providing efficient and sustainable energy solutions, and consists of several development areas within the value chain including Smart Power Generation, gas as a fuel in the marine market, biogas market, LNG/LBG distribution and maintenance & operations. Im very pleased with the joint co-operation agreement between Gasum and Wartsila, as were able to improve access to natural gas solutions as efficient and clean energy alternatives in the marine and land markets, says Gasum CEO and Chair of the Skangas Board of Directors Johanna Lamminen. Wartsila has taken a leading position in both the energy and shipping markets as a developer of advanced technology solutions that enable the practical and efficient use of natural gas fuel. This agreement with Gasum will help speed the transition to gas fuel and advance environmental sustainability, says Wartsila President and CEO, Jaakko Eskola. Gas fuelled marine vessels are seen as being a logical means for ship owners and operators to comply with increasingly stringent environmental legislation. In addition to the environmental benefits that LNG fuel offers, the shipping industry is increasingly looking to gas as a means of reducing operating costs. This agreement aims at increasing and easing the availability of natural gas for marine use, as well as developing the supply chain and the infrastructure. The development work regarding LNG in marine traffic will also utilize the expertise of Gasum subsidiary Skangas, the leading LNG player in the Nordic market. Improving the availability of LNG will serve not only marine traffic but also the increasing needs of industrial clients outside the natural gas grids and future needs of heavy duty traffic. The LNG infrastructure also allows for the use of liquefied biogas (LBG) without any additional investments. Offshore oil and gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico are evacuating platforms and rigs in the path of Tropical Depression No. 9. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said its Hurricane Response Team is activated and monitoring the operators activities, and will continue to work with offshore operators and other state and federal agencies until operations return to normal and the storm is no longer a threat to Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activities. Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11:30 a.m. CDT today, personnel have been evacuated from a total of six production platforms, equivalent to less than one percent (0.77 percent) of the 781 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Personnel have been evacuated from one rig (non-dynamically positioned (DP) rig), equivalent to 6.25 percent of the 16 rigs of this type currently operating in the Gulf. A total of five DP rigs have moved off location out of the storms path as a precaution. This number represents 20.00 percent of the 25 DP rigs currently operating in the Gulf. Personnel remain on-board and return to the location once the storm has passed. As part of the evacuation process, personnel activate the applicable shut-in procedure, which can frequently be accomplished from a remote location. This involves closing the sub-surface safety valves located below the surface of the ocean floor to prevent the release of oil or gas. During previous hurricane seasons, the shut-in valves functioned 100 percent of the time, efficiently shutting in production from wells on the Outer Continental Shelf and protecting the marine and coastal environments. Shutting-in oil and gas production is a standard procedure conducted by industry for safety and environmental reasons. From operator reports, it is estimated that approximately 11.48 percent of the current oil production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in. It is also estimated that approximately 5.51 percent of the natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico has been shut-in. The production percentages are calculated using information submitted by offshore operators in daily reports. Shut-in production information included in these reports is based on the amount of oil and gas the operator expected to produce that day. The shut-in production figures therefore are estimates, which BSEE compares to historical production reports to ensure the estimates follow a logical pattern. After the storm has passed, facilities will be inspected. Once all standard checks have been completed, production from undamaged facilities will be brought back on line immediately. Facilities sustaining damage may take longer to bring back on line. A fire that broke out aboard the passenger vessel Caribbean Fantasy at 7:42 a.m. on August 17 has been extinguished, and the vessel has been moored safely in port. The Caribbean Fantasy is covered under Ardents OPA-90, Salvage and Marine Fire Fighting SMFF coverage program. Prior to Ardent operations, the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the vessel, and successfully evacuated more than 500 passengers and crew members. We did a dive survey of the vessel at sea, found that there was minimal damage to the hull, and brought her to port with the USCGs approval. Our fire team then went onboard to extinguish the fire, said Ardent Salvage Master, Guy Wood. McAllister Towing was one of Ardents OPA-90 partners that assisted in responding with two z-drive tractor tugs, Brooklyn McAllister and Beth M. McAllister. Puerto Rico Towing and Barge and Moran Towing also provided tugs for the operation. Ardent demobilized emergency response personnel and equipment one week after (Aug. 25) the successful operation, and handed the vessel back to the ship owner. It was a smooth job. We berthed [the Caribbean Fantasy] at the port and implemented our heavy weather mooring plan, then returned the vessel to her owner, Wood said. 1861 - During the Civil War, Seaman Benjamin Swearer lands with troops from the steam sloop of war, Pawnee, and takes part in the capture of Fort Clark, at Hatteras Inlet, N.C. He serves throughout the action and has the honor of being the first man to raise the flag on the captured fort. For his gallant service throughout the action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. 1862 - The gunboat, USS Pittsburgh, supports Army troops landing at Eunice, Ark., during the Civil War. 1915 - After pontoons are brought to Hawaii from the west coast, and following extensive additional diving work, the submarine USS F-4 is raised from the bottom and taken into Honolulu Harbor for dry docking. Previously, in March 1915, during a routine dive a few miles off Honolulu, F-4 sinks in 51 fathoms of water, with the loss of her 21 crewmembers. 1916 - High waves force armored cruiser USS Memphis aground at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, killing 33 men. Lt. Claud A. Jones rescues crewmen from the dying ship's steam-filled engineering spaces. Years later, in Aug. 1932, Jones receives the Medal of Honor for his actions. 1944 - USS Jack (SS 259) attacks Japanese convoy H3 and sinks minesweeper W28 and army cargo ship, Mexico Maru, northwest of Menado, Celebes. 1944 - PBY aircraft sink Japanese sailing vessel, Toyokuni Maru, at the entrance to Ambon Bay. 1998 - USS Decatur (DDG 73) is commissioned at Portland, Ore., before arriving at its homeport of Naval Station San Diego. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer is the fifth U.S. Navy ship named for Commodore Stephen Decatur. (Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division) Meyer Turku shipyard has further enlarged its investment package with a new 75 million euro steel storage and pretreatment facility. This is already a third large scale investment announced this year from Meyer Turku, previous being new Gantry crane and building a new modernized Cabin Factory on the original Piikkio Works cabin factory grounds. The new steel storage and pretreatment facility will increase the steel pretreatment capacity of Meyer Turku, improve dimensional accuracy and increase productivity. This latest investment gives an indication how large the replacement need for old facilities at Turku yard is. These replacement investments can be viewed a burden yet also as a great chance for modernizing our production. With this investment we are working on productivity improvements and dimensional accuracy improvements to boost the following process steps. Since these are very special and unique facilities our investment team is working on creative and innovative solutions supported by modern IT technology. For us as the Meyer Family it is a concrete commitment to a long-term shipbuilding future in Turku, said CEO of Meyer Turku Jan Meyer. The production of the new steel storage and pretreatment facility starts in the autumn of 2016 and will be ready in the spring of 2017. MT will start the co-op negotiations with the unions about the modified content of the work. In any case this investment will not cause any negative impacts on headcount, the modernization is just one measure to make these jobs fit for the future. Redmond, Wash. based MobileOps, Inc., a software company specializing in the design and development of maritime software applications (dispatch, safety, compliance, vessel maintenance, timecards and analytics), has recently reformed and is now pursuing further business development within the tug and barge, towboat and fishing industries. MobileOps president Michael Armfield indicated that the MobileOps Platform has been performing extremely well over the past three years and added more than ever, maritime companies need software that is easy to use, has the ability to work offline and provides instant access to real-time data and analytics, which helps companies comply with existing and new standards, like Subchapter M. The new Barge Master Gangway will be presented at the joint booth of Barge Master and Bosch Rexroth during the international offshore trade exhibition ONS (Offshore Northern Seas) in Stavanger. The next generation gangway, a result of cooperation between Bosch Rexroth and Barge Master, is designed for the safe and efficient transfer of personnel and cargo from ships to drilling and offshore production platforms, wind turbines and other ships. Barge Master specializes in the development and fabrication of motion compensating systems, such as cranes and multipurpose platforms, which are used on ships while offshore. A fast, innovative technique ensures that ships' movements are compensated, so that the ship mounted cranes remain stable and cargo can be transferred and positioned without problems, even in rough seas. For the safe transfer of personnel from a ship to wind turbines or production and drilling platforms at sea, Barge Master developed the Barge Master Gangway in close collaboration with Bosch Rexroth. The design of the gangway has been assessed and approved by DNV GL (DNVGL-ST-0358). According to Ron van den Oetelaar, General Manager at Bosch Rexroth, the development of the Gangway was quite a challenge. Due to the simultaneous linear and rotary motions along several axes, which are moreover accompanied by large forces, the active motion-control technology applied in the system is extremely complex, van den Oetelaar said. The gangway is placed on a small diameter pedestal with a hinge and a luffing cylinder to compensate the roll motions of the vessel. The gangway can translate and rotate (surge and yaw) in the horizontal plane around the pedestal by using hydraulic motors. Telescopic sections with winches in the bridge ensure smooth translation in sway direction. Extremely fast sensors and control engineering were used for the Barge Master Gangway that could translate the ship's movements into counter-movements for the gangway. The system can compensate for vessel motions up to a significant wave height of more than three meters (Hs). In addition to the gangway system customers can choose for additional modules such as a height adjustable pedestal with an integrated elevator. This option ensures a step less transshipment of pallet trolleys as well as fast and safe integrated logistics between vessel and platform. During the development, fabrication and the delivery of the system, we will work very closely together with the specialists from Bosch Rexroth, said Martijn Koppert, CEO of Barge Master. We have formed an integrated project team with specialists from both companies making it really different from the classical client-supplier relationship. We are fully fledged partners, the project team takes care of the design, fabrication and timely delivery of the system and both parties will continuously focus on translating clients wishes into a perfect working gangway. The small footprint, its light weight and the modular design with hoisting, elevator and many other options have led to the next generation gangway! In order to realize an attractive price setting Bosch Rexroth made maximum use of standard components, the fact that Bosch Rexroth has an extremely wide product range helps enormously in this respect. Although some parts have still been custom built for this project, the end result has become "lean & mean". We are convinced that our close cooperation resulted in a gangway clients are really looking for. We sold the first unit last month which proves we are right. It will be delivered to our client in Q2 2017. Passenger vessel Spirit of Baltimore struck the pier at Henderson Wharf Marina in Baltimore, Sunday morning, causing 60 feet of damage to the pier and cosmetic damage to the vessels hull. There were 447 people aboard at the time of the incident. U.S. Coast Guard investigators from Sector Maryland-National Capital Region are investigating the incident and assessing the damage to the vessel and pier. The cause of the incident is still under investigation. There is currently no report of pollution, the Coast Guard said. The French shipbuilder DCNS plans to seek an injunction to prevent further publication of information contained in 22,400 secret documents about stealth submarines built for India, says The Australian. The company will seek legal action in the Supreme Court of New South Wales after the documents dated from 2011 allegedly detailing the secret combat capabilities of six Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines were leaked to newspaper. While some of Indias veteran submariners have described the leak as a storm in a teacup, others fear that the credibility of the platform may have been compromised. The documents landing in the wrong hands could be really detrimental to India's push for naval expansion and maritime supremacy in and around its waters at a time when China is already jockeying for position there. The Australian newspaper put out certain documents reported to be part of a 22,400-page tome pertaining to the Indian Scorpene submarine currently being built in collaboration with DCNS. The DCNS has also sought a court order to the newspaper to hand over the documents in its possession and removal of the contents from its website. "The publication of this highly valuable document causes a direct harm to DCNS and its customer in terms of spread of sensitive and restricted information, image and reputation," The Australian quoted an affidavit by DCNS lawyer Justine Munsie. The French firm has also petitioned the federal court to order the daily to hand over all the documents it has on what was to be India's most advanced submarine. Last week, The Australian said it had redacted the most sensitive of the information found in the leaks, but DCNS is reportedly concerned about more sensitive information making its way into the public eye. Russian shipbuilder Krasnye Barrikady and Iran's Tasdid Offshore Development Company (TODC) have signed a deal worth $1 billion to build five offshore drilling rigs for oil and gas exploration in the Persian Gulf, reports Press TV. According to Krasnye Barrikady Shipyard CEO Aleksandr Ilichev cited by the Iranian IRNA news agency, the Russian shipyard could carry out feasibility study for the project. The company has extensive expertise in the area accumulated after implementation of similar projects in other Caspian states, he added. The deal signed with TODC envisages the construction of each drilling rig over two years in the port city of Khorramshahr, TODC Managing Director Ehsanollah Mousavi said. The project will be jointly financed by Russia and Iran, and put the Islamic Republic among the countries capable of building drilling rigs. According to the timetable, domestic share in the construction of the first drilling rig will be 58%. This share will gradually rise during the execution of the project with technology transfer into the country, Mousavi said. The project financing will be done by the Russian company. The return of investment will come from the leasing of the rigs to the countrys oil and gas projects, with the investment and profits planned to return in five years," he said. Krasnye Barrikady officials have already said Iran will make a 15 percent down payment on the $200 million price of the first rig. Krasnye Barrikady was established in 1886 as a shipyard but has expanded its repair and maintenance operations to production of structures and equipment for oil and gas industry, tankers and various types of vessels. Russia's Gazprom and Agip KCO, a subsidiary of Italian energy firm Eni S.p.A., are among the clients of Krasnye Barrikady. Fifth in the nation for direct employment, California shipbuilding and repair industry supports nearly 35,000 jobs; Maritime Administrator highlights economic importance of shipyard industry for California while on tour at NASSCO Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) member General Dynamics NASSCO hosted U.S. Maritime Administrator Paul Chip Jaenichen for a tour of the San Diego shipyard, where SEACOR Constitution a 610-foot tank ship launched this weekend. While on the tour, Administrator Jaenichen shared data from a report by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) that shows the U.S. shipbuilding and repair industry in California supports nearly 35,000 jobs, and contributes $2.3 billion in labor income and $3.6 billion in U.S. GDP. California is the fifth highest state in total private sector direct employment for shipbuilding and repair. On the heels of recent new contract announcements and an uptick in repair business for the shipyard, the data highlighted by Administrator Jaenichen demonstrates Californias strength in the shipbuilding and repair industry as well as the national economic importance of the U.S. shipyard industry. In todays challenging maritime environment with vast global over capacity for vessels operating in international trade, the jobs created by our Nations shipyards and repair facilities that support our coastwise Jones Act trade and our Armed Forces provides both a beacon of hope and good news. It is a potent reminder of the industrys importance to the local and national economy, said Maritime Administrator Paul "Chip" Jaenichen. The Administrators remarks while visiting NASSCO demonstrate not only the local importance of the shipbuilding and repair industry for California, but also the critical support on a national level the shipyard industrial base provides to economic and national security, said SCAs President, Matthew Paxton. Our industry is leading the world in innovation and continuing to grow well-paying family waged jobs all across the country. The domestic shipbuilding and repair industry is an economic force that continues to supply high quality jobs throughout California. The importance of this industry cannot be understated and the latest job numbers continue to identify shipbuilding and repair as a critical part of the State and regional economies, said U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA). Not many industries also contribute to American security and force projection the way the maritime industry does--and this remains a point of pride not just for workers and representatives of the industry, but the entire nation. As reported in the Maritime Administration report, The Economic Importance of the U.S. Shipbuilding and Repairing Industry, the private shipbuilding and repair industry in 2013 supported over 399,000 jobs, contributing $25.1 billion in labor income and $37.3 billion in U.S. GDP. The Right Lessons from Obamacare's Meltdown The decision of several major insurance companies to cut their losses and withdraw from the Obamacare exchanges, combined with the failure of 70 percent of Obamacare's health insurance "co-ops," will leave one in six Obamacare enrollees with only one health insurance option. If Obamacare continues on its current track, most of America may resemble Pinal County, Arizona, where no one can obtain private health insurance. Those lucky enough to obtain insurance will face ever-increasing premiums and a declining choice of providers. Many Obamacare supporters claimed that the exchanges created a market for health insurance that would allow consumers to benefit from competition. But allowing consumers to pick from a variety of government-controlled health insurance plans is not a true market; instead it is what the great economist Ludwig von Mises called "playing market." Unfortunately, if not surprisingly, too many are drawing the wrong lessons from Obamacare's difficulties. Instead of calling for a repeal of Obamacare and all other government interference in the health care market, many are calling for increased penalties on those who defy Obamacare's individual mandate in order to force them onto the exchanges. Others are renewing the push for a "public option," forcing private companies to compete with taxpayer-funded entities and easing the way for the adoption of a Canadian-style single payer system. Even those working to restore individual control over health care via tax deductions, credits, and expanded health savings accounts still support government intervention in order to provide a "safety net" for the poor. Of course, everyone -- including libertarians -- shares the goal of creating a safety net. Libertarians just understand that a moral and effective safety net is one voluntarily provided by individuals, religious organizations, and private charities. Government has no legitimate authority to take money from taxpayers to fund health care or any other type of welfare program. Government-run health care also does not truly serve the interest of those supposedly "benefiting" from the program. Anyone who doubts this should consider how declining reimbursements and increasing bureaucracy is causing more doctors to refuse to treat Medicaid and Medicare patients. Medicaid patients will face increasing hardships when, not if, the US government's fiscal crisis forces Congress to make spending cuts. When the crisis comes, what is more likely to be cut first: spending benefiting large corporations and big banks that can deploy armies of high-powered lobbyists, or spending benefiting low-income Americans who cannot afford K Street representation? Contrary to myth, low-income individuals did not go without care in the days before the welfare state. Private, charity-run hospitals staffed by volunteers provided a safety net for those who could not afford health care. Most doctors also willingly provided free or reduced-price care for those who needed it. The large amount of charitable giving and volunteer activity in the United States shows that the American people do not need government's help in providing an effective safety net. The problems plaguing the health care system are rooted in the treatment of health care as a "right." This justifies government intervention in the health care marketplace. This intervention causes increasing prices and declining quality and supply. Ironically, those who suffer most from government intervention are the very people proponents of these programs claim to want to help. The first step in restoring a health care system that meets the needs of all people is to start treating health care as a good that can and should only be provided via voluntary actions of free people. Buy Ron Paul's latest book, Swords into Plowshares, here. Dr. Ron Paul Project Freedom Congressman Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for liberty in politics today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He is known among both his colleagues in Congress and his constituents for his consistent voting record in the House of Representatives: Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill. Dr. Ron Paul Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. The Power of Price Spikes On Intraday Charts Last week ended on a very positive note for those who follow and trade filtered price spikes. What is a filtered price spike? In short, I scan pre-market, and post-market trading hours price charts of SPY, QQQ, IWM, GLD, and GDX for a very special odd tick in the market which creates a spike on the chart. These spikes could be to the upside or downside, does not matter. What they tell me is the direction which the market (market makers) are going to try and move the market in then next 48 hours. As long as you can trade 1x, 2x or 3x ETFs, futures, Binary options, spread betting, or CFDs, then you can take full advantage of these quick and powerful moves. These spikes generally are not huge percent movers, typically range between 0.25% 1.1%, but they are highly accurate and when leverage is used like trading futures you can pocket $250- $1500 quickly. I have found price spikes to work exceptionally well in predicting market-moving news before it takes place like Brexit and Fridays FED decision. Below you will see a chart of GLD (gold) which flashed us a with a buy signal 36 hours before gold shot up in price post the FED decision. This week (Monday Aug 29th) SPY Spike and Target Hit On Friday after the market closed I saw a spike up on the SPY chart. You can see what happened the next trading session once the market opened Market rallied and spike was filled for a quick $450 profit. Concluding Thoughts: In short, if you are looking for a few extra trades each month that are highly accurate and only put your money at risk for a very short period of time then you should look into getting my ETF trades and Spike Alerts. Trade With Me At: www.TheGoldAndOilGuy.com Chris Vermeulen Chris Vermeulen is Founder of the popular trading site TheGoldAndOilGuy.com. There he shares his highly successful, low-risk trading method. For 7 years Chris has been a leader in teaching others to skillfully trade in gold, oil, and silver in both bull and bear markets. Subscribers to his service depend on Chris' uniquely consistent investment opportunities that carry exceptionally low risk and high return. Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. A local Christian band, Book of Ruth, is going places every musician dreams of going. They have recorded a CD in Nashville and hope to make the gospel charts once it's released. One thing Book of Ruth plans on doing is never forgetting the local churches. The one thing Id like to say is we started singing at local churches and we will never abandon the local churches, said band member Stormy Bennett. We love singing at the local churches, thats what got us started and that is what we really enjoy doing. Five of the six current members of Book of Ruth, Colleen Mitchell, Kelly (Elders) Littrell, Lindsay Currie, Stormy Bennett and David Solomon, met while working with the well-known local oldies cover band, GTO. Mitchell, Littrell, Lindsay Currie and Bennett were called upon to sing at the funeral of the father of GTO founder, Dennis Gillam. It was then that they found they had a common love of old gospel music. Several weeks later, Bennett was booked to sing at Esther Methodist Church in Park Hills and his wife suggested he call the girls to come and sing with him. That is where Book of Ruth started, although there was no official name for the group at that time. The name Book of Ruth was used when the group performed at Bismarck Methodist Church several weeks later. After GTO took a hiatus from booking, Solomon asked if he could play bass for the group. Shortly after that, Lindsays husband, Chris Currie, asked to join the group as a percussionist. Chris was just recently replaced with veteran drummer David Goldsmith, who has worked with GTO, as well as currently working with the band Medallion. Bennett said they were invited to sing in the showcase at the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee a year ago in September. We performed in the showcase and our emcee that day was a man named Les Butler, said Bennett. He has been a gospel DJ since 1978 and everybody knows him. He has a company in Nashville called Butler Music Group (BMG) and he handles the Oak Ridge Boys, the Gallatin Brothers and many more. Bennett said Butler also searches for new gospel talent and he heard them that day at the showcase. A month or so after the appearance at the quartet convention, they were contacted by Butler who requested to meet at his office in Franklin, Tennessee. He actually contacted us a couple of months later and asked to come to Nashville to meet with him about furthering our musical ministry, Bennett. We met with him last December and laid out a plan. He wanted us to come down to record and thats exactly what we did, we went down and recorded a couple of months ago. Bennett said they actually recorded another CD before. They recorded a CD a couple of years ago in their own little studio that they have. He added they sold a bunch of them and it was very popular. It was older gospel, some that I wrote and mostly older stuff that we had redone, said Bennett. People really seemed to enjoy it. This time we actually recorded in Laverne Tripps studio near Nashville in Gallatin. Laverne is actually a guy and he was one of the members of the Blue Ridge Quartet for years. They are really well known in the gospel music industry. While meeting with Butler at Butler Music Group, they were offered the opportunity to record a new album at his studio to be distributed to several gospel radio stations across the country, with the purpose of getting a Book of Ruth song on the gospel charts. Over the course of the last several months, Les has sent us over 70 original songs to consider for this album, said Bennett. Several of the songs sent were written by songwriters who have won Dove Awards, the gospel music equivalent of the Grammy. We spent long, agonizing hours trying to narrow the field of tremendous songs down to just 10. Bennett said they chose the songs primarily for the message conveyed through the lyrics. Each song has a specific spiritual statement that follows their own beliefs and goals. Included in the final 10 is a song I wrote myself, called, 'I Believe The Angels Cried,' which suggests that, even though it is not directly supported by scripture, I believe it is very possible that the angels who opened Jesus tomb were so saddened by the injuries he suffered for our salvation that they were moved to tears, said Bennett. All of the songs for the album were picked by Book of Ruth and were selected for their message and their fit with the Book of Ruth style of country/gospel music. On May 31 and June 1 the album was recorded at the Family Room Studio in Gallatin, Tennessee. When we finally arrived at the studio and actually began recording, I was so proud of everyone in the group for working so hard beforehand on the material, making the actual recording almost effortless, said Bennett. If you ask anyone who has ever recorded an album if you can record 10 complete songs in two days, they would probably be very skeptical. It didnt hurt that Les Butler himself supplied keyboard for the album, and the utility musician he hired for the album, who supplied guitar, fiddle and mandolin, is recognized worldwide for his tremendous talent. Bennett said the musician's name is Jason Roller and he currently plays for Kellie Pickler and plays for Randy Owen of Alabama when Owen does his solo act. He got his first job with Dolly Parton at the age of 15. The studio engineer for the project was Butlers son, Matt Butler. Matt, an accomplished musician himself, displayed an uncanny ability to identify and correct any problems with the recording, said Bennett. The studio itself was absolutely beautiful. There was a large area in the engineering booth designed for the comfort of the crew, with two large, overstuffed sofas and numerous side chairs. Off the engineering booth was a large fully-stocked kitchen. The kitchen was used for numerous television shows over the years. Bennett added the studio included a huge grand piano as well as a complete drum set. Also in the building are the offices of Tripp Ministries. The studio building is directly behind Laverne Tripps modest home, modest by mansion standards, according to Bennett. We are very thrilled and we are very humbled that this all happened, because we actually didnt go looking for any it, said Bennett. It came looking for us and we have been very thankful for whats been happening and the doors that have been opening. We are still excited to sing for our local churches, its what we like to do. That is what we have done since we got back. Book of Ruth has had the opportunity to minister at several churches in the Parkland as well as Illinois and Arkansas. It took several weeks to get the CD back to get a mix on it and we are just tweaking it right now, said Bennett. We are hoping to have it done and have a release party in September. Now, the plan is we will take a single off of the album and send it back to Les. He will include it with a package that goes out to 1,500 gospel radio stations throughout the country, plus a couple hundred more he can send electronically. Bennett said the radio stations will play those and they will put them on their playlist. Of course the more they play them, the more requests they get for them, the more popular they are and the quicker they move up the gospel charts. The idea is to try to get us a song charted on the gospel charts, said Bennett. We will do some traveling to follow up on that and perform in other places. We told him we wanted to stay in the Midwest. The finished, mastered album will be sent to us in four to six weeks and when we receive it and have CDs made from the master, we will be hosting at least one CD release event in the area, but we still have to figure all the details out. Bennett added they will also be singing at the MAGMA Convention (Mid-America Gospel Music Association) on Nov. 11 at the Centene Center. There are several local groups who are members of the organization, including the Berry Brothers. This September, Patrick Henry Community College welcomes Richmond artist Megan Zalecki with her newest series of abstract paintings. Her work will be on display Sept. 6 through Oct. 13 in the Walker Fine Arts Center Gallery. The show will culminate with a reception and gallery talk at 1 p.m. Oct. 13. As a painter and illustrator, Zalecki creates forms, landscapes, and spaces reconstructed from her memories. She stated in a press release that she approaches her work with a sense of play and that she explores "the process of painting as a meditative, self-searching act, and through this process, reconstruct[s] memories to invent narratives." Through this process of capturing the fading memory and inventing new creative forms the compositions gain an ethereal appearance, like something seen at the periphery of vision. To see some of Zaleckis work online, go to www.meganzalecki.com or follow her on Instagram@meganzalecki. The PHCC Art Gallery is is used to introduce students to the work and technique of successful artists in the surrounding area. The gallery is open to anyone from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Walker Fine Arts Building. Zaleckis show is the first of several exhibitions planned this year. For more information about the art program at PHCC, contact Gerry Bannan at gbannan@patrickhenry.edu or 656-0336. A large and enthusiastic crowd gathered Saturday morning to take part in the annual Alzheimer's Association "Walk to End Alzheimer's" held at Farmington High School. Event emcee and KREI/KTJJ radio personality Louie Seiberlich welcomed the crowd and introduced Stacy Tew-Lovasz, president of the St. Louis Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. "We are thrilled to be back here in Farmington," she said. "It's great to see so many of our volunteers and walk participants here this morning. Walk to End Alzheimer's is more than a walk. It is an inspiring experience that calls participants to unite in a movement to reclaim the future for millions. "There are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and it's estimated that as many as 16 million will have the disease by 2050. It's the sixth leading cause of death in the United States with one in three seniors dying from the disease or another form of dementia. "It kills more than breast and prostate cancer combined. Someone in the United States develops the disease every 66 seconds. In Missouri, there has been an 85 percent increase in Alzheimer's deaths since the year 2000 and there are a total of 110,000 people aged 65 or older with Alzheimer's in today. "By 2020 it's estimated that there will be 120,000 with the disease and by 2025, 130,000 an 18.2 increase over just nine years. In 2013 there were 2,026 deaths attributed to Alzheimer's disease in the state the ninth highest Alzheimer's death rate in America." Siberlich introduced the walk's top individual fundraiser, Richard Nehls of Cadet, who along with Della Walz and Team Shiloh raised a total of $13,558 for Alzheimer's research. An emotional Nehls broke down in tears when the announcement was made. He has raised many thousands of dollars for the cause through the years, but said he is retiring after this year. Immediately prior to the 1-3 mile walk, participants were asked to raise flower pinwheels when their color was announced from the stage. Blue means the person has Alzheimer's; yellow, that they are supporting or caring for someone with Alzheimer's; purple, that they have lost someone to Alzheimer's; and orange, meaning they support the cause and a vision of a world without Alzheimer's. According to its website, the Alzheimer's Association is "a global organization, working to advance care, support and research across the world." Money raised by the organization provides everything from "face-to-face support to online education programs and promising worldwide Alzheimer's research initiatives. "Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the walk is the worlds largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimers care, support and research. The event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to "reclaim the future for millions." It is also the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's Association care, support and research programs." Friends of Hampshire County Homeless.jpg Florence Bank has donated $10,000 to combat youth homelessness. Here, Rick Hart, President, Friends of the Hampshire County Homeless; and Maureen K. Buxton, V.P./Branch Manager, and Maria Hass- V.P./Retail Operations Manager, from Florence Bank. (Photo Provided) FLORENCE - Florence Bank contributed $10,000 to support the ongoing efforts of the Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals (www.hamphomeless.org), a volunteer organization dedicated to helping Northampton's homeless population. Specifically, the Friends organization is currently raising funds for a home that will serve the homeless youth population, according to a news release from the bank. The Friends organization in general provides support, both financial and otherwise, for the community's winter homeless shelter and plays a key role providing additional support for the homeless. In the last decade, the Friends organization has acquired and rehabilitated two houses which are now home to formerly homeless individuals . Rick Hart, President of the Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals, said that the organization purchases the homes and then works with a partner agency which operates and manages them. In 2008, they bought and rehabilitated a house for six homeless people, and in 2011 they invested in a second property, this one for homeless people in recovery from substance abuse. Currently, the Friends group is fundraising for a third home which will serve homeless youth. Reducing homelessness among youth is a high priority in regional and state planning. The housing proposed will provide a stepping stone to stability for young adults, many of whom have grown up in the child welfare system. Many have experienced a lack of stable family support and interrupted education. "This is a high risk population," Hart said, adding that the aim of this project is to find a home which will have 8 to 10 units/beds. The goal is to raise $750,000 and at present they are at about $535,000. He said that they are seeking grant funding as well, and noted that contributions from the community, such as the one from Florence Bank, are extremely helpful. "I am a big fan of Florence Bank," he added, "They helped us with our last housing project as well. They have been wonderful, and we appreciate their strong community spirit." This latest home will be created in partnership with DIAL/SELF, a nonprofit agency that has offered a variety of youth services throughout the Pioneer Valley since 1977. DIAL/SELF has a proven track record in helping homeless youth with housing and with support services. The agency is community based, and skilled at building alliances, acquiring funding from multiple sources, and developing individualized plans for each person served. DIAL/SELF also has staff working on street outreach, to help locate and engage this often hard-to-reach population. "We became involved with this campaign because of its importance. Young adults who are homeless need a safe, supportive place to live and hopefully thrive," said John F. Heaps, Jr., President and CEO of Florence Bank. service.png NORTHAMPTON - ServiceNet's Shelter & Housing division has been awarded a three-year grant, totaling $1.2 million, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Returning Home, the program funded by this grant, is specifically focused on the needs of chronically homeless individuals and homeless veterans who also have a serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder, according to a news release. The grant is one of 30 recently awarded nationwide, and it is the only one awarded in Massachusetts. Returning Home has a two-fold goal: to successfully move individuals from homelessness to permanent housing, and to improve their overall health and well-being. It does so through a combination of intensive case management services and evidence-based clinical care. Increased funding will enable ServiceNet to assist an additional 112 individuals in the 3-year period, and to expand its community outreach to meet with people on the streets, in outdoor camps, and elsewhere in the community, ServiceNet said. Returning Home will accept referrals from service providers throughout Berkshire, Franklin, and Hampshire Counties, as well as from ServiceNet's own network of emergency shelters. EPL0904_Laptop.jpg Springfield Public Schools students from third to 12th grade will be assigned their own laptop at school that they will use throughout the day. There will also be laptops shared between two students at the kindergarten through second grade levels. (The Republican photo illustration) (The Republican photo illustration) When Springfield Public Schools students go back to school next week, they each will have the usual supplies notebooks, pens, pencils, calculators. And for the 2016-17 year, they can add a laptop to the list. "This is a really important move for our kids," Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick said. Springfield students from third to 12th grade will be assigned their own laptop at school that they will use throughout the day. There will also be laptops shared between two students at the kindergarten through second grade levels. "It's something we have been working towards for about four years now," Warwick said. The school department has been working with the School Committee to put aside $5 million in the budget for the last four years to lease the computers, about 20,000 in total. They have also set aside money for all of the infrastructure necessary to make the schools wireless internet ready, he said. The laptops cost about $20 million and will be leased for four years. As the computers break down or technology advances, they will be replaced. School Committee vice chairman Christopher Collins said the committee wanted to make the new technology a priority. A few years ago, we decided that this is something we needed for our students and began to put money in the budget to pay for it," he said. Warwick said the computers will not only help students learn, it will also expose them to technology they may not have at home. "I see this as a social justice issue. This is an urban environment where many of our students are in high poverty rate situations, and with this technology they should be able to compete with any other student. We are providing technology to bring them into the 21st century and make them college and career ready," he said. In September, the Massachusetts Urban Superintendents Network will tour Springfield schools to see the technology in use. "It's a really important endeavor, and no other urban district in the area has been able to achieve this at this juncture," he said. Warwick said teachers have been and will continue to receive professional development so that they can incorporate the computers into their teaching lessons. "They are not all at the same readiness level, but we have gotten a favorable response from teachers when it comes to incorporating the technology into their classrooms in an appropriate way," he said. He added that the school department is considering the possibility of allowing students to take the computers home with them in the future. "We are still learning, but it has been an exciting process to bring our schools into the 21st century and more importantly offer our students the best tools to achieve success," he said. UNCASVILLE, CT - Rock powerhouse and supergroup Prophets Of Rage took the stage at Mohegan Sun Arena with their Make America Rage Again tour on Sunday. Prophets of Rage is not just a continuation of hugely popular 90's rock band Rage Against The Machine, but a collaboration between the remaining members of RATM (Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford) and vocalists Chuck D (Public Enemy) and B-Real (Cypress Hill). Fans who went expecting classic Rage hits like "Bulls on Parade," "Guerrilla Radio," "People of The Sun" and "Take The Power Back" weren't disappointed, and got even more bang for their buck with added hits from the Public Enemy and Cypress Hill repertoire like "Bring the Noise," "Terrordome," "Insane In The Brain" and "Hand on The Pump" amongst others. If there was anything to be disappointed with, it was the seemingly poor attendance to the event which should have been a sold out show. A quick glance around the arena showed many spaces where happy concert-goers should have been, and for a majority of the opener sets, there was quite a bit of space on the floor. However, Prophets of Rage worked with what they had, and it didn't take long for the floor to fill up during their set while they put on an incredibly energetic performance that would have fans "Raging" all night. Prophets is certainly a welcomed revitalization to the Rage Against The Machine legacy, which was put to a speeding halt back in 2000 when frontman of 9 years Zack De La Rocha announced his departure from the band citing creative differences and lack of enthusiasm. After losing De La Rocha, the band's fate was uncertain. In May 2016 the band launched prophetsofrage.com, a website with only a clock countdown to July 1st, and speculation started as to whether the band would reunite later in the year. Soon after, it was learned that there would not be a Rage Against the Machine reunion, but members of the band were working on a project, and it would include live shows. Shortly after that, even more information was released and fans found out that there would be a summer tour under the name "Prophets of Rage", with the inclusion of Chuck D and B-Real on vocals. The Make America Rage Again tour kicked off on June 3rd at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, and runs cross country for 27 tour dates, finishing on October 1st in Tampa, Florida at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Throughout the tour, support is provided by American electronic band AWOLNATION, well known for their 2011 hit "Sail" off their first studio album Megalithic Symphony, which was certified 6x platinum by the RIAA. Check out photos from the show above and for more information about Prophets of Rage and AWOLNATION visit their official websites. a1 switchfoot.jpg Switchfoot (File Photo) Christian rock band Switchfoot will tour this fall with Reliant K and has scheduled a show at the Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre. The band will perform at the Wallingford, CT venue on Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m as part of its "Looking for America" tour. The Grammy-winning alt-rock / Christian band is touring to support its latest release "Where the Light Shines Through" which came out earlier this summer on Vanguard. Tickets for the show are available through Live Nation and oakdale.com. 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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 Bear Paw Development Corporation is a private non-profit organization created for the purpose of administering programs to help improve regional economic conditions in Hill, Blaine, Liberty, Chouteau and Phillips Counties and the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy's Indian Reservations. by Holly Pavlika , Columnist, August 29, 2016 There has been a lot of buzz lately about the complicated business of influencer marketing. The FTC just cracked down on Warner Bros. for a YouTube influencer campaign that failed to disclose sponsorships. Entire industries are at risk of getting their wrists slapped for illegal endorsements. To make matters even trickier, no one can seem to agree on a standard method of payment. The conventions of influencer marketing are still malleable right now, and it will be crucial not to let bad habits and practices take hold. Thats why the recent crackdown on influencer content and native advertising disclosures isnt surprising. Its a typical response to the burgeoning changes in advertising. Requiring clear disclosures across all social media channels is a good thing for brands and marketers. Heres why. Disclosure puts the focus on creating quality content. If the content is high quality, audiences wont care if the content is sponsored. It will expose true influence versus the paid shill. advertisement advertisement Influencers understand there needs to be a balance of sponsored content and unsponsored content to retain the audiences they worked so hard to cultivate. Influencers who have not spammed their audiences and reward their audience with quality, useful and entertaining content will be rewarded, regardless of changes in algorithms. The celebrity abuse of these rules hurt the hard work the majority of influencers put into their craft and taint the industry as a whole. Celebrity influencers are, more often than not, in it for the money, versus the mainstream influencer who wants to be paid for the work they put in. These influencers are dedicated to building their personal brand, while providing value to their audience. Your cheat sheet to compliant influencer marketing: Clear and conspicuous disclosures must be at the top of any blog post. Not at the bottom. Influencers can get creative with their disclosures, but they must be at the top. Every tweet issued by Twitter party hosts must be accompanied with #ad, #client or #sweeps. Visual content that clicks through to sponsored content also needs disclosures. YouTube videos need clear disclosures at the beginning of the video. An easy rule of thumb to remember is that the consumer needs to know content is sponsored from the minute they start consuming it. Brands should ask to see examples of influencer content during their influencer selection process and cross-check for FTC compliance. Brands should also ask for the influencer or influencer companys guard rails for ensuring compliance, particularly when doing influencer programs at scale. Google recently released its own crackdown. Google is now requiring influencers to include No Follow links to any product or service they receive as a way to tell the search engine not to follow a certain article. This requirement is a good thing for the industry because it stops link building. The most self-respecting bloggers and influencers wont take free products in exchange for a link. These influencers choose brands they are passionate about and feel fit well into their own brand. The choice of who they work with should start with the brand and type of content first, rather than links. Most advertisers or brands come for the influencers audience, content, the engagement it can generate and the scalenot the links. Besides, Googles No Follow links still work to build awareness and users can click over to the directed site. Affiliate link disclosures rarely mentionedyet. Just like the FTC disclosures, there should be disclosures for affiliate marketing on an influencers site. Google doesnt like affiliate links at all, so influencers should make these No Follow tags as wellnot everyone knows that. The recent crackdown on the industry will expose the dabblers versus the companies that truly understand influencer marketing and all its complexities. There are too many companies looking to get a piece of this $2 billion to $16 billion industry with too little experience and regard for the rules. We need to come together as an industry to be more transparent, starting with better payment models, disclosing sponsorships and working only with companies and influencers that comply with regulation. by Bob Garfield , Featured Columnist, August 29, 2016 USDA plans to buy 11 million pounds of cheese for $20 million. 1,224 US dairy farms went away in 2015. News item Someone on CNBC called it quantified cheesing. Its what happens when the government takes action on plunging dairy prices, due to the oversupply of milk, that are forcing dairies out of business left and right. Yep, Uncle Sam to the rescue. Under the provisions of the Agriculture Act of 1935, the USDA can step in to make cheese purchases using money from tariffs on imported ag products. Then it stores the cheese for subsequent distribution to food banks, school lunches, prisons and so on. Its a win win. Felons can get cheesier macaroni, and the extra demand helps stabilize prices in an economic sector that we cant afford to have collapse. Now this bring several ideas to mind. Number one is that farmers, a large constituency of the Republican party, will probably have to temporarily stop complaining about Evil Big Government because theyll be too busy saving their businesses with federal price supports. advertisement advertisement Another thing is that this will also be a great boon to the cheese food industry, the people who make individually wrapped slices of cheese-like substance out of vegetable oil, and I believe, recycled vinyl, because its ordinarily cheaper for the consumer than real dairy. With actual cheese prices plummeting, the consumer cost advantage of putting yellow Naugahyde on your bologna sandwich all but disappeared. So Big Government is helping two industries at once. The third thing is: Hey! This might offer the solution for another economic sector that the society needs to remain secure! We can save the media! After all, why is the media economy in free fall? Its not just bots and ad blockers and poor viewability. The main thing is the infinite supply of content creating an infinite supply of ad inventory, driving CPMs down, down, down. Its the same physics of supply and demand thats killing the dairy industry. Too much milk, too many ad avails, and prices falling accordingly. So heres the plan: Have the federal government buy about $20 billion worth of local-newspaper banners, sponsored Tweets and above-the-line Google searches. They can store the pixels in huge regional warehouses for subsequent distribution to needy prospective advertisers: inner city schools, the coal industry, Caesars Palace, the Archdiocese of Minneapolis, the Russian track and field team, etc. Come onfind a flaw in that plan! OK -- you might think theres an obvious problem. That the government shouldnt have a financial relationship with media companies, because how can an institution that depends on federal largesse be trusted to be a watchdog of the folks writing the checks? And, youre thinking, every time the audience sees an ad distributed through the Media Survival Act of 2017, well be reminded of the unsavory money link between supposedly adversarial institutions. But dont you get it? Thats the beauty part! As a practical matter, there will be no such reminders. Quantified media cheesing will be utterly invisible to us. The evidence, all of the evidence, will be hidden in plain view. Right? Because the evidence is the advertising itself. And who the hell ever sees that? CNBC, Monday, August 29, 2016 4:33 AM Amazon has sent out a number of emails to U.S.-based sellers in Chinese. All of the sellers that reported getting the emails had accounts that had been suspended but were instructing them that they could begin selling again. The company did not comment on whether or not the emails were sent by mistake. Read the whole story at CNBC by Thom Forbes @tforbes, August 29, 2016 On a repeat of a Prairie Home Companion show out of Seattle on WNYC Saturday, host Garrison Keillor quipped that you could buy just about anything on Amazon.com except mortuary services yet. He might have also said automobiles, although the Seattle-based online retailer came a lot closer to that with its announcement Thursday of Amazon Vehicles. But you cant buy a car on it yet. However, it offers research, reviews and other information on new and used cars, reports the AP, and will compete with established players in the field including CarSoup.com, Edmunds.com, truecar.com and cars.com. Not to mention Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. advertisement advertisement The site is designed to complement the company's other car initiatives such as Amazon Automotive, a marketplace featuring millions of parts and accessories for cars, trucks and motorcycles, and Amazon Garage, which lets shoppers save vehicles in their profiles to make it easier to find parts they need, writes Bloombergs Spencer Soper. Shoppers also can book and pay for routine auto maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotation and battery installation from screened professionals in their neighborhoods through Amazon Home Services. The next logical step, analysts say, is to sell cars online, a feature Amazon does not currently offer. But experts argue recent expansions into grocery and home-goods delivery show the company is serious about selling goods and services, writes Michael Martinez for the Detroit News. Amazon is the great white shark of retail and its appetite is not that discerning it will eat anything, Scott Galloway, professor of marketing at New York Universitys Stern School of Business, tells Martinez. I think theyll go after every large consumer category. Its not if, its when. And Dave Sullivan, manager of product analysis for automotive research firm AutoPacific, says: Anything that somebody can buy or sell, Amazon is interested in providing, and buying a car should be no different. They changed the way we buy everything. The time might be right for people of a certain generation who are interested in buying online. For its part, Amazon isn't talking about whats down the pike yet. But its not as easy as just putting up a digital FOR SALE sandwich board and pitching extended warranties by email. Dealer franchise laws prohibit the sale of new vehicles over the Internet, but used cars and parts are largely allowed. As a result, new auto sales through Amazon will likely require partnerships with dealerships, Morgan Stanleys Brian Nowak observes in a note to clients cited by Barrons Tiernan Ray. And we note that this is the second auto-related announcement from Amazon over the last week (on 8/22 they announced a partnership with Hyundai whereby Amazon will bring cars to consumers locations for test drives and that they will also refer consumers to Hyundai dealerships for purchases), Nowak continues. This limited campaign itll only be held the last two weekends in August will give Amazon Prime subscribers living in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas a chance to order a 45- to 60-minute test drive of a 2017 Hyundai Elantra, writes Kirsten Korosec for Fortune observing that it also gives Amazon yet another way to become entrenched in consumers lives. If you think youre have a bad car day, you might pull up David Tracys I Can't Stop Reading These Horrible Reviews Of The Ten Lowest Rated Cars On Amazon piece for Jalopnik. He looks at the lowest-rated cars among the more than 5,000 in the Amazon Vehicles database that had at least five reviews (to weed out outliers fake reviews, manufacturing flukes, etc.). In addition to tried-and-true-if-perhaps-exaggerated-due-to-frustration advice, you will be treated to such colorful turns of phrase as, Dont buy this product of bovine defecation. And as if the VW brand doesnt have enough problems at the moment the 2009 Volkswagen Routan (although it is actually a Chrysler Town & Country, were informed) was at the bottom of the crappy list with an aggregated 1.8 stars from 6 reviews. To indicate how bad that really is, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is doing twice as well. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, August 29, 2016 New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who lost a finger after a fireworks accident, can proceed with a lawsuit accusing ESPN of violating his privacy by posting a screenshot of his medical records, a judge has ruled. U.S. District Court Judge Marcia Cooke in Miami reportedly announced her ruling in court on Thursday. Cooke hasn't yet issued a written decision. The legal battle dates to March, when Pierre-Paul sued ESPN and journalist Adam Scheffer in Florida. Pierre-Paul alleges that ESPN and Scheffer violated his privacy, and also violated a Florida medical privacy law. As with Hulk Hogan's well-publicized dispute with Gawker, the battle over Pierre-Paul's medical records raises questions about when a public figure's right to privacy trumps a media company's right to publish truthful information. Hogan won a $140 million judgment against Gawker for violating his privacy by publishing excerpts of his sex tape; Gawker is currently appealing. advertisement advertisement Earlier this year, ESPN asked Cooke to dismiss Pierre-Paul's lawsuit on the grounds that it has a free-speech right to publish information about matters of public concern. The company also said it's protected under Florida's anti-SLAPP (strategic litigation against public participation) law, which aims to protect free speech. That measure prohibits people from bringing lawsuits based on speech in connection with public issues, and says people who bring those cases must pay defendants' legal bills. But Pierre-Paul countered that even if the amputation was a matter of public concern, his a photo of his medical records was not. ESPN also argued that Florida's medical privacy law applies to health care professionals, not to the media. Florida's health care privacy measure imposes broad confidentiality requirements on doctors, hospitals and other professionals. It includes a provision that prohibits a "third party" who receives information in a medical record from disclosing it without the patient's consent. ESPN says that the term "third party" in the statute only applies to people who have the right to demand medical information -- like attorneys in lawsuits, people who work in poison control centers, law enforcement personnel and scientific researchers. by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, August 29, 2016 It's no surprise that Donald Trump has attempted to soften his unapologetic, distasteful character and major policy prescriptions as we close in on November. Back at the beginning of the Paul Manafort phase in the Trump presidential story, the former campaign chairman assured Republican lawmakers in April that the part that [Trump has] been playing is now evolving into the part that youve been expecting. The negatives will come down, the image is going to change. The promise never really materialized. Trump did start reading from teleprompters, made actual policy speeches and tapped the temperamentally milder, policy-hard liner Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his VP choice. That was followed by mind-boggling attacks on an American-born judge of Mexican heritage and Gold-Star parents who spoke at the Democratic National Convention about their heroic son killed in action. With the recent appointment of Kellyanne Conway, Trump appears to have made another shift to appeal to a wider conglomeration of the Republican party. Two weeks ago, he expressed regret for some of his language that may have caused harm. Following in tune, last week he explicitly postulated a possible softening on immigration. advertisement advertisement While Conway told John Dickerson on Face the Nation yesterday that Trump has not actually changed his position on immigration, fervent Trump supporters signal a different opinion. Mark Krikorian of the Center of Immigration Studies told The Wall Street Journal: The fact now that [Trump] has betrayed his base on the signature issue that he ran on seems to me the death knell of his candidacy as a practical matter. Sarah Palin and Ann Coulter also took aim at Trumps softening. As Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic put it on Face the Nation, His core supporters want to hear that tough, tough rhetoric, but [Trump] knows that hes not punching through a ceiling unless he softens. And this whole week has been this vertigo-inducing kind of rhetorical spinning, trying to please all camps. In the end, we should have expected this change, especially since Trump recently said there was no chance of a pivot. On his podcast, Dickerson nailed it: We should have learned with Donald Trump. When he says hes not going to pivot, as he did a couple of weeks ago -- that wasnt a sign that he wasnt going to pivot, it was the prelude to a pivot. [When Trump spoke of regret], it was a pivot, despite the fact that he said that he wasnt going to. So just in the same way that Trump says that hes strengthening his position on immigration, when in fact, hes weakening it, when he says hes going to do something, it often means that hes going to do just the opposite. Trump has long been an unpredictable candidate, now hes pushing the boundaries of logic and coherence. It is impossible to see how he can retain his base and punch through his demographic ceiling in the 71 days left to election day. Then again, who can ever predict anything Trump? by Sara Guaglione , August 29, 2016 Gannett has named Nancy Meyer president of North Jersey Media Group, a company Gannett acquired this July. Michael Kane, president of the East Group of the Domestic Publishing division of Gannett, called it a homecoming for Meyer. She launched her advertising career at Star-Gazette, a newspaper in Elmira, New York, owned by Gannett. Meyer was previously publisher and CEO of the Orlando Sentinel Media Group, which Tronc, formerly Tribune Publishing, owns. John Zidich, president of Gannetts U.S. Domestic Publishing, praised Meyer leadership of the Orlando Sentinel. In 2015, the publication was recognized by Editor & Publisher as one of the Ten Newspapers That Do It Right and won the magazine's EPPY award for the Best Business Website. Gannett also announced today that Rick Green has been named vice president of news and editor of North Jersey Media Group. He was most recently president and publisher of Enquirer Media in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a regional group president at Gannett. advertisement advertisement North Jersey Media Group includes prominent dailies The Record and The Herald News, as well as dozens of community newspapers and other affiliated digital media properties, like northjersey.com. The sale to Gannett brought an end to a decades-long family ownership of The Record. The Borg family had owned the newspaper since 1930. A cherry angioma is a mole-like skin growth made up of small blood vessels, or capillaries. It is the most common type of angioma. Angiomas are benign tumors that result from an overgrowth of capillaries. It is rare for children to develop these noncancerous lesions. Cherry angiomas most commonly appear in adults older than 30 years. Cherry angiomas are also known as senile angiomas or Campbell de Morgan spots. These benign tumors are related to aging and tend to increase in number as a person becomes older. They occur in up to 50 percent of adults, according to one study published in American Family Physician. Should I worry? Share on Pinterest Cherry angiomas are almost always harmless. The appearance of a cherry angioma should not usually cause concern, as they are almost always harmless. However, if you notice a sudden outbreak of several lesions, visit a doctor, as they could be another type of angioma. Although rare, these spider angiomas could signal a developing problem, such as liver damage. Doctors also advise seeking medical attention if the angioma begins to bleed, feel uncomfortable, or change in appearance. Those who wish to have a doctor remove the lesions for cosmetic purposes should schedule an appointment and review their options. Symptoms Cherry angiomas get their name from their appearance. Their bright red color occurs due to the dilated capillaries. However, cherry angiomas can be a range of colors and may also appear blue or purple. If a person applies pressure to them, they do not usually turn white, or blanch. These angiomas can also vary in size but commonly grow to be a few millimeters (mm) in diameter. As they get bigger, the angiomas usually form round, domed shapes with smooth, flat tops. The growths can appear anywhere on the body but grow most often on the chest, stomach, and back. Multiple cherry angiomas often appear in groups. Similar-looking skin growths It is easy to confuse cherry angiomas with spider angiomas, which also have a signature red mole. The difference between the two is the distinctive, reddish extensions that spread out from the red spot of the spider angioma. The extensions look similar to the threads in a spiders web. Spider angiomas also commonly blanch, or lose their color, when compressed Causes The causes of cherry angiomas are largely unknown, though experts believe they tend to be genetic. Age contributes heavily, and cherry angiomas increase in number and size after 40 years of age. Cherry angiomas and bromine exposure Some research suggests exposure to bromides may be a cause of cherry angiomas. Bromine is a chemical element in many everyday items, including baking ingredients, prescription drugs, and plastic. At present, there is little firm evidence to support this theory. More research needs to be carried out in this area. One study , for example, followed two laboratory assistants who developed cherry angiomas after exposure to bromine compounds. However, this is a very limited sample and the study, which was not a controlled study, took place in 2001. If someone is often in prolonged, direct contact with bromides, they should speak with a doctor about possible harmful effects. However, researchers have not confirmed the link with cherry angioma Treatment Most often, treatment for cherry angiomas is strictly cosmetic, as they pose no serious threat. There are four common options for treating angiomas. Excision This method involves cutting or shaving the lesion from the skin. The doctor will usually apply a local anesthetic first to minimize pain. There may be some pain and discomfort after the procedure, however. Excision can also result in some scarring. Electrodesiccation Electrodessication is a method also known as electrocautery that involves burning off skin growths. Dermatologists commonly use this for benign tumors, serious skin cancers, and pre-cancers. First, the doctor will likely inject a local anesthetic. Then, they will touch the abnormal tissue with an electric needle to destroy the blood vessels and scrape off the angioma. The doctor then dresses the wound, and it remains that way until the wound heals. As with excision, this method can cause some discomfort after the procedure. Electrodesiccation usually leaves a small, white scar. Cryosurgery This is another common method used to treat skin growths that works by freezing off the tissue. The doctor will spray or swab liquid nitrogen on the area to freeze it. This causes the angioma to blister or peel before falling off. In some cases, the angioma may scab before removal. This treatment might be less effective than others. Laser removal Share on Pinterest Laser removal can get rid of an angioma. A laser passes through the skin, and the blood vessels in the angioma absorb the beam. After the treatment, the angioma should disappear, or turn gray or another darker color. It will then fade over the next 2-4 weeks. On average, a person needs two treatments to experience the best results. However, results vary by skin tone. A single treatment may be enough to treat smaller angiomas. People should see improvement after each treatment for cherry angioma. Avoid sun exposure for about 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after laser treatment for the best results and minimal side effects. Removing cherry angiomas at home Doctors do not recommend that people attempt to remove a cherry angioma at home for a number of reasons. Firstly, a doctor needs to confirm that the skin growth is a cherry angioma and not a lesion that needs a more careful look. Secondly, attempting to shave, cut, burn, or freeze a cherry angioma can be very painful and lead to infection or more significant scarring if done by an amateur. Doctors receive professional training to remove skin growths, and they do so in sterile environments using sterile tools. Anyone who wishes to undergo a cherry angioma removal for cosmetic reasons should consult their doctor to discuss the options. There are a number of home remedies that claim to use apple cider vinegar, iodine, or tea tree oil to shrink or remove cherry angiomas. However, there is no scientific evidence to confirm that any of these natural solutions are effective. Talk to a doctor to check that any methods are safe before taking or applying any new medication. New research has shown how a cell surface molecule, Lymphotoxin receptor, controls entry of T-cells into the thymus; and as such presents an opportunity to understanding why cancer patients who undergo bone-marrow transplant are slow to recover their immune system. The study, published in the Journal of Immunology, used mouse models to reveal an in vivo mechanism that researchers believe might also represent a novel pathway for immunotherapeutic targeting to support patients following transplantation. The thymus, which sits in front of the heart and behind the sternum, imports T-cell precursors from the bone marrow and supports their development into mature T-cells that fight off dangerous diseases. T-cells are often the last cells to recover in cancer patients receiving bone marrow transplants. Though the cancer is cured, patients are often left with an impaired immune system that can take years to recover. The Birmingham team, supported by US-based collaborators at The Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute and The Trudeau Institute, found that Lymphotoxin receptor was required to allow the entry of T-cell progenitors to the thymus both in a healthy state, and during immune recovery following bone-marrow transplantation. Significantly, the team also found that antibody-mediated stimulation of Lymphotoxin receptor in murine models enhanced initial thymus recovery and boosted the number of transplant derived T-cells. Professor Graham Anderson, from the University of Birmingham, explained, "The thymus is often something of an ignored organ, but it plays a crucial role in maintain an effective immune system." "Post-transplantation, T-cell progenitors derived from the bone marrow transplant can struggle to enter the thymus, as if the doorway to the thymus is closed. Identifying molecular regulators that can 'prop open' the door and allow these cells to enter and mature, could well be a means to help reboot the immune system." Beth Lucas, also at the University of Birmingham, added, "This is just one piece of the puzzle. It may be that there are adverse effects to opening the door to the thymus, but identifying a pathway that regulates this process is a significant step." Following these positive findings the team aim to move towards in-vitro samples of human thymus to examine the role that Lymphotoxin b receptor might play in regulation of thymus function in man. The research was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK), together with support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Arthritis Research UK (ARUK). Article: Lymphotoxin Receptor Controls T Cell Progenitor Entry to the Thymus, Graham Anderson et al., Journal of Immunology, doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1601189, published online 22 August 2016. A group of researchers from Honduras, Venezuela and the USA has described the first case of sensory polyneuropathy associated with acute Zika virus infection. The scientific paper was published in the Journal of Neurological Science online. 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 has 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", says Prof John England, Chair of the WFN Work Group and Chair of the Department of Neurology at the LSUHSC School of Medicine in New Orleans. "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. Other neurological complications associated with Zika virus infections have also been reported such as meningoencephalitis, or acute myelitis." "Clinicians should be aware that Zika virus infection can also cause an acute infectious sensory polyneuropathy", says Prof Marco T. Medina, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras, also a member of the WFN Zika Work Group and first author of the new publication. "Our patient is the first confirmed Zika infection case report associated with an acute sensory polyneuropathy which began during the acute infectious phase. This suggests a probable direct viral inflammatory process affecting sensory nerves, but an autoimmune etiology cannot be definitely excluded." Current WHO statistics reported an ongoing transmission of infections by mosquitoes in 70 countries and territories by the reference date of 25 August 2016. 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. All figures are increasing. Article: Zika virus associated with sensory polyneuropathy, Marco T. Medina, John D. England, Ivette Lorenzana, Marco Medina-Montoya, Diego Alvarado, Mario De Bastos, Santiago Fontiveros, Manuel Sierra, Francis Contreras, Journal of Neurological Science, doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2016.08.044, published online 21 August 2016. In this free webinar, learn about the rapidly growing cell and gene therapy and vaccine markets. Attendees will get an overview of the manufacturing process for adeno-associated virus (AAV) and how Akron Bio's new facility is designed to address ... Advertisement Researchers at the University of Michigan's Kellogg Eye Center conducted a study of older adults to find out. If services are convenient, patients will use them, the investigation found."Telemedicine has been shown to be a safe method to provide monitoring for diabetic eye care. If physicians plan to change the way that people get care, we must create a service that is appealing and tailored to the patients," says senior study author Maria Woodward, M.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology at Kellogg Eye Center.Shifting screening to a telemedicine program could ease the burden on patients who face high costs of care, lack of access to care or have difficulty with transportation or getting time away from work, researchers say.Finding ways to address screening will become more important in coming decades, as the number of people with diabetes is projected to more than double to 366 million worldwide by 2030.Telemedicine allows primary care doctors to play a critical role in preventing eye damage.Retinal photographs are taken of both eyes at the doctor's office using a no-dilation retina camera. The images can be sent over a secure, cloud-based network to an eye care provider who sends a report back to the primary care physician. Based on the findings, the patient is either scheduled for more photographs in the clinic or referred to an ophthalmologist.In the study, published in, only 3% of the 97 patients surveyed had heard of telemedicine. But once telemedicine was explained, 69% believed telemedicine could be more convenient than traditional one-on-one exams with a specialist.Patients were less interested in telemedicine if they had been living with diabetes for a number of years, or if they had a good relationship with their doctor. They were more willing to participate if they thought telemedicine would be more convenient than a routine eye exam or they had other health issues that made it harder for them to get to the doctor."Patients with long-standing disease are less likely to trust a new, less-personal delivery model. In our study, the highest impact on willingness was convenience of telemedicine," says Woodward, who is a member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. "Our results indicate that willingness to participate in telemedicine for diabetic retinopathy screening reflects how patients perceived convenience, the patient-physician relationship and their own health."Source: Eurekalert Last Updated on Aug 29, 2016 Nowadays, it is performed even electively, as a procedure of choice, on the request of would-be mothers around the world. Delivery of a baby through an incision in the mothers abdomen is known as cesarean section or a C-section. It is a surgical method of delivering a baby, undertaken when normal vaginal delivery is not possible or risky for the mother or baby. The Latin word 'cedere' means 'to cut' and the word Cesarean probably originated from this word. 'Cesarean section' means to 'cut out'. World Health Organization, however, recommends that the procedure must be resorted to for medical reasons alone. The recommendation comes in the wake of increasing rates of Cesarean sections and despite the safety of the procedure, it poses certain risks to the mother and baby alike. C-section is the most commonly performed surgery in the U.S.A. and approximately about 1.3 million children each year or one of every three babies are being delivered by Cesarean section. Researchers estimate that in over 50% of instances when C-sections are performed in the U.S.A. the babies could be safely delivered vaginally. Performing a surgical procedure when it isnt indicated poses avoidable risks to the mother and her child and also escalates the cost of care. History of Cesarean Section & Anatomy Cesarean section existed among ancient Hindus and Egyptians who performed it to save the baby if the mother died. In the pre-Christian era, the Jews practiced it even when the mother was alive. In the nineteenth century, European travellers have described Cesarean section being performed by African tribes, using alcohol to anaesthetize the mother and herbs for wound healing. It was established as a mode of delivery by the latter part of the 19th century. Anatomy The baby lies within the mother's womb usually with its head abutting against the mother's lower portion of the uterus. In majority of the deliveries, it is the head of the baby, which emerges first from the mother's womb into the world. In some cases the babys buttock may lie against the mother's lower portion and may emerge first during delivery, when it is referred to as a breech presentation. The baby is extracted from the womb by cutting open the lower portion of the uterus. On July 3, 2016, Iraqi writer Haidar Sabi argued, in the daily Al-Zaman, that although the Iraqis are suffering as much as or even more than the Palestinians, the Arab world empathizes only with the Palestinians, abandoning the Iraqis to their fate. As proof of his statements, Sabi compares Iraqi and Palestinian death tolls, the overall situation of both, the devastation and destruction each faces, and the support each receive; he concludes that the Iraqis are far worse off. Some 1,500 Palestinians carried out suicide attacks in Iraq, he says,[1] while Iraq is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause; he concludes with a call to Iraqis to put themselves first, to rebuild their identity and their country, and only then to reach out to help others. It should be mentioned that Sabi's article joins several articles by Iraqi writers in the past year criticizing the Palestinians. For example, on February 9, 2016, Haidar Jarallah wrote in the online Saudi daily Elaph that the large number of Palestinian suicide bombers in Iraq (which he puts at 1,400) indicates a Palestinian hatred of Iraqis, and prompts speculation over whether the Iraqis should stop sympathizing with the Palestinian struggle and instead normalize relations with Israel.[2] In another article, published July 31, 2015 in the pro-Iranian Iraqi daily Al-Akhbar in response to an attack carried out by a Palestinian in Diyala Governorate, writer Jawad Al-Matayr complained about Palestinian ingratitude for the Iraqis' longtime support, and noted that they had acted the same towards Kuwait, cheering Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of the country in the first Gulf War even though Kuwait had hosted Palestinians for years.[3] Following are excerpts from Sabi's article:[4] Haidar Sabi (Image: Al-Zaman, Iraq) "The Palestinian problem was one of the main reasons for the destruction of Iraq and the ruination of its people! There is not enough space here to detail how and why, but since Iraqis are well versed in this and have the answer, and are completely convinced of it, I will hereby examine our current state and compare [Iraqis and Palestinians]: "a. The destruction of Iraq or the destruction of Palestine. Are the devastation and destruction afflicting Iraq not as great as the destruction of Palestine? The answer is right before you. "b. What is the difference between the suffering of these two peoples? Is the Iraqi's suffering greater than the Palestinian's, and is the injustice done to him greater than that done to the Palestinian? "c. What is the difference between i) a nationality and a people with a heritage, a history, and a culture stretching back thousands of years, which became [a people] devoid of identity, with no one heeding its sons, who have been abandoned, displaced, and exiled to the diaspora; and ii) a nationality whose history was written after the notorious Sykes-Picot Accords and which has developed a known identity, even though it is divided between [PA President] ;Abbas and [Hamas leader] Haniya? "Where are the Iraqis? What identity have they today, divided as they are among the ideologies of the ruling parties? How many of my people are homeless? How many are impoverished when they were destined to be lords of the land? [The Arab countries] have made us into their defensive wall, to ensure their peoples' safety, and then they call on us to protest for Jerusalem! We are mistreated, marginalized, displaced, abandoned, starving, and oppressed. Who are we, and where is our nationality, as doom envelops us? "d. As for [the difference] in daily death tolls of Iraqis versus Palestinians, I will merely cite UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq) statistics, according to which Iraq suffered some 2,000 dead and injured in the past month alone! How many Palestinians fell [in this time period]? "e. What about the quality of life and monthly income [in Iraq versus in Palestine] - based on the assumption that the Iraqis are floating in a lake of oil while the Palestinians haven't one gallon of it in all their land. And yet, we see that in Iraq more [people are under] the poverty line than in Palestine, particularly in recent years. "f. [What] about how many countries support the Iraqi people [versus] how many provide all manner of aid to the Palestinian people? Furthermore, the entire Arab ummah drinks today from the river of blood that would never have flowed if not for [the Arabs'] regrettable positions and hostility towards the Iraqi people, while the Palestinian is welcome in every Arab country in which he settles, and many billions [of dollars] are showered on them. So which people deserves the support of the masses taking to the streets and protesting [against] its oppression? "In truth, I believe that those [Arabs] who used money and effort, and recruited young and old to raise their voices and highlight the oppression of Jerusalem were just as free to raise their voices to announce the oppression of their [Iraqi] brothers before exploiting [the Palestinian issue], on the pretext that it is a necessary and vital position and a responsibility [owed] to their Palestinian brothers who sacrificed their bodies and were torn to shreds to liberate Palestine. "How many Palestinians have blown themselves up in our midst, and how many Iraqis have they killed? Latest statistics set this at some 1,500 [Palestinian suicide bombers]. Iraq is ours, and Jerusalem belongs to the Jerusalemites, until we define our separate [Iraqi] identity, as we have lost this. Since we became divided, we are now members of this or that sect, or this nationality, or that religion. "[Only] when Iraq is ours [again] and is run by pure Sumerian and Assyrian Iraqis will we worry about [events] abroad and formulate a plan to support weak peoples. Last among them will be the Palestinian people, as many are far worse off, enslaved in their countries and persecuted by their rulers and their hangmen." Endnotes: Trying to beat the Monday blues? You know Snapchat? The one where you send pictures that destroy themselves? However, some us are quick enough to screenshot a picture before it evaporates into the firmament. I tried to follow some of the hottest women on Snapchat that turn up the hotness quotient every day. 1. Demi Rose Mawby Earlier this June she was rumoured to be dating rapper Tyga but she has been blowing the internet way before this rumour. She is known to post racy pictures every now and then. You can follow her on Snapchat at demirosemawby. 2. Arianny Celeste MensXP Not only is she the queen of Instagram, Arianny is an all-around hottie who has been taking over Snapchat in the past few months. She is an Octagon Girl for UFC and is apparently totally cool with sending pictures of her breasts to millions of her fans from around the world. You know what we mean. You can add her on Snapchat at ariannyceleste. 3. Jessica Cribbon MensXP Since she moved to the US from Australia, her modelling career has shot through the roof and has been stirring up a storm across the world. I know youre not even reading this, are you? Her Snapchat is jessicacribbon. 4. Lindsey Pelas Lindsey Pelas has been breaking the internet long before Kim Kardashian and if you havent come across her pictures on the internet, then you must be living under a rock. In case youve been missing out, you can follow her on Snapchat at lindseypelas. 5. Toochi Kash TOI Toochi Kash is a model who now happens to have 1.4 Million followers on Instagram and has a popular fan base. If you want to be one of them, you can check her out on Snapchat at Toochi420. 6. Chantel Zales Chantel Zales is not really as popular as compared to rest of the girls on the list here; however, she is huge on Instagram. Once you look at her picture you will know exactly why she is so popular. She is a swimsuit and lingerie model and has appeared in magazines such as FHM and Maxim. She has over 1 million followers on Instagram and you can add her on Snapchat at chantel_zales. 7. Gemma Lee Farrell Snapchat Gemma has posed for Playboy and is originally from New Zealand. She has a magical aura to herself and it explains it as she hails from the country where they made all those Lord Of the Rings movies. Basically, shes really hot. You can follow her on Snapchat at gemmaleefarrell. 8. Laci Kay Sommers Laci Kay Somers is not just a pretty face and has one of the greatest bodies mankind has ever seen, but she also happens to have a lot of talent. She models, she sings, and shes also a lot of fun on Snapchat. She is one of the most beautiful women in the world and she is determined to take over the world. You can follow her antics on Snapchat at lacikaysomers. 9. Ana Cheri Instagram/Ana Cheri She was once a tomboy and today she has a killer figure and curves that have gotten her over 1.4 million followers on Instagram. Ana has been posing for brands such as Monster Energy and Moskova Underwear and now exploring the world of TV hosting and film. Ana Cheri continues to stun. Find her on Snapchat at anacheri. 10. Jojo Babie Instagram/Jojo Babie She has curves that defy logic. She has been on our radar for a while and her curves are the reason why she has amassed over 4 Million followers on Instagram. Remember Jessica Rabbit? Well, Jojo makes it a reality. Have fun boys, you can follow her on Snapchat at msjojobabie. The PM of Bahrain, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, is hitting headlines all over the place and the reason is extremely heartwarming. Dana Manjhi, a man from Odisha who walked a distance of 12 km with his young daughter and his wifes dead body on his shoulders, was in the news recently when he was offered zero help and was helpless. The hospital where his wife had succumbed to tuberculosis refused an ambulance to carry her dead body earned the Odisha government a lot of flak. The Bahrain PM has offered to extend financial support to ease out his worries, but that is all that the world knows. If you have been wondering who is this human with a kind heart, then read on. Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has been Bahrains PM since 1970, right after the country got its independence. He received his formal education in Bahrain and even went to the UK for his higher education. He started out by working under the leadership of his father in the Rents committee in 1954. His first brush with learning the housing problems faced by the people influenced the housing schemes that came in effect under him years later. Twitter He was inducted into the education council in 1956 and led the much required modernization of the education system of the country. In a world where most dignitaries and leaders lay emphasis on building foundation stones and international relations to boost economy, Prince Khalifa was focusing on the in-house issues. Bahrain has been able to obtain a literacy rate of over 90% due to his undying hard efforts. He continues heading various committees for both economic and financial growth and gave the country a new shape. Eventually he was assigned as the Prime Minister of the country and has held the post ever since. Twitter Owing to his constant peace-bearing efforts and uplifting his country, he received the UN 2006 Special Citation of the Habitat Scroll of Honour in Geneva in 2007 for his immense participation in the upliftment of his country. He triggered the economic well being and provided immense social support, ensuring education became vital and jobs were available for the residents of his country. Twitter Bahrain holds a strong position in the Arab world when it comes to modernization and standard of living for its resident, and Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa is largely responsible for this positive change. It comes as no surprise that a dignitary of his caliber wants to extend support to a man back in India. Perhaps our own leaders can learn something from him. He lives for his country and practices humanity like very people in this world. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Reflections FROM MOTUS: THE MIRROR OF THE UNITED STATES 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. The littoral combat ship USS Freedom will need an engine rebuild or replacement after a seawater leak resulted in significant damage, Navy officials said. The Freedom is the third ship in the Freedom class of LCS, built by Lockheed Martin Corp., to suffer an engine casualty in the last year. The news of the incident, which happened July 11, was announced by the Navy on Sunday night. The Freedom, the first ship in its class, returned to its homeport at Naval Base San Diego, California, on July 13 under its own power to conduct repairs on an unrelated issue, officials with Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, said in a release. While in port, personnel examined the leak, which happened at the seawater pump mechanical seal, allowing seawater to enter the engine lube oil system and damage the ship's second main propulsion diesel engine, officials said. The crew performed seawater contamination procedures, but opted to return to sea to participate in the Rim of the Pacific multinational exercise, from July 19 to 28, using its gas turbine engines rather than its main diesel engines. During RIMPAC, Freedom operated off the coast of southern California, training in mine interdiction warfare with American and allied ships. Following the exercise, the ship returned to port. An Aug. 3 inspection of the number 2 diesel engine, conducted by Southwest Regional Maintenance Center's Diesel Engine Inspector, determined that rust and seawater had caused significant permanent damage to the engine. "Based on initial assessments from the inspection, Freedom's #2 [main propulsion diesel engine] will need to be removed and rebuilt or replaced," officials said in the release. Navy officials say the cost of the repair and the timeline for getting the work done remain unknown. Also unknown, they said, is whether crew error or mechanical failure, or both, are responsible for the casualty. The commander of Naval Surface Forces, Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, is overseeing an investigation into the incident. In a statement, Rowden said this engineering casualty, which happened eight months after the USS Fort Worth was sidelined in Singapore due to a crew-caused engine casualty, indicated a need for "improvements in engineering oversight and training." "The recently completed LCS Review of manning, design, and training looked at a number of sailor performance and ownership factors, to include crew rotation, size and proficiency," he said. "From this work, I believe we will be able to make immediate changes to help reduce chance for future operator error. I am fully committed to ensuring that our ships and the Sailors who man them have the proper tools and training they need to safely and effectively operate these ships." Rowden will determine any needed corrective actions after the investigation is complete, officials said. The Fort Worth, the second Freedom-class LCS, recently departed for its San Diego homeport after eight months in Singapore following an engine casualty that resulted when lubrication oil was not appropriately applied to the ship's combining gears during startup. The results of the investigation into that incident have not been made public, but the ship's commanding officer, Cmdr. Michael Atwell, was relieved of his post in March in connection with the incident. The third ship of the class, the Milwaukee, also underwent engine repairs after it broke down during a transit from San Diego to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in December and was towed to Joint Base Little Creek, Virginia. According to officials, a clutch failed to disengage when the ship was switching from its gas turbine to its diesel engine system, resulting in damage to the clutch gears. The ship was repaired in Virginia, officials said. The Navy has yet to make public the results of its LCS review, which studied the crewing approach for the new class of ships as well as operations, training and maintenance practices. The review was initially ordered in February by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, then extended in May when Richardson asked for additional details on several topics. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Related Video: Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division are running a Ranger-style training program for Iraqi forces at Camp Taji near Baghdad to develop advanced warfighting skills among selected Iraqi army officers and enlisted personnel. The Ranger training program, led by Company A, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Strike, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), since May, is based on the U.S. Army's Ranger training program established in 1951 at Fort Benning, Georgia, according to an Army press release. "This program is important because it lays the foundation for an elite Iraqi unit," said Capt. Peter Jacob, commander of Company A. "Students start at day one as an individual and come away at the end of this course as part of a team." U.S. Army Ranger School is a 62-day course that's described as the service's premier infantry leadership course, an ordeal that pushes students to their physical and mental limits. During the grueling course, U.S. Ranger candidates are exposed to everything from fitness and swim tests, to land navigation exercises and a 12-mile foot march, to obstacle courses and parachute jumps, to mountaineering tests and mock patrols -- all on limited food and sleep. Though based on the U.S. Army's Ranger training program, Company A trainers incorporate aspects from other advanced programs as well, according to the release. "The program itself starts with a 21-day selection process similar to Special Forces selection," said Jacob, himself a graduate of the U.S Army Ranger school. "It's a [24-hour-a-day] operation where our cadre go out and validate each student, no matter what the rank." This process helps narrow down the number of trainees as they start their multi-layered journey. "You can already see the discipline of the soldiers," said 2nd Lt. Gregg Bernthal, a platoon leader in Company A. "The selection process weeds out those who do not have the intestinal fortitude to stay and fight. The separation from normal, basic soldiers is the rigorous selection process they go through to become Iraqi Rangers." The exhaustive selection process is just the beginning. Candidates proceed to the next of many levels designed to challenge them. "There are exercises done to test memory and intellect and the physical aspect along the lines of [U.S Army] Ranger school where they will conduct various team-building exercises," Bernthal said. "The students also must be physically fit and be able to understand infantry tactics. Even if they make it through all of the physical and intellectual challenges, they still have to participate in a selection board at the end of the process. The board reviews performance throughout the class, and a panel of U.S. and Iraqi officials determine the eligibility of the candidate." After selection is complete, students move into advanced individual training, where they refine their skills in classes led by their trainers. To pass exercises such as the rifle qualification range, they must meet U.S. Army standards, according to the release. "[Advanced individual training] is a program that begins the training from basic rifle marksmanship all the way to a culminating event," Jacob said. "The culminating event includes live-fire exercises as teams, squads, and platoons." With advanced individual training under their belts, Ranger students are split into specialty training, which includes advanced marksmanship, sniper training, medical training and heavy weapons training, Jacob said. During one training exercise, students took the lead and taught a room-clearing class to one another, while American trainers watched. They practiced on glass houses and then moved to room clearing in an actual building the next day. As Company A produces more Iraqi Rangers, the importance of the mission to build partner capacity is apparent -- especially as Iraqi Security Forces continue their push to retake territory from Da'esh, said Bernthal, using another name for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. "[Iraqi Rangers are] go-getters, and I think that in itself is a success story," Bernthal said. "Having well-trained leaders is going to be extremely important in the fight. "Because Da'esh has been dug in for so long now, the Iraqis are going to have to think on their toes. There's going to be a lot of different situations that they find themselves in. Good training is always something that the Iraqi soldiers in this course will be able to fall back on." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at Matthew.Cox@Military.com. Defense Secretary Ash Carter honored 15 companies with the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for their exemplary support this year of employees who also are members of the National Guard or reserve. The award is the highest form of recognition given by the U.S. government to civilian employers for their support of guard and reserve members and their families. The 21st annual ceremony, held at the Pentagon, included leaders from the DoD Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program, or ESGR, previous award recipients, current and former DoD personnel, and guard members and reservists and their family and friends. Carter also welcomed country music artist Lee Greenwood to the award ceremony, and afterward Greenwood closed the event with a song and made remarks. Supporting Employees "For more than 40 years," Carter said as he opened the ceremony, "ESGR has encouraged and worked with employers around the country to strengthen their support for their employees who serve in the guard and reserves, and our entire country is stronger for it." That can be seen, he added, "in the awesome performance of our guard and reserve, particularly over the past 15 years. We see it in the more than 4,500 ESGR volunteers nationwide who donate their time to this important cause and to ensuring that our guardsmen and reservists not only retain their current jobs but find new ones." It can be seen in Louisiana over the past two weeks, the secretary said, where more than 3,500 guardsmen have been responding to unprecedented flooding, helping rescue thousands of people, providing meals, bottles of water, cots, blankets, tarps, sandbags and much more. The 15 finalists were drawn from more than 2,400 nominations, and Carter said these reflect the breadth and depth of what the nation's employers -- recognized or not -- do for guard and reserve members. All those nominations, he added, represent everyone in companies that support employees who serve their country as citizen-soldiers, -sailors, -airmen and -Marines -- bosses and supervisors, coworkers, human resources departments and others -- because they know that hiring these Americans is patriotic and the smart thing to do for their businesses. Vital Operational Reserve To the guard and reserve members in the audience, Carter said, "Many of you have responded when we needed you most, perhaps never more so than over the last 15 years." Since 9/11, more than 777,000 guard and reserve personnel deployed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, many more than once, the secretary said. The guard and reserve are critical components of the total force and a vital operational reserve that brings to bear the experience and skills of America's citizen-warriors, wherever and whenever they're needed, to confront the challenges of a complex world, he said. "Thanks to employers like the ones we're recognizing today, our guardsmen and reservists have the flexibility and the training they need to accomplish their mission. They're able to have time off before and after deployment," Carter said, "and they have a job to go back to when they come home." Building Bridges Some employers -- especially the 15 being honored today, Carter said -- go above and beyond that level of support. "One shipped 2,000 pounds of household goods for their reservist employee. Another employer heard that his National Guard employee -- who already had been deployed for eight months -- would need to be out for six more months to heal from a deployment injury, and so he offered to pay the employee's college expenses," the secretary added. Another employer got creative, Carter said, giving new meaning to workplace flexibility by joining his employees in warrior yoga sessions to help returning service members deal with post-traumatic stress. Such organizations are setting the standard for employer support to guard and reserve members, Carter said, and that leadership helps bring the country together. "We live at a time when less than 1 percent of our population serves in uniform, which means fewer people are connected to those who do," Carter said. "We need to keep building bridges to our fellow citizens and communities that aren't as connected to those who serve and sacrifice on their behalf," he added. "Our guard and reserve and their employers, especially our awardees, build those bridges every day." 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Recipients: -- Alaska Airlines of Anchorage, Alaska, nominated by the Air Force Reserve. -- Albuquerque Police Department of New Mexico nominated by the Air National Guard. -- Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Springfield, Missouri, nominated by the Navy Reserve. -- Burford Corporation of Maysville, Oklahoma, nominated by the Army National Guard. -- Carolinas Healthcare System of Charlotte, North Carolina, nominated by the Air National Guard. -- Clackamas County Sheriff's Office of Oregon City, Oregon, nominated by the Army National Guard -- Delmarva Veteran Builders of Salisbury, Maryland, nominated by the Air Force Reserve. -- FASTSIGNS International Inc. of Carrollton, Texas, nominated by the Air Force Reserve. -- Hope Valley Industries of North Kingstown, Rhode Island, nominated by the Air National Guard. -- Idaho State Police of Meridian, Idaho, nominated by the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. -- Lowe's of Mooresville, North Carolina, nominated by the Navy Reserve. -- Maryland State Police of Pikesville, Maryland, nominated by the Army Reserve. -- Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46 of Crystal Lake, Illinois, nominated by the Marine Corps Reserve. -- Seattle Fire Department in Washington State nominated by the Navy Reserve. -- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, nominated by the Navy Reserve. DETROIT - A truck transporting Takata-made airbag inflators at the heart of an unprecedented safety recall exploded in Texas earlier this month, killing one person and injuring four others, Reuters reports. The explosion occurred after the truck went off the road in Eagle Pass, Texas, where Takata Corp. has a warehouse that stocks airbag inflators. The parts are manufactured across the U.S.-Mexico border at a site in Monclova. Local reports say the blast damaged about 10 nearby homes, sent debris flying almost a mile through the air and created a crater in the ground that closed U.S. Highway 277 on and off for about 30 hours so it could be repaired. A spokesman for the Japanese supplier confirmed to Reuters that the truck was carrying airbag inflators and propellants with ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound that is at the heart of the massive safety recall for the airbags. MLive.com left a message with Takata Monday morning. The Takata airbag recall, which includes driver- and passenger-side airbags, spans 14 automakers, 22 brands and includes more than 100 million vehicles worldwide. The airbag inflators have in some instances become explosive, sending metal pieces flying through the cabin of the vehicles when the airbags are deployed. The ammonium nitrate that ignites the air bag inflators can be damaged by moisture over time in humid environments. Once damaged, the propellant has been known to become explosive. The faulty Takata airbags have been linked to at least 14 deaths and more than 150 injuries. In the U.S., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has required automakers to have all affected vehicles recalled by the end of 2018. BROOKLYN - Kyle Larson had tears in his eyes, his legs were numb, he was shaking and could barely breathe, all while wheeling his No. 42 Target Chevrolet around Michigan International Speedway's two-mile oval at nearly 200 mph. That's how Larson described his final laps of Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Pure Michigan 400. The win was the first for the 24-year old native of Elk Grove, Calif., who was making his 99th career Cup start for Chip Ganassi Racing in a career that dates back to 2014. "We have worked hard to get a win, and we just haven't done it," Larson said. "Finally, all the hard work by everybody, the hundreds of people at our race shop, people who have gotten me to the Cup Series all paid off. "I couldn't quite catch my breath there after I got out of the car because I spent two minutes screaming. I was so pumped up. It was pretty special, and I will remember it forever. I have been close a few times in my career and to get it before my 100th career start next week is pretty awesome." Not only did Larson secure his spot in the fast-approaching Chase playoff, but he became the first driver to win his first career Cup race at MIS since Dale Jarrett did so in 1991. However, it appeared in the waning laps rookie Chase Elliott was going to beat him to it. Elliott led Larson to the stripe on the race's final restart with nine laps to go. Elliott, 20, and Larson both spun their tires when the race resumed. However, Larson got a break from third-place Brad Keselowski, who gave him a push across the start/finish line. Elliott fell back to third, and by the time he got past Keselowski, Larson was gone. "Chase was going to win if that final caution didn't come out," Larson said. "I was hoping that Brad stayed with me, and he did. Chase and I both spun our tires really bad, but I just got a better push than he did. Brad stayed with me. He probably could have pulled down to my inside, and we could have raced. But he gave me a nice push and got me the win." Elliott finished runner-up to Joey Logano in June at MIS as well, and he lost the lead on a late-race restart in that one, too. Larson became the 13th driver to win a race this season, but Elliott is currently in the playoff based on points for now. While Elliott remains in the hunt for a Chase spot, he said was disappointed about his second place. "For sure, I would be lying if I said I wasn't," Elliott said. "It's a bummer and I hate to let my guys down. This is the second time that it has happened. I made a mistake early on in the race and I asked them to bail me out, and they did. "Unfortunately, I didn't do my part again. It's a couple of races in a row in just a few short months here that we had a really good car and had an opportunity. I try really hard to make the most of my opportunities when they are presented, and obviously I didn't do a very good job both trips." "I have to do a better job with my restarts," Elliott added. "That's not a strong point, at least here at Michigan. For me, you have to take the positives out of it and recognize an issue when you see one. There is only one way to fix it, and that's head-on." Larson's win was the first for Ganassi in 99 races, dating back to Jamie McMurray's victory at Talladega on Oct. 20, 2013. Larson, an Asian American, also became the first graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Next programs to win a Cup race. "No question, the kid has talent," Ganassi said. "Everybody knew it was a matter of when. We have been second a number of times. I can't tell you how much I respect for the people I have on the team who did the work and hung in there and kept me in there as well. "We had to put a weekend together. These weekends start off on Friday morning, and you have to make the most out of each session." ANN ARBOR, MI - It's been several days since Allen Elementary School unexpectedly flooded when a pipe burst, but the past week has felt longer for teachers wondering how much of their classrooms can be salvaged and parents wondering where they will send their children to school. Ann Arbor Public Schools administrators have worked to come up with solutions as quickly as they can since a water main broke below the school, located at 2560 Towner Boulevard, the evening of Thursday, Aug. 18 and caused significant damage to the building. Restoration professionals, engineers and architects have spent recent days in the school cleaning and assessing the damage. Superintendent Jeanice Swift reached out to the Ypsilanti Community Schools board of education, and a lease was finalized Friday that will allow Allen to relocate temporarily to Ypsilanti's West Middle School, 105 N. Mansfield St. in Ypsilanti. Swift announced Friday via email and video that the lease had been signed. School officials did not disclose the length of the lease or the cost to AAPS at that point. A couple of parents whose children attend Allen expressed Wednesday, Aug. 24, that they've been frustrated waiting for more details about the situation to emerge without a chance to bring their questions to school leaders. "I'm sad. Allen is important to us. It's frustrating that we have to deal with this inconvenience. It's more of an inconvenience for some than for others. But I'm also mad," said parent John Turner, who spoke during the public comment of the board of education's meeting Wednesday evening. "That is quite honestly shameful that we're getting better information from the press and from our parent teacher council Facebook page than we're getting from the district." Turner listed several questions parents want answered and said they would like to help if school staff will keep them updated. The board allowed him to speak for longer than the typical 3-minute allotment during public comment, and the trustees also took questions from the audience later in the meeting, which is not their usual protocol. Swift sent out an email to the Allen community the morning after the flooding, and some parents said they had heard from the school principal, too. Staff did not want to release incomplete or inaccurate information to parents, Swift said, but by Wednesday she had a comprehensive update ready to share with the board and about a dozen people connected to Allen who attended the meeting. "We do not have answers to many of the questions that you posed," Swift said to Turner. "We are very open about that. ... It was just today (Wednesday) that our first team of folks was able to even get access to the building. My team and I have worked literally around the clock as has the principal of Allen Elementary." Images of the damage inside Allen, the clean-up efforts and the interior of West Middle School where Allen is likely relocating were projected on a screen on stage at Forsythe Middle School as Swift reviewed what staff know about the situation at this point and what their next steps are moving forward. To maintain open communication with families, AAPS created an "Allen Elementary School Updates" page on its website, answered a list of Frequently Asked Questions and set up a hotline for families to call between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday to get more information. The hotline number - re-routed from Allen's office - is 734-997-1210. Information also will be mailed home to families to reach those who may not have Internet access. Here's what we know so far: Allen staff and students will stay together as they relocate for the start of the 2016-17 school year, with the exception of the preschool class. Allen will temporarily relocate to Ypsilanti's West Middle School, which is 4.5 miles from Allen. The preschool program cannot be licensed to operate in a middle school facility, so the preschoolers will transfer to the Westerman Preschool and Family Center. Transportation to the new locations will be provided for all students who live in Allen's attendance area. Durham School Services, which provides busing for AAPS, planned to work out the new bus routes Thursday. Allen's start and end times may be adjusted depending on how long it takes to run the routes to the new temporary location. Staff are making accommodations for families with a preschooler and an older student at Allen, who will now be attending two different schools. Allen students and staff will start school as planned on Sept. 6. Staff will report for work at the new temporary location on Monday, and the back-to-school meet and greet will take place as planned at 5 p.m. Aug. 31, at the schools' new location. Allen's afterschool activities will take place as usual. Before- and after-school childcare will be available at both of the temporary school locations. The largest unknown in the transition plan is how long the repairs and restoration of the building will take. Swift and the board members emphasized repeatedly on Wednesday there is no way of knowing at this point how long Allen may be in its temporary location. The lease for AAPS to rent the YCS building was expected to be for four to six months. Board members empathized with the parents' distress over not knowing the current status of their children's school, and they asked for patience throughout the transition. "This is going to be difficult, I understand. As we mentioned, we don't have the answers. You'll be surprised as you go into the recovery plan, there will be surprises. I'm just going to be very candid," said Trustee Susan Baskett, recalling her experience losing her home to a fire. "All we can do is promise to keep the communications open, but we have to be realistic in that we may not be able to have anything soon enough. It's never going to be soon enough for the families, I can almost guarantee. ... However, we'll get through this. We'll build a better Allen." Treasurer Donna Lasinski noted the blessings inside the difficult situation. "We were days away from children being in the building. We were an hour away from staff being in the building. So if something like this was going to happen, it happened and no one was hurt. So we move from that first bit of gratitude into the world of uncertainty," she said. "There is literally nothing that can be done to take all of that away. Having been in personal tragic situations before, it's all you want to do to just wrap your arms around and control everything and be the person who's there with the answer and there with the help. ... The progress that we've been able to make in six days is tremendous, and I'm grateful for that." One parent said it's not so much about controlling the situation as wanting open communication with school staff. Another parent in the audience and others online said they thought the staff had respondedly quickly to their concerns. The board took action Wednesday evening to authorize Swift and a legal team to negotiate the terms of the lease with Ypsilanti schools. The motion passed 6-1 with Baskett opposing the move because it was so open-ended. She wanted to try to keep the cost of the lease within the $1 million cap on insurance coverage for expenses associated with the flooding incident. The insurance policy will provide additional reimbursement for the damage sustained at the school. Baskett said she trusted Swift's decision-making in negotiating the lease, but she felt an obligation to the public to be fiscally responsible in setting parameters for the lease. Secretary Andy Thomas voiced similar concerns before voting in favor of authorizing Swift to reach a lease agreement. Board Vice President Christine Stead spoke up to thank Swift for her efforts responding to the emergency situation, saying she didn't feel it was necessary to put any restrictions on the negotiating team as they worked on the lease. "I think what you've demonstrated since you've been in this district is that you're worthy of handling a crisis. Probably more worthy than many," Stead said. "I am not sure that I as a trustee am in a position to put caveats or caps on what might be needed for this school, and I don't want that to be a condition this evening that I would agree to. I just want to share that I know you will do your best work on behalf of every taxpayer in this community that's part of the Ann Arbor Public School district and every person that belongs to the Allen community that we would like to continue to keep together." The other trustees also chimed in with their thanks for Swift, other administrators and the professionals working to clean and assess the damage at Allen. They thanked the YCS board and administrators for making West Middle School available. Teachers have been asked to compile lists of items they will need replaced due to the flooding, and that information will be shared with those who would like to make donations. Much of the curriculum can be saved, Swift said, because teachers had packed it in plastic bins with lids. Many of the library books and much of the furniture will be usable too. "I'm happy with the progress of the cleanup," said school nurse Ann Burdick, who arrived at Allen on Friday along with other staff members to move items out of the school. "It's a drag. But I've been blown away by that (the parents) have been really positive. It's just like 'wow, this is going to be OK.'" chef-glove Seven restaurants this month had three or more priority violations, four restaurants had four or more, and two restaurants had five or more priority violations. (file photo | Rich Pedroncelli) The Washtenaw County Public Health Department's restaurant inspections for July, 2016 are in. Of the 178 restaurants and food service facilities inspected in July, 25 had two or more priority violations, which are the most serious violations that are most likely to lead to food-borne illness. Seven restaurants this month had three or more priority violations, four restaurants had four or more, and two restaurants had five or more priority violations. This month, 100 restaurants had zero priority violations, and 38 restaurants and institutions had no violations at all: Angelo's On The Side, The Ark, Awesome Dog's Llc, Barton Hills Half Way Hs, Barton Hills Pool Snack, Burger King (Zeeb Rd.), Chelsea Comfort Inn - Breakfast Center, Chelsea Kiwanis Trailer, Chipotle Mexican Grill (Briarwood Circle), Comfort Inn Conference Center, DCH Catering, El Manantial Mobile #2, The Espresso Bar, Genesis Of Ann Arbor, Humus Falafil, Jenny's Pizza Perfect, Lab Cafe, Maplewood Lanes, Inc., Meadows At Glacier Hills, Messias Temple Church, Mighty Good Coffee (Arbor Hills), Mighty Good Coffee (S. University), Necto, Once Upon A Grill, Panda Express (Briarwood Circle), Pita Delite STFU, Rush Street Restaurant, Silver Maples Of Chelsea, SJMC St Joseph Mercy Chelsea- Pob, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Starbucks Coffee (Main St. Ann Arbor), Stony Lake Brewing Company, Strategic Fox Clubhouse, Sweetwaters Cafe (W. Washington), Tatsu Sushi, Treehouse, Walter Wow! Gourmet Kettle Corn, Ypsilanti Masonic Assoc. Below is a searchable table of July 2016 inspection results. You can search by restaurant name or city, or you can click the search button without selecting either restaurant name or city to get a list of all results. Each of the columns in the table is sortable by clicking on the column header. You can follow this link to search the Washtenaw County Public Health Department's restaurant inspection reports to see specific details about the violations noted by the inspectors. A description of the different types of violations can be found at the end of this post. Here are excerpts from the July restaurant inspection reports, with a focus on the restaurants with the largest number of priority violations: Li's China One (1047 Emerick St., Ypsilanti) had the most violations in the July inspections report, with six priority violations and 14 total violations. Noodles cooked 2 hours ago found in deep, covered container in walk in cooler at 78f. Potentially hazardous foods must be cooled from 135f to 70f within 2 hours and from 70-41f within an additional 4 hours. If these foods are not cooled from 135-70f within 4 hours, you then have a total of 4 hours to cool them from 135f to 41f. PIC corrected by placing noodles on sheet trays and placing in walk in cooler for rapid cooling. Noodles reached 41f within an additional 2 hours. Raw chicken and raw beef stored over carrots and broccoli in walk in cooler. Raw chicken stored over sauces in reach in cooler of kitchen prep unit. Raw meats must be stored below foods of lower cooking temperatures. To correct, re-locate raw meats to bottom shelf of coolers. Numerous potentially hazardous foods found between 45-70f in kitchen prep unit top rail and reach in cooler including napa cabbage, cooked shrimp, cooked bbq pork, raw chicken and beef, garlic and oil sauce, raw shell eggs, and tofu. Ambient air thermometer reading at 50f. PIC corrected by discarding these foods. Potentially hazardous foods must be kept below 41f to minimize potential for bacterial growth and toxin formation. Kitchen prep unit not holding potentially hazardous foods at 41f or below. Per PIC, the cooler coils had started freezing so they turned the unit temperature up. Refrigeration units must be in good working order and set at an ambient air temperature of 36-38f in order to hold foods at 41f or below. PIC turned unit temperature down. This unit is ordered out of service for holding potentially hazardous foods until it can be shown to hold foods at 41f or below. Potentially hazardous foods in upright Pepsi cooler near front counter such as egg rolls, several tubs of cooked battered chicken, and crab rangoon found between 45-51f. These foods were cooked yesterday. Ambient air temperature of this cooler is 43f. PIC corrected by discarding these foods. Refrigeration units must be in good working order and set at an ambient air temperature of 36-38f in order to hold foods at 41f or below. PIC turned unit temperature down. This unit is ordered out of service for holding potentially hazardous foods until it can be shown to hold foods at 41f or below. Sanitizer is use is not approved for use in a food service establishment. To correct, discontinue use and provide approved bleach with EPA number rating that is approved for use in a food service establishment. Glade air freshener found stored on shelf above prep table. Petroleum jelly and batteries found stored over small to-go cups. Toxics must be stored below and away from food and food contact surfaces to minimize potential for contamination. PIC corrected by relocating these items to areas away from food and food contact surfaces. Food employee observed to do a variety of tasks and did not wash hands when starting to cook food for a customer order. Food employees must wash hands when potentially contaminated such as in between different tasks. PIC corrected by having food employee wash hands. Re-train food employees on when to wash hands. Greenside Tavern (3625 Napier Rd., Ypsilanti) had five priority violations and eight total violations in the July report. Observed prep employee cutting tomato's for ready to eat uses with bare hands. FOOD that is contaminated by FOOD EMPLOYEES, CONSUMERS, or other PERSONS through contact with their hands, bodily discharges, such as nasal or oral discharges, or other means shall be discarded. (P) To correct discard all the noted cut tomato and then wash hands and put on gloves. Staff shall also be retrained on when to wash hands and glove use. Corrected: Person in charge had all the noted food discarded into the garbage and then stated that staff will be retrained on when to wash and glove use. Observed the following: 1. Several soup ladles. 2. One pair of tongs. 3. Egg slicer. 4. Meat slicer. 5. interior food contact of the hot chocolate machine in the bar serving area. Equipment FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES and UTENSILS shall be cleaned: (1) Except as specified in # (B) of this section, before each use with a different type of raw animal FOOD such as beef, FISH, lamb, pork, or POULTRY; (P) (2) Each time there is a change from working with raw FOODS to working with READY-TO-EAT FOODS; (P) (3) Between uses with raw fruits and vegetables and with POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD (TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD); (P) (4) Before using or storing a FOOD TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE; (P) and (5) At any time during the operation when contamination may have occurred. (P) To correct wash, rinse and sanitize all the noted items and retrain staff on ware washing. Corrected: Person in charge had all the noted items washed, rinsed and sanitized and instructed dish washing person on how to clean the noted items. Observed the following potential cross contamination: 1. Raw steak with ready to eat foods in the top loading reach-in cooler on the cook line. 2. Raw seafood with ready to eat foods in the top loading reach-in cooler on the cook line. 3. Raw hamburger with ready to eat foods in the top loading reach-in cooler on the cook line. 4. Raw steak with ready to eat foods and hamburger in the walk-in cooler. 5. Raw hamburger with ready to eat foods in the walk-in cooler. FOOD shall be protected from cross contamination by: (1) Separating raw animal FOODS during storage, preparation, holding, and display from: (a) Raw READY-TO-EAT FOOD including other raw animal FOOD such as FISH for sushi or MOLLUSCAN SHELLFISH, or other raw READY-TO-EAT FOOD such as fruits and vegetables,(P) and (b) Cooked READY-TO-EAT FOOD; (P). To correct reorganize both coolers and store each raw food by cook off temperature. Corrected: Person in charge reorganized both coolers and all food was stored properly by cook off temperatures. Observed pulled pork at 65F for about 45min in the hot holding unit on the cook line. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD that is be hot shall be held at 135F or higher. To correct reheat the noted item to 165 for 15 seconds before use. Corrected: Person in charge reheated the noted item to 165F for 15 seconds. Observed the following past the facility use by dates listed on the food items: Note: Today's date is 7/11/2016. 1. Chipotle ranch dressing 7/9. 2. Chipotle mayo dressing 6/29. 3. Cut ham 7/8. A FOOD shall be discarded if it: (1) Exceeds the temperature and time combination specified in # 3-501.17(A), except time that the product is frozen; (P) (2) Is in a container or PACKAGE that does not bear a date or day; (P) or (3) Is appropriately marked with a date or day that exceeds a temperature and time combination as specified in # 3-501.17(A). (P) To correct discard the noted items into the garbage. Corrected: Person in charge discarded the noted items into the garbage. Dexter Riverview Coney Cafe Inc. (8124 Main St., Dexter) had four priority violations and ten total violations. Bleach used in wiping cloth buckets is not EPA approved. Sanitizers used in a food service establishment must be EPA approved. To correct, provide bleach that is approved for use in a food service establishment. Container of raw egg wash stored on top of raw sliced onions. Onions were ready to eat. Raw animal foods must be stored below and away from ready to eat foods to minimize potential for contamination. PIC corrected by discarding both the egg wash and sliced onions. Numerous potentially hazardous foods found in walk in cooler at 43-47f including dairy products, ham, gyro meat, cut lettuce, cut tomato, cut melon, facility made ranch dressing, chicken soup, and raw shell eggs. Ambient air temperature of walk in cooler is at 43f. PIC corrected by discarding all potentially hazardous foods that were out of temperature. Several potentially hazardous foods in reach in cooler of kitchen prep unit found above 41f including: egg wash - 55f gyro meat - 53f cooked turkey meat - 47f cut spinach - 70f shredded cheddar cheese - 60f ambient air temperature of reach in cooler is at 44f. PIC correct by discarding all potentially hazardous foods out of temperature. Small container of egg wash found on top of containers on top rail at 55f. Potentially hazardous foods cannot be stored above the top rail containers, but must be submerged in the top rail in order to maintain temperature. PIC corrected by discarding egg wash. Potentially hazardous foods must be kept cold at 41f or below to minimize potential for bacterial growth. The walk in cooler and reach in cooler of the kitchen prep unit are ordered out of service for holding potentially hazardous foods until it can be repaired and shown to hold foods at 41f or below. Bottles of ecotrin and mapap found stored on shelf over kitchen prep table. Medication must be stored below and away from food and food contact surfaces to minimize potential for contamination. PIC corrected by relocating medications below and away from food and food contact surfaces. Cleary's Pub (113 S. Main St., Chelsea) had nine total violations, four of which were priority violations. Observed a unopened can with rust in waitress cooler and a opened metal can of chicken with food stored inside with a rusty interior lip in the walk-in. Materials that are used in the construction of UTENSILS and FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT may not allow the migration of deleterious substances or impart colors, odors, or tastes to FOOD and under normal use conditions shall be: (P) (A) Safe; (P) (B) Durable, CORROSION RESISTANT, and nonabsorbent; (C) Sufficient in weight and thickness to withstand repeated WAREWASHING; (D) Finished to have a SMOOTH, EASILY CLEANABLE surface; and (E) Resistant to pitting, chipping, crazing, scratching, scoring, distortion, and decomposition. To correct discard all noted cans. Corrected: Person in charge discarded all noted items into the garbage. Observed dish machine not sanitizing, less than 10ppm chorine, tested three times, using test stirps. A chemical SANITIZER used in a SANITIZING solution for a manual or mechanical operation at contact times specified under # 4-703.11(C) shall meet the criteria specified under # 7-204.11 Sanitizers, Criteria, shall be used in accordance with the EPA-registered label use instructions To correct repair the noted items to sanitize at 50-100ppm chlorine. Observed the following potential cross contamination: 1. Raw steak stored with and next to ready to eat foods on the cook line. 2. Frozen raw beef thawing directly on top of ready to eat onions in the walk-in cooler. Note: Item had not yet started melting and was still covered in frost. OOD shall be protected from cross contamination by: (1) Except as specified in (1)(c) below, separating raw animal FOODS during storage, preparation, holding, and display from: (a) Raw READY-TO-EAT FOOD including other raw animal FOOD such as FISH for sushi or MOLLUSCAN SHELLFISH, or other raw READY-TO-EAT FOOD such as fruits and vegetables,(P) and (b) Cooked READY-TO-EAT FOOD; (P) To correct: 1. Move steak down and away from all ready to eat foods and store with other properly stored raw steaks. 2. Move noted item away from all ready to eat foods to thaw. Corrected: 1. Person in charge moved noted item and stored with the other raw steak. 2. Person in charge put down a milk crate and put noted item onto the crate for thawing. Observed the following holding above 41F for an unknown amount of time due to a non-working cooler on the cook line: 1. Red pasta sauce 45F. 2. Taco meat 48F. 3. Multiple steaks 45-47F. 4. Cole slaw 47F. 5. Heavy whipping cream 47F. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD that is to be cold shall be held at 41F or below. To correct discard noted food into the garbage. Corrected: Person in charge discarded all the noted items into the garbage. Where can I see the inspection results? Washtenaw County posts links to all inspection reports for restaurants, University of Michigan foodservice establishments and facilities inspected by the State of Michigan, such as grocery stores, food processing plants and convenience stores. Click here for access to all Washtenaw County food service inspections! What do the violations in the reports mean? Washtenaw County Public Health's Environmental Health Division is responsible for inspecting all food service establishment operations in Washtenaw County. These food service establishments are regulated under the State of Michigan's Food Law and Michigan Modified Food Code. * Priority violations are the most serious. Correcting these eliminates or reduces a problem directly associated with foodborne illness. Examples include improper food temperatures and lack of hand washing. * Priority foundation violations are problems that can lead to a priority violation. Correcting these problems may keep priority violations from occurring. Examples include not having an appropriate food thermometer, not having sanitizer test strips and not having soap or paper towel at a hand sink. * Core violations are related to general sanitation and facility maintenance. Examples include dirty floors and improper facility lighting. Priority and priority foundation violations must be corrected immediately at the time of inspection or within 10 days. Core violations must be corrected within 90 days of the inspection. How frequent are inspections? Routine inspections take place twice per year (or once per year if the business is only open seasonally). Routine inspections are typically unannounced. Each inspection is a snapshot in time, and conditions found at the restaurant are not necessarily the conditions that could be found in the restaurant at other times. Sanitarians (otherwise known as health inspectors) ask many questions about the menu, operations and procedures to get the best possible idea of the day-to-day conditions of the restaurant. Environmental Health conducts additional inspections if a foodborne illness or other complaint is reported. What if I have a complaint? Environmental Health responds to general restaurant complaints as well as foodborne illness complaints. Please call our office at 734-222-3800 to file a complaint or to report a suspected foodborne illness. Washtenaw County Public Health promotes health and works to prevent disease and injury in our community. Visit us online at http://publichealth.ewashtenaw.org. Bermuda Dunes Drive map.png YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - A domestic violence incident between a husband and wife ended when the woman fired several shots at her husband as he drove away, police said. At 11:29 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 28, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of shots fired at a home in the 7000 block of Bermuda Dunes Drive in Ypsilanti Township. The couple had been fighting throughout the night and into the morning, said Derrick Jackson, sheriff's office community engagement director. The two moved outside during the altercation, which ended with the husband driving away in a vehicle and the wife firing several shots in his direction, but did not strike him, police said. The woman was taken to St. Joseph Mercy hospital for injuries, Jackson said. The incident remains under investigation. scheil.PNG Richard J. Scheil is led to jail after learning his sentence for killing a friend in a drunken driving crash. (Cole Waterman | The Bay City Times) Richard J. Scheil BAY CITY, MI -- A Grand Rapids man told a judge he was prepared to take his medicine and head to prison in the death of a friend in a drunken-driving crash. Richard J. Scheil, 59, on Monday, Aug. 29, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran for sentencing. Scheil in July pleaded no contest to one count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death, stemming from the Nov. 8 death of Ray L. Embrich. Sitting beside attorney John Melton, Scheil said he was remorseful and was ready to face the consequences. "Nothing will ever replace (Embrich) or compensate for taking that life, but I'm here to take whatever medicine is handed to me," Scheil told the judge. None of Embrich's family were present to give victim impact statements. Bay County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko said her office attempted to contact Embrich's loved ones, to no avail. Sheeran ended up sentencing Scheil to 19 months to 15 years in prison. Sheeran did not give him credit for any time already served. Police reports contained in court records state a Bay County sheriff's deputy at 4:12 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, responded to a one-vehicle crash near the intersection of South Farley and East Kinney roads in rural Merritt Township. The deputy arrived to find a white 2010 Ford Taurus in a ditch on the south side of East Kinney Road. The Taurus had been heading south on Farley, which ends in a T-intersection at Kinney. The Taurus apparently crossed the intersection and came to rest in the water-filled ditch, court records show. Scheil was still in the driver's seat when the deputy arrived. Scheil was wearing only a pair of underwear and was not responding to the deputy's request to exit the vehicle, court records show. Firefighters arrived shortly after and rescued Scheil and Embrich, 51, who was breathing but unconscious. Both were taken by ambulance to St. Mary's of Michigan Medical Center in Saginaw. Deputies obtained a warrant to draw Scheil's blood and then went to the hospital. When they arrived, they learned Embrich had been pronounced dead at 6:18 a.m., court records show. Embrich's obituary said he lived most of his adult life in Nashville, Tenn., Ionia and Freeland. Scheil underwent a CAT scan and had to be strapped down, as he was combative with hospital staff, court records show. Deputies tried interviewing Scheil after he completed the CAT scan. He was barely audible and mumbling, but told deputies he had three rum and Cokes and was coming from a party in Bay City. Regarding the crash, he told them, "someone cut me off," court records show. A sample of Scheil's blood was taken and submitted to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab for testing. The results indicate Scheil's blood alcohol level was at 0.16 percent. In Michigan, a person is legally intoxicated when his or her blood alcohol level is at 0.08 percent. BAY CITY, MI -- Hoping to capitalize on an "underserved need" for affordable senior housing in Bay City, a development team is gearing up to pitch the City Commission on a tax break they need to build a new residential facility near downtown. But they know they're in for an uphill battle, especially since the release of a new citywide housing study that recommends the city focus on balancing the oversupply and under-demand of the market and pushing the housing market up in value. The developers, however, also argue that Bay City Manager Rick Finn has been against the plan since the beginning. Finn denies that accusation. Westbrook Housing Development, which is made up of partners from Saginaw-based Wolgast Corp., is proposing a 47 one- and two-bedroom senior housing development called Madison Place Senior Apartments for low- to moderate-income residents 55 years and older. The three-story building would be constructed on an unused parking lot at Fourth Street and Madison Avenue, just east of the Pere Marquette Depot and south of Maplewood Manor, another low-income senior apartment facility run by the Bay City Housing Commission. To move forward with the project, the development team needs to secure a PILOT -- payment in lieu of taxes -- agreement with the city in order to land $7 million to $10 million in federal tax credits from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. And time is ticking. Applications for projects are due to MSHDA by Oct. 1. Developers are presenting the project to the City Commission on Sept. 6. The commission will then have one additional meeting two weeks later to vote for or against issuing the PILOT. The developers also need special zoning approval from the Bay City Planning Commission and Zoning Board. Those meetings, both at Bay City Hall, 301 N. Washington Ave., take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, respectively. Before facing the City Commission, the developers are telling their story to the public, issuing a letter that explains why the facility is needed and how it could benefit the city financially. "This is all about social equity," said John Dupont, one of the partners of Westbrook Housing Development. "It's the responsibility of city government to invest in a decent lifestyle of the people who live there." The apartment complex would be built as a "modern, energy-efficient" structure with many "senior-friendly design features," according to its marketing brochure. In addition to the 47 rooms, which all feature kitchen appliances, the development includes a large community room for social events, an exercise room and library. A full-time management staff would also be on site. But what the developers are focusing on with the commission is the financial benefit to the city if its built. Today, the property is an unused parking lot owned by the Bay-Arenac Behavioral Health Authority, a nonprofit that doesn't pay property tax on the property. If a PILOT is approved, the developers have agreed to pay 4 percent, or about $15,000 of sheltered rent revenues collected by the property annually. To sweeten the deal for the city, the developers have also offered up a onetime payment of $100,000 to the city before the completion of construction. It's a similar tactic that the Bay City Housing Commission successfully executed in early 2014, offering the city a onetime $300,000 payment. In return, the city granted the organization a PILOT, which was needed to secure tax credits from MSHDA for a $9 million renovation project to Maplewood Manor, a low-income senior housing facility located two blocks north of where the proposed apartments would be built. Additionally, the housing commissioned paid $50,000 to fund the housing study that was released last week. Dupont, with Westbrook Housing Development, said he has "never had to go to this extent," to secure a PILOT with the 12 other similar types of senior housing apartments they have built across Michigan, Arkansas and Florida. "I'm willing to do this, though, because I believe in this project," he said. "We're not trying to take on the housing commission, but we want to be treated the same way as they were." Dupont added that the new development would also be paying full rate for city-owned electric, water and sewer utilities. The development team does have support locally, including from Jerry Green, a member of the Bay City Planning Commission. He says the tax revenue the city would receive would be a boon, but the bigger impact would be the foot traffic to downtown businesses. "It's a very convenient location for the residents of that facility," he said. "I believe it will be a big boost for those businesses." Green warned if the city doesn't "jump on this opportunity," the developer will likely go elsewhere. Bay City Commission President Andrew Niedzinski, 3rd Ward, said he wants to read further into the housing study before making a decision on issuing a PILOT, but said the plans he has seen on the facility look positive. He said Bliss Park Senior Apartments, near Covenant Hospital in Saginaw, which were built by the same development team, is a "good-looking property." "I think if we build something nice there, it could slow down that area from slipping," he said. "So, I do think it's a good idea." Bay City Manager Rick Finn declined to comment on the proposed development, calling it "premature" before the Bay City Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals consider it. When asked if he felt the housing study released last week called for more or less affordable housing options, he also declined to comment, saying the consultant who authored the study will likely answer that question at a 6:30 p.m. public meeting Monday, Aug. 29, at Bay City Hall, 301 N. Washington Ave. While the housing study released last week called on the city to focus on increasing market values, it also says the city "must deploy housing assistance to the poor with great precision." Doug Rise, executive director of the Bay City Housing Commission, which helped fund the housing study, said his interpretation of the study is that there should be a limit on affordable housing. He added that a market analysis a company did in 2014 before the Maplewood Manor renovation project showed that without the subsidy his organization receives from a Section 8 contract, the project wouldn't have been viable. "So, I do have questions whether a straight tax credit development is a wise choice right now," he said. It should be noted that the proposed development would be in direct competition with the Bay City Housing Commission. Dupont said his team's market analysis, though, showed the facility can be competitive in the Bay City market. According to his study, overall vacancy rates are "healthy" at similar senior properties with and without deep subsidies. Additionally, his study says the senior householder base in the market is projected to increase over the next five years. Blog Hinangai While there is much discussion in Guam about the economic benefits of increasing the islands military presence, the damages/dangers that they represent are rarely mentioned. This blog, a supplement to the Peace and Justice for Guam Petition, is meant to counter that by providing information about the US military in Guam, with the hopes of steering policy away from a dangerous unilateralist course to more sustainable notions of regional development and a strengthening international solidarity. This Account has been suspended. The scene is lined with turquoise mountains, surrounded by white cloud. Wherever you look you can see green-tinted hills and mist. This is the western fringe of Magwe Region in central Myanmar, on the border with Rakhine State, where valuable forests cover the Yoma mountains. Vast trees, so wide that four people must join hands to reach around them, line the route to Htaw Zar village in Ngape township. You can still find large trees and bamboo here because they have not arrived yet, a local resident said, referring to the loggers who have felled a path through the region. Residents and officials say that illegal logging is rife in the Yoma mountain ranges that span from Rakhine through Magwe to Bago. Forest near the western Yoma road has suffered the most damage, said Kyaw Ko Ko Shein from the Ngape Youth Network. Local organisations that value the environment have lobbied the government to ban logging for more than three years, but have met with little success, he said. Myanmar is the third-worst country in the world for deforestation, according to a 2015 report issued by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, which said that 43 percent of the country was covered in forest, down from 47pc in 2010. In July this year, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation said logging would be prohibited in major forested areas for the rest of this year, and in the Bago mountain range for a decade, but the ban will be hard to enforce. Residents in the area say that valuable timber is not only being sold locally but also sent overland to Bangladesh. Smugglers continue to cut down trees in Mindon, Kamma, Minhla, Ngape and Sidoktaya townships, they said, storing the timber in Padan on the junction between the road from Minbu to Ann, and the Pathein-Monywa road. From there, the timber is taken to Bangladesh. Local residents in Tone Gyi and Gote Gyi villages in Ngape township said that hardwoods such as Padauk and Sagawah are among the victims of illegally logging. In the past these mountains were thick with the fragrance of Sagawah but now the trees have been sent to Bangladesh. In the past they were sent from Ann to Sittwe but there were arrests, so it now passes through Kyaukphyu, said Ko Yan Naung Tun from Yoma Light Youth Organisation. There has been demand across the border for Myanmars teak and other hardwoods since 2009, according to U Thant Zin, head of the Ayeyarwady West Development Organisation. Mindon, Kamma, Minha, Ngape and Sidoktaya townships in Magwe all struggle with conversation in an environment of illegal logging, said township residents and forestry department staff. Weve few staff and a large area were responsible for, said one township-level forestry official, who asked to remain anonymous. We try to arrest them [the loggers] when local residents inform us of activity. An official from Magwe Regions Forestry Department said that although the department has authorisation for a staff of over 1000, it has only 65 percent of that number. At most we have 60 staff for a township, said another township- level official who also declined to give his name. Forestry staff lack the infrastructure to investigate the entire area, and there are areas where staff do not have the right to investigate, he added. We cant cover a wide area, he said, adding that efforts to fight logging are most successful when local residents reported illegal activity. Local residents wishing to report information on illegal logging can contact the relevant township hluttaw representative secretly, according to U Khin Maung Aye, Magwe Region minister for natural resources and environmental conservation. Between the start of April, when the new government came to office, and August 7, authorities nationwide seized over 17,000 tonnes of illegal timber, over 2500 offenders and 785 vehicles, according to officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. Authorities are seizing increasing amounts of illegal timber in Magwe over 2000 tonnes in the 2015-16 financial year, up from over 1300 tonnes in 2013-14. As of July authorities had captured over 1000 tonnes of illegal timber this year, but local residents say this is only a fraction of the amount actually being logged. Ngape township [alone] produces more than that, said Ko Yan Naung Tun activist from the Yoma Alin Tan Group. There are trucks loaded with as much as 20 tonnes of timber in a single week and thats just from the mountain region, he said. Timber on the Minbu-Ann road that connects Magwe Region and Rakhine State started to be cut down around eight years ago and now large trees are rare. Forestry officials said the deforestation was due to migrant farmers, although locals blame illegal logging. There was no road before. All you could see was forest, said 62 year-old U Kyar from Gote Gyi village on the Minbu-Ann road. When the road was built it helped the area develop, but also helped timber traffickers, he added. Im not sure if its illegal or legal, but timber trucks drive down from the Yoma mountains every evening, said Daw Win Win from a village in Bago Region near the Magwe border. Read more: Rangers face violent loggers to save Bago forests Road building has provided easier travel routes for illegal timber. In 2010 a mountain pass road opened connecting Paukkhaung township in Bago Region to several townships in the east of Magwe. This was used mainly for legal timber production, but was also used by illegal timber dealers, said an official from the general administration office of one of the townships. Local residents often find partial employment in the illegal timber industry, which they turn to for extra income or because a lack of opportunities elsewhere. Timber prices arent high here, but people know they will get a good price when they transport the timber [illegally] and other jobs are harder so they do this, said an illegal logger from Ngape township. He had worked with local conservation groups before joining timber dealers and turning to illegal logging. Locals from Sidoktaya township in western Magwe used to farm along rivers and creeks, but several dams built in the area over the last decade mean they now have to rely on timber. Dams were constructed in our region and creeks were destroyed, said U Than Soe, a former administrator of a village in Sidoktaya township. Some families were broken up when people went abroad others turned to logging to make a living. Those that turned to logging can make K10,000 in a day, but that often has to feed a family of four or five, he said. The real benefits go to the timber dealers, he said. Meanwhile, the spread of chainsaws has made it easier to fell trees, increasing the pace of deforestation. A survey by a Sidoktaya township development group found around 30 chainsaws in that township alone. Chainsaws can be bought and distributed legally only with a recommendation from a local forestry department, according to a government directive issued in June. But they are still spreading fast. Now that chainsaws have replaced axes deforestation has sped up, and the region is full of illegal chainsaws and trucks, said development group leader U Win Myin Htwe. Translation by San Layy and Khant Lin Oo Trading on the Yangon Stock Exchange has tailed off in recent months, but Myanmar Citizens Banks (MCB) listing late last week showed there remains huge appetite for new sources of investment. Demand for shares in the lender the first bank to list on the countrys new bourse was around 10 times the volume offered. MCB moved its 10.4 million shares onto the YSX on August 26, with each share priced at K6800. The shares hit their upper limit for the day K7800 after the morning matching session. Almost 13,000 MCB shares were traded on the first day, but there were unmet offers to buy for 110,000. This helped enliven what has become a quiet market of late. The last time there were so many shares traded in a single day was over a month ago, and most days see only a few thousand shares change hand. Although YSX officials note the bourse is still in its infancy. MCBs effect on the value of shares trading on the YSX was more modest, because in terms of market capitalisation the total value of a companys shares it is worth much less than listed peers First Myanmar Investment (FMI) or Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings (MTSH). FMIs market worth was K469.6 billion as of last weeks close, MTSH was worth K167.3 billion and MCB finished its first day with a market capitalisation of just over K81 billion. The bank has become increasingly profitable in recent years, posting net profit after tax of K5.3 billion in the 2015-16 financial year up from K2.51 billion in 2013-14. But MCB is focused more on expanding its operations and branch network than increasing profits, said chair U Toe Aung Myint at the listing ceremony on August 26. The firm has only 21 branches despite being over 25 years old, but it is planning to establish another 50 branches in the next five years. Investment in a wider branch network and skilled staff will mean less capital for shareholder dividends, he added. MCB in its disclosure documents released earlier this month said it plans to hire foreign bankers with international expertise to mitigate the risk of losing senior management to rival banks. This focus on internal investment at the potential expense of profits is something the bank will explain to shareholders, said U Toe Aung Myint. U Win Myint, managing director of MCB, said the share price would increase only if the bank invested in its expansion, which would in time benefit investors. Of the banks 10.4 million shares, 4.45 million were held by individuals on the board of directors or key executives when the firm listed on the exchange, according to MCB documents. The Ministry of Commerce, which founded MCB in 1992, has reduced its holdings in the bank in recent years but still owns around 10pc. FMI shares finished last week unchanged at K20,000, while MTSH shares dropped K1000 to finish at K43,000. Translation by San Layy On his first visiting to Myanmar, UK Minister of State at the Department for International Development Rory Stewart has announced that his government will deliver additional health and emergency response assistance. Speaking to reporters at the UK ambassadors residence on August 25, Mr Stewart said the assistance would cover malaria, a critical health issue for the country and its neighbours. The British government, along with other international partners, is very much focused on the elimination of malaria. We are working hard to try to eliminate the disease in Southeast Asia by 2030, he said. The assistance includes the provision of testing kits and treatment to malarial patients, he said. We are providing 450,000 testing kits, as well as treatment for 11,000 people suffering from malaria, he said, adding that the focus was on prevention. The most important thing is to prevent people getting malaria in the first place. So the British government is announcing that we will donate 2 million mosquito nets, he said. The anti-malarial assistance is being provided through 3MDG (Three Millennium Development Goal Fund), an international joint funding operation that focuses on fighting tuberculosis, malaria and HIV specifically, and child and maternal care in general. The UK minister said his country would help Myanmar strengthen its capacity to respond to humanitarian disasters and extreme weather events such as severe flooding. [The goal is to] help Burmese institutions to respond rapidly to emergencies and reduce needs and vulnerability so they can be less reliant on donors such as the UK, said he. The assistance will also go to improving sanitation and the quality of water for 90,000 people in Rakhine State and Yangon, Bago and Ayeyarwady regions via the United Nations Childrens Emergency Fund. While focusing on people recovering from floods, we will also support UNICEF in providing water and sanitation, said Mr Stewart. The UK government will also provide rainwater ponds in 80 villages and rainwater tanks for 8000 households in the regions, and help them prepare for natural disasters. Mr Stewart said his department would cooperate with independent groups to monitor the correct use of the funds. We commission independent groups who do an analysis to make sure that our money is spent correctly, he said. On August 25 he visited Yangon General Hospital and a TB centre to listen to people and to learn what assistance his government should provide to Myanmar. He is also visiting various other locations across the country. The minister praised the work of volunteers who go from house to house to ensure sufferers take their medication regularly, since the failure of some patients to complete their course of treatment could lead to the creation of drug-resistant strains. About 200,000 are thought to contract the disease in Myanmar annually. TB is a communicable disease, which means the more people we can treat, the less chance the disease has to spread, he said. Karen civil society groups are calling for an immediate suspension of construction along the conflict-ridden Asia Highway. As the Tatmadaw and ethnic armed groups vie for control of the main artery between Thailand and Myanmar and the right to impose tariffs along it local civilians have been displaced, driven from an active conflict zone. The Asia Highway has been responsible for fuelling fighting, displacement and numerous human rights violations, according to a report launched in Yangon on August 26 by the Thwee Community Development Network, the Karen Human Rights Group, and the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network. According to the report, another part of the route will soon be under development linking Kawkareik town and Eindu village. While the roadway will undoubtedly shorten travel times between the destinations, the project site is located in an active war zone, and residents fear the construction will exacerbate clashes through competition for the highway. A number of Karen ethnic armed groups, including the Karen National Union, the KNU/KNLA Peace Council and the DKBA, as well as government-controlled Border Guard Forces, collect illegal tolls along the road. Exchange of fire along the highway is not uncommon, and has previously resulted in the deaths of civilians. Two residents were killed during clashes between ethnic armed groups and the Border Guard Force [BGF] in 2015, Ma Naw Eh Thaw, advocacy coordinator at the Karen Human Rights Group, told The Myanmar Times. Several residents [along the Asia Highway] have become homeless and several have been wounded in the conflict. According to the report, during the first phase of highway construction at least 17 households were forcibly evicted from their land under orders issued by the state government, which failed to provide adequate compensation. The report added that the villagers allowed to remain on their property also suffered, as they were not fairly compensated for environmental damage to their farmlands as a result of the project. For the second phase of highway construction, Asia Development Bank, which is partially funding the project, has tasked the Ministry of Construction with carrying out resettlement and compensation activities. But oversight of the initiative has not been adequate, according to the report. Compensation procedures have not been disclosed to people affected by the project, despite a number of plans and strategies issued by the ADB in relation to the project since 2015, said the report. The three CSOs called on the ADB and the government to address the local communities grievances and provide them with tangible benefits, before continuing on with construction. Daw Su, a resident of Kawkareik township, said that she and her neighbours were promised K1.5 million per acre of land before the project started. But she was reluctant to sell her land. [We disagreed] because we would get this [compensation] only one time in our life, whereas the farm will provide for us forever, she said. Construction of the Asia Highway started in 2012 with the assistance of Thailand for a 25.6-kilometre (16-mile) section that opened last year. The route has reduced travel time between Thinggan Nyenaung and Kawkareik from three hours to 45 minutes. The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy is preparing to vie for parliamentary seats in two townships where voting was cancelled in 2015 over security concerns, Pyithu Hluttaw MP Sai Thiha Kyaw (SNLD; Mine-ye/Mong Yai) told The Myanmar Times. The election was cancelled in Kyethi and Mine Shu[/Mong Shu] townships in 2015, and now those place are not represented in the Pyithu Hluttaw or the Shan State Hluttaw, he said. The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy is now organising public meetings to compete in those townships in the event that voting is allowed there during by-elections likely to be held in early 2017. The Loilin/Loileng district townships of Mine Shu/Mong Shu and Kyethi in southern Shan State had been declared not conducive to free and fair elections by the Union Election Commission on October 27 last year. Section 18 of the electoral law stipulates that parliamentary seats left vacant for any reason, including in the instance of death or illness of an MP, will be contested in the by-election. Sai Thiha Saw said there are currently no representatives for these townships who can push for regional development. For now, Amyotha Hluttaw representative U Soe Tun Aung from the Loilen district SNLD is fulfilling these duties by meeting with the public in these township. U Soe Tun Aung is assisting with a K100 million development fund. But township representation is needed to solve the daily difficulties faced by the public in these areas. Translation by Khant Lin Oo Nationalist are already clashing with a newly convened advisory commission tasked with forming a long-term plan for Rakhine State. Furious over the inclusion of international experts on the body, the detractors are raising concerns over a perceived growing international influence over local affairs, and have accused the government of breaching sovereignty. The advisory commission is composed of three international experts including the commission chair, former UN chief Kofi Annan and six Myanmar nationals, including Myanmar National Human Rights Commission chair U Win Mra. The nine-member commission has been tasked with finding preventive measures for conflicts; ensuring humanitarian assistance, rights and reconciliation; establishing basic infrastructure; and promoting development plans in the state. On August 24, the State Counsellors Office released a statement saying it would soon be signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kofi Annan Foundation about the commission, but did not specify a date. One day after the statement was released, the Arakan National Party (ANP) called for abolishing the commission led by Kofi Annan. The ANP accused the government and the newly created commission of being biased against Rakhine ethnics. Our party strongly rejects the three international persons, who lack knowledge about the history and status of the Rakhine ethnics, in the commission, the ANPs statement said. The work of the commission will not be trusted by us. The statement [by the government] will cause not only the loss of the rights of all indigenous ethnics, but will also have a negative impact on the states sovereignty, the statement said. Thirteen Rakhine State MPs signed a letter sent to the state parliamentary Speaker calling for an emergency meeting to discuss the commission. We assume that the new governments action will have negative results for the country and the people as they give priority to tackle this sensitive Bengali issue instead of paying attention to the more pressing issues such as securing a state of peace, development and unity among ethnic groups, said U Tun Aung Kyaw, general secretary of the ANP. The Union Solidarity and Development Party echoed the ANPs statement, saying that inclusion of the international outsiders could render an internal state issue an international affair. The USDP said the government is neglecting national interests and security by concentrating on human rights issues. The former ruling party also pledged to act as a watchdog over the commission. The objection to the commission has also gained traction with the National Brotherhoods Federation, an alliance of 22 ethnic parties. We dont like international involvement in addressing our internal issues. We should solve our problems ourselves. Thats why we say frankly that we dont like the participation of the three international persons [on the commission], said Saw Than Myint, a spokesperson for the NBF. The previous administration was adamant that issues in Rakhine State were a sovereign affair, even as stateless Muslim Rohingya became one of the largest refugee populations and took to human smuggling boats in regional routes via Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Presidents Office deputy director general U Zaw Htay told The Myanmar Times that Kofi Annan was appointed head of the commission due to growing international pressure over humanitarian concerns in Rakhine State. The UN and the international community have heavily criticised the NLD-backed administration for not doing more to remedy the ongoing displacement and restrictions on the movements of the Muslim Rohingya in the first few months in office. The Rakhine issue is sensitive and the international community is interested in it. Thats why we are taking into account the role of the international experts, said U Zaw Htay. He added that Mr Annans international clout should bolster the reputation and credentials of the commission. He is trusted internationally, U Zaw Htay added. Regarding the questions of citizenship for the Bengalis, U Zaw Htay stuck to the credo of the controversial 1982 Citizenship Law introduced by General Ne Wins military regime. Existing rules and regulations are already in place, said U Zaw Htay. The newly formed commissions first task is to carry out an evaluation of the 59 points assembled by its predecessor, a 27-member investigation body headed by U Thein Sein, which had aimed to expose the real cause of sectarian riots that riddled the state in 2012. In May 2013, the prior investigation commission submitted a 186-page report focusing on issues such as humanitarian assistance for internally displaced people, citizenship, religion, security and administration, rule of law, and peaceful coexistence. We did our best. But the government failed to implement [the suggestions submitted by the commission], said U Thura, more popularly known as Zaganar, one of the commission members. Despite the criticism of the international experts heading up the new commission, U Thura said he is optimistic about the advisory body. Our commission was also strongly criticised even though it was formed with local experts and tried to produce a good report. Whoever takes up this task will be subject to criticism, he said. But the Rakhine issue is not just a local issue. Actually it is an international issue as our country has been lobbied by the international community. When the report was my responsibility, I had to go to foreign countries including Malaysia and the US and had to meet with Islamic organisations. So I think the participation and suggestions of international experts might be helpful in finding [internationally accepted] ways to solve the issue. Also Kofi Annan is very experienced in dealing with conflict and also is trusted and respected internationally. The commission led by the former UN secretary general will submit its findings within a year to the government through the state counsellor in a report that is slated to be released publicly. Additional reporting by Pyae Thet Phyo The Kachin Independence Organisation has agreed to participate in the 21st-century Panglong Conference which convenes in Nay Pyi Taw on August 31, according to a statement released by the group on August 27. The statement, signed by General Gun Maw, deputy commander-in-chief of the Kachin Independence Army the armed wing of the KIO said the groups participation in the conference comes in the spirit of cooperation with the United Nationalities Federal Council, and not because of pressure from the Myanmar military. Members of the UNFC committed last week to attend the conference following a two-day emergency meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The council is an alliance of seven ethnic armed groups, including the KIO. The KIO statement said, According to the UNFCs decision, 24 representatives from the KIO will attend the 21st-century Panglong Conference which will be held on August 31 in Nay Pyi Taw. The representatives are now preparing to participate. Although no decisions will be made at the conference, the KIO will attend to be part of the beginning of the renewed peace process, the statement said. Kuu Oo Yal, general secretary of the UNFC, said, Leaders from each represented group will make a speech. Thats the format of the conference, which is just the opening ceremony of the peace process. We dont expect many results its just the starting point. The UNFC will have 158 representatives at the conference, he said. Kachin humanitarian worker and recently released political prisoner Patrick Kum Ja Lee said the KIO statement indicated that the organisation was taking part in the conference because they are members of the UNFC. I think they also want the other ethnic armed organisations to participate, meaning the TNLA, the AA and the MNDAA, he said, referring to the Taang National Liberation Army, the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. The three groups have been engaged in active hostilities with the Tatmadaw since a major flare-up in February 2015 in the Kokang self administered areas. Earlier this month they had expressed interest in participating in the Panglong Conference but have not been invited to attend. Patrick Kum Ja Lee said he did not think the government was taking a sincere approach to the conference. The government has not yet revealed their intentions. [State Counsellor] Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the military are always talking about the Panglong spirit, but why dont they abide by the original Panglong Agreement signed in 1947? he said. Meanwhile, fighting continues in areas of Kachin and northern Shan states between the Tatmadaw and some ethnic armed groups. Ko Aung Myo San, a youth activist from Bhamaw/Bhamo, Kachin State, confirmed that fighting had occurred between the KIA and the Tatmadaw along the Myitkyina-Bhamo road in Waingmaw township as recently as August 27. On August 25, two villagers were injured when a skirmish erupted between the Tatmadaw and the TNLA in Namkham township in northern Shan State, according a TNLA announcement. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has invited religious leaders to an interfaith meeting in Nay Pyi Taw later this week. The hour-long discussion will take place at Kempinski Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on the morning of August 31, according to the invitation sent out by the Foreign Ministry. The UN secretary general will be in Myanmar to attend the 21st-century Panglong Conference. Leaders of six different religions, including Bahai and Jewish representatives as well as Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist delegates, have been invited to attend the interfaith discussion. The head of the national special assembly of the Bahai Faith of Myanmar, U Tin Kyaing, yesterday confirmed his intention to attend the gathering. According to what I was informed, they want to focus on interfaith issues in order to achieve civil peace in our country, he said. Two representatives from the Buddhist community, three representatives from the Muslim community, three representatives from the Christian community and two representatives from Hindu community have so far agreed to attend the meeting with the UN chief, according to U Hla Tun, one of the representatives from the Hindu community. The Myanmar Times was unable to confirm whether a Jewish leader had accepted the invitation. I think this is a good gathering because we can share with each other the perspectives of our religions and we will have the chance to talk about how to coexist peacefully in the country, U Hla Tun said. U Aye Lwin, one of the leaders attending the event on behalf of the Muslim community, also praised the UN official for convening the meeting,This event means the international community is focusing on freedom of religion and they considerately invited members of all different religions, signaling good progress, he said. On August 21, an interfaith peace prayer was convened at Yangons Chatrium Hotel in the lead-up to the Panglong Conference. Most of the leaders from that event are also included among the list of attendees for the upcoming gathering in Nay Pyi Taw. Mr Ban is expected to meet with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on August 30, just prior to the launch of the Panglong Conference. The UN chiefs last visit to the country was in 2014. Defiant residents have laid down a challenge to the Yangon Region government: If you evict us, we will return. The squatters insist they will not be driven from their homes because they have nowhere else to go. Their stance is a serious challenge to the regional governments insistence that it will not resort to the tactics of its predecessor in solving Yangons squatter problem, which included often violent evictions backed by a heavy police presence. On August 23, the government told more than 4000 people encamped about 3 miles (5 kilometres) from the Yangon-Mandalay highway to vacate their homes by September 5. The residents promptly called a press conference to announce that if they were displaced, they would reconvene on the site between mileposts 2 and 3 as soon as the bulldozers had left. If they destroy our tents in the morning without giving us anywhere else to go, we will go back the same evening and re-occupy the site, said community leader U Maung Naing. We dont have anywhere else to go. If the authorities offer us land, it has to be somewhere we can live. Its the governments job to look after the people. He said the unofficial residents had named their encampment Kant Kaw Kyun. Those living along the highway were evicted by the last government in December 2015, but returned to the same place afterward. They have named their settlements Aung Yadanar, Yadanar Aung and Kant Kaw Kyun and organised village development supply groups with donated funds. Many are from Kayin and Kachin states and Ayeyarwady Region, and were driven from their homes by joblessness, but struggle to survive in Yangon city. We just collect money from those who can afford it, said U Maung Naing. There was nothing before we came here, just forest. The village of Kant Kaw Kyun, in Hlegu township, was created in March 2015. The encampment comprises 547 plots covering about 1450 acres (580 hectares). It stands on land owned by the Department of Agriculture and originally intended for the plantation of lemongrass, though now it has been transferred to the Ministry of Constructions Department of Urban and Housing Development. There are 426 huts here. We have received notice to quit, but were not going to leave because we have nowhere to go, and because weve all contributed to building this village, said village leader U Pyone Cho. If they drive us away, well just keep coming back. The Department of Urban and Housing Development has threatened to take unspecified action against the squatters if they do not leave by September 5, department director U Yu Khaing told The Myanmar Times on August 24. The previous government tried to clear out the squatters from the area, but they came back. The number of squatters has now increased. They have been issued with a notice to quit, and if they fail to comply we will act in accordance with the law, he said. The Hlegu township administrative office said that they would respond to the residents refusal to quit the premises by taking action under the Lower Burma Town and Village Lands Act. Translation by Emoon and Thiri Min Htun Crowds gathered in Yangon and Mogok yesterday to demonstrate public support for the 21st-century Panglong Conference, slated for later this week. Hundreds of residents joined the activities at Mahabandoola Park in downtown Yangon yesterday, making it the largest such gathering so far in the countrys biggest city. The six hour-long event included poetry recitations, singing and speeches. In Mogok, Mandalay Region, the 300 attendees included displaced families from Kachin State, civil society groups and representatives from the Lisu National Development Party, the Taang (Palaung) National Party and the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party. There are ethnic armed groups surrounding within a 50-mile [80-kilometre] area of Mogok district. Refugees come often to Mogok when there are clashes, Ko Soe Htay, the Mogok event organiser, said. Refugee children are losing their future and their education. If we can cease fighting through this Panglong Conference then we can reduce money spent on fighting and instead invest it in sectors beneficial for development and rehabilitation. He added that a true resolution from the conference would entail more than just an agreement on paper, and would be inclusive of all ethnic groups. Li Tha Min, a Lisu national who took part in yesterdays welcoming event, said he hopes the conference results in better conditions for displaced families. I arrived just five months ago at the refugee camp in Mogok township. I fled to Mogok due to fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin, and the Tatmadaw and the Palaung in Momeik. I didnt take anything from home. So I have to beg from people to eat, he said. I want to live in peace. I have suffered from the fighting. Thats why I participated in the support event. Ko Tay Zar Htun, one of the youth organisers leading the Mahabandoola Park event, said the gathering had been in the works for a month, and that Kyauktada township officials had granted permission. We support Mother Suu and we want the peace conference led by her to be successful, he said. The 21st-century Panglong Conference, as the National League for Democracy has dubbed its central peace negotiation, will convene in Nay Pyi Taw starting on August 31. The five-day long conference does not include a formal role for CSOs or civilians, who have instead been instructed to submit letters to the participants prior to the event. There are wars happening all over the country and we dont want that. What we want is peace so we are delivering that message through these local gatherings, said Ma Thet Hter Oo, one of the volunteers at Mahabandoola Park. Translation by Emoon President U Htin Kyaw began a four-day trip to India on August 27 accompanied by his wife, Daw Su Su Lwin, several key ministers and senior officials. This is the presidents first state visit to the neighbouring country, and his arrival presents a critical opportunity for India to cement closer ties. President U Htin Kyaw comes to India as a guest of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, who will hold a banquet for the delegation. The visit follows External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs one-day trip to Myanmar on August 22, the first high-level official from India to visit since the National League for Democracy (NLD) came to power in April. At the time, Myanmar government officials told Ms Swaraj that they would not allow any insurgent group to use Myanmars territory to attack India. Ms Swarajs visit took place just days after the Indian Army had an encounter with militants from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) who were allegedly trying to enter the country from Myanmar. There were reports that the Indian army had crossed over to Myanmar to pursue the militants, but this was officially denied by New Delhi. It will be important for Indian leadership to continue engaging President U Htin Kyaws administration in substantive talks on cross-border security issues. The timing of the visit is good for both New Delhi and Nay Pyi Taw as the NLD government holds talks with several ethnic armed groups and prepares for the pivotal Panglong peace conference later this week. Though the NSCN-K is not currently engaged in talks with the Myanmar government, the Modi government could use this visit to discuss the group. President U Htin Kyaws visit also comes within a week of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyis own four-day visit to China, a traditional rival of India. During the China visit, the two countries signed agreements on economic and technological cooperation that will result in the building of two new hospitals and a strategic bridge in Kunlong, 32 kilometres (20 miles) from the Chinese border in northeastern Myanmar. China is a major trading partner with Myanmar, with total two-way trade amounting to over US$9.4 billion in the first 10 months of the 2015-16 fiscal year, according to Chinese media. In an effort to improve bilateral ties, Myanmar has agreed to review several suspended dam projects backed by China in order to determine a mutually agreeable solution. The Chinese leadership also assured the state counsellor that Beijing will continue to play a constructive role in promoting peaceful settlement of the decades-old armed conflicts in Myanmar. In light of these developments, India should seize the opportunity of President U Htin Kyaws visit to strengthen and enhance bilateral relations. In addition to cross-border security issues, there are three specific areas where India should seek to boost ties: the education sector, institution building and people-to-people relations. Few students from Myanmar, if any, attend Indian universities. The Indian government and educational institutions across India should do more to attract students from Myanmar, perhaps by offering scholarships or through exchange programs. Additionally, civil society organisations and the private sector should offer vocational trainings for short-term results. Second, institution building can be accomplished in a number of ways. For example, the Indian government should invite Myanmar politicians who are new to democracy to give them first-hand experience observing how a democracy works in a diverse and pluralistic society. Myanmar politicians should be allowed to observe parliamentary proceedings, and attend courses offered by Indian universities and think tanks on the theory and practice of democracy and federalism. The third priority, improving people-to-people relations, should be easily achieved. Not only do India and Myanmar have a shared border, but the two countries are also home to millions of people from the same ethnic community, separated during the creation of India and Myanmar in 1947 and 1948 respectively. Examples include the Kachin, the Kuki, the Naga and the Shan, who live alongside the India-Myanmar border. The two countries share a 1624-kilometre (1009-mile) boundary in four northeast Indian states Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. Despite this geographical proximity, cross-border contacts among ordinary people are relatively insignificant. During Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Myanmar in 2014, India agreed to build 71 bridges along the roads used by Indian buses. Bus service between Imphal and Mandalay, a distance of about 580 kilometres, was originally planned to start in 2012-13, but Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh launched it on December 9, 2015, as a trial run, which has not been resumed. Similarly, the first flight service between Myanmar and Manipur was introduced in November 2013, but never followed up because of immigration concerns. Though weekly direct Air India flights on the Delhi-Gaya-Yangon route and Golden Myanma charter flights to India were launched in November 2014, the connectivity between the two countries still remains very poor. Reliable road links, bus and train services, the introduction of visa-on-arrival facilities at the border, and regular flights are some of the key areas the Indian government could easily capitalise on in order to benefit its Act East Policy. Nehginpao Kipgen is an assistant professor and executive director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University. His books and article have been widely published in over 30 countries in five continents Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. Myanmar sometimes seems overwhelmed with challenges. With barely half a year in office, the new government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy is expected to expand the economy, move the peace process forward, address the situation in Rakhine State, engage regional partners and ASEAN, and generally improve foreign relations. Meanwhile, it remains constrained by an awkward constitution and an under-resourced administration. But while Myanmars challenges regularly make headlines, the countrys move to reform its national police and improve the rule of law is a hopeful step forward. The international community should recognise the value of these efforts and look for ways to expand support to the police. Currently, the police in Myanmar are severely overstretched and are largely unable to meet their mandate. Laws, regulations, strategies and training are outdated; facilities and equipment are old and often in poor condition; personnel per capita are the lowest in Southeast Asia and very low by global standards; and they are not present in some parts of the country where crime and related public security issues are most challenging. Acceptance of the police is also hampered by the fact women and minorities are severely under-represented. At the same time, the police are facing increasingly sophisticated transnational organised crime groups that benefit from the fact the country is the central hub for the heroin and synthetic drug and chemical trade in the Mekong region, and there are indications that other crimes including timber, wildlife and human trafficking are also expanding. Unfortunately, the police are unable to access parts of the country where ethnic armies and ceasefire agreements are in place and these issues are most pronounced. However, the tide may be turning. As part of an overall reform effort, the government has signalled its intention to reform and restructure the police to perform the crucial public service and law enforcement role that police serve in most other countries. The approach being planned is based on an in-depth assessment that we presented to international partners with the police chief in 2015. The importance of the chief speaking candidly about the need for reform as he did that day cannot be underestimated. The commitment to reform the police became clearer on May 16 of this year during a public event in Nay Pyi Taw, when the police chief recalled the importance of our assessment and endorsed additional UNODC recommendations to modernise the countrys police training academies, and he called for international partners to assist. While fixing a training system as antiquated as the one in place now will not happen overnight, the intention is that current officers and new recruits will learn about modern approaches to policing and different crimes, and what it means to engage and serve the public in line with international standards. Importantly, reforming the police force in Myanmar will also contribute to resolving other challenges facing the country. For example, ensuring the police shift from a force to service approach will ultimately increase trust between citizens and state, which is essential if the government wants to engage in and stabilise regions where the police are not able to perform their duties. Research we have conducted reveals that police forces, when given the training, resources, support and opportunity, have the potential to become professional and respected organisations with a focus on service and results. Police officials also express an eagerness to implement modern policing methods in-line with international standards when given the chance. Police reform has the potential to help Myanmar on its path toward stability, peace and prosperity. As the government of Myanmar is seeking to enter a new relationship with its citizens, the international community should embrace this opportunity and provide support. Jeremy Douglas is the regional representative for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Southeast Asia and has been working intensively with the Myanmar government on police issues the past three years. Yeah, there is more. Just like The Donald says, the media is profit driven, and cares more about making money than accurately reporting news, especially news concerning politicians. How could you leave that out? Popular Ghanaian blogger Ameyaw Debrah has waded into the recent ongoing debate about the decision by the President to release the Montie 3 who were jailed for contempt last month. Ameyaw Debrah appearing on the most watched satirical talk show in Ghana, Tonight with Nii Kpakpo Thomson on Viasat1 last Friday did not mince words in criticizing President Mahamas decision to release the Montie 3. President Mahama remitted the sentences of the Montie 3 last week after they served part of the prison sentences imposed on them by the Supreme Court of Ghana. The three who were sentenced on 27th July 2016 were released on Friday, 26th August, a decision which has sparked an intense debate in Ghana. In addressing a question by host of the Tonight Show, Nii Kpakpo Thomson about his position on the Montie 3 release, Ameyaw Debrah insisted that it was a clear abuse of power and described the decision as in bad taste. My issue is that I think it was too soon for them to start doing a petition and it was too soon for the president to pardon them. In the minds of any person, it is clear abuse of power. I think the president doing that at this stage undermines that judges and I think it is in bad taste. Ameyaw Debrah who is noted to be very forthright in his views however indicated that, had the president allowed the Montie 3 to have served a bit more of their time in jail, it wouldnt have generated the kind of outrage we have witnessed. Maybe if in one month or two months [to their release] he gave them the pardon, it would have been less much of an issue. Catch a repeat broadcast of Tonight with Nii Kpakpo Thomson this Tuesday at 11am and watch the main show every Friday at 9pm on Viasat1. Sarkodie had a successful concert somewhere in March this year with Shatta Wale also performing at the same venue on Friday, August 26. Pundits have started comparing how mega the two shows were taking a lot of factors into consideration. Dennis Tawiah, CEO of Akwaaba UK, organisers of both concerts has given an account of the two shows. He said attendance for Shatta Wales concert was almost full to capacity. Speaking on Peace FM, the event organiser disclosed that both events had event goers showing up to have fun. When asked if attendance for Sarkodies concert was up to Shatta Wales, which happened on Friday, he said no. Not full to capacity but attendance was perfect, he said. Mr Tawiah who could not give figures quickly gave reasons why attendance for both shows varied. March is winter time and August is summer time so sometimes you have to measure both but I would say the shows were wonderful adverts for Ghana, he said. He further asked Ghanaians not to compare the two shows but rejoice in order to make our artistes proud. Sorry, we can't find the content you're looking for at this URL. Managing Director of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) has called on government to create an enabling environment for businesses to drive economic growth. Francis Agbonlahor says as a significant contributor to the development and prosperity of a nation, the private sector required the right atmosphere to thrive. He was speaking at the Ghana Economic Forum held in Accra. The Ghana Economic Forum is an annual event that brings together industry Chieftains and thought leaders in civil society to discuss and debate key issues affecting the Ghanaian economy and proffer solutions to enhance the achievement of the countrys economic development plans. This years discussion focused on a Ghanaian owned economy and as the leader in Ghanas beverage industry, GGBL contributed its perspective to participants. An enabling environment comprises a stable political and economic regime, the right infrastructure such as accessible roads, consistent and reliable supply of utilities and support systems especially for Small and Medium Enterprises. Also critical as a country is the need to develop the human resource capacity of government and its agencies to equal todays business demand and challenges. He also encouraged government to provide enabling and targeted policy and maintain open dialogue with industry. These, he said, will enhance the growth of the private sector leading to economic prosperity. In Ghana, GGBLs local raw material sourcing initiative developed on the back of government policy, has seen the creation of sustainable livelihoods for local farmers and their families, a testament to the difference an empowering government policy can bring to the economy. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited has received authorization from the Bank of Ghana to be an approved Primary Dealer (PD) in the purchase and sale of Government of Ghana securities under the new wholesale auction system. This authorization allows the Bank to purchase Treasury bills and bonds in bulk at the weekly primary auction and on-sell them to individuals and corporate investors and holders in the secondary market. The authorization offers an exciting opportunity to customers and non-customers of Fidelity Bank to buy and sell Treasury bills or bonds at so much ease and comfort now. Customers are now able to contact any of the 75 branches of the Bank nationwide and make their purchases of treasury bills and bonds. The Bank is ever ready to offer investors competitive rates on their Treasury bills and bonds purchases or pay cash within minutes of selling their bills and bonds to the Bank. Mr. Jim Baiden Deputy Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Jim Baiden, noted that, the selection of Fidelity Bank as a Primary Dealer affirms the Banks credibility and sound record as an accomplished securities dealer over the past several years. He stated that, the authorization is a step in the right direction towards the Banks ambition of becoming a world class bank pursuing high standards in banking. He further added that the Bank will continue to improve its service delivery by focusing on the needs of customers and optimizing existing processes to match global standards. "As a matter of priority, we will be focusing on evolving technologies that will define the future of banking. We will also increase capacity levels across all departments and branches to ensure that the Bank is well resourced and ready for the future. We believe with the support of our customers, we will achieve our aim of becoming the preferred indigenous Bank rendering world class services to our home based customers," Mr Baiden said. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com The Ghana Health Service is taking steps to decentralize specialist training for medical officers, reveals Director-General of the Service, Dr. Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira. He says medical personnel will no longer leave their duty posts for studies elsewhere. According to him, the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons has signed an MOU to work together in a bid to decentralise specialist training programme at the districts. He said the Service has begun with specialisations in Family Physician. Dr. Appiah-Denkyira is confident the decentralisation move will improve healthcare delivery, especially, in rural communities. Addressing an oath swearing ceremony for the Medical and Dental Schools of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the GHS Director-General urged the university to adopt hospitals in the district as training centres. 176 newly-trained medical doctors - 98 males and 78 females graduated. In addition 19 dental surgeons, eight of them females were inducted. It is time to extend the school to other sites other than KNUST. Mampong, Agogo, Sunyani, Brekum and Techiman come in handy as outpost training sites, he said. The spark of the ceremony was the announcement of two females as the overall best students for both groups. Fatimah Karim swept 12 out 15 awards at the School of Medical Sciences to emerge the ultimate. For the Dental School, Louisa Ansong Kwakye won all but one of six honours up for grabs. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso advised the new doctors to look beyond their degrees. Prof Obiri-Danso urged the newly graduated doctors to improve themselves even further. Being a medical officer alone cannot carry you as far as you would wish. You need to take your professional practise seriously, work to become members of the council and if there is the need for further education, pursue it,Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso admonished. And I heard them both....When they said it..in real time with no other knucklehead reading something else into it.....8/17 Limbaugh commented on a news article where the Obama Administration was offering financing to Lesbian to get into farming...That right there would make me say "Why are they getting preferences??"....A week later the moonbats are running around with their hair on fire because Limbaugh had the temerity to comment on something that is none of his business....How dare he!! On the 25th he rebutted the attacks against him and that was in the video that was a montage of the rebuttal. It was put together to justify the original slander of Limbaugh.. Where Obama's remarks were extremely insulting to those people who struggled and sacrificed to build their business.....But very few people noticed it and it just went right over the heads of the low information voters.. They were more worried about Romney's folders with women in them... Millions of Ghanaians could lose access to treated water due to the impending closure of three major water treatment dams due to the activities of illegal mining, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing The dams in question are the Barekese dam, the Kyebi Treatment plant and the Daboase water treatment plant. The effects of the activities of galamsey operators around the plants have compelled management of these plants to shut down the dams to prevent it from total collapse. Speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Abraham Otabil, lamented that the activities of these illegal miners is making it difficult for the various plants to operate. The activities of galamsey operators have become a source of worry. As soon as the Minister visits the site, then these operators run into the bush; but whenever we return to our various offices, these guys come back to operate, he said. He confirmed that the Kibi water treatment plant is giving an indication that within the next few days, if nothing is done, the treatment plant will be shut down. As we speak now, Barekese in the Ashanti Region is being threatened seriously. We are looking at the Daboase Plant which is also seriously under siege by these galamsey operators, Mr. Otabil lamented. Farmlands also suffering effects of galamsey Illegal miners are reported to have destroyed large swathes of cocoa farms at Bepotenten and Gyamang, two farming communities in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region. The levels of devastation have resulted in some residents abandoning their farming activities and relocating their families to other communities to prevent them from falling into the open gullies dug by the illegal miners. A Chinese woman, identified as Madam Asia Huang, is said to be the lead operator, working with some Ghanaian collaborators.The Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has since commenced investigations into the alleged illegal mining activities. By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana Supply of potable water in the Central Region is expected to hit 78 per cent average by December 2016, Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing has said. The Abrem Agona Water Project in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipality, when completed, would solve the perennial water shortage faced by residents in some parts of the region. The current regional water coverage stands at 68 per cent. The Minister made this known when he paid a working visit to the Brimsu Water Dam and the Abrem Agona Water Project currently under construction to assess progress of work on the project. The project, which is expected to benefit more than 400,000 people in the Cape Coast Metropolis and its surrounding communities, would primarily inter-connect the two water systems at Sekyere Hemang and Brimsu. About 3.1 million gallons of treated water from Sekyere Hemang would be supplied to the two water wells at Abrem Agona and subsequently made available to areas with supply from the Brimsu head works. Works on the water supply project, which is being undertaken with support from the Netherlands Government under its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme, was likely be completed ahead of schedule in December. Interacting with the media after his visit, Dr Agyemang-Mensah said water supply for the Cape Coast Metropolis and the neighbouring KEEA Municipality improved after completion of the 6.6 million gallons daily capacity water treatment plant at Sekyere Hemang. He, however, said during the dry season when the level of water in the Brimsu Dam was low, Cape Coast and its neighbouring communities experienced acute water shortage. He said the Government was committed to investing in water infrastructure to ensure access to potable water for all Ghanaians by 2025 through some interventions put in place. Dr Agyemang-Mensah also visited the Kwamoano/Amarkrom and Nyinabontoa water supply system, a sustainable rural water and sanitation project, which was commissioned last year with a nine-member management team. Aside the water supply system, government has also constructed 18 boreholes in 18 communities in the Hemang Lower Denkyira District in a bid to address the water problems there. Some thirty nine female pilgrims from Ghana have been repatriated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Pilgrims Affairs Office, Ghana (PAOG) regret to announce the repatriation of some 39 female pilgrims from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a statement from the Pilgrims office said. According to the statement, those repatriated comprised of 9 minors and 30 others categorised as being without guardians because they are less than 40 years. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requires that all ladies less than 40 years old be accompanied by an adult male relative. The statement however said PAOG is working with immigration officers and the Saudi Ambassador to Ghana to rectify the problem as soon as possible. Insha Allah It is our hope that when it is done the affected pilgrims will return to continue their pilgrimage, the statement added. Hajj pilgrims fly to Mecca The first batch of 500 Muslim Pilgrims were flown directly from the Tamale airport to Jedda, Saudi Arabia on August 19, 2016. According to the Hajj committee, about five thousand pilgrims are to fly from Ghana to Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj pilgrimage. By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin 29.08.2016 LISTEN The human being is comprised of three entities, and these entities work in a symbiotic relationship to surround the individual with an aura or astral energy to protect the person from elemental spirits or the elemental rascals. It would be suicidal to deny the existence of these elemental spirits at your own peril. The total well- being of a human being depends on the protection from these powerless elemental spirits who are the sole vehicles used by destructive witches in African Cosmology. The synergistic relationship among the three entities in human beings engenders spiritual awareness, healthy lifestyles, empathetic outlook in life, and prosperity in all spectrum of human existence. It is then appropriate to throw light on the three entities that make up the human being to enable the reader assess her or his intrinsic spiritual powers. The human being is comprised of the physical body, soul, and spirit. The physical body is composed of particles called, atoms that are part of our planets, the sun, the stars and the galaxies. It must be borne in mind that atoms throw off waves that cannot be detected by our naked eyes. The same hydrogen atoms that fuel the sun and stars do also fuel us, as human beings. The atoms in us communicate with the galaxies in wave form in conjunction with our consciousness, the soul. The imagination of our mind or soul corresponds to reality, and it can be evil or good. Herein resides our creative forces as Homo sapiens to procreate with the Cosmic Powers for the betterment of the world. It is demonic as a human being to be a mere consumer without using your creative powers to improve on the lives of our people. The human spirit is the ether or the astral entity and it works with our atoms and the mind, to bring into existence things that do not exist. In fact, our astral entities takes on our consciousness or our imaginations to travel anywhere in the universe. It is our energy beam that can penetrate through solid, liquid, and gas; and this writer also posits that everything in the universe possesses this astral entity. Rivers, trees, minerals, metals, stones, shrubs, mountains, animals, oceans, moons, planets, stars, and galaxies also possess astral entities. You have the astral power in you and you are going to learn how to re-activate such powers to protect your family. The Cosmic Energy revealed The Golden Truth to our Ancestors and it is about time to transmit this Divine truth to our people to empower themselves to put an end of the activities of witches forever. It is my duty as Illuminati to help terminate the scourge of witchcraft menace in Africa through Africa Cosmology. Witches can use only elemental spirits for their nefarious activities, they are incapable to tap into the astral powers in our Ancestors, trees, rivers, oceans, mountains, planets, stars, moons, suns, and the galaxies because they are Pure and Divine. You have enormous astral powers on your side than the elemental spirits that witches employ for their evil activities. Now let us throw some light on these elemental spirits. They are the spirits of people who met their untimely deaths whose spirits are incapable to join their ancestors in the bliss of our Sun. These elemental spirits are jealous of your existence on earth; and they are hovering around us with a strong desire to be with us but it is impossible without their physical bodies. Their consistence desire to be with us on earth has resulted in a strong gravitational pull on them to be within in our atmosphere. These are the miserable and jealous elemental spirits the witches are employing to torment the weak in spirit among us. Indeed, it is our bounden duty to perform divine rituals on behalf of these elemental spirits to free them from our atmosphere to enable them to join our Divine Ancestors in their Awesome Bliss. The witches are also our people and they need our help to free them from the influence of the elemental spirits. My fellow Africans, the proliferation of alien religions such as Christianity, Islam, and many others have not been able to stop the witchcraft phenomena in Africa. In fact, the witches are breeding exponentially in these Churches as well as in the Mosques. Witches are powerless but they are thriving in Africa because Africans have rejected their authentic Spirituality based on African Cosmology. My people, ask your so-called men of God in your Churches and Mosques to explain to you why the three most important Personalities in the Bible, namely, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus Christ had to spend long period of time in their existence in Africa before all of them became somebody? Every one of them was taught by your Ancestors in regards to the notion of God, Spirituality, and Immortality. Please, start to pour libation using water alone and calling on your Divine Ancestors, Rivers, Mountains, Trees, Oceans, Moons, Mother Earth, Planets, Stars, and Galaxies and say Amen-Ra Three times in the Morning and the Evening. I encourage you to talk to Rivers, Trees, Mountains, Ancestors and experience miracles ion your life. REV. YAW OBENG-ADUASARE, M.DIV. STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK AUGUST 26, 2016 29.08.2016 LISTEN The organizers of the much awaited awards show for students nationwide dubbed *'National Students Awards'* have finally settled with a convenient date. After several days of waiting in high spirits, the awards night has been scheduled on the 17th of September, 2016 at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Lagon, Accra at exactly 6:30pm. The awards scheme rewards students accross the country most especially, tertiary students who have distinguished themselves positively in so many ways. According to the organizers, this year's awards night will be of the biggest ever since they very optimistic that professional justice will be proven in all categories competing for. Confusion marred the Limited Voter Registration exercise at the Tema Regional Office of the Electoral Commission (EC) when the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover prevented some persons suspected to be Burkinabes from registering. The Tema East parliamentary candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC), Robert Kempes Ofosuware, allegedly led the six supposed foreigners to register. But the incumbent MP foiled their supposed plan upon hearing the information which led to misunderstanding between the supporters of the parties at the venue. It took the intervention of police personnel from Tema Community 1 District Headquarters, led by their Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dominic Agbozo to calm tempers for the registration to continue peacefully. Interestingly, three of the suspected foreigners disappeared from the area some few minutes upon seeing the police, raising suspicion in the area. The remaining three remained in the queue to go through the process and were challenged by the agent of the MP. Mr Titus-Glover, speaking to the media, disclosed that the registration of the 'foreigners' would lead to commotion in the area. He disclosed that he would do everything possible to stop the suspected foreigners from registering to vote in elections in the country. The MP promised to use all legal means to defend his seat, adding that members of the NDC were scheming to capture the seat from him. I would do everything within the limit of the law to prevent these guys who are not Ghanaians from registering. I will resist registration in all forms because we cannot allow foreigners to determine our fate in Ghana, he stated. On his part, Robert Kempes Ofosuware, denied bringing foreigners to register, stressing that the people were all Ghanaians. He stated that his opponent had employed mechanisms to stop people from registering as part of his agenda. I don't know what is wrong with Titus; he has his own agenda which I would not want to be part. If he thinks these guys are Burkinabes, he should use the legal means to prevent them. I don't know why he doesn't want to do so, the former Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) added. According to him, the incumbent MP should not physically stop people from registering. The people are not foreigners since they have the guts to join the queue to register, he disclosed. Constituents from four constituencies- Tema East, Tema West, Tema Central and Kpone-Katamanso are undertaking the registration exercise at the Regional Office of the EC in Tema. From Vincent Kubi, Tema Umaru Djagana, the Fante New Town Assemblyman 29.08.2016 LISTEN Tension is brewing in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) due to an attempt by 71 out of the 135 total members of the assembly to impose a Presiding Member (PM) on the House. The 71 members reportedly met at the KMA Common Hall on Friday without the knowledge of other members and elected Abraham Boadi aka 'Opooman', Assemblyman of the Ridge Nhyiaeso Electoral Area as their compromised candidate for the PM position at the assembly. Other members of the KMA, led by Umaru I. Djagana, Fante New Town, Elliot Bannor, Atonsu Kuwait and Afranie Benjamin, Emena Boadi, among others, vehemently kicked against the election on Friday by the other 71 members, describing the move as illegal. They alleged that Kofi Senya, who failed to gain the required votes in his bid to become the PM, wants to impose his lackey, Opooman on the KMA so as to steer the affairs of the assembly clandestinely after he withdraws from the race. Umaru Djagana described the said meeting, which was called by Alexander Sarfo Kesse, Krobo Electoral Area Assemblyman, another staunch ally of Kofi Senya, as illegal and sternly warned that any attempt by Mr Senya to impose anybody on KMA would be strongly resisted. He also told DAILY GUIDE that per the standing orders of the KMA, it is only the Coordinating Director, Michael Ataogye, who is the secretary of the House that has the power to call meetings of the KMA. Umaru Djagana stated that members of the KMA are expecting the Coordinating Director to call a meeting during which Kofi Senya and Baffuor Agyei Kesse, the Adumhene, both contestants of the PM, would step aside for fresh nominations to be opened. He stated emphatically that the other members of the House do not recognize Opooman as the next PM of the KMA, stressing that the assembly ought to operate fairly and transparently in the election of the next PM for peace to prevail. Umaru Djagana stated that he and his group have the development of Kumasi at heart, adding that they only want to ensure that the necessary steps and regulations of the KMA are strictly are upheld. He urged Kofi Senya not to attempt to manage the assembly like his personal property. The Fante New Town Assemblyman appealed passionately to the KMA Coordinating Director to quickly summon a meeting to nominate new people and conduct a free and fair election to ensure peace and development. From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi There is every indication that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is bent on portraying the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a sick man after efforts to tag him as a divisive character had not washed. As part of the strategy as captured in the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) report on the NDC losing power the governing party, apart from leveling unfounded allegations against Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been attacking the personality of the NPP leader. The NDC appears to have contracted the US-based magazine called Africawatch, edited by Steve Mallory (real name, Raymond Poku), to perpetrate the diabolical agenda. The recent copies of the magazine had focused on Nana Addo. In what looks like a calculated plan between the NDC and Steve Mallory, DAILY GUIDE understands, the magazine is coming out tomorrow with a publication headlined, NPP campaign in jeopardyAkufo-Addo has cancer, to portray the NPP leader as not fit for the election, even though Nana Addo is on his feet campaigning in the Upper East Region as at last night. NDC Link The link between the NDC and Steve Mallory was revealed by one of the ruling party's communicators, Sam George, last Friday when he predicted without any equivocation on radio that the NPP campaign was going to grind to a halt by Monday (today) and that is exactly what the magazine has displayed in its latest edition 4,000 copies of which were flown in from the United States. Sam Goerge said boldly on Asempa FM's afternoon political talk-show, 'Ekosii Sen,' that the NDC was going to talk about the health status of Nana Akufo-Addo as well as delve into what he claimed to be the NPP leader's past social records. On the cover page of the magazine, Steve Mallory displays a photo-shopped picture of Nana Akufo-Addo to portray him as looking sick with dark spots. Scurrilous Agenda A source close to the medical team of Nana Akufo-Addo reacted to the publication, describing it as 'scurrilous. He is not suffering from any cancer. They have photo-shopped a picture of Nana Akufo-Addo making him to look sick, the source said angrily. Nana Akufo-Addo is fit and vigorous and is campaigning all over the country, the source added. NDC Magazine Africawatch is a preferred magazine by the NDC, using its editor to destroy the reputations of perceived opponents of President John Mahama and his NDC administration, just like Montie Fm. Recently, the same magazine published that former President Jerry John Rawlings was suffering from Parkinson's disease and DAILY GUIDE learnt that it was orchestrated by elements within the ruling party to cow the founder of their own party into submission. The publication got Mr Rawlings infuriated, threatening a court action. A source said the publication was done to spite their founder because they felt he was weighing too much influence on chiefs in the Volta Region, some of who had been complaining about lack of development in their respective areas, in spite of the fact that the region votes massively for the NDC. The party's stalwarts felt the founder might cause the chiefs and people of the region to vote against the ruling party in December. DAILY GUIDE further learnt that the NDC also appears to have facilitated the publication of the interview of suspended NPP National Chairman, Paul Afoko, by the magazine to portray the opposition party as divided, but the Dzifa Attivor ethnocentric comments rendered the publication useless. It will not be surprising if in the next few days the pro-NDC newspapers feed on what some NPP bigwigs have described as scurrilous publication by the magazine as part of the grand scheme to make Nana Akufo-Addo and his NPP look bad in the eyes of the public. DAILY GUIDE sources said as part of the NDC campaign strategy it would go all out on Nana Akufo-Addo to provoke him to react so that party activists would describe him as intolerant, using their media hirelings. President Mahama has been constantly attacking the NPP leaders after intended internal revolt instigated by the ruling party appears to have failed. V ice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur also dropped a hint over the weekend that the NDC would go all out to attack the NPP, warning that attacking and leveling allegations against President Mahama, especially describing him incompetent leader, would not go without being reacted to. Boot For Boot The NDC campaign spokesperson, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, said the NPP must first stop the insults if they want a clean campaign ahead of the December 7 polls. 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? she queried. 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, I am saying President Mahama is in campaign mood and has decided to meet the opposition boot for boot, she fired. Incompetent But the NPP insists that the president has been very incompetent in handling the affairs of the country. The party cited the management of the economy which it says President Mahama has ran down. According to the major opposition party, corruption and mismanagement have been the order of the day in the Mahama administration, having inherited an economy that was growing at 14 percent in 2009 and succeeded in driving it down to 3 percent in 2016. Mahama Has No Vision Nana Akufo-Addo, in his campaign tour of the Upper East Region, said it would be a grave mistake on the part of Ghanaians to retain President Mahama for another four years. According to the NPP standard bearer, the problems confronting the nation the rising cost of living, rising levels of unemployment, high utility tariffs, decline in agricultural and industrial output, amongst others are as a result of President Mahama having no plan, vision or action to address the problems of our people. Nana Addo therefore, stressed, It would be a mistake to continue with where we are now. So many of the important aspects of our national life, today, are all in retreat. Our economy is in poor shape; and I don't think there is any honest person in this country, today, who can say Ghana's economy is working well. It is not working well. Our industries are not working well; our agriculture is not working well; and unemployment amongst our young people is reaching record proportions. Akufo-Addo made these observations when he was addressing the Bolgatanga Traditional Council in the Upper East Region yesterday. By William Yaw Owusu New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has vowed to lead the NPP to insist on allowing the electorate to select their preferred candidate during the December general election. The count, the collation, the transmission and the declaration of results cannot and should not be more important than the sacred, God-given right of a citizen expressing his or her choice represented by the casting of his or her ballot, the NPP leader said in a statement commemorating the 3rd Anniversary of the ruling on the landmark presidential election petition. Supreme Court Judgement Exactly three years today, the Supreme Court delivered a 5-4 majority judgement on the election petition that challenged the validity of the results of the 2012 presidential election. The NPP, through Nana Akufo-Addo; his running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the party's then Chairman, Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey (deceased) filed the suit but a slim majority of the nine-member panel presided over by Justice William Atuguba, rejected the challenge and affirmed John Mahama as validly elected. Immediately after the judgement, Nana Akufo-Addo said although he disagreed with the court, he was leading the NPP to accept the verdict for the peace of the nation a move that earned him international acclaim. Message To Heart In his commemoration statement yesterday, the NPP leader said, The message from the majority on the court was clear, and to the effect that, regardless of the infractions or irregularities that might happen on Election Day, what happens at the polling station is sacred and results declared there will not be reversed. We, in the NPP, have taken that message to heart. Nana Akufo-Addo, who is currently on a campaign tour of the Upper East Region, said even though the sanctity of the ballot is and must be supreme, It is the expression of preference involved in the casting of the ballot that is sacred the rest of the activities are, at best, administrative exercises. Election Credibility The strength of any democracy is very much determined by the credibility of its electoral system. It is in our collective interest that we ensure that the rules and regulations for the conduct of elections are fair and transparent, and that we all develop respect for them. He added, There should be no lingering questions about the legitimacy of an election, and the winning candidate at the end of the process should receive the unalloyed support of all. That is how we can strengthen our democracy and the peace and stability of our nation. Bad Leadership According to Nana Addo, With three months to the holding of the December 2016 elections, our economy is in crisis; businesses are collapsing; the cost of living is unbearably high for the ordinary person; our youth remain without employment; our children are failing in their examinations; cash and carry is effectively back in our hospitals and we are experiencing strikes all over. God did not put us on this rich land to be poor. It is bad leadership that makes us poor. Nana Akufo-Addo articulated, I believe I can, in all humility, provide, with God's guidance and the assistance of a capable team, the leadership that is needed to return Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity, were the Ghanaian people to entrust me with their mandate. I am appealing to Ghanaians to repose their confidence in me in December, and together we shall make the Black Star of Africa rise and shine again. By William Yaw Owusu Oregon State Police released the name of the Albany man who was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 99E just north of Halsey early Saturday morning. Steven Griffin was 29. Authorities believe speed and impaired driving contributed to the crash. The crash occurred at about 3:30 a.m., according to police logs. The 2001 Nissan Pathfinder that Griffin was driving was traveling north when it left the roadway, rolled and came to rest in a field on the east side of the highway. Griffin was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. The wreck wasnt easily seen, and a passing motorist discovered the crash after noticing debris in the roadway at about 3:39 a.m. Medics who responded pronounced Griffin dead at the scene. The northbound lane of Highway 99E was closed during the investigation. I did not believe my ears when I first heard the news. I did not know whether to laugh, cry, scream or hold my tongue. I just didn't know what to do. He is finally letting his attack dogs out, I managed to say. The song that immediately came to mind was the hit by Bahamian group Baha Men, released in 2000 and titled, Who led the dogs out? If my memory serves me right, the song was about dogs, literal or metaphorical, which were let loose to disrupt a party. How the song made waves then! Upon second thought, I realized my reaction to the news was wrong. I shouldn't have been surprised at all. The writing was on the wall for all to see. There was no way President Ogwanfunu would have left his attack dogs to rot in jail. If you are still wondering, the Muntie 3 saga is what I refer to. The call on the President to invoke his prerogative of mercy in Article 72 of the country's Constitution soon after the Supreme Court's ruling; the petition book signed by Zu-za ministers and sympathizers; and the public handing over of the petition to the Council of State were all orchestrated. It was a well-orchestrated plan to delude me and my compatriots into believing that the pardon was a constitutional act by the President, when in reality it was constitutional lawlessness. Apologies to Atta Akyea! The Muntie trio was freed last Friday, and you need to see the jamboree that greeted the release. They were treated like heroes. Of course, they are heroes, aren't they? They are biegya heroes. Why then are some of my compatriots surprised that their release was greeted with such pomp and pageantry? Some of the expressions on the lips of the happy Zu-za sympathizers during the jamboree were, Man pass man, who born dog, JM is the man with the krakye powers, and who says man no dey? All the expressions mean one thing: President Ogwanfunu has succeeded in proving to all and sundry that he indirectly has the power to overturn any ruling by the judiciary, even from the Supreme Court. Lest I forget, did the Council of State really advise the President to grant the pardon, remission or whatever they want us to call it? Yes, I believe they did. The truth is that I wasn't even surprised and I would tell you why. Just take a close look at the membership of the Council. Do you see what I see? Do you see a great number of them wearing umbrella-embossed shirts and kaba? Don't tell me some traditional rulers are members of the so-called advisory body because you know more than I do that some of our traditional rulers are more partisan than politicians. With the likes of loud-mouthed Ama Chavez being members of the body, it becomes less surprising that the Council did find it prudent to give the President the nod to pardon. I've said this before and would repeat it here. The Council has outlived its usefulness. It is but a rubber stamp, which only does the bidding of the ruling party. The Council needs to be scrapped to save the country from wasting precious resources on the comfort of members of the mediocre advisory body. Many people have blamed the President for granting the pardon. Many others have also blamed the Council of State for giving the President a skewed advice. But I blame neither of the two. I lay the blame squarely at the doorstep of Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom and his PPP. Did I see you advertise a surprise look? I blame Dr Nduom and his party because they allowed the keep muntie 3 in petition to develop wings and fly away. I was on my way to sign the petition when news of its disappearance reached me. How could you, Paa Kwesi? If our petition had reached President Ogwanfunu, maybe, just maybe, the rubber stamp Council wouldn't have said yes to the first petition. It is sad that my dream of seeing the three serve their full term has fizzled into thin air. Talking about dreams brings to mind Koku's dream about Nana Addo being a president on another planet. Interestingly, Koku said he rather saw Ursula as the First Lady, and not Aunty Rebecca. Koku's allusion is as clear as daylight, isn't it? Well, we all do dream dreams, don't we? Since it is no crime to dream, I will share a dream I had last night with you. In the dream I saw Koku as the Communication Director at the Presidency. He was his usual arrogant self. But, yes, there was a 'but'. But he was always seen wearing pampers. He didn't say why, but your guess is as good as mine. While you guess, please be reminded that the attack dogs have been let loose to contaminate the atmosphere with their stinking breath. So let's emulate the Baha Men and sing, Who let the dogs out? Woof, woof, woof, woof. See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente! We wish we were not raising the issue about the number of law enforcement agents dragging the image of the agency in the mud. Unfortunately, given the rising number, we are constrained to return to it albeit regrettably and with a lump in our throats. What could account for the rising incidence of the impunity and nonsense when indeed other cases of similar dimension have made scathing headlines and attracted public opprobrium already? Why must we gloss over the fact that within a short period three or so many cops have been implicated in criminalities belonging to the underworld? We would not be serving our country's interest if we did not comment on this subject and pretend that all is well, much as we would have loved to be presenting a better picture of cops living up to the motto of the Ghana Police Service: Service With Integrity. Unfortunately, we are unable to do so because those making the headlines are doing so as a result of their odd conducts which do not inure to the interest of, unfairly, their hardworking colleagues but for who the Service would have been left with nothing by way of deference to its image. To such selfless personnel some of who suffer all manner of deliberate challenge their indefatigable efforts hardly recognized, we doff our hats and ask that they continue to serve their God and country for there are better days ahead when sincere service to mother Ghana would be seen and appreciated. As for the bad nuts, many of who have found their way into the Service as a result of the growing politicization of our institutions, someday their games would be up as others have had their cups already full and constitute subjects of discussions as we are currently doing. It is regrettable that to date we have not as a nation treated this growing incidence of cops engaged in criminalities as a national discourse and requiring remedial treatment. It would be important for instance, to point at the lowering of standards, especially doing background checks of persons desirous of joining the ranks of law enforcement officers. Sometimes we wonder whether there is sufficient appreciation of the powers bestowed upon police officers be they Other Ranks, Inspectors or Superior Officers. The cop, regardless his rank, has the power to enforce the law and in the course of this he is able to use discretions which could be positive or negative. That is why the man or woman being enlisted should not be the one who would go and buy a car from a dealer and end up using a dud cheque to pay. That is why the man or woman being enlisted should not be the one who is a known foot soldier of a political party and who is therefore, ready to lower the standards of the Service for partisan reasons and above all, being pushed into the system by a top politician of the ruling party whichever it may be. Many more lurking in the law enforcement institution would soon have their cups full and humiliated when they go ambushing bullion vans, making their godfathers in the ruling party disappointed. What a country! A top police officer stationed at the Airport District in Accra, Superintendent Felix Agbenyegah Anyidoho, who has been arrested, is facing administrative enquiry for allegedly engaging in fraudulent activities. Superintendent Anyidoho, the Crime Officer at the Airport Police Station, was said to have been handcuffed alongside a junior colleague of his and taken to the Police Headquarters last Thursday. His arrest followed incessant complaints to the Police Administration by some business people, especially vehicle dealers, that he was using his office to perpetrate fraud and theft. In one of such cases, he purportedly collected a 2013 Toyota Highlander from a car dealer under the pretext of buying it but vanished with the vehicle. He reportedly used his influence to block any attempt to investigate him. Supt. Anyidoho reportedly issued dud cheques on different occasions to the complainant, refused to release the vehicle when the owner said he was no longer interested in the deal and succeeded in preventing investigations into the case. Even petitions the complainant sent to the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) Unit of the Ghana Police Service and other follow-ups to the Police Headquarters fell on deaf ears, leaving the complainant Ernest Asare, a car dealer, frustrated. Narrating his ordeal to DAILY GUIDE, the complainant said about three months ago, a lady whose name he gave as Araba visited his garage near the Achimota overhead bridge in Accra and expressed interest in buying a Toyota Corolla saloon car from him. The lady then said her boyfriend- Supt. Anyidoho works at the Airport Police Station and had asked us to accompany her with the car to the station for inspection, Mr Ernest Asare narrated. He said, On our way to the Airport Police Station, the lady made a call to the police officer to the effect that we were on our way to the place and the policeman redirected us to the Polo Ground which is near the station and we met him there. Mr Asare said the officer then requested for another vehicle and he mentioned the Toyota Highlander (2013 model) to him which was yet to be cleared from the port. Mr. Anyidoho said he wanted to buy the yet-to-be-cleared Highlander and immediately asked us to send the Corolla back to the garage, which we obliged, the complainant posited. He said 11 days later he called the police chief to inform him that the Highlander had been cleared from the port, adding that the police chief asked us to send him pictures of the vehicle. The complainant said the crime officer then asked them to meet him at the Mile 7 Police Station at Achimota where he (complainant) said Mr. Anyidoho resides. On June 13, 2016, we went to the Mile 7 Police Station and met him where he took possession of the car and handed it over to his colleague Mile 7 crime officer and said he would ask his auto mechanic to come over and inspect the vehicle, Mr Asare disclosed. He said around 5pm the same day, Mr. Anyidoho telephoned him and said he was going to purchase the vehicle and asked them to meet him in his office at the Airport by 9am the following day. We met the officer in his office the next day where we agreed on the price at GH150,000 and he immediately issued two Stanbic Bank cheques in GH80,000 to be cashed on 24/06/16 and GH70,000 to be cashed on 29/07/16. He said the first cheque bounced so the officer called them and pleaded with them and issued another set of cheques to be cashed at the UBA Bank. He said the UBA cheques were GH50,000 to be cashed on 06/07/16 and GH30,000 meant to be cashed on 12/07/16 but the first cheque again bounced. Mr Asare claimed that the officer is operating a car stealing syndicate that clones chassis numbers of vehicles to prepare fresh documents and use them to perpetrate fraud. The complainant also said that at one point Mr. Anyidoho brought his in-laws from Kumasi to plead on his behalf to give him until July 30, 2016 to pay the money but reneged on the promise. When DAILY GUIDE contacted the officer early last week, he promised to pay the money by last Saturday but the complainant said it had not been paid yet. By William Yaw Owusu On the 27th day of July 2016, Ghana recorded another event which is believed to have already cemented its place in the annals of Ghanas politics. With partisan and intellectual discourse blended together, many believes the action of the president to pardon the Montie3 would have an effect on him and his government as Ghana prepares for yet another historic election. On the other hand, some also have contrary views. They believe the fortunes of the president would not be tampered with considering that a good number of people are happy with his action, and also, the belief that the President acted in accordance with the constitution of Ghana. If my memory would serve me right which I believe has never failed me, a group of Ghanaians petitioned the president to invoke article 72 so as to grant the montie3 a pardon, or otherwise remit their punishment. This created a debate, and indeed many waded into the debate. Senior citizens, legal practitioners of all sorts, student, traders, and professionals of various fields and a host of others were all actively involved in such debates. On the 26th day of August, after spending a month of their 4 month sentences were released. Lest we forget, it was in accordance with article 72(d) of the 1992 constitution, which gives the president the powers to remit punishments of any kind. This had caused pandemonium and razzmatazz among supporters of the NDC. Ok, that was just by the way. My interest and reason for this article is regarding a young man called Salifu Maase a.k.a Apostle Mugabe. Earlier yesterday I was informed he would in a few days return to the studios to continue his usual program, Pampaso. Mugabe is a seasoned journalist with 16years experience. But, it appears the release of the Montie3 seem a death sentence imposed on the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Ever since the process to get the montie3 pardoned, the New Patriotic party kicked against that, and in their own wisdom, predicted an electoral defeat for H.E John Dramani Mahama come December 7th if he tries to release them. After the release of the Montie3, they still continue to sing the same song. In this case I get confused, and begin to ask myself whether the NPP still want to remain in opposition. If you think the president would lose the election for such an action taken by him, why not jubilate either that complain like a death sentence imposed on you? When has the Npp become apostles for John Dramani Mahama? I am not a Jewish prophet nor related to one, but I foresee a wounded lion in Apostle Mugabe. I see the second coming of Mugabe as a disaster for the New Patriotic Party. I foresee his second coming become a serious cause for the NPP to mourn. The return of Mugabe a wounded lion or a friendly friend? Mahama Socrates Samuel 0269007574/0247695148 The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that claims by members and apologists of the Mahama government that he is suffering from cancer will not derail his ambition. According to Nana Akufo-Addo, in the face of an abysmal record in office, which has led to widespread hardship and suffering amongst the people, the only option left for the current administration is to embark on an abusive campaign against him, the latest being that he is suffering from cancer. First they said I was a drug addict, it didnt work. They said I was sick, it didnt work. They said I was too old, it didnt work. They said I was a hunchback, it didnt work. They said I was a dwarf, it didnt work. They said I was in a wheelchair, it didnt work. They said I am a murderer, it didnt work. They said I will die in June, it didnt work. They said I was a dictator, it didnt work. They said I was intolerant, it didnt work. They said I was violent, it didnt work. They said I had a secret agenda to destabilise the country, it didnt work. Now, they say I have cancer, it will not work, Nana Akufo-Addo told members of the Bolgatanga Traditional Council in the Upper East region on Sunday, August 28 during his campaign tour. Nana Akufo-Addo added, it appears the only way the President will get a third term is when I am sick or I am dead. That is the only ground on which he will get his third term. Cataloguing a litany of President Mahamas broken promises, Nana Akufo-Addo recounted how the NDC promised a one time premium for the National Health Insurance Scheme, and have reneged on this promise, 8 years after making it. Worse still, the NPP flagbearer noted that not only did this promise not materialize, but they have collapsed the NHIS. He continued: He (President Mahama) told us he was going to build 200 community day senior high schools. According to his Finance Minister, he has been able to build 9. He told us in 2012 that dumsor will be over by 2013. We are in 2016, and dumsor is still with us in Ghana. President Mahama was here in the North last week, and not once did he speak about SADA, because SADA has become a monumental failure. 29.08.2016 LISTEN Government has announced plans to issue an estimated 25.3 billion cedis between August and December this year. Of the amount, 23.8 billion cedis is expected to be used to rollover forecast maturities with the remaining amount of 1.4 billion cedis being fresh issuance to meet government's financing requirements. A statement from the Bank of Ghana said, In accordance with the Government's MTDS, the Bank of Ghana, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, announces for the information of Primary Dealers, Banks, prospective investors in the domestic securities market and the general public, the revised Issuance Calendar for Government of Ghana Securities for August to December 2016. It also indicated that government would consider accepting a reasonable amount above the target to build buffers which would be used to reduce borrowing. Government explained it aims at continuing the objective of lengthening its debt maturity profile by reducing short-term borrowing, while issuing the 91 and the 182-day bonds weekly. Per the new calendar, 60 million cedis will be issued every 2 weeks for the 1-Year Note, through the primary auction. Settlement will occur on the first and third Mondays of each month. Also, the 2-Year Note will be issued monthly through the primary auction with settlement occurring on the second Monday of each month. While the 3, 5 and 10-Year issues will be done through the book-building method, with settlement on the last Monday of each month. An amount of GH400 million for the 5-Year Bond will be raised this month through reopening of the existing 5-year Bond at a coupon rate of 24.75% with maturity at 19th July 2021, and settlement on 29th August, 2016. Meanwhile the statement forecasts that the 1 billion cedi 5-Year Bond for scheduled for next month, may be issued partly in a United States Dollar equivalent Bond, with settlement on 12th and 26th September, 2016 for the cedi and US Dollar Bond respectively. By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana The National Chief Imam receiving the award from the envoy as his spokesperson looks on. The National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu last week received the Martin Luther King Award for Peace and Social Justice. The award is an annual gesture to alumni staff of tertiary institutions, groups and others whose activities promote peace and in line with the Martin Luther King's mantra of Service To The Community. US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Porter Jackson presented the award to Dr. Sheikh Uthman Nuhu Sharubtu at the United States (US) Embassy in Accra. The Chief Imam's spokesman Sheikh Armeyaw Shuaib in an interview with the DAILY GUIDE said this is the 9th edition of the award and that the Sheikh Sharubutu said he is receiving on behalf Muslims and all religious persuasions in Ghana. The cleric he said feels inspired, honoured and motivated to work for peace adding that he wants to see this virtue permeate Ghana, the African continent and the world at large. He made reference to a segment of the Holy Quran and Hadeeth to buttress his position when he said that God created human beings in their diversity to recognize and complement each other and not to engage in perpetual conflict and continual dispute that are generated by racial discrimination, religious disharmony and tribal discrimination. The cleric, he went on, called for collaboration, cooperation, solidarity and dialogue across different cultural, ideologies and political persuasions. This, he said, is the only means to guarantee real peace as he charged all political parties to eschew violent elections. God, he added, did not create us in diversity to be at each others' throats. The one who is seen as supreme in the sight of God is one who is supreme in his piety, the Chief Imam said through his spokesperson. The Holy Prophet, he said, pointed out that there is no supremacy among humans on tribal lines but by the fear of God stressing that we were created in diversity that we would appreciate our individual uniqueness. The US envoy praised the National Chief Imam for his peace building activities across the various faiths in the country. This, he said, is evidenced in his contribution towards the work of the Ghana Peace Council and humanitarian activities; the beneficiaries of which are the needy and the less fortunate in society. The cleric, he added, has established educational facilities and continues to be involved in peace advocacy all of which formed the basis for his recognition by the embassy. A woman died yesterday at the Hajj Village after a fall in the bath house where she had gone to wash up. According to the Deputy Head of the Communications Bureau of the Pilgrims Affairs Office, Ghana (PAOG) Amin Lamptey, the woman had accompanied a pilgrim from Kumasi who fortunately was part of the passengers aboard the ninth batch of pilgrims to be airlifted to Madina. A release he sent out yesterday read the entire Hajj Village was in state of shock this morning when a woman by the name, Rukaiya from Kumasi New Town passed away when she was preparing to travel back to Kumasi after one of her relatives succeeded in travelling with the 9th flight which took off at 5:10am this morning (yesterday) and landed this afternoon (yesterday) in Madina. The deceased, he went on, visited the washroom to clean herself up for a possible journey back to Kumasi when she slipped and fell in the process. She was pronounced dead by our Medical Officers on duty on their way to the hospital, he said. Some of her relatives who came along with her from Kumasi, he said quickly conveyed the body to Kumasi for burial yesterday. In another development, the Chairman of the PAOG, Alhaji Tanko Abdul Rauf Ibrahim has confirmed to the DAILY GUIDE that nine underage persons have been deported from Saudi Arabia having traveled by one of the earlier flights. It is being speculated that the teenagers were being sent to Saudi Arabia to stay on and join the teeming number of illegal immigrants in that country. The Saudi authorities knowing this trick appear to have mounted a special lookout for such persons and are quick to return them. The many Ghanaian Muslim illegal immigrants live undignified life in shanty areas of Mecca. They are usually hunted by Saudi immigration officials. They are unable to access hospital facilities fearing they could be arrested and deported for not possessing stay papers. By A.R. Gomda Five unnamed police officers at the East Legon Police station in Accra have been implicated in a $160, 000 gold scam and are being investigated by the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards (PIPS) bureau. The officers are alleged to be part of a syndicate that includes some unlicensed gold dealers. The alleged scammers reportedly sold a quantity of gold to a French national, Atrous Yazid and his partner for $160, 000 but before the buyers could leave the country, the alleged scammers forced and took the gold from them. Soon after we paid the money, three policemen in uniform, and two others in civilian clothes, jumped on us, beat my friend and took the gold from us and put us in cells for one day, Ringleader of the syndicate had reportedly been let loose. Yazid and his business partner say they are frustrated even though the PIPS Burearu have taken up the matter. This is coming at a time when there are continuing reports of police involvement in crime. Recently, an ex-police officer was arrested for allegedly taking part in an attempted robbery in Wa, the Upper West capital. The ex police constable, Ernest Koranteng, was part of a gang of highway robbers who attempted to snatch a motorbike from its owner. Last week two police officers were part of a botched robbery attempt of a GCB Bank Bullion van in Donkorkrom, in the Eastern Region. The officers were arrested but they escaped, a situation that kick-started clashes between unhappy residents and police force. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, ordered the withdrawal of his men from the town following the clashes. Fire has razed down the office of the Electoral Commission at Tepa in the Ahafo Ano North district of the Ashanti region Monday dawn. The fire which started around 1am, according to an eyewitness, Nana Yaw Dwomfour, has destroyed all valuable items in the office including the biometric verification machines (BVM). The cause of the fire is unknown, but eyewitnesses suspect arson. The fire started around 2am and we cannot tell exactly the cause of the fire but we are hoping the fire service will be able to establish the exact cause of the fire, whether it was an electrical fault or someone deliberately did it. The Tepa police command has commenced investigation to establish the cause of the fire. -starrfmonline Gov. Kate Brown has had a somewhat tortured relationship with Measure 97, the proposal on the November ballot for a corporate sales tax. First, as you might recall, she at least appeared to deliberate for a long time on whether to support the measure, which would impose a 2.5 percent gross receipts tax on certain corporations on sales in Oregon above $25 million annually. It's estimated that the tax would raise $3 billion a year, and proponents of the measure have said the money would be earmarked for K-12 education, health programs and senior services. (Of course, nothing in the measure forces the Legislature to spend the money on those areas.) In any event, the suspense over Brown's deliberations lessened somewhat when she announced her suggestions for how to spend the additional tax money should the measure pass. A few weeks after that, she announced that she would support Measure 97. By that time, the endorsement did not exactly come as a political bombshell. Still, we were somewhat surprised to receive a terse press release on Friday about the measure from the governor's campaign. Here's the complete text of the release: "In response to a press report this morning, Governor Kate Brown reiterates that she endorsed Measure 97 because she believes the vast majority of costs will appropriately be paid by out-of-state corporations. "As Governor Brown continues to point out, the campaign against Measure 97 is raising millions of dollars to fight it because corporations know this as well. " We were curious, so we tried to track down the report in question, and our best guess is that it refers to an interview OPB's Jeff Mapes did on Thursday with Brown. And we suspect the part of the interview that worried Measure 97 supporters was the governor's concession that Oregon consumers would pay more if the measure is approved, as businesses passed through at least some of their additional costs. That's a sore point for Measure 97 supporters, who have contended that the large corporations targeted by the tax would not pass along those increased costs. So it had to rankle to see the governor toss that argument under the bus: Oregonians are smart enough to realize there will be, um, they will bear some of these increased costs, Brown told Mapes. She did not say what share of the tax would be passed on to consumers. The nonpartisan Legislative Revenue Office has estimated that the measure eventually would cost Oregon households somewhere between $372 and $1,282 a year. To be fair, Brown still supports the measure, which she believes is the only "viable option" to adequately fund vital state services. And it would appear that sometime after her interview with Mapes, she concluded that the "vast majority" of costs would be paid by "out-of-state corporations," judging by Friday's statement. The question of who winds up paying the bill for Measure 97 will be a critical one as the campaign heats up. After all, if proponents can frame their case in terms that Measure 97 will "make Comcast pay," in the words of a pro-97 bumper sticker, that's potentially a winning strategy. But if the question becomes how much more an average Oregon household will pay because of Measure 97, that spells trouble for supporters. That's why Brown's burst of candor about the costs of the measure potentially could become an important moment in the campaign. But it could be that the governor is just saying what Oregonians have been "smart enough" to figure out for themselves. Two young ladies showed their class when they swept most of the academic awards at the School of Medical Sciences (SMS) and Dental School of the College of Health Science at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Dr Fathia Ayodele Karim was the overall best student at the medical school, while Dr Louisa Kwakye-Ansong was the best dental student. They were inducted into the medical profession by the Ghana Medical and Dental Council along with 174 other newly-qualified doctors of the School of Medical Sciences at a ceremony in Kumasi. Dr Fathia Karim, 25, made history on Saturday when she shattered the academic records of the school. The new doctor, a former student of the Wesley Girls' Senior High School, Cape Coast, grabbed 12 of the 15 awards available, making her the all-time best graduating student for the School of Medical Sciences since its inception over 40 years ago. She expressed her happiness for the academic success, giving thanks to God for the feat achieved. Even though she conceded that she worked for them, she least expected more than 10 awards. Dr Karim has, therefore, taken the laurels from Charles Djugbah who last year broke the 40 years record of the school by picking eight awards. Dr Louisa Kwakye-Ansong, also 25, picked six of the nine awards at the Dental School. An alumna of SOS Hermann Gmeiner College in Tema, among the list of awards received, bagged the conveted best student award from the Dental School. Induction The inductees, including 19 dental surgeons, had successfully undergone the certified medical training as required by the council and as such licensed to practice. They comprised 16 foreign students from Pakistan, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Benin, and this brings to more than 2,300 the number of doctors trained so far by the School of Medical Sciences since its establishment some four decades ago. Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, the new KNUST Vice-Chancellor, said the university had over the years worked assiduously to expand the scope of medical training to cover dentistry and veterinary, as well as herbal medicine, allied health sciences and public health. The development, he said, had contributed immensely to the advancement of healthcare in the country, mentioning that they were committed to producing highly-skilled health personnel for the benefit of the nation. KNUST, per an agreement signed recently with the Ghana Health Service, had been mandated to mentor all the health training institutions of the Ministry of Health (MoH). They encompass nursing and midwifery training colleges, community and environmental health training colleges, as well as health assistants' training schools across the country. Prof Obiri-Danso said the KNUST College of Health Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Modern Languages, had launched a novelty Twi medical glossary for clinical students and health workers. The booklet, funded by the Medical Education Partnership Initiative, a project of the university, is to facilitate learning by clinical students and also act as an aid for clinicians not conversant with the Twi or Akan language. The vice-chancellor expressed optimism that the initiative would help improve communication between the doctors, nurses, pharmacists and related health workers with clients in their clinical practice. Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), charged the inductees to demonstrate commitment to their work as mandated by the Hippocratic Oath. He urged them to be selfless, committed and dedicated in their practice in line with the medical profession which demanded that practitioners must have an unquestionable sense of duty. Professor Tsiri Agbenyega, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, stressed the need for the newly-qualified doctors to be receptive to their clients to enhance the patient-doctor relationship. Sirte (Libya) (AFP) - Libya's pro-government forces on Monday cornered Islamic State group jihadists in their last holdouts in the coastal city of Sirte, after heavy fighting that left dozens of dead and wounded. The battle for IS's North African stronghold was launched more than three months ago by forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). Loyalist forces have been backed by US air raids for almost a month, amid international concern over the jihadists' growing influence. IS overran the Mediterranean hometown of Libya's slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi in mid-2015, sparking fears the jihadists would use it as a springboard for attacks on Europe. Pro-GNA forces on Monday said they had encircled the jihadists in less than two square kilometres (0.7 square mile) of Sirte, after staging an assault the previous day on its last two IS-held districts. Fighting in Sirte The anti-IS fighters "seized a little more than half of district Number Three and 70 percent of district Number One" in the city's downtown seafront area, they said. At least 34 pro-GNA fighters have been killed and 185 wounded since they began their "final battle" to retake the whole of Sirte on Sunday, the hospital for the loyalist forces said. IS casualty figures have been unavailable. 12 car bombs The jihadists had deployed at least 12 suicide car bombs in a last bid to slow the loyalist advance, pro-GNA forces said. After sporadic clashes during the night, the front was calm on Monday morning, according to an AFP photographer in the city 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli. "Our forces are preparing to launch a new assault on the area where Daesh is encircled," said a spokesman for the pro-GNA campaign, Reda Issa, using an Arabic acronym for IS. Pro-GNA forces are mostly made up of militias from western cities that have sided with the unity government and guards of oil installations that IS has repeatedly tried to seize In June 2015, IS fighters seized Sirte, hoisting their black flag above the city's buildings. Pro-GNA forces fought their way into Sirte a year later, this June 9, but their advance has been hampered by snipers, suicide bombings and booby traps. More than 370 loyalist fighters have been killed and nearly 2,000 wounded in the battle for Sirte since May, according to medical sources. The pro-GNA forces are mostly militias from western cities backing the unity government of premier-designate Fayez al-Sarraj and the guards of oil installations that IS has repeatedly tried to seize. Backed by US air strikes since August 1, they managed to seize the jihadists' headquarters at the Ouagadougou conference centre on August 10, pinning down IS fighters near the sea. As of August 24, US warplanes had carried out 82 strikes, according to the US Africa Command. Since Tuesday, the United States has also begun using more precise AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters in the operation. 1,000 IS fighters The United States also leads a coalition fighting IS in Syria and Iraq, where the jihadists seized large swathes of territory in 2014. Analysts say ousting IS from Libya would be a symbolic boost for the country's fragile unity government, but unrest might continue as IS could carry out more scattered attacks across Libya. Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed government prepare their weapons in Sirte on August 28, 2016, for a military operation to clear IS jihadists from the city Before it was seized by IS, Sirte was home to some 120,000 residents, but a pro-GNA military leader said this month that all had fled except for the families of the jihadists. Pentagon spokesman Gordon Trowbridge this month estimated that jihadist fighters in Sirte numbered fewer than 1,000. IS took advantage of the chaos in Libya after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Kadhafi, as rival militias and authorities have vied for control of the oil-rich country. A UN-brokered deal struck in December led to Sarraj's unity government starting to work in the capital Tripoli, but it has since struggled to fully assert its authority over the country. The presidential council headed by Sarraj said last Wednesday it would present a new cabinet line-up in an attempt to secure the backing of parliament. The legislature rejected a previous line-up on August 22, setting a "final" time limit of 10 days for the council to propose a new cabinet team. In the face of questions about the feasibility of their latest policy proposal, the opposition NPP is maintaining that its one-village, one-dam policy in Northern Ghana is based on science and will be done. Agriculture doesnt happen without water, the Chairman of the Agriculture Sector Committee of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto told Joy FMs Super Morning Show Monday. NPP flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the policy whilst addressing the Bolgatanga Traditional Council in the Upper East Region. He said if voted into office in December, his government would implement a policy to sink a dam in every village in the three northern regions - Northern, three East and Upper West regions - as part of its measures to enhance agricltural productivity in the Savanna regions. Since the announcement, some critics have questioned the viability of the policy, saying it is simply too expensive and impracticable to build a dam in every village. Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Economics and Entrepreneurial Studies at the University for Development Studies, Wa Campus, Dr. Paul Kwame Nkegbe, said, "realistically, we do not need to create a dam at every village." He said currently there are existing dams which are falling apart because of lack of maintenance. These dams, he said, should be maintained to make them accessible to farmers, "then we will know exactly how many other places will need whether it's a micro irrigation scheme of a small dam." He said the cost of constructing a dam is simply too prohibitive it may not be possible to build one in every village. The NPP MP for Kwadaso in the Ashanti region disagreed. What Nana Addo is talking about are small community damsyou could even have two or three dams in a village. Uncertainty over number villages Dr Afryie was, however, unable to tell how many villages there are in the three regions which would benefit from the project. I wouldnt know how many villages there are because I dont want to speculate. The experts know the villages, he said on the Joy FM Super Morning Show. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said the one village, one dam policy of the NPP looks to replicate the agricultural successes of Burkina Faso. The Kwadaso MP said it is common to see seven, eight, ten truck-loads of onions from Burkina Faso lined up by the road in his constituency to do business in Ghana. The NPP believes that Burkina Faso has been successful because it has answered the question of constant water supply to farms. But there is uncertainty not only about the number of beneficiary communities, but also the cost and even whether it is a borehole or a dam. Dr. Afriyie Akoto recalled sinking a borehole at a cost of GHC 50,000 in his constituency and expects that the NPP proposal may cost less per project. He explained that the 1-village, 1-dam policy is not expected to be costly because the NPP is not looking at huge multi-million dollar dams associated with high cost of maintenance. In a submission that could generate further controversy, Dr. Afriyie Akoto suggested it may not be a dam but a borehole. A lot of it will be boreholesthese are low cost but strategically a very effective way of boosting agricultureIt is only digging a hole. It is nothing huge, he maintained. He said the three regions of the North have only one rainfall season to bank their fortunes of the farm lands on unlike the southern regions which enjoy two seasons of rain. If there is a failure in the rain season, there is a disaster he said and indicated that there are reports that failed farms have led to highly indebted farmers committing suicide. He said farmers need not be apprehensive about the rainfall in a farming season because Ghana has a favourable water table. The NPP policy is feasible because it is based on the science of the soil. It is also cost effective because building dams is not something that is going to require all the resources of the country to implement. Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|Edwin Appiah|[email protected] The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has recommended training for police and other security forces that is focused on protecting the safety of journalists, as part of efforts to prevent violent extremism (PVE) and countering violent extremism (CVE). The MFWA also called for accountability, particularly prosecutions, for crimes against journalists in order to enable journalists to feel safe about reporting on sensitive topics, including violent extremism. These recommendations were part of the MFWAs submission to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in line with the UN organs compilation of best practices and lessons on how upholding human rights can contribute to PVE and CVE. The submission expressed great concern that police and other security forces regularly violate the right to freedom of expression especially press freedom rights. The persistence of crimes against journalists, impunity and acts of censorship preventseven precludesthe media from performing its duty as a provider of information. For example, in Nigeria last year, the military attacked the media for reporting on the role of international assistance in Nigerias CVE strategy against Boko Haram. The attack led to widespread self-censorship among the media with regard to reportage on the anti-Boko Haram war. The MFWA made five major recommendations to the OHCHR: PVE and CVE strategists should understand the promotion of freedom of expression, including press freedom, as more than just a tool of PVE and CVE programming and efforts. Police and other security forces must receive human rights training, particularly on the need to respect and protect freedom of expression, including press freedom, and the safety of journalists. States should take steps to end impunity for crimes against journalists and the media generally. The lack of accountability, particularly prosecutions, for crimes against journalists creates a culture of impunity, facilitates future attacks and pushes journalists to self-censor on a range of topics, including violent extremism. States should build the capacity of journalists and the media to report on issues related to violent extremism, which entails creating an enabling environment for the media to perform its functions. The media must behave with increased professionalism, which will facilitate its ability to support and educate the public on PVE and CVE programming and efforts. Click here for the full submission by the MFWA . OHCHRs Compilation Report is a collection of best practices on how to combat violent extremism as part of the UN High Commissioners Action Plan on the issue. The report, which draws on inputs such as ours, will be released in September 2016. The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo-Dankwah Akufo Addo, has called for a change in leadership to ensure a turnaround in the countrys economic fortunes. In a statement to mark the third anniversary of the partys failed election petition following the 2012 presidential polls, Nana Addo said that the mismanagement by the current Mahama administration had resulted in the countrys economic woes. With three months to the holding of the December 2016 election, our economy is in crisis, businesses are collapsing, the cost of living is unbearably high for the ordinary person, our youth remain without employment, our children are failing in their examinations, cash and carry is effectively back in our hospitals, and we are experiencing strikes all over, the statement from Nana Addo said. God did not put us on this rich land to be poor. It is bad leadership that makes us poor He added that, an NPP administration led by him would provide the leadership needed to lift the country out of the crisis it is in. I believe I can in all humility, provide with God's guidance and the assistance of a capable team, the leadership that is needed to return Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity, when the Ghanaian people entrust me with their mandate. I am appealing to Ghanaians to repose their confidence in me in December, and together we shall make the Black Star of Africa rise and shine again, he said. Countrys democracy supreme Nana Addo reiterated his commitment to democracy, noting that his acceptance of the Supreme Courts final verdict on the petition despite his issues with it as a case in point. He believes that his and the NPPs acceptance of the verdict demonstrated leadership and a dedication to Ghanas democratic growth. I said on the day the judgement was delivered, that everything in my bones, in the way I was brought up and in how I have conducted my life thus far, made it imperative that I accept a decision of the highest court of our land, even though I might disagree with it. I thank the Lord that He gave me that inner strength to display the leadership when required, Nana Addo said. He urged all Ghanaians to respect the countrys democratic processes and adhere to all the rules governing the elections to ensure free and fair polls in December. It must be pointed out that the sanctity of the ballot is and must be supreme. It is the expression of preference involved in the casting of the ballot that is sacred the rest of the activities are, at best, administrative exercises. The count, the collation, the transmission and the declaration of results cannot and should not be more important than the sacred, God-given right of a citizen expressing his or her choice represented by the casting of his or her ballot. The strength of any democracy is very much determined by the credibility of its electoral system. It is in our collective interest that we ensure that the rules and regulations for the conduct of elections are fair and transparent, and that we all develop respect for them. There should be no lingering questions about the legitimacy of an election, and the winning candidate at the end of the process should receive the unalloyed support of all. That is how we can strengthen our democracy and the peace and stability of our nation. By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana 29.08.2016 LISTEN Former Trade Minister, Alan Kojo Kyeremanten, has disclosed that the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), will establish an industrial zone in every border town in Ghana if voted into office in the upcoming general elections. According to him, the NPP will establish industries in each border town, considering the economic potentials and economic prospects of those towns in order to create jobs and increase foreign exchange earnings through exports. Addressing a rally at Paga in the Chiana-Paga constituency of the Upper East Region, Mr. Kyeremanten said the NPP will put in place proper industrial infrastructure and expert personnel to man the industries to accelerate industrialization to drive development. In every border town in Ghana, if you vote the NPP to come to power, we are going to establish an industrial zone so in Paga here, it is going to be an industrial zone. Why are we talking about industrial zone, because next door to us is Burkina Faso, so with the kind of economy we are going to put in place in Ghana, if we develop an industrial zone here and put factories here we are going to produce and export to Burkina Faso and other countries in West Africa and this is where the jobs are going to come from Mr. Kyeremanten reiterated the commitment of the NPP to establish one factory in every district to create jobs for the people. This, he believes, will improve the countrys balance of payment rate, improve foreign exchange and reduce high foodstuff prices in order to avert the threat of food insecurity in the country. He said the NPP administration between 2001 and 2008, invested in selected crops such as tomato and cotton which led to the revival of the Pwalugu tomato factory; but the NDC government under President Mahama, has failed to maintain them, leading to their collapse. Every day, the Pwalugu Tomato Factory requires 25 trucks full of tomatoes to feed the factory. If the NDC had not abandoned the factory people in this region would have become very rich people by now. Before the NPP left office, we had been able to mobilize almost $60 million to build a groundnut processing factory. If that had become a reality and not been abandoned by the NDC people in the Upper East Region wound have had jobs Mr. Kyeremanten said with the right policies and programmes through eliminating corruption in the Ghana, more jobs will be created for Ghanaians and urged the people of Chiana-PagA to vote the NPP for change and for jobs in the upcoming general elections. Follow the hashtag #GhElections on Social Media for election related stories By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana The chiefs and people of Nkwanta North Traditional Area have blocked the stretch of the Eastern Corridor road that passes through their town, to allow them fix the road which is in a deplorable state. The closure of the road Monday morning has left hundreds of vehicles passing through the Nkwanta township to Yendi and its environs stranded. On Monday morning the paramount chief of the area, Nana Konja Tassan VI, stepped out of his palace with his sub chiefs and the people of Nkwanta to fix the potholes that have filled the stretch that passes through their town. Markets were closed to enable all to be part of the communal exercise being undertaking by about 2000 people. Sand tipping trucks in the area are carting sand and stones for the people to use in filling the potholes, a local reporter, Moses Onya told Onua FM He reports that the people have vowed to open the road to traffic only after they are done with their communal labour. He told Onua FM that the road has for some time been a deathtrap, and that the contractor working on the Nkwanta North-Bimbila-Yendi stretch of the Eastern Corridor road has abandoned the project. The Member of Parliament for the area was said to have delegated someone to order the chief and the people to stop the communal labour because contract has been awarded for the road to be done but that was disregarded. The Youth Chief of the town, Nana Labuer Kwabena said President John Mahama should not set his foot in the area to campaign since the road has been abandoned. -3news Kasserine (Tunisia) (AFP) - Three Tunisian soldiers were killed in an explosion set off by "terrorists" on Monday near Mount Sammama, a hideout for jihadists at war with the authorities, the defence ministry said. Defence ministry spokesman Belhassen Oueslati told Mosaique Radio FM that "terrorist elements launched an attack with a large quantity of explosives on a military patrol providing security for workers" tarring a road. Three soldiers were killed and seven wounded, he said, adding that two militants were believed to have been killed by army fire and their bodies removed. Mosaique FM radio said earlier that a blast hit a military vehicle as soldiers combed an area near the town of Kasserine. The violence came on the same day a new unity government took office in Tunisia with security among its top priorities. Jihadist attacks in Tunisia have cost dozens of lives among security forces as well as civilians, and 59 foreign tourists were also killed in 2015. Tunisian forces have been tracking jihadists mainly in the mountainous regions of Chaambi and Sammama, southwest of the capital Tunis. The Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body (GRIB) has launched its 3 rd Ghana rice festival, slated for October 7 and 8 2016. The festival, which is geared towards the promotion of quality Ghana rice consumption and its health benefits to consumers, is under the theme Eat Quality Ghana Rice For A Healthy Life while the slogan for the festival is Eat Ghana Rice !!! Its Fresh And Tasty!!! The ceremony was attended by the President for Ghana Rice Inter Professional Body, John Kennedy Imoro Amoo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation, and a representative from the Ghana Grains Council, among others. Addressing the gathering, the GRIB President called on the government to enforce measures which will discourage the illegal importation of rice. GRIB wants to take this opportunity to plead with government on behalf of our able rice farmers to close the inland borders that have been opened to bring in more foreign rice when we still have porous inland borders with a lot of unapproved routes for smuggling, he said. On his part, the CEO for the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation, blamed past and current governments for the low patronage of locally-made rice. According to him, successive governments have paid very little attention to the local rice industry. You will wonder why governments in the past, current and in the future are not taking this matter so serious. I am aware of the past governments, but the fact is that, the efforts of the past and present are not meeting our needs, he said. In the early 70s, this nation was producing so much rice and was exporting rice to Burkina Faso under the programme called operation feed yourself. After being in power for an unprecedentedly period of nearly 20years, the P[NDC] bequeathed to the good people of this country a shameful legacy of HIPC, in the year 2000, when they were booted out of power.Interst rate was in the region of 50%, with every sector of the economy in total ruins. The entire Ghana police serve, at the time, had only 10 roadworthy vehicles. Personnel of our security services went to work wearing obroni-waawu t-shirts and charle-wote. The NPP took over an economy which was virtually on its knees, and within a period of 7years, transformed it from HIPC to a lower-middle-income status, with a credible credit rating. Our many decades of oil exploration which was turned into avenue for reckless investments and foolish dissipation of our nations resources, was re-focused; and as a result of diligence and prudence, Ghana struck oil in commercial quantities. When NPP took over the reins of power in January, 2001, Ghana did not have a drop of petroleum product in reserve.as a matter of fact, President Kufuor had to embark on a quick mission to Nigeria to plead with then President Obasanjo for a 90-day credit supply of fuel, and also request for some Peugeot salon cars for the Ghana police. These police cars were later augmented with fresh Toyota Tundra and Navara vehicles, which afforded personnel of the service to cruise around in air-conditioned vehicles in our nations history. And after 8years of coming back to power through naked electoral fraud, these NDC people have totally destroyed every good policy alternative actualized by the NPP government, mercilessly looted our state coffers and rendered the economy in total shambles, inspite of the fact that Ghana has benefitted from over $3b of oil revenue which was not available to the Kufuor-led NPP administration. Nana Addos amazing energy Now, instead of telling Ghanaians how their taxes have been squandered over the last 4years, President John Mahama and his assigns are busily going about mounting blistering verbal attacks on the person of Nana Addo; and claiming he has all kinds of limitations and ailments. None of these NDC people is privy to Nana Addos personal medical records, yet, all kinds of diseases are being heaped on him by these insipid propagandists. But one thing that really beats my imaginatively imaginative imagination, is the source of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's energy and enthusiasm, because, the moment we set-off on a day's campaign schedule, he will be on his feet at every stop, and also, pay courtesy calls on chiefs, religious/opinion leader and identifiable groups. It gets to stages where some of us in his entourage actually runout of strength and be resting in our vehicles but Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will still be on his feet and rather encouraging us to press on. Unquestionably, the attitude of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as I have come to realize, is someone being driven by unquenchable fire of patriotism and unprecedented zeal to spearhead a change to bring progress to his people. And, indeed, this is the reason for my ceaseless call for divine wisdom upon the life of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, because, the man means well, and his course is impeccably genuine. Crumbling Mahama government Now, the Wednesday, 17th August, 2016 edition of joy [email protected],were three major news items. The first was about the chief of Mpohor telling John Mahama, right in the face, that, their newly-created district has been completely neglected and all their roads are in deplorable state. The chief further told the president to fulfill a promise he made to people of the area during the 2012 electioneering campaign and fix the roads, else, 2016 will spell a waterloo for him and his NDC government. Second on the item was a total mayhem by way of massive street demonstrations in the Volta Region over deplorable roads, where the people also threatened to massively vote against NDC, if something urgent was done about their plight which has resulted in many fatal road accidents. Third on the item was about the entire maternity department of our nations premiere medical facility, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, as a result of total breakdown of oxygen plant of the department. The report further said the development has resulted in expectant mothers being turned away to literally go home and die. John Mahamas dishonesty I hear John Mahama is claiming to have fixed all the roads in the western region, and that, if Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the roads in those areas are terrible, then, the latter was sleeping during the tour of the area, only days ago. Now, I was part of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's entourage on the recent campaign tour of the western region, particularly the northern parts, and I can put my hand on the heart and say that, such claim by John Mahama is very much disrespectful of inhabitants of the area. As a matter of fact, the roads are damn atrocious to the point where vehicles in our convoy simply couldn't see the one in front of the other, even in broad-day-light. The dust was so intense that air-conditioning systems of some of our vehicles simply broke down. It is this terrible nature of the roads and generalized depravity of the area, which has been the sole motivation factors for the chiefs and people of the area to overwhelmingly embrace Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's vision to creating the western north constituency. Wherever we visited in those areas, the chiefs and other prominent opinion leaders Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on, bitterly complained of terrible nature of the roads and how this makes it exceedingly hazardous for them to travel to Takoradi, the regional capital, to perform official duties. The chiefs, opinion leaders and people of the areas are therefore craving for a separate region because whenever they travel to Takoradi, they often have to stay overnight since a return journey is completely out of the question due to terrible nature of the roads. So for John Mahama to go to the western region and claim roads in these areas which I personally had the opportunity to traverse, just over the weekend, have all been asphalted, actually cements the fact that, indeed, the man is at end of political survival, and that,he is going breath his last breath on the 7th December, 2016. Regarding his utterance that "Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was sleeping during the tour of these areas and therefore didn't see the excellent roads", isn't something that should bother any right-thinking Ghanaian, because, foolish utterances is what John Mahama has become notorious for. Justice Abeeku Newton-Offei E-mail: [email protected] The National Womens Organizer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Otiko Afisa Djaba, has urged Ghanaian women, particularly young ladies, to vote massively for Nana Addo Dankwa Addo and the NPP in the December 7, 2016 polls for jobs. She said an NPP government will put in place the right policies and programmes that will create jobs for women, opportunities for all Ghanaians and reduce the poverty levels in the country. Advancing reasons why Ghanaian women should vote for the NPP, Otiko Djaba bemoaned the massive corruption and mismanagement of the economy by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration as the cause of unprecedented suffering of Ghanaians. She pointed out that, a vote for the NPP is a vote to turn around Ghanas fortune for the better. Addressing a party rally at Chiana-Paga in the Upper East Region, Otiko Djaba said, the failure of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), has added to the suffering of the people in the Northern sector of the country. She stressed mockingly that if the guinea fowls under the SADA programme had not flown to Burkina Faso as claimed by managers of the policy, it would have created a number of jobs for the people of Paga and many more in the country. Bemoaning lack of jobs in the country, Otiko Djaba said It is our sons and daughters who are out of jobs; every mother has a dream that their children will get jobs, you can go sit in the market, under the sun, in the rain to sell Kooko T.Z or cloths to pay your childrens school fees and when the children complete tertiary education they cannot get jobs to do. According to her, all the children who failed the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) need change in their lives, adding that a vote for Nana Akufo-Addo will create opportunities for their parents to take care of their education as well as jobs for school leavers. This is because mothers of these failed children must pay for the children to re-write the exams. Meanwhile, the sister or the brother who is a trainee teacher or a trainee nurse has completed school but no job. Otiko Djaba said this is why all women and young ladies must vote out the NDC because all the suffering is as a result of corruption, mismanagement of the economy and wrong priorities, alleging that the poverty is caused by the thievery of the NDC. She entreated all women in the Chiana-Paga constituency to propagate the message of change to all villages and from door to door to ensure victory for the NPP come December 7. By: Frederick Awuni/ghelections.com/Ghana Follow the hashtag #GhElections on social media for more election related stories The organizers of the prestigious award scheme for young entrepreneurs; Young Entrepreneur Awards has announced that the public nomination for potential winners for the 2016 edition will end on Monday, September 5th. The Young Entrepreneur Awards is organized by the Youth Business Network (YBN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the National Youth Authority, to Recognize, Honor and Celebrate Entrepreneurs from the ages of 18 and 40, for their courage, inspiration and determination as jobs creators. In a press release, the coordinator of the event; Solomon Adjei, stated that vetting process by an independent panel of judges, starts right after the Nomination ends. He also explained that, all entrepreneurs below age 40 whose businesses reside in Ghana are eligible to be nominated. Solomon also touched on the winner selection criteria, saying; the judging criteria include a thorough assessment of recent financial performance, strategic direction, product or service innovation, company leadership including personal integrity and risk-taking, values and key employee initiatives, and community involvement (e.g., philanthropic activities). Touching on the benefits of the award winning, he said, being adjudged as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year comes with lots of corporate and social benefits, including Brand Elevation, Exclusive Publicity, Strategic Networking, Confidence building, among others. The award scheme, which will proceed the biggest gathering of young entrepreneurs in Ghana; Young Entrepreneurs Summit 2016 ( www.youngentrepreneurssummit.com ), is slated for Friday, October 14th, in Accra. Among the various categories to be awarded is the Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, Social Entrepreneur of the Year, StartUp Entrepreneur of the Year, Student Entrepreneur of the Year, Celebrity Entrepreneur of the Year, Non Ghanaian Entrepreneur of the Year, Mentor of the Year and Financier of the Year. The general public and all entrepreneurs are to log on to www.youngentrepreneurawards.com to nominate deserving winners of their choice. The Royal funeral of Togbi Kporku III, Dufia (Chief) of Alakple in the Anlo State, was marked with the inundation of tributes which eulogized him as a dedicated Catholic, progressive Traditional Ruler, enterprising Engineer and a distinguished Diplomat. Several tributes published in the 80-page funeral brochure extolled the great virtues of Togbi as a staunch Catholic, a fine Traditional Leader, and Diplomat who was down to earth and warmly welcomed everyone he encountered in life. Among the dignitaries who praised the late Chief in their tributes were Most Rev. Anthony Adanuty, Bishop Emeritus of Keta-Akatsi, former President Jerry John Rawlings and the Awoemefia of the Anlo, Togbi Sri III. The unanimity and sincerity discernible in the various tributes outpoured on Togbi Kporku, who died on November 6, 2015, were clear testimonies of a life well-lived by the late Chief. There were tributes from the Widow, Mrs. Monica Kporku (Nee Naa Lamiley Ernest-Bruce); children, family, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Alakple; Awoamefia and Anlo Traditional Council, National management Council of Alakple Development Association, Alakple Youth Club, Ministry of foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana Embassy in Japan, Ghana Institution of Engineers. Others were from the Board of Governors, Headmaster, Staff and Students of Anlo Senior High School, Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS), Rotary club of Ho, Governing council of Volta Heroes Foundation, West African Primate Conservation Action, Conterra limited, Amey Clan of Anlo and the EDCIII (Civil)Class of 1974, KNUST. Individual tributes included Rev. Fr. Mark Etse, Priest -in -Charge of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Alakple; Mr. Clement Humado, Member of Parliament for Anlo; Major Henry Anyidoho (Rtd), Dumega Francis Fiakpornu, Head of the Ahafia Royal family of Alakple; Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, Awadada of Anlo State; and Mama Medoafe II of Anyako. Bishop Adanuty in his tribute said Togbi Kporku endeavoured to live his catholic faith in the traditional setting of a Chief, noting that he saw the need of leading his people, by personal example, in accordance with the light of faith that he was convinced he had found in the Catholic Church Togbi Kporku, he said, tried to serve the good Lord by serving his brothers and sisters to the best of his ability, be it within his social environment as a Chief, be it within his religious community as a leading Catholic, be it as a representative of his country or as an Ambassador in a foreign country. The Bishop described Togbi as a generous person who extended financial support to individuals, institutions and communities, noting that that was the way he transformed his earthly treasures into heavenly ones and kept them in heaven where neither moth nor dust consumes and thieves do not break in and steal. (Mt.6, 19). Bishop Adanuty reminisced how Togbi Kporku at a very function in the Diocese, kept eulogizing and glorifying the Catholic Church and made no mystery about his being a Catholic, recalling Togbis statement during the Plenary Assembly of the Ghana catholic Bishops Conference in the Diocese in 2002 that I am an Engineer for income and a Chief for expenditure. In his tribute, former President Rawlings said Togbi Kporku lived a life of frankness, self-denial, generosity and commitment, saying that were very few men in society today with demonstrated passion for candor, selflessness and dedication to public service. I have known, admired and respected the personality and worth of Togbi Kporku for his total disposition to serve his community, his nation and the wider world. These indeed, were the attributes that informed my decision to appoint him Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Japan with concurrent accreditation to other South East Asian countries including Australia, New Zealand and Singapore from 1998 to 2001. The former President prayed that his exemplary and well-lived life would inspire many, hoping that a larger number of people in society would live for the principles and convictions for which Togbi lived. In his Tribute, Togbi Sri III, Awoamefia of Anlo described the late Alakple Chief as soft spoken, unassuming and a man of few words but his ideas were full of potent wisdom laced with intellectual and practical common sense. Togbi Kporku, said spoke a simple language that was the hallmark of a simple, humble, caring, loving but deeply reflective man. The Awoamefia added that His insistence on the right being done at all times coupled with his tenacity of purpose endeared him to those who had great affinity for truth. Togbi Kporku was installed as Chief of Alakple on April 5, 1979 at the age of 28 when the Ahafia Stoll became vacant after the home call of Togbi Avudzega III of Alakple in 1977. As a Chief, he had played important roles in the development process of Anlo and was a member of several delegations to Government for important discussions on development of Anlo, engaged in radio and television programmes to outdoor the Hogbetsotso festival of Anlos as well as being a much sought-after guest speaker at several public functions. In an effort to contribute his professional expertise to the development of the Volt\ Region, he became the Chairman of the regional tender Review Board for the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) in 2009. In this capacity, Togbi Kporku supervised the award of contracts for roads and other civil works for the Region. Togbi Kporku was a torchbearer for the upliftment, peace and unity of his people. Since his installation, he devoted a significant portion of his time to the service of his people and Anlo community. As a staunch Catholic, he had a special place in his heart for the Church in the Region and Alakple. He attended most Catholic events and whenever there was Priestly or a Church event in Alakple, he would support it. As an astute Engineer, he was the Project Director of the US$84 million Keta Sea Defence Project sponsored by the US EXIM Bank and from 1993 to 1996, he was the local Project Manager for the engineering design, construction and supervision of the new Tema Harbour dual-carriage Access Road. From 1992 to 1994, he was the engineer in charge of the design, construction and supervision of dam, water pipelines as well as the treatment ponds for the Ghana rubber Estates Limited (GREL), Takoradi. He was the resident engineer of Tahal consulting engineers Limited for the rehabilitation and emergency repairs of Kpong-Tema-Accra Pipelines from 1984 to 1987. In 1978, Togbi Kporku was the Project Manager for Msessrs Asakum Engineering and Construction Limited and responsible for the construction of the 20 million gallons per day Weija Water Treatment. From 1975 to 1978, he was the Deputy Site Agent for Salini Construttori (SALCOSt Ghana) for the construction of the Weija Dam Project. As a Diplomat, he brought greater honour and dignity to the people of Alakple when in 1998, he was appointed by then President Rawlings as Ghanas Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary to the Empire of japan and with concurrent accreditation as high commission to Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Requiem Mass The funeral Mass at the St. Joseph Catholic Church at Alakple in the Keta-Akatsi Diocese, was presided over by Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, Bishop of Ho and Apostolic Administrator of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese and was concelebrated by about 20 Priests including Rev. Msgr. Peter Huletey, who performed the final commendation rites. The Mass on Saturday August 27 was attended by over 3,000 mourners cladded in red and black specially designed cloth embossed with the picture of Togbi Kporku as well as many Chiefs from the Anlo Traditional Area and other Traditional Areas includingTogbi Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State; Togbe Tepre Hodo, Fiaga of Anfoega; Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, Awadada of Anlo State. Present at the Mass were Former President Rawlings, Mr. Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, who represented President John Mahama; Mr. Prosper Bani, Minister for Interior; Mrs. Helen Notso, Volta Regional Minister; Mr. Clement Kofi Humado, Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo who hails from Alakple and Mr. Richard Quashigah, MP for Keta There many other Ministers of State and representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Metropolitan, Municipal and District chief Executives The funeral itself was marked with traditional and cultural performances as befitted a Chief, started with a series of activities from August 1 to 31, 2016. Togbi Kporku is one of the great Chiefs of Anlo, a strong voice for development of Anlo and the Volta Region, an astute Civil Engineer with national and international repute and distinction, who was involved in the planning, design and front-line management of several high profile highway projects, dams, water treatment plants as well as other industrial structures and buildings throughout the country. In a homily, Bishop Fianu, said people who believed in the Lord were always welcome to the heavenly Kingdom, noting that the death of a Christian like Togbi Kporku, was a reminder that we need to make good use of the present to achieve a better future. He stated that funerals should be a time or occasion for the living to reflect their ways of life and where they would if life should end at an unexpected time, reminding the mourners that we were pilgrims on this earth and in death, there was resurrection. He said as Christians, material things and wealth should never draw us away from serving and focusing on God, asking the mourners to live selfless lives as Togbi Kporku to serve than to be served. As a matter of fact, it is neither an insult to suggest that an individual has no competence to hold a position nor slanderous to assert that a person is Devoid of the qualities requisite for effective conduct of a position. However, it may be slanderous to refer to someone as a womanizer or a dictator, if it turns out to be untrue. It is so, because we are talking here about the individuals reputation. Needless to say, competence has nothing to do with someones character. For instance, I wont take it as a character assassination if you tell me I am only a good lawyer but incompetent to be a communicator. However, I will take an exception to the reference of a dictator or a womanizer, because it would be a malicious and unjustifiable harm to my reputation. Lets therefore remind the loose talkers that while it is wrong to refer to someone as a womanizer, it is also disgusting to malign an innocent person as a dictator. It is against this background that I am so mindful of the vineyard news about President Mahamas extra marital affairs. There is this notion of me being a womanizer which is certainly not true. I have had children outside my marriage. But I am at peace with my wife. She understands the circumstances in which it happened said President Mahama (Daily Guide/peacefmonline.com). A womanizer is an individual who pursues women lecherously or passionately. Deductively, a womanizer is a liar. A liar is susceptible to stealing. And, a thief is an irrevocable liar. In practice, it is impossible for one to keep several concubines, unless you are a cognitive liar. In other words, you have to engage in a lot of 'propaganda' in order to have your way. And more so how do you provide all your numerous concubines with financial support if you have 'a shallow pocket'? I am afraid the likely scenario is you may resort to dubious practices, including corruption in order to support your income so as to feed your abhorrent habit of keeping several concubines. Womanizers, especially those who have no qualms about fathering children out of wedlock, are far more likely to succumb to the criminal act of bribery and corruption in order to sustain their financially consuming addiction (Okoampa-A. K., 2012/ghanaweb.com). Clearly, then, there is a correlation between womanizing and corruption. It is against this background that I am expressing concern about the womanizing innuendoes being directed at President Mahama. It would be recalled that when President Mahama was first selected as the running mate of the then candidate, the late Mills in 2008, Mr Mahamas official curriculum vitae released at the time indicated that he had nine children. However, the CV was quickly withdrawn and replaced with a new one stating seven as the number of his biological children (Daily Guide/peacefmonline.com). Obviously, this puzzled and seemingly weird omission ignited the debate over his actual biological children. Some rumour mongers however put the figure at twenty three, while others pegged it at nineteen children and so on. All the same, in his interview with the Africawatch, President Mahama made it clear that he Had had Children Outside his Marriage, but his Wife Understands his extra marital affairs (modernghana.com). Apparently, the Presidents father, the late Emmanuel Adama Mahama, a former regional minister in the Nkrumah regime had 19 kids by various women. The president admitted in the Africawatch interview (Daily Guide/peacefmonline.com). Yes, we were many siblings from different mothers, but one of the things he did was to bring us together and made sure that every single child of his was put through school. He gave us the opportunity, he said. However, in the case of the presidents children, they are living apart, perhaps making it difficult to know one another (Daily Guide/peacefmonline.com). For me, I have no business digging into President Mahamas private life. A womanizer or no womanizer, it is up to him as a president of Ghana to explain to Ghanaians and the whole world whether if it is morally right to constantly cheat his wife by keeping several women alongside his wife. My worry though, is the vineyard news concerning his numerous children born outside his marriage. Anyway, I hope and pray that all the numerous children are being catered for else it would appear irresponsible on the part of father for all President Mahama. Hopefully, President Mahama is living up to his much touted father for all tag. K. Badu, UK. The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) will hold a mammoth national rally at the Kanda Schools Park, Nima 441, near Kawokudi Junction in Accra on Saturday September 17, 2016 at 10am prompt. Structured to bring together thousands of supporters and sympathizers, the rally will focus on the wasted vote phenomenon. The wasted votes perception has been one of the weapons in the arsenals of the NDC and NPP against the PPP in the Ghanaian electoral space. The national rally will be used as a platform to explain to the Ghanaian electorate what a wasted vote really is and why a vote for the duopoly is rather the wasted vote, as promises they made for previous votes in their favour have not been delivered. Speakers at the rally will include the Presidential Candidate and his Running Mate, the National Chairman, National Secretary, Youth and Women Coordinators, Presidential Policy Team (PPT) members, Parliamentary Candidates and politicians who have defected from NDC, NPP and CPP to join the PPP. Speaker after speaker; will be expected to make the case why a vote for both the NDC and the NPP is a wasted vote and why a vote for competent incorruptible leadership, education, preventive health care and jobs, which are the PPPs canons for governance, constitute valuable vote. It is expected that the Dont Waste Your Vote national rally will expose the incumbent as the vote wasters and turn around the perception in favour of the alternative PPP. Signed: William Dowokpor Convener,Dont Waste Your Vote National Rally. Tel: 0243588422 E-Mail: [email protected] By Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA Kumasi, Aug 29, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Alhassan Yakubu, has called for politicians to move away from the evil practice of luring the youth into acts of political thuggery during elections. He said the situation where they engaged 'macho-men' to intimidate people and snatch ballot boxes was completely unacceptable and must be avoided. They should not take advantage of the vulnerability of anybody for trouble-making and to threaten the peace and stability of the society, he added. Mr. Yakubu was speaking at a day's workshop held for 'macho-men' in the region to talk them out of political violence and aid them to get right with the law as the election campaign intensified. The programme was organized by the 'Millennium Child Support Group' a local NGO with support from Star-Ghana - a multi-donor pooled funding mechanism. The Regional Director spoke of the need for the 'macho-men' to refuse to be manipulated by politicians to foment trouble in pursuit of self-serving agenda. 'You should reject monetary offers and gifts by politicians meant to entice you to bully, physically assault, maim or kill people they perceive to be their political enemies.' Mr. Yakubu said they should use their enormous energy and physical strengthen to help the law enforcement agencies to keep the nation calm before, during and after the coming December elections. He encouraged them to join the on-going peace campaign to grow the nation's multi-party democracy. Mr. Ato Parker, Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, urged the political leaders and their supporters to uphold the political parties' code of conduct to remove needless tension. He said it was important for all to be patriotic - put the nation first and conduct themselves responsibly. Mr. Gilbert Polos Ntiamoah, National President of the Macho-men for Peace and Justice, pledged to resist overtures by politicians to break the law and undermine the peace of the country. GNA By Prosper K. Kuorsoh, GNA Wa, Aug. 29, GNA - The Wa Fruit Juice Factory would by the end of end of September, commence production of quality fruit juice after it faced a closure in 2011. The factory, which was created as a result of the sister city relationship between Wa and IEPER City in Belgium, was established in 2007 but collapsed in 2011 due to management difficulties. The Wa Municipal Assembly, unhappy with the situation, decided to open up for private partnership in order help manage and inject the needed capital into the refurbishment of the factory and Ndaana Ghana Limited won the bid to partner with the Assembly to resurrect the fruit juice factory. Mr Gregory Lankono, Director, Ndaana Ghana Limited, said a total amount of 1.4 million Ghana cedis is needed to completely refurbish the factory. He said this when Mr Issahaku Nuhu Putiaha, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), visited the facility in the company of press men. Mr Lankono said raw materials such as mango, water melon and pineapple are available and gave the assurance that by end of September, 2016 they would commence production. Mr Putiaha said he was happy that very soon the factory would once again commence production of fruit juice, create jobs for the youth and also create market for fruit producers. The MCE also visited the construction of the Wa Airport site where he was told by Kwaw Solomon-Ayeh, Resident Engineer, Ghana Airport Company Limited, that the facility would be ready by end of September, 2016. He said major works such as construction of the drainage system, access roads and refurbishing of both the arrival and checkout points among others have all been done. The Airport had a width of 45 meters and a length of 2 kilometers and this Mr Solomon-Ayeh said was enough to contain any 'Coat C Aircraft'. The completion of the facility in September and its subsequent inauguration will see the commencement of commercial domestic flight to Wa in the Upper West Region. Mr Putiaha also inspected work on 78 market stores at the new Wa market site along the Charia Road as well as some tarred roads within Wa town. GNA 29.08.2016 LISTEN Accra, Aug. 29, GNA - Senior Apostle Anthony Ahenkan, General Overseer of Emmanuel Salvation Church, has called on President John Dramani Mahama, to consider how far the good Lord has brought him by ensuring free and fair elections on December 7. He said it was the Lord who made him Vice President on January 7, 2009 and eventually the Head of State; hence the need to show gratitude to Him by making sure that there is no needless tension and bloodshed. Apostle Ahenkan made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra at the weekend. 'The President should know that it was God who made him the leader of Ghana, and whether Ghanaians appreciate what he has achieved or not, he should focus on the Lord and ensure that it was during his era that there was another peaceful general election. 'He should not allow material considerations or political authority to cloud his mind and should rather think about the larger interest of Ghana,' he said. Quoting Daniel 2: 21- 22, he said it is God who changes the times and the epochs. He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. Apostle Ahenkan also called on Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party and other opposition political parties that God knows their mindset in seeking political power and it is within the authority of the Almighty to grant them victory in the 2016 general election. He said Nana Akufo - Addo should make sure it that was his time as leader of the main opposition party that Ghana had incident- free elections. He said the media and security personnel are major stakeholders in Election 2016 and should therefore stick to professionalism by avoiding partisan interests that could lead to bloody shed and undermine the presidential and parliamentary elections. Apostle Ahenkan said the Electoral Commission (EC) should also play the rules by being the true referee to facilitate firmness and fairness to all. He said as a very powerful institution, the EC holds the key to undisputable and violent free elections. He noted that everything that has a beginning has an end, and so every leader bad or good would have an expiry date one day. 'No political party would be in power for life. Whether four years or eight years, the end would come. 'The electorate should therefore be mindful of the value of their lives, which is greater than the tenure of office of the political parties of their choice. 'Every Ghanaian should therefore comport him or herself before, during, and after the elections in order not to shorten their lives through political violence.' Apostle Ahenkan said what every politician should know is that the country and the people belong to God hence the need for them to hold them sacred. GNA By Jerry Azanduna, GNA Zebilla (U/E), Aug. 29, GNA - The youth of Saint Charles Lwanga Catholic Church in Zebilla in the Upper East Region, has called on the youth of the nation to make an effort at ensuring that peace is maintained in the election period. The group said a peaceful environment would allow all young people to enjoy quality education, health and the general socioeconomic life in their respective communities. The young people made the call at their maiden peace festival organized at Zebilla. The event which brought together stakeholders including Mr Cletus Avoka, the Member of Parliament for the Zebilla Constituency, parliamentary candidates of the various political parties, religious leaders and traditional rulers among others. The festival, which gave the young people an opportunity to interact amongst themselves, was meant to sensitize them on the importance of peace in the area. Mr Anthony Abanga, leader of the youth group, said the parish saw the need to unite the young people in the area as they are the driving force that could be used to build peace. He urged the youth to conduct their political activities based on policies and not on personalities as that could generate chaos that would disrupt the peace being enjoyed in the area. Mr Simon Ayende Agbango, the District Chief Executive of the area, called on the young people not to allow themselves to be used as tools for destruction but rather aim at becoming responsible future leaders. Mr Agbango urged parents and political leaders to preach peace to the younger ones and not incite them against one another. Mr Cletus Avoka, Member of Parliament for the area, called on the youth to see Zebilla as their own property and avoid fomenting trouble. He urged them to remain calm and continue to respect the laws of the land as government was rolling out more development programmes that would create employment opportunities for those who were not employed. He appealed to the electorate to vote wisely and not to bring a new government which would restart the country all over again. Mr Benjamin Anafo, Parliamentary Candidate for the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) in the area outlined the need for relative peace in the area and said politics could only be enjoyable when there is peace. GNA By A.B. Kafui Kanyi, GNA Ave-Dakpa (VR), Aug. 29, GNA - The Akatsi North District has increased access to safe water by 70 per cent in three years, Mr James Gunu, the District Chief Executive has said. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he said people in the District now enjoyed free mechanized boreholes and were no longer dependent on ponds and dams for water in the largely forested and farming communities. Mr Gunu said, consequently, the District has had no record of cholera and other sanitation related diseases since 2013. He said all basic schools befitting from the Assembly's local School Feeding programme had been given polytanks to encourage hand washing with soap for improved sanitation and hygiene in the schools. Mr Gunu said with support from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, five more boreholes would be drilled at Agordza, Kamiakope, Avevoe, Afatsiawukope and Nudowukope by October this year towards achieving 90 per cent access to safe water by 2017. He said the Assembly had also procured some 20 polytanks to be given to a few more communities and public institutions like the Fire Service, the Police and Ave-Dakpa Health Centre for constant water supply. Akatsi North District was known for perennial water challenges with reports of humans and animals using similar water sources during dry seasons. Mr Gunu said the situation is better after three years with two small town water systems and 65 lifetime wells under construction. GNA 29.08.2016 LISTEN By Dennis Peprah, GNA Chiraa, (B/A), Aug. 29, GNA - Brother Ernest Osei-Baffour, the Sunyani Diocesan Chairman of the Methodist Youth Fellowship, has called on the youth to expose and resist attempts by politicians who may approach and to influence them to foment trouble. Bro Osei-Baffour gave the advice when he addressed the closing session of the Sunyani Diocesan Prayer Conference of the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) at Chiraa in the Sunyani West District. The four-day conference was attended by about 400 members of the fellowship in the diocese. "As the youth we must be bold and say no to any person or group of persons who would want to lure us to commit any act of lawlessness, Bro Osei-Baffour told the fellowship members. He appealed to the fellowship to uphold the principles and doctrines of the church and live in accordance and dictates of the bible to obtain God's blessing and prosperity. The Very Reverend James Apraku, the Superintendent Minister of the Chiraa Circuit of the Church, urged Christians and religious bodies to pray for a peaceful election. Mr Justice Samuel Adjei, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, expressed concern about the upsurge in social vices among the youth in the country. He said the surge in cyber crime and armed robbery required a concerted effort by all to control the situation. GNA By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA Accra, Aug. 29, GNA - The Family of the late Kofi Middleton-Mends has officially announced the death of their beloved relative to Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in Accra. The visit by the children and the family together with members of the creative arts industry was also to announce the date for the burial and the final funeral rites. The late Middleton-Mends' death occurred on Tuesday August 16 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra at aged 77 after battling with kidney disease. He was survived by a wife and three children. The late actor was well known for the 'Key soap medo fo pa' television commercial, which was popular in the 90's and until his death, was also a lecturer at NAFTI and University of Ghana. Mr Emmanuel Antwi, the leader of the delegation, thanked the Minister and her Deputy for their immense support to the family with the passing of their father. He announced that the family has agreed on October 1, for the burial of the late Middleton-Mends. He also commended the Minister and her Deputy Ms Abla Dzifa Gomashie for their continue contribute and support to the creative arts industry and its players. Mrs Ofosu Adjare said the creative arts industry has really lost a great man and an industry player. She said the late Kofi Middleton-Mends has inspired a lot of young people in the industry, who were now contributing their expertise for the improvement sectors. 'It is a loss to the whole country not only to the bereaved family,' she said. She said on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, 'we will support the family and children to give their beloved son a befitting burial.' The Minister said the Ministry would also appoint people to serve on the funeral committee set up by the family. GNA 29.08.2016 LISTEN By Regina Benneh Sunyani, August 29, GNA - Indigenous Ga settlers in the Brong-Ahafo Region, have rallied together to celebrate the first Hommowo, a traditional festival of the people at Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo Region amid the outpouring of joy. The colourful ceremony which drew all people and clans of the of the Ga traditional area resident in B/A and the general public, was nothing different from how the annual festival is celebrated in the Ga land with traditional drumming and dancing, sprinkling of Kpokpoi and the performance of certain rituals. The occasion was also used as a means of selling out the Ga tradition and culture outside the Accra Regions, whiles also providing an opportunity to solicit funds to give financial support to Widows and Widowers in the Region. Mr Samuel Justice Adjei, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, who was on hand to grace the occasion, advised the youth against acts that could spark violence in the coming general election. He observed that election is not a period of war but a time for individual to have opportunities to elect a leader of choice who could bring development to their communities. Mr Adjei advised the youth to see their worth and value as the nation's future hope upon whom the future development of the nation depended and must therefore do all they could to protect the peace of the nation to enable them grow to meet a vibrant country. The Deputy Regional Minister said Ghana has over the year's demonstrated maturity in earlier elections and should again display such sense of responsibility to prove to the whole world that Ghanaian's love peace. He commended the Ga's Association in the Region for bringing Homowo celebration closer to Gas in the Region and expressed optimism that it would continue every year to offset the transport cost of members who have to travel to far away Accra to observe the Hommowo. Nana Baffour Awuah Appiah, Twafo hene of Tepa traditional area, called on political parties and their supporters to cautious with their public utterance to avoid circumstances that could destroy lives and properties in the country. He asked Ghanaian's to come together in love and in unity since 'we are one people and do not have any other country apart from the nation Ghana'. GNA FORT YATES, N.D., ACCRA, Aug. 29 - (UPI/GNA) - Native Americans from reservations across the United States joined the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against a 1,100-mile, $3.8 billion four-state oil pipeline. Opponents of the pipeline say it could disturb sacred sites and impact drinking water for 8,000 tribal members and millions further downstream. The protest began Aug. 10 when ground was broken near the reservation. Fifteen people from the Kialegee Tribal Town in Oklahoma are taking supplies to the protesters. "We just want to be there to support their tribe," protestor Agnes Givens told NewsOne6 in Tulsa, Okla. Food and water was collected for those sleeping in tents and teepees. Protesters and supporters are concerned if the pipeline were to leak, it could contaminate their drinking water and force people to move from their land. "If the pipe busts, it will contaminate the whole river," said protester Jeremiah Hobia of Oklahoma. "And a lot of that is drinking water and to a lot of Native Americans water is sacred to us. It keeps us alive." Amnesty International representatives have arrived to monitor the response of law enforcement to the protesters. And entertainers are supporting the cause. Shailene Woodley, star of the movie series Divergent, has spent weeks with the protestors. Movie star Susan Sarandon attended a rally in Washington, D.C., last Wednesday outside U.S. District Court. The Dakota Access oil pipeline could carry more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil a day from the Bakken region of western North Dakota across South Dakota and Iowa, and connect with an existing pipeline in Illinois. At its peak, it would transport about half of the oil that North Dakota produces per day. The pipeline is nearly 50 percent completed but construction on a section beneath the Missouri River, just north of the reservation, has been halted under orders from Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier. He said protesters were creating safety issues. Kirchmeier told KFYR his personnel are on hand to preserve order. Judge James A. Boasberg of the U.S. District Court will rule before Sept. 9 on whether construction can be halted on the Dakota Access pipeline. Protesters have vowed to stay at least until at Boasberg rules. "Every time there's a project of this magnitude, so the nation can benefit, there's a cost," Dave Archambault, the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux, who was among those arrested, said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "That cost is born by tribal nations." On Thursday, nearly three dozen environmental groups wrote to President Barack Obama, who visited the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in 2014 with Michelle Obama. "If there were to be a spill, which history has taught us is not a question of if but when, it would constitute an existential threat to the tribe's culture and way of life," the letter stated. On Aug. 19, the governor has declared a state of emergency there, but didn't call up the National Guard. "The State of North Dakota remains committed to protecting citizens' rights to lawfully assemble and protest, but the unfortunate fact remains that unlawful acts associated with the protest near Cannon Ball have led to serious public safety concerns and property damage," Gov. Jack Dalrymple said. "This emergency declaration simply allows us to bring greater resources to bear if needed to help local officials address any further public safety concerns." The North Dakota Department of Transportation has restricted southbound travel on ND Highway 1806, about 6 miles south of Mandan, to local traffic and emergency response vehicles only. On Aug. 16, a federal judge issued a restraining order against new protesters interfering with construction of the pipeline. The order doesn't apply to peaceful protesting or assembly. Lawyers from Earth justice, who are representing the Standing Rock Sioux, claim that the Army Corps of Engineers violated the National Historic Preservation Act when it approved the project. The project slightly shorter than the proposed 1,179-mile Keystone XL project, which Obama has rejected. But because Keystone crossed an international border, it required a stricter environmental review and presidential approval. Dakota Access' developers needed approval under a different process. Tribal leaders say didn't get a chance to provide their input. Federal officials and Dakota Access developers Standing Rock had a chance to survey the pipeline's route, but the tribe declined. "The Corps followed procedure in this case when it actively worked to engage with the plaintiffs, the Standing Rock Sioux," federal lawyer Matthew Marinelli told Judge Boasberg last week. North Dakota Petroleum Council spokeswoman Tessa Sandstrom told The Hillthe project is important economically for the state. "People in North Dakota have been asking for infrastructure, and we've finally got a project that can help with a lot of that," she said. GNA Berlin, ACCRA, Aug. 29 - (dpa/GNA) - The German government said Monday that it wants to legally require women to disclose their sexual partners in order to identify their offspring's biological father in child support cases. A draft law circulated by the Justice Ministry says that a mother should be required to disclose "who she slept with during the time of conception" if asked by a man who is paying child support. There would only be exceptions to this law if there are "serious reasons," the draft legislation states without specifying further. Men who successfully contest their paternity would be able to claim back child support payments for a period of two years, the document states. The draft law is due for approval by the cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday. GNA Vatican City, ACCRA, Aug. 29 - (dpa/GNA) - Pope Francis met Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg on Monday to discuss how social media can be used to reduce poverty, the Vatican said. "They spoke about how to use communication technologies to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and help deliver a message of hope, especially to those people who are most disadvantaged," a statement said. Zuckerberg was granted a private audience with his wife Priscilla Chan. Their host, 79, has a very active Twitter account but no Facebook profile, and once confessed he did not know how to use a computer. The US couple arrived in Italy to attend Saturday's wedding of Spotify founder Daniel Ek in Lake Como. Later in the day, Zuckerberg was due to hold a question-and-answer session with students of private university LUISS. GNA Johannesburg, ACCRA, Aug. 29 - (dpa/GNA) - Protests have erupted at a South African girls' school after teachers were accused of making racist remarks about black pupils' hairstyles, the local news agency ANA reported Monday. Protesters gathered in front of the Pretoria High School for Girls, a school source, who did not want to be identified, said. A provincial education official was visiting the school, located in the administrative capital Pretoria, after more than 4,500 people reportedly signed a petition asking him to intervene. "We are tired, we are tired," hundreds of black students chanted. The school's code of conduct does not specifically outlaw afros, but requires that hairstyles must be "conservative," that "hair must be brushed" and that cornrows, natural dreadlocks and braids must be "a maximum of 10 millimetres in diameter." ANA quoted some of the girls as telling the education official that teachers had told them their hair was "untidy," that it looked "like a bird's nest," while one teacher allegedly called a pupil "a monkey." The authorities had also received complaints that pupils were not allowed to speak African languages, the website Times Live reported. "It is unacceptable that in a country in which black people are a demographic majority" we still today continue to be expected to pander to whiteness and to have it enforced through school policy," Times Live quoted the petition as saying. The school source told dpa: "We are not making any comments at the moment." "The headmistress and the people involved ... are trying to sort this out," she added. GNA By Emelia B. Addae Akim Oda (E/R), Aug. 29, GNA - The people of Akim Oda and its environs have been educated on the 'Participatory Planning Cycle (PPC)' of the district assemblies, a platform created to enlighten non-partisan groups on their civic roles in the local governance system. The programme is under the Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (SPEFA) financed by the government and the SNV Netherlands to reach out to the people in the rural areas and is aimed at helping them appreciate the challenges of local governance to eschew apathy. Mr George Agyeman Badu, the Assistant Development Planning Officer at the Birim Central Municipal Assembly also the SPEFA Desk Officer took the participants through interactive and functional participation, and information sharing. He said the people needed to play active roles in the PPC, to ensure effectiveness in the assemblies' service delivery. Mr Frank Odei Anim, a member of the Eastern Regional Media Network on Social Accountability urged the public to avoid conflict of interest and to ensure equitable representation at the PPC. Mr Kofi Adjei-Amparbeng, the Programmes Director for 4-H Ghana, a non-governmental organization and also a facilitator of SPEFA projects said the assemblies ought to liaise with the public to enhance the development of Birim Central Municipality. Later in an interaction with the Ghana News Agency, the participants called for whipping up of interest in the activities of the district assemblies to strengthen the country's governance and the democratic dispensation. GNA The United States government has expressed confidence in the ability of Ghanas Electoral Commission (EC) to deliver credible and transparent elections. According to the US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson, the EC has shown commitment towards the implementation of reforms that will ensure a fair outcome. These comments come on the back of a recent CDD survey that said nearly 50% of Ghanaians believe the EC will announce the wrong results in the December polls. Speaking to Citi News' Duke Mensah Opoku, Ambassador Robert Jackson, said the EC has shown enough commitment to make the process fair. The commission has taken a lot of steps to implement nearly all the reforms recommended. I think that is a critical step for transparency in the process and the implementation of other reforms and I am confident in the process. He said the Embassy in collaboration with the National Peace Council have launched an early warning system aimed at ensuring transparency in the election. We've been working in addition to our work with the Electoral Commission and the National Peace Council. We are very happy with that partnership. We've launched the early warning system, not only here in Accra but also in Kumasi and Tamale we are working on training election observers and other civil society organizations to play their roles so in every segment we are moving ahead and I think we will be well positioned come December 7, 2016, he added. EC ready to roll out new reforms ahead of December polls The Electoral Commission has begun the implementation of a series of reforms aimed at improving the transparency, inclusiveness and credibility of the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections. The comprehensive list of reforms, ( 27 in number ), was the product of a Special Reform Committee set up by the EC after the 2012 Election Petition. By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana Follow @AlloteyGodwin In a sector that is highly dominated by the male counterparts, only a few females are able to sail through; with yet still a handful of them matching the males shoulder to shoulder and efficiently managing affairs of reputable organizations in Ghana. One of such capable women is Mrs. Eunice Ankomaa Apraku Antwi, the General Manager of Samara Company Limited, producers of Sasso Insecticide Spray and Mosquito Coil. She has been adjudged the Most Outstanding Executive in household products at the second edition of the Feminine Ghana Achievement Award ceremony held recently in Accra and organized by The Business Executive Magazine. The ceremony was held at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra and was attended by dignitaries including the Turkish Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Nesrin Bayazit; the Zimbabwean Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Mrs. Pavelyn Tendal Musaka; the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, Maria Alonso; the Colombian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Mrs. Claudia Turbay Quintero, and the Czech Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Margita Fuchsova. There were also representatives from government. Mrs. Apraku Antwis award comes on the heel of her demonstration of self confidence, professionalism, and passion for her position as General Manager of Sasso which has contributed to the soaring brand of the company in Ghana and its being awarded the Fastest Growing Company by government at the 2015 Head of State Award (HOSA). Her citation reads: As the General Manager of Samara Group, you have played a key role in the huge success of the Sasso brand of insecticide spray and mosquito coil in the Ghanaian market. Your resourcefulness, dedication and sense of responsibility have been invaluable in building one of the best known home grown Ghanaian product brands today, and this has made you a role model for rising female executives in the manufacturing sector all around the country. The Feminine Ghana Achievement Award seeks to identify and reward outstanding women both in the public and private sectors whose personal and professional conduct have been exemplary but whose accomplishments have not been publicly recognized thus female entrepreneurs, professionals, corporate executives, public institutional managers, diplomats, sportswomen and female traditional rulers. This award scheme was established to specifically recognize the accomplishment of women on the basis of their gender, and therefore stands out amongst the many generalist awards introduced in Ghana today. Asked how she feels about the honour, the Sasso female General Manager said the award has come at a time that she least expected, however, it affirms that her services are monitored and are considered worthy of recognition. Im happy about it even though I didnt expect it. With this award I am confident that I am doing something right to have been nominated first and winning it; Im sure they might have noticed my ability as a functional key team player, she said. Mrs. Apraku Antwi disclosed that she has occupied the General Manager position of Samara Company for three years; and though a very challenging post she dared herself to discharge her duties in ways that would dispel the general notion that such positions are better headed by men. As a happy mother of two children, she was full of appreciation to her husband, Mr. Nickson Kwame Antwi, for his immense support in helping her in diverse ways to reach this achievement. I am happy to have achieved this feat and I believe in the saying that what a man can do a woman can do and even better. I thank God for making it possible and I also thank the Executive Chairman of Samara Company Limited, Dr. Sampson Effah Apraku, for having such great confident in me and giving me the opportunity to give off my best. I shall continue to ensure that Samara remains at the top in Ghana and Africa as a whole. I dedicate this award to my entire team both management and staff of Samara Company whose hard work has played a part in this acknowledgment; and also to my husband, Mr. Nickson Kwame Antwi for his enormous support. I am more determined to balance my interpersonal and decisional role effectively for greater heights in the near future, an elated Mrs. Antwi emphasized. Asked what motivational message she has for colleague women in the sector and Ghanaian women as a whole, Eunice said I want to encourage women to learn to empower each other and use their creativity ability to make their contribution in the production sector successful and to make the world a better place for everyone and also for the unborn generations. Let us guard against hatefulness and envy, she admonished. Mrs. Antwi holds a Masters in International Finance from Stafforshire University in the UK after pursing a degree in Marketing at the Central University in Ghana. She is determined to be the best role model to her children, Kayla Apraku Antwi and Kemuel-McCurdy Apraku Antwi. In all twenty-five (25) professional women were acknowledged and rewarded. Some of them are the CEO of Reroy Cables; the CEO of Sidalco Limited; Deputy Managing Direcor of Prudential Bank, and CEO of Jandel Limited, just to mention a few. 29.08.2016 LISTEN Dannex has entered into an agreement with Adcock Ingram, a South African pharmaceutical firm, to acquire a majority stake in Ayrton Drug. The agreement will see Dannex take 53.47 percent shares of Adcock Ingram's interest in Ayrton drugs. This is, however, subject to the sale of shares agreement is subject to a number of conditions precedent, including, inter alia, an exemption from undertaking a Mandatory Takeover Offer under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Code on Takeovers and Mergers. The mode of payment for the shares will be cash. After the acquisition, Dannex, acting in concert with Adcock would hold 78.57 percent of the voting shares of Ayrton. Adcock Ingram International currently has about 78.57 percent in Ayrton Drug and upon the completion of the transaction, Dannex will become the majority shareholder with 53.47 percent. Dannex has at the date of this announcement, made an application to the SEC for an exemption from undertaking a Mandatory Takeover Offer. In the event that a waiver is not granted, Dannex would, prior to the approval of the SEC, make a mandatory offer to other shareholders of Ayrton to purchase their shares pursuant to the Code on Takeovers & Mergers. Dannex intends to maintain Ayrton on the Ghana Stock Exchange as a listed company. Ayrton Drug Manufacturing Limited is a Ghanaian pharmaceutical company established in 1965 and is listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. Major shareholders of Ayrton include Adcock Ingram International (PTY) Limited and Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). Dannex Limited is an indigenous Ghanaian-owned pharmaceutical company established in 1964 expressly for the purpose of manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceutical products. Dannex has a market share in Ghana, with sales experience in other West African countries and competency in the production of tablets, capsules, liquids (syrups and suspensions), ointments and other Over-The- Counter (OTC) medicines for a variety of diseases and conditions. Major shareholders of Dannex include Equatorial Cross Acquisitions, Yaw Opare-Asamoah and Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Joy Business The Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists (GAMBLS), has said that it will appear before the High Court tomorrow (Tuesday) to respond to a suit filed against it by the National Labour Commission (NLC), in a bid to get the scientists to call off their week-long strike. The NLC sued the striking biomedical scientists after it had earlier ordered them not to embark on their industrial action. The President of GAMBLS, Ignatius Awinbuno, told Citi News that they intend to honour the summons by the court on Tuesday, but will not call off their strike until a ruling is made on the issue. The strike is indefinite. Our next hurdle is t meet the court on Tuesday. The Labour Commission has given us a restraining order and that will be enforced by the court so we've been summoned to the court on Tuesday, he said. We'll go and present our case and see whether they will accept it. The Labour Commission says our strike is illegal. The Labour Commission cannot enforce it, it's the court that will enforce it. Whatever the court decides, we'll meet with our lawyers and take the next step. Health Minister to blame The biomedical scientists laid down their tools to highlight their displeasure with government's non-implementation of the National Health Laboratory policy which they say will help raise the quality of laboratory science practice in the country. GAMBLS blamed the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia for the consequences of their strike, including lives that could be lost as a result, as he had not shown any commitment towards resolving their issues. Speaking at a press conference in Accra last Monday, Ignatius Awimibumo, said despite their concerns that the strike might lead to loss of lives, they feel the only way to persuade the Ministry to resolve their issues was a strike. This is frustration. Any death should be blamed on the Minister of Health. He has the power to do what he has to do. He should just take that bold step. This is what leadership is about. He should provide leadership to the health sector. Health work is team work. He should strengthen the laboratories so that we can support his vision as a Minister, Mr. Awimibmo added. By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana Residents of Ada Totope in the Greater Accra Region are appealing to government for an immediate intervention to deal with the absence of potable water in the area. Though sandwiched between the sea and the Songhor Lagoon, there is no clean water for drinking and cooking. The community with a population of more than 3000 persons has two standpipes, both of which water hardly flows through. This has forced residents to purchase clean water at exorbitant costs which they say is leaving them with no money to educate their children. Joy News Joseph Opoku Gakpo who visited the community reports the residents rely on water from more than 10 kilometers away to survive. Large tanker drivers bring in clean water to sell to residents at high costs. Water flows once every two months for two to three hours then it stops. So people rely on tanker owners for water at a cost of 60 cedis per tanker a resident Margaret Agbakla told Joy news. The water has stopped flowing for three months now. Because of that, I buy one tank of water for 70 cedis. It is affecting me economically and I dont even have money to buy food and pay for the childrens fees, another resident Gladys Torgbodzo told Joy news. For the fishmongers here, the problem is draining away their profits. When I spend Gh10 to buy water, I use all on the spot and I need to go and buy againI am pleading with government to come to our aid, Yehowa Agor, a fish monger said. Assembly member for Ada Totope Theophilus Agbakla says efforts to get the Ghana Water Company fix the problem with the infrequent flow of the pipes has proved futile. He wants government to construct a de-salination plant to treat the seawater for drinking. For the sea, the water is always there. So when government fixes a desalination plant here, there will be no problem, he said. Water Company officials in the Ada say they are working on fixing the problem with the water flow. Below is a video report from the community Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com |Joseph Opoku Gakpo |Joy News The running mate to Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom in the 2016 election, Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku, is rallying inhabitants of the Volta Region to massively vote the National Democratic Congress (NDC) out of power. According to the Vice Presidential nominee, the NDC government has neglected the region for far too long so it is about time the people get angry and take their destinies into their own hands by voting out the NDC come this December 7th elections. To her, it is only a Progressive People's Party (PPP) government headed by Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom that can bring about a real change in their lives so they should make the switch and vote massively for a PPP government this time around. Often, NDC calls the Volta as their world bank of votes but do you feel valued? If you truly are their world bank they will value your support for them and also give you something in return. As we sit here; ask yourself, how has your vote for the NDC benefited you and your families? she quizzed. Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku was in Galo Sota in the Anlo constituency of the Volta region to help launch the campaign of the party's parliamentary candidate for the constituency, Francis Tamakloe. As the elections approach, I ask you to support Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom and the PPP. We are the party with a demonstrable track record in job creation and good policies to transform Ghana with pragmatic and competent leadership. On his part, the PPP candidate for the Anlo Constituency, Francis Tamakloe, urged the people of Anlo to reject the sitting member of parliament Clement Kofi Humado, who in his own estimation has failed miserably. I' am pleading with you to critically examine Clement Humado who has been our MP for so long. What has he done for the good people of Anlo? I am urging you to vote for change, change you can experience and feel in your pockets and lives. Let us reject the NDC for they have taken us for granted for far too long. Ms Dzogbenuku made a quick stop at Tebi Azumbgo, a suburb of Keta to preach the PPP's message of job creation and free compulsory basic education to the people. The crowd gathered were very elated that Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom looked to the Volta region when he needed someone competent for an all-inclusive government that will eliminate the acrimonious winner takes all politics. Vote for change; forget allegiance Nduom to Voltarians The Flagbearer of the Progressive People's Party, (PPP), Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, recently urged the people of the Volta Region to vote for jobs and not based on allegiance . According to Dr. Nduom, the Volta Region has not been rewarded for their unflinching support to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) so they should endeavour to vote for someone who has the ability to create jobs and strengthen the cedi. By: citifmonline.com/Ghana The International Cocoa Initiative, a multi-stakeholder organisation combining the efforts of the cocoa industry, civil society, farmers organizations, international organizations and national governments presented three awards at last Saturdays Ghana Journalists Award. Best Oil and Gas Reporter, Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu (Graphic Business) Rtn. Emmanuel Oduro Boakye, Communications Manager presented an Honorary Citation awards Randy Abbey & METRO TV for excellence in Journalism; for Best SME journalist, Famous Kwesi Atitsogbi (Multimemedia Group) - Juice from the baobab and Best Oil and Gas Reporter, Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu (Graphic Business) - Why Ghana must invest oil revenues locally. Best SME journalist, Famous Kwesi Atitsogbi ICI supported the Rural Reporting category which was won by Kafui Kanyi from the GNA. He took the prize last year and work with ICI on a number of initiatives. Randy Abbey & METRO TV ICI works in cocoa-producing countries to ensure a better future for children and to contribute to the elimination of child labour. Working in Ghana and Cote Divoire for the past eight years, ICI has promoted holistic child protection measures in more than 500 cocoa-growing communities across the two countries. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com A Brong Ahafo-based lawyer has filed a suit over President John Mahama's decision to free the Montie three. The lawyer, who is the regional president of the Ghana Bar Association, says the article 72 of the constitution does not allow the president to grant pardon to prisoners of contempt. In a suit filed at the Supreme Court Monday Alfred Tuah-Yeboa is pleading with the apex court to give proper interpretation to article 72 of the constitution. A declaration that upon a true and proper construction and / or interpretation of Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the power of the President of the Republic of Ghana to exercise prerogative of mercy is limited to criminal convictions and convictions from contempt proceedings initiated by the Attorney General of the Republic of Ghana only. A declaration that the grant of remission of the sentence to Godwin Ako Gunn, Alistair Nelson and Salifu Maase alias Mugabe who were sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the Court for contempt is contrary to Article 72 and 296(c) of the 1992 Constitution and is, therefore, void and of no legal effect, the writ said. President Mahama has granted pardon to the three upon the advice of the Council of State. A statement announcing their release said : The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has, in consultation with the Council of State and in exercise of his constitutional powers under Article 72 of the Constitution, remitted the remainder of the prison sentence imposed on three persons: Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe), Alistair Nelson, and Ako Gunn, who were sentenced to four months imprisonment and a fine of GHS10,000.00 each for contempt of court. The remission is effective 26th August, 2016. -Starrfmonline Customers of Safeway Tilapia Investment Company Limited whose monies have been locked up in the company may not be receiving their monies anytime soon as the company has halted its operations. A new management that took over the tilapia farming business of Safeway Investments has been forced to halt its work. The PRO of the new management, Marmah Martei tells Citi Business News the CEO, Jim Foster Walter compelled them to stop operations over allegations the former has breached an agreement not to engage directly with the affected customers. He however explains the South Dayi district assembly of the Volta region is set to meet the CEO to outline modalities of getting the customers paid their investments. The new management that is to undertake the re-engineering was sacked with well built men at the office and we were given the order not to engage in any activity again. His basis was that we were not supposed to engage directly with the customers. The very day we were sacked, we were however informed that the CEO has acquired enough funds to pay all the aggrieved customers their monies upfront, Since the initiative was from the Volta region, we unformed the South Dayi District Assembly of the Volta region and they have taken the matter up. We are also informed that the District Assembly will be meeting with on September 3 to find out the modalities by which the customers will be settled, Customers lose 23,000 cedis to Safeway Tilapia company Meanwhile Citi Business News understands the company owes about 14,000 customers across the country to the tune of 27 million cedis. The amount is however not inclusive of the 80 percent interests promised to customers. Some of the affected customers who have been speaking to Citi Business News on the development say they have been adversely affected by the unfortunate twist of events. I have invested 1,000 cedis of 80 percent returns for one year. but when the time was due for me to reclaim my money, but it is almost three years now and I am yet to get a concrete response from the company, an aggrieved customer explained. Another remarked, I invested 20,000 cedis initially at an annual interest of 80 percent; I subsequently invested an additional 2000 cedis for three months at an interest of 20 percent but I have since not been able to retrieve my money. The woes of the company, erupted in May this year when some customers threatened a court action against the management for defaulting in paying their monies. Safeway limited fails deadline The new management however indicated of plans of recommencing operations in June to enable the payment of the customers' locked up deposits by the end of July. It failed to meet that deadline and has since not been able to outline a plan to get customers' money back until this announcement. Meanwhile the Bank of Ghana has ruled out any intervention in the matter to assist customers get their monies following the company's inefficiencies. By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana The attention of the Management of Ghana Education Service has been brought to a publication in circulation on mostly the social media on the supposed new fees of senior high schools for the first term of the 2016/2017 academic year. Management would like to, by this statement, distance itself and that of GES from the publication, which is not just misleading but also false. It is, however, to be noted that any issues on school fees and levies for students shall be communicated to parents and the general public soon. Sgd: REV. JONATHAN BETTEY DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS For: DIRECTOR-GENERAL Kloma Hengme, the Krobo advocacy and Heritage association, has urged all Krobos and Ghanaians at large not to allow our political differences to devide us as a people and make us enemies, but it should rather make us see each other as people who have alternative solutions to the problems that face us as a nation. According to the association, our numerous political affiliations are only a demonstration that there is beauty in diversity, and we are all patners in development. The association has also urged all presidential and parliamentary candidates and parties in the Krobo area not to find it difficult to concede or accept defeat__ For good losers are not only peacemakers, but they also command respect. This was made known at a speech read on behalf of the association by its Director of Operations, Francis Nakotey, over the weekend (Friday) at a Peace Concert organized by the Christian Inter-denominational Musical Alliance (CIDMA) at the Odumase-Krobo lorry station of the Eastern Region. The main aim of the CIDMA is to unite everyone regardless of one's political affiliations using music and other related arts to promote peace for the impending General Elections on December 7, 2016. Other stakeholders who also delivered similar peace messages were the Electoral Commission, the Manya-Krobo and Yilo-Krobo Traditional Councils, the Ghana Police Service, and representatives of the various political parties in the Krobo area. Below is a copy of the full speech by the Kloma Hengme association: *STAND UP FOR PEACE IN KROBOLAND DURING ELECTION 2016 AND BEYOND* A Speech Delivered by Kloma Hengme Association Mr. Chairman, Members of the Clergy, beloved Krobo youth, all protocols observed; it gives us (Kloma Hengme Association) great pleasure to deliver a peace and solidarity speech today at such a very important event. First of all, I would like to take a moment to commend the organizers (the Christian Interdenominational Musical Alliance) for putting together such a mega peace concert providing the youth of Kroboland an opportunity to unite for election 2016 through music, the word of God and other related arts. Indeed, this will go down in the history books of Kloma and we can but only say Ayekooo. May God continue to bless you abundantly for such a wonderful initiative. We are glad to partner you in this regard. Mr. Chairman, come 7 December 2016, Kroboland will join the rest of Ghana to exercise our democratic rights of electing a President and Parliamentary candidates to steer the affairs of the country and our constituencies respectively for the next four years. Kloma Hengme as the Krobo advocacy and Heritage group though we do not engage in partisan politics, we are observing the political tension and paranoia that is prevailing in Kroboland at the moment. Given the opportunity today, we find it imperative to address the entire Krobo nation so that we dont jeopardize the relative peace and tranquility we are enjoying at the moment. Brothers and sisters, this election is not about any individual or political party, but about the welfare of Krobos and Ghanaians in general. Kroboland is one, and for all of us. We cannot afford to have La Cote DIvoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, etc. in Kroboland and Ghana at large. The leadership of Kloma Hengme urge all Krobos, especially our youth, to think Kroboland first in all our undertakings during this electioneering period and beyond. Our forbearers sacrificed to bring Kroboland this far. It is now our turn. The unity and stability of the land of our birth should be paramount to all of us before, during and after the elections. We have done it previously, and can, and would do it again. The signs are telling that this beautiful land of ours would not go up in flames during the elections or after. The signs are boldly written on the wall, that our dear land would have a very peaceful, free, fair and democratic election. We therefore owe it ourselves and posterity to safeguard this electoral process to ensure that we dont witness any violence, conflict or anarchy on our land. All of us here were born into families and not into political parties, and we must not allow our political differences to divide us as a Krobo nation. Our various political affiliations do not make us enemies, but rather people who have alternative solutions to the problems that face us as a Krobo people. Our numerous political affiliations are only a demonstration that there is beauty in diversity, and we are all partners in development. On the election day, whether you are a Krobo living here in Kroboland, or elsewhere in Ghana, vote early, Vote once, and walk home peacefully after casting your ballot. Losing Presidential and Parliamentary candidates and parties in Kroboland should not find it difficult to concede or accept defeat. Good losers are peacemakers. Good losers command respect. The Winning Candidates and their followers must also demonstrate a high sense of responsibility, decorum and magnanimity in their celebrations. We are the children of the Eagle (Manya-Krobo), and on occasions like this, we expect the Krobo to fly high the flag of Kloma beyond the sky. The strength of our Crocodile (Yilo-Krobo), we also expect, will serve as our guiding principle to propel us to defeat our true common enemies which are violence, conflict, anarchy, unemployment, illiteracy, bad roads, negative social tags on the Krobo, disease etc. These are the main issues we must consider as we go to the ballot. Let us make wise choices. Choices that will make Kroboland a better place for all of us and for our future generations. Posterity will not forgive us if we fail to do the right things during the election period. Kloma Hengme believes in these golden generation of Krobo and we must all live up to that expectation. Let us all stand up for peace in Kroboland. God bless us all and make Kroboland great and strong !!! 2016-08-29 175046 2016-08-29 175110 2016-08-29 175132 The Greater Accra Regional and constituencies executives of the women wing of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has taken the government, "Accounting to the People," pictorial booklet known as the green book to the coastal towns of the region to canvass for votes. The women wing as part of effort to help the John Mahama led NDC Government to retain power, last Friday, stormed the Bortianor / Ngleshie Amanfrom Constituency in the Ga South Municipality to preach to the people of the,"gospel of the green book." Led by its regional women organiser, Mrs Felicia Mekpoi Bortey, the NDC women went round the communities interacting and distributing the green book to the residents, explaining its content and what is expected in the next four years. Residents who received copies of the green book for the first time and seeing it's content beng work done by John Dramani Mahama were marvellous of extend of projects executed in the country. " I saw this green book with someone, but I never have opportunity to see the content, I am so impressed of work done, people says he did many projects for the country and today I have seen some in the book," a 52 year old woman identified herself as Mameley stated. The NDC women moved further into the residence, and many were calling and running after them for copies of the green book. They also distributed another white booklet, " Touching Lives" which contained the pictorials of work done by the first Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, through her foundation, the Lordina Foundation. While in the Bortianor community some of the residents could not hide their joy and happiness seeing the green book and the touching lives book, as most of them were heard, shouting, "ede bee keke," signifying their utmost support to the NDC party course in the constituency. The NDC women moved from house to house and from store to store to preach the gospel of the green book as they also distributed some party branded T-Shirts and other paraphernalia's to the residents. Mrs Bortey later told The Enquirer, the aimed is consolidate the women front and to ensure an effective mobilization of the grassroots to prosecute the agenda of the NDC. According to her, the move was also to ensure President Mahamas development projects and programs in the region are communicated effectively to the voter populace. While distributing the green book, Mrs Borey urged the residents to take advantage of the numerous developmental projects and program's in the region, especially in education and ensure that they enrol their children into schools. The Regional Women Organisers of the NDC further told residents of Bortianor that the region has benefited tremendously from the government under the leadership of President John Mahama and urged them to turn out in their number on December 7, to endorse his second term as president. Mrs Bortey however urged members of the party in the constituency to take advantage of the deep affection of the people of the area for the NDC in order to win more voters for the President. She assured the constituency women wing of the support of the regional executives in ensuring an enabling environment for them to perform their activities. She urged them to communicate effectively the governments development efforts to the people and in a manner that would convince them to vote massively for the party. The NDC , the regional women organiser said, is blessed with young people, the greatest of blessings and the party will continue to empower and believe in the inexhaustible strength of millions of Ghanaian youth,especially girls to give them opportunities to succeed. Mrs Bortey therefore urged the young girls to advance vigorously and be forthright following the NDC with unstained loyalty and conscience. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its presidential nominee Nana Akufo-Addo must leave the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) out of claims that the three-time flag bearer of the biggest opposition party has been diagnosed with cancer, kidney disease and heart problems, Deputy Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu has said. Mr Akufo-Addo, while speaking to the Bolgatanga Traditional Council in the Upper East Region on Sunday, August 28 during his campaign, told the crowd that the NDC and President John Mahama are fabricating lies about him in their quest to retain the presidency in the 7 December polls. First, they said I was a drug addict; it didnt work. They said I was sick; it didnt work. They said I was too old; it didnt work. They said I was a hunchback; it didnt work. They said I was a dwarf; it didnt work. They said I was in a wheelchair; it didnt work. They said I am a murderer; it didnt work. They said I would die in June; it didnt work. They said I was a dictator; it didnt work. They said I was intolerant; it didnt work. They said I was violent; it didnt work. They said I had a secret agenda to destabilise the country; it didnt work. Now, they say I have cancer, it will not work. Mr Akufo-Addo stressed further that it appears the only way the President will get a third term is when I am sick or I am dead. That is the only ground on which he will get his third term. Buttressing Mr Akufo-Addos comment, Mr Mac Manu told Naa Dedei Tettey in an interview on 12Live on Class91.3FM that this is a campaign of political destruction which incumbent parties employ when an incumbent government is losing an election in Africa. Ive seen it in Nigerian where they painted all kinds of gloomy picture about Buhari: Buhari is dead, Buhari has cancer, Buhari is on a sick bed; the same things they are saying about Nana Akufo-Addo [now]. I want to tell them, NDC, that whatever they learnt from President Jonathan which didnt work there, they should drop it because it is not going to work in Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is not sick of any cancer. They want to throw mud at Nana Akufo-Addo, they want to distract us from the key issues and the key government matters. This campaign is about the eight-year rule of the NDC it is a referendum of the eight-year rule of the NDC, Mr Mac Manu added. Its false and if the NDC will pay people to spread false news as was in Nigeria in the case of Buhari, fine; they can, but the Ghanaian voters are discerning like their counterparts in Nigeria, and history is going to repeat itself here. We are not bothered But Mr Kwakye Ofosu, who is also a Deputy Campaign Spokesperson for the NDC told Naa Dedei Tettey on 12Live that: Today, you will not find one example of any NDC person who has said anywhere that Nana Addo suffers from any disease, let alone cancer, or kidney disease or heart disease as Africa Watch has published, so let the NPP focus on answering the specific claim made in the publication and leave the NDC alone. They believe that by peddling this falsehood about the NDC, theyll benefit from sympathy, Mr Ofosu said. File Photo 29.08.2016 LISTEN This will not be the first. We have won a few important battles in the past but we lost the wars same day. Its almost an accepted pattern in these partsthat the winner of a democratic election must fight another battle to affirm the general will of the people. The battle is won but the war is lost when we express any level of incredulity in our electoral systems and processes, to provide grounds for another contest after the ballot. Zambia is presently going through the motions. Ghana went through a similar process a few years ago. We have lived with many paradoxes in this country, and we have placated ourselves with the equally paradoxical thinking that the problem that does not kill you only makes you stronger. In the end, though, we are not sure whether we have become stronger or we have merely gone through the motions. We spent eight months in court following pink sheets. The governor and the governed On a normal day in any election period, a satisfied voter may not at all be a satisfied Ghanaian. Apparently, a satisfied voter is a dangerous person, especially if the things that satisfy them have a carnal price. Those who have followed our checkered political history since the first republic, worry that if we negotiate a cheap price for our voting thumbs, we will be charting a thorny path for our people and our democracy. In the 18th Century when Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) published The Social Contract, the idea that government attains its right to exist and govern by the consent of the governed was a radical one. Today, the inalienable sovereignty of the voter makes the governed powerful than the governor. The voter wields considerable power and influence over politicians. When they come preaching prosperity and promising change every election year, they are primarily begging the voter for a contract. Even by our standards, we are able to think alongside the likes of Rousseauthat the general will of the people should be evident in a well-ordered society, and that a vote is a necessary requirement in determining our supreme will. Rousseau thought wrong. Ours is not an ordered society, not to talk of a well-ordered one. Less than four months to general elections, we should be discussing quality debates, instead of vote buying. Vote buying and national ID A pre-electoral survey conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) has revealed that the two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) are involved in vote buying, with the ruling party recording 51% while the NPPs activities accounts for some 32%. The survey did not report any pre-voting maneuvers in the campaigns of the other parties. Responding to these concerns at the recent UNDP led Maendeleo Policy Forum, the Electoral Commissioner, Charlotte Osei, was loquaciously philosophical: When someone buys your vote and comes to office, you suddenly expect that person to be an incorruptible leader. It is paradoxical. The forum, which is part of the UNDPs Regional Service for Africa, provides a space for international mediators, researchers and development practitioners, to discuss critical development issues in Africa. It is important that we become more responsible the way we vote. We should not vote along ethnic lines but on issues. You should not expect politicians to buy votes because once they buy votes, you lose the power to complain, she underscored. She also identified the lack of a national identification system as a hindrance in determining the citizenship of a voter and the already familiar problem of minors voting as adults. Election folktales In a well-ordered society, these things do not happen. We made an unpalatable cocktail of jokes out of stories that did the rounds during our previous elections, which included funny tales of party die-hards carrying coffins stuffed with already stamped ballot papers. They would deliver it to the next polling station in the adjoining town to be counted among genuine votes. Here too, we lived with a few paradoxes. In the strongholds of some political parties, we made another cocktail of even funnier jokes. In total defiance of the principle of one man one vote, it was fashionable for a voter to ask another in an election period: How many times have you voted today? It was part of the growing up process. It was even funnier when a candidate reported a zero vote at the polling station where he cast his ballot. Do I hate myself so much that I wouldnt vote for myself? We have lived with this paradox too. Thankfully, we have moved on. The growing up process has paid off and made us a better peopleeven in a society that is battling with open defecation. The CDD survey has some good news for us. 60% of Ghanaians have confidence in the Electoral Commission and trust it to deliver credible elections in December 2016. This is a good omen. With the constant bastardization of the EC, particularly against the person of the Commissioner, we were not expecting a pass mark for the election body. Incumbency and honour We expect the EC to win the battle in December 2016 and win the war, too. Can the EC or any other institution manipulate election results in favour of any presidential candidate or political organisation? The Zambians think so. Commissioner Osei recently told TV Talk Show host Paul Adom-Otchere, that a polling agent is in a better position to steal the vote than the EC leadership. At this point, even the naysayers believe her. To deliver free and fair elections, however, the conduct of our political parties must be regulated in accordance with law. At what point does the Presidents Accounting to the People nationwide tour morph into a political campaign? As president of the nation, does he abuse the incumbency advantage if he exercises what is ordinarily his presidential functionby commissioning a water plant in an election period? The NPP is making a dissension of a doit (case of out nothing or something small) with the incumbency argument. They did the same thing. So far, the most mature and decent political campaign is the PPPs, according to Peace FMs Kwami Sefa Kayi. Ace broadcaster Kwaku Sakyi-Addo agreed when he was asked the same question on GH Ones The Lounge Show. The media have already chosen their president. They have chosen well. Kwesi Tawiah-Benjamin Tissues of the Issues [email protected] Adjumani (Uganda) (AFP) - The international community must respond to the refugee crisis caused by fighting in South Sudan in the same way it responded to the crisis in Europe, the UN refugee chief said in Uganda on Monday. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, says 88,533 people have fled South Sudan for Uganda since July when fighting broke out between rival factions in the capital of the world's youngest country. Uganda, among the world's poorest countries, has won praise for hosting nearly 320,000 South Sudanese refugees as well as others fleeing political unrest and violence in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. "Uganda is in the middle of an unstable region and being a stable and peaceful country they are somehow compelled to receive thousands of refugees everyday. In Europe the same number of new arrivals per day could bring governments down," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi during a visit to camps in northern Uganda on Monday. The UNHCR has received less than a third of the funding needed to cope with the humanitarian emergency compared to over two-thirds for the refugee crisis in Europe, Grandi said. "This is not right, we need to put this right," he said. "Last year Europe received one million refugees. Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda each host 600,000-700,000 refugees, that's a lot of people. They deserve support," he said. "This is where the refugee crisis is and this is where the international community should focus." Grandi was speaking at Pagarinya Settlement Camp in northern Uganda where more than 22,000 refugees arrived within two weeks of fighting breaking out in the South Sudanese capital, Juba. The UNHCR registers all of the South Sudanese migrants entering Uganda. The government of Uganda gives each refugee household a plot of land to cultivate and materials to build a basic shelter. "Where else in the world could 22,000 refugees be resettled and given a plot of land so quickly after arriving?" asked Grandi. He said South Sudanese people "who have fled from the most appalling violence and hardship" were being let down by an international community that "has not upheld their responsibilities in the manner that it should". Grandi also appealed to the leaders of South Sudan to "behave responsibly". "There's fighting, tribal divisions, power struggles between individuals and leaders: this has to stop," he said, adding that during his visit he had heard multiple testimonies from survivors of violent attacks, rape, killings and abductions. Orios Capital, an emerging patient capital firm established to co invest into scalable and impact based startups in Africa, has announced plans to raise more than one million dollars. The move is in line with the company's vision to become the name behind a global business giant from Africa. It also forms part of its strategy to engineer funding to Startups, helping bridge the funding gap to Startups in Ghana and Africa.Orios is expecting to raise its Seed Capital from Limited Partners, Donors and Private Equity firms. According to a report entitled 'Accelerating Entrepreneurship in Africa', compiled in 2013 by the Omidyar Network , the philanthropic foundation established by Pierre Omidyar the founder of e-Bay, in partnership with global strategy consulting film, Monitor Group; " venture capital in Africa is still an emergent phenomenon. This is because Entrepreneurs are forced to pursue bank loans which simply are not tailored for startups. Banks see startup investments as high risk, low reward and like to quote statistics that show 9 out of ten startups fail within the first five years of operation". Three years on, the situation remains the same and Orios Capital is prepared to change this trend through its innovative business model, underpinned by the goal of social change and job creation as solutions to reducing Global Poverty. In a statement, the Board Chairman of Orios Capital and past Chief Executive of Ghana's Volta River Authority, Mr. Kweku Awotwi, said Our work is pivotal in redefining solutions to poverty reduction in Africa. We want to be the Fund that provides the Patient Capital needed to transform such businesses to achieve that mandate. We strongly believe that our strong Governance Structure and cumulative experience will serve as a differentiating factor in disrupting the private equity market for Startups'. Some of the key sectors that Orios is investing in includes Healthcare, Technology, Services, Agribusiness, Clean Water, Formal Housing and Quality Education. Orios Capital is set to formally launch its operations later this year as it continues its own fundraising to seed Ghanaian Startups when it announces its first call for Proposals. About Orios Capital Established in 2012 as the Ghana Centre for Entrepreneurship, Employment and Innovation (GCEEI), providing training and support services for SME's in Ghana with an enviable track record of engagement within the SME Sector, Orios Capital has metamorphosed into one of Africa's emerging venture capital fund for start ups. The company has over the past four years trained over 5000 SME's and been the brain behind some of the most successful startups from Ghana including Wear Purple, Oasis Websoft, CellAfrique.net, UTAMA Africa Ltd, Chaste clothing, and BKC Consulting, AgroSoft Ghana Ltd. And pioneered key policies to help shape Ghanas Startup Ecosystem. Currently the company operates from its Head office in Accra with intention to extend its services into other African countries within the next 3 years. For more information about Orios visit www.oriosgroup.com Media Contact: John Armah, +233 541 888 877 , email:[email protected] . Story by Myjoyonline Minority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu says a petition that could lead to impeachment proceedings against President John Mahama over a Ford vehicle gift from a Burkinabe businessman is not a witch hunt. "I dont have anything personnel against the president," he told Joy News's Elton John Brobbey in an interview. The Suame MP has escalated the controversy more than two months after Joy News investigative journalist Manasseh Azure broke the story. President Mahama took a 2010 Ford Expedition in 2012 from a Burkinabe contractor and friend, Djibril Kanazoe. The Presidency has however explained the gift is not being used by the President personally. It has been donated to the state and is now part of the Presidential pool of vehicles, government has explained. But the Minority has breathed life into the controversy that had died down. A petition signed by more than 100 MPs has activated Article 112 (3) of the Constitution which directs that parliament must consider a petition signed by at least 15% of MPs which translates into at least 41 MPs. He referred to the Presidents own comments in which he insisted he did nothing wrong and challenged his critics to use constitutional processes if they so desire. We are only applying ourselves to the path that the constitution has provided for us, the Minority leader told Joy News Parliamentary correspondent Elton Brobbey. The Majority has described the Minoritys motion as a wasteful recall which amounts to nothing. Tain MP has decried the cost of the recall saying it could buy five of the 2010 Ford Expedition under contention. "It is just one Ford we are going to investigate" Kwasi Agyemang Gyan-Tutu explained to Joy News that parliament must foot the transportation of each MP. Some MPs from the north of the country will have to be paid 2,000 cedis. The motion could be gutted by counter motions from the Majority seeking to discourage any discussion on the matter. The Minority motion will need a simple majority to be accepted for debate and a subsequent resolution calling for a bi-partisan investigation. CPP Youth Organiser Ernesto Yeboah has backed the Minority's push for a parliamentary vote on a motion to get the President investigated for accepting a Ford Expedition gift from a Burkinabe businessman. Ernesto Yeboah It is better late than ever Ernesto Yeboah described the recall of all 275 MPs to consider a motion filed by the Minority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu. In a different constitutional move to get to the bottom of the controversy, the CPP Youth League barely a week after the story broke on Joy FM, petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate Mahama. Led by Ernesto Yeboah the CPP Youth maintained that President Mahama contravened Article 284 of the 1992 constitution detailing the CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS. It states that 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. Speaking on the latest development, Ernesto Yeboah said a simple request by the Minority to have the President investigated should be welcomed by the Majority. They are not asking for anything big, he said. Why would you want to prevent any sort of investigation into the matter Ernesto Yeboah wondered. The Majority has expressed displeasure at the recall with barely three months to the general elections. With Parliament on recess, the MPs seeking re-election are campaigning. Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com|Edwin Appiah|[email protected] Accra, August 29, 2016 - Vodafone Ghanas quest to eradicate communication cable thefts across the country has received a huge boost from the Trade Ministry. In a welcome move, the Ministry has given Vodafone the administrative authority to inspect all scrap exports leaving the shores of Ghana. This is to ensure that they are rid of communication cables. Additionally, this directive makes it illegal for anyone to deal in Vodafones cables in the country. All major scrap exporters have been made aware of this and understand the consequences a breach will have on their business. Plans are also underway to pass on the information to domestic scrap dealers nationwide. Vodafone has been grappling with thefts to its communication cables for some time now. As the only telecommunications company operating a fixed network, the company spends about GHS1.5million on replacing stolen copper cables annually. Between April 2015 and February 2016, the company recorded about 183 incidents of cable thefts; a situation which adversely affects the overall operation of the company and its commitment to give customers a better network experience. The partnership with the Trade Ministry is viewed as an excellent intervention to finally bring sanity and efficiency to Vodafones fixed network operations. Commenting, Gayheart Mensah, Director of External Affairs at Vodafone Ghana said: Our commitment to curbing this menace is unquestionable. The implications of such thefts extend beyond Vodafone as a company. The impact is felt across all facets of life including; businesses, security communication networks, medical centers, homes, industries and even revenues accruing to Government. We are grateful to the Trade Ministry for agreeing to collaborate with us to ensure we get rid of this practise once and for all. In a related development, Vodafone, the Judicial Services department and the Ghana Police Service have introduced a dedicated Cable court in Accra and Kumasi to exclusively prosecute cable theft cases. 29.08.2016 LISTEN What is the best way to unite Hausa and Igbo? Yoruba Presidency! If some of the speculations bear out, Buhari will not honor his one term pledge for the usual reason given by others, that he needs to implement and see his initiatives and programs through. There is nothing Tinubu can do just as Fashola proceeded to his second term. The worst that can happen is for Tinubu, his cronies or other Yoruba to mount a campaign for Yoruba Presidency based on competence. Anyone that thinks the Igbo would lie low and allow Yoruba Presidency to succeed regardless of their penchant for merit or competence without ethnic consideration, know little about the political history that always repeats itself. Say what you want, it has always kept us together and bring peace home to Hausa and Igbo. The agitation by IPOD and MASOOB may even dwindle if the terms of alliance between the two, i.e. Igbo and Hausa work out. Despite the denial today of who was responsible for the derailment of Akande as Speaker, Igbo members of PDP were only too happy to work with Tinubu ACN. While they were at it, neither Igbo nor Yoruba gained the Speaker position, it went to the North. When Igbo were told, their alliance with Tinubu ACN would have consequences, they said they would cross the river when they got there. Tinubu used them to remain a powerful ethnic leader in future negotiations. It was the same Tinubu that negotiated with Buhari and left the Igbo PDP, his accomplice that denied Akande the Speakership out cold. They turned bitter into wailers. It does not mean Yoruba love Tinubu that much, but they have their own devil they send to quench fire with fire. If Tinubu thought he could pull that again, Igbo answered with Ekweremadu as Sarakis Deputy. Marginalization in the country means one section of the country is not in power. In coalition with the North, the East is willing to concede the Presidency. But in a coalition with the West, the East would want nothing less than the Presidency. Even when Zik was offered, alienation of Hausa came last. Nigerians still fail to realize that no matter where the President comes from, it does not affect their daily lives. Politicians only take care of themselves and their cronies. There are growing factions in the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria for either a breakup of the country or some regional restructuring. The only time we have relative peace within the country is when the North and the Eastern part of Nigeria are in coalition to form government. Right now, the envious position of the beautiful bride (courtesy of Zik) is vacant. The way it is supposed to work is if the East is either in a coalition with the West or preferably, the North. Only Western Region has demonstrated progress as opposition in Nigeria. Yoruba and Igbo fight as much as they make up. One measures the progress of the other by competition. We must also admit that Yoruba has stopped turning the other cheek in the midst of poverty growing in every part of the country. So if we want unity in Nigeria Yoruba must vie for Presidency in 2019. Most Igbo are surprised by the reaction of the Yoruba to the ongoing rivalry and insults traded. The wailing that has never got to this stage in the history of Nigeria. Actually, some older Yoruba never expected the reaction of their young generation to be this strong against their Igbo cousins. When the Igbo claimed Yoruba were unfair to them in Yoruba land, Yoruba always apologized and pointed to areas they had been fair to Ndi-Igbo. Not so with this new generation. They want to know what Yoruba were smoking to concede so much to Igbo while Igbo gave up nothing. Since the fifties, jobs and political positions were conceded to Igbo in Lagos and Ibadan as a matter of fairness. While those from Edo, Calabar, Togolese, Benin Republic and Ghanaians have been in Lagos longer than Igbo, their demands were subtle, not as a matter of right like the Igbo. Igbo came last but demanded more. So the new generations of Yoruba are wondering why their elders were so permissive to the detriment of their own, so much that Azikiwe was crying that he was not made the government leader in the West! What the hell! The Igbo have never given anything up in their land but they always refer to Umaru Altine, an Hausa man who became the first Mayor of in 1956. For this reason, Igbo think they deserve whatever position they want in Yoruba land. Not in the North? The Igbo create justification for insisting on Yoruba land. They claimed they have the population in Lagos. They are always pointing to statistics, imagined or true; that they develop Lagos and pay most of the taxes. They also claim that most of the businesses are owned by Igbo. In short, their contributions to Yoruba land give them the right to demand more than other ethnic groups that they met in Yoruba land and Lagos specifically. The only problem is that their self-proclaim statistics is self-serving. It is true that Lagos State collect more taxes than other states but majority of Nigerians do not pay taxes. Indeed, only about ten million do in a population of about 170 million. Most of the Igbo businesses are in the service industry like small parts import, buying and selling. These are trades that can be performed by anyone in any country. Manufacturing is where the real business is and these factories are mainly located in Lagos and Ogun states. Indeed, this is the major attraction to Lagos and Ogun states for entrepreneurs and workers. Investors, including Igbo want a region where they can get safe returns on their money. Western areas still remain relatively peaceful compared to the rest of Nigeria. This is why many people located their primary residence in the West. Yoruba only progress well when in opposition. Despite Yoruba and Igbo social and economic teamwork, their political rivalry will always give Hausa an edge and keep the country one. Sirte (Libya) (AFP) - Pro-government forces in Libya on Monday cornered the Islamic State group in one neighbourhood of Sirte, after two days of deadly fighting for the jihadists' last stronghold in the country. The forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord launched an offensive more than three months ago to drive IS from the coastal city, and they have been backed by US air raids for almost a month. IS overran the Mediterranean hometown of Libya's slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi in mid-2015, sparking fears the jihadists would use it as a springboard for attacks on Europe. The pro-GNA forces announced late Monday they had "totally liberated" one of the two districts where IS fighters were holed up after an evening assault on their positions. Fighting in Sirte "Our forces have totally liberated district Number One" in northern Sirte, the campaign's media centre said. Reda Issa, a spokesman for the loyalist forces, told AFP: "The price was costly but they liberated it." Jihadists were still holed up in half of district Number Three in the east of the city, which they had seized in July last year. The anti-IS fighters "seized a little more than half of district Number Three and 70 percent of district Number One" in the downtown seafront area, they said earlier. The latest breakthrough came after loyalist forces launched a new assault in the evening against the jihadists' holdouts backed by tanks and artillery, and fought with IS snipers, Issa said. On Sunday, at least 38 pro-GNA fighters were killed 185 others wounded in clashes, medical officials at a field hospital and the nearby Misrata hospital said. Ten others died in fighting on Monday while 12 were wounded, they said. IS casualty figures have been unavailable. 'Final battle' Loyalist forces announced on Sunday the "final battle" to retake the last two districts where IS was entrenched, with about 1,000 pro-GNA fighters taking part in the offensive. Fighters from the forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord, wounded in the battle against Islamic State (IS) group in the eastern coastal city of Sirte, receive treatment at the hospital in Misurata on August 29, 2016 The Misrata hospital, which was already struggling to handle casualties at the weekend, was filled on Monday with wounded pro-GNA fighters, an AFP photographer said. "It was a bloody day," doctor Akram Jumaa said. "I carried out dozens of surgeries that lasted until this morning, and some others are still ongoing." Mohammad Quweid, a nurse, bemoaned the lack of means to treat casualties. "There aren't enough rooms so sometimes we have to put five or six fighters together in the same room." The jihadists have sent in at least 12 suicide car bombers since Sunday, pro-GNA forces said. Members of the forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord fire their weapons at enemy positions on August 28, 2016, in the coastal city of Sirte On Sunday loyalists had seized several IS positions in district Number Three, including the Qortoba mosque which the jihadists had renamed after slain Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. IS fighters seized Sirte in June 2015, hoisting their black flag above the city. They had set fire to the mosque's library, killed an imam and used its courtyard for "torture and executions", the media office of the Sirte operation said. Pro-GNA forces fought their way into Sirte a year later, on June 9, but their advance has been hampered by snipers, suicide bombings and booby traps. More than 400 loyalist fighters have been killed and nearly 2,500 wounded in the battle for Sirte since May, medical sources say. 1,000 IS fighters The pro-GNA forces are mostly militias from western cities backing the unity government of premier-designate Fayez al-Sarraj and the guards of oil installations that IS has repeatedly tried to seize. Backed by US air strikes since August 1, they seized the jihadists' headquarters at the Ouagadougou conference centre on August 10, pinning down IS fighters near the sea. As of August 24, American warplanes had carried out 82 strikes, the US military said. The US also leads a coalition fighting IS in Syria and Iraq, where the jihadists seized large swathes of territory in 2014. Analysts say ousting IS from Libya would be a symbolic boost for the fragile unity government, but unrest might continue as IS could carry out more scattered attacks across the country. Before it was seized by IS, Sirte had about 120,000 residents, but a pro-GNA military leader said this month that all had fled except for the jihadists' families. The Pentagon this month estimated there are fewer than 1,000 jihadist fighters in Sirte. IS took advantage of the chaos in oil-rich Libya after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Kadhafi. A UN-brokered deal struck in December led to Sarraj's unity government starting to work in Tripoli, but it has since struggled to fully assert its authority over the country. At the mention that the EC is going to rely on professionals (i.e. lawyers, accountants, etc) to collate results at the collation centers in the upcoming general elections, the NDC have started shivering. An Akan proverb says, "atwamene biara suro ayayanda", to wit, every executioner dreads sleeping in supine position. Ofosu Ampofo who is Director of Elections for the NDC warns that they (NDC) will resist any such move. He goes on to cite lack of experience and partisanship on the part of these professionals. If the NDC have any better explanation, they should come again because what they are alluding to is infantile and baseless. In Section C of the EC's STATEMENT OF POLLS AND DECLARATION OF RESULTS (aka PINK SHEET) for both presidential and parliamentary polls in Ghana is boldly captioned BALLOT ACCOUNTING TO BE FILLED IN AT END OF POLLS BEFORE COUNTING COMMENCES. The job of the election officer, whether at the polling station or at the collation center, is basically an exercise in ballot accounting. So, if professional accountants, lawyers, engineers, etc. are declared inexperienced because they have never been at the polls before then who are more qualified to do the ballot accounting? Was experience at the polls a requirement before university dons in Nigeria were drafted in to deliver such an excellent job at their last general elections? Next, the NDC allude that the professionals are predominantly NPP. What a cheap, groundless and unnationalistic talk! And how can the NDC be so colour-blinded? So, which categories of Ghanaian professionals in the eyes of the NDC are not NPP to meet their whims and caprices? Limping from there, the NDC through Ofosu Ampofo are trying to bend backwards to suggest the need to use teachers as traditional recruits for election purposes. Nobody disputes the need to go for our teachers because of their long standing involvement in general and district assembly elections. And our teachers deserve to take their posts once again. Nevertheless, the hypocrisy of the NDC must be exposed. In 2012, when the EC under Dr Afari Gyan decided NOT to engage teachers who have been known as traditional recruits and the NPP along with concerned teachers and some nationalists kicked against the EC's position, the NDC quickly went and solidly held the defence for the EC. The majority of these election officials whose particulars and qualification were shrouded in secrecy eventually turned out to be NDC rented officials. The mess that those rented officials created for Ghana is history. Nobody except the nation wreckers will want to see a repeat of what took Ghanaians to the Supreme Court in 2013. We must build trust in the electoral processes leading to the December 7th elections, which will obviously include the calibre of personnel that will superitend the affairs at all the polling and the collation centers in Ghana. As matter of fact, the majority of our teachers whenever they are recruited, work at the polling stations as Presiding Officers and as Election Assistants. The current bone of contention is not even about the polling stations; it is about the calibre of persons to be in-charge of collation of results which will take place at the Collation Centers at the district levels. Not quite long ago, Nigeria relied on its university dons as election collation officers to deliver one of the most celebrated African election results in recent times. Why can't Ghana go the Nigerian way and even beyond to spare us another 2012 and its aftermath. All well-meaning and peace-loving Ghanaians must support the idea of the EC to recruit professionals to strengthen its workforce for the 2016 elections. Hon Joseph Boahen Aidoo fmr. Western Regional Minister and Three terms fmr. MP Amenfi East Constituency Adjumani (Uganda) (AFP) - Kneeling on the floor of a large, dimly-lit communal tent Filippo Grandi, the UN's most senior official for refugees, listens intently as Richard Lagu describes his difficult living conditions. The two men speak frankly. "It's not comfortable at all here, there's not enough water and the food is not good," says Lagu. The 22-year-old fled a recent outbreak of fighting in South Sudan, escaping to Uganda on July 24 with his sisters and their children. The eight of them now share a crowded UN tent with another two households, in a transit centre for new arrivals. "You are safe here, but you have to be patient," says Grandi. "Everyone is here to help. Good luck," says Grandi as the two men shake hands. While Uganda is praised for welcoming the refugees, the international community has failed to provide the money needed to help the country cope with this latest emergency Lagu fled after soldiers broke into his home threatening to kidnap and kill his family, and now a refugee in a foreign country he, like nearly 90,000 who have crossed the border in recent weeks, faces an uncertain future. While Uganda is praised for welcoming the refugees, the international community has failed to provide the money needed to help the country cope with this latest emergency. It's not a humanitarian disaster, Grandi says, at least not yet. "I'm really worried about the overcrowding," says Grandi, "because overcrowding is what creates an environment for epidemics and diseases." Survive and thrive After talking with Lagu at the Nyuamanzi Transit Centre, Grandi travelled a short distance to Pagarinya Settlement where more than 22,000 refugees have each been given a plot of land to cultivate alongside local residents. The new camp was full just two weeks after opening, as people continued to flee South Sudan's chaos. As he arrived, dancers in traditional clothes sang welcome songs to the rhythm of a drummer beating an old yellow jerry can with a stick. Women set the tempo by rubbing metal plates against green plastic bead necklaces. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, pictured on August 24, 2016, responded that he is confident many of the issues with Ugandan refugee camps can be addressed, but the numbers still continue to rise Peter Gai Tek, a history and English teacher in the South Sudan capital Juba before he became a refugee, read a list of the people's simple desires: "We want our children to be educated, to open schools, and also our health condition to be improved." Grandi responds that he is confident many of the issues can be addressed, but the numbers still continue to rise and Uganda's government is finding it increasingly hard to cope. "Uganda has faced troubles and we have been refugees in the past," says Hilary Onek, the country's minister for refugees. "Now that we have come back home we understand the suffering of other people who are tortured in their countries... we have sympathy for them." Such fellow-feeling is rare in Europe where a siege mentality has taken hold in the face of thousands fleeing conflict and hardship in the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere. But here in poor, rural northern Uganda Onek says the refugees must be welcomed and offered the opportunities to survive, and to thrive. "You don't leave refugees idle. We want to turn them into a productive force," he says. "Giving them skills increases their purchasing power in our economy and they can bring their skills back to their host country." Gomoa Awomberew, (C/R), Aug. 29, GNA - The Market women and residents of Gomoa Awomberew have celebrated the rehabilitation of their dilapidated market by the Naana Eyiah, the Gomoa Central New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary nominee. Madam Eyiah's action followed an appeal by the Youth of Gomoa Awomberew for immediate assistance to avert a disaster. Mr Ahmed Kwesi Anobil, the Gomoa Awomberew Youth Organiser of the NPP, told Journalists that the chiefs and Youth realised that the market was collapsing and needed repairs. Mr Anobil said the NPP Parliamentary Candidate bought eight galvanized iron poles, some bags of cement and hundreds of Ghana cedis to the youth and chiefs for the rehabilitation work. Naana Eyiah and Constituency Executives, led by Constituency Chairman, Mr Benjamin Otoo joined the youth to work on the market till they completed. Mr Anobil stated that the youth and chiefs had expressed their satisfaction about the immediate steps taken by Naana Eyiah to provide materials and funds for the rehabilitation of the market. Mr Anobil said the HIPC toilet constructed under the Kufuor Administration had been abandoned and the residents had resorted to defaecating along the road and other public places, which posed health hazards. Earlier, Naana Eyiah and the executives called on Opanyin Kojo Pantsil, Abusuapanyin of the Chief of Awomberew Nana Ababio Abor III, and the other elders to interact with them. The Gomoa Central NPP nominee asked the chiefs and people to vote for her and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo on December 7, 2016 elections. Naana Eyiah announced that three girls had been assisted to learn hair dressing and tailoring to enable them to become self reliant. Abusuapanyin Pantsil, on behalf of the Chief and elders, thanked the NPP Parliamentary nominee for her intervention and wished her well. GNA By Francis Ameyibor, GNA Accra, Aug. 29, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the 2016 Presidential nominee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Monday affirmed that the stability and progress of Ghana and the enhancement of democracy are the motivation for the Electoral Petition. 'We demonstrated clearly that it was not the ambitions of Akufo-Addo, or the fortunes of the NPP, that we sought to promote but we proved to the world that we were willing and able to submerge our individual and partisan preferences for the common good. 'It must be pointed out that the sanctity of the ballot is and must be supreme,' Nana Akufo-Addo.' Nana Akufo-Addo said these in a statement to mark the Third Anniversary of the Supreme Court judgement on the Presidential Election Petition. On August, 29, 2013, the Supreme Court delivered a majority judgement that brought an end to the election petition, which was instituted by the late Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, a former NPP Chairman and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Election 2012 running mate of Nana Akufo-Addo. They challenged the validity of the results of the 2012 Presidential Election. However, the majority decision of the Supreme Court rejected the challenge. Nana Akufo-Addo explained that after the proceedings, which lasted eight months, Ghana came out with her democratic credentials enhanced. 'I said, on the day the judgement was delivered, that everything in my bones, in the way I was brought up and in how I have conducted my life thus far, made it imperative that I accept a decision of the highest court of our land, even though I might disagree with it. 'I thank the Lord that He gave me that inner strength to display the leadership when required,' he said. He explained that the verdict from the majority on the Court was clear, and to the effect that, regardless of the infractions or irregularities that might happen on Election Day, 'what happens at the polling station is sacred and the results declared there will not be reversed.' 'We, in the NPP, have taken that message to heart,' he stated. 'It is the expression of preference involved in the casting of the ballot that is sacred - the rest of the activities are, at best, administrative exercises. 'The count, the collation, the transmission and the declaration of results cannot and should not be more important than the sacred, God-given right of a citizen expressing his or her choice represented by the casting of his or her ballot.' He said the strength of any democracy was very much determined by the credibility of its electoral system. 'It is in our collective interest that we ensure that the rules and regulations for the conduct of elections are fair and transparent and that we all develop respect for them'. He said there should be no lingering questions about the legitimacy of an election, and the winning candidate at the end of the process should receive the unalloyed support of all. 'That is how we can strengthen our democracy and the peace and stability of our nation'. Nana Akufo-Addo stated: 'I believe I can, in all humility, provide, with God's guidance and the assistance of a capable team, the leadership that is needed to return Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity.' He, therefore, called on the electorates to entrust the leadership of the nation with him and the NPP. 'I am appealing to Ghanaians to repose their confidence in me in December, and together we shall make the Black Star of Africa rise and shine again'. The nine-member panel of the Supreme Court who sat on the Presidential Election Petition by decided that the incumbent President John Dramani Mahama of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), was validly elected and declared the President of the Republic of Ghana in the Presidential Poll of 7th and 8th December 2012. In reading the verdict dismissing the petitioners' claim, the presiding judge, Justice William Atuguba said: 'Well, this is the decision we have arrived at: 'Upon a scrutiny of the petition, we found that the issues to be determined are as set out at page 125 of the counsel for the petitioners' written address were as follows: Over voting; Voting without biometric verification; Absence of the signature of the presiding officer; Duplicate serial numbers, that is to say occurrence of the same serial numbers on pink sheets for two different polling stations.' The rest were: Duplicate polling station codes, that is to say occurrence of different results of pink sheets for polling stations with the same polling station codes; and Unknown polling stations, that is to say results recorded for polling stations that are not part of 26,002 polling stations provided by the second respondent in the petition. 'We unanimously dismiss the claims relating to duplicate serial numbers, duplicate polling station codes, and unknown polling stations, that is for short. 'Atuguba, Adinyira, Baffoe-Bonnie, Gbadegbe, and Akoto-Bamfo, dismiss the claim of over voting. 'Atuguba, Adinyira, Baffoe-Bonnie, Gbadegbe, Akoto-Bamfo, dismiss the claims relating to absence of signature of presiding officer. 'Atuguba, Adinyira, Dotsey, Baffoe-Bonnie, Gbadegbe, Akoto-Bamfo dismiss the claim relating to voting without biometric verification. 'Ansah, Owusu and Anim Yeboah grant all the three claims, that is to say, over voting, absence of presiding officers' signature and voting without biometric verification, annul the votes involved and order a rerun of the affected areas. 'Dotsey JSC grants the claim of over-voting but has provided a road-map in his judgement as in the figures of votes to be ascertained and cancelled and a re-run of the areas affected. 'Dotsey JSC upholds the claim relating to absence of presiding officers' signatures on the pink sheets cancels the results concerned and orders a rerun of the areas affected. 'Baffoe-Bonnie JSC grants the claim of voting without biometric verification cancels the votes involved and orders a rerun of the areas affected. 'In the circumstances the overall effect is that the first respondent was validly elected and the petition is therefore dismissed." GNA By Josephine Nyarkoh, GNA Kumasi, Aug 29, GNA - The government has been urged to make the building of Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds in the deprived communities, urgent priority. Madam Victoria Darko, Project Director of Pregnancy Stress Foundation (PSF), a local NGO, complained about inadequate health facilities and professionals in these areas and said that must radically change. Deliberate steps must be taken to tackle the health needs of pregnant women and children there. She was contributing to discussions at a forum on pregnancy and child birth held by the Foundation in Kumasi. 'Saving and supporting the lives of vulnerable mothers and children in society' was the theme chosen for the event. This followed a health outreach undertaken jointly by the PSF and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in two districts - Amansie Central and Sekyere Afram Plains Districts that showed that many expectant mothers and children lacked access to quality healthcare. Madam Darko described the finding as deeply troubling and not helpful to efforts at preventing maternal and infant mortality. She indicated that there were also the problems of self-medication and malnutrition in those places. She said the situation, where people walked long distances, should not continue. Mr. Raphael Sekyere, a nurse with the PSF, advised women to avoid alcohol intake and unsafe abortion. The Foundation used the occasion to present a cheque for GH10,000.00 to support five children with deformities to undergo medical treatment. GNA By Nana Osei Kyeretwie, GNA Abesim (B/A), Aug. 29, GNA - The Ghana Adolescent Reproductive Health (GHARH) Project, an intervention to improve adolescent access to Health information and utilization of quality reproductive health services, has reached over 77,000 young people in Brong-Ahafo, with sexual reproductive health (SRH) information, between January and June this year. Through its multiple communication channels, including the popular TV series programme, 'YOLO' that figure of the target group were reached in the Brong Ahafo Region, where the DFID - funded project, started in 2014, is being implemented. Mr. Moses Nanang, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Representative of Palladium Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) collaborating with other Ghanaian partners in the implementation of the GHARH Project, said on Monday. Within the same period, he said, over 63,000 young people also received various sexual and reproductive health services through different platforms such as adolescent health corners, school health clubs and outreach points. He was speaking at the opening of a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH), jointly organised by Palladium and the School of Public Health, University of Ghana for 65 participants, at Abesim, near Sunyani. It brought together participants mainly from the Brong-Ahafo with only two from the Ashanti Region and they included representatives of five NGOs, the Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service (MoH/GHS), National Population Council (NPC) and the National Youth Authority (NYA). The rest were from the Ghana Education Service (GES) and a representative each from the Health Directorates of the eight Municipalities and 19 Districts in the region, as well as three representatives from the Regional Health Directorate and a six-member team from the School of Public Health. The objective was to equip collaborative partners of the Project at the district and regional levels, with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively plan, implement and manage ASRH Programmes. Mr. Nanang said the over-all goal of the DFID-funded GHARH Project was among other things to strengthen the capacity of Government of Ghana to manage and implement ARH programmes at all levels. 'Towards meeting that goal since its inception in 2014, the project had supported various capacity building efforts for over 6,600 individuals including programme managers, teachers, healthcare professionals and peer educators', he added. Mr. Nanang said the Project's implementation would end in March 2017 and added that sustaining the gains chalked under it was crucial as funding would be required by the partners in the districts to maintain some level of activities. He therefore appealed to government through the Municipal/District Assemblies and other agencies to prioritize adolescent health issues by budgeting adequately for them. Dr. Osei Kuffour Afreh, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director in-charge of Public Health said Palladium's presence in the Region had been very beneficial because besides capacity building and awareness creation, 54 adolescent health corners had been established and handed over to the GHS. He charged the Municipal/District Health Directorates to endeavour to use the corners for their intended purposes and also directed them to integrate adolescent health services into their routine health services programmes to sustain the Project. Professor Augustine Ankomah of the School of Public Health and Coordinator for the Training stressed the need for stronger and effective partnership to achieve the goals of the Project to address the issue of adolescent and teenage pregnancies which was real not only in the Brong-Ahafo Region but a national developmental challenge. GNA Accra, Aug. 29, GNA - The Minerals Commission has officially launched its online repository for public access, according to a statement from the Commission. The online repository is a web based portal where all data recorded in the Mining Cadastre pertaining to minerals rights and related revenues are published. 'This means for the first time in the history of Ghana, a fully-fledged computerized mining cadastral system is being deployed for the mining sector of Ghana,' the statement said. It said the project had been made possible under a bilateral agreement with the Australia. Dr Toni Aubynn, CEO of Minerals Commission remarked: 'We are excited that what we set out to achieve is turning out positively with the development of a fully-fledged Mining Cadastre Administration System. The system when fully completed will enhance transparency, effectiveness, accountability and compliance in the management of mineral rights.' Under the new system, information relating to existing concessions as well as status of new applications (payments made, concession validity, size, location etc.) could be assessed and tracked online. It is expected that by April 2017, investors could conduct full cartographic searches and apply online for mineral rights. The implementation of a Mining Cadastre Administration System in Ghana would help prevent disputes over concession boundaries and significantly reduce human interventions in the mineral rights acquisition and management process. At the same time, it would help improve collaboration and interaction between relevant government institutions, including the Minerals Commission, Ghana Revenue Authority, Bank of Ghana, among others, the statement added. The portal could be accessed via: http://ghana.revenuesystems.org. GNA you are here: I think anything past a double D is starting to get out of control it feels like all you are is boobs. < A builder faces possible six-figure fines in connection with a massive spill of silt-laden, construction runoff water into a Gilroy creek near Christmas Hill Park from the Glen Loma Ranch subdivision under construction on the west side of town. < The California Regional Water Quality Control Board cited CalAtlanic Homes, formerly Standard Pacific Homes, on June 14 for violations of its construction permit in connection with the retention pond breach near Las Animas School in South Gilroy. < The failure sent an estimated 500,000 gallons into Uvas Creek, home to protected steelhead trout and other species of fish and wildlife. < The breach was witnessed, photographed and filmed by a nearby resident, who reported it to city officials, who in turn alerted the state water board. < The breach was first detected on Feb. 20 and was reported by the city to the state on March 1. But it continued after it was discovered because equipment brought in by the developer to stem the flow was inadequate, officials said. < As a result, CalAtlantic was granted an extension to fix the problem as ordered by the state. The retention basin has since dried up. < Its very rare on this scale, said David Innis of the water quality board. To have it fail like that, Ive never heard of it before. < Gilroy public works director Rick Smelser and inspector David Manigold worked on the case and reported it to the state. < They said noise from the gushing water was so loud it attracted attention of a nearby resident, who documented the incident and called the city. < Although no decision has yet been made regarding whether CalAtlantic will be punished, the board can impose fines of up to $10,000 a day for violations. If the California attorney general takes action, the builder could be hit with fines of up to $25,000 a day, according to the citation letter. < In addition, other state and federal agencies that share jurisdiction of the creek have been notified and could investigate and take their own enforcement action, officials said. These agencies include the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administrations fisheries division. The latter has protective responsibility for ocean-going steelhead trout that spawn in the creek and its tributaries in the Pajaro River watershed. < Other agencies that have been notified and could be drawn into the probe are the Santa Clara County district attorney and the Santa Clara County Habitat Agency. < Irvine-based CalAtlantic Homes did not respond to requests for comment. < The one-acre retention pond, or basin, is designed to operate during and after the construction phase of four separate developments involving 274 new homes in the Glen Loma Ranch project, the citys largest subdivision. < The pond is a repository for captured construction water runoff from new streets in the development. When completed, Glen Loma Ranch will occupy 309 acres along the east side of Santa Teresa Boulevard, roughly from just north of Solorsano Middle School south nearly to the Thomas Road intersection. < The runoff collection system is meant to prevent unfiltered runoff that might contain motor oil and other pollutants from entering the creek and the larger Pajaro River watershed. The Pajaro empties into the Monterey Bay. < Runoff flows to the pond where it is percolated through special soil that removes fine silt and other pollutants that can clog the creek and kill fish and other wildlife. < After passing through the filtering layer, the water is collected via a latticework of small, underground pipes that convey it to a 3-foot diameter pipe that discharges the filtered runoff directly into the creek. < However, the latticework had not yet been installed and, for unknown reasons, the 3-foot pipe worked itself loose from the pond bottom, floated upwards and ruptured, according to Innis of the water quality board. < He said the retention basin has since dried up, but that the breach deposited a great deal of silt in the creek before the flow stopped. < Innis added that silt particles become suspended in the creek water making it difficult for fish to breath and see their prey. < City officials and Innis suggested that initial indications are that the failure could not have been foreseen and might have been, in effect, an unavoidable accident due to the ponds design. < The state water quality control boards notice of violation was sent to Ron Buck at CalAtlantics Pleasanton office. It explains the developers liability and corrective measures to be taken. It notes that the discharge of turbid, sediment laden water lasted 15 days and deposited at least 15 cubic yards of very fine sediment in Uvas Creek. The notice goes on to say, City of Gilroy inspectors visually verified the Mataro Basin piping was damaged and much of the sediment laden water drained from the basin. City inspectors stated the unauthorized discharge was initially reported by local citizens who observed and photographed the discharge before 9:00 a.m. on February 20, 2016 and reported the observation to the City of Gilroy Public Works and Fire Marshals Office. Police are looking for two male suspects accused of brandishing a handgun to rob a shop in south Morgan Hill. About 3 p.m. Aug. 26, two Hispanic adult males entered the business called Latinos Unidos on the 16800 block of Monterey Road, according to a press release from Morgan Hill Police. One of the men brandished a dark colored revolver and demanded money from the clerk. The employee gave the suspects an undisclosed amount of cash. Neither suspect was wearing a mask or face cover. The suspects were last seen driving away from the scene in a red sedan with tinted windowspossibly a mid-2000 model Toyota Camry or similar vehicle, according to police. MHPD has provided two sketches of subjects possibly linked to the robbery. Anyone with information about this case can contact MHPD Det. Del Moral at (669) 253-4964. A Texas-based real estate agent and an accomplice have been charged with criminal trespass after they have been found together in a home that the agent has just recently sold. The bond for Houston agent Kayla Marisa Seloff and Joshua Gene Leal has been set at $1,000, abc13.com reported. Witnesses stated that before 5:00 am on August 20, Seloff and Leal were going around the empty home at 200 block of E. Castle Harbour with a flashlight. Subsequently, police who responded to calls from concerned citizens found the duo sprawled on the floor. Seloff and Leal claimed to have been recently married and have bought the house on August 19. However, police stated that they have detected the scent of marijuana when the pair was escorted to their car to produce their identification documents. A glass pipe was also found on the vehicles dashboard, and police retrieved a pouch containing a packet of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. Seloff admitted to owning the drugs and equipment, police officials said. The actual new homeowner, who remained unnamed, said that Seloff and Leal did not have permission to be in the home. In its August 22 data release, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) revealed that the average price of a low-rise home in Toronto has increased by more than $100,000 year-over-year in July, stoking fears that the affordability situation in the citys residential real estate segment is well and truly out of control.Mississauga News reported that the average price of new detached and semi-detached homes in the Greater Toronto Area last month swelled by around 12 per cent compared to the same time last year, up to $906,508.A corresponding increase was also seen in high-rise home prices in the city, which rose by 7 per cent year-over-year to $475,764.Scarcity is the major motivating factor in these increases, according to BILD president and CEO Bryan Tuckey.Provincial intensification policies, delays in the approvals process and a lack of serviced developable land in the GTA has reduced the amount of new homes coming to the market, Tuckey stated.The industrys biggest challenge is bringing enough new homes to market to satisfy demand, he added. Projects are being sold as soon as they come to market, which is driving up prices and reducing choice for new-home purchasers.Recent data supported Tuckeys observation: Over the past decade, the supply of new homes in the GTA has shrunk by 41 per cent, from 29,238 in 2006 to 17,213 today.A recent analysis conducted by real estate brokerage TheRedPin found that a household needs to earn a sufficient amount to cover the average $124,153 required annually to own a home in the overheated Toronto market. First-time home buyers are especially hit hard by this prohibitive price barrier, the study noted. Nationstar Mortgage will create about 600 jobs in Longview, Texas, with the opening of a new customer service center, according to the Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO). Nationstar, the countrys largest nonbank mortgage servicer, is headquartered in Dallas. It will be Longviews largest new employer in a decade. This is an exciting time for Longview as we welcome the largest new employer in our area in the last 10 years, said Longview Mayor Andy Mack. Nationstar Mortgage is a well-respected, established company, and this is a tremendous opportunity for Longview and East Texas. According to LEDCO, Nationstar will contribute about $248 million in payroll, benefits and capital investment to the local economy over the next decade. We are vert excited to be investing in Longview with a new call center facility, said Mike Rawls, Nationstar executive vice president for servicing. We selected this location because of the citys dedication to this project and our opportunity to hire from the communitys excellent pool of talent. Were confident the team members we find in Longview will play an instrumental role in helping us to achieve our goal as the industry leader in customer service, and we look forward to opening the facility soon. The new call center is scheduled to open in late 2016 or early 2017, according to LEDCO. WASHINGTON Since the days former U.S. House Speaker Sam Rayburn ruled the U.S. Capitol in the 1940s and 1950s, Texas dominance of the nations capital has been a given. Over a couple of generations, the state has sent a bipartisan roster of big hitters to D.C., including presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush; U.S. Sens. Lloyd Bentsen, Phil Gramm and Kay Bailey Hutchison; U.S. House Speaker Jim Wright; U.S. House Majority Leaders Dick Armey and Tom DeLay; U.S. Reps. Bill Archer and Martin Frost; Secretary of State James Baker III; Commerce Secretary Don Evans; Education Secretary Margaret Spellings; and Bush White House advisers Karen Hughes, Karl Rove and Dan Bartlett. Texas is still in the thicks of things today, with seven chairmen running U.S. House committees more than from any other state and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn serving as the Senate majority whip, the upper chambers No. 2 Republican post. But Lone Star clout and the benefits it generates back home look to be on the decline in the coming years. Thanks to a lack of strong state ties to Republican Donald Trumps campaign and a weak bench on the Democratic side, its unlikely Texas talent will flood the executive branch in 2017 no matter if Trump or Hillary Clinton wins the White House in November. Thanks to term limits for committee chairs, Texas power in Congress will soon be diminishing as well. Texans might have to wander for 40 years in the wilderness before we have substantive leadership in Washington again, says Jenifer Sarver, who worked in George W. Bushs Department of Commerce and now lives in Austin. It matters, Sarver says, because of how directly the spending of the federal government affects the state and the problems that could emerge with a lack of high-level federal advocates. It could have a direct correlation on things like appropriations, on base closures, and getting facilities like NASA, and other things that are directly related to job and opportunities for Texas. Former U.S. Rep. Martin Frost, a Democrat who represented Arlington, said a future without visible leadership could not even be offset by the large size of the Texas congressional delegation. Nothing replaces having people in top leadership whether its a committee chair or elected leadership, he said. The size of the delegation is not as important as having people in key leadership positions or people heading committees. Sarver, who has also been a senior adviser to Hutchison, remembers well the peak of Texas power in Washington: the early 2000s, when Bush was president, DeLay a Republican congressman from Sugar Land and a former state legislator was House majority leader, and an entire generation of Texans GOP staffers overwhelmed the city. It was an exciting time to be a Texan in Washington, D.C., says Sarver, because there were bright, substantive, interesting, hardworking Texans everywhere you turned on the Hill, in the administration, in the media, in the private sector. Over the last decade, theres always been four license plates in D.C.: Virginia, D.C., Maryland, and Texas, jokes Republican consultant Luke Marchant, the son of U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant of Coppell. But those license plates headed home once Bush left office. Texans were scarcely seen in the upper reaches of the Obama administration, though the president did appoint Julian Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio, to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2014. Looking ahead to the next presidency, prospects could be similarly slim. No fewer than four presidential GOP candidates had substantial ties to Texas former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, former Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. There are were also Texans high up in the org charts of the John Kasich, Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson campaigns. The Texas political class found itself pulled in all of those directions but not Trumps. Hardly anyone in the state boarded the Trump train before it left the station. Still, should Trump win, the most obvious possible Texas official in his administration is Perry, who flipped 180 degrees on Trump over the course of the race. Less than a year ago he called the New York real estate developer a cancer on conservatism. This week, he joined Trump on a fundraising swing through Texas and was lauded by the nominee for his popularity within the state. Perry could fill several roles homeland security secretary, agriculture secretary but Texas GOP sources think his likeliest destination is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Other Texans with Trump administration possibilities, GOP sources say, include U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, currently the House Homeland Security chairman. Trump selected McCaul as a speaker at the Republican National Convention and could appoint him to a national security post. And back in May, Trump floated Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett as a possible U.S. Supreme Court justice. The Texans in Hillaryland and at the Capitol On the Democratic side, the Texans most frequently mentioned as a possible addition to the Clinton team is Cecile Richards, the daughter of late Texas Gov. Ann Richards. But for any post requiring approval by the U.S. Senate, the controversial longtime CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America could expect a brutal confirmation process. Former state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, the partys 2014 gubernatorial nominee, has been a fixture on the campaign trail, pitching Clintons case to young women. She is also a logical choice, per Democratic sources, to serve in the departments of justice or health and human services. She has not ruled out a move, but she has insisted her focus is on getting Clinton, not herself, to Washington. Some Democratic sources suggest that Castro might stick around for a term in a Clinton administration, either in his current role or a new one. Further down the food chain, the Clinton campaign hosts a roster of up-and-coming party operatives from Texas: Lily Adams, Cecile Richards' daughter, who has been a campaign communications aide; Xochitl Hinojosa, the daughter of state Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa, who has also worked in the Clinton communications department; and Carlos Sanchez, a former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, who has been a deputy political director. The betting money is they will be in consideration for high-profile administration staffing roles. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, theres no denying that Texas Republicans made the most of the Obama years. So many Texans took possession of committee gavels in the House of Representatives that when U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, ran for Ways and Means chairman in late 2015, his biggest drawback among colleagues was Texas fatigue. But the gavel give-back will soon begin. Republicans have a six-year term-limit rule for chairmen. Even if the Republicans retain control of the U.S. House, Texans will begin to leave their roles as committee chairs starting in 2018. McCaul, House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, will reach their term limits in early 2019. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Midland, and House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, reach their term limits in 2020. Bradys end date is unclear, because he assumed the gavel in the middle of a term. He will wrap up in either early 2021 or 2023. House Republicans could create waivers to these limits, but a drop in chairmanships for Texans is all but assured. Meanwhile, no Texans currently serve in House leadership, and there are no assured paths for any of the 25 Texas House Republicans to ascend in the coming years. Sessions flirted with a run for House majority whip during the upheaval of former Speaker John Boehners retirement last fall, but the whip vacancy never materialized. Rays of Light Despite the power outage, there are a few rays of light for Texans. Cornyn is is not expected to leave his Senate leadership post any time soon and could possibly be the state's first Senate majority leader since Johnson. U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, has a plausible but not certain path to lead the House Appropriations Committee in the coming years. U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan, leads the Republican Study Committee, but he also has promised to term-limit himself and depart Congress in the not-too-distant future. Should Cruz win re-election in 2018, he is expected to run for the presidency again. If he wins the White House, he would bring a whole new generation of Texans into the executive branch. But if he comes up short again and stays in the Senate, his combative relationship with his colleagues could complicate any efforts to leverage seniority into a powerful Senate post. Finally, U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, is running this fall to lead the House Republicans political arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee. But its a tough contest, and there are no assurances he will win. Texas will always be a force in Washington, if only because of its sheer size. The 25 Republicans and 11 Democrats who currently represent the state in the House can, when unified, form formidable voting blocs. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A convicted sex offender on the Texas 10 Most Wanted list has been captured near Texarkana. The Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday announced a tip led to 39-year-old Robert Charles Willis. The people will show you where ... President Obama was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Earlier this year, I got a letter from a South Carolina woman named Ashley, who was expecting her third child. She was, in her words, extremely concerned about the Zika virus, and what it might mean for other pregnant women like her. I understand that concern. As a father, Ashleys letter has stuck with me, and its why weve been so focused on the threat of the Zika virus. So today, I just want to take a few minutes to let you know what weve been doing in response, and to talk about what more we can all do. Since late last year, when the most recent outbreak of Zika started popping up in other countries, federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been preparing for it to arrive in the U.S. In February more than six months ago I asked Congress for the emergency resources that public health experts say we need to combat Zika. That includes things like mosquito control, tracking the spread of the virus, accelerating new diagnostic tests and vaccines, and monitoring women and babies with the virus. Republicans in Congress did not share Ashleys extreme concern, nor that of other Americans expecting children. They said no. Instead, we were forced to use resources we need to keep fighting Ebola, cancer, and other diseases. We took that step because we have a responsibility to protect the American people. But thats not a sustainable solution. And Congress has been on a seven-week recess without doing anything to protect Americans from the Zika virus. So my Administration has done what we can on our own. Our primary focus has been protecting pregnant women and families planning to have children. For months now, the CDC has been working closely with officials in Florida and other states. NIH and other agencies have moved aggressively to develop a vaccine. And were working with the private sector to develop more options to test for and prevent infection. For weeks, a CDC emergency response team has been on the ground in South Florida, working alongside the excellent public health officials there folks who have a strong track record of responding aggressively to the mosquitoes that carry viruses like Zika. They know what theyre doing. Still, theres a lot more everybody can and should do. And that begins with some basic facts. Zika spreads mainly through the bite of a certain mosquito. Most infected people dont show any symptoms. But the disease can cause brain defects and other serious problems when pregnant women become infected. Even if youre not pregnant, you can play a role in protecting future generations. Because Zika can be spread through unprotected sex, its not just women who need to be careful men do too. That includes using condoms properly. If you live in or travel to an area where Zika has been found, protect yourself against the mosquitoes that carry this disease. Use insect repellant and keep using it for a few weeks, even after you come home. Wear long sleeves and long pants to make bites less likely. Stay in places with air conditioning and window screens. If you can, get rid of standing water where mosquitoes breed. And to learn more about how to keep your family safe, just visit CDC.gov. But every day that Republican leaders in Congress wait to do their job, every day our experts have to wait to get the resources they need that has real-life consequences. Weaker mosquito-control efforts. Longer wait times to get accurate diagnostic results. Delayed vaccines. It puts more Americans at risk. One Republican Senator has said that There is no such thing as a Republican position on Zika or Democrat position on Zika because these mosquitoes bite everyone. I agree. We need more Republicans to act that way because this is more important than politics. Its about young mothers like Ashley. Today, her new baby Savannah is healthy and happy. Thats priority number one. And thats why Republicans in Congress should treat Zika like the threat that it is and make this their first order of business when they come back to Washington after Labor Day. That means working in a bipartisan way to fully fund our Zika response. A fraction of the funding wont get the job done. You cant solve a fraction of a disease. Our experts know what theyre doing. They just need the resources to do it. So make your voices heard. And as long as Im President, well keep doing everything we can to slow the spread of this virus, and put our childrens futures first. Thanks everybody. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 AM. Seal of the Calirfornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation View Photos Sonora, CA The State Board of Parole Hearings held at the California Institution for men in Chino, California found Howard William Love, of Ceres, unsuitable for parole after an August 17, 2016 hearing. Tuolumne County District Attorney Laura Krieg announced today that Deputy District Attorney Cassandra Ann Jenecke and four family members of the victim, David Lee Orozco, personally appeared at the hearing. The argument against Loves release was based on the heinous and callous nature of the underlying crime, Loves prior poor performance on probation or parole, his extensive and continuous criminal violations while incarcerated, a lack of sobriety while in a controlled environment, and his continued risk for violent recidivism, according to Krieg who further states, Love was last denied parole in 2009 for seven years. Since then, he has accrued six sustained serious rule violations involving illicit substance abuse and possession of drug contraband. She also noted the Correction Departments Risk Assessment stating Love continued to pose a moderate or elevated risk of violence when compared to other long-term inmates and parolees. The Board denied Love parole for another seven years. In May 1982, 34 years ago, Love and his two co-offenders Keith Adcox and Annette T., whos full name was not released as she was a juvenile at the time, conspired to rob and murder fisherman Lee Orozco in Long Barn. Adcox shot the victim, they then stole his wallet, keys and car. Annette testified against her co-offenders and was sentenced to a commitment with the California Youth Authority. Adcox, now 55, was found guilty of first degree murder, several enhancements, armed robbery, and grand theft of a vehicle. He was sentenced to death, and remains on death row at San Quentin State Prison. Krieg reports For the first time, we learned at this hearing that Adcox may have had second thoughts, but Love, who was fed up with his co-offenders, encouraged Adcox to carry out their original plans of armed robbery and murder. Through a change of venue, Love was tried and convicted of first degree murder, armed robbery, and grand theft of a vehicle by a jury in El Dorado County. Initially sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, Loves original convictions were overturned in 1985. He then pleaded guilty to a violation of first degree murder and armed robbery in exchange for a sentence of 25-years-to-life in prison. While waiting to be resentenced in 1985, Love attempted to escape the Tuolumne County Jail. He pled guilty to the escape and was sentenced to an additional sixteen months imprisonment, to be served consecutive to his life term. Tuolumne County School Enrollment Chart View Photos Sonora, CA Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools, Margie Bulkin, has some preliminary information on enrollment and positive things to say about how local students are doing on the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Bulkin says the unofficial county public school enrollment count this week was 6,286 students. The official count is reported to the state in October. For several years our countys schools have experienced moderate declining enrollment from approximately 6,400 students countywide in 2011 down to 6,000 students in 2015, Bulkin says. This years enrollment would be a 4.7 percent increase from last year but is down from ten school years ago by just over 14 percent. The CAASPP is one way to measure student achievement and Bulkin reports Tuolumne County has made significant progress, similar to the state. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced this week the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards increasing at every grade and in every student group. Bulkin says, I am encouraged by the progress being made in Tuolumne County as schools have worked to make significant changes to meet new standards for English language arts, math and literacy that accompany college and career readiness intended to develop students core academic, technical and employability skills. Adding to this approach is expanded access to career pathways and/or college level course work linked to certificates, associate degrees and or higher education opportunities at Columbia College. For full comments and information about the new school year read Bulkins full blog Welcome Back To School here. Over the next decade, as Donald J. Trump assumed an increasingly prominent role in the business, the companys 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 companys chairman, and Donald Trump, its president, were named as defendants. It was front-page news , and for Donald, amounted to his debut in the public eye. Absolutely ridiculous, he was quoted as saying of the governments allegations. 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. The Times successfully lays out the case proving the Trumpanzees-- Fred and Donald-- were vicious racists and acted on that racism again and again over the course of decades, basically telling qualified black and Hispanic families that there were no vacancies in their buildings and then renting them to white families instead. Horrible and intolerable. AND, the Democratic Party hypocrites who are self-righteously denouncing Trump could look a little closer to home if they want to denounce a vile and disgusting racist. I don't know for sure whether Pelosi knew Steve Israel is a virulent racist when she appointed him DCCC chair. I'm told the appointment was just about 3 things: Israel could raise a lot of dirty Wall Street money without any feelings of guilt; Israel's only rival for the job was Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who Pelosi detests and doesn't trust; and Pelosi knew Israel would be loyal. Why should she have suspected Israel was a racist at the time? He was one of the only Democrats in the northeast to join the largely Southern, totally racist Blue Dogs. And as a low-end political hack back on Long Island, he always catered to the same kind of bigots the Trumpanzee family was catering to with their racist housing policies. As DCCC chair Israel didn't cotton to the idea of black politicians running in non-black majority districts. We started looking into that after Israel's and the DCCC's disastrous performance during the 2014 midterms. One unexpected loss for the Democrats came in Cliven Bundy country-- NV-04, a blue district that includes the Vegas suburbs with a PVI of D+4 and where Obama beat McCain 56-41% and beat Romney 54-44%. GOP nut-case Cresent Hardy beat freshman Steven Horsford 63,435 (48.5%) to 59,800 (45.8%). Horsford spent $1,251,106 to Hardy's $266,412. But it was a massive and unanswered $1,072,596 smear campaign by Rove's Crossroads GPS that did Horsford in. (All in the DCCC and its House Majority PAC was too busy wasting tens of millions of dollars on hopeless Blue Dogs like Barrow and Rahall to help Horsford; they only spent an inadequate $478,691 on his race.) The Crew of 42, which blogs about the Congressional Black Caucus, posted an interesting twist on how Steve Israel and the DCCC pushed Horsford into a loss. Several sources close to the situation reveal that Rep. Horsford was asked to match a DCCC contribution of $80,000 to assist his campaign in closing weeks before November 4th. Horsfords fellow Black Caucus members were particularly incensed by this tidbit of information because they say Horsford was asked to match while other Dems were being funded by DCCC in a big way. As a freshman member in a swing district, many believe Horsford should have been selected for the frontline list as so many other freshman in challenging districts are. Now that members find Horsford was asked to match funds in late October-- the outrage has swung into a new phase. A dozen members and staffers with decades of experience who were asked if they ever heard of a member having to match funds with DCCC in late October say theyve never heard of such a thing happening before. That, mixed with Horsford not being included on a list of frontline candidates announced by DCCC Chair Steve Israel in March 2013 has members mad. The anger is connected to the fact that Horsford, the former Majority Leader or the Nevada Senate, is viewed as exactly the type of young member House Democrats should fiercely protect. Horsfords district is majority white and his rise to Congress represents a winning moment over the new demographics that is rarely seen in the House: A Black member winning in a non-majority white district in a red state. Horsford has been seen at meetings this week and his colleague are confident they will see him again in 2017. But to be sure, hes taking the loss way better than they are. The "frontline" candidate list for 2014 included several freshman Democrats in swing districts including Reps. Ron Barber, Ami Bera, Elizabeth Esty, Cheri Bustos, Ann Kuster and Bill Enyart. Being part of the DCCCs frontline effort is a way of protecting nearly every vulnerable incumbent who was not affected by redistricting, according to the DCCC. Those candidates were very well funded by DCCC this cycle. ...One of the more interesting late October money drops from DCCC went to Domenic Recchia, who lost to Rep. Michael Grimm 55-42%-- even though Grimm was indicted on 2o counts by federal prosecutors for fraud, obstruction and perjury in April 2014. After two candidates declined to take Grimm on, DCCC Chair Steve Israels third recruiting choice was Recchia. Though he proved to be less than an inspiring candidate, DCCC spent $1,570,059 to assist his campaign. On October 16, the DCCC spent $127,000 on opposition ads on Grimm. On October 23, the DCCC spent $129,000 on another media buy to assist Recchia. House Majority PAC also dropped $1.1 million to assist Recchia on October 29. Politico, telling them that "I will accept full responsibility for not doing all we should have, or for doing things we shouldnt have, [but-- finishing the sentence by rejecting any sense of responsibility whatsoever] this criticism is misplaced. We had been talking to Steve for a very long time, knowing how tough that district was. I am not going to get into private conversations, but there was a consensus with his team and our team that he should not have Frontline status." The CBC-- and chairwoman Marcia Fudge in particular, could barely contain their rage at Israel's racism. And Israel's role in letting Horsford lose the seat wasn't the first time he pulled that kind of a stunt. Two years earlier, Pelosi should have been alerted to what he was up to in regard to The sanctimonious Israel defended himself in-- of course--, telling them that "I will accept full responsibility for not doing all we should have, or for doing things we shouldnt have, [but-- finishing the sentence by rejecting any sense of responsibility whatsoever] this criticism is misplaced. We had been talking to Steve for a very long time, knowing how tough that district was. I am not going to get into private conversations, but there was a consensus with his team and our team that he should not have Frontline status." The CBC-- and chairwoman Marcia Fudge in particular, could barely contain their rage at Israel's racism. And Israel's role in letting Horsford lose the seat wasn't the first time he pulled that kind of a stunt. Two years earlier, Pelosi should have been alerted to what he was up to in regard to a House seat in Omaha . The same folks at Crew of 42 who told us about the Horsford news, went back into history and saw the DCCC doing the same thing in 2012 to an African-American candidate in Omaha, Nebraska. This cycle, the DCCC spent $1,432,187 on white Blue Dog Brad Ashford and managed to defeat GOP incumbent Lee Terry, one of only two Republican incumbents defeated this cycle. In 2012, when John Ewing ran, the DCCC spent nothing, although Pelosi's own House Majority PAC threw in an ineffective $164,736... and Ewing lost by less than 6,000 votes-- 127,119 (51%) to 121,165 (49%). It's "one of the many reasons why there is a continuing schism between the Black Caucus and the DCCC. The simple fact is that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has shown little interest in recruiting and funding Black candidates for Congress-- even at a time when African Americans are winning in congressional districts that are not even close to being majority Black (see: Reps. Waters, Rangel, Cleaver, Bass, Green, Ellison, Lee, Carson, Horsford, Hurd, Coleman, Veasey, Moore, Love)." Steve Israel's resignation from the DCCC may help fix this problem-- but not this cycle. As we explained earlier , Long Island's 2nd congressional district-- the South Shore, stretching from Levittown, Seaford and Massapequa in Nassau through Lindenhurst and Babylon deep into some of the bluest parts of Suffolk County like Islip, Brentwood and Ronkonkoma to the outskirts of Patchogue-- has it's best candidate in living memory against Trumpist Peter King. That candidate is DuWayne Gregory, a military vet and the well-respected presiding officer of the Suffolk County legislature. With Trump tanking in the Long Island suburbs and Hillary (and Schumer) expected to run up massive wins in Nassau and Suffolk, the Democrats have never had such a great opportunity to win NY-02. Unfortunately, in Israel's eyes, Gregory is African-American and shouldn't be running in a white district. He's persuaded the DCCC to ignore the election and just let King walk away with it again without a fight. That's Steve Israel-- and that'sNancy Pelosi and, I'm afraid, that's the Democratic Party-- denouncing Trump's racism out of one side of it's mouth, while enabling a racist pig like Steve Israel to destroy the careers of promising African-American politicians. Despite Steve Israel and Nancy Pelosi, DuWayne Gregory can still win the seat, but he'll need some grassroots help. So... if you can, please consider contributing to his campaign by tapping on the thermometer: Hundreds of fish and other marine life in the Indian River Lagoon washed up on area shores dead Thursday. It's just the latest of many reports of fish kills Florida Fish and Wildlife has received over the summer. More than 100 stingrays, other marine life found dead along Pineda Causeway Dozens of reports of fish kills since March FWC officials checking water samples to determine cause Residents who live and fish along the lagoon fear things are getting worse. Usually there are a lot of fish in this area, now its just a few, said local fisherman Casey Ksun. The latest fish kill to hit the lagoon was reported Thursday to FWC. More than 100 stingrays and countless other marine life were found dead along the Pineda Causeway. I think something is wrong with the water here," another fisherman, Romy Gernandizo, said. "I can see that right now, its just so cloudy." In March, one of the largest reported fish kills of the year killed thousands of fish in the lagoon. Since then, FWC said theyve had dozens of reports of smaller fish kills filed each month from different locations through out the county. Its getting from bad to worse," said Ksun. "Two weeks ago it looked a little better, but you can see now its just slowly deteriorating." FWC officials said they have sent samples of the water out to a research lab to determine what could have caused this most recent fish kill.. Ksun, however, said hell just have to be more cautious of the lagoon from here on out. I just fish now for sport, and put them right back, because I really dont know if you can eat those fish, said Ksun. Help may be on the way, though. Earlier this month, Brevard County Commissioners approved a raise in property tax to help fund a $300 million lagoon clean up, to take place over the next 10 years. After months of campaign ads and candidates' speeches, Floridians will head to the polls Tuesday to decide who will make it onto November's ballot. Polls will be open in the Central Florida and Tampa Bay areas from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday. (Statewide, some Panhandle counties on Central Time won't close till 8 p.m. ET.) Tuesday's election is a primary, which means candidates and races at the federal and state level such as U.S. House and Senate and Florida Legislature as well as statewide amendments and municipal elections, will be on the ballot. Remember that Florida is a closed primary state, though any voter can cast a ballot for nonpartisan races and constitutional amendments. Stormy weather threatens to make things interesting this week. Tropical systems to our east and south are very likely to keep showers and thunderstorms in our forecast, prompting Florida's Secretary of State Ken Detzner to issue a statement ahead of Election Day: Although it is too premature to determine if voters will be impacted by adverse weather conditions, I am in constant contact with Governor Scott, the Division of Emergency Management, and Supervisors of Elections. Any updates that have the potential to impact Florida voters will be immediately communicated. In the meantime, visit YourVoteFlorida.com or contact your local Supervisor of Elections office for more information." As for the primary's races, the marquee matchup is the statewide U.S. Senate race. Sen. Marco Rubio is campaigning as though he's all but won the Republican contest over main rival Carlos Beruff, a developer who has spent about $8 million of his own money for his first run for office. On Monday, Beruff appeared to shut down the campaign. Rubio re-entered the Senate race after losing the Florida presidential primary in March to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy and Rep. Alan Grayson are battling to take over Rubio's seat. Murphy has picked up major endorsements, including President Barack Obama's. "Because I care about rolling up my sleeves and getting to work," said Murphy, a Democrat who lives near Jupiter. "Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment. But I enjoy flying to DC, being the voice for my constituents on the Treasure Coast. And I want to do the same thing for Florida." Grayson, meanwhile, has a reputation for being outspoken. The self-proclaimed "congressman with guts" may be best known for saying the Republican health plan has three parts: Don't get sick, but, "If you get sick, America, the Republican health care plan is this... die quickly." Grayson has the support of progressives, as opposed to the establishment. He has also faced accusations of ethics violations, which he denies. Grayson visited his phone bank volunteers Monday, but was not available to speak. He will be watching the returns from Kissimmee on Tuesday. Recent polls show both Grayson and Murphy would lose to Rubio if a general election was held today. This is the first Florida election since the Congressional district maps were redrawn last year, after the state Supreme Court ruled that lawmakers violated a constitutional amendment mandating that districts be drawn in a way that doesn't favor incumbents or parties. As a result, there are three U.S. House and 22 state Senate incumbents who aren't running in the same district as their current one. The entire state Senate is up for re-election this year, but 12 candidates have no opposition. Voters will also see a constitutional amendment on Tuesday's ballot. Amendment 4 would provide property tax breaks for homes and businesses that install solar panels. Both environmentalists and business interests support the measure, which as a constitutional amendment must receive 60 percent approval to pass. According to the latest numbers by the Florida Division of Elections, almost 536,000 people voted during the early-voting period that ended this past weekend. Another 1.15 million voted by mail, making about 1.7 million Floridians who have already cast their ballots for this year's primary. For the 2012 primary, 2.34 million total voters cast ballots. Florida has almost 12.4 million registered voters. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. During Plainview's infancy, before the vast Plains ranches had been broken up into farms, the community brought Civil War veterans and cowboys together each summer for a huge four-day reunion and celebration. The 1898 reunion is outlined in a flyer found among materials once belonging to rancher George M. Slaughter that are now on file in the Llano Estacado Museum archives. A note on the bottom of that document indicates that it's a copy. The original was in the possession of Virgil Smith of Spur, who died in 1983. The hand-written inscription explains that the original broadsheet was obtained by Smith's mother when she attended the reunion as a young girl. Headlined "RE-UNION! CONFEDERATES and COWBOYS" the flyer advertised "A grand celebration of the Confederate veterans and cowboys will be held on the fair grounds at Plainview, Aug. 2d 3d 4th and 5th, 1898." Everyone was invited, particularly "The Veterans of the Gray and Blue and all Cowboys." The event was free to all. "Free grounds, free grass, free water, and free air. Our water facilities are much better than last year and copious rains have made grass fine and abundant." The first two days of the event were set aside for "the exercises of the Confederate veterans" with the last two days focusing on the cowboys. "The Confederate Veterans and Cowboys will have programs of each days' exercises distributed on the grounds. Roping contests, tournament riding and bronco busting will be some of the features of the Cowboys exercises. Grown cattle only will be used in the roping contest." The celebration included daily performances of a brass band as well as a number of prominent speakers. Organizers boasted that the Plainview reunion was "the largest encampment outside of Chicamauga (a Civil War battlefield in Georgia) or Cuba" (since the Spanish American War was then in progress). The reunion's board of directors, listed at the end of the bulletin, included president J.N. Donohoo, G.M. Slaughter, Dr. L. Lee Dye, R.W. Lemond, W.A. Donaldson, E.W. Dyer and C.O. Leach, secretary. A note from that board explained, "The association is better equipped in every way to accommodate the people and no pains will be spared to make everyone have a good and most enjoyable time. We expect a much larger crowd than last year and are making arrangements accordingly." While newspaper accounts are no longer available of the annual reunions, which ran from 1891 until at least 1898, at least four firsthand accounts are included in Vera Dean Wofford's 1978 edition of Hale County Facts and Folklore, Vol. 1. Osieola Matsler Ross, who died in 1964, wrote, "Another important event was the Old Cowboy and Confederate Reunion in 1898. People came from miles in covered wagons. They had them to line up just like streets in town. We would get all our good clothes on and cook up a lot of food and take our cooking outfit and bedding and stay two or three days. "There was a grandstand where they would have three days of speaking, organ music and audience singing, calf roping and a tournament - both men and women rode in the tournaments. There would be dancing at night and we would go to watch but we didn't dance. Our mother and dad didn't believe in dancing (a boy put his arm around us!), but we young folks enjoyed going. . . . A good time was had by young and old." A good time had by all was the same sentiment expressed by Susan McWhorter Maggard, who died in 1981. She wrote, "We used to go to Plainview in the late 1890s for the Cowboy Reunion. It would be held in August each year and last four days. There was a place east of town and they would fix streets for the covered wagons. Lots of people had tents, too. There would be calf roping and bronc riding and the rest of the time we just visited. People came for quite a distance and set up camp. We'd cook over campfires." Robert A. Lutrick, a longtime Abernathy area resident who died two weeks shy of his 100th birthday in 1985, offered these memories during an interview with Wofford and Ramona Roberts: "We went up for the old Cowboy Reunion two years, if I remember right, about 1894-95. "We camped out. They put up a windmill east of Plainview. I don't remember how far. They fenced a section with two wires and a post every once in a while, just so people who came to the reunion would have a place to turn their teams. There'd be rows of covered wagons just like rows of houses in town. On the same order as parking lots for cars now. Lots of people slept on the ground. "All the big ranches made that Cowboy Reunion - the Matadors, the 2-Buckles, the Spades, the XITs. They had bronc riding, cow-roping, and what they called a tournament. They'd set up a post and put an arm out on it that came down, and they'd have iron rings that would be about as high as a man's head on a horse. They were fastened with a clamp that would turn loose. I don't remember the distance, but the rider had to make that distance in a certain length of time. There was a speed limit and that's what ruled them out. The man that caught the most rings on his wooden pole won the tournament. "They gave saddles and spurs and that kind of thing for prizes. I think the town of Plainview sponsored it. It would be in the summertime and last about a week. People would try to camp close to their friends. And there would be a big barbecue with a great long barbecue pit. The ranchers furnished the beef and some of the ranch cooks did the barbecuing. I expect there'd be 700 or 800 people that would come. Some would stay a day or two and some would stay the whole week." An article submitted by the R.W. Martine family offered additional reunion insights, including some of the public health issues involved. "During the 1890s an annual event which attracted people from all over the Panhandle was the Confederates and Cowboy Association Reunion which was held in August. It lasted for several days and many people came in covered wagons and stayed for the whole celebration. An 80-acre tract northeast of town, with windmill, was the camping ground. The wagons were lined up in rows, and people, some who came in groups, cooked over camp fires. "Bob (Martine) said, Concession stands sold chili for a dime a bowl, and lemonade was a nickel a glass. The dishes were washed by dipping them in a tub of cold water. There were dippers at the windmill that everybody drank out of, and they were never washed. After about the third day, there were usually a lot of stomach disorders.' "There were still many Confederate soldiers then and they gathered in large numbers to re-fight the Civil War. Mr. Martine was always on hand to join them in their spine-tingling rebel yells." According to information compiled earlier this year by historian Maisie Jones, at least 88 Civil War veterans are buried in Hale County. Among those are two of the 1898 reunion board members, Lemond and Dyer. (Contact Doug McDonough at dmcdonough@hearstnp.com or 806-296-1350. Follow him on Facebook.) A black and silver Taurus PT709 9mm handgun was stolen from a vehicle in the 2900 block of Edgemere between 8 p.m. Friday and 9:40 a.m. Saturday. The pistol is valued at $400. --A Little Debbie Peanut Butter Cream Pie, valued at $1, and a Mrs. Bairds Fried Cherry Pie, worth $2, were taken by a shoplifter at 1:32 a.m. Saturday in the 300 block of West Fifth. Neither item was recovered. --A personalized Texas license tag, NUZMAN, was stolen from a 2008 GMC Acadia between 12:30-1 p.m. Sunday in the 1000 block of North I-27. --A 30-year-old Hereford man was arrested at 1:20 p.m. Monday in the 4000 block of Olton Road for public intoxication and was being held in Hale County jail on $200 bond. A second Hereford man, age 60, was arrested at the same time for public intoxication ($200 bond), failure to identify as fugitive with intent to give false information ($2,500 bond), and outstanding municipal warrants for public intoxication (no bond set), failure to appear ($200), open container ($200) and disorderly conduct (no bond set). He was being held at Hale County jail. --A 30-year-old Claytonville man was arrested at 11:26 p.m. Sunday in the 2700 block of Olton Road for outstanding misdemeanor warrants following a routine traffic stop. He was being held at Hale County jail without bond for two failures to appear, public intoxication, expired inspection sticker and failure to maintain financial responsibility. --A 24-year-old Plainview man was arrested at 7:23 p.m. Sunday in the 2800 block of West 24th for an outstanding public intoxication warrant. He was held Monday in Hale County jail without bond. --A 26-year-old Levelland woman was arrested about 1:30 a.m. Saturday at Second and Cedar for an outstanding warrant issue by Hockley County for assault causing bodily injury/family violence. Bond was set at $4,000. --A 32-year-old Plainview man was arrested at 12:18 a.m. Saturday in the 3200 block of North I-27 for two outstanding warrants from Justice of the Peace Court, for open container and failure to appear. He was held in Hale County jail without bond. --A 34-year-old Plainview man was arrested at 7:51 a.m. Friday in the 1800 block of West Eighth Street for an outstanding local warrants. He was held Saturday in Hale County jail without bond for public intoxication, no drivers license, displaying fictitious license plates, failure to maintain financial responsibility and no liability insurance. --Police are investigating a case of disorderly conduct by the use of profane or abusive language which occurred about 11 a.m. Friday at Plainview High School, 1501 N. Quincy. --An assault causing bodily injury reportedly occurred between 9:55-11:04 p.m. Saturday in the 900 block of Ash Street. --The violation of a court order involving interference with child custody was reported Saturday. The violation occurred between 6 p.m. Friday and 6:15 p.m. Saturday. (Anyone with information on crime in Plainview and Hale County may contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 293-8477 or 293-TIPS.) Many Republican elders and strategists aren't worrying about Trump losing badly in November. They know that's going to happen and they know he's doing to pull down a number of Republican elected officials with him. Even before Trump won the nomination, everyone knew that the careers of, for example, Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Frank Guinta (R-NH) and Cresent Hardy (R-NV) were probably toast. But now Republicans once viewed as safe-- from Richard Burr (NC) and Roy Blunt (MO) in the Senate to House members like Pat Meehan (PA), Fred Upton (MI), Peter King (NY) and even Science Committee chairman Lamar Smith (TX)-- are no longer quite as safe. All 6 of those and a dozen more Republicans representing big suburban constituencies see Trump turning off their voters. And despite the ineptitude of the DCCC, there are going to be lost careers in November that no one was expecting when Senor Trumpanzee and his latest mail-order came down the escalator at an enthusiastic crowd of paid extras on the ground floor of Trumpanzee Tower. But not even that is the biggest worry that I'm referring to. There is some chance that Trump is so alienating college educated moderate Republican suburban voters-- a normal mainstay of the Republican electoral coalition-- than many will not necessarily come back to the GOP when Trump is annihilated. And with President Hillary essentially-- all but in name-- "a college educated moderate Republican suburbanite" herself, her presidency could wind up being very attractive to them, particularly if congressional Republicans carry through with their plans to obstruct everything the new president-- America's first woman president-- tries to accomplish. Writing for theon Friday, Jeremy Peters noted that the GOP in the more populated-- and electoral vote-rich-- western states is on the verge of a quasi-extinction event , at least on a statewide basis. "Republicans in Western states," he wrote, "fear that Donald J. Trump[anzee] could imperil their party for years to come in the countrys fastest-growing region as he repels a generation of Hispanics, Asians and younger voters who have been altering the electoral map." Trump, with his insult-laden, culturally insensitive style of campaigning, is providing fuel for the demographic trends that are already reshaping the political composition of this once-heavily Republican territory. And now many Republicans are contemplating the possibility that states like Colorado or Nevada could soon become the next California: once competitive but now unwinnable in presidential contests. In few places are the partys woes over their nominee more immediate than here in Arizona, a state that has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate only once in the last 68 years. Recent polls show Hillary Clinton is close to tying Mr. Trump here. And her campaign has responded by teaming up with local Democrats on a statewide get-out-the-vote operation, which has grown to 160 staff members across 20 offices. While flipping Arizona has been a Democratic fantasy for years-- and one that Clinton supporters acknowledge remains quite difficult-- their efforts to register and recruit voters are part of a longer-term plan to capitalize on the Republican Partys vulnerabilities with younger and minority voters. Nonwhites are growing as a share of the electorate faster in the West than they are elsewhere. For the first time, minorities in 2012 accounted for at least 30 percent of the eligible voting population in Arizona, Nevada and Alaska-- all states where Republicans currently hold top statewide offices. Colorado, where Mrs. Clintons campaign is so confident of a victory now that it has has no plans to buy advertising time through Election Day, is also approaching 30 percent. The demographics were already daunting. But many Republicans now say Mr. Trump is only accelerating the flight of minority voters to the Democratic Party, like dry underbrush feeds an Arizona wildfire. Asked how fellow Republicans could win election to statewide office in the West, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona offered some blunt advice: Distance yourself from Donald Trump. Thats difficult, he added, but I think weve got to do it if were concerned not just about this election but elections to come. Otherwise, Mr. Flake said, this will last decades. Most demographers did not believe Arizona could be truly competitive for Democrats in a presidential election until 2020 at the earliest. But Mr. Trumps unpopularity has spawned a demographic double threat that has implications in Arizona and beyond: He is not just weak among Hispanics, but also with with educated white professionals who have moved to places like Denver, Salt Lake City and Phoenix in search of better jobs and a lower cost of living. The trouble signs for the November election have been building. In Colorado, the percentage of registered Republicans as a share of the electorate has dropped by four percentage points compared with 2012. Democrats, who now have about the same share of registered voters, carried the state in 2008 and 2012. In Utah, Mr. Trumps lack of support with Mormons has allowed Mrs. Clinton to come close to catching him in some polls. And in Arizona, new voter registration numbers show Democrats have been registering people at a faster rate than Republicans this year. Registered Republicans, however, still outnumber Democrats over all. Arizona is on the cusp, said Ruy Teixeira, a senior fellow with the Center for American Progress, who studies the political implications of population shifts. And if it is on the cusp this fast, I think that means these other states become even farther out of reach. The entire West Coast is already a wasteland for Republicans. The last time one of the coastal states-- with the exception of Alaska-- went to a Republican nominee was California in 1988. Moreover, losses in Arizona and possibly Utah would leave Republicans safe in just Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. The peril for Republicans is evident looking at the Electoral College: Those states only have a combined 13 of the total 538 electoral votes. And even in the likely event that Republicans continue to carry Utah, a win in November would yield only six more electoral votes. And even Alaska might not be safe for very long. Because of growth in the Asian, Hispanic and Alaska Native populations, the states eligible voting population is projected to be more than 40 percent minority by 2032, according to a report from the Center for American Progress, the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute. Every month for the next two decades, 50,000 Hispanics turn 18 and become eligible to vote, according to Resurgent Republic, a Republican research group. But low rates of registration have kept Hispanics from becoming as potent a political force as they could be. Recognizing that the participation gap is part of what has kept states like Texas from becoming more Democratic-- despite a voting age population that is 28 percent Hispanic-- Democrats in Arizona have undertaken an aggressive registration drive. Phoenix is already a majority-minority city, but our voting numbers dont really reflect that, said Seth Scott, the Clinton campaigns Arizona director. Democrats are putting more resources behind their efforts than they did in 2012 when there were telegraphing similar-- though ultimately misplaced-- optimism about Arizona. The Clinton campaign said it invested hundreds of thousands of dollars this month in a coordinated program with the Arizona Democratic Party to win races up and down the ballot, a commitment the Obama campaign decided not to make in 2012. Together they are targeting 450,000 people they have identified as likely Democratic voters whom they hope to place on the states early voting list. ...Democrats insist that even if their efforts do not pay off now, they will in the long term as the voting population becomes more Hispanic. But the Trump campaign says it is not leaving anything to chance. Mr. Trumps staff members were scouting locations in Arizona this week for a speech he is expected to give on immigration. And campaign officials said they have begun a phone bank program called Trump Tuesdays. They said they made more than 18,000 calls this week to rally support for his candidacy. Still, even his supporters acknowledge what they are up against in Arizona and across the West. I am concerned about my party going forward, said Sean D. Reyes, Utahs attorney general. Mr. Reyes is a Republican and backs Mr. Trump. He is also part Hispanic, Japanese and Filipino, and a Mormon. So he was naturally taken aback when he heard Mr. Trump insult Filipinos this month. Mr. Trump told a crowd in Maine that the United States had to stop letting in animals from terrorist nations, among them the Philippines. Mr. Reyes said he called the campaign to register his displeasure. I talked to the Trump campaign and said, Look, if Im going to support Donald Trump, weve got to fix that, Mr. Reyes said. To the campaigns credit, Mr. Reyes added, Trump staff members agreed. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle A 25-year-old man was in critical condition Monday after he was beaten and stabbed by a mob of about 10 men near San Franciscos Dolores Park, police said. The victim was attacked around 6:15 p.m. Sunday after running through the Mission District park to flee the group of men chasing him, authorities said. He did not know his attackers, but he told police he assumed some may have been gang members, said Officer Giselle Talkoff, a San Francisco Police Department spokeswoman. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A woman visiting a San Quentin Death Row inmate appeared to be pregnant, but instead of carrying a child she was holding a helping of peach cobbler, 18 cell phones and 3 ounces of heroin under her garments, prison officials said. Teri Nichols, 47, a teachers assistant from Los Angeles, was arrested on Thursday in the prison visitors room during her meeting with condemned murderer Bruce Millsap, 50. Guards became suspicious when they noticed resealable plastic bags in a nearby trashcan that Nichols allegedly used to smuggle in a helping of peach cobbler and greens to her friend, Millsap, a convicted serial murderer. They confronted Nichols, who handed over the phones and drugs, along with 18 phone chargers, that she had hidden inside a beanie cap beneath her clothes. The beanie was attached with a string to her bra and designed to make her look pregnant, officials said. It was very, very sophisticated, said Lt. Samuel Robinson, a prison spokesman. Were still trying to figure out how she beat our metal detector. Millsap, 50, was convicted in 2000 of eight murders in Southern California, including the robbery and murder of two Los Angeles County armored-car guards, one in Long Beach in 1995 and the other in Carson in 1996. Millsap had eaten the smuggled food and was apparently just about to receive the other contraband when guards interceded, Robinson said. He got the cobbler and greens, Robinson said. You got to get your cobbler and greens before you get down to business. In the visitors room, Robinson said, visitors and inmates sit across from each other at tables and are allowed physical contact. Guards are posted nearby. Robinson said the phones were intended for resale inside the prison, where each one is worth $1,000 or so. Nichols was jailed in San Rafael and is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 13. If convicted, she faces four years in prison, officials said. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Click through the slideshow to get a whiff of some of the most artless bro-country artists and sample some of their lyrics Chicago's county-level power structure apparently doesnt think rap, country or rock should be considered art. Lets explain. Cook County is on the hunt to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars from small music clubs and bars in the county that allegedly owe back taxes. These venues with a capacity of 750 or less are usually exempt from a 3-percent tax on cover and ticket charges as long as they are charging fees for live theatrical, live musical or other live cultural performances." RELATED: RodeoHouston releases stats for 2016 season According to the Chicago Reader during a recent Cook County hearing, a hearing officer claimed that rock, rap and grunge should not be considered "fine art" by county standards. Cook County code defines live musical and cultural performances as "any of the disciplines which are commonly regarded as part of the fine arts, such as live theater, music, opera, drama, comedy, ballet, modern or traditional dance, and book or poetry readings." A a Cook County official doubled down and went so far as to say that "live performances of rock, country, rap, and electronic music do not constitute "music" or "culture" by the county's standards." Were major country music fans around here and even we can admit that lately the most successful stuff hasnt been the most cerebral or even cultured. Of course we're talking about bro-country. Songs about cheap beer, pickup trucks and making love (all great things on their own) have become godawful in the wrong hands. RELATED: Hank Williams Jr. and Chris Stapleton twang the night away in The Woodlands We just heard Florida Georgia Line called Hickleback, which is a pretty significant slur if you ask us. Yes, bro-country as its commonly called has become a problem to many country music purists. Its hard to define what it exactly is, but major hallmarks include interchangeable lyrics about parties a la hair metal, a rap or hip-hop-influenced bass beat, inexplicable fiddle flourishes, and guys and girls that look more like Instagram fitness models than touring musicians. There isnt a starched pair of Wranglers or proper Stetson to be seen anywhere. You know something is wrong when it even has its own Wikipedia page largely denigrating it. For the record Luke Bryan doesn't like the tag. Some would say that Toby Keith inadvertently invented it in the 90s but - call us crazy - those early singles are way too catchy for us to hate at this point. Lets blame Billy Ray Cyrus, since everyone else does. RELATED: Garth Brooks and the biggest stars of country music's '90s heyday Hey, we know that they cant all be Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Robert Ellis, Kacey Musgraves, Lydia Loveless, Aubrie Sellers or even Jamey Johnson. Weve reconciled with that. Sprinkle in the hilariously vulgar Wheeler Walker Jr. when the kids arent in the car. Producer Dave Cobbs recent Southern Family compilation is a good start. Members of the old guard like Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Loretta Lynn and Vince Gill have all released albums this year that are worth a spin, too. You cant say that there isnt anything out there of note; you just have to look harder. Check out those award-winning artists new and old and you will discover that country musics not dead. It's just that some people on the other side of the coin are doing it very badly. RELATED: Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson and the other greatest classic country artists left on the planet Months before he died, country legend Merle Haggard expressed his own discontent with the current state of popular country. I can't tell what they're doing," he told a reporter in September 2015. They're talking about screwing on a pickup tailgate and things of that nature. I don't find no substance. I don't find anything you can whistle, and nobody even attempts to write a melody. It's more of that kids stuff. It's hot right now, but I'll tell you what it's cooling off." Maybe if they didnt call it country all of us snobs would feel a bit better about it. Anyone out there have any clever ideas? We will say this, though: every new generation of country music usually has its pretty boys. We're sure some grizzled old-timer heard a George Strait song in 1981 and spit on the ground in disgust. So really, who is to say what is or isn't artful music? If it makes you dance, cry or fall in love, what's the problem? Dear Mr. Premack: I've been reading about the voter ID mess, and wonder if you could summarize what the law is now that the federal courts have intervened. As a Senior, I no longer have a driver's license. Will I still need to present a photo ID in order to vote in the Presidential election? I.C. The case in federal court was filed against Texas by a large group of plaintiffs, including the United States of America, the Texas Association of Hispanic County Judges and County Commissioners, the Texas League of Young Voters Education Fund, the Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches, and many other organizations and individuals. They alleged that the Voter ID law (SB 14) passed by the Texas Legislature in 2011 was discriminatory, and the trial court in Corpus Christi agreed. Texas appealed to the 5th Circuit, and it also ruled for the plaintiffs. The appeals court found that the Voter ID law had discriminatory effects. It also sent the case back to the trial court to determine if the law had been passed with discriminatory intent. The parties are still litigating that point, and Texas has stated that it intends to appeal the case to the US Supreme Court (which had already instructed the 5th Circuit to rule on the case early enough that changes could be made to the ID requirements well in advance of the November election). The trial court in Corpus Christi has issued an Order regarding an agreed interim voting plan for upcoming elections. The agreement modifies SB 14 to reduce its discriminatory effects. Under the Order, a registered voter is allowed to cast a ballot a)By presenting a photo ID acceptable under SB 14, so long as that ID has not been expired for more than four years. This expands on SB 14, which allowed expired IDs only for sixty days. This may solve the issue for many Seniors who have stopped driving, because their expired driver's license can still be used to vote so long as four years have not passed. b)By presenting any of the following: the voter registration card, a certified birth certificate, a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, a paycheck, or any other government document that shows the voter's name and address. The voter will also have to sign a "reasonable impediment" declaration at the polling place. The local election supervisor may not question whether the voter's reasons are adequate. The "reasonable impediment" declaration must be signed and sworn to before the election judge at the polling place. Various excuses for not having the SB 14 photo ID are listed as lack of transportation, disability or illness, lack of a birth certificate or other document needed for issuance of the ID, busy work schedule, family responsibilities, lost or stolen ID, ID applied for but not yet received, and "other". Thus, any registered voter will be allowed to cast a ballot in the upcoming election, even if the voter lacks one of the SB 14 approved photo IDs. College students should be able to use their out-of-state driver's licenses to vote in Texas so long as they complete the reasonable impediment declaration. The address on the ID does not have to match the address on the voting rolls to be acceptable. Voting by mail continues to be available, without the need for any type of ID. Anyone 65 or older can apply to vote by mail, but the application must be received by the government by October 28. Go to www.VoteTexas.gov for more information and to apply for a ballot. Paul Premack is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with offices in San Antonio and Seattle, handling Wills and Trusts, Probate, and Business Entity issues. View past legal columns or submit free questions on legal issues via www.TexasEstateandProbate.com or www.Premack.com. It was a crystallizing moment for Sara Youngblood-Ochoa. She was sitting with her first-grade son last winter as he struggled to do "extra credit" homework after a long day at school. Getting frustrated, she snapped at him. He cried. "I looked at him and said, 'Do you want to do this?' He said no, and I said, 'I don't either.' " And that was the end of homework for her 6-year-old. She knew he was doing fine in school, so they just stopped doing the packets of worksheets that came home every week. "It took a load off our afternoons and made it easier for him to do after-school activities that he wanted to do," said the Chicago-area mother. "If there's something our son is struggling in, we'll absolutely do the work. But after eight hours at a desk, to make him sit down and do more seems silly." RELATED GALLERY: Funny, yet sad memes for teachers going back to school After a summer of camps, freedom and running around outside, the transition back to school can be tough for any child - or parent. Add to that the scads of homework sent back with kids to complete before the next day, and parents can find themselves torn between wanting to encourage children to complete their work and wanting them to get exercise, play, just be a kid. And so for some parents, homework, particularly for kids in the younger grades, has become a big, fat zero. No more worksheets and reading logs. Other parents stop all homework if it takes longer than 10 or 15 minutes, believing the assignments should be a simple review of what was learned in school, not an hours-long process to struggle through. The conversation about banning homework, especially for young children, appears to be growing in popularity, even among teachers themselves. When a second-grade teacher in Texas recently sent a letter home explaining that she no longer would give homework, the letter went viral. Most important to parents, studies show that homework for younger children doesn't actually correlate with improved school performance, and in fact, can hinder learning. Homework, in other words, is really a sore subject. When Jeanne Hargett's youngest son started kindergarten in Arlington (va.) Public Schools last year, he was given weekly homework packets. "We just didn't do it," she said. "Honestly, he's an active child. And I really feel like after asking him to sit on his bottom for most of the day, and asking him to come home and do it again, is not fair. I want him to go outside and exercise, look at bunnies and bugs and crawl around in the grass." She said he didn't get "dinged" for not doing the homework, and explained her stance to his teacher, but she is worried about first grade. "I'm hearing they give rewards to the entire class if everyone does their homework. That puts pressure on these 6-year-olds." That lack of free playtime is what most parents argue is missing when children are forced to come home and review what they did at school by doing worksheets. "It's really important, especially for young kids, to play. Playing is a cornerstone for learning," said Erica Reischer, a clinical psychologist and author of the book "What Great Parents Do." "Playing is learning. That's it. Parents need to protect that space." But what happens when parents simply stop forcing their kids to do homework? For those interviewed here, they explained their reasoning to teachers and principals and say they were mostly met with support, and their children didn't fall behind. "There's a long tradition of homework, and a lot of passion behind it from parents and teachers," Reischer said. "It's what we do. So it feels a little scary to let that go. . . It shouldn't be a crazy idea that elementary school shouldn't have homework." Of course, not everyone is ditching homework. For older students in particular, homework often has a purpose, including learning about time management and solidifying complicated lessons. Jonathan Brand, headmaster of Chelsea Academy in Front Royal, Va., said his school has general guidelines about homework amounts, even for older students. "We lower the homework requirement in younger grades," he said. In grades 4 and 5, their youngest, teachers try to give no more than 30 minutes per night. "We're very careful about the kind of homework assignments we give to students. The benefit they receive from homework diminishes significantly in the lower grades." Parents who are opting out are generally in a place of privilege, says Harris M. Cooper, a Duke University professor in the department of psychology and neuroscience, whose research often focuses on homework. "These are typically parents who have the resources and capacity to substitute their own choices of academic things to do after school." For parents whose first language isn't English, or parents who work long hours, homework can be a good resource and supplement to regular school days. John Seelke, father to twin second-grade girls, and a former teacher who now works at the University of Maryland's College of Education, said he's torn about the homework issue at home. From a professional perspective, he knows there is sometimes too much emphasis put on homework, noting that research shows a disconnect between the amount of homework students are given and their success at school. "As a parent, though, I sort of like that my kids have something to work on," he said. "In education, there's a swing in the pendulum. First, the students get too much, especially in high school, with three to four hours a night. But then to swing completely in the other direction and say no homework?" So he and his wife have set it up that the girls' routine includes homework after school. If they have an activity at night, they can complete the work before school in the morning. "I also know that if my kids are struggling with something, we know what resources to go to because of my background," he said. "I don't know that every parent has those resources, especially if they are working two jobs or from another country. In some cases, for them, homework is a steady way of practice." In general, younger children's homework shouldn't last more than 10 to 20 minutes, Harris said. "Parents should be watching their child, especially for signs of fatigue and frustration." If they feel the homework is too much or inappropriate, "speak with the teacher. Because if enough parents have the same concern, a good educator will modify their practices." Annie Richman of Shaker Heights, Ohio, put that time limit on her children's homework when they were young. "I think that's enough time to focus" after a long day at school, she said. If her children ran out of time or got frustrated, Richman would write a note to the teacher. A former second-grade teacher herself, she rarely gave homework unless it was something that specifically needed to be done at home. The policy in her children's upper elementary school was 20 minutes of homework per teacher. But with four teachers, that added up. Plus they were told to read for 30 minutes and practice their instrument for 30 minutes. "So when are they going to eat dinner, have a bath and get to bed?" Richman asked. "It's really important to rake the leaves, take responsibility for setting the table and play with friends." Cara Paiuk stopped her son's homework last year, when he was in kindergarten at his school in West Hartford, Conn. She told his teacher, who was very receptive and didn't seem bothered. As for this year? She's going to watch what happens. "I think parents are the most challenging part for teachers, more than the kids, and I really try not to be a high-maintenance parent." That said, she felt last year that her young son should be spending his few hours after school with his younger sisters, instead of doing worksheets. "To see my children . . . playing together in the couple hours after school and before bedtime, that is so important for conflict resolution, learning how to play with different age groups," she said. "To take time away from that to do homework doesn't do it for me." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When fishing in Northeast Texas, these folks have one common goal: beat a more than 50-year-old world record. Bubba Bedre's Garzilla Gar Guide Service takes anglers out on the Trinity River hunting for alligator gar and monster turtles. And they have the photos to prove it. Click through the photos to see what the company has caught on its many trips so far this year. RELATED: Texas Fishing: Matagorda Bay alligator gar is a real monster Currently, the world record for alligator gar is a massive 279-pound animal caught in 1951 on the Rio Grande River in Texas, according to International Game Fish Association's online records. The world record also doubles as a Texas record for an alligator gar caught with a rod and reel in freshwater, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's website. On the Garzilla Guide's Facebook page, they detail 180-200 pound catches their clients have caught. On the company's website, they write they only offer trophy gar fishing with a rod and reel. The company did not immediately respond for comment. RELATED: 12 facts about Texas' river monster the alligator gar "We guide strictly for pleasure of enjoying the sport with you," their website reads. "If you are wanting to go after (an) exotic fish but don't want to travel halfway around the world, then look no more. We can take you on (an) adventure you will never forget (right) here on the Trinity River where wild boar, alligator, deer and game run the banks!" Alligator gars, which live in large rivers, reservoirs, coastal bays and backwater,s can grow up to eight feet long and weigh more than 300 pounds, according to the parks department. They live off of mostly fish but are known to eat birds and mammals, according to the department. RELATED: Crazy photos of Texas longnose gar stuck in fences that will haunt your dreams The oldest known alligator gar was at least 95-years-old when it was caught in 2011 in Mississippi, according to the department. Texan anglers are limited to bagging one alligator gar per day, according to the department. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 At 11 a.m. on Monday at East Hartford High School, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) will be joined by parents and educators to suggest next steps to seek real relief from EpiPens skyrocketing prices including additional demands on the company and federal agencies, possible hearings and legislative reforms. Blumenthal is helping lead a bipartisan coalition of senators exploring legislative solutions to monopolistic pricing by Mylan, which produces the EpiPen, and other drug companies. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT If they see something good going on in the city school system, more than 2,000 district employees were encouraged Monday to say something. The annual back to school convocation, held at the Webster Bank Arena, featured Shaun Mitchell, a Central High English and drama teacher who was the 2016 Bridgeport Teacher of the Year and a finalist for Connecticut Teacher of the Year. We have to start being our own advocates for the work we do, Mitchell said. No one else will do it for us. Mitchell said entering a tough school year, faced with layoffs and haunting test scores, teachers can focus on the bad, or realize the power in teamwork. Teamwork is happening all across Bridgeport, Mitchell said. We all know teachers in our buildings that are just killing it in the classroom and beyond but stay under the radar. Showcasing the good, he said, is one way teachers can reclaim their profession. From a newly organized drum line at Harding High School to an outdoor classroom at Read School, positive things are happening in the district, Interim Schools Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz said. Rabinowitz said the district is facing major financial issues and suffers from chronically low test scores but also has the power of thousands of dedicated educators and staff members responsible for some 21,000 students. Convocations are important, she added, because they let staff spread among 37 schools know they are part of something bigger. We are all part of a team, she said. In the past, the district live-streamed opening remarks to each school via webcams. The district got grants from Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt, the districts textbook supplier, to cover the cost of the event, Rabinowitz said. Also recognized at the event was Johnson sixth-grade teacher Hilary McDevitt, the districts 2017 Teacher of the year. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Turns out 7-UP isnt the only un-cola. A century-old Connecticut soda bottler has invented a special soft drink for a most unconventional candidate, dubbing it the Trump Tonic. Its slogan: Make America Grape Again. Relax, Democrats. Averys Beverages, which has been putting out birch beer, cream soda and ginger ale since 1904 from its New Britain home, isnt just drinking the Kool-Aid of Trump. Its also selling a limited edition Hillarys Hooch soda. The flavor is classified, per the bottle label. Both sodas can be found at Stew Leonards. Good thing for Averys theres no soda-tax in Connecticut. The soda company is conducting its own presidential straw poll based on sales of the two soft drinks, with Trump Tonic leading with 26,650 bottles (54 percent) to Hilary Hoochs 22,220 bottles (45 percent) as of Aug. 15, according to Averys Facebook page. The competition certainly opens up a whole new set of adjectives for the campaign: carbonated and effervescent. Flat isnt one of them, unless Trump is discussing one of his opponents. MSNBCs Mika tries to out-Fox Himes Not all TV exposure is created equal. Just ask Jim Himes. The telegenic 4th District congressman and prolific Hillary Clinton fundraiser probably didnt expect to be walking into a hornets nest when he signed up for Morning Joe on MSNBC Thursday. Show hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, both of whom have ties to Connecticut, arent exactly on Donald Trumps Christmas card list. That didnt stop Brzezinski from peppering Himes over Clintons email scandal and a recent Associated Press expose on the special access that Clinton Foundation donors got to the Democratic presidential nominee while she was secretary of state. So the email controversy, is it a fake scandal, really? Brzezinski opened the segment. Himes answered that Clinton has acknowledged the lapse in judgment, but has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by the FBI. With the Clintons, youve got to remember that theres 30 years here of foaming-at-the-mouth conservative conspiracy theories Rose Law Firm, air strips in Arkansas and now, of course, this Clinton Foundation thing, where yes, of course, theres the potential for a conflict of interest there, Himes said. But not anybody in the 48 hours that weve been spent talking about this on the national media has said, here is somebody who actually got something of value because they made a contribution to the Clinton Foundation, Himes said. Brzezinski, who spent the early part of her career in Hartford, wasnt buying it, and interrupted Himes. Come on, she said. Im a Democrat and Im not foaming at the mouth. Trial may be unavoidable for ex-GOP treasurer The child endangerment case of the state GOPs former longtime treasurer, who resigned after his March arrest, could be headed to a trial. Gary Schaffrick, 53, is due back in state Superior Court in Bristol Sept. 19 for a judicial pretrial session, which is often the last resort before a case goes to trial, according to the courts deputy chief clerk. Prosecutors are expected to meet with Schaffricks lawyer in a judges chambers to try to reach a plea deal in a case that has been a public relations mess for Connecticut Republicans. Bristol police charged Schaffrick on March 6 with one count of risk of injury and impairing the morals of a minor, a felony, for allegedly taking a bath naked with a 5-year-old boy who is a family acquaintance. Schaffrick resigned March 28 from his elected treasurers post, and from a paid job with the party. But filings with the Federal Election Commission showed that Schaffrick continued to receive nine paychecks totaling $4,275 for another four months. neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) has formed a new panel of town and city officials to develop strategies they hope will guide the 2017 General Assembly in deciding how to spend state money. The State-Local Partnership Panel will offer proposals on how municipalities can share services to save money and raise money without being so dependent on property taxes, said CCM spokesman Kevin Maloney. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who is also the president of the CCM, will lead the panel. The question that drives us is, What services do we need, who pays for them and how do we pay for them? Boughton said. The panel will release a report with its findings before the General Assembly starts its session in January in the hope the legislature will implement their strategies. We think that the state needs some kind of direction in terms of how to put themselves on a sustainable path, as well as all cities and towns in Connecticut, Boughton said. Among the goals of the panel is to develop ways to increase local government revenue without increasing property taxes. Connecticuts per capita property tax is $2,522, which is the third-highest rate in the nation and almost double the nationwide average of $1,434, CCM said. The state also ranks eighth in property taxes paid as a percentage of median home value. Leaders from cities and towns across the state will take a bipartisan approach in this panel. We want to be able show we can work together, Republicans and Democrats alike, Boughton said. The panel plans to expand on the work of the 2015 State Tax Panel and other reports. As one can see from the breadth and range of issues to be tackled, this panel has ambitious goals that must be met in less than 120 days, said Joe DeLong, CCM Executive Director. We are not looking for another study that will be filed on an office shelf. First Selectman Leo Paul of Litchfield is one of the panel members. I think its important that we do have a good working relationship with the state, he said. And I think its important that we provide the state legislature with ideas that they might be able to implement. It will also make legislators more aware of the unintended consequences thctions might have for municipalities, Paul said. I certainly hope its going to provide them information that will help make them more informed of the local impacts that situations may have not to say that theyre not, he said. Panel members in addition to Boughton and Paul include Town Manager Jeff Bridges of Wethersfield, Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, Town Manager John Elsesser of Coventry, First Selectman Michael Freda of North Haven, New Haven Mayor Toni Harp, Town Manager Matt Hart of Mansfield, Norwich Mayor Deb Hinchey, East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc, Stamford Mayor David Martin, Waterbury Mayor Neil OLeary and New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart. Lawrence Walters, emeritus professor of public management and policy at Brigham Young University in Utah, will also guide the panel. Walters has helped state governments examine the issues the panel will explore throughout his 30-year career. Most recently, he worked as the principal investigator for the 2015 General Assemblys study on business personal property and registered motor vehicle taxes. Economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston will also assist the panel. Boughton said some legislators might resist city and town leaders giving them ideas, but this should not matter when the financial well-being of the state rests in the balance. I dont think we have time to squabble over whose idea it was or get into a turf battle, he said. The fact of the matter is that every day the legislature gives us mandates and tells us what to do. Were simply coming back to them and saying, Okay, heres what you want us to do and heres how we think it should be paid for. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD Developer Building and Land Technology has gotten its way, and it appears that, despite a 300-year history, there will never again be a boatyard on the peninsula that juts into Stamford Harbor. Up in Brownfield, Maine, Bob Wallstrom is absolutely, grossly, disappointed. I just hate it when people evade their responsibilities, especially to get rich, Wallstrom said of BLT, which in 2011 ripped out Stamfords last boatyard, the largest and one of the few remaining in the region, in defiance of a city zoning regulation and a state coastal protection act. BLT earlier this month reached an agreement with the Zoning Board, ending a five-year battle for the right to develop the peninsula. BLT has not revealed its plan for the land, but it will likely be something much more lucrative than a boatyard high-end office space, perhaps, or luxury residential high-rises with views of Long Island Sound. It bothers Wallstrom because he once worked at Luders, the marine construction company that operated from the peninsula for generations and put Stamford on the maritime map. Known for the quality of its work, Luders built racing yachts, commercial vessels, and military craft of wood and steel that helped the country fight both world wars and Korea. By most reports, it was the largest shipbuilder in the state. Wallstrom respected the operation so much that he has become a Luders historian, compiling construction records, photographs and other research. It was a good yard, said Wallstrom, who worked in the drafting room. It was a great asset to Stamford. Hidden history Much of Luders story is lost, said Ron Marcus, resident historian with the Stamford Historical Society. Boatyards, by their nature, had a lot of fires they contained lots of wood and varnishes, and people worked with heated tools, Marcus said. Luders lost a lot of their records in fires. Bob is preserving the history of probably the largest marine construction company in Stamford history. There were many small boatyards and marine industries, but nothing compared to Luders. It was a yard very much able to handle just about anything, Wallstrom said. They could repair engines on large vessels, haul small ships, fashion masts and booms out of aluminum tubes, do big-engine work. Sailmakers who worked for them even made mattresses and upholstery to finish off a yacht. During wartime, some 1,500 people worked at Luders, Wallstrom said. The company built about 270 vessels for the Navy, Army and Coast Guard, he said. When World War II broke out, workers made a large sign for one of the boat construction buildings. It said, Remember Pearl Harbor, Wallstrom said. That should have been preserved for antiquity. At the start of the Korean War, the U.S. military had no vessels to sweep the ocean for mines, Wallstrom said. They were so badly needed that the military borrowed some from the Japanese. Shipyards on the East and West coasts started building them, including Luders, he said. They used these massive timbers to build the minesweepers, which were well put together and lasted a good number of years. Minesweepers had to be made of wood, Marcus said. The mines would float, partially submerged, and they were magnetic, Marcus said. If an iron-hulled ship came near kaboom. Peninsula with a past So, from the point in the harbor, Stamford did its part for several war efforts. But the area had been a boating hub since the 1600s, when farmers and tradesmen loaded goods to ship to New York City for sale. In the 1700s, Patriot whaleboats launched from there to protect the Sound from the British. In the 1800s, Stamford became an important port, spurring industry along the harbor. Luders arrived in 1908. When I was doing my research, I heard from people who worked there and they would say, My father worked there, too, and my grandfather worked there, Wallstrom said. Luders closed in 1968. Yacht Haven and Brewers operated a boatyard there until BLT ripped it down in 2011. Zoning officials obtained a court order prohibiting BLT from developing the peninsula until it presented a viable boatyard replacement plan. That took five years, and much contention. BLT came up with a convoluted proposal a boatyard smaller than the original on Southfield Avenue, with boat storage on Magee Avenue and boat slips around the peninsula. The Harbor Management Commission and Planning Board rejected the plan. So did the Zoning Board. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection refused to weigh in, and Mayor David Martin struck a deal with BLT CEO Carl Kuehner that the city will have the right to take over the land if boatyard services fail to meet requirements, but only for 15 years. The Zoning Board ended up approving it after fighting for improvements and amenities, which will include public access to the peninsula. SoundKeeper, a nonprofit organization that works to protect Long Island Sound, has appealed the boards decision, saying BLT should build another boatyard there. But it appears BLT largely will do what it wants with the peninsula. I wish they had been able to kick those guys out of the picture, Wallstrom said of BLT. It was scandalous that they tore down the Luders office building. It would have made a perfect maritime museum for Stamford. angela.carella@scni.com; 203-964-2296; stamfordadvocate.com/angela carella Some areas were covered by more than one meter of water. Heavy rainfall on August 28 inundated many northern provinces in Vietnam. The national weather forecasting agency said that the rains will continue until through August 29, with more than 100mm of rainfall expected in some areas. Northern and north-central regions of Vietnam are likely to experience hail and strong winds. Hai Duong Province, 57 kilometers east of Hanoi, has witnessed heavy rainfall of 55 to 100mm over the last few days. Many roads and residential areas have been heavily flooded. In some areas its impossible to distinguish between the road and adjacent ponds and lakes. Many places were under over a meter of water. Heavy rain took its toll on livestock farmers after with flooding reported at pig farms and fish ponds. In Vinh Phuc Province near Hanoi, prolonged rains have also flooded many areas. Scooters struggle to move through the water. More flooding is forecast in the northern provinces of Thai Binh, Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh. Photos by Tran Ngoc Kha and Hai Duong Online Newspaper Related news: > Hanoi houses remain submerged in wake of typhoon > Heavy rains turn Saigon airport to seaport NORWALK Timothy Callahan, director of health for Norwalk, and Jeryl Topalian, administrative director of planning for the Western Connecticut Health Network, will address the general membership meeting of the Norwalk branch of the NAACP on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. The topic is "2016 Community Health Assessment Preliminary Findings." The meeting will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 21 Concord St., Norwalk. Members are urged to attend and speak of the health issues which most concern them. Also on the agenda: Election of the Nominating Committee for Branch elections in November; reports from the Freedom Fund Committee on the Sept. 23 Banquet, featuring Joy Reid of MSNBC as keynote speaker; and reports on Youth, Housing, Education, Legal Redress and Criminal Justice. Occupants of the apartments in Phu My Hung urban area (District 7) have been enduring an unknown stinky odor for months. Photo by VnExpress Authorities have yet to find a solution for the fetid stench. A foul smell emanating from a landfill site in Da Phuoc Commune, Binh Chanh District has been bothering local residents in Saigon for years, despite constant pleas to authorities for a solution. People living along National Highway 50 connecting Binh Chanh and District 7 have to deal with the smell from thousands of garbage trucks carrying waste to the landfill site every day. Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, a long-time resident, said the trucks reek of rotting food, and it gets worse on rainy days. Many people living here cant stand the smell, and some have moved elsewhere because of it. Others have no choice and continue to endure it, said Ha, the owner of a local grocery shop near Highway 50. Occupants of apartments in the Phu My Hung urban area (District 7) also have to endure the stench, which they describe as terrible from midnight till morning. In response to hundreds of complaints, the developer of Phu My Hung has submitted petitions to the HCMC Peoples Committee asking for authorities to take measures to deal with the problem. "The odor does not linger throughout the day, but it is extremely unpleasant. Even adults arent able to tolerate the smell, let alone children. Many school teachers have also reported that the stench has disrupted classes, said Tran Thi Hong Thuy, a local resident, at a residents' meeting. Nguyen Ngoc Thiep, deputy general secretary of the HCMC Water and Environment Department, views the issue as a localized environmental problem in the south of the city. "The odor may come from waste treatment plants or crematoriums. There are also many ponds in the area, and if fish die due to disease they can kick quite a stink for a short time," Thiep said. Its likely to be an artificial cause rather than natural pollution. Chairman of District 7 Le Hoa Binh told VnExpress that he had received reports from local residents about the smell. However, the cause is as yet unknown. "We will work with management boards in residential areas and investors to find out the cause and propose a solution," Binh said. Related news: > Free insurance and clean water for residents living near Da Nangs stinking landfill site > Sandy beach turns into landfill site during public holiday > Half century in love on the landfill Between two events I attended recently -- one in New York and one in Cape Town -- Ive spent a lot of time engaged with an international group of female business owners, investors and otherwise badass, inspiring women. First was #MentHERnyc, hosted by angel investor and CNBC Power Pitch panelist, Alicia Syrett, alongside the women's networking app and community catalyst, Monarq. The one-day event brought investors and female founders together for one-on-one conversations, as well as panels with investors, press and other startup founders. Following the adage, if you want money, ask for advice, it was essentially a low-pressure pitch event disguised as a mentorship opportunity. Just 48 hours later, I was on a plane to Cape Town, South Africa, for the Dell Womens Entrepreneurship Network (DWEN) summit. The two-day summit is an annual convergence point for founders and executives of approximately 200 women-led companies, media, investors and public policy influencers. Related: A Female Founder's Tips for Fundraising For once, I was not a minority at these events. I felt comfortable approaching every single person in the room. And it was refreshing to see the event organizers unabashedly express their emotion as their latest contribution to the entrepreneurial sisterhood came to a close. There also seemed to be a consistent theme around socially-conscious businesses. So many conversations circled back to the triple bottom line, which is defined by a companys dedication to people, planet and profit. This was central to discussion at DWEN, in particular. Dell has spent the last decade in a metamorphasis of sorts, reestablishing itself as a people-first, purpose-driven company focused on sustainabilty and activism. The women invited to the conference seemed to mirror these values. Companies that adopt this purpose-driven model are called social enterprises, and theyre often branded as high risk by the traditional venture capital community. This was brought up more than once at both events, based on the difficulty social enterprises can have turning a profit. But the obstacles dont seem to be preventing women from building socially-conscious companies nor from finding the resources to do so. I was impressed by the number of entrepreneurs I encountered at these events who had managed to combine profit -- or at least a clear path to profit -- with purpose, in spite of the very real challenges. Perhaps women will pave the way for a new paradigm of entrepreneurship where the most successful companies are the ones that meet their impact goals, as well as their revenue goals. Between panel discussions and off-stage interviews at #MentHERnyc and DWEN, here are some of the insights I gathered from women who are not only adding value to the world economy, but to humanity at large. Kirsten Dickerson, Founder & CEO, Raven + Lily. Raven + Lily is an ethical fashion and lifestyle brand that partners with artisans around the world to employ more than 1,500 low-income and formerly-enslaved women. After bootstrapping for a few years, Dickerson raised a Series A of $500,000. Shes currently raising a Series A Extension of $1.5 million. Her advice: As a social business, you have to be careful about bringing someone in whos going to support your mission and believe in your vision for it. Ive had to turn down investors if I wasn't convinced they were committed to the triple bottom line concept as well as me being a female CEO/founder. I don't regret those decisions. Related: Eva Longoria and Social Entrepreneurship Sarah Prevette, Founder & CEO, Future Design School. Future Design School is a series of tools focused on empowering youth innovation through design methods and entrepreneurial experience. Prevette previously founded investment firm BrandProject, Sprouter (acquired by Postmedia) and BetaKit (also acquired by Postmedia). Her advice: Do your research on the investor. Most are concerned with your business model, but impact investors want to see your mission first and then how your business model supports it. There are many investors, and also big companies, that will support you. You can find that symbiotic relationship. Make sure youre meeting your impact metrics. Leila Janah, Founder & CEO of Sama and Laxmi. Laxmi is a for-profit luxury beauty brand. It was founded and incubated at non-profit Sama Group, which connects low-income women and youth to internet-based work around the world. Janah has raised a $2 million seed round for Laxmi. Her advice: I went to people that I knew cared about the social mission. The best way to build a social enterprise is to first build a product that people really need. I took something in the luxury space into a social mission. Tinia Pana, Founder & CEO, Re-Nuble. Re-Nuble is a technology company that leverages a patent-pending process to transform food waste into non-toxic, liquid hydroponic nutrients. Re-Nuble has raised a seed round of $200,000. Her advice: You always lead with your revenue model first. More specifically, announce how you are -- or how you plan to -- make money, and you'll receive more attention than you would by telling your mission. Even impact investors want to make sure that your model to create impact is sustainable. This approach also enables you to capture the interest of less mission aligned investors as they may view it as a competitive advantage in other ways. Nicola Stopps, Founder & CEO, Simply Sustainable. Simply Sustainable is a UK-based company that helps global organizations build sustainability into their operations. Her advice: In my experience the most successful companies are those that lead with their mission or dream, shortly followed up with the actual product or service the company provides. A company is less likely to attract investment if its founder lacks passion for what they are doing. We often find social enterprises/ sustainability minded companies focus on the positive impact they will have in one area, such as climate change, and forget to look at the other areas such as being responsible in their supply-chain, employees and ethics. Trading on the positive impact -- say on climate change -- means your reputation, and possibly your business, is at risk if you are not truly responsible in all other parts of your business. Related: Why Women Entrepreneurs Can Do More With Less Carol Barash, Founder & CEO, Story2. Story2 uses proprietary software, writing and training methods to teach high school students the power of storytelling as they complete college admission and scholarship essays. Brash has raised $1.1 million in convertible debt from TechStars, Kaplan Ventures, angels and early stage VCs. Her advice: Always lead with vision! What is the huge problem you are solving, and when you are successful, what does success look like? Make that future [vision] extremely detailed and palpable. Who is there? What are they doing? What is possible in that future that is not possible today? If they buy the vision, then be very precise -- remember these are numbers people -- about how you will get there. How far have you gotten already? And how will their investment aid in your vision? It can be money, advice or other types of engagement -- whatever it takes to get you to the next place the business needs to be in order to succeed. I've made so many mistakes fundraising. Its hard work, and most people just don't have the stomach to keep going through so many rounds of no, no, no. But it's a courtship. Investors provide the water, soil and fertilizer to grow the seeds of your business. A great investor is a partner in your business. Theyve done this before and can help you make the vision a reality step-by-step. Related: Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Vietnamese Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich (right) welcomes his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan on his visit to Vietnam on March 28. Photo courtesy of Border Guards/Hong Pha The trip is the first by a top official since The Hague ruled against China over maritime claims. Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich is leading a high-ranking Vietnamese defense delegation on a three-day visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Chang Wanquan, said the Vietnamese Defense Ministry. This is the first visit General Lich has made to China as Minister of National Defense, and the first visit by a senior Vietnamese official after an international tribunal ruled against Chinas claims in the South China Sea (Vietnam's East Sea). Lichs visit is expected to build bilateral relations, expand cooperation and increase high-ranking delegation exchanges between the two countries. With a packed schedule during his stay, Lich will hold talks with Minister Chang, pay courtesy calls to leaders of the Communist Party of China, the government and the Chinese Central Military Commission, and tour several units of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. On March 28, Chang paid an official friendly visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart at the time, General Phung Quang Thanh. Related news: > China says has right to set up air defense zone in South China Sea > Indian defense minister visits Vietnam after Shangri-la Dialogue > China denies Vietnamese fishing boats shelter on Paracel Islands This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two months after Cade Johnson turned 11, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His condition fueled an aspiration. As a fifth-grader, Johnson would wake up every Monday before dawn, sleep during a two-hour drive from his Lumberton home to Houston and sit through day-long doctor's appointments. Although he went into remission a month after his diagnosis, Johnson underwent chemotherapy and regular doctor's visits for four years to ensure the cancer was as suppressed as possible. Now 21 and a pre-med junior at Lamar University studying biology and exercise science, Johnson spent this past summer at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia conducting cancer research. Crediting his health history for his career goals, he wants to become a pediatric hematology oncologist. His cancer research this summer involved testing drugs on cancer cells to prevent them from multiplying. "We would break open cells to test the protein and research if protein involved in cell reproduction was triggered," Johnson said. He was able to test his aptitude for research and persevered when the results were unexpected. "There was a lot of failure involved in research as far as having an experiment designed and not getting the results you wanted," Johnson said. He used his weekends to regroup, returning on Mondays to retrace his steps and determine what went wrong. Ultimately, most of the research results were positive. Johnson received the David J. Beck fellowship, which provided a year's tuition at Lamar and $10,000 toward a summer research project. For the project proposal portion of his application, he sought the help of a nurse practitioner who helped him during his cancer treatments in Houston. Cara Smith, who now lives in Philadelphia, put Johnson in contact with oncologists at the Children's Hospital, which led to Johnson's research opportunity. Although he is sure of his path now, Johnson has not always been interested in a career in medicine. "Once I was done with cancer treatments as a kid, I was done with the medical field," Johnson said. "I didn't want to see anything related to medicine anymore." It wasn't until late in his high school years that he revisited the idea of becoming a doctor. "Now I realize that I can have an effect on kids that need it. I know I would be able to connect with kids in ways that other doctors can't," he said. Johnson expects to graduate in May 2019. He said he is considering pursuing a master's degree in biology and applying to medical schools like Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, Baylor College of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Yale School of Medicine. SFlores@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/_saraeflores This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO An 80-year-old woman somehow survived being dragged under a VIA bus after she attempted to board it on Monday morning in the West Side near downtown, according to police. Emergency personnel responded at around 11:05 a.m. near the intersection of Martin and Frio Streets, where officers found an elderly woman with injuries to both legs after being pulled under the bus. RELATED: Two in critical condition after rollover car crash on the North Side VIA's Tremell Brown, vice president of safety, training and system security, released the following statement Monday afternoon: "Our thoughts are with the pedestrian who was injured this morning as she recovers. We continue to urge the public to be familiar with safety guidelines that are part of VIA's many ongoing safety initiatives." Brown said the pedestrian approached the mid-section of the moving vehicle as it pulled away from the stop and struck it with both hands before losing her footing and falling to the ground. That's when she got caught under the bus, according to police. The VIA operator immediately stopped the vehicle and called for help. SAPD officer Bart Vasquez said the woman was conscious and alert after the accident. Blood could be seen smeared on the pavement at the scene. The woman, who may be homeless, was rushed to San Antonio Military Medical Center, Vasquez said. RELATED: Elderly couple recovering at University Hospital following rollover crash on Loop 1604 The bus driver is currently not facing any citations and SAPD's Traffic Investigation Division is currently investigating the accident. SAPD spokesman Douglas Greene said the woman was in stable condition at last report. Text "NEWS" to 72727 to sign up for breaking news from mySA twhite@mysa.com Twitter: @tylerlwhite This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A proposal made to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department last week could turn the San Marcos River into a state park, outlawing drinking on the popular tubing local nestled among the hills of Texas State University. Tom Goynes, president of the Texas Rivers Protection Association, wants to turn roughly 60 miles of the San Marcos River into a state park, he told the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at an Aug. 24 meeting. The "public display or consumption of alcohol is prohibited," at all Texas state parks, as listed on the parks department's website. After hearing his proposal, the department implemented a task force to gather information, Steve Lightfoot, spokesman for the department, said Monday. He said a timeline has not been set, but a decision is to likely to be made by the end of this year. The suggested 60-mile stretch would start at Spring Lake in San Marcos and end at Palmetto State Park, south of Luling. RELATED: Official proposes building new road to avoid drunk, unruly tubers near San Marcos River Goynes, who moved to a house that sits on the river between San Marcos and Martindale in 1972, said the river was not always a drunken frat party. In fact, according to Goynes, the San Marcos River was a peaceful, quiet place until 2002, when flooding in New Braunfels made the Guadalupe River unsafe to float, pushing tubers north. Ever since, he said, its been getting worse every year. Right now, our rivers X-rated, he said. Theres crazy stuff going on, its basically just a frat party. Goynes and his wife Paula used to operate San Marcos River Retreat, a campground near their home where boy scouts and church groups would stay during the summer. But in 2014, after witnessing excessive partying with X-rated music on the river and alleged drug use, the couple closed their campground. On vacation in New Mexico, it dawned on Goynes what he had to do fight for the river to be a state park, getting it back to where kids can enjoy it again. At some point, enough is enough, Goynes told mySA.com Monday. RELATED: Teen dies while 'back flipping' off dam in San Marcos Before taking his proposal to the parks department, Goynes and his wife Paula sued Dons Fish Camp and Texas State Tubes, two popular tubing outfitters located near their home, calling them responsible for what they say is happening on the river daily. The couple asked for a restraining order against the two establishments before Memorial Day Weekend in an attempt to clean up the river for this summer. They are hoping to have the order granted before Labor Day Weekend. Although he couldnt discuss the lawsuit in detail, Goynes attributes 90 percent of the drunks, maybe more, to the two tubing outfitters. I think theyre responsible for the problem, he said. We have a business that can no longer operate. Were suing them to clean up their act to the point that we can operate again. From Aug. 1, 2011 to July 31, 2016, two people have died on the San Marcos River, according to data obtained from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. One person drowned in April 2015, and a person, whose cause of death is not identified in the report, died in August 2014. Kristi Wyatt, director of communications for the city, said the city council is aware of the proposal, but has not discussed it in a public forum. RELATED: San Marcos, Guadalupe Rivers named 2nd, 3rd 'Best Rivers for Tubing' by USA Today reader (It is) not an initiative the council has discussed or met about officially, she said. Andrew Homann, student body president at Texas State, said although he does not speak for Student Government, he is personally against the proposal. No ones forcing anybody to drink on the river, he said, adding students can have a lot of sober fun on the San Marcos River. If the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department denies Goynes proposal, he plans to take his idea to the Texas Legislature to work out the details in the governmental paperwork. And, voila, we can have a state park, he said. If the proposal is approved by the parks department, Goynes said all that would need to happen is creating new signage alerting tubers and swimmers to the river's new status as a state park. Lightfoot could not confirm new signage and said the commission would be the ones to determine what actions are taken after a decision is made. kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood on Sunday screened a controversial documentary, Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, linking childhood vaccines to autism at a local movie theater, according to a source who received an invitation. Elected in 2014, LaHood also was videotaped sitting at his desk in his county office making a statement on the controversial topic. Im Nico LaHood, he said. Im the criminal district attorney in San Antonio, Texas. Im here to tell you that vaccines can and do cause autism. RELATED DATA FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Vaccination exemptions on the rise in some Texas counties Click through the gallery below to see which Texas school districts have the highest percentage of vaccination exemptions for children and see the video below. The next shot declares that Nikos (sic) Story is coming on Tuesday, followed by a plug for the Vaxxed documentary. LaHood acknowledged in an interview Monday that "this is not a politically correct opinion." We had a very normally developed child, meeting all the marks as a child walking, eye contact and after his 18-month vaccination we had a very different child," LaHood said. "And our story is not alone. I mean, theres thousands of parents out there that have the same story. So my opinions are just my opinions as a daddy, as a husband who happens to be the DA. The Autism Media Channel posted the video to Facebook on Friday. There is no scientific evidence that links vaccines to autism, a finding confirmed by numerous studies and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. LaHoods involvement has upset some advocates, including Fiona OLeary, a mother of autistic children who posted a reaction on Facebook. MORE: Before defending a client, LaHood hired the prosecutors Im really, really outraged by this comment actually because were used to hearing the quacks and the discredited doctors terrifying parents, OLeary said. But now, we have a professional, a criminal district attorney, making these statements. This man was in his office when he made this statement, presenting under his professional title as a criminal district attorney. Its a reckless statement, and I think he should issue a public apology, she said. RELATED: LaHood did not disclose business interest Read more on this controversial issue in Tuesday's print edition or on ExpressNews.com Text "NEWS" to 72727 to sign up for breaking news from mySA bchasnoff@express-news.net Twitter: @bchasnoff The tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh, located on the slopes of Chau Chu Mountain, is about 10 kilometers from central Hue. It took 11 years to build, starting in 1920. The overall construction of the tomb is an emerging rectangular structure leaning against the mountain. The significant feature of the tomb, which distinguishes it from other royal tombs in Hue, lies in the subtle blend between Vietnamese and Western architectural styles. It is said that Emperor Khai Dinh had construction materials imported from France, Japan and China. Starting this week, the state attorney generals office will begin the process of warning Texas parents who are six months or more behind on their child support payments that if they dont pay up, they wont be able to renew their auto registration. The warnings will continue, at least a thousand of them per month, with the delinquent parents receiving the notices about three months before their registration renewals are due. They wont have to pay their entire child support bill at once, but to keep their vehicles legal theyll need to pay a minimum of $200 and agree to a payment plan with the Texas attorney generals office, said Janece Rolfe, communications manager for the agencys child support division. Critics of the new campaign were loud and many across San Antonio. It will simply force a number of parents to drive illegally, predicted Ramon Vasquez, director of the San Antonio Fatherhood Campaign, which offers parenting classes, legal aid and job counseling to some 900 mostly unemployed parents. We insist that parents in our program be 100 percent child support compliant, said Vasquez, who as a young father more than 30 years ago owed $10,000 in child support at one point. But over half of them also have criminal records, and this AG program threatens to drive people like this, who have to have their cars to work, back into the justice system. The new enforcement program will target an estimated 12,000 to 24,000 seriously delinquent parents per year, out of some 1.3 million Texans who have legal orders to pay child support. But it will help to fill a huge gaping hole in our community, the lack of financial support for tens of thousands of children, said Patricia Castillo, director of The PEACE Initiative, a domestic violence awareness group.. We work with a lot of dads who have to pay child support, Castillo said. And though I can see how this might impede some peoples ability to work because they need a car the bottom line is, if youre making babies youd better support them. Read the full story at ExpressNews.com or in Wednesdays Express-News. bselcraig@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Need to report underage drinking at the bar youre at? Theres an app for that. The Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission launched TABC:Mobile Aug. 25 an app allowing users to report violations and check if the establishment theyre drinking with holds a liquor license, according to the commissions website. RELATED: TABC: 30 San Antonio bars, stores on the delinquent list for liquor purchases After downloading the app, users can search all the businesses in their area which have an alcohol license/ permit, and notify TABC of any violations anonymously. Governmental entities can use the app to see the status of a pending alcoholic beverage license or permit. Click through the gallery above to see the most recent offenders in the San Antonio area, according to the TABC. RELATED: TABC: 20 establishments in Bexar County busted for selling alcohol to minors so far in 2016 Chris Porter, agency spokesman, told the Texas Tribune that before the app, TABC received complaints through emails and phone calls. The state has 128,000 active permits to keep watch over. In 2015, TABC received 4,588 complaints, the Tribune reported. RELATED: Texas bars and restaurants caught refilling bottles by TABC so far this year "TABC:Mobile serves as a direct line of communication between TABC and the public from anywhere at any time," Porter said in a news release. "The app allows retailers to report a breach of the peace at their business as required by the Alcoholic Beverage Code and agency rules. It's our hope that this new tool will keep those lines of communication open while promoting the safe and lawful sale of alcohol in Texas." kbradshaw@express-news.net Twitter: @kbrad5 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN ANTONIO The University of the Incarnate Words governing board just announced that it voted unanimously today to remove Louis Agnese Jr. as president and will begin a national search for his replacement. The boards decision, made in a closed-door meeting this afternoon and coming after more than a week of controversy over statements Agnese made at a luncheoan, ends Agneses three-decade long tenure at the helm of the Catholic university. The Board voted unanimously today to remove Dr. Agnese from the office of president, permanently, effective immediately, UIW Board President Charles Lutz said. MORE: Leaked letter accuses UIW President Louis Agnese of making offensive comments at school event Its a sudden, dramatic departure for Agnese, 65, who was hired as president in 1985 at a time when Incarnate Word was an obscure college suffering from dwindling enrollment. Last week, an anonymous complaint first reported by mySA.com accused Agnese of making offensive comments about African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Mormons at an Aug. 15 luncheon for physical therapy students. Weve known for a long time that Dr. Agnese has a reputation for being blunt, eccentric, colorful, even abrasive, stated the anonymous letter sent by very concerned students to UIW. But the statements made by him today were so egregiously over the top that I became viscerally sickened by them. Agnese didnt deny making the comments but insisted they werent offensive. I haven't made an offensive comment in my life, Agnese told the San Antonio Express-News last week. At the luncheon, Agnese singled out an African American student who wasnt wearing the school colors of Cardinal red. Well, youre lucky youre black so you are in a way wearing Cardinal black, Agnese reportedly told her. Agnese went on to ask if there were any Native American students in the group and said their Indian-red skin color would also count as wearing Cardinal red. According to the complaint, Agnese made another student stand up, said she wasnt good enough to get into any other program because of her poor test scores, and noted how lucky she was to be accepted to UIW. Agnese told the Express-News he also praised the student for excelling at UIW. "Now she has the highest test score of anybody in the program," Agnese said. At another point, Agnese reportedly addressed a Hispanic faculty member by calling him by the wrong name. When the man corrected Agnese and said his name was Jaime, Agnese responded, Well, close enough, you look like a Jose. On Aug. 18, Lutz released an announcement to the UIW community saying Agnese was placed on 90-day medical leave. Without offering details, Lutz apologized to anyone who might have been offended by Agneses behavior. That same day, Agnese told the Express-News nothing was medically wrong with him. Upset and defiant, Agnese threatened to sue the pants off Lutz if the board didnt issue a retraction. I will have the board send out a retraction to that (expletive) they sent out today, Agnese said. They ruined my reputation of 31 years. They will send out a retraction by Monday or I will sue the chair of the board. You can put that in the paper in quotes. Agnese later backed down from that threat. On Friday, after the Express-News and other local news outlets published details of the anonymous complaint against Agnese, Lutz released a statement praising Agneses service at UIW but added that his recent comments cannot be condoned. SAN ANTONIO Bexar County sheriff's deputies arrested two men Sunday after they found more than 100 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of a car, authorities said. The deputies were on patrol about 3 p.m. Sunday when they stopped a black sedan for a traffic violation in the 7800 block of New World Drive near Walzem Road on the Northeast Side of town, according to a statement released Sunday afternoon by the Sheriff's Office. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Editor's Note: This version of the story corrects the direction of the pursuit and lane closures. SAN ANTONIO -- A wanted felon who tried to evade police Sunday shot and killed himself after leading an officer on a chase. A San Antonio police officer was dispatched about 3:50 p.m. to 12000 O'Connor Road on the North Side on a report of a suspicious person who was sleeping inside his car. Officer Douglas Greene, an SAPD spokesman, said the officer ran the man's license plate and found two felony warrants under his name. After the officer called for backup, the man sped away from the scene in his car while the officer pursued. Greene said the man was able to get a "significant distance" away, so the officer called off the chase. About 30 minutes later, a white Chevy Impala hit a brown pickup truck and veered into another lane of traffic before hitting a pole, a witness at the scene said. The man exited the vehicle and ran as officers chased him down. Witnesses observed the man jump from the access road to the freeway, where it appeared that the man injured his leg. Greene said the distance of the fall was about 7-10 feet. From there, Greene said officers drove down the southbound lane of Interstate 35 and Judson to try and corral the suspect. Authorities then saw the man put a gun to his head as he fired one shot. Emergency crews responded to the scene, but the man already was pronounced dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Greene said. The victim was a man in his 40s. His identity will be released by the Bexar County Medical Examiner once the next of kin is notified, Greene said. Portions of the southbound lane of I-35 was expected to be closed while authorities investigate the shooting. No further details were immediately available. qramirez@express-news.net Twitter: @quixem Not just known for their photos of funny baboons acting like people or eerily-optimistic office workers, stock photo agency Getty Images, Inc. also actively curates a large selection of editorial imagery. Each week, Getty compiles a "best-of" list of 50 news images taken by photographers around the world. The several days prior to Aug. 22 saw more than just the Rio Olympics wrapping up. Chinese Premier Xi Jinping speaks at a meeting with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi (not in photo) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, August 19, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Rolex Dela Pena. In Yunnan, bordering Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos, Xi placed one of his men, Chen Hao, in the party's top job. Chinese President Xi Jinping has reshuffled three top provincial-level Communist Party posts as he seeks to place his men in key positions ahead of a once-every-five-years congress next year, and more new appointments are likely soon. The party congress, expected to be held next autumn, will see Xi further cement his hold on power by appointing close allies into the party's ruling inner core, the 25-member Politburo and the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee. Xi, who doubles as Communist Party and military chief, is ranked No 1 in the Standing Committee - the apex of power in China. The year leading up to that will focus on Xi appointing more new people into major provincial party and government positions, sources with ties to the leadership say. In a brief dispatch on Sunday, the official Xinhua news agency named two people with whom Xi had previously worked as the new party chiefs in the strategically located southwestern province of Yunnan and the populous southern province of Hunan. The provincial party chief outranks the governor. In Yunnan, bordering Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, Chen Hao replaced Li Jiheng, while in Hunan, Du Jiahao had assumed the party's top job, Xinhua said. Du Jiahao speaks at People's Congress of Hunan Province as he was elected as the provincial governor in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, May 31, 2013. Picture taken May 31, 2013. Photo by Reuters Chen Hao, deputy party chief and governor of Yunnan Province, attends a Yunnan delegation group discussion at the ongoing National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, in Beijing, China, March 3, 2015. Photo by Reuters Both Chen and Du worked with Xi when he ran China's commercial capital, Shanghai, as its Communist Party chief for a year in 2007, according to their resumes. "Xi is close to both of them due to their time together in Shanghai," a source with ties to the leadership told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. Tibet, considered one of the country's most politically sensitive positions due to periodic anti-Chinese unrest in the devoutly Buddhist Himalayan region, also has a new party chief, named by Xinhua as Wu Yingjie. Wu has spent almost his entire career in Tibet, according to his official resume, having previously served as a deputy governor and propaganda chief, among other roles. Wu, like his predecessor Chen Quanguo, belongs to China's majority Han Chinese ethnic group. Xinhua said Chen would be taking another position, without giving further details. Wu Yingjie (L), deputy party chief of Tibetan Autonomous region, speaks to Padma Choling (R), Chairman of the People's Congress of Tibetan Autonomous region, during Tibet delegation group discussion at the ongoing National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament, in Beijing, China, March 7, 2016. Picture taken March 7, 2016. Photo by Reuters China says its rule has brought prosperity and stability to Tibet, rejecting claims from Tibetan exiles and rights groups of widespread repression. The source said Chen would likely go to Xinjiang, another unruly part of the country, due to what the government says is a concerted Islamist-backed campaign of violence in a region with a large ethnic minority Muslim population. The current party boss, Zhang Chunxian, is expected to move to Beijing to take over a senior role in a party building committee that Xi is overseeing as part of his efforts to instil greater discipline in the corruption-racked party, the source added. A second source said the governor in Shanxi, a coal-rich northern province beset by corruption scandals, would move to Beijing to take over as transport minister. Li Xiaopeng is the son of former premier Li Peng, who was deeply involved in the military crackdown on student-led demonstrations for democracy around Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. The second source said Xi ally Lou Yangsheng, currently a deputy party boss in Shanxi, would be named acting provincial governor, pending approval by the local legislature. Xi and Lou worked together when Xi was party boss in the eastern province of Zhejiang from 2003 until early 2007. The State Council Information Office, which doubles as the party's spokesman's office, did not respond to a request for comment. Related news: >'Give them a bloody nose': Xi pressed for stronger South China Sea response The Center of Reproductive Medicine, a full-service fertility treatment center, will open at a new location 2344 Dowlen Road on Sept. 8, the company announced in a statement last week. "Since opening its door in Beaumont 14 years ago, the Center of Reproductive Medicine continues to play a critical role in enriching and supporting families with the birth of over 530 babies," according to the company's statement. "The completion of its new center means that Center of Reproductive Medicine patients will no longer have to travel to the Houston area to receive critical fertility procedures such as egg retrievals and embryo transfers." Last week the Department of Education denied the request of the Center for Excellence in Higher Education (CEHE), a chain which operates several colleges in the western United States, to have its regulatory classification changed from for-profit to private nonprofit. This comes despite the IRS recognizing the organization as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the Education Departments own database listing CEHEs schools as nonprofits. Why is the distinction so important? The Department of Education regulates for-profit institutions much more stringently than it does nonprofits. For instance, for-profit colleges are subject to the 90/10 rule, which stipulates that an institution may receive no more than 90% of its revenues from federal student aid, such as Pell Grants and student loans. Another regulation, the gainful employment rule, cuts for-profit colleges (and a handful of programs at nonprofit and public schools) off from eligibility for aid programs if their graduates have a high debt-to-income ratio. Finally, the recently-issued defense to repayment regulations require for-profit colleges whose former students have low rates of loan repayment to prominently disclose that in promotional materials. In principle, these regulations make varying degrees of sense. Most reasonable people would agree that the repayment rate warnings and the 90/10 rule are particularly justified. So why only apply these provisos to for-profit colleges? In defending his Departments denial of CEHEs request for nonprofit status, Education Secretary John King said: This should send a clear message to anyone who thinks converting to nonprofit status is a way to avoid oversight while hanging onto the financial benefits: dont waste your time. In his quote, King implicitly acknowledges that nonprofit schools can avoid oversight simply by virtue of their preexisting classification. The Departments toughest regulations will not apply to the select group of colleges that have been pre-approved for nonprofit status. Schools labeled for-profit even if they do not actually make a profit must comply in order to keep receiving aid, while their peers in the nonprofit sector may go on receiving billions in taxpayer dollars even if they would not have survived the regulations without special treatment. The public and private nonprofit institutions within this inner circle are hardly paragons of virtue. A report released last week by the centrist think tank Third Way shows that many students at four-year public colleges do not finish. Private nonprofits fare better, but many still have problems. In my public comment on the Departments most recent batch of regulations, I show that were the aforementioned repayment rate warnings expanded to include public and nonprofit colleges, 1.3 million additional students would be protected. Of the students attending institutions that would be affected by the warnings, only 47% go to for-profit schools. The Department, by its own admission, leaves the other 53% vulnerable simply because of their schools classification. In effect, the Department of Education may arbitrarily decide when to enforce its regulations and when not to by applying its own definitions of nonprofit and for-profit, regardless of what those terms mean to the rest of the world. The Department not only applies its rules unequally; it also subjectively defines the regulatory categories into which different schools fall. Secretary King argues that his departments rules need not apply to public and nonprofit colleges because those institutions behave themselves. That is certainly not true. Even if it were, though, it would be no justification for exempting them from regulationsif King is so confident these schools will meet his standards, then let them prove it. By the Departments logic, Katie Ledecky should receive a gold medal without actually competing, because we all know shed win it anyway. Selective enforcement of regulation reeks of political favoritism and is no way to run the stewardship of the hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars which flow through the Departments aid programs. The for-profit college sector certainly has problems but the Departments regulatory philosophy amounts to a war on a business model rather than a war on bad education. This column originally appeared on Forbes. Preston Cooper is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute. You can follow him on Twitter here. Interested in real economic insights? Want to stay ahead of the competition? Each weekday morning, E21 delivers a short email that includes E21 exclusive commentaries and the latest market news and updates from Washington. Sign up for the E21 Morning Ebrief. 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 personal 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, and 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, to be precise, 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. 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 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 white nationalist groups who find his ideas in sync with their own. Trump 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. 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 Hillary 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. kathleenparker@washpost.com If you haven't already been scared off by the most nightmarish headline of the week, you'll soon be sufficiently creeped out. Residents of the Fleetwood Manor Apartments in Greenwood County, S.C., reported to the local news on Wednesday that they received an ominous letter warning them that a clown may be "trying to lure children into the woods." 1 Philippines attack: Abu Sayyaf extremists killed 15 soldiers Monday in the countrys restive south, dealing the government its largest single-day combat loss under new President Rodrigo Duterte, who ordered the militants to be crushed. Military officials said five other soldiers were wounded in the nearly two-hour gunbattle that also killed at least two militants in Sulu provinces mountainous Patikul town. Duterte ordered troops to destroy the militants in their jungle bases last week after the extremists beheaded a kidnapped villager whose family was too poor to pay a ransom. The tough-talking president has pursued peace talks with two larger Muslim rebel groups. 2 Iraq violence: An Islamic State suicide bomber struck a wedding south of Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than a dozen, an Iraqi official said. Lt. Gen. Qais al-Mohammedawi said five suicide bombers took part in the attack in the village of Ein Tamr, but the other four were killed by security forces. Islamic State militants have stepped up attacks on security forces and Iraqs Shiite majority in recent months as it has suffered a string of battlefield setbacks. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settings ACCEPT By Steven Rosenfeld, who covers national political issues for AlterNet, including Americas retirement crisis, democracy and voting rights, and campaigns and elections. He is the author of Count My Vote: A Citizens Guide to Voting. Originally published at Alternet. Americans have heard that the election of the next president will be determined by a few battleground states, with Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania as 2016s leading examples. But what if its not simply a handful of swing states but swing counties, with less than 500,000 swing voters, that truly matters? Thats the provocative assessment from David Schultz, a professor of political science at Hamline University in Minnesota and editor of the Journal of Public Affairs Education. Schultz co-edited a book on swing states and now predicts fewer than 20 counties will tip the balance to pick the next president. Where are 2016s deciders? In Ohio, its Hamilton County, home to Cincinnati. In Pennsylvania, its Bucks and Chester Counties, to the north and south of Philadelphia. Its also Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, straddling Scranton and Wilkes Barre in its western interior. In Florida, its Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, surrounding Tampa and St. Petersburg. In Wisconsin, its Brown County, where Green Bay is; nearby Winnebago County, further inland; and Racine County to the south near Chicago suburbs. In Iowa, its rural tiny Bremer County, and in New Hampshire, its Hillsborough township, inland on the Massachusetts border. There are a few more: population epicenters such as Nevadas Clark County, home of Las Vegas; Virginias Prince William County, outside Washington D.C., North Carolinas Wake County, with Raleigh and Durham; New Mexicos Bernalillo County, containing Albuquerque; and surprisingly, Dona Ana County near Las Cruces, which has a big state university. These seem to be the counties within the swing states where the candidates go, said Schultz. They view them as battlegrounds. They seem to be pretty good bellwethers, in the sense of predictors of how that state is going to vote Even if they appear blue or red, theres a question of how great the turnout will be. These counties, which cast 2,485,793 votes for Barack Obama in 2012, compared to 2,106,985 votes for Mitt Romney, seem to be their states 2016 tipping points or bellwethers for a variety of reasons. They sit in between red and blue belts. Theyre often suburban, experiencing major demographic shifts, including young and better-educated people moving in, and some are more racially diverse. What we are seeing in these counties, at least right now, is relatively balanced, in terms of Republicans and Democrats, Schultz said. We have a small portion of the population of these counties that are going to be the swing voter. When I say swing voter, I dont necessarily mean swinging from Democrat to Republican. They might be swinging in to vote, or swinging out from voting. Swing States, Swing Counties In a nation where 130 million people are expected to vote for president this fall, its disconcerting to think 96 percent of those ballots wont count as much as those from swing states and a few key counties. But thats a result of the Electoral Colleges hard math, which since 1988 has seen Republicans likely to win 23 states with 191 electoral votes, and Democrats likely to win 18 states and the District of Columbia, with 232 electoral votes. The remaining 10 states have been considered the swing statesColorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsinwith a total of 115 electoral votes. As political scientists drill down into election results, they find swing states are generally won by the next presidentbut by 5 percent or less of the vote. They see states that have flipped between Democrat and Republican, and where candidates have visited and spent big sums on advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts. Needless to say, some swings states are more critical than otherssuch as Florida and Ohio. Schultz said the next stage in this analysis, identifying the tipping point counties, is a bit of a frontier for academics. There isnt good current polling available. But thats not to say there arent reams of other data. Take the two swing counties surrounding Denver, Arapahoe and Jefferson. The U.S. Census reports they mirror national demographics, with slightly more than three-quarters white and about 20 percent Latino. Forty percent of residents have college degrees, which is higher than the national average. The average home value, $235,600, is higher than the national average of $175,700, and the median income of $62,213 is higher than the national median of $53,482. One would think these statistics would show the Denver suburbs as being the increasingly blue core of that states purple political identity. But Schultz says not so fast, because even though Colorado has growing numbers of well-educated young people, as reflected in those figures, it remains to be seen what their voter turnout will be this fall. Sometimes it is deciding to vote or deciding not to vote, Schultz explains. Thats part of whats critical here How well theyre mobilized, how well they are motivated to vote. Take another set of swing counties, Pinellas and Hillsborough, in Florida, which is where Tampa and St. Petersburg are on the states central west coast. The Census reports that its residents are not as well off financially as in Denver, with median household incomes just under the national average, and home values also below the national average. They are slightly less white than the national average, and have a larger black population, about 18 percent, compared to the national average of 13 percent. Schultz explained why these counties are the fulcrum for the Florida presidential vote. Florida is interesting because you have southeastern Florida, which is a liberal Democratic haven, and you have the panhandle, which is solidly Republican, he said. One thing we found in all the swing states, by the way, was that they had multiple regionsstrong bastions for Republicans, strong bastions for Democratsand then you had these fuzzy areas, where you dont seem to have clear domination by one or two parties, and it gets very competitive at the sub-state and congressional level. Republicans have mobilized; they have gotten all the votes they can get out of the panhandle, he continued. Democrats have gotten everything out of Miami-Dade they can. Its relatively evenly balanced at this point. The fight is now to get those marginal additional votes Lets say well have roughly 10 percent of the vote where theyre not sure what will happen; thats all about mobilization and thats whats going on there. Schultz said some of the swing counties he identifiedsuch as small rural ones in Iowa and New Hampshirewere sites of candidate visits and seemed to be bellwether predictors, which is not as pivotal as the role likely played by Pinellas and Hillsborough counties in Florida this fall. But other unlikely picks, such as Dona Ana County in New Mexico, where Las Cruces is located, is home to a big university and a potentially large but mercurial student voting block. Many of those students are non-white, and that too becomes a significant factor, he said. The four Pennsylvania counties he cited are split between the Philadelphia suburbs and the northeast region where the cities of Scranton and Wilkes Barre are located. Speaking of Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, Schultz said, these are old-line New Deal Democrats, from the FDR era, but potentially though, they are very flippable. And its very Catholic there. He said that he included them in his list of swing counties because Donald Trump predicted winning Scranton, and Hillary Clinton has also repeatedly visited the area. Whats revealing about Schultzs list of swing counties is that it pinpoints the fulcrums or likely tipping points in states that drive presidential candidates to Electoral College victories. That is not the same as the national popular vote, needless to say. Indeed, when Schultz identified these swing counties, he looked at their 2012 votes, and realized that had Mitt Romney been a little more successful in various combinations of these locales, he would have been elected. People dont realize that the Romney-Obama race was actually far closer than most people think, Schultz said. There was an Electoral College blow-out, but if you had a shift of just a few hundred thousand votes across a few states, Romney would be running for re-election this year. Were really looking at no more than a half-million votes shifting, depending on how you actually define it, and thats a very small number of votes. Of course, everyone still needs to vote in the November election. But after tens of millions of ballots are tallied nationwide, the behavior of thousands of swing voters in the swing counties Schultz identified may make the difference between a President Trump or President Clinton. Years of Fed Missteps Fueled Disillusion With the Economy and Washington WSJ Global central bankers, stuck at zero, unite in plea for help from governments Reuters Central bankers fear threat of low-growth rut FT The Stimulus Our Economy Needs Nicolaci da Costa, Foreign Policy. @StephanieKelton: Yellen said we may need to consider more effective automatic stabilizers. @pdacosta suggests Minskys ELR [Employer of Last Resort]. Warned of a Crash, Start-Ups in Silicon Valley Narrow Their Focus NYT Foreclosure crisis worsens in Massachusetts, spurring cries of state inaction MassLive German economy minister says EU-US trade talks have failed AP. Although not Merkel. Chinese banks braced over industrial restructuring FT ITT College Chain Barred From Enrolling Students With U.S. Aid Gretchen Morgsenson, NYT Syraqistan Acceptable Losses Harpers. Aiding and abetting the Saudi slaughter in Yemen. I wish the Responsibility to Protect people would get their stories straight on which wars to beat the drums for. Turkish army thrusts deeper into Syria, monitor says 35 villagers killed Reuters 2016 Health Insurers Pullback Threatens to Create Monopolies WSJ This Is the Only Way That Pipelines Will Be Stopped Esquire (Furzy Mouse). The NAACPs ill-conceived opposition to charter schools Editorial, WaPo Black Injustice Tipping Point Kaepernick Protest A Pivotal Moment Sports on Earth A fortress against fear WaPo Guillotine Watch Framed Los Angeles Times. Class Warfare The University of Chicago is made of safe spaces Crooked Timber Years of genomics research is riddled with errors thanks to a bunch of botched Excel spreadsheets Quartz. No, the Excel spreadsheet is not a proper interchange format. Dear Lord. Majority of mathematicians hail from just 24 scientific families Nature. Some interesting methodological issues, though. Mangled MH370 debris found off the coast of Mozambique suggests the jet EXPLODED and was not under control of the pilot when it crashed Daily Mail Heres a breakdown of the speech that won the 2016 World Championship of Public Speaking Business Insider Autism a Silicon Valley asset with social quirks AFP Brain wiring needed for reading isnt learnedits in place prior to reading Ars Technica Antidote du jour: See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Readers, Im sorry this is later than I planned for; I ran into some unexpected logistics difficulties. * * * With ObamaCare as presently constituted appearing to enter a death spiral, its advocates, just as they did in 2009, have deployed the so-called public option as a line of defense against single payer. The chorus of opinion-makers and thought leaders is suspiciously unanimous. Ill start with Russia Today, just to make it clear this is all Putins fauit: Millions of uninsured Americans yearn for public option as insurance giants bail on Obamacare. Then theres Obama himself, in his JAMA article (dissected here): Policy makers should build on progress made by the Affordable Care Act by continuing to implement the Health Insurance Marketplaces and delivery system reform, increasing federal financial assistance for Marketplace enrollees, introducing a public plan option in areas lacking individual market competition , and taking actions to reduce prescription drug costs. And then theres Hillary Clinton herself, who will (as part of her deal with Sanders) pursue efforts to give Americans in every state in the country the choice of a public-option insurance plan . And then of course theres Jacob Hacker, author of all the mischief, who weighs with a Times Op-Ed: [ObamaCare] could use improvements and right now, the most critical of them is to add a public option, available in all parts of the country, that would allow Americans buying coverage through the Obamacare exchanges to enroll in a public insurance plan modeled after Medicare. Attentive readers will have noticed significant differences in each description: Obamas public option would be available only in areas lacking individual market competition, Clintons in every state in the country, and Hackers would be modeled after Medicare, which the other two explicitly do not mention.[1] The slippery, shape-shifting, amorphous character of 2016s public option why I label it so-called was also characteristic of the 2009 public option. Readers may not be familiar with the history of the public option, or its protean and ever-shifting nature, or its structural problems, given that the role played by single payer advocates in the 2009 battle, and their policy critiques, has been generally suppressed by the victors. (And youve got to admit, public option sounds so good; its like a policy earworm. The wee problem is that the public option hijacks Medicares branding, and plays on the publics desire for a universal, Medicare-like program, but cannot deliver anything like Medicare; hence the shape-shifting and equivocation. In fact, well over half of Americans want to replace Obamacare with a single-payer system. That figure, amazingly, includes 41 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, showing the combination of timidity and cognitive capture so characteristic of the Democrat establishment (including its progressive faction) on health care policy (or indeed any policy). As usual, TINA. The official history of the publlc option is well-presented in the current issue of the authoritative Health Affairs; Ill add the underground history as commentary on extracts from that piece. Then Ill consider structural problems with the public option. Finally, Ill consider the public option as just another shopworn neoliberal scam, which is where the Underpants Gnomes come in. History of the So-Called Public Option Starting, then, with the official history, from Health Affairs, The Origins And Demise Of The Public Option, by Helen A. Halpin,* and Peter Harbage. Im going to start from 2009[2], when the battle to pass ObamaCare (and suppress single payer) began; Im going to call Halpin and Harbage HH for short.) Heres the state of play after the inaugural: Following President Obamas inauguration in January 2009, the U.S. Congress began its work on comprehensive health care reform. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) pledged at the time that the House bill would include a public option.15 Indeed, a public option offered through a private insurance exchange was included in all three versions of the bill passed by House committees in the summer of 2009 (House Ways and Means and House Education and Labor on 17 July 2009; House Energy and Commerce on 31 July 2009), as well as in the bill passed by the full House of Representatives on 7 November 2009 (the Affordable Health Care for America Act, HR 3962). A public option was also included in the bill passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on 15 July 2009 (the Affordable Health Choices Act, S 1679). Heres the underground history (or, I should say, the history; the HH timeline is truncated). PNHPs Kip Sullivan writes: There have been three cycles of health care reform in the last half century 1970-73, 1992-1994, and 2007 to date. At the dawn of each cycle, single-payer legislation had already been introduced. But early in the cycle, single-payer legislation was taken off the table (to quote a statement Sen. Max Baucus now wishes he had never made). Each time the Democratic leadership chose instead market-based proposals that had no track record and no evidence to support them. Each time they favored reform deemed more politically feasible than single-payer because it left the insurance industry in place. In all three cycles, the alternative, market-based proposal was promoted by one or two policy entrepreneurs (that is to say, it wasnt an idea that bubbled up from the grassroots). In the 1970-73 the neoliberal proposal was HMOs; in 1992-94 the neoliberal proposal was HillaryCare (her first real debacle); and in the 2007 cycle we got ObamaCare. HH go on to write: The public option was the darling of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. It also proved to be surprisingly resilient and popular among the public, as measured in opinion polls. The strongest supporters included progressive interest groups led by labor unionsmost notably the AFL-CIO and SEIUconsumer groups, and civil rights organizations. The strongest opponents were the health care and health insurance industries, conservative interest groups, and small businesses represented by the Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. More underground history: As far as popularity among the public, I would urge that was due to successful brand confusion between Medicare for All (at that time, and still, more popular). Second, the public option was by no means the darling of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, if single payer advocates who HH suppress from their narrative be included. And as far as the progressive role of unions, I remember very well how the SEIU funded a daily health care post at a now-defunct progressive blog, that never mentioned single payer once. A summary of what single payer advocates were up against; I hate to keep quoting myself on this, but the history is important and has been systematically erased: Oddly, HH omit all this material. In fact, theres a single mention of single payer, in note 5: A 2003 article by Halpin. Of course, Im not saying that all public option advocates are intellectually dishonest; I am saying that you, readers, should be aware of history and look for priors (especially from policy entrepreneurs like Hacker). HH continue: A public option offered through a private insurance exchange was included in all three versions of the bill passed by House committees in the summer of 2009. Senate Democrats were engaged in a highly contentious debate throughout the fall of 2009, and the political life of the public option changed almost daily. The debate reached a critical impasse in November 2009, when Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), who usually caucuses with the Democrats, threatened to filibuster the Senate bill if it included a public option During this period, several alternatives were considered. One compromise proposal included a Medicare buy-in for people age fifty-five and older. However, both Senator Lieberman and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) opposed the Medicare buy-in, which evoked concerns similar to those raised about the public option. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) proposed using nonprofit health care cooperatives to compete with for-profit plans, but this concept also sparked little enthusiasm.. Debate over the public option continued as additional proposals were made to narrow eligibility for the public option and to raise the rates paid to providers above Medicare levels. When those, too, failed to garner enough support, the public option was eliminated from the Senate bill. (Oddly, HH omit the role Obama played in removing the public option; note the lack of agency in was eliminated.) The underground history: Reading between the lines here, you see the Protean, shape-shifting nature of the so-called public option; its almost as if there was never a real proposal at all (as compared to single payer, for which legislation had been drafted: HR 676 from John Conyers, and SB 703 from Bernie Sanders). Looking back on the role of previous market-based derailments of single payer, Kip Sullivan labels the public option a bait and switch operation, and looking at outcomes, its hard to disagree: The people who brought us the public option began their campaign promising one thing but now promote something entirely different. To make matters worse, they have not told the public they have backpedalled. The campaign for the public option resembles the classic bait-and-switch scam: tell your customers youve got one thing for sale when in fact youre selling something very different. When the public option campaign began, its leaders promoted a huge Medicare-like program that would enroll about 130 million people. Such a program would dwarf even Medicare, which, with its 45 million enrollees, is the nations largest health insurer, public or private. But today public option advocates sing the praises of tiny public options contained in congressional legislation sponsored by leading Democrats that bear no resemblance to the original model. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the public options described in the Democrats legislation might enroll 10 million people and will have virtually no effect on health care costs, which means the public options cannot, by themselves, have any effect on the number of uninsured. But the leaders of the public option movement havent told the public they have abandoned their original vision. Its high time they did. I could give more detail 2009 was a feisty year but I hope this material is enough to persuade you that The Origins And Demise Of The Public Option is, as it were, a case of Hamlet without the Prince; a principal actor is gone. I hope you are also persuaded to apply a hermeneutic of suspicion to the public option, and to its advocates, based on these fragments of underground history. Structural Problems with the So-Called Public Option Its impossible to tell once again, given the slippery and amorphouse nature of the public option as an actual, concrete policy proposal what the real problems with this years model are going to be. But we can hazard some guesses, based on what its advocates themselves said in 2009, and on issues posed by the Physicians for a National Health Care program, the premier research source for single payer material Heres what Hacker said it would take to make the public option work in 2009: Hackers papers laid out these five criteria that he and the Lewin Group said were critical to the success of the public option: The PO had to be pre-populated with tens of millions of people, that is, it had to begin like Medicare did representing a large pool of people the day it commenced operations (Hacker proposed shifting all or most uninsured people as well as Medicaid and SCHIP enrollees into his public program); Subsidies to individuals to buy insurance would be substantial, and only PO enrollees could get subsidies (people who chose to buy insurance from insurance companies could not get subsidies); SThe PO and its subsidies had to be available to all nonelderly Americans (not just the uninsured and employees of small employers); The PO had to be given authority to use Medicares provider reimbursement rates; and The insurance industry had to be required to offer the same minimum level of benefits the PO had to offer. Hacker predicted, and both of the Lewin Group reports concluded, that if these specifications were met Hackers plan would enjoy all three of Medicares advantages it would be huge, it would have low overhead costs, and it would pay providers less than the insurance industry did. Of course, none of that happened, which did not prevent the public option advocates for continuing to push it. It also seems unlikely that whatever the public option turns out to be in 2016, that it will not meet these criteria either. And here are the issues posed by PNHP: Myth: A public option will force private health insurers to compete on a level-playing field, especially in limited markets. Fact: The Medicare HMO experience shows private plans undermine fair competition despite regulations. They avoid the expensively ill (called cherry-picking) and use their marketing power to attract the healthiest patients. Private HMO Medicare also costs 12 to 19% more than traditional Medicare despite having a healthier population. The current Medicare experience combined with experience in many different states that have tried this type of reform shows that public plans are left with the sickest patients and fail due to rising costs while the private insurers continue to collect premiums from the healthiest patients and maintain their high profits. Myth: A public option will reduce health care costs. Fact: The public option will not reduce health care costs for several reasons: there are no savings on physician office bureaucracy ($85 billion annually would be saved annually with single payer), no savings on hospitals billing or internal cost tracking ($90 billion annually would be saved with single payer, hospitals already use computerized uniform bill UB-82), no savings on NH/home care bureaucracy ($24 billion annually would be saved with single payer), inadequate insurance overhead reduction ($93 billion annually would be saved with single payer). In summary, studies show that even if more than 50% of patients switch to a public plan, this will only result in 1/7 of the savings that could be achieved under a national health care system ($47 billion v $363 billion annually savings). Adding a public option to the array of private insurance companies in existence will only exacerbate the waste and inefficiency inherent in a patchwork system of health care finance. In their drive to fight claims, issue denials and screen out the sick, insurance companies generate more than $350 billion in administrative paperwork waste. The proposed insurance industry regulator entity will only add another layer of needless bureaucracy to this already bloat-heavy system. Maintaining this system means that no effective cost control is possible and the system will rapidly deteriorate as costs increase. Only single payer can expand and improve coverage to everyone without spending more than we are now. In short, the so-called public option will kick the can down the road, at great expense in dollars, lives, and human suffering. A Neoliberal Project This is the where the Underpants Ghomes come in! From the famous South Park skit: We just covered Step 2 (?) above, with Structural Problems with the So-Called Public Option. But its Step 3 (Profit) thats the real issue; its as if the public option crowd treat the Underpants Gnome business plan as a requirements document; there must be Step 3 Profit!, and therefore there must be a Step 2, even if they dont quite know (?) what it is (which accounts for the public options shapeshifting character; new question marks get swapped in as old ones fail. But of course, its the requirement for profit thats the problem. The intercept: [W]ats happening with Aetna is the consequence of a flaw built into Obamacare from the start: It permits insurance companies to make a profit on the basic healthcare package Americans are now legally required to purchase. This makes Obamacare fundamentally different from essentially all systems of universal healthcare on earth. (There is one tiny exception, the Netherlands, but of the four insurance companies that cover 90 percent of Dutch citizens, just one is for profit.) In The Healing of America, probably the best book ever written about how different countries provide universal healthcare, T.R. Reid explains that functioning systems have a huge variety of characteristics but several standard building blocks and one is that financing healthcare must be a nonprofit endeavor. As Reid writes, other countries have made it work with many different kinds of healthcare providers doctors can work directly for the government, as in the U.K., or not, as in most other rich countries. Hospitals can be for-profit or not. But no one has been able to create a viable system of universal healthcare based on citizens being forced to help insurance companies make a profit. But why? Why do public option advocates keep pushing for a market-based solution that hasnt worked in the past, doesnt work now, and which nobody else has been able to make work? The most charitable explanation is that they are enraptured and captured by neoliberal mythology: Rule #1: Because markets. Rule #2: Go die. Conclusion No doubt there will be a great battle over the public option in the Congress to come, and perhaps even a famous victory: The Democrats may succeed in kicking the can down the road and preserving the role of for-profit health insurance companies in our health care system for another couple of election cycles. At some point, however, ObamaCare will collapse of its own weight and complexity again, and one can only hope that the combination of a loss of legitimacy for neoliberalsim and a resurgent left will be strong enough to force the adoption of the simple, rugged, and proven single payer. NOTES [1] The Clinton quote is taken from her campaign site, and reads: Third, consistent with her previous proposals on public options, Hillary will pursue efforts to give Americans in every state in the country the choice of a public-option insurance plan, and to expand Medicare by allowing people 55 years or older to opt in while protecting the traditional Medicare program. The public options and Medicare are separate. [2] Edwards, Clinton, and Obama all had public option proposals in their campaign 2008 platforms. HH omit that Obamas plan didnt have a mandate, rendering it utterly dysfunctional, which so ticked off Krugman he called out Obama on it. How researchers capture nanoparticles in water bodies (Nanowerk News) For a number of years now, an increasing number of synthetic nanoparticles have been manufactured and incorporated into various products, such as cosmetics. For the first time, a research project at the Technical University of Munich and the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment provides reliable findings on their presence in water bodies. Nanoparticles can improve the properties of materials and products. That is the reason why an increasing number of nanoparticles have been manufactured over the past several years. The worldwide consumption of silver nanoparticles is currently estimated at over 300 metric tons. These nanoparticles have the positive effect of killing bacteria and viruses. Products that are coated with these particles include refrigerators and surgical instruments. Silver nanoparticles can even be found in sportswear. This is because the silver particles can prevent the smell of sweat by killing the bacteria that cause it. Previously, it was unknown whether and in what concentration these nanoparticles enter the environment and e.g. enter bodies of water. If they do, this poses a problem. That is because the silver nanoparticles are toxic to numerous aquatic organisms, and can upset sensitive ecological balances. Analytical challenge In the past, however, nanoparticles have not been easy to detect. That is because they measure only 1 to 100 nanometers across a nanometer is a millionth of a millimeter. "In order to know if a toxicological hazard exists, we need to know how many of these particles enter the environment, and in particular bodies of water", explains Michael Schuster, Professor for Analytical Chemistry at the TU Munich. This was an analytical challenge for the researchers charged with solving the problem on behalf of the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment. In order to overcome this issue, they used a well-known principle that utilizes the effect of surfactants to separate and concentrate the particles. "Surfactants are also found in washing and cleaning detergents", explains Schuster. "Basically, what they do is envelop grease and dirt particles in what are called micelles, making it possible for them to float in water." One side of the surfactant is water-soluble, the other fat-soluble. The fat-soluble ends collect around non-polar, non-water soluble compounds such as grease or around particles, and "trap" them in a micelle. The water-soluble, polar ends of the surfactants, on the other hand, point towards the water molecules, allowing the microscopically small micelle to float in water. A box of sugar cubes in the Walchensee lake The researchers applied this principle to the nanoparticles. "When the micelles surrounding the particles are warmed slightly, they start to clump", explains Schuster. This turns the water cloudy. Using a centrifuge, the surfactants and the nanoparticles trapped in them can then be separated from the water. This procedure is called cloud point extraction. The researchers then use the surfactants that have been separated out in this manner which contain the particles in an unmodified, but highly concentrated form to measure how many silver nanoparticles are present. To do this, they use a highly sensitive atomic spectrometer configured to only detect silver. In this manner, concentrations in a range of less than one nanogram per liter can be detected. To put this in perspective, this would be like detecting a box of sugar cubes that had dissolved in the Walchensee lake. With the help of this analysis procedure, it is possible to gain new insight into the concentration of nanoparticles in drinking and waste water, sewage sludge, rivers, and lakes. In Bavaria, the measurements yielded good news: The concentrations measured in the water bodies were extremely low. In was only in four of the 13 Upper Bavarian lakes examined that the concentration even exceeded the minimum detection limit of 0.2 nanograms per liter. No measured value exceeded 1.3 nanograms per liter. So far, no permissible values have been established for silver nanoparticles. Cities and states across the Midwest experienced some of the largest home price gains in the country in June, according to the Black Knight Financial Services Home Price Index. Nationwide, home prices rose 0.8% from May and 5.3% year-over-year to $265,000, Black Knight reported Monday. Home prices nationally are now just 1.1% below a new peak. Michigan and Wisconsin showcased the largest percentage growth in home prices at the state level, at 1.6% and 1.5%, respectively. Ohio, another Midwestern state, also landed in the top 10. The top 10 at the state level also included Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Alaska, New York, Hawaii and Montana. At the metropolitan level, the biggest price gain during June occurred in Carson City, Nev., at 2.4%. A number of Midwestern cities also landed in this top-10 list: Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Mich., Milwaukee, Battle Creek, Mich., and Detroit. The rest of the top 10 for metropolitan areas included three cities in Washington Walla Walla, Longview and Spokane and Eugene, Ore. The United States is deeply concerned by the death of Gambian opposition member Ibrima Solo Krummah, who reportedly died on August 20 while in government custody. He died in a hospital following an operation that was not authorized by his family. Mr. Krummah was arrested along with 14 others on May 9 for taking part in demonstrations against the arrests of opposition leaders and the alleged torture and death in custody of the UDP, or United Democratic Partys secretary, Solo Sandeng, who had helped organize earlier protests. The UDP, however, claims Krummah did not participate in any of the demonstrations. Approximately 50 protesters were reportedly arrested in April and May, including UDP Party leader Ousainu Darboe and at least 18 other senior party members. Thirty opposition supporters were convicted in July, receiving three-year prison sentences. Activists and opposition members have been demanding reforms before December elections. Gambian president Yahya Jammeh has ruled the nation since 1994 when he seized power in a coup. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said, the United States remain(s) troubled by reports of the Gambian governments continued mistreatment of detained opposition figures, as evidenced by recent deaths and allegations of torture. The United States calls for an independent investigation of all credible allegations of torture and abuse and for the Gambian government to provide for the humane treatment of all prisoners. It is incumbent on the government of Gambia to immediately release all political prisoners, including those individuals sentenced in July and others arrested during the April and May demonstrations. The United States urges the government of The Gambia to cease its sustained crackdown on political opposition members and supporters and to respect the rights of all citizens to freedoms of expression and association without fear of retribution. A prostitute speaks to a customer in Marconi ahead of an undercover car alvaro garcia Spanish police have issued some 800 fines to men soliciting prostitutes in a Madrid industrial estate over the last year, mainly by applying tough security legislatoin known as the Gag Law. Immigration officers have also fined 120 women during the same period for indecent exposure. Police estimate as many as 400 women are working as prostitutes in the Colonia Marconi, an industrial estate some 10 kilometers south of the capital in the Villaverde district, most of them Romanians and Nigerians. In summer, business is slow; in general, afternoons and night are the busiest times of day. Over the last decade, as successive City Hall administrations have forced sex workers off city center streets and the Casa de Campo park, Villaverde has become one of the main areas for prostitution Measures such as banning cars from the area after 10pm have had little impact on reducing numbers. Provincial Brigade officers estimate as many as 400 women are working as prostitutes in the nearby industrial estate, most them of Romanian and Nigerian But the Citizens Safety Act, introduced in July 2015, has provided the police with an effective tool. We know we cant stop it altogether, because its not just a police issue, its more to do with social services, says Jesus Maria Gomez Martin, the Chief Commissioner of the Department against the Network of Illegal Immigration and False Documentation (UCRIF). The law has been criticized by opposition parties, United Nations experts, journalists and rights groups, who say it curtails free assembly and expression. It allows the expulsion of migrants illegally entering Spains two north African enclaves, sets stiff fines for protests outside parliament or strategic installations and allows authorities to fine journalists and even media organizations who distribute unauthorized photographs of police officers. The measure was drawn up following a wave of anti-government protests in 2012 as Spain was in the throes of the financial crisis. Police monitor the area undercover round the clock, fining women 100 who are naked or partially naked for exhibitionism. Similarly, the new legislation allows police to move in when they see a driver stop to talk to a woman or if they see anything resembling soliciting close to children. Fines range from 601 to 30,000. The new law has been criticised by opposition parties, United Nations experts, journalists and rights groups After stopping a suspicious vehicle, one officers asks the driver for his license and ID while another speaks to the prostitute to ascertain whether she is working against her will. They all tell us they are working voluntarily and that no one is making them prostitute themselves, says one officer. Meanwhile, a fine is issued to men accused of soliciting. The police officers say that, far from fitting a stereotype, the men they fine vary in both age and status: battered vans mix with brand new high-end vehicles. They come from all over Madrid and the nearby provinces, with a lot from Toledo, explains one officer. The womens purses are sometimes bulging with money, says another. Some tell us they can earn 400 a day. The women charge an average of 15 to 20, depending on the service they provide, saying working the streets is more lucrative than in roadside clubs, where profits have to be shared with the owners. Things have changed a lot, says another official. There were a lot more women seven or eight years ago. What we also see is that they come and go. Sometimes they work the clubs, then they take a turn on the streets. Generally, theyre really young between 18 and 20. But there arent any under age. But its not easy money. The women are out 24 hours a day, rain or shine. And their working environment is a cesspit littered with used condoms and other trash. The prostitutes stand several meters apart so that the customers can see them clearly. In winter, theres a thriving market in kindling from pallets, which the women use in impromptu braziers. The police say curb-crawlers make all sorts of excuses to avoid being reported, insisting for example, that they were only asking the way How are the women going to tell them where to go when they cant even say hello in Spanish?! jokes one officer. Others claim its their girlfriend or a family member. A lot of them say well ruin their lives or it will mean divorce. But we report them anyway. English version by Heather Galloway. Following a week of talks, acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera on Sunday ratified a deal that ensures the emerging partys support for Rajoys imminent reinstatement bid. Under the terms of the agreement, Ciudadanos 32 deputies will vote yes for the Popular Party (PP) candidate at the investiture debate scheduled to begin in Congress on Tuesday. But even this will not be enough to secure the post, which requires 176 yes ballots in the first round of voting. If the small Canary Coalition party lends its weight to the PP-Ciudadanos bloc, Rajoy will obtain 170 votes and move to a run-off in which he will at least need 11 abstentions from other parties in order to return to office. The gist of the deal The PP-Ciudadanos deal includes proposals that will never materialize unless they get support from other parties in Congress, such as the reduction of Spains senatorial positions. Both parties have yielded some ground. Ciudadanos, for instance, has given up on its desire to eliminate Spain's provincial authorities, the diputaciones, in a bid to streamline government. In return, the PP agrees to reduce spending by a billion euros on the diputaciones and other government agencies. Other measures in the deal include a subsidy for low-income households, free schoolbooks, and a tougher stand on tax fraud. The agreement is very positive, but insufficient, admits Rajoy. I dont know in an absolute way what will happen at the vote, but I feel comfortable with this deal. If the PP candidate fails and no alternative prime minister is found, Spain will be facing an unprecedented third general election, due to be held on Christmas Day according to the strict time frames of Spanish electoral law. Two inconclusive elections took place in December and June, followed by fruitless negotiations between the four main parties on the Spanish political scene: the traditional PP and Socialist Party (PSOE), and the newcomers Ciudadanos and Podemos. The PP-Ciudadanos deal closely resembles a similar agreement reached between Ciudadanos and the PSOE shortly after the original December election. That deal fell short of a congressional majority and the Socialist candidate, Pedro Sanchez, failed in his own investiture bid. Now, Rajoy and Rivera are asking Sanchez to help them, but the Socialist nominee seems disinclined to do so despite internal pressure from other party leaders who feel that the PSOE should abstain at the investiture vote, thereby allowing Rajoy to win reinstatement and take the country out of a prolonged stalemate. Sanchez has described the PP-Ciudadanos deal as conservative and a way to maintain the status quo. Ciudadanos, on the other hand, says that 100 of the deals 150 points are exactly the same as those included in its earlier agreement with the PSOE. The agreement is very positive, but insufficient Acting PM Mariano Rajoy The measures we have negotiated with the PP, together with the pact we signed with the PSOE, represent the most important set of reforms signed by any two political parties in the last 25 years in this country, said Rivera. Spain has had an interim government for the last eight months, and crucial issues such as the 2017 budget debate have been placed on hold throughout this time. Rajoy has noted that Spain needs to meet upcoming EU deadlines in connection with deficit targets, and that this cannot be done without a fully functioning government in place. English version by Susana Urra. A quick visit to Mexico please (NaturalNews) When people from other nations cannot provide any proof of legal residence, such as even a green card, there should be no problems with not granting inexpensive or free healthcare to them. A green card allows someone to work and live in the USA, but it is one level below full citizenship.It was in late September of 2014 that Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter claimed that the Obama Administration was "bending over backwards" to grant illegal immigrants healthcare privileges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare.Perhaps as a response to Vitter's accusation, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), which implements the ACA, dropped 115,000 ACA applicants on September 30 because they hadn't come up with the paperwork necessary to prove permanent legal residency status. This can be verified with the various forms of Green Card documentation even if one is not yet a US citizen.Then, a backlash flap occurred from the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and Philadelphia's Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition (SEAMACC). They both filed complaints with Health and Human Services' Office of Civil Rights for failing to provide demands for legal immigration or citizenship documentation in their native languages."CMS is not taking responsibility for completely failing on the language-access provision," said Thoai Nguyen, SEAMAAC CEO. Maybe so. But if there are several languages involved, that could be problematic. Besides, the burden of proof should be on the applicant who, it seems, could be able to get help from a friend, employer or relative who could speak English, maybe?The Obama Administration did bend "over backwards" from this backlash by permitting those dropped to re-enroll before the new enrollment period that begins on November 15, 2014. Yet, that wasn't good enough for some. "We're worried that the people we're working on behalf of don't realize that this is available to them," Alvaro Huerto, an attorney at the National Immigration Law Center.The ICIRR group complained that many of their clients "are low-income clients and are elderly or disabled. If these individuals lose their subsidies, they will not be able to afford the health insurance they need. To make matters worse, many clients submitted the requested immigration or citizenship documents, but for some reason these documents were not processed."Well, the last part makes sense and is appropriate for attempts at dealing with large bureaucracies. But the first part is silly. If they've been here long enough to be low-income or disabled when only the able can sneak in easily, then where's their Green Card?Many Americans had retired in Mexico prior to Obamacare's shaky universal healthcare impersonation to take advantage of that country's low-cost national annual insurance fees. Mexico requires permanent residency credentials, usually FM3 or FM2 for non-Mexicans to take advantage of their inexpensive annual social security health insurance.The procedure for obtaining either FM3 or FM2, sort of like our Green Cards, is extensive and not online, at least when this author lived there in 2009-10. Work permits are even harder to get. Guess what, those procedures are all in Spanish only.One has to hire a person who is licensed by the Mexican government to get through them. It requires income and/or savings at specified levels to prove one can stick around -- translated to Spanish. If either complaining organization really cared about language-challenged immigrants, they should refer interpreters to help out.In Mexico, the government does not provide them. Instead, there are licensed interpreters who are in business for themselves to offer their services, which include real estate closings, for a fee. May cause uterine cancer (NaturalNews) Glyphosate -- the active ingredient of Monsanto's blockbuster herbicide Roundup -- may disrupt development of the uterus, leading to fertility problems and cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers from Argentina and published in the journal Toxicology.Roundup is one of the most widely used herbicides on the planet. Its popularity has been almost entirely driven by the adoption of Monsanto-engineered genetically modified (GM) crops that are resistant to the chemical.Argentina is the world's leading user of glyphosate, largely due to its heavy planting of GM soybeans. Yet doctors and scientists have pointed to an alarming trend of high miscarriage rates in soybean growing areas. Meanwhile, local farmers have blamed herbicides including glyphosate for alarmingly high rates of mutations in farm animals, which quadrupled following a recent surge in GM soy cultivation.In the new study, researchers injected newborn female rats with glyphosate for seven days following birth, at doses of 2 mg/kg of body weight -- the same dose that US regulators have ruled is safe to consume daily over the course of a lifetime.The researchers observed abnormal cell proliferation and structural changes to the uteri of the rats, as well as disruptions to the expression of proteins that play a role in uterine development. These changes occurred even though there were no signs of toxicity (acute or chronic) in the rats, and no changes in their weight relative to untreated rats.The findings suggest that glyphosate may harm female fertility and lead to uterine cancer, the researchers concluded.Notably, among the effects observed were disruptions to hormonal activity (endocrine disruption), supporting growing concern that glyphosate is an endocrine disruptor. Significantly, many endocrine disruptors are more potent at very small concentrations (on the orders of parts per billion) than at the higher one typically tested by regulatory agencies.The researchers note that they deliberately chose to use injected rather than oral glyphosate, even though oral administration is favored for pesticide and herbicide safety studies. That's because the rats being studied were so young that they were only consuming their mothers' milk, and there was no other way to give them the relevant doses. This decision was supported by scientists interviewed by; unfortunately, chemical-friendly regulators may use it as an excuse to ignore the study's findings.Yet the new study is only one of many recent trials implicating glyphosate and Roundup in reproductive harm. Earlier this year, in a study published in, researchers from Kings College London found that ultra-low dose exposure to glyphosate -- like humans might get from drinking water or from residue on their food -- caused large-scale changes to the genome of rats. Some of these changes appear to be epigenetic -- changes in gene expression that can be passed on to future generations.The same researchers also successfully reverse-engineered the proprietary "inactive ingredients" of Roundup , and demonstrated that some of these may also have toxic effects. This is a highly significant finding, as most regulatory agencies simply presume that inactive ingredients are chemically neutral and therefore harmless.But when it comes to Roundup, that consensus is starting to crack. Last year, an Australian study found that at levels commonly found in US and Australian drinking water, both Roundup and glyphosate alone caused endocrine disrupting effects, in part by killing off cells that produce the female hormone progesterone. That study actually found that Roundup is more toxic than glyphosate alone.Also last year, the European Union Food Safety Authority (EFSA), while attempting to claim that glyphosate does not cause cancer , admitted that studies performed on Roundup have indeed suggested that the herbicide causes genetic damage. Thus, the EFSA said, Roundup is likely to lead to cancer. 'Canary' species Restoring biodiversity is harder than preventing its loss in the first place (NaturalNews) As tens of millions are aware, the biodiversity of Planet Earth is under assault, and we have reached a point where we'd have to go back 65 million years in order to find rates of species being decimated at the levels at which it is taking place today, the UK'sreports.While conservative efforts traditionally concentrate more on larger animals like whales and polar bears, the vast majority of "life" on the planet is barely discernible, if at all, like bugs that can appear and vanish from ecosystems without much apparent impact.In reality, biodiversity is necessary for our overall survival, because the more biodiverse our planet, the more resilient it is. Decreasing biodiversity is a lot like taking nuts and bolts out of a machine one at a time; missing a few may not matter much to its overall operation, but eventually, if you remove enough of them, the machine breaks down.The same is true with the earth. Loss of forest and topsoil can lead to desertification of the land, and so forth. new study published in the journalprovides some evidence that biodiversity may have an importance that has thus far been overlooked, yet is nevertheless vital if mankind is to manage the human impact on various ecosystems."Global environmental change presents a clear need for improved leading indicators of critical transitions, especially those that can be generated from compositional data and that work in empirical cases," says an abstract of the study.The study notes that some rare species may be "canary" species, in that they could provide early warning of an impending ecological disaster. Specifically, researchers theorize that information about the overall health or resilience of a particular ecosystem is hiding in data pertaining to species once believed to be unimportant.Additionally, scientists believe that the existence or absence of some rare species may also provide "important clues" about how close an ecosystem may be to extinction, noted James Dyke, a lecturer in sustainable science at the University of Southampton who was involved in the study.Like the canaries that coal miners used to monitor for poison gases deep under the ground, so-called "ecosystem canaries" very often are the first species to vanish from an ecosystem that is under duress. Their disappearance may be tied to changes in the way ecosystems function, which then provides a signal that a collapse may be eminent."Our study used data collected from lakes in China that showed changes in the abundance of species from algae (diatom) and aquatic midges (chironomid) communities as they compete for resources under environmental pressures," Dyke wrote in. He added that the data made it possible to identify three organism types: One that slowly replicates but is a fiercely competitive "keystone" species; fast-replicating "weedy" species that are not very competitive; and slowly replicating, weak "canary" species.Fertilizer runoff from surrounding fields has had a profound impact on the lake ecosystems, the scientist noted. And as the situation grows more severe, the canary species will become the first to suffer.As all species continue to degrade, Dyke notes, the eventual collapse of the keystone species will occur as they are replaced by the weedy species. As keystones are lost, that triggers a critical transition for the ecosystem, arriving at a point where it shifts into an alternate state. In lakes, that leads to domination by smothering algae and an absence of many plant and animal species.Making the lake clear again, and therefore biodiverse, is very difficult, says Dyke, so it is better to avoid the collapse in the first place hence, his research.If one were to wait to observe changes in the keystone species, it would likely be too late to save the ecosystem, because by then it will already have begun its rapid decline and eventual collapse. So the goal should be to look for changes in population structure of keystone, weedy and canary species, to predict events years or even decades before the actual event, Dyke noted. Appeal and repeal the DARK Act states have the right! (NaturalNews) A unanimous decision by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals now prevents the Department of Justice of the United States from prosecuting people who legally grow, sell or purchase marijuana, even though it's still illegal according to federal law. The decision is based on a previous ruling that keeps the DOJ from interfering with state laws authorizing these uses of medical cannabis.Lawyers across the country use specific previous legal cases as precedents, or as an "authority" for similar cases known as "stare decisis." With this in mind, a questionable new law comes to mind one which every health enthusiast in America should be dogmatically questioning.The landmark decision for U.S. states to basically override federal law in regards to marijuana use could prove to be the most viable judicial interpretation for the State of Vermont to lead the way in labeling GMOs (genetically modified organisms in food), despite the DARK Act, recently signed into law by Obama and the U.S. Senate, which forbids individual states from labeling GMOs properly, and instead uses tricky barcodes most consumers can't interpret. The DARK Act legislation unconstitutionally outlaws Vermont's labeling requirement, replacing easy to read text labels with obscure barcodes that "Big Food" and the biotechnology chemical agriculturalists know most consumers won't bother to decipher with smart devices.The United States District Courts for the Second Circuit exercise federal jurisdiction in six districts within the states of Connecticut, New York and Vermont, and these serve as trial courts for the circuit, where each district has multiple seats of court, with the District of Vermont's being Brattleboro, Rutland and Burlington. Congress established the Second Circuit Court of Appeals way back in 1891, and the number of judgeships has increased over the years to 13. It is now time for the state of Vermont to take the screws to the feds, and appeal the DARK Act legislation to reinstate State rights to label toxic food for what it is, in a proper manner that consumers can easily recognize. After all, more than 90 percent of Americans want GMOs labeled, and they're not asking for some tricky bar codes that require research and decoding.The DARK Act (Deny Americans the Right to Know) was approved by the Senate by a vote of 6330, mostly by politicians who have been secretly "bought" by Monsanto or brainwashed into believing that genetically modified foods could somehow save the planet from starvation . The latter, of course, is a great myth purported by anti-science shills that make millions of dollars convincing people that consuming chemical pesticides won't cause cancer, dementia, deformations and infertility. In fact, the legislation was written by Sen. Pat Roberts (KS) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI), who have pocketed over $2 million from agribusiness donors, who essentially paid them off to keep local governments and states from enacting their own labeling bills. Vermont was going to use a label that reads, "Produced with Genetic Engineering."The DARK Act, aka "The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act" (H.R. 1599), is a federal scheme that conversely provides loopholes for popular GM ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and toxic oils coming from genetically mutated plants. The bill blocks other states from exercising their rights too, including Connecticut, Maine and Alaska, that already had labeling laws on the books. The FDA played its insidious (and usual) role in hiding GMOs from Americans, helping to create the loopholes. However, from Wyoming to Washington, and from Colorado to Missouri, U.S. states have recently passed laws to completely contradict (and essentially ignore and nullify) federal laws , because the federal laws are unconstitutional. In fact, Wyoming passed legislation that makes it illegal for the feds to enforce their regulations regarding personal firearms. Other state laws that override federal law include healthcare laws and standards for driver's licenses.The 10th Amendment states: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."The bottom line is this: If power isgranted expressly to the federal government in the Constitution, then the states have more power in that regard. Still, it gets tricky, because the U.S. Supreme Court routinely rejects states' claims. Remember, several Supreme Court Justices are also padding their pockets with Monsanto money, like Clarence Thomas, the ex-Monsanto lawyer who actually still hears Monsanto cases. Talk about a conflict of interest!Yet, Article VI of the Constitution contains a supremacy clause that says that when a state law is in conflict with a federal law, the federal law takes priority. So which comes first, the chicken or the GMO egg? At this point, states have nothing to lose by using the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision for marijuana as a precedent case for states to be able to label GMOs properly. It's time to fight for the right to know what's in our food, especially when it comes to pesticides proven to cause cancer A masked man with an ISIS flag in the background. Reuters Spanish counter-terrorism authorities have issued an alert about the increase in mentions of our country in recent propaganda material produced by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS), including text documents, videos and graphs. Jihadists are now writing in Spanish, and even analyzing the political situation in Spain through written reviews of election results. This is raising Spains profile on ISIS communication networks. The progressive increase of texts and releases translated into Spanish is giving our country growing relevance from a propaganda point of view, and increasing the possibility of action by an autonomous terrorist working on our territory, terrorism experts say. The police and the judiciary have ramped up their efforts, detaining growing numbers of suspects with each passing year Potential targets include crowded areas, police officers, Christians, Jews and homosexuals. ...In any place that you consider a valid target to punish criminal Spaniards... through any available means, reads a document dated July 18 and released by the Wafa Media Foundation, which supports ISIS. The foundations spokesman has encouraged citizens of the Maghreb region, which encompasses Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya, to attack Spanish individuals. Following the Spanish general election of June 26, a media group called Ifriqiya Media, which is the official mouthpiece of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, wrote the following analysis: 26-J: Everyone has lost, except for Morocco. The document went on to examine the Spanish election from the viewpoint of its impact on Moroccos prolonged conflict in Western Sahara. Recent attacks across the world Orlando on June 13, Nice on July 14 and Normandy on July 26 have underscored how one of ISISs main tools is its propaganda machine, now that it is losing part of its physical territory. The July 2015 issue of Dar al Islam magazine explicitly encouraged readers to attack Christians as a priority target. Spanish counter-terrorism experts say that propaganda videos with Spanish subtitles have been cropping up regularly since the beginning of this year. One such video, produced by a jihadist channel from Anbar, a district of the Islamic State located in Iraq, was titled The predators incursions and had Spanish subtitles. Spanish counter-terrorism experts have detected recruiting activity aimed at sending fighters to Iraq (above) and other conflict areas. Uncredited (AP) Another 14-minute video titled The path of the just fathers and aimed at attracting new recruits also has Spanish subtitles. All these messages are being disseminated from wilayas, or districts of the Islamic State, which entails action by various individuals following specific guidelines from a central organization, say Spanish experts. The Spanish flag has also been seen in an image headlined One religion, one caliphate and showing an individual with a black ISIS flag in his hands and 12 other flags, including the Spanish one, at his feet. A graph made by Amaq Agency, ISIS official production company, shows 100 suicide attacks perpetrated by its followers in the month of June. All text included in the chart is written in Spanish. In fact, the Spanish is so good that experts suspect that some of the copy is being written by native Spaniards, with the goal of encouraging action by homegrown terrorists who are frustrated at their inability to travel to Syria and Iraq to fight side by side with the jihadists, and instead may choose to carry out attacks in their own country of birth or residence. 186 Spaniards have traveled to conflict zones Since 2004 (the year of the jihadist-inspired attacks against commuter trains in Madrid), counter-terrorism authorities have launched 181 operations against Islamist terrorists, resulting in 692 arrests. In recent years, the police and the judiciary have ramped up their efforts, detaining growing numbers of suspects with each passing year: eight in 2012, 20 in 2013 and 36 in 2014. Most arrests are tied to recruiting activities in Spain, including the practice of sending individuals to conflict zones in Syria and Iraq. Many of the raids have been carried out in the northeastern region of Catalonia. So far this year, there have been 15 operations in Spain and one joint action with Morocco. Spanish secret services have identified 186 Spaniards or residents in Spain who have traveled to Syria or other conflict zones, of whom at least 31 may have died there. Authorities are also aware of 25 who have returned to Spain, 15 of whom are in prison and the remaining 10 walking free. English version by Susana Urra. CNN asking viewers not to believe what they're actually seeing Clinton's doc is spot-on but Trump's doc 'cannot be substantiated' (NaturalNews) When it was launched, the Cable News Network CNN, as it would come to be known was considered a bold experiment in journalism. Would anyone watch a 24-hour network dedicated strictly to breaking news?As it turns out, the answer was yes, and CNN went on to command large audiences, especially when the news was equally large, such as during the first Gulf War. CNN's Baghdad correspondents provided in-depth, real-time coverage of American combat forces as they quickly pulverized what was the fourth-largest army in the world at the time That was then. Today, the network is a shell of its former self, in terms of viewers anyway, and there is no one to blame but management itself. Since becoming a shill for every Left-wing cause and political candidate that comes down the pipe, the network has slipped dramatically, and is no longer considered credible by scores of Americans.Case in point: The network is so in the tank for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton that it refuses to spend any time at all seriously scrutinizing her very obvious health issues.In recent days the network managing editors have come to the conclusion that a letter from Clinton's doctor "debunks" concerns over her health, while at the same time some show hosts are insisting that a similar letter from the physician of GOP nominee Donald J. Trump is not to be taken seriously.Anyone who has been paying any attention at all to the election this cycle is well aware that her health is a major issue, especially after a series of photos which appear to show that the candidate needs assistance just to climb a small set of stairs , and after leaked emails dating back to 2009 show that she herself told aides she did not feel well.Even popular left-wing talk radio host Dr. Drew Pinsky has insisted recently that he is "gravely concerned" about Clinton's health.However, during a broadcast last week, CNN host Don Lemon and his panel claimed that discussion of Hillary's health was nothing more than "conspiracy theories," meaning we're not actually seeing what we're seeing Clinton do stumble, babble incoherently and avoid the press and public like she did in 2012 after fainting and hitting her head No, Trump's letter is bogus, while Hillary's letter should be believed without question that is essentially what Lemon and his panel alluded to.And, of course, totheir claim that Trump's physician letter was bogus, Lemon played a clip of CNN contributor Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon, from an earlier program, in which he claimed there was too much "hyperbole" in it to be believed.Gupta, a long-time Democratic operative who was also a key health advisor to Hillary Clinton in the 1990s, and who was considered for the post of surgeon general by President Obama, has since been regularly attacking Trump's physician letter,reported.In calling those who question Hillary's medical report conspiracy theorists, Gupta has established himself as a Trump medical conspirator, claiming that the letter is an attempt to hide Trump's medical condition(s) from the country.But the network is perfectly willing to take Hillary's letter at face value while ignoring the very real physical evidence that she a) does indeed have medical issues; b) they are becoming well-documented; and c) it is a matter of public record that she is taking blood thinners and thyroid medication,that she did indeed faint, fall and strike her head, leading to a blood clot.During Lemon's show his panel giggled and chuckled at the letter from Trump's physician. They labeled it "unusual" because of its verbiage, and then said that the claims it made could not be substantiated, and therefore, "open the door to people asking more questions about his health."They added that Trump not Hillary must "come clean with more than what he has put forth" regarding his health.Then again, this is the network that claims that vaccines are safe It's "reporting" like this that has led to CNN's decline. An entire industry built on deception and fraud Consumers don't know what to believe (NaturalNews) The dangers of GMOs in the present day are the subject of much debate, but few can deny that the first genetically engineered (GE) products were truly dangerous. In fact, few people can talk about it at all, because most people have never even heard about these early products or the damage they caused.Alliance for Bio-Integrity executive director Steven M. Druker relayed this information is his book,The first edible product produced by genetic engineering killed dozens of people , and caused thousands more to become seriously ill, with many of them ending up permanently disabled. The product in question was a food supplement made of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan derived from bacteria that had been genetically altered.Despite meeting pharmacological purity standards, it contained trace amounts of impurities, one of which turned out to be highly toxic, even at low levels. The genetic engineering is believed to be responsible for the formation of the toxic substance behind the epidemic. No tryptophan supplements that were produced with non-engineered bacteria had ever previously been linked to the disease.Not surprisingly, the FDA issued a slew of deceptive statements trying to shift the blame away from the technology, and their efforts seem to have worked. Most people familiar with the situation seem to be satisfied with their explanations that GE was not responsible, even though the evidence paints the opposite picture. The majority of people, however, don't even realize this incident ever took place.This was just the first in a long line of deception and scientific fraud related to GMOs. The tryptophan supplement disaster was followed by the first-ever whole food to be produced using GE , the "FlavrSavr" tomato from Calgene. In the company's voluntary feeding studies, there was a disturbing pattern of stomach lesions.At the time, the FDA's Pathology Branch found that there was no sufficient demonstration of safety, with other FDA experts agreeing that the unresolved questions about its safety needed to be settled. However, this was swept under the rug when they announced that the tomato was every bit as safe as other tomatoes, and that all safety questions had been resolved!In fact, the scientists' memos outlining their concerns did not even see the light of day until four years later, when a lawsuit from the Alliance for Bio-Integrity called for more than 40,000 pages of internal files to be handed over. Of course, this was never reported on in the mainstream media The FDA said in May 1992 that "the agency is not aware of any information showing that foods derived by these new methods differ from other foods in any meaningful or uniform way." This, despite the fact that an FDA microbiologist said that GE plants may be more hazardous, and the director of its Center for Veterinary Medicine said that the products presented "unique animal and food safety concerns." In addition, their own biotechnology coordinator said that the allergenic potential of some of these foods was particularly hard to predict.Because the concerns about the tomato and tryptophan were never publicized, we now find ourselves in the situation that exists today, where people continue to deny that GMOs are dangerous, and the informed have little choice but to grow their own food so that they can be sure of its origins. Perhaps the GE food experiments would have been stopped or at least scrutinized a lot more closely if the FDA had been honest about the concerns raised by its own experts.It's clear that the development of genetically engineered and modified food has depended on playing fast and loose with the facts since its very inception. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has detected a devastating strain of avian flu in a wild mallard duck in a state refuge in Fairbanks, Alaska. The strain, H5N2, is the same type of avian flu that affected more than 50 million chickens and turkeys in 15 different states last year, causing U.S. poultry exporters to lose millions of dollars because some of the countries halted all imports from the U.S. According to the report from Fox News, the H5N2 strain has not been detected in any wild birds and poultry for 14 months since the June 2015 outbreak. The discovery was made after the July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017 routine surveillance tests of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The said tests were conducted to prevent the devastating 2015 outbreak of the disease. During the July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 routine surveillance tests, about 45,500 samples were collected. Following the discovery of the H5N2 strain of avian flu in a wild mallard duck, officials are urging poultry owners to review their cleaning and security protocols to make sure that all their birds are healthy. Avian flu could be carried by free-flying waterfowl, including ducks, geese and shorebirds. Pulse Headlines reported that the disease could be transmitted through feces and feathers. It may affect chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese and guinea fowl. Scientists believe that the 2015 H5N2 outbreak was caused by droppings and of migrating wild ducks and geese as they flew across the United States. They claimed that the Eurasian strain of the virus began to mix with the American version, creating the deadly H5N2 strain. Carriers of the disease may not present any visible symptoms. Officials are recommending farmers and Poultry companies to always separate their domesticated birds from wild birds. If farm owners suspect a possible case of avian flu, they should contact their state veterinarian or the USDA's toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. As a safety procedure, all the neighboring flocks near the confirmed case of H5N2 avian flu will be euthanized to prevent further spread of the disease. Part of NASA's plan to pursue deep space and interplanetary explorations are calling for more missions geared towards distant planets and satellites. To execute the plan, a NASA official revealed that the agency is thinking of sending a submarine to look for signs of life on Titan's methane oceans. The focus on Saturn's moon Titan had grown since it was first discovered that the satellite might contain the right chemistry to cater to life. In line with this, NASA is thinking of sending a submarine to Titan to explore the chemical composition of Titan's largest ocean, Kraken Mare. Kraken Mare is sprawled over 1,000 km with an estimated 300 m depth, according to Indian Express. The cool and innovative idea to explore Saturn's moon using a submarine was divulged by Jason Hartwig, a cryogenics engineer at NASA during a presentation at the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Symposium. There are two main purposes for the submarine, according to Hartwig, and that is to detect any signs of hydrocarbon-based life and to find Earth-like properties of the satellite, Tecake reported. Some experts believe that there is truth to the theory that says Titan may have the right chemistry for life. And if it is true, its oceans, including the Kraken Mare might have existing microbes today. But the microbes may be entirely different from those found on Earth, since the oceans on Titan are filled up with liquid hydrocarbons instead of water. To explore, the submarine will have to survive the methane ocean with high pressure where it will start to freeze at 400-500 meters underneath the surface. But of course, the submarine, will be designed to survive this kind of environment. It will be equipped with instruments to gather data about the moon. It will have instruments that can analyze the chemical composition of the methane ocean, ocean floor and the tides. Hartwig added that it will be able to perform autonomously while on Titan and will also have the capacity to communicate to the base on Earth just like the new Mars rover. But if ever NASA decides to build the submarine, it cannot be sent to Titan until 2038 when the equation and alignment of Earth and Saturn are in the right place. Officials from the health department in Virgina are investigating 35 confirmed cases of Hepatitis A linked to frozen strawberries from Egypt used by Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchises in the state. According to a report from AOL News, 14 of the confirmed cases came from Northern Virginia, five from Northwest, six from Central and 10 from Eastern Virginia. Consumers who have ordered smoothies with frozen strawberries served at Tropical Smoothie Cafe on Aug. 5 to 8 are advised to have themselves vaccinated or take an immune globulin to prevent acquiring Hepatitis A. Just recently, the Virginia Department of Health has diagnosed a man working at Tropical Smoothie Cafe's branch in Stonewall Square, Gainesville, with Hepatitis A. The infected employee became sick in late July but did not notify his employers. Due to the diagnosis, the health department issued an advisory, urging people who ate at the Gainesville branch from July 28 to Aug.18 to get a vaccine for the virus. Owners of the Gainesville branch immediately contacted the health department after finding out about the diagnosis. They also conducted a deep clean of the restaurant. "We sanitized our cafes, we maintain good safety protocols, we re-certified our employees on food safety handling," said Dennis Drake, owner of the Gainesville store, in a report from NBC Washington. "The items and products that you have continued to get from us over the years -- we'll do all that we can to ensure that the product is safe." It is still not clear if the sickened employee got his Hepatitis A from the frozen strawberries from Egypt. However, the Tropical Smoothie Cafe withdrew all the frozen strawberries imported from Egypt and found an alternative source. Hepatitis A can cause inflammation in the liver. It might take 15 to 50 days before a patient infected with the virus to experience its symptoms, which include jaundice, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine and light colored stool. Scientists have discovered trace evidence of supernovae in sediments lining the sea floor. Astrophysicist Shawn Bishop from the Technical University in Munich, Germany, had been studying fossilized bacteria to find trace elements of iron isotopes created out of supernova explosion about 2.2 million years ago. But now, he has succeeded, confirming his 2013 findings in a new paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "The signal is definitely there," Bishop told Gizmodo. Iron-60 or 60Fe is an isotope being produced by supernovae when they explode and scatter into space. 60Fe has a very short lifespan, which means there is no longer any trace of the element on Earth. However, traces of the isotope have been discovered in fossils of bacteria on the sea floor, Gizmodo reports. According to Bishop, the evidence of isotope was contained in tiny microfossils of ancient bacteria scientists have discovered in the sea floor core sediment samples. Using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), Bishop analyzed the grains of bacteria inside the core samples taken from the floor of the Pacific Ocean and counted each 60Fe isotope atom one by one. He found high concentrations of 60Fe in one of the cores that could be associated with supernova explosion about 2.2 million years ago. Bishop also identified some candidate stars in the Scorpio Centauri cluster. Anton Wallner, a scientist from The Australian National University, conducted his own research to find more traces of 60Fe, together with an international team of researchers. In a study published in the journal Nature in April, Wallner detailed their discovery of nearby supernovae explosions millions of years ago, scattering radioactive particles into the Earth. According to the research team, the nearest of the explosions in an aging star cluster about 326 light years from the Earth. According to scientists, either Bishop's confirmation study or Wallner's study could be related to the onset of the Pleistocene, which triggered a period of global cooling. A pair of blue whales, the largest creatures alive on Earth, was spotted researchers from the Blue Ocean Society of Marine Conservation off the coast of Rye Harbor in New Hampshire. According to Jen Kennedy, executive director of the conservation group, spotting a blue whale in New England is rare, but spotting two of this gigantic mammal together is rarer. "We might see a blue whale every five to 10 years, so it was possible, but rare. And we've never seen two together in our last 20 years of whale watching and research off the New Hampshire coast," said Kennedy in a report from The Guardian. The whales were spotted while Kennedy, along with their group's co-founder Dianna Schulte, was working aboard Granite State last Friday. Schulte plans to send pictures of the whales to researchers in Canada to learn more about the two marine mammals. Blue whales are considered to be the largest animal ever known to have existed. It can grow from 24 to 33 meters long and can weigh up to 200 tons. With only about 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales around the world, most marine biologists consider them to be the most endangered of the great whales. This kind of whales could live in oceans but not in enclosed seas and the Arctic. In the Atlantic, blue whales are usually spotted off of St. Lawrence in Canada. According to ths World Wide Fund for Nature, commercial whaling activities in the 20th century almost wiped out the global population of blue whales. The organization believes that in the 20th century alone, a total of 360,000 blue whales have been slaughtered in the Antarctic. After receiving worldwide protection in 1967, the global population of blue whales is slowly recovering. The blue whale population in North Pacific makes up approximately 2,000 of the species' global population. Good news! In the fight against climate change, a team of scientists has finally solved the puzzle on hod to convert carbon dioxide to fuel by using the most ordinary thing -- sand. According to the study published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists from the University of Toronto claims that they have found the solution to convert the 30 billion tons per year of carbon dioxide emission to energy-rich fuel. What make the study exciting is that it uses silicon in sand, which is one of the most abundant elements in earth and the universe. The scientists notes that silicon nanocrystals tick all the criteria to convert gaseous carbon dioxide. At 3.5 nanometers, these nanocrystals has the ability for optically absorb and harvest near-infrared, visible and ultraviolet waves from the sun. Also, its surface has a chemical-reducing agent that could turn carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, potentially resulting into energy sans harmful emissions. "A chemistry solution to climate change requires a material that is a highly active and selective catalyst to enable the conversion of carbon dioxide to fuel. It also needs to be made of elements that are low cost, non-toxic and readily available," Geoffrey Ozin from the University of Toronto and lead of the university's Solar Fuels Research, told Science Daily. There have been numerous research in the past decades that aim to discover a material that could convert energy directly from carbon dioxide, water and the sun, but the problem is carbon dioxide's chemical stability, which makes it harder for scientists to come up with a solution. Now, with this new discovery, Ozin explains that the process of utilizing the ability of silicon nanocrystals or nanosctructure hydrides offers a promising way of harnessing energy from sunlight. He believes that despite the bad reputation of carbon dioxide, it is still "an asset, not a liability." Why not use it as much as you can? You could build a global economy on a resource thats all around us. And if you happen to use gigatons every year, then you could keep atmospheric carbon dioxide levels at sustainable levels indefinitely," Ozin said via U of T Magazine. After losing half of its beak due to abuse, a toucan named Grecia in Costa Rica gets its own happy ending after receiving a 3D-printed beak from Rock Hill company. According to a report from NPR, last year, the upper part of Grecia's beak was hacked off by some youths. Local residents rescued the toucan and passed it to the care of an animal rescue center. Washington Times notes that toucan's beak is vital for the species' survival as it is used for regulating body temperature, defense from predators, preening and mating. Thus, without a complete beak, Grecia the toucan has a little chance to survive in its natural environment. To make the 3D-printed beak possible, 3D Systems, in partnership with Grupo SG in Costa Rica, scanned Grecia's damaged beak to for sculpting using the company's Geomagic software. The team of engineers also cross-checked the scans to other beaks of toucans to ensure that everything fits. The beak was then printed using a Pro X SLS 500 3D printer and is made of Duraform PA nylon. Finally, Grecia was outfitted with its new beak, which went on public display last week at ZooAve. We strongly support our partners who embark on projects that make a difference. If our technologies can be used to help anyone in need -- a bird, a pet, a person, we are all for it," Rachael Dalton-Taggart, 3D Systems director of marketing and software products, told Washington Times. Grecia the toucan's story has instagated a public outcry from Costa Rica and throughout the world. The bird's tragic abuse even resulted to the formation of an animal cruelty bill by Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo Solis. Ronald Sibaja, a caretaker at ZooAve, told NPR that Grecia's case is an eye-opener to the world. It could raise awareness about animal cruelty and abuse in Costa Rica. "What happened to Grecia was terrible. But it brought awareness of animal abuse in our country," he said. To learn more about Grecia the toucan, check out the video below. These are the responsibility of the editor and convey the newspaper's view on current affairs-both domestic and international Un momento de la becerrada de Valmojado (Toledo), tomado del video difundido por PACMA. The recent diffusion of a bullfighting video in which a calf is seen being fought and killed in the ring, and which was recorded in Valmojado, Toledo, has once again shown the unjustifiable inertia that allows for these barbaric spectacles to continue to be held. The response from the local authorities after the viral spread of the recording, which was released by animal rights political party PACMA, was immediate. As well as claiming that the recording had been manipulated, the council also tried to hide behind a well-worn bureaucratic excuse that the becerrada, as these events involving young animals are known in Spain, had been held in compliance with strict legal requirements. The lack of moral fiber of the people who applaud these anachronistic traditions is disturbing In the video, the poor animal, which is not even two years old, is stabbed with banderillas. It stumbles to the ground over and over, and is seen bleeding profusely until its death. The lack of moral fiber of the people who continue to applaud these anachronistic traditions, which are based on the exhibition of an intolerable level of sadism, is disturbing. There are more than 300 Spanish municipalities that hold becerradas each summer, but there are other cruel traditions that still pervade the correbous, for example, which involves attaching sticks with flaming wax or fireworks to a bulls horns. The footage from the fiestas in Valmojado has only served to put an old question back on the table: do we want to continue to be a place where people can, albeit for just a few hours, bring out the worst of what they carry inside themselves? The most upsetting part of the video in which the calf is being tortured is hearing the laughter of a group of children who are watching. How long will this go on for? English version by Simon Hunter. A Fresno artist has filed a lawsuit against state officials accusing them of violating his free speech by keeping his painting out of The Big Fresno Fair. The Fresno Bee reports that Timothy Desmond has filed a lawsuit challenging Gov. Jerry Brown's September 2014 ban on the Confederate flag being displayed on state property. The 2014 law says the Battle Flag of the Confederacy or any similar image cannot be sold or displayed on state property unless the image appears in a medium that serves an educational or historical purpose. Desmond created a painting that depicts Confederate soldiers fighting in the 1864 siege of Atlanta. The Big Fresno Fair banned the painting because the Confederate flag is in the painting. Desmond argues the law should not apply to privately created art displayed at state-run fairs. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, made a powerful plea for gun control on Sunday, holding a sit-in at a church in San Mateo. Dozens of people joined Speier at Unitarian Universalists Church, calling on Congress to vote on universal background checks and a ban on terrorists from buying guns. "To make a point, that you should be able to go to a church, you should be able to go to a movie theater, you should be able to go to school, you should be able to go to a dance club without fearing for your life," Speier said. Organizers specifically chose to do the sit-in at a church in honor of the victims killed in a church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, last year. San Francisco's annual gay Pride weekend is loud, boisterous and grabs national headlines. Silicon Valley Pride is nearly the opposite of that. The San Jose-based festivities over the weekend brought together a diverse group of community members who were involved in the parade, despite its late summer date. It's the second time the parade and festival have been held, with a seven-year hiatus in between, Silicon Valley Pride CEO Thaddeus Campbell said. The smaller, more family friendly event, is designed that way on purpose, he said. Pride festivities like San Francisco and Santa Cruz Pride are held during June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride month and usually compete for the same crowd. But Campbell said he believes that by moving the parade later in the year, the celebration of the LGBT identity lasts beyond the traditional Pride month. Pride is not limited to one month and it should be celebrated throughout the year, Campbell said. He also said he was fully aware that if San Jose held a Pride weekend at the same time as San Francisco, more people would likely trek to The City. The tone of Silicon Valley Pride is also a bit different - and more subdued - than the crazy, and often raucous celebration in San Francisco - the birthplace of the country's gay rights movement. San Jose organizers really try to make the event good for family members of all ages. That is one of the things we definitely emphasize," Campbell said. "Its not like your normal Pride parade gays and lesbians have families, were able to legally adopt and so forth, so we want to make sure we can include family." There were many who brought their families to a Pride event for the first time on Sunday, and found it not only to be an educational experience, but a fun one, too. Its great! Its quiet and you know its my sons first Pride experience so it was a good choice to bring him here to San Jose as opposed to maybe San Francisco, explained a parade attendee. Three southern sea otters were shot to death near Santa Cruz, and officials have offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who can provide them with information regarding the fatal shootings. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are investigating the deaths of three male sea otters, which washed ashore sometime in mid-August in between the Santa Cruz Harbor and Seacliff State Beach several days after being shot to death, according to officials. A fourth dead otter washed ashore, officials said, and investigators were checking to see if it also was a victim of gunfire. Kim Steinhardt, a wildlife lecturer, said the lives of sea otters in a sense provide a lens for the health of the ocean and environment, so it's important for marine experts and the general public to pay attention and respect them. "It's appalling to me," Steinhardt said of the shootings. "It happens every now and again. I understand there's a rash of shootings now. I just can't fathom how or why people would do that." Wildlife officials said the first otter was discovered Aug. 12 between 19th and 20th avenues; the second was discovered on Aug. 15 at Twin Lakes Beach; the third otter was found on Aug. 19 at Seacliff Beach. The fourth otter turned up at Natural Bridges on Aug. 20, officials said. Repercussions for slaying a southern sea otter, which is listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species act, include a $100,000 fine and potential jail time, according to officials. Southern Sea Otters Swim in Bay Area Waters Although three other sea otters were killed by gunfire back in 2013 at Asilomar State Beach on the Monterey Peninsula, Max Schad, spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said sea otter shootings are rare. "This is pretty unique," he said. "We consider this a very serious violation. Sea otters are a threatened species. They're protected both federally and by the state of California." Schad added that officials have no credible information regarding potential suspects and motives pertaining to this month's case. Some local beachgoers say a fine and jail time aren't enough. "To hurt something that beautiful, I mean, I don't know what to say about that," Santa Cruz resident Kenny Reaves said. "It's just not right." Southern sea otters have been threatened since 1977 and regularly populate the waters off California's coast, according to officials. Anyone with information regarding the fatal shootings is asked to call the CalTIP line at 888-334-2258 or contact the special agent of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service at 650-876-907. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is reportedly warning election officials across the country after it found evidence that foreign hackers were able to infiltrate state election databases in Illinois and Arizona. The FBI issued the warning through a flash alert from its Cyber Division on Aug. 18, as first reported by Yahoo News. The alert didn't include the names of the breached states, although sources claim it refers to Illinois and Arizonas voter registration databases being targeted by suspected foreign hackers. The FBI is now warning election officials across the country to take new steps to bolster the security of computer systems. Illinois Board of Elections general counsel Ken Menzel told Yahoo News that hackers were able to download the personal data of up to 200,000 state voters. Menzel also said that FBI agents confirmed to him in a recent briefing that the attacks were believed to be carried out by foreign hackers. The perpetrators were not identified by country. He noted that he was also told that the FBI was looking into a link between the recent hack of the Democratic National Committee. U.S. officials suspect that hack was carried out by Russian government hackers. Last month, a message was sent to all election authorities in Illinois saying a hack had been detected on July 12. As a precautionary measure, the state's entire voter registration was shut down the next day and remained shut down for several days. Menzel told NBC Chicago in July that the states voter registration system is kind of a prime target for hackers because of the databases collection of identifying information. According to the latest report, the Arizona attack wasnt as large in scope as Illinois', although malicious software was introduced to the states system. Nevertheless, the hackers were unable to exfiltrate any data, a state official told Yahoo News. The FBI suggested that the two hacks could be linked. According to the bulletin, there were eight separate IP addresses that were the source of the two attacks. Rich Barger, chief intelligence officer for cybersecurity firm ThreatConnect, told Yahoo that one of the IP addresses has been identified in Russian criminal underground hacker forums. The bureau would not confirm news of the alert but said in a statement that "in furtherance of public-private partnerships, the FBI routinely advises private industry of various cyber threat indicators observed during the course of our investigations." "This data is provided in order to help systems administrators guard against the actions of persistent cyber criminals," the statement read. According to the report, the FBI will likely pressure the Department of Homeland Security to formally designate the voter systems as a piece of the countrys critical infrastructure requiring federal protection. A Homeland Security spokesman told Yahoo News that that sort of designation is under consideration. Federal and state officials told the publication it was unlikely that a cyberattack would seriously disrupt the November elections, but that a threat was not out of the question. A 24-year-old man has been charged with the deaths of three people found slain inside a Newton County, Indiana duplex. Sebastian Wedding was taken into custody early Monday at his Cedar Lake home, police said, the morning after the bodies of two men and a woman were discovered roughly 20 miles south inside a Sumava Resorts residence. Police were dispatched to a home in the 11400 block of North County Road 250 West after 7:30 p.m. Sunday after the grandmother of one of the victims saw a body on the ground in the hallway, according to police. The woman, who lived in the rental duplex with the three victims, then ran outside and flagged down passerby who called 911. Upon arrival, Indiana State Police officers found Justin Babbs, 20, Robert Thomas, 23, and Kimberly Sparks, 39, had been killed inside, authorities said. Babbs was found in one room, according to Newton County Sheriff Thomas VanVleet, and Thomas and Sparks were located in an adjacent room. All three were pronounced dead on arrival, according to authorities. Details into how the victims died have not been released, but VanVleet said all three suffered an unspecified type of trauma. At no time was anybody other than the victims in danger in the area, VanVleet said. We believe this was an isolated incident. The Newton County Sheriffs Department is working with the Indiana State Police on the investigation. One neighbor, Nick Lucka, told NBC 5 he had witnessed strange behavior at the home at times. Just cars coming and going a lot, Lucka said. About every five minutes there will be a car come in, stay for ten minutes and then leave." Autopsies on the victims are scheduled for Monday afternoon. Wedding is being held at Lake County Jail. He has been charged with three counts of murder, police said. Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson addressed the murder of 32-year-old Nykea Aldridge Sunday, expressing frustration over the city's overall violence and responding to Donald Trump's claim that it could be solved "in a week." "If you have a magic bullet to stop the violence anywhere, not just in Chicago, but in America, then please share it with us," Johnson said when asked about Trump's remarks. "Wed be glad to take that information and stop this violence." Trump said in an interview Monday that he met a "top" Chicago police officer who told him that he could "stop much of this horror show thats going on" in the city within a single week using "tough police tactics." Chicago Police denied that claim, saying in a statement, "We've discredited this claim months ago. No one in the senior command at CPD has ever met with Donald Trump or a member of his campaign." The Republican presidential nominee also prompted harsh criticism when he tweeted that the death of Aldridge, a mother of four and the cousin of Bulls star Dwyane Wade, was an example of why black voters would support him. Aldridge was fatally shot while pushing a stroller on the city's South Side Friday afternoon. My cousin was killed today in Chicago. Another act of senseless gun violence. 4 kids lost their mom for NO REASON. Unreal. #EnoughIsEnough DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 27, 2016 "I gotta tell you, Im so sick of every weekend talking about the murders that happen in the streets," Johnson said Sunday. "We have 1400 individuals that drive this gun violence in this city. This isn't a mystery. We've gotten very good at predicting who will be the perpetrators or victims of gun violence - these guys choose that lifestyle. But they continue it because we continuously show them there's no consequence," he added. 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! DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 27, 2016 While announcing charges filed against two brothers in Aldridge's death, Johnson used the case to speak more broadly on crime in Chicago and specifically, repeat offenders. Overnight, CPD charged the Sorrells brothers for the murder of Nykea Aldridge. Press briefing at 1130 @ CPD HQ pic.twitter.com/mEJyoZY3F4 Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) August 28, 2016 Derren Sorrells, 22, is a documented gang member with six prior felony arrests, according to police, out on parole for motor vehicle theft and escaping custody. He was on his daily break from an electronic monitoring bracelet at the time of Friday's shooting, Johnson said. Darwin Sorrells, 26, was also on parole for a gun charge. He was sentenced to to six years in prison in January 2013 and released early in February 2016, according to police. Both men were charged with first degree murder and attempted murder. These young kids are screaming for help!!! #EnoughIsEnough DWade (@DwyaneWade) August 27, 2016 "This tragedy isnt just noteworthy because Miss Aldridge has a famous family member," Johnson said. "Its noteworthy because these two offenders are the prime example of the challenge we face here in Chicago with repeat gun offenders that dont care who they shoot, dont care whose life they take, and clearly, clearly dont fear the consequences of their actions." "When will enough be enough? How often do we have to stand at a podium like this, demanding from our judicial and policy partners some type of resolution?" Johnson asked. Johnson also addressed criticism that the Chicago Police Department made arrests in Aldridge's death so quickly only because her relation to Wade made the case more high-profile, while hundreds and even thousands of cases that don't garner such national attention go unsolved. "You know why we catch them right away? Because the community helped us with it," Johnson said. "Police officers very rarely witness crime, especially murder... so we need the communitys help, we need their input for us go out and get these individuals and hold them accountable." "We take every death in Chicago seriously, but we need the communitys help in bringing these cases to a successful resolution." Ten people were killed and at least 57 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago between Friday afternoon and Monday morning, police said. 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, 32, was pushing a baby in a stroller in the 6300 block of South Calumet about 3:30 p.m. when two other men walked up and shot at a third man, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiners office. Aldridge, of the 6400 block of South King Drive, was shot in the head and arm. She died at Stroger Hospital at 4:15 p.m., authorities said. Two men have been charged with her murder and were ordered held without bail Sunday. The most recent homicide happened about 12:30 a.m. Monday in the Roseland neighborhood on the Far South Side. Officers responding to a call of a person shot in the 100 block of West 112th Place found a 35-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the head, authorities said. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiners office did not immediately provide additional information. Police said the shooting is domestic-related and a 43-year-old man has been taken into custody. Charges were pending Monday morning. About 4:20 p.m. Sunday, 20-year-old Terrence Murphy was shot to death near his home in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side. He was on a sidewalk in the 5400 block of West Jackson when someone walked up and shot him in the abdomen, authorities said. Murphy was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where died at 4:43 p.m. Earlier Sunday in the South Loop, a 45-year-old man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in an alley in the 1800 block of South Michigan about 10 a.m., police said. A witness said they heard an argument and then a single gunshot. Authorities have not released the mans name. About 12:35 a.m. Sunday in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side, five males walked up to a 38-year-old man after he parked his vehicle in the 3600 block of West 5th Avenue, and one of them shot him in the head. He was dead at the scene, police said. His name has not been released. Shortly after midnight, officers on patrol near the 4400 block of West Monroe in the West Garfield Park neighborhood heard gunfire and found 30-year-old Demarco Richards on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head, authorities said. Richards, whose home address was unknown, was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:27 a.m. An 18-year-old woman had also been shot in the left foot and was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, police said. A 25-year-old man later arrived at Stroger with gunshot wounds to his buttocks and right ankle. His condition stabilized, police said. About 12:15 p.m. Saturday in the South Side Park Manor neighborhood, a 19-year-old Mahadi Hering was part of one group fighting with another in the 7100 block of South Rhodes when someone pulled a gun and opened fire, police said. Hering was shot in the head and driven by friends to Jackson Park Hospital. He was later transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:36 p.m., authorities said. He lived in the 7200 block of South Evans. A 17-year-old boy shot in the leg was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, and a 35-year-old man shot in the neck took himself to Provident Hospital, where he was listed in good condition. Earlier Saturday in the West Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side, 21-year-old Dylan N. Dent was riding in a car near his home in the 500 block of West 127th Street along with a 24-year-old man about 3:35 a.m. when a male with dreadlocks shot them from a blue truck, authorities said. Both were taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where Dent died of a gunshot wound to the shoulder at 4:30 a.m., authorities said. The other man was shot in the leg. His condition stabilized. At 6:13 p.m. Friday, a gunman aiming for someone else instead hit a 55-year-old man in the chest in the 900 block of West Wilson in the North Side Uptown neighborhood, authorities said. He died at Illinois Masonic Medical Center at 6:51 p.m. About the same time in the Galewood neighborhood on the Northwest Side, someone got out of a car in the 1500 block of North Meade and shot 35-year-old Ramon M. Tolbert in the head and chest, authorities said. Tolbert, of the 200 block of North Kildare, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:49 p.m. The latest nonfatal shooting happened about 1:45 a.m. Monday in Austin. A 19-year-old man was standing outside in the 5200 block of West Washington when someone in black clothing walked up and opened fire, striking the man in the right leg and right hand, according to police. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said, adding that the man is a documented gang member. At least 51 more people were shot across the city between 4 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Monday. Children playing in the Colombian department of Cauca. Christian Escobar Mora (EFE) More information Las FARC anuncian el cese definitivo al fuego Its over. Sunday marked the last official day of the 52-year-old armed conflict between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). People are starting to feel the impact of what Humberto de la Calle, the chief negotiator for the government in the peace process with the FARC, meant on Wednesday when he said: The war is over. On Sunday, rebel chief Rodrigo Timochenko Londono confirmed the definitive ceasefire President Juan Manuel Santos had announced on Thursday. Lodono issued a brief statement from Havana where the two sides have met for talks over the last four years. According to the terms of the peace deal, they will surrender their weapons to the government and give up their combat uniforms In my capacity as commander of the FARC-EP, I order all our officers, our units, each and every one of our combatants to definitively cease fire and hostilities against the Colombian state, the rebel leader said. The rivalries and rancor must remain in the past. Today, more than ever, we regret so much death and pain brought about by the war, Lodono added. The rebel chief also asked Colombians to begin reconciliation. The war is over. Let us live in peace with our brothers and sisters. The announcement brings an end to FARCs mission after more than five decades of armed conflict, which led to 220,000 deaths and nearly eight million victims. Though the guerilla force began a self-imposed unilateral ceasefire in June 2015 the Colombian state subsequently decided to respond in kind neither party had made such a concrete commitment to bringing hostilities to a definite end. This self-declared ceasefire will continue until both sides sign the peace agreement at the end of September and FARC members begin to disarm under United Nations supervision. Rebel soldiers will transition to civilian life over a 180-day period in 28 different areas. According to the terms of the peace deal, they will surrender their weapons to the government and give up their combat uniforms. Rebel leaders will meet with soldiers to explain the terms of the peace deal, get their go-ahead and ratify the accord Colombians have already felt the impact of that self-imposed ceasefire. In 2015, 146 people died as a result of the armed conflict but official records from June only reported three victims so far this year. Timochenko has also called for a final FARC conference to be held in San Vicente del Canguan, the site of failed peace talks between rebels and the Andres Pastrana administration. Rebels will meet from September 13 to 19. For the first time since 1965, the FARC will discuss peace at their conference instead of plans for kidnappings, extortion and attacks. Rebel leaders will meet with soldiers to explain the terms of the peace deal, get their go-ahead and ratify the accord that will put a definitive end to their armed revolt and provide the mechanisms for transition to civilian life and the beginning of their political movement. This meeting will mark the end of the FARC as a guerilla group. Colombia will be writing a new page in its history. English version by Dyane Jean Francois. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the officer who handled hip-hop star Che "Rhymefest" Smith's robbery report over the weekend will face discipline. "There will be disciplinary action taken," Emanuel said Monday. "This is an example not just for the officer but for everybody. He is coming in to report robbery, being held up, and you cant respond that way." Rhymefest said he was robbed at gunpoint in the city's Bronzeville neighborhood early Saturday, but when the two-time Grammy winner went to report the crime, he was nearly thrown out of a police station. Smith recorded part of his encounter at the Grand Crossing Police Station and posted it, along with a string of messages about the incident, on Twitter after the mugging. Smith accused a woman at the station of ignoring him when he tried to make a report and instead eating food and playing Candy Crush. He said later that another officer then tried to take his report, but told him to keep his hands where she could see them and began questioning his story. Smith said he asked to see a supervisor and was then told to leave the station. "This whole time Im being treated like a criminal," he said. That's when he pulled out his phone and started recording. I dont feel comfortable, Smith said on the video, as officers tell him to turn off the camera. When the camera goes off, you start telling me to get out, I cant make a report. You wonder we don't report crimes? The police treated me disgustingly pic.twitter.com/fY9VQrqDpz Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) August 27, 2016 Eventually, Smith said he was able to make a report with the officer. "I told her, 'All I wanted was to be treated serious with concern and like you were a professional,'" Smith told NBC Chicago. "And she said something that Ive never heard a police officer say. She said, 'We go thorugh this 100 times a day, were desensitized.' For me, thats more problematic than the robbery." Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted an apology shortly after the video was posted saying, Disappointing to say the least. On behalf of CPD, I apologize for how you were treated. We will be addressing this today. Emanuel noted that Chief of Patrol Fred Waller called Smith to apologize on behalf of the department for how he was treated. An investigation into the robbery is ongoing. Smith said he hopes to meet with Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson to discuss the culture in the department. An apology, he said, isn't enough. "You cant give me an apology that you didnt give the other people who reported a crime and were dismissed," he said. A man who fabricated a story about being shot during a robbery near Navy Pier is facing felony charges in connection with the incident, according to Chicago police. Jimmie Moore, 22, is charged with disorderly conduct for a false police report, unlawful use of weapons, and discharge of a weapon - all felonies, officials said. Authorities initially said that around 2:20 a.m. Saturday, Moore was walking down the street on the 600 block of East Illinois, when an unknown offender approached him with a handgun and announced a robbery. He was shot in the leg and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in stable condition, according to police. Chicago Police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi revealed later that afternoon that there was no robbery, and Moore had actually shot himself in the incident. "After review of physical evidence & surveillance, CPD determined victim who said he was shot/robbed near Navy Pier actually shot himself," Guglielmi tweeted. A shooting victim trying to drive himself to the hospital caused a car crash that left four others, including two children, wounded on Sunday, according to Chicago police. Just after 12 p.m., authorities said a 37-year-old man was driving in the 10100 block of South State St in the Roseland neighborhood on Chicago's Far South Side when he struck another vehicle. Two adults and two children were in the car, according to police. A 5-year-old girl and a 1-month-old boy were taken to hospitals in serious condition, according to police. A 24-year-old woman and a 45-year-old woman were taken to area hospitals and listed in good condition, authorities said. The shooting victim was also taken to a local hospital in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Police did not release any further information on the location or circumstances of the shooting, and the investigation is ongoing. Philadelphia firefighters battled flames shooting through the front door and roof of a Gothic-style Philadelphia church Monday morning. Flames broke out around 9 a.m. in the basement of century-old Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church along Lansdowne Avenue near N 65th Street in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia and quickly engulfed the stone building. [[391603021, C]] "Church fires are notoriously difficult to fight the fire, they have a lot of void spaces and fire can travel," said scene commander Robert Corrigan. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the church, according to Philadelphia firefighters. SkyForce10 hovered overhead, showing flames shooting out of the building as the fire quickly spread to three alarms and smoke could be seen for miles around. No immediate injuries were reported but firefighters had helped someone from the building, said Deputy Fire Commissioner Jesse Wilson. With flames engulfing the building and not enough water to battle the blaze offensively, firefighters were pulled from the building for a defensive attack, said Corrigan. [[391602851, C]] A fire department spokesman said there was a partial exterior collapse. By 10:10 a.m. the fire had spread to four alarms with around 120 firefighters battling the blaze. The fire was finally brought under control around 11 a.m. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to nearby homes. The church is rented to several congregations, Good Shepherd Rev. J.B. Adams told NBC10's Monique Braxton. A day care also operates out of the building. Adams' brother and another church employee were inside when the power went out and the fire began, said Adams. Both people made it out OK. "Everyone is fine," said Adams. Pastor Pamela K. Williams of the Ark of Refuge Tabernacle, an LGBTQ oriented congregation, was tending to her son's nosebleed at home when she got six calls telling her the church was on fire. "We lost everything," Williams said. "I just finished celebrating 35 years in the ministry yesterday with my church, and this on the heels of that breaks my heart." She said it's been a struggle for her LGBTQ congregants to gain acceptance within mainstream Christianity. Williams' congregation was based at a motor lodge before moving to the church five years ago. "This is a devastating setback. We have to find a place to workshop," Williams said. Adams said the church recently marked its 100th anniversary. Expect traffic delays in the area as the investigation continues through the day Monday. "It's an old Gothic church, deep-seated fire we're going to be here for some time," said Wilson. A judge has certified a 15-year-old Texas boy to stand trial as an adult in the fatal stabbing and strangling of his mother at their Houston-area home. The Galveston County Daily News reports that Chance Michael Moseley of La Marque was indicted Aug. 18 on a capital murder charge. Investigators have not indicated a motive in the September death of 33-year-old Nita Moseley. La Marque police said Nita Moseley, who was about five months pregnant, was stabbed more than 20 times. Chance Moseley was later located in Houston and charged as a juvenile. Prosecutor Kevin Petroff says a juvenile court judge earlier this month certified Moseley as an adult. If convicted, he won't face the death penalty because Texas law bars execution for people younger than 17. Southington fire officials said they are in the "final phases" of cleanup efforts for a 400-gallon chemical spill at a metals company last week. "We've captured all that we'll be able to capture," Chief Harold Clark of the Southington Fire Department said in a press conference on Monday. Officials have been investigating since last Wednesday morning, when hexavalent chromium discharged from the roof vents of the Light Metals Coloring company on Spring Street and said they have recovered all material that they can recover. Southington fire officials said the spill might have happened because of a crack in a heating water jacket and an overfilled boiler, which forced a pressure release. Clark said the fire department is about ready to turn over the rest of the cleanup and inspection to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). As of Monday, all tests for pollutants in the Quinnipiac River have come up negative or "non-detected", Clark said. The chief noted that Connecticut's dry summer could've contributed to chemicals not getting into the river. "(The dryness) stopped the flow of water in the storm drains," Clark said. "We didn't have a lot of flow into the Quinnnipaic River." However, roads in the area that were excavated when the spill first happened have come up positive for pollutants. Clark said crews will continue to test and dig up any area that still has traces of the chemicals. Since the spill, the roof of the company has been replaced and the inside of the storm drain system has been power washed, Clark said. A Waterbury man is being held on $1 million bond after trying to break into a Naugatuck home and firing gunshots at the occupied residence, police said. Police responded to Rubber Avenue on Saturday to investigate a report of gunshots, determined it was a domestic dispute and arrested Joselito Santiago, 26, of Waterbury. He is accused of trying to smash through a door to get into the house, then firing several shots at the residence and fleeing. Police said several people were in the house at the time, including an 8-year-old child, but no one was injured. Police located Santiago in Waterbury and said Waterbury Police took him into custody. He has been charged with attempted home invasion, attempted first-degree burglary, first-degree reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a pistol or revolver and additional charges. Santiago was held on a 1 million bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court today. Thousands of students went back to school in New Britain on Monday and they were not only greeted by teachers and administrators, but also by community leaders and local organizations. New Britain firefighters welcomed students at Gaffney Elementary School, giving them a big high five and a smile. "They could say hi to kids on the first day of school and like a lot of kids like firefighters and they could get excited," Jade Benitez, a fourth grader, said. Students arriving at DiLoreta Magnet School saw Lorena Bunker wearing a shirt that said Love Wins and she greeted them on behalf of The Ana Grace Project of Klingberg Family Centers. What I'm looking for are really big smiles, excitement, laughter, and just them with a ready-to-go attitude," said Bunker, an outpatient therapist at Klingberg Family Centers. Administrators said they were happy welcoming students back to school and students were excited to start the new year. "I'm actually really excited because I get to meet new people and new teachers," Aiden Diaz, a fifth grader at DiLoreta Magnet School, said. Police arrested the man they said stabbed two residents at a Wallingford apartment complex in July. Edward Hoffman Jr., 64, had been a guest to residents of the Judd Square Condominiums, where the stabbing took place, police said. The victims told Wallingford police that Hoffman was visiting for the holiday weekend from Massachusetts. When the victims went to sleep, they were awakened by Hoffman stabbing them in the buttocks, police said. While they tried to get away, the victims sustained additional stabbing wounds in the abdomen, legs and buttocks. Hoffman was eventually stabbed by one of the victims, police said. East Longmeadow Police Department in Massachusetts arrested Hoffman on Aug. 25 and he was extradited on Aug. 29 to the Wallingford Police Department. Hoffman was charged with first-degree criminal attempt to commit assault, second-degree assault. His bond was set at $50,000. Spanish acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy met with Socialist candidate Pedro Sanchez for half-an-hour on Monday, in a fruitless effort to convince his rival to abstain at an upcoming congressional vote to choose Spains new leader. As expected, Sanchez reiterated that the Socialist Party (PSOE)s 85 deputies will vote against the Popular Party (PP) candidate at the investiture debate, which begins tomorrow. The fact that the PP recently reached a deal with the emerging Ciudadanos, whose 32 representatives will support Rajoys reinstatement bid, has not swayed Sanchez. The PP, Ciudadanos and the Canaries Coalition together represent 170 out of the 176 seats required for a congressional majority. Only an abstention from other parties, if not outright support, can deliver the prime ministers position to Rajoy. The responsibility for Mr Rajoys failure will be exclusively Mr Rajoys due to his inability to articulate a majority Socialist nominee Pedro Sanchez The agreement is conservative and preserves the status quo, said Sanchez on Monday following his brief meeting with the interim prime minister. If we already had reasons to vote against [Rajoy], after his agreement with [Ciudadanos leader Albert] Rivera we have even more reasons. Sanchez is being pressured to abstain in order to let Rajoy form a government and pull Spain out of an eight-month stalemate that already includes two inconclusive general elections. Rajoy earned 123 deputies in December and 137 in the fresh election held on June 26, twice falling short of the 176-seat threshold. Even some Socialist voices have said that Sanchez should allow Rajoy to win the investiture vote so that Spaniards do not have to face the prospect of a third general election, which would take place on Christmas Day. Sign up for our newsletter EL PAIS English Edition has launched a weekly newsletter. Sign up today to receive a selection of our best stories in your inbox every Saturday morning. For full details about how to subscribe, click here. But the Socialist contender, who himself made an unsuccessful investiture bid in February of this year, says that he will not be supporting other candidates, and will not take the blame for a new election, either. The responsibility for Mr Rajoys failure will be exclusively Mr Rajoys due to his inability to articulate a majority, said Sanchez on Monday. Rajoy insists Meanwhile, Rajoy said that he will keep trying to convince the Socialists to support him one way or another. I will go to the investiture vote with 170 votes, he said following his meeting with Sanchez. As we all know, we need six more votes in favor or 11 abstentions. I will keep trying with the PSOE, which holds the key. I will keep trying because its my obligation. We urgently need to form a government because we are in an anomalous situation that is starting to undermine our credibility as a country. Spain needs a government, and that government has to be headed by the PP, which has 52 more seats than the second most-voted political force. Rajoy also told the Socialists that unblocking [the stalemate] does not constitute support, but simply allows something as reasonable as letting Spain have a government. English version by Susana Urra. The first of six public hearings on planned rail and bus fare increases will be held in Old Saybrook. The Connecticut Department of Transportation is proposing a 5 percent fare increase on the New Haven commuter rail line, including the New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury branches and Shore Line East. It would take effect Dec. 1, generating $5.9 million to help cover budget cuts. Thursday's meeting will be held at Old Saybrook Town Hall from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and later from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Additional hearings are planned in Hartford on Sept. 7, Meriden and Waterbury on Sept. 13, Stamford on Sept. 14 and New Haven on Sept. 15. DOT is also considering a 25-cent increase in the standard one-way fare on state-wide CTtransit bus services. A 17th person has been diagnosed with Zika virus in Tarrant County, public health department officials say. Tarrant County Public Health's North Texas Regional Laboratory received, tested and confirmed the sample. The patient contracted the illness while traveling in Costa Rica, a country known to have local transmission of the disease, TCPH officials said in a statement Monday. TCPH said no other health information will be released about the patient, as per usual, to protect his or her identity. Previous cases in Tarrant County were imported from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Honduras (3), Jamaica, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico (3), St. Lucia (2), St. Martin and two unknown locations. Still, no known Zika cases have been transmitted locally by mosquitoes, local health officials confirm -- all local cases have been imported with the exception of one case in Dallas County that is believed to have been spread by sexual contact. Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, a known aggressive daytime biter. Common symptoms of Zika virus include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting several days to a week, though there can be profound impact to a developing fetus should the mother contract the virus. There is no medication to treat Zika virus and there is no vaccine; the best prevention is to avoid mosquitoes and sexual contact with infected people. The recommendations for avoiding the Zika virus are the same for avoiding West Nile virus. TCPH's Zika Hotline at 817-248-6299 is available to help answer any questions residents may have about this disease. For more information on Zika virus and for other useful tips, click here. How to Protect Yourself From Mosquito Bites Dress in long sleeves, pants when outside: For extra protection, spray thin clothing with repellent. in long sleeves, pants when outside: For extra protection, spray thin clothing with repellent. DEET : Make sure this ingredient is in your insect repellent. : Make sure this ingredient is in your insect repellent. Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood: Mosquitoes can develop in any water stagnant for more than three days. It has been recommended in the past that to avoid mosquito bites you should avoid being outdoors during Dusk and Dawn (the 4 Ds). While this is true for mosquitoes that commonly carry the West Nile virus, other types of mosquitoes that are more likely to carry Zika, dengue and chikungunya are active during the day. When outdoors, no matter what time of day, adjust your dress accordingly and wear insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus as your first line of defense against insect bites. Kaitlyn Leeper is more than just an animal lover. They're her passion. "I want to help them," she said. Leeper's mom lets her keep these rescue animals all under one roof "so that they can live in a good home." But it was time for the pre-vet major to go back to school, so she went to the Lake Dallas Animal Shelter to find the perfect college companion. And there she met Theo. Leeper checked the shelter's website to find out what the $50 adoption fee included and learned they tested for feline leukemia and dewormed. But once Theo was home, Leeper became concerned. "What we noticed was kind of like a raspy noise in her chest," she said. "That's why we took her to the vet." The vet found worms, an upper respiratory infection and something more serious. "She's definitely feline leukemia positive," Leeper said. It's a virus that affects the immune system, cutting Theo's life very short and devastating Leeper. "She's my baby," she said. "I brought her in and she's sick and there's no way to cure it." For Leeper's mom, Karen, watching it all unfold has been heartbreaking. "This is my baby. She's all I have and she felt like Theo is all she has and Theo is going to die. We just don't know when." Leeper's mom checked the animal shelter's website again, but noticed some changes, including the line about testing for feline leukemia being removed. A new disclaimer had also been added saying they "cannot guarantee any animal's health or temperament." "Had they tested as they should have, had they done the things that their website says that they do that's their mission and their values, this would never had been an issue," Leeper's mother said. NBC 5 responds spoke with a Lake Dallas official on the phone. He confirmed the kitten was not tested for feline leukemia, but said their website now reflects their new policies. The city ended up paying Kaitlyn Leeper $232 for Theo's medical fees. We spoke with a local vet who has this advice for new pet owners: Always have veterinarian examine the pet within 48 hours of adoption. Make sure all vaccination and treatment records are provided and check with the shelter to see if a vet evaluates each pet before they're available for adoption. These are tips that Leeper and her mother wish they knew before adopting. An estimated 8,700 loose or stray dogs are on the streets in South Dallas. That's what a summer survey by the Boston Consulting Group found. On Tuesday, the Dallas City Council will discuss recommendations to deal with the city's growing problem. "It's going to require boots on the ground," said Deanna Sauceda, Director of the Spay Neuter Network and member of the Dallas Animal Commission. "This is not going to happen overnight. It's going to take many years for us to solve this problem that we have here in Dallas." Sauceda was one of several volunteers knocking on doors in South Dallas Sunday afternoon, letting people know about a free spay/neuter clinic at the Beckley-Saner Rec Center on September 14 and October 26. "It's much bigger than just offering free spay and neuter," Sauceda explained. "We have to earn trust with folks who live in neighborhoods who may not have access to these resources." Dog bites have gone up by 13 percent in Dallas since 2013. "Eighty-percent of those dog bites come from unaltered males," Sauceda said. "To solve this problem, we have to do it together." The Boston Consulting Group recommendations include simple changes, like taking better photos of adoptable dogs, to more extreme measures, like overhauling Dallas Animal Services. The study also recommends a massive low-cost spay and neuter program, as well as partnering with non-profits. "They need the help. They take in 100 dogs a day in the spring and summer months," said Christina Arriaga of the non-profit Rockwall Pets. She was holding an adoption day at a Petco in Rockwall. "All of the dogs today come from Dallas Animal Services." Arriaga said Rockwall Pets exclusively rescues dogs from Dallas because they need the most help. "It's just an uphill battle," she said. "There are so many coming in and now with the pressure of taking in the loose dogs, there's just even more coming in." Dallas District 8 city councilman Erik Wilson represents is included in the survey. Wilson told NBC 5 he expects the city council to follow the recommendations and hopes to get community support to solve the problem. The problem was thrust into the spotlight in May after Antoinette Brown was mauled to death by a pack of loose dogs. She was bitten more than 100 times. "Her death is not going to be in vain," Sauceda said. "Because now we have amazing focus on the problem and Dallas can step up." Family, friends and law enforcement gathered Monday morning to honor an SMU officer killed in flash floods earlier this year. Southern Methodist University police officer Mark McCullers, a U.S. Marine, was buried with full military honors at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery Monday morning. "He's home. I'm blessed and I'm thankful that they never gave up and all the searchers found -- stayed so dedicated and that we brought him home. That's the most important thing because he deserves to be home," said Tiffany McCullers, the officer's widow. On July 5, McCullers was working an off-duty private security job at a construction site along Turtle Creek in Dallas when he notified Highland Park police that water had submerged the hood of his car. Surveillance video recorded McCullers' vehicle being swept into the creek at the Fitzhugh Avenue bridge. McCullers was presumed to have drowned before his body was recovered nearly two months later. "Officer McCullers was a beloved member of our University community, a skilled and dedicated officer and a proud U.S. Marine veteran," said R. Gerald Turner, SMU President, in a statement. "We thank the many heroic men and women who searched in difficult conditions for Officer McCullers, including members of the Highland Park Department of Public Safety, Dallas Fire-Rescue, the Dallas Police Department, University Park Police Department and Texas Parks & Wildlife," Turner said. A memorial service for McCullers was held July 28 at SMU's McFarlin Auditorium. The McCullers family has established the Officer Mark McCullers Memorial Account. Donations may be made at any Wells Fargo bank to account number 9976436577, or online on PayPal. Before the civil rights struggles in Little Rock, the Birmingham bus boycott or the March on Washington, Mansfield, Texas was the scene of racial tensions on August 30, 1956. On that date in 2016, leaders will gather to celebrate the progress in race relations since then and honor people who paved the way for equality. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down racial desegregation in schools in the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision but separation remained the rule in Mansfield two years later. "This was a period of time when the people could not attend the schools here in the district," said Pastor Michael Evans of Mansfield's Bethlehem Baptist Church. In 1956, if you were an African-American student living in Mansfield or anywhere in Tarrant County, you were forced to attend school at an all-black school an hours drive away in Fort Worth. Attempts to racially integrate Mansfield High School were met with hate-filled anger. On August 30, 1956, it would be on display for the world to see. NBC 5 (then WBAP-TV) news cameras rolled as Deacon T.M. Moody led a group of black teenagers including his own nephew, Floyd Moody, to Mansfield High School. He was armed with a court order to enroll the teenagers. The response was swift and severe as hundreds of white people, some armed with shotguns and dogs, turned the students away. Many people hung effigies of black people on trees, flagpoles and on top of the entrance at Mansfield High School. Mansfield would not integrate until 1966. The events of that August day cemented Moody's leadership in the black community but made him a villain to others. "It took a lot of courage to do that," said Evans. "His life was threatened but here we are 60 years later." Moody's legacy is still evident, not only in the buildings that bear his name, but also in the district's distinction of being one of the most diverse in Texas. White students are 35 percent of the Mansfield ISD. African-Americans make up nearly 28 percent of the district. Hispanics are 25 percent and Asian-Americans account for nearly 7 percent. Pastor Evans said he owes his place on the Mansfield ISD school board to Moody. A mural in his church is a daily reminder of where the district has been and where it still must go. "We have all been made better because of our yesterdays and it causes us to be more sensitive to the strides we need to make now in 2016," said Evans. EVENTS HONORING MANSFIELD 60 Tuesday, August 30, 2017 Noon: "Prayer at the Mural" hosted by Pastor Michael Evans at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 1188 West Broad in Mansfield. 6:30 p.m.: Rev. Kyev Tatum, Pastor S. Floyd Moody, Judge L. Clifford Davis, Vivian Wells will gather at Mansfield Historical Museum and Heritage Center, 102 N. Main Street in Mansfield. The Northwest Independent School District community is invited to meet its new superintendent. Dr. Ryder Warren, the new superintendent of schools, will be available for a meet-and-greet event at the district's administration building Tuesday evening. Dr. Warren began his role as superintendent July 21. He came to North Texas from Midland ISD, where he was also superintendent. The meet-and-greet is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 30 and runs from 4:30 p.m. through 6:30 p.m. The NISD Administration Building is located at 2001 Texan Drive, in Justin. A Nashville judge has dismissed pop star Taylor Swift as a potential juror in an aggravated rape and kidnapping case. Davidson County District Attorney General's Office spokesman Ken Whitehouse says Swift told the judge on Monday that she was concerned because of an upcoming trial in Denver involving allegations she was groped by a fan at a meet-and-greet. Whitehouse says Swift told the judge she is more than willing to serve on a jury in any other type of case. Whitehouse says the judge thanked her and let her leave. Other potential jurors chatted and took selfies with the star in waiting areas before they reached the courtroom. The following content is created in consultation with Allstate. It does not reflect the work or opinions of NBC Miami's editorial staff. To learn more about Allstate, visit Allstate.com. Images of domestic violence are all too common in this country the battered spouse, the broken home, the psychological torment. But what about the smaller details that still have a profoundly negative effect on victims lives and their families? Like having to leave their homes in the middle of the night with nothing but a few belongings? Sadly, victims fleeing from domestic violence often escape dangerous homes with little or no time to pack, leaving behind things as important as their childrens school supplies or without the financial means to provide them. As a result, children are left unprepared and feeling insecure about the academic year ahead. Thats why local Florida Allstate agency owners took a stand this August with their #ChangingLives back-to-school donation drive. The result of an ongoing collaboration between The Allstate Foundation and the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV), 10 local Allstate agency owners helped provide school supplies, uniforms, and backpacks to children currently living in these centers. Over the course of the two week #ChangingLives donation drive, the 10 Allstate Agencies raised enough supplies to outfit over 50 children for the upcoming school year, while The Allstate Foundation donated $15,000 to local certified domestic violence centers. And while the children benefited from the generous outpouring of donations (some coming from as far as New York), it was the Allstate agents who felt equally blessed. I loved seeing their smiles, the happiness on their little faces and the excitement to pick and choose the book bag they loved the most from the choices they had, recalls Lisette Sanchez, a Pembroke Pines Allstate agent. One child who stayed on my mind was a boy who was very shy, about 10 or 11 years old, and didn't want to lift his head and didn't want to take anything. I joked with him and tried to make him laugh (but he didnt). To my surprise, he came back to me with a smile and asked me if his sister could have some glasses. It was a feeling of fulfillment, of giving back, echoed by all of Lisettes fellow agents. As someone who experienced domestic violence at a tender age, being able to give back was an absolute delight, said Angela Shepherd, also of Pembroke Pines. I felt such a sense of warmth and appreciation for our efforts. But it was truly our honor. In addition to the back-to-school drive, the #ChangingLives project also served to bring together local Allstate agents with the certified centers in their area as a part of a comprehensive economic justice project, Changing Lives: A Collaboration between Florida Allstate Agents and Domestic Violence Centers. By partnering with FCADV, Allstates Florida region convened a Statewide Advisory Team to help create plans for increasing financial literacy, economic justice opportunities for domestic violence survivors, and promoting activities and projects that engage Allstate agents as strong partners within their communities. Abusers often use finances as a tactic to control or trap survivors in abusive relationships. Therefore, centers offer programs that promote financial independence to help survivors be less dependent on abusive partners which can ultimately provide the means to leave and live independently, said Angela Diaz-Vidaillet, President and CEO of The Lodge, a Miami area domestic violence center. Miami Beach officials are continuing their fight against the Zika virus amid concerns about flooding and standing water in the area that could come with the impending storms forecasted for South Florida this week. Crews continue to spray the areas inside the city's "transmission zone," located between 8th and 28th streets. Officials have also been going door to door in the area, reminding residents and business owners to make sure they get rid of any standing water one of the places that mosquitoes like to propogate as well as other areas on their property that could aid in their spread. A $1,000 fine is issued for the first offense, with a $2,000 for each additional time standing water is found. Five people in the area were found to have non-travel related cases of Zika over a week ago, causing the Centers for Disease Control to advise people to avoid the area amid concerns of the virus spreading. It was the same warning issued for the Wynwood area north of downtown Miami, where the first non-travel related cases were discovered in July. So far, 43 locally transmitted cases of the virus have been confirmed in the United States, all in Florida, as of Friday. Meanwhile, Governor Rick Scott is travelling to Palm Beach County to hold another roundtable discussion after a second locally transmitted case of the Zika virus was reported there. Scott has been touring the state, hosting Zika virus events for weeks, including a roundtable discussion with officials on Miami Beach this past Friday. U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has turned back a strong primary challenge and will likely be re-elected to a seventh term in Congress. The Associated Press declared that Wasserman Schultz won her Florida Democratic primary Tuesday against law professor Tim Canova, a Bernie Sanders-backed challenger, with more than 57 percent of the vote. "The result was so incredibly gratifying," Wasserman Schultz said. "It really fills my heart to know the people I have represented said with this margin and this vote that `We know her and we have been able to count on her for all these years and we want her to keep fighting for us.' They aren't going to let millions of dollars from people outside the state decide who is going to represent our community in Washington." It was the first time Wasserman Schultz had faced a primary opponent in her heavily Democratic suburban Fort Lauderdale district. Canova had raised about $3.3 million, an extraordinary amount for a primary challenger with no political experience. She raised $3 million but got backing from a political action committee. Canova, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University and a first-time candidate, had a tough challenge in trying to top Wasserman Schultz in the District 23 race. District 23, which covers parts of Broward and Miami-Dade including Miami Beach, has been in Wasserman Schultz's hands since it was redistricted from the 20th District in 2013. Wasserman Schultz represented the 20th District beginning in 2004. Wasserman Schultz, 49, resigned as DNC chairwoman after the leak of thousands of emails by the group WikiLeaks just before the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia in July. The 19,000 emails showed that supposedly neutral party officials were favoring Hillary Clinton over Sanders during their primary contest for the presidential nomination. "I have not lost the trust in my constituents. I have maintained the trust of my constituents throughout this process, I came home after being in Philadelphia to the warmest embrace, enthusiasm all across the district," Wasserman Schultz told NBC 6 recently. Canova, 56, gained the backing of Sanders in May, and has received fundraising help from Sanders' Our Revolution organization. Wasserman Schultz has been backed by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Both have been critical of each other on a number of issues, including trade, healthcare and campaign finance. Canova has accused Wasserman Schultz of taking money from banks and corporations, while Wasserman Schultz has said Canova's funding comes from interests outside of Florida. "Who are these outside owners? They are like all of us, they are schoolteachers, they're nurses, they are working families all over the country, they were students, they are seniors," Canova said. "Look at Debbie Wasserman Schultz's outside donors. This should be the real issue." "I think it is unfortunate the way my opponent has run his campaign, that's not the kind of campaign that I run," Wasserman Schultz said. "I run on my record, I talk about the issues that are important to families and seniors across my district because I am living through those issues with them." Canova said he was putting stock is his field operation. "Hundreds of volunteers knocking on doors and they're not just knocking on doors and leaving literature, they are having conversations with people in this district," Canova said. "This is what democracy looks like, democracy is not a monologue, it is a dialogue." Wasserman Schultz will face the winner of the Republican primary, Joe Kaufman, who beat Martin Feigenbaum Tuesday. Kaufman lost the 2014 District 23 race to Wasserman Schultz by a hefty margin. Florida voters headed to the polls on Primary Day Tuesday with a number of important races needing to be decided. Polls opened in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. Anyone who is in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote. Florida law requires voters to present a picture ID with signature. If the voters picture ID does not contain a signature, an additional document with signature may be used. If you don't have a valid and current identification, you may be asked to vote using a provisional ballot. Acceptable forms of ID are: Florida driver's license Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles United States passport Debit or credit card Military identification Student identification Retirement center identification Neighborhood Association identification Public Assistance identification Florida is a closed primary state, meaning only voters who are registered members of political parties may vote for respective party candidates for an office in a primary election. Aside from some rainy weather, only a couple minor issues were reported at polling places Tuesday. At Miami Gardens Elementary, the power went out but was quickly fixed. Miami Beach Botanical Garden, a long-time polling place, was closed due to Zika spraying, and voters were directed down the street to City Hall. In Miami-Dade about 50,000 participated in early voting, with about 130,000 voting by absentee ballots. In Broward, about 43,000 early votes were cast and more than 77,000 by mail. Complete Election 2016 Results The biggest race for registered Republicans in Florida will be for Senate, where incumbent Marco Rubio looks to keep his seat after dropping out and re-entering the race. He'll try to fend off three challengers, including businessman Carlos Beruff. Democrats will also have their say in the Senate race, with five contenders on the ballot. The President Obama-backed Rep. Patrick Murphy and Rep. Alan Grayson. In South Florida, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz seeks to keep her seat in the 23rd District following her resignation as Democratic National Committee chairwoman. She'll try to fend off Tim Canova, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University and a first-time candidate. Perhaps the most important local election for Miami-Dade voters will be for county mayor, where current Mayor Carlos Gimenez faces ex-Miami-Dade School Board member Raquel Regalado. For complete information on Primary Day in Miami-Dade, including polling places and sample ballots, click here. For complete information on Primary Day in Broward, including polling places and sample ballots, click here. For complete information on Primary Day in Monroe, including polling places and sample ballots, click here. Miami-Dade Police are investigating the death of a 43-year-old man following a possible road rage incident Sunday evening. Officers responded to the scene near SW 197th Avenue and 192nd Street around 6 PM. Once there, they found the victim with a gunshot wound on the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the shooting took place after a dispute between the victim, who was driving an ATV and another driver. The other man involved stayed on the scene and was questioned by police, with charges still pending. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is catching criticism from conservationists for reeling in a 154.5-pound thresher shark off Long Island. The Democrat tweeted a picture of his catch Sunday. Cuomo's office notes he was legally permitted to keep the shark. But several social media users still criticized the decision. Shark Research Institute director Marie Levine says Monday that threshers are considered vulnerable, a conservation status just below endangered. She says that sport fishing isn't a leading shark killer but that releasing the fish would have been preferable. Levine says New York under Cuomo has taken strides to conserve sharks. Cuomo's brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, is also pictured in the photo. Earlier this month, he posted an Instagram photo of a 9-foot hammerhead the brothers caught and released. Two people were injured and dozens left homeless Sunday night by a fire that tore through a New Jersey apartment building. The fire started at about 7:30 p.m. at the Carroll Street Apartments in Paterson. More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze and had it contained in about two hours. Paterson Fire Chief Michael Postorino estimated that 10 to 20 apartments were damaged by the fire, according to The Record newspaper. Two people were taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, he said. Information about their conditions was unavailable. A Red Cross Disaster Action Team was at the apartment complex to assist at least 11 families find temporary housing, said Diane Concannon, a spokesperson for the organization. The fire probably started in an apartment and quickly spread to the attic-like space below the building's roof, the chief said. The affordable-housing complex includes ten buildings. The fire was restricted to one building, which has 16 units. What to Know Anthony Nazaire, 19, an Ithaca College student from Brooklyn, was stabbed to death during a brawl on the Cornell University campus A second student was stabbed during the fight and survived Ithaca police are examining video taken by onlookers' cellphones in an attempt to identify those involved in the fight Police investigating a brawl on the campus of Cornell University that left an Ithaca College student dead and another Ithaca student injured are asking witnesses with cellphone video of the fight to come forward. The students were stabbed around 2 a.m. Sunday during a large fight after several hundred college-age people attended a student-organized event at the Cornell student union, authorities said. Officials identified the slain student as Anthony Nazaire, a 19-year-old sophomore majoring in business administration from Brooklyn. His sister, Kiara Nazaire, said that the 19-year-old and a friend had accidentally bumped into the eventual assailants and were trying to walk away when both were stabbed. "These cowards followed them and hit his friend," Kiara Nazaire said. "Anthony tried to help and he hit the floor." Anthony Nazaire's cousin, Channelle Nazaire, told NBC 4 New York that he was an honors student and had a full scholarship. "He stood out a lot in our family," Channelle Nazaire said. Ithaca College president Rom Rochon said that Anthony Nazaire graduated from Brooklyn Theatre Arts High School and was an executive board member of Brothers4Brothers, an Ithaca College student organization dedicated to empowering men of color on our campus. "I ask that you keep Anthony's family, the student who was injured, and their friends and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers," Rochon said. Police did not identify any suspects in the stabbing, which happened as people were leaving an event organized by the Omega Psi Phi fraternity at Cornell's Willard Straight Hall. They said they were interviewing witnesses and believe based on surveillance footage that some captured the killing on video. Anthony Nazaire's godfather, Jacques Dorsainvil, told the newspaper he "was an intelligent man, polite with everyone. I don't get it, why this happened to us. Everybody knows he's a gift from God." His nephew, Khaleb Parris, said that the 19-year-old was "the best person in the universe." "He always helps me with my homework," he said. "He loves me as much as anybody." The other unidentified Ithaca student was treated at a hospital and released. Both schools said counseling would be available to students, faculty and staff. Rochon said a campuswide gathering is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday at the school's chapel. What to Know Religious rules prohibit Orthodox men and women from swimming together An attorney told one resident at the complex that as long as individuals aren't denied access to the pool completely, the rules are legal City-owned pools in Brooklyn went through a similar controversy and expanded their mixed-sex swim times A 69-year-old former postal worker and his wife are among the non-Jewish residents of a New Jersey condominium complex frustrated by rules that limit mixed-sex swimming to two hours per day Sunday through Friday. Jewish law prohibits men and women from bathing together, and the rules at A Country Place were implemented to accommodate the majority of Orthodox Jewish homeowners at the 376-unit Lakewood adult community, according to The Asbury Park Press. Anyone who violates the rules on mixed-sex swims faces a $50 fine, which was what Steve Lusardi encountered when he went for a swim with his wife earlier this summer, the newspaper said. During the summer, the pool is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, but mixed-sex swimming is permitted only 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday through Friday. There is open swimming on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. Lusardi and the few other non-Orthodox residents in the community have protested the pool rules, but Lusardi says the board won't listen. Ive been told, This is a Jewish community. Get used to it, Lusardi said. Another resident who got fined for swimming during men-only hours told The Asbury Park Press she spoke with a lawyer who told her that, under state housing non-discrimination laws, the board's rules were acceptable as long as they did not deny pool access to anyone based on sex or religion altogether. The board declined comment to The Asbury Park Press. City-owned pools in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, another area densely populated with Orthodox Jews, came under fire this summer over similar sex-specific swim schedules. The city added more mixed-sex swim times as a compromise. The sister of pop star Mariah Carey has been arrested on prostitution charges in upstate New York. Police tell the Daily Freeman of Kingston that 55-year-old Alison Carey was arrested in Saugerties Friday following an investigation at a hotel. Police say she solicited money in exchange for sex from an undercover police officer. Police describe Carey as a transient, and say she advertised her services online. Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra tells the newspaper that she identified herself as the performer's sister when she was arrested. Carey is due in Saugerties Town Court on Aug. 30. It wasn't immediately clear if she had an attorney who could comment on the charges. Authorities plan to charge the man driving a charter bus carrying flood relief volunteers that crashed in Louisiana Sunday, NBC News reported. Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, 37, will be charged with two counts of negligent homicide, reckless operation and other crimes, according to Matey. Additional charges were expected. She said Rodriguez was in the country illegally and driving without a license. Two people were killed and 41 were injured in the crash. Spencer Chauvin, 36, a fire chief from St. John the Baptist Parish, was among the fatally wounded, Louisiana State Police spokeswoman Melissa Matey said. The bus was headed to Baton Rouge Sunday morning to aid in flood relief effort when the crash occurred on Interstate 10 west of New Orleans, NBC affiliate WDSU reported. Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said Sunday the military wounded the leader of Boko Haram, his country's homegrown Islamic extremist group. Nigeria's military said last week it had "fatally wounded" Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in an airstrike, but it stopped short of saying that he was dead. Boko Haram no longer holds any Nigerian territory and the group has split into small groups attacking soft targets, said Buhari on Sunday, speaking on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference of Africa's Development in Kenya. The Nigerian government is ready to discuss the release of the Chibok girls held hostage by Boko Haram, Buhari said in a statement from his spokesman. Chibok, in northeastern Nigeria, is where nearly 300 schoolgirls were abducted from a school in April 2014. Dozens of the kidnapped girls escaped, but 218 remain missing. The government is ready to negotiate with "bona fide leaders" of the terror group who know where the girls are, Buhari said. "If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognized non-governmental organization," he said. "We want those girls out and safe. The faster we can recover them and hand them over to their parents, the better for us." Boko Haram appears to be fractured by a leadership struggle after the Islamic State group recently announced a new leader for the Nigerian based group. But Shekau has insisted he is still in charge. He had pledged the group's allegiance to the Islamic State group last year, giving IS its first franchise in sub-Saharan Africa. Boko Haram, which means "Western education is forbidden," resurfaced as a deadly force under Shekau, who took over in 2009 after a military raid on the group's compound in Maiduguri killed some 700 people and leader Mohammed Yusuf was killed in police custody. Dramatic body camera video shows a Georgia police officer rescuing a man trapped in a burning vehicle. The incident happened early on the morning of Aug. 16. The video shows Athens-Clarke County Police Senior Officer Dan Whitney arriving on scene and grabbing his fire extinguisher from his trunk to try to put the fire out. He then races to get the man, trapped in the rear seat, out of the vehicle. The impact bent the vehicle's frame and jammed all of the doors shut, forcing Officer Whitney to bend the door frame back enough to pull the man through the rear window. As he did, an explosion from under the hood knocked off the officer's hat and body cam. Police said the driver burned to death in the fire. Without Whitney's rescue, police said the passenger likely would have died. The back seat was completely melted and gutted within minutes. Other officers on scene described the heat from the fire as unbearable from 50 feet away. A prominent political family donated money to increase the reward for information on the death of a young girl who was shot and killed in Camden last week. Officials announced Sunday that philanthropist and Democratic Party leader George E. Norcross contributed $26,000 to the reward for information in the case of 8-year-old Gabby Hill-Carter, bringing the total to $50,000. Hill-Carter, an 8-year-old who lived in Camden, was shot in the head after being caught in a crossfire, police said. She died Friday when her family chose to remove her from life support, officials told NBC10. Hill-Carter was in extremely critical condition since Wednesday night when she was caught in the middle of a gang shooting at S. 8th and Spruce streets. She suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was rushed to Cooper University Trauma Center for treatment. But Friday afternoon, Hill-Carter's family said their goodbyes to the girl. They sat by her side as she drew her last breath. Family Photo Camden County Police, state prosecutors and federal agents have been searching for four men believed to be involved in the shooting. Hundreds of loved ones gathered on the same block where the girl was killed Saturday night for a candlelight vigil. "I love my baby so much and I wish she was still here," said the girl's mother Marissa. Anyone with information on the shooting should call the Camden tip line at (856) 757-7042 or the Citizen's Crime Commission at (215) 546-TIPS. "Feel the pain that the family is feeling and then come forward," said Darryl Mack, the girl's uncle. "See the visuals. Hear our voices." This Wednesday, Aug. 31, is International Overdose Awareness Day. NBC10 this week is revisiting the stories of people you first met earlier this year in Generation Addicted, our in-depth special report on the heroin and opioid epidemic in our region and beyond. Watch Generation Addicted again this Wednesday at 7 p.m., only on NBC10. DAYS BEFORE her son's 23rd birthday, Angel Miller came face-to-face with exactly what she feared might happen: She found her son, Michael, in their Philadelphia home with a needle in his arm. "He was relapsing," Angel Miller said on Monday, tears shining in her eyes. "He was hiding it pretty well, but I kept finding stuff pawned." Michael Miller, whose story was featured in NBC10's in-depth special report, Generation Addicted, battled opioid and heroin addiction for the past two years after a friend encouraged him to try prescription painkillers. He got hooked, and soon, he was injecting heroin. For Michael, recovery proved to be like holding sand. Just as he'd get a grip on it, it would slip away -- a slow trickle at first, as he'd take liberties using his Suboxone prescription to achieve a small high. Then in a crushing wave, when he'd find himself back in Kensington copping heroin on a corner to mainline into the crook of his arm. So when her son seemed to achieve a stint of sobriety earlier this year, Angel, a psychiatrist assistant who helps people get into drug rehabs, was wary. She had a feeling Michael's battle may not have been over then, and her intuition was on: She started to suspect Michael was using again in the spring, and in April, she opened the bathroom door in the family's Wissinoming apartment to find Michael shooting heroin. "I said, 'You gotta go.' I'm not doing this," Angel told NBC10 on Monday. "I'm not gonna open the bathroom door and you're dead on the floor." In the heart of Philadelphias open drug market, theres an artery carrying drug addicted people to their high. A story from our award-winning 2016 special report on the heroin epidemic: Generation Addicted: The New War on Addiction. But this time, Angel said, Michael seemed to have a new resolve to leave behind the drug that stole his dream of graduating Drexel University with an engineering degree and nearly killed him several times. "This time, he wanted to go. That's the difference," Angel said. "He was ready. He was packing his bags, and he was ready to go." Michael thrived in his new rehab program, Angel said, and spent a little more than a month there, then won a scholarship to move into a $175-a-week sober-living house in Levittown. Now, Michael has logged four and a half months sober -- his longest stretch of sobriety in a long time, his mom said. He got a job working for a company that prepares houses for people to move in, and goes to support group meetings every day with friends from his recovery house. Angel said the other young men in the house provide a solid network that Michael didn't have back home in Philadelphia, where many of his longtime friends are themselves battling addiction. Michael plans to eventually become a counselor to help other people out of addiction, both he and his mother said. WATCH Michael Tell His Story: Michael Miller tried taking prescription painkillers when he was younger. Over time, his use grew stronger. Now, hes addicted to heroin and desperately trying to get his life back on track. NBC10 spent time with Michael to understand how addiction controls his life. A New Jersey Transit Police officer is being hailed a hero after he pulled a man off the tracks seconds before a train arrived. Surveillance video shows NJ Transit officer Victor Ortiz struggling to pull a man to safety at the Secaucus Junction station in Secaucus, New Jersey, Friday. In the clip, the man is lying on the tracks and resists Ortizs efforts to pull him away. Ortiz finally gets the man off the tracks seconds before a speeding train arrives. NJ Transit Officer Ortizs selfless and heroic actions demonstrated a level of bravery and a true sense of compassion and purpose that often goes unrecognized but is ever present in our law enforcement community, a New Jersey Transit spokesperson wrote in a released statement. NJ Transit could not be more proud of Victor Ortiz and of the New Jersey Transit Police Department and we hope this serves as a stark reminder of what these men and women do every single day to keep us safe throughout this state. The girlfriend of Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams is accused of vandalizing two of his city-owned vehicles last year. Stacey Cummings, 47, was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and possession of an instrument of crime. Police say Cummings flattened the tires of a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria and a 2010 Ford Escape that were parked at Williams home back on November 11, 2015. Police say both vehicles were assigned to the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office. Cummings surrendered to police Sunday, according to officials, and is charged with two misdemeanors. Williams described Cummings as his girlfriend in his political financial disclosures. A spokesperson for Williams said the case was moved to Delaware County in order to avoid a possible conflict of interest. David Thornburgh, the President and CEO of the government watchdog group Committee of Seventy, told NBC10 he found it troubling how long it took the case to leave Philly. "It raises a whole other set of questions to be answered," he said. "It's another seeming example of the mixing between the personal and the professional which I think troubles people at some point." Williams recently released financial disclosures which revealed more than $160,000 in gifts, including a $45,000 roof for his house. The disclosures also showed Cummings gave him a $6500 rolex watch and $1100 in suits and dress shirts. "While this is a distraction, it's not my distraction," said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. "It's something he's going to have to talk about." Mayor Kenney said voters will decide what to do about the District Attorney's scandals in May when he runs for re-election. Kenney also said he's unsure if Cummings, who is a city employee, will keep her job. "She shouldn't have done it," Kenney said. "She apparently admitted doing it and she shouldn't have done it." It cost the city just under $1,000 to fix the slashed tires. One of those tires also appeared to have been on the District Attorney's security detail. Police are searching for a man on a bicycle who they say groped a woman in South Philadelphia. A woman told police she was walking along the 1600 block of Bainbridge Street Saturday at 11 p.m. when an unidentified man on a bicycle rode by and groped her before fleeing the scene. Police described the suspect as a Hispanic man in his 20s who was wearing a white t-shirt and tan pants. The reported assault follows similar incidents earlier this month in South Philadelphia in which a man on a bike groped four women. Police have not yet confirmed whether Saturdays incident is connected to the earlier sexual assaults. If you have information on any of the incidents, please call Philadelphia Police. Curfew questions hung over the shooting of three teenagers in Philadelphias Grays Ferry neighborhood overnight. Gunfire rang out near Etting and Tasker streets just after midnight, said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small early Monday. A 17-year-old boy approached an officer at 27th and Dickinson streets -- after the officer heard gunshots -- and said he had been shot nearby, said police. "(Police) found three victims -- a 16-year-old male was shot twice in his leg, a 17-year-old male was shot once in his leg and another 16-year-old male was shot once in his lower back," said Small. Police rushed both boys shot in their legs to Presbyterian Hospital while medics rushed the boy shot in his back to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The boys were listed in stable condition early Monday, said Small. The shooting appeared to be a shootout between two groups or two people -- one possibly in a older Nissan Maxima or Altima that sped off from the scene, said Small. Police hoped surveillance cameras could help them track down the shooters. It was unclear if the boys were innocent victims or involved in the shooting, said investigators. Bullets struck three parked cars as well. The investigation went beyond the scope of just the shooting. "They should not have been out this late," said Small. "They're juveniles, they're not adults so therefore they have to adhere to the curfew rules and they should have been in, they should have been home. These curfew rules protect people form not only committing crimes but from being victims of crimes." Police hope surveillance cameras could help them track down the shooters. A man accused of running an unlicensed funeral home in West Philadelphia where police found decomposing bodies will face trial in October, a judge decided on Monday. Blair Hawkins, 53, would have faced trial beginning on Monday, but the District Attorney's Office requested the continuance, as one of their witnesses was unavailable, according to court documents. The judge agreed to reschedule the trial to Oct. 3. Police arrested Hawkins, of Laurel Springs, NJ, last year after they found three bodies not properly stored in Hawkins Funeral Service, on the 5300 block of Vine Street. One of the bodies was embalmed in a coffin in a non-ventilated room and two others were decomposing, authorities said at the time. Investigators also discovered two unmarked, non-medical bags of human organs inside the building. Hawkins at the time told NBC10 that the state investigation that found the questionable conditions, sparked by a tip from the public, was all a result of a misunderstanding. "The bodies, we have paperwork," Hawkins told NBC10. "They're gonna be cremated. They're authorized. We don't refrigerate bodies that are being cremated." Hawkins faces three counts of abuse of corpse charges. Florida's major theme parks are now offering free bug repellent to visitors as concerns about mosquito-transmitted Zika virus mount. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando on Sunday began offering the mosquito spray and lotion free of charge at their parks. No mosquito-transmitted case of the Zika virus has been found in central Florida. But theme park officials say they're offering the repellent as a precaution and to ease the fears of visitors. The Department of Health is investigating mosquito-transmitted Zika cases in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties in South Florida, as well as in Pinellas County in the Tampa area. Zika causes a mild illness in most people but can lead to severe brain-related birth defects if women are infected during pregnancy. On Friday, Miami Beach city officials took part in a roundtable discussion with Governor Rick Scott and others, discussing the strategy at both the state and local level to fight the spread of the mosquito-borne disease. Also Friday, the Food and Drug Administration announced it wants all U.S. blood banks to start screening for Zika virus, a major expansion intended to protect the nation's blood supply from the mosquito-borne disease. Up to 12 people, including local bouncers, could face criminal charges in the death of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) following a fight in San Diego's iconic Gaslamp Quarter, a San Diego Police Homicide Lieutenant said. Conner Kepple, 21, was involved in a 'violent confrontation' at a bar near E Street and Fourth in the Gaslamp Quarter on March 5, five days before his death. He did not immediately seek medical attention. However, in the days after the fight, he went to the hospital three times. According to the medical examiners investigative report unsealed Saturday, Kepple visited Sharp Grossmont Hospital on March 6 with pain to his left thigh. Medical staff released him with pain and anti-inflammatory medication. Kepple went to Sharp Grossmont Hospital the following day with complaints of worsening pain and onset of nausea and headache. Medics treated and released Kepple with possible compartment syndrome. The next morning on March 8, physicians asked him to return to the hospital. When Kepple arrived at the hospital, physicians say he was septic and required intubation. They diagnosed him with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare flesh eating disease, and he underwent massive debridement of the left thigh, flank and abdomen. The ME report says Kepples condition continued to deteriorate and his family ultimately elected to withdraw care. Kepple died March 10, on his 21st birthday. The Medical Examiner's office ruled his death a homicide due to complications of blunt force trauma. SDPD Homicide Lt. Manny Del Toro said his unit had considered homicide an option all along, and have now turned the case over to the District Attorney's office to evaluate for potential criminal liability. "It wasn't a clear cut case for us. No arrests have been made," Toro told NBC 7 San Diego. "That's why we sought the assistance of the district attorney's office to help us sort this out as far as criminal liability in this case." Toro said detectives have identified up to 12 people who were hands-on with Kepple between the night of March 4 into the morning of March 5. They can now link that night with his untimely death on the 10th, with the help of the ME's office, Toro said. During their investigation, authorities have interviewed witnesses, reviewed surveillance video, and more. Toro said one or possibly all 12 of the individuals the department has identified as hands-on with Kepple could potentially face criminal charges. At least one of the suspects are local bouncers in the area, Toro said. As of Monday, Toro said they do not know which suspects will be charged. "As far as some of the egregious acts that occurred, we have identified individuals who we believe intended to hurt Mr. Kepple that evening," Toro said. The challenge investigators faced when looking into Kepple's death was the space of time between his injury and death, Toro said. "The challenge initially was that the death occurred on the 10th, which is when the homicide unit inherited the case," Toro said. "So we had to trace anything back to basically anything that happened potentially between March 5th and the 10th, which potentially could have killed him, if there was such an incident...But then again, we also had the challenge of, was it an incident that occurred inside a business out on the sidewalk, and when did it occur?" Kepple worked for MaxCare ambulance as an EMT. He is survived by his parents, an older brother and a younger sister. A 25-year-old man is now being held in jail on suspicion of fatally shooting a Skyline teenager as the teen was standing on a street corner earlier this month. San Diego police investigators on Monday identified the suspect as Deshaun Prescott, who was already in custody for a probation violation. Investigators filed paperwork to add a charge of murder against him. Investigators said another suspect in the Aug. 2 killing of Greggory Davis, 18, has not yet been identified. "We do have one other male we're working to try to identify. So, if the public can give us any assistance in identifying who Mr. Prescott's associate was that night, we could potentially get another murderer off the streets," said Manny Del Toro, with San Diego police. Davis, who had just graduated high school, was killed and another man was injured in a shooting at 5:40 p.m. on 61st and Alderley streets. He was standing with a group of people near the intersection when they were approached by two men on foot. The suspects opened fire on the group using handguns and then ran eastbound on Alderley, police said. Davis was shot in the upper body. The second victim, identified as 25-year old Avery Ealy, was shot once in the leg. Both victims were rushed to Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, where Davis died. After the shooting, a woman who lived down the street from Davis set up a memorial in her front yard, where other neighbors came to mourn. "He was the sweetest kid," neighbor Carrie Heard reflected on Monday. "He didn't deserve this at all." Further information on a possible motive was not released. Police believe the shooting was gang related, but they say Davis was not part of a gang; the suspects are accused of firing toward other gang members. Anyone with information is asked the San Diego Police Departments homicide unit or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Six months after what students called a "play fight" at Lincoln High School, the president of the San Diego Schools Police Officers Association is frustrated. Were extremely disappointed in the way the school district is handling the discipline of a student who battered not just a school employee but a police officer," said association president Jesus Montana. In February a 16-year-old student was tased during the incident after allegedly hitting a school police officer, wounding him. The student should have been recommended for expulsion," said Montana. Instead of being expelled, and while the officer is still recovering from his injuries, one of the teens charged with the assault is returning to Lincoln High Monday for the first day of school. Superintendent Cindy Marten issued a statement that reads in part: " ....I went with Chief Littlejohn to be at the hospital bedside of the officer injured at Lincoln. I continue to hope for that officer's full recoveryI've been clear the primary job of the schools is educating children, and we cannot let anything get in the way of their access to a good education." Montana said there was an agreement with the district for both the student and the officer to be transferred to different schools, but only the officer will be involuntarily transferred after he recovers from his injuries. For the officers its a sense of betrayal, mistrust and not knowing if the district will have their back in the future if politics will lead the decision," said Montana. The District's 911 system went down for 90 minutes over weekend because a building engineer hit an all-stop emergency shutoff button, officials said Monday. The city's 911 system stopped working Saturday night after 11 p.m. It was back in service by about 1 a.m., said officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, who tweeted updates during the outage. The engineer who hit the button at D.C.'s 911 call center was looking for a plumbing leak that threatened highly sensitive equipment. D.C. emergency officials plan to add more security and signage to limit access to the button involved in the outage. Chris Geldart, director of the District of Columbia's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, said Sunday that power from Pepco flowed normally into the system and was not the source of the failure. Geldart said Sunday it was not a normal type of failure, but there was nothing nefarious about it, and there was no hacking into the system. Officials did not have an accurate number of missed calls during the outage. The fire and EMS department said they received 30 EMS calls and five fire calls to the 10-digit backup number used during the outage. The police department said they had five dispatch calls. Virginia State Police captured the driver they say ran away from the scene after a fatal crash on the Capital Beltway in Fairfax County. Officers found the man, on foot, about two hours after the 2 a.m. crash. The suspect was driving a Nissan Maxima south on I-495 when he rear-ended a Toyota Camry near the Little River Turnpike exit in Annandale, police said. The force of the crash sent the Camry spinning into the adjacent express lanes, where it hit a barrier, police said. The Maxima went off the right side of the road, hit the guardrail and spun back across the southbound lanes into the express lanes. Five family members were in the Camry, police said. A man, a woman and two juveniles were taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital and were treated and released. The mother of the two juveniles, 52-year-old Elmi Suada of Minnesota, died at the scene. Police searched by air and with dogs for the driver of the Maxima. They found 23-year-old Nicholas V. Hammond of Fairfax walking along an Annandale street about 4 a.m., police said. Hammond is charged with DUI, manslaughter, hit-and-run and driving on a suspended license. The search for a 79-year-old Maryland woman has come to a sad end. Prince George's County police say Mary Butler was found dead in Pennsylvania Sunday, nearly four weeks after she vanished from her senior living apartment on Indian Head Highway. Butler's body was found 129 miles away in a rural area of Orrstown, Pennsylvania, according to police. She was last seen Aug. 5. Butler's family told police her disappearance is very uncharacteristic. "I just cant understand this, where she is, where she could be. Its tearing me apart. Its tearing me apart," Valerie Wilcox, Butler's daughter, said earlier this month. Wilcox said her mother kept a regular routine and was in constant communication with family and friends. She did not have dementia or Alzheimer's. "The first thing we did was check the parking lot, and her car wasnt there, so we knew something was wrong, because she doesnt drive anywhere in the dark," Wilcox said. Police said there does not appear to be any foul play. "You know, she always told me that ... she was like, 'I dont know what I would do without you' but I dont know what I'm going to do without her," Wilcox said.. It's that time of year! Thousands of students in Maryland and Virginia went back to school Monday. In Montgomery County, over 159,000 students started school. The county is the state's largest school district and it continues to grow. ""We're going to welcome back about 2,500 more students than we ended last year with so we have to have a bus and a good learning environment for every student that walks through the door," said Montgomery County Superintendent Jack Smith. Students in Loudoun and Prince William counties also went back to class, starting school a week before the traditional post-Labor Day start date. Two new schools opened their doors in Prince William County. The district, the second largest in the state, also welcomed about 1,000 new students and 800 new teachers. "Space is a premium now," said Prince William County Superintendent Dr. Steven Walts. "Trying to acquire land is a big, big challenge and trying to get communities involved in a way that they want to support a new school is a bit more challenging." Outside Group to Run Prince George's Head Start Program The head start program in Prince George's County also began Monday despite the loss of a $6.4 million grant. The Community Development Institute, which is based in Denver, Colorado, will run the early-childhood education program on an interim basis until a permanent agency is chosen. Federal officials stripped the school's Head Start program of a $6.4 million grant after complaints of abuse and poor teacher training surfaced during an investigation. Kenneth Wolfe, a spokesman for the federal agency that funds Head Start, says teachers and staff currently in the Head Start program will have to reapply for their jobs and be hired through CDI. More than 930 Prince George's County students between the ages of 3 and 5 are in the Head Start Program. Police are searching for a driver who may have witnessed a fatal hit-and-run in Reston, Virginia. A 76-year-old woman was struck about 5:20 p.m. Sunday at 11400 North Shore Drive near the Lake Anne Plaza shopping area, Fairfax County Police said. She was not in a crosswalk. The victim, Hung Soon Seo, was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries Sunday night, police said. The victim lived at a nearby senior living apartment building. Residents said she hadn't been there very long. Many residents walk back and forth to shop. Police initially said the culprit was driving a newer model black Nissan Altima with tinted windows and front silver trim, but they now say the driver of that vehicle may have been a witness. They want to talk to that driver. Suspect veh: Newer model blk Nissan Altima w/ tinted windows & front silver trim. Pic not actual suspect veh. (2/3) pic.twitter.com/Pt59PuxglS Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 29, 2016 Anyone with information is asked to call police at 703-280-0543. A Boston Duck Boat was damaged on Sunday after striking an overpass on Storrow Drive, according to Massachusetts State Police. Authorities said the amphibious tour bus struck the overpass right before Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at about 2:20 p.m. The impact ripped the tarp off the boat and damaged a ladder. Boston firefighters assisted in helping 20 passengers off the vehicle. No injuries were reported. A statement from company spokesperson Joe Baerlein reads, "A first year Driver was diverted off the standard tour route due to Beacon Hill (Beacon Street) being closed. The rear part of the Duck, Miss Emma Science, made contact with the overpass and has some damage to the convertible roof and ladder but nobody on board was injured, for which the company is grateful. Duck Boats do not typically travel on Storrow Drive and the drivers actions, although not intentional, will be under review by company safety experts who will conduct a thorough analysis of this event. A Rhode Island school bus driver has been charged in connection with a 1990 cold case murder in New York City. Authorities say 48-year-old Zunilda Rosario was taken into custody Thursday after she landed at JFK International Airport following a trip to the Dominican Republic. The Providence woman has been accused of killing her then-boyfriend, 19-year-old Juan Deleon, in February 1990. Deleon was found fatally shot in his Harlem apartment. Rosario was arrested following the new testimony of a reported eye witness. Jen Biddinger, a spokeswoman for First Student, says Rosario has been driving for the company since 2000 and she passed a background check. Rosario's family declined to comment. Police in Colchester, Vermont, evacuated at least 20 people from an apartment building and took a man into custody after finding some crude explosive devices inside. Police say they were called to the building at 309 Ethan Allen Ave. about 2 a.m. Monday for a disturbance and found what appeared to be multiple Molotov cocktails inside the residence of Ethan Kvasnak, 28. The state police bomb squad and hazardous response team were called and 23 apartments were evacuated. Kvasnak will be arraigned Monday in Vermont Superior Court on charges of possession of a destructive device, aggravated disorderly conduct and unlawful mischief. It's not clear if he has an attorney. The victim in the St. Paul's sex abuse case is speaking out for the first time in an exclusive interview on the Today Show Tuesday morning. A year after she took the stand in Merrimack County Superior Court, the teenager is expected to talk about what it was like to testify against Owen Labrie and how she was treated on the New Hampshire campus after the 2014 assault. Lyn Schollett, the executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, says most victims don't even report to police, never mind take their story to a national stage. "A statement of bravery and it's something that works for her and we support her," Schollett said. The girl was a freshman at the time of the assault, 15 years old and coerced by a 19-year-old senior to have sex in a secluded room at St. Paul's. The high-profile case attracted worldwide attention, Schollett says, making it even more difficult for Labrie's victim. "Many sex assault victims, like the one in this case, experience shaming, blaming, public ridicule even being targeted by bullies when they are public," Schollett said. Schollett says Tuesday's interview could bring even more criticism, but that in this case, the rewards outweigh the risks. "It empowers the victim, it allows a survivor of an incredible violent crime to take back the power that was taken away from them," Schollett said. There's a lot more going on this case. The victim's parents filed a civil suit against St, Paul's School in June for allegedly failing to protect their daughter. Meanwhile, Owen Labrie has filed a motion for a new trial claiming ineffective counsel. His attorney told necn Monday they have no comment regarding the Today Show interview. A teen accused of being under the influence while he was behind the wheel in a deadly crash in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, over the weekend faced a judge Monday. Investigators say 19-year-old Joseph Kapp was behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer early Saturday morning when he lost control and slammed into several trees along Hollis Road. Two passengers were in the vehicle. One of them, 18-year-old Austin "AJ" Robbins, was killed. Another teenager was injured. Kapp made bail and was ordered to surrender his passport and to submit to random testing for drugs and alcohol. He's been charged with motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence, operating under the influence causing serious bodily injury, operating under the influence and operating under the influence with negligent operation. Lunenburg's police chief says he used to warn kids about incidents like this. He said, "I used to tell the Drivers Ed kids, 'look around you, one of you is not going to be here at graduation or right after and who is that going to be?'" A Vermont woman who says her landlord broke into her apartment and stole three kittens is facing some legal trouble of her own, NBC5 reports. Police say Megan Wilcox of St. Johnsbury reported a burglary Friday night, claiming that Kim Bedor broke in through a window, taking her pets and some cat food. According to police, Bedor hid the kittens upstairs in her own unit. When Wilcox went upstairs to confront her landlord, police say Bedor asked her to leave. Because she refused, Wilcox was given a citation for trespassing, according to the report. Bedor, meanwhile, was cited for burglary. The kittens named Hazen, Paisley and Sylvester were returned home to Wilcox. An Uber driver charged with sex-related offenses and motor vehicle violations in Everett, Massachusetts, was ordered held on $10,000 bail Monday. Twenty-eight-year-old Paul Griffin of Malden is accused of exposing his genitals to a female passenger over the weekend. Everett police say that on Sunday, the victim reported that a man in a grey Dodge Caravan exposed himself to her, and that it had happened before. She gave investigators the vehicle's registration plate number and the suspect's description. Officers found the vehicle on Ferry Street by Glendale Park, and after trying to stop it, the suspect's vehicle drove into oncoming traffic on Ferry Street. The car turned onto a dead end street, and the Griffin allegedly ran away on foot. He was eventually taken into custody after a chase through several yards and streets. Griffin was charged with open and gross lewdness, lewd and lascivious conduct, failure to stop for police, reckless driving and resisting arrest. Police say Griffin is also under investigation for similar incidents in other cities and towns. None of the other alleged incidents happened while he was driving passengers for Uber. Griffin was held on $5,000 for this incident and $5,000 for a previous incident in Malden. A GPS device was requested and he's no longer allowed to drive for Uber. Griffin was also ordered to have no contact with females under 18 years of age. A future court date was not established. It happens every year thousands of students descend upon Boston as they move into school. To curb the impact of the mass influx, the city is enacting a series of temporary road restrictions between Aug. 31 through Sept. 5. Allston/Brighton is the first area to be affected. Wednesday and Thursday, sections of Brainerd Road and Walbridge Street will be one-way, with left and right turns becoming prohibited at a slew of intersections. From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, parking will be banned in many areas. Thursday, heavy traffic is expected in all of Mission Hill. That day, St. Alphonsus Street will be one-way from Calumet square to Tremont Street, as will Calumet Street toward Wait Street and Parker Hill Avenue from Huntington Avenue to Hillside Street. All day, police plan to tow any cars parked on dozens of specified Mission Hill streets. Between Thursday and Monday, parking will not be allowed in much of the Fenway area. Saturday and Sunday in that neighborhood, Forsyth Street will be one-way heading toward Hemenway Street. From Friday through Monday, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Columbus Avenue in Roxbury will be one-way from Camden Street to the Ruggles MBTA Station. There will be parking restrictions on Coventry Street, Camden Street and Columbus Avenue during parts of that period. See when students move into each school, via their academic calendars: Maine Republicans are deciding what kind of action to take against Gov. Paul LePage after a number of controversial issues last week. Monday morning, Republican members of the House and Senate held an emergency meeting in private to discuss options, including a censure, or a formal reprimand of the governor's behavior. "The appropriate thing is to have a direct meeting with the governor and discuss what's going on," said Senate President Michael Thibodeau. He, and House Minority Leader Ken Fredette, said they hope to have a private meeting with the governor as soon as possible to discuss his recent behavior, which they condemned. At a town hall last week, LePage said 90 percent of drug suspects in his three-ringed binder are either black or Hispanic. When Rep. Drew Gattine (D-Westbrook) heard about those remarks, he called them "racially charged." LePage then left Gattine a voicemail, daring him to prove he's a racist while using an anti-gay slur and other profanities. The governor later told reporters he wanted to challenge Gattine to a duel and aim his gun between his eyes. "If anybody did that, that was an employee of a corporation in this state, there would be ramifications," said Thibodeau. Republican Sen. Amy Volk is suggesting a censure would be appropriate after she wrote in a Facebook post that Gov. LePage could be dealing with mental health or substance abuse issues. Democratic party leaders said a censure would not be enough to address LePage's behavior. "We saw actions from the Governor that really make us question whether he can perform the duties of his office," said Rep. Sara Gideon (D-Freeport). Gideon and other Democratic leaders have written a letter to Republicans calling on them to take action against the governor. Gideon said if Republicans simply censure him, or decline to take action, Democrats will do something. "There are a couple options on the table," she said. "Could impeachment be one of them? It could." "The governor has displayed behavior that indicates he is not in control of himself and is unfit to carry out the serious duties of his office. That is the fundamental problem, and it can only be resolved by his stepping down from office," a spokesperson for Democratic leaders said in a statement. The iPhone's autocorrect feature is often a help, but also a major source of embarrassment. So much so there is a whole website dedicated to nothing but embarrassing autocorrect moments. Those are merely embarrassing moments. Microsoft Excel, the de facto spreadsheet application in the world, is making a mess of scientific papers all over the world thanks to the software's own auto-format and autocorrect functions. According to the BBC, a report from the Melbourne, Australia-based academic institute Baker IDI, found four 704 errors in genetic names in 3,597 published scientific papers. That's almost 20 percent of all papers. For example, Excel changed the name of a gene called SEPT2 (short for Septin) to a date, September 2. + Also on Network World: Does your smartphone embarrass you? + It's unfair to fault Microsoft or Excel in an instance like that. What do you think of first when you see "Sept2," the second of September or Septin 2? Unless you're a geneticist, it's September second. And I don't think this should lie on Microsoft's head, either. Now that they know, scientists should be much more careful in their data entry and make sure to catch these changes. They also have the option of turning off auto-format as they type. Thankfully, the scientists agreed. Ewan Birney, director of the European Bioinformatics Institute, told the BBC he doesnt blame Excel or Microsoft, but his fellow scientists. "What frustrates me is researchers are relying on Excel spreadsheets for clinical trials," he told the Beeb. The Excel gene renaming issue has been known among the scientific community for more than a decade, and it should only be considered for "lightweight scientific analysis." Birney said the scientific community has known about this since 2004, but rather than address the problem, errors in scientific papers have simply gone up "at a rate of 15 percent per year." I don't know about you, but I find that level of sloppiness by scientific researchers to be very disturbing. What else are they screwing up? I don't blame scientists for using Excel. Where else can you get an easier-to-use row-and-column database, which is essentially what it is? OpenOffice and LibreOffice, obviously, but chances are these scientists had Microsoft Office on their work PCs and used what they were given. Excel is the simplest way to set up a database; you just plug in your data and go. Only now, you have to be more careful with what you plug in. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark started her three days Greenland visit together with Mary Foundation, which will last between the dates of August 29-31. The conference of Foundation of Crown Princess Mary is held in Greenland this year. The purpose of the conference is to focus on violence and to strengthen the cooperation of different cultures. On the first day of her visit, the Crown Princess visited Sikkersoq children's day care center. Then, the Crown Princess attended a meeting on gender equality, social affairs and justice and visited Nuuk shelter, talked to the personnel and the residents of the shelter. Cranston East no match for Portsmouth With their 36-6 victory on Friday night, the Patriots clinched the top seed in their half of Division II. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The risk of traffic accidents is increased by 50% in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) compared to age and gender matched controls, according to a Danish nationwide registry study presented at ESC Congress 2016 today. "Driving after ICD implantation is an area of great debate and concern for both doctors and patients," said lead author Dr Jenny Bjerre, a physician at Herlev and Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. "Our study provides contemporary data suggesting that the risk of motor vehicle accidents is in fact increased following ICD implantation when compared to controls." ICDs are widely used to prevent sudden cardiac death in patients with an increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias (primary prevention) and in patients who have survived a life-threatening arrhythmia, including cardiac arrest (secondary prevention). The number of ICD implantations has increased dramatically over the past decades, now reaching almost 100 000 yearly implants in ESC member countries. Due to the risk of arrhythmias and potential loss of consciousness while driving, patients with an ICD are temporarily restricted from driving following ICD implantation and/or ICD shock. However, contemporary data to support these recommendations are lacking and the restrictions have a negative influence on patients' quality of life. The study by Dr Bjerre and colleagues was conducted at The Cardiovascular Research Centre at Herlev and Gentofte University Hospital in Denmark. Using nationwide registers, the researchers identified all Danish residents who received a first ICD for primary or secondary prevention between 2008 and mid-2012. Motor vehicle accidents were recorded from nationwide registers on accidents and deaths. The study included 4874 ICD patients and a control group of 9748 subjects matched by age and gender. Participants were 63 years old on average. During an average follow-up period of 2.5 years, 2.3% of ICD patients were in contact with a hospital following a motor vehicle accident, compared to only 1.7% of the control population. Over time, this translated into a 51% increased risk of motor vehicle accidents in ICD patients compared to controls. There was no detectable difference in accident risk between primary and secondary prevention ICD patients. Although higher than in the control population, the overall rate of motor vehicle accidents in ICD patients was low (1.0 to 1.4% within the first year after implantation), and the researchers observed no deaths due to motor vehicle accidents in patients with an ICD. Dr Bjerre said: "To date, driving recommendations for ICD patients are based on data from small studies in a few highly selected patients. The Danish nationwide registers provided a unique opportunity to investigate the subject in a 'real world' ICD population." "Due to the retrospective nature of the study we are unable to conclude that ICDs cause traffic accidents," continued Dr Bjerre. "However, because the control population was generally healthier and took fewer medically prescribed drugs, we speculate that the observed increased risk of motor vehicle accidents in the ICD population is likely a consequence of the underlying cardiovascular disease, rather than the ICD device itself." Blacktrace Holdings Limited, a leading group of companies focused on Productizing Science, will be launching its latest brand, Particle Works, at the NANOTEXNOLOGY 2016 conference in Thessaloniki, Greece, from the 4th to the 8th of July. The Blacktrace groups many years of expertise and world-leading capabilities in the design, development and manufacture of automated microfluidic continuous flow equipment provide the perfect foundation for this newly created brand specializing in high performance nano- and microstructured materials. Particle Works designs and fabricates a wide range of metal nanoparticles, quantum dots and hydrogels with tight control of critical parameters such as particle size, shape and architecture and supplies them with comprehensive characterization data. These standard products are designed to maximize material performance including catalytic activity, magnetic strength and optical resonance helping to standardize processes and accelerate development across a wide range of disciplines. The Particle Works team can also provide customer-specific services to simplify and accelerate proof of principle, materials optimization and scale-up studies. Omar Jina, Chief Commercial Officer at Blacktrace Holdings, commented: We are delighted to announce the launch of Particle Works. This newest addition to our group of companies perfectly complements our world-leading capabilities in the design, development and manufacture of continuous flow and automated chemistry equipment, and extends our global range of products and services to include precision manufactured nano- and microstructured materials. For more information, visit: www.particle-works.com About Particle Works Particle Works manufactures high-performance nano- and microstructured materials with precisely controlled particle size, shape and architecture. Particle Works is a brand of Blacktrace Holdings Ltd (www.blacktrace.com), a world leader in Productizing Science. Our Head Office is based in Royston (near Cambridge), UK and we have regional offices in the USA, Japan, India and Brazil. Our range of products include Metal Nanoparticles (Gold and Cobalt Nanoparticles), Quantum Dots, Hydrogels (Alginate Beads) and PLGA Beads (custom microencapsulations) suitable for use in many applications such as lateral flow assays, bioimaging, targeted drug delivery, cell growth etc. To find out more about Particle Works, please visit: www.particle-works.com. Since 2009, United States residents have adopted more children from China than any other country. Since China has a high prevalence of cleft lip and palate, some of these children require extra medical care early in their lives. Many prospective families are fearful of the treatment costs needed by a child affected by cleft lip and palate. However, recent research suggests that the costs are not nearly as high as previously thought. A study conducted between 2010 and 2013 and published in The Cleft PalateCraniofacial Journal reviewed the records of 138 patients from the Childrens Hospital of Pennsylvania who underwent first-time cleft palate repair. For the purposes of the study, 118 US-born children were surveyed against 20 international adoptees, with payments to surgeons, anesthesiologists, and the hospital compared between the two groups. When analyzing the breakdown of payments made by parents of children with cleft palates, they made a few surprising finds. Twenty-six percent of US-born children were covered by Medicaid insurance, but none of the adoptees were eligible. This resulted in the average adoptees payments being much higher as compared to the average payments for US-born patients. However, the payment to anesthesiologists and the hospital were actually lower for international adoptees. As a result, the total payment for treatment was relatively similar for both groups. Overall, the authors of the study concluded that families considering adoption of a child with cleft palate should not be concerned with incurring excessive costs for the childs repair surgery. As international adoptions and wait times have increased dramatically since the mid-1990s, considering a child with a birth defect could expedite the process of family placement and lead to more children in need finding a home. Full text of the article, Economic Analysis of Cleft Palate Repair in International Adoptees, The Cleft PalateCraniofacial Journal, Vol. 53, No. 5, 2016, are available at http://www.cpcjournal.org/doi/full/10.1597/14-227. About The Cleft PalateCraniofacial Journal The Cleft PalateCraniofacial Journal is an international, interdisciplinary journal reporting on clinical and research activities in cleft lip/palate and other craniofacial anomalies, together with research in related laboratory sciences. It is the official publication of the American Cleft PalateCraniofacial Association (ACPA). Almost four out of five Australians (78%) report that they look for information about medicines on the internet, according to a new 2016 survey* released during Be Medicinewise Week (22-28 August). Three out of five people (58%) admitted they will sometimes or always look up information about health conditions on the internet to avoid going to see a health professionalwith this number increasing to almost four in five people (79%) in the younger age category of 18-34 year olds. This compares to only 1 in 3 people who said in a 2012 NPS MedicineWise survey** that they were likely to search the internet for information about their symptoms before they visited their doctor. NPS MedicineWise spokesperson and pharmacist Aine Heaney says that finding good medicines information is important, and that being medicinewise means asking questions, asking the right people, and knowing how to source reliable information. Having the right information will help you to get the most out of your medicinesand to make better health choices for you and those you care for, says Ms Heaney. If you or a loved one become ill, are prescribed a medicine or are referred for a medical test, its natural to want to know more about the condition or treatment. However, while it is always a good idea to equip yourself with health-related information, it is important to be aware that not all health information you access on the internet will be accurate or reliable. Some might be full of medical jargon and not have plain language statements to explain the information clearly. You need to be able to assess the reliability of information found on the internet, and understand limitations of what internet can tell you. Take charge of your health and your medicines, and work with your health professionals, such as a doctor, nurse or pharmacist, to better understand your health and any medicines, tests and treatments you might need, says Ms Heaney. In addition to your regular health professional, there are services available like NPS Medicines Line (1300 633 424) where you can phone to seek individual medicines information from a health professional, and the weekly Pharmacist Hour on the NPS MedicineWise Facebook page. Of course, the health professionals that care for you are a reliable source of health information, but you may not always be able to talk to them. This means you need to play an active role in your health by knowing where to find information about health conditions, medicines, tests and treatments, she says. NPS MedicineWise and Better Health Channel are good places to start when seeking medicines information online because they are independent and credible websites designed to support you to find information on health conditions and medicines, and are free from commercial advertising or corporate sponsorship. Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) leaflets are available for all prescription medicines and many non-prescription medicines. The leaflets explain how the medicine works, as well as giving practical advice on how and when to take it, common side effects and potential interactions with other medicines. CMIs are available on websites such as NPS MedicineWise or the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), or you can ask your pharmacist to print it out for you. CMIs are a good tool to use as a starting point for understanding your medicine, but if the leaflet for your medicine raises more questions than it gives answers, make sure you speak with a health professional to help put that information into context for you and your situation, says Ms Heaney. The survey also showed that one in five Australians (20%) said they would use Facebook to try to find answers to questions they have about medicines. "Everyone has a unique story about how medicines work, and there is plenty of moral support to be found on social media and online forums, but one person's experience won't necessarily be the same as yours, says Ms Heaney. The final decision about what medicine to take should lie with you and your prescriber or other health professional, using personalised advice for your situation. For more information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines (herbal, natural, vitamins and minerals) from a pharmacist, call NPS Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424). Hours of operation are MondayFriday 9am5pm AEST (excluding public holidays). *The 2016 survey of 1,007 Australian respondents aged 18 and over was conducted online by Galaxy Research in July and August 2016. Full survey results are available upon request. **The 2012 survey of 1,205 Australian respondents aged 18 and over was conducted by telephone by Newspoll in March 2012. SUPPLEMENTARY SURVEY DATA Looking for medicines information online People most often look for information on the internet when: they have a question and the doctor or pharmacy is closed (40%) if they are looking for a solution to a health problem (28%), or every time they are prescribed a medicine or are considering taking a new medicine (24%). Confusion when starting a new medicine Nearly four in ten Australians (38%) have experienced some confusion when starting a new medicine. The top four reasons for confusion when starting a new medicine: the information leaflet (CMI) not being included with the medicine or not being offered to them by their pharmacist (13% of all respondents) the information leaflet was too hard to understand (12%) not clear on the benefits or exactly why they should take the medicine that has been suggested or prescribed (10%) not feeling that the doctor who prescribed the medicine explained why or how to take it (10%) ABOUT BE MEDICINEWISE WEEK Be Medicinewise Week is an initiative of NPS MedicineWise and is on from 22-28 August 2016. This year is the sixth annual Be Medicinewise Week, a national awareness week promoting the safer and wiser use of medicines by all Australians. Take Charge! is this years theme and encourages Australians to have conversations with health professionals about their health to get the most out of their prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines, and to seek out evidence-based information to help them make better decisions about their health. The 2016 campaign is encouraging people to: Ask the right questions Ask the right people Follow the right advice. To find out more and to download our campaign toolkit and other resources please go to www.nps.org.au/bmw2016 Researchers at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) recently identified compounds that potentially can be used to inhibit Zika virus replication and reduce its ability to kill brain cells. These compounds now can be studied by the broader research community to help combat the Zika public health crisis. NCATS is part of the National Institutes of Health. Using NCATS' drug repurposing screening robots, researchers identified two classes of compounds effective against Zika: one is antiviral, and the other prevents Zika-related brain cell death. The compounds include emricasan, an investigational drug currently being evaluated in a clinical trial to reduce liver injury and fibrosis, and niclosamide, a U. S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for use in humans to treat worm infections. In addition, the researchers identified nine cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors. CDK usually is involved in regulation of cellular processes as well as normal brain development, but the Zika virus can negatively affect this process. NCATS' work was a collaborative effort with Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, (JHU) and Florida State University, Tallahassee, (FSU), and the study results were published in the August 29 issue of Nature Medicine. The NCATS screening effort builds on the initial research by JHU and FSU scientists, who discovered that the Zika virus infects brain cells early in development. Infection by the Zika virus may be related to fetal microcephaly, an abnormally small head resulting from an underdeveloped and/or damaged brain. The Zika virus has been reported in 60 countries and territories worldwide; currently, there are no vaccines or effective drug treatments. The virus is spread primarily through bites from infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and in addition, can be transmitted from mother to child and through sexual contact. It also is associated with neurological diseases such as Guillain-Barree syndrome in infected adults. "The Zika virus poses a global health threat," said Anton Simeonov, Ph.D., NCATS scientific director. "While we await the development of effective vaccines, which can take a significant amount of time, our identification of repurposed small molecule compounds may accelerate the translational process of finding a potential therapy." NCATS researcher Wei Zheng, Ph.D., and his team led the drug repurposing screen to test three strains of Zika: Asian, African and Puerto Rican. The scientists first developed an assay (test) using caspase 3, a protein that causes brain cell death when infected by the virus. The next step was screening 6,000 FDA-approved and investigational compounds, which resulted in the identification of more than 100 promising compounds. The team then evaluated the protective effect of these compounds in brain cells after Zika virus infection. Three lead compounds, emiracsan, niclosamide and a CDK inhibitor known as PHA-690509, were identified as reducing neuronal cell death caused by Zika virus infection. Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today These compounds were effective either in inhibiting the replication of Zika or in preventing the virus from killing brain cells. For example, emricasan prevents cell death, and niclosamide and the nine CDK inhibitors stop the virus' replication. The team also found that emricasan, when combined with one of the CDK inhibitors, prevented both cell death and virus replication. In addition, the team noted that the CDK inhibitors may be useful in treating non-pregnant patients who face an increased risk of Guillain-Barree syndrome and other conditions sparked by Zika infection. The researchers cautioned, however, that the use of emricasan and niclosamide during pregnancy for Zika infection will need to be evaluated in pre-clinical toxicology studies and clinical trials. "Using the NCATS drug repurposing platform for emerging infectious diseases can help rapidly identify potential treatments for urgent needs such as the Zika virus," Zheng said. "While identifying promising compounds is a first step, our goal at NCATS is to facilitate the translation of these findings for evaluation in the clinic. The release of all the compound screening data in this publication and in the public PubChem database opens the door to the research community to do just that." NCATS' screening effort enabled the broader research team to quickly translate their earlier discoveries toward work to develop treatments for Zika virus infection. JHU is working on a mouse model to study the neuroprotective effects of the compounds identified from the screen and studying the mechanism of action of the lead compounds. FSU is testing the efficacy of these compounds in a Zika virus mouse model and is also studying the mechanism of action of the lead compounds. Survey findings released for Be Medicinewise Week (22-28 August) have revealed that occasional users of medicinesincluding prescription, over-the-counter, and alternative or complementary forms of medicinesare potentially not getting the full benefits from their medicines, compared to people who take medicines more often. The survey showed that people who take medicines less often or who take fewer medicines are more likely to stop a course of medicine early without speaking to the health professional that prescribed or recommended the medicine to them, and less likely to follow instructions relating to their medicines. NPS MedicineWise medical adviser Dr Jeannie Yoo says that becoming medicinewiseand in particular, asking the right people for information about your medicines, and then following the right adviceis important even if you don't take medicines all the time. The Be Medicinewise Week surveyconducted for NPS MedicineWise by Galaxy Researchindicated that while nearly 1 in 6 people (15%) dont take their medicine as instructed, this is more common** in those who are younger, those who take medicines less than daily and those who take fewer medicines. The survey showed that of all respondents, 15% do not take their medicines as instructed (e.g. taking it according to the exact instructions, not missing doses, or using leftover medicines from a previous prescription). In those who take medicines less often than daily, this figure rises to 28%, and in those who take only one medicine per week it is 20%, while 19% of those who take 2 to 4 medicines per week dont always take their medicine as instructed. Almost a quarter (24%) of people aged 18-24 and 25-34 dont always take their medicines as instructed, compared to 17% of 35-49 year olds, 10% of 60-64 year olds and 3% of those aged 65+. And more than 1 in 3 (36%) people surveyed stopped their course of medicine early, but this was also more common in those who are younger, those who take medicines less than daily and those who take fewer medicines. The younger age group of 18-34 year olds are more likely (45%) than 35-49 year olds (36%) and those 50 years and older (29%) to have stopped a medicine early without first speaking to the health professional that prescribed or recommended the medicine to them. Dr Yoo says that while there are sometimes good reasons to stop taking a medicine, before stopping its best to first speak with a health professional such as a doctor, pharmacist or nurse. Even though you might be feeling better, if you dont feel a medicine is helping you its always a good idea to speak to health professionals first to check that it is safe to stop the medicine. For example, some regular medicines need to be stopped slowly or to be replaced by another medicine to prevent serious effects on your health, says Dr Yoo. Taking your medicine as instructedincluding taking the right dose at the right timeis also really important to help you improve your health outcomes, she says. Making sure you always follow instructions from your health professional, reading the labels and packaging of your medicines carefully, and equipping yourself with the right tools such as our free MedicineList+ smartphone app (with its medicine reminders and links to medicines information) can help you manage your medicines safely and wisely. Be Medicinewise Week is on from 22-28 August 2016 with the theme Take Charge!. To find out more go to www.nps.org.au/bmw2016. For more information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines (herbal, natural, vitamins and minerals) from a health professional, call NPS Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424). Hours of operation are MondayFriday 9am5pm AEST (excluding public holidays). *The survey of 1,007 Australian respondents aged 18 and over was conducted online by Galaxy Research in July and August 2016. Full survey results are available upon request. ABOUT BE MEDICINEWISE WEEK Be Medicinewise Week is an initiative of NPS MedicineWise and is on from 22-28 August 2016. This year is the sixth annual Be Medicinewise Week, a national awareness week promoting the safer and wiser use of medicines by all Australians. Take Charge! is this years theme and encourages Australians to have conversations with health professionals about their health to get the most out of their prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines, and to seek out evidence-based information to help them make better decisions about their health. The 2016 campaign is encouraging people to: Ask the right questions Ask the right people Follow the right advice. To find out more and to download our campaign toolkit and other resources please go to www.nps.org.au/bmw2016 Source: http://www.nps.org.au The Journal of Parasitology With a shared focus on hostpathogen relationships, parasitology and disease ecology seem to have a lot in common. But parasitology lacks the eye-catchingand wallet-openingemphasis on known diseases. By working more closely with disease ecologists, could parasitologists gain more support for work crucial to predicting and controlling infectious diseases? The authors of an article published in the current issue of The Journal of Parasitology believe they can. The researchers studied the increasing popularity of disease ecology, looking at publications, research funding, jobs, and undergraduate courses. The findings of the study suggested that disease ecology could help improve teaching, encourage collaboration, increase funding, and recruit more students to parasitology. Disease ecology intertwines with disciplines such as microbiology to ask how hosts and disease-causing organisms interact and are affected by environment, evolution, and other factors. Parasitologists are often asking the same questions, but they typically study pathogens and hosts that are not as clearly linked to known diseases. The authors argue that better integration of disease ecology and parasitology is critical to the future success of both fields. In the article, the authors focus on two topics that could benefit combining the two areas of study: how pathogens affect the life history of hosts and how disease caused by multiple species can be managed effectively. The authors also outlined several parasite-related topics that are currently being studied by disease ecologists and could benefit from collaboration between the two disciplines. Because the fields of parasitology and disease ecology have many common interests and complementary approaches, and enhanced integration is increasingly critical for the prediction and control of infectious diseases, we hope that we have illustrated the possible benefits and opportunities that could result from greater cooperation and interaction between these currently relatively separate areas, said Janet Koprivnikar, an author from this study. The authors conclude that educators and researchers need to communicate more openly, not only with one another but also with students and trainees. After all, its always best when scientific discoveries are broadly shared, as the work could greatly benefit from the input of researchers in other fields. Full text of the article, The Rise of Disease Ecology and Its Implications for Parasitology, The Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 102, No. 4, 2016, is available at http://www.journalofparasitology.org/doi/full/10.1645/15-942. About The Journal of Parasitology The Journal of Parasitology is the official journal of the American Society of Parasitologists (ASP). The journal reports on all aspects of animal and human parasites and is widely recognized for publishing content that has a long-term impact on the field of parasitology. The journal is intended for all with interests in basic or applied aspects of general, veterinary, medical parasitology, and epidemiology. Fanboys are the best. They go through great pains to pay tributes and homages to their heroes and this man has taken things to the next level. Everyone can be a Batman fan, but only the true fanboy dedicated time, effort and money to recreate the Batsuit. And it paid off. Boasting a Bat Tracker, a Bat Sign Projector for the nighttime sky, smoke guns and an array of other devices, Irish special creature effects expert Julian Checkley designed a Batman costume fitted with 23 gadgets has earned a place in the Guinness World Records book. The bulky black-caped suit created a record for "the most functional gadgets on a cosplay suit", according to Guinness World Records. The costume, which will feature in the "Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2017", is based on the suit the superhero wears in videogame Batman: Arkham Origins. Checkley's design has 23 functional gadgets including a fireball shooter, two gauntlet video screens, a Bat-tracking beacon, a Bat sign projector, a folding Batarang, a cowl respirator, a pneumatic tranquilizer gun, an ultra sonic anti-dog device, four Bat shuriken, a UV lamp, two ball-bearing grenades, a gauntlet flashlight, a medi-kit, a battery pack, a laser designator, a Bat-cam, a strobe stun gun, a gas dispenser, two smoke bombs, a Bat flask, a concealed laryngeal microphone and a two-way radio. Really, if this were available for buying, everyone would be like Watch Checkley's awesome cosplay at work, right here: With inputs from Reuters New Delhi: With three more deaths being reported on Sunday, the toll in Bihar rose to 156 even as there was no let up in the flood situation in the state while in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the Ganga continues to flow above the danger level. In Bihar, the three deaths were reported from Samastipur while a twin was born on an NDRF rescue boat in Patna. The Ganga is flowing above the red marks in four districts. In the national capital it was a sultry day and maximum temperature settled three notches above normal at 37 degrees Celsius. The minimum was 27.5 degrees Celsius. An NDRF release said they got a request from the family members of Rekha Devi (25) for help. Within 50 minutes, an NDRF team reached Bihar's Chandrapura village to shift the pregnant woman to Mohanpur primary health centre but she gave birth to twins on board. The new-borns and the mother were admitted to the PHC. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inspected relief camps in Bhagalpur. He later reached Purnea where he held a meeting with top officials. He will visit Katihar on Monday. 5.56 lakh people have been rescued so far from the 12 flood-affected districts. The government is plying 2,821 boats for evacuation. In Uttar Pradesh, the Ganga and Yamuna rivers have been receding with no fresh rainfall but they are still flowing above their respective danger marks at several places. 8.7 lakh people in 987 villages in Varanasi, Allahabad, Ghazipur and Ballia remain affected due to floods. The state government has alerted the health department for outbreak of any disease. According to a Central Water Commission report, river Ganga is receding everywhere in the state but is still flowing above danger mark at Varanasi, Ghazipur and Ballia. The flood situation in West Bengal's Malda district remained unchanged with the Ganga water level standing static at 48 cm above the extreme danger level. Additional District Magistrate Kanchan Chowdhury said over 5,550 families in 45 villages are affected. In Rajasthan, heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in Kota, Udaipur and Jodhpur divisions. Light to moderate rains at many other areas in the state. Keshoraipatan in Bundi recorded maximum of 14 cm rains followed Pirawa in Jhalawar (at 11 cm) till Sunday morning since Saturday while Kota registered 10 cm precipitation. The MeT department has issued heavy rainfall warning at isolated areas on Monday. Several places in Himachal Pradesh received heavy rains with Dharamshala being the wettest (106 mm rains) while Jogindernagar received 80 mm rains. Meanwhile, most parts of Punjab and Haryana faced their maximum temperatures upto three notches above normal, barring a few places where it was one notch below normal. In Chandigarh, the joint capital of the two states, the maximum settled at 36 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. Beijing: Chinese scholars are "deeply disturbed" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent reference to Balochistan, a senior expert said as he warned of joint steps by China and Pakistan if an "Indian factor" disrupts the $46 billion CPEC, with the region as its hub. "My personal view is that if India is adamant and if Indian factor is found by China or Pakistan in disrupting the process of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), if that becomes a reality, it will really become a disturbance to China-India relations, India-Pakistan relations," South Asia expert Hu Shisheng said. "If that happens China and Pakistan could have no other way but take united steps. I want to say that the Pakistan factor could surge again to become the most disturbing factor in China-India relations, even more than the Tibet, border and trade imbalance issues," he said. Hu, director of state-run think-tank Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations affiliated to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said such a scenario could be very disappointing to all the scholars relating to India-China relations. "All the three countries could be badly derailed from their current facts of economic and social development. It could be very bad," he said. Expressing concern over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reference to the human rights situation in Balochistan in his Independence Day address, he said Chinese scholars were "deeply disturbed by the reference". The Chinese Foreign Ministry has so far has not commented on Modi's references to Balochistan, which is the hub of CPEC connecting China's Xinjiang province with Pakistan. "I think the two countries (China and Pakistan) will do whatsoever to enhance the security and smooth construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. But what kind of forms I have no idea. "I am just wondering whether military involvement could be one of the choice but in my personal view, it is very unlikely," he said in response to a question on the nature of China's involvement and maintained that the views are his personal made in the interest of India-China relations. He also said China is unlikely to change its policy in South Asia. Besides a host of energy-related projects, the CPEC consists of rail, road and pipelines to ferry oil and gas from Balochistan port Gwadar to Kashghar in Xinjiang through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Welcoming the formation of the special mechanism for talks during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's recent visit to India to resolve differences, Hu said the two sides can hold wide-ranging talks on CPEC, NSG and India's bid to ban Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar in the UN. Srinagar: After 51 days of unrest in the Valley following Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani's death, curfew has been lifted from most parts of Kashmir. However, Pulwama, MR Gunj police station area and Nowhatta town police station are still under curfew. The decision to lift the curfew comes two days after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the situation in the state. Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to lead an all-party delegation which to the Valley on September 3. Singh on Sunday reviewed the situation with BJP President Amit Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh and discussed with them the modalities of the all-party delegation's visit. In his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on Sunday, Modi spoke about the Kashmir situation on Sunday and appealed for calm in the state. "Ekta (unity) and Mamata (affection) was the crux of all interactions I had recently on Kashmir situation," he said. Modi said those pushing the youth towards stone pelting in Kashmir will someday have to answer them. He also said that all political parties spoke in one voice on Kashmir, sending out a strong message to the world as well as the separatists. Nearly 70 people have been killed in the violence that started on July 9, a day after Burhan Wani was killed in a gunfight. Over 11,000 others including civilians and security personnel have been injured during this period. The security forces resorted to the use pellet guns as it was considered to be a non-lethal way of quelling protests. Sources in the Union home ministry told News18 that pellet guns will continue to be used in the rarest of rare circumstances. An officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs questioned, "in 2010 when pellet guns were first introduced, did it lead to a blanket ban on bullets? The security forces will have the option to use pellet guns in rarest of rare cases." JK CM Mehbooba Mufti had met Insha on Sunday asking doctors to do all they can to restore her vision. : Union Home Ministry on Monday refused to impose a blanket ban on the use of Pellet guns in Jammu & Kashmir and clarified that pellets would be used only in rare cases.This come after severe outrage over the issue following media reports of fatal injuries to several kashmiris in the past 50 days of violent protests following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen Burahn Waani on july 8.Like 15 year old Insha Malik who was blinded by pellet guns. She along with thousand others had hoped that the pellet guns would be banned by the government but News18 has learnt that Union government is not in favour of blanket ban on the pellet guns.Home minister Rajnath Singh after a recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir had said government is looking for alternatives to pellet guns.Meanwhile, a committee that was set up to find an alternative submitted its report on Monday evening. Sources within the committee had indicated that Chilli powder based PAVA shells are an alternative that the committee is likely to suggest.However, the alternative being suggested by the committee may not lead to phasing out of pellet guns.The decision came even as four pellet gun victims were treated at Delhi's Safadrjung hospital and AIIMS for pellet injuries.Sources said government was bearing the entire cost of the treatment of these four including 15 year old Insha Malik.Home minister Rajnath Singh at his recent visit to the valley had offered airlifting of all pellet gun victims to Delhi, said officers who were present in the meeting between Rajnath Singh and Mehbooba Mufti.Over 3000 people were injured by pellets in the last few days but data currently available with union government says only 100 of them are still being treated for the injuries in Kashmir hospital.Government has offered to bear the entire expense of their travel to Delhi and their treatment if their family so desired. Jana Sena party chief and Tollywood super star Pawan Kalyan has raised the issue of special status to Andhra Pradesh, blaming the Centre and state governments for failing at the task. This comes as a new fillip to the political fight for Andhra's Special status. Pawan Kalyan slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for failing to get special status for the state. "If we fight for our rights we will get special status for Andhra Pradesh" said Kalyan while addressing the people of the state. The slamming comes in a month after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was believed to have raised the issue of special status for his state during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. According to sources, Naidu told the Prime Minister that a special status was assured to Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation by his predecessor Manmohan Singh, and also by the TDP and the BJP during the polls and the promise must be delivered. The Chief Minister is also believed to have said that since several political parties supported the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, the chances of their resistance to special status to the state is likely to be little. Hyderabad: The issue of what is being called 'arbitrary fee hike' by private schools in Hyderabad has left many parents worried for the past few days. The Joint Action Committee for School fee Regulation carried out silent protest in Hyderabad outside district collector office against blatant violation of rules by private schools and Telangana government's inability to regulate them. The protest was against dangerous trend by school managements in Hyderabad and Ramga Reddy districts, where students and parents who question school on various aspects particularly fee hike are being threatened. CNN news 18 has highlighted how in one instance 27 students were given Transfer certificate by Amrita Vidyalaya school in East Marredpally after their questioned the rationale behind the hefty fee hike. "We have planned this silent protest because we want the collectorate to intervene and bring about a mechanism, wherein the parents can directly put in their grievances and the authority can actually address those grievances" said a student's mother. In another case, 7 students were asked to leave St Ann's school in Medchal in the middle of session disturbing their entire academic year. "We have questioned the school management that beign a trustee school, they should not collect fee like private schools.After we questioned them, they sent Transfer Certificates to our children through courier" said another student's disgruntled mother, protesting against the hike. Also, parents of St Andrews School in Bowenpally were kept locked inside school premises for 3 hours when they questioned the management regarding change in school timings. In all these instances, the parents approached district education officer to Commissioner of school education seeking immediate intervention, but all in vain. The protesting parents have requested the government to act against such schools and force them to comply with existing rules and regulations. They want the government to regulate the illegal fee hike by private schools. CNN-News18 is also running a campaign for fee hike regulation and the campaign aims at taking forward the voices of the parents protesting against the fee hike. Sardar Arif Muhammad Shahid, a very popular leader from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK), was also one of the most vocal critics of Pakistani policy in POK. He was shot dead outside his residence in Rawalpindi in 2013. The assassin pumped four bullets into Shahid's body and left him in a pool of blood. Pakistani Media, often characterised by its coverage of crime in the country, kept a conspicuous silence. Neither the Political figures nor the Army condemned Shahid's murder and three years later, Pakistani State has buried his case. Family members and others closely associated with Shahid claim that he, for long, had remained under observation and the books written by him were seized. Known for his criticism of Pakistani policies in POK, Sardar Arif often castigated the role played by ISI in fomenting violence and how that had gained ISI notoriety around the world. Kashmiris, over the last two weeks, have been protesting in London, Bradford and Berlin asking for justice. "DCNS, through the application filed, has demanded The Australian to remove the documents which it has published on its website and prevent further publishing of other documents," the company's headquarters in Paris said in a statement earlier in the day. : An Australian Court on Monday granted temporary injunction against further publication of leaked Scorpene submarine data by 'The Australian' newspaper on an application moved by French defence firm DCNS that has been rocked by the document leak scandal.The newspaper, which said the temporary injunction was granted by the court, had earlier said that it will publish the documents regarding the weapons system of the submarine on Monday but had not done so.The firm's lawyer had yesterday told the newspaper that the publication of this "highly valuable document" causes a direct harm to DCNS and its customer in terms of spread of sensitive and restricted information, image and reputation.Over 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Indian Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with the French company, have been leaked.The French public prosecutor has opened a preliminary investigation into the data leak, with DCNS filing a complaint of breach of trust. New Delhi: Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma has stirred up a controversy by advising tourists not to wear skirts in small towns. The advice was part of a list of dos and dont's mentioned in an advisory pamphlet that will be given to tourists at the airport on arrival. Sharma also asked tourists not to venture out alone at night in small towns. "We give welcome kits to tourists when they land at the airport. The kit includes a card with dos and don'ts such as, do not venture out alone at night in small towns, do not wear skirts; take a picture of the registration number of the vehicle you use and send it to a friend," the minister said. A consortium of banks including SBI on Monday told the Supreme Court that beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya had deliberately not made full disclosure of his assets including $40 million which he received in February from a British firm. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the consortium of banks, told a bench of justices Kurian Joseph and RF Nariman that Mallya has not disclosed the amount which he received in February while he had filed the reply in March. The Attorney General said that as per the Supreme Court rules, Mallya has to appear before the court after a notice has been served upon him in a contempt petition. Rohatgi said that since Mallya had not been granted exemption from appearance, he should not be heard anymore. Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for Mallya, told the bench that they have filed a petition for recall of apex court's earlier order and said that no contempt has been made. He also said that the apex court's earlier order to disclose the assets has been complied with. The bench then asked the Attorney General to file a response to Mallya's petition for recall of its earlier order and posted the matter on September 27. Earlier, on July 25, the apex court had issued notice to Mallya on plea of consortium of banks which alleged that he had not disclosed his full assets including $40 million received by him from a British firm. The apex court, after noting the submissions by Attorney General, had issued notice to Mallya and asked him to respond. On July 14, Rohatgi claimed that Mallya had provided wrong details of his assets in a sealed cover to the apex court. He further said a lot of information had also been concealed, including a cash transaction to the tune of Rs 2500 crore, which amounted to contempt of court. Earlier, the Supreme Court had sought details of assets from Mallya in a sealed cover. Recently, the consortium of banks had alleged that Mallya was not cooperating in the investigation of cases against him and was averse to disclosing his foreign assets. In a rejoinder affidavit to Mallya's reply, the banks had said that disclosure of overseas assets by him and his family was significant for recovering the dues. Mallya had said the banks had no right over information regarding his overseas movable and immovable assets as he was an NRI since 1988. He had also claimed that as an NRI, he was not obliged to disclose his overseas assets, and added that his wife and three children, all US citizens, also need not disclose their assets. The court on April 7 had directed Mallya to disclose by April 21 the total assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad while seeking an indication from him when he would appear before it. It had asked Mallya, who owes over Rs 9,000 crore to around 17 banks, to deposit a "substantial amount" with it to "prove his bonafide" that he was "serious" about meaningful negotiations and settlement. Mumbai: A 27-year-old woman has been detained for allegedly killing a 43-year-old businessman in Juhu. According to police, Till Raj, the deceased, was having an extra marital affair with the accused. Police said that the accused throttled the businessman in his SUV car and left from the spot. The body was found by the police in the car on the front seat. Last night the duo got into a quarrel as the woman wanted to get out of the relationship and Raj was not ready to do so.The accused and the deceased both are married separately. Rajput was not ready to end the relationship. They were sitting in the SUV at SV road near LIC office in Santacruz (West) when an argument started between them. In a fit of rage the woman throttled the businessman and left the spot, said senior inspector The woman has been detained and will be formally arrested in sometime. She is being interrogated. Los Angeles: Late pop icon Michael Jackson felt pressurised to perform additional 50 shows for his This Is It concert, his physician has revealed. According to Jackson's physician Conrad Murray, there was growing concern around the late Thriller hitmaker's ability to give one perfect performance for his 2009 comeback residency show of 50 gigs, which was heightened when he was asked to do another 50 shows to total 100 concerts and led him to overdose on medicine, reports bangshowbiz.com. Murray was sentenced to four years in jail -- although he served only two -- for the involuntary manslaughter of the King of Pop after administering a fatal dose of anesthetic Propofol in June 2009. "I don't think he had stage fright, but there was a lot of concern for him whether he had the ability to perform like he did to do 50 shows. They weren't just asking for 50, there was another request for an additional fifty, so a total of a 100, he said. "I told him to not consider it... what I suggested was a better way just to pacify the moment because having the volition alone for this 50 was a monumental task for Michael and he tried every possible way to get away from it. "He was trying to find anything that could give him a very reasonable method to exit, he added. Dhaka: US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived here on Sunday on a day-long visit to hold talks with the top Bangladeshi leadership on key issues like security and terrorism amid a series of brutal attacks on minorities in the Muslim-majority nation. "Kerry will focus on strengthening our longstanding bilateral partnership on democracy, development, security and human rights," the US State Department had said in a statement ahead of his visit. The US and Bangladesh have a "longstanding partnership" with "programmes in place for many, many years that deal with counter-terrorism and security partnership," a senior US State Department official said ahead of Kerry's arrival. In Dhaka, Kerry will call on Prime Minister Shikh Hasina, hold talks with his counterpart A H Mahmood Ali and interact with leading civil society figures. He will also visit a garment factory and Bangabandhu National Museum. After wrapping up his visit, Kerry would leave for New Delhi in the evening. According to analysts, the visit takes place amid the perception that the US is not happy with the incumbent government following the last parliamentary elections that Washington did not find "credible" as BNP-led opposition boycotted the vote. Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation, is reeling from a wave of murders of secular, liberal activists and religious minorities. Victims of the attacks by suspected Islamists have included secular bloggers, gay rights activists and followers of minority religions including Hindus, Christians and Muslim Sufis and Shiites. In July, a Bangladeshi cafe was attacked by terrorists, killing 22 people including an Indian girl. The cafe attack has prompted foreigners, including potential investors, to leave Bangladesh - sparking worries for its garment industry, the world's second largest after China. The owner of several properties on Whitehall Road is seeking the courts review of a decision by Lynchburg City Council to vacate several acres of public right of way near the intersection of Lakeside Drive and the Lynchburg Expressway, an action the owner claims damages access to its property. NFP, LLC, represented by Nathaniel Perrow brother of Lynchburg City Council member Turner Perrow owns three properties on Whitehall Road, which runs between Lakeside Drive and the Expressway, behind the Fresh Market Station shopping center. According to the city of Lynchburgs Geographic Information System, there is one building on the heavily wooded property. NFPs property at 127 Whitehall Road is accessed via a paved and gravel road that runs through an adjacent city-owned parcel. NFP filed an appeal in Lynchburg Circuit Court earlier this month to challenge a portion of councils decision in June, which involved the vacation of several acres of right of way near the intersection, including the parcel that adjoins NFPs property. According to court filings, councils decision to vacate the right of way on the nearby parcel irreparably damages NFP, as the action would eliminate NFPs current access to Whitehall Road by extinguishing the public right of way area where the paved and gravel outlet road is located. Two public hearings were held June 14 in which Lynchburg City Council approved the zoning and vacation of right of way of five parcels totaling more than 17 acres in the area of potential road improvements at the intersection of Lakeside Drive and the U.S. 501 expressway. The city plans to market the parcels for sale during or after the construction of improvements to the intersection. The property at 127 Whitehall Road is separated from the prospective road project by a quarter-acre sliver of land. Speaking in June, City Attorney Walter Erwin said vacating the right of way on the five parcels should make the potential sale of the parcels easier. If the current concept for the intersection improvements were to be constructed, the existing paved and gravel drive that branches off of Whitehall Road would be eliminated. A plat that was provided to City Council in June shows an easement that would provide access to properties using the existing paved and gravel road. The plat lists two parcels the easement is said to serve, but NFPs property is not specifically referenced. The entrance is located where Whitehall Road connects with Lakeside Drive. Court documents state NFP sought to acquire the quarter-acre wedge of city property that separates Whitehall Road from the potential road project, but the city took no action on the request. At Junes public hearing, Nathaniel Perrow requested a cross-access agreement or other right of way to Whitehall Road and cited two council decisions made earlier that evening that involved a vacation of a portion of right of way requested by the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance as well as the approval of an access agreement with the Old Dominion Elks Lodge 181. NFP is asking that the court order the quarter-acre wedge of city-owned land be offered as a gift or purchase to NFP, or for the court to deed access to NFPs property from the future roadway in a width and location that serves the propertys B-5 general business zoning designation as well as any other relief that the court deems appropriate. During the June public hearing, former City Manager Kimball Payne said that its the citys intention to work with property owners to provide access but the road project has not yet been designed and the city is not at a place to grant certain rights or easements to property owners. The design process will involve public hearings that will provide an opportunity for property owners to provide feedback, Payne said in June. The estimated cost of the road improvement projects is between $15 and $20 million. According to City Manager Bonnie Svrcek, the city is resubmitting an application for state transportation funding for the project; an application during the last fiscal year was unsuccessful. Erwin said last week the city is gathering information and is working on a response to the appeal. 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 Junes 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. Dominion Virginia Power has won approval to bury about 400 miles of power lines and to charge its typical customer an extra $6 per year to pay for the $140 million project. The utility will spend an average of $350,000 per mile to reach about 6,000 customers and will add 50 cents to the average customer bill starting next month. The State Corporation Commission approved the project last week as a pilot program after voting down the utilitys first attempt to recover costs for burying lines. Dominion originally had sought to implement a broader program that would cost about $263 million, but state regulators were skeptical of the cost. In the Lynchburg area, Dominion Virginia Power serves about 10,000 customers, primarily in Appomattox and Campbell counties. In its hearing earlier this year for the pilot program, an expert witness for Dominion argued the effect of line burial in reducing outages during storms would include economic and societal benefits of more than $2 for every dollar spent on the project. The SCC said it has placed a $140 million hard cap on the cost for identifying and replacing lines in the pilot program. The company was given approval to place a rider on customer bills of about 50 cents per 1,000 kWh of usage. Dominion spokesman David Botkins said the lines are in various parts of the state, in residential areas that have had chronically poor reliability or numerous outages over the last 10 years. Specific locations were not immediately available. We have identified some of the worst-performing circuits in our service territory, and the object is to underground lines in those areas to improve the reliability of the entire system, he said. Dominion already has been proceeding with replacing some lines after the General Assembly passed legislation in 2014 allowing electric utilities to spend up to 5 percent of their total revenue to move power lines underground. Depending on the results of the pilot program, Dominion may seek to move up to 4,000 miles of lines underground, serving as many as 150,000 customers. However, the SCC said its approval of the pilot program does not predetermine approval of any other investment in the strategic underground program. Dominion said moving lines underground helps to free crews to restore power in other places during outages. Given the overwhelming support of our customers and the General Assembly for this innovative program to make our electric service even more reliable, we strongly believe it should continue beyond this first phase, Dominion said in a statement. When a small business is successful, an owner likely will face the question of whether to grow. After a lot of soul-searching, many say no. Some worry the quality of their products or services might be hurt because a larger company can be more difficult to operate. Or they dont want to tip their work-life balance away from spending time with family and friends. Others want to grow, but the time isnt 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, President Mark Tuchscherer said. Theyre putting things on the back burner, developing only what they need right away, he said. For Tuchscherer to start thinking about growth, hed 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 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 just 8 percent believe its a good time to expand. A look at the factors some business owners have wrestled with: Once burned, twice cautious After downsizing his printing company, selling equipment and reducing his staff from 12 to three in 2011, Victor Clarke isnt looking to expand or hire in the near future. The internet, email and document-sharing services already had 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 hasnt been the greatest in the last eight to 10 years, Clarke said. His Lynchburg-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 said. If the business continues to do well, and the economy picks up, he might hire another worker. Someday, but were not there yet, Clarke said. 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 is concerned if he does expand, he wont 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 said. But he also worries about saying no to business because his company is small. I hate turning down potentially good paying customers, he said. 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 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 peoples stores. Hes not committed to that forever, but amid the current economic conditions and the presidential campaign, hes content for ZINK to stay smaller. Its OK not to grow. Its OK for me because my main goal is to produce quality products, not to be the biggest company in the world, he said. 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 dont want to take on any more. Although money is important, we both value time and freedom, and were not prepared to sacrifice that just for a bigger bank balance, Maplesden said. Freedom for them means the ability to set their own schedules and choose their assignments. They have enough interest from clients 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 dont want in my life, Maplesden said. Which direction to go? Peggy Jeans 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 said, but she added, I want to make sure that when we grow, its 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 were in command where we are, Miller said. The wretched of the earth PUNGENT darkness spreads across the barrios (towns) of Puerto Rico. Comfort has long given way to despair; pride has succumbed to prejudice; and tolerance has surrendered to murderous rage. There is an infernal abyss in the hearts of men, palpable and frightening The title, San Juan Noir sets the tone for a hellish ride but the experience is far more foreboding. This narrative begs for answers. It raises sociological, political, and ontological questions. Assailants, killers of men roam like hyenas poised to pounce on their prey. And victims arent your naive, sympathetic figures. The script is far different here. To what do we attribute this base, primal reflex? Maybe we are carved from our spineless, twisted upbringing. Violence is our abode. We crack emotionally, psychologically- weighed down by the blight of fatherless homes, and sexuality that screams for normalcy. And if we are not raging and still blessed with some modicum of humanity, we are terribly flawed, a sore thumb in a rotting body. Yes, in Barrio Obreros Infamy of Chin Fernandez, we root for the protagonist kind of only because he is pained by animal cruelty. But we discover that he is a snowdropper, a man obsessed with womens underwear. He is tormented by his own irrelevance, his invisibility. I cant handle this kind of stress anymore; lots of 45-old men kick the bucket for less, Fernandez bemoans. His fetish ultimately destroys him. In the face of irrefutable evidence he capitulates pitiful an embarrassment. In his self-inflection we can only turn away. This incorrigible rush of sexual madness rears its head - again - in Anna Maria Fuster Lavins Two Deaths for Angela. With sexual embers burning, Angela finds release in a virtual encounter with her psychic double. It is a plot of dizzying, enigmatic intensity. We know the outcome. Assailants serve as her liberators. As blood oozes, she reflects, as if recording her prolonged agony. Trouble is - Angela has long been dead. And in Match Making by Mayra Santos - Febres, Koala, a onetime mercenary soldier turned hitman, sees his brawn and intimidating masculinity evaporate at the sight of an alluring woman, his intended victim. He would never be able to shoot this woman in the head. Hed rather kiss her, we learn. He is captured and disarmed. The bodyguards held him by his hands and feet. Koala put up no resistance. He closed his eyes and imagined himself caressing that womans long hair, sinking his massive, clumsy hands in to that flesh Interestingly, in the face of imminent death Koalas sexual fantasies run wild, and in the throes of mental orgasm, his last prayerful outburst inoculates him from the jarring pangs of death. For sure, tale after tale reeks with the volcanic power of sexuality to mend or devour us. We manage empathy for the lead character in Janette Becerras Death on the Scaffold. But that also wanes. He is reclusive, edgy and opinionated. He narrates his encounter with evil personified in the form of a man, his neighbour. His mind races.tripping over itself. He is convinced that the lad working on the scaffold outside his building unintentionally stumbled on something and had to be silenced, tossed from the platform. So he believes. It is an accident to everyone except the protagonist. We feel for the victim but we dont lose much sleep. Maybe he had it coming. We recall that instead of focusing on what he was doing, he entertained himself by looking into [the] empty living room. He smiled through clenched teethand peered into every corner his eyes could reach. Earlier, he even made a visor of his hands and stuck his face against the glass searching. This time he let himself grin, of course, because he thought he was alone. He made some gesture of sarcasm or criticism. Indeed, we become numb, insensitive to the multi-tiered horrors stacked before us. Still, there is a searing humanity that runs through Manolo Nunez Negrons Fish Food, and we are moved. The characters trajectory from boys to men invites us to reflect on our own past. In truth, the pendulum could sway in many directions. Fish Food is a bewitching narrative that echoes the inscrutable and immutable ways of Providence. We are harangued by class and ethnicity. It never ends. And never will. And children mired by broken homes and a harsh environment often times play out what is expected of them. This is the fate of Repollo whose father was killed in a cockfight, two stabs. His friend also lost his father but this is where the comparison ends. Repollos kind are compared to cats who bite the hands that feed them Throughout this pulsating chronicle the turbulent spirits of Repollos past never relinquish control. Yes, [t]here are events that remains recorded under the skin, stuck to the bones, and nothing can be done to erase them. At the smallest provocation, the slightest gesture, its like a puppet master pulling these events out of a trunk and they come back from the emptiness Repollo cannot stay grounded and is eventually seduced by drugs. It is an overpowering addiction that leads to serious offences that are sometimes settled in extrajudicial fashion. The writing is on the wall. Repollos fate is sealed. And his friend can only ponder if he was killed before dismemberment. He is uncertain, pained because he well knows that hired thugs tend to be sadistic, and they have their methods. A Killer among Us, Dog Kille, Saint Michaels Sword, Death of Angel of Santurce, and just about every tale spews decadence. San Juan Noir is a brilliantly polished literary gem that showcases life on the fringes of society. Every tale glows in its own darkness, piercingly tugging at the remnants of human decency. We must do better, it screams. Yes, we must. Feedback: glenvilleashby@ gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleashby San Juan Noir 2016 Editor: Mayra Santos- Febres Publisher: Akashic Book, Brooklyn, New York ISBN: 978-1-61775-296-4 Ratings: Highly recommended No, That's Not a Desert That's the Mississippi River (Newser) Two 41-year-old men in Manitoba, Canada, have been devastated to discover that they were raised by the wrong families after having been switched at birth by a hospital that mixed up at least two other babies the same year. Leon Swanson and David Tait Jr. were born three days apart in early 1975 at Norway House Indian Hospital in a remote northern community, the CBC reports. The two men, who know each other, had DNA tests and discovered the disturbing truth after Luke Monias and Norman Barkmanwho were born at the hospital on the same day in June 1975discovered last fall that they had been switched. Both men wept at a press conference Friday. "Forty years gone," Tait said, per the National Post. "It's pretty tough. It hit me like a ton of bricks." The hospital in the indigenous community was federally run at the time, and officials have promised a third-party investigation to find out what went wrongand whether any other babies were switched. "We can live with one mistake, but two mistakes of a similar nature is not acceptable," says Eric Robinson, Manitoba's former aboriginal affairs minister. "We can't slough it off as being a mistake. It was a criminal act." David Tait Sr. says the two families have talked and have decided to consider themselves one big family. (This Japanese man was 58 when he discovered he had been sent home with the wrong family.) (Newser) Fire District Chief Spencer Chauvin was among two people killed in a horrific crash in St. John the Baptist Parish, La., early Sunday. Police say a bus full of volunteers on the way to help with flood relief slammed into Chauvin and two other firefighters while they were at the scene of an earlier accident, Reuters reports. The firefighters were thrown over a guardrail, falling more than 30 feet into water, police say. At least 40 people were taken to local hospitals, including 24 bus passengers with mild to moderate injuries. The bus driver, Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez, was arrested and police say he is a Honduran national who was in the country illegally and was driving without a license, NBC News reports. Rodriguez is expected to face charges including negligent homicide and reckless operation, police say. Colleagues describe Chauvin, a 36-year-old father of two, as a dedicated officer and devoted family man. "Today, our community lost one of the bravest souls, a model citizen and one of its most dedicated servants," colleague Adam Tamplain posted on Facebook, per the Advocate. "In my 10 years in the department, I had the honor of serving alongside and under Spencer. ... Rest easy brother, we'll take it from here." (Read more Louisiana stories.) (Newser) The request was a polite one, if nothing else: "can you use this photo, please and thank you [haloed smiley emoji] Yours Truly Amy Sharp xx." Sharp allegedly posted that comment to Australia's 7 News Facebook post regarding her escape from police custody. The 18-year-old fled the Surry Hills Corrective Services Cell Complex on Aug. 19, and Sydney police subsequently issued a statement that 7 News picked up. It explained Sharp was "last seen running west on Riley Street" and while she's "considered a low risk to the public and was in custody for property offenses," the public should call police if they spot her. And to help with that potential identification, police shared two images of a dour-looking (or "haggard," as 9 News puts it) Sharp with a red blanket draped over her shoulders. The comments to the Aug. 24 post initially jumped from those made in jest (" Shes on the Catwalk modeling next year's Corrective Services Ensembles" ) to retorts (" Heartless comments on here making fun of a young girl who's obviously lost her way"). Early the next morning came Sharp's request, which has been liked more than 60,000 times. The Guardian reports Sharp was apprehended near where she escaped, in Wentworth Park, early Saturday and will now face a charge of escaping lawful custody. (This is not the first time a vanity-minded mugshot request has been made.) (Newser) The case of Jack the Ripper may have been solvedthe Chinese version, that is. A serial killer who first struck in 1988 and is believed to have raped and killed 11 women and mutilated a number of them has been apprehended and confessed, state-run media report by way of the AFP. Gao Chengyong, 52, was arrested thanks to a relative's transgression: His uncle had his DNA collected following an arrest and officials realized a relation of the man was the "Jack the Ripper" they have been seeking, the BBC reports. The 52-year-old Gao was found at the grocery store he operates in Gansu, a northwest province. The murders occurred in that region and in Inner Mongolia through the year 2002; it's unclear why they ceased. While Gao reportedly confessed, a motive wasn't given by police. There was reportedly a pattern to the murders though, in that women who were wearing red were often the victims, and many were young (the youngest just 8) and lived alone. China.org.cn reports by way of Beijing News that one victim was found stabbed in her apartment, but her dismembered hands were never located. The first alleged killing happened in the year Gao's wife gave birth to a son. The married man has two sons, and Sky News reports one told local media has father suffered "bitter[ly]" when he was young; the son referenced his father's failure to become a pilot. Like his British counterpart, the Chinese murderer on some occasions removed the women's reproductive organs. But the tally of his alleged killings are more the double the five attributed to the original Jack. (Before Jack the Ripper came America's first serial killer.) (Newser) Katherine Jane Wilson, an Australia aid worker kidnapped by armed men in Afghanistan in April, has been released, NBC News reports. "She is now safe and well," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement, adding she's "relieved" for the woman called "Kerry Jane" by her loved ones. Wilson, said to be in her 60s, has worked in Afghanistan for more than two decades, specifically assisting female artists and entrepreneurs through an NGO she founded. Although Bishop didn't get into whether a ransom was paid to the armed perps, who reportedly posed as Afghan intel officers before snatching Wilson from her charity's office in Jalalabad, the Sydney Morning Herald notes "it was understood" that Wilson's kidnappers were probably just local thugs who wanted money, not Taliban extremists. The country's intelligence agency its special-ops forces helped free Wilson and that "several suspects" have been arrested, per the New York Times. "To protect those who remain captive or face the risk of kidnapping in Afghanistan and elsewhere, the Government will not comment on the circumstances of Kerry Jane's release," Bishop says, adding, "Her family has asked for privacy." (The kidnappers of a Brazilian billionaire's mother-in-law demanded a hefty ransom.) (Newser) Fighting to save her job, suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff told senators on Monday that the allegations against her have no merit and that history would judge the country if she is removed from office. "I know I will be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit a crime," Rousseff told senators at her impeachment trial. Rousseff reminded senators that she was re-elected in 2014 by more than 54 million voters. She said that at every moment she has followed the constitution and done what was best for the country. "I can't help but taste the bitterness of injustice" of this process, she said. Brazil's first female president is accused of breaking fiscal rules to hide problems in the federal budget, reports the AP; she denies wrongdoing and says her enemies are carrying out a "coup d'etat." Rousseff argued that in early 2015 the opposition in Congress began creating instability by refusing to negotiate and throwing "fiscal bombs" in the face of declining revenues. Rousseff blasted interim President Michel Temer as a "usurper." Rousseff said Brazilians would never have voted for a man who picked a Cabinet of all white men in a country that is more than 50% non-white. Three of his ministers were also forced to step down within a month because of corruption allegations. Rousseff said that her impeachment process was launched by the former speaker of the lower house of Congress, who is facing numerous charges of corruption. Rousseff said it was "an irony of history" that she would be judged for crimes she did not commit by people who were accused of serious crimes. "I ask that you be just with an honest president," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. The trial has seen name-calling, shouting, and a declaration by the Senate president that "stupidity is limitless." (Read more Dilma Rousseff stories.) Turkey, the country who planned to connect Europe and Asia for the third time was successful by building the world's biggest suspension bridge. It is built in the style of New York's Brooklyn Bridge and boasts pylons higher than the Eiffel Tower. The bridge creates a new link across the Bosphorus Strait, which divides Asia and Europe. According to DailySabah, world's biggest suspension bridge is named as Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. The bridge was build nine months ahead than the given schedule. It took a record breaking time period of 27 months to build such a gigantic suspension bridge. The details for finishing ahead were reported by Transportation, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan. He also stated that the project is first of its kind to finish within the allotted time frame and can break a world record. The bridge was built with a construction technique of 'build-operate-transfer model'. The Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs and the General Directorate of Forestry were closely handling the do's and don'ts related to tress. Although, 300,000 trees were picked and safely transferred to other place, 2.5 million trees were already planted in their place. In coming future 5.1 million trees will be planted along the route as reported to journalist by Arslan. 6500 workers and engineers jointly worked for the accomplishment of this great bridge connecting two continents. According to Telegraph, the bridge was inaugurated by President Erdogan along with dignitaries from Bahrain, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Pakistan, Georgia and northern Cyprus. The total length of the bridge is 2,164 meters and the width accounting to 58.4 meters. The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge was boosted with $3million and is considered to be the world's broadest suspension bridge. The bridge is incorporated with 10 lanes of highways and 2 rail lines. It can also have another title of "longest suspension bridge with rail system". The height of the tower on the European side is 322 meters and the tower on the Asian side is 318 meters high. According to Telegraph, the rail system will connect Edirne to Izmit. The same rail system will be joined with Istambul Metro and the rail lines will connect Istanbul Ataturk International Airport, Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and the third airport which is under construction. Italy's Astaldi and Istambul based IC Ictas will jointly operate the bridge for about a decade as per Telegraph The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge has set a tremendous record in the Civil Engineering World. Experience adventurous cruising on the oceans round the world on the world's biggest cruise ships of the present. According to Press Herald, one of the world's biggest cruise ships 'Anthem of seas' sailing across the oceans docked the harbor of Weymouth and Portland. The cruise appears to look like a giant city floating on water with thousands of people in it. The cruise made its first voyage out of, England, in February 2015 and cruised all around Europe and headed towards Bayonne, New Jersey and towards Canada. The $940 million ship is 1,141 feet long accommodating around 5000 people having 18 decks which includes 2,090 staterooms, a bumper car facility, a 30-foot rock climbing wall, simulated sky diving and an observation capsule that carries passengers 300 feet over the ocean. According to Daily Progress, Portland is the place where huge number of cruise ships dock to the harbor. The peak time for the cruise ships to arrive Portland is September and October. As said by Jessica Grondin, the city's communications director, by end of the cruising season the city might host around 76 cruise ships with twenty eight ships in September and eighteen in October and expected passengers to enter the city and boom the local economy are up to 1, 00,000. The passenger revealed the pleasant experience on such a giant. Two of the passengers, Jerry and Lynn Bowman of York, Pennsylvania, said the ship never feels crowded. "It is so big you don't run into people walking around the deck," Lynn Bowman said. "It is mind-boggling. It is totally high-tech," said Patricia Hohner of Piscataway, New Jersey. The 'Anthem of Seas' is expected to visit Portland again this year, twice in September and once in October as reported by Portland Press herald. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. The Daily News-Miner is locally owned by the Helen E. Snedden Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Subscribe or donate New York: Over 100 people on board US Southwest Airlines flight had a lucky escape when a part of the planes engine was ripped off thousands of feet above the Gulf of Mexico with the passengers experiencing anxious moments before the jet managed to make an emergency landing. The Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans to Orlando, Florida, was forced to make an emergency landing in Pensacola after one of its engines fell apart over the Gulf of Mexico, the New York Daily News reported. Startled passengers on board Flight 3472 heard a frightening blast to the aircrafts left at an altitude of 30,700 feet. Outside their windows, they saw smoke fuming from the exposed turbine blades at around 9:20 AM yesterday. All of a sudden, outside my window, there was a loud explosion, and then the plane started shuddering, passenger Tami Richards told KOCO-TV. Chunks of the engines cowling had fallen off, according to photos taken from the aircrafts window mid-flight. Another photo shows a metal object had pierced the fuselage. Today, the Captain of Flight #3472 from New Orleans to Orlando made the decision to divert to Pensacola due to a mechanical issue with the number one engine. The flight landed safely without incident at Pensacola International Airport at 9:40 AM, the Southwest Airlines said in a statement. Initial reports indicate there were no injuries among the 99 passengers and five crew members on board. We have notified the NTSB, and when authorised, we will be inspecting the aircraft to assess the damage, it said. The Federal Aviation Administration, in a statement, said, Southwest Airlines flight 3472, a Boeing 737, from Louis Armstrong New Orleans Intentional Airport to Orlando International Airport was diverted due to an apparent engine malfunction. The flight declared an emergency and landed safely at Pensacola International Airport just before 9:45 AM. The FAA will investigate. Richards said her three childrenand many of the 99 passengerswere crying as the oxygen masks dropped and the Boeing 737 made its dramatic descent about 25 minutes into the flight. I held my kids, and one was freaking out, crying, Richards was quoted as saying. Amid the panic, some passengers took selfies while donning the oxygen masks. The pilots managed to stabilise the aircraft and made the quick-thinking decision to divert the flight to Pensacola with only one working engine. The plane was on the ground without any further mishap. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Haryana government has disbursed compensation to 42 victims of anti-Sikh riots of 1984, officials said. Based on the recommendations of the Justice T P Garg Commission, the state government had sanctioned an amount of Rs 12.07 crore for the victims of Gurgaon and Pataudi area, out of which cheques of compensation were distributed to 42 victims today (Sunday), Haryana government said in a release. National Minorities Commission Chairman Naseem Ahmed distributed the cheques at a programme held in Gurgaon. Former Secretary of Union Urban Development Ministry LM Mehta, Deputy Commissioner TL Satyaprakash and Commissioner of Police Sandeep Khirwar were also present. Deputy Commissioner said that compensation to about 150 victims of Gurgaon and Pataudi area was cleared by the Commission, based on which the state government has sanctioned the amount. Rest of the victims belonging to the area would be handed over the cheques soon, he said. Haryana government is the first in the country to disburse compensation to victims of anti-Sikh Riots of 1984, the release claimed. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Peace may finally return to the Valley as the 52-day long curfew is set to be lifted on Monday in most areas of Kashmir, except Pulwama and parts of Srinagar. Restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code or CrPC will however remain enforced which prohibits unlawful assembly of 10 or more people. A 52-day curfew in Kashmir witnessed violent protests since the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani last month. Around 70 people have died and over 11,000 have been injured in violent clashes between protesters and security forces. Also read: Kashmir unrest: Rajnath Singh may lead all-party delegation on September 3 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modis overtures to people of PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, the government is all set to announce a Rs 2,000 crore package for displaced people of Pakistan occupied Kashmir living in the country. The Home Ministry is expected to place the details of the package before the Union Cabinet for approval soon, a senior official said. The Jammu and Kashmir government has already identified 36,348 families for distribution of the package under which each family will get around Rs 5.5 lakh. We hope that within a month, the package will get approval from the Union Cabinet and the funds could be distributed among the beneficiaries, the official said. The refugees from West Pakistan, mostly from PoK, got settled in different areas of Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts. However, they are not permanent residents of the state in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. Some of the families were displaced during partition in 1947, and others during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. The displaced people can cast their votes in Lok Sabha polls but not in the elections to Jammu and Kashmir assembly. Jammu and Kashmir Sharanarthi Action Committee (JKSAC), an organisation representing the displaced people of the PoK has been maintaining that the package should not be seen as final settlement as Rs 9,200 crore was required to settle all of them. The Modi government had in January 2015 approved certain concessions for the refugees from West Pakistan settled in Jammu and Kashmir after considering the problems being faced by them.The concessions include special recruitment drives for induction into paramilitary forces, equal employment opportunities in the state, admission for the children of refugees in Kendriya Vidyalayas, among others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had for the first time talked about the plight of people of PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan at an all-party meeting convened to discuss the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir on August 12. Three days later, while addressing the nation on Independence Day, he again referred to the three regions under the control of Pakistan. In its latest diplomatic gambit, the government has said that PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan are part of Jammu and Kashmir. There have been reports that government is planning to invite the diaspora from PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan for the next Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas to be held in Bengaluru. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : An all-party delegation led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 4. They are expected to interact with a cross section of people as part of efforts to bring peace in the Valley which has been witnessing unrest. The delegation will visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 4 and the Home Minister will lead it, a Home Ministry spokesperson said. The delegation is expected to meet a cross section of people, individuals and organisations in its efforts to bring peace in Kashmir Valley which has been witnessing unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Also read: Curfew lifted from the Valley, except three police station areas The Home Minister on Sunday had a hour-long meeting with BJP President Amit Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and MoS for PMO Jitendra Singh and discussed with them the modalities of the all-party delegation. Sources said the meeting discussed the possible individuals and groups with whom the delegation may interact during its tour of the troubled state. The government has sounded out different political parties to convey the names of their functionaries who will be part of the team. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about the Kashmir situation in his Mann Ki Baat programme. Ekta (unity) and Mamata (affection) was the crux of all interactions I had recently on Kashmir situation, he had said. Modi said those pushing youth towards stone pelting in Kashmir will some-day have to answer them. He also said that all political parties spoke in one voice on Kashmir, sending out a strong message to the world as well as separatists Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had met the Prime Minister on Saturday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Chinese think tank has issued a warning to India, saying China will have to get involved if any Indian plot disrupts the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in restive Balochistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modis reference to Balochistan in his Independence Day speech is the latest concern for China and among its scholars, Hu Shisheng, the director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), told a news agency in a freewheeling interview. Indias growing military ties with the United States and changing attitude towards disputed South China sea is causing concern to China. The latest concern for China is Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech from the Red Fort in which he referred to the issues like Kashmir (occupied by Pakistan) and Balochistan, Hu said. It could be regarded as a watershed moment in Indias policy towards Pakistan. Why Chinese scholars are concerned is because this is for the first time India has mentioned it, he added. According to the report, Hu claimed that China fears India may use anti-government elements in Pakistans restive Balochistan where Beijing is building the $46 billion CPEC -- a key to the success of its ambitious One Road One Belt project. Islamabad has long accused India of creating troubles in the region. However, India has always denied such claims. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with Myanmarese President U Htin Kyaw on Monday, in the first top level engagement between the two countries after iconic leader Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy wrested power in Myanmar from the military junta. The talks are expected to focus on imparting a new momentum to bilateral ties, particularly in areas of trade and investment, and to enhance management of the over 1,600 km-long Indo-Myanmar border which mostly criss-crosses militancy affected northeastern region. This is Htin Kyaws first overseas trip after assuming charge of the top office nearly five months back following the landslide victory of Suu Kyis party. He arrived in the Buddhist pilgrimage town of Gaya yesterday where he visited the Mahabodhi temple, the most sacred of Buddhist shrines, Daijokyo Buddhist temple and Myanmar Buddhist Vihara. He travelled to Agra this morning and paid a visit to Taj Mahal before arriving here. The Myanmarese President is accompanied by his wife, Daw Su Su Lwin, and a high-level delegation comprising several key ministers and top officials. Besides exploring ways to boost overall ties, the two leaders are likely to also discuss ways to contain militant activities along the Indo-Myanmar border. We are intending to make it a really substantive visit, Sripriya Ranganathan, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs had said on Friday while briefing reporters on the visit. China has been increasing its footprint in Myanmar and making huge investments in several major projects. For India too, Myanmar is a strategic neighbour and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during her visit to the country earlier this week conveyed to its leadership that India was ready to provide all help to the country in its march ahead. Initially India was supportive of Suu Kyis fight for democracy but driven by economic and security interests, it had warmed up to the military regime, inviting criticism from her. Suu Kyi, who is the de facto leader of the new government, will also pay a visit here later this year to attend a conclave of regional grouping BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). Htin Kyaw is coming to India at the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee. He will meet Mukherjee later in the day. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Aden: A suicide car bomb attack on an army training camp in Yemens second city of Aden killed at least 60 people on Monday, medical sources said. A security official said the attacker drove his vehicle into a gathering of new recruits at the camp in northern Aden. The assault killed 60 people and wounded 29 others, medical sources from the three hospitals where the victims were taken told AFP. Security officials had provided an earlier toll of 11 dead. The port city, the temporary base of Yemens Gulf-backed government, has seen a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces. Islamic State has claimed the attack. Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in Aden over the past two months to as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from jihadists. Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition entered Abyans provincial capital Zinjibar. Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in key Al-Qaeda stronghold, Al-Mahfid, a town which lies further east, security sources said. The militants are still present in areas surrounding the recaptured towns and control large parts of the neighbouring Shabwa province, the sources say. The Arab coalition which backs the Yemeni government against Iran-backed rebels has also been providing troops with air cover throughout their war against the jihadists. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March last year and has helped government troops push the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces. But authorities have been struggling to secure these provinces. More than 6,600 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since March 2015 and more than 80 percent of the population has been left in need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being ahand in glovea with power distribution companies. He said this after Lt Governor Najeeb Jung termed as aincorrecta the chief ministeras allegations that he cancelled the AAP governmentas decision to make discoms compensate consumer for unscheduled outages. Kejriwal also alleged that the PM has asked Jung to do what power companies want. aModiji is in the pockets of power companies. Power companies are hand in glove with Modi. Modiji asked LG on phone to do what they (discoms) say,a he tweeted. Addressing a public gathering in Najafgarh on Sunday, he had said that Jung has cancelled his governmentas order to make discoms pay compensation for unscheduled power cuts, alleging that Centre was hand in glove with power companies. Cost of 200/400 units of electricity In Del- Rs 550/1200 In Gujarat- Rs 1100/2300 Now Modiji wants Del rates also to be equal to Gujarat a Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 29, 2016 In a statement on Monday, the LG office said that it has not asked for any specific file and not issued any fresh order on this issue so far. aFiles have been submitted to the office of the Lt Governor by the GNCTD following the Honable High Courtas order dated 4th August 2016,a it stated. It further said that all such files, which have come to the Lt Governoras office, are likely to contain constitutional infirmities. The statement also quoted the high courtas order on the matter, aThe proceedings of the Government of NCT of Delhi, Department of Power No.F.11(58)/2010/Power/1856 dated 12.06.2015 issuing policy directions to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission regarding disruption in electricity supply to consumers and compensation payable in respect thereof are illegal and unconstitutional since such policy directions cannot be issued without communicating to the Lt Governor of NCT of Delhi for his views.a The LGas office further said that it is unfortunate that factually aincorrect and misleadinga statements are being placed in the public domain. aWe had passed an order under which discoms would have to compensate consumers for unscheduled power cuts. They were bound to pay a penalty of Rs 100 for power cuts extending up to one hour. 15 days ago, LG sahab called the file pertaining to this matter and cancelled this order. Modi is hand in glove with power companies. Why Modiji needed to turn down this order?a Kejriwal asked.A For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Taking a dig at Union minister Mahesh Sharma over his "skirt" remarks, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said women had greater freedom to wear clothes of their choice during Vedic times as compared to "Modi times". "Women had greater freedom to wear clothes of their choice in Vedic times than they have in Modi times," Kejriwal said in a tweet. The Culture Minister had stoked controversy after suggesting that women tourists should not wear skirts in India. "For their own safety, women foreign tourists should not wear short dresses and skirts... Indian culture is different from the western (culture)," he had told reporters in Agra on Sunday. [ALSO READ: Union minister Mahesh Sharma asks foreign tourists to ditch skirts, short dresses] He had also said that a "welcome card" was being provided to tourists visiting India and the "do's and dont's" on the card advise women not to roam alone at night and not to wear skirts. The comments also did not go down well with Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal who asked Sharma to focus on governance than clothes of women. She also hit out at drawing parallels between rape and the attire of a woman. "Rape of 2 year is also due to wearing skirts? Improve law and order, pl stop telling women what to wear or not wear. Can't believe politicians continue to equate rape with wearing skirt. So easy to shirk responsibility and blame a women's attire for rape," (sic) she said in a series of tweets. "Pl improve governance. No correlation in wearing skirt n rape. You hv put onus of rape on the girl which is pathetic," (sic) Maliwal added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: Dozens of UK-based Baloch and Sindhi protesters gathered outside the Chinese embassy on Monday and held a protest against Pakistan and China over the two countries USD 46 billion economic corridor and gross human rights violations. The protest in London follows a similar demonstration in Leipzig, Germany, last week demanding Pakistan to cease plans for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Balochistan and against what the protesters describe as gross human rights violations in the region. ALSO READ: China will get involved if India disrupts restive Balochistan, says Chinese think tank] Pakistan wants to forcefully impose the CPEC on Balochistan. We are being shown as a minority community and being displaced from our land, said a protester, who was part of the Baloch Students and Youth Association (BSYA). Other groups involved in the protest included Baloch Human Rights Council UK (BHRC-UK) and the World Sindhi Congress and they chose the Chinese embassy with the aim of raising wider international support for their cause. Pakistans security agencies have intensified their operations in Balochistan and Sindh to brutally implement the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), ruthlessly committing gross human rights violations while doing so, BHRC-UK said in statement. The Baloch ethnic population perceives the corridor project as a plan to convert them into a minority in their own homeland, and have openly opposed it on every level...Balochs and Sindhis firmly believe that CPEC will further intensify and strengthen their subjugation, it said. The protesters waved placards reading Hands off Balochistan and Balochistan Zindabad, Pakistan Murdabad and shouted slogans in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the issue recently. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. This was the first top-level engagement between the two countries after iconic leader Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy wrested power in Myanmar from the military junta. Earlier,External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Myanmarese President who is on a four-day India visit. This is Htin Kyaws first overseas trip after assuming charge of the top office nearly five months back following the landslide victory of Suu Kyis party. He arrived in the Buddhist pilgrimage town of Gaya on Saturday where he visited the Mahabodhi Temple, the most sacred of Buddhist shrines, Daijokyo Buddhist Temple and Myanmar Buddhist Vihara. He travelled to Agra yesterday and paid a visit to Taj Mahal before arriving. China has been increasing its footprint in Myanmar and making huge investments in several major projects. For India too, Myanmar is a strategic neighbour and External Affairs Minister during her visit to the country earlier this week conveyed to its leadership that India was ready to provide all help to the country in its march ahead. New Delhi: Baloch activists and leaders have made some shocking allegations against Pakistan Army, saying chemical weapons were used on locals in Balochistan on August 15. Baloch leader Naila Qadri has told News Nation that after Prime Minister Narendra Modis made reference to human rights abuse in the restive province in his Independence Day speech, the Pakistani Army used chemical weapons on residents in Balochistan to vent their anger. Pakistan, it seems, is taking revenge from its own citizen as it is apparently rattled by PM Modi mentioned Balochistan in his speech. After the reports about Pakistan army using chemical weapons on locals emerged, News Nation spoke to Naila Qadri, who said: "Nothing new about it. What Pakistani army has been doing with us ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Balochistan in his speech is not hidden. After Modijis spoke in our support, Pakistan retorted to murdering scores of Baloch people every day. The use of chemical weapons is also not new. They did it on August 15 too." [ALSO READ: Baloch, Sindhi activists protest against Pakistan, China in UK; shout slogans praising PM Narendra Modi] "They used chemical weapons in Makran, where mutilated bodies of Baluch people were found. They are kidnapping our kids and selling their organs. They are abducting our women and raping them," she added. They conducted nuclear test with China in Balochistan following which it didn't receive rains for 6 years and faced worst drought, she said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. DANBURY A local woman has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart claiming that she received back injuries when struck by a shopping cart pushed by an employee. Sherrie Neptune, who represents Ward 3 on of the Danbury Democratic Town Committee, claims in the lawsuit that she was examining some sales items on Halloween three years ago when she was struck by the cart. Princeton Review recently released their "Best 381 Colleges - 2017 Edition" and a number of Connecticut universities landed in some of the 62 categories the report studies. Here's a look at which campuses are liquor schools, college towns, and where students are happiest. MONTREAL, Aug. 15, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - On Wednesday, August 31st, 2016, Laurentian Bank of Canada will publish its financial results for the third quarter of 2016 and will hold a conference call for media representatives and the financial community at 2:00 p.m. (ET). To facilitate the presentation of financial results, a reference document as well as a press release will be available on the Bank's Web site. CONFERENCE CALL Date: Wednesday, August 31st, 2016 Time: 2:00 p.m. (ET) Call-in number: 1-800-505-9573 Access code: 8701784 Live webcast: www.laurentianbank.ca, under the Laurentian Bank tab, Investors section, Quarterly results, Audio webcast (listen only mode) PLAYBACK Availability: From 5:00 p.m. (ET) on August 31st, 2016, until 5:00 p.m. (ET) on September 30, 2016 Link for playback: Click here Access code: 8701784 Pin: 9876 About Laurentian Bank Laurentian Bank of Canada is a banking institution whose activities extend across Canada. The Bank serves one and a half million clients throughout the country and employs more than 3,600 people whose talent and dedication have made it a major player in numerous market segments. The Bank has more than $41 billion in balance sheet assets and $42 billion in assets under administration. Laurentian Bank distinguishes itself through the excellence and simplicity of its services. The Bank caters to the needs of retail clients via its branch network. The Bank has also earned a solid reputation among small and medium-sized enterprises and real estate developers thanks to its specialized teams across Canada, namely in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. For their part, B2B Bank is a Canadian leader in providing banking and investment products and services to financial advisors and brokers, while the expertise and effectiveness of Laurentian Bank Securities' integrated brokerage services are known nationwide. SOURCE Laurentian Bank of Canada For further information: Louise Bergeron, Vice president - Executive Office, Office: 514 284-4500, ext. 4840, [email protected] Government of Canada committed to doing more for Veterans PRINCE GEORGE, BC, Aug. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, joined Veterans and their families in Prince George, British Columbia, today to announce that the previously closed Veterans Affairs Canada office will reopen by May 2017. The new Prince George office will be located on the 4th floor at 299 Victoria Street, and once opened, will employ approximately five staff who will serve approximately 1,200 Veterans. Staff at the Prince George office will answer questions about VAC services and benefits; arrange pension medical examinations; and assist Veterans to complete and submit applications and receipts. Case-managed Veterans will also be able to meet with their case manager. The Department is continuing to hire up to 400 new employees to help ensure that Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP personnel, and their families are provided with the best possible services when and where they need them. Hiring new employees will permit the Department to reduce case managers' caseloads to a maximum of 25 Veterans. As part of today's announcement, Minister Hehr reaffirmed the Government of Canada's commitment to do more for Veterans. Budget 2016 committed $5.6 billion to improve Veterans' benefits and services, including increased payments under the Disability Award and the Earnings Loss Benefit, and expanded access to the Permanent Impairment Allowance. Veterans Affairs Canada has also expanded its Commemorative Partnership Program to allow funding for the building of new war memorials, and increased the survivor estate cash exemption under the Funeral and Burial Program. Quote "I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previously closed to Veterans and their families here in Prince George. They have selflessly answered the call to serve our country, and now we are answering their call by enhancing financial benefits, restoring and expanding access to critical services, expanding service in British Columbia and the territories, and hiring more frontline staff. This was part of our commitment to Canadians, and we stand by this promise." The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Quick facts Reopening the nine Veterans Affairs offices that closed is a top priority in the Minister of Veterans Affairs' mandate letter. The office in Prince George will reopen by May 2017 on the 4 th floor at 299 Victoria Street, Prince George, BC . will reopen by on the 4 floor at 299 Victoria Street, . The Veterans Affairs Office in Corner Brook reopened to Veterans on July 5, 2016 . reopened to Veterans on . By May 2017 , offices will reopen in Charlottetown, PE ; Sydney, NS ; Windsor and Thunder Bay, ON ; Saskatoon, SK ; Brandon, MB ; and, Prince George and Kelowna, BC . A tenth office will open in Surrey, BC , and outreach will be expanded to Veterans in the territories. , offices will reopen in ; ; and ; ; ; and, and . A tenth office will open in , and outreach will be expanded to Veterans in the territories. As of May 2016 , more than 250 new frontline employees have been hired. Associated links SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada For further information: Contacts : Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468; Rob Rosenfeld, Director of Communications and Issues Management, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649 NASAs Juno mission successfully executed its first of 36 orbital flybys of Jupiter today. The time of closest approach with the gas-giant world was 6:44 a.m. PDT (9:44 a.m. EDT, 13:44 UTC) when Juno passed about 2,600 miles (4,200 kilometers) above Jupiters swirling clouds. At the time, Juno was traveling at 130,000 mph (208,000 kilometers per hour) with respect to the planet. This flyby was the closest Juno will get to Jupiter during its prime mission. Early post-flyby telemetry indicates that everything worked as planned and Juno is firing on all cylinders, said Rick Nybakken, Juno project manager at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. There are 35 more close flybys of Jupiter planned during Junos mission (scheduled to end in February 2018). The August 27 flyby was the first time Juno had its entire suite of science instruments activated and looking at the giant planet as the spacecraft zoomed past. We are getting some intriguing early data returns as we speak, said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. It will take days for all the science data collected during the flyby to be downlinked and even more to begin to comprehend what Juno and Jupiter are trying to tell us. Jupiters north polar region is coming into view as NASAs Juno spacecraft approaches the giant planet. This view of Jupiter was taken on August 27, when Juno was 437,000 miles (703,000 kilometers) away. Credits: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS SOURCES- NASA Nigerian army soldiers conducting training and clearance operations against Niger Delta militants in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, on ... Nigerian army soldiers conducting training and clearance operations against Niger Delta militants in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states, on Sunday arrested 15 suspected oil vandals in different operations and destroyed several illegal oil refineries.A statement detailing the operations on Monday signed by Col Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations said Troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army involved in the field training exercise nicknamed Crocodile Smile mounted on gunboats and speedboats have been making tremendous progress as they also raided suspected criminal hideouts in the creeks around Ajaosolo, Okogho, Opumani, and Obodo general area.While conducting the exercise, on Sunday 28th August 2016, they intercepted suspected illegal oil bunkerer with 1 Cotonou Boat laden with crude oil, 3 X 40 Horse power Yamaha Speedboats and 5 X 200 Litres of illegally refined diesel oil.Two suspects; Mr. Tokolo Sawyer and Miss Showman Ebi-ere were arrested at Loveth Plaze, while Mr Kingsley Ebidimo and 7 others with unidentified mission were equally arrested at Pendo as they were found to be in possession of substance believed to be Marijuana, 1 Axe, 2 Cutting Saw and a long iron bender in their hideouts. The suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the Nigeria Police at Bomadi.Following intelligence reports, 2 illegal crude oil refineries were identified and destroyed by the exercising troops traversing Ayakoromo and Esaba water ways in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.At about 5.00pm same day, 2 Pumping Machines and sets of new pipes used for the construction of illegal refineries and siphoning were found in the bush.Two suspects were interrogated to ascertain their involvement on the recovered items. The troops have continued their training exercise without hitch. A Federal High Court, Abuja, has declined the application of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, seeking his immediate release from detention by th... A Federal High Court, Abuja, has declined the application of Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, seeking his immediate release from detention by the Department of State Service (DSS).El-Zakzaky is the leader of Shiites Movement in Nigeria. Justice Okon Abang, the vacation judge, who declined the application, had in the past one week refused the applications of Rep. Abdulmumini Jubrils house planned suspension.The others were application from his kinsmen seeking stoppage of the appointment of the Managing Director and commissioner into NDDC board and a suit into Oron Federal constituency.Abang said that Zakzaky ought to have obtained the leave of court for the matter to be heard during vacation. He explained that the applicant failed to serve the DSS, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation joined as respondents.He said, no matter the urgency of the matter, the applicant ought to have serve the respondents. The judge said that the matter was initially assigned to Justice Gabriel Kolawole by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.Abang, therefore, said that the application was not competent and struck out the application. Counsel to El-Zakzaky, Mr Abubakar Masha, instituted the suit seeking for enforcement of fundamental human rights on behalf of his client. Dangote Rice is expected to hit the market soon as the company commences harvest of its first tranche. Dangote Rice is expected to hit the market soon as the company commences harvest of its first tranche.Sources said that Aliko Dangote was happy with the news of the harvest, especially as the rice would be launched in the right time to ease the pains of Nigerians of buying rice at N20, 000 per bag.We are really excited about our rice projects, the source said.Once we commence the sales of our rice, I can authoritatively tell you that the price of rice will crash in the country and make importation of rice unattractive.Recall that earlier this year, Dangote inaugurated its 8,000-hectare rice out-growers scheme in Hadejia, Jigawa State, with the distribution of rice seedlings to farmers. Faced with intense criticism of his governments inability to free scores of teenage girls held captive by the Boko Haram, President Muh... President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the preparedness of the Federal Government to discuss the release of the Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram terror group since 2014, In an interview with journalists in Nairobi, Kenya at the weekend, President Buhari said the Nigerian government is ready to dialogue with bonafide leaders of the terror group who know the whereabouts of the girls. I have made a couple of comments on the Chibok girls and it seems to me that much of it has been politicised. What we said is that the government which I preside over is prepared to talk to bonafide leaders of Boko Haram. If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognised Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know. If they do it through the modified leadership of Boko Haram and they talk with an internationally recognised NGO then Nigeria will be prepared to discuss for their release, he said. President Buhari, who spoke to the media on the margins of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), warned that the Federal Government will not waste time and resources with doubtful sources claiming to know the whereabouts of the girls. We want those girls out and safe. The faster we can recover them and hand them over to their parents, the better for us. The President maintained that the terror group, which pledged allegiance to ISIS, has been largely decimated by the gallant Nigerian military with the support of immediate neighbours from Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin. Some of the information about the division in Boko Haram is already in the press and I have read in the papers about the conflict in their leadership. The person known in Nigeria as their leader, we understand was edged out and the Nigerian members of Boko Haram started turning themselves to the Nigerian military. We learnt that in an air strike by the Nigeria Air Force he was wounded. Indeed their top hierarchy and lower cadre have a problem and we know this because when we came into power, they were holding 14 out of the 774 local governments in Nigeria. But now they are not holding any territory and they have split to small groups attacking soft targets. On the militancy in the Niger Delta region, the President said the Federal Government is also open to dialogue to resolve all contending issues in the area. We do not believe that they (the militants) have announced ceasefire. We are trying to understand them more. Who are their leaders and which areas do they operate and other relevant issues, he said. Faced with intense criticism of his governments inability to free scores of teenage girls held captive by the Boko Haram, President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his governments willingness to negotiate with the terrorists to free the girls.Speaking a few days after the families of the over 200 girls, kidnapped from their school in Chibok, Borno State in 2014, asked him to resign if he could not secure their release, the president also indicated that he was willing to do a prisoner swap with the Boko Haram.The terror group recently released a video showing some of the kidnapped girls. A masked Boko Haram member in the video asked that the groups members held in various prisons by the Nigerian government be released before the girls could be freed.In an interview with journalists in Nairobi, Kenya at the weekend, Mr. Buhari said the Nigerian government is ready to dialogue with bonafide leaders of the terror group who know the whereabouts of the girls.If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognised Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know, he was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesperson Garba Shehu. The Nigerian Army has denied reports that two soldiers were killed during the military operation in Omuawa in Ikerre LGA of Rivers State... The Nigerian Army has denied reports that two soldiers were killed during the military operation in Omuawa in Ikerre LGA of Rivers State where five militants were shot dead.Spokesman, 2nd Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Captain Eli Lazarus, explained that no soldier was killed during Thursdays operation, which he described as successful.It will be recalled that the militants, who had been terrorising the people of the area, were confronted by soldiers before five hoodlums were gunned down.About 23 suspects were said to have been arrested while several arms and ammunition were recovered during the operation that lasted for about 30 minutes.But a source in the community had said that two soldiers lost their lives during an exchange of fire with the militants.However, Lazarus, who spoke with newsmen on Sunday, maintained that there was no casualty on the side of the Nigerian Army.He pointed out that some an officer and two soldiers, who were involved in an accident sustained minor injuries, and added that their situation had nothing to do with last Thursdays operation.No soldier was injured during last Thursdays operation as the Nigerian Army embarked on a successful operation. Five militants, who engaged our men in a shootout were killed.Maybe, some people may have may have thought that an officer and two soldiers, who were involved in a road accident, were injured during the operation. The butchers from the north are better known as the Fulani militants and herdsmen. They have unleashed horror and levied war against the... The butchers from the north are better known as the Fulani militants and herdsmen. They have unleashed horror and levied war against the people of Nigeria over the last one year. The saints are the Christians that they have slaughtered all over the country in that same period of time.I consider every single saint that they have killed as a martyr because they died for their faith. I honor them with this essay and I dedicate it to their memory.On 24th August 2016 Mr. Phil Smart wrote the following on Facebook:"Catholic seminarian butchered, pregnant woman's stomach cut open....as Fulani herdsmen continue killing in Enugu".The words were accompanied by a picture of a Catholic priest whose body had been shredded into pieces like fresh mincemeat or a Japanese sirloin steak.There was another of a pregnant woman whose stomach had been slit open right down the middle and whose unborn foetus and guts were hanging out for all to see. Clearly she had been carefully and clinically gutted.Many other bodies were strewn all over the burnt out fields and compounds of the village and some were so badly mutilated and chopped up that it would have been difficult to convince anyone that they once belonged to human beings. Not even babies were spared.In truth this was not the work of men but rather of demon-possesed hybrid entities that the famous British conspiracy-theorist Mr. David Icke describes as "shape-shifting reptilians" and sociopathic beasts.Worse still this was the second time in a matter of weeks that the relative tranquility of Enugu was desecrated by the prescence of these nomadic beasts and murdering bastards.On the previous occassion they caused as much havoc, slaughtered as many people and engendered as much consternation and outrage as the succeeding one.Yet it doesn't stop there. On the very same day that the latest attack in Enugu was going on other Nigerians were being attacked and "burnt alive" by people of the same radical Islamist bent and spirit in far away Zamfara for "blaspheming against Islam".Other similar attacks by the same fanatics and jihadists took place on that day in southern Kaduna, Benue, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Delta and various other parts of the country.If the truth be told this carnage and butchery has now become a daily occurence in our country and it is always the same people, namely the butchers from the north, that perpetrate them.The worst aspect of it all is that no-one has ever been arrested, prosecuted or brought to justice by the govermment for these hideous crimes mainly because President Buhari himself is a Fulani and consequently the authorities seem to have cultivated a soft-spot for them.Indeed Buhari is actually the life Patron and "protector-in-chief" of the umbrella organisation of all the Fulani Herdsmen in Nigeria which is known as Miyetti Allah.There is of course another view which is that the herdsmen are actually a tool of conquest who are being carefully cultivated, co-ordinated, controlled, organised, armed and funded by a sinister and dark hidden hand: that they are something akin to a Fulani "death squad" or armed militia.Those that share that view, and yours truly is amongst them, often refer to the butchers from the north as Nigeria's "Janjaweed", after the ruthless camel-riding Arab Muslim militia which Sudanese President Al Bashir commissioned, armed and employed to decimate, slaughter and commit genocide against over one million defenceless black African Sudanese Christians in the vast region of Darfur for many years.It is also why the U.S.-based Global Terror Index describes them as the "Fulani Militants" and has designated them as the "fourth most deadly terrorist organisation" in the world.Whatever one chooses to call them, whoever is behind them and whatever their motives may be one thing is clear: their actions are outrageous and barbaric and such behaviour has no place in a civilised society.I feel a deep sense of anger and outrage on the one hand and utter shame and frustration on the other about what is going on in our country today and what these butchers from the north are doing to our people.Theirs is a scorthed earth policy and they take no prisoners. They rape, kill, abduct, kidnap and terrorise people and they rob, burn down, destroy and pillage their homes, churches and farmlands at will.Worse still they commit these atrocities with total impunity and without any fear of the law enforcement agencies or security forces.And all this is done in the name and under the guise of herding cows and looking for grazing land for their cattle.I feel a deep sense of anger and outrage towards President Buhari and his government, because they seem to believe that the constant spilling and shedding of innocent Christian blood is something that brings them good fortune.It also appears to give them immense pleasure and joy otherwise they would have put a stop to it long ago.I feel shame and frustration because the Nigerian people themselves seem wholly incapable of standing up to that which is nothing less than pure evil.They seem incapable of protesting against anything, no matter how bestial and barbaric that thing may be.I wonder who has bewitched us? Is this the work of the "mai chanji" sweeping broom brew?Have the Nigerian people been charmed? Are we under a spell? Are we like the biblical Galatians who the Apostle Paul says were "bewitched"?Our people appear to be wholly incapable of resisting and facing down those that have enthroned sadism and wickedness in their hearts and that take pleasure in indulging in mass murder, genocide and ethnic cleansing in our land.It is not only the government that has failed but the political leaders from all the opposition parties, the traditional rulers, the clerics, the religious leaders, the media practitioners, the publishers, the columnists, the writers, the human rights activists, the editorial boards of newspapers, the bloggers, the intellectuals, the businessmen, the teachers, the students, the writers, the elites, the middle class, the workers, the unions and the ordinary people themselves have all failed too.They have all been gripped by the spirit of fear. They have been bullied, intimidated, brow-beaten and shocked into pitiful submission and a sickening and cowardly timidity.They have all failed to defend and speak up for the defenceless, the weak and the vulnerable in our midst.They have failed to protect and shield the thousands that are hacked to pieces and burnt alive on a regular basis by the rabid islamist beasts and terrorists in our midst for no just cause other than the fact that they are perceived as being nothing but Christian, Middle Belt and southern slaves.I am going to say some hard things and speak some home truths in this conbtribution and frankly I do not care who takes offence, whose ox is gored or who feels hurt by it.People are being killed by the demons in flesh, the tsetse flies and the religious and ethnic bigots in our land every day. Buhari's Nigeria is awash with blood and most of it is Christian blood that is being shed by his misguided and dark-hearted Fulani kinsmen.It is time to speak the truth no matter how ugly that truth may be and no matter how politically incorrect it may be to speak it.It is time to stand up to the evil in the land, to damn the consequeces and to bear the threats and insults that always come for speaking and exposing the truth in what has essentially become a police state.It is time to coin that famous Ghanaian phrase that says "all die be die" and to remember Shakepeare's words when he wrote "even though the heavens fall, let the truth be told and let justice be done".And that truth is that the evil that has seized our land has two columns, two heads and two primary sources of motivation. The first is the forceful and bloody quest for Fulani supremacy, ethnic hegemony and racial domination.The second is the morbid obsession by the radical Muslims of core northern Nigeria to shed innocent blood, to take life in the name of their god, to effect Jihad against those that do not share their world view, to wipe out Christianity, to enslave our people and to islamise our country.The truth is that every single CORE northern Muslim leader that has ever ruled this country has either died on the throne or been removed from power in a military coup. Not one of them ended well.Whether the second coming of Buhari will end any differently remains to be seen. One thing that is clear to me though is that the whole thing is spiritual. It is being orchestrated and effected by the finger of God and not by any man.It is God's way of saying that they were never meant to rule and be there in the first place and that He has rejected them. It is the work of the Ancient of Days and the Lord God of Hosts.They believe that they were "born to rule" but in actual fact they have been rejected by the Living God.Those that employ mass murder, ethnic cleansing and genocide as a tool of conquest and a legitimate weapon of war, that consider their fellow Nigerians to be sub-human and that believe that those fellow Nigerians are nothing but chattel and serfs that are destined to be ruled over by some distant caliph are in grave error: they have not fully understood God's plan and purpose for this country.They cannot comprehend or understand what is slowly unfolding. They do not appreciate the fact that no matter how much evil they visit on the rest of us that God is at work and His counsel alone will stand over our people and in the affairs of our nation.The truth is that the Lord regards them as nothing more than unbelieving slaves and they are far below us. They are of the darkness and we are of the light.The bible describes it is a "great evil under the sun" when "the children of slaves ride on horseback" whilst "the sons of Kings walk around barefoot".That is what has been happening in Nigeria since 1960. The children of the "bonded woman" have been riding on horseback whilst the children "of promise" have been walking around barefoot.This is indeed "a great evil under the sun". It is a spiritual affliction. It is witchcraft. It is an abomination. It is unacceptable.It is a total reversal of the way things ought to be. It is a rejection, usurpation and total corruption of God's original plan. It is ungodly and it is anti-Christ.I blame no-one but the leadership of the body of Christ in Nigeria for this mess.There are a few good ones amongst them who stood firm and spoke out when it mattered the most but sadly there are others who are more interested in collecting tiny crumbs from the President's table and buying fine clothes, expensive jewelry, fast cars and private jets than they are in standing up for their flock and effecting God's purpose and plan for Nigeria.Worst still there is also a small handful, like that short and vocal Rev. Father from Enugu, who have chosen to sell their souls to the devil, collaborate with the enemies of Christ and serve as the principal cheerleaders to the tyrant.If our men and women of God were bold and courageous and if they were doing their job properly the radical Muslims could not have turned Christians in Nigeria into second class citizens and toilet paper and a sharia-loving, Muslim-fundamentalist, closet- jihadist and Fulani supremacist like Buhari would never have been in power today.The bottom line is this: if you are not ready to die for Christ or to lose your life or liberty for defending and protecting the gospel, God's children or the faith then you are not worthy of being called a Christian.We must help the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to stand firm and strengthen their collective resolve but we must not leave it at that.We must also organise ourselves as well, not only in the political arena, but also by setting up strong Christian militias and defence squads to protect our churches and our people from the terrorists and butchers.We must aspire to emulate the Christian Phalange militia in Lebanon which was formed just before the Lebanese civil war broke out in the '70's and 80's.They were disciplined, well organised, gallant and courageous and they defended the lives of their people and the honor of their faith. The truth is that had it not been for the Phalange the Christians of Lebanon would have been wiped out by the Muslims in that war.I abhore violence and neither do I advocate its use. However we must accept the fact that,whether we like it or not, ultimately this matter will be settled not just by prayers, politics, long essays and press statements but also with guns and bullets.This is because violence is the only language that the butchers from the north appreciate and can comprehend. If the state is either incapable or refuses to protect the Christian community in Nigeria we will be left with no choice but to defend ourselves and protect our own.Permit me to conclude this contribution with the following.I would urge all those that still love and support this government to take a long hard look at the pictures that are strewn all over the internet of their fellow Nigerians that have been mutilated and carved up like Christmas turkeys and sallah goats. This is the work of Buhari's kinsmen, the Fulani militias and herdsmen.He has refused to arrest any of them let alone bring them to justice. Instead he has ruined our economy, impoverished and destroyed the lives of our people and aborted their God-given destiny, divided our nation on religious and ethnic lines, demonised us before the international community and labelled every Nigerian, apart from himself, as being incompetent and corrupt.This is a man that spends his time pontificating about corruption with long and boring speeches and pointing fingers at others. This is a man that told Mr. Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan at the Tokyo summit in Nairobi just yesterday, that Nigeria's "business environment is not friendly to investors" and that consistently tells other world leaders how supposedly "corrupt" his own people are.He has conveniently refused to tell those same world leaders how his presidential campaign was funded, how much money those that ran his campaign paid Mr. David Axelrod, President Obama's campaign advisor and publicist, and how many cars and how much "allowance" he collected from Col. Sambo Dasuki, President Goodluck Jonathan's National Security Advisor, before being "elected" President.The Bible says "let he who is free of sin cast the first stone". Nigerians may not know the truth today but God does and He cannot be mocked. Let Him judge between us.Yet the truth is that President Buhari's administration is not only essentially hypocrital but they also have no shame. All those that continue to support them and cheer them on are equally shameless.Worst still their supporters are cowards because they cannot find the courage to admit that they were wrong in supporting a government that is manifestly divisive, insensitive, incompetent, corrupt and intolerant of criticism and dissent.They are the ones that we must hold responsible and accountable for what has happened to those unfortunate people in all those pictures.They are the ones that we must blame for what has been happening to thousands of others at the hands of the Fulani militants and herdsmen all over the country for the last one year and three months.I say this because they are the ones that have encouraged the beast and cheered him on. They are the ones that have fed his blood-lust and encouraged him in his morbid quest to steal, kill and destroy. They are the ones that wanted, and still want, "mai chanji".I say a pox on all their houses! Shame on them and shame on the beast and tyrant that they worship.May the souls of all the saints, believers and Christian martyrs that were cut short by the butchers and barbarians from the north rest in peace and may the Lord God of Hosts avenge them speedily.Shalom. New Jersey's aging infrastructure means that sometimes, underground water or sewer lines leak. Other times, the lines are no match for powerful tree roots. Homeowners are surprised to learn they're usually responsible for the repairs. They think the utility company should be responsible. Many utilities offer "protection programs." These are like insurance policies or warranties, covering damage to certain lines under certain circumstances. Such coverage has been plaguing Louise and Ron Habakus for more than two-and-a-half years. The couple has owned their home in Red Bank since 2002. Two homes, actually. The home they live in was built in 1986. We'll call this the "main house." The property also has a second home built in the early 1970s. We'll call this the "rear house." We're going to get a little technical here, so take a look at this diagram. A map of the Habakus' property. When the first home was built, the main water line on the property stretched from the street to the rear house. The water line includes areas we'll call Section A and Section B. When the main house was built, new service was added with a branch coming off the original water line. That's marked as Section C, or the "branch." The property's water and sewer service is provided by New Jersey American Water, which falls under the umbrella of American Water Resources (AWR). When the water company offered an AWR "protection plan" for the water line in 2003, the couple signed up. In 2005, they purchased a plan for the sewer line. They had claims and received service on the water line in 2004, 2007 and 2010. The 2010 repair was never done correctly, the couple said. They believe that fix led to new trouble, which started on March 3, 2014, when the couple received a bill showing water usage that was double the normal amount. Fearing a leak, they reported it immediately, they said. A technician came and determined the leak wasn't in the home, so the couple filed a claim with the protection plan, records show. The response was confusing. One rep said their claim was denied, another said it was being reviewed, and others promised a supervisor would call, but the couple said no one did. To stay current, they paid an amount equal to their regular monthly water charges, but they didn't pay the charges from the still leaking water. They wrote a letter on April 14 requesting a repair, and they were denied in writing on May 30. The denial letter said the water line leading to the rear house -- Section B -- is considered a secondary line. Only the main line is covered. The letter identified the main line as Sections A and C. But that couldn't be, the couple said. The main line was always the one from the front of the property to the rear house, they said. That was the original line. They didn't understand how Section C, which was added in 1986, could now be considered the main line. They responded in writing on June 27, detailing problems with past repairs and the current issue, again requesting coverage. The company didn't respond, they said, so they sent more letters and finally involved Tom Hoffman, who works with New Jersey American Water's office of the president. Hoffman put their account on hold so they wouldn't have to pay the astronomical water bill pending a resolution, and he promised to facilitate communication with AWR, the couple said. MAKING PROGRESS? "It took us a year from our June 27, 2014 letter to speak with someone from AWR," Habakus said. By then, the water bill was $748.21. They finally to spoke to Renee Riebe from AWR's legal department on July 17, 2015. Louise and Ron Habakus at their Red Bank property, which has an underground water line leak. "It became clear during the call that the information they're relying upon is not consistent with our notes, conversations with AWR reps, and detailed on-site interactions with the contractors," Habakus said. "They acknowledged that the leak should've been fixed as part of the plan and they even changed their mind about what constituted the main line." Later in a conversation with Bamboozled, AWR denied it ever changed what it considered to be the main line. The couple requested copies of all records, including contractor reports and diagrams. In an Aug. 25 email, the company offered its narrative of previous repairs. It denied coverage again, and it included a few diagrams of the property. Point for point, the couple disputed the company's statements in writing on Oct. 2. And the water bill grew to $1,561.37. On Jan. 14, 2016, AWR made an offer. It said it still believes the denial was the correct decision, but it offered $5,000 -- the protection plan maximum -- to "resolve this matter." "... as part of this agreement, your Program will be canceled." The couple didn't want to be kicked out of the protection program. "We want the protection," Louise Habakus said. "It seems as if they want to punish consumers for having leaks. We did nothing wrong." The Habakus' made a counter-offer. They called in a contractor previously hired by AWR, who estimated the fix would cost $6,500, not counting overruns, which could happen once the digging started. The couple asked AWR pay the $5,000, and then split any overruns 50/50. They also requested the company cover the bill for the leaked water. "We feel the process has been unduly onerous, excessively drawn out, and has required herculean efforts of documentation and communication to reach where we are right now, to the point of what could be reasonably construed as bad faith on your part," Louise Habakus wrote. The couple noted that they'd pay to restore the driveway, landscaping and other items. They once again requested a complete copy of the records, and finally, they declined to exit the protection program as part of the deal. AWR refused to accept the counteroffer via email on May 9. A look at the water bill, which shows a giant leap when the leak began. Through May 18, the water bill was now $2,228.35. They were again threatened with water shutoff. They said they contacted Hoffman of the president's office, who they said again promised the shutoff would be on hold. But on June 3, Hoffman said via email that the account hold would lapse on June 8. The couple asked who was going to pay for all the leaked water -- water they say wouldn't have leaked had the company acted sooner. Hoffman said in a July 19 email that the usage doesn't meet the company's criteria for a "leak adjustment" but the company would be "open to offering a small percentage off the balance." The couple reached out to Bamboozled. NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE We reviewed the Habakus' detailed records on the water leak and the history of the water line repairs. We also examined diagrams of the property and reviewed the written documentation between the parties. Then we reached out to AWR. Company attorney Riebe disputed the couple's assertion that the company changed its mind about which part of the line was the "main line." She reiterated the $5,000 offer. We asked about the couple being removed from the protection program. "It seems that the customer's expectation and the way the program was designed don't meet," she said. "Part of the terms and conditions allow us to terminate a business relationship with the customer." So the couple could take the $5,000 and be kicked out of the protection program, or they could just be kicked out of the protection program? Yes, Riebe confirmed. We took that back to the couple. They wanted a better offer. In an Aug. 2 conversation with a company rep about the huge water bill, Habakus said it was trying to "strong arm me into setting up a payment plan" and it said the local office has nothing to do with AWR or the leak dispute. "NJAWC promotes and explicitly endorses AWR's program by including marketing literature in their bills. They have integrated billing and allow AWR to charge water company customers on NJAWC bills," Habakus said. "They're in it with both feet and they know there's a big problem." Her response brought a new counter: AWR would pay the $5,000 and then split any repair costs above that amount. Habakus responded, again saying they didn't want to be kicked out of the program. She asked that the account stay on hold until repairs were completed and once the repairs were done, the company absorb the full amount of the leak overage. Again, she requested copies of all the records. We checked in with the company for an update, but it said it was still working on a resolution with the couple. The couple came home from a vacation on Aug. 19 to a bill totaling $2,357.12, but said they had no new calls from the company. Finally on Aug. 26 -- more than two-and-a-half years after the leak was discovered -- the company made what it called its "final offer." It said it would pay the $5,000 and split the difference on any additional repairs needed. So after weeks of "working on a resolution," the company didn't change its position. "Once the leak is repaired, Ms. Habakus can contact New Jersey American Water about any adjustments to her water bills," spokesman Richard Barnes said. "Because Ms. Habakus's expectations of the water line protection program go beyond what is offered, American Water Resources will not retain her as a customer." We asked how many other customers have been kicked out of the program, but it said it wouldn't "be able to provide that information at this time." By publication time, the couple hadn't heard the offer directly from the company. "They have zero incentive to complete the repairs correctly since, if the leak reappears, they would no longer be obligated to help fix it since we're no longer in the program," Habakus said. "A company with integrity would stand by its program, its contractors, and its repairs and not boot people who try to hold them to their commitments." We'll let you know about the repairs, plus, the couple still has a fight ahead about the water bill. We'll keep you posted. Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter. NEWARK -- A former leader of "the most violent street gang in Newark" is facing 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to racketeering and other charges, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman and Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell announced in a joint release Monday. Malik "Leek" Lowery, 35, pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy, carjacking, robbery, and drug charges in connection with multiple crimes carried out by the "South Side Cartel," a set of the Bloods street gang based in Newark, authorities said. As part of the plea, Lowery admitted taking part in a 2007 murder, a 2008 armed carjacking, the robbery of a drug dealer, and various other crimes related to the gang's drug activity, authorities said. When Lowery is sentenced on Dec. 6, he faces 25 to 30 years in federal prison, Fishman and Caldwell said. The gang, officials said, grew from a "neighborhood-based gang whose main activities were selling drugs and committing violent acts to aid the drug trafficking business," to a 20-member group that ran a major heroin and cocaine ring in the city from about 2003 to 2010. Most of the previous members are either in jail, or were murdered in connection with gang activities, authorities said. Two other remaining members of the group, officials said, are also in law enforcement custody. Mark "B.G." Williams, pleaded guilty to racketeering and related charges earlier this month, officials said. The trial against Farad "B.U." Roland, one of the founders of the gang, is set to begin in September 2017, they said. Authorities said they intend to seek the death penalty for Roland, who is charged in five murders, among other crimes. Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Salem A homeless man had his head stomped on and his girlfriend was injured during an attack outside the Salem Lafayette apartment complex Saturday night, police said. JERSEY CITY -- A homeless man had his head stomped on and his girlfriend was injured during an attack outside the Salem Lafayette apartment complex Saturday night, police said. Police found the 53-year-old man on Oak Street near Ocean Avenue in the middle of the roadway with "blood dripping" from the side of his face at about 10:30 p.m., according to a police report. The man told police he was "jumped" by a group of people who "stomped on his head" causing him to lose consciousness. The man's 40-year-old girlfriend, a Fremont Street resident, also reported being attacked, police said. Both victims were described as being "heavily intoxicated and uncooperative" with the investigation. They were both brought to Jersey City Medical Center for treatment, the report states. No one was arrested in connection with the assault. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. A Jersey City man smashed his SUV into the back on a parked police car early Saturday morning when he was playing "Pokemon Go" on his cell phone, Jersey City police said in accident report. The 42-year-old Tonnelle Avenue man was charged with careless driving, using a cell phone while driving and other moving violations, police said. The man was driving south on New York Avenue, near South Street, when he hit the rear of the marked police cruiser Saturday at 3:43 a.m. The police car was not occupied at the time of the crash and the Tonnelle Avenue man did not report any injuries. The man's Ford Explorer was impounded when he could not produce proof of insurance for the vehicle. The cruiser was parked there because police were on patrol in the area, officials said. To honor those who lost their lives on the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Jersey City police and fire departments are partnering with the American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region for the second annual memorial blood drive on Monday, Sept. 12 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Palisades and Liberty Rooms at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, located at 2 Exchange Place, Jersey City. This drive is part of a nationwide agreement the Red Cross has with 9/11 Day. "As we commemorate the 15 th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11, it is our hope that the opportunity to give the gift of life will serve to continue the healing process for everyone impacted by this unthinkable tragedy," Guy Triano, donor recruitment director, Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region, said in a statement. "We are so proud to honor the Jersey City Police and Fire departments once again this year as they were some of many first responders and unsung heroes that day." Organizers are inviting friends and family members of those lost on Sept. 11 to participate in this event for a positive way to mark the occasion while giving back to the community. Red Cross volunteers will also be attending the event to help spread the word about the importance of community preparedness. All presenting donors will receive a deluxe personal safety emergency pack, courtesy of Suburban Propane. "September 11th is a day we will never forget in Jersey City, as our lives and our world changed forever that day," Mayor Steven M. Fulop said in a statement. "Just like our first responders and residents came together as a community on 9/11 to provide relief and aid, today we are continuing to stand as a city to offer life saving assistance to those who need it most." Parking will be validated for all donors at One Parking, 10 Exchange Place. To donate blood, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. Volunteer blood donors of all blood types are currently needed. JERSEY CITY -- A 56-year-old man who was pulled off train tracks by a New Jersey Transit cop on Friday has been charged with aggravated assault and interfering with public transportation. In a video posted on New Jersey 101.5, Officer Victor Ortiz -- a 16 year veteran with the department -- is seen struggling to pull Alan Jackson, of Elizabeth, off the train tracks at Secaucus Junction seconds before a train pulled into the station Friday morning. This afternoon, Jackson appeared in Central Judicial Processing court via video link from Hudson County jail on multiple charges. According to a criminal complaint, Jackson was running from Ortiz and jumped onto the train tracks in attempts to escape the officer. The officer followed the 56-year-old onto the tracks who began "wrestling" with Ortiz to avoid being handcuffed, the complaint states. Jackson said a brief prayer making the sign of the cross before speaking briefly with his defense attorney Frank Gonzalez on the telephone before the hearing. Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor John Wojtal said Jackson showed "reckless behavior," resulting in Ortiz acting in a "heroic manner" and putting his own life in "serious jeopardy." Wojtal said a train was less than half a mile away when Jackson jumped on the tracks Wojtal argued for bail to be set at $15,000 with a 10 percent cash option. Gonzalez asked for his client's bail to be set at $10,000 with a 10 percent cash option. Judge Margaret Marley said the state's request was "fair" and set bail at $15,000 with a 10 percent cash option. Jackson has 10 prior arrests, with his last arrest being seven years ago. He additionally has a warrant from Rahway Municipal Court for an unpaid $1,500 drug paraphernalia fine. He is charged with aggravated assault, two counts of attempting to prevent a law enforcement officers from effecting a lawful arrest, interfering with public transportation, and causing a public annoyance. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. 403 Forbidden 403 Forbidden Code: AccessDenied Message: Access Denied RequestId: 98FA3C0CDEBC9340 HostId: GsQj/1DPJWk5+ZZbej8eW4VeSnITBpZ+yALR76lBv8EYEM3XAf6AY815it3Y9qg6jV4eTls4tjA= An Error Occurred While Attempting to Retrieve a Custom Error Document Code: AccessDenied Message: Access Denied CLINTON TWP. - A 27-year-old woman from Connecticut was killed in a four-vehicle accident on Interstate 78 on Sunday afternoon, State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn confirmed Monday. Ekaterina Cherynkh, of Bridgeport, Conn. was pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:26 p.m. accident. The other rear-seat passenger, a 31-year-old Matawan man, was seriously hurt. The crash was one of two on Interstate 78 in Hunterdon County on Sunday, and the seventh fatal accident this year on a 30-mile stretch of the expressway from the Pennsylvania border to the Interstate 287 interchange in Somerset County. Traffic was tied up on Interstates 78 and 287, as well as on Routes 22 and 31, in Central Jersey for much of the day, with an additional incident, a car carrier fire on Interstate 287 in Bernards, adding to the delays. The fatal accident began when a Land Rover traveling east near milepost 23 near the borders of Clinton and Readington townships ran off the left side of the road and into a wooden embankment before going airborne and striking two westbound vehicles, Flynn said. The right-rear passenger in one of the vehicles hit by the Land Rover, a Honda Accord, was ejected, Flynn said. The Land Rover was then struck by a westbound Ford Expedition. Kwabena Owusu-Dapaah, 58, of Annandale, the driver of the Land Rover, and the second rear-seat Honda passenger were airlifted to Morristown Medical Center. Their conditions were not available as of Monday morning. Neither of those two men nor Cherynkh were wearing seat belts, according to Flynn. The occupants of the fourth vehicle, a Lexus GS, involved in the accident, suffered non-life threatening injuries, Flynn said. A separate accident that happened on westbound Interstate 78 in Union Township on Sunday morning injured two people. The driver of a 2002 Ford Explorer struck a Pontiac Grand Prix as he was moving from the left to the center lane near milepost 12.8 at about 9:45 a.m, State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn said. The Pontiac left the expressway and struck a guardrail. The Explorer also truck a guardrail and overturned, Flynn said. Flynn said the driver and the passenger in the Explorer were stable condition at Morristown Memorial Hospital as of 3:30 p.m. Sunday. No one in the Pontiac was badly hurt. WEST WINDSOR -- A pickup truck crashed into the Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church on South Mill Road Monday afternoon, police said. Police and township firefighters were called to the scene at about 1 p.m.. West Windsor police said later Monday that the driver, who they did not name, suffered an apparent medical issue while driving and his truck left the road, crashing into the church building. The driver, a male, was taken to a local hospital as precaution, but was not seriously injured. Nobody was injured in the church, which is located near South Mill Road's intersection with Village Road. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Trenton summer curfew In this 2009 photo, Trenton police escort youths into the community center at Triumphant Life Community Church on Euclid Avenue as part of the summer curfew enforcement. (Michael Mancuso | For NJ.com) TRENTON -- This summer, police in Trenton began enforcing their own long-neglected curfew, albeit with an unorthodox twist. Minors who are caught out past curfew can either wait for their parents to pick them up at police headquarters or get dropped off at one of the half-dozen churches and faith-based organizations that have opened their doors as a "safe haven." When given an option, police say, the teenagers choose church. "The church is in their community as opposed to coming to the police station, which they view as bad," said Detective Sgt. Bethesda Stokes, who heads the department's youth services unit. "We don't have the pastor coming in and laying hands on them. It's everyday talk. It's them seeing people just like them who may have gone through the same thing they did as a child. They let them know that it's not safe for them to be out there, there's options." Though the city has had a curfew law on the books since 1967, it has been enforced only sporadically. The ordinance prohibits anyone under 17 from being in a public place unaccompanied by a parent or guardian between 11:59 p.m. and 6 a.m. from July 1 through Aug. 31 and between 9:59 p.m. and 6 a.m. from Sept. 1 through June 30. Since police began enforcing the law July 1, they have picked up 109 kids, according to figures provided on Friday. The city has received some criticism, though much of it has come not from the community, but from legal groups who have concerns of the constitutionality of the curfew and the decision to use churches. But that did not deter the city from pushing ahead. In fact, this summer is not the first time curfew-breakers have been brought to a city church or community center. In 2009, the police and sheriff's department partnered with churches and volunteers from Fathers and Men United for a Better Trenton to enforce the curfew. Stokes says it is an attempt to get youths off the streets at night both for their safety and to reduce crime. "Whether we save a kid that night or whether we prevent a crime from happening, it helps," she said, adding that about one or two juveniles are picked up each night. "A lot of parents didn't even know their kids were out." Every night between midnight and 3 a.m., two officers assigned to curfew enforcement patrol the streets, looking for at-risk youth who are out late at night, Stokes said. Curfew violators are then taken to a participating church, where they are met by a juvenile officer and a volunteer from the church or community group. When a child has a religious conflict or on nights when a church is unavailable, police offer their headquarters as an alternative drop-off location. At the churches, juveniles are brought to the community or meeting rooms and religion is not discussed. "They're not in a pew repenting," Stokes said. "There's none of that." Instead, she said, the volunteers can often be a sounding board to the kids and parents, who may be at wit's end about how to discipline their children, and can refer them to community groups or counseling programs. Pastor Terry Wells of My Brother's Keeper Outreach Ministries takes the Sunday night shift and said he hopes to keep kids from going down the same bad path he did when he was younger. "I'm not coming here to preach to them," he said. "I'm coming to them as a person who can assist them with whatever the problem is. "It gives me an opportunity to speak to them about what happened, who they are hanging out with, what's going on at home," he continued. "Sometimes they put up a wall with the officers, but with me, they let down the wall." Friendship Baptist Church's Rev. John Taylor has opened the doors to his church as a "safe haven" since the curfew enforcement days of former Mayor Doug Palmer. He said he chooses to take a more hands-off approach, instead leaving the talking to the juvenile officer. "The child doesn't get used to going to the police station and they have a positive interaction with the law enforcement," he said. "It's a win-win solution." Stokes said that requiring parents to pick up their children also helps encourage parental responsibility. "Us picking them up and taking them home is just too easy," she said. "Taking them to a church or community building ... holds them accountable because as a parent, why don't you know where your child is after a certain time?" If, however, their parents or guardians cannot be reached or don't have a ride -- as is sometimes the case for grandparents who serve as primary caretakers -- the officers will transport the child back home. "It's effective," she said of the summer curfew. "The less people on the street after a certain time eliminates a lot of crime." Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. tuna1.jpg From left, Rich Kosztyu, Damien Romeo and Brian Suschke with their winning tuna from the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Md. Aug. 10, 2016. (Handout photo) TRENTON -- A trio of New Jersey fisherman could land $2.3 million more in prize money for the record 236.5-pound tuna they caught earlier this month in Maryland. Brian Suschke, a Trenton police sergeant and Rich Kosztyu, a Trenton firefighter, already won $767,091 for the catch with friend and boat owner Damien Romeo at the White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Md. But last week, the tournament announced that a Florida boat that won $2.8 million in the white marlin category - the sole qualifying fish in the category - may have violated tournament rules. And last Friday, the tournament filed an action asking a Maryland court decide the matter. In court filings, the tournament alleged fishermen on the winning boat failed polygraph examinations - a requirement for collecting a prize greater of $50,000. Among the allegations against the Florida boat are that they started fishing too soon one day, and doctored a catch book on what time they caught the marlin in question. For the New Jersey men, it means the $2.8 prize would be spread among other winning boats - with Kosztyu, Suschke, and Romeo earning $2.3 million of it, due to the way they entered the tournament. Earlier this month, Suschke talked about the catch and how elated the friends were to win the tuna category. On Monday, though, Suschke said he and the crew were not commenting since the matter is now in litigation. Their tuna's weight and initial payout were records this year in the tournament's tuna category. The three friends have been fishing in tournaments for years. Romeo's boat, "Hubris," is based in Forked River, in Lacey Township. In this year's White Marlin Open, 329 boats competed for just over $4.4 million in prize money in an event recognized as the world's largest billfish tournament. Suschke, left, and Kosztyu, pose with the winning tuna on the Hubris. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. HIGHLAND PARK -- Authorities are searching for a man they say molested an 11-year-old girl Sunday night near Donaldson Park. The alleged molestation happened at 9:25 p.m. when the girl went to retrieve her cell phone in her family's car parked near Donaldson Park, according to a news release issued by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. A man "improperly touched" the girl and then fled toward the Park after she screamed, authorities said. The man is described as white, between 30 and 40 years old and has short spiked hair. He is clean-shaven. Authorities have not yet made any arrests as of Monday afternoon. The prosecutor's office asked anyone with information to call Highland Park police Detective Sean McGraw at 732-572-3800 ext. 4263, or Detective Mark Morris of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at 732-745-4194. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Survivors of Hurricane Ian face a long emotional road to recover from one of the most damaging storms to hit the U.S. mainland. For those who lost everything to disaster, the anguish can be crushing to return home to find so much gone. Grief can run the gamut from frequent tears to utter despair. The Lee County medical examiner says two men in their 70s even took their own lives a day apart after viewing their losses. Experts say suicides climb after disasters and more funding for mental health should be provided as climate change makes storms and fires more frequent and devastating. The federal government plans to pour $125 million into the fight against a mysterious disease that has ravaged corals in Florida and much of the Caribbean, and now poses a dire threat to the treasured reefs off the Louisiana and Texas coasts. Today Thunderstorms - a few could contain very heavy rain, especially this afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 77F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. Tonight Some clouds. Low 62F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 74F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Community Its now easier than ever to connect and chat with others in your local area. You can connect with your community by asking general questions, give area updates and recommendations and even let your community know about local events that are taking place. The Transformer 3 Pro T303UA is powered by Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Skylake-U processors and is supports up to 16 GB RAM, 1.5 TB of SSD storage. The 12.6-inch display packs active pen and Intel WiDi support. This convertible also has a USB Type-C/Thunderbolt 3 port, next to the common HDMI, USB 3.0, Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity options. The entry-range Mini T102HA is a 10.1-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard cover, powered by an Intel Atom x5-Z8350 processor, but its options allow customers to turn it into a mid-ranger. It can be configured with up to 4 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage, and all versions feature a fingerprint reader. The high-end Asus Transformer 3 Pro and the affordable Transformer Mini were unveiled back in May, but they still have to reach most markets across the world. Earlier this month, the Transformer 3 Pro launched in India, and now it is ready to hit Japan and Europe as well. - 5678 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2013 Codrut Nistor - Senior Tech Writersince 2013 In my early school days, I hated writing and having to make up stories. A decade later, I started to enjoy it. Since then, I published a few offline articles and then I moved to the online space, where I contributed to major websites that are still present online as of 2021 such as Softpedia, Brothersoft, Download3000, but I also wrote for multiple blogs that have disappeared over the years. I've been riding with the Notebookcheck crew since 2013 and I am not planning to leave it anytime soon. In love with good mechanical keyboards, vinyl and tape sound, but also smartphones, streaming services, and digital art. Fundraiser to assist expanding emergency care at Great Plains No one expects a heart attack, a car accident or any other type of emergency. They are unpredictable in every sense of the word. You never know when you will need emergency care, and you want it to be the best it can be, said Libby Lashley, director of the Great Plains Health Care Foundation. On Thursday night, the foundation announced that it is spearheading a fundraiser to expand the emergency department at Great Plains Health. Lashley said the expansion is needed because of increased patient volume and a desire to improve care for patients during a moment when time is of the essence. When youre in an emergency, every minute matters, Lashley said. That idea inspired the Every Minute Matters fundraising campaign. The campaign goal is to raise $3.5 million by the end of the year. If the foundation is successful, it will receive a $5 million donation from an Omaha philanthropist and former patient. Bill Scott was in the region when he was injured and needed emergency care in 2005. He was so grateful for the care he received at Great Plains that when he and his wife, Ruth, heard of the plans to expand, they offered the $5 million donation. Lashley said this is the first time the foundation has been offered a donation that large from a donor outside of the local area. The $15.5 million will also include contributions from Great Plains Health and the foundations investment savings. The most notable part of the project is expanding from 12 private rooms to 29. Lashley said more space is necessary because of a consistent increase in patient volume over the last 10 years. Last year, we treated 19,000 patients, Lashley said. An additional trauma room will be added, making more vital equipment available in a dire situation. There are four trauma level designations a hospital in Nebraska can receive. Great Plains Health is a Level 3 trauma center, said Dr. Jim Smith, medical director of emergency services. This means the hospital can provide initial evaluation and stabilization, which may include surgery, for patients who can be kept stable or improve without specialized care. The hospital can transfer patients to higher-level hospitals when necessary. The addition will also include a fast-track system for noncritical care. Smith said the system isnt meant to replace urgent care centers or general practitioners, but will improve access for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Throughout the whole country, due to economic pressure, patients are uninsured or underinsured, Smith said. This forces them to visit the ER for episodic care. Smith said such patients may not be able to pay up front for care, which is required by many doctors offices and urgent care facilities. This is a way to treat patients without throwing them in the path of an emergent patient, Smith said. It leaves a bed open for an emergent patient. New waiting areas, consultation rooms and exam rooms will improve the overall experience, Lashley said. The new rooms will reduce noise and will be designed to enhance privacy and efficiency, as well as providing a place for loved ones to stay with patients. Lashley said a major complaint in emergency rooms across the country is the time spent waiting for care. The redesigned patient flow will reduce registration and wait times. New diagnostic and monitoring devices will be available throughout the department. After fundraising is complete, construction is estimated to take about 18 months. The existing facility will be renovated and additions will be built both east and west of it. Construction will be done in phases, Lashley said. We cant shut down. So far, Lashley said, the foundation has raised $2.28 million of the $3.5 million goal. She said she hopes the entire community will get involved, adding that many donations are being made in the form of pledges over a few years through the annual gift program. The program offers several levels, ranging from $1,000 to more than $50,000. However, no donation is too small, Lashley said. To learn more about the campaign or to make a donation, contact Lashley at 308-696-7411 or visit gphealth.org/emergency. MICHIGAN CITY Sanlo Inc., a manufacturer of wire rope and engineered cable assemblies, has been purchased by Central Wire Industries, a Canadian firm with eight manufacturing plants in North America and one in the United Kingdom. Central Wire Industries wants to augment its product line with Sanlo products as well as utilizing the Michigan City companys central U.S location for distribution. Sanlo is geographically located in the right area and has a value defined workforce; capable and experienced, said Paul From, president and CEO of Central Wire Industries. We have been impressed with Sanlos team and I know they are all eager to see growth and development of new global markets, precisely what CWI can bring to the table. The purchase price was not disclosed. Sanlo, a 60-year-old company, has a 100,000-square-foot plant at 400 Ind. 212 in Michigan City. Its wire and cable products are used in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, construction, rail, automotive and materials handling. The company especially touts its engineering capabilities. Luke Vandercar, sales leader for Sanlo, will take up the post of general manager for Central Wire Industries at the Michigan City plant. Central Wire Industries was founded in 1955 and Sanlo marks its third major acquisition in the past two years. In September 2014 it acquired Strand Core, in Milton, Florida, and in February 2015 it purchased Hempel Wire, in the United Kingdom. In all, the Canadian company employs 400 people. In 2010, Sanlo explored moving its Michigan City production out of Indiana. But the company decided to stay after it worked out an incentive package with the Michigan City Economic Development Corp. that included training funds from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Great Lakes Basin Transportation has asked federal regulators to give it until Sept. 20 to come up with alternative routes for its proposed 278-mile rail line around Chicago. The federal Surface Transportation Board in a July 5 letter asked Great Lakes Basin Transportation to submit alternative routes by Monday. Under the company's original proposal, the double-tracked freight line would run from southeastern Wisconsin into Illinois and through Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties in Indiana. Great Lakes Basin Transportation Chairman Frank Patton said the request was delivered Monday afternoon, with his company needing more time to prepare some of the detailed engineering required. The Surface Transportation Board could not be reached Monday to confirm whether the request had been received. Patton said his company sifted through the 3,500 public comments submitted to the Surface Transportation board in order to develop alternatives. That public comment period ran through the middle of July. "The whole purpose of the public comment period was to ask the public for alternatives and, frankly, there were some real gems that were put forward," Patton said. Alternatives proposed during the public comment period included not building the rail line at all and one supported by Porter County Commissioners that would take it out of Porter County and put it on mostly existing railroad rights-of-way further south. Numerous comments submitted pointed out specific problems in certain locations, asking that the rail line be routed away from those areas. In other cases, local officials wanted to make sure the rail line can connect with existing rail lines or other rail projects that are just getting underway. The route alternatives to be submitted by Great Lakes Basin Transportation are to be considered in a draft environmental impact statement being developed by the Surface Transportation Board's Office of Environmental Analysis. That document is the first major step needed in preparation for winning clearance for the rail line from numerous federal agencies. GARY More than 100 people will be out of work after a factory that made steel parts for railcars closes next year. Roll Form Group, a division of metals service center Samuel, Son & Co., Ltd., decided to close the Stainrail boxcar factory that's been in Gary for more than three decades. The company will lay off 103 people after deciding the 155,000-square-foot plant at 1225 Martin Luther King Drive was old and outdated. It is offering workers jobs at another factory in Mississippi. Stanrail will permanently closed its Gary factory on Oct. 27, and finish winding it down by Feb. 28, 2017, the company wrote in a letter with a WARN notice to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The layoffs will take place in five waves, with the first 78 workers getting pink slips on or around Oct. 27. "None of these employees is represented by a union," Roll Form Group Human Resources USA and Mexico Vice President M. Katherine Ramsey wrote in the letter. "The plant closing will be permanent and will involve the entire plant." Most of the affected workers described in the WARN notice are laborers or welders. They range in age from 20 years old to 67 years old. Last summer, Stanrail announced it would close the plant and filed a WARN notice stating workers would be laid off in two waves in September and October. But that didn't happen. City officials at the time were worried they would have one more big, boarded up building on their hands. Stanrail made box car plug and sliding doors, nailable steel flooring, roofs and uncoupling levers for boxcars. Though the rail industry has undergone a resurgence in recent years, boxcars have fallen out of favor as railroads increasingly use intermodal containers that can also be loaded on ships and trucks. The DWD and WorkOne Northwest Indiana is dispatching a Rapid Response team to help displaced employees, such as with interview workshops and help crafting resumes. For more information call WorkOne Northwest Indiana at 219-462-2940, Ext. 41. WESTVILLE The 63rd season of the Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum will feature television news reporter Ted Koppel at 4 p.m. Sept. 11 in the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on the PNW Westville campus, 1401 S. U.S. 421. The doors open at 3 p.m. The Sinai Forum presents speakers who discuss compelling contemporary issues in a town hall-style manner. Audience members have an opportunity to pose face-to-face questions. Koppel will discuss his book, Lights Out: A Cyberattack, A Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath. His presentation will offer a detailed case for what he believes is the likelihood of an overwhelming cyber attack on the United States and the nations ability to deal with the consequences that could arise. Koppel has covered events that include John F. Kennedys funeral in 1963; Martin Luther King Jr.s civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965; Richard Nixons visit to the Peoples Republic of China in 1972; and he was the first journalist to interview Nelson Mandela upon his release from 26 years in prison. A book signing will follow the program. Regular Season tickets are $75, which includes general seating for all five programs. A Patron Season ticket is $200, which includes reserved section seating for all five programs and exclusive receptions with the speakers before each program beginning at 2:30 p.m. Students who show a valid school I.D. are admitted to the program without charge. Tickets can be purchased by credit card online at www.pnw.edu/sinai-forum or by cash or check at: The Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W. Second St., Michigan City; Kabelin Hardware, 512 Andrew Ave., LaPorte; and the Porter County Community Foundation, 1401 Calumet Ave., Valparaiso. The Sinai Forum season sponsors are IU Health LaPorte Hospital, The Times Media Co. and Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa. Additional sponsors are the LaPorte Herald Argus and The News Dispatch, The John W. Anderson Foundation, Horizon Bank, the Bankoff Family, and Duneland Health Council. Patron-level ticket holders will be welcome to attend all pre-program speaker receptions. The receptions are sponsored by Strack & Van Til, Scannell Wealth Management, Purdue Federal Credit Union, Leonard J. and Irene Brown Foundation and Harbour Trust Investment Management Co. For more information about the Sinai Forum, go to www.pnw.edu/sinai-forum. WASHINGTON Tensions have been rising between China and the United States. China is modernizing its military and pressing its sovereignty claims over the disputed South China Sea, an important route for global trade. The U.S. is pushing back by increasing its military presence in Asia, which China views as provocative. The U.S. also accuses China of unfair trading practices and cyber theft of business secrets. Tough action by either side could spark a skirmish at sea or a trade war that would make many goods in the U.S. more expensive. Where they stand Democrat Hillary Clinton says the U.S. needs to stand up to China and press the rising Asian power to play by international rules in trade, in cyberspace, and in territorial disputes. But shes also said the two nations need to cooperate where they can. Republican Donald Trump says the high volume of U.S.-China trade gives Washington leverage over Beijing. He accuses China of undervaluing its currency to make its exports artificially cheap and he proposes tariffs as high as 45 percent on Chinese imports into the U.S. to force it to trade fairly and support other U.S. policy goals. Libertarian Gary Johnson says it is important to work with China as a partner in solving regional conflicts, including North Koreans hostility. Why it matters The U.S. and China are the worlds two largest economies and biggest military spenders. The wider world needs them to get along, to keep the peace and tackle global problems like climate change and a nuclear North Korea. The U.S. and China also depend on each other economically. Two-way trade topped $600 billion in 2015. China is the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt, and by some estimates, Chinese foreign direct investment into the U.S. has started to outstrip the flow of U.S. investment into China. China is building Asias strongest military and wants to be treated as a global leader, but its assertive behavior has unnerved its neighbors who look to the U.S. to help preserve order. Such economic and strategic tensions between two world powers can directly affect American jobs, wages, consumer prices and security. GARY A Democratic Party leadership fight is brewing. Lake County Sheriff John Buncich, the county Democratic Party chairman, said Friday he has scheduled a reorganization meeting for 5 p.m. Thursday at the Genesis Convention Center in downtown Gary to elect a new city chairman, vice chairman, party treasurer and secretary. The sheriff said more than a third of the 105 city Democratic precinct committee members have called for new leadership. "I was presented with a petition from the (precinct) committeemen last week. In accordance with party rules, I had to call the meeting," Buncich said. The sheriff said he doesn't know the motives behind the petition. Typically, the organization wouldn't re-elect its officers until the spring of 2018. Willie Stewart, the current city chairman, will fight any efforts to remove him. Darnail Lyles, Stewart's attorney, said Friday that Buncich's attempt to reorganize is "a power grab" that doesn't follow party rules, and he is prepared to go to court to stop Thursday's meeting. Darren Washington, chairman of the Calumet Township board and a critic of Stewart, said he isn't a precinct committee man and isn't behind the reorganization move, but that "there is obviously discontent, and I applaud those who are calling for this." Washington said he believes Stewart should step down for distributing what Washington calls an improper slate of candidate endorsements, including Eddie Melton, in the May primary. Washington was running for the 3rd District state Senate seat, against Melton. Washington said he received the support of a majority of the Gary Democratic precinct committeemen, but was denied the organization's endorsement because he refused to pay $9,700 in party assessments. Washington said the county elections board declared the slate in violation of election laws. CROWN POINT Mark Swiderski Jr. recently gave thanks for being named Lake Countys new E-911 director. I really do think this is a dream job, he told Lake officials who recently hired him to boost the morale of dispatchers taking to their heels for better pay and working conditions, and in general make their often-criticized communications network more respectable. We are glad you are here, Highland Fire Chief William Timmer said last week. Swiderski replaces Brian Hitchcock who spent three years consolidating 15 county and community-based dispatch rooms into the new call center before departing for a new E-911 consolidation in Clarksville, Tennessee. The 34-year-old Crown Point resident comes to Lake County from Illinois E-COM Dispatch Center, serving the southeast suburbs of Chicago. He was deputy director for five years and is completing a degree in public safety administration at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Hammond. He has been a resident of Merrillville and Crown Point for 10 years, is married to Julie Swiderski and they have one daughter. He starts full time with Lake County Sept. 6 at an annual salary of $104,850 a year. Lake County Commissioner Mike Repay, D-Hammond, who had a role in his hiring, said Swiderskis resume made him stand out. He has been a front line dispatcher and participated all the way up in the chain of command and has worked with multiple jurisdictions, so he isnt walking cold into a consolidated center, Repay said. He is going to provide to us in short order with a six-month action plan and then we will ask him to implement it and give us some benchmarks. Growing the staff of E-911 telephone and radio dispatchers will be one of his challenges. The county currently employs 71 trained, full-time dispatchers, well below the 95 former E-911 director Hitchcock declared as the minimum needed. Hitchcock blamed high employee turnover on the stresses of their new, higher workload of calls and low pay. Repay said the County Council recently voted to raise its pay scale for E-911 dispatchers and supervisors by $2,000 this year. Swiderski said, I want people to be hired properly. We need to make sure we have identified whether the people coming into this facility are capable of doing the job, and if not, cutting our losses sooner rather than later. One of my big things is training. Dispatchers need to know what is expected of them. Otherwise, how are you supposed to hold them accountable? he said, adding he would like to have several certified training officers on staff. Swiderski said he also will address flaws in the departments computer mapping system, which doesnt display many addresses in Lake County. He wants county officials to push cellphone service providers to update their global positioning services to show the exact location of the emergency caller rather than the closest cellphone tower. He said he will also push to have his staff acquire professional certifications to improve their skills. Continuing education is extremely important. Give them the tools, and let them understand how to use them, Swiderski said. Repay said he isnt asking Swiderski to take part in county efforts to include Cedar Lake and Schererville in the countys consolidated network. The two towns disdained the countys administration of their public safety communications and formed their own, separate Southcom E-911 network. But Repay noted, If (Swiderskis) success and the success of the center overall leads others to look at it favorably, then great. VALPARAISO Six members of the Valparaiso City Council voted to approve a resolution supporting redistricting reform after hearing information provided by Julia Vaughn, of Common Cause Indiana, at its meeting last week. Vaughn works with city and town councils around the state to pass redistricting reform, which, she said, affects local citizens. Currently redistricting, which is done every 10 years, is done by the state legislature, which Vaughn said causes the concerns and needs of local communities to be forgotten. Vaughn said her group suggests following a California redistricting model where citizens apply to be part of a redistricting committee. Vaughn said citizen-driven redistricting also increases voter turnout in elections and instills confidence in voters because citizens are in control of the process. She encouraged the council to join other Indiana cities that have demonstrated support, including Anderson, Michigan City, West Lafayette, Lafayette, and Vincennes. She said Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Bloomington are considering declaring support for independent districting, and research shows 65 to 85 percent of the public supports redistricting reform. Its a good way for local leaders to show grassroots support out there, said Vaughn. City council member John Bowker abstained from the voting. I dont think this is germane to what we should be doing, said Bowker. EAST CHICAGO When the Rev. Alphonse Skerl celebrates his final Mass Oct. 23 at Holy Trinity Hungarian Catholic Church it will be an occasion of historic significance. The day marks the 110th anniversary of the church and its parish founded by Hungarian immigrant families. Just as importantly, Skerl said, It is the 60th anniversary of the Hungarian freedom fight against the Russian invasion. With the Oct. 23 Mass, Skerl will officially retire after 45 years with Holy Trinity and 61 years as a priest. Hes 87 years old. It could signal the beginning of the end for the parish with dwindling numbers and an aging membership coming from communities across Northwest Indiana and Illinois. It is the last Hungarian Roman Catholic Church remaining of what was once about 10 in Indiana. While parishioners seem convinced Holy Trinity will be closing, Debbie Bosak, spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Gary said, Any disposition for that parish has not been determined. She said the Most Rev. Donald J. Hying has been meeting with many parishes. Diocesan representatives have met with the Holy Trinity Parish Council, a move members have assumed means closure is imminent. Responding to the statement from the diocese, Skerl said, Its their baby. Im only the manager. For Karen Gacsala, of St. John, shuttering the church would close a chapter on her heritage. Five generations of her family have attended and continue to attend the church, and Holy Trinity is family to her. My great-grandparents belonged to this church and everyone since, she said. Our parents stood up for each others weddings. Were connected in so many ways, Gacsala said, looking around at other church members as they gathered recently for their Noodle Club session, an ongoing fundraiser. Lori Farkas, of Hammond, has been a member for 58 years and can trace her familys hallmark occasions through Holy Trinity. When you look at our church now, all the memories come. ... This is the church my kids were baptized in. They had their First Communion here, and they were married here. ... I lost my father-in-law, mother-in-law and two brothers-in-law, she said. Noting the compelling beauty of the churchs interior as well as the parishioners sense of family, she said, They dont make churches like this anymore. Portage resident Joe Knaver, who handles finances and computer work for the church, estimated there are 80 to 100 people attending. He said his family has deep roots in Holy Trinity. My family goes back to the beginning. My grandparents helped build the church, Knaver, 70, said. Today, the aging parish members are unable to lift the heavy pots for their stuffed cabbage and Hungarian sausage fundraisers. While prepared this past Christmas and Easter, he said the usual sausage making and popular stuffed cabbage cooking are not planned for the remainder of the year. Noodle Club members are reaching out now to find a location in which to make their popular teszta, the Hungarian noodles made in a variety of sizes and shapes just as is Italian pasta. Each type of noodle has a specific purpose, whether for soups, sauces or otherwise. Gacsala said she expects the Holy Trinity Hungarian Church Noodle Club will continue, perhaps with luncheons. We dont have it totally worked out yet, she said. We cant believe its happening. ... Ten years ago, we thought it was going to close, 73-year-old George Rivich said of what he expects will now be the closure of Holy Trinity. My kids want me to go to St. John (the Evangelist) because thats where they go, but Holy Name (in Cedar Lake) is closer. ... I graduated the eighth-grade here, and Im still an altar boy, he said with a smile. Hand rolling small squares of dough to make csiga, Elizabeth Sedey said their shape makes her think of a Horn of Plenty. Seemingly resigned to the churchs final days, she said, I was married in this church in 56. In 99, my husband died. All things come to an end. Being part of Holy Trinity has meant plenty of good times. Knaver fondly remembers parish picnics at Black Oak Grove, and Farkas smiles as she recalls the fun times during the once annual Hungarian Grape Festival. I lived in Naperville for 28 years and still came to church here, Knaver, recently retired, said. I wont have a job. I wont have a church. Im starting out all over again, he said. Officials say an Ithaca College student was fatally stabbed and another student injured in a fight on Cornell University's campus. Both schools posted statements saying the two students were stabbed around 2 a.m. Sunday during a large altercation. Police say 19-year-old Anthony Nazaire, of Brooklyn, was taken to Cayuga Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. He was a student in the Ithaca College School of Business Administration. The other unidentified Ithaca College student was treated for injuries and released. "Definitely was a shock to me and everyone, I'm sure, who has heard about it," one student said. "This is a campus we all see as a safe place, I see as home and stuff, so for this to happen, you know, right where we all go to class, where we all live it's a shock and it's a tragedy, for sure." Police say several hundred college-age people had attended a student-organized event in Willard Straight Hall and that several fights took place outside after the event ended. The Ithaca Police Department is leading the investigation. HONG KONG China is moving ahead with the development of a new and more capable generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched missiles, increasing its existing ability to deliver nuclear warheads to the United States and to overwhelm missile defense systems, military analysts said this week. Over all, Chinas steady strengthening of its military capabilities for conventional and nuclear warfare has long caused concern in Congress and among American allies in East Asia, particularly lately as China has taken a more assertive position regarding territorial claims in the East China and South China Seas. The Global Times, a newspaper directly controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, reported Wednesday that China was developing the capability to put multiple warheads on intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs. But the newspaper disputed a report in Janes Defense Weekly that the latest Chinese ICBM, the Dongfeng-41, had been tested last month. A Pentagon spokesman asked to comment did not directly address the potential new Chinese missile capability, but said the United States remains committed to maintaining healthy, stable, reliable and continuous military-to-military relations with China and regularly discusses ways to reduce tensions and build trust in the region. Where Khizr Khan led with his impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention, a group of Muslim comedians, writers and other cultural figures will now follow, as part of a two-year series organized by PEN America aimed at broadening what PEN calls the narrow representations of Americas three million Muslims. The series, called The M Word, will kick off on Sept. 21 at Joes Pub in Manhattan with Muslim Comedians on the Right to Joke, an evening featuring, among others Hasan Minhaj of The Daily Show; Mo Amer of the comedy troupe Allah Made Me Funny; and Negin Farsad, a director (with Dean Obeidallah) of the documentary The Muslims Are Coming! and the author of the book How to Make White People Laugh. The series will feature two events a year, each dedicated to a different genre of writing, including script-writing, fiction and punditry. With Mr. Khans speech, a Muslim-American father took center stage in American political and cultural discourse, Suzanne Nossel, the executive director of PEN America, said in a statement. Through this series PEN America hopes to deepen and amplify an important dialogue. Future events will take place in New York, Boston and Washington. Advisers on the project include the best-selling author Reza Aslan, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, the novelist Zia Haider Rahman and Sana Amanat, a creator of the rebooted comic book series Ms. Marvel, featuring the character Kamala Khan. And what will it matter once he does? Thats what makes the ending of In a Lonely Place so devastating. When a cop tells Grahame the news that Bogart is innocent, she says, Yesterday, this wouldve meant so much to us. Now it doesnt matter. It doesnt matter at all. In a great piece for The Ringer, Jason Concepcion argues that The Night Of makes Rikers a crucial character on the show, because its responsible for changing Naz into a criminal. The degree to which thats true may be debatable though the shows laser focus on institutional brutality is important but Nazs future on the outside is not a bright one. Hes an addict who is now scoring drugs. He was an accomplice to murder. His mother has lost faith in him, and hes a pariah in his neighborhood. And, perhaps most of all, the jury in his mind is still hung, 6-6, and will likely remain that way even after he is told that another man did it. He is Humphrey Bogart; his loved ones are Gloria Grahame. The one victim of the shows machinations is Chandra, whose dignity has been martyred for the cause. Until tonight, the shows biggest misstep was her moment of indiscretion with Naz in the holding pen, which undermined her as a professional by having her succumb to a jailhouse crush. In an otherwise stellar finale, the incident gets further reduced to a mere plot device to bring Stone in front of the jury for closing arguments something that may need to happen for dramatic reasons but leaves Chandras career in ruins. It makes sense for Stone to have his day in court, since hes not second chair in this series, and his words to the jury are specific to his instinctual faith in Naz and his own poignant shot in the big leagues. But theres a cost: Andrea was the first victim in The Night Of, Chandra is the second. Beyond the ins and outs of the case, The Night Of remained, from the beginning, a piercing glimpse into the best and worst aspects of the justice system. In Nazs experience at the precinct and at Rikers, the show presents a dim view of prison as an institution where reform is possible more likely, the opposite is true. And in the process of making the case against Naz, weve seen smart, committed people like Detective Box carefully gather the evidence necessary to make a persuasive argument for Nazs guilt. But its a true mark of the shows value that it can offer a character like Helen Weiss, a seasoned New York prosecutor who continues to press for a conviction even when theres some ambiguity in the facts. Consider all the choices she makes: Does she want the forensic pathologist to say that Naz cut his hand on the window or from it slipping from the handle of the knife to the blade? Does she want a drug expert to say the cocktail in Nazs body was incapacitating or had no effect on his actions? And finally, does she think the case against Naz is stronger than the case against the financial adviser that Box brings her in the eleventh hour? That her answer to all of those questions is unfavorable to Naz doesnt make her corrupt, because she could be right on all counts. That shes wrong about Naz changes nothing about how well she does her job. You may wonder why Mrs. Clinton, or any politician, is obliged to bring our wretched national press along with them on their airplanes. Mr. Trump does not bring them on his plane, either. For starters, theres history. Imagine if reporters had not been on Air Force One when Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in after John F. Kennedys assassination, or on 9/11, when it became a flying, wayward bunker for President George W. Bush. There are moments when you want witnesses to history whose loyalties arent tied to the protagonist. So far, Mrs. Clintons run as the first woman to become the Democratic Partys nominee has been observed at arms length. This is about something much bigger than eyewitness accounts and plane rides. Its about how much we want to know about each candidates plans for the White House, and how open and accessible we want them to be as president. And ultimately, its about whether we truly believe in the premise that transparency is vital for democracy. Right now, every signal from Mrs. Clinton is that should she win, her administration would continue the tradition of being still more secretive than the one before it; the Obama White House has achieved just that with its abysmal record on fulfilling Freedom of Information Act requests and its record of prosecuting whistle-blowers who have shared national security information with the press. Mrs. Clintons decision to use a personal email server while she was secretary of state started with an attempt to maintain a level of privacy that, she now acknowledges, backfired. It led to what the Federal Bureau of Investigation director James B. Comey called the extremely careless handling of classified information. But it also took thousands of work-related emails out of the official record, exacerbating the State Departments halting if not grudging approach to public information requests. At the adult family intake center in Manhattan, people have been sleeping overnight. While that is not against the law, the city this month has been taking steps to prevent what had become common practice there. The city had already moved 450 such families into housing that was supposed to go to families with children. Mr. Banks said the city was opening additional shelters for adult families to relieve the pressure. Were moving as quickly as we can, he said, adding that other reforms, such as expanding a program that offers potentially homeless people rental assistance, were underway. Mr. Banks said the city was trying to get services to needy families while also carefully evaluating whether they were eligible for shelter or if they could benefit from rental assistance, intervention with a landlord or reunification with relatives who could house them. Parents, meanwhile, are braced to wait 12 hours or more at the PATH center, where they are not allowed to bring in food. Some walk to a nearby McDonalds or other restaurants, at the risk of missing their name when it is called. (They must eat the food outside.) Otherwise, they make do with sandwiches, graham crackers and the school-cafeteria-size cartons of milk provided by the city. On a Sunday morning, two days after she had arrived, Ms. Galindo was back at the PATH center, waiting. The city had found her shelter in Far Rockaway, Queens, far from her job in Harlem and far from a babysitter for her 1-year-old daughter. Unfortunately, job location is a low priority with a less than 1 percent vacancy rate, Ms. Kliff, of Legal Aid, said. In New York, the possibility of the holiday falling on Sept. 11 has intensified security concerns and fears already reverberating throughout the Muslim community after the killings of an imam and his assistant in Queens this month. For some, it also resurfaces memories of the backlash and the police surveillance directed at Muslims in the years after the attacks. Our community is like, What are we supposed to do? Linda Sarsour, the executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, said. She said she had sat through extensive meetings with other leaders grappling with the possibility and how best to prepare for it. I should not have to think about that, Ms. Sarsour said. What am I supposed to tell my kids? Eid al-Adha honors the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of submission to Gods command. The holy day can also serve as an opportunity to honor the sacrifice of those who were killed on Sept. 11, 2001, said Abdul Bhuiyan, the secretary-general of the Majlis Ashura, the Islamic Leadership Council of New York. Its a day of remembrance and observance, Mr. Bhuiyan said. The likelihood of this years Eid al-Adha landing on Sept. 11 is still unclear. Every year, the holiday takes place 10 days after the sighting of a new moon at the start of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, according to the Islamic calendar. Exactly when the month begins depends on when a new moon is spotted, and the month is expected to start this year on Sept. 1 or 2. In the past, another major Muslim holiday, Eid al-Fitr, has fallen near Sept. 11, but neither holiday has yet to actually coincide with the date. To the Editor: Overcoming Freshman Fear, by David L. Kirp (Sunday Review, Aug. 21), about poor, minority and first-generation college students, perfectly summarizes the impostor syndrome. The students think that they shouldnt be attending their colleges, and the first bad grade is seen as confirmation of their fears. Even many of the students selected for prestigious Cooke Scholarships, scholarships awarded to the highest achieving, low-income students nationally, believe themselves unworthy. At a recent scholars gathering, when recipients were asked to raise their hands if they thought an error had been made in their selection, every hand in the room went up. Some colleges do a masterful job at helping such students: Both Vassar and Amherst have established counseling programs that ensure that low-income students graduate at the same rate as the wealthy. My foundation awarded each college $1 million in recognition of their good work in this field. That result does not bode well for a small but 100 percent affordable development in Sunnyside, Queens, proposed by the citys oldest nonprofit developer. Though still in the early stages of public review, the project has run into the not-in-my-backyard buzz saw of Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who has pre-emptively denounced it. Mr. de Blasio makes a sound argument that the city must try to build its way to affordability, but he has not persuaded everybody. He and his aides may have a handle on policy, but in mastering the political art of calming fears and building consensus, they have a long road ahead. Then there is the challenge of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who last year torpedoed the mayors deal to extend a long-term tax-abatement program called 421-a, which the city used for years to build thousands of affordable apartments. Mr. Cuomo refused to support it because it didnt require developers to pay union-level wages. The program expired in January, and has not been replaced. Now there is a possible deal to revive it, outlined in a one-page memo drafted this month after secret talks between Mr. Cuomos office and representatives of developers and construction unions. It says developers of affordable housing projects have to pay construction workers $65 an hour in Manhattan below 96th Street, and $50 an hour in prime waterfront areas of Brooklyn and Queens. That $50 wage would be made possible by something very strange: a direct state subsidy of $15 an hour. Its not clear how that would work or where the money would come from, or why hard hats wages deserve a public subsidy that no other industry gets, or how this would strengthen unions, which was the reason Mr. Cuomo upended 421-a in the first place. Mr. Cuomo said last week that there was no deal yet to revive 421-a, despite a number of ideas floating around. The state of limbo is his fault, not Mr. de Blasios. New York City has made admirable progress on the mayors plan to build or preserve 200,000 units over a decade. To keep up the pace, Mr. de Blasio is going to have to make a better case to win over worried New Yorkers in gentrifying neighborhoods and to overcome the objections of prickly Council members. He could also use some constructive cooperation from the governor. Something terrible has happened to pregnant women in Texas: their mortality rate has doubled in recent years, and is now comparable to rates in places like Russia or Ukraine. Although researchers into this disaster are careful to say that it cant be attributed to any one cause, the death surge does coincide with the states defunding of Planned Parenthood, which led to the closing of many clinics. And all of this should be seen against the general background of Texas policy, which is extremely hostile toward anything that helps low-income residents. Theres an important civics lesson here. While many people are focused on national politics, with reason one sociopath in the White House can ruin your whole day many crucial decisions are taken at the state and local levels. If the people we elect to these offices are irresponsible, cruel, or both, they can do a lot of damage. This is especially true when it comes to health care. Even before the Affordable Care Act went into effect, there was wide variation in state policies, especially toward the poor and near-poor. Medicaid has always been a joint federal-state program, in which states have considerable leeway about whom to cover. States with consistently conservative governments generally offered benefits to as few people as the law allowed, sometimes only to adults with children in truly dire poverty. States with more liberal governments extended benefits much more widely. These policy differences were one main reason for a huge divergence in the percentage of the population without insurance, with Texas consistently coming in first in that dismal ranking. And the gaps have only grown wider since Obamacare went into effect, for two reasons. First, the Supreme Court made the federally-funded expansion of Medicaid, a crucial part of the reform, optional at the state level. This should be a no-brainer: If Washington is willing to provide health insurance to many of your states residents and in so doing pump dollars into your states economy why wouldnt you say yes? But 19 states, Texas among them, are still refusing free money, denying health care to millions. To the Editor: Re Welfare Is Still Broken, by John Kasich (Op-Ed, Aug. 22): Its refreshing to hear one of the 2016 Republican presidential candidates view impoverished people with respect rather than as slackers looking for free stuff, and urge more assistance with education or training than the law allows. But Governor Kasich gets the main problem with the 1996 welfare reform almost exactly backward. The 1996 welfare reform did not give states too little flexibility. Rather, it gave them too much. The law abolished guarantees of cash assistance to all eligible poor families. It gave states a fixed pool of money for income support and work programs along with considerable leeway about how or even whether to spend it. Some states adopted the most generous provisions allowed, but many others took the opportunity to become much more restrictive. Last year, Missouris Legislature voted to cut thousands of families from the states cash assistance program and redirected a significant proportion of welfare funds to pro-marriage and anti-abortion programs. Georgia gave fliers to welfare applicants saying we believe welfare is not the best option for your family, and applicants were rejected for things like failing to file 24 or more job applications a week. Since last October, the chef Stewart Robinson (of Esperanza Outdoors) has injected a measure of culinary adventure into sleepy Mississippi with his own food upstart: the Delta Supper Club. The venture hosts casual dinners at historical Delta locations with out-of-state chefs who serve as many as nine haute courses indicative of their style, but incorporating Mississippi ingredients. This past weekend, for the fourth installment, the James Beard Award-winning featured chef Michelle Bernstein wove in her Latin heritage by pairing a charred salsa with fried sweetbreads dusted in cornmeal, a nod to the nearby corn crops. She nestled shrimp-stuffed squash blossoms into polenta made with shrimp stock to evoke, she said, sucking on the head of a Gulf shrimp. Another highlight: whole red snapper, donated by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and filled with fennel fondue (find Bernsteins recipe below). As expected, her riffs inspired the 135 dinner guests gathered at the B.B. King Museum in Indianola and Bernstein herself became the kind of enamored outsider the DSC likes to indoctrinate. I cant believe these guys asked me, some Jewish-Latin girl from Miami, to come, she said. It deserves me and the rest of America realizing what the hell were all missing. Before the event, Bernstein said its history of segregation was all she knew about the Delta. Driving in the night before the dinner, she saw some of the last places slavery existed and had trouble falling asleep. It wasnt that long ago, she said. It was right there. You could touch it. Ive never been that close to it. You can feel the ghosts. Typically the thing that comes to anyones mind when they hear Mississippi is racial strife or ignorance, bemoans Robinson, who grew up in Jackson before moving his family to Cleveland in June. Its taken until now to move past some of the negative history the Delta might have and for people to embrace just the history thats here. Its a beautiful place that very few people have seen. The court decision affirms the fact that unelected bureaucrats at the F.C.C. completely overstepped their authority by attempting to deny states like North Carolina from setting their own laws to protect hardworking taxpayers and maintain the fairness of the free market, Thom Tillis, a Republican United States senator who pushed through the 2011 bill when he was North Carolinas House speaker, said in a statement. CenturyLink, one of the broadband providers serving Wilson and surrounding areas, says it offers competitive internet speeds and has upgraded its networks. The company says it wants to partner with municipalities but is concerned that city-run networks may have an unfair advantage. If local governments choose to compete with private internet service providers, there needs to be a level playing field, said Rondi Furgason, CenturyLinks vice president for operations in North Carolina. The F.C.C. does not plan to appeal the federal courts decision after determining that doing so would not be the best use of commission resources, Mark Wigfield, a spokesman for the agency, said in a statement. That means municipalities that want to keep expanding their municipal broadband networks will have to fight to overturn state laws on their own. The legal fight is being closely watched by other cities in states that have similar broadband restrictions, such as Colorado and Washington. Even big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco are in the early stages of exploring municipal broadband networks, which they view as crucial to serving low-income families who cannot afford service from cable and telecom companies. Its bad news for projects looking to expand beyond their borders in hostile, anti-muni broadband states, said Robert Wack, president of the City Council in Westminster, Md., which began its own gigabit municipal network last year. Silicon Valley start-ups were set to face a great reckoning in 2016. Yet the crash hasnt happened. Last year, many tech executives, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs were convinced that a multiyear boom that had propelled young companies to great heights could no longer sustain itself. Some said it would end apocalyptically. Michael Moritz, an influential start-up investor at Sequoia Capital, declared many of the companies the flimsiest of edifices. Bill Gurley, a venture capitalist at the Silicon Valley firm Benchmark, proclaimed that the start-ups would bite the dust. Winter is coming, others intoned. The worst fallout may yet come, but many of the start-ups have hung on. Across Silicon Valley, engineers are still commanding annual salaries that average $136,000, according to Hired, a recruiting firm. Demand is brisk for $4 buttered toast, and office space rents remain near record highs. The biggest start-ups, like Uber and Airbnb, continue to land billions of dollars in funding. And investors are shoveling money into venture capital funds, which raised so much cash in the first half of this year that it rivaled the amount raised in all of 2015. For all of the hand-wringing, there just hasnt been much of a downturn, said Paul Buchheit, a managing partner at Y Combinator, a prominent start-up incubator that nurtured companies including Dropbox and Airbnb. I dont even see many companies going out of business. That is not to say there has been no adjustment. Some smaller start-ups, like the live-streaming app Blab and the on-demand private chef company Kitchit, have collapsed into Silicon Valleys dead pool. Other young companies have laid off staff. And many entrepreneurs are no longer able to demand whatever valuation they please for their companies. CHICAGO The police said on Sunday that two brothers, both felons on parole, were trying to shoot a driver last week when their gunshots fatally struck Nykea Aldridge, a young mother pushing a stroller on a nearby sidewalk. The fatal shooting itself was tragically common here in Chicago, where 441 people had already been killed this year as of Aug. 21. But Ms. Aldridges death has gained widespread attention both because she was an innocent bystander with a stroller and because she was the cousin of the N.B.A. star Dwyane Wade. The Chicago police quickly arrested two men in connection with Ms. Aldridges death, and announced charges against them on Sunday. The suspects, Darwin Sorrells Jr. and his younger brother, Derren Sorrells, each face charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Police investigators said the men, ages 26 and 22, did not mean to shoot Ms. Aldridge, but were instead trying to shoot a driver who had traveled with women to Chicagos South Side from the suburbs. Other tense scenes played out in 2014 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. although challenges to the cemetery there were rejected by a judge and last summer in Farmersville, Tex., where a cemetery project is moving forward despite an angry meeting at which one woman pronounced, according to news reports, People dont trust Muslims. This is part of a wider anxiety over integration and the place of Muslims in America and the extent to which Muslims are allowed to carve spaces in the country that are their own, for their own rituals and their own community, said Leor Halevi, an associate professor of history at Vanderbilt University who has studied Muslim death rituals. Opponents of such projects cite concerns about zoning rules, water quality or traffic impact. But advocates say their proposals are drawing unfair scrutiny, which they say is bias by another name. Usually its couched in terms of parking or groundwater or traffic, said Ibrahim Hooper, the spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. When you scratch the surface, generally you find that theres more to it than that. A report on religious discrimination published by the Justice Department in July cited concerns that worshipers often face unlawful barriers in the zoning and building process. In January, a judge in Minnesota found that Castle Rock Townships rejection of a proposed Muslim cemetery was arbitrary and capricious. In July, the Justice Department filed suit against Bensalem Township, Pa., saying officials had violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which bans discrimination against religious groups in zoning, when denying zoning approval for a proposed mosque. The same month, the department released a report on that law that said, There is particularly severe discrimination faced by Muslims in land use. Carmen Ortiz, the United States attorney here, is looking to see whether Dudley violated the same law by placing unreasonable barriers to, and ultimately denying, their request for a conditional use permit to establish an Islamic cemetery in the town, according to a statement. But that number, the study showed, includes a loss of 202,238 jobs associated with coal mining and coal-fired power generation in regions where they might not be replaced by the 256,177 new jobs associated with the manufacture of energy-efficient lighting and heating and cooling systems. Its not going to be easy, Mr. Houser said. The green shoots of diversified growth are showing up a lot more slowly than the rapid decline of coal. Youre not going to flip a switch and suddenly have a robust diversified economy in southwest Virginia. In Wise, Va., a few miles from Kentucky, Jack Kennedy, a circuit court official and a technophile who campaigns for the towns economic development, is optimistic that the region could rebound as a center for technology. He is working to bring in companies that specialize in cybersecurity and drone technology. At least one firm, he said, has already flown a cargo drone from the towns Lonesome Pine Airport. This is the perfect place for industries like drones and cybersecurity, because were so remote, Mr. Kennedy said. The drone industry is new. We can grow with it. Mr. Kennedy also pointed to OptaFuel, a lab that is researching and developing biofuels made from sawdust. The company started the lab in Wise because of tax breaks offered by the tobacco commission and it brought highly educated employees like Vrusank Patil, an engineer who grew up in India, and Clint Ivey, a production manager who grew up in Georgia. If it wasnt for the tobacco commission, Mr. Ivey said, we wouldnt be here. About half of the team of 35 chemists, many dressed in skinny jeans and lab coats, are recent graduates of the University of Virginias small campus in Wise, he said. OptaFuel also employs a few former coal miners as security guards. But, he conceded, for the research jobs, you need a bachelors degree something most former coal miners do not have. The authorities said they had tested 124 people, primarily foreign construction workers employed on a site in the same part of Singapore. Work at the site was ordered halted, and workers dormitories were being inspected. Seventy-eight people tested negative, and five cases were pending. Thirty-four patients have fully recovered. Four Singaporean men developed symptoms of the virus in the past week and were hospitalized on Saturday. It was not clear where the foreign workers were from or when their cases were detected. Singapore hosts a large contingent of workers from elsewhere in Asia. None of those infected had traveled recently to Zika-affected areas. This confirms that local transmission of Zika virus infection has taken place, the statement said. Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, a veteran Israeli politician who held several top government posts and often served as a negotiator with the Arab world, died on Sunday in Tel Aviv. He was 80. Israeli news media reported that he had died in a hospital after a long illness. Mr. Ben-Eliezer, known by his original Arabic first name, Fuad, was born in Basra, Iraq, on Feb. 12, 1936. He moved to Israel in 1950. He joined the Israeli military in 1954 and served in the wars that followed in the Middle East. He entered politics after retiring from the military in 1984 with the rank of brigadier general. Mr. Ben-Eliezer was a prominent member of the Labor Party and served in senior ministerial positions, including defense, trade and communications. He was Israels defense minister at the height of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, in 2001 and 2002. BEIRUT, Lebanon In a new escalation that further complicates American involvement in the Syrian war, Syrian rebels pressed deeper into the northern part of the country on Sunday, seizing territory with the aid of Turkish airstrikes. The rebels, with Turkeys help, took the border town of Jarabulus last week from the Islamic State an incursion supported by the United States. But the rebels are now advancing into territory controlled by Syrian Kurds. That means the new fighting pits two American-backed Syrian forces against each other: rebel groups aided by the C.I.A. and allied intelligence agencies, and Kurdish-led militias that work with the Pentagon under an umbrella group called the Syrian Democratic Forces, or S.D.F. The United States has considered the Kurdish-led militias its most reliable partner on the ground in the fight against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. The United States has in recent days appeared to rebalance its support for the Kurdish militias with its backing of the Syrian rebels and Turkey, a NATO ally. The Turks consider the Syrian Kurdish militias their enemy and are intent on keeping them from taking over an unbroken stretch of land along the border. Frank Ocean kept his fans waiting four years for a new album, and when he finally released Blonde on Aug. 20, they sent it to straight to No. 1 on the Billboard chart with 232,000 sales and more than 65 million streams in the United States, according to Nielsen. That Blonde was a big hit out of the gate was no surprise. But the music industry was still stunned by the unusual way it was released. Although Mr. Ocean had been signed to Def Jam Recordings, Blonde was released independently, through an exclusive deal with Apple. Mr. Ocean, it seemed, had fulfilled his contractual obligation to Def Jam by putting out a longform video, Endless, just one day before leaving himself a free agent. (Endless doesnt appear on a Billboard chart because it is not for sale and its tracks are not available to stream individually.) Even with artists more empowered than ever before by digital technology, it is extremely rare for a self-released album to reach No. 1. That is mostly because the standard tools of promotion that are necessary to reach that peak radio, advertising, a splashy P.R. campaign remain the expertise of the big record labels. It is so rare, in fact, that there may be no exact precedent for what Mr. Ocean accomplished. Plenty of independent albums have reached No. 1 over the years, but usually with the help of a big distribution company. In the case of Blonde, however, the pent-up demand for a new Frank Ocean album, and the involvement of Apple as a global distribution platform, guaranteed that Blonde could immediately reach a huge audience without a record company. They want like four boxes of crayons, 48 pencils, said Natalie Pumphrey, a 33-year-old single mother of five from San Antonio, Tex. Im having trouble buying school supplies for my own children, and I feel like Im buying for the whole class. Factor in extracurricular activities and the difference between the money spent by high- and low-income students is even starker, said Brent Wilder, the corporate public relations director for Huntington National Bank. The company has analyzed back-to-school supply lists from about 30 schools in Ohio and surrounding states every year for the last decade. This year, Huntington estimates that the families of elementary-school-age students will be expected to pay for an average of $659 worth of supplies and fees, while high school students will need $1,498. That is up from $351 and $894 in 2007, the first year the bank began doing the survey. The expenses can go much higher, though. Ive seen districts that have $1,500 band fees, Mr. Wilder said. But the point of the survey, he says, is to make sure people especially at the lower-income levels know what they will be facing. We really wanted to highlight to consumers in our markets that this was an expense that they needed to plan for, Mr. Wilder said. They literally cannot afford to buy classroom supplies and pay all of their bills if they dont plan ahead. A tragic figure in American literature has an analog in modern finance. Once upon a time, the billionaire investor Edward S. Lampert was hailed as the next Warren E. Buffett. These days, his decade-plus obsession with the struggling retailer Sears resembles Captain Ahabs with Moby-Dick. Mr. Lampert was a hedge fund star when he took the discount store Kmart out of bankruptcy in 2003 and merged it with Sears two years later. A devotee of Ayn Rand and Mr. Buffett, Mr. Lampert had parlayed $28 million of seed corn into a spot on the Forbes rich list by making savvy bets on undervalued companies. In 2003, his growing fame attracted unwanted attention when he spent a harrowing day held captive in a roadside Days Inn after being kidnapped him from his Connecticut office garage. The following year, he became the first hedge fund manager to pocket $1 billion in a single year. What Mr. Lampert once called an enormous undertaking to revive Sears, once Americas biggest retailer, has become an increasingly forlorn pursuit, however. Sears shares have lost nearly 90 percent of their value since 2007 as the company failed to keep pace with retailers like Walmart Stores, Target and Amazon.com. That is not how it turned out, however. Five of the executives settled in 2015 by arranging for modest payments to be made on their behalf by the companies and their insurers, amounts that were never even described as penalties in the settlements. Each also agreed not to hold a position in a public company that would require signing a filing on its behalf for up to two years. That is far short of the director and officer bar the S.E.C. usually seeks in such cases, but at least it had the sound of something punitive regardless of whether there was any real impact. The settlement with the sixth defendant, Daniel H. Mudd, the former chief executive of Fannie Mae, disclosed in a judicial filing on Aug. 22, did not even reach that modest level of accountability. Fannie will make a $100,000 donation on his behalf to the Treasury Department which is like shifting money from one pocket to another because the government already controls the company. Nor is there any ban on Mr. Mudd holding an executive position at another public company, something that at least resulted from the cases against the other executives. Most S.E.C. settlements involve neither an admission nor denial of the charges, something that has proved frustrating to those who seek accountability, but at least it keeps the defendant from claiming that there was no basis for the case. That is not the situation with Mr. Mudd, however, who told Reuters that the terms would end a case that should have never been brought. The S.E.C. usually announces the outcomes of its cases, but the settlement has not yet been posted on the S.E.C.s website, with the document only available through the court filing system. What the S.E.C. accomplished in settling the cases against Mr. Mudd and the other executives hardly sends a message to other executives to be careful about how they act in the future. No money came out of the pockets of any of the defendants, and the prohibitions on future activity were token requirements. It was, after all, unlikely that any of the defendants would have been put in a leadership position at a public company within the applicable time. It is difficult not to come away with the impression that the settlements were little more than a slap on the wrist, and perhaps less than that for Mr. Mudd. The Williams Companies appointed three new directors on Monday, two months after half the board resigned over a failed effort to oust the chief executive of the embattled pipeline operator. The new slate will be up for election at the companys annual meeting in November. The appointments come less than a week after Keith Meister who was among the directors who resigned in June nominated 10 directors of his own to replace the entire board. The new directors hail from public companies within the energy sector. They are Stephen W. Bergstrom, a current director and former chief executive of American Midstream Partners; Scott D. Sheffield, chairman and chief executive of Pioneer Natural Resources Company; and William H. Spence, chief executive of the PPL Corporation. Image William H. Spence, chief executive of the PPL Corporation. Credit... PPL, via PR Newswire Mr. Meisters nominees include himself as well as analysts and managing directors at his hedge fund, Corvex Management, and will serve as placeholders until he can find actual candidates over the next few weeks. Exactly 100 years ago this summer, New York City was hit by one of the worst epidemics it had ever seen: the first explosive American outbreak of infantile paralysis a disease later known as polio. It was a mystifying, terrifying illness. Most victims were toddlers. Initially, they didnt even look terribly ill; often, they woke up feverish and cranky, saying their necks hurt. Soon, however, instead of climbing out of bed, they were able only to drag themselves along the floor, legs flopping behind. Within a few hours, in some cases, they would struggle to breathe, and then die. By autumn, 6,000 were dead of polio, mostly children, and 21,000 were temporarily or permanently paralyzed. That outbreak was limited to the Northeast, but it established a pattern. I only worry for the country in that Hillary Clinton was careless and negligent in allowing Weiner to have such close proximity to highly classified information, Mr. Trump said, using language that echoed criticism of Mrs. Clinton this summer by the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey Jr. Who knows what he learned and who he told? Its just another example of Hillary Clintons bad judgment. It is possible that our country and its security have been greatly compromised by this. A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, Nick Merrill, declined to comment on Mr. Trumps remarks. The spotlight on Ms. Abedin and her proximity to Mrs. Clinton has been an increasing distraction for the campaign. Several of Ms. Abedins emails on Mrs. Clintons private server have drawn scrutiny amid accusations that donors to the Clinton Foundation received special access to the State Department. And political opponents, including Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, have questioned Ms. Abedins arrangement to earn income privately while she worked for Mrs. Clinton at the State Department. In addition to being on Mrs. Clintons personal payroll, Ms. Abedin received money from the Clinton Foundation and Teneo, a consulting firm founded in part by Douglas J. Band, previously a senior aide to Mr. Clinton. Ms. Abedin, 40, has been at Mrs. Clintons side since she was an intern to the first lady in the 1990s. Now vice chairwoman of the Clinton campaign, Ms. Abedin, often described as a surrogate daughter, occupies an almost singular role as a trusted, and visible, confidante to Mrs. Clinton. Their lives took similar tracks, as both women, citing their religious beliefs, seemed determined to remain married despite their husbands sexual proclivities. Image Huma Abedin and Anthony Weiner at the Met Gala in May. Credit... Timothy A. Clary/Agence France-Presse Getty Images Mrs. Clinton strongly supported Ms. Abedin when Mr. Weiners sexually charged text messages came to light in 2011, a year into their marriage, and again in 2013, when Mr. Weiner was running for mayor of New York. Friends of Mrs. Clinton said that she had spoken to Ms. Abedin at length about the marriage and that she supported Ms. Abedins decision to remain with Mr. Weiner and work on their relationship. Ms. Cancel, 61, won the special election with the backing of Judy Rapfogel, Mr. Silvers former chief of staff, as well as Mr. Silvers Democratic club. She defeated Ms. Niou, who ran on the Working Families Party line. Image Ms. Cancel at the debate. She won a special election for the Assembly seat with the backing of Mr. Silvers former chief of staff, as well as his Democratic club. Credit... Benjamin Norman for The New York Times Ms. Cancel, who came to New York at age 6 speaking only Spanish, said in an interview last week that she was counting on the three Chinese-American candidates splitting the vote as she sought to keep her seat. That is going to happen, that I know, because, usually, they see a name, its their culture, she said. Just like the Latinos, they see a Latino name and they go right straight towards it. Population figures, though, do not always translate into actual voters. According to 2014 census data, there were 32,952 Asian and South Asian citizens of voting age in the district. But only 15,284 were registered Democrats, said Jerry Skurnik, a partner at Prime New York, which compiles voter information. Of those, only 5,500 voted in the last three primaries. Far fewer registered Hispanic and Portuguese Democrats voted in those three previous primaries, said Mr. Skurnik, who analyzed election data relating to social groups based on surnames. Of 11,675 registered voters, only 4,101 participated in a previous primary election, he said. Those of European background, including English, Irish, Italian and likely-to-be-Jewish voters, were the largest group, at 20,496 registered Democrats, with 8,205 showing up in previous primaries. Paul Newell, 41, a modern-Orthodox Jewish community activist and district leader who ran against Mr. Silver unsuccessfully in 2008 and is trying again, said that if everybody votes purely based on whos most like me, then I am in the best position. But he added that he did not think that would happen. To the Editor: In Italys Fragile Beauty (Op-Ed, Aug. 25), Beppe Severgnini quotes a witness to the seismic devastation of Amatrice, Accumoli and Pescara del Tronto who describes it as a Dantesque calamity. The earthquake has turned whole stretches of central Italy into earthly infernos, with entire towns nearly disappearing from view. But under the guidance of Italys Civil Protection Department, expert rescuers and first responders have reacted with an alacrity born of grit, compassion and grace under pressure. Yet more arduous labors lie ahead: rebuilding communities, retrofitting ancient structures and edifices with earthquake-proof technology and restoring normalcy. As Prime Minister Matteo Renzi declared, Now we must dry our tears, and then the credibility and honor of us all will be in granting a true reconstruction that allows residents to live and restart. ROSARIO A. IACONIS Mineola, N.Y. The writer is chairman of the Italic Institute of America. To the Editor: Re Efforts on Criminal Justice Reforms Stall in a Liberal Capital: New York (news article, Aug. 22), about the failure of the state and the city to enact meaningful legislation despite plenty of rhetoric from politicians about the need to do so: Besides the measures you discussed in which New York trails a growing number of states, Id like to add the prevention of wrongful conviction. Recently conservative and progressive states, from Georgia to Colorado, have enacted laws requiring the recording of interrogations and improving eyewitness identification practices, to protect against false confession and misidentification. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia mandate the recording of interrogations, and 18 states have carried out eyewitness identification reform. Legislation that would achieve these ends has been introduced in New York State but has not passed both chambers, despite calls for action by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and bipartisan support. False confession and eyewitness misidentification have played a role in all but one of New Yorks 29 wrongful convictions proved by DNA evidence. Concerns about public safety should not be an obstacle to reform measures to prevent wrongful conviction; while these reforms protect the innocent, they also enhance law enforcements ability to apprehend the guilty. In case you missed it, a significant political event took place last week in Jackson, Miss., where Donald Trump joined forces with Nigel Farage, the anti-immigrant leader of the successful campaign to take Britain out of the European Union. Mr. Make-America-Great-Again stood shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Brexit to make the point that, on both sides of the Atlantic, the same disruptive movements aim to break the free-trade, pro-globalization neoliberal consensus that has held sway in the West for at least a quarter-century. Folks, the message is clear, Farage told the people of Mississippi in his plummy accent. The parallels are there. There are millions of ordinary Americans who have been let down, who have had a bad time, who feel the political class in Washington is detached from them, who feel so many of their representatives are politically correct parts of that liberal media elite. He continued, You can go out, you can beat the pollsters, you can beat the commentators, you can beat Washington. INVERNESS, Calif. At the height of Californias fierce wildfire season, the Sierra Nevada and North Coast forests are choked with tens of millions of dead and dying trees, from gnarly oaks to elegant pines that are turning leafy chapels into tinderboxes of highly combustible debris. Ground crews wielding chain saws, axes and wood chippers are braving the intense summer heat in the Sierras lower elevations, where most of the pine trees have died. The devastation and danger are greatest in the central and southern Sierra Nevada, where the estimated number of dead trees since 2010 is a staggering 66 million. Scientists say rarely is one culprit to blame for the escalation in the states tree deaths, and the resulting fire hazard. Rather, destruction on such a broad scale is nearly always the result of a complex convergence of threats to forest ecosystems. Chief among them is a severe, sustained drought in the Sierra Nevada that is stressing trees and disabling their natural defenses. Climate change is raising temperatures, making for warmer winters. No longer kept in check by winters freeze, bark beetle populations are growing. Separately, a nonnative, potent plant pathogen is thriving in the moist areas of the North Coast, introduced to California soil by global trade. Opportunistic fungi are standing by, ready to finish the kill. Built by the central government at a cost of 35 billion yen, or some $320 million, the ice wall is intended to seal off the reactor buildings within a vast, rectangular-shaped barrier of man-made permafrost. If it becomes successfully operational as soon as this autumn, the frozen soil will act as a dam to block new groundwater from entering the buildings. It will also help stop leaks of radioactive water into the nearby Pacific Ocean, which have decreased significantly since the calamity but may be continuing. However, the ice wall has also been widely criticized as an expensive and overly complex solution that may not even work. Such concerns re-emerged this month after the plants operator announced that a section that was switched on more than four months ago had yet to fully freeze. Some also warn that the wall, which is electrically powered, may prove as vulnerable to natural disasters as the plant itself, which lost the ability to cool its reactors after the 45-foot tsunami caused a blackout there. The reactor buildings are vulnerable to an influx of groundwater because of how the operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., or Tepco, built the plant in the 1960s, by cutting away a hillside to place it closer to the sea, so the plant could pump in water more easily. That also put the buildings in contact with a deep layer of permeable rock filled with water, mostly rain and melted snow from the nearby Abukuma Mountains, that flows to the Pacific. The buildings managed to keep the water out until the accident on March 11, 2011. Either the natural disasters themselves, or the explosive meltdowns of three of the plants six reactors that followed, are believed to have cracked the buildings basements, allowing groundwater to pour in. Nearly 40,000 gallons of water a day keep flooding into the buildings. Once inside, the water becomes highly radioactive, impeding efforts to eventually dismantle the plant. During the accident, the uranium fuel grew so hot that some of it is believed to have melted through the reactors steel floors and possibly into the basement underneath, though no one knows exactly where it lies. The continual flood of radioactive water has prevented engineers from searching for the fuel. In 1974, the paleoanthropologist Donald C. Johanson led an expedition to Ethiopia to look for fossils of ancient human relatives. In an expanse of arid badlands, he spotted an arm bone. Then, in the area surrounding it, Dr. Johanson and his colleagues found hundreds of other skeletal fragments. The fossils turned out to have come from a single three-foot-tall female who lived 3.2 million years ago. The scientists named her species Australopithecus afarensis, and the skeleton was dubbed Lucy. Four decades later, Lucy remains one of the most famous discoveries in paleontology. Finding a single bone of that age would have been reason to celebrate; finding so much from a skeleton revealed a tremendous amount about Lucy and about human evolution in general. The streets of Bunol, Spain, will run red this week as 20,000 people hurl tomatoes at one another during La Tomatina, the worlds biggest food fight. Its a luxury that others envy. Around the world, tomato crops are being ravaged by an invasive moth no larger than an eyelash. Originally from Chile, Tuta absoluta, also known as the tomato leaf miner, was introduced to Europe in 2006 via a container of infested tomatoes imported to Castellon, a Spanish province not far from Bunol. It spread throughout Europe, then to the Middle East, Africa and Asia. The toll is particularly devastating in developing countries, where many farmers cant afford integrated pest management (I.P.M.), the multipronged approach that has proved most effective at keeping the moth at bay. Earlier this year, officials in northern Nigeria, where tomatoes are a staple, declared a state of emergency in Kaduna State, a major producer of the countrys tomatoes. By May, the moth had destroyed more than 80 percent of tomato crops in Kaduna; the price for a large basket of tomatoes rose to $212, from just $1.50 to $7.50 before the shortage. The European Unions competition authorities are poised to announce a major tax ruling against Apples tax dealings with the Irish government on Tuesday, a decision that will likely increase trans-Atlantic tension over how some of the worlds largest companies pay taxes on their global operations. The ruling, expected to be announced early Tuesday in Brussels, will result in Apple having to pay back taxes to the Irish government, according to three people briefed on the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The amount is anticipated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, one of these people said. The decision is set to further stoke tensions between American officials and their European counterparts, with Europe claiming the right to oversee tax policies for companies like Apple and Amazon, among others, that have used complicated tax structures in nations like Ireland and Luxembourg to reduce the amount of corporate tax they pay in other countries. The Obama administration and Congress have strenuously fought to defend Apple, the company that made the iPod music player and iPhone global bywords for American prowess in technology. They have accused the European Commission of leading a campaign against American corporate success and suggested that it would be overstepping its authority by issuing a formal tax order. American officials have said reforms to corporate taxation first need to be agreed to internationally. A funny thing happened on the way to a long-predicted tech bust: It didnt happen. At this point a year ago, a crash seemed inevitable. Money was pouring into on-demand delivery start-ups that added a little high-tech sheen to what the local pizza shop has been doing for years. Bigger start-ups like Uber were burning through billions in cash. But as Katie Benner writes, plenty of start-ups listened to the dire warnings of investors and cut their spending. They made easy calls, ending perks like free laundry. And they made more difficult decisions, like cutting jobs and changing their business plans. Image Does this mean the tech industry has avoided a downturn? Not quite. Uber is growing fast, but it still lost more than $1 billion in the first half of 2016. Pulling out of China, as the company recently announced it would do, should cut those losses. But there still isnt a clear path to profitability. On a hot summer day two years ago, soon after the Islamic State had declared its caliphate, Mr. Morton received a letter from Syria. It was from one of his former students, who enthusiastically described how he had spent the morning swimming in the Tigris, just after the Islamic State had routed the Iraqi military in Mosul and hung the decapitated heads of enemies from a fence. Instead of sharing his recruits excitement, Mr. Morton threw up inside his cell. This is a person who was my student, literally called me with every single question he had, and I said, Go to Syria, he recalled. Its like Frankenstein. I didnt create it, but I certainly contributed to it. Mr. Morton continued working undercover until he was outed as an informant by The Washington Post. By then, the judge had reduced his 11-year sentence to three years and nine months. He walked out on Feb. 27, 2015. He now lives in Virginia, and the terms of his release prevent him from traveling outside the greater District of Columbia area. On Monday, when classes resume at George Washington University, Mr. Morton will be there, too, in his role as a researcher. Still, he said, at night he is gripped by fear. The extremists he turned his back on could try to harm him the Islamic State considers spying a form of apostasy, punishable by death. Mostly, though, he worries about the ideas he unleashed on the world. Im scared not because I think Ill go back, but because of whats coming, he said. I was so committed to destroying the world that I lived in, and now, for rational reasons, I realize that international order needs to be protected. Paul R. LePage, the Republican governor of Maine, faced a torrent of outrage and political pressure on Monday even from some members of his own party, after 48 hours last week in which he threatened a Democratic lawmaker in a profane voice mail message, made sweeping statements about race and ended the week by doubling down and seeming to endorse racial profiling to address the states drug crisis. Mr. LePage, 67, has been the center of controversy many times over comments widely perceived as racially insensitive or otherwise offensive. But over the weekend, top Democrats in the state called for him to resign. And State Senator Amy Volk, a Republican, questioned Mr. LePages mental health on Sunday in a Facebook post that also revealed that lawmakers were considering whether to convene a special legislative session to address his latest statements. I share your deep concerns regarding the governors behavior, Ms. Volk wrote. What I do not know is whether it is due to substance abuse, mental illness or just ignorance. She added, Some sort of censure would seem appropriate, and I would welcome the ability to go on the record with a vote. Unconfirmed reports of gunfire at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday caused panic in the airport and on social media as passengers fled outside and the police raced to respond. About an hour after the first panicked reports appeared on social media, Andy Neiman, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department, wrote on Twitter that the reports had been caused by loud noises only. Donald J. Trump, who has gone more than a year without holding a single event in a black community, plans to head to a predominantly black church in Detroit on Saturday and speak with the president of an African-American owned and operated national Christian television network. The Trump campaign said the candidate will appear at Great Faith Ministries, where he will be interviewed by Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, president and chief executive of the Impact Network. The visit comes as several polls show Hillary Clinton winning an overwhelming majority of support from black voters across the country. Faced with those stark poll numbers, Mr. Trump has recently begun asking black and Hispanic voters for their support but has made his appeal before mostly white crowds. But on Saturday, he will speak more specifically about his plans to help blacks, his campaign said. Mr. Trump will answer questions that are relevant to the African-American community, Pastor Mark Burns, a surrogate for Mr. Trump, said in a statement. He will then give an address to outline policies that will impact minorities and the disenfranchised in our country. Citizens around the country will see, as Ive have seen, the heart and compassion Mr. Trump has for all Americans, which includes minority communities whose votes have been taken for granted for far too long. Before burkinis made global headlines, there was Chinas facekini. The colorful, full-face mask is still around, on view at crowded Chinese beaches this summer and for sale online. It came onto the radar of Western news organizations in the summer of 2012. The New York Times published a front-page story by Dan Levin on the phenomenon, with striking photographs from the coastal town of Qingdao by Sim Chi Yin. In recent days, people on Twitter and other social media platforms have mocked the banning of burkinis by dozens of French beachside towns by asking what French officials would do if Chinese beachgoers showed up wearing facekinis. The controversy in France over the banning of the burkini, popular with some Muslim women, by at least 30 French municipalities, many on the Riviera, has continued to rage, and a French high court last Friday overturned one towns ban. HONG KONG Gao Chengyong led a quiet life in a small city in western China. A onetime migrant laborer, he raised two boys who went to college. He enjoyed ballroom dancing with his wife. But the police say Mr. Gao also had a gruesome secret that he kept from his family, as Chinas state news media have reported in recent days. He is suspected of raping and killing 11 women and girls over a 14-year streak starting in 1988, sometimes cutting off body parts such as breasts, hands and ears, or slitting their throats. The youngest victim was 8. On Chinese social media, the suspect has been labeled Chinas Jack the Ripper, after the serial killer, never caught, said to have murdered women in Victorian London. On Friday, the police arrested Mr. Gao, 52, after matching his DNA and fingerprints to evidence found at the scenes of the killings, nine in the small city of Baiyin in Gansu Province and two in Baotou, a city in Inner Mongolia. Mr. Gao, who was taken into custody in the grocery shop he operated, confessed to the killings, Beijing News reported on Monday. MOSCOW The authoritarian president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, who has ruled the isolated Central Asian country for more than 25 years using old Soviet methods like forced labor for cotton harvesting, has been hospitalized with a stroke, his younger daughter announced Monday on Facebook. Later on Monday, Ferghana, an Uzbek website banned at home since 2005, reported that Mr. Karimov had died in the afternoon, citing sources outside the government. The report was widely repeated by independent news outlets in Russia. There was no official confirmation, however, and Russian outlets, such as the state-run RIA Novosti agency, quoted unidentified government officials in Uzbekistan as saying that the president remained alive and in stable condition. The nightly news on the main Uzbekistan television channel did not refer to the story at all, mentioning the president as the active leader. SYDNEY, Australia An Australian aid worker who was kidnapped in Afghanistan and held for four months has been released and is doing well, Australias foreign minister, Julie Bishop, said on Monday. The aid worker, Kerry Jane Wilson, who is in her 60s and is also known as Katherine Jane, had been working in Afghanistan for about 20 years and had most recently run Zardozi, an organization that promoted the work of Afghan artisans, particularly women. She was taken from her office in the eastern city of Jalalabad on the morning of April 28 by two armed men. BRUSSELS Attackers set fire to Belgiums national forensic crime laboratory early Monday morning, causing severe damage and potentially destroying DNA and other evidence considered crucial to cases involving terrorism, officials said. No one was wounded in the attack, which occurred around 2 a.m. and destroyed part of the lab in the Neder-Over-Heembeek section of Brussels. Five people were arrested nearby but were released after questioning; the police are looking for the attackers. The possibility of a terrorist attack has not been confirmed, Ine Van Wymersch, a spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutors office, said at a news conference. It goes without saying that several individuals would benefit if elements from their legal cases were destroyed. The investigation is ongoing, and all possible scenarios are being considered. The target of the attack was the National Institute of Forensics and Criminology, which is part of the federal justice department and is Belgiums center for forensic research, including the examination of biological and ballistic evidence. The institute handles thousands of cases a year for the federal police and the Belgian intelligence service, and it houses the countrys DNA database. ATHENS Since Greece opened its media to private broadcasting in the 1980s, the market has been an almost unregulated scrum. Licenses are given out on an ad hoc basis. Media outlets have proliferated. The chaos ushered in hundreds of millions of dollars of debt and invited the undue influence of banks, media barons and successive governments. Now, the government led by the leftist Syriza party under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says it wants to crack down on what it characterizes as a triangle of corruption, by auctioning off a limited number of licenses on Tuesday. But whether that effort is actually aimed at bringing order to the market or is yet another attempt by a Greek government to shape the media to its advantage has set off a hot debate and an intense wrangle for power here. Syriza opponents accuse it of a power grab under a different guise. The conservative New Democracy party said the government was seeking absolute control of the media. The once-mighty Socialist party, Pasok, has charged Syriza with disrespecting democracy and freedom of speech. CAIRO When it comes to home delivery and services, Cairo has most other places beat. Suffering from a hangover and perhaps some regrets? Costa Coffee will send around a single shot of espresso ($2.70), and the neighborhood pharmacy will dispatch one morning-after pill ($2). Want a Brazilian bikini wax? It can be done in the privacy of your home for $6. Need a birth or death certificate? Just put in a call to the government, which will dispatch it within 72 hours. For city dwellers in Egypt, almost anything can be delivered, and for nearly nothing. Home deliveries started with fast food, but have come to include an array of other goods and services. Upscale restaurants will deliver a salad or a single slice of cake; stationers will send pens to the office; liquor stores will supply alcohol if a party runs dry; bakeries will send fresh bread and pastries straight from the oven most of it carried on the backs of battered old motorcycles. Driving the trend is a middle class willing to spend money to avoid hassles, plus large numbers of poorer people willing to zoom around on motorcycles for less than $10 a day. Given Cairos bad traffic and long, hot summers, the capitals dwellers need little encouragement to pick up the phone. (Deliveries spike especially in July and August, when daytime temperatures rarely drop below 90 degrees.) JERUSALEM The Israeli military said Monday that a soldier was under investigation for the death of an unarmed Palestinian man who was shot in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday. Questions about the shooting are feeding a stormy debate about open-fire regulations and the use of force during a wave of violence that began in October but appeared to have been waning recently. The military police investigation into the death of Iyad Hamed, 38, from the West Bank town of Silwad, comes on the heels of the high-profile case of an Israeli soldier, Sgt. Elor Azaria, who is standing trial in a military court on a manslaughter charge after he fatally shot a wounded and disarmed Palestinian assailant in the West Bank city of Hebron in March. The Azaria case has caused an uproar in Israel, pitting senior military and government officials, who condemned the sergeants actions, against his supporters, who hailed him as a hero. That episode most likely contributed to the forced resignation of the Israeli defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, and his replacement by a political hard-liner, Avigdor Lieberman, as part of a government coalition deal in May. Its been a shaky morning, Hassan Boucenine, who leads the Yemeni branch of Doctors Without Borders, said after witnessing the attack. The explosion rocked my windows, and I was like 300 meters away. It was not nice. But we are treating everyone. The medical organization said on Twitter that at least 45 people had been killed and that 60 others had been wounded, but Al-Khadher Laswar, a Health Ministry official in Aden, said the death toll was 54 people, with 67 wounded. At least one child, a 6-year-old boy, was among the wounded, according to Malak Shaher, a spokeswoman for Doctors Without Borders. The killed and wounded recruits, most in their 20s and 30s, were signing up for military training in Djibouti and Eritrea, another official said. There, the newcomers would have been prepared to fight Shiite Houthi rebels in northern Yemen, near the border with Saudi Arabia, he added. The official, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the attack publicly, said witnesses had told him that the blast had occurred after a speeding vehicle drove through the gate of a school, which was being used for the military recruitment. Troops had opened the gate to let through a truck that was delivering food for the recruits. The war between the internationally recognized government, led by President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and the Houthi rebels, backed by his predecessor, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted in 2012, has torn Yemen apart. Roger Verge, the great French chef who died last year at 85, will be remembered for how he lit up the South of France with his Michelin three-star restaurant, Le Moulin de Mougins. On Sept. 12, he will be honored by chefs, most of whom worked with him, including Daniel Boulud, Terrance Brennan, Emeril Lagasse, Dean Fearing and Francis Mallmann, at a fund-raising dinner for a new Verge scholarship to be awarded to a student at the Culinary Institute of America. The event will include a cocktail hour and four-course dinner: Roger Verge Scholarship dinner, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m., Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, 23rd Street and West Side Highway; tickets, $995 from blog.resy.com/verge-tribute-dinner. Ms. DePasquale Perez, who is working on a graphic novel about her childhood, paid attention. She says she still makes a red pepper frittata using the same technique. Jean Gogolin, who is 76 and lives in Westfield, N.J., has sweet memories of Pennsylvania Dutch cracker pudding a sweet, boiled egg custard thickened with crushed saltine crackers and coconut. She says she hasnt made the dish in years because its popularity among younger family members has faded. But Albert Moten Jr. still gets together with his family in New Orleans, where he lives, to replicate the summer cookouts he grew up with, boiling turkey necks and crayfish with corn on the cob, and frying fish. Mr. Moten, who is 45, says his family may cook at home, or head to the park with a couple of butane tanks and some five-gallon pots. They may be celebrating a milestone birthday or nothing grander than a clear summer day stretching out in front of them. At these weekend cookouts, there is one constant: catfish. Its almost like a T-bone steak for the poor man, he said. Mr. Motens family soaks the raw fish in milk, then dusts it in a mixture of Cajun spices and flour, or, occasionally, cornmeal, before frying it golden-brown and crisp in a kettle of hot oil. Mr. Moten says the fish needs to rest for just a few minutes before its ready to be served, ideally with mac and cheese, potato salad and mashed potatoes. Scoville, meanwhile, had become a vocal proponent and prolific performer of psychosurgeries; by the time he began treating Molaison in the mid-1940s, he was a participant in a study that lobotomized mentally ill patients in the hope of easing overcrowding in Connecticuts asylums. But it wasnt until 1953 that Scoville drilled into Molaisons skull. Why the delay? One obvious answer is that Scoville had initially tried, and failed, to control Molaisons seizures with medication. Dittrich speculates that there was another, more sinister explanation. In the era of early brain mapping, when identifying the function of a specific region could secure lasting glory, Scoville had become frustrated with the limitations of operating on patients with acute psychological problems. What could removing a portion of the brain in someone who wasnt normal possibly tell him about the role of that area in someone who was healthy? Molaison, however, was psychologically intact but the locus of his seizures was unknown. Lacking a specific target in a specific hemisphere of Henrys medial temporal lobes, my grandfather had decided to destroy both, Dittrich writes in one of the books many chilling passages. The risks to Henry were as inarguable as they were unimaginable. The risks to my grandfather, on the other hand, were not. At that moment, the riskiest possible option for his patient was the one with the most potential rewards for him. This is heavy stuff: Dittrich ultimately puts his grandfathers actions on a continuum with those of Nazi doctors who tortured Jews to test the limits of human endurance. While that comparison is a bit strained Molaison was, after all, a willing patient who was actually sick Dittrich does make a convincing (if implicit) case that Scoville violated the Nuremberg Code adopted in the wake of World War II to govern research on humans. Dittrichs righteous indictment of his own grandfather is undeniably powerful. Of the two most compelling accusations of medical and scientific misconduct in Patient H.M., its also the one that has been aired before. But Dittrich also raises a number of issues relating to Suzanne Corkins actions, including whether she properly received informed consent for her tests on Molaison, that have not been addressed in public previously and in many ways these are just as unsettling. Corkin, who died of liver cancer in May, first encountered Molaison in the 1960s, when she was a graduate student in Montreal, but it wasnt until 1977 that she fully took over his case. Over the following decades, Corkin and more than 100 collaborators conducted countless experiments, many of which involved activities a typical test subject would find invasive or unpleasant: In one, Molaison was fed multiple meals in a row to see if he remembered just having eaten; in another, a device heated to an intensity other subjects found unbearable was repeatedly pressed into his skin to test his pain threshold. The entire reason Molaison was given these tests was that he was incapable of remembering more than 20 or 30 seconds in the past and yet for 12 years, from 1980 until 1992, Molaison signed his own consent forms. At that point, Dittrich writes, Corkin arranged for the son of Molaisons former landlady, who may have been a distant relative, to serve as his conservator despite the fact that Molaison had several first cousins living nearby. Dittrich also appears to have uncovered evidence that Corkins published work painted an incomplete picture of Molaison. In her book, Corkin described Molaison as carefree and easygoing, a sort of accidental Zen master who couldnt help living in the moment. In one of her papers, which makes reference to but does not quote from a depression questionnaire Molaison filled out in 1982, Corkin wrote that Molaison had no evidence of anxiety, major depression or psychosis. Dittrich located Molaisons actual responses to that questionnaire, which had not been included in Corkins paper. Among the statements Molaison circled to describe his mental state were I feel that the future is hopeless and that things cannot improve and I feel that I am a complete failure as a person. That disclosure raises the question of whether there is more unpublished information that could yield new insights into Molaison. Corkin, however, told Dittrich in a recorded interview that she was shredding her files on Molaison lest future researchers misinterpret her data. When several of these revelations appeared in a New York Times Magazine excerpt from Dittrichs book, Corkins former colleagues, at M.I.T. and elsewhere, cried foul. The question of whether files were actually destroyed remains unsettled, while the issue of informed consent has not yet been addressed. (I am a professor at M.I.T.; I did not know Corkin and dont know any of the principals involved in the response to Dittrichs work.) The state Ukrainian bank Oschadbank is seeking an over $1 billion compensation from the Russian Federation, the bank spokesperson said on Friday. "On August 26 Oschadbank filed a lawsuit with full evidentiary base. The sum being claimed includes both the value of lost assets, the cost of the loss of business, and the interest to accrue before the Tribunal makes a final decision and before actual receipt of the compensation at a commercial rate set by the Tribunal, and stands at over $1 billion," the bank said. Arbitration hearings will take place in Paris, France, the bank told Interfax-Ukraine. Its difficult to say goodbye to your favorite bands, but its a whole lot easier when the band throws a legit final bash that includes the hits, fan-favorites, covers and rarities. Thousands of fans gathered at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa on Sunday night to take in the second to last stop of the Go-Gos The Farewell Tour. They swapped stories about seeing the all-female rock group play on the Sunset Strip back in the early 80s, sported old, faded tour T-shirts and bragged about how theyd also be at the tours very last show in the bands hometown as the Go-Gos wrap up their final jaunt at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Coming out to Grand Funk Railroads Were an American Band, the group dug right in with the title track of its second album, Vacation, which was released 34 years ago on Aug. 11. Vocalist Belinda Carlisle was stunning with How Much More, followed by Tonight, and before going into This Town, she cringed a little as she reminded everyone that the song was nearly four decades old. The entire evening was one massive fan sing-a-long as people danced as though no one was watching (I was watching) and sang loudly, as if no one was really listening (I was listening). The Costa Mesa crowd was impressive and really let it all hang out on a Sunday night, especially the carefree folks that the Go-Gos called up on stage to dance during its cover of Cool Jerk. Some fans even dressed up, mirroring the various looks of members throughout their careers and one woman dared to don bath towels that covered her body and hair, as well as a full green beauty face mask so she could look like the ladies did on the cover of their 1981 debut, Beauty and the Beat. Guitarist Jane Wiedlin looked as if she were choking back tears at times, which was something she said during a previous interview that shed probably do as the tour came to an end. Sporting a David Bowie shirt and bright blue hair, she looked happy and the most enthusiastic as she talked about her band being a part of the early L.A. punk scene. We really were there, she said and added that the band would play a few songs it wrote in 1978 which never made it to record. They blasted through Screaming and Wiedlin introduced the next song by saying, This next composition is a little ditty about bondage, before doing Fun With Ropes. Near the end of the set, things got wild as the band went into two of its most popular songs, Our Lips Are Sealed and We Got the Beat. They took a quick bow before briefly exiting the stage and then returning shortly after for a two-song encore. As the crowd cheered, guitarist Charlotte Caffey reminded everyone about the time the Go-Gos played the punk club Cuckoos Nest in Costa Mesa in 1979 before getting into Get Up & Go. They ended the night with Head Over Heels, which, once again, had everyone on their feet, clapping and singing along until the group took its final bow. Los Angeles rock duo Best Coast, with vocalist-guitarist Bethany Cosentino and multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno, were hand picked by the Go-Gos for The Farewell Tour and it brought a full band along with them to really fill out the sound. Cosentino came out straight away with the sunny track, When Im With You, and the band let loose on Crazy For You. A handful of songs in and Cosentinos guitar gave out. Techs rushed to switch out amps and plugs, seemingly only to find that the actual guitar was the culprit. Music, man, she said with a sarcastic sigh as she finally gave up, grabbed the mic and just sang. The band played its ode to California with Only Place, which was followed by the beautifully presented Heaven Sent and I Dont Know How. I dont ever want this tour to end ever, Cosentino said towards the end of her turn. She thanked the audience for bearing with all of the technical difficulties, which it honestly didnt seem to mind as the band still managed to deliver an impressive performance. Kaya Stewart is only 16 years old, but she has a huge stage presence, something she probably learned a thing or two about from her musician father, Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. She held her own as she belted out her blend of pop rock tracks including her very first single, In Love with a Boy. Stewart had a lot of control and a slight rasp in her vocal that really made it stand out. She was also very lively and playful as she jumped around in an over-sized black silk nightgown, which didnt seem to make too much since until she ended her set with her latest single, Sleepover. Her self-titled debut came out just two weeks ago and she impressed live with the songs Freefall and the infectiously bouncy cut, 16 Dollars. Contact the writer: 714-796-3570 or kfadroski@ocregister.com LOS ANGELES A Northern California familys 2014 trip to the happiest place on earth left them with dismal memories after they were bitten by bed bugs during their stay at Disneys Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, according to a lawsuit. Joseph and Danielle Jones filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday on behalf of themselves and their three daughters. The suit alleges battery, negligence, fraudulent concealment, nuisance and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The family seeks unspecified damages. Suzi Brown, the Disneyland Resorts director of media relations & external communications, told City News Service: We have not been served with the lawsuit, so cannot comment on the allegations at this time. According to the complaint, the hotel already had a history of complaints by guests about bed bugs when the Joneses drove more than 350 miles from their San Leandro home to Anaheim to give their three daughters, then ages 4, 9 and 16, a magical Disney summer with a trip to the theme park in August 2014. But instead of being able to enjoy the visit, problems began when the Jones 9-year-old daughter started complaining about itchy, painful bites on her face, according to the lawsuit. By the next day, the entire Jones family had insect bites on their bodies, the suit alleges. The Joneses told the staff at the front desk about the bites, but employees there referred the family to the hotels housekeeping department, the suit states. The housekeeping manager suggested the familys bites were probably mosquito bites, dismissing their concerns that they could have been bed bugs, the suit states. The condition of each family member worsened and doctors at an Oakland hospital confirmed that the bites indeed came from bed bugs, the suit states. After returning home, the Jones family threw out all the clothing and luggage that was exposed to the bed bugs at Disneys Grand, the suit states. The Joneses have suffered physical injuries, as well as emotional distress, and their youngest daughter has permanent scarring, according to the complaint. In 2013, Grand Californian guests posted two website reports of being bitten by bed bugs while staying at the hotel, the suit states. The first person I wanted to call when I heard that Colombias government and the countrys largest leftist rebel group had reached a peace deal last week was my father. In 1999, my father, Jaime Correal Martinz, was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. He was captured by a gang on his way home from work; driven high into the mountains outside Bogota, the capital; and turned over to the rebel group, which held him for ransom for more than eight months. While my stepmother, Samantha, negotiated with the rebels and took care of my younger siblings Nicolas and Lorena in Bogota, and I finished my sophomore year of college in the United States, my father was moved from camp to camp, hidden under the jungle canopy as military planes swarmed above. He slept in 38 different places. He wasnt targeted for any particular reason. At the time, kidnapping for ransom was rampant in Colombia, one of the ways the rebels financed the insurgency, along with trafficking cocaine, and he was presumed to be wealthy. What would my father think of the peace deal with his kidnappers? While my father was being held, his travel company went out of business. We lost everything. And we were among the lucky ones. The 52-year conflict, involving the FARC, the military and brutal right-wing paramilitaries, is believed to have claimed more than 220,000 lives, left 40,000 people missing and displaced more than 5 million. The news that the FARC rebels have agreed, after four years of negotiations, to permanently lay down their arms, disband and join the political system is a cause for celebration for some in Colombia. It is the closest the country has ever come to ending its conflict, the longest war in the Americas. Peace in Colombia, the elusive dream of millions who have marched in the streets, seems finally within reach. President Juan Manuel Santos called the accord the door to a new stage in our history. Yet on Oct. 2, when Colombians will have the final say on the peace deal by voting in a referendum, the decision will not be simple. Under the agreement, FARC fighters will receive amnesty for crimes such as drug trafficking. Those who confess to crimes like kidnapping and executions will be subject to five to eight years of restricted mobility, but no prison time. During that time, they are expected to perform social work in communities affected by the conflict. The deal faces significant political opposition, and many Colombians are furious. My father seldom mentioned his time with the FARC after he came home. Once, at the grocery store, he pointed to a package of crackers. Thats what they gave us to eat during marches, he said. Another time, he told me that rubber boots made a good pillow if you slipped one inside the other. Those moments offered glimpses of the distant world he had been pulled into, and how it lingered. Generally, and surely for our benefit, he made light of the kidnapping, calling it my eco-challenge, and a much-needed vacation. A decade after the fact, he told me more. I had gotten a grant from Transom.org to make a radio documentary, and we met in Bogota. (A version of the documentary later aired on This American Life.) Sitting at a friends kitchen table, he doodled on a notepad, smoked and talked. Yes, he was fed, even given cigarettes. No, he wasnt kept in chains. But he was held alone for six months, confined to his lean-to, or caleta, where at night he lay awake thinking, or listening in secret to a radio program that aired messages for hostages. He was also forced to trek for days over punishing terrain. Once, when the military moved into a FARC-held area, he walked for 11 days straight, climbing a mountain pass in driving rain. Among the hostages on that march were the Angulos, a working-class couple in their late 60s who had been kidnapped outside Bogota. At some point, he told me, Carmenza Angulo fell behind her feet had swelled and wouldnt fit into her boots. As she limped along in bare feet, her husband, Gerardo, stayed by her side. A FARC fighter circled back with them. When my fathers group stopped to rest for the night, the fighter reappeared; the Angulos did not. The guerrilla had led them into the trees and, acting on orders, killed them. They were too slow. Their children paid a ransom and searched for them for years in vain, their son Hector Angulo told me. Eventually, Hector returned with a team of investigators and captured guerrillas to look for their bones. My father saw the complexity of the conflict from up close: the FARCs capacity for cruelty, but also the helplessness, if not innocence, of some young fighters. A few of his armed guards were just 13. Many fighters had been taken from their homes and forced to join as children. One of these fighters played a role in his release. On my fathers 265th day in captivity, as he languished in a camp with several hostages, gunfire erupted outside their caletas. It was the Colombian military, with around 60 soldiers. They fired machine guns, threw grenades. When the noise stopped, a soldier wearing a bandanna approached. Guys, my father remembered him saying, youre free men. The rebels had fled. Among the soldiers was a figure smaller than the others, in a balaclava. After the ambush, she took off her mask, and my father recognized her. She was about 17, and a FARC fighter. He had seen her washing dishes in a camp mess hall. She had escaped, risking execution by the FARC, and turned herself over to the military. If it would free her 13-year-old brother, who had been forced into the FARC, she would lead it to the captives, including a high-profile hostage, journalist Guillermo Cortes. She helped free five hostages. At the time, it was one of the largest rescues in Colombias history. (It is not clear what happened to her, or to her brother.) After the rescue, my family immediately moved to Panama, where we had family roots. We rarely returned to Colombia, but my father kept track of the news. In the years that followed, the FARC suffered a long string of battlefield setbacks, which ultimately led it to peace talks in Oslo, Norway, and in Havana. Through the peace process, my father remained deeply skeptical of the guerrillas, but hopeful. Was the deal finally reached last week something that he, a victim of the FARC, could endorse? Sadly, I couldnt call and ask. My father died in June, after a series of strokes, at 63. In the end, the conflict outlived him, if only by a couple of months. After he died, as I prepared to fly back home to New York from Panama, I opened his closet and stood amid his shirts and suits. Seventeen years before, when he was taken from us the first time, I had done the same thing. Then, somewhat miraculously, he had returned. He was reunited with his wife, Samantha, and together they washed away the dank stench of the jungle before he slipped back into his clean, old clothes. With somewhat more effort, he let go of the rancor, the outrage at what had happened, quite senselessly, to him and to our family. Like so many victims of Colombias conflict now, in his time, he chose peace. Did you know Jaime wanted peace with the FARC? Samantha texted me over the weekend, adding a little heart. That did not mean that he had forgotten. He carried what he saw in that jungle within him forever. RIVERSIDE Police in Riverside are investigating the killing of a teenager who was shot in the parking lot of a church. Investigators say the victim was walking with friends around 1:15 a.m. Sunday when they were confronted by the suspect and a fight broke out. Police say the suspect pulled out a handgun, opened fire and then ran off. Officers found the victim with gunshot wounds in the parking lot of Central Community Christian Fellowship. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. The victims name wasnt immediately released but officials said he was in his late teens. Detectives have not released a suspect description. LOS ANGELES A false report of gunshots that sent panicked travelers fleeing from Los Angeles International Airport came right after officers with weapons drawn detained a masked man dressed in black and possibly carrying a plastic sword, officials said. Soon after, hundreds of passengers raced onto streets or the tarmac, causing major flight delays that the airport was still recovering from Monday. Video shows at least six officers confronting the man dressed as the fictional crime fighter Zorro outside Terminal 7 around 8:40 p.m. Sunday. False reports of an active shooter quickly spread, and passengers in five terminals evacuated or pushed through security checkpoints, airport police said. Officers with rifles stormed the airport but uncovered no evidence of a gunman or shots fired. The confusion was similar to a false alarm that led to a panicked evacuation two weeks ago at Kennedy Airport in New York, when a boisterous celebration of the Olympics may have been misinterpreted as gunfire, according to authorities. The Los Angeles scare created a mess, with three terminals shut down, roads closed and flights held in the air and on the ground, but no one was hurt. About 280 flights were delayed, and at least 27 planes were diverted to other airports. Two flights were canceled, airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles said. Sam Macon of Los Angeles was waiting for his bag when he noticed the man dressed as Zorro walk past. He followed the man outside to snap a photo. Thats when Macon saw police with guns drawn snaking their way through the crowd toward the man in the costume. He said police and airport personnel began yelling at people to get back, while the masked man sat calmly on the bench. Macon filmed as police asked the man to get on the ground then handcuffed him. The panic started soon afterward, he said. Lots of crying, yells and misinformation traveling rapidly, he said in an email to The Associated Press. Macon said he was fairly certain the whole time that it was a case of mass hysteria. Vehicle traffic was flowing again on the upper departure level during Monday morning rush hour, but cars backed up on the lower arrival area, Castles said. All terminals and roads into the airport reopened by 11 p.m., about two hours after the initial reports, officials said. Besides traffic, travelers faced a massive backup in security lines because those who fled had to be rescreened through security. We were on the jetway, and someone starts pushing behind us, Jon Landis, a sales representative from Boston who was boarding a flight home, told The Associated Press. One man was frantic, saying there was a shooter. Police officers, including one with a shotgun, eventually led passengers out of the terminal, through a security gate and into a parking lot, where several hundred people waited. Ninety minutes after the scare, Landis said he was still waiting for word on his flight. Scott McDonald said he was getting off a plane in the middle of the chaos and the crew told him to get back on. Looking out the window, he said he could see many evacuees gathered on the tarmac, a strange sight even for someone who travels constantly. Ive never seen passengers, just normal people, on the tarmac anywhere in the United States, McDonald told Los Angeles news station KCAL-TV. Douglas Lee, who was traveling home to Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife and son, said the greatest danger was being trampled. You can imagine hundreds of adults trying to go through an exit door, he said. At one point, he picked up his young son and left their luggage. Abandoned bags littered sidewalks as people fled. Corey Rosenbusch was relaxing inside a terminal club during a layover between his home in Washington, D.C., and Sydney when the lights went off and the staff told everyone to shelter in place. People immediately started looking at social media, where they saw reports that there was an active shooter, Rosenbusch told the AP. He said several officers, including some with assault rifles, led the group out of the area. The false alarm came as police investigate whether a raucous celebration Aug. 14 at JFK Airport led to noises people believed were shots. The ensuing chain reaction turned into a panic as crowds ran to evacuate. The Los Angeles airport had an actual shooting in November 2013, when a man opened fire in the terminal, killing a security agent and wounding three other people. Associated Press writers Justin Pritchard and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Alina Hartounian in Phoenix contributed to this report. The California Assembly should vote Monday to pass Senate Bill 1107, which would improve citizens ability to engage in the democratic process by empowering local governments to establish citizen-funded elections. Its a measure that is long overdue to amend the Political Reform Act, a law that was passed in 1974 to clean up money in California politics, but amended in 1988 to prohibit an important and effective reform: public financing of elections. The California Supreme Court held that the public financing ban could not apply to charter cities. But the ban still applies to non-charter cities. SB1107 would empower all local governments to establish voluntary citizen-funded programs for certain candidates if they chose to do so. Critics of the measure claim that the California Assembly, in voting for SB1107, would go against the will of the people, who voted to ban public financing by ballot initiative. But the provision was never truly reflective of California voters stance on public financing. The public financing ban was included as an amendment to the Act through Proposition 73, placed on the 1988 ballot by incumbent legislators with an interest in protecting their political power. The measure was placed on the ballot during a crowded, low-turnout June primary. The initiative banning public financing was passed almost 30 years ago. Today, theres no question where Californians stand on public financing. Recent ballot initiatives in charter cities across California demonstrate that there is a popular appetite for public financing statewide. Six charter cities, including Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Francisco, have adopted public financing programs. Berkeley could soon become the seventh city this election cycle. Critics also claim that the California Assembly is overstepping, and is outside its legal right to vote on this measure. But The Political Reform Act explicitly provides that the legislature may directly amend its provisions, without voter approval, in order to further [the Acts] purposes. The PRAs professed purposes include (1) creating more responsive state and local government, (2) diminishing the disproportionate influence of special interests over government actions, and (3) reducing the advantages of incumbency. SB1107 furthers all three of these stated goals. By offering California cities and municipalities the option to establish public financing programs, SB1107 would change the way politicians campaign by encouraging candidates to engage with and respond to a broader section of the electorate. Studies by the Campaign Finance Institute and the National Institute of Money in State Politics have shown that public financing programs foster greater civic engagement than campaign finance systems relying exclusively on private donations. Similarly, the U.S. Supreme Court in Buckley v. Valeo recognized that public financing programs facilitate and enlarge public discussion and participation in the electoral process, goals vital to a self-governing people. Additionally, SB1107 simultaneously works to lessen the sway of special interests over governmental processes and diminishes the financial benefits of incumbency. Multiple studies have documented that special interest groups are more likely to contribute to incumbents than political newcomers, and that money from special interests is a leading factor in incumbents electoral advantage. Public financing programs reduce candidates reliance on special interests and offer an alternative to big money donors as the source of election funding. These programs embolden newcomers without the backing of wealthy donors to enter the political arena. The result is elected officials who represent the needs and priorities of their actual constituents not just special interests. Through its advancement of these goals, SB1107 is entirely compatible with the mandates of Californias Constitution generally, and the PRA specifically, as the bill works to further [the] purposes of the Act. As a final note, it is important to stress what SB1107 does not entail. The bill does not compel cities and municipalities to institute public financing programs for local elections. It does not mandate that local governments appropriate funds for candidates use. It does not raise taxes or institute any fees. SB1107 simply gives local governments the ability to determine whether to create a public financing program for local elections. In essence, the bill restores local autonomy at the expense of centralized authority. Paul S. Ryan is deputy executive director at the Campaign Legal Center. PJSC Ukrtransgaz, the operator of Ukraine's gas transport system, will halve gas transportation in the direction of the Balkans for the period of repairs to the pipeline, press secretary of PJSC Ukrtransgaz Maksym Beliavsky told Interfax-Ukraine. "Now we are about to begin preparations for repairing the stretch of the main gasline running to the Balkans where a flaw was detected. During the repairs, pressure will reduce and gas shipments via the Orlovka gas metering station to the consumers in the Balkan direction will halve, 40 to 18 million cubic meters per day," he said. In his words, the repairs may take up to eight days. During inspection a section of the main pipeline in the direction of the Balkans late on Friday, August 26, Ukrtransgaz detected a crack in the pipe, causing a gas leak. The main pipeline is close to the state border, and the repairs require that a 12 km long pipeline should be cut off, utilizing a linear valve located in territory of the Republic of Moldova. The situation poses no risk to residents of the surrounding settlements, the company said. From 1999 to 2013, Californias Academic Performance Index boiled down everything about the states K-12 public schools to a single number between 200 and 1,000. That type of accountability is going away, to be replaced by a more nuanced system that is under construction. In the old model, the desirability of neighborhoods or even whole communities hinged in part on their schools API score. Careers were made or lost based on how far a school or district was from the magic 800 target number. And under the federal No Child Left Behind law, failure to steadily increase an API score even an already high one could mean dire consequences for a school or district. The API was based on standardized tests taken by students. Those results, research has shown, largely measure the socio-economic environment the students come from. They dont paint a particularly nuanced picture of school quality. That was essentially a measure of the average level of student achievement at the school. Thats not a very good measure of how good a school is, from the standpoint of how good a school is at making a kid smarter, said Morgan Polikoff, a USC associate professor of education. Its a pretty good measure of the kind of kids who are enrolling in the school, like what the poverty level of the school is, but not how good the school is at teaching. In 2014, Californias State Board of Education put the brakes on calculating API while the state switched over to new standardized tests aligned with the Common Core State Standards. Those new Smarter Balanced tests, which students took for the second time this past spring, will be just one factor in the new school grading system being created to replace the API score. I think they will go with a single number, said Dale Marsden, superintendent of the 53,000-student San Bernardino City Unified School District, but it wont be based on a single factor. A draft version of a proposed color-coded reporting system for public schools was released in July. The proposed report card draws a lot from the NCLB-successor Every Student Succeeds Act. It looks at how a school does in English language arts and math standardized tests, but also at how well students learning English as a second language are doing, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, suspension rate, college and career readiness, and other factors. Schools do a lot more than just test scores, Polikoff said. By boiling everything down to just one test score, you really distort what a school is trying to do. And for many of the factors, it doesnt just look at how well the school is doing, but it also notes whether the schools rating in that area is holding steady, going up or going down. Its more complex, but it reflects life, it reflects reality, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in San Bernardino on Friday. The APIs method of just looking at English language arts and math scores minimizes the other elements that make great schools, he said. In a car, you dont rely on one number to tell you about the oil, how much gas you have, how your engine is doing, Torlakson said. Including an indication on the report of how scores are trending provides an incentive for schools and districts to not rest on their laurels, Polikoff said. The incentive under the old system, under No Child Left Behind in particular, was to get the kids who are right on the margin line of proficient and get them over. But once theyre over the line, even if its only one point, you dont really care about them anymore, he said. A system thats focused on test score growth is going to have better incentives, because thats going to focus on the growth of all students. Even though the much-reviled No Child Left Behind law has been replaced with the less-punitive ESSA, one of the innovations from NCLB survives in Californias proposed new model: The success or failure of individual subgroups of students is measured, instead of just looking at how students are doing overall. We paid attention to every single child, Marsden said. The proposed version of the new school report will include a column, the Equity Report, that will highlight any subgroups in trouble for any category. Categories include students who are financially challenged, English learners, those in foster care, disabled or homeless, and members of ethnic and racial groups. In addition, all the data will be online, allowing parents, educators and the public to access a wealth of information with the option of focusing on specific information they believe is most valuable, Bill Ainsworth, California Department of Education spokesman, wrote in an email. This new data will make it easier for parents to hold their schools accountable for any problem areas. The state school board is set to vote on what factors will be included in the final assessment at its September meeting. The board also is expected to vote on what those reports will look like at a meeting in early 2017. If all goes according to plan, the successor to the API will debut in fall 2017 and will include data from the 2016-17 school year. And then, experts hope, the new system will change how Californians talk and think about education. Making it so its not all about math and English test scores will certainly change things away from the No Child Left Behind era, when the curriculum was narrowed to almost just that, because thats all that counted, Polikoff said. LINCOLN, Neb. Nebraska authorities have accused an Anaheim man of scamming several would-be buyers out of thousands of dollars and failing to deliver a powerful, hard-to-find car engine. Lancaster County prosecutors last week charged Steven Shaull with theft, and he was arrested Friday in California. Nebraska authorities will be seeking his extradition to face trial. A Lincoln company, Restore a Muscle Car, reported to authorities that it found an online post offering the engine. Muscle Car owner Dave Hall said online feedback was positive about previous sales by Shaull, so Shaull was contacted. Hall told investigators that Shaull agreed to sell the 426-cubic-inch engine for $11,500, which would be paid through an online service. Investigators said Shaull later asked Muscle Car to wire the money directly to his bank account in order to avoid the online payment service fees. The company did so. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that Shaull soon notified Muscle Car that hed gotten the money and would send documents once a shipper had picked up the engine. The muscle car company still hasnt received its engine, court documents say. Since the sale, Steven Shaull made multiple empty promises to ship the motor, or then refund the money, none of which has actually happened, Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles investigator Marlan Hohnstein wrote in a court affidavit. Hohnstein also said he found other people who tried to buy the same engine listed on eBay but also never received anything despite sending thousands of dollars to Shaull. KANEOHE BAY, HAWAII (AP) The U.S. Marine Corps new commander for the Pacific said Friday he aims to advance his predecessors 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. Toolan told reporters theres growing interest in amphibious capabilities in the Pacific because of Chinas 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 hes generated I need to make sure that that doesnt 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 commands war-fighting 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. Thats the immediate concern that hes got. Youre always concerned about your war-fighting capability. Contact the writer: ANAHEIM About 100 supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rallied at Anaheim City Hall on Sunday afternoon, arguing that his support among the Latino community is stronger than has been widely reported. The rally, organized by Latinos for Trump, was part of an initiative termed Operation Taco Bowl an apparent reference to a Cinco de Mayo photo of Trump eating a taco bowl with a caption that read, I love Hispanics. Trump supporters took turns standing beside two mannequin caricatures of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and telling the crowd why they support Trump. Chants of viva Trump complemented the usual slogans at Trump rallies, such as USA! USA!, build that wall, and Hillary for Prison. Speeches were aimed at countering Democratic arguments that Trump is racist. I dont believe any of the liberal media bias that says Trump is a racist or a bigot, said Eddy Rodriguez, 37, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force who drove to Anaheim from his Lake Elsinore home to attend the rally. His businesses successful businesses have hired Latinos, blacks, women. I support Trump 100 percent. An NBC/SurveyMonkey poll from Wednesday found Trump trailing by 51 points among Latinos. His standing has been marred among Hispanics by a restrictive immigration vision, labels such as rapist to describe undocumented Mexican immigrants and his questioning whether a U.S. judge of Mexican ancestry can impartially rule on his case. Theyre desperate now to get support anyway they can, said Gaby Hernandez, a Latina activist from Santa Ana. Theyll get their token Latinos to support them, but those people dont have our (the Latino community) best interests in mind. Bloomberg contributed to this report. Contact the writer: 714-796-6979 or chaire@scng.com Hillary Clintons closest aide, Huma Abedin, said Monday that she intended to separate from her husband, Anthony D. Weiner, the former congressman and New York City mayoral candidate, after it was reported that Weiner had exchanged suggestive images and messages with a woman while the couples young child was beside him. The separation was announced after Weiners online exchanges with women had been a source of tension within Clintons presidential campaign. Weiner resigned from Congress in 2011 after revelations that he had sent lewd images of himself to women on social media. The couples marital problems worsened after the release in May of a documentary about the scandal that engulfed Weiners campaign for mayor in 2013. Abedin released a statement on Monday after the New York Post reported that Weiner had traded sexual messages with an unidentified woman last year while their 5-year-old son, Jordan, appeared to be asleep beside him. After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband, she said in the statement. Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy. Abedin only learned on Sunday that Weiner had sent a photo of himself and their son to the unidentified woman, according to two people close to the couple who spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal private conversations. After the Post contacted him on Sunday about the coming story, Weiner told Abedin about the photo, as well as other details about his latest online indiscretions, while they were both in the Hamptons with their son. Weiner came back from the Hamptons Monday morning, the two people said, and he was aware that Abedin wanted to separate before she announced it later that morning. Abedins separation quickly became political fodder for Donald Trump, Clintons Republican opponent. Huma is making a very wise decision, he said in a statement. I know Anthony Weiner well, and she will be far better off without him. Trump also said the episode was an issue of national security. I only worry for the country in that Hillary Clinton was careless and negligent in allowing Weiner to have such close proximity to highly classified information, he continued. Who knows what he learned and who he told? Its just another example of Hillary Clintons bad judgment. It is possible that our country and its security have been greatly compromised by this. Clinton was informed on Sunday about Weiners disclosures to Abedin, though it was unclear if Abedin spoke directly to Clinton. Abedin remains in the Hamptons with her son and was not expected to join Clinton there to attend campaign fundraisers on Monday. Abedin and Weiner had been growing apart for some time, according to the two people close to the couple, with Abedin often on the campaign trail with Clinton and Weiner at home with Jordan. The two people said that the Post story had not caused a sudden and unexpected rupture to a happy marriage, but rather was the trigger for Abedin to move for a separation. Campaign officials had braced for fresh revelations about Weiner after the Post reported earlier this month that a Republican had baited Weiner into a sexual online chat. Asked by The Times this month whether he was still engaging in the activities that had foiled his political career, Weiner replied, Im not going to go down the path of talking about any of that. Still, Abedin had recently presented an image of herself and Weiner as something of a team. In the August issue of Vogue, Abedin spoke of balancing motherhood with a strenuous campaign job. I dont think I could do it if I didnt have the support system I have, if Anthony wasnt willing to be, essentially, a full-time dad, she told the magazine. Abedin, 40, has been at Clintons side for two decades. She was her intern in the 1990s during the presidency of Bill Clinton and became a top aide while Hillary Clinton served as a senator from New York. Abedin, now vice chairwoman of the campaign, served on both of Hillary Clintons presidential campaigns a mark of loyalty and trust that Clinton prizes and is often referred to as a surrogate daughter. Weiner did not immediately reply to an email seeking his comment. Clinton strongly supported Abedin when Weiners sexually charged text messages came to light in 2011, a year into their marriage, and again in 2013, when Weiner was running for mayor of New York. Friends of Clinton said that she spoke to Abedin at length about the marriage and that she supported Abedins decision to remain with Weiner and work on their marriage. After the New York Post published its story Sunday night revealing Weiners latest texts, several allies of Clinton said they contacted campaign advisers to express frustration and anger with Weiner, asking whether the campaign or Abedin would respond to the Post story or take action. Two of these allies said they were told that some kind of statement would be coming and that they were urged to respect Abedins privacy. The announcement of the separation came after the Post showed that Weiner had exchanged photos with the woman. She appeared in various bikinis and Weiner was half-dressed, showing off his stomach or his groin and they talked about sex. In one message, Weiner abruptly changed the discussion from massage parlors and reportedly wrote, Someone just climbed into my bed. Really? the woman replied. His response, in a screen shot dated July 31, 2015, showed a child curled up next to Weiner, who was wearing only white Jockey shorts. Mbah Gotho, an Indonesian man from the island of Java, has official documentation that attests that he was born on December 31st, 1870. If confirmed, this would make him 23 years older than the than the official world record holder for worlds oldest human, French woman JeanneCalment who died at 122. Authorities in Gothos hometown of Sragen told local media that they have verified their records and an ID card with his date of birth posted online, and that his claim appears legit. However, until his documents are independently verified, he cannot officially be named the oldest human being in history. Not that the title matters to much to Gotho, who in a recent interview told reporters that he has only one wish left to die. While it may sound eerie, its an understandable desire, considering his current situation. Photo via Miraj News For the past three months, the 145-year-old has had to be spoon-fed and bathed by his grandchildren as he has become increasingly frail. He spends most of his days sitting and listening to the radio, because his deteriorated eyesight doesnt allow him to watch television. What I want is to die. My grandchildren are all independent, Gotho said last week. If youre wondering just how old 145 is, maybe this will put it into perspective. Mbah Gotho has outlived all of his 10 siblings, as well as his four wives the last of which died in 1988 and all his children. His nearest living relatives are grand children, great grand children, and great-great grandchildren. Photo: Twitter/Visualsevent Gotho, who was allegedly 74 years old when World War II ended, says he has been expecting to die since the early 90s, when he was in his 120s. Thats when he bought a burial site close to his children, but it turns out life wasnt yet done with him, and still isnt. Asked what the secret to his incredible longevity is, the 145-year-old said The recipe is just patience. Photo: Wajah News via The Telegraph Aware that once something is on the internet, it says on the internet, a man from Weifang, Chinas Shandong province, actually destroyed the physical internet infrastructure in his neighborhood to prevent some embarrassing photos of himself from appearing online. The man, only identified as Liu, had only recently arrived in Weifang in search of a job, when he attended neighborhood square dance. The popular activity is usually associated with middle-aged women, but that didnt bother him. At least, not until he noticed bystanders laughing and taking photos of him showing his dancing skills. He quickly left the event after that, but couldnt shake the feeling that the people who had photographed him would share the embarrassing photos online. So in June, while on an evening walk, Liu ended up destroying four optical cable network receivers, causing over 100,000 yuan in damages, thinking that it would prevent his neighbors from uploading the photos on the internet. After a long investigation, police finally identified him as the perpetrator, on August 19. In photos published by local media, he can be seen in handcuffs, reenacting his crime for a police officer. Interestingly, an online search of Lius embarrassing square dance photos hasnt turned up any relevant results. maybe his desperate crime actually paid off, or maybe the people who photographed him had better things to do than share them online. Well never know. via The Nanfang Ronn Torossian Almost everyone has purchased IKEA furniture at one time. The multinational retailer has long been a source for inexpensive, durable furniture. Students, young marrieds, and people just starting out especially love a good deal, and a trip to IKEA can include tasting samples or a meal and playtime for kids too. The IKEA brand has been trusted by families buying furniture to help fill their childrens rooms for decades. However, in recent months this has changed, and IKEA has been in crisis mode. Recently, IKEA made the news when six children died after their Malm dressers tipped over and crushed them. IKEA knew there was an issue with the dressers but until recently did nothing to correct the problem. For a company that has always demanded high service and honesty from its employees, it makes one wonder what happened to Corporate Social Responsibility or even corporate transparency. When the issue with the dressers first came out, little was said to the public. IKEA finally went public, offering free anchors for the dressers. This was not heavily publicized. The advertisement told customers where they could send to get the anchor, but they were slow sending them. On many social media sites, consumers complained that they could get the anchors faster on Amazon. IKEA finally offered the anchors for free in stores where they could be picked up by the customer, something they should have done in the first place. This makes good marketing sense: get customers through the doors, even if it is to correct a problem, and theyre more likely to make another purchase. After many months, IKEA finally offered a full refund to those who purchased the Malm dresser between 2002 and 2016. Those who purchased the dresser before 2002 could get a half refund as a store credit. The problem was IKEA originally wanted the dressers to be returned to an IKEA store. This just didnt work for all customers, as many lived too far away. Finally, they set up a program where IKEA would pick up the dressers from customers homes. IKEA also finally took the Malm dressers off the market as a result of an agreement with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. IKEA should have been honest and upfront with the public. IKEA should have then told customers what was being done to resolve the issue, instead of going on TV and other media outlets to relay information to customers. Admit you made a mistake, keep the public informed at all times on how you are handling the situation. For IKEA, what could have been a small crisis rapidly escalated to a major problem. For a company that prides themselves on making things easy, it didnt make this crisis go away easily. *** Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR, a leading independent PR agency. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko considers it necessary to continue taking measures to deregulate doing business in the country. "I am confident, and today we'll talk about this with the prime minister and the first deputy premier, it is necessary to extend our resolute actions for deregulation. This is what businesses expect from us and this is not just reduction in the number of licenses, permits, certificates," he said at a meeting of the National Reforms Council. Poroshenko said this concerns, in particular, the issue of simplifying connection to power grids, because, according to him, the period of connection to power grids in Ukraine, according to the World Bank's estimates, is 263 days, while in South Korea it takes only 18. Agricultural News Know Your Rights - How Oklahoma Protects Farmers From Nuisance Lawsuits One of the first cases students of Ag Law programs read about, says Oklahoma State University Associate Professor Dr. Shannon Ferrell, is about a feedlot in Arizona that purposely established itself in a location far from urban development. Nonetheless, urbanization spread to the feedlot and lawsuits were soon filed against it with complaints about certain practices that bothered the new neighbors. Dr. Ferrell shared this case study with Farm Director Ron Hays recently, during a discussion about an Oklahoma statute that protects the right to farm. This statute, not to be confused with upcoming State Question 777 which is a proposed constitutional amendment, is an existing law in the state that protects farms and ranches from what Dr. Ferrell refers to as nuisance lawsuits. "What our current right to farm statute says is that if you are farming in compliance with generally accepted industry practices in accordance with applicable law and if you've been doing it for I believe two years," Ferrell said, "then that action, whatever it might be, is immune from a nuisance lawsuit." Ferrell defined a nuisance lawsuit as a complaint against an agricultural enterprise, generally aesthetic in nature, such as odor, sounds, dust, etc. Generally, Ferrell asserts that such cases come about as you get more intermixing of rural and urban areas. Ferrell says this statute, which has been on the books in Oklahoma for a few years now, has really not been tested despite more and more people moving from the cities out into the country. He suggests that either Oklahomans are accustomed enough with rural practices that this is a well settled principle already or that the statute is doing its job, keeping frivolous lawsuits from being filed, as a signal to legal counsel that the courts have a stance on such issues. Dr. Ferrell points out that nuisance lawsuits have been filed against farms and ranches for decades around the country. "That's happened in other states," Ferrell said, "and I think we took kind of a preventative measure in saying ok, well let's acknowledge that if we've got longstanding agricultural practices, we'll protect them if the city comes to the farm, rather than the farm coming to the city." Listen to Dr. Shannon Ferrell and Farm Director Ron Hays discuss farmers' protection under Oklahoma's existing Right to Farm statute by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below. Listen to Dr. Shannon Ferrell and Farm Director Ron Hays discuss Oklahoma's Right to Farm statute WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News Agricultural News Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association Raises $9000 for Children's Hospital Foundation During Round-up In the past 19 years, the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association's Range Round-Up has contributed more than $420,000 to the Children's Hospital Foundation. The 32nd Annual OCA Range Round-Up was held this past weekend and for the first time, fans in attendance were given the opportunity to personally contribute to the Children's Hospital Foundation. "Cowboy boots were passed around the arena and fans gave generously, raising right at $9,000," said Dallas Henderson, Range Round-Up Coordinator. The money raised will be given directly to the Children's Hospital Foundation to support the Children's Medical Research Institute and the patients of the Children's Hospital at the OU Medical Center. "What's great is this money stays right here in Oklahoma to help our own," Henderson said. "Many call the event, 'Cowboys Helping Kids', and that's very appropriate." Henderson coordinates the Range Round-Up which features twelve teams of 'real ranch' cowboys from Oklahoma ranches competing for not much more than bragging rights. "The OCA, the Range Round-Up Committee and I take a lot of pride in this event," Henderson said. "A lot of our fans have made it a tradition to attend the Range Round-Up for many years. The amount of generosity shown while passing the boots, make it evident that our fans believe in and support our mission - Cowboys Helping Kids." Oklahoma Ford Dealers have been the presenting sponsor of Range Round-Up since the beginning of the event, in 1985. The OCA credits much of the event's success to the Oklahoma Ford Dealers and many other generous sponsors. "We truly appreciate the fans, ranches, and volunteers who help us with this important mission," Henderson said. The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is the trusted voice of the Oklahoma cattle industry and exists to support and defend the state and nation's beef cattle industry. The OCA officers, board of directors and membership encourages you to join us in our advocacy efforts to ensure less government intervention, lower taxes and a better bottom line. For more information about OCA membership or activities visit their website by clicking here. Source - Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady NSI Top Agricultural News Ukraine's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade is conducting a survey of enterprises, institutions, organizations and other interested parties involving problems in trading and economic relations with the Russian Federation in order to again raise these issues with the World Trade Organization (WTO) According to the ministry's website, there are planned WTO meetings on September 28 and September 30, 2016, to review trade policies, during which Russia's policy will be tabled: the first review of a Russian report to be prepared by the WTO Secretariat will be discussed during the meeting. It contains a wide range of issues concerning Russia's investment and trade policies. According to the post, WTO members have the opportunity to send questions about Russian trade policies no later than two weeks (until September 14) before the meeting. "The procedure allows Ukraine to again raise issues caused by actions of Russia and use all mechanisms available to ensure the Russian Federation, as a WTO member, fulfills its international obligations as a member of this international organization," the post says. The need for long-term care is still strong, according to a report last year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Urban Institute. The report estimated 8 percent of Americans have bought long-term care insurance, or about 150,000 in Nebraska, 250,000 in Iowa and 25 million nationally. About half of Americans turning 65 will have a disability serious enough to require long-term services, most of them for less than two years, the report said. But one out of seven will have a disability requiring extra care for more than five years. Care costs will average $138,000, about half paid by private insurance or public programs. The report estimated one out of six people will spend at least $100,000 for long-term services. Most long-term services arent illnesses covered by standard health insurance or Medicare, the report said. Instead, the services are mainly assistance with basic tasks such as bathing, dressing and eating. Without specific insurance, people have to pay those costs out of pocket. Its expensive. In Nebraska, Mutual of Omaha estimates, a home health aide costs $58,000 a year, a one-bedroom assisted-living facility costs $46,500 and a semi-private nursing home room $76,300 $200 a day. Among women, 57 percent are likely to develop a chronic disability, with an average need for care of 2 years and 18 percent five or more years, the report said. Among men, 46.7 percent are likely to develop a disability, with an average need for care of 1 years and 10 percent five or more years. People with lower incomes, who are less likely to buy long-term-care insurance because of the rising cost, are more likely to need the care longer, the report said. On the other hand, 48 percent of Americans will never need paid, formal long-term-care services. Poroshenko waiting for more agri, energy and transportation enterprises to be sold Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said acceleration of privatization is one of the priority reforms in Ukraine and expects new laws expanding the list of state-owned enterprises to be sold off. "We are not only talking about the Odesa Port-Side Chemical Plant (OPCP), Centrenergo and energy transmission networks," Poroshenko said at the opening of the National Reform Council meeting in Kyiv on Monday. The head of state noted the necessity of demonstrating political will along with ensuring the transparency and efficacy of privatization. Poroshenko said the point at issue is to attract investors not only from Europe but also from other regions, including investors from southeastern Asia, with whom he met recently and who demonstrated huge interest in Ukraine. Planned privatization revenues to the state budget in 2016-2017 total UAH 17 billion, but a mere UAH 42 million were received during the first six months of 2016. The tender for selling the OPCP for UAH 13.175 billion set as the starting price failed in June, however the State Property Fund plans to fulfill its plan by re-auctioning off the enterprise and sell shares in six regional energy-generating companies (oblenergos). Prem Paul, who has led the University of Nebraska-Lincolns research efforts for 15 years, has stepped down for health reasons, the university announced Monday. Paul wrote to faculty members and staffers that he would end his work immediately as vice chancellor for research and economic development. A UNL spokesman said Paul was unavailable. Paul called serving UNL the highlight of my career in the note. We are a strong research university on an impressive trajectory, and I know that our best days lie ahead. Before joining UNL, Paul had been at Iowa State University. He was associate vice provost for research, associate dean for research and graduate students in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and assistant director of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station. UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green said Steve Goddard would become interim vice chancellor for research and economic development, pending approval of the NU Board of Regents. Goddard joined UNL in 1998 and has been associate vice chancellor for research since 2014. Green said Paul, 68, would return to the faculty as distinguished professor of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences. UNL exceeded $100 million in research funding in 2006 and last year reached a record $146.9 million. WOODBINE, Iowa - Its not every day, or in this case every year, that a community celebrates its sesquicentennial, but the rural community of Woodbine, Iowa, did it over the weekend. A sesquicentennial, by the way, means its 150 years old. Woodbine was first platted as a town in 1866. And, local townspeople and those from elsewhere came out on Saturday to soak it all in under radiant blue skies. I was impressed that we had so many attend and show interest in our history, said Mary Eby, a spokeswoman for the event. Mayor Rick Gau said any community to reach this milestone has made a huge accomplishment, yet Woodbine is also moving forward for a future that looks bright. Woodbine Manufacturing has just added a second shift and our Foodland grocery store is adding on to itself, plus our school district is growing, he said. Eby had similar thoughts. Our community has preserved its history, but is progressive for the future, she said. We feel like its still going strong. Gau, Eby and 100-plus others gathered at the local library Saturday afternoon for the opening of a time capsule that was first buried there 50 years ago and reopened for the first time 25 years ago. Among the items taken out were Christmas ornaments, newspapers of the day, a listing of Kiwanis Club members, a cookbook and a letter written by an 8-year-old boy. Items to be placed in this capsule at a later date include current newspapers, shirts honoring this event, a cell phone, a dollar bill, plus a large book about the history of the community. The event brought back pleasant memories for longtime resident, Ervin Poore. My son (Jon) put something in there 25 years ago, Poore said. He credits good old-fashioned neighborly hospitality keeping Woodbine going all these many years. Were a close knit community ready to help each other, he said. Were a very friendly community. Former resident Kathy Murphy, now living in St. Joseph, Missouri, came back for the fun. She noticed some building renovation downtown, but yet some things havent changed. A lot of ways it still has stayed the same, she said. There is the drug store that still has a soda fountain. Besides the opening of the time capsule, the event also featured a Civil War encampment provided by the 2nd Battery Iowa Light Artillery. We like to spread information about the Civil War, said Mary Roose, a member of the group. LINCOLN State Sen. Bill Kintner, whos ensnared in a cybersex scandal, was given another opportunity to resign before the Legislatures executive board determines possible action against him. Monday, the committee voted unanimously to send Kintner a letter from its 10 members urging him to resign by Friday, or other action would be considered. Speaker of the Legislature Galen Hadley, who suggested the letter, said it would represent a unified request by a panel of lawmakers of diverse backgrounds and political parties. Hadley, who is a member of the committee, said he hopes the letter prompts Kintner to resign so that lawmakers dont have to consider other options. Those would be harder to do, harder to sell the body, Hadley said. On Monday evening, Kintner would not rule out a resignation. Rather, he said he plans to make a decision by talking and praying with his wife. Well try to come up with what we think is the right thing to do, he said. Kintner said he did not appear at the executive board meeting on the advice of his attorney. He said he watched the proceedings on NET Television. Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, chairman of the executive board, said the Legislature could meet in a special session to discuss impeachment. A legislative council, which is a committee of all 49 senators, could discuss expulsion or censure. That body meets in November. The executive board could sanction the senator by limiting his computer access and stripping him of his Capitol office, among other things. Though typically called by the governor, a special session can convene with 33 votes. An impeachment resolution requires 25 votes to pass, after which the matter would go before the Nebraska Supreme Court for a trial. Expulsion by the legislative council requires 33 votes. Im really very pleased that were now, as a board, in solidarity, Krist said. I think that probably should have happened last time. But Sen. Colby Coash of Lincoln, also a member of the executive board, predicted that Kintner would reject the boards call for him to resign, just as he has ignored such requests from Gov. Pete Ricketts and others. Hes not going to resign, Coash said. Come on. Were kidding ourselves if we think its going to work. Kintner had been invited to attend the hearing. A letter from his attorney, J.L. Spray, said the senators testimony on the record would be ill advised. A year ago Kintner and a woman exchanged sexually explicit messages that resulted in the two masturbating over Skype. The incident took place on Kintners state-issued laptop while he was in Massachusetts. Kintner reported the incident to the Nebraska State Patrol after the woman attempted to extort money from him. The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission approved a settlement with Kintner under which he agreed to pay a $1,000 fine for misusing public resources. Though public officials who misuse state property can be charged with a misdemeanor, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said the state lacked jurisdiction to prosecute because the incident took place in Massachusetts. If Kintner doesnt resign by Friday, the board will reconvene on Sept. 8 to consider other options. During Mondays hearing, two state senators who arent members of the executive board urged the panel not to take action against Kintner. Sen. Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins testified that he didnt think the executive board should attempt to decide Kintners fate. One-third of the board members, he said, have in the past expressed personal contempt for Kintner and could not proceed fairly. Lucas Peterson, a former legislative page who testified, said he believes allowing Kintner to stay would reflect poorly on the Legislature. He also questioned what would be done if a person who committed the same acts as Kintner were nonreligious or not heterosexual. Sen. Dave Schnoor of Scribner, who along with Bloomfield noted that he does not condone Kintners behavior, asked what the standard is for lawmakers. A number of people who testified voiced support for the Legislature to create an ethics committee to make those standards clear. Sen. Heath Mello of Omaha, a member of the executive board, said he would help to develop guidelines. But Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, also a member of the committee, said he didnt believe an ethics committee is feasible or realistic. Krist noted that Skype is not an authorized program for senators. It was illegally installed in some way, he said. Krist said senators right now are not held but should be to the same standard as legislative staffers, whose devices each night are cleared of any prohibited program in an effort to keep the system secure. Kintner said his staff discovered in May 2015 that Skype was loaded on his computer. They were looking because a media outlet had asked about doing an interview via Skype. He said that he checked with Legislative IT staff about using the program for the interview and that they approved it and even updated it. Frank Daley, executive director of the accountability commission, testified that the commissions executive committee asked him in December to begin an investigation. On Jan. 7, Daley delivered a copy of the preliminary investigative report to Kintner, who had 30 days to respond. Kintners attorney didnt formally respond but asked to review the State Patrol reports, Daley said. Spray then expressed interest in settling the matter. After a few months, the commissions attorney told Spray that a settlement needed to be reached by early June. The settlement was reached June 2 and approved Aug. 5. Chambers said he thought the delays were intentional stalling and said the Legislature should employ the options available. The system has not completed its work, he said. Perry Gauthier, a State Capitol minister who first heard Kintners confession, asked who is he to judge when God, Kintners wife, Lauren, and his own conscience are telling him to stay in his seat of civil service. Before Mondays hearing, a coalition of conservative groups gathered on the State Capitol steps to oppose a special legislative session over Kintners cybersex scandal. Speakers at the gathering labeled the calls for legislative action against Kintner a politically motivated witch hunt designed to remove an obstacle to growing government. The rally drew about 15 representatives of the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association, Nebraskans for Founders Values, Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, Nebraska Voice, WinItBack and Informed Women in Nebraska. Joe Herring, an Omaha writer, and other speakers said they opposed the cost of a special session, which would be about $75,000. We live in a society that believes in redemption, he said, adding that the issue has remained in the public eye only because of the prurient slap-and-tickle factor. Ukrainian representatives in the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) said that militants had shelled the residential blocks in the town of Krasnohorivka in Donetsk region. Militants fired artillery and mortar rounds from the Staromykhailivka populated locality on the residential blocks in the Krasnohorivka populated locality, the press center of the Ukrainian JCCC side reported on Sunday. "Along with the 82mm mines, 122mm rocket projectiles fired by the Grad-P portable rocket launchers, whose destructive force is quite powerful, have hit the area. As the facts show, specific shells of such weapons are fired more frequently from the side" of militants," the press center of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) headquarters reported in a statement published on its website on Sunday. The residential area in Krasnohorivka has again sustained substantial losses, the statement said. For instance, on Belinsky Street the aforementioned rocket projectile caused a fire at a courtyard, a household building, where the hay was stored, burnt down, it said. The blast wave and projectile fragments damaged the roof and exterior walls of the residential building. The similar piece of munitions also hit the courtyard on Ivan Franko Street. Besides, on Chapayev Street the blasts of the rocket projectiles damaged two houses, the fences around them and the neighboring area, along with this, 82mm shells hit five courtyards on Tchaikovsky Street. The mortar mine blasts damaged a household building, backyards and roadway covering of the street there. "Luckily, no civilians were hurt in Krasnohorivka," the Ukrainian JCCC side said. The servicemen of the Ukrainian JCCC side have documented these instances of ceasefire breaches and militants using the types of weaponry banned by the Minsk agreements and have passed the photographical materials to representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) in Ukraine, Kyiv said. Last Saturday, the Defense Ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said that the Ukrainian military had fired mortars of various calibers in Krasnohorivka, and the DPR reported 700 ceasefire breaches then. One week after firing its previous city administrator, the City of Bellevue is accepting applications for a new one. A job opening for an interim city administrator was posted Monday on the citys website. On Aug. 22 the City Council removed City Administrator Dan Berlowitz at the recommendation of Mayor Rita Sanders. A city administrator oversees the daily operations of a city government and serves at the behest of the mayor and city council. The posting on the citys website is eight pages long. Berlowitzs replacement will oversee a city budget of $75 million and about 268 full-time employees and 114 part-time employees. The job posting said the person who takes over will serve, at minimum, the remaining two years of Sanders term. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 7. Sanders has said she would look externally for Berlowitzs replacement. Internal candidates, including Assistant City Administrator Larry Burks, are busy with their own responsibilities, Sanders said in an interview after last weeks City Council meeting. In other cities the assistant city administrator could easily do that, but weve got Larry pretty busy doing assistant city administrator duties, Sanders said. The city is looking for candidates with at least seven years of administrative, management and supervisory experience working in municipal government and at least five years in a community with a population similar to or larger than Bellevues. The only city in Nebraska that is similar to Bellevues size and has an administrator is Grand Island. Neither Omaha nor Lincoln has an administrator. Berlowitz had been the city administrator since 2011. Prior to that he held the same position in Seward, Nebraska. A bachelors degree in public administration, business administration, political science or a related field is required. A masters degree is also strongly desired. Compensation and benefits for the job would be negotiated in an employment contract, the posting said. Berlowitz was paid a base salary of $143,977. Candidates must possess excellent interpersonal skills, an approachable, welcoming style with the community and staff, proven record in effective service delivery and creative problem solving, the ad said. An applicant may apply online or send a resume, cover letter and contact information for five references to the City of Bellevue. The full job listing and more information about the city can be found at www.bellevue.net. Contact the writer: 402-444-1192, emily.nitcher@owh.com Dinkers Bar and Grill, the restaurant that claims to have the best of that all-American sandwich, the hamburger, now is home to a mural honoring the Polish roots of its neighborhood. The mural, on the south side of the building at 2368 S. 29th St., is the fourth and latest installment of the South Omaha Mural Project, which depicts the culture and heritage of the many immigrant groups that helped turn South Omaha into the Magic City, as it was known during a period of rapid growth. On Sunday, the murals completion was celebrated with a presentation by the artists, polka music and food, the breaking of a chair a Polish wedding tradition and the sale of T-shirts and books to benefit the mural project. Since its beginning, (South Omaha) was created by immigrants, said lead artist Mike Giron. The mural project hopes to capture the constant loop of immigration that defines South Omaha, he said. Giron held eight community meetings to ensure that the mural accurately depicted Omahas Polish community and to give the community a chance to share personal stories of what it means to be Polish. Community members also were invited to help paint the base layer of the mural. Omahas Polish population has a rich history dating back to the late 1800s, when the first Polish immigrants arrived. According to Polish Home Omaha, it is believed that more than 10,000 Poles had settled in Omaha by 1925. Giron completed the mural with the help of Rhianna Giron, his daughter; Quin Slovek, an assistant on the mural project; and Richard Harrison, owner of A Midsummers Mural. The mural is hand-painted and depicts scenes from South Omahas three original Polish neighborhoods, St. Stanislaus and St. Francis Catholic parishes and Sheelytown, according to Tom Jodlowski, a director of Polish Home Omaha. The Polish mural joins three others that have been completed: murals honoring Lithuanian and Mexican immigrants and one that embraces all of South Omahas immigrant heritage, the Magic City mural. Next to be completed, in 2017, is an Irish mural at Donohues Pub. Nebraska has a part-time Legislature, but anyone running to serve in that body needs to understand the burdens such service can place on a lawmakers family and business. Some lawmakers have struggled to make time for both their private work obligations and their public duties in the Legislature. Others have said they failed to anticipate fully the complications for their home life. Service in the Legislature takes up considerable time beyond the annual legislative session. Examples include working with constituents, preparing legislation and attending hearings and other events. Any candidate with a spouse and-or children should make sure family members understand the year-round demands on a lawmakers time. These are among the lessons that can benefit anyone thinking about running for the Legislature. This year, 42 men and women will be on the ballots in Nebraskas state legislative elections. Thirty-two of the candidates are non-incumbents. Some no doubt will have prepared themselves well to serve; others, perhaps not so much. Here are some additional considerations candidates can take into account: The importance of shoe leather. Some candidates may not be aware that state legislative contests are often decided by which contender gets out there and works the hardest at old-fashioned, door-to-door campaigning (easier to do in high-density urban districts, its true, than in large rural ones). Get to know more than your district. Legislators need to stand up for their individual districts, of course. But Nebraska lawmakers make laws dozens upon dozens of them that affect the entire state. A responsible-minded candidate will make the effort to learn about all parts of Nebraska in order to make the best judgments possible. Build trust with colleagues. Show your dedication. Ineffective lawmakers in the Legislature tend to fall into one or more categories: 1) They come across as scheming, ego-driven and self-promoting. 2) Theyre lazy, especially in their committee work. 3) They inspire suspicion, not trust, in what they say or in the assurances they offer. Effective lawmakers, in contrast, keep their egos in check. They show colleagues respect. They work hard in all aspects of their job, including the duties that are tedious or unglamorous. They build a reputation for being straightforward and open with fellow lawmakers. Have the confidence to think for yourself. Nebraskas nonpartisan, single-chamber Legislature cant do its job properly unless its members exert independent judgment. Self-appointed enforcers in the Legislature sometimes step forward and try to dictate to their colleagues how to vote. The appropriate reply is: Ill think for myself. Thats what Im here for. Staff members can make an important difference. Skilled, professional-minded staff members are an invaluable asset for the Legislature. New lawmakers should make a particular effort to seek out and hire capable staff members. A separate branch of government. Nebraska governors promote their agenda and seek support among lawmakers; its a perfectly legitimate activity. The Legislature, though, is a separate branch of government. It has the duty to scrutinize a governors proposals and stances closely, then deliberate and make an independent judgment on them sometimes saying yes, at other times no, and sometimes agreeing partially. Its called checks and balances, a fundamental part of American government. Donald Trump is undergoing his own extreme vetting. And we are learning a great deal about the quality of his public pledges. In no particular order, Trump has shifted his position on raising the federal minimum wage (against it, for it, get rid of it, leave it to the states, put it at $10 an hour); on fighting the Islamic State (bomb the hell out of them and take the oil fields, let our regional allies take the lead, declare war and send in troops, let Russia take care of it); on taxes for the wealthy (increase them, cut them dramatically, make the wealthy pay more, make everyone pay less); on his Muslim ban (exclude all Muslims, keep Muslims out except for members of the military and current residents, it was just a suggestion, ban Muslims from countries with a history of terrorism, impose extreme vetting); on the national debt (eliminate it in eight years, prioritize massive infrastructure spending, renegotiate debt with creditors, just print the money). Now, concerning his defining promise to round up and deport 11 million undocumented men, women and children, Trump is undergoing a rapid, convulsive transition from Mr. Hyde into Dr. Jekyll. In the movies, this role would require hours in the chair of a highly skilled makeup artist. Trump has Sean Hannity. For much of Trumps fan base, these details couldnt matter less. The Trump revolution is mainly a matter of personnel, not policy. Put the right man in charge who will hire the best people and fire all the corrupt, stupid failures. Trumps primary appeal and his main source of self-regard is his skill as a negotiator, manager and talent scout. Here we are also getting a good feel for the candidate. Trumps campaign has been a roiling, noxious, dysfunctional mess from the start, characterized by public feuds, subject to sudden leadership changes and unable to fulfill key functions (like actually having a campaign apparatus in key states). And Trumps personnel selections have been both instructive and disastrous. Consider this list of Trumps chosen: Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski had a brutal and demeaning style that resulted in a staff revolt, and his manhandling of a female reporter overshadowed the Trump campaign for weeks. Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was paid lucrative consulting fees by foreign interests and resigned after reports that Ukraine anti-corruption investigators were scrutinizing millions in alleged payments there. Longtime adviser Roger Stone is a crackpot conspiracy theorist who asserts that Bill and Hillary Clinton are plausibly responsible for the deaths of roughly 40 people and that Hillary Clinton should be executed for murder. Confidante Roger Ailes recently stepped down from his job at Fox under a cloud of sexual harassment claims. And Steve Bannon, Trumps new campaign chief executive, is known for his bullying tactics and for running a website (Breitbart News) that flirts with white nationalism. There are a few exceptions to this pattern Kellyanne Conway and Mike Pence come to mind but Trump has hired and elevated some of the very worst people in American politics, known for their cruelty, radicalism, prejudice and corruption. What does all this say about Trump as a prospective president? First, it means that the ideal of leadership Trump displayed as a reality television star is his actual view of leadership. It is not an act. In Trumps view, leaders elevate themselves by belittling others. They yell and abuse and bully. And their most important quality is absolute loyalty to the great leader, the star of the show. This is a view of leadership that would make H.R. Haldeman cringe. Second, Trump has managed to pick a team that directly undermines many of his campaign objectives. Need to appeal to women? Include a man in your inner circle accused by many of misogyny. Need to appeal to minorities? Elevate a figure associated with the racially divisive alt-right. Need to challenge the corrupt status quo in Washington? Hire a consultant for oppressive governments. Trumps rhetoric is belied by his choice of friends and associates. Finally, ideology doesnt seem to be the main criteria in Trumps selections. The hiring of Bannon does make Trumps appeal to the alt-right explicit. But Breitbart is mainly known in this election for slavish devotion to the cult of Trump. This attribute may well guide most of Trumps top-level personnel choices, including for the Supreme Court. Trump, more than most, needs to surround himself with people who compensate for his alarming weaknesses. Instead, his choices demonstrate and amplify those weaknesses, becoming one more reason to utterly reject his leadership. Residents of Ukrainian village of Loschynivka demand gypsies' eviction over little girl's death The community of the village of Loschynivka, Izmail District, Odesa region, have demanded that all gypsies be evicted from the village after the murder of an eight-year-old girl, presumably by a 20-year-old gypsy man. Several hundred residents held a local gathering, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported. They asked rural council members, who were present at the gathering, to hold an emergency session to support the village's resolution. The session was held straight away, with the rural councilors supporting the resolution. Also, at the gathering the residents learnt that three Roma women, who earlier left the village, have returned. Police had to protect them from attacks on the part of Loschynivka's female population. The situation in the village remains tense. There are grounds to suspect a Roma man in the murder of the little girl, an Odesa regional police spokeswoman said. Odesa regional police have arrived in Loschynivka to prevent further disturbances. Inquiries into the murder and disturbances are under way. Police have launched a murder inquiry under Article 115 part two of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. The gypsy man has been arrested and is expected to be remanded in custody. Also, a criminal inquiry has been launched into disturbances under Article 194 (property damage or destruction) of the Ukrainian Criminal Code. A 21-year-old Omaha man was sentenced last week to nine to 15 years in prison in Sarpy County District Court after pleading guilty to a weapons charge. Joey Eagle Elk was convicted of felony possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He was given credit for 213 days served in jail and will be eligible for parole in January 2022. Without parole, his projected release date is in January 2025. On Jan. 21 a gunshot was heard outside of Golden Corral, 1511 Gregg Road, in Bellevue. No one was injured. Behind the restaurant, Bellevue police arrested Eagle Elk and Michael Atkinson-Rodriguez, 20, also of Omaha. Officers found a shotgun and a .22-caliber rifle hidden behind a trash bin. A handgun had been thrown into a ditch. Atkinson-Rodriguez has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He will be sentenced in October. Police also arrested Omahan Cartier Beauford, 23, who was found running along U.S. Highway 75 with an empty backpack. Beauford was charged with possession of a stolen firearm and tampering with physical evidence. He has pleaded not guilty. His case is set to go to trial in October. Karnataka to survey all Arabic schools to check if on same page as state board Talk to separatists, I am only a headmaster: Wani's father to Sri Sri Bengaluru oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Aug 29: The meeting between Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Muzzafar Wani, Burhan Wani's father has created quite a furore on the social media with many questioning whether it was part of the Track II initiative by the government. Some even suggested that Wani may have put forth the point that the Hurriyat Conference was trying to make. Government officials, however, maintain that they had nothing to do with this meeting. As far as what we know, Wani was at the Art of Living Ashram in Bengaluru to obtain treatment. Talk to separatists Senior Wani who addressed reporters at Tral in Jammu and Kashmir said that he told Sri Sri to come to Kashmir and look for himself what the situation is. He further said that during his brief interaction with the spiritual guru he was shown a video of the war in Syria. "To this I replied that much worse is taking place in Kashmir and if I had my mobile phone with me, I would have shown videos too," Wani said. Wani went to say that after the death of his son, he got a call from Sri Sri and condolences were offered. "He said he wanted to meet me and then I told that I wanted to come to his ashram for treatment. In the two days that I stayed there, I explained to him the problems in Kashmir," he said. "I was then asked whom should India talk with on the Kashmir issue. I told him India must talk unconditionally to the representatives of Kashmir. India must talk with Geelani, Yasin Malik, Shabir Shah and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq," Wani said. Sri Sri Ravishankar is a positive man and I wish ministers in the government had the same mind set, Wani also told reporters. OneIndia News TRS, BJP are two sides of same coin: Rahul Gandhi in Telangana Committee for Rohith shifts venue for tomorrow's meeting Hyderabad oi-PTI Hyderabad, Aug 28: The Struggle and Solidarity Committee for Justice for deceased Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula will hold its meeting at Gandhi Bhavan here tomorrow after Telangana police denied them permission to stage a 'maha dharna' at Indira Park. Demanding arrest of those responsible for the death of Rohith, the University of Hyderabad (UoH) research scholar who allegedly committed suicide on the university campus in January, the committee had earlier planned to stage a demonstration at Indira Park. However, Telangana police denied them permission for the event, the committee said today. "The committee has shifted the venue for tomorrow's meeting to Gandhi Bhavan," it said. Dalit icon BR Ambedkar's grandson Prakash, Rohith's mother Radhika Vemula and activist Teesta Setalvad are scheduled to address the meeting. It maybe recalled that UoH Vice Chancellor Podile Appa Rao and others were booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for abetment of Rohith's suicide. The committee has been demanding their arrest. "The attitude of Telangana police in delaying the arrest as well as denying permission to the committee shows that they are siding with the killers of Rohith," the committee claimed in a release. Rohith's death on January 17 had sparked massive nationwide protests, resulting in a fierce slugfest with a string of political parties and Dalit organisations siding with the students and accusing the BJP government and the university administration of being "anti-Dalit". UoH has been witnessing sporadic protests since Rohith's death with students demanding removal of Appa Rao from the post of VC. PTI TRS, BJP are two sides of same coin: Rahul Gandhi in Telangana Telangana Legislature spl session tomorrow to ratify GST Bill Hyderabad oi-PTI Hyderabad, Aug 29: A special session of Telangana Legislative Assembly and Council will be convened tomorrow to ratify the Constitution Amendment Bill for Goods and Services Tax (GST). Governor ESL Narasimhan has also issued a notification authorising the Assembly Speaker and Council Chairman to convene both the Houses respectively tomorrow at 11 AM. State Finance Minister Etela Rajender had earlier said it was decided to pass the bill as Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently addressed a public meeting at Gajwel, of the state's backing to GST Bill. "We are not sure if there would be some other government bills tomorrow. But the main agenda would be ratifying the GST Bill," Paturi Sudhakar Reddy, chief whip in Telangana Legislative Council, told PTI. The total duration of the session will be decided by Business Advisory Committee of the state Assembly tomorrow. According to a government release issued earlier, the Chief Minister has decided to invite Advocate General Ramakrishna Reddy as a special invitee to the session to give clarifications to the members of both the Houses on the Constitution Amendment bill. Recently, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley wrote a letter to the Telangana CM requesting him to convene a special session of the Assembly to adopt the Amendment Bill, which was passed by the Parliament. At least half of the states in the country need to approve the Constitution amendment bill, which has already been ratified by eight state assemblies including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. PTI 15-year-old beaten to death by three classmates in Delhi: Police India oi-PTI New Delhi, Aug 29: A 15-year-old boy was allegedly killed by three of his classmates over a dispute on who would collect water first from a public tap in northeast Delhi's Sriram Colony. The incident occurred on August 25 when, according to the relatives of the deceased, Mohammad Azeem, he was brutally beaten up by three of his classmates, all juveniles, when he had gone to get water from the tap that morning, police said. Azeem had injuries in his private parts, police said. Those present at the spot at the time of the incident had initially thought it was a minor scuffle but when Azeem collapsed, they realised it was serious. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared brought dead. The three juveniles, aged around 13-14 years, have been apprehended and a case registered. PTI 2 villagers butchered by Maoists India oi-PTI Jamshedpur, Aug 29: Two villagers were slaughtered by CPI (Maoists) who branded them as police informer in Sonua, around 120 km from here, in extremist-hit West Singhbhum district, police today said. A group of 30/40 armed Maoists, in fatigue, arrived in village Lonjo village and dragged one Jainsingh Jamuda forcibly out of his house before locking the doors of villagers in the neighborhood around 9.30 pm yesterday, Sub-divisional Police Officer (Chakradharpur), Ajay Kerketta said. The Maoists slit the throat of Jamuda and dumped the torso on nearby road while threw the severed head a little distance away, he said. After committing the crime, the naxals went to adjacent Kudaburu, which was about a km from Lonjo, and dragged out one Logo Lohar in a similar fashion, Kerketta said adding Lohar was taken to a nearby jungle, where Maoists slit the throat. The rebels similarly dumped the torso on a culvert while the severed head was flung some distance away, he said stating that some posters recovered from the spot claimed that the two were killed for being police informers. Denying the charges of the Maoists outright, Kerketa however said the victims were innocent and did not have any link with police force. While Lohar was a blacksmith and dealt with making plough, Jamuda was a small farmer and also did petty work for livelihood, the police officer said. Kerketta said continuous anti-naxal operation in the naxal-hit areas of Saranda left Maoists with no place to hide and commit such heinous crime with the sole objective to terrorize villagers. PTI Bharat Bandh on Sept. 2: Unions refuse to call off strike India oi-Staff By Oneindia Staff Writer 1. Central trade unions have given a Bharat Bandh protest call on September 2 in support of their 12-point charter of demands that include a minimum wage of Rs. 18,000 per month in the unorganised sector, a stop to what the unions call "mass-scale privatisation of permanent and perennial works" and the "onslaught on basic rights of the workers through the so-called labour law reforms" and compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days from the date of submitting application and immediate rectification of International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions C-87 and C-98. 2. Union Labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya had on Friday urged the central trade unions (CTUs) to reconsider their decision to go on strike. The trade unions rejected the request on Saturday saying the government had failed to address their demands. Bharat Bandh on Sept 2: What will be closed; what will be open? 3. Replying to Dattatreya's letter, All India Trade Unions Congress (AITUC) and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (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". 4. Power and Coal minister Piyush Goyal and Dattatreya on Saturday held meetings with senior labour ministry officials over the proposed countrywide strike. 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. Bharat Bandh: Friday Strike on as Left Unions reject Jaitley's wage hike 5. The panel had recently held two rounds of discussions with RSS-affiliate Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), which has been criticised by other unions for holding such "exclusive discussions". 6. Last year, too, when the unions had called for a strike on September 2, the BMS had opted out of it after the government had given assurances to consider nine of the 12 demands. This year, too, the BMS is holding back on its decision to join the strike, anticipating a positive response from the government. 7. The ministerial panel last met all the unions on 26-27 August 2015. The unions had requested Dattatreya in July this year to hold a meeting with them again to consider the demands, but no such meeting was convened. 8. CITU general secretary Tapan Sen has told PTI that there is no question of withdrawing the strike call. Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) vice president Ashok Singh, too, said that the decision to go ahead with strike stands. The AITUC has 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." 9. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has opposed the strike call and has warned of strict action against those indulging in arson and violence. 10. "We will not allow any bandh in the state on September 2. We will keep everything open. Vehicles will ply and shops will open. If vehicles and shops are damaged (by bandh supporters), we will take strong action. We will also give compensation... If they want, they can go to Delhi and stage dharna to register their protest," Mamata has said. OneIndia News Persecuted Hindu Tamils from Lanka can obtain Indian citizenship under CAA says Madras HC Expelled AIADMK MP leaves for Singapore India oi-PTI Chennai, Aug 29: Expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa today left for Singapore by a flight. After arriving at the airport here from Madurai, she left for Singapore by an Indigo flight, airport officials said. Earlier, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had reserved its order on the anticipatory bail petition moved by her in connection with a sexual harassment case filed by her two domestic aides. On August 26, the Supreme Court had granted protection from arrest to Sasikala Pushpa for six weeks in the case. The Delhi High Court had on August 11 asked Tamil Nadu government not to take any coercive action till August 22 against the expelled AIADMK MP, her husband and their son who are facing the harassment case. Pushpa was expelled from AIADMK after an altercation with DMK MP Tiruchi Siva at the Delhi airport. Since then she has alleged she was being threatened into resigning from her post. PTI India's Balochistan plan- 'Don't stop till Pakistan gives up' India oi-Vicky India will ensure that Pakistan answers to the entire world about the atrocities it commits in Balochistan. Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the Balochistan issue, several former diplomats have been consulted on how to move forward on this issue. The first step would, however, be to raise the Balochistan issue at the United Nations. This would be interesting as Pakistan has said that it proposes to raise the issue relating to Kashmir at the UN in September. Kashmir India's integral part; world should follow Modi on Balochistan: Baloch activist India is preparing a detailed list of human rights violations in Balochistan and the same is likely to be submitted at the UN. All in favour Top officials in the government say that almost all people who have been consulted on the issue are in favour of taking the Balochistan issue forward. "Pakistan has always raised the Kashmir issue at the international forum. This time Pakistan will need to answer to the world about the atrocities it commits in Balochistan," the official also noted. India is also keeping a close eye on the developments in China after the issue of Balochistan has been raised. China has several projects in Balochistan. The officials who are part of the discussions say that there is likely to be an impact on China as well once this issue is raised on the international forum. The relations between China and Pakistan may be strained due to this, the official also notes. However, India is aware that the issue relating to Balochistan needs to be raised continuously and the efforts need to be constant. India is already in touch with Baloch activists from across the world who have welcomed India's stand on the issue. We will take one step at a time. On the Balochistan issue India will not have any knee jerk reaction. Officials say that a road map is being laid out and while the main focus is ensuring that atrocities stop in Balochistan, we are also confident that it will push the Pakistan Generals to the wall, the officer also stated. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, August 29, 2016, 9:14 [IST] Ukraine gets first delivery of U.S. medical evacuation vehicles for its troops in Donbas United States military representatives have handed the first five Burtek B4731 medical evacuation vehicles to the Ukrainian military at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center The ceremony was attended by Ukraine's acting health minister Ulana Suprun and the head of the National Ground Force Academy, Lieut. Gen. Pavlo Tkachuk, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on its website. The U.S. was represented by the Commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, Lieut. Gen. Ben Hodges and the head of Regional Health Command Europe, Brig. Gen. Dennis LeMaster. In all, the U.S. is planning to supply 40 such vehicles to Ukraine. At a briefing Suprun thanked the U.S. for the aid. For his part, Hodges said he was pleased to see those vehicles as an indicator of yet another stage in the United States' assistance for Ukraine and reassured the assembled that the U.S. will continue to provide Ukraine with every possible assistance. Once the Ukrainian service and medical personnel have been trained, all the vehicles will be sent for the Ukrainian troops in Donbas. Burtek B4731 was designed around the Hummer vehicle. It can carry up to four patients on stretchers or six sitting. The patient cabin is fitted with heating and air conditioning systems, as well as oxygen-supply systems for six patients and all necessary first aid tools. Kolkata: NIA files FIR in the Ekbalpur clash between communities In a midnight crackdown, police detains TET candidates; BJP says WB or Hitler's Germany? A dream, a call and some courage: How a 15-year-old stopped her marriage Mamata likely to visit Chennai for WB Governor's family function Mamata to speak at Delhi Assembly workshop India oi-PTI Kolkata, Aug 29: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accepted an invitation from the Aam Aadmi Party to speak at a workshop in Delhi Assembly. "They have invited me for a workshop in Delhi Assembly. I will go there," Banerjee told reporters after a meeting with a seven-member delegation of AAP leaders at her office. AAP legislator Somnath Bharti said they were here to see the functioning of the state Assembly. "We stand by 'Didi'. We are with her in the federal structure," he said while claiming that the newly-constructed Niti Aayog was dangerous for the country. Bharti also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was causing harm to India's parliamentary structure. PTI Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary Imran Khan again targets Pakistan's establishment on Day 2 of protest march; govt rules out talks over snap polls Pakistan aircraft violates Indian airspace in J&K India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer New Delhi, Aug 29: A Pakistani aircraft reportedly violated Indian airspace on Monday when it hovered over Indian territory for a minute in R S Pura sector in Jammu and Kashmir, sending an alarm in the security establishment, reported Times Of India (ToI). The incident comes at a time when India has sharpened its attack on Pakistan over atrocities with residents in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The Indian Air Force radars are trying to ascertain what Pakistani aircraft was doing in Indian territory. According to ToI, a Border Security Force jawan, posted near International Border in RS Pura sector in the valley, noticed the aircraft around 1.05 pm on Monday, said sources. "The jawan said that the aircraft was clearly inside Indian air space and definitely didn't belong to Indian Air Force. The IAF was immediately informed by seniors so that its location, route and other details could be assessed through radars," said a government official. It was not confirmed whether it was a manned aircraft or a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle). Officials were not clear whether the aircraft belonged to Pakistani army or not. While IAF was using its radars to get more details on the reported violation, the BSF will submit a report to ministry of home affairs. However, government officials also said that it is being investigated whether BSF officer correctly noticed the aircraft in Indian airspace because he is not an expert on planes. According to officials, India and Pakistan usually maintain four to 5 kms distance in the air neat the International Border (IB) to avoid chances of inadvertently crossing of the zero line. OneIndia News Imran Khan vows greater share for Balochistan in game-changer CPEC Twitter trends Balochistan Solidarity Day: Will freedom be attained? Balochistan: 5 killed, 15 injured after blast at Quetta mosque Rain, snowfall wreak havoc in Pakistan, 14 killed in Balochistan Pakistani chopper carrying two major rank officers crashes in Balochistan News flash: Nupur Talwar granted parole by Court to visit unwell mother India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Aug 29: Baloch and Sindhi leaders protest against CPEC outside Chinese Embassy in London,raise "PM Modi for Balochistan" slogans. Get all the latest news updates of the day: 7:32 pm: Mulayam Singh Yadav is trying his best to polarise the situation in Uttar Pradesh: Sambit Patra, BJP. 7:20 pm: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa drops Milk and Dairy Development Minister Shanmuganathan in her first cabinet reshuffle. 7.08 pm: Kannauj (UP): Power Dept junior engineer Prem Shankar allegedly thrashed by SP leader Pritu Katiyar,complaint filed. 6.50 pm: We don't know if any scenes are cut: Sidharth Malhotra on reports of CBFC snipping scenes of 'Baar Baar Dekho'. 6.38 pm: GST bill has been passed unanimously in Maharashtra Assembly's upper house also. 6.37 pm: 13 year old girl allegedly raped and murdered in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa, body found in a field. Police begin investigation. 6.15 pm: Heavy rainfall triggers waterlogging near Ramakrishna Ashram Marg metro station. 6.01 pm: RSS starts sale of their new uniform at Nagpur Headquarters. 6.00 pm: Liam Fox, UK secretary of state for international trade, meets Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Delhi. 5.55 pm: The near-term domestic outlook appears somewhat brighter than the outcome for 2015-16: RBI in its annual report 2015-16. 5.50 pm: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) protests against meat ban during Paryushan (Jain festival). 5.45 pm: Overall Gross value added (GVA) growth is projected at 7.6 percent in 2016-17, up from 7.2 per cent last year: RBI. 5.21 pm: Three Naxals arrested by security forces in Sukma district (Chhattisgarh). 5.15 pm: Heavy rainfall lashes Delhi, traffic congestion in several parts (Visuals from Civil Lines). 5.11 pm: Arushi Murder case: Nupur Talwar granted parole by Allahabad High Court for 3 weeks to visit her unwell mother. 4.40 pm: Textiles Minister Smriti Irani interacts with coppersmiths in Moradabad (UP). 4.34 pm: Ahead of Ganesh Pooja, artistic eco-friendly Ganapati idols being made in Kanpur (UP). 4.26 pm: School Principal Meena Devi sentenced to ten years imprisonment. 23 children had died due to poisoning in 2013 in Chhapra (Bihar). 4.24 pm: Wanted to send across a message to sportspersons to develop a winner spirit, if they develop that they can win over any circumstances: U Raj 4.23 pm: It was not my statement, it was a statement made by Usain Bolt's coach, says Udit Raj, BJP MP on his tweet. 4.14 pm: Yasmin Ahmed made some revelations before the SIT of Kerala Police regarding ISIS secretly running terror classes in Kerala: NIA Sources. 4.04 pm: GST bill passed unanimously in Maharashtra Assembly's Lower house. 4.00 pm: Felt really happy on receiving the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award: Gymnast. 3.48 pm: NIA team including one DIG level officer and 2 SP level officers are in Srinagar (J&K) to enquire about terror funding: NIA Sources. 3.47 pm: 2.5 kg gold dumped in Air India plane toilet seized by customs. 3.45 pm: NIA compiling detailed report based on Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty(MLAT)request sent to US and information received from US in matter: NIA Sources. 3.42 pm: India to confront Pakistan regarding the fresh evidences received from US on the Pathankot terror attack case, says NIA Sources. 3.30 pm: UN General Assembly President-elect Peter Thomson meets Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya in Delhi. 3.20 pm: People in Jorhat organise a unique wedding of frogs to appease rain Gods,a priest solemnised the wedding. 2.56 pm: INS Dega fire: No injuries or casualties reported, investigation underway 2.55 pm: What did I say which was objectionable?I stand by my earlier statements.No question of being lax on crimes, says Azam Khan 2.45 pm: We are sending this resolution to Centre as it needs to be passed in the Parliament: CM Mamata Banerjee. 2.30 pm: Vyapam Scam: CBI tells SC that probe into pen drive submitted by whistleblower Prashant Pandey is incomplete,matter adjourned for 6 weeks. 2.07 pm: Both sides agreed to enhance our cooperation to bring about overall social economic development of our people: Myanmar President Htin Kyaw. 2.06 pm: I look forward to working with you, and to take the relationship to new heights, says PM Modi to Myanmar President. 2.05 pm: India stands ready to enhance our development partnership with Myanmar, says PM Narendra Modi. 2.03 pm: Exchange of agreements between India and Myanmar. 2.00 pm: Myanmar is special for us, it holds a unique position in India's neighbourhood, says PM Modi. 1.53 pm: Resolution passed in state assembly. West Bengal to be renamed to 'Bangla' in Bengali, Bengal in English and 'Bangal' in Hindi. 1.47 pm: SC has stayed the CBI probe till issue of transfer of trial is decided,SC appointed Fali Nariman as Amicus Curiae in Bulandshahr rape case. 1.27 pm: One soldier injured in an ongoing encounter, that began yesterday between security forces and terrorists in Baramulla, J&K. 1.19 pm: Curfew has been re-imposed in Batmaloo area of Srinagar due to reported clashes in the area. 1.18 pm: Ammunition including a rocket launcher found in a sack near the shop of a scrap dealer in Amritsar, Army has been informed. 1.12 pm: At least 40 dead in Yemen army camp suicide attack (source: AFP) 1.05 pm: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was injured during her second match at Rio Olympics 2016 in 48 kg women's freestyle category. 12.59 pm: President Pranab Mukherjee presents Arjuna Award to Raghunath V.R. for Hockey in Delhi. 12.54 pm: Footballer Subrata Paul conferred with Arjuna Award by President Mukherjee. 12.50 pm: President Pranab Mukherjee presents Arjuna Award to Raghunath V R for Hockey. 12.47 pm: Rio Olympics Silver Medallist PV Sindhu has been conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in Delhi 12.45 pm: Dipa Karmakar conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by President Mukherjee in Delhi. 12.40 pm: President Pranab Mukherjee to give away national sports awards at Rashtrapati Bhawan, shortly. 12.31 pm: 1 army jawan sustains minor injury in an encounter with terrorists at Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh. 12.30 pm: A crowd came and started beating us. The boy threatened her,then poured kerosene and set her ablaze:Victim relative. 12.20 pm: I am very happy that my coach got the Dronacharya award, both of us getting awarded feels great: Dipa Karmakar. I am very happy that my coach got the Dronacharya award, both of us getting awarded feels great: Dipa Karmakar pic.twitter.com/gNljz4fbGX ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 11.52 am: Banks tell SC that Vijay Mallya deliberately didn't make full disclosure of his assets including 40 million dollars he received in Feb: PTI. 11.35 am: All Party delegation led by Home Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Srinagar on September 4. 11.24 am: Supreme Court pulls up Azam Khan and UP government in Bulandshahr rape case. A plea had been filed seeking transfer of the case from the state of UP. 11.10 am: Delhi: Myanmar President Htin Kyaw pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Delhi: Myanmar President Htin Kyaw pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. pic.twitter.com/hpLbnCp144 ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 10.45 am: A bomb exploded at Brussels Criminology Institute, Belgium, causing no casualties: reports. 10.20 am: Earthquake of magnitude 7.4 strikes in Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Ascension Island - USGS. 10.02 am: Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardees at National Sports Day function, in Delhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna awardees at National Sports Day function, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/8H9mqeXIw1 ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 9.55 am: US Media reports of an active shooter at Los Angeles International Airport. 9.15 am: Curfew relaxed in Srinagar except in Nowhatta and Maharajganj areas. Srinagar (J&K): Curfew relaxed in Srinagar except in Nowhatta and Maharajganj areas. pic.twitter.com/avEqq3SwMD ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 8.55 am: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar set to meet his US counterpart Ashton Carter at The Pentagon. 8.44 am: PM Narendra Modi assures Assam govt of complete assistance after Chief Minister Sonowal briefs PM about the floods in the state. 8.34 am: ED summons Chidambaram's son Karti for the 3rd time in connection with Aircel-Maxis deal. 8.13 am: 20-yr-old woman allegedly set on fire by 3 men in Delhi for resisting molestation. 8.05 am: Curfew relaxed in Srinagar except in Nowhatta and Maharajganj areas: Police. 8.00 am: Baloch and Sindhi leaders protest against CPEC outside Chinese Embassy in London,raise "PM Modi for Balochistan" slogans Baloch&Sindhi leaders protest against CPEC outside Chinese Embassy in London,raise "PM Modi for Balochistan" sloganshttps://t.co/ZUyRa1IPyi ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016 OneIndia News BRICS must live up to commitments to sovereign equality and territorial integrity: Jaishankar Indian economy expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year: PM Modi at BRICS Business Forum At BRICS summit, Putin slams 'thoughtless and selfish actions' of certain states that hurt global economy Tourism Ministers of BRICS nations to meet in Khajuraho India oi-PTI Bhopal, Aug 29: Tourism Ministers of BRICS countries will meet at the world famous temple city Khajuraho for a two-day long conference from September 1. Besides India, the Tourism Ministers of Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa will take part in the conference to deliberate on issues related to tourism, an official release said today. On the first day of the meet a presentation will be made on the Indian Tourism Ministry's 'Atulya Bharat' campaign by Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. Later, BRICS nation's representatives and Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) delegation will make a presentation, it said. On the second day, Indian Travel and Trade and its associated institutes will have a meeting with the BRICS representatives. Group discussions will also be held on the Inter-Regional Tourism Promotion. Besides a session on implementing technology and innovation in tourism sector will also be held. Various cultural programmes including light and sound show will also be organised for the participants during the event. Goa CM wants a sightseeing tour for BRICS First Ladies Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma, Madhya Pradesh's Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, Surendra Patwa, MP Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC) Chairman Tapan Bhowmik, Union Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi and MP Tourism Secretary Hariranjan Rao among others will take part in the conference, the release said. PTI Delhi-NCR likely to choke in the coming days Vedanta's Talwandi Saboo power plant becomes fully operational India oi-PTI New Delhi, Aug 29: Vedanta's 1,980 mw Talwandi Saboo thermal power plant has become fully operational with the 660-mw third unit starting commercial generation. "The third 660 mw unit of Talwandi Sabo power plant in Punjab has put commercial production on August 24, 2016, and will be capitalised in September 2016," Vedanta has informed BSE. Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vedanta, had set up a coal-based supercritical thermal power plant in district Mansa of Punjab. TSPL had signed a power purchase agreement with the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) for the establishment of 1,980 mw (three units of 660 mw each) thermal coal-based commercial power facilities. Operations of Kudankulam n-plant enhances India's component making capacity The 100 per cent power generated from this project shall be supplied to PSPCL for 25 years. The company also said the auctions of coal linkages for captive power plants were conducted by Coal India in August and has secured 6.09 million tonnes per annum for its captive power plants, that supplies power to its Aluminium smelters at Jharsuguda and Balco. The tenure of the linkage is five years with an option to extend this further. The premium paid was Rs 96 per tonne, which is 10 per cent over Coal India linkage price of captive power plants. PTI Bangladesh cops kill JMB commander involved in temple attack International oi-PTI Dhaka, Aug 29: Bangladeshi police on Monday (Aug 29) shot dead a commander of outlawed militant outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB), who was involved in an attack on a temple and a bid to kill an Italian priest last year, along with his aide during a raid on their hideout. [John Kerry "extraordinary" visit to Bangladesh] The two militants of the banned JMB were killed in a shootout with police in Bogra district's Sherpur Upazila at around 4 am. Khalid Hasan alias Badar Mama, 30, of Chapainawabganj, was JMB's northern region military wing commander. The other was identified as Ripon, 25, of Rajshahi. The gunfight broke out between the police and militants after police raided the area following a tip-off. "Sensing police presence, the militants started firing. Police returned fire. Two persons were injured in the gunbattle," Bogra's Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Gaziur Rahman was quoted as saying by bdnews24.com. The two were taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared them brought dead. Two police officers were also injured in the shootout. He said Khalid was involved in an attempt to murder case of Italian priest Piero Parolari and an attack at Kantajew Temple in Dinajpur last year, according to the report. Ripon was involved in a meeting which plotted the murder of Rajshahi University's English professor A F M Rezaul Karim Siddiquee who was hacked to death in April while he was on his way to the university, he said. "That meeting was attended by Khalid, 'Bike Hasan', who was killed in a crossfire in Rajshahi, and 'Badhon', the militant who was killed in the raid that ended the siege at Gulshan's Holey Artisan Bakery," Rahman said. At least 10 people were injured in December last year when unidentified assailants hurled three crude bombs inside the premises of a temple in northern Bangladesh where over 5,000 people had gathered for a show to mark a Hindu festival. In July, five gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery and murdered 22 people including an Indian girl. Today's incident occurred two days after police killed Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, the mastermind of Bangladesh's worst terror attack at a cafe here that claimed 22 lives including of an Indian girl. The shootout took place hours ahead US Secretary of State John Kerry's day-long visit. PTI Bahrain govt offers help to Odisha man who carried his wife's body on shoulder International oi-PTI Dubai, Aug 29: Moved by reports of a man carrying his wife's body on his shoulder for burial in Odisha, the Bahrain government has reportedly offered to extend financial help to the grieving family. The Indian embassy in Bahrain is, however, yet to receive an official confirmation from the office of Bahrain Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa about the amount. "The (Bahraini) prime minister responded to media reports on the episode and has made an offer for humanitarian assistance. He has decided to make a contribution but we have not yet received any official confirmation regarding the amount of money or when it will be made," sources in the Indian embassy in Bahrain said. They said that should such a contribution be made, it will be channeled through the Bahraini embassy in Delhi. A report in Gulf Daily News earlier said that the premier was upset by the news and he felt "he had to do something to help". The report did not mention the sum the Bahraini premier plans to contribute. On August 24 in Odishas backward Kalahandi district, Dana Manjhi was forced to carry his wifes body on his shoulder for 10 kilometres due to alleged lack of an ambulance. Majhis 42-year-old wife died of tuberculosis a day before at the district hospital at Bhawanipatna. PTI World Mental Health Day 2019 theme: "40 seconds of action", What does it mean World may recover from COVID-19 in 6 to 12 months says survey Glimpses from across the world (Aug 29) International oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Washington, Aug 29: A blast at an institute of criminology in Brussels in Belgium and a panic which spread over reports of a shooter opening fire at the busy Los Angeles airport in the US were the two big international incidents of Monday (Aug 29). Another major tragedy occurred at an army camp in Aden in the west Asian country of Yemen where 60 people were killed in a suicide blast. However, there were also occurrences/events in other parts of the globe that did not bring with them the dull feeling that generally comes with a terror attack. Here, we take a look at a few of such glimpses from across the globe: Musicians at play Alphorn musicians perform in Nesselwang, southern Germany, Sunday Aug. 28, 2016. AP/PTI Britney Spears performs Britney Spears performs at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, August 28, 2016, in New York.AP/PTI Zika hits South-east Asia A traveller walks past a travel advisory on the Zika virus infection in Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, Sunday, August 28, 2016. AP/PTI Rihanna receives an award Rihanna (left) is escorted by presenter Drake after she received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, August 28, 2016, in New York. AP/PTI The Mediterranean on fire An Italian Navy ship sails past a burning dinghy after evacuating the migrants sailing on it in the Mediterranean sea toward the Italian coasts, about 17 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Sunday, August 28, 2016. More than seven hundred migrants were rescued Sunday morning from seven boats by members of Proactiva Open Arms NGO before transferring them to the Italian cost guards operating at the zone. AP/ PTI Lightweight creatures A zookeeper weighs a squirrel monkey named Ubi during the annual weigh-in at London Zoo, England, Wednesday, August 24, 2016. Home to more than 700 different species, zookeepers regularly record the heights and weights of all the creatures at ZSL London Zoo as a key way of monitoring the residents' overall wellbeing. This important information is shared with zoos around the world using ZIMS - the Zoological Information Management System - to help zoologists compare details on thousands of endangered species. AP/PTI Oneindia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, August 29, 2016, 16:34 [IST] Why is 'Mr. Bean controversy trending on Twitter after Zimbabwe beat Pakistan? Pak off the FATF grey list doesn't mean it's not under scrutiny anymore: MEA secretary Imran Khan again targets Pakistan's establishment on Day 2 of protest march; govt rules out talks over snap polls Pak: Opposition upset over Sharif's Kashmir special envoys International oi-IANS By Ians English Islamabad, Aug 29: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's move to nominate 22 MPs as special envoys to highlight the Kashmir issue has come under attack over the non-inclusion of opposition leaders. The Kashmir issue can be raised globally in a befitting manner only with the opposition's backing, the Daily Times quoted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Asad Umar and Taj Haider of the Pakistan People's Party as saying. Pakistan on Saturday decided to step up its diplomatic lobbying on Kashmir, naming the 22 MPs to go as special envoys to various countries to apprise them about the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. Umar said most of the nominated MPs did not even attend parliamentary debates and questioned how could they highlight the Kashmir cause. "Nawaz Sharif is not ready to discuss Kashmir with (his Indian counterpart) Narendra Modi," said Umar. Haider said a majority of the special envoys belonged to treasury benches, the Daily Times reported. He said the government should have included opposition leaders of both houses of the parliament in the group. IANS Ihor Rainin may be appointed Ukrainian president's chief of staff The most likely candidate for the post of the Ukrainian presidential administration head is Kharkiv regional governor Ihor Rainin, an informed source close to the administration told Interfax-Ukraine. According to the source, Rainin will be presented in his new position after a meeting of the National Reforms Council on Monday. Rainin, 43, he graduated from the Kharkiv Aviation Institute in 1997, where he studied engine and power systems for spacecraft, with a degree in mechanical engineering. In 2000, he graduated from the Kharkiv branch of the National Academy for Public Administration under the President of Ukraine with a master's degree in public administration, he also has a PhD in public administration. From September 1990 until July 1993 he was a technician in the Naladchik gas equipment cooperative and a service engineer at the state-run Techservice Engineering and Consulting Center. From July 1993 until January 1996 he headed the Agris industrial and commercial company, then until April 1998 he was deputy director general, then director general of the Labor Protection Training Research and Production Center LLC. In April-August 1998 he worked in Kolomak District State Administration. From July 2000 to March 2001 he was the executive director of Labor Protection Training Research and Production Center LLC. From March 2001 to April 2002 he headed of the department for coordination of international technical assistance projects of the Main Economy Directorate of Kharkiv Regional State Administration. From April 2001 until March 2010 he was deputy, then first deputy head of the Economic Department of Kharkiv Regional State Administration. In 2010 he was appointed director general of the National Research Center "Institute of Metrology". From July 2010 until March 2014 he was deputy director of Sintofleks LLC. From April until November 2014 Rainin was first deputy head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration. From November 17, 2014 until February 3, 2015 he served as deputy head of the presidential administration. On February 3, 2015, he was appointed chairman of Kharkiv Regional State Administration. Yemen: Over 70 killed in army camp suicide attack International oi-PTI Aden, Aug 29: A suicide car bomb attack on an army training camp in Yemen's second city of Aden killed 71 people on Monday (Aug 29), medical sources said. A security official said the attacker drove his vehicle into a gathering of new recruits at the camp in northern Aden. Security officials had provided an earlier toll of 11 dead. The port city, the temporary base of Yemen's Gulf-backed government, has seen a wave of bombings and shootings targeting officials and security forces. Attacks in Aden are often claimed by jihadists from either Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, which have both taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to make gains in southern and southeastern regions. But no group claimed immediate responsibility for today's attack. Yemeni authorities have trained hundreds of soldiers in Aden over the past two months to as part of operations to retake neighbouring southern provinces from jihadists. Earlier this month, Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition entered Abyan's provincial capital Zinjibar. Troops retook other towns across Abyan but have been met by fierce resistance in key Al-Qaeda stronghold, Al-Mahfid, a town which lies further east, security sources said. The militants are still present in areas surrounding the recaptured towns and control large parts of the neighbouring Shabwa province, the sources say. The Arab coalition which backs the Yemeni government against Iran-backed rebels has also been providing troops with air cover throughout their war against the jihadists. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March last year and has helped government troops push the rebels out of Aden and four other southern provinces. But authorities have been struggling to secure these provinces. More than 6,600 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since March 2015 and more than 80 percent of the population has been left in need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN. (AFP) CPS Mamata hits reverse gear on passing GST in Bengal assembly Kolkata oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Kolkata, Aug 29: The West Bengal assembly, which was to take up ratification of the GST Constitutional Amendment Bill on Monday, has dropped the matter from discussion in a sudden move, with orders to do so reportedly coming from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself. Mamata and her Finance minister Amit Mitra have been among the biggest votaries of the Goods & Services Tax. Mitra is also the chairman of the group of state ministers on the matter and is credited with having helped the bill make its way through the political thicket. According to a report in The Economic Times, however, a perceived move by the Centre to bypass states in a crucial matter related to GST has angered Mamata enough for her to put the ratification of the Constitutional Amendment bill on the backburner for now. West Bengal treasury officials were reported to have moved ahead with connecting the department with the central Public Financial Management System (PFMS) without seeking a nod from the chief minister. Mamata is said to have seen red at this, accusing the Centre of "serious infringement" of the federal structure. Some seven treasury officials are said to have been pulled up over the issue. There now seem to be divergent views within Trinamool Congress on when the state will ratify the GST bill. While one senior party leader seemed to suggest that "there is no hurry" in the matter, a Cabinet minister indicated that the move to drop the discussion on Monday had no political overtones and was based on the need to resolve issues related to GST arrangements. The Centre is keen to put in monitoring tools for tracking expenditure and centrally-sponsored schemes and has issued circulars to state governments to integrate their treasury systems with the PFMS immediately. The West Bengal government reportedly feels there is no need for such integration as it already uses the RBI's e-Kuber portal for treasury management. Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Delhi assemblies have ratified the GST amendment bill so far. The key states to watch continue to be Uttar Pradesh, which too has protested against GST-related arrangements, and Tamil Nadu, where the Jayalalithaa government continues to oppose GST. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, August 29, 2016, 10:31 [IST] Pathankot attack: More proof nails Pakistan New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Ag 29: While Pakistan continues to drag its feet on the Pathankot attack probe there is more proof that has come by which the country cannot deny. While India has stated that the attack originated from the den of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, the United States of America too has handed over more proof of Pakistan's involvement in the attack. The proof this time is relating to Kashif Jaan-the handler of the Pathankot attack. The US has found that a Facebook account that was being managed by Jaan had a phone number on it. It was the same number from which Jaan had called the attackers who struck at the Pathankot air base. Further the US has also said that the FB page that was being handled by Jaan contained the pictures of the four slain terrorists. All the IP addresses that the US has investigated are from Pakistan. Further proof regarding the involvement of the Al Rahmat trust which is the financial wing of the Jaish has also been submitted to India. NIA officials say that Pakistan has done nothing relating to the probe. Their team had visited India and taken details. Leave alone fixing a date for the NIA team to visit Pakistan, the country has not reverted with any further details regarding the probe. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, August 29, 2016, 11:14 [IST] Bank holidays in November 2022: Here is the full list of non-working days Happy Chhath Puja 2022: Wishes, quotes, Facebook status, WhatsApp messages to share with your loved ones Rajnath to lead all party delegation to J&K on Sept 4 New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Aug 29: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will lead an all party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir on September 4. The home minister who visited the state last week has been reviewing the situation with top BJP and government functionaries. The decision to lead the delegation was taken after several rounds of meetings. Any life lost in Kashmir is a loss for India: PM Modi on Mann ki Baat Singh had met with BJP's national president, Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The modalities of the all party delegation was discussed at the meeting. Sources say at the meeting, various aspects were discussed. Discussions on who the all party delegation should meet was also taken up. The union home ministry has also worked out a financial package for the state. Apart from this the government has proposed to create employment opportunities in the state. In addition to this the government also plans on providing a financial package to the refugees from PoK, Gilgit and Balochistan. The union cabinet would approve the same following which the home ministry would begin disbursing the amount. Rajnath Singh during his visit to the Valley last week had urged the youth to shun violence. OneIndia News Bank holidays in November 2022: Here is the full list of non-working days SC pulls up Azam Khan for his Bulandshahr rape remark New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Aug 29: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan for his comments on the Bulandshahr rape case. The Supreme Court observed that statements issued by political leaders such as Azam Khan create mistrust in the entire system and also the ongoing investigation. The court has sought an explanation from Khan apart from issuing notices to the Uttar Pradesh government. Bulandshahr gang rape could be political conspiracy: Azam Khan The SC is hearing a petition seeking the transfer of the case out of Uttar Pradesh following remarks made by Khan. The minister had kicked up a storm when he had said that the Bulandshahr gang rape incident could be a political conspiracy against the Uttar Pradesh government. The minor victim in the case moved the Supreme Court seeking a directive to the police to register a case against Khan and also the erring police officials. The victim says that she has lost faith in the probe by the UP police following the statement made by Khan which is insensitive in nature. Six members of a family were traveling to Shahjahanpur in western Uttar Pradesh when their car was stopped by criminals at the National Highway and 13-year-old girl and her mother were dragged out and raped in a field nearby. OneIndia News What Modi sarkar has in plan for PoK refugees? New Delhi oi-Vicky New Delhi, Aug 29: While on one hand the Government of India is planning to raise the issues relating to Balochistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) on the international stage, on the other hand, it is working on an extensive package for the refugees from these areas. There are currently around 36,348 displaced families from PoK, Balochistan, Baltistan and Gilgit. Most of these persons are living in Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua. The government has already begun the process of identifying these families and proposes to compensate them with Rs 5.5 lakh each. 'Move out of PoK' India states in new letter to Islamabad A final decision on this package will be taken by the Union Cabinet following which the Home Ministry would formally begin the process of disbursing the funds. Officials say that apart from the financial package for the refugees who relocated to India in 1947, 1965 and 1971, employment opportunities too was another option being looked into. "We are looking at a comprehensive package for the refugees," a home ministry official said. Apart from this a financial package for Kashmir is also being worked out. The government in a bid to bring sanity back to the Valley has also decided to create more employment for the youth in Kashmir. This is an issue that has been discussed several times in the past few weeks. Home Minister Rajnath Singh who is likely to lead an all party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir on September 3 will raise this issue as well. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, August 29, 2016, 10:11 [IST] Nearly 2.5 kg of gold jewellery concealed in a toilet of an Air India flight, which today arrived at Goa airport from Dubai, was seized by the Customs and Central Excise officials. This is the third such instance of unclaimed gold being found in Air India flight which arrived from Dubai to Goa this year. Bahrain PM Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has offered help for the Odisha man Dana Majhi who carried his dead wife's body for 12 km. According to Indian embassy officials the Bahraini PM responded to media reports on the episode and made an offer for humanitarian assistance. He has decided to make a contribution but we have not yet received official confirmation on the amount of money or when it will be made. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Militants opened fire on Ukrainian servicemen in Donbas 76 times over the past 24 hours, the press center of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) headquarters said early on Monday. "In particular, 37 instances of shelling were recorded in the Donetsk sector, 27 in the Mariupol sector and 12 in the Luhansk sector," the headquarters' press service said in its summary report published on its Facebook page and valid as of 6:00 a.m. on Monday. Militants conducted fire until dawn on Arkhanhelske in the Donetsk sector, using 152mm heavy artillery. More than 100 122mm shells were fired on Avdiyivka by militants, in four series of shellings over two hours. Three shells of the same caliber hit the community of Pisky, it said. Militants actively used mortars, including 120mm-caliber, which are prohibited under the Minsk agreements, in the segment that extends from Avdiyivka to northern Horlivka's outskirts. They also fired on the same segment using various grenade launcher systems and large-caliber machineguns. In addition, militants subjected Avdiyivka to mass shelling using tanks, firing more than 40 shells. "Near the Svitlodar Arc the adversary conducted fire using 82mm mortars and used infantry fighting vehicles, and carried out a strike on Novoselivka Druha using an anti-tank system. The enemy fired anti-aircraft guns on fortifications in Luhanske, Pisky and Avdiyivka. Defenders of Pisky and Opytne were targeted by a sniper," the press center said. Militants fired more than 60 120mm artillery shells on Shyrokyne in the Mariupol sector, and about seven more shells on defenses in Talakivka. The adversary also conducted fire from mortars, grenade launchers and machineguns on Maryinka, Taramchuk, Krasnohorivka and Talakivka, the Ukrainian headquarters said. Shyrokyne, Vodiane, Novotroitske and Hnutove were shelled using various grenade launcher systems and heavy machineguns, while mounted grenade launchers fired on Nova Hryhorivka and Starohnativka. An action on the part of infantry fighting vehicles was recorded in Maryinka. Besides, snipers were sighted there and in Shyrokyne, it said. The hostiles also conducted fire on the Ukrainian positions in Nova Oleksandrivka, Novozvanivka and Zhovte in Luhansk region, using grenade launchers, while using small arms in Zolote. Shelling of Stanytsia Luhanska continued with 82mm mortars, as well as various grenade launcher systems, large-caliber machineguns and small arms. A sniper became active near Ukrainian positions in Nova Oleksandrivka, it said. "An unmanned aerial vehicle was twice spotted flying over our positions," the Ukrainian headquarters said. The Ukrainian State Border Guard Service has registered attacks on Ukrainian border guards' control posts located on the contact line in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Donbas. The enemy opened fire on the Maryinka post, located on the Maryinka checkpoint track, after 8:00 p.m., the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service press service said in a release issued on Monday. "Fire was opened from the direction of the populated area of Oleksandrivka, which is located in the uncontrolled territory, using firearms and grenade launchers," the report said. Closer to midnight, the enemy opened fire on the Berezove control post, where 82mm mortars were used, and the shots were fired from the direction of the populated area of Olenivka, Kyiv said. "Some ten mine explosions were registered near the border guards' posts," the State Border Guard Service said. No border guards were hurt in the attacks, the report said. Mejlis deputy chair Umerov not released from mental hospital, where he was placed by court lawyer Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Ilmi Umerov has not been released from a mental hospital, his lawyer Mark Feygin said. "Together with Ilmi's family we came to the hospital. He was due to be released, but the FSB investigator Skripka changed his mind," Feygin wrote on Twitter on Monday. 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 Umerov's 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." The EU has called on the occupational authorities of Crimea to free Umarov. Sky News 19 Oct 2022 Three people have been arrested by police investigating the killing of a 21-year-old rapper at the Notting Hill Carnival. Two pilots about to take a United Airlines flight from Scotland to Newark were arrested on suspicion of being intoxicated. CBS 2 New York 04 Aug 2019 Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more Reprinted from Consortium News Guantanamo Bay prisoner Abu Zubaydah (Image by Intelligence World) Details DMCA Last week, Abu Zubaydah, who has been imprisoned at Guantanamo for 14 years without being charged with a crime, appeared for the first time before the U.S. military Periodic Review Board, which determines whether Guantanamo detainees will continue to be held as "enemy combatants." Zubaydah argued he should be released because he has "no desire or intent to harm the United States or any other country." During his hearing, Zubaydah also said he had been tortured by the CIA, an allegation confirmed by the Senate Intelligence Committee's torture report. The U.S. government maintains he is an enemy combatant. When Zubaydah was apprehended in Pakistan in 2002, the Bush administration characterized him as "chief of operations" for Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden's "number three" man. This was untrue, according to John Kiriakou, who led the joint CIA-FBI team that caught Zubaydah. Kiriakou confirmed that Zubaydah did not help plan the September 11, 2001 attacks. Dan Coleman, a leading FBI expert on Al Qaeda, said Zubaydah "knew very little about real operations, or strategy." Coleman's observations were communicated to President George W. Bush. Nevertheless, the President scolded CIA Director George Tenet, saying, "I said [Zubaydah] was important, You're not going to let me lose face on this, are you?" Zubaydah was tortured repeatedly at the "black sites," where the CIA subjected him to waterboarding 83 times. On one occasion, Zubaydah had to be resuscitated. An observer at the scene was quoted in the Senate torture report as saying Zubaydah was "completely unresponsive, with bubbles rising through his open, full mouth." In 2005, after the Abu Ghraib torture photos came to light, the CIA destroyed several hundred hours of videotapes of the interrogations of Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. The tapes likely depicted waterboarding. Waterboarding is designed, according to Bush lawyer (now federal judge) Jay Bybee, to induce the perception of "suffocation and incipient panic," i.e., the perception of drowning. The Bush administration claimed it only used waterboarding on three individuals (the third being alleged 9/11 organizer Khalid Sheikh Mohammed). But a footnote in Bush lawyer Stephen Bradbury's memos says waterboarding was utilized "with far greater frequency than initially indicated" with "large volumes of water" rather than small quantities as required by the CIA's rules. The CIA also withheld Zubaydah's medication (as he recovered from severe injuries), slammed him into a wall, threatened him with impending death, shackled him in uncomfortable positions, and bombarded him with continuous deafening noise and harsh lights. In one of his memos, Bybee wrote that the CIA told him, "Zubaydah does not have any pre-existing mental conditions or problems that would make him likely to suffer prolonged mental harm from [the CIA's] proposed interrogation methods." Coffin-like Box Bybee granted the CIA's request to confine Zubaydah in a cramped box with a harmless insect and tell him it will sting him but it won't kill him. Even though the CIA knew that Zubaydah had an irrational fear of insects, Bybee decided there would be no threat of severe physical pain or suffering if it followed this procedure. "[Zubaydah] spent a total of 266 hours (11 days, 2 hours) in the large (coffin size) confinement box and 29 hours in a small confinement box, which had the width of 21 inches, a depth of 2.5 feet, and a height of 2.5 feet," according to the Senate torture report. The torture of Zubaydah did not yield useful information. FBI agent Ali Soufan, who interrogated him, wrote in the New York Times that any useful information Zubaydah provided was given before the "enhanced interrogation techniques" -- Bush-speak for torture -- were used. 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 Reader Supported News Navy Seals killed Osama bin Laden. US Special Forces, various Kurdish and Shia forces, airstrikes, and strained cooperation with the Russians appear to be pushing back the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. But, even with all this "success" in dismantling the Caliphate, many national security experts have given up on defeating ISIS. They seem to agree, "Nothing Trump or Clinton will do in Iraq and Syria will curtail terrorist attacks." What Clinton or Trump would do, what Obama has done, and what Dick Cheney and George W. Bush have done, is exactly what al-Qaeda and Islamic State want the US to do. They want us to wage war on Muslims, enabling the jihadis to present themselves as defenders of the faith against Western Crusaders. Innocent civilians from Fallujah to Paris, Brussels, and Orlando have paid the price. "We are more vulnerable now," said Khzir Khan, the father of a fallen soldier, who spoke at the Democratic Convention and whom Donald Trump made the mistake of attacking. "We have created a chaos." Why, then, do US troops continue to fight in Iraq and Syria? What, if anything, should they be doing there? Bernie Sanders never convincingly answered these questions during the primaries, and his speech on Wednesday night launching Our Revolution completely ignored the issue. I can't even find Iraq and Syria mentioned on the group's website or list of issues. Bernie's revolution is half-empty -- and only half-full. I fully understand that Bernie has chosen to stress his domestic agenda because Americans suffer directly from economic inequality, racial injustice, and corporate power. Hearing him speak, I believed more strongly than ever that, working together, we can truly build a decent society. Tears of joy welled up in my eyes. My poor, overworked mouse sent another $27. I was especially thrilled to see Bernie take on President Obama as "dead wrong" in wanting to pass the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) through a lame-duck Congress after the November elections. "What the TPP is about, and what previous trade agreements were about, are forcing American workers to compete against people who make pennies an hour," Bernie explained. "It is about corporations that go from country to country in search of the cheapest possible labor they can find. Our disastrous trade policies have cost us millions of good-paying jobs, and it is part of the race to the bottom. Instead of uplifting people all over the world, people are becoming poorer." Better than almost anyone I've read, and far more clearly than I, Bernie exposed the danger of the TPP's Investor-State Dispute System. "Unbelievably," he said, the dispute provision allows major multi-national corporations to "go to an international tribunal made up of three corporate lawyers if they believe that their future profits were harmed as a result of a governmental decision." "It is so crazy it is hard to imagine," he said. "President Obama killed the Keystone Pipeline ... because he understood that excavating and transporting some of the dirtiest fuel in the world would accelerate the crisis of climate change." But, as a result of the "Investor-State Dispute System" in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Trans-Canada, the owner of the Keystone Pipeline, "is suing the taxpayers of the United States for fifteen billion dollars because they believe that decision impacted their future profits." "The idea that a major multi-national corporation can sue us for fifteen billion dollars because the president made the decision that he thought right tells you what trade agreements are all about. They are designed to protect corporate profits and to hell with the environment, human rights, health care, or the needs of the people. And that is why the TPP has got to be defeated." Bernie's second example showed the insanity of the dispute system even more dramatically. In Uruguay, the government put together a very strong anti-tobacco campaign, requiring cigarette packages to display "really ugly stuff about diseased lungs or diseased lips, making it very clear that if anybody wanted to buy that package of cigarettes they were endangering their health bigtime." The campaign succeeded in cutting back smoking. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). The number of North Korean defectors has shown a marked increase in 2016, after a drop since Kim Jong-Un came to power. According to the Ministry of Unification of South Korea, North Korean defectors have numbered 815 from January to July of this year, which is a 15.6% increase from the same period last year. The figures suggest that more and more North Koreans flee to South Korea to escape the poverty and plight in their country, although Kim Jong-Un's regime that considers defection as a serious threat to its existence has strengthened crackdowns and punishment. What is especially noteworthy is the changing patterns of defections. While many of the defectors were ordinary North Koreans who left the country to stay alive, members of the ruling elite are increasingly choosing to escape. In April this year, a group of 13 North Korean restaurant workers fled from China to South Korea. In July, three general-level officials and a diplomat, who were in charge of managing Kim's private funds in the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, asked for political asylum according to reports. It is also known that a North Korean teenager, a mathematics genius who was seeking for asylum at the South Korean consulate in Hong Kong, defected to a third country in late August. More recently, Tae Yeong-ho, a high-ranking diplomat at the North Korean embassy in London, defected to South Korea. Tae held the second highest position at the embassy, whose job was to defend and advocate the regime's ideology. He became the highest-ranking diplomat to defect to South Korea. Tae was also among the top elites in North Korean society. His wife, O Hye-seon, is reportedly a relative of O Baek-ryong, one of the partisan colleagues of Kim Il-Sung, the founder of North Korea. Then, why did he decide to defect in spite of his privileged background? It was reported that he was 'sick and tired of the Kim Jong-Un regime, longed for a liberal and democratic country, and was worried about his children's future'. The defection of the senior diplomat will probably have no small impact on North Korean elites including diplomats abroad. North Korea operates by the cruel punishment system of guilt-by-association. The scope and severity of punishment of family members or relatives of political prisoners is subject to social ranks of the prisoners. When Hwang Jang-yeop, the former secretary of the ruling Workers' Party of North Korea, defected to South Korea in 1997, his wife, children and grandchildren were sent to political prison camps, and his first cousins once removed were expelled from their positions. Under the stringent guilt-by-association system, it is far from easy for North Korean elites to choose defection. Nevertheless, the number of North Korean elite defectors is on the rise for presumably two reasons. First is their animosity towards Kim Jong-Un's reign of terror. His iron-fisted rule has taken control over the elite as demonstrated in the killing of over 130 senior officials of the Workers' Party during his four years in office. Watching Kim Jong-Un kill even his uncle Jang Seong-taek, the upper class has an increasing fear that their lives could be put at risk anytime. Besides, some analysis suggests that the sense of solidarity among the elite is being diluted. One of the important features of the North Korean elite has been a strong sense of unity among themselves. Based on a close network and kinship, North Korean elites have propped up the three successive generations of the Kim family in power. They are spread across the Workers' Party, the military and the government of North Korea, and diplomats are among the top elites. The recent defection of Tae Yeong-ho would lead to disciplinary action in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to which Tae belonged, which would further weaken the cohesion among the elite and drive more to defect from the country. Second is the ever deteriorating relations of North Korea with the outer world. The United Nations' sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear development is pushing the country over the edge, making it harder for the regime to offer financial support for daily activities and duties of overseas North Koreans who are also among the elite. Inside the country, the elite are forced to offer more money to the authorities for reasons such as the 'Yeomyeong Street construction' and other immoderate projects and in show of loyalty to the leader. Kim Jong-Un is also requesting his people abroad to enhance diplomatic activities to improve his stature. North Koreans, who are enlightened by the happy and plentiful life they have experienced after spending a long time abroad, are seeking asylum as their country under international sanctions is tightening the screw on them. According to North Korea sources, Kim Jong-Un recently dispatched security agents to overseas North Korean institutions and ordered them to bring officials home if their work performance is poor. Family members of North Korean diplomats and traders abroad were also ordered to return home, reports said. This is apparently aimed to prevent any further escape of key elites by holding their families hostage, so to speak, after Tae Yeong-ho's defection. Kim Jong-Un is just trying to prevent defections caused by his reign of terror through an even bigger iron fist. Ordinary North Koreans and even elites would keep risking their lives to flee from their country, if Kim's regime sticks to its authoritarian rule even in the face of chronic economic difficulties of its people. It is likely, however, that the regime will continue its nuclear and missile provocations to prevent upper class members from defecting and consolidate Kim's leadership. The more violations North Korea commits against UN Security Council resolutions, the tougher the international sanctions will be. The Kim Jong-Un regime should realize that it cannot survive with nuclear and missile development when even the elite that has supported the regime started to turn their backs. And, as the recent increase in North Korean elite defectors suggests that there is growing unrest in the country since one of the strongest sets of international sanctions was imposed on North Korea, the international community should continue to have consistent sanctions in place against North Korea. Poroshenko appoints ax-chief of staff Lozhkin as his adviser, head of Investment Council Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has appointed former head of his administration Borys Lozhkin as his adviser and head of the Investment Council under the president. "I have decided that we will entrust Borys Yevheniyovych [Lozhkin] with this extremely important area of work," he said at a meeting of the National Reforms Council in Kyiv on Monday. Key Opinion Leader Management Market To Increase at Steady Growth Rate http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1660 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1660 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Key opinion leaders (KOLs) are influential, trustworthy thought leaders who are held in high esteem. In the current scenario of the healthcare industry, an organization's success is related to its ability to build, maintain, and manage relationships with KOLs. KOLs play a crucial role in educating the medical and scientific communities and in building awareness regarding the latest key developments in medical technology. A KOL dashboard is used for identification and monitoring a KOL. KOLs play an important role in the complex and competitive scenario of companies, especially in healthcare marketing. KOLs help in influencing the perception and opinion of various stakeholders in a company.Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Drivers & RestraintsKOL has emerged as an individual business discipline which is similar to CRM. KOL management is an essential component in marketing. Companies experience an increased influence and adoption at the global, national, and regional levels, by managing KOL relationships effectively for the future of company products and market expansion. The most prominent KOLs are usually expensive. KOL management in healthcare is challenging. Leading KOL physicians are frequently over-marketed to by many sources. Laws such as the Sunshine Act demand transparency and restrict large payments to physician KOLs. KOLs help in critical decisions such as drug prescriptions for their patients, as the KOL physicians advice on specific drugs based on their knowledge.Key Opinion Leader Management Market: SegmentationThe global key opinion leader management market is classified on the basis of therapeutic area, region.Request Free Report Sample@Based on therapeutic area type, the global key opinion leader management market is segmented into the following:AnesthesiologyCardiologyDentistryGastroenterologyObstetrics & GynecologyOncologyOphthalmologyOrthopedicsOthers (Hematology, Immunology, Nephrology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Infectious Diseases, Neurology, Urology)Key Opinion Leader Management Market: OverviewKOL management gives a 360-degree view of KOL influence and activity, alongwith the ability to see what KOLs are saying about their products and their competitor products. KOL performance can also be monitored regularly to check how an influencer aids in product sales, and spending of a KOL. KOLs play an important role for several companies particularly, pharmaceutical companies. A reliable KOL management process, provides benefits such as the ability to reduce cycle time for widening a pool of KOLs, understanding and tracking of campaign effectiveness conducted by an individual KOL, differentiate KOLs based on their influence to alter strategic decisions related to spending and so on.Request For TOC@Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Region wise OverviewGeographically, global key opinion leader management market is classified into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, Middle East and Africa (MEA).KOL management involves KOL identification process, ranking methodology, and ability to combine traditional and social footprints of influencers across therapeutic areas, regions and languages. The expenditure on shaping influence is high. Companies need to understand influence as it is a potential marketing tool. KOLs possess a unique credibility, as their validity is important due to years of industry experience and medical affiliations. As a result, healthcare companies particularly in the developed countries of North America and Western Europe have begun relying heavily on KOLs to help establish the knowledge base about their drugs and expand their markets throughout all stages of life-cycle management.Key Opinion Leader Management Market: Key PlayersThe key players in global key opinion leader management market are Genpact Limited, KOL, LLC, SAAMA TECHNOLOGIES, Cognizant, RELTIO to name a few.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems Market Analysis, Trends, Forecast, 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1698 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1698 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Purging is a process to remove the physical contents (such as hydrocarbon materials, gases, moisture content etc.) present in pipings, tubes & containers used in various operating processes such as welding, air conditioning, refining processes, sterilizers etc. The advantages of this process are internal surface cleaning in an efficient manner and removal of chemical residues in solid, liquid and gaseous forms. Amongst the purging systems, Nitrogen based purging is the most commonly used type. The process is used for the fact that Nitrogen being an inert gas completely removes impurities inside the pipings and tubes to prevent any form of scaling & corrosion which is caused by oxidation or other chemical reactions within the linings and surfaces of the tubular body. One of the major purpose of Nitrogen Purging is to check and remove the oxygen content which can produce a volatile or an explosive product upon reaction with hydrocarbons. During the initial phase, the process is also labeled as Start Up Purging or Oxygen Freeing, whereas during the completion of process it is termed as Shutdown Purging or Degassing. Nitrogen purging is done via two types i.e. by purging in its gaseous and liquid forms. The Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems consists of Cryogenic Storage Dewar, Injectors, Purging Tubes, Pressure Regulators, Pressure Switches, Adjustable Flow Meters and other minor ancillaries.Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems Market DynamicsThe Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems market consists of manufacturers either offering the complete equipment assembly or specializing in one or multiple equipment. These enterprises offer complete installation, monitoring and maintenance activities to the customer such as Leak Testing, Live Simulations & Commissioning. Apart from the equipment manufacturers, industrial gases producing companies too offer assistance in purging process by employing contractual services. The Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems market is largely fragmented with local distributors supplying the equipment as a whole or by ingredient with a smaller organized OEM market as well. Parent Oil & Gas Companies, Petrochemical Refineries, Metal Welding & Fabrications are the major consumer segments of the liquid nitrogen purge systems. Of late, the product is also finding acceptance in other industry sectors such as aviation, healthcare, electro physics and other industrial processes etc.Request Free Report Sample@Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems Market SegmentationThe Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems can be classified as following:By TechniqueDisplacement- For simple operating systemsDilution- For complex operating systemsBy Monitoring TypeDirectRemote ControlledEnd Use IndustryOil & Gas RefineriesWelding & Fabrication of MetalsPharmaceuticals & HealthcareChemicalsAutomotiveAerospaceHVAC SystemsElectro OpticsLiquid Nitrogen Purge Systems Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems industry is present across all geographic regions which include North America, Western & Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific region, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. The conventional Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems markets involve OEMs from North American & European regions, whereas the Asian market is witnessing a significant growth owing to growth in related end use industries such as oil & gas, heavy engineering, automotive etc. It can be inferred that the market growth of the Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems would be proportional in nature with the respective growth rates of end use industries as the Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems is a crucial aspect of their manufacturing process. Value additions by suppliers backed by maintenance & service would be a determining factor of the market.Request For TOC@Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems Market PlayersThe Liquid Nitrogen Purge Systems key players including manufacturers & source material suppliers identified across the value chain are Liquid Packaging Solutions Inc., Halliburton, IKM Testing UK Ltd., Airgas Inc., Epoxy Oil Serve Nigeria Limited, Vadilal Chemicals Ltd., GTS Maintenance Limited, Praxair Technology, Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. & Linde Group etc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Worldwide Oilfield Drilling Additives Market Competitive landscape By 2015 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7205 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/7205 Oilfield chemicals play a significant role in the oil and gas industry. Most common oilfield chemicals used by the industry are organic chemicals and solvents, surfactants, transition metal compounds, inorganic salts, water-soluble and oil-soluble polymers. These chemicals control the bacterial growth, foam & wax formation and corrosive action in oils and gases. Drilling additives is one of the major applications in the oilfield chemicals market.Chemical formulations used for multiple functions in oil processing are termed as oilfield drilling additives. The additive technologies excel with emulsification and thinning or dispersion of oil-based muds. They help to create proper fluid weighting to balance pressure formation and optimize fluid flow. Other functions include maintaining strong boundary lubrication films in silicate-based mud systems specialized for shale drilling, which is done by lubricating agents. Other functions include wettability, dispersant, detergency and clay stabilization. Selection criteria of drilling additives require careful consideration of several aspects, such as pressures and temperatures, rock composition, well design, protection of the producing zone, reservoir chemistry, and environmental regulations. The focus is on performance, temperature stability and tolerance of products from contamination for drilling fluid systems.Thinking about report: Please observe the beneath the hyperlinks to satisfy your necessities; Request for the Report sample :While there are many types of components and additives currently being used in the industry, usually the classification of fluids is based on the formulation of coatings as water based, oil based and synthetic based. Each type varies greatly and the composition is different with different technical specifications. The major chemicals used in the industry are sulfurized or chlorinated compounds, polyglycols, acrylics, esters polyamides, glutaraldehyde, alcohols and many more.In a recent merger by The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, signed an agreement with Weatherford, stating that the companys drilling fluids and additives business will now be a part of the Lubrizol Corporation. The Lubrizol Corporation has introduced a new mobile application called the Oilfield Drilling Fluids Product Guide, which is designed to help formulators of Oilfield Drilling Fluids to identify advanced Lubrizol chemistries that help achieve a wide range of performance needs. Arabian Drilling Corporation launched three new products AD41, AD42 and AD43; which have special drilling control systems equipped with Amphion Integration, a technology that provides compact and comfortable rigs.Increasing demand from energy sector is creating thrust to drilling deeper for more oil extraction, the protection of oil from various harmful organisms in the biocides industry are some of the key factors driving the growth of the oilfield drilling additives market.Total cost to target with environmentally acceptable fluid systems, European environmental concerns, strict environmental regulations are probable factors restraining the growth of the oilfield drilling additives market.The global oilfield drilling additives market is broadly classified on the basis of formulation of coatings, type and geographies.Based on formulation of coatings, the global oilfield drilling additives market is segmented into:Water basedOil basedSynthetic basedBased on type, the global oilfield drilling additives market is segmented into:DispersantsFluid ViscosifiersCorrosion InhibitorsBiocidesSurface ModifiersDefoamersThe most significant change in the petrochemical industry over the past five years has been the rapid exploitation of shale gas and oil reserves in North America. Global oilfield chemicals market is expected to grow owing to new wells discovery in countries like China, Poland. The global oilfield drilling additives market is expected to expand at a promising CAGR during the forecast period (2015-2025).Request TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:The global oilfield drilling additives Market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, global oilfield drilling additives market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan, and the Middle East & Africa. As of 2015, North America dominated the global oilfield drilling additives market in terms of market revenue. Asia Pacific is projected to expand at a substantial growth and in next few years, the Middle East & Africa is expected to be the greatest market as this region is exploring new oil wells and empowering in the transformation of old oil wells. This will contribute to the global oilfield drilling additives market value exhibiting a robust CAGR during the forecast period, 2015 - 2025.Some of the key market participants in global oilfield drilling additives market are The Lubrizol Corporation, AkzoNobel, The Dow Chemical Company, Imerys Oilfield Solutions, BASF, Chevron Philips Chemical CompanyThe research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types and applications.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Worldwide Energy Recovery Devices Market Competitive landscape By 2015 2021 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7199 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/7199 Energy conservation is increasingly becoming an important issue in water purification. Engineers are looking for new technologies to cut down on operating costs without increasing maintenance and operation requirements. Energy consumption has always been one of the largest operating costs in membrane water treatment plants. Energy savings can be achieved through the incorporation of energy recovery devices.Energy recovery devices for are majorly used for brackish water and seawater reverse osmosis facility leading to energy saving. These devices transfer some of the residual pressure from the system concentrate to boost another flow stream. There are new innovative applications of energy recovery devices on membrane softening systems and brackish water.Thinking about report: Please observe the beneath the hyperlinks to satisfy your necessities; Request for the Report sample :Additional benefits are obtained by using energy recovery devices such as improving hydraulic balance, increasing permeate quality, and potentially extending the life of the membranes. There are many types of energy recovery devices. Some of the major commercially used energy recovery devices include reverse turbine, Pelton wheel, pressure exchanger, work exchanger, and electric motor drive.The global energy recovery devices market is mainly driven by the rising demand of energy recovery devices in seawater reverse osmosis desalination as well as brackish water reverse osmosis desalination facility. Increasing applications and technological advancements will provide great opportunities for the growth of energy recovery device. Above mentioned factors are expected to drive the growth of the Energy recovery devices market for the forecast period (2015-2025).Global Energy recovery devices market is segmented by product type, application, and by region.Energy recovery devices By Product Type:Reverse TurbinePelton WheelPressure ExchangerWork ExchangerElectric Motor DriveEnergy recovery devices By Application:ConstructionOil & GasOthers (Hotels, cruise ships, power plants, island bottlers, farm operations, small municipalities, mobile and containerized water desalination solutions)Energy recovery devices By Region:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeJapanAsia pacific (APEJ)The Middle East & Africa (MEA)The global Energy recovery devices market is estimated to witness a considerable growth for the forecast period (2015 to 2025). North America and European region are the leading market for Energy recovery devices. According to FMIs forecast, the Energy recovery devices market in Asia-Pacific is expected to demonstrate the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. FMI forecasts the Asia-Pacific region to be the fastest growing region for Energy recovery devices market for the forecast period due to increasing demand for Energy recovery devices for seawater reverse osmosis in this region.Key players in the global Energy recovery devices market focus on innovations and technological advancements, in order to outperform competitors. Companies in this market are focusing on finding newer applications and newer technologies for Energy recovery devices, to expand their reach and grow their market share. The market for energy recovery devices is competitive as there is an increasing demand for fresh water and this market is constantly expanding.Request TOC (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report:Some of the major players of the global Energy recovery devices market are Energy Recovery Inc., RWL Water, Marsi Water, Dynalon Engineering Sdn Bhd, Flowserve Corporation, Fluid Equipment Development Company (FEDCO), and others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. PMR boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.PMR stands committed to bringing more accuracy and speed to clients business decisions. From ready-to-purchase market research reports to customized research solutions, PMRs engagement models are highly flexible without compromising on its deep-seated research values.ContactPersistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Baby Diapers Market -Rising Awareness about Personal Hygiene and Decline in Infant Mortality Rate Fuel Demand for Diapers in East Africa http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=13925 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/east-africa-baby-diapers-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Markets for baby diapers in most countries across East Africa are consolidated, with companies such as Procter and Gamble, Kimberly Clark, and Unicharm Corporation accounting for a large share in the markets revenues, states TMR in a new report. In Kenya, the largest contributor to the East Africa baby diapers market in terms of revenues, Procter and Gamble, held a share of 22% in 2015. Product cost being a key determinant of growth in the East Africa baby diapers market, with most countries falling in the developing category, companies have adopted strategies that can help cut down the final selling price of products.Favoring employment of their own distribution agents against the normal strategy of selling products through third party distribution channels is one such strategy that has worked for companies in East Africa. Market players are also focusing on the development of products with biodegradable materials to appeal to the environmentally conscious parents and innovative designs capable of tackling issues concerning effects of diapers on the health of infants. Among the other key vendors in the East Africa baby diapers market are Indevco Group, SCA Hygiene, Johnson and Johnson, Interconsumer Products Ltd., and Mega Soft (Fujian) Hygiene Products Co. Ltd.Get More Information:Transparency Market Research analysts estimate that the market will expand at a 3.6% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024, rising from a valuation of US$155.7 mn in 2015 to US$218.7 mn by 2024. In terms of volume, the market is expected to exhibit a 3.2% CAGR over the said period.Rising Awareness about Personal Hygiene and Decline in Infant Mortality Rate Fuel DemandIn the past few years, awareness regarding the need for diapers as a personal hygiene measure for infants and babies has significantly increased among the urban dwelling population in East African countries. Active efforts undertaken by government and non-government organizations to educate the rural population about the need for maintaining hygiene to prevent the outbreak and contracting of infectious diseases has also significantly increased the usage of baby diapers across many countries in East Africa.Rise in disposable incomes and a notable decline in infant mortality rate have also emerged as key factors stimulating the demand for baby diapers in East African countries in the past few years. In developing countries, such as Kenya and Uganda, especially, infant mortality rates have substantially reduced in the past few years. In Kenya and Uganda over the period between 2013 and 2015, infant mortality rates have gone down from 38 to 35.5 and from 41.6 to 37.7 per 1,000 births, respectively. Birth rates are also rising considerably in other East African countries such as Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:The factor of declining infant mortality rates and rising birth rates is expected to have a strong impact on the market for baby diapers in East Africa in the near future. However, the factor will have a moderate impact on the markets growth in the long-term scenario owing to rising awareness about population control in East African countries.Concerns about Potential Health Issues Make Parents Wary of Baby Diapers, Hinder Markets GrowthOwing to the superior absorption capabilities of baby diapers, a tendency to change diapers after long gaps is rampant among parents. The extreme saturation in the diapers owing to longer in-between changing times causes rashes and other skin troubles to the delicate skins of infants. Some studies have also estimated that baby diapers, especially the disposable ones, lead to infertility as well as testicular cancer in males. Scientists believe that the high amount of heat created in soiled diapers can play a key role in developing such risks. These concerns among parents are restraining the overall development of the East Africa baby diapers market to a certain extent.Nevertheless, the vast untapped opportunities in the East Africa baby diaper market will provide sustainable growth prospects to market vendors in the next few years. Of the key product varieties available in the market, the segment of disposable diapers is the leading segment in terms of both revenue and volume share in the overall market, accounting for a share of over 80% of the East Africa markets overall revenues in 2015. Kenya is the leading market in terms of geography. The country accounted for over 42% share in the markets revenues in 2015.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Cyber Security Market: Growing at a CAGR of 9.5% between 2016 and 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/cyber-security-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/cyber-security-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/cyber-security-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/cyber-security-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Cyber security (Network Security, Cloud Security, Wireless Security and Others) Market, By Solution (Identity And Access Management (IAM), Encryption, Risk And Compliance Management, Data Loss Prevention, Antivirus And Antimalware, Firewall And Others), By Vertical (Aerospace, Government, Financial Services, Telecommunication, Healthcare And Others): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2015 2021. According to the report, global demand for cyber security market was valued at USD 105.45 billion in 2015, is expected to reach USD 181.77 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% between 2016 and 2021.Request Sample Report:Cyber security is associated with information technology security, which focuses on protecting computers and confidential data stored in it from cyber criminals. Cyber security market offers several advantages including enhanced security of cyberspaces, expanded digital safeguard and quicker reaction time to national crises. These advantages of cyber security market automatically enhance value of service given to the market end-users.Cyber Security Market.jpgThe cyber security market is one of the highest growing markets in the information technology domain and it yields large economic opportunities. Growing risks such as computer hacking, software piracy and virus deployment are increasing the demand for cyber securities services. The governments of various countries are increasing their investment in cyber security owing to development in computer interconnectivity and remarkable growth in computing power of government networks.The major drivers of this market include stringent government regulation on data privacy, and increasing cyber threats. Lack of awareness and availability of pirated security software are expected to hamper the cyber security market in forecast period. There is a significant increase in the cyber security market due to development in cyber solution and services and it offers various options to safeguard data. Providing cyber security solution to ever increasing government IT domain becomes an expensive challenge for the government authorities.Do Inquiry before buying:Cyber security market is segmented based on security types, solution, and vertical and by regions. On the basic of security types market is divided into network security, cloud security, wireless security and others. Cyber solution segment includes identity and access management (IAM), encryption, risk and compliance management, data loss prevention, antivirus and antimalware, firewall and others. By vertical, market is segmented into aerospace, government, financial services, telecommunication, healthcare and others.In 2015, North America dominated the cyber security market owing to the increasing cyber crime and strict government rules against it. Asia Pacific is a fastest growing regional market for cyber security market due to increasing number of internet users in China and India.Some of the key players involved in global cyber security market include Symantec, IBM, McAfee, Northrop Grumman, and Booz Allen Hamilton, CSC among others.Browse detail report at:The report segments the global cyber security market as:Cyber Security Market: Security Type AnalysisNetwork SecurityCloud SecurityWireless SecurityOthersCyber Security Market: Solution Segment AnalysisIdentity And Access Management (IAM)EncryptionRisk And Compliance ManagementData Loss PreventionAntivirus And AntimalwareFirewall AndOthersCyber Security Market: Vertical Segment AnalysisAerospaceGovernmentFinancial ServicesTelecommunicationHealthcareOthersRead Report TOC:Cyber Security Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaS.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout UsAbout Us:Zion Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Zion Market Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading industry and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Defoamers Market: Growing at a CAGR of 4.3% between 2016 and 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/defoamers-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/defoamers-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/defoamers-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/defoamers-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Defoamers (Water Based, Silicone Based, Oil Based, and Others) Market Paper & Pulp, Paints & Coatings, Water Treatment, Food & Beverages, and Other End-user: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 - 2021. According to the report, the global defoamers market was around 4100 kilo tons in 2015. The global defoamers market revenue accounted for approximately USD 2.8 Billion in 2015 and is expected to reach approximately USD 3.6 Billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 4.3% between 2016 and 2021.Request Sample Report:Defoamers help to reduce and hinder the formation of foam in industrial process liquids. Foam is a substance which is formed as a result of trapping pockets of gas in a liquid or solid. Foam blocks the transfer of oxygen from air and hampers the flow of liquid. Thus, formation of foam affects many industrial processes. Defoamers are insoluble in the foaming medium and have surface active properties. An essential feature of a defoamer product is a low viscosity and a facility to spread rapidly on foamy surfaces. Thus, defoamer is used in multiple end-user industries where formation of foam possesses significant threat.Increasing demand from paper & pulp industry especially in Asia Pacific region is expected to drive the demand for the defoamers market during the forecast period. Moreover, increase demand from food & beverages and paints & coatings end-user industries are some others factors driving the growth of global defoamers market. However, stringent regulations on VOC containing defoamers, and concerns regarding the health problems that they cause may curb the defoamers market in the near future. Nonetheless, growing demand for defoamers in Asia Pacific region is expected to open new avenues for the market over the years.Do Inquiry before buying:Silicone based defoamer is one of major type of defoamer used globally accounting for more than one-third of the global defoamers market share. While, water based defoamers is expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period. Paper & pulp industry dominated the global defoamers market share in 2015. Waste water treatment is expected to be second largest end-user industry for global defoamers market.Asia Pacific was the largest regional market for the defoamers in 2015. Asia Pacific accounted for more than 30% share of global defoamers market. Europe followed Asia Pacific in terms of demand for defoamers globally. However, strict regulations concerned with use of VOC containing defoamers are impeding market growth in this region. Moreover, sluggish growth of paper & pulp industry in this region is expected to hamper the growth of defoamers market in this region. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest regional market for defoamers due to large consumption base, growth of various end-user industries, and lenient governmental regulations. Countries such as China, India and Japan are predominantly contributing for the growth of defoamers in this region. North America is expected to witness moderate growth. Latin America is expected to witness noticeable growth, while the Middle East & Africa is estimated to expand at a slow growth rate.Browse detail report at:Key players operating in the defoamers market include Wacker Chemie AG, Bluestar Silicones, Elementis plc, Clariant, KCC Basildon, BASF SE, Dow Corning Corporation, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Ashland, Inc., Kemira Oyj, and Evonik Industries AG among others.This report segments the global defoamers market as follows:Global Defoamers Market: Product Segment AnalysisWater BasedSilicone BasedOil BasedOthersGlobal Defoamers Market: End-user Segment AnalysisPaper & PulpPaints & CoatingsWater TreatmentFood & BeveragesOthersRead Report TOC:Global Defoamers Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout Us:Zion Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Zion Market Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading industry and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Autonomous Vehicles Market 10-Year Market Forecast and Trends Analysis Research Report http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1526 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1526 www.futuremarketinsights.com Autonomous vehicles also known as robot cars are driverless vehicles, controlled by the computer, which is yet to be commercialized in the market. Autonomous vehicles have sensors installed in it, which detects the objects in its surroundings via radar, GPS, lasers and computer vision and chooses the appropriate path and direction. With the increasing road accidents due to human error while driving provides lucrative opportunities for autonomous vehicles over the forecast period, as the autonomous vehicles are comparatively safe when compared with manually controlled vehicles. The autonomous vehicles will also help in reducing the CO2 emissions to the environment. The commercialization of autonomous vehicles will also contribute to the revenue growth of different industries such as, IT, technology and electronics. The use of autonomous vehicles are not limited to passenger cars, it can be used in industrial fleet, construction, public transportation and for agricultural applications. The merits of an autonomous vehicle over manually operated vehicles are, increased fuel efficiency, safety and low emissions among others. Considering the aforementioned factors, the global autonomous vehicles market will project a healthy growth rate over the forecast period.The global autonomous vehicles market is primarily driven by the numerous advantages of an autonomous vehicle such as increased safety reduced driving stress, efficient parking reducing the costs, fuel efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions to the environment and increasing geriatric population will have a positive impact on the global autonomous vehicles market. Apart from the aforementioned factors, the autonomous vehicles will have a positive impact on the economy as a whole. However, the data security concerns might pose as a restrain to the global autonomous vehicles market as the controlling software can be hacked by unauthorized parties, and input spurious information to the system.Request Free Report Sample@The global autonomous market is segmented based on level of automation, application and region. Based on automation level, the global autonomous vehicles market can be segmented into Driver Assistance, Partial Automation, Conditional Automation, High Automation and Full Automation. Based on applications, the global autonomous vehicles market can be segmented into Passenger Cars, Public Transportation, Industrial fleet, Construction and Agricultural applicationsBased on the geographic regions, global autonomous vehicles market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, the Western Europe market holds the largest share of global autonomous vehicles market, due to the higher adoption of autonomous vehicles in the region. North American market for autonomous vehicles is trailing behind the Western European market. Over the forecast period, China in the Asia-Pacific market will surpass the European as well as American market for autonomous vehicles. The adoption of autonomous vehicle in the developing economies such as Latin America and MEA will be low as compared to other region. Overall, the global autonomous vehicle market will project a healthy CAGR over the forecasted period considering its tremendous advantages over conventional vehicles and impact on environment.Visit For TOC@Autonomous Vehicles Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the global autonomous vehicles market are Google, BMW AG, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla Motors, Audi AG among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Research Offers 10-Year Forecast on Protein Expression Technology Market http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1540 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1540 www.futuremarketinsights.com Protein expression refers to the process through which proteins are synthesised in living organisms. In in-vitro conditions, protein expression is the process in which laboratory techniques are used for manufacturing proteins.Increasing biochemical studies and their application in the production of new materials is boosting the global market for protein expression technology. This technology is also widely used in genetic modification procedures to increase the yield and quality of the proteins derived from living cells. As biotechnology-based drugs gain traction, adoption of protein expression technology is expected to gain momentum in the future.Protein Expression Technology Market: Drivers and RestraintsUse of protein expression technology in synthesising biotechnology-based medicines and artificial enzymes is a key factor fuelling the growth of the market globally. Development in the field of proteomics is also expected to boost the market during the forecast period 2016-2026. Increasing demand for recombinant DNA products in the healthcare sector and growing demand for industrial proteins will also support the growth of the market during the forecast period.Continuous technological advancements in the field of genetic engineering for development of personalised medicine, monitoring cellular response, and developing targeted therapies are the other key drivers for the global protein expression technology market. However, stringent laws, approval policies of certain therapeutic proteins, and high cost of the products required in R&D might negatively affect the protein expression technology market. Moreover, the technology for effectively developing membrane proteins that play an important role in being the target site for several therapeutic agents is not much developed. Though several companies are trying to develop techniques for manufacturing advanced cell lines and media, the technological restraint in development of low-cost protein expression technology is major restraint in the market.Request Free Report Sample@Protein Expression Technology Market: SegmentationThe global protein expression technology market is segmented on the basis of product type and end user.By Product TypeComponent CellsReagentsServicesExpression VectorsBacterial ExpressionInsect ExpressionYeast ExpressionMammalian ExpressionBy End UserR&D LabsPharmaceutical companiesBiotech CompaniesAcademic InstitutionsCRO (Clinical Research Organisations)Protein Expression Technology Market: Region-wise OutlookFMIs report on the protein expression technology market offers market forecast and analysis on North America, Latin America, Western Europe Eastern Europe, Japan, APEJ (Asia Pacific excluding Japan) and MEA (Middle East and Africa).Visit For TOC@North America and Western Europe are the leading markets for protein expression technology. High adoption rate of personalised medicines, along with increasing investment in healthcare R&D are driving the growth of the market in these regions.Protein expression technology market in emerging regions, such as Latin America and APEJ is expected to grow at a promising rate owing to increasing FDI in the healthcare sector. Moreover, growth in the pharmaceutical research outsourcing sector in India and China will also stimulate the protein expression technology market in APEJ region during the forecast period. Emphasis on the agricultural research for development for plant viral-vector based protein expression technology is expected to gain traction in APEJ region due to adoption of genetic engineering for increasing agricultural yield. The protein expression technology market in Latin America and MEA is also expected to witness steady growth during the forecast period, owing to increasing emphasis on boosting the healthcare sector.Protein Expression Technology Market: Key Market PlayersKey participants in the protein expression technology market are Qiagen N.V., Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., EMD Millipore Corp., Oxford Expression Technologies Ltd., Promega Corporation, and Takara Bio Inc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Research report explores the Smart Workplace Market for the forecast period, 2016-2026 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1634 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1634 www.futuremarketinsights.com Smart workplace is a workspace, which exploits the use of technology and networking for all the works in the offices. Smart workplace enables the employees to do their day-to-day works more efficiently with smart devices, better global collaboration. The early traditional work places included so much complications and wastage of resources. With the introduction of new technologies and gadgets like laptops, tablets, LED monitors and better internet connectivity has changed the face of traditional workplace by eliminating the bulky monitors and paper works making better utilization of space in the organizations. With the trends of flexible working hours and work from home concepts, the employs do not have to commute from far places to workplace; instead, they can work more efficiently from home saving time and increasing productivity. The adoption of smart technologies such as, smart lighting, better internet connectivity in the workplace will also contribute to saving energy costs in the buildings. The key factors for a smart workplace are enhancing the strategy & ownership, devices & mobility, applications & cloud services, data & security, collaborative services and user care. The global market for smart workplace will register a healthy CAGR over the forecast period.Global Smart Workplace Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe global smart workplace market is primarily driven by the need of energy savings at the workplace, better productivity by using new technologies like tools for data storing and communications, reduce cost, and make optimum use of resources available at workplace. The increasing demand for flexibility in working is another factor, which is driving the market for global workplace globally as it saves time of the employees commuting from home to workplace and can utilize that time working from home. The need for more sustainable workplaces is also driving the market for smart workplaces. For example, Hewlett-Packard consolidated its two working places into a single location, which resulted in considerable reduction in amount of carbon dioxide emissions hence causing less harness to the environment.Request Free Report Sample@Global Smart Workplace Market: Market SegmentationBased on smart technologies, the global smart workplace market can be segmented into:Smart Lighting SystemsLaptopsTabletsEnergy Saving SystemsSecurity SystemsCommunication systemsBased on the buildings, the smart workplace market can be segmented into:Smart buildingsOther BuildingsGlobal Smart Workplace Market: Regional OutlookBased on the geographic regions, global smart workplace market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, North America market for smart workplace currently holds the largest market share with adoption of new technologies and regulations for sustainable workplace in the region. Asia-Pacific market for smart workplace is followed by the North American market, and it is expected that the Asia-Pacific market for smart workplace will account for largest market share by the end of forecast period. The adaptability of smart work place in the other regions such as Latin America, Middle East Africa is comparatively slow as compared to other regions. However, these regions will show moderate growth rates over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Global Smart Workplace Market: Key PlayersSome of the major players identified in the global automotive seating systems market includes, Johnson Controls Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Siemens AG, Schneider Electric S.A., and ABB Ltd. among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has stated the system of the electronic declaration of officials' assets would be launched from September 1. "We do not just create anti-corruption infrastructure. Electronic declaration will be launched on September 1, all the steps will be taken for the effective work of the anti-corruption system," the head of state said at a meeting of the National Reforms Council in Kyiv. He noted the importance of creating an adequate environment for investors inside the country, including steps to combat corruption and reboot the judicial system. As reported, on August 23 Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman at a government meeting demanded the launch of the electronic declaration system from September 1, 2016 and threatened with dismissal in case of failure. "My goal is to launch electronic declaration from September 1. I demand this. There is no other date except for this one," he said and warned of the personal responsibility of those being in charge of the launch of electronic declaration. Saudi Arabia Personal Protective Equipment Market Driven by Expanding Oil and Gas Sector, to Exhibit 7% CAGR 2015-2021 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=9203 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/saudi-arabia-personal-protective-equipment-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research (TMR) has announced the release of a new report on the Saudi Arabia personal protective equipment market. The report contains detailed information on the historical trajectory of the market up to 2014 and studied forecasts regarding the markets development from 2015 to 2021.The report is titled Personal Protective Equipment Market - Saudi Arabia Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 - 2021 and is available for sale on TMRs official website.According to the figures presented in the report, the Saudi Arabia personal protective equipment market generated revenue of US$275.1 mn in 2014. TMR analysts expect the market to exhibit a sturdy 7% CAGR in the 2015-2021 forecast period. This will result in the markets annual revenue rising to US$444.2 mn.Get More Information:Personal protective equipment consists of various devices and contraptions that protect an individual from accidents in the workplace. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a promising market for personal protective equipment in recent years due to the rising incorporation of rules set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the increasing awareness about worker safety. The Saudi Arabia market for personal protective equipment is expected to exhibit steady growth in the coming years and drive the overall personal protective equipment in the Middle East as a result.The oil and gas sector is the major end user of personal protective equipment in Saudi Arabia. The industry accounted for 40% of the Saudi Arabia personal equipment market in 2014 and is expected to remain the leading end-use segment of the market for years to come. The rising demand for petroleum fuels is the primary driver for the Saudi Arabia oil and gas industry, thus indirectly driving the Saudi Arabia personal protective equipment market.Based on product type, the report segments the Saudi Arabia personal protective equipment market into head protection, eye and face protection, professional footwear, protective clothing, fall protection, hand protection, respiratory protection, and hearing protection. Of these, professional footwear accounted for a dominant share in the Saudi Arabia personal protective equipment market in 2014. The dominance of the professional footwear segment can be attributed to its high demand from the oil and gas sector.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Head protection equipment is expected to exhibit a robust growth rate in the coming years. The rising awareness about the importance of head protection is responsible for the growing demand for head protection equipment.While the Saudi Arabia market for personal protective equipment is driven by the rising regulatory support and growing awareness, the increasing production of off-brand local products is a threat to the organized personal protective equipment market.On the basis of geography, the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia accounted for the majority share in the personal protective equipment market. The established presence of oil and gas, construction, and chemicals giants in the Eastern province is responsible for the growing demand for personal protective equipment.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.ContactTMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Advent of 3D Printing Compels Specialty Printing Consumables Manufacturers in U.S. to Focus on Product Innovation, Observes TMR http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=833 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/us-specialty-printing-consumables.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com With the advent of 3D printing, the U.S. consumer markets are witnessing a revolution in the packaging of products, finds Transparency Market Research. The 3D printing technology is experiencing a widespread adoption in a number of industries, thanks to reduced production wastage, it provides with. Leading specialty printing consumables manufacturers, such as DIC Corp., Xerox Corp., Canon Inc., HP Development Co., and Eastman Kodak Co. are working aggressively on product innovation to meet the increasing expectations of consumers. For instance, Canon has recently unveiled new resin 3D printer concept, which is, as Canon says, well suited for rapid prototyping as well as rapid manufacturing.Over the coming years, the leading participants in the U.S. specialty printing consumables market will have to focus on strategic coalitions and forming partnerships with companies in other sectors in order to expand their product saleGet More Information:Rapid Expansion of Domestic and Industrial Markets in U.S. Influences Demand for Specialty Printing ConsumablesThe demand for specialty printing consumables in the U.S. is highly influenced by the rapid expansion of the countrys domestic and industrial markets. As these consumables are widely utilized in facilities such as offices, hospitals, schools, and colleges, new construction as well as expansion of these facilities offer a considerable growth potential to their manufacturers.Going forward, the rise in the IT and the industrial sectors will boost the demand for specialty printing consumables significantly in the nation over the next few years. The widespread application of printing for the purpose of business communication and other business processes too will accelerate the sale of these consumables in the coming years.Apart from this, the demand for these consumables will also be stimulated by the surge in the U.S. printing industry, propelled by the growing demand for attractive packaging.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Specialty Printing Consumables Find Maximum Application in Office and Professional UsageAnalysts at TMR estimate the opportunity in specialty printing consumables in the U.S., which stood at US$24.1 bn in 2015, to rise at a CAGR of 4.40% during the period from 2016 to 2024 and reach around US$35.7 bn by the end of the forecast period. These consumables have found most of their application in the office and professional usage in this country and the trend is likely to remain the same over the next few years.Among all the specialty printing consumables, toners witness the highest demand. In 2015, they accounted for a share of approximately 48% in the markets total revenue. Analysts expect this segment to remain dominant throughout the period of the forecast; however, the demand for specialty substrate is likely to register the fastest growth during the same period.Similarly, the demand for lithographic printing is projected to remain the highest between all types of printing processes; however, digital printing will notice a significant surge in its application, making it the fastest growing segment.The study presented here is based on a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled Specialty Printing Consumables Market - U.S. Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Demand for Cost-effective Products to Intensify Cost War among Vendors in Asia Pacific Endoscopy Devices Market, states TMR http://bit.ly/2c29syo http://bit.ly/2btjtZT http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market features a moderate level of consolidation, with the top four vendors collectively accounting for over 60% of the overall market in 2015, states Transparency Market Research in a recent report. These companies, including Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Boston Scientific Corporation, Olympus Corporation, and Stryker Corporation, compete with a large number of small- and medium-sized companies operating across specialty segments, giving rise to an intense level of price competition.Avail Free Sample Research Report:The rising demand for technologically advanced products across developing economies in Asia Pacific could further fuel rivalry among key vendors in the market. So as to stay ahead of the competition in the market, key vendors are adopting the course of innovation and introduction of technologically advanced products. Most of countries in the region being developing economies and having a large base of cost-conscious consumers, focusing on ways of reducing product costs could also enable vendors to reach-out to a larger consumer base.Transparency Market Research states that the endoscopy devices market in Asia Pacific will expand at a healthy pace of 7.6% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024. The market, which had a valuation of US$7.76 bn in 2015, is expected to rise to US$14.8 bn by 2024.Rise in Investments and Mergers and Acquisitions to Have Far-reaching Impact on Markets TrajectoryOn a global scale, the endoscopy devices market has witnessed a vast rise in investment in companies already operating in the endoscopy devices business and acquisition of a large number of specialty medical device makers by many global medical device giants. A recent instance is the April 2016 acquisition of Stanmore Implants Worldwide Limited by Stryker Corporation. The vast numbers of mergers and acquisitions have helped the market gain notable level of maturation. This has also allowed global players to increase their scope for market expansion and pay more focus on lucrative regional markets such as Asia Pacific.The Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market is also driven by the vast rise in the regions geriatric population, rising disposable incomes, increased emphasis on minimally invasive surgeries, increased healthcare expenditures. With the vast rise in geriatric population, especially in countries such as Japan and China, the number of surgeries employing a variety of endoscopy devices has also skyrocketed.High Costs of Treatment and Dearth of Trained Surgeons Still Key Challenges for MarketA vast share of population in Asia Pacific still belong to middle class or lower middle class income group. The relatively higher costs of endoscopy devices and inevitably the surgeries and diagnostic methods involving these devices is a huge setback when it comes to serving this demographic. The factor is a key restraint to the overall development of the Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market presently and is expected to remain a key-impact factor for the market for the next few years as well.Along with this, the factor of lack of adequate specialist surgeons and physicians trained and qualified for using complex medical devices such as endoscopes is also a prominent restraint for the Asia Pacific endoscopy devices market. According to the World Bank, China, India, and Indonesia had 1.8, 0.6, and 0.3 physicians per 1,000 people, including general and specialist medical practitioners.Browse Research Report:Nevertheless, factors such as the rising awareness regarding the availability of effective medical devices for treating complex health conditions and rising prevalence of a number of chronic conditions will continue to drive the increased demand for endoscopy devices in Asia Pacific in the next few years. On the basis of geography, Japan led the market in 2015, accounting for a 35% share in markets overall revenues. The product segment of endoscopy visualization systems dominated, accounting for over 46% of markets overall revenues in 2015.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market: Growing at a CAGR of 6.3% between 2016 and 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Research has published a new report titled Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market by API Synthesis (Biotech API, Synthetic Chemical API, and HPAPI), by Type of Manufacturing (Contract Manufacturing and In-House API Manufacturing), by Type of API (Synthetic API and Biological API), by Drug Type (Branded Drugs, Generic Drugs and OTC Drugs), for Cardiology, Oncology, Anti-Inflammatory, Gastrointestinal and Other Application - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 2021. According to the report, global demand for active pharmaceutical ingredient market was valued at USD 148.22 billion in 2015, is expected to reach USD 213.84 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% between 2016 and 2021.Request Sample Report:APIs are frequently referred as "bulk pharmaceuticals. The active pharmaceutical ingredient is a biologically active portion of any pharmaceutical drug. Occasionally, API needs cofactor in order to attain specific effects on the body. Some active pharmaceutical ingredients are unidentified and therefore need additional substances, which can work in combination with the API to generate the required medicinal effect on the body. In herbal medicines, the API is generally a mixture of various substances, which act collectively on the body.The market for API is expected to have the highest growth rate in the forecast period. The increasing prevalence of diabetes, neurological disorders, and other chronic diseases are the major driving factor of the global API market. One of the key drivers of the API market is an increase in the outsourcing of active pharmaceutical ingredients manufactured by pharmaceutical companies which are done to reduce both manufacturing and infrastructure costs. Such outsourced manufacturing activities are carried out by low-cost vendors in the Asia Pacific region.However, strict regulations are one of the major challenges faced by the global API market. Such regulations are predominantly well defined in developed regions such as North America and Europe. Vendors in this market space are supposed to obey the detailed procedures prior to product commercialization.Do Inquiry before buying:The global API market is segmented based on API synthesis, type of manufacturing, and type of API, application and by region. Depending on synthesis market is classified into biotech API, synthetic chemical API, and HPAPI. On the basis of the type of drug, the market is segmented into branded drugs, generic drugs, and OTC (Over the Counter) drugs. The branded drug segment accounted for the largest share in 2015. Different therapeutic application of the API market includes cardiology, oncology, anti-inflammatory, gastrointestinal and others. The oncology segment is anticipated to grow at the highest growth rate in coming years due to increasing prevalence of cancer worldwide.North America is leading market for API and acquired the largest share in 2015. Asia-Pacific region is expected to emerge as fastest growing region due to low operation costs and high investments in medical research. Furthermore, the high cost of trained labor and energy are the most important factors that enforced European market to move their base to develop countries such as India and China.Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited, Novartis International AG, BASF SE, Pfizer, Inc., Aurobindo, Albemarle Corporation, and Boehringer Ingelheim among others are some of the leading players in API market.Browse detail report at:The report segments the global active pharmaceutical ingredient market asActive Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market: API Synthesis Segment AnalysisBiotech APISynthetic Chemical APIHPAPIActive Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market: Type of Manufacturing Segment AnalysisContract ManufacturingIn-House API ManufacturingActive Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market: Type of API Segment AnalysisSynthetic APIBiological APIActive Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market: Drug Type Segment AnalysisBranded DrugsGeneric DrugsOTC DrugsRead Report TOC:Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Market: Therapeutic Application Segment AnalysisCardiologyOncologyAnti-InflammatoryGastrointestinalOtherAbout UsZion Market Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Market Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Flavors Market: Growing at a CAGR of 7.5% between 2016 and 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/flavors-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/flavors-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/flavors-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/flavors-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Flavors Market by Type (Natural and Synthetic) for Beverages, Bakery, Confectionery, Dairy, Savory & Snacks and Others Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 2021. According to the report, global demand for flavors was valued at USD 11.50 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 15.60 billion in 2021, growing at a CAGR of 7.5% between 2016 and 2021. In terms of volume, the global flavors market stood at 587.0 million tons in 2015.Request Sample Report:A flavor is a very important entity of the food industry. It is primarily utilized to enhance and accelerate the taste, smell, and color of the products. It is available in two categories i.e. natural and synthetic. However, natural flavors are in great demand due to the shifting preferences for natural flavors rather than the synthetic. Natural flavors are derived from fruits, vegetables, and other substances, while synthetic flavors are obtained from chemicals. It has many diverse applications such as food and beverages, oral care industry, the beer industry, etc.The major driving factor of global flavors market is growing demand for convenience food across the globe. Secondly, the demand for various flavors is increasing from the beverages industry which is expected to fuel the demand for flavors during the years to come. However, stringent rules and regulations imposed by regulatory bodies on flavors are likely to hinder the growth of the market. Furthermore, new raw material sources are projected to open new opportunities for flavor market in coming years.The global flavors market is bifurcated in two types viz. natural and synthetic flavors. In 2015, natural flavors were in great demand across the globe and it accounted for 50% share of the entire market. Additionally, the dominance of the segment is expected to prolong within the forecast period owing to rising demand towards heath concerns.Do Inquiry before buying:Beverages were the foremost application accounted for 25% share of the market and further it is predicted to continue this trend due to growing demand for beer consumption across the globe. The beverage application is expected to grow at CAGR of 10.0% in near future. Moreover, emerging market is likely to grow the demand for dairy and savory & snacks within the forecast period.In 2015, North America dominated the market for flavors with 30.0% market share followed by Europe. This was mainly contributed by heavy consumption of beverages in this region due to the climatic condition in the region. Asia Pacific is likely to experience high-growth over the period due to the growing demand for flavors used in sauces & seasonings especially in emerging economies such as China, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Moreover, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa also projected to have moderate growth for flavors market in coming years.Some of the key players operatives in the global market of flavors include Givaudan, Firmenich SA, Kerry Group plc, Symrise AG, Wild Flavors Inc., Frutarom Industries Ltd., SunOpta, Inc, International Flavors and Fragrances Inc., Mane Fils SA, Archer Daniels Midland Company and Sensient Technologies Corporation. Among these major players, Givaudan is one of the dominating companies which accounts for a major chunk in global flavors market in 2015.Browse detail report at:The report segments the global flavors market as:Flavors Market: Type AnalysisNaturalSyntheticFlavors Market: Application AnalysisBeveragesBakeryConfectioneryDairySavory & SnacksOtherFlavors Market: Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaRead Report TOC:About UsZion Market Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Market Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Power Rental Market: Growing at a CAGR of 13.0% between 2016 and 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/power-rental-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/power-rental-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/power-rental-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/power-rental-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Power Rental Market by End-User (Oil & Gas, Industrial, Construction and Others) For Peak Shaving, Base Load/ Continuous Power and Standby Power Applications: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2014 - 2020 According to the report, The global power rental market was valued at approximately USD 10.02 billion in 2014 and is expected to reach approximately USD 20.30 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of over 13.0% between 2015 and 2020.Request Sample Report:Power is generated by burning fossil fuels such coal, oil or gas to generate steam that drives large turbines that produce electricity. Power rental is referred as plant hire which provide flexibility, reliability, speed and cost-effectiveness. Power on rent can deliver complete operating power packages as well as provide scalable components within large power station installations to various industrial applications.The global power rental market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period on account of increasing demand for power across the globe. The increasing power consumption, development of power infrastructure, and increasing construction & development is anticipated to boost the demand for power rental in the coming years. Furthermore, increasing demand for power from oil & gas industry is also a major driving force of the power rental market. However, the presence of stringent regulations coupled with rising environmental awareness may hamper the market growth in the near future. Nonetheless, increasing demand for power in emerging economics is expected to open up new growth avenues for the power rental market in the years to come.Oil & gas, industrial, construction, and others are the key end-users of the power rental market. Industrial segment emerged as the leading application segment by accounting for over 22 % of the total revenue generated by the power rental market in 2014. Construction is another key outlet of power rental market and it held over 20% share of the overall market in 2014. This is mainly due to grow infrastructural development in the emerging economics. Oil & gas is also expected to exhibit substantial demand within the forecast period.Do Inquiry before buying:Based on application, the power rental market can be segmented into peak shaving, base load/continuous power and standby power. Base load/continuous accounted for 45.56% share of total revenue generated in 2014. Base load/continuous segment are expected to exhibit a significant rise in light of the increasing demand from various sectors such as oil & gas, mining and construction and others. Peak shaving is another leading application segment owing to rising awareness among energy-intensive industries in order to control the charged over high energy demand during peak hours.In terms of geography, Middle East & Africa dominated the global power rental market and accounted for 31.63% of total revenue in 2014. This growth is mainly attributed to growing construction and developmental activities in this region. North America was the second largest regional market with 21.32% share of total revenue generated in 2014. Asia Pacific holds immense potential for the industry growth over the forecast period. Recently, emerging economies including India, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia have been contributing significantly to the demand for power rental in industrial sector owing to rapid industrialization.Some of the key players include in power rental market such as Atlas Copco, United Rental, Cummins Inc, APR Energy Inc, Caterpillar Inc and Power Electrics.Browse detail report at:This report segments the global power rental market as follows:Global Power Rental Market: End-Users Segment AnalysisOil & GasIndustrialConstructionOthersGlobal Power Rental Market: Application Segment AnalysisPeak shavingBase load/ Continuous powerStandby powerRead Report TOC:Global Power Rental Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyFranceUKAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaAbout UsZion Market Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Zion Market Research experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants uses proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Fatty Amides Market is anticipated to value at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2016-2022 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10004 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/fatty-amides-market/toc http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/fatty-amides-market.asp According to a new market report published by Persistence Market Research titled, Global Market Study on Fatty Amides: Increasing Demand from Film & Sheets Industry to Drive Growth of Market during the Forecast Period 2016 - 2022, the global fatty amides market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.2% in terms of value over 2016 - 2022. Global Fatty Amides (Erucamide, Oleamide, Stearamide, and Behenamide) Market is Expected to be Valued at US$ 223.1 Mn by 2016 end, owing to factors such as increasing demand for polyolefin films in developing countries and cost-efficient solutionsFatty amides are derived from fatty acids such as erucic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid. Primary fatty amides such as erucamide, oleamide, stearamide, and behenamide are widely used as slip agents and anti-blocking agents by polyolefin film processing industries. Erucamide is a primary amide and is synthesized by reacting erucic acid with gaseous ammonia. Around 35% of erucic acid produced globally is used for commercial manufacturing of erucamide.Download Sample of this report @ Erucamide is preferred as a slip agent for polyolefin film processing due to its ability to reduce value of the coefficient of friction (COF) of the film surface. Oleamide has found wide application in the manufacturing of polyolefin films, which can use for food packaging. It is referred to as fast blooming agent due to its ability to move rapidly on film surface. It is used as a dispersing agent in printing ink and dyes. Behenamide is an unsaturated long-chain carboxylic acid amide derived from behenic acid. Behenic acid is synthesized by hydrogenation of erucic acid, which is further reacted with ammonia to produce behenamide. It offers anti-blocking and slipping properties that maintain polyolefin films clarity. Stearamide is a saturated long-chain carboxylic acid amide derived from stearic acid-a fatty acid. It offers better anti-blocking properties and slipping properties compared to erucamide and oleamide. Stearamide and behenamide are used in combination with erucamide as an anti-blocking agent in polyolefin film processing.Download TOC of this report @Fatty amides are commercially sold in various forms such as beads, micro beads, powder, and pastilles. End-user industries such as film processing and ink manufacturers prefer fatty amides in beads form due to easy of handling. The global fatty amides market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% in terms of volume during the forecast period.In terms of market value, Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the global fatty amides market over the forecast period, followed by Europe, which is estimated for the account for one-fourth share of the global market value by 2016 end. Consumption of fatty amides in the Middle East and Africa is expected to witness relatively slow growth as compared to other regions. The fatty amides market in North America is expected to expand at a low growth rate compared to other regions in terms of value between 2016 and 2022.Browse through the full Global Fatty Amides Market Report @Croda International Plc, PMC Biogenix Inc., and Fine Organic Industries Pvt. Ltd. are the leading players in the global market of fatty amides. Other players include Italmatch Chemicals S.p.A., Nippon Fine Chemicals Co. Ltd., Nippon Kasei Chemicals Limited, Kao Corporation, and Haihang Industries Co. Ltd.About USPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact usPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Smart View Systems Market : Information, Figures and Analytical Insights 2015 2021 Smart View Systems Market http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/7229 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/7229 With growing population and increasing crime across the globe, the individual safety is becoming a major concern. In order to overcome such problems, technological implementations such as installations of video camera play a vital role which is realized by many entities and individual around the world. Smart view system comprises set of various hardware and software such as video surveillance system and recorders. Nowadays, smart view systems can be easily be installed in commercial as well as residential places to ensure the seamless operation while ensuring the high-level security. By implementing such system within the cities and commercial facilities the local government/municipalities and an individual has benefited in many ways such as increased safety and reduced level of pollutants.View Sample Report :Rising concern over safety, stringent government laws towards video surveillance in commercial places are some of the major drivers along with macroeconomic factors such as increasing national income resulting in infrastructural developments and growing GDP are fuelling the growth of the global smart view systems market. However, the high cost of implementation and slower adoption rate in some countries can pose a major challenge towards the growth of the global smart view systems market.Global smart view system market is segmented on the basis of geography, by a range and by end users. On the basis of range, the market is segmented into three categories;Short RangeMedium RangeLong RangeOn the other hand, on the basis of end-users the market is categorized into two segments namely; residential and industrial & commercial.The global smart view system market is expected to grow with the significant rate over the forecast period from 2015 to 2025. As of 2014, the medium range of smart view camera dominated the market, while long rage is expected to expand at higher CAGR. In terms of volume commercial & industrial segment accounted for more than 60% shares due to expanding industrial and commercial infrastructure activity in developing economies such as India and China.The global smart view systems market is geographically segmented into seven key regions which are, North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific, Japan and the Middle East & Africa. As of 2014, Asia Pacific dominated the global smart view system market followed by North America and Europe. In terms of value and volume, Asia Pacific is anticipated to remain dominant over the forecast period. On the other hand, BRIC countries are expected to grow at higher CAGR when compared to other countries in their respective regions.Some of the key players identified in global smart view systems market are CBS Interactive Inc., ADLINK Technology Inc., CCTV Camera Pros, Secureye Pvt Ltd., Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc. among others.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology, and applications.The report covers exhaustive analysis on:Market SegmentsMarket DynamicsMarket SizeSupply & DemandCurrent Trends/Issues/ChallengesCompetition & Companies involvedTechnologyValue ChainRegional analysis includesNorth America (U.S., Canada)Latin America (Mexico. Brazil)Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific excluding Japan (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)JapanThe Middle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, N. Africa)The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.Request TOC :Report Highlights:Detailed overview of parent marketChanging market dynamics in the industryIn-depth market segmentationHistorical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and valueRecent industry trends and developmentsCompetitive landscapeStrategies of key players and products offeredPotential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growthA neutral perspective on market performanceMust-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United StatesUSA - Canada Toll Free: +1 800-961-0353 Aroma Chemicals Market: Size, Share, competitive landscape, current industry trends by 2015 - 2021 http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/aroma-chemicals-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/aroma-chemicals-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/aroma-chemicals-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/aroma-chemicals-market http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Aroma chemicals are an essential group of organic molecules used as ingredients in flavor and fragrance compositions. It imparts a pleasing scent to consumer goods such as perfumes, toiletries, cosmetics, detergents and household cleaners. Aroma chemicals consist of natural and artificial molecules. There are 3,500 different molecules used to make fragrance and flavor compositions. Synthetic ingredients play a major role as a component due to their existing availability and relatively lower cost as compared with natural molecules.Request Sample Report:The worldwide market for aroma chemicals is expected to grow at moderate rate owing to favorable economic conditions and increase in disposable incomes along with enhanced end user awareness of personal grooming and hygiene. Furthermore, demand from companies that manufacture food, soaps and detergents, cosmetics, toiletries, and household products may boost the market growth in upcoming years. Additionally, rise in demand from the developing countries coupled with significant technological advancements has helped in the fragrance ingredients market. Consolidation of aroma chemical manufacturers is a key trend contributing to the growth of this market. However, factors such as expensive R&D programs and the need for compliance with regulatory standards may curtail the market growth.The report covers forecast and analysis for the aroma chemicals market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes study of opportunities available in the aroma chemical market on a global level.Do Inquiry before buying:Global aroma chemicals market has been segmented on the basis of type and region. On the basis of type, aroma chemical market is classified into natural aroma chemicals and synthetic aroma chemicals. Geographically, aroma chemical market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific region is estimated to emerge as the fastest growing region due to huge domestic consumption of aroma chemicals in India. Furthermore, rapid urbanization and growing disposable income have increased the demand for cosmetics and processed foods in the region which may further boost the demand for market. The market for aroma chemicals in Latin America is anticipated to grow significantly owing to increasing economic scenario in the countries such as Brazil. Growing income levels in the region is expected to impel the demand for cosmetics, food, and personal care products which may fuel the market.Key players in the global aroma chemicals market are Hindustan Mint and Agro Products Pvt. Ltd., Kalpsutra Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Takasago International Corp., Veera Fragrances Pvt. Ltd, Silverline Chemicals Ltd, J. K. Fragrances, and Agilex Flavors & Fragrances among others.Browse detail report at:This report segments the aroma chemicals market as follows:Aroma Chemicals Market: Type Segment AnalysisNatural aroma chemicalsSynthetic aroma chemicalsAroma Chemicals Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaRead Report TOC:About Us:Zion Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Zion Market Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading industry and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite: Global Prefilled Syringes Market to Expand at 13.3% CAGR from 2019 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1131 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/prefilled-syringes-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Transparency Market Research has recently published a report on the global prefilled syringes market. The report, titled Prefilled Syringes Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Volume, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019, offers an insightful study on the global prefilled syringes market and projects the expansion of the market at a CAGR of 13.3% during the period from 2013 to 2019. The global prefilled syringes market stood at a valuation of US$2.09 bn in 2012 and is anticipated to be worth US$4.98 bn by 2019. The report identifies the key factors impacting the growth of the market and profiles some of the prominent players in the market.Download Exclusive Global Strategic Business Report:In the injectable drug delivery devices market, the prefilled syringes segment is one of the fastest growing segments. Various benefits of prefilled syringes including reduced risk of cross contamination, and ease of handling and administration have led to their increased demand in the market.The report states that the continuous growth in the injectable drugs market worldwide has boosted the growth of the global prefilled syringes market. The advantages of prefilled syringes over conventional vials and syringe packing systems have supported the markets growth. Increase in the demand for point-of-care administration and technological advancements in the manufacturing of prefilled syringes are expected to augment the growth of the market during the forecast horizon. However, the introduction of alternative drug delivery methods might hamper the growth of the market.On the basis of material used for the manufacturing of barrel of the syringe, prefilled syringes can be classified into two types: Plastic prefilled syringes and glass prefilled syringes. The glass prefilled syringes are considered as the standard syringes in the industry and hence, this syringe segment dominates the overall market in terms of volume and revenue. However, the market is witnessing the extensive utilization of polymer or plastic by syringe manufacturers.Key regions in the global prefilled syringes market are Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. In terms of revenue and volume, Europe has emerged as the largest regional market for prefilled syringes. During the forecast horizon, North America is projected to witness expansion at a CAGR of 15%. The robust growth of the North America prefilled syringes market can be attributed to the increased shift from vials to prefilled syringes and the presence of some of the key drug manufacturers in the region. While Asia Pacific has been one of the late adopters of prefilled syringes, the region is anticipated to grow rapidly owing to the presence of a large patient pool and the growing awareness about prefilled syringes.Some of the key players in the global prefilled syringes market are Schott AG, Gerresheimer AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Nipro Corporation, Baxter International Inc., Ypsomed Holding AG, Stevanato Group, Unilife Corporation, Bespak, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., and Vetter Pharma International GmbH. These players have been profiled on the basis of company overview, product portfolio, and financial overview. For the new and existing players in the market, the report offers strategic recommendations such as the adoption of polymer technology for the manufacturing of prefilled syringes and investments in the emerging markets in North America.Browse Research Report on Global Prefilled Syringes Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Investigators probing the death of the journalist and founder of the New Region news website, Alexander Shchetinin, have ordered a number of tests to be carried out in order to confirm or dismiss the suicide theory, Kyiv police spokesperson Oksana Blyschyk said. "Suicide is the main theory currently under consideration but we also have an open criminal inquiry under Article 115 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which is premeditated murder," Blyschyk told Channel 5 on Monday. The scene inspection and witnesses' accounts gathered by investigators (no sign of disturbances in the journalist's flat and the locked doors) point to a suicide, she said. "However, investigators have now ordered a number of forensic tests, both medical and ballistic ones. We are awaiting their conclusions to gather enough evidence to be able to take procedural action: either to confirm the suicide theory, or dismiss it and probe it already as a premeditated murder," Blyschyk said. It was reported that Shchetinin was found with a gunshot wound to his head in his apartment on August 28, 2016. A criminal inquiry was launched under Article 115 part one (premeditated murder) of the Ukrainian Criminal Code with an additional "suicide" classification. KyivOperativ, a crimes news portal, said on Facebook that the journalist was found on August 28 on the balcony by his friends who came to congratulate him on his birthday: "Alexander was sitting on a chair with a gunshot wound to his head (the pistol was underneath the chair)." Dolores Atiyeh Dolores Atiyeh helps a disabled child in Eugene in 1978. Atiyeh was active in numberous charities and organizations in Oregon for decades (LC- The Oregonian) Dolores Atiyeh, Oregon's first lady for eight years and a Portland native who advocated for children's health and arts-related issues for decades, died Monday. She was 92. She passed away at a Portland care facility due to age-related illness, according to a family spokesman. Her death comes more than two years after her husband, former Oregon Republican Gov. Vic Atiyeh, died at the age of 91. The former first lady was remembered Monday as being active in supporting the arts, education and reading. She wasn't in love with the political life, but also wasn't afraid to step in and push policies she believed in through the years. "She was just an incredible lady," said Denny Miles, the governor's former press secretary and the family spokesman. "It was an honor to know her." Vic Atiyeh was governor from 1979-1987 and worked for two decades as a state legislator. The family also owned Atiyeh Brothers, a Portland rug and carpet business. Dolores was involved in volunteer and charitable work dating back decades, Miles said in an interview. During her husband's second term, she helped push for a mandatory children's immunization bill, which passed in 1981. She was also active in passing a mandatory seat belt rule for children under the age of 5 in 1983. Miles said the bill was "not a softball issue," but Dolores threw herself into the fight. "It's kind of controversial, and she took the lead," he said. Dolores Hewitt was born in Portland in 1923 and went on to graduate from Southeast Portland's Washington High School. It was there that she and Vic Atiyeh first met and became high school sweethearts. "She was the pretty one," said Jim Moore, a Pacific University professor who is writing a biography of the former governor. "He thought she was out of his league." Dolores Atiyeh died Monday at the age of 92. The pair attended the University of Oregon, but neither graduated from the school after World War II began. Dolores had been studying art in the honors college, Miles said. Miles, who first met Dolores in 1977, said the couple were incredibly close. Vic "legitimately and with all seriousness gave so much credit to her for his successes," Miles said in an interview. The Atiyehs lived in Salem before the state purchased Mahonia Hall, the governor's mansion, it was during a different era of state politics. "There was almost no help with the housework. I kept books, answered letters, made speeches," Dolores told The Oregonian in 1987. "I liked it, but it was physically difficult to keep up the pace without help.'' The family lived in a rented home, which Dolores painted and decorated before moving in. "It was my silver, my crystal, my dishes and my furniture. And we paid $525-a-month rent,'' she said. She didn't love being a politician's wife, but excelled at some tasks where Vic struggled. Miles recalled during the re-election effort in 1982, Dolores enjoyed working the campaign room. She would walk around talking to everyone, a task Vic didn't enjoy as much. "Every time she'd talk to somebody, she put a sticker on their lapel," Miles recalled. That way she could survey the room and see who she might've missed. "That was something that she did, and did extremely well," he said. Moore echoed Mile fact that Dolores didn't revel in the political obligations. In an interview from the Vic Atiyeh archives at Pacific, recorded by the Oregon Historical Society, the state's 32nd governor said public life was "not easy for a spouse." "You've got a different life now than you had that you're used to," Vic said in the interview. Eight years after they left home in Portland for Salem, Vic said he recalled Dolores saying, 'Gee, it's nice to be home!'" Moore said the story of Dolores and Vic is "a love story" first and foremost. The couple had just celebrated their 70th anniversary weeks before Vic's death. They are survived by two grown children and five grandchildren. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen George Fox University George Fox University is in Newberg, Oregon. (Andrew Theen/The Oregonian) Two of Oregon's private Christian universities were included in a list of the "absolute worst campuses" for LGBTQ students. Campus Pride, a nonprofit organization that keeps tabs on how colleges and universities address gay, lesbian and transgender issues on campuses, released an updated list Monday of the 102 schools it says openly discriminate against LGBTQ students. George Fox, the Newberg-based university affiliated with the Quaker church, appeared on the list. Multnomah University, a private Christian school in Portland, also made the cut. "Most people are shocked when they learn that there are college campuses still today that openly discriminate against LGBTQ youth.," Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride's executive director said in a statement. "It is an unspoken secret in higher education, how they use religion as a tool for cowardice and discrimination." Campus Pride used two criteria to compile the list. Schools must have either received or applied for an exemption to the federal Title IX regulations, which prohibit schools that receive federal dollars from discrimination on the basis of sex. The organization also considered schools with "past history and track record of anti-LGBTQ actions, programs and practices." Windmeyer said he first published a list of 57 schools in Dec., 2015 that had received or requested Title IX waivers. Earlier this year, the Department of Education released more information on campuses that had requested waivers. Windmeyer said the new "Shame List" publicized Monday includes dozens of additional schools that have documented anti-LGBTQ policies. Read: See the full list Multnomah University applied for a Title IX waiver in 2015 on religious grounds but has not been approved. The school did not respond to a request for comment. George Fox received an exemption from Title IX requirements in 2014, allowing the school to prevent a transgender student from living in male student housing. The university's exemption applies to housing and bathrooms. A university spokesman didn't originally comment on the list, but referred to a website explaining the exemption and the school's policy on transgender students. George Fox "affirms the dignity of all people," the statement reads, "and is called to treat all people as Christ did, with compassion and respect." Nearly two weeks after the story first ran, George Fox spokesman Rob Felton issued a new statement. "Based upon their tax documents, Campus Pride is a three-employee LGBTQ advocacy group based in North Carolina," Felton said in an email. "We'd question what these three activists living nearly 3,000 miles away really know about George Fox or any of the 102 schools they've 'shamed.'" Elsewhere on its website, George Fox said it addresses transgender students' needs "on a case-by-case basis, prioritizing the well-being of the individual and community alike." "As an example, care is thus given to ensure that gender-neutral bathrooms are provided in academic and other facilities when possible," the school says. Last week, Campus Pride released its top LGBTQ-friendly campuses. Southern Oregon and Portland State universities were named to that list. UPDATE: This story was updated Sept. 9 with a new statement from George Fox. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen Japanese beetles are again invading Oregon, according to Oregon agriculture officials. The beetles can be destructive to turf and all sorts of plants, so if the beetle population keeps growing, officials may launch a campaign to kill them. Oregon, while mostly beetle-free, has been fighting the pests for more than 100 years. The bugs like to feed on some of Oregon's most notable and profitable plants -- roses, nursery plants and now marijuana could all be affected if a Japanese beetle population spread throughout the Willamette Valley or state. More than 265 Japanese beetles were found this summer, especially in the area where Washington County and Portland meet. The state agriculture department sets traps for various pests, and the bugs that showed up indicate that enough of the non-native bugs are breeding in that area to be a permanent population. They are mostly munching roses and other plants. An Oregon Department of Agriculture release said that the infestation likely took hold more than a year ago, but this is the first time it was detected. "Without community action, this pest will spread and cause an increased use of pesticides by homeowners and producers of agricultural crops such as cannabis, hops, nursery plants and wine grapes," said Clint Burfitt, manager of Oregon's Insect Pest Prevention and Management Program. Most states east of the Mississippi River have Japanese beetle problems, and more spots are popping up in Oregon, Washington and California. Usually, the beetles were carried through air cargo carriers into Portland International Airport. The agriculture department has launched eradication efforts in residential areas of Portland and Cave Junction. So far, that has kept the pest from spreading too much. Japanese beetles are also screened for when plant material enters the country. Agriculture officials have not made plans to target this most recent outbreak, but are doing more trapping, especially around Northwest Saltzman and Thompson roads. -- Molly Harbarger mharbarger@oregonian.com 503-294-5923 @MollyHarbarger The total aid issued by the Federal Government of Germany to support humanitarian activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Ukraine for the current and following years is EUR8 million. "The aid is provided within the project "ICRC Assistance, Protection, Prevention and Cooperation Activities in Ukraine 2016-2017." Once Germany earlier this year has already allocated EUR7 million to support the project, now it was decided to increase the financing by EUR1 million," the press and PR department of the German Embassy in Ukraine said. The embassy noted in 2015 Germany funded ICRC humanitarian activities in Ukraine for a total of EUR3 million. An undated photo showing ground-to-air missile system of Chinese Air Force. [Photo: mod.gov.cn] The Chinese Air Force is suggesting it may move to increase the capabilities of the country's existing anti-missile capabilities. Shen Jinke with the Chinese Air Force says upgrades to the ground-to-air forces in China would be a solid step toward increasing national security. "Through innovation, ground-to-air defense troops are able to deal with far-range, medium-range and short-range missiles which can come in on high, medium and low altitudes. The capability of China's air defense and anti-missile systems has greatly improved in the information age we live in. Our ground-to-air forces are now a powerful force to safeguard China's airspace sovereignty." In making the statement, the Chinese Air Force has not said when or how the current ground-to-air missile and anti-aircraft defense systems might be upgraded. The suggestion comes on the heels of plans by the US and South Korea to place the US THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea. Chinese authorities say the system poses a threat to both the stability of the Korean peninsula, but to China as well, as its radar systems will be able to penetrate into Chinese territory. Monday 29 August 2016 1:42pm 15.0m mother and calf right whale photographed from the drone. Photo by S. Dawson, taken under permit from Department of Conservation. The University of Otagos RV Polaris II returned to Otago last week having completed an extraordinarily successful expedition to the subantarctic Auckland Islands. Our focus was on documenting the status of the right whales which breed in Port Ross, says expedition leader Professor Steve Dawson. In addition to photographic surveys of the whales from small boats, the expedition used a drone a small four-rotor helicopter equipped with a high-resolution camera to document the condition of individual whales. We fitted our drone with a tiny laser range finder to measure altitude with a high degree of precision. Because of this we can measure the size and shape of right whales photographed from above. This helps us understand the population at the Auckland Islands, and is crucial for figuring out why some right whale populations (such as ours) are recovering strongly, while others, such as the North Atlantic right whale, are not, says Professor Dawson. The pictures were taken while the drone hovered 25-35m above the whales and the whales did not seem to react, says Professor Dawson. I dont think they knew the drone was there which means this technology provides a powerful non-invasive tool to assess the condition of individual whales. Despite the Auckland Islands being famously windy, the expedition was blessed with light winds and calm seas. In three weeks on site, we were able to fly our drone a total of 136 flights on 12 days far more than we expected. We gained measurement quality images of over 100 different individuals about a third of the whales present. Thats a great sample, but were most excited about getting measurement images of over 50 mothers and calves because these are the ones driving the populations recovery, he says. The expedition was funded by the New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute (NZARI), which is committed to supporting cutting-edge research that contributes to better understanding of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. NZARI Director Professor Gary Wilson comments, This expedition is a great example of the kind of research NZARI supports using new technology to learn more about how our southern ecosystems function and how we might use that to understand future changes. For further information, contact: Professor Steve Dawson Department of Marine Science University of Otago Tel: 03 479 7468 Email steve.dawson@otago.ac.nz (File photo) More humane slaughtering practices are making their way to China, where Shandong province just saw its first standard issued for the humane slaughter of chickens. According to the standard, slaughterhouses must avoid frightening or upsetting the poultry before they are dispatched for slaughter. Compiled by the College of Food Science and Engineering at Qingdao Agricultural University (QAU), the standard has been approved and issued by the local quality supervision, inspection and quarantine administration. It has clear requirements regarding living conditions and treatment for chickens, such as banning any violence during transportation. For example, chickens are not permitted to be dragged by one wing or leg during transportation, and transportation cannot last more than three hours. Before a chicken is killed, it must also be outfitted with a soothing pad on its chest to calm it down, and it must be killed only after losing consciousness through gas inhalation or other methods, reported Qilu Evening News. According to Professor Sun Jingxin from QAU, the humane slaughter of livestock goes beyond animal welfare, though animal rights are a rising topic of discussion in China. Sun said that such measures have also proven effective at improving meat quality, the newspaper added. Shandong is the biggest chicken breeding provincial region in China, providing some 20 percent of the country's chickens. However, the previous lack of humane slaughtering methods has been an obstacle for Shandong chickens and other agricultural products to be sent overseas, as the birds bear physical signs of their violent deaths even after processing. Many chickens wind up with broken wings and bruises, Sun noted. As early as 2007, Henan province launched China's first humane slaughter pilot project, requiring that pigs be rendered unconscious with an electric shock before being killed. The Henan project also mandated that live pigs be spared from watching the slaughter of other pigs, news site Guancha reported. A record number of developing countries are being invited to the 11th G20 Summit slated for Sept. 4-5 in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. Such move will bring the developing worlds engagement in global governance to an unprecedented high. Though G20 members include both developed and developing ones, the latter was not fully represented. By bringing the largest-ever presence of representatives from the developing world, China hops to cover this democratic deficit and help developing countries involve more in global governance. Ruan Zongze, Executive Vice President of China's Institute of International Studies, told People's Daily that the developing nations will shine the upcoming summit. The invited nations for this summit are all representative ones. The released information showed that Chadian President Idriss Deby, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Lao President Boungnang Vorachith, Senegalese President Macky Sall and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha are all on the name list. Among those nations, Chad is the rotating presidency of the African Union while Senegal is the planning presidency of the New Partnership for Africa's Development. Laos is now the rotating presidency of the ASEAN while Thailand is the rotating presidency of G77. Egypt and Kazakhstan can well represent the developing countries. These representative nations will help boost G20s communication with the African Union, ASEAN and G77 so that more voices of the developing countries will be heard. Such an arrangement also keeps abreast with the summits theme, namely "Building an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy". The meeting will also be more inclusive as developed world and developing world will sit together to plan for healthy and sustained development of world economy. Comparing China as a bridge linking the developing and developed countries, and connecting the developing world and the G20, Ruan stressed that it is more urgent now to include the developing countries into the global economic governance. The scholar also praised Chinas emphasis on the development. Hailing the host countrys arrangement as a wise choice, the scholar said with more participation in the summit, the developing nations can increase their involvement in G20 agendas and also set up cooperative partnership with G20 members. The uneven development is one reason for todays lackluster world economy. But more engagement of developing countries in G20 agendas will help narrow down such unbalance as the formers development will release more demands that will further drive world economic growth. The G20 members have proved this idea with the win-win cooperation between the developing and developed world since the 2008 financial crisis. Chinas decision to place the development at the core of global governance for the first time also meets the appeals of developing nations. By bring more voices of developing world in the summit, both developing and developed countries can have an equal-footed discussion on global economic affairs. Such an arrangement, which keeps in line with the shift of world economic landscape, can also be seen as a kind of historic progress. The merger between The Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co. is the topic of a hearing in September requested by one concerned U.S. senator. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, serves as the chairman of the Senates Judiciary Committee and recently called for a hearing on the merger, and its effect on the seed and chemical industry. Details were not finalized for the hearing, set for late September, and it is unclear who will represent the two chemical companies at the hearing. According to a statement on Grassleys website, the hearing will focus on the transactions currently being reviewed by antitrust regulators, and the current trend in consolidation of the seed and chemical industries. The seed and chemical industries are critical to agriculture and the nations economy, and Iowans are concerned that this sudden consolidation in the industry could cause rising input costs in an already declining agriculture economy, Grassley said in a statement. The $130 billion merger of equals, as it has been dubbed, would result in a combined company to be known as DowDuPont. It would then spin off into three independent, publicly traded companies within 18 to 24 months after the merger is closed, and is subject to regulatory and board approval. In addition to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the merger is being scrutinized by the Department of Justice and the European Union. In a press release Aug. 11, Dow and DuPont announced the European Commission initiated Phase II and that the companies continue to believe the merger is procompetitive and good for customers and consumers. In a separate press release that same day, the commission said the organization is concerned about the lack of competition that could result from the merger, especially in the agriculture industry. The Commission said the merger would create the worlds largest integrated crop protection and seeds company as well as a leading integrated producer of certain petrochemical products that are widely used in packaging and adhesive applications. That means some concerns about reduced competition in markets that could affect price, quality, choice and innovation, the commission stated. Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat who sits on the Judiciary Committee, said he doesnt expect the September hearing to raise any major impediments to the merger, according to an article published by Crains Detroit Business. Officials from both companies said they expect the merger transaction to close by the end of 2016, pending regulatory approvals. Not since 1985 has a Democrat represented the 4th Congressional District in Congress. Debra Wirth hopes to change that as she seeks a position that has been controlled by Republicans since Democrat Don Albosta lost in 1984. After being defeated by Republican Bill Schuette, Albosta left office on Jan. 3, 1985, back when the district was the 10th Congressional District. The Republicans think their seat is safe. We are going to show them they are wrong, that it is not a very safe seat. Democrats have proven that if we get together and we organize, we will win, Wirth said. Wirth issued that challenge as she appeared at the new Midland County Democratic Headquarters, 2720 Rodd St., to announce her candidacy. As an American and as a Democrat I couldnt think of any better way to spend my next 74 days, she said to a roomful of supporters, who not only promised their support, but also provided plenty of advice regarding her campaign. It hasnt been an easy process to get her name on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Wirths decision to run came too late to be included as a Democratic candidate on the Aug. 2 primary ballot. However, an extraordinary push by 4th District Democrats earned her enough write-in votes to have her name listed on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. The Clinton County resident needed about 1,200 valid write-in votes for her name to appear on the ballot. She received almost double that number, 2,200. Three months ago, I stepped in because there wasnt anybody who was going to run against (incumbent John Moolenaar), Wirth said. With your help and with the volunteers from 14 other counties in the district, I got enough write-in votes and it was certified (last) Monday. This campaign is her second attempt to secure the 4th Congressional seat that encompasses all or parts of 15 counties in Northern and Central Michigan, including: Clare, Clinton, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montcalm, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon, Saginaw, Shiawassee and Wexford. Ive met all the people in all the 15 counties: the rural people, the suburban people and the urban people. When I talk to every person and find out the issues, Ive seen the true heart of the 4th and I am so proud running in the 4th. I would love to represent the 4th, but Im proud to live in the 4th, Wirth said. In 2012, she ran against incumbent Dave Camp, who had served in Congress since 1991, and was soundly defeated. Unlike 2012, this time I have quite a team, Wirth said. And in the 2016 election, Wirth wont face a strongly entrenched candidate like Camp. Moolenaar, R-Midland, who succeeded Camp, will be making his first re-election bid for the upcoming two-year term. When asked what committees she would like to sit on, if elected, Wirth stated that she would like to finish the tax code that Camp introduced just before he left office. Im not saying I would do it the same way, Wirth said. I would definitely like to see a $15 minimum wage. For more information her campaign, visit facebook.com/wirthforcongress or wirthforcongress.com Officials spent the last few days busy in Mount Pleasant for Central Michigan Universitys Welcome Weekend, with a total of 344 arrests and citations. From 7 p.m. on Thursday to 7 a.m. on Sunday, officers responded to 653 calls for service. They also generated a number of cases. A 30-year-old man was jailed after a be-on-the-lookout report for a man who had just hit a utility pole with his vehicle and then drove away early Saturday morning. A Midland County sheriffs deputy responded to the 2:15 a.m. call in Jerome Township, and patrolled the area of the crash. The driver, who had put his car in a ditch again, was found. The deaf are off the radar of most church leadership, and shouldnt be, says the Rev. Little Tom Jackson. The deaf are off the radar of most church leadership, and shouldnt be, says the Rev. Little Tom Jackson. Jackson, lead pastor of Oak Brook Community Deaf Church near Chicago, laments that assertion because, he says, this distinct populace is the worlds third most unreached group. And there are more than 25 million deaf and hard-of-hearing in the United States, he adds. Churches that do have a heart for the deaf typically provide sign-language interpreters during a Sunday morning worship service or weekday Bible study. Thats better than nothing. But rather than translating oral content via word equivalents in sign language, Jackson says, the deaf prefer to have a deaf person to sign the meaning. Why? Theyre a distinct group of people, says Jackson. The deaf dont feel they can be involved in hearing church ministries, because they cant communicate with them nor vice versa. They have a separate language and culture, like English and Spanish are distinct. Ironically, Jacksonknown to his congregation as Pastor Littleis not deaf nor does he have relatives who are. In 2002 he felt the pull of the Lord to learn American Sign Language. He began volunteering at Oak Brook, a small body of about 50 members that was established nearly 25 years ago. In 2011 he was called to be its pastor. Jackson focuses on discipleship. I train a core group of leaders who later train others to become leaders and so on, says Jackson. We encourage members to become ministers. We want them to reach out to other people who are deaf. He said a few members have been licensed to preach via the Assemblies of God, with which Oak Brook is affiliated. His hope is for new churches to be planted. We need to help the deaf gain the confidence to reach out to other people who are deaf. Maine Governor Calls State Rep a 'C*cksucker,' Challenges Him to a Duel By Dustin Rowles | Politics | August 29, 2016 | The Bernie or Bust era of the election season was a particularly frightening prospect for me, because I live in Maine, a liberal state that hasnt voted for a Republican for President since 1988, the first state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage by referendum, and one of the first states to decriminalize cannabis, legalize medical marijuana and, in Portland, one of the first cities to completely legalize marijuana. And yet thanks to third-party candidates splitting the vote we have the worst, most racist Governor in the country and arguably a guy even worse than Donald Trump when it comes to blatantly racist remarks and telling it like it is. In case you need a refresher, here are 17 reasons why LePage is the worst governor in America. After last week, a few more reasons can be added to that list, because the man may have even crossed the Trump line. Our governor is a racist. He doesnt think hes a racist, but hes super racist. Hes suggested in the past that drug dealers D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty come to our state from New York and Connecticut and impregnate our white women. The nationwide backlash to that statement was swift and powerful, but it didnt ultimately temper LePages racist remarks. Last week, LePage calling back to those earlier remarks asserted that 90-plus percent of drug dealers arrested in Maine are black and Hispanic people. In fact, he says he has a a three-ringed binder with mug shots of all the people arrested, and that theyre almost all black and Hispanic people, except there are a whole lot of white girls, too. A whole lot of white girls. This would come as a surprise to most Mainers, because it would be shocking if over 90 percent of the drug dealers arrested here were black or Hispanic. Maine is 98 percent white. Literally. In fact, FBI statistics show for the last year on record that only 14 percent of the people arrested for drugs were black. LePage is basically trying to turn our state against blacks and Hispanics, just as Trump tried to turn us against our Somali community in August. After a predictable round of backlash about the comments, LePage naturally doubled down, arguing that people of color are the enemy. A bad guy is a bad guy. I dont care what color he 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. 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. Then LePage got super Trumpian after a reporter told LePage that a state congressman Drew Gattine, called LePage a racist. LePage called up Mr. Gattine, and he left the following voice mail: Mr. Gattine, this is Gov. Paul Richard LePage. I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you cocksucker. 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 cocksucker. You I need you to Just friggin. I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you. Our governor just called a state representative a cocksucker, and later, to the press, he said that he wanted to challenge that representative to a duel and shoot him between the eyes. When a snot-nosed little guy from Westbrook calls me a racist, now Id like him to come up here because, tell you right now, I wish it were 1825. And we would have a duel. Thats how angry I am. And I would not put my gun in the air, I guarantee you; I would not be [Alexander] Hamilton. I would point it right between his 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. This all happened in the course of a few days. Now, for the second time during his administration, people are talking impeachment. Many are asking that LePage resign. The state senate, meanwhile, is already suggesting censure, according to a state senator. What I do not know is whether it is due to substance abuse, mental illness or just ignorance. I certainly hope that his family and small circle of close staff are considering how best to address the issue. Things definitely appear to be out of control. Leadership is considering whether we need a special session of the legislature. Some sort of censure would seem appropriate and I would welcome the ability to go on the record with a vote. You want to know what a Trump presidency might look like? It might look a lot like this. In fact, the only good thing about a Trump presidency for Maine is that Trump would almost certainly put this guy in his cabinet and get him out of our state. Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba. CBS' 'BrainDead' Has the Very Best 'Previously On' Segments On Television | Rush Limbaugh Freaks Out Over "Lesbian Farmer" Invasion Rush Limbaugh Freaks Out Over "Lesbian Farmer" Invasion By Kristy Puchko | Politics | August 29, 2016 | Living in a devotedly Blue State, I have the luxury of forgetting that talk radio host/bile duct Rush Limbaugh exists, most of the time. But sometimes he says something so bonkers and weirdly bigoted that even those of us in the liberal hub of New York city hear it. New Now Next reports Limbaugh went on a rant about lesbian farmers and how theyre a threat to real America or something. Heres Limbaugh: Have you heard the latest Democrat scam? Have you heard about the Agriculture Departments financial grants to lesbian farmers? You think Im making this up? See, this is how they do it What the point of this is, folks, its not about lesbian farmers. What theyre trying to do is convince lesbians to become farmers Here comes the Obama regime with a bunch of federal money and theyre waving it around, and all you gotta do to get it is be a lesbian and want to be a farmer and theyll set you up Im like you; I never before in my life knew that lesbians wanted to be farmers. I never knew that lesbians wanted to get behind the horse and the plow and start burrowing. I never knew it. But apparently enough money can make it happen, and the objective here is to attack theyre already attacking suburbs, and that has been made perfectly clear by what happened in Milwaukee. And theyre going after every geographic region that is known to be largely conservative. They never stop, folks. They are constantly on the march. Now to be clear, Limbaugh is not talking about these lesbian farmers physically attacking anyone, as if theyre a part of some sloppy exploitation thriller. Hes going bellowy and red-faced over a a USDA program called Rural Pride, which last week held its 15th annual Nationwide LGBT Rural Summit at Drake University in Iowa with the support of President Obama. The program aims to improve the lives of LGBTQA people who live in rural areas, by showing them they have a community. Or as the USDA website explains: Each series will offer a unique opportunity for USDA and other federal agencies to share information relating to policies, programs, and services that exist to protect, promote and strengthen LGBT rural communities. But to Republicans in a panic, Rural Pride means: And from there its all ranting about how lesbians and transgender hillbillies an actual thing the newspaper The Washington Free Beacon wroteare out to invade rural America, which folks like Rush see as the last conservative bastion. How do you respond to such a ludicrous reaction? Lets go to Twitter: Rush Limbaugh warns that lesbian farmers will soon be invading our towns. How in the hell do you grow lesbians? Clay Jones (@claytoonz) August 24, 2016 Be the lesbian farmer invasion you want to see in the world. Jennifer Wright (@JenAshleyWright) August 25, 2016 The Lesbian Farmer Conspiracy is going to go down in the annals of all-time great Obama conspiracy theories. Dara Lind (@DLind) August 25, 2016 Comedian Kathryn Lounsbery thought a ridiculous musical was apropos: Kristy Puchko is the film editor of Pajiba. You can follow her on Twitter. Maine Governor Calls State Rep a 'C*cksucker,' Challenges Him to a Duel | Beyonce And John Oliver Make Their Cases For Becoming Superheros Question: A pantograph is a mechanical printing device used to copy a diagram, graph or drawing and there are millions of them. A Pantagraph, in the meantime, is a Greek word meaning write all things and is the name of this newspaper. Is there only one of those? BLOOMINGTON Thirty-three American Red Cross volunteers from Central and Southern Illinois are among people providing relief to survivors of the devastating flooding in Louisiana. "The situation in Louisiana remains critical," Lyn Hruska, CEO of the American Red Cross Central and Southern Illinois Region, said Monday. "The Red Cross response is really just getting underway as we will be in Louisiana to help people recover in the weeks and months to come." Red Cross volunteers include Joyce Cook of Streator, April Fisher of Bloomington, Dennis Greear of Forrest, Parker Lawlis of Normal, Dan Luthi of Washington, Mike McKnight of Normal, Diana Patten of Bloomington, Dick Vogel of Clinton and Lynn Willard of Roanoke, said Trish Burnett, Red Cross regional communications director. In addition, staff members from the region are on the ground in Louisiana. As of Friday, Red Cross volunteers and staff had served more than 466,000 meals and snacks, distributed more than 210,000 relief items, provided more than 55,000 overnight stays in emergency shelters, handled 27,000 calls for help, provided 12,000 health services and emotional support contacts and mobilized four kitchens, according to the agency. Meanwhile, Bloomington-based Midwest Food Bank on Monday sent its seventh semi-trailer load of disaster relief boxes to Louisiana since the flooding began, said Communications Director Phil Hodel. Monday's load is bound for Lafayette, La. Midwest Food Bank provides relief at the request of The Salvation Army. "We have sent a total of 5,600 boxes," Hodel said. "Each box contains enough shelf-stable food to feed a family of four for four to five days. We have also sent some drinks and snacks for the relief workers." Hodel expects more food requests from The Salvation Army. While The Salvation Army has dispatched no local Emergency Disaster Services volunteers to Louisiana, "we continue to monitor the situation and remain poised to help," said Sam Amick, Salvation Army divisional emergency services director. Overall, as of Monday, Salvation Army had provided 128,274 meals, 159,733 drinks, 49,472 snacks, 14,424 food boxes, 24 mobile feeding canteens, emotional and spiritual support to 4,263 individuals, 8,160 cleanup kits, 12,437 comfort kits and 10,399 hours of employee and volunteer service, said Rich Draeger of The Salvation Army. It will be my first visit to Hangzhou and I very much look forward to visiting the city. My last trip to China was in January to Beijing for the B20 kick-off event. I have been very much impressed by the warm hospitality and the great organization of the event. It was a very good start to the Chinese B20.Said Daniel Funes de Rioja, Co-Chairman of the B20s Employment Taskforce, President of International Organisation of Employers (IOE), when he was taking interview with the correspondent from Peoples Daily. We need clear commitments from G20 leaders to make the G20 an engine for reform. I hope that the Hangzhou summit gives strong impetus to comprehensive reform efforts at national level. Daniel Funes de Rioja said,This years IOE-BIAC G20 monitoring report about the implementation of G20 commitments shows that the majority of employers federations in G20 countries are not sure whether the G20 process has resulted in any major policy changes at national level. This is of serious concern. Daniel Funes de Riojaadded, the B20 summit will raise attention to the urgency of proper implementation and will also offer the support of business in addressing the major challenges regarding job creation, growth and development. He emphasized that they strongly believe in the role of the G20 facing the challenges of the global economy to make a better, more inclusive and developed world. The G20 and B20 summit have a key role to play in this regard. The B20 Policy Paper contains a comprehensive set of major policy recommendations. these recommendations have the true support and the backing of the G20 business community and therefore a high degree of legitimacy. We have seen in the last G20 Presidencies that the up-take of the B20 recommendations have rather fair. We hope that the Hangzhou summit takes these B20 recommendations fully into account. IOE jointly with ICC and BIAC will assess the up-take of the recommendations directly after the summit. Talking about the G20 Hangzhou Summit,Daniel Funes de Rioja said, In Hangzhou we need clear commitments from G20 leaders to make the G20 an engine for reform. I hope that the Hangzhou summit gives strong impetus to comprehensive reform efforts at national level. As talking about the Chinese Presidency of the G 20, Daniel Funes de Rioja said, the Global Business Community has very much looked forward to the Chinese G20 Presidency, knowing that the Chinese G20 can make a huge difference. Just looking at the tremendous achievements of China in terms of growth, employment creation and poverty reduction in the last 25 years it becomes clear that if there is one country whose voice on growth and employment should be taken seriously, then it is certainly China. We have seen important initiatives coming out of the Chinese G20. Just to name one, the Entrepreneurship initiative within the G20 Employment process is an important approach which has the potential to contribute to more dynamic labour markets, which generate more jobs and which will enable people to reach their full potential by opening their own business, instead of just being employed.Daniel Funes de Rioja added, it is this kind of entrepreneurial thinking which is so important for policy making at G20 level. However, the legacy of the Chinese G20 will depend on the question in how far G20 governments follow-up to their commitments at national level after the Hangzhou summit. The B20 will certainly monitor the implementation of the enterprise initiative. BLOOMINGTON A 79-year-old Iowa man described by a prosecutor as a serial child molester was sentenced to 3 years in prison Monday for sexually abusing four minor girls during dozens of incidents that spanned a decade of their childhoods. Harlan Mohr knew the victims who read statements that expressed their feelings about the scars left by the emotional trauma caused by the abuse. The victims, who are now adults, spoke of recurring nightmares, trust issues they have in relationships, and thoughts that suicide and alcohol could erase the pain. Angry and emotional at times, each woman shared a statement with Judge Casey Costigan. "What happened to me will never be undone," said one woman, referring to the ongoing abuse that was reported to authorities in 2013. Mohr turned his chair to avoid a direct view of the witness stand during the testimony. "I think you are a coward. I don't forgive you or any of you," one victim said to Mohr and his supporters in the courtroom. When Mohr had a chance to address the judge a statement generally used by defendants to offer remorse for their actions he said, "I don't believe there's anything I can add." Assistant State's Attorney Jacob Harlow asked Costigan to consider consecutive seven-year terms on each of the four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse that carry a possible penalty of three to seven years. Calling Mohr a serial child molester, Harlow said "it's time for the defendant to finally pay the price for what he got away with for so long." State's Attorney Jason Chambers expressed disappointment with the sentence. "We requested the maximum because of that impact on those young women, the serial nature of the offense against the victims and the lack of remorse from the defendant. While I recognize that the court may not find the maximum sentence to be appropriate, I think six months more than the minimum prison term allowed does not send an adequate message," said Chambers. The victims' father testified that the court process added to his daughters' trauma. Time missed at school and work for court dates was compounded by the fact that Mohr's defense lawyers obtained the victims' counseling records, leaving them afraid to continue with their therapy. "He shouldn't get a 'Get out of jail free card' just because it took us so long to catch him," said the father. The defense requested probation, arguing that Mohr's record includes military service and no other criminal convictions. In his remarks to Mohr, Costigan said the abuse caused or threatened serious harm to the victims. "I believe their lives have been forever changed by your selfish criminal acts," said the judge. Costigan rejected probation for the conduct that he said will not be tolerated by the court or the community. Instead, he sentenced Mohr to 3 years on each count, to be served concurrently. Mohr also must register as a sex offender. In sending Mohr to prison for the lesser term, Costigan noted the defendant's advanced age and a determination by a sex offender evaluator that Mohr does not need treatment and is a low risk to re-offend. The judge also postponed Mohr's transfer to the Department of Corrections for 60 days to give the defense time to file a possible appeal that may include two issues raised during a motion for a new trial. NORMAL Three Twin City high school students showcased their technology and communication skills at the recent national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) in Atlanta, Ga., netting third place. Joel Johnson is the coordinator and instructor for the local HSCC club, hosted by Black Data Processing Associates Central Illinois Chapter, a non-profit organization. We recruit students from Bloomington-Normal high schools to learn at our training academy. The goal of the program is to encourage African Americans to get into IT (Information Technology), but we will educate any student that wants to learn, said Johnson, who also works as a system analyst at State Farm. The academy members meet three times a month, October through April. The students learn basic web page construction, java script and database creation for websites. We move at a pretty fast pace, said Johnson. But for kids who are technical, this is the kind of stuff they like to mess around with at home. The three Normal Community High School students chosen from the academy to compete in the national HSCC conference were Jordan Stipp, now a freshman at Stanford University; freshman Sidharth Panda; and sophomore Suraj Sunkara, who transferred this semester to Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. The teens joined 28 teams from across the country for the competition on Aug. 10. "On the day of the competition, the teams were put in a ballroom and no adult trainers were allowed in the room. The organizers explained the task building an online ticket purchasing system like Ticketmaster and the teams went to work for seven to eight hours, said Johnson. The local team earned third place for its application of technology skills and also scored high in presentation. "The kids dont just learn about systems technology; they get exposed to working as a team, communicating and forming human skills to better function in the workplace, said Johnson. Johnson said all students should look into STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, such as the HSCC academy. We have high school kids who have decided this is the career they want to do, and because of that we work closely with State Farm, said Johnson. Even if they dont go into an IT field as a programmer, they know whats involved in creating these applications so they have insight if they were to work in a different position. BLOOMINGTON Growing up as a kid, Normal resident David Fox remembered seeing television reports and reading newspaper accounts of the Vietnam War. I didnt know anyone personally who was in it, he said Sunday while visiting the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Memorial Wall at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington. But I remember how important it was. On Sunday, Fox tried to illustrate the importance of the war firsthand, to his sons, Paxtin, 11, and Tristin, 13. The three were at the cemetery to view the 80-percent-scale replica of the memorial in Washington D.C., and then attend the official closing ceremonies along with about 400 other people. I want to show my sons what the price is for freedom, he said. The exhibit opened Thursday and organizers said thousands of people had visited by the finish of Sunday's ceremonies, which featured a keynote speech from McLean County Judge Robert Freitag, a veteran of the Iraq War. Throughout the week, we have been here to honor, respect and remember the men and women of the armed forces who served in Vietman, he said. Those names are the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Those who remain missing are also inscribed on the wall. There are several who still remain unaccounted for, said Roger Cann of Normal, who served in Vietnam and also attended the closing ceremonies. My wife has a cousin who is listed as missing in action, he said. He went missing in September of 1972. I was over there the last six months of 1972 and was there when he disappeared. He was a pilot and they never located the airplane or the body, so he went listed as MIA. The worst fear was that he was shot down and parachuted out and was a prisoner of war, but they have never found any evidence of that. They thought maybe his plane was hit by lightning and it just went down in the ocean. Others shared their own stories with other attendees. My brother had friends who died over there, said Carol Doughman of Bloomington. We found their names. I think its one thing to know about them. Its another to come out here, and feel the kind of emotion that seeing the names brings out in people. Ironically, there is always a smile. Its just so emotional. In his speech, Freitag mentioned the 58,307 names on the wall and reminded the attendees that each one has a special story. They each have a story of where they grew up, a story of who they loved, a story of who loved them, and a story of how they died, serving our country, he said. Everyone who has a connection to a name on that wall, has a story in your heart that explains that connection. The closing ceremonies also featured patriotic music from the Normal Community West High School Jazz Choir and a walk around the wall, led by bagpiper Roger Troxel. We owe a special thanks to all of those who served in Vietnam, because they didnt come home to a heros welcome, Freitag said. Some of them were treated unfairly and endured terrible treatment. But they were all heroes. After the ceremony, crews began dismantling the wall, which is now heading to Faribault, Minn. An 11-year-old boy is impressing a lot of his classmates at the University of Toledo in Ohio. The boy genius is taking a college course in chemistry at the university and has even offered the other students, who are mostly 10 years older than him, to send him an email if they needed any help in class. Daniel Liu became an internet sensation when a photo of him in a college chemistry class surfaced on Twitter. It was shared by one of his classmates who said that Daniel even offered to help them with the subject. As of press time, the post already earned more than 122,000 retweets and more than 242,000 likes. This kid is 11 and in my organic chemistry class he said if we have questions to just email him pic.twitter.com/oz46on8ywP Cigdem Kahyaoglu (@cigdemk14) August 22, 2016 Many couldn't believe that the 11-year-old is for real, but according to Huffington Post, he is really an accomplished student. Daniel Liu is actually currently enrolled as a high school student at Ottawa Hills. But he is taking advance courses at the university and has done this last year as well. Aside from honorary Chemistry classes, Daniel Liu has also taken Statistics, Physics and Calculus, per the Toledo Blade, while Next Sharp reports that Daniel Liu has made the local headlines several times because of his achievements in science competitions. At one point, he flourished against 30,000 students across America for the "You Be the Chemist" contest. He has visited the White House and has met Bill Nye. Teen Vogue reports that students at the University of Toledo have been seeking his autograph when word got around that there was a boy genius in the campus. The Chive reports that Daniel Liu isn't actually aware that he has become a sensation on social media because his mom has not allowed him to have a Twitter account. It was his classmates who told him about his new-found fame. "Daniel has an amazing mind and just this voracious appetite for learning, but what I really appreciate is that he is just a really neat kid," said Kevin Miller, the superintendent of Ottawa Hills, in the reports. As the cast and crew of "Game of Thrones" prepare to get back to work for Season 7, new spoilers and speculations abound among fans of HBO's hottest series. It looks like Jon Snow might finally get reunited with his sister Arya in the upcoming season and viewers will find out what Daenerys will do first, once she reaches King's Landing. A post on Twitter from @IrishThrones indicates that the crew of "Game of Thrones" are back at rebuilding the set in the Ireland filming location. Apparently, there have been tons of activity on the site as workers are setting up what looks like the Dragonpit in King's Landing. In the books, this pit was built by the Targaryens to house their pet dragons many years before, but it has been left in ruins during past wars. #GameOfThrones Titanic Studios, Belfast, Ireland, a hive of activity this week as preparations for Season 7 are continuing. Irish Thrones (@IrishThrones) August 26, 2016 Watchers On The Wall reports that the set rebuilding in its Ireland location could be in preparation for Daenerys' arrival at her family's old kingdom. It should be recalled that when "Game of Thrones" Season 6 ended, Daenerys and her allies were setting sail to stake her claim of the throne, and so now, it looks like she will finally be on the island. What will Cersei, who currently sits as the ruler of King's Landing, plan to do when the Mother of Dragons arrive? Meanwhile, some of the actors of "Game of Thrones" have also been reportedly spotted in Belfast, even as filming has yet to officially start in September. "Game of Thrones" moved the filming dates to take advantage of the colder season in their location, which will apparently be integral to the upcoming season. #PHOTO Maisie Williams et Sophie Turner avec un fan, aujourd'hui a Belfast. pic.twitter.com/rnaYbMnpIE Game of Thrones FR (@GameOfThroneFR) August 25, 2016 On the other hand, avid fans at Reddit speculate that "Game of Thrones" Season 7 could finally reunite Arya with her brother Jon Snow. The King in the North will supposedly learn of what his sister has done in "Game of Thrones" Season 6 and will set forth men to find Arya. It's also speculated that it will be Brienne who could unexpectedly locate Arya. Viewers should note that "Game of Thrones" have already gone off the books since last season and the storylines have definitely escalated the excitement levels of its loyal fans. Aside from these latest spoilers, new characters are expected to be introduced in "Game of Thrones" Season 7 with its latest casting call, as Independent reported. The new lawyer for Steven Avery, the main subject of the Netflix docuseries, "Making a Murderer," is seeking extensive DNA re-testing for her client. Kathleen Zellner said that she can prove that Steven Avery has been framed by Wisconsin authorities for the rape and murder of Teresa Halbach, and it's these new tests that will help shed light on the defense's claims. Newsweek reports that Kathleen Zellner has filed for a motion Friday, Aug. 26, to allow the defense access to evidence taken before 2007 in the "Making a Murderer" case. She cites that these pieces of evidence will be retested using new technology, or New Scientific Testing, as she proclaimed on Twitter. This type of test was previously unavailable when Steven Avery was convicted to prison without parole, as shown in the first season of "Making a Murderer." Zellner also declared, in a 45-page document, that she has found inconsistencies in the previous investigations. Once she gets the results of these new tests, she will also reveal who the real murderer is. Just hand-delivered Motion for New Scientific Testing to Delores. Hope to hand-deliver her son in the very near future.@MakingAMurderer Kathleen Zellner (@ZellnerLaw) August 26, 2016 "Making a Murderer" documented the Steven Avery case, which began in the early 2000s. Netflix released the documentary in 2015 and has drawn immense public interest in the way the justice system handled the crime scene investigation and gathering of statements and evidence. Just this August, Steven Avery's co-accused in the "Making a Murderer" case, his nephew Brendan Dassey, was overturned by the courts after it concluded that the police investigators mishandled the way they gathered evidence against Dassey. He was already serving prison time for 10 years before the courts declared he's exonerated. The latest developments in "Making a Murderer" is said to be bolstering Steven Avery's appeal. Zellner further told the courts her client in "Making a Murderer" would not allow for another round of extensive re-testing if he's actually guilty. "The fact that Mr. Avery has agreed to all this testing is further proof he's actually innocent of these crimes," defended Zellner, per The Daily Beast. The forthcoming G20 summit comes at an appropriate moment in the evolution of Chinas own relationship with the global economy and its governance. Chinas formal entry into the global economy was marked by its admission to the WTO in 2001. For more than a decade after that, with economic growth averaging around 10%, trade expanding to the point where China became the worlds biggest trading nation, and overseas investment growing very rapidly albeit from a very low base, China chose to take a back seat while learning the ropes of its newly acquired status. But over the last two years, China has shifted from being a passive player to an increasingly proactive role. Rather than being a follower, it is increasingly becoming a maker and shaper of globalisation. China can no longer be accused of being a free rider, which in any case was always an unfair accusation against a developing country that was a relative newcomer to the global economy. The two most obvious examples of Chinas new role are the formation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which will be overwhelmingly the most institution funding infrastructure in Asia, with a membership drawn from across Asia and Europe; and the One Belt One Road project, which promises to be the most ambitious multinational development program ever seen. The biggest single problem that China will face as the host and chair of the G20 Summit is that while its global reach is extending and intensifying in a variety of ways AIIB, OBOR, overseas investment, the expansion of the role of the RMB, and the internationalization of its companies the growth in international trade and investment has been declining. Even more seriously, there are increasing signs in the West of a popular revolt against globalization. The two most dramatic illustrations of this are the rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders and their argument that globalisation has harmed the wages and job prospects of the American working class. The other example is the Brexit vote in the UK, with 52% of the UK population voting to leave the European Union after 41 years of membership. The central question posed by these developments is whether the dynamic of globalisation is faltering and beginning to fragment? These trends cannot be brushed aside because they enjoy a deep groundswell of popular support in the US and UK and elsewhere. The problem is not globalization per se but the type of globalization that has been pursued; namely, that large sections of the population in the US and Europe have not benefited, while a wealthy minority have, thereby exacerbating inequality and breeding resentment. The four topics chosen for the Summit are highly relevant. Breaking a new path for growth is the key problem facing the global economy as growth slows. The most dramatic illustration of the latter is to be found in Europe and the United States. The West has never recovered from the financial crisis and shows no signs of doing so. The EU economy is barely bigger than it was in 2007 and is now facing the almost certain prospect of a lost decade; the United States has done a little better, but its growth rate remains disappointing. The policy response to stagnation has been grossly inadequate in both the US and Europe. They have relied overwhelmingly on monetary policy, and above all quantitative easing, which has singularly failed to revive growth. The danger facing the global economy is a further decline in growth, stagnation in the West, the weakening of integration and a trend towards fragmentation. It is now clear that the Western financial crisis marked the end of the era of globalization that began around 1980 and ushered in a new period of extremely low Western growth. The importance of China is that, by global standards, it is still growing very rapidly and remains strongly committed to the importance of globalization and interdependence. It is in a powerful position by virtue of both its performance and its commitment to globalization to offer a different model for the future based on growth, co-operation and a different kind of globalization. The West needs to embrace a different policy response, one that recognizes the need to boost effective demand. That cannot be achieved by relying on monetary policy alone. The United States, for example, has a decaying infrastructure which impedes its growth performance. It needs to throw large amounts of money at renewing its infrastructure as it did in the New Deal in the 1930s. Let me mention in conclusion the second priority identified for the Summit: more effective and efficient global economic and financial governance. There is clearly an underlying and intensifying crisis in this area. You dont need to be Albert Einstein to understand why. There has been a dramatic shift in the center of gravity of the global economy from the developed to the developing world over the last 40 years: in the mid-70s the developed world accounted for two-thirds of global GDP, by 2030 it is projected that figure will be more like one-third. Yet the formal global economic governance structure has changed relatively little during recent decades. The two most significant developments have been the de facto replacement of the G7 by the G20 and the belated changes in the voting system at the IMF and World Bank. At an informal level there have been far more dramatic changes, notably the formation of the AIIB and the New Development Bank, and the rise of the renminbi as an international currency. One Belt One Road too will prefigure new bilateral and multilateral governance models. These changes are the embryo of a new global economic governance structure that is in the process of creation. Of course, governance is about power and the shift in power. The problem with the present formal structure is that it no longer reflects the distribution of economic power in the world. A major consequence of this is that the IMF and the World Bank no longer have the kind of resources dependent as they are, for the most part, on Western countries and Japan that are required to fund a much larger global economy, which is increasingly concentrated in the developing world. An obvious role for the World Bank, one might think, would have been the funding of infrastructural development in Asia. But because it is a Western institution, it has neither the resources nor the political will and priority to do this. Given the state of the West and the fact that elections will soon take place in the US, Germany and France it is difficult to see any major breakthroughs taking place at the G20. It has taken nearly a decade for the G20 Summit to take place in China. Given that China (together with a robust Indian growth rate) is presently by far the most positive development in the global economy and that China lies at the heart of the future of the global economy and its governance, the Hangzhou Summit is an historic moment. If China could offer some new imaginative proposals at the Summit, then it could make the Summit a very memorable occasion indeed. There is no doubt that "GoT" fans are already excited for the next season of their favorite HBO TV series. According to reports, "Game of Thrones" season 7 will be filled with thrill, drama, and action as Daenerys Targaryen's fire meet Jon Snow's ice in a deadly encounter. Fans of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series who are also following its TV adaptation, "Game of Thrones" are looking forward to Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen's encounter. Rumors are rife that the two popular characters will meet face to face in "Game of Thrones" Season 7. Bustle provided several scenarios suggesting Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow's future meet up in "Game of Thrones" Season 7. According to the report, Daenerys and Jon Snow will probably meet in the former's coronation. Many believe that the mother of dragons is the next in line for the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen may ask for help to take Cersei Lannister down. Sansa will give Jon Snow the details and he will joyfully help his fellow Targaryen. Other potential scenario includes Sansa Stark and Melisandre. Per Pop Culture, Daenerys will be in King's Landing in "Game of Thrones" Season 7. Sansa could invite Jon Snow, so he could meet Daenerys. Meanwhile, Melisandre could open up to Daenerys about her role in Jon Snow's resurrection. This could prompt Daenerys to seek the help of the former Lord Commander. However, for Emilia Clarke, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen's encounter might not be at all friendly. According to the Wrap, Clarke is confident that her character, Daenerys will meet Jon Snow in "Game of Thrones" Season 7. However, their encounter could be deadly as fans see the mother of dragons' fire versus Snow's ice. Per Clarke, Daenerys could kill Jon Snow or it could be the other way around. In another instance, Arya Stark could kill both. For Emilia Clarke everything is possible in "Game of Thrones" Season 7. Do you agree that Daenerys and Jon Snow's encounter could be deadly? Who do you think will win between Dany's fire and Jon Snow's ice? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. Canada has developed a new device touted to help the global fight against Zika virus. The Zika outbreak, which originated from Brazil, has now reached the United States, Cape Verde in Africa, and plenty of countries in the Americas such as Argentina, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. The new device was created in Waterloo, Ontario by a team from Maxtech Consumers Products Ltd. (MCPL), an innovative design and manufacturing group. According to CTV News, the device contains a solution that can attract female mosquitoes with its scent. Once the mosquitoes converge, an artificial breeding zone has been created where they can lay their eggs. Before those eggs hatch, they will be drained into filters that would kill them. Maxtech project manager Mark Smith claimed that the device is capable of drastically destroying mosquito populations in just 21 days. The device is free from chemicals and is environmentally safe. The device was developed for seven years and was originally planned to be donated to Brazil in time for the Rio Olympic Games 2016. That plan, however, didn't push through because of a long approval process. Now, Maxtech plans to donate hundreds of boxes of the device worth $50,000 to the local government of Florida to aid its fight against the Zika virus. The Zika outbreak in Florida continues to expand, with two neighborhoods in Miami already seeing 37 people infected with the virus, according to NPR. Kacee Vasudeva, CEO of Maxtech, said Florida can distribute the device to schools, playgrounds, and to people who are unable to purchase them. The company believes that "one child born with microcephaly is too much," noted Vasudeva, and they are hoping to prevent Zika virus from infecting people as much as they can. Maxtech is working on getting approval to clear the device's distribution in other areas hit by the Zika outbreak such as South America. Pregnant mothers infected with Zika can transfer the virus to their unborn child. Babies with Zika have microcephaly, a congenital condition where they have abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development. Microcephaly can cause seizures and developmental delays, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are no vaccines for Zika yet, though companies have been developing some. A DNA-based vaccine from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has entered an early-stage trial this month. However, a safe, effective, and fully licensed vaccine against the Zika virus will not be available for a number of years. Fans are definitely excited what's in store for the wacky crew of the Nine-Nine precinct in "Brooklyn Nine Nine" season 4. Season 3 ended with Holt and Peralta going under the witness protection program in efforts to ditch mafia boss, Jimmy Figgis. It could be a very unusual run since Holt and Peralta will not be in the precinct for some episodes in "Brooklyn Nine Nine" season 4. While it would be very interesting to see how the two will deal with their new identities, audiences will surely miss seeing the whole crew together. New reports are suggesting that the new season will not lack in comedy gold, but it will also feature some serious plots that will reportedly involve Peralta's abduction. As Movie News Guide pointed out, it won't be a far-fetched idea if Figgis' knew where Holt and Peralta was. After all, the crime boss had his connections inside the FBI. The site speculated that Figgis' connection doesn't end with Holt's former partner, Anderson, in season 3. He could probably have a few men inside the NYPD as well. Meanwhile, fans are also looking forward to see the Nine-Nine's temporary captain in "Brooklyn Nine Nine" season 4. As TV Line confirmed, actor Ken Marino will replace Holt in the precinct for two episodes. As for Peralta and Santiago's blossoming relationship, producers are definitely working on a storyline that will deal with the lovers being apart for a while. Fans should definitely stay tuned. "Brooklyn Nine Nine" season 4 premieres on September 20 on FOX. Stay tuned for more "Brooklyn Nine Nine" season 4 premiere updates and spoilers here! "Teen Wolf" Season 6 is set to premiere in the months to come, as the MTV drama announced that the upcoming season will be its series finale. While the show's air date is fast approaching, recent cast news reveal that Dylan O'Brien is still not ready to resume filming. Will this affect the show? This article contains spoilers. Read on if you want to learn more about the details of this story. "Teen Wolf" Season 6 cast news reveal that Dylan O'Brien is still not ready to resume production for his remaining scenes in the MTV drama. According to Teen Wolf News, showrunner Jeff Davis revealed that filming for the final season of the show had to be delayed. While Davis did not exactly admit that O'Brien was the reason behind the delay in production, an insider shared that the actor still was not ready to get back on set for "Teen Wolf" Season 6. As most fans can recall, O'Brien sustained injuries on the set of his film, "Maze Runner: The Death Cure." Davis, however, reassured fans and viewers that filming for "Teen Wolf" Season 6 will begin in October. It should be wise to note though that there is still no exact date for the resumption of production for the upcoming season and a delay is still possible. Meanwhile, "Teen Wolf" Season 6 spoilers reveal that fans and viewers will definitely enjoy the series finale of the MTV series. In an interview with Holland Roden, the actress told MailOnline that the show will end on an intense note. Roden also likened the direction of "Teen Wolf" Season 6 to that of the Netflix series, "Stranger Things." Roden said that this will be something that fans should look forward to in the upcoming episodes of the show. "Teen Wolf" Season 6 premieres on Nov. 15 on MTV. How should "Teen Wolf" Season 6 end? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Iran and Venezuela sign economic agreements, announce new era of bilateral relations 08/29/16 Report by Press TV; photos by Mehr News Agency Venezuela and Iran agree to increase economic cooperation, signing agreements between the two countries' central banks and announcing a new dynamic era in bilateral relations. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif who was in Caracas on the last leg of a Latin America tour also taking him to Cuba, Bolivia, Chile, Nicaragua and Ecuador. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L) hugs Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Saturday August 27. "We are advancing in our bilateral cooperation as well as in matters of mutual interest for economic development ... we are going to create a new dynamism in Venezuela-Iran relations," Maduro said in a ceremony broadcast on state television. The Venezuelan leader named chief general Jesus Gonzalez as the country's new ambassador to Iran on Saturday. Maduro later announced the creation of a special commission to follow up on their bilateral deals. In June 2015, the Venezuelan government and a high-level delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran inked six deals on scientific, technological, economic and health cooperation. Iran and Venezuela have forged friendly relations based on their aversion to colonial US policies and determination to preserve their independence. Zarif expressed Iran's interest in broadening cooperation with Venezuela and other Latin American countries, saying he was glad to consolidate economic ties between Caracas and Tehran. Central bank authorities from the two countries signed an agreement on financial matters and Venezuelan foreign affairs chief Delcy Rodriguez said Caracas and Tehran were working to "continue strengthening" strategic alliances. "The accord between the two central banks is the path to continue good relations. I am sure that with the accords signed tonight that we can increase and deepen our relations in a different field," Zarif said. Maduro said Venezuela's oil minister and foreign minister would make announcements in the coming weeks about consensus with Iran on ways to stabilize oil market and strengthen OPEC. "We continue to build common ground and a new consensus on stabilizing oil markets, strengthening industries, strengthening OPEC," he said. In February, Venezuelan Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino traveled to Tehran along with his Qatari and Iraqi counterparts to persuade Iran into joining a Russian plan for oil production freeze on which they did not agree because of Saudi persistence that all OPEC members came on board. The Islamic Republic has said it would stick to its policy of regaining its market share with ramped-up production before joining the freeze program. On Friday, Minister of Petroleum Bijan Zangeneh said Iran will help other oil producers stabilize the world market so long as fellow OPEC members recognize its right to regain lost market share. Since the collapse of oil prices in 2014, Venezuela has sought to rally support among OPEC and non-OPEC nations to boost crude prices by limiting production. Key OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia have shown little interest in backing output cuts and remained focused on retaining market share. The kingdom has ignored Iran's call on other producers to make room for Tehran's barrels at normal production levels after the lifting of sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Among the Latin American countries, Iran has developed more advanced ties with Venezuela. The country is involved in a series of joint ventures worth several billion dollars in energy, agriculture, housing, and infrastructure sectors in Venezuela. More than 100 representatives of state and private companies accompanied Zarif in his visit to Latin America where Iran has good relations with almost all the regional countries. In Nicaragua, Zarif said Iran was interested in a massive project to build a canal which would link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Iran, Venezuela vow to boost strategic relations Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran and Venezuela will resolutely proceed with the improvement of their strategic relations. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (center left) and his Venezuelan counterpart Delcy Rodriguez (center right) meet in Caracas on August 28, 2016. The people of Iran and Venezuela have resisted against foreign pressure and arrogant powers for many years and left good memories of solidarity with each other, Zarif said at a conference in Caracas on Sunday to discuss opportunities for bolstering economic cooperation between the two countries. He added that Iran would vigorously continue with its good and strong relations with Venezuela which is a legacy of the late Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, and his revolutionary and independent policies. The top Iranian diplomat emphasized that cordial relations between Tehran and Caracas emanate from the independence-seeking policies and resistance of the two nations. He said such political relations can continue deeper, more strategic and more serious than before through the improvement of economic cooperation. Necessity of bolstering Tehran-Caracas ties Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez, who was also present in the conference, said the current visit by his Iranian counterpart and his entourage to Caracas highlights the strategic relations between the two sides. She added that Iran and Venezuela are two active countries in some international bodies such as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and urged the two countries to further boost their close relations. Among the Latin American countries, Iran has developed more advanced ties with Venezuela. The country is involved in a series of joint ventures worth several billion dollars in energy, agriculture, housing, and infrastructure sectors in Venezuela. 9th Annual Iranian Film Festival in San Francisco: September 24-25, 2016 08/29/16 Source: Iranian Film Festival, San Francisco Welcome to the 9th Annual Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco, the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran. This year, the festival presents 37 films from Iran, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, India, Czech Republic, and Spain. We are happy and proud to continue our mission to discover and support the next generation of Iranian filmmakers living and working around the world, while we honor the veteran filmmakers for their distinguished careers. Please join us to celebrate the outstanding works of Iranian filmmakers. The festival passes and tickets are on sale now. To purchase your tickets, please click here. A Tribute to Noureddin Zarrinkelk Noureddin Zarrinkelk, father of animation cinema in Iran, is a renowned Iranian animator. He studied animation film in the Belgium Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Raoul Servais) from 1969 till 1972. Zarrinkelk founded the first school of Animation, which later merged with the prestigious faculty of fine art of Tehran University. He continued being a professor of animation and graphic arts well into his retirement age, and became the president of ASIFA (Association International du Film dAnimation) by his peers in 2003. He was also instrumental in founding the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) in Tehran. Irans animation owes largely to Noureddin Zarrinkelk. Mr. Zarrinkelk will be present for the Q&A after showing of his films: Bani Adam, Mad Mad Mad World, One Two Three, Duty First, Playground, on Saturday, September 24 @ 5:30 pm. Remembering Abbas Kiarostami The world of cinema lost a giant this year. Abbas Kiarostami was one of the most influential and controversial post-revolutionary Iranian filmmakers, as well as one of the most highly celebrated directors in the international film community of the last decade. Although Kiarostami made several award-winning films early in his career, it was after the revolution that he earned a highly esteemed reputation on the stage of world cinema. To celebrate his esteem career, Iranian Film Festival will present one of his rare films made outside of Iran, in Italy, called Tickets, directed by two other master filmmakers, Ermanno Olmi, and Ken Loach. This film is scheduled on Sunday, September 25 @ 7:45 pm. Golshifteh Farahani & Altamira Iranian Film Festival will present an exclusive screening of Golshifteh Farahanis latest film, Altamira, with Spanish actor, Antonio Banderas, and Hugh Hudson, British director of Chariots of Fire, based on the incredible true story from late nineteenth-century Spain. The film is scheduled on Saturday, September 24 @ 7:45 pm. Sepanta Award To pay a homage to the father of sound in Iranian cinema, Abdoulhossein Sepanta [1907-1969], who also made Lor Daughter, Shirin & Farhad...we named our award after his name and presented Septanta Award in various categories for the first time in 2013. We will continue this tradition by presenting this award to the participating filmmakers every year. Documentary & Animation Films Aside from the fiction, Iranian Film Festival pays special attention to the documentary and animation genres with some of the best young talents Iranian cinema can offer. Films such as: Parviz Tanavoli: Poetry In Bronze, Shahrzaads Tales, Atlan, If You Go Away, Amoo Nowruz, The Last Tar, With these Hands, A Sweet Dream, Entracte, Reward.... Support Us! If you like what we do, to continue bringing the best of independent films made by or about Iranians from around the world, support our efforts by sponsoring, advertising, and your contributions. We, Iranians, need to have a strong voice in our host country by unity and representing the best talents any community can offer. This support can be in variety of ways but for sure it benefits the Iranian community. Iranian Film Festival (IFF) Iranian Film Festival (IFF), the first independent Iranian film festival outside of Iran, with no affiliation to any political or religious organizations, launched in 2008, is an annual event showcasing independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians from around the world. IFF is also a platform for the Iranian filmmakers living around the globe to express their vision and talent through the artistic medium of film. Iranian Film Festival (IFF) was established to support the Iranian film and culture in the Iranian-American community of the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Iranian Film Festival - San Francisco 6 Beach Road, 544 Tiburon, CA 94920 USA Phone: (415) 251-8433 Fax: (636) 444-8433 info@IranianFilmFestival.org www.IranianFilmFestival.org Li Zhaoxing, the chairperson of the China Public Diplomacy Association interacting with journalists at the trilateral forum held in Beijing in April Li Zhaoxings handshake is as firm as his spirit. If you hail from Africa, he might surprise you with the breadth of knowledge he holds about your country. Here is a man who has worked or lived in 51 out of 54 countries in Africa. His knowledge of the continent is more than just a passing description, but a photographic record of intricate details. I ask him about the turbulent times in Uganda in the 1970s and he quickly recalls attending a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, where former Ugandan president, the late Idd Amin, was present. Amin was a very interesting man, Li says, an obvious euphemism for the impulsive disposition associated with the late dictator. In a room of about two dozen journalism fellows from Africa, Li greets everyone with a broad smile, pointing out with vivid detail what he remembers about each of their countries. Having spent nine years working in Kenya, Li is fluent in Kiswahili, one the most spoken languages across Sub-Sahara. He is as fast in interaction with people around him as the ideas that come to his brain. And over the years he has somewhat cultivated a different view of Africa. For instance, one of his fascinations during his first trip to Africa was about the African hut, primitive dwelling which he described as eco-friendly way of living. His challenge to young people in Africa and across the world: travel as widely as you can and know something about a different world. And he has good reason for it. The 76 year old former diplomat is probably one of the most widely-travelled people on the planet. By March this year, he had been to 186 of the 197 countries across the globe. Who is Li Zhaoxing? Born in Shandong Province in October 1940, Li graduated from Peking University in 1964 with a degree in English Literature and has published several books and a collection of poems. Li started his diplomatic career in Africa in the 1970s as staff officer and attache of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya. He rose through the ranks to senior positions including that of Spokesperson of the foreign affairs ministry, assistant foreign minister and First Secretary at the Chinese Embassy in Lesotho. He served as Chinas Permanent Representative and ambassador to the United Nations, Chinese ambassador to the US and was appointed foreign minister in 2003. He was a member of the standing committee of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) and the Chairman of the legislative arms Foreign Affairs Committee. He is also an honorary professor of many Mainland universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Diplomacy champion Li is known in international diplomatic circles as the poetic diplomat, in part candid due to his charm and articulate appeal on certain matters of his countrys foreign policy. Li is currently the chairperson of the China Public Diplomacy Association, a non-profit organization made up of former Chinese diplomats who consult and coordinate matters of public diplomacy. The organization is the host of the China-Africa Press Centre, a fellowship programme in its third year established to boost media cooperation and exchanges between Chinese and African media. While serving as ambassador to the US, Li gained recognition for his upholding US-China relations in the face of crisis after the 1999 NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. So much that January 29, 2001, the last day of his term in office was declared Li Zhaoxings Day, by the Mayor of Washington DC, in recognition of his efforts to foster US-Chinese relations. In 2004, Li was awarded the Chilean Neruda Presidential Medal in memory of the 100th birthday of Pablo Neruda, a renowned Chilean poet and a Nobel Prize Winner. He is one of the most sought-after speakers at global diplomacy forums and has been the silent face of Chinas diplomacy drives with her Asian neighbours including Japan and South Korea. Taddeo Bwambale is a journalist working with the New Vision newspaper in Uganda, a fellow of the China-Africa Press center and an intern at Peoples Daily Online. The best 2-in-1 laptop 2022: our picks of the best convertible laptops These are the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy right now WordPerfect Office is the one and only Windows office application suite that isn't a workalike for Microsoft Office. Most of the worldor at least the world that uses office appsruns on Microsoft Office. As mature and powerful as they are, Microsoft's apps may not be the best ones for your needs. While plenty of suites are essentially Office clones, only two major suites operate differently: Corel WordPerfect Office, which is for Windows only, and Apple's iWork apps, which run only on Apple hardware or in limited versions in a browser. Apple's apps are sleek and up to date, while WordPerfect has an old-school look and feel that won't attract many new users. What sets the WordPerfect Office suite apart from others, however, is the fact that its namesake word processor, WordPerfect, is the only office app that gives you total control over every detail of the documents you produce. The suite comprises two more apps, Quattro Pro (a spreadsheet app) and Presentations. How WordPerfect Is Different Microsoft Word and most other word processors make it almost impossible to achieve the same kind of control that WordPerfect offers. They create frustration that WordPerfect users never face. WordPerfect was the dominant word processor in the DOS era of the 1980s and early 1990s, until Microsoft Word supplanted it under Windows. Regardless, WordPerfect for Windows continues to be a major player, especially in the legal market, where it's the only app that offers both advanced legal-formatting features and a document management system that doesn't rely on Microsoft's networking software. I use Microsoft Word when I merely need to get a document written that I can send to someone else, or when I'm sending something to a publisher. I use WordPerfect when I need to get the format and content exactly as I want it. WordPerfect uses its own file format, but it can open and save files in Word's DOCX format, and you can set DOCX as the default save format. In some areas, WordPerfect Office lags other office apps noticeably. As mentioned, it's for Windows only (if you want to run it on a Mac, you need virtualization software) with no mobile apps, and the look is quite dated. It also doesn't support real-time collaboration, something Google Workspace and others have done for years. Later I also point out a few specific features and capabilities missing from WordPerfect Office that you do get from Microsoft Office. Whether you need or care about these features may heavily influence your decision to use Corel WordPerfect Office. How Much Does Corel WordPerfect Office Cost? Like other commercial office suites from Microsoft and SoftMaker, Corel WordPerfect Office comes in multiple versions. You certainly get what you pay for with the various versions. For most users, Corel WordPerfect Office Standard ($249.99) is the sweet spot unless you need to access Paradox databases created many years ago, in which case you'll want the Professional ($399.99) edition. Keep in mind that all the Corel WordPerfect Office suites are for Windows only, and the current version is 2021. A basic $99.99 Home & Student version includes the standard office apps: WordPerfect word processor, Quattro Pro spreadsheet app, Presentations (the presentations app), and a bare-bones note-taking and file-viewing app called WordPerfect Lightning. The Oxford Concise Dictionary is built into the suite, and Corel also throws in its AfterShot 3 photo-editing software. Move up to the $249.99 Standard edition and you get the same software but with added features such as PDF import, routing-slip and document-reviewing features, and legal features such as pleading templates and a table-of-authority builder. The $399.99 Professional version adds PDF form-creation, more flexible ePub export, the Paradox database manager, Corel's MultiCam screen-and-video capture software, and a software developer's kit for automating the suite. The price to upgrade from a previous version of WordPerfect Office is $159.99. You're not eligible for an upgrade if your existing version is labeled Academic, Home & Student, OEM, or Not for Resale. All the prices mentioned are for a one-time purchase. Many other apps have moved to subscription pricing instead. As an example, Microsoft 365 Personal costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. The Business edition of Google Workspace starts at $6 per person per month, though Google apps are free for non-business use with an account. LibreOffice is also free. A Novel Word Processor The one and only reason to go with WordPerfect Office as your office suite is for the WordPerfect word processor. The included spreadsheet app, Quattro Pro, is more than good enough, and Presentations is a decent presentation and graphics app. But no one would choose them over Excel or PowerPoint. WordPerfect, like Word, includes standard modern conveniences like PDF import and export, file comparison, and more. Every modern word processor lets you create documents from templates, but WordPerfect includes a range of wizard-style projects that conveniently create graph paper or business letters with your default address and phone number. You can record or write macros in WordPerfect's native macro language, and advanced users can write macros in Microsoft's Visual Basic for Applications that can automate almost anything in Windows. What the Codes Reveal WordPerfect has a few built-in abilities that Word doesn't have, such as redaction that applies to its own documents, plus export to ePub formats and to formats used for legal filings. A feature called Make It Fit automatically adjusts formatting to prevent the last few lines of your document from overflowing onto a new page. The feature that makes WordPerfect unique and essential is its Reveal Codes pane, which you can open with a keystroke in the bottom part of the document window. The Reveal Codes pane shows the text of your document, interspersed with buttons that represent the otherwise hidden codes that control formatting and other features. It isn't pretty, but, once you've tried it, you'll wish you could have it in Word. For a typical document, the first code in the Reveal Codes pane is labeled Document Style. Double-click it to open a dialog showing format codes that apply to the entire document, like the default language. You can add, edit, or remove these codes inside the dialog, using menus that show you every available option. Other codes displayed in the documents might include font-size settings or pairs of codes that begin and end the styling for bold or italic. To remove italic type, backspace over one of the paired italic codes, or simply drag it out of the Reveal Codes window. If you've used complex formatting in Word, you've probably been frustrated by unwanted changes that Word makes in your files and that you can't get rid of, for example, the horizontal line that Word inserts beneath a paragraph if you type a line of hyphens. That never happens in WordPerfect (though other frustrations may arise, as I note later), and if anything gets into your file that you don't want there, you simply open the Reveal Codes pane and remove the offending codes. WordPerfect has been using formatting codes since the 1980s, and code-based formatting mostly went out of style when Microsoft Word for Windows conquered the market. Code-based formatting is an old idea that's become new again for example with the rise in popularity of Markdown language(Opens in a new window), which lets you modify formatting by inserting simple inline codes. WordPerfect's codes are more foolproof than Markdown language, however, because you can only enter them through a menu and can't create non-working or nonsense codes as you can with Markdown and similar languages. Under-the-Hood Formatting Under the hood, Word works entirely differently from WordPerfect, even when the printed output looks exactly the same. Word stores formatting and other information separate from the text of a file. WordPerfect stores formatting codes mixed in with the text. All too often, Word loses track of the formatting that affects the contents of large and complex documents. Because Word works this way, WordPerfect far surpasses it as a tool for combining multiple documents into a single file. Both Word and WordPerfect have a Master Document feature that lets you edit (for example) separate chapters of a book in separate document files that automatically get combined into a single document when you open a Master Document that contains links to the chapters. In Word, this feature has always been unreliable, and master documents too easily become corrupt, so that you can't reconstruct the chapters that go into them. Word's Master Document feature has destroyed too many of my documents for me to risk using it ever again. In contrast, WordPerfect's Master Document feature works perfectly every time. Despite its unique powers, WordPerfect can be uniquely frustrating. It doesn't automatically update the word count in its status bar. It doesn't let you replace, for example, underlining with italics unless you write a macro or use a third-party macro from a site like Barry MacDonnell's Toolbox for WordPerfect(Opens in a new window). You can track changes only by comparing two versions of a document, not by viewing tracked changes in the current document as you can in Word. Word and other word processors let you view two parts of a document in two panes of the current Window, with changes made in one pane instantly reflected in the other. In WordPerfect, if you want to view two parts of a document at the same time, you have to open a read-only copy in a second window. Serious WordPerfect users, like me, learn to live with these limitations, though I wish Corel would remove them. Make It Legal WordPerfect's legal features include built-in Bates numbering (page numbers with trailing zeroes), automated formatting of pleading papers, and export to the EDGAR format required by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Law offices and anyone else who works with older documents will value WordPerfect's ability to open files in dozens of legacy formats, including old Microsoft Word documents that current versions of Word refuse to open for security reasons. These old files can be dangerous in Word because they might contain macro viruses, but Word macros won't run in WordPerfect, so WordPerfect can open those files safely. By the way, WordPerfect's Reveal Codes pane is unique, but WordPerfect isn't the only app that displays formatting codes. The specialist academic word processor Nota Bene(Opens in a new window) can display formatting codes among its view options, though it doesn't have WordPerfect's two-pane view with codes shown in the second pane. Nota Bene is a uniquely powerful system for academic research and writing, especially in ancient and modern languages. It can perform feats of data storage and retrieval that other apps can't even dream of. It effortlessly formats output to match the demands of specialist publishers. That said, it's designed exclusively for the academic market, not general users. The Rest of the Suite As I said, youll only want this suite if you want the WordPerfect word processor, because all the other apps in the suite are outclassed by the competition from Microsoft, LibreOffice, TextMaker, and other vendors. But if you buy the suite, the Quattro spreadsheet app, Presentations app, and Lightning utility work well with WordPerfect, and the whole suite holds together in an impressive way. Quattro Pro Quattro Pro is a solid spreadsheet app that supports advanced features such as web queries, spreadsheet groups, and the equivalent of Excel's pivot tables, which Quattro calls Cross Tabs. Quattro can't manage worksheets as large as the enormous ones that Excel can handle, however, and it slows to a crawl when handling massive data sets. Excel keeps adding convenience features, like one that lets you combine columns of first and last names in a single column, while new versions of Quattro Pro add little more than tweaks, like a redesigned search dialog in the latest version. As part of the WordPerfect suite, Quattro Pro has the advantage that it can use two kinds of automation, depending on what feels most comfortable. It can use the same PerfectScript macro language used by WordPerfect, or it can use its native Quattro Pro macro language, which dates to the time before the app became part of a suite. A law office that uses WordPerfect can easily create systems that automate the word processor and the spreadsheet for efficient large-scale business operations. Presentations Corel's app for making presentations, called Presentations, has an impressive range of transitions and effects. Compared with PowerPoint and Keynote, though, its templates look amateurish, and Presentations lacks advanced features such as the ability to show only part of a video or start a video at a specified time. As part of the WordPerfect suite, Presentations uses the same macro language as WordPerfect, so its easy to automate the word processor and presentations app via a single macro that, for example, feeds content from a WordPerfect document into a new presentation. Corels Presentations also doubles as a graphics editor. When you install the suite, it creates two shortcuts for the Presentations app, one labeled Presentations, the other labeled Presentations Graphics. They both open the same app, but the second shortcut starts up the app as a bitmap editor. If you have graphics in WordPerfects own WPG format, Presentations is the only modern app that can edit this file format directly. If you don't care about dazzling new features, both Quattro Pro and Presentations get the job done well, and like WordPerfect, both can save to Microsoft Office formats by default if you need to share files in an Office-centric world. Lightning Another optional feature of the suite is WordPerfect Lightning, a note-taking app that cant approach the feature set and flexibility of Microsoft OneNote, but has some unique features that you may want if you use the rest of the suite. Lightning lets you view PDFs and Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect documents without taking the time needed to open them for editing. It also lets you create a folder-based structure for any notes that you create in the app, and it lets you send those notes to WordPerfect for use in documents. Ive never made much use of it, but it can be useful to anyone who collects text and images from the web and from other documents for use in your own work. One of a Kind Do you need WordPerfect Office? If you're a longtime WordPerfect user, as I am, then you don't need my recommendation because you'll buy it anyway. If you're not a longtime user, you might want to consider it if you need advanced automation features for your law office, or if you're frustrated that you can't get formatting exactly as you want it in other apps. WordPerfect is one of a kind, and if it suits your needs, there's no alternative. I use Word for all my work that needs to get finished quickly. I use WordPerfect for long-term projects where I need to be confident my files won't start acting in unpredictable ways and that I have total control over how they look and act. Microsoft Office still rules the office-app universe, but that universe has room for enclaves where Office is not enough. Corel WordPerfect Office 4.0 (Opens in a new window) See It $249.99 at WordPerfect (Opens in a new window) MSRP $249.99 Pros Unique control over formatting and other features Powerful support for long documents Builds complex documents from the wizard interface Specialized legal features and ebook publishing Imports and exports Microsoft and legacy formats View More Cons Outdated interface No mobile or Mac versions, only Windows Can't easily replace formats like underline and italic Spreadsheet and presentation apps lag behind the competition No real-time collaboration support View More The Bottom Line WordPerfect has the only Windows-compatible word processor that doesn't work like Microsoft Office; it allows for precise, predictable control over formatting. It's a worthy upgrade, but new users may be turned off by its dated UI and lack of collaboration tools. Samsungs quantum dot technology is getting serious for PC fans. The company recently announced it will roll out two new curved monitor models (in three display sizes) rocking quantum dot displays. These are the first quantum dot computer monitors from Samsung, which already produces televisions using the cutting-edge technology. The first new quantum dot model is the CFG70, which will come in 24- and 27-inch sizes. The second is the CFG791, which will ship with a drool-worthy 34-inch display. Why this matters: If you arent familiar with the technology, quantum dots are small (as in a few nanometers in width) crystal semiconductors that emit colored light. Quantum dots can produce more accurate colors than traditional display technology, and are supposed to come close to OLED display quality. Right now quantum dot monitors are of the LED-backlit variety, while the aforementioned OLED TVs dont require backlighting. But there has been a major downside: Many quantum dot displays required the use of cadmium, an element that is frowned on by many environmental agencies. Samsung says its monitors are cadmium-free. Meet the monitors Samsungs CFG70 viewed from above for a better look at that 1800R curvature. The CFG70 models will feature an 1800R curvature in what Samsung calls a Super Arena design. The two smaller displays boast a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response timenumbers that should make PC gamers smile. These displays feature Samsungs Gaming UX OSD interface, which will offer up all of the monitors crucial settings in an on-screen dashboard. Youll also find hot keys on the front and rear of the monitor for tweaking gameplay settings. The CF791, meanwhile, offers a curvature radius of 1,500mm (1500R), which Samsung claims is the most curved gaming monitor currently on the market. This monitor also has a 100Hz refresh rate, a 21:9 aspect ratio, and support for AMDs FreeSync technology, which delivers buttery smooth gameplay by eliminating stuttering and screen tearing. Samsung didnt announce FreeSync support for the smaller CFG70 models, but the initial press releases were fairly light on technical details. On paper, these look like darn attractive gaming monitors indeed. But for now, Samsung doesnt have much to say about pricing, resolution, or a release date. Expect to hear more details out of the annual IFA Berlin technology conference later this week. The San Diego Chargers say theyve signed rookie defensive end Joey Bosa to a four-year contract. The announcement late Monday morning came five days after the two sides went public in their nasty spat over payment of Bosas $17 million signing bonus and whether the contract would have offset language. The Chargers threatened last Wednesday to reduce their offer to Bosa under the assumption he wouldnt be ready to play a full season. There was no immediate indication of what led to the deal getting done. We look forward to having Joey join us and getting him prepared as quickly as possible for the 2016 season, said General Manager Tom Telesco said in a two-paragraph release from the team. Bosa, the No. 3 overall pick out of Ohio State, was the last rookie to sign. The agreement also came a day after San Diegos defense played poorly in a 23-10 exhibition loss at Minnesota. The Chargers are counting on the former Ohio State star to help bolster their pass rush and bring some excitement to a season that could be pivotal to their future in San Diego. Comedian, actor and writer Cheech Marin has certainly taken on a variety of gigs in his over 40-year career in show business. Hes starred in and performed voice-over work for numerous feature films and television shows and has toured the world as part of the legendary comedy duo, Cheech and Chong, along with fellow actor and comedian Tommy Chong. Now, the 70-year-old Los Angeles native is enjoying a different and more leisurely kind of role, serving as the brand ambassador for Tres Papalote mezcal. Marin, who fancies himself as a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to wines, liquors and tequilas, was visiting friends at a winery in Canada when the initial idea of pairing his celebrity with an alcohol distributor came about. Since hes most known for comedic characters with strong Mexican accents, the first thought was for the product to be, obviously, tequila. When we looked at the market, there were a million tequilas out there already, Marin said during a recent phone interview. We had to come up with something new, something different and thats when I thought of doing a mezcal. The Tres Papalote mezcal is distilled in Guerrero, Mexico, from the wild cupreata agave plant, which gives it a smokier flavor, with notes of citrus. What distinguishes mezcal from tequila is that smokiness, he said. We were looking for something that wasnt quite as harsh or as strong, but was more middle-of-the-road so that the vast majority can enjoy it even if theyre coming to mezcal for the first time. Marin has been traveling the country, appearing at bottle signings with Tres Papalote mezcal. Hes also still on tour with Chong, and the pair will stop at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio on Friday. For now, Tres Papalote can only be found in Southern California at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa and Liquorama in Upland, though it has larger distribution on the East Coast and is available online ($59.99) at Liquorama.com. Attendees at bottle signings, Marin said, have been a mix of Cheech and Chong fans and true mezcal enthusiasts. Though he gets asked quite a bit to do shots, he has to politely decline, because if he does it for one fan, hell have to do it for them all. The audience for this is really kind of hip, open and fun-loving, and mezcal kind of goes right along with that, he said. Im really pleased with how this whole thing has turned out because (mezcal) is a growing segment of the market and millennials, among others, are really taking to it because of the different taste. Marin said he enjoys his mezcal in several ways: as a shot, sipped over ice, but mostly, hes into trying it in a variety of cocktails. Hes had a few of the recipes listed at trespapalotemezcal.com which run from something simple like The Original, which is 2 ounces Tres Papalote poured over ice with a large orange twist, to fancier concoctions like the Mountainside Magic. Even the artwork on the bottle was picked from Marins renowned collection of Chicano art. Its a photograph of a glass statue by the De La Torre brothers of San Diego, which is proudly displayed in his home. It stands out, you can see it from across the room, he said of the bottle art. Its very cool and it just says fun. Its not like this esoteric, little hand-drawn label like the other mezcals on the market. It definitely pops. Using the Chicano art was important to Marin, who sees it as an underappreciated and underrepresented style. He collects pieces by artists from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, Texas, and hes an advocate of getting more of the art into museums. Were in steady progress of getting Chicano art more known and more respected, he said. There are some big, important shows coming up. Next year LACMA is doing the Carlos Almaraz retrospective and he really is the leading artist of the Chicano art movement, so that will be spectacular. I have my own exhibit up at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, called Papel Chicano Dos: Works on Paper, that is up through November. Marin said there is a documentary in the works about Cheech and Chong, and on March 10, his memoir, Cheech Is Not My Real Name But Dont Call Me Chong, will be released. Hes also working on a possible new TV sitcom with fellow comic Paul Rodriquez and he continues to tour with Cheech and Chong. I still love it, he said of slipping into his familiar on-stage persona. Its such an iconic character. Its understood by people all over the world and recognized by people everywhere I go. Mountainside Magic cocktail Yield: 1 drink 2 ounces Tres Papalote mezcal 1/2 ounce vanilla syrup 1/2 ounce lemon juice 3/4 ounce fresh pineapple juice Pinch of salt Procedure: 1. Shake all ingredients in an ice-filled shaker. 2. Strain into a bucket glass filled with ice and garnish with a pineapple wedge. Contact the writer: 714-796-3570 or kfadroski@scng.com Jeff Stone is trying to make the best out of a bad situation for Inland Republicans. Last week, Stone, a GOP congressional candidate and state senator, sent an email appeal for campaign donations. Its hook? A recent Press-Enterprise story about how the number of registered Democratic voters has overtaken the number of registered Republicans for the first time in recent memory. Loosing (sic) a county this size to the Democrats is not just bad news for its residents, but for all California Republicans hoping to regain some footing in the state that started the Reagan Revolution, the email read. We need to work together to reverse this alarming trend if we are going to not only win back seats, but defend the ones we currently have. The Democratic surge is particularly bad news for Stone in his bid to unseat Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert. The 36th Congressional District, which Ruiz represents, went from having a narrow GOP majority to an almost 11,000-voter advantage for the Democrats. Stone also trails Ruiz in fundraising. As of June 30, Stone had just under $111,000 in the bank compared to roughly $2 million for Ruiz. Alvord Unified School District trustees will receive a report Thursday, Sept. 1 on how well students did on this years California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. Students in third through eighth and 11th grades took the state English and math tests for the second time this spring. The exams are based on the Common Core academic standards, which focus on preparing kids for college and careers. Alvord kids mirrored the performance of students across California, which saw modest improvements from 2015. District students who met or exceeded the standard climbed from 35 percent last year to 41 percent this year in English and inched up from 25 percent last year to 28 percent this year in math, state data show. Works remains to improve overall math performance and prepare high school juniors for college. Ensuring English learners and students with disabilities score at the same levels as their peers is another challenge, district officials wrote in a report to the board. Alvord Unified enrolls about 20,000 students in west Riverside, east Corona and unincorporated Riverside County. Trustees are expected to review the results at 3 p.m. in the board meeting room, 9 KPC Parkway, Corona. Contact the writer: 951-368-9292 or stwall@scng.com Panic apparently sparked by loud noises sent thousands of harried, screaming passengers scurrying out of Terminal 7 at LAX Sunday night, prompting chaos outside and gridlock in the Central Terminal Area and nearby roads. Los Angeles Airport police said fears of an active shooter in the terminal were unfounded. An advisory from the Los Angeles Police Department released 9:44 p.m. reported that there were no shots fired and no injuries. The incident reportedly began because of loud noises in one of the terminals, according to the advisory. Andy Neiman, LAPD commanding officer for media relations, confirmed there was no gunfire, just unspecified loud noises. An investigation to find the source is ongoing, Neiman tweeted just before 10 p.m. However, Terminals 4, 5, 7 and 8 were evacuated and air traffic in and out of Los Angeles International Airport was halted. Traffic was at a standstill not only on the loop road at LAX but also on Century and Sepulveda boulevards, the main arteries into the airport. Later, people could be seen walking back into the airport and flights starting to take off again. Scores of people could be seen on social media and on TV news running from the terminal out on to the sidewalks and streets. Many other evacuees were standing on the airport tarmac, and abandoned bags littered some sidewalks. People were running faster than Ive ever seen run just to get out of the way. said KCAL9 news anchor Leyna Nguyen, who had just flown into LAX from Atlanta and was interviewed by her colleagues. Many doubt discussion of rights drew censorship After allegedly facing pressure from Canadian tourism authorities, a weekly talk show on Chinese online streaming platform iQiyi.com went off the air this week over its discussion of the human rights of Canada's First Nations. "In this episode [of Xiaosong qitan], an interviewed tribal chief talked of First Nations' past experience while applauding the present policy on First Nations (Aboriginal Canadians) However, the show was strongly obstructed by the relevant Canadian organizations, and the broadcast has been postponed indefinitely," show host Gao Xiaosong, who is also the president of Ali Music Group and a famous songwriter, wrote on his Sina Weibo account on Sunday. Destination Canada - formerly known as the Canadian Tourism Commission - was arrogant and aggressive in its response, threatening to resort to legal, political and diplomatic action, Gao said. The organization "demanded the removal of all the contents about the human rights of First Nations," first through a program sponsor and later on its own, Gao claimed on Weibo, where he posted screenshots of e-mails allegedly from Destination Canada's office in China. One picture showed that the Canadian side compares the sensitive topics addressed in Gao's show to "Tibet independence" in China. Derek Galpin, managing director of Destination Canada in China, told news site ifeng.com on Sunday that the organization did not censor Gao's program, though he did not comment on the e-mails. Many have raised doubts about the accusations in Gao's posts. Beijing-based Canadian TV personality Dashan (aka Mark Rowswell) questioned the authenticity of the e-mails and their source on Sina Weibo, saying the e-mails did not appear to be from Destination Canada because the e-mail domain was .cn rather than .com, the domain of the organization's official website. "We do receive suggestions on modification of the content from the Canadian side, while Gao adheres to the original version," Liu Dan, a public relations representative with iQiyi.com, told the Global Times on Sunday. She said the website is trying to coordinate relevant parties and will try to air an objective episode as soon as possible. Unlike China's National Tourism Administration, Destination Canada is not a government department, though it is supervised by the Canadian government, an anonymous Chinese citizen who has worked with Canadian organizations for years told the Global Times on Sunday. "It would make no sense for the Canadian government to censor a Chinese online show, and the topics are not even considered taboo in Canada," she said. Inland residents may be hearing a lot more about the lodging options in Temecula Valley Wine Country in the near future. The regions hotels, wineries that offer overnight accommodations and companies that manage vacation rentals are working with Riverside County and Visit Temecula Valley the areas convention and visitors bureau to create a marketing district to help promote their businesses. I love it, said Bill Wilson, owner of Wilson Creek Winery and the Wilson Creek Manor, a vacation rental on his property that hosts wedding parties and bed-and-breakfast guests. A lot of people are looking forward to it. The district, which could generate around $190,000 a year, would be funded by a 2 percent assessment on overnight room stays. The assessment would be paid by any existing company that decides to participate in the district there are about 30 eligible and all future companies that set up shop within its boundaries. It also would apply to people who rent out property for short-term stays through Airbnb and similar operations. If approved by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, the countys Office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector will begin collecting the assessment Nov. 1. Supervisors will hold a hearing on the plans Sept. 13, but Wilson said the vast majority of the large wineries and lodging companies have already approved the general framework for the plan, which should make approval by the board a formality. Companies that dont want to be involved wont be forced to join and pay the assessment, but Wilson said they wouldnt be included in the marketing efforts. The district would be managed by the Visit Temecula Valley board, which already runs the marketing district for the city of Temecula. That district, which has been in existence for around 12 years, is funded by a 4 percent assessment on hotels and B&Bs within the citys boundaries. This would definitely be a great partnership, said Annette Brown, marketing manger for Visit Temecula Valley. For much of its existence, Temecula Valley Wine Country was known as a day trip for Southern Californians, a place for brunch and some wine tasting on the weekends. But in the past decade or so, the region became a wedding hotspot, which has led to an increased demand for lodging. The large wineries have responded by building hotels or bungalows or converting houses, such as the Wilson Creek Manor, into vacation rentals. With the new district, Wilson said the investment that he and his colleagues have made in their properties will be represented in the marketing push for the region. Its not just Temecula hotels, he said. Weve got some great hotels in Wine Country. Brown said she is excited because a new focus on lodging options in Wine Country would give her and her staff more inventory to work with when they are pitching the region to prospective guests. Not all visitors want to stay in a traditional hotel, she said. It really expands our offering. Crystal Magon, marketing director for South Coast Winery, said the additional funding should help the region stay on top in a highly competitive market. South Coast, which operates rental villas, supports the effort. What weve seen is that there are many wine regions throughout the U.S. that are doing similar assessments, she said. Contact the writer: 951-368-9698 or aclaverie@scng.com Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited has received authorization from the Bank of Ghana to be an approved Primary Dealer (PD) in the purchase and sale of Government of Ghana securities under the new wholesale auction system. This authorization allows the Bank to purchase Treasury bills and bonds in bulk at the weekly primary auction and on-sell them to individuals and corporate investors and holders in the secondary market. The authorization offers an exciting opportunity to customers and non-customers of Fidelity Bank to buy and sell Treasury bills or bonds at so much ease and comfort now. Customers are now able to contact any of the seventy-five(75) branches of the Bank nationwide and make their purchases of treasury bills and bonds. The Bank is ever ready to offer investors competitive rates on their Treasury bills and bonds purchases or pay cash within minutes of selling their bills and bonds to the Bank. In an interview, the Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Jim Baiden noted that, the selection of Fidelity Bank as a Primary Dealer affirms the Banks credibility and sound record as an accomplished securities dealer over the past several years. He stated that, the authorization is a step in the right direction towards the Banks ambition of becoming a world class bank pursuing high standards in banking. He further added that the Bank will continue to improve its service delivery by focusing on the needs of customers and optimizing existing processes to match global standards. As a matter of priority, we will be focusing on evolving technologies that will define the future of banking. We will also increase capacity levels across all departments and branches to ensure that the Bank is well resourced and ready for the future. We believe with the support of our customers, we will achieve our aim of becoming the preferred indigenous Bank rendering world class services to our home based customers he reiterated. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Government has granted South Africa Airways (SAA), the Firth Freedom Traffic Right to operate on the Accra-London route. This means that SAA after satisfying the criteria of the aeronautical agencies of both countries, can fly direct from Accra to London. This was disclosed by Transport Minister Fiifi Kwetey at an event to mark the first anniversary of direct flight of SAA to Washington. According to him, the request which was made by the airline was granted due to the success it has attained with its direct flight to Washington one year on. "We are confident that just as they have done very well on the current route, once this also goes through we will definitely see quite a lot of exciting opportunities on the Accra-London route as well," Mr Kwetey said. He added that Ghana has adopted a liberalized aviation policy in the bid to make it an aviation hub in Africa. Since August 2, SAA, the only four-star rated carrier in Africa flies four times a week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - to Washington DC on its A340-600s aircraft. According to Gloria Yirenkyi, the country manager of South Africa Airways, the airline currently has 74 percent market share on the route. The route in the past year has also seen a 14 percent growth. She added that they might increase their frequency on the Washington route considering the demand. South Africa Airways has already been granted the Firth Freedom Traffic Right to operate from Accra to New York and plans to activate its operations on the route by the end of the year. Source: starr FM Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A total of 39 female Ghanaian pilgrims have been repatriated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Pilgrims Affairs Office Ghana (PAOG) has announced. Nine persons out of the number are minors while 30 are inappropriately categorized as without guardians because they are less than 40 years. A statement released from the Pilgrims Office said the Saudi Ambassador to Ghana is working with the PAOG Chairman Hon. Ibrahim Rauf Tanko and Immigration Officers to rectify the situation as soon as possible. The Kingdom requires allladies less than 40 years entering the Kingdom Hajj to be accompanied by an adult male relative. Insha Allah it is our that when it is done the affected pilgrims will return to continue their pilgrimage. the statement noted. Source: kasapafmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Document chanced upon by Today from the corridors of Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources indicates that a total of 3,877 illegal foreign miners who had been involved in illegal mining activities including those who voluntarily submitted themselves for repatriation have been deported by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS). Today gathered that since 2013 the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce which started the operational phase of its activities on June 1, 2013 covering the southern portion of the country to enforce its mandate have so far arrested 1,568 foreigners and 51 Ghanaians. Today understands that forty (40) vehicles, 85 earth-moving equipment and forty-nine (49) weapons have been seized. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills, told journalists that the resolve of government to sanitise the small-scale mining sector was unwavering stressing that Inter-Ministerial Task Force was poised to pursue all violators of our mining laws. According to the sector minister, it was important to note that the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force complements activities of the ministry of lands and natural resources in its determination to bring sanity into natural resource exploitation in this country. He noted that that ministry has also reconstituted membership of the 5 existing regional task forces to complement efforts by the National Security to deal with the illegal mining situation in the country. He mentioned to the journalists that new members were brought on board to ensure efficiency. These task forces, according Mr. Mills, are operational in the Eastern, Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Central Regions. The ministry, he averred, was also collaborating with the ministry of interior and the Metropolitan/District Assemblies to deal with foreigners in illegal mining. In addition to the efforts by the regional task forces, Nii Mills stated that government was currently undertaking geological exploration of nine (9) areas totalling 500sq.km in various parts of the country to identify mineralised areas for small scale miners. He noted that one of these areas has already proved viable (i.e., Japa in the Western Region) and mineral concessions were being acquired by small scale miners. He underscored that to mitigate the socio-economic impacts of mining on host communities, the sector ministry implemented Alternative Livelihood Programmes (ALP) in mining communities through the creation of non-mining jobs. According to him, a total of twenty three thousand (23,000) acres of land have been planted with oil palm seedlings in the Prestea-Huni Valley District giving employment to twenty three thousand (23,000) people. Additionally, he asserted that the ministry will continue to support ALP beneficiaries to ensure good yield of the oil palm. Based on the success of the Prestea Pilot Project, he disclosed that another 23,000 acres of oil palm plantation was being established in the Dunkwa-Ayanfuri area of the Central Region. The objective of this project, Mr. Mills pointed out, was aimed at generating employment, stem the tide of rural urban migration, reduce poverty and as well as reduce the menace of illegal mining in mining communities. He revealed that so far about 6,800 acres of oil palm has been established under the Dunkwa-Ayanfuri project, which has also employed about 7,000 people directly. Diversification of the mineral production base In pursuance of governments priority of diversifying mineral production, base metals (lead, copper and zinc) occurrences in the Buem Formation of the Nkwanta areas of the Volta Region will be investigated. Subsequently, he posited that government purchased a multi-purpose drilling rig to assist the Geological Survey Department to further investigate and prove the potential of these newly discovered minerals. Additionally, he said the drilling rig will facilitate the firming up of the stratigraphy of the Voltaian Basin and also assist to strengthen the Departments capacity to carry out other geological studies for effective land use planning. He indicated that the active prospecting was also underway on the Shieni and Oppon Mansi iron ore deposits to boost the establishment of an integrated iron and steel industry in Ghana. He stated that to improve upon the mining sector revenue collection, management, and transparency, fiscal mine models have been developed both on macro and micro levels. He said a Multi-Agency Revenue Task Force has been established to enhance cooperation and collaboration among revenue agencies and Minerals Commission and to apply mine fiscal models to operating mines. So far, seven (7) mines have already been audited, he disclosed. These mining companies, he mentioned include Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Goldfields (Tarkwa and Wassa), Chirano, Ghana Manganese Company, stating that recommendations from the auditing so far has informed changes in the fiscal regime for mining. Source: Today Newspaper Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Shippers' Authority has inaugurated an ultra modern 12-storey building christened Ghana Shippers' House at the heart of the capital-Accra. The brief-but-colourful inaugural ceremony brought together major stakeholders in the shipping industry both in and outside the country . Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Transport, Mr Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey who stood in for President John Mahama, commended the management and staff of the Authority for taking the bold initiative to building the $16.5 million state of the art edifice. The minister called for the proceeds made from renting some of the spaces to reputable organisations to be put to good use in order to pay back the cost of the construction in time. Mr Kwetey used the occasion to advise other state enterprises and agencies to take a cue from the Authority by collaborating with each other to strengthen and expand their operations for economic growth. According to him,government is committed to addressing challenges in the maritime industry and noted that if the expansion works on the Tema and Takoradi Ports and the Tema Motorway are completed , shipping would receive a major boost. He added that his ministry's directive for the suspension of new terminal charges being effected by some shipping lines at the port is still in force and must be adhered to. On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers' Authority, Dr Kofi Mbiah disclosed that it took his outfit several years to bring the dream of having the Shippers' House into reality due to funding challenges. Construction,however, started in September 2010. He disclosed that the Shippers' House apart from serving as the head office of the Authority would also have a Shippers' Brokerage Hall, the first of its kind in West Africa; a maritime administration center; conference center and committee rooms and a dedicated hall for shipper complaints for speedy redress. Dr Mbiah, who is also the Chairman of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Legal Committee and a member of the Governing Board of the International Maritime Law Institute, paid glowing tribute to the staff and management, past and present board members of the Authority particularly its former CEO Mr M.T Addico for his foresight,commitment and dedication towards the growth of the organisation and accordingly named the conference hall after him. The President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr James Asare-Adjei, who was the chairman of the occasion said industries are concerned about the turn-around-time and cost implications of doing business at the port and are ready to collaborate with the Shippers' Authority in advancing better trade policies and interventions for the growth of the economy. 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 There is every indication that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) is bent on portraying the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a sick man after efforts to tag him as a divisive character had not washed. As part of the strategy as captured in the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) report on the NDC losing power the governing party, apart from leveling unfounded allegations against Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been attacking the personality of the NPP leader. The NDC appears to have contracted the US-based magazine called Africawatch, edited by Steve Mallory (real name, Raymond Poku), to perpetrate the diabolical agenda. The recent copies of the magazine had focused on Nana Addo. In what looks like a calculated plan between the NDC and Steve Mallory, DAILY GUIDE understands, the magazine is coming out tomorrow with a publication headlined, NPP campaign in jeopardyAkufo-Addo has cancer, to portray the NPP leader as not fit for the election, even though Nana Addo is on his feet campaigning in the Upper East Region as at last night. NDC Link The link between the NDC and Steve Mallory was revealed by one of the ruling partys communicators, Sam George, last Friday when he predicted without any equivocation on radio that the NPP campaign was going to grind to a halt by Monday (today) and that is exactly what the magazine has displayed in its latest edition 4,000 copies of which were flown in from the United States. Sam Goerge said boldly on Asempa FMs afternoon political talk-show, Ekosii Sen, that the NDC was going to talk about the health status of Nana Akufo-Addo as well as delve into what he claimed to be the NPP leaders past social records. On the cover page of the magazine, Steve Mallory displays a photo-shopped picture of Nana Akufo-Addo to portray him as looking sick with dark spots. Scurrilous Agenda A source close to the medical team of Nana Akufo-Addo reacted to the publication, describing it as scurrilous. He is not suffering from any cancer. They have photo-shopped a picture of Nana Akufo-Addo making him to look sick, the source said angrily. Nana Akufo-Addo is fit and vigorous and is campaigning all over the country, the source added. NDC Magazine Africawatch is a preferred magazine by the NDC, using its editor to destroy the reputations of perceived opponents of President John Mahama and his NDC administration, just like Montie Fm. Recently, the same magazine published that former President Jerry John Rawlings was suffering from Parkinsons disease and DAILY GUIDE learnt that it was orchestrated by elements within the ruling party to cow the founder of their own party into submission. The publication got Mr Rawlings infuriated, threatening a court action. A source said the publication was done to spite their founder because they felt he was weighing too much influence on chiefs in the Volta Region, some of who had been complaining about lack of development in their respective areas, in spite of the fact that the region votes massively for the NDC. The partys stalwarts felt the founder might cause the chiefs and people of the region to vote against the ruling party in December. DAILY GUIDE further learnt that the NDC also appears to have facilitated the publication of the interview of suspended NPP National Chairman, Paul Afoko, by the magazine to portray the opposition party as divided, but the Dzifa Attivor ethnocentric comments rendered the publication useless. It will not be surprising if in the next few days the pro-NDC newspapers feed on what some NPP bigwigs have described as scurrilous publication by the magazine as part of the grand scheme to make Nana Akufo-Addo and his NPP look bad in the eyes of the public. DAILY GUIDE sources said as part of the NDC campaign strategy it would go all out on Nana Akufo-Addo to provoke him to react so that party activists would describe him as intolerant, using their media hirelings. President Mahama has been constantly attacking the NPP leaders after intended internal revolt instigated by the ruling party appears to have failed. V ice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur also dropped a hint over the weekend that the NDC would go all out to attack the NPP, warning that attacking and leveling allegations against President Mahama, especially describing him incompetent leader, would not go without being reacted to. Boot For Boot The NDC campaign spokesperson, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, said the NPP must first stop the insults if they want a clean campaign ahead of the December 7 polls. 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? she queried. 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, I am saying President Mahama is in campaign mood and has decided to meet the opposition boot for boot, she fired. Incompetent But the NPP insists that the president has been very incompetent in handling the affairs of the country. The party cited the management of the economy which it says President Mahama has ran down. According to the major opposition party, corruption and mismanagement have been the order of the day in the Mahama administration, having inherited an economy that was growing at 14 percent in 2009 and succeeded in driving it down to 3 percent in 2016. Mahama Has No Vision Nana Akufo-Addo, in his campaign tour of the Upper East Region, said it would be a grave mistake on the part of Ghanaians to retain President Mahama for another four years. According to the NPP standard bearer, the problems confronting the nation the rising cost of living, rising levels of unemployment, high utility tariffs, decline in agricultural and industrial output, amongst others are as a result of President Mahama having no plan, vision or action to address the problems of our people. Nana Addo therefore, stressed, It would be a mistake to continue with where we are now. So many of the important aspects of our national life, today, are all in retreat. Our economy is in poor shape; and I dont think there is any honest person in this country, today, who can say Ghanas economy is working well. It is not working well. Our industries are not working well; our agriculture is not working well; and unemployment amongst our young people is reaching record proportions. Akufo-Addo made these observations when he was addressing the Bolgatanga Traditional Council in the Upper East Region yesterday. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has stated that it would be a grave mistake on the part of Ghanaians to retain President Mahama for another 4 years in office, as the nation prepares to head to the polls in December. According to the NPP flagbearer, the problems confronting our nation, be they in the form of the rising cost of living, rising levels of unemployment, high utility tariffs, decline in agricultural and industrial output, amongst others, is because President Mahama has no plan, vision or action to address the problems of our people. Nana Akufo-Addo, therefore, stressed that it would be a mistake to continue with where we are now. So many of the important aspects of our national life, today, are all in retreat. Our economy is in poor shape, and I dont think there is any honest person in this country, today, who can say Ghanas economy is working well. It is not working well. Our industries are not working well, our agriculture is not working well, and unemployment amongst our young people is reaching record proportions. In spite of these, the NPP flagbearer is assuring Ghanaians that an NPP government under his leadership has a programme and plan of how Ghana could be, if given the chance, to serve Ghanaians. Nana Akufo-Addo was addressing the Bolgatanga Traditional Council, on Sunday, August 28, 2016, when he made these remarks. The NPP flagbearer explained that the partys programme of developing Ghana, and returning her onto the path of progress and prosperity is hinged on the twin-track of industrializing Ghanas economy as well as increasing agricultural productivity. This, he added, are the means by which his government, God-willing from 2017, is going to create jobs for the teeming masses of unemployed Ghanaians. The most critical thing that all of us have to work on is how to improve the functioning of our economy. If our economy is working well, jobs will be created, income levels will rise and we will have prosperity in the country. That is the only way we can guarantee prosperity. An economy in decline or in retreat only means poverty for all of us. The economy that is working means all of us will be in a better place that where we are today in Ghana, he stated. The spectre of young men and women trooping down-South from the North, to find non-existent jobs, he said, is because there are virtually no opportunities for them in Northern Ghana. We can reverse all of that with proper planning and serious policy. We are determined to do so in the interest of Ghanaians. What is important for us to do in Ghana is to make sure that every part of the country becomes its own centre of wealth. This situation whereby all wealth is concentrated in Accra and Kumasi is dangerous for the future of the country, he said. He continued, It means that these two poles have everybody rushing there. We want evert part of Ghana to be its own growth pole and area of wealth creation. That is why we are talking about 1-District-1Factory, so that in every area there is an activity ongoing which will engage them and improve their living circumstances. Nana Akufo-Addo, thus, appealed for the support of the people of the North in this years elections, assuring that we have got, without any reservation, the best team available in Ghanaian politics today to develop our country. We have high quality men and women, who when given the opportunity, can turn Ghana around in a short period of time can put smiles on their faces, money in their pockets and prosperity in every region. It is possible for us to do it. It is being done next door to us in Cote dIvoire a smaller country, less population, less resources. But, because of the quality of the leadership there, they are makes big leaps and bounds there. I believe that it is possible on the back of the elephant to rebuild our nation and bring prosperity back to Ghana. 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 Nollywood Actress, Ebube Nwagbo, has shared her fears concerning marriage following the high cases of divorce in the industry. The Anambra State-born actress told Star Gist in an interview. She said: I try to keep to myself, but the industry where I find myself is a complex one. You have to be very close to me to know the real Ebube, because most times I camouflage just to create an impression. The real me is not what you see in TV or read on the papers , but I am also human; I have my moods, my bad sides, my flaws, etc. I love the good thing of life, so I work hard to get them. I only stress myself when money is involved. Marriage is always going to be at the right time, and dont ask me when is the right time. Im single but Im not searching, Why would I? Well, I am seeing somebody, but starting my own family I cant say for now. But I will do that at the right time. I dont like doing something and later jump out of it. I take my time to do whatsoever I want to do making sure it is the right decision. I am scared of marriage, we see divorce everyday. Although no one goes into marriage believing she would soon jump out of it. I strongly believe that before a couple considers divorce, they must have put in their best to make it work, all to no avail. Marriage in the limelight is not easy, even those outside it are not surviving easily. For me, before I take the decision, it just has to be right. I have learnt a lot from other peoples mistake and that has helped me a lot. Being in a relationship alone is not easy not to mention marriage, I just want to do it right to avoid regret. So I am treading carefully. Source: Dailypost.ng 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 Hiplife duo, Akatakyie have described rappers Sarkodie and Okyeame Kwame as amateurs when it comes to rap music. Speaking to Giovanni and Anita Erskine on the 'Veterans Thursday' segment on the Starr Drive, Akatakyire said: We are the best rappers in Ghana from 2000 till now, we are just giving them the opportunity to operate, and we are coming back for the crown, our rap is timely, consistent and always on point...we have a lot in store for our fans.They should continue to give us their support". The duo came out with their maiden album 'Odo esisi me' in 1999 which won them the Best Hiplife song award in the maiden edition of the Ghana Music Awards organized in 2000. They have had hits like 'Ghana mmaa', 'Agoo', 'Odo esikyire', 'Sinsima', 'Esi', 'Meyare', 'Masan aba', 'Oman baapa', 'Odo ye musu anaa', and 'Sie sie obaa no' featuring Okyeame Kwame. Source: Starrfmonline.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 File Photo (Xinhua) For most students, summer conjures up visions of sunshine, warm breezes and carefree getaways. However, for 13-year-old Xiao Man (a pseudonym) those associations couldnt be any further off the mark. On a summer night in 2015, Xiao Man was punched, kicked and slapped by a group of female classmates. Her arms and face were burned by lit cigarettes, and large chunks of her hair were torn out. It has been more than a year since this incident occurred, but Xiao Man is still frequently woken by nightmares about the attack. A string of similar violent incidents has occurred in recent years, with such growing regularity that the rise of these female aggressors and indeed, the rise of young teenaged attackers overall is becoming a new trend. From 2013 to 2015, in 100 school violence cases that went to trial, more than 88 percent caused personal injuries. Those causing serious injuries or even death accounted for 67 percent, according to statistics released by the Supreme Court. Middle school and junior high students are the most common offenders in school violence cases, accounting for as 33.96 percent. They are followed by high school students, accounting for 22.64 percent. However, under the current Child Protection Law in China, minors over the age of 14 but under the age of 16 do not face harsh punishments unless they commit serious crimes such as murder; in other words, violence in middle schools is likely much more prevalent than the court record makes it appear. Despite the high rate of these incidents, the technical and legal definition of school bullying remains unclear. Many people interpret it as insulting language or nicknames exchanged between students. Others say that only physical violence counts as real brutality. Loopholes in legislation may be indirectly extending the bullying epidemic. The current Child Protection Law and Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency are both inclined to protect the rights of teenagers with advocacy rather than disciplinary measures. And since it takes so long to solve the problems through legislation, some experts suggested that amending the existing terms of the law would be most realistic and convenient. The mother of the 21-year-old British backpacker stabbed to death in a Queensland hostel has, after her brief original statement, written a heartbreaking piece for UK site The Independent about her daughter. Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Derbyshire, was killed when another hostel guest, 29-year-old French citizen Smail Ayad, stabbed her in front of 30 people at the Home Hill hostel, where she was staying while working on a Queensland farm in order to gain Australian citizenship. Aycliffe-Chungs mother Rosie Ayliffes piece discusses her memories of her daughter and the process of grief, as well as her plans to scatter Mias ashes in the parts of the world she hadnt had the chance to visit yet: Im fully aware that her body is on a slab somewhere in a cold dark place. She wouldnt mind the dark, but shes not good with the cold. I couldnt bear for her to be kept like that for weeks and decided she needed to be cremated sooner rather than later. I know some of her friends are struggling with that, because they wanted her body brought home and a cremation or burial here in the Wirksworth area, but she has friends all over the place. Hence the plan to create a place of remembrance here, but also to give various people vials of Mias ashes to scatter in places dear to her or to them. That way she can visit places she hasnt visited yet. Canada, New Zealand, Singapore. Predictably, much of the discourse around Mias death has been the motivations of the killer and many groups have used it as a chance to attack Islam and ascribe religious motivations for the murder. Ayliffes letter rejects those narratives. Smail Ayad the French man being held on suspicion of my daughters murder is not an Islamic fundamentalist, he has never set foot in a mosque. [ ] Having been raised as a socialist and within the Church, what I choose to take from the scriptures and from socialist texts is that forgiveness and reparation are absolutely key, or violence escalates into something uncontrollable. And the person who killed Mia now has to live with the fact that they destroyed my daughter. If they feel no remorse, then surely theyre a monster in human form, and what kind of life is that? Guests have told authorities that Ayad was obsessed with Ayliffe-Chung, that she had rejected sexual advances by him, and he had said that he planned to marry her. There are reports that the French national yelled Allahu Akhbar during the attack, which still have not been confirmed. French-speakers who were present during the attack said most of what he was yelling was nonsensical, and police suggest there is no evidence of a religious motivation for the attack. The entire letter is worth a read check it out here. Source: The Independent. Photo: Instagram. Former Brisbane Lions player Albert Proud has been jailed after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on his then-partner Richelle Kadadi. Proud was in Brisbane District Court today being sentenced for an attack on Kadadi in November 2015. Judge Tony Moynihan said that the attack took a catastrophic emotional and physical toll on her and sentenced Proud to five and a half years, with parole eligibility in October 2017. The court heard that Proud just snapped after going to a wedding and a party on November 8th, and had a sudden change of mood after Kadadi handed him clothes of his that had gotten wet when he was pushed into a pool. He lashed out and began hitting the inside of the car before hitting Kadadi so hard in the chest she thought she was having a heart attack. She was later spotted by the bride and groom from the wedding, who drove past her as she was running down the road wearing clothes had been visibly stretched by someone pulling on them. Prouds defence said he was unable to explain his actions and that Albert Proud sober is different from Albert Proud drunk. Proud was sacked from the Brisbane Lions in 2011 for alcohol-related incidents. Source: Brisbane Times. Photo: Channel Nine. Its a bad(ish) day for those of you who like to feast on the full gamut of Netflixs larder. Local VPN and DNS provider UFlix has officially announced it is tapping out in the fight against the streaming giants geoblocking. The company, which enabled customers to get their grubby mitts on US and international versions of the service via geo-dodging workarounds, officially announced it will not be supporting services that allow Australian users to access overseas versions of Netflix, due to ongoing and increasingly difficult security measures being put in place by the company. Whilst previously it was thought that any pushback against geo-dodging customers by Netflix would be temporary, in recent months the streaming juggernaut has maintained a constant, ever-evolving effort to kick Australian users off the international version of the service. A huge update implemented this month has been the final straw for UFlix, who have simply not been able to keep up in the constant cat-and-mouse efforts against geoblocking. Customers have been left without access to the service, as new fixes and workarounds put in place by UFlix have been nuked by Netflix within a matter of hours. Managing director Peter Dujan stated that although the company will still be working on Netflix workarounds in the background in case their current relentless approach to geo-dodgers eases up, they remove support for Netflix workarounds for the time being. We made the decision due to the aggressive nature of their bans. Unfortunately every time we set up a new network or find a workaround it is getting blocked within hours. This may possibly change in the future, but for the moment we are not going to support Netflix. We are however still working on it in the background and have some things ready as a proof of concept which we will be testing. UFlix will continue to provide Australian customers with services that allow them to access other geoblocked streaming platforms like HBO Now, HBO Go, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and BBC Player. But their caving in the push against Netflix comes as the latest in a string of companies waving the white flag; UnblockUS and UnoTelly, for example, both removed support for US Netflix in similar circumstances. GetFlix remains one of the few notable Australian VPN/DNS companies still offering support for Netflix, though customers have reportedly not had access to the US library for several weeks. For the time being, you can still get your grubby mitts on the US version of the service if you are absolutely desperate enough. But if Netflixs rabid push back continues, those days could well be numbered. Source: Sydney Morning Herald. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty. There are a number of reasons why people say theyll be voting Donald Trump in November. They might be disaffected by the kind of free trade agreements that Hillary Clinton champions. They might be sick of political correctness. They might feel like the current political and media elite doesnt represent them. But the key issue that Trump has constantly harped on that many mainstream Republicans wont touch with a ten-foot-pole is immigration. Hes activated a key core constiutuency who are sick of the weak rhetoric from other leaders and they want illegal Hispanic immigrants booted out, a big ol wall built on the Mexican border, and Muslims barred from entry. Thing is, theres a difference between riling up r/The_Donald and actually governing a country, and Trump is starting to walk back some of the harder edges of that rhetoric and his fans are not keen. The other day, Trump appeared on conservative talk show Hannity to chat immigration. In an absolutely weird exchange, he floated a decidedly un-Trump idea: giving amnesty to illegal immigrants who have been in America for a long time, as long as they pay whatever taxes they owe. Its suspiciously similar to Barack Obamas own plan. The audience werent so crash hot on that idea, and Don seemed to be working his policy out on the fly based on their applause. Which is, as we know, the best way to determine public policy. Now hes been in damage control mode all weekend, with his surrogates hitting up the morning shows in an attempt to tell Trumps suspicious supporters that Trump is still keen on his hard-line plans. His nominee for vice president, Mike Pence, told CNN that hes absolutely still mad for that wall, but theyll be sorting out the details quite soon: I mean, youre going to hear more detail in next two weeks that lays out all the policies I think Donald Trump will articulate what we do with the people who are here what you see going on right nowand I think, at a certain level, its very refreshing, because its the Donald Trump that I see every dayis, you see a CEO at work. I dunno about you, but to me a statement like that absolutely doesnt rule out the prospect of some changes. But hey. Trump supporter and former Republican candidate Chris Christie also made a few mystifying remarks: Theres going to be, you know, some decisions hes going to have to make as president regarding these folks, and I think what hes said [is] lets get lets first get all of the bad actors out of the country. Wait a moment bad actors? So deporting violent crims? Sure, but thats absolutely not the policy that has got the Trump fans frothing. They want em all out. On Twitter, passionate Trump supporters a.k.a. The Nazi Pepe Squad (a name I just made up) are making it clear that they expect the Don to keep up his end of the bargain. If Trump decides to Cuck on Immigration his support will crumble Viktor Fiel (@ViktorFiel) August 27, 2016 Did Trump just cuck on immigration? Wft? #altright Michelle (@michelleisgayaf) August 25, 2016 Yes, I just embedded two tweets with cuck in them. But a scan of Trump supporters on Reddit also shows that theyre somewhat uneasy about Trump signalling hell adopt an immigration plan that looks a helluva lot like Jeb Bushs one. You know. That Jeb Bush. I think Trump most likely will officially moderate his stance on immigration, now that Clinton leads pretty comprehensively in all current polls and its clear that the anti-immigrant constituency isnt quite enough to score him the presidency. But well see! Maybe hell double down hard! You simply dont know with the big fella. Source: The Daily Beast. Photo: Getty Images. Oh you guys. While DC is busy tattooing obvious adjectives on characters foreheads and consistently disappointing fans, Marvel are just knocking it out of the park right now. Yeah yeah, because all the successful blockbuster films and that, but ALSO: because of this short lil mockumentary about Thor. Fans kept asking Marvel where the fuck Thor was at the beginning of Captain America: Civil War, so Taika Waititi decided to take a break from filming Thor: Ragnarok in Australia to show yall, via one of the cutest bloody videos weve ever seen. Basically, Thor got overwhelmed and really just needed some me time. He needed to get out of his superhero head, and instead became housemates with a super normal bloke called Darryl, and focussed on giving back to the community or something. He always made sure to stay in touch with his friends, because he could always just borrow one of the computers at Darryls work if he needed to like, email Tony Stark and stuff. The mini-mockumentary debuted at San Diego Comic Con earlier this year, but has just been released to the general public now turns out its a bonus with the Digital HD download for Civil War. Please enjoy we know we sure as hell did: See what Thor was up to during #CaptainAmericaCivilWar! Get this & other bonus on Dig HD 9/2 https://t.co/tWbG2IIs9h pic.twitter.com/M97y6CM1Mg Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 28, 2016 P.S. Is this canon? Probs no, but who cares BECAUSE HIS MJOLNIR HAS A LITTLE BED IN A DRAWER NEXT TO HIM WHEN HE SLEEPS. AWWWWWW. Source: Twitter / @MarvelStudios. A demolition site recently attracted the public's attention in the Shuangcheng district of Harbin, as PRC founding general Liu Yalou's former residence was forcibly demolished. Liu Yalou joined both the Chinese Communist party and the Red Army in 1929. Liu participated in the Long March, and, during the War of Liberation, commanded several victorious battles. After the founding of the PRC, Liu became the commander-in-chief of China's air force. In the early morning of June 25, a total of seven immovable relics were razed to the ground in a shanty town located northeast of Shuangcheng. On the site was a red notice board with the words, "This is a protection site for immovable relics." There are 260 households living in the 50,000 square meters of this town. Because of the location, many residents consider demolition their only hope of bettering their living conditions. In an appeal letter, 28 residents explained that they did not know they were living on a cultural relics site when the demolitions began. These former residences became private property in 1987. Inhabitants updated and renovated the houses, making major changes to their original appearances and structures. At the time, no individuals or government departments opposed the changes. During the third national survey on cultural relics, over 140 sites in Shuangcheng were affirmed as immovable relics. In July 2015, the Shuangcheng government applied to remove the relics status and corresponding protection from those sites already damaged or altered beyond recognition, but the application has not yet received a reply. In order to let residents move back as soon as possible, the demolition is being carried out by areas and in stages. Construction in regions without relics is first. As for the rest, they have to wait for an official opinion to be handed down. So far, police have arrested and detained two criminal suspects. The Harbin government has intervened in the inspection. A police officer directs a passenger at Terminal 7 in Los Angeles International Airport, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. Reports of a gunman opening fire that turned out to be false caused panicked evacuations at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday night, while flights to and from the airport saw major delays. Passengers who fled had to be rescreened through security. A search through terminals brought no evidence of a gunman or shots fired, Los Angeles police spokesman Andy Neiman said. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) China is becoming a flavored-destination for Liberias human resource development in recent years as compared to other countries. As Chinese government increases its scholarships, Liberians now see the country as door-open to further studies in various fields including technical learning. The quest for further studies in China has grown among young Liberians who are keen to know how the processes associated with the scholarship program. They are hoping for the Liberian government to mobilize resources to enable them study in China. Others are appealing to China to further increase its scholarships to their country. The students arrival at the airport on Sunday, Aug. 28 (photo/LSUIC) In five to six years from now, experts say there will be a high number of Liberians shall have acquired higher education in China. Since the resumption of China-Liberia relations in 2003, many Liberians have been benefiting from bilateral scholarships to study in China. In addition to bilateral scholarships, about 300 Liberians receive Chinese scholarships annually for professional studies as part of Chinese side of the Liberia-China relationship through various categories. They include: Chinese Ambassadors Scholarship and Chinese Enterprises Scholarship to students who perform well in the universities and colleges of Liberia, according to the Chinese Embassy in Monrovia. So far, hundreds of Liberians have completed further studies: in graduate and PhD as well as other professional training in China, according to LACTS. LACTS is Liberian Association of Chinese-Trained Scholars, an organization of Liberians who have completed studies in China. On August 16, the Chinese embassy in Monrovia held a reception dinner for Liberians selected for Chinas 2016/2017 bilateral scholarship program. Accordingly, they are about 50 on bilateral scholarship with more than 20 Confucius Institute and other Chinese enterprise scholarship. At the reception, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yue explained that the scholarships are in different categories. Ambassador Zhang said 11 are slated for a one year Masters degree program and 200 training opportunities for Liberian students, professionals and military officials this year. There are also seven students that successfully passed the Chinese Proficiency Test (otherwise known as HSK) Level-4 and were awarded the Confucius Institute scholarship to China this year. During his visit to Liberia last year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as part of Chinese assistance to Liberias post-Ebola recovery, announced his governments plan to add another 25 government scholarships to Liberia. The students have also begun arriving in China to begin their enrollment processes in order to be on par with resumption of school in September. It was exciting for Liberian students in China when they welcomed the first huge batch of their new colleagues for this year who arrived on Sunday. Under their group, Liberian Student Union in China (LSUIC), the students received their 23 colleagues at the airport in Beijing. LSUIC coordinator, Mulbah Gbozee, led the students to the airport to receive their fellows on Sunday. Fourteen of the new students head for Hubei Province, three for Beijing, two go to Jiangsu Province, one each to Shandong, Liaoning and Shaanxi provinces. Some Liberian students had arrived few days before Sunday. This new trend in the destination of Liberian students, coupled with Chinas increasing assistance to Liberias recovery programs, comes as a result of growing momentum of China-Liberia relations. It is also an encouraging sign for the implementation of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Fredrick P. W. Gaye is the News Editor of In Profile Daily Newspaper in Liberia, a fellow at the China Africa Press Center (CAPC) and an intern at Peoples Daily English Online (en.people.cn). He can be reached by: [email protected] File photo of Sun Yaoheng. [Photo: African Times] Johannesburg City Councilor, Sun Yaoheng, has taken office as the police chief of the South African municipality. It's the first time an ethnic Chinese has held the position in the history of the city, as well as South Africa. Sun Yaoheng is now in charge of the city's police and firefighting system. Due to poor gun control, wealth inequalities, high levels of illegal immigration, Johannesburg is now known for its high crime rate, gaining the reputation as the "crime capital" of the world. The murder rate is 32 per 100 thousand people. In an interview with 'Chinese in Africa', Sun says that despite the current poor security condition in the city, he is confident that he will make it a safer place during his time in office. He adds that after taking over, his focus will be on clamping down on police corruption and improving efficiency in firefighting, disaster rescue and traffic control. Sun has also assured the local Chinese community that he will work hard to improve their situation and is open to public supervision. Sun migrated to South Africa from Taiwan and is a lawyer as well as city councilor. He used to be the shadow police chief of Johannesburg and the commissioner of the municipal public security commission. Security has always been a great concern to Chinese people living in South Africa. The Africa-Chinese Firearm Association (ACFA), the first Chinese firearm association in South Africa, was also set up in the capital city last Saturday with the aim of helping local Chinese people learn about how to use guns in the right way, and to defend themselves from attack. Chinese ambassador to Johannesburg Yang Peidong addressed the founding ceremony, saying the association would better protect local Chinese people within South Africa's political and security condition. Heather Mogg to take plea deal in murder case Heather Mogg is scheduled to make a plea deal with Emmet County prosecutors for the murder of her boyfriend, Jonathan Tippett. ISSUES.... Inside, confidential and off the record Why Hillary Clinton ? We've found that a vote for Hillary is not only just a good vote, but that she may be one of the most highly qualified presidential candidates this country has ever seen. 6 reasons why Hillary Clinton is the best presidential candidate ever We often hear how a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote for the lesser of two evils. Much of the public's negative perceptions of her is generated by the right-wing hate machine that's incessantly harping about Benghazi, Clinton's emails and how Hillary is a liar. The result is voter apathy, especially among voters below the age of 30. You might be surprised, then, to discover that Hillary Clinton has some really impressive qualities, and we're not just referring to her flair for pant suits. We've found that a vote for Hillary is not only just a good vote, but that she may be one of the most highly qualified presidential candidates this country has ever seen. Here are six good reasons to vote for Hillary Clinton: 1. Impeccable Background, Experience and Qualifications Qualifications? She's got a few. In fact, it's astonishing how well-groomed Hillary is for the role of POTUS. Take a look at her stacked resume: In college, she was elected senior class president of Wellesley College. She graduated with honors from Yale Law School. She worked on presidential campaigns for Barry Goldwater (1964), George McGovern (1972) and Jimmy Carter (1976), all progressives in their day. While Bill Clinton was Governor, she co-founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. In 1988 and 1991, the National Law Journal named her one of the top 100 most powerful lawyers in America. She was first lady for eight years. She served as U.S. Senator from New York, and she served as U.S. Secretary of State under Obama. 2. Environment Hillary Clinton does not deny that climate change is real. Her commitment to the environment goes back decades, and as President, she has promised to make environmental protection a top priority. She wants to repeal Big Oil subsidies, stop the tax giveaways to gas companies and put the brakes on drilling in the Arctic. With our children's welfare in mind, she wants to invest in clean energy, big time. Her ambitious goals include installing more than a half billion solar panels across the country by the end of her first term. Also, she wants every American home to be running on renewable energy within 10 years of her taking office. 3. Marijuana Legalization The Democratic Party endorsed a historic groundbreaking initiative calling for legalization of marijuana and its removal from the controlled substance list. The amendment reads: Because of conflicting laws concerning marijuana, both on the federal and state levels, we encourage the federal government to remove marijuana from its list as a Class 1 Federal Controlled Substance, providing a reasoned pathway for future legalization. 4. Health Care Hillary Clinton's mandate has always been health care. Back in the '90's, when she was FLOTUS, Hillary fought a pitched battle against special interests and insurance companies who tried to derail her health care reforms. She won the battle to pass the Children's Health Insurance Program, which today insures 8 million kids. Hillary is a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act, which brings just that affordable health care to more than 20 million people. She is in favor of allowing people over 55 years old to buy into Medicare. Pharmaceutical companies are bent on jacking up the price of prescription medication, with an increase of 2.5 percent in 2013 to 12.6 percent in 2014. Hillary is demanding lower drug costs for working families and seniors, and she has promised to continue the fight if elected president. 5. Supreme Court / Second Amendment/ Gun Control Our next president will appoint at least one Supreme Court Justice, so it goes without saying that progressives should vote for Hillary. But it behooves conservatives to consider Hillary as well. Conservative issues, including gun control, religious freedom, the death penalty and Supreme Court nominations are not secure in the hands of a President Trump. Conservative law professors Yoo and Rabkin wrote in a Los Angeles Times op-ed piece that Conservatives who are indulging delusions about a Trump presidency are fantasizing even more about the Supreme Court. They note that Trump has flip-flopped on numerous core issues, such as the minimum wage, tax rates and entitlement reform. Even when he announced his list of judges, Trump back-peddled on his commitment, saying At a minimum, we will keep people within this general realm. Trump's handling of the gun control agenda should be a concern for conservatives as well. When Trump called on Second Amendment backers to shoot Hillary, it did not help their cause. This merely paints them as extremists instead of the responsible, law-abiding citizens the majority of them are. Hillary wants to maintain our Second Amendment rights, but with responsible safety measures in place, like comprehensive background checks. 6. Foreign Policy When you ask a Trump supporter what they don't like about Hillary Clinton, they'll invariably say Benghazi. Republicans have been pushing the Benghazi attack argument for years, implying that Clinton was complicit in some criminal cover-up, but the House Select Committee On Benghazi has cleared her of any criminal intent. If anything, the attack on Benghazi demonstrates the volatility of the world in which we live. Trump's response to such threats has been simplistic and bellicose, from wanting to nuke ISIS to expressing a desire to arm Japan with nuclear weapons. As Secretary of State under Obama, Clinton has real-world experience negotiating with foreign leaders. Obama was, in large part, elected to pull us out of war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan. Hillary has promised to continue Obama's foreign policy agenda, defeat ISIS and enforce the Iran nuclear agreement. by Andrew Arnett | konbini.com / Aug. 26, 2016 ISSUES.... 08/ 22/ 2016 - Send Us Your Issues ISSUES.... Inside, confidential and off the record Is an independent journalist effort from Petroleumworld, on Inside, Confidential and Off The Record Information, its views are not necessarily those of Petroleumworld Lagniappe Platts : Colombian peace won't cure oil industry's problems No short-term solution to the fortunes of Colombia's declining oil industry Analysts and industry sources are skeptical that the peace agreement announced this week between the Colombian government and a rebel group with which it has been at war for a half century will provide any short-term boost to the fortunes of Colombia's beleaguered oil industry. Continued violence, logistical difficulties and an expected tax increase later this year on top of an already high government take will continue to make Colombia's oil patch a challenging place to find, produce and transport oil and gas, experts said, particularly compared with more hospitable venues. After nearly four years of negotiations, the government announced late Wednesday it had reached agreement on all major points with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), with which it has been at war since 1964. The accord will be put to a nationwide vote October 2. Public opinion is sharply divided on the proposed accord. FARC declared a cease-fire a year ago and has since halted oil pipeline bombings and oilfield personnel kidnappings, the two banes of the industry over the last several decades. Thus, the peace deal will make more permanent the improvement in oilfield security that has been seen over the last year. Still, Colombia remains a high-cost venue for drilling and producing oil and many wildcatters in recent years have left for greener pastures such as Mexico, Argentina and Peru. It's not just security and logistics that have driven players from Colombia: industry officials complain that the government charges producers a high government take (royalties plus taxes). With leaders grappling with fiscal deficits, no one expects the government to make tax concessions in the near term. In fact, the industry is bracing for significant tax increases later this year as part of an overhaul of Colombia's tax system. OTHER GUERRILLA GROUPS STILL A CONCERN While the peace deal will lessen security concerns, which long have been an overhang for Colombia's oil patch, they won't disappear. Other lefitist guerrilla groups, most notably the National Liberation Army (ELN), continue to cause mayhem. According to Agora Consultores, a Bogota-based risk analysis firm, the ELN has bombed Colombia's oil pipeline network 29 times this year, up 81% from the 16 bombings over the same period in 2015. Meanwhile, FARC bombings have fallen from 59 attacks in 2015 to zero this year. "The climate after the signing of the peace deal [set for September 23] will be one of optimism moderated by skepticism," Agora President Orlando Hernandez said, a former officer and security expert in Colombia's national police. Adding to security concerns is that the ELN has refused to forswear kidnappings and release the 100 or so hostages they are believed to be holding. That refusal is a principle obstacle to the government embracing peace talks, according to Adam Isacson, a senior researcher at the Washington Office on Latin America, a think tank. Hernandez and Isacson said there is evidence that the ELN has moved into areas, such as North Santander province, that were once controlled by the FARC to attack and extort businesses there. The ELN was suspected of several bombings over the summer of the 220,000 b/d Cano Limon pipeline in places where it runs through North Santander. The attacks caused a six-week shutdown of the line that ended August 17, according to a source at state-controlled Ecopetrol. That shutdown, added to three years of declines in Colombian oil field investment, are the main reasons for the big drop in the nation's 2016 oil and gas output. Colombia pumped 843,000 b/d of crude in July, down 10.8% from 945,000 b/d in July 2015. Spot market sources did not expect to see any immediate impact to prices from the agreement with FARC. "I don't think there will be an impact on the market, because it is a political issue and the agreement was verbal. Also because there is another rebel group [ELN] that still is in conflict with the government,? a US bunker fuel trader with business in Cartagena said. COMMUNITY BLOCKADES BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE Hernandez said a bigger problem for some producers has nothing to do with insurgents -- the rising tide of community blockades of rural oil installations that often force companies to halt production. Shut-ins have risen as Colombian oil revenues have fallen and as many communities have reacted to a drop in the royalties directed their way. Through August, Hernandez said community blockades have totaled 109 this year, which is less than half the rate last year when full year blockades totaled 473. But the community protests continue to be a disincentive for oil companies' drilling activities, executives have said. For example, the Uwa indigenous community earlier this month occupied and shut down a natural gas pumping station in Gibraltar, North Santander province, that is owned and operated by Ecopetrol. The takeover caused a major disruption in gas deliveries to the nearby city of Bucaramanga and resulted in a spike in prices, Hernandez said. "Community blockades of oil operations are constantly lasting longer and having greater impact," Hernandez said. "The consequences of social conflicts now are far more severe in economic impact than those generated by terrorist attacks." In addition, Isacson said a concern of many in the Colombian government is that some FARC splinter groups will refuse to demobilize and instead form criminal gangs, much like members of demobilized paramilitary groups a decade ago. That new generation of criminal gangs continues to terrorize businesses and industry, especially in northern Colombia. Bogota, Colombia (Platts)--26 Aug 2016 429 pm EDT/2029 GMT Story by Platts reporters Chris Kraul and Maria Eugenia Garci a; Edited by Jason Lindquis . Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views Editor's Note: This commentary was originally published by Platts ; on Aug. 26, 2016. Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest of our readers. All comments posted and published on Petroleumworld, do not reflect either for or against the opinion expressed in the comment as an endorsement of Petroleumworld. All comments expressed are private comments and do not necessary reflect the view of this website. 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Any question or suggestions, please write to: editor@petroleumworld.com Best Viewed with IE 5.01+ Windows NT 4.0, '95, '98,ME,XP, Vista, Windows 7,8 +/ 800x600 pixels (Xinhua) 14:43, August 29, 2016 SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye ordered her senior secretaries on Monday to draw up realistic countermeasures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s "nuclear threats." Park told a meeting with senior presidential advisors that the government and the military should come up with realistic countermeasures for the DPRK's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and maintain a stern retaliation stance against any possible "DPRK provocations" that can lead to the regime's self-destruction. Touching on the DPRK's test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on Aug. 24, Park said the DPRK's nuclear program and missiles is not a simple destabilizing factor but a very serious threat to South Korea's security. Her comments came amid rising calls among ruling Saenuri Party lawmakers for introducing a nuclear-powered submarine in response to an advance in the DPRK's SLBM technology. Pyongyang test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast on Aug. 24, just two days after Seoul and Washington kicked off its joint annual war game, codenamed Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG). The missile flew about 500 km toward Japan, surpassing the flight distance of 300 km which South Korean defense ministry regards as a success. Park said the DPRK will never give up its push for the miniaturized nuclear warhead, noting that if the miniaturized warhead is mounted on a ballistic missile, it would endanger the survival of South Korea and its people. The president instructed her secretaries to strengthen pressure and sanctions toward Pyongyang in cooperation with the international community. (Xinhua) 17:14, August 29, 2016 SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Calls rose in South Korea for introducing a nuclear-powered submarine in response to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s advance in technology of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). Rep. Chung Jin-suk, floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, said during a party meeting on Monday that the DPRK's SLBM launch is a severe threat to security in South Korea as well as Northeast Asia because it is harder to detect where SLBMs are fired than ground-based missiles. Chung asked the military authorities to review special countermeasures, including the nuclear-powered submarine deployment, to fundamentally contain the DPRK's SLBMs. His comments came after the DPRK test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast on Aug. 24. Seoul's military said the missile flew about 500 km toward Japan, surpassing the flight distance of 300 km which South Korean defense ministry regards as a success. Adding to the call, former Saenuri floor leader Won Yoo-chul appeared in a radio program saying that a nuclear-powered submarine should be deployed to contain possible SLBM provocations from the DPRK. Won said the nuclear submarine is capable of conducting a close, persistent surveillance against DPRK submarines, which diesel-powered submarines, currently owned by South Korea's navy, are incapable of due to their shorter underwater time. A group of 23 Saenuri lawmakers, headed by Won, issued a statement on Sunday to call for the nuclear-powered submarine deployment, according to Yonhap news agency report. A completed SLBM technology would raise the DPRK's nuclear threat to a new level as it is very hard to detect and track a DPRK missile from a submarine moving secretly deep under the waters. The SLBM would make worthless a U.S. missile shield, which Seoul and Washington have agreed to deploy on South Korean soil, as the system's X-band radar cannot trace DPRK missiles from a submarine. The decision to install one Terminal High Altitude Area Defense(THAAD) battery by the end of next year encouraged Pyongyang to speed up efforts at advancing its SLBM technology. Just a day after the decision was announced on July 8, the DPRK test-fired an SLBM to protest against it. Facing strong oppositions from residents and politicians, Seoul's defense ministry said it would reconsider where the U.S. missile defense battery is sited only inside Seongju county, some250 km southeast of capital Seoul. Rep. Choo Mi-ae, newly elected chairwoman of the main opposition Minjoo Party, said on Saturday that she would push to make clear the party's objection to the THAAD deployment by adopting it as an official party view. Her comments were made after she was elected as the party head. Calls for a nuclear-powered submarine here are expected to escalate the already heightened tensions in the region. Tensions mounted following Pyongyang's nuclear test in January and the launch in February of a long-range rocket. Seoul responded by shutting down Kaesong Industrial Complex, the last remaining inter-Korean economic cooperation project in the DPRK's border town, and resuming its propaganda broadcasts through loudspeakers in frontline units. Combined forces of the United States and South Korea carried out their joint annual springtime war games, codenamed Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, for about two months through late April despite the DPRK's strong denunciations. Pyongyang made overtures in early 2015 that it would suspend nuclear tests in return for a halt of U.S.-South Korea war games ahead of last year's Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises. However, it was flatly denied by Seoul and Washington. The allies kicked off Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) computer-simulated exercise on Aug. 22, mobilizing tens of thousands of forces. The war game, which Pyongyang calls a dress rehearsal for northward invasion, will run through Friday. Just two days after the UFG exercise started, the DPRK conducted another test of an SLBM. Rather than turning its focus into peace talks with the DPRK, South Korea strengthened its super hard-line policy. Enditem BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature will read a draft law on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on Monday, calling for stronger management of the industry. The draft, now in its second reading, was submitted to the bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which runs from Monday to Saturday. Under the revised draft, pharmaceutical companies and TCM dealers must keep records of their purchases. It also stresses stricter management of farms used for TCM herb cultivation, better environmental protection for herb-growing regions, enhanced safety during processing and improved research on TCM theories and techniques. The draft also contains a general principle stipulating that China supports TCM studies, encourages innovation in TCM and promotes the application of such skills. The revisions specify items to enhance TCM studies in a newly-added chapter. Among them is a chapter stating that the country should encourage research and medical institutions, universities and pharmaceutical enterprises for the study of TCM. China should support the organization and application of ancient TCM literature, theories and the experience of renowned TCM practitioners as well as folk TCM skills, it says. Meanwhile, the new chapter stipulates that China should establish and improve systems of appraisal, management and innovation of techniques based on the characteristics of TCM. Research on projects crucial to TCM's development, such as TCM for prevention and treatment of major diseases, should be strengthened, according to the draft. The draft bill streamlines approval procedures for producing TCM formulations to promote TCM development and use. Governments should integrate TCM development into their plans on national economic and social development, and incorporate necessary funds into local fiscal budgets, said the draft. It also urges the country to better protect TCM through databases and catalogues of TCM knowledge. The initial draft was first read in a bimonthly session in December 2015. (Xinhua) 19:44, August 29, 2016 BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday that Japan wanted to sell its own intentions to African countries and had attempted to sow discord between China and Africa. Spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing that the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Sunday, should be a multilateral platform for exchanges and cooperation with the aim of supporting African development. However, Japan tried to derail the summit agenda by discussing the United NationsSecurity Council (UNSC) reform and maritime security issues, which caused discontent among the representatives of African countries, she said. African countries firmly opposed the politicizing of the TICAD and discussing Asian problems in Africa, and they firmly opposed Japan's intention of imposing its own will on Africa, the spokesperson added. Hua said the summit declaration showed that Japan finally had to accept the views of African countries, focus on maritime security cooperation in Africa, and follow the principles on the UNSC reform reached at the 2015 TICAD summit in Yokohama. Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported that the summit's declaration was made against the backdrop of tensions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Such reports did not reflect the truth of the conference in an objective way, and did not respect African countries, Hua said. Nathan Harvey and Jackson Phillips at Sun Peaks Bike Park: Cheshire's Finest with James Purvis: Tabor Mountain Bike Park - Get Out & Get It: J O Y R I D E: Crankworx Vibes: Red Bull Joyride 2016 - Unofficial Highlights: Red Bull Joyride 2016 Training: Macky Talks Movement and Shreds Angel Fire: Let the Good Times Roll: Rogue Sixty - Race to the Bottom: Boris Tetzlaff - Midseason Break: Morzine 2016: Weird & Revered - Vagabundos en Espana: Can You Destroy This Berm? Kenny Smith Train Gap Attempt: Slaying Sun Peaks with unmistakable style.Check out Propain Dirt Zelvy young gun James Purvis leave his home in the North East behind and sample some of the world class dirt Cheshire has to offer. Accompanied by Doritos, Muffins and the occasional face full of dirt, hit play and check out Purvis at full throttle.Ben, Conor, Brendon, and Glenn riding Tabor Mountain, BC's newest lift accessed bike park. Video: Glenn King. Additional filming: Jacob Mullen.A stroll around Joyride. Video: Jasper Wesselman.My Crankworx Experience. One camera, running around handheld with the gf trying to get as many shots as possible in only a couple days.The contest was badass this year as per usual.We're talking about practice.Pro enduro racer Macky Franklin, talks about the importance of movement in his life. Video: Alex Popowych.*Warning harsh language.* This is what losing your mind in Whistler for 10 days looks like. Couldn't have asked for a better trip.Shredding a California classic.Watch how the Austrian racer Boris Tetzlaff is dealing with the mid-season race break. There is no better way to refresh your mind while riding your local bike parks and trails. Just forget the clock and enjoy riding is his aim. Now Boris is ready for the last third of the 2016 race season!Out on the charge, sending it for the boyz.Bike riding and B-Roll captured antics from the BMX mecca that is Barcelona with some clips from Mallorca thrown in for good measure.It's a mountain bikers dream here at Crankworx 2016 in Whistler BC. Although, with these temperatures it could be hell - I'm not quite sure. Kaz and I hiked up to A-Line to watch the Air DH race go down. It went pretty much as expected flowing beers, naked people and dudes in trees. Afterwards we met up with the 2016 Dirt Diaries winner and pro rider Dylan Forbes to spin the wheel of gnar. Our friends Mark McKay and Connor Macleod joined us to shoot some nugs while the light was "JUST FIRING". Lastly, we checked in with Brett Rheeder to get the inside scoop on his thoughts on the Redbull Joyride Slopestyle course and boner logs. Stay tuned for more vlogs from Crankworx!Rider: Yusuke Yamamoto. Kenny Smith Train Gap Attempt from Jaswinder Paul Dhiman on Vimeo. Dakota Roche - Summer 2016: Kriss Kyle and Alex Donnachie - Wallriders: Mongoose Jam 2016 - TEAM CASEY: Bending Jaws: Dak is a beast.Two of the most creative riders out there.This is the video that won the 2016 Mongoose Jam at Woodward West! Mongoose pro, Pat Casey teams up with Mike Varga, and Jake Leiva.A recent purple blob in the Pacific sent a large scale west swell to the Hawaiian Islands. Debates were made whether or not the unusual angle of swell would work at Jaws. After a historic few days of surfing and arguably the best big wave ever caught by a woman, we'll let the images do the talking. BENDING JAWS from TAKE SHELTER PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo. Burrrlapz The Movie - The Teaser: Getting pitted. Burrrlapz The Movie | The Teaser from Burrrlapz on Vimeo. JP Auclair Street Segment (from All.I.Can.) Classic. JP Auclair Street Segment (from All.I.Can.) from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo. We Love You JP: JP Auclair passed in an avalanche in South America on Sept 29, 2014, along with another unbelievably inspiring human being, Andreas Fransson. They both continue to illuminate our world in wonderful ways. JP's birthday was August 22. we love you jp from Alpine Initiatives on Vimeo. Title Photo by: Paris Gore To check out videos submitted by fellow Pinkbike members that didn't quite make Movie Mondays here The Track: Race Day: Results: Schwalbe Elite men: Schwalbe Elite Women: The Shimano British Downhill Series returns to the hills of Rhyd-Y-Felin for the second time this year. Revolution Bike Park was to host round five of the series, one mile down the road from the Bala racetrack. With over a month of waiting riders were eager to get riding on the newly modified race track. Event organiser Si Paton, his dig team, and Revolution Bike Park have spent the last week perfecting the track for top racers from across Britain.The overall length of the track is 1.6km, giving the riders three minutes of technical descents, drops, and jumps. The rainfall and sunny weather throughout the weekend left the track with a thin layer of slippery slate and mud. Though the track dried up from the rainfall overnight it was short lived when a sudden downpour let loose before the race runs.Once off the uplift, riders had a small push up to the start gate. The track started off with three table tops that lead the riders down the first of the high-speed wooded sections. Riders were briefly sent into the open over a table top.A berm carried the riders further into the wood where they were met with a decision to make on line choices. Most riders debated that going around a drop would set them up straight for the following berm, instead of going off the drop then having to slow down to make the corner. Following on down more drops, slated shoots, and slippery roots, the track narrowed down to a high-speed section over two table tops and onto the step up.The last third of the track started in the woods with a section that had riders bouncing around like a pinball. Carrying their speed down from the woods over jumps and through berms riders were nearing the end of the track.First down the newly soaked race track. DMR Juveniles. Chris Cumming set a time of 3:08.060 giving him first place. Series leader in his category and national champ, Harry Barret was unable to take the win however he sat in second with a time of 3:14.766. In third, Luke Williamson was over eleven seconds off Harry's time. 3:30.461 gave James Elliot fourth. He was followed by Pearce cycles rider, Matt Bower in fifth.Next down the hill. Super Alloy Spring's youth boys. Setting the pace Atherton Academy rider, Kade Edwards takes the win by over two seconds putting Jamie Edmondson into second with his time of 3:03.489. Sitting in third, Luke Birkett with a 3:06.583. One second away in fourth place, Adam Beaty. Leaving Riley Scott in fifth with a 3:09.766.In Dainese veteran men, Madison Saracen Factory Team manager, Will Longden takes yet another win. Missing out on a top spot on the podium by under a second, Andrew Titley crosses the line with a 3:15.997. In third with a time of 3:19.630, Mark Weightman. In Kore grand veteran men, Richard Binns takes the win by a big margin of thirty-two seconds, Michael Waud came second leaving Steven Felstead in third with a 4:45.212. In NS Bikes' master men, Neil White's time of 3:02.450 brings him into a first place. Adam Smith was not too far behind in second. Peter Walton followed in third. Craig Taylor's time of 3:12.606 gave him a fourth place. Four seconds away was Peter Crooks in fifth.In Rachel Atherton's Junior Women category, Cairn Bell took the win by over six seconds. Junior women's National Champ, Aston Tutt wasn't on pace, however she took second with a 3:56.028. Megan Jones crossed the line in third with a 4:05.852. After snapping her handlebars at one of the earlier rounds of the BDS, Sumayyah Green has re-found her confidence and is back on pace in fourth with a time 4:18.243. Following her in fifth riding for One Giant Leap Llangollen, Rosy Monaghan. In Uberbike women, Martha Gill came first with a time of 4:38.208. NX2 rider, Lindsay Hanley came across the line five seconds away in second. Leaving Ellie Dewdney in third.Next down the track, Spank Junior men. Times were tight with Wideopenmag rider, Charlie Hatton one second off the win, giving Joe Breeden first place with a time of 2:52.776. James Purvis came third with a 2:58.641. Missing out by a second, Kaos Seagrave came fourth. Douglas Vieira came fifth with 3:03.524. In Pro Tharsis Senior men, Andrew Cooper took first place with five seconds to spare, Kieran Davies' time of 3:09.428 took him into second. In third place, Jay Teague with a 3:12.337. Callum Brookes crossed the line in fourth with under a second off fourth place. Martin Ashe goes into fifth with a 3:15.938.X-fusion Expert Men. Lewis Boyce takes first place with 3:00.087. Followed by Calum McGee in second. Riding for Hope Factory, Mathew Rushton came into third with a 3:02.833. In fourth and fifth with under a second apart Kris Gemmell crosses the line with a 3:03.71 in fourth, with Lewis Summers a hundredth of a second behind in fifth.In Schwalbe elite women riding for Madison Saracen Factory Team, Manon Carpenter took the lead with mighty twenty-two seconds. With a time of 3:47.938 Lucy Drees came second. A very muddy Becci Skelton crossed the finish line in third with a 4:12.649. Rebbecca Kennedy followed in fourth and Jessica Greaves in fifth with a 5:45.594.In Schwalbe elite men Josh Bryceland set a time of 2:48.673, giving him a podium spot in fifth. Last year's overall series winner, Joe Smith came fourth with a 2:47.528. Taking third a second faster than Joe's time, Adam Brayton. Phil Atwill's time of 2:45.520 left him in the hot seat waiting for Marc Beaumont to come down from his re-run. As Marc neared the finish line spectators eyes were glued to the timing board watching the second come by as Marc crossed the finish with a 2:43.857 giving him the win by two seconds.1 Marc Beaumont 2:43.857 -2 Philip Atwill 2:45.520 +0:01,6633 Adam Brayton 2:46.107 +0:02,2504 Joe Smith 2:47.528 +0:03,6715 Josh Bryceland 2:48.673 +0:04,8161 Manon Carpenter 3:25.325 -2 Lucy Drees 3:47.938 +0:22,6133 Becci Skelton 4:12.649 +0:47,3244 Rebecca Kennedy 4:53.759 +1:28,4345 Jessica Greaves 5:45.594 +2:20,269Join us for round 6 Llangollen BDS on the 17th and 18th of September. The briefness of the requirements for the Trojan theme likely makes life harder for teams proposing a mission to these worlds. In judging proposals, NASAs review teams will score proposals on their scientific merit (~40% of score), the feasibility of the specific proposed instruments and measurements (~30%), and overall mission feasibility within the cost cap (~30%). Scientific merit includes an explanation of the, Compelling nature and scientific priority of the proposed investigation's science goals and objectives. This factor includes the clarity of the goals and objectives Teams proposing for Venus have the benefit of goals developed and specified by the Venus science community while teams proposing for the Trojans have to develop and defend their own list of specific science goals and objectives. (At the end of this post, Ive copied the specific goals for the remaining mission themes from the AO.) Missions proposed for the next New Frontiers program will need to meet many criteria including these: Total cost for the development of the spacecraft, the instruments, and analysis of the returned data cannot exceed $850 million. NASA will separately pay for the missions launch and operation costs while in flight (likely several tens of millions of dollars per year), which together probably will bring the total cost of the mission to $1 billion or more. Proposals can include instruments paid for by foreign governments, but the costs of these instruments cannot exceed one-third of the cost of the total instrument compliment. As one NASA manager put it, NASA invests a great deal of money to develop instrument technologies by American scientists, and it wants to see a return on that investment by having the majority of instruments on the selected mission be American. Teams can propose the use of radioisotope heaters and radioisotope electrical power generators for their missions. These units would be useful for missions operating far from the sun (for example, at Saturn). However, a mission using these units would need to reserve a substantial portion of the core $850 million to cover the cost of these units. Using just the heaters would incur a cost of $47-79 million (depending on the number) and the electrical power generators would cost $133-195 million (again based on the number of generators used). These costs could drastically reduce the capabilities of the spacecraft and instruments compared to missions that dont require these technologies. I suspect that for many readers of this blog, a mission to return to Enceladus or Titan to continue their exploration with a new generation of spacecraft and instruments would be a personal favorite. I share that desire, but also recognize the challenges any proposal to these worlds would face. First, these worlds were just added to the list of candidate themes in the past few months. The in-depth analysis of objectives for these missions is just getting underway by the scientific community. Second, the technical maturity of instruments to explore their oceans, determine their habitability, and search for life may be low NASA has not made major investments in these technologies for these worlds (but plans to begin to do so). And third, these missions are likely to need radioisotope power generators and their cost would eat significantly into the mission budget, potentially making it less competitive. (Solar powered missions are possible at Saturn, but appear to be on the edge technically. This could make a proposal that depends on solar power appear technically risky.) Balancing these negatives is a heritage of three Discovery-class proposals to these worlds that were not selected but which could form the basis of a New Frontiers-class mission. Still, I personally doubt that a mission to these moons will be selected this time. (If I am wrong, given a mid-2020s launch and a flight that could last 10 years, it could be the mid-2030s before the spacecraft arrives at its target.) Ive learned to not try to predict which Discovery or New Frontiers mission is likely to be selected from the list of proposals made. The scrutiny given these proposals is intense. Any fault with the details of a proposal can rule it out. If the review panel decides that a proposed key engineering manager doesnt have sufficient experience, that could kill a proposal. If the review panel concludes that a technology proposed to be used for the spacecraft or a key instrument lacks maturity, that could kill a proposal. If the review panel concludes that the specific set of scientific objectives proposed are not as compelling as for other proposals, that could kill a proposal. No matter how sexy a proposal might look from the limited information that we in the general public get to see, faults in the details that we never see may rule it out. However, we need to remember that all the candidate themes for the upcoming selection of the fourth New Frontiers mission represent questions deemed to be among the highest priority for exploring the solar system. Whichever mission is finally selected will significantly expand our understanding of the solar system. Schedule for the next New Frontiers competition and launch: Final AO Release Date -- January 2017 (target) Deadline for Receipt of Proposals -- AO Release + 3 months + 4 days Selection of a subset (historically, two) of proposals for further study -- November 2017 (AO release + 10 months) Final selection -- July 2019 (target) Launch -- December 31, 2024 if solar powered or December 31, 2025 if radioisotope power sources are required Flight time to the target world: Days (the moon), months (Venus), years to a decade or more (comet with Earth return, Saturn, or Trojan asteroids) Science goals for the remaining mission themes (goals for the Venus and Trojan asteroid themes listed above): Sasha Di Giulian, Felipe Camargo free big wall at Pedra Riscada, Brazil 29.08.2016 by by Planetmountain American rock climber Sasha Di Giulian and Felipe Camargo from Brazil have made the first free ascent of 'Planeta dos Macacos' (8a+, 650m) up one of the main peaks in the Pedra Riscada massif in Brazil. The big wall climb is believed to currently be the only route up the peak. Aware of this obvious, prime challenge, in mid-July Camargo and Di Giulian travelled to the huge granite domes described as the "Yosemite of Brazil", located close to Sao Jose do Divino in the southeast of the country, in order to claim the first free ascent of this open project. The duo needed just two days to free the 14-pitch outing and, swinging leads, Di Giulian managed to onsight all the pitches she led. They spent a night in a portaledge at the top of the 8th pitch and successfully continued on to the summit the next day. The route is called Planeta dos Macacos - Planet of the Monkeys - and difficulties weigh in at 8a+ max, with the two crux pitches located in the middle of the route. Talking to planetmountain.com after her ascent, Di Giulian stated "This big wall included its epics, as all big projects seem to have. We experienced four seasons while on the wall. Storms rolled through at night and we had no cover from the rain on our portaledge, making for some windy, wet, and cold conditions. Though, we laughed, drank whisky, and waited out the storm. Felipe was the perfect partner to succeed on this huge undertaking! I've never done the first ascent of a wall like this. So, the achievement, especially with Felipe who I have known for ten years now, feels extra special." Although routes were climbed on Pedra Riscada in the past, the massif first drew international attention in 2009 when Germany's Stefan Glowacz, Holger Heuber and Klaus Fengler, Brasil's Edemilson Padiha and Argentina's Horacio Gratton made the first ascent of The Place of Happiness (5.12d / 7c), the striking 850-metre arete on the prominent main dome. In 2013 Divina Liberdade was forged to the left of Place of Happiness by Padilha, Valdesir Machado and Wilian Lacerda, while in 2015 Argentine climbers Ignacio Elorza, Horacio Gratton, Maria Jose Moises, and Cintia Percivati established Viaje de Cristal that shares some pitches with Place of Happiness. Connor Drinan Prevails to Win 2016 EPT Barcelona 10,300 High Roller (849,200) August 28, 2016 Christian Zetzsche Contributor The record-breaking 10,300 High Roller Event of the2016 PokerStars.es EPT Season drew to a conclusion after more than 13 and a half hours on the third and final day. Only 36 hopefuls out of a 591-entry strong field returned to the tables at the Casino Barcelona and Julian Stuer was leading the field with Ilkin Amirov hot on his heels. Ultimately, it was Connor Drinan who emerged victorious in heads-up against Mihails Morozovs. At the start of the day, the eliminations came in quick succession and among those to depart during the first level were Georgios Zisimopoulos (35th) and EPT London champion Robin Ylitalo (33rd). They were soon joined by Mike McDonald (30th) and Benjamin Pollak (29th) before Ivan Luca busted in 27th place with a big move and ten-six suited against the pocket sevens of Olov Jansson. Down to the last three tables, Natasha Barbour lost a flip with pocket jacks against the king-queen of Anthony Zinno and Jean Ferreira sent Rafael Moraes as well as Joe Serock to the rail in the same hand. Ferreira had pocket kings, Serock pocket queens and short stack Moraes the ace-four. Aaron Lim fell in 20th place and another double elimination happened when the last 16 players were about to redraw for the last two tables. Kyle Keranen raised with ace-king suited and the two short stacks Damian Salas in the small blind with queen-jack and Davidi Kitai in the big blind with pocket tens moved all in. Keranen looked them up and rivered a king to reduce the field to the last 14. Christopher Frank departed in 14th place and Anthony Zinno followed in 13th after a big clash with Patrick Leonard on a king-high flop. Zinno had king-queen for top pair, but Leonard pocket eights for middle set. That pot vaulted Leonard into the lead, and a roller coaster ride would follow. Ferreira and Stuer were eliminated next and Jansson, who finished ninth in this very event one year ago, failed to hold up with second pair against the flush draw of Leonard to settle for 10th place this time. Amirov open-shoved his short stack with kings from under the gun and Keranen looked him up with ace-queen, an ace on the river sent the Azerbaijani to the rail and he narrowly missed out on the official final table. Pascal Hartmann joined him soon after, getting his short stack in with eight-seven suited only to see Leonard wake up with pocket kings in the big blind. Leonard himself went from hero to zero in two big hands. He first paid off the runner-runner straight of Keranen and then got it in against the pocket kings of Morozovs. Leonard turned a straight and flush draw, but Morozovs made quads kings on the river to eliminate the Brit in 7th place. Joseph Cheong was down to less than two big blinds at one point on the final table, yet he made it all the way to 6th place. Cheong shoved out of the small blind with jack-deuce suited and Drinan called with ace-four. Neither player connected with the board and ace-high was good enough to reduce the field to the last five. EPT10 Vienna Main Event champion Oleksii Khoroshenin called all in after an ace-high river with ace-ten only to see Drinan with ace-king for top two pair, and the Ukrainian had to settle for a payday of 396,700. Down to the last three, Keranen was suddenly the shortest stack and three-bet all in the very first hand with ace-deuce suited. Initial raiser Morozovs snap-called with pocket kings and flopped top set, then dodged the flush draw of his opponent to pair up on the river. Heads-up started almost even in chips and it took just over an hour to determine the winner. In a limped pot, Drinan flopped bottom two pair with six-four and Morozovs had jack-ten suited for top pair. Two blanks later the champion was crowned and Morozovs had to settle for second. The first on the all time money list of Latvia had a 12th place at the EPT12 Prague 10,300 High Roller among his best results thus far, and takes home 616,840. For Drinan, the first-place payout of 849,200 is the second-biggest cash to date and the American poker pro will increase his tournament recorded winnings to more than $10 million in total. Final Result Place Name Country Prize (EUR) 1 Connor Drinan USA 849,200 2 Mihails Morozovs Latvia 616,840 3 Kyle Keranen USA 496,440 4 Oleksii Khoroshenin Ukraine 396,700 5 Ari Engel USA 307,900 6 Joseph Cheong USA 233,300 7 Patrick Leonard United Kingdom 169,700 8 Pascal Hartmann Germany 124,400 Be sure to complete your PokerNews experience by checking out an overview of our mobile and tablet apps here. Stay on top of the poker world from your phone with our mobile iOS and Android app, or fire up our iPad app on your tablet. You can also update your own chip counts from poker tournaments around the world with MyStack on both Android and iOS. Sharelines Connor Drinan just won 849,200 at the EPT Barcelona High-Roller. (Xinhua) 20:23, August 29, 2016 Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying (Source: fmprc.gov.cn) BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday called on all parties concerned to maintain restraint and remain calm over the ballistic missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) last Wednesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a statement issued by the UN Security Council on Friday condemning the launch as a "grave violation of" the Pyongyang's international obligations under Security Council resolutions. "We hope all parties can refrain from doing things that may irritate others or escalate the tensions," she said, adding that the signal sent by the Security Council "needs to be comprehensive and balanced." 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. Stressing that China has been consistent on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, Hua said China would continue to support the denuclearization of the peninsula, protect peace and stability in the peninsula and support the resolution of differences via negotiation and dialogue. The DPRK on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea. The launch came after the Republic of Korea and the United States began their annual military drills last Monday. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Donald Trump has gone full Hillary Clinton health conspiracy by tweeting the false claim that Clinton has not released detailed medical records. Trump tweeted: I think that both candidates, Crooked Hillary and myself, should release detailed medical records. I have no problem in doing so! Hillary? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2016 Hillary Clinton released a detailed two-page letter about her medical history more than one year ago. In the letter, Clintons doctor provided details about her medical history, Mrs. Clinton is a healthy 67-year old female whose current medical conditions include hypothyroidiam and seasonal pollen allergies. Clintons letter provided specific test results from her most recent physical and contained everything that Trumps letter, which was written in 5 minutes without a physical exam being performed, lacked. Trumps tweet was a classic case of projection. The Republican nominee is under fire for releasing no medical records, so his answer is to project the criticism onto his opponent as a means of deflecting attention from the fact that voters have no details about his medical history. Donald Trump was using a tactic that was a direct callback to his birther days of yesteryear. Trump is claiming that Hillary Clintons two page detailed letter (a.k.a. the medical records short form) is not good enough. Trump is going to demand to see all of Hillary Clintons records (a.k.a. the long form medical records). The GOP nominees panicked tweet is another indication that none of the tactics that Trump used to win the Republican primary are working against Clinton. Trump is still searching for a way to put Hillary Clinton on the defensive, but reviving questions about his own health and failure to release medical records is a stupid strategy that is destined to fail. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print President Obama was expected to campaign for Hillary Clinton, but what no one expected was for the President to devote nearly the entire month of October to campaigning for the Democratic nominee. An election that Trump is losing could become a devastating defeat after Obama is done with him. Video: CNN Jeff Zeleny reported, President Obama is on the verge of returning back to the campaign trail on September 13 in Philadelphia for Hillary Clinton, but that is not all. Democrats familiar with his schedule tell me that he is going to devote nearly all of October to campaigning for Hillary Clinton. Hes going to be, of course, trying to fire up black voters in North Carolina and in other states, but also setting his sights on Iowa and Nevada. Those are two states with more white populations, particularly Iowa, where he won, and she is struggling mightily, so look for him to be all in in October as well as Joe Biden and Michelle Obama. It has been decades since Democrats had a popular incumbent president who was invited to hit the campaign trail for the partys nominee. President Obama has made a few appearances with Hillary Clinton, but outside of his speech at the Democratic convention, Obama hasnt been a factor in the 2016 contest. That will all change in a big way in October. Donald Trump is already struggling with a significant surrogate gap. High profile Republicans are running away from Trump instead of stumping for him. Democrats are about to come after Trump with everything they have in October. An election that was going poorly for the GOP could turn into a rout after Barack Obama has finished barnstorming the country for Hillary Clinton. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print *The following is an opinion column by R Muse* In normal circumstances when an anniversary arrives the farthest thing from anyones mind is that it may be the last, unless it is a ninety-third wedding anniversary of a couple not expected to survive another year due to a terminal disease. When a nation celebrates an anniversary, unless the country is in its death throes due to being on the brink of being overrun and conquered by a vastly superior force, one expects to continue the yearly anniversary celebrations into perpetuity. However, America is now celebrating a notable anniversary and if the Koch brothers have their way, and theres no reason to believe they wont, it is highly unlikely that Republicans will ever allow the nation to celebrate again. The White House sent out a reminder this weekend that this year is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and besides acknowledging the work of its employees, it encouraged Americans to get outside and explore. What the White House didnt say, and the media has woefully ignored, is that Republicans in service to the Koch brothers, fossil fuel industry, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and Utah Mormons are actively attempting to put an end to not only Americas national parks, wilderness areas, and monuments, but the concept of government-owned public lands. The Koch brothers, and Utah Mormons, were long-time crusaders pushing Republicans to force the federal government to hand over all public lands to private enterprise to rape and pillage at their pleasure, and public lands was an all-inclusive term that included national parks, wilderness areas and protected environs. That greedy intent gained some publicity and only came to the fore after a Mormon rancher summoned armed militias to Nevada to wage war on federal officials doing their jobs of protecting Americans public lands from greedy interlopers. The story gained a little more attention when that same Nevada Mormon ranchers son seized federal property in another state and dared federal officials to intervene and take back the peoples land. Throughout both instances, while Republicans were resolutely defending the Mormons actions, they were also busy crafting legislation in Mormon Utah and Kochs Congress to force the government to hand over ownership of public lands to the mining, oil, and logging industry to denude forests, gouge out the land, and drill for oil. This attempt by the Kochs and Mormons to seize control of even more American land is no longer just a Western states issue; it is a major plank in the official Republican Party platform and very few Americans seem to care, if they are aware its happening at all. If any Americans didnt think Republicans, driven by the Kochs and using ALEC template legislation, would make eliminating national parks and seizing all public lands the official position of the Republican Party at the state and federal level, the official Republican Party platform should be informative, if not infuriating. The Koch-Republican official position is: Congress shall immediately pass universal legislation providing a timely and orderly mechanism requiring the federal government to convey [hand over] certain federally controlled public lands to the states, call upon all national and state leaders and representatives to exert their utmost power and influence to urge the transfer of those lands identified. The federal governments enormous landholdings and control of water in the West could be better used for ranching, mining or forestry through private ownership. In calling for an immediate full-scale disposal of certain public lands, the Koch-GOP was clever in not explicitly defining exactly which lands it would apply to so they can take all public land and hand it over to private enterprises with impunity. Obviously, the Kochs and their dirty cohort want to seize national parks, wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, and national forests for their own use and profit and Republicans are ferociously doing their bidding. If any American thinks that any and all national parks and protected areas are off limits, consider that there are already Republican attempts to force uranium mining in the Grand Canyon, and have cut National Park Service funding drastically to force corporate sponsorship as a means of fulfilling budget requirements. However, now that transferring public lands to private ownership is officially a Republican policy with pending legislation waiting for a Republican president to sign, the idea of Americans visiting national parks, like recreating on public lands and waterways, is in jeopardy of vanishing. As an aside, there was some reporting on the GOPs Koch-driven land grab, including Americans national parks, but there was also a certain website claiming it just wasnt true. The website is popular for debunking myths and claimed that the GOP platform did not mention eliminating national parks unambiguously so the reports were fraudulent. That may be technically true, but it is also being extremely pedantic, embarrassingly naive and just ignorant on its face. Anyone with an ounce of intellect knows that the GOP will never alert the public to their true intent and in this case there is more than enough evidence that when the GOP says certain lands, they mean any and all lands the Koch brothers and Mormons believe they can profit from. This repulsive official position of the Koch-Republicans should be an issue Democrats seize upon to beat Republicans up and down ballot to within an inch of their pathetic political lives. Many Americans could not possibly care less that Republicans embrace Donald Trumps bigoted and racist beliefs like a cherished religion, or that Trump is enamored with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, or that a presidential aspirant is notorious for bankrupting anything he touches, but none of those issues affect them personally. But what they will care about is that Republicans are taking yet another asset away from them for the sake of the wealthy few. National Parks and wilderness areas are wildly popular among Republican and Democratic voters alike and the idea of being denied access to their own public land and their own National Parks because Utah Mormons and the Koch brothers need more wealth is a serious issue for Democratic candidates at the state, national, and local level, but only if they are savvy enough to use it. Based on not hearing a whisper about the Koch-GOPs official intent to seize public lands, including National Parks, it is questionable if Democrats even know Americans care about and want to preserve their National Parks. Happy 100th Anniversary National Parks Service! The Koch-Republicans and Utah Mormons are working furiously to make sure its your last. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print RNC Chairman Reince Priebus admitted on Meet The Press that Republican nominee Donald Trump lacks humanity and decency. Video: Transcript via Meet The Press: CHUCK TODD: All right, but let me ask you this, in the infamous 2013 autopsy, this is what was written in it. If Hispanic-Americans perceive that a GOP nominee or candidate does not want them in the United States, i.e. self deportation, they will not pay attention to our next sentence. Do you think Donald Trump understands this analysis? REINCE PRIEBUS: I think he understands it completely. CHUCK TODD: And is that what this evolution is about? REINCE PRIEBUS: No, you know what? I dont know what when you say what the evolution is all about. What I think is that Donald Trump understands that with every position that is taken and as you get closer to the White House, a degree of humanity and decency is part of every decision that needs to be made. And I know Donald Trump. I know Donald Trump in private, I talk to him every day. I know what hes thinking about a lot of these issues and this is a good and decent man that wants to do the right thing and wants to take every position that hes talking about and pepper it with decency, dignity and humanity. In case you didnt catch what Priebus was saying, the RNC Chair admitted to Chuck Todd that Donald Trump won the Republican nomination by exhibiting a lack of decency and humanity. Beyond Donald Trump, what does it say about millions of Republican primary voters that they supported a candidate who lacks basic decency and humanity? Priebuss statement revealed the underlying problem for the Republican Party. Donald Trump is the symptom, not the disease. The climate among many, not all, Republicans is one of intolerance for others. It doesnt matter if Trump loses by a large margin in November, as long as the same voters continue to pick the partys nominee and send extremists to Congress, the problems will remain the same. Admitting that your nominee lacks humanity and decency is a stunning move that makes one wonder if RNC Chair Reince Priebus is trying to discourage voters from supporting Donald Trump. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The following post, written by The Rev. Robert A. Franek, is a part of Politicus Policy Discussion, in which writers draw connections between real lives and public policy. I am troubled by what a word cloud of this years presidential race rhetoric world look like. A year ago I never would have guessed the words that have become common place today. Less shocking but still noteworthy are the words that are absent from much of the discussion and have been for years. It is telling that among the words I imagine to be big and bold in this presidential word cloud are bigot, racist, and emails. And that xenophobic, liar, and fear are not far behind is also revealing. That one candidate is accurately described as petulant, has frequent temper tantrums on Twitter, and a campaign that has been likened to a dumpster fire shows how far one party has plummeted from the discourse fitting of the highest office in the land. On the other side, the most qualified candidate in recent history, who has substantive policies to serve the common good of all, is beset by faux scandals over emails. (Add scandal our word cloud.) Additionally, she has to respond to this and the degrading obtuseness of her opponent, rather than promoting the positive qualities of her policies. And since we have yet to reach full equality among women and men, she is subject to sexist remark and critique. The rhetoric surrounding this presidential election is not only disturbing for reaching new lows, but also for its effect on the electorate who must endure it or be left largely uninformed, which is unacceptable for the responsible citizen in a democracy. The toll the Trump campaign has had on the human spirit along with the weight of the congressional conspiracy cloud that follows Clinton everywhere she goes is exhausting and distressing. These realities are not helped by the mainstream media. No, instead they are magnified and repeated ad nauseam. More, because the media cant afford the lost profits of election coverage that is anything less than a neck-and-neck horse race, false equivalency has been introduced into nearly every debate such that the voter on the street thinks both candidates are equally bad for the future of these United States. Never mind the vast difference in record and rhetoric between Clinton and Trump. Nevertheless, as afflicting as all this is on the soul of the electorate, I am troubled by the souls that are noticeably absent from the presidential campaign trails. Last week I lifted up the poor and hungry ones in our country and world. It is worth mentioning the struggle of the hungry again. In this age of plenty it is shameful that so many especially the most vulnerable: children, seniors, and people with disabilities struggle to have enough healthful food to eat. The epidemic of homelessness in our country is also worth much study and conversation in todays presidential politics. The increasing number of families with young children who are without a home is staggering and the lack of adequate shelters and transitional housing options more so. Rather than talking about building a wall on our boarder how about a conversation about building homes in our communities for the homeless. After every high profile shooting in the country there is much talk about addressing mental health, however as soon as the news cycle moves on the discussion dries up. Still, it is not only in the context of gun safety that this conversation is needed, but also for the many that are isolated and ostracized because of their disease. As much as people with cancer, heart disease, and diabetes need our attention, so too do those with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse or eating disorders need our compassionate care in policy and presence. In addition to addressing the socioeconomic issues of our day, the broken criminal justice and immigration systems, all dimensions of foreign policy, and the military industrial complex, it is imperative that we address the pervasiveness of rape culture in our society. The victim blaming has got to stop. Perpetrators must be held accountable and punished according their crimes not their status. But most of all we need a sea change in our culture where boys are not socialized to disrespect women. Putting an end to boys will be boys and other harmful rhetoric is worthy of the presidential pulpit. This is but a short beginning to the many in our county and world deserving of presidential platform time and attention in the media. I fear that in the 70+ days remaining of this election cycle the rhetoric will yet find new lows, before rising again to that which dignifies the high office. However, I also believe that we the people, convicted by faith or shared moral values, can raise the bar with our voices and demand definitive attention be given to the vulnerable in our world who are in most need of protection and care through policy decisions that just might begin with a presidential promise from that high pulpit that is intended to speak out for the lowly. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Trying to figure out what Donald Trumps proposed immigration policy might be is a fools game. There is just no way to know, and it is to be doubted whether his much-touted speech on Wednesday will clear it up any: I will be making a major speech on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION on Wednesday in the GREAT State of Arizona. Big crowds, looking for a larger venue. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2016 Wait for that if you want, but it has become increasingly clear that as in so many things, Trump has no idea what hes talking about. Maria Cardona, who just yesterday called Trump supporter Sheriff Joe Arpaio a national disgrace, said Monday on CNNs New Day that, I think we should all be very clear about is that Donald Trump has no idea how immigration law works. Watch courtesy of Media Matters for America: ALISYN CAMEROTA (CO-HOST): Maria, [Donad Trump] has said that hes going to do this in a humane way. In fact, the word humane was used many times this weekend. What is the humane way to deport people? MARIA CARDONA: That is the question, Alisyn. What does that mean, that there will be cushions on the buses, and theyll get milk and cookies on the way to the border? Who knows. I am very curious to see what Donald Trump says in his speech because he has been in a huge conundrum ever since he became this general election candidate when he realized that he needed to get additional support from Hispanic voters, from women, from moderate Republicans. And that is why he supposedly talked about softening his stance, which we now see is not really softening his stance. That hes going back to his priority of deporting all of the 11 or 12 million undocumented immigrants. But who knows how hes going to do that. You know, one of things that I think we should all be very clear about is that Donald Trump has no idea how immigration law works. He talks about enforcing the existing laws, and then he says if people want to get citizenship and get right with the law, they have to go back to their home country, and then well bring them back in an expedited way. Guess what. That doesnt exist. If you are here without documents and you go back to your home country, you cannot do anything for the next 10 years. So again, were talking about a candidate who is clueless on immigration policy. He has his finger up in the wind to make sure he doesnt lose hard core supporters who supported him because of his draconian stance. And he wants to try to attract moderates. Its just not going to happen. CAMEROTA: So, Kayleigh, I see you shaking your head. Can you answer that? What is humane deportation? What would that look like? KAYLEIGH MCENANY: Well first of all, I think its inhumane the fact we ignore people who are in Mexico, in these Latin American countries who have relatives here who want to come into this country, but they cant do so. Theyre being displaced essentially by illegal imgrants coming into this country. We forget the people waiting to go through the process correctly and you want to talk about clueless immigration policy, Maria, Im sorry, but we have to go back to the Obama administration who last year alone, according to ICE, released 20,000 criminals, 200 of which have murder convictions, 800 of which had sexual offenses. That is under this president. Hillary Clinton will continue those policies, and you guys owe an explanation to Kate Steinles parents, why a sanctuary city protected an illegal immigrant who ended up killing a beautiful, young girl who deserved a chance at life. CAMEROTA: Do you want to respond to that, Maria? CARDONA: Yes I do, because Kayleigh continues to bring up this figure. And the fact of the matter is that under both the George W. Bush administration and the Obama administration, there are some convicted criminals who have been released, but guess why. It is because many of them, most of them, in fact, have actually served their sentence here in the U.S. jails. And in addition, many others have been forced or have been granted release by immigration judges and immigration courts. Additionally, there are various countries China, Cuba, Vietnam who dont accept deportation, who dont accept removals back to their own home country. So again, cluelessness when it comes to real immigration law, what we are really facing in terms of the solutions that are needed. Yes, we need more coordination between ICE and federal law enforcement and local law enforcement to make sure that criminals arent out on the street, criminal undocumented immigrants arent out on the street, but thats not what Donald Trump is talking about. He talks in platitudes, not real solutions. Donald Trump has a real problem. As Cardona explained, He has his finger up in the wind to make sure he doesnt lose hard core supporters who supported him because of his draconian stance. And he wants to try to attract moderates. Its just not going to happen. Just as hiring Steve Bannon as he tells blacks he wants to be their champion, he is telling Americans he will be be fair to everyone, which really sounds more like an attempt to make Hispanics happy without making his white supremacist base angry. As Cardona says, he cant have both. He has tied himself into knots on the issue, and he will likely make things worse, not better, on Wednesday. Immigration is not an issue Donald Trump can win, because he doesnt understand how it works. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Anti-Trump Republicans are meeting to explore options to throw their resources behind a third party candidate to cripple Trumps campaign in states like Arizona and Utah so that Hillary Clinton wins the White House. Robert Costa of The Washington Post reported: For Trump, McMullin does not represent a rival nationally but is a possible threat in states such as Utah, where Trump is unpopular and McMullin could pull away votes that would traditionally go for the Republican, especially if Romney allies got behind his bid. And even if, as is likely, McMullin does not win a state, a strong showing in Utah, Arizona and other states with sizable Mormon populations could prevent Trump from racking up votes in the Electoral College. Costa added in a tweet: The realistic goal, per several ppl, wouldn't be McMullin winning a state but to steal votes from Trump and cripple his bid in AZ, UT, etc. Robert Costa (@costareports) August 29, 2016 A big money vote-getting operation behind Evan McMullin in a few targeted states would take away any chance that Trump has of winning in November. The Romney Republicans are out to take their party back, and prevent an extremist like Donald Trump from ever seizing power again. It isnt that the Romney Republicans want Hillary Clinton to be president. These individuals view Donald Trump as a danger to the country who must be stopped at all costs. The Republicans leading this effort would rather take their chances running against Hillary Clinton in 2020 than turn the country over to Donald Trump. Anti-Trump Republicans were never going to be able to stop the nominee with a nationwide campaign. A targeted effort in red states where Trump is weak and a third-party Republican is already on the ballot makes perfect sense. Mitt Romney could be a major factor if he jumps into the campaign down the stretch. If Romney openly campaigns in support of McMullin, it will peel off enough Republicans to guarantee that Hillary Clinton will win the White House. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print It turns out that Donald Trump lied about building a wall and making Mexico pay for it, as Trump is instead focusing on reviving a failed Bush policy to construct a virtual wall along the US Southern border. Ari Melber of MSNBC tweeted: Trump may be shifting towards building more of a "virtual wall" on the border, reports @halliejackson Ari Melber MSNBC (@AriMelber) August 29, 2016 Trumps campaign was based on three promises to his supporters. Trump promised to ban all Muslims, deport 11 million immigrants, and build a wall along the US Southern border. Donald Trump is in the process of breaking all three of those promises. The first Trump television ad promised that he would build a wall along the border that Mexico will pay for: To the surprise of no one outside of those who voted for Trump in the Republican primary, the border wall was a lie. In fact, Republican members of Congress have been suggesting since Trump announced his plan to build the wall that they didnt support it, and would not pass the appropriations needed to construct a wall. Donald Trump keeps promising his supporters that he will build the wall, but he continues to leave out the details. It turns out that Trump isnt going to build a real wall that his supporters can see with their own eyes. Instead, it sounds like Donald Trump is leaning towards changing his plan back to the failed Secure Border Initiative Network that was attempted under George W. Bush. Republicans trusted Trump to build them a wall, but instead, they are getting another failed policy from George W. Bush. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Fox News reported Sunday that Donald Trump, apparently aware that black votes are as scarce as snowflakes in hell (just 5 percent according to a poll released Sunday, and that figure is as low as 2 or even 1 percent in other recent polls), plans to go to black communities to scrounge up some votes. This is an interesting move, given his recent hiring of white supremacist Steve Bannon of Breitbart. Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway told Steve Doocy and company on Fox News Sunday, that were on message and on task. And part of the task is to find black voters who will cast their vote for Trump. So far his efforts have revolved around blame-shifting, accusing Democrats of being responsible for all the woes experienced by blacks in America. A simple re-writing of history. Its what Republicans do best: 1) create the problem, 2) blame Democrats for the problem, 3) stop Democrats from fixing the problem. Trump has learned his lesson well, as he revealed in an August 17 speech in Wisconsin: Hillary Clinton-backed policies are responsible for the problems in the inner cities today, and a vote for her is a vote for another generation of poverty, high crime, and lost opportunities. Which has the virtue of being not only simplistic but completely untrue. Just the way Trump and his supporters like it. According to Trump, Democratic lawmakers, Have ruined the schools. Theyve driven out the jobs. Theyve tolerated a level of crime no American should consider acceptable. I am asking for your vote so I can be your champion in the White House. Right. The guy who refused to rent to them is going to be their champion. The guy who didnt want to see them working on his casino floor, is going to be their champion. And then there is the fact that even Fox News has busted Trump for lying about black poverty statistics. Obviously, the people who have ruined schools are the people opposed to public education, who keep making cuts to education: Trumps own Republican Party. Now Trump plans on going to African-American communities and making a direct appeal, which means telling these lies more or less face to face, with (possibly) actual black people in the crowd. As we know, the Republican way is to get a bunch of white people together to talk about minorities, or men to talk about women, and so forth. According to Conway, These events are already being planned. Were fighting for every single vote. Hes going to take [his message] to where people vote. As Professor Warren Throckmorton, who proved his devotion to our fact-based reality by refuting David Bartons lies about Thomas Jefferson, tweeted in response, He should start by asking forgiveness for systematically discriminating against them in his apartments. That would be a nice start. But it would mean Trump apologizing for something he wont even admit he did. More confusing yet, given Bannons hiring, is Mike Pence telling the world yesterday, Mike Pence: "We don't want the support of people who think like David Duke" https://t.co/6OZtrfIwim #CNNSOTU https://t.co/SjaOOUOVTs CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 28, 2016 Right. You dont want people like David Duke, which is why you hired Steve Bannon. It is difficult to see any difference between the two. Yes, though Conway says Trump is on message his attitudes toward race seem as confused as his immigration policy, if one can be said to exist. Conway said, Immigration is such a complex issue and Mr. Trump has been taking the counsel of many different people in this. Whod a thunk? Their counsel is coming out of Trump in a babel of conflicting voices, so that even immigration experts cant figure out what Trumps actual position is. She said with respect to immigration Trumps position is that he wants to be fair to everyone and claimed that in contrast, Hillary Clinton has shown she has shown no interest in working with Congress on the issue, as though the Republican Congress has any interest in working with any Democratic president. Lets not forget, when Obama was elected, they came right out and said their plan was to obstruct him at every turn, and they have done exactly that. So Trumps planned outreach to blacks is the same as his outreach to white supremacists: blame the Democrats for everything that is wrong in your lives. His white audiences are ready for it; theyve been told for years that Democratic governance is illegitimate. Republicans have gotten whites to vote against their self-interest for years and years. Trumps plan is to somehow get blacks to do the same. Everything has to be looked at, Conway said. Everything but the facts, apparently. Portfolio English Edition's premium content is available only for subscribers Learn about the hottest news of the day, along with immediate follow-up analyses and 1000's of exclusive articles with full access to the premium content. Register and apply for a 14 days free trial period. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 Trend: Qatar Airways enormously popular Travel Festival is back, giving travelers across the world the opportunity to enjoy dream deals to inspiring places as well as having the chance to win fantastic prizes. From Aug. 29 to Sept. 5, 2016, the Qatar Airways Travel Festival will take travelers to some of the worlds favorite holiday destinations, with companion promotions offering two-for-one fares, discounts of up to 50 percent and free flights for children, all available on travel between Sept. 15, 2016 and June 30, 2017*. The Festival also includes special deals for hotels, as well as discounted holiday extras such as car rental. Passengers can book fares from Azerbaijan to US (from 632 manats), Indian subcontinent (from 777 manats), Africa (from 1,042 manats), and to the Middle East (from 350 manats). Popular travel destinations include New York (from 632 manats), Tbilisi (from 257 manats), Maldives (from 856 manats), and Phuket (Thailand) - from 777 manats. Qatar Airways Privilege Club Members can also earn triple Qmiles for bookings made during the Travel Festival. The Qatar Airways Travel Festival first launched in January this year gave our customers a unique platform through which to enjoy some of the very best deals available, Qatar Airways senior vice president Europe, Jonathan Harding, said. This time throughout the Travel Festival, our passengers will be able to choose from some even more incredible packages and travel deals, empowering them to explore the world, he noted. We want to inspire people to not only dream about travelling, but to make those dreams a reality. Offers available throughout the Travel Festival will be applicable on Economy and Business Class return airfares to the more than 150 destinations worldwide that Qatar Airways flies to, including in the Middle East, Europe, East Asia, Indian Sub-continent, Asia Pacific, and Africa. To avail the Travel Festival offers, customers can visit qatarairways.com/travelfestival Alternatively, they can visit any Qatar Airways sales office, and any appointed travel partner to book. Travelers will enjoy going places on Qatar Airways expanding network of more than 150 destinations, flying via one of the worlds top 10 airports, Hamad International Airport in Doha. Passengers can now discover new destinations added to the airlines network in 2016, including Los Angeles (US), Ras al-Khaimah (UAE), Sydney (Australia), Boston (US), Birmingham (UK), Adelaide (Australia), Atlanta (US), Marrakech (Morocco), and Pisa (Italy). *Terms and conditions apply, promotions subject to taxes, and peak black-out periods. Offers may vary by country of origin. Some offers applicable only when booking on qatarairways.com. Please check on qatarairways.com at time of booking. Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 19th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 190 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents. A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was awarded World's Best Business Class; Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East at the prestigious 2016 World Airline Awards managed by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organization. I don't often get to write about good news in my role as the public safety reporter; mostly, it's about crime and crashes and fires. It was a pleasant surprise, then, when about a month ago, I heard from a woman whose dirt bike had been stolen , along with her nephews' 4-wheeler, overnight July 18 in the Eyota-Dover area. The dirt bike was found in a yard in northwest Rochester, an arrest was made in connection with the theft, and Amanda Bedtke couldn't have been happier. "I'm writing to you because you never hear how people get their stolen property back unless it's of huge value," Bedtke said in an email, "But to me a $4,000 dirt bike is huge Being outside riding my bike with my nephews is the world to me; to have someone just take it from me is beyond any words that I can express." She has to pay to repair the damage done to her bike, and for additional security, but she's thankful. ADVERTISEMENT "With everything going on in the world I couldn't thank those police officers enough," Bedtke wrote. "This was a small incident, compared to what they deal with on a daily basis, but I'm one grateful person." The four-wheeler was also recovered. Kay Fate Tough job The next time you feel inclined to complain about your job, consider a couple of things members of the Minnesota State Patrol dealt with Saturday: About 11:15 a.m., they responded to a five-car chain reaction crash on Interstate 35 north of Medford. Though only one person sustained injuries, there were 15 people involved including a 3-year-old, a 1-year-old and an infant. The officers are required to document everyone's information, connect them with the correct vehicle and deal with the usual chaos and emotions involved with a crash. Huge job. About four hours later, the State Patrol was sent to a rollover crash involving a fire engine on Interstate 35W in Blaine. Two men, 23-year-old James Shelifoe and 25-year-old Alan J. Swartz, both of Baraga, Mich., were killed. Seven others were injured, some seriously. ADVERTISEMENT The truck belonged to the Beartown Firefighters , a Michigan-based wildland firefighting team managed by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The nine men aboard were on their way to fight a wildfire in Utah . That's a heavy burden for all rescuers involved. Kay Fate A prolific burglar is in custody after a joint investigation connected him to a crime in Wisconsin, authorities said today. Maurice Golston, 62, was arrested about 12:45 p.m. Friday near 37th Street Northwest and Broadway Avenue North. Saying only that officials "had reason to believe" Golston was committing burglaries in Pepin County, Wisconsin, authorities there were traveling to a residence to look for Golston, the report says. En route, the homeowner called to say his house had been burglarized, said Capt. Scott Behrns of the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office. A neighbor gave a description of the suspect and his car, the report says, which matched Golston and his vehicle. Pepin County officials then contacted Olmsted County authorities. A search warrant obtained for Golston's vehicle allegedly turned up items stolen from the Wisconsin home, including a safe and several thousand dollars worth of collector coins. ADVERTISEMENT Golston could face multiple felony charges, including bringing stolen goods into the state, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools, Behrns said. Officials in Wisconsin will likely also want to charge Golston, who Behrns described as a "longtime, repeated residential burglar." Wisconsin authorities "were a big player in this," Behrns said; if convicted there, "they won't let him out." Golston was most recently sentenced to 23 months in prison for a 2014 conviction for third-degree burglary, court records show. A 23-year-old Rochester man is behind bars after he allegedly threatened a locksmith with a hatchet. The incident began about 10 a.m. Friday, while the 39-year-old victim was attempting to change the lock at a home in the 5800 block of Glencroft Lane Southwest, the report says. The owners were having issues with their adult son also the suspect, who was home at the time of the work, said Capt. Scott Behrns of the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office. He became angry about the locks, Behrns said, and "grabbed a hatchet, holding it at waist level" while approaching the locksmith. The victim went to his work vehicle, where he carries a handgun, and warned the suspect he had a gun. The man dropped the hatchet and fled on a motorcycle. ADVERTISEMENT He was arrested a couple of hours later in Byron, Behrns said, and made "several nonsensical statements," indicating a mental health issue. The man could face a felony assault charge. The 4th annual "End of Summer, Back to School Bash" at Oak Terrace mobile park brought residents together for a day of fun and school shopping on Saturday. Children, teenagers, and families were greeted by sights and sounds celebrating the start of the school year. Volunteers managed games and activities, and faculty from the Rochester Public School District also mingled with students. Law enforcement agencies and fire departments put vehicles on display, and some children had the opportunity to crawl inside the front seat of a patrol car. Some received stickers and other small prizes. Nearby, the Rochester Public Library's Bookmobile was open for visitors to peruse its collection of books to borrow and to take home. Everywhere, there was constant movement. About 400 people attended. ADVERTISEMENT "It's a little scaled back from last year's party," said Lisa Weber, a volunteer. "But, this has grown tremendously. It's just so much fun to see." The main event was a bazaar of sorts. The items were mostly donated school supplies. Calculators, boxes of crayons, glue bottles, and backpacks lined the tables. There was enough for more than 380 children. "Isn't it beautiful?" Weber asked with a smile and clasped her hands together. "It just makes me so giddy. I haven't stopped smiling." Park Manager Kris Caballero lives in Oak Terrace and has seen growing engagement with families and their neighbors during the last four years. The back to school bash started out with a "handful of kids" and some school supplies. "You really see the community need," she said. "We are literally changing lives. Families shouldn't have to stress about sending their students to school without things they need. Their kids can go to school prepared." For several years, Oak Terrace Estates appeared in the news for several crime-related incidents, Weber said, but the event is a way for people from all over Rochester to get to know those who live at the park. Essentially, the day wasn't just about another school year, it was another chance to bring everyone together and celebrate one another. "This is what the community stands for," Weber stated. "This is what Oak Terrace is about." ADVERTISEMENT While some Republican congressional candidates are seeking to distance themselves from Donald Trump, 1st District candidate Jim Hagedorn is embracing the party's presidential candidate. "We're kind of running on similar themes, and that's the choice. It's a big contrast. Liberal Democrats, four more years of what's been going on with Obama or big, bold change in Washington. And I think people are ready for the big, bold change," Hagedorn said. The Blue Earth Republican is facing off for the second time against 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz in November. Two years ago, Walz beat Hagedorn with 54 percent of the vote. On the campaign trail, the issues being stressed by Hagedorn mirror the Trump play book. Hagedorn stresses the need to secure the nation's borders and combat "Islamic supremacists" by temporarily blocking new refugees from coming into the country. On Facebook, he has dubbed Walz the "Open Borders Congressman." During parades, his supporters hold signs that read "Give terrorists last rites not Miranda rights," and "Where's Walzdo?" a play off the "Where's Waldo" children's book character. So is Hagedorn taking his cues from Trump? No, according to the candidate. Rather, these are issues he has been talking about for years. ADVERTISEMENT "I didn't make any calculations (on supporting Trump) based on how it helps or hurts. I just did what I think was right and, frankly, considering he and I are running on similar issues, it would be ridiculous of me not to support him," Hagedorn said. To back or not back Trump? While Hagedorn is all in for Trump, other Republican congressional candidates are more wary when it comes to embracing the New York real estate mogul. Recent polls have shown Trump trailing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. University of Minnesota political science professor Kathryn Pearson said this year's election is unusual because of the tepid response Trump has been getting from Republican members of Congress. When it comes to GOP candidates, Pearson said they are deploying one of three strategies when it comes to Trump. "Some are enthusiastically supporting Trump. Some have indicated they will support the party's nominee, and some are not supporting him. And so I think the calculation really depends on the perception of the candidate's own district and also how closely their message aligns with Trump's message," Pearson said. In Minnesota, 3rd District GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen has sought to distance himself from Trump, saying the Republican presidential nominee "has not earned my vote." Second District Republican candidate Jason Lewis is saying he will vote for the party's nominee but isn't talking much about Trump on the campaign stump. Meanwhile, 8th District Republican candidate Stewart Mills is wholeheartedly supporting Trump. Trump's support in 1st District ADVERTISEMENT The big question is how Hagedorn's support for Trump will play in the 1st Congressional District, which historically has been considered a swing district. In 2012, 1st District voters narrowly favored Obama over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. In 2014, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson won the district over DFL Gov. Mark Dayton. That same year, district voters favored DFL Sen. Al Franken over Republican Mike McFadden. Minnesota DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin said Hagedorn's decision to actively support Trump will backfire in the 1st Congressional District. "There are certainly pockets of the state where Trump is going to have some appeal, but in most of our polling and what we're seeing, the voters in southern Minnesota overwhelmingly have rejected Donald Trump's brand of extremism politics," Martin said. Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Keith Downey sees it differently. He said Trump's message about a rigged system in Washington is playing well in greater Minnesota. "The fundamentals with us for the Trump campaign at the top of the ticket are good in the 1st, the 7th and 8th congressional districts especially where you have Democrats who you can argue don't fit the district well," Downey said. Walz's campaign has shown an eagerness to tie Hagedorn to Trump. In a statement, Walz's campaign manager Terry Morrow said, "From his disrespectful comments about women, veterans and the disabled to his reckless, irresponsible approach to national security, Jim Hagedorn is built in the same mold as Donald Trump. In November, voters in Southern Minnesota will reject them both as they have before." Clinton support a liability for Walz? Hagedorn contends that Walz's strong support for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton could end up being a political liability. Walz, a super delegate, supported Clinton early on in the presidential campaign. But the Mankato Democrat opted not to go to the Democratic National Convention. ADVERTISEMENT Hagedorn said he has talked to plenty of union members who are not fans of Clinton. "They may be skeptical of Trump, but they do not like Clinton," he said. Pearson said it is possible some voters in the 1st District who have supported Walz in the past are not fans of Clinton. But as a long-term incumbent, Walz is well known to voters. "If he were a Democrat running closely aligned with Clinton and not well known to voters in the district, that could be a liability," she said. Looking ahead to November, Hagedorn said he is confident Trump will win the 1st District and the White House in November. He added, "I predicted a long time ago that by the end of the election, (Democrats) will be running away from Hillary Clinton as fast as other Republicans will be running toward Donald Trump. I really believe that." The 20-year-old man who drowned Saturday morning at Silver Creek Reservoir has been identified as Nicholas Zachary Borth, of Stewartville. Borth and a friend had been fishing from a canoe since about 6:30 a.m., said Capt. Scott Behrns, of the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office. The boat capsized about 9:30 a.m., sending both men into the water; it's speculated the canoe tipped when both men cast their fishing lines from the same side. Life jackets were available, Behrns said, but neither man was wearing one. Borth's friend yelled for help, getting the attention of two men on shore, the report says. One called 911; the other went into the reservoir in an attempt to help find Borth. His body was found in 12 feet of water by members of the Department of Natural Resources about 12:30 p.m., 50 to 75 yards from the boat launch, Behrns said. ADVERTISEMENT Though Borth could swim, "he may have become entangled in his own fishing line," Behrns said, "but that's just speculation." The reservoir, he said, contains "black water, which means you can't see anything underwater." The current near the bottom, Behrns added, "is stronger than you think." The reservoir is at 1800 55th Ave. NE in Haverhill Township. Borth was a 2014 graduate of John Marshall High School in Rochester. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office Dive Team and Boat Patrol, the Rochester Fire Department and the Minnesota DNR. When Senate DFL candidate Rich Wright knocks on doors, there is one issue he hears about more than any other political dysfunction. "People are frustrated that nothing is getting done," Wright said. This year's legislative session ended without passage of a $1 billion public works bill and a comprehensive transportation funding package. Meanwhile, Gov. Mark Dayton refused to sign a $260 million package of tax cuts, citing a $100 million wording error. For candidates challenging incumbent lawmakers, like Wright, talk about the failure of lawmakers to get their work done is likely to be a continual theme headed into the November election. "We hire people to do their jobs. We want them to do their jobs. They are not doing their jobs," Wright said during a campaign stop last week at Dunn Brothers Coffee in northwest Rochester. Wright is running against Republican Sen. Carla Nelson in November. So what is Nelson's response to claims that lawmakers failed to do their jobs this year? ADVERTISEMENT "I am just as frustrated, too," Nelson said. The Rochester Republican said attempts were made to correct the tax bill error in a Senate committee, but the DFL tax chairman of the committee wanted to wait to make the changes something Nelson finds even more frustrating in hindsight. She also argues that she has fought to end last-minute lawmaking at the Capitol, introducing a bill that would add a fourth committee deadline for large budget bills. The measure failed to get a hearing in the DFL-controlled Senate. Last week, Wright invited the media to attend several stops he made around Senate District 26 to talk about various issues. That included visits to Rochester Community and Technical College, Bear Cave Intermediate School in Stewartville and the Rochester Public Transit Center's Downtown Transfer Area. Concerns of small business While visiting Dunn Brothers, Wright said the number one issue facing small business owners is soaring property taxes. To help address that, Wright said he would support boosting government aid to cities and counties so that local taxpayers are not being forced to make up the difference. He is also a strong supporter of expanding family or medical leave for employees. The state Senate passed a bill that would have required some businesses to provide 12 weeks of family or medical leave to employees. Both employees and employers would pay insurance fund to cover the cost of an employee's wages while on leave. The bill failed to advance in the Republican-controlled House. Wright said he supports the Senate proposal. "We have to have a good family leave policy so people can take care of their kids and not get punished at the workplace," Wright said. ADVERTISEMENT Property taxes a big burden Nelson agrees with Wright that rising property taxes are the biggest burden facing small businesses. But she emphasizes a different approach to addressing the problem. She said she supports cutting the statewide business property tax and notes it was in the tax bill passed by the House and Senate that the governor decided not to sign. As for family and medical leave, Nelson said she opposed the Senate bill because it would have imposed a new tax on businesses and employees. She also said the plan lacked "actuarial soundness." Still, she said she understands the importance of paid family and medical leave. She said she has supported efforts to expand family leave to include children taking care of an ill parent. Asked whether she would be in favor of requiring businesses to provide a certain amount of leave, Nelson said it is important to realize that employees have a lot of options these days when choosing where to work. Nelson added, "My hope is that employers will be more responsive to the needs of employees. They will need to to retain employees." Congressional candidate Jim Moylan will not let truth or distortions stop him from saying anything to get elected. It is up to political analy Read morePolitical ploys at the last part of election? Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 Trend: Armenias armed forces have 22 times violated the ceasefire on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops over the past 24 hours, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Aug. 29. Armenian army was using large-caliber weapons. The Armenian armed forces stationed in the Barekamavan village of the Noyemberyan district and on nameless heights of the Berd district of Armenia opened fire at the Azerbaijani positions located in the Gaymagli village of the Gazakh and in the Kokhanabi village of the Tovuz district. Positions of the Azerbaijani army also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Chilaburt village of Azerbaijans Terter district, Kuropatkino village of the Khojavand district, Ashagi Seyidahmadli village of the Fizuli district, Mehdili village of the Jabrayil district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Goranboy and Jabrayil districts. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development on Monday confirmed the discovery of Nickel in parts of Kaduna State in North-West Nigeria. Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Abbas, said the ministry had been following up on the report by its technical experts since the first discovery was made several months ago. The Ministry is aware of the occurrence of the mineral in parts of Kaduna State, the statement said. Since the first discovery many months ago, technical experts from the ministry have been following up on this development as provided by law. The ministry urged Nigerians to allow government come up with detailed reports on the new find towards its development. The statement confirmed a report by PREMIUM TIMES that a private mining syndicate had discovered nickel in Nigeria. The private mining syndicate headed by Hugh Morgan, a mining industry veteran, described the discovery as unusual since it was found in small balls of about three millimeters in diameter and of a high purity in shallow soils, indicative of the existence of a larger hard-rock Nickel field in the area. The discovery was said to be around Dangoma, a small farming town about 160 kilometres northeast of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The community also borders Kaduna state to the west. Nickel could potentially be a high foreign exchange earner for Nigeria, particularly at a time the countrys economy was facing the blight of declining global crude oil prices. Nickel is sold primarily for first use as refined metal in manufacturing of many other alloys, while about 65 per cent of it is consumed in the West, used for the production of stainless steel products. Nigeria could join some of the worlds largest producers of Nickel, which include Philippines, Indonesia, Russia, Canada, and Australia, according to the US Geological Survey. At the moment, Nigerias current output of Nickel is below 2.5 metric tons per annum, produced mainly from scrap irons. The discovery of the mineral in large volume could see the countrys production capacity increased significantly, as government has already shown commitment to raise its capacity to meet the countrys annual steel demand of 6.8 metric tons, Mr. Fayemi told Bloomberg recently. PREMIUM TIMES has uncovered another budget padding scheme Nigerian lawmakers and cohorts in businesses and the executive arm of the government have deployed to steal billions of public funds through annual budgets. People familiar with this second strategy have been briefing PREMIUM TIMES since the first story was published. This strategy is different from our last expose on budget padding which dwelt on how criminally minded lawmakers steal from Nigerian budget by allocating huge sums to themselves in the guise of Constituency Projects. Several insiders who briefed PREMIUM TIMES said this second strategy does not involve Constituency Projects, but solely conceptualized to steal. It involves lawmakers adding huge sums into the budgets of legitimate government agencies to get paid 30 per cent of the padded sum once the budget is signed into law by the president. Of course, the 30 per cent upfront payment does not stop them from forwarding companies for the phantom contracts. The lawmakers are usually in a hurry to collect their money, sources knowledgeable about this strategy told PREMIUM TIMES. This strategy which has existed for more than a decade networks the lawmakers with budget jobbers mostly miscreants criminally minded businessmen, and government officials. The network consists of the following: Lawmakers: Made up a network of the leadership of the National Assembly and groupings of lawmakers in both chambers. Insiders say conceptualizing a padding project is as easy as network henchmen coming up with a sum, say N50 billion. The sum is then split between both chambers. Usually, Senators receive the lion share, a source told PREMIUM TIMES. Within each chamber grouping, leaders take the bulk before sharing whatever is left with others. The ideation includes coming up with probable candidates for the actors in the network. Agents (Budget Jobbers): As a lawmaker, it is highly risky to go cajole a government official into a budget padding scheme. It may backfire if the target official does not buy into it and one would have been exposed to evidence based blackmail and embarrassment. They therefore need an isolatable agent to clear the grounds. Budget jobbers consist of a ring of swindlers, racketeers and touts. They have no known professional jobs and serve mainly as facilitators. They serve as agents of the lawmakers and courier information between every other member of the budget padding gang who has a reputation to protect. They are the kind of people who have nothing to lose and are willing to take the high risk of testing the waters. When a deal is conceived by the lawmakers, these jobbers are recruited. They in turn recruit every other member of the network. Executive Arm Collaborator: To successfully pad the national budget, lawmakers need a cohort in the executive arm of government. Chairmen of presidential committees are preferred. Because these committees are transient, it is easier to obliterate financial documentations in history. Other target executive agents sort are heads of commissions or agencies, director generals or ministers. These executive agents provide the platform for the padding they provide a legitimate body to receive allocation from the budget. These executive arm agents make their committees, agencies or ministries available to be used as a cover for smuggling the padded funds. They are recruited into a deal by the agents. Their participation earns them obscene amounts. Money Bags: When this system of padding is preferred over constituency projects, the lawmakers involved are usually in a hurry to be paid. They have a standard 30 per cent of the entire sum padded paid immediately the budget is signed into law by the president. Because funds are usually not released immediately, a Money Bag is recruited. Money Bags, usually high network business people, bankroll the 30 per cent upfront payment to the lawmakers. In return, they are made contractor of choice for the Executive arm member of the gang. Over the course of the year, the Executive Arm Collaborator awards the Money Bag phantom contracts to cover the 30 per cent investment and make huge profits. Through the contracts awarded to the Money Bag, the Executive Arm Collaborator and everyone within his circle is paid. Usually, a little amount is left because the lawmakers come back from time to time to either ask for money directly or nominate a contractor for a phantom project, a source said. A private mining syndicate has made a potentially world class and highly unusual Nickel discovery in Nigeria, The Australian, an Australian national newspaper is reporting. The private mining syndicate is reportedly headed by Hugh Morgan, a mining industry veteran. The discovery is unusual because the nickel is found in small balls up to 3mm in diameter of a high purity in shallow soils in what could be the surface expression of a much bigger hard-rock nickel field, the newspaper said. The nickel balls, rumoured to grade better than 90 per cent nickel and thought to be a world first given their widespread distribution, offer the potential for early cashflow from a simple and low-cost screening operation to fund a full assessment of the find that has exploration circles buzzing. Details of the discovery are sketchy, according to the newspaper, but it was rumoured to be close to Dangoma, a small farming town about 160km northeast of the Nigerian capital of Abuja. Checks by PREMIUM TIMES showed that Dangoma is located in the North-West state of Kaduna. When asked to comment last week, Mr Morgan reportedly said it was for the Nigerian government to make an announcement. Kayode Fayemi, the Minister for Solid Minerals, will be among the speakers at a three-day Africa Down Under mining conference at Perths Pan Pacific Hotel, Australia, in September. Mr. Fayemi is to speak first on Wednesday, September 7, and Mr Morgan will follow along with consulting geologist Louisa Lawrance. Mr Morgan is listed as speaking as a director of the private company Comet Minerals. Olayinka Oyebode, Mr. Fayemis Chief Press Secretary, said he had no details of the discovery, but confirmed his principal is scheduled to be in Australia next week. I know there is a mining conference coming up in Australia where the Honourable Minister is supposed to make a presentation, Mr. Oyebode told PREMIUM TIMES via phone on Monday. But I dont have an advance knowledge of what hes going to talk about but, generally speaking, hes going to market Nigeria. Mr. Oyebode asked this newspaper to give him till Monday evening for Mr. Fayemis reaction on the nickel discovery in Kaduna. But an official of the ministry, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said Mr. Fayemis delegation would most likely sign an exploration deal with the Australian syndicate at the conference. Nickel is primarily sold for first use as refined metal. About 65 percent of it consumed in the West is used to produce stainless steel. The worlds largest producers of Nickel include The Philippines, Indonesia, Russia, Canada, and Australia, according to the US Geological Survey. In August, Mr. Fayemi told Bloomberg that one of the Nigeria governments priorities is to meet its annual steel demand of 6.8 metric tons, from a current output of less than 2.5 metric tons, produced mainly from scrap iron. In two to five years, we want to have started production of iron ore, lead, zinc, bitumen, nickel, coal and gold at a serious scale, Mr. Fayemi had said. Riot broke out in Kuje Prison on Monday morning just as officials arrived at the facility for their routine duties. A top prison official, who cannot be named because he is not authorized to speak on the matter, told PREMIUM TIMES the crisis started at about 10.30am from one of the blocks and spread to other blocks within the facility. He said a team of security operatives had been drafted to the facility to contain the uprising but could not tell whether any inmate had escaped. Another source said inmates had been locked up while heavily armed security operatives fire teargas towards inmates cells. There is heavy shooting now, our source said. The whole place is in confusion. All the inmates have been locked in their cells but the security operatives are shooting teargas into the cells, the source said. We dont know what happened but it seems there is serious trouble here. There are so many armed security operatives all over the place. The spokesperson of the Nigerian Prison Service, Francis Enobore, confirmed the incident when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES. We have received report of a problem in Kuje Prision but give me a little time to get the facts on it as some of our men are already on ground to handle the situation, he said. We are monitoring what is happening. I will revert to you as soon we get more detail from our men on the ground. There have been increasing cases of jailbreaks in recent times. On July 30, not less than 13 inmates escaped from Koton Karfe prison in Kogi State. Ten days later, no fewer than 15 inmates at the Federal Prisons in Nsukka, Enugu State, escaped in another jailbreak that reportedly took place late in the evening. Also this August, no fewer than 14 inmates of the Abakaliki prison in Ebonyi State capital, were feared killed during a jailbreak bid under the cover of a prison riot. One of the issues believed to have been discussed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the visiting U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, during a closed-door meeting last Tuesday was the return of millions of dollars of Nigerias money looted by late military dictator, Sani Abacha. However, Nigeria stands the risk of forfeiting a hefty N218.3 billion ($550 million) already recovered from Mr Abachas estate if a suit filed by an American-based Nigerian lawyer against the Nigerian government in a United States federal court is not quickly resolved. Texas-based attorney, Godson Nnaka, who was contracted by the Nigerian government in 2004 to help find and recover funds siphoned by Mr Abacha and his associates, has asked the court to appoint him a private attorney general of the fund as well as award him 40 percent of the recovered fund. He claimed he made the request in line with United States law. Mr. Nnaka has also accused the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, of demanding kickback of as much as 70 percent of his fees and acting in a vindictive manner after he turned down his demand. Mr. Malami strongly denied the allegations. The Letter of Instruction In 2004, Mr. Nnaka approached the Olusegun Obasanjo administration with a proposal to help find and recover millions of dollars stolen by Mr Abacha. Having convinced the government that he could trace and recover the looted funds, the Attorney-General of the Federation at the time, Akinlolu Olujimi, in a November 25, 2004 letter, instructed Mr Nnaka to proceed in a professional manner to recover the funds on behalf of the country. Government will only pay for your professional services a percentage as may be agreed for any sum actually recovered, the letter added. In a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2015, Mr Nnaka said he carried out the task. He claimed he hired a group of lawyer, financial consultants, and academics across the world to help identify and trace the funds. He also said he travelled to France, England, Switzerland, Angola, Turkey, and Austria, to meet with government officials, law enforcement agents and financial experts with the aim of finding and securing the funds. Mr. Nnaka further claimed in that 2014, after a district court ruling forfeiting the money to the United States government, he singlehandedly filed an appeal when he entered appearance to protect the interest of Nigeria when no one did. According to him the court would have awarded the money to the United States if no one hand entered appearance on behalf of Nigeria within 35 days. He said unfortunately all his efforts to secure the fund for the country were antagonised by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, and his successor Mr Malami. Mr. Adokes cold shoulder Mr. Nnaka explained that he approached Mr Adoke and explained the need for the Nigerian government to act quickly or stand the risk of forfeiting the funds to the United States. He said he needed Mr. Adoke to sign a mandatory verification required by law for him to perfect the claim filed in court to secure the recovered loot. But on May 26, 2014, Mr Adoke wrote the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), saying the Nigerian government did not authorise Mr Nnaka and three other persons to represent it in the asset forfeiture case. Mr. Nnaka said Mr. Adoke wrote the DOJ despite receiving a letter from Mr. Olujimi on May 15, 2014 confirming that he was indeed hired by the Nigerian government to help find and recover the loot. Subsequent to the refusal of Mr. Adoke to sign the mandatory verification and his letter to the DOJ, the court ruled that the fund should be forfeited to the United States government. Mr. Nnaka said he immediately filed an appeal to preserve the interest of Nigeria in the case and to stop the money from being forfeited to the US government. Mr. Nnaka alleged that Mr. Adoke, and later Mr Malami, wanted him out of the case because he refused to accede to their fraudulent demands. He claimed they planned to enrich themselves from the recovered fund. Mr Adoke intended to corruptly chase plaintiff away from the recovery of the looted funds so that Mr. Adoke would recover and re-loot the funds for himself by himself or through proxies and for his self-enrichment and/or for his associates in crime, he wrote in a petition to a federal court in the U.S. Malami asked me for 70 percent of my fee In April, frustrated for being repeatedly stonewalled by the Nigerian government, the US-based attorney through his lawyer, Benneth Amadi, filed a civil suit against the Nigerian government and Mr Malami at a US district court in Washington DC. In the complaint and petition accompanying the suit, he requested to be appointed a private attorney general of the recovered funds. Mr Nnaka also claimed that Mr, Malami, just like Mr Adoke before him, is convincingly working with the Abacha family with the intention of criminally diverting the funds for his enrichment and those of his unnamed associates. He said after the 2015 presidential election, he approached Mr. Malami through his representatives with relevant documents and personally appealed to him to undo the wrong perpetrated against him by his predecessor. He claimed that Mr Malami initially appeared to be working in the interest of the country and seemed genuinely interested in the repatriation of the funds. He said the AGF promised to sign the necessary papers setting aside the letter written by Mr. Adoke as well as promising to sign the mandatory verification letter that would reinstate him as the governments attorney. He said trouble started when Mr Malami started making shocking demands. Mr Malami started making shocking proposals and demands before he would sign the documents. Mr Malami proposed that the plaintiff should agree to part with and to pay a significant portion of his fees in the aforesaid matter to him as a condition for Malami to sign and deliver the necessary documents for the verification and the reactivation of the mandate letters to the plaintiff, the petition read. The petitioner further stated that he would prove in court that Mr Malami, who he claimed was a former lawyer to the Abacha family, was working in cohort with the Abachas, Abubakar Bagudu, who was Mr Abachas bagman, to divert the fund for himself. Mr Bagudu is a governor of the Nigerias North-West state of Kebbi. In a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Benneth Amadi, Mr Nnakas lawyer, said after it became clear to Mr Malami that his client was not ready to share his fees with him, he started acting in a vindictive manner. Mr Malami indeed asked my client for 70 percent of his fees. We would prove it in court. Of course I dont expect him to admit to you that he did but we have evidence to prove it in court, he said. After the breakdown of the discussion between Messrs Nnaka and Malami, the AGF then appointed another attorney to represent Nigeria in the case. Documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES shows that in May, a Los Angeles based lawyer, Anthony Egbase, notified the U.S. District Court that the Nigerian government had authorised him to appear in court as its attorney in the case. Mr. Amadi said by the appointment of Mr Egbase, Mr. Malami may have gotten what he was not able to get from his client, Mr Nnaka. He claimed the new attorney was yet to file anything in relation to the case since he was appointed by Mr. Malami. On why his client was asking for a fee as steep as 40 percent of the recovered fund, Mr Amadi said it was the standard practice in the United States. He however added that Mr. Nnaka was ready to negotiate for a lower fee if the federal government was ready to play ball. Here in the US there is what is called the contingency fee arrangement that an attorney and his client may enter into. That was the agreement he entered into with Nigeria at the time and the contingency fee is is normally 40 percent though they may negotiate and reach an agreement which may be less than the 40 percent. When you are negotiating someone does not negotiate against themselves. Here you are required to make your offer but how much has Nigeria offered? They have offered zero as if the whole thing is a joke. When contacted, Mr Malami said Mr Nnaka was incompetent and a fraudster who couldnt recover a kobo of the stolen wealth for 14 years. He said Mr Nnaka was not licensed to practice law in the United States like he claimed. If he claimed he has recovered the money let him show you where the money is? Which federal government account was it designated to. As far as I am concerned I know he is not licenced as a lawyer to practice in the US. So there was a problem of misrepresentation on his part when he approached me. He didnt disclose that, Mr Malami said in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES. He claimed to have been retained by AGF Olujimi over 14 years ago and as of this moment he has not succeeded in recovering a kobo for the federal government. For 14 years because he doesnt have the competence and capacity to make any recovery he could not recover a kobo. He said that the letter of instruction given to Mr. Nnaka by Mr Olujimi required him to give the government feedback on his progress after which he would be given further directives on how to proceed but Mr Nnaka failed to do so because he had nothing to report. And in fact, even the letter of instruction he claimed to have as claimed to have emanated from Olujimi, it was provisional letter given to him to go and trace the fund and report back to the office of the Attorney general for proper instruction. Because of his incompetence he could not trace any fund much more come back with a formal letter. So if truly he has been engaged by the office of the attorney general and he has recovered the funds why is he now seeking further instruction. He added that Mr Nnaka threatened to embarrass President Buhari during one of his official visits to the United States. Mr Malami said that was the point he decided to cut further discussions with the US-based attorney. So when I was appointed into office he approached me for such instruction. But then what annoyed me most was that he now used threat. He threatened me that if I do not give him the letter of instruction, when Mr Presidents flight arrives in New York, he would embarrass the federal government. I then became annoyed because I do not naturally stand to threat. Nobody can intimidate me like a baby for procuring a letter of instruction. And on that basis I said he should do his worst. That was the genesis of the problem. Interestingly, just like Mr. Naka accused him of working with the Abachas to divert the fund, Mr. Malami too accused him of working for those who does not want the funds repatriated to Nigeria. My logical conclusion arising from the way he behaved in court by filing series of applications so as to stop and frustrate that repatriation of the money to Nigeria is that he was not working for national interest, the justice minister said. Perhaps he was working with the people from whom Nigeria is trying to recover the looted money from. Because no lawyer can pursue a case for 14 years without making any meaning progress. The position of things now is he is a clear criminal. He is clearly incompetent. We are not negotiating anything with him at all if he has a case let him go to court, he said. Mr Amadi, however, said Mr Malami was like a drowning man who is clutching to a straw. He said it was not true that Mr Nnaka was not licensed to practice law in the United States. He is just talking nonsense, Mr. Amadi said. He is like a sinking man trying to gather some straw, which would not help him at all. The money has been frozen in different banks in different countries. The only thing stopping the money from being repatriated is this lawsuit. If the Nigeria government agree to reach a settlement with Mr Nnaka, the court will order that the funds should be unblocked and returned to Nigeria, he said. The retainer he got was go and look for the money. Take the necessary step to get where the monies are. If you see them, recovere them. To recover the money, you dont go into a bank and start collecting the money. Necessary steps have to be taken as they are being taken now. On Mr Malamis claim that Mr. Nnaka is not licensed to practice law in the United States, Mr Amadi said the AGF was merely peddling falsehood. He said Mr. Nnakas licence to practice in the state of Maryland was revoked, but that he still has a licence to practise in Washington DC. In US you have different states giving lawyers licences to practice. It is not like in Nigeria where a body of benchers give licenses to lawyers to practice throughout Nigeria. Here each state gives licenses to lawyers to practice in that state and if one needs to practice in another state you will have to get license from the state. Nnaka has license to practice in some state. He has license practice in Maryland. But there was a time he had some problem. He gave his cases for some lawyers to handle his cases for him so the lawyers he gave the cases to could not meet up with one case and then the matter was reported and they wrote letters, then he was not around because he was looking for this money and working on this Nigerian case before he could come back they had taken decision and withdrawn his license in Maryland. Only Maryland. But he has a license to practice in Washington DC. He has an office. At the time he was given the retainer to look for these funds, he was fully in licence. His license was not touched. None of them. Even if he does not have license he retained lawyers to do the work, he hired investigators to be looking for where this money was. So what the attorney general said doesnt make sense at all, he said. A former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Emeka Ezeh, on Monday said it was wrong to brand public servants as thieves, saying people go into government for different reasons. The former BPP boss said this shortly after he was awarded the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award for Excellence by the West African Students Parliament, (WASP), in Abuja. He expressed shock at the level public funds were being looted and called for serious measures to tackle the problem. He, however, insisted that there are many diligent and conscientious public servants, who serve under political leaders in the country. Not everybody who works for government or public institutions is a thief as there are many diligent and conscientious public servants who serve the political leaders of the time, he said. Government can strengthen the oversight powers of the Bureau of Public Procurement to prevent abuses. What is happening in Nigeria is not peculiar to Nigeria except that the speed of getting judicial remedy is faster in other climes. He urged the judiciary to find ways to quicken the process of adjudication of cases bordering on corruption, pointing out that justice delayed is justice denied. He said a directive by the Chief Justice of the Federation to judicial officers across the country can go a long way to fast-track the trial of cases bordering on contract fraud. While expressing surprise at the revelations about looting of public funds before various courts, Mr. Ezeh said there is need to strengthen the countrys anti-corruption agencies. Nigeria is not the worst country on earth, and as such there is no reason to continuously give ourselves negative energy. We should not be too critical of ourselves, in spite of our shortcomings, he said. The current challenges should rather make us see our cup as half full, rather than as half empty, especially with the concerted efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari, to take the nation out of the woods. I feel highly honoured with this award; especially that it is coming after I left office. Nothing holds a nation together like hardwork, and honesty. And honesty is what you do when nobody is watching you, not necessarily what you do when people are watching you WASP Director, Nigerian Affairs, Donald Udo, said Mr. Ezeh was nominated for his diligent, painstaking and dedicated service to the procurement cause. With the award, Mr. Udo said Mr. Eze now joined the league of other distinguished recipients including former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, and respected academic, Prof. John Udoko. Among Nigerias numerous national challenges, which do you think the next president should focus on first? Premium Times (@PremiumTimesng) October 5, 2022 Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government. For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all. Donate TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999 Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim, has emerged the candidate of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party which held in Ibadan on Monday. Mr. Ibrahim scored 501 votes to defeat his closest rival, Olusola Ebiseni, who polled 41 votes. The other two aspirants stepped down for Mr. Ibrahim just before the commencement of voting. The Ahmed Makarfi faction already produced Eyitayo Jegede, as candidate of the party in the state. The Ali Modu Sheriff faction had moved its primary to the zonal headquarters of the party in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The move, PREMIUM TIMES gathered, followed the inability of the faction to get the state executive committee of the party to host the event. The state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, belongs to the rival Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP. The National Working Committee of the party has taken over the organisation off the primary and it will now hold in Ibadan, spokesman of the faction, Yemi Akintomide, said on Sunday. It was the decision of the committee on the Ondo State governorship primary headed by Ahmed Gulak that the primary be moved to Ibadan, the zonal headquarters of the party. Mr. Akintomide said the move did not offend any section of the Electoral Act or the partys constitution as it would be held at the zonal office of the party. The aspirants had gone through a screening exercise chaired by Yunusa Mohammed which held at the partys national secretariat on Thursday. Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has vowed that herdsmen caught grazing with arms or any weapon in Ekiti would now be charged with terrorism. The governor made the declaration while signing the anti-grazing bill into law on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. My government took the bill to the House after what happened in Oke-Ako some months ago, he said. The House has passed the bill and I have to assent to it. It becomes a law from today that if you do anything to the contrary you will be punished by the law. Any herdsman caught with firearms or any weapon while grazing in Ekiti now will be charged with terrorism. Mr. Fayose signed the bill in the presence of traditional rulers in the state and members of the House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Kolawole Oluwawole. I solicit your support for this government to succeed, the governor said. This is not about party politics and Ekiti should be our primary concern. Ill continue to call you for this kind of meeting every three months to give accounts of governance. Shedding light on the contents of the new law, the Speaker said the state government was already working with local government officials to mark out portions of land for grazing to all local government authorities in the state. Grazing activities must be from 7am to 6pm on daily basis, he said. The government shall allot certain portion of land to each local governments for grazing. He noted that anyone caught leading cattle to graze on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by government would be apprehended and made to face the law. Any herdsman caught with firearms and any weapons whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism, Mr. Oluwawole. Any cattle confiscated shall be taken to government cattle ranch at Erifun in Iworoko community. Any farm products destroyed by the activities of any caught herdsman shall be estimated by agricultural officer and the expenses of the estimate shall be borne by the culprit. Any herdsman who violates any of these rules shall be imprisoned for six months without option of fine. The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, has said Niger Delta leaders must come clean on how they spent the oil money allocated to the region over the years. For six years, Masari said, we had a Niger Delta president. Let us see what difference he made in six years when he was president. When the excess crude account became pocket money, how much of the money went to the Niger Delta? In an interview published in the current edition of The Interview, Mr. Masari called out Niger Delta leaders, challenging them to come clean on how they managed the regions resources. According to a statement by the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of the magazine, Azu Ishiekwene, the interview features Masari firing on all cylinders. He took on Senate President Saraki, explained why Obasanjos third term bid failed, and spoke, at length for the first time, on budget padding. And then, he removed his gloves on his predecessor, Ibrahim Shema, and the Niger Delta. Although Mr. Masari did not name names, the reference to a Niger Delta president was apparently pointing to Goodluck Jonathan, the immediate past president, under whose presidency oil price averaged $100 per barrel. Asked what he did to ensure accountability of oil money when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives and also a ranking member of the Peoples Democratic Party at the time, Mr. Masari said, The House of Representatives has been friendly to the people of the Niger Delta than any other institution in the country. He asked the Federal Government to publish how much the region has received since the 13 percent derivation started. The resurgence of violence in the Niger Delta by the Avengers since last year has led to massive losses in the countrys oil revenue and peace efforts have stalled. On Saturday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, said the Federal Government had spent over $40billion in the Niger Delta in the past 12 years. The magazines issue also contains detailed interviews with Chioma Ajunwa and the worlds most famous foodies, the Roca Brothers. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 Trend: Information of the Armenian media that during the armed clashes in April 2016 with Azerbaijan, 150 Armenian servicemen were killed and more than 200 were wounded is only a part of the truth: these figures reflect only the losses among the draftees for Armenias armed forces, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Aug. 29. On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-attack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4 hours) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry had said. Ignoring the agreement, the Armenian side again started violating the ceasefire. The Armenian side continues to intentionally conceal the number of deaths among the draftees from the Nagorno-Karabakh and mercenaries, noted the ministry. The Armenian armed opposition group Sasna Tsrer lost over 150 soldiers and more than 200 soldiers were wounded during the April clashes, according to Armenian media. Taking into account these figures, in total, 300 servicemen of the Armenian side were killed and more than 700 were wounded during the April events, said the Azerbaijani ministry. The majority of the wounded soldiers are in a serious health condition and it doesnt exclude the increase in the number of losses, noted the press service of the ministry. Some Armenian politicians and war criminals, regaining consciousness a few months after the Azerbaijani armys armed response, make absurd statements that allegedly Azerbaijan, was forced to cease hostilities. The Armenian side felt only part of the Azerbaijani weapons power, said the press service. We reiterate that if the Armenian side doesnt leave the occupied Azerbaijani lands, it will lead to the collapse of the military-criminal regime in Armenia, to the tragedy and senseless casualties of the Armenian people. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. The Federal Capital Teritory Controller of Prisons, Daniel Odahro, on Monday confirmed that there was a minor riot by inmates of the Kuje Prison. There was a minor riot at the Kuje Prison, but the situation has been brought under control, Mr. Odahro told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja. He explained that a disagreement ensued at about 10.30 a.m., on Monday, when some inmates resisted the routine search in their cells. Mr. Odahro said the situation was subsequently brought under control by security operatives on duty and that no inmate escaped from the facility. He dismissed claims that inmates were shot in the melee, and insisted that the situation had been completely taken care of. There was nothing like an attempted jail break, yes we had a minor disagreement between prison officials and some inmates, who refused the routine morning search in their cells, I can categorically tell you that no inmate escaped and the situation has been brought under control, he said. Mr. Odahro said that security had been beefed up in and around the prison to forestall a recurrence. Despite attempts by prisons authorities to downplay the incident, some detainees at the facility insisted there were indiscriminate gunshots and prolonged pandemonium while the riot lasted. Charles Okah, a detainee at the facility said his rights was breached during the incident. It is our clients brief that Kuje Prison is currently under attack from members of the Nigerian Prisons Service Armed Squad who are indiscriminately firing gun-shots and tear gas into the air, Mr. Okahs lawyers, First Law Solicitors, said in an email sent to PREMIUM TIMES. The lawyers claimed to have reacted on behalf of all the inmates at the facility. This has created pandemonium and violated the fundamental rights of the inmates, particularly, Mr. Charles Okah who has a known medical history which is incompatible with tear gas, gunshots, etc. We are, by virtue of this notice to Nigerians and the international community, particularly, Amnesty International and Global Witness making it clear that the Nigerian Prisons Service is already in breach of the fundamental rights of the inmates of Kuje Prison. Our clients therefore reserve the right to sue and seek redress for the breach. Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has criticised the decision by the Nigerian military to declare three persons wanted in connection with the war against Boko Haram insurgency. In a statement on Monday, Mr. Falana said the power to declare civilians wanted rests with the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service. Thus, by declaring the three persons wanted without any legal authority the army has usurped the statutory powers of both the Police and the SSS, said Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. In the process it has breached the fundamental rights of the suspects to personal liberty, dignity of the person and fair hearing guaranteed by the Constitution. Shortly after the Boko Haram sect released a video on August 14 showing the abducted Chibok girls, the army declared Ahmad Salkida, a journalist; Aisha Wakil, a lawyer; and Ahmed Bolori, a social worker, wanted. According to the army, the three persons have links with the sect as well as the abducted girls. There is no doubt that these individuals have links with Boko Haram terrorists and have contacts with them, Sani Usman, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, said in the statement declaring the three people wanted. They must therefore come forward and tell us where the group is keeping the Chibok Girls and other abducted persons to enable us rescue them. Mr. Usman, a colonel, added that the army relied on the relevant laws of the land and in particular the Terrorism Prevention Act (as amended) where Nigerians could be punished for failure to disclose information about terrorists or terrorist activities. But Mr. Falana said the army declaring the suspects wanted is ultra vires, illegal and unconstitutional in every material particular. Realizing that we are under a constitutional democracy which requires that the infringement of the rights of any citizen be justified in law, the army has relied on the provisions of the countrys anti terrorism legislation. Since the wanted persons are not serving military personnel who are subject to service law they cannot be investigated or tried under the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 LFN, 2004, he said. Furthermore, under the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 as amended the army has not been authorized to perform any duty whatsoever. The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker Committee to form a new national convention planning committee and to hold the next convention of the party in Abuja. The previous stalemated national conventions of the party were held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and the planning committee was headed by the Governor Nyesom Wike. At the end of its meeting held at the Musa YaAdua Centre, Abuja, on Monday, the BoT advised the Makarfi committee that to ensure a credible, transparent, free and fair National Convention, a new National Convention Planning Committee be constituted by the National Caretaker Committee and approve by the National Executive Committee, NEC. A Communique signed by the Chairman of the BoT, Walid Jibrin, also said that the forthcoming National Convention of the PDP be held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The BoT said it would facilitate the raising of adequate funds for the party, while also calling on all PDP governors to continue pursuing positive programmes of good governance so as to clearly project the people-oriented manifesto of the PDP. Before conflicting court orders frustrated the national convention of the PDP, factional chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff had given as condition for reconciliation the shifting of the convention from Port Harcourt to Abuja. The BoT on Monday mandated its reconciliation committee to continue with all good efforts of reconciling all aggrieved Party members. They also advised the National Caretaker Committee to, as soon as possible, convene the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to approve proposals on the way forward for party. The BoT equally passed a vote of confidence on the Makarfi-led leadership and urged the committee to continue its good work of repositioning the Party. Apart from Mr. Jibrin, who chaired the meeting, other members of the BoT in attendance included National Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi; former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu; former National Chairmen, Okwesilieze Nwodo and Vincent Ogbulafor, amongst others. The police on Monday decried public comments linking President Muhammadu Buhari with the ongoing saga over a dog named Buhari in Ogun State. A 40-year old trader, Joe Chinakwe, was recently arrested and arraigned in court for allegedly naming his dog Buhari. He has since been granted bail. Some members of the public have however associated the president with the matter. The Ogun State Police Command and Zone 2 Police Command, in separate statements, said series of uncomplimentary remarks against the president over the case were uncalled for. In the statement by the Zonal Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, the police said the matter was grossly misconstrued, explaining that the president has nothing to do with it as it was erroneously perceived. The police explained that the case before it showed that one Alhaji Buhari, the father of the complainant, Haliru Umar, both of who live in Ketere Area of Sango Ota in Ado/Odo-Ota LGA of the state, were involved. The statement said, The attention of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Abdulmajid Ali, has been drawn to series of uncomplimentary comments and publications in respect of the case of a man, Joe Chinakwe, who was arrested and charged to court by the Ogun State Police Command for naming his dog Buhari and wishes to state categorically that the matter was grossly misconstrued. The Zonal Command wishes to clarify and set the records straight that the case, as it was erroneously perceived, has nothing to do with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, but with one Alhaji Buhari, the biological father of the complainant, Alhaji Halilu Umar, all of Ketere Area, Sango Ota in Ado Odo Otta Local Government Area of Ogun State. The police explained that Mr. Chinakwe was not charged to court for naming his dog Buhari but for his behaviour and that the suspect had been having conflicts with Mr. Umar, which made him to name his dog after the latters father. Also, its fundamental to state that the man was not charged to court for christening his dog Buhari, but for the behaviours of the suspect and circumstances surrounding the matter when Mr. Joe, who had been having conflicts with his neighbour, (complainant) named his dog Buhari, his neighbours fathers name, inscribed Buhari on both sides of the said dog, and started parading the dog with swagger amongst his neighbours and/ traders who are mostly northerners, the statement added. The said Joe was actually attacked by the people around for his action before he was rescued by the police. The timely intervention of the police prevented a crisis or inter-tribal crisis in the area. The zonal police command called for the understanding of members of the public on Mr. Chinakwes action, which it said was capable of causing a breach of public peace. It said the suspect was charged under section 249(d) of the Criminal Code. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Lagos, AIG Absulmajid Ali, appeals to the general public to understand the action of the police in the matter, which is in consonance with the primary duties of the Nigeria Police Force as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and accept it as a professional way of preventing total breakdown of law and order, the statement said. On its part, the Ogun State Police Command, in a statement by its spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, also said the president had no connection with the matter. The attention of Ogun State Police Command has been drawn to a story in some section of the media regarding the case of Joachim Iroko who named his dog Buhari and was subsequently arrested and charged to court, the police command said. It said Mr. Umar reported the matter at the Sango Police Station to report claiming that Mr. Chinakwe provoked him by inscribing his fathers name Buhari on both sides of his dog knowing fully well that it was his fathers name. The suspect was invited and he did not deny the allegation. All efforts to resolve the matter amicably between the two parties proved futile and it was about to degenerate to a serious crisis within the area, hence, the command took a proactive step by charging the case to court in order to avert unnecessary blood shedding, the statement said. The command wants to make it clear to members of the public that the case has nothing to do with the President as some media are painting it to be. It is a clear case between the complainant and the suspect whose action was seen as one that is likely to cause breach of peace. The state police command said it was its duty to protect life and property, as well as to guard against anything that could lead to the breakdown of law and order which is exactly we did in this case. Troops of the 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, currently on the operation crocodile smile simulated training exercise in the Niger Delta region on Sunday bumped into crude oil stealing enclaves where suspected oil thieves were arrested. The troops who were boarding gunboats as well as speedboats also arrested some individuals with large quantity of substances believed to be illicit drugs. The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, said the operation, aimed at training soldiers on how to tackle crimes common to waterlogged terrains of the Niger Delta, was so far a success. He said the soldiers on training were able to turn a simulation exercise into real situation by arresting and confiscating equipment that help oily crimes to thrive in the creeks. His statement reads; Troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army involved in the field training exercise nicknamed CROCODILE SMILE mounted on gunboats and speedboats have been making tremendous progress as they also raided suspected criminal hideouts in the creeks around Ajaosolo, Okogho, Opumani, and Obodo general area. While conducting the exercise, on Sunday 28th August 2016, they intercepted suspected illegal oil bunkerer with 1 Cotonou Boat laden with crude oil, 3 X 40 Horse power Yamaha Speedboats and 5 X 200 Litres of illegally refined diesel oil. Similarly, the troops continued conducting the training exercise near Bomadi town, Bomadi Local Government Area and Pendo and Tuomu of Bururtu Local Government Area of Delta State respectively. Two suspects; Mr. Tokolo Sawyer and Miss Showman Ebi-ere were arrested at Loveth Plaze, while Mr Kingsley Ebidimo and 7 others with unidentified mission were equally arrested at Pendo as they were found to be in possession of substance believed to be Marijuana, 1 Axe, 2 Cutting Saw and a long iron bender in their hideouts. The suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the Nigeria Police at Bomadi. The troops have continued with their field training exercise, more so as they received 2 more supporting weapons, Main Battle Tank, 2 Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and 3 Scorpion Tanks from the Headquarters of Nigerian Armour Corps. In addition, as part of the training exercise, the troops have been carrying out patrols along waterways in the creeks, in that process, they recovered 2 Cotonou Boats and a 75 Horse Power Speedboat, 30 X 200 Litres plastic drums containing liquid suspected to be illegally refined crude oil in the creeks at Ovwahwa in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State in the afternoon of Sunday 28th August 2016. Three suspected persons, Messrs College Owahwa, Joseph Katte and Olisa Patrick found around the vicinity have been arrested. They are currently being questioned. Following intelligence reports, 2 illegal crude oil refineries were identified and destroyed by the exercising troops traversing Ayakoromo and Esaba water ways in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. At about 5.00pm same day, 2 Pumping Machines and sets of new pipes used for the construction of illegal refineries and siphoning were found in the bush. Two suspects were interrogated to ascertain their involvement on the recovered items. The troops have continued their training exercise without hitch. In addition to the training exercise, troops are equally carrying out free medical outreaches at central area Sapele and near Olu of Warris in Warri. Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, the Deji of Akure, has condemned the placing of fetish object at the Secretariat of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Akure on Monday morning. This is contained in a statement issued by Michael Adeyeye, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deji on Monday. He condemned the attitude of those who sealed the entrance of the party secretariat with palm fronds which is the traditional means of sealing-off premises in Akureland. The sacrilegious act carried out at the Ondo State Secretariat of the All Progressive Congress early this morning is condemned in its totality. We want to state that carrying out traditional sealing-off of premises remains the prerogative of the palace. The Deji of Akure remains non-partisan and a father to all political aspirants and never authorised such. The palace is apolitical and therefore should not be dragged into the internal wrangling of any party, Mr. Adeyeye said. According to him, Oba Ogunlade frowned at the attitude and wished to inform the general public that such an act did not emanate from the palace as any attempt to desecrate the tradition will be vehemently rebuffed. The palace spokesman explained that those who carried out the act were not aware of the cultural and traditional implications of the action. He said that the palace had sent its emissaries to carry out a thorough investigation of the matter and was confident that the culprits would be apprehended in no distant time. Mr. Adeyeye also called on the APC and security agencies to unravel the circumstances behind the abominable act and bring to book those behind the sacrilegious act so as to serve as deterrent. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fetish object was placed at the locked gate of the APC secretariat. NAN also reports that the object was removed by some party members under the watch of security operatives but the office was yet to be opened as at the time of this report. (NAN) Editor's note: To help memorialize Gene Wilder, some members of the Living staff pick their favorite movie scenes acted out, and often stolen, by Wilder. Come with me in a world of pure imagination -- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Short of Dorothy seeing the Land of Oz in color for the first time, few cinematic scenes are more magical than when the doors of Willy Wonkas chocolate factory are pushed open for the first time. Wilder sweetly sings Pure Imagination, as the children and parents greedily gobble down his wonderland, while pensively wandering about. The first glimpse of chocolate waterfalls and gigantic gummy bear trees has captivated childhood audiences for ages. Wilders eccentric, and often times hilariously flippant, portrayal of reclusive candy maker is timeless. Waco Kid -- "Blazing Saddles" There was something so entertaining and hilarious -- but also poignantly sad -- about the Waco Kid. Shaky gun-slingin' hand and all, Wilder's cowboy was a great counterpoint to the sheriff. "Puttin' On the Ritz" -- "Young Frankstein" Or is it Frahnken-Shteen? Either way, it's hard to hear "Putting on the Ritz" in any other context and not think of Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle tapping and stomping their way through this Mel Brooks scene. "I want everything I've ever seen in the movies!" -- "The Producers" Gene Wilder as the neurotic Leo Bloom is the person we all hope to be: Willing to throw everything away to follow a dream. Even if that dream is putting on a Hitler-centric musical. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 29 Trend: Azerbaijan stands for substantive talks to change the existing status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Elmar Mammadyarov, Azerbaijani foreign minister, who is on an official visit to Georgia. Mammadyarov made the statement at a meeting with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidze in Tbilisi Aug. 29. Mammadyarov added that the international community, member-states of the OSCE Minsk Group consider preservation of the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as unacceptable and inconsistent. "The Armenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, as required by the UN Security Councils resolutions and it is necessary to put an end to the military occupation to achieve progress in the conflict settlement," said Mammadyarov cited by the Azerbaijani foreign ministry as saying. The peace and stability will be restored in the region as a result of the settlement of the conflict, Mammadyarov added. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. 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. SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) Hillary Clinton is rolling out a comprehensive plan to address millions of Americans coping with mental illness, pointing to the need to fully integrate mental health services into the nation's health care system. Clinton's campaign released a multi-pronged approach to mental health care on Monday, aimed at ensuring that Americans would no longer separate mental health from physical health in terms of access, care and quality of treatment. The Democratic presidential nominee's agenda would focus on early diagnosis and intervention and create a national initiative for suicide prevention. If elected, Clinton would hold a White House conference on mental health within her first year in office. Clinton's proposal would also aim to enforce mental health parity laws and provide training to law enforcement officers to deal with people grappling with mental health problems while prioritizing treatment over jail for low-level offenders. "Building on her longstanding commitment to health care for all, Hillary believes everyone should be able to access quality mental health care without shame, stigma or barriers," said Maya Harris, a senior policy adviser to Clinton's campaign, in a statement. The former secretary of state planned to hold a town hall meeting by telephone with stakeholders on Monday during a three-day fundraising spree in the Hamptons. The policy rollout would overlap with a Clinton plan to address drug and alcohol addiction which she campaigned on in Iowa and New Hampshire after hearing frequently about the problems from voters. The federal government estimated in 2014 that about 43.6 million adults in the U.S. had mental illness in the past year, or about 1 in 5 adults age 18 and over. It estimated nearly 10 million adults suffered from serious mental illness. An estimated 17 million children in the U.S. experience mental health problems, including 1 in 5 college students, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Nearly 1 in 5 veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan experienced post-traumatic stress or depression. Clinton's campaign said the plan would attempt to integrate the nation's health care system to create a more seamless way of providing both medical and mental health treatment to patients. It would expand the reimbursement systems for collaborative care models under Medicare and Medicaid that aim to treat patients through a team of health care professionals, including a primary care doctor, a care manager and a behavioral health specialist. It would also be helped by a Clinton proposal to boost funding for community health centers that she announced earlier in the summer along with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, her primary rival. Money for the centers, a priority for Sanders, was increased under the Affordable Care Act. Clinton's plan would make the money for the centers permanent and expand it by $40 billion over the next decade. ___ On Twitter, follow Ken Thomas at @kthomasdc A Pleasantville man was still in stable condition Monday at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Centers City Campus after being involved in a two-car accident Saturday that took place at Zion and New roads in Northfield. James Callaway, 39, of Pleasantville, was driving his 1992 Ford Taurus at 4:20 p.m. west on Zion Road. Callaway had a male and female juvenile in his car. Callaways car entered the intersection and was struck by 1998 Ford Explorer that was driven by Theodore Iannone, 57, of Philadelphia, said Northfield Police Cpt. Stephen Steinecke. Alexandria Iannone, 20, of Northfield, was a passenger in the car. When Callaways car was hit, it struck a curb, rolled over and came to rest upside down with the roof on the ground, Steinecke said. Callaway was taken to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Centers City Campus. The juveniles were not admitted to the hospital, Steinecke said. Theodore Iannone was bleeding from the head, and Alexandria Iannone was complaining of pain, Steinecke said. They also were taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Centers City Campus, he said. No information could be obtained about the Iannones from the hospital on Monday. Callaway was given summonses for failure to stop or yield, careless driving and driving while suspended, Steinecke said. The intersection was shut down for a period of time Saturday, which was followed by stop and go, alternating traffic, he said. Contact: 609-272-7202 Twitter @ACPressJackson ATLANTIC CITY For the first time since late June, representatives of Unite Here Local 54 and Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort management held discussions on a new contract. During the more than two hour meeting Monday, Local 54 presented Taj Mahal management with a new proposal that would cost $1.3 million more than the last proposal by Taj Mahal owner Carl Icahn. Earlier this month, 2,848 employees of the Taj Mahal were notified they would be laid off Oct. 10 and the property would be closed. Taj Mahal management blamed striking Local 54 workers for preventing a path to profitability. More than a 1,000 Local 54 members have been on strike since July 1 after a contract impasse with Taj Mahal management. This labor dispute has been going on for almost two years, said union President Bob McDevitt. The company has saved about $25 million in labor expenses, but lost between $150 and $200 million in revenues. The proposal we put forward today allows all of us to move forward. The proposal deal includes Taj Mahal paying the same amount for workers healthcare that is paid throughout the city, the restoration of paid breaks, and subcontracting protections for workers be restored. Local 54 leadership reached out to Taj Mahal management to schedule an effects bargaining meeting, which we believed was to discuss closing procedure. This was not a negotiating session, said Tony Rodio, President and CEO of Tropicana Entertainment Inc.. Bob McDevitt and the Taj bargaining committee have no one to blame but themselves for this sad outcome. If McDevitt cared even one iota about the future of the employees he would have allowed them to vote on the proposal we offered five weeks ago based on his recommendations, which we believe could have saved the Taj. The meeting is required as part of the state-mandated Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notifications Act. We came up with a proposal that will restore what we have lost while at the same time giving the company time to rebuild its business, said Peter Battaglini, a 26-year bellman. This is a win-win proposal in my book. Icahn said after the strike started that the casino offered the union a health care deal he thought members would accept. But union officials called that offer a shadow of what the union got from negotiating with Bally's Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah's Resort and Tropicana Atlantic City. Complete terms of previous proposals were not released. The union represents bartenders, servers, porters and other hospitality workers Workers are not eligible for severance pay except for two executive-level employees who are not named in the notice but have agreements, according to the notice. Contact: 609-272-7046 Twitter @ACPressHuba AVALON Two women were named to top posts in the borough this month. Erin Brown was named new library director effective Sept. 9 and Alexis Coan will take over as new municipal tax collector on Sept. 1. Brown was appointed by the Avalon Free Public Library Board of Trustees at its Aug. 11 meeting to succeed Norman Gluckman. Gluckman is retiring Sept. 9 after 10 years of service. The Avalon Free Public Library is a tremendous example of how a library should engage and serve its community, Brown said. I am humbled at the opportunity to assume the direction of a perennial five-star free public library and look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with our residents, visitors, community organizations, and the Board of Trustees to exceed expectations. For the last eight years, Brown has served as head of adult services for the Atlantic City Free Public Library. She is a graduate of Drexel University. We are very excited to welcome Erin to our Avalon community and we are very confident that she and her staff will continue and enhance the high level of services offered every day at the best free public library in the state of New Jersey, Mayor Martin Pagliughi said. Last week, Avalon Borough Council confirmed the appointment of Coan as tax collector at its Aug. 24 meeting. Coan, who has worked for the borough since 2001, will replace longtime tax collector Connie DiCola upon her retirement. Ally has been an exemplary employee for the borough of Avalon in both the department of recreation and in the tax collectors office, Pagliughi said. We thank Connie for her service to our community and look forward to Ally maintaining the high level of customer service provided in the tax collectors office. Coan graduated last week from Immaculata University with a bachelors degree in organizational dynamics with a focus on accounting, financial management issues, managerial economics, strategic planning, statistics, and organizational ethics. She received her certification from the state of New Jersey as a tax collector in 2014. Although she will start in September, her four-year term as the tax collector for Avalon will begin on Jan. 1, 2017. OCEAN CITY - The last place most people figure young adults would want to be on a Friday night is in church, but Todd Crews has managed to pull off this difficult task. Todd Crews, 32, is an associate pastor at the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church where he leads MVMNT, (Movement) the young adult ministry. Over the last few years, MVMNT has become the largest young adult gathering on Friday nights in New York City. Crews spoke twice on Sunday at the Ocean City Tabernacle. He gave the crowd of almost 1,000 people of all ages at his latter talk a taste of what makes him such a popular speaker with young people. The pastor was not afraid to reveal vulnerabilities. He said this was his second year speaking at the Tabernacle, and he no longer felt like a visiting pastor. He felt like a friend. Crews said he changed his major so many times when he was in college that his parents no longer wanted to pay for his schooling. In high school, he failed freshman Spanish three times, but passed it the fourth time when he was a senior. The pastor revealed times in his life when he struggled to set up a sermon about how God puts people through tests. Do you have the faith to believe that you can overcome the difficulties in your life, Crews asked. One of the things Crews did came straight out of his Brooklyn church services. Crews asked everyone in the church to stand as he read aloud Genesis 22 where God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Once he finished reading the passage, he asked everyone in the church to shake three peoples hands and say, This is a test, before they sat down. Just like people are tested academically, they can be tested spiritually, Crews said. Imagine Noah without the test of the flood, Crews said. God will prepare you. He will test, and then, he will graduate you... A tested servant is a trusted servant. Crews also told the congregation that sometimes the tests in our lives can take a while. It took Abraham three days to walk where God wanted him to go to offer up his son, Crews said. Sometimes, it takes a little while to find healing, Crews said. God is not a God of technology. God is a God of agriculture. Crews referenced being in a classroom again later in his sermon. He talked about when a person takes a test at school, they are not allowed to ask for help or for the answers, but there are no such restrictions when trying to lead a spiritual or religious life. I dont have the answers. I need help. Im so happy we are not in a classroom, Crews said. Crews talk was well received as hundreds of people applauded when he finished speaking. Contact: 609-272-7202 Twitter @ACPressJackson If a boycott is no good, is the proper response to boycott the boycotters? The state seems to think so. In May and June, the state Legislature approved - nearly unanimously - a bill barring the state from investing in companies that boycott doing business with Israel. Gov. Chris Christie signed it into law a couple of weeks ago. With a state pension fund alone of $72 billion, the stakes are significant. This made New Jersey at least the fourth state to boycott companies boycotting Israel. Florida and Illinois have similar laws, and New York did the same by executive order of the governor. The anti-Israel boycott is part of an international push by one side in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute to pressure the other. Among the sponsors of the bill was Assemblyman Chris Brown, R-Atlantic, who visited Israel in February to promote business between his district and the U.S. ally in the Middle East. In signing the bill, Christie said, "Israel is an overseas relative in need of our support" and "we do not join destructive movements." The state branch of the American Civil Liberties Union attacked the law for punishing companies "because of the beliefs people hold rather than any action they have taken." That's not true. Companies boycotting Israel cut off normal business dealings with that nation's companies, in effect joining an economic war on Israel. That's an action, one that the U.S. reserves for state sponsors of terrorism and the like. The overwhelming desire of state lawmakers to come to the defense of Israel is understandable. It isn't just one of the closest U.S. allies; it's a democratic nation in a region dominated by autocrats and a partner in the fight against terrorist groups. But even if the state is on the right side of this dispute, it's making the same fundamental mistake as the anti-Israel boycotters that it is targeting. Deciding where to invest state pension funds based on a political stance is just as misguided as a company limiting where it buys and sells goods and services because of a political position. New Jersey's retirees and taxpayers need the state to get the best returns on the pension funds. If it favors Israel-related investments, let it be because that nation is growing faster than the U.S. or Europe, not to advance a political position. The best response to the wrong-headed boycott of Israel is to make the case against it strongly. Not all bias can be made illegal, but it can be discouraged and minimized by shining a strong light on it. Almost anything in the ordinary conduct of life is worsened by becoming politicized. And once it has become politicized, the first solution to consider is politicizing it less, not more. Our view Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 By Seba Aghayeva Trend: Azerbaijan and Georgia will continue cooperation and mutual support at international organizations, in particular, at the UN and its divisions, GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, the Council of Europe, the European Union and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). An agreement about it was reached during the meeting of the two countries Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Mikheil Janelidze. Mammadyarov is on official visit in Tbilisi. The two ministers emphasized that the two countries support territorial integrity and sovereignty of each other. During the meeting, the parties also noted the effective cooperation in the energy sphere, in particular, in the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project, which will play an important role in Europes energy security. The two ministers exchanged views on enhancing efforts for speedy completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railways construction, intensification of activity of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, as well as discussed the development of cooperation in fight against terrorism. 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 29 Trend: Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who is on an official visit to Georgia, met with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili Aug. 29. The Southern Gas Corridor and the importance of ongoing regional projects in this area were stressed at the meeting, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry told Trend. The active cooperation between the sides was also stressed. According to the message, Kvirikashvili informed about the pace of the construction work of the Georgian part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, expressing hope for the timely completion of the project. Mammadyarov stressed that Azerbaijan and Georgia have strategic relations, the message said. According to the message, the sides discussed the development of trade-economic relations between the two countries and the intensification of the activity of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission. The importance of implementing joint infrastructure projects and making mutual investments was also stressed, the message said. According to the message, the attention was paid to SOCARs activity in Georgia. Oil prices fell early on Monday as output from Iraq rose and as Iran said it would only cooperate in upcoming producer talks to freeze output if fellow exporters recognized its right to fully regain market share, Reuters reported. International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were trading at $49.54 per barrel at 0043 GMT (8.43 p.m. ET), down 38 cents from their previous close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 43 cents at $47.21 a barrel. Traders said the price falls were a result of climbing output from the Middle East, where oil exports from Iraq's southern ports have averaged 3.205 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, exceeding the average level seen in July, according to two officials from state-run South Oil Company said. Exports in July averaged 3.202 million bpd. Also, Iran said late last week that it would only cooperate in upcoming producer talks in September if other exporters recognized Tehran's right to regain market share lost during international sanctions that were only lifted in January. Analysts said that disagreements within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and especially its key members Saudi Arabia and Iran, meant few expected a significant impact on global output from the upcoming talks. HOUSTON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrews Kurth, an international business law firm with market-leading practices in energy, finance and technology, announced today that it has entered into an agreement that will allow it to bolster its intellectual property and technology practice by adding 55 lawyers from Kenyon & Kenyon. Kenyon is a top-tier intellectual property and technology firm long recognized for its global legal work in patent, trademark and copyright litigation, counseling and prosecution for Fortune 500 companies. The firm will market its intellectual property and technology practice and certain offices as Andrews Kurth Kenyon. The transaction is scheduled to close, and the Kenyon & Kenyon team would join the firm, in early September. "It's not often that you find a firm that shares a similar culture and core values, and it became clear early on that the Kenyon lawyers were a good fit for us," said Bob Jewell, who will remain the firm's managing partner. "Strengthening these practice specialties immediately makes us a top-tier destination for domestic and international clients for their intellectual property and technology needs." "We are extremely pleased to be part of this exciting firm. Andrews Kurth has a stellar reputation, and I am confident that with the broad geographic reach and deep resources of Andrews Kurth, we can build on our international success as a full-service intellectual property and technology firm," said Kenyon & Kenyon managing partner Edward Colbert, who will serve on the firm's Policy Committee and as global co-chair of the firm's intellectual property and technology practice. "Information assets lie at the core of modern business, which is why a business law firm like Andrews Kurth has been expanding its intellectual property and technology practice over the past several years," said Jeff Dodd, who will also serve as global co-chair of the firm's intellectual property and technology practice. "Andrews Kurth has been building a practice that has been gaining recognition, but this combination immediately catapults our combined practice into the top ranks." With the addition of these talented lawyers, the firm will enhance its ability to advise clients in sophisticated transactions and restructurings, high-stakes dispute resolution and complex regulatory matters, both domestically and internationally, with a much deeper intellectual property and technology group. The firm will add Kenyon's established Silicon Valley presence in Palo Alto, CA, a key venue for technology innovation and intellectual property litigation, as well as venture capital and emerging company work and a bridge to the firm's growing Asia-Pacific practice. Kenyon's core institutional client base will now have one-stop for their legal needs across a broad spectrum of practice specialties. Clients of Andrews Kurth Kenyon will have access to over 400 attorneys in 11 cities (Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, London, New York, Research Triangle Park, Silicon Valley, The Woodlands and Washington, DC). Andrews Kurth is consistently ranked as a top-tier firm by Chambers & Partners USA, Thomson Reuters, mergermarket, Bond Buyer, Texas Lawyer, IAM 1000 The World's Leading Patent Practitioners, The Deal, Legal 500, U.S. News and World Report Best Law Firms, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Bloomberg and many others. Kenyon & Kenyon has long been recognized as a Top IP firm by such publications as Chambers & Partners USA, Legal 500, IAM 1000 The World's Leading Patent Practitioners, Managing Intellectual Property and World Trademark Review. The firm has been cited for its work in all areas of intellectual property law, including copyright litigation, patent litigation and prosecution, and trademark litigation and prosecution. About Andrews Kurth LLP Since 1902, Andrews Kurth has built its practice on the belief that "straight talk is good business." Real answers, clear vision and mutual respect define the law firm's relationships with clients, colleagues, communities and employees. For more information visit andrewskurth.com. About Kenyon & Kenyon LLP Founded in 1879, Kenyon & Kenyon LLP has been a leading intellectual property law firm whose sophisticated and business-oriented approach helps clients succeed with their intellectual property strategies. Kenyon's global clients, many of whom are worldwide industry leaders, have relied on Kenyon for years for high-stakes litigation, prosecution, licensing and counseling needs for decades. For more information visit kenyon.com. Michael Blanchard of GLC Law Firm Consulting was hired by Kenyon & Kenyon to assist with the transaction. For press inquiries please contact: Ashley R. Nelly Director of Marketing Andrews Kurth LLP 600 Travis Street | Suite 4200 | Houston, Texas 77002 713.220.4410 Phone ashleynelly@andrewskurth.com Elise Rosenblum-Vazquez Business Development Director Kenyon & Kenyon LLP One Broadway | New York, New York 10004-1007 212.908.6436 Phone erosenblum-vazquez@kenyon.com Related Links http://www.kenyon.com SOURCE Andrews Kurth LLP The forum is organized by China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) and Jereh Group. The ambassadors and counselors of embassy in China from more than 10 countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan presented their support of more participation of Chinese private enterprises in local projects. And the management of SINOSURE introduced the financial policy support and challenges for energy investment cooperation. According to the report by World Bank in June, 2016, the global economic recovery continues but remains weaker than desirable. And the Belt & Road will provide it with a much needed boost. There are many preferential policies to encourage international investment in the countries along the new Silk Road with different models. "They can help companies solve the financing bottlenecks and reduce business transaction costs of transnational business. For example, SINOSURE and Jereh Group have established a comprehensive strategic partnership to support their going out." said Mr. Chang, the general manager assistant of SINOSURE Shandong Branch. And the Counsellor of Kazakhstan Embassy in China, Mr. Aimakhanov Abu-Talip, expressed in the keynote speech that the economic growth and investment climate will promote more bilateral cooperation between China and Kazakhstan. "Private enterprises have advantages of efficiency and flexibility in mechanism, market response as well as operation & management, which will help achieve win-win cooperation. But we also should have a clear mind that Chinese enterprises including Jereh, still face challenges when going out, including the ability to do long-term planning, the ability to effectively control the risk and the ability to get identity recognition." said Ian, "we need a new position to get a broader room for growth." About Jereh As a global project developer and contractor, we deliver integrated solutions flexibly and efficiently (investment, financing and contracting) across the entire project life cycle. Now we have built advantages in the areas of oil and gas, power, infrastructure and environment: consulting, R&D, engineering, operation & maintenance as well as manufacturing. For more information, welcome visit www.jereh.com. Related Links http://www.jereh.com SOURCE Jereh Group The forum is organized by China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) and Jereh Group. The ambassadors and counselors of embassy in China from more than 10 countries such as UAE, Afghanistan, Algeria and Egypt presented their support of more participation of Chinese private enterprises in local projects. And the management of SINOSURE introduced the financial policy support and challenges for energy investment cooperation. According to the report by World Bank in June, 2016, the global economic recovery continues but remains weaker than desirable. And the Belt & Road will provide it with a much needed boost. There are many preferential policies to encourage international investment in the countries along the new Silk Road with different models. "They can help companies solve the financing bottlenecks and reduce business transaction costs of transnational business. For example, SINOSURE and Jereh Group have established a comprehensive strategic partnership to support their going out." said Mr. Chang, the general manager assistant of SINOSURE Shandong Branch. And the Ambassador of Algeria Embassy in China, Mr. Ahcene Boukhelfa, expressed on the speech that the solid friendship between Algeria and China will promote more bilateral cooperation on energy, infrastructure and environmental projects. Along the new Silk Road, Jereh has established its good presence in the Algeria oil and gas market. It provides integrated solutions across the whole value chain, including well drilling, gas treatment, compression, as well as power plant and infrastructure. "But we also should have a clear mind that Chinese enterprises including Jereh, should do more when going out, including the ability to do long-term planning, the ability to control the risk and the ability to get identity recognition." said Ian He. About Jereh As a global project developer and contractor, we deliver integrated solutions flexibly and efficiently (investment, financing and contracting) across the entire project life cycle. Now we have built advantages in the areas of oil and gas, power, infrastructure and environment: consulting, R&D, engineering, operation & maintenance as well as manufacturing. For more information, welcome visit www.jereh.com. Related Links http://www.jereh.com SOURCE Jereh Group New Location Aims to Attract Consumers To Learn, Share and Discover HONG KONG, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial vehicle technology, said Monday it will soon open a flagship store in Hong Kong featuring flight cages, experience zones, an aerial photo gallery, technical support center and DJI's full range of consumer and professional products. Located at the center of Hong Kong's busiest shopping district in Causeway Bay, the three-story, 10,000+ square-feet store will open at the end of September 2016. In keeping with the scintillating Hong Kong skyline, the building will display animated DJI logos and drone silhouettes to add to the Victoria Harbor evening backdrop. More than just a retail outlet, the Hong Kong flagship store will provide a location where the worldwide community can connect to share their experience of flight and explore the latest UAV products and aerial cameras. The ground floor will have on display DJI's full range of aerial and handheld products, while the SkyPixel Gallery on the first floor will showcase breathtaking examples of aerial photography from around the world. The second floor will house the technical support center and a dedicated space for workshops, seminars and special events. "As interest around our aerial technologies continues to grow, the expansion of our flagship business will provide a place for people to see, touch and learn about our products first hand," said Frank Wang, DJI Founder and CEO. "Discovery is an important part of the learning process and when people understand how easy it is to use the technology, they will find ways to incorporate it into their lives or for their businesses." The Hong Kong flagship store is DJI's third foray into retail after the December 2015 opening of its first flagship store in in Shenzhen, China, followed by the Seoul, Korea flagship in March 2016. "Hong Kong is an important market for DJI here in Asia and remains a tourist hot spot for people from around the world," said DJI Hong Kong Regional Manager Sarah Chuang. "The store will provide an opportunity for us to engage consumers from all walks of life, from local photographers to aerial enthusiasts across Asia to travelers visiting Hong Kong looking for the coolest and latest technologies. We want to provide a truly unique DJI experience for anyone who walks into our store." On display and for sale will be DJI's consumer products, such the Phantom series of drones and the Osmo stabilized 4K handheld camera, as well as professional products, including the Inspire 1 and Matrice series, the Zenmuse Z3, X5R, and XT cameras, and the Ronin handheld three-axis camera gimbal line. The Hong Kong Flagship store is located at TOWER 535, Shop G07, 535 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. More details will be announced closer to the grand opening day in late September. To download photos: http://bit.ly/2bB5MHw About DJI DJI is a global leader in developing and manufacturing innovative drone and camera technology for commercial and recreational use. DJI was founded and is run by people with a passion for remote-controlled helicopters and experts in flight-control technology and camera stabilization. The company is dedicated to making aerial photography and filmmaking equipment and platforms more accessible, reliable and easier to use for creators and innovators around the world. DJI's global operations currently span across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and its revolutionary products and solutions have been chosen by customers in over 100 countries for applications in filmmaking, construction, emergency response, agriculture, conservation and many other industries. For more information, visit our website: www.dji.com Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DJI Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DJIGlobal Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/DJI Related Links http://www.dji.com SOURCE DJI Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 By Fatih Karimov Trend: Iran is negotiating with Italian energy firm Eni for investment in Shiraz Pars Refinery project, Abbas Kazemi, Irans deputy oil minister, said. Talks are underway with the Italian firm for cooperation and investment in the gas condensate refinery project, Kazemi who heads the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company, said, Mehr news agency reported Aug. 28. Shiraz Pars Refinery will be the first national condensate refinery in Iran. Upon inauguration, it will have a daily capacity to refine 120,000 barrels of condensate and produce a daily amount of 12 million liters of gasoline conforming to Euro-5 standard. Eni came to Iran in the early 2000s. It was to develop Phase 3 of Darkhovein Oilfield in Khuzestan Province and Phase 19 of South Pars Gas Field, but halted operations due to sanctions. Eni is active in exploration and production sector as well as downstream projects, including refining and marketing of petroleum products. It is one of the world's major oil and gas contractors in engineering, construction and drilling projects both offshore and onshore. DUBLIN, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global and China Superabsorbent Polymers (SAPs) Industry Report, 2016-2020" report to their offering. Super absorbent resin (SAP) is the key raw material with which to produce disposable hygiene products like baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, and adult incontinence products. SAP has super water absorbing capacity. At present, the global paper diaper market is experiencing rapid development, with an AAGR of over 15%. In 2015, the global SAP consumption increased by 8.0% year on year to 2.3 million tons. It is expected that in 2016-2020 the consumption would grow at a compound annual rate of some 7.8%, to an estimated 3.48 million tons by 2020. At the end of 2015, the global SAP capacity reached 3.489 million tons per year, up 12.0% from a year earlier. And China contributed the largest portion of the global capacity, at 30.5% of the total. China's SAP has developed at an astonishing paceover the past two years, with 2015's consumption rising 21.3% to 382 kilotons. However, with the introduction of Two-child Policy, and particularly driven by the rapid development of disposable hygiene products market, the SAP consumption in China is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 20% in 2016-2020, to 1.02 million tons by 2020. Key Topics Covered: 1 Overview 2 Development of Global SAP Industry 3 Development of China's SAP Industry 4 China's Acrylic Acid Market 5 Downstream Sectors of China's SAP Industry 6. Major Global SAP Manufacturers 7. Major Chinese SAP Manufacturers 8 Conclusion and Prediction Companies Mentioned BASF BASF-YPC Company Limited EVONIK Formosa Plastics Corporation Formosa Super Absorbent Polymer ( Ningbo ) Co., Ltd. ) Co., Ltd. Jinan Haoyue Absorbent Materials Co., Ltd. Kao Corporation Nippon Shokubai Nisshoku Chemical Industry (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd., Quanzhou Banglida Technology Industry Co., Ltd. SDP Global San-Dia Polymers (Nantong) Co., Ltd. Shandong Nuoer Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. Shandong ZhongkeBoyuan New Material Technology Co., Ltd. Shanghai Huayi Acrylic Acid Co., Ltd. Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Tangshan Boya Resin Co., Ltd. Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd. (600309) Yixing Danson Technology Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical Co., Ltd Zhejiang Weilong Polymer Material Co., Ltd. For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2bdqlf/global_and_china Related Topics: Plastics Also Available Global Superabsorbent Polymers Market Size, Market Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2012 To 2022 Media Contact: Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOURCE Research and Markets MATTERSBURG, Austria, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- I-New Unified Mobile Solutions, Awarded as Best MVNE - Enabler of MVNOs, Expands its Mexican MVNE Platform Business Activities With the Launch of SIMPATI I-New Unified Mobile Solutions already successfully entered the market with its first Latin America MVNE platform in Mexico earlier this year with the launch of two Mexican MVNOs, after having realized similar services already successfully in Europe and Asia Pacific. The company's number one awarded MVNE model allows to aggregate multiple MVNO's to run on the same instance and to support mobile business offerings with a maximum of convenience, competitiveness and a record time to market. The model includes The MVNO Collection, I-New's unique and comprehensive module system of highly competitive products and services, which professionally supports MVNOs in the creation of compelling mobile business services along the complete customer journey. Like SIMPATI, I-New's third MVNO running on the Mexican MVNE platform, and to sustainably benefit from the company's industry awarded MVNO enabling value proposition. Today, the Mexican mobile services market is driven by new regulations and a growing mobile penetration rate on one hand. On the other, the market environments also show clear opportunities for more mobile business options and demands for new mobile services and offerings. SIMPATI's aim is to benefit from these attractive market circumstances and addresses the huge amount of self-employed Mexican women working as sales agents or distributors at direct sales organizations. Mobile phones are part of their daily work and lifestyle, so the SIMPATI offering is designed to create exciting customer service and experience with convenient mobile plans, customized value adding applications and a rewarding multi-level referral program. I-New CEO Peter Nussbaumer: "Our MVNE success momentum, especially in Latin America and Mexico, proves our strategies right. We're very much looking forward to announce additional Mexican MVNOs empowered by our award-winning portfolio and running on our Mexican MVNE platform during 2016." SIMPATI CMO Fernando de Haro: "We based our choice on behalf of I-New due to best time to market, local know-how and experience with Mexican MVNOs and their smooth relationship with TELEFONICA; afterwards, we also realized the great team and best attitude they offer to their clients." About I-New: I-New Unified Mobile Solutions is one of the fastest growing technology solutions providers in the mobile communication industry. The company specializes in the domain beyond the mobile universe, finding its translation mainly with Virtual Mobile Networks. To conveniently open the telecom world and to naturally link it with the various daily habits of a service subscribers' life has become I-New's enterprise mission and equally the clients' success. From offices all across the globe, the company is capable of providing, implementing and running highly competitive products and services with a maximum of smart convenience for a converged mobile ecosystem: The MVNO Collection. I-New is a trusted and proven partner by most demanding and industry leading clients around the globe. I-New was named 'Best Solution Provider' in 2014 and 2015; and Best 'MVNE - Enabler of MVNOs' in 2016 at the Global MVNO Industry Awards. Ruckfragehinweise: I-New Unified Mobile Solutions AG Global Marketing & Corporate Communication Herbert Reinisch +43(680)1241210 marketing@i-new.com http://www.i-new.com SOURCE I-New Unified Mobile Solutions AG BOSTON, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IDTechEx, a leading provider of independent market research, business intelligence and events on emerging technology announces the opening of a new office in Tokyo, Japan. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140310/673848 ) IDTechEx has worked for many years with clients and customers in the Japanese market, and the opening of an office in the country allows IDTechEx to expand the services offered. Mr. Yasuo Yamamoto has been appointed President of the Japanese entity IDTechEx K.K.. He can be reached by email at y.yamamoto@IDTechEx.com or by phone at +81-80-5425-8044. "This office will allow us to expand our in-country services for our Japanese clients," said Raghu Das, CEO of IDTechEx. "We look forward to growing our team and are excited to have Yamamoto-san leading our efforts in Japan, who brings more than 30 years experience in the electronics, component and semiconductor industries." IDTechEx will be hosting a Business and Technology Forum in Osaka, Japan on September 26-28, 2016. Topics covered will include: advanced functional materials, flexible displays, batteries & TFTs, wearable textiles, innovations in sensors & actuators, energy harvesting and energy storage. IDTechEx will also be hosting their Annual IDTechEx Show! in Santa Clara on November 16-17, 2016 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The IDTechEx Show includes 9 topic tracks, including electric vehicles, printed electronics, graphene materials, 3D printing, internet of things, wearable technologies, sensors, energy harvesting and energy storage. IDTechEx provides companies with tools that can assist them in making essential strategic decisions in emerging technologies. IDTechEx offers research reports, subscriptions, consultancy, introductory services and events. Contact: Yasuo Yamamoto President, IDTechEx Japan 21F Shin Marunouchi Center Bldg 1-6-2 Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-0005 Japan y.yamamoto@IDTechEx.com +81-80-5425-8044 Alison Lewis Marketing Manager, Research a.lewis@IDTechEx.com http://www.IDTechEx.com twitter.com/IDTechEx UK: +44-(0)1223-810290 SOURCE IDTechEx SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Linkage Biosciences, a global leader in the field of transplant diagnostics, announced today that it has been awarded a four-year contract by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) in the UK for implementation of the LinkSeq Real-Time PCR HLA typing product. The new tissue typing platform, including Real-Time PCR instrumentation, will be installed and adopted by various laboratories across the country. Dr. Andrea Harmer, National Head of NHS Blood and Transplant H&I Services, said, "At NHS Blood and Transplant, we were looking for the best technology available for our rapid typing requirements. We developed a comprehensive matrix to evaluate multiple platforms and were extremely pleased with the results from Linkage Biosciences. The laboratory tests performed by our scientists showed the product to be simple to use, fast, and robust." "We are excited to partner with NHS Blood and Transplant and support the fast-growing adoption of LinkSeq tissue typing technology," said Zachary Antovich, Chief Executive Officer of Linkage Biosciences. "The technical advantages of LinkSeq, as supported by all the necessary evidence during the evaluation period, clearly established the superiority of our offering. The decision of the UK's NHS Blood and Transplant to select our product is the outcome of a thorough evaluation of the competitive landscape and we suspect other nations will view this tender as a benchmark for their own assessment." LinkSeq offers a dramatically simplified workflow for detecting Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes associated with tissue compatibility for organ transplantation. With less than 10 minutes of set-up and no further operator intervention, LinkSeq provides complete molecular genotyping results in as little as 90 minutes. Its simple workflow avoids post-amplification contamination, as well as allowing rapid turnaround time and increased laboratory productivity. Since its introduction in 2011, LinkSeq technology has been adopted by more than 140 laboratories across four continents. The company received regulatory approval in Europe in 2015. About NHS Blood and Transplant NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. It is responsible for ensuring a safe and efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England. It is also the organ donation organization for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. About Linkage Biosciences Linkage Biosciences is a molecular diagnostics company developing and marketing products that dramatically improve and expedite complex genetic testing. LinkSeq is the company's flagship technology, covering all classical HLA genes and over 13,000 alleles in a single test. LinkSeq technology utilizes a proprietary assay methodology including reagents and software in combination with standard Real-Time PCR hardware to simplify the determination of complex genetic sequences. Linkage Biosciences obtained CE IVD marking and ISO 13485 accreditation in 2015. The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California, USA. Linkage Biosciences and LinkSeq are trademarks of Linkage Biosciences, Inc. To learn more please visit www.linkagebio.com Media Contact: Matthew Frome +1 415 346 5262 media@linkagebio.com Related Links http://www.linkagebio.com SOURCE Linkage Biosciences Traditional applications will still dominate the M2M market in the medium term, but carriers are expanding their portfolios with more consumer-oriented applications such as connected cars, personal care and smart homes. Such converged, verticalized solutions could well account for 35% of telcos' global revenues by 2018. Telcos are also looking at expanding into new verticals such as industry and agriculture, which have potential to generate higher ARPLs through advanced automation applications. Telecom carriers are clearly aware that M2M holds much promise; as well as the market's top established players, all new entrants in Brazil's wireless market are focusing on this segment, the latter by leveraging the low-cost structure enabled by the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) model. According to Frost & Sullivan's latest study, Brazilian M2M Market, the M2M market is expected to grow from $121.0 million in 2015 to $258.8 million in 2021 at a double-digit compound annual growth rate of 13.5%. The financial and automotive segments are anticipated to account for 77.2% of lines in 2021. To request exclusive information about this research and to schedule your one-on-one strategy dialogue with our analysts now, please click here or send an email to Francesca Valente, francesca.valente@frost.com. "Telcos need to provide comprehensive solutions by integrating M2M into their B2B portfolio to capture the full value of M2M for clients," explained Frost & Sullivan Digital Transformation Industry Analyst Georgia Jordan. "Additionally, carriers could enter into partnerships with key M2M vendors to offer and monetize end-to-end M2M solutions." Meanwhile, regulatory initiatives are proving critical to driving M2M adoption in Brazil, particularly in industries such as energy and power. Although a law requiring all new cars to be shipped with embedded SIM cards was revoked in 2015, M2M service providers still have reasons to feel optimistic. They are awaiting the verdict on a proposal to substitute all electricity meters in the country with connected smart meters, which will greatly drive demand for M2M in the utilities segment. The Brazilian M2M market currently enjoys governmental support in the form of tax exemptions, but these are limited to a few applications such as mobile-enabled point-of-sale (PoS) card payment terminals. Carriers are now lobbying to have them extended to all M2M connections, which will help widen the margins of the commoditized service. So far, both enterprises and consumers have been cautious in their adoption of M2M technology due to unaddressed security issues. Security companies are working to plugging loopholes, but the specific tasks of M2M devices coupled with their dedicated security needs make it unfeasible for manufacturers to include additional security software. "The cost issue is rapidly losing significance, as M2M applications are becoming increasingly affordable. This is encouraging the use of M2M modules in otherwise non-connected devices such as security cameras, alarms and health monitoring devices, as well as in tracking applications for pets and products in transit," observed Jordan. "It is also making mobile M2M the preferred backup technology or main connectivity solution for existing connected services such as ATMs, digital signage and smart infrastructure." Brazilian M2M Market is part of the Mobile & Wireless Communications Growth Partnership Service program. Frost & Sullivan's related studies include: Latin American Mobile Services Executive Analysis, CACAR Telecommunications Services Market, Total Telecommunications Services Market in Colombia, Mexico Total Telecommunications Services Market, 2016 Latin America Outlook for the Information Technology Services Industry and Colombian Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Market Outlook. All studies included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure. The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies? Contact Us: Start the discussion Join Us: Join our community Subscribe: Newsletter on "the next big thing" Register: Gain access to visionary innovation Brazilian M2M Market K07C-65 Contact: Francesca Valente Corporate Communications Latin America P: +54 11 4777 5300 F: +54 11 4777 5300 E: francesca.valente@frost.com http://www.frost.com Related Links http://www.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan PUNE, India, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report " North American Drug Delivery Technologies Market by Route of Administration (Oral (Solid), Pulmonary (Nebulizer), Injectable (Device), Ocular (Device), Nasal (Drop), Topical (Solid), Implantable (Active)), End User (Hospital, Home Care) - Global Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, The market is projected to reach USD 758.7 Billion by 2021 from USD 520.0 Billion in 2016, at a CAGR of 6.5%. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 206 market data Tables and 57 Figures spread through 268 Pages and in-depth TOC on "North American Drug Delivery Technologies Market" http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/north-american-drug-delivery-technologies-market-1209.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. Factors such as rising prevalence of chronic diseases, growth in the biologics market, funding initiatives for drug delivery research, and technological advancements are driving the growth of this market. In this report, the North American drug delivery technologies market is segmented on the basis of route of administration, end user, and region. Based on end user, the market is segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs)/clinics, home care settings, and other end users. The home care settings segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Improving patient acceptability, patient awareness, and the need for comfortable usability have increased the use of drug delivery systems in home care settings, thus contributing to the growth of this end-user segment. Based on route of administration, the North American drug delivery technologies market is segmented into oral, pulmonary, injectable, ocular, nasal, topical, implantable, and transmucosal drug delivery. The topical drug delivery market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The high growth in this segment is attributed to the advantages of topical drugs, such as convenience and ease of use, painless application of the correct dosage at the affected site, noninvasive nature, superior spreadability, and enhanced patient compliance. Speak to our research experts: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=1209 The North American drug delivery technologies market is divided into two country-level segments, namely, the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. is expected to continue to dominate the market during the forecast period. The large share of the U.S. in the North American market can primarily be attributed to factors such as the rising prevalence of chronic diseases; rapid growth in the geriatric population; growth in the biologics market; and increasing number of regulatory approvals, new product launches, and technological advancements. The North American drug delivery technologies market is a highly competitive market with the presence of several big and emerging players. Moreover, each product segment has a different set of vendors. Johnson & Johnson, Inc. (U.S.), Novartis AG (Switzerland), F. Hoffman-La-Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Bayer AG (Germany), Pfizer, Inc. (U.S.), 3M Company (U.S.), Becton, Dickinson and Company (U.S.), Merck & Co, Inc. (U.S.), Sanofi (France), Antares Pharma, Inc. (U.S.), and GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (U.K.) are some of the prominent players in the North American drug delivery technologies market. Browse Related Reports: Drug Delivery Technology Market by Route of Administration (Oral (Solid), Pulmonary (Nebulizer), Injectable (Device), Ocular (Liquid), Nasal (Drop), Topical (Solid), Implantable (Active), Transmucosal (Oral)), End User (Hospital, ASC, Home Care) -Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/drug-delivery-technologies-market-1085.html Injectable Drug Delivery Market by Type (Device, Formulation), Therapeutic (Hormonal, Oncology), Usage Pattern (Curative Care, Immunization), Administration (Skin, Musculoskeletal), End User (Hospital, Home Care Setting) - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/injectable-drug-delivery-market-150.html European Injectable Drug Delivery Market by Type (Device, Formulation), Therapeutic (Hormonal, Oncology), Usage Pattern (Curative Care, Immunization), Administration (Skin, Musculoskeletal), End User (Hospital, Home care Setting) - Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/european-injectable-drug-delivery-market-1205.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://mnmblog.org/market-research/healthcare/medical-devices Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets SHANGHAI and HONG KONG, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocean Link, the first private equity firm focused on the fast-growing travel and tourism sector in China, today announced its strategic partnership with Ctrip, the largest online travel agency in China, and General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160828/401940LOGO Founded in early 2016, Ocean Link deploys both RMB- and USD-denominated funds to invest strategically and selectively across the broad value chain and sub-verticals of the travel and tourism industry in China including hotels and resorts, attractions, online and offline travel agencies and operators, transportation services, and related business solutions providers. The firm's initial investments include eLong, a leading mobile and online travel agency in China, Mind Education, a leading provider in China of educational tours and summer camps, Joint Wisdom, a full solution data analytics services provider for China's hotel industry, and Ruby Hotels, a Europe-based hotel chain leading the "lean luxury" concept with expansion plans to Asia. As a result of the new strategic partnership, Ctrip and General Atlantic both have the right to appoint a director to the board of Ocean Link. "The travel and tourism sector in China is at a pivotal period of growth. The industry's ongoing transition will provide Ocean Link with ample opportunities to bring capital and operational expertise to innovative companies serving the rising number of travelers in this market. Leveraging the insights and experience of Ocean Link's investment team and the support from Ctrip and General Atlantic, we will aim to identify attractive investments in the rapidly expanding travel and tourism sector," said Mr. James Liang, Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Ctrip, who lends his industry insights after founding Ctrip in 1999, now the largest online travel agency in China providing accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours, and corporate travel management. "General Atlantic is pleased to bring our global expertise and deep experience working with growth companies to our partnership with Ocean Link and its portfolio companies. By combining the team's deep local reach and extensive industry experience with General Atlantic's strong investment acumen and proven track record of success, we believe Ocean Link is well positioned to capture China's growth in this industry," said Mr. Eric Zhang, Managing Director and Head of China at General Atlantic, who offers more than 15 years of investing experience in China across numerous sectors, including travel and tourism, retail and consumer, and internet and technology. General Atlantic has been investing in China since 2000. Furthermore, the firm has partnered with several leading global companies operating in the travel and tourism sector including Airbnb, Aimbridge Hospitality, Decolar, FlixBus, IBS, Priceline, Smiles, and Uber. "As increased consumption and changing consumer habits continue to shift China's economic landscape, there is an immense opportunity for the travel and tourism sector to evolve. We are excited to welcome our strategic partners, Ctrip and General Atlantic, which bring strong investment, sector, and operational expertise to our business and, most importantly, to our portfolio companies," said Mr. Tony Jiang, Partner of Ocean Link, who has over a decade of investment experience in the travel and tourism sector. In addition to leading investments in Ocean Link's current portfolio, he has been previously involved in investments in New Century Kaiyuan Hotels, Crystal Orange, and Plateno Hotels Group. Prior to Ocean Link, Mr. Jiang served as a director at The Carlyle Group in Shanghai and Hong Kong. "As Chinese entrepreneurs seek capital from investors who truly understand their businesses, Ocean Link is uniquely positioned to be a partner of choice. Our focus on the travel and tourism sector enables us to provide differentiated industry and operational capabilities to help create value for high quality companies across the sector ecosystem," said Mr. Zheng, Partner of Ocean Link, who brings over 20 years of travel and tourism experience, serving in leadership positions within the hotel, online travel agency, and IT solution sub-sectors. In addition to his role at Ocean Link, Mr. Zheng concurrently serves as Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Brand Architect of Plateno Hotels Group, one of China's leading hospitality groups, which he co-founded in 2005. China's tourism sector has grown steadily over the past decade as Chinese nationals increase their travel both in and out of the country. According to data released by the China National Tourism Administration earlier this year, from 2014 to 2015, the total number of Chinese residents travelling domestically rose 10.5% to 4 billion, while the total number of Chinese residents travelling internationally rose 12% to 120 million. In addition, the total number of Chinese residents travelling internationally is expected to double from 120 million in 2015 to 220 million in 2025, according to Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research from November 2015. About Ocean Link Ocean Link is the first independent private equity firm that focuses on the growing travel and tourism sector in China. Founded in 2016, Ocean Link's team of professionals in Shanghai and Hong Kong, combine investment acumen and industry expertise to identify opportunities along the broad value chain and sub-verticals of the fast-expanding travel and tourism sector. The firm deploys both RMB- and USD-denominated funds as part of its investment strategy. For more information visit www.oceanlp.com. About Ctrip.com Ctrip.com International, Ltd. is a leading travel service provider of accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours, and corporate travel management in China. It is the largest online consolidator of accommodations and transportation tickets in China in terms of transaction volume. Ctrip enables business and leisure travelers to make informed and cost-effective bookings by aggregating comprehensive travel related information and offering its services through an advanced transaction and service platform consisting of its mobile apps, Internet websites, and centralized, toll-free, 24-hour customer service center. Ctrip also helps customers book vacation packages and guided tours. In addition, through its corporate travel management services, Ctrip helps corporate clients effectively manage their travel requirements. Since its inception in 1999, Ctrip has experienced substantial growth and become one of the best-known travel brands in China. www.ctrip.com About General Atlantic General Atlantic is a leading global growth equity firm providing capital and strategic support for growth companies. Established in 1980, General Atlantic combines a collaborative global approach, sector-specific expertise, long-term investment horizon, and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with great management and build exceptional businesses worldwide. General Atlantic has more than 100 investment professionals based in New York, Amsterdam, Beijing, Greenwich, Hong Kong, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Munich, Palo Alto, Sao Paulo, and Singapore. www.generalatlantic.com Media Contact Elizabeth Xu Edelman for Ocean Link +86-10-5676-8715 elizabeth.xu@edelman.com Luna Hu Edelman for General Atlantic +86-10-5676-8747 luna.hu@edelman.com Kara Brickman Edelman for General Atlantic +1-917-966-0999 kara.brickman@edelman.com Related Links http://www.oceanlp.com SOURCE Ocean Link Full Team in Place for Launch with Comprehensive Sea/Air/Land Freight and Logistics Solutions to and from Emerging Port of Choice DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OL International Holdings LLC (OL International) today announced the launch of its newest office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Oceanwide Logistics Dubai joins the company's growing global NVOCC network of 18 offices and more than 120 agents worldwide, many of which are part of the Oceanwide Logistics Global Network. This integrated network allows OL International to deliver powerful and seamless service to and from Dubai and ports around the world. Oceanwide Logistics Dubai will be led by Managing Director Paula Bellamy, an industry veteran who previously managed Allseas Global Logistics Dubai and Ocean World Lines UK offices. "The team and I are thrilled to be able to dramatically expand the breadth and strength of our services to clients by leveraging the power of the Oceanwide Logistics Global Network," said Ms. Bellamy. "Not only will we be able to improve client experience with industry-leading features like Track & Trace, and the EDI-fed reporting directly from carriers, but as of today we are in a leadership position in an exciting time for the growth and maturation of Dubai as a port of choice in global shipping." "The launch of the office is the next step in OL International's global expansion and a sign of confidence in Dubai's present and future in the shipping industry as a core hub for the Middle East," stated Alan Baer, President of OL International. "We have seen Dubai rise in prominence as shippers hold cargo in the free zone and then dispatch it on a just-in-time basis." In addition to traditional offerings of domestic and international transport of commercial and personal cargo, the team has distinguished itself over the years by adding a personal touch of advice and support for complete piece of mind. This has included bespoke services tailored to customer requirements, including those goods requiring very specific handling arrangements, and consultative solutions for clients with cargo stuck at customs. Shippers are encouraged to contact the Dubai office to learn more about our services at +971.4.554.0058 or info@oceanwidelogisticsdubai.com. About OL International Holdings LLC: OL International Holdings LLC is a non-asset-based international logistics company headquartered in Westbury, New York. Serving primarily as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC), the Company provides sophisticated ocean, land, and air freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and warehouse solutions. The Company operates through a network of company offices and 120 independent, agent-owned offices worldwide. OL International is a member of the Oceanwide Logistics Global Network. For more information about OL International please visit: www.oliholdings.com Media Contact: David Kaiyalethe +1.917.826.2824 david@askcomms.com Related Links http://www.oliholdings.com SOURCE OL International Holdings LLC MUNICH, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sub-analysis data from atrial fibrillation patient registry sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo reveals at-risk patient groups and recent trends in disease management[1],[2] Not for US media Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) today announced data from new sub-analyses of the PREvention oF thromboembolic events-European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (PREFER in AF) patient registry which reveal at-risk patient groups, current treatment gaps in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) and trends associated with specific patient characteristics[1],[2]. The registry provides unique insights on recent developments in AF management across Europe and the current treatment challenges, helping to bolster the body of evidence of AF patient outcomes in a clinical setting. These data are being presented at ESC Congress 2016, August 27-31, in Rome, Italy. The registry, sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo, informs on AF patient profiles in a real-world clinical context, helping to identify specific at-risk patient groups, including those with co-morbidities that predispose them to thrombotic events. Data from the registry reveals that AF patients with diabetes, on insulin treatment are at a significantly increased risk of stroke/systemic embolism at one year follow-up compared to AF patients without diabetes (5.2% versus 1.9% respectively; Hazard Ratio [HR] 2.89, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.67-5.02; P=0.0002) and compared to those with diabetes not on insulin treatment (5.2% versus 1.8% respectively; HR 2.96, 1.49-5.87; P=0.0019)[1]. Interestingly, diabetic patients not receiving insulin therapy had similar incidence of thromboembolic events than patients without diabetes (HR 0.97, 0.58-1.61; P=0.9)[1]. "These results are greatly beneficial to physicians in clinical practice," commented Dr. Giuseppe Patti, Campus Bio-Medico University, Rome, Italy and lead author of the study. "The burden of AF is a considerable healthcare issue which carries a heightened risk of stroke for over six million sufferers in Europe. The availability of robust, real-world data to inform on patients at even greater risk of stroke or systemic embolism, will help identify where specific care is needed to minimise these outcomes." Through comprehensive data capture, the registry has also enabled a comparison of specific patient characteristics such as gender alongside clinical aspects including therapy choice and clinical outcomes. The registry has revealed that women experience a greater burden of symptoms compared to men and that treatment with oral anticoagulation is similar in both genders[2]. Compared to men, women were found to be at 65% lower age and country-adjusted risk of coronary revascularisation at one year (95% CI [0.22, 0.56]), 40% lower risk of acute coronary syndrome (0.38 to 0.93) and 20% lower risk of chronic heart insufficiency/reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (0.68, 0.96)[2]. There was no evidence that men and women differed in stroke, transient ischaemic attack, arterial thromboembolic events and major bleeding events over one year[2]. While the results provide an indication of gender differences, further research is needed to establish whether this can be used to enhance AF management, determining prevention and treatment needs. "AF represents a significant concern across Europe, and we are pleased that the PREFER in AF registry sheds light on the current management of AF in a clinical setting, through delivery of this additional sub-study data," stated Dr. Juan-Carlos Jaramillo, Senior Vice President, Head of Market Access & Medical Affairs, Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH. "By adding to the data available in this important disease area, Daiichi Sankyo is committed to supporting advancement in cardiovascular medicine and improvements in patient care." Providing new insights into AF management, six abstracts from the PREFER in AF and PREFER in AF Prolongation registries are being presented throughout the course of ESC Congress 2016. About PREFER in AF The initial PREFER in AF registry enrolled 7,243 AF patients across 461 centres in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. The aim of this registry was to provide information on the characteristics and management of patients with AF with focus on prevention of thromboembolic events, specifically stroke, together with other important patient-focused considerations such as management, quality of life and treatment satisfaction of patients with AF[3]. The PREFER in AF Prolongation registry was designed to extend the PREFER in AF registry to gain further insights on AF management. Also, the extension to the PREFER in AF registry includes two additional countries (Belgium and the Netherlands). Data was collected from 5,000 patients across 325 centres in the nine European countries)[4]. About AF AF is a condition where the heart beats irregularly and rapidly. When this happens, blood can pool and thicken in the chambers of the heart causing an increased risk of blood clots. These blood clots can break off and travel through the blood stream to the brain (or sometimes to another part of the body), where they have the potential to cause a stroke[5]. AF is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder, and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality[6]. Over six million Europeans suffer from AF and this figure is expected to at least double over the next 50 years[7]. Compared to those without AF, people with the arrhythmia have a 3-5 times higher risk of stroke[8]. One in five of all strokes are a result of AF[7]. Daiichi Sankyo in Antithrombosis Daiichi Sankyo is your partner in antithrombotic therapy with the discovery and development of innovative products, to help patients with a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. These include Efient (prasugrel) for acute coronary syndromes and LIXIANA (edoxaban) for non-valvular atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Daiichi Sankyo's ongoing commitment in this field is demonstrated by their continued investment into patient-relevant clinical development activities that aim to advance the care and improve the lives of people suffering with these diseases. For more information, please visit: http://www.daiichisankyo.eu. About Daiichi Sankyo Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. With over 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 16,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to a strong portfolio of medicines for hypertension and thrombotic disorders, under the Group's 2025 Vision to become a "Global Pharma Innovator with Competitive Advantage in Oncology," Daiichi Sankyo research and development is primarily focused on bringing forth novel therapies in oncology, including immuno-oncology, with additional focus on new horizon areas, such as pain management, neurodegenerative diseases, heart and kidney diseases, and other rare diseases. For more information, please visit: http://www.daiichisankyo.com. Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements and information about future developments in the sector, and the legal and business conditions of DAIICHI SANKYO Co., Ltd. Such forward-looking statements are uncertain and are subject at all times to the risks of change, particularly to the usual risks faced by a global pharmaceutical company, including the impact of the prices for products and raw materials, medication safety, changes in exchange rates, government regulations, employee relations, taxes, political instability and terrorism as well as the results of independent demands and governmental inquiries that affect the affairs of the company. All forward-looking statements contained in this release hold true as of the date of publication. They do not represent any guarantee of future performance. Actual events and developments could differ materially from the forward-looking statements that are explicitly expressed or implied in these statements. DAIICHI SANKYO Co., Ltd. assume no responsibility for the updating of such forward-looking statements about future developments of the sector, legal and business conditions and the company. References Ricottini E et al. Insulin-requiring versus non-insulin requiring diabetes and thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation: a PREFER in AF Registry substudy. [Abstract accepted for presentation at ESC Congress 2016]. Schnabel RB et al. Gender differences in clinical Presentation and predictors of one-year outcomes in atrial fibrillation. [Abstract accepted for presentation at ESC Congress 2016]. Kirchhof P, et al. Management of atrial fibrillation in seven European countries after the publication of the 2010 ESC Guidelines on atrial fibrillation: primary results of the PREvention oF thromboembolic events - European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (PREFER in AF). Europace 2013. doi: 10.1093/europace/eut263. PREFER in AF Prolongation Registry. European Multinational Prolongation Registry on Prevention of Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation. DSE-EAF-01-13. Data on file. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - What is Atrial Fibrillation. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/af/af_diagnosis.html. Last accessed: July 2016 . Iqbal MB, et al. Recent developments in atrial fibrillation. BMJ. 2005;330(7485):238-43. Camm, A. et al. ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation: the Task Force for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation. Eur Heart J . 2010;31(19):2369-2429. Ball J, et al. Atrial fibrillation: Profile and burden of an evolving epidemic in the 21st century. Int J Card. 2013;167:1807-1824. EDX/16/0183 August 2016 Contact Lydia Worms (Europe) Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH Edoxaban Communications & Product PR Europe +49-(89)-7808751 SOURCE Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited PUNE, India, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AskLinkerReports.com adds another resourceful report "Global Roof Fan Industry 2016 Market Research Report" that provides a complete and informed review of the organization of the Roof Fan Market. 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About Us: AskLinker Reports is an aggregator of market research and industry intelligence reports providing data analysis of sectors including chemical, medical, machinery, food, energy, automotive, environmental protection, transportation, electric power, light industry, petroleum, electronics and other categories. These reports are by AskLinker Research team backed by research institutions as well as senior, expert researchers. Contact: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune - 411013 Maharashtra, India. Tel: +1-888-391-5441 sales@asklinkerreports.com Connect With Us: G+ / Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/100522247534014319619 Twitter: https://twitter.com/AskLinker Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskLinker-1406292919396252/ RSS / Feeds: http://www.asklinkerreports.com/feed Market Insights: http://www.asklinkerreports.com/market-insights SOURCE AskLinker Reports Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 By Azad Hasanli Trend: Malaysias oil and gas company Petronas will conduct exploration at the Goshadash structure in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, First Vice President of the Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR Khoshbakht Yusifzade told reporters Aug. 29. Yusifzade said that the exploration can be deepened in the future, but currently general works, including seismic works, are underway. If the results of these works are good, we will start negotiations with Petronas, he added. The Goshadash structure is located in the north-western part of the Absheron archipelago in 15 kilometres from the coast and at a distance of 35-40 kilometers from Baku, where water depth is 10-50 meters. Petronas has a 15.5-percent share in the development project of Azerbaijans Shah Deniz gas field and in the South Caucasus gas pipeline. STOCKHOLM, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders and experts in the water, climate and development communities have gathered in Stockholm to discuss how water can enable the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Under the theme Water for Sustainable Growth, some 3,000 people from over 120 countries are meeting in Stockholm this week for the 26th annual World Water Week. With water crises being listed as one of the top global risks in the coming years by the World Economic Forum, and a rapidly growing world population putting pressure on scarce water resources, seeking solutions to the world's many complex water challenges is becoming ever more urgent for the researchers, policy-makers, and representatives of civil society and the private sector meeting in Stockholm. Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director of organizer SIWI said: "Without reliable access to water, almost no Sustainable Development Goal will be achieved. To make that happen, we must ensure water's centrality to the entire Agenda 2030. This will show the power water has a connector." "Water connects not only sectors, but also nations, communities and different actors. Water can be the unifying power, the enabler for progress in both Agenda 2030 and the Paris climate agreement," said Holmgren. Karin Wanngard, Mayor of Stockholm, underlined the role cities need to play in realizing the development agenda. "Cities represent a large portion of future growth. Our participation in the struggle for sustainable solutions is key for global success. And that means a growing responsibility, a moral responsibility towards future generations. Sweden's Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom reinforced the message that water is a connector and an enabler in realizing the SDGs. "Successful realization of Goal 6 of the 2030 Agenda will underpin progress across many of the other goals, particularly on nutrition, child health, education, gender equality, healthy cities and healthy water ecosystems and oceans." The Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Angel Gurria, said that water has come to the front and centre of international deliberations. "Water now has the place it needs to have in international priorities," said Gurria. Information about World Water Week and the Stockholm International Water Institute: http://www.worldwaterweek.org and http://www.siwi.org Press contact: Rowena Barber, Communications Manager, Tel +46-8-1213-6039 SOURCE Stockholm International Water Institute CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has substantially decreased the number of uninsured Americans and improved access to health care, though insurance affordability and disparities by geography, race/ethnicity, and income persist. In addition, changes brought on by the ACA will no doubt impact state and federal budgets. These are just some of the findings revealed in nearly 100 studies, dating back to 2010, pertaining to the ACA. All are pooled together in a research paper, soon to be published in Health Services Research, authored by professors at the University of Miami School of Business Administration and the Florida Atlantic University College of Business. The article, based on a structured and systematic review of these studies, compiles dozens of key findings about the ACA's impact on the U.S. health care system: Overall Health Insurance Coverage, Access, and Affordability In the first five years of the ACA, 11.7 million individuals purchased new plans from the marketplace, 10.8 million more now have Medicaid coverage, and 3 million young adults are on their parents' policies. individuals purchased new plans from the marketplace, more now have Medicaid coverage, and young adults are on their parents' policies. Expanded coverage has led to better access to a physician among all income groups. Although the proportion without a regular source of care decreased from 29.8 percent in 2013 to 26 percent in 2014, almost 40 percent of respondents still had at least one access problem. Dependent Coverage Provision (Young Adults Less Than Age 26) 13 million uninsured young adults gained coverage under the ACA. The gains in coverage are especially pronounced for men, unmarried individuals, and nonstudents. uninsured young adults gained coverage under the ACA. The gains in coverage are especially pronounced for men, unmarried individuals, and nonstudents. Disparities persist by race, ethnicity, and income. Most studies report that gains in insurance coverage are associated with better access to health care for young adults, especially among men and college graduates. The amount of uncompensated care for young adults decreased as a greater proportion of health care utilization is being covered by private insurance. Disparities in health care access persist for different racial/ethnic and income groups. The uninsured are more likely to be young, low-income, and Hispanic. Use of Marketplace Subsidies Plans purchased in the marketplace accounted for 43 percent of all individually purchased plans in 2014, and 85 percent of those enrolling in marketplace plans qualified for tax credits. of all individually purchased plans in 2014, and of those enrolling in marketplace plans qualified for tax credits. In 2014, tax credits reduced marketplace premiums by an average of 76 percent . As incomes rise and subsidies decline, however, premiums may increase sharply, making it increasingly difficult for those at the subsidy threshold to afford health insurance. . As incomes rise and subsidies decline, however, premiums may increase sharply, making it increasingly difficult for those at the subsidy threshold to afford health insurance. Due to the ACA's "family glitch," whereby a low-income employee can't afford family coverage through his/her employer and doesn't qualify for subsidies through the exchanges, a significant number of low- to moderate-income individuals24 million according to various estimatesmay be denied financial assistance. Participation and Competition in Exchanges Among the incumbent insurers in 2012, 10 percent participated in the marketplace in 2014. As the ACA matures, participation may increase further 25 percent more insurance companies joined the marketplace in 2015 than in 2014. participated in the marketplace in 2014. As the ACA matures, participation may increase further more insurance companies joined the marketplace in 2015 than in 2014. In 2014, almost all state exchanges had multiple issuers, most included a mix of large and small companies, and more populous states usually had a wider selection of plans. Medicaid Expansion An estimated 3.7 million adults in non-expansion states are in the "coverage gap," with low-income blacks disproportionately affected. This means they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to be eligible for premium tax credits in the marketplace. Budgetary Effects of the ACA Overall, studies present evidence that expanding Medicaid is financially prudent for most states. Federal contributions cover all expansion costs during the first three years, which will benefit providers and generate economic activity. State budgets may be more strained later on, when they are required to fund more of the expansion. Even so, decreases in uncompensated care are expected to offset some of spending increases associated with Medicaid expansion. Due to its major role in Medicaid expansion and the establishment of health insurance exchanges, the federal government will likely end up financing a larger proportion of health care than before the ACA. Overall, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that federal deficits will grow by $137 billion from 2016 to 2025 if the ACA were repealed. "Our paper provides the public with a non-partisan, scientific perspective on the initial impact of the Affordable Care Act," said Michael T. French, professor of health sector management and policy, and sociology at the University of Miami School of Business Administration, a co-author of the paper. "With new research studies on the ACA being published every month, another comprehensive status report will be necessary in the near future." "The scientific research so far suggests that ACA's progress is encouraging, especially in terms of expanding coverage," said co-author Gulcin Gumus, associate professor of Management Programs Health Administration at the Florida Atlantic University College of Business. For a full copy of the study, visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1475-6773.12511/full. About the University of Miami School of Business Administration The University of Miami School of Business Administration is a leader in preparing individuals and organizations to excel in the complex, dynamic, and interconnected world of global business. One of 12 schools and colleges at the University of Miami, the School offers undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and executive education programs. With its location in a major center for international business, the School is acclaimed for its global perspective, student and faculty diversity, and engagement with the business community. More information about the University of Miami School of Business Administration can be found at www.bus.miami.edu. About Florida Atlantic University Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU's existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit www.fau.edu. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110906/DC62866LOGO SOURCE University of Miami School of Business Administration Related Links http://www.bus.miami.edu SAN DIEGO, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Agena Bioscience today announced the successful certification of Genelex as a Certified Service Provider of the MassARRAY technology. The MassARRAY System is used to identify and validate SNPs, INDELs, CNV's, translocations, somatic mutations, including rare variants, and methylation profiles across a variety of sample types. The flexibility and scalability of the platform facilitate easy development of custom panels and validation across large numbers of samples. As a Certified Service Provider, Genelex will provide dedicated customer support, customizable assay design, test development and validation across multiple platforms. The laboratory has integrated robotics and secure Laboratory Information Systems to ensure high accuracy, low error, and rapid turnaround on results. "Certified Service Providers like Genelex enable our customers to perform translational research in a CAP/CLIA environment and receive high quality support and data," said Marisa Pearce, Sr. Director of Marketing at Agena Bioscience. Genelex is accredited by the College of American Pathologists; certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Act; is Washington State Medical Test Site; licensed by the New York Department of Health; compliant with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 21 and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and is licensed to perform high complexity clinical testing in all US states. Genelex CSO and Lab Director, Tia Aulinskas commented, "From standard testing to customized assays, Genelex provides actionable data with >99% reportable tests. Our team has the knowledge and experience on the MassARRAY System, and the dedication to ensure the accurate and timely delivery of your data." About Genelex Genelex is a pioneer in comprehensive medication analytics and pharmacogenetic testing. Genelex's YouScript Pharmacogenetic testing services are used by healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations (CROs), clinical researchers, managed and accountable care organizations. YouScript Precision Prescribing Software is the only commercially available medication management tool to assess the cumulative effect of a patient's genetics and entire drug regimen. Founded in 1987, Seattle-based Genelex is one of the first clinical laboratories to provide pharmacogenetic testing and interpretation. Genelex has been providing genotyping services for clinical trials and research studies since 2000. www.Genelex.com About Agena Bioscience Agena Bioscience develops, manufactures, and supplies genetic analysis systems and reagents, including the MassARRAY System. The system is a highly sensitive, cost-effective, mass spectrometry-based platform for high-throughput genetic analysis, and is used globally in diverse research fields such as cancer profiling for solid tumors and liquid biopsies, inherited genetic disease testing, pharmacogenetics, agricultural genomics, and clinical research. The MassARRAY System is intended for research use only, and not intended for use in diagnostic procedures. www.agenabioscience.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150324/194277LOGO SOURCE Agena Bioscience Related Links http://www.agenabioscience.com ATLANTA, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Allstar Financial Group is pleased to announce that it has added an additional carrier to our Surety division - QBE North America. As a program administrator for QBE North America, Allstar is able to offer additional capabilities for our contract and commercial books of Surety business. As the Surety marketplace continues to adapt to the changing economic climate and the demands that are put on our clients, we at Allstar feel it is paramount to have partners that offer various companionable options for our clients. QBE's addition to our company representation provides us an additional solid and proficient platform of reliability and dependability. Matt Curran, Senior Vice President - Head of North American Surety, commented saying, "Allstar's commitment to their agency plant is second to none. It's Allstar's dedication to underwriting and servicing these agents that made our partnership possible. QBE is looking forward to growing our relationship with Allstar Financial Group." Allstar Surety is a division of Allstar Financial Group, an Atlanta based holding company with multiple specialty MGA's across the country. Allstar has eight Surety offices nationwide to fully service our agents by providing timely Surety solutions. QBE North America is a division of QBE Insurance Group Limited ("QBE"), one of the world's 20 largest insurers and reinsurers. QBE NA reported Gross Written Premiums in 2015 of $4.9 billion. QBE's 2015 results can be found at www.qbena.com. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, QBE operates out of 43 countries with a presence in every key global insurance market. QBE insurance companies are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best and "A+" by Standard & Poor's. Additional information can be found at www.qbena.com, or follow QBE North America on Twitter. Additional information about Allstar Surety can be found at allstarsuretybonds.com or allstarfg.com. SOURCE Allstar Financial Group Related Links http://www.allstarsuretybonds.com SEATTLE, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Everyday Americans are increasingly drowning in things they no longer need or want, yet there is a widespread struggle to meet household expenses on time every month. That's according to a new study released today by OfferUp. The report, Buried: The State of Stress and Stuff, polled more than 1,000 Americans across the country as well as residents in 10 major cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta and Dallas. The results offer a startling look at a nation that struggles to balance financial insecurities with a desire for fewer things. The study was conducted by ClearVoice Research and commissioned by OfferUp. Key findings include: Nearly half (48 percent) of Americans consider their homes to be at least somewhat cluttered with items they no longer use One in seven Americans have a room in their home they cannot use because it is filled with things they rarely use A majority of Americans (72 percent) believe they would gain more space in their homes by purging unused items, but 41 percent of Americans haven't decluttered for over a year "After years of experience working with clients, one thing is very clear: Americans have too much stuff and it's causing them unnecessary anxiety," said Collette Shine, owner of Organize and Shine, LLC and president of the New York chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers. "People have a hard time decluttering for a lot of reasons - such as an underlying emotional attachment or because the process is simply too overwhelming. But that needs to change, especially as many face financial pressures. One way to ease the process is to turn the things accumulating around your house into money." Meanwhile, the vast majority of Americans (84 percent) report having financial concerns and close to half (46 percent) find it difficult to meet typical household expenses on time each month. Emergency savings, retirement and housing payments top America's overall financial concerns. Meanwhile, individual expenses are also a source of anxiety - 32 percent of Americans report being stressed about medical expenses and 24 percent report concern about affording holiday and birthday gifts for their families. Keeping up with their neighbors' spending habits and standard of living is a top concern for many Americans. Forty percent of Americans believe they are less financially secure than most of their friends, and only 15 percent believe they are more financially secure. For parents, this constant comparison costs them: 15 percent want their kids to be popular and believe having brand names is a part of that. 12 percent think buying brand new items for their kids is important because they don't want to be perceived as poor. 7 percent are embarrassed to buy second-hand items. However, many Americans are taking steps in the right direction. While some Americans struggling to make ends meet have resorted to borrowing money from family and friends (25 percent), racking up credit card debt (24 percent) or skipping the doctor (22 percent), many are taking action to fix their financial situation: 68 percent cooked more often instead of eating out 66 percent spent less money on clothes or beauty products 55 percent cut down on meal expenses 46 percent skipped social or extracurricular activities 39 percent opted to not plan a vacation 13 percent took a supplemental or part-time job 7 percent moved to a cheaper home "We really wanted to understand how Americans think about the things that they have in their homes and what keeps them up at night," said Nick Huzar, co-founder and CEO of OfferUp, "We found that almost half of Americans think they have more than $1,000 in unused items sitting around their homes. Many Americans are simply not taking advantage of the hidden value that is right there in front of them." About the Survey OfferUp partnered with ClearVoice Research to field a general population survey in June 2016. ClearVoice collected a random sample of 1,000 respondents across the United States and an additional 300 participants in each of the following metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, LA, New York City, Phoenix, Miami, San Francisco and Seattle. The general population sample size is statistically representative of Americans, including gender, age, income and race/ethnicity nationally and in each metro area. About OfferUp OfferUp is the largest mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers in the country. The company offers free iOS and Android apps that make selling an item as easy as snapping a picture from your mobile device. Based in Bellevue, Wash., OfferUp is backed by Allen & Company; Andreessen Horowitz; Coatue Management; High Line Venture Partners; Jackson Square Ventures; funds and accounts managed by T. Rowe Price; Tiger Global Management; and Vy Capital SOURCE OfferUp Hitting homes on September 19, Selke's retail catalog will feature products from all Annie Selke brands, including luxury bedding basics, a new Moroccan-inspired Alanya collection from Pine Cone Hill, perennial rug favorites from Dash & Albert, and beautifully-designed Annie Selke Furniture pieces. Readers will enjoy page after page of thoughtfully designed rooms, sure to bring inspiration to decorating novices and experts alike. Selke said her goal since Pine Cone Hill's inception in 1994 has been constant: To make customers' homes "happy." "Creating a haven of comfort and self-expression where you can be completely yourself in moments of joy and sorrow is what gives us that feeling of truly being at-home," she said, noting that quantity doesn't always yield quality. "Buy selectively. Do your research and make the right choices for you as you create your happy home." Regarding the timing of the catalog's release, Selke explained that after establishing the many Annie Selke brands, she felt it was time for all of the products to live under one "visual roof." "I wanted customers to see how our products can be combined to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful," she said. "I think the catalog definitely achieves this." To request a copy of the Annie Selke Catalog after September 19, visit the company's website at annieselke.com/catalog. The Annie Selke Companies are comprised of several brands created by visionary designer Annie Selke, the 2010 Massachusetts Small Business Person of the Year. Founded in 1994, Pine Cone Hill creates dynamic, inspired bedding, pajamas, robes, and more that put a vibrant, contemporary spin on classic decor. Dash & Albert was established in 2003 and features unique, family-friendly area rugs in a wide variety of durable materials, top-quality weaves, and striking patterns. Annie Selke Luxe launched in 2015, is a collection of classically beautiful, timelessly luxurious bedding and accessories, representing the intersection of centuries-old European craftsmanship and modern luxury. Fresh American, founded in 2013, is a collection of home products and accessories for fun, functional living based on the decorating concepts in Selke's popular book, Fresh American Spaces. It's also the name of her blog (freshamericanstyle.com), where Annie and her crew offer tips on inspired living. Pine Cone Hill, Dash & Albert, Fresh American, and Luxe products are featured regularly on blogs and in national and local magazines, and are sold in more than 2,500 stores nationwide and online. Visit The Annie Selke Companies online: www.annieselke.com or on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+. Liza Morten 1-212-229-6772 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402120 SOURCE The Annie Selke Companies SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- When bestselling author Terry E. Hill initially released his political stunner "The Committee" on Urban Renaissance, an imprint of Kensington Publishing Corp., late last year, the idea of a female presidential candidate was still just a possibility and not a reality. Now almost eight months later, Hillary Clinton is the first female presidential nominee for a major U.S. political party. With current headlines surrounding the campaign reeking of scandal, controversy and devious manipulations, Hill knew it was time to reintroduce his work to book lovers. "The Committee" is an enthralling tale that reveals the behind the scenes circumstances surrounding the making of the first Black female president. Though written as a fiction, considering the current political landscape, readers will wonder how far from the truth the book actually is. Hill has released a new trailer to promote "The Committee" (https://youtu.be/6gR30rWmzXQ) and is launching a social media campaign to heighten awareness of this captivating tale. Hill will tweet tantalizing teaser tidbits from "The Committee" starting Saturday, September 3 through Monday, September 5 during Labor Day weekend in a "Vote The Committee Twitter Election Campaign." Highlighting the twists, turns and turmoil from the book that almost mirror current real life headlines, Hill will tag each passage with the hashtag #VoteTheCommitee and invite tweeters to repost the passage, adding their own political hashtags. Three readers with the most retweets will each win a personally autographed copy of "The Committee." The campaign will be promoted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/terry.e.hill.9?fref=ts as well on the author's page at www.terryehill.com. "The Committee" twirls Illuminati conspiracy, New Orleans voodoo, American politics and a gay affair subplot mixing a delicious blend of characters in a series of synchronized occurrences. The newly released book trailer for "The Committee," athttps://youtu.be/6gR30rWmzXQ, is produced by Markus Watson, the production genius behind Your Video Ninja (www.yourvideoninja.com). The production vividly portrays the key highlights from the read and adds a sense of riveting potency to the overall literary experience. "As a writer," cites Hill, "I am particularly excited about the new book trailer. I ultimately envision 'The Committee' as a major motion film and the trailer beckons that reality. Markus Watson captures the excitement of my book in 85 succinct seconds! I'm almost compelled to reread my own work!" In "The Committee," Camille Ernestine Hardaway is the first African American female mayor of Los Angeles and she has it all stunning good looks, power, a seemingly devoted husband and influential allies. "The Committee" has decided that she will be the first Black female President of the United States and will stop at nothing to ensure their rising candidate reaches the White House. Author Terry E. Hill works hypnosis with the written word as he winds the reader deeper down a sinister rabbit hole with each chapter. "The Committee's" lethal combination of drama, intimidation, mysticism and murder make for a most intoxicating political thriller, especially when we find out that the secret society behind the country's biggest political figures is a mysterious New Orleans family of Creole women who have headed 'The Committee' for over 150 years. It is they who in fact control the men mistaken to be the country's power brokers. 'The Committee' has selected every US president since James Monroe and controls much of the country's economy. When they make the decision that the United States is not only ready for a Black woman president, but also select her, the phrase, 'hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' takes on new and insidious meaning. "The Committee" is Hill's fourth novel. "Come Sunday Morning" was his first book, followed by "When Sunday Comes Again" in 2012 and "The Last Sunday" in 2013. The publisher consolidated Hill's first two books into one and re-released it in 2014 as "The Come Sunday Morning Saga." Hill's novels have been selected as "must-reads" by BET.com and "best books of the year" by various bookstores and book clubs throughout the country. "The Come Sunday Morning Saga" has been acquired by more than 10,000 libraries across the country, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Hill has developed a significant and very loyal audience who eagerly await each new release. Elev8.com, an online property of Hello Beautiful, profiled the author as the next E. Lynn Harris for his clever storytelling and LGBT subplots. Hill's writings are amazing works of fiction that continuously stir conversation on important topics nationwide. Purchase "The Committee" on Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. Visit the author's website at http://www.terryehill.com/. Follow Terry E. Hill on Twitter at @MrTerryEHill and on Facebook at Terry E. Hill and #VoteTheCommittee now! Go presidential with the trailer at https://youtu.be/6gR30rWmzXQ. Book cover for "The Committee": http://imageshack.com/a/img633/3190/hePvSR.jpg CONTACT: Jazzmyne Public Relations 323-380-8819 e-mail: [email protected] web: www.jazzmynepr.com SOURCE Terry E. Hill Related Links http://www.terryehill.com PUNE, India, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Automated Optical Inspection System Market by Type (2D AOI Systems, 3D AOI Systems), Technology, Element, Application (Consumer Electronics, Telecommunication, Automotive, Medical Devices), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the AOI system market is expected to reach USD 1,008.8 Million by 2022, at a CAGR of 17.1% between 2016 and 2022. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 35 market data Tables and 62 Figures spread through 141 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Automated Optical Inspection System Market". http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/automated-optical-inspection-system-market-179056156.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The factors that are driving the growth of market include rising demand for high-quality electronic components, increased complexity of PCBs, increasing demand for consumer electronics, and proliferation of electronics in the automotive industry. "3D systems to be the fastest-growing market in the overall AOI system market during the forecast period" The 3D AOI system market is expected to be the fastest-growing market between 2016 and 2022. The growth is attributed to the rising demand from electronic manufacturers for high-quality electronic components in applications such as aerospace & defense, automotive, and medical devices. "The automotive application expected to grow at the highest rate between 2016 and 2022" The increased use of electronics with the introduction of new technology in the automotive industry such as electric vehicles, smart cars, and in-car infotainment systems have significantly contributed to the growth of the AOI system market in the automotive application. "APAC expected to dominate the AOI system market between 2016 and 2022" Countries such as China, Japan, and Taiwan are majorly driving the growth of AOI system market in Asia-Pacific. These countries have a considerable market size and scope for the development of the AOI system. The economies of these countries are majorly dominated by the electronics industry. Further, the availability of cost-effective manufacturing infrastructure, cheap skilled labor, and favorable government initiatives have helped the AOI system market to hold a major share in the APAC region. Inquiry Before Buying: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=179056156 The major players involved in the AOI system market include Camtek Ltd. (Israel), Nordson Corporation (U.S.), Omron Corporation (Japan), Orbotech Ltd. (Israel), Saki Corporation (Japan), CyberOptics Corporation (U.S.), Daiichi Jitsugyo Co., Ltd. (Japan), Koh Young Technology Inc. (South Korea), Test Research Inc. (Taiwan), Viscom AG (Germany), AOI Systems (U.K.), Goepel Electronic GmbH (Germany), Machine Vision Products (U.S.), Mirtec Corporation (U.S.), and Vi Technology (France). Browse Related Reports Surface Inspection Market by Component (Camera, Frame Grabber, Optics, Lighting Equipment, Processor, and Software), Surface Type (2D and 3D), System (Computer System and Camera System), Vertical, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/surface-inspection-market-192440286.html Surface Mount Technology Market by Equipment (Soldering, Screen Print, Placement, Inspection, Cleaning, Repair & Rework), by Application (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Telecommunication, Medical), and Region - Global Forecast to 2020 http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/surface-mount-technology-market-99662691.html Know More About our Knowledge Store @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical info graphics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India Tel: 1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital Impact Partners announced today that it provided $52.5 million in financing to projects delivering social impact for underserved communities across the U.S. during the first half of 2016. In particular, secondquarter loans increased 55 percent over the same quarter in 2015. These loans support projects that increase access to housing, health care and education for low-income communities while also creating hundreds of jobs. "Our mission-driven team works tirelessly to ensure that good projects that increase access to critical social services for underserved communities receive the financing they need. These numbers demonstrate that," said Ellis Carr, president and CEO of Capital Impact Partners. "This strong start to the year gives us important momentum in facing essential social and economic justice issues that are core to our ambitious new five-year strategy that will help us continue our vital work in building strong and equitable communities nationwide." Launched in January, Capital Impact's new five-year strategya 2020 Vision for Communitiesis based on four pillars of action: addressing systemic poverty, creating equity, building healthy communities, and promoting inclusive growth. Other milestones of the second quarter include: "The second quarter of 2016 is one of our strongest to date. From health care to education, cooperatives to housing, that impact is going to be felt by some of highest-need communities in this country," said Scott Sporte, Chief Lending Officer for Capital Impact Partners. "Add to that the launch of new funds and partnerships, and I'm incredibly optimistic about even bigger accomplishments moving forward. Second quarter loan disbursements reached from California and Washington to Michigan, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. This support is expected to create nearly 900 permanent and construction-related jobs, further helping those who live in the communities Capital Impact serves. Highlights of completed transactions include: Increasing Access to Health Care Fremont, California's newest medical clinic, Tri-City Health Center, received $1 million in financing from the first loan closed under Capital Impact's Healthier California Fund. Expected to serve 8,000 patients annually, the 20,000-sq.-ft. clinic is the only health provider in the area that offers primary and preventive health care services to low-income and uninsured residents. It will increase the organization's support of patients throughout Alameda County with 10 medical exam rooms and 10 dental operatories. Most of the patients who will use this facility live below the federal poverty line, with approximately 70 percent using Medi-Cal. The surrounding community is primarily Hispanic and Asian with roughly 40 percent best served in their native languages. The total cost of the Tri-City's renovation financing is $2.1 million, with 50 percent coming from the Nonprofit Finance Fund. This financing comes on the heels of a $6 million loan that enabled Tri-City to acquire the property in late 2015. Both organizations shared in the financing of that deal as well. Also in Northern California, Capital Impact provided Sonoma Valley Community Health Center (SVCHC) with $4 million in financing to support the acquisition and construction of a new facility that will allow for consolidation of all operations in one location as well as substantial expansion of the center's services. SVCHC is the only community health center in the small city of Sonoma, CA, and focuses on a low-income population, with 49 percent of patients covered by Medicaid, 11.3 percent by Medicare, and 19.5 percent uninsured. Over the past five years SVCHC has doubled its number of patients and currently serves approximately 7,000 per year, with 23,500 annual visits. Capital Impact made use of the innovative CDFI Bond Guarantee Program to provide low-cost, long-term financing. With a focus on connecting low-income seniors to health care access, Capital Impact worked with Keystone Healthcare Development Services (KHDS) to finance the construction of an expanded health center operated by Primary Health Network (PHN) in Transfer, Pennsylvania. With 3,400 patients seen annually, this Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) will not only bring much-needed health care to a rural part of the state, but will also support a sizable aging population, with nearly 35 percent of patients Medicare-eligible. The $3 million transaction was financed through Capital Impact's Age Strong Investment Fund. Finally, to support the continued expansion of Los Angeles's Bienvenidos Community Health Clinic (soon to become Via Care), Capital Impact used its California Primary Care Association (CPCA) Ventures Loan Program to make a $700,000 term loan. Bienvenidos provides primary, dental, mental, and behavioral health services to a large population in the heavily Latino East Los Angeles area. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the number of Medi-Cal and other public insurance patients increased from 11 percent to 84 percent between FY13 and FY15. Providing High Quality Education Representing one of its more remarkable charter school transactions, Capital Impact joined with the Reinvestment Fund (RF) and Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) to structure a $15.7 million loan for the purchase and renovation of a building that formerly housed Washington DC's historic St. Paul's College. The deal will allow two DC charter schools to occupy the space: Washington Leadership Academy (WLA) and Lee Montessori Public Charter School (LMPCS). Together, the two institutions will, at full capacity, bring essential education access to nearly 700 high-need students. LMPCS's current student body is 50 percent minority, 20 percent economically disadvantaged, and 19 percent with special education needs. Because of its heavy recruitment from Washington DC's low-income neighborhoods, WLA expects to serve a student population that will largely qualify for free and reduced-price lunches. The three nonprofit lenders worked with the Charter School Incubator Initiative, a partnership between Building Hope and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education to support and manage charter schools in the area. Across the country, in Los Angeles, Capital Impact joined again with LIIF, this time to provide a $7.4 million leverage loan for a New Markets Tax Credit transaction that will finance the acquisition and construction of a new permanent home for Math and Science College Preparatory. ExEd and U.S. Bank also supported the deal. The school has been recognized as a prestigious Gold Ribbon School by the California Department of Education for the high-quality education it provides to a low-income student bodynearly all receive free or reduced-price lunch and 30 percent are English language learners. Capital Impact provided a $3 million tenant improvement loan to support the growth of Amethod Public Schools, high-performing nonprofit management organization operating in the East Bay area around San Francisco. The loan will support the continued success and growth of John Henry High School (JHHS), which opened in the fall of 2015 in Richmond, CA, and is serving as many as 450 students, 80 percent of whom are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches and 40 percent of whom are English language learners. The school will now have an affordable permanent home that is closer to the other five schools in the network. In yet another partnership with LIIF, Capital Impact provided $4 million of an $8 million transaction enabling Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD) to acquire an 82,000-sq.-ft. building in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The renovated building will become the permanent home for Endeavor College Prep (ECP), an already high-performing K-8 charter school. The new facility will create 648 permanent school seats for underserved students, and will allow ECP to consolidate its three existing sites into one central campus. Ninety-four percent of the high-need Latino student population qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and nearly 50 percent are English language learners. Expanding Housing Co-Ops A planned housing community in Mead, Washington, rechristened itself Takesa Village -- as in "Takes A Village"after Capital Impact joined with ROC USA and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to help residents form a housing cooperative and purchase the property. Takesa is a manufactured housing community situated about 10 miles north of Spokane. Thanks to this $2 million loan, the cooperative has been able to take over from a landlord who, with negligible ties to the community, allowed the property fall into disrepair. More than 94 percent of the residents are of low or moderate income, and cooperative ownership will help them build equity through the ownership of their homes. Continuing Detroit's Revitalization Capital Impact continued to support inclusive growth across the city of Detroit with a number of transactions through its Woodward Corridor Investment Fund and Detroit Neighborhoods Fund supporting increased access to affordable housing, new retail and job creation, and the protection of historic properties. Highlights of that work include the Elliott Building, Scott Castle, Casamira Apartments, Nailah Commoons, and Kercheval. Supporting Dignified Aging Capital Impact is helping to complete the final phase of the Thome Rivertown Neighborhood, a Detroit community that currently serves 370 low-income elders through affordable assisted living, supportive services, and a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) day center. The $4.5 million loan, made through CIP's Age Strong Investment Fund, finances the acquisition of a 20,000-sq.-ft. building in Detroit, and its conversion to two Green House homes and a ground-floor retail space. When completed, the Green Houses will serve 21 low-income, Medicare-eligible elders. These elders currently live in skilled nursing facilities, despite not needing such a high level of care, and by transitioning them into Green House assisted living, PACE of Southeast Michigan expects to save approximately $130,000/year over institutional nursing care. The project is the first partnership between PACE and a Green House operator. About Capital Impact Partners: Capital Impact Partners transforms underserved communities into strong, vibrant places of opportunity for people at every stage of life. We deliver strategic financing, incubate new social programs, and provide capacity-building to help ensure that low-to-moderate-income individuals have access to quality healthcare and education, healthy foods, affordable housing, and the ability to age with dignity. A nonprofit community development financial institution, Capital Impact Partners has disbursed more than $2 billion to revitalize communities over the last 30 years. Headquartered in Arlington, VA, Capital Impact Partners operates nationally, with local offices in Detroit, MI, and Oakland, CA. Learn more at www.capitalimpact.org SOURCE Capital Impact Partners Related Links http://www.capitalimpact.org IRVING, Texas, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Caris Life Sciences, a leading biotechnology company focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine, today announced that it has surpassed 100,000 clinical cases with its comprehensive genomic and proteomic tumor profiling offering, Caris Molecular Intelligence. "We are very excited to reach this important milestone of 100,000 clinical cases. As one of the original companies to offer tumor profiling to help oncologists identify the molecular drivers of cancer and personalize therapy for each unique patient, we have seen tremendous growth in both utilization and clinical value," said David D. Halbert, Chairman and CEO of Caris Life Sciences. "We have accomplished many of the goals we set out to achieve and, most importantly, we have helped thousands of cancer patients in their battle with cancer." Caris Molecular Intelligence is a patented and proprietary tumor profiling service that correlates molecular data from a tumor with biomarker and drug associations from clinical and scientific cancer literature to enable the delivery of precision medicine. This information can aid oncologists' treatment decisions by identifying therapies that have the potential to be most effective and those that are less likely to work, based on the unique molecular characteristics of each individual patient's cancer. "Over the last decade it has become clear that cancer is an insidious enemy exploiting a multitude of different pathways to escape our treatments. Each patient requires a more intelligent and comprehensively designed treatment strategy to enable them to fight their disease most effectively," said Dr. David Spetzler, Chief Scientific Officer of Caris Life Sciences. "With comprehensive, panomic tumor profiling, physicians are better able to identify molecular targets and evaluate personalized treatment options or clinical trials for each patient." Caris Molecular Intelligence Highlights and Accomplishments: In 2014, the company established a world-class Scientific Advisory Board comprised of distinguished clinical and scientific experts to accelerate the development and commercialization of tumor profiling, as well as other innovative precision medicine technologies. The company founded the Caris Centers of Excellence for Precision Medicine Network (Network) in 2015. The Network is developing new standards and consensus guidelines for tumor profiling, while also participating in research and outcomes tracking initiatives for patients that have received tumor profiling. The Network executive committee is led by: Chairman: Dr. John L. Marshall , Georgetown University School of Medicine and Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Vice Chairman: Dr. Derek Raghavan , Levine Cancer Institute Vice Chairman: Dr. Gerold Bepler , Karmanos Cancer Institute Vice Chairman: Dr. Lee S. Schwartzberg , West Cancer Center Co-Chair, Steering Committee: Dr. Wafik El-Deiry , Fox Chase Cancer Center Co-Chair, Steering Committee: Dr. Edward Kim , Levine Cancer Institute Network members include: MedStar Health/Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center West Cancer Center-The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Virginia Cancer Specialists North Shore Hematology Oncology Associates Associates Maryland Oncology Hematology Levine Cancer Institute-Carolinas HealthCare System Fox Chase Cancer Center-Temple University Health System The Cancer Therapy & Research Center-UT Medicine San Antonio USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center Memorial Healthcare System Highlands Oncology Group Nebraska Cancer Specialists After more than 5 years of patient outcome tracking, the company's prospective, observational study has matured and robust data demonstrating improved outcomes and the clinical utility of Caris Molecular Intelligence are being published. Initial data shows that when physicians followed CMI results, patients experience increased survival of 1.1 years and received 1.2 fewer lines of therapy. 1-2 The company's active research initiatives with Caris Molecular Intelligence have resulted in hundreds of published studies including peer-reviewed manuscripts, poster presentations and podium/oral presentations at industry conferences. One research article was recently featured by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in "The Best of the AACR Journals" as one of the most cited articles published in 2014. 3-4 The company developed C.O.D.E. (Comprehensive Oncology Data Explorer), an innovative bioinformatics and data visualization tool that is designed to facilitate access to integrated molecular and clinical data and to assist researchers in the discovery of novel biomarkers and to explore drug/biomarker associations. As the first comprehensive tumor profiling service to assess clinical biomarkers for potential response to novel immune checkpoint inhibitors, Caris Molecular Intelligence has analyzed approximately 35,000 cases for PD-L1, more than 4,000 cases for Microsatellite Instability (MSI) and over 7,600 cases for Total Mutational Load. The company's numerous pharmaceutical and academic collaborators leverage Caris Molecular Intelligence tumor profiling results and best-in-class laboratory services (CLIA, CAP, ISO 18159 and NY State accredited/certified) to identify qualified patients and facilitate patient accrual for biomarker-driven clinical trials. Caris Molecular Intelligence is covered by a robust intellectual property portfolio that includes more than 20 patents worldwide. The Caris Molecular Intelligence global footprint has expanded to more than 20 international distributor agreements covering approximately 40 countries. Impact of molecular profiling on overall survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer, TJ Herzog, W McGuire, et al. Oncotarget [Online], Volume 5 ( 1 March 2016 ) Multi-platform molecular profiling of 1,180 patients increases median overall survival and influences treatment decision in 53% of cases. D Spetzler, J Marshall, et al. European Cancer Congress 2015 . Poster Presentation A bstract # 254 The Best of AACR Journals. American Association for Cancer Research, p. 6. Published Online 2016. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) in common cancers and their correlation with molecular cancer type. Z Gatalica, O Hamid, et al. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev . December 2014 23:2965; Published Online First November 12, 2014 ; doi: 10.1158/1055-9965. EPI-14-0654 About Caris Life Sciences Caris Life Sciences is a leading biotechnology company focused on fulfilling the promise of precision medicine through quality and innovation. With more than 100,000 clinical cases, Caris Molecular Intelligence (CMI) the company's patented and proprietary product offering, provides oncologists with the most clinically actionable treatment options available to personalize cancer care today. Caris Molecular Intelligence uses a variety of advanced profiling technologies to assess relevant biological changes in each patient's tumor. CMI then connects the biomarker data generated from the tumor with biomarker-drug associations supported by the evidence and in relevant clinical literature through the Company's proprietary bioinformatics rules engine. Since 2009, Caris Life Sciences has tracked clinical and outcome data for certain patients utilizing CMI, and has observed that patients treated with drugs consistent with CMI's recommendations based upon the patient's tumor profile show a significant increase in overall survival. The company is also developing its ADAPT Biotargeting System, a revolutionary and unbiased profiling platform with applications across therapy development, drug delivery, advanced diagnostics and disease monitoring. Currently being developed for cancer and other complex diseases, the ADAPT Biotargeting System is able to simultaneously measure millions of molecular interactions within complex biological systems in their natural state(s). Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris Life Sciences offers services throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia and other international markets. To learn more, please visit www.CarisLifeSciences.com. Media Inquiries: Brian Stengle Caris Life Sciences Media Relations & Corporate Affairs Email 214-294-5606 SOURCE Caris Life Sciences Related Links http://www.CarisLifeSciences.com Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 By Aygun Badalova Trend: OPEC oil baskets price stood at $45.75 per barrel on Aug. 26, or $0.47 more than on Aug. 25, the cartel told Trend Aug. 29. The OPEC Reference Basket (ORB) is made up of the following oil brands: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Oriente (Ecuador), Rabi Light (Gabon), Minas (Indonesia), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela). Oil prices fell over one percent on Monday after the US dollar jumped, with markets pressured as Iraq's production rose and as Iran said it would only cooperate in talks to freeze output if fellow exporters recognized its right to fully regain market share, Reuters reported. Brent crude futures LCOc1 were trading at $49.22 per barrel, down 70 cents, or 1.4 percent, from their previous close. US WTI crude was down 75 cents, or 1.6 percent, at $46.89 a barrel. SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chelsio Communications, Inc., a leading provider of high performance Ethernet adapters for storage networking, virtualized enterprise datacenters, cloud service installations, and cluster computing environments, today announced that its line of Terminator 5 (T5) 10 and 40 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) iWARP (RDMA/TCP) enabled Unified Wire adapters have achieved "Certified for Windows Server 2016" hardware certification. The iWARP standard enables building very efficient, high performance, Microsoft Cloud deployments very quickly. iWARP works with any legacy Ethernet switch, thereby enabling incremental Windows Server 2016 installations without requiring a concurrent forklift upgrade of the switch infrastructure, or the entire datacenter . This ability to work with any non-DCBX switch, allows use of the most cost effective new or existing switch infrastructure with the least amount of support, while enabling an immediate plug-and-play deployment. In addition, Microsoft's support of iWARP protocol since Windows Server 2012-R2 release, has allowed for years of testing for a very robust, tested, deployment with iWARP. As a long-standing partner of Microsoft, Chelsio invests heavily in joint engineering resources and expertise to test and validate upcoming versions of Microsoft Windows software on Chelsio networking infrastructure. Continuing on this long tradition of cooperative engineering, Chelsio is committed to delivering broad high-performance iWARP networking adapter support for Windows Server 2016 environments after Microsoft's general availability, as well as for Windows 10 Enterprise. Chelsio iWARP enabled Unified Wire adapters power a range of Windows Server 2016 capabilities including Storage Spaces Direct software-defined storage, Storage Replica for disaster recovery, SMB Direct for high performance file access, Network Direct for Windows HPC deployments, hardware offloaded iSCSI initiator for SAN applications, and Nano Server for cloud applications. In addition, Chelsio's concurrent certification for Windows 10 Enterprise, enables Client RDMA functions and allows the iWARP wire protocol be used on both ends of the wire to enable high performance client-server installations using RDMA over regular TCP/IP and using legacy switches . This will truly enable an incremental install of servers using Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, without requiring a concurrent switch upgrade . "Chelsio continues to provide high-performance networking solutions that have helped customers efficiently and cost-effectively scale their Microsoft Cloud environments to derive the full benefit of cloud computing," said Kianoosh Naghshineh, CEO at Chelsio Communications. "This announcement represents the enormous value derived through joint collaboration to help customers transform and accelerate their journey to the cloud." "iWARP is the preferred high performance RDMA over Ethernet solution for Microsoft private clouds, and allows leveraging existing Ethernet infrastructure without the limitations, complexity and costs of other RDMA protocols," said Daniel Weissenborn, Solution Architect at ClearPointe, a Gold level Microsoft datacenter partner. "Chelsio iWARP RDMA adapters have been proven to deliver the high throughput and low latency needed to fully leverage high performance Windows Server 2016 Storage Spaces Direct." "Chelsio 10/40GbE Unified Wire iWARP adapters greatly simplify bringing RDMA to the software defined datacenter, through leveraging existing Ethernet infrastructure and maintaining interoperability with technologies staff already know, it offers the low-risk path for Ethernet-based large-scale Windows Server 2016 deployments," said Philip Moss, CPO at Acuutech, a UK-based service provider and Microsoft Cloud OS networking partner providing cloud solutions. "Chelsio iWARP integrates seamlessly with Storage Spaces Direct, which is crucial to our cloud offering, and with its high performance and support of incremental Windows Server 2016 deployments, adopting iWARP was no-brainer." About Chelsio iWARP Chelsio's Terminator 5 ASIC offers a high performance, robust third generation implementation of RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) over 40Gb Ethernet iWARP. T5 delivers end-to-end RDMA latency that is comparable to InfiniBand, using standard Ethernet infrastructure. Chelsio's iWARP is in production today in GPU applications, in storage applications as a fabric for clustered storage, for Lustre and other storage applications, for HPC applications, and for remote replication and disaster recovery. It is a high performance, robust, reliable, and mature protocol that enables direct data placement, CPU savings, and RDMA functionality over TCP/IP and legacy Ethernet switches and internet with no performance penalties. About Chelsio Communications Chelsio is a recognized leader in high performance (10Gb/25Gb/40Gb/50Gb/100Gb) Ethernet adapters for networking and storage within virtualized enterprise datacenters, public and private hyperscale clouds, and cluster computing environments. With a clear emphasis on performance and delivering the only robust offload solution, as opposed to simple speeds and feeds, Chelsio has set itself apart from the competition. The Chelsio Unified Wire fully offloads all protocol traffic, providing no-compromise performance with high packet processing capacity, sub-microsecond hardware latency and high bandwidth. Visit the company at www.chelsio.com, and follow the company on Twitter and Facebook. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130611/SF30203LOGO SOURCE Chelsio Communications, Inc. Related Links http://www.chelsio.com The third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in 2016 was held in Chengdu on July 23-24, the first time that the G20 meeting was held in Western China. Finance ministers and central bank governors from different countries as well as more than 900 representatives from international organizations including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund gathered together to discuss global economic development. The event put Chengdu in the international spotlight and provided an opportunity for Chengdu to display its advantages across the board: the city has huge economic growth potential, good environment for business start-ups and innovation, unique city charm, rich hosting experience in international conferences as well as proactive support from the local government. As the hosting city for the 2013 Fortune Global Forum and the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, Chengdu achieved an important milestone in terms of the construction of exhibition facilities and the overall development of the sector. Now, Chengdu's hosting of a variety of major exhibition events has further expanded its influence on the world stage. For the first six months of 2016, Chengdu continued to enhance its stature within the exhibition sector, with 276 major exhibitions and conferences held across the city, including 44 international events. The exhibition area occupied by all of the events added up to1.745 million square meters, up 21.7 percent year on year, while total exhibition revenue reached RMB39.6 billion (approx. US$5.9 billion), up 12.4 percent year on year. The events brought in 46.03 million attendees, with contracts covering 888 projects valued at RMB416.7 billion (approx. US$62.5 billion) signed. Looking forward, Chengdu's municipal government plans to actively target certain market segments for development, in a move to help local businesses enhance their strength and competitiveness. The city will put in place favorable policies that will serve to attract leading exhibition organizers from both China and abroad into setting up branches in Chengdu, also encourage them to choose Chengdu for the hosting of their events. In addition, Chengdu will select exhibition organizers from the most successful international exhibitions and organize delegations of local companies who will participate in these events. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160825/401245 SOURCE China Council For the Promotion of International Trade Chengdu Sub-council SAN DIEGO, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, Cireson will visit Dublin for the IAITAM Fall ACE event an asset management focused conference put on by the International Association of IT Asset Managers. Cireson has attended other IAITAM events and very much enjoyed the session focuses and general alignment with the company's vision. As a leading asset management community voice and Microsoft Cloud and System Center expert, Cireson is proud to be involved as an exhibitor and to be able to connect with new and familiar faces alike. Since 2002, this event's aim has been to grow the ITAM practice through education and targeted networking. Cireson looks forward to sharing their insights as a recently designated Microsoft Gold SAM Competency Partner the highest competency awarded for excellence and expertise in Software Asset Management. Over the course of this two-day conference, Cireson will showcase their market-leading asset management solution for Microsoft System Center, as well as a recent survey they sponsored with the ITAM review that uncovered alarmingly high trends of software and hardware over-licensing as well as keys to cost savings. See more in the infographic here. Commenting on Cireson's attendance, Chris Lim, EMEA Sales & Partner Manager comments, "With a strong global event presence, Cireson is excited to attend this event that is so well known for its excellent, focused content and engaged attendees. As this is our first international IAITAM conference, we look forward to connecting with new members of the community and driving ITAM best practices forward, helping organizations achieve their goals." Those who plan to attend IAITAM Fall Ace can connect with Cireson in the following ways: Visit the team at booth 7 in the expo hall Learn from Davis Mathai in his session "How to Successfully Integrate ITAM with a Wider IT Service Management (ITSM) Program" in his session "How to Successfully Integrate ITAM with a Wider IT Service Management (ITSM) Program" Connect with the team at any point during the event they would love to answer your questions Individuals unable to attend but still interested in connecting with the Cireson team can enquire via their Contact Us page. Also, don't miss recent news regarding the company, including their Inc. 500 ranking of #167. About Cireson: Born in 2012, Cireson was founded on a simple, powerful idea: to be the forward thinkers on all things Microsoft Cloud and System Center. Today, our values from the beginning remain the same; keep it genuine, do the right thing, and listen to customers. As a world leader in Microsoft Cloud and System Center, our mission is to make your working life ridiculously more productive by bringing service and asset management together - that's the Cireson Platform. Taking pride in our expertise, we proudly boast some of the brightest and most fanatical IT professionals in the industry. From the Cireson Platform to Consulting Services and community engagements everything we do is designed to push technical brilliance forward. Our headquarters are located in sunny San Diego with offices throughout North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160809/397015LOGO SOURCE Cireson Related Links http://www.cireson.com LONDON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Details - Visiongain assesses that the civil helicopter market is valued at $7,876m in 2016. Civil helicopters offer a number of capabilities that cannot be achieved with fixed wing aircraft. Vertical take-off and landing capabilities mean that helicopters can operate in areas that are remote, have difficult terrain characteristics or where ground transport infrastructure or airfield facilities are under-developed or non-existent. In terms of manufacturers, the market is very compact with a handful of companies dominating in all categories of helicopter types; light, medium and large. Current market conditions are changing where demand for civil helicopters is coming from with a decline in offshore transport along with continuing demand for helicopters in EMS or law enforcement. It is therefore critical that you have your timescales correct and knowledge of significant competitive developments. This report will ensure that you do. - Visiongain's report will ensure that you keep informed and ahead of your competitors. Gain that competitive advantage. The report will answer questions such as: - What are the key trends, opportunities and challenges for the civil helicopter market currently and in the future? - What factors are behind these trends and what are the prospects are for related submarkets and regional markets? - Who are the leading companies in the civil helicopter industry? - What are stakeholders doing in response to the market environment? 5 Reasons why you must order and read this report today: 1) The report quantifies and analyses the civil helicopter market with the following segmentation. - Forecasts of the global market - Forecasts of the associated submarket sectors light civil helicopters, intermediate civil helicopters, medium civil helicopters, large & heavy civil helicopters at the global and regional level. - Forecasts of key regional markets Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East / Africa, North America, all further subdivided into the 4 submarkets. - Analysis of factors that are driving or restraining market activity 2) The study reveals where civil helicopter stakeholders are investing. We show you information relating to: - Contracts and programmes - Products and services - Recent mergers, acquisitions and divestiture activity - Geographical distribution 3) 337 contracts providing understanding of which sectors of the civil helicopter market are in demand 4) Profiling of the top 11 civil helicopter companies including information relating to key financial indicators 5) SWOT analysis of the global civil helicopter market - Competitive advantage This independent, 228 page report, guarantees that you will remain better informed than your competitors. With 207 tables and figures examining the civil helicopter market, the report gives you an immediate, one-stop breakdown of the leading players in your market, as well as analysis keep your knowledge that one step ahead of your rivals. How will you benefit from this report? - This report you will keep your knowledge base up to speed. Don't get left behind - This report will allow you to reinforce strategic decision decision-making based upon definitive and reliable market data - You will learn how to exploit new technological trends - You will be able to realise your company's full potential within the market - You will better understand the competitive landscape and identify potential new business opportunities & partnerships Who should read this report? - Anyone involved with the civil helicopter industry - Aviation regulators - Contractors - Helicopter operators - Helicopter operator marketing and management / executives - Aerospace OEMs and system integrators - R&D personnel - CEO's - COO's - CIO's - Business development managers - Marketing managers - Technologists - Engineers - Suppliers - Investors - Banks Don't miss out This report is essential reading for you or anyone in the civil helicopter sector. Purchasing this report today will help you to recognise those important market opportunities and understand the possibilities there. Order the Civil Helicopter Market Report 2016-2026: Commercial Prospects for Top Companies with Light, Intermediate, Medium and Large & Heavy Rotorcraft now. We look forward to receiving your order. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3861493/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- It is with profound sadness that Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI) announces the passing of CAI co-founder and vice-president Joe R. Hicks. Joe passed away suddenly on August 28, 2016 at St. Johns Health Center in Santa Monica after post-surgical complications. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402368 Joe Hicks Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402369LOGO A public memorial service is being planned and details will be disseminated shortly. Joe was a long-time political and social commentator, community leader and civil rights activist, whose steady and courageous voice addressed a wide variety of emotional, divisive and controversial issues. "Los Angeles has lost a brilliant Angeleno. Joe Hicks was an exemplary person who dedicated his life to activism and making Los Angeles better. I will miss him," said former Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan, Chairman of CAI. The Los Angeles Times' described Joe as "a redoubtable voice of local reason." In his role at Community Advocates, Inc., Joe continued his several-decades long leadership on the topics of race and community relations. Joe was the former executive director of the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission, where he served from 1997 to 2001 under Mayor Richard J. Riordan. He was also the co-founder and executive director of the Multi-Cultural Collaborative, which served as an umbrella group for community-based leaders. It was created to develop programs designed to improve inter-ethnic relations in the city in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. In the early 1990's, Joe was the executive director of the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, "SCLC," the civil rights group formed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. During his tenure at SCLC, Joe was also the co-chairman of The Black-Korean Alliance, the city's oldest organization at that time dedicated to easing tensions between the two ethnic communities. Prior to joining the SCLC, Joe was the Communications Director for the American Civil Liberties Union's Southern California chapter. Joe also served a three-year term as a member of the Board of Governors for the California State Bar, as well as serving on the California Advisory Panel to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Born in Southern California in July, 1941, Joe began his journey in the civil rights movement as a young man during the 1965 Watts Riots in Los Angeles, initially as a militant leftist in the Black Power movement. He famously debated former Klansman David Duke on the issue of affirmative action at California State University, Northridge in 1996. By the mid-1990s, however, Joe began a lengthy re-examination of his political views that resulted in dramatically-altered political positions. Joe's contemporary political views often stood at odds with the beliefs with which he was long associated, and for the past several years, he identified himself as an independent political conservative. Joe was a well-respected media figure, with an ability to unflinchingly take on heated issues and bring rational and calming data and perspective to the subjects. He regularly contributed to local, national and international print and broadcast media outlets, including NPR, Southern California Public Radio, Fox News Channel, CNN, BBC, NBC, CBS and many others. His opinion articles and interviews appeared in national and international publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, National Review andscores of others. In the 1990's, he was a regular co-host of the then PBS-affiliate KCET TV's highly-regarded public affairs program Life & Times. At Community Advocates, Joe continued his collaboration with Life & Times via "The Kitchen Table," a regular segment designed to address complex and controversial Southern California issues from multiple perspectives in layman's terms. A former analyst and commentator for PJTV.com, he hosted The Hicks File and The Minority Report programs for the web-based media outlet. From 2005 to 2008, he also hosted the weekly Joe Hicks Show on KFI-AM in Los Angeles, the highest-rated talk station in Southern California. Joe regularly wrote for The Wide Angle, CAI's blog, which is hosted at the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. In January, 2015, at the invitation of the Oxford Union, often described as "the world's most prestigious debating society," Joe was invited to debate the proposition, "This House believes the United States is Institutionally Racist" as one of three opponents of that proposition. In May, 2015, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. David A. Lehrer, Community Advocates' president, said, "We will remember Joe for his passion, his courage, and his commitment to truthfully assessing and unpacking complicated and difficult issues. He had a firm and unwavering moral compass that led him to be a voice of reason and righteousness. He was also a man of great warmth, charm, and humor. His memory will continue to guide and inspire us." Joe is survived by his children Katarina Hicks, Natasha Hicks, Jabali Hicks, Tamani Hicks-Littleton, Hasani Hicks-McGriff, his sister Annie Hicks- Roberts, his ex-spouse and friend Liz Hicks, and a number of other loving relatives and friends. About Community Advocates, Inc. (CAI): CAI is a vanguard human relations think tank based in Los Angeles, CA. The president of CAI, David Lehrer, and the vice president, the late Joe Hicks, both well-known Los Angeles civil rights leaders, one a black conservative, and the other a white, Jewish Democrat, joined forces fourteen years ago to head CAI. Chaired by former Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan, CAI has been at the forefront of a fresh approach to race, ethnic and cultural issues in Los Angeles and throughout the country, attempting to challenge the dominant strategies of civil rights and human relations groups, promoting instead critical discourse about common ground issues that transcend one's race, ethnicity, gender or religion. Described by the Los Angeles Times as "a redoubtable voice of local reason," CAI seeks to bring attention to the real problems and issues that face our nation's diverse communities, prepared to ask difficult yet important questions about future challenges, such as urban crime and the troubling education gap, which face many communities in Southern California and throughout the United States. www.cai-la.org Contact: Rachel Schwartz/PR AdvantEDGE, Inc. 310.990.2764 Email SOURCE Community Advocates, Inc. Related Links http://cai-la.org LAKE WORTH, Fla., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- International cruise travelers who plan to embark from Florida to the Americas, Caribbean, Panama Canal and Antarctica this winter are being encouraged to stay an extra night or two to experience a hidden world of art and culture in The Palm Beaches. Palm Beach County, an area more culturally dense than anywhere in the USA south of Atlanta, is the world's only destination that has a Cultural Concierge who works with visitors to curate cultural itineraries especially suited to their interests. The Cultural Concierge suggests that cruise enthusiasts take time before embarking to absorb the culture, art and history of The Palm Beaches. Wintering in The Palm Beaches is a long-standing tradition for culturally sophisticated travelers from New York and Boston. Palm Beach County is an easy and scenic drive up the beautiful Atlantic coast from Miami or Fort Lauderdale and well worth a detour for cultural tourism. Visitors shouldn't miss the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, a historic house and National Historic Landmark in Palm Beach, and the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach's world-class art museum. Miami City Ballet sells more tickets in Palm Beach County than in Miami, with performances at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Also appearing at Kravis Center this season: Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg, Prague Philharmonia, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Bamberg Symphony, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Orchestre National De Lyon, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Orchestra. Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach will feature performances by the Vienna Boys Choir and Sir James Galway, as well as a fascinating array of art exhibitions and lectures in an intimate, historic setting. In November, West Palm Beach's CANVAS Outdoor Museum kicks off the Art Basel season with art in public places, transforming landscapes into an interactive art experience. Palm Beach Jewelry Antiques-Design Show in December and Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show in February feature international exhibitors of fine art, antique and estate jewelry, furniture, porcelain, furniture, Asian art, American and European silver, glass, textiles, sculpture and more. Performances at Old School Square outdoor pavilion in the artsy seaside village of Delray Beach will include China's Shanghai Acrobats and the State Ballet Theatre of Russia. The venue also hosts the Palm Beach Poetry Festival during January. The Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair during January provides visitors with an opportunity to acquire important, never-before-exhibited works from the primary and secondary art markets. The Downtown Lake Worth Street Painting Festival in February is the world's largest festival of its kind, with more than 250 works that transform the street into a living canvas. These and other activities can be part of your personally customized winter itinerary in The Palm Beaches. Contact the Cultural Concierge at +1 (561) 214-8082 or [email protected]. About the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County is the official support agency for arts and culture in The Palm Beaches, serving non-profit organizations, artists and arts districts. The Cultural Council administers $4.5 million in grants annually, supports arts and cultural education, provides capacity-building training, and advocates for arts funding and arts-friendly policies. The Council promotes Palm Beach County's cultural experiences to visitors and residents through multi-platform marketing and public information programs, including its one-of-a-kind Cultural Concierge service. The Cultural Council presents exhibitions featuring Palm Beach County artists and provides additional programming at its headquarters in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. Building in Downtown Lake Worth. Also at the Cultural Council headquarters are the Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store featuring products by Palm Beach County artists and the Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Visitor Information Center, a VISIT FLORIDA designated Florida Certified Tourism Information Center. The Cultural Council galleries, visitor information center and store are open 10 a.m. 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For a complete calendar of cultural activities in The Palm Beaches, visit palmbeachculture.com. CONTACT Judith Czelusniak [email protected] +1 (561) 471-1602 SOURCE Cultural Council of Palm Beach County Related Links https://www.palmbeachculture.com ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Defense Services Marketing Council announced today the esteemed retired RADM Gary W. Rosholt will join the long list of eminent speakers participating in the inaugural Joint Precision Fires Future Conference (JPF2). JPF2 will be the largest joint precision fires conference in the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States (GCC). Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402040 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402042 Retired RADM Gary W. Rosholt achieved the rank of Rear Admiral during his 35+ year career as a Navy SEAL which includes two-star Flag officer assignments as the Senior Defense Official in the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commanding General for the Special Operations Command for the United States Central Command. The Joint Precision Fires Future (JPF2 2016) Conference will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE at the Armed Forces Officers Club on November 16, 2016. Headline Sponsor Lockheed Martin has confirmed that there will be and update on the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), a highly mobile, combat-proven launcher with an outstanding reputation for dependability in service since 2005. The November 2016 conference continues to attract industry attention, reflecting a strong desire from key stakeholders around the globe to discuss increased need for timely and accurate precision fires. Joining this already robust agenda, Rosholt will address delegates on precision strike supporting coalition forces. Rosholt is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Trident MET, LLC in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Rosholt achieved the rank of Rear Admiral during his 35+ year career as a Navy SEAL which includes two-star Flag officer assignments as the Senior Defense Official in the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commanding General for the Special Operations Command for the United States Central Command. "We know precision fires will play a critical role in better, more secure futures around the globe. I anticipate this event will become an indispensable fixture for industry leaders to gather, share ideas and collaborate," said Rosholt. "I look forward to joining other thought-leaders at this important inaugural event." Mr. Matthew Cochran, Chairman and CEO of Defense Services Marketing Council (DSMC) said: "We couldn't be more pleased to have a global expert of the caliber of retired Rear Admiral Rosholt throw his weight behind this conference. He is distinguished in the field of joint precision fires. Delegates will be eager to hear his unique perspective on the industry now and into the future." The upcoming JPF2 conference, held in Abu Dhabi on 16 November 2016, will be the foremost regional event on the subject of Joint Precision Fires. This esteemed conference will include senior government and private sector officials from the region and around the world. JPF2 is officially hosted by Tawazun Dynamics with Lockheed Martin as the headline sponsor and the Nation Shield as the official media partner for the event. For more information on speakers or sponsorship of JPF2, click here. For more information, please visit the JPF2 Conference website at: http://www.jpf2firescon.com/. Press Contact: Name: Ms. Barbara Figueroa Email Phone: +971505597883 Company: DSMC DSMC is a marketing incubator organization that accelerates the growth of international Defense, Space & Security industry-related companies. SOURCE Defense Services Marketing Council "Emergency departments continue to be squeezed by pressures inside and outside the hospital," said Scott Dresden, MD, MS, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill., the lead author of the Illinois paper. "A large post-ACA increase in Medicaid visits and a modest increase in privately insured visits outpaced a large reduction in emergency department visits by uninsured patients. We still don't know if these results represent longer-term changes in health services use or a temporary spike in emergency department use due to pent up demand." Annual emergency department visit volume in Illinois increased from 2.9 million in 2011 to 3.2 million in 2015, an 8.1 percent increase over the period. Comparing the pre-ACA period (2011 to 2013) to the post-ACA period (2014 to 2015), the average monthly emergency department visit volume increased by 5.7 percent. Hospitalizations were essentially unchanged, as was the size of Illinois' population. In Massachusetts, from 2005 to 2015 emergency departments reported that visits increased on average from 32,025 to 42,000. During the same period, there was a significant drop in availability of specialists in surgery, neurology, obstetrics-gynecology, orthopedics, pediatrics, plastic surgery and psychiatry. Availability of general surgeons declined from 98 percent to 83 percent while 24/7 psychiatry availability declined from 56 percent to 33 percent. Availability of orthopedic surgeons, pediatricians and plastic surgeons also declined significantly. "During the studied period, the burden of increasing patient volume was clear," said Jason Sanders, MD, PhD, of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "The proportion of emergency departments reporting any patients primarily cared for in the hallway climbed from 70 percent to 89 percent. That is obviously far from ideal and is indicative of an increasingly taxed emergency medical care system." Annals of Emergency Medicine is the peer-reviewed scientific journal for the American College of Emergency Physicians, the national medical society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research, and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies. For more information, visit www.acep.org. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402060 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100616/DC22034LOGO-d SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Related Links http://www.acep.org LONDON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The report analyzes the European enzyme immunoassay (EIA) Market by type, technique, end-user, and by country. The European enzyme immunoassay (EIA) market has been classified on the basis of types which mainly includes; EIA reagents & kits, and EIA analyzers. On the basis of technique the market is divided into; ELISA, rapid tests, and ELISPOT. Germany is the largest contributor to the European enzyme immunoassay (EIA) market, basically due to the rising incidences of chronic and infectious diseases, expanding pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and growing use of EIA in oncology. Germany is followed by U.K., and France. Enzyme immunoassays are widely used in the diagnosis of and research of HIV/AIDS and cancer, owing to which the increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDS and cancer in Europe will drive market growth in the region. According to WHO, the number of HIV patients in Europe increased from ~120,000 in 2011 to ~180,000 in 2012. Furthermore, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), approximately 3.45 million new cancer cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) were reported in Europe in 2012; the prevalence is expected to grow further in the coming years. In-depth Market share analysis, by revenue, of the top companies is also included in the report. These numbers are arrived at, based on key facts, annual financial information from SEC filings, Annual reports and interviews with industry experts, key opinion leaders such as CEOs, directors, and marketing executives. In addition, the report also profiled key players of the market on various parameters such as business overview, financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies and recent developments of the respective company. Some of the key market players of the European enzyme immunoassay (EIA) market include Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Abbott (U.S.), bioMerieux SA (France), Siemens Healthcare GmbH (Germany), Alere (U.S.), BD (U.S.), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.) and others. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3859365/ About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers http://www.reportbuyer.com For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 208 816 85 48 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com Other changes to the team include Walter Galler, who will be taking on a new role as Chief Marketing and Customer Engagement Officer. In this position he will continue to lead client engagement activities as well as strategic intelligence and oversight of all external marketing and customer delivery initiatives. On the technology side of the business, Christian Fernando will be leaving the company later this month to pursue a new opportunity. Christian has been important in driving the technology development for the firm to date and managing the day-to-day IT and client deployment activities. Srinivas Kuppa, eZassi's acting CTO, will assume these responsibilities and continue in his role as the lead on all development efforts for the next version of the eZassi open innovation software platform. Also of importance is the addition of Dr. Mohammed Charki to eZassi's advisory board. Mohammed Charki, a versed practitioner of open innovation, entrepreneurship, crowdsourcing and change management, has a deep legacy and understanding of enterprise wide research and development. He has been at the forefront of numerous innovation strategies, most recently serving as the R&D Partnerships Director at Sanofi-Aventis. About eZassi: eZassi is a global Open Innovation enterprise software platform that includes a full set of integrated solutions that help client's cyber scout for ideas and partners, manage ideas, accelerate decision making with high powered analytics and collaborative workflows while also reducing intellectual property (IP) risks inherent with social ideation and co-design. Virginia Bush eZassi 904.432.8315 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401791 SOURCE eZassi Details added (first version posted on 11:58) Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 By Azad Hasanli Trend: The Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) project will enhance Azerbaijans role in forming eastern and western energy corridors, said the countrys Deputy Energy Minister Natig Abbasov. Abbasov made the remarks Aug. 29 at the 2016 Eurasian Conference of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) in Baku. Despite the decline in oil prices, Azerbaijan continues to implement big transnational projects, said the deputy minister. As a country located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan has exceptional opportunities for transportation of energy resources, he noted adding that the SGC is one of the biggest infrastructure and energy projects of Europe. As an energy security project, the SGC will bring benefit to all of us producers, transit countries and consumers for years to come, added Abbasov. He also noted that Azerbaijan made a new contribution to Europes energy security with the SGC project. TANAP (Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline), which will be laid from the Georgian-Turkish border to the Turkish-Greek border, is a very important project in the context of ensuring the regional, particularly European security, said the deputy minister. The creation of the energy corridor will be completed by laying the TAP (Trans Adriatic Pipeline), from the Turkish-Greek border to Italys south. TAP has enough capacity to transport Azerbaijani gas to Europe and will allow creating a complex network of gas pipelines in Europe, said Abbasov. Moreover, the construction of the planned Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) will allow delivering Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, he added. Currently, Azerbaijan produces 82-88 million cubic meters of gas and 115,000-120,000 tons of oil per day, noted the deputy minister, adding that proved gas reserves of the country amounted to 2.6 trillion cubic meters, oil reserves two billion tons. TANAP project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field to the western borders of Turkey. The gas will be delivered to Turkey in 2018, and after completion of the Trans Adriatic Pipelines construction, the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020. The IAP pipeline is planned to be connected to the TAP pipeline in the Albanian city of Fier. Azerbaijani gas will be delivered to a number of countries of the southeastern Europe via the IAP pipeline. The pipelines capacity will be five billion cubic meters per year. Organizers of the TAP pipeline have already signed a corresponding memorandum with builders of the IAP, in particular, with Plinacto Ltd. (Croatia), BH-Gas (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Geoplin plinovodi (Slovenia), as well as with governments of Montenegro and Albania. DUBLIN and BOSTON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fleetmatics Group PLC (NYSE: FLTX), a leading global provider of mobile workforce solutions for service-based businesses of all sizes delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS), has been named the gold winner in Most Innovative Product of the Year Small or Medium Business category for the Fleetmatics REVEAL Field App in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International, an independent global business awards program judged by members of the press and industry analysts. The latest enhancement to Fleetmatics REVEAL, the Field App is designed to keep dispatchers, managers and drivers on the same page by delivering information right to the driver's mobile device and improving the experience of the mobile worker. The application also provides mobile workers with direct access to their performance metrics, helping them to track their own progress and benchmark against the rest of their team. Using location of the workers mobile device as well as vehicle locations within Fleetmatics REVEAL, the Field App intelligently recommends vehicle assignment; an easy means for customers to unlock additional insight into mobile worker performance. "To receive gold recognition from a broad panel of journalists and analysts who cover and critique new products and solutions on a daily basis is especially rewarding," said Fleetmatics' CTO, Peter Mitchell. "This latest enhancement puts the power of Fleetmatics directly into the hands of the drivers of more than 750,000 vehicles, and allows them to enjoy the benefits that their fleet operators have seen for years." More than 270 public and private companies hailing from all sectors of the global economy from more than 30 countries competed in Best in Biz Awards' fourth annual International program. Best in Biz Awards 2016 International honors were once again presented in a range of categories, including Fastest-Growing Company of the Year, Most Innovative Company of the Year, Support Department of the Year, Most Innovative Product, Enterprise Product and Consumer Product of the Year. Best in Biz Awards' uniqueness stems, in part, from the composition of its judging panel. Only writers, journalists, and contributors to business, consumer, financial, trade and technology publications, as well as broadcast outlets and analyst firms, are invited to serve as judges each year. Structured this way, Best in Biz Awards is able to leverage the experience and expertise of an influential group of global opinion makers to determine award winners. For a full list of gold, silver and bronze winners in Best in Biz Awards 2016 International, visit: http://intl.bestinbizawards.com/intl-2016-winners. About Fleetmatics Group PLC Fleetmatics Group PLC (NYSE: FLTX) is a leading global provider of mobile workforce solutions for service-based businesses of all sizes delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS). Our solutions enable businesses to meet the challenges associated with managing local fleets, and improve the productivity of their mobile workforces, by extracting actionable business intelligence from real-time and historical vehicle and driver behavioral data. Fleetmatics Group's intuitive, cost-effective Web-based solutions provide fleet operators with visibility into vehicle location, fuel usage, speed and mileage, and other insights into their mobile workforce, enabling them to reduce operating and capital costs, as well as increase revenue. An integrated, full-featured mobile workforce management product provides additional efficiencies related to job management by empowering the field worker and speeding the job completion process quote through payment. As of June 30, 2016, Fleetmatics served approximately 38,000 customers and approximately 757,000 subscribed vehicles worldwide. To learn more about Fleetmatics, visit www.fleetmatics.com. About Best in Biz Awards Since 2011, Best in Biz Awards has been recognizing companies for their business success as judged by renowned members of the press and industry analysts. Best in Biz Awards honors are currently conferred in two separate programs: North America and International, and in more than 60 categories, including company, team, executive, product, and PR and media. Entries in the 6th annual Best in Biz Awards are currently being accepted from all companies based or operating in North America until the final deadline on September 16, 2016. For more information, visit: http://www.bestinbizawards.com. Media Contact: Juli Burda Fleetmatics [email protected] 847-378-4398 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150220/176914LOGO SOURCE Fleetmatics Group PLC Related Links http://www.fleetmatics.com WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In honor of this year's World Water Week 2016, "Water for Sustainable Growth," GMO Answers released a new infographic to educate consumers about how GMOs help conserve water usage in agriculture. Water is one of the most important factors in producing food, fuel and fiber, and preserving water is critical to agriculture's sustainability. With changing weather patterns and an increased number of widespread droughts water conservation continues to be a challenge and priority for communities around the world. Advancements in biotechnology such as drought-tolerant, genetically modified (GM) crops are one solution to helping farmers use less water and reduce irrigation needs. "Water is precious, which is why choosing sustainable practices to help resolve ongoing environmental challenges is so important," said Kate Hall, managing director of the Council for Biotechnology Information and GMO Answers spokesperson. "We're pleased to share our new infographic in celebration of World Water Week and to continue our education efforts to show the public how GMOs help protect and preserve our limited, natural resources." Drought and water scarcity has been rising steadily since the 1970s, according to the Environmental Protection Agency1. And according to the United Nations, by 2025 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population could be under stress conditions.2 GMO Answers' "Water Preservation" infographic illustrates how GMOs allow farmers to do more with less to conserve water and grow more drought tolerant plants: GM crops have helped reduce the irrigation needs of U.S. grown cotton by 50 percent over the last 20 years. 3 GM crops can decrease the rate at which water is lost through transpiration, while improving yield in drought conditions with crops like rice. 4 Nearly 6,400 bodies of water can benefit from reduced soil erosion through the usage of GM crops.3 That's an average of 128 lakes, streams and rivers per state in the U.S.! Visit GMOAnswers.com for more information on GMOs and their connection to water conservation and sustainability. About GMO Answers GMO Answers is committed to responding to your questions about how our food is grown. Our goal is to make information about agricultural biotechnology easier to access and evaluate. The members of GMO Answers commit to five core principles welcoming and answering questions on all GMO topics; making GMO information, research and data easy to access and evaluate, and supporting safety testing of GM products, including allowing independent safety testing of our products through validated science-based methods; supporting farmers as they work to grow crops using precious resources more efficiently, with less impact on the environment and producing safe, nutritious food and feed products; respecting farmers' rights to choose the seeds that are best for their farms, businesses and communities and providing seed choices that include non-GM seeds based on market demands; and respecting people around the world and their right to choose healthy food products that are best for themselves and their families. GMO Answers is produced by the members of The Council for Biotechnology Information, which includes BASF, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, Monsanto Company and Syngenta. Our members are dedicated to the responsible development and application of plant biotechnology. Visit www.GMOAnswers.com. 1 https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/impacts/signs/droughts.html 2 "Water Scarcity." UN Water Thematic Factsheets. Retrieved from http://www.unwater.org/statistics/thematic-factsheets/en/. 3 Learn about Water. US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/learn-issues/learn-about-water. 4 "Genetically Modified Crops." Water For All. Retrieved from http://12.000.scripts.mit.edu/mission2017/genetically-modified-crops/. SOURCE GMO Answers Related Links https://gmoanswers.com NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GODIVA is delighted to announce the launch of G by GODIVA. The exquisite collection of six super premium chocolate flavors brings taste lovers on an authentic chocolate experience that enchants all senses. Launching with a divine selection of Mexican single origin chocolate bars, G by GODIVA features both solid and decadent combinations enrobed in milk or dark chocolate couvertures. Once celebrated in ancient South American civilizations as a 'food of the gods', the Mexican single origin chocolate was selected by GODIVA's chef chocolatiers for its purity of origin, smoothness and depth of flavor. For the chocolate purist, the 42% milk chocolate bar has hints of white flowers, peaches, apricots and vanilla that gives a well-balanced caress of the tongue. The sumptuous 68% dark chocolate has hints of licorice, plums and tobacco leaves; offering chocolate lovers a more intense taste experience. Three bars within the collection feature exciting ingredient combinations including Dark Chocolate Toasted Coconut, Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Crisp and the Dark Chocolate Orange & Ginger Flavor. All of the premium ingredients in the collection are carefully selected and expertly blended with the Mexican chocolate by GODIVA's chef chocolatiers. Completing the collection is the Blonde Chocolate & Salted Caramel bar. Sure to become a new classic, the blonde chocolate is crafted from a blend of white chocolate and caramelized milk chocolate and then enhanced with crunchy buttered salted caramel. GODIVA Chef Chocolatier, Jean Apostoulou, explains, "We created this collection with the spirit of a master mixologist in mind; inventing an array of vibrant flavors to blend with the Mexican origin cocoa beans. We wanted to ensure that every bar would take chocolate lovers on a special journey of taste and texture." The specially-designed mold is comprised of small chocolate tiles that hold delicate concave circles, creating an elegant bar. The stylish packaging features bold blocks of vibrant colors on premium textured paper with a metallic 'G' embellishing the top. Both set the scene for the magnificent taste experience within. "G by GODIVA is where authenticity and quality meet art and passion. This is a unique collection that offers an elevated, special and memorable chocolate experience" said Chef Jean Apostoulou. G by GODIVA is now available in U.S. stores and GODIVA.com for $7 per bar. About GODIVA Chocolatier For the past ninety years, Godiva has led the chocolate category through its pioneering innovation and impressive culinary artistry. Godiva's heritage is rooted in its founding family's skilled craftsmanship and passion for chocolate, which is upheld today by Godiva's five Belgian-trained chef chocolatiers. Based in key markets around the world, the chefs create award-winning chocolate creations that push the boundaries of their art. Founded in a home-atelier in Brussels, Godiva now has over 600 owned boutiques and is present in more than 100 countries around the worldfrom Europe to Asia, from North America to the Middle East. To find out more information, please visit www.godiva.com. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160404/350946LOGO SOURCE GODIVA Chocolatier Related Links http://www.godiva.com Francis brings a range of experience working in clinics, hospitals and communities of care and a deep understanding of the health challenges facing the marginalized and those living in concentrated poverty. As health systems increasingly commit to addressing the social determinants of health, Francis' perspective as a physician and public health practitioner will be crucial to Health Leads' future strategy to ensure social needs interventions become a cornerstone of person-centered care. "Every day, health care teams witness their patients' pain and suffering, not only from illness and disease, but from a lack of access to basic resources like housing, food and transportation. For 20 years, Health Leads has demonstrated that effective social needs interventions in clinical settings are both possible and necessary," said Francis. "I'm honored to join Health Leads in its commitment to addressing patients' unmet social needs at a systemic level and equipping clinical leaders across the country with the tools and insight they need to close the treatment gaps that exist for millions of patients." Francis joins Health Leads after five years at the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency in the East San Francisco Bay Area, where he served as the interim director and medical director of Health Care for the Homeless, spearheading the adoption and expansion of clinical models addressing the whole patient, including medical, behavioral and social needs. Francis was also medical director of the Urban Male Health Initiative, a campaign of the Alameda County Public Health Department charged with reducing health disparities affecting men of color, and prior to that he worked as a physician at the East Bay AIDS Center. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, where he received his M.D. and completed residency. He also continues to provide urgent care at a community clinic in Oakland, Calif. "Damon's bold vision for a health system rooted in person-centered and compassionate care resonated with ours from the start," said Rebecca Onie, Health Leads' co-founder and chief executive officer. "We could not be more thrilled to have one of the country's foremost leaders in the intersection of healthcare delivery and community health join our team, bringing new insight into how we redefine collectively what 'counts' as healthcare, elevate health equity to the forefront of our work, and deepen our relationships with our patients, their communities and our health sector partners." Francis is based in the Bay Area and will play a key role in driving Health Leads' research and evaluation agenda, expanding product innovation and deepening industry partnerships. About Health Leads Health Leads is a social enterprise that envisions a healthcare system that addresses all patients' basic resource needs as a standard part of quality care. For 20 years, Health Leads has worked with leading healthcare organizations to tackle social co-morbidities by connecting patients to the community-based resources they need to be healthy from food to transportation to healthcare benefits. Health Leads is committed to leveraging its tools, expertise and direct services to change what "counts" as healthcare and accelerate the leadership, best practices, incentives and research required to improve the health and well-being of patients. Learn more at www.healthleadsusa.org, reach us at [email protected] and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401773 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160120/324091LOGO SOURCE Health Leads Related Links http://www.healthleadsusa.org BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and MURRELLS INLET, S.C., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE: HLS) and Tidelands Health have formed a joint venture to own and operate Tidelands' existing inpatient rehabilitation hospital. The hospital is located at 4070 Highway 17 Bypass South in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, on the campus of Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital. The joint venture expects to operate 29 inpatient rehabilitation beds at this location. In addition, the joint venture plans to file a Certificate of Need application to build a second, 46-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital that will be located in Little River, South Carolina. The state-of-the-art hospital will supplement the joint venture's ability to provide comprehensive, inpatient physical rehabilitation to residents of the Little River area who have experienced stroke, trauma, brain injury and complex orthopedic conditions, as well as other major illnesses or injuries. "The joint venture will provide increased access to high-quality physical rehabilitation for the residents of Georgetown and Horry counties and the surrounding communities," said Ed Mowen, president of the MidAtlantic region for HealthSouth. "We look forward to working together with Tidelands Health to provide high-quality rehabilitative care in a hospital setting, designed to restore and strengthen patients so they can return to their highest possible level of independence." Bruce Bailey, president and CEO of Tidelands Health, said the partnership will better enable the region's largest health system to meet the fast-growing area's need for superior, compassionate inpatient rehabilitation care. "Over the years, Tidelands Waccamaw Rehabilitation Hospital has improved the lives of thousands of patients. As the region's only inpatient rehabilitation hospital, we have seen firsthand the growing need for this critically important service in our community," Bailey said. "Our partnership with HealthSouth will allow us to marry our strengths with those of one of the nation's largest health care providers, delivering outstanding care and service at two dedicated inpatient rehabilitation hospitals to serve the region." The hospitals will join HealthSouth's national network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals including five currently operating in South Carolina. The joint venture's operation of the inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, is expected to begin in 2018, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. The hospital will continue to operate under the name Tidelands Waccamaw Rehabilitation Hospital. Construction on the new hospital in Little River, South Carolina, will begin following the approval of the Certificate of Need, and the new hospital will commence operations following completion of construction and receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. About Tidelands Health Tidelands Health is the largest health care provider in Georgetown and Horry counties. With three hospitals and more than 40 outpatient locations that stretch from Andrews to North Myrtle Beach, Tidelands Health is improving lives across the Tidelands region. About HealthSouth HealthSouth is one of the nation's largest providers of post-acute healthcare services, offering both facility-based and home-based post-acute services in 34 states and Puerto Rico through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies, and hospice agencies. HealthSouth can be found on the web at www.healthsouth.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts, such as those relating to the likelihood, timing and effects of the finalization of this joint venture project, are forward-looking statements. In addition, HealthSouth may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. All such estimates, projections, and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and HealthSouth undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. HealthSouth's actual results or events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, the regulatory review and approval process; any adverse outcome of various lawsuits, claims, and legal or regulatory proceedings that may be brought by or against HealthSouth or this joint venture; the possibility this project will experience unexpected delays; the ability to successfully complete and integrate this project consistent with HealthSouth's growth strategy, including realization of anticipated revenues, cost savings, and productivity improvements arising from the related operations and avoidance of unforeseen exposure to liabilities; changes in the regulation of the healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels; competitive pressures in the healthcare industry and HealthSouth's or this joint venture's response thereto; this joint venture's ability to maintain proper local, state and federal licensing; potential disruptions, breaches, or other incidents affecting the proper operation, availability, or security of the hospitals' or either partner's information systems; the ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages and the impact on labor expenses from potential union activity and staffing shortages; changes, delays in (including in connection with resolution of Medicare payment reviews or appeals), or suspension of reimbursement for services by governmental or private payors; general conditions in the economy and capital markets; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in HealthSouth's SEC filings and other public announcements, including HealthSouth's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016. HEALTHSOUTH CONTACTS: Media: Casey Lassiter, 205 641-1118 Investor Relations: Crissy Carlisle, 205 970-5860 TIDELANDS HEALTH CONTACT: Media: Margaret Lamb, 843 652-1636 SOURCE HealthSouth Corporation Related Links http://www.healthsouth.com STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- High Ridge Brands Co. ("High Ridge Brands" or the "Company"), a leading Stamford, CT based personal care products company, announced today the appointment of Diya Talwar as SVP, Business Development & Strategy as it actively seeks value-enhancing acquisitions to further expand its branded personal care platform. High Ridge Brands was formed in December 2010 as a platform for acquisitions in the personal care consumer segment. Since High Ridge Brands' acquisition of the rights to Zest in the U.S., Canada and other selected territories from P&G in January 2011, the Company has made five strategic add-on acquisitions, including: (i) in August 2011, the Alberto VO5 brand in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and the Rave brand worldwide from Unilever; (ii) in April 2012, the Coast brand globally from Henkel; (iii) in July 2012, the White Rain brand globally from Sun Products; (iv) in May 2015, Newhall Laboratories, owner of several small personal care brands such as LA Looks, Zero Frizz and Thicker Fuller Hair globally; and (v) in October 2015, Continental Fragrances, owner of the Salon Grafix and High Beams brands worldwide. In June 2016, private investment firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice acquired a controlling interest in High Ridge Brands. The Company, with approximately 50 employees and a highly efficient outsourced supply chain, has built a robust, scalable platform for profitable growth that has proven to be an attractive home to nurture consumer brands in the personal care space. James A. Daniels, High Ridge Brands' CEO and President, commented, "The High Ridge Brands business is continuing its strong momentum on the back of its recently completed transaction with CD&R, a well-respected private investment firm. We believe the Company has the leadership team, capital, and vision necessary to grow to the next level, and we are pleased to welcome Diya to the team. Diya brings over 13 years of experience in M&A and Corporate Development, having completed over 30 transactions of various sizes worldwide during her 10 years at Jarden." Ms. Talwar most recently served as the VP of Corporate Development at Jarden Corporation, a diversified global Fortune 500 consumer products company with over 120 brands and a reputation for its strong, efficient and disciplined M&A track record. Prior to Jarden, Ms. Talwar held roles as an investment banking analyst at Banc of America Securities and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. About High Ridge Brands High Ridge Brands Co., headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, is primarily focused on providing families with high quality personal care products at great value. Today, High Ridge has a portfolio of nine trusted brands, serving primarily North American personal cleaning and hair care markets, including Zest, White Rain, VO5, Coast, LA Looks, Zero Frizz, Rave, Salon Grafix and Thicker Fuller Hair. The Company operates an asset-light model, outsourcing all of its manufacturing needs, and has approximately 50 employees. For more information on High Ridge Brands, please visit www.highridgebrands.com. About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Founded in 1978, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is a private investment firm with an investment strategy predicated on producing financial returns through building stronger, more profitable businesses. Since inception, CD&R has managed the investment of $22 billion in 70 companies, representing a broad range of industries with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $100 billion. The firm has offices in New York and London. For more information, visit www.cdr-inc.com. SOURCE Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Related Links http://www.cdr-inc.com TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- HomeBanc N.A. announces it has been named to American Banker magazine's 2016 Best Banks to Work For list, and was ranked as the #2 bank to work for out of the 60 banks chosen for the list for the second consecutive year. The program is a project of American Banker and Best Companies Group to recognize and honor the best banks to work for in the nation. To be considered for participation, banks had to have at least 50 employees working in the U.S. and be a commercial bank, thrift, mutual association, mutual savings bank, savings and loan association or a savings bank. Determining the Best Banks to Work For involved a two-step process. The first step consisted of evaluating each participating bank's workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of confidential employee surveys aimed at assessing the experiences and attitudes of individual employees with respect to their workplace. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top banks and the final ranking. The full list is featured in the August 29th issue of American Banker magazine and is available online at www.AmericanBanker.com. "This recognition by American Banker magazine as the #2 Bank to Work For two years in a row is evidence that our top-notch employees are the best in the industry," said Jerry Campbell, Chairman, President and CEO. "The team here continues to build recognition of HomeBanc as both a Great Place to Work and a Great Place to Bank, and we thank them for their outstanding service to our customers." HomeBanc N.A. was the top rated bank on Florida Trend magazine's "Best Companies to Work for in Florida" list for the fifth year in a row, and was the top bank and #1 company in the midsized companies category; the top rated bank in Tampa Bay Times "Top Workplaces" for the fourth consecutive year; and named one of the Best Places to Work for Millennial employees in America by the Center for Generational Kinetics and Best Companies Group. The Bank, with headquarters in Tampa, has fourteen offices, including retail branches in Lake Mary, Winter Park, Lakewood Ranch (Sarasota), Belleair Bluffs, Countryside (Clearwater), Dunedin, Kenneth City, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Largo, St. Petersburg, and in Tampa on North Dale Mabry Highway and in Westchase. HomeBanc offers a variety of retail deposit products, along with SBA, USDA and commercial mortgage loan products. The company has assets of over $1 billion. The HomeBanc team is committed to exceeding customer expectations and making the company a Great Place to Work and a Great Place to Bank. More information on HomeBanc can be found at www.homebanc.com. SOURCE HomeBanc N.A. Related Links http://www.homebanc.com CHICAGO, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IES Abroad, a leading not-for-profit organization providing access to study abroad programs in more than 20 countries and 35 cities around the world has selected five finalists for this year's annual competition of films produced by students participating in IES Abroad study abroad programs around the world. The finalists were winnowed from a record 70 submissions that celebrate the transformative life-changing experiences made possible by studying abroad. The leading entries were selected by a prestigious jury of screenwriters, writers, producers, directors, and editors, all of whom are either film studies faculty at one of their international locations or alumni of IES Abroad programs. The grand prize winner will be selected by the public, who can vote for their favorite through the IES Abroad Facebook page https://contest.fbapp.io/saff2016 until 1 p.m. ET on August 31st. The winner will receive a $1,500 cash prize and a trip to Chicago for a screening of their film at the IES Abroad Annual Conference on October 7th in Chicago. Whether a 90-second film documenting a "day in the life," or an explanation of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) while studying in London, each video unpacks the unique perspective of a study abroad student's story of personal development and growth. "These films are a remarkable testament to the amazing power unleashed through the experience of studying abroad," said Dr. Mary M. Dwyer, President and CEO of IES Abroad. "In an increasingly polarized world, we are proud of IES Abroad's role in helping promote the mutual cultural understanding and education of the next generation of global leaders by facilitating their ability to enrich their education through international study and cultural exchange." This year's IES Abroad Film Festival finalists include: "Even in Europe" Jordan Cain ( Indiana University , IES Abroad Vienna) ( , IES Abroad Vienna) "FOMO" Rachel Beavers ( University of Georgia , IES Abroad London), Rod Flucas ( University of Redlands , IES Abroad London), Courtney Testa ( Penn State University , IES Abroad London) ( , IES Abroad London), ( , IES Abroad London), ( , IES Abroad London) "I Choose Openness" Thamine Nayeem ( University of Richmond , IES Abroad Rabat) Thamine Nayeem ( , IES Abroad Rabat) "With Love" Shannon Sotomayor ( Brown University , IES Abroad Dublin) ( , IES Abroad Dublin) "Si Sabe Algo" Paul Holden ( Yale University , IES Abroad Salamanca) About IES Abroad Founded in 1950, IES Abroad is a global, not-for-profit academic consortium of more than 200 top-tier American colleges and universities that provides premier study abroad and internship programs around the world. With more than 120 study abroad programs in 35 locations worldwide, the organization creates authentic global education opportunities for more than 6,300 students annually. IES Abroad has more than 110,000 alumni who have benefited from studying in IES Abroad programs since its inception. Contact: David Pickard (708) 434-5006 Email SOURCE IES Abroad Related Links https://www.iesabroad.org DUBAI, UAE, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) launched today the design phase of a new major regional program to empower young Arab women scientists and leaders in agricultural research and development. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Logo (PRNewsFoto/ICSA) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402080LOGO ) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402081LOGO ) Funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the design phase will lay the groundwork for the Young Arab Women Scientists Leadership (Tamkeen) Program, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The Program will help to build and improve skills and capacities of a new generation of young Arab women scientists and leaders, contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality and women's empowerment. Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Director General of ICBA, said: "Women are keepers and developers. They do deserve and require more opportunities. That is why in this Program we wanted to give priority to equipping women, namely women scientists, with necessary knowledge, skills and tools so that they can realize their full potential and contribute more to their countries' economies." The past few decades have seen a considerable increase in the number of women scientists and leaders working in agricultural research in both industrialized and developing countries. However, empirical evidence shows that there is a disproportionately low number of women working in senior scientific and managerial positions, especially in the MENA region. Women scientists face a wide range of barriers ranging from family and social expectations to limited networking opportunities to lack of targeted leadership programs. These challenges limit women's opportunities for advancement into senior positions. "IsDB pays significant attention to the role of women in development. Therefore, improving the skills of Arab women scientists in agricultural research is a step in the right direction. We believe that empowering women with the right skills in agricultural research will contribute to alleviating poverty and making food available to the poor. We will work with our partners to ensure that skill acquisition in our member countries is barrier free," stated Dr. Osman El-Feil, Director, Agriculture and Rural Development Department, IsDB. Agricultural research, development and extension agencies will benefit from the increased presence of women in senior research and leadership positions as increasing diversity of leadership voices is shown to improve outcomes. Women leaders in science are better placed to identify challenges and solutions for women in agriculture, resulting in improved food security and nutrition for all rural people. Therefore, it is important to promote more balanced representation of women in decision-making processes related to agricultural knowledge, science, and technology at all levels. Mr. Hassan Al-Damluji, Head of Middle East Relations at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said: "At the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we are incredibly optimistic about the role science can play in driving change for the world's poorest people. We are also determined to ensure that women are front and center in all aspects of development work, and that includes women scientists creating new solutions to food security challenges. That is why we are so excited about our partnership with ICBA and the Program that this grant will help to design." The design phase will serve to identify the barriers and challenges facing young Arab women scientists working in agricultural research and development, as well as knowledge and skills they need to advance their careers. ICBA will assess leadership and innovation modules of agricultural science programs, as well as the needs of women scientists in the MENA region, focusing on nine Arab countries (Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates). The findings will inform the Program that will help to improve leadership opportunities for women scientists in agricultural research institutions throughout the MENA region and increase knowledge exchange and active peer/mentor networks for Arab women scientists. The Program will also help to identify and empower groups of women champions and build a critical mass of pathfinders, visionary leaders, and change agents, ultimately contributing to better and more women-centered solutions for improved food security and nutrition in the MENA region. About ICBA The International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) is an international, non-profit organization that aims to strengthen agricultural productivity in marginal and saline environments through identifying, testing and facilitating access to sustainable solutions for food, nutrition and income security. http://www.biosaline.org About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. Through collaboration and partnership, the foundation helps fund research and programs to benefit those living in poverty all around the globe. In the Middle East, the foundation works in partnership with countries in the region to address development challenges both locally and around the world. Central to this effort is the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, a $2.5 billion fund partnership with the Islamic Development Bank that uses innovative financing mechanisms to unlock cost-effective loans for sustainable development projects in health, agriculture, and infrastructure. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Sue Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. You can find out more at http://www.gatesfoundation.org. About IsDB IsDB is a multilateral development bank with headquarters in Jeddah, KSA. It consists of 57 member countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. The purpose of the bank is to foster the economic development and social progress in its member countries, and Muslim communities in non-member countries. The bank has regional offices in Kuala Lampur (Malaysia), Rabat (Morocco), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Dakar (Senegal), and several gateway offices and field representatives in different parts of the world. http://www.isdb.org/ SOURCE International Center for Biosaline Agriculture TOKYO, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Isetan Mitsukoshi Group, supported by the government-financed Cool Japan Fund Inc., will open a new specialty store, "ISETAN The Japan Store Kuala Lumpur," in Malaysia at the end of October 2016. As global interest in Japan continues to grow, we are pleased to introduce Japanese history, culture, technology, diversity and lifestyle designs. The new store will deliver Japanese lifestyles and aesthetics to customers. We will bring not only the best of Japan, but authentic Japanese experiences as well. (5 Images: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/opn/release/201608263665/) The store will have six floors introducing high-quality products, experiences and services: LGF: New dining style based on authentic Japanese tastes and technologies -- groceries, sake, beer & whisky, Japanese and Western sweets and green tea, delicatessen, eat-in dining space, fresh foods, etc. GF: Fashion, art, technology and Japan's rich diversity are expressed 1F: Japan's fashion culture, a melting pot of unique combinations 2F: A collection of products featuring unique Japanese materials and technology to enhance beautiful, healthy lifestyles 3F: Experience Japanese culture -- bookstore, culture academy, photo lounge, etc. 4F: Restaurant floor featuring authentic Japanese cuisine opening in January 2017 Comment by Hiroshi Ohnishi, President and CEO: "We will introduce Japan's exceptional products, experiences and services to the world. In 2011, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) launched "Cool Japan," a program promoting the introduction of regional products, fashion and other content to the world. In this context, the Isetan Mitsukoshi Group has promoted the "JAPAN SENSES" campaign, introducing to our customers remarkable traditional crafts from all over Japan, styling them with a newborn originality. Now, to more clearly convey the spirit of "Cool Japan," we are ready to show the world the exceptional craftsmanship Japan is proud to offer at the fully renovated LOT 10 in Kuala Lumpur, supported by Cool Japan Fund Inc." Store Overview: Store name: ISETAN The Japan Store Kuala Lumpur Company: Isetan Cool Japan Department Store SDN. BHD. Store location: LOT 10 Shopping Centre, 50 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Store size: Approximately 11,000 m2 Original press release (English): http://pdf.irpocket.com/C3099/xoy0/i7rK/g0ec.pdf The Japan Store website: http://thejapanstore.mistore.jp/ Corporate website: http://www.imhds.co.jp/english/ SOURCE Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. Related Links http://www.imhds.co.jp/english Baku, Azerbaijan, August 29 By Azad Hasanli Trend: Azerbaijans SOCAR expects positive outcome of the negotiations on the transit of Turkmen gas through the territory of Azerbaijan, Khoshbakht Yusifzade, SOCAR first vice president, said. He made the remarks at the First International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) Eurasian Conference being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29. He said that it is beneficial for Turkmenistan to join the Azerbaijani pipeline infrastructure for its gas transit. "We have pipelines stretching to the middle of the Caspian Sea which are at a small distance from Turkmenistan," he said. There is also an issue connected with the development of Kapaz border field, Yusifzade added. "Turkmenistan calls this field Sardar. I think that we will resolve this issue in the near future." Earlier, US Chevron company and German Wintershall company expressed interest in developing Kapaz field. The decision on joint development of Kapaz field before signing of the Convention on the status of the Caspian Sea can accelerate the implementation of the Trans-Caspian gas pipeline construction project. PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IT Revolution (http://itrevolution.com), the industry leader for advancing DevOps, today announced the conference program for the 2016 DevOps Enterprise Summit (DOES16). The event, which aims to identify and amplify DevOps best practices for technology leaders of large enterprises, will be held in San Francisco from November 7-9 (http://events.itrevolution.com/us/). For a limited time only, attendees can receive a 20 percent discount when they register to attend with the promo code: VOTEDEVOPS (http://bit.ly/votedevops). The discounted registration period ends September 14, when registration rates will return to full price. "We have another fantastic program for attendees at DevOps Enterprise Summit San Francisco," said Gene Kim, founder of IT Revolution and co-author of "The Phoenix Project" and upcoming "DevOps Handbook." "Attendees will have the unique opportunity to learn from other technology leaders who are transforming their organizations, as well as some of the best experts in topics that the community has expressed interest in." The next round of speakers added to the DOES16 conference program include: John Allspaw , Chief Technology Officer at Etsy , Chief Technology Officer at Etsy Matthew Barr , Architect at Akamai Technologies , Architect at Akamai Technologies Aimee Bechtle, Sr. Manager Card Technology Advanced Engineering at Capital One Manager Card Technology Advanced Engineering at Capital One Ed Blankenship , Product Manager for Visual Studio Team Services at Microsoft , Product Manager for Visual Studio Team Services at Microsoft Dominca DeGrandis , Director of Training & Coaching at LeanKit , Director of Training & Coaching at LeanKit Damon Edwards , Co-Founder and Managing Partner at DTO Solutions , Co-Founder and Managing Partner at DTO Solutions Kevina Finn-Braun , Director of Product Infrastructure and Service Management at Intuit , Director of Product Infrastructure and Service Management at Intuit Jayne Groll , President of ITSM Academy , President of ITSM Academy Sam Guckenheimer , Group Product Planner at Microsoft , Group Product Planner at Microsoft Kaimar Karu, Head of Product Strategy and Development at Axelos Rosalind Radcliffe , Distinguished Engineer and Chief Architect for DevOps for z Systems at IBM , Distinguished Engineer and Chief Architect for DevOps for z Systems at IBM J. Paul Reed , Managing Partner at Release Engineering Approaches , Managing Partner at Release Engineering Approaches Brian Timmeny , Sr. Director Card Technology Advanced Engineering at Capital One The full program is available online and can be found here: (http://events.itrevolution.com/us/schedule/). IT Revolution and founding partner Electric Cloud have coined the DOES16 conference theme as "Leading Change." Attendees can expect to gain a clear understanding of the intricacies of large-scale DevOps implementations and best practices for leading IT transformations at scale. In addition, on November 8, there will be a special DOES16 party and cocktail reception centered on the theme of "Vote DevOps" for attendees to network and celebrate. Join the #DOES16 Conversation DOES16 organizers will be hosting several online events in September featuring many of the presenters and offering insights into the topics and questions at the core of this year's conference: Video Chat 1: Wednesday, September 7 at 11:30 a.m. PDT. Watch this event online: (http://bit.ly/2aRPrdX) CrowdChat: Monday, September 12 at 10 a.m. PDT . Learn more and add to your calendar: (http://bit.ly/2ba9KYm) at . Learn more and add to your calendar: (http://bit.ly/2ba9KYm) Video Chat 2: Wednesday, September 28 at 11:30 a.m. PDT. Watch this event online: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcaajsejSSQ) For more information about DOES16, please visit: (http://events.itrevolution.com/us/). Share This: DevOps Enterprise Summit 2016 Finalizes #SFO program http://events.itrevolution.com/us/schedule/ @DOESsummit #DOES16 #DevOps About IT Revolution IT Revolution (www.itrevolution.com) researches and amplifies the best practices of high-performing technology organizations. Founded by Gene Kim, the company publishes books, hosts events and supports the adoption of DevOps practices in the IT community. Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR 303-581-7760, ext. 16 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160322/346968LOGO SOURCE IT Revolution MONTREAL, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - JFL Media Training is proud to announce that beginning September 2016 we will be offering our specialized training services in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Boston. In March 2017, we will begin a more widespread expansion of our services. New York and San Francisco will become access points. We've been online with our website since January 1st, 2016. We have a fresh image and offer technology adapted to interactive media. www.jfl-media.com/en/ JFL Media Training was founded in 1986. In 2009 we began our specialization in corporate education. The corporate focus provides training for Adobe suite, 3D software, web marketing (SEO) and SEM. SOURCE JFL Media Related Links http://www.jfl-media.com "The 3 Minute Games team is excited for players to meet a brand-new character - Alex Esposito. The first Lifeline was just the start of bigger story. Crisis Line answers some of the mysteries of the first three Lifeline games and continues expanding on the Green Series to reveal more of this amazing universe coming soon!" Marisa Bell, Lead Producer of Lifeline: Crisis Line Lifeline, the first entry in the Green Series, was released in 2014 and quickly skyrocketed to the #1 spot on Apple Watch and iOS. A release for Android followed to critical and fan acclaim. Lifeline: Bloodline and Lifeline: Silent Night were released as follow ups to the Green Series in 2015 and a second series, Lifeline: Whiteout, was released in 2016. All have all received overwhelming support from players and reviewers with each game at 4 stars or higher. All are currently available on Android and iOS now. About Big Fish Founded in 2002, Big Fish is the world's largest producer and distributor of casual games, delivering fun to millions of people around the world. Through its mobile and online distribution platforms, Big Fish has distributed more than 2.5 billion games to customers in 150 countries from a growing catalogue of 450+ unique mobile games and 3,500+ unique PC games. After successfully transitioning from a PC-centric to a mobile-centric company, Big Fish has emerged as a top grossing mobile publisher worldwide with a portfolio that includes the #1 mobile social casino game, Big Fish Casino. The company is headquartered in Seattle, WA, with regional offices in Oakland, CA, and Luxembourg. CONTACT: Conor Murphy, 206-213-5753, [email protected] Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwMOew0vC00 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402263 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402247 SOURCE Big Fish Related Links http://www.bigfishgames.com SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Linkage Biosciences, a global leader in the field of transplant diagnostics, announced today that it has been awarded a four-year contract by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) in the UK for implementation of the LinkSeq Real-Time PCR HLA typing product. The new tissue typing platform, including Real-Time PCR instrumentation, will be installed and adopted by various laboratories across the country. Dr. Andrea Harmer, National Head of NHS Blood and Transplant H&I Services, said, "At NHS Blood and Transplant, we were looking for the best technology available for our rapid typing requirements. We developed a comprehensive matrix to evaluate multiple platforms and were extremely pleased with the results from Linkage Biosciences. The laboratory tests performed by our scientists showed the product to be simple to use, fast, and robust." "We are excited to partner with NHS Blood and Transplant and support the fast-growing adoption of LinkSeq tissue typing technology," said Zachary Antovich, Chief Executive Officer of Linkage Biosciences. "The technical advantages of LinkSeq, as supported by all the necessary evidence during the evaluation period, clearly established the superiority of our offering. The decision of the UK's NHS Blood and Transplant to select our product is the outcome of a thorough evaluation of the competitive landscape and we suspect other nations will view this tender as a benchmark for their own assessment." LinkSeq offers a dramatically simplified workflow for detecting Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes associated with tissue compatibility for organ transplantation. With less than 10 minutes of set-up and no further operator intervention, LinkSeq provides complete molecular genotyping results in as little as 90 minutes. Its simple workflow avoids post-amplification contamination, as well as allowing rapid turnaround time and increased laboratory productivity. Since its introduction in 2011, LinkSeq technology has been adopted by more than 140 laboratories across four continents. The company received regulatory approval in Europe in 2015. About NHS Blood and Transplant NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. It is responsible for ensuring a safe and efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England. It is also the organ donation organization for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. About Linkage Biosciences Linkage Biosciences is a molecular diagnostics company developing and marketing products that dramatically improve and expedite complex genetic testing. LinkSeq is the company's flagship technology, covering all classical HLA genes and over 13,000 alleles in a single test. LinkSeq technology utilizes a proprietary assay methodology including reagents and software in combination with standard Real-Time PCR hardware to simplify the determination of complex genetic sequences. Linkage Biosciences obtained CE IVD marking and ISO 13485 accreditation in 2015. The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California, USA. Linkage Biosciences and LinkSeq are trademarks of Linkage Biosciences, Inc. To learn more please visit www.linkagebio.com Media Contact: Matthew Frome +1 415 346 5262 [email protected] SOURCE Linkage Biosciences Related Links http://www.linkagebio.com The project is the result of a broad set of partnerships and community support. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot program, the Clean Energy Group , the University of Minnesota-Duluth and the City of Duluth. Other partners include renewable energy non-profit group Ecolibrium3, as well as the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Lake Superior College, the Minnesota Power Foundation, Werner Electric, Innovative Solar Inc., Solar Market Pathways and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Chapter 242). The system was installed by Great Northern Solar, a Sunverge Authorized Installer. "We're thrilled to bring this unique emergency resource to the people of Duluth," said Tom O'Rourke, executive director of Hartley Nature Center. "We are committed to nature and to our community, and being able to call on our solar power via the Sunverge system lets us meet both those commitments." Sunverge's systems capture excess power generated by the rooftop solar panels installed by homeowners and small businesses. Using sophisticated intelligence that is integral to the system, the SIS will automatically switch from the electric grid to stored renewable power at peak demand times, when energy prices are at their highest. This saves owners money on their monthly power bill and reduces the emissions from traditional power plants. In many cases, individual SIS units are aggregating into a "Virtual Power Plant" that can help utilities reduce the need to switch on expensive and polluting central power plants at peak times. This connection of the units as a VPP through a flexible cloud-based software platform makes possible the transition to power as a service and allows more intelligent, automatic and efficient management of distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar, energy storage and other distributed energy resources. "This project is an excellent use case for intelligent energy storage," said Ken Munson, co-founder and CEO of Sunverge Energy. "The Center is providing a valuable service to Duluth residents and demonstrating what's possible when you combine renewable power, intelligent energy storage and forward-thinking customers like Hartley." About the Hartley Nature Center Hartley Nature Center serves more than 25,000 visitors a year, including more than 17,000 school-aged children, through field trips, special events and public programs. The adjacent Hartley Park offers 660 acres of widely varied recreational opportunities. About Sunverge Energy San Francisco-based Sunverge Energy enables homeowners to efficiently manage their own renewable energy generation and helps utilities, retailers and solar power providers manage those renewable power sources and aggregate them into Virtual Power Plants across neighborhoods, communities and entire service areas reliably, effectively and intelligently. Founded in 2009, the company makes the Sunverge Solar Integration System (SIS), a distributed energy storage and management appliance comprised of powerful storage batteries, power electronics and system-management software running in the cloud. The Sunverge SIS lowers costs, increases energy reliability, strengthens the grid and accelerates the adoption and integration of distributed renewable energy. Investors include AGL, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Kokam, MITSUI & Co., Siemens Venture Capital, Softbank China Venture Capital (SBCVC), Total Energy Ventures International and VisIR. For more information, please visit www.sunverge.com. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/401990 SOURCE Sunverge Energy Related Links http://www.sunverge.com The study, conducted by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce's Center for Business Research (CBR), also found that the 28,000 jobs for which MUSC is responsible generate more than $1.8 billion in income to the Charleston region's economy. MUSC's $3.8 billion annual economic impact translates to nearly 12 percent of the metro area's $33 billion economy. Its total employment impact of nearly 28,000 jobs means 1 out of every 12 jobs in the Charleston region is directly or indirectly attributable to MUSC. Covering fiscal year 2015 (July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015), the study focused on three components of the MUSC enterprise: MUSC Medical Center a more than 700-bed, four-site inpatient facility that consists of a nationally recognized Children's Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute-designated center), Level I Trauma Center, and Institute of Psychiatry. MUSC Physicians a statewide network of more than 750 primary and specialty health care providers who, together with the Medical Center, treat more than one million patients annually. The Medical University with its six colleges, Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy, MUSC enrolls about 3,000 students every year, and provides residency training for more than 500 graduate health professionals. Its campus is located on more than 80 acres in the city of Charleston , but the organization is involved in health care initiatives across the state of South Carolina . The university confers degrees at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels, and offers other professional training and certifications. The teaching staff, many of whom also provide clinical care and perform research, is comprised of more than 1,500 full and part-time faculty. "The MUSC enterprise's presence sustains economic activity in every business sector in the Charleston Metropolitan Area, which includes Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties," the study authors noted. MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, said that as the state's only academic medical center, MUSC is uniquely situated to directly affect both the health of its citizens and the economic health of the state and region. He also mentioned that the long-term impact of MUSC graduates across the health care sector and South Carolina is essentially priceless. "Our charge is unlike the mission of any other health care institution in the area because we stand at the crossroads of innovation, health care and higher education," he said. "This study reaffirms the tremendous, tangible impact our institution has as a major contributor, helping to drive the positive trajectory of our robust Charleston-area economy." While President Cole mentioned the gratification that comes with sharing this economic impact data, he was quick to note that there are many elements of what MUSC team members do every day that cannot adequately be measured. A practicing surgical oncologist himself, Cole noted that the vision of MUSC is to lead health innovation for the lives it touches. "As an institution and as individuals, we are committed to a strategy that puts our patients and their families first. Providing compassionate, respectful, family-centered care in a diverse and inclusive environment is at the heart of everything we try to accomplish," he said. "We want to change the future for our patients through innovation in scientific discovery and education. Additionally, partnering to build healthy communities is a pivotal element of our long-range plan. Certainly economic standing is one important element used to assess a community's health, and MUSC is proud to serve as one of Charleston's central economic engines as we all move forward together." About MUSC Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members in six colleges (Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy). As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.2 billion. MUSC Health operates a 700-bed medical center, which includes the only nationally recognized Children's Hospital in the state, the Center for Telehealth, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (a National Cancer Institute-designated center), Level I Trauma Center, Institute of Psychiatry, and the state's only transplant center. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the number one hospital in South Carolina. For more information on academic and research programs, visit musc.edu. For more information on hospital and patient services, visit muschealth.org. About CBR The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce's Center for Business Research has served as the center for the compilation, interpretation and distribution of business and economic data for the three-county Charleston Metropolitan Area for more than 25 years. CBR staff for this project included two researchers who together have 50 years of experience in economic and community research, and have conducted hundreds of economic impact analyses in the areas of manufacturing, real estate development, the military, the visitor industry, health care and the transportation sector. For information regarding the methodology of the study, please contact the Center for Business Research, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce at (843) 577-2510. Contact: Heather Woolwine (843)792-7669 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402159 SOURCE Medical University of South Carolina Related Links http://www.musc.edu WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA is gearing up to launch the United States' first mission to sample an asteroid, with activities at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida beginning Tuesday, Sept. 6, and culminating with the spacecraft launch Thursday, Sept. 8. Various activities are open to media and will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft is scheduled to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket between 7:05 and 9:05 p.m. EDT Sept. 8 from Space Launch Complex 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, neighboring Kennedy in Florida. For information on media accreditation and logistics of coverage, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/content/osiris-rex-briefings-and-events The full schedule of events and NASA TV coverage is as follows: Tuesday, Sept. 6 10:30 a.m. Commercial Crew Program media tour NASA's Commercial Crew Program will provide media with an update on the progress being made by the agency's commercial crew partners. Media wishing to participate must arrive at the Kennedy Press Site by 9:45 a.m. to board buses, and will return to the Press Site by 11:50 a.m. 1 p.m. Prelaunch mission briefing at the Kennedy Press Site This briefing will air live on NASA TV and the agency's website. Social media followers can ask questions during this event using #askNASA. Briefing participants are: Geoffrey Yoder , acting associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington , acting associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Dante Lauretta , OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona , Tucson , OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the , Tim Dunn , NASA launch manager at Kennedy , NASA launch manager at Scott Messer , program manager for NASA missions at ULA in Centennial, Colorado , program manager for NASA missions at ULA in Michael Donnelly , OSIRIS-REx project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland , OSIRIS-REx project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Rich Kuhns , OSIRIS-REx program manager for Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver , OSIRIS-REx program manager for Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Clay Flinn , launch weather officer for the 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida 2 p.m. OSIRIS-REx mission science briefing at the Kennedy Press Site This briefing will air live on NASA TV and the agency's website. Social media followers can ask questions during this event using #askNASA. Briefing participants are: Christina Richey , OSIRIS-REx deputy program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington , OSIRIS-REx deputy program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Jason Dworkin , OSIRIS-REx project scientist at Goddard , OSIRIS-REx project scientist at Goddard Daniella DellaGiustina , OSIRIS-REx lead image processing scientist at the University of Arizona , Tucson 2:45 p.m. Ka-Band Objects Observation and Monitoring (KaBOOM) tour Media will have an opportunity to tour the antenna site and talk to Principal Investigator Barry Geldzahler about this high-power, higher-resolution radar system being developed to characterize near-Earth objects, such as asteroids and comets, 100,000 times more accurately than optical telescopes. Buses board for this tour at 2:45 p.m. and return to the Press Site by 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 8 a.m. Atlas V Launch Vehicle Rollout Media are invited to cover the rollout of the Atlas V rocket from the Vertical Integration Facility to the launch pad. Media should be at Kennedy's Press Site at 8 a.m. for transportation to the viewing location near Space Launch Complex 41. Media will be returned to the Press Site by 11:30 a.m. Noon to 1 p.m. -- OSIRIS-REx Talk from Kennedy's Operations Support Building II (OSB II) NASA will host a discussion with representatives from the mission's science and engineering teams that includes an overview of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and the science behind the mission. Social media followers can ask questions during this event using #askNASA. This event will air live on NASA TV and the agency's website. 1 to 2 p.m. Uncovering the Secrets of Asteroids During this panel at OSB II, NASA scientists will discuss asteroids, how they relate to the origins of our solar system, and the search for life beyond Earth. Social media followers can ask questions during this event using #askNASA. This event will air live on NASA TV and the agency's website. Panelists for this conversation are: Ellen Stofan , NASA chief scientist , NASA chief scientist Michelle Thaller , deputy director of science communications for NASA's Science Mission Directorate , deputy director of science communications for NASA's Science Mission Directorate Lindley Johnson , director of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office in NASA's Science Mission Directorate , director of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office in NASA's Science Mission Directorate Alex Young , associate director for science in the Heliophysics Science Division at Goddard Media who would like to attend this panel must board a bus at the Press Site at 12:15 p.m. to travel to the OSB II. Buses will return at 2:15 p.m. Also on this day, NASA will air a prelaunch webcast on the agency's YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/NASAtelevision Thursday, Sept. 8 2 p.m. -- Dust to Thrust: Mining for Resources in Space During this event at the Kennedy Press Site, media will learn more about the potential and technology for space mining, and have the opportunity to interview experts in the in-situ resource utilization and atmospheric mining communities. This event will not air on NASA TV or the agency's website. 4:30 p.m. Launch Coverage Begins Live coverage of the OSIRIS-REx mission launch will begin on NASA TV and the agency's website with the start of cryogenic tanking of the Atlas V rocket, and conclude approximately one hour after launch. 7:05 to 9:05 p.m. Launch window for the OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft The launch will air live on NASA TV and the agency's website. Approximately 2 hours After Launch Post-Launch News Conference Representatives from NASA and ULA will discuss the status of the spacecraft and next steps on the asteroid sampling mission. Social media followers can ask questions during this event using #askNASA. This event will air live on NASA TV and the agency's website. OSIRIS-REx will be the first U.S. mission to sample an asteroid. OSIRIS-REx will travel to the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, arriving in 2018, to survey the surface, retrieve at least 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of surface material, and return it to Earth in 2023 for study. Analysis of the sample will reveal the earliest stages of the solar system's evolution and the history of Bennu over the past 4.5 billion years. Goddard provides overall mission management, systems engineering and the safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx. The University of Arizona leads the science team and observation planning and processing. Lockheed Martin Space Systems built the spacecraft. OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA's New Frontiers Program. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the agency's New Frontiers Program for its Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Launch management is conducted by the Launch Services Program at Kennedy. To learn more about the OSIRIS-REx mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex To watch NASA Television programming online, or for downlink or schedule information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv Follow the launch countdown online at: http://www.twitter.com/NASAKennedy https://www.facebook.com/NASAKennedy http://blogs.nasa.gov/osiris-rex Join the conversation online using #osiris-rex and follow the OSIRIS-REx mission on social media at: http://www.twitter.com/OSIRISREx https://www.facebook.com/OSIRISREx Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov ALVIN, Texas, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Federation of the Blind of Texas commented today on the inclusion of language that would allow more veterans with disabilities to participate in the Space Available program in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by Congressman Mac Thornberry, chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services. Currently only medically discharged veterans injured on or after September 23, 1996, can participate in the program, while those injured prior to that date while defending the United States cannot. Norma Crosby, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas, said: "Blind Texans are extremely grateful to Congressman Thornberry for recognizing that the eligibility of veterans with disabilities for the Space Available program should not arbitrarily depend on when their disabilities were acquired and resulted in the end of their military service. We support the language that Congressman Thornberry has included in the House NDAA and urge that it be adopted when the House and Senate versions of the legislation are reconciled in conference this fall." Shelly Alongi, of Burkburnett, Texas, said: "I'm very happy that my representative, Mac Thornberry, supports this long-overdue correction to the exclusion of some veterans with disabilities from this program. Benefits for those who have made sacrifices in defending our country should be available to all of them, regardless of when they made their sacrifice." About the National Federation of the Blind The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back. CONTACT: Chris Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 (410) 262-1281 (Cell) [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150630/227114LOGO SOURCE National Federation of the Blind Related Links http://www.nfb.org WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A multi-week TV ad campaign featuring local sheriffs warning of the dangers posed by uncontrolled immigration and urging Congress and the president to enforce federal immigration laws was launched today. The ads, sponsored by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), will air more than 40 times nationally and in key markets in Wisconsin and North Carolina. "This ad campaign brings the perspective of law enforcement professionals who see firsthand the impact that uncontrolled immigration, sanctuary cities and criminal aliens have on our citizens and communities," said FAIR President Dan Stein. "The Obama administration's refusal to enforce immigration laws results in tens of thousands of criminal aliens being returned to communities all across the nation each year. Sheriffs, who are elected directly by the people, must deal with the crimes perpetrated by criminal aliens who are allowed to remain in the U.S. under Obama administration policies." The ad features sheriffs from across the country explaining why they think it's urgent for the president to enforce U.S. immigration laws and for Congress to hold him accountable for his refusal to carry out his constitutional obligation to protect the security of the American people. Featured Sheriffs include Donald Smith from Putnam County, New York; Sam Page from Rockingham County, North Carolina; Mike Chapman from Loudoun County, Virginia, and Ana Franklin from Morgan County, Alabama. The ad says: "America needs to enforce its immigration laws. Nobody understands that better than your local sheriffs. We see the impact of illegal immigration every day. We see firsthand the dangers of open borders, sanctuary cities and criminal aliens released back onto the streets. We are your local sheriffs, charged with keeping America safe. But we need the president and Congress to do their part and start enforcing immigration laws. Lives are depending on it." Sheriff Smith said he was compelled to speak out on immigration because the American public needs to know that law enforcement officials are increasingly concerned about our lack of border control. "Illegal immigration is an issue that has stayed in the 'too hard to handle' category for far too long. To have millions of people in this country who are here illegally and have no identity, while at the same time, law enforcement works so hard to keep our citizens safe from both criminal activity and the threat of terrorism is mind boggling." Sheriff Page noted that one of the key issues that motivated him to action on the immigration issue was witnessing the spread of sanctuary policies and how they were jeopardizing public safety. "Municipalities that support sanctuary city concepts create safe zones for criminal illegal aliens and those who choose to violate the laws of the United States of America," he said. Sheriff Franklin noted that in Alabama, the federal government's unwillingness to enforce immigration laws was being paid for by state and local taxpayers. "Illegal immigration is a huge drain on the services of the communities in which large groups of undocumented aliens reside," she said. To view the TV commercial, click here. ABOUT FAIR Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130103/MM36576LOGO SOURCE FAIR Related Links http://www.fairus.org LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With America gearing up for a heated presidential election this November, both political parties are talking about the economy and trade. Beyond the election rhetoric, a new company, AmericanShiz, has launched a new website to curate and promote only American-made goods in order to support local jobs and local communities. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401833LOGO Consumers can visit www.americanshiz.com for deals on thousands of products they need including, apparel and accessories, kitchen and appliances, jewelry, watches, bags, shoes, health and beauty, kids items, baby products, books, musical instruments, arts and crafts, sporting goods and food and grocery items. All products on the site are manufactured in the USA. The company says, "By purchasing goods made in the USA, you are supporting local businesses that hire local employees, use local vendors and service providers and rent local real estate. Dollars spent in the USA generate a cycle of economic empowerment for this country." AmericanShiz says the benefits of buying American are plentiful and include: Quality Safety Human Rights Environmental Protection National Security For more information, please visit www.americanshiz.com. About AmericanShiz AmericanShiz is a new company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., with the mission of finding and promoting the best American-made products to support local jobs in local communities nationwide. The company urges people to join its cause under its slogan, "Support American Biz, Buy American Shiz!" For more information, interested parties may visit www.americanshiz.com. Media Contact Scott Robertson, APR RobertsonComm for AmericanShiz [email protected] 949-766-6789 Office 949-212-7096 Mobile SOURCE AmericanShiz Related Links http://www.americanshiz.com Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 By Huseyn Valiyev Trend: Turkeys electronic map will be available on Azerbaijan's electronic map GoMap (gomap.az) in the coming two months, Azerbaijani company SINAM, the developer of GoMap, told Trend Aug. 29. GoMap is one of the first resources in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, which is based on the cloud technologies. Turkeys map has been practically integrated into GoMap and is already available in the test mode locally, said the company. Currently, the work on the maps localization in Azerbaijani language is being continued. Technical work is planned to be completed within the next two months, and as soon as it is completed, Turkeys electronic map will be available for all GoMap users, added the company. The agreement on inclusion Turkeys map in GoMap was reached with the Turkish Infotech company, with which the project is being implemented at the partnership level. The expansion of GoMap's coverage will make this service useful for tourists visiting Turkey. Irans electronic map will also be included in GoMap in the future. Currently, GoMap allows building a single route on the territory of Azerbaijan and Georgia. VANCOUVER, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - NovaCopper Inc. (TSX, NYSE-MKT: NCQ) ("NovaCopper" or the "Company") announced today that effective September 8, 2016 the Company will operate under the name Trilogy Metals Inc. and anticipates its shares will commence trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE-MKT under the new name and ticker symbol "TMQ" upon the opening of the markets on Thursday, September 8, 2016. New Trading Symbol: TMQ The name change was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on May 18, 2016 and has been conditionally approved by both the Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE-MKT. The Company intends to legally change the name effective September 1, 2016 and anticipates its common shares currently trading under the symbol "NCQ" will commence trading on both stock exchanges under the new ticker symbol "TMQ" upon the opening of the markets on Thursday, September 8, 2016. The CUSIP number assigned to the Company's shares following the name change is 89621C105 (ISIN: CA89621C1059). No action is required by stockholders with respect to the name change. Outstanding stock certificates are not affected by the name change and will not need to be exchanged. Certain changes in CUSIP number may cause a temporary interruption in electronic trading in the United States and/or with the Depository Trust Company. The Company encourages any concerns in this regard to be directed to the shareholder's broker or agent. More Than Copper NovaCopper will be changing its corporate name to Trilogy Metals Inc. ("Trilogy") to better reflect the diversity of metals at the Company's 100%-owned Upper Kobuk Minerals Projects ("UKMP"). The UKMP is located in the Ambler mining district in northwest Alaska; a region known to host deposits rich in copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver. The Company controls the mineral rights to approximately 353,000 acres of land containing two known mineral belts, the Ambler Schist Belt and the Bornite Carbonate Sequence. The Ambler Schist Belt hosts volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") type mineralization occurring as a series of high-grade polymetallic copper-lead-zinc-gold-silver deposits along the entire 100 kilometer (70 mile) long belt. So far exploration work in the Ambler Schist Belt has outlined several known deposits, including the Company's Arctic deposit which hosts significant resources (see Table 1) as well as 30 identified polymetallic prospects of which ten have been drill tested and have encountered mineralization. The Bornite Carbonate Sequence hosts several copper replacement targets around the Aurora and Pardner Hill prospects, in addition to an established resource identified at Bornite (see Table 1). Mineralization at Bornite is open to further exploration. Together, the Arctic and Bornite mineral resources contain over 8 Billion pounds of copper and over 2 Billion pounds of zinc mineralization plus significant precious metals. Naturally Diversified The Company's most advanced project is Arctic, a high-grade copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver VMS deposit located approximately 470 kilometers northwest of the City of Fairbanks, Alaska. The Company is currently advancing the Arctic project towards pre-feasibility. The 2016 field program focused on engineering and environmental site investigation studies and included over 3,000 meters of diamond drilling. The field program was successfully completed ahead of schedule and under-budget in early August. The UKMP also hosts the Bornite deposit which is located approximately 25 kilometers southwest of Arctic. Bornite is an exploration stage project where copper mineralization has replaced dolomite altered carbonate rocks of Devonian age. Examination of the lithology, structure, alteration assemblages and mineralogy suggests that the Bornite deposit has genetic affinities to the African Copper Belt of southern Africa and the Mt. Isa district of Queensland, Australia. Drilling at Bornite has already outlined a substantial resource (see Table 1); however, it also suggests that mineralization is open to the north and east along a 1 kilometer wide front. Table 1: Mineral Resources Resource Tonnes Grade Contained Metal Category Millions % Mlbs Copper Arctic Indicated 23.8 3.26 1,713 Inferred 3.4 3.22 239 Bornite In-Pit Indicated 40.5 1.02 913 Inferred 84.1 0.95 1,768 Bornite Below-Pit Inferred 57.8 2.89 3,683 Zinc Arctic Indicated 23.8 4.45 2,338 Inferred 3.4 3.84 285 Lead Arctic Indicated 23.8 0.76 400.9 Inferred 3.4 0.58 43.2 Resource Tonnes Grade Contained Metal Category Millions g/t Moz Gold Arctic Indicated 23.8 0.71 0.55 Inferred 3.4 0.59 0.06 Silver Arctic Indicated 23.8 53.2 40.8 Inferred 3.4 41.5 4.5 Definitions & Notes Mineral Resources: "measured", "indicated" and "inferred" mineral resources are estimated in accordance with the definitions of these terms adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") in November, 2010 updated in May 2014 and incorporated in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), by Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted to Mineral Reserves. Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal content. Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Contained gold and silver ounces are reported as troy ounces; contained copper, zinc, and lead pounds as imperial pounds. All amounts are stated in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. g/t = grams per tonne Comments on Individual Projects Arctic Resources stated as contained within a potentially economically minable open pit design using a constant NSR cut-off of $35.01/tonne milled. NSR calculation is based on assumed metal prices of $2.90/lb for copper, $0.85/lb for zinc, $0.90/lb for lead, $22.70/oz for silver, and $1,300/oz for gold. Appropriate mining costs, processing costs, metal recoveries and inter ramp pit slope angles were used to generate the pit design. The $35.01/tonne milled cut-off is calculated based on a process operating cost of $19.03/tonne, G&A of $7.22/tonne and site services of $8.76/tonne. NSR equals payable metal values, based on the metal prices outlined above, less applicable treatment, smelting, refining costs, penalties, concentrate transportation costs, insurance and losses and royalties. Bornite In-Pit mineral resources stated as contained within a pit shell developed using a metal price of $3.00/lb for copper, mining costs of $2.00/tonne, milling costs of $11/tonne, G&A cost of $5.00/tonne, 87% metallurgical recoveries and an average pit slope of 43 degrees. Below-Pit mineral resources at a 1.5% cut-off are considered as potentially economically viable in an underground mining scenario based on an assumed projected copper price of $3.00/lb, underground mining costs of $65.00 per tonne, milling costs of $11.00 per tonne, G&A of $5.00 per tonne, and an average metallurgical recovery of 87%. Qualified Persons Erin Workman, P.Geo. is the Director of Technical Services for NovaCopper Inc. and is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Ms. Workman has reviewed the technical information in this news release and approves the written disclosure contained herein. NovaCopper recently filed a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant technical report (the "Report") titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Bornite Project, Northwest Alaska, USA," that describes the potential in-pit and below-pit resources previously announced by the Company on April 19, 2016. The effective date of this report is May 16, 2016. The Report has been filed on SEDAR and EDGAR and is also available on the Company's website at www.novacopper.com. NovaCopper filed a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") compliant technical report (the "Report") titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment Report on the Arctic Project, Ambler Mining District, Northwest Alaska, USA," that describes the potential resources and economic assessment previously announced by the Company on July 30, 2013. The effective date of this report is September 12, 2013. The Report has been filed on SEDAR and EDGAR and is also available on the Company's website at www.novacopper.com. About NovaCopper NovaCopper Inc. is a metals exploration company focused on exploring and developing the Ambler mining district located in northwestern Alaska. It is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic VMS deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high grade copper mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within NovaCopper's land package that spans approximately 143,000 hectares. NovaCopper has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., a Regional Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a premier North American copper producer. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including but not limited to anticipated date of the new name and trading symbol, activities at the UKMP, achieving a pre-feasibility level of study at some point in the future, and the advancement of the AMDIAP. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NovaCopper's expectations include the uncertainties involving the need for additional financing to explore and develop properties and availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the development and operation of properties and infrastructure; the need to obtain permits and governmental approvals; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, metal grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in NovaCopper's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2015 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other NovaCopper reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. NovaCopper's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. NovaCopper assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. SOURCE NovaCopper Inc. Related Links http://www.novacopper.com VANCOUVER, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Orex Minerals Inc. (TSX-V: REX OTC: ORMNF) ("Orex"), is pleased to announce that the Phase-III diamond drilling program continues to intercept silver mineralization on the Sandra Escobar Project in Durango, Mexico. Assays for five more drill holes are now available. These include holes SA-16-039 to SA-16-043 in the southeastern region of the project. The Sandra Escobar Project is being advanced by Orex under an option agreement with Canasil Resources Inc. (TSX.V: CLZ) ("Canasil"). Highlight for this batch of holes is SA-16-041, which yielded 67 metres core length (58 m true thickness) grading 192 g/t silver, starting from surface. Within this is a sub-interval of 2 metres (1.73 m true thickness) grading 1,216 g/t silver. Hole SA-16-039 is located in a faulted corridor between the Main Zone and Burro Zone. Hole SA-040 is a 50 metres step out to the south side of the Main Zone. Holes SA-16-041, 042 and 043 are in-fill drill holes in the Main Zone to tighten section spacing to 50 metres. The in-fill drilling was performed at the request of the mining consultants who are preparing the initial resource estimate. Orex's President, Gary Cope says, "Drilling continues to yield thick intercepts of disseminated silver mineralization showing strong continuity in the Main Zone of the Boleras Deposit." Sandra Escobar Project 2015-2016 Diamond Drilling Program Holes 39 to 43 Hole From (m) To (m) Core Length (m) True Thick. (m) Ag (g/t) FA SA-16-039 55.00 63.00 8.00 7.25 67 Includes 56.00 60.00 4.00 3.63 74 Includes 59.00 60.00 1.00 0.91 91 MAIN ZONE SA-16-040 67.00 117.00 50.00 45.32 90 Includes 68.00 108.00 40.00 36.25 104 Includes 80.00 84.00 4.00 3.63 195 Includes 83.00 84.00 1.00 0.91 373 SA-16-041 2.00 69.00 67.00 58.02 192 Includes 12.00 59.00 47.00 40.70 241 Includes 23.00 32.00 9.00 7.79 449 Includes 23.00 25.00 2.00 1.73 1,216 (lower int.) 112.50 117.00 4.50 3.90 51 Includes 112.50 114.00 1.50 1.30 76 SA-16-042 27.00 83.00 56.00 48.50 129 Includes 65.00 79.00 14.00 12.12 256 Includes 67.00 77.00 10.00 8.66 299 Includes 68.00 69.00 1.00 0.87 680 (lower int.) 127.50 132.00 4.50 3.90 40 SA-16-043 40.00 95.00 55.00 47.63 56 Includes 43.00 83.00 40.00 34.64 60 Includes 43.00 55.00 12.00 10.39 84 Includes 53.00 54.00 1.00 0.87 114 Kluane Drilling Ltd. provides the drilling services utilizing an environmentally low-impact KD-1000 man-portable diamond drill rig. Silver mineralization is hosted in a rhyolite volcanic dome. An altered and highly permeable crystal lithic tuff unit contains disseminations of silver bearing minerals and broadly spaced stockwork veinlets. The current working model has a porphyritic rhyolite unit as an impermeable cap, which may have focused mineralizing fluids into the host permeable volcaniclastic unit. True thicknesses are estimated based on structural and stratigraphic interpretations. A map showing the locations of the drill holes and sample cross sections are available on the Orex website. Orex maintains a QA/QC sampling protocol for the diamond drilling program, including the insertion of commercial analytical standards and blank samples. Analytical testing is performed by Bureau Veritas. Silver values are determined by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Multi-element analyses are also determined using a 4-acid digestion and ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry). Sandra Escobar Silver-Gold Project, Durango, Mexico Sandra Escobar is situated north of the town of Tepehuanes, Durango, in the heart of the "Mexican Silver Trend", midway between the mining districts of Tovar and Guanacevi and is 75 km west of Silver Standard's La Pitarrilla. This prolific trend hosts some of the world's largest silver camps and deposits, including Fresnillo, Guanajuato, La Pitarrilla, La Preciosa, Real de Angeles and Zacatecas. The project consists of 6,976 hectares of mineral concessions and covers multiple mineralized epithermal quartz veins and breccia structures. These veins form a high level silver-gold-base metals system, hosted in andesitic and rhyolitic rocks, centered on a large rhyolite dome complex in the north and silver systems in smaller rhyolite dome complexes to the southeast. Intense alteration zones and fluid flooding in permeable formations indicates the presence of bulk tonnage targets. Excellent infrastructure exists in the Sandra Escobar area, including paved road access, electrical power, water and manpower from nearby communities. Dale Brittliffe, P.Geo., and Ben Whiting, P.Geo., are Qualified Persons, as defined in NI 43-101, and take responsibility for the technical disclosure contained within this news release. ABOUT OREX MINERALS INC. Orex is a Canadian-based junior exploration company comprised of highly qualified mining professionals. Orex has several current projects: the Coneto Gold-Silver Project in Durango, Mexico, a joint venture with Fresnillo PLC, the Jumping Josephine Gold-Silver Project in British Columbia, Canada, plus this newest Sandra Escobar Silver Project in Durango, Mexico, with Canasil Resources Inc. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gary Cope President This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and Orex undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Orex Minerals Inc. Related Links www.orexminerals.com MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OurFamilyWizard introduces a Spanish version of its cloud-based web application for families and family law practitioners. The Spanish version of the OurFamilyWizard website (OFW) provides the same suite of features as well as the same levels of access and documentation to Spanish-speaking users. "Having a Spanish version allows us to better serve a wider range of parents and professionals," said Jai Kissoon, CEO of OFW. Since 2001, OFW has been helping thousands of co-parents manage family calendars, parenting time, family information, shared expenses and more from separate homes. OFW has proven to help create clear, documented communication while also reducing divorce conflict. OFW is by far the most widely-used co-parent communication tool to curb conflict and excessive litigation. Family courts across the US and Canada routinely order parents to use OFW in contested cases. According to a report by the Pew Research Center, more than 37 million people speak Spanish at home. The report also suggests that Spanish is the most spoken non-English language in the nation, even among non-Hispanics. As that number continues to grow, so will the number of Spanish-speaking households in the midst of a divorce or separation with children. Child Trends Databank reported that in 2015, 29 percent of all Hispanic children in the US only lived with one parent. Whether a family prefers to converse in English, Spanish or both languages, OFW provides the right tools to make co-parent communication more convenient and easier to manage. Along with families, professional access on OFW is also available in Spanish. Family law and mental health practitioners can use OFW's tools to streamline client management and improve client outcomes. Take a step towards moving your family forward and create an OFW account today. Are you an existing user? You can update your account language preference by logging in at es.OurFamilyWizard.com, then go to My Account. Need access to work with clients on OFW? Sign up for a free OFW Professional Account. Existing professional users can also update their account language preference by logging in, then going to My Account. For more information about the Spanish version of OFW, visit es.OurFamilyWizard.com. About the OurFamilyWizard website: Since 2001, the OurFamilyWizard website has been helping divorced and separated parents share information, schedules, expenses and more for their children. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160329/348686LOGO SOURCE OurFamilyWizard.com Related Links http://es.ourfamilywizard.com Complex respiratory illnesses including asthma and COPD are on the rise. In fact, COPD is estimated to affect 24 million adults, with more than half not knowing they have the illness despite exhibiting symptoms 1 . In the United States alone, 120,000 people die from COPD each year 2 . With more than three million deaths annually, COPD is expected to be the third leading cause of death worldwide in the next fifteen years, more than breast cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer combined, as predicted by the World Health Organization 3 . "COPD claims millions of lives every year, yet it doesn't have nearly as much visibility as it should for how difficult it makes the lives of patients and their families. Our aim in sponsoring this film is to raise awareness of the disease and its consequences if left undiagnosed or untreated," said Eli Diacopoulos, Home Respiratory Care Business Leader, Philips. "By sponsoring this film, we hope to spark conversations about improving COPD detection, prevention and treatment, and empower people with facts to educate others about a disease that has profoundly impacted many lives, like Leonard Nimoy's." Produced by Nimoy's daughter, Julie Nimoy, and her husband, David Knight of Health Point Productions, COPD: Highly Illogical reveals the last few months of the famed actor's life, which was claimed by the disease in February of last year. Nimoy's COPD stemmed from both his smoking addiction and the fact that his decade-long struggle with the disease wasn't officially diagnosed until 2013, when it was past the point of effective treatment. "Movie enthusiasts and science fiction fans alike were captivated by my father, Leonard Nimoy, in his role as Mr. Spock in Star Trek," said Julie Nimoy. "His character's iconic catchphrase, 'Live long and prosper,' quickly echoed through generations and became a battle cry for fans. I look forward to continuing my dad's mission of raising awareness and helping COPD patients like him to live longer and prosper in their own lives, as my dad did in his." For more than 25 years, Philips has been shaping the future of care for those with COPD. Offering people-centric innovations designed to empower patients to live full and active lives with COPD, Philips is making what was once science fiction, a reality. Among Philips' recent innovations in respiratory care is the SimplyGo Mini portable oxygen concentrator, one of the smallest and lightest POCs on the market, as well as Care Orchestrator, a healthcare management application enabling enhanced connectivity and care for patients in the home. Philips will showcase its latest COPD and respiratory solutions at the upcoming European Respiratory Society International Congress (ERS) in London, from September 3-7. Further details on the production of COPD: Highly Illogical - Remembering Leonard Nimoy will also be available. To learn more about the documentary and view the trailer, please visit http://copdllap.com/. Follow updates on the release of the film at the COPD: Highly Illogical Facebook page and on Twitter. For more information on Philips Sleep & Respiratory Care business, visit the Twitter or LinkedIn page. For further information, please contact: Alicia Cafardi Philips [email protected] 412-523-9616 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. 1 The COPD Foundation. 2012. Retrieved from http://www.copdfoundation.org/What-is-COPD/Understanding-COPD/What-is-COPD.aspx 2 National Institutes of Health. 2013. Retrieved from https://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx 3 World Health Organization. 2008. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/respiratory/copd/burden/en/ Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401066 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140122/NE50581LOGO SOURCE Royal Philips Related Links http://www.philips.com FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Securities Fraud Attorney Mark A. Tepper has filed claim against brokerage firm Southeast Investments, N.C. Inc., for allegedly placing a retired Boca Raton nurse, whose primary source of income was social security, in harm's way. In the claim filed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Mr. Tepper, a former Chief Trial Counsel at the New York Attorney General's Bureau of Investor Protection and Securities, alleges that Southeast Investments, N.C. disregarded the retiree's stated objective of income with moderate risk, recommending instead Cornerstone Total Return Fund (NYSE: CRF), "an aggressive total return fund, focused on capital appreciation concentrated in equities." The claim contends that the fund's high distribution rate was not tied to the fund's investment income, or capital gains, and did not represent yield or investment return. Instead, the claim alleges, "Respondent made distribution payments to [the retired nurse] which consisted primarily of the return of her own investment only a small portion was actually income." "Respondent omitted material facts. Had Respondent investigated CRF, using "reasonable diligence", it would have learned that based on the NAV premium she paid, it cost [the retired nurse] $1.20 for each $1 of capital returned by CRF," the claim alleges. [Southeast Investments, N.C] "either did not understand CRF or, worse, acted with intent to defraud," the claim alleges. Southeast Investments is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. For a free case evaluation from the Mark A. Tepper law firm, email attorney Mark Tepper at [email protected] or telephone 954-961-0096. About Mark A. Tepper, P.A. (www.MarkTepper.com) Attorney Mark A. Tepper is the former Chief Trial Counsel at the New York Attorney General's Bureau of Investor Protection and Securities. He has earned the reputation of "Investor Advocate" while practicing law for over 35 years representing individual investors. FINRA arbitrators have upheld stockbroker fraud claims filed by Mr. Tepper against many brokerage firms. A member of the Florida, New York and California Bars, Mr. Tepper is peer-reviewed for 16 consecutive years, AV PREEMINENT for ethical standards and legal ability, the highest rating of lawyers in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Hopkinson, NewsMark Public Relations 561-852-5767 [email protected] http://www.newsmarkpr.com SOURCE Mark A. Tepper, P.A. Related Links http://www.marktepper.com DAYTON, Ohio, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Reynolds and Reynolds Company today announced the release of the Reynolds LAW Wyoming F&I Library, which is a comprehensive catalog of standardized, legally reviewed finance and insurance (F&I) documents for new car and truck dealers throughout the state of Wyoming. Jerry Kirwan, senior vice president and general manager of Reynolds Document Services, said: "The documents in the LAW Wyoming F&I Library are designed to help streamline the car-buying process and enhance the consumer experience with the dealership. Using standard documents written in consumer-friendly language can help to create a clearer, more consistent, and more efficient F&I process for the F&I manager and for the consumer. And, because of those improvements to the overall F&I process, the overall consumer experience with the dealership can be improved." Kirwan noted that because regulatory scrutiny is an ongoing concern for automotive retailers, the LAW Wyoming F&I Library is a tool to help dealers meet compliance obligations and manage risk. The documents in the library are regularly reviewed for legal sufficiency with the latest automotive regulations by Reynolds' industry-leading forms specialists alongside Reynolds' outside legal partners. The printed documents in the LAW Wyoming F&I Library also are available in a digital format, which can help facilitate the conversion to laser-printed transactions and e-contracting. Reynolds Document Services maintains licensing agreements with all major providers of electronic F&I (e-F&I) solutions. About Reynolds LAW Brand Documents Reynolds' LAW brand is well established as one of the most trusted brands in the automotive industry. LAW documents are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and have been endorsed by a number of state automobile dealers associations and leading automotive finance institutions. The flagship product of the LAW brand is the Reynolds LAW 553 Universal Retail Installment Sale Contract, the most widely accepted document in auto finance. The Reynolds LAW 553 is regularly reviewed by industry experts to help keep pace with new legislative and regulatory developments. Reynolds and Reynolds was founded in 1866 as a business forms printer. Since the 1920s, Reynolds has been known as the leader in serving automobile dealerships nationwide with standard and custom automotive documents to help dealers manage their operations more efficiently and serve their customers more effectively. About Reynolds Reynolds and Reynolds is a leading provider of automobile dealership software, services, and forms designed to help dealerships deliver better business results and transform the customer experience. The company is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with major operations in Houston and College Station, Texas, and Celina, Ohio. (www.reyrey.com) SOURCE The Reynolds and Reynolds Company Related Links http://www.reyrey.com BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SANS Institute, in collaboration with RP/6 and the United Service Organizations (USO), today announced that SANS will offer 100% scholarship-based cybersecurity training in Colorado Springs as part of the VetSuccess Academy program. The SANS VetSuccess Academy provides transitioning veterans and active duty military spouses with advanced technical training, industry-recognized GIAC certifications, and connections to leading employers in cybersecurity. For employers, the program is a faster, more reliable, and less expensive way to find, train, certify and employ qualified cybersecurity talent. "We hear time and again from our employer partners that they want the integrity and motivation veterans bring to the job," said Anne Sprute, founder and CEO of RP/6. "We are so excited to connect Colorado Springs' transitioning service members who have those skills in abundance to the best cybersecurity training available thanks to the SANS Institute and the USO. After piloting the VetSuccess Academy in Washington State, we know how powerful this program will be for the thousands of veterans and military spouses here." Eligible participants will take and complete the qualifying assessment and based on the results, may be invited to submit a full application and interview for the program. Courses are scheduled to begin in Colorado Springs on October 24, 2016. The application process is now open and the last date to request the qualifying exam is Friday, September 30, 2016. "In an effort to find new talent to meet the rapidly growing needs in cybersecurity, we believe transitioning veterans are ready to fill the gap and are proud to partner with RP/6 and the USO to provide transitioning service members with valuable skills and a solid career path," said Max Shuftan, Business Development Manager of SANS CyberTalent. "Our VetSuccess Program has been very successful to date and we are pleased to help employers find great new employees with the skills they require." The VetSuccess Academy includes three world-class SANS Institute training courses and upon completion of each course; participants will take the associated GIAC exam before starting the next course. SEC401: SANS Security Essentials Bootcamp Style (GSEC) SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, Exploits and Incident Handling (GCIH) 3rd course chosen from five (5) electives: FOR408: Windows Forensic Analysis (GCFE) SEC501: Advanced Security Essentials - Enterprise Defender (GCFA) SEC503: Intrusion Detection In-Depth (GCIA) SEC542: Web App Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking (GWAPT) SEC560: Network Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking (GPEN) "Partnering with the SANS Institute and RP/6 means transitioning veterans who walk through our doors have the opportunity to be connected to the best cybersecurity training available at no cost to them," said Phil Martinez, USO Director, Colorado Springs, Colorado. "Our nationwide partnership with RP/6 has turned USO-RP/6 in locations across the country into one-stop-shops for service members to connect to employment, education, benefits and training opportunitieswhile they transition from military to civilian life." To learn more about the VetSuccess Academy, please visit: www.sans.org/cybertalent About SANS Institute The SANS Institute was established in 1989 as a cooperative research and education organization. SANS is the most trusted and, by far, the largest provider of cyber security training and certification to professionals at governments and commercial institutions world-wide. Renowned SANS instructors teach over 50 different courses at more than 200 live cyber security training events as well as online. GIAC, an affiliate of the SANS Institute, validates employee qualifications via 30 hands-on, technical certifications in information security. The SANS Technology Institute, a regionally accredited independent subsidiary, offers master's degrees in cyber security. SANS offers a myriad of free resources to the InfoSec community including consensus projects, research reports, and newsletters; it also operates the Internet's early warning system--the Internet Storm Center. At the heart of SANS are the many security practitioners, representing varied global organizations from corporations to universities, working together to help the entire information security community. (www.sans.org) About Rally Point 6 RP/6 was founded by military veterans who saw a disconnect between the local community and the service members transitioning into civilian life. RP/6 is that connection between service members, veterans, and their families and the community organizations ready to meet their needs. We work one-on-one with clients to develop personal pathways towards their goals and use high-tech solutions to ensure their success. Our first of its kind "one stop shop" has served nearly 6,000 service members, veterans, and their families since our doors opened in 2014. About USO The USO strengthens America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. For nearly 75 years, the USO has been the nation's leading organization to serve the men and women in the U.S. military, and their families, throughout their time in uniform. From the moment they join, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, the USO is always by their side. SOURCE SANS Institute Related Links http://www.sans.org "Sany Port Machinery is extremely reliable and engineered to meet local customer needs," said Sany Port Machinery's Middle East regional manager. "Sany and its local dealers work together to deliver timely and reliable service to our customers. Our efforts to ensure that we provide efficient part delivery has earned us recognition from our customers and led to the success of our business." Sany Port Machinery was established in 2010 and has since become a global leader in the development and manufacture of high-performance logistics equipment. It has established two world-class manufacturing plants in Changsha and Zhuhai, China. At these locations Sany engineers more than 150 models of mobile port machinery, large port machinery, and marine equipment. Since 2011, the number of Sany machines used at ports and in container yards in Saudi Arabia has risen from 8 to nearly 100. The company has used a strong network of dealers to distribute machinery and promote its brand throughout Saudi Arabia. As a result, Sany now holds a 35% market share for mobile port machinery in the country. Two Sany post-Panamax container cranes and a rubber-tired gantry crane are used at the Yanbu Commercial Port on the East Coast of the Red Sea. Sany's STS6101, a ship-to-shore container crane, has been stationed at one of the most significant seaports in Saudi Arabia, the Port of Jeddah, since 2015. This port links the East-West trade routes. Winning the large order from King Abdul Aziz Port will bolster Sany Port Machinery's market presence in Saudi Arabia. Sany will continue to make more inroads in the Middle Eastern market. About Sany Sany Group is a leading global heavy machinery manufacturer with plants in the US, Germany, Brazil and India, and business covering over 100 countries and regions worldwide. The company has been recognized as one of the most innovative and successful companies in the world, and its concrete machinery is ranked No. 1 globally. For more information, please visit: www.sanyglobal.com, or follow Sany Group on Facebook and YouTube. Contact: Rebecca Zhou Tel: +86-10-6073-7480 Email: [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402039 SOURCE Sany Group Related Links http://www.sanyglobal.com HERMOSA BEACH, California, August 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SharkReach, Inc. ("SharkReach" or the "Company") (OTC: SHRK) a millennial influence marketing company today announced that on July 13, 2016 it entered into an offer letter to purchase 100% of an internationally renowned, award winning, digital marketing agency based in Boston. The transaction is structured in cash and stock. Under the Agreement, the parties are required to keep the identity of the target and some details confidential until closing. The total purchase price for 100% of the target is approximately $13 million dollars, including earnouts, $7 million at the closing and another $5 million in stock with delivery spread out over a three year period at the then current trading price of the stock at the time of issuance. The transaction is subject to entering into a definitive merger agreement which will include customary conditions to closing, including the completion of due diligence and securing of financing commitments and the completion of an audit of the target. The parties have agreed that the Closing date can be extended an additional 30 days at the Company's option. Steve Smith, the Company's CEO said: "This is a true inflection point for SharkReach, as we will ultimately have regional hubs in Los Angeles, Boston and Atlanta. This is an established, elite Tier 1, digital agency with multiple. long-standing relationships in key industry verticals. With this Boston agency, along with our acquisition of Mastermind Involvement Marketing, SharkReach will be in excess of a $16 Million annual revenue enterprise looking back at 2015 numbers (based upon internal unaudited financial information provided by Mastermind and this target company in connection with the Mastermind Merger Agreement and the target offer letter respectively) with more than 120 employees. Post-closing on both acquisitions, we will have 9 of the Fortune 100 under long term client agreements. We will be able to offer influencer marketing solutions to our existing and new clients all within the SharkReach enterprise. We are rapidly becoming the largest influencer marketing company on the planet and as our name implies, we will continue to expand our "Reach" into other digital creative services such as digital video content production and distribution. Kevin Harrington Said: "I am a big fan of the work this agency has done for several iconic brands over the last decade. We're looking forward to allowing more brands to benefit from their genius. Together with their existing patented reporting platform and SharkReach's social tools, we have an unmatched offering for brands truly looking to innovate. Several of these brands have already approached me for an introduction to the executive team" The Company also announced that its CEO, Steve Smith and Kevin Harrington are scheduled to be interviewed by Bloomberg Radio this week. More information, when available, will be posted on the Company's website. About SharkReach, Inc. SharkReach, Inc. (OTC: SHRK). SharkReach is a disruptive millennial media company that combines the strength of an influencer owned network with proprietary technology for creating, posting, managing and monitoring branded sharable content. It has shown that is has the unique ability to reach the Gen Y and Millennial demographic AND it has an aggregate reach of 2.9 Billion! SharkReach as one of the first companies in this space is the established leader in Influencer Marketing. It presently has the largest footprint, and plans to further enlarge its market share through an aggressive acquisition campaign to grow the Company at a faster rate than merely through organic growth.. What sets SharkReach apart from other companies in the marketplace is that its influencers (both grass roots individuals and celebrities) are also its shareholders and that its network has a larger market reach than the top 5 television networks combined! Millennials demand exacting standards in the products and services that are essential to satisfying their social conscience and personal needs. They are the first of several generations to come that will veer away from traditional media. They do NOT watch television, and they do not trust brands and commercials. Their purchasing decisions are impacted by the individuals, friends, and celebrities that they follow on Social Media and YouTube. Historically, and in this order, television, radio, magazine and newspaper advertising were the ways to reach clients. To reach more clients and to increase sales, Celebrity Endorsements were added to Brands to increase the effectiveness of these traditional media outlets. Sponsored Social Media Influencer Marketing, now sits atop the field! In a recent report of the most effective marketing ratings, Influencer Marketing, in absolute ratings, beat Celebrity Endorsements, Television, Radio, Magazine and Newspaper advertising. Our Tracking & Reporting platform and quantifying systems enable clients to select suitable Influencers and to track campaigns in ways they have not been available before. *** For more information on SharkReach, please visit the Company's website at http://www.SharkReach.com. To be added to the SharkReach investor email list, please email [email protected] with SHRK in the subject line. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our public filings with the SEC are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov Contacts: Investor Relations Bruce Haase RedChip Companies, Inc. Tel: +1-800-733-2447, ext. 131 [email protected] http://www.redchip.com Corporate Steve Smith, CEO SharkReach, Inc. T. +1-888-481-6161 F. +1-888-481-6161 http://www.sharkreach.com SOURCE SharkReach Inc HOUSTON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Dutch Shell plc, through its affiliate Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell), today announces it has an agreement to sell 100 percent of its record title interest in Gulf of Mexico Green Canyon Blocks 114, 158, 202 and 248, referred to as the Brutus/Glider assets, to EnVen Energy Corporation, through its affiliate EnVen Energy Ventures, LLC. In line with Shell's global divestment plans, this transaction includes $425 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close in October. The Brutus/Glider assets include the Brutus Tension Leg Platform (TLP), the Glider subsea production system, and the oil and gas lateral pipelines used to evacuate the production from the TLP. The Brutus/Glider assets have a combined current production estimate of approximately 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). Shell is a leading, global deep-water operator, with a strong development pipeline and production on-stream in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, and Malaysia as well as exploration and appraisal opportunities. Shell currently produces approximately 600,000 boe/d and plans to increase production to more than 900,000 boe/d by the early 2020s from already discovered, established reservoirs. Disclaimer And Cautionary Note The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this release "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this release refer to companies over which Royal Dutch Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Companies over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to "joint ventures" and companies over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". In this release, joint ventures and associates may also be referred to as "equity-accounted investments". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 23% shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest. This release contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Royal Dutch Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and (m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell's 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward looking statements contained in this release and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this release, August 29, 2016. Neither Royal Dutch Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this release that United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov. You can also obtain these forms from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120917/MM76045LOGO SOURCE Shell Related Links http://www.shell.com Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, August 29 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan and the US exchanged views on the prospects and opportunities of partnership in the field of migration, the Turkmen State Migration Service said Aug. 29. According to the message, the meeting was held with representatives of the US embassy in Turkmenistan. The sides discussed the issues of formalizing invitations and issuing visas for the US citizens, the message said. "The strategy of large-scale social-economic reforms, which is being implemented by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, ongoing major infrastructure projects, the policy of gradual integration into the modern world economic system stipulate the desire of leading foreign companies, including US ones to actively cooperate with Turkmenistan," the message said. The cooperation is underway in such areas as the supply of agricultural machinery, modernization of technical civil aviation fleet of Turkmenistan, import of power equipment. The White House supports Turkmenistans regional gas pipeline projects, such as TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) and the Trans-Caspian pipeline through Azerbaijan and Turkey to Europe. "Poised Taupe celebrates everything people love about cool gray as a neutral, and also brings in the warmth of brown, taking a color to an entirely new level. Not cool or warm, nor gray or brown, Poised Taupe is a weathered, woodsy neutral bringing a sense of coziness and harmony that people are seeking," says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. As the Sherwin-Williams team traveled the world to identify the latest trends and make this year's selection, it became clear that neutrals are beginning a transition from the monochrome gray of the past five years to a more complex taupe and brown. In a recent homeowner survey conducted by Sherwin-Williams, nearly 40 percent of the respondents agree that they would like to incorporate warmer neutrals, such as warm grays, taupes or beiges, into their home decor. Additionally, more than two in five people identified taupe as a timeless neutral they would choose.1 Move over cool toned colors. A new trend is here. The well-lived life in the home Drawn from the Noir palette, one of four palettes in colormix 2017: The Sherwin-Williams Color Forecast, Poised Taupe addresses the search for authentic spaces that recharge the spirit in uncertain times and where perfection can seem like the ideal. "Consumers yearn for spaces that feel welcoming and hug them as they enter. Earthen brown combined with conservative gray, creating Poised Taupe, embodies all of these emotions," says Wadden. With its cool-yet-warm vibe, Poised Taupe is an ideal backdrop for a wide range of color combinations, from pastels to brights to jewels. For example, when paired with the faded indigo of Stardew (SW 9138), it creates a charming palette reminiscent of a French countryside. Used in tandem with vibrant Rave Red (SW 6608), it evokes the natural feel of red-stained bedrock. And with the deep teal of Marea Baja (SW 9185) and sunny hued Bee (SW 6683), it transforms into a super-graphic look. A warming trend is coming to commercial spaces In 2017, the subtle shift to warmer colors reaches commercial spaces too, which tend to move in more conservative color cycles than residential or designer directions. Influences such as natural or organic materials, weathered and worn finishes and global cultural preferences have suggested alternatives to the primarily gray existence that has been the star of commercial color direction over the past five years. "Since commercial color direction tends to enjoy longer lifecycles, Poised Taupe is on the forefront of this trend, offering the ability to endure over time, yet complement a wide range of designs," says Wadden. Aligned with this burgeoning trend of moving away from the stark, cold and barren commercial environments, Poised Taupe gives developers, builders and interior designers a warm color that offers dimension and complexity, but is neutral and subtle to work with for nearly all aesthetics. Anchored by the 2017 Color of the Year and taken from colormix 2017: The Sherwin-Williams Color Forecast, a new set of commercial neutrals such as Mudslide (SW 9113), Sealskin (SW 7675), Casa Blanca (SW 7571) takes their place in center stage, showcasing the best of 2017 and the beginning of the warming trend that patrons crave. Poised Taupe is truly a color poised to go in many directions. For more information visit SWcoty.com. Ask Sherwin-Williams For 150 years, Sherwin-Williams has been an industry leader in the development of technologically advanced paint and coatings. As the nation's largest specialty retailer of paint and painting supplies, Sherwin-Williams is dedicated to supporting both do-it-yourselfers and painting professionals with exceptional and exclusive products, resources to make confident color selections and expert, personalized service at its more than 4,000 neighborhood stores across North America. Sherwin-Williams has been ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Paint Retailers, Four Years in a Row" in the J.D. Power 2016 Paint Satisfaction Study. For more information, visit sherwin-williams.com. Join Sherwin-Williams on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr. [1] Sherwin-Williams National Home Design and Color Survey, August 2016 Contact: [email protected] Meredith Kish (212) 494-8687 [email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401811 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401812 SOURCE Sherwin-Williams Related Links http://www.sherwin-williams.com The Negotiating Committees will work this week to draft final language. Once complete, the agreement will go through the normal union ratification process. Dates and details on a ratification vote will be announced in the days ahead. The current Pilot contract became amendable September 1, 2012. The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association represents approximately 8,000 Pilots. ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. In its 46th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 52,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest operates more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season across a network of 98 destinations in the United States and seven additional countries with service to three airports in Cuba expected to begin later this year, subject to governmental approvals. Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate connectivity. That connectivity enables Customers to use their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as well as more than 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest created Transfarency, a philosophy which treats Customers honestly and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. The airline proudly unveiled a bold new look: Heart. A new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring a new seat and Flight Attendant galley, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience all showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees who connect Customers with what's important in their lives. From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new markets. With 43 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2015 Southwest Airlines One Report can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com. Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA. SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co. Related Links http://www.southwest.com SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- STI Telecom, one of the largest system integrators and satellite communications solutions companies servicing the broadcast market in Brazil, has entered into a partnership with Telairity, the broadcast industry leader in H.264/MPEG-4 encoding technology, to sell Nexgen encoders in Brazil and throughout South America. The announcement was made jointly today by STI Commercial Manager, Thiago Monteiro in Rio de Janerio, and Telairity VP of Sales, Matt McKee in Santa Clara, CA. STI Telecom will be demonstrating Telairity's Nexgen encoder line, featuring the versatile 1RU half-width BE8600 contribution encoder, at the SET EXPO 2016 show in Sao Paulo, August 30 to September 1. The STI Telecom booth is #108A, located at the Expo Center Norte in Exhibition Hall Red. The BE8600 is a light, compact, low-power unit sized to go just about anywhere with the power and flexibility to do just about any encoding task: HD or SD, high bitrate 4:2:2 for archival storage or low latency and low bitrate 4:2:0 for backhaul or direct-to-view distribution. Companion half-width "buddy" systems further extend its versatility, including a modulator for RF transmission and a broadcaster for secure, reliable Over-the-Top (OTT) IP transmission in any standard streaming format. Other Nexgen systems include the multi-channel 1RU BE8700 distribution encoder, and the SES3200, a blade-based encoder built on the high-reliability Telco-grade ATCA chassis, able to scale up to 32 channels. The strategic partnership enables STI to sell Telairity equipment and also serve as the principal point of contact for Telairity support in the region, significantly strengthening the technical and sales capabilities of Telairity throughout the South American market. STI works closely with medium to large broadcasters as well as smaller clients, delivering a comprehensive set of services and equipment for content production and delivery. Located in downtown Rio de Janeiro, STI also provides turn-around services in its own Teleport facility, with antennas for transmission and reception of all major satellites, providing coverage for Brazil, the Americas, and Europe. Commercial Manager, Thiago Monteiro noted: "Our clients rely on us to provide them with reliable, upgradeable equipment, backed by a support team that understands how to quickly get them back on air wherever and whenever a problem occurs. Telairity encoders, with their reputation for reliability, quality and ease of use, help us to fulfill our primary service mission, and we are pleased to have them as our ongoing supplier of encoder equipment." "We're gratified that STI Telecom, one of the premier broadcast services companies in all of South America, has chosen Telairity as its encoder supplier," said Telairity VP of Sales, Matt McKee. "South America in general and Brazil in particular is among the most active markets globally for expanding broadcast and video services, and we're happy to be accepted as a primary supplier of encoders for the region." About STI Telecom STI Telecom is a telecommunications company specialized in satellite communication solutions for video, audio and data transmission. Active in the broadcast market since 2005, STI Telecom has innovative and customized solutions that meet every need. Located in downtown Rio de Janeiro, STI Telecom operates its own Teleport facility, providing turn-around services for broadcasters, with antennas for transmission and reception of satellites covering Brazil, the rest of the Americas, and Europe. In addition, STI Telecom has a subsidiary in Miami (USA) that not only facilitates its relationship with U.S. suppliers like Telairity, but also offers advantages for customers who wish to import equipment on their own. About Telairity Telairity produces innovative real-time standards-based video compression solutions for broadcasting, telephony, Internet services and aligned industries. The company's unique video processing technology, based on the Telairity TVP multi-core video processor architecture and associated direct-execution AVClairity video compression software, delivers the industry's lowest latency and best price/performance for real-time video encoding. The company's global headquarters is located in Santa Clara, Calif.; regional offices are in Beijing, China and Amman, Jordan. Further information is available at www.telairity.com. Telairity and AVClairity are trademarks of Telairity, Inc. All other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners. Photo(s): http://www.prlog.org/12582783 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Telairity Semiconductor Related Links http://www.telairity.com MIAMI, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Global travel technology company, Amadeus, announced today that it has partnered with Relovate, the new first-of-its-kind personal trip planning and booking website, giving Relovate users access to the world's largest repository of travel content and superior online search and booking capabilities. Amadeus' global travel content and search functionality is powering Relovate's breakthrough platform, which enables users to build, save and share their personalized trip planning. Breaking new ground, the online startup company's private, advertising-free platform offers a personal online workspace where travelers can search, consider, save, and share all aspects of their trips such as flights, hotels, and car rentals, all made accessible through the integration of Amadeus' global distribution system of travel providers and content. "Travelers have been searching for a more relevant way to build, share, and collaborate their travel with friends, family, and colleagues," said Sheli Gupta, CEO and co-founder of Relovate. "Amadeus will bring us unsurpassed travel content, advanced technology and proven transactional scale. They have made it very easy for us to introduce an application which seamlessly integrates world-class travel inventory and personalized trip planning. Partnering with Amadeus, we know we have the scale to deliver a unique experience to our users." With the Amadeus integration, Relovate is able to instantaneously offer consumers highly competitive prices for the most frequently searched and booked travel products, such as flights, hotels, and car rentals. Restaurants, activities, and points of interest are also part of Relovate's offering and are integrated from other sources. "Superior travel content and technology are critical to the success of every online travel company. We couldn't be more pleased to be help Relovate deliver their unique online offering to serve the needs of today's travelers," said Alix Arguelles, Vice President, Online Travel Group, Amadeus North America. According to Arguelles, helping emerging online travel companies succeed is the focus of Amadeus for Startups, a program launched just over a year ago in North America providing industry-leading technology, expertise and consultative support to travel entrepreneurs. Relovate was one of the first partners in the program, which today boasts dozens of online startup travel and search companies, as well as developers and travel content providers. "We came to Amadeus to help us realize our vision. We looked into working with other startup programs but Amadeus was highly and immediately responsive with demonstrated technology capabilities and travel industry expertise. Within only a matter of weeks, Relovate was on its way to launch," said Gupta. "For many startups, breaking into the travel industry and understanding the technology needed can be complex and complicated," said Arguelles. "We are dedicated to helping startups like Relovate bring their innovative approaches to consumers and the travel industry while also achieving business success." For more information, visit www.relovate.com and www.amadeusforstartups.com. About Relovate Relovate inspires travelers to Stop Booking Around and take full control of trip planning and booking. Relovate blends world class travel product with delightfully easy planning and booking software, in a private, ad-free workspace. Now, travelers can collaborate with others, consider options, engage providers and launch plans directly from published content. The effect is the world's first online travel solution connecting every stakeholder. About Amadeus Amadeus is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry. Customer groups include travel providers (e.g. airlines, hotels, rail and ferry operators, etc.), travel sellers (travel agencies and websites), and travel buyers (corporations and travel management companies). The Amadeus group employs around 13,000 people worldwide, across central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters), Nice (development) and Erding (operations), as well as 71 local Amadeus Commercial Organizations globally. The group operates a transaction-based business model. Amadeus is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange under the symbol "AMS.MC" and is a component of the IBEX 35 index. To find out more about Amadeus please visit www.amadeus.com, and www.amadeus.com/blog for more on the travel industry. Follow us on: Facebook; Twitter; LinkedIn; YouTube; Amadeus Blog; Google+ Media Inquiries Debbie Iannaci Amadeus North America [email protected] 305-498-6005 www.amadeus.com Chuck Saldarini Relovate [email protected] 551-804-0180 www.relovate.com Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400654 SOURCE Amadeus Related Links http://www.amadeus.com LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Launched in September, 2015, Indiana-based Swagway, LLC quickly established itself as the most recognized brand in the electronic scooter industry. In recent months, Swagway has continued to demonstrate its commitment to customer safety, developing high quality products, and community engagement. Swagway introduced its UL 2272 certified SWAGTRON model hoverboards in June, 2016, the only hoverboards on the market to pass a UL 10-ton crush test. SWAGTRONs are also the only hoverboards to include the patent-pending, UL 2271 certified SentryShield battery pack, which was designed to provide multi-layer battery protection with an airtight aluminum chamber and a state-of-the-art Smart Battery Management System (BMS). The BMS monitors overvoltage, temperature increases, prevents overcharging of the battery and overcurrent, and provides short circuit protection. In addition to its advanced features, all Swagway hoverboards are zero-emission products. Swagway also recently launched its Swagway Cares program to support environmental and charitable causes. On the immediate agenda is the Swagway's sponsorship of Reef Check Foundation's 20th Anniversary Gala, to take place in Santa Monica on September 15, 2016. Reef Check provides ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions to save reefs around the world by creating partnerships between community volunteers, government agencies, businesses, universities, and other nonprofits. While Swagway continues to focus its resources to improve consumer safety, develop high quality products, and community engagement, it was targeted in a Complaint for Patent Infringement. The complaint was filed on August 19, 2016, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California by Hangzhou Chic Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.'s ("Chic"), a company with no known location or brand recognition in the United States. Swagway has commenced its vigorous defense against Chic's allegations. Swagway's position is summarized by Jason Wakefield, Marketing Director for Swagway LLC, who states, "As an industry leader, we unfortunately are a target for outlandish allegations and defamation by companies like Chic. While we fiercely defend our brand, we choose to focus on more positive matters such as our new Swagway Cares program and reiterating our commitment to quality and consumer safety." Swagway filed its Answer on August 26, 2016, and denies all allegations of patent infringement. Swagway has also countersued Chic to assert non-infringement of Chic's patents, and invalidity and unenforceability of Chic's patents based on improper inventorship and Chic's fraudulent conduct before the US Patent and Trademark Office in securing its patents. In addition, also on August 26, 2016, Swagway filed a separate Complaint against Chic, and its agents Jansco Marketing, Inc., and COKeM International, Ltd., in the US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, seeking damages for unfair competition under the Lanham Act and the laws of Indiana, tortious interference with business relationships and defamation. Swagway seeks a restraining order to prohibit Chic and its agents from further contact with Swagway's customers and $30,000,000.00 in damages against Chic and its agents. SOURCE Swagway WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau: ON THE AIR Profile America Monday, August 29th. Two trailblazers in early electronics, whose inventions changed pastimes the world over, were born in August. One was television pioneer Philo Farnsworth, born 110 years ago. He conceived the idea of television broadcasting while still in high school and realized it at the age of 21. The other was Lee de Forest, born in late August, 1873. The Yale doctor of physics invented the three-element vacuum tube, a step toward creating radio. Holding hundreds of patents, he was an innovator in not only radio and television, but also film, as he synchronized sound to motion pictures. Over 217,000 Americans work in the thousands of radio and TV broadcasting establishments advanced by Farnsworth and de Forest. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at www.census.gov. Sources: Farnsworth: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blfarnsworth.htm Vacuum tube: http://www.leedeforest.org/The_Audion.html de Forest: http://www.leedeforest.org/Home.html Radio & TV employment/NAICS 5151: http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1//naics~5151 Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotion of the U.S. Census Bureau. Statistics and accounts drawn from cited non-Census sources are employed for illustrative or narrative purposes, and are not attested to by the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Audio" in the "Library" pull-down menu). Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91889LOGO SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau Related Links http://www.census.gov NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Velocity, the world's leading discovery and instant booking platform for premium dining experiences, announced today a landmark $22.5 million raised in Series B funding led by DIG Investments. Other participants in the round include high-profile hospitality names such as Barry Sternlicht, Founder of Starwood Hotels Group, and John Paul, one of the world's largest concierge companies. Following an initial $16 million secured in first round financing in 2015, Velocity's Series B investment serves as one of the largest-ever financial backings for a technology start up in the restaurant industry and will support the company's expansion to 29 cities worldwide by 2020. "We are delighted to announce this milestone, which has made us one of the best-funded startups in the global space," said Zia Yusuf, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Velocity. "Our Series B funding is an important step forward in growing our brand, increasing our bandwidth for exciting new features and building our presence in the greatest cities around the world." Founded in 2014, Velocity is headquartered in London and New York, with offices in Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. Having grown its venue count over 800% over the last 12 months, the app has become a leading player in the premium dining space. Velocity has partnered with some of the world's finest restaurants, including New York's Blue Hill, Catch, Bowery Meat Company, Craft Restaurants, Toro, Lure Fishbar and Ippudo, an infamously high-demand ramen restaurant that now offers reservations exclusively through Velocity. The app has also recently partnered with London's opulent Park Chinois, along with trendy Miami restaurants Alter, Casa Tua, Estiatorio Milos and Komodo and San Francisco's Slanted Door and Cala. In Los Angeles, Velocity's new and noteworthy restaurants include Leona, Boa, Ysabel, Mercado and Scopa Italian Roots. Sanjan Dhody, Non-Executive Director appointed by DIG Investments commented, "Having been an early investor in Spotify, Palantir and Lyft, the goal is to find world-class companies and assist them in forging global success. Velocity is a game changer for the $3.5 trillion restaurant industry, combining compelling technology, an intimate understanding of hospitality and a world class management team." The app, which features instant bookings at a curated selection of the most sought-after restaurants from city to city, has experienced exponential growth with the acquisition of several global restaurant platforms: Cover, the leading dining mobile payments app in the U.S.; Tab Payments, a Canada-based mobile payments app serving Toronto and Montreal; and Uncover, the first restaurant discovery and mobile reservations app in the U.K. These strategic acquisitions have allowed Velocity to offer a fully integrated dining experience, placing the company at the forefront of the world's largest hospitality market. Since its Series A in Summer 2015, Velocity's revenue has more than doubled, downloads have risen by 225% on a quarterly basis and its venue roster has increased by 800%. "We have been aggressively implementing the latest hospitality technologies to drive better yield and make up for some of our tables with slower turns," said John McDonald, Owner of Mercer Street Hospitality. "From partnering with Velocity, we have easily utilized last-minute table openings and we have attracted an audience of trendsetting, global jetsetters that tend to spend more than our average cover." "Unlike years past when luxury goods dominated the market, affluent consumers are now spending approximately the same amount on upscale hospitality experiences," commented Alex Macdonald, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Velocity, on recent shifts in upper-class consumer spending. "As a result of our Series B financing, we now have the resources we need to keep Velocity at the forefront of this movement." Armed with a fast growing, world-class team, Velocity has announced the hire of Amanda Terry as Chief Operating Officer. Terry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the company, having led Direct Response Ad Products for Twitter in San Francisco, in addition to holding senior roles at Zagat and NBC Universal. Early investors of Velocity include Initial Capital Partner, Shukri Shammas, Tom Glocer, Board Member and Chairman of Morgan Stanley's Technology Committee and Former Thomson-Reuters CEO, in addition to Lars Christensen, Founder & CEO of Saxo Bank. About Velocity Founded by Zia Yusuf and Alex Macdonald in 2014, Velocity is a leading digital platform for instant insider access to the world's best dining and hospitality experiences. Established in London and now dually headquartered in New York, Velocity offers a high-quality brand experience that allows users everywhere to feel like an insider in some of the most influential cities around the world. With the acquisition of three award-winning players in the restaurant technology sector, (Cover, Tab Payments and Uncover), Velocity is the first mobile app to provide users with one seamless, easy-to-use platform to discover, reserve and pay internationally. Named "One of the Most Luxurious Smartphone Apps" by GQ, Velocity has partnerships with over 1,100 restaurants, including a myriad of Michelin-starred classics. Velocity is a Spark Capital portfolio company with offices in New York, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami. Download the app on iOS or Android and follow us on Instagram and Twitter using the handle @velocityapp. For more information, visit www.velocityapp.com or email [email protected]. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160826/401890LOGO SOURCE Velocity Related Links http://www.velocityapp.com ATLANTA, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Venetia Partners LLC announces Mr. Jerry Palmer as a member of the company's Advisory Board. "Jerry's track record of success in companies both big and small, and in particular holding significant leadership positions within Venetia Partners' industry, is a testament to the power of his insights, relationships and ability to execute. We are very fortunate to have Jerry on our Advisory Board, as we continue to expand our market presence in supply chain and enterprise integration performance improvement.", Mark Miller, CEO of Venetia Partners LLC. Mr. Palmer is Chief Strategy Officer of greenfence, the Food Industry's first remote auditing and certification platform, and only comprehensive authentication gateway into the Food Industry value chain. Mr. Palmer has over 25 years of experience in the Agriculture, Chemicals, Natural Resources, and Energy industries. An influential expert in corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, information technology, and business process outsourcing, Mr. Palmer has spent a majority of his career helping small and large organizations transform and grow. Prior to joining greenfence, Mr. Palmer was managing director and Chemicals Industry lead of accenture APAC, where he was charged with raising awareness of accenture's chemical and agriculture practice in Asia. He held many positions at accenture over his two-plus decade career, but remained focused on solving accenture's clients largest and most complex challenges. Venetia Partners, an international boutique rm of operational solutions experts, drives rapid performance improvement, real outcomes and an immediate impact on the bottom line. Its' no nonsense approach to fix, build or transform operational challenges, often associated with supply chain's, makes it sought after by manufacturing and distribution companies, as well as private equity rms. Venetia Partners operates out of nine major markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Zurich. For more information on the company and its services, visit www.venetiapartners.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com SOURCE Venetia Partners LLC Related Links http://www.venetiapartners.com STOCKHOLM, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Investor balance sheets may be off by billions, as water hungry 20th-century technology meets the realities of a water-scarce 21st century, according to reporting from Circle of Blue, the award-winning network of journalists and researchers that covers water and worldwide resource issues. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/402059 Examples of enormous financial losses, largely driven by drought and flooding, are quickly emerging in the energy, mining, power-producing, and agricultural sectors. These losses are projected to worsen as climate change disrupts already stressed systems worldwide. To put the situation in immediate context, Circle of Blue and the Stockholm International Water Institute are convening a special international, interactive broadcast, Tuesday, Aug 30, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (EDT), 3:00 p.m to 4:30 p.m. (European Central Time). Discussion leaders include: Torgny Holmgren Executive Director, Stockholm International Water Institute and former Ambassador at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Head of the Department for Development Policy Cate Lamb Global Head of Water at CDP Monika Freyman Director of the Investor Water Hub, Ceres Michael Mainelli Economist and co-founder of Z/Yen group Water and finance experts will debate how various sectors are responding or not to water asset risks. "The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2016 ranks water crises as the top concern of the decade we're now seeing these water risks turn into realities affecting finance," said J. Carl Ganter, managing director of Circle of Blue. "Current growth models are predominantly not factoring in these new realities, putting investors at risk for un-valuated or under-valuated stranded assets." From India to South Africa, policy makers, investors, and municipal planners, are looking for creative solutions to rate the accelerating risks associated with water-related stranded assets. Join Water scarcity strands billions of investor dollars, altering global economy Interactive Live Broadcast Tuesday, Aug 30 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (US-EDT) 6 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. (US-PDT) 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Central European) Visit the website to register and learn more details. There is no charge to participate. Circle of Blue, the center for frontline reporting on water resource issues and their relationship to food and energy globally, is recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation Centennial Innovation Award. The town hall is produced by Circle of Blue, with technology and support from Vector Center and MaestroConference. Media kit Media contact: Laura Herd Email +1 (844) 324-7253 x 710 SOURCE Circle of Blue Related Links http://www.circleofblue.org CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Whereable Technologies LLC has signed an exclusive deal with GEOS Safety Solutions, a global leader in security and personal safety, to support the company's inaugural product, RiskBand, the first wearable, live-monitored personal safety device that doesn't require connection to a cell phone. The renewable five-year deal provides RiskBand with a world-class Emergency Monitoring and Response Team that springs into action whenever a RiskBand wearer activates the device. As RiskBand begins recording and transmitting real-time GPS location information, photos and two-way audio, GEOS' certified and highly experienced Emergency Response Coordination Team will hear and see what is happening to assess the situation and quickly contact the proper local authorities to launch the appropriate response typically in about a minute. "GEOS has partnered with Whereable Technologies because we firmly believe that RiskBand is the missing link in personal security," said GEOS CEO Mark Garver, a globally recognized security expert. "This product is a game-changer, and as a leading safety and security solution provider, we want to be front and center in this personal security revolution." Garver is board-certified in homeland security, intelligence analysis and dignitary/executive protection. The agreement between RiskBand and GEOS will extend to other RiskBand and GEOS products. "RiskBand is a groundbreaking product, but it is only as good as its Emergency Response Team. With GEOS, that means it's the best," said Whereable Technologies President and CEO Jim Van Law. "Anyone who wears the device can feel secure in the knowledge that the world's top emergency response professionals have their back if anything happens." A RiskBand wearer can use the device to get help in any type of emergency, including crime, fire, injury or accident whether at home or traveling, just about anywhere in the world and in more than 200 languages and dialects. RiskBand is available beginning fall 2016 with a two-year contract ($29.95 monthly) that includes GEOS monitoring. For more details, go to www.RiskBand.com. About Whereable Technologies LLC Founded in 2014 in Charleston, South Carolina, by entrepreneurs Jim Van Law and Mark Karsch, Whereable Technologies is a global safety device company and creator of the first wearable, live-monitored personal safety device that doesn't require connection to a cell phone or transmitting station. The company partners with global security expert GEOS to provide emergency response to RiskBand customers anywhere in the world with a network connection and in more than 200 languages and dialects. More information on RiskBand is available at www.riskband.com. About GEOS GEOS Safety Solutions and GEOS Response, both based just outside of Houston, are integral parts of a global group of companies that provide best-in-class asset safety and security solutions for people, places and things. The GEOS Response Center, or International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC), was founded in 2008 and today is the world's premier emergency monitoring and response center, having coordinated response to incidents in over 150 countries. More information about GEOS can be found at www.geossafetysolutions.com and www.geosresponse.com. MEDIA CONTACT Melissa Flynn or Ann Hinshaw 214-379-7000 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Whereable Technologies LLC Related Links http://www.geosresponse.com Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 By Emil Ilgar Trend: Turkey stopped electricity import from Iran in June, while its cumulative power import from its eastern neighbor stands at 445 million kilowatt hours (kWh) in the first half of 2016. In total, Turkey imported 3 billion kWh of electricity in 1H16, according to monthly statistics of Turkey Energy Market Regulatory. Turkey's electricity imports in the first half of 2016 (MWh) Months From Iran Total imports Total exports January 215,944 704,664 188,821 February 213,122 589,499 114,427 March 110,753 459,811 60,551 April 1,088 393,646 107,762 May 2,227 394,909 58,840 June 0 504,611 68,894 Total 545,150 3,047,140 599,295 The reports didn't elaborate the country's power import statistics in the same period of the last year, but in total, Turkey imported 7.411 billion kWh in 2015, about 542 million kWh less than 2014. The country also exported 2.696 billion kWh electricity in 2015. The International Design Policy Conference aims to ignite international dialogue about how to integrate design thinking into public policy and shape the future of global cities. The panel will discuss critical issues at the forefront of current debates on design, including its social impact, effective design policy, future living, and the sustainability of cities. The panel will include Mayor of Helsinki Jussi Pajunen, who oversaw Helsinki's successful bid for the WDC title in 2012 and has a keen understanding of the impact that design can have on citizens' lives. The Design Driven City, a two-year program implemented by Mayor Pajunen's city government to ensure the continuing legacy of the WDC Helsinki 2012, has been widely celebrated. Julia Kloiber, Rama Gheerawo, Jocelyn Wyatt, Kazuo Tanaka, and Shikuan Chen will also be present at the conference, lending their insights into designing for a better society. Kloiber is a German designer and activist who works for the Open Knowledge Foundation in Germany; she is also a prominent advocate for social change through open data, and leads civic tech hackathons around the world. Gheerawo is leader of the Age & Ability Research Lab of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, whose work revolves around socially inclusive, people-centered design for the elderly. Jocelyn Wyatt is the Co-Lead and Executive Director of IDEO.org, a nonprofit design organization that designs products, services, and experiences to improve the lives of people in poor and vulnerable communities, and runs programs to train other organizations to do the same. Kazuo Tanaka is president of GK Design Group Incorporated, a comprehensive freelance design office founded in Japan in 1952, which has produced signs, maps, and other creations for multiple public city transport systems. Shikuan Chen is Vice President of Experience Design at Compal Electronics Inc., where he heads a team of 200 design experts, and Board Director for the International Council of Societies for Industrial Design (Icsid). Chen also sits on the International Advisory Board of the World Design Capital Taipei 2016. "The International Design Policy Conference is an opportunity for Taiwan to forge lasting bonds with the global community that will help secure an innovative path of development for our cities," says Pei-ni Beatrice Hsieh, Commissioner of Taipei' Department of Cultural Affairs, who will be hosting the conference. "As part of the legacy of the World Design Capital Taipei 2016, we hope this conference will be a fruitful exchange of cutting-edge ideas and knowledge about the integration of design into urban life." The conference will be held on the weekend of 15 and 16 October, at the Taipei International Convention Center. For further information, or to register for the conference, go to http://topic.cw.com.tw/forum/2016WDC/. Other major events in October include the International Design House Exhibition, which will be on display at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park from Thursday, October 13, until Sunday, October 30; the International Design Week Forum, which will be held at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum on Monday, October 17, and Tuesday, October 18; and the Network of Cities Meeting, an invitation-only event which will be held on Wednesday, October 12, and Thursday, October 13. For more information on WDC Taipei 2016 events, visit the official website (http://wdc2016.taipei/) or follow on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/taipeidesign/). High and low res images, along with caption details and supporting documents can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/j08e0132lsxteho/AAB2j3GAqChk1XI8ubCvXjqWa?dl=0. About WDC Taipei 2016 "Adaptive City -- Design in Motion" was Taipei City's core concept in its 2015 application to host World Design Capital 2016. How can we apply innovative "design thinking" practices to overcome the constraints that limited resources place on our city's development, pursue continual change in our urban governance, create happiness in the lives of our citizens--providing them with a better quality of life in a more livable, forward-looking city? These are the goals for Taipei City. 2016 marks the beginning of an evolution for Taipei, where we will take advantage of the potential in change by "Engaging Communities," "Connecting Information," and "Revitalizing the City." For more information on WDC Taipei 2016, visit the official website http://wdc2016.taipei/en/, or follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/taipeidesign/. About World Design Capital World Design Capital (WDC) is designated by Icsid every two years to recognize a city's innovative use of design for economic, social and cultural development and to showcase effective design-led urban revitalization strategies that other cities can benefit from. Past cities to hold the WDC title include Torino (Italy) in 2008, Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland) in 2012, and Cape Town (South Africa) 2014. Taipei (Taiwan) is this year's WDC, and Mexico City has just been named WDC 2018. For more information, please visit http://www.worlddesigncapital.com. About the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) founded in 1957 that promotes the profession of industrial design. Icsid recently approved a name change, World Design Organization, to be implemented and celebrated during its 60th anniversary in 2017. Icsid advocates industrial design driven innovation that creates a better world, engaging our more than 140 member organizations in collaborative efforts and carrying out international programmingWorld Design Capital, World Design Impact Prize, World Industrial Design Day, and Interdesign. Icsid has United Nations Special Consultative Status. For more information, please visit http://www.icsid.org/. Media Contact Taipei City Government Contact Saskia Kerkvliet International Media Liaison +886 2 2311 7007 *406 [email protected] Olivia Hsu World Design Capital Taipei 2016 Office +886 2 2720 8889 *3657 [email protected] Taipei WDC Office Contact Anne Chang World Design Capital Taipei 2016 Office +886 2 2745 8199 *410 mailto:[email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160829/401996 SOURCE World Design Capital Related Links http://www.worlddesigncapital.com SAN DIEGO, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Zebit, a company committed to offering no-cost, transparent credit to hardworking Americans, launched its offering on the TriNet Marketplace, a unique shopping platform for TriNet's more than 13,000 clients and their over 325,000 employees.[1] Zebit's free financial wellness benefit includes access to financial resources and an interest-free credit safety net to purchase brand name products from the Zebit Market. With Zebit, eligible employees of TriNet's clients can pay for purchases over time without fees, interest, or a credit check. "Zebit is striving to fill the financial wellness benefit gap experienced by employees of small and midsized businesses," said Michael Thiemann, CEO and co-founder at Zebit. "Unexpected and expensive life events happen whether you work for a large Fortune 500 company or for a small startup. Rather than forcing those employees to resort to high-cost financing alternatives when cash is tight, employees can now access Zebit through the TriNet Marketplace for a no-cost financial solution. In turn, employers benefit from a more productive and less stressed workforce." Zebit's free financial resources and interest-free credit safety net helps employees more affordably buy what they need now, while paying for it over time at no added cost. This responsible financing solution can be used to make purchases in the Zebit Market featuring over 30,000 brand name products, including brands like Apple, Staples, Samsung, Lowes, Frigidaire, and many more. Eligible employees of TriNet's 13,000 small and midsized business clients can enroll directly with Zebit; there is no data or integration needed by employers. Eligible employees can enroll directly with Zebit by going to TriNet Marketplace or by visiting zebit.com. About Zebit Zebit is committed to providing free financial resources and no-cost credit to hard-working Americans. Zebit counters deceptive financing alternatives and saves members thousands of dollars in fees by offering free financial education, interest-free financing, and access to a closed marketplace containing thousands of competitively priced products. Members pay over time without interest, fees, penalties, or credit checks. Zebit's no-cost financial wellness benefit is currently available to employees of leading U.S. companies, association members, active/retired U.S. military personnel, and educators. With improved financial literacy and access to a credit safety net, working Americans can finally plan, manage, and respond to life events more responsibly. Learn more at www.zebit.com. [1] As of 6/30/2016 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160719/391158LOGO SOURCE Zebit, Inc. Related Links http://www.zebit.com 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 United Nations, Aug 25 : Sustainable development will be high on the agenda when General Assembly President-elect Peter Thomson visits India next week and meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "My main interest will be to discuss how the UN can assist and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," he said in a statement before his departure Wednesday. The 2030 Agenda is a set of 17 goals for global development adopted in 2015 by world leaders with 2030 as the deadline for meeting them. Thomson, who is currently Fiji's permanent representative to the UN, was elected in June as the president of the Assembly's 71st session that starts next month. He will succeed Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark. During the next Assembly sessionm Thomson will play a crucial role in reviving the Security Council reform process -- an issue of importance to India -- that has stalled in the current session after a promising start. He has in the past criticised the slow pace of Council reform and called for greater efforts by UN members to deal with it. On Monday, he is scheduled to meet Modi, according to the Assembly president's spokesperson Dan Thomas. Meetings have also been set up with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sujata Mehta, the ministry's Secretary West. Before going to Delhi, he will visit Beijing to meet Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. "Coming from the Asia-Pacific nation of Fiji, I am pleased to have this opportunity to visit the two biggest countries in the regional group to which I belong," he said. The Assembly president's office has a limited budget, which constrains the official's activities and in the past has led to presidents seeking outside help. Last month India contributed $250,000 to a fund to assist with running the president's office independently. Handing over the contribution, India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin said that as a fellow developing nation from the Asia-Pacific region, India was supporting the president's office. Thomson has a wide range of international leadership experience. He was the vice president of the General Assembly in 2010-11. He has also been the chair of the developing nations' Group of 77 to which India belongs, and the chair of the executive boards of both the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) By Fatih Karimov Trend: Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 Iran is negotiating for possible gas export with Persian Gulf states, including the UAE and Kuwait, said Ali Reza Kameli, head of National Iranian Gas Exports Company. The UAE and Kuwait are going to be new markets for Iranian gas as Tehran seeks to enjoy the advantage of having 15 neighbouring countries, Kameli said, Mehr news agency reported Aug. 29. Based on Iran's 20-Year Economic Perspective, the Islamic Republics gas export should reach 500 million cubic meters per day by 2025, Kameli said, adding that gas export through pipeline to neighbouring countries as well as in LNG form for distant markets is on the agenda. Iran currently exports gas to Turkey and Armenia and gas export project to Iraq and Pakistan will become operational soon, Kameli said. Further on, Kameli spoke about the Iran-Oman underwater gas pipeline, saying the projects studies are still underway. Iran's proven gas reserve stood at 34 trillion cubic meters as of early 2015, according to BP. The country's share on the world gas market is 17 percent. Moscow, Aug 25 : Russian Paralympic Committee chief Vladimir Lukin has said all 266 Russian para athletes could submit individual complaints to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) challenging the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) decision to ban them from competing in the 2016 Paralympics. The 2016 Paralympics will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from September 7-18, reports Tass. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on August 23 turned down an appeal of the Russian Paralympic Committee against the IPC decision to bar the Russian team from competing in the Paralympics. "The ECHR should study attentively the individual complaints of 266 athletes. We consider ourselves to be absolutely innocent," Lukin said on Wednesday. Pavel Rozhkov, the joint vice-president of the Russian Paralympic Committee, said on Wednesday that the paralympians were negotiating a possibility to file individual lawsuits. "The paralympians are already consulting lawyers about individual lawsuits. But the situation is fundamentally different from the one involving our Olympians. The thing is that paralympians have no right to file lawsuits to CAS," Rozhkov explained. IPC acted on a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report to suspend the Russian Paralympic Committee's membership and bar its paralympians. The Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) submitted an appeal to CAS on August 15. According to CAS, RPC had failed to provide sufficient proof to refute the IPC decision. New Delhi, Aug 26 : A government-appointed experts panel has recommended chilli pepper-filled balls to replace the dangerous pellets as less lethal ammunition to control protesting crowds in Jammu and Kashmir. Government sources told IANS on Friday that the seven-member committee has submitted its report that recommends PAVA, containing an irritant chemical found in natural chilli, to be used against protesters in Kashmir. The recommendation comes after global criticism over the use of pellet guns against Kashmiri protesters that have killed at least three and maimed or blinded thousands of civilians. Hundreds of the injured have either partially or fully lost their eyesight. The payload of these guns is filled with the Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide, or PAVA -- a synthetic compound found in chillies but stronger in intensity than the pepper. Also called pepper shots, the ammunition is used in many countries across the world as an effective tool for riot control. The projectile, after being shot, breaks upon impact and releases an almost barely visible irritant powder. As the chilli-filled balls burst after hitting the target, the ammunition need not be shot directly at the rioters. It can be shot effectively up to a range of 150 feet. It can even be shot at a hard surface in the rioter's vicinity to overwhelm him or her with the cloud of the powder it releases. The powder causes severe irritation and paralyses any person in the vicinity temporarily. Unlike pellets, chilli pepper balls do not penetrate skin or pose ricochet hazards, making it a less dangerous weapon for defence even at short range. Pellet guns have been used by security forces as a tool to control unruly mobs since 2010 when some 120 people were killed in firing by security forces following street protests. Human rights groups have criticised the use of pellets because they can leave a victim maimed or blinded for life. A pellet gun sprays small iron ball bearings towards a target with high velocity. These bearings can pierce a human body in dozens of spots. Any final decision on the use of chilli pepper-filled balls in Kashmir is awaiting the home ministry nod, the sources said. The panel that recommended its use included officers from the home ministry, paramilitary forces, Jammu and Kashmir Police, IIT Delhi and Ordnance Factory Board. Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday announced in Srinagar that the panel had already submitted its report and a final decision on an alternative to pellet guns in Kashmir will be made "in a few days". Shimla, Aug 28 : Himachal Pradesh, known worldwide for its juicy apples, is going showcase them for the first time in Delhi and Chandigarh in an initiative to link tourism with its over Rs 3,000 crore apple industry, officials said on Sunday. "We are going to organise for the first time apple festivals in New Delhi and Chandigarh in October," State Tourism Commissioner Mohan Chauhan told IANS. He said organic fruits, nuts, species, cereals and pulses grown in the state would also be showcased along with the apples. In Shimla, he said, the two-day annual apple festival would be held next month. Chief Secretary V.C. Pharka said the purpose of organising the apple festivals was to educate the people about the varieties and the quality of apples being produced in the state. Organic crops like kidney beans, apricots and walnuts would be showcased during the festivals. Apple constitutes about 49 per cent of the area under fruit crops and about 85 per cent of all fruit production. Kinnauri apples, known across the world for their natural sweetness, colour and juiciness, normally start arriving in the markets in October. Interestingly, farmers in the state's landlocked valleys like Pangi in Chamba district and Dodra Kwar in Shimla district have never used pesticides and fertiliser for growing crops. The state government is majorly boosting organic farming. London, Aug 29 : As Britian Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to head to China for the upcoming G20, she will first hold a critical cabinet meeting with her top ministers at Chequers -- the country retreat home for British Prime Ministers, a media report said. May intends to reinforce her clear Brexit stance following Britain's June 23 referendum decision that the country will leave the European Union (EU), Xinhua news agency reported. Her determination to see through what the British public decided, was likely to dismay supporters of the Remain camp who were still seeking ways of overturning Britain's retreat from Europe. May wants to make sure before she departs for Hangzhou that world leaders gathering in Hangzhou were in no doubt about her proclamation that Brexit means Brexit. The Mail on Sunday described May's Chequers' meeting on Wednesday as a "back to school" cabinet meeting during which she was expected to order feuding Brexit Ministers to end any turf wars. It will be May's first meeting at her country retreat since she became Prime Minister, with the Mail saying it will mark a sharp escalation in May's efforts to assure restless Eurosceptics in her Conservative party that she was on track to deliver an early exit from the EU "and will not fob them off with Brexit-lite". She would also encourage the three-quarters of cabinet members who campaigned to stay in the EU to identify Brexit opportunities in their own government departments. May's trip to China will see her meeting the US President Obama, with commentators saying she was likely to use the opportunity to gauge the appetite for mutually beneficial Britain-US trade relationships in the future. Former Labour premier Tony Blair and a number of serving politicians say Members of Parliament could use a parliamentary vote to stop Brexit. A Downing Street source said: "The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear that the British public have voted and now she will get on with delivering Brexit." Around 480 of the 650 MPs in the House of Commons campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU at the last election. The upper chamber, the House of Lords, was also to be said overwhelmingly in favour of Britain staying in the EU. In a speech on the leadership campaign trail a few days ago Labour's Smith said: "Under my leadership we will vote in Parliament to block any attempt to invoke Article 50 until Theresa May commits to a second referendum or a general election on whatever the EU exit deal emerges at the end of the process." New Delhi, Aug 29 : President-elect of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Peter Thomson called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Monday. "Advancing India's multilateral agenda. PM @narendramodi receives President Elect of the UNGA, Peter Thomson," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. Thomson, who is from Fiji, was elected in June. He is visiting India a fortnight ahead of the UNGA annual session in New York. He is scheduled to hold meetings with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya later on Monday. New Delhi, Aug 29 : Home Minister Rajnath Singh will lead an all-party delegation to Kashmir on September 4, an official said. "An all party delegation led by the Home Minister will go to Kashmir on the 4th of next month," a home ministry official told IANS. He said the minister and the delegation members will meet a large number of local leaders. Rajnath Singh has been constantly reviewing the situation in Kashmir ever since the unrest began a day after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed on July 8. Hyderabad, Aug 29 : The mystery behind slain renegade Mohammed Nayeemuddin's nexus with politicians and police officials is deepening by the day, with little chances of the truth being ever known. Buried with Nayeemuddin alias Nayeem -- who was killed in an alleged exchange of fire with police in Telangana this month -- are the secrets of his links with powers that be. The most wanted Maoist-turned-gangster, who had virtual free run for two decades, met an end which nobody would have anticipated, given the notoriety he earned as a cold-blood murderer. Police claimed he was killed in Shadnagar, a town about 50 km from Hyderabad, when he opened fire on policemen chasing him after a tip-off that he was trying to extort money from a businessman. Many believe that the 45-year-old was silenced as he "knew too much". The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which almost on a daily basis is coming out with chilling details of his crimes including murders, extortions, land grabbing and even child abuse. The seizure of huge cash and valuables during police raids on his dens in and around Hyderabad, and the documents of several properties worth several hundred crores he had amassed show some glimpses of the huge empire he built with patronage from his political masters and corrupt officers. As a Maoist, he hit the headlines by killing an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, K.L. Vyas, the founder of the anti-Maoist force Greyhounds, in 1993. After being expelled from the People's War Group (PWG) for indulging in extortion, he turned a police spy to help them effectively counter Left-wing extremism, which was then at its peak. Nayeem even eliminated some top Maoists and their sympathisers in the then united Andhra Pradesh. He formed a gang and brutally killed those who were posing a challenge to his land-grabbing and extortion activities. Nayeem was also wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as he had helped police in nabbing Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kausar Bi, who were later gunned down in an "encounter" in 2005 in Gujarat. Nayeem was also an accused in the murder of surrendered Maoist leaders Sambasivudu and Ramulu after they joined TRS. After Telangana was formed and the TRS came to power, Nayeem allegedly started threatening its top leaders. His threats to some ministers and legislators are believed to have done him in. Former minister and opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Uma Madhav Reddy and former Director General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy have denied any links to Nayeem after their names figured in media reports. Uma Madhav Reddy alleged that the TRS government was trying to tarnish her image and to save some leaders of the ruling party who were earlier with the TDP or the Congress. Dinesh Reddy added a twist by admitting that it's common for police to use surrendered Maoists as informers. While congratulating Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for eliminating Nayeem, he claimed that the latter's predecessor had not given clearance for the gangster's arrest. All three main political parties are trading allegations, with the TRS blaming TDP for nurturing Nayeem when it was in power between 1994 and 2004. The Congress party has also been accused of continuing the state support for Nayeem between 2004 and 2014. "The SIT cannot conduct the inter-disciplinary probe and that too in different states. That's why we are demanding investigations by the CBI," said Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir. The network Nayeem built, the brutal fashion in which he used to eliminate his rivals, an escape from police custody and his lavish lifestyle all make it fit for a Bollywood potboiler. The disclosure that he used to have AK-47 toting female bodyguards and donned a woman's make-up to escape adds spice to the story. It is no wonder then that well-known filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma plans to make a three-part movie on the gangster. Few believe that the identity of the politicians and police officers who had close links with Nayeem will ever be known. The names of the officers who allegedly had a nexus with renegade Maoist Kattula Sammaiah were never made public. Sammaiah (28) died in 2001 after he was injured in an aborted take-off of an aircraft at Colombo airport. Sammaiah, an accused in IPS officer Vyas's murder, was on his way to Frankfurt for setting up a windmill project along with some relatives of a police officer, who allegedly helped him get a passport. (Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at shafeeq.mohammed@gmail.com) Mumbai, Aug 29 : Indian equity markets were lifted by sector-specific buying during the mid-afternoon trade session on Monday. Consequently, the key Indian indices provisionally closed the day's trade in the green, as healthy buying was witnessed in automobile, capital goods and metal stocks. The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged up 34.90 points, or 0.41 per cent to 8,607.45 points. The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 27,827.26 points, provisionally closed at 27,902.66 points (at 3.30 p.m.) -- up 120.41 points, or 0.43 per cent from the previous close at 27,782.25 points. The Sensex touched a high of 27,952.85 points and a low of 27,698.71 points during the intra-day trade. However, the BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bears -- with 1,465 declines and 1,220 advances. "Support came from sector-specific buying which led the markets to rise after a flat trading session," Manish Hathiramani, Proprietary Trader and Technical Analyst at Deen Dayal Investments, told IANS. "Good buying was seen in automobile sectors, with Tata Motors leading, providing support to both the Sensex and the Nifty." On Friday, both the key Indian indices had closed in the red, due to caution ahead of the US Fed Reserve Chair's speech and lower crude oil prices. The barometer index had slipped by 53.66 points, or 0.19 per cent, while the NSE Nifty edged down 19.65 points, or 0.23 per cent. New Delhi, Aug 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday assured Myanmar, which has freshly attained democracy, that India will stand by it in every step of its ambition to develop as a modern nation. "Your great nation has entered a new era," Modi said during a joint press conference with visiting Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw following bilateral talks between the two sides. "An era defined by maturity of your leadership and commitment of your people to democracy," he said. "And, which is accompanied by a clear vision and a strong desire of your leadership to make Myanmar a stable and economically prosperous country in the region." 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 after its historic victory in the general elections in November last year. Modi said that as the new government of Myanmar started its journey to grow its agriculture, develop its industry and infrastructure, strengthen its education, skill its youth, build new institutions and strengthen existing ones, secure its society, seek a firm path to economic prosperity; and pursue an ambition to build a modern nation, "every step of the way, 1.25 billion people of India will stand by you -- both as partners and as friends". Observing that Myanmar held a unique position in India's neighbourhood, he said: "It is a land bridge that connects India with southeast Asia." Modi said that during his talks with President U Htin Kyaw, both sides discussed the whole range of bilateral engagement. He said both sides agreed on the need to remain sensitive to each other's strategic interests and concerns. "To this end, the President and I agreed to work together for the safety and security of our people," he said. "And, actively cooperate to combat the common challenges of terrorism and insurgent activity in our region." During External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's daylong visit to Nay Pyi Taw on August 22, the leadership of the eastern neighbour assured that it would not allow Indian insurgent groups to operate from Myanmar territory. On August 19, a heavy exchange of fire took place between the Indian Army and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) insurgents after the soldiers raided some villages in Mon district of Nagaland along the India-Myanmar border. During Monday's talks, India also conveyed its full support to the peace process initiative under the "21st Century Panglong Conference" between the Myanmar government and ethnic armed organisations scheduled from August 31. The first Panglong conference was convened by Suu Kyi's father and then Myanmar Premier Aung San in 1947. Modi said India-Myanmar partnership was defined not just by good words and pure intent. "Its extent and depth is shaped by a robust development cooperation partnership, which has a strong 'people first' philosophy," he said. "India's nearly $2 billion development assistance is touching the lives of the common man of Myanmar. "Our engagement is supporting projects in connectivity, infrastructure, capacity-building education, healthcare and many other sectors." Following the bilateral talks, India and Myanmar on Monday signed four agreements. The first agreement pertains to construction of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kalewa section of the trilateral highway connecting India, Myanmar and Thailand. The second agreement is on upgrading the Kalewa-Yargi section of the trilateral highway. The third agreement is on cooperation in the field of renewable energy, while the fourth agreement is on cooperation in the field of traditional medicine. Apart from this, Modi said that some other concrete examples of the two countries' partnership included the Kaladan multi-modal transport project connecting Mizoram with Sittwe port in Myanmar, the Myanmar Institute of Information Technology, the Advanced Centre of Agricultural Research and Education and smaller projects in health, education and industrial training sector. "We have also agreed to work towards a long-term and a mutually beneficial arrangement for trade in pulses," the Prime Minister said. Pointing out that power supply to Tamu in Myanmar commenced in April this year, Modi said India was ready to substantially scale up electricity generation to its eastern neighbour. "We are also ready to restore other historic monuments and pagodas, which were damaged in the earthquake which hit Myanmar just last week," he said. On his part, President U Htin Kyaw said both sides agreed to bring about overall socio-economic development of the people On a four-day visit to India, U Htin Kyaw was in Bodh Gaya in Bihar on Saturday and later visited the Taj Mahal in Agra on Sunday. Prior to the meeting with Modi on Monday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Myanmar President. Panaji, Aug 29 : BJP's Goa unit Vice President Anil Hoble on Monday invoked the gods for the speedy recover of party lawmaker and Deputy Speaker Vishnu Wagh who continues to be in ICU following a heart attack earlier this month. Hoble hosted a Maharudra yagya ritual at the Rudreshwar Devastan in Haravalem, 20 km from Panaji, which he claimed was performed in order to "hasten Wagh's well-being". "The Maharudra ritual was performed by 25 couples who we hosted. We brought 25 priests to perform the ritual. Like the Mahamrityunjaya chant, this ritual also has potential to improve one's health," Hoble claimed. Wagh had been admitted to the Hinduja hospital in Mumbai earlier this month, after the St. Andre legislator suffered a heart attack on August 15, his second this year. Wagh, who had been in coma for several days, is now reportedly responding, albeit slowly, to treatment. Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar visited Wagh at the Mumbai hospital on Sunday. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 By Emil Ilgar Trend: Turkey has increased the import of gas from Iran by about 4.6 percent to 3.826 billion cubic meters (bcm) in the first half of 2016 (1H16), according to the statistics of Turkey Energy Market Regulatory. Despite the increase in total of imports for 1H16, Turkey decreased gas intake from Iran by 85 million cubic meters (mcm) in June to 479.88 mcm. The statistics indicate that Turkey's total pipeline gas imports decreased by 121 mcm to 19,405 mcm during 1H16. Despite the decline in Turkey's pipeline gas imports, the country increased the LNG intake by 260 mcm to 4,149 mcm in 1H16. In total, the country's gas imports including pipeline and LNG reached 23.554 bcm in the first half of year, about 138 mcm more than the same period in 2016. Latest New Delhi, Aug 29 : The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a response from Delhi Police on a plea seeking direction to stop plying illegally operated e-rickshaws here following accidents involving them. Justice J.R. Midha asked police to file a response by September 19 on the plea which sought direction that responsible officers of police and the Delhi government be prosecuted for deliberately allowing e-rickshaw operators to ply illegally. The court was hearing an application filed in a contempt plea by social activist Shahnawaz, who alleged that e-rickshaws continued to operate in the capital in violation of the court's September 9, 2014 direction. Advocate Sugriva Dubey, appearing for Shahnawaz, told the court that e-rickshaws were plying on roads illegally with no registration number, licence and insurance. The application mentioned an accident this month wherein a three-year-old boy was crushed to death by an e-rickshaw in Mansarovar Park area. The plea alleged that most e-rickshaws were operating in violation of law and rules and the authorities were not taking action against them. Dhaka, Aug 29 : Visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here on Monday with the talks believed to have focused on terrorism, in the wake of last month's terror strikes in the country. Details of the meeting could not be obtained immediately. Kerry, who is on a nine-hour stay here, is also set to meet with opposition leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia later in the day at the residence of the US envoy, reported the Daily Star. From Dhaka, Kerry will visit India, where cooperation between the US, India and Bangladesh in combating terrorism will be a priority agenda during discussions. Kerry's maiden visit to Bangladesh, at the virtual end of President Barack Obama's tenure, was deemed "significant" by diplomats as they thought the US was giving importance to Hasina's government after cold-shouldering it for years. Earlier in the day, Kerry visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay respects to Bangladesh's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He observed in the comment book at the memorial that Bangladesh is moving ahead in line with the vision of Bangabandhu under Hasina's strong leadership, reported the Dhaka Tribune. "What a tragedy to have such valiant and courageous leadership stories from the people of Bangladesh in such a moment of violence and cowardice. But today, Bangladesh is growing in the vision of Bangabandhu -- and under the strong leadership of his daughter (Sheikh Hasina). The US is proud to be a friend and strong supporter of the fulfillment of his vision. We look forward to growing and working together for peace and prosperity," said Kerry. Kerry landed at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and was greeted by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. US envoy Marcia Bernicat was present. The US Secretary is to meet with government officials to discuss growing cooperation on global issues, according to a US State Department statement issued in Washington. "He will focus on strengthening our long-standing bilateral partnership on democracy, development, security and human rights," said the statement. Islamabad, Aug 29 : Ace Indian actor Om Puri, who is working in a Pakistani film "Actor in Law", is in Pakistan for its promotion. Puri, now in Lahore, met his Pakistani fans and urged them to watch the film. He will also promote the movie in other Pakistan cities, Geo TV reported on Monday. "Actor in Law" is about an aspiring actor (Fahad Mustafa) who succumbs to pressure from his father (Om Puri) and takes up the role of lawyer. The Urdu movie, directed by Nabeel Qureshi, is set to release on September 13. New Delhi, Aug 29 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday assured Myanmar, which has newly attained democracy, that India will stand by it every step of the way in its bid to develop as a modern nation even as both sides agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the region. "Your great nation has entered a new era," Modi said during a joint press conference with visiting Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw following bilateral talks between the two sides. "An era defined by maturity of your leadership and commitment of your people to democracy," he said. "And, which is accompanied by a clear vision and a strong desire of your leadership to make Myanmar a stable and economically prosperous country in the region." 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 after its historic victory in the general elections in November last year. Modi said that as the new government of Myanmar started its journey to grow its agriculture, develop its industry and infrastructure, strengthen its education, skill its youth, build new institutions and strengthen existing ones, secure its society, seek a firm path to economic prosperity and pursue an ambition to build a modern nation, "every step of the way, 1.25 billion people of India will stand by you -- both as partners and as friends". Observing that Myanmar held a unique position in India's neighbourhood, he said: "It is a land bridge that connects India with southeast Asia." Modi said that during his talks with President U Htin Kyaw, both sides discussed the whole range of bilateral engagement. He said both sides agreed on the need to remain sensitive to each other's strategic interests and concerns. "To this end, the President and I agreed to work together for the safety and security of our people," he said. "And, actively cooperate to combat the common challenges of terrorism and insurgent activity in our region." During External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's daylong visit to Nay Pyi Taw on August 22, the leadership of the eastern neighbour assured that it would not allow Indian insurgent groups to operate from Myanmar territory. On August 19, a heavy exchange of fire took place between the Indian Army and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) insurgents after the soldiers raided some villages in Mon district of Nagaland along the India-Myanmar border. During Monday's talks, India also conveyed its full support to the peace initiative under the "21st Century Panglong Conference" between the Myanmar government and ethnic armed organisations scheduled from August 31. The first Panglong conference was convened by Suu Kyi's father and then Myanmar Premier Aung San in 1947. Modi said India-Myanmar partnership was defined not just by good words and pure intent. "Its extent and depth is shaped by a robust development cooperation partnership, which has a strong 'people first' philosophy," he said. "India's nearly $2 billion development assistance is touching the lives of the common man of Myanmar. "Our engagement is supporting projects in connectivity, infrastructure, capacity-building education, healthcare and many other sectors." Following the bilateral talks, India and Myanmar on Monday signed four agreements. The first agreement pertains to construction of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kalewa section of the trilateral highway connecting India, Myanmar and Thailand. The second agreement is on upgrading the Kalewa-Yargi section of the trilateral highway. The third agreement is on cooperation in the field of renewable energy, while the fourth agreement is on cooperation in the field of traditional medicine. Apart from this, Modi said that some other concrete examples of the two countries' partnership included the Kaladan multi-modal transport project connecting Mizoram with Sittwe port in Myanmar, the Myanmar Institute of Information Technology, the Advanced Centre of Agricultural Research and Education and smaller projects in health, education and industrial training sector. "We have also agreed to work towards a long-term and a mutually beneficial arrangement for trade in pulses," the Prime Minister said. Pointing out that power supply to Tamu in Myanmar commenced in April this year, Modi said India was ready to substantially scale up electricity generation to its eastern neighbour. "We are also ready to restore other historic monuments and pagodas, which were damaged in the earthquake which hit Myanmar just last week," he said. On his part, President U Htin Kyaw said both sides agreed to bring about overall socio-economic development of the people. On a four-day visit to India, U Htin Kyaw was in Bodh Gaya in Bihar on Saturday and later visited the Taj Mahal in Agra on Sunday. Prior to the meeting with Modi on Monday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Myanmar President. Ranchi, Aug 29 : At least 30 school girls were hospitalised after suspected food poisoning in Jharkhand's Gumla district on Monday, police said. The students of Kasturba Girls School at Ghaghra, around 130 km from Ranchi, complained of vomiting and loose motion after taking breakfast and were rushed to hospital. After initial treatment, 20 girls were discharged while the treatment of the remaining 10 was going on. The girls are said to be out of danger. The girls had taken bread and tea in their breakfast. The school authorities suspect that food poisoning could be the reason of the illness. Education department officials say the reason will be ascertained after a probe. New Delhi, Aug 29 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will launch a month-long Mahayatra in Uttar Pradesh covering 39 districts from September 6, the Congress announced on Monday. Giving details of the Mahayatra, Congress General Secretary and state in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad said it would start from Rudrapur in the state's Deoria district and would culminate in Delhi. "Rahul Gandhi would cover 2,500 km by road, traversing through 39 districts, covering 55 Lok Sabha constituencies and 223 assembly seats," he said. Although Azad did not give a specific time-frame for its conclusion, he said it would take almost a month, with one or two short breaks in between. "It would not be a continuous yatra, there would be short breaks in between. In all, there should be 20-25 working days," he said. He said that during the programme, Rahul would meet farmers and unorganised sector workers. There would be roadshows in small and big towns along the way but no large public meeting, Azad said. He also did not reveal the names of the 39 districts to be covered. There have been speculations about Gandhi going to Ayodhya, but the Congress refused to either confirm or deny it. The state Congress leaders and the state coordination committee members are already doing separate yatras in Uttar Pradesh, which Azad said would go on as per their schedule. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 29 : The Congress on Monday attacked the ruling CPI-M in Kerala over the social welfare pension scheme, saying the Left party was behaving as if it was a party scheme being doled out to 3.7 million people in the state. The total payout, which has already begun, when complete would be to the tune of more than Rs 3,000 crore, including a few months' arrears. The CPI-M after it assumed office in May this year hiked the monthly minimum pension to Rs 1,000. Addressing reporters here on Monday, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that the CPI-M has taken over the distribution of the pensions as if the party is giving it out. "They had decided to distribute the pensions through the primary cooperative banks in the state, but now it has come to a situation that they are doing it through the banks where the CPI-M is wielding power. In the process, most places where the Congress-led opposition is in power they have not considered them. It's only in places where the CPI-M does not have banks where their party is not in power are our banks getting this. This is not a pension scheme of the CPI-M," said Chennithala. The Oommen Chandy government (2011-16) had increased the number of people under the pension schemes -- ranging from widows to agricultural workers, physically challenged, fishermen and several others, mostly from the weakest sections of the society. "During our time it was given through post offices and banks. The new CPI-M government came out with an order that this would be handled by the 14 district cooperative banks. All what we are demanding is that the 'colour' of the banks need not be looked into, instead the merit of the organisation should be the criterion," added Chennithala. New Delhi, Aug 29 : The Home Ministry-appointed expert committee, which was to explore alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons to deal with protestors in the Kashmir Valley, submitted its report to the central government on Monday. "A seven-member Expert Committee under the chairmanship of T.V.S.N. Prasad, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, for exploring the other possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons submitted its report to the Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi here today (Monday)," an official release said. The report has been submitted in the run-up to Home Minister Rajnath Singh taking an all-party delegation to the troubled Kashmir Valley on September 4. Rajnath Singh, during his two-day visit to Kashmir on August 24-25, announced that an alternative to pellet guns will be given to security forces in the days to come. On Friday, government sources told IANS that the committee in its report recommended PAVA, containing an irritant chemical found in natural chilli, to be used against protesters in Kashmir. The recommendation comes after global criticism over the use of pellet guns against the Kashmiri protesters that have killed at least three and maimed or blinded thousands of civilians. The payload of these guns is filled with the Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide, or PAVA -- a synthetic compound found in chillies but stronger in intensity than the pepper. Also called pepper shots, the ammunition is used in many countries across the world as an effective tool for riot control. Unlike pellets, chilli pepper balls do not penetrate skin or pose ricochet hazards, making it a less dangerous weapon for defence even at short range. After 51 long days, the Kashmir Valley on Monday saw curfew lifted from most places and the overall law and order situation generally remained calm. Kashmir unrest, that has seen over 70 people killed, began a day after the July 8 killing of Hizbul Mujahadeen commander Burhan Wani. The old BBC headquarters, Television Centre at Wood Lane, White City, W12 7RJ, is being converted into an array of flats and amenities. The property was acquired by development group Stanhope back in 2012 for 200 million on a 999 year lease. This was part of the BBCs cost-reduction programme which saw an array of services relocated to Manchester although there will still be a small number of active studios as part of the new Television Centre development. The development will be marketed in Dubai at a forthcoming property show and there are high hopes that the recent reduction in the value of sterling could prompt growing demand from overseas investors. So, what has happened to the old BBC headquarters and what do you get for your money? Overall plan The long-term plan for the property includes the creation of 800 homes, cafes, restaurants as well as an independent cinema. Offer space for up to 5000 workers will also be integrated into the development and a private members club. It is unclear at this moment in time how much the full revamp will cost but phase 1, the introduction of 432 homes, is set to be completed by 2018. For those rubbing their hands, hopeful of grabbing one of these much sought-after properties, the forthcoming Dubai property show is the place to go. How much would you pay for a one bedroom apartment in the development? Well, prices range from 700,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to 8 million for a penthouse. This property development is certainly not targeted at first-time buyers! Foreign buyers As we touched on above, the recent fall in the value of sterling could have a material impact on demand from foreign investors. This is starting to become a trend in the UK property market while we await the full effects of Brexit to emerge. Earlier this week Theresa May, the UK PM, confirmed that she is pushing ahead with plans to activate Article 50 which would start the process by which the UK would leave the European Union. It is interesting to see that while the UK currency has been dramatically devalued on the exchanges, there has to all intents and purposes been little change in the UK economy as a direct result of Brexit. You will see headlines suggesting falling demand for property, economic problems, etc but it is difficult to associate all of these issues with Brexit. So, many overseas investors could see the recent fall in the value of the pound as an opportune moment to increase their exposure to the UK property market. Property investment continues While this investment by Stanhope has been in the pipeline for many years it is interesting to see growing interest in the UK property market in light of the Brexit vote. Some of the dramatic media headlines give the impression that the UK economy will disintegrate and disappear once the UK leaves the European Union which is just plain misleading. There will be challenges, there will be issues and there will be arguments with European counterparts but ultimately it is in the best interests of the UK and the European Union to maintain a good working relationship going forward. Indeed many believe that in the longer term the UK will benefit from arranging its own trade deals with partners around the world. Time will tell.. By Fatih Karimov Trend: Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 The Iranian administration has managed to revive crude oil and condensate export, leading it to the pre-sanctions level, the Islamic Republic President Hassan Rouhani said. During a six month-period after implementation of the nuclear deal, Irans crude oil and condensate exports increased from 2.7 million to 3.8 million barrels per day, Rouhani said, IRNA news agency reported Aug. 29. The international sanctions against Tehran had caused Irans crude oil production to drop by about one million barrels a day in recent years. But achievement of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), terminated all nuclear-related sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The agreement took effect on January 16. Rouhani further said that his administration has moved towards self-sufficiency in wheat production, which is an honor for the countrys agriculture sector. He said that the countrys wheat storage valume stands at over 14 million tons. Food security is a serious matter for Iran given the size of its population, which has grown to over 80 million, while the countrys food basket is shrinking. Wheat is the main crop cultivated in Iran, accounting for almost 70 percent of aggregate cereal production. Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani said that stabilizing the market is one of the main achivments of his adminstration since 2013. During the last three years the point-to-point inflation rate has decreased from 45 percent to eight percent, Rouhani said,adding that this is an unprecedented achivment in the countrys history. Economic growth has reached 4.4 percent, the Iranian president said, expressing hope that the countyr would experience economical boom by March 2017. The number of first time buyers in the UK has reached its highest level since June 2017 but buy to let landlords are down, according to new lending figures. There were 35,500 new first time buyer mortgages completed in August, up 2% compared to the same month last year and lending to this group increased by 5.2% to 6.1 billion, according to the data from UK Finance. The data also shows that there were 38,000 new home mover mortgages completed in the month, down 2.3% year on year at 8.5 billion of new lending, unchanged from the same month in 2017. There were 37,100 new home owner remortgages completed, down 0.3% year on year, at 6.5 billion, again unchanged from August of last year. But there were just 6,000 new buy to let home purchase mortgages completed, down 13% year on year at 0.8 billion, some 20% down year on year. But buy to let remortgages were up 4.5% year on year to 13,800 at 2.2 billion of lending in the month, up 4.8% compared to August 2017. Overall house purchase completions remain stable, driven largely by the number of first time buyers which reached its highest monthly level since June 2017, said Jackie Bennett, director of mortgages at UK Finance. Buy to let remortgaging saw relatively strong growth in August, due in part to the number of two year fixed deals coming to an end. This suggests that while new purchases in the buy to let market continue to be impacted by recent tax and regulatory changes, many existing landlords remain committed to the market, she explained. However, the home owner remortgaging market has softened slightly, reflecting the many borrowers who had already locked into attractive deals in the months preceding the Bank of Englands base rate rise, she added. According to Mark Weedon, head of research at Property Partner, the Governments shake-up of buy to let investing is taking its toll on landlords, but the changes are hardly having the desired effect for renters. This data may show that existing landlords have not yet sold off their investments in swathes as they look to re-mortgage. However, our own research suggests buy to let landlords are finding other routes to ensure their investments remain economic, he said. Some 37% of buy to let landlords say they would increase rents on account of the buy-to-let crackdown. This will make it harder for those with dreams of home ownership to save for a deposit, as more spending will go towards their monthly rent, he pointed out. Ultimately, the Government must consider the impact of its policies, and urgently review the mechanics of the buy to let sector which is key to a strong and growing private rental sector. Penalising buy to let landlords can in turn penalise tenants, he concluded. Craig McKinlay, new business director at Kensington Mortgages, believes that the slight fall in remortgage activity may suggest some borrowers are feeling unsure about their options to refinance, while Kevin Roberts, director of the Legal & General Mortgage Club, thinks it is a surprise that there has not been a surge in remortgage activity following the Bank of Englands decision to raise interest rates. By Fatih Karimov Trend: Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 Irans imports from Germany increased by 164.69 and 29.23 percent in terms of volume and value, respectively, year-on-year during the first five months of current fiscal year (March 20-Aug. 21), according to the Iranian Customs Administrations latest monthly report. Iran imported 615,000 tons of goods, worth $938 million, from Germany during the five-month period. Germanys exports accounted for 5.62 percent of Irans total imports in terms of value. China was the main exporter of goods to Iran in the mentioned period. Iran imported 1.748 million tons of goods, worth $3.863 billion, from China in the five-month period indicating fall by 14.63 percent in terms of volume and 11.51 percent in terms of value respectively year on year. The countrys exports accounted for 23.12 percent of Irans total imports in terms of value. In the mentioned period, the Islamic Republic purchased almost 60 percent of its total imported goods from five countries China, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Turkey and Germany. Iran imported 2.155 million tons of goods, worth $2.862 billion, from the UAE, which makes up 17.13 percent of Irans total imports value. Irans imports from the UAE witnessed a 21.19-percent fall in terms of value and a 23.68-percent decrease in terms of volume as compared to the same period of preceding year. South Korea and Turkey exported $1.263 billion and $1.077 billion worth of goods to Iran, respectively. Irans imports from Turkey registered a fall by 16.32 percent, meanwhile South Koreas exports to the Islamic Republic decreased by 18.75 percent in terms of value year on year. Iran imported 13.166 million tons of goods, worth $16.709 billion, during the five-month period, which is 2.85 percent less in terms of value as compared to the same period of preceding year. Richter & Company LLC, a leading provider of Competitive Intelligence and Price To Win support services, announced today that it has acquired the assets of market research firm Aerospace Analytics LLC. The acquisition adds three new services to Richter & Companys existing portfolio: Strategic Market Analysis and Consulting Development of Syndicated U.S. and International Market Analysis Reports Corporate-level Go-to-Market Planning and Team Development Initial offerings will focus on the worldwide defense aerospace market, reflecting the 20+ years of experience of Aerospace Analytics founder, Katrina Jones. Over the years, weve worked with many price to win consultants. Richter & Companys work is head and shoulders above the pack, and were excited to become part of their team, said Ms. Jones. Adding our market-focused services to Richters proven opportunity-focused support will help all of our clients make better decisions about the business they pursue. Said Randy Richter, President of Richter & Company, Winning and performing - in todays hypercompetitive world requires detailed knowledge of how competitors develop, cost, and price their solutions. We look forward to working with the Aerospace team to add even more value to our clients. About Richter & Company: Winning companies understand the value of effective Price To Win results and since 2006, over 200 companies have relied on Richter & Companys proven competitive insights to help them win. Headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, Richter & Company provides support across a wide range of U.S. and international programs and technologies. WPC Honors Julie Carter, Tom Isaacs and David Leventhal with the World Parkinson Congress Award For Distinguished Contribution To The Parkinson Community 'We are pleased to recognize those individuals whose hard work and dedication help the global Parkinsons community.' Elizabeth (Eli) Pollard, executive director, World Parkinson Coalition The World Parkinson Coalition (WPC) is proud to announce for the first time the World Parkinson Congress Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Parkinson Community. This inaugural award is granted to an individual whose efforts best embody the goals of the World Parkinson Congress. Recipients have been selected based on their work that inspires community building and collaboration regarding Parkinsons in any one or more of the following areas: advancement of science, improvement of quality of life, education about Parkinsons, and innovation in clinical care. The Award recipients will be honored at the 4th World Parkinson Congress in September 2016. The WPC 2016 Steering Committee, after reviewing 39 nominations from 14 countries, selected three recipients for this years award; two hail from the United States, one from the United Kingdom. Serge Przedborski, MD, PhD, WPC, president, and A. Jon Stoessl, CM, MD FRCPC, WPC, vice president, state, We are honored to present this award, and humbled by the excellence and dedication of this years award recipients. Their collective work has made living with Parkinsons easier for many in this community as well as furthered the complicated research needed to study this disease. We are pleased to recognize those individuals whose hard work and dedication help the global Parkinsons community, adds Elizabeth (Eli) Pollard, executive director, WPC. They truly exemplify how to break down barriers, knock down the silo walls around research, and work collaboratively to reach the common goal of better care and treatment for people with Parkinsons disease. The World Parkinson Congress Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Parkinson Community is being given to the following three individuals: Julie Carter, RN, MN, ANP: Co-founder and past co-director of the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Parkinson Center of Oregon (PCO) and Movement Disorders Program; professor, Neurology, OHSU. Carter developed many innovative programs to improve the lives of patients and families who live with Parkinson's disease. Notable programs are a newly diagnosed program for patients and families, a self-management program for people with Parkinsons (PwP) and a palliative care program for PwP and their families, of which she speaks to local and national audiences. Furthermore, Carters work includes directing multiple clinical trials with a special interest in neuroprotective therapies. Other Parkinsons disease research projects include its impact on family caregiving, palliative care, how to best deliver the diagnosis and end-of-life experience. Through her work -- clinical practice, education, and research Carter has touched, ultimately for the better, the lives of hundreds of thousands of PwP and their families. Carter will be part of a panel of speakers at the pre-Congress program, held on Tuesday, September 20. Tom Isaacs: Diagnosed with Parkinsons at the age of 27, Isaacs co-founded The Cure Parkinsons Trust in 2005 and has become an inspirational public speaker and figurehead for the Parkinsons community. Isaacs has challenged conventional approaches to funding and facilitating research and has encouraged much needed innovation in the field. Since his diagnosis, hes be a tour de force fundraiser, raising over 5.5 million for this cause. His work also includes being a board member of the European Parkinsons Disease Association and has represented the interests of people with Parkinsons on DeNDRoN (the Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network). He is also a leading contributor to the SENSE-PARK project, which is a European funded initiative to establish a more personalized, objective measuring device for people with Parkinsons and those who treat them. Isaacs currently is on the WPC 2016 Programming Committee and will be speaking at the pre-Congress course on September 20 as well as chairing talks on patient care at WPC 2016. His commitment to the WPC started in 2010 on its Steering and Organizational Committees, as well as a presenter. The author of "Shake Well Before Use, Isaacs conveys his living with Parkinsons experiences with passion, optimism and humor. He speaks regularly about his condition and the ability of people with Parkinsons to inject urgency into progressing the delivery of new therapies to the clinic. David Leventhal: A former dancer with the Mark Morris Dance Group, Leventhal is currently its program director and one of the founding teachers of the Mark Morris Dance Group's Dance for PD (Parkinson's Disease) program, which was originally conceived by Olie Westheimer. Begun in 2002 as a small monthly class for the Brooklyn Parkinson Group, the program has expanded to include weekly classes at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, training workshops for teachers in cities around the US and abroad, and a network of affiliated classes in more than 100 cites in 12 countries around the world. Along with Westheimer, he is the co-recipient of the 2013 Alan Bonander Humanitarian Award from the Parkinson's Unity Walk. He has written about dance and Parkinson's for such publications as Dance Gazette and Room 217, and has a chapters about the program in two books: Multimodal Learning in Communities and Schools (Peter Lang) and Creating Dance: A Traveler's Guide (Hampton Press). He serves on the Board of Directors of the Global Alliance for Arts and Health. Leventhal is also on the faculty of the Mark Morris Dance Center, and teaches technique and repertory classes for students of all ages at schools and universities in the U.S. and internationally. Hell be providing talks and dance workshops at WPC 2016. About the World Parkinson Coalition and WPC 2016 The World Parkinson Coalition Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides an international forum for learning about the latest scientific discoveries, medical practices, care partner initiatives and advocacy work related to Parkinson's disease. The World Parkinson Coalition launched the first Congress in 2006 to provide a space for the global Parkinsons community of researchers, clinicians, health care professionals, people with Parkinsons and their care partners to meet in person, network and to share advances in Parkinsons research, improve understanding and promote advocacy worldwide, and to potentially shape future research, treatment and care. From its modest beginning to nearly 10,000 delegates who have participated in the previous triennial Congresses, the WPC 2016 is expected to attract more than 4,000 delegates. To learn more about the 4th World Parkinson Congress, please visit: http://www.wpc2016.org/ Cowork Frederick will celebrate their 4-year anniversary on September 7 with a Birthday Bash & Charity Event that benefits the Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County. The event, which is open to the public, is an opportunity to meet members of Cowork Frederick and learn more about why coworking is good for Frederick. Over 35 freelancers, teleworkers, and entrepreneurs come together to work from Cowork Frederick. Representatives from SHIP will also be there to talk about the urgent needs of homeless students in Frederick County's public schools and how you can help. Original paintings by local artist Tom Semmes will also be featured. The event will also include a silent auction featuring products and/or consultations contributed by Cowork Frederick members and local downtown businesses. Tickets are $10 each, with net proceeds going to SHIP. Additional donations, which will go entirely to SHIP, are welcome. Cowork Frederick is a collaborative working environment for independents, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and telecommuters. Like any office, Cowork Frederick provides the essentials you need to work: desk, chair, power, internet, printers, fax, etc. But Cowork is more than a place with office equipment. Cowork Frederick is people, side-by-side, connecting, sharing, learning, growing, working and having fun. For those that have struck out on their own but still want the support and camaraderie of others, Cowork Frederick could be just the place to assist with those needs. More at http://coworkfrederick.com. SHIP of Frederick County is a public non-profit charity that provides urgent services to the hundreds of Frederick County Public School students experiencing homelessness each year. More at http://shipfrederick.com. Joel Swanton, Regional Sales Manager for Western North America With a background in advocacy and both supplier and procurement operations, Joel knows the supply chain from one end to the other. He brings strong communications skills and a broad knowledge of the forestry community to his work. Joel Swanton has joined Forest2Market as Regional Sales Manager for Western North America. In his new role, Swanton will act as a supply chain expert and advisor to existing and prospective customers in the western region, and advise forest products industry participants on the use and integration of Forest2Market products and services into their business decisions. He will also represent Forest2Market at industry meetings. Swanton will work from an office in Kennewick, Washington, serving Forest2Markets customers in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Northern California and British Columbia. He can be reached at +1.360.477.6242. Swanton has more than 30 years of experience in all phases of the wood fiber supply chain, from forest operations and procurement to certification and forest policy. He most recently served as Procurement Manager for Experas mill in Old Town, Maine. From 2005-2014, Swanton served as Northeast Region Manager for the Forest Resources Association (FRA). During his tenure at the FRA, he revitalized member involvement in the region, increasing participation in Region Policy and Forest Operations Committee activities. Prior to joining the FRA, Swanton was Manager Sustainable Forestry at International Paper from 2000-2005, where he was responsible for the development, implementation and external audit of sustainable forestry standards for both forestland and procurement operations in the Northern US. Before that, Swanton worked in a variety of roles in his 20-plus years at Champion International, the last six years as Manager Forest Policy. In this role, he led public affairs communications strategies to build trust and support for forest management strategies and represented the companys interests in forest policy to government audiences. Joel has served the forest products industry in a variety of roles over his career, said Peter Coutu, Director of North American Sales at Forest2Market. Forest2Markets goal is to provide transaction-based data and analytics to those in the forest products supply chain so they can make confident business decisions and measure the results of those decisions. With his background in advocacy and both supplier and procurement operations, Joel knows the supply chain from one end to the other. He is a great fit for Forest2Market in this regard because he brings strong communications skills and a broad knowledge of the forestry community to his work. We are pleased to welcome Joel to our team. Swanton received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Maine. About Forest2Market Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Forest2Market provides market pricing data, cost and performance benchmarks and analytics, as well as supply chain expertise to customers in the forest, wood products, pulp and paper, lumber, bioenergy, biofuels and biochemicals industries in North America, Latin America and Brazil. For more information, visit http://www.forest2market.com. Our Microsoft Azure integration gives our customers access to a highly adaptive cloud infrastructure and helps them manage their peak user base, peak load, and scale their storage as their user base and applications grow LoginRadius Inc., a leader in cloud-based Customer Identity and Access Management (cIAM) solutions, today announced its making the Microsoft Azure cloud platform available as a standard offering as part of its cIAM platform. This provides LoginRadius customers with high platform availability, faster scaling, and easier compliance with local regulations. LoginRadius has been using Microsoft Azure for its virtual machines, cloud data storage, and data services for the past four years. With the new LoginRadius Microsoft Azure offering, primary data storage for consumer data is provided exclusively on Microsoft Azure with backups on other platforms. This provides LoginRadius customers with a quality experience, including the flexibility to scale on demand with high availability and reliable uptime. In todays environment where the highest priority is given to securing consumer data, LoginRadius and Microsoft Azure ensure strict adherence to international regulations and compliance requirements around consumer data. Modern businesses require a cloud-based Customer Identity and Access Management solution to scale fast while staying in compliance with relevant privacy and security compliance requirements surrounding consumer data, said Rakesh Soni, Co-founder and CEO, LoginRadius. Our association with Microsoft enables businesses to comply with all major privacy regulations at both the local and international levels. Cloud support is a cornerstone of Customer Identity and Access Management, said Ryan McGee, senior product marketing manager, cloud platform, Microsoft Corp. Microsoft is pleased that LoginRadius and its customers can benefit from the global scale of Microsoft Azure. Specific benefits of hosting the LoginRadius platform on Microsoft Azure are: 1. Scalability: With Microsoft Azure, LoginRadius customers can automatically scale up to support their users login activity through the Microsoft Azure auto-scaling feature that scales up once the customer hits 40 percent of their designated cloud capacity. In addition, LoginRadius can support tens of thousands of registrations and logins per second per customer and store more than 100 million user records for each customer. 2. High Performance: LoginRadius has already achieved an impressive 100 percent uptime record and will strive towards maintaining this record going forward along with reaching an API response time that is faster than 200 milliseconds. 3. PII Regulations Compliant: Microsoft Azure meets key industry standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27018, HIPAA/HITECH, FedRAMP, and SOC 1 and SOC 2. These are in addition to country-specific guidelines like EU Model Clauses, UK G-Cloud, Singapore MTCS and Australia CCSL. 4. Regional Data Storage: The global reach of Microsoft Azure with 20 datacenters spread across the world allows businesses to store data locally and comply with relevant privacy laws. 5. Go-to-Market Acceleration: LoginRadius customers can accelerate go-to-market timelines from several months to a few days with on-demand data storage, scaling, and simplified migration while avoiding large investments in datacenters. Our Microsoft Azure integration gives our customers access to a highly adaptive cloud infrastructure and helps them manage their peak user base, peak load, and scale their storage as their user base and applications grow, said Deepak Gupta, Co-founder and CTO, LoginRadius. Aligning efforts with Microsoft Azure allows us to fulfill our commitments to our customers. About LoginRadius LoginRadius is a provider of cloud-based Customer Identity and Access Management solutions for mid- to large-sized companies. LoginRadius solution serves over 150,000 web and mobile applications with a monthly reach of 400+ million users worldwide. The company has been named an industry leader in cIAM space by Gartner and Computer Weekly. The LoginRadius platform helps companies deliver a connected customer experience, build an integrated marketing ecosystem, and centralize customer data to define a unified profile and better manage their customer identities. Some of the key products include customer registration service, social login, profile segmentation, integration with third party marketing applications, user management, and customer insights. The company is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with additional offices in the U.S. and India. For more information, please visit http://www.loginradius.com. In a recent discussion with clients, Brian stated that breaking the mold of the traditional structural engineer is important to Engineering Solutions and to our clients. Over one third of our structural engineers are women. Engineering Solutions, the leader in structural and industrial engineering in the greater Central Virginia area, has recently added two ambitious engineers to the firm. The firm is excited to announce the addition of Christina Merlino to the Harrisonburg, VA office and Mariah Safritt to the Charlottesville, VA office. These two very knowledgeable engineers will help continue our superior services to Engineering Solutions clients throughout the mid-Atlantic area. In June, Engineering Solutions hired Christina Merlino as a Project Engineer for the Harrisonburg, Virginia office. Christina grew up in Buffalo, New York before moving to Rochester to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology, earning her B.S. in Civil Engineering with a concentration in Structural Engineering. She graduated May 2016 and has recently passed the Engineer in Training exam with the goal to become a Professional Engineer. In her free time, Christina enjoys hiking and cooking. Being new to the area, Christina is looking forward to exploring the Shenandoah National Park. The Engineering Solutions team is certain that she will bring a new level of expertise to our Harrisonburg office and help provide quality engineering services for all clients. Mariah Safritt also joined Engineering Solutions in June as an Associate Structural Engineer for the Charlottesville, Virginia office. Mariah graduated in May 2016 from the University of Virginia, receiving her B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a focus on Structural Mechanics and Materials and a minor in Material Science Engineering. Growing up in Lynchburg, Virginia, Mariah is familiar with Central Virginia and enjoys hiking through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Mariah also enjoys spending her free time cooking and reading murder mysteries. Brian Koerner, a licensed professional engineer and owner of Engineering Solutions, is excited to add such qualified employees to the team. In a recent discussion with clients, Brian stated that breaking the mold of the traditional structural engineer is important to Engineering Solutions and to our clients. Over one third of our structural engineers are women. Engineering Solutions is an established structural and industrial engineering firm with offices in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, VA. Providing assistance with many sized projects, Engineering Solutions can tackle any project from a residential home to large-scale buildings. Decades of combined experience makes the team one of the most respected and trusted groups in the state and continues to grow to projects outside Virginia as well as the continental United States. Engineering Solutions can provide your project with the engineering excellence needed to complete a project in a timely and cost-effective manner. For more information regarding Engineering Solutions, please contact the team at tom@engsoln.com Press Release Provided by Lynn Black, Published by Melissa Kiernan. ktMINE, an innovation and intangible assets information services firm, announced today that they will be an exhibitor at the 2016 Intelligence and National Security Summit (INSS), taking place from September 7-8, 2016, in Washington, D.C. The Summit is the premier gathering of senior decision makers from government, military, industry and academia. ktMINEs John F. Kennedy, Director of Business Development, will represent ktMINE at the summit. ktMINE is a corporate member of The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), the premier association for global security professionals. ktMINE tracks and organizes intellectual property transactions across borders to provide greater intelligence of where sensitive information is being moved for national security. Government Intelligence Agencies, Economic and Research Communities, Tax Authorities, and National Laboratories across the globe use ktMINE to fulfill their strategic information needs in order to advance capabilities. This is the 3rd annual summit and is hosted by two leading professional associations - AFCEA International and INSA. In its first two years, the summit drew more than 3,000 attendees, exhibitors, and journalists. Top federal agency leaders and policymakers will share their assessments and priorities for U.S. intelligence over five plenary sessions. In addition, nine breakout sessions divided into three tracks Cyber, Policy, and Enduring Issues will allow for additional emphasis and discussion of contemporary challenges and opportunities. About ktMINE ktMINE, headquartered in Chicago, IL, is an innovation and intangible assets information firm founded in 2008. Focused on mining, organizing and connecting the worlds IP information, ktMINE provides organizations across the globe access to insights on industries, technologies, and developments. For more information, visit http://www.ktmine.com, or contact ktMINE to schedule a meeting. Selecting the winners were difficult decisions, but Mr. Medina and Ms. Lindor in their applications and essays demonstrated the very special nature of those who have chosen to be nurses. Their stories are inspiring to all of us. F.A. Davis is delighted to announce the winner of its second annual undergraduate scholarship and the winner of its first annual graduate nursing scholarship. An award of $1,500.00 will be made to Jose Medina, a student in the ADN program at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California, and to Yoosly Lindor, a student in the MSN/NP Adult Gerontology program at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan. Currently in the second semester of his program, Mr. Medinas path to nursing school began as a four-year old when he was diagnosed with leukemia and first admitted to Mattel Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles for treatment. His journey continued through six years of service as a CNA in the State Prison in Los Angeles County and continues today in his current work as a medical scribe in the Emergency Room at the Antelope Valley Hospital. Last summer he earned two Associate Degrees, one in Liberal ArtsMath, Science, Social and one in Behavioral Sciences. In his application essay, Mr. Medina explained the impact he hopes to make after he earns his degree. I want to be a patient advocate that can make a difference by providing compassionate, quality care, comforting patients [and] families, using health preventive measuresand last, but not least, building trusting relationships. His own experiences with childhood leukemia inspired him to not give up, to fight in life, and to be disciplined no matter how many times I failed. I want to give back to society and become an important leader in the community in making a difference in their health and supporting the ones who are going through illness and disparity. My becoming a nurse is one of the best decisions that I have ever made in my life, is the first sentence of Ms. Lindors essay. For 23 years she has served as a nurse in a variety of roles, from staff nurse and case manager to patient care coordinator. A native of Haiti, she came to the United States in 1985. She earned her ADN in 1993 from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts and her Bachelors degree from Eastern University in Wayne, Pennsylvania. She is currently enrolled in the online MSN/NP Adult-Gerontology, Primary Care program at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Michigan while working as a tele-nurse case manager. For seventeen years, Ms. Lindor has returned to Haiti as medical missionary. She describes being able to go to Haiti to serve two days after the earthquake in 2010 as her great accomplishment. I have worked in different regions, but the one with the most profound impact on me was a place called DebaucheThe needs of the people there are immense with no access to electricity, medical care or adequate education for the children. When I learned that those people have to work three hours to get to the nearest medical facility, I started to organize medical clinics...The day of the clinic people started to come as early as 6:00 am. I was able to see eighty people on my first day. She sees her future role as a Nurse Practitioner as one which will enable her not only to fill the gap as a provider here in Philadelphia, but also to care for my Haitian brothers and sisters better. We received 3,356 applications from undergraduate and graduate nursing students, far exceeding all of our expectations, said Jean Rodenberger, Editor-in-Chief, Nursing. "Our applicant pool was extremely diverse. Our undergraduate applicants encompassed traditional college freshmen, non-traditional students returning to school, and those just beginning their secondary educations. The graduate students, too, represented a vast range of backgrounds and goals. Selecting the winners were difficult decisions, but Mr. Medina and Ms. Lindor in their applications and essays demonstrated the very special nature of those who have chosen to be nurses. Their stories are inspiring to all of us. With Mr. Medina and Ms. Lindor leading the way, the future of nursing looks bright as a new generation of dedicated students embarks on the challenging yet rewarding path of becoming a nurse. The application process was open to undergraduate students pursuing RN, BSN, LPN/LVN, RN-BSN or ADN degrees leading to NCLEX eligibility and graduate nurses pursuing a DNP, MSA, or PhD. They had to be enrolled in an accredited nursing program for the 2016 school year, a student in good standing with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a U.S. or Canadian citizen, legal resident, or holder of a valid student visa. Applicants completed an application form and submitted an official transcript and proof of enrollment as well as a short introduction and essay. Information about future scholarships will be announced on F.A. Daviss web and social media sites. The scholarship prize can be used for educational purposes only, which include tuition and/or related expenses such as books or school supplies required by instructors for their courses. (Room and board and other taxable expenses do not qualify.) About F.A. Davis Company F.A. Davis Company is one of the oldest independent, family-managed publishing houses in America. Since 1879, we have been meeting the needs of nursing, medical, and health science professionals seeking information of the highest quality. Today, F.A. Davis carries on that tradition through its print, digital, and online products for students, educators, and clinicians in Nursing and the Health Sciences. Our flagship titles, Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary and Daviss Drug Guide for Nurses are among the most trusted names in health care. For more information, visit http://www.FADavis.com. AGNITY Global Inc. (AGNITY), the leading provider of mobile health solutions for health systems, hospitals and providers announced today that Kumar Parakala will be joining the Advisory Board of AGNITY Healthcare. With over two decades of experience as a trusted advisor and business leader, Kumar specializes in driving growth through innovation and transformation in technology services organizations. He has advised dozens of clients from Fortune 500 companies to SMEs in Financial Services, Healthcare and Technology sectors. Kumar is an accomplished executive with leadership roles at Technova, KPMG, Queensland Health, and was identified as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in Technology by the Australian, and was inducted in the ACS Hall of Fame for his services to ICT Industry. Ken Epps, President of AGNITY Healthcare, said We are delighted to have Kumar on the Advisory Board. His demonstrated experience providing solutions to healthcare providers globally will be a huge asset to AGNITY expanding its industry leading clinical communications solutions to healthcare providers worldwide. I am very pleased to support AGNITYs global expansion plans. The cloud based communications enablement solution would enhance patient outcomes by facilitating better clinical judgment and decision-making. Clinicians will be able to experience the benefits of digital technologies that are fundamentally transforming the way healthcare services are delivered, said Kumar Parakala. AGNITY MobileCare is a proven award-winning solution improving the state of clinical communications & collaboration across the US and Asia. About AGNITY Global, Inc AGNITY Global is a leading global provider of intelligent business communication applications and infrastructure to organizations in the telecommunications and healthcare industry verticals. It is headquartered in the Silicon Valley, with Development and Support Operations in Richardson (Texas), and Noida (India). The Communications business of AGNITY Global is branded as AGNITY Communications and powers the networks of global Tier 1 Service providers. The Healthcare business of AGNITY Global is branded as AGNITY Healthcare and offers a comprehensive mobile contextual communication and collaboration solutions for health systems, hospitals and ambulatory providers. AGNITY Global Contact: Media Relations Team media_relations(at)agnity(dot)com (510) 270-5412 http://www.agnity.com 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. 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. The New Product of the Year contest gives us a terrific sampling of security solutions available now. Security Products magazine, the only integrated product and technology magazine reaching the entire security market, and securitytoday.com, the preeminent editorial website for the security industry, announced the winners of their 2016 New Product of the Year Award today. The Security Products New Product of the Year Award honors the outstanding product development achievements of security equipment manufacturers whose products are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to improve security. A record-high number of entries was received in the eighth successful year of the independently juried contest. Winners were honored in 41 product award categories: The winners are: Access Control Devices/Peripherals HES, an ASSA ABLOY Group Brand, K200 Wired Cabinet Lock HES, an ASSA ABLOY Group Brand, KS200 Wired Server Cabinet Lock Access Control Devices/Peripherals - Wireless ASSA ABLOY, ASSA ABLOY IN100 Aperio Wireless Lock ASSA ABLOY, ASSA ABLOY IN220 Power over Ethernet Lock Access Control Software/Controllers Mercury Security, Mercury MS Bridge for Software House iSTAR Migration Audio Analytics Louroe Electronics, LE-802 Intelligent Audio Analytics System Big Data Security Analytics Quantum Secure, SAFE Facility Analytics Cameras - Analog Iluminar Inc., LPRS-32-24 Cameras Body Worn Sentry 360, SentryMobile Body Worn Camera Series Cameras IP Multi-Sensor Panoramic Digital Watchdog, MEGApix PANO 48 Megapixel Multi-Sensor Camera IC Real Tech, ALLie Home 360-Degree x 360-Degree Camera Cameras - IP Single-Sensor Panoramic Oncam, Evolution-12 Camera Line Cloud Solutions and Services Camcloud Inc., VIP Dealer Program Software Honeywell, AlarmNet 360 Convergence & Integrated Software Solutions IDIS, IDIS Smart UX Controls Cyber Risk Management Software RiskSense Inc., RiskSense Platform (v 5.1) DIY Security Kuna Systems, Kuna Emergency Communications Systems Aiphone Corporation, IX Series Network Paging Adaptor/IX-PA Talkaphone, Wall Mount S Call Station Fire & Life Safety Sargent and Greenleaf, S&G 2890B Green/Sustainable Solutions and Products ASSA ABLOY, IN220 Power over Ethernet Lock High-Performance NVRs Milestone Systems, Milestone Husky M500 Advanced NVR Home Automation Legrand, On-Q Intuity Home Automation System Internet of Things AlertEnterprise, bAlert Security Commander Intrusion Detection & Prevention Solutions Quantum Technology Sciences, Inc., Gunshot Classifier 1.0 Intrusion Detection & Prevention Solutions - Wireless Honeywell, Lyric Security and Home Control System Locks/Safes/Hardware Sargent and Greenleaf, S&G 2890B Loss Prevention Netskope, Netskope Active Cloud DLP 2.0 Mobile Apps Brivo Inc., Brivo Mobile Pass Monitoring Solutions I-View Now, I-View Now Network Support Solutions Aiphone Corporation, IX Series Network Adaptors, IX-1AS & IX-10AS NVR Appliances Promise Technology, Vess A2330 Outdoor Perimeter Protection Gallagher, Gallagher F3 Fence Controller Power Supply Technologies Altronix, Netway 4EWP Minuteman Power Technologies, RMP1581HVN Remote Power Manager Risk Management Software RiskVision, RiskVision Active State Software/IT Solutions System Surveyor, System Surveyor Tools and Hardware Campus Safety Products, RhinoWare Door Barricade System User Authentication/Identification/Credentialing and Management Bosch/Genetec/SecureXperts, Credentialed High Assurance Video Encryption (CHAVE) Video Analytics Bosch Security Systems Inc., Intelligent Video Analytics 6.30 Video Surveillance Advanced Imaging Technologies Sony, SNCVB770 Video Surveillance Cameras, HD (megapixel) Arecont Vision, MegaVideo Flex Video Surveillance Data Storage Salient Systems, RED3 Integrated Server 16 Port/24 Port Spectra Logic, Spectra Verde DPE (Digital Preservation for Enterprise) Video Surveillance Hardware & Accessories Dotworkz, S-Type 4K Series Camera Housing Theia Technologies, Theia 4K 1/1.7" Format Varifocal Lens Family Video Surveillance Management Systems Milestone Systems, XProtect 2016 Visitor Management AMAG Technology, Symmetry GUEST Winners will receive awards and will be recognized at ASIS International 2016 in Orlando, Florida September 12-14. They will also be featured on the security industry leading website, securitytoday.com, and will be highlighted in the December 2016 issue of Security Products magazine. Entries are showcased in the September 2016 issue of Security Products magazine. The magazine is distributed to more than 66,000* subscribers monthly as well as at key industry trade events such as ASIS, and its website is visited by thousands of security professionals every week. The New Product of the Year contest gives us a terrific sampling of security solutions available now, said Ralph C. Jensen, editor in chief of Security Products magazine. Our juried judges do an excellent job of compiling and assigning a score for each entry. I applaud those who entered this year for introducing the best of the best security systems. It is always exciting to view the entries and then release information about the winning entries. However, it should be noted that all new products are important and might be able to fit into your security scheme. Information about the 2017 Security Products New Product of the Year awards will be available at securitytoday.com in the spring of 2017. *BPA Brand Report, December 2015 *** For more information, please contact Susan May Group Marketing Director, 1105 Media Security, Safety, Health & Facilities Group 14901 Quorum Drive, Suite 425, Dallas, TX 75254 Phone: 972-687-6744 E-mail: smay(at)1105media(dot)com Bridging the Blues told us exactly where we need to be. Its been the most phenomenal adventure. - Australian group Bridging the Blues, a multi-week celebration of the musical heritage of Memphis and the Delta regions of Mississippi and Arkansas, marks its fifth anniversary with dozens of activities in late September and early October. These include its signature events: the Mighty Mississippi Music Festival in Greenville, Mississippi, (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) and the 31st annual King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, Arkansas (Oct. 6-8). Created with a mission to maximize the experiences offered to visitors to the region, Bridging the Blues (BTB) encompasses multiple festivals, and its many partners have created a broad array of daily events. A new participant is GRAMMY Museum Mississippi in Cleveland, which opened this past spring and is currently featuring the exhibit Pride and Joy: The Music of Stevie Ray Vaughan through mid-October. Returning for its 3rd year is the International Conference on the Blues (Oct. 3-4) at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, which will include a keynote speech by GRAMMY award-winning producer Boo Mitchell and an outdoor concert by the Cedric Burnside Project (Oct. 3). On Saturday, Oct. 8, the 6th annual King Biscuit Blues Symposium will feature two panels with blues musicians including Kenny Neal. The Mighty Mississippi Music Festival, set in beautiful Warfield Point Park on the Mississippi River, features two stages with a diverse mix on the main stage and well-loved artists on the Highway 61 Blues Stage. Artists this year include G. Love & Special Sauce, Maren Morris, Ryan Bingham, The Revivalists, Mr. Sipp, Steve Azar & the Kings Men, Kenny Brown, Leo Bud Welch and Jimmy Duck Holmes. The headliners at this years King Biscuit Blues Festival, staged along the Mississippi River levee in historic downtown Helena, are Charlie Musselwhite, John Mayall, and Sonny Landreth with Roy Rogers. There are dozens more artists across the festivals multiple stages including Kenny Neal, the Rebirth Brass Band and Kenny Smith with Bob Margolin & Bob Stroger. The stages include the Lockwood/Stackhouse Stage, the Gospel Stage, and Delta Cultural Centers Front Porch Blues Bash, where inside the Center are displays on regional music. On Thursday, Oct. 6, Memphis hosts the Road to the Biscuit Blues Festival, which includes the debut of a new exhibit of Marc Norbergs photos at the Blues Hall of Fame and free shows at 14 clubs along historic Beale Street by artists including Bob Margolin, Lonnie Shields and Mike Zito and local favorites Blind Mississippi Morris, Will Tucker, Barbara Blue and Southern Avenue. On the first weekend of BTB is the Sam Chatmon Blues Festival (Sept. 23-24) in Hollandale, Mississippi, a small town street party featuring artists including John Horton, Nathaniel Kimble, Christone Kingfish Ingram, and Libby Rae Watson. The concluding day of BTB, Sunday, Oct. 9, once again features three events in Clarksdalethe 16th annual Pinetop Perkins Homecoming at Hopson Plantation and the Shack Up Inn, the Cat Head Mini Blues Festival and the Second Street Blues Festival. Other events include the Bonafide Blues Festival in Memphis Overton Square (Sept. 30-Oct. 1), which features several dozen regional blues artists including Reba Russell, John Nemeth, Super Chikan, and Sharde Thomas and the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band, and the Front Porch Jubilee (Oct. 8) in Hernando, Mississippi, which will feature artists including Cedric Burnside and Travis Wammack. Unique events include a Blues TweetUp at the Gateway to the Blues center in Tunica, Mississippi, featuring Terry Harmonica Bean and Preston Shannon on Wednesday, Oct. 5, and the Marks Mules and Blues Fest on Sept. 28 in Marks, Mississippi, which will feature Bobby Rush, celebrate a historic civil rights march, and include the dedication of a new Amtrak station in Marks, which is close to Clarksdale. In addition to connecting live music and related events in three areas that have a Mississippi River bridge in common, Bridging the Blues also refers to different types of music that had their origins in the blues, and these include almost every genre of popular music. The variety of artists playing at both the festivals and smaller venues is a testament to how far the roots of the blues have spread. For more information on each festival, visit http://www.bridgingtheblues.com. ### Christopher Flores, Director of Advanced Technology, states, Our improved Flex suite of equipment provides the accurate detection and breadth of applications that enable actionable data in our SensTraffic analytics platform. Sensys Networks, the worlds leading provider of integrated wireless traffic detection and data systems for Smart Cities, announces an update to its detection equipment line-up. Comprised of innovative products that detect vehicles and bicycles, Flex Suite adds technological improvements and introduces new options for agencies looking for the most accurate traffic detection and data solutions available today. "Over the last decade, weve had thousands of deployments of our technology across a variety of environments around the world, says Mark Biestman, VP of Global Field Operations. Weve coupled this product experience with our implementation knowledge to provide the best integrated detection solutions for our customers. As a pioneer in wireless innovations for the Intelligent Transportation Systems industry, Sensys Networks has unprecedented experience with low-power radio technology. That experience has been incorporated into longer life batteries, improved radio frequency (RF) chipsets and more intelligent circuitry in its FlexMag sensor. FlexMag also now includes a temperature sensor that can be used by dispatch operations for road temperature alerts. Further updates to Flex Suite include the FlexControl module, a new form factor version of the controller gateway with a more powerful processor, and FlexConnect, a Synchronous Data Link Interface (SDLC) for TS2 controllers . These new low power modules save valuable space in controller cabinets because they do not require card rack slots, plus the FlexConnect replaces the need for EX cards. Pole-mounted radio equipment has also been upgraded with new RF chipsets and more robust enclosures. A new bell housing design is better equipped to withstand adverse environmental conditions. In addition to enhanced component updates, several of the new products enable additional traffic data analytics applications. For example, FlexID leverages Bluetooth or Wi-Fi reidentification radios to provide travel time, origin/destination and other important metrics. FlexConnect collects signal phase data to generate high-resolution performance measures and optimize signal timing. The Flex suite also now includes advanced battery diagnostics to monitor system health. All of the components work as an extensible and flexible system to support virtually every vehicle and bicycle detection application. Sensys Networks Flex detection equipment is especially well-suited for adaptive control and signal timing optimization. Christopher Flores, Director of Advanced Technology, states, Our improved Flex suite of equipment provides the accurate detection and breadth of applications that enable actionable data in our SensTraffic analytics platform. The product updates enhance our customers ability to improve road traffic, optimize signal timing and reduce emissions. Sensys Networks will be featuring the updated Flex Suite product line at IMSA 2016 in Atlanta August 27-30. About Sensys Networks Sensys Networks improves the way people travel through cities. We deliver accurate and dependable detection data to drive reductions in urban traffic congestion for partners and public agencies around the globe. For more information see http://www.sensysnetworks.com. Mobile Payments and Data in The Wild West: There's Gold in Them Thar Bills! Mobile payments are becoming a preferred, secure method of transacting, said AP Technology CEO Richard Love. Enterprises looking to hit the mother lode will be heading to Chicago this week for the retail-focused Mobile Payments Conference 2016. Tuesday, August 30 will include the highly anticipated panel titled, Mobile Payments and Data in The Wild West: Theres Gold in Them Thar Bills! Mobile payment experts Richard Love and Greg Wilfahrt from AP Technology will be joined onstage by special guests Jim Ciortan from payment powerhouse PayPal, along with BI Intelligence analyst, Evan Bakker, and Country Music star, Rick Monroe. Calling themselves The Pay Gang, Tuesdays mobile payment panel will use an entertaining Wild West theme to encourage retailers and other businesses to pan for new revenue pay dirt by utilizing mobile payments effectively, especially data gathered through transactions, while minimizing theft and fraud risks from the bad guys. Todays state of mobile payments in many ways mirrors the early days of The Wild West, with pioneers seeking to strike gold, as modern era outlaws threaten on-device transactions that could turn bustling businesses into ghost towns. Attendees to this session are going to see mobile transaction trends, as well as strategies and forecasts that are useful for any business, said Marla Ellerman, Executive Director of Mobile Payments Conference 2016. Nearly the entire spectrum of the mobile payment ecosystem is represented in this panel. That, coupled with the entertaining theme should make this a great event. Mobile Payments and Data in The Wild West: Theres Gold in Them Thar Bills! will feature insights from payment innovators that are impacting the future of mobile transactions, today: Richard Love is CEO and founder of AP Technology. A pioneer in the field of payments for nearly 30 years, Love is the holder of several patents, and his companys software processes more than $30 billion annually for AP Technology customers. Love was instrumental in defining his companys cloud-based and mobile-rich payment platform, called APeChecks (pronounced ape-checks). APeChecks powers AP Technologys latest pioneering payment product for businesses SecureCheck Cloud 9 Payment Software. Jim Ciortan is Head of Strategic Global Retail Sales for PayPal, leading their retail business development and sales team. Jims mission: Positioning PayPal to transform how merchants view PayPal as New Money, enabling them to transact more seamlessly and attract more customers across PayPals global network. Jim previously served at Citi Retail Services where his team expanded the companys consumer credit and payment services with $10 billion of new receivables over a 5-year span. Singer/songwriter Rick Monroe is one of Country Musics most prolific ambassadors, performing at venues around the world. Monroe is a passionate first-adopter of technologies, and on the MPC stage he will share how mobile transactions are forever changing the music industry, while better-connecting retailers to their audiences. Hits that include, Fires Out and Midnight Rider make Rick Monroe a frequent resident on Billboards music chart. Evan Bakker is Senior Research Analyst for BI Intelligence, the research service from Business Insider that covers mobile, digital media, payments, and other technology sectors. Bakkers analysis of mobile payments and ecommerce can be read in news outlets nationally. Previously, Bakker served as an analyst in the banking and credit card industries. Greg Wilfahrt is Chief Mobility and Marketing Officer at AP Technology. Immersed in mobile technology for nearly 20 years, he will moderate the mobile payment panel at MPC. Greg Wilfahrt co-founded several companies, including a mobile community that achieved mobile payment integration with wireless carriers in 180+ countries. Last year, Wilfahrt co-authored The Mobile Payments Bill of Rights with Richard Love. Wilfahrts commentaries on mobility, payments, marketing, social media and technology have appeared on/in CNBC Europe, FOX News, NY Times, Forbes, Businessweek, and more news outlets. Mobile payments are becoming a preferred, secure method of transacting, said AP Technology CEO Richard Love. Retailers and consumers are excited but cautious about these new mobile methods of payment. In Old West terms, they are planning on following the advice to Go mobile, young man, but they want and need to know someone is riding shotgun to protect their gold (payments and data). Also speaking at MPC 2016 will be AP Technologys CTO, Mikael Vinding. Vinding and other industry leaders will be educating conference attendees on the latest blockchain developments. At last years Mobile Payments Conference, AP Technology unveiled a Mobile Payments Bill of Rights, co-authored by Love and Wilfahrt. Wilfahrt traveled to Washington, D.C. and presented the Bill of Rights to members of Congress on Capitol Hill as a best practices document that is designed to help businesses adopt mobile payment standards that promote growth, confidence and accountability in wireless transactions. About AP Technology AP Technology is a Carlsbad, California-based company that processes more than $30 billion in payments annually for over 6,000 customers that includes banks, financial institutions, government organizations, universities, and businesses of all sizes. After nearly 30 years, AP Technology continues to define and evolve the payments industry with pioneering software products providing next-generation security, efficiency, speed, mobility, and data management. AP Technologys suite of payment products includes APSecure, SecureCheck Cloud 9, SecurePay, and APeChecks. For more information on AP Technology products, please visit http://www.aptechnology.com. END ### SAE scholarships assist in developing the future engineering workforce by helping students achieve their dreams of becoming an engineer. - Jay Meldrum, chair of the SAE Awards and Scholarship Committee SAE International is proud to announce the recipients of the 2016-17 scholarships for high school, undergraduate and graduate engineering students. The scholarships are made available through generous contributions from various individuals, corporations and universities. SAE scholarships assist in developing the future engineering workforce by helping students achieve their dreams of becoming an engineer, said Jay Meldrum, chair of the SAE Awards and Scholarship Committee. The SAE Foundation funds these very important scholarships, which encourage academic excellence and help students around the world to pursue their passion for engineering. The recipients are: BMW/SAE Engineering Scholarship ($1,500) - Caroline Paules, sophomore, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif. Dan and Vicky Hancock Scholarship ($5,000) - Joseph Taylor, freshman, Cambridge High School, Cambridge, Neb. Donald and Barbara Mozley Scholarship (Seven, $5,000 scholarships) Austin Arenz, freshman, Sheboygan Falls High School, Sheboygan Falls, Wisc. Kyler Correia, freshman, Atlantic High School, Palm Beach, Fla. Amberly Cox, freshman, Tecumseh High School, Tecumseh, Okla. Roxanna Hojjatie, freshman, Milton High School, Alpharetta, Ga Carolyn Jons, freshman, Eden Prairie High School, Eden Prairie, Minn. Joshua Smith, junior, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. Brent Wallace, freshman, Sunny Slope High School, Phoenix, Ariz Edward D. Hendrickson/ SAE Engineering Scholarship ($5,000) - Christopher Cortez, sophomore Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh PA. Fred M. Young Sr./SAE Engineering Scholarship ($1,000) - Savannah Cofer, freshman, Columbus Academy, Gahanna, Ohio. SAE/David Hermance Hybrid Technologies Scholarship ($2,500) - Johnathan Hale, junior, Bringham Young University, Provo, Utah. SAE/Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies Scholarship ($5,000) - Geraghty Ellis, freshman, Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Fort Myers, Fla. SAE Long Term Member Sponsored Scholarship ($1,000) - Joshua Dixon, senior, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Md.; Benjamin Hendler, senior, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. SAE/PRI Staff Scholarships Maya Bradley, freshman, Mt. Lebanon High School, Pittsburgh, Pa. Sean Cavanaugh, freshman, Seneca Valley High School, Harmony, Pa. Joseph Kegerreis, freshman, Franklin Regional High School, Murrysville, Pa. Allison Stokes, sophomore, the Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, Pa. Tau Beta Pi/SAE Engineering Scholarship (Six, $1,000 scholarships) Loewen Cavill, freshman, Milford High School, Milford, Ohio Serena Gown-Haeberli, freshman, Notre Dame High School, Belmont, Calif. Johnathan Lin, freshman, Whitney High School, Cerritos, Calif. Haripriya Mehta, freshman, Maine Twp. High School West, Des Plaines, Ill. Morlan Osgood, freshman, Loveland High School, Loveland, Ohio Tyler Testin, freshman, Xavier High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa TMC/SAE Donald D. Dawson Technical Scholarship ($1,500) - Benjamin Dvorak, sophomore, Standford University, Stanford, CA Yanmar/SAE Scholarship ($1,000) - Cassaundra Campbell, senior, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 127,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion and the Collegiate Design Series. http://www.sae.org Ed Guanill joins Springer Financial Advisors "We are growing fast and are excited to expand our team. Ed has a lot of special skills to bring to our company and our clients. Keith Springer, President of Springer Financial Advisors Springer Financial Advisors is excited to welcome Ed Guanill to the team. Before joining Springer Financial Advisors, Ed ran a private financial planning practice where he focused on helping families achieve their retirement goals. President of Springer Financial Advisors Keith Springer had this to say about his expanding business and new advisor: "We are growing fast and are excited to expand our team. Ed has a lot of special skills to bring to our company and our clients. Eds financial career began in 1997 at TASQ Technology, where he managed accounts for U.S. Bank, First Bank, Sun Trust, and Ameritech. In 1999, Ed left TASQ to start his own company, Coastal Payment Systems. He educated business owners on financial growth strategies and technology implementation. Ed rejoined TASQ in 2001 to become Director of Business Development. While there, he managed more than $92 million in revenue and worked to increase profitability as it related to logistics, procurement, deployment, and distribution. Ed co-founded J.R. Asset Management in 2005 before deciding to open his own financial planning practice. His philosophy includes helping people with sound financial solutions, competitive returns, liquidity, and efficient tax strategies for passing on their wealth. Ed is a graduate of CSU Sacramento and holds a bachelors degree in communication studies with a concentration in public relations. He is also a member of the National Ethics Association and was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) in 2010 and 2011. For more information about the team at Springer Financial Advisors and Ed Guanill, visit keithspringer.com, email Keith(at)KeithSpringer(dot)com, or call (916) 925-8900. Springer Financial Advisors was founded by Keith Springer, who has over 31 years of experience in the financial sector. Keith Springer is the author of Surfing the Retirement Tsunami: Your Guide to Staying Afloat and Retiring Comfortably and Facing Goliath: How to Triumph in the Dangerous Market Ahead. He also hosts Smart Money with Keith Springer on KFBK News Radio AM 1530. Keith can be seen on CNBC and FOX Business and in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, CNN Money, and other news outlets. Springer Financial Advisors in Sacramento, California, is an SEC Registered Investment Advisory Firm that focuses on investment and retirement planning and has been providing professional wealth management advice for over 30 years. Andrews Federals Stan Koussis, Community Development Manager, poses with Prince Georges County motorcycle officers. Andrews Federal Credit Union recently sponsored the Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Rodeo. The event was the "brain child" of Corporal A.D. Johnson, a motorcycle police officer with the Prince George's County Police Department, Prince George's County Maryland. During the rodeo, the competitors support their local charity to help raise awareness and funds to support the regions families who are going through a difficult time. Its always a privilege to support an initiative such as this which gives back to those families who are less fortunate, said Stan Koussis, Community Development Manager. It also provides a great way for the police and the communities they serve to connect on another level. Proceeds from the event go to C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors) and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. To date more than $295,000 has been donated. About Andrews Federal Credit Union Andrews Federal Credit Union was founded in 1948 to serve the needs of military and civilian personnel by providing a vast array of financial products and services. With over $1 billion in assets, Andrews Federal has grown to serve more than 116,000 members in the District of Columbia, Joint Base Andrews (MD), Springfield, Virginia (VA), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ), and military installations in central Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In addition, the Credit Union serves as a financial partner with many select employee groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey. To learn more about Andrews Federal Credit Union and its community involvement, or to become a member, call 800.487.5500 or visit http://www.andrewsfcu.org. staySky Vacation Clubs has been selected for the second consecutive year by the Orlando Sentinel to receive the Orlando Sentinels Top 100 Companies for Working Families award. staySky Vacation Clubs is excited to have received this prestigious award, which recognizes the Central Florida companies that provide the best working environments, employee benefits, development and engagement opportunities. staySky Vacation Clubs joined its affiliated company, staySky Hotels & Resorts, as well as fellow local honorees at a Top 100 celebratory luncheon held in Orlando on Friday, August 19, 2016. "Our team members are our highest priority. Our success as an organization is directly attributed to their talent, passion and commitment," said Laurie Rutherford, Vice President of Human Resources. "We are extremely appreciative of our management and staff for their ongoing dedication and support of our company mission, values and goals. In return, we strive to provide our employees with the highest-level service, programs, and family-oriented work environment to ensure their continued growth and development with the company, added Rutherford. As Central Florida's premier award program, the Orlando Sentinel's Top 100 Companies for Working Families list recognizes companies that demonstrate a core commitment to family and work/life balance. Organizations from across Central Florida entered the two-part survey process to determine the honorees. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top organizations and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration, survey, and analysis process and determined the final rankings. Public announcement of the list and rankings of this years Orlando Sentinel Top 100 Companies program was published in the Orlando Sentinel on August 21, 2016. For more information on the Orlando Sentinel Top 100 Companies program, visit http://www.Top100CompaniesORL.com. About staySky Vacation Clubs: staySky Vacation Club is a membership-based program offering superior quality vacations worldwide in addition to their own four Orlando, Florida based resorts: Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa, Hawthorn Suites Lake Buena Vista, staySky Suites-I Drive Orlando, and Enclave Suites managed by staySky Hotels & Resorts. To explore the career opportunities within staySky Vacation Clubs, please visit the company website at http://www.stayskyvacationclubs.com/careers. On this day we recognize the organizations and change makers that have fostered binational collaboration to address regional challenges. Christina Hermosillo, President of the Tijuana EDC August 29th marks the second anniversary of Tijuana EDC Day in San Diego, which celebrates the Tijuana Economic Development Councils efforts in fostering binational collaboration for economic growth in the Tijuana-San Diego region. The day also recognizes the efforts of other leading public and private economic development organizations building bridges toward the regions economic prosperity. San Diego City Councilmember Mark Kersey, an active promoter of this binational region, proclaimed August 29, 2014 as Tijuana EDC Day as he has envisioned San Diego-Tijuana as the capital of innovation and business. Tijuana EDCs contribution has been an integral part of our regions economic development and prosperity, said Kersey. The organization has worked tirelessly to promote our mega-region and attract companies looking to expand. Under Christina Hermosillos leadership, Tijuana EDC is improving our collective future by providing innovative solutions to obstacles that can negatively impact our economy. The Tijuana-San Diego border region is one of the most important trade corridors for North America and Mexico, sharing a $230 billion economy according to Bloomberg News and a population of 6 million people. Instead of building a wall, were building a bridge. We dont see the border as a divider; rather, it is something that unites us all, said Mark Cafferty, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional EDC. The CaliBaja region is a creative melting pot full of smart people and companies that are changing the world. By working together, we are creating a mega-region that serves more than 6 million diverse residents. On this day, we recognize the pioneers that have fostered binational collaboration to address regional challenges said Christina Hermosillo, President of the Tijuana EDC. The San Diego Regional EDC, South County EDC, CaliBaja, Imperial Valley, the Otay Mesa, San Ysidro, and San Diego Chambers of Commerce, SANDAG, Smart Border Coallition, the municipal governments of Tijuana and San Diego, U.S. general consulate in Tijuana, and Mexicos general consulate in San Diego, among many public/private organizations have all led this effort over the years". These binational business leaders deep understanding of our cross-border economic dynamics has driven both citys governments to build close ties because it just makes economic sense to create regional strategies for common challenges. Since the beginning they have worked on getting their stake holders support for binational initiatives for economic development, trade facilitation, cross-border infrastructure, security, and job creation. "The best way to attract investment into our region is by having San Diego and Tijuana join forces, said Jerry Sanders, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Both the private sector (business organizations such as TJ EDC and SDRCC) and public (ie. Mayor of SD & Mayor of Tijuana) must coordinate efforts. For example, Mayors and Governors from both sides of the border or representatives make joint delegation trips to other countries to promote the region or visit a company considering various sites for their future business expansion or relocation. A joint pitch with both private and public sector representatives sharing information about the regions assets and government incentives are ideal. Because as a combined region, we are more competitive and actually, unbeatable globally. Mark Cafferty noted two key milestones in the collaboration with the Tijuana EDC: Farnborough and Paris Airshows Both San Diego and Baja have a high concentration of aerospace companies. Theres no better place to put this bi-national industry on display than the Farnborough and Paris International airshows, the worlds largest aerospace tradeshows. Since joining forces, we have made countless trips together as one mega-region to promote our collective aerospace industries. ThermoFisher Scientific With the collaborative efforts of Tijuana and San Diego Regional EDCs, the company was able to pilot a Software Center of Excellence in Tijuana. Although companies with operations on both sides of the border are not uncommon, ThermoFishers focus on high-wage tech jobs is indicative of the economic shift in Tijuana and Baja. Due to the success of this project, other San Diego companies are now expanding their software presence in Tijuana. Hermosillo noted that the complimentary capabilities on both sides of the border make the region stronger, allowing it to market a globally competitive platform. While some people talk about walls and fences, Tijuana EDC and its partners will continue to look forward and find new ways to facilitate cross-border trade and business. CCNG regioal events - Connect, Collaborate, Contribute The networking opportunities it provides us to meet area professional and discuss both best practices and challenges with peer colleagues... Following recent successful regional events in Oklahoma, Illinois and Arizona, CCNG International Inc. is pleased to announce upcoming regional events in Ohio and Texas scheduled in September and November. These two regional events are hosted by CCNG members and will feature host member led discussions, open town halls led by various members from the region, topic led discussions by sponsoring CCNG partners, peer small group conversations, and site tour. My team and I thoroughly enjoy attending CCNG events every chance we get. The networking opportunities it provides us to meet area professional and discuss both best practices and challenges with peer colleagues experiencing similar challenges in their businesses have proven to be invaluable. Thanks CCNGkeep up the great work! - Julie Bradshaw, Manager Workforce Management, Walgreens. The September regional event will be on the 22nd in Columbus OH hosted at the VSP customer support operation center with the host discussion led by Andrew Decker, Service Delivery Manager on "Recruiting, Hiring, and Retention". On November 3rd in Carrollton, TX the event will be hosted Thomson Reuters with the host member discussion led by Jim Fisher, Senior Manager of Operations. These upcoming regional events will feature sponsor insights and content from CCNG partners, industry leading solution providers inContact and Plantronics. Plantronics is delighted to continue our partnership with CCNG. By sharing knowledge at multiple levels from strategic to tactical, with an enthusiastic partner, we are both able to raise the bar for contact center knowledge and performance helping business deliver improved service. Richard Kenny, Head of Global Contact Centre & Alliance Marketing, Plantronics Additionally in September CCNG is working with partner inContact to announce the inContact Breakfast and Workshop, set for September 15th in Scottsdale AZ. For more details please use the event link. CCNGs July and August regional events featured member hosts in Oklahoma City (BOK Financial), Chicago (ACE Hardware) and Phoenix (Desert Schools Federal Credit Union) with partner sponsors Plantronics and Aspect Software and OpenText. Additionally the annual Summit for executive level contact center management was held on August 8-9th in DFW Texas. For info about the 2017 Executive Summit event, please contact Michelle Porterfield at events(at)CCNG(dot)com. Since the mid 1990s, each year CCNG works with its members to plan and host over 20 regional events throughout the United States and their annual Executive Summit designed for senior level management with experience in Customer Service, Contact Center, and Customer Experience Management. For details on how to attend all CCNG regional and partner events, please contact Ginger Graber, events(at)CCNG(dot)com. Visit all event program details at http://www.CCNG.com. CCNG International Inc. Founded in 1992, CCNG International Inc., CCNG is a member Professional Peer Network (PPN) for Contact Center, Customer Experience and Customer Service Executives, Managers, and Leaders. By joining the CCNG Member Network, experienced industry professionals: Connect interact and engage with your peers, Collaborate discuss best practices and problem solve, Contribute share your own experiences and expertise. All Call Center, Contact Center, Customer Care, Customer Service, and Customer Experience Professionals are invited to participate in the CCNG Member Network. For more information about the CCNG Member Network, please visit CCNG.com, Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter - @CCNGNetwork. # # # Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 29 By Orkhan Guluzade Trend: The US should use its influence to make the Democratic Union Party (PYD, the Kurdish political party) withdraw from the west of the Euphrates, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Numan Kurtulmus said, Haber7 newspaper reported Aug. 29. Turkey cannot remain indifferent in the issue of its own security, Kurtulmus added. The US must keep its promise regarding the relocation of the PYD to the east bank of the Euphrates, he said. We were also promised that the city of Manbij will be liberated from the PYD. If the entire region comes under control of the PYD, Syria will be divided. We support the territorial integrity of Syria. Earlier, Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State (IS, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh) at the US Department of State Brett McGurk called unacceptable the fight of Turkish Armed Forces against the PYD in places where there are no units of the IS. 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. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that this operation will continue until the PYD militants are completely liquidated. 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: @o_quluzade Measure O will reduce the significant unemployment rate and establish and regulate businesses that would normally support the illicit market. Measure O makes good economic sense for the citizens of San Bernardino. Today, Whitney Economics LLP released its revenue and job forecast for San Bernardino if Measure O wins at the ballot this November. The report projects that Measure O will generate between $19,500,000 and $24,800,000 in revenue for San Bernardinos general fund in addition to 2,750 jobs. Measure O will reduce the significant unemployment rate and establish and regulate businesses that would normally support the illicit market, notes the forecast author and Professor of Economics Beau Whitney. Measure O makes good economic sense for the citizens of San Bernardino. Measure O Regulates, Taxes and Enforces New Rules Measure O is the first comprehensive, municipal ballot initiative that builds on Californias recent Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act. Measure O aims to address citizen concerns for public safety, nuisance and safe access by restricting the location of marijuana businesses away from schools and homes. To achieve this, Measure O includes restrictions that restrict the location of marijuana businesses to industrial and commercials zones and away from schools and homes. The report projects that Measure O will generate revenue for San Bernardinos general fund by charging businesses based on their square footage. In addition, these projections include revenue that the city will generate from utility taxes and other fees. This forecast notes how San Bernardino is uniquely located and equipped to prosper with Californias growing medical marijuana industry. San Bernardino is already considered a central location in southern California for this growing market," the report recognizes. "The juncture of major interstate highways, easy access to air freight at local airports and San Bernardinos success as a logistics and warehousing industry center make it a highly desirable location." California cities like San Diego, Palm Springs and San Jose have already benefited from similar efforts. Cities that regulate this market see a significant increase in revenue and a dramatic decrease in the number of illegal businesses, criminal activity and citizen complaints. The report explains that Measure O generates new revenue from a variety of regulated businesses, including medical marijuana dispensaries. The analysis from economist Beau Whitney predicts that this revenue will fund law enforcement and contribute to the overall city budget. About Whitney Economics Prior to founding Whitney Economics, Beau Whitney spent 15 years as a business analyst in the high tech industry, honing the ability to analyze a business and make strategic and tactical decisions for fast-paced, high-growth industries. Beau has a BA in mathematics from Macalester College and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management. Beau is also a professor of economics and a member of both the American Economic Association (AEA) and the national Association of Business Economics (NABE) and is the Portland chapter president of the NABE. About Measure O Measure O - San Bernardino Regulate Marijuana Act (SBRMA2016.com), is a citizen-backed initiative that aims to bring comprehensive and rational reform to medical marijuana laws in the city and projects $19-24 million in new revenue and 2,750 living wage jobs. This projected revenue is expected to be a windfall for the City of San Bernardino through new revenue to support public safety and enforcement. Measure O will be on the ballot on November 8, 2016. Learn more at http://www.sbrma2016.com. Back To School Drive 2015 Giving back to the young generations is our investment in the future. The Dream Builders Project, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, is hosting a Back to School Supply Drive with After-School All-Stars for their signature Back to School Event. Benefitting students at Griffith Middle School and the surrounding east Los Angeles area, The Dream Builders Project along with Image First, WorldVision, and AvalonBay Communities will supply more than 300 students with new backpacks filled with a variety of school supplies, including folders, notebooks, writing utensils, mathematical equipment, as well as other educational necessities. By partnering with local organizations, The Dream Builders Project has an amazing opportunity to make a significant difference in the local community, says Mayer Dahan, Founder of The Dream Builders Project. Giving back to the young generations is our investment in the future. The Dream Builders Project is currently requesting donations for the 300 students. Supplies still needed include backpacks, notebooks, colored pencils, markers, notebooks, and pencil pouches. For more information about items needed, visit http://www.DBPLA.com To get involved in our Back To School Flash Mob, donate or sponsor, interview founder Mayer Dahan, or if you would just like more information about The Dream Builders Project, please contact Lindsey Conger on (323) 536-9246 or pr(at)thedbproject(dot)com. About The Dream Builders Project: The Dream Builders Project is a Los Angeles action-based, non profit organization whose mission is to grow and develop the community by aiding, funding, and raising awareness about many of the citys key social issues, including child abuse and neglect, poverty, homelessness, and severe illness and disease. With one objective and one goal in mind to give back The Dream Builders Project is not restricted to any particular group or cause but is purely dedicated to the improvement of humanity. http://www.thedreambuildersproject.com About After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles: Founded in 2002 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and with noteworthy support from Program Ambassador Kobe Bryant, After-School All-Stars Los Angeles (ASAS-LA) is a leading after-school program who aims to educate, enlighten and inspire thousands of students each day through various activities centered around academic support; such as health, fitness and nutrition; the visual and performing arts; youth leadership and community service learning. http://www.la-allstars.org. 'As a long time user of Private Internet Access, Im thrilled to be able to be directly contribute to a company that shares such similar values to my own.' - Roger Ver Private Internet Access, the worlds leading VPN service, welcomes Roger Ver as the first member of its Board of Advisors, effective immediately. Often referred to as Bitcoin Jesus, Roger Ver is CEO of MemoryDealers.com, one of the first businesses in the world to accept Bitcoin, and also owns and operates Bitcoin.com. Ver also serves as the Chairman of the Cryptocurrency Advisory Council of the soon-to-be John McAfee Global Technologies, Inc. Besides being an investor and influencer in the space, Roger Ver is also one of the leading bitcoin philanthropists, having donated thousands of BTC over time to various charitable causes. Besides personally donating a record 1000 bitcoins (then valued at over 1 million USD) to the Foundation for Economic Education, Ver has also supported AntiWar and FreeRoss with generous matching donations. Ver explained his reason for joining PIA: As a long time user of Private Internet Access, Im thrilled to be able to be directly contribute to a company that shares such similar values to my own. As a long time supporter of Bitcoin, a privacy conscious currency, Roger Ver is a natural fit for Private Internet Accesss Board of Advisors. The Private Internet Access Board of Advisors will help steer PIAs digital currency related decisions as Bitcoin and other blockchain technologies change the world. Ted Kim, CEO of London Trust Media, said: "We are honored and thrilled to officially welcome Roger Ver to Private Internet Access. Roger has been an invaluable friend and colleague since the early days of PIA - when we were one of the first companies to start supporting and accepting Bitcoin. Roger has a strong background in privacy and encryption and we look forward to expanding our relationship in the coming years." About Private Internet Access (PIA) Private Internet Access, made by London Trust Media, is the leading no-log VPN service provider in the world. PIA believes that access to an open internet is a fundamental human right and donates effusively to causes such as EFF and FFTF to promote privacy causes internationally. Based out of North America, PIA has over 3300 servers in 24 countries that provide reliable, encrypted VPN tunnel gateways for whatever the use case. Please visit their website at https://www.privateinternetaccess.com for more information. Connect with Private Internet Access Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/privateinternetaccess/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/buyvpnservice We are honored to have Viansa Sonoma chosen as the setting for this new show. It has been a pleasure having the cast and crew at the newly renovated property. After several weeks of production, initial filming of the highly anticipated new telenovela for Univision, Vino el Amor or Wine Love has wrapped at Viansa Sonoma. Starring one of Mexicos most well-known celebrities, actor-model Gabriel Soto, the show is expected to broadcast in nearly 100 countries and draw tens of millions of viewers. Interviewed on his last day before a break in filming, Soto said, This is such a beautiful place, we never want to leave. I love this winery. The filming location had been concealed until recently, out of concern that fans of Soto might arrive on set disrupting production. Over the past few weeks of filming, Soto has been mobbed on more than one occasion around town, according to production officials. With the series set in Sonoma, production manager Laura Somerville, along with producer and filmmaker Jose Alberto Castro, choose Viansa Sonoma as the location for most exterior shots. Nestled in 167 acres of vineyards and preserved wetlands, Viansa Sonoma is known for their iconic 270-degree view, warm hospitality and award-winning wines. We are honored to have Viansa Sonoma chosen as the setting for this new show. It has been a pleasure having the cast and crew at the newly renovated property, says Stephanie Peachey, Vice President, Direct to Consumer. From the hilltop, visitors can take in the views of Sonoma Valley-San Pablo Bay to the south, Mayacamas Mountains to the East, and Kings Highway leading the way to the northernmost California mission of the El Camino Real. The property includes 33 acres of estate vineyards and 97 acres of natural wetlands, which serve as home to a variety of indigenous water fowl. I came to Sonoma on vacation three years ago, added Castro, "and ever since then, I have wanted to set a show here. It is such a beautiful place and we have found the people to be exceptionally friendly. Crews are expected to return later in the year and film the soap opera off and on in Sonoma throughout the fall while its interior shots are being filmed in Tijuana, Mexico. About Viansa Sonoma The property is open every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information on the visitor experience at Viansa Sonoma, check out http://www.Viansasonoma.com. For additional information about Viansa, contact Mary Ann Vangrin at mvangrin(at)vintagewineestates(dot)com or Stephanie Peachey at speachey(at)vintagewineestates(dot)com. About the Series - Vino el Amor centers on a winery owner (Soto), who is depressed after losing his wife in a tragic accident. A young woman (Beava), who grew up in the vineyard, returns and helps the winery owner learn to once again love life, and his vineyard. The series is a remake of a Chilean series La Chucara. Southern California company, ZaRRian Corp, have launched an exciting emoji app much to the delight of the Armenian community around the world. ARMOJI is an emoji keyboard that celebrates the rich Armenian culture and adds color, culture and laughter to text messages. The app features 170 fun emojis that play on Armenian stereotypes and culture that makes texting more entertaining. But that's not all. The developers are currently working on more emojis that will be released soon, most of them based on feedback from thousands of Armenians who have already downloaded the app. Although ZaRRian Corp developed the app, ARMOJI is the brainchild of Angineh Nazarian - head of the team - and an Armenian-American who has lived in California as part of the Armenian community for most of her life. When asked about how the idea came about for the app, Angineh said: "It really came down to a simple phrase. I constantly found myself saying: I wish we had an emoji for so and so. And Im sure this is something that many people have expressed! For me, this phrase finally turned into a declaration. After discussing it with other Armenians in the community I realized it wasnt just me; we all needed an Armo version of emojis, hence ARMOJI!" Already several users are enjoying the Armenian Emoji app. One user of the app said: "I love this app! Being Armenian, I feel it's the best way I can express myself! I can't believe it took this long for us Armenians to get an app like this! Great added bonus is that the app runs very smoothly and it's super easy to use!" For now the ARMOJI is only available on the App store for a download price of $1.99. However, plans are afoot to release the Android version in the near future. For further information, about the app, visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/armoji/id1136626165?mt=8. Media contact: Angineh Nazarian Email: support(at)armojiapp(dot)com The first RPA|Ecocor model home has hit the newly installed 120 foot-long production line at the Ecocor Manufacturing Facility. Earlier this summer, RPA, a full service architecture firm focusing on sustainable design, and Ecocor, a construction firm that manufactures, delivers and assembles high performance buildings, announced a partnership to design and build Prefabricated Passive Houses the most energy efficient manufactured homes in North America. Randek, a world leader in high-performance machines and systems for prefabricated house manufacturing, sent a team from their headquarters in Sweden to install the state-of-the-art Randek SPL728 Multi-Axis Saw and to provide on-site training to the Ecocor team. In addition to the saw, Randek installed a suite of framing tables that clamp, square and hydraulically lift Ecocors patent-pending wall assemblies which are certified by the Passive House Institute in Darmstatd, Germany and meet the rigorous Passive House standard. In addition to lowering construction cost, boosting output and increasing safety, the semi-automated production line takes instruction directly from the digital building models designed by RPA and Ecocor a fully digital approach fit for the 21st century. Through the RPA|Ecocor partnership, architectural designs are fully digitized into a virtual 3D building information model. The model generates the instructions, which are traditionally printed in paper form as construction drawings to be interpreted by the general contractor for onsite construction. Instead, the RPA|Ecocor instructions are delivered directly to the Randek SP728 Multi-Axis Saw for processing. Once processed, the parts are labeled and racked for assembly on the Randek framing tables. Partnership Sparks Flurry of Interest in Custom Prefab Passive Houses RPA|Ecocor formally kicked off their partnership in June with the announcement of 11 Prefab Model Homes. The model homes have been well-received and generated inquiries from across North America. The partnership has also raised interest in custom RPA|Ecocor Prefab Passive Houses. Both RPA and Ecocor have a history of designing and building certified Passive Houses. RPA is nearing completion of its third Passive House, located in Bechtelsville, PA, and the firms fourth Passive House is under construction. Chris Corson, founder of Ecocor, designed his first Passive House in 2007 and retrofitted his now family home to Passive House Standard in 2011. Chris and his team at Ecocor have already established a reputation for delivering some of the most energy efficient homes in the country. To date, 12 Passive Houses have been manufactured in the Ecocor facility and they are the first company in North America to have an opaque building component certified by the Passive House Institute in Darmstadt, Germany. Media Tours Ecocor Manufacturing Facility With the Randek line installed, Chris and Richard will be hosting members of the media today and tomorrow for tours of the Ecocor facility. During the tour, media members can expect to see the entire Ecocor manufacturing process, which starts with the 120-foot SPL729 saw cutting materials and parts that are labeled and racked for fabrication. The parts are then assembled on framing tables where an air tight sheathing is applied and taped, the blanket cavity is installed, a state-of-the-art waterproof fleece is applied and the ventilated rainscreen is created. After the assembly is formed, dense pack cellulose insulation is blown into the wall cavity, solid wood triple-pane windows are installed and flashed, and the exterior cladding and trim are installed before the prefabricated panels are organized on racks and then loaded onto trucks, ready to be delivered onsite. Richard and I are committed to changing the United States archaic home building process and standard, and that starts with Passive Houses we are building in the Ecocor factory, said Chris. The industry was excited to learn about this partnership, and were excited to show them exactly what goes into building the most energy efficient homes in the United States. About Ecocor Ecocor is a construction firm that designs, manufactures, delivers and assembles high performance buildings throughout North America. Ecocors patent pending foundation and wall designs reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling buildings by 80-90%, which substantially reduces the cost of ownership and the buildings carbon footprint, while increasing the comfort of its owners. Using panelized building components as a construction platform, Ecocor has better control, higher quality and much shorter time-to-occupancy than any site-built construction. Learn more at http://www.ecocor.us/. About RPA Richard Pedranti Architect is an innovative architecture firm located in the heart of the Upper Delaware River Region specializing in environmentally conscious building strategies. The firm is distinguished by its proven ability to create beautiful buildings that achieve the rigorous Passive House standard. Combining intelligent modern design and 21st Century building standards, RPA creates simply extraordinary places that exist in harmony with the environment and fulfill the unique aspirations of each client. To learn more, go to http://www.richardpedranti.com. New Residence Hall at Otis College of Art and Design Finally, we have created a heart, a true center of this campus, said Steven Ehrlich, Architect A new Residence Hall and Academic Wing have opened at Otis College of Art and Design where classes for the 2016-17 academic year begin today. Transforming the Elaine and Bram Goldsmith Campus in Westchester, the project solidifies Otis College as an incubator for the next generation of artists and designers and a cultural destination for the Los Angeles region. Jointly developed by the acclaimed Los Angeles-based architecture firms of Ehrlich Architects and Frederick Fisher and Partners, the new facilities include a Residence Hall, additional classrooms, updated dining hall, expanded the Millard Sheets library, a Student Health and Wellness Center, a 300-seat auditorium and more. The LEED-certified buildings complete the Campus Improvement Plan, which comes ahead of the Colleges Centennial in 2018. On Thursday, August 18, Otis College celebrated the opening of the Goldsmith Campus' Residence Hall and Academic Wing with a ceremony and tours of the new buildings. Elaine Goldsmith, Chair Emerita of the Board of Trustees, gave the closing remarks to members of the Board of Trustees, donors, and community partners. The Elaine and Bram Goldsmith Campus in Westchester is named in recognition of the couple's dedicated and passionate support of the college. Finally, we have created a heart, a true center of this campus, said Steven Ehrlich, architect and member of Otis Colleges Board of Governors at the ceremony. Otis College moved to the Westchester neighborhood in 1997, acquiring the 1964 IBM research facility designed by Eliot Noyes, that is now Kathleen Holser Ahmanson Hall. The College expanded again in 2001 by adding The Bronya and Andy Galef Center for Fine Arts, however the new facilities marks the first time that students will be able to live on the Goldsmith Campus and with the relocation of the Fashion Design program, campus life will be greatly enriched. In addition to the architects and institutional leadership, other partners include builders DPR Construction, dining services provider Bon Appetit Management Company, and local art supply retailer Graphaids, which will manage an on-campus store. The Otis College of Art and Design campus improvement plan was made possible by transformational donations from Elaine and Bram Goldsmith and our Board of Trustees, Mattel, Inc., The Ahmanson Foundation, The Fletcher Jones Foundation, Kenneth and Harle Montgomery Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and The Rose Hills Foundation as well as many other significant gifts from members of the Otis College community. ABOUT OTIS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN Established in 1918, Otis College of Art and Design offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide variety of visual and applied arts, media, and design. Core programs in liberal arts, business practices, and community-driven projects support the Colleges mission to prepare diverse students to enrich our world through their creativity, skill, and vision. As Los Angeles first professional art school, visionary alumni and faculty include MacArthur and Guggenheim grant recipients, Oscar awardees, and design stars at Apple, Anthropologie, Pixar, Mattel, and more. The renowned Creative Action program has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for Community Engagement, and the Otis Report on the Creative Economy is a powerful advocacy tool for creative industries. The College serves the Greater Los Angeles Area through compelling public programming, as well as year-round Continuing Education courses for all ages. More information is available at http://www.otis.edu. The Bounce In a world of rapid change and increasing complexity, the winners will be those who can keep their L>C. That is, their rate of learning greater must be greater than the rate of change and greater than the rate of their competition. -- Tom Hood Nano learning and blended learning are now accepted forms of continuing professional education, thanks to newly revised standards from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and the American Institute of CPAs. That means a new offering from the Maryland Association of CPAs and its learning subsidiary, the Business Learning Institute, is the first nano learning program for finance professionals in North America to qualify under the new standards. The revised standards will provide for one-fifth (0.2) of a CPE credit for nano learning, and the ability to award one-fifth (0.2) of a CPE credit for programs using other delivery methods after a minimum amount of credit has been awarded, according to the AICPA. Additionally, (the standards) revise the definitions of group live and group Internet-based programs to focus the definitions from how the content is delivered by the instructor to how the content is received by the participants. Boards of Accountancy, CPAs, and CPE providers have recognized the need for CPE to continue to evolve to keep pace with current learning models, said Maria Caldwell, Esq., NASBAs chief legal officer and director of compliance services. The addition of nano learning and blended learning delivery methods is representative of that effort. The MACPAs Anticipatory Organization: Accounting and Finance Edition, or AOAF, is the first nano learning program for CPAs that meets these innovative new learning standards. The program combines three- to four-minute, single-concept videos with rapid application exercises to accelerate learning of complex competencies in less time than traditional CPE programs. It was developed by international futurist and best-selling author Daniel Burrus and recognized by Accounting Today magazine as one of the 2016 Products of the Year in the learning category. The effectiveness of the AOAF model short videos followed by exercises that teach you to apply what youve learned to what you do is backed by science. In 1885, a German psychologist named Hermann Ebbinghaus conducted a study about memory called Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology, writes Jacob Shriar, director of content for Officevibe. What he found was pretty shocking to anyone involved in training and development: Ninety percent of information or knowledge learned will be forgotten within three days. Because of how quickly we forget, its important to review the information you just learned within 24 hours of learning it. The research shows that if you do that, youll be able to retain 80 percent of the information. If you review again 48 hours later, that number goes up to 85 percent. If you review again 72 hours later, youll retain pretty much all of the information. Beyond that, Shriar writes, nano learning helps increase employee engagement, helps create a culture of continuous learning, and is easy to update with the latest information. A TRACK RECORD OF INNOVATION The MACPA and the BLI have pioneered new methods of learning for more than a decade, starting in 1999 with the associations Management by Sticky Notes collaboration process and continuing in 2008 with the groundbreaking CPA Island in the virtual world of Second Life. In 2012, the MACPA also pioneered technology for remote collaboration and audience participation / engagement. These continue to elevate and accelerate learning for our participants. The MACPA and the BLI continue to work to transform learning in five key ways: 1. Social: We have been using Twitter hashtags for several years to supplement learning at conferences. We are now exploring more formal ways of capturing and documenting this learning. (See MACPA CEO Tom Hoods report from the 2016 AICPA EDGE Conference.) 2. Mobile / nano, or Just When You Need It learning: The MACPA and the BLI are working on a innovative learning platform called Wise, which uses social media to track and report nano or micro learning from Twitter and LinkedIn. 3. The cloud: The AICPA Navigator learning management system allows us to offer what we call the four Cs of talent development competencies, career path, and a curriculum on a cloud-based learning platform. The LMS allows firms and companies to move their talent development to a strategic and systematic approach. The MACPA and the BLI can bring that expertise to your LMS. 4. Collaboration: The MACPAs Management By Sticky Notes process, the Conferences.io audience participation tool, and the ThinkTank Collaboration platform are highly engaging ways of increasing learning through involvement. (See Hoods article, The Year of the Sticky Note.) 5. Competency-based learning: With our Bounce framework (which maps BLI programs to the new CGMA Competency framework), we can now create strategic learning plans for organizations. Our new program to build a competency around anticipation and strategic thinking is both a nano learning program and a way to develop competencies, with its rapid application exercises and collaboration guides for teams. Our competency focus is part of our DNA, from the initial research in the AICPA Vision Project to the updated CPA Horizons 2025 Project that identified the top five future competencies for CPAs. Advances in technology and learning are coming together to truly transform what and how we learn. As Hood says, In a world of rapid change and increasing complexity, the winners will be those who can keep their L>C. That is, their rate of learning greater must be greater than the rate of change and greater than the rate of their competition." How are you keeping your L>C? ABOUT THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF CPAs The Maryland Association of CPAs exists to help CPAs connect with each other in strategic ways, to protect our members interests, and to help them achieve greater success. We provide the resources and services that CPAs need to excel in their profession. Since 1901, the MACPA has been a national leader in the CPA profession. We are honored that the Baltimore Business Journal and Washington Business Journal have named the MACPA among the largest networking organizations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., for each of the past five years. For details, visit http://www.macpa.org. ABOUT THE BUSINESS LEARNING INSTITUTE The Business Learning Institute is the leading talent-development organization for CPAs, finance, and accounting professionals in the United States. It provides customized, competency-based curriculums and a portfolio of success skills and technical programs designed for the finance and accounting profession. Founded in 1999 by the Maryland Association of CPAs, the BLI is an innovation and learning center that facilitates the development and sharing of competencies and strategic knowledge required for leadership in today's rapidly changing business environment. For more information, visit http://www.BLIonline.org. UNDERSTANDING PAIN IN OLDER AGE, the first feature documentary of California State University Northridge (CSUN) psychology professor and filmmaker Luciana Lagana has received another award, this time at the Alaska International Film Awards, where it won the Northern Lights Emerging Talent Award. Prof. Lagana is passionate about informing the public about serious social topics - many of which are hard to cover in ways that are entertaining and engaging. In this film, she manages to make her audience smile with her humorous style as she interviews various experts on the challenges of managing physical pain in older age. The movie also includes several clips in which older adults living with chronic pain tell their stories. So many health professionals are working very hard to reduce pain in older age. I am very thankful to the pain experts I interviewed for this documentary and wish to extend my gratitude to the older interviewees who shared their stories in my film, stated Dr. Luciana. Why should the topic of experiencing pain in older age be covered in films? How is this topic relevant to younger generations? Some of the youngest contributors to the movie, all in their early to mid 20s, are passionate about this issue. Among them, assistant director Larisa Gavrilova believes that the area of pain in older age should receive more media attention. She is a former CSUN student who is currently in the Health Psychology Ph.D. program of the University of California Merced and is pursuing research on the quality of life of vulnerable health populations. Larisa is also one of the researchers on a study in progress at CSUN aimed at testing whether watching this feature documentary has potential anti-ageism and empathy-enhancing effects. She commented that, pain in older age is something most people will eventually experience. This important issue is unfortunately underrepresented in the media. When creating this film, our goal was to shed light on this topic and create general awareness. Art Director Shannon Carmona, who created some of the movies illustrations, pointed out that "old age is coming to us all. It is hugely important that the younger generations are comfortable with this concept, so that we can be more accepting of the struggles of people of all ages. Getting old should not be a foreign concept for anyone, and that's one of the reasons why the topic of aging should be covered in films." In conclusion, Art Co-Director Arianna Chiriff shared that, "pain in older-aged people is often ignored, perhaps because we assume that older adults have amassed enough strength over the years that they are somehow invincible to distress. This is not true; we all have valid emotions and I dread to think that someday I and the pain I feel would be cast aside by the younger generations." Written by Stefanie Friesen Luciana Lagana is a caring clinical and experimental psychologist. She is also an established professor of psychology, gerontology, womens health and sexuality at CSUN, where she teaches classes and mentors many undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, since 2002, she has been conducting government-funded research on the physical, psychological, sexual and social health of ethnically diverse, primarily low-income older women. Since 2006, she has also been pursuing her creative endeavors by studying acting, TV and radio hosting, screenwriting, directing and producing in Los Angeles. She has over 50 IMDb credits for hosting and acting in many independent feature films, TV pilots and web series as well as several credits for her award-winning screenwriting, directing and producing. She is the writer/lead actor/director/producer of the 2014 award-winning fictional web series INTIMATE TEMP AGENCY, which also won Best Trailer at the 2015 Academy Award-Qualifying Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival. Her 2014 DR. LUCIANA SHOW AGING AND FALLING web series won numerous awards, including Best Educational Show at the 2015 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. Within the past year, she wrote, hosted, directed and produced three award-winning social impact feature documentaries, UNDERSTAIND PAIN IN OLDER AGE, LGBT UNITED and AGING AND FALLING, which are currently on the film festival circuit. Frazer and F&I Express We are very excited for our dealer customers said Michael Frazer, President of Frazer Software. The Frazer DMS will now be instantly integrated with an additional 130 companies F&I Express, an award-winning leader of digital solutions for automotive dealerships, announced today a strategic partnership with Frazer Software, a popular dealer management software (DMS) for independent used car dealerships. The integration of F&I Express with Frazer Software provides more than 16,000 independent dealerships with the ability to digitally rate and eContract, capturing electronic signatures, and submit contracts for over 130 F&I aftermarket product providers all within the Frazer platform. Since 1985, Frazer has provided high-quality automotive software to independent used-car dealerships across the United States. The incorporation of F&I Express eContracting within Frazer Software allows for an even more streamlined process for dealers. Independent dealers using Frazer Software are able to digitally send the customers deal information directly over to F&I Express to complete the contract. They are ensured of 100% accuracy and error-free contracts quickly, sending the contract digitally to the customer for signatures. Once signed, the digital contract can be easily tracked and submitted. Our primary mission at F&I Express is to provide automotive dealerships with digital solutions to make the F&I process easier, faster, and 100% error-free, said Brian Reed, President and CEO of F&I Express. The integration with Frazer allows us to serve a wider range of dealers and provides them with new functionality that streamlines the total process. Dealers who use eContracting with Frazer DMS integration will find the process to be error-free and even more efficient. By entering just the VIN and mileage, the F&I Express platform automatically displays the plans available and calculates the contract price. The chance of human error is diminished, and the need for dealers to look through pricing information is removed. Customer satisfaction increases with a faster, error-free process which saves time at the dealership. Additionally, Frazer Software customers now have access to over 120 providers through the connection with F&I Express, an exceptional increase over their current network. We are very excited for our dealer customers said Michael Frazer, President of Frazer Software. The Frazer DMS will now be instantly integrated with an additional 130 companies The integration between F&I Express and Frazer Software significantly improves the process for independent dealers. A complete digital platform, independent dealers now have more options than ever to serve their customers. ABOUT F&I EXPRESS Since 2008, F&I Express has been dedicated to bringing aftermarket sales into the digital age with innovative technology that cut costs and increases efficiency and customer satisfaction. Established by international company Intersection Technologies Inc., F&I Express has become the online connection for all things F&I. With the largest aftermarket provider network in the industry, F&I Express delivers specialized solutions that streamline the aftermarket process for optimized efficiency. From presenting product pricing and features online to providing error-free eContracting to improving aftermarket product cancellation performance and compliance, F&I Express makes aftermarket F&I easier and more profitable for everyone involved. Visit fandiexpress.com for more information on all F&I Express solutions. Also, follow posts on Twitter @fandiexpress. ABOUT FRAZER SOFTWARE Frazer is a leading provider of Dealer Management Software. With over 16,000 active users, they are known for providing a full featured, affordable DMS that is easy to use, completely reliable and is backed up with exceptional customer support. Turkish military said its jets had struck terrorist PKK targets in northern Iraq on Monday, Anadolu reported. Four fighter jets carried out airstrikes on PKK targets in the Avasin-Basyan region between 6.50 p.m. and 6.57 p.m. local time (1550 and 1557GMT), destroying an unspecified number of targets, the statement said. The PKK -- also listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015. Since then, more than 600 security personnel, including troops, police officers and village guards, have been martyred and over 7,000 PKK terrorists killed or neutralized in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq. The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) will host its annual Fall Forum in New Orleans, La., on Sept. 26-28, 2016. The forum will be addressing the rapidly changing telehealth industry landscape and how companies and organizations are adapting. The Fall Forum will bring together industry leaders from health care businesses, institutions, organizations, and government agencies and will include speakers from Wal-Mart, Mercy Virtual, the Louisiana State Legislature and more. New Orleans natives James Carville and Mary Matalin will deliver the keynote address at the 2016 Fall Forum. The telehealth industry has changed more this past year than in the previous ten years combined, said Jonathan Linkous, CEO of ATA. Its truly on the verge of exploding, and these industry events are the only way to stay on top of these changes. Attendees will participate in a series of educational sessions and programs, including key networking opportunities, that will enable participants to better understand industry challenges and trendsto adapt to the evolving telemedicine landscape. Key topics to be addressed include: Major challenges, trends, and legislative changes affecting the telehealth industry How to best leverage opportunities for interstate collaboration Strategies to reduce coverage and reimbursement barriers Taking advantage of new Medicare payment reforms Identifying opportunities via leading technology innovators Providing consumer-facing virtual care services The future of retail telemedicine In addition, top telemedicine, telehealth and mHealth product and service providers will showcase their innovations in the Fall Forum exhibit hall. Attendees unable to participate in person are invited to Live Stream the forum online. Live stream includes access to sessions Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30 excluding James Carville and Mary Matalin keynote. To learn more and register, visit http://www.atafallforum.com. About the American Telemedicine Association The American Telemedicine Association is the leading international resource and advocate promoting the use of advanced remote medical technologies. ATA and its diverse membership, works to fully integrate telemedicine into transformed healthcare systems to improve quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world. Established in 1993, ATA is headquartered in Washington, DC. For more information visit http://www.americantelemed.org. ### Napa Valleys Plastic Surgery Associates is excited to announce that one of its cofounders,Heather Furnas, M.D., will be presenting at the upcoming American Society of Plastic Surgeons September meeting. Dr. Furnas will share information regarding her recent labiaplasty study, including the reasons women seek out the procedure, as well as host a talk on social media and the plastic surgeon. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) fall meeting will be held in Los Angeles, from September 23-27. The gathering will host some of the worlds most elite plastic surgeons, discussing current treatments, technologies and trends. This years ASPS meeting will include the Rhinoplasty Society Symposium, a Diversity Symposium and a Practice Management Re-Boot Camp. The focus on continuing education will include various scientific sections, instructional courses, cadaver labs, and a Super Tuesday Collaborative Convention. Dr. Furnas will be speaking to colleagues about her research and experience with the labiaplasty procedure. Reviewing the findings from her recent study on the desires driving women toward the surgical procedure, Dr. Furnas will talk about womens hopes for aesthetic improvements and relief from pain, as well as the impact the surgery has on their everyday life. She explains, Despite its high satisfaction rate and low complication rate, the labiaplasty procedure is controversial. Dr. Furnas continues, (The hope is) that my study and others like it will help symptomatic women get the surgical relief they request. Additionally, as part of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) Tech Talks, Dr. Furnas will also be presenting Social Media for the Plastic Surgeon at the ASPS meeting. She will go into the validity of social media for the plastic surgery practice, explaining how to effectively use Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to impact the practice and enhance professional life. With over 50K followers on Twitter, and active on Facebook, Snap Chat and Instagram, Dr. Furnas has extensive experience using social media to reach both established and potential patients. Her social media discussion will include lessons applicable to life, including being helpful, generous, social, interesting and positive, no matter the situation. Dr. Heather Furnas hold undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and completed her medical degree at the UCLA School of Medicine. She is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and serves as a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the California Society of Plastic Surgeons, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Away from the office, Dr. Furnas volunteers her surgical skills to help children in underserved areas of Latin America. Dr. Furnas ASPS presentation will be Sunday, September 25, 2016, from 9:30-10:15 at the Loa Angeles Convention Center Exhibit Hall, booth 1447. For additional information on the American Society of Plastic Surgeons meeting, see their online brochure, email registration(at)plasticsurgery(dot)org or call ASPS Member Services at 800-766-4955. To find out more about Dr. Heather Furnas, contact Plastic Surgery Associates at 707.537.2111. New patient consultations in the Santa Rosa office are complimentary. Patients coming from outside of Sonoma or Marin county are encouraged to request an online evaluation. 2016 Lymphoma Research Foundation Annual Gala The Lymphoma Research Foundations Annual Gala provides vital hope and inspiration to the lymphoma community, said Michael Werner, Chair of the Lymphoma Research Foundations Board of Directors. The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) the nations largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to funding innovative lymphoma research and serving the lymphoma community through a comprehensive series of education programs, outreach initiatives and patient services is set to host its 2016 Annual Gala, An Evening of Incredible Inspiration, in New York City on Wednesday, September 28, 2016. This years event marks the first time that the Lymphoma Research Foundation will host its Annual Gala during the month of September, recognized nationally and internationally as Blood Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). The event will return to the Mandarin Oriental, New York, located at the top of the Time Warner Center and just steps away from the Shops at Columbus Circle, which will be lit red in honor of LRF's Annual Gala. The famed shopping destination will once again join some of the most recognizable landmarks around the country, and around the globe, as they Light it Red for Lymphoma during BCAM. LRFs Annual Gala brings together hundreds of leaders from across the lymphoma community, including members of LRFs Scientific Advisory Board, Board of Directors, corporate partners, clinicians, researchers, healthcare providers, patients, survivors, and volunteers to raise essential funds to support the LRFs critical mission. Last years Annual Gala raised more than $1.1 million toward LRFs innovative research programs. The Lymphoma Research Foundations Annual Gala provides vital hope and inspiration to the lymphoma community, said Michael Werner, Chair of the Lymphoma Research Foundations Board of Directors. This year promises to be the true pinnacle of the tremendous groundswell of support built during Blood Cancer Awareness Month, a momentum that we hope to leverage in our quest for a cure. The 2016 Annual Gala honorees will be recognized for their inspiring contributions and dedication to LRF. The prestigious Founders award, the Freundlich Leadership Award, will be presented to Miriam Phalen for her continued commitment to the cause of eradicating lymphoma and serving those touched by this disease throughout her tenure as a member of the LRF Board of Directors. Paul V. Majkowski, Esq. will be awarded the Distinguished Service Award, in recognition for his service to the organization and its mission as an LRF Ambassador and Regional Leadership Council member. Longtime LRF partners Pharmacyclics LLC and Janssen Oncology will be presented with the Corporate Leadership Award, which recognizes exemplary leaders in the oncology business community, in honor of their generous support of LRFs industry-leading patient education programming and commitment to improving the lives of lymphoma and CLL patients through the development of novel therapies. As a two time cancer survivor, my commitment to the Lymphoma Research Foundations mission has always been a personal one, said Majkowski. I am proud of the work weve done so far, and yet know there is much more to be done; the Foundation has played a tremendous role in advancing lymphoma research and I am hopeful for what we will be able to accomplish in the future. Renowned Sothebys auctioneer C. Hugh Hildesley will once again serve as the evening's auctioneer for both the live auction, as well as the Foundations signature Raise it for LRF segment. Last years attendees raised nearly $320,000 for LRF's innovative research portfolio and patient support programs in just minutes during this unique and exciting portion of the evening. For more information about the Lymphoma Research Foundations Annual Gala or to purchase tickets to the event, please contact Taylor Zitay Kahn at (646) 465-9103 or visit lymphoma.org/gala. About the Lymphoma Research Foundation The Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) is the nations largest non-profit organization devoted to funding innovative research and serving the lymphoma community through a comprehensive series of education programs, outreach initiatives and patient services. To date, LRF has awarded nearly $58 million in lymphoma-specific research. For additional information on LRFs research, education and services, visit lymphoma.org. ### Burrowing Rodent Prize Competition Now Available The Bureau of Reclamation is launching a new prize competition seeking methods to prevent rodents from burrowing into canals, levees and earthen dam embankments. Winners of this prize competition will share $20,000. Rodents can burrow through both sides of an embankment providing a pathway for water to move through and erode the embankment, potentially causing serious issues for the surrounding communities. Burrows may also intersect and expose other anomalies in the embankment that may also result in a failure of the embankment. Rodents include squirrels, badgers, moles, muskrats, mice and beavers. Reclamation is partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources Dam Safety Division, federal canal operating entities including the Boise Project Board of Control and the South Columbia Basin Irrigation District, to design and judge this competition. To register and learn more about Reclamations prize competitions, visit http://www.challenge.gov. To learn more about Reclamations Water Prize Competition Center, visit http://www.usbr.gov/research/challenges/. Recently, Challenge.gov celebrated its fifth anniversary. Challenge.gov is a historic effort by the federal government to collaborate with members of the public through incentive prizes to address the most pressing local, national and global challenges. True to the spirit of President Obama's charge from his first day in office, federal agencies have collaborated with more than 200,000 citizen solversentrepreneurs, citizen scientists, students and morein more than 440 challenges on topics ranging from accelerating the deployment of solar energy to combating breast cancer to increasing resilience after Hurricane Sandy. SolveForce continues their Pro-Business cities marketing campaign by immediately introducing DirecTV Internet & Phone Bundling (http://solveforce.com) services to Albuquerque, New Mexico and Melbourne, Florida. When looking for an internet service provider, consumers will want to consider Direct TV satellite for their ISP needs and all their television needs. The time has come where many people are looking for a way to combine expenses of television and internet service costs together to save money. If someone is using a dial up connection or a cable connection, they are paying for both services that are not giving them the service and speed of satellite. The monthly charge for Direct TV satellite with an Internet service will save everyone more money and give them a better service. Direct TV Internet connection speed is going to impress anyone who has had dial up or cable. The basic Internet & Phone Bundle (http://solveforce.com/services/) package gives consumers speeds of seven hundred Kbps to two Mbps, which is going to be up to one hundred and fifty times faster than regular dial up. This means consumers will open pages faster than with dial up and connection to the Internet is instant with no waiting. The Internet satellite system is going to give incredible speed and downloads are done in a matter of seconds depending on the size of the file being downloaded. The advantages of having Direct TV satellite Internet service are endless. Consumers no longer need a phone line to access the Internet and they can connect multiple computers to a single Internet connection. They will have no down payment and the service is sometimes more affordable than what they are paying for cable or dial up service. Satellite signal comes through the Direct TV dish, which means consumers will have a TV signal and an Internet satellite signal all coming in on one dish. High speed Internet does not get any better when choosing a satellite connection. Bundling services usually ends up being the lowest cost route to go. To learn more about SolveForce Internet & Phone Bundle (http://solveforce.com/services/) services, visit SolveForce.com. About SolveForce We are committed to a customers company in every aspect of the customer relationship. If a customers company needs to contact us for any reason, please don't hesitate to call or email us at the earliest convenience. By Phone: (888) 765-8301 By Email: ron(at)SolveForce (dot)com By Website: http://www.SolveForce.com Alpha Flight Guru Our business model allows people to find business class deals to European cities such as London, Berlin, and Paris, as well as first class airfare discounts. Alpha Flight Guru, the leader in business class and first class airfare deals, is proud to announce an upgrade to its information page on Europe. The newly updated page consolidates information on inexpensive business class flights and first class airfare deals as well as hotel picks, best-in-class restaurants, and other things to do in key European cities such as London, Berlin, and Paris. "Our business model allows people to find business class deals to European cities such as London, Berlin, and Paris, as well as first class airfare discounts," explained Alex Scoble, Chief Marketing Officer of Alpha Flight Guru. "However, we have learned that people want our editors to hand-pick the best things to do such as museums, restaurants, and top attractions. Our newly updated Europe page consolidates this information as selected by our editors." To view the new informational page visit http://alphaflightguru.com/flight-deals/europe. There, interested travellers can scroll down to view facts about Europe, language information and top attractions. In addition, advice is given on the best times to visit Europe as well as weather information. Next, there is information on 'cheap eats' in Europe as well as the best luxury hotels in Europe. Drilling down further, one can click over to information on key cities such as Rome, London, or Paris. To view the Paris page, for example, visit http://alphaflightguru.com/flight-deals/paris. There, one can immediately see the best business class deals to Paris, and, again, scroll down to key information about the French capital such as restaurants, hotels, and things to do. A New Travel Concept: Alpha Flight Guru Alpha Flight Guru is the leader in a new way to find business class and first class tickets: the guru concept. Alpha Flight Guru's experts (or 'gurus') work with each individual client to find extremely cheap or discounted business class or first class tickets to key destinations such as London, Frankfurt, or Zurich. This allows individuals to travel business class or even first class at extremely discounted rates, by leveraging the secret knowledge of the 'gurus.' The summer, 2016, launch of new information pages such as the page on European travel is the company's next wave of customer service. By providing handy facts and tips on hotels, restaurants, and things to do from real live human editors, Alpha Flight Guru is, once again, improving the user experience to make flying fun again. About Alpha Flight Guru Alpha Flight Guru brings personalized guru service to the search for cheap business class tickets and cheap first class tickets to destinations from Europe to Asia to Australia and beyond. The company's expert gurus find unpublished discount fares, both business class and first class tickets, to cities like London or Paris, New York or Los Angeles, Melbourne or Sydney. Customers simply use the company's website to enter a destination, and then let a guru find discounted, cheap, unpublished business class or first class airfares to London, Paris, Sydney and beyond. Web. http://alphaflightguru.com Tel. 800-359-5175 Interactive topology views at multiple levels & areas of focus Hyperglance is offering an innovative approach that can help IT organizations address the fact that they miss 40% of infrastructure problems and only find out about them after users complain Hyperglance Ltd., the first to utilize gaming quality graphics for real-time 3D IT topology insight, today released Hyperglance version 4.1. Hyperglance 4.1 combats the complexity of monitoring todays vast array of loosely coupled, widely distributed, virtual and physical, IT infrastructure by providing context-rich visual insight and control through a unified view. Hyperglance automatically discovers, aggregates, and maps otherwise disparate data into an interactive, cross-platform, 3D topology visualization. Hyperglance 4.1 comes pre-integrated with VMware vSphere, Docker Swarm, Kubernetes, Amazon Web Services (AWS), OpenStack, SNMP Networking platforms and Nagios monitored devices for a cohesive visibility layer within minutes. Monitoring data, such as alerts and metrics, is included for a complete visual perspective at any level. Direct resource connection and menu driven actions are also available through Hyperglance for immediate context-aware troubleshooting. Users can effortlessly map, monitor, manage and understand their current infrastructure resources state, health, and relationships that exist within and across Hyperglance integrated platforms. Also included is a comprehensive REST API to extend visibility with additional data. Hyperglance is offering an innovative approach that can help IT organizations address the fact that they miss 40% of infrastructure problems and only find out about them after users complain. said Shamus McGillicuddy, Sr. Analyst, Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) Hyperglance is the only tool that provides an interactive cross-platform 3D topology visualization with 360-degree clarity, context-rich data analysis and direct resource controls through the same intuitive browser screen. Hyperglance automatically maintains a current view that can be securely accessed and easily assessed by users of varying skill levels on varying client devices. IT organizations can now more easily: Increase efficiency and collaboration through a cohesive visibility layer Optimize service architectures via cross-platform infrastructure stack insight Diagnose issues at a glance and instantly troubleshoot with critical relationship insight Streamline security audits requiring a network topology Hyperglance version 4.1 is on display this week at the Hyperglance kiosk in VMwares New Innovator booth, #841, at VMworld 2016 in Las Vegas. Hyperglance 4.1 is also available to download and try for free at http://www.hyperglance.com. We are very excited about Hyperglance 4.1 and our participation at VMworld as a New Innovator. said Stace Hipperson, CEO of Hyperglance Ltd. Organizations have infrastructure distributed across multiple platforms that run on-premises and in the cloud. Hyperglance provides a simplified way to unify, visualize, and interact with complex architectures so organizations can more easily increase performance and reduce costs. Hyperglance 4.1 includes new features such as: Automatic cross-platform data discovery, aggregation, and mapping Interactive 360-degree topology map navigation with more vibrant graphics, full-screen layout, and ability to expand/contract groups for clear view Cohesive visual analysis of cross-domain resources state, health, and relationships both within and across platforms Service specific views of infrastructure dependencies across all platforms Aggregated multi-level alert visibility in map and dashboard with instant visual assessment of what other resources could be affected On-demand dashboards with context-rich data, metrics, links, alerts and relationship analysis Context-aware resource actions through menu driven options and direct connect capabilities via SSH, RDP, Telnet or VNC Global search across all platforms Hyperglance includes use of all available integrations and its REST API, provides secure role-based client views, and securely runs on customer managed servers to keep sensitive data where it belongs. Hyperglance does not require any new client software or resource agents to be installed. Organizations gain the data aggregation, total visibility, and actionable insight they need to easily map, monitor and manage their complex mix of IT infrastructure. IT teams become more collaborative and proactive in resolving issues and reducing costs, ultimately increasing overall IT performance. About Hyperglance Hyperglance empowers IT operators with rapid, cohesive insight and proactive problem solving across domains and multiple platforms. Hyperglance specializes in dynamic data aggregation, advanced physics, and gaming quality graphics to present unified data in a secure, intuitive, 3D topology visualization with 360 navigation, real-time data analysis, and context aware controls for immediate action. Hyperglance simplifies the mapping, monitoring and managing of todays highly virtualized, software-defined platforms on-premises or in the cloud. With Hyperglance, organizations are equipped for greater efficiency and quality of services. More information about Hyperglance is available at http://www.hyperglance.com. VMware, VMware vSphere and VMworld are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies. At Counsel Financial, we understand the significant financial burden plaintiffs firms face as a result of inconsistent cash flow generated from a contingent-fee practice. The summer can be a slow period for many businesses; however thats not the case for Counsel Financial, the largest provider of working capital lines of credit to plaintiffs' law firms. The company is proud to announce it is coming off one of its most successful summer seasons in its history. Counsel Financialhaving advanced more than $1.5 billion to plaintiffs firms since entering the market in 2000continues to maintain its position as the nations leading lender exclusively to the plaintiffs bar by offering firms larger and more flexible lines of credit than they can receive from a bank. One of the companys newest clients is the time-honored firm of Liddle & Robinson LLP. The prominent Manhattan-based practice, which handles employment, securities and commercial litigation matters, has recovered more than $500 million in verdicts, settlements and awards on behalf of its clients since its inception in 1979. In choosing Counsel Financial for its financing needs, the firms managing partner Jeffrey Liddle stated, it is extraordinary to finally work with a lender that understands our practice. Unlike a bank, Counsel Financial is able to value our contingent fees as collateral and offer more flexible repayment terms because, as attorneys themselves, they understand the time commitment associated with civil cases. Having in-house attorneys with over 200 years of combined litigation experience, Counsel Financial can analyze and underwrite a firms most valuable assetits current and future attorneys feesgiving litigators access to significantly more capital than a traditional lending institution offers. At Counsel Financial, we understand the significant financial burden plaintiffs' firms face as a result of inconsistent cash flow generated from a contingent-fee practice. Our lending business is dedicated to providing innovative financial products with flexible terms designed specifically for their industry. Its all we do. We couldnt be happier that quality firms, like Liddle & Robinson, continue to see the value of our products, said Paul Cody, President of Counsel Financial. About Counsel Financial Counsel Financial is the largest provider of working capital lines of credit to plaintiffs attorneys in the industry, having loaned over $1.5 billion exclusively to plaintiffs attorneys in its 15-year history. Counsel Financial sets the standard for innovation and flexibility in its loan offerings, structuring terms that are conducive to the unique demands of contingency-fee practices. Leveraging 200+ years of internal legal experience, Counsel Financial has financed the growth of firms in every area of plaintiffs litigation, including personal injury, mass torts, class action and labor and employment. The company is exclusively endorsed by six national and state trial organizations, including the American Association for Justice and The National Trial Lawyers. MRI logo MRI Software, a global leader in property and investment management solutions, is proud to announce that it has been recognized by ERC as one of Northeast Ohios 99 best places to work. This is the tenth time that MRI Software has received the award. We are thrilled to accept this prestigious award for a tenth time, said Patrick Ghilani, Chief Executive Officer of MRI Software. Our incredible and passionate team members are the key to our businesss success, and we are committed to providing them with a culture that drives professional growth through cross-departmental and upward mobility, training, trust and support. NorthCoast 99 recognizes great places to work for top performing people that drive results, provide competitive advantages and allow businesses to innovate and grow. Applicants are evaluated based on policies and practices related to the attraction and retention of top performers, as well as data collected from employee surveys. Were extremely honored to recognize the 2016 NorthCoast 99 winners. These organizations have earned the right to call themselves a great workplace by their dedication to attracting, supporting, retaining and motivating their Top Performers. ERC developed the NorthCoast 99 program with the hopes of inspiring local leaders to promote the great workplace movement, commented Pat Perry, President of ERC. More than 400 of MRI Softwares 625 employees are based in the companys Solon, Ohio, headquarters. With offices on four continents, MRI continues to grow at home, increasing its Northeast Ohio workforce by 10% this year alone. MRI is actively engaged in the local community, including Engage! Cleveland, Cleveland Corporate Challenge, partnering with local colleges and more. NorthCoast 99 is an annual recognition program that honors 99 great workplaces for top talent in Northeast Ohio. The program focuses on organizational practices and performance. The program is presented by ERC (http://www.yourerc.com), the areas leading professional services organization dedicated to HR. Sponsors of the NorthCoast 99 program include: Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, CareerCurve, Cleveland Magazine, ERC Health, Frantz Ward LLP, Ginos Awards, Oswald Companies, Staffing Solutions Enterprises, and Ultimate Software. Supporting resources: About MRI Software MRI Software LLC is a leading provider of innovative software solutions for the global real estate industry. MRI delivers a comprehensive and truly configurable solution, from property-level management and accounting to the most complex, long-range financial modeling and analytics for both the commercial and multifamily real estate markets. As a leading provider of real estate enterprise software applications and hosted solutions, MRI leverages over 45 years of business experience to develop long-term successful relationships with its clients. Founded in Cleveland, Ohio, the company has offices in Atlanta, Toronto, London, Sydney, Singapore, and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.mrisoftware.com. Press contact: Alexis Jaffe alexis.jaffe(at)mrisoftware(dot)com 216-825-6715 Together we are helping young people connect globally, making a positive impact on the future of international business and international relations," says Claes Nobel, co-founder of NSHSS. The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), an international honor society dedicated to highlighting the accomplishments of students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, scholarship and community commitment, announces today that Kaela Green of Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, a junior at Pennsylvania State University, has won a $5,000 scholarship from The Intern Group. The Intern Group is a leading provider of international internship programs in London, New York, China, Europe, Australia and Latin America. The scholarship covers a 6-week internship program in summer 2016 at any of The Intern Groups international program locations. Green is a marketing major with an international business minor and will complete a marketing related internship in Madrid, Spain this summer through The Intern Group scholarship. She has been studying Spanish since elementary school and looks forward to being immersed in a Spanish-speaking country. Green is currently a public relations intern for Women in Business and a Trendstate blogger for the Penn State Marketing Association. She also works as staff support for the University Office of Global Programs, and she is a tutor for student-athletes. "Kaela was everything that we look for in an applicant," said Lexie Kadlec, who led the final selection process for The Intern Group. "She was able to clearly connect her past achievements to her future goals. We felt that this experience would be a natural fit in helping her continue on her already very bright path. On top of that she had the right attitude; positive, determined and open-minded." NSHSS is proud to partner with The Intern Group to offer our college-age members the significant opportunity to gain global business and cultural experience that is essential for success in todays world, stated Claes Nobel, co-founder of NSHSS and senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prize. Together we are helping young people connect globally, making a positive impact on the future of international business and international relations. About the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS): Formed in 2002 by James W. Lewis and Claes Nobel, senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, The National Society of High School Scholars recognizes academic excellence at the high school level and helps to advance the goals and aspirations of high-achieving millennials through unique learning experiences, scholarships, internships, international study and peer networks. NSHSS members become lifetime members. At each step along the way from high school to college to career NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions. Currently, there are more than 1,000,000 Society members in 160 countries. To help us further efforts that provide students with continued opportunity, please acknowledge NSHSS in any press release mentions by providing a resource link to http://www.nshss.org. For more information about NSHSS visit http://www.nshss.org. About The Intern Group The Intern Group is an award-winning social enterprise that amplifies the global consciousness and professional & career development of talented individuals worldwide through global internships within their international network of partnerships spanning all career fields. They envisage a future where we can empower & educate individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, to intern and travel anywhere on the globe cost-effectively, and leverage the latest technology to share their experiences with others around the world. A BrahMos missile is on display during the DefExpo 2010 inauguration in New Delhi. (Photo : Getty Images) China is hoping that India would exert more efforts to attain peace and stability in the region as its Defense Ministry expressed concern on Thursday, Aug. 25, about India's plans to deploy advanced cruise missiles along the disputed border, a Reuters report said. Advertisement According to Indian military officials, their plan is to deploy the BrahMos missiles to support regiments along the China border. The missiles were made under an Indo-Russian joint venture, as part of the country's efforts to strengthen military and civilian infrastructure in the area. The two countries, which have both nuclear capabilities, have been working steadily to ease tensions between them. Last year, the leaders of the two countries vowed to calm down and resolve the border dispute, which was marked by a short border war in 1962, but the issues remain unsettled. Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said during a monthly news briefing that both countries have reached an "important consensus" to preserve peace and maintain stability in the border region. "We hope that the Indian side can do more to benefit peace and stability along the border and in the region, rather than the opposite," Wu said, although he did not discussed the issue further. More than 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) in the eastern sector in the Himalayas is under Indian rule, according to China. On the other hand, India said that 38,000 sq km (14,600 sq miles) of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west is being claimed by China. In addition, India is also wary of the support that China provides for its rival, Pakistan. Next month, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet when the Indian leader visits China to attend the G20 summit. Previous reports said that the Indian government has ordered BrahMos Aerospace, the producer of the missiles, to hasten the sales of the missile to five countries including Vietnam. Before his China trip, the Indian prime minister is also set to visit Vietnam, which is currently involved in a dispute over the South China Sea with China. If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. Chinese consumers are encouraged to spend more by the Chinese government. (Photo : Getty Images) On Wednesday, new guidelines on improving the quality of consumer products were released. These guidelines were drafted by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine. The guidelines are part of the government's efforts to encourage consumer spending, which already composes 73.4 percent of the country's GDP. Advertisement LI said, "Government departments should better enhance coordination, while enterprises need to have a stronger emphasis on quality, branding, R&D, and marketing. They also need to fully set up awareness of branding." "It is important that the quality of consumer goods made in China can withstand the test of the market," he added. The initiative also plans to improve the appeal of Chinese products in the global market. The guideline wants all Chinese products to be globally competitive by 2020. Product safety is a major issue with Chinese consumer goods and news of tainted products have decreased consumer confidence. To address this, the guidelines plan to improve quality controls in manufacturing. "Product safety comes first and foremost for improving consumer goods' quality and standards," Li said. "We should not leave product safety a matter of concern for consumers. The government should also innovate our supervisory methods." The manufacturing sector has been upgrading its production standards. However, the government wants to improve production in the food, home appliance, electronics, clothing, cosmetics, daily chemical products and sporting goods sectors. The premier added, "By improving the consumer goods sector, we will force the upgrading of equipment manufacturing. The manufacturing industry is the cornerstone of the country's entire industry." Aside from improving the quality of control in production, the government also wants to improve workers' skills and awareness on consumer safety. This will be done through partnerships with universities and vocational schools. "We need to train more highly skilled workers and foster a culture of craftsmanship," the premier said. The Surface Book from Microsoft is a detachable tablet that doubles as a laptop. (Photo : Twitter) The release date details have yet to be confirmed but the likelihood of the Apple MacBook Pro 2016 clashing with the Microsoft Surface Book 2 seems not a remote possibility. And going by the leaked details and speculations so far, the latter appears to enjoy key advantages in terms of specs and feature bumps Advertisement Here are five possible ways that the Surface Book 2 will beat the new MacOS Sierra laptop from Apple: Solid redesign The first Surface Book is not the slim and light type but there is no doubt that it is a thing of beauty. New reports suggest Microsoft is reengineering the hybrid device that will make the build closer to that of conventional notebook. "The new design will incorporate a hinge that makes the display and keyboard flush," BGR reported. It's unclear if the fulcrum hinge used on the first device will be ditched or redesigned but Microsoft is likely to make the Surface Book 2 sexier than its predecessor and make it a worthy rival to the MacBook Pro 2016 that analysts said will be trimmer and lighter than ever. Removable display One clear advantage of the Surface Book over the MacBook Pro is the removable display that certainly will be carried over to the 2016 versions. There is no chance that MBP 2016 will permit users to detach the display portion of the device and use it as standalone or like an iPad. In contrast, the Surface Book 2 will surely offer the same 2-in-1 function of being a traditional laptop for extensive productivity duties and a tablet, when the display is undocked, for a more casual use. Surface Pen Another Surface Book feature that Microsoft will surely rollover with the Book 2 is stylus support via the Surface Pen, which is another layer of productivity function. For would-be users of the MacBook Pro 2016, stylus support remains a rumor and only limited on the Mac trackpad even if the function becomes a reality. The closest that Mac users will get the same treatment is getting the iPad Pro that is built with Apple Pencil functionalities. But is should be noted that the iPad stylus is offered by Apple as a separate purchase, which for many is a deal-breaker. Intel Kaby Lake Rumors say Intel's seventh-gen chip Kaby Lake will be the power under the hood of the MacBook Pro 2016 but the chance of such a scenario happening is not very good. Apple watchers are convinced that if the MBP 2016 will indeed run on Kaby Lake then the debut will need to be delayed until early 2017. So the safer bet is it remain a 2016 launch for the refreshed MacBook Pros but Skylake will be the main engine. As for the Surface Book 2, it's all but confirmed that Kaby Lake will fire up the device and all the new devices that Microsoft will release in the coming months, the Surface Pro 5 and Surface desktop series including. Portable gaming machine Reports indicate that premium models of the MacBook Pro 2016 on release date will boast of AMD Polaris 11 GPU but the spec bump is exclusive only for the select 15-inch MBP variants. For the Surface Book 2, the inclusion of a powerful graphics card is likely across the board, indicating that all users will enjoy the device as a portable gaming machine that will render in 3D and 4K display resolution. Biofuel crop in the United States. (Photo : Getty Images) Biofuels are depicted as being bad for the environment -- and probably as bad as gasoline -- in a disconcerting new study from the University of Michigan Energy Institute (UMEI) that's being vigorously contested by other scientists. The study published in journal of Climate Change claims more carbon dioxide is actually released when the crops from which corn ethanol and biodiesel biofuels are derived are being grown. It challenges the long-held hypothesis biofuels are more environmentally friendly because it's believed they emitted little to no carbon dioxide when being grown. Advertisement The study, however, also received funding from the American Petroleum Institute (API), the largest U.S trade association for the oil and natural gas industry. API describes its mission as to influence public policy in support of a strong, viable U.S. oil and natural gas industry. Its chief functions on behalf of the industry include advocacy, negotiation and lobbying with governmental, legal and regulatory agencies. The UMEI study suggests biofuels can mitigate only 37 percent of the CO2 released by burning biofuels. Biofuels, which are usually derived from corn or soybeans, accounted for six percent of all fuel sources in the U.S. in 2013. The use of biofuels and other products such as ethanol has tripled from 4.2 billion gallons in 2005 to 14.6 billion gallons in 2013. A UMEI research team led by Dr. John DeCicco analyzed the amount of CO2 absorbed as crops grow and then released when they're burned as biofuel. They calculated the total U.S. crop yield can remove only 37 percent of the CO2 that burning biofuel releases into the air. "What we found is that when you actually look at how quickly crops like corn and soybeans pull CO2 from the air and compare that with the emissions that occur when the biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel are burned, you find out that they are not carbon neutral like everyone has been assuming," said Dr. DeCicco. Dr. DeCicco said that to verify the extent to which the assumption biofuels are carbon neutral is true, you really need to analyze what's going on in the farmland where the biofuels are being grown. "People haven't done that in the past -- they felt like they didn't need to." The UMEI study includes tailpipe emissions and crop growth that are instrumental in growing crops used for biofuels. It found carbon emissions during that period actually only absorbed 37 percent of biofuel production from 2005 to 2013. This finding directly contradicts previous studies claiming biofuels use emitted less carbon than using gasoline. "When you look at what's actually happening on the land, you find that not enough carbon is being removed from the atmosphere to balance what's coming out of the tailpipe," said Dr. DeCicco. "(Biofuels) is unambiguously worse than petroleum gasoline." Prof. Daniel Schrag, a geology professor at Harvard who advises the EPA on bioenergy climate impacts, said Dr. DeCicco is working on a flawed premise. He said biofuels don't have to be carbon neutral to be an environmentally preferable alternative to petroleum gasoline. "For about 10 years there have been very careful studies of corn ethanol and all of the fossil carbon that is used to make it ... and those studies have gotten a range of answers, but it is about a 20 percent reduction of net emissions relative to gasoline," said Schrag. "Nobody ever thought corn ethanol was carbon neutral, because there are lots and lots of fossil inputs to it." Dr. Michael Wang, a researcher at the Argonne National Laboratory, also questions the UMEI study's carbon accounting. He noted the study doesn't properly account for carbon uptake or that corn production for both ethanol and for food increased over the period of the study. "The carbon uptake by the US farming systems is calculated based only on grain harvest," said Dr. Wang. "Carbon uptake embedded in above- and below-ground biomass is ignored in the paper with a simple assumption that carbon in these biomass sources are oxidized back to the air." I call foul on the naked Donald Trump statues. Im not the first person to register my discontent, but Im chiming in because we have about two and a half more months until the presidential election, and we can all do better. Anarchist art collective Indecline placed life-size sculptures of the Republican presidential candidate in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Seattle, showing Trump with no clothes, a bulging belly and in want of certain anatomy. The installation was titled The Emperor Has No B---s. Ha, ha, ha, right? Lets laugh at the gross body, where the parts we like big are small and the parts we like flat are bloated. Lets focus on his reproductive organs and mock him accordingly. And lets do all this in the name of dissent. Better yet, lets not. The easy taste test, of course, is to imagine a far-right group doing similar statues of Hillary Clinton. Many feminists and progressives -- starting with me -- would be outraged at the attempt to reduce a political candidate to her body parts and then mock those parts for failing to adhere to cookie-cutter norms of attractiveness. As though that has any bearing on a persons ability to lead (or on attractiveness, frankly). Were already getting a dose of that at the Trump rallies that sell buttons touting a KFC Hillary Special: 2 Fat Thighs, 2 Small Breasts ... Left Wing. Theyre tacky and cheap and add nothing of value to our political discourse. The Trump statues are worse. City officials removed the statues quickly (Cleveland, the most quickly), but not before people gathered around them, snapping selfies and declaring their genius. Its horrendously, tragically beautiful, one woman told The Guardian. I disagree. We dont get to be the movement that preaches inclusiveness -- particularly around gender -- if we embrace this type of mockery. We cant, in good conscience, advocate for civil rights protections for transgender folks -- to safely use public restrooms, for example -- if we point and laugh at reproductive organs. We cant push for women to fill more offices -- political and glass -- and then indicate that lacking testicles is a liability. Nothing is being said by the piece that is difficult for one in the current political climate to say -- that Trump is a joke, or that fat people must be shamed, or that male bodies that dont conform to masculine notions of genitalia deserve scorn, Meghna Sridhar writes in a Feministing essay. Indeed, the real naked emperors seem to be the installations smug audience instead, parading around in seeming robes of progressive politics, which actually, upon closer inspection, are their own naked delusions of open-minded, non-oppressive grandeur. More simply, she asks: Are we really turning the tables on the oppressor, or are we continuing to stomp on the oppressed? The latter, I would say, under the guise of the former. We can spend the next 70-odd days making our voices heard, agitating passionately and thoughtfully for whatever candidate we choose. And we can leave anatomy out of it. Jupiter's north polar region comes into view as NASA's Juno spacecraft approaches the giant planet. This view of Jupiter was taken on Aug. 27, when Juno was 703,000 kilometers away. (Photo : NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS ) NASA announced its Juno spacecraft successfully executed the first of 36 orbital flybys of Jupiter on Aug. 27. It said the time of Juno's closest approach to the solar system's largest planet and gas giant took place at 13:44 UTC when Juno passed about 4,200 kilometers above Jupiter's tormented clouds. Juno was traveling at 208,000 kilometers per hour with respect to the planet at the time. Advertisement This flyby was the closest Juno will get to Jupiter during its prime mission. Juno is scheduled to reach the end of the mission during its 37th orbit and perform a controlled deorbit. It will then disintegrate into Jupiter's atmosphere. Juno stands for "JUpiter Near-polar Orbiter." "Early post-flyby telemetry indicates that everything worked as planned and Juno is firing on all cylinders," said Rick Nybakken, Juno project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. There are 35 more close flybys of Jupiter planned during Juno's mission scheduled to end in February 2018. The August 27 flyby was the first time Juno had its entire suite of science instruments activated and looking at the giant planet as the spacecraft zoomed past. Juno entered Jupiter's orbit on July 5, 2016, the prelude to 20 months of scientific data collection. The space probe was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Aug. 5, 2011 as part of the New Frontiers program. "We are getting some intriguing early data returns as we speak," said Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. "It will take days for all the science data collected during the flyby to be downlinked and even more to begin to comprehend what Juno and Jupiter are trying to tell us." While results from the spacecraft's suite of instruments will soon be released, a handful of images from Juno's visible light imager -- JunoCam -- are expected to be released the next couple of weeks. Those images will include the highest-resolution views of the Jovian atmosphere and the first glimpse of Jupiter's north and south poles. "We are in an orbit nobody has ever been in before, and these images give us a whole new perspective on this gas-giant world," said Bolton. JPL manages the Juno mission for the principal investigator, Scott Bolton, of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. Juno is part of NASA's New Frontiers Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, built the spacecraft. Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages JPL for NASA. G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now! Sex Worker's Day - Protest Rally (Photo : Getty Images) The worsening economic situation in North Korea has caused women in the communist state to go to the countrys border with China and engage in the flesh trade. Daily Star reported that North Korean sex trade workers agree to bed Chinese men for as low as $18 or 23,000 North Korean won. As a result, a lot of brothels are opening in Chinas border with North Korea even if prostitution is illegal, promoted through sites such as the Wiki Sex Guide. Advertisement Since Beijing is Pyongyangs ally, Chinese tourists and businessmen could easily cross the border and visit the country run by Kim Jong-Un. They frequently visit Hamheung where there are state-run factories that have commercial ties with Beijing as well as brothels disguised as beauty parlors or massage parlors where sex could be had for as low as 10,000 won. Meanwhile, North Korea called a senior diplomat who defected to South Korea an embezzler, child rapist and all-around human scum. Thae Young-Ho, who was based in London, arrived in South Korea this week. He was the second-highest official of the North Korean embassy in London and the most senior North Korean defector. It was his disgust with the regime of Kim Jong-Un, the officials yearning for South Korean democracy and concerns over this childrens future that made Thae defect. The section includes five new stations and is part of a 14km extension from Gar to Tekkekoy, which will increase the total length of the line to 29km. The Balikci - Tekkekoy section is expected to open before the end of the year. To increase fleet capacity in readiness for the extension of the line, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality awarded Durmazlar, Turkey, a 12m contract in 2015 to supply eight 31.8m-long trams, which will supplement the existing fleet of 21 vehicles. Set no. 385101 - the first of 24 four-car trains - will undergo system and combined testing at Velim until early next year. A second four-car train is due to be delivered to Britain next month. Initial testing on the British network will take place in a signal protected zone. The 370m order comprises 46 three-car and 24 four-car trains, which are based on Hitachi's AT200 platform. The 25kV 50Hz ac 160km/h trains will be formed of 23m-long vehicles and equipped cab-end gangways for multiple operation. Seven of the trains are being built at Kasado, where fabrication of bodyshells began last October, while the remaining 63 sets will be assembled at the company's new British facility at Newton Aycliffe in northeast England. The first trains are due to enter service on the Edinburgh - Falkirk High - Glasgow Queen Street line from autumn 2017. Photo: Quintus Vosman As Massachusetts officials celebrated the "topping off" ceremony of a $95 million new railcar manufacturing plant in Springfield, Mass., last week, the factory's ownerChina's CCRCexplained hiring plans: production workers will be hired in October, and sent to China for advance training by February. Once completed, the factory will manufacture 284 subway cars for the MBTA: 132 for the Red Line, and 152 for the Orange Line. In 2014, CRRC received a $566 million contract to manufacture 284 subway cars for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The 204,000-square-foot factory will employ 150 workers in Springfield, Mass. The first cars are scheduled to be delivered in 2018. Topping Off is the term used by ironworkers to indicate that the final piece of steel is being hoisted into place on a building, bridge or other large structure, and in this case the factory has now reached its maximum height. Construction of the factory is running ahead of schedule, with other projects including a 2,240-foot dynamic test track, and staging/storage area to be built. The project is projected to be completed in the fall of 2017. Replacing cars nearly four decades old will help deliver a more reliable and comfortable rider experience, said Governor Charlie Baker. We remain focused on investing in the core infrastructure at the T to improve our transit system that so many people rely on and we are pleased to celebrate this that also creates local jobs and supports Springfields economy. This facility will have multiple benefits to all sectors of Massachusetts economy, from new manufacturing jobs in Springfield to service improvements for the riders who rely on the MBTA to get to and from where they need to be every day, said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito The T has needed these cars for decades now, MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack said of the MBTAs aging fleet of Orange Line and Red Line vehicles. Relying on old equipment makes it harder to bounce back from incidents of severe weather. It is a great pleasure to be here today for the opening of this state-of-the-art factory, which will be assembling state-of-the-art vehicles for the MBTAs Red Line and Orange Line, said MBTA General Manager Brian Shortsleeve. Replacing old rail cars is part of a comprehensive plan to improve the Red and Orange Lines that include improvements to aging tracks, signals, and other infrastructure, with the goal of providing a first-class transit system that meets the needs of our customers. We are very appreciative of the largest railway car manufacturing company in the world, CRRC, building their North American base right here in Springfield, said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. The creation of hundreds of good paying jobs, the spin-off benefits to our vendors, the linkage to our students at Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, Western New England University and the use of our labor unions workforce spreads the wealth. Also, Im very thankful to Governor Baker, state and city officials for their continued belief and investment in our Springfield. As Argentina focuses on the financial model of its public telco, Arsat has received extra funding to extend the countrys fibre infrastructure. The State-owned company has received nearly $100 million from the Enacom fund to improve the network which will provide IP-based services outside of the countrys largest cities.Through this budget expansion, Arsat will bring fibre connection from the core network, which is already deployed, to over 1,300 towns where services will be commercialised by local operators. The plan has been cited as a priority for Arsat , which had been focusing on satellite communications in recent past years.The president of the country told us to take the Internet to every town in Argentina, and this is the main goal of our federal plan, said Rodrigo de Loredo, president, Arsat With this money, 30% of Argentineans, who occupy 70% of the territory, will get more and better access to broadband technologies. Around 15 million inhabitants now have access to an Internet connection which is up to 15 times poorer than in the big cities, explained de Loredo. Russian antimonopoly service launches case against large national chemical company MOSCOW, August 29 (RAPSI) Russias Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) has launched a case against Khimprom chemical company over the alleged breach of law on protection of competition, the service announced on Monday. The company is suspected of abusing its leading position on the raw materials used for the pieces of individual defense by setting monopolistically high prices for its goods in 2016, FAS notes. FAS also said that in 2013 Khimprom was subjected to investigation over breach of antimonopoly legislation, which resulted in a fine against the company. Khimprom is a Russian chemical company specializing in large-capacity chemistry, which produces more than 100 kinds of products and brands. Gov. Jerry Brown looks ready to sign into law a massive new retirement program for 6.8 million Californians who work in the private sector. Called "Secure Choice," the bill has already passed the state Senate and Assembly, and has received the blessing of government unions and the endorsement of the Los Angeles Times and New York Times. When Brown signs the bill, as he seems likely to do in the next few days, the New York Times says, "Californians will gain more security - and the rest of the nation will gain a national model for promoting retirement savings." But if the model is so great, why aren't California's public employees rushing to adopt it, too? The answer is simple: The pensions that government workers already receive - paid for by taxpayers - are far, far better than those proposed for non-government workers under Secure Choice. Take a look at the California Legislature's official recommendations for Secure Choice. Employees paying 10% into the Secure Choice pension system for 30 years can expect income replacement in retirement of 27.6%. That is, if they earn $100,000 in their final year of work, they will earn a state pension of $27,600 per year. For public-sector workers retiring after a full career, the numbers are at least three times that amount. Teachers and administrative workers get 75% of their final salary. Public-safety workers, the aristocrats of California's government workers, receive 90% of final salary. There are two reasons for this gigantic disparity. First, public pension funds collect much more than 10% of employee salary. While the employee rarely pays more than 10% through withholding, taxpayers kick in upwards of four times that much for every public employee. Second, public pension funds assume a "risk-free" rate of return of up to 7.5% per year. Acknowledging that a 7.5% return has been nearly unachievable for decades, Secure Choice would link investment return projections to the much lower U.S. Treasury rate - now 2.69%. Inexplicably, the New York Times and other Secure Choice advocates see such risk reduction as the program's only real shortcoming. It's not merely prudent or safe, but "supersafe," the Times says. Eventually, the Times hopes, Secure Choice will be allowed to follow the pattern of public pensions, investing private individual contributions in what the newspaper generously calls "a more complete menu of investment options." That would indeed make Secure Choice like California's public pensions in every way - including financially disastrous. The Secure Choice program has the virtue of being far more financially sustainable than public-sector pensions. With lower-risk investments, modest benefit formulas, and the built-in capacity to adjust benefits to ensure solvency, this pooled 401k - which could also be termed an adjustable defined benefit - is a system that can be offered to all citizens without blowing up. Concerned citizens may argue endlessly about whether states should offer any sort of retirement security - Social Security, Secure Choice, or whatever. But if California is going to offer these programs, they should be offered to every worker according to the same rules and offer the same benefits. Government workers should not be getting deals far better than private workers. So here's the deal, Gov. Brown: Mandate that every state and local government worker in California, effective immediately, begin participating in Social Security and the Secure Choice program, and encourage them to supplement that with individual 401k retirement accounts. Mandate that all retirement benefits they earn from now on are limited to those three programs. Work out the bugs. Then, and only then, sign us up. Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Pro, Mi 5S release on September 27; Mi Note 2 Pro will have two new special features (Photo : Twitter / AndroidAuth) Xiaomi Mi Note 2 release date is fast approaching. Since it is pegged to come with dual-edge curved screen and cheap pricing, it is being touted as Galaxy Note 7 by the rumor mill. Several leaked photos of the upcoming Xiaomi phablet have also surfaced. Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Specifications, Features Indicate Three Variants Advertisement Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is expected to be available in three variants, Gizmo China reported. The first variant will include 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB native storage and full HD screen. The second model will arrive with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of RAM. It will support Quad HD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. It is being referred to as high-end version. The third model will be packed with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It will be the first Xiaomi smartphone to house a dual-edge curved display like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Galaxy S7 Edge. It is being called Edge version. All the three models are expected to house 5.7-inch screens. The Snapdragon 821 or 820 chipset will be powered all the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 variants. It is expected to arrive with Android 7.0 Nougat preinstalled, Phone Arena reported. The high-end and Edge variants are expected to feature 12-megapixel dual cameras on their back panels. The standard version of the phone is expected to feature 16-megapixel rear shooter. Other common specs include a fingerprint reader, NFC, and 4,000 mAh battery. Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Price, Release Date The Xiaomi Mi Note 2 release date has not been disclosed, but speculations indicate that it will be unveiled at the upcoming Xiaomi Summer Conference 2016. It is expected to be held in September or October this year. As far as Xiaomi Mi Note 2 pricing is concerned, the 4 GB RAM model is expected to cost CNY 2,499 ($374). The 6 GB RAM models with 64 GB and 128 GB storage options will cost CNY 2,999 ($449) and CNY 3,499 ($524). Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Killer? Samsung is the only mainstream smartphone company to launch a dual-edge curved display smartphone. The Galaxy Note 7 that has a curved smartphone has no major competitor. However, Xiaomi Mi Note 2 with its dual-edge curved, better specs and low pricing can be a real threat to the Galaxy Note 7. Will Xiaomi Mi Note 2 disturb Samsung Galaxy Note 7 sales? Do let us know your views by posting your comments below. Here is a video on the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 leaked photos and specs: The IRGC will likely continue using such incidents as a way to signal its domestic rivals, justify its large budget, and meet other goals, so Washington should remain vigilant and consider seeking an official channel for emergency communications. The strategic Strait of Hormuz has once again been the scene of close encounters between U.S. Navy vessels and speedboats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN), leaving observers to guess at the motivations behind the Iranian moves. The multiple incidents that occurred this week raised the risk of miscalculation in a sovereignly cramped part of the world. On August 23-24, several IRGCN speedboats aggressively approached American warships as the latter were reportedly transiting international waters in or approaching the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with maritime law. On each occasion, the Iranians conducted what the U.S. Navy called "unsafe intercepts," crossing the bows of the American ships at high speed and close range without any attempt to establish radio contact. In at least one of the incidents, they even reportedly uncovered their weapons. During yet another incident on August 25, the USS Squallfired several warning shots well in front of the Iranian boats to warn them off. These events are only the latest example of provocative encounters between American and Iranian naval forces in the Persian Gulf -- especially by the IRGCN, which is much more prone to such behavior than Iran's regular navy. It is certainly not a new thing for IRGCN boats to harass Western and American ships crossing the strait. They have also made it a habit to conduct surprise live rocket fire exercises in proximity to U.S. Navy vessels in the international waters of the Persian Gulf, most recently on August 15 according to Defense News. The nature and timing of the latest incidents provide some clues about the intentions of the IRGC's high-risk behavior. In particular, the provocations may have a domestic political dimension, aimed at those within President Hassan Rouhani's government who advocate better relations with the West. The IRGC is closely aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's hardline circle and frequently takes actions in accordance with his spoken or unspoken policies. During an April 16 appearance before U.S. service members in the United Arab Emirates, Defense Secretary Ash Carter characterized America's military role in the Gulf as "part of the system of deterrents and countering Iran's malign influence in the region." IRGCN admiral Ali Fadavi responded to those words on August 11 -- according to the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency, he took them as both a sign of American weakness and an opportunity to lash out at domestic rivals: "That statement shows the U.S. and its allies have not been able to deter us in the region...[T]his is a very important revelation because it shows they are still on the defensive...But while the IRGCN has been on the forefront of the confrontation with the Americans in the past thirty years, there are people in our own country who fail to believe in the potential of such power. This is a huge injustice to the Islamic Republic and its people. Those people seek entente with the Satan while ignoring the power of the Islamic Revolution and the vulnerability of our enemies." Fadavi made similar remarks on July 26, reiterating the good-versus-evil nature of the U.S.-Iranian confrontation, according to Tasnim News. He has been more vocal in general recently, in an apparent attempt to re-rationalize the United States as the main enemy despite the (narrow) diplomatic window opened by the Rouhani-brokered nuclear deal. Such a mindset may help the IRGCN justify its recent naval provocations, casting them as Iran's primary means of curbing U.S. naval movements near its territorial waters. The hardliners might also need to refresh their confrontation with America in order to justify the substantial budgetary allocations they receive each year for operational and R&D purposes. Another possibility is that the regime hopes to stimulate global oil markets by causing problems in the Gulf; for example, Reuters reported yesterday that oil prices rose by 1 percent as a direct result of this week's incidents. Whatever the case, the IRGC needs to understand that if Iran is to alleviate the international pressures and other constrictions that are still hampering its long-term economic and diplomatic progress, it will need to behave more responsibly and adhere to a more professional and nonconfrontational stance in the Persian Gulf region. In the meantime, observers should not be surprised if the naval harassment continues in the coming weeks. Washington should therefore be especially vigilant, and perhaps seek a direct means of communication with Iranian authorities during such incidents. While diplomatic lines of communication such as the one between Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are useful in defusing potential escalation in the region, Washington needs a more reliable emergency communication channel that can stand the test of time. The Russian military continues its long-term modernization drive, aiming to re-equip its land and strategic forces. Russian daily Lenta.ru reports on the recently declassified new armored personnel carrier for the marines, designated as BT-3F. The prototype was built on the chassis of the long-serving BMP-3 line of combat vehicles and is designed both for export and for equipping Russian units. This new carriers armament includes a remote-controlled weapons module, as well as a remote-controlled combat module equipped with a 7.62mm machine gun. In addition to weapons, the new vehicle is equipped with a thermal sight with a laser rangefinder. Other potential combat modules can include heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers. BMP personnel carriers have been a mainstay for the Soviet and later Russian armed forces since the 1960s, with thousands supplied for export all over the world. Numerous BMP upgrades and variants continue to serve with dozens of international forces and have participated in practically all major military conflicts since the line's initial 1967 unveiling. This vehicle remains the mainstay of many land armies, and is expected to operate for decades to come. According to Lenta.ru, the designers decided to get rid of the turret and its 100mm gun -- the weapon choice of the original BMP-3 -- in order to increase the crew capacity of the new machine, which can now transport seven to 14 people. In a 2016 interview with the magazine Moscow Defense Brief, Alexey Losev, the head of export department and planning for Tractor Plants Corp. (KTZ), said that the company took the initiative and designed the vehicle at its own expense, adding that a prototype is scheduled to appear in the Army 2016 military forum this September. According to Lozev, there is already an export potential -- Indonesia recently expressed interest in the new vehicle. Lenta.ru further reports that by 2020, a new missile will be developed in Russia that can fly at 6 to 7 times the speed of sound, as stated in a recent interview with Boris Obnosov, the director general of Tactical Missiles Corp. "I think that the beginning of the 2020s will be marked by Mach 6-7 speeds, Obnosov said, adding that his remarks concerned domestic missiles only. According to the head of Tactical Missiles, the development of such missiles would significantly weaken existing air defenses. "In my opinion, there is nothing to discuss here -- it is clear that with the rocket able to fly in the atmosphere [at such speeds], it greatly weakens all existing anti-missile defense systems." Back in May 2014, Obnosov first reported on the approval of a Russian program to create hypersonic weapons and promised the appearance of such missiles in 2020. This ambitious missile development program involves dozens of specialized research and industry corporations across Russia. Should Russia succeed in creating and successfully fielding this missile, its would greatly strenghten its capacity to participate in military conflicts far from its borders -- the desire already demonstrated by Moscow in hitting targets inside Syria from the Caspian Sea. Property details: Vacant Land in Hayden, Kootenai County, Idaho! Item Id: Basche01 Case Name: Basche, Marc A Case Number: 16 50598 Trustee: Description: Estate's interest in 50% ownership of 0.88 acres of vacant land in Hayden, Idaho near Coeur dAlene and Hayden Lake. The property is located by North Shenandoah Drive, Hayden, ID 83835. The status of water, power, sewer and utilities is unknown. The APN# is 03580000005.A and the AIN # is 146264. The legal description is 'Hayden Lake Park, LTS 5&6 of Rd Section ... Price: $ 16,995 Seller State of Residence: Nevada Property Address: North Shenandoah Drive City: Hayden Lake State/Province: Idaho Zip/Postal Code: 83835 Type: Homesite, Lot Location: 838**, Hayden, Idaho You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Homesite, Lot , We're sorry, this article is not currently available By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/29/2016 ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. Reaching a just, comprehensive settlement on the Palestinian issue "would create a new reality in the region and contribute to curbing turbulence and instability in Middle East," Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Sunday during talks with officials from the White House's National Security Council in Cairo. according to his office. The two sides addressed efforts to revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, an Egyptian presidency statement said. Cairo has said it supports a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict which would see the creation of a sovereign Palestine. The discussions also tackled recent regional developments, the need to reach political solutions in embattled countries, and the threat of terrorism worldwide, El-Sisi's office said in a statement. The talks were attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and the head of the general intelligence, Khaled Fawzy. "El-Sisi highlighted how terrorist groups exploit hotbeds of tension and turmoil in the region as a favourable environment to spread their extremist and radical ideas while calling for concerted internaional effort to combat terrorism," read the statement via presidential spokesman Alaa Youssef. The National Security Council advises the president of the White House on foreign policy and national security matters. Search Keywords: Short link: South Cairo prosecution ordered Monday afternoon the four-day detention pending investigation of a low-ranking policeman who killed a microbus driver Sunday night, on charges him with murder. The driver was shot dead in the Cairo suburb of Maadi after the policeman intervened to break up a fight between the victim and another driver, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. Microbus drivers staged a strike Monday morning in Maadis El-Arab area to protest the incident. An eyewitness was cited by Al-Ahram as saying that the fight took place near the exit from the Autostrad highway in Maadi, and that the driver was shot in the neck. Al-Ahram Arabic reported that the 26-year-old victim's first name was Gamal. The prosecution has ordered that an autopsy be performed on the driver's body. Search Keywords: Short link: Back when Terrapin Beer Co. first debuted its Rye Pale Ale in 2002 it had many investors to get off the ground. However, in 2012 these investors backed out, leaving only a loan offer by Tenth and Blake, the craft and import division of MillerCoors, on the table. A client twirls pasta all'amatriciana at a restaurant in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. Food lovers and chefs in Italy and beyond are urging restaurants to serve up more pasta allamatriciana in a move to support the quake-hit hometown of the hearty dish. The rustic food, made of tomato sauce with pork jowl and topped with pecorino cheese, comes from Amatrice, which was destroyed by this weeks earthquake and the idea is for some of the proceeds to go to help the devastated areas rebuild. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) SHARE By VANESSA GERA, Associated Press ROME (AP) Food lovers and chefs in Italy and beyond are urging restaurants to serve up more pasta all'amatriciana in a move to support the quake-hit hometown of the hearty dish. The rustic food, made of tomato sauce with pork jowl and topped with pecorino cheese, comes from Amatrice, which was destroyed by this week's earthquake and the idea is for some of the proceeds to go to help the devastated areas rebuild. Residents in the medieval hilltop town had been preparing to host a yearly food festival this weekend dedicated to the dish. Instead, they will be burying the many dead men, women and children killed before dawn Wednesday in the violent quake. Altogether, three towns were devastated, with 281 people killed, 221 of them in Amatrice. Now some food lovers hope that they can at least harness the symbol of the devastated town that lost the most for a good cause. Italian food blogger and graphic designer, Paolo Campana, launched an appeal on Wednesday, saying on Facebook that "We have to move fast." "Pasta all'amatriciana is a symbol," he told The Associated Press on Friday. "So I decided to use this symbol to help." He has asked restaurants to put the dish on their menus and donate 2 euros ($2.25) per dish sold directly to the Italian Red Cross, which is participating in relief efforts in the affected areas in the Apennine mountain region of central Italy. One euro would be donated by the customer and one by the restaurant. He says he knows it's not a lot, but that if many people take part it could make a real difference. Since his appeal, other voluntary initiatives have been cropping up in Italy, even in regions where the dish is not typically eaten. The effort has also gone international. British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver said on Facebook Thursday that he and 700 chefs at his Jamie's Italian UK restaurants, an international chain, will be serving up pasta all'amatriciana and donating 2 pounds ($2.65) per dish sold to help the rescue effort in Italy. Oliver told his Instagram followers that "this could really make a difference," and that money will go to firefighters, camps, food, clothing and medical assistance. "I think we can easily make thousands and thousands of pounds to help," Oliver said. Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food International, which promotes traditional cooking with sustainable ingredients, has also called on restaurateurs worldwide "to put the symbolic dish of this devastated town on their menus." The effort is also generating interest on social media under the hashtags #virtualsagra and The heart of the yearly pasta festival, called a sagra, was the local Hotel Roma, which had a restaurant which served up the dish. Now the hotel is in ruins, with several people killed under its rubble. "Let's hope that it (Amatrice) will be reborn again," Luca Palombini, the assistant chef at Hotel Roma, told the AP on Friday, speaking from the San Salvatore Hospital in L'Aquila, where he was recovering from a broken foot. "Amatriciana will be even better, the Spaghetti all'amatriciana. I hope it will be reborn and that we will move forward, even better than before." ___ AP writer Danika Kirka in London contributed. A firefighter is dwarfed by flames from the Eiler Fire on Aug. 3, 2014, near Burney. SHARE By Bartholomew Sullivan USA TODAY WASHINGTON As wild fires continue to burn large swaths of California, an audit faults the U.S. Forest Services hazardous fuels reduction program for failing to prioritize or accurately account for efforts aimed at minimizing fire intensity. The report, released last week by the inspector general for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, says priorities for reducing ground fuel arent being made based on risk. The report was based on visits to three of nine regional offices and conversations with officials in Redding, Vallejo and San Bernardino, among others. The National Forest Service has identified just under 100 million acres of agency land with at least moderate potential to burn, including 58 million acres at high risk in areas known as the wildland-urban interface where population and forests overlap. Because the Forest Service has limited funding more than half its money goes for preparing for or fighting fires the agency can treat only about 2.9 million acres a year. About 1.5 million of those acres are in the urban interfaces. The inspector generals office also found that some projects acreage was counted twice or three times, depending on what procedures were used to mitigate fuel loads on the same land. The overall objective of the hazardous fuels reduction project is to reduce the risk of wildfire to the landscape and surrounding communities by removing hazardous fuels, the report said. This inaccurate reporting caused (the Forest Service) to over-report its hazardous fuels reduction accomplishments in2012-2014 by 103,459 acres out of 3,703,848, or a difference of 2.8 percent. The 34-page audit said the Forest Service overstated the number of acres it treated for hazardous fuels reduction within high-priority (wildland-urban interface) areas. It said the inaccurate figures found their way into annual reports to Congress that are used to make funding decisions. The same problem was identified in a 2006 audit, the inspector generals office noted. The Forest Service agreed with 10 of 11 recommendations for tightening up the accountability of hazardous fuels mitigation effort. A recommendation to upgrade a computer program to account for mitigation in forests in mixed urban-interface and purely wild areas will be met when computer modernization plans are complete in January 2018. SHARE Updated at 1:10 p.m. The U.S. Forest Service has told residents of Scott Bar, south of Horse Creek, to get ready to evacuate their homes due to the Gap Fire. The communities of Horse Creek and Hamburg have been under evacuation orders since Sunday evening, according to the U.S. Forest Service. What began as a fire on Saturday evening in the Klamath National Forest, the Gap Fire exploded over Sunday night to burn around 5,000 acres and jumping over the Klamath River. The Siskiyou County Fairgrounds, 1712 Fairlane Rd in Yreka was set up as an emergency shelter. The shelter is also accepting large animals. Highway 96 is closed from the intersection of Highway 263 to the intersection of Scott River Rd. Original story The Gap Fire in Siskiyou County exploded overnight and has grown to around 5,000 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire is burning on the Klamath National Forest on both the Seiad Creek and Horse Creek sides of ONeil Ridge. The fire is in the area of Highway 96, northwest of Yreka. A map of the Gap Fire can be found here. Chris Mattern, a volunteer at Quigleys General Store in Klamath River, said about a dozen people spent most of the night at the store, leaving around 3 a.m. Monday. Several structures in Horse Creek were destroyed, including homes, Mattern said, adding Klamath River residents have not received instructions from authorities to evacuate. Mattern said the fire jumped the river sometime during the night. The last U.S. Forest Service update on the fire was issued Sunday afternoon, at which time officials said the blaze was 700 acres. Forest Service officials did not immediately return phone messages left by the Record Searchlight. Syrian refugee Hamzeh Jouriyeh, 12, studies a map of the United States in the Amman, Jordan office of the International Organization for Migration. Jouriyeh, his three siblings and his parents are heading to early Monday, as part of a year-long program to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States.(AP Photo/Raad Adayleh) SHARE AMMAN, Jordan (AP) The U.S. will reach its target this week of taking in 10,000 Syrian war refugees in a year-old resettlement program, the U.S. ambassador to Jordan said Sunday, after meeting families headed to California and Virginia. The resettlement program has emerged as an issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, with Republican nominee Donald Trump alleging displaced Syrians pose a potential security threat. Alice Wells, the U.S. ambassador to Jordan, said Sunday that keeping Americans safe and taking in some of the world's most vulnerable people are not mutually exclusive. "Refugees are the most thoroughly screened category of travelers to the United States, and Syrian refugees are subject to even greater scrutiny," she said. Wells said the target of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees in the U.S. in the 2016 fiscal year will be reached Monday, as several hundred Syrians depart from Jordan over 24 hours. The Jouriyeh family, which attended Sunday's short ceremony, is headed to San Diego, California. Nadim Fawzi Jouriyeh, 49, a former construction worker from the war-ravaged Syrian city of Homs, said he feels "fear and joy, fear of the unknown and our new lives, but great joy for our children's lives and future." Jouriyeh, who suffers from heart problems, will be traveling with his wife, Rajaa, 42, and their four children. Their oldest son, 14-year-old Mohammed, said he is eager to sign up for school in San Diego and hopes to study medicine one day. The resettlement program focuses on the most vulnerable refugees, including those who were subjected to violence or torture or are sick. Close to 5 million Syrians have fled civil war since 2011. Most struggle to survive in tough conditions in neighboring countries, including Jordan, which hosts close to 660,000 Syrian refugees. Only a small percentage of Syrian refugees have been resettled to third countries. Instead, donor countries are trying to invest more in job creation and education for refugees in regional host countries to encourage them to stay there instead of moving onward, including to Europe. Wells said the U.S. has taken in more refugees from around the world over the years than all other nations combined. People walk next to an official photography of Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff, with a text written in Portuguese that reads "Dilma our president," at a camp in Brasilia, Brazil on Sunday. Rousseff will face Congress on Monday as her impeachment process enters its final stages. She is accused of using unauthorized loans from state-owned banks and that she illegally issued decrees to make government payments without congressional approval. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) SHARE BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) Fighting to save her job, suspended President Dilma Rousseff addresses the Senate on Monday in a showdown pitting accusations that the she hurt Brazil's economy with budget manipulations against her argument that she did nothing wrong and is being targeted by corrupt lawmakers. Rousseff's scheduled appearance during her impeachment trial is the culmination of a fight going back to late last year, when opponents in Congress presented a measure to remove her from office. It will come a day, perhaps two, before the Senate votes on whether to oust her from the presidency. In May, the Senate voted 55-22 to suspend her from office for up to 180 days while a trial was prepared. Michel Temer, who was her vice president and turned into her nemesis, took over as president. If Rousseff is permanently removed, Temer will serve the rest of her term, which goes through 2018. An official who had access to Rousseff's opening address told The Associated Press on Sunday that her tone would be very assertive, which could fuel more tensions coming on the heels of the first three days of the trial, which included name-calling, shouting and a declaration by the Senate president that "stupidity is limitless." Rousseff was expected to arrive in the morning and deliver a 30-minute address. Both supporters and opponents then will be able to ask questions of Brazil's first female president. In the middle of her second term, the left-leaning leader is accused of breaking fiscal rules to hide problems in the federal budget. She denies wrongdoing and argues that her enemies are carrying out a "coup d'etat." Opponents claim her maneuvers were an attempt to continue high spending and mask deficits, which ultimately exacerbated a severe recession in Latin America's largest economy. According to the official close to Rousseff, she planned remarks that would be "firm, but not arrogant." The official agreed to discuss the speech only if not quoted by name because he wasn't authorized to divulge its details. The trial is being presided over by Supreme Court Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski. Outside Congress, a huge wall was put up to separate Rousseff supporters and pro-impeachment activists. Police did not allow anyone to camp there Sunday, so the grounds were completely empty. Union and social movement leaders said it would be a different scene Monday during Rousseff's testimony and later during the final vote expected Tuesday or Wednesday. SHARE Poor Bill Clinton. These days, he must be thinking: You can't win for losing. After leaving the White House, he didn't just fold his tent. He created one of the world's most powerful global organizations, raised hundreds of millions of dollars, and helped millions of people worldwide doing more good than any former president since Jimmy Carter, and maybe ever. Yet now he and his wife are under attack for their good works, accused by Donald Trump of "pay for play": using the Clinton Foundation as a way of extorting money from wealthy donors in return for government favors from the secretary of state. In classic Trumpian terms, the GOP nominee asserts: "It is impossible to figure out where the Clinton Foundation ends and the State Department begins. It is now abundantly clear that the Clintons set up a business to profit from public office." The only answer, according to Trump, is the appointment of a Ken Starr-like special prosecutor. Now, you must agree that it's ironic, if not hypocritical, for Donald Trump to be leading the charge against the Clinton Foundation. After all, he once gave it $100,000, so he must have thought it was doing something worthwhile. And it wasn't so long ago that Trump actually bragged about engaging in "pay to play" himself, acknowledging that he'd made many campaign contributions to politicians, including Hillary Clinton, because he might someday want a favor from them. Trump's newfound outrage over the Clinton Foundation was sparked by an Associated Press article headlined "Many Donors to Clinton Foundation Met with Her at State." In its review of the first two years of her tenure as secretary of state (the only two years for which her calendar has been released), the AP found: "More than half the people outside the government who met with Hillary Clinton while she was secretary of state gave money either personally or through companies or groups to the Clinton Foundation." Sounds a lot more serious than it is, so what's the truth about the Clinton Foundation and the secretary of state? Three important points: First, Trump's wrong about three things. The Clinton Foundation is not a "business." It's a nonprofit foundation. Neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has taken one dime in salary from the foundation. They didn't create it to enrich themselves, but to enrich the lives of others. And there's no need for a special prosecutor because holding meetings, in business or politics, no matter who sets them up, is hardly against the law. Second, we're actually talking about relatively few meetings. Again, according to AP, in her first two years, Secretary Clinton met with a total of 154 individuals who did not work for the U.S. or any foreign government of whom 85 had made contributions to the foundation. But even they represent only a small fraction of all the people she met with during that period. And there's no evidence not one case that AP or anybody else can point to that any of them received special treatment from the State Department or the Obama administration. Third, nobody can deny that the Clinton Foundation has done a world of good, especially in the field of health care providing direct help, according to the foundation's website, to some 430 million people in 180 countries. And, unlike Donald Trump's tax returns, the foundation's donor list and financial records are routinely made public. Nevertheless, the question of special meetings arranged with the secretary of state for Clinton Foundation donors does pose a problem of perception: the perception that there was a culture of "pay for play" between Bill's organization and Hillary's office and the perception that once again, the Clintons live by their own set of rules. But that's history. The big question is: What happens now? The answer, I believe, is clear. There's no way any shadow of a conflict of interest should be allowed to hang over the Hillary Clinton White House. Once she's elected president, the Clinton Foundation must shut down. Period. Yes, that will create a lot of hardship for a lot of people. Other organizations the Red Cross, the Carter Center, the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation might pick up some of the Clinton Foundation's charity work, though not all. But that's the price Bill Clinton must pay for seeing his wife become the 45th president of the United States. And, in the end, it's a price worth paying. Email Bill Press at bill@billpress.com. Readers may also follow him on Twitter at @bpshow. SHARE In 2015, the so-called pharma bro Martin Shkreli vaulted to the top of America's Most Despised list. How? By crowing about how his company hiked the price of a vital drug by more than 5,000 percent. Cue the lightning bolts congressional inquiries, media scrutiny and a pitchfork brigade of customers who demanded a rollback of the price hike. Long story short: Shkreli lost his job and was busted on unrelated securities fraud charges. You would think, having watched Shkreli's tumble, that CEOs across America would steer clear of such controversy. After all, what company seeks to become an internet meme for greed? Or the first item that pops up in a Google search on price-gouging? Enter drugmaker Mylan and its blockbuster EpiPen. Every parent with a child who has allergies knows about the pen. It's a spring-loaded syringelike device that delivers a dose of epinephrine to quell breathing problems, swelling and other severe allergic reactions. Parents stash them everywhere in kids' backpacks, in desks, at home, in the car. Adults do the same because if you have an allergic reaction, seconds count. The pens come in packs of two and must be replaced every year. Nine years ago, when Mylan acquired the EpiPen, a two-dose package cost around $94. Today, the average cost has spiked to more than $600. That price hits people without insurance or those with high deductibles hardest. Democrats and Republicans in Congress demand Mylan cut the price. An internet petition to Congress, called "Stop the EpiPen Price Gouging," has gathered more than 121,000 signatures, and the tally is rising fast. On Wednesday, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called the EpiPen price hike "outrageous." On Thursday, Mylan said it would boost programs that help patients pay for the EpiPen but would not reduce the price. Stay tuned for Capitol Hill hearings and investigations. Mylan, welcome to Shkreli-Land. Among the defenders of Mylan's pricing is you guessed it: Martin Shkreli. "Mylan is the good guy," Shkreli told CBS News. "They had one product where they finally started making a little bit of money and everyone is going crazy over it." We don't begrudge Mylan its profits. And no, we can't say if the price of the EpiPens is too high. That's for the market to decide. What we do know is that when Shkreli spiked the price of his company's drug, Daraprim, competitors emerged to offer similar drugs at lower prices. The same could happen here. That's the way the market works. It may already be working: In Illinois, emergency medical workers will soon be allowed to use epinephrine injected via syringe rather than EpiPen. The new law takes effect Jan. 1. If the price of EpiPen continues to rise, we'd expect to see more of that, and more pressure on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to clear competitors' devices for sale. Meanwhile, Mylan is free to charge whatever the market will bear. It makes an excellent product that can save lives. That's extremely valuable. But so is a company's reputation. And its customers' good will. Because the market reward and punishes according to those attributes too. Bottom line: Companies that care what the world and their customers think of them don't relish being mentioned in the same breath as Martin Shkreli. This editorial originally appeared in the Chicago Tribune As soon as he heard Notorious B.I.G. and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's "Notorious Thugs" when he was 8 years old, Saba knew he was going to be a rapper. Now 22, the West Side-based artist born Tahj Chandler is gearing up to release what is one of the city's most anticipated mixtapes of the year, "Bucket List," sometime in early fall. As we meet at the Pilsen-based studio Magnanimous Media, he's eager to talk about his road from precocious, musically inclined quiet kid to an artist who's performed on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" with Chance the Rapper and, most recently, Lollapaloozaa road full of promise, loss, writer's block and ultimately perseverance. "I was a really shy kid who would sit alone at the lunch table because I didn't have any friends," Saba, who still lives in Austin, says, laughing before adding, "It felt real Clark Kent-ish, like secretly I'm the greatest rapper of all time but you wouldn't know because I'm just over here in my corner." Advertisement He got out of his shell in high school at suburban Westchester's St. Joseph High School, where he'd pass out his music and, as a remarkable student, graduated at 16. That summer, he found poetry, attending Wicker Park's Young Chicago Authors and YouMedia at Harold Washington Library, where he met aspiring talents like NoName and Chance the Rapper. He remembers, "My whole life, I was the young one, the child prodigy who was good at everything, but when I got to this place, it was scary because I realized, 'Oh shit, I'm not the only one.'" (Lenny Gilmore) His earliest available project is 2012's "GetComfortable" which featured single "Est. N19g4," which served as the catapult for his career. "That song was the first song that I put out that got around the city. That was when I felt I was actually a local artist," Saba remembers of the attention, also mentioning how his first interaction with Chance the Rapper was when he tweeted out the video. Along with "Est. N19g4," other tracks that raised his profile were "Heaux," a collaboration with Mick Jenkins, and Chance the Rapper's "Acid Rap" cut "Everybody's Something," for which Saba provided a stellar verse. Advertisement In 2014, he released his follow-up tape "ComfortZone," a musically daring mixtape that featured standout songs with Eryn Allen Kane, Jamila Woods and more, as well as cuts that had lines as gritty and resonate as "I trade a 401K for an AK/'Cause when my vitals stop/Grind don't stop." Saba explains, "'ComfortZone' was a really interesting journey for me. I had all of these expectations and high hopes of what it was going to do, and with most of them, it actually did. But it didn't happen right then." While it did lead to a booking at North Coast Music Festival and he received near unanimously positive feedback, he still wanted more. "Because my life hasn't changed in this drastic way, I was at home thinking I didn't do anything. It was a learning experience. I was 19 when I dropped it," he says. "Life is so different than when I was working on 'ComfortZone.' A lot of people that were close to me during that time are gone," Saba says solemnly. None more important to him than his uncle, who was a formative influence during his childhood. His uncle went to prison for a long time and then, soon after he was released, died in his sleep. Saba had only seen him one time after he left prison. "He passed in 2014, right after I put out 'ComfortZone.' It was everything taking a toll on my brain and my thinking, there was the loss of my uncle, my music wasn't where I wanted it to be and I was frustrated with my career," Saba recalls. He couldn't write, and in the entirety of 2015, he hardly released any music. What he did release mostly consisted of guest appearances, most notably with Chance the Rapper, Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment. When they were creating "Surf" in early 2015, Trumpet invited Saba to the studio and played him what would become "SmthnthtIWnt," but because the atmosphere was so crowded, he couldn't create: "I asked him to email me the song and I actually just recorded and wrote in my basement," he says. It worked. "It was cool that they pretty much left it how I sent it. I thought they would change it," he adds. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Later on, Chance invited him out to record the hook for a new song he was working on called "Angels." Saba looks back on the experience: "There was hardly anyone in the studiowriting it was real organic, almost second nature." Though he wasn't working on his own songs, he says, "There were a lot of things like 'Surf,' 'Angels,' going on 'Colbert' for that song and a Martin Sky track called 'Reach' that kept the ball rollingif it weren't for those things I'd be going insane." A spark came when Saba unexpectedly ran into his old friend Benjamin Earl Turner at a show in Oakland, Calif., last fall. "Talking to him was crazy because he had no idea where I was at mentally or what all had changed since 'ComfortZone.' He was talking to me about coming to Chicago, getting into the studio and creating," he explains. The two had collaborated while Saba was working on his early projects, and Turner knew Saba's relentless creativity. Saba then came to a realization: "When he was describing my creation process, I realized, 'Damn, that's how I used to be in the studio.' I realized he was right: The constant second-guessing and all of that I was doing came to an instantaneous end because he knew what I could do." He continues, "That conversation was the moment where I knew I had to go home, lock myself in the studio and make this happen." When asked if that's what he ended up doing, he laughs sheepishly, "I wanted to do it, but I was still confused on how." He also had to prepare for a big show at Abbey Pub in November 2015 with his new backing band Silent Party Music (who also support Eryn Allen Kane and Smino). "I was stressing real hard about that show, and then days before the show's supposed to happen, the Abbey Pub burns down. Like, 'What the hell? How does this happen in real life?'" Fortunately, smaller Logan Square venue Township made a more-than-suitable replacement, and during the rehearsals for the gig, Saba met the musician who would make him truly productive. (Lenny Gilmore) "The real turnaround was meeting Phoelix," Saba explains of the Silent Party Music multi-instrumentalist. Their connection was instantaneous. "He just came out of nowhere and took shit over. Now he's like the M.D. for my music," he said in a recent Red Bull TV documentary of their collaboration. Since that meeting, the two worked on and co-produced what would become "Bucket List," splitting up recording time in Chicago and Los Angeles this June. "'Bucket List' is really pretty much all work from this year," Saba says. While it's not completely finished yet and the tracklist isn't finalized, the working product is more than promising. A track called "Church/Liquor Store" channels but never mimics Kendrick Lamar's flow and observational acuteness at its most dynamic and cutting. Another, called "Westside Bound 3," finds Saba breathlessly repping his West Side home and his life story: "I'm the part of the city that they don't be talkin' about" is its first line. With his creativity restored and his writing rejuvenated, Saba's ready to capitalize on the upward momentum of his released single "Symmetry" and his recent Lollapalooza performance. "I'm excited to drop a project just because it's been so long since I have and there's been so much overcome, and to get to this point is really good," Saba says of his new focus. "Whatever it's supposed to do, I know that it will. I'm really hoping that it just connects with who it's supposed to connect, like a kid from the West Side of Chicago." This fall, he'll find out. Advertisement Live: Joey Purp, Saba on Sept. 3 at Bottom Lounge. @joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com Last week, Donald Trump told Fox News' Bill O'Reilly thatunder the right leadershipcrime in Chicago could be essentially stopped within one measly week. Huh? As even the actual Chicago Police Department has no idea what the Republican nominee for president of the United States is talking about, we had to go straight to the source. Here are Trump's leaked tactics on how he would rid our city of crime. Advertisement Make the best, greatest, most amazing guns ever Trump doesn't necessarily want to get rid of guns ... as much as he would like to manufacture them himself. All of them. Just like his many previous investmentsincluding Trump Steaks (defunct), Trump University (closed) and various Trump casinos (bankrupt)Trump Guns would be the perfect way to reduce crime, as they would no doubt be cheaply manufactured and grossly overpriced and eventually all disappear from the market in a colossally epic business failure. Plus, those firearms would be gaudy as hell. Take the tough love approach The presidential nominee said he spoke with a "top police officer" regarding implementing "tough police tactics." C'mon, guys. This is a man who really knows what tough living is. His proposed daily schedule for all CPD officers: 1. Wake up in the arms of a foreign-born supermodel in a bed of Daddy's money. 2. Take a brisk jog to the cigar factory. (Fun fact: Trump beat Clinton 63 percent to 37 percent in a recent Cigar Aficionado poll. As if you needed another reason to quit smoking.) 3. Go for a dip in your yuuuuuuge private pool and maybe invite over swim-bro Ryan Lochte while you're at it. Seems like you might get along. Hire his infamous friends It's kinda like preparing for a new season of "The Apprentice," isn't it? Trump's plans for the total restructuring of city policymakers will no doubt give Chicago the zing it needs to get back on its feet. It's genius, really. Ted Nugent just makes sense as the city's new comptroller. Who wouldn't want the guy who lost his fortune investing in mink farms and Clydesdales controlling the our finances? Or the cast of "Duck Dynasty" sitting on the Chicago Board of Education? All along the Trump Tower Finally, the Donald is proposing the installation of a super-mega city-wide surveillance camera high atop Trump Tower. He fell in love with the idea of a fortress controlled by dark magic as soon as he read about it in his wife Melania's novel, "The Fellowship of the Ring." Our future president/city savior's plans are sure to be warmly welcomed by everyone in Chicagoexcept for the Chicago Police Department, all city officials, Chicagoans who breathe air and the rats who won't even lower themselves to feasting on leftover Trump Tower taco bowls. Diego Sanchez (@diegoinchicago) is an actor and writer who loves horchata, Boystown and Beyonce. Get more from The Second City at secondcity.com. The challenge for Indian software is clear. A good part of its bread and butter business writing code and maintaining software systems is being automated, reducing revenue streams and work for lower level employees The Indian software industry is facing a stack of fairly stout challenges that are forcing it to evolve at a breakneck speed. The latest is the fallout of Brexit, which has not spared even a robust market leader such as Infosys. To begin with, it foresees losing work worth $50 million secured earlier from a Royal Bank of Scotland deal, leading to the shifting of 3,000 employees to other clients work. The British electorates decision to quit the European Union will have many consequences, not the least of them being not knowing precisely what they are. What is clear is that the opportunity in Britain will diminish even as its economy slows down. If, as a part of this, there is an exit of global financial leaders from London, then there will be a disruption in BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance) billing out of London. This may well be compensated by business gain elsewhere, but not before some disruption has taken place - markets do not like even a single quarterly dip. What will not be compensated is the ease of doing business in and out of London, which Indians, with their knowledge of English (the software business is English speaking) and cultural association of the past, had often chosen as the base for their European business. Last year, Britain contributed 20 per cent of Indias software exports. The challenges from Brexit come at a time when the global scenario is daunting. Global information technology spending is likely to remain flat in the current calendar year, according to Gartner, after going down 5.5 per cent last year (2015). Within this, spending on software is likely to go up 5.3 per cent in the current year. But, the catch is that everyone will not benefit. The focus will be on digital, internet of things and algorithm businesses. The key issue is: Are Indian firms increasing their traction in these areas? Nasscom, the industry association, is still going by its forecast of a revenue growth of 10-12 per cent in the current financial year, but two leading companies Infosys and Cognizant have revised their guidance downwards for the current year. The challenge for Indian software is clear. A good part of its bread and butter business writing code and maintaining software systems is being automated, reducing revenue streams and work for lower level employees. New business opportunities emerging relate to helping customers migrate to the net or the cloud, and enable them to take their entire business digital. A corollary to this is the decline of maintaining enterprise software systems uniquely designed for individual customers on location. In the process, customising, installing and maintaining enterprise software go out of the window, as do the steady revenue streams associated with these. Once migration to cloud is completed, helping customers mind their applications on the cloud is a much less time and effort-consuming exercise with lower revenue streams. It is not as if with most of the worlds IT space moving to the cloud and virtually all of businesses going digital, there will be less work for IT companies. On the contrary, IT is becoming more central to doing business and with it the role of chief technology officials in companies. But to take advantage of this, IT companies will have to reinvent themselves. Routine work will give way more and more to innovation-centric effort and the intellectual capital at the command of an IT company will be its critical differentiator. Photograph: Reuters Future Group said customer acquisition costs, fulfilment costs and other expenses in e-commerce add up to 50 per cent of overall business costs, making it unviable Kishore Biyanis Future Group has decided to close the chains ambitious online retail venture Big Bazaar Direct, finding the business unviable. Set up in 2013, Big Bazaar Direct is an assisted e-commerce venture of the Future Group, with 1,000 franchisees. It had plans to enroll 50,000. The group wants to focus on its core business of physical retailing, where it plans to add 3.5 million sq ft of space, the highest-ever addition by the group in a single year. I have attempted e-commerce four times in my life. We opened and shut Future Bazaar (the groups first e-commerce venture). We will close Big Bazaar Direct within a week, said Biyani, at an event organised by realty consultants JLL and UBM India over the weekend. In Big Bazaar Direct, franchisees sell Big Bazaar products to customers with the help of a tab, without holding any stock. Brief online history Started: 2013 Franchisees: 1,000 Aim: To enrol 50,000 franchisees Tie-up: Oxigen, a payments solution Model: Franchisees sell Big Bazaar products with the help of a tab, without holding any stock. They need to pay a deposit of Rs 3 lakh to the group They need to pay a deposit of Rs 300,000 to the group. Early this year, Big Bazaar Direct tied up with payment solutions company, Oxigen, to expand its distribution. We are trying to figure out a viable online model. With the acquisition of FabFurnish, we are learning what not to do in e-commerce, Biyani said. Early this year, the group bought home products site FabFurnish. Biyani said the customer acquisition costs, fulfilment costs and other expenses in e-commerce add up to 50 per cent of overall business costs, making it unviable. He added that for a single customer acquired in most of the transactions in e-commerce, Facebook and Google get Rs 800-1,400. He, however, did not explain how they make money. Taking a dig at e-commerce ventures, Biyani said their business models were not sustainable. We are happy with old-fashioned retail business. There is profit in it. Our business model has arrived. Theirs is yet to arrive, he said. That said, the Future Group is increasingly getting entrenched in the online play, through tie-ups with prominent players such as Paytm and Snapdeal. Earlier, it had partnered with Amazon. Recently, the group said its hypermarket chain, Big Bazaar, tied up with online marketplace Snapdeal for its flagship Big Bazaars five-day Maha Bachat sale. Future Group recently tied up with Paytm, on which Big Bazaar became an anchor store. This allows Paytm users to make online purchases at Big Bazaar. We are not against e-commerce firms. We are only against heavy subsidising of products to gain market share. It is a great medium to reach a new set of customers and new geographies, Rajan Malhotra, president, retail strategy & convergence, Future Group had told Business Standard recently. Many aspects of our omni-channel strategy are operational and some are yet to be operational, Malhotra said, adding, How we execute the plan is internal to the group. According to sources in the group, the omni-channel strategy started with its electronics chain, Ezone, where the offline and online operations are integrated. The group has created a separate team to implement the plan. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters The textiles sector is Indias largest organised employer and critical for the prime ministers dream of creating jobs Indias first integrated textiles city is likely to come up in Andhra Pradesh. The central government has already initiated the process of identifying land, technology and expertise for the same. According to sources, Textiles Minister Smiriti Irani has spoken to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandra Babu Naidu for providing land and other facilities. With Naidus Telugu Desam Party being an ally of the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, the proposal, mooted by the NITI Aayog, is likely to be accepted. Officials said Irani, along with Naidu and top officials from NITI Aayog, would visit China to get a first hand information on the working and structure of the proposed mega textile city. The city would be largely catering to the export market and build a brand for Indian textiles. China is a pioneer in building such mega textiles cities. The China Textile City in Keqiao district is one such example. Founded in the 1980s, China Textile City is the first national professional textile market spread over a construction area of 3.65 million square metres with 29,000 companies managing 40,000 kinds of products. The textiles sector is the largest employer in the country, employing 32 million people and is critical to Prime Minister Narendra Modis plans to create jobs in the country. It announced a special package for the sector in June aimed at improving Indias competitiveness, which would lead to greater production. The reforms, in turn, are expected to generate 10 million new jobs in the textiles sector in three years. The package is estimated to cost Rs 6,000 crore, which includes funds for additional five per cent duty drawback for the garments sub-sector. The government will also bear the cost of employers contribution under the Employees Provident Fund scheme for new employees of the garment sector earning less than Rs 15,000 a month for the first three years. The government is also working on a revamped national textiles policy, which is expected to be placed before the Cabinet soon. The draft policy focuses on achieving $300 billion exports and 35 million new jobs by 2024-25. India exported $36.25 billion worth of textiles and related goods in 2015-16 - a 2.4 per cent decline from 2014-15. Photograph: Jayanta Dey/Reuters The interface allows you to add multiple banks and transfer money, even between payment wallets, for a fraction of existing costs Want to check whether your friend or colleague wants to return the money you had loaned him? Send an SMS to his bank with a request for payment. The SMS will be forwarded to the friend or colleague and if he approves, the bank will pay. The Unified Payment Interface (UPI), launched last week in association with 21 banks, is expected to make some cutting-edge changes, such as the one mentioned above. Today, there are a number of options as far as transferring money goes; these are some new changes that will simplify life to a great extent. Now, there is the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) that helps transfer a particular amount immediately, and of course, payment wallets that let you pay at a merchant store by scanning a Quick Response (QR) Code by using a smartphone. Banking has already shifted to your smartphone with feature-rich apps. "Digital payments have been growing quickly in the country, but they are still a fraction of the overall payments. Most of the high-frequency small transactions are still in cash. The ease and convenience UPI offers will help individuals prefer to pay their maids, milkman, newspaper vendor, etc, digitally than in cash, says Sangram Singh, senior vice-president and head-cards & merchant acquiring business at Axis Bank. UPI is also the first of its kind system that will bring different financial institutions on one platform. In other parts of the world, such systems exist but on a very small scale. Say, two banks tie up to offer such a platform. In India, its being done at a national level across financial institutions. Its unique to India that an individual can use one app to transfer money using any bank account, says A P Hota, managing director and chief executive officer at National Payments Corporation of India. Whats makes UPI different? At present, if a person wants to transfer money, he needs the account number and IFSC code of the receiver. Then, he will need to add the other person as a beneficiary. For credit card transfer, you need the card number. With UPI, an individual only needs make a unique virtual private address (VPA), simpler than signing up for an e-mail. If you are a bank customer, your VPA can be created like xyz@abank. If an individual wants to make a payment to her maid, she can simply type the VPA and initiate a transfer. Few people remember their card numbers, account numbers and NEFT codes offhand. But the UPI address is easier to remember, says Ritesh Pai, senior president and country head-digital banking, YES Bank. Pai also points out that until now it was not possible to send a request for money by using a banking channel. With UPI, its possible. Once you receive a request for payment and approve it, the money is transferred instantly. Bankers expect that this simplicity of payments will lead to more people using UPI for all kinds of payments, thereby reducing cash transactions. Today, many find bank visits cumbersome. With UPI we will feel the same about visiting an ATM, says Singh. He thinks that within six months of all banks joining the platform, there will be a meaningful decline in mall cash transactions. Works across all channels The current payments systems in the country work in silos. For example, if you want to transfer money from one wallet to another, its not possible. With UPI, such transactions also will become possible as it expands from banks to other financial intermediaries. Its even possible with UPI to download an app of one bank without being its customer and make transactions using a different bank. For example, you can download an Axis Bank UPI app without being its customer. If your bank is already part of the UPI, say Union Bank of India, you can start transacting with its account details. When a person is adding his other bank accounts in the app, he doesnt even need to know their details. The registered mobile number is mapped to the UPI. Once you enter the name of the bank you wish to add, it automatically shows the account number of that bank. After authentication, it can be easily added. UPI transactions are already low cost (less than Rs 0.45 for each). Once all financial institutions are part of the system, the cost of transactions would come down further. Better security If you are worried about the security aspect, relax. UPI authenticates every transaction by using a mobile PIN. Pai says its security features are better than those used by many banks today. RIL is also set to file its tariff plans, which will mark the companys intent to commercialise Jios operations, with the regulator this week Reliance Industries shareholders can expect a breakout message from chairman Mukesh Ambani at the annual general meeting this Wednesday. Ambani, sources in the company said, would lay out a detailed road map on commercialisation of two of its key projects worth $50 billion (about Rs 330,000 crore). The two projects are petcoke gasification (converting organic or fossil fuel into gases that can be used as fuel) and providing 4G LTE service across the country under the Jio brand name. The commercial launch of these projects is important, as RIL investors have been concerned over delays in projects which have involved heavy capital expenditure. Sources in the company said Reliance Jio, RILs ambitious telecom project, would be the main focus of Ambanis address. Though a commercial launch is still some months away as several pieces are yet to fall in place, Ambani is expected to talk about the big strides Jio has made on several fronts. Jio, which selectively opened its service to employees and their friends and family last December, came up with a preview offer 10 days ago, under which Jio provides free voice calls and unlimited data for three months, on most 4G smartphones. Sources in the company said customers have been queuing up outside the groups stores across the country to get connections, even as the company has not spent anything on advertising the offer. RIL is also set to file its tariff plans (which will mark the companys intent to commercialise Jios operations) with the regulator this week. By opening up the preview offer on most 4G-enabled handsets, Jio has taken a step closer to its stated goal of achieving 100 million subscribers in the first year of its launch. An LCD screen set up on the seventh-floor office at Reliance Corporate Park in Navi Mumbai reads: Our target is 100 million. Below this message, new subscriber additions are updated every few seconds on the screen. At last count, the company had 3.5-4 million subscribers. Going by modest estimates of even 100-150 walk-in subscribers a day at its 1,800 digital express stores in 650 towns, the company would have enrolled at least a million subscribers in just five days. But the figure is a far cry from the companys stated goal. RIL has stated it will have 22 million subscribers on commercial launch. At the AGM, Ambani could also give a detailed roadmap on Jios test results and explain why a full-blown commercial launch would take some more time. For instance, while the company has announced partnerships with several handset companies, its partnership with Cupertino-headquartered Apple is yet to be announced. Buzz on social media suggests that the announcement is likely to happen shortly. Analysts claim that this year could be a breakout year for RIL, as it is close to the end of a very heavy capex cycle. According to Morgan Stanley, the next six months are critical as Reliance gets ready to commercially commission two key projects the petcoke gasification project at Jamnagar and nationwide roll out of 4G LTE both of which have been delayed. The foreign brokerage, in its report on RIL, said: We believe the AGM on September 1 should be key to watch, especially with regard to timelines on project execution and telecom launch, which could be triggers for the stock. Shares of Reliance Industries have underperformed the Sensex by 12 percentage points over the last six months thanks to the delay in Jios launch. In fact, over the last five years RIL shares have returned 7.7 per cent against the 14.4 per cent returns given by the Sensex. The stock has underperformed the benchmark for a decade now. Photograph: PTI Photo While the redeployment of talent from companies that have shut down into other start-ups is a great move, some say the gesture is gaining more visibility than the actual companies The dearth of capital is squeezing start-ups to improve their unit economics or, in worst cases, shut down. But it seems life of a start-up doesnt end at shutting down the business. A lot of money can still be made. A list put together by Bengaluru-based start-up Tracxn comprising details of nearly 800 dead or dying Indian start-ups, dubbed as the Deadpool, is making the rounds among investors and large corporates, which are looking to scoop up these firms for technology and talent on the cheap. The reason we started coverage of start-ups in the Deadpool list was because we work with a lot of corporates and large companies as well as investors who are looking for acqui-hires. Instead of hiring a fresh team, a lot of founders preferred companies that have launched a product, worked on it for two years and have seen that journey, said Neha Singh, co-founder, Tracxn. The year 2015 was seen as golden period for Indian start-ups when valuations soared and cash was easy to come by. But it became disturbingly clear by the end of the year that the party wasnt going to last much longer. Start-ups that burnt through their capital with exuberant marketing campaigns found themselves stuck with negligible revenues and disinterested investors. The wisdom of industry bigwigs such as Nikesh Arora, former vice-chairman of SoftBank, who had warned Indian start-ups against splurging on marketing, came too late. The result was hundreds of start-ups that suddenly felt like parentless children with their wings clipped before they could even learn to fly. There are 753 companies that are part of the Deadpool list. Out of these, 82 companies were funded, with 57 disclosing the funding amount that totalled to $58.5 million. While Tracxn estimates the Deadpool list could be much longer, intelligence on smaller, unfunded companies is tough to find. A lot of larger companies, including FreshDesk, Flipkart or Practo, have made a lot of acquisitions in the recent past. These (deadpooled) start-ups may have potential but for whatever reason their next round might be getting delayed and metrics are falling, which indicates that they might be winding down, added Singh. Majority of start-ups that have shut business after raising money, managed to mobilise less than $1 million, indicating lack of funding post the angel round. Global estimates suggest that only one out of ten start-ups survives, making the shutdowns a part of the macro process. Experts also believe the recent funding drought is only a correction with large investors like Sequoia, Tiger Global, Accel and Kalaari Capital sitting on massive cash to be invested over the next few years. Once the frenzy dies down, investments will grow again, possibly by the end of 2016. Close to $9 billion flowed into Indian start-ups in 2015, compared with only $2.1-2.5 billion in the first half of 2016. It is unlikely that the sector will grow to match last years investment levels in the second half of the year. While the redeployment of talent from companies that have shut down into other start-ups is a great move, some say the gesture is gaining more visibility than the actual companies. So far not a single Deadpool company has been acquired in India. But the talent churn from one start-up to another has been ongoing for years. There is no such demand whatsoever. If there was any such demand, you wouldnt have 700 companies in the Deadpool list, said Mahesh Murthy, co-founder of Seedfund. I am not against anyone acquiring companies, but we should understand that at any point of time companies will start and companies will die. Its just that there are times when there is money and times when there isnt, but it doesnt mean that companies wont be started if theres no money in the ecosystem, he added. Paytm, which recently hived off its e-commerce and payments bank businesses into separate companies, would use these fresh funds to bolster the two businesses Vijay Shekhar Sharma-led mobile wallet major Paytm is in advanced talks to raise $300 million in fresh funds. According to multiple sources, other than existing investors such as Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and SAIF Partners, the new round of fundraising will see participation from Singapores Temasek Holdings, Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek and Wall Street major Goldman Sachs. When contacted, Paytm refused to comment on the matter. Sources said the deal with all these investors would likely close within the next 10 days. The One97 Communications-owned mobile wallet, which has a current valuation of $2.9 billion, could jump to $5 billion after the deal is sealed. Paytm, which recently hived off its e-commerce and payments bank businesses into separate companies, would use these fresh funds to bolster the two businesses. Fact sheet of Paytm Paytm Fact Sheet (India's largest mobile payment and commerce platform) Paytm Wallet Users: 130 mn Monthly transactions: 90 mn Transactions per day: 3 mn GMV (Current): $4.5 bn GMV projected by financial year end: $10 bn Marketplace Merchants: 0.13 mn In the initial phase, a lot of capital would be required to make its payments bank project. The fund infusion would help its expansion, said a sector insider. The hiving off of the marketplace also helps it become a top contender to merge with Alibaba, when it enters India later this year. In a recent interview, Sharma had said Amazon and Alibaba would be the top e-commerce players in India in a year. Sources said the company was hoping for a merger with Alibaba. However, the Chinese firm is reportedly looking at other options, too. Paytm has so far raised $675 million. Sharma currently holds a 21.33 per cent stake in One97, while SAIF Partners holds 30.81 per cent share. Jack Ma-led Alibaba and Alipay collectively hold 40 per cent in the company. After the completion of the deal, it could possibly be the largest funding round this year. In February, Snapdeal had raised $200 million from Ontario Teachers Pension Plan and Singapore-based investment entity Brother Fortune Apparel. Japans SoftBank recently pumped $61 million into OYO Rooms. In March this year, BigBasket raised $150 million in a round of funding led by the Abraaj Group. At present, Paytm has a monthly gross merchandise value of $300 million and a user base of 130 million. Photograph: Matt Siegel/Reuters The more one thinks about it, the more difficult it is to see how India will be able to reap the benefits of a demographic dividend, says Aakar Patel. In four years, India will have the world's largest population of working people, about 87 crore in all. When nations reach a high ratio of such people they are expected to earn something called a demographic divided. This simply means that because most citizens are working, economic growth goes up. The expectation and anticipation is that India is approaching such a position soon. However, there is a second view on this. A few months ago a report by Indiaspend, which does data-based journalism, looked at the issue of employment and made six observations. These were as follows: 1. In 2015, India added the fewest organised-sector jobs -- in large companies and factories - in seven years across eight important industries. 2. The proportion of jobs in the unorganised sector -- without formal monthly payment or social security benefits -- is set to rise to 93 per cent in 2017. 3. Rural wages are at a decadal low, as agriculture -- which accounts for 47 per cent of jobs -- contracted 0.2 per cent in 2014-15, growing 1 per cent in 2015-16. 4. As many as 60 per cent of those with jobs do not find employment for the entire year, indicating widespread under-employment and temporary jobs. 5. The formation of companies has slowed to 2009 levels, and existing companies are growing at 2 per cent, the lowest in five years. 6. With large corporations and public-sector banks financially stressed, the average size of companies in India is reducing, at a time when well-organised large companies are central to creating jobs. This indicates that a very large labour force is moving into an environment which does not have the ability to absorb them. The report pointed out that though India had seen high growth after 1991, less than half the population was fully employed. In comparison, a United Nations Development Programme report said that in China the number of jobs grew from 628 million to 772 million between 1991 and 2013, an increase of 144 million, but the working-age population increased by 241 million. It added: A wider gap in India than China suggests a more limited capacity to generate employment -- a serious challenge given the continued expansion of the workforce in India over the next 35 years. Unless there is a change in the economy, and I mean a major change, not just a continuation of what has been happening over the last 25 years, these jobs will not materialise. The traditional way in which countries have become developed is through low-end manufacturing, like garments exports, and then migrating to higher-end work like automobiles and electronics. India has all these sectors but without any great scale. On garments, for instance, we compete and often lose to countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam and Sri Lanka which are more efficient and cheaper. The slowing down of the global economy in the last seven years has meant there is no external demand of large size that we can capitalise on. If the traditional route is not clearly open to India, how will we manage to profit from our demographic dividend? This is a question that must be answered quickly because, we have seen, there is not much time. I think it is totally wrong to expect that the government alone or even for the most part can provide a solution here. One reason we have not received large investments in manufacturing is a lack of infrastructure and connectivity. Here we can clearly see the role of the central government in terms of its investments and prioritisation. But another equally big reason is a lack of qualified manpower. This will surprise upper class urban Indians who can get jobs relatively easily because of their access to reasonably good education. But the vast majority of Indians has no access to this education resource and is therefore not equipped to work in the modern economy. This is true even at the basic level of skilled blue collar functions like assembly-line work. Meanwhile countries like the Philippines are eating into our backend services jobs in an environment where automation is reducing the total number of new jobs every year. The prime minister recognises the problem and has launched an initiative called Skill India to equip millions of people with basic blue collar skills. Even here the results will take time because the quality of primary schooling in India is very poor. The more one thinks about it, the more difficult it is to see how India will be able to reap the benefits of a demographic dividend. A period of mass unemployment and social unrest is looming unless there is a shift, both internal and external, that at the moment is nowhere to be seen. Image: A display at Make in India week celebration in Mumbai, February 2016. Sanjay Sawant/Rediff.com Aakar Patel is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own. Ever wondered what Akkineni Nagarjuna's superstar world is like? We celebrate his 57th birthday on August 29 by looking at pictures from his life, thanks to his Instagram feed. IMAGE: Nagarjuna with his wife Amala Besides being a fab actor, Nagarjuna is a producer, the president of the Annapoorna International School of Film and Media and a restaurateur. IMAGE: Nagarjuna on the sets of Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu He has hosted quite a few seasons of the Telugu version of Kaun Banega Crorepati, called Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu. IMAGE: Time for family selfie: Nagarjuna with wife Amala and sons Naga Chaitanya and Akhil. Not many know that Nagarjuna completed a Masters degree in engineering in the US before joining the film industry with Vikram in 1986. IMAGE: Nagarjuna with Sachin Tendulkar and superstar Chiranjeevi Though Nag has always been into fitness, he is equally passionate about food. That's why he started two restaurants -- N Grill and N Asian -- a few years ago. IMAGE: Nagarjuna with Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan on the sets of a Kalyan Jewelers ad shoot. Nagarjuna has always maintained a cordial relationship with the other stars, whether it's wishing Chiranjeevi on his birthday or congratulating Amitabh Bachchan on his National Award win for Piku. IMAGE: That's how a superstar is welcomed by his fans. He is one of the few Southern heroes, who has successfully starred in Hindi films. IMAGE: Nagarjuna on the sets of his upcoming film Nirmala Convent Recently, Nag sang a song for the very first time for an Annapoorna Studios production called Nirmala Convent, starring debutant Roshan (actor Meka Srikanths son). IMAGE: Nagarjuna gets ready to scuba dive with his sons in Maldives. Nag is like a friend to his sons Chaitanya and Akhil, and the trio often take holidays together. In a recent interview, he mentioned he is happy that they have found their soul mates and would not want to miss the fun of two weddings! IMAGE: Nagarjuna with his late father Akkineni Nageswara Rao on the sets of Manam Three generations of the Akkineni family -- ANR, Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya -- came together in Vikram Kumar's blockbuster Manam. This is only the second film family to feature in a film, after the Kapoors in Kal Aaj Aur Kal. IMAGE: Nagarjuna with his Oopiri co-stars Tamannaah Bhatia and Karthi. This year the superstar achieved yet another enviable feat. His film Oopiri, co-starring Karthi and Tamannaah Bhatia, which released this year, became the 17th Telugu film to cross the million-dollar mark in the United States. Photographs: Nagarjuna Akkineni/Twitter Pakistan's prime minister is trying to use the unrest in Kashmir to save his government, says Ambassador G Parthasarathy, a former high commissioner to Islamabad. Just before the unrest that followed Burhan Wani's death in South Kashmir commenced, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was in dire domestic straits, with his domestic standing seriously eroded. His growingly assertive army Chief General Raheel Shareef was breathing fire. General Shareef was claiming that the civilian government had done nothing to normalise the situation and take measures to rehabilitate displaced persons in the Pashtun tribal areas, after the army had launched the massive military operation, 'Zarb e Azb,' in the tribal areas, bordering Afghanistan. This military operation was launched purportedly to cleanse the tribal areas of 'terrorists' of the Tehriq e Taliban e Pakistan, TTP, which had earlier been ISI 'assets' tasked to attack Afghanistan. The army's military operations in the Pashtun tribal areas resulted in 1.8 million tribals fleeing their homes, with some 50,000 crossing into Afghanistan. The overbearing General Shareef had landed his country in a serious situation, which is set to promote violence, unrest and instability, across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Some Pashtuns leaders are now questioning the legality and validity of the Durand Line, separating Pakistan and Afghanistan. This is a border that no government in Afghanistan has or will recognise. With winter approaching, the misery of the displaced tribals will only increase and the public, egged on by the army, will hold the hapless Nawaz Sharif government responsible for the situation. The Nawaz Sharif government is also confronted with a situation where three South Asian countries -- Bangladesh, India and Afghanistan -- are accusing Pakistan of fomenting terrorism on their soil. All three countries downgraded their presence at the meeting of SAARC finance ministers in Islamabad. Bangladesh and Afghanistan had done so even earlier at the meeting of SAARC home ministers. Worse still, Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhri Nissar Ali Khan behaved churlishly while receiving his Indian counterpart, Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Nawaz was expecting to get a political boost as host of the SAARC summit in Islamabad in November. It is entirely possible that these three SAARC countries would decide not to participate in the Islamabad summit at the highest level. This would leave Nawaz in an embarrassing position of having to answer to the world why three of his South Asian neighbours are holding his government responsible for promoting terrorism on their soil. Nawaz Sharif is being seen as deflecting charges connected with the involvement of his two sons and daughter in the Panama bank accounts scandal. The final blow to Nawaz Sharif's standing came when Pakistan-based terrorists attacked the American University in the heart of Kabul. An enraged Afghan President Ashraf Ghani rang up, not Nawaz Sharif, but his army chief General Raheel Shareef, to launch a bitter complaint about what had happened. The Afghan president thus directly indicated that he regarded General Shareef and not Nawaz Sharif as the head of the government in Pakistan!! In these circumstances, it was inevitable that Nawaz Sharif would try to deflect domestic and international attention away from these developments and Pakistan's growing isolation in the region and the world, by focusing on to the unrest in the Kashmir valley. As soon as the unrest in Southern Kashmir commenced, Nawaz Sharif went on the offensive. He whipped up passions in Pakistan's parliament and got resolutions passed, expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir, while condemning alleged human rights violations by India. He drew a blank with the permanent members when it came to getting support at the UN Security Council. The UK asked him to settle issues bilaterally with India. The US also advised talks with India. The Russians and French remained silent, signaling that they were continuing their policies of requiring issues between India and Pakistan to be settled bilaterally. President Hollande of France is fully occupied with the leak of data on Scorpene submarines being supplied to India. It is, after all, a deal running into billions of dollars. President Putin, in turn, will be looking forward to attending the BRICS-BIMSTEC Summit in Goa. Neither is going to have the inclination to gratuitously offend India, to please a financially weak and jihadi oriented Pakistan. Even Pakistan's 'all weather friend' China remains committed to its policy of calling on India and Pakistan to settle issues bilaterally. China knows that India has been silent on allegations of violations of human rights by it in Tibet and Xinjiang. Pakistan did receive some solace from the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, expressing solidarity with its views on Jammu and Kashmir. But Pakistan also knows that for nearly three decades now, individual OIC members routinely back such OIC resolutions, but do not wish to get involved in international forums on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, against India. In the meantime, India has thrown a spanner in the works, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi coming out openly, laying claim to the whole of Jammu and Kashmir and focusing on human rights violations in Baluchistan and Gilgit/Baltistan. Under siege from within, Nawaz Sharif has to be seen to be pro-active on the issue of J&K. He is heading to New York to spit venom on India at the UN General Assembly. Everyone, with any knowledge of the UN, knows that everyone forgets speeches made by prime ministers on stale and long-pending issues, the very next day. They are meant primarily for domestic audiences. Nawaz Sharif will get a big splash in the Pakistani media and things will be back to business as usual in New York, the next morning. He has, therefore, devised another gimmick to keep Pakistani attention focused on Kashmir rather than its internal problems. He has decided to send 22 MPs roaming all around the world, espousing Pakistan's cause. He will then be seen in the Pakistani media as being innovative and active. The MPs will return with tall tales about how successfully they persuaded countries they visited to support Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir. Interestingly, on the very day Nawaz Sharif told the world about his ideas on Kashmir, the prestigious National Press Club in Washington hosted a function where the woes of the people of Baluchistan were openly voiced. A British human right activist demanded greater international access and scrutiny of human rights abuses in Baluchistan. One wonders how with all this happening, Sharif confidently asserts that that his 22 envoys can help him 'strike the collective conscience of the international community during my address in the UN in September.' ALSO READ An eyewitness tells the story of the fatal police shooting; interior ministry says the policeman has been arrested Service at a major microbus station in the upscale Cairo district of Maadi appears to be operating normally after drivers had held a strike earlier today over the killing of one of their colleagues by a policeman Sunday night. The 26-year-old victim, Gamal, was shot dead by a low-ranking policeman who intervened to break up a brawl between Gamal and another driver. Eyewitness Amr Mostafa, who was accompanying Gamal at the time, told Ahram Online that Gamal was driving on the Ring Road when he was cut off by another microbus, after which a physical fight broke out between Gamal and the other driver, who Mostafa says appeared to be on drugs. The policeman then showed up to break up the fight, launching into a verbal assault against Mostafa and Gamal before "loading his pistol and aiming it towards us." Mostafa said the policeman then hit him on the head with the butt of his pistol before shooting Gamal dead. Mostafa, who bears a head injury from the incident, says he has filed a formal complaint against the policeman. The interior ministry said in a statement on Monday that the unnamed policeman did not intend to shoot Gamal, and that he fired a warning shot as he intervened to disperse the fight, mistakenly injuring Gamal and causing his death. The statement added that the policeman had intervened after those involved in the fight "sought help." The ministry said that prosecutors are questioning the policeman over the incident. Angry microbus drivers at Maadis Arab bus stop had staged a strike at dawn to protest their colleague's killing, though the strike ended five hours later after authorities forced them to get back to work and board passengers. "Police took photographs of us and we were [indirectly] threatened in case we went on with the strike," said one of the drivers, who identified himself as Mohamed. He added, however, that the officials promised that justice would be served as the policeman was being interrogated. "Who is going to hold [policemen] accountable? The government does not hold its own men accountable," 30-year-old passenger Ahmed said, condemning what he perceives as a climate of impunity. Many drivers at the bus stop have voiced anger over ill-treatment from police towards microbus drivers, with some saying that police conduct has been worsening. Sunday's killing is the latest in a series of incidents involving police violations and abuses leading to deaths in recent month. In April, a street vendor was killed by a lower ranking policeman in New Cairo in a street dispute. Earlier this year, another low-ranking policeman killed a driver in the working-class Cairo district of El-Darb El-Ahmar following a dispute over a fare. A court sentenced the policeman to life in prison this month, one of the harshest sentences issued against police officials convicted of similar violent crimes. The verdict can still be appealed. Police brutality helped ignite the 2011 revolt that ousted long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak from power. Overhauling the notorious security apparatus has been a longstanding demand among activists. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi had vowed that policemen found guilty of "committing wrongdoings" will be punished, and interior minister Magdy Abdel-Ghaffar has maintained that such violations represent "isolated incidents" as opposed to a systemic problem. Search Keywords: Short link: Dozens of United Kingdom-based Baloch and Sindhi protesters gathered outside the Chinese embassy in London on Monday and held a protest against Pakistan and China over the two countries' $46 billion economic corridor and "gross human rights violations". The protest in London follows a similar demonstration in Leipzig, Germany, last week demanding Pakistan to cease plans for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Balochistan and against what the protesters describe as "gross human rights violations" in the region. "Pakistan wants to forcefully impose the CPEC on Balochistan. We are being shown as a minority community and being displaced from our land," said a protester, who was part of the Baloch Students and Youth Association. Other groups involved in the protest included Baloch Human Rights Council UK and the World Sindhi Congress and they chose the Chinese embassy with the aim of raising wider international support for their cause. "Pakistan's security agencies have intensified their operations in Balochistan and Sindh to brutally implement the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, ruthlessly committing gross human rights violations while doing so," BHRC-UK said in a statement. "The Baloch ethnic population perceives the corridor project as a plan to convert them into a minority in their own homeland, and have openly opposed it on every level...Balochs and Sindhis firmly believe that CPEC will further intensify and strengthen their subjugation," it said. The protesters waved placards reading 'Hands off Balochistan' and 'Balochistan Zindabad, Pakistan Murdabad' and shouted slogans in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the issue recently. Photograph: ANI/Twitter Parents and family members of 23 children, who died after consuming a mid-day meal at Dharmasati Gandaman Primary School in Saran district of Bihar on July 16, 2013 are disappointed after a local court on Monday sentenced former principal of the Gandaman Government Primary School Meena Devi to 17 years imprisonment. They expressed anger over her not being found her guilty for murder of innocent children. Some of the parents said that they sought no less than a death sentence to her. The court should have awarded the death sentence to Meena Devi as she is responsible for death of children, said Buchchi Devi, who lost her child in the worst mid-day meal tragedy three years ago. Sanjit Rai, a close relative of a victim of the tragedy, said that Meena Devi deserved at least life in prison. We had expected harsher punishment for her than what she was awarded. On August 25, Meena Devi was pronounced guilty in the case. Her husband Arjun Rai, another accused, was let off for lack of evidence against him by a trial court. Meena Devi is charged in the case of the unfortunate death of 23 children after they consumed the mid-day meal at Dharmasati Gandaman Primary School in Saran district of Bihar on July 16 2013. Additional District and Sessions Judge of Saran VA Tiwari has awarded 17 years prison to Meena Devi, including 10 years under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and seven years under section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code. The court found Meena Devi, guilty of serving the poisonous mid-day meal to students and convicted her of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: Mansi Thapliyal/Reuters Embattled middleman in the VVIP chopper scam Christian James Michel has written to Central Bureau of Investigation, saying he is willing to meet with Indian investigators in Dubai and has sought the withdrawal of Interpol Red Corner Notice against him in case the meeting takes place. In the letter to CBI on August 25, the English law firm representing him, said Michel is ready for a meeting at the Indian consulate in Dubai too. Claiming to be innocent, he said he might have some information which could enable the Indian authorities to progress with their probe into the scandal. Michel, against whom there exists a non-bailable warrant, said he is reluctant to come to India for the proposed questioning as he fears that a long period of time might elapse, between his questioning and withdrawal of criminal charges or conclusion of criminal trial, during which he will be detained against his wish. Michel vigorously denies having been involved in any wrongdoing relating to this matter -- and in particular, we are instructed that he denies making or facilitating any corrupt payments to inducements relating to this matter, the letter read. The British national has also claimed that he has not received any communication from the Indian authority regarding the charge sheet against him in court and the issuance of non-bailable warrant. Subject to certain conditions, Michel has offered to return to India not less than seven days before the scheduled start of any criminal trial against him and attend every court hearing which he might be required to attend until his innocence or guilt has been established. The conditions for the same are that within two days of the meeting with investigators in Dubai or through video conference, they shall ask Interpol to withdraw the Red Corner Notice against him as long as he sticks to his promise of appearing in court. He also wants that no authority shall arrest or otherwise detain him in relation to this matter until he is found guilty and subsequently sentenced. Michel had allegedly played a key role in swinging the Rs 3,727-crore deal for AgustaWestland to supply 12 VVIP choppers to India in 2010. AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica, allegedly paid more than Rs 370 crore as kickbacks to secure the deal. Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed led Jamat-ud-Dawah has set up various new fronts and established camps all over Pakistan to collect donations and sacrificial animals in the name of helping Kashmiris in India. Tehreek-i-Azadi-i-Kashmir or Movement for Kashmir's Liberation, bears the name and pictures of Saeed in its banners and has set up camps in Lahore as well as various other cities seeking donations to help the Kashmiri people. Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation, a sister organisation of the JuD, has also set up camps across the country to collect donations for supporting the 'Kashmiri struggle for freedom'. Besides the pictures of Saeed, the MKL banners and posters also display photos of apparently dead and injured Kashmiris, with slogans urging the public to donate for the Kashmiris' struggle against Indian forces. "A sum of Rs 5,000 is needed for a family's dry ration and Rs 20,000 for medical treatment of an injured person," read one of the banner. The JuD under the banner of MKL and FIF also offer slaughter and meat handling services to those sacrificing animals on Eid-ul Azha next month. One of its banner seeks Rs 63,000 for the sacrifice of an ox and Rs 9,000 for a share in group sacrifice of an ox, Rs 16,000 for the sacrifice of a goat and Rs 13,000 for a share in group sacrifice of a camel. They say the meat collected in this way will be distributed among needy families in Kashmir, Palestine, Myanmar, Syria and in Tharparkar and Peshawar in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Lahore police senior officer Haider Ashraf said police have removed two camps in the city set up by the JuD and the FIF for collection of donations and funds for sacrificial animals. "The police have been asked to remove all other donation camps of JuD and FIF in the city as both organisations are on the government's militant watchlist," he said. As Myanmar sets out on a new path after decades of military rule, India on Monday promised whole-hearted support to it in "every step" of its journey as the two countries resolved to deepen ties and actively cooperate to combat terrorism and insurgent activities in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive talks with Myanmarese President U Htin Kyaw, in first top level engagement with the new government of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, and conveyed India's full support to Myanmar's internal peace process. The two sides inked four MoUs to boost cooperation in areas of connectivity, medicine and renewable energy, besides resolving to deepen ties in a range of other sectors, including agriculture, banking and power. Reading out a statement to media, Modi later said both sides recognised that each other's security interests are closely aligned and that both countries agreed to work together to combat terrorism and insurgent activities in the region. "We recognised that our security interests are closely aligned. And, we agreed on the need to remain sensitive to each other's strategic interests and concerns. "To this end, President and I agreed to work together for the safety and security of our people. And, actively cooperate to combat the common challenges of terrorism and insurgent activity in our region," Modi said, with Htin Kyaw by his side. Myanmar, considered one of India's strategic neighbours, shares a 1,640 km long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-infested Nagaland and Manipur. India has been raising with Myanmar the issue of several northeast militant outfits having training camps in that country. Referring to new Myanmarese government's agenda of ushering a all round growth and development in the country, Modi said, "Let me assure you that at every step of the way 1.25 billion people of India will stand by you -- Both as partners and as friends." Reassuring India's support to Myanmar, Modi said India wants to take the relationship to "new heights", adding "A bright future for Myanmar is not just your objective. It is also our aspiration." The prime minister said both sides have also agreed to work towards a long-term and a mutually beneficial arrangement for trade in pulses. Calling Myanmar a "bridge" that connects India with South East Asia, Modi said "our discussions today have enabled us to evolve a road map and an action agenda for our cooperation." The Myanmarese president on his part said his government wants to strengthen ties with India. China has been increasing its footprint in Myanmar and making huge investments in several major projects. Prime Minister Modi said two agreements signed today will facilitate the construction and upgrading of 69 bridges and the Kalewa-Yargi road section of the India- Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway project. It is Htin Kyaw's first visit abroad after assuming charge of the top office and Modi told him that India was deeply honoured that he has chosen India for his first State visit abroad. "Buddhist principles of 'metta' or loving kindness and 'Sarva Pantha Sambhava' (equality of all religions) define our ways of life," said Modi, while complimenting maturity of Myanmar's leadership and commitment of its people to democracy. Modi said he has also conveyed to the President India's full support to the peace process initiative under the '21st Century Panglong Conference'. Talking about intensity of bilateral ties, Modi said its extent and depth are shaped by a robust development cooperation partnership, which has a strong "people first" philosophy. "India's nearly 2 billion dollar development assistance is touching the lives of the common man of Myanmar. Our engagement is supporting projects in connectivity, infrastructure, capacity building education, healthcare and many other sectors," he said. Giving example of India's assistance, he talked about the Kaladan project and said its port and waterway segment were nearing completion later this year. "In April this year, we took the small step of supplying power to Tamu in Myanmar. I have told the President that we are willing to substantially scale up our supply of power," the PM said. Talking about cultural ties, he said it is a "key centrality" in the foundation of the ties. "I am happy that our partnership is restoring Ananda temple in Bagan in Myanmar. "We are also ready to restore other historic monuments and pagodas, which were damaged in the earthquake which hit Myanmar just last week," he said. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmar President Htin Kyaw address a joint media briefing, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi. Photograph: PIB The state will be referred to as Bangla in Hindi and Bengal in English. The West Bengal assembly on Monday passed a resolution to change the name of the state from West Bengal to Bangla in Bengali, Bengal in English and Bangal in Hindi amidst strong opposition by the Bharatiya Janata Party and reservation over the process by Congress and Left Front. BJP questioned the very justification of the name change while the Congress demanded either a mass vote on the issue or wanted a committee to be set up to decide it. The Left Front, on the other hand, said that there should be an all-party meeting to decide on the matter. The resolution was moved by state Parliamentary Affairs minister Partha Chatterjee under rule 169, which said that the name of the state would be Bangla in Bengali , Bengal in English and Bangal in Hindi. It was passed by 189-31 votes. Speaking on the motion, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said The name Bangla has a historical and cultural background. I dont have any problem with the name of Bango either. But most of the people want the name Bangla. In English it will be Bengal so that there will be no confusion with the name of neighbouring Bangladesh. Whenever we go out of India or to some other state we are known as people from Bengal. In 2011 we had once proposed to change the name of the state, but it was held back by the Centre. There was no decision regarding it. So we decided to bring it once again to change the name of the state to Bangla, Banerjee said. Later speaking to reporters, Banerjee said Those who are opposing the name change just for the sake of politics should be ashamed. It is a historic blunder and the history will not forgive them. It doesnt matter who opposed it. The West Bengal assembly passed it, she said. She said that the matter would now be sent to the central government and then it will be placed in Parliament. I will request the central government to pursue the matter so that it can be placed in Parliament. We want it to be done as early as possible, she said. The chief minister said she had a talk with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the name change. I told him (Rajnath Singh) that we passed it (resolution) in the assembly. Now you pursue it, she said. Banerjee also criticised state BJP president and MLA Dilip Ghosh for his recent comments that he would not allow it to be passed. I will see how he can stop it. I will speak to the Union home minister. Who is he (Dilip Ghosh) to stop it? Banerjee said. Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan said that Congress wanted either a mass vote on the issue or wanted a committee to be set up to decide it. On Mannans statement, Banerjee said We all had gone through a mass vote three months back in the state (during assembly poll) and the results are before us. Left Front legislative party leader Sujan Chakraborty said that they were not against the name change. We dont oppose the new name Bangla but we wonder how there can be three names for the state -- one in Bengali, one in English and another in Hindi, he said. Uttar Pradesh is called Uttar Pradesh in all languages and not called Northern Province in English, he pointed out. BJP MLA Dilip Ghosh opposed the name change citing that it constituted an attempt to wipe out the painful history of the Partition that the state had gone through. We have already made our position clear on this issue. We will also tell the central government that the state should be called Paschimbanga in all languages, he said. BJP leader and Union minister Babul Supriyo, however, favoured the name Bangla. Earlier I had a talk with Trinamool Congress leader Derek OBrien and told him that Bangla is better than Bango, he said. BJP National secretary Rahul Sinha described it as a personal opinion of Babul Supriyo. He has no conception of the historical perspective. He mostly lived in Mumbai. BJP is fighting for retaining the name Pachimbanga, he said. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters Leak of information related to Scorpene submarine is being viewed "very seriously", but it is "not a matter of much worry", Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on Monday in his first comment after over 22,000 pages of data detailing the vessel's capabilities became public. "Any leak of information is viewed very seriously. We have viewed the leak of Scorpene data very seriously and we have asked (French firm) DCNS to launch an urgent investigation into this," the Navy chief said in New Delhi. He noted that the defence ministry has set up a high-level committee to investigate the matter. "Based on the report of the committee, we will see what mitigation measures need to be taken," he said. Asked how serious a concern the leak was, the Navy chief said, "This is not a matter of much worry. The committee is analysing and they will see what data has been compromised and what mitigation steps have to be taken." The high-level committee is expected to submit a detailed report to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar by September 20. Over 22,000 pages of top secret data on the capabilities of six highly advanced submarines being built for the Navy in Mumbai in collaboration with French company DCNS have been leaked. Meanwhile, French defence firm DCNS on Monday said it has approached an Australian court demanding that 'The Australian' newspaper should remove the published Scorpene data from its website and prevent any further publication. "DCNS, through the application filed, has demanded The Australian to remove the documents which it has published on its website and prevent further publishing of other documents," the company's headquarters in Paris said in a statement. The firm's lawyer had on Sunday told the newspaper that the publication of this "highly valuable document" causes a direct harm to DCNS and its customer in terms of spread of sensitive and restricted information, image and reputation. The newspaper, which had said that it will publish the documents regarding the weapons system of the submarine on Monday, has not done so. The French public prosecutor has opened a preliminary investigation into the data leak, with DCNS filing a complaint of breach of trust. Photograph: Indian Navy The national capital reeled under severe traffic congestion on Monday, the first working day of the week, as heavy rains lashed the city causing water-logging on several roads and intersections across the city. IMAGE: Vehicles make their way through floodwaters on a street after heavy rainfall in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Commuters had a hard time as vehicular traffic crawled on roads clogged with long tailbacks after the city received 15.2 mm rainfall in the second half of the day. We received over 150 calls about water-logging and heavy traffic in different parts of the city. There were over 50 water-logging points that hampered traffic movement, said Sandeep Goel, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic). IMAGE: Many places including Hero Honda Chowk, Sohna Road, Manesar, Udyog Vihar, old Gurgaon Road and a few areas in New Gurgaon experienced heavy traffic snarls on Monday. Photograph: PTI The problem was further aggravated due to a large number of vehicles, it being the first working day of the week. Heavy traffic was reported on almost all major carriageways due to waterlogging. The affected stretches include M B Road, Lakshman Public School to RTR flyway, Dhaula Kuan, Jahangirpuri Bus Depot, Chhata Rail, GTO and Azad Market Chowk. Water-logging also hampered traffic flow at Greater Kailash-2, Savitri Cinema, C R Park and Hanuman Setu. Severe water-logging was also reported on stretches at Mathura Road, Vayusenabad, Wazirabad Road and at Tigri on Mehrauli Badrpur Road. IMAGE: People returning from Delhi to Gurgaon reported that the traffic was moving very slowly. Photograph: @bimbrahw/Twitter Commuters were barely able to move as M G road, Mayapuri, Nigam Bodh Ghat, Kela Ghat, Durga Puri Chowk,and Mandoli T-Point were jam-packed due to waterlogging. Heavy traffic and bottlenecks were also witnessed on road stretches from Outer Ring Road to Subroto Park, Lajpat Nagar to Jangpura, AIIMS and Moti Bagh. IMAGE: The road behind the British School in the Chanakyapuri area is reported to have completely submerged. Photograph: @Xvishu/Twitter Late in the evening, water-logging reports also came from Ramlila Ground, Gurunanak Chowk, Sarai Kale Khan, Deendayal Upadhyaya Marg, Minto Bridge, Bhairon Marg and Indraprastha. Other parts of the city which witnessed a chock-a-block situation include Nangloi, Mundka, Anand Parbath and Shanti Path. Both carriageways on Shankar Road, DCM Chowk and Hyatt Hotel towards Moti Bagh also faced heavy traffic. IMAGE: Heavy rains led to chaos in the national capital. Photograph: PTI Una Dalit Atyachar Ladat Samiti, a Dalit organisation formed after the last month's Una flogging incident, said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not do enough to address their problems. Modi would visit Gujarats Jamnagar district on Tuesday to inaugurate Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation Yojna. Modi had not done enough to ensure safety and well-being of the Dalits in his home state, the organisation said. Jignesh Mevani of Dalit Samiti on Monday said the PM paid only lip service instead of reining in the cow vigilantes. Instead of staging protests during Modis visit, we want to register our protest by asking under what circumstances the so-called gau rakshaks became so fearless in Gujarat and in the country under his rule. Modi claimed he is angry over the Dalit thrashing incidents. But whats the use of such statements when the Dalits are still being targeted? he said. He was referring to an attack on some Dalits while returning from a protest rally in Una town of Gir-Somnath district on August 15 in the wake of thrashing of seven Dalit youths at Mota Samadhiyala village on July 11. I want to ask him if he ever bothered to visit the home of a Dalit man subjected to atrocity or a Dalit woman subjected to rape, Mevani said. He alleged that the community still faces discrimination right under the nose of the government. He demanded agricultural land for the Dalits, so that they can give up traditional occupations like skinning the dead cattle or cleaning sewer lines. If Adanis and Ambanis can get thousands of acres of land for business, why Dalits are not given small piece of land to ensure they live a respectable life?...our agitation will not stop till our demands are met, said Mevani. IMAGE: Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, right, being honoured by Ambedkar Mahasabha in Lucknow. Photograph: PTI Photo Music composer Vishal Dadlani has been booked by Haryana police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with his sarcastic tweet on Jain monk Tarun Sagar. Ambala Cantt police registered a case against Dadlani and social activist Tehseen Poonawalla even as Jain community members staged a protest outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in the national capital, demanding the immediate arrest of the composer. Delhi Public works department Minister Satyendar Jain, who met Sagar in Chandigarh on Monday, said efforts were on to politicise the whole issue and that the matter should be put to rest, claiming the monk has forgiven the guilty. The case against Dadlani and Poonawala in Ambala was registered under relevant sections including 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 295A (maliciously insulting the religion or religious beliefs of any class) and 509 of the IPC (uttering any word or making any gesture to insult the modesty of a woman etc), police said. Poonawala is a Congress activist who had also tweeted on the Jain monk. The case was registered on a complaint filed by Punit Arora, a resident of Ambala Cantonment who is said to be a follower of the monk. The complainant alleged that the accused had hurt religious sentiments intentionally with his sarcastic tweet on Sagar. The Haryana government had invited the Jain monk, who appeared in nude, to deliver a lecture 'Kadve Vachan' in the assembly on Friday. Dadlani came under sharp criticism from several quarters including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his "sarcastic" tweet on Sagar's address in the Haryana assembly. After a barrage of criticism, Dadlani had tendered an apology for his tweet and also deleted it. He also apologised to the Jain monk on Twitter. Dadlani, a staunch AAP supporter, on Sunday also announced quitting "all active political work" but maintained it was his own decision to quit the party. "I feel some people are doing politics over it, the issue should be ended now. (Congress man) Tehsin Poonawala who commented against Maharaj-ji has not even apologised and none of his party's leaders, including Soniaji and Rahul Gandhi, have expressed regret over it. The matter should be kept away from politics," Jain told reporters in Chandigarh. Jain said he and Kejriwal had earlier sought forgiveness for Dadlani's tweets. "I also carried Arvind Kejriwal's message that he felt sad for what was said about him to which Maharaji-ji said that he has already forgiven those who inadvertently did so," he said. East Delhi police, meanwhile, is taking legal opinion for further action on a complaint against Dadlani for his tweet. "We have received a general complaint stating hurt feelings of the Jain community by Vishal Dadlani's tweet. Legal opinion has been sought for further action," said a senior police officer. The leftist 25-30 group said they will never apologise or backtrack on their rejection of the new value-added tax law, even after they were referred to the ethics committee to face disciplinary action The major Egyptian parliamentary leftist bloc known as the 25-30 group stated on Monday that they would not apologise for a press conference they held on Sunday evening to voice their opposition of the new valued-added tax (VAT) law. According to the blocks statement, "MPs affiliated with the group had the right to voice their rejection of the VAT law in a press conference after parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al refused to give them the floor during yesterday's plenary session, which was devoted to discussing the law." "We held a press conference to inform the public of our position [on the VAT law], and this can never be considered a legal offence or a violation of parliament's internal bylaws," said the statement. Speaker Abdel-Al referred the MPs to disciplinary action for holding the press conference, which he says was a violation of parliament's internal bylaws. The bloc says that their rejection of the VAT law was motivated by their defence of the interests of poor and low-income citizens, who form the majority of Egyptians. We reject that these classes have to foot the bill of what they call economic reform, especially given the fact that many other options are available where the wealthy classes would bear the [tax] burden. On Sunday night, the 25-30 group, led by Alexandria MP Haitham El-Hariri, held a press conference in parliament's pharaonic hall to voice their rejection of the VAT law. They said they were not given the floor by parliament speaker Ali Abdel-Al to voice their rejection of the law, not to mention that the vote in principle on this draft law was not conducted in a transparent way. "We expected that there would be an electronic vote so that the people know who approved this law and who rejected it, but we were surprised that speaker Abdel-Al took the vote by only asking MPs to raise their hands," said El-Hariri, adding that the 25-30 MPs decided to walk out of the session in protest of this perceived lack of transparency. The conference drew immediate criticism from speaker Abdel-Al, who called it an "illegitimate way of exercising pressure on the podium." "[The press conference held by 25-30] is completely illegitimate and comes in violation of parliament's internal bylaws," said Abdel-Al, arguing that "it is completely unacceptable that some MPs or groups resort to holding press conferences whenever the debate does not go their way." "This kind of conferences only aims to terrorise the podium and exert pressure on the speaker to force it to take a certain decision," said Abdel-Al. Abdel-Al also said that he does not recognise the 25-30 group. "There is one legitimate parliamentary bloc in Egypt, that is the Support Egypt bloc, which was approved by parliament after it submitted the required documents," said Abdel-Al. Abdel-Al insisted that "all parliamentary groups and blocs were given the floor to express their opinion on the VAT law," adding that an electronic vote will be held when it comes time for MPs to give their final say of the 74-article law. "We are now debating the law in principle and this does not require an electronic vote," said Abdel-Al. Many MPs joined forces with Abdel-Al, with independent MP Mohamed Abu Hamed describing the 25-30 MPs as "radical leftists who deceive poor citizens by raising sensational slogans on social justice." "I and most MPs stress that the vote on the VAT was conducted in a very transparent way and that the spokesmen of most political parties were given the floor to voice their opinion on the law," said Abu Hamed. In their statement on Monday, the 25-30 MPs said they reject what they describe as the hijacking of Egypts parliament, and "we will never backtrack or officially apologise for our positions." The 25-30 group takes its name from the anti-Mubarak 25 January Revolution of 2011 and the anti-Muslim Brotherhood 30 June Revolution of 2013. Most members of the 13-MP-strong block have a leftist backgrounds such as Haitham El-Hariri, the well-known lawyer Diaaeddin Dawoud and well-known film director Khaled Youssef. They also include Coptic MP Nadia Henry, who dissented from the liberal Free Egyptians Party last week, and independent MPs Mostafa El-Guindy and Ahmed El-Sharkawy. The VAT law was approved in principle by parliament on Sunday night, with a rate of 13 percent for the 2016/2017 fiscal year. Parliament approved 39 articles on Sunday, with the remaining 35 articles to be discussed on Monday. The VAT forms an integral part of the government's economic reform programme and a recent deal with the IMF. Search Keywords: Short link: Visiting United States Secretary of State John Kerry and his convoy were stuck in massive traffic near Satya Marg in New Delhi on Monday evening due to water-logging caused by heavy rains while on his way to the hotel from the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The convoy of Kerry, who arrived in New Delhi to participate in the Second Indo-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, was heading to the hotel in Chanakyapuri in south Delhi when it was stuck in the traffic jam near Satya Marg on Monday, an official said. Senior Delhi Police and traffic officials declined to share details of the incident claiming it was a 'security matter'. Mediapersons, accompanying Kerry's convoy, posted on social media pictures of vehicles stuck up. Officials sought to downplay the incident saying the convoy was not stuck but had only slowed down due to heavy traffic and rainfall. The capital received heavy rains in on Monday evening with the Safdarjung observatory recording 15.2 mm rainfall while the reading at Palam observatory was 8 mm. Vehicular movement was affected across the city with traffic crawling at various major intersections. IMAGE: United States Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in New Delhi on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo Expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Rajya Sabha MP M Sasikala Pushpa, who is facing sexual harassment case filed by her two domestic aides, on Monday said she would not resign from the Upper House. "There is no question my resignation from the Rajya Sabha," Sasikala, told reporters in Chennai on her arrival from Singapore. Sasikala, who was expelled from the AIADMK earlier this month, said she will be appearing before the Madras high court's Madurai bench to respond to an allegation of having played fraud on the court while filing an anticipatory bail application registered by Thoothukudi police against her and her family members for allegedly ill-treating and sexually abusing two domestic aides. The court had directed the MP to appear before it on Monday and explain how she could have signed a petition in Madurai on August 17 authorising her lawyer to argue the advance bail plea on behalf of her when the police claimed that she did not enter Tamil Nadu ever since the case was registered early this month. Sasikala proceeded to Madurai from Chennai in a domestic flight from Chennai airport. On August 11, the Delhi high court had asked the Tamil Nadu government not to take any coercive action till August 22 against the expelled AIADMK MP, her husband and their son in the case. The domestic servants, who reportedly worked at Pushpa's house in Tamil Nadu, had filed a police complaint alleging that they were tortured and sexually harassed. The high court had also asked her family to approach the appropriate court in Tamil Nadu for relief by then. The Supreme Court had on August 26 granted protection from the arrest to her for six weeks in the case. She was expelled from the AIADMK after an altercation with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Tiruchi Siva at the Delhi airport earlier last month. Since then she has alleged that she was being threatened into resigning from her post. On Monday, August 29, a court in Saran, Bihar, sentenced the headmistress of the school where 23 children died after eating a mid-day meal to 17 years in prison. Three years after that tragedy, discovers Satyavrat Mishra, the state government has failed to learn its lessons. Three years after the tragedy that killed 23 students, mid-day meals routinely fail to meet basic hygiene and nutrition standards. As many as 23 children died after eating contaminated food at the Gandaman-Dharmasati Primary School in the Saran district of the state. The victims came from all communities, defying the typical narrative of caste-based rights violations of the poor in Bihar. Investigations, carried out by the state and central governments separately, showed gross violation of normative standards, widespread corruption and the lack of oversight. Three years later, a quick reality check shows that the state machinery has failed to learn its lessons. There are still no foolproof systems for buying and storing food material, those responsible for buying foodstuff have no knowledge of quality parameters and possibilities of contamination still loom large. On their part, officials at the education department in Vikas Bhawan, the Bihar government secretariat, insist several steps have been initiated to ensure safety while preparing food and have made it mandatory for teachers to taste the food before it is served to children. A new menu has been prepared and the schools have been ordered to follow it without fail. The government plans to include pulao and kheer in the menu. New utensils are being bought by schools and the government has set up a helpline number for complaints. Prince Sahani is a Class 5 student in the Government Primary School, Indrapuri in Patna. Wearing a button-less sky-blue shirt and worn out trousers, a plastic strap in place of a belt, rubber slippers, carrying ragged books and notebooks, Sahani aspires to be a doctor and promises to study hard for that. Son of a roadside food-seller, Prince is one of the few students who still attend the school. Most of his classmates have shifted to another school in the area after the mid-day meal scheme was stopped here in 2014. The NGO, which was responsible for delivering the meal, was blacklisted by the government. A teacher, who does not want to be named, says this was done after a slew of complaints about the quality of food. "Every other day kids used to find a dead lizard or rat in the food. Whenever we tried to protest, the contractors used to threaten us. Finally, two years ago, we lodged a complaint with the department. The contractor was blacklisted, but our supply was also stopped." It's not an isolated incident in the state. Almost every month, cases of cockroaches, lizards or rats in the meal served to students are reported in local newspapers. Last month, as many as 54 children fell sick and were hospitalised after eating the mid-day meal contaminated by a dead lizard at a government school in the Aurangabad district in the state. In May, 10 children fell sick in the Muzaffarpur district after consuming stale food. The people there blame it on the lack of oversight when the food is prepared. A couple of years ago, a snake was found in the food at a school in the Sitamarhi district. State government officers acknowledge the problem but say that in some cases the food is deliberately contaminated to settle political scores. Those recruited for cooking the food are randomly selected and not trained. The cooks are appointed by the village headman and the process is completely opaque. Cooks are paid an honorarium of Rs 2,000 per month, which was raised last year in the run-up to the state assembly election, but is still inadequate to attract people trained in food hygiene to the job. Data from the Union human resources development ministry reveal that 49 complaints related to the quality of food in the mid-day meal scheme were registered by the state government between 2013 and 2015, which makes it second only to Uttar Pradesh in the country. However, the state government took no action in any of the cases. Only three samples from Bihar were tested at the certified laboratories, despite the rules clearly mandating such a procedure. For the current financial year, the government has allocated Rs 2,170 crore (Rs 21.7 billion) for the scheme (this includes the central government's share). However, it is not adequate for feeding more than 20 million school-going children in the state. Not according to the menu prescribed by the government, at least. There is a menu clearly printed on the wall of the Government Middle School, Shekhpura. However, it is rarely followed. Deepak Kumar, student of Class 4, says, "We either get rice with potato and soya-bean curry or khichdi. I don't like khichdi as it has only rice and water in it." Baby Kumari, a girl sitting next to him, says she likes whatever is served. Ask her why, and all she does is smile. Teachers and experts say price is the major concern. Rules prescribe a platter of 450 calorie and 20 grams of protein at mere Rs 3.84 per child per meal. The allocation goes up to almost Rs 6 for adolescents. "Everything has become costlier today, how can we get green vegetables and pulses at the rate fixed almost half a decade ago? We manage it with great difficulty. Sometimes we have to divert funds," says a teacher in a village in the Patna district. "When pulses are priced at Rs 100 to Rs 150 per kg, edible oil at Rs 100 to Rs 120 per litre and green vegetables at Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg, providing quality meal at the prescribed cost to a child is impossible. Rather than giving microwave ovens to the legislators, the state government should focus on this scheme," says an analyst. The scheme is further compromised by the rampant corruption in the education machinery of the state government. Time and again, several surveys have indicated the problem, yet very little has been done to curb it. "It's nothing new. We all know this, but what can we do? It's a well known fact in the education department that local officials, headmen and teachers make a lot of money by falsifying the attendance register. They pocket the money meant for scholarships, cycles and even the mid-day meal. They siphon off foodgrain and money meant for the mid-day meals," says a member of the state council of ministers on the condition of anonymity. Last year, the anti-corruption branch of the state police nabbed Birendra Narayan, the district programme officer and in-charge for mid-day meals in the Katihar district, from his palatial home in Patna. The police officials accused him of owning as many as 23 plots of land, including a market complex in Purnea, and several flats in and outside Bihar. He insisted that he had been falsely implicated in a politically-motivated conspiracy. State government officers say corruption will be rooted out once Aadhaar numbers are seeded. "Aadhaar will soon become mandatory for school enrolment in the state. Teachers have been asked to help people in this regard. From next year onward, scholarships will be credited into the accounts directly. It will help us in curbing this menace," says a deputy secretary in the education department. "We have initiated several programmes to ensure quality food to students," says Bihar Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh. "First of all, we have decided to shut down all the schools running in temporary or dilapidated structures and have attached them to schools with pucca structure. It has ensured that the food is cooked in a safe environment." The biggest challenge, according to Singh, the top bureaucrat in the state, is the low cost base and the huge scale of the scheme. "Even when you organise a get-together of 100 people, you have to face problems. When 20 million children have to be fed at 70,000 locations in the state, problems are bound to come up. We are trying our level best to overcome the problems." Till then, students in the state will have to make do with sub-standard food. IMAGE: A child eats her midday meal in Gandaman, Bihar. Photograph: Archana Masih/Rediff.com The preparatory meeting for the 26th session of the Egyptian-Jordanian Higher Committee are kicking off on Monday to discuss enhancing bilateral relations between the two Arab countries. The session is scheduled for 29-31 August and will be chaired by Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and his Jordanian counterpart Hani Al-Mulki. The committee, which was formed in the mid-1980s to strengthen ties between the two countries, is considered the oldest and most regularly-functioning of its kind. The discussions will include talks on ways to boost trade between the two countries by lifting restrictions imposed on the flow of Egyptian goods to Jordans markets, especially agricultural products such as potatoes and onions. They will also discuss ways to facilitate the access of Egyptian ships sailing the Gulf of Aqaba by removing customs and taxes and implement the treaty of Agader. A discussion will also take place on Jordanian investments in Egyptian national mega-projects such as the reclamation of 1.5 million feddans in El-Farafra. Trade between Egypt and Jordan is at $650 million compared to $661 million last year, while the size of Jordanian investments in Egypt has reached $514 million, according to Egypts Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Qabil. The meeting will include discussions on the proposal of Minister of International Cooperation Sahar Nasr to establish branches of Egypts national banks in Jordan to help the Egyptian workforce in that country deposit their money easily and to encourage investments. The number of Egyptian workers in Jordan reached 400,000 in 2015, constituting 67 percent foreign workers in Jordan, according to Haitham Khasawneh, spokesman of the Jordanian Ministry of Labour. The meeting will be attended by the ministers of health, immigration, international cooperation and the head of the Suez Canal Authority along with their Jordanian counterparts King Abdullah II of Jordan paid a visit to Egypt last Wednesday where he and President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi stressed the importance of intensifying cooperation between the two countries on the social, economic and political levels. They reiterated the necessity of reviving peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel to implement the two-state solution. Search Keywords: Short link: Freedom in the World 2016 - Timor-Leste Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Timor-Leste, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb7c24.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 65 Freedom Rating: 3.0 Political Rights: 3 Civil Liberties: 3 Quick Facts Capital: Dili Population: 1,244,759 GDP/capita: $1,280.40 Press Freedom Status: Partly Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW In February 2015, the ruling National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) formed a new unity government with the Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor-Leste (Fretilin), previously in opposition. Independence leader Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao resigned as prime minister and was succeeded by Rui Maria de Araujo, a former health minister from Fretilin. Araujo represents a younger generation whose legitimacy stems in part from technical and professional skills rather than solely from participation in the independence struggle. The decision to bring Fretilin into the governing coalition was also an effort to restore a consensus-driven approach to government and prevent a recurrence of the instability that affected the country in 2006. Gusmao retained a seat in the cabinet as minister for planning and strategic investment. Internal security continued to improve in 2015. In August, Paulino Gama, popularly known as Mauk Moruk, was shot and killed during a joint police-military operation targeting his Maubere Revolutionary Council (KRM), which had allegedly carried out attacks on police earlier in the year. KRM and another outlawed group, the Committee for the Popular Defense of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (CPD-RDTL), do not represent a significant threat to physical security, but they had challenged Gusmao's legitimacy as well as that of the constitution. Mauk Moruk had been apprehended in March 2014 after both organizations were declared illegal by Parliament, but he was released on bail in December of that year. Economic growth continued to be the government's primary concern in 2015. Timor-Leste remains one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia. It depends on large drawdowns from its Petroleum Fund to finance infrastructure development projects and programs that ensure peace and stability, including payments to veterans of the independence struggle and army deserters who catalyzed the 2006 crisis. The withdrawals have exceeded sustainable levels for several years, and the fund could be depleted by 2025, according to some projections. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 29 / 40 A. Electoral Process: 11 / 12 The directly elected president is a largely symbolic figure, with formal powers limited to the right to veto legislation and make certain appointments. The president and members of the 65-seat, unicameral Parliament serve five-year terms, with the president eligible for a maximum of two terms. The leader of the majority party or coalition in Parliament becomes prime minister. Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in 2012, and observers deemed the voting largely free and fair. Jose Maria Vasconcelos, popularly known as Taur Matan Ruak, won the presidential election as an independent in a runoff against former parliamentary speaker Francisco Guterres of Fretilin. Due to the 3 percent vote threshold required to enter Parliament, only 4 out of 21 competing parties garnered seats. CNRT led with 30 seats and formed a coalition with the Democratic Party, which won 8 seats, and the new National Reconstruction Front of Timor-Leste-Change (Frenti-Mudanca), which had broken from Fretilin in 2011 and took 2 seats in the elections. Gusmao secured a second term as prime minister. Fretilin won 25 seats and remained in opposition until the February 2015 coalition deal, in which Gusmao stepped down and was replaced by Araujo of Fretilin. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 12 / 16 Fretilin led Timor-Leste's first elected government from 2001 to 2007 with little opposition, after which CNRT was formed and led all successive governments, with Fretilin in opposition. Although the new coalition agreement brokered in 2015 was meant in part to make way for a new generation of leadership, independence heroes and their rivalries dating back to the anti-Indonesian resistance movement continue to dominate national politics, and have at times caused governmental paralysis or even violence, as in the 2006 crisis. The 2015 agreement left no formal opposition force in Parliament. Cultural, ethnic, and religious minorities have full political rights and electoral opportunities. Amendments to the election laws made in 2011 require one-third of candidates on party lists for parliamentary elections to be female. C. Functioning of Government: 6 / 12 Although Fretilin focused attention on specific cases of government corruption and financial mismanagement during its time in opposition, Parliament in general has shown little initiative in government oversight functions or the development of draft legislation. Draft bills introduced by the government are rarely debated. Some civil society organizations have played an oversight role by challenging the government on issues such as the budget, use of the Petroleum Fund, and the independence of the judicial sector. In December 2015, the president vetoed a proposed budget for 2016 that had been approved by Parliament, citing unsustainable spending and drawdowns from the Petroleum Fund. Voter frustration with corruption and nepotism has plagued both Fretilin- and CNRT-led governments, and the new coalition cabinet in 2015 replaced several ministers who had been connected to past or current corruption cases. In 2014, Finance Minister Emilia Pires, a close associate of Gusmao, was indicted over a contract for hospital beds that was awarded to a firm owned by her husband. She was not included in the new cabinet, and her trial was incomplete at year's end. According to the constitution, the immunity of members of the government is automatically lifted if they are charged with a crime carrying more than two years in prison. In practice, however, the courts ask Parliament to lift immunity before proceeding with a case, and Gusmao sent a letter in late 2014 asking Parliament not to remove the immunity of government officials in the interests of government continuity and functioning. The letter was widely believed to have been written in support of Pires and the speaker of Parliament, Vicente Guterres, who was under suspicion in a separate procurement case. An anticorruption commission created in 2009 has a broad mandate but lacks the authority to prosecute suspects. Timor-Leste was ranked 123 out of 168 countries and territories surveyed in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. Civil Liberties: 36 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 12 / 16 Media freedom is protected in the constitution. In practice, however, the free flow of information remains hampered, primarily by poor infrastructure and scarce resources. Domestic media outlets are vulnerable to political pressure due to their reliance on government financial support in a media market with small audiences and limited nongovernmental sources of paid advertising. Radio is the medium with the greatest reach; printing costs and illiteracy rates generally prevent the expansion of print media. The country has several daily newspapers and tabloids, some of which are loosely aligned with political parties. Estimates on internet penetration have varied in recent years, but according to the latest data from the International Telecommunication Union, the rate reached 13 percent in 2015. Journalists are often treated with suspicion, particularly by government officials, and in many cases practice self-censorship. Authorities regularly deny access to government information. The 2009 penal code decriminalized defamation but retained provisions against false accusation, and defamation remains part of the civil code. There are sporadic reports of violence against journalists, including four assaults by police officers in March and April 2015. A 2014 media law created a government-sponsored Press Council with the power to revoke journalists' credentials under a new licensing system. The law also stipulated that foreign owners may hold no more than a 30 percent stake in Timorese media outlets. Freedom of religion is protected in the constitution, and Timor-Leste is a secular state, though approximately 97 percent of the population is Roman Catholic. Protestant groups have reported some cases of discrimination and harassment. While religious education is included in the school curriculum, parents may remove their children from the classes. Academic freedom is generally respected, and there are few constraints on open and free private discussion. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 8 / 12 Freedoms of association and assembly are constitutionally guaranteed and generally respected in practice. A 2004 law regulates political gatherings and prohibits demonstrations aimed at "questioning constitutional order" or disparaging the reputations of the head of state and other government officials. The law requires that demonstrations and public protests be authorized in advance and restricts how close these activities can be to government buildings and critical infrastructure. However, these restrictions have almost never been enforced in recent years. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can generally operate without interference, although the state has more actively monitored and regulated their work since independence. Few NGOs operate outside of the capital. Workers, other than police and military personnel, are permitted to form and join labor unions, bargain collectively, and strike; in practice, however, labor organizations are slow to form. Unionization rates are also low due to high levels of unemployment and informal economic activity. A 2011 law requires written notification five days in advance of a strike. F. Rule of Law: 7 / 16 Timor-Leste suffers from weak rule of law and a prevailing culture of impunity, which were exacerbated by shake-ups in the composition of the judiciary in 2014. Late in the year, the government, with support from Parliament, terminated the contracts and revoked the visas of foreigners working in judicial, prosecutorial, and anticorruption institutions. Due to limited capacity within the country, the judicial system has depended since independence on contracted foreign judges and lawyers. The 2014 terminations did not follow legal protocol, according to which only the Superior Council of Magistrates may remove judicial officers. As a result of the move, legal proceedings in some courts were delayed or forced to restart with new personnel in 2015. The terminations were initially seen as political meddling aimed at disrupting corruption cases against government allies, though such cases were not abandoned. Analysts also pointed to perceived court bias against the government and instances of incompetence in the judiciary that damaged its legitimacy. In a bid to address the system's problems comprehensively, Parliament called for a thorough audit as part of its 2014 action. In December 2015, a new Legislative Reform and Justice Sector Commission was sworn in. The expulsion of the foreign judicial officers, all Portuguese speakers, highlighted the language challenge facing the legal system in Timor-Leste. The use of Portuguese for court administration poses an obstacle due to the limited number of Portuguese speakers and the difficulty of translating legal terms into local languages. A shortage of Portuguese interpreters often forces the adjournment of trials. The introduction of mobile courts in 2008 in part to reduce case backlogs has helped bring formal justice to remote areas, but their expedited procedures have reduced fair trial standards. Across the justice sector, due process rights are often restricted or denied, owing largely to a dearth of resources and personnel. Alternative methods of dispute resolution and customary law are widely used, though they lack enforcement mechanisms and have other significant shortcomings, including unequal treatment of women. Internal security continued to improve in 2015. After KRM allegedly launched attacks on police in January and March, the police and military carried out security operations that led to the killing of the group's leader, Mauk Moruk, in August. During the operations, however, government forces subjected civilians to arbitrary arrest and physical abuse, according to Amnesty International. Police officers and soldiers are regularly accused of excessive force and abuse of power, though the courts have had some success in prosecuting them. While hate crimes based on sexual orientation are considered an aggravating circumstance in the penal code, other protections against discrimination for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people are lacking. Issues like sexual orientation and gender identity reportedly receive little public attention, but a small number of LGBT advocacy organizations have been active in recent years. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 9 / 16 Citizens generally enjoy freedom of unrestricted travel, though travel by land to the enclave of Oecusse is hampered by visa requirements and Indonesian and Timorese checkpoints. Individuals also enjoy free choice of residence and employment, but unemployment rates are high, and most of the population still relies on subsistence farming. The status and reintegration of the thousands of Timorese refugees living in the Indonesian portion of the island having fled a 1999 Indonesian crackdown in Timor-Leste following that year's referendum on independence remained unresolved in 2015. The Timorese government has long encouraged the return of the refugees, but concerns over access to property and other rights, as well as the status of former militia members, continue to hinder their return. While Timorese have the right to establish businesses, property rights are complicated by past conflicts, changes in sovereignty, and the unclear status of communal or customary land rights. A new draft land law designed to establish formal tenure and help resolve disputes was amended and presented to Parliament in 2013; it was still pending at the end of 2015. Equal rights for women are constitutionally guaranteed, but discrimination and gender inequality persist in practice and in customary law. Women hold 25 of the 65 seats in Parliament, and eight positions in the new cabinet, including the powerful position of finance minister. Despite a 2010 law against domestic violence, gender-based and domestic violence remain widespread. A 2015 survey by the Asia Foundation found that 59 percent of women who had been in a relationship had experienced sexual or physical partner violence, and of these, a majority experienced severe violence. Civil society groups have criticized the courts' use of prison sentences for only the most severe and injurious domestic violence cases. Many victims are reluctant to seek justice. Timorese women and girls from rural areas are vulnerable to human trafficking for sexual exploitation and domestic servitude, and children are sometimes placed in bonded labor. The government makes some effort to prosecute offenders. A draft antitrafficking bill meant to improve protection and prevention measures was submitted to Parliament in 2015 but had yet to pass at year's end. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - South Ossetia Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - South Ossetia, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb7e9.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Not Free Aggregate Score: 11 Freedom Rating: 6.5 Political Rights: 7 Civil Liberties: 6 Quick Facts Capital: Tskhinvali Population: 51,547 GDP/capita: N/A Press Freedom Status: N/A Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW South Ossetia's foreign relations were a prominent topic of public discussion during the year, and fomented discord in the territory's legislature between proponents and critics of closer ties with Russia. In March, South Ossetia's de facto president, Leonid Tibilov, signed a sweeping bilateral treaty on the territory's alliance and integration with the Russian Federation. The agreement aims to synchronize South Ossetia's security and border mechanisms with those of Russia, among other goals. The international community, particularly Georgia, condemned the agreement, arguing that its terms give Moscow excessive control over the territory. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 2 / 40 (+1) A. Electoral Process: 2 / 12 Under the South Ossetian constitution, the president and the 34-seat parliament are elected for five-year terms. Elections held by the separatist government are not monitored by independent observers or recognized by the international community. Most ethnic Georgian residents have either declined or been unable to participate in elections since separatist forces first seized land in the early 1990s and expanded their control in a 2008 war. The most recent presidential election was held in 2012, after the Supreme Court invalidated a 2011 vote based on questionable claims of electoral violations. In the second round of the 2011 election, polls had shown Alla Dzhioyeva, a former education minister who opposed Russian annexation of South Ossetia, to be the winner. A new election was called amid protests by Dzhioyeva's supporters, with Dzhioyeva herself barred from running. Four new candidates, all favorable to Russia, competed in 2012. Tibilov, who had led South Ossetia's Committee for State Security in the 1990s, received 42 percent of the vote, followed by human rights ombudsman David Sanakoyev with 25 percent. Tibilov won the runoff with 54 percent. Parliamentary elections held in 2014 were a substantial improvement from previous ones. Unlike in the 2009 vote, in which only three parties were able to participate, candidates from nine parties succeeded in registering in 2014. The opposition United Ossetia, led by former presidential contender Anatoliy Bibilov, won 20 seats, followed by the Unity of the People party with six seats. The People's Party and Nykhas each captured four seats. Tibilov, an independent, did not openly support any party. Officials did not arbitrarily bar parties from participating, and of the several individuals who had been denied registration because of alleged failure to meet the five-year residency requirement, the majority were able to register after appealing to the Supreme Court. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 2 / 16 In line with his campaign pledge of national unity, Tibilov included members of the opposition in his government. Sanakoyev took the post of foreign minister, Dzhioyeva became deputy prime minister, and Bibilov kept his position of emergency situations minister. Although not all appointees have retained their posts, Tibilov's presidency has signaled some political liberalization. A number of new political parties have been able to register in recent years. These include Bibilov's United Ossetia, which won the most seats in the 2014 elections; New Ossetia, headed by Sanakoyev; and Dzhioyeva's Freedom Square. In contrast, in the lead-up to the 2011 presidential vote, leading opposition figures were prevented from registering, and some opposition candidates were beaten or jailed. Geopolitical considerations are a major force behind officials' political choices and heavily affect party politics. Tibilov has significantly increased ties with Russia, and officials endorsed by Moscow have gained or maintained key government positions in recent years, many appointed directly by Russia or from Russia's North Ossetia-Alania republic. The year 2015 featured growing antagonism between United Ossetia and the minority parties in the legislature over South Ossetia's relations with Russia and Georgia. In March, 19 United Ossetia legislators passed a vote of no confidence in Sanakoyev, reportedly in reaction to the foreign minister leaking an early draft of the integration treaty with Russia. The foreign minister, who released the draft in January, strongly opposed the treaty's broad provisions for Russian control over South Ossetian security and defense. United Ossetia deputies strongly favoring closer ties with Moscow viewed Sanakoyev as an hindrance on negotiations, and Bibilov publicly denounced him for the leak days before the March vote. Tibilov refused to dismiss Sanakoyev, leading legislators to schedule a second vote for April. Although the motion failed amid a boycott by the three minority parties, Tibilov reserved his position and terminated Sanakoyev's appointment shortly thereafter, moving him to the post of state adviser; the maneuver was reportedly intended to prevent further parliamentary conflict. In 2013, Russian president Vladimir Putin appointed Vladislav Surkov, the reputed architect of Russia's nominally pluralistic but tightly managed party system, as his presidential aide responsible for social and economic issues in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. C. Functioning of Government: 0 / 12 The ability of elected officials to determine and implement policy is heavily influenced by the Russian government. Both Tibilov and opposition figures have spoken repeatedly of formally uniting the territory with Russia's North Ossetia or joining the Russian Federation directly. South Ossetian officials reached an agreement on border regulation with Moscow in February 2015. The following March, Tibilov and Putin signed a sweeping treaty on alliance and integration. The bilateral agreement, which is binding for 25 years with the possibility of 10-year extensions, closely integrates South Ossetia's defense, security, and customs mechanisms among other things with those of Russia, and charges Moscow with protection of the territory's borders. The treaty received wide condemnation from the international community for giving broad control of the territory to the Russian state. In October, Tibilov announced plans to hold a referendum on the question of South Ossetia's incorporation into the Russian Federation. Officials had not set a date or announced further details at year's end. The March treaty was the latest in a number of agreements expanding Russia's influence over South Ossetia. A 2013 agreement on interparliamentary cooperation aimed to harmonize Ossetian laws with Russian legislation; a memorandum of cooperation on antiterrorism was signed in 2013 to enhance security and border protection; and a 2011 agreement gave Russia the freedom to build and operate military bases in the territory for 49 years. Roughly 4,000 Russian troops remain stationed in South Ossetia. Russian aid comprises almost the entirety of South Ossetia's budget, and financial processes and decisions are largely nontransparent. Having pledged to root out his predecessor's allegedly rampant corruption and increase stability, Tibilov initiated an investigation in 2012 into suspected embezzlement involving former president Eduard Kokoity and the disbursal of Russian funds earmarked for postwar reconstruction; a number of allegedly corrupt officials were replaced in the process. Discretionary Political Rights Question B: -2 / 0 (+1) During the 2008 war, Ossetian forces seized or razed property in previously Georgian-controlled villages, and large numbers of ethnic Georgians fled the fighting. Authorities in South Ossetia have since barred ethnic Georgians from returning to the territory unless they renounce their Georgian citizenship and accept Russian passports. Of approximately 20,000 ethnic Georgians displaced from their homes in South Ossetia, most have not been able to return. However, conditions for local residents have largely stabilized since the war, particularly due to the absence of open conflict across the administrative line separating the territory from Georgia. Civil Liberties: 9 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression: 4 / 16 Local media are almost entirely controlled by the authorities. Self-censorship is pervasive, although according to local journalists, outlets have been able to operate under gradually more open conditions since the war. South Ossetia's state broadcasters are subject to frequent blackouts and technical interruptions, and an increasing number of residents rely on online outlets for news and other information. Foreign media, including broadcasts from Russia and Georgia, remain accessible. Freedom of religion has sometimes been adversely affected by the political and military situation. While the majority of the population is Orthodox Christian, there is a sizeable Muslim community, many members of which migrated from the North Caucasus. The planned construction of a Russian Orthodox house of worship in Tskhinvali has encountered opposition from local residents. While some merely disagree with the design and placement of the church, other critics have called the plan an intrusion, noting that the Georgian Orthodox Church retains official jurisdiction over the South Ossetian Orthodox Church. The government exerts influence over the education system. Many South Ossetians receive higher education in Russia. Private discussion is constrained by the sensitivity of some topics, particularly the territory's foreign relations and geopolitical standing. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 1 / 12 While antigovernment protests were extremely rare before the 2008 war, opposition groups mounted demonstrations following the flawed 2009 elections, and Tskhinvali residents protested repeatedly over the slow postwar reconstruction process and related government corruption. In the run-up to the 2014 parliamentary elections, groups were generally able to assemble to support different candidates and platforms without significant intimidation or harassment. Though some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operate in the territory, most are subject to government influence and receive funding from Russia. Activists operate under the close scrutiny of the authorities and have been subject to intimidation in the past. In July 2015, security forces in South Ossetia interrogated Larisa Sotieva, a senior advisor for the United Kingdom-based peacebuilding NGO International Alert, and accused her of committing espionage and teaching local residents how to engineer "color revolutions." After the interrogation, officials banned Sotieva from implementing any International Alert projects in the territory. In October, the leaders of two prominent local NGOs the Association for Social, Economic, and Cultural Development of South Ossetia and the Women's Association for Democracy and Human Rights announced that they were preparing to dissolve their organizations due to increasing scrutiny and pressure by officials. Amendments made to NGO legislation in 2014 increased the oversight capacity of local authorities over NGO activity and subjected organizations with foreign funding to broader and more frequent reporting requirements. The legislation is similar to Russia's infamous "foreign agents" law of 2012. F. Rule of Law: 1 / 16 South Ossetia's judiciary is not independent. The justice system has been manipulated to punish perceived opponents of the separatist leadership, while government allies reportedly continue to violate the law with relative impunity. Russian prosecutors have attempted to curb malfeasance by local officials, but the Russian court system itself remains deeply flawed. Physical abuse and poor conditions are reportedly common in South Ossetian prisons and detention centers. Arbitrary arrests of ethnic Georgians have been reported. In April 2015, on Tibilov's initiative, legislators passed an amnesty act that pardoned or reduced the sentences of 20 convicts. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 3 / 16 Freedom of movement in and out of the territory is restricted. Russian authorities have prevented ethnic Ossetians from entering Georgia, but travel to Russia primarily through the strategic Roki Tunnel, the only land route linking the country to South Ossetia remains largely unimpeded. Russian troops have been known to detain Georgian nationals near the administrative border for illegal crossing, but usually release detainees with a fine. In July 2015, Georgian officials accused Moscow of violating international law after Russian servicemen moved South Ossetia's administrative border as far as one kilometer further into Georgian territory. The territory's political and military situation has negatively affected protections for property rights, particularly for local residents close to the administrative border. The extension of the border in July affected private property, with some landowners reporting loss of access to farmland. The territory's high unemployment rate, lacking industry, and poor administrative coordination have all contributed to difficulties in advancing economic reform. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Slovenia Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 25 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Slovenia, 25 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb7fe.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Free Aggregate Score: 92 Freedom Rating: 1.0 Political Rights: 1 Civil Liberties: 1 Quick Facts Capital: Ljubljana Population: 2,064,000 GDP/capita: $23,962.60 Press Freedom Status: Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW In April 2015, the Constitutional Court ruled that the trial of former prime minister Janez Jansa, who in 2013 was convicted of accepting bribes from the Finnish defense company Patria, had been unfair and ordered a retrial. In September, the court announced that the statute of limitations for the case had expired. Jansa, who had spent several months in jail, appealed, reportedly seeking a new trial so that he could seek damages for wrongful imprisonment. Legal proceedings against journalist Anuska Delic, who had faced allegations of disclosing classified information in a case that had prompted condemnation from media freedom advocates, were dropped in April. Separately, in December, 63 percent of voters rejected a measure that would have permitted same-sex marriage and adoptions. A two-decade border dispute with Croatia which concerns the delineation of the countries' maritime border in the Bay of Piran and parts of their common territorial border made headlines in July when the Croatian newspaper Vecerni list published claims that a Slovenian member of an international arbitration panel on the issue had shared information about the panel's private discussions with a representative of the Slovenian foreign ministry. The Slovenian side initially denied involvement in the so-called Pirangate affair, but conceded after Vecerni list published a transcript of a conversation between the parties. Croatia subsequently withdrew from the arbitration agreement, but the process resumed later in the year under newly appointed arbiters. Slovenia was heavily impacted by Europe's 2015 refugee crisis, and became a transit country after Hungary closed its border with Croatia in October. In November, amid concerns that Austria might close its borders, Slovenia began building a barbed-wire fence on its border with Croatia to limit the flow of refugees and migrants, prompting protests. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 39 / 40 (+1) A. Electoral Process: 12 / 12 Slovenia has a bicameral legislature. Members of the 90-seat National Assembly (Drzavni Zbor) are elected to four-year terms and have the power to elect the prime minister. Members of the 40-seat National Council (Drzavni Svet), a largely advisory body representing professional groups and local interests, are elected to five-year terms. The president is directly elected for up to two five-year terms. In early parliamentary elections held in 2014, Stranka Mira Cerarja (SMC) won with 35 percent of the vote, taking 36 seats. The center-right Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), led by Jansa, took 21 seats, making it the leading opposition party. The Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia (DeSUS) took 10 seats, the United Left Alliance (ZL) and the Social Democrats (SD) each captured 6, New Slovenia-Christian Democrats (NSi) took 5, and the Alliance of Alenka Bratusek (ZaAB) took 4. Two seats were allocated to representatives of ethnic minorities. Following the polls, the parliament approved a three-party coalition comprised of the governing SMC, DeSUS, and SD. In a presidential runoff in 2012, the former prime minister and head of the SD party Borut Pahor defeated incumbent Danilo Turk with 67 percent of the vote to Turk's 33 percent. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 16 / 16 (+1) A number of political parties compete for power in Slovenia. In the 2014 parliamentary elections, 17 parties took part, including several that had formed that year. In addition to the SMC, the newcomers included the ZL, ZaAB, Verjamem, and the Slovenian Pirate Party (PSS). Meanwhile, the former majority Positive Slovenia (PS) lost all 28 of its seats in the legislature. All citizens enjoy full political rights and electoral opportunities. In the National Assembly, one seat each is reserved for Slovenia's Hungarian and Italian minorities. Roma are automatically given seats on 20 municipal councils. C. Functioning of Government: 11 / 12 Corruption is less prevalent in Slovenia than in many of its neighbors, and it usually takes the form of conflicts of interest involving contracts between government officials and private businesses. Proceedings surrounding one high-profile case, involving claims that former prime minister Jansa had accepted bribes from the Finnish defense company Patria, continued in 2015. Jansa had been found guilty in 2013 of having accepting the alleged bribes in a 2006 arms deal with Patria, during his first term as prime minister. He began serving a two-year sentence in 2014 but was granted a temporary injunction that December. In April 2015, the Constitutional Court reversed a previous judgment in the Patria case, saying Jansa had not received a fair trial, and ordered a retrial. In September, a court announced that the statute of limitations for the case had expired, following which Jansa who reportedly sought a retrial so that he might later claim damages for wrongful imprisonment appealed. There have yet to be any convictions in the long-running Patria case. Slovenia was ranked 35 out of 168 countries and territories surveyed in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. Civil Liberties: 53 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 14 / 16 Freedoms of speech and the press are constitutionally guaranteed, but journalists can be legally compelled to reveal their sources, and hate speech is outlawed. Defamation remains a criminal offense, though a July 2015 law amended the defamation statue so that so that officials may no longer bring defamation cases through the state prosecutor, and instead must pursue such claims as private citizens. The government maintains stakes in a number of media outlets and has been known to interfere in the operations of the public broadcaster, Radio Televizija Slovenija. Internet access is unrestricted. Delic, a journalist for the daily Delo, was indicted in 2013 for disseminating information classified by the Slovenian intelligence services in connection with 2011 articles in which she alleged links between the SDS and a neo-Nazi organization. The public prosecutor announced in April 2015 that the charges against her were dropped, but at the same time claimed that Delic was nevertheless guilty. The Slovenian constitution guarantees freedom of religion and contains provisions that prohibit inciting religious intolerance or discrimination. Most residents of Slovenia are Christian. About 2 percent are Muslim; there were no major cases of interfaith conflict in 2015. After a decades-long struggle to build a mosque in Ljubljana, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in 2013; the project was ongoing in 2015. There were no reports of government restrictions on academic freedom during the year. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 12 / 12 The government respects freedoms of assembly and association. Numerous nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operate freely and play a role in policymaking. Workers may establish and join trade unions, strike, and bargain collectively. The Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia has some 300,000 members and controls the four trade union seats in the National Council. F. Rule of Law: 14 / 16 The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the government respects it in practice. Although court backlogs have decreased, they remain a problem. Prison conditions meet international standards, though overcrowding has been reported. In 2014, the country began a national compensation scheme of approximately 19.7 million ($22.4 million) for the so-called "erased." This group is comprised of more 25,000 non-Slovene citizens, mostly from other constituent republics within the former Yugoslavia, who remained in Slovenia after independence and were removed from official records after they failed to apply for citizenship or permanent residency during a brief window in 1992. In 2012, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that the "erasures" were human rights violations and ordered Slovenia to pay compensation to the victims. Thousands of cases have since been approved for payment. In 2009, Pahor's government began enforcing a 2003 Constitutional Court ruling intended to provide retroactive permanent residency status to those who had been erased. Legislation adopted in 2010 reinstated the legal status of those erased in 1992, but implementation has been problematic. Roma face widespread poverty and societal marginalization. While there are legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, discrimination against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people is common. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 13 / 16 Citizens enjoy the right to choose their residence, employment, and institution of higher education. Slovenia does not limit citizens' freedom to move domestically or internationally. However, in November 2015, amid concerns that Austria might close its borders, Slovenia began building a barbed-wire fence on its border with Croatia to limit the flow of refugees and migrants into the country. The move prompted protests from civil society. According to official statistics, the unemployment rate is around 12 percent. Much of the economy remains state controlled. Women hold the same legal rights as men, but they are underrepresented in political life and face discrimination in the workplace. Following the 2014 parliamentary elections, there were 32 women in the National Assembly and 3 in the National Council. In a December 2015 referendum, 63 percent of voters rejected a proposal that would have permitted same-sex couples to marry and adopt children. Voter turnout was low, at about 36 percent. Domestic violence is illegal, but remains a concern in practice. Prostitution has been decriminalized in Slovenia. Men from other countries in Central and Eastern Europe can be found engaged in forced begging in Slovenia. Women and children from Slovenia and elsewhere are subject to forced prostitution. However, authorities actively prosecute suspected human traffickers and work to identify victims. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Sierra Leone Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Sierra Leone, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb8011.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 65 Freedom Rating: 3.0 Political Rights: 3 Civil Liberties: 3 Quick Facts Capital: Freetown Population: 6,502,960 GDP/capita: $774.60 Press Freedom Status: Partly Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW Sierra Leone experienced significant strain related to the Ebola epidemic in 2015. The government continued to employ aggressive tactics to control the spread of the disease, including lockdowns, curfews, and collective quarantines. Independent observers expressed concern about the effects of such tactics on civil liberties as well as on communities' trust in and cooperation with the government. Corruption remained a prevalent problem despite some efforts to combat abuses by public officials. The Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been criticized for its poor prosecutorial record, especially in trials involving President Ernest Bai Koroma's friends, family, and political allies. The commission did, however, initiate a number of investigations into high-level corruption in 2015, particularly into malfeasance in public procurement. The Koroma administration continued to suppress media freedoms through onerous libel and sedition laws during the year. Some critics allege that the government has used state of emergency powers to suppress dissent during the public health crisis. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 28 / 40 A. Electoral Process: 10 / 12 Of the unicameral Parliament's 124 members, 112 are chosen by popular vote, and 12 seats are reserved for indirectly elected paramount chiefs. Parliamentary and presidential elections are held every five years, and presidents may seek a second term. Koroma, the candidate of the All People's Congress (APC) party, was reelected with 59 percent of the vote in 2012; the opposition candidate of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), former military ruler Julius Maada Bio, secured 37 percent. In concurrent parliamentary elections, the APC increased its majority from 59 to 67 seats, and the SLPP won 42 seats; three seats were left vacant and filled in later by-elections. The SLPP refused to accept the results of the 2012 elections and filed a petition alleging numerous voting irregularities. Koroma and Bio later issued a joint statement recognizing the APC's victory, and reversing the SLPP's earlier threat of a government boycott. International observers determined that both the presidential and parliamentary elections were free and fair, and they were widely considered a milestone for the consolidation of peace in the country. Since the 1991-2002 civil war, Sierra Leone has progressed toward increasing fairness and transparency in its electoral process. Sierra Leone implemented its first biometric voter registration system in advance of the 2012 polls. The Political Parties Registration Commission, created in 2002, trained and deployed monitors throughout the country and publicized violations of electoral laws committed by both the APC and SLPP. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 11 / 16 The APC and SLPP are the main political parties. Minor players include the People's Movement for Democratic Change, the National Democratic Alliance, and the United Democratic Movement. The All Political Parties Women's Association and the All Political Parties Youth Association, which became operational in 2011, play important roles in promoting peaceful electoral campaigning, dialogue, and participation. Cohesion within the SLPP has deteriorated since the 2012 elections. As of 2015, the party consisted of two main camps, with the majority of partisans supporting the party's executive council, and a minority supporting Bio. Division within the SLPP has benefited the APC, which achieved overwhelming victories in parliamentary bye-elections in 2015, including in districts traditionally considered SLPP strongholds. Since its electoral victory in 2012, the ruling APC has steadily centralized power within its ranks. In March, Koroma removed Samuel Sam-Sumana from the post of vice president amid allegations by the APC leadership that Sam-Sumana instigated political unrest in his home district of Kono and was attempting to form a new political party. Victor Bockarie Foh, former diplomat and a party loyalist, replaced him. In April, Sam-Sumana challenged the constitutionality of his dismissal, which many critics viewed as a move by Koroma to consolidate power. The Supreme Court upheld the president's decision in September. Tensions between opposition forces and state security continued to escalate in 2015. In April, police stormed the SLPP office in Kenema, reportedly in the interest of suppressing an antigovernment protest. Similar incidents had occurred in 2014. In June of that year, police stormed SLPP offices in Freetown, destroying property and beating party members. The following September, a confrontation between police officers and the SLPP chairman in the district of Kailahun escalated into a riot, which police dispersed with tear gas. Ethnic and religious minorities typically enjoy full political rights and electoral opportunities. C. Functioning of Government: 7 / 12 Corruption remains a pervasive problem at every level of government. Sierra Leone ranked 119 out of 168 countries and territories in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. In November 2015, Transparency International released the latest Africa edition of its Global Corruption Barometer, noting that perceptions of corruption in Sierra Leone are among the highest on the continent. High-level corruption falls under the purview of the ACC and the office of the auditor general. In February, the auditor general reported that the government could not account for a large portion of funds allocated to combatting Ebola, prompting the ACC to launch an investigation within days. Over the course of the year, the ACC initiated additional inquiries into government procurement practices and several ministries over other suspected abuses. The media widely publicized these investigations, which some perceived as a signal of the ACC's ability to function independently. However, the commission has faced criticism for botched investigations and unsuccessful prosecutions, especially in trials involving the president's friends, family, and allies. Sierra Leone was suspended from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2013 for failure to account for royalty and tax irregularities in its contracts with international mining companies. The government subsequently took steps to increase transparency in these areas, including by reviewing and making public all mining and lease agreements. Sierra Leone was deemed compliant with EITI standards in April 2014, and retained this designation in 2015. Civil Liberties: 37 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 12 / 16 Freedoms of speech and the press are constitutionally guaranteed but sometimes violated in practice. The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) was officially launched as the independent national broadcaster in 2010. Numerous independent newspapers circulate freely, and there are dozens of public and private radio and television outlets. The government does not restrict access to the internet, though penetration remains low. Public officials continue to employ the country's antiquated libel and sedition laws to target journalists, activists, and members of the general public. In April 2015, police arrested a private individual on defamation charges for forwarding a message on the WhatsApp platform that contained a negative comment about Koroma. Also in April, another individual was sentenced to six months in prison for allegedly insulting the president in public. Similar abuses had also occurred in 2014. In August of that year, police arrested a journalist working for the biweekly Politico on contempt charges. The arrest was connected to an article in the newspaper that criticized the judiciary for delaying the trial of soldiers accused of mutiny. The journalist was released the next day. In November, police detained a well-known local radio journalist due to his call for open and critical discussion of the government's handling of the Ebola epidemic. Critics allege that the government has used its state of emergency powers to suppress dissent during the public health crisis. In a statement released in April 2015, the Sierra Leone Human Rights Commission accused the police of allowing some groups to assemble and express their views while prohibiting others. Freedom of religion is protected by the constitution and respected in practice, and Sierra Leone has been praised by the United Nations and other organizations for its culture of tolerance across ethnic and religious divides. Interreligious marriage is common, and many Sierra Leoneans practice Christianity and Islam simultaneously. Koroma, a Christian, was elected by an electorate that is roughly 70 percent Muslim. Religious leaders were among the many groups in Sierra Leone to criticize the administration's slow response to the Ebola crisis, but there is no evidence that the denunciations provoked a government backlash. Academic freedom is generally upheld, and private discussion is largely open. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 7 / 12 Freedoms of assembly and association are constitutionally guaranteed and generally observed. However, these freedoms have been restricted under a protracted state of emergency. Human rights groups have expressed concern about politically motivated and discriminatory enforcement of emergency provisions, particularly of a ban on public gatherings. In April 2015, police used tear gas to disperse a group in Kenema that was peacefully protesting Sam-Sumana's dismissal. According to a report released by Amnesty International in November 2015, police forces fired teargas directly into the crowd and used canes to beat participants. Also in April, at least 10 SLPP supporters were arrested for violating the ban on public gatherings following a peaceful march outside the U.S. embassy in Freetown. Civil liberty activists accused the police of turning a blind eye to ruling party supporters, who organized public meetings and marches without interference in 2015. Separately, in August, public discontent with the government's failure to combat sexual and gender-based violence sparked protests in Freetown. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and civic groups operate freely, though a 2008 law requires NGOs to submit annual activity reports and renew registration every two years. While workers have the right to join independent trade unions, violations of labor standards occur regularly. Protests are common, as workers have limited means to pursue redress through the judicial process. They frequently escalate into violence at the hands of the police. F. Rule of Law: 9 / 16 The judiciary has demonstrated a degree of independence and professional conduct in recent years. However, corruption, poor salaries, a lack of resources, police unprofessionalism, and prison overcrowding continue to impede judicial effectiveness. In a public opinion survey conducted by the ACC and released in July 2014, 60 percent of respondents ranked the police as the most corrupt institution in the country. The police have been accused of politically motivated arrests. In December 2015, officers arrested Alie Kabba, an outspoken opposition politician expected to run for the presidency in 2017, and charged him with bigamy following allegations from his former wife, a government minister. Critics noted that many Sierra Leoneans view polygamy as culturally acceptable, and alleged that Kabba was arrested for political reasons. The Special Court for Sierra Leone, a hybrid international and domestic war crimes tribunal, has been working since 2004 to convict those responsible for large-scale human rights abuses during the civil war. In 2012, the court convicted former Liberian president Charles Taylor on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, sentencing him to 50 years in prison in the United Kingdom (UK). Taylor had been accused of fostering an insurgency in Sierra Leone and supporting rebel groups that committed grave human rights abuses. While Sierra Leone's laws increasingly recognize the rights of minority groups, members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community face discrimination and violence. LGBT people are often denied medical services, and there are no laws against hate crimes based on sexual orientation. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 9 / 16 Personal freedoms remained restricted in 2015 under the state of emergency enacted the previous year to curb the spread of Ebola. Most notably, the protracted state of emergency banned public gatherings and imposed a curfew throughout the country, including in regions with no recent cases of Ebola. In April, the government imposed a three-day countrywide lockdown the third since the start of the epidemic. In addition, authorities continued to implement quarantines of entire communities. Although these measures were intended to control the epidemic, many watchdogs denounced some as excessive, noting that lockdowns and curfews could undermine the wellbeing of many Sierra Leoneans, including by restricting their access to food and other necessities. Critics also warned that expansive restrictions on personal freedoms could fuel distrust and undermine cooperation with authorities. As the epidemic finally subsided in August, President Koroma lifted many restrictions, including the ban on gatherings and the curfew, but quickly moved to extend the state of emergency. The maneuver was denounced by opposition politicians, who worried the extension would allow security forces to continue to harass critics. Sierra Leone has attracted an increasing number of international investors in recent years, but has often failed to regulate their activities, exacerbating threats to freedom of residence and property rights. This problem has been especially severe in the lucrative natural resource sector, where reports of economic exploitation are common. In February 2014, Human Rights Watch released a report documenting the forcible relocation of hundreds of families by government officials and the London-based mining company African Minerals; the report detailed police abuses, including assault and the use of live ammunition, against individuals who resisted. In November 2015, a high court in the UK began hearing a claim against the company filed by more than 140 individuals affected by the evictions. Laws passed in 2007 prohibit domestic violence, grant women the right to inherit property, and outlaw forced marriage. Despite these laws and constitutionally guaranteed equality, gender discrimination remains widespread, and female genital mutilation and child marriage are common. Recent policies in the education sector risk reinforcing norms of gender discrimination and threaten equality of opportunity. In April 2015, the government banned "visibly pregnant" girls from attending school, claiming that their presence would exert a negative influence on their cohort. Reports of sexual and gender-based violence rarely result in conviction, and the police unit responsible for investigating and prosecuting these crimes remains underfunded and understaffed. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Seychelles Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Seychelles, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb824.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 68 Freedom Rating: 3.0 Political Rights: 3 Civil Liberties: 3 Quick Facts Capital: Victoria Population: 92,833 GDP/capita: $15,359.20 Press Freedom Status: Partly Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW In October 2015, President James Michel announced that the presidential election would be held early, in December, rather than in the first half of 2016. In a first for Seychelles, the opposition parties performed well enough in the first round to force a runoff election. Michel won the runoff by a narrow margin, leading opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan to challenge the results in court. The case was pending at year's end. Seychelles took several steps to improve its legal framework in 2015, including revisions of its electoral code and Public Order Act. Though the media environment is relatively free, there are few nonpartisan sources of information. Corruption, drug trafficking, and money laundering remain problems in the country. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 26 / 40 (+1) A. Electoral Process: 9 / 12 (+1) The president and the unicameral National Assembly are elected by universal adult suffrage for five-year terms. The president serves as head of government and appoints the cabinet. The opposition Seychelles National Party (SNP) boycotted the last parliamentary elections in 2011 after alleged misconduct by the ruling Parti Lepep (PL) in that year's presidential vote and the failure of the president to implement electoral reforms. The PL consequently won 33 of the 34 National Assembly seats, and the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) took the remaining seat. The Forum for Electoral Reform, comprising representatives from every registered political party, was established by the Electoral Commission (EC) following the 2011 parliamentary elections to review the electoral framework. Acting on recommendations from the forum and the EC, the National Assembly adopted a new election law in late 2014 that was promulgated in May 2015. Key changes included the introduction of year-round voter registration, greater transparency surrounding the register itself, and a provision for voting by citizens living abroad. With the new electoral law in place, the SNP decided to participate in the 2015 presidential election, which became the most competitive in the country's history. None of the six candidates won a majority in the first round of voting. As a result, the opposition coalesced behind Ramkalawan of the SNP in a runoff against the two-term incumbent, Michel of the PL. Michel was reelected for a third term by a margin of just 193 votes. Ramkalawan and the SNP challenged the outcome, alleging irregularities on election day and errors in the final vote tabulation; they submitted petitions to the Constitutional Court that were pending at year's end. International observers, while generally positive in their assessments, reported some concerns over allegations of vote buying and withheld their final reports until the postelection processes could be completed. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 10 / 16 The ruling PL formerly the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) remains the dominant party, having held power continuously since 1977. The leftist SPPF was the only legal party until a 1992 constitutional amendment legalized opposition parties. In 2015, former foreign minister Patrick Pillay led the creation of the first splinter party from the PL, the Lalyans Selselwa (Seychellois Alliance). Further new additions to the political landscape brought the number of presidential candidates to a record high of six. Prior to the December election, some opposition parties claimed that the government was engaged in systematic harassment and intimidation of candidates. A government-aligned newspaper accused Pillay of human trafficking for his alleged abuse of a Sri Lankan employee; Pillay was later questioned and released. The first woman candidate for president, Alexia Amesbury of the Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy (SPSJD), complained of regular intimidation at her home. In the past, the SNP has claimed that its sympathizers face job discrimination in the public sector and harassment by police. C. Functioning of Government: 7 / 12 Concerns over government corruption have focused on a lack of transparency in the privatization and allocation of government-owned land, as well as Seychelles' facilitation of international financial transactions. A 2011 report released by the auditor general revealed nearly two decades of dysfunction in government finances, including unprofessional record-keeping, illegal procedures, and embezzlement. The government and senior political leaders are alleged to provide regulatory cover for foreign individuals and businesses seeking to hide or protect assets from their home governments and conduct illicit financial transfers. Seychelles was ranked 40 out of 168 countries surveyed in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. Civil Liberties: 42 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 11 / 16 The government controls much of the nation's media sector, including the daily Seychelles Nation newspaper, the online resource Seychelles News Agency, and the only broadcast television station. Strict libel laws are in place, though they have not been used against journalists in several years. In 2013, the first private commercial radio station, Pure FM, began broadcasting. Several newspapers are in circulation, but most have partisan ties or are government-run. The government can restrict the broadcast of material considered to be objectionable. The board of directors of the officially nonpartisan Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation includes several non-PL members, though coverage is biased in favor of the ruling party. A political activist who hosted an online television show reported receiving death threats in 2015. Religious freedom is constitutionally guaranteed and largely respected in practice. Churches in this predominantly Roman Catholic country have been strong voices for human rights and democratization, and they generally function without government interference. Smaller religious groups are afforded fewer broadcast opportunities on state radio, and non-Catholic students can be discriminated against in school. Academic freedom is respected, though PL loyalists are reportedly favored in high-level academic appointments. There are few constraints on open and free private discussion. However, in the past individuals have sometimes been threatened, attacked, or briefly detained for posting antigovernment comments on blogs and social media. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 9 / 12 Despite constitutional protections, the freedoms of assembly and association are somewhat restricted in practice. The government occasionally impedes opposition gatherings. In July 2015, the Constitutional Court found that many sections of the 2013 Public Order Act were unconstitutional, including tight restrictions on public assemblies, the president's authority to impose curfews, and a provision allowing police to seize camera footage of law enforcement activities. The National Assembly replaced the law with a new Public Assembly Act in October. Although less restrictive, the revised legislation requires five days' notice to police before public gatherings, and allows the police commissioner to impose conditions on the venue or timing and to halt an assembly in the interest of defense, public safety, public morality, or public health. Organizers can appeal such decisions to the chief justice. Human rights groups and other nongovernmental organizations operate in the country. Workers have the right to strike, but only if all other arbitration procedures have been exhausted; foreign workers who go on strike are subject to deportation. Collective bargaining is rare in practice. F. Rule of Law: 11 / 16 The judiciary is generally independent, but judges sometimes face interference in cases involving major commercial or political interests. Due to the low number of legal professionals in Seychelles, the country brings in expatriate judges to serve fixed-term contracts on the Supreme Court. Contract renewal has the potential to compromise the impartiality of the non-Seychellois magistrates. In August 2015, a Seychellois citizen took office as chief justice of the Supreme Court, replacing a Ugandan national who had served for five years. Security forces have at times been accused of excessive force and other abuses, including torture and arbitrary detention. Prolonged pretrial detention and overcrowding in prisons are common, though the British Commonwealth is assisting with case backlogs, and the government in May 2015 announced a fast-track mechanism to deal with traffic and environmental offenses. Pretrial detainees account for approximately 15 percent of the prison population. In 2011, the country modified its laws to allow pirates captured anywhere in the world to be prosecuted in Seychelles. For several years, the European Union (EU) has transferred suspected Somalian pirates to the country for prosecution, leading to a number of high-profile sentences. This process continued in 2015, though not all cases resulted in conviction. Sexual relations between men remained illegal at the end of 2015. However, a 2006 amendment to the Employment Act prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, and Seychelles pledged in 2011 that it would decriminalize same-sex sexual activity. The issue was still under consideration in 2015. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 11 / 16 The government does not restrict domestic travel but may deny passports for unspecified reasons based on "national interest." While property rights are generally respected, the country's economic life has historically been dominated by people of European and South Asian origin. Seychelles, which has no gender quota system, has one of the world's highest percentages of female lawmakers: 14 women were elected to the legislature in 2011, and 25 percent of the cabinet consists of women. Gender discrimination in employment is illegal, and women hold more than half of public service positions. Inheritance laws do not discriminate against women. However, rape and domestic violence remain significant problems, with most incidents apparently going unreported or unpunished. Seychellois children and some foreign migrants are vulnerable to sex trafficking in the country. Foreign workers, who make up about a fifth of the workforce, can face exploitative conditions in the construction and fishing industries. The government does not actively enforce antitrafficking laws. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Oman Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Oman, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb8411.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Not Free Aggregate Score: 25 Freedom Rating: 5.5 Political Rights: 6 Civil Liberties: 5 Quick Facts Capital: Muscat Population: 4,201,000 GDP/capita: $19,309.60 Press Freedom Status: Not Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW The authorities intensified their efforts to suppress criticism of corruption and the government in 2015, arresting several human rights and political activists. Meanwhile, falling global oil prices put pressure on Oman's economy and the state's ability to maintain social benefits. The government reported a budget deficit of roughly $11.6 billion for the year, despite having reduced its food and fuel subsidies. Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said returned to Oman in March from Germany, where he had been receiving medical treatment since the previous July. Although Qaboos, who has no children or brothers, is known to be ill, a successor has yet to be publicly designated. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 8 / 40 (-1) A. Electoral Process: 2 / 12 Sultan Qaboos has ruled Oman since seizing power from his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur, in 1970. The 1996 basic law, promulgated by decree, created a bicameral body consisting of an appointed Council of State (Majlis al-Dawla) and a wholly elected Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura). Citizens elect the Consultative Council for four-year terms, but the chamber has no legislative powers and can only recommend changes to new laws. The sultan, who issues laws by decree, also serves as the country's prime minister; heads the ministries of defense, foreign affairs, and finance; and is the governor of Oman's central bank. Consultative Council elections were held in October 2015, with 590 nonpartisan candidates competing for the council's 85 seats. Authorities reported a turnout of nearly 57 percent. One woman won a seat. Separately, in November, the sultan appointed the 85 members of the Council of State for a new four-year term, including 13 women. Oman held its first-ever municipal elections in 2012. About half of the eligible voters participated, choosing among 1,475 candidates for seats on 192 local councils. Four women won seats in the municipal elections. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 2 / 16 Political parties are not permitted, and no meaningful, organized political opposition exists. Although all Omani citizens over the age of 21 are eligible to vote, noncitizens represent about 44 percent of the population, and citizenship is difficult to obtain for those with non-Omani fathers. A 2014 law allows the revocation of citizenship for Omanis who join organizations deemed harmful to national interests. C. Functioning of Government: 2 / 12 Oman's legal code does not provide an effective framework for prosecuting corruption, nor does it include freedom of information provisions. However, after anticorruption protests in 2011, Sultan Qaboos issued a decree mandating the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution to increase transparency and efficiency within government ministries while reducing conflicts of interest. Government officials are required by law to declare their assets and sources of wealth. Oman was ranked 60 out of 168 countries and territories surveyed in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. Several high-profile corruption cases involving government officials and executives from Oman's oil industry resulted in convictions and prison terms in 2014. In July 2015, six individuals linked to a state-owned company received prison terms of between three and five years for their role in a scheme to smuggle subsidized diesel fuel for sale outside the country. Discretionary Political Rights Question A: 2 / 4 (-1) Mechanisms exist for citizens to petition the government through local officials, and certain citizens are afforded limited opportunities to petition the sultan in direct meetings. However, the government's growing sensitivity to criticism and Qaboos's health-related absences may impede the effectiveness of such channels. Civil Liberties: 17 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 5 / 16 Freedom of expression is limited, and criticism of the sultan is prohibited. The 2004 Private Radio and Television Companies Law allows for the establishment of private broadcast media outlets. The government permits private print publications, but many of these accept government subsidies, practice self-censorship, or face punishment for crossing political redlines. Omanis have access to the internet through the national telecommunications company, and the government censors politically sensitive and pornographic content. A 2008 decree expanded government oversight and regulation of electronic communications, including on personal blogs. As in 2014, several activists and bloggers were detained for their online writings during 2015. In January, well-known writer Ali al-Rawahi was released after four days of detention for discussing corruption on social media. Later that month, Saeed Jaddad, a human and political rights activist who was a leader of 2011 antigovernment protests in Dhofar, was arrested after writing an open letter to U.S. president Barack Obama about human rights violations in Oman. He faced at least two criminal cases during the year and received one- and three-year prison sentences related to his online activities. Mohammed al-Fazari, a political reform activist and chief editor of the news site Mowatin Magazine, fled the country in July in defiance of a travel ban imposed the previous year; his brother, Mahmoud al-Fazari, was then detained for two weeks and questioned about Mohammed's escape. Five other bloggers and activists were arrested in August for their criticism of the government. Islam is the state religion. Non-Muslims have the right to worship, but they are banned from proselytizing. Non-Muslim religious organizations must register with the government. The Ministry of Awqaf (religious charitable bequests) and Religious Affairs distributes standardized texts for mosque sermons, and imams are expected to stay within the outlines of these texts. The government restricts academic freedom by preventing the publication of material on politically sensitive topics. The authorities reportedly monitor personal communications, and the growing number of arrests, interrogations, and jail terms related to criticism of the government on social media has encouraged self-censorship among ordinary citizens in recent years. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 3 / 12 The right to peaceful assembly within limits is provided for by the basic law. However, all public gatherings require official permission, and the government has the authority to prevent organized public meetings without any appeals process. The authorities have continued to monitor, arrest, and prosecute individuals involved in protests that called for economic and political reforms in 2011 and 2012, including Saeed Jaddad. The basic law allows the formation of nongovernmental organizations, but civic life remains limited. The government has not permitted the establishment of independent human rights organizations and generally uses the registration and licensing process to block the formation of groups that are seen as a threat to stability. Omani workers are legally able to organize and form unions, bargain collectively, and strike. However, there is only one authorized trade union federation, and neither government employees nor household workers are permitted to join unions. Strikes are reportedly rare in practice. F. Rule of Law: 4 / 16 The judiciary is not independent and remains subordinate to the sultan and the Ministry of Justice. Sharia (Islamic law) is the source of all legislation, and Sharia court departments within the civil court system are responsible for family-law matters, such as divorce and inheritance. In less populated areas, tribal laws and customs are frequently used to adjudicate disputes. The penal code assigns prison terms for vaguely defined national security offenses, and security forces do not always adhere to existing rules on arrest and pretrial detention. Prisons are not accessible in practice to independent monitors, but former detainees have reported beatings and other abuse, including during interrogation. The 1996 basic law banned discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, ethnicity, and social class. However, Omani law does not protect noncitizens from discrimination. Same-sex sexual activity is punishable with up to three years in prison, and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people face discrimination in policy and practice. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 5 / 16 Most Omani citizens enjoy freedom of movement, but travel bans are often imposed on political dissidents, and foreign workers cannot leave the country without permission from their employer. State-owned companies and the ruling family are dominant forces in the economy, limiting the role and autonomy of small and other private businesses. Although the basic law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, women suffer from legal and social discrimination. Oman's personal status law, based on Sharia, favors the rights of men over those of women in marriage, divorce, inheritance, and child custody. Only about a third of women participate in the labor force, but the figure has steadily increased in recent years. Oman's labor policies put migrant workers at a severe disadvantage and effectively encourage exploitation. Such workers risk deportation if they abandon their contracts without documentation releasing them from their previous employment agreement, meaning employers can often keep them in abusive conditions. The government has pursued an "Omanization" process in order to replace foreign workers with native Omanis. Among other tactics, temporary visa bans for foreign workers in various professions have been issued or extended since 2013. In 2015, the authorities offered amnesty to tens of thousands of foreign workers who had overstayed their visas, allowing them to return home without penalties. Despite a 2008 antitrafficking law, the authorities do not actively identify or protect human trafficking victims, and prosecutions are relatively rare. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Libya's pro-government forces on Monday cornered Islamic State group militants in their last holdouts in the coastal city of Sirte, after heavy fighting that left dozens of dead and wounded. The battle for IS group's North African stronghold was launched more than three months ago by forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). Loyalist forces have been backed by US air raids for almost a month, amid international concern over the militants' growing influence. IS group overran the Mediterranean hometown of Libya's slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi in mid-2015, sparking fears the militants would use it as a springboard for attacks on Europe. Pro-GNA forces on Monday said they had encircled the jihadists in less than two square kilometres (0.7 square mile) of Sirte, after staging an assault the previous day on its last two IS-held districts. The anti-group fighters "seized a little more than half of district Number Three and 70 percent of district Number One" in the city's downtown seafront area, they said. At least 34 pro-GNA fighters have been killed and 185 wounded since they began their "final battle" to retake the whole of Sirte on Sunday, the hospital for the loyalist forces said. IS group casualty figures have been unavailable. The militants had deployed at least 12 suicide car bombs in a last bid to slow the loyalist advance, pro-GNA forces said. After sporadic clashes during the night, the front was calm on Monday morning, according to an AFP photographer in the city 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli. "Our forces are preparing to launch a new assault on the area where Daesh is encircled," said a spokesman for the pro-GNA campaign, Reda Issa, using an Arabic acronym for IS. In June 2015, IS group fighters seized Sirte, hoisting their black flag above the city's buildings. Pro-GNA forces fought their way into Sirte a year later, this June 9, but their advance has been hampered by snipers, suicide bombings and booby traps. More than 370 loyalist fighters have been killed and nearly 2,000 wounded in the battle for Sirte since May, according to medical sources. The pro-GNA forces are mostly militias from western cities backing the unity government of premier-designate Fayez al-Sarraj and the guards of oil installations that IS has repeatedly tried to seize. Backed by US air strikes since August 1, they managed to seize the militants' headquarters at the Ouagadougou conference centre on August 10, pinning down IS fighters near the sea. As of August 24, US warplanes had carried out 82 strikes, according to the US Africa Command. Since Tuesday, the United States has also begun using more precise AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters in the operation. The United States also leads a coalition fighting IS group in Syria and Iraq, where the militants seized large swathes of territory in 2014. Analysts say ousting IS group from Libya would be a symbolic boost for the country's fragile unity government, but unrest might continue as IS group could carry out more scattered attacks across Libya. Before it was seized by IS group, Sirte was home to some 120,000 residents, but a pro-GNA military leader said this month that all had fled except for the families of the militants. Pentagon spokesman Gordon Trowbridge this month estimated that militants in Sirte numbered fewer than 1,000. IS group took advantage of the chaos in Libya after the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Kadhafi, as rival militias and authorities have vied for control of the oil-rich country. A UN-brokered deal struck in December led to Sarraj's unity government starting to work in the capital Tripoli, but it has since struggled to fully assert its authority over the country. The presidential council headed by Sarraj said last Wednesday it would present a new cabinet line-up in an attempt to secure the backing of parliament. The legislature rejected a previous line-up on August 22, setting a "final" time limit of 10 days for the council to propose a new cabinet team. Search Keywords: Short link: Freedom in the World 2016 - Latvia Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Latvia, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb864.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Free Aggregate Score: 86 Freedom Rating: 2.0 Political Rights: 2 Civil Liberties: 2 Quick Facts Capital: Riga Population: 1,978,454 GDP/capita: $16,037.80 Press Freedom Status: Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW In December 2015, Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma of the Unity party resigned, following serious internal strife among the parties that comprised Latvia's governing coalition. At the year's end, the governing parties had not nominated a new prime minister. Separately, in June the Latvian parliament elected a new president, Raimonds Vejonis, of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS). He previously served as defense minister and environment minister. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine continued to exacerbate the existing social and political divide between the country's ethnic Latvians and its sizable ethnic Russian minority. The division was also aggravated by resilient socioeconomic inequality between the groups, with unemployment higher among ethnic Russians than ethnic Latvians. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 35 / 40 (+1) A. Electoral Process: 12 / 12 The Latvian constitution provides for a unicameral, 100-seat parliament, whose members are elected to four-year terms. The parliament elects the president in a secret-ballot vote; the president serves up to two four-year terms. The prime minister is nominated by the president and approved by the parliament. Recent parliamentary elections have generally been considered free and fair. However, there were reports of vote buying during the 2014 parliamentary elections, resulting in the initiation of seven criminal investigations; at least five people were subsequently convicted in the fall of 2015. The 2014 parliamentary elections saw a victory by the ruling, conservative coalition, which is comprised of the Unity party, ZZS, and the nationalist National Alliance. Together the three parties took 58 percent of the vote. Harmony Center, which represents the interests of Latvia's ethnic Russians as an alliance of the Socialist Party (LSP) and the Social Democratic Party (TSP), took 23 percent of the vote, compared to 28 percent in 2010. However, it still won more votes than any other single party, with one more seat in the legislature than second-place finisher Unity. Harmony is chaired by Riga's mayor, Nils Usakovs. Straujuma, of Unity, was confirmed as prime minister in early 2014 and remained in the post following parliamentary elections later that year. However, in December 2015, she announced her resignation, due to disagreements among coalition partners and a lack of support from Unity. Her successor had not been nominated at year's end. In June 2015, ZZS, backed by Unity, nominated defense minister and former environment minister Vejonis to the presidency. (The incumbent, Andris Berzins of ZZS, had announced in April that he would not seek another term.) Voting lasted five rounds and tested the stability of the coalition government, as Vejonis's main competitor, Egils Levits, a judge for the European Court of Justice, was nominated by the National Alliance. There has been ongoing debate on electoral reforms. In late 2014, parliament gave its initial support for direct presidential elections, referring the proposal to a parliamentary committee for further discussion. The change would require a constitutional amendment, a procedure requiring the support of two-thirds of the parliament. In February 2015, lawmakers dismissed a proposed amendment to hold presidential elections through open balloting in the parliament, rather than via the current secret ballot procedure. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 14 / 16 Latvia's political parties organize and compete freely. Latvian political candidates cannot run as independents, and those who belonged to communist or pro-Soviet organizations after 1991 may not hold public office. Harmony Center and its predecessors, mostly supported by Latvia's Russian-speaking population, have never been invited to participate in a coalition government. Residents who do not hold Latvian citizenship may not vote (including in local elections), hold public office, work in government offices, or establish political parties. Approximately 12 percent of Latvia's residents are noncitizens; most are ethnic Russians. Under 2013 changes to Latvia's citizenship law, Latvian nationals and their descendants who emigrated to other current European Union (EU) member states due to Nazi or Soviet occupation can have dual citizenship if they can speak the Latvian language and prove that they or their ancestors lived in Latvia. Another amendment states that children of noncitizens born after August 1991 can gain Latvian citizenship if they reside in Latvia permanently and have never acquired citizenship in another state. C. Functioning of Government: 9 / 12 (+1) Corruption remains a problem. Latvia's Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) is tasked with fighting corruption, and it and other authorities pursued several high-profile cases in 2015. In August, Ugis Magonis, head of the state-owned Latvian railway company, was detained in connection with an alleged bribery scheme worth nearly 500,000 ($560,000), involving a train-construction contract. In October, the Latvian Economic Police requested that the prosecutor's office begin an investigation against the Riga port authority chief, Leonids Loginovs, as well as his deputy, for abusing their positions. In December, KNAB issued a fine against Health Minister Guntis Belevics for ruling in a disciplinary case in which he had a conflict of interest. Long running criminal corruption proceedings against the so-called oligarchs Aivars Lembergs and Ainars Slesers have stalled; in September, the general prosecutor referred the case against them back to the KNAB for further investigation. The effectiveness of KNAB itself, especially in dealing with foreign bribery, was questioned in an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report released in October, which raised "serious concerns" about the bureau's operations. The report also noted long-standing suspicions of money laundering in Latvia's financial sector. Levels of administrative corruption have declined somewhat in recent years. Public transparency and accountability has also improved. Reforms enacted in 2012 introduced state funding of political parties and restrictions on overall party and preelection spending. In addition to these measures, in 2012, parliament amended the process to appoint judges, the prosecutor general, the KNAB director, and other positions, introducing an open vote. In 2013, the public procurement system was made more open and centralized. Latvia was ranked 40 out of 168 countries and territories surveyed in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. Civil Liberties: 51 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 15 / 16 The constitution protects freedom of the press. While Latvian media outlets publicize a wide range of political views in both Latvian and Russian, government offices and courts sometimes interfere with media outlets' and reporters' work. Libel remains a criminal offense. Past attacks against journalists, including the 2010 murder of Grigorijs Nemcovs the publisher of Million, a Russian-language newspaper focusing on political corruption remain unsolved. Financial pressures have prompted changes in ownership or in senior editorial staff at numerous media outlets in recent years. Some outlets have been forced to merge or dramatically cut costs. In recent year, the media sector has seen the increased influence of private and state-controlled Russian media. In July 2015, parliament dismissed Ainars Dimants, the head of the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEMMC), which both regulates broadcasting and runs public broadcasting. The move was criticized by President Vejonis, representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and other actors as a politically motivated attempt to interfere with the autonomy of the NEMMC. A court overturned Dimants's dismissal in December. Legislation introduced in 2013 banned the display of Soviet and Nazi symbols at public events. The government does not restrict the internet or monitor private online communications without obtaining the proper legal authority. Freedom of religion is generally respected. However, in the wake of the 2015 refugee crisis, social pressure on Muslims has increased. Some politicians have suggested that Latvia should not accept Muslim refugees because perceived differences in values will prevent them from integrating into Latvian society. In September, the Riga police interfered with a group of Muslims praying in one of city's courtyards, and fined the Latvian Islamic Cultural Center for holding an event without permission from the relevant authorities. In June 2015, parliament adopted a law, initiated by Harmony Center, mandating that schools provide children a "moral education" that coincides with the values of the constitution, including traditional views of marriage and family life. Academic freedom is generally respected. Private discussion is open and free. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 12 / 12 Freedoms of assembly and association are protected by law, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. The government does not restrict the activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Workers may establish trade unions, strike, and engage in collective bargaining. F. Rule of Law: 12 / 16 While judicial independence is generally respected, inefficiency, politicization, and corruption continue to be problems, and many citizens distrust both the police and the courts, according to recent polling by Transparency International. Lengthy pretrial detention remains a concern, and law enforcement officials have allegedly abused prisoners. Prisons continue to suffer from overcrowding, and many detainees have poor access to health care. Roma face discrimination, as do LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people. Latvian laws do not offer protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In March 2015, several dozen people held a protest in Riga against a planned LGBT pride event. Under heavy security, the event took place peacefully in June. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 12 / 16 Citizens and noncitizens may travel freely within the country and internationally. Latvia in recent years has implemented some reforms to improve the environment for businesses and workers, though corruption represents a major impediment to many business activities. Women enjoy the same legal rights as men, but often face employment and wage discrimination. Domestic violence is not frequently reported, and police do not always take meaningful action when it is. Same-sex marriage was banned in 2005. Income inequality in Latvia is high, and the welfare system is inadequate. According to Eurostat, around 31 percent of Latvia's population was at risk of social exclusion or poverty in 2015, one of the highest rates in the EU. Unemployment is higher among ethnic Russians than ethnic Latvians. Poor economic conditions and high unemployment have prompted many young, highly educated people to leave Latvia. While the country's 2011 census showed that Latvia lost some 13 percent of its population between 2000 and 2011, emigration has slowed somewhat in recent years. The U.S. State Department has praised Latvia for prosecuting cases of sham marriages that leave women vulnerable to sex or labor trafficking, saying its efforts helped raise awareness of the issue across Europe. However, the department found efforts to prevent other forms of human trafficking lacking, noting that there has not been a labor trafficking investigation in Latvia since 2009, nor were there any sex trafficking convictions in Latvia in 2015. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Finland Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 25 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Finland, 25 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb876.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Free Aggregate Score: 100 Freedom Rating: 1.0 Political Rights: 1 Civil Liberties: 1 Quick Facts Capital: Helsinki Population: 5,476,031 GDP/capita: $49,541.30 Press Freedom Status: Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW Parliamentary elections in April 2015 resulted in a change of government, as the opposition Center Party (KESK) gained the greatest number of seats and formed a coalition with the incumbent National Coalition Party (KOK) and the controversial anti-immigration Finns Party. Europe's refugee crisis challenged the new government, with arrivals spiking in the fall and straining available resources and public receptiveness. Meanwhile, the economy continued to shrink, leading to a wide-ranging strike against austerity measures in September that brought much of the transportation system to a standstill for a day. The government and participating unions had not reached an agreement by year's end. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 40 / 40 A. Electoral Process: 12 / 12 The president, whose role is mainly ceremonial, is directly elected for a six-year term. The president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or coalition after elections; the selection must be approved by the parliament. Representatives in the 200-seat, unicameral Eduskunta are elected to four-year terms. Elections in Finland are free and fair. Former finance minister Sauli Niinisto of the KOK handily won the presidency in 2012, defeating the Green League candidate, Pekka Haavisto, with 63 percent of the vote. In the April 2015 parliamentary elections, the KESK gained 14 seats to become the largest party, with a total of 49. The Finns Party placed second with 38 seats, followed by the moderate conservative KOK with 37 and the Social Democratic Party with 34. The remaining seats were captured by the Green League (15), the Left Alliance (12), the Swedish People's Party (9), and the Christian Democrats (5). A representative of the Aland Islands held one seat. At the end of May, KESK leader and new prime minister Juha Sipila formed a government with the KOK and the Finns Party. Finns Party leader Timo Soini was appointed foreign minister. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 16 / 16 Finland boasts a robust multiparty system with strong opposition parties. The position of the Finns Party on the subject of immigration remains a controversial subject, both within and outside the party. While Soini has sought to maintain a more moderate stance, several high-profile party members who serve in the parliament also belong to the nationalist group Suomen Sisu. This faction has expressed fierce disagreement with the party leadership's compromises. Suomen Sisou chairman and Finns Party lawmaker Olli Immonen's anti-immigration statements on social media in July 2015 renewed doubt about whether Soini could maintain control over the party's radical elements. Representative James Hirvisaari was expelled from the party in 2013 for posting pictures online of a friend performing a Nazi salute in the Eduskunta; his expulsion was interpreted by some as an effort to shift the party's image toward the political mainstream. However, more recent incidents have not resulted in similar penalties, including comments by a reserve councilor in Helsinki who called for the forced sterilization of male African immigrants in May 2015. Meanwhile, the Finns Party's participation in the governing coalition apparently cost it some public support, with an October opinion poll showing a drop of 7 percentage points since the elections. Citizens from minority ethnic groups enjoy full political rights. The Aland Islands an autonomous region located off the southwestern coast whose inhabitants speak Swedish have their own 30-seat parliament, as well as a seat in the national legislature. The indigenous Sami of northern Finland have a legislature with limited powers, but they do not have guaranteed representation in the Eduskunta, accounting for less than 0.1 percent of the population. C. Functioning of Government: 12 / 12 Corruption is not a significant problem in Finland, which was ranked 2 out of 168 countries and territories surveyed in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. A 2009 law was amended the following year to require candidates and parties to report campaign donations of more than 800 ($900) in local elections or 1,500 ($1,700) in parliamentary elections. In a scandal that shocked the country, the former head of Helsinki's police narcotics unit was charged in May 2015 with multiple corruption and drug offenses, including smuggling approximately 1,000 pounds of hashish into Finland. The case was ongoing at year's end. Civil Liberties: 60 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 16 / 16 Finnish law provides for freedom of speech, which is respected in practice. Finland has a large variety of newspapers and magazines and protects the right to reply to public criticism. Newspapers are privately owned but publicly subsidized. There is also a diverse range of television and radio outlets, and the internet is widely used and unrestricted. In October 2015, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Finnish authorities had not acted in violation of freedom of expression when they convicted a photographer in 2007 for disobeying the police while covering a 2006 demonstration. Finns enjoy freedom of religion. The Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church are both state churches and receive public money from the income taxes of members; citizens may exempt themselves from contributing to those funds, but must renounce their membership. Religious communities other than the state churches may also receive state funds. Religious education is part of the curriculum in all secondary public schools, but students may opt out in favor of more general instruction in ethics. Academic freedom is respected. In March 2015, the parliament voted against ending compulsory teaching of Swedish as a second language in Finland's schools by a large margin. However, legislators approved a motion by the KOK and KESK to allow Russian to be taught instead of Swedish in eastern Finland. There are no impediments to open and free private discussion. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 12 / 12 Freedoms of association and assembly are upheld in law and in practice. Independence Day celebrations in December 2015 led to unusually violent clashes between right-wing nationalists, anarchist groups, and police in Helsinki. Police temporarily detained 130 people, and 30 had been charged with various offenses by year's end. Nongovernmental organizations operate without restrictions. Workers have the right to organize and bargain collectively, though public-sector workers who provide services deemed essential may not strike. Approximately 70 percent of workers belong to trade unions. In the country's largest strike in over two decades, tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Helsinki on September 18, 2015, closing down ports, disrupting flights, and stopping train and bus service. The one-day strike was organized to protest the government's recent austerity proposals, which included cutting Sunday and overtime pay and reducing the number of holidays. Negotiations between the government and the unions failed to produce an agreement by the end of 2015. F. Rule of Law: 16 / 16 The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, and the courts operate without political interference in practice. The president appoints judges on the recommendation of the justice minister, advised by a Judicial Appointments Board composed mostly of senior judges. The Ministry of the Interior controls police and Border Guard forces. Ethnic minorities and asylum seekers report occasional police discrimination. The criminal code covers ethnic agitation and penalizes anyone who threatens a racial, national, ethnic, or religious group. Finland received more than 32,000 asylum applications in 2015. A sudden influx in the fall stretched the country's resources and inflamed political and public resistance to accepting refugees. Authorities struggled to process applications and provide housing for applicants; in September, Prime Minister Sipila offered up his own home to accommodate some of them. Refugees have been subject to some physical attacks, including attempted arson at an asylum center and an incident in which assailants hurled fireworks and stones at a bus traveling to a reception center, both in September. In the same month, demonstrators in the northern border town of Tornio formed a human chain to stop refugees from entering Finland from Sweden, while pro-immigration demonstrations took place on the Swedish side. Finland abstained from a September vote of European Union interior ministers that approved national quotas for resettling 120,000 refugees currently in Italy and Greece. Under this and other intra-European relocation plans agreed to during 2015, Finland was expected to take in 3,200 asylum seekers over two years. The constitution guarantees the Sami people cultural autonomy and the right to pursue their traditional livelihoods, which include fishing and reindeer herding. Their language and culture are also protected through public financial support. However, representatives of the community have complained that they cannot exercise their rights in practice and that they do not have the right to self-determination with respect to land use. While Roma also make up a very small percentage of the Finnish population, they are more significantly disadvantaged and marginalized. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 16 / 16 Finland has one of the most expansive legal definitions of "freedom to roam" in the world. Provided the privacy of a private residence is not violated and no environmental damage is incurred, anyone is free to use any land, public and private, for outdoor recreation purposes, without having to seek permission beforehand. Intellectual and physical property rights are upheld in Finland. There are no major obstacles to establishing a business, and the country boasts a well-regulated, transparent, and open economy. Women enjoy equal rights in Finland. Women hold 41.5 percent of the seats in the Eduskunta. Despite a law stipulating equal pay for equal work, however, women earn only about 85 percent as much as men with the same qualifications. Domestic violence is an ongoing concern. In late 2014, the parliament passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage after it was submitted by citizens' initiative a constitutional mechanism whereby petitions with more than 50,000 signatures must be considered by lawmakers. President Niinisto signed the measure in February 2015, but another citizens' initiative to reverse the law gathered the required number of signatures by July. The parliament was expected to debate that proposal in 2016; the same-sex marriage law, if upheld, was scheduled to take effect in 2017. Finland remains a destination and a transit country for men, women, and children who are subjected to sex trafficking and labor exploitation in various industries. According to the U.S. State Department, the government actively prosecutes trafficking offenses, and victims have access to protection and assistance, though victim identification remained a challenge, particularly for child victims. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Estonia Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Estonia, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb8938.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Free Aggregate Score: 94 Freedom Rating: 1.0 Political Rights: 1 Civil Liberties: 1 Quick Facts Capital: Tallinn Population: 1,310,504 GDP/capita: $19,719.80 Press Freedom Status: Free Net Freedom Status: Free OVERVIEW Following the March 2015 parliamentary elections, the ruling pro-business Reform Party formed a coalition with the center-left Social Democratic Party (SDE) and the center-right Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (IRL). The legislature became increasingly fragmented throughout the year, calling into question the stability of the government. By late 2015, four cabinet ministers, including the foreign minister, had been replaced. Two separate corruption scandals in 2015 one involving opposition leader Edgar Savisaar and another the managers of the port of Tallinn with close ties to the Reform Party shook the country's political landscape. The Russian annexation of Crimea and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine continued to raise tensions in Estonia about the potential for Russian expansionism. Estonia, which has a significant minority population who speak Russian as their primary language, launched a new publicly financed television channel in Russian in 2015 to counteract anti-Western broadcasts from Moscow. In an operation reminiscent of the Cold War, Estonian intelligence officer Eston Kohver, who had been imprisoned by Russia in August on charges of espionage, was released in September in exchange for Russian spy Aleksei Dressen. Also during the year, the process of finalizing the long-awaited border treaty between Estonia and Russia continued. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 38 / 40 (-1) A. Electoral Process: 12 / 12 The 1992 constitution established a 101-seat, unicameral Parliament (Riigikogu), whose members are elected for four-year terms. A prime minister, chosen by the president and confirmed by the parliament, serves as head of government. The president is elected by parliamentary ballot to a five-year term, filling the largely ceremonial role of head of state. Toomas Ilves, who currently is not a member of any political party, has been president since 2006. Independent observers have deemed recent elections free and fair. In parliamentary elections held in March 2015, the ruling Reform Party led by Prime Minister Taavi Roivas captured 30 seats, down slightly from 33 in 2011, while its previous coalition partner, the SDE, took 15 seats, down from 19. The IRL experienced the greatest loss, winning only 14 seats, or 9 fewer than four years earlier. Meanwhile, the opposition Centre Party took 27 seats, or just 1 more than in 2011. The public's dissatisfaction with traditional political parties benefitted two new parties: the conservative, anti-establishment Free Party took 8 seats, and the far-right Conservative People's Party won 7 seats. Voter turnout was 64 percent, with online voting used by about 30 percent of voters. Following lengthy negotiations, the Reform Party formed a majority coalition with the IRL and SDE; Roivas was reelected prime minister. However, the three partners had serious policy disagreements, and the government remained shaky throughout the year. During the summer, the SDE attempted to change the coalition agreement and even considered withdrawing from the coalition. Following its decision to remain in the government, all three SDE cabinet ministers were replaced. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 15 / 16 Estonia's political parties organize and operate freely. Their members can be citizens of Estonia or of another EU member state. Despite facing corruption scandals and some unpopular policies, the Reform Party has dominated the government since 2007. Its main rival on the left is the Centre Party, which has connections with Russia's main political party, United Russia, and draws much of its support from Estonia's Russian-speaking population. Newer political forces, the Free Party and Conservative People's Party, are represented for the first time in the parliament following the 2015 elections. Only citizens may participate in national elections. As a result, ethnic Russian residents of Estonia whose citizenship remains undetermined constituting approximately 7 percent of the population cannot vote in national polls. Resident noncitizens are permitted to vote in local elections, but may not run as candidates. C. Functioning of Government: 11 / 12 (-1) There have been occasional problems with government corruption. Recent years have seen heavily publicized allegations of money laundering within both the Reform Party and the Center Party. Several scandals emerged in 2015, including allegations implicating politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties in bribery, money laundering, and political patronage. In September, Edgar Savisaar, the mayor of Tallinn and leader of the Center Party, was detained by police on suspicion of taking bribes in 2014 and 2015. In another case, managers at the Port of Tallinn with close ties to prominent politicians were arrested in August on bribery charges. Recent surveys show that Estonian residents perceive widespread corruption within the country. However, it continues to score highly on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 23 of 168 countries and territories surveyed in the 2015 report. Public access to government information and asset declarations of officials is provided for both in law and in practice, and the government involves nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and ordinary citizens in the drafting of legislation. In March 2015, the Finance Ministry approved a new ethics code for government officials. In July 2015, Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus of the Reform Party resigned following a court ruling holding her partly liable for debts accumulated by her father's bankrupt trucking company, Autorollo. Although she denied any wrongdoing and said she would appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, Pentus-Rosimannus explained that she would step down out of respect for Estonia and its government institutions. Top members of the Reform Party had been implicated two years earlier in the so-called Autorollo scandal, in which significant funds were transferred from the firm's coffers just ahead of its bankruptcy declaration. Civil Liberties: 56 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 16 / 16 The government generally respects freedom of the press. Public and private television and radio stations operate in Estonia, and there are a number of independent newspapers, including at least one in Russian. In September 2015, the authorities launched ETV+, the only government-funded television channel entirely in Russian, to counter anti-Western television broadcasts from Moscow. A 2010 law authorized fines for outlets that disseminate news deemed libelous, as well as for journalists who refuse to reveal sources under certain circumstances. It remains illegal to insult court officials or police officers in connection with their official responsibilities. The government does not restrict access to the internet, which is widely available throughout the country, or monitor private online communication. Religious freedom is respected in law and in practice. Academic freedom and private discussion are respected. A 2011 law mandates that public Russian-language high schools must teach 60 percent of their curriculum in the Estonian language. In 2013, the government rejected a petition from Tallinn's city council to allow four public secondary schools in the city to waive that requirement. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 12 / 12 The constitution guarantees freedoms of assembly and association, and the government upholds those rights in practice. Civil society is vibrant. Workers may organize freely, strike, and bargain collectively, although public servants at the municipal and state levels may not strike. The Confederation of Estonian Trade Unions has reported private-sector violations of union rights, including workers threatened with dismissal or pay cuts if they formed unions. F. Rule of Law: 14 / 16 The judiciary is independent and generally free from government interference. Laws prohibiting arbitrary arrest and detention and ensuring the right to a fair trial are largely observed. There have been reports of law enforcement officials using excessive force when arresting suspects. A police officer who was found guilty in January 2015 of having used excessive force in 2011 was sentenced to one year in prison and three years' probation. While the country's prison system generally meets international standards, some inmates reportedly have inadequate access to health care. Asylum seekers and refugees are legally protected and provided with basic services, including cultural orientation programs. In the first eight months of 2015, the government gave temporary protection to 33 people, mostly from Ukraine, who might not ultimately qualify as refugees. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 91,000 residents of Estonia, or just over 6 percent of the country's population, are stateless. Most are ethnic Russians who came to Estonia during the Soviet era and whom the Estonian government regards as immigrants who must apply for citizenship through a process including passing an Estonian language examination. The authorities have adopted policies to assist those seeking naturalization, such as funding language courses. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 14 / 16 Estonia's constitution allows citizens and noncitizens holding government-issued identity documents to travel inside Estonia and abroad. Although corruption in the business sector is problematic, Estonian residents enjoy a high level of economic freedom. Violence against women, including domestic violence, remains a problem. Local governments in cooperation with NGOs provide victims of gender-based violence with assistance, including counseling and legal aid. Women in Estonia earn on average 30 percent less than men, the largest gap in the European Union. Estonia is a source, transit point, and destination for women trafficked for the purpose of prostitution. Estonia criminalized human trafficking in 2012. Discrimination based on sexual orientation is legally prohibited, though harassment of members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) communities is reportedly common. In October 2014, Estonia's parliament narrowly approved legislation permitting same-sex partnerships. The law allows two people in a civil union nearly identical rights to those of married couples, but does not allow same-sex partners in a civil union to adopt; it does allow a person to adopt his or her partner's biological child. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Cote d'Ivoire Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Cote d'Ivoire, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb8ac.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 51 Freedom Rating: 4.0 Political Rights: 4 Civil Liberties: 4 Ratings Change: Cote d'Ivoire's political rights rating improved from 5 to 4 due to the circumstances surrounding the October presidential election, which was arguably the freest, fairest, and most peaceful in the country's history, and which demonstrated the political sphere's increasing autonomy from the military and international actors. Quick Facts Capital: Yamoussoukro Population: 23,281,300 GDP/capita: $1,514.90 Press Freedom Status: Partly Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW In 2015, hopes mounted that Cote d'Ivoire was at long last turning the page from some 15 years of extreme political turbulence that had peaked in a 2010-11 postelection crisis that brought the country to the brink of disaster. In October, President Alassane Ouattara leader of the Rally of the Republicans (RDR) party won a second and final term in a landslide victory. Although the lead-up to the vote was marred by sporadic arrests of opposition supporters and dispersal of their rallies, the election was ultimately largely peaceful and found to be credible by domestic and international observers. Former president Laurent Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party remains deeply divided, and its hardliners boycotted the election. Longstanding concerns about victor's justice and reconciliation persist. The Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CDVR), established in 2011, delivered its final report to Ouattara in December 2014, but the report had not yet been made public as of the end of 2015. The Ivorian government refused to transfer Simone Gbagbo, Laurent Gbagbo's wife, to the International Criminal Court (ICC), where she faces four counts of crimes against humanity. She was instead prosecuted in Cote d'Ivoire for crimes against the state, receiving a 20-year prison sentence in March 2015. Meanwhile, the ICC moved forward with a joint case against Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Ble Goude, a former youth minister and leader of a pro-Gbagbo militia; that trial is scheduled to begin in early 2016. Pro-Ouattara forces have also been accused of committing war crimes during the 2010-11 crisis, and it emerged in the summer of 2015 that about 20 pro-Ouattara military officers had recently been charged in Cote d'Ivoire in connection with the violence. Previously, little had been done, either internationally or domestically, to bring pro-Ouattara forces to justice. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 20 / 40 (+3) A. Electoral Process: 7 / 12 (+1) The constitution provides for the popular election of a president and a unicameral National Assembly composed of 255 members for five-year terms. Ouattara won the 2015 presidential election in the first round with nearly 84 percent of the vote, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI). Pascal Affi N'Guessan of the FPI came in second, with 9.3 percent. Despite tensions and some government crackdowns on opposition rallies, the election was among the freest, fairest, and most peaceful in Cote d'Ivoire's history, and was found by international and domestic observers to be credible. According to the CEI, 54.6 percent of registered voters turned out. The election was the first presidential poll since the 2010 vote, which had occurred after years of delays and triggered an internal conflict that left 3,000 dead and another one million displaced when Gbagbo, the incumbent, refused to concede the internationally recognized victory of Ouattara. Gbagbo was ultimately arrested with the assistance of French and UN troops, and Ouattara assumed office in April 2011. Given large economic gains since taking office and a divided opposition, Ouattara was widely favored to win a second term despite concern over the possibility of electoral violence. As the election approached, tensions were fueled by disputes over the objectivity of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) and access to state media. Exacerbating matters, the government banned and dispersed several opposition protest rallies, arresting dozens of individuals, including opposition party officials. According to an October open letter signed by a coalition of human rights groups, at least three opposition protesters were detained in secret facilities for weeks before being sentenced to six months in prison on charges related to disturbing the public order. Three of the 10 presidential candidates withdrew, alleging rigging, and FPI hardliners called upon supporters to boycott the election. According to the CEI, 54.6 percent of registered voters turned out. The first largely peaceful and fair parliamentary elections in more than a decade were held in December 2011. Ouattara's RDR party won 127 seats in the National Assembly, while the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA) placed second with 77 seats. The FPI boycotted the vote, leveling claims of bias against the electoral commission, protesting the jailing of its senior leadership, and accusing state security forces of intimidation. The RDR also won a majority of contests in the April 2013 local and regional elections, followed by the PDCI-RDA. Several opposition parties again boycotted those elections. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 8 / 16 (+1) The RDR and the PDCI-RDA form the country's dominant coalition, holding a virtual lock on national political power. The FPI remains weak and disorganized, marked by deep divisions and infighting since Gbagbo's arrest, with supporters split between hardliners who insist on Gbagbo's release, and moderates who support N'Guessan. Although Ouattara visited a Gbagbo stronghold in September and called for forgiveness, national reconciliation has continued to be a challenge, with divisions persisting over long-detained Gbagbo supporters and accusations of "victor's justice" by Ouattara's government. However, for at least the moderate wing of the FPI, there are signs of renewed willingness to participate more fully in the political process, after the party boycotted the 2011 parliamentary and 2013 local elections. The armed forces are increasingly under civilian control, making the military, so-called volunteers, and miscellaneous militia members less of a presence during the 2015 balloting than during previous elections. A new nationality law allowing both male and female foreigners who marry Ivorian nationals to acquire citizenship went into effect in April 2014. Citizenship has been a perennial source of conflict since Ivorian nationalists adopted former president Henri Bedie's concept of "Ivoirite" to exclude perceived foreigners (including Ouattara) from the political process. C. Functioning of Government: 5 / 12 (+1) With security forces increasingly under civilian control and the influence of international actors in domestic politics reduced compared to previous years, Cote d'Ivoire's acute crisis phase continues to recede. More than any time since 1999, the president and national assembly make their own policy. Corruption remains endemic, with Cote d'Ivoire ranked 107 out of 168 countries and territories surveyed in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. Perpetrators seldom face prosecution or public exposure despite the government's official "zero tolerance" policy. According to a July Human Rights Watch report, despite the government making some progress in dismantling illegal checkpoints and thereby reducing extortion in and around Abidjan and on major roads, an anti-racket unit created in 2011 has made little impact outside those regions, and prosecutions for checkpoint extortion are rare. Some small steps have been taken to curb corruption in other arenas of the public sector. For example, in September the Ministry for Public Service announced that it had identified 2,286 public-sector workers who had not passed the requisite entrance exam, many of whom had likely bribed their way into their positions. Also in September, the High Authority on Good Governance (HABG), a body launched in 2014, invited high-level functionaries to disclose their assets. There has been some criticism that the HABG which is ostensibly charged with fighting corruption is too underfunded to prove effective, and its independence remains to be seen. In 2013, the National Assembly passed an access to information law. In March 2014, the government announced that it would launch a Commission on Access to Information to monitor the application of the law. Civil Liberties: 30 / 40 (+2) D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 11 / 16 (+1) Freedoms of speech and of the press are protected by the constitution and by the country's laws, though there are prohibitions on speech that incites violence, hatred, or rebellion. These prohibitions are enforced by the media regulatory body, the Conseil National de la Presse (CNP), which frequently fines or reprimands journalists and suspends outlets for allegedly spreading incendiary or false information. In October 2015, the CNP issued three-day suspensions to three pro-Gbagbo newspapers for promoting a boycott of the presidential election. Journalists have been jailed for insulting Ouattara on two separate occasions since he was elected. In the most recent incident, Joseph Gnanhoua Titi, the editor of Aujourd'hui, a pro-Gbagbo daily, was arrested in July 2015 after his newspaper published an article linking Ouattara to the embezzlement of aid funds, among other misdeeds. Titi was held for six days before the charges against him were dismissed. Nonetheless, conditions for the press have improved since the end of the 2010-11 conflict, and incidents of violence and intimidation against journalists are rare. There were no credible reports that the government restricted access to the internet or illegally monitored online communications. About 21 percent of the population had access to the medium in 2015. Legal guarantees of religious freedom are typically upheld, though political and religious identities tend to overlap with ethnicity and geography. Religious and traditional organizations have been instrumental in leading the postconflict reconciliation process at the local level. A north-south, Christian-Muslim schism has been a salient feature of Ivorian life since the civil war started in 2002, and was brought to a head in the crisis of 2010-11. However, the schism has receded since then, and the current government is a center-north coalition that includes Muslims and Christians. Ouattara has done much to address citizenship and identity problems that had plagued Muslims with family origins in Burkina Faso. Academic freedom suffered severely during the 2010-11 conflict, as public universities throughout the country were closed, occupied by armed forces, and used as military bases and training grounds. They reopened to students in 2012, but have been slow to recover from the effects of the closure, facing infrastructure and staff shortages. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 7 / 12 The constitution protects the right to free assembly, but this right is often denied in practice and is subject to politicization, as reflected in the banning and aggressive dispersal of certain opposition protests in the lead-up to the 2015 presidential election. Peaceful protests often escalate into violence, as was the case with a teachers' strike in April. Freedom of association is constitutionally protected. Although this right has often been denied in practice, especially around political rallies, both domestic and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) generally operate freely. The right to organize and join labor unions is constitutionally guaranteed, and workers have the right to bargain collectively. In 2015, employees of several key sectors including prison guards, teachers, and members of the military went on strike. F. Rule of Law: 6 / 16 The judiciary is not independent, and judges are highly susceptible to external interference and bribes. The country's courts became fully functional early in 2014, but, according to an April 2015 report on capacity-building and technical cooperation with Cote d'Ivoire commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council, the effectiveness of the justice system is hampered by a lack of judges. Prisons are severely overcrowded, and prolonged pre-trial detention is a serious problem for both adults and minors, with some detainees spending years in prison without trial. Incarcerated adults and minors are not always separated. In March, the National Assembly voted to revise the criminal code to abolish the death penalty, bringing it in line with the country's 2000 constitution, which prohibited the death penalty. The security situation was stable but subject to volatility in 2015. Reports of illegal detentions, extortion, sexual violence, and forced disappearance at the hands of the Republican Forces of Cote d'Ivoire (FRCI) and other security forces continued, though they decreased since the height of the political crisis. Opposition groups also accused security forces of torture and extrajudicial killings, but those allegations were not independently verified. The police and gendarmerie remain underequipped and are not considered fully operational in all cities. In Abidjan, youths that fought in the 2010-11 conflict have regrouped into machete-wielding gangs known as "enfant microbes," which continue to be implicated in armed robberies and assaults in the city. This has led some citizens to form vigilante "self-defense" groups. In January, panic spread after a nationwide wave of child kidnappings and what appeared to be ritual killings. In March, an ICC trial chamber joined the cases concerning Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Ble Goude, both of whom stand accused of crimes against humanity relating to the 2010 post-electoral crisis. Although the ICC has said it is investigating pro-Ouattara actors, it has filed charges only against pro-Gbagbo defendants so far. A collective trial against Simone Gbagbo and around 80 others closely associated with Laurent Gbagbo began in December 2014. In March 2015, Simone Gbagbo was sentenced to 20 years in prison by an Abidjan court. The trial was widely criticized due to the perceived weakness of the evidence, together with the fact that she was sentenced not for human rights violations, but for undermining state security. Simone Gbagbo has been charged with crimes against humanity by the ICC. In December 2014, the ICC ruled that Cote d'Ivoire was required to transfer her, but the Ivorian government has thus far refused to comply. The work of the Special Investigative and Examination Cell, created in 2011 to investigate crimes committed during and after the postelection crisis, has suffered from inconsistent support. After years of delay and understaffing, the group's work appeared to be gathering steam in early 2015. In June, however, human rights groups raised alarm at rumors of the imminent closure of two of the cell's major investigations. Prosecutors have complained that the government has prevented them from initiating investigations against pro-Ouattara forces. It emerged in the summer of 2015 that the Ivoirian government had charged about 20 former pro-Ouattara rebels in connection to the 2010-11 violence, a step that drew praise from human rights organizations. In December 2014, the CDVR submitted its report to Ouattara, but the report has not yet been made public. The CDVR has been widely criticized for failing to achieve its broader goals of reconciliation. Although it collected over 72,000 testimonies, media coverage of the testimonials was spotty, and they were not broadcast nationally. This has further minimized the commission's impact. In March 2015, the government created the National Commission for Reconciliation and Compensation for Victims (CONARIV), conceived as the successor to the CDVR, and tasked it with overseeing a reparations program. Members of the LGBT community face societal prejudice as well as violence and harassment by state security forces. The beginning of 2014 saw a wave of homophobic attacks that human rights groups described as unprecedented. In July 2015, the vice president of the National Human Rights Commission reported that the commission was investigating the 2014 incidents and that a police chief had been fired for ignoring the attacks. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 7 / 16 (+1) Freedom of movement has improved in Abidjan and along some major roads. However, according to the July Human Rights Watch report, illegal roadblocks and acts of extortion by state security forces remain a serious problem elsewhere, and the government's efforts to combat these practices have been undermined by inconsistent financial support and a failure to investigate and prosecute perpetrators. In the west and north of the country, highway robbery is a persistent problem. Property rights are weak and poorly regulated, especially in the west of the country, and remain an ongoing source of conflict between migrants and "natives" who claim customary rights to land use and inheritance. Citizens have the right to own and establish private businesses, and in general economic opportunities for migrants have continued to improve compared to previous years, but obstacles abound. Cote d'Ivoire was ranked 142 out of 189 countries in the World Bank's 2016 Doing Business survey. According to the survey, while registering property has become easier in Cote d'Ivoire, obtaining construction permits and navigating the tax code remain serious challenges. Despite constitutional protections, women suffer significant legal and economic discrimination, and sexual and gender-based violence are widespread. Rape was common during the 2011 crisis, and remains a serious issue. Impunity for perpetrators remains a problem, and when it is prosecuted, rape is routinely reclassified as indecent assault. In March 2015, the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights, and Public Liberties instructed law enforcement officials that costly medical certificates are no longer required to open a rape investigation. In July, four women were integrated into the gendarmerie, the last of Cote d'Ivoire's security forces to exclude women. Child labor and trafficking, particularly in the cocoa industry, is a serious problem that appears to be growing in Cote d'Ivoire, according to a July 2015 report by Tulane University. In June, Ivoirian police raided plantations in the country's western cocoa belt, freeing 48 children being held in slavery and making 22 arrests on child trafficking or exploitation charges. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Comoros Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Comoros, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb8b11.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 55 Freedom Rating: 3.5 Political Rights: 3 Civil Liberties: 4 Quick Facts Capital: Moroni Population: 764,000 GDP/capita: $841.20 Press Freedom Status: Partly Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW In January and February 2015, Comoros held competitive parliamentary elections on all three islands. The opposition criticized the election commission for inadequate preparations and alleged widespread use of state resources and state-run companies to support the campaign of President Ikililou Dhoinine's party. The president's party won the most seats and formed a parliamentary majority through alliances with smaller parties. The recently formed Juwa Party of former president Ahmed Abdallah Mohamed Sambi was the primary opposition faction. Sambi attempted to run in the presidential election set for early 2016 despite the country's unique electoral system, which rotates the presidency among the islands. The next president was supposed to come from Grande Comore. At the end of 2015, the Constitutional Court ruled that Sambi, a native of Anjouan but a resident of Grand Comore, was ineligible to register as a candidate. Relations between Comoros and France remain fragile, as Comoros claims the island of Mayotte a French overseas department as part of its territory. Large numbers of Comorans illegally migrate to the island in order to seek entry into mainland France, and the Comoran economy, which is primarily agricultural, relies heavily on remittances from Comoran citizens in France. The government announced in June 2015 that members of the diaspora, who reside predominantly in France, would be able to vote in the 2016 presidential election. However, the new policy was later withdrawn due to logistical challenges. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 24 / 40 (-1) A. Electoral Process: 9 / 12 Under the 2001 constitution, the president is directly elected for a single five-year term, with eligibility rotating among the three islands. The three candidates who lead the vote on the designated island advance to a second, nationwide round of voting. The unicameral Assembly of the Union consists of 33 members, with 9 selected by the assemblies of the three islands and 24 by direct popular vote; all members serve five-year terms. In addition to its own assembly, each of the three islands also has a directly elected governor. A 2009 referendum approved constitutional reforms that increased the powers of the union government at the expense of the individual island governments. Dhoinine won the presidential election in 2010 with the support of then president Sambi, taking 61 percent of the vote and becoming the first president from the island of Moheli. Dhoinine later broke away from Sambi's influence and created his own party, the Union for the Development of Comoros (UPDC); Sambi's Juwa Party is now the primary opposition in the parliament. The Constitutional Court upheld the 2010 presidential election results despite irregularities reported on the island of Anjouan. In September 2014, President Dhoinine postponed municipal, island assembly, and parliamentary elections from November 2014 to late December 2014 due to delays in meeting electoral code provisions. The first round of voting was held in January 2015 after being postponed for a second time. The national election commission was able to administer the elections, though there were a number of irregularities in the provision of biometric voter cards and the creation of a voters' list. While international observers present during the polls deemed them calm and transparent, there were accusations of fraud. The results left the UPDC with 11 seats in the Assembly of the Union, followed by Juwa with 10, the Democratic Rally of the Comoros (RDC) with 4, the Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) with 2, and three smaller parties with 1 each. Three independent candidates also won seats. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 11 / 16 Comorans have voted in several parliamentary and presidential elections since 1990, though military coups and secession attempts persisted into the early 2000s. The first peaceful transfer of power through elections occurred in 2006, which also marked the first time that the presidency rotated among the islands as mandated in the 2001 constitution. Political parties operate freely and were able to campaign with minimal impediments in the 2015 parliamentary election period. Parties are mainly formed around particular leaders and draw on island or ethnic bases of support. Parties' platforms have historically been defined by their positions regarding the division of power between the union and local governments, though many parties focused on issues such as youth unemployment during the 2015 legislative campaign. The government occasionally disrupts opposition parties' activities by denying them meeting and assembly space. During the 2015 campaign period, the UPDC allegedly benefited from state resources and the assistance of state-run companies. Critics accused the state mobile telecommunications company of holding hiring blitzes as part of the campaign and directing employees to vote for the ruling party. Public-sector employment has risen in past election years. C. Functioning of Government: 4 / 12 (-1) In April 2015, the newly installed Union of the Assembly chose its president in an irregular election that sparked accusations of an "institutional coup" from the opposition. During the vote, opposition members were prevented from accessing the chamber, at times through the intervention of security forces. The opposition parties, deeming the election illegitimate, unsuccessfully brought a case calling for the dismissal of the assembly president to the Constitutional Court. There are reports of corruption at all levels, including in the judiciary, civil service, and security forces. In 2011, the opposition CRC, led by former president Azali Assoumani, filed a complaint in a Moroni court against Sambi for alleged misuse of public funds while in office. The allegations concerned the sale of Comoran nationality to stateless individuals residing in Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, a practice used by Gulf regimes to avoid giving their stateless residents citizenship. In 2013, a police chief was arrested and later released in connection with the scheme; no other officials have been arrested, and the police chief was able to run and win a seat in the 2015 legislative elections. Comoros enacted a law adding more severe penalties for embezzlement of public funds in 2014, but police and court officials rarely prosecute corruption cases. Comoros was ranked 136 out of 168 countries and territories surveyed in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index. Civil Liberties: 31 / 60 (+1) D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 10 / 16 The constitution and laws provide for freedoms of speech and the press, though self-censorship is reportedly widespread. No journalists were arrested for their work during 2015, though a supporter of former president Sambi's bid for reelection was arrested at a press conference in July for speech characterized as "incitement to hatred." The government does not restrict access to the internet, but penetration remained low at about 7 percent in 2015. Islam is the state religion, and 98 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim. The president appoints the grand mufti, an official government position. Tensions have occasionally arisen between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, and both Shiite Muslims and non-Muslims are subject to discrimination and, more rarely, harassment and detention on criminal charges. Conversion from Islam and non-Muslim proselytizing are illegal, though such restrictions are unevenly enforced. Academic freedom is generally respected, and there are few constraints on open and free private discussion. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 7 / 12 (+1) Freedoms of assembly and association are protected in the constitution, but the government has restricted these rights in practice. In February 2015, demonstrations over poor water and electricity services on Grande Comore resulted in an army crackdown on protesters that left seven people injured. Twenty people were detained during the protests and later released. A few human rights groups and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operate in the country, though they sometimes face obstacles. The head of the Comoran Federation of Consumers, former finance minister Mohamed Said Mchangama, was among those briefly detained for their role in protests during 2015. Workers have the right to form unions, bargain collectively, and strike. In March 2015, taxi drivers in Grande Comore won concessions from the government after going on strike over road conditions and insisting that they would not pay taxes until the roads were improved. F. Rule of Law: 8 / 16 The judicial system is based on both Sharia (Islamic law) and the French legal code, and is subject to influence by the executive branch and other elites. Minor disputes are often settled informally by village elders. In 2014, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Comoros Red Crescent began a program to improve conditions in the national prison. However, the prison, located in Moroni, is still severely overcrowded and lacks adequate sanitation, medical care, and nutrition. In January 2015, a court sentenced 13 people to prison for planning a coup in 2013. They were released in December after a presidential pardon. The plotters included Mahamoud Ahmed Abdallah, the son of former president Ahmed Abdallah, and seven foreign nationals. Same-sex sexual activity is punishable by fines and up to five years in prison. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 6 / 16 In 2014, Comoros passed a law guaranteeing freedom of movement for people living with HIV. The government controls access to key services in the Comoran market, but has taken steps to allow more competition. For example, in October 2015 the Madagascar-based telecommunications company Telma was approved as the first mobile operator other than the state-run operator. Government-backed development projects sometimes sideline citizen interests and are vulnerable to bribery and corruption. Residents of a village in Grande Comore and their supporters protested during 2015 against a government deal with a French construction firm to operate a quarry in the area, which would expropriate their land. The law prohibits discrimination based on gender, and the government has taken steps to improve the political participation of women. However, in practice women are still underrepresented; only one woman was elected to the Assembly of the Union in 2015. Economic inequality also remains a challenge, as women have far fewer opportunities for education and salaried employment than men, especially in rural areas. In accordance with civil and some customary laws, women have equal rights in inheritance matters. However, this is complicated by the concurrent application of Islamic law, which limits gender equality. In addition, a poor system of land registration and women's difficulties in securing loans often negate the benefits of land ownership in practice. Sexual violence and workplace harassment are believed to be widespread, but are rarely reported to authorities. In 2015, the government issued a new law providing penalties for the trafficking of children, who are often victims of forced labor within the country. A general update to the penal code to add provisions against trafficking in persons was passed in 2014 but has yet to be implemented. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Albania Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 25 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Albania, 25 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb8c12.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 67 Freedom Rating: 3.0 Political Rights: 3 Civil Liberties: 3 Quick Facts Capital: Tirana Population: 2,892,000 GDP/capita: $4,619.2 Press Freedom Status: Partly Free Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW Local elections held in June 2015 were viewed as an important test of democratic institutions in Albania, which had been designated a candidate for European Union (EU) membership in 2014. International observers said the polls were conducted peacefully, but raised concerns about pressure on voters by politicians, problems with election commission operations, and the improper use of government resources by the ruling coalition during campaigning. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 27 / 40 A. Electoral Process: 8 / 12 The unicameral, 140-member Kuvendi (Assembly) is elected through proportional representation in 12 regional districts of varying size. All members serve four-year terms. The prime minister is designated by the majority party or coalition, and the president who does not hold executive powers but heads the military and plays an important role in selecting senior judges is chosen by the parliament for a maximum of two five-year terms. Bujar Nishani, then the interior minister, was chosen as president in 2012. Preparations for the 2013 parliamentary elections were disrupted by political deadlock in the seven-seat Central Election Commission (CEC), which prevented it from making crucial decisions that required a five-vote majority. Earlier, the CEC failed to decide on seat distribution for the country's electoral districts, leading the parliamentary majority headed by the Democratic Party (PD) at the time to intervene and set the allotments using outdated 2009 population figures. Monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported a number of other problems but found that the overall campaign was vibrant, competitive, and largely peaceful, despite an election-day shooting incident. In 2014, the CEC pledged to implement certain OSCE electoral recommendations, including filling three vacancies that had emerged from the 2013 deadlock. (The seats were filled in time for the 2015 local elections.) In the 2013 parliamentary elections, the Socialist Party (PS) captured 65 seats, the Socialist Movement for Integration took 16, and two smaller PS-allied parties the Unity for Human Rights Party, which represents ethnic Greeks, and the Christian Democratic Party each garnered 1 seat. Meanwhile, the PD won 50 seats, and its junior partners the nationalist Justice, Integration, and Unity Party and the Republican Party took 4 and 3 seats, respectively. Voter turnout was reported at 54 percent. PS leader Edi Rama took office as prime minister, backed by the 37-party Alliance for a European Albania (ASHE), which was led by Rama's PS. Voters selected 61 mayors and 1,595 councilors in local elections held in June 2015. The ruling ASHE coalition won 63 percent of votes for local council races, and 45 mayoral seats. The PD-led opposition coalition, the People's Alliance for Work and Dignity (APPD), won 32 percent of votes in local council races, and 15 of the mayoral seats. Voter turnout was 48 percent, a bit less than for the 2013 parliamentary polls. The 2015 local elections were viewed by the EU a test of Albania's democratization. Both the EU and the OSCE, which sent a monitoring mission, praised the election and campaigning period as peaceful; the OSCE also noted improved professionalism among mayoral candidates in Tirana. However, both the OSCE and EU raised concerns about the impartiality of electoral authorities, with the OSCE noting problems in CEC processes for candidate registration, some of which it linked to CEC politicization. It also raised concerns about the accuracy of voter rolls. Additionally, the OSCE documented widespread allegations of pressure on voters, especially public sector employees, who, sometimes under threat of losing their jobs, were urged to attend campaign events for members of the ruling coalition. Politicians from the governing coalition used public resources during their electoral campaigns, with some distributing property-legalization certificates. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 13 / 16 The two main political parties, the PS and the PD, are sharply polarized and given to personality-driven rivalry. As prime minister from 2005 to 2013, Sali Berisha of the PD worked to consolidate partisan control over state institutions, particularly after violent antigovernment protests in early 2011. However, the Socialists' electoral victory in 2013 and 2015 restored confidence in the ability of opposition forces to secure a rotation of power through elections. Ethnic minorities have been able to campaign freely in their own languages in recent elections. While voters had access to ballot materials in minority languages in 2013, ballots for the 2015 local polls were only in the Albanian language. However, election officials provided voter education materials in minority languages. While the members of the Roma minority and other marginalized groups are vulnerable to political exploitation and vote-buying schemes such as the distribution of fuel vouchers and cash, OSCE observers noted in 2015 that minority communities are becoming increasingly aware of their voting power and more politically engaged. C. Functioning of Government: 6 / 12 Corruption is pervasive, and the EU has repeatedly called for rigorous implementation of antigraft measures. Convictions of high-ranking officials and judges for corruption and abuse of power remain rare. The current government has taken some steps to remove the immunity of politicians who are accused of crimes. Over the last two years, several lawmakers from the ruling coalition have faced criminal charges. Additionally, in 2015 it emerged that a law firm had alleged that parliament speaker and leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration, Ilir Meta, received a bribe from an international debt-collection company. Both Meta and opposition politicians have called for an international investigation of this allegation, underscoring a general lack of trust of Albanian courts. The law on access to information complies with international legal standards, though it is not well implemented. Civil Liberties: 40 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 13 / 16 While the constitution guarantees freedom of expression, the intermingling of powerful business, political, and media interests inhibits the development of independent news outlets; most are seen as biased toward either the PS or the PD. Reporters have little job security and remain subject to lawsuits, intimidation, and occasional physical attacks by those facing media scrutiny. The OSCE media monitoring of the 2015 election campaign observed that all the major media, including public media, favored one of the major political parties. The government does not limit internet access. The constitution provides for freedom of religion, which is generally upheld in practice. There are no significant restrictions on free and open private discussion, including for online blogs and social media. The government typically does not limit academic freedom, though students and teachers have faced political pressure ahead of elections. A proposal to raise tuition at public universities in order to increase the pool of government funds set aside for education was criticized by student protesters, who said it would divert public funding to private universities at the expense of poorer students, and erode academic freedom. In response, government officials said the measure would provide for equal treatment of public and private universities. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 9 / 12 Freedoms of association and assembly are generally respected. Demonstrations by opposition parties and civic groups are common, and they have generally been peaceful. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) function without restrictions but have limited funding and policy influence. The constitution guarantees workers the rights to organize and bargain collectively, and most have the right to strike. However, effective collective bargaining remains limited, and union members have little protection against discrimination by employers. F. Rule of Law: 9 / 16 The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, but the underfunded courts are subject to political pressure and influence, and public trust in judicial institutions is low. In August 2015, the chairman of the parliamentary commission on the justice sector recommended constitutional changes aimed at revamping the High Court of Justice, which nominates judges prosecutes judges suspected of wrongdoing; the court has generally failed to address corruption in the judicial sector and is widely considered to be politicized. In September, the government Inspectorate for the Declaration and Audit of Assets and Conflict of Interests accused the chief judge of the Appellate Court of Tirana of corruption after uncovering 1.7 million ($1.9 million) in suspicious assets. Traditional tribal law and revenge killings remain a problem in parts of the north. Police reportedly engage in abuse of suspects during arrest and interrogation. Prison inmates suffer from poor living conditions and a lack of adequate medical treatment. The PS-led government has replaced a number of prison officials and police commanders, and has disbanded several police units, to combat corruption and rising crime rates. Albania is a transshipment point for heroin smugglers and a key site for European cannabis production. In August 2015, Albanian policed destroyed a number of cannabis plantations in Albania's northern mountains. Roma face significant discrimination in education, health care, employment, and housing. A 2010 law bars discrimination based on race and several other categories, including sexual orientation and gender identity, and a 2013 reform of the criminal code introduced protections against hate crimes and hate speech based on sexual orientation and gender identity. However, bias against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people remains strong in practice. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 9 / 16 Albanians generally enjoy freedom of movement and choice of residence or employment, though criminal activity and practices related to traditional honor codes limit these rights in some areas. Access to higher education is affected by corruption. A raft of property-restitution cases related to confiscations during the communist era remain unresolved. Illegal construction is a major problem, as is bribery linked to government approval of development projects. Women are underrepresented in politics and business, though the new cabinet appointed in 2013 included a record six women, including the first female defense minister. In the 2015 local elections, all parties met a new gender quota requirement that local council candidate lists be split evenly between male and female candidates. However, just 10 percent of the candidates for mayors were women. While domestic violence is believed to be widespread, the parliament has adopted some measures to combat the problem in recent years. Convictions for human trafficking remain rare despite increased government enforcement. Young women make up about 90 percent of the workers in the important textile and footwear sector, in which child labor is not uncommon and some 40 percent of workers are not registered, according to the International Trade Union Confederation. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2016 - Abkhazia Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2016 - Abkhazia, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c3eb8dc.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 42 Freedom Rating: 4.5 Political Rights: 4 Civil Liberties: 5 Quick Facts Capital: N/A Population: 242,826 GDP/capita: N/A Press Freedom Status: N/A Net Freedom Status: N/A OVERVIEW During a tumultuous year, parties opposed to Abkhaz president Raul Khajimba coalesced in a new Bloc of Opposition Forces of Abkhazia. Its leading member party, Amtsakhara, demanded Khajimba's resignation at a party congress in October 2015, saying he had failed to fulfill campaign promises. In June, Russia delayed financial aid to Abkhazia, saying the funds were contingent on the ratification of a controversial section of a 2014 treaty that would establish a coordination center between Moscow and Abkhazia's interior ministries. The provision was heavily criticized domestically, with opponents claiming that its terms served to expand Russian influence in Abkhazia. In 2015, officials began a process of issuing new Abkhaz passports, requiring residents to exchange existing documents for new ones. During this process, the passports of around 22,000 ethnic Georgians in the Gali region are expected to be invalidated. At the end of 2015, only Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the Pacific Island state of Nauru recognized Abkhazia's independence from Georgia. POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES Political Rights: 19 / 40 (+1) A. Electoral Process: 6 / 12 Abkhazia's 1999 constitution established a presidential system, in which the president and vice president are elected for five-year terms. The parliament, or People's Assembly, consists of 35 members elected for five-year terms from single-seat constituencies. Under the constitution, only ethnic Abkhaz can be elected to the presidency. None of Abkhazia's elections have been recognized internationally. The 2012 parliamentary elections marked a significant shift toward independents, who captured 28 of the 35 seats, compared with 4 for opposition parties and only 3 for the ruling United Abkhazia party. Six of the nine incumbents seeking reelection were defeated, including the outgoing parliamentary speaker. Amid a low 44 percent turnout, only 13 candidates won majorities in the first round, requiring runoff votes for the remaining 22 seats. A snap presidential election was held in 2014, following the resignation of President Aleksandr Ankvab amid widespread public protests. The protests followed his refusal to meet the demands of the newly formed Coordinating Council an amalgam of opposition parties and movements that included the dismissal of Ankvab's cabinet and the redistribution of power from the office of the president to that of the prime minister. Four candidates competed for the presidency. Khajimba, who had run in three previous presidential elections, won with 51 percent of the vote, followed by the former leader of the State Security Service, Aslan Bzhania, with 36 percent. Former defense minister Mirab Kishmaria captured approximately 6 percent, and former interior minister Leonid Dzapshba won over 3 percent of the vote. More than 20,000 Gali Georgians were disenfranchised before the election, when Abkhaz authorities removed their names from voter lists; the decision was partly driven by claims that the Gali Georgians' Abkhaz passports were illegal. The political status of this group had been a point of serious contention between Ankvab and the opposition, who claimed that ethnic Georgians in Abkhazia posed a security threat. Gali Georgians had been allowed to vote in previous elections. B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 8 / 16 Political opposition groups in Abkhazia are active. In 2014, growing opposition cooperation culminated in the protest actions of the Coordinating Council, which drew together a broad range of opposition parties representing different political beliefs. The wave of protests organized by the group that year led to Ankvab's resignation and the subsequent presidential election. A political standoff between Khajimba and opposition members emerged in early 2015, only months after his inauguration, leading to a significant reorganization of Abkhazia's political landscape. In January, the opposition party Amtsakhara, which had supported Ankvab, released a sharply worded statement criticizing Khajimba's record on implementing preelection promises. Then, in May, Amtsakhara adopted a resolution criticizing Khajimba on a number of counts, including economic and budgetary mismanagement, corruption, and ceding too much control to Moscow mirroring the criticisms leveled against Ankvab by the Coordinating Council in 2014 and demanding the replacement of Khajimba's government with an opposition-led coalition government. In June, ostensibly in response to the opposition's demands, the Abkhaz parliament passed over 40 draft laws, which included provisions on reforming election laws as well as the judiciary, media, and banking system. By mid-July, Amtsakhara had joined three other political groups to form the Bloc of Opposition Forces of Abkhazia. During a party meeting in October 2015, about 3,000 Amtsakhara members issued a vote of no confidence in Khajimba, and called on him to resign. In response, Khajimba pledged to remain in office until his term's end in 2019. He additionally established a consultative council open to all parties, but Amtsakhara and the other groups comprising the Bloc of Opposition Forces of Abkhazia refused to participate. In 2015, Abkhazia began a process of issuing new Abkhaz passports, requiring residents to exchange existing documents for new ones. During this process, the passports of around 22,000 ethnic Georgians in the Gali region are expected to be declared invalid. According to a new provision, Gali Georgians holding dual citizenship with Georgia are only eligible to receive residence permits, effectively stripping them of Abkhaz citizenship. Under an Abkhaz law on foreign citizenship adopted in December 2015, individuals holding residence permits may not vote or own property. C. Functioning of Government: 5 / 12 (+1) The ability of elected authorities to set and implement policies is limited by the influence of Moscow, which funds a significant portion of the state budget, has paid for construction and refurbishments of military and other infrastructure in Abkhazia, and in 2015 had several thousand troops permanently stationed in the territory. However, there has been significant pushback against a 2014 Russian-Abkhaz treaty, provisions of which critics say threaten Abkhaz autonomy. The treaty, signed in 2014 and ratified by Moscow in January 2015, stipulates the creation of a joint Russian-Abkhaz military force, increased Russian funding to regional military efforts, and the doubling of Russian subsidies to Abkhazia; its terms also state that Russia will respond to an attack on Abkhazia as an attack on itself. The 2014 treaty negotiations were met with contentious public debate in Abkhazia, and although several unpopular provisions were removed from the final draft, its signing was nevertheless condemned by members of the Abkhaz military and government, in addition to the Abkhaz opposition and civil society. Critics argued that the terms infringe on Abkhaz autonomy, a complaint Amtsakhara cited as a precipator of its October 2015 call for Khajimba's resignation. In June 2015, Russian officials announced that it would make the payment of pledged financial aid contingent on the ratification of a controversial section of the treaty that would establish a coordination center between Moscow and Abkhazia's interior ministries. The ultimatum was widely condemned in Abkhazia, and prompted concerns that Russian authorities ultimately sought to annex the region. Abkhaz lawmakers had not ratified the section of the treaty at the year's end, and Moscow had not released funds it attached to the retification. Corruption is believed to be extensive, and government officials are not required to provide declarations of income. Civil Liberties: 23 / 60 D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 8 / 16 Local broadcast media are largely controlled by the government, which operates the Abkhaz State Television and Radio Company (AGTRK). Abkhaz journalists and opposition have criticized Khajimba since 2014 for failing to reform AGTRK; critics argue among other things that it fails to air material that could be perceived as unflattering to the government. In 2015, about 1,200 people signed a petition calling for the resignation of AGTRK head Emma Khojava, which Khajimba rejected. Major Russian television stations broadcast into Abkhazia. The print media are considered more influential, consisting of several weekly newspapers. The government publication Respublika Abkhazii competes with two main independent papers, Chegemskaya Pravda and Novaya Gazeta. The internet and social media platforms have become increasingly popular in recent years. Some legal restrictions apply to both traditional and online media, including criminal libel statutes. Religious freedom in Abkhazia is affected by the political situation. In 2011, the Abkhaz Orthodox Church split into two factions; while both officially support autocephaly, or independence, for the Abkhaz church, the newer faction accused the established leadership of acquiescing to de facto control by the Russian Orthodox Church. Outside Abkhazia, the territory is still formally considered to be in the Georgian Orthodox Church's jurisdiction. Abkhazia's Muslims are allowed to practice freely, but some Muslim leaders have been attacked in the past. Jehovah's Witnesses were banned by a 1995 decree. Armenian-language schools generally operate without interference, but Gali's schools are officially allowed to offer instruction only in Russian. Ethnic Georgian residents without Abkhaz passports are restricted from attending Sukhumi State University. E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 6 / 12 Opposition and civil society groups mount regular protests. Although most nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) rely on funding from outside Abkhazia, the NGO sector exerts significant influence on government policies. F. Rule of Law: 4 / 16 The criminal justice system suffers from chronic problems, including limited defendant access to qualified legal counsel, violations of due process, and lengthy pretrial detentions. Local NGOs have petitioned for significant judicial reform. Prison facilities are reportedly insufficient. In January 2015, five people, including a Russian border guard, were killed during a police response to the alleged kidnapping of a Gali resident. Galien ethnic Georgian residents continue to suffer from widespread poverty and undefined legal status. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people do not enjoy comprehensive legal protections. G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 5 / 16 Travel and choice of residence are limited by the ongoing separatist dispute. Travel permits remain expensive and burdensome to obtain, and travel has become more difficult since Russian border guards closed the administrative line between Abkhazia and Georgia and took control of the sole official crossing point in 2012. About 90 percent of Abkhazia's residents hold Russian passports, as Abkhaz travel documents are not internationally recognized. Equality of opportunity and normal business activities are limited by corruption, criminal organizations, and economic reliance on Russia, which accounts for nearly all foreign investment. Foreigners are barred from buying Abkhaz property, and some ethnic Russians have reported that their homes have been confiscated. A strong NGO sector has contributed to women's involvement in business and civil society. However, Abkhaz women complain of being underrepresented in government positions. NGOs have expressed concern about human trafficking in Abkhazia. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Hungary: Whether doctors are obligated to report serious or crime-related injuries; requirements and procedures to obtain medical reports within Hungary, including who can obtain them; whether they can be obtained from abroad, including requirements and procedures (2013-August 2016) Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 11 August 2016 Citation / Document Symbol HUN105584.E Related Document(s) Hongrie : information indiquant si les medecins sont tenus de signaler les blessures graves ou liees a un acte criminel; information sur les exigences et la marche a suivre pour obtenir un rapport medical en Hongrie, y compris sur les personnes qui y sont autorisees; information indiquant si le rapport medical peut etre obtenu depuis l'etranger, y compris les exigences et la marche a suivre (2013-aout 2016) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hungary: Whether doctors are obligated to report serious or crime-related injuries; requirements and procedures to obtain medical reports within Hungary, including who can obtain them; whether they can be obtained from abroad, including requirements and procedures (2013-August 2016), 11 August 2016, HUN105584.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c425824.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa 1. Reporting Obligations In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Head of the Patients' Rights Program at the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), a Budapest-based human rights organization that aims to protect citizens "against undue interference by those in position[s] of public power" (HCLU n.d.), stated that because of the importance of the patient's right to confidentiality, "in most cases doctors and other medical professionals must not report any injuries without the consent of the patient" (ibid. 15 July 2016). The same source noted that in 2014, at the instigation of HCLU, the Chief Medical Officer of Hungary instructed all doctors to refrain from notifying the police about crime-related injuries without the patient's permission, particularly in drug-related cases (ibid.). Sources indicate, however, that according to Act XLVII of 1997, doctors must report injuries that take longer than 8 days to heal, and are suspected of being the result of a crime (ibid.; Lawyer 11 July 2016; Hungary 28 July 2016). Sources also stated that in such cases, the patient's consent is not required (ibid.; Lawyer 11 July 2016). A translation of excerpts of Act XLVII of 1997 Concerning the Handling and Protection of Health-care Data and Related Personal Data is attached to this Response (Attachment 1). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an official from the Embassy of Hungary in Ottawa, who collected information from relevant ministries in Hungary, further explained that in such cases, the doctor provides the patient's name, date and place of birth, and address to the police (Hungary 28 July 2016). For information on reporting injuries to the police in cases of domestic violence or child abuse, see Response to Information Request HUN130946. The Head of the Patients' Rights Program stated that medical records in Hungary are generally not sufficiently accurate and sometimes, the discharge summary is missing (HCLU 15 July 2016). He provided the opinion that it can be "really problematic to reconstruct a medical process based on the documentation," which makes it difficult to use such documentation as evidence in a court proceeding (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 2. Regulations on Obtaining a Medical Report from Within Hungary Act CLIV of 1997 on Health provides the following information concerning a patient's right to access medical records: [translation] The Right to Become Acquainted With the Medical Record Section 24 (1) A patient shall have the right to become acquainted with the data contained in the medical record prepared on him or her, and shall have the right to request information on his or her health care data. (2) The health care provider shall dispose of the medical record, while the patient shall dispose of the data contained therein. (3) The patient shall have the right to be informed of the management of the data related to the medical treatment, become acquainted with the health care data relating to him, gain access to the medical record and to receive copies thereof at his own expense, be given a discharge summary upon discharge from the healthcare institution (Section 137), receive a written summary or abridged opinion of his health data for justified purposes, at his own expense. (7) In the course of health care delivered for his current condition, a patient shall have the right to give written authorization to a person designated by him to inspect the medical record relating to him and to have copies made thereof. (8) Following the conclusion of the patient's medical treatment, only the person being authorized by the patient in a fully conclusive private deed shall have the right to inspect the medical record and to have a copy made thereof. Section 137 At the conclusion of a therapeutic procedure consisting of several parts or following care in an inpatient facility, a written summary report (discharge summary) shall be prepared and, excepting the case as set forth in Subsection (1) of Section 14, this report shall be given to the patient. (Hungary 1997) Subsection (1) of Section 14 of CLIV 1997 states: Section 14 (1) A patient with full disposing capacity may waive the right of being informed, except in cases when he must be aware of the nature of his illness in order not to endanger the health of others. If an intervention takes place at the patient's initiative and not for therapeutic purposes, such waiver of the right of being informed shall only be valid in writing. (ibid.) The Embassy Official indicated that "[t]he fundamental rights of patients include the right to review medical documentation," and that any patient may request information on their medical treatment or health from healthcare providers, review medical documentation, request an excerpt or copy (made at the patient's expense), receive a final report when discharged from an inpatient clinic, obtain a treatment sheet at the completion of outpatient care, and/or receive a summary of their medical information or a brief written opinion (at the patient's expense) (Hungary 25 July 2016). Sources indicate that medical records must be kept for 30 years, while discharge reports must be kept for 50 years (ibid.; Lawyer 5 July 2016; HCLU 15 July 2016), as specified by 30 of Act XLVII of 1997 (ibid.; Lawyer 5 July 2016). In addition, the Embassy Official stated that diagnostic images must be retained for at least 10 years, and any medical reports made from such images must be retained for at least 30 years (Hungary 25 July 2016). The same source added that, after the mandatory retention date, medical records must be destroyed, unless they are required for medical treatment or scientific research (ibid.). 3. Procedures to Obtain Medical Documents from Within Hungary Sources indicated that the procedures for issuing copies of medical records is not specified in the legislation, so procedures may vary depending on the medical institution's internal policies (HCLU 19 July 2016; Hungary 25 July 2016). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a Miskolc-based lawyer stated that medical documents are given to patients automatically at the end of their treatment (Lawyer 11 July 2016). The same source explained that a request for further medical records needs to be made in the form of a "private document providing conclusive evidence," which he explained means that the request has to meet one of the following criteria: The document is hand-written and signed by the requestor; The request is printed or written by a different person, but signed by the requestor and two witnesses in person; The requestor's signature is notarized; or The docu ment is countersigned by an attorney (which is done in person) (ibid. 5 July 2016). The lawyer also indicated that the law does not explicitly state whether the application should be made in person, or can be made via email or mail (ibid. 11 July 2016). He added that in an official opinion, the Ombudsman stated that because medical data is sensitive, it is preferred that this information is only provided in person (ibid.). According to the lawyer, former patients rarely ask for their medical information, and the willingness of doctors to provide the information may vary (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. The Head of the Patients' Rights Program provided the information in the following paragraph regarding the procedures to obtain medical records. A discharge summary, which includes only "the scope of the treatment," is provided when the patient is released from the hospital, rather than detailed medical records (HCLU 15 July 2016). To obtain detailed medical records, the patient must submit an application at the hospital, for which a patient can get legal assistance from a "patient advocate" [1] (ibid.). Such applications can be made by the patient, an authorized representative, or a patient's relative in cases prescribed by the law, such as when a patient is unconscious (ibid.). Depending on the hospital, applications for copies of medical records can be made in person, via email, or post, but not by phone (ibid. 19 July 2016). Some hospitals use forms - posted online or in paper format- to facilitate the process, but using such a form is not a requirement to obtain the medical reports (ibid.). The applicant needs to pay a fee for the cost of the photocopies of between CAD$0.30-CAD$0.50 per page, and some hospitals add a search fee of between CAD$12 and CAD$15 (ibid.). The requestor has to pick up the medical documentation in person showing a valid ID (ibid. 15 July 2016). 3.1 Using a Representative to Obtain Medical Reports from Within Hungary Sources indicate that, pursuant to Article 7 of Act XLVII of 1997, medical documentation may be released to someone authorized by the patient (Lawyer 11 July 2016; Hungary 25 July 2016). The Embassy Official explained that such authorization must comply with legal formalities, either by written authorization given during the time of the patient's care, or by authorization in a private document with "probative value" after the care has ended (Hungary 25 July 2016). The same source explained that a handwritten and signed document has full probative value, as does a printed document which is signed and verified by two witnesses over the age of 18 (ibid. 29 July 2016). For further information on legal requirements for private documents with probative value under Hungarian law, see attachment 2 of this Response to Information Request. The Head of the Patients' Rights Program indicated that if a patient cannot or does not want to apply for medical documentation in person, they can authorize a representative - a lawyer or someone else - through a written authorization, signed by both the patient and the representative in the presence of two witnesses (HCLU 19 July 2016). He further indicated that the authorization document has to contain the patient's basic identity information, including the patient's ID number, address, date and place of birth, and mother's name (ibid.). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 4. Obtaining Medical Information from Outside Hungary The Embassy Official indicated that there are no separate procedural rules for obtaining medical information from abroad in the legislation on medical care, but "typically, documents can be made available if conditions set by the healthcare institution for requesting the issuance of medical documents are met" and provided that the transmission meets general rules of privacy and data protection requirements (Hungary 25 July 2016). According to the same source, a patient can obtain Hungarian medical documents from abroad "through an authorized representative," provided the request complies with the formalities relating to such authorizations (ibid.). He added that to "make any authorization issued in a foreign country fully probative in Hungary, it needs to be certified by a Hungarian delegation authority competent in the place of issuance" (ibid). The Embassy Official further explained that this means that either the consular officer needs to authenticate the document and verify the signature of the Hungarian citizen, or the consul can apply "diplomatic authentication" to a document signed before a [local] notary public or commissioner of oaths, in which case a prior authentication by the local ministry of foreign affairs might be required (ibid. 28 July 2016). The Head of the Patients' Rights Program similarly stated that a person residing abroad needs to provide authorization to a representative to obtain medical records (HCLU 15 July 2016). According to the same source, in practice, it is possible for the person abroad to write an authorization letter, sign it, and send the original to their representative in Hungary, where the representative and two witnesses sign it (ibid. 19 July 2016). He further noted that although legally, this document would not be valid since it was not signed by all parties at the same time and place, such a document might still be used to obtain a medical report since it would be impossible to verify the circumstances under which it was signed (ibid.). 5. Regional Variance, Including Challenges in the Miskolc Area The Embassy Official stated that the legislation pertaining to medical records applies "uniformly and with mandatory effect" throughout Hungary but given that the procedural regulations are not uniform, there may be variations in the processing times, formalities for making the request, and administration of the request, depending on the type, size and organizational structure of a given institution (Hungary 25 July 2016). The same source added that procedural differences should not lead to significant regional differences in access to the documents (ibid.). The Head of the Patients' Rights Program indicated that, to his knowledge, there may be minor variances in the procedures for obtaining medical records across the country, but that these should not be significant (HCLU 15 July 2016). He added that some institutions might be able to provide the medical data on CD or DVD (ibid.). According to the lawyer, there are no specific challenges to applying for medical reports in Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen county [of which Miskolc is the capital] (5 July 2016). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. Note [1] Patient advocates are patients' rights workers who are affiliated with hospitals throughout Hungary (Szoszolo n.d.). References Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU). 19 July 2016. Correspondence from the Head of the Patients' Rights Program to the Research Directorate. _____. 15 July 2016. Correspondence from the Head of the Patients' Rights Program to the Research Directorate. _____. N.d. "About Us." [Accessed 21 July 2016] Hungary. 28 July 2016. Correspondence from an Official of the Embassy of Hungary in Ottawa to the Research Directorate. _____. 25 July 2016. Correspondence from an Official of the Embassy of Hungary in Ottawa to the Research Directorate. ______. 1997. Act CLIV of 1997 on Health. [Accessed 22 July 2016] Lawyer, Miskolc. 11 July 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. _____. 5 July 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. Szoszolo Foundation for Patients' Rights Budapest. N.d. Dr. Titusz Fabian. "Patient Advocacy System in Hungary." [Accessed 4 Aug. 2016] Additional Sources Consulted Oral sources: two Budapest-based Lawyers; Miskolc Semmelweis Hospital and University Teaching Hospital; NANE Women's Rights Association; Phralipe Independent Roma Organization; Rozsakert Medical Center. Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Ecoi.net; Factiva; Human Rights Watch; Hungarian Helsinki Committee; Hungary - Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, National Health Insurance Fund, National Institute for Health Development, National Public Health and Medical Officer Service; UN - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Refworld, World Health Organization; United States - Department of State, Embassy in Budapest. Attachments 1. Hungary. 1997. Act XLVII of 1997 Concerning the Handling and Protection of Health-Care Data and Related Personal Data. Excerpts translated by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada. [Accessed 11 Aug. 2016] 2. Hungary. 1952. Article 196 (1) of Act III of 1952 on the Code of Civil Procedure. Excerpts sent by an Official of the Embassy of Hungary in Ottawa to the Research Directorate on 28 July 2016. Turkey warned Monday it would carry out more strikes on a Syrian Kurdish militia if it failed to retreat beyond the Euphrates River, as Washington condemned their weekend clashes as "unacceptable". Turkish forces pressed on with a two-pronged operation inside Syria against the Islamic State (IS) militants and the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), shelling over a dozen targets. But strikes against the YPG are hugely sensitive as the Kurdish group -- seen as a terror group by Ankara -- is an ally of Turkey's NATO ally, the United States, in the fight against IS in Syria. Ankara said it had killed 25 Kurdish "terrorists" in strikes on YPG positions on Sunday, a day after a Turkish soldier was killed in a rocket attack allegedly by the militia. The US envoy for the fight against IS, Brett McGurk, called the clashes "unacceptable" and urged an immediate de-escalation. Turkey's operation aims to push the YPG back across the Euphrates River to prevent it joining up the region east of the river already under its control with a Kurdish-held area to the west. US Vice President Joe Biden, visiting Ankara last week, said Washington had told the YPG to go back across the Euphrates or risk losing American support. But Ankara says it had seen no evidence of this. "The YPG... needs to cross east of the Euphrates as soon as possible. So long as they don't, they will be a target," said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. "In the places where it has moved, the YPG forces everyone out -- including Kurds -- who do not think like it does and carries out ethnic cleansing," he added. Cavusoglu said the ethnic composition of the area around the city of Manbij west of the Euphrates -- captured by the YPG from IS earlier this month -- was largely Arab. He said that those who had lived in the area before fighting broke out should be the ones who return and not new Kurdish migrants. "But that is not the goal of the YPG," he said at a news conference alongside his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders. Cavusoglu also hailed the success of the lightning operation by Turkish-backed Syrian Arab fighters, who on Wednesday captured the town of Jarabulus from IS. "As you see, even with a small force, the Daesh terrorist organisation is leaving and running away from the regions under their control," he added. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 40 civilians were killed in Turkish shelling and air strikes on Sunday, claims that were strongly rejected by Ankara. "Allegations that... civilians were shot at or targeted do not reflect the truth," the premier's office said, adding the army was taking "all necessary measures to prevent any harm to the civilian population". It said 13 villages had "been cleared of terrorist elements" and were now controlled by anti-regime Syrian fighters that Ankara refers to as the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Ankara-backed forces captured the IS border stronghold of Jarabulus last week, facing seemingly little resistance from the militants who fled to strongholds further south. But the standoff with the Kurdish militia has been intense, with a Turkish soldier killed on Saturday in a YPG rocket attack on his tank. McGurk wrote on Twitter that Washington was monitoring the reports of air strikes and clashes and found such fighting -- in an area clear of IS -- "unacceptable and a source of deep concern". "The United States was not involved in these activities, they were not coordinated with US forces, and we do not support them," he said. He called for steps to de-escalate the situation, adding that Washington was "actively engaged to facilitate such deconfliction" to keep the focus on the fight against IS. NTV television said that in new action Monday the Turkish artillery had shelled 15 targets in northern Syria. It did not say which group was targeted. Addressing a rally in the southern city of Gaziantep on Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to combat IS and the YPG "with the same determination." Erdogan said Turkey's patience had run out after its border was repeatedly hit by IS rocket fire and 55 people were killed in a suicide bombing last weekend in Gaziantep. Erdogan said the attack was carried out by a 14-year-old boy acting on the orders of the militants. Search Keywords: Short link: Hungary: Information about the organization Capital City Roma National Council (Fovarosi Roma Nemzetisegi Onkormanyzat FRNO); including mandate and activities, chairperson's name, address and location; information about the organization's letterhead, verification activities, and process to obtain a verification letter (2015) Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 11 December 2015 Citation / Document Symbol HUN105388.E Related Document(s) Hongrie : information sur le Conseil national rom de la capitale (Fovarosi Roma Nemzetisegi Onkormanyzat - FRNO), y compris sur son mandat et ses activites, le nom de son president, le lieu et l'adresse de son bureau principal; le papier a correspondance officielle de l'organisation, les activites de verification et le processus pour obtenir une lettre de confirmation (2015) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Hungary: Information about the organization Capital City Roma National Council (Fovarosi Roma Nemzetisegi Onkormanyzat FRNO); including mandate and activities, chairperson's name, address and location; information about the organization's letterhead, verification activities, and process to obtain a verification letter (2015), 11 December 2015, HUN105388.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c427e84.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa 1. Overview According to the Hungarian information website Infoszab, the following is the headquarters and postal address for FRNO: 1081 Budapest, Szilagyi u. 5 (Infoszab 19 Feb. 2015). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. Further information on FRNO, its mandate and activities, as well as information about verification letters and letterhead, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 2. Leadership The December 2015 Infoszab listing for the organization lists Mr. Csoka Janost as the Director (ibid. 8 Dec. 2015). A description of FRNO found on the Infoszab website, dated 15 February 2015, identifies Lakatos Laszlo as the Director (ibid. 19 Feb. 2015). Hungarian media website Magyar Hirlap mentions in an August 2015 article that [translation] "the president of the [FRNO], Laszlo Lakatos of the [Roma organization] Lungo Drom unexpectedly resigned from his position" (Magyar Hirlap 17 Aug. 2015). In an article published on 17 August 2015, the Hungarian media website MNO stated that [translation] "[t]he organization described Janos Csoka -who is the representative of the Roma Citizens Group [Roma Polgari Tomorules] -as president" of the Capital City Roma Council (MNO 17 Aug. 2015). This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within the time and translations constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. References Infoszab. 8 December 2015. "E-informacioszabadsag oldalak." Excerpts translated by Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. [Accessed: 9 Dec. 2015] _____. 19 February 2015. "E-informacioszabadsag oldalak." Excerpts translated by Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. [Accessed: 3 Dec. 2015] Magyar Hirlap. 17 August 2015. "Szocialista kotodesu elnokot valasztott a fovarosi cigany onkormanyzat." Excerpts translated by Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. [Accessed: 9 Dec. 2015] MNO. 17 August 2015. "Megbukott a roma onkormanyzat elnoke." Excerpts translated by Translation Bureau, Public Works and Government Services Canada. [Accessed: 9 Dec. 2015] Additional Sources Consulted Oral sources: Embassy of Canada in Budapest; European Roma Rights Centre; Legal Defense Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities; Balkans and Eastern Europe Researcher, Human Rights Watch; head of the Roma program, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union; legal officer, Hungarian Helsinki Committee. Internet sites, including: 444.hu; European Roma Rights Centre; Factiva; Hungarian Helsinki Committee; Human Rights Watch. Guinea: Wanted notices and arrest warrants, including the authorities who issue them, their appearance, format, content and the reasons why they are issued (2011-June 2016) Publisher Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Publication Date 29 July 2016 Citation / Document Symbol GIN105583.FE Related Document(s) Guinee : information sur les avis de recherche et les mandats d'arret, y compris sur les autorites qui les produisent, leur apparence, le format, le contenu et les raisons pour lesquelles ils sont lances (2011-juin 2016) Cite as Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Guinea: Wanted notices and arrest warrants, including the authorities who issue them, their appearance, format, content and the reasons why they are issued (2011-June 2016), 29 July 2016, GIN105583.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c428672dd.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa 1. Wanted Notices 1.1 Authorities Who Issue Them In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer practising in Conakry stated that wanted notices could be issued by either the prosecutor or the investigative judge (Lawyer in Conakry 21 July 2016). For his part, in correspondence with the Research Directorate, the President of the Guinean Young Lawyers' Association (Association des jeunes avocats de Guinee) explained that, [translation] "[i]n practice," wanted notices are issued by judicial police officers, but that investigative judges can also issue them within the framework of the proceedings before them (President 22 July 2016). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a lawyer practising in Kaloum explained that, based on the code of civil procedure and on his interviews [translation] "with the judiciary and the police," the authorities who can issue a wanted notice are the investigative judge, the public prosecutor and [translation] "[t]he police" (Lawyer in Kaloum 28 July 2016). These same sources specified that the authorities responsible for issuing wanted notices have not changed since 2011 (ibid.; Lawyer in Conakry 21 July 2016; President 22 July 2016). 1.2 Reasons Why They Are Issued The President of the Guinean Young Lawyers' Association stated, without providing additional details, that a wanted notice could be issued for alleged perpetrators of criminal offences (President 22 July 2016). Without providing additional details, the lawyer in Conakry stated that wanted notices were used to [translation] "back arrest warrants" (Lawyer in Conakry 26 July 2016). According to the same source, they are issued "only when the wanted person is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the investigative judge" (ibid. 21 July 2016). Furthermore, according the same source, [translation] "wanted notices are very rarely used in Guinea" (ibid. 26 July 2016). Further information on the use of wanted notices in Guinea could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. 1.3 Appearence and Content According to the sources consulted, the format of wanted notices has not changed since 2011 (Lawyer in Conakry 21 July 2016; President 22 July 2016). However, without providing additional details, the President of the Guinean Young Lawyers' Association stated that the content of wanted notices [translation] "could differ from one department to another" (ibid.). Two examples of wanted notices, with and without a warrant, which the lawyer in Conakry provided the Research Directorate, are attached to this Response (attachments 1 and 2). 2. Arrest Warrants 2.1 Authorities Who Issue Them The following is stated with respect to the issuance of an arrest warrant in the Code of Criminal Procedure of Guinea (Code de procedure penale de la Guinee): [translation] Article 125: - The investigative judge may, depending on the case, issue a summons to appear, a bench warrant, a warrant for detention or an arrest warrant. These warrants shall be enforceable throughout the territory of the Republic. Article 130: - The bench or arrest warrant is served and executed by a judicial police officer or by a law enforcement officer, who must show it to the accused and provide them with a copy. If the individual is already in custody for another reason, the warden of the penitentiary shall notify them and provide them with a copy. In cases of emergency, bench and arrest warrants may be issued by any means. In such cases, the essential provisions of the original, especially the identity of the person charged, the nature of the charge, and the name and position of the issuing judge must be specified. The original warrant shall be given to the officer responsible for executing it as quickly as possible. (Guinea 1998) Section 6 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which covers warrants and their execution, is attached to this Response (attachment 3). The lawyer in Kaloum noted that the Code of Criminal Procedure also sets out that the president of the indictment chamber (under article 206) and the criminal court (under article 458) may issue arrest warrants (Lawyer in Kaloum 28 July 2016). Articles 206 and 458 of the Code of Criminal Procedure read as follows: [translation] Article 206: - The indictment chamber may, in all cases, at the request of the public prosecutor, one of the parties or ex officio, order any additional information it deems appropriate, and notably issue any warrant. Article 458: - Under article 457, paragraph 1, if the offense constitutes a common law crime, and if the sentence is at least six months' imprisonment, the court may, by special reasoned decision, issue a warrant for detention or an arrest warrant for the defendant. (Guinea 1998) Without providing additional details, the lawyer in Conakry stated that arrest warrants are issued only by investigative judges (Lawyer in Conakry 21 July 2016). For his part, the President of the Guinean Young Lawyers' Association indicated that they are issued by prosecutors, investigative judges and [translation] "the judge[s] before whom the hearing is held" (President 22 July 2016). Some sources specified that there has been no change in the authorities who issue them since 2011 (ibid.; Lawyer in Conakry 21 July 2016; Lawyer in Kaloum 28 July 2016). 2.2 Reasons Why They Are Issued The Code of Criminal Procedure of Guinea states the following: [translation] Article 129: - The arrest warrant is the order given to law enforcement authorities to search, arrest and bring the accused to the jail indicated on the warrant, where the accused will be remanded and detained. Article 136: - If the accused has fled or resides outside the territory of the Republic, the investigative judge, after consulting the public prosecutor, may issue an arrest warrant for them if the offence includes a correctional sentence of imprisonment or a more severe sentence. The justice of the peace holding the powers of the public prosecutor not on the bench of the court, is not required to consult the public prosecutor to issue such a warrant. (Guinea 1998) The lawyer in Conakry noted that an arrest warrant is issued [translation] "only for persons charged with an offence" (Lawyer in Conakry 21 July 2016). According to the President of the Guinean Young Lawyers' Association, an arrest warrant is issued when [translation] "a defendant or an accused fails to appear or cannot be found" (22 July 2016). The US Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015 indicates that "[a]though the law requires arrest warrants, police arrested many persons without warrants" (US 13 Apr. 2016, 8). 2.3 Appearance and Content The Code of Criminal Procedure of Guinea states the following with respect to the content of arrest warrants: Article 130: - All warrants specify the identity of the accused; they are dated and signed by the magistrates who issue them and bear their seal. The arrest warrant contains a description of the offence for which it has been issued and the applicable legislative articles. (Guinea 1998) Some sources also reported that, in their opinion, the format of arrest warrants has not changed since 2011 (Lawyer in Conakry 21 July 2016; Lawyer in Kaloum 28 July 2016). An example of an arrested warrant, with which the Research Directorate was provided by the Lawyer in Conakry, is attached to this Response (attachment 4). This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request. References Guinea. 1998. Loi n037 du 31 decembre 1998 portant code de procedure penale. [Accessed 22 July 2016] Lawyer in Conakry. 26 July 2016. Telephone interview. _____. 21 July 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. Lawyer in Kaloum. 28 July 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. President of the Association des jeunes avocats de Guinee. 22 July 2016. Correspondence with the Research Directorate. United States (US). 13 April 2016. Department of State. "Guinea." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015. [Accessed 22 July 2016] Additional Sources Consulted Oral sources: Guinea - Embassy of Guinea in Ottawa; Lawyers in Conakry. Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Factiva; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; UN - Refworld. Attachments 1. Guinea. N.d. Example of a wanted notice. Sent to the Research Directorate by a lawyer in Conakry, 21 July 2016. 2. Guinea. N.d. Example of a wanted notice without a warrant. Sent to the Research Directorate by a lawyer in Conakry, 21 July 2016. 3. Guinea. 1998. "Section 6. Des mandats et de leur execution." Loi n037 du 31 decembre 1998 portant code de procedure penale. [Accessed 22 July 2016] 4. Guinea. N.d. Example of an arrest warrant. Sent to the Research Directorate by a lawyer in Conakry, 21 July 2016. Ban 'deeply concerned' over tensions in south-western Western Sahara Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 28 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Ban 'deeply concerned' over tensions in south-western Western Sahara, 28 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c42ad340d.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 28 August 2016 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply concerned over the tense situation that has developed in the narrow buffer strip in south-western Western Sahara between the Moroccan berm and the Mauritanian border as a result of changes in the status quo and the introduction of armed units from Morocco and the Polisario Front in close proximity to each other. In a statement issued this evening by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban called on both parties to suspend any action that alters that status quo and to withdraw all armed elements so as to prevent any further escalation and permit the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to hold discussions with both parties on the situation. The Secretary-General stresses the importance for both parties to adhere to their obligations as per the Military Agreement number 1, and the need to respect the letter and the spirit of the ceasefire agreement, the statement concluded. Western Sahara is located on the north-west coast of Africa bordered by Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria, The colonial administration of Western Sahara by Spain ended in 1976. Fighting later broke out between Morocco and the Polisario Front. A ceasefire was signed in September 1991. MINURSO was deployed that year to monitor the ceasefire between the Government of Morocco and the Polisario Front and organizing, if the parties agree, a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara. A revised settlement plan was proposed by the United Nations after seven years of diplomatic consultations was rejected by one of the parties in 2004. In approving the current phase of direct negotiations in 2007, the UN Security Council called for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political settlement which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Security Council strongly condemns DPRK missile launches Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 27 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Security Council strongly condemns DPRK missile launches, 27 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c42b5140c.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 27 August 2016 - The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine on 23 August, which follows a series of recent tests and launches the Council said is a grave violation of the DPRK's international obligations and in flagrant disregard of repeated calls to halt such activity. In a press statement issued late yesterday evening, the Council also strongly condemned the DPRK's ballistic missile launches conducted on 2 August and 18 July, and the launching of a submarine-launched ballistic missile by the country on 9 July. Council members said this string of recent launches is in grave violation of the DPRK's international obligations under relevant Council resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013) and 2270 (2016). Deploring all ballistic missile activities by the DPRK, including the most recent launches, the Council noted that such activities contribute to the country's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension. The Council's 15-members further regretted that the DPRK is diverting resources to the pursuit of ballistic missiles while the country's citizens have great unmet needs. Further, Council members expressed serious concern that the DPRK conducted these ballistic missile launches after the 15 April, 23 April, 27 April, 28 April, 31 May and 21 June launches, in flagrant disregard of the repeated statements of the Security Council. As such, the Council reiterated that the DPRK shall refrain from further actions, including nuclear tests, in violation of the relevant resolutions and comply fully with its obligations under those Council texts. The Security Council in its statement went on to call on all Member States to redouble their efforts to implement fully its measures imposed on the DPRK, particularly the comprehensive measures contained in resolution 2270 (2016), which among others, expands arms embargo and non-proliferation measures, including small arms and light weapons, and enforces new cargo inspection and maritime procedures, including mandatory inspection on cargo destined to and originating from the DPRK. Directing the panel established to monitor all measures imposed on the DPRK, known as the 1718 Committee after the 2006 resolution that created it to intensify its work to strengthen enforcement of resolution 2270 (2016) , the Council also directed the Committee to assist Member States to comply with their obligations under that resolution and other relevant texts. The members of the Security Council also called on Member States to report as soon as possible on concrete measures they have taken in order to implement effectively the provisions of resolution 2270 (2016). Reiterating the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-East Asia at large, the Council expressed its 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 members of the Council went on to stress the importance of working to reduce tensions in the Korean Peninsula and beyond, and agreed to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line with its previously expressed determination. UN envoy urges all sides to quickly agree truce to ease suffering in Aleppo Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 27 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN envoy urges all sides to quickly agree truce to ease suffering in Aleppo, 27 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c42b8640e.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 27 August 2016 - Stressing that time is of the essence amid the increasingly dire situation in Aleppo, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria today called for all sides in the conflict to agree by Sunday on allowing aid delivery and repairs for the war-ravaged city's power and water systems to provide some relief for the nearly two million people trapped there. The UN is ready to move. 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, underscored Staffan de Mistura in a statement issued earlier today by his Office, which reiterated the UN's longstanding call for 48-hour weekly humanitarian pause in Aleppo. The international community has been focused on the situation in and around Aleppo, Syria's second city, for weeks, and calls for a truce from across the UN system and the wider humanitarian community have grown stronger as the electrical infrastructure has suffered serious damage and fresh water supplies in the area have begun to run dry up. The respective taskforces on humanitarian aid delivery and a wider ceasefire, created by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), have been meeting separately since early this year on a way forward in the crisis. Russia and the United States are the co-chairs of the taskforces and ISSG, which comprises the UN, the Arab League, the European Union and 16 other countries. Two days ago, Mr. de Mistura welcomed the response of the Russia to support the proposal for a humanitarian pause in the area. Since then, the UN developed an Aleppo emergency response plan and conveyed clear UN humanitarian requirements to all concerned and urged their engagement and support. According to the Special Envoy's Office, the UN has pre-positioned aid ready to be delivered to Aleppo during a 48 hour humanitarian pause, in order to reach 80,000 people in eastern Aleppo and also to reach beneficiaries in western Aleppo. The UN would also try to repair the electrical system servicing 1.8 million people. This pilot initiative is intended to set the stage for weekly pauses for humanitarian relief. The statement also stressed that there should be no escalation in areas adjacent or around the area of the pause. Mr. de Mistura also noted that for logistical and operational reasons convoys must go via the Castello Road the safest and most direct route during the initial pause, although he is aware of concerns that have been expressed by the opposition. He said Russia has confirmed that it is ready to ensure compliance with UN humanitarian response plan and has engaged the Syrian Government on this issue. Meanwhile, efforts are continuing, particularly by the US and other members of the Humanitarian Task Force, to ensure that all stakeholders are ready to commit to enable the UN to execute the humanitarian response plan, the statement added. The Special Envoy calls for all concerned to exert every effort so that, by this Sunday, 28 August 2016, we know where we stand, the statement said, calling on all to exert their influence to help ease the suffering of all the people of Aleppo. UN expert urges Iran to halt executions of 12 individuals for drug-related offences Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN expert urges Iran to halt executions of 12 individuals for drug-related offences, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c42d1740c.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 26 August 2016 - The United Nations rights expert on the situation of human rights in Iran has called on the Government to immediately halt the execution of 12 individuals, all of whom have been reportedly sentenced to death for drug-related offences. The executions are reportedly scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, 27 August, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a news release today. "It is regrettable that the Government continues to proceed with executions for crimes that do not meet the threshold of the 'most serious crimes' as required by international law, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is State party," Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, said in the news release. According to OHCHR, one of the sentenced, Alireza Madadpour was arrested in November 2011 after 990 grams of crystal meth were found during a raid on a house he cleaned. He was tried by the Revolutionary Court located in Karaj city, near the country's capital Tehran. The UN human rights office added that Mr. Madadpour's state-appointed defence lawyer never met him and the trial lasted only 20 minutes. Furthermore, Mr. Madadpour's request for pardon and retrial were not granted. "It is also troubling that courts continue to issue death sentences in trials that not only breach international fair trial standards but even domestic due process guarantees," stressed Mr. Shaheed. The news release also said that Mr. Madadpour and the 11 other individuals were transferred to solitary confinement in Karaj Central Prison on 24 August in preparation for the execution. Executions for drug-related crimes not a deterrence Noting serious concern regarding the Iranian authorities' continuing reliance on drug-related executions as means to deter crimes, the UN rights expert stressed that various Government officials have gone on record to acknowledge that executions have not been effective in the prevention of drug-related crimes. According to the release, the Special Rapporteur also renewed his call on Iran to immediately institute a moratorium on executions and to restrict use of the death penalty for the "most serious crimes." He also repeated his calls on the Iranian authorities to adhere to international standards guaranteeing fair trial and due process for those facing the death penalty. Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. UN teams bring aid to besieged Syrian people despite extreme challenges Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN teams bring aid to besieged Syrian people despite extreme challenges, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c42d4940c.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 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. International Organization for Migration (IOM) delivers non-food relief items to western Aleppo, Syria. Photo: IOM 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. Turkey has not entered a war through its incursion into northern Syria and has no intention of becoming a permanent power there, broadcaster NTV cited Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus as saying on Monday. "Turkey is not an occupying country. Turkey is not entering a war," NTV cited Kurtulmus as telling reporters in Istanbul. "Every party involved, including the Damascus government, was aware of the Euphrates Shield operation. Russia informed them, we are sure about that," he added, referring to the name Ankara has given its incursion into northern Syria. Search Keywords: Short link: UN chief 'looks forward' to peaceful, credible presidential election in Gabon Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN chief 'looks forward' to peaceful, credible presidential election in Gabon, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c42d6f40d.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 26 August 2016 - On the eve of the presidential election in Gabon, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today encouraged all Gabonese to vote responsibly and urged the candidates and other political stakeholders to abstain from any acts of incitement and maintain a peaceful atmosphere before, during and after the election. "The Secretary-General calls on all Gabonese to exercise their civic duty responsibly and looks forward to the holding of the poll in a peaceful and credible manner," Mr. Ban's spokesman said in a statement. The candidates include President Ali Bongo, seeking a second seven-year term, and Jean Ping, a former chairman of the African Union Commission. Commending the Government of Gabon and the Autonomous and Permanent National Electoral Commission (CENAP) for the timely preparations for the election, Mr. Ban further welcomed the deployment of regional and international election observers in Gabon and stressed the importance of the free and responsible participation of the media, the spokesman said. "The Secretary-General urges 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," the spokesman said, adding that Mr. Ban also called on all candidates to contribute to the integrity of the electoral process by addressing any complaints through established legal and constitutional channels. UNESCO chief condemns killing of journalist in Brazil Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 August 2016 Related Document(s) Resolution 29 "Condemnation of violence against journalists" Cite as UN News Service, UNESCO chief condemns killing of journalist in Brazil, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c42efa40c.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 26 August 2016 - The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom has condemned the killing of Joao Miranda do Carmo, an online journalist in Brazil, and called for an investigation into the incident. I condemn the murder of Joao Miranda do Carmo, Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said in a statement issued on 24 August. I call on the authorities to investigate this crime and bring its perpetrators to justice so as to protect journalists' ability to continue contributing to informed public debate, she added. Mr. do Carmo owned and edited SAD Sem Censura, a local news website. On the evening of 24 July, he was shot at his home in the city of Santo Antonio do Descoberto in the country's Goias state. UNESCO's chief regularly issues statements on the killing of media workers in line with Resolution 29 adopted by UNESCO Member States in 1997, entitled Condemnation of Violence against Journalists. Greece facing 'serious challenges,' needs EU help to manage refugee crisis UN agency chief Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 26 August 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Greece facing 'serious challenges,' needs EU help to manage refugee crisis UN agency chief, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c4300a40c.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. 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. Refugee and migrant children at Kara Tepe hospitality centre on the Greek island of Lesvos. Photo: UNICEF/Tomislav Georgiev "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 "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. Israel/OPT: 'Secret trial' of Gaza aid worker will not deliver justice Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 29 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Israel/OPT: 'Secret trial' of Gaza aid worker will not deliver justice, 29 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c431274.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The Israeli authorities must ensure that the trial of a detained humanitarian worker employed by the charity World Vision is fair and open, said Amnesty International on the eve of his trial, amid reports that the proceedings are due to take place in secret. Mohammed al-Halabi, the manager of Gaza operations for the child-focused global development NGO, is facing 12 charges including being a member of a "terrorist organization" and siphoning off the charity's funds for "terrorism" purposes. He was initially denied access to a lawyer and, when she was eventually allowed to meet him, he alleged he had been seriously mistreated in custody. The lawyer is prevented from disclosing the details of that allegation, as well as many other elements of the case, by a set of severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on reporting around the case. "Secret trials are the most flagrant violation of the right to a public hearing. Holding these court proceedings behind closed doors would render any convictions obtained unsound," said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Amnesty International. "The allegation of stealing money intended to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is extremely serious. This makes it all the more pressing to ensure that Mohammed al-Halabi's rights are fully respected and that his trial be fair and transparent." According to international standards trials can be held in secret only in exceptional circumstances. While grounds of national security may exceptionally justify closing some or all of a trial, the Israeli authorities have not put forward a case to explain why such conditions are necessary for this trial. The Israel Security Agency arrested Mohammed al-Halabi on 15 June at the Erez crossing between Israel and occupied Gaza, while he was on his way back to his home in Gaza from a meeting at World Vision's office in Jerusalem. He was transferred to a detention centre at Ashkelon, Israel, where he was interrogated before being moved to Nafcha prison in the Negev desert. He was not permitted to see a lawyer until 6 July, three weeks after his arrest, and therefore faced intensive interrogations without legal representation. He was not charged with a crime until 4 August, more than seven weeks after his arrest. It has also been reported in the media that he was severely beaten and his 'confession' to stealing 7.4 million USD a year was obtained under duress. This appears to be a dubiously high figure, given that according to World Vision, Mohammed al-Halabi and other managers in his position only have the authority to authorize spending up to a maximum of 15,000 USD of the budget at a time and the organization's total Gaza budget for the last decade was approximately 22.5 million USD. "The Israeli authorities must immediately investigate the allegations that Mohammed al-Halabi was mistreated in custody and may have been forced into 'confessing' under duress. Any evidence obtained through torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment must be excluded from proceedings. Without independent and impartial investigations into these allegations the trial risks being fundamentally flawed," said Magdalena Mughrabi. Between 2001 and 2016 the Israel Security Agency has been named in almost 1,000 complaints of torture and other ill-treatment, but no criminal investigations have been opened. Amnesty International has also learned that the Israeli authorities have imposed severe reporting restrictions on Mohammed al-Halabi's case. His lawyer said that the restrictions were exponentially more severe than any she had seen in her more than forty years of experience. The Israeli authorities have also made a number of statements that risk prejudicing the course of justice. For example, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement treated as fact the allegations that Mohammed al-Halabi is a member of Hamas and stole 7.4 million USD a year. "The Israeli authorities must cease all statements that could prejudice the outcome of the trial. Reporting allegations as fact is a violation of the presumption of innocence," said Magdalena Mughrabi. Mohammed al-Halabi has worked for World Vision since 2005 and was promoted to head of its operations in the Gaza Strip in 2014. World Vision has launched an independent investigation into the allegations and suspended its humanitarian work in Gaza following his arrest. Several governments have announced the suspension of their funding to World Vision's projects in the Occupied Palestinian Territories pending the outcome of the investigation. Since 2007, Israeli forces have maintained an air, sea and land blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has severely restricted the movement of goods and people into and out of Gaza, and amounts to collective punishment. Egypt has also largely kept shut the border crossing in Rafah in recent years. The blockade and a series of armed conflicts between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the last decade have left nearly 80 percent of Gaza's population dependent on international humanitarian aid. "The welfare of most of the civilian population in Gaza depends on effective delivery of humanitarian assistance. It is crucial that this case does not in any way impact the ability of humanitarian and development organizations such as World Vision to be able to carry out their vital work free from arbitrary restrictions, harassment or intimidation," said Magdalena Mughrabi. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Ukraine: Authorities must commit to a thorough investigation after 13 people released from secret detention Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 29 August 2016 Related Document(s) "You Don't Exist" - Arbitrary Detentions, Enforced Disappearances, and Torture in Eastern Ukraine Cite as Amnesty International, Ukraine: Authorities must commit to a thorough investigation after 13 people released from secret detention, 29 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c431ee4.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Fresh details of secret detention by the Ukrainian authorities have emerged following the release of 13 people from a Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) compound in Kharkiv, said Amnesty InternationaI and Human Rights Watch today. The release comes after Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch exposed the use of torture and secret detention by both Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russian separatists during the conflict in eastern Ukraine in a joint report "'You Don't Exist.' Arbitrary Detentions, Enforced Disappearances, and Torture in Eastern Ukraine" published on 21 July. The organizations have now written to the Chief Military Prosecutor of Ukraine with fresh details of secret detention in Ukraine including detailed testimony from some of those released, as well as the details of five who are still being secretly detained in the compound. "The grotesque practice of secret detention continues to be denied by the Ukrainian authorities, but the evidence is overwhelming. The release of 13 people is welcome, but simply confirms the need to end and investigate these abuses and deliver justice to the victims," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. Before the launch of the report, the two organisations met with the Chief Military Prosecutor of Ukraine and handed him a list of 16 people who were allegedly still being held in Kharkiv. He promised to personally oversee the investigation into the practice of secret detention. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have since learned that six men were released on 25 July and six men and one woman were released on 2 August. 12 of those released were on the list of 16 that was provided to the Chief Military Prosecutor. It has since emerged that one of those on the original list was previously released in March 2016. Three additional people were transferred to the secret detention facility in April 2016, one of whom was released on 2 August. Representatives of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch were able to contact seven of the recently released secret prisoners and interviewed five of them. Their cases confirm the shocking findings of the "You Don't Exist" report. Three of the former secret detainees Mykola Vakaruk, Vyktor Ashykhin and Dmytro Koroliov are determined to seek justice. The other two have asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals against themselves or their families. "We urge Kyiv to take immediate steps to secure the release of those still secretly detained and to provide justice and crucially protection to those now seeking it," said John Dalhuisen. Attempts to hide the use of secret detention The interviews with former prisoners show a pattern of apparent attempts by the Ukrainian authorities to conceal the use of the secret detention facility in the Kharkiv SBU compound. Vyktor Ashykhin was forcibly disappeared from his home in Ukrainsk on 7 December 2014 and was released on 25 July 2016. He told Amnesty International that he was moved three times during his 597-day-long illegal detention by guards to hide him from independent monitors. On 10 February 2015, the guards told the detainees to gather their belongings, put plastic bags on their heads, and lead them out of their cells to another floor of the building. They spent several hours sitting on the floor in different rooms before being returned to their cells. They said their cells had been cleaned and ventilated to remove any trace of their detention. Later, they overheard guards saying that "someone official" was visiting the facility. Similar attempts to hide the prisoners were made on 20 April and 20 May 2016. Mykola Vakaruk was forcibly disappeared from his home in Ukrainsk on 9 December 2014 and was released on 25 July 2016. He developed a high fever in October 2015. He was taken to #17 Hospital in Kharkiv and registered under the fake name of Serhey Petrovich. Following an operation to remove his kidney he spent 10 days in an intensive care unit and a further 20 days in post-operation recovery. During this time, Vakaruk was handcuffed to a bed and was guarded by an SBU officer at all times. On their release, the guards gave the detainees their passports and between 50-200 hryvnas ($2-10) "for transportation costs." They explicitly warned the former detainees to keep silent about their secret detention at the SBU and threatened them with severe repercussions if they went public about their ordeal. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are calling on the Ukrainian officials to commit to a thorough, independent and effective investigation of these cases and to ensure the safety of those released. Five people remain in secret prison According to those interviewed by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, at least five other people are still in secret detention. Two are Russian nationals and two are Ukrainian citizens from Kharkiv. The fifth person allegedly suffers from a mental illness although the recently released detainees were unable to provide additional details about his identity. One of those still in secret detention is Russian national Vladimir Bezobrazov. He was arrested while on a family holiday in Karolino-Bugaz, Odessa region, in May 2014. The head of the local border guard unit overhead Bezobrazov making comments in support of the pro-Russian separatists in a cafe and arrested him on the spot. After two days in the border guards' base in Karolino-Bugaz, Bezobrazov "confessed" to coming to Ukraine to recruit pro-Russian separatists fighters and was promptly charged with attempted violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity (Article 110 of the criminal code). Bezobrazov retracted his "confession" in court, claiming that it was made under duress. In March 2015, Ukrainian prisoner exchange mediators approached Bezobrazov's lawyer and offered to release Bezobrazov in exchange for a Ukrainian fighter captured by pro-Russian separatists in Luhansk, if he confirmed his "confession" in court. He agreed, and on 6 March 2015 the Ovidiopol District Court handed him a three-year suspended sentence. As Vladimir Bezobrazov was leaving the court building, a van drove up to the entrance; several men stepped out, bundled him inside and drove off. He has been missing since. Two months later in May 2015, Bezobrazov's mother Lyudmila Korobova learned from a man who had been released from secret detention at the Kharkiv SBU that her son was being held there. Between May 2015 and August 2016, Korobova received one phone call from Bezobrazov and several phone calls from released cell-mates confirming his detention in the Kharkiv facility. "The rule of law is already weak in Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities cannot hope to overhaul its ailing criminal justice system, while pockets of its law enforcement engage in such egregious practices with such complete impunity. Ukraine's interests are far better served by tackling this problem, than denying it," said John Dalhuisen. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Yemen's horror exposes the deadly hypocrisy of arms exporters like the UK and the USA Publisher Amnesty International Author Rasha Mohamed & Rasha Abdul Rahim Publication Date 26 August 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Yemen's horror exposes the deadly hypocrisy of arms exporters like the UK and the USA, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c432b44.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The airstrike on Abs Rural Hospital in Yemen's Hajjah governorate on 15 August was the fourth attack on a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) hospital in 10 months. That didn't lessen the shock. Sixteen-year-old ambulance driver Ayman Issa Bakri was among the 10 dead. He had been working there since MSF began supporting the hospital in the summer of 2015. When his body was found near the impact site, he was still holding the woman he had been transferring from the ambulance to the A&E. Shortly after, MSF announced it was winding up its operations in Yemen; it is hard to imagine the despair that Yemenis feel when the only hospital for miles disappears. At the site of the ruined hospital, Amnesty International identified remnants of bombs that appear to have been manufactured either in the USA or the UK. This would be consistent with what we know about prolific arms exports by these countries to Saudi Arabia and other members of its military coalition. Meanwhile, UK and US delegates were preparing to attend the second Conference of States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which wraps up in Geneva today. The ATT sets out prohibitions on transfers of weapons where it is known that they would be used in war crimes - for example in indiscriminate or direct attacks against civilians. The UK has ratified the treaty, so it is bound by its rules; as a signatory, the USA must not take any action to undermine its object and purpose. In light of extensive knowledge about how the Saudi Arabia-led coalition is using certain weapons to carry out indiscriminate and direct attacks on hospitals and other civilian targets, they should not be authorizing any transfers of arms to the coalition for use in the Yemen conflict. This is precisely why we have repeatedly called for a comprehensive embargo on arms transfers that could be used by any of the warring parties in Yemen. In a statement to the conference on 23 August, the UK delegation urged other States Parties to 'redress practices that fall short of the treaty's ideals' and to be willing to accept criticism of their conduct. The hypocrisy of this call is astounding, coming after nearly three weeks of renewed horror for Yemeni civilians, again the victims of indiscriminate attacks by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition which is replete with UK-made weapons, including munitions and military aircraft. Since peace talks in Kuwait collapsed on 6 August, airstrikes against the Houthi armed group have resumed, with dire consequences for civilians. Just two days before the attack on Abs Hospital, 10 children were reportedly killed and 28 injured when their school was bombed in Sa'da. There is nowhere that children can feel safe; they make up a third of the 3,799 civilians killed in Yemen since the coalition campaign began in March 2015. Amnesty International has documented time and again how ATT States Parties continue to supply the Saudi Arabia-led coalition with weapons of the type used for attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Yemen. By doing so, they risk complicity in such unlawful attacks. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition has also used cluster munitions, banned by an international treaty to which the UK is a signatory. On our most recent mission to Yemen we found remnants of UK and US-made cluster munitions scattered around people's houses and hanging from trees, as well as evidence of their consequences: children missing fingers, parents missing children. In Geneva this week, the Control Arms Coalition and Pax reminded delegates of the humanitarian suffering of civilians in Yemen. The silence of the USA and the UK at this meeting was deafening. Meanwhile France did not even bother to attend. Along with the UK, US, Germany and Spain, France is among Saudi Arabia's top five arms suppliers - according to its own annual report it authorised the export of up to US$18 billion worth of arms to the country in 2015. The refusal of Saudi Arabia's main arms suppliers to engage in any kind of public debate about what is happening in Yemen is shameful. Blunt denials, vague platitudes, or just plain silence are becoming the standard responses to reams of credible information on how the Saudi Arabia-led coalition are using those arms to commit serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. Photos of munitions of the type being sold by the UK to Saudi Arabia in the vicinity of bleeding toddlers and houses flattened into tombs are not considered important enough to prompt even a brief public statement from the UK. States parties, including the UK, continue to encourage others to join the ATT. But if they are unwilling to scrutinise their own conduct or penalise violations, they will undermine the treaty's founding spirit and risk turning it into little more than a public relations exercise. There must be zero tolerance for states who flout the ATT's obligations. Amnesty International is calling for a requirement for arms exporters not to approve an arms transfer until importing states provide legally binding guarantees ensuring the intended end users of those arms will respect human rights and the rule of law. For example, the UK could not currently authorise any arms transfer to Saudi Arabia until it had a legally binding guarantee that those arms would not be used in Yemen. Silence on civilian casualties in Yemen is undermining one of the international community's most important tools for protecting civilians caught up in wars. A high-level ambassador told Amnesty International at the Conference that since the ATT is only two-years-old we need to "exercise patience", and give it time. However, states like the UK, France and the USA have ample resources to control their arms exports to ensure they do not fuel atrocities - they can and should lead the way. In the meantime, unless ATT States Parties begin to live up to the treaty's obligations, all Yemenis in hospital beds can do is pray that the next round of airstrikes hits somewhere else. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International UN: Create International Inquiry on Yemen Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 26 August 2016 Related Document(s) Situation of human rights in Yemen Cite as Human Rights Watch, UN: Create International Inquiry on Yemen, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c4339f4.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. The United Nations Human Rights Council should immediately create an international investigation into abuses in Yemen. The UN high commissioner for human rights also called for a halt to arming the parties to the conflict in a report released in Geneva on August 25, 2016. He called the impact of the conflict on Yemen's civilians "devastating." Since a Saudi Arabia-led coalition began its military campaign against Houthi forces in Yemen on March 26, 2015, at least 3,799 civilians have been killed and 6,711 wounded, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The report's recommendations strengthen calls made by nongovernmental groups, including Human Rights Watch, to the Human Rights Council to establish an international independent inquiry to investigate alleged violations by both sides and to individual countries to stop arming parties to the conflict known to have repeatedly violated the laws of war. "Yemeni civilians have suffered serious laws-of-war violations by all sides for more than a year," said John Fisher, Geneva director at Human Rights Watch. "They should not have to wait a moment longer for these abuses to be credibly and effectively investigated." The high commissioner's report details numerous violations of international humanitarian and human rights law between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, by both sides to the conflict. The high commissioner reported that "Popular Committees"affiliated with the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, and army units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh have attacked residential areas, conducted sniper attacks against civilians, recruited and used child soldiers, and imposed a blockade on the city of Taizz that has led to a "near collapse of the health system." Human Rights Watch has also documented violations by the Houthis and allied forces, including the use of antipersonnel landmines, use of child soldiers, indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, and restrictions on aid to civilians in Taizz. The high commissioner also said that Saudi-led coalition hadstruck schools, hospitals, markets, weddings, residential buildings, and public and private infrastructure in airstrikes; imposed a naval blockade and restrictions on air and land travel that have contributed to worsening the humanitarian crisis; and allegedly used cluster munitions. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International alone have documented more than 70 unlawful coalition airstrikes, some of which may amount to war crimes, that have killed more than 900 civilians, and 19 attacks using internationally banned cluster munitions. Peace talks between President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi'sgovernment and the Houthis and former President Saleh's party broke down in early August, and the fighting with civilian casualties continues. According to OHCHR figures, between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, 1,259 civilians were allegedly killed and 1,360 injured as a result of coalitionairstrikes, and 475 allegedly killed and 1,121 injured as a result of shelling by the Popular Committees and army units loyal to Saleh. The report also found that other groups, including Al-Qaida and the Islamic State (also known as ISIS), had caused civilian casualties, and that aerial drone strikes allegedly carried out by the United States may have killed civilians. Nongovernmental organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly called on the Human Rights Council to create an international mechanism to investigate alleged serious violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of international human rights law by all parties to the conflict in Yemen. Over the course of the conflict, the council has missed criticalopportunities to address alleged violations in Yemen, Human Rights Watch said. On October 2, 2015, the council adopted by consensus a deeply flawed resolution that ignored earlier calls for an international inquiry into mounting abuses in the country, including by the high commissioner. Instead the council endorsed a Yemeni national commission established in September 2015 by President Hadi. The high commissioner's report found that the "commission did not enjoy the cooperation of all concerned parties and could not operate in all parts of Yemen," and was "unable to implement its mandate in accordance with international standards." Nongovernmental organizations have also repeatedly called on countries including the US, the United Kingdom, and France to suspend weapon sales to Saudi Arabia until it curtails its unlawful airstrikes in Yemen and credibly investigates alleged violations. The high commissioner's statement that the international community should "use its influence to prevent and end violations, and to refrain from encouraging or arming parties to the conflict," reinforces these calls. "The UN Human Rights Council should not turn its back on Yemeni civilians, and should deliver the justice to which they are entitled," Fisher said. "The world's leading human rights body should ensure that the egregious violations taking place in Yemen do not go unaddressed." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Crimean Tatar Activist Confined in Psychiatric Hospital Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 26 August 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Crimean Tatar Activist Confined in Psychiatric Hospital, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c435044.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. A Crimean Tatar activist has been involuntarily confined since August 18, 2016, in a psychiatric hospital, Human Rights Watch said today. The de-facto Russian authorities of Crimea should release the activist, Ilmi Umerov, drop criminal separatism charges against him, and ensure that he receives the medical care he requires. Umerov, 59, is a former head of the Bakhchisaray district administration in Crimea and a former deputy chairman of Mejlis, the Crimean Tatars' elected representative body. Since Russian forces occupied Crimea in February 2014, Umerov has been an outspoken critic of the occupation and the Russian administration's persecution of Crimean Tatars, an ethnic minority who openly opposed Russia's occupation of Crimea, a part of Ukraine. The Supreme Court of Crimea in April 2016 declared Mejlis an extremist organization, and Crimean Tatar activists appealed the decision. "Umerov's forced psychiatric confinement is an egregious violation of his rights," said Tanya Cooper, Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch. "It's also a shameful attempt to use psychiatry to silence him and tarnish his reputation, a popular practice against dissidents in the Soviet Union." Russia's Federal Security Services (FSB) detained Umerov in May in Bakhchisaray, charged him with separatism under part 2 of Article 280.1 of the Russian criminal code and banned him from leaving Crimea during the investigation. Mark Feygin, one of Umerov's lawyers, told Human Rights Watch that on August 18, FSB officers forcibly moved Umerov from a Simferopol hospital, where he was receiving treatment for high blood pressure, to a psychiatric facility in the same city for an involuntary psychiatric evaluation, which can last up to 28 days or even longer. Feygin said the charges stem from a March 2016 live interview with the Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR, which was posted on YouTube the next day. Russian authorities shut down the station in April 2015, and it relocated to Kiev. Feygin said that based on a so-called expert linguistic analysis of the Russian translation of Umerov's Crimean Tatar language interview, the FSB concluded that Umerov had threatened Russia's territorial integrity by making calls to get Crimea back from Russia. "It's important to make Russia leave Crimea, Donbass and Luhansk, if it was only possible to restore Ukraine's former borders" the transcript says. In July, Umerov went to court to try to halt the criminal investigation, but the court said it could continue. On August 11, while the Simferopol court considered a petition from an FSB investigator to order the psychiatric evaluation, Umerov became unwell due to a pre-existing high blood pressure condition and was hospitalized. The court approved the psychiatric evaluation and Umerov's lawyers immediately appealed. But on August 18, Umerov was transferred to the psychiatric facility before an appeals court could hear the appeal, in breach of procedural law. Umerov's daughter, Ayshe Umerova, said she was not allowed to see her father the day he was moved. Umerov was also initially banned from seeing his lawyers, receiving packages, or using a telephone. Later, his other lawyer, Nikolai Polozov, was allowed to see him. Umerov's daughter and his lawyers said they were very concerned about Umerov's health because he was not receiving the medical care he needed for his heart condition. Umerov also has diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and heart disease. "Umerov should be allowed to continue medical treatment in a hospital, where he can get the care he requires," Cooper said. "The authorities should also drop their trumped up charges of separatism against Umerov for his peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of speech." Under Russia's occupation of Crimea, the space for free speech and media and freedom of association in Crimea has shrunk dramatically. The authorities also have failed to conduct meaningful investigations into attacks and beatings of Crimean Tatar and pro-Ukraine activists and journalists. Under the pretext of combating extremism or terrorism, the authorities have harassed, intimidated, and taken arbitrary legal action against Crimean Tatars. Local authorities declared two Crimean Tatar leaders personae non gratae and prohibited them from entering Crimea. They also have searched, threatened, or shut down Crimean Tatar media outlets and banned peaceful gatherings to commemorate historic events, such as the anniversary of the deportation of Crimean Tatars during the Soviet years. Under international law, the Russian Federation is an occupying power in Crimea as it exercises effective control without the consent of the government of Ukraine, and there has been no legally recognized transfer of sovereignty to Russia. A referendum, held without the authorization of the Ukrainian government or any broad-based endorsement by other states, and Russia's unilateral actions afterward cannot be considered to meet the criteria under international law for a transfer of sovereignty that would end the state of belligerent occupation. Human Rights Watch documented a surge of human rights abuses in Crimea after it was occupied by Russia. "Russian authorities should stop persecuting people who challenge Russia's actions in Crimea," Cooper said. "Umerov should not be punished for speaking his mind about Crimea and its future." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Ukraine: New Research Corroborates Secret Detentions Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 28 August 2016 Related Document(s) "You Don't Exist" - Arbitrary Detentions, Enforced Disappearances, and Torture in Eastern Ukraine Cite as Human Rights Watch, Ukraine: New Research Corroborates Secret Detentions, 28 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c4354f4.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. New information has corroborated allegations of enforced disappearances and secret detention by Ukraine's security services, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a joint letter to Ukraine's military prosecutor. The new information indicates that at least five victims of enforced disappearances remain in secret detention at Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) in Kharkiv, one of the secret detention sites the groups documented in a July 21, 2016 joint report. The report, "You Don't Exist," documented prolonged, arbitrary, and sometimes secret detention as well as ill-treatment of detainees by both Ukrainian authorities and Russia-backed separatists. Ukraine's military prosecutor should prioritize and personally oversee an investigation into grave allegations of secret detention by the SBU. In the two weeks after the report's publication, 13 people 12 men and one woman were released from secret detention in the Kharkiv SBU. "The release of 13 people secretly held in Kharkiv was very good news, but there has been no official acknowledgement of their detention or release, or of the problem of enforced disappearances by the SBU," said Tanya Lokshina, a senior Europe and Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The Security Service's continued denial of enforced disappearances fosters a climate of lawlessness and perpetuates impunity for grave human rights violations." Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said that three of the five people still in the Kharkiv Security Service headquarters have been held there for more than 17 months. The military prosecutor should immediately secure the release of people who remain in secret detention and bring those responsible to account, Human Rights Watch said. In July, Ukraine's military prosecutor met with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to discuss the joint report's key concerns, including several cases of enforced disappearances in secret detention at the Kharkiv SBU. The Security Service denied the allegations. The military prosecutor pledged to investigate, and Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch subsequently sent him a list of 16 people who, based on information from a range of sources, were being held in secret detention in the premises of the SBU in Kharkiv. Based on follow-up research by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, most of the 13 people released from the Kharkiv SBU were among the 16 on the list sent to the prosecutor's office. In the letter to Ukraine's military prosecutor, the groups summarized their findings from interviews conducted in August with five of the people who were recently released. Their accounts of detention and treatment at the Kharkiv SBU further confirmed the patterns described in the report and brought to light some new developments. The interviews revealed that one of the 16 people on the list had been released from the facility in mid-March, and that on April 20, three more unofficial detainees were taken to the facility, bringing the total number of people held there at that time to 18. They also confirmed that on July 25, officials at the Kharkiv SBU released six of these 18 people and on August 2 they released seven more. The interviewees, from both groups, said that Security Service officials drove them from Kharkiv in the back of an armored minibus, letting some off on the outskirts of Kramatorsk, approximately 170 kilometers southeast of Kharkiv, and others 15 kilometers further south, on the outskirts of Druzhkyvka. Before letting them go, their captors returned their passports and gave them 50 to 200 hryvnia (approximately US$4 to US$8) "for transportation costs." The captors warned the detainees to keep silent about their disappearance and threatened them with severe repercussions for divulging information about it. The accounts by the five recently released people are consistent with the accounts of former Kharkiv Security Service detainees interviewed for the report. Taken together, both sets of interviews form a comprehensive picture of secret Security Service detention, Human Rights Watch said. Both groups provided consistent descriptions of the SBU facility, the daily routine, the guards and other inmates, inadequate medical assistance, failed prisoner exchanges, and efforts by staff to hide them from Ukrainian and international officials, including by removing them from their cells temporarily and using pseudonyms to register those who required emergency medical assistance at a medical institution. The new interviews also confirmed patterns of the agencies' enforced disappearances, snatching them from a courtroom or a pretrial detention prison after a judge had ordered their release, or abducting them from their homes. Police authorities had eventually opened "missing persons" cases, but did not investigate effectively. After the detainees were released, the missing persons cases were closed, but police reports do not reflect they were held in secret detention. No one has been held to account. Under international law, an enforced disappearance occurs when agents of the state or their proxies deprive someone of their liberty and then refuse to acknowledge it or conceal the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person. Enforced disappearances are grave crimes, which are strictly prohibited under international law in all circumstances and may constitute a war crime or a crime against humanity, depending on their context. States have strict obligations to prevent, investigate, and punish all incidents of enforced disappearances. Three of the five recently released detainees interviewed said they want those responsible for their disappearances to be held to account and are eager to cooperate with an investigation. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch shared their contact details with the military prosecutor, along with their case summaries. Ukraine's international allies should urge the country's leadership to acknowledge the practice of enforced disappearance and secret detentions by its Security Services and put a resolute end to impunity for such crimes, Human Rights Watch said. "We are concerned about the safety of these three people, especially as they have been threatened with repercussions for speaking up about their secret detention," Lokshina said. "Ukraine's military prosecutor should ensure their safety and protect them from harassment and intimidation by other Ukrainian law enforcement agencies." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch The Pentagon is calling on NATO ally Turkey, as well U.S.-backed fighters aligned against the Islamic State group, to stop fighting each other in northern Syria. In a written statement on Monday, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook called the clashes south of the Euphrates River town of Jarablus "unacceptable" and a source of "deep concern." He says the U.S. doesn't support reported Turkish airstrikes and artillery shelling of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters or Kurdish attacks on Turkish troops in areas where Islamic State group fighters no longer are operating. The United States has called on the Syrian Kurds to pull back to the east side of the Euphrates, in accordance with U.S. assurances given to the Turks, and Cook said this pullback has "largely occurred." Search Keywords: Short link: RSF urges UK to charge London-based instigator of attack on Karachi TV station Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 29 August 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, RSF urges UK to charge London-based instigator of attack on Karachi TV station, 29 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c436104.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. In the wake of an attack by armed members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on a TV channel's offices in Karachi four days ago, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the British authorities to bring charges against the MQM's London-based leader Altaf Hussain, who openly urged his followers to carry out the attack. Speaking by telephone to his followers on 22 August, Hussain angrily criticized the Pakistani media and urged his supporters "to storm the offices of TV channels." Hussain has lived in exile in Britain since fleeing Pakistan more than 20 years ago and has obtained British citizenship. Just minutes after the phone call, MQM members launched their attack on the ARY News offices in the Karachi district of Saddar and the Karachi Press Club. They threw stones at the premises and fired shots in the air. Armed with sticks, some of them stormed inside, attacked employees and caused a great deal of damage. According to the information obtained by Freedom Network, at least two reporters and four cameraman - working for Samaa TV, Neo TV, Channel 24, ARY News, Dunya News and 92 News - sustained minor injuries during the attack. The authorities reacted rapidly, dispersing the activists and making a dozen arrests. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the threats and violence, describing them as "an attack on freedom of press and expression" and calling for media personnel to be given full protection. A Sindh province police spokesman said protection of the media would be reinforced in Karachi, the province's capital. "We welcome the reaction of the Pakistani authorities to these acts of organized violence," said Benjamin Ismail, the head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk. "At the same time, since the violence was directly instigated from London by Altaf Hussain, we call on the British government to accept that it has a duty to bring proceedings against him. "By directly inciting physical attacks on journalists, this politician committed a crime that the British authorities cannot ignore, even if the violence did not take place in the United Kingdom. The British government has an opportunity to directly contribute to the fight against crimes of violence against journalists." Under a Lahore high court order issued last year, the Pakistani media are no longer allowed to provide live coverage of any speech by Hussain or publish his photo. But he continues to address MQM members and supporters from London. RSF also hails the fact that the Pakistani media were unanimous in their condemnation of this attack, overcoming political divisions and uniting in defence of media freedom. Such unity is more necessary than ever in what is one of the world's most dangerous countries for media personnel. Pakistan is ranked 147th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index. Cracks widen in "impossible" Italian asylum system Publisher IRIN Author Louise Hunt Publication Date 15 August 2016 Cite as IRIN, Cracks widen in "impossible" Italian asylum system, 15 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c43a154.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Closed borders in the Balkans and the EU-Turkey deal have drastically reduced arrivals of migrants and refugees to Greece, but arrivals to Italy have continued at a similar rate to last year. The key difference is that fewer are able to move on to northern Europe, leaving Italy's reception system buckling under the pressure and migrants paying the price. So far this year more than 100,000 migrants have arrived in Italy by sea, according to the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR. During recent summer months, as many as 10,000 migrants have disembarked from rescue vessels in a week. After the chaos witnessed at the height of last year's refugee "crisis", the EU's hotspot system, introduced late in 2015, was supposed to impose some order in the arrivals process. Above all, it was designed to rapidly weed out so-called economic migrants, who could be swiftly deported, from those with the right to remain and apply for international protection. The new approach was also designed to facilitate the relocation of asylum seekers from the overwhelmed frontline states of Italy and Greece to other EU member states that had agreed to take in 160,000 people over two years. But the relocation scheme has been an abject failure. By mid-July, only about 3,000 people had been relocated, and just 843 of them from Italy. In addition, many of those identified as economic migrants cannot easily be returned to their home countries due to the lack of readmission agreements. At the behest of the EU, all new arrivals are now fingerprinted, meaning they can't apply for asylum in another EU country without the risk of being returned to Italy under the Dublin Regulation. This, combined with tighter border controls being implemented by Switzerland and France, means the number of asylum seekers in Italy's reception system has doubled since last year, to 140,000. An "impossible" situation Yasha Maccanico, an Italian researcher for civil liberties monitoring organisation Statewatch, says Italy has been placed in an "impossible and unsustainable" position. "Relocation was meant to be the justification for the hotspot system, but it simply has not happened," he told IRIN. "And no matter what effort the state makes in providing adequate reception facilities, it will not be enough to match the numbers of migrants arriving." Under the hotspot approach, migrants are supposed to be identified and screened at ports by mobile teams or at one of four dedicated hotspot centres: two in Sicily, one on Lampedusa, and one on the mainland in Taranto. In reality, fewer than half of the new arrivals are channelled through the hotspot centres and the majority of disembarkations happen at ports outside hotspot areas. The Italian interior ministry, under pressure from the European Commission, is in the process of setting up more mobile hotspot teams, but, until these are fully implemented, the majority of migrants are being taken to other facilities for processing. "We know that currently at least 38 percent of all arrivals are going through those centres where the hotspot procedure is applied," UNHCR spokeswoman Carlotta Sami told IRIN. "The rest are transferred to police stations for identification and to reception centres in other territories. In this case there is no presence of [outside] agencies." Although UNHCR provides basic information to almost all migrants and refugees arriving at Italy's ports, only those processed in the hotspot centres receive the more in-depth information and support available from teams working inside the centres. "Those who are transferred to other centres can miss this further information," Sami said. "It's very important for migrants to be provided with strong legal assistance in the centres and also at the police stations, but that is not always the case." Refusal of entry Giulia Capitani, migration and asylum policy adviser at Oxfam Italia, is also worried about the difficulty of monitoring what happens to the migrants transferred directly to reception centres around the country for processing. She fears it could lead to "people being fingerprinted and rejected in a very spread-out way" that will be difficult for migrant rights groups and lawyers to respond to. The basis for these concerns is the widespread issuing of refusal of entry notices ("respingimento differito") that followed the implementation of the hotspot approach. Between September 2015 and March this year, Oxfam Italia estimates that more than 5,000 migrants from countries with low asylum recognition rates mainly North and West Africans received these decrees, which give them seven days to leave from Rome airport by their own means. Fausto Melluso, who works for migrant support organisation Arci Palermo, says the procedure has forced thousands of migrants underground. "Ninety percent of people didn't appeal the notices; there is an enormous number of people who now have to hide from the state and do what they can to survive," he said. In Sicily, this often means they end up exploited by criminal networks through slave labour on farms or in the drugs trade. The battle to exercise the right to apply for international protection is only the first phase of an excruciatingly drawn-out asylum process involving requests, rejections, and appeals that can take up to two years. "People can get very depressed in this limbo," said Melluso. It is also part of the reason why Italy's reception system is log-jammed. Fighting for change The Palermo University legal clinic team successfully proved that the refusal of entry notices were issued with "substantial and formal" defects. "Some migrants were given only very general and ineffective information on international protection. Others were not given any," said Elena Consiglio, a researcher and lawyer on the team. A national campaign by lawyers and activists denouncing the procedure was eventually met with new guidelines from the interior ministry in May. These make it clear to immigration authorities that all migrants, regardless of their nationality, have the right to apply for international protection and to information explaining those rights. Sicily-based organisations working with migrants say the number of rejection notices has drastically reduced in recent months. But they have not disappeared entirely. Simon McMahon, a researcher from Coventry University who is in southern Italy investigating the hotspot approach, said he had heard from activists in Sicily that migrants are still receiving the orders. He met migrants there last October who had been transported to reception centres in isolated areas before being given return orders. "They were used as a way of getting people out of the centres to make way for new arrivals because there is a drastic lack of space," he told IRIN. According to McMahon, this practice has continued as a short-term response and is bound to create long-term challenges. Because there is often a time lag between the orders being issued and their recipients coming to the attention of support organisations, he said it is hard to gauge the extent of the problem. "It is not clear whether these orders are being issued on a mass scale, but it appears that they are being issued on a discretionary basis depending on the needs of the authorities at the time." Oxfam is now working with partner organisations to determine how many migrants are being issued with refusal of entry orders, a process that, in their words, is creating "a new group of invisibles". The danger of fighting fire with fire Publisher IRIN Author Muhindo Sengenya Claude Publication Date 26 August 2016 Cite as IRIN, The danger of fighting fire with fire, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c43a924.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. People in the eastern Congolese city of Beni have had enough of massacres. Angered by the inability of the army to protect them against shadowy armed groups, some are secretly forming their own self-defence units. But it's a decision that can't be taken lightly. The last thing the Democratic Republic of Congo needs is more militias, and there are voices in the community urging caution. "The young have understood that they cannot fold their arms when faced with the killers that the state and its partners no longer know how to stop," said Jean-Paul Ngahangondi, national coordinator of the Beni-based Convention for the Respect of Human Rights. But "there is a danger," he said. "The risk is using any means necessary, [leading to the creation of more] armed groups." People in Beni are still reeling from the latest attack on 13 August, when unknown men raided the Rwangoma suburb of the city and used machetes to kill more than 50 people, including women and children. The Kyaghanda Yira cultural association (Yira is the majority ethnic group in North Kivu Province) said the attack, the deadliest to date, brings to more than 1,500 the number of civilians killed since October 2014. "The genocide will only continue. Innocent civilians are being executed while the Congolese government fails to come up with any retaliatory or preventative measures," said Jules Vahikehya, secretary general of Kyaghanda Yira. "The international community must recognise the Beni massacres as a genocide, with a view to taking the necessary measures to avoid the situation escalating like it did in Rwanda" In an open letter to President Joseph Kabila, a coalition of civil society groups listed the humanitarian toll of the violence. Aside from the deaths, it includes "more than 1,470 people missing, more than 1,750 huts burnt down, semi-deserted villages, and schools and health clinics destroyed". The toll The displaced include people like Masika Kaghoma. Her family moved to Eringeti, outside Beni, to escape the violence. But running short of food, her husband and eldest son took the risk to return to their fields. "Half-way, they met the cut-throats who decapitated them with machetes. Having learnt of this new atrocity, I took my four other children and walked with them to Beni town centre," she told IRIN. Three months on, she now lives in nearby Butembo, surviving through scavenging in the market. "Me and my children do the rounds at the supply depots," she said. "If there's a banana that falls during unloading, I grab it. This is how life is for us these days." The government blames the violence on the Allied Democratic Forces, an Islamist rebel group with links to Uganda. But critics say it's not that simple. Behind the narrative of an Islamist menace, there is evidence of Congolese military involvement, with potential links to smuggling rackets. In May, the Congolese army and the UN's Force Intervention Brigade launched a new operation to destroy what was billed as the last remaining pockets of ADF. But the ability of the killers to still penetrate Beni, getting past military checkpoints, leaves people shaking their heads. "More than 18 months after the beginning of the massacres, the Congolese army deployed on the ground, with several thousand heavily armed soldiers, hasn't been able to identify to the population the true identity of the killers and adapt its operating model accordingly," said Vahikehya, of Kyaghanda Yira. Julien Paluku, governor of North-Kivu, is more upbeat. "The last operations by our armed forces, at the end of July and the beginning of August, succeeded in destroying the enemy bases in Nadui and Mwalika, which were allowing these terrorists to be very mobile around the peripheries of Beni," he said. UN gets its share of blame It's not only the Congolese army that's being criticised for its performance. The UN's peacekeeping and stabilisation mission in Congo, MONUSCO, is also heavily condemned. "We no longer understand the attitude of the international community, these great powers, these powerful international organisations," said Mbindule Mitono, national minister for North-Kivu and key member of the Union for the Congolese Nation, the second largest opposition party. "We are in the process of counting thousands of dead, but they [the UN] still don't take any action, as they are doing elsewhere, for example in Mali, in Libya, in Syria, where they are engaged against terrorism." MONUSCO/Clara Padovan The army has failed to protect On 17 August, at the end of three days of national mourning declared by the government in memory of the victims of the Rwangoma massacre, student groups in Beni issued a three-day ultimatum to MONUSCO to leave the country. "MONUSCO has proved its uselessness and its negligence in protecting civilians," declared Riginal Masinda, spokesman for the Beni students. "The international community must recognise the Beni massacres as a genocide, with a view to taking the necessary measures to avoid the situation escalating like it did in Rwanda," said Franck Mukenzi, a local youth council leader in North-Kivu. Rather than UN peacekeepers, he called for an Operation Artemis-style intervention, a European Union-led mission in 2003 to quell violence by ethnic militias fighting in northeastern Ituri Province. A "hellish cycle" Feeling angry and abandoned, the idea of the community taking care of their own defence is gaining currency in Beni, and groups are beginning to emerge. Some are unarmed, with the goal of merely tracking the insurgents. But at least one, called Mazembe, has been launched with the aim of fighting back, a law student at the Catholic University of Graben in Butembo told IRIN. He said he had been approached to join, and the recruiter's argument was that the scale of the massacres in North-Kivu meant it was now time for a "popular force" to defend the community. "He told me to tell my friends about it," said the student, who asked not to be named. "He is waiting for our decision to organise an awareness-making meeting and some tattooing that will make us invincible to bullets." "Today, the young people of Beni want to guarantee their own protection," said Jackson Sivulyamwenge, a journalist from the Catholic radio station, Moto d'Oicha. "But they are hesitant to come out openly, for fear of reprisals by the security services, which might see them as creating militias." For some, the idea of creating more armed groups recalls the dark days in eastern Congo, when a multiplicity of ethnic-based so-called defence units preyed on the population. According to Nicaise Kibel Bel'Oka, who heads the Centre for Geopolitical Study and Research in Eastern Congo, "to train young people in the logic of these self-defence groups is to want to plunge the region into a new crisis." For Ngahangondi, of the Beni-based Convention for the Respect of Human Rights, the government has to be able to find a way to reassure people that it's on top of the problem, before young men start arming themselves. "If not, we risk returning again to the hellish cycle of self-defence militias," he warned. Documenting Death in Aleppo Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Omar Yusuf Publication Date 23 August 2016 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Documenting Death in Aleppo, 23 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c43b424.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Aleppo is one of the most dangerous places in the world. In this war-torn city, a team of 18 medical examiners work under exceptionally difficult circumstances to run the only forensic facility in the opposition-held areas. Together they recover the bodies of people killed by the conflict, document unidentified victims and organise burials. "The facility was founded in late January, 2013, following the uncovering of a massacre committed by government, when the bodies of more than 100 civilians were recovered from the the river," director Mohammed Kahil told Damascus Bureau. "The incident pushed us to establish an entity responsible for documenting the death toll in Aleppo's opposition-held areas." Kahil explained that the facility suffered severe shortages in medical supplies and forensic equipment, and only had one vehicle to recover bodies. Funding was badly needed to maintain its hectic workflow, the 55 year-old said, adding, "Our work involves several different tasks: pocumenting civilians killed by government attacks, including barrel bombs and missiles, providing the police and judiciary with medical reports when a murder or violation of liberties is committed and documenting missing people who may have been killed or kidnapped by unknown parties who operate against the opposition." The forensic team endeavours to identify victims and track down their relatives. When this is not possible, they document the body for future reference. Khalid Kalaji, head of the documentation unit, explained this process to Damascus Bureau. "During the course of investigation we take high resolution photographs of unidentified corpses," the 28 year-old said. "When someone comes to our facility to ask about a missing person, we refer to our documents and photographs." If a body cannot be identified, the forensic team buries it on a small piece of land owned by the facility. Kalaji recalled one case when the team brought a charred corpse back to the facility. The remains of the deceased man were so badly burnt it was impossible to identify him, so they processed his body and buried him. A few days later a woman came searching for her missing husband. When describing him, she mentioned he had a scar on his lower back from an operation. The forensic team referred to their photographs and discovered that the charred body was that of her husband. Kalaji was visibly distressed as he remembered the widow's reaction to the devastating news. He went on to explain that staff members at the facility wash and bury the dead themselves. They then conduct a group prayer for the deceased according to Islamic sharia, usually led by the most senior staff member on duty. The facility also allows poverty-stricken people without the means to pay for a funeral to bury their loved ones in the cemetery. Yousef Mohammed, a 36 year-old teacher from Aleppo praised the work carried out by the forensic team. "Their job is very noble. They grace the dead by burying them. No one seems to care about the scores of war victims that are out there, the only exception being the forensic facility team." The team hope to gain some form of support from the Syrian interim government. Kahil told Damascus Bureau that the only funding they had so far received was from generous friends. "In the past we used to receive 2,000 US dollars a month which covered the wages of 18 staff members and operational expenses, but for the last five months we have not received any wages or funds to cover our operational needs," he said. Taym al-Halabi, a media activist from Aleppo, commended the team for the exceptional work they continued to carry out despite their lack of funding. The 25 year-old said that despite the pressure they operated under, the team continued to risk their lives to pull dead and wounded people out from underneath the rubble. Omar Yousef is the pseudonym of a Damascus Bureau contributor from Aleppo, Syria. Copyright notice: Institute for War & Peace Reporting Azerbaijan Clamps Down Ahead of Referendum Publisher Institute for War and Peace Reporting Author Samira Ahmedbeyli Publication Date 25 August 2016 Cite as Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Azerbaijan Clamps Down Ahead of Referendum, 25 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c43c394.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. A new wave of arrests of political activists has begun in Azerbaijan, with the authorities targeting opponents of an upcoming referendum on constitutional amendments. Scheduled for September 26, this vote stands to enhance the post of the president and likely prolong the rule of incumbent Ilham Aliyev and his family. In the run up to the referendum, the regime has harassed opposition activists and arrested several members of the Republican Alternative (REAL) movement. Together with several other opposition groups - the party Musavat and the movements NIDA and D-18 - REAL had created initiatives to collect voters signatures to register campaigns against the referendum. Musavat party chairman Arif Hajili said that the authorities responded by harassing and threatening those collecting signatures. "Even during the presidential election in 2013, we did not face pressure of this magnitude," he wrote on his Facebook page. On August 12, REAL's well-known executive secretary Natig Jafarli was arrested on charges of illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of power. He was sentenced to four months of pre-trial detention. The prosecutor generals office said that Jafarli had received a grant from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and used it without proper registration. These charges originate from a criminal case in 2014 that investigated a group of local NGOs and their relationship with international organisations. The prosecutor generals office also claimed that Jafarli had admitted his guilt, although in court Jafarli denied that he had confessed to anything. REAL leader Ilgar Mammadov, currently in prison, was also implicated in this alleged misuse of NDI funding. Mammadov was arrested in February 2013, a few months before presidential elections in which he due to run. He was charged with organising mass riots and sentenced to seven years in prison. On August 12, Elgiz Gahraman, an activist with the NIDA civic movement, was arrested and charged with drug possession. Such charges are commonly used to deal with political opponents. He was sentenced to four months pre-trial detention on August 18, but was not present in court and has not been seen since his arrest. Gahraman's lawyer has not been allowed to meet with him. "In a letter submitted [to the court] on his behalf it was stated that he agreed with the arrest and does not want to participate in the trial," NIDA said in a statement. "However, for six days, he has not been allowed to see a lawyer. All this reinforces the suspicion that he was tortured, and we are concerned for his health and life." Two days later, REAL movement youth activists Elshan Gasimov and Togrul Ismayilov, were also arrested. They were sentenced to seven days of administrative detention on charges of resisting the police. The arrests were criticised by international bodies including the European Union. "The arrest of Natig Jafarli, the executive secretary of the REAL party in Azerbaijan, comes just six weeks ahead of the referendum on constitutional amendments that his party opposes and campaigns against," the EU said in a statement on August 17. "His arrest and placement into pre-trial detention of four months come on top of worrying reports of additional arrests of people involved in campaigning. "In the constitutional referendum of 26 September, the people of Azerbaijan are due to vote on changes to the legal framework for the political administration of the country. The debate leading to it should be inclusive and pluralistic," the statement concluded. But the government's actions appear to have had an effect on opposition plans. On August 22, REAL board member Azer Gasimli announced that they had stopped collecting signatures for campaigns against the referendum. "The latest arrests and pressure have forced the political movement REAL to back off from participating in the September 26 referendum," he said at a press conference. "The arrested Natig Jafarli and Togrul Ismailov were authorised representatives of REAL in the Central Election Commission, as well as the arrested member of the initiative group Elshan Gasimli. Also, the 100,000 flyers that we printed to inform the people were confiscated illegally. "And finally, the pro-government media launched a campaign against REAL. In such a political atmosphere, it makes no sense to conduct a campaign," he said. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS Aliyev has been at the countrys helm since 2003, when he succeeded his father Heydar Aliyev. He proposed the constitutional changes on July 18 - only three days after a failed coup attempt in Turkey aimed at overthrowing his close ally, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Azerbaijans Constitutional Court approved the draft amendments on July 25, and the referendum set for September 26 will require only a 25 per cent turnout to be passed. According to the proposed amendments, the presidential term will be extended from five to seven years and the minimum age of 35 for a presidential candidate will be abolished. The new positions of first vice president and vice president, with more powers than the prime minister, will be established and filled by presidential appointment. The president will also have the right to dissolve parliament and will be able to call for extraordinary presidential elections. As well as the armed forces, all other internal forces from the ministry of interior to the ministry of emergency situations, will be subordinated to the president as commander-in-chief. In addition, privately-owned land may be expropriated for reasons of social justice or sustainable land use. Jafarli of REAL had sharply criticised the proposed amendments, especially these planned changes to property rights. "An army of officials can take the land, real estate, any property of any citizen. And now all this will be legitimized by the constitution," he wrote on his Facebook page before his arrest. " After these absurd amendments, neither local nor foreign entrepreneurs will want to invest business in the country fearing that at any time their property can be legally taken away." Officials argued that the constitution was long overdue for a re-haul. Shahin Aliyev, head of the department on legislation and legal expertise at the presidential administration, said that it had last been amended seven years ago. "The processes of development ongoing in the country over the past period necessitate amendments to the constitution," Aliyev told the Trend news agency. But Fuad Agayev, a prominent lawyer, was highly critical of the planned amendments. "I do not know the true intentions of the authors and initiators of the project," he told IWPR. "However, an analysis of the document indicates that, if adopted, it will have a negative impact on human rights, civil rights and freedoms, as well as power-sharing, and will restrict the peoples power [even] more." Copyright notice: Institute for War & Peace Reporting Taiwan's Military Reforms and Strategy: Reset Required Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Kevin McCauley Publication Date 22 August 2016 Citation / Document Symbol China Brief Volume: 16 Issue: 13 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Taiwan's Military Reforms and Strategy: Reset Required, 22 August 2016, China Brief Volume: 16 Issue: 13, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c441684.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website According to recently inaugurated President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's military is in need of "drastic" reforms to address a number of problems including military officers' lack of strategic guidance, limited resources, and issues with force structure, training, morale and discipline (Taipei Times, July 5). President Tsai and her administration face serious defense reform issues requiring new and innovative solutions to counter PLA threats and overcome serious problems within the Taiwan military. Under former President Ma Ying-jeou and with the backing of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), Taiwan moved toward an all-volunteer force which has encountered serious obstacles that are reducing operational readiness and the capability to defend Taiwan (China Brief, August 23, 2013). Military Reforms and Reductions A centerpiece of Taiwan's military reforms is the transition to an all-volunteer force, a goal that has now been pushed back to beyond 2017. This planned "all-volunteer" military would actually serve as the peacetime core of a larger wartime military that would mobilize reserve units as well as integrate reservists into active-duty units during a crisis. Under the current system, more than 140,000 reservists are subject to only 5-7 days of training in disaster relief and basic training including administrative tasks every two years, with a maximum of two call-ups in every eight year period, but Taiwanese military officials noted frequent abuse of even this minimal mobilization-as many as 21 percent of reservists in 2016 exploited loopholes, such as booking trips overseas before their mobilization, to avoid being called up. The reforms included a planned force reduction from 400,000 to 215,000 personnel. However, the inability to attract the necessary quality and quantity of volunteers is forcing reductions below what the military had considered essential to execute the national defense strategy. Failure to recruit volunteers has forced the military to continue supplementing the force with conscription past 2015 when it was planned to have ended, forcing the MND to continue conscription into 2017 (FocusTaiwan, August 16). The revised reform plan launched in 2015 will reduce the military below 200,000 by the end of 2019 in order to match the numbers of volunteers recruited. Some estimates project the military's end strength will be around 170,000 (China Post , June 8; China Post, May 27). The inability of the military to meet the quota of volunteers has left active duty units understrength, putting the transition to an all-volunteer force in doubt. Many issues contribute to low recruitment rates, including inadequate compensation and benefits, a general low regard for military service, better opportunities in the civilian economy, and falling birth rates. The Republic of China Military Academy is facing declining numbers of applicants, with enrollment falling short by 210 students in 2016 in part due to qualified applicants deciding instead to enroll in civilian universities. President Tsai has publicly acknowledged the effect of staff and personnel shortages on combat readiness. Fewer bodies means more stress and additional burdens for troops who must perform multiple tasks (Taipei Times, June 18; China Post, June 8). There are additional indications of morale problems. Taiwan legislators have recently criticized the military over personnel leaving service by questionable means, particularly officers. An unusually large number of officers are reportedly being treated for psychiatric disorders at military hospitals, with legislators calling for an investigation of officers claiming mental health issues to enable them to retire early with pensions. On the other hand, volunteer soldiers claiming an inability to adapt to military life are forced to fulfill their service (Taipei Times, June 1). The 2009 Quadrennial Defense Review published during President Ma's administration stated that the minimum level of defense expenditure was no less than 3 percent of GDP to support a force of 215,000. However, during his presidency the defense budget continued to decline to about 2 percent of GDP. The lack of urgency on defense issues during Ma's administration is no doubt tied to his assessment that a conflict is not likely. President Ma's administration also failed to assess the high cost associated with the transition from a conscript to a volunteer military requiring higher pay and benefits to attract qualified personnel. The defense budget under the new DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) administration is not scheduled to reach 3 percent of GDP in 2017 due to Taiwan's current financial situation, despite urging by Senator John McCain and others that Taiwan's 2.1 percent of GDP defense spending is inadequate. The increasing amount of the defense budget that is devoted to personnel, 50 percent of the 2013 defense budget, is limiting weapons procurement, 25 percent of the defense budget in 2013, as well as training and readiness (China Brief, June 7, 2013; Taipei Times, May 8, 2015; Focus Taiwan, June 21; Taipei Times, June 11). [1] Combat Training versus Disaster Relief Taiwan's military has a number of training problems that need to be addressed in order to enhance wartime operational capabilities. Recently a supersonic Hsiung-feng II anti-ship missile was accidentally fired from a corvette at Zuoying Navy Base. The missile traveled approximately 75 km and hit a Taiwan fishing trawler in waters near Penghu killing the boat's captain and injuring three crew. A Taiwan Navy NCO, a second class petty officer and the weapon systems operator, mistakenly fired the missile during a training drill when he switched from simulation to combat mode, exhibiting poor training with no officer present. This incident is the most recent symptom of poor training and lack of discipline within the Taiwan military. The military also experiences a lack of realistic combined arms and joint training that reduces operational capabilities. The anti-ship missile accident, combined with public criticism of a recent incident of Marines torturing and killing a dog at a military base, has raised questions in Taiwan about military morale and discipline, as well as a need to improve operational guidelines (China Post, July 2). Since Taiwan was hit by the deadly Typhoon Morakot in 2009, the Taiwanese military has emphasized disaster relief training. As President Ma put it, "There is little chance of war breaking out, but natural disasters happen almost every year." He announced that the military should purchase "weapons systems" that could be employed during wartime and peacetime to enhance disaster relief (China Post, January 12). The Taiwan Army in particular spends substantial training time each year conducting disaster relief exercises with civil authorities to prepare to respond to frequent natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes (Military News Agency, April 18). President Ma also diverted 15 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 60 purchased for the Taiwan Army to the National Airborne Service Corps (NASC) to boost the organizations disaster relief capabilities. His administration was criticized for the move since the Black Hawks were originally purchased to replace aging UH-1 Iroquois helicopters. The Army Aviation and Special Forces Command's 601st Army Aviation Brigade (3rd Theater of Operations) and 602nd Army Aviation Brigade (5th Theater of Operations) are key units supporting the two field armies in northern and central Taiwan. Critics believed that Eurocopter AS365 Dauphins should have been purchased for NASC as a less expensive alternative that still met the requirements of rescue missions (China Post, March 24). The time allocated to disaster relief training takes valuable time away from combat oriented training and lowers operational readiness to respond to PLA threats. Military training is hampered by terrain in built-up areas or mountainous regions that forces the Army to rely on small training areas that cannot accommodate realistic combined arms training. For example, the single Joint Operations Training Base in Pingtung County in southern Taiwan is relatively small, and has been on the receiving end of protests from local residents over environmental concerns, and fines from the local government over damages caused by live fire at the base. In fact, this training area is actually designated as a joint live fire range rather than as a training area for conducting joint operations and maneuver. Military exercises also have been reduced elsewhere in response to public protests or disruptions (Taipei Times, September 10, 2015; China Post, December 15, 2015; China Post, September 11, 2014). Limited space and extensive restrictions on training areas further degrade the Taiwan military's capability to execute combat missions in a crisis. Military Strategy and the PLA Threat President Ma initiated a "Hard ROC" defense strategy based on the strategic concept of "resolute defense and credible deterrence," and a military reform and reduction plan intended to build a "small but smart and strong" modern force. The strategic intent was to build an "impregnable defensive force that could not be dislodged, shattered or breached by a numerically superior enemy." [2] However, invasion is not the only method mentioned in PLA discussions of Taiwan. The PLA threat facing Taiwan includes the following: the "Three Warfares" (public opinion, psychological, and legal warfare); information warfare; joint blockade; joint firepower strike, and joint island landing campaign. Mainland coercive threats to Taiwan include the "Three Warfares," information and cyber operations. The MND's 2015 National Defense Report concludes that China has been conducting the "Three Warfares," integrated into the PLA Political Work Regulation, against Taiwan since 2003. [3] Taiwan plans to establish a cyberwarfare force proposed by the DPP in 2015. A cyber headquarters would employ some 6,000 personnel and integrate communications, electronics and information; intelligence and surveillance; digital warfare; and the Communications Development Office responsible for signals intelligence (SIGINT). The MND intends to recruit information technology experts from the civilian sector to upgrade the military's capabilities (Taipei Times, May 27; Taipei Times, June 12). However, the significant number of documented mainland espionage cases and cyber intrusions indicates a serious level of infiltration of the military and hemorrhaging of sensitive information on operational planning and capabilities that could prove fatal during a conflict. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) reported a scale of mainland cyber-attacks reaching the level of a "quasi-war," noting that mainland actors have infiltrated key national defense, diplomatic, utilities, air traffic control and telecommunications systems (China Post, May 12; Taipei Times, March 18; China Post, April 28; VOA News, April 28). A PLA air and maritime blockade could be initiated to coerce Taipei or to gain air and sea dominance in preparation for island landing operations. The PLA is currently capable of successfully blockading Taiwan held outer islands with a combination of PLA Navy (PLAN), PLA Air Force (PLAAF), PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) and PLA Army (PLAA) conducting maritime and air interdiction, joint fire strikes, mining, and information dominance or information blockade operations. Taiwan and the U.S. Department of Defense currently assess that the PLA can impose a partial blockade against Taiwan. Alternatively, the PLA could attempt to impose a virtual blockade against Taiwan by declaring exercise or missile closure areas on approaches to Taiwan. [4] PLA joint fire strikes could support blockade or island landing operations, or represent a stand-alone campaign to coerce Taipei. PLA joint fire strike capabilities threaten to overwhelm Taiwan air defenses including early warning and radar systems, disrupt command and control, destroy or neutralize air and naval bases, and critical infrastructure, as well as neutralize Taiwan's leadership or break the population's will to resist. The Taiwan 2013 Quadrennial Defense Review assessed the PLA Rocket Force as deploying ballistic and cruise missiles with greater accuracy and maneuverability capable of striking Taiwan with the intent to block or disable Taiwan forces and deny intervention by the U.S. [5] The PLA could successfully conduct a joint island landing against Taiwan held outer islands. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) assesses that the PLA could accomplish an invasion of a small Taiwan held island with little or no warning. An amphibious landing against Taiwan would represent a complex, phased joint operation. Sea, air and information superiority would be initial requirements, followed by joint fire strikes to neutralize or destroy key Taiwan forces and capabilities. Logistics support for the operation including landed ground and airborne forces would be complex and difficult. DoD assesses that the PLA is not currently capable of a full scale invasion of Taiwan without a multiyear ramp up in capabilities and most importantly construction of additional amphibious landing ships. [6] The Way Forward President Tsai and the DPP have serious defense issues to address, with no easy solutions. An immediate problem is the military reform and reduction plan the DPP inherited. The all-volunteer system is not working, placing stress on an understrength military which is leading to discipline, morale and operational problems. Taiwan demographics make a return to conscription problematic, but a combination of volunteers supplemented by conscription to meet minimum required force levels could provide a solution to maintaining the necessary force. Reaching a fully manned active duty force could reduce stress on personnel, raise morale, and increase discipline within a force experiencing disturbing problems. The MND has identified 3 percent of GDP as the minimum requirement of the defense budget to meet assigned military missions. Inadequate assessment of the pay and benefit requirements for the transition to the all-volunteer force has exacerbated the problem by further reducing available funds for equipment modernization, training and operations as the defense budget has declined since 2008. It is clear that the DPP will not be able to meet the 3 percent of GDP minimum defense budget in the 2017. President Tsai's administration will need to rethink Taiwan's national security strategy and prioritize mission requirements in response to inadequate funding for the military. Improved training is necessary to increase combat capabilities. Combined arms and joint training need to be increased. Enhanced combined arms training for the Army will be difficult without expansion of key training facilities or establishment of a national training center with adequate size for combined arms battalion training. Joint training, particularly by the Taiwan Air Force and Navy, should be increased, supplemented by joint simulation training. Reserve training should be increased, as the current call-up twice during an 8-year period for 5-7 days is inadequate to provide a minimal requirement for combat training. Disaster relief training currently takes time away from active duty and reserve combat training, reducing wartime readiness and capabilities. Resolving the competing demands of disaster relief units and the military should be the new administration's top priority. President Tsai and her advisors need to seriously rethink and reprioritize the ROC's military plans and modernization to meet the most immediate mainland threats. The PLA is currently capable of conducting several operations that present serious challenges to the ROC, in particular information warfare, blockade, and joint firepower strikes. Current PLA amphibious and airborne landings represent a threat against Taiwan held islands, but not against Taiwan proper due to the lack of amphibious and air transport lift required to land and sustain an invasion force, although this could change in the future. Taiwan military missions and limited modernization resources should therefore focus on the more immediate threats. Taiwan is beginning to address the information warfare threat. PLA joint fire strikes that could destroy or neutralize air and naval bases, and air defenses, and growing blockade capabilities that could isolate the ROC require inexpensive solutions capable of surviving and countering this threat. The ROC needs to address military manning, training, strategy, and modernization priorities in the face of budget constraints that have weakened combat effectiveness in the face of Beijing's military reforms and increasingly assertive posture toward territorial issues. Kevin McCauley has served as senior intelligence officer for the Soviet Union, Russia, China and Taiwan during 31 years in the federal government. He has written numerous intelligence products for decision makers, combatant commands, combat and force developers, as well as contributing to the annual Report to Congress on China's military power. Mr. McCauley has a forthcoming book, "Russian Influence Campaigns against the West. From the Cold War to Putin." Notes 1. Ministry of National Defense, 2009 Quadrennial Defense Review, pp. 12-14. 2. Ministry of National Defense, 2009 Quadrennial Defense Review, pp. 4-17. 3. Ministry of National Defense, 2015 National Defense Report, pp. 52-53. 4. Ministry of National Defense, 2013 Quadrennial Defense Review, pp. 20-21; U.S. Department of Defense, Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2016, pp. 59 and 88-89. 5. Ministry of National Defense, 2013 Quadrennial Defense Review, pp. 19-20. 6. U.S. Department of Defense, Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2016, pp. 89-90. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Chinese Foreign Policy in South Sudan: the View from the Ground Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Abigael Vasselier Publication Date 22 August 2016 Citation / Document Symbol China Brief Volume: 16 Issue: 13 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Chinese Foreign Policy in South Sudan: the View from the Ground, 22 August 2016, China Brief Volume: 16 Issue: 13, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c441d34.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website This article draws on a number of interviews conducted in South Sudan by the author in June 2016. China's foreign policy in South Sudan is undergoing significant changes due to a deteriorating security situation and uncertain relations with the South Sudanese government. On July 10, two Chinese peacekeepers were killed outside Juba (People's Daily Online, July 11). Several other peacekeepers wounded and as a result, much of the embassy staff and several civilian workers were also evacuated (SCMP, July 17). Social tensions and an economic downturn had previously prompted the Chinese embassy to repeatedly issue warnings to Chinese citizens working in the country (Chinese Embassy South Sudan, February 1, March 16, July 9). Diplomatically there are other indications that Chinese forces and companies in the country are not entirely welcome. These events take place against a larger ongoing recalibration of China's foreign and security policy in Africa (China Brief, June 1; July 6). Until the outbreak of civil war in 2013, Chinese companies saw South Sudan as a great economic opportunity. Investment in the oil sector grew rapidly, leading to a significant rise in the number of Chinese nationals living there. After 2013, expectations were somewhat moderated but a largely stable situation had given investors hope that the situation could stabilize. However, by the beginning of 2016, even before the most recent outbreak of violence, concerns about China's presence had already resulted in a downturn in relations. In May, rumors spread in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, that Chinese representatives were calling for the resignation of South Sudan's Finance Minister, David Deng Athorbei. At the root of crisis was the "Note 2016046" signed by Ma Qiang (), China's Ambassador to South Sudan, and addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 18, in which he expressed his disappointment in Athorbei's characterization of Chinese oil production in South Sudan as exploitative (Nyamilepedia, June 7). China's interests in South Sudan, and the necessity of navigating its complex politics have required China to be more directly involved politically than it traditionally prefers, skirting Beijing's long-held principle of non-interference. China's Interests in South Sudan After 30 years of civil war, South Sudan was created in 2011 as part of an international strategy to reshape Eastern Africa. Recent attempts by the international community to establish a transitional government have ended in several outbreaks of violence. In August 2015, the international community brokered the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS). This deal brought together the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), led by President Salva Kiir of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), and the first Vice President Riek Machar, from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) in April 2016 (South Sudan Tribune, April 28). Elsewhere in the leadership of the TGoNU are ministers from the Former Detainees (FDs) and Other Political Parties (OPPs). With major economic and political interests in South Sudan, Beijing has strongly advocated for an end to the political crises and violence in the country. With the support of the Juba Chinese Businessmen's Association and the Chinese Embassy, more than 7,000 Chinese citizens are currently working in the country (including the United Nations Mission in South Sudan - UNMISS) and over 50 Chinese companies are operating in the country. [1] Chinese investment in Sudan's oil sector predates South Sudan's independence. After independence, a consortium led by China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) with Malaysia's Petronas and India's ONGC Videsh remained, developing oil fields in the newly created state. [2] However, the South Sudanese government has closed most of the oil fields. Along with the threat of violence, this forced Chinese oil companies to seriously cut back their plans for the area after December 2013. Presently, China imports 46 percent of South Sudanese oil via Port Sudan in the Republic of Sudan, but has not restarted exploring options for the construction of new pipelines since 2013. [3] As of June 2016, Palouch is the only remaining field in production oil (see map for more detail). Since January 2014, oil production has averaged 163,000 barrels per day, with oil revenue equaling roughly $20 million per month. Much of this revenue is siphoned into a large number of poorly supervised South Sudanese bank accounts, creating doubts about the future profitability of CNPC's investments in the country and making the South Sudanese government grateful to CNPC for not leaving in 2013. [4] However, under economic and social pressure, Juba may have to renegotiate the terms of its agreement with CNPC. [5] The Asia Directorate at the South Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that Beijing needs to help South Sudan in the security, mining and agricultural sectors. However, this same source argues that Juba first needs to strengthen the institutions before further opening up South Sudan's natural resources to Chinese development. [6] With these priorities in mind, the South Sudanese central government has set up mechanisms to limit China's development of the country's resources. With their profits at stake in the aftermath of independence, Beijing turned the federal structure of South Sudan into an advantage: Chinese companies bypassed the central government and took their requests directly to county administrations. Following an increase in Chinese demands being sent to the state governors, the central government decided in 2012 to centralize all such requests at a "China Desk" at the Ministry of Finance. In 2016, continued tensions between the Finance Minister and the Chinese Ambassador led to a transfer of this "China Desk" under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in 2016. The Asia director of the Ministry is currently setting up a "Ministerial Working Group" gathering a group of technical experts with undersecretaries for each minister involved. The Ministry will select the Ministerial Working Group's panel of experts, and they will work together on the projects submitted to China inside the framework of the last Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit. Several interviewees suggested that Chinese aid is profit-oriented, leading to a misunderstanding between Beijing and Juba and raising the possibility of a conflict over aid in the future. [7] China and the Mediation Process Many South Sudanese politicians and thinkers recognize that China's economic interests in the country have required Beijing to be politically engaged, contradicting its policy of non-interference in local politics. Beijing is currently mediating between South Sudan's two main political parties in an effort to stabilize the country, which in turn would guarantee the security of its interests. As one member of South Sudanese civil society put it, "Chinese interests would not be secured during the [civil] war so only talking to the government would not work. Thus, engaging with all parties to reach peace was the best way to proceed." [8] As one of its first experiences mediating between various political entities in a transitional process, China has engaged with a wider variety of actors than it usually does. In the aftermath of the independence, China began funding several projects for the government and supported the SPLM in building up the newly-born country. The years 2013-2014 represented the high point of Sino-South Sudanese relations, culminating with the sale of Norinco () weapons in July 2014 to South Sudan's armed forces, the Sudanese People Liberation Army (SPLA) (China Brief, October 10, 2014). The deal cemented Beijing as a trust-worthy partner for the South Sudanese government, and as an opponent for the rebels-which subsequently became the SPLM-IO. As a result, on the eve of the outbreak of civil war in December 2013, the Chinese government appeared to be directly supporting the Dinka SPLM against the Nuer rebels. This, in turn, put more pressure on the Chinese government and businesses. As violence escalated in Bentiu and Malakal (see map), 400 Chinese oilfield workers had to be evacuated by the South Sudanese army. [9] The 2013 civil war triggered a rebalancing of China's relations with the different parties and further engaged it in the mediation process. China attempted to strengthen relations with the government via the Norinco arms deal. At the same time, however, Beijing invited a delegation of rebels to China to meet Chinese officials and begin building trust. In terms of political structure, Beijing is advocating for a one-party system to maintain unity and avoid having ethnicity-based politics. In this scenario the SPLM would be the overarching structure for the different South Sudanese political groups. Today "the opposition sees China as a key player to speak for economic power. If there is no talk with China, they will stick to supporting the government." [10] There are also rumors in Juba that China is still arming both parties. Several sources confirmed than an alleged arms deal with the rebels could be linked to the protection of oilfields controlled by the rebels. This shows that "China engages with the two parties on their own terms" which turns to be quite harmful for the peace agreement. Despite this, China continues to be engaged in the search for conflict resolution: Zhong Jianhua (), China's Special Representative for African Affairs, was sent by Beijing to meet with both parties and start the mediation process. [11] China is playing a key role in the mediation process, supporting the UN in the management of Internally Displaced People (IDPs), engaging the South Sudanese army through financial donations (including a recent donation of $1 million) and by sending special representatives. However the South Sudanese government would like China to further engage in the stabilization of the country despite Beijing's claim that they don't have the capacity. [12] At the Crossroads of Perceptions Chinese efforts to build a positive image across the spectrum of the South Sudanese society through gifts, aid and mediation have not affected the mainstream perception of China in South Sudan. In fact, the domination of government-government exchanges have so far limited any serious change in perceptions among ordinary South Sudanese. This is further reinforced by the tight links between the Chinese UN mission, its Embassy and Chinese businesses. Some areas have seen improvement in relations. The South Sudanese civil society and government welcomed the arrival of Chinese troops in the UNMISS. The peacekeepers are engaging with local communities and frequently visit Juba University to interact with students. Chinese businesses are also engaging the local community. The Chinese business association came first in late 2013 to donate medicine and food items to IDPs. The largest Chinese company in the country, CNPC, funded the creation of the Protection of Civilians Camp 3 in Juba by paying to clear the land, build fences and set up the first tents. A new computer laboratory in Juba University was also built with funds from CNPC. [13] Nonetheless, people-to-people exchanges remain limited. Most Chinese workers in South Sudan have limited English language skills. One of those interviewed noted that Chinese intellectuals and officials in China are much more open to discussions than Chinese working in South Sudan. [14] The combination of a language barrier and perhaps a reluctance to discuss issues in South Sudan further limits dialogue outside of government-to-government communication. This has led to widespread South Sudanese dissatisfaction with Chinese businesses. From Bilateral to Multilateral Engagement Even though China prefers bilateral engagement, the complex and unstable situation in South Sudan has forced Beijing to engage on a multilateral level with new partners. In fact, Chinese organizations have decided to be part of some joint initiatives in this transition process, and have a seat at the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (JMEC) which monitors the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement. Even though Chinese representatives "passively observe the discussion in multilateral settings," they are represented in almost all the weekly or monthly meetings organized by the international community in Juba. Their engagement with the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s mission to South Sudan demonstrates that Beijing is also learning how to "better coordinate with other major players to exert pressure altogether." [15] This pressure would be the main driver of China's alignment on the IMF's position. The international community also advocates for China to play a larger role in mediating this crisis at a regional level. Even though Beijing does not appear as a game changer in the peace process, it could use its close relations with Sudan to mediate between the two neighbors. China needs peace to proceed with oil production. [16] The next meeting of the friends of JMEC will take place in Khartoum and will be chaired by China and Sudan. China's engagement through the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) displays a shift in its security policy in Africa (ECFR, June 14). In December 2014, Beijing announced the arrival of 700 combat troops in UNMISS. Far away from the oil fields, they were assigned to protect the UN House and the Protection of Civilians camp 1 (PoC1) in Juba. Given the level of violence in the country, being based in Juba appeared to be the safest assignment that the Chinese battalion could receive. UN staff saw this as a litmus test for further engagement in peace-keeping operations, as their lack of experience raised questions among UN officials about their real capabilities to protect PoC1 and the UN House. [17] As the recent attacks on the compound emphasized, however, the situation in Juba is also perilous, and Chinese peacekeepers' responsibilities and need to prove themselves up to the job has become even more important. Conclusion With major investments in oil and a military presence in the UN mission, South Sudan has been a land of challenges and opportunities for China. In this volatile political and economic context, Beijing has taken a number of new political postures such as mediating between parties, deploying a battalion of PLA soldiers as part of a UN mission, engaging on a multilateral level on peace process, and supporting the IMF requests. The eruption of violence in July between the SPLM and the SPLM-IO will most likely reshuffle the relations between the two governments, further putting Chinese foreign policy principles under pressure and highlighting a variety of changes in China's foreign policy in this transitional period. Abigael Vasselier is the Asia and China program coordinator at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She graduated in a Master's degree in Asian Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and in International Relations at Sciences Po Aix en Provence. She also studied at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing. Notes All interviews were conducted by the author in June 2016 in South Sudan. 1. Interview of an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This contrasts with the numbers given by the MOFCOM which counts 140 Chinese companies in South Sudan and 2,000 Chinese on the ground. 2. Given that CNPC is the major shareholder of this consortium, a Chinese official presides this consortium assisted by a South Sudanese Vice-President. 3. Interview of a member of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly. On December 15th, 2013, a civil war erupted between the Nuers and the Dinkas. This conflict opposing the government and the rebel is still ongoing. 4. Interviews of a member of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly and an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. 5. CNPC signed a six-year agreement with the South Sudanese government in December 2014 to increase oil production in three blocks and to rehabilitate aging oil fields. 6. Interview of an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. 7. Interview of an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Member of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly; Interview of an active member of the South Sudanese civil society. China has identified 10 key projects that is willing to fund through a commitment of $60 billion for the African countries. Each Chinese Embassies will serve as a proxy for the government to receive proposals and grant loans. These $60 billion are breakdown into Ten major plans to improve cooperation with African countries : $5 billion grants in interests' free loans, $35 billion for preferential loans, 5 billion additional capital for China-Africa development bank, $5 billion for special loans for entrepreneurs, $10 billion for African production capacity. 8. Interview of a member of South Sudanese civil society organizations. 9. A scholar at Juba University confirmed that the Chinese compounds in the oil fields are still protected by the South Sudanese army; Interviews with a South Sudanese think-tanker and an active member of South Sudanese civil society organizations. 10. Interviews with a South Sudanese think-tanker, a Professor at Juba University, and a member of the South Sudan Legislative Assembly. 11. Interview of a Professor at Juba University. 12. Interview of a member of the South Sudanese civil society. 13. Ibid 14. Interview of a Professor at Juba University; Interview of a member of the South Sudanese civil society. 15. Interview of European diplomat in South Sudan; Interview of a member of the South Sudanese civil society. 16. Interview of a European diplomat in South Sudan. 17. Interviews of UN officials. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Army Day Themes Laud Party Leadership, Highlights Discord Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Peter Mattis Publication Date 22 August 2016 Citation / Document Symbol China Brief Volume: 16 Issue: 13 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Army Day Themes Laud Party Leadership, Highlights Discord, 22 August 2016, China Brief Volume: 16 Issue: 13, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c442224.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Link to original story on Jamestown website On August 1st, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) celebrated the 89th anniversary of its founding. Units from the CMC to defense attache officers overseas host receptions honoring the PLA's historical achievements from its origins in the 1927 Nanchang Uprising to today. Indicative of the self-congratulatory air, Minister of National Defense Chang Wanquan toasted the PLA's success: "under the leadership of the CCP, the People's army has defeated powerful domestic and foreign enemies, overcome numerous difficulties accomplishing great feats that will shine through the ages" (PLA Daily, August 1). More importantly, Army Day () is one of the select times each year where important military-related themes are stressed in a number of articles across the central Party and military propaganda apparatus. In the last five years, for example, the day has been used twice to emphasize military-civil integration (), which has become a key component of Beijing's military modernization strategy (China Brief, August 12, 2011; China Brief, August 22, 2014). [1] The theme on display in a number of editorials this year was an important part of the PLA's DNA, one of Mao Zedong's famous aphorisms: "Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party." The second sentence is regularly repeated and repackaged in Chinese propaganda to remind the People's Liberation Army (PLA) that it serves under the "absolute leadership of the Party" (Qiushi, July 31; PLA Daily, July 1; Guangming Daily, June 29). Despite the relentless repetition of these words, the theme of this year's Army Day was the requirement and importance of the PLA's absolute, unswerving loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). By itself this theme might not be suggestive of anything apart from a lack of imagination, as it was the propaganda theme in 2012 (China Brief, August 17, 2012). However, amid the anti-corruption campaign and an organizational overhaul, other anomalies, like the absence of an essay by a Central Military Commission (CMC) vice chairman, suggest discord rather than harmony in Party-Army relations or at least great fear that China's future as envisioned by the CCP could be derailed. Party Loyalty Makes the PLA Victorious After ascending to the leadership of both the CCP and the CMC in late 2012, President Xi Jinping began a steady drumbeat of the need for the PLA to be able to fight and win wars. As Xi outlined the content of the "China Dream" to reclaim China's rightful place in world affairs as a rich and powerful country during the first half of 2013, the PLA dimension, or the "Strengthening Military Dream ()," had three tenets: "heeds the Party's commands, able to fight and be victorious, and are exemplary in conduct ()." The "Strengthening Military Dream" may not have received many explicit mentions-more often described as "strengthening military objectives" ()-but Xi Jinping's influence was visible throughout the articles. The three tenets appeared frequently and framed the discussion, as in an article by Xu Xisheng, the officer responsible for PLA Air Force political work in the Central Theater Command. For Xu, belief in the CCP and its ideology provided the "calcium" that makes the military's backbone strong, and the PLA's loyalty ensures the "China Dream" comes to fruition (People's Daily, August 1). The unsigned PLA Daily editorial for Army Day repeated the various platitudes about Chinese military modernization. The editorial opened and closed with the admonition that the PLA needed to "faithfully fulfill the sacred missions entrusted to it by the Party and the people" and unite with CMC chairman Xi Jinping. Where the military's loyalty to the Party is not made explicit, the editorial describes PLA modernization as the "ardent desire of the Party and the people" (PLA Daily, August 1). Outside the PLA Daily, the most important articles appeared in Qiushi, the journal of the Central Committee and the Central Party School. The first article was credited to the Party Committee of the Academy of Military Science (AMS), an institution that reports directly to the CMC. In each of the article's six summary points, the Party's control and/or "absolute leadership" () was emphasized. The PLA's success, "going from victory to victory," was attributable to the CCP's leadership, and the CMC chairman was the person responsible for ensuring the PLA's loyalty and adherence to the Party's commands. Without the influence and leadership of the Party, the PLA will "lose its soul" as well as its "cohesion, vitality, and combat effectiveness." The latter obviously a key requirement of being able to fight and win informatized wars (Qiushi, July 31). The second article by a Qiushi commentator () also focused on the importance of the PLA adhering to the Party's commands, because China is "closer to the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any time in history" and the security situation is complex. The key word for the party's leadership, according to the article, is "absolute," owing to the unique attribute of the PLA as a political army. This relationship "steels" the military from its weakest to its strongest members, making it a unique and innate part of the PLA's strength and past success. The article closed with a call for all military cadre to "rally more closely around the [CCP] Central Committee with Xi Jinping as General Secretary" (Qiushi, July 31). The Fundamental Guarantee The most striking feature of the call for PLA loyalty is the explicit naming the military as the guarantor of the CCP's leadership of the country. Although hints of this role often appear, it is more typical to note the PLA's importance to socialism with Chinese characteristics than to the CCP's political power and ability to govern. The Qiushi article authored by the AMS Party Committee described the PLA as providing the fundamental guarantee () for China's long-term stability: "holding power requires holding the military (), whoever's hands control the military is related to the country and nation's future destiny" (Qiushi, July 31). The last time such strong language about the importance of the PLA to governing China was 2009 in an article "Why We Should Resolutely Resist Nationalization of the Military." The article, authored by the National Defense University Military Party History Research Center, made the case that separating the Party from the Army would undermine the PLA's loyalty to the state and, consequently, strip the state of one of its important sources of power. The absence of a unified Party and Army would open the window for "hostile foreign forces" to bring about China's downfall. It also invoked Deng Xiaoping's words that China is so stable because the Army stands with the Party (PLA Daily, May 7, 2009). More forcefully and perhaps more closely related to Qiushi article, a Guangming Daily article in 2008 stated "when the position of the ruling Party is threatened, we are bound to use military force to consolidate and defend [the Party's] executive power." Moreover, the Party's control of the military is "directly related to the political stability, economic and social development, as well as the fate of the country and nation" (Guangming Daily, July 25, 2008). The Hu Jintao era, by contrast, saw much more typical language used to describe the PLA's role in preserving the Party's rule. In 2005, President Hu outlined the PLA's "New Historic Missions," which apart from clarifying the PLA's international role, reinforced the point that the PLA safeguarded the Party. An Army Day editorial in 2012, for example, softened the implications: "providing an important power and guarantee for consolidating the Party's ruling position, a strong security guarantee for national development, and a powerful strategic support for safeguarding national interests, and playing an important role in maintaining world peace" (China Brief, August 17, 2012). Xi used similarly low-key language in stating that "we must uphold the Party's leadership of the armed forces. This is central to the nature and mission of the armed forces, the future of socialism, the enduring stability of the Party, and the lasting peace of the country" (People's Daily, November 18, 2012). This last statement is the most forceful of any of Xi's statements about Party control in the three speeches on national defense in his collection of speeches and essays, The Governance of China. [2] Parsing the Propaganda Invoking the need for the PLA to heed the Party's commands may be one of the more difficult propaganda themes to interpret. As Michael Chase observed in 2012, "exhortations to remain obedient to the Party and resist calls for 'nationalization' have been a recurrent theme in official media for a decade or more, making it very difficult to discern whether anything truly unusual is afoot this time" (China Brief, August 17, 2012). In August 2012, the impending leadership transition and the disputes with Bo Xilai and, allegedly, Zhou Yongkang may have heightened leadership sensitivity to the role the PLA might play. Although the leadership transition obviously has been settled, the last year and a half saw the beginning of PLA restructuring as well as the conclusion of the former CMC Vice Chairmen Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong investigations. The reforms also called for the cutting of 300,000 military personnel. The cuts prompted an ominous, but subsequently withdrawn, article in the PLA Daily arguing that unless these demobilized soldiers were cared for, the cuts would undermine social stability (South China Morning Post, November 19, 2015). Xi subsequently pushed for these soldiers to employed, stating "failing to provide positions for demobilized officers under any pretext is not allowed"-a direct contradiction of Xi's oft-stated promise to facilitate "the decisive role of the market in allocating resources" (Xinhua, June 7; Xinhua, January 18). These events plausibly could create turmoil in the Party-Military relationship, and disagreements over policy could explain why a CMC vice chairman did not contribute their own essay to the Army Day propaganda as is normally the case. The stronger language about the PLA as the guarantor of CCP power may be an attempt to remind the military officer corps that its fate is the same as that of the Party. Alternatively, the CCP leadership may simply be expressing their insecurity about the threats to their regime and felt the need to remind both the PLA and the people that the military must be prepared to protect the government as it did in 1967 and 1989. Ample evidence has emerged in the last year that fears of foreign-influenced "colored revolution" or internal threats from civil society are driving policy in Beijing. The formal passage of the new State Security Law, Counterterrorism Law, Foreign NGO Law, the launch of National Security Education Day, and the forced confessions of rights lawyers and Hong Kong booksellers point toward heightened concerns about China's political security or the need to reinforce the Party's hold on power (Xinhua, April 14; PLA Daily, February 29; China Brief, January 25; China Brief, November 16, 2015). At the very least, the authorities see a pessimistic future when looking at the geopolitical environment and international competition (PLA Daily, August 1). Conclusion The theme of party control and the almost lackadaisical propaganda effort strikes a very odd chord, because the loyalty of the military to the Party has been a consistent principle since the days of Mao. The clear thread of CCP control over the military largely comes from the PLA Daily editorial and two Qiushi articles, because the normally well-orchestrated propaganda effort was absent. Instead of a series of thematically-linked essays across the central and military media, Army Day very nearly could have been any other day. This is not typical, and the Party-PLA relationship may now warrant more scrutiny than usual. Peter Mattis is a Fellow in the China Program at The Jamestown Foundation, and he edited Jamestown's biweekly China Brief from 2011 to 2013. Notes: 1. For the most searching examination of this issue, see, Daniel Alderman, "An Introduction to China's Strategic Military-Civilian Fusion" in Joe McReynolds, ed., China's Evolving Military Strategy (Washington, DC: The Jamestown Foundation, 2016), pp. 334-349. 2. Xi Jinping, [The Governance of China] (Beijing, Foreign Languages Press, 2014) pp. 215-216. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Kenya: Politicians must be held to account for intimidation and harassment of journalists Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 24 August 2016 Cite as Article 19, Kenya: Politicians must be held to account for intimidation and harassment of journalists, 24 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c443144.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. ARTICLE 19 strongly condemns the increasing attacks targeting journalists in Kenya ahead of the General election slated for August 2017. We call upon the Media Council of Kenya and the National Police Service to investigate and ensure that those responsible for attacks against journalists are held to account. This wave of intimidations, harassment, and attacks of journalists flies in the face of the gains made so far in protecting and promoting freedom of the media as provided for in Article 34 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and under international law. "We urge politicians to stop high-mindedness against journalists, and abide by the constitution and laws regarding freedom of expression," said Henry Maina, Regional Director of ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa. In July, two journalists, Moses Masinde of MediaMax Group and Shaban Makokha, were attacked and injured during two separate political rallies by supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga. On 22 August, Lamu County based journalist, Jane Wangechi, was physically assaulted and injured by Monica Njambi Kirunyu, a nominated member of Lamu County. The Member of County assembly accused Ms Wangechi of providing video clip as a piece of evidence to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) which is investigating her on hate speech charges. Grace Gitau of Nation Media Group and Lydia Nyawira of Standard Group were physically assaulted on 23 August, with their equipment confiscated by certain Nyeri County Assembly members, while covering a heated motion in the assembly. These attacks and harassments set a worrisome trend for journalists as the country gears up to the general election next year. "We call upon relevant authorities to carry out thorough investigation into these incidences and press charges against the perpetrators of such violations immediately," added Maina. Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19 Myanmar: Proposal to abolish repressive emergency law Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 26 August 2016 Cite as Article 19, Myanmar: Proposal to abolish repressive emergency law, 26 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57c4438c4.html [accessed 29 October 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. ARTICLE 19 welcomes a new bill to repeal the Emergency Provisions Act (1950), which has been used for decades to sentence media workers and human rights defenders to lengthy prison terms. The bill was proposed in parliament by the governing National League for Democracy and has already been adopted in the lower house. The new bill is the new government's first step to address the vast legislative framework criminalising freedom of expression in Myanmar. "We welcome the NLD's first step to reforming Myanmar's draconian censorship laws that have been used for decades to repress media workers, political activists and human rights defenders. We urge Myanmar's parliamentarians to adopt the bill and put an end to one of the most repressive laws in the country," said Oliver Spencer, Head of Asia at ARTICLE 19. The Emergency Provisions Act (the Act) was one of the military government's most frequently used laws, and under it, media workers, human rights defenders, opposition political activists, monks and other clerics, school children, students, writers, and trade unionists were sentenced to long prison terms. Prison terms of seven-years were handed out to human rights defenders just for shouting "long live Daw Aung San Suu Kyi". In one notorious case in 1998, Ko Thein and Khin Hlaing, two student activists, were sentenced to death for attempting to hand over a letter to Alvaro de Soto, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy to Myanmar, a precursor to today's UN Special Rapporteur. ARTICLE 19's 1999 publication Acts of Oppression argued that, contrary to what its title may suggest, the Act has little to do with states of emergency; rather, it is a law which confers sweeping powers on the authorities to silence and punish any act of real or perceived dissent, even in the absence of a proclaimed state of emergency. The Act makes it an offence, punishable with imprisonment for up to seven years, to commit any act which "violates or infringes upon the integrity, health, conduct and respect of State military organisations and government employees towards the government", or "causes or intends to spread false news about the government", or "causes or intends to disrupt the morality or the behaviour of a group of people or the general public." ARTICLE 19 has been calling for repeal of the Act since publishing detailed reports in 1995 and in 1996 detailing the many abuses of the law. Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19 The Syrian government has condemned what it calls "repetitive breaches, aggression and massacres" committed by Turkey against the Syrian people in the country's north. In two messages sent on Monday to the U.N. chief, Ban Ki-moon, and the resident of the U.N. Security Council, Syria's Foreign Ministry accused Turkey of committing "full-fledged crimes against humanity." Turkey last week sent troops and tanks into northern Syria to help Syrian rebels seize the town of Jarablus from the Islamic State group, and have since been fighting Kurdish Syrian forces around the town in an effort to halt their advance across northern Syria. Syrian opposition activists have said that at least 35 civilians were killed in the Turkish-led operation so far. Turkey denied any civilians had been hit. Syria's government has condemned the Turkish incursion but has stayed out of the conflict. Search Keywords: Short link: Turkish military sources on Monday denied the army fired at Syrian Kurdish YPG forces in Hasaka province, after the YPG said one of their fighters was injured by shots from Turkish forces along the border. "It's absolutely not true," one of the sources told Reuters, adding that there was no operation by the Turkish military near Hasaka province. Chief YPG spokesman Redur Xelil had told Reuters that Turkish armoured vehicles were patrolling the area and opened fire on the YPG fighters between the Kurdish-controlled cities of Qamishli and Amouda in Hasaka province. Search Keywords: Short link: Los Angeles, CA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/29/2016 --Hollywood Airbrush Tanning Academy is pleased to announce the enrollment of two international students, one from Canada and another one from the Philippines. A highly rated spray tanning training school located in Los Angeles, Hollywood Airbrush Tanning Academy has already made a great contribution towards the popularization of sunless tanning throughout America. Their hands-on spray tanning training program is extremely popular amongst the aspiring airbrush tanning technicians. The academy's training program was developed by Hollywood's top rated spray tanning expert Simone Emmons and is now expanding internationally. 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Hollywood Airbrush Tanning Academy does not sell any of their own products and provides training and education on all equipment and spray tanning solutions in the sunless industry. The academy provides hands-on training classes in Los Angeles and Connecticut area as well as online airbrush tanning certification classes. Visit HollywoodAirbrushTanningAcademy.com to sign up for the next spray tanning class or call Hollywood Airbrush Tanning Academy at 818-674-9621 for more information. Siem Reap, Cambodia -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/29/2016 --Even though many people always look for the best path to earn money online, it has never been easier for one to find the correct path that can take one to his or her goal. All such worries come to an end with Mmo.sukuhong.guru unraveling the best opportunity for one to make money online in Cambodia. Presenting the biggest opportunity for one to learn, the website proudly offers Sukuhong's web marketing mantra at an affordable rate of $227. 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Other propaganda suggests hes a Manchurian candidate for Putin. Hes compared to Hitler. A late July Washington Post editorial called him a unique threat to American democracy. In its latest edition, WaPo compared what it called Hillarys careful preparation for upcoming presidential debates to Trumps WrestleMania. So-called debates, like US elections, are farcical when held - independent candidates excluded, the format each time pre-scripted, letting Republican and Democrat presidential aspirants rant instead of holding their feet to the fire with important questions on major issues and demanding answers, not evasions. New York Times editors bash Trump relentlessly, one of many examples from an earlier editorial saying Republicans seem to be reeling, unable or unwilling to comprehend that a shady, bombastic liar is hardening the image of their party as a symbol of intolerance and division. Its latest edition accused him of being biased against Blacks while ignoring Hillary once saying (a)ll Black youths are super-predators. Hes against jobs destroying TPP. Hillary earlier called it the gold standard in trade agreements. Neither candidate is the type leader Americans deserve, both deplorable figures. Hillary is by far the worst, the most ruthlessly dangerous presidential aspirant in US history. Her administration likely means a policy agenda across the board, surpassing the high crimes of previous ones - especially her rage for endless wars on humanity with no reluctance to use nuclear weapons based on her earlier comments. Supporting her risks the worst of all possible worlds to come - maybe its end in a mushroom-shaped cloud. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Adam Russell Producers who fertilized hay meadows before widespread rains last week can expect good quality growth for second or third cuttings over the next few weeks. SHARE By Adam Russell, Texas A&M AgriLife Communication COLLEGE STATION Good quality cuttings of hay could be in the future for hay producers across the state following widespread rains. Dr. Larry Redmon, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program leader, College Station, said spring and summer presented subprime conditions for hay production on both ends of the weather spectrum. Redmon said spring rains made it difficult for hay producers to access meadows and delayed or prevented first cuttings. The delays resulted in good quantities of hay but diminished nutrient values and quality. The spring deluge was followed by 70-75 days of summer heat, including multiple 100 degree days in much of the state, that decreased moisture levels rapidly, Redmon said. The lack of moisture slowed growth and in some cases led to dormancy in hay meadows. But then the rains came. "I'm looking at fields that looked burnt up a week ago, and now they're green and growing," Redmon said. "It looks like producers might get a good second or third harvest." According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service May 1 hay stock report, Texas had its highest surplus of fall/winter hay since 2008, 2.5 million tons, or 9 percent above 2015. Redmon said producers who fertilized hay meadows based on forecasts that delivered rain would likely benefit most and see good new growth over the next few weeks. He said the next cutting would likely produce good yields and quality as long as fields are accessible when grasses peak. Rangeland and pasture conditions around the state also improved following the rains and should provide adequate grazing in many areas until forages go dormant, according to AgriLife Extension agent reports. AgriLife Extension district reports WEST CENTRAL: Widespread rain fell around the district throughout the reporting period, but no measurements were recorded. Temperatures were much cooler. Stock tanks and ponds filled with some runoff occurring. Fire dangers decreased, and some burn bans were lifted. Preparations for fall planting were underway. Most small grain fields were ready and fertilized for planting. Early planted wheat was expected to be available for grazing soon due to recent moisture. The majority of sorghum and corn was harvested. A few wet fields remained standing. Hay producers expected to make a third cutting due to moisture. Farmers were optimistic about cotton yields with recent moisture. Rangeland and pasture conditions were improving. Livestock remained in fair to good condition. Cattle prices were high. Pecan crops were extremely heavy. Timely rains were expected to help pecan nuts fill out. ROLLING PLAINS: Cooler temperatures prevailed and slowed down cotton plant growth. The cooler temperatures were beneficial for livestock producers, and cattle were in good condition. Pastures and rangeland were in good condition as some counties received beneficial rainfall with some amounts totaling upwards of 5 inches. Some areas remained dry, and wildfires were still a threat. Wheat producers were preparing for fall planting. SOUTH PLAINS: Scattered showers were received in some counties. Rain amounts ranged from 0.4-1 inch. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels remained very low in counties missed by the rain. Cooler weather helped grain fields recover slightly from extreme heat. However, the forecast was not favorable for cotton as warm temperatures were still needed to mature fields. Cotton and sorghum continued to mature. Peanuts were in decent condition, but corn was very dry. Corn silage harvest was underway in Bailey County. Pastures and rangelands needed moisture, but cattle were in good condition. Rains helped dryland cotton, but not enough fell to restore a healthy soil moisture profile. Forecasts indicated a chance for rain. Most cotton cut out and some natural boll shed was occurring. No open bolls were observed or reported but early bolls should open soon. Producers sprayed for stink bugs in some sorghum fields and adjacent cotton field margins. US President Barack Obama will meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday in China on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit, with Syria high on the agenda, top aide Ben Rhodes announced Monday. "They will be discussing the counter-ISIL campaign and the fact that we need to stay united," Ben Rhodes, the deputy US national security advisor, told reporters. Turkey has launched military operations inside Syria against both Islamic State (IS) jihadists and the US-backed Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), creating a dilemma for Washington. Clashes between the Turkish forces and the YPG over the weekend drew a sharp rebuke from the Pentagon, which called them "unacceptable." A US defense official said the US-backed Kurdish forces had pulled back to east of the Euphrates river over the past day or so, as demanded by Ankara. Turkey, a key NATO ally, regards the YPG as "terrorists," while the United States considers the militia an effective force against IS in Syria. Obama's meeting with Erdogan would be their first since a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15. Tensions between the two allies have risen sharply since then, with Turkey demanding that the United States extradite Fethullah Gulen, an exiled former imam who Ankara claims was behind the coup attempt. Search Keywords: Short link: TUESDAY Mental health program The Alzheimer's Association North Central Texas Chapter will present 'Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors' from 2-4 p.m. at the Abilene Regional Office, 301 S. Pioneer Drive, Suite 105. Admission is free, but space is limited. To register, contact 800-272-3900 or mbannister@alz.org. Public meeting CLYDE TxDOT will conduct a public meeting regarding possible safety enhancements to the Interstate 20 corridor from 4-8 p.m. at the Clyde Auxiliary Building, 2515 S. Access Road West. OSHA workshop Texas Tech Small Business Development Center Abilene will conduct an OSHA 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses Workshop from 6-8 p.m. in the Texas Tech Training Center, 749 Gateway St., Suite 301. To make a reservation, call 325-670-0300. Square dance workshop TYE The Key City Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel. Other ... Mission on the Move Soup Kitchen, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Southwest Drive Community United Methodist Church, 3025 Southwest Dr. Abilene Southwest Rotary Club, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. High Noon Al-Anon, noon, Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3666 Buffalo Gap Road (south end; follow the yellow signs). Blood drive, 1-6 p.m., Haskell County Courthouse. Stroke/Aphasia Recovery Program support group, 1:30-2:30 p.m. West Texas Rehabilitation Center boardroom, 4601 Hartford St. 325-793-3535. Dystonia Support Group, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Not Without Us, 3301 N. First St. Suite 117. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), 5:30 p.m., Brook Hollow Christian Church, 2310 S. Willis St. 325-232-7444. Legacies Al-Anon Family Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-280-7584. Family (of Mental Health Consumers) Support Group, 6-7 p.m., Mental Health Association in Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300. MHAA Bipolar/Depression Peer Support Group, 6-8 p.m., Ministry of Counseling & Enrichment, 1502 N. First St. 325-673-2300. Free certified nurturing parent class (pregnancy to toddler), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398. Abilene Star Chorus, 6:15 p.m., Wisteria Place Chapel, 3202 S. Willis St. 325-829-1470. Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Exodus Metropolitan Community Church, 1933 S. 27th St. Al-Anon Parents Group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. Use Church Street entrance. Al-Anon, 7 p.m., Doug Meinzer Activity Center, Knox City. 940-658-3926. Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 7-8:30 p.m., 2043 N. Second St. Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. WEDNESDAY Coffee with CASA Big Country Court Appointed Special Advocates will conduct a 'Coffee with CASA' informational meeting at 9 a.m. at The Birdhouse Coffee Shop, 500 Chestnut St., Suite 101. For information, call 325-677-6448. Flying Fortress salute The B-17 Flying Fortress Texas Raiders will present tours of a B-17 bomber from noon to 5 p.m. at Abilene Aero, 2850 Airport Blvd. Tours are $10 for adults, $5 for children and $20 for families of up to five. A limited number of flights will be available. For flight reservations, go to b17texasraiders.org or call 855-FLY-A-B17. Dog Days at the Mall Dog Days will continue from 5-8 p.m. at the Mall of Abilene. Participants are encouraged to bring their dogs. CJ Photography will be present to take photos of pets. Square dance workshop TYE The Wagon Wheel Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel. Other ... Overeaters Anonymous, 8 a.m., Hinds Square Building, Room 112, 100 Chestnut St. Blood drive, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., First Financial Bank, 400 Pine St. Abilene Cactus Lions Club, 11:45 a.m., Cotton Patch Cafe, 3302 S. Clack St. Abilene Wednesday Rotary Club, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway. $12 for lunch. Jo Ann Wilson, 325-677-6815. Kiwanis Club of Abilene, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd. Clearly Speaking Toastmaster Club, noon, Westgate Church of Christ, 402 S. Pioneer Drive. 325-795-5570. Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St. Veterans Peer Support Group, 6 p.m., 765 Orange St. 325-670-4818. Mid-week Al-Anon Family Group, 6-7 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-698-4995. Advanced Square Dancing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wagon Wheel. Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007. DivorceCare support group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. 325-691-4200. THURSDAY Flying Fortress salute The B-17 Flying Fortress Texas Raiders will present tours of a B-17 bomber from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Abilene Aero, 2850 Airport Blvd. Tours are $10 for adults, $5 for children and $20 for families of up to five. A limited number of flights will be available. For flight reservations, go to b17texasraiders.org or call 855-FLY-A-B17. Art workshop A workshop on mixed-media fiber collage will be presented from 6-8 p.m. at The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Registration is $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers. To register, or for more information, go to www.thegracemuseum.org. Discovery Adventure Theater Discovery Adventure Theater, a monthly event featuring films related to religion and family, will begin at 6:30 p.m. at The Discovery Center, 810 Butternut St. A showing of 'The Wild Brothers' will be followed by 'The Mind of the Skeptic' at 7:15 p.m. Admission is free. For information, call 325-673-5050. Square dance workshop TYE A-Team will conduct a square dancing workshop 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel. Resource conservation meeting The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Taylor County and the Middle Clear Fork Soil and Water Conservation District will conduct the Fiscal Year 2017 Local Working Group meeting from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Taylor County AgriLife Extension classroom, 1982 Lytle Way. Stakeholders are invited to for discussion on conservation topics and priorities. For more information, call 325-692-8238 Ext. 3 or go to www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov. Other ... Veterans Association Club, 10 a.m., Rose Park Senior Citizens Center (in Rose Park, South Seventh and Barrow streets). Chronic Pain and Depression Group, 11 a.m. to noon, Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St., 325-673-2300. Abilene Founder Lions Club, 11:30 a.m., Al's Mesquite Grill, 4801 Buffalo Gap Road. Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. 325-695-0092. Retired Military Wives Club business meeting, 1 p.m., Rose Park Senior Activity Center, 2625 South Seventh St. 325-677-9656 or 325-793-1490. Mental Illness Open Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300. Abilene 42 Club, 6 p.m., Rose Park Senior Center. Teen Recovery Group, 6-7 p.m., Mission Abilene, 3001 N. Third St. Free certified nurturing parent class (all ages), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:30 p.m. Brook Hollow Christian Church. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. 325-665-5052. Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St. Gambler's Anonymous, 6:30 p.m., Unity Spiritual Living Center, 2842 Barrow St. 325-338-2575. Key City Coin Club, 6:30 p.m., Rose Park Senior Citizens Center, Room B. 325-675-0266. Round Dancing, 7 p.m., Wagon Wheel. 325-829-1517. Old Town Abilene Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., Shining Star Baptist Church, 302 Palm St. 325-676-4068. American Legion Post and Auxiliary 661 meeting, 7 p.m., Lueders Legion Hall, Highway 6, Lueders. Big Country Audubon Society, 6 p.m., Abilene State Park. 325-690-6355. South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave. Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. FRIDAY Bake sale TUSCOLA A bake sale benefiting On the Way Home Ministries will be open from 9 a.m. to noon at Texas National Bank, 441 Graham St. Community sale A community sale preview will be 5-8 p.m. at the First Christian Church activity building, 1420 N. Third St. Admission is $3. Proceeds will go to the church's children's programming. Big Country Conference The 36th annual Big Country Conference, featuring several AA speakers over three days, will begin at 8 p.m. at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. Registration will begin at 4 p.m. Registration is $25, and includes meals. For more information, email 2016BigCountryConference@gmail.com. Other ... Abilene Chinese Corner, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Abilene Christian University library. lld09a@acu.edu. Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304. Mental health program The Alzheimer's Association-North Central Texas Chapter will present 'Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors' from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday at the Abilene Regional Office, 301 S. Pioneer Drive, Suite 105. Admission is free, but space is limited. To register, call 800-272-3900 or email mbannister@alz.org. OSHA workshop The Texas Tech Small Business Development Center in Abilene will conduct an OSHA 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses Workshop from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday in the Texas Tech Training Center, 749 Gateway St., Suite 301. To make a reservation, call 325-670-0300. Coffee with CASA Big Country Court Appointed Special Advocates will conduct a 'Coffee with CASA' informational meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday at The Birdhouse Coffee Shop, 500 Chestnut St., Suite 101. For more information, call 325-677-6448. Flying Fortress salute The Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force will present tours of the Flying Fortress Texas Raiders, a B-17 bomber, from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at Abilene Aero, 2850 Airport Blvd. Tours are $10 for adults, $5 for children and $20 for families of up to five. A limited number of flights will be available. For flight reservations, go to b17texasraiders.org or call 855-359-2217. Dog Days at the Mall Dog Days will continue from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Mall of Abilene. Participants are encouraged to bring their dogs. CJ Photography will be present to take photos of pets. Art workshop A workshop on mixed-media fiber collage will be presented from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Registration is $30 for members and $35 for nonmembers. To register, or for more information, go to www.thegracemuseum.org. Resource conservation meeting The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Taylor County and the Middle Clear Fork Soil and Water Conservation District will conduct the Fiscal Year 2017 Local Working Group meeting from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Taylor County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service classroom, 1982 Lytle Way. Stakeholders are invited to a discussion on conservation topics and priorities. For more information, call 325-692-8238, ext. 3, or go to www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov. Big Country Conference The 36th annual Big Country Conference, featuring several AA speakers, will open at 8 p.m. Friday, 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday at the Abilene Civic Center, 1100 N. Sixth St. Registration will begin at 4 p.m. Friday. Registration is $25, and includes meals. For more information, email 2016BigCountryConference@gmail.com. Chili Super Bowl The 35th annual Chili Super Bowl benefiting the Ben Richey Boys Ranch will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Old Settlers Reunion Grounds in Buffalo Gap. Callahan Divide will present a concert at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission to the cook-off is $4 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Concert admission is $10. Farewell square dance A farewell square dance, featuring longtime caller Marshall Flippo, will begin at 2 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Wagon Wheel, 1023 North St., in Tye. Dance sessions will be presented from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., with a dinner served at 6 p.m. Admission is $5 per session. For more information, call 325-829-1517. Public meeting The Texas Department of Transportation will conduct a public meeting regarding possible safety enhancements to the Interstate 20 corridor from 4-8 p.m. Sept. 6 at the TxDOT Training Center, 4210 Clack St. Cabaret fundraiser Jasmin Richardson will present a fundraiser cabaret, 'Just Jazz,' at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St. Tickets are $40. Proceeds will go to Abilene Christian University Theatre. For tickets, call 325-674-2787 or go to acu.edu/theatre. Exercise classes Public group exercise classes will be offered through Dec. 2 in the Hunt PE Center, Room 200, at McMurry University. Classes will include yoga, low-impact aerobics, Zumba and sessions for people 50 and older. Registration is $80 for unlimited sessions, $40 for 15 sessions or $5 for a single session. For more information, including a complete schedule, contact 325-793-4634 or mcmurraj@mcm.edu. 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: I need advice. I'm 23 and have been living with my boyfriend of almost two years. I have never been in a relationship before this one, so I have little experience. I love him dearly, but every time there's an issue between us, it always becomes my fault and I'm always the one to apologize. What should I do? Inexperienced in Tampa DEAR INEXPERIENCED: Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. You should not be forced into the role of perpetual peacekeeper by accepting the blame for everything, and it won't improve your relationship. Because your boyfriend's preferred method of solving disagreements is laying the blame on you, suggest the two of you get couples counseling. However, if he refuses and he may you will then have to decide whether this is the way you want to spend the foreseeable future because things aren't likely to change. 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. Fall is a busy time in the Boy Scouts of America. Besides getting new members started, there is Webelos Woods for boys in fourth grade or older, the Haunted Forest family camp and the annual food drive for the Food Bank of West Central Texas and other community food pantries. Kicking off the year is the main fundraiser for many Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops the annual popcorn sale. In fact, you likely will see some units out at local stores beginning this weekend. The sales provide funds for the units to conduct their annual programs, purchase the awards the Scouts earn and offer opportunities the boys wouldn't get by themselves. In addition, it encourages them to speak to potential customers, improving their self-confidence. Many troops and packs also use these funds so that boys (or their parents) don't have to pay to re-register each year. Several varieties of Camp Masters popcorn are available, some ready to eat and some to be microwaved. New products this year include two mauve-colored items, one ready to eat and one to be popped at home the old-fashioned way. Don't worry; the popcorn comes out white once it is popped. It leaves behind almost no hulls and is gluten-free. Some varieties, mainly ones with chocolate, are not available now because of the Texas heat. You can order these for delivery soon after Thanksgiving. And speaking of the holidays, check out the big party tins, which still will be fresh and delicious by the time the holidays arrive. There may not be many of them available now, but these too can be ordered for future delivery. You may find the products a bit more expensive than what you can purchase locally, but remember: this is a fundraiser. Part of what you are spending pays for the product, and part goes directly to the boys and their units. HOW TO JOIN If you missed the sign-up opportunity at your school for Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, it's not too late. Girls in counties along and north of Interstate 20 can contact Girl Scout offices in Abilene at 325-670-0432 or in Fort Worth at 800-582-7272 for information on joining the program, which is open to girls in kindergarten through high school. For Boy Scouts or Cub Scouts, call the Abilene office at 325-677-2688. Here's something new: A pilot Cub Scout program for kindergartners is starting in Abilene and a few other locations. For more information, call the Boy Scout office at the number listed above. OFFICES CLOSED The Boy Scout office in Abilene will be closed Sept. 5 for Labor Day. The Girl Scout offices in Abilene and Brownwood will be closed Sept. 5 for Labor Day. UPCOMING EVENTS The Abilene Boy Scout office will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays beginning Sept. 10. Tot Spot, for children ages 3-5 (and an adult), 9:30 or 11 a.m. first Thursday and Friday of each month, The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Free for museum members, $5 for nonmembers. Reservations required; 325-673-4587 or www.thegracemuseum.org. The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St., 325-673-4586, offers free art activities each Saturday from 1-4 p.m. Incidents reported Sunday by the Abilene Police Department. Assault, Family Violence; 1100 block of Cornell Drive; Friday. During an argument, a woman slapped her boyfriend in the face. She claimed they both then started hitting each other, but she was the one who ended up choking him. With the scratches on his arms and neck as additional evidence, she was arrested and taken to Taylor County Jail. Assault, Family Violence; 600 block of Cherry Street; Friday. Responding to a disturbance, a woman said her ex-boyfriend pushed her down. Unfortunately, that's because she came into his house through the back door, after which she scratched him on the neck and ripped his shirt. He said he didn't want to press charges, but she was arrested anyway and taken to Taylor County Jail. Driving While Intoxicated; 1800 block of Vogel Avenue; Saturday. A strong smell of alcohol was coming from a man at the scene of an accident. He also couldn't stand straight and failed a field sobriety test. One of the other drivers confirmed to the officer that the man had been driving, and so he was arrested and taken to jail. Aggravated Kidnapping; 1300 Butternut Street; Sunday. A man reported he was abducted while he was walking. Another man had appeared to point a gun at him and force him into a vehicle. Taken to his apartment, the victim said he was never physically harmed. There were a few inconsistencies in this story, but a report was still filed. Public Intoxication; 3600 block of Buffalo Gap Road; Sunday. A motorist informed a police officer that they had to slow down and swerve around a man in the roadway, making impolite gestures as the cars passed. As the officer drove over to investigate, he observed the man in question propped against a light pole two feet from the roadway, urinating on said pole. The fellow became agitated when questioned and his demeanor did not improve as he was taken to the Taylor County Jail and booked. This is the second year that Zion Lutheran and River of Life Church have partnered on packing 2,000 boxes of food for hungry children and the precision they showed Sunday at Zion Lutheran was impressive. Starting just after Sunday services, the 300 or so volunteers had packed 1,500 by 12:45. 'It's going to take a couple of hours,' said Nicole Oglevee, the mission committee chairperson for Zion Lutheran.'It's just whoever shows up. I think there's about 300. It's pretty amazing.' Oglevee contacted Steve Huerta, the Senior Relationship Coordinator, Southwest, for the Children's Hunger Fund in San Antonio, three years ago. That first year, the church prepared 150 boxes of food. Last year, working with Global Samaritan Resources, the two churches raised $20,000 to fill the 2,000 boxes. Oglevee said that the Children's Hunger Fund can purchase food from H-E-B at a special charity pantry price and can get a week's worth of what is described as 'supplemental food,' or non-perishable food, for a family of four for $10. Huerta said the food that was boxed on Sunday will be delivered to families in Abilene and in South Texas. Global Samaritan supplied the trucks to take the food to its warehouses. Huerta said that churches like Zion Lutheran and River of Life were effective in identifying families in need and developing relationships with those families. 'We focus on the child,' he said.'We feed children. That's in our name and it's in our mission.' However, said Huerta, hunger is much more prevalent and it effects people that many would not expect to be without food, especially in this part of the state where the falling oil and gas economy has left families, even two income families, without enough money to make it through the month. 'Especially at the end of the month when their budget has been stretched,' he said. Also, said Huerta, focusing on children can help break a cycle of poverty that may be generational. 'If a child can't eat, they can't educate and if they can't be educated, they may or may not graduate from high school and that can cause all sorts of issues. It becomes generational. This can help change that.' Huerta said the program was about putting a face on poverty and used the acronym FACE to describe the process. 'F is for feed which is food,' he said.'A is for aid, or resources. C is for connect or relationships and E is for equip, which is churches and resources.' Huerta said that his organization distributes food from the Dallas-Fort Worth area down to San Antonio, Laredo, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley. The Children's Hunger Fund added a distribution center in Dallas earlier this year and would like one in West Texas to expand its reach. The organization works with churches to reach more families. 'They become our micro-managers,' he said. Oglevee said it was important for the food to be delivered to families rather than have a location where people could come pick up items. She said many times, people in need wouldn't take advantage of resources because they didn't know about them. 'We don't just drop off the food and say, 'See you later,'' she said.'We're going to be back next week and see how they're doing. We're going to them. It's about bringing them the gospel.' Oglevee said she hoped that next year the event would grow to the point that it couldn't be housed at Zion Lutheran. 'We're visiting with other churches to get involved,' she said.'I hope next year it's at the Civic Center.' Monday may start out dry, but it likely won't remain that way. 'It looks like we'll have a little bit higher rain chances than we had this weekend, as we look at Monday and Tuesday,' said Matt Groh, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in San Angelo. 'We're expecting scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon into the early nighttime hours both days.' Groh said they expect the coverage area for the rain could be larger. 'For outdoor activities, if something needs to be done it would be better to do it in the morning hours before showers develop,' he advised. Abilene received .68 inches of rain Sunday. The day's total combined with Friday's .06 and Saturday's .26 neatly added up to an official inch of rain recorded at the Abilene Regional Airport. Temperatures for Monday and Tuesday should be in the upper 80s for highs and then drop to about 70 each day for a low. Wednesday and Thursday also carry the potential for rain, though the chance fall to scattered or isolated. 'There is the possibility for locally heavy rainfall and some flooding,' Groh said. 'These will be slow moving showers and thunderstorms and they'll dump heavy rain.' He added that it does appear that high pressure aloft could be building back into Texas. 'We think the pattern will trend warmer and drier as we approach next weekend,' Groh said. 'Temperatures should climb a few degrees up into the lower, perhaps mid-90s for next weekend.' FIVE-DAY FORECAST Monday: A 40-percent chance of rain, otherwise mostly cloudy with a high of 89 degrees and a 5-10 miles-per-hour east wind. Overnight; a 20-percent chance of rain, otherwise mostly cloudy with a low of 68 and a 5-10 mph east wind. Tuesday: A 30-percent chance of rain, otherwise mostly cloudy with a high of 89 and a 5-10 mph east wind. Overnight; a 20-percent chance of rain, otherwise mostly cloudy with a low of 70 and a 5-10 mph east wind turning south southeast after midnight. Wednesday: A 30-percent chance of rain, otherwise partly sunny with a high of 90 degrees and a 5 mph north wind turning east in the afternoon. Overnight; a 20-percent chance of rain, otherwise mostly cloudy with a low of 70 degrees and an east northeast wind at 5-10 mph. Thursday: A 30-percent chance of rain, otherwise partly sunny with a high of 91 and a 5-10 mph north northeast wind. Overnight; a 20-percent chance of rain, otherwise mostly cloudy with a low of 71 and a 5-10 mph east southeast wind. Friday: A 30-percent chance of rain, otherwise partly sunny with a high of 91. Overnight; partly cloudy with a low of 72 degrees. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's is in Bangladesh for security and human rights talks amid increasing concern about terrorism in the South Asian nation in the wake of a series of extremist attacks. Kerry, on his first trip to Bangladesh as America's top diplomat, met in Dhaka on Monday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Abul Hassam Mahmood Ali and was later to see opposition officials and talk to students. Bangladesh is struggling to deal with the rash of attacks, the most recent of which killed 20 people, including 17 foreigners, at a popular restaurant last month in Dhaka, the capital. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Bangladeshi authorities maintain that IS has no presence in the country and that a local banned group, Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh, or JMB, was behind it. On Saturday, police said they had killed three suspected militants, including an alleged mastermind of the cafe attack. But many of the perpetrators of a string of attacks over the past two years that have killed atheist bloggers, foreign aid workers and religious minorities remain at large. U.S. officials say a longstanding counterterrorism dialogue has intensified in recent months and work with the Bangladeshi police and military will continue with an eye toward further cooperation. After his brief stop in Bangladesh, Kerry will travel to India later Monday for the seventh meeting of the U.S.-India strategic dialogue, which seeks to improve security and well as economic and development ties between the nations. This year's discussions are taking place as tensions rise in the disputed region of Kashmir, scene of some of the largest protests against Indian rule in recent years. Since early July, 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 been killed and hundreds of government forces have been injured in the clashes. On Monday, Indian authorities lifted a curfew in most parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir as part of a 52-day security lockdown but tensions persist. India and Pakistan control parts of the Himalayan territory and claim it in its entirety. U.S. officials say Kerry will continue to urge dialogue between India and Pakistan over the dispute, the cause of two of three wars between the nations. Many Kashmiris want an end to 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. In India, Kerry will be accompanied by U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and senior officials from 12 U.S. government agencies and institutions. Search Keywords: Short link: China's push into foreign markets has hit a barrier with Australia's decision to block its bid for a major electricity network following its assertive moves in the South China Sea. On Aug. 11, Australian Treasurer Scott Morrison announced a preliminary rejection of China's attempt to win a 99-year lease of the New South Wales system known as Ausgrid. Morrison cited "national security issues ... in critical power and communications services that Ausgrid provides to businesses and governments," but he declined to disclose specifics of the risks, Australian media said. The decision was "consistent" with the recommendation of Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board, Morrison said. The joint bid for a 50.4-percent stake was submitted by China's State Grid Corp. and Hong Kong-based Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. (CKI) in a deal valued at 10 billion Australian dollars (U.S. $7.6 billion, 50.4 billion yuan). Reports pointed to concerns over the role of China's state-owned utility State Grid. In a statement, CKI denied that it was the cause. "We believe that the Australian government must have reasons beyond the obvious which led them to make today's announcement," said the company controlled by billionaire investor Li Ka-shing. "The issue is unrelated to CKI," it said. Morrison's ban has sparked intense debate within Australia in light of State Grid's past investments and those of other Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the country. The Australian Financial Review listed five previous State Grid acquisitions of energy assets and infrastructure that had gone through without triggering national security vetoes. In a signed commentary, the official Xinhua news agency derided the notion that China would consider turning the lights off in Sydney and the surrounding region. "To suggest that China would try to kidnap the countries' electricity network for ulterior motive is absurd and almost comical, since it is widely recognized in the world that business reputation is critical to any corporate activity," Xinhua said. Sale becomes final But Reuters quoted a senior member of Australia's governing coalition as citing new factors in evaluating China's state-controlled investment in the country. "The South China Sea disputes, the increased recognition that the Chinese regime is more authoritarian than we originally thought, and the fact that we are dealing with a state-owned enterprisethose three things have suspended people's free-market instincts," the unidentified official said. In spite of the objections from China, Morrison's decision against the sale became final on Aug. 19. The move may mark a watershed for Australia, which launched a free trade agreement with China last year and has relied heavily on Chinese demand for raw materials and energy supplies. "It's high time for Australia to put all parties on the same page and implement its strategy in a unified and coordinated fashion, before its deeply confused investors lose interests," Xinhua said in another commentary, sounding a thinly-veiled threat. Following the final decision, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) warned Australia that the rejection would have costly consequences. The canceled sale will "severely hurt the willingness of Chinese companies to invest in Australia and exert negative influence on Sino-Australian economic and trade relations," MOC spokesman Sun Jiwen said. "The issue of foreign investment, particularly Chinese ownership of critical infrastructure ... will be among several tensions in the Canberra-Beijing relationship when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attends the G20 meeting in China," The Sydney Morning Herald reported last week. The two-day summit of the Group of 20 major economies is set to open Saturday in the eastern city of Hangzhou. Resistance to other acquisitions Despite its earlier investments in Australian power and gas assets, China has encountered rising resistance to further acquisitions this year. In April, Morrison barred the sale of agricultural land holder S. Kidman & Co. to Chinese investors, citing national interest. Security concerns have also been raised about the decision to sell a long-term lease for facilities at the port of Darwin to a Chinese investment group last year. China's reactions are a sign of worry that the recent pushback against its investments may be part of an international trend. In July, Britain's new government shocked China by delaying a final decision on building its Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in a project that includes China General Nuclear Power Corp. as a 33-percent partner. On Aug. 8, China responded with a commentary from Ambassador Liu Xiaoming in the Financial Times, implying that relations could be at risk. "Britain takes pride in being a country that is open to foreign investors. Rightly so. It is exactly because of such openness that China has become the UK's second-largest non- European trading partner," Liu said. "As long as both sides cherish what has been achieved ..., bilateral relations will maintain their strong momentum and work for the well-being of both the Chinese and British people," he said. Pedestrians walk past the headquarters of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)in Beijing, April 5, 2015. Credit: ImagineChina Rising tide of investment There have been notable instances in the past of national interest or security opposition to Chinese investment, as with the failed bid by China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) to buy U.S.-based Unocal Corp. in 2005. But recent bans in response to China's rising tide of overseas investment have been relatively few, suggesting that new international concerns over its assertive policies may be at work. "Chinese aggressiveness in the South China Sea and East China Sea is creating a toxic element to its global economic expansion," said Mikkal Herberg, energy security research director for the Seattle-based National Bureau of Asian Research. "It's just creating an extra layer of atmosphere where everything in China's decision making is colored by national security interests," he said. The link between investment and security appears to have tightened since China rejected the finding of an international arbitration tribunal in July that Beijing's sovereignty claims in the South China Sea were unjustified. Security concerns have grown with the release of aerial photos showing China's construction of aircraft hangars on man-made islands in disputed waters, prompting fears of a military buildup. Commentators like former British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind say the chances that China would use its investments to "turn the lights out" or exert influence over policy may be remote but not beyond consideration. "It may sound like a fantasy. It may be a fantasy. But it is a worst case scenario that some security experts predict could occur if the government proceeds with the Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor with Chinese involvement," Rifkind said, writing in the Daily Telegraph. "Of course, the issue needn't be about the South China Sea. It could be about Hong Kong, or Tibet, or Taiwan, or any number of places where China's military could crack down on human rights," he said. Really bad idea In fact, long before its South China Sea claims became a pressing issue, China has had a pattern of using investments particularly in poorer countries to sway their policies toward Taiwan. Herberg said China is making "a mistake" when it argues that relations with countries could be at risk in cases like Ausgrid and Hinkley Point, since threats only heighten security concerns about linkage between economic and strategic issues. "I think that's really a bad idea. You're basically reinforcing the talking points of the nationalists," he said. International reactions to China's assertiveness in the South China Sea could be a setback for its ambitious "belt and road" initiatives, which seek to expand trade routes with infrastructure investments throughout Asia and build corridors stretching to Europe and Africa. Beyond trade, the acquisition of infrastructure is likely to raise longer-term security concerns since China's embedded interest and influence could last for years. "This comes back to bite them, and there's this chronic issue of how to convince people that these are strictly commercial transactions when so much of China's economy is driven by state ownership and state interests," Herberg said. The strategic stakes are also rising for China as it becomes increasingly reliant on outbound investment and overseas energy supplies for economic growth. "It's not hard to see why China is sometimes the object of suspicion when it comes to these overseas acquisitions," said a report by Britain's BBC. "But the countries that China wants to invest in will increasingly have to balance their national security concerns with their economic and commercial ones, too," it said. Bou Rachana stands in front of an image of slain husband Kem Ley. The widow of slain government critic and scholar Kem Ley has left Cambodia with her children for an undisclosed country, a Buddhist monk who is a member of the pundits funeral commission told RFAs Khmer Service on Monday. Bou Rachana and her children are now in a secure place which cannot be disclosed, and she has prepared a letter of authorization for the funeral commission to hold a traditional 100-day funeral for Kem Ley on her behalf, said monk But Buntenh. The ceremony will be held for three days on Oct. 14-16, though the committee must decide where to hold it, said But Buntenh, who , who is also president of the Independent Monk Network for Social Justice. Nearly two weeks ago, Bou Rachana asked the CENTRAL, a labor-oriented NGO that provides legal aid to Cambodian workers, to prepare legal action related to the murder of her husband. Kem Ley was gunned down in broad daylight on July 10 when he stopped in a Star Mart convenience store beside a Caltex gas station in the capital Phnom Penh. Cambodian authorities have charged former soldier Oeuth Ang with the killing, who has said he shot Kem Ley over a U.S. $3,000 debt. Kem Ley was buried in southwestern Cambodias Takeo province two weeks later after a weekend funeral procession that drew around 2 million mourners. Just days before he was gunned down, he had discussed on an RFA call-in show a report by London-based group Global Witness detailing the extent of the wealth of the family of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for 31 years. Reported by Zakariya Tin for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Several attackers rammed a car through the gates of Belgium's national crime laboratory on Monday in Brussels and then started a fire in what prosecutors said may have been an attempt to destroy evidence. Five people were arrested nearby and are being questioned, but there is no confirmed link to terrorism so far. No one was injured in the fire or by a large explosion which shook houses nearby, the city's prosecutors said. The incident comes as Belgium remains on high alert following suicide attacks on the city's airport and metro in March which were claimed by the Islamic State group. "Several attackers forced their way into the institute using their car and were able to attack the building," said Ine Van Wymersch, a spokesman for the Brussels prosecutor's office. "The possibility of a terrorist act is not confirmed. It goes without saying that several individuals may have wanted to destroy evidence related to their legal cases." The incident happened in the early hours Monday at the national criminology institute in Neder-Over-Hembeek, a northern suburb of Brussels, and near the famed Atomium tourist attraction. Part of the building was scorched and burned out, an AFP reporter saw, while a burned out car was lifted from the scene by a crane. Van Wymersch said the crime lab, which gathers and analyses evidence, "was not chosen by chance. It is an important part of the justice department and deals with sensitive information in connection with several ongoing cases." She said it was not yet clear how they started the fire. Fire service spokesman Pierre Meys said there was an "extremely powerful" explosion, adding: "Windows of the lab were blown out dozens of metres away." He said about 30 firefighters were at the scene at around 3:00am (0100 GMT) fighting the blaze. A young woman living in the neighborhood said she was awakened by the explosion. "It made the house shake," she told AFP, asking not to be named. The institute is part of Belgium's federal justice system. Among its tasks is carrying out forensic analysis for criminal cases. Belgium has been high alert after suicide bombers struck Brussels airport and a metro station near the European Union headquarters on March 22, killing 32 people. Those attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group, which controls large areas of territory in Iraq and Syria and has claimed numerous terror attacks in Europe in recent months. The militant cell responsible for the Brussels attacks was also heavily involved in the November Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed and hundreds more wounded. The bombmaker for the Paris attacks, Najim Laachraoui, blew himself up at Brussels airport. Earlier this month it emerged that Belgian authorities were also hunting a cousin of the El Bakraoui brothers who also blew themselves up in the Brussels attacks. Belgium has caught several people linked to the Brussels and Paris atrocities including Salah Abdeslam, the last surviving member of the Paris IS cell, who has since been extradited to France. In June Belgian authorities approved a French extradition request for Mohamed Abrini, the "man in the hat" seen on CCTV footage with Laachraoui and Ibrahim El Bakraoui at Brussels airport. Abrini has not yet been handed over pending further investigation into the Brussels attacks. Search Keywords: Short link: This picture, taken by the Korean Central News Agency on March 20, 2013, shows Korean People's Army soldiers at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Top soldiers from North Koreas military are being selected to serve on new nuclear backpack attack units under each corps of the Peoples Army, North Korean sources said. Outstanding soldiers were selected from each reconnaissance platoon and light infantry brigade to form the nuclear backpack unit the size of a battalion, said a source from North Hamgyong province who declined to be named. The special units have been formed since March this year, he said. The nuclear backpack unit of the 9th corps stationed in North Hamgyong province was organized as a battalion affiliated with the 45th division, which is located in Munhwa-dong, Chongam-district in Chongjin city, he said. The formation of the new squads of soldiers came at around the same time that the members of the U.N. Security Council unanimously agreed to impose a new round of sanctions on North Korea, following the countrys fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and the launch on Feb. 7 of a satellite-bearing rocket that the world viewed as a disguised ballistic missile test. The sanctions are aimed at curbing Pyongyangs ability to build up its nuclear and rocket programs. The regular soldiers often go out around private houses nearby to exchange rice and cooking oil for alcoholic beverages and tobacco, the source said. The uniforms of soldiers selected for the nuclear backpack unit are similar to those of regular infantry troops, the source said, adding that the members of the new units in the 45th division receive no special food or supply benefits. When the source asked the regular soldiers what the nuclear backpack unit looks like, they responded that they had never seen it, although the soldiers in the unit have been participating in simulated training exercises with dummy bombs, the source said. Crushing blow Similarly, the reconnaissance battalion of the 43rd light infantry brigade under the 7th army corps stationed in Sanghung-ri, Gapsan county in Yanggang province has been reorganized as a nuclear backpack unit, a source from Yanggang province told RFA. North Korean military authorities have instructed soldiers about the substance of nuclear pack bombs which deliver the same crushing blow as a nuclear explosion by spraying radioactive material on the enemy, although they dont generate as big as an explosion as nuclear bombs, the source said. The dummy bombs that nuclear pack units use for training purposes range in weight from 10 kilograms (22 pounds) to 28 kilograms (62 pounds), he said. Besides the ones that spray radioactive material, there are also time bombs that have a missile guidance system, he said. Another North Korean source who was at a drinking party with a nuclear engineer visiting his hometown said the engineer complained that the nuclear backpack bomb was not a miniaturized version of a nuclear bomb, but a weapon that sprays high levels of uranium. Once the uranium has been sprayed [in an area], people cannot live there for several decades because of radioactive contamination, the engineer told the source. I dont understand why they are making those weapons, the engineer said. Advanced anti-ballistic missile system Despite the new sanctions, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is intent on maintaining and demonstrating its ballistic missile and nuclear capabilities. His regime was rattled by news in July that South Korea and the U.S. were deploying an advanced anti-ballistic missile system known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). In response, Pyongyang said it would "physically act" against the system and make the two allies "suffer from the nightmare [of] extreme uneasiness and terror." Then in early August, the country fired two intermediate range ballistic missilesone of which reportedly exploded after launch and another that landed in the Sea of Japan. On Wednesday, North Korea test-fired a submarine-based ballistic missile in the waters off Sinpo, South Hamgyong province as the United States and South Korea conducted their annual two-week joint military exercises. Reported by Jieun Kim and Sung-Hui Moon for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Hyosun Kim. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. The members of the Joint Conference Organizing Committee discuss the final preparations for Myanmar's Panglong Conference in Naypyidaw, Aug. 29, 2016. UPDATED at 10:26 A.M. EST on 2016-08-30 The organizing committee for Myanmar's Panglong Conference held a meeting in the capital Naypyidaw on Monday to discuss the final preparations for major negotiations with armed ethnic groups in a bid to end decades of ethnic separatist civil wars. Leaders from the countrys various ethnic armies have already arrived in the city for the five-day 21st-Century Panglong Conference, also called the Union Peace Conference, which begins on Wednesday. The members of the Joint Conference Organizing Committee said they were still discussing the possible participation of three groups that began fighting together against government troops last year in the Kokang region of the northern part of Myanmars Shan statethe Arakan Army (AA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance party (MNDAA), and Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA). But the online journal The Irrawaddy reported on Monday that the Myanmar military has decided to bar the three groups from attending, though they had expressed a readiness to participate, according to Zaw Htay, deputy director-general of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyis office. Because the groups have refused to issue a statement saying they will lay down their arms during talks with the military in the run-up to the conference, the government decided not to invite them, the report said. Clusters of reps All members of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), an alliance of nine ethnic armed groups that did not sign a nationwide cease-fire agreement with the previous government last October, will attend the peace conference in order to participate in political dialogue so it can push for the formation of a federal union in Myanmar. Aung San Suu KyiMyanmars de facto prime minister who is spearheading the peace negotiationsmilitary commander-in-chief- Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the two speakers of the national parliament Win Myint and Mahn Win Khaing Than, and United National Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will give speeches at the Panglong Conference. Nearly 80 speakers from three clusters that include representatives from the government, armed ethnic organizations, political parties and lawmakers, and the government military will also address the gathering of roughly 1,800 attendees. Two ethnic leaders will be permitted to address the conference, said Sai Kyaw Nyunt, secretary of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP). We have proposed Khun Tun Oo, leader of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) to give a speech as one of the ethnic leaders, he said. But if only one ethnic leader can give a speech, it is not sure that [he] will do so. New KIA battle In the meantime, new fighting has erupted between Myanmar government troops and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in northern Myanmar's Kachin and Shan states during an inspection of the Chinese border by government army troops, according to locals. Some local residents told RFAs Myanmar Service that the current bout of clashes, which began in late July in Shan state, was started by Chinese-speaking armed groups in one of the KIAs battalion areas. The Chinese-speaking troops are not related to the KIA though, said Colonel Nawly of the KIA, who blamed the current bout of hostilities on government troops that began military movements. It could have started during the government armys inspection of the Chinese border at Kanpiketi near border posts No. 5 and 6, said Zakhone Yein Saung, leader of Kachin Special Region 1. Representatives from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the KIAs political wing, have said they will attend the Panglong Conference. Reported by Myo Thant Khine and Kyaw Myo Min for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Two more Buddhist nuns living at Sichuans Larung Gar Academy have killed themselves following a suicide in July to protest Chinese authorities destruction of large parts of the Tibetan Buddhist study center, with the attempted suicide of yet another woman blocked by friends at the last minute, according to Tibetan sources. Tsering Dolma, aged about 20, hanged herself on Aug. 17 when she could no longer bear the pain of seeing the destruction of Larung Gar, a source living in the area told RFAs Tibetan Service. She left behind a note expressing her distress at the demolition and complaining that the Chinese will not let them live in peace. A native of Mewa township in Marthang (in Chinese, Hongyuan) county in Sichuans Ngaba (Aba) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Dolma had been seen before her death to be depressed and worried over Chinese authorities destruction of thousands of dwellings at the academy, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. So she hanged herself, he said. A nun named Semga, a native of Dowa village in Ngabas Dzamthang (Rangtang) county, also recently killed herself, though details on how and when she died were not immediately available, while a third nun attempted suicide though others intervened in time and saved her, the source said. The deaths follow the suicide on July 20 of Rinzin Dolma, a nun who hanged herself as Chinese work crews began to tear down monks and nuns houses to reduce what authorities have described as overcrowding at the Larung Gar academy in Ngaba's Serthar (Seda) county, sources said in earlier reports. Many thousands of Tibetans and Han Chinese study at the sprawling Larung Gar complex, which was founded in 1980 by the late religious teacher Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok and is one of the worlds largest and most important centers for the study of Tibetan Buddhism. Orders from higher-up The order now to reduce the number of Larung Gars residents by about half to a maximum level of 5,000 is not a county plan but comes from higher authorities, with Chinas president Xi Jinping taking a personal interest in the matter, sources told RFA in earlier reports. Chinese authorities have stationed armed security forces at the work site and are warning that attempts at protest or resistance will be punished by arrests and incarceration, one source said, adding that armed police have also been deployed to nearby areas. Informed by her friends of Dolmas death, officials of Larung Gars government-appointed management committee said at first that they were unwilling to look into the case, but later came to try to claim the body, RFAs source said. They said that their duty according to official instructions was to be sure that the demolition goes ahead, though, and that they would not be held responsible for anyones death." Hearing this, the nuns wailed in grief, he said. Rights groups have slammed the government-ordered destruction at Larung Gar, with New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) saying that Beijing should allow the Tibetan people to decide for themselves how best to practice their religion. "If authorities somehow believe that the Larung Gar facilities are overcrowded, the answer is simple," HRW China director Sophie Richardson said in a statement in June. "Allow Tibetans and other Buddhists to build more monasteries." Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney. 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. No injuries from the clashes were reported. Only few citizens were permitted to attend official ceremonies amid heavy police security. (RFE/RL's Moldovan Service) YEREVAN -- Armenian police said on August 29 that they have detained a Russian national at the request of the U.S. government after being informed the man was wanted in the United States on charges of money laundering and illegally transferring military technology from the United States to an undisclosed foreign country. Armenian authorities say Sergei Mironov was detained on August 26 at Yerevan's Zvartnots International Airport. Armenian police said Mironov was placed on an international wanted list at the request of U.S. authorities in May 2016. Mironov is suspected by U.S. law-enforcement authorities of trying to enter into an agreement that would "breach arms export controls." Armenian authorities said the charges against Mironov also include "attempting to violate" laws controlling the export of weapons. A court in Yerevan was expected later on August 29 to rule on a U.S. request for Mironov's extradition. With reporting by RIA and Interfax Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says an Australian aid worker who had been kidnapped in Afghanistan has been freed and is "safe." Bishop said on August 29 that Katherine Jane Wilson was taken hostage in the city of Jalalabad in late April. Ataullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar Province, said Wilson had been visiting the city for a women's embroidery project when gunmen abducted her. Khogyani said she was taken from a home at which she was staying by gunmen disguised as police. Bishop, who has said Australia does not pay ransom to kidnappers, would not provide details of how Wilson was freed. "I deeply appreciate the work of the authorities in Afghanistan whose support and assistance facilitated her release," Bishop said. It was not reported exactly when Wilson -- who is a veteran aid worker -- was released. Based on reporting by AFP and dpa German prosecutors say they have charged a former member of the Iraqi government's security forces with war crimes. Federal prosecutors said on August 29 that the man, identified as 27-year-old Rami K., posted a picture on social media in which he appears holding the decapitated heads of two Islamic State (IS) fighters killed in combat. The incident occurred when he was serving in the Iraqi military during 2015, a statement said. The suspect is being charged with taking part in humiliating and degrading treatment. It was not clear when he arrived in Germany or if he was seeking asylum. The IS extremist group captured large swaths of northern and western Iraq in the summer 2014. Iraqi forces have since launched operations aimed at uprooting the militants from the areas they control. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Mohammad Nayeb-Zehi was among the hundreds of worshippers who gathered on September 30 at the Great Mosalla, a religious site in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, for Friday Prayers. Just hours later, the 16-year-old's family learned he was dead. Nayeb-Zehi was among the scores of people gunned down by security forces in a brutal crackdown following anti-government protests in Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan Province, which is home to the country's Baluch minority. "He was a simple laborer and not political," Nayeb-Zehi's brother, Ahmad, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda in a telephone interview from Zahedan, adding that his sibling had been shot in the heart. "We're in pain, and we cannot accept it." The crackdown in Zahedan came amid weeks-long nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died on September 16, days after she was detained by Iran's morality police. In Sistan-Baluchistan, public anger at the authorities escalated amid reports that a 15-year-old Baluch girl had been raped by a police official in the province's southern port city of Chabahar. The violence erupted soon after protesters gathered outside a police station near the central mosque in Zahedan. Members of the crowd chanted anti-government slogans, and some threw rocks. Security forces responded with deadly force by firing on the crowd from the station, according to witnesses. Security forces also raided the central mosque and the nearby Great Mosalla and opened fire on worshippers using live ammunition, rights groups said, adding that many were shot in the head, heart, neck, or torso, revealing a clear intent to kill or seriously wound. At least 94 people were killed and 350 wounded on that day, referred to as "Bloody Friday," according to the U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. At least 13 minors were among those killed, including Nayeb-Zehi. The victims were overwhelmingly Baluch -- a mostly Sunni ethnic group that has long faced disproportionate discrimination at the hands of the Iranian authorities. "He was martyred inside the Mosalla while holding his prayer mat," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. Nayeb-Zehi's family first visited Zahedan's Khatam al-Anbia hospital, hoping he was among the wounded. They later found his body in a seminary at the Great Mosalla. "We entered a room there and saw about 10 bodies," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. "[Mohammad] was among them." He said the authorities prevented the family from filming the scene. "I told them this has to be documented, it has to be published by international media," he said, adding that footage later emerged on social media showing the gruesome scene at the seminary. The family refused to send Nayeb-Zehi's body to the morgue. Instead, his body lay in the living room for around 24 hours before he was buried. "We said he was martyred and there was no need for an autopsy," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. The authorities accused Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group, of attacking the police station. The group is recognized as a terrorist organization by both Iran and the United States and has previously claimed deadly attacks in Sistan-Baluchistan targeting Iranian security forces. But local and independent sources have rejected the authorities' claims. The authorities have also reported a much lower number of fatalities, announcing that only 19 people, including several members of the security forces, were killed. Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi said the authorities were "rubbing salt into the wounds of the people" by claiming "terrorists" were involved. He said he witnessed a military helicopter shooting at civilians near the Great Mosalla. "I haven't even seen such scenes in Hollywood movies," he said. "A helicopter was shooting at people. A lady was shot in front of my eyes." RFE/RL could not verify his account. But activists have accused security forces of shooting at protestors from helicopters. "I don't know what the intention of this crime was," he said. "Our only demand from the establishment is for the murderers of our [family members] to be punished." The killings have led to widespread anger in Sistan-Baluchistan, one of Iran's poorest provinces. Anti-establishment protests have been reported in Zahedan since the crackdown, including on October 14 and October 21, when protesters took to the streets after Friday Prayers and chanted "Death to the dictator." During his Friday Prayers sermon on October 21, influential Sunni cleric Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi said senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were "responsible" for the September 30 killings. "We are surprised by the silence of the high-ranking officials," he said in his sermon, which was posted on his website. "Scores were killed here without any reason. I don't have the exact number. Some have reported 90, some say less, some say more," Ismaeelzahi added. He also said people will not be satisfied until "those who killed the people" are brought to justice. The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center said the events of September 30 amounted to "a massacre of protesters by security forces." "The government's total denial of responsibility for the massacring of citizens by its security apparatus is consistent with similar past denials and is evidence that internal calls for investigation of such crimes are insufficient," said the rights group, which documents human rights violations in Iran. The Islamic State (IS) militant group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing against a wedding south of Baghdad that killed at least 15 people on August 29. The attack on a Shi'ite wedding near the Shi'ite holy city of Karbala also wounded more than a dozen people. Iraqi security officials said five militants carried out the attack, but only one managed to detonate his explosives. They said the other four were killed by security forces. The IS-linked Aamaq news agency said four IS militants carried out the attack. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP The head of the Kazakh Journalists' Union and chairman of the National Press Club has been hospitalized for the second time since a trial began against him last week for on charges of embezzlement and tax evasion. Seitqazy Mataev and his son, Aset, the director of the KazTAG news agency who also is being tried on embezzlement charges, went on trial for corruption in Astana on August 23. Seitqazy Mataev felt ill on the first day of the trial and was rushed from the courtroom to a hospital. His symptoms included high blood pressure. The trial resumed on August 29. However, Mataev's lawyer Andrei Petrov said Mataev was again rushed to a hospital with extremely high blood pressure. The Mataevs were detained in February and later placed under house arrest. Both deny the charges against them, and rights groups having denounced the charges as politically motivated. With reporting by KazTAG A historic ceasefire came into effect in Colombia Monday, ending a 52-year war between the FARC rebels and the government that claimed more than 250,000 lives. The full ceasefire ordered by President Juan Manuel Santos and the head of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Timoleon Jimenez, began at midnight (0500 GMT Monday). "This August 29 a new phase of history begins for Colombia. We silenced the guns. THE WAR WITH THE FARC IS OVER!" Santos wrote on Twitter one minute after midnight. A message from the official FARC account at the same time was more restrained: "From this moment on the bilateral and definitive ceasefire begins." In a statement to reporters in Cuba, where peace talks were held, Jimenez said he had ordered all commanders and units "and each one of our combatants to definitively cease fire and hostilities against the Colombian state." Santos had issued similar orders Thursday to the Colombian military. The ceasefire is the first in which both sides are committed to a definite end to the fighting. "The ceasefire is really one more seal on the end of the conflict. It is the test of fire," said Carlos Alfonso Velazquez, a security expert at the University of La Sabana. The conflict began in 1964 with the launch of the FARC, a Marxist guerrilla group born out of a peasant uprising. It has left 260,000 dead, 45,000 missing and 6.9 million uprooted from their homes. To end the war with the FARC for good, Colombians must now vote in an October 2 referendum on the peace accord reached in Havana after nearly four years of talks. Santos said the exact question that will be put to voters in the referendum would be announced "in the coming days." "We are on the verge of perhaps the most important political decision of our lives," he said in a speech on Saturday. Opinion polls show Colombians are divided ahead of the referendum. Santos's top rival, former president Alvaro Uribe, is leading a campaign to vote "no" to the peace deal. He says a special justice system envisaged for crimes committed during the conflict would give FARC fighters impunity. Opponents question the FARC's commitment to peace. "I don't think we can believe them," said Felipe Giraldo, a 25-year-old unemployed man in Bogota. Others have a high personal stake in the vote. Adelaida Bermudez, 50, hopes it will bring home her daughter, a FARC fighter for the past nine years. "I hope we'll have peace... so the children come home," she said in Gaitania, in the central region where the FARC was born. Santos and Jimenez are due to sign the peace agreement sometime between September 20 and 30 -- possibly at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin. The end of hostilities will be followed by a six-month demobilization process. Starting Monday, the FARC's estimated 7,500 fighters will head to collection points to surrender their weapons under UN supervision. Guerrillas who refuse to demobilize and disarm "will be pursued with all the strength of the state forces," Santos told El Espectador newspaper. Before the demobilization, the FARC will convene its leaders and troops one last time before transforming into "a legal political movement," according to a statement published on Saturday. The territorial and ideological conflict has drawn in various left- and right-wing armed groups and gangs. Efforts to launch peace talks with a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), have yet to bear fruit. But with the FARC ordering a ceasefire, the conflict appears to be reaching an end. "We wish to express our clear and definite will for reconciliation," said Jimenez, known by the nom de guerre Timochenko, in Havana. "Rivalries and resentment must remain in the past. Today more than ever we regret that so much death and pain has been caused by the war. Today more than ever we wish to embrace (the military and police) as compatriots and start to work together for a new Colombia." Search Keywords: Short link: 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." Police in Kosovo say a hand grenade that exploded in a Pristina suburb was a targeted attack on the home of the head of Kosovo's state broadcaster, Radio Television Kosovo. Police said on August 29 that there were no injuries in the explosion near the home of RTK Director-General Mentor Shala. There were no immediate arrests following the August 29 attack, which took place six days after a hand grenade thrown into the courtyard of RTK's Pristina headquarters damaged the broadcaster's transmitters. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by an activist group opposed to a planned border deal with Montenegro that parliament is due to debate on September 1. Kosovo is facing its worst political crisis since it declared independence in 2008 -- with opposition groups protesting the border deal and an EU-brokered accord with Serbia that would give more autonomy to Serb-majority areas in the country. Opposition deputies have released teargas in the country's parliament several times since last October while police have used teargas to disperse violent demonstrations in Pristina. With reporting by Reuters A court in Bishkek announced on August 29 that it has sentenced a controversial opposition figure to seven years in jail on terrorism-related charges. Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court said Nurlan Motuev was found guilty on August 23 of publicly supporting terrorism and inciting ethnic, racial, and religious hatred. The 46-year-old Motuev was arrested on May 13, a day after he took part in an opposition rally in Bishkek and purportedly called for the establishment of Shari'a law in Kyrgyzstan. According to the charges against Motuev, he also expressed support for Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq during the Bishkek rally. Motuev ran for president in 2009 election but received less than one percent of the vote. Motuev had been part of various opposition groups in recent years before establishing a group in 2012 called the Patriotic Movement, which has called for the nationalization of Kyrgyzstan's mineral resources. After more than two years of war in eastern Ukraine, we continue to pretend; we continue to play make believe. We continue to pretend that what is happening in the Donbas is a civil war, when in fact it is the result of a Russian invasion. We continue to pretend that Russia is a mediator in the conflict when it is in fact the aggressor. And we continue to pretend that it is the responsibility of both sides to de-escalate the fighting, when only one side is escalating. We continue to pretend that the Minsk ceasefire deal -- which Ukraine signed practically with a gun to its head -- is anything but dead in the water. The pretending was on full display this past weekend when German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on Russia and Ukraine to observe the Minsk agreement. And the pretending will be on display next week in China when Vladimir Putin meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande -- but without Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko -- to discuss the conflict. Now the problem here isn't that everybody is delusional. In fact, everybody knows exactly what is happening here. But the problem is one of geopolitical blackmail. Russia is clearly intent on keeping this conflict simmering until it gets what it wants -- a pliant and obedient Ukraine that is essentially Moscow's client state. And it uses periodic threats of escalation to get the West to play along. And so everybody pretends. And in pretending, everybody plays the Kremlin's game. Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page. KYIV -- Thirteen civilians who were allegedly held incommunicado, interrogated, and tortured after being rounded up abduction-style have been released from a secret jail run by Ukraines domestic security service, two prominent human rights groups say. In a letter to Ukraines chief military prosecutor, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) said 12 men and one woman who had been held at a detention facility in the eastern city of Kharkiv were set free by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on July 25 and August 2. At least five people were still being held in secret detention at the Kharkiv facility, according to the rights groups letter, which was dated August 23 and made public on August 29. Some of those who were released had been held for weeks, others for months. The SBU, which has said it has no secret jails, did not respond to RFE/RLs requests for comment. The SBU has denied the existence of the secret prison in Kharkiv and the use of the practice of secret detention, both in public and in our private meetings with them, Krasimir Yankov, a Kyiv-based researcher for Amnesty International, told RFE/RL. In their letter, Amnesty International and HRW said the SBUs continued denial of enforced disappearances and secret detentions fosters a climate of lawlessness and perpetuates impunity for grave human rights violations. They called on the office of the chief military prosecutor, Anatoly Matios, to take immediate steps to secure the release of those who remain in custody and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The recent releases, which Amnesty and HRW learned of through interviews with five of the freed individuals, followed the groups joint report on July 21 that accused Ukrainian authorities and pro-Kyiv militias of rounding up and abusing civilians suspected of supporting or having connections with Russia-backed separatists. Besides the Kharkiv site, the report said detainees were held in secret SBU jails in the government-controlled eastern cities of Kramatorsk, Izyum, and Mariupol. It also alleged that the Russia-backed separatists imprisoned civilians suspected of backing or spying for the Ukrainian government. Separatist leaders in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk have called the allegations absurd. The report detailed 18 alleged cases of arbitrary, prolonged detentions by both sides during the conflict, which has killed more than 9,500 civilians and combatants since April 2014. Fighting persists despite a February 2015 cease-fire deal signed by Ukraine, Russia, and the separatists, and little progress has been made on political steps to resolve the conflict. International humanitarian law acknowledges that during times of armed conflict there may be security grounds for temporary detention of civilians, but arbitrary detention is always prohibited, and parties to an armed conflict are required to ensure a legal basis and framework as well as basic safeguards for the detention of civilians, Yankov said. Allegations of torture by the SBU at secret jails were first raised by a group of United Nations (UN) inspectors in March. In May, UN efforts to gain access to the facilities were thwarted by the SBU. Because Ukraine is a party to the United Nations Convention Against Torture and the Optional Protocol to that agreement, UN inspectors should be able to make unannounced visits to any detention center. Detained, Tortured, Discarded Amnesty and HRW said that SBU officials in Kharkiv freed six detainees on July 25, and seven more on August 2. At least five remain at the secret detention facility there, they added. The groups interviewed five of the freed detainees who said SBU officials covered their heads with black bags, drove them out of Kharkiv in the back of an armored minivan, and left them on the side of the road on the outskirts of Kramatorsk and Druzhkyvka, in Donetsk Province. The two cities are under government control but are close to the front lines of the conflict. Before letting them go, their captors returned their passports and gave them about $2-$5 for transportation costs, the rights groups said. One man was without a passport because he did not have it when he was detained. The captors warned the detainees to keep silent about their secret detention and threatened them with severe repercussions if they spoke out. But three of them have given detailed testimony to Amnesty and HRW. Viktor Ashykhin, 59, told Amnesty and HRW that he was abducted from his home in Ukrayinsk, in Donetsk Province, on December 7, 2014. One of them went through my computer. The others found my phone and badge from the [May 11, 2014 separatist] referendum, [which] I had kept. Then, without giving any explanation or producing any papers, they put a black plastic bag over my head, tightened it with scotch tape at eye level, and led me outside into a white VW van, he said. The men warned his wife not to contact any authorities for the next two days or else they would harm him. Ashykhin said his captors took him to an SBU facility in Kramatorsk, where he was tortured and forced to confess to being an informant for armed separatists. Four days later, Ashykhin was transferred to the Kharkiv facility, where remained until his release on July 25. Mykola Vakaruk, 34, said he was taken from his home in Ukrayinsk by unidentified armed servicemen in face masks on December 9, 2014 and brought to a facility in the city of Chervonoarmyisk, which has since been renamed Pokrovsk. There, he said, interrogators wearing insignia of Ukraines Dnipro-1 and Donbas battalions beat and kicked him for six hours while he was handcuffed before forcing him to confess to being a separatist spy. They were doing it in pairs: when two men got tired from kicking me, another two replaced them, Vakaruk told Amnesty and HRW. At some point they said, Do you hear this? Would you want your wife to be next in line? he added. On December 11, Vakaruk was transferred to the SBU facility in Kramatorsk and four days later to the Kharkiv site. In October 2015, he said, he developed a serious kidney problem and his captors took him to a Hospital in Kharkiv. While registered under the false name of Serhiy Ivanov, surgeons removed one of his kidneys. He said he was kept him in intensive care for 10 days before being moved to another room for an additional 20 days. There, he was handcuffed to a bed and supervised by a guard watching around the clock. On November 27, Vakaruk said, SBU officials returned him to the Kharkiv site, where he stayed until July 25, when he was set free along with Ashykhin and four others. Dmytro Korolyov, 37, was a policeman in the city of Zaporizhzhya who joined separatists in Donetsk in early June 2014 but returned home weeks later. He was arrested in January 2015 and given a five-year suspended sentence for organizing an "unlawful armed group." He was transferred to a detention facility in the city of Dnipro until the verdict came info force. He said that on August 3, 2015, with his release papers in hand after walking free, he was abducted by SBU officials and taken to the Kharkiv site. Korolyov told Amnesty and HRW he thought he was going to be part of a prisoner exchange. Instead, his captors took him to the Kharkiv site, where he remained until his release on August 2. In their letter, Amnesty and HRW said Ashykhin, Korolyov, and Vakaruk were invited by the police in their respective hometowns to file reports about their forced disappearances. But police merely wrote in reports that they were no longer missing and closed the missing person cases on each of them. The police did not open investigations and did not encourage them to file complaints, according to Amnesty and HRW. Amnesty and HRW said a Russian national named Vladimir Bezobrazov was among at least five people held in secret detention in Kharkiv at the time the letter was written. We call on the Ukrainian authorities to commit to an independent and transparent investigation of the information provided in our report and to deliver justice to the victims of these egregious violations, Yankov said. ON MY MIND There are facts. And then there are facts on the ground. Form recently released telephone intercepts, we learned the extent to which Russia orchestrated and manufactured the social unrest that preceded the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. Almost everybody figured out pretty quickly that Moscow's claims that Ukraine had sent agents to Crimea to carry out terrorist acts were pure fiction. We've known for a long time that Russia is deeply involved in the fighting in the Donbas, despite Moscow's denials. In short, we know a lot about how the war in eastern Ukraine happened and why it happened. And when the historians sort this all out, the record should be pretty clear. But then there are the facts on the ground. And the most important fact on the ground is that Russia is intent on destabilizing Ukraine until it wears everybody down. It is intent on keeping the war in the Donbas simmering with implicit threats of escalation. And it is working. In some Western capitals, despite everything we know, there is a renewed push to accommodate the Kremlin in order to make this war go away and get back to business as usual with Moscow. We know the facts. But in terms of policy here and now, they don't really matter because of the facts on the ground. IN THE NEWS The foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Poland have called for a fresh international effort to end fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a directive lifting a nine-month ban on charter flights to Turkey. Aleksandr Shchetinin, a Kyiv-based Russian journalist who founded the Novy Region news agency, has been found dead at his apartment. Ukrainian police said they suspect Shchetinin's death was a suicide. Russia's emergency services said a fire broke out at a warehouse in Moscow on August 27, killing 14 migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan and three others. Vladimir Putin has fired two top generals from the Investigative Committee The ruling United Russia party has launched a telephone campaign in advance of the September 18 elections. LATEST POWER VERTICAL PODCAST On the latest Power Vertical Podcast, The Tale of the Tape, we discuss the recent telephone intercepts released by Ukrainian prosecutors depicting Kremlin aide Sergei Glazyev orchestrating unrest in eastern Ukraine. WHAT I'M READING Drugs, Guns, And Identities Meduza has a piece looking at the Russian "dark web," where it is possible to buy drugs, weapons, and stolen identities. "The usual search engines dont index a considerable part of the Internet. But its not hard to get to the shadowy area: just install the Tor browser, which allows users to remain anonymous, and know a few important addresses," the author, Daniil Turovsky, writes. "With this, you can solve a variety of 'problems' -- from obtaining forged documents to buying an anti-tank missile system. For some people, using the so-called "Deep Web" is a matter of ideological principle. For others, its a technical necessity when breaking the law to avoid publicity." The False Story Weapon Neil MacFarquhar of The New York Times has a strong piece on how Russia uses false news stories spread on social media to advance its interests. "With a vigorous national debate underway on whether Sweden should enter a military partnership with NATO, officials in Stockholm suddenly encountered an unsettling problem: a flood of distorted and outright false information on social media, confusing public perceptions of the issue," MacFarquhar writes. "The claims were alarming: If Sweden, a non-NATO member, signed the deal, the alliance would stockpile secret nuclear weapons on Swedish soil; NATO could attack Russia from Sweden without government approval; NATO soldiers, immune from prosecution, could rape Swedish women without fear of criminal charges.They were all false, but the disinformation had begun spilling into the traditional news media." How Putin Decides Moscow-based political analyst Nikolai Petrov has a new piece in Vedomosti looking at how personnel decisions are now made in the Kremlin. "The personal participation of the president in personnel decisions doesnt mean one-man rule and his absolute independence in making these decisions," Petrov writes, adding that decisions are "the result of a struggle in the apparatus and competition of various groups within the elite." Petrov adds that Putin spends a lot of time thinking about major personnel changes in advance and "tests the reaction to possible appointments on various people from his entourage." With Friends Like There... Bloomberg has an interesting report on how China is stepping up its cyberattacks against Russia. An Average Joe Spy? The Daily Beast tells the story of Gregory Allen Justice, a Boeing employee accused of trying to sell U.S. secrets to Russia. Putin And The Ayatollah David Patrikarakos, author of Nuclear Iran: The Birth Of An Atomic State, has an op-ed in The Moscow Times on the growing "bromance" between Putin and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Putin Through An Old Colleague's Eyes Ukraine's Gordon News Agency has an interview with Yury Shvets, a former KGB colleague of Vladimir Putin. Shvets describes Putin as a man of average competence who has skilfully used television to boost his image, but who may end up destroying Russia. Russia And The West Defense News has a piece arguing that a new Russian partnership with the West is not in the cards. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Turkmenistan has agreed to discuss the possibility of giving foreign diplomats access to its prisons. Merkel was speaking on August 29 at a joint news conference with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov in Berlin. "We talked about the fact that it would be desirable having diplomats get access to the prisons in Turkmenistan," she said. "President [Berdymukhammedov] promised that the [German and Turkmen] foreign ministers will talk about [the issue] now and that international diplomats will later be able to have a look there and assess the situation." International rights group Human Rights Watch has called on Berlin to challenge the Turkmen leader to end its secretive imprisonment of political opponents, free jailed RFE/RL journalist Saparmamed Nepeskuliev, and eliminate arbitrary bans on people leaving the country. In a statement on August 25, the New York-based rights monitor called on Merkel "to stand up for those in Turkmenistan who cannot engage their own government" during her talks with Berdymukhammedov. Human Rights Watch said in the statement that Nepeskuliev, a freelance correspondent for RFE/RL's Turkmen Service, had been tried and imprisoned "on bogus drug charges." It also said that Turkmenistan's government "forced three other Radio Liberty correspondents to cease working for the service." Berdymukhammedov said after his talks with Merkel that Turkmenistan was working on reforming its constitution and will introduce a human rights ombudsman. The Turkmen leader also said his country, which has some of the world's largest natural gas reserves, is discussing diversifying its gas exports and selling gas to European Union countries. Ashgabat has already presented the European Commission with proposals for how to proceed, he added. Merkel and Berdymukhammedov last met in Berlin in 2008 when the Turkmen leader was visiting Germany and Austria. Germany is Turkmenistan's principal foreign trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade worth $466 million in 2014, the most recent figure available. Much of the trade focuses on Germany exporting machinery and other industrial products to Turkmenistan, Berlin's third-largest trade partner in the region after Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Ukrainian Defense Ministry has cut ties with a photographer who served as a ministry adviser amid controversy over the authenticity of photographs purportedly showing combat scenes in eastern Ukraine. Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said on August 28 that he made the decision to release photographer Dmytro Muravskiy from his position as a ministry advisor "due to the ongoing debates about photographs" taken by him. Poltorak said all of the photos in question had been taken by Muravskiy before his appointment to the post. Poltorak said the ministry never used them or presented them to media as legitimate scenes of real military operations. Earlier in August, a group of Ukrainian photojournalists raised concerns about a photo by Muravskiy, which depicted Ukrainian soldiers in the country's east fighting against Russia-backed separatists. The photojournalists claimed the photo was staged and accused the Defense Ministry of using fake photos as part of an information campaign against the Kremlin. Muravskiy insists that he has never staged any photos of combat in eastern Ukraine. Based on reporting by UNIAN and Interfax The United States said it would welcome its 10,000th Syrian refugee of this fiscal year on Monday, meeting a controversial target more than a month ahead of schedule. The United States has traditionally been by far the world's most generous host for refugees but has been criticized by activists for moving too slowly to respond to the Syrian crisis, which has dragged on for more than five years. President Barack Obama's opponents, including Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, meanwhile warn that Islamic State group extremists could infiltrate the refugee ranks to gain entry to the United States. "Our 10,000th Syrian refugee will arrive this afternoon," National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement, adding that the administration had met the goal "more than a month ahead of schedule." Rice said the number represented a "six-fold increase from the prior year," and called it "a meaningful step that we hope to build upon." She noted that refugee admissions represented only "a small part of our broader humanitarian efforts in Syria and the region." "On behalf of the president and his administration, I extend the warmest of welcomes to each and every one of our Syrian arrivals, as well as the many other refugees resettled this year from all over the world." Frontline states like Lebanon and Jordan have been all but overwhelmed by Syrian refugees, with each home to hundreds of thousands of them, and the arrival of streams of unvetted migrants on Europe's shores provoked a crisis. The Syrian refugees admitted to the United States are chosen from United Nations camps and then vetted by US security and intelligence agencies. They are classified as "vulnerable," such as widows, the elderly and disabled. Overall, the United States will admit at least 85,000 refugees over the year, Rice said, mentioning that others would come from countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Myanmar and Somalia. Search Keywords: Short link: Scores of Roma have fled from a southern Ukrainian village after residents torched one Romany home and demanded authorities evict all Romany families from the area following the killing of a 9-year-old girl. Amid soaring tensions, residents and local officials said they would provide a safe corridor on August 29 for Romany families to leave the village of Loshchynivka, near Odesa. However, the eviction operation was called off after some 40 of the villages total population of 50 Roma left on their own overnight, carrying only essential items and leaving most of their belongings behind. The expulsion threat came after scores of villagers attacked Roma homes following the killing and suspected rape of the girl, who was not from the Romany community. Only two Romany families remained in the village on August 29 -- one of them the family of the suspected attacker, a 21-year-old Romany man who has not been publicly identified and who denies any guilt. The outbreak of communal violence underscores the tense conditions under which many Roma in Ukraine continue to live at the margins of Ukrainian society. In Loshchynivka, as in many other places in Ukraine where Roma are present, the Roma live in rented and often dilapidated buildings on the outskirts of town and are largely mistrusted and feared by members of other ethnic groups. Tensions exploded in Loshchynivka after the girls body was found in an empty and ruined building on August 27. The Odesa Regional Police Department said that she had stab wounds in the chest, that she probably died of injuries to her heart and lungs, and that there were signs of rape. According to police, on August 28 an angry mob of residents surrounded the six homes inhabited by the villages Romany minority, kicking down fences and shouting for all Roma to leave the village immediately. One house was set on fire. Several hundred village residents also held a rally to demand authorities force the Roma out if they were unwilling to leave. The local district council subsequently held an emergency meeting and voted to support the residents demand. Yuriy Shishmash, the deputy of Izmayil district council, said on August 28 that the Roma would get safe passage out of town early the next morning so that they could remove themselves and their belongings. He also said, We ask everyone to refrain from any kind of actions against them." The head of the district council, Valentina Stoykova, told reporters on August 28 that the Roma had agreed to be evacuated because they understand they cannot live here. As police were dispatched from Odesa to maintain order in Loshchynivka, Odesa Governor Mikheil Saakashvili said in a video message on Facebook that he shared the outrage of all residents of the village. Without making any reference to Roma, he said that "antisocial elements" were involved in "massive drug dealing in Loshchinovka and that the killer had been detained and would be punished. With just two Romany families remaining on August 29, police announced the evacuation operation had been canceled. The Roma reportedly relocated to the nearby town of Izmayil. Human rights group in Ukraine called the events in Loshchynivka an example of mob justice. You cannot project your hatred related to actions of an individual whom you consider a criminal against everyone else. There is no such thing as collective responsibility, Yevhen Zakharov of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union told RFE/RL on August 28. Generally speaking, a decision to evict an entire community is illegal. In Ukraines last census, in 2001, some 47,000 citizens identified themselves as Roma. However, unofficial estimates are much higher, with the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) putting the number of Roma in Ukraine at 120,000 to 400,000. The Budapest-based ERRC says that many Roma in Ukraine do not have basic identity documents and that they face discrimination in housing and access to education and employment. RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL correspondent Merhat Sharipzhan contributed to this story Uzbek President Islam Karimov, whose recent hospitalization for an undisclosed illness has been shrouded in mystery, is being treated in an intensive care unit after suffering a "brain hemorrhage," according to a statement posted on his younger daughter's verified Instagram account. "At the moment it is too early to make any predictions about his future health," read the August 29 post on Lola Tillyaeva-Karimova's Instagram account. The post, written in Russian, Uzbek, and English, said President Karimov was admitted to the hospital on August 28, and that his "condition is considered stable." The post called for people to "refrain from speculation" and respect the Karimov family's privacy. The post was accompanied by a photograph, dated March 2014, featuring Karimov and his wife, Tatyana Karimova, along with Tillyaeva-Karimova, her husband, and their two children. Tillyaeva-Karimova, Uzbekistan's Ambassador to UNESCO, is the Uzbek president's second daughter. Karimov's elder daughter, Gulnara -- a prominent socialite and businesswoman once seen as a potential successor to her father as president -- has not appeared in public since 2014 amid reports that she had been placed under house arrest in Uzbekistan amid a corruption scandal. The update on President Karimov's condition comes a day after the Uzbek government announced in a rare statement that the 78-year-old president had been hospitalized. The statement didn't disclose the nature of Karimov's illness, saying only that "in the opinion of the specialists, a full medical examination and subsequent treatment will require a certain amount of time." Karimov, a former Communist Party boss who is seen as a strong-arm leader, has ruled Uzbekistan since 1989. According to the Uzbek Constitution, should the president of the country become unable to perform his duties, the head of the upper chamber of parliament, the Senate, would assume the president's authority for a period of three months. It is not clear who is currently leading Uzbekistan. No public comments have come from Senate Chairman Nigmatulla Yuldashev, who has led the upper house of parliament since January 2015. News of Karimov's illness has sparked speculation about possible successors to lead Central Asia's most populous country. Karimov's handpicked prime minister, Shavkat Mirziyaev, who has held his post since 2003, is seen as one candidate, as are Finance Minister Rustam Azimov and National Security Committee head Rustam Inoyatov. Written by Farangis Najibullah with reporting by AFP and AP Uzbekistan is on edge after learning that Uzbek President Islam Karimov, 78, has been hospitalized after suffering what an August 29 post on his younger daughters Instagram account said was a cerebral hemorrhage -- bleeding in the brain. In Uzbekistan, and in the rest of Central Asia and beyond, many now wonder what happens if Karimov dies or is no longer able to perform the functions of president. Who would, or could, replace the only leader the country has had since it became independent in the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991? Uzbekistans constitution says that if the president is unable to perform his duties, the head of the upper chamber of parliament -- now the little-known Nigmatulla Yuldashev -- assumes the president's authority for a period of three months. For the longer term, the list of favorites is short: It includes three people. Many believe the heir apparent is Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev, 58, who has headed the government since 2003. He hails from Jizzakh Province, which is adjacent to Karimovs native Samarkand Province, and has the backing of the Jizzakh and presumably the Samarkand clans. It could be significant that the only official statement on Karimovs hospitalization came from the Cabinet of Ministers, which Mirziyaev heads. Clans will play an important role in the succession process. Karimov, who has ruled with an iron hand and tolerated little dissent, has been a master at maneuvering among the various clans in Uzbekistan and playing them off one another. Some critics have characterized Mirziyaev in no uncertain terms, describing him as a thug who is short on reason and quick to aggression. During his tenure as governor of Jizzakh Province (1996-2001), he was reported to have physically assaulted at least one farmer who dared complain about conditions in the province. His successor, Ubaidulla Yamankulov, was eventually taken away in handcuffs, by helicopter, after numerous reports of him beating constituents and allegations that he headed a local hit squad. Mirziyaev surely knew Yamankulov well. Among Uzbekistans top officials, Mirziyaev is seen as a fist not a brain. That might not stop him from becoming president, but some observers say that if he does, his government could be more repressive than that of the widely criticized Karimov. It is worth noting that Uzbekistan has been tinkering with its constitution during the last five years. On paper, at least, some amendments have increased the powers of the prime minister. That could be a good sign for Mirziyaev, or even an endorsement. But the Samarkand clan fell slightly out of favor in the late 1990s due the actions of the clan boss, Ismail Jurabekov. Jurabekov was instrumental in Karimovs rise through the ranks of the Communist Party in the 1980s and was rewarded with government posts and prized business ownerships during the 1990s. But Jurabekov was far too powerful and was rumored to have been behind bombings in Tashkent in February 1999, not long after he had been sacked from his post as agriculture minister and ordered to go on pension. Jurabekov was back in the government shortly after the bombings and remained until 2004, but Karimovs ties to his native Samarkand clan were shaken. It is unclear how much those ties have been repaired, despite Jurabekov leaving politics and the public eye long ago. Another favorite to take Karimovs place is Finance Minister Rustam Azimov, 56. Azimov is from the Tashkent area and the Tashkent clan. He has been in the national government since 1998, always in a post connected to finance. Azimov is seen as more sophisticated than Mirziyaev, and he has more experience dealing with the outside world. In the first years after independence, Azimov, as head of Uzbekistans National Bank for Foreign Activities, was the countrys point man dealing with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A third, less likely potential candidate to take the reins is the chief of the National Security Committee (SNB), Rustam Inoyatov, 72. Inoyatov is one of the most powerful people in Uzbekistan, having served as SNB chief since 1995. He is from the Tashkent clan. Many suspect he has played the role of grey cardinal in recent years as Karimovs health has deteriorated. Many also suspect it was Inoyatov who was behind the campaign to bring down Karimovs elder daughter Gulnara, who was once a globetrotting businesswoman but has not appeared in public since 2014, when she was reportedly placed under house arrest after her name was connected to a corruption scandal involving international telecommunications companies. Inoyatovs age is likely to head off any serious consideration that he would become president, though it does not rule out a transitional role. Inoyatov is seen as a kingmaker, not a king. There is only one known photograph of him from the last 10 years -- a picture taken when he was in China to meet with security officials. He clearly does not want to be seen in public. But without his support it would be nearly impossible for anyone to become the next president of Uzbekistan or be able to rule the country without hindrances. Some reports suggest Inoyatov is on good terms with Mirziyaev and might support the latter as Uzbekistans next president. It should be noted that Inoyatov really solidified his power after Jurabekov was finally removed from politics, so the SNB chief must know something about the Samarkand clans weaknesses. It would be logical to believe Inoyatov would throw his support behind Azimov. They are both from the Tashkent clan. But balancing clans is a tricky business and so far the system has been kept in check with a president from Samarkand and influential officials from Tashkent. Azimov might be passed over to keep the peace. RFE/RLs Uzbek Service contributed to this report 15 Health workers administer polio vaccinations during a three-day vaccination campaign in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan is one of the last two countries, along with Afghanistan, where polio is still endemic. Though new polio cases dropped to a nine-year low in 2015, attacks by Islamist militants against health workers and police guarding them remain a challenge for the UN-funded vaccination campaign. (epa/Rehan Khan) Two veiled women who were told by a French restaurateur that all Muslims are terrorists then forced to leave the restaurant complained to authorities Monday, an anti-Islamophobia campaign group said. The Collective against Islamophobia in France (CCIF), which is supporting the women, said that the incident represented a "racist shift" in French society as prosecutors opened an investigation into possible "religious discrimination". The encounter at Le Cenacle restaurant in Tremblay-en-France outside Paris was filmed by one of the two women and posted online and shows the other saying: "We don't want to be served by racists." The man in the smartphone clip responds that "racists like me don't plant bombs and don't kill people". He added that "terrorists are Muslim and all Muslims are terrorists. I don't want people like you in my place. Now you know it you can get out". The restaurateur later apologised to the "entire Muslim community" for his actions as calls to boycott his establishment flooded social media sites alongside negative reviews. The CCIF said in a statement that it intends to pursue a civil claim against the man and would press for "exemplary damages" to end the "impunity of Islamophobic violence and discrimination". It also accused the government and France's political class of being responsible for creating a climate in which such incidents can occur. The row comes as a debate about the wearing of the burkini reached fever pitch. Around 30 towns have banned the burkini from their beaches, with some mayors linking the bans to the massacre of 84 people in the southern French town of Nice last month. It was on Nice's famous seafront promenade that a jihadist ploughed a 19-tonne truck into a massive crowd celebrating Bastille Day on July 14, killing the 84 and wounding more than 400 other people. Sone town mayors have vowed to maintain their burkini ban despite a ruling by France's highest administrative court that the prohibitions are unconstitutional. Search Keywords: Short link: Petersburg police are investigating after a man was shot to death early Monday. Police were called shortly after 1:30 a.m. to the area of High Pearl and St. Mark streets, where officers found William C. Elmore Jr., 19, suffering from gunshot wounds. Elmore was taken to Southside Regional Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wounds, police said. The shooting apparently stemmed from an argument, police said. Pfc. Anthony John Pepper, a Marine from Chesterfield County, was 20 years old in April 1968 when he was killed in the Battle of Khe Sanh. In a letter that reached his family days before he died, Pepper wrote that he had less than five months to go in Vietnam. Charlie wont get me now, he wrote, making a reference to enemy forces. Pepper, who graduated from Thomas Dale High School in 1966, was reported missing April 6. His status was changed to killed in action on Oct. 15, according to a report in the Richmond Times-Dispatch at the time. His body was never found. Now, thanks to the help of a Marine veteran who may have been the last American to see Peppers body, military crews are searching in a remote area of Vietnam for his remains and the remains of Cpl. James Mitchell Trimble, 19. With everything that has happened, were just due a miracle, said Carrie Pepper, who was 13 when her brother was killed. I dont know if itll happen, but I think the fact that theyre even looking at this point is pretty miraculous. Carrie Pepper lives in California now. Her parents and another sister have died. The last memory she has of Pepper is running into his arms at his boot camp graduation. She said he smiled, held out his arms, lifted her and swung her around. When I think about it, when I really let myself think about it, and think about my brother laying over there and just left behind all this time. Its just so sad, she said. *** The search for Pepper and Trimble is being conducted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The agency currently is in Vietnam excavating where Ed Zimmerman, then a 19-year-old Marine working on a recovery mission after the battle, said he last saw their bodies. Zimmerman saw the two dead men as he came up a ridgeline. He touched them and turned them over to look for weapons, but he let them go because they were decomposing and in bad shape. He never said a word about what he saw and believed that someone else would recover the bodies. It wasnt until about 40 years later that Zimmerman saw an item online and realized the two Marines had never been found. I never knew it, Zimmerman said last week. I assumed everyone was recovered. I had absolutely no idea that two guys were missing. The discovery sent Zimmerman on a mission to help find the missing men and bring closure to the families. His efforts began with repeated letters to the military and, over several years, included official interrogations and two trips to Vietnam to try to identify the spot where he had last seen his fellow Marines. Zimmerman said what drove him, despite repeated frustrations, was a desire to make things right. He felt guilty that two men had been left behind, but finding a way to remedy the situation would help him and the families heal. They had a promise to bring us home and that every effort would be made to do that, he said. Right now, thats taking place. As a veteran and being so intimately involved in this, I couldnt ask for anything more. Khe Sanh is in the Quang Tri province near Vietnams border with Laos. The World History Group, which publishes magazines dedicated to the study of history, said the battle of Khe Sanh was the longest, deadliest and most controversial of the Vietnam War. Zimmerman remembers the battle as a nightmare. Thats the only way I could explain it, he said. It was grueling. Months on one C ration a day, incoming (fire), unbelievable. We stuck together, and thats what it was all about. It was about surviving. Officially, 205 Marines were killed in action and more than 1,600 were wounded. The military estimated at the time that 10,000 to 15,000 North Vietnamese were killed, according to History.com. *** According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, recovery missions involve about 95 U.S. personnel and their Vietnamese counterparts. Teams work on investigations and excavations for about 30 days, and remains believed to be of Americans are sent to the agencys Central Identification Lab in Hawaii for examination by forensic anthropologists. The agency reports on its website that of the 1,261 Americans still missing in Vietnam, 477 are considered non-recoverable. That means investigators have found conclusive evidence the individual perished but do not believe it possible to recover his remains. New leads, as with Peppers case, can lead to an investigation being reopened. Peppers name is etched on the wall of the Shrine of Memory in the Vietnam section at the Virginia War Memorial. His name also is among a list of combatants missing in action that hangs over the staircase leading to the lower level in the Grand Lobby. If his remains are found, according to the War Memorial, a star will be placed next to his name on this list. Pepper will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Northern Virginia. Im very confident the Almighty is involved in this thing, Zimmerman said. I feel confident that something will show up. Williamsburg police are looking for a Newport News man in connection with a shooting over the weekend across the street from the College of William & Mary. John Lee Johnson, 22, is facing charges of maiming, reckless discharge of a firearm, shooting into an occupied dwelling and brandishing, police said Monday. The shooting happened about 12:45 a.m. Saturday outside the Crust restaurant at 249 Richmond Road following an altercation between two groups inside the pizzeria and bar police said. The resturant is across the street from the college's campus and just blocks away from the Merchants Square shopping area. About 1,100 students live within 1,000 feet of the shooting site, according to a report in The Flat Hat, the college's student newspaper. Representatives from Saudi Telecom and Lebara KSA are in Egypt this week to discuss the possibility of obtaining a fourth-generation mobile phone licence, an official from Egypt's telecommunications ministry said on Monday. "Officials from Saudi Telecom are looking into investment opportunities in the telecommunication sector in Egypt, especially the 4G mobile services. They will complete their discussions with the Minister of Communication and the National Telecom Regulatory Authority today," the official told Reuters. Egypt's telecom minister will also hold talks today with the chairman of Lebara KSA, which was among several companies to express an interest in acquiring a 4G license, the official said. Saudi Telecom and Lebara KSA were not immediately available for comment. Egypt is giving companies that already operate in the country of 90 million priority in obtaining 4G licences but has said it would launch an international tender should any of the operators decline the offer. It offered 4G licences in June to the state's fixed-line monopoly Telecom Egypt and the country's three existing mobile service providers - Orange Egypt, Vodafone Egypt and Etisalat Egypt. Only Telecom Egypt, which has long been keen to enter the mobile phone market, has accepted the terms so far. The regulator revised its offer to the mobile operators after they expressed concerns that the frequencies on offer were too limited and has given them until Sept. 22 to give their response. The government, which is grappling with a shortage of hard currency as economic and political turmoil in recent years has deterred foreign investment, has said it hopes to raise 22.3 billion Egyptian pounds ($2.5 bln) in total in licence fees. Search Keywords: Short link: For the past 20 years, I have been honored to serve the 24th Senate District in the Virginia legislature. The district which includes all or parts of Culpeper, Madison, Rockingham, Augusta and Greene counties, and the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro offers some of the most beautiful landscapes and productive farmland in the commonwealth and a bounty of recreational and cultural destinations. Our farms and towns are located near the spectacular headwaters of the Shenandoah and James rivers, which feed the Chesapeake Bay. This past June, I was pleased to recognize the first annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week on a farm in Augusta County. The Chesapeake Bay Commission, of which I am a member, championed setting the second week of June for Bay Awareness to bring attention to the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to Virginias economy and quality of life and to tell the stories of the many private and public organizations and individuals taking steps to reduce pollution. We chose a farm to celebrate this first Awareness Week to tell the story of farmers working with their local Soil and Water Conservation District to fence livestock from Virginias creeks and streams. Fencing streams and providing alternative sources of drinking water for livestock results in healthier and cleaner animals. It is also very important for the health of the Bay. Animal waste from dairy and beef cattle in our waterways can flow directly into the Chesapeake Bay. The animals can also trample stream banks and river bottoms and destroy natural vegetation. This becomes a source of sediment, nutrient and bacterial pollution to the Bay. A Virginia livestock stream exclusion program employs incentives rather than regulation to work with farmers through cost sharing and technical assistance. In the past two years, farmers sought assistance to exclude 127,000 animal units (each unit is equivalent to one 1,000-pound animal) from streams with 10 million feet of fence. The legislature has supported farmers efforts by dedicating more than $60 million during the 2016 session for construction of livestock stream exclusion projects, as well as other farm best management practices and for assistance from technical experts. This program is achieving results. Working together on livestock stream exclusion, local farmers, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Department of Conservation and Recreation are generating positive results for water quality, including a 34 percent reduction in the amount of nitrogen pollution flowing to the Bay from Virginia farmland. Farmers are making a difference in the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Joining farmers are the many locally managed wastewater treatment facilities. Multiple plants, from Waynesboro to Onancock, have installed advanced treatment technologies, significantly cutting their nutrient inputs to the Bay. Together, the agricultural community and wastewater management agencies, with support from the commonwealth, have reduced nitrogen and phosphorus pollution by more than 10 million pounds and 2 million pounds, respectively, since 2009, and Virginia is on track to achieve 60 percent of its pollution reduction goals by next year. The Bay is responding with healthier waters, more blue crabs and rebounding underwater grasses. We should be pleased to the point of excitement but not complacency. While we have achieved significant pollution reductions from wastewater and agriculture over the last six years, Bay nitrogen pollution from stormwater thats polluted runoff from our cities, towns and suburbs has increased by more than a million pounds. As our commonwealth has grown, our homes, businesses and communities have been designed to shed water from rain or melted snow off our roads, driveways, parking lots and rooftops and into our local streams and creeks and the Bay. Untreated, this runoff delivers with it nutrients, soil, trash, bacteria, oil and grease and other chemical pollutants. Experts note stormwater runoff is the No. 1 cause of impaired streams in urban areas. Communities across Virginia are taking steps to reverse the impacts of past development and redesign new development in ways that will protect water quality. The legislature established the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund to partner with local governments installing practices to reduce polluted runoff. Tackling stormwater runoff from cities and suburbs to ensure that we meet Virginias commitment to restore the Chesapeake Bay by 2025 and providing critical public funding must be a priority for the commonwealth. By improving water quality, we make our animal industry healthier, our cities cleaner and our local economies wealthier. I am confident that Virginia can lead the way in restoring the Chesapeake Bay. But we cannot do it alone. We must share our successes with our neighboring states, and look to them for inspiration and ideas as well. We must continue to work as a team. Cleaning the Chesapeake Bay is a watershed-wide effort, and it will succeed only if we all pull together. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The state statistics body shows a decline of 60 percent in Russian tourists coming to Egypt Tourist numbers in Egypt have dropped by 41.9 percent in July compared with the same month last year, the state's official statistics authority announced on Monday. About 529,000 tourists arrived in Egypt in July 2016 versus 912,000 in July 2015, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) stated. The decline was mostly attributed to the 60 percent drop in the Russian tourists visiting Egypt, according to CAPMAS. Russia was among several countries to suspend passenger flights to Egypt last year. The decision, which was prompted by security concerns, came after a Russian plane carrying 224 people crashed in Sinai after taking off from Sharm El-Sheikh airport. All those on board were killed in the crash, which Islamist militants said they caused by planting a bomb on board. Britain suspended its flights to Sharm El-Sheikh after the crash, resulting in a 17.5 percent drop in British tourists in July this year. German and Polish tourists dropped by 10.4 percent and 3.8 percent respectively; both countries suspended flights to Sharm. Egypt did however see an increase in tourism from Arab countries, with 233,000 tourists in July 2016 compared to 182,000 visitors during the same month last year, marking a 28.1 percent increase. The downing of the Russian flight was a blow to Egypt's already ailing tourism industry. The number of tourists coming to Egypt dropped by 50 percent in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year, according to Egypt's Tourism Authority. Receipts from the tourism industry are expected to range between $4 billion to $4.5 billion by end of the current year, Finance Minister Amr El-Garhy said in July. Total tourism revenues in 2015 registered $6.1 billion. A Russian delegation of experts is expected to arrive in Cairo this week to inspect security measures at Egyptian airports amid expectation of a resumption of Russian commercial flights to Egypt in October. Turkey announced that flights to Sharm El-Sheikh would be resumed in September. Poland and Germany have both since lifted their restrictions on direct flights to the airport. Search Keywords: Short link: Roanoke Times printer ink is in my DNA. It goes back to a part-time job with the newspaper during my senior year in high school in 1954. A Fleming wrestling buddy, Sonny, helped me get a job in the mail room working from 11 Saturday night to 4 the following morning, helping to get the Sunday edition of the paper shipped out. The mail room was run by Mr. Lugar, an all-business pro, assisted by a few full-time employees. Sonny and I were part of a crew of teenage boys hired for 75 cents an hour to do the menial work: handling the newspapers coming upstairs on a conveyor belt, inserting a copy of Parade Magazine into each newspaper, and getting the stuffed papers to the pros for shipment. Leo pulled papers from the continuously running conveyor and stacked them on an adjacent table for Sonny and I to carry 30 feet to a wall and stack for the Parade stuffers. They would pull papers from this stack and carry them to tables to manually insert Parades at the rate of 60 a minute. Thwack, thwack, thwack... On my second night, Mr. Lugar observed Sonny and I chit-chatting, so he put Sonny to work stuffing Parades. From then on, I was the Lone Ranger, hauling the papers from the press to the wall for five hours at a speed walkers pace. If you read The Roanoke Times in 1954, I carried your paper 30 feet. By the time the presses stopped, I had black ink from wrist to shoulder, and black newsprint plugging my nose. The claim of printer ink in my DNA was earned. One moment, the enormous sculptures occupied a big chunk of an extremely large room. Just 30 minutes later, they were nowhere to be found. That they would ultimately disappear was part of the plan from the beginning. Were talking about The Stir City Piece, a sprawling installation by North Carolina artist Jonathan Brilliant which, for the past five months, has stretched across a second-floor gallery at the Taubman Museum of Art. The looming shapes of Stir City which seemed a little like organic air ducts, or perhaps tree trunks woven from wicker, or maybe warped legs standing floor-to-ceiling were made almost entirely from standard wooden coffee stirrers (70,000 in all), thin flat sticks latticed against each other and holding fast without a single drop of glue. They were simply woven together, Brilliant said. There is no magic trick. Theyre just materials arranged in space. Sunday at noon, those same materials suddenly found themselves re-arranged in space as about 40 guests took part in the exhibits closing the public dismantling of the installation. Despite its size, razing it made for surprisingly short work. Structures that had taken Brilliant seven to 10 days to put together were pulled down and taken apart in about a half-hour, and in an atmosphere of high spirits and laughter one rarely (if ever) equates with the obliteration of museum art. But beyond that momentary rush of destruction-with-impunity, the event could yield lasting benefits. Most of the tens of thousands of stir sticks are now headed for middle and elementary schools around the Roanoke Valley, either as supplies or as creative displays. One participant Sunday was Christina Adams, who teaches art at Community School and who was closely examining Stir City even as she helped erase it. When I first saw this, I just wanted to touch it, to put my hands on it, Adams said as she removed a platter-sized section. Now I can. She said she plans to take portions of the sculpture to class to show her students the work up close. It really gives you an insight into how it was made, she said. Another art teacher, Mercedes Fleagle of Collinsville, had a similar notion. I came to get pieces for my students, Fleagle said. A lot of them dont have the chance to leave Henry County, so now they can have part of the experience even if they didnt have the opportunity to come here. Other pieces of the work have more spiritual destinations. Uri and Rachel Levine, and their daughters Channa and Tova, left with several sections they said theyll use to construct a sukkah theyre building in preparation for Sukkot, a Jewish holiday and fall harvest celebration which begins in mid-October. It has to have two-and-a-half walls, Uri Levine said Sunday of the hut he will build. The roof has to be made of all natural materials, but you have to be able to see the stars through it, he added, holding up a sturdy lattice of coffee stirrers, by way of demonstration. The stir sticks that werent taken away or consigned to schools will be given to Dickens of a Christmas and used to make holiday ornaments this winter. All of which means the tens of thousands of ingredients that made up Stir City, swept from the floor of the Taubman, still have long and varied roads ahead of them. We love the fact that its going to remain in the community, be used over time, and have a second life, museum spokeswoman Sunny Nelson said Sunday. Pfc. Anthony John Pepper, a Marine from Chesterfield County, was 20 years old in April 1968 when he was killed in the Battle of Khe Sanh. In a letter that reached his family days before he died, Pepper wrote that he had less than five months to go in Vietnam. Charlie wont get me now, he wrote, making a reference to enemy forces. Pepper, who graduated from Thomas Dale High School in 1966, was reported missing April 6. His status was changed to killed in action on Oct. 15, according to a report in the Richmond Times-Dispatch at the time. His body was never found. Now, thanks to the help of a Marine veteran who may have been the last American to see Peppers body, military crews are searching in a remote area of Vietnam for his remains and the remains of Cpl. James Mitchell Trimble, 19. With everything that has happened, were just due a miracle, said Carrie Pepper, who was 13 when her brother was killed. I dont know if itll happen, but I think the fact that theyre even looking at this point is pretty miraculous. Carrie Pepper lives in California now. Her parents and another sister have died. The last memory she has of Pepper is running into his arms at his boot camp graduation. She said he smiled, held out his arms, lifted her and swung her around. When I think about it, when I really let myself think about it, and think about my brother laying over there and just left behind all this time. Its just so sad, she said. *** The search for Pepper and Trimble is being conducted by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The agency currently is in Vietnam excavating where Ed Zimmerman, then a 19-year-old Marine working on a recovery mission after the battle, said he last saw their bodies. Zimmerman saw the two dead men as he came up a ridgeline. He touched them and turned them over to look for weapons, but he let them go because they were decomposing and in bad shape. He never said a word about what he saw and believed that someone else would recover the bodies. It wasnt until about 40 years later that Zimmerman saw an item online and realized the two Marines had never been found. I never knew it, Zimmerman said last week. I assumed everyone was recovered. I had absolutely no idea that two guys were missing. The discovery sent Zimmerman on a mission to help find the missing men and bring closure to the families. His efforts began with repeated letters to the military and, over several years, included official interrogations and two trips to Vietnam to try to identify the spot where he had last seen his fellow Marines. Zimmerman said what drove him, despite repeated frustrations, was a desire to make things right. He felt guilty that two men had been left behind, but finding a way to remedy the situation would help him and the families heal. They had a promise to bring us home and that every effort would be made to do that, he said. Right now, thats taking place. As a veteran and being so intimately involved in this, I couldnt ask for anything more. Khe Sanh is in the Quang Tri province near Vietnams border with Laos. The World History Group, which publishes magazines dedicated to the study of history, said the battle of Khe Sanh was the longest, deadliest and most controversial of the Vietnam War. Zimmerman remembers the battle as a nightmare. Thats the only way I could explain it, he said. It was grueling. Months on one C ration a day, incoming (fire), unbelievable. We stuck together, and thats what it was all about. It was about surviving. Officially, 205 Marines were killed in action and more than 1,600 were wounded. The military estimated at the time that 10,000 to 15,000 North Vietnamese were killed, according to History.com. *** According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, recovery missions involve about 95 U.S. personnel and their Vietnamese counterparts. Teams work on investigations and excavations for about 30 days, and remains believed to be of Americans are sent to the agencys Central Identification Lab in Hawaii for examination by forensic anthropologists. The agency reports on its website that of the 1,261 Americans still missing in Vietnam, 477 are considered non-recoverable. That means investigators have found conclusive evidence the individual perished but do not believe it possible to recover his remains. New leads, as with Peppers case, can lead to an investigation being reopened. Peppers name is etched on the wall of the Shrine of Memory in the Vietnam section at the Virginia War Memorial. His name also is among a list of combatants missing in action that hangs over the staircase leading to the lower level in the Grand Lobby. If his remains are found, according to the War Memorial, a star will be placed next to his name on this list. Pepper will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Northern Virginia. Im very confident the Almighty is involved in this thing, Zimmerman said. I feel confident that something will show up. I feel confident that these people who are working on this excavation will be as thorough as any CSI investigation could be. Officials in the wheat procurement sector are accused of stealing some EGP 533 million in state funds Egyptian businessman Rafaat Nossair, a defendant in the ongoing wheat corruption scandal, was released on Monday on EGP 500,000 bail after he paid off the EGP 77 million in state funds he was accused of stealing, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported. The office of the prosecutor-general stated earlier this month that its investigation into alleged corruption in the wheat procurement sector revealed that some EGP 533 million ($60 million) have been stolen by officials within the agriculture ministry in collusion with silo owners. The prosecution says that the officials took government money slated for the buying of 222,000 tonnes of wheat from local farmers, but instead pocketed the cash while claiming that the purchase was made. Prosecutor-general Nabil Sadek has also extended the detention period of another silo owner for 15 days pending investigations. The prosecutor-general has issued a travel ban and frozen the assets of the defendants in the case. A recent report by a fact-finding committee appointed by parliament has implicated former minister of supply Khaled Hanafi in the corruption scandal and recommends that he be prosecuted. Hanafi resigned earlier this week over the scandal. Search Keywords: Short link: Rabaa is of the most famous Sufi women in Islamic history, whose rough road to spirituality remains vivid evidence that the journey of faith is as colourful and rich as life, and as magical as a fairytale. A man asked Rabaa: I have so many sins, do you think if I repent, God would forgive me? If he forgives you, you will repent, she answered. Rabaa Bent Ismail Al-Adawi was an Iraqi woman, born in Basra around the year 100 AH (717 AD) to a poor family who named her Rabaa ("fourth") for she was their fourth daughter. Her father died when she was ten, and soon her mother too, leaving Rabaa and her siblings with no caretakers, nothing but a small boat that people use to cross one of the rivers of Basra for pennies, as explained in the book of Sufi Historian Farid El-Din Attar's Tazkerat Al-Awliaa ("Remembrance of the Walis.") However, in Abdel Rahman Badawy's book Shahidat Al-Eshq Al Elahi ("The Martyrs of Divine Love") he explains that there is very little documentation to explain her spiritual development as in the case of Saint Theresa for example, "we know very little on her early years except for what's mentioned in Tazkeret Al-Awleia and that Badawy does not lean on relying on because it is dominated by the miracles usually affiliated with saints other than her biography." Badawy's book adds that after her parents died, Rabaa and her three sisters left their home, each taking a different path to earn money. Rabaa however was captured by a vicious man who sold her for six pounds to a man who gave her heavy chores. She was once on the street and found a weird man looking at her viciously, so she ran and ran then fell into the dirt and kept calling God saying I am an enslaved orphan stranger, but my biggest concern is to know if you are happy with me or not; so she heard a sound telling her do not worry for one day you will be in such a high spiritual status that pious people would envy. Then she returned to her master's house and went to serve him and fast and pray all night. Attar's book also explains that one day her master opened the door of her room and saw her praying to God and complained that if it were up to her she would have prayed non-stop but her master is too strict, and while praying a lantern seemed to be hanging above her head, and flooded the whole house with light. He was puzzled all night and the next morning he set her free. Rabaa was asked: Do you love God? Yes, I truly do, she answered. So do you hate Satan? My love for God prevents me from engaging in the act of hating Satan was her response. After attaining her freedom, she sought art as a means of living for she sang her own lyrics and played the nai (flute). She lived a carefree life until she started attending the lectures of Sufi Guru Hassan Al-Basri, where she met her mentor Riah Ibn Amr Al-Qaisi, a Sufi pillar of the time and the turning point in her life. Since then she became a Sufi saint known for her piety and humbleness and wrote numerous Sufi verses in praise of God. She died at the age of 80 in 180 AH and her poetry lived on to inspire centuries later. Some of her famous Sufi verses: I knew love since I knew you and shut my heart to anyone else but you and I used to address you, you who can see through our hearts yet we cant see you. I love you twice, once like lovers do and the second because you deserve to be loved; as a lover I do not talk about anyone else but you; and as for the second type of love, it's because you allowed me to see you and I am thankful to you for both loves. Search Keywords: Short link: (Beijing) China's central bank is creating a new clearinghouse for online transactions, a key step toward closer oversight of the country's third-party payment market, currently more than 24.2 trillion yuan (US$ 3.63 trillion). About 200 third-party payment firms led by Alibaba Group-affiliated Alipay and Tencent Holding's Tenpay have provided the backbone of China's dynamic online retail and financial market. But they've also been accused of sidestepping necessary regulatory supervision. The market has been expecting major infrastructure changes since late July, when the People's Bank of China approved a plan to create a new platform to clear all transactions from online payment gateways using standard protocols and rules. Caixin learned from sources close to the matter that the Payment & Clearing Association of China (PCAC), an industry group whose members include banks and payment-service providers, is leading efforts to develop the clearinghouse and will also be an investor. The association will flesh out the plan approved by the central bank with details on where the clearinghouse will be based and how it will be managed. The principal is to "make sure that the online clearinghouse will be under the central bank's control," sources close to the central bank told Caixin. The decision followed the release of a set of rules on online payment services over the past few months, including stricter requirements for payment providers to verify the identity of their clients. The rules reflect regulators' concerns that some payment providers have served as a shield for financial fraud, money laundering and other illegal transactions. The latest move will bring more fundamental changes to the online payment market. A Matter of Control Offline payments, such as those made at point-of-sale machines in shopping malls, are mostly handled by a clearing system provided by the state-backed bankcard association China UnionPay. But the majority of payments made online through so-called third-party payment providers are processed separately according to different terms in the payment firm's own agreement with banks. This makes it hard for banks to maintain consistent standards and control risks. Also, before transactions are cleared, the funds that will be transferred to the receiver sit in the bank account of the payment service provider, raising concerns that they could be used for unintended purposes. Data from PCAC showed that in 2015, third-party payment providers handled online transactions worth 24.2 trillion yuan, up 42 percent from a year before. Alipay, the largest online payment provider, is holding about 110 billion yuan of customers' funds, while Tenpay is managing a similar amount, sources close to the matter said. A central bank rule in 2010 stipulated that online payment firms must set aside provisions equal to at least 10 percent of clients' funds left in their payment accounts to reduce risks of misappropriation. But large payment firms, including Alipay and Tenpay, have not yet implemented the rules, sources said. The huge amount of customers' deposits are often distributed by payment firms among dozens of bank accounts, making it difficult for regulators to track. The complex capital flows of third-party payment firms have worried the central bank for their opacity and inadequate risk control. "If a liquidity crisis breaks out, it will easily expand through the internet to a systematic crisis, and no single payment firm can afford the risks," said a central bank official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The proposed clearing platform is expected to address these concerns as it will cut the direct link between third-party payment firms and banks, and set a clear boundary between payment and clearing services for risk control, the central bank official said. Instead, payment firms will connect with the new platform and clear their transactions through the platform, which will be linked with the central bank's clearing system, a PCAC source said. Also, the creation of the platform will be a step toward putting customers' funds under centralized management and supervision, central bank officials said. But building the new nexus for online transactions will involve massive work when it comes to business and technical issues. It will bring profound changes to China's online payment market, reshuffling relationships between payment firms, banks and UnionPay, the only existing interbank payment clearinghouse. "The precondition is to make sure the platform is secure and neutral," the central bank official said, adding it will not change how customers use online payment services. Likely Disputes The new roadmap for online transaction clearing service will inevitably result in clashes and redefined interests among different parties, a senior PCAC said. "The arrangement of the shareholding structure of the new clearinghouse will affect the market influence" of different parties, he said. According to internet business data provider iResearch, Alipay handled over 40 percent of third-party payments by the end of March, while Tenpay held about 20 percent. The rest were conducted by more than 200 firms that held a license to provide online payment services. Many third-party payment providers are worried that the dominance of Alipay and Tenpay may allow the pair to influence or control the operation of the new clearinghouse. "There shouldn't be any dominating shareholder in the clearinghouse," said Tang Ling, vice president of Lakala Payment Co., a third-party payment provider. An executive of another payment firm agreed, saying, "If it ends up being dominated by one or two payment firms with a monopoly status, everyone will vote with their feet because it puts their data at risk." Chen Zhong, a financial professor at Peking University, said the clearinghouse can learn from the shareholding structure of UnionPay, which was set up in 2002 with investments from over 100 banks but with none of the shareholders having more than a 5 percent stake. A draft plan for the clearinghouse released in April by PACA showed that the new entity may have an initial capital investment of 50 million yuan from up to 50 investors. Shareholders will include only third-party payment companies, rather than any investment from banks or UnionPay. But banks have shown caution about the proposed platform. People with knowledge of the matter told Caixin that big banks such as Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Agricultural Bank of China, as well as a number of smaller banks, have opposed the plan due to concerns that their respective businesses may be affected. A staffer at a state bank's online banking department said the clearinghouse plan placed banks in an "unfair" position. Third-party payment firms can still use banks' gateways to make payments through the clearing platform without giving banks any details about the transactions, which makes it hard for banks to verify the money transfers. But a central bank official said that compared with current operations, the clearinghouse will "make the information of payers and receivers more transparent." Lingering Concerns Sources close to the PCAC told Caixin that the new clearinghouse will have one controlling center and two or three processing centers located in different cities. But there is still debate about how the technology framework should be built. An official at the central bank's clearing and settlement department told Caixin that the bank is planning to develop the new clearing platform on the basis of existing clearing systems created by Alipay and Tenpay, which have already connected with many banks and their massive customer bases. But the plan has triggered concern that it may grant too much power and influence to the two companies. The central bank official said the construction of the new platform will be contracted through public bidding and the platform will be operated by an independent team in the future. There are also security concerns about using the existing system. "Many people are worried about whether the institution operating the current system may leave a backdoor to access information" from the future platform, said an executive of a third-party payment provider. "It will be very difficult to detect." The clearinghouse must be operated by an independent and neutral team, or it will hurt fair competition, the executive said. The clearinghouse plan is also facing technical challenges. Both Alipay's and Tenpay's systems are capable of handling hundreds of millions transactions every day when online transactions peak at certain holidays. Whether the clearinghouse has the capacity to handle a sudden surge of transactions will be a major technical test, an Alipay staffer said. Meanwhile, it will be a challenging task for the new clearinghouse to unify technical standards for all third-party payment providers to connect with the platform, said Lakala Payment's Tang. Currently, different firms have different standards. Caixin learned from sources close to the central bank that it is considering developing a new system with the capacity to handle 120,000 transactions per second, compared with 86,000 transactions per second by Alipay and the 65,000 transactions per second of VisaNet, the online payment service of Visa. Several sources from the payment industry expect it will take at least a year for the central bank and PCAC to finalize all technical standards and business arrangements of the new clearinghouse. "The clearinghouse must lay solid foundation for neutral operation, information security and system stability. Otherwise, it may have too little regulatory control and pass risks to the banking system," said a source at E-Capital Transfer Co., a Shanghai-based internet finance company. Contact reporter Han Wei at weihan@caixin.com; editor Ken Howe at kennethhowe@caixin.com Diamcor more than doubles Q2 revenue Diamcor generated gross revenues of about $3 million from its operations in the interim period ended September 30, 2022, compared to $1,4 million for the same period in the previous year. The company is still conducting trial mining exercises at its... IBJA commits to Declaration of Responsibility & Sustainability Principles The Indian gold industry has signed a Declaration of Responsibility and Sustainability Principles, convened by the LBMA and the World Gold Council, which expresses a commitment to operate responsibly and sustainably, based on a clear set of shared goals... De Beers boosts Q3 output, maintains production guidance De Beers rough diamond production rose 4% to 9.6 million carats, mainly due to the treatment of higher grade ore at both Orapa in Botswana and South Africa as well as continued strong performance in Namibia, according to its parent company, Anglo... Hong Kongs major jewellery fairs are set to return in 2023 An announcement from Informa Markets Jewellery indicates that the industrys two biggest B2B sourcing events will be back in action in Hong Kong in 2023 following a three-year forced pandemic break. (Beijing) - Alibaba Group chairman Jack Ma once said he would deliver to the state his popular third-party payment service Alipay whenever it was needed. It seems that the time is coming, although what Alipay needs to hand over is only the part of the business that shouldnt belong to it anyway. Alipay and other online payment providers are facing a major reshuffle as the central bank is mulling building a new clearinghouse for all online transactions, part of the regulators efforts to tame internet financial risks. As the top market players, Alipay and rival Tencent Holdings Tenpay, have operated the de facto clearing platforms for online transactions through separate agreements they negotiated directly with banks. Under the central banks plan, these platforms will be integrated into a unified clearing system under the direct supervision of the central bank. Like all other smaller payment providers, Alipay and Tenpay will become shareholders of the new platform, which will be operated independently. Over the past few years, Alipay and Tenpay have seen their online transaction volumes grew to the equivalent of world-class bankcard associations while staying outside regulatory oversight. Many analysts expected the pair might apply for licenses to issue bankcards. But neither showed an interest, since becoming a clearing service provider would have meant more restrictions on their current respective businesses. Now the central bank is making the long-awaited move toward a unified clearing platform for online payments. Although there are still many unanswered questions on how to ensure the new clearinghouse will provide equal and secure services to all market players, the overall direction will not change. For Alipay and Tenpay, participating in the new platform will ensure they better comply with regulations, ending an era of business growth exploiting regulatory loopholes. For the regulators, a unified clearinghouse will dismantle separate agreements between third-party payment firms and banks. This will allow them to better supervise the way payment firms manage their own clients funds. An independent clearinghouse will also help small and medium-sized payment providers save operating costs. The planned online clearinghouse is very likely to develop into an online version of China UnionPay the sole bank card association with a license to provide clearing services for interbank yuan payments after it completes the integration of all online clearing services. It has taken more than 10 years for UnionPay to grow from an interbank clearing platform to a bankcard association with a worldwide business. However, it has missed the best opportunity to extend its business dominance online. But where the new online clearinghouse will start is very different from China UnionPay. Its initial capacity is targeted to handle 120,000 transactions per second with higher requirements on system efficiency and stability in order to cope the huge amount of online transactions. The future relationship between the online clearinghouse and UnionPay will be intriguing. But competition and collaboration between the pair will only benefit users. Contact Ling Huawei at huaweiling@caixin.com; editor Ken Howe at kennethhowe@caixin.com The Indian diamond industry will soon equip themselves with the 'blockchain' technology to enhance security and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market, reports TOI. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), a global industry watchdog for clean trade in diamonds, is working on a pilot project that will use the technology to monitor the KP statistics globally. The move will help ensure permanent blockage of blood diamonds from war-torn areas to enter the mainstream market. The KPCS, which is chaired by United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ahmed Bin Sulayem, has announced the blockchain initiative as part of his mid-term message assessing the KP's progress. The blockchain is seen as a major technological innovation of Bitcoin, since it stands as proof of all the transactions on the network. A block is the 'current' part of a blockchain which records some or all of the recent transactions, and once completed goes into the blockchain as permanent database. Blockchain is a list of transactions that take place in a peer-to-peer network. It enables users to share a digital ledger across a network of computers without the need for central authority to clear transactions, while making it impossible to tamper with records. India is the highest importer of rough diamonds of around $16 billion from various parts of the world. While over 80% of the diamonds enter the country via the world's leading diamond mining companies including De Beers, Rio Tinto, ALROSA etc, the rest is purchased from secondary markets in Dubai and Belgium. In India, the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is the governing body for the KP certificates. Speaking about the technology, regional chairman of GJEPC, Dinesh Navadiya said, Introducing the blockchain technology is a good move by the KP chair. We will get to know about the technology and its intricacies at the upcoming KP plenary meeting in November. But, we want to assure that GJEPC will always support the KP's decision to prevent blood diamonds from entering India." Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished Signet Jewelers, the world's largest specialty jewelry retailer, reported that its sales declined 2.6 percent to $1.4 billion in the second quarter of the fiscal 2017 that ended July 30. The comparable sales fell 2.3% during the period under review. The decline occurred mainly in energy producing countries, the company explained. E-store sales rose 5.6% to $69.6 million, they accounted for 5.1% of total sales volume. The company revised its financial forecasts for the next quarter and the full 2017 fiscal year taking into account the decline in sales and current market trends. Despite the disappointing overall results of the quarter, Mark Light, Signet's president and chief operating officer, said that some of the results were positive. Jewelry, bracelets and earrings sold well during the quarter. Outlets and online sales showed good results. Integration with Zale (acquired in early 2014 for $1.4 billion) is carried out successfully with good synergy: its value increased from $158 million to $175 million by the end of the fiscal 2017, and is projected to rise from $225 million to $250 million by the end of the next financial year. Demonstrating confidence in the future, the company repurchased about 4% of its shares from the market in the second quarter. Leonard Green & Partners Foundation, one of the largest investors in retail, has agreed to acquire Signet's stake, which is valued at $625 million. Signet has been a long term client of ALROSA since the end of the last year. Organic samples (especially brain tissue) were sent to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute for research to have the correct answer about how the animals died. The animals should be tested not at least for the severe disease CWD (Chronic Waste Diesease), also called skrantesyke, which was first discovered in Norway on moose and caribou earlier this year. CWD has never infected from animals to humans. Reindeer are pack animals and are often close together. During a heavy thunderstorm, they may have gathered even closer together out of fear, spokesman Knut Nylend of the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate explained what is believed about this unprecedented situation. I dont remember hearing about lightning killing animals on this scale before, he added. The agency is now discussing what to do with the dead animals but normally they are just left where they are to let nature take its course, he said. Japan will release a raft of data on Tuesday, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. On tap are July numbers for unemployment, household spending and retail sales. The jobless rate is expected to hold steady at 3.1 percent, while the job-to-applicant ratio is expected to move up to 1.38 from 1.37 in June. Household spending is expected to fall 1.4 percent on year after slipping 2.2 percent in the previous month. Retail sales are called lower by 0.9 percent on year after falling 1.4 percent a month earlier. Australia will provide July numbers for building approvals, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 1.1 percent and a decline of 8.3 percent on year. That follows the 2.9 percent monthly decline and the 5.9 percent annual contraction in June. New Zealand will see July figures for building permits; in June, permits jumped 16.3 percent on year. Malaysia will release July data for producer prices; in June, prices were up 0.4 percent on month and down 1.3 percent on year. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Taxi-hailing company Uber and its rival Careem has suspended their services in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, since Saturday, reports said. Uber said the move was temporary, and did not explain the reason for suspension of services. "This is a temporary suspension and we will let you know of any further updates," it said in a statement. The National, an Emirates newspaper, reported that around 50 drivers were arrested over the weekend, but the reasons were unknown. As per reports, some of Careem's cars were stopped by authorities, in Abu Dhabi, apparently over licensing issues. Christian Eid, vice-president of marketing and communications for Careem, reportedly said that this had forced the company to halt services there. However, the services of both companies were operating as normal in the neighboring Dubai. Uber has been operating in the Emirates since 2013. With a massive $3.5 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund recently, Uber has been concentrating heavily in the Middle East. The company is facing legal issues in some other countries. In the U.K., two drivers have approached an employment tribunal, asking for holiday and sick pay from the company, while in Taiwan, Uber is facing a ban from the officials, who said the firm was not operating lawfully. In early August, the company sold its China operations to Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing. Uber, whose service allows customers to book journeys and pay via a smartphone app, reportedly has recorded a hefty loss of more than $1 billion in the first half of 2016. The majority of these losses are said to be subsidies for its drivers. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Singapore's producer prices declined at a faster pace in July, figures from the Department of Statistics showed Monday. The manufactured product price index plunged 9.1 percent year-over-year in July, which was worse than the 7.9 percent decrease in June. The measure has been falling since May 2014. The oil and non-oil indices dipped 24.6 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively in July. The domestic supply price index dropped 9.2 percent annually in July and slid 2.0 percent from a month ago. Month-on-month, producer prices went down 2.4 percent from June, when it decreased by 3.3 percent. Data also showed that import prices fell at a slower pace of 6.7 percent yearly in July, following a 8.2 percent decline in the prior month. Similarly, the export price index also continued its downward trend in July. It slipped 7.5 percent on year, after a 7.3 percent decrease in June. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Editors Pick Oil major Exxon Mobil Corp. reported Friday a profit for the third quarter that soared from last year, reflecting sharply higher upstream and energy product earnings. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter topped analysts' expectations, while quarterly revenues missed them. Seattle, Washington-based Amazon.com Services LLC is recalling Amazon Basics Executive Desk Chairs, citing fall and injury risks, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The recall involves about 11,400 units of the Amazon Basics Executive Desk Chair. Shares of Swiss Re AG were losing around 3 percent in the morning trading in Switzerland after the reinsurer reported Friday a net loss in its third quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2022. The results were hurt mainly by weakness in Property & Casualty Reinsurance or P&C Re segment. Going ahead, the company still expects it is unlikely to reach its Group ROE target of 10 percent in 2022. European stocks fell in cautious trade Monday, as hawkish comments from Fed Chair Janet Yellen and her deputy Stanley Fischer coupled with a pullback in oil prices on signs of rising Iraq output made investors jittery. Amid lack of any positive triggers, market participants now await this week's global manufacturing surveys, the U.S. jobs report for August and the outcome of the upcoming Group of 20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, for further direction. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was down 0.4 percent in late opening deals after rising half a percent in the previous session. The German DAX was losing 0.8 percent and France's CAC 40 index was moving down 0.7 percent, while U.K. are closed for a local bank holiday. Deutsche Bank fell more than 1 percent. The country's largest lender has entered into an agreement to sell its subsidiary in Argentina to Banco Comafi S.A.as part of its strategy plan to rationalize its global footprint. Generic drug maker Stada dropped 2 percent after its shareholders voted Chairman Martin Abend off the supervisory board. Sanofi dropped half a percent in Paris despite its cholesterol drug Praluent meeting targets in a clinical trial. Alstom shares rallied 2.5 percent. The engineering giant has signed a $2 billion contract with Amtrak to design and build 28 new high-speed trains, which will run on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston and Washington D.C. Roche Holdings edged up marginally. The Swiss drug maker has received emergency use authorization for its Zika virus test by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (CX) announced that it has reached an agreement with Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, S.A.B. de C.V. or "GCC" on the terms and conditions regarding the sale to GCC of certain assets in the U.S. originally announced on May 2, 2016. The assets being sold by an affiliate of CEMEX to an affiliate of GCC in the U.S. have changed and mainly consist of CEMEX's cement plant in Odessa, Texas, two cement terminals and the building materials in El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico. CEMEX's cement plant in Lyons, Colorado and cement terminal in Florence, Colorado are no longer part of the assets being sold to GCC. Upon closing of this transaction GCC will pay CEMEX U.S.$306 million. The company currently expects to finalize this transaction before the end of 2016. CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. announced that it will be participating in the proposed corporate restructuring of Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, S.A.B. de C.V. that was announced by GCC and which has the purpose of simplifying GCC's current shareholder structure. CEMEX currently owns an indirect minority interest in GCC. In connection with the corporate restructuring, if approved by GCC's shareholders as proposed, CEMEX will directly own 23% of the outstanding share capital of GCC and, additionally, own a minority interest in CAMCEM, an entity which in turn will own a majority interest in GCC as a result of the proposed restructuring. CEMEX currently expects to hold its minority interest in CAMCEM resulting from the corporate restructuring as a long-term investment and therefore expects to remain an indirect minority shareholder of GCC. The 23% direct interest in GCC that CEMEX will hold as a result of the proposed corporate restructuring is currently being considered as an option among other CEMEX assets available for divestment in the context of CEMEX's previously announced asset divestiture plans. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Crude oil futures nudged lower Monday morning amid uncertainty over whether OPEC and Russia will agree to curb supplies. A global supply glut has kept oil prices under $50 this year, crippling a number of smaller producers such as Venezuela. Crude oil for December was down 60 cents at $47 a barrel. The Commerce Department is scheduled to release its personal income and spending report for July at 8:30 am ET. Economists expect a 0.4 percent month-over-month increase in personal income and a 0.3 percent increase in personal spending. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Raytheon Co. (RTN), a and innovation company specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions, Monday said it has been awarded a $37.72 million US Navy MK 54 torpedo contract. The firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive, cost and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is for the procurement of MK 54 lightweight torpedo common parts kits, MK 54 Mod 0 lightweight torpedo kits, and MK 54 exercise fuel tanks, spares, production support material, engineering support, and hardware repair support, the company noted. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $448.74 million. This contract combines 98 percent purchases for the U.S. Navy and 2 percent for the Government of Thailand under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Keyport, Washington; Portsmouth, Rhode Island; and Tewksbury, Massachusetts and is expected to be completed by May 2019. Fiscal 2016 weapons procurement (Navy), fiscal 2016 weapons procurement spares (Navy), and foreign military sales funding in the amount of $36.11 million will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The majority of the European ended the first session of the new trading week in the red. Investors have turned cautious after hawkish comments from Fed Chair Janet Yellen and her deputy Stanley Fischer has raised concerns over a potential Fed rate increase in the coming months. Traders will be paying close attention to the U.S. employment report for August at the end of the week, since the Fed's decision will largely hinge on data. Investors were reluctant to make any major moves ahead of Friday's U.S. jobs report and there was very little economic data at the start of the week to drive trading. A rising U.S. dollar pressured commodity prices, while crude oil prices dipped due to signs of rising output from Iraq. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index weakened by 0.63 percent. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone blue chip stocks decreased 0.43 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, lost 0.12 percent. The DAX of Germany dropped 0.44 percent and the CAC 40 of France fell 0.41 percent. The SMI of Switzerland finished higher by 0.09 percent, but the FTSE 100 of the U.K. was closed for a local bank holiday. In Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank fell 1.27 percent. The country's largest lender has entered into an agreement to sell its subsidiary in Argentina to Banco Comafi S.A.as part of its strategy plan to rationalize its global footprint. Generic drug maker Stada dropped 0.25 percent after its shareholders voted Chairman Martin Abend off the supervisory board. In Paris, Sanofi rose 0.01 percent despite its cholesterol drug Praluent meeting targets in a clinical trial. Alstom jumped 2.81 percent. The engineering giant has signed a $2 billion contract with Amtrak to design and build 28 new high-speed trains, which will run on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston and Washington D.C. Roche Holdings finished up 0.21 percent in Zurich. The drug maker has received emergency use authorization for its Zika virus test by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Italy's consumer confidence fell to its lowest level in over a year and sentiment reached an 18-month low in August, preliminary data from ISTAT showed Monday. The consumer confidence index decreased to 109.2 from 111.2 in July, which was revised from 111.3. Economists had forecast a score of 110.3. The reading was the lowest since July last year, when it was 107. All sub-indexes declined and fears of unemployment rose. The manufacturing sentiment index fell to 101.1 from 102.9 in July, revised from 103.1. Economists were looking for a score of 102.4. Greece's expanded in the second quarter at a slightly slower pace than estimated earlier, latest figures from the Hellenic Statistical Authority showed Monday. Gross domestic product grew a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent sequentially, which was slightly slower than the 0.3 percent estimated earlier. In the first quarter, the economy contracted 0.2 percent. Personal income and spending in the U.S. rose in line with economist estimates in the month of July, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Monday. The Commerce Department said personal income climbed by 0.4 percent in July after rising by 0.3 percent in June. The increase in income matched economist estimates. The report also said personal spending rose by 0.3 percent in July following a 0.5 percent increase in June. The spending growth also met expectations. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ... Come with me on a meander through the waning days of summer in New England, and memories built under the warmth of the sun. It blows me away how quickly this season has flown: how unexpectedly we find ourselves adding a layer in the evening, noticing the path of the sunset towards the south of west, feeling tick earlier of dusk. I even made soup for dinner the other night because everyone was chilly! Just a couple of weeks ago, it as so hot that even the "brisk" (~70F) temp of the Mystic River was tempting. It also was just a couple of weeks ago a period of summer vacation seemed to be starting, heralded by our open-boat party at the Noank. Hard work prepping in the sun... Niall took it upon himself to help his sisters keep cool while scrubbing deck. We had a blast welcoming people on board Totem to share what normal life on a cruising boat looks like, from how the fridge works to how small (and sloppy) my two shelves of clothing are. Of course it had to be one of the hottest days of summer! I lost count of the visitors somewhere north of fifty. By the way Don & Lisa -- the kids keep asking if they're going to see Grace again, OK? No pressure... The only problem with having so many visitors is that source of some truly excellent host gifts got muddled (not these, though- thank you Tammy-Jo, Jim, and Anne!). I have apparently done a good job of communicating my love for dark chocolate, dark rum, and chardonnay... not together, mind you, but mmmm... and you have to love that there is a rust-prevention lubricant in the mix. CRUISER GOLD! Burning indelible memories by recalling old ones flowed while getting together with friends we haven't seen in a very long time. My childhood neighbor Wendy invited us to speak at the Ferguson Museum on Fishers Island, which turned into a whirlwind weekend of fun. It was really cool to hang out on their porch, looking out across the lawn to watch boats sailing down the Sound and talking like we'd only seen each other a few months before--not years. She and her husband are both artists: Wendy is a silversmith, Tom is an abstract painter. Walking through their island studio and learning from Tom about his work was pretty special, especially for the artistically inclined kids. There has been a host of reunions from all corners: from childhood and young adulthood and new parenthood, college and grad school, Michigan and Connecticut and Seattle. New encounters left lasting impressions, too. I've hoped for months to talk with Anne Patterson, founder of Solavore (where my much-loved solar oven comes from). Stars aligned to gather at her family's off-the-grid haven on a little Connecticut island, and lunch turned into a photo shoot. It was a magical spot (secret!), and a great conversation--more on that soon! Meanwhile, does it get much more New England than this? Also new in our lives this summer, and indelibly impressed, are local Ocean Cruising Club port officer Sandy Van Zandt and his wife Sidney. Circumnavigators who make their fellow salty travelers feel at home on the Mystic River, this wonderful couple has done so much to help us feel welcomed and wanted. In addition to trading sea stories, they took us on a hike to extensive property that Sidney has worked tirelessly to acquire and preserve for conservation and public access. We couldn't have had a better or more informative guide to educate us about native plants, invasive species, and dynamics of the environment (such as the pea-soup color of this pond-- which is perfectly fine, despite the understandable gut reaction to the contrary!). Also in the mix, we hosted a few interviews on Totem! These smiley folks visited on behalf of the communications team at my alma mater, the nearby Connecticut College, for an article in the college's magazine. I love how every time we have these conversations, our kids find a new piece of themselves to be proud of. They know they're not normal, but don't always appreciate just how much. We plan to depart Mystic after Labor Day weekend (just over a week- ack!!), and that list of "things we should do before we go"-- like hit (the epic!) Defender for new lifejackets-- is taking over. I admit, the photo from the entrance to Defender's retail store / clearance outlet below is posed... but this IS the girl who still won't wear shoes, and carries her flip flops with her to don if required. It's not just Siobhan. This is how the troops are shod as we walk up from the river to the Mystic & Noank Library. Aboard Totem, Jamie works tirelessly on projects to get us ready to go again: here, replacing some slides on the main while Solavore cooks lunch. I'm getting quality time in with my sister-in-law, hot yoga mornings, and mentally stockpiling these beautiful views. Experimenting with HDR... not so sure about it... feels a little too, I don't know, Kinkade or something... Our little corner of the Mystic River has gotten almost too comfortable. It's wonderful, but we feel the itch, and as much as we'll miss people here...are looking forward to pointing south towards new adventures soon. Besides, Siobhan's wearing fleece already. Young roster has high hopes for future. Only four seniors suited up. The Ell-Saline Cardinals are out of the Class 2A football playoffs after falling to Hoxie, 44-12, on Friday night. Lets talk about Donald Trump. As the Republican nominee for the next president of the United States of America in the general elections up ahead, Donald Trump is somehow seen as an unsuitable occupant for the White House ever. Still, some will argue that the man is as resourceful as a ravenous bull so that it would be unfair to just count him out of the race, three months before they are held, as they say, anything can happen during that time. Whats more, as the self-proclaimed billionaire with a string of casinos and hotels to his name mainly around the east coast of America and in Great Britain too, there is reason to believe the mans greed is unquenchable. Still, as the one who is dominating the world news with his unprovoked racist denunciations as well as his abrasive rhetoric being talked about everywhere, he is virtually a pain if you really want to know whatre talking about here. In fact, throughout America, a country where slavery was abolished by President Abraham Lincoln a long time ago, he is, indeed, a scalawag whom many are advocating is clearly unfit for the role hes now aspiring to. Take the story from the New York Times for instance. Written by Jonathan Mahler and Steve Ederaug, and published on 27 August 2016, its title reads: No Vacancies for Blacks: How Donald Trump Got His Start. It is January 1973, and underneath the title is a photo of Donald and his father, Fred C. Trump; they are visiting a tenant in one of their apartment buildings in Brooklyn, the tenants name is Maxine Brown, and she is black. Miss Brown has been interviewed by a staff member and the staffers recommendation is positive. It says: She seemed like the model tenant. Shes a 33-year-old nurse living at the Y.W.C.A. in Harlem. She had come to rent a one-bedroom at the still-unfinished Wilshire Apartments, in the Jamaica Estates neighborhood of Queens. She filled out what the rental agent remembers as a beautiful application. The applicant did not even want to look at the unit. There was just one hitch: Maxine Brown was black. The rental agent talked to his boss, Fred C. Trump. He explains: I asked him what to do and he says, Take the application and put it in a drawer and leave it there. The agent, Mr. Leibowitz, who is now 88, recalls. It was late 1963 and the tall, mustachioed Fred Trump, was about to complete the jewel in the crown of his middle-class housing empire, the seven 23-story towers, called Trump Village, spreading across nearly 40 acres in Coney Island. And now he was also grooming his heir, his son Donald, 17, to take over the business. Donald was soon to enroll at Fordham University in the Bronx, he was living at his parents home in Queens, and he was spending much of his free time touring construction sites in his fathers Cadillac, driven by a black chauffeur. Over the next decade, as Donald J. Trump assumed an increasingly prominent role in the business, the companys 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 companys chairman, and Donald Trump, as its president, were named as defendants. Asked what he thought of the governments allegation, Donald said it was absolutely ridiculous. Said the New York Times: 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, 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. That was in 1973. However, way back in 1855, slavery was such an abhorrent issue even the government was ashamed of having anything to do with it. It was around that time, that President Abraham Lincoln wrote to his personal friend Joshua Speed, who was a slave owner in Kentucky, reminding him: You know I dislike slavery, Lincoln wrote. And you fully admit the abstract wrong of it. I also acknowledge your rights, and my obligations under the constitution, in regard to your slaves. I confess I hate to see the poor creatures hunted down, and caught, and carried back to their stripes, and unrewarded toils. But I bite my lip and keep quiet. Lincoln continued: I remember that in 1841, you and I had together a tedious low-water trip, on a Steam Boat from Louisville to St. Louis. You may also remember, as I well do, that from Louisville to the mouth of the Ohio, there were, on board, ten or a dozen slaves, shackled together with irons. That sight was a continued torment to me; and I see something like it every time I touch the Ohio, or any other slave-border. It is hardly fair for you to assume, that I have no interest in a thing which has, and continually exercises, the power of making me miserable. You ought rather to appreciate how much the great body of the Northern people do crucify their feelings, in order to maintain their loyalty to the Constitution and the Union. How can anyone who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that all men are created equal. And now we practically read all men are created equal, except negroes. When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics. When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving libertyto Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy. In 1854, Abraham Lincoln wrote: If all earthly powers were given to me, my first impulse would be to free all the slaves, and send them to Liberia, their own native land. And then on 22 September 1862, that dream of his came true. On that day, Lincoln announced that slavery, was abolished in America. In addition, in his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, he declared that as of 1 January 1863, all slaves in states in rebellion against the Union shall be then, and henceforward, be forever free. So what do you think? If Donald Trump won the elections, would he be a kind, racist-free, and loving President of the United States of America? As for us here in our little corner of the universe, now that our own elections are well and truly behind us, lets forget Donald Trump for a moment, and pray that this enviable peace were taking for granted today, is here to stay. Indeed, lets also pray that this freedom which is very much an inseparable part of the life were living today, will forever remain. Share your thoughts with the rest. *The writer is indebted to Wikipedia for assisting with the facts in this editorial. Looking back on her one year reign as Miss Samoa, Australian-born Ariana Taufao says she sees her role as having been one of support and being involved with many organisations. I am very grateful to the Ministry of Education, the National Rugby League and Obesity Samoa for example for allowing me to be so involved by visiting schools, getting to know the community and focussing on them. For Ariana it was always very important, to let the communities know that what they are doing is important for Samoa. It has been a great learning experience, she said , and there have been a whole bundle of highlights. The ones she said which really touched by heart, were visits to the grassroots of the community, and getting involved with mothers and fathers, kids as well as the elderly. Other major highlights were participation in the Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam and getting to know Samoa on a more personal level. During her reign, Ariana said she didnt want to be seen only as somebody appearing at events but as a normal person who people felt comfortable talking to. She also had some personal goals to achieve and she added more objectives to her bucket list that she had not been aware of at the beginning of her journey. All in all she liked everything, she said - the ups as well as the downs, but most of the time it has been a great experience. And Ariana is happy to pass those experiences on to a successor to let her know and be aware what to do with the role as Miss Samoa. Of course, there have been some unexpected things, difficulties, but in her opinion those are always part of the life. You can never really be fully aware of a situation until youre going through it. It is just about adapting was Arianas comment. As for some personal recommendations for her successor, she said that it is most important to trust in yourself, to trust in God and have faith in yourself. And that this is not only important for the next Miss Samoa but also for all girls in general. The next Miss Samoa shouldnt be afraid of this journey, she said. Nobody comes into this knowing everything. It is more like, come into it and learn about it, which is the main thing. After the end of her year as Miss Samoa, Ariana Taufao is returning to Australia to finish her studies. Decked out in fairy lights the heart of Apia will look suitably festive during the Teuila Week thanks to some help from our supporters. The 26th Annual Teuila Festival 2016 has received assistance for this years event with the generous donation from the owner of Farmers Limited and Coin Save Limited, Tuituioaiga Weijie Weng. The assistance follows a request from the Teuila Festival Organising Committee to provide fairy lights to light up Apia during the Teuila Festival from the 4th of September to the 9th of September. The Prime Minister and Chairman of the Teuila Festival Organising Committee, Hon. Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi personally acknowledged Tuituioaiga and his assistance. The fairy lights will be installed from the eastern side of the Apia Waterfront from Matautu-tai going westwards through the heart of Apia, past the Teuila Main Stage in front of the FMFMII Government building and the Town Clock to in front of the NPF Plaza at Savalalo. The kind hearted Samoan chief has also proposed stone seats and chairs for the seawall for the wider public and all who will visit Samoa. Tuituioaiga is a successful businessman who has contributed to Samoas economy in recent years, with a variety of affordable goods and amenities from his shops. The matter against the suspended Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil has been adjourned to the 12th September 2016. The adjournment is for prosecution to supply the defence counsel with all the trial documents and information about the charges against the accused. Fuiavailili appeared in the Supreme Court before His Honour, Chief Justice Patu Tiavaasue Falefatu Sapolu and was represented by his lawyer Komisi Koria. Leone Sua appeared on behalf of the National Prosecution Office. Defense counsel, Mr Koria voiced his extreme disappointment with the National Prosecution Office. In upholding the evidence of these proceedings, he also told the court that his client has the constitutional right to be promptly informed of the cause of the accusations against him. To date Your Honour the N.P.O. has not had the courtesy to serve copies of the charges to us. We have only been served with summaries that summonsed my client to appear before the court at 10am, said Mr Koria. Koria was also not in a position to enter a plea in relation to the charges against his client because he needed to review the charges first. Defense counsel asked for a two weeks adjournment to be prepared and he requested the court for a stern order to be made to the N.P.Os office, to serve the charge documents by Friday this week. Counsel appearing for prosecution said that they could serve the charge documents to the defendant before the end of the day. Since the charges are final, we can have them served, she said. Ms Sua also told the court that under the prosecutions normal procedures, they could only serve the trial documents to the defense after the accused enters a plea to the charges. However, she would try and serve the defense counsel with the trial documents before the end of the week. The allegations against Fuiavailili are in relation to the wrongful arrest of a member of the public, Suitupe Misa, at the Fugalei market last year. The charges are also based on a report issued by the Office of the Ombudsman Maiava Iulai Toma, who blasted the behavior of the Police, including the Police Commissioner Fuiavailili, as irresponsible and unlawful and cruel. Mr Misa was arrested at gunpoint by a contingent of armed plain clothed officers in front of a shocked and distressed Fugalei Market Place. And it transpired that Mr Misa had committed no crime, and the arrest was carried out based on insubstantial and second hand evidence. Mr. Misa lodged a complaint against the Police, which was investigated by the Ombudsmans Office. The findings of the investigation raise serious questions about the actions of the Police and the Commissioner. The Commissioner of Police failed to meet basic investigation principles and placed undue consideration on second hand evidence, leading directly to the wrongful and unlawful arrest of Suitupe, the reports findings read. The Commissioners decision to arm and allow the use of firearms by his officers contravened the Use of Force policy, was irresponsible, and could negatively impact the overall safety and security within Samoa. The Commissioner failed to take appropriate steps to identify the actions of his officers as being part of a police operation, leading to widespread distress and in one case serious health issues. Think a minuteA woman named Anna Jarvis protested and fought against how Mothers Day had become so commercialized. She said: Mothers Day has nothing to do with candyInstead of a store-bought card, why not write your own words to the woman who has done more for you than anyone? Take her out to dinner[or] give her something useful and permanent. Maybe she needs new eyeglasses or a more comfortable bed. If anyone had the right to speak out against all the moneymaking and commercializing of Mothers Day it was Anna Jarvisbecause Mothers Day was her idea. Anna was 42-years-old when her mother died on the second Sunday of May, 1906. Anna was determined to see her mother and all mothers honored every year. She arranged the first Mothers Day church service on May 10, 1908, at the church in Grafton, West Virginia where Annas mother had taught Sunday school. Anna continued working to promote her idea everywhere. In just a few years, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation from the United States Congress that made the second Sunday in May officially Mothers Daywhich we still celebrate to this day. But Anna, who was now 50-years-old, still did not believe that Mothers Day was serving its true purpose; so she quit her job and spent the next 34 years, and all of her money, to campaign against the profit-making and commercializing of the day she had started in honor of motherhood. Finally, Anna was too old and tired to speak out, with no money left. Now both deaf and blind, she was placed in long-term hospital care until she died at the age of 84. This story of the woman who invented Mothers Day is even more amazingbecause she herself never married and became a mother. She sacrificed all of her own opportunities and relationships, so all of us would remember the true purpose and meaning of Mothers Day. Wont you ask the One Who gave you your mother to grow His unconditional love in your heart? Then you can truly love and honor your mother the way He intendedevery day of the year. Just think a minute Van: smith rosine < sgtsmithrosine@hotmail.com > Verzonden: maandag 25 juli 12:06 2016 Onderwerp: HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER Nice to hear from you again after our brief chat.I am Sgt.Rosine Smith from the South Eastern State of the United State(Kentucky) based in Kabul Afghanistan.I hope all is well with you? I at the US Air Force,working with the United Nations peace keeping troop in Afghanistan, on war against terrorism. I have in my possession the sum of $3.5million USD Which i made here in Afghanistan after executing a successful contract. I deposited this money with a Red Cross agent. I want you to stand as my beneficiary and receive the fund and keep it safe until am able to meet you.This was the reason why i contacted you as i am in an urgent need to move this box out from here because they are planning to move some troop out of Afghanistan and i am among.Now i am left with no option than to move this box to a safe place without any delay. I believe in you and i believe you will assist me to invest in a good profitable venture, I will give you 20% of the fund for your assistance after you have receive the box. Kindly reply back to me if you are willing to work with me so that i can send you the information where the money is been deposited, your urgent reply is needed. Regards SGT.Rosine Smith. Van: smith rosine < sgtsmithrosine@hotmail.com > Verzonden: donderdag 28 juli 22:29 2016 Onderwerp: SINCERE CO-OPERATION WITH TRUST i thank you for your very kind and prompt response to my email,indicating your willingness to assist me transfer this funds for investment purposes in your country or any country that you will recommend .am well impressed by your person and I feel I have found the right person, but time will tell. As you know, the success of this transaction will depend on our total mutual trust and you must promise that you will keep it secret within yourself. I want everything to be clear to you right now but you have to read carefully.The deal is all about the money I made here, and I have it kept safely in a box. Due to the United Nation policy on Afghanistan, there is a plan to move some troops out of Afghanistan so I will be among the people that will be moving out. I cannot take this money to the United States because since they know me as military personnel, they will want to know how I come about it. For this reason, I have made an arrangement for a Red Cross diplomat agent to move this fund. The question is who will be in charge of the money in my absence? This is exactly why I need your help. I want to guarantee you that you will not stand any risk in this as I have mapped out the strategy to have this box moved out of here safely Through Diplomatic means.you have to keep everything confidential till you receive the fund as a consignment. Finally, I want you to stand as the beneficiary and receive the fund and keep it safe so that as soon as i come to your country, you will assist me to invest it in a good profitable venture,I will give you 20% of the total money for the assistance after you have receive the money.I believe I can trust you. I would have transferred at least $10,000 to you before depositing the box with the Red Cross so that you can believe me more and understand that this is not a joke but there is no means to remit fund out from this country.There is a ban on all the financial institute in this country regarding international transaction due to the crisis that have been going on in this country which is one of the reason why we are working here .For this reason,i can not transfer fund through any bank here,that is why i have to use the Red Cross to move the box. Where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication facilities, which are secured so no body can monitor our emails, then I can explain in details to you. I will only reach you through email, because the control unit monitor all calls, I just have to be sure whom I am dealing with. Please if you can handle it, let me know so that i will furnish you on the way forward. Please send your information so that i will furnish you on the modality to follow. Your Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Address_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Phone Number_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Occupation_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Age_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Nearest Airport_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your country_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Regards, SGT ROSINE SMITH Van: smith rosine < sgtsmithrosine@hotmail.com > Verzonden: maandag 1 augustus 3:50 2016 Onderwerp: ACHIEVEMENT Hello My Dear How is work going with you?i hope all is well, The attachment is the deposit certificate of the box and the picture of the box before i sealed it in the electronic box.This box contains $3.5million but i am sending it to you as a family treasure. The content of the box remains our top secret.No one should know the content,only you and i.This box is an electronic box which can only be open by the code.Without the code,no one can open the box. The box will depart from Kabul Afghanistan through the Red Cross jet and arrive Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport Dakar Senegal on the 3nd of August 2016.The Red Cross jet normally fly from here to WestAfrican countries. Upon the arrival, Ishall let you have the contact of the diplomat for you to reach an agreement with him on how and where the box will be delivered to you. You will let him have your full names, address of delivery and your phone numbers for him to make the necessary logistics involved.But if you can fly to Senegal and get the box from the diplomat yourself,let me know. Meanwhile,it is clear to you that the diplomat is not aware of the content of the box.You will only tell him that the box is your family treasure. You are going to take control and reach an agreement with him as regards to the delivery of the box to you. In accordance with United Nation's diplomatic delivery act,the diplomat have diplomatic immunity which gives them the right to convey any consignment without the disturbance of the customs and other security agents at the airport. Everything is under control,there is nothing to worry about. I will wait to hear from you. Regards SGT ROSINE SMITH From: smith rosine < sgtsmithrosine@hotmail.com > Sent: Wed, Aug 10, 2016 11:12 am Subject: I will give you 20% of the total money for the assistance i thank you for your very kind and prompt response to my email indicating your willingness to assist me transfer this funds for investment purposes in your country or any country that you will recommend .am well impressed by your person and I feel I have found the right person, but time will tell. As you know, the success of this transaction will depend on our total mutual trust and you must promise that you will keep it secret within yourself. I want everything to be clear to you right now but you have to read carefully. The deal is all about the money I made here and I have it kept safely in a box. Due to the United Nations policy on Afghanistan, there is a plan to move some troops out of Afghanistan so I will be among the people that will be moving out. I cannot take this money to the United States because since they know me as military personnel, they will want to know how I come about it. For this reason, I have made an arrangement for a Red Cross diplomat agent to move this fund. The question is who will be in charge of the money in my absence? This is exactly why I need your help. I want to guarantee you that you will not stand any risk in this as I have mapped out the strategy to have this box moved out of here safely t hrough diplomatic means. You have to keep everything confidential till you receive the fund as a consignment. Finally, I want you to stand as the beneficiary and receive the fund and keep it safe so that as soon as i come to your country, you will assist me to invest it in a good profitable venture, I will give you 20% of the total money for the assistance after you have receive the money. I believe I can trust you. I would have transferred at least $10,000 to you before depositing the box with the Red Cross so that you can believe me more and understand that this is not a joke but there is no means to remit fund out from this country. There is a ban on all the financial institute in this country regarding international transaction due to the crisis that have been going on in this country which is one of the reason why we are working here. For this reason, i can not transfer fund through any bank here,that is why i have to use the Red Cross to move the box. Where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication facilities, which are secured so no body can monitor our emails, then I can explain in details to you. I will only reach you through email, because the control unit monitor all calls, I just have to be sure whom I am dealing with. Please if you can handle it, let me know so that i will furnish you on the way forward. Please send your information so that i will furnish you on the modality to follow. Your Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Address_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Phone Number_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Occupation_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Age_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Nearest Airport_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your country_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Regards, SGT . ROSINE SMITH Van: smith rosine < sgtsmithrosine@hotmail.com > Verzonden: zaterdag 13 augustus 10:54 2016 Onderwerp: Re: DEAREST Hello My Dear You can keep the box safe in your room and dont tell anyone about the box.Mail the diplomat and send him the $350 to clear the box and bring it to you.I will come to meet you very soon. . Regards SGT ROSINE From: smith rosine < sgtsmithrosine@hotmail.com > Sent: Sat, Aug 20, 2016 11:14 am Subject: Have you heard from the diplomat, darling ? Hello, my dear, good morning ! Have you heard from the diplomat ? write to him he will instruct you on what to do. i have told him about you, go on and write to him. Regards Sgt. ROSINE From: Rosine Smith < rosinesmith201@hotmail.com > Sent: Sun, Jul 31, 2016 12:08 am Subject: I need you to stand as a friend to secure and carry out my project My dear How are you today ? It is nice to meet you. I choose you because my heart accept you to be my friend. I like to be open, i am a woman that have seen life, i have been exposed to many kinds of danger in life but i thank God that i am still alive,it is my duty to defend and protect children and innocent people from terrorism, to serve my Country and save lifes . For me, it really does not matterage or color or achievement, what matters in our life is nothing but care , affectionate and expression, expression of the heart for the people around us. This is the most important thing in life, to me the most beautiful thing created by God, is never seen, only felt in the heart. I have been hardworking all my life,now i am thinking of something better, to enjoy my life and probably have a family, travel out on my long vacation for investment and find my soulmate. I am Sgt. Rosine Smith, 30, from the SouthEastern State of the United State (Kentucky) presently in Kabul, Afghanistan, for 2 years now. I am in the US Air Force,we're working with the United Nations peace keeping troop in Afghanistan, on war against terrorism. I lost my mom and dad in an auto crash when i was 5,my late uncle took me to the military orphanage home where i was brought up and joined the US Air Force though i wanted to be a model but there was no time for me to do that. I have an assignment in Syria with my troop, after the mission, i will have my vacation though i don't know when because it is not yet confirmed. I want to carry out my project before i go to Syria and I need you to stand for me as a friend and family to secure and carry out the project for me. I will come to meet you for investment after my trip to Syria. Tell me more about yourself, family and work, are you married ? do you have kids ? what you do on your free time. I will give you the details of what i want you to do for me when i hear from you. Permit me to stop here until i hear from you. Thanks Yours s incerely Sgt. Rosine SMITH From: Rosine Philippe < rosinesmith10@hotmail.com > Sent: Tue, Aug 2, 2016 1:34 pm Subject: MY DEAR, TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOU My dear, I am Miss Rosine Philippe, l am 23 years old, I am single never married before, Nursing student from Monrovia, Liberia, but presently seeking asylum in Senegal as a result of war in my country, my father of a blessed memory by name Late Engr. Clifford Philippe who was the Director general with CLIFF INDUSTRIAL Co. PLC in Liberia was killed alongside with my beloved mother and our family house burnt down by the rebels during the last crisis in my country when Janjaweed militias came to our house, and this sent me away to other country as i made my escape only by God's special grace and with the help of catholic missionaries because i was in the boarding house when this incident took place. Actually in search of an honest and reliable person who will help me to relocate to western world or a peaceful place for a better life,i have chosen to contact you after my prayers and i believe you will not try to cheat me but rather take me as your own people. Though you may wonder why I am so soon giving in to you without seeing you, well I will say that my instinct still tells that you could be true to me. Briefly, I will like to disclose much to you if you will help me to relocate to your country with the substance that i inherited from my parents. I have a substantial amount of $4.7m. (Four Million seven Hundred Thousand Dollars), which i will like to invest in your country into any lucrative business venture which you are to advise and execute seeing that i have no business experience for now. However, I shall forward you with the necessary documents on confirmation of your acceptance to assist me for the transfer and investment of the fund. As you will help me in an investment, and i will like to complete my studies, as i was in my 2nd year in Nursing school, when the crisis started. It is my intention to compensate you with 25% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my investment capital. This is the reason why I decided to contact you. Please all communications should be through this box address only for confidential purposes. As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I will put things into action immediately In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely. Awaiting your urgent and positive response. Please do keep this only to your self please i beg you not to disclose it till i come over, once the fund has been transferred. I attach my photo here for you. With due respect, I am pleading that you help me, i am giving all this detailed information with every transparency believing that you will have a clear picture of the base of help i need from you. I hope to hear from you soon, May truth and love be the guiding word in my refuge in you, dear helper. Yours sincerely, Rosine Philippe From: Rosine Philippe < rosinesmith10@hotmail.com > Sent: Sun, Aug 7, 2016 4:02 pm Subject: THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING TO HELP ME Hello, my Dear, My dear i really wish to thank you too for your responds to my mail, thank you for the concern and care. Ireally need you to help me if you can please my conditions here is very bad for me. . please let's get better acquainted as much as you wanted it to be, i am there for you anytime you want me to start coming over to you, help me get the necessary things for my traveling, am ever ready to be with you all my life. Please understand with me, the pictures i sent you is the only my left pics here in the refugee camp, i beg you, OK. Please dear am waiting to hear from you on how it should be, I Love you so much ok. Darling i will send you the bank information so that you can contact the bank know the possibility transferring the funds into your account, ok. thanks yours sincerely Rosine. From: Rosine Philippe < rosinesmith10@hotmail.com > Sent: Wed, Aug 10, 2016 1:03 am Subject: Honey, I have decided to offer you 25% of the whole money, contact Hello my dear,how are you today ? I hope every thing is moving on well. STANDARD CHARTERED BANK PLC UK Contact Personal Email, standardcharteredbanklondon.plc@gmx.com ormanager email Honestly, it is God who saw your pure heart and brought you to help me; He knows that you are the right person for me and that you will be honest till the end. I prayed seriously for God to give me a nice and sincere person who will be sincere and can take very good care of me. God answered my prayer by bringing you into my life, you are the right person i choose to help me and i hope you will not betrayed my trust. Most importantly i want you to fill the gap which the death of my parents created in my heart and moreover i want you to bring me out of this terrible refugee camp to your country immediately after the transfer. Every minutes I think of my situation here, it makes me shield tears always because I have never expected such in my life. Below is the contact of the bank, please contact the bank by their e-mail address immediately.Let them know that you are my partner for the transfer of the fund and also ask them the possibilities to transfer my late father s fund into your account, in the account details.Here is the contact of the bank to write them :STANDARD CHARTERED BANK PLC UKContact Personal Email,ormanager email petersends_managelondonbank@yahoo.co.uk Name of the official transfer -Peter Sands. Phone Number: 00447031828803 Phone Number: 00447031899625 Fax Number: +44-87-1256-029059576 Information on the Code following the deposit. Name of depositor: Engr. Clifford Philippe Nationality: Liberia Then the family: Miss Rosine Philippe Deposited amount: US dollars for $ 4.7 million Account Number: SCBPJ715608802536/ZU/44/D The money is deposited in my name Miss Rosine Philippe,communicate with them now on how to allocate the money ($4.7million) into your account the money was deposited by my deceased father, whom I am the next of kin for the family. Honey, I have decided to offer you 25% of the whole mone y as a compensation and in showing appreciation for your kind help in this transaction. i will like you to send the Bank an email with there official address in this massage, or you can also call them with there official telephone number if you wish to speak to the bank manager him self. Honey, i am waiting to hear from you soonest. May Almighty God bless you. Yours, darling Name of the official transfer -Peter Sands.Phone Number: 00447031828803Phone Number: 00447031899625Fax Number: +44-87-1256-029059576Information on the Code following the deposit.Name of depositor: Engr. Clifford PhilippeNationality: LiberiaThen the family: Miss Rosine PhilippeDeposited amount: US dollars for $ 4.7 millionAccount Number: SCBPJ715608802536/ZU/44/DThe money is deposited in my name Miss Rosine Philippe,communicate with them now on how to allocate the money ($4.7million) into your account the money was deposited by my deceased father, whom I am the next of kin for the family.Honey,y as a compensation and in showing appreciation for your kind help in this transaction.i will like you to send the Bank an email with there official address in this massage, or you can also call them with there official telephone number if you wish to speak to the bank manager him self.Honey, i am waiting to hear from you soonest.May Almighty God bless you.Yours, darling Rosine Phillippe From: Rosine Philippe < rosinesmith10@hotmail.com > Sent: Wed, Aug 17, 2016 2:31 pm Subject: Bank email addresses, please contact this bank on my behalf, ok ? STANDARD CHARTERED BANK PLC UK Contact personal email: manager email : Contact personal email: standardcharteredbanklondon.plc@gmx.com manager email : petersends_managelondonbank@yahoo.co.uk From: Rosine Smith < rosinesmith3@gmail.com > Sent: Tue, Aug 2, 2016 6:10 pm Subject: CAN WE WORK TOGETHER ? rosinesmith3@gmail.com Hello, Nice to meet you , It's me Sgt. Rosine Smith from the South Eastern State of the United State (Kentucky) based in Kabul Afghanistan, I hope all is well with you? I am working with the United States Air Force peace keeping troop in Afghanistan, on war against terrorism. I have in my possession the sum of $3.5 million USD ( three million five hundred thousand united states dollar ) which i made here in Afghanistan. I deposited this money with a Red Cross agent. I want you to stand as my beneficiary and receive the fund and keep it safe until am able to meet you. I am in an urgent need to move this box out from here because they are planning to move some troop out of Afghanistan and i am among, Now i am left with no option than to move this box to a safe place, that is why i contacted you and i believe in you. You will assist me to invest in a good profitable venture, I will give you 20% of the fund for your assistance after you have receive the box. Kindly reply back to me if you are willing to work with me so that i can send you the information where the money is been deposited, your urgent reply is needed. All i need from you is honest and trust. Regards Sgt . Rosine Smith From: Rosine Smith < rosinesmith3@gmail.com > Sent: Sat, Aug 6, 2016 3:13 pm Subject: SINCERE COOPERATION WITH TRUST Hello Dear How are you hope everything is fine. Firstly i want to say thanks a lot my dear for responding to my mail. My reasons for your information is to know more things about you and to know where exactly my box will be deliver to that was why i requested for your information and to be sure who am dealing with. Please my dear send me your information so i will furnish you on the modality to follow : Your Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Address_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Phone Number_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Occupation_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Age_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Nearest Airport_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your country_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Regards, Sgt. Rosine. From: Rosine Smith < rosinesmith216@hotmail.com > Sent: Sun, Aug 28, 2016 11:00 pm Subject: SINCERE COOPERATION WITH TRUST I Thank you for your very kind and prompt response to my email, indicating your willingness to assist me transfer this fund for investment purposes in your country or any country that you will recommend, am well impressed by your person and I feel I have found the right person, but time will tell, as you know, the success of this transaction will depend on our total mutual trust and you must promise that you will keep it secret within yourself. I want everything to be clear to you right now but you have to read carefully. The deal is all about the money I made here, and I have it kept safely in a box. Due to the United Nations policy on Afghanistan, there is a plan to move some troops out of Afghanistan so I will be among the people that will be moving out. I cannot take this money to the United States because since they know me as military personnel, they will want to know how I come about it. For this reason, I have made an arrangement for a Red Cross diplomat agent to move this fund. The question is who will be in charge of the money in my absence? This is exactly why I need your help. I want to guarantee you that you will not stand any risk in this as I have mapped out the strategy to have this box moved out of here safely t hrough Diplomatic means.you have to keep everything confidential till you receive the fund as a consignment. I must not fail to explain to you how I came across this fund I want you to use for investment. our soldiers had encounter and exchanged bullets with some gunmen and eventually three of our soldiers were injured in the event while over sixteen of the gunmen were killed, as a nurse in the army. I and my group rushed to give medical attention to our men who were injure at the spot where the sixteen gun men were shot to dead, I saw two trunks and showed it to my fellow and we decided to force of the trunks open and discovered huge amount of dollars in it and we did the same to the other trunk and saw the same thing and we quickly took the trunks. Finally, I want you to stand as the beneficiary and receive the fund and keep it safe so that as soon as i come to your country, you will assist me to invest it in a good profitable venture, I will give you 20% of the total money for the assistance after you have receive the money. I believe I can trust you. Where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication facilities, which are secured so no body can monitor our emails, then I can explain in details to you. I will only reach you through email, because the control unit monitor all calls, I just have to be sure whom I am dealing with. Please if you can handle it, let me know so that i will furnish you on the way forward. Please send your information so that i will furnish you on the modality to follow : Your Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Address_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Phone Number_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Occupation_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Age_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Nearest Airport_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your country_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Regards, Sgt. Rosine Smith. From: rosinesmith36 < rosinesmith36@yahoo.com > Sent: Mon, Aug 29, 2016 12:44 pm Subject: SINCERE COOPERATION WITH TRUST I thank you for your very kind and prompt response to my email indicating your willingness to assist me transfer this funds for investment purposes in your country or any country that you will recommend, am well impressed by your person and I feel I have found the right person, but time will tell, as you know, the success of this transaction will depend on our total mutual trust and you must promise that you will keep it secret within yourself. I want everything to be clear to you right now but you have to read carefully. The deal is all about the money I made here, and I have it kept safely in a box. Due to the United Nations policy on Afghanistan, there is a plan to move some troops out of Afghanistan so I will be among the people that will be moving out. I cannot take this money to the United States because since they know me as military personnel, they will want to know how I come about it. For this reason, I have made an arrangement for a Red Cross diplomat agent to move this fund. The question is who will be in charge of the money in my absence? This is exactly why I need your help. I want to guarantee you that you will not stand any risk in this as I have mapped out the strategy to have this box moved out of here safely through Diplomatic means. You have to keep everything confidential till you receive the fund as a consignment. I must not fail to explain to you how I came across this fund I want you to use for investment. our soldiers had encounter and exchanged bullets with some gunmen and eventually three of our soldiers were injured in the event while over sixteen of the gunmen were killed, as a nurse in the army. I and my group rushed to give medical attention to our men who were injure at the spot where the sixteen gun men were shot to dead, I saw two trunks and showed it to my fellow and we decided to force of the trunks open and discovered huge amount of dollars in it and we did the same to the other trunk and saw the same thing and we quickly took the trunks. Finally, I want you to stand as the beneficiary and receive the fund and keep it safe so that as soon as i come to your country, you will assist me to invest it in a good profitable venture, I will give you 20% of the total money for the assistance after you have receive the money. I believe I can trust you. Where we are now we can only communicate through our military communication facilities, which are secured so no body can monitor our emails, then I can explain in details to you. I will only reach you through email, because the control unit monitor all calls, I just have to be sure whom I am dealing with. Please if you can handle it, let me know so that i will furnish you on the way forward. Please send your informations so that i will furnish you on the modality to follow. . Your Name:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Address_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Phone Number_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Occupation_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Age_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your Nearest Airport_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Your country_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Regards, Sgt. Rosine Smith From: rosinesmith36 < rosinesmith36@yahoo.com > Sent: Thu, Sep 8, 2016 11:45 am Subject: The box will arrive at London on the 10th of September 2016 I believe that very soon you will have my box with you. The attachment is the deposit certificate of the box and the picture of the box, This box contains $3.5million but i am sending it to you as a family treasure. The content of the box remains our top secret, No one should know the content, only you and i, This box is an electronic box which can only be open by the code, Without the code, no one can open the box. The box will depart from Kabul (Afghanistan) through the Red Cross Islamic jet and arrive in Saudi Arabia ,then from there, the flight will go to London UK which is the final destination, the flight will arrive at London on the 10th of September 2016, I shall let you have the contact of the diplomat for you to reach an agreement with him on how and where the box will be delivered to you. You will let him have your full names, address of delivery and your phone numbers for him to make the necessary logistics involved. But if you can fly to London and get the box from the diplomat yourself, let me know. Meanwhile, it is clear to you that the diplomat is not aware of the content of the box, You will only tell him that the box is your family treasure, You are going to take control and reach an agreement with him as regards to the delivery of the box to you. In accordance with United Nations' diplomatic delivery act, the diplomat have diplomatic immunity which gives them the right to convey any consignment without the disturbance of the customs and other security agents at the airport. Everything is under control, there is nothing to worry about. I will wait to hear from you. Regards Sgt. Rosine From: rosinesmith36 < rosinesmith36@yahoo.com > Sent: Sat, Sep 10, 2016 10:08 am Subject: CONTACT THE DIPLOMAT I am happy to inform you that i got a message from the Red Cross that my box arrived at London safely and now with the diplomat. Below is the contact of the diplomat given to me by the Red Cross : DIPLOMAT INFORMATION NAME. . . . . . . . MR MORAN KEVIN NATIONALITY. . . . IRISH COUNTRY. . . . . NORTHERN IRELAND UK ADDRESS : . . . .UK Office, 44 Moorfields London EC2Y 9AL Phone number: +447 980 379736 diplomaticmorankevin@gmail.com Do not change any letter in the email address, the email address is correct. I want you to communicate with him through email or phone and let him know that you are the person to receive the box on my behalf. He will deliver the box to your door step or any where you choose to meet with him. I am counting on you, i have so much confidence in you though we have not seen each other before. I decided to move this box out from Afghanistan because if i leave the box here and they transfer me to Syria, i will loose the box. I don't have any other option than to move the box to you but please do not take advantage of me, do not run away with my money. We have a lot to do together and i trust you. When you receive the box from the diplomat, i will instruct you on what to do. Regards Sgt. Rosine Do not change any letter in the email address, the email address is correct.I want you to communicate with him through email or phone and let him know that you are the person to receive the box on my behalf. He will deliver the box to your door step or any where you choose to meet with him. I am counting on you, i have so much confidence in you though we have not seen each other before. I decided to move this box out from Afghanistan because if i leave the box here and they transfer me to Syria, i will loose the box. I don't have any other option than to move the box to you but please do not take advantage of me, do not run away with my money. We have a lot to do together and i trust you.When you receive the box from the diplomat, i will instruct you on what to do.RegardsSgt. Rosine De : Rosine Smith < rosinesmith201@hotmail.com > Envoye le : Ve, 11 Nov 2016 15:53 Sujet : I want to carry out my project before i go to Syria My dear How are you today ? It is nice to meet you. I choose you because my heart accept you to be my friend. I like to be open, i am a woman that have seen life, i have been exposed to many kinds of danger in life but i thank God that i am still alive,it is my duty to defend and protect children and innocent people from terrorism, to serve my country and save lifes. For me, it really does not matter on age or color or achievement, what matters in our life is nothing but care, affectionate and expression, expression of the heart for the people around us. This is the most important thing in life, to me the most beautiful thing created by God, is never seen, only felt in the heart. I have been hardworking all my life,now i am thinking of something better, to enjoy my life and probably have a family, travel out on my long vacation for investment and find my soulmate. I am Sgt. Rosine Smith, 30, from the South Eastern State of the United States (Kentucky) presently in Kabul Afghanistan for 2 years now. I am in the US Air Force, working with the United Nations peace keeping troops in Afghanistan, on war against terrorism. I lost my mom and dad in an auto crash when i was 5,my late uncle took me to the military orphanage home where i was brought up and joined the US Air FORCE though i wanted to be a model but there was no time for me to do that. I have an assignment in Syria with my troop, after the mission, i will have my vacation though i don't know when because it is not yet confirmed. I want to carry out my project before i go to Syria and i need you to stand for me as a friend and family to secure and carry out the project for me. I will come to meet you for investment after my trip to Syria. Tell me more about yourself, family and work, are you married ? do you have kids ? what you do on your free time. I will give you the details of what i want you to do for me when i hear from you. Permit me to stop here until i hear from you. Thanks Yours Sincerely, SGT. ROSINE SMITH If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... Little Rock, AR -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/29/2016 -- Arkansas Family Dental is pleased to announce the practice is welcoming a new dentist in Dr. Kimberly Pollard of Little Rock, Arkansas. Effective upon this announcement, Dr. Pollard will be accepting new patients. Dr. Pollard attended Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, for her undergraduate education, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a Minor in Psychology. She then attended the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry in Memphis, Tennessee, and graduated with her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. "We are so excited to have Dr. Pollard join us!" says Arkansas Family Dental co-owner, Dr. Samaria Mascagni. Co-owner Dr. Tina Nichols agrees: "As we take on new patients and get busier and busier, our team has been growing, too. We hope that with the addition of Dr. Pollard, we can offer additional office hours to our patients." Since she was in high school, Dr. Pollard has been passionate about dentistry. Prior to completing her graduate degree, she worked as a Dental Assistant at her father's dental practice in Conway, Arkansas. "I knew I wanted to become a dentist since I was a little girl," says Dr. Pollard. "I love taking care of patients of all ages and cannot wait to join the Arkansas Family Dental family. Come see me!" About Arkansas Family Dental Arkansas Family Dental is a gentle family dentist office in Little Rock, Arkansas. The practice's philosophy is to treat patients as if they are family. To schedule an appointment today, visit ArkansasFamilyDental.com or call 501-683-8886 for more information. Contact: Dr. Samaria Mascagni Arkansas Family Dental Phone: 501-683-8886 Website: http://www.arkansasfamilydental.com/ Lancaster County, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/29/2016 -- 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 About Black Rock Retreat 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 Address: 1345 Kirkwood Pike, Quarryville, PA 17566 Phone: 800-858-9299 / 717-529-3232 Email: info@blackrockretreat.com Website: www.blackrockretreat.com Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/29/2016 -- The power transmission towers and cables market report by Transparency Market Research provides in-depth analysis of the power transmission towers and cables market globally. The report segments the market on the basis of type and geography. The report analyzes the global power transmission towers and cables market in terms of both sales volume and revenue (US$ Mn) for the 20152023 period. For this research study, the base year is 2014, whereas the forecast is from 2015 to 2023. The report provides a comprehensive competitive landscape and features companies engaged in the manufacturing, construction, installation, and operation of power transmission towers and cables. This report includes the key dynamics affecting the power transmission towers and cables market globally. The analysis in the report provides detailed insights of the global power transmission towers and cables market. Market dynamics such as drivers, opportunities, and restraints of the market were analyzed in detail and are illustrated in the report through tables. The report also provides a detailed industry analysis of global power transmission towers and cables with the help of Porter's Five Forces model. Complete Report with TOC @ http://www.mrrse.com/power-transmission-towers-cables-market Power transmission towers and cables are a vital part of the power transmission infrastructure. These components are used for transmission and distribution of electricity from power generation facilities to the end-users. Power transmission towers are tall vertical structures usually erected for the purpose of supporting and carrying transmission lines. Power transmission cables are used either as overhead, underground or submarine cables for the onshore and offshore operations to connect with power grid. The power transmission towers and cables market has been segmented on the basis of type and geography. The power transmission towers and cables market has been segmented by type into power transmission towers and power transmission cables. The power transmission towers and cables market has been segmented geographically into five regional segments and further into 12 unique country sub-segments. The regional segments are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin and Central Americas. The 12 countries which have been separately addressed in this report are the U.S., Canada, Mexico, CIS countries, Germany, the U.K, China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, and Argentina. Asia Pacific held the major share of the global power transmission towers and cables market in 2014, accounting for more than 35% of the global market share in terms of sales revenue. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing market for power transmission towers and cables. Counties such as China and India are expected to be the main divers for growth in Asia Pacific power transmission towers and cables market. North America was the second-largest market for power transmission towers and cables in 2014. Middle East and Africa, Europe, and Latin and Central Americas together constituted for less than 50% share of the global power transmission towers and cables market in that year. Middle East is expected to increase its market share of the global power transmission towers and cables market. Middle East is expected to be second fastest growing market for power transmission towers and cables. Huge investments in power transmission infrastructure by countries such as Saudi Arabia and others are expected to drive the demand for power transmission towers and cables in this region. Power transmission cables type segment accounted for around 70% share of the global power transmission towers and cables market in 2014. Request a Free Sample Copy of the Report @ http://www.mrrse.com/sample/1621 Some of the key market participants in the power transmission towers and cables market include Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd., Zhejiang Shengda Steel Tower Co. Ltd., Nanjing Daji Iron Tower Manufacturing Co. Ltd., ShanDong DingChang Tower Co. Ltd., KEC International Ltd., Prysmian S.p.A., Nexans S.A., General Cable Technologies Corporation, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., and Southwire Company LLC. About MRRSE MRRSE stands for Market Research Reports Search Engine, the largest online catalog of latest market research reports based on industries, companies, and countries. MRRSE sources thousands of industry reports, market statistics, and company profiles from trusted entities and makes them available at a click. Besides well-known private publishers, the reports featured on MRRSE typically come from national statistics agencies, investment agencies, leading media houses, trade unions, governments, and embassies. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/29/2016 -- A wireless intercom enables wireless transfer of audio signals between a base station and end terminals (handheld headset, belt pack, speaker station) in any application. Wireless intercom has one base station and multiple belts packs or substations. These belt packs communicate with one another through the base station. Wireless intercom provide such as single, dual, and multiple channels for communication through which the belt packs are connected to one another. The report covers wireless intercom systems that have a base station connected with an analog, digital, or IP-based communication medium in order to connect with other intercom systems. Hence, the report only considers the wireless base stations in the segment. The market is segmented on the basis of technology and industrial verticals where wireless intercoms are used. Wireless intercoms communicate through the radio frequencies (RF), Wi-Fi, and other technologies, such as Bluetooth, providing mobility to the end-user. The RF and Wi-Fi segments are further divided on the basis of frequency range, providing the revenue and volume distribution for APAC. Furthermore, recent technological developments have helped wireless intercom manufacturers increase the range of their and accommodate more belt packs in a system. Complete Report with TOC @ http://www.mrrse.com/asia-pacific-wireless-intercom-market The industry vertical segmentation provides a complete range of end-use industries in which wireless intercoms are commonly used. Wireless intercoms mainly find their application in the area of security and surveillance to facilitate internal communication. Security authorities are carrying the belt packs and communicating with each other through the base station as managing the flow of people in and out of a facility is gaining importance owing to the increasing threats. Further, with increases in investment in the areas of hospitality and transportation, the application of wireless intercoms is expected to increase in these areas in the coming years. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the APAC wireless intercom market based on application/end-use industry, technology, price, and geography. In terms of geographical regions, the report segments the Asia Pacific wireless intercom market into China, ASEAN, Rest of Asia Pacific and Oceania, which are analyzed in terms of revenue generation and volume. ASEAN is further segmented into the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and others, while Oceania is divided into Australia and New Zealand. The report also segments the wireless intercom market on the basis of application/end-use industry into retail, event management, hospitality, security and surveillance, and logistics. Segmentation of the market on the basis of technology is into Wi-Fi by frequency, RF by frequency, and RF by channel. Furthermore, the report analyzes the factors that drive and restrain the growth of the wireless intercom market. The report also discusses the prevailing market trends, prospective growth opportunities, and major strategies increasing the popularity of wireless intercom systems. It also provides the market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue. Also provided is the market positioning of key players, distribution channel analysis and top brands in the Asia Pacific wireless intercom market. Request a Free Sample Copy of the Report @ http://www.mrrse.com/sample/1619 Additionally, the report includes competitive profiling of the major players engaged in offering wireless intercoms to particular industrial verticals. Major business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, and various recent developments have also been identified in the research report. The major manufacturers providing wireless intercoms profiled in the report include Clear-Com (HME Company), ZENITEL GROUP, Telephonics Corporation, Sena Technologies, Panasonic Corporation, Riedel Communications GmbH & Co KG, RTS Intercom (part of Bosch Security Systems, Inc.), and Commend International GmbH. About MRRSE MRRSE stands for Market Research Reports Search Engine, the largest online catalog of latest market research reports based on industries, companies, and countries. MRRSE sources thousands of industry reports, market statistics, and company profiles from trusted entities and makes them available at a click. Besides well-known private publishers, the reports featured on MRRSE typically come from national statistics agencies, investment agencies, leading media houses, trade unions, governments, and embassies. Astronomers' new research led them to a discovery of a new planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf, just over 4 light-years away that is the nearest star to the sun. This discovery prompted astronomy enthusiasts to wonder why it took experts so long to introduce Earth to its neighbor. Michael Endl, an astronomer at the McDonald Observatory - University of Texas in Austin, said that he was looking for a planet exactly like the one near Proxima Centauri. He was part of the discovery team that previously led a seven-year campaign in the early 2000s in search for planets with similar masses to Earth's. Planets that are specifically located in the so-called habitable zone around Proxima Centauri with the use of European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope in Chile. "We could have found everything from two to three Earth masses in the habitable zone," Endl told Space.com. The newfound alien planet at just 1.3 Earth masses flew right under his radar (or telescope). Scientists named the newfound planet Proxima B. It cannot be seen by the naked eye from the Earth since it is so small and orbit's a relatively small star. To investigate further, Astronomer Guillem Anglada- Escudethen, at the Queen Mary University of London co-author of the research, held a systematic search involving 30 other scientists. They used a High Accuracy Radical Velocity Planet Searcher to observe the behavior of Proxima B. Based on their study, the planet's mass is roughly the same as of Earth's. There is a chance that the planet is habitable. Escudethen stated in a report by CNN.com "We know that there are terrestrial planets around stars. The excitement is, because it's the nearest one, and we expect to characterize it and maybe visit in a couple of centuries." Though they still need to conduct more research to prove that the planet is habitable, still the possibilities are endless. All blood donated in the United States must be tested for Zika as recommended by the health authorities. The US Food and Drug Administration declared this last Friday. It is a preventive way for the virus to spread in the blood supply. The rising number of the mosquito-borne disease cases in Florida worries the FDA, because there is a great chance that it can accidentally be infused in pregnant women and increase the risk of their unborn child to have serious birth defects. To avoid this from happening, they decided to screen all blood donations from the United States and its territories. In a conference call with reporters, FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research director, Peter Marks said, "At this time, the recommendation for testing the entire blood supply will help ensure that safe blood is available for all individuals who might need the transfusion," reports Reuters. Experts, including members from the American Red Cross, conducted a research earlier this month and believed that two Zika-positive people got the virus from a blood transfusion. Thus, several local blood banks have already implemented this screening including those in Tampa, Atlanta and Houston. Through these screenings, FDA confirmed last Friday, that one Zika-infected person has already been prevented from donating blood. Marks said, "that donor, whose blood tested positive before it could enter the national supply, was likely infected through travel." Before the wide spreading of Zika in Florida happened, Congress representative Lloyd Doggett proposed to FDA to have a compulsory screening to all blood donations. Rep. Doggett wrote to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf and the letter said, "If we wait for the first confirmed locally transmitted Zika case to begin testing, we risk serious harm to the stability of our blood supply," according to The Hill. Though it will be costly, with an estimate of $10 per blood donor to be tested, representatives are urging to have a mandatory screening from then on to ensure safety of patients from this deadly disease. Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation or HI-SEAS is a NASA-funded project, which aims to examine the effects of isolation in confined conditions of a human mission to Mars. HI-SEAS comprises of 6 international scientists, who just emerged from their one-year isolation in a Mars-like habitat atop Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano. This is the third simulation and the longest space travel simulation ever conducted on U.S. soil. The chosen location for this simulation is the Mauna Loa volcano, which is the most similar to the barren and red surfaces of the planet Mars. Sheyna Gifford, the chief medical and safety officer of HI-SEAS told the Huffington Post that the biggest challenges they encountered were a "sense of helplessness." She added that trying to find a way to help from here is very difficult. This pertains to situations such as things went wrong on Earth, whether it was a terrorist attack, death of a family member, calamities such as flooding or earthquake. The team ventured in simulation on August 28 of last year. They stayed in a 1,000-square-foot dome on rocky terrain 8,200 feet above sea level. They are dressed in full spacesuits when they attempt to go outside. The NASA-funded mission kept them busy with daily scientific research, equipment testing, geological field work, cooking and exercises, among others. The team could only communicate with the outside world through email. These transmissions were delayed by 20 minutes to imitate how long it would take for such a signal to travel between Earth and Mars. Their resources were limited. The food was replaced every four months and the water was refilled every two months. Whatever things they needed, they had to bring them into the dome at the outset, right down to duct tape, according to Gizmodo. Carmel Johnston, the crew commander said that they changed everything about their lives and limited themselves to only communicating by email. She further said that if anyone didn't want to hop on that wagon, they just didn't hear from them this year. It can be pretty disheartening to feel like you are missing out on everything happening at home. "With all the good and the bad comes lessons that you can't learn unless you are in isolation," Johnston wrote. "Every success or failure is still data and an outcome that can be used to improve the lives of astronauts and Martians." Meanwhile, Gifford stated that she realizes that the journey to Mars will likely prove more challenging in ways you don't expect that in ways you do. She further said that the good news is "human beings are pretty much capable of anything." A tropical depression was formed Sunday off the East Coast and could strengthen into a tropical storm Hermine (her-MEEN), according to National Hurricane Center. This could hit the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a tropical storm by Tuesday. AccuWeather meteorologist Ed Vallee said that the North Carolina Coast will be threatened by drenching showers, thunderstorms and rough surf this week. It is spotted about 355 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina with winds of 35 mph and moving west at 9 mph. The next tropical storm will acquire the name "Hermine." There will be stronger disruptive winds in the atmosphere, which is also referred to as wind shear. The thunderstorms, showers and surf will heighten across the North Carolina and other parts of South Carolina on Monday and Tuesday. These will potentially trigger an isolated flash flooding. Tropical Depression Eight has formed. Will impact eastern North Carolina early this week: https://t.co/ggeBHlW6Hn pic.twitter.com/andZ6UVxEx The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) August 28, 2016 Meanwhile, the USA Today reported that another system might bring additional rain to the Gulf Coast. This includes Louisiana, which is still lurching from the deadly floods that killed 13 people and ruined thousands of houses this month of August. The storm is labeled by the hurricane center as "Invest 99L," which threatens the Gulf coast. It has been watched closely by meteorologists for 10 days. The system had a 60 percent chance of emerging from a tropical depression or hurricane within the next two days and an 80 percent chance within the next five days. The storm is a threat to entire Gulf Coast. Forecasts show that the storm tracks toward Texas, Louisiana or Florida's west coast. "Welcome to another edition of "as 99L turns," said the National Weather Service in New Orleans. The astronomers discovered a vast galaxy made up of entirely of dark matter, which they dubbed Dragonfly 44. This could unravel the mysteries of dark matter as the researchers could study them in detailed. The Dragonfly 44 is the collection of stars lies about 330 million light-years from earth in a group of galaxies, which is known as Coma cluster. It is about the size of Milky way and comprises of about 1 billion stars, which is about 1 percent the numbers of stars in the galaxy. The Milky Way has about thousands of millions of stars and there are more millions of stars in the galaxies. Dragonfly 44 has the same mass as the Milky Way but only 1 percent of the visible matter https://t.co/085Qmn4F7p pic.twitter.com/wBBWyG89CQ Smithsonian Magazine (@SmithsonianMag) August 28, 2016 The study was printed in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. It was led by Pieter van Dokkum astronomer from Yale University and other colleagues. Van Dokkum said that very soon after its discovery, they realized this galaxy had to be more than meets the eye. He further said that it has so few stars that it would rapidly be ripped apart unless something was holding it together. Dragonfly 44 is in the form of dark matter, which is an invisible substance that is believed to make up 85 percent of everything in the universe. Van Dokkum told the Huffington Post that they knew about other galaxies that are wholly dark matter, but those are tiny dwarf galaxies that are about a million times less massive than Dragonfly 44. "It is an exciting discovery," said Jeremiah Ostriker, an astrophysicist at Columbia University. "It gives us a chance to study [dark matter] in detail - close-up." According to Yale News, the astronomers identified the Dragonfly 44 with a telescope invented by van Dokkum and Roberto Abraham from University of Toronto, which is known as Dragonfly Telephoto Array. Dragonfly 44's mass is approximately 1 trillion times the mass of the Sun. This is similar to the mass of Milky Way. On the other hand, only one-hundredth of 1 percent of that is in the form of stars and "normal" matter. They said that the other 99.99 percent is in the form of dark matter. This means that Milky Way's dark twin is a vast amount of unseen mass. Van Dokkum said that scientists have been searching for distinctive signal in dwarf dark galaxies. On the other hand, the signal would be much stronger in a big dark matter galaxy like Dragonfly 44. "The race is on to find massive dark galaxies are even closer to us than Dragonfly 44, so we can look for feeble signals that may reveal a dark matter particle." The International Space Station is in danger, between 2023-2024 Russia plans to let go of the ISS leaving the space station handicapped. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dimitry Rogozin recently indicated that the American segment of the ISS cannot survive without the Russian's side; however, the Russian side can work independently. In able for the ISS to stand, NASA plans to hand over the entire space station to a private company. If this happens, the company will have to rebuild the abandoned segment which Russia will be removing in 2024. This action will free as much as 20% of the agencies funding for NASA's proposal mission to Mars, according to The Motley Fool. The candidates for the handing over of the ISS are the usual companies such as Boeing, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada, which have already proven themselves reliable, for they already have experience in dealing with NASA. As it may seem a monopoly of different companies will be contributing for the rebuilt of the ISS, it was originally constructed by various countries. NASA deputy Associate, Bill Hill explained, "NASA is trying to develop economic development in low-earth orbit," reports Fox Business. NASA's plan of selling must be smoothened out with ISS' other partners, such as Canadian Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the European Space Agency. Assumingly, further legal preliminary will be handled and credits to the commercialization of the space industry must be applauded. In line with this, races with different space agencies like the Chinese, the Indians as well as the Russians are also enduring to establish their own space programs. Hence, they will need the ISS to have a right to dock, for refueling, resupply, and even R&R visits. Therefore, over the next decade, NASA is one step closer to their long-term plans of reaching Mars. This decision of selling is necessary for it's the only way for them to study the red planet. McDonald's is the ultimate fast food franchise. The source of gluttonous comfort food in the form of burgers and fries, you really can't expect healthy things in your happy meals. But you won't expect to find worms in them, either. The Toronto Sun reported that two women took to social media photos of worms that they found in their food after eating McDonald's sandwiches. Lacey Jo Lovett of Kentucky said she finished eating a McChicken in Draffenville, Kentucky, when she found a worm from a piece of lettuce on her sandwich wrapper. Just a few days before, Madison Stephens had a similar experience at a McDonald's 25 miles away in Mayfield, Kentucky. She took her one-year-old son to the restaurant to eat fish sandwich and a cheeseburger. She was halfway through her fish sandwich when the worm fell out and started crawling on her son's food. She told WSPD, "If I hadn't seen that worm, my son would have eaten that because it was already on top of his sandwich. That's how close he came to eating it." Restaurant employees initially said that they couldn't do anything about it without her receipt, but then later sent her a $10 gift card in the mail, after she complained to McDonald's officials. This, however, is not the issue. According to Stephens, it seemed like a "slap in the face" for the restaurant to send her the gift card - she wanted an inspection from the health department. In a statement following the incident, a McDonald's spokesman said, "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." Michael Love, owner-operator of both restaurants told the Associated Press that he has been unable to substantiate the claims of both women regarding the worms found in their food. According to him, inspections of the restaurants by health officials showed no problems as raised by the customers. There have been several campaigns for equality over the years, but the latest showed New York women baring their breasts as they walked down Broadway for GoTopless Day. This is their bid for women to have as much right as men to be bare-chested in public. Science: Being Topless is Not Sexual https://t.co/F6GaLfoH8t Professional Heckler (@HecklerForever) August 29, 2016 According to Fox News, the march was led by some women carrying a banner, followed by others in a convertible, and coming at the end, a pair of giant, inflatable breasts, making a statement for onlookers who gawked and took photos of the parade participants. New York was not the only state to participate. A group of about 30 men and women also walked topless Oceanside across the country in Venice, Los Angeles. Their parade showed a giant, inflatable pink breast marked with the phrase "equal topless rights" written on it, with one participant carrying a sign that said, "My Body Is Not A Crime." These two events are just examples of several planned for cities across the globe. The Reporter noted that gatherings are also planned in New Hampshire, Denver, and more. Nadine Gray, president of GoTopless said that by doing this, they hope that events will take away the shock of people around seeing female breasts. "This push for women to go topless in the 21st century is as strong as women wanting to vote in the 20th century. It may be sensual, but it's not illegal to be sensual," she said. The legality of toplessness for women varies by state, although in New York, it has been legal since 1992. Kia Sinclair, and event organizer for GoTopless Day at the Hampton Beach in New Hampshire shared, "It's in hopes to show people that it can be normal, that it's really not a big deal and it's not about getting attention or protesting." South Korean tech giant, Samsung successfully released the Galaxy Tab S2 over a year ago, and it looks like the handheld device is having a successor which is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3. Reports say that the upcoming device will be introduced next month alongside the new Galaxy Note 7. According to gsmarena.com rumors regarding the release of the website have already been confirmed by the South Korean company. The Samsung Galaxy S3 tab will be released in the month of September as the newest addition to the wide range of tablets the company has already released. In a post on its Colombian website, Samsung says the release of Galaxy S2's successor will go in sync with the launch of the Galaxy Note 7 which was already scheduled to be released in the European market on September 2. "With a processor greater capacity for processing information, along with an operating system that allows interactivity with elements that require good performance on a mobile device," the translated text reads. "Samsung gives expect the upcoming release of the Galaxy Tab S3, which apparently has similar qualities to its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S2, but with some innovations so far not known." Reports revealed that there will be both an 8-inch and 9.7-inch version like there was on the Galaxy Tab S2. Additionally, reports have said that the device will boast a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor with 3GB of RAM, a 4,000mAh battery and 32GB of storage. Tech Radar reported that the leaked features gave the tablet a multi-core score of 4,275, lower than Galaxy S7, but still impressive. Rumors also have it that the Tab will have an 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera which will be very good for selfie lovers. The tablet will also be fused with an octa-core chipset from Qualcomm with speeds clocked at 1.8 GHz together and an Adreno 510 graphics processing unit (GPU) from the same chipmaker. Meanwhile, vinereport.com reports that the company's online store has cut the price of the device by at least $100 from the Galaxy Tab S2's price tag. The report explained that the 9-inch slab now costs $400 while the smaller 8-inch variant is now $50 less from its $400 initial offer. The South Korean vendor clarified that the promotional price reduction will last until September 10 or as long as the stocks are available. Furthermore, Samsung also clarified that the variant that's currently offered are the ones without the phone feature and only has Wi-Fi capabilities. The Obstetrics & Gynecology stated that the pregnancy-related mortality rate of mothers has been almost doubled between the year 2011 and 2015. They discovered that at least 537 women in Texas die because of pregnancy-associated complications that includes problems of childbirth. Dr. Lisa Hollier of Texas' Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force said that it is a complex problem. and the most affected group is the African-American women. "We find that African-American women are bearing the greater risk for maternal death," Dr. Hollier told the NPR. The rate of their maternal death is about three times higher than it is for women of other races and ethnicities. Dr. Hollier further said that African-American women accounted for 11 percent of the births but accounted for 28 percent of the maternal deaths. The researchers also explained that main cause of pregnancy-related death was cardiac arrest. Other causes include homicide, hypertension, the overdose of legal and illegal drugs and suicide, according to the News and Independent. In the study, the team assessed the data accumulated from at least 58 states in America. They found that the maternal mortality rate heightens from 18.8 in the year 2000 to 23,8 in the year 2014. Rachel Ward, the managing director of research at Amnesty International, Unite States said that there is sadly no magic bullet that explains what is behind the increase levels of maternal mortality in the United States. She further said that it is a combination of causes that speak to the systematic problems of failing to give accessible, affordable, quality health services to all women in the United States. It is also discovered that the mortality rate of mothers across the United States has increased not only particularly in Texas. On the other hand, the said state has the number of maternal deaths. The News Independent reported that the maternity mortality rates in the U.S. have heightened by almost 27 percent from 2000 to 2014. There's no doubt that Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S8 smartphone is one of the highly anticipated smartphones which has been scheduled for a 2017 release. While, the smartphone maker hasn't revealed anything about what it has in store for the upcoming Galaxy S8 smartphone, a lot of rumors about the handset's possible release date, specs and pricing details have flooded the internet. The first feature which is almost confirmed for the upcoming Galaxy smartphone is the curved screen display. In fact, according to Ecumenical News, Samsung will completely ditch the flat screen design and roll out only the curved screen Galaxy S8 smartphone. During a recent interview, Samsung Mobile president Koh Dong-jin said that "Samsung has considered that it would make the edge display as the identity of the Galaxy S smartphone lineup if the company can provide consumers differentiated user experience through software and user-friendly functions (for the curved screen)." There also reports which claim that Samsung's next galaxy flagship smartphone might come with a brand new Exynoss 8895 processor. The Exynoss 8895 processor is rumored to be faster than Apple's upcoming A10 processor and more powerful than Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 830 processor. The Exynos 8895 has a reported speed of 4 GHz, the Snapdragon 830 has a speed of 3 GHz, while Apple's A10 chipset has a rumored speed of 2.6 GHz, reported Christian Daily. The use of Exynos 8895 processor in the upcoming Galaxy smartphone is expected to make the handset 30 percent more efficient than the current Galaxy S7 which uses Exynoss 8890 chip. Among other specs, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is rumored to come with a 5.5-inch 4K UHD display with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, a massive 6GB of random access memory (RAM), up to 128GB of internal storage, Android 7.0 Nougat, improved iris scanning technology, a new kind of triple-camera system, a USB Type-C port and virtual reality support. As far as Samsung Galaxy S8 release date is concerned, the handset is expected to be announced at the Mobile World Congress 2017 event. Stay tuned to SWR for more updates on Samsung Galaxy S8 release date, specs and pricing details. A combined research team from MIT and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) created a new kind of structure that can "remember" its original shape, and return to it even after being deformed. The Scientists use shape-memory polymers as their base material, which can maintain both a high-temperature and low-temperature state. The printing process allows said high-temperature state to be printed onto a liquid resin using light from a projector, which MIT says is basically what happens when dentists 3D print replicas of teeth or cavity fills. Applications 3D printing has done a lot for medical science, now it could help us revolutionize medication delivery. Though the team hasn't yet developed temperature sensitive pills, the technology is halfway there. By combining a new 3D-printing process called "microstereolithography" with a special polymer mix that hardens or softens based on variant thermal conditions, researchers have been able to create tiny structures that can "remember" specific shapes, reports Engadget.com. According to MIT News, microstereolithography gives the team the ability to print objects the width of a human hair, ten times smaller than what other teams have been able to accomplish with shape-memory printing. "Because we're using our own printers that offer much smaller pixel size, we're seeing much faster response, on the order of seconds," Nicholas X. Fang, one of the MIT researchers, told MIT news. "If we can push to even smaller dimensions, we may also be able to push their response time, to milliseconds." The group has used the technology to create a tiny, intricately detailed replica of the Eiffel tower as well as a tool capable of grabbing and lifting small objects. The other applications may include design of biomedical devices, shape-changing solar cells and aerospace components. "The reality is that, if you're able to make it to much smaller dimensions, these materials can actually respond very quickly, within seconds," Dr. Fang told MIT News. "For example, a flower can release pollen in milliseconds. It can only do that because its actuation mechanisms are at the micron scale." Apple's mobile devices, which brought over 70 percent of the tech company's revenue in 2015, had taken the top spot over other brands when it comes to reliability. However, a recent study by the Blancco Technology Group titled "State of Mobile Device Performance and Health" for Q2 2016 showed that iOS devices almost doubled as likely to fail compared with Android devices. According to fortune.com, the study found that Apple's iOS devices (iPhones and iPads) crashed almost twice as often in the second quarter of the year compared to the previous one. New data from BTG's study showed that 58 percent of iOS-based devices experienced "performance failures" such as apps crashing or components shutting down during the second quarter, up from 25% in the first quarter. "Plagued by crashing apps, Wi-Fi connectivity and other performance issues, the iOS failure rate more than doubled to 58 percent quarter-over-quarter," says Blancco after noting that iOS lost the smartphone performance battle to Android. Tech Times reported that 29 percent of the iOS failure rate is from the iPhone 6 followed by the iPhone 6S at 23 percent, iPhone 6S Plus at 14 percent iPhone 6 Plus at 13 percent and the iPhone 5s at 8 percent. Blancco explained that iPhone 6's current performance failure could be caused by some of Apple's recent software updates namely iOS 9.3.1 and iOS 9.3.2, which were released in the later part of Q1. "Following both software updates, many iPhone and iPad users began to see major problems on their devices," Blancco comments. Meanwhile, the failure rate of Android devices showed that Samsung devices accounts for 26 percent of it while both Lenovo and LeTV individually is responsible for 17 percent. It was followed by Motorola and Asus at 11 and 17 percent respectively. Blancco was not surprised having Samsung on top of the list though, since the brand is responsible for 37 percent of smartphone sales during the three-month-period which ended in May 2016. It was also found that Xiaomi, which was on the top 5 mobile device failures in Q1 at 11 percent, was no longer on that spot. Phonearena.com also reported that about 65 percent of the iOS device failures in the second quarter had problems with crashing apps. Wi-Fi issues totaled to 11 percent, followed by problems with headset and mobile data equally at 4 percent, while 2% had a bad receiver. Android users' leading issues were with the camera and with battery charging at 10% each. The touchscreen was identified in 7% of failures, while 5% had microphone and speaker problems. Blancco Technology Group (BTG) tried reaching out to Apple for comments but the tech company did not respond to the request. Two men, both 41 years old, from the western Canadian province of Manitoba, learned through DNA testing that they were switched at birth. They were born three days apart. Leon Swanson and David Tait were switched as newborns in 1975 in a Norway House Hospital, which was then operated by the federal government. Both grew up knowing each other and became friends. They also live in the same Canadian community. After learning they were switched, they realized they were raised by the biological mother of the other. They were both devastated by the news and in tears, according to CBS News. "What happened here is lives were stolen," said Eric Robinson, the former NDP member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly for Keewatinok. "You can't describe it as anything less than that." Meanwhile, Tait said he wants answers on how such a switch could happen. "We don't have words," said Tait. "Forty years were gone ... just distraught, confused angry." The suspicions arise that they could have been switched at birth because of the similarities they shared with each other's parents. Then, together with their families, they get DNA tests. Upon learning they were switched at birth, the community was rocked by the news of switching. According to CBC, this was the second time that switching of babies occurred at the Norway House Indian Hospital in 1975. The said hospital has been the birthing center of northern Manitoba, which was the only northern community that had a hospital in the 1970s. "I can't describe this matter as anything less than criminal," Robinson said. He further said that you can live with one mistake, but two mistakes of a similar nature are not acceptable, so you can't simply slough it off as being a mistake, indeed it was a criminal activity in my view. The Canadian Health Minister Jane Philpot was deeply troubled by the incident. She said that the health department would employ an independent party to investigate further. It seems Google's much anticipated chat messenger dubbed "Google Allo" will give a good fight to Facebook owned popular messaging service, WhatsApp, which currently has over 1 billion active users. The search giant had first showcased "Google Allo" along with "Duo" video calling app at the I/O 2016 developer conference. While, Google has already rolled out its video-calling app, the text messaging service "Allo" is still awaiting a release date. Talking about the features, the upcoming mobile-only messaging app "Google Allo" will be tied to user's phone number same as WhatsApp. It is to be noted that users will also be able to link the app with their Google account. The messaging app will come with a quick and simple interface and will let users chat with their contacts in all ways like simple text messaging, sending graphics, emojis and stickers as well as doodling on photos, reported PCMag. According to a report coming from Android Police, citing alleged screenshots from a test version of "Google Allo," the messaging app from the search giant will also offer voice messaging feature. As per the report, voice messaging feature will enable users to quickly record voice messages and send to their contacts. They will just need to tap the microphone icon present on the right of Allo's text box, record the message while pressing the icon and then let the icon go to send it. Google Allo's voice messaging interface looks awesome, with an eery resemblance to https://t.co/zSZKIiJ7bi pic.twitter.com/zzTViHecON Android Police (@AndroidPolice) August 20, 2016 Another major feature which is making it to the list is Smart Reply. The feature which offer suggestions on responses to users which they can use within conversations. "Google Allo" is rumored to come with end-to-end encryption and Incognito Conversations as well as Whisper and Shout features. Users will also be able to delete sent or received messages from their chat history. There's currently no word on when Google intends to release its new messaging app "Allo." Stay tuned to SWR for more updates on Google Allo release date and features. Net profit for the six months period was registered at RMB1.57bn ($235.05m), almost a three-fold increase from the gain of RMB558.34m in the same period of 2015. Revenue for the first half improved by 9.8% year-on-year to RMB3.16bn. Shanghai-listed CMES, the tanker and bulk shipping unit of China Merchants Group, said it received RMB792.18m in government subsidy during the first half as part of the scrap-and-build policy. The Chinese shipowner also enlarged its tanker shipping fleet with revenues rising by 10% year-on-year and time-charter equivalent earnings up by 14%. The dry bulk shipping business, however, continued to stay under pressure due to the severely oversupplied market as CMES capesize and ultramax vessels turned to operating losses while only the VLOC segment reaped operating profit. As at 30 June 2016, the company operated 42 oil tankers with a combined capacity of 11.88m dwt and 17 bulkers with a total capacity of 3.23m dwt. Net profit for the six months ended 30 June 2016 was recorded at RMB221.09m ($33.16m), down 22.7% from RMB286.03m in the previous corresponding period. The profit was attributed to stronger contributions from the bulk grain segment, ore segment and general cargo segment, but offset by lower contributions from the oil segment, container segment, passenger and ro-ro segment, and the value-added services segment. Due to signs of stabilisation in the global economy, the confidence in financial markets rebounded in the first half of 2016 with rallying bulk commodity prices, Dalian Port commented. However, the real economy remained weak with sluggish market demand. Impacted by the continuing downward pressure on Chinas economy, the growth in investment, consumption, and import and export trade slowed down. First half revenue for the group, however, rose by 58% year-on-year to RMB6.48bn. In the second half, the recovery of the global economy will remain slow, according to Dalian Port. In China, the economy will have steady growth and continue its restructuring, while downward pressure will remain. The group further noted that the enduring sluggish domestic and overseas demand, the low commodity prices and other factors are expected to drag down the growth rate of total imports and exports of China. Hundreds of bonfires dotted the Baltic Sea coast of Estonia Saturday night, a centuries-old maritime tradition to guide seafarers now celebrated with a tech-savvy environmental twist. Summer revelers from as far as Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Russia also signed up to be part of the event on the interactive Ancient Bonfires website set up by Mairold Vaik. RELATED: Gold-Filled Wreck Found in Finland: Photos The popular Estonian blogger told AFP that while the site registered hundreds of hits this year, he aims to close a ring of bonfires around the Baltic Sea by 2018, all in a bid to draw attention to its serious environmental challenges. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the Baltic is one of the most threatened marine ecosystems on the planet. Scientists say that the shallow and closed body of water is particularly vulnerable to overfishing and agricultural fertilizers. RELATED: 11,000-Year-Old Settlement Found Under Baltic Sea Once washed into the sea, nitrate and phosphate-rich farm run-off triggers oxygen-depleted zones where no marine life can exist. Encircled by nine countries, including Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Sweden, the Baltic has an estimated 16 million people living along its shores. "We hope that people in other Baltic Sea states like Denmark, Germany, Lithuania and Poland will join us in the coming years," Vaik told AFP. WATCH VIDEO: How Estonia Transformed a Soviet Prison Almost 30 years ago, the world's attention was fixed on Chernobyl, the nuclear power plant in Ukraine that exploded in one of the world's worst nuclear disasters. The world has moved on since that 1986 catastrophe, but at Chernobyl, one thing hasn't changed very much: The dead trees, plants and leaves at the contaminated site don't decay at nearly the same rate as plants elsewhere, researchers have found. "We were stepping over all these dead trees on the ground that had been killed by the initial blast," Tim Mousseau, a professor of biology at the University of South Carolina, said in a statement. "Years later, these tree trunks were in pretty good shape. If a tree had fallen in my backyard, it would be sawdust in 10 years or so." [Images: Chernobyl, Frozen in Time] Mousseau and Anders Mller of the Universite Paris-Sud have made ongoing investigations into the biology of radioactive areas like Chernobyl and Fukushima, Japan. Much of their work has taken them into the Red Forest, the infamous wooded region surrounding Chernobyl where the trees turned an ominous reddish-brown color before dying. The pair noticed that the tree trunks seemed largely unchanged, even after a few decades. "Apart from a few ants, the dead tree trunks were largely unscathed when we first encountered them," Mousseau, who is also co-director of the Chernobyl and Fukushima Research Initiatives at the University of South Carolina, told Smithsonian. To find out what was happening - or, more accurately, what wasn't happening - the research team collected hundreds of samples of leaf litter from forest floors that were not contaminated by radiation and stuffed the leaves into bags lined with panty hose (to keep out insects). They then distributed these bags around the Chernobyl area and waited nine months. The results were striking: Samples of leaf litter that were placed in highly contaminated areas showed 40 percent less decomposition than samples that were placed in uncontaminated sites. The degree of decay was proportional to the degree of radioactive contamination at each site, according to the study, published in the journal Oecologia. Radiation is known to have harmful effects on microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. Recent research has found that radiation therapy can cause severe complications in cancer patients by reducing the populations of helpful bacteria in the intestines. [Infographic: How Radiation Affects the Human Body] Mousseau and other researchers are concerned that the buildup of leaf litter on the forest floor presents a real danger. "There is growing concern that there could be a catastrophic fire in the coming years," Mousseau said. In the event of a forest fire, 28 years' worth of undecayed leaves would provide an ideal fuel for the fire, which could then spread radiation throughout the region. "That would end up moving radiocesium and other contaminants via smoke into populated areas," Mousseau said. "This litter accumulation that we measured, which is likely a direct consequence of reduced microbial decomposing activity, is like kindling," Mousseau added. "It's dry, light and burns quite readily. It adds to the fuel, as well as makes it more likely that catastrophically sized forest fires might start." Original article on Live Science. 5 Everyday Things that Are Radioactive Top 10 Deadliest Natural Disasters in History Top 10 Greatest Explosions Ever Copyright 2014 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. "When water is present in the spaces between particles of soil or grains of sand, it affects how quickly a patch of ground heats up during the day and cools off at night," NASA officials said in a statement . The depth to which the water saturates the soil also influences how quickly the surface changes temperature, according to NASA. In an attempt to determine the water content of the RSL, researchers turned to Mars Odyssey's Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), and looked at the temperature of the planet's surface from orbit. [ Flowing Water on Mars: The Discovery in Pictures ]] The dark streaks are called recurring slope lineae (RSL), and last year, scientists presented new evidence suggesting that these streaks contain liquid water - albeit very, very salty water called brine. The new work shows that these RSL cannot contain more water than the driest deserts on Earth, which makes it unlikely that water is streaming down these hillsides. The researchers studied the RSL on the walls of craters within the Valles Marineris canyon on Mars. They looked at several years' worth of surface-temperature measurements by THEMIS, to figure out the water concentration in the soil. RELATED: So Liquid Water Flows on Mars -- Now What? The researchers found that the upper limit of the water content was about 3 percent by weight - about the same concentration of water as in the surface material of the Atacama Desert in Chile and the Antarctic Dry Valleys, which are two of the driest places in the world. The findings presented in 2015 showed evidence of "hydrated salts" (or brines) at the surface where the dark streaks are located. "Our findings are consistent with the presence of hydrated salts, because you can have hydrated salt without having enough for the water to start filling pore spaces between particles," said Christopher Edwards, a faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Northern Arizona University and one of the study's authors. "Salts can become hydrated by pulling water vapor from the atmosphere, with no need for an underground source of the water." RELATED: Gullies on Mars Probably Not Carved by Water The dark streaks have been identified at dozens of sites on the Martian surface. The dark regions typically appear in the Martian spring and summer, and fade away in the fall and winter. "Some type of water-related activity at the uphill end still might be a factor in triggering RSL, but the darkness of the ground is not associated with large amounts of water, either liquid or frozen," Edwards said. "Totally dry mechanisms for explaining RSL should not be ruled out." The findings appear online in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. More From SPACE.com: Original story on Space.com. Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. "Lucy," the iconic 3.18-million-year-old early human, literally dropped dead, according to new research that determined she died of injuries sustained after falling from a tall tree. Since Lucy's species Australopithecus afarensis existed within a transitional period when our primate ancestors evolved from a more tree-dwelling lifestyle to a terrestrial one, the new findings -- published in the journal Nature -- indicate that adaptations that made it easier for our ancestors to walk on two legs on land compromised their ability to climb trees safely and efficiently. This may have predisposed them to falls from heights, as what may have happened to unfortunate Lucy, whose broken fossilized bones tell nearly the whole story. "Today these fractures are often seen in automobile accidents, but also an impact following a fall from height," lead author John Kappelman, a professor of anthropology at The University of Texas at Austin, told Discovery News. "Since there were no cars in Lucy's time, we suggest that a fall is the mostly likely way that this subset of fractures formed, just as seen in modern patients today under natural conditions." RELATED: Big-Toothed Prehistoric Human Lived Alongside Lucy In order to assess Lucy's cause of death, Kappelman and his team studied her remains, which include parts of her skull, hand, axial skeleton, pelvis and foot. The scientists used computed tomographic scans to analyze these parts in detail, and then compared the findings to various documented clinical cases where the cause of death is clearly noted. In addition to discovering that Lucy's cause of death is consistent with a fall from a high place -- presumed to have been from a tall tree due to where her remains were found in the Afar region of Ethiopia -- the fossil clues presented another key piece of evidence. Fractures in Lucy's upper arms suggest that she stretched out her arms in an attempt to break her fall. This tells us that she was very much alive when she toppled to her demise, and did not die of a heart attack or from some other cause beforehand. The scientists further found that Lucy died relatively young, but was not a child, since she had all of her adult teeth, including a third molar -- a wisdom tooth. "Her species appears to have grown up faster than us, probably more like a chimpanzee, and I suspect she was maybe 15 years old, so a young adult for her kind," Kappelman said. Chimpanzees and other modern arboreal primates are far more agile at tree climbing than humans are. They can climb trees from a young age since it's a life or death matter for them. But even chimps can fall to their death from trees. Famed primatologist Jane Goodall and her team documented 51 such falls in a two-year period, with breaking branches being one of the main reasons that they topple. Lucy's feet had evolved for better walking on the ground, according to earlier research. This would have compromised her ability to clutch onto tree limbs, probably making falls more common. Astronomers have captured some interesting prey as they scan the distant solar systems for signs of a potential ninth major planet beyond Neptune. Among the discoveries: the first Oort Cloud object that orbits entirely past Neptune. At the most distant part of its orbit, the newly found object, known as 2014 FE72, is 3,000 times farther away from the sun than Earth. RELATED: No, 'Planet 9' Isn't Messing With Cassini's Saturn Orbit At that distance, FE72 is "likely being influenced by forces of gravity from beyond our solar system, such as other stars and the galactic tide," the Carnegie Institute for Science wrote in a press release. Also submitted to the Minor Planet Center for official designations are the newly discovered extremely distant objects 2014 SR349 and 2013 FT28. Both so-called "trans-Neptunian objects" show signs their orbits may be under the gravitational influence of one or more large, undiscovered planets in the distant reaches of the solar system. WATCH VIDEO: Did We Just Find The Ninth Planet? Press Release August 28, 2016 Statement of Sen. Alan Peter S. Cayetano on the Occasion of the National Heroes Day In the course of our nation's history, generations of patriots heeded the call to fight for nationhood against colonizers and tyrants. Lapu-Lapu, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, and Ninoy Aquino are some venerated heroes who sacrificed blood, sweat, and tears to help our country move forward. Today, we are at a crossroad as a nation and as a people. The challenge is to fight and liberate ourselves against modern-day colonizers and tyrants. These are the drug lords, the criminal syndicates, the corrupt, and the oligarchs. President Rodrigo Duterte is rising to the occasaion, along with fellow patriotic Filipinos, to rid society of these present-day oppressors, and is fighting a day-to-day battle, which he is poised to win decisively. We are one with him in pursuing societial reforms where no modern president has ever tried. We also honor members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on National Heroes Day. Our law enforcers deserve to be recognized as modern-day heroes for their sacrifices for our people in the fight against illegal drugs and criminality. On National Heroes Day, we honor gallant Filipinos who laid down their lives to liberate our people from oppression and foreign domination. This occasion also allows us to recognize the brave men and women of today who continue to ensure that we live in a society that is safe, free and peaceful. For many years, drug lords have dominated our communities like tyrants, destroying Filipino families and endangering the safety and lives of our people, especially the youth. The anti-drug campaign is a no non-sense war to secure our people's freedom and the country's interest from the clutches of these present-day tyrants namely drug lords and criminal syndicates. I strongly believe that President Duterte's intensive campaign against illegal drugs is his way to honor our most revered Philippine heroes. Our police and soldiers risk their lives in the line of duty to keep the rest us safe and secure. But it pains me to see how they have instead become targets of criticism and seemingly endless investigations. Even more so, they do not receive adequate compensation despite the hazards brought by their profession. It's about time that they receive higher salaries and the proper credit that they deserve. As our law enforcers wage the war against drugs, we urge them to continue to uphold the rule of law and respect human rights. But they must continue to be relentless in the government's fight against illegal drugs for the sake of the next generation. At least nine police officers and three soldiers have been killed since President Duterte launched the war on illegal drugs 59 days ago, as attested by PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa. Let us remember them as heroes, not as mere casualties: PO3 Jenny Agbayani, SPO3 Marlon Nicolas, PSINP Mark Gil Garcia, PO3 Nestor Dimaano, PSINP Orlando Guira, PO3 Jerson Autida, SPO3 Edmar Bumagat, PO2 Armand Villanueva Jupia, and SPO3 Limuel Mahaba Panligan, CPL Josel Miravalles, PFC Jaypee Duran, PO3 Dar Espallardo Many don't realize the sacrifices our law enforcers make until they themselves end up martyred in the line of duty and reported in the news. We have other living heroes that similarly deserve recognition, our Overseas Filipino Workers, our teachers, our nurses and our farmers and fisherfolk. Dapat nating kilalanin din sila, gawing huwaran at ipaglaban ang interes at karapatan. And the best way to recognize them is to give them a clean government and a society that is safe and free from drugs and criminality. Press Release August 28, 2016 Five Jurors to Deliberate on Proposals for Phl Pavilion in 2017 Venice Art Biennale The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, will hold the deliberations on the submitted curatorial proposals for the Philippine Pavilion in the 57th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia on August 29, 2016 at the NCCA in Manila. The open call for curatorial proposals was launched in April with a deadline set on July 21, 2016. The Philippine Arts in Venice Biennale (PAVB) Coordinating Committee received a total of 12 proposals. The jurors who will deliberate on the submitted proposals are Dr. Eugene Tan, Florentina P. Colayco, Luis "Junyee" E. Yee, Jr., Prof. Felipe de Leon, Jr., and Senator Loren Legarda, principal advocate of the project. Legarda, a three-term senator who chairs the Senate Committees on Finance and Climate Change, is a staunch supporter of arts and culture and champions the causes of indigenous peoples. She is the visionary behind the Philippines' return to the Biennale Arte in 2015 following a 51-year hiatus and the country's first participation in the Biennale Architettura in 2016. The UN appointed Legarda as its Global Champion for Resilience, while the French Government bestowed upon her the title of Knight in the French National Order of the Legion of Honor for her commitment to the fight against climate change and the promotion of culture and heritage. De Leon is the Chairman of the NCCA and the Head of the NCCA's Committee on Intangible Heritage and National Committee on Music and Commissioner of the Sub-Commission on the Arts. He is also the Commissioner of the Philippine Pavilion in the Venice Biennale. He was the former chairman of the Humanities Department of UP Diliman. He specializes in the humanities, aesthetics, music theory, Philippine arts and culture, Language and Social Transformation, Semiotics, Mythology and Institutional Dynamics, and Accompanying People's Movements. He is active in promoting and preserving Philippine indigenous musical forms, such as musikong bumbong, among others. Dr. Tan is the Director of the National Gallery Singapore. He has curated various exhibitions including the Singapore Pavilion at the 51st Venice Biennale (2005) and the inaugural Singapore Biennale (2006). Other exhibitions he curated include Of Human Scale and Beyond: Experience and Transcendence (2012), The Burden of Representation: Abstraction in Asia Today (2010), and Coffee, Cigarettes and Pad Thai: Contemporary Art in Southeast Asia (2008). Colayco is the President of Metropolitan Museum of Manila. She is a full professor at the College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines, where she served as the Dean from 2006 to 2012. She earned her undergraduate degree in art history and studio arts from the University of the Philippines and Fordham University in New York. She took her Master of Arts degree in Graphic Communications Management and Technology from New York University. Colayco founded ArtPostAsia Books, which has been producing award winning illustrated publications for the last 15 years. Junyee is one of the pioneers of installation art in the Philippines. He did his first one-man show of outdoor installation in the country at the UP Diliman campus in 1970, followed in 1976 by a much bigger second one-man show of outdoor installation in Luneta. He is the most awarded artist of his generation, especially in the field of modern sculpture. He has represented the country in many prestigious foreign art festival and he is the only Filipino artist who won art competitions in five decades starting in 1960 down to the 70s, 80s, 90s and the last one in 2007 when he won the Grand Award to design and execute a monument for the Israel Holocaust Memorial Park called "Open Doors". The five jurors will review all 12 proposals and select the winning proposal. Only one project is recognized by la Biennale for each participating country. Thus, the formal invitation to participate is coursed through the highest concerned government agency of a country, which in turn initiates a distinct process of selecting and realizing a proposal for the country pavilion. The selected proposal will be realized as the Philippine Pavilion in Venice for the 57th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia, which will be held from May 13 to November 26, 2017. The Philippines' participation in the 2017 Art Biennale is another historic milestone because it will be the first time that the Philippine Pavilion will be mounted at the Arsenale, the historic and significant exhibition space. In 2015, the Philippines successfully returned to the Venice Art Biennale following a 51-year hiatus and this year, it mounted its first national pavilion in the Venice Architecture Biennale. The 2015 and 2016 pavilions were housed at the Palazzo Mora. For more information contact [email protected] or (+632) 5272175.*** Press Release August 29, 2016 Legarda Pushes for Water Sector Reform In a bid to address the challenges in the water sector, Senator Loren Legarda has asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to convene a technical working group to rationalize all the water agencies in the country. Legarda said, "the continued overlapping and fragmented regulation of water supply services in the country by several government entities will hinder the enactment of a doable and long-term solution to prevent water shortage." A recent study by the World Resources Institute revealed that the Philippines will likely experience severe water shortage by 2040 due to the combined impact of rapid population growth and climate change. Furthermore, the Philippines ranks 57 out of 167 countries that are highly vulnerable to severe water shortage. In this light, the Senator asked DENR, together with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to preside over a meeting of all water agencies in the country and to discuss the proposed Water Sector Reform Act under Senate Bill No. 245 filed by Legarda. "This measure addresses the fragmented and overlapping regulation of water supply services in the country and will improve access of the population to safe drinking water," she explained. The bill institutionalizes the adoption of Integrated Water Resources Management principles in the management of the country's river basin clusters with the proposed Water and Sanitation Regulatory Authority exercising functions and powers in order to restructure and reform the water industry including its sourcing, storage, treatment, distribution, and on sewerage treatment. It also seeks to organize the country into Provincial Water Resource Zones within which Water Service Providers will operate, integrating and synergizing the water industry to make it more efficient and cost-effective. Moreover, the proposed measure aims to strengthen and make the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) the lead agency in water resource and industry management as well as encourage Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in water and sanitation services to help secure uninterrupted, adequate, quality and dependable water supply for everyone. An incentive scheme is provided to encourage more investors to participate in further developing the Philippines' water industry. "Water is a human right and the State must ensure that the water in our lakes and rivers reaches our faucets and every citizen will have access to potable water. In order to achieve this, we must reform the water industry itself," Legarda concluded. Press Release August 29, 2016 Senior pension budget to double to P18 B, to cover 1.6 M more beneficiaries The budget for the government's pension for indigent senior citizens will more than double next year to P18 billion, which would allow the enrolment of an additional 1.613 million 60 year olds and above to a program that grants each a cash aid of P6,000 a year. Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto, who has successfully lobbied for the expansion of the program in the past, welcomed the budget hike but called for the reduction of the 7 percent administrative cost ceiling so that more seniors can be included. From P8.7 billion this year, the program's budget will shoot up to P18 billion, towing up the number of beneficiaries from 1.382 million to 2.995 million, Recto said. The budget is lodged in the appropriations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which runs the program. If the funding hike will be approved by Congress, Recto said 2017 will be the third straight year that the budget for the senior pension will be increased. "It will have the highest and the fastest increase among government social programs, a six-fold increase from P3.1 billion in 2014. It is an impressive trajectory. This is one program which has been put on steroids," Recto said. The distribution of a P500 monthly pension--or P6,000 yearly--to indigent seniors is made pursuant to Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, sponsored by then Senator Pia Cayetano. Qualified to receive the stipend are senior citizens who are frail, sickly, or have disabilities; are not receiving pension from the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), or veteran's pension; and do not have a permanent source of income or regular support from relatives. The pension is said to be distributed every quarter through cash payment by DSWD Field Offices or city or municipal social welfare and development offices. For the 2015 budget, Recto and then Senate Finance Committee chair Senator Chiz Escudero worked to increase the program's budget by P1 billion, to P5.9 billion, allowing the DSWD to take in almost a million beneficiaries. For the 2016 budget, Recto, who chaired the Senate Finance subcommittee in charge of the DSWD budget, sponsored the increase in funding from the proposed P7.5 billion to P8.7 billion. Recto urged the DSWD and its partner agencies to implement the program without kinks nor delays. "Maliit lamang na halaga ito pero malaking tulong para sa mga senior citizen natin na walang napagkukuhanan ng ikabubuhay, kaya sana huwag nang maantala," he added. By increasing the budget for this program, we are embracing the idea that all indigent seniors 60 years old and above must be covered by the proposed allocation. The policy is No Senior Left Behind," Recto said. Donald Trumps recent remarks to the African American community ring hollow, especially to black parents concerned about their children. What have you got to lose? he asks, suggesting that his Make America Great Again campaign responds to centuries of injustice. But was it great in the 17th, 18th or 19th centuries, when African families were stolen from their homes, transported as cargo, separated and sold to white slave-owners in America? Maybe it was great in 1776, when those rich, white men set about to proclaim life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Except that the only folks who got to enjoy those privileges were rich, white men like themselves. Not women, not slaves, not African American free men, not the Native Americans whose land was stolen. So well fast-forward, past the Civil War when some blacks were forced into the Confederate Army to fight against their childrens freedom. Well breeze past the sharecropping system that swapped slavery for servitude for generations. Well skip the lynching and the mobs that served to terrify children and families into submission once their freedom was won. Perhaps we will land on the 1940s when the United States was fresh from its victories in Europe and Asia. But African Americans, who were systematically redlined out of the neighborhoods they wanted for their children, wouldnt call that a time of greatness. State-sanctioned discrimination in housing, education, employment, welfare benefits or health care are instead the ugly shadows of U.S. history, times that should evoke in all of us a sense of shame not nostalgia. Maybe it was the golden decade of the 50s? Gasoline was only 18 cents a gallon, but how was that great when an African American family had to carry extra gallons of gas, along with food for lunch and a makeshift chamber pot, because gas stations were often unwelcoming to these consumers? Or with the benefits of the G.I. Bill in hand, young adults were gaining access to higher education in unparalleled numbers, but more than 95 percent of African American youth enrolled in college were limited to black-only institutions. They were not welcome in the universities we now open to all. Surely America was not great in the 1960s when our streets were roiled by rioting and violence. When communities of color, left out of the American dream for too long, and suffering the relentless abuses of strong-arm police tactics, exploded in frustration and demanded that we right our historic wrongs. In 1980, about 1 in 10 white children were living in poverty; the rate was almost four times greater for African Americans. The disparities persist today. Nearly 2 in 5 black children live in poverty, and those born poor typically remain poor; income mobility in the U.S. is a greater part myth than it is fact. Today, a black baby is two times more likely to die in the first year of life than a white infant. An African American child is two times more likely to be maltreated than a white child. A black youth is five times more likely to be killed by gun violence than a white youth. America can be great, but making it so means creating equal opportunities for all children to get a healthy start in life, to live in safe neighborhoods, to access high quality child care, to go to strong schools, and to see their parents working in good-paying jobs. What have they got to lose is hardly the political platform of inspiration. America will be great when childrens life outcomes are determined by their hard work, their determination or perhaps their generosity to others. America will be great when we realize the potential of justice for all. Jill Duerr Berrick is the Zellerbach Family Foundation Professor of Social Welfare and co-director of the Center for Child and Youth Policy at UC Berkeley. Firefighters battled a fast-moving blaze that tore through a four-story vacant brick building early Monday morning next to The San Francisco Chronicles headquarters in the citys South of Market neighborhood. The fire in the Minna Street alley, between Fifth and Sixth streets, started around 4:45 a.m. on the top floors of the old Dempster Printing Building and quickly spread down to the lower floors through an elevator shaft of the nearly 100-year-old structure, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a spokesman for the San Francisco Fire Department. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Finding a place to sleep at night in San Francisco has been a lifelong chess match for Dexter Green, who said he was born at a bus stop to homeless parents and grew up on the citys gritty streets. After decades of drifting from place to place, getting bounced by police or avoiding sketchy people on the street, the 36-year-old finally found decent enough digs at one of the citys most entrenched homeless encampments on the north bank of Islais Creek Channel in eastern San Francisco. But that all ended Monday when city crews made good on a promise to dismantle the sprawling urban tent city, where mountains of trash and human waste had accumulated along the promenade near Cesar Chavez Street, just south of the Dogpatch neighborhood. I guess Ill have to go the same place I always go nowhere, Green said Monday morning as police, city homeless-outreach workers, and crews from the city Department of Public Works put the kibosh on the growing encampment. The latest San Francisco homeless sweep came as no surprise to the few dozen people still set up on the promenade at the southern terminus of Indiana Street. For weeks, workers from the newly created city Encampment Resolution Team have been working with the 50 or so campers, breaking the news that staying was no longer an option, while reserving beds for folks willing to go to shelters. At the same time, they brought counseling and substance-abuse treatment resources directly to the residents. These folks are vulnerable, said Jason Albertson, a psychiatric social worker trained in crisis counseling, who leads the team. Many of them have significant disease and significant mental illness. They need help to get care, and bringing the care to them is the ethical thing and the clinical thing to do. The approach was the latest in an evolution of tactics used by the city to transition homeless people into permanent housing and clean out encampments that are often overrun with trash, feces and remnants of intravenous drug use. Once the zero-hour hit Monday morning, several folks had already moved on while the holdouts slowly packed up under the supervision of a handful of police and teams of public works crews. All told, at least 28 had opted for shelter beds of some kind, two signed up for residential drug rehabilitation beds and some of the rest were still considering options under roofs. Leading up to this, we brought in debris bins, washing stations and portable toilets, said Sam Dodge, director of the mayors Housing Opportunity, Partnerships and Engagement office. Weve tried to give time, so its not a one-day affair. On Monday morning, Dodge watched over the scene while campers slowly wheeled away their belongings, which included piles of bike parts, generators, barbecues, camp stoves, tarps and large tents. The long-standing encampment had ballooned in size in recent months after an influx of campers, many of whom set up after getting rousted from Division Street when the city cleared a camp there in March. Neighbors more and more are concerned, concerned about the conditions that we cant turn a blind eye to, Dodge said as public works crews set about cleaning up the sea of trash including a small boat littering the walkway. Despite the citys more delicate approach to purging the streets of troublesome homeless encampments, many of the holdouts were feeling a mix of sorrow and anger when reality hit Monday. How do you get kicked out of being homeless? 36-year-old camper Katherine McClain said as she fought back tears while pushing her clothes, purse and coat on a rolling desk chair. Its more like theyre against us than helping us. McClain was on her way to one of the citys Navigation Centers, where, along with other city-run shelters, beds were set aside for the campers. Its not great, but I guess its better than nothing, she said. A few of the campers, though, felt that nothing was still better. If you go to one of the shelters they send you to, its filled with crazy people, said 47-year-old Elizabeth Soule, who receives Supplemental Security Income for medical problems and had been at the camp for two weeks. You cant be in your own space and be by yourself. And while some of those getting swept out will have beds available, others sit on long waiting lists for shelters and housing. We need more resources, Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, said at the scene Monday. This creates a lot of stress because there isnt a clear pathway between homelessness and housing. We dont have places for people to go. It remains to be seen if the citys latest approach to addressing this one group of chronically homeless will have any effect on the perpetual crisis. But on Monday, no one was arrested, and interactions between campers and law enforcement in general were positive, said Albertson, the social worker. This is potentially effective, he said. This is a somewhat new method here in San Francisco, and were still waiting for numbers and impact results. Like so many others getting uprooted, Green said he will start scouting out a new spot to set up camp, which will probably do for a while, until other folks get word of it, join the party and the whole thing starts again. Ill have to scout out a place, set up there and hope nothing happens, he said. I just dont know where that is yet. Chronicle Staff Writer Kevin Fagan contributed to this report. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky Egg on its Facebook If you believe everything in Facebooks Trending topics section, Fox News fired Megyn Kelly for being a closet liberal who actually wants Hillary to win. If you have a better grasp of reality, you might believe what Business Insider reported: Facebook got fooled by a fake story, which comes on the heels of its decision Friday to fire its Trending editorial staff and not have humans involved in writing descriptions for Trending stories. Facebook pulled the Kelly story Monday morning. IPhone announcement likely next week Apple is expected to show off a new iPhone next week when the company holds its fall product launch event in San Francisco. The Cupertino company sent out invitations to technology journalists and industry analysts on Monday for the Sept. 7 event, but offered no details. Apple sold more than 214 million iPhones over the last 12 months, but sales are down from a year ago, and analysts will be watching closely to see what changes Apple has made. Pope, Zuckerberg meet Pope Francis has met at the Vatican with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, presumably not to discuss the Megyn Kelly story. One topic of Mondays meeting, which included Zuckerbergs wife, Priscilla Chan, was how to use communication technologies to alleviate poverty, encourage a culture of encounter, and make a message of hope arrive, especially to those most in need, Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said. The Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: @techbriefing DURANT, Miss. Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Mississippis capital city of Jackson on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy and were found stabbed to death last week in their home in one of the poorest counties of the state. Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, is charged with two counts of capital murder in the slayings of Sisters Margaret Held and Paula Merrill, both 68. Capital murder is be punishable by execution or life in prison; the sisters religious orders have issued a joint statement against the death penalty. Sanders confessed to the killings but gave no reason, said Holmes County Sheriff Willie March, who was briefed by Durant police and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation officials who took part in Sanders interrogation. Sanders had been living about 15 miles east of the sisters home in Durant. He has been held at an undisclosed jail since his arrest late Friday. Merrill and Held worked as nurse practitioners at Lexington Medical Clinic, about 10 miles west of Durant, where they often treated poor and uninsured patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions. Their bodies were found in their home after they failed to show up at work Thursday. The clinic in Lexington 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 killings shocked people in the small communities where the women committed their lives to helping the poor. Bishop Joseph Kopacz and more than 20 priests from the Diocese of Jackson celebrated a memorial Mass on Monday at the small but ornate Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in downtown Jackson, about an hours drive south of Durant. The front pews were filled by family members and sisters from Helds and Merrills religious orders, the Kentucky-based Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and the School Sisters of St. Francis of Milwaukee. The Rev. Greg Plata, who ministers at the church in Lexington, where Held and Merrill led Bible study, praised them for their lives of service. Plata also noted the joint statement against the death penalty released Sunday by the sisters orders. Justice for a heinous crime demands punishment, but it does not demand revenge, Plata said. On Sunday, more than 300 people attended a service at the church in Lexington. Records from the Iowa Department of Corrections show Sanders was in prison from June 2004 to February 2011 on a conviction of second-degree robbery. Records show he also was in prison in Iowa from August 1999 to August 2002 on a conviction of theft, and from April to October 1996 for two counts of third-offense drunken driving. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin is done playing the good wife to Anthony Weiner, announcing Monday she is leaving the serially sexting ex-congressman after he was accused of sending raunchy photos and messages to yet another woman. Abedin, who as vice chair of Clintons campaign is destined for big things if the Democrat is elected president, stayed with Weiner after a sexting scandal led him to resign from Congress in 2011 and after a new outbreak of online misbehavior wrecked his bid for New York mayor in 2013. She didnt leave even when a recent documentary blew up tense moments in their marriage to big-screen proportions. But on Monday, she effectively declared she had had enough. After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband, she said in a statement issued by the campaign. Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. The New York Post published photos late Sunday that it said Weiner had sent last year to a woman identified only as a 40-something divorcee who lives in the West and supports Republican Donald Trump. The photos included two close-ups of Weiners bulging underpants. In one of the pictures, Weiner is lying on a bed with his toddler son while texting the woman, according to the Post. The tabloid also ran sexually suggestive messages that it said the two exchanged. Weiner told the Post that he and the woman have been friends for some time. She has asked me not to comment except to say that our conversations were private, often included pictures of her nieces and nephews and my son and were always appropriate, the 51-year-old Democrat told the newspaper. Weiner didnt return a call, text or email from the Associated Press. He deleted his Twitter account Monday. The Post didnt say how it obtained the photographs and messages. Abedin, 41, is a longtime Clinton aide and confidante who is often referred to as the candidates second daughter. Trump seized on the aides marital split to accuse Clinton of bad judgment. He suggested that Weiner might have seen and spread classified information, but offered no evidence to support the allegation. Heart patients who say the anticlotting drug Plavix has caused internal bleeding, heart attacks and even deaths can sue manufacturer Bristol-Myers in San Francisco, even though the company and most of the plaintiffs are based in other states, the California Supreme Court ruled Monday. The 4-3 ruling, if the case is not overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, would allow a nationwide suit by 86 Californians and 592 residents of 33 other states to proceed in San Francisco Superior Court. Plavix thins the blood to avoid clotting and is prescribed for patients who have suffered heart attacks or strokes. Potential side effects include bleeding and bruising, but government health agencies consider the drug safe if properly taken and monitored. The lawsuit, however, alleges that Plavix increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes and that Bristol-Myers has failed to disclose those dangers while falsely promoting the drugs safety. The plaintiffs say they have suffered internal bleeding and other damage, and additional heart attacks and strokes, and 18 of the cases were brought by relatives of patients who have died. The case has been on hold while the opposing sides argue over whether it can be heard by a single court in California or by courts elsewhere, either a court in Bristol-Myers home state of New York or multiple courts in the plaintiffs home states. Although courts would eventually apply the same set of laws to each plaintiffs claim most likely the laws of the state where the drug was purchased plaintiffs prefer a single case in a state such as California with lawyers and judges well versed in product liability cases, rather than taking their claims to courts in multiple states with varying approaches. The ruling is a huge win for consumers, said attorney Sharon Arkin of Consumer Attorneys of California, which represents plaintiffs in injury cases. In opposing a combined lawsuit in San Francisco, Bristol-Myers relied on a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court ruling barring a suit in California by Argentines who accused the Mercedes-Benz auto company of colluding with the Argentine government to kidnap, torture and kill their relatives during the governments campaign against dissidents in the 1970s and early 1980s. Although Mercedes-Benz had substantial sales in California, the high court said both the company and its parent firm, DaimlerChrysler, were headquartered elsewhere and neither had sufficient contacts with California to justify a suit. But the California court said Monday that Bristol-Myers had sufficient contact with California: five research and laboratory offices, 250 salespeople, and Plavix sales of nearly $918 million between 2006 and 2012. The company has purposely availed itself of the privilege of conducting activities in California, invoking the benefits and protection of its laws, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said in the majority opinion. She also said the allegations of false advertising were based on nationwide activities that could be fairly judged in a single court rather than scattershot cases in multiple states. Dissenting Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar said that there was no direct connection between California and Plavix, at least for claims by out-of-state residents, and that the court majority was trying to sidestep the U.S. Supreme Courts 2014 decision. Bristol-Myers could appeal to the nations high court. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case is Bristol-Myers vs. Superior Court, S221038. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko Five years ago, a Canadian man named Troy Reddington and his girlfriend Jennifer Storrar thought it would be a cute idea to bury a time capsule on an island campsite in South River, Ontario. They filled their cache with their favorite songs, their dream jobs, and a few other nostalgic items, and planned to recover it some years down the road. Three years after, while sitting around a campfire, Reddington had the idea to hijack the capsule and use it to propose to Storrar in a novel way. While he knew he wasn't yet ready to get married at the time, he knew it would eventually be the perfect way to pop the question. Korea and China agreed on Monday to extend a 2011 currency swap deal that was scheduled to end in October 2017. The deal, now worth US$60 billion, could even be expanded. The agreement was finalized by Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho and People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan on the sidelines of the Inter-American Development Bank meeting in the Bahamas. It was first agreed in 2009 and extended in 2011. According to experts, swaps can help strengthen trade relations between countries, but their main aim is to help countries ensure themselves against an increasingly unstable global financial market. BOGOTA, Colombia A permanent cease-fire took effect in Colombia on Monday, a major step in bringing an end to 52 years of bloody combat between the government and the countrys biggest rebel group. The commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia announced Sunday that his fighters would cease hostilities beginning at 12:01 a.m. as a result of the peace accord the two sides reached last week. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos made a similar announcement Friday, saying the military would halt attacks on the FARC beginning Monday. FARC leader Rodrigo Londono, also known as Timochenko, made his announcement in Havana, where rebel and government negotiators talked for four years to reach the deal on ending one of the worlds longest-running conflicts. Never again will parents be burying their sons and daughters killed in the war, Londono said. All rivalries and grudges will remain in the past. Colombia is expected to hold a national referendum Oct. 2 to give voters the chance to approve the accord, which would end political violence that has claimed more than 220,000 lives and driven more than 5 million people from their homes over five decades. Polls say most Colombians loathe the rebel group but will probably endorse the deal. Top FARC commanders are planning to gather one final time in mid-September to ratify the deal. Under the accord, FARC guerrillas are supposed to turn over their weapons within six months after the deal is formally signed. In return, the FARCs still unnamed future political movement will be given a minimum 10 congressional seats five in the lower house, five in the Senate for two legislative periods. Not all hostilities are ending under the deal with the FARC. The much-smaller National Liberation Army remains active in Colombia, although it is pursuing its own peace deal with the government. "I am now conveying your request once again," Erdogan said of the death penalty. "They should assess this issue and make a decision. I would approve that decision." At a rally Sunday in the southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep, Erdogan told hundreds of people his remarks were also directed at members of the Turkish parliament. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his support for the death penalty, saying its reinstatement would fulfill the wishes of the Turkish majority. Erdogan, who traveled to Gaziantep to express condolences to the families of the 54 people who were killed last weekend at a Kurdish wedding, has pushed to reinstate the death penalty in the wake of last month's failed coup against him. Erdogan's calls for its reinstatement have become more frequent since the July 15 coup attempt as he carries out a massive purge of those suspected of taking part it in it. The purge has mostly targeted members of the military, police and intelligence services, journalists, and academics belonging to the outlawed movement headed by cleric Fethullah Gulen, a U.S. resident. Tens of thousands have been arrested or suspended from their jobs. Amnesty International has urged Erdogan to exercise restraint as he pushes to legalize executions in the country for the first time since 2004. The human rights group has said it is "alarmed" by his calls for capitol punishment, which the group sees as a clear suggestion that the death penalty would be used to punish those responsible for the coup attempt. More than 200 people were killed in the failed coup, some of them by mutinying soldiers who fired at civilians taking to the streets to stop the coup. SANAA, Yemen A suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State in Yemens southern city of Aden on Monday killed at least 54 pro-government recruits, officials said, underscoring how the militant group has been able to exploit Yemens civil war to stage large-scale attacks. The military recruits were gathered at a staging area near two schools and a mosque when a pickup truck suddenly accelerated through the buildings gate as a food delivery arrived, exploding amid the crowd, witnesses said. Bodies and body parts are scattered all over the place, said Mohammed Osman, a neighbor who rushed to the scene. It was a massacre. The death toll steadily rose through the day and by mid-afternoon, the director of Adens Health Ministry, Khidra Lasour, said 54 had died from the explosion. Almost 70 people were wounded, including 30 seriously, and were being treated in hospitals. Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the bomber as Ahmed Seif, distributing a photo of him smiling and holding an assault rifle next to a flag used by Islamic extremists as well as a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Yemen is embroiled in a civil war pitting the internationally recognized government and a Saudi-led coalition against the Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who are allied with army units loyal to a former president. The fighting has allowed al Qaeda and an Islamic State affiliate to expand its reach, particularly in the south. The recruits were signing up to join a new unit the Saudis hope will ultimately be made up of 5,000 fighters. After some training, the new force will deploy to the Saudi cities of Najran and Jizan, near the border with Yemen, the officials said. Hundreds have already arrived in the border province of Jawf and the adjacent province of Marib. The Houthis control most of northern Yemen, including the border regions and the capital, Sanaa. The Islamic State-run Aamaq news agency said the attack was carried out by a fighter from the Islamic State who targeted a recruitment center. DHAKA, Bangladesh U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called Monday for Bangladesh to step up efforts to fight extremist violence and protect and promote human rights amid increasing concern about terrorism in the South Asian nation in the wake of a series of militant attacks. Kerry, on his first trip to Bangladesh as Americas top diplomat, met in Dhaka with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Abdul Hassam Mahmood Ali, opposition officials and students. Bangladesh is struggling to deal with the rash of attacks, the most recent of which killed 20 people, including 17 foreigners, at a popular restaurant last month in Dhaka, the capital. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Bangladeshi authorities maintain that the militant group has no presence in the country and that a local banned group, Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh, or JMB, was behind it. Some have accused Bangladesh of turning a blind eye to the possibility of outsiders radicalizing elements of the Muslim-majority nation. Kerry rejected that criticism, saying he does not believe that the government of a Bangladesh has its head in the sand. But, he spoke pointedly of the transnational threat posed by terrorism. The July 1 attack on Dhakas Holey Artisan Bakery was an outrage clearly designed to divide Bangladesh, designed to try to cut off this welcoming society from the outside world, Kerry said. These heinous acts of violence and too many others worldwide are a stark, painful reminder that those who aid terrorist groups or perpetrate these acts have no respect for national boundaries, no concern for the rights of others, no regard for the rule of law, he said. Kerry said a counterterrorism dialogue has intensified in recent months, and work with the Bangladeshi police and military will continue with an eye toward further cooperation. On Saturday, police said they killed three suspected militants, including an alleged mastermind of the cafe attack. But many of the perpetrators of a string of attacks over the past two years that have killed atheist bloggers, foreign aid workers and religious minorities remain at large. Kerry urged the government of Bangladesh to resist the temptation to shut down public debate or stifle opposition groups as a way to combat the threat. Kerry also spoke of the need for authorities to protect the rights and safety of its workers, particularly those in the garment industry that earns the country more than $20 billion a year from exports, mainly to the United States and Europe and employs about 4 million workers, mostly women, in 4,000 factories. Bangladesh cannot truly meet the aspirations of its people and share prosperity if its workers are not safe and their rights are not ensured, he said, referring to the 2013 collapse of a building that housed five garment factories and killed more than 1,100 people in the countrys worst industrial disaster. After his stop in Bangladesh, Kerry travels to India for the seventh meeting of the U.S.-India strategic dialogue, which seeks to improve security and economic and development ties between the nations. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Spanish and Italian naval ships, along with vessels from non-government groups, rescued thousands of migrants off the Libyan coast Monday. The dramatic operation took place just 13 miles north of the town of Sabratha in Libya. Groups such as Proactiva Open Arms and Doctors Without Borders were helping to take on about 3,000 people who had been traveling in 20 wooden boats. Migrants from Eritrea and Somalia cheered as the rescue boats arrived, with some jumping into the water and swimming toward them while others carefully carried babies onto the rescue ships. Tens of thousands of Africans take the dangerous Mediterranean Sea route as a gateway to a better life in Europe. Libyas chaos and lack of border controls have made it into a transit route. The chaos intensified over the weekend. At least 38 Libyan forces were killed as the Islamic State group dispatched a dozen suicide bombers to stop their push to drive the extremists out of their last major bastion in the country, officials said. Akram Gliwan, a spokesman for the Misrata hospital, said the dead and wounded from fighting in the nearby city of Sirte had flooded in over the last 24 hours. He said at least 185 people were wounded, with 20 in critical condition. Reda Issa, a media official with the anti-Islamic State operation, said the extremist group set off 12 suicide car bombs on Sunday, with three hitting their targets. Five of the bombs were destroyed by air strikes, and the other attacks were foiled by ground forces. He said the militants are cornered in two neighborhoods. It was fierce yesterday. After nearly 100 days of the battles, IS is now fighting its last battle, said Issa. Full control over Sirte is hours from now. The Libyan forces mostly from the adjacent city of Misrata support a United Nations-brokered government based in Tripoli. They have driven Islamic State out of most of Sirte over the last two months with help from U.S. air strikes. Islamic State and other extremist groups gained a foothold in Libya during the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moammar Khadafy. The country has been split between rival parliaments and governments, each backed by a loose array of militias and tribes. Western nations view the newly formed U.N.-brokered government as the best hope for uniting the country, but Libyas parliament, which meets in the far east, has refused to accept it. NAZEER AL-KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images ANKARA, Turkey The U.S. on Monday urged Turkish troops and Kurdish forces in northern Syria to halt their fighting, saying it hinders efforts to defeat the Islamic State group. But Turkeys president vowed to press ahead with the military operation until the Islamic State and Kurdish Syrian fighters no longer pose a security threat to Ankara. The Pentagons statement was the first U.S. criticism of its NATO ally since it opened a U.S.-backed incursion into northern Syria to help Syrian rebels seize the town of Jarablus from the Islamic State group. They have been clashing with Kurdish Syrian forces around the town to try to halt their advance. Airways New Zealand, the state-owned air traffic controller, posted a 54 percent increase in annual profit and more than doubled its dividend to the Crown as it benefits from increased flights. The Wellington-based company reported net profit of $23.2 million in the year to June 30, ahead of its budgeted $16.5 million profit. It will pay a $9 million dividend to the Crown, up from $4 million the previous year. "Airways positive financial result was supported by an 8 percent increase in flight volumes from the prior year, in addition to strong cost management," chair Susan Paterson said in a statement. A 4.7 percent decrease in Airways' fees over the next three years was announced in May. However, the strong growth in air traffic in New Zealand skies was likely to tail off and become "more incremental" in the year ahead before "normalising" in 2018 and 2019, chief executive Ed Sims told BusinessDesk. Recent growth in long-haul routes into New Zealand was unlikely to continue at recent rates, while New Zealand airports and associated infrastructure were constrained by growing congestion, he said. Sims said net profit was likely to be lower in the current financial year. To combat growing congestion, Airways expects to raise its capital expenditure in the year ahead to around $40 million, having increased it 10 percent in the last financial year, much of it spent on investment at Queenstown airport to allow evening flights into the alpine resort town. "We are working very closely with several airports, particularly Auckland, to maximise the use of the single runway ahead of potential for further development", with an emphasis on data-sharing between airports to minimise congestion, Sims said. New Zealand continued to measure its flight delays in seconds, whereas most countries measured routinely measured delays in minutes, he said. Airways' 'commercial businesses' unit, which includes the development and delivery of air traffic controller training in New Zealand and internationally, increased net earnings to $3.5 million from $2.2 million, with Sims seeking a growing contribution to Airways' total earnings from such non-traditional services. An announcement was "imminent" on a "very significant" sale in the US of its SureSelect pre-screening and pre-selection tool for air traffic controller training, said Sims. Airways was also moving into air traffic controller training technology that could be delivered by apps on smartphones and tablets. 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 Spotlight Reporting, which provides cloud-based tools to import data from accounting service firms such as Xero and QuickBooks to generate reports, forecasts and dashboards, says it raised $5 million from an NZVIF-backed fund, Vend's David Wilson and Xero director Graig Winkler among others. The Wellington-based company says chief executive and founder Richard Francis and chairman Graham Shaw, a former Xero director, also contributed to the Series A funding round. As a result of the capital raise, Chintaka Ranatunga from the NZVIF-backed Venture Capital Fund Global from Day One Fund 2 will join the board alongside Shaw, Francis and Miki Szikszai, who is chief executive of travel card company Snapper Services. Spotlight was started in 2010 and now has offices in New Zealand, the US, UK and Australia. It was named Xero "Add-on Partner of the Year" in 2015 and was also recognised in the 2015 Deloitte Tech 500 and Fast 50 Rising Star awards. It is also an app partner for Xero's US-based rival Intuit. 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 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 the Bild am Sonntag newspaper in comments due to be published 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 he 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 fewer than 1 million people came to Germany last year," he said. South Korea and the U.S. have agreed to share information about submarines in North Korean waters after the North successfully launched a ballistic missile from a submarine last week. A meeting of Navy brass from the two sides "discussed ways to analyze and share information about the maritime environment in the sphere of operations in waters around the Korean Peninsula," a military source said on Sunday. The two sides will share information like underwater topography, water temperatures and sea currents. The UN Security Council in a press statement Friday denounced North Korea's recent missile tests in a unanimous decision. The UNSC said the North's missile tests, including its latest submarine-launched ballistic missile test last week, were "serious violations" of international regulations. It cited North Korea's ballistic missile tests from April to June as direct snubs of international condemnation and threatened to take stronger measures. The press statement is the weakest of the instruments available to the UNSC but requires the endorsement of all five permanent members, which include North Korean ally China. WASHINGTON: Bullish on expanding economic ties with India, the U.S. today said bilateral trade has reached $109 billion and it will get a further boost from new reforms including GST even as it flagged persisting concerns American firms have on issues related to business climate in the fast-growing economy. U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, who will be on a 3-day India visit from tomorrow, also said that travel and tourism and sub-national engagement have been identified as two new areas of focus to drive commercial cooperation between the two countries in 2017, under which the focus would shift from India and the U.S. to Chennai and Charleston. She said the Obama Administration in the past seven-and- a-half years has made significant progress toward realising the potential of what could be one of the largest commercial relationships in the world. "Our two countries enjoy a thriving trade and investment relationship. U.S.-India bilateral trade reached $109 billion in 2015, up from $37 billion in 2005. "U.S. and Indian companies are also investing in each other's economies at record levels. In 2015, U.S. investment in India reached more than $28 billion and Indian investment in the United States reached more than $11 billion. In fact, U.S. affiliates of Indian-owned firms now employ more than 52,000 workers in the U.S.," Pritzker told PTI in an interview. She exuded confidence that "India's rapidly growing economy and the Modi government's ambitious reform agenda, including the landmark Goods and Services Tax, passage of the recent national bankruptcy law, and liberalised foreign direct investment limits in key sectors, point toward a deeper economic relationship in the years ahead." Asserting that there is a tremendous potential for the U.S. and India to achieve even more together, the Secretary said she is particularly excited over two new areas of focus that will drive their cooperation in the coming year -- travel and tourism and subnational engagement. She described increasing the number of travelers who move between the U.S. and India as a significant commercial opportunity. More than 1 million people travel between the two countries each year. "While that figure is strong, there is certainly potential for growth," she added. On sub-national engagement, Pritzker said: "Both U.S. and Indian states play a vital role in driving economic growth and setting business climate policy. Companies choose to invest in Charleston, South Carolina or Chennai just as much as they select the U.S. and India. Read Also: Tata, Yale Form Alliance For Promoting Research Interactive Bees is a Finalist for the 2016 Red Herring Top 100 Asia Award MUMBAI: The Tata Group on Monday announced a $25 million collaboration to fund research and development in some of the world's topmost universities. Tata Sons, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tata Chemicals, Tata Communications, Tata Steel and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will partner with Harvard, Yale, Royal Society, UK and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras, among others. The financial support, to be spread over time in line with the tenure of the individual universities, is part of the Tata partnership with academic institutions to support faculty and students. The support includes funded research programmes, sabbaticals, fellowships and engagements with university leadership besides studying long-term research outcomes related to key market needs. "The Tata Group's vision is to touch the lives of 25 percent of the world's population. For this we are engaging with the best research institutions around the world to enable sustainable market development in the regions we work and live," said Tata Sons Group Chief Technology Officer Gopichand Katragadda. According to Katragadda, the collaborative platform would enable the Tata companies work closely with these top universities and the research there would be strengthened by the Tata Group's market understanding to create meaningful outcomes. Tata Sons, Tata Communications, Tata Steel and JLR will have a six-year alliance with Harvard Univeristy for developing soft robotics, advanced materials and sensor technologies. Tata Sons, TCS and Tata Chemicals will partner for five-years with Yale Univeristy in areas of network sciences, consumer behaviour and other research to enable specific applications for needs including employee change management, customer acquisition strategies and digital health. The collaboration with Royal Society, UK, announced in June aims to establish nine Tata University Research Fellowships in physical sciences and engineering over 10 years. The five-year engagement with IIT-Madras would be strategic research in Advanced Materials with the main collaborator Tata Steel and Tata Sons providing additional support, for establishing a self-sustaining research centre in Advanced Materials Technologies for the Tata Group. READ ALSO: Reforms To Boost Trade; Address Business Climate Issues: U.S. to India Indo-U.S. CEO Forum To Review Progress On Boosting Biz Ties X00119_9.JPG Staten Islanders headed for the Jersey Shore beaches this week can expect some rough surf, and high risk of rip tides, according to the National Weather Service.(Staten Island Advance) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Islanders headed to Jersey Shore beaches this week, the last full week of the summer season, can expect some rough surf and a high risk of rip tides. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a beach hazard warning for the Jersey Shore, from Sandy Hook to Cape May, which is in effect until Tuesday evening. The combination of multiple tropical cyclones of varying intensity hundreds of miles from New Jersey in the Atlantic Ocean and periods of onshore winds will create the possibility of dangerous rip currents. Breakers in swimming areas could get even larger. Swells from Tropical Storm Gaston will impact the beaches, with rough surf and wave swells of up to four feet, the NWS reported. Conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday could be even rougher than Monday. According to the NWS, rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often in low spots or breaks in the sandbar, or near jetties and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrols, flags and signs before swimming. If you should become caught in a rip current, yell for help, raise and wave your hands in the air to be seen, remain calm and try to stay afloat. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will exhaust yourself quickly. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach if possible. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dante Martin nearly shot an NYPD officer with her own gun after a handcuff was removed at Richmond University Medical Center, a police spokesman said. The officer, who was rescued by patient Rafael Muniz, was treated and released and is "doing good" on Monday morning, the spokesman said. Martin, 36, allegedly straddled the officer and had his finger on the trigger of her gun that was halfway out of the holster during the Sunday morning attack. Martin's hand was freed from his handcuffs so that he could use the restroom, said a police spokesman. The police officer who was assaulted had escorted Martin of Mariners Harbor to the hospital and was guarding his room, according to police. Information about why Martin required medical attention was not available from police. Martin was arrested at about 9:20 a.m. Sunday on charges of attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, attempted escape, resisting arrest and robbery, according to an NYPD spokesperson. Martin was admitted to the hospital for treatment following an arrest on Thursday evening on charges of criminal possession of a weapon outside the apartment complex where he lives, police said. Martin allegedly tossed a black, Glock .40-caliber gun in front of the Arlington Terrance Apartments on Holland Avenue and then ran to the rear where he was taken into custody by police on Thursday evening. Muniz, 42, of Graniteville was in his hospital bed early Sunday morning when he said he heard a woman begging for her life in the next room. "She was screaming and crying, saying, 'Please help me, I have a family, he has my gun," Muniz said. When Muniz entered the room, he said he saw Martin straddling the female police officer. Muniz grabbed Martin's hand, which was around the gun half way out its holster, and talked to him, said Muniz. "I said, 'You don't have to do this. Just let it go bro," Muniz said. "He looked at me and said, 'but my finger is on the trigger.'" Then, according to Muniz, the gunman had "a moment of clarity" and removed his finger from the trigger. Muniz, whose nickname from childhood is "Rambo," said the situation could've ended in tragedy. "It felt like it went on for minutes, but it all happened so fast," Muniz said. "I'm just glad nothing happened." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For Evelyn Kpadeh, a native of the West African country of Liberia, a recent visit to Lifestyles for the Disabled in Willowbrook was a transformative experience. "Back home in my country, 80 percent of people with disabilities have no hope and they are left to roam the streets each day looking for what they can catch to survive," Kpadeh shared. At Lifestyles, Kpadeh and 24 other African citizens visiting Staten Island for six weeks this summer learned about the agency's programs for the developmentally disabled and enjoyed lunch prepared by program participants in the Lifestyles Caffe. "It was an experience that continues to move in my mind, learning how an organization sees the value in people with disabilities and empowers them with skills," Kpadeh added. Amanda Straniere, left, Staten Island Museum community campaign coordinator, looks on as African fellows Butholezwe Kgosi Nyathi of Zimbabwe and Juby Kgomotso Peacock of Botswana wear anaglyph glasses to watch the art film, "SI3D." (Claire Regan/Staten Island Advance) As a participant in the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Kpadeh and 24 fellow Africans stayed at Wagner College on Grymes Hill, one of 38 institutions throughout the U.S. selected to host the State Department program. Wagner has been a host institution since the initiative was launched in 2014. More than 40,000 African leaders between the ages of 25 and 35 applied this year for the opportunity to study, train and network in the U.S., and only 1,000 were selected. Their goal is to apply what they learn on American soil to the projects they direct in their homelands. Wagner-appointed hub leaders and host families arranged events and facilitated connections that would best meet each fellow's professional interests and help them feel at home on the Island. SIMILARITIES ACROSS 7,000 MILES YALI fellow Butholezwe Kgosi Nyathi is programs manager at Amagugu Heritage Trust in Zimbabwe, where visitors learn about their culture through demonstrations of basket weaving, wood carving, leather tanning, nature walks, traditional games, dance and music. Carlotta DeFillo, an interpreter at Historic Richmond Town, guides the African fellows on a tour of the 18th-century kitchen in the Guyon-Lake-Tysen House. (Claire Regan/Staten Island Advance) It's no surprise then that a meeting with Ed Wiseman, executive director of Historic Richmond Town, followed by a tour of the historic village, was a highlight of Nyathi's Staten Island stay. "The tour of Richmond Town was closest to my hut," Nyathi said, using an African expression. "The operations and activities there have a strong resemblance to those of my cultural center. I was exposed to traditional American art and culture and was inspired to keep doing the cultural heritage preservation work that l do in Zimbabwe." Wiseman took away insights from the meeting as well. "His very perceptive thoughts helped me frame our institution in a way I never imagined. It was a gift hearing from him and seeing through his eyes," Wiseman said. Nyathi was joined by another fellow, Juby Peacock of Botswana, for a visit to the Staten Island Museum in Livingston where they met with executive director Cheryl Adolph and her senior staff to discuss marketing, public relations and fundraising strategies. The Rev. Terry Troia, executive director of Project Hospitality, thanks Akosua Afriyie Osei-Appaw of Ghana and Abdul Karim Kabia of Sierra Leone for volunteering at the Assumption Church soup kitchen in New Brighton. The fellows sorted donated clothing and served dinner to needy Staten Islanders. (Claire Regan/Staten Island Advance) GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY Akosua Afriyie Osei-Appaw of Ghana and Abdul Karim Kabia of Sierra Leone volunteered their time on a Sunday afternoon to sort donated clothing and serve dinner at the Assumption Church soup kitchen in New Brighton. The Rev. Terry Troia, executive director of Project Hospitality, which runs the program, stopped by to thank them. Osei-Appaw joined Mark Kaweesi of Uganda for an outdoor reading of the Declaration of Independence led by Beth Gorrie, executive director of Staten Island OutLOUD, on the Fourth of July at historic Fort Wadsworth. On the Wagner campus, guest speakers included directors from The New York Foundling, Samaritan Daytop Village treatment center, IlluminArt Productions and Camp Good Grief for grieving children and teens. Rep Dan Donovan also gave a presentation to the YALI fellows. There were dozens of trips into Manhattan for visits to foundations and tourist destinations, and an excursion to Toms River, N.J., to learn about the Oceans of Love non-profit organization dedicated to helping children with cancer. Members of the NYPD on patrol at the South Beach boardwalk take a moment to pose with African fellows from Wagner College. (Claire Regan/Staten Island Advance) But it was the everyday Staten Island experiences that made lasting impressions on many of the African visitors: A smoothie and a Whopper Junior from the Burger King in Meiers Corners, a shopping excursion to T.J. Maxx in New Dorp, a stroll along the South Beach boardwalk, a haircut at a local barbershop in Park Hill. "My favorite spot on Staten Island is the barbershop down the hill (from Wagner)," confided Butholezwe Kgosi Nyathi. "Strange, l know, but l had two of the most pleasant haircut experiences in my 30 years of life on Mother Earth!" Before heading back to their countries earlier this month, the Wagner College cohort joined the 975 other YALI fellows in Washington, D.C., for a three-day summit highlighted by a town hall meeting with President Obama. Page Content The Minister of Public Health Emil Lees National Mosquito Elimination Community Program Zika Virus disease (ZikV) Beat ZikV, was a success in Saunders on August 20. Gerald Davelaar, coordinator for CPS for the program, said he was very pleased with the kick-off start of the project whereby the residents in the area were very cooperative with personnel from the Ministry and volunteers who were out in the field in Saunders Saturday, August 20. Approximately 100 premises were visited, of which 51 houses. One in every five houses was found positive with mosquito larvae. The House Index is 18 per cent and the World Health Organization threshold is around two per cent. Minister of Public Health Emil Lee was also present and shared out information while speaking with residents about source reduction in how to eliminate mosquito breeding sites. The community program calls for a close collaboration with the people of Sint Maarten and entails house to house visits with one on one education on elimination of mosquito breeding sites in and around the house. The program also includes inspection of the surroundings of the house by vector controllers; assessment of the findings; set-up and monitoring of traps to study mosquito behavior and larvae development, and if needed targeted fogging of identified locations. Volunteers from various government entities have been mobilized as volunteers to assist with this community program. The ultimate purpose is to minimize the occurrence of ZikV by eliminating mosquito breeding sites within the districts with a special focus on the elimination of the Aedes Aegypty mosquito. CPS reiterates to the population of Sint Maarten as well as visitors to wear light colored clothing at dusk; long sleeve shirts and pants; and use mosquito repellent to prevent being bitten by a mosquito that could possibly be carrying a mosquito borne disease. CPS re-enforces its message that all residents and businesses need to take proactive measures to prevent mosquitos from breeding. Be on the alert for mosquito breeding sites and eliminate, especially after heavy rainfall. Actively destroy or dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water. Do not allow water to accumulate in the saucers of flowerpots, cemetery urns/vase or in pet dishes for more than two days. Throw out the water and turn them over every time it collects water. An increase in the mosquito population puts residents and visitors at risk. For information about dengue fever, zika and chikungunya prevention measures, you can call CPS 542-2078 or 542-3003 to report mosquito breeding sites or email: surveillance@sintmaartengov.org PHOTO CUTLINE: Vector control team with volunteers from Community Development, Inspectorate and the Red Cross who were later joined by Minister of Public Health Emil Lee to survey the Saunders area on August 20 as part of the Beat ZikV program. 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 In an effort to keep this Canadian long course classic afloat in an era of cutthroat competition, the folks at Challenge Penticton tried a few more new things this year. After Challenge took over the race from Ironman in 2013, organizers kept the classic Iron-distance format and total entries plunged to 574 after decades of sold out 2,400 entries under the Ironman banner. Two years ago, they opened up the race to Iron-distance and half-Iron distance races as well as relay teams and entries rose to 743. Last year they kept the full and half distance single entries, relay teams became far more popular, and total entries rose to 1,061. This year, organizers got radical. They changed the long course format to a 3k swim, 120k bike and 30k run the old Nice International distance which attracted 597 long course individual entrants and 150 long course relay entrants. In addition, they added a Canadian national duathlon with 110 entrants on the Wednesday before the race and a cross triathlon on Friday with 117 entrants. All together, the Challenge Penticton weeklong tri-festival attracted 937 entries. Along the way, the premier pro category had another stirring race involving first-rate triathletes with some surprising results. In the mens race, an aspiring U.S. talent from a legendary family forced Canadian long course star Jeffrey Symonds to struggle hard. After Drew Scott kept within 47 seconds of Symonds on the 3 kilometer swim, Scott out biked his elder by 5 minutes and 40 seconds. On the run, Symonds unleashed a by-far race-best 1:45:00 split that outpaced Scott by 9 minutes 39 seconds. Symonds finished in 5:32:39 with a 4:47 margin of victory over Scott and 8:07 over 3rd-place finisher Jordan Bryden of Canada. In the women's race, internationally renowned U.S. star Liz Lyles swam a womens 5th-best 48:57 split that was 5:02 behind swim leader Steph Corker and, critically, 3:45 ahead of home town Penticton favorite Jen Annett. Annett more than made up for her deficit with a by-far women's-best 3:13:42 bike split that was more than 7 minutes better than the next best effort posted by Lyles. Lyles then gave it her best shot, a women's-best 2:00:30 split for the 30km run. But it fell 30 seconds short of catching Annett, who finished in 6:13:49 with a 30 seconds margin of victory. Not bad for a mom who has been battling gran mal seizures from epilepsy for seven years. So will Challenge Penticton, with the passionate support of its citizens over the decades, survive? Measured against the prestige and power of Ironman Canada, now held under the auspices of the World Triathlon Corporation in Whistler B.C., Penticton can make a case it is beginning to achieve a reasonable chance. This past year, the Whistler race limited its long course field to approximately 1,400 about 450 more than the combined entries to Challenge Pentictons weeklong roster of races. Challenge Penticton Penticton, B.C., Canada August 28, 2016 S 3k / B 120k / R 30k Results Men 1. Jeffrey Symonds (CAN) 5:32:39 2. Drew Scott (USA) 5:37:26 3. Jordan Bryden (CAN) 5:40:46 4. Nathan Killam (CAN) 5:44:19 5. Davide Giardini (ITA) 5:47:38 Women 1. Jen Annett (CAN) 6:13:49 2. Elizabeth Lyles (USA) 6:14:19 3. Fawn Whiting (CAN) 6:20:29 *F30-34 4. Karen Thibodeau (CAN) 6:22:53 5. Christen Brown (USA) 6:25:30 It's not clear why that might be, Anderson said. One possibility raised in both the study and an accompanying editorial is that the CPAP group was able to wear the masks only about 3.3 hours per night, a length of time that is consistent with CPAP users in the real world. That may not be enough time to affect the frequency of these cardiovascular events. 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